A Training Session with Gabe Jaramillo at RPS Academies

At RPS Academies, every training session is an opportunity to develop every aspect of a player's game. Technique, tactics, footwork, mindset and decision-making are all part of the process, and every drill has a purpose.

That philosophy was on full display during a recent practice led by RPS Academies CEO Gabe Jaramillo, the legendary coach who has helped develop some of the biggest names in tennis throughout his career.

Joining Jaramillo on court were two talented players training at RPS Academies: Luke Jones, one of the brightest young prospects in American tennis, and Tomas Marin, a University of North Carolina Wilmington player from Colombia who is spending the summer training at RPS.

The session began in an unusual way. Instead of immediately stepping behind the baseline, the three gathered at the net to discuss the biggest lessons from this year's Wimbledon Championships.

Jaramillo challenged both players to think beyond the results and analyze what separated the world's best competitors from everyone else.

Jones pointed to the mental toughness displayed by the top professionals.

"I noticed how quickly they bounced back after losing points or sets," he said. "They stayed composed and immediately focused on the next point."

Jaramillo used the conversation to reinforce one of the foundations of high-level competition: routines.

"You look at the best players, and they use their routines the whole time," he explained. "Whether they won or lost the previous point, they always reset before the next one. The routines keep you level emotionally."

Rather than giving answers, Jaramillo continued asking questions, encouraging both players to think critically about how they could apply those same habits in their own matches.

The discussion soon shifted to tactics.

Looking back at the Wimbledon final, Jaramillo emphasized that serving well alone is no longer enough at the highest level.

"It's serve plus one," he explained. "And the same thing on the return: return plus one."

He encouraged the players to recognize how the best professionals build points by combining an effective serve with an aggressive first groundstroke, while also constantly adjusting their return position instead of standing in the same spot throughout an entire match.

"It's like a chess game," Jaramillo told them. "The best players are always making adjustments."

With the tactical discussion complete, the practice moved to the baseline.

The first drill focused on consistency, asking both players to produce heavy, deep shots through the middle of the court with quality, height and pace while limiting unforced errors.

"The last step always has to be forward," Jaramillo explained. "Anticipate earlier. Get your racket back before the ball crosses the net."

After making the adjustment, Marin immediately began striking the ball with better balance, creating more depth and transferring his body weight through each shot.

The players then progressed into crosscourt rally drills.

The objective was simple: stay patient, maintain direction and push the opponent behind the baseline.

"If he's standing on top of the baseline, you're not doing your job," Jaramillo reminded them. "Hit the ball deep with power."

Throughout the drill, he encouraged both players to recognize short balls earlier, step inside the court and avoid backing away from their shots.

Every correction focused on building habits that translate directly into match play.

The final technical segment centered around one of the most important patterns in modern tennis: the serve and first ball.

Rather than simply practicing serves, Jaramillo had both players work on serving wide to open the court before immediately attacking the next shot into the open space.

His attention quickly turned to the mechanics of the serve.

He corrected their use of the legs, shoulder rotation and recovery after contact, explaining that proper technique naturally carries the body forward into the court.

"Use your legs. Use your whole body," Jaramillo instructed. "The shoulder comes around and carries your weight forward."

Once the serving mechanics improved, Jones and Marin repeatedly practiced the complete sequence: serve wide, recover quickly and attack the first forehand into the open court.

"The match is often decided by that combination," Jaramillo said. "Serve and first ball."

As the practice came to an end, the three gathered once again at the net to reflect on the session.

Marin highlighted the importance of creating depth by moving forward into every shot instead of transferring his weight backward.

Jones emphasized how footwork influences every area of the game.

"Everything comes back to using my legs," he said. "On my serve, I need to use them better, recover faster and move forward through my shots instead of backing up."

Jaramillo closed the session with one final message.

"Anytime you hit off your back foot, your weight goes backward," he reminded the players. "The last step always has to be forward."

Watching the session made it easy to understand why RPS Academies has earned a reputation as one of the country's premier player development programs.

Every drill was connected to real match situations. Every technical correction had a tactical purpose. Every conversation challenged the players to think more deeply about the game.

Under Gabe Jaramillo's guidance, training is about much more than hitting tennis balls. It is about building complete players who understand the technical, tactical and mental demands required to compete at the highest level.

To learn more about RPS Academies, its programs, training philosophy, and the opportunities available for players looking to develop both on and off the court, visit rpsacademies.com.

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Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Videos and photos by Nathalia Suarez.