Q&A With Chris Lewit: Examining The Benefits of The Spanish Method, and What American Tennis Players Can Learn

Carlos Alcaraz is at the pinnacle of tennis, as a five-time major champion who has reached the spot of world number one. His success comes on the heels of the illustrious career of Rafael Nadal, the 22-time major champion. Both players hail from Spain, and represent the success that nation has had in producing top-tier tennis talent, a list that goes well beyond Alcaraz and Nadal.

Chris Lewit is a native of New York City who played collegiately at Cornell, and now runs his own high-performance tennis academy in Vermont. Lewit has spent many years, and has made numerous trips to Spain to study from the best coaches and learn at the best academies there. He has utilized that knowledge to publish two books on the subject of the Spanish Method, and incorporates it into his teaching.

“While Spain currently has 8 players in the ATP top 100—a drop from its all-time highs—the country has become one of the world’s premier training destinations for foreign tennis players,” says Lewit. “So, despite fewer native Spanish players at the top, the Spanish Method continues to prove its effectiveness globally by producing numerous foreign-born successful players in the top 100.”

New York Tennis Magazine sat down with Lewit to learn more about The Spanish Method, how coaches can implement its teachings in their own coaching, and what has made it such a success.

NYTM: Can you talk about how you came to travel to Spain and study the Spanish Method? What led to that in the beginning?

Lewit: In the early 2000s, I found myself fascinated—almost obsessed—with what was happening in Spanish tennis. At that time, Spain, a country of only about 45 million people, had an astonishing 10–15 players ranked in the ATP top 100. This wasn’t a coincidence or a lucky streak; it was a sustained wave of excellence.

I admired their grit, their warrior spirit, and the way they fought for every point. Players like Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moyá, and Sergi Bruguera seemed to embody a unique blend of mental toughness and tactical intelligence—plus, they had these devastating forehands that could completely dismantle an opponent. I couldn’t help but wonder: How does a country that small produce such a conveyor belt of world-class talent? My curiosity became a mission. I wanted to see for myself how they trained, what methods they used, and how their culture shaped their approach to the game. That’s what ultimately led me to travel to Spain and immerse myself in studying what’s now known as the Spanish Method.

NYTM: Simply put, what is the Spanish Method? In layman’s terms, how would you describe it?

Lewit: In simple terms, the Spanish Method is a style of training and playing tennis built around six main pillars:

→Forehand with heavy topspin: The main weapon; players build patterns to hit it often and dictate play.

→Consistency: Relentless shot tolerance; low unforced errors over long rallies.

→Movement & footwork: Precise positioning and balance to prepare for the next shot.

→Defense: The ability to retrieve, reset, and turn defense into offense.

→Suffering & warrior mindset: Embracing physical and mental battles; thriving in adversity.

→Fitness superiority: Endurance, strength, and recovery to maintain peak level deep into matches.

Within these pillars, there are variations in philosophy and drills from legendary Spanish coaches but these six core elements are the common foundation across the country.

NYTM: What do you think makes it such an effective way to teach tennis?

Lewit: The Spanish Method works so well because it’s holistic—it doesn’t just teach strokes, it builds the entire competitor. It’s also a relatively simple method to implement:

→Strong foundation: Players learn to be consistent before being flashy, so their games hold up under pressure.

→Clear identity: The heavy topspin forehand and relentless baseline game give them a reliable “go-to” weapon.

→Universal adaptability: By mastering movement, defense, and offense, they can compete on any surface (though it was born on clay).

→Mental edge: The “suffering” mindset trains players to outlast opponents mentally as much as physically.

→Physical readiness: Fitness training ensures they can maintain intensity through long matches and tournaments.

→Proven coaching lineage: Legendary coaches pass down methods refined over decades, so the system evolves but the core remains intact.

It’s effective because it doesn’t rely on one magic drill—it creates complete players who can solve problems and win matches in many ways. American tennis coaches can learn a lot from the Spanish approach, and in fact many already have—coaches in the U.S. and worldwide have successfully incorporated Spanish principles, sometimes even using resources like my book as a guide.

While many American coaches have already embraced these elements, continuing to deepen the focus on these pillars—especially the combination of movement, big forehand, and relentless effort—will help cultivate the kind of all-around, resilient players that have made Spain a tennis powerhouse.

NYTM: How does such a relatively small European country produce so many top champions?

Lewit: It’s a mix of hard work, luck, genetics, and historical timing. The democratic liberation of Spain opened up new opportunities, but even before that, Franco’s obsession with tennis led to major investments in infrastructure during the 1970s. The preparations for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics also brought significant funding and facility improvements. However, beyond the big-picture factors, the great coaches were absolutely instrumental as the on-the-ground force driving player development. Legends such as Luis Bruguera, William “Pato” Álvarez, Antonio Cascales, and Toni Nadal brought relentless work ethic, innovative training methods, and deep dedication, all of which shaped generations of champions.

NYTM: What makes Carlos Alcaraz such a great representative of the Spanish method?

Lewit: Carlos Alcaraz is a fantastic example of the Spanish Method because he embodies its core principles so clearly. While he clearly retains all these classic assets, I call his game “Spanish Method 2.0” because he has added important modern elements like an effective net game, strong transition play, and the ability to take the ball early—all of which make his overall package even more versatile and dangerous. Plus, he’s benefited from the guidance of coaches steeped in that tradition, including Toni Cascales early in his career, which helped reinforce those pillars. Altogether, Alcaraz is a modern embodiment of that gritty, skilled, and physically and mentally strong style that the Spanish Method champions, with an evolved game that fits today’s faster style of play.

NYTM: You recently published Secrets of Spanish Tennis 2.0, the follow up to your original book on the method. Why is this book a valuable tool for coaches to learn from?

Lewit: I recently published Secrets of Spanish Tennis 2.0 as a fully updated follow-up to the original 2014 edition. This new version is a valuable tool for coaches, parents, and players because it’s written in a clear, straightforward way—making it easy to read, understand, and apply.

The book includes new chapters that reflect the latest insights and evolution of the Spanish Method, keeping the content fresh and relevant. One of the standout features is the extensive drills section, which compiles many of the most famous and effective drills used by top Spanish coaches. To make learning even easier, these drills are organized and demonstrated on my YouTube channel (youtube.com/chrislewit), so readers can see them in action and implement them with confidence. The book also recommends many of the top Spanish tennis academies, with reviews and insights from coaches who discuss their methods firsthand. Additionally, it delves into the rich history behind Spanish tennis, providing important cultural and developmental context.

Altogether, it’s a practical resource designed to help anyone involved in tennis unlock the secrets behind Spain’s tennis success.