CLAY COURT CONVERSATION

Q&A with Paul Trupia, Mar-a-Lago director of tennis operations

BY MARY THURMAN YUHAS

Paul Trupia first played tennis at 18 in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx with a tennis racquet bought with grocery-store green stamps. “After the nets were torn down two or three times, the parks department replaced them with chain-link fencing,” recalls Trupia, the Mar-a-Lago Club director of tennis operations. “It is an irony that never escapes me. Every day when I arrive at wonderful Mar-a-Lago, I always chuckle.”

During his college years at Fordham University in the Bronx, Trupia played on the college tennis team. He continued throughout his career as a fashion industry executive playing tennis at the exclusive New York Athletic Club at Travers Island in Westchester County, New York. “I thought I had died and gone to heaven,” Trupia says. In 2013, Trupia and Elizabeth, his bride of 40 years, moved to South Florida. Trupia started his second career as a tennis assistant in 2014 at Mar-a-Lago, certain it was something he would enjoy. Turns out, the tennis professional more than enjoys it.

“It’s like a family experience. A lot of the people here have worked here for 20 to 25 years. I thought the Athletic Club was great, but this is even better,” he says. “I’ve worked here for seven years, and it’s a phenomenal facility. I look forward to coming to work every day.”

Get to know Paul Trupia and his tennis staff, their plans for the season, and what makes the Trump Tennis Center one-of-a-kind.

What makes Trump Tennis Center special?

Our members make it special. They are such a diverse group and come from all over the world. Some are here for the season and some for just a couple of weeks. That makes it even more interesting.

Secondly, this is a world-class facility. We

SCOTT ERB & DONNA DUFAULT ERB PHOTOGRAPHY Annual upgrades and fun events greet players at the Trump Tennis Center.

have five courts and are the only ones on the island with American red clay courts. Red clay is easier on the body and can be purchased only once a year from North Carolina. Once it’s gone, there is no more until the following year. Unbelievable views of the Intracoastal and the beautifully maintained property from the courts add further to the Trump tennis experience. We even have music on the courts. It helps make a stress-free environment. Sometimes during warm-ups, we play pump-up songs. Players have shaded seating.

Every year, I add something. This year I added a new entry gate on Court 1 so members can walk from their cars to the courts. We continually maintain and upgrade the facility.

Who are the other instructors?

I have the greatest staff. They are all elite teaching pros and one of the strongest teaching teams anywhere. Max Mead, a Lynn University graduate, is the assistant head pro. Terri Gaskill and Nikki Roth, both national tournament winners and longtime instructors, work parttime and offer private instruction by appointment. Vincent “Vince” Spadea, also assistant head pro, is a former Olympian and Association of Tennis Professionals player who had a career-high world ranking of 20. Spadea works part-time and gives private lessons by appointment. In his tennis career, he beat tennis greats including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

What is your greatest strength as an instructor?

My philosophy is to keep it simple. I’m not as interested in the angle of the racquet as I am in teaching students to see the ball and hit the ball. Some pros make it more complicated than it needs to be.

Does Trump Tennis Center have league play?

We keep members involved through monthly coed round robins, weekly clinics, private instruction, and a lot of socials. Our round robins are always booked. Our most important aspect is to play tennis and make it fun.

This year, we are introducing the Trump National and will play the Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter for the Trump Cup. Hopefully it will start a new tradition. Our most popular event is the Lynn University ProAm tournament for men and women in January. A member partners with a Lynn University student in the competition.

What is the dress code?

Our dress code is 90 percent tennis whites, which is traditional and more of an upscale look in keeping with Mar-a-Lago’s identity. Ten percent of clothing can be nonwhite. We have a fully stocked tennis shop for members. Our ladies’ tennis wear is refreshed weekly with new merchandise in a beautiful environment.

Do you do anything special on weekends?

On Saturday and Sunday, we have a gratis continental breakfast for tennis players on the patio in the front. Nonplayers relax in the shade under the signature Trump-striped, banana-yellow and white awnings. My goal is to make sure that the Trump Tennis Center experience is at the same level as everything else Mar-a-Lago offers club members.