Your Coaches

Yohann grew up all around the world in Hong Kong, Mexico, France, Latvia, finally settling in Vancouver in 2013 where he attended Lord Byng Secondary. Throughout his travels, one thing that stayed consistent was his love of tennis which he started at the age of 5 in his home country, France.

Yohann got his first taste of coaching tennis when he volunteered at UBC summer camps in 2014. He then started working as a coach during the summers at UBC in 2016 before joining Summer Smash Tennis in 2021.

Off the court, Yohann graduated Queen’s university, studying to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences in summer 2022, and enjoys a variety of sports such as football and spike ball as well as movies and going to the beach.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• Tennis Canada Club Professional 1 (September 2024)
• CPR-C / First Aid Certification
• 15+ years of tennis experience
• Dogwood Diploma (2018)
• BSc, Queen’s University (Honours) (2022)

Jeremy Tang was born and raised in Vancouver and graduated from Prince of Wales Secondary. He has been passionate about tennis since he was 7 years old, and has been a part of Summer Smash Tennis as long as he’s been playing the sport. Jeremy competed in tennis and basketball while in high school and still plays for pleasure.

Over the years, Jeremy has developed his skills as a mentor and coach, and has furthered his passion for teaching the sport he loves. Jeremy looks forward to coaching more in the future continuing to bring a positive attitude onto the court.

Jeremy is currently completing his Kinesiology degree at Langara and is pursuing a career in physical therapy. In his free time, Jeremy loves to listen to music, play basketball and enjoys his time at the beach with some spike ball.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• Tennis Canada Club Professional 1 (September 2024)
• 7+ years coaching experience
• CPR-C Certification
• Played with Summer Smash for 8 years
• Prince of Wales Tennis Team (2017-2019)
• Prince of Wales Basketball team (2015-2019)
• Dogwood Diploma 2019
• BA, UBC 2019-2021
• BKin Transfer Program, Langara College 2021-2023

Gen Wright-Smith grew up in Kerrisdale and has played with Summer Smash Tennis since she was 8 years old. Gen enjoys many sports like skiing, tennis, gymnastics and surfing.

Before coaching tennis, Gen started tutoring at the age of 13, where she developed her love for teaching. Working with a variety of ages and personalities has enhanced her leadership skills. Gen believes that developing a positive attitude and good sportsmanship is just as beneficial as technical tennis ability.

Gen hopes to pursue a career in mental health and social work. She just finished her undergraduate degree in Global Health and Sociology at the University of Toronto. She’s worked many customer service jobs at restaurants, cafes, and retail stores. In her free time, Gen enjoys making music and art and watching RuPaul’s Drag Race.

• Tennis Canada  Instructor Level 1
• CPR Certification
• Heads Up Concussion Certification
• Serving it Right
• Played with Summer Smash Tennis for 8 years
• 7+ years of coaching experience
• Over 6 years of experience in the service industry
• Captain of UBC High School Gymnastics Team
• Dogwood Diploma (achieved 2019)
• BSc, University of Toronto (2023)

Marshall Mackoff was born and raised in Vancouver and attended St. George’s during high school. Marshall joined his first summer tennis camp at 8 years old and would continue to play and compete in the sport throughout juniors and university. Marshall has significant experience in leadership positions, having captained the St. George’s senior team and later, Queen’s University’s Men’s Tennis Team. Marshall competed for the UBC Men’s Tennis Team while completing his Juris Doctor.

Marshall first began to teach tennis at St. George’s Summer Camps at the age of 15. He realized his love for teaching during his first summer as an instructor, and since then has coached at the UBC Tennis Centre, Dunbar Community Centre, and Kerrisdale Community Centre. Marshall is always looking to improve as a coach, having completed his Club Pro 1 designation in 2015 and having coached alongside some of the most experienced coaches in Vancouver during his time at Matchpoint Tennis Academy, from 2015-2017.

