Himakesh Sankineni

Himakesh Sankineni is an experienced Performance Coach with an extensive competitive playing background and more than seven years of coaching experience with Futures Tennis Academy.

Having played tennis since the age of eight, Himakesh developed into one of India’s leading junior players, reaching a career-high junior ranking of No. 19 and a Men’s Open Singles ranking of No. 38 in India. He competed internationally in both junior and men’s ITF Futures events.

Himakesh has continued to compete at a high level in Melbourne and currently represents Royal South Yarra in Tennis Victoria State Grade Pennant. He has also competed in Premier League for Royal South Yarra alongside Australian professional players Luke Saville and Jason Kubler.

His playing ability has also seen him selected as a hitting partner for some of the world’s leading players during the Australian Open, including Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune and Iga Świątek. These experiences have given Himakesh first-hand exposure to the intensity, preparation and training standards required at the highest level of professional tennis.

Alongside his playing career, Himakesh has developed significant experience as a performance coach. During more than seven years with Futures Tennis Academy, he has worked closely with many of the academy’s leading performance players, including highly ranked state-level juniors and athletes competing through advanced tournament pathways.

Himakesh has also coached players at professional level, including former Indian professional Pranjala Yadlapalli, who achieved a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 265 and doubles ranking of No. 232.

He remains a highly competitive player and has enjoyed continued success at club level, including championship titles in both doubles and mixed doubles at Royal South Yarra.

Away from the court, Himakesh holds a Master’s degree in Business and Information Systems, complementing the discipline and analytical approach he brings to his coaching.

With experience spanning junior development, professional competition and elite-level hitting, Himakesh brings a strong understanding of what is required for players to progress through the performance pathway. His ability to challenge players physically and technically makes him an important part of Futures Tennis Academy’s high-performance coaching team.