New York Tennis Magazine March / April 2019 by United Sports Publications

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New York Tennis Magazine 1220 Wantagh Avenue • Wantagh, NY 11793-2202 Phone: (516) 409-4444 • Fax: (516) 409-4600 Web site: www.nytennismag.com

Staff David Sickmen Publisher (516) 409-4444, ext. 309 • david@usptennis.com Joel M. Berman President (516) 409-4444, ext. 310 • joel@usptennis.com Eric C. Peck Editor-in-Chief (516) 409-4444, ext. 312 • eric@usptennis.com Brian Coleman Senior Editor (516) 409-4444, ext. 326 • brianc@usptennis.com Joey Arendt Managing Art Director Francine Miller Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 • francinem@usptennis.com Emilie Katz Assistant Marketing Coordinator Scott Koondel VP of Operations (516) 409-4444, ext. 324 Sidney Beal III Staff Photographer

Lee Seidner Staff Photographer

MAR/APR 2019 • Vol 9, No 2

Table Of Contents

Changing of the Guard By Brian Coleman A closer look at Naomi Osaka’s rapid rise to stardom, reaching new heights on the WTA Tour winning the past two Grand Slam titles. See page 54

Highlights 8 20 28 34 40

Article Submissions/Press Releases To submit any material, including articles and press releases, please call (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com. The deadline for submissions is the first of the month preceding the target issue. Subscriptions To receive subscription information, contact (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com or check out our Web site: www.nytennismag.com. Fax subscription changes to (516) 409-1600. Statements of fact and opinion in New York Tennis Magazine are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of United Sports Publications Ltd. New York Tennis Magazine reserves the right to edit, reject and/or postpone the publication of any articles, information or data.

2019 New York Tennis Expo Recap New York Tennis Magazine’s 2019 Boys High School Preview 2019 New York Open Recap Your 2019 Guide to Court Builders and Suppliers 2019 New York Tennis Magazine’s Camp Guide

Features 4 6 16 18 22 23 24 37 38 58 60 62

Advertising To receive any information regarding advertising rates, deadlines, and requirements, call (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com.

Photo credit: USTA/Garrett Ellwood

63 64 67 68 69 70 72 74 76 77 78 80 82 84 85

Across Metro New York The Jensen Zone: The Fed Approach By Luke Jensen Beyond the Baseline: Michael Nortey, The Cary Leeds Center The Hidden Secret in Tennis … Developing Momentum By Conrad Singh Improve Your Hard Court Game By Gus Alcayaga Gleneagles Country Club: A New Yorker’s Winter Destination USTA Metro Region Update Windridge Still Going Strong as It Enters Its 52nd Year Junior Player Spotlight: Ian Smith, The West Side Tennis Club New Frontiers in Fish Oil: Part I By Dr. Rob Silverman When Should Your Child Enter Competitive Junior Tennis By Jarett Cascino Metro Corporate League’s Fall Season Concludes With Three New Champs Being the Right Parent for Your Child By Vinicius Carmo So What’s the Big Deal About a Split-Step? By Lisa Dodson USTA Eastern Hosts Annual Conference in White Plains Tie Break Tens Launches Challenger Series at Cary Leeds Athleticism. Tennis. Opportunity. By Andy Wegman The Untold Secret Behind the Big Win By Rob Polishook Court Six: New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz Controversy Surrounds the New ITF Rules on the Pro Tour By Gilad Bloom Are You a Fight or Flight Player? By Barbara Wyatt Four Tips to Help Low Intermediate to Intermediate Level Players By Harvey Becker A Panel of Superstar Coaches Discuss the Secrets to Success By Dr. Tom Ferraro High School Tennis By Lonnie Mitchel 2019 Australian Open Takeaways By Peter Mendelsohn Creative Tennis Positioning By Mike Puc Columbia’s Goswami to Retire After 2019 Season

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Across Metro Ne Ross School Gets a Special Guest Visit

RIRC Hosts Ladies Round Robin Tourney

Players in the Ross School Tennis Academy recently had a chance to hit with and hear from a special guest, as Larri Passos, who coached former world number one Gustavo Kuerten, spent an afternoon with the Academy’s players and coaches. The program plans to reciprocate the visit when it heads to Brazil for its Field Academy later this spring.

Each month, Roosevelt Island Racquet Club hosts a Ladies Round Robin event, which continues to grow. Normally, the event features only a doubles tournament, but with the large number of participants that came out to play, a singles event has been added as well.

Cary Leeds Players Compete Over Winter Break

Noah Vinbaytel Reaches Back-to-Back Finals It’s been a great run of tournaments for Noah Vinbaytel of MatchPoint NYC in Brooklyn. Vinbaytel reached the finals of both the L2 February Freeze Open, and then followed up that result by reaching the finals of the L2 Mill Basin MatchPoint NYC Open.

NYJTL and the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning kept its players busy on holiday break during Presidents’ Week, hosting the Presidents’ Week Doubles Tournament. Cary Leeds even got a visit from New York City Council member Rafael Salamanca Jr., who said, “I’m a proud supporter of this program that provides free winter tennis programming for our community.”

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

New York

… News and notes from across the New York Metro tennis community

Alyssa An Receives Scholarship From WTT Junior Nationals

USTA National Tennis Center Hosts Parents-Kids Day

Alyssa An, a player from CourtSense Tennis Training Center, was honored at the World TeamTennis Junior Nationals, named winner of the 2018 Kathy Willette Leadership Scholarship. This scholarship awards $500 annually to one male and one female player at the Junior Nationals, chosen based on essays they wrote on the positive impact the tournament has had on them.

Centercourt’s Ng Wins Centercourt Performance Tennis Academy’s Jonah Ng put together a run of four consecutive match wins to take home the trophy at the L1B NEXT Sports at Maywood Winter Challenger. He won a thrilling match over topseeded Arian Abalos 4-6, 7-6, 10-8 in the semifinals, before notching a 6-2, 6-1 in the tournament’s final.

Tennis is a sport for all and one that can be enjoyed by the whole family, and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center embodied that as it hosted a Parents-Kids Day on its campus. The event brought together the program’s kids and their parents for a day of fun and tennis.

St. John’s Women Honored Before Basketball Game

JMTA’S Dimond Serves as Official Artist of New York Open For the second straight year, Ted Dimond, Senior Assistant Director for the John McEnroe Tennis Academy and SPORTIME Randall’s Island, served as the official artist and trophy creator for the New York Open. Dimond had his works on display and for sale in the tournament’s 516 Expo Hall. He also provided painted portraits for the winners and finalists in both singles and doubles.

The St. John’s Women’s Tennis Team captured the Big East Championship last season, the first in program history, defeating Depaul 4-2 in the conference final. The team was honored and presented with their championship rings at center court at halftime of a St. John’s regular season men’s basketball game against Butler.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Fed Approach By Luke Jensen hope you had a blast watching the 2019 Australian Open. The Aussie Open always provides opportunities for those who properly prepare in the offseason and can sneak up on the ones who are not necessarily ready for the year’s first Grand Slam. Danielle Collins, a two-time NCAA Champion from UVA and Francis Tiafoe, who made his deepest run ever in a Grand Salami, were two Americans who showed up on the big stage Down Under! American ladies have more play- Photo credit: USTA/Darren Carroll ers in the top 100 than any other country. The men show promise, but are still looking for the next Andy Roddick, the last Ameri- never a good loser. Losses stayed with me can male winner of a Grand Slam back in a long time after, and even jump-started 2003. The USTA has been locked in on de- significant training regimens that lifted my veloping a Team USA mindset and culture. level of play. I have found there is always When you’re at pro events, you will see the something to work on. I don’t think any real coaches and players wearing USA gear. competitor is ever really satisfied with their Back in the day, wearing USA gear gave all results, as there is something you wish you of us a real sense of pride representing our could do over or play differently. I was doing my Aussie Open research country. Even at events away from the Davis before and during the tournament. It reCup matches, various team members would quires tons of reading and digging out continue to wear the Team USA gear. nuggets that can add to a studio segment But anyway, how is your game going or interview. One thing that really stood out these days? You should be learning someto me was what Roger Federer worked on thing about your game at every opportuover the offseason leading up to the Aussie nity. For example, the last time you played, Open. He took a family vacation towards did you think about the match or practice the end of November and then set up his on the way home from the court? I always training camp in Dubai. It’s hot there and found I would do my best self-evaluating it’s much closer to Australia than taking the on the way home. My tennis was still very full 25-hour flight from Europe. fresh in my mind, and by the time I reached Federer talks about his goals in 2019, home, I could get any of the bad feelings looking to back his “Full Force Forehand,” after a bad day out of my system. I was

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

and improve his fitness for a possible clay court run at the French, a run he has not done the last couple of seasons. Fed also spoke about a couple of swings he had back in 2018. One was against Juan Martin DelPotro in Indian Wells and Kevin Anderson at Wimbledon. Imagine your entire calendar year in the balance between one or two swings of the racket. How can you use the Fed approach to your own approach to better tennis? Keep learning how your game works and learn how to fix shots when they are not working. Most players that I speak with discuss losses because of the opponent on the other side. I tell them maybe the opponent is within unlocking that mystery that can result in greater performance. Don’t get too complicated! The best shot is always the one that goes in and the second best shot is the one away from your opponent. Use your mind as a competitive weapon and go out and compete with consistency!!!! Fire up your game and improve it until we touch base again in the next Jensen Zone. Raised in Ludington, Mich., Luke Jensen’s resume includes 10 ATP Tour doubles titles. He was also a member of the U.S. Davis Cup Teams that reached the finals in 1991 and won in 1992. His ambidextrous play, including his ability to serve the ball with either hand at 130 mph, earned him the nickname “Dual Hand Luke.” Luke is currently Director of Racket Sports at West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y. He may be reached by phone at (315) 4030752 or e-mail LukeJensen84@yahoo.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 New York Tennis Expo Recap ack and better than ever, the New York Tennis Expo returned to NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 9, with more than 5,000 people coming out for an all-day celebration of tennis as Long Island and New York Tennis Magazines joined forces with GF Sports to kick off the second year of the New York

B 8

Open with the largest tennis expo in the country. The event would not have been possible without the support of the community, and especially all of those who attended. “The sixth New York Tennis Expo was our best yet! Each year, as our publications grow, our relationships with the community and attendance at all of the events we host does as well,” said David Sickmen, Pub-

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lisher of Long Island and New York Tennis Magazines. “I’m most proud of how everyone came together in the community from juniors to adults, from high school teams to college teams, from teaching pros to businesses, so that everyone was a part of this big tennis day. Our event partners for the second year in a row, GF Sports and NYCB LIVE, were vital in their support and, at the end of the day, everyone was smiling.”

The Expo had something for everyone … whether young or old, tennis fan or nontennis fans, there were activities and games for all to enjoy. Tooty and the Mother Pluckers provided live music, as attendees entered the event with their eclectic mix of Pop, Classic Rock, RnB and Latin music, while DJ CM brought his high energy all-day long inside the Expo Hall. The 2019 New York Tennis Expo featured on-court clinics with local college programs, Adelphi, Farmingdale State, Nassau Community College and NYIT, along with special guest Nick Bollettieri, as kids and adults stepped out onto the Stadium and Grandstand Courts to play. “We had little kids, college kids and even parents on the court with us. It was good to answer many of the questions parents had about things like how to judge their children as players. It was a great turnout,” said Bollettieri. “It couldn’t have been bet-

ter. The crowd was fantastic. I did about three or four clinics, and the enthusiasm of both the kids and adults was outstanding.” Throughout the day, players of all ages and levels got to learn from some of the best college tennis players in the area through drills, match play and lessons, and were joined by Bollettieri who shared the insight and knowledge that has made him one of the sport’s most revered coaches. “The 2019 New York Tennis Expo was a gift to New York tennis and an incredible event because it had something for everyone,” said Steve Kaplan, Owner and Managing Director of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, and a sponsor of the Expo. “If you love tennis and live in the New York area this is THE event to support and attend." Players from the New York Open took the time to sign autographs and take pictures with attendees. Andy Roddick and Steve Johnson conducted Meet & Greets

with guests, while Johnson and Peter Polansky joined industry leaders to discuss their tennis careers in interactive Speaker Sessions. The crowd to meet Roddick wrapped around the Broadcast Plaza area, as adults and kids alike came on stage to get an autograph and take a picture with the American tennis great. The panels, which were headlined by Bollettieri, Johnson, Polansky and Luke Jensen, and featured top local coaches, discussed everything from junior tennis to the professional ranks, and sparked intriguing conversations for audience members to engage in during the two Coaches Roundtable Live segments. Guests were able to ask questions to the panelists which resulted in interactive discussions in both the morning and afternoon speaker sessions. continued on page 10

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

the new york tennis expo continued from page 9

Inside the Expo Hall, attendees had the opportunity to kick off their shoes and step onto the sand in the Beach Tennis Arena, while the 10 & Under mini-court was packed with young tennis players allday long. The Activity and Kids Zone had a bouncy house, inflatable pop-a-shot game, thanks to the Long Island Nets; and a Speed Serve Booth, presented by SPORTIME; not to mention the more than 70 exhibitors who had their products and services on display. “USTA Eastern was proud to sponsor the

Net Generation Court which was filled throughout the day by children who were able to pick up a racket and play red and orange ball tennis, many for the first time,” said Jonathan Klee, USTA Eastern LI Regional Director. “It’s this type of fun grassroots tennis which helps us to grow the game.” The newest gear and tennis apparel was put on display thanks to multiple companies and brands, as local high school players showed off the latest tennis outfits, hats, shirts and other gear in the Tennis Fashion Show.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

For the second straight year, the Expo served as the opening event for the New York Open. The tournament featured some of the world’s best players, including John Isner, Frances Tiafoe and the Bryan Brothers, and served as the home of young American Reilly Opelka’s first career ATP Tour title. The Wolfpack Ninja obstacle course was a popular activity for guests as they tested their athletic prowess with the help of trained instructors. “The collaboration between the New York Tennis Expo and New York Open resulted in record-breaking attendance for the Expo and a perfect kick-off to the tournament’s calendar of weeklong events,” said Josh Ripple, Executive Vice President of GF Sports and New York Open Tournament Chairman. “Our mutual objective was to provide the community with a family-friendly and free platform for people to learn about the great sport of tennis. For Expo/Open 2.0, we undoubtedly met and exceeded the metrics we set for success, and we look immediately to build bigger and better in 2020.” Sickmen added, “With a crowd of more than 5,000, vendors and sponsors were thrilled with the enthusiasm. This platform created a way for all the supporting businesses to be successful, while all the attendees had fun. We believe everyone involved with the event, including tennis as a whole, was a winner!”

