OUR PHILOSOPHY
"High standards create high outcomes. Every session is an opportunity to get better."
Ekaterina's approach was shaped inside one of the world's most demanding training environments, the Spartak Club in Moscow. The same system that produced Marat Safin, Anna Kournikova, Mikhail Youzhny, Andrey Rublev, and Elena Rybakina.
At Sysoeva Academy, that culture of excellence applies to every player at every level. Training is structured and purposeful. Feedback is clear and direct. The goal is measurable progress every single session.
Tennis builds character. Kids who train here become more confident, disciplined, and resilient habits that show up in school and in life.
High Standards
Show up prepared, train with purpose, hold the line on effort and respect.
Continuous Growth
Progress every session, not just wins. Measurable improvement every week.
Community
Players, coaches and families create a culture people want to be part of.
Accountability
We do what we say. Consistency beats talent when talent doesn't show up.
Character First
Confidence, resilience, work ethic. What we build on court transfers to life.
Elite Technique
Rooted in the proven Spartak system. Powerful, efficient, built to last.
Elite Player Development by Ekaterina Sysoeva
Ekaterina achieved a career high ranking inside the Top 200 in singles and Top 100 in doubles before transitioning into coaching. She opened her first academy in 2006 and has since worked with over 1,000 players, from beginners to high performance juniors.
Her coaching focuses on building strong technical foundations, efficient and powerful technique, athletic movement, and elite hand eye coordination. At Sysoeva Academy, training is structured and purposeful, with clear feedback, accountability, and high standards that emphasize preparation, discipline, and continuous improvement.
Ekaterina believes tennis builds character. Through consistent training, athletes develop confidence, resilience, responsibility, focus, and the ability to handle pressure. The goal is to create winners both on the court and in life.
She has guided players from beginner to elite levels, including her children Nikolay and Anastasia Sysoev, who competed at the Division I level at the University of Florida and the University of Nebraska Lincoln, reached UTR 13 and 10, and earned international ranking points professionally.
Timmy Phung serves as an Assistant Coach at Sysoeva Academy while competing as a collegiate athlete at the New College of Florida. A former ITF circuit competitor, Timmy achieved a career-high UTR of 12.8, bringing firsthand high-performance experience and a modern training perspective to the court.
His coaching philosophy centers on mastering fundamentals, developing efficient footwork, and building match-ready habits that translate directly into competitive success. Timmy emphasizes disciplined repetition, technical precision, and purposeful practice, helping players accelerate improvement while gaining the confidence to perform under pressure.
Timmy Phung
Assistant Coach
Nikolay Sysoev
Univeristy of Nebraska
Nikolay Sysoev is a senior student athlete at the University of Nebraska, where he has been a key contributor in both singles and doubles. Competing primarily in the No. 3 singles position, he produced a team leading 20 win singles season and finished with 36 combined victories, earning a place on Nebraska’s single season leaderboard. He also delivered important Big Ten wins and maintained a strong conference doubles record, demonstrating reliability in high pressure matches.
A multiple time Nebraska Scholar Athlete Honor Roll selection and two time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, Sysoev is recognized for his excellence both on and off the court. Originally from Moscow, Russia, and raised in Sarasota, Florida, he comes from a professional tennis family and brings elite standards, discipline, and competitive maturity to every environment.
Anastasia Sysoeva is a Division I tennis athlete who has competed at Syracuse University and will continue her collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame for her graduate year. As Captain of the Syracuse Women’s Tennis Team, she has been a consistent, multi year contributor in both singles and doubles, helping drive team performance at the highest level of college competition.
Her doubles play has earned a Top 15 national ranking, and she competes at a 10.3 UTR. Anastasia has also achieved career high WTA rankings of No. 814 in singles and No. 794 in doubles, reflecting her experience on the professional stage. Raised in a professional tennis family, she brings elite competitive standards, disciplined preparation, and resilient leadership to every environment she steps into, setting the tone both on and off the court.
Anastasia Sysoeva
Univeristy of Syracuse
