Thirty years in tennis.
Then the paddle.
Coach Gary Tan coaches tennis at Raffles Girls’ School and St Joseph’s Institution, leads Singapore’s PTR certification provider, and played US college tennis before any of it.
Champions, two seasons running.
Coach Gary joined the St Joseph’s Institution tennis programme in 2025 alongside Coach XT. The team won the National Schools B Division title that season and held it the next.
The National Schools title, and St Joseph’s Institution’s first in 34 years.
The crown retained the following season with the same coaching team.
From US college tennis and a Director of Tennis role to national schools coaching.
Two school teams, two different jobs.
Boys’ tennis, all divisions
Coaching the SJI programme since 2025, the season the B Division team took the National Schools title after a 34-year wait, and again through its defence the following year. The work is squad-level: selection, conditioning, matchplay patterns and the temperament to hold a lead.
Girls’ tennis
Coaching at one of Singapore’s strongest girls’ tennis schools, where the intake ranges from players with no competitive background to nationally ranked juniors inside the same squad, and the coaching has to serve both.
From Flagler College to the national schools circuit.
Left Singapore to play in the United States. All-American and Distinguished Academic All-American, and nationally ranked No. 6 in both singles and doubles at the NJCAA National Championships, before completing a degree in Business Administration and Economics at Flagler College.
Part of Singapore’s Davis Cup and SEA Games national training squads.
Two years as a teaching professional at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, working inside one of the best-known coach-education environments in American tennis.
Returned to Singapore and built the club’s tennis programme from the ground up.
Now the official Singapore provider for PTR certification, running coach-education courses across Singapore and Malaysia.
Joined the SJI tennis programme. National Schools B Division champions that season, and again in 2026.
He does not just hold the certifications. He awards them.
Coach Gary leads Sports By 5, the official Singapore provider for PTR certification, and tests and trains other tennis coaches as an International Tester and Clinician.
The tennis is why the pickleball works.
Coach Gary is Director of Pickle for TAG International and The PickleChoo Collection, and an AFP-appointed PPR Coach Developer. He teaches both sports the same way: contact point first, then shape, then tactics. It is also why he is the right person for a tennis player crossing over — he knows precisely which habits transfer and which have to go.
Frequently asked.
Does Coach Gary take private tennis students?
Tennis coaching with Coach Gary is arranged through TAG International Tennis Academy. Message +65 8962 8400 and availability will be confirmed, along with tennis rates, which differ from the pickleball rates published on this site.
Which schools does he coach?
Raffles Girls’ School and St Joseph’s Institution. At SJI he has been part of the coaching team since 2025, the season the B Division side won the National Schools title for the first time in 34 years, and through its defence in 2026.
Does he coach juniors outside school teams?
Yes, through TAG International Tennis Academy, from first racquet through to competitive junior play.
Can he certify tennis coaches?
Yes. He leads Sports By 5, the official Singapore provider for PTR certification, and is a PTR International Tester and Clinician. He holds the equivalent role in pickleball as an AFP-appointed PPR Coach Developer.
I play tennis and want to try pickleball. Where do I start?
Start with the tennis to pickleball page. It sets out what transfers from your tennis and what has to be unlearned, which is the part most crossover players get wrong.
Where are tennis sessions held?
Across the TAG International network, including Winchester Tennis Arena. Venues are confirmed when the session is booked.
Tennis or pickleball, same coach
Message Coach Gary directly to talk about tennis coaching, junior programmes or school squads.
