Tennis: Meet the Pros
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Carel Pretorius, Head Tennis Professional
Carel served as Teaching Professional at Wightman Tennis Center for 7 years, before becoming Head Tennis Professional in 2009. He has also held a number of positions at several Boston-area clubs:
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Ward Januzzi, Assistant Tennis Pro
In addition to playing Sectional, National, and Professional events for four years, Ward Januzzi brings over 38-years of teaching experience to the courts. Ward enjoys working with all ages and skill levels, beginner to advanced, children as well as adults.
Ward's success as an instructor can be attributed to his communication and interpersonal relationships on the courts, as well as his dedication to evaluation, planning, and goal setting. He believes in paying close attention to his players, which allows him to address concerns and questions that will help them learn proper technique in order to achieve their goals.
During his teaching career, Ward has been fortunate to work with Nationally ranked Junior players and has coached at hundreds of tournaments. Additionally, he has taught alongside Grand Slam winners and top tour coaches, as well as attended on-court and off-court seminars for coaches run by the USTA and the USPTA. One of the many highlights in his teaching career was coaching a National Champion in the 80-and-over division.
Ward continues to compete in USTA tournaments and has held numerous Sectional and National rankings.
In addition to playing Sectional, National, and Professional events for four years, Ward Januzzi brings over 38-years of teaching experience to the courts. Ward enjoys working with all ages and skill levels, beginner to advanced, children as well as adults.
Ward's success as an instructor can be attributed to his communication and interpersonal relationships on the courts, as well as his dedication to evaluation, planning, and goal setting. He believes in paying close attention to his players, which allows him to address concerns and questions that will help them learn proper technique in order to achieve their goals.
During his teaching career, Ward has been fortunate to work with Nationally ranked Junior players and has coached at hundreds of tournaments. Additionally, he has taught alongside Grand Slam winners and top tour coaches, as well as attended on-court and off-court seminars for coaches run by the USTA and the USPTA. One of the many highlights in his teaching career was coaching a National Champion in the 80-and-over division.
Ward continues to compete in USTA tournaments and has held numerous Sectional and National rankings.
Niko Bubnic, Assistant Tennis Pro
Nikola Bubnic brings over 10 years of teaching experience prior to coming to WightmanTennis Center. A native of Serbia, Niko was an official sparing partner of two former world #1 players (Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic) and developed teaching and managing skills at that Serbian Tennis Academy. In the US, Niko has worked as the Director of Junior Programs at Netresults Tennis in Brookline and Assistant Director ofTennis at Black Rock Country Club in Hingham.
Niko attended the University of San Diego, where he played Division 1 tennis and competed in the #1 position for singles and doubles. During that time, the team was ranked #16 nationally, and Niko was individual ranked #36 in the country. After college, Niko played professionally, earning ATP world ranking #989 singles and #1059 doubles.
Niko continues to compete, playing Men's open tournaments in the Northeast. He also competes in the Boston Paddle League and is working toward becoming a certified paddle instructor.
Nikola Bubnic brings over 10 years of teaching experience prior to coming to WightmanTennis Center. A native of Serbia, Niko was an official sparing partner of two former world #1 players (Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic) and developed teaching and managing skills at that Serbian Tennis Academy. In the US, Niko has worked as the Director of Junior Programs at Netresults Tennis in Brookline and Assistant Director ofTennis at Black Rock Country Club in Hingham.
Niko attended the University of San Diego, where he played Division 1 tennis and competed in the #1 position for singles and doubles. During that time, the team was ranked #16 nationally, and Niko was individual ranked #36 in the country. After college, Niko played professionally, earning ATP world ranking #989 singles and #1059 doubles.
Niko continues to compete, playing Men's open tournaments in the Northeast. He also competes in the Boston Paddle League and is working toward becoming a certified paddle instructor.
Karen McNamara, Assistant Tennis Pro
Karen McNamara grew up in the Boston area where she held junior rankings in both singles and doubles. In 1981, her family was voted the National Tennis Family of the Year as well as New England Tennis Family of the Year. She played varsity tennis at Boston College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in communications, a master's degree in counseling psychology, and a certification in mental health training. Karen brings many years of country club experience in Boston: The Country Club, Wellesley Country Club, Kingsbury Club, and Bosse Sports. She also had many years of experience at country clubs in San Francisco and Chicago. Karen has spent summers on Cape Cod teaching at Ocean Edge Resort and The Chequessett Yacht and Country Club.
Karen is the Director of Junior Teams and Sportsmanship at the Longwood Cricket Club in the summer and also teaches tennis to graduate students at Harvard University. She is a certified member of the USPTA in able-body and wheelchair tennis and was voted Wheelchair Tennis Pro of the Year for New England in 2017. For the last two spring seasons, Karen has been the Head Coach of varsity tennis at the Winsor School and enjoys her role in coaching players to reach their potential. In her spare time, Karen enjoys helping players enjoy the sport of tennis during many wheelchair events held at Harvard University and hopes to inspire more player to get involved.
Karen continues to play tennis competitively, and she is currently rated 5.0 in the USTA. She competed in Nationals in 2008, 2010, and 2014, and teaming with her mother, they have earned both a Gold and Silver ball in the National Sr. Mother-Daughter Grass Court Championships. In addition, Karen has been a competitive paddle tennis player since 1997 in the Greater Boston Women's Paddle Tennis League. Karen's passion is to inspiretennis players of all levels and abilities to achieve their goals while helping them to practice good sportsmanship, as well as fostering long-lasting friendships through the game of tennis.
In her spare time, Karen enjoys playing tennis with her 3 children and watching them play lacrosse, soccer, and tennis.
Karen McNamara grew up in the Boston area where she held junior rankings in both singles and doubles. In 1981, her family was voted the National Tennis Family of the Year as well as New England Tennis Family of the Year. She played varsity tennis at Boston College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in communications, a master's degree in counseling psychology, and a certification in mental health training. Karen brings many years of country club experience in Boston: The Country Club, Wellesley Country Club, Kingsbury Club, and Bosse Sports. She also had many years of experience at country clubs in San Francisco and Chicago. Karen has spent summers on Cape Cod teaching at Ocean Edge Resort and The Chequessett Yacht and Country Club.
Karen is the Director of Junior Teams and Sportsmanship at the Longwood Cricket Club in the summer and also teaches tennis to graduate students at Harvard University. She is a certified member of the USPTA in able-body and wheelchair tennis and was voted Wheelchair Tennis Pro of the Year for New England in 2017. For the last two spring seasons, Karen has been the Head Coach of varsity tennis at the Winsor School and enjoys her role in coaching players to reach their potential. In her spare time, Karen enjoys helping players enjoy the sport of tennis during many wheelchair events held at Harvard University and hopes to inspire more player to get involved.
Karen continues to play tennis competitively, and she is currently rated 5.0 in the USTA. She competed in Nationals in 2008, 2010, and 2014, and teaming with her mother, they have earned both a Gold and Silver ball in the National Sr. Mother-Daughter Grass Court Championships. In addition, Karen has been a competitive paddle tennis player since 1997 in the Greater Boston Women's Paddle Tennis League. Karen's passion is to inspiretennis players of all levels and abilities to achieve their goals while helping them to practice good sportsmanship, as well as fostering long-lasting friendships through the game of tennis.
In her spare time, Karen enjoys playing tennis with her 3 children and watching them play lacrosse, soccer, and tennis.
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Rob Schpeiser, Assistant Tennis Pro
Rob Schpeiser served as Head Professional of Wightman Tennis Center from 2002-2009. Prior to that time he worked as a tennis professional at a number of Boston-area clubs:
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