Biography

David Rubio

Tennis Professional

Born in Los Angeles, California on December 1, 1970.

Learned to first play tennis at the age of 7 on the public courts of Los Angeles through a program provided by the United States Tennis Association.

After having moved to Mexico following years of performing as a professional musician and after his son's interest in the game of tennis at age 9, David dedicated himself in providing all the greatest tennis instruction that was available to his son. Including instructions David had learned as a child and lessons with some of Mexico's and San Diego's best tennis professionals.

At home in the city of Tijuana Mexico, David and his son Franco sign up for lessons with tennis instructor Jorge Luis Castro at the Associated Union of Bankers Sports Club. There they go through a vigorous 3 hour daily training routine to improve on the fundamentals of the game and increase their physical performance. Through a year of hard work both David and his son Franco become quite good tennis players. Along the way they get to train under the guidance of former number 4 ATP player and Wimbledon, Italian Open, and Roland Garros champion Raul Ramirez, Mexico's most celebrated tennis player and Mexico's former Davis Cup Team Captain.

In December 2003 David and his son Franco start in an intensive training routine where they learn to serve using a Continental grip and the art of the Volley under the guidance of USPTA Instructor Manuel Perez, Mexico's Junior Olympic Tennis Team Instructor. 

January 20, 2004. Franco is invited to train at the Coronado Tennis Center in San Diego California by USPTA tennis instructor Danny Thomas. David accompanies him to daily three hour practices. Franco works diligently under the guidance of USPTA tennis instructor Danny Thomas. While assisting on the court, David has the opportunity to learn from one the games most intelligent tennis instructors of all time. Danny and David worked on publishing a book of tennis drills developed by Danny Thomas during the summer of that year. Recently a former student of Danny Thomas won the Junior Doubles title at Wimbledon.

Throughout 2005 Franco continued to practice at the Coronado tennis center and was also invited to participate in drills and training at the Angelica Gavaldon Tennis Academy also in Coronado California. David, who accompanied his son daily, watched as top Mexican junior players trained diligently for hours on end to perfect their stokes and increase their stamina under the guidance of the former top 30 WTA player and Mexico's number one female player of all time Angelica Gavaldon.

Franco was also invited to train at the Antonio Ramos Tennis Academy in San Diego California. Under the guidance of former ITF circuit players Antonio and his brother Alberto, Franco drilled in some of the most competitive tennis drills while always competing in practice matches with some of San Diego's top junior players that attended the academy. David had now become Franco's full time mental coach and was always present on the courts providing Franco with guidance and strategy techniques that helped Franco become a successful tournament player. 

By now David was being asked on a regular basis how his son had become so successful as a tournament player so quickly and started offering advice and techniques that he had learned through the years of research and training along with ideas he had developed on his own and had shared with his son. He was asked by some club members at the exclusive Associated Union of Bankers Sports Club for lessons and he started teaching an elite group of junior players.

April 2006. While participating at the 6th Annual Manhattan Beach Junior Open tournament Franco, an unseeded player, defeats the number two seed Robbie Bellamy in the second round of the tournament. At this tournament he is invited to become part of the Palisades Tennis Center by Robbie's father, Steve Bellamy, CEO of the Palisades Tennis Center.

June 26 2006. David was offered and accepted a coaching position at the Palisades Tennis Center and David and his son Franco moved to Los Angeles to start training at the Palisades Tennis Center on a full time basis.

David still travels to Mexico on a weekly basis to train his son and a handful of clients that he considers hard working and worth the guidance that David has to share. He is passionate about his work and loves to invoke a feeling of belief in his players. He is often heard saying "You have to believe you are a tennis player to play like one.

November 2006 David accepts a position working for the USTA and moves back to the San Diego area. He accepted a part time tennis professional position at Real Del Mar Country Club and now works training part of the Mexican Junior Olympic tennis team. He works under the guidance of Salvador Avila, owner of the world renown California Racquet Club Tennis Academy, who trained with Jose Luis Clerc from Argentina and other highly rated tennis professional from around the world. Upon David's return Franco teams up once again with his father as coach and goes on to win the state championship representing Baja California Norte. He defeats everyone of his opponents in straight sets and wins the year end state championship.