Meet the RCI Professional Coaching Team!

The Racquet Club of Irvine offers top-notch on-court guidance from a stable of distinctive coaches.  Each Professional embodies decades of experience they’re eager to share with you. Whether it’s fine-tuning that one-handed backhand or learning to crush a serve, we’ve got you covered.

All Pro’s are well versed in instruction for all ages and play levels.

Robert Chu
Director of Tennis
Robert grew up in Orange County and was a top ranked junior in each age division earning a top 25 National Ranking. He then became an NCAA All-American at Chapman University. His competitive playing resume includes wins over some of the best players in the world. He has an outstanding track record of developing highly successful players at every age and level. From young developing players, to high performance juniors/collegiate athletes, to adults of every level. Robert’s energy, passion, and knowledge for the game of tennis is contagious both on and off the court.
Thales Castro
Tennis Professional
Thales Castro is a professional tennis player from Brazil. Former Top 20 player in the nation, as well as top ranked in his original state. As a junior player, he moved to the U.S at the age of 18 years old to play college tennis. After 2 years of playing for his school and also competing in the men’s open division in SoCal, he decided to become a full-time tennis coach and share his love and passion for the sport with the younger generation. His experience spans across beginners, intermediate, and high-performance tennis players. Thales is known for his on court energy and knowledgebase for tennis.
Marco Rodriguez
Tennis Professional
Marco was born and raised in McAllen, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas-Pan American with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. After a short stint in sports psychology, he started a tennis coaching career that's now decades long. Marco joins us with more than 20 years of experience coaching adults and juniors at all levels. Marco's energy and passion for the game of tennis are easy to see. "Get ready to work hard and get better, more importantly, let me know what I can do to help!"
Giuliano Coria
Tennis Professional
Giuliano was born in Argentina and raised in the US, so he’s experienced both Clay and Hard courts. He played at the highest level of junior tournaments while also dominating his varsity HS league. He continues to compete at a high level by playing Men's Opens and battling college tennis players. He has an unmatchable amount of energy and is ready to elevate any type of player to the next level. Giulliano has an inspiring on court presence that young players look up to and feel empowered from. He has a wonderful knack for bringing out the hard work in a player.
Matias Cresitelli
Tennis Professional
Matias has always been an athlete competing at a high level in a variety of sports. He started playing tennis at a very young age competing all over California by playing high-level tournaments. His high school varsity career was exceptional as he overpowered his competition all four years. He is full of competitive knowledge and is exceptional at pinpointing opportunities in your game. He enjoys coaching at every level, and is always ready to bring his energy and his enthusiasm to the court.
Maia Ho
Tennis Professional
Maia is the perfect coach for your youngster or youth player. The little ones love her and her calm and fun on-court presence. Maia is a great option for parents looking to get their kids into the game. She's a top level player herself with a great passion for the game. You'll see Maia teaching daily in our NetGen classes and Junior Development levels too.