Tennis Talks with Simba Happy, Tennis Director

As the season of tennis Grand Slams hits its peak with Wimbledon in full swing and the U.S. Open just around the corner, the game is in the foreground of our minds. We sat down with our Tennis Director, Simba Happy, to learn a little about him, some of his tennis favorites, and his Wimbledon predictions.

Simba’s story began in Zimbabwe, where he represented his country in international tennis tournaments and quickly became one of the top junior tennis players in the nation. He was awarded an athletic scholarship to Florida A&M University and later assisted their head coach as a graduate student. Simba has been a part of the Topnotch Tennis team since 2012, working in various roles over the years. In 2021, he became the Tennis Director.

Favorite tennis player: “Pete Sampras. He is the youngest male singles champion to ever compete in the U.S. Open and has won Wimbledon seven times, he’s the last American man to win there.”

Favorite level or clinic to teach: “All Levels (cliche, I know).”

Favorite tennis gear: “For clothing, Lululemon - we just got a number of Topnotch Tennis branded pieces in our store. For rackets, I love Head rackets.”

Favorite tennis memory: “My first time upsetting a seeded player as a junior player. I’ll never forget that feeling!”

Wimbledon predictions: “Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka. They’re both in the semi-finals, and both favored by many to win.”

Come say hi to Simba and the rest of the Topnotch Tennis team any day of the week from 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM! At our award-winning Tennis Center, players are encouraged to pick up a racket and test their skills - regardless of their age, experience, or level of play. There’s something for everyone: clinics, private lessons, cardio play, and open court time with friends or pros.  Learn more about tennis and pickleball clinics and academies online.