Our Lead coaches

Michail “Mike” Pervolarakis offers a unique perspective forged at the highest levels of collegiate and professional tennis. As a former ATP professional with a career-high world ranking of #366 in singles and #157 in doubles, Mike understands the dedication and strategy required to compete on the international circuit. He has proudly represented Greece in the Davis Cup, bringing a wealth of team competition experience to his coaching. His professional success was built on a standout collegiate career at the University of Portland, where he was a dominant force. Honored as the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in both 2017 and 2018, he led the Pilots from the top of the lineup. It was during this time he also completed his Bachelor of Science in Psychology, graduating in 2018. This combination of elite athletic experience and a formal understanding of the mental side of performance allows Mike to bring a strong technical and tactical approach to every session. He excels at helping players develop not only their strokes but also their strategic thinking and on-court resilience.

Samir "Sam" Iftikhar draws from a deep well of experience that spans the international junior circuit, a decorated collegiate career, and the professional tour where he was formerly ATP world-ranked. For over 10 years, he has worked with junior and adult players of all levels, developing a coaching style that is both high-performance and personally attentive. His extensive background as a top competitor directly informs his coaching. An accomplished player, Sam has competed in the Davis Cup, won the U.S. Over 30s National Clay Court Championship, and is a two-time Pacific Northwest Men's Open Singles Champion and the 2018 Washington State Open Champion. While a nationally-ranked player at the University of New Mexico, Sam’s discipline extended into his academics, earning him the title of Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2015 while he completed both a degree in Philosophy and an MBA. This unique combination of athletic and academic dedication shapes his entire coaching philosophy. Drawing from his experiences as a Division I coach, director of a high-performance junior program, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Sam offers well-rounded mentorship. He takes pride in his ability to communicate clearly and connect with each player, providing comprehensive guidance that goes beyond technique to help them achieve their goals.