American Coach Inclusion Program

2m read 01 Nov 2025 3mo ago

WTA

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & PARTNERS

The American version of the WTA Coach Inclusion Program was launched in 2021, marking a major strategic push by the WTA to address the longstanding under-representation of women in professional tennis coaching. Designed to recruit, educate, and elevate women coaches at all stages of their careers, the program established a structured pathway that combined formal certification, mentorship, and real-world experience on the WTA Tour.

The North American pilot began with a small inaugural class in 2021, providing participants with access to the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) coaching curriculum, developmental workshops, and opportunities to shadow WTA coaches at tournaments. By 2022 and 2023, the program had expanded significantly, increasing the size of each cohort and formalizing a multi-phase model that included preseason training, online education, on-court immersion, and long-term mentorship with veteran tour-level coaches.

With the launch of USTA Coaching in 2025, the USTA and WTA are joining forces in an unprecedented collaboration to deliver the 2025–2026 Coach Inclusion Program at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona. By hosting the program at Lake Nona—often referred to as the “Home of American Tennis”—participants will gain access to world-class facilities, cutting-edge training resources, and a dynamic environment where junior, collegiate and professional athletes train side by side. The collaboration signifies a shared commitment to elevating women in coaching, expanding professional opportunities, and strengthening the pipeline of qualified female leaders across the sport.

Since its inception, the program has produced a growing number of qualified female coaches, many of whom have gone on to influential and national leadership roles within the sport. Notably, several graduates have become captains in the Billie Jean King Cup (BJK Cup), underscoring the real-world impact of the program:

Aymet Uzcategui — Captain, Venezuela (Class of 2021)
Ling Zhang — Captain, Hong Kong (Class of 2023)
Denise Dy — Captain, Philippines (Class of 2024)
Domenica Gonzalez — Captain, Ecuador (Class of 2025)

APPLICANT CRITERIA & APPLICATION DEADLINES

To be eligible to apply you must meet two of the following criteria:

Nomination by USTA, Tennis Canada, or a South American Tennis Federation
Former WTA Full Member
Current or former WTA Associate Member with 2 of years performance coaching experience
Hold a current Coach certification or qualification
Private coach to ITF Junior player with 3 years of coaching experience.
Current National Police Check & Working with Children Check relevant to your country

Other qualifications that may be considered along with other criteria: