Founder & Director

Originally from California, Steve Loft has coached tennis around the US and in Europe for over 40 years. Steve grew up playing junior tennis at the Cabrillo Racquet Club in Southern California, under the watchful eye of owner and director Wayne Bryan, father and coach of the greatest doubles team in the history of tennis, twins Mike and Bob Bryan. Years later, Steve returned to his home club where he worked as a Teaching Pro for Coach Bryan and helped coach the young Bryan brothers.

After playing 4 years of college tennis, Steve went to work for world-renowned tennis coach Vic Braden, first at his Tennis College in California, and then in his Tennis Colleges in Germany. In 1985, Steve opened the first Vic Braden Tennis College in Switzerland.

 In 1991, Steve settled with his wife Renate in Leysin, Switzerland where he became a Swiss citizen and founded The California Tennis Academy (CTA).

During his 27 years running the CTA, Steve and his staff ran highly successful tennis programs and tournaments, providing players of all ability levels with world-class instruction and coaching.

 As a junior coaching specialist, one of Steve’s proudest achievements was developing his daughters, Lisa and Ashley Loft into highly ranked competitive juniors in Switzerland, and helping them both to secure full, 4-year tennis scholarships at top tennis Universities in the US.

 “My staff and I have throughly enjoyed our past two seasons partnering with the TCU, and we’re very much looking forward getting the CTA programs underway for a third season in 2024.”

Early Tennis Journey

Consummate baseline singles player and tough competitor Lisa Loft began playing tennis and playing tournaments at a very young age at the California Tennis Academy in Leysin.

College Success and Transition

By the time she was 18, she was ranked among the top women in Switzerland and was granted a four-year university scholarship in the US from the prestigious, nationally ranked women’s tennis team at Rollins College in Florida.

Lisa played no. 1 singles for Rollins, and also partnered with sister Ashley at no. 1 doubles. Lisa graduated with a Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies in 2013.

Coaching Style

Fast forward to today, Lisa's holistic approach to movement has become integral to her coaching philosophy. Drawing from her extensive experience of body and mind training, she empowers her students to enhance their overall movement abilities on the court while sharpening their tennis skills. With Lisa, expect to push beyond limits, evolve your game, and challenge conventional thinking.

Coach

Serve and volley specialist Ashley Loft started playing tennis and competing at a very young age along with her sister at the California Tennis Academy (CTA) in Leysin. Ranked among the top women in Switzerland at 18, she was granted a scholarship in the US and played her first 2 years of University Tennis in the US at the prestigious Rollins College in Florida, partnering with sister Lisa at No. 1 doubles. She finished her last two years of college on scholarship at Southern New Hampshire University, where she was undefeated playing No. 1 singles and doubles, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality in 2016.

 Friendly and outgoing, Ashley was also very young when she began teaching tennis at the CTA as a 15-year-old, and she has been doing it ever since.  She’s passionate about coaching, and absolutely loves the world of tennis. Over the past two years, she has been very successful making tennis fun and exciting for her own junior and adult students in Bern, Switzerland.   

 “I can’t be thankful enough for having been introduced to tennis at such a young age. This yellow ball has taught me so much about life, and has taken me all over the world - from Switzerland and Europe, to the US and all the way to Australia and New Zealand! I’ve met so many incredible people along my tennis playing and coaching path, and this yellow ball just keeps on rolling!” 

Coach

Kid’s Tennis expert Karin Schlund from Oetwil am See has really enjoyed helping to build the 8 & U junior tennis program at the TCU over the past 2 years, and she’s very excited to continue coaching with Steve Loft and the CTA staff in May, 2022.

Karin loves playing tennis and is passionate about coaching. Karin is also an active tennis mom, accompanying her son Matteo and daughter Elena to tournaments around Switzerland.

“Being involved in competitive tennis with my kids has taught me that tennis provides so many important life-lessons, and it's a great way for young people to gain self-confidence”.

On the court, Karin is very patient and makes the learning process interesting and fun for these young junior players. She understands that a great start in tennis for a youngster can last a lifetime, and we’re very happy to have Karin to help give the TCU juniors that valuable introduction to tennis!

 

Administration

My name is Renate and I grew up in Bern county, Switzerland. I have been happily married to Steve for the past 32 years and together we've been following the beautiful bouncing yellow ball all around the world! We lived with our daughters, Lisa and Ashley, for 27 years in the Vaud county region of Switzerland.

We ran our own California Tennis Academy (CTA) in the beautiful Alps - Leysin to be exact. I was the administrator and tournament director of the CTA, and we became well known for the many tennis tournaments and programs we successfully ran.

We are an enthusiastic tennis family and we’ve traveled a great deal with our daughters who played tournaments in Switzerland, Europe, and the USA.

Tennis is and remains our common passion. Life with the yellow ball has allowed us to meet many interesting people and travel to wonderful places in this world!

Thanks to the greatest doubles team in the history of tennis - Mike and Bob Bryan aka « The Bryan Brothers », who Steve helped coach as young junior players, we have had the unique opportunity to travel to unforgettable international tennis tournaments : Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Monaco, Indian Wells, and Davis Cup matches in Switzerland and Sweden.

I am looking forward to a new chapter working with the TC Uetikon am See, and to see what adventures that bouncing yellow ball has in store for us!