Off the court, Marshall enjoys weight-training, playing guitar, and mushroom foraging.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• Tennis Canada Club Professional 1
• 16+ years coaching experience
• Queen’s University Men’s Tennis Team 2010-2014
• UBC Men’s Tennis Team 2017-2020
• BSc Biology, Queen’s University 2015
• JD, Peter A. Allard School of Law 2021
• Member of the British Columbia Bar, Admitted 2022

Jessica was born and raised in Vancouver and is an undergraduate engineering student at UBC. Jessica first picked up a racket at the age of 8 and has played competitively since the age of 11. Jessica qualified for the 2020 Canadian National U16 Indoor Tennis Championships and competed in International Tennis Federation tournaments.

Jessica plays on the UBC Women’s tennis team and is the club lead for the 2024-2025 season.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1

Spencer Mackoff grew up in Vancouver and attended Lord Byng Secondary during high school. While involved in other sports, Spencer dedicated significant time to tennis during juniors and university.

Spencer began coaching when he was hired to teach programs by the Vancouver Parks Board in 2005. Since then, Spencer has taught at community centres and tennis clubs across the city, before founding Summer Smash in 2012.

Spencer first developed his passion for teaching at a young age, later pursuing a career as a teacher and coach. In both athletic and academic contexts, Spencer is driven by a commitment to equity and excellence.

Off the court, Spencer enjoys movies, the ocean, and cycling.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• First Aid and CPR-C certified
• 18+ years coaching experience
• McGill University Varsity Tennis Team 2010-2012
• University of Toronto Varsity Tennis Team 2014-2015
• Top 10 B.C. Men’s Open Doubles Ranking 2019-2020
• BA English, McGill University 2012
• MA Cinema Studies, University of Toronto 2014
• BEd Secondary Teaching, University of British Columbia 2016
• BC Ministry Certified Teacher
• IB Certified Teacher
• San’yas Anti-Racism Indigenous Cultural Safety – British Columbia Core Training

Aisling grew up in Cork in the south of Ireland, where she attended Waterford Institute of Technology and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreational Management. 

Aisling started tennis at the age of 5 and had an immediate love for the sport. By the age of 10, she was selected from her province to train in one of Ireland’s largest high-performance tennis academies. From there she had the opportunity to compete in many international events including ITF and Tennis Europe. 

She has achieved many league titles, both as a player and captain for her home tennis club Rushbrooke.. Aisling also competed in the Munster inter-provincial Championships where she won the title with her team.

While attending college, Aisling began coaching for her home club where she found her passion for teaching others about the sport. After college, she remained coaching for Rushbrooke but also branched out to various other tennis clubs in the south of Ireland, where she trained individuals of all ages and abilities. 

Off the court, Aisling enjoys attending the gym, playing soccer and listening to music.

• Tennis Ireland Instructor level 1
• Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreational management 
• 5 years coaching experience plus international playing experience 
• Qualified special needs assistant

Gui was Born and raised in Brazil, where he grew up playing local and national tennis tournaments in the Brazilian Tennis Federation. Gui has been playing tennis for 19 years and has been coaching for 11 years. Gui moved to Vancouver in 2019 but just returned from Europe where he worked in a tennis program working with students of all ages and levels.

Gui is passionate about helping people develop their tennis and fitness skills. He feels his best when he is on the tennis court or in the fitness room. Gui is also a professional level jiu-jitsu fighter and personal trainer, with a degree in kinesiology. 

• Tennis Brazil Certified Instructor
• Certified Personal Trainer
• ACE Certification (American Council on Exercise)
• Tennis Head Coach Course (FPT) 2013
• CREF (License to coach tennis) 2018

Noah grew up in Victoria, B.C. where he attended Oak Bay High, as well as the Canadian Sport School program at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence. He has played tennis since the age of 4, and has pursued the sport at a competitive, high performance level since the age of 12. In the junior category, Noah qualified for the provincial championships on four occasions. Now, Noah is co-captain of the UBC Men’s Tennis Team, helping lead them to a victory at the Canadian University National Championships in 2022.

 Noah’s started coaching at Oak Bay Recreation Centre in Victoria B.C., where since 2016 he has led both group and private lessons for a wide range of ages and levels. From 2018-2021 Noah held the team lead position at Oak Bay where on top of being the lead tennis coach, he was responsible for overseeing programs and student success. Noah has significant experience in creating a safe, organized, and fun environment for tennis players of all ages.

