Portrait of Riccardo Leone, High Performance tennis coach and founder of Evolve, specializing in science based tennis training and biomechanics.

Riccardo Leone

Sport Scientist | High Performance Tennis Coach

High Performance tennis coach Riccardo Leone instructing a player on a clay court, demonstrating science based tennis training methods in action.
Icon representing Riccardo Leone, the High Performance tennis coach and founder of Evolve.

About Me

High-performance tennis coach with 10 years of international experience across Europe and Australia, coaching and mentoring top ITF junior and professional players.
He is recognised for his strong expertise in biomechanics, physical conditioning, and sports psychology.
His coaching philosophy blends discipline, innovation, and a player-centered approach, with a clear focus on long-term development and peak performance under pressure, both on and off the court.
He designs personalised, high-intensity training programs tailored to each athlete’s needs, fostering consistency, resilience, and competitive excellence.

High Performance tennis coach Riccardo Leone working with a player on court, applying science based tennis training and potentially tennis cognitive training principles.
Icon of Riccardo Leone playing, symbolizing Riccardo Leone's expertise in Biomechanics, Tennis cognitive training, and Sports science application in tennis training.

Areas of expertise

Biomechanics

By using biomechanical principles players can optimize stroke efficiency and reduce injury risk. His approach emphasizes movement quality, energy transfer, and body coordination tailored to each athlete.

Cognitive training

Game sports are based on quick adaptations to a changing environment, depending on a specific tactical situation. He integrates cognitive challenges into on-court drills to develop decision-making, focus, and anticipation. His training sharpens players’ mental speed and enhances tactical awareness under pressure.

Fitness Training

Mind and Body must work as a unit. The body must be capable of performing under pressure and has to be worked out following individual programs. His work supports long-term athletic development through structured movement education.

Graduation cap icon, highlighting Riccardo Leone's academic background in Sports science, which underpins his science based tennis training.

Education

Riccardo, by pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science, deepened his understanding of biomechanics, motor learning, and physical conditioning—core pillars of his coaching method. Alongside, his studies in Psychology provide insight into athlete behavior, motivation, and mental resilience, which he applies daily on and off the court. His academic path supports a science-based approach to tennis, combining evidence with practical experience. Through continuous learning and certifications, he stays aligned with modern coaching standards.
Education is not just a background for Riccardo—it’s an active tool he uses to shape smarter, more adaptive athletes.

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (2026)

  • ITF Tennis Coach Level 2

  • ITF Padel Coach Level 2

  • EFA Fitness Coach

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Business handshke icon, signifying Riccardo Leone's extensive work experience as a High Performance tennis coach across multiple continents and countries.

Work Experience

Riccardo’s decade-long career has taken him from coaching junior programs in Sydney to elite academies in Europe, most recently at the Rafa Nadal Academy where he tailored science-driven training for players of all levels.
At Global Tennis Team Academy, he combined high-performance tennis and fitness coaching to guide Futures-level juniors through rigorous tournament preparation.
In Italy, his roles at Sunball Tennis and Le Rocce Tennis & Padel Club saw him lead youth and adult programs, develop innovative drills, and manage coaching teams with a focus on service excellence.
As founder of Evolve, he now synthesizes these experiences into a cohesive, research-based methodology that benefits clubs and individual athletes alike.
Each position has sharpened his skills in technical instruction, program design, and leadership, driving his passion for transformative tennis education.

A solhouette playing the guidar icon, indicating Riccardo Leone's practical skills in video analysis and professional racket stringing, supporting his science based tennis training.

Skills

  • Professional Racquet Stringer

  • Video Maker - For video analysis or resumĂ© purposes

  • Computing Skills - Office Suite, Photo, Video editing, Website Development, A.I. proficiency

  • Tennis Gear Expert

Speech icon, representing Riccardo Leone's fluency in English, Spanish, and Italian as a global High Performance tennis coach.

Languages

  • English - Native Proficiency

  • Spanish - Full Professional Proficiency

  • Italian - Native Proficiency

  • French - Basic

Thank you!