What They Are Saying ... "Our participation in this year’s New York Tennis Expo gave us the ability to engage and interact with a very meaningful tennis audience. The New York tennis community embraced the event, so it was a great opportunity for us to expose the Evert Tennis Academy and give face-to-face details about our programs!" –Ricardo Acioly, Tennis Director, Evert Tennis Academy “The New York Tennis Expo was a fantastic event, and I was proud to be a part of it. It is amazing what can happen when the tennis community locks arms and works towards growing the sport that we are all so passionate about. I am already looking forward to next year!”—Jackie Clark, USPTA Eastern Treasurer and High School Tennis Coach “We were very pleased with the overall turnout at the New York Tennis Expo. We were able to connect with many families from the surrounding area. We look forward to attending this event next year.”—David Cotrone, Head of Business Development, IMG Academy “The New York Tennis Expo is a one-of-a-kind event. I have participated in many tennis fairs, trade shows and promotions, and this is, by far, the best-attended and the best run. There are so many options for families, players and the general public … meeting top tour professional players, buying cool stuff, lots of tennis giveaways, unique demonstrations, and so much more. The turnout of participants is tremendous!.”—Lisa Dodson, Owner and Developer, ServeMaster “The 2019 New York Tennis Expo was a gift to Long Island tennis and an incredible event because it had something for everyone. If you love tennis and live in New York, this is THE event to support and attend."—Steve Kaplan, Owner and Managing Director, Bethpage Park Tennis Center “The USTA Eastern LI Regional Council was proud to participate and be a part of the 2019 Tennis Expo. We had volunteers at the USTA Membership Appreciation table where we handed out thank you gifts. USTA Eastern was also proud to sponsor the Net Gen Court, which was filled throughout the day by children. It's this type of fun, grassroots tennis which helps us to grow the game.”— Jonathan Klee, USTA Eastern LI Regional Director “The Expo was again a huge success. It’s a great opportunity to network with the community and the other vendors. Thank you to

David Sickmen and his staff for organizing this incredible event.” —Kathy Miller, General Manager, Carefree Racquet Club “It was great! The New York Tennis Expo is growing every year we’ve been here. For a technology company like ours, it’s really important for us to get out in front of people, so we can educate them about our app. This is the perfect forum for us.”—Neil Parthasarathy, Founder and CEO, Sports Made Easy “The New York Tennis Expo provides a unique opportunity for tennis players from around the Tri-State Area to gather and explore the latest in sports innovation. We were able to introduce our courtbooking app to a diverse group of players looking to improve their everyday tennis experience. We had a great time meeting everyone, and the AceSpace team is already looking forward to next year's Expo!”—Chris Sabaitis, Founder, AceSpace "Thanks again to New York Tennis Magazine for welcoming us to the New York Open and the New York Tennis Expo. Each year, we develop valuable new connections with local tennis clubs and players, and are able to re-establish ties with our existing friends and travelers. We'll see you all in 2020 for sure!"—Lisa Scholtes, Managing Partner, Elite Tennis Travel “I was really impressed. It was a tremendous success. I was happy to see the large number of people in attendance. There were plenty of fun activities for the kids, especially as we all continue to strive to promote the game of tennis. It is also pretty neat to have the kids participate in some of the on court drills.”—Pablo Sierra, USTA Eastern Metro Regional Director “This event gave exhibitors and attendees the chance to talk faceto-face, an increasingly difficult struggle in the era of video communication, e-mails and text messages. It was a great opportunity to network and build relationships with current clients and potential prospects.”—Michelle Stoerback, League and Adult Tennis Director, Christopher Morley Tennis “The Expo created a lot of excitement around the local tennis community, and it was a great time for everyone, offering tennis fanatics and casual fans alike the opportunity to bring their families to a free event where you can meet professional tennis players with tons of activities, on-court demos and off-court information sessions is great for the game of tennis.”—Jason Wass, Regional Director of Tennis, SPORTIME

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Scenes From 2019 New Y

February 9, 2019 • NYCB LIVE, Home of Th

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

om the w York Tennis Expo

of The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum • Uniondale, N.Y.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

The 2019 New York Tennis Expo was a huge success as more than 5,000 guests came out to enjoy our one-day celebration of tennis. Once again we displayed the latest and trendiest in tennis apparel with our Tennis Fashion Show, as players from local high school teams modeled tennis outfits, and gear from some of the top tennis companies.

beyond the

baseline

the

Michael Nortey The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning By Brian Coleman

he New York area tennis community is one that is comprised of people from all walks of life … many of whom make paying it forward a point of emphasis. That is embodied in Michael Nortey, a High Performance Instructor at The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx, N.Y. A native of the African nation of Ghana, Nortey was a top junior player growing up in Osu, a suburb of Accra, being raised in a family that loved sports. “Growing up in Ghana as an athlete was not easy,” said Nortey. “Where I grew up is known as a sports community, because the National Sports Stadium is situated there. I grew up in a tennis family with my older brothers playing all the way up to the professional level. My childhood years were filled with sports. We had no community playground, so engaging in a sport was a way of life. I started playing at the age of 10 and took my tennis serious, although I was a great soccer player too. I constantly trained after school and on weekends with friends and sometimes with coaches.”

A two-sport athlete, Nortey eventually decided to turn his focus to tennis. His game quickly took off, and he was soon competing for Ghana’s national team at a number of different international tournaments, including the Davis Cup. “I participated in the Davis Cup, allAfrican Games, African Juvenile Championships, ITF Futures and many others,” he said. “The Davis Cup was the tournament I loved most. It gave me an opportunity to display my talent and fight for my country

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

at the pro level. I also earned ATP Rankings on the pro circuit.” Nortey came to the United States in 2008 in the hopes of advancing his tennis career, working at a few different places before finding a home at Cary Leeds, where he currently works as a High Performance Coach who, as he says, “loves his job.” He works at developing the skills and techniques of high-performance Green Dot players, and he has an infectious passion for the game that is evident when watching him on-court with young players. As he pursued a career in coaching here in New York, he always remained in contact with his family back home in Ghana, and wanted to help grow the game of tennis there. “I constantly stayed in touch with family and friends back home, which helped me get to know the challenges that kids playing tennis face,” said Nortey. “Some of these challenges are a lack of equipment, lack of tournaments, financial struggles, motivation, talent development programs, as well as other social issues. My dream had always been to become a great tennis

pro and help upcoming kids.” And that is just what he began doing. For several years now, Nortey has gathered tennis equipment and sent it back to Ghana in the hopes of developing the game amongst kids there. With his help, some of the tennis players in Ghana have gone on to compete in the ITF/CAT African Juvenile Championships, ITF 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U tournaments, and some have even won various national junior tournaments. “The Cary Leeds Center, Sydney Katz and the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program currently help with gathering and sending the equipment to Ghana,” said Nortey. “And we are always looking for other sources to help these talented, yet deprived kids.” Nortey continues to use his platform and the resources he has to benefit the new generation of players and kids growing up in his native country. He knows first-hand just how important and influential the sport of tennis can be on young children, and how oftentimes it can be difficult for those who are underprivileged to play.

“Tennis is a very special sport, it’s one with elegance and fashion, and requires physical and mental abilities, and is referred to as the lifetime sport,” said Nortey. “Its benefits include good health, job creation, improvement of interpersonal skills, communication skills, sportsmanship, the opportunity to travel, national development

and it can ward off deviant behaviors. Many countries around the world consider tennis to be a developmental tool in national building, and Ghana is no exception.” Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at BrianC@USPTennis.com.

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Hidden Secret in Tennis … Developing Momentum By Conrad Singh At the highest levels of competitive tennis, it can be very hard to know who is winning or losing at first glance. One of the key concepts of understanding the inner game of tennis is that of momentum development. The key questions are: 1. How do you start building momentum … what do you do to get the best possible start in each set? 2. How can I stop my opponent from creating momentum and running away? 3. What is the best way of steering your own momentum the right way when the flow is with you? 4. How do you find the “Flow State” and remaining within this … the optimal mental and emotional state? Competitive tennis matches all vary in how they take shape. As we know, players experience ups and downs throughout games, sets, matches and tournaments. We need to educate our players that each match is a journey or pathway, with different twists and turns each time we step on the court. When we are discussing the concept of “momentum,” we are really talking 18

about the “fight” within the matc—dealing primary with the sports psychology plus emotional control skills of the why and when in sport. l Momentum control is critical to players knowing how to stop the flow when it is against you. This is often related to strategy usage and thinking. l Commentators will usually refer to momentum as the “flow” or “balance” of a match—having the upper hand. The ATP and WTA now actually even chart momentum! l Momentum is usually the result of pressure having been placed onto one player over time, causing a reaction whereby one player ends up with a positive outcome. It’s important to teach players to continue to apply pressure. l Momentum is hard to quantify and very difficult to measure other than with a score but very obvious to visually see it in the body language of a player. l Flow state often occurs when the momentum is with one player. l The feeling of seeing everything early. When momentum is against you, how do

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

you feel? Some comments I’ve heard from players are that they are unsettled and nothing is working … they have no rhythm or timing, are feeling unlucky, spinning out of control, feel very frustrated, etc. We know that within a match, momentum changes often, but why? Some of the reasons include a change in tactic, a missed chance, coaching, or even a toilet break or medical timeout. It’s important that we understand how to control momentum. Being prepared to start well is a very important and trainable skill, and knowing what to do when momentum is for you or against you and how to respond, needs to be practiced and rehearsed. Generally speaking, when momentum is against a player, take the time to slow down. And when the momentum is positive and with the player, they should be encouraged to “keep it going” and maintain that tempo. Players often try to speed up too fast when momentum is for them and then lose as a result. You must know how to correctly advise your player on how to use momentum as all player personalities, strengths and weakness and game styles are different. For example, when momentum is against Rafael Nadal, he seems to slow down, whereas Roger Federer speeds up. We also need to remember that the scor-

ing system is a very frustrating one which seems as though it was designed to test players and their mental capacity. Very few, if any, sports allow a player to go back to even after. Tennis features best of three or five set matches, and at each new set, we return back to 0-0 which cleans the slate. What does this mean? Players have the opportunity to restart and create a new turning point to change the momentum. It’s all about attitude and perspective. Coaches need to train players to see this chance and delete the past either positive or negative. How many of your players lose the second set easily after losing the first? How many win the first and then lose in the third set? These results are all tangible ways for us to test our players’ ability to be able to use or understand momentum. The concept of match point can be really strange as there is no defined timeline. You can be up a set and 5/3 or 40/0, play two bad games, and then be facing a mountain in front of you just minutes later. All these score variables really mean a player must be mentally stable! You can be

winning for two hours, have a poor 10 minutes and be facing a loss! This is a major moment for character testing! Players must always treat each set as a chance to have a new start. Thus learn the skill of starting well. Train your players to always keep fighting on match point, whether up or down. To play a perfect match is impossible, but to face the testing moments with a plan or strategy is entirely doable. Players that go to competition without working through these testing moments are not ready to confront the heat of battle. Much like a marathon runner who has yet to run a practice marathon prior to race day isn’t able to get over the proverbial “wall” in the race. We MUST teach players to remain optimistic and positive, and allow them to perceive “testing moments” as new chances. Teach players that the matches rarely start as planned, and there will always be twists and turns, thus requiring adaption at various times. Players really need to know their own personalities and train the “Potential Tim-

ing Points” or testing moments. Tennis becomes far more interesting for players when they reach a competitive maturity that allows for a balance perspective on each moment. It is normal for players to be nervous, panic, race and/or implode. When preparing your players to compete, remember to ensure they go through some pressure-type situations, and have set plans in place to counter these testing moments. All of this can be trained through off-the-court work, mental conditioning programs and through rehearsal. Conrad Singh is the Chief Operating Officer of Tennis & Director of Coaching at Centercourt Club & Sports. He has held Head Coach and Director positions in Australia, England, Japan and China, and has been involved in professional tennis player development for well over two decades. Singh came to Centercourt from Shanghai, China, where he helped to develop a top high-performance player program, which saw more than 200 athletes train under his system.

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New York Tennis Magazine’s

2019 Boys High Schoo Players to Watch

Photo credit: Damion Reid/PSAL

Marcos Lee, Beacon Marcos Lee will be tasked with leading Beacon this coming season as the Blue Demons attempt to win its 12th consecutive PSAL New York City team championship. Lee, a senior, will be at the top of the Beacon lineup this spring and playing first singles, after multiple successful runs in the second spot. He posted an undefeated season in 2018, winning all three of his matches during his team’s playoff run, including a 6-4, 6-2 win over Bronx Science’s Blake Frank in the city championship.

Blake Frank, Bronx Science Like Lee, Blake Frank has held the second singles position for his team in the last couple of seasons, and will most likely be asked to jump up to the first singles position with Jonah Jurick having graduated. Frank won eight of his 11 matches a year ago, including back-toback straight set victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals of last year’s playoffs. He has shown steady improvement each year of his career, and will look to take an even bigger leap in his junior campaign.

