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Kelly Jones is a former World No. 1 ATP doubles player whose 12-year professional career included 2 ATP singles titles, 8 doubles titles, and Grand Slam doubles finals at Wimbledon, the US Open, and Australian Open. A Pepperdine 2-time NCAA doubles champion and 1984 U.S. Olympian. He is a member of the ITA Collegiate Tennis, San Diego Tennis, and Pepperdine Athletics Halls of Fame.  Kelly is married to former WTA tour player Tami Jones.   Their daughter Makenna is also a former WTA professional player.

Tami comes from one of America’s great tennis families, the Whitlinger’s of Neenah, WI. Tami and her twin sister Teri were developed by their grandfather Warren “Baba” Whitlinger. They trained in an old barn converted into a single indoor court. With Baba’s guidance, Tami became the best junior player in the US. She won 6 USTA National Junior Titles and was the nation’s #1 ranked junior in singles and doubles.

After attending Stanford University and winning back-to-back NCAA Team Championships, she played professionally on the WTA Tour for 9 years and competed in 38 Grand Slams. 

Tami is the recipient of 3 Hall of Fame awards: Midwest Tennis HOF, Neenah High School Athletics HOF, and Fox Valley Tennis Association HOF

Meet John Saenz, returning for another season as the head pickleball teaching professional at Rancho La Quinta. He is a true local, born and raised in the Coachella Valley area. Along with 14+ years in customer service, John has also earned two degrees, in journalism and public relations, from College of The Desert and Cal Poly Pomona.

John started his coaching career at PGA West in 2021, where he earned his coaching certification from the Professional Pickleball Registry and gained experience running a pickleball program with over 500 players. Since then, John has become the first ever pickleball professional at Tradition Golf Club, while holding his position here at Rancho La Quinta. He specializes in coaching players of all levels, with a focus on building strong fundamentals and fostering a love for the game. With years of on-court experience, he has helped countless players improve their skills, confidence, and strategy. Passionate about growing the sport, John creates a welcoming environment during private lessons and group clinics. 

During his freetime, John enjoys playing tennis and golf with his daughter, hiking with friends, and of course, playing pickleball. Currently, he is dedicated to expanding our pickleball program at Rancho La Quinta and inspiring more players to enjoy the fastest-growing sport in America.