Founder & Head Coach, Athletic Official

Hugo is the Founder and Head Coach of Athletic Official (AO), bringing a wealth of international experience and elite-level training to Sydney’s high-performance tennis scene.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Hugo began playing tennis at the age of five and quickly progressed through the competitive junior ranks. At 13, he was accepted into the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, where he spent three formative years training under renowned coaches including Toni Nadal, Joan Bosch, and Nacho Gonzalez. During this time, Hugo competed across Europe in national Spanish tournaments, Tennis Europe events, and ITF Junior circuits.

Following his return to Australia, Hugo continued competing in ITF Junior events throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Amid the global pandemic, he relocated to Delray Beach, Florida, to further his development and begin his transition to the professional circuit. There, he competed in ITF Futures and UTR Pro Tennis Tour (PTT) events, and served as a sparring partner at the Delray Beach ATP 250 and the United Cup.

Hugo eventually returned to Australia, where he continued to compete on the Australian Pro Circuit and UTR PTT events. His deep understanding of the game, international connections, and passion for player development now drive AO’s high-performance coaching model.

He is an ATPCA-certified and insured private coach, and currently serves as the Head Coach of the University of Sydney’s Tier 3 tennis team.