Mitchel Pertsovsky, Brooklyn Tech In his freshman season, Mitchel Pertsovsky played second singles behind one of the city’s best players in Samual Vagner. In that role, he went undefeated during the regular season and lost just one match all-season long, and will now be uplifted into the first singles position with Vagner’s graduation. The growth he displays in his sophomore season will be a key factor for the Engineers, and whether they can get back to the city finals after a few year’s absence. Maxwell Kachkarov, Cardozo Maxwell Kackharov played first singles for Cardozo in 2018, and will once again be holding the top spot for the Judges. He was unable to play in Cardozo’s playoff matchup last year, and will be eager to return this season, and become one of the top players in the city in his junior season. Joshua Jackson, Susan Wagner Susan Wagner enjoyed a fantastic season in 2018 as the Falcons, the number 10 seed, powered their way to two playoff victories, before falling to eventual runnerup Bronx Science. Sophomore Joshua Jackson was integral to that success as he won both of his playoff matches in the third singles position. Now in his junior year, he will be thrust into a much bigger role, as both of the first and second singles players have graduated, Shawn and Aaron Jackson, respectively, and will try to lead his Susan Wagner team further into the city playoffs.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

ool PREVIEW

By Brian Coleman

Teams to Watch

Photo credit: Damion Reid/PSAL

Beacon It would be impossible to write about high school tennis in New York City and not discuss Beacon. The Blue Demons have won 11 consecutive PSAL team championships, and while it lost a few key players from a year ago, should be back to defend its crown this year. Ethan Leon, Felix Levine and Julian Szuper won’t return this season, but Beacon still possess’ a stout lineup, led by Marcos Lee at the top. Donovan Brown, who played first doubles last year and reached the state finals with Szuper, will be play a huge role in Beacon’s success, as will a deep and talented roster to fill out the lineup.

Bronx Science For the past two seasons, Bronx Science has been right at the top of New York City tennis. It has reached the city final each of the last two seasons, only to meet aforementioned Beacon in the championship. In fact, the Wolverines have lost only one match to a team other than Beacon in the last two seasons, but that could change in 2019. The team will be without Jonah Jurick, first singles, but returns its other two singles players, Blake Frank and Rod Rofougaran, who will be moved up to the first and second singles flights this year. That, coupled with the return of its doubles teams, makes Bronx Science a serious threat for the city championship.

will assume the top singles role, and players like Jeffrey Yu and Jonathan Glinsky will have to step up to help lead the Engineers. Forest Hills The Forest Hills Rangers may have surprised some people last year, posting an 8-4 record

inside Queens’ League 1, but as it returns the majority of its roster, its success this season can be expected. As a freshman, Michael Zlatnik was a bit up-and-down, posting a record of 6-4, but will improve on that mark in his sophomore year. That also applies to Sabian Kosinov, who played second singles in his freshman season a year ago, and if both Zlatnik and Kosinov can lead Forest Hills in the top two flights, look for the Rangers to go even deeper in the city playoffs this season.

Stuyvesant Stuyvesant has been one of the most consistent programs in New York City over the last several seasons, and should once again be expected to be a threat as we approach playoff time later this spring. As the sixth seed last year, Stuyvesant suffered a disappointing loss to 14th seed New Dorp in the third round of the playoffs but should be able to advance further this season. Sujay Sharma, Harrison Saladini and Albert Wan will be back at first, second and third singles, respectively to anchor the singles lineup, and despite losing Isaac Rose Berman at first doubles, Stuyvesant will have a deep and experienced lineup in 2019.

Brooklyn Tech The Engineers of Brooklyn Tech came up just short of reaching the New York City championship a year ago and will look to build on that result in 2019. While it loses its top singles player from the last few years, Samuel Vagner, it contains a deep roster of talented young players eager to help bring Brooklyn Tech back to the finals. Mitchel Pertsovsky NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Improve Your Hard Court Game By Gus Alcayaga

come to the net and close out the points where your opponent is completely subThe following are six easy dued and out of position. steps to get you ready for the upcoming outdoor season … 3. Shorten the points Try to be the aggressor and finish points as 1. Play the baseline soon as possible. Otherwise, a good counWhen we play on clay, we normally entrench terattack by your opponent could lead to a ourselves way behind the baseline to play quick end. Keep in mind this surface gives high balls and try to force the opponent’s you a small margin for reaction time. mistake, since the court slows down the ball. On a hard court, the situation is very 4. Accelerate your first serve different, the court is much faster. The best It is always important to have a big first option is that we stand on the baseline or serve. On a fast surface, serving big, along just behind it, to develop a more offensive with plenty of speed and power, gives your tennis game that allows us to dominate the opponent less time to react. Therefore, I recommend you work on flat power serves rival and hit more winners. that will allow you to win points with ease. 2. Offensive tennis As you should know, this surface is best 5. Stretch! suited for offensive players. Ideally, you You must stretch! Stretching before startshould look to hit a flatter shot with de- ing to play on any surface is a must, especreased height, taking advantage that the cially on fast courts. Here, the joints and surface will not take away from the muscles go through plenty of strain due to power/speed you’ve put on the ball. This the rapid changes of direction and the high also gives you the ability to put pressure on pace this surface demands of us. your opponents’ second serve. This will have your opponent second guessing their 6. Work on fitness game play. You will also have to be ready to As you probably know, on hard-courts, we

usually don’t have long points. It is also true that due to the fast pace, we are forced to use more speed and have quicker reflexes. When we’re consistently moving, changing direction and running short sprints, our body must be prepared to withstand this type of game play. Therefore, we must have good cardio and continually strengthen our legs. These steps have been tested over the years with all levels of play and it’s been very successful. However, how we really get to perfect our game is by putting these concepts into practice and hitting the gym now. Go and get to work, and as I always say, you have to “Talk with your racket and play with your heart.” Gus Alcayaga is a Senior Staff Professional and Tournament Training Director for New York Tennis at Great Neck. Gus has coached numerous ranked junior players, college players and is certified by the Argentine Tennis Association, USPTA, PTR, Net Generation, USRSA, is a USTA High Performance Coach, a USTA Competitive Training Coach, Wilson Advisory Staff and a Loriet Brand Ambassador.

www.inphormnyc.com

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Gleneagles Country Club: A New Yorker’s Winter Destination

hen the cold grips your region deep in the heart of winter, picture a day with the temperatures hovering in the mid-70s. You’ve just finished a round of tennis with a good friend at a perfectly maintained Tennis Center. Now it’s time to head for lunch at the Grille Room with your playing partners, where the windows are open wide to take in the views of the brand new, resortstyle pool. Welcome to a day in the life at Gleneagles Country Club in sunny Delray Beach, Fla. With perfect temperatures year-round, every day feels like a vacation when you are a member at Gleneagles Country Club. With 20 Har-Tru night-lit courts, one hard court, and four pickleball courts, the Gleneagles Tennis Center is a tropical paradise where former world number one resident pros Ivan Lendl and Steffi Graf honed their craft. The USPTA-certified staff offers private and group lessons for all ages. Never worry about finding a game, as our tennis concierge will place you in games and monitor your satisfaction. If you are looking for competition, you can play on one of 25 teams in nine different leagues for both men and women at various levels. After your game, enjoy a complimentary beverage and relax on the patio. If shopping is on your mind, the Pro Shop has the latest styles at member-friendly prices. In addition to tennis, Gleneagles members enjoy some of the best amenities in South Florida with a larger than 92,000-square

feet main clubhouse that features three restaurants and two bars, a brand new Healthy Lifestyle Center encompassing a spacious Fitness Center, tranquil spa, and resort-style pool, in addition to 36 holes of Championship golf. Set in the charming seaside town of Delray Beach (named “America’s Most Fun Small Town” by Rand McNally) between Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Gleneagles Country Club is close to award-winning restaurants, shopping, museums, beaches and a vibrant downtown. The new Delray Marketplace, an outdoor promenade with popular restaurants, live entertainment and stores, is just a mile away. The superb quality of amenities and the cost of homes at Gleneagles create one of the best values in South Florida. As a result, sales are robust at this community comprised of 1,082 residences, including a variety of single-family homes, garden residences, and one midrise building. Infused with Mediterranean design, the architecture emphasizes the natural beauty of the area. Balconies and oversized porches bring an airy, open feeling and offer sweeping views of 404 acres of fairways, lakes and green space. Prices for homes and garden residences start in the $100,000s and run into the $600,000s. Country club joining fees start at $35,000. Gleneagles Country Club is located at 7667 Victory Lane in Delray Beach, Fla. For more information, e-mail Membership@Gleneagles.cc, call (561) 860-8794 or visit Gleneagles.cc.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA Metro Region Metro Region Highlights Two Award Winners Joan Akpan of the Metro Region was honored at the USTA Eastern Annual Conference with the Junior Team Tennis Award

Metro Region Volunteer of the Year Deborah Andrews was recognized at the recent USTA Eastern Annual Conference

The 2019 USTA Eastern Annual Conference at the Renaissance Hotel in West Harrison, N.Y. during the weekend of Jan. 25-27 was packed with valuable information to assist all that promote the game of tennis. One of the highlights of the weekend was the Awards Banquet where Deborah Andrews received the Metro Region Volunteer of the Year, and Joan Akpan received the Junior Team Tennis Award. Both award recipients are very deserving of their awards, as they volunteer and dedicate their time to promote the game of tennis. 24

Deborah has served as Secretary of the Metro Region for several years, she has also volunteered in various capacities with Adult Leagues, Officiating and Volunteering at NY Empire matches. Joan has been a driving force when it comes to Junior Team Tennis, she is a great planner and organizer and has done a tremendous job managing JTT in the Metro Region for several years. She is also involved with promoting tennis at the Knickerbocker Field Club in Brooklyn and Cunningham Park in Queens.

New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ March/April 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ NYTennisMag.com

USTA Metro Region Tennis on the Town Back This Winter

Tennis on the Town is back! The monthly tennis party for players 21 and older looking for a fun way to enjoy tasty beverages and interesting people returns this winter with a series of events where all playing abilities are welcome. Events consist of match play, casual hitting and instructor-led

group games. And in between playing on the court, there are plenty of beverages and snacks to enjoy. The events run from 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club and each player is guaranteed 90 minutes of playing time on-court. Visit Metrotennis.com for more information.

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ March/April 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

USTA Metro Region Top JTT Players Compete Prior to New York Open

Some of the top junior players from USTA Eastern’s Metro Region took to the courts of Carefree Racquet Club ahead of the New York Tennis Expo and the New York Open, to compete in the 10U New York Open Cup. The event was the first of the 10U Tournament Series that USTA Eastern will be hosting throughout the year in that age group. In this event, teams from the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, MatchPoint NYC, Harlem Junior Tennis, World Gym, Sportime, West Side Tennis Club, Cary Leeds Center and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center competed against one another. 26

The players got a special treat when former Grand Slam singles champion, and the previous captain of the United States Davis Cup team, came to visit the competitors at the New York Tennis Expo. Courier spoke to the kids about the benefits of playing in a team environment and even presented the winning team from the John McEnroe Tennis Academy with its medals and trophy. Players also received tickets to the Junior Team Tennis Night at the New York Open. The next event in the 10U Tournament Series will be the “Earth Cup,” set for Saturday, April 6 at the Brunswick Hills Tennis Center.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

C O M I N G I N M AY 2 0 1 9

Distribution scheduled for 05/01/19

This edition will feature: • Tennis in the Hamptons • French Open Preview • Guide to New York’s Top Tennis Apparel Stores • Boys High School Tennis • Mental Tennis Roundtable

Distribution across New York at 300+ locations: • Indoor tennis clubs • Country clubs • Restaurants and health food stores • Tennis camps • Retail stores • Gyms • Supermarkets and • Many more!

