From Brazil to College Tennis

How Hugo Kezen built his path at Pfeiffer University

In this episode of the SMART Tennis™ Podcast, we sit down with Hugo Kezen to explore what it really takes to go from international tennis to competing at the college level in the United States.

From growing up in Rio de Janeiro to building a new life in North Carolina… Hugo shares the real challenges, adjustments, and opportunities that come with the journey.

If you're a player or parent trying to understand the college pathway… this is a conversation you’ll want to hear.

• How Hugo got started in tennis and the influence of his athletic background
• The key differences between training in Brazil vs the US
• What the recruiting process actually looks like for international players
• How visas, agents, and logistics work behind the scenes
• Adjusting to a new culture, environment, and expectations
• What college tennis team culture is really like
• The role of mindset, resilience, and self belief in long term success
• What young players should focus on if they want to play in college

00:00 — Introduction & overview
00:48 — Early tennis in Brazil
02:48 — Transition from soccer
05:46 — Growing up in a football culture
07:06 — Adapting to US training
10:13 — Recruitment journey
13:30 — Visa process
15:04 — Cultural adaptation
20:03 — First impressions in the US
26:25 — Starting college life
28:51 — Coaching style & team culture
33:02 — Team diversity
35:59 — Season highlights
39:39 — College tennis environment
43:38 — Tournament experiences
45:46 — Mental preparation
46:56 — Advice for players
48:02 — Closing thoughts

Learn more about SMART Tennis™👉 https://tennistimeacademies.com/

Make a Living. Make a Difference. (Coaching Opportunities)👉 https://tennistimeacademies.com/make-a-living-make-a-difference/

SMART Tennis Makes SMART Kids (Book)👉 https://store.tennistimeacademies.com/SMART_Tennis_Book_on_Amazon

Apply to be on the podcast👉 https://podcast.tennistimeacademies.com/apply-to-be-on-the-podcast

Connect with Hugo on Instagram👉 https://www.instagram.com/kezen_hugo/

In this episode of the SMART Tennis™ Podcast, we sit down with Declan Berndt to explore how tennis evolves across different stages of life… from competitive play, to coaching, to raising kids in the game.

This conversation highlights how tennis is more than just a sport.

It becomes a framework for learning, growth, and connection: shaping players, coaches, and families over time.

Declan shares insights from his experience as a competitive college player, a coach, and now a parent navigating the game alongside his kids. Together, we unpack what really matters when it comes to long-term development, enjoyment, and building a healthy relationship with tennis.

• How tennis evolves from competition into a lifelong activity
• The differences between playing, coaching, and parenting in the sport
• Why fun, environment, and community matter more than early results
• How to avoid burnout and keep kids engaged in the game
• What parents should look for when choosing a tennis program
• How tennis builds confidence, resilience, and life perspective

• How modern approaches like the SMART Tennis™ Method are helping more families get started

The goal isn’t just to develop great tennis players…
It’s to help kids and families enjoy the process, stay engaged, and build something that lasts.

When tennis is introduced the right way, it becomes:

✔ A source of confidence

✔ A place for community

✔ A lifelong skill

00:00 - Introduction and background
02:38 - College tennis experiences and transitions
04:20 - Lessons learned through competition
06:34 - Burnout and balancing tennis with life
07:26 - Parenting and introducing kids to tennis
10:21 - Controlling what you can on and off the court
12:57 - Training approaches and development
14:08 - Finding the right environment for growth
16:43 - Parent involvement and support
18:28 - Accessibility and affordability in tennis
23:48 - Preparing kids for competition
26:07 - Coach and parent alignment
27:47 - Keeping tennis enjoyable
38:59 - Growth of pickleball and other racket sports
44:26 - Prioritizing fun and long-term engagement

Learn more about our programs, philosophy, and how we help kids and families get started in tennis:

👉 https://tennistimeacademies.com

A simple, practical guide for parents to introduce tennis at home and build strong fundamentals in a fun and approachable way:

👉 https://store.tennistimeacademies.com/SMART_Tennis_Book_on_Amazon

If you're a coach or organization looking to grow your impact and bring a structured, positive tennis program to your community:

👉 Make a Living. Make a Difference. - Tennis Time Academies

Apply to Be On the Show

⁠https://podcast.tennistimeacademies.com/apply-to-be-on-the-podcast

If you enjoyed this episode:

✔ Share it with a tennis family✔ Follow the podcast✔ Leave a review

Your support helps us continue building a more accessible, positive, and impactful future for tennis.

🎙️ Unlocking College Tennis Recruiting with Ivan Yatsuk

In this episode, we sit down with former Division 1 player and entrepreneur Ivan Yatsuk to break down what it really takes to navigate the college tennis recruiting process.

If you’re a parent trying to guide your child…
a player with college tennis on your mind…
or a coach looking to better support your athletes…

This conversation gives you a clear look at how recruiting actually works today… and how technology is changing the game.

👉 Learn more about Recruited Pro

If you’re serious about playing college tennis, we highly recommend booking a free consultation call directly through their website.

It’s a great way to get clarity on where you stand… and what your next steps should be.

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Ivan shares his journey from high-level player to building a platform designed to help athletes get recruited more efficiently… and more effectively.

• How Ivan went from college tennis player to building a recruiting platform
• Why recruiting is one of the most important (and misunderstood) parts of tennis development
• How tools like UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) impact opportunities
• What college tennis is really like behind the scenes
• How social media and NIL are starting to influence recruiting
• Where tennis is heading… and how players can stay ahead

(00:00) Introduction to Ivan and his tennis background
(02:38) Growing up with tennis in Florida
(04:46) Moving from Belarus and early development
(06:30) Recruiting journey… University of South Florida and Northwestern University
(07:35) Advice for players going through recruiting
(10:08) Inside Division 1 tennis
(11:24) Why college tennis matters long term
(12:42) College vs professional Futures level
(13:50) Team culture and environment
(15:44) Memorable moments as a player
(16:31) Transitioning between programs
(17:30) Balancing academics and tennis
(18:24) Challenges like travel and schedule
(24:26) Building Recruited Pro
(29:13) Technology’s role in recruiting
(32:28) NIL and social media impact
(36:20) Expanding beyond tennis
(40:11) Rankings and recruiting strategy
(42:48) Technology’s impact on development
(43:33) The future of tennis

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About Tennis Time Academies:

👉 Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tennistimeacademies/

👉 SMART Tennis Makes SMART Kids (Book):
https://store.tennistimeacademies.com/SMART_Tennis_Book_on_Amazon

Work with Tennis Time Academies

Make a Living. Make a Difference. - Tennis Time Academies

Apply to Be On the Show

⁠https://podcast.tennistimeacademies.com/apply-to-be-on-the-podcast