Indian Tennis Pro Serves Up the Secrets of Winning

With the U.S. Open currently underway in New York, we share the story of immigrant tennis pro Pavan Patel, who uses the lessons of his Indian culture as the foundation of his sports philosophy today.

Born in India in 1969 and raised in the “old school” fashion, Pavan Patel learned from his parents the importance of hard work and sacrifice, never giving up in the face of failure and sharing his good fortune with others.

Lessons like these from Pavan’s Indian culture are the foundation of his sports philosophy today; not only do Pavan’s students learn about tennis but about life itself.  He instills in his students a sense of value and purpose for which the parents are grateful.

“Pavan’s tennis academy has been coaching our two daughters, and as they are taught the skills, sportsmanship, and sense of fair play, these young ladies have gained confidence and character.”  —Dr. Shahin and Kathleen Sanjar

Pavan likes to tell stories of when he was a boy in India. For example, he and his tennis mates were given one ball each for training purposes.  They’d be responsible for this one ball for months at a time, at the end of which the ball was well used to say the least. Pavan uses this story to illustrate the importance of value and self-discipline, an added benefit for American parents who can easily afford multiple cans of tennis balls for their children.

Today, Pavan Patel is the owner of two tennis academies. The most recent one opened in 2003 in New Jersey, whereas the original academy is in India. His goal is to train the next generation of star professional tennis players. Currently, he has 15 upcoming star students in New Jersey alone, including his own daughter, who is ranked among the top five in the Mid-Atlantic states.