Tennis coaches who put players at the centre of everything we do

Sebastian Lavie is the founder and Director of Lavie Tennis Academy. As a former New Zealand Davis Cup player and top-30 ITF junior in the world, Sebastian knows what it takes to compete at the highest levels. He grew up travelling the globe, playing in some of the biggest junior events, from Les Petits As and the Orange Bowl to all four Junior Grand Slams.

He spent his development years training at the Mouratoglou Academy in France, where daily standards were uncompromising, and expectations matched those of the professional tour. Competing internationally from a young age gave Sebastian a deep understanding of the global tennis pathway, but more importantly, going through it step by step taught him the mindset, consistency, and habits required to actually succeed.

Later, as a coach, he saw how much of a player’s growth comes from the environment around them, the structure, the feedback, the discipline and how often those things are missing at home.

When Sebastian returned to New Zealand, his mission was clear: to bring that level of structure and purpose into a local system that had the talent but lacked the tools. In 2019, he founded Lavie Tennis Academy with the belief that players shouldn’t have to leave New Zealand to get world-class training.

Lavie Academy is built on the same principles that shaped his own journey, clear standards, daily accountability, and a relentless focus on long-term development. Whether a player is chasing college tennis or a professional career, the same mindset applies: show up with intent, train with purpose, and compete like it matters.

Lavie Tennis Academy isn’t just about producing results, it’s about raising the expectations of what’s possible in New Zealand tennis, and proving that with the right setup, Kiwi players can take on the world.