About The Program - SM Tennis

SM Tennis is a premium, full-service tennis/pickleball program based in Pasadena/San Marino that provides private, semi-private/small group, and group sessions as well as additional services such as racket stringing and racket/paddle rentals. 

In addition to the aforementioned services, the service provider (Shawn) also offers private, semi-private/small group, and group vocal lessons both in-person/online. 

For details, please contact the service provider (Shawn) directly at 214-404-7871.

About The Founder and CEO - Shawn Merchant

Tennis

Shawn Merchant is a distinguished Tour-Level ITF/ATP/WTA tennis coach with over a decade of elite level coaching experience, specializing in the development and training of high-performance professional athletes and aspiring professionals. His career spans more than 10 years at the highest levels of the sport where he has become a recognized and highly-esteemed name both globally as well as within his home bases of Texas and California. Blending both an academic and creative mind with the instincts of a world-class player and coach, Shawn brings a uniquely comprehensive coaching methodology, producing players with exceptional technical mastery, competitive resilience, and a refined, professional on-court identity.

Shawn has coached multiple Junior World No. 1 athletes across the U12, U14, U16, and U18 divisions. Many of his junior students have been accepted to train at some of the world’s most prestigious international academies, including the Mouratoglou Academy, IMG Academy, Piatti Tennis Academy, Rafael Nadal Academy, and Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy, allowing them to continue furthering their professional paths. His expertise has ultimately guided countless junior athletes to receiving full-ride Division I scholarships, with many achieving ITF, ATP, and WTA world rankings. Additionally, Shawn has worked extensively with many current touring professionals including more than 7 ATP Tour-level, 6 Challenger-level, and numerous ITF Futures-level players for extended periods of time.

Beyond high-performance coaching, Shawn specializes in working with a broad range of levels and ages—from young beginners as early as two years old to the highest caliber of touring professionals. His on-court experience includes personally competing on the ITF Futures Circuit and Challenger Tour as well as serving as a hitting partner for over 90 ATP Top 100 players, in addition to numerous Challenger and Futures players.

Having seen the sport through the lens of both an elite level competitor as well as a professional coach, Shawn possesses the rare and unique ability to view situations from multiple perspectives and provides personalized instruction in a manner very few coaches in the world can match. Many of his students have referred to him as “a magician” for his seemingly psychic ability to conduct technical analysis and correct mechanical stroke flaws as well as strategic decision-making right on the spot. 

In addition to his athletic expertise, Shawn also comes from a scientific background with academic specialties in Neuroscience and Psychology and has published research in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals, giving him a deep understanding of how athletes think, learn, and perform under pressure. He leverages this insight to tailor every session to a player’s individual mindset and emotional needs, helping them maintain focus, resilience, and peak performance. By seamlessly combining world-class on-court instruction with evidence-based mental training, Shawn has the ability to develop not only a client’s technique but also enhance their mental and emotional acuity, allowing him to provide a holistic experience that only the elite echelon in the world can deliver.

Shawn individually built and managed every aspect of his coaching program from the ground up, cultivating long-term relationships with his clientele, designing tailored training systems, and leading level-based clinics with exceptional detail and precision. His curated instruction has consistently elevated athlete performance, strengthened player retention, and shaped SM Tennis into a prestigious program known for its meticulous attention to detail, excellence, and integrity - offering a level of coaching that is not only rare, but completely transformational.

It is no surprise that Shawn has earned thousands of 5-star reviews, many featuring personalized feedback praising his professionalism, expertise, and ability to absolutely revolutionize his clients’ games. This track record reflects not only the rapid growth of his program but also the deep trust and loyalty he has fostered among players both globally as well as with his personal clientele base locally.

Today, Shawn continues to set the standard for world-class tennis coaching, combining tour-level experience with a passion for developing athletes at every stage of their journey. ultimately making SM Tennis THE premier destination for player development.

Whether you’re a player pursuing elite, tour-focused development to take your game to the highest levels of tennis or are just a beginner eager to learn, laugh, and have fun meeting new people while playing a cool sport, Shawn provides a world-class coaching experience tailored to you. 

Book a session today — your life-changing experience starts now. 

