Abrie Du Plooy on Building a Boutique Training Environment at Inspiration Tennis Academy

Abrie Du Plooy has built a coaching career shaped by international experience, collegiate tennis, and academy leadership. Now based in Bradenton, he is leading the tennis program at Inspiration Academy, a setting he describes as intentionally small and development-focused.

Originally from South Africa, Du Plooy arrived in Florida after working in New Orleans, where he coached a mix of domestic and international players. He said the transition to Bradenton aligned with his long-term goal. “I work more with international players and the local kids from Florida, and that’s what I’ve wanted to do all my life, to work with top players,” he said.

Du Plooy also brings a collegiate background, having played at the University of Tennessee under coach Mike DePalmer. He noted the historical significance of the Bradenton area, referencing its long connection to elite tennis development. “In our school, it used to be called Bradenton Academy, and Andre Agassi went to the school,” he said. “One of my teammates at Tennessee went there as well.”

While located near large-scale academies, Du Plooy emphasized that Inspiration Academy follows a different model. “This is more intimate. It’s more of a boutique academy,” he explained. “We have way less people here, so we can take the kids to tournaments and really help them out because we don’t have big numbers.”

That approach, he said, has generated increased interest from families seeking alternatives to larger programs. “We’re getting a lot of calls nowadays because of that,” Du Plooy noted.

In addition to daily training, Inspiration Academy is heavily involved in competition hosting. Du Plooy outlined an active tournament schedule, including professional and junior events. “I’m doing a pro circuit event in January, January 12 through the 18th. It’s a $35,000 women’s tournament,” he said. “Then every weekend we do prize money UTR events or USTA Level 7s, 6s, and 5s.”

Balancing tournament organization with academy operations requires constant involvement. “You have to be everywhere,” Du Plooy said. “We run the academy too, and we run a tight ship. I have to get sponsors and manage everything, but that’s what I signed up for.”

Du Plooy’s connection to Inspiration Academy began through personal relationships and familiarity with the program. “My son went here, and I’ve known Teo Davidov and his dad,” he said. He noted that Davidov is one of the top juniors training at the facility. When coaching changes created an opening, Du Plooy took the opportunity. “I came here to do consulting work, and a month later I was here full time.”

For families evaluating academy options, Du Plooy pointed to several distinguishing factors. “Because of the small numbers, and we have a school link, which a lot of academies don’t,” he said. “The kids’ SAT scores are very high, and we’re close to the beach, close to an international airport, with good coaches and good players.”

As Inspiration Academy continues to expand its competitive calendar and training structure, Du Plooy remains focused on maintaining a personalized environment. His goal, he said, is to build a program where players receive consistent attention on and off the court while preparing for the next level of competition.

Learn more about Inspiration Tennis Academy, its programs, and upcoming tournaments by visiting https://inspirationtennisacademy.com.

Full Interview

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Written and edited by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Video editing by Assistant Editor Alex Binstok. Photo credits: Inspiration Tennis Academy.