Noah holds  an undergraduate degree in Natural Resources Conservation from UBC. Outside of tennis, he enjoys backcountry camping, playing piano, and reading in the forest.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• 9+ years of coaching experience
• First Aid and CPR-C certified
• UBC Men’s Tennis Team 2018-2022 (Captain 2020-2022)
• BSc Conservation, University of British Columbia, 2023

Kateryna was born in Ukraine and played tennis competitively as a junior in the Soviet Union. As a junior Kateryna has won the Soviet Union championship in doubles and has been on the Soviet Union national junior team. 

Kateryna coached tennis full time in Lviv, Ukraine, between 1990 and 2000. Several of her students were top 3 ranked junior players in the Soviet Union and Ukraine.

After moving to Vancouver in 2002, Kateryna coached in Town & Country Delta Inn and Richmond Centre Club in 2002 – 2005 but moved on to a busy career as a licensed real estate professional continuing to play tennis competitively in her free time.

Kateryna has joined VanLawn Tennis and Badminton Club in 2011, her best achievements in senior tennis since then are:

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• Canadian Senior Women Championships in singles and doubles
• BC Provincial Championships in singles and doubles
• Representing Team Canada at ITF Worlds Team Championships several times   
• Silver and Bronze in doubles at ITF World Individual Championships 
• Career high ranking of #2 in doubles and #8 in singles in the world under ITF Senior Tennis Circuit in 2019
• Career high ranking of #1 in Women 45, Pacific NorthWest, USTA

Derek Lau grew up in the Kitsilano neighbourhood and attended St. George’s Senior School. Derek first started playing tennis at the age of 6 and began to play competitively during his high school years. Derek was selected to represent British Columbia at the Canadian National Championships in the Under 16 and Under 18 age categories.

Derek’s first experience in coaching was in 2009 as a volunteer at UBC Tennis Centre. The opportunity to teach and develop the next generation of tennis players is what drives him to be the best mentor possible. Derek was then hired to coach at the West End Community Center in 2010 teaching junior programs. Since then Derek has coached at St. George’s Summer Camps, Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, and Cameron Recreation Centre. Derek has significant experience teaching all ages and levels of students ranging from beginners to high-performance players.

Derek completed his undergraduate degree in Criminology at Simon Fraser University. Off the court, Derek enjoys mountain biking, listening to music, working on cars, and fitness.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• Tennis Canada Club Professional 1
• Tennis Canada Club Professional 2 (in process)
• 15+ years coaching experience
• Top 5 ranked Junior in British Columbia 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
• Top 20 ranked Junior in PNW USTA 2008, 2009, 2010
• Team BC 2008, 2010
• Simon Fraser University Varsity Team 2010-2014
• BA Criminology, Simon Fraser University

Martin was born and raised in Vancouver, attending Vancouver College for high school and taking up tennis at the age of 11. He consistently competed in ITFs and Tennis Canada tournaments as a junior, representing Team BC at Nationals in U18.

Martin recently graduated from the University of British Columbia, where he played on the UBC Men’s Tennis Team and served as the team’s Travel and Safety Officer.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• Emergency First Aid CPR Level C Certification
• Team BC 2017 at Rogers Junior Nationals
• UBC Men’s Tennis Team 2017-present (Travel and Safety Executive)
• BA, Political Science, and Law and Society, University of British Columbia (2022)

Graeme grew up in Richmond, BC and attended McMath Secondary School. Graeme has competed in tennis for over 10 years and represented BC at Nationals in U14, U16, and U18 as well as competing in international tournaments. He currently represents UBC in university tennis and serves as the captain of the UBC Men’s Tennis Team. Graeme as well plays competes in Open level tournaments. 

Graeme began coaching at a young age through volunteering  at Richmond Country Club and has been coaching recreational players of all ages for Summer Smash Tennis since 2021. He loves to coach as he values giving back to the sport that has taught him so much over the years.

