Tennis is an ultra-popular sport in the South. In fact, when driving around Roswell on any given weekend, you can see hundreds of players excited to commence their weekly neighborhood battles.
Alex Sutton was thrilled to discover this after his move to Atlanta in 2017, where he was a Senior Director for a large automotive retail and service provider. He was amazed by just how many fans there were for this 150-year-old sport.
In 2020 when the pandemic hit, causing everyone to stay home, Mr. Sutton decided it was time to let his passion fill a need for the community and Sutton Total Tennis was born.
Where did your interest in tennis come from?
Tennis has always been a part of my life. I really don't remember starting. It was just something my family always did. Both of my parents played, as did my grandfather into his nineties. I grew up playing on the public courts in New York in the 1980's, then high school tennis in New Jersey and finally college tennis in Philadelphia.
What gave you the inspiration to open a business like Sutton Total Tennis?
In 2020, I decided to put on some classes for the children in my subdivision. The kid’s classes led to adult lessons, which led to ALTA team practices, then racquet restringing. Later, I got connected with some racquet brands, and before I knew it, I had a full on pro shop in my house. Then in 2024, with the loving support of my family, I decided to merge my passion for tennis with my professional retail and service background and take my basement operation full scale by opening my shop here in Roswell.
Do you hold any tennis certifications?
Yes, I hold a teaching instructor certification with USPTA and a Master Racquet Technician certification with USRSA.
What does Sutton Total Tennis offer?
We offer racquet restringing and regripping services. We have apparel and shoe brands including K-Swiss, Lacoste and Adidas. We carry racquets from Prince, Head, Tecnifibre, Dunlop as well as other innovative brands like Solinco and Diadem. For Pickleball fans we carry paddles for players of all levels. When not at the shop I'm usually on court giving lessons to players of all ages in subdivisions all around Roswell.
Alex’s attention to detail, love of the game and impressive knowledge of the sport shines through when you walk into Sutton Total Tennis. It is apparent that he can provide individualized assistance to each player that walks in the shop.
"The kid’s classes led to adult lessons, then racquet restringing... After getting connected with racquet brands I had a full pro shop in my basement."