For details, please contact the service provider (Shawn) directly at 214-404-7871

Vocal

As you may have noted from his athletic bio, Shawn is a multi-faceted individual. However, what you may not know is that in addition to his vast experience in athletics and academia, Shawn is also a world-class vocal coach and highly trained operatic and classical vocalist. Renowned for producing exceptionally skilled and tastefully crafted performers, Shawn brings a rare combination of technical mastery, performance artistry, and creative insight to every singer he trains. 

Shawn’s performance pedigree reflects the highest echelon of musical excellence. Aside from having earned numerous awards, first-chair placements, and superior ratings at national and international competitions, He has appeared on some of the world’s most iconic stages, including Carnegie Hall, a milestone reserved for only the most distinguished performers at the highest caliber. In addition, Shawn also achieved the elite honor of being the number one ranked Tenor 2 in the state of Texas performing at the TMEA All-State Convention as the 1st chair, placing him at the very top of one of the most competitive and musically rigorous talent pools in the nation. These achievements cemented Shawn early on as a vocalist of extraordinary capability and placed him among a rare class of vocalists defined by technical mastery, musical intelligence, and artistic refinement - attributes that now form the core of his exceptional coaching philosophy and continue to distinguish his work as a premier vocal coach today.

With a background rooted in operatic and classical performance, Shawn has developed a reputation for cultivating vocalists with exceptional musicality, tonal craftsmanship, stage presence, and expressive depth. His students are known for their precision, emotional resonance, and refined vocal control — traits that place them among the most competitive performers in the nation. As a world-renowned coach with over 15 years of expertise, Shawn brings unparalleled experience guiding singers with their vocal technique, range expansion, breath control, resonance and tonal placement, postural alignment, ear training, sight-reading, individual musicality and craftsmanship, and preparing clients for prestigious national and international competitions. He has successfully coached vocalists through professional-level opportunities and high-stakes evaluations, including the prestigious TMEA All-State competition, where he has propelled singers toward achieving top-chair placements in one of the most competitive musical environments in the country. Shawn also mentors many individuals pursuing professional careers as international stage performers both in the classical world as well as the mainstream artist world. 

Given his expertise spans across multiple disciplines, Shawn possesses a rare ability to address vocal technique while simultaneously attuning to the mindset, emotional regulation, and cognitive processes of vocalists. This allows him to coach not only the voice but also the artist behind it, developing performers who are confident, mentally disciplined, and fully expressive on stage. As both a performer and coach, Shawn sees the art of singing through dual lenses: the precision and demands of a professional vocalist and the strategy, technique, and mentorship of a master coach. This combined perspective enables him to offer an unrivaled level of training, blending elite technical instruction with the artistry and confidence needed for success at the highest levels of performance. 

Whether you are looking for the highest caliber of vocal guidance to perform on the world’s biggest musical stages or are just trying to learn a fun pop song to sing in front of your friends at a karaoke bar, Shawn provides a world-class vocal experience designed entirely around you. If you are ready to gain the skills and confidence to shine, book today and feel what it’s like to finally hear your own voice come alive.

For details, please contact the service provider (Shawn) directly at 214-404-7871

For vocal bookings, please contact the service provider (Shawn) directly for booking instructions.

Pickleball

After receiving an unreasonably large number of requests, Shawn has also decided to expand the program to include pickleball, offering athletes the rare opportunity to enjoy access to the same world-class training philosophy that has transformed countless performers and competitors across disciplines. His coaching style is immersive, intuitive, and tailored to the individual, helping each player unlock not just better technique, but a deeper sense of enjoyment, clarity, and flow on the court.

Shawn brings the same elite-level precision, technical insight, and player-centered coaching style that define his tennis and vocal programs into the world of pickleball. Known for his ability to break down complex movements with simple but powerful adjustments, Shawn helps players rapidly elevate their strategy, shot execution, footwork, and mental game—regardless of their starting level.

Whether you're stepping onto the court for the very first time or aiming to compete at an elite level, Shawn offers a coaching experience that elevates your game, sharpens your instincts, and makes you feel genuinely supported in every step of your growth. With Shawn, pickleball becomes more than just a sport—it transforms into a space where you can push your limits and discover what you’re truly capable of.

Book today and experience the rare combination of elite-level instruction and personalized guidance that will leave you not only improving your game, but feeling confident, empowered, and inspired every time you step on the court.

For details, please contact the service provider (Shawn) directly at 214-404-7871

For pickleball bookings, please contact the service provider (Shawn) directly for booking instructions.