Meet our Tennis Director and Coach!
Tennis Director and Coach Rafael "Rafa" Martinez brings a lifetime of dedication to tennis as a top-ranked player and an accomplished coach and leader. Born in San Diego and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, Rafa was nationally ranked among the Top 10 juniors and represented his state at the Junior Olympics. His playing career continued in the United States, where he competed at the NCAA Division II level and earned the honor of Male Athlete of the Year at Holy Names University.
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Off the court, Rafa holds a Bachelor's degree in Business and Sports Management and an MBA from Sonoma State University. He is also certified in Sports Psychology and blends mental strength training into every coaching program he leads.
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Rafa’s coaching journey has been just as dynamic. He served as Tennis Director at Academia de Tenis HRT in Northern California, where he built successful adult and junior programs. As Junior Director at Balboa Tennis Club, he developed a thriving junior pathway program. Rafa also served as Head Coach of the High Performance program at All Court Tennis Academy and is the Founder of Montmar Tennis Academy, where he developed both junior and adult training programs.
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As Assistant Coach for both the men's and women's tennis teams at Sonoma State University and later as Head Coach of the women's team, Rafa helped lead teams to national rankings and developed collegiate-level athletes both on and off the court.
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His passion for developing high-performance players has led to partnerships with elite academies in Spain and Argentina. He has organized two international training trips to Spain, giving 31 young athletes the opportunity to train and compete in national-level tournaments abroad. Rafa has also coached a professional player, ATP competitor Marco Alvarez, and has helped over 30 athletes strengthen their mindsets to reach their full potential.
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At the heart of Rafa’s mission is a commitment to providing the opportunities he once wished for as a young player. He believes tennis is more than a sport; it is a powerful vehicle for teaching life lessons such as emotional control, grit, resilience, passion, commitment, and discipline. Whether guiding juniors toward collegiate/professional tennis or nurturing a lifelong love for the game in adult and junior players, Rafa’s goal is clear: to help every athlete unlock their full potential through a foundation of hard work, heart, and belief.
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Coach Rafa brings his experience, passion, and vision to Mountain View Sports & Racquet Club. He is building one of the premier junior and adult tennis programs in San Diego.
