Born and raised in Guatemala City, Jess Lehnhoff first picked up a tennis racket at the age of five thanks to her three older brothers. The four siblings shared a wooden racket, fighting over whose turn it was to hit the ball against the wall in their neighborhood club. 

By the age of nine, Jess was no longer simply smacking tennis balls against a backboard. While representing her country in tournaments throughout Central America, she achieved the #1 ranking in the under-10s, 12s and 14s division in Guatemala.

Jess’s family moved to Florida when she was 11 and, three years later, she became the #1 ranked 14-and-under player in the US as well as the world. 

As a 14-year-old, Jess won every national and international tournament entered, including the prestigious Eddie Herr and Orange Bowl titles, and was honored as the Florida Player of the Year. She was also featured in Tennis Magazine as America’s # 1 All-Time Junior Player from 1990-2000, just ahead of Lindsay Davenport with #2 ranking and Chanda Rubin at #3.

When she was 16 years old, Jess was ranked #1 in the US and  #11 in the ITF world rankings. That year, she took home the Orange Bowl doubles title and reached the semifinals in singles. 

Not one to peak early, Jess kept improving and, by the age of 18, she was ranked #1 in the US and #9 in the ITF (world) rankings. She competed in Roland Garros, US Open, and Wimbledon, and was chosen for an exhibition match in Japan alongside Jennifer Capriati, Chanda Rubin and Monica Seles. It was a profound experience that gave her a glimpse into the real lives of professional tennis players.

In 1998, at 18 years of age,  Jess began competing in professional tournaments as an amateur. The biggest win of her young career came against Sonya Jeyaseelan, the 94th ranked player in the WTA at that time.  

Having been recruited by many top universities in the US, Jess struggled with the tough decision of whether to turn pro or go to college. But the moment she stepped foot on the University of Florida campus, her mind was made up. She would be a Gator no matter how many critics told her to turn pro. 

As part of the top ranked college team in the nation, Jess’s tennis improved greatly thanks in no small part to the university’s resources. The coaches, nutritionists, tutors, sports psychologists, fitness and athletic trainers,  contributed greatly to her success. Using those tremendous resources as much as possible, Jess worked the hardest she had ever worked in her tennis and fitness and remained committed everyday to improving. Her junior year at UF, Jess and doubles partner Whitney Laiho went undefeated on their way to becoming NCAA doubles champions. As a wildcard at the US Open Doubles Championships, they reached the round of 16, tying the best US Open record for any collegiate player, before losing to Navratilova/Sanchez-Vicario. For their hard work and success on the court, Jess and Whitney were named National Doubles Team of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

By her senior year, Jess had been named captain of the Florida tennis team, which she led to the NCAA team finals. As the nation’s top-ranked player in singles and doubles, Jess won both titles at the All-American Championships, achieving such a feat for only the third time in history. Jess then went on to make the NCAA singles finals, playing an unprecedented 18 matches in ten days. 

Jess graduated from the University of Florida as a 3-time grand slam champion, a 7-time All-American, the southeastern conference player of the year award winner, and ITA national senior Player of the Year. She also won the following awards:

• The Gladys Heldman Award, given annually to the nation’s top college senior for athletic, academic, sportsmanship and community service

• The Ben Hill Griffin Award, presented each year to ONE male and ONE female UF athlete for athletic and academic achievement

• Dorothy Anderson Award for academic excellence and high standards both on and off the court

• 2016 UF Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, The highest honor a University can award an athlete                                               

After college, with her TV and Film production degree complete, Jess turned pro. In less than three years on the tour, Jess won more than 10 pro tournaments and reached the ranking of 166 in singles and 105 in doubles. She competed in the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. As a member of the Guatemalan Federation Cup team in 2007 and 2008, she led the team to its best ever showing, while playing #1 singles and doubles.

Since retiring from professional tennis following a couple of wrist surgeries, Jess has coached for over 10 years in various locations, including Florida, New York, London and Sweden. She is PTR certified and coaches players of all skill levels, specializing in junior players with professional aspirations as well as players in need of technical stroke modifications.

She has coached some of Sweden’s top junior players, leading them to their first ever National as well as International (ITF) titles. She has also coached ATP players, traveling with them to various tournaments around the world and leading them to some of their best wins on the pro tour. It is Jess’s diverse experience as an athlete and coach that puts her in a unique position to unlock the potential in each and every client that she works with, whether through college placement services or coaching on the court.