USTA Player Development Hires Former Top 100 Player Hugo Armando as USTA Coach
February 10, 2009
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The USTA announced today that Hugo Armando been hired as a USTA Coach. In this role, Armando will facilitate coaching and training programs to assist players working with USTA Player Development. He will be based at the USTA Training Center in Boca Raton, Fla., and will report to Jay Berger, Heads of Men’s Tennis, Player Development. Armando joined the coaching staff Monday, February 9.
“We’re thrilled to have Hugo join our staff,” said Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, Player Development. “Hugo was not only a top junior but a long-time professional as well, and our young players will be able to draw upon his experiences and knowledge as they continue in their own growth and development.”
Armando, 30, of Bradenton, Fla., is making the transition into coaching having retired last year after a 12-year professional career. He was ranked as high as No. 100 in singles and No. 85 in doubles and in 2007, he partnered with Xavier Malisse to win the doubles title at Delray Beach. Armando recorded victories over a number of top players including Nikolay Davydenko and Yevgeny Kefelnikov, who was ranked No. 6 in the world at the time, and, at the Challenger level, has six singles and 13 doubles titles. Armando was also a very accomplished junior player, and was ranked in the top eight in all four age groups in the USTA National Junior Standings, including a stint at No 1 in the USTA Boys’ 12s.
The new USTA Player Development unit has been created to identify and develop the next generation of American champions by surrounding the top junior players and young pros with the resources, facilities and coaching they need to reach their maximum potential. The Player Development program is based in Florida and operates USTA Training Centers in Boca Raton, Fla., and in Carson, Calif. Last year, the USTA announced its first two Certified Regional Training Centers, in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., as part of its expanded efforts to develop future American tennis champions. The USTA expects to name approximately ten more Regional Training Centers over the next five years.