Off the court Graeme spends time golfing, hiking, camping and skiing. He also has an interest in the life sciences and is pursuing a career in medicine.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1 
• UBC Men’s Tennis Team 2019-present (Fundraising Executive, Captain) 
• Top 10 BC ranking U14, U16, U18, player on 2022 UBC National Title Team
• BSc, Cellular and Physiological Sciences UBC (2024)

Andy has over 25 years of tennis experience, starting his coaching career in 2000 with the Ho Chi Minh City children’s team. After graduating with an MBA in Malaysia, he moved to Saskatoon in 2020 and joined the coaching staff at Lakewood Indoor Tennis Club for 3 years. From July 2023, He was proud to be one of the coaching members of Summer Smash Tennis.

Andy has been competing in national tennis tournaments since 2007, and was a member of Prince Team from 2010-2020.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• 15 years of coaching tennis experience
• Standard First Aid / CPR LEVEL C / AED
• ITF Academy ‘Training female tennis players’
• Master of Business Administrator
• Bachelor of Information Technology
• Founder of NewSky Tennis Club – Saskatoon
• Top 5 S.K. Men’s Singles and Doubles Ranking 2021-2022

April started playing tennis at the young age of 5.  She started entering tournaments 3 years later. She is still playing tennis competitively to this day. 

April is entering her final year at Lord Byng Secondary School in the Arts Mini Program for Visual Arts. April is also the co-founder of her school’s tennis club, and won a medal for MVP on the tennis team for the 2022 season.

April is fluent in both Chinese and English and her favourite hobbies are creating art and reading.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• 10 years of tennis experience
• Red Cross Babysitting Course completed
• Executive of Lord Byng Tennis Club

Luke was born and raised in Vancouver and currently attends the French immersion program at Churchill Secondary school. His passion for tennis sparked at a young age when he joined the renowned Summer Smash Tennis program. Since then, Luke has dedicated himself to the sport and now competes at a competitive level, proudly representing British Columbia in the U14 National and U16 National tournaments.

Luke’s enthusiasm for teaching others developed early on, and he started his coaching journey as a volunteer at Summer Smash at the age of 11. Excited about the prospect of continuing to contribute to the program, Luke eagerly looks forward to helping others find their passion for tennis.

In addition to his love for tennis, Luke also enjoys playing hockey, spending time with friends and watching his favourite Netflix series.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• Team B.C. U14
• Team B.C. U16

Keaton was born and raised in Vancouver and is a graduate of Kerrisdale Elementary and Vancouver College. He will begin his undergrad at Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto this fall.

Keaton has always been athletic, and has been active in soccer and tennis since he was a young child.  When he was 8, Keaton enrolled with Summer Smash.  Marshall and Spencer’s passion for tennis inspired Keaton to continue with the sport, and at the age of 12 he started played competitive tennis. At Vancouver College, he co-captained his school team to the AAA Provincial Tennis Finals in his senior years. 

Before receiving his certification, Keaton volunteered as an assistant coach at Summer Smash and the Richmond Country Club.  He is looking forward to his third summer of coaching with Summer Smash.

When not in school or on the tennis court, Keaton enjoys skiing, playing basketball and hanging out with his friends.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1

Aleksa was born in Vancouver and grew up in Serbia where he attended high school before graduating from the University of Belgrade, studying in the Faculty of Civil Engineering Department for Geodesy and Geoinformatics. 

He started playing tennis at the age of 10 and became interested in coaching while playing competitive tennis during high school and university.

Aleksa completed the Tennis Instructor course in Toronto in 2019 and has since worked as a tennis coach in a local tennis club in his neighbourhood in Belgrade, Serbia.

Aleksa returned to Vancouver in 2023 and is highly motivated to gain more experience coaching in Canada. He is eager share his international tennis experience and contribute to the successful development of future players and the sport.

Besides tennis, Aleksa’s other passions are skiing, biking, playing the guitar and violin, reading books and watching tv shows.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• Respect for Sports: Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders (2024)
• 15+ years of tennis experience
• BEng, Geodesy and Geoinformatics, University of Belgrade, Serbia

Daniel grew up in Coquitlam and is now in his second year at UBC studying Psychology. Daniel dedicated a significant amount of time to tennis, excelling both in his junior years and at university. Daniel won the Provincial Championships as a junior and played a pivotal role in leading the UBC Men’s tennis team to nationals.