Don’t miss the advertising opportunities in the next edition of New York Tennis Magazine May/June 2019! Facebook-www.Facebook.com/NYTennisMag Instagram-@NYTennisMag • Twitter-@NYTennisMag Submissions for both advertisingNYTennisMag.com and editorial• are due by 1, 2019 March/April 2019April • New York Tennis Magazine 27 For more information, please call 516-409-4444 or e-mail Advertise@NYTennisMag.com

2019 NE

February 9-17 at NY

The packed floor of NYCB LIVE during the Taste of New York Open event featuring celebrity Chef David Burke Krawietz & Mies Win First ATP Title Together Playing in just their fourth ATP Tour main draw as a team, Kevin Krawietz & Andreas Mies captured their first title together, winning the 2019 New York Open Doubles Championship with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Mexico’s Santiago Gonzalez & Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi. “It means the world to us at the moment. It’s unbelievable, this feeling. It’s hard to describe,” said Mies. “It’s really a dream come true for us. We worked so hard for it. It’s our first ATP title. It’s a special feeling. I didn’t know what the feeling would be like, but I can tell you it’s an amazing feeling. And we’re super happy to win it.” Krawietz & Mies secured the decisive break for a 4-3 lead in the opening set, and would go on to serve out the set to take the early advantage. In the second, both duos continued to battle closely with holds of serve through the first 10 games. But that’s when Krawietz & Mies worked 28

Andreas Mies & Kevin Krawietz captured the 2019 New York Open Doubles Championship themselves deep into a service game and a running passing shot from Mies won the break and put them ahead 6-5. In the ensuing service game, Mies served out the match and closed it out with an overhead smash on championship point.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

“It was an unbelievable tournament. This is the best tournament that we’ve played together,” said Krawietz. “From the first match here we felt very good.” Over the last year-and-a-half, the German duo have developed a chemistry together on the court which resulted in six Challenger titles. They cracked into an ATP Tour level main draw for the first time together at last year’s Wimbledon Championships, and went on to reach the Round of 16. And on the final day of the New York Open, they took home their first hardware together and became the second doubles champions in New York Open history. The duo was visibly thrilled with their triumph during the post-match press conference with Mies unable to control his smile, and Long Island will forever be a special place for the German duo. Despite it only being their fourth tournament together, Krawietz & Mies quickly developed chemistry over the last year or so,

Credit all photos to Sidney Beal III, Brian Coleman, Lee Seidner & the New York Open

NEW YORK OPEN RECAP

at NYCB LIVE, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Canadian Brayden Schnur celebrates a point during the finals of the 2019 New York Open which they attribute to being good friends away from tennis. “Communication is key in doubles, and in any relationship. If it’s on the tennis court, if it’s in real life, communication is so important,” said Mies. “We get along off the court. We have fun together, and you can see that on the court. We almost communicate without talking. I know what he’s doing in certain moments, and he knows what I’m doing without even saying it to each other. We had a great tactic going into every match, and executed very in all the matches.” Schnur’s Emotional Run to New York Open Finals In early February, Brayden Schnur reached the quarterfinals of the RBC Tennis Championships, an ATP Challenger Tour tournament in Dallas. But he was soon under the weather, and didn’t know what his next move would be. “Coming from Dallas, I wasn’t even sure

if I was going to show up here,” Schnur said at the New York Open. “I wasn’t feeling good, I was tired. But I just ended up coming here.” Schnur took a spot in the New York Open qualifying draw, a decision he would not come to regret. The 23-year-old Canadian, who is a star at the University of North Carolina, put together the best week of his professional career. It began in qualifying when he took on Long Island native Cannon Kingsley in the first round. Still fighting through his illness, coughing in between nearly every point, Schnur fell behind 1-4 against Kingsley. He would come back to win that match, and then ousted Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 7-6(8) to secure his spot in the main draw. Taking on compatriot Jack Lin in the Round of 32, Schnur scored the first tourlevel victory of his career as he posted a 6-1, 6-3 win. “It’s been a good week so far. A week of firsts for me. It’s my first tour level win today,” Schnur said after the win. “So I’m pretty happy about that.” His breakthrough week continued with

over thrilling three-set wins over Steve Johnson, Paolo Lorenzi and Sam Querrey, putting him in the 2019 New York Open Finals. “It’s a dream come true,” said a reflective Schnur. “It’s been an amazing week for me.” Schnur would battle Reilly Opelka in the finals, a two-hour affair that saw incredible rallies and an enormous amount of resiliency from Schnur. He saved eight break points, and five match points in total, but would come up just short. In his runner-up speech on court afterwards, Schnur couldn’t help but shed his emotions, wiping away tears as he spoke about all the injuries he has gone through, and the hard work both he and the people around him have put in. He would continue in his press conference. “I’m not the most talented guy out on the court, but from 14-years-old, my coach asked me to wake up every day at 5:30 a.m. to train,” said Schnur. “I did that for years, all the way to college. And coming out of college with a really bad knee injury, continued on page 30

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Call 914-907-0041 or E-mail BloomGilad@gmail.com NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 new york open recap continued from page 29

Jim Courier returns a shot against Andy Roddick in an exhibition to kick off the 2019 New York Open

Andy Roddick faced off against Jim Courier in an exhibition to launch the 2019 New York Open

and never really knowing if I was ever going to be able to play at my full potential again. Two years later recovering from that, and then obviously now being here. It’s just a roller-coaster ride. So many times, I doubted myself, and having this week has been unbelievable.” His week earned him 150 ranking points, a career-high ranking of 107th in the world, and maybe, most importantly, the validation that he belongs competing at this level.

NY Open Kicks Off With Roddick-Courier Exhibition and NY Tennis Expo While the main draw and qualifying matches didn't start until Sunday, the New York Open got underway Saturday with the New York Tennis Expo, which had more than 5,000 attendees and featured 70-plus vendors and sponsors. That was followed by the debut of the Taste of New York Open.

Before they took to the court, Roddick and Courier competed in a culinary challenge with the help of celebrity Chef David Burke. The two demonstrated their talents in the kitchen as Burke presided over the competition. In the end it was Courier who came out victorious. “It shows the power of skill,” said Courier afterwards. Roddick would exact some revenge during their match, defeating Courier 6-4, 6-3. The 2003 U.S. Open champion, who signed autographs and took pictures with fans earlier in the day, talked about the importance of tennis in New York. “It’s great. This market has so much history with the game,” he said. “Obviously the U.S. Open is the one that comes to mind. But the year-end Masters was here so many times. There’s so much tradition of tennis in Madison Square Garden. There is so much history in this market and it’s nice to see new tennis history being made with the New York Open.”

Players sampled an array of fine cuisine at the Taste of New York Open event The 516 Expo Plaza and Other Week-Long Activities Long Island possesses such a passionate tennis community, and that was on display during the 2019 New York Open, as the tournament hosted numerous activities to engage with clubs, programs, teams and organizations in the area. Throughout the week-long event, there were many teams, both junior and adult, who were honored on court with pre-match celebrations and award presentations. 30

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

The Bryan Brothers take part in a meet & greet with fans

A new feature to the event was the 516 Expo Hall which, in addition to the multiple vendors inside, played host to a Beach Tennis Arena and the Wolfpack Ninja Obstacle Course, which provided fans a free and fun way to enjoy their time at the event. “The fundamental basis for this tournament to succeed is the ‘open’ aspect of the New York Open, meaning that the fans and the players are literally in closer proximity than at other events, especially the amazing New York Open,” said Ripple. “We think the ability for us to have immersive and up-close personal experiences is really a differentiator. And now after a second cycle, we know how NYCB LIVE plays into all that. The integration of our sister companies—such as Wolfpack Ninja and New York Riptde— into these experiences provides the entertainment content we need to broaden the offering. We are confident these adds will play huge dividends in the years to come.” Players from the tournament, including John Isner, Frances Tiafoe and the Bryan Brothers, took part in meet and greets and autograph signings with fans. There was also multiple Q&A sessions, where guests

had the opportunity to present their own questions to some of the sport’s biggest stars. The growth of the tournament experienced this past year provides optimism heading into 2020, set for Feb. 8-16 back at NYCB LIVE. “We’re very excited. Everyone has already started on preparations. Renewal sales are occurring, recaps being pro-

duced, targets being identified, player agents already being contacted,” Ripple said. “We know this will be a compelling winter entertainment property for New York. We have no time to waste, but we also know that Rome wasn’t built in one day. Our ownership is incredibly trusting and committed not only to the New York Open, but all GF Sports initiatives being planned for Long Island and at NYCB LIVE.”

Give yourself the added advantage. Dr. Robert Silverman 311 North St. Ste. G1 White Plains, NY 10605 Ph: 914.287.6464 www.DrRobertSilverman.com

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

SCENES FROM THE 20

February 9-17 at NYCB LIVE, Home of the

2019 NEW YORK OPEN

of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

01-John Isner fields questions from fans during a Q&A session 02-The team of Andreas Mies & Kevin Krawietz celebrate winning their first ever ATP title together at the New York Open 03-An emotional Brayden Schnur during his post-match speech to close out the 2019 New York Open 04-New York Open winner Reilly Opelka celebrates his victory

05-Doubles runners-up Santiago Gonzalez & Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi with 2019 New York Open winners Andreas Mies & Kevin Krawietz 06-New York Open guests had the opportunity to run through the Wolfpack Ninja Obstacle Course during the tournament 07-Local Noah Rubin returned to Long Island to take part in the 2019 New York Open

08-Jason Jung in singles action on the black courts of NYCB LIVE 09-John Isner signs an autograph for a lucky fan 10-A victorious Jim Courier was winner of the Taste of New York Open 11-Nortportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cannon Kingsley in action at the New York Open Qualifiers

Century Tennis 56 Brook Avenue Deer Park, N.Y. (631) 242-0220 CenturyTennis.com Since 1965, Century Tennis has been dedicated to the growing sport of tennis by building quality tennis courts and providing a specialized service to the tennis club industry, as well as the private community. By maintaining a high-quality of service and customer satisfaction over the years comes a trust that is ever so hard to attain. “We simply want to be the best at what we do.” In order to build great tennis courts, you have to start at the bottom with an understanding of soil conditions and converting it to a good base. Laser-controlled road graders enable Century Tennis to build with accuracy. Building Post-Tensioned Concrete, instead of the old asphalt type courts, are proving to be a great alternative for “crack-free” tennis courts. Whether it is a hard court with the softness of Deco-Turf or Classic Turf Rubber or whether it is a soft court like Har-Tru or Hydro Court, or a surface that offers a little of both like Nova Synthetic Turfs … Century Tennis can deliver. The company is a member of the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Long Island Builders Institute (LIBI). Century Tennis’ building techniques meet and or exceed those of the ASBA and the USTA and with its “Certified Tennis Court Builder” staff assures this quality. The company’s intention is to deliver the very best tennis courts for the most demanding players and tennis club owners. “Expanding the game of tennis, one court at a time.”

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Gold Coast Tennis 31 Prospect Street Huntington, N.Y. (631) 547-5200 GoldCoastTennis.org Info@GoldCoastTennis.org Tennis and Sports Courts Since 1984 Gold Coast Tennis has been trusted for more than 35 years by Long Island’s top clubs and hundreds of homeowners to design, build and maintain tennis and sport courts. Gold Coast’s in-house team of experienced and knowledgeable tradesmen use only the best quality materials and have the ability to address any situation to ensure your court is ready for you to play at your highest level. Gold Coast Tennis is a specialist and expert in both clay and asphalt courts, including Har-Tru, Deco Systems, and Douglas sports equipment for multi-use courts. Gold Coast provides annual Har-Tru reconditioning, as well as weekly/biweekly/monthly court servicing. All weather court repair incorporates the use of Rite-Way crack repair system. In addition to building and maintaining the court surfaces, Gold Coast Tennis designs and builds the entire court environment including fencing, irrigation, lighting, panting, masonry and seating furniture. Gold Coast’s approach ensures that your tennis or sport court enhances the appearance of your home and fits with your outdoor living lifestyle.

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101 Bloomingdale Road Hicksville N.Y. (718) 934-3600 LuxCrafters.com LuxCrafters@gmail.com

Har-Tru LLC is a global tennis company based in Charlottesville, Va. It is the world’s leading provider of court surfaces, court consultation, court equipment and accessories. The company strives to help others build and maintain the best courts in the world, leveraging its products, knowledge, and experience to most effectively meet the needs of each customer. Har-Tru stays active in the in the industry as an advocate for the sport and sponsor of tennis-related activities.

Lux-Craft Inc. is a leader in LED lighting manufacturer for indoor and outdoor sports facilities. Located in Hicksville, N.Y., Lux-Craft Inc. is dedicated to the latest technological advances, resulting in the most advanced LED solutions for the sports industry. Lux Craft’s third-generation 540-watt fixture outperforms all other competitors. In 2016, the company introduced highly advanced outdoor fixtures. The indirect nature of the outdoor model reduces glare and improves playability like no other fixture on the market. Lux-Craft is continuously working to make improvements and advances in LED lighting technology. The company is determined to manufacture high-quality luminaires for sports facilities. All assembly and testing is done locally in New York, and with a five-year standard guarantee, Lux Craft is confident that they can vastly improve the lighting systems at tennis clubs. All of that, combined with substantial energy savings, is guaranteeing that we are going to see more LED technology in the future of the tennis industry. Local clubs have greatly benefited by converting to LED lighting, and the ability to have relationships with a local manufacturer provides confidence and convenience as a major decision factor. For more information, call (718) 934-3600 or visit LuxCrafters.com. NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Farley Group– Air-Supported Structures 6 Kerr Crescent Puslinch, Ontario, Canada (888) 445-3223 TheFarleyGroup.com The Farley Group has installed more than 20 tennis bubbles in the New York City and Long Island areas, helping tennis facilities extend their season into the winter months. For seasonal or permanently installed tennis bubbles, The Farley Group is your number one source for quality, service and dependability. As a manufacturer, supplier, installer and service provider of air-supported structures, The Farley Group works with you from conception to implementation and beyond. The company’s philosophy is built around the belief that a customer never leaves The Farley Group—from project planning and installation to ongoing service and maintenance—we become a trusted member of your team. The company’s expert staff of sales consultants, designers and highly-skilled production and service professionals are well-experienced in all facets of air structure technology, ready to help you through every phase of your tennis bubble project.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

VelveTop Products 1455 New York Avenue Huntington Station, N.Y. (631) 427-5904 Velvetop.com VelveTop Products is a family-owned and operated business since 1968. VelveTop is a stocking distributor of a full line of tennis court materials and equipment, including: l l l l l l

Deco Turf: The Cushioned Tennis Surface of Champions Har-Tru: Developing Champions Since 1932 Douglas Sports: Nets, Windscreens, Divider Nets RiteWay Crack Repair Systems Deep Root: Tree Root Barriers Hadeka Red Clay

For more information, call (631) 427-5904, e-mail BWalsh@VelveTop.com or visit VelveTop.com.

