Meet Maddy Stone-Wheatley, a certified tennis pro at Elite-Brookfield. Maddy was a top-ranked player in the state of Michigan and now she helps students learn and improve in all aspects of their game. Learn more about Maddy’s professional tennis background.
Meet Maddy Stone-Wheatley
- What position(s) do you currently hold at Elite and any you have held in the past?
I am a Certified USPTA Tennis Professional at Elite Sports Club-Brookfield.
- How long have you been playing tennis?
I’ve been playing tennis since 2007. I started working at Elite in August 2022.
As a junior, I competed in several national level tennis tournaments, and when graduated high school I was #3 in Michigan, #22 in the Midwest, and #258 nationally in my recruiting class. Fun fact: In one of my junior tennis tournaments, I was doubles partners with Caty McNally, a top WTA tennis professional.
- What made you want to become a tennis pro?
I started teaching tennis at 16 years old at local courts, and I truly enjoyed using my knowledge of tennis and creativity in designing unique and personalized lessons to help my students improve their game. I started out by teaching younger kids, and I also wanted to help my students build confidence, work ethic, and strategic thinking through the sport of tennis.
- What is your favorite part about your job? About tennis in general?
My favorite part of my job is getting to know so many unique and incredible people and sharing my passion and knowledge of the sport with them. I also like helping people reach their personal goals through working with them over time and providing specific and detailed feedback to help them reach new levels in their game.
- What activities do you participate in at the club or outside of the club besides tennis?
I like to live an active lifestyle and I enjoy participating in group fitness classes, playing tennis, and working out.
- How would you encourage someone who is considering tennis for the first time?
At the beginning, picking up tennis can seem daunting, but you will see a lot of improvement if you stick with it and have a positive attitude. It’s awesome that you’re thinking about picking up a new sport and if you have any questions to feel free to ask. The tennis pros are happy to help! Tennis is a sport you can play at any age and it is all about getting out there and having fun!
- What advice do you give people who are just starting out in tennis?
Focus on improvement rather than results at the beginning. Take some tennis lessons so you can learn the proper technique and not form bad habits. Ask questions in your lessons. If there are drills you can do at home, work on racquet skills and ball control, which are very important, especially when you are just starting out. Most of all, have fun and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It is okay to miss, too. That is how you will learn to become a great tennis player. Learning is a journey and you should enjoy every step of it!!
Are you an experienced tennis player? Have you had a tennis lesson with Maddy Stone-Wheatley? Tell us about your experience, or perhaps your own personal tennis story!
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