Prior to teaching at Summer Smash Tennis, Daniel volunteered at Elite Tennis Academy where he coached high performance tennis players. He is looking forward to sharing his tennis experience with players new and old to the game.

Outside of tennis, Daniel enjoys running, pickleball, and watching movies.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• UBC Men’s Tennis Team (2023-Present)

Arnav was born and raised in Vancouver where he attended St. George’s. In the fall, he will be starting his undergrad at UBC, studying science and European history.

From a young age, Arnav was involved with a number of sports, particularly tennis and basketball. He first joined Summer Smash as a student of the summer camps when he was nine years old. He was coached by Marshall and Spencer, who he now is fortunate enough to work with. Their attention to detail and desire to leave no student behind is one of the reasons that Arnav loves tennis. Before becoming a coach, Arnav volunteered as a junior coach at Summer Smash Tennis. This summer will be his fourth year coaching.

Outside of school and coaching, Arnav loves to play basketball, work out, and spend time with his family.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1

Alexis was born and raised in the Philippines. She moved to Vancouver, Canada in 2015 and attended high school at Point Grey Secondary.

In the Philippines, Alexis played tennis competitively at a national level during her middle school years. Since moving to Canada, Alexis has geared her passion for tennis into coaching. 

Alexis joined the Summer Smash Tennis team in 2021 and appreciates the students and coaches. Alexis started coaching with the UBC Tennis Center camps in 2018. She was a part-time tennis instructor at UBC Tennis for over 4 years and taught students from a variety of ages at the fundamental and competitive level. 

Off the court, Alexis enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to the beach, and chilling at home with her Instagram famous cat, Bella.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• First Aid & CPR/AED level A
• 4 years of coaching experience 
• 12+ years of tennis experience
• Top 20 U12 Juniors Philippines (2011) 
• Bachelor of Science, Honours in Biotechnology at UBC (2022) 
• Diploma in Biotechnology, Honours in Biotechnology with Distinction at BCIT (2020)

Emer was born and raised in Ireland. She moved to Vancouver in 2019. Her love for traveling made the trip across the pond an easy one. She has since found herself taking up tennis again, having last played as a kid. She received a Bachelor’s degree from Dublin City University in Physical Education and Mathematics Teaching, and is currently working as a PE and Math teacher in Vancouver. Emer has been an active athlete since a very young age and has continued her sporting career here playing gaelic football, soccer, winter skiing, running and hiking throughout the year. 

• B.C. Ministry Certified Teacher

Keira has lived all over Canada before moving to Vancouver. She finished high school in Nova Scotia and then received her Bachelor’s degree from Western University in Ontario. Keira has also completed the Bachelor of Education Program at UBC and received her full teaching qualification. She is currently a grade 3 teacher and has coached a variety of teams, worked in a variety of schools with all ages. 

Keira has played a variety of sports her entire life and loves to stay active. Keira loves tennis and has enjoyed playing tennis since she was young recreationally. Keira is super excited help young beginners develop a love for the game.

Keira also enjoys running and has even run a marathon. She loves hiking and reading in her spare time.

• B.C. Ministry Certified Teacher
• BEd, University of British Columbia
• BA, Western University
• First Aid Certificate
• Responsible Adult Course

Ben grew up playing tennis in Vancouver throughout highschool. He is in his first year of university after graduating from Vancouver College. He has been playing tennis competitively since the age of 8 which includes competing in many provincial championships as well as some ITF’s. He is now part of the UBC Men’s Tennis team.

Ben’s coaching experience has mainly been through volunteering at the UBC Tennis Centre. He has plenty of experience working with kids leading youth groups and being the fourth child of ten. He is able to bring energy and help all kids to have fun in and outside of tennis.

