BUILT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
BUILT FOR WHAT’S NEXT.
Impact Tennis Initiative was built on a simple belief: where you come from shouldn’t determine how far you can go. Rooted in the San Fernando Valley, we’re creating greater access to quality tennis development, mentorship, and opportunities that help young athletes grow on the court, pursue higher education, and build confidence for whatever comes next.
Our Philosophy
ACCESS CREATES OPPORTUNITY
Talent shouldn’t be limited by circumstance.
We work to remove financial and systemic barriers so young athletes have access to quality coaching, competition, mentorship, and the resources to keep moving forward.
Develop the
whole athlete
The player matters beyond the scoreboard.
We develop confidence, discipline, resilience, and leadership alongside tennis skills—preparing athletes to succeed in competition, in school, and wherever they go next.
EARN WHAT COMES NEXT
We believe in opportunity AND putting in the work for it.
Our athletes are grinders: adaptable, ambitious, and unafraid of a challenge. We provide the tools and support, while teaching players to take ownership of their growth and show up ready to work.
LIFT AS YOU CLIMB
Impact grows when opportunity is passed forward.
We encourage athletes to become mentors, volunteers, coaches, and leaders who invest back into the communities that supported them—creating a cycle of opportunity for the next generation.
Meet Our Coaches
Born and raised in Sylmar, California, Porfirio Cervantes is a Hispanic tennis coach, mentor, and community leader dedicated to expanding access to the sport. He attended UC Davis, where he played on the traveling club tennis team while earning a degree in Computer Engineering.
As one of the few Hispanic high-performance coaches in Southern California, Cervantes has helped strengthen the San Fernando Valley’s youth-to-college tennis pipeline through high-level coaching, mentorship, and competitive opportunities. At Los Angeles Mission College, he helped the women’s program bring its first state championship home to Sylmar and now serves as Head Coach of the men’s tennis program.
A PTR Elite-certified coach, Cervantes was named the 2023 USTA San Fernando Valley Coach of the Year and recognized by California Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez for his community impact.
Through Impact Tennis Initiative, he aims to create lasting pathways to tennis, education, mentorship, and college opportunities for the next generation.
Porfirio Cervantes, Founder & Director of Tennis
Josilyn Rivera’s love for tennis began at age six, when a trip to the park sparked a curiosity that grew into a lifelong passion. She competed throughout high school as a #1 singles player before continuing her career at the collegiate level in both singles and doubles.
Josilyn began coaching at 18 and became a varsity head coach at just 21. Her coaching style is motivating, supportive, and rooted in helping athletes build confidence both on and off the court. For Josilyn, one of the most meaningful parts of coaching is becoming the mentor she needed when she was younger — creating a space where players feel supported, challenged, and comfortable learning through mistakes.
Whether working with a first-time player or a competitive athlete, her goal is for every student to leave the court more confident than when they arrived.
Outside of tennis, Josilyn is a massive Twilight fan and is always ready for a Team Edward vs. Team Jacob debate. 🧛🏻♀️🎾
Josilyn Rivera, Head Coach
Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Yuliia Zhytelna came to the U.S. to compete in NCAA Division I tennis at California State University, Northridge, where she played for five years and became one of the team’s top players.
Today, Yuliia competes professionally on the ITF circuit while coaching the next generation of athletes. As one of the few women working in high-performance tennis coaching, she is passionate about creating representation and showing young athletes, especially young women, what is possible in the sport.
Through Impact Tennis Initiative, Yuliia brings her experience full circle by helping young players access the high-level training, mentorship, and opportunities that can open doors in tennis and beyond. Her goal is to develop disciplined, resilient, and confident competitors while helping each athlete believe in how far their game can take them.
Yuliia Zhytelna, Head Coach
