Pro Tennis Coach TJ Urhobo Offers High Performance Tennis & Fitness Training
The real backstory
From Humble Roots to International Tennis Coaching: The Story of T.J. Urhobo
T.J. Urhobo’s tennis journey started at a remarkably early age. Born into a sports‑driven Nigerian family, he first picked up a racquet at just 2 years old, inspired by his father—Mr. Urhobo Sr.—who was the President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and a national Olympic track coach. That athletic legacy became the bedrock of T.J.’s own pursuit of excellence in tennis. Over three decades in the sport—including professional international competition—T.J. at an early age competed at the highest level while in Nigeria training alongside with his fathers world class athletes that shaped his work ethic and approach to going after what he wanted. T.J. relocated back to the United States to further his pro career but was met with a lot of challenges that ended up rendering him homeless for almost 3 yrs. Not giving up on his passion for the sport, he stayed active training and competing locally while working on changing his present circumstances and surroundings. T.J. eventually transitioned into coaching mainly because he couldn’t secure the right sponsorship to continue on tour, leading him to establish Tennis Prodigy, Inc. and becoming one of the lead teaching pro‘s at the Jimmy Evert Tennis Center in Fort Lauderdale. There, he’s earned numerous titles including multiple City of Fort Lauderdale Men’s Open championships and Broward County Top Gun titles.
Despite his credentials, T.J. remains grounded. His reputation was built not on flashy endorsements, but on relentless hard work, grassroots coaching, and a commitment to player development at every level. Becoming a father in 2007 was another huge milestone for T.J. so he instilled early in his daughter, Akasha Urhobo what it means to be fully dedicated to your craft.
T.J.’s Training Philosophy
Raising a Champion: Akasha’s Early Years
T.J.’s greatest legacy may be his daughter, Akasha Urhobo, who started playing tennis at age 2, coached daily by her father. By age 5, she had already won her first USTA tournament, and by age 12, she became the youngest-ever winner of the USTA National Women’s Open Clay Court Championships. She also claimed back-to-back crowns at the prestigious Little Mo International Slam, as the youngest ever champion in her category.
A Momentous Day: Prodigy Recognized
On May 1, 2022, Fort Lauderdale officially declared Akasha Urhobo Day, honoring Akasha’s rising success on the clay courts and T.J.’s dedication as both father and coach. The mayor proclaimed it on the courts of the Jimmy Evert Tennis Center, where T.J. had long served as top instructor. In interviews, T.J. humbly credited Akasha’s drive: “I am mostly happy because she is still loving the game… she is the one dragging me to the tennis court.”
T.J. believes in:
- Starting early—building fundamentals in childhood
- Personalized coaching that matches each athlete’s strengths and mindset
- Leading by example—instilling discipline, integrity, and passion
- Game evolution—helping players diversify their strategies and stay competitive
This philosophy stems from T.J.’s own upbringing—a blend of athletic heritage and a lifelong commitment to tennis excellence. T.J’s ultimate goal is to raise individual champions of the sport.