Windridge Still Going Strong as It Enters Its 52nd Year

or more than a half-century, Windridge Tennis & Sports Camps in Vermont have been attracting young athletes from more than 30 U.S. states and 20 countries around the world. There has been one constant in the camp’s illustrious history: Ted Hoehn. In 1968, Hoehn and Alden Bryan founded the Windridge Tennis Camp in Jeffersonville, Vt. After six years, such a long waiting list had developed that a second facility was purchased in Craftsbury Common, Vt. As that camp flourished and developed a long waiting list of its own, Hoehn and Bryan purchased the Teela-Wooket Camp, an allgirls riding camp, in 1985, and transformed it into a co-ed tennis, soccer and horseback riding camp for youngsters ages eight through 15. Hoehn, now 77, still oversees the Windridge Tennis & Sports Camp’s operations. The former Jeffersonville camp is now the site of the town’s Community Center. The Craftsbury facility was sold nearly 10 years ago, and is now a nonprofit aerobic fitness and nature camp. So what was once a three-camp operation that Hoehn oversaw for several decades is now down to one location in Roxbury, a rural Vermont village located only 10 miles

from the Sugarbush Ski Resort. Growing up in Hanover, N.H., where his father was the tennis and squash coach at Dartmouth College for 25 years, Hoehn was a talented all-around athlete. He was ranked number one in singles and doubles in New England in the 13, 15, and 18 & Under Divisions, and also achieved National Rankings in the 18 & Under, number 32 in singles and six in doubles. In addition, he captained the Hanover High School’s football, hockey and baseball teams in his senior year, earning All-State honors in football and hockey. After weighing multiple offers, Hoehn accepted a tennis scholarship from the University of North Carolina, one of the NCAA’s most prestigious programs. Hoehn played second singles first doubles for the Tar Heels, and captained the team in both his junior and senior year, and won the ACC and Eastern Intercollegiate Doubles Championships on two occasions. It was in college when Hoehn realized that tennis was the sport that he was most passionate about, and offered him the most rewarding future. And while Windridge offers a first-class tennis experience, Hoehn’s multi-sport background is at the heart of what Windridge’s philosophy is all about. He is a

strong believer in letting kids play a variety of sports, and not specialize in just one at too early an age. “That’s a sure recipe for burn-out,” said Hoehn. “It’s important that the young athlete has a balance in his/her life. I think it’s best to let the individual decide at the age of 14 or 15 what they are passionate about after having experienced a number of different sports.” In addition to tennis, soccer and horseback-riding, Windridge also offers electives in golf, basketball, mountain biking, archery, swimming, arts and crafts, and pickle ball. The camp runs from mid-June to mid-August. “I was a shy teenager from a small corner of the United Kingdom,” said Niki Babbott, a former camper. “I landed in the U.S. with not a lot of life experience. The only tool I knew was how to use my tennis racket. I left four summers later with a suitcase full of experience, best friends and so many fond memories. I can honestly say that Windridge played a big part in shaping me into the young woman I am today.” It has been more than 50 years since the Windridge Tennis Camp was founded, and with Hoehn at the helm, it’s still going strong all these years later.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

J U N I O R P L AY E R S P O T L I G H T BY BRIAN COLEMAN

IAN SMITH THE WEST SIDE TENNIS CLUB

or top junior athletes, the constant training and relentless practice schedules can often times be overwhelming, which makes striking a balance between other sports and activities incredibly important. Ian Smith, a high school junior who trains out of The West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y., has been able to strike that balance. Smith attends the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and is an avid piano player. “It’s one of the most important things for me,” Smith said of playing the piano. “It’s the thing I enjoy most other than tennis, and those are the two things I really love to do. Playing the piano is really fun for me, and it’s also therapeutic … it really helps me relax.” Having an outlet off the tennis court has been crucial for Smith, and has helped his game grow over the last few years. He got his love of tennis from his family. Smith first played when he was about fouryears-old, but didn’t like it right away. It was only a few years later that he picked up the sport again, and his passion for it really blossomed. “At around eight-years-old, I found out I wanted to play again. I would go to my grandmother’s house and she would always have the Tennis Channel on,” Smith recalls. “I watched with her and can re38

member always rooting against whoever my grandmother was rooting for at the time. But that really got me wanting to start to play again. Once I was older, and I was able to understand more about the

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

game, Roger Federer became my favorite player.” Smith gets a lot of support from his parents, Chip and Ivona, who have always guided him to follow his passions. Chip is also a tennis player himself, and began to play more consistently recently as Ian has gotten older. The two have proven to be a well-rounded doubles pairing as was evidenced by their play last summer at West Side’s Father-Son Championships. “Before I played, my dad was not playing that much, but once I got started playing, we both got really into it,” said Smith. “Last summer, we won that tournament, and it was so much fun. It was nice to play with him because we don’t get to play together that often. It was awesome being able to beat all the other teams and show that we were the best combo, and to win that together was amazing for both of us.” His family has been members of West Side for nearly a decade now, and Smith wouldn’t have it any other way. Events like the Father-Son Championship, as well as the newly created 1,000 Ball Rally Challenge, have added a different element to the tennis training experience. “West Side is the best, I wouldn’t leave it for any other academy out there, and ever since Luke [Jensen] has come in, he introduced things like the 1,000 Ball Rally

Challenge, and has brought a lot of energy,” said Smith. “They have courts for all the surfaces, and my favorite part of playing there is that I’m so comfortable with it, and it’s so close to home. It was the home of the U.S. Open and we still have the stadium. I have met a lot of people since being there and everyone is great.” In fact, Smith was the first winner of the aforementioned 1,000 Ball Rally Challenge, whose object is self-explanatory. To be able to rally for that long requires focus and consistency, something that Smith says has been a constant area of improvement for him. “I think the strength of my game is my consistency, and I have been more consistent since winning the 1,000 Ball Rally Challenge,” said Smith. “Luke Jensen has

taught me that. You have to keep getting the balls in to win the match, so I’ve tried to really focus on that.” Smith continues to grow bigger and stronger, which will allow his game to mature, and has really emphasized improving his strategy on the court, and becoming more of a cerebral player. “Picking the right shot to go for, where to place the ball, and when to go for it are things I have really been focusing on getting better at,” Smith said. “You only have a couple of seconds to figure out what you are going to do on the court, so you have to be smart to be a good tennis player for sure.” Soon to be a high school senior, Smith wants to continue to develop his game in the next year as he hopes to compete on the collegiate level.

“I want to get into the best college I can and play great tennis there,” Smith said. “I would love to go to any competitive school where my abilities are tested and I am comfortable playing.” According to Jensen, who is the Director of Racquet Sports at West Side, Smith won’t have any trouble finding success in whichever endeavor he decides to go into. “Ian loves being on the tennis court. His worth ethic and dedication is a great example to the other kids in our junior program,” said Jensen. “A healthy balance of family, education and sport will provide the building blocks of extraordinary success in everything Ian chooses to do.” Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at BrianC@USPTennis.com.

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2019 New York Tennis Magazine

2016 Guide to the Top Clubs/Programs for New York Tennis Players

Camp Guide

Advantage Junior Tennis Camp at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC) 281 Main Stree l Roosevelt Island, N.Y. Contact: Steve O’Keefe l (212) 935-0250 l AdvantageCamps.net Advantage Junior Tennis Camp is “tennis heaven for kids”–giving players ages seven to 17 more drills, more skills and more time on the courts! Directed by Xavier Luna, it’s the City’s oldest and most-established junior tennis program. Girls and boys learn from a team of pros—including some of the finest coaches in the East. Campers use 12 Har-Tru indoor courts and three outdoor courts to improve their game with instruction, match play and cross-training. And if you’re looking for more tennis instruction, we can arrange a private lesson with the RIRC coach of your choice during your Camp week. While the focus is on tennis, campers go swimming, too! Choose single or consecutive weeks—and ask about the sibling discount! We even offer individual days with our 10-, 20-, 30-pack option. Camp is at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, easy to get to by tram, ferry, subway or car.

Advantage QuickStart Tennis Camp West Side: Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club 450 West 43rd Street l New York, N.Y. Contact: Gabe Slotnick l (212) 594-0554, ext. 20 l AdvantageCamps.net East Side: Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main Street l Roosevelt Island, N.Y. (212) 935-0250 l AdvantageCamps.net Advantage QuickStart Tennis Camp delivers a super summer for kids ages four through eight, with tennis customized for age, ability—and fun! During half days from 9:00 a.m.-noon, campers love playing with smaller rackets and slower-bouncing balls that make the game accessible. Engaging drills and games mean there’s always something new to learn and enjoy. Camp is led by an all-star tennis pro who specializes in teaching kids. And our coaches receive intensive specialty training in teaching the Net Gen 10 & Under curriculum. Enrolled campers also benefit from free unlimited Play More Sessions that make practice fun and Athletic Zone Sessions that help develop agility, balance and more. Choose only the weeks you need– and the more you choose, the lower the weekly rate! 40

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning 2019 Summer Camp 1720 Crotona Avenue l Bronx, N.Y. Contact: Liezel Huber at (718) 247-7420 l CaryLeedsInfo@NYJTL.org l CaryLeedsTennis.org Summer Camp at the Cary Leeds Center Led by seven-time Grand Slam Champion and Executive Director Liezel Huber, the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning offers Summer Camp from June 17-Aug. 23 for juniors ages five- to 18-years-old. All levels are welcome from beginners in the development level program to advanced players in the competition level program. Players will train to develop necessary tennis technique, improve consistency and create basic patterns of play for effective point construction. Included is a fitness component designed to improve players’ footwork, balance, speed and overall strength. Camp hours run from 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and round-trip transportation is offered from convenient pick up and drop off points or door-to-door. NYJTL Community Tennis Programs The Cary Leeds Center is the flagship home of New York Junior Tennis & Learning and offers free programming as a part of its commitment to the community. The summer Community Tennis Program begins the week of July 5. NYJTL offers free programming throughout all five boroughs. For specific program days and times, please visit NYJTL.org to find a location near you. NYJTL’s mission is to develop the character of young people through tennis and education for a lifetime of success on and off the court. All proceeds from the Cary Leeds Center fund its mission.

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Centercourt Tennis Academy Annual Players Program & Performance Camps Chatham l Morristown l Florham Park l 25 miles from Manhattan (862) 308-3029 l CentercourtAcademy.com l Conrad@CentercourtClub.com A commitment to excellence! Centercourt Performance Tennis Academy has quickly earned the reputation as one of the sport’s premier destinations for player development in the Northeast. With multiple world-class facilities from clay- to hard-court, indoor and outdoor, our players experience top-tier tennis training in all key aspects of the game.

l l l l l l l

Centercourt’s points of difference l International tennis professionals lead daily programs in our cuttingedge environment l Attention to detail allows athletes to improve in multiple dimensions: Technical, Fitness, Mental and Tactical Centercourt’s official UTR events offer opportunities for athletes to apply what they learn after training and improve their rating Centercourt is dedicated to meeting the individual needs of each and every one of its players Centercourt’s players are among some of the leading Sectional- and Nationally-ranked competitors from around the country Centercourt puts the needs of the player first, in a development-focused model of training Athletes are grouped in level by UTR; featuring small group training, match play, individualized fitness plans, mental coaching and video analysis Tournament, supervision, coaching and travel are available Players who commit to Centercourt’s training will see themselves develop life skills that will enable them to become champions, both on and off the court.

Centercourt Performance Tennis Academy provides a superior junior player pathway that satisfies the needs of Sectional- and Nationally-ranked juniors. Centercourt Performance Tennis Academy offers programs with rolling admissions year-round and Summer Camp from June 10-Aug. 31. CourtSense Tennis Training Center at Bogota Racquet Club 156 West Main Street l Bogata, N.J. CourtSense at Ramapo College 505 Ramapo Valley Road l Mahwah, N.J. (201) 489-1122 l CourtSense.com l Info@CourtSense.com With CourtSense, you’ll achieve your personal best, because our training is of the highest professional caliber and easily tailored to suit your age and skill level. We use tennis as a vehicle to teach life lessons by tapping into the spirit of every player, with lots of passion, expertise and character. Students have access to 32 outdoor and 15 indoor tennis courts and to CourtSense’s revolutionary PlaySight smart court system. High Performance Summer Tennis Camp at Bogota Racquet Club and/including Overnight option at Ramapo College. This camp is geared towards High Performance Tournament and high level High School players. CourtSense has trained and is currently training players who have become ATP- and WTA-ranked players, U.S. Olympians, as well as many college scholarship athletes. CourtSense’s International High Performance Coaches, in collaboration with its fitness staff and a sports psychologist, have developed a program that maximizes all athletes’ strengths, both on and off court. l Full Day High Performance Tennis Camp at Bogota Racquet Club runs from Monday-Friday, June 24-Aug. 23 (nine weeks), featuring 10 hours of tennis training; five hours of fitness and eight hours of match/point play) for players ages 11-18. Campers will have 42

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide access to outdoor and indoor hard and clay courts, with a 3:1 student-to-coach ratio. Weekly dual matches with other academies, and mental toughness training are also included. Transportation service provided from Bogota Racquet Club. l Sleepaway Option at Ramapo College runs from Monday-Friday, June 24-July 12 (three weeks), featuring 10 hours of tennis training; five hours of fitness and eight hours of match/point play) for players ages 11-18. Campers will have access to outdoor and indoor hard and clay courts, with a 3:1 student-to-coach ratio on a beautiful college campus. Campers will have access to an indoor swimming pool and lunch is provided at a brand new, air-conditioned cafeteria. Two players per fully air-conditioned room with their own shower and bathroom. Round-trip transportation service from Tenafly and Bogota Racquet Clubs.