Ben is studying business at Corpus Christi College hoping to transfer into UBC. He likes to play many sports while in college, especially tennis and basketball. In the summer Ben runs a flower and plant business in South Surrey.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1

Veronica grew up all around Vancouver and is currently in her senior year of high school at St. John Paul II Academy. She began her tennis journey at the age of 5 when she picked up her first tennis racket and discovered her love for the sport. Until the age of 14, Veronica played high competitive tennis as she competed in a number of Provincial Championships as well as u12 Nationals.

Thanks to tennis, Veronica learned many valuable lessons which has developed her passion for many sports. Her competitive spirit and unrelenting commitment led her to excel in each of her athletic endeavors. Veronica is the captain of the St. John Paul II Academy’s Volleyball, basketball, and Ultimate Frisbee teams as well as representing her school in the Provincial Championships for Cross Country and Track & Field. Her broad experience across the spectrum of sports provides her with a unique perspective of coaching and training, making her a well-rounded coach.

Veronica recently completed her first summer working with Summer Smash where she was able to further enrich her coaching abilities and gained valuable experience. Her experience with children is extensive as she stems from a large family of ten and does volunteer work at summer day camps, where she actively engages with and mentors young kids.

• Tennis Canada  Instructor Level 1

Raul Francisquiny was born and raised in Brazil. Sports has always been a passion of Raul’s and he has practiced tennis since he was 4 years old. Raul competed at a high level since he was 10 years old, being one of the five best players in the country throughout his junior career (U14, 16, 18). He was a  professional level tennis player for 2 years, collecting 10 ATP points and being ranked as high as number 960 in the world at 19 years old. 

Raul has a Marketing and International Trade & Logistics Degree and worked a year as social media analyst for a first division soccer team in Brazil. In Canada, Raul has worked as  tennis professional for 7 years. 

Off the court, Raul enjoys playing soccer, movies and nature/hiking.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• Tennis Canada Club Professional 1
• 16 years tennis experience
• Top 5 ranked Junior in Brazil ( U14,16,18) 
• 10 point ATP (*967) – 2012 
• Marketing Degree, Facamp – Brazil
• International Trade & Logistics – BCIT

Alex grew up in Portland, Oregon and began playing tennis with his father as soon as he could hold a racquet. He grew up playing junior tournament level tennis through his early teens and played 3 years of varsity level tennis for his high school in Oregon with one of the strongest tennis programs in the state. Alex has taught with Summer Smash since 2023 and has experience working with both kids and adults in group and private settings.

Alex is currently studying Economics and Data Science at the University of British Columbia. 

Off the court, Alex enjoys playing guitar, ultimate frisbee, and skiing. Alex also speaks Spanish and is the vice president of CiTR 101.9 FM, the local university radio station.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1

From a young age Devon has chased new opportunities in all aspects of his life. Being born and raised in Abbotsford, Devon made the most of what the city had to offer by actively participating in every sport his high school offered, specializing in the Decathlon for Track & Field. Following a Provincial gold medal in 2016, Devon decided to further focus on his education, which inspired the move to North Vancouver to begin his Bachelor of Legal Studies.

While completing his degree, Devon earned multiple certifications, worked over a dozen different jobs and began to actively participate in community events. Rather than simply focus on school, Devon wanted to leave with much more life experience than just a college degree. This led Devon to work in places such as Mt. Seymour, as a Residence Advisor and as an Active Health Coach. Devon also began and learned a couple local sports including skiing and bouldering.

Now working as a Corporate Paralegal, Devon moved to Kitsilano and decided to pick up another local sport, tennis. This led him to take lessons with Summer Smash and work part time at the Vancouver Lawn and Tennis Club. Developing a love for the sport and with his passion to help others in the community, Devon completed his level 1 instructor training to begin coaching with Summer Smash.

Certifications

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• 200H hours Registered Yoga Teacher Training
• Level 5 168 hours – Teaching English as a Foreign Language 
• First Aid & CPR Certification

Experience

• Worked at a tennis club and trained by Summer Smash 
• 2016 BC Provincial Track and Field Champion and Medalist (400m Relay, Multis)
• Track and Field + Cross Country Youth Coach

Education

• Bachelor of Legal Studies at Capilano University (2023)

Jovana is from Burnaby and is currently studying Sport Science at Douglas College. Jovana’s love for tennis was sparked at the age of four, and although she loved and dedicated many hours to volleyball, all roads seemed to lead back to tennis for her. In her senior years of high school, she competed on the tennis team, receiving the MVP award in grade 11 and winning the Burnaby-New West district banner in grade 12. 

