Meet Martin Topliss, a game-changing tennis coach in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We, the co-founders of CourtMerch, have found Martin's instruction to be transformational, which is why we were so pleased to create this Game Changer tee in his honor. We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Martin courtside and are excited to share his tennis journey and insights with you!
How long have you been a tennis coach?
I’ve coached tennis for 36 years. I started at Huron Valley Tennis Club, and until recently, I was the Junior Director of Tennis there. I also worked as the head tennis pro at the Racquet Club of Ann Arbor from 2000 to 2022.
What is your current tennis coaching schedule?
I coach the Ladies B teams during the week, and run the elementary intermediate junior group on Fridays. Over the weekdays an Saturdays, I give private lessons to all ages and levels.
What aspects of coaching adult tennis do you most enjoy?
What I enjoy most about coaching adult tennis, aside from the great relationships I’ve built, is seeing a player progress through the different levels and achieve their goals. If I’ve played a role in inspiring them to be their best, I take immense satisfaction from that!
You've been a coach to the winning daytime ladies team, the B3 team (3.0 USTA level). Tell us more about that.
I’ve coached the B3 team for 11 years at Huron Valley, building it from a small roster to a large, extremely talented, goal oriented team that’s won 9 consecutive championships. When we lose players to a higher ranking, it’s bittersweet for me, but I know their progress means we’ve done our jobs well. Our amazing run of championships is mainly attributable to our great players. I try to keep our practices fun, interesting, and strategy oriented. I try to reduce pressure by maintaining a relaxed yet competitive perspective, which I feel brings out the best in the team.
How can recreational tennis players best prepare for matches?
Players can best prepare for matches by finding their relaxed comfort zone before the match, allowing them to play with minimal nerves and mental interference. I try to coach my players to tune their mental airwaves to alert/calm and to adjust their breathing and heart rate accordingly. I encourage them to be proactive in the warmup, and communicate with their partner about strategy and tactics throughout the match.
You coach a lot of women USTA tennis players. Tell us about the most common feedback you give on the courts.
Stay focused, try to be relaxed, have a game plan from start to finish.
If a USTA player wants to move up to the next level, for example from a 3.0 to a 3.5, what advice would you give them?
The best advice I can give an aspiring 3.5 player is to listen closely to feedback from coaches. It can be uncomfortable at times to be critiqued, but being open to trying new things often leads to progress. Sometimes an outside perspective can help a player break through barriers to get to that next level.
You've got a CourtMerch "Game Changer" t-shirt. What do you think of it?
My new Game Changer tee shirt is awesome! Well designed, great fit, and comfortable. I wear it often!