
Dimas Mendez spent six months training under Prokes, honing his skills as a racquet technician and equipment specialist, which he later applied at the USTA National Campus. There, he assisted American junior players in customizing their racquets, including string selection and weight balance.
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His technical knowledge and coaching ambitions led to an opportunity with former UCLA player Keegan Smith. After helping Smith find a racquet that alleviated his pain, Smith hired Mendez as a traveling coach. Together, they worked for eight months, beginning in mid-2024, during which Smith reached his first ATP Challenger Tour semifinal in Jinan, China, as a qualifier.
Mendez believes that his biggest impact occurred off the court. He emphasized his role in providing psychological support. "My main work with him was psychological. This, for me, is the most important part of tennis," he said, highlighting the mental challenges players face, including pressure and emotional struggles.
Living with a positive mindset, Mendez sees his career as a continuous journey of growth. He strives to improve each year and remains driven by personal challenges rather than competition with others. "I'm always motivated. It's always a fight against myself, not against anyone. It's like a race against myself," he stated.
As a lifelong learner, Mendez aspires to enhance his skills continually. He emphasizes the value of humility in coaching, stating, "If you think you know it all, that's when you're done." This philosophy led him to pursue USTA Coaching certification to expand his knowledge and validate his expertise.
Currently coaching in the John McEnroe Tennis Academy's high-performance program, Mendez aims to instill curiosity and determination in his students, alongside technical skills. Having grown up in Puerto Rico, far from major tennis influences, he hopes to inspire his students by demonstrating that success is possible regardless of their background.
"If someone from a small town from Puerto Rico, where nobody cares about tennis, can achieve this, I want people to see that they can achieve similar goals," he explained. Mendez hopes that the kids he coaches will carry this mentality into their future endeavors, whether in sports or other professions.