She took the first step on her coaching path by participating in the Inspire Through Sport female provincial mentorship program, where she gained knowledge from experienced female coaches and made significant strides in building her leadership abilities and confidence. Some of Jovana’s early coaching experience include teaching at summer camps for Break-Point Sports and helping out with junior development and girls programs at Burnaby Tennis Club. She hopes to make a positive difference in young people’s lives and help them realize that they are more capable than they think.

Off the court, Jovana has been playing the flute for over six years and is passionate about learning Spanish and French. She enjoys watching travel and cooking shows and is a big Toronto Raptors fan.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• Certified in Standard First Aid & CPR/AED level C 
• 14+ years of tennis experience

Jared, originally from Port Moody, BC, began playing tennis at the age of five and has been competing since he was eight. He has competed at various levels, both nationally and internationally, during his junior years. Jared attended the University of Alberta, where he played for five years on the Golden Bears tennis team. Recently, he returned to BC to pursue his education degree through the Professional Development Program (PDP) at UBC and continues to play tennis on the UBC team.

In addition to tennis, Jared enjoys playing hockey, hiking, and paddleboarding.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
  
• UBC Varsity Tennis Team, 2023-2024
• High Performance Coach at University of Alberta, 2019-2022
• BC Ministry Certified Teacher
• BA, Psychology, University of Alberta, 2023
• BEd, University of British Columbia, 2024

Kosuke Roger Matsubara was born and raised in Vancouver and is a dual citizen of Japan and Canada. He in his senior year of high school at St. George’s School. From a young age Kosuke had a passion for sports, picking up tennis from his brother, but especially his father, who gave Kosuke the middle name of his favourite tennis player, Roger Federer. His passion for tennis began when he was 5, and he went on to play competitive tennis through elementary and high school. Kosuke is excited  to give back to the community and provide the next generation with the same experiences of joy and friendship that he enjoyed as a student at Summer Smash.

Kosuke hopes that he will be able to use his prior experiences with different sports, teams, and coaches, to help create an enjoyable and meaningful experience for his students.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1

Yoshi Matsubara grew up in Vancouver and went to St. George’s School during high school. He picked up tennis at the young age of 7, in part due to his father’s passion for the sport. Tennis was Yoshi’s first competitive sport growing up, and he pursued the sport at a high level until the age of 14, playing in junior tournaments across BC. He then made the switch to basketball and played on his high school basketball team from Grades 8-12. Although basketball became his main focus during this time, he continued to play tennis on the school tennis team.  

Yoshi began volunteering as a tennis coach at Summer Smash Tennis in 2018 and has been a full-time coach since 2019. He strives to use his experience as a player to enhance the development of his students. His goal for every lesson is to be able to teach the sport he loves to the best of his capabilities. He also has a passion for working with children, and has spent multiple summers volunteering at youth summer camps. 

Yoshi recently graduated from University of British Columbia, earning a degree in Sciences. Off the court, Yoshi loves to play basketball, workout at the gym, and travel.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• CPR Certification
• 12 years of tennis experience 

• BSc Combined Major in Science at UBC (2022)

Alan was born and raised in Vancouver where he attended St. George’s School. He began his competitive tennis journey at the age of 12, and has continued to play at a high level. Apart from tennis, Alan is also involved in soccer, water polo, and both concert and jazz band at school. 

Alan looks forward to using his experience in many different sports to be able to coach others to success. Alan is fluent in both French and English, and enjoys playing spikeball with his friends.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1

Ishaan Modi grew up in Vancouver and, having recently graduated from Harvard College, is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the New England Conservatory of Music. Ishaan was first introduced to tennis at the age of 4, and he has since become a passionate player, fan, and coach. In high school, he had the opportunity to play on the St. George’s tennis team, where he gained invaluable competitive experience. As he completed his studies at Harvard, Ishaan continued to play tennis on the school’s club tennis team, serving as a captain in his final year. Ishaan also follows the professional game closely – his favourite players are Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz.

Ishaan deeply enjoys working with children, growing up with two younger brothers of his own. In the past, Ishaan has been a piano teacher, part-time babysitter, and Pedalheads instructor. His experiences in these positions have carried over to Summer Smash, where he first began coaching in 2018.

In his free time, Ishaan enjoys reading, weight lifting, playing foosball, and spending time with family and friends. Ishaan hopes to continue playing and coaching tennis for many years to come.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• 4 years coaching experience
• Harvard Club Tennis Team 2021-2024 Captain 2023-2024
• BA Neuroscience (French Citation), Harvard College 2024

• MM French Horn Performance, NEC 2025

Yan started playing tennis since she was ten years old in China. Yan won many championships in her hometown as a junior. She attended Zhejiang University in 2006 and played for the highly ranked Zhejiang University varsity team. This is where Yan started teaching kids and adults during university. Yan moved to Vancouver in 2012. She was certified as an instructor by Tennis Canada in 2013, and has since continued teaching tennis in Vancouver.

• Tennis Canada Level 1 Instructor
• Champion Mixed Doubles 8.0, 2024 Capilano Cup & National Bank Family Day
• Finalist Women Doubles 35, MT700 Vancouver Masters 2024
• Champion Women Singles 35, MT700 Vancouver Masters 2024
• Finalist Women Doubles 35, MT400 Vancouver Masters 2023
• Champion Women Singles 35, MT400 Vancouver Masters 2023
• Finalist Mixed Doubles 4.5, 2023 Delta Open
• Finalist Women Singles 4.5, 2023 Burnaby Open
• Champion Women Singles 35, 2023 BCSWTA Amica Grand Prix Championships
• Finalist Mixed Doubles 4.5, 2015 Burnaby Open
• Champion Mixed Doubles 4.5, 21st Coquitlam Open 2014
• Champion Mixed Doubles 4.5, 82nd Stanley Park Open 2013

Tenaya is from San Francisco and moved to Vancouver in 2021 to attend UBC, where she is completing a degree in history and international relations. She began playing tennis at age six and joined her high school’s varsity tennis team in grade nine, where she strengthened her love for the sport and rose to become captain.

Tenaya spent two years as a tennis camp coach for children aged five to thirteen, where she learned just how much she loved coaching. Beyond camps, she has experience with both youth and adult private lessons.

During her free time, Tenaya loves to surf, knit and read mystery novels.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1

Maya Vasko’s upbringing spans from Singapore, where she lived until the age of 16, before moving to Vancouver Island to attend Brentwood College School as a boarding student. She started her competitive tennis journey at the age of 9, competing extensively in SPEX tournaments in Singapore. She continued tennis throughout high school, making significant contributions as a member of the varsity tennis team.

Currently in her fourth year at The University of British Columbia, Maya is pursuing a degree in Psychology, leveraging her passion for understanding human behavior and interaction. With a strong foundation in working with children and a deep interest in learning about people, Maya aims to translate her experiences into her time here at Summer Smash. 

Beyond the tennis court, Maya enjoys hiking, baking and the gym.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1
• 16 + years of tennis experience

Ashton Wong was born and raised in Vancouver and grew up in Kerrisdale. He graduated from Kerrisdale Elementary and currently attends Vancouver College.  Ashton started playing tennis at the age of 5 years old and learned to play through many years of Summer Smash programs. Although basketball is Ashton’s first sport, he has a deep connection to tennis and a true love for the game. 

Ashton first developed his passion for teaching at a young age watching Spencer and Marshall coach. This inspired and motivated Ashton to do the same for others, leading him to volunteer in basketball camps and tennis lessons. Ashton truly enjoys coaching others and strives to be a leader on and off the court. 

Outside of tennis, Ashton loves playing basketball, eating food, buying, trading, and collecting shoes, and traveling around America.

• Tennis Canada Instructor Level 1