Raul Iriarte – Director of The Young Tournament Players Group

As a junior tennis player growing up in his native Bolivia Raul was the top ranked junior player and junior National Champion. He went on to represent Bolivia in Davis Cup competition and was elected team captain. He then received a full tennis scholarship to Navarro College in Texas.

Raul first joined 4 Star Tennis Academy’s teaching staff in 1979 to help develop junior tennis players from young tournament players to Nationally ranked players. From 1980-84 he was the Tennis Director at Manor Country Club in Rockville Md. And from 1985-2000 he was the Head Tennis Professional and Tennis Director at Woodmont Country Club also in Rockville. In 2001 He rejoined 4 Star Academy’s and is currently the Director of 4 Star’s Young Tournament Players Development Program working with youngsters from 8-12 years of age.

Raul has coached numerous Nationally Ranked Collegiate and Junior tennis players, including his son Andy, who was ranked in the top 3 by the Mid Atlantic Tennis Association (MATA) and in the top 20 Nationally by the USTA. Andy has also competed internationally at ITF (International Tennis Federation) events and is currently attending NC State University on a full tennis scholarship.

Raul’s greatest tennis moment was when Andy received the USTA Sportsmanship Award at the Supernational Clay Court Championships.
Raul is proud to have worked with such tennis legends as Arthur Ashe and Andre Agassi. He also was a training partner for Guillermo Vilas, Johan Kriek, Andres Gomez Harold Solomon Mel Purcell and Bjorn Borg when they competed at Woodmont.

Quote: “I enjoy teaching tennis because I believe I make a difference in a child’s life through my commitment to excellence and my strong belief that tennis is a great sport that can be maintained throughout their life”.
Raul is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), the United Sates Tennis Association (USTA), and, he is a certified Professional United States Racket Stringer.