Today we’d like to introduce you to Boris Aguma.
Hi Boris, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Uganda where I started playing tennis at a young age. What began as a passion quickly became a huge part of my life and opened doors for me to compete internationally. Over the years, I had the opportunity to play in different countries including most of the African countries,Europe,Asia and now in the United States , and I was also honoured to represent Uganda twice in the Davis Cup. Those experiences taught me discipline, resilience, and how powerful sports can be in changing someone’s life.
My tennis journey eventually brought me to the United States for college, where I continued competing and developing both as a player and as a person. After college, I stayed in the U.S. and transitioned into coaching while still pursuing my own goals in sports, fashion, and media. I currently coach at Cary Leeds Tennis Center in New York, where I’ve been fortunate to work with talented players and families from different backgrounds. Coaching has become something I genuinely love because it allows me to inspire younger athletes while continuing to grow myself.
Outside of tennis, I’ve always been passionate about fashion, creativity, and content creation. Recently, I’ve been building my modeling portfolio and growing my personal brand around the lifestyle of sport, fashion, and culture. I’m also working on projects like Uptop Tennis, which combines modern tennis culture with training and creativity.
Looking back, my journey has been about taking risks, staying consistent, and believing in bigger opportunities even when things felt uncertain. Moving from Uganda to New York completely changed my perspective, and I’m excited for what’s ahead as I continue building my career both on and off the court.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was leaving Uganda and moving to the United States to pursue better opportunities through tennis. Adjusting to a completely different environment, culture, and lifestyle while trying to build a career was not easy. There were moments of uncertainty, financial pressure, and times where I had to figure things out on my own while staying focused on my goals.
Tennis itself is also a very demanding sport mentally, physically, and financially. There were sacrifices that came with competing, traveling, and trying to balance life, work, and personal growth at the same time. Like many athletes, I’ve had moments where things didn’t go as planned, whether it was injuries, setbacks, losses, or opportunities that didn’t work out the way I hoped. But those experiences helped build my resilience and maturity.
Another challenge has been trying to create my own lane beyond tennis. I’ve always had interests in fashion, modeling, and content creation, but stepping into new industries can be intimidating when you’re starting from scratch and trying to establish yourself. Learning how to believe in my vision, stay patient, and keep pushing despite setbacks has been a major part of my journey.
At the same time, I think those challenges shaped who I am today. They taught me how to adapt, stay disciplined, and continue moving forward even during difficult periods. Looking back, I’m grateful for the struggles because they gave me the mindset and motivation I carry with me now
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a former professional tennis player turned high performance coach based in New York. I specialise in developing competitive junior and aspiring college/pro players, focusing on the details that actually translate into match performance ,footwork under pressure, tactical decision making, serve development, and building the mental discipline to compete in tight moments.
Alongside coaching, I also work in player development at a club level, where I’m known for being hands on, honest, and very detail-oriented. I don’t just feed balls,I break down patterns, fix technical leaks, and help players understand why they’re losing or winning points so they can become independent competitors.
What I’m most proud of is the path I’ve taken to get here. I represented Uganda in the Davis Cup, competed internationally across different countries, and transitioned from playing at a high level into coaching players who are now chasing the same dreams I once had. Seeing players I work with raise their level, win tough matches, or get recruited is the most rewarding part of what I do.
What sets me apart is that I’ve lived the full journey. I’ve trained as a pro, competed under pressure, and now coach inside that same reality. I understand what it takes technically, physically, and mentally , not just in theory, but in real competition. That lets me connect with players in a way that’s direct, practical, and focused on real results rather than surface level improvement
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favourite childhood memories is the early days of falling in love with tennis just being on court for hours without thinking about anything else.
I remember playing on simple courts, often with older kids or whoever was around, and just trying to keep up. I didn’t have much structure at the time, but I had a lot of curiosity. I’d stay after sessions, hitting extra balls long after I was supposed to leave, just experimenting with different shots and trying to figure the game out on my own.
What made it special wasn’t anything fancy it was that feeling of freedom and obsession at the same time. I didn’t realise it then, but those moments built the foundation of everything I do now
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Boris_Aguma
- Facebook: Aguma Boris
- LinkedIn: Aguma Boris
