Coach Christian Hess is Director of Tennis at PPRSC, operating Heroes Tennis Academy, offering clinics and lessons to junior and adult players. For more information on clinics and private lessons, please visit www.heroestennis.club.
Contact Christian Hess at heroestennis@gmail.com and 980-8692. Private lessons available upon request. .
Heroes Tennis Academy (HTA) was founded in late 2020 in Matthews, NC, by Coach Christian Hess, made possible through the support of George Lovitt, Kavir Kumar (Head Coach at Johnson C. Smith University), Michael Hess, and many others. What began as Coach Christian’s private teaching practice has since grown into a thriving tennis community, built on a foundation of passion, excellence, and collaboration.
After years of coaching across the United States, including a successful stint with Charlotte International, Coach Christian made the risky decision to begin working privately with a vision: to provide top-tier tennis instruction for athletes of all ages and skill levels. In the early days, lessons took place on any courts that were available. As word spread about the success and satisfaction of HTA athletes and their families, the need for more courts and coaches became clear.
Since its founding, HTA has grown to include elite teaching professionals with outstanding junior, collegiate, and professional careers. Beyond their playing experience, their coaches bring intelligence, creativity, and dedication to the court. Together, they’ve had the privilege of working with over 250 families in the past five years, and that number continues to grow.
At HTA, the mission is to elevate the member experience at PPRSC. Through their personalized approach, HTA pros deliver an unmatched energy and coaching style, creating a fun, challenging, and rewarding environment for everyone. They offer a wide range of programs, including junior and adult clinics, tournaments, and junior leagues. In addition, HTA is uniquely positioned to help individuals and teams enhance not just their performance but their overall enjoyment of the game.
Meet The Pros
• Coach George Lovitt (University of Richmond) – Assistant Director and decorated Division I collegiate player.
• Coach Roman Piftor (Gardner Webb) – Assistant Director; reached 175 in ITF rankings.
• Coach Alex Leatu (Queens University) – Former Division I player and experienced coach.
• Coach Michael Hess – Dedicated leader and key contributor to HTA’s early success.
• Coach Aleksandra Zlatarova (Queens University) – Accomplished collegiate athlete and enthusiastic mentor.
• Coach George Barfoot (Wingate University) – Experienced competitor and coach.
At Heroes Tennis Academy, they don’t just build better players—we build a stronger, more connected tennis community. They look forward to continuing to grow, serve, and share the game they love with even more families in the years ahead.