Our club offers 7 Har-Tru tennis courts, two pickleball courts as well as two paddle tennis courts with lights and under-court heaters.
Metropolis sponsors a women’s tennis team and our teaching program is headed by Director of Tennis Richard Henry and his assistant. We offer a variety clinics and lessons for players of all ages and skill levels and offer a calendar with a wide variety of events and activities for everyone. Wintertime is paddle tennis time at our club. We field a team that participates in the Westchester Platform Tennis League, and have very active courts on weekends. Paddle clinics and lessons are also offered with several events planned annually throughout the season.
Tennis Professionals
Richard Henry
Director & Head Tennis Professional
Richard is a USTA High Performance coach who hails from the beautiful island of Barbados.
He began his playing days on the island and went on to represent his country on the ITF junior world circuit throughout the Caribbean, United States and Central America. He obtained an ITF Junior world ranking of 504 in singles and 403 in doubles. With his success at the junior level Richard was awarded a full tennis scholarship to Jackson State University in Mississippi, and went on to lead the tigers to an NCAA Division 1 National Championship appearance in 2001 and a first time national ranking of 74. After graduating college Richard played briefly on the satellite tour before getting into coaching while living in South Florida. Some of his coaching highlights were leading the Tyler Junior College Men’s program to a National Title in 2004 and also being one of 19 International coaches selected to participate in a USTA sanctioned High Performance Coaching program at U.S Open 2008. Richard has coached with many of the nation’s top juniors players in previous years, many of whom have played division 1 tennis and some have also competed professionally. He has been a hitting partner to both WTA and ATP pros at various professional events. In addition to his competitive coaching background Richard has been the Head Pro at one of the largest facilities in the Caribbean, Palmas del Mar in Puerto Rico and is regularly invited to teach at the world famous Sandy Lane Hotel in his native Barbados.
As a player, Richard still loves to compete. He has been very active in many men’s opens and USPTA National Tournaments and was ranked in the top 30 in both singles and doubles on the USPTA men’s circuit. In February 2010 he competed in the PWC Cayman Open on Grand Cayman Island, where he won the doubles title with former ATP touring pro Juan Rios of Puerto Rico and was a semi-finalist in singles.
Outside of the tennis courts, Richard is an avid painter, enjoys playing soccer, basketball, and following the latest in fashion trends. He has a tremendous passion for music and loves to listen, play and record his own music on the keyboard. Richard holds a bachelor’s degree in Drafting and Design as well as a master’s degree in Technology Education. He is married to Junixsa Lazu, a native of Puerto Rico and the couple have a daughter, Stella Malia.
Richard is no stranger to the New York area, as he coached previously in Mamaroneck, as well as on Long Island’s North Shore and is currently teaching at Sound Shore Indoor in Port Chester. He is extremely excited to be a part of the Metropolis Tennis Staff & family and is looking forward to wonderful and exciting season.
Our new Assistant Pro,
Valentin Morelli, is no stranger to Metropolis as he is the younger brother of
Marcos and has assisted us over the past two years during our busy spells.
Valentin is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Prior to college, he played junior
and professional tournaments in his home country.
Valentin first attended
Universidad de Buenos Aires before transferring to North Carolina Wesleyan
University. While there, he helped the tennis team to a #7 national ranking in
Division III. He graduated with a degree in Mathematics. Valentin's coaching
experience includes stops in Boston, and North Carolina and at Armonk Indoors
where he teaches during the winter.