Meet Longboat Key's Tennis Center pros

The three pros at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center bring wide-ranging experiences to the role. But they share one thing: They all discovered a passion for the sport of tennis before the age of 10, and they have turned that appreciation into prolific careers.

Tomasz Borucki, Robbie Salum and Robert Jendelund are the coaches staffing the center, and they shared what they believe sets these courts apart from anywhere else in the world.

Salum is the longest-serving coach at the center, having instructed there for 14 years. He said the Longboat facility is a hidden gem for tennis fans.

"It's a state-of-the-art public center with amazing people who are very friendly," he said. "It's well managed, and we appreciate that the town gives us a lot of help."

The center is supported by the nonprofit group The Friends of Tennis Inc.

He continued, "People come from all over the place, both members and nonmembers."

Salum said he believes it is important for a community to have high-quality sports facilities open to the public, both for the physical and mental health benefits.

Especially considering how many Longboat Key residents are here part-time, he said players often say how glad they are to have access without needing to pay annual dues.

Salum started playing tennis at 5 years old while growing up in Argentina and began competing at just 7 years old.

He was also a solid soccer player, but his father sagely recommended pursuing tennis if he hoped to play beyond high school.

At 17 years old, he started coaching others.

His proficiency for teaching led him to travel internationally as a coach, working at the Van der Meer Tennis Clinics in South Carolina and Bradenton's Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, now known as the IMG Academy.

Working alongside sports psychologist Dr. James Loehr has been a career highlight, he said.

Salum made his way to Longboat Key through The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort, where he worked as head pro and tennis director.

An important part of turning coaching into a career is keeping up with certifications and new opportunities, he said. Salum is a national tester with the Professional Tennis Registry and has five other certifications.

"Basically, we teach coaches how to teach," he said.

From an early age

Borucki and Jendelund started on paths similar to Salum's. Both started playing when they were about 7 years old and have been engaged in the sport since.

Borucki is the newest addition to the Longboat team, coming from Poland. He was a top Polish junior and medaled multiple times at the Polish National Championships. He played with the Sopot Tennis Klub, one of the country's oldest tennis institutions, established in 1897.

He also coached throughout the U.S., leading academies and clubs in New York and Connecticut before moving to Florida. 

Jendelund, originally from Sweden, splits his time between the Hamptons and Longboat Key. He spent 15 years coaching at CityView Racquet Club in New York City. He played collegiate tennis at Armstrong Atlantic State University (now part of Georgia Southern University), winning the ITA National Doubles Championship in 2004 and achieving a No. 1 national ranking.

That opened the door to coaching in Sweden and internationally with clubs in Austria, Italy and the U.S.

His wife grew up in Venice, Florida, and the pair moved here so their 3-year-old son could also grow up in the Sunshine State. The youngster has already picked up a racket of his own.

Jendelund has competed professionally in the ATP Futures Tour. Though he enjoys being part of the competition, he said coaching and spending time with his son keep him plenty busy at the moment.

The coaches said one of the best aspects of the Longboat facilities is that they are open year-round. While late-summer heat is a factor in how many people play, those who live on the island year-round enjoy the less crowded courts. Then, they all look forward to welcoming back familiar faces in the fall.

Reflecting on his first season, Borucki said he appreciates how welcoming the community has been.

"I love it. Everybody is very friendly and laid back, but still wants to learn."

He said it has been a pleasure getting to know the facilities and the people who enjoy them, especially considering the tennis center previously flew under his radar.

"When I was working with the Longboat Key (Club) Resort, I used to pass by this place all the time," he said. "You see it, but I never stepped in."

Through a recent exhibition, he tested out the courts and met manager Kay Thayer, who showed him the facilities and introduced him to the team.

"We love her. She's such a calm and collected individual, and very friendly to everyone," he said. "She's easy to get along with, and a great coach too."

In addition to managing the center, Thayer has been coaching there for 26 years. She brought her experience teaching tennis at The Colony for five years prior and was glad to join the coaching team when she learned a position was open.

Now, she is bringing in talent from around the world to coach at the Tennis Center.

As the season winds down, players will have plenty of opportunities to get out on the court and hone their skills for the next tournament.

Open play times are at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Learn more about the facilities on the town of Longboat Key website at LongboatKey.org.