References and Customer Testimonials

Marianne is one of the most impressive persons I have worked in the tennis industry. While you may remember her as a great professional player, she is so much more than an athlete. She is a leader, great people skills, organized and has the passion I love to find in people I recommend. Did I say she is smart and witty? Her knowledge of all aspects of the tennis industry is amazing…and her mind works at a speed that is second to none. Marianne’s writing skills are amazing. She can put a smile on your face with her posts, comments, etc. To say it simply, Marianne is a winner.

~Jim Baugh, President Wilson Sporting Goods, 1997-2003

I had the privilege of working with Marianne when she was the President of the WTA Player Association and served on the Board of Directors of the global WTA Tour. As CEO of the WTA Tour, I had quite a bit of interaction with players, tournaments, Federations and Grand Slams. Marianne was a real pro both on and off the court – she traveled up the learning curve on the business and commercial side of the sport while playing a full-time schedule on the global tour. No easy feat. Her curious, inquisitive personality sets her apart – always wanting to fully understand an issue before making a decision. While she staunchly defended and protected the players, she always asked all the right questions to fully understand the opposing viewpoint before making a decision or taking a vote. Her fair and reasonable style earned respect on all sides of the table in the Board room as well as with Tour staff. She is a gem!

~Ann Worcester, Former CEO WTA Tour, Connecticut Open Tournament Director

I’ve known Marianne for thirty-five years. First as a friend and fellow junior at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, then on the tour where Marianne’s great career overlapped with mine, although only when I lost in the later rounds of qualifying and she was coming for the main draw.

Recently, about 4 years ago, Marianne and I reconnected, as real adults with families, but still very connected by the experiences and values that this great sport has given us. Almost every time I see Marianne, I remind her that she was a great role model for me and all of the other younger juniors who looked up to her at the academy and later on the Tour.  Marianne was one of the few students at NBTA who was able to excel both in the classroom and on the tennis court, and that was a powerful and positive example for all of us.

At the academy, at Stanford, on the Tour, and now in her daily life, Marianne has always been someone that I look up to, and she has always been a leader. Her integrity, intelligence, experience, and leadership qualities are unique, and I am fortunate to be able to call her as a friend.

~ Martin Blackman, former Stanford and professional player and longtime friend of Marianne Werdel

My daughter has been very fortunate to have Marianne as her mentor for the past few years. In 8th grade, she was transitioning from being a high-level club soccer player to a committed junior tennis player.  Marianne guided her in her tournament scheduling, on court strategy to win matches, fitness training and many hours of hitting tennis balls!  The culmination of their combined efforts, along with the help of my daughter’s technical coaching, resulted in a gold ball at the Girls 16s National Hardcourt championship in 2016, a wild card into the Junior US Open & a scholarship to Stanford University for 2019!  We can’t say enough in support of Marianne’s passion for the sport of tennis and of the players she mentors.

~Maree C., Tennis Parent

A big thank-you to you for your time and effort in organizing and holding the event. The work you put into this is very much appreciated and incredibly important as anchoring touch-points on an otherwise often lonely journey for many families. The materials are very helpful – certain thoughts and ideas just can’t be reiterated often enough.

~Southwest Section Parent

Thank you for sharing such an awesome article on Gil Reyes. This could not have come at a better time for me as a parent. Thank you for continuing to be part of this sport. Your knowledge as a player, parent and coach is needed tremendously and is greatly appreciated! This made my day!

                                    ~#GetaGrip Newsletter Subscriber

Since my daughter began playing tennis, using her athletic abilities to get into a great college has always been one of our primary goals. Marianne Werdel has been a tremendous help to us in achieving that goal, as she helped with improving my daughter’s tennis competitiveness, and also helped us understand and navigate through the very complicated college recruiting process.

Marianne’s experience speaks for itself. As a former successful professional tennis player and Stanford athlete, Marianne’s advice was accurate, realistic and honest, and really helped us focus on the things that mattered the most. Her personal friendships and relationships in the tennis community also gave us insight that we wouldn’t have been able to acquire elsewhere and saved us time and effort that would’ve been wasted elsewhere.

She is an excellent coach on the court and teaches with the experience of having played at the highest levels of international competition. She clearly knows and understands the full scope of junior tennis, and stays on top of the latest techniques and trends. She also makes every minute count on the tennis court and focuses on skills and techniques that help win matches.

Overall, I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity for my daughter to work with Marianne, and I strongly believe that she helped my daughter get a commitment to one of the best Division 1 colleges in the nation. Thank you, Marianne!

~ Bill H., Tennis parent

“I have worked closely with Marianne on and off the court in a number of occasions. Her passion and wealth of knowledge are evident to every audience she is in front of. She knows how to relate to pretty much every person in the game whether it be from a coach to a player to a parent. She has worn every hat there is in the game. Every time I have listened to her speak, I walk away learning something new. I feel extremely fortunate to have Marianne as an information source!”

~ Tiffany Milner, USTA Intermountain Junior Player Manager

Marianne has an overwhelming knowledge for junior competitive players and parents on goal setting, long term planning, tournament schedules, and periodization, mentor skills, and guidance through the college recruiting process. She is the ideal mentor for both player and parent, to promote a positive experience climbing the junior competitive pathway and transitioning into college tennis.

~ Nicole Fintell, USTA Southwest Junior Player Development Manager

Marianne does a fantastic job with junior players who have the goal of becoming a college bound player. With her vast experience as a former top collegiate player for Stanford and then a successful WTA tour player, she offers a unique blend of the real world experience with the skill to communicate with juniors striving to get to the next level. I would recommend Marianne to any players who are looking for an experienced coach/mentor who will help create an effective plan to get them to the right college and know how to carry that plan out one day at a time.