Vlad founded VS Tennis Academy after a decorated junior career that culminated in winning the 2023 FHSAA Class 3A State Championship at Wiregrass Ranch High School. Playing for longtime head coach Dave Wilson, Vlad finished the state tournament a perfect 17-0 and was crowned the overall state champion in doubles with partner Ninad Raut. He also clinched the team title in line 3 singles during the championship final against Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas — helping deliver Wiregrass Ranch its third state title in school history.

Vlad began playing tennis at age 8 in Kazakhstan, where he climbed to a Top 20 national ranking in his age group. He moved to Florida to pursue elite-level training, spending a year as a student at IMG Academy (ages 11-12) and a year at Saddlebrook Preparatory School (ages 12-13) — two of the most renowned tennis academies in the world, where he trained under coaches who have developed Grand Slam champions and ATP touring pros. He returned to Kazakhstan to continue competing on the international junior circuit before moving back to the United States, where he played for Wiregrass Ranch's powerhouse program, earned All-Conference First Team honors multiple times in the Sunshine Athletic Conference East, and was rated a 4-star Tennis Recruiting prospect with a current UTR of 9.

Vlad is one of the most credentialed young coaches in the region, holding certifications from five major bodies: the ATP Level C Coach Certification, USPTA Professional, USTA Coaching Professional, PTR Level 2, and ITPA Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) for tennis-specific strength and fitness coaching. He's actively working toward additional advanced certifications with the goal of becoming the most-credentialed coach in the country.

Vlad began coaching in 2021 and founded VS Tennis Academy to bring world-class training to recreational players, juniors, and competitive athletes across Tampa Bay. His approach emphasizes technical fundamentals, strategic match play, and the competitive mindset he developed at the state championship level.

Credentials: ATP Level C · USPTA Professional · USTA Coaching Professional · PTR Level 2 · ITPA CTPS · UTR 9 · 2023 FHSAA State Champion (Doubles & Team) · IMG Academy & Saddlebrook Alumnus · Fully Insured

Kanishkh is a Wesley Chapel native and former NCAA Division II tennis player whose junior career placed him among the top competitors in his age group nationally. Ranked as high as #58 in the country (class of 2020) by Tennis Recruiting and a 5-star recruit with a peak UTR of 11.75, Kanishkh's junior tournament wins include victories over future ATP World No. 5 Ben Shelton, 2019 French Open junior finalist Toby Kodat, and ATP pro Martin Damm Jr.

At Wiregrass Ranch High School under longtime coach Dave Wilson, Kanishkh was named Sunshine Athletic Conference Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors as a junior, going undefeated in conference play. He helped lead the Bulls to an FHSAA State Runner-Up finish and was part of one of the longest winning streaks in Florida high school tennis history — a Pasco County dynasty that included 10 straight district titles and 8 straight regional titles.

He continued his career at Saint Leo University, competing in the Sunshine State Conference at the NCAA Division II level.

 

Born in Kozhikode, Kerala, Kanishkh now brings that competitive background to VS Tennis Academy, coaching juniors, adults, and competitive players with a focus on technical fundamentals, footwork, and match-play strategy.

Credentials: PTR Level 1 Certified · Peak UTR 11.75 · Fully Insured · Former NCAA D2 (Saint Leo University)

Originally from Venezuela, Leo is a PTR Level 1 Certified coach at VS Tennis Academy. He brings a player's perspective to his lessons, with a focus on fundamentals, consistency, and footwork. Leo coaches kids and beginner adults at VS Tennis Academy, helping new players build a strong technical foundation while keeping the experience fun and approachable.

Credentials: PTR Level 1 Certified · Fully Insured