LUCA APPINO (ITA)

Starts his carrier in Italy and for over 10 years is dedicated to the tennis schools development in various clubs. During that period he enriches his knowledge with internships in Italy and abroad. Later on he makes experience in marketing working for famous companies in the tennis industry such as: Alto, Maxima, Dunlop and Babolat. Since 1998, as Sport Marketing Director of Babolat (France), works with the best players and coaches in the world. By using the criteria developed on his own, today encoded in FORMULA TT, he dedicated important part of his time to the talents scouting. He took under contracts various young and unknown players from 11 to 15 years old. Later on four of them reached the #1 position in the ATP and WTA: Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters and Dinara Safina. Among other selected, many of them entered the world tennis elite. For over a year was advisor of the Italian Tennis Federation and in 2006 he founded NILEPALA, advisory and sport marketing company. He collaborated with various world known tennis entities such as: production companies, management companies, players, coaches, academies. In 2007 he recieved the PTR Industry Award for the results obtained in talents scouting and for the development of the tennis industry in general. In 2009, his first book : „The world of Rafael Nadal, secrets of his success“ was published in English, French and Spanish. The book was written in collaboration with Toni Nadal. During his coaching experience he took the Estonian player Kaia Kanepi reached her best ranking ever (#18 WTA).

TONI NADAL HOMAR (ESP)

Started to play tennis when he was 14 years old. He studied history and law, while as tennis player he reached the first group of the second Spanish division. Toni Nadal trained at  Tennis Club in Manacor, the town where he still lives today, in the past took several players he trained to reach a good national level. Since 1996, when his nephew Rafael turned 10, he is dedicated to his development.

Over the years Toni and Luca established an important friendship relationship based on profound respect for each other and sharing a similar vision of tennis, thus Toni is part of the Tennis Talents team.

RAUL RANZINGER (AUT)

Born in Milan, Italy in 1969, he grew up in Brazil from 1979 to 1991. Raul starts playing at the age of 7 and become a good junior; stops his professional career at the age of 20 with an ATP ranking. His first coaching experience is at Walter Bertini Academy from 1991 till 1997 working with good juniors and some professionals as Laura Garrone (30 WTA) and Corrado Borroni (120 ATP). In 1997 as PTR Professional works in the European Headquarters.He travels a lot having experiences in various academies in Germany, Italy, Austria and Sweden. From 2000, as private travelling coach, he works with some top players: Janette Husarova (30 WTA in singles and 3 in doubles), Henrieta Nagyova (40 WTA), Patty Schnyder (13 WTA), Barbara SChett (30 WTA), Tathiana Garbin (50 WTA), Anastasia Rodionova (60 WTA) and others ranked between 100 and 500 WTA, amongst them Margalita Chakhnashvili (180) that is still coaching. Staff member of the Slovakian Fed Cup team, which won the Fed Cup 2002, and part of teh same squad in Athens during the Olympic Games in 2004. In 2009 Fed Cup captain of Brazil and responsible of female tennis department. Speaking fluently italian, german, spanish, english and portugues he brings a great knowledge and experience to Tennis Talents.

 

ALESSANDRO RIBA (ITA)

Graduated in Sport Sciences and Training Techniques, on the way to get his PhD in Turin’s university (doctorate in Complex Medicine Systems and Sciences). Italian Tennis Federation Tennis teaching pro and physical trainer. During the years, he has trained players at international level from junors to ATP/WTA. From 2008 he is the coordinator of the Tennis Club Caselle, multi sport facility, base of the Italian Tennis Talent Training Center, in which he is responsible for physical training activities.