Ed Krass’ 31st Annual College Tennis Exposure Camp® & Clinics University of Rhode Island: Saturday-Sunday, June 29-30 Lehigh University: Sunday-Thursday, July 14-18 & Saturday-Wednesday, July 20-24; Sunday-Wednesday, July 14-24 (10-day program) Harvard University: Saturday-Sunday, July 27-28 (813) 684-9031 l CollegeTennis.com Coach Ed Krass’ 31st Annual College Tennis Exposure Camp & Clinics, for ages 14-18, are taught exclusively by head college coaches who will work with you on-court to improve your singles and doubles match play strategies and provide college recruiting guidance. Instructional drills and match play competitions will be conducted in the same style and intensity as a college team practice. The two-day College Tennis Exposure Clinics will be offered at University of Rhode Island, Saturday-Sunday, June 29-30 (with a limited enrollment of 40 players) and at Harvard University Saturday-Sunday, July 27-28. There will be four-day residential College Tennis Exposure Camps at Lehigh University Sunday-Thursday, July 14-18 and Saturday-Wednesday, July 20-24, and a 10-day residential camp session Sunday-Wednesday, July 14-24 for players seeking maximum instruction, match play and exposure to college coaches. The residential camp at Lehigh University includes air-conditioned dormitory accommodations, healthy cafeteria meals and 24-hour adult supervision. Coach Ed Krass, Founder and Director of College Tennis Exposure Camp & Clinics, has coached varsity tennis teams at Harvard University, Clemson University and the University of Central Florida prior to founding the College Tennis Academy. For more information, call (813) 684-9031 or visit CollegeTennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Evert Tennis Academy 10334 Diego Drive South l Boca Raton, Fla. (561) 488-2001 l EvertAcademy.com l Evert@EvertAcademy.com The Evert Tennis Academy is located in sunny Boca Raton, Fla., and is considered by many as one of the best tennis camps in the country. John and Chrissie Evert set out to continue their father’s legacy 22 years ago by installing core values: Excellence, Resilience, Integrity and Leadership. “Our core values are the roadmap to coaching every student-athlete towards reaching their full potential.”–John Evert Evert Tennis Academy clinics will focus on technical development, tactical training and competitive settings. Players will experience a typical Evert program that includes tennis lessons, strength and fitness conditioning, mental conditioning and competitive match play against players from all over the world. Players will get a coach’s evaluation during their stay here to review at home. Top five reasons why to attend this summer (Monday-Sunday, June 3-Aug. 18): 1. Coaches/program: Our coaching staff continues to put a program together that is second to none. Each program is designed so that each player will get the personalized attention needed to improve his or her game while having fun. Whether you are an intermediate player looking to fine tune your game or a high-level nationally ranked player we have the program for you. 2. Facility/boarding: Evert Tennis Academy is one of the only academies to provide boarding services for any student wishing to stay only steps away from the courts. Its eight-acre facility provides a safe environment nestled in the beautiful and secure Mission Bay residential neighborhood, surrounded by lakes, manicured lawns and lush Floridian foliage. 3. Competition: The Evert Tennis Academy provides match play for each student every day. The Evert Tennis Academy will also be

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide hosting two UTR tournaments (July 6-7 and July 27-28) this summer for any player looking to get match play prior to the Clay Court & Hard Court Nationals, Zonals or just get access to players of equal playing level. All levels are welcome. 4. College Showcase: The Evert Tennis Academy will be hosting a College Showcase on Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14 for any student interested in attending for the week of July 9. 5. Location: Located in the beautiful town of Boca Raton, Fla., the Evert Tennis Academy is located only a few minutes away from the beach and only 30 minutes away from the Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach airports making it an easy trip from the Northeast.

Future Stars Summer Camps (914) 273-8500 l FSCamps.com Purchase College SUNY 735 Anderson Hill Road Purchase, N.Y. l (914) 273-8500 The College at Old Westbury 223 Store Hill Road l Old Westbury, N.Y. l (516) 226-CAMP (2267) Farmingdale State College 2530 Broadhollow Road l Farmingdale, N.Y. l (631) 769-CAMP (2267) Future Stars Tennis Club 1370 Majors Path l Southampton, N.Y. l (631) 287-6707 St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue 155 West Roe Boulevard l Patchogue, N.Y. l (631) 572-0232 Future Stars Summer Camps offer the finest weekly tennis day camps at five outstanding locations: Purchase College SUNY, The College at Old Westbury, Farmingdale State College, St. Joseph’s CollegePatchogue and Future Stars Tennis Club in Southampton, N.Y. Programs are directed by experienced and qualified teachers and coaches who share a passion for working with children. Weekly programs are offered for boys and girls entering grades K-12. Tennis camps offer the perfect mix of match play, drill work, strategy sessions and off-court activities to challenge players of all levels. The program is designed to improve every facet of the game, including technical, tactical, physical and mental components under the guidance of our experienced and enthusiastic tennis professionals. Campers will be carefully grouped according to skill level and age and will be encouraged to enhance their strokes and strategies via group lessons, skill building drills organized play, target training, fitness routines and more. At Future Stars Summer Camps, we play with confidence, enthusiasm and a genuine love of the game! Stop by our regular on-campus open house events to view the facilities, meet the directors, and take advantage of enrollment savings.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Gilad Bloom Tennis Summer Camp Riverdale Tennis Center 3671 Hudson Manor Terrace l Riverdale, N.Y. The Gilad Bloom Summer Camp begins on Monday, July 8 and runs four times a week, Monday-Thursday, for eight weeks until Wednesday, Aug. 28. The camp operates from Noon-2:00 p.m. Gilad Bloom Tennis also provides: l Private lessons before and after group session. l Match play before and after group session. l Fitness sessions before or after the group. l Tournament travel available seven days a week. Come learn and train under Gilad Bloom, who achieved a career high ranking of 61st in the world and reached the U.S. Open fourth round in 1990. Bloom scored victories over Jimmy Connors, Petr Korda, Brad Gilbert and Marcelo Rios during his career, and represented Israel in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic games.

Gotham Stadium NYC Summer Camps at Mill Pond Park Next door to Yankee Stadium (718) 665-4684 l StadiumTennisNYC.com l Info@StadiumTennisNYC.com Stadium Tennis Center offers a unique array of summer camp programs designed for tennis players of all levels to experience. Through a partnership with Gotham Tennis Academy, some of the most talented and engaging tennis pros in New York City have been assembled. The pros share a passion to work closely with players of all levels and ages to help them develop to their fullest potential. Stadium Tennis Center offers two distinct summer tennis camp experiences to choose from: l The Summer Elite High Performance Tennis Academy: Designed for those juniors who are ranked in the top 30 or better in their Section. It includes a low player-to-coach ratio, on-court drills, match play, video analysis, mental toughness training and an extensive fitness program to prepare for sectional and national events. l The Junior Summer Tennis Development Program: Designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced players. Ages five through 14 are welcomed to enroll. Your child will learn proper stroke production fundamentals, strategy, match play, conditioning and footwork. Round-trip transportation from points in New York City, Westchester and New Jersey may be arranged. Gotham Tennis Academy Morning Summer Camp at Equinox Sports Club/NY 160 Columbus Avenue l New York, N.Y. (646)-524-7069 l Info@GothamTennis.com l GothamTennis.com Dates: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays starting in June, from 10:00 a.m.-Noon The Gotham Tennis Academy Morning Summer Camp at Equinox Sports Club/NY (Upper West Side) is a great way to keep your child active and improve his or her tennis in a fun and supportive indoor atmosphere. Indoor tennis offers a safe, sun/rain/bug-free environment so children can really enjoy the sport! The Gotham QuickStart Tennis Program emphasizes skill development and fun on a specially equipped tennis court at the Equinox Sports Club/NY. In friendly, small group tennis lessons, Gotham Tennis Academy’s certified professional instructors utilize foam balls and pressure-free balls, mini-nets, and age- and level-appropriate miniature rackets to accelerate the development of early muscle memory. In no time, your child will learn to swing the racket and move his or her feet like a tennis prodigy! For beginners and advanced beginners between the ages of three to nine, you can expect your child to have fun, develop self-confidence and learn tennis fundamentals. 46

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide The IHC Tennis Academy (914) 345-2155 l CampIHC.com/Tennis l Nico@CampIHC.com The IHC Tennis Academy (IHCTA) is the best of both worlds—an incredible tennis program nestled within a beautiful summer camp facility where kids can truly enjoy what we call “Childhood Unlimited.” Take your child’s game to the next level with one week of tennis instruction filled with zip-lining, water-skiing, and other fun outdoor summer activities. At the IHCTA, our program welcomes a wide range of playing levels and experiences, from the tennis enthusiast who is only starting to take the sport seriously, to the intermediate player thinking about trying out for their school varsity team. Everyone has a place here and no matter your child’s ability level they are going to fit in, have fun and experience summer as it should be. Our one-of-a-kind program includes: l Drills and stroke production adapted for each players individual level l Match play and fun inclusive games l On-and off-court conditioning (advanced players) l Nutritional guidance (advanced player) l Alternative activities such as: Yoga, zip-lining, water skiing, paddle boarding, rock climbing, swimming, ropes course, flag football, basketball and more IHCTA’s top-notch campus includes: 17 tennis courts Four indoor court complex State-of-the-art gym Dedicated yoga studio Swimming pool Indoor multi-sport complex Traditional wooden cabins State-of-the art facilities and unlimited outdoor spaces with sports fields, lake, trails and stunning views of the beautiful North Eastern Pennsylvania Mountains Visit IHCTA at CampIHC.com/Tennis for dates, rates and more information. IHCTA offers pick-up and dropoff from airports in the New York and Long Island areas. l l l l l l l l

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Inspiration Academy 7900 40th Avenue West l Bradenton, Fla. Instagram: InspirationAcademyTennis l Facebook: Inspiration Academy Tennis (941) 795 5466 l Ashley.Hobson@InspirationAcademy.com Director of IA Tennis, Ashley Hobson invites you to improve your tennis with us this summer! A veteran in player development, he has accrued proven principles, techniques and frameworks for transforming contenders into champions—producing junior Grand Slam Champions and working with over 20 top 100 tour players. He has also held the prestigious titles of National Coach and Davis and Federation Cup Captain. At Inspiration Academy, we believe champions are molded from the inside out! We use demanding training and regular competition to develop our athletes’ tennis ability as well as enrich their character. Our transformative atmosphere and innovative coaching methods are supported by state-of-the-art equipment to extract the full potential of our athletes. Our camps run on a weekly basis (Monday to Friday) allowing players to compete in tournaments over the weekend. Practices run from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. will focus on: l Perfection of footwork, stances and technique. l Repetition with innovative training and overload drills to stimulate development. l Enhancing players’ understanding of strategy and tactics, styles of play, tactical court and personal patterns. l Training mental toughness through routines and rituals, match flow, momentum, stages of a match and problem-solving. l Strength and conditioning under the world-renowned EtchFit system for explosive and injury-free athletes. l Supervised point and match play, followed by evaluation and goal-setting. Bradenton, Fla. is a hotbed for competitive tennis, with an abundance of weekly tournaments at every skill level. Players have access to national and international competition every weekend within a thirty-mile radius. We are also 10 minutes away from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. With professionals and world-ranked juniors training with us year-round, we are prepared to receive both aspiring and seasoned players. We offer boarding and homestays services for players in need of accommodation. This summer, progress your tennis with us in the tropics! Sign up at InspirationAcademy.com/Tennis-Registration. Joel Ross Tennis Camp (914) 723-2165 l JoelRossTennis.com l Info@JoelRossTennis.com No need to go to Florida for a summer camp! Joel Ross Tennis Camp in Kent, Conn. will host many ranked players this summer including more than a dozen nationally ranked juniors and several number one sectionally-ranked juniors from the East, New England and Middle States. This is our 29th year! Our tennis facilities include 12 tennis courts, including four indoor and eight new outdoor hard courts. The campers drill in the morning and play matches in the afternoon and on alternate evenings. Private lessons are given each night after the matches have concluded. Some of the electives are swimming in our indoor pool, canoeing and kayaking on the Housatonic River, squash in the new squash center, archery, golf on our driving range, basketball, soccer, etc. Joel Ross, Owner and Director, is a native Long Islander, having grown up in Westbury, N.Y. He won the New York State High School Singles Championships two consecutive years and earned a full tennis scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he captained the team and played number one singles. In 1971, Joel was Big 10 Singles Champion and was featured on the cover of Tennis Magazine. His best circuit wins include John McEnroe and Tom Gullikson. He currently resides in New Rochelle, N.Y. with his wife, Ellen. Their four grown children each attended and worked at the camp. Contact Info@JoelRossTennis.com or visit JoelRossTennis.com for more information. 48

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide New York Tennis at Shelter Rock Tennis Club 100 Long Island Expressway l Manhasset, N.Y. (516) 233-2790 l NYTAGN.com l Info@NYTAGN.com The New York Tennis Academy at Shelter Rock Tennis Club is under the Direction of Brian Stein and Chris Tasso. For more than 20 years they have both developed and coached some of the top juniors in the Long Island/New York City area. They will be sure to look after every junior’s personal needs, as well as instill a real competitive presence at the camp. In addition to their leadership at the camp, Brian and Chris are also the Directors of Junior Tennis at New York Tennis at Great Neck. The coaching staff at the camp will feature a highly accomplished set of former ATP, ITF and NCAA players, as well as current college players that were once juniors in the program and fully understand the hard work philosophy. The camp is hosted at a beautiful facility of Har-Tru courts, a large pool that campers can enjoy in the afternoons, and is centrally located right off of the Long Island Expressway in Manhasset. On days it rains, the camp utilizes several indoor courts located on-premises to keep up the tennis fun. Finally, the New York Tennis Academy’s mission is that every junior player loves going to camp and has an incredible summer tennis experience. The entire staff will be dedicated to giving campers a summer they’ll never forget.

