SERGIU BARBU
PRO TIER: ELITE
Sergiu was born in Bucharest, Romania, and moved to the United States at age 15. After settling in Middletown, NY, he began competing on the Eastern Tennis Association and International Tennis Federation circuits. His dedication and high level of play quickly propelled him to a #10 ranking in the USTA Eastern 16U and top 20 in 18U. In high school, Sergiu played #1 singles and #1 doubles for Middletown High School, winning the Section 9 Championship in Orange County for two consecutive years.
Following graduation, Sergiu was recruited to play college tennis at Division II Concordia College in New York, where he competed at #1 singles and #2 doubles. As a member of the team, he won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Rolex Qualifying Championship, earning a spot in the NCAA Division II National Tournament and achieving a Top 25 Northeastern collegiate ranking. During his sophomore year, he was honored with the ITA “Player to Watch” award.
After college, Sergiu turned his passion for tennis into a profession. A USPTA-certified pro, he taught at the former Sound Shore Indoor Tennis for eight years and went on to serve as Head Pro at New Rochelle Tennis Club and First Assistant Pro at Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich, CT. He later spent eight years as Head Pro at Proform Tennis Academy in Rye Brook, NY, where he built strong, unified teams of professionals, mentored junior coaches, and developed innovative programming for both juniors and adults. Sergiu has coached elite junior players and college prospects, with a focus on improving player engagement and performance through strategic programming and technical development.
Sergiu brings a deep passion for teaching and a technical, detail-oriented approach to developing players of all ages and skill levels. He takes great satisfaction in watching his students grow and succeed on court. Off court, he’s a devoted father of two, a fitness enthusiast, and an avid pilot with a love for adventure. Sergiu looks forward to bringing his experience to Tennis Innovators Academy.