Paul-Henri Arrigoni started playing tennis when he was only a few years old. He recalls going to his hometown tennis club in France with his dad and asking him for a "acquet” (yes, that is spelled correctly!). He started playing any chance he got and has been playing ever since!
Paul-Henri’s tennis achievements are vast. He was ranked in the top 10 in France as a junior. He has impressive wins over several current top 100 ATP players including Benoit Paire, Joao Sousa, and Dan Evans, among others. He was a three-time All-American (2010-2012), and 2011 Athlete of the Year, while on the Men’s Tennis Team at Lander University in Greenville, South Carolina. He was ranked #5 in singles NCAA Division 2 with a win against the #1 player in the nation. As one might expect, he is a member of the Lander University Hall of Fame. Congrats on those achievements, Paul-Henri!
But his achievements didn’t end after college tennis. In 2017, the Raleigh Tennis Association named Paul-Henri the Best Pro of the Year. As a loved and respected coach, Paul-Henri is known for challenging players all while making it fun. When he isn’t coaching, he also gets out on the court and competes in the Raleigh Pro League — an exciting and entertaining pro team tennis league, where players compete for prize money and a season championship.
In his role as Director of Tennis at Seven Oaks Swim and Racquet Club, 2016 USTA North Carolina Member Organization of the Year, Paul-Henri is appreciative of the role the RTA plays in encouraging people to get on the tennis courts, from beginners to more advanced players. He thinks that Seven Oaks, with 20 lighted tennis courts, is one of the best places to play tennis in the Raleigh area, and, from what he’s heard, many people refer to it as "the best deal in town!"
Paul-Henri’s tennis philosophy is one that resonates well with us all:
"Every champion was once a beginner; life's only limitations are the ones we make."
Tennis is fun and Paul-Henri encourages all his students to enjoy every moment of it. “Tennis is the best sport ever!”
Right on, Paul-Henri, right on!
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