Nike Tennis Camps (800) NIKE-CAMP (645-3226) l USSportsCamps.com/Tennis Come join the fun and get better this summer at a Nike Tennis Camp! With more than 80 locations nationwide, both overnight and day options, there is a camp for everyone. Nike Tennis Camps provide young players the opportunity to improve their tennis skills, work hard, make new friends and have a lot of fun. Dedicated camp directors have a passion for teaching and a gift for helping you take your game to the next level. Locations include: Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, N.Y.); Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, N.J.); Randy Mani Tennis Academy at Hardscrabble Club (Brewster, N.Y.); Colgate University (Hamilton, N.Y.); Amherst College (Amherst, Mass.); Curry College (Milton, Mass.); and Colby College (Waterville, Maine). Who says that only kids can go to camp? The Nike Adult Tennis Camp at Amherst College has hosted more than 30,000 adult tennis players since 1972. Camp Director Reiny Maier is an outstanding teacher who inspire all players to get better and love the game. Multiple camp options and dates offered throughout June and July.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Peter Kaplan’s Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy 142 Montauk Highway l West Hampton, N.Y. (631) 288-4021 l (914) 234-9462 l WestHamptonBeachTennis.com l PeterKaplan2002@yahoo.com Peter Kaplan’s Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy, and the affiliated Grassmere Inn, is a wonderful destination for beginners to nationallyranked players of all ages. Private instruction, clinics, one to seven full- and half-day camps are offered. The flexibility of the programming enables participants to enjoy the nearby beautiful ocean beaches, charming village, Performing Arts Center, movie theatre, wine country, shopping, cafes, restaurants and nearby water park. Resident students/families/teams stay at the historic, newly-renovated and highly-honored Grassmere Inn, located on quiet, tree-lined Beach Lane, 50 yards from the beginning of the charming village, yet less than one mile from a beautiful ocean beach. The Grassmere’s 22 guest rooms all have air conditioning, WiFi, cable TV and private bathrooms. Ideal for families, are two suites or interconnected rooms. A delicious breakfast is included daily. The Tennis Academy features 12 soft courts and features an enthusiastic staff, renowned for its high-quality instruction with an average student/staff ratio of 2:1. Most participants seek a less intensive program of three to five hours of instruction daily. Visiting tennis pros bring students with Kaplan’s staff available to supplement the pros. Here, you can play tennis during the day, go to the beach and have a glass of wine at sunset, and then dine at a great restaurant, or take in a movie or a show at the Performing Arts Center. We are the only academy in the world the USTA selected for the members benefits program for both juniors and adults. And we are annually selected among the top 25 in the world and number one in the East by TennisResortsonline.com. Packages, including accommodations, breakfast and instruction, begin at $99. Also, we will once again be offering partial and full scholarships to both adults and juniors, for our tennis academy. These are for beginning tennis players who have made contributions to their community, and are in the names of two of Peter Kaplan’s Cornell roommates.

Ross School Tennis Academy 20 Goodfriend Drive l East Hampton, N.Y. (631) 907-5162 l Ross.org/Tennis l TennisAcademy@Ross.org The Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) is a beautiful tennis facility in the Hamptons that is open to the public and located on the Ross Upper School campus in East Hampton, NY. The tennis center features six Har-Tru tennis courts that are enclosed by a bubble from mid-fall through mid-spring, allowing for year-round play. The courts are directly adjacent to the state-of-the-art Field House, featuring amenities such as locker rooms, lounge, snack bar, and ping-pong tables, and the staff provides a fun and supportive atmosphere that allows for the greatest amount of success. RSTA Summer 2019 l Monday-Friday, June 24-August 30: From specialized U10 programs with orange and green dot balls designed for developing competitive tennis players, to our high-performance training with live ball drills and match play series for players entering middle and high school, this 10 week all-encompassing summer program is our most intense and complete junior tennis education offered. Players considering this program should be serious about their commitment to tennis, consistently practicing at least three days per week year-round. All training in each age and development level includes a daily fitness and match play component. Players can sign up for this weekly but space is limited. Tryout required (videos accepted). Boarding available certain weeks for grades seventh through 12th, including an option to combine academics and tennis in our new Combination Program that allows you to be a student in the morning and an athlete in the afternoon. l Full Day (8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)/Green and Yellow Ball: Our most intense summer tennis training program is for USTA/ITF junior play50

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide ers grades fifth through 12th. The program is specially designed for a small group of players who are dedicated to intense training in preparation for regular weekly USTA tournaments. In addition to four hours of on-court group and private training, players undergo video comparison analysis and practice one hour of fitness daily. Program limited to 24 players. Tryout required. l Half-Day (8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)/Orange and Green Ball: Specialized U10 training program designed for developing competitive tennis players entering grades first through fourth. All training uses orange and green dot balls and includes a daily fitness and match play component. Players must be able to serve and keep score. Program limited to 16 players. Tryout required. For tryouts, call (631) 907-5162 or e-mail TennisAcademy@Ross.org to schedule.

SPORTIME EXCEL Tennis Camps and JMTA Summer Tennis Training Camps (888) NY-TENNIS l (888) 698-3664 l Camps@SportimeNY.com l SportimeCamps.com l SportimeCamps.com/JMTA Locations on Long Island, in Manhattan and Westchester No one knows tennis training for juniors better than SPORTIME! And with multiple tennis camp locations across Long Island, including the Hamptons, and in New York City and Westchester, aspiring tennis players can enjoy John McEnroe Tennis Academy and SPORTIME tennis training programs throughout the summer. SPORTIME’s and JMTA’s training methods are fun and fast-paced, and feature technical and tactical training. Innovative tennis training techniques are rooted in competitive games and tennis-specific conditioning regimens. Newer players learn and enjoy the sport in age and level appropriate groups. Higher level training prepares serious juniors for the physical, mental and emotional demands of match and tournament play. SPORTIME’s international coaching staff is dedicated to turning weaknesses into strengths and strengths into winning games. For our youngest players, ages 10 and under, campers work through clearly defined stages of development that follow an internationally accepted progression of court sizes (red 36’, orange 60’), ball types (red, orange) and net heights that make it possible for kids to actually play tennis from the moment they step onto the court. With our fun and unique “gamification” approach, our junior players don’t just take lessons—they get sent on missions, acquire skills, collect points and achieve milestones. Campers also enjoy instruction and competition in a variety of team sports activities. Visit SportimeCamps.com to find the SPORTIME EXCEL or JMTA Summer Tennis Training Camp nearest you, or e-mail Camps@SportimeNY.com to find out more. Programs vary by location.

SPORTIME Summer Camps (888) NY-TENNIS l (888) 698-3664 l SportimeCamps.com l Camps@SportimeNY.com Locations across Long Island, in Manhattan, Westchester and Schenectady “Last year, I had the best summer ever!” Who said that? Every kid who attended a SPORTIME Summer Camp last summer! That’s because at SPORTIME summer camps our staff of teachers, coaches and counselors makes sure that every camper has a positive and memorable experience. SPORTIME knows how to make camp fun! How does SPORTIME do it? Our experienced, certified, international staff is skilled at providing camp programming that is challenging, innovative and educational, all at facilities that are state-of-the-art, safe, and easily accessible. From preschoolers to pre-teens, kids who enjoy tennis, sports, friendship and fun love coming to SPORTIME summer camps, which offer programs and events tailored to every age group and interest. With camp locations across Long Island, including the Hamptons, and in New York City and Westchester, we’ve got your summer covered! Go to SportimeCamps.com to find the perfect camp for your child or e-mail us at Camps@SportimeNY.com. Programs and facilities vary by location. High-level tennis, volleyball and hockey camps are also available. NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide The West Side Tennis Club–Summer Camp 2019 One Tennis Place l Forest Hills, N.Y. (718) 268-2300, ext. 127 l ForestHillsTennis.com l JuniorProgram@ForestHillsTennis.com The West Side Tennis Club offers a fun-filled Rock N’ Roll Summer Tennis Camp led by French Open Champion Luke Jensen! Our Camp boasts top-notch coaching at the most historic tennis venue in the United States. Former home of the U.S. Open, The West Side Tennis Club still maintains eight grass courts, three synthetic grass courts, three hard courts, two red clay courts, 21 Har-Tru courts and the Forest Hills Stadium court. The Club facilities also include a Junior Olympic Size Swimming Pool, the beautiful Rose Garden and of course, the historic Club House itself. The 2019 Rock N’ Roll Summer Tennis Camp starts on June 17th and runs for 11 weeks. Camp is open to junior players of all ages and levels (ages four through 17; beginners through tournament-level players). Camp days run Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. A camp day starts with warm-up drills and stretching, followed by tennis instruction from certified professionals. A snack and lunch will be provided each day by the West Side Tennis Club’s renowned restaurant. After lunch, campers can either challenge each other at match play, challenge themselves at advanced training, engage in other sport activities (soccer, basketball, flag football, ultimate frisbee, etc.), or cool off in the pool. Advanced training is also offered in the afternoons via The West Side Tennis Club’s Tournament Training Program. The Club’s elite coaching staff will work with tournament level players from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. with high intensity drills and physical conditioning. The program is offered for Regular Ball tournament players, as well as Green Dot Advanced players.

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadow-Corona Park l Flushing, N.Y. (718) 760-6200 l NTC.USTA.com The USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center will once again offer fun in the sun tennis day camps starting in June. Enrollment will soon be available online and you may choose registration for one, two or as many as seven weeks. The weekly program runs Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break or a twilight session from 4:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Campers work on the development of tennis techniques, tactics, sports conditioning, multi-sports and strategy geared toward maximizing the learning experience in a fun presentation. As the juniors develop, they are advanced to more challenging groups. Tennis activities include Stroke of the Day, team games and competitive match play. The Camp also offers cross-training activities, such as soccer, softball and basketball in the park or at the Corona Park multi-purpose recreational facility, off-site field trips include ice skating, Mets games, and more, and full access to the many fun activities on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The program accepts junior players, ages four- through 10-years-old for the 10 & Under programs. Recreational players 11-years-old and up are enrolled in the Junior Camps (8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.). Advanced High Performance Tournament training campers will also be invited to participate in an intensive Tennis Academy training program. The National Tennis Center has 22 outdoor courts, 12 indoor courts, and four stadium courts. Also on-site are ping-pong tables, ball machines, a fitness center, and other age-appropriate fun activities like arts, multi-sports, arts and crafts, and other engaging sporting events. The primary focus will be on developing tennis skills, while offering other activities to enhance the learning and summer camp experience. Also offered are junior evening and weekend programs, as well as adult daytime, weekday evening and weekend camps. Detailed information will be available soon at NTC.USTA.com. You may contact the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at (718) 760-6200 for more information about year-round and summer day camp programs. 52

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Windridge Tennis and Sports Camps 1215 Roxbury Road l Roxbury, Vt. (802) 860-2005 l WindridgeCamps.com l Misha@WindridgeCamps.com Windridge ... a tradition of tennis, soccer and horseback riding and so much more for 50 years. Located in the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Windridge Tennis and Sports Camps stand unique in that they feature specialized sports programs within the framework of a traditional New England camp setting. Since 1968, children have come to Windridge from most of the 50 states and more than 30 countries to share in the Windridge experience. Campers make a commitment to hard work, good sportsmanship, and wholesome fun and laughter, within a warm and friendly environment. Windridge offers two- and three-week coed sessions from June through August, serving ages seven through 15. Windridge’s 4:1 camper-tocounselor ratio is an important factor in its warm and nurturing environment. In addition, we offer three 10 day Rookie Camps for 7-10 year-old first time campers. Windridge offers “majors” in tennis, soccer and horseback riding, and also offers many elective programs, such as golf, mountain biking, archery, a ropes course, basketball, volleyball, arts and crafts, and more. Windridge adds to this a wide variety of exceptional evening activities and special events, such as Carnival Day and Teela-Games to create a well-rounded experience for each camper. For more information, visit WindridgeCamps.com or contact Camp Director Norbert Auger at NAuger@WindridgeCamps.com.

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Changing of the Guard Naomi Osaka’s rapid rise to stardom By Brian Coleman

The last few months have been nothing less than a whirlwind for Naomi Osaka. The sudden star of women’s tennis burst onto the world scene with her epic fortnight in New York when she dominated the field, and triumphed over her idol and the sport’s greatest player ever, Serena Williams, to win the 2018 U.S. Open. She quickly proved that her ascent to the top wasn’t a fluke. To end 2018, she reached the finals and semifinals in Tokyo and Beijing, respectively, before heading to Singapore for the end-of-the-year WTA Finals. And while she dropped all three of her matches in Singapore, the 2018 season was Osaka’s breakout, and it fed directly into her start to 2019. After reaching the semifinals in Brisbane, Osaka headed to Melbourne for the Australian Open. In the first Grand Slam since she captured her maiden one, Osaka backed up her results from the year prior. After blowing past sixth-seed Elina Svitolina in straight sets in the quarterfinals, Osaka outlasted Karolina Pliskova to set up a final against Petra Kvitova. It was dubbed the “feel good final.” Osaka had overcome the awkwardness of 54

her U.S. Open final match and the ensuing trophy presentation, while Kvitova overcame a physical attack she suffered at the hands of a home intruder in December 2016. But backing up her first major title, Osaka defeated the two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-4 and hoisted her second Grand Slam trophy in four months. “I still feel very shocked. I felt like the match wasn’t completely done, but it was done,” Osaka said of her state of mind after converting match point. “It’s one of those moments where you are fighting so hard and then when it’s finally over, you’re still in the state of competition.” After Kvitova took the second set, Osaka told herself to get her game together and leave it all out there on the court. “I felt like I didn’t want to have any regrets,” said Osaka. “I think if I didn’t regroup after the second set, then I would have looked back on this match and probably cried or something.” That sort of candor is what we have come to expect out of Osaka. While she doesn’t often say a lot, she always says exactly how she is feeling. continued on page 56

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ March/April 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

