At the Lauderdale Tennis Club, the focus goes beyond just hitting balls. It is about building players across all levels, from beginners to high-performance competitors, within an environment that blends development, competition, and community.
Coach Carlos Drada, who has been teaching for the past two and a half years, is part of that structure. “I’ve been a tennis instructor and coach for the last two and a half years, and I enjoy it,” he said. “We have a variety of tennis players—from young players to adults, and everything in between.”
Drada’s current role leans heavily toward high-performance training, an area where his background as both a player and coach comes into play. “Right now I’m working with high performance,” he explained. “We’re doing a great job building an environment of high performance. We have some kids who are trying to become college players at the least, or professional players.”
His own journey in the sport reflects that same pathway. Drada grew up in a tennis family in Colombia, where his father was a coach, before continuing his development internationally. “I had the privilege of being at Nick Bollettieri for four years as a scholarship player,” he said, referring to the renowned Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. “I was projected to be a top professional player.”
Instead, his career took a different turn, one that still kept him close to the game. After competing at the collegiate level—“I played for the University of Kentucky for three and a half years”—Drada briefly stepped away from tennis. “I tried the banking industry for a while, but then I decided to go back to my passion, which is tennis,” he said. That decision led him into college athletics, where he spent more than two decades before returning to on-court coaching.
At Lauderdale Tennis Club, the facilities play a central role in that development process. “We have state-of-the-art facilities,” Drada said. “We have 21 total courts, a variety of great clay courts, Har-Tru clay, and hard courts.” The ability to train on multiple surfaces is a key advantage, especially for players with competitive aspirations.
That versatility also attracts high-level players. Drada noted that one of his former college players—currently ranked inside the top 30 in WTA doubles—returns to train at the club. “She comes here to train and play on both surfaces,” he said. “She does some of her preseason here before the Miami Open or before going to Europe.”
Beyond the courts, the location adds another layer to the club’s appeal. Fort Lauderdale’s accessibility and international reach make it a natural hub for players traveling in and out of the U.S. “We’re very privileged by the location,” Drada said. “We have access to an amazing airport, a lot of international players, and great weather year-round. Tennis is always best at sea level, and we have that here.”
The club also carries a sense of history within the sport. Drada pointed to former top-four player Harold Solomon as part of that legacy. “He used to have his center here,” Drada said. “I learned from him when I was a little kid in Colombia, and later I realized he was from this city. He was an amazing player and a great person.”
While performance is a key focus, Drada emphasized that the environment extends beyond competition. “We have different communities and a very positive, accommodating environment,” he said. “We try to create a sense of camaraderie and just play great tennis.”
That culture is reflected in the people around the club—players, parents, and members of the broader Fort Lauderdale community. “We have parents, family members, and strong representation from different communities,” he said. “It’s a great environment.”
The coaching team also contributes to that balance between development and performance. Drada highlighted fellow coach Caroline Verhelle as an important part of the program. “She’s an amazing coach, especially in developmental stages,” he said.
At its core, Lauderdale Tennis Club continues to position itself as a place where players can grow—whether they are picking up a racquet for the first time or pursuing college and professional goals. With experienced coaching, multi-surface training, and a strong sense of community, the club reflects the broader strength of tennis in South Florida.
For Drada, the mission remains clear. After years in different roles within the sport, his focus has come full circle. “We like to focus on high performance,” he said, “but also build an environment where everyone can improve and enjoy the game.”
For more information about their programs, visit www.lauderdaletennisclub.com.
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Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Photo credits: Nathalia Suarez