Photo credit: Brian Coleman

changing of the guard continued from page 55 Photo credit: USTA/Pete Staples

As a result of her triumph, Osaka jumped into the top spot in the world rankings, becoming just the 26th woman to do so. “I’m beyond excited to become the new WTA world number one,” said Osaka. “I’ve always dreamt of being in this position and I am honored to be part of the elite group of players who have reached the number one ranking.” Beyond being the top-ranked player in the world, Osaka is now the centerpiece of tennis’ next generation. Born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, the family, which also included older sister Mari, moved to Long Island when Osaka was just three-years-old to be closer to her father’s Haitian relatives. The family lived in Elmont for about six years, and Osaka has memories of attending the U.S. Open and even playing at a local SPORTIME facility. “Well I played in—I don’t remember the location, but there is like SPORTIMES? I played in a few of those,” Osaka recalled during a U.S. Open press conference. “But not really a specific one. And then I would play on these public courts in—I don’t really know where they were. But, yeah, I grew up playing in New York for a bit. I don’t really remember playing sets with anyone else except my sister.” Osaka moved to Boca Raton, Fla. to train after her time on Long Island, and less than a decade later she finds herself at the top of the sport, and one of its most recognizable faces. 56

That comes with its caveats. Being this good brings more attention to what you do. So when, soon after the Australian Open, Osaka announced that she was splitting with her coach, Sascha Bajin, it raised a lot of eyebrows around the sport. Bajin, who had previously been a hitting partner for Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki, was named Coach of the Year in 2018 by the WTA, but found himself off of Osaka’s team just a couple of weeks after she won her second Grand Slam title. The surprising split led to many rumors circling that it was a financial-based decision, which forced Osaka to speak on it: “That’s one of the most hurtful things I’ve ever heard,” she said. “I travel with everyone on my team; I see them more than my family. I would never do that to them. My reason is I wouldn’t put success over my happiness—that’s my main thing. I’m not going to sacrifice that just to keep a person around.” She also made it clear then it was something she had been thinking about for a long time and was not an impulsive decision. “It was kind of brewing in Australia,” Osaka said. “I think some people could see that if they saw how we interacted. I would not want to split on really bad terms. I’m not going to say anything bad about him because, of course, I’m really grateful for all the things he’s done. During the Australian Open, I was just trying to tell myself to get

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

through it. I’m not sure, but I think you guys noticed.” In her first match after the decision, Osaka was beaten by Kristina Mladenovic routinely in the opening round in Dubai. Afterwards, she was candid about how the coaching change and constant attention on her affected her. “This match is the result of that,” Osaka said. “I’m pretty sure as time goes on you guys will stop talking about it. For now, it’s like the biggest tennis news, I guess. “See it’s a little bit hard because I feel like people are staring at me, and not in a good way. I don’t think I necessarily understand what position I’m in in a way. And because last year I wasn’t even anywhere close to this ranking and people didn’t pay attention to me, and that’s something that I’m comfortable with.” Osaka’s compatriot, Kei Nishikori, says he understands the types of pressure she is going through at this crucial moment in her career. “There is more pressure, for sure. Being number one, winning Grand Slams … that’s something I never had before. It’s a bit different. It’s more than me, I think,” said Nishikori. “I’m sure she’s going to adapt. She just needs the time. She has great mental [strength], very strong, very calm. She doesn’t panic too much. I’m sure in time she will get used to it…She’s going to be winning more Grand Slams.” It is hard to argue with Nishikori. Osaka is still just 21-years-old, and it’s important to understand just how rapid her ascent to the top of the women’s game actually was. As she becomes more comfortable with eyeballs on her and the expectations people now have for her, Osaka’s game will only continue to grow, which is a scary proposition considering just how talented and complete she already is. Still atop the women’s rankings, and as the winner of the two most recent Grand Slam titles, Osaka’s game has not slipped up one bit. Despite a newsworthy coaching change and a surprising defeat, Osaka is currently the best player in the world, and currently at the apex of both the present and future of women’s tennis. Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at BrianC@USPTennis.com.

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New Frontiers in Fish Oil: Part I By Dr. Rob Silverman his is part one of a two-part series on the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil. Stay tuned for part two about how to incorporate fish oil into a regular diet. From supporting cardiovascular health, to promoting ideal body composition, to optimizing inflammatory pathways, Omega-3’s substantive impact on a wide variety of health issues has been well-documented. Here, we take a closer look at this versatile nutrient and its many applications.

Why take Omega-3 fatty acids? Many research articles support the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids—primarily for their ability to act as the body’s natural protection. For those patients recovering from a heart attack, for example, Omega3 fatty acids aid in the healing process by helping with cardiac remodeling and enabling the heart to contract better. 58

Omega-3 fatty acids also manage fibrosis in the region and impact the reduction of biomarkers for inflammation. Further, according to the Journal of the American Medicine Association, Omega-3 fatty acids also reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease, as well. Omega-3 fatty acids are also known to promote healthy body composition—improving lean mass and decreasing fat mass in healthy adults. In studies, fish oil concentrates not only caused weight reduction in mice, but also appeared to stop the animals from gaining weight when given free access to food. Additionally, Omega-3 concentrates reduced the number of fat cells, especially in the abdominal region. Research shows that concentrated fish oil increased the oxidation of fat by activating genes that break down fat in the mitochondria and peroxisomes. These breakthroughs have allowed for the development of new therapies for obesity and other metabolism diseases. Those suffering from chronic pain have also sought relief in fish oil supplements.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Studies suggest that daily consumption of Omega-3s may help support healthy inflammatory pathways, thereby alleviating symptoms associated with inflammation. Another study showed that fish oil also reduced the need for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in 59 percent of patients with neck and low-back pain. In addition to the aforementioned benefits, further known advantages of taking fish oil include: Decreasing the risk of depression and anxiety; improving eye health; promoting brain health during pregnancy; supporting focus and memory; stabilizing healthy blood sugar levels; supporting a healthy immune response; improving bone and joint health; improving sleep; and supporting skin health. Types and sources of Omega-3 fatty acids There are three types of Omega-3 fatty acids: Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). ALA is an 18-carbon long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid

(SCPUFA), sourced primarily from plants. ALA provides a source of energy when metabolized, and since the body can’t make ALA, it’s considered an essential nutrient. In humans, ALA undergoes an elongation step into the second form of omega-3, EPA. However, it is a poor source of EPA due to a low conversion efficiency of only about five to 10 percent. EPA, meanwhile, is a 20-carbon long chain (LCPUFA) known for its biologic activity in humans. Supporting a variety of functions including brain health and heart health, EPA can also elongate into the third form of Omega-3, known as DHA. DHA is a 22-carbon long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid known as a physiologically-essential LCPUFA. While possible, conversion efficiency of ALA through to DHA is extremely low, typically occurring with an efficiency of just 0.2 to two percent. Therefore, the best way to incorporate these essential nutrients into your diet is to eat fish rich in Omega-3s. However, not all fatty fish are created equally. SMASH fish—that is, Salmon, Mackerel, Anchovies, Sardines and Herring—are not

only packed with Omega-3s, they’re also safer to eat thanks to low amounts of mercury. Comparatively, high-mercury fish, such as tuna, swordfish, orange roughy and shark, are typically larger in size and tend to live longer—two factors that increase their exposure to mercury. While good sources of Omega-3s, these fish should be eaten in low moderation (or not at all) due to their mercury levels. Throughout history, humans consumed diets heavy in fish. Today, fish consumption is low. Thanks to Western diets, these physiologically-essential nutrients have become a nutritional deficit for many. Thus, a dietary solution was needed. In part two of this series, I’ll explore how fish oil supplements have contributed to meeting our modern Omega-3 needs— and what consumers need to know about distinguishing quality in a vast fish oil market.

ropractor and certified clinical nutritionist, specializing in functional medicine and the treatment of joint pain with innovative, science-based, nonsurgical approaches. He is also on the advisory board for the Functional Medicine University and a health contributor to various major TV networks. He is the author of Amazon’s Number One Best-Seller, Inside-Out Health. In 2015, he was honored with the prestigious Sports Chiropractor of the Year award by the ACA Sports Council. He can be reached by phone at (914) 287-6464, e-mail Info@DrRobertSilverman.com or visit DrRobertSilverman.com.

Dr. Robert G. Silverman is a White Plains, N.Y.-based sports chi-

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

When Should Your Child Enter Competitive Junior Tennis By Jarett Cascino magine dedicating your heart and soul to a competitive sport throughout your childhood and adolescence just to give it up at the age of 20 or 30. After you “retire” from your passion, in order for you to play the sport you love, you need to gather a large group of people together in order to play. At that point in their lives, people have jobs, families and countless other obligations that take precedence ahead of the annual game. This dilemma is one of the many reasons kids should begin playing tennis at a young age. Falling in love with tennis has its advantages. First, unlike team sports, you can play tennis forever. Baseball, softball, football, soccer among others have a much more limited time horizon, mainly because you need to rely on numerous people in order to get a competitive game together. With tennis all you need is you and an opponent. Tennis has countless physical, mental and social benefits as well. If you truly love the sport and dedicate your time

and efforts towards it, it is much more rewarding if you are actually good at it. Most professional players, college players, and strong high school players improved their game by playing tournaments and learning how to compete against all different types of opponents. Deciding when to put your child into tournaments is important to their development and growth. On the one hand, if your child begins playing at six- or seven-years-old, he or she may be discouraged if they lose to other players and might not want to continue. Or at that age, they will play and improve, however potentially become burned out and not want to continue to the next level. You don’t want to begin tournament play too late either because it is exponentially harder to become a great tennis player the later you begin playing. If you start tournaments after 14-years-old, the other kids are most likely already so good that it will be hard for your child to keep up with the more experienced players. It all depends on the child in determining when to begin tournament play. If your child has all of the basic skills and

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

is willing to develop and improve upon them, then they may be ready to play their first tournament. If they can keep score, serve at an above 50 percent rate, and hit fairly consistent groundstrokes and volleys, theoretically, they should begin match play. There are a few things to consider, however, before entering them into their first USTA tournament. You don’t want your child to enter their first tournament and be so disheartened by the results that they never want to play competitive tennis again. Prior to signing your child up for their first tournament, it is important to make sure they have some match experience. Most of the kids playing USTA tournaments have participated in other tournaments. Many even know each other and have played with or against one another before. This could be intimidating for a rookie on the scene, especially if the player is under the age of 12-years-old. Having a reasonable amount of match experience could ease the burden when they actually go out and play their matches. Most tennis programs incorporate match play in some form or another in their junior program. However, I suggest to

arrange a match at their local club with other students or friends outside of their regular group lesson time. Also, consider a private lesson with a professional coach and have the pro explain the intricate details of match play, for example, when to switch sides, where to stand, how to play a tie-breaker, etc. Another way to learn about tennis is to have your child watch matches before they go out and play their first tournament. If you don’t have cable, many professional matches are streamed somewhere online for free (try ESPN 3 or directly from the tournament’s Web site). You could also take your child to the U.S. Open during qualifiers, as the National Tennis Center is open to everyone and you can see extraordinary tennis up close and personal. Another aspect to consider is motivation. Does the child really like playing tennis? Is he or she coachable and willing to learn? And how does the child handle defeat? Unfortunately, tennis is extremely competitive. There is always someone better than you on any given day, even if you are the number one player in the world! I

suggest sitting down with your child and discussing realistic expectations for their first tournament or series of tournaments. In order to improve, your child needs to be able to both win and lose humbly. The goal should be to compete against as many different players as possible, as well as have fun with the game. You become a better tennis player learning to play against all types of players, the hard hitters, heavy spin players, big servers, lefties, moon ballers and the dreaded pusher. At the beginning, sign your child up for round-robin tournaments. This means the players play only one set, probably without ad scoring, so the matches finish around the same time. Each player plays against each other in this type of tournament, and they usually will play both singles and doubles. With this format, the player gains tournament experience and potentially makes a few friends. After the player becomes comfortable playing these abbreviated matches, you can sign them up for a double elimination tournament: If they lose in the first round, they move to a consolation bracket.

Playing tournaments is a surefire way to improve your game, although beginning at the right time is important in order for the child to keep on practicing and loving it. Understanding that winning a tennis tournament in the junior local division is not the goal goes a long way in making a successful life-long tennis player. Win, lose or draw, the goal is experience, enjoyment, and developing a passion for the game that will last a lifetime! Jarett Cascino is currently a Teaching Professional at Midtown Tennis Club. A Minnesota native, he was a standout junior player in the USTA Northern Section, where he won multiple state championships. He played college tennis at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he became an Horizon League All-Conference player before going to on to become an Assistant Coach at his alma mater. He has taught at clubs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, France, Connecticut, New Jersey and now New York, and enjoys teaching a variety of players of all ages and levels.

Practice

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Metro Corporate League’s Fall Season Concludes With Three New Champs The Metro Corporate Tennis League, presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs, is an initiative of the Metrotennis Community Tennis Association (MCTA). The League is divided into three levels of play, Intermediate (3.0-3.5), Advanced Intermediate (4.0-4.5) and Advanced (4.5+). Also offered is the Hi-Five program for teams not yet ready to compete, but want to get into the sport while getting a great workout. The Metro Corporate Tennis League will host more than 55 teams for the Winter 2019 season, including: Advanced Division 1. Bloomberg (Ming) 2. NYJTL 3. Ernst & Young 4. Credit Agricole 5. BNP Paribas 6. The Corcoran Group 7. PwC 8. Proskauer Rose LLP 9. Bloomberg (Vighnesh) 10. Moody’s Advanced Intermediate Division I 1. Bank of America 2. Mizuo Bank 3. Bloomberg 4. Société Générale 5. BNP Paribas 6. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 7. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Advanced Intermediate Division II 1. Nielsen 2. White & Case 3. Natixis North America LLC 4. Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP 5. The Corcoran Group 6. Schulte, Roth & Zabel LLP

Intermediate Division I 1. CVC Capital Partners 2. Angelo, Gordon & Co. 3. Bloomberg (Aces) 4. HBO 1 5. Neuberger Berman 6. Barclays

Intermediate Division IV 1. Ropes & Gray LLP 2. Deutsche Bank 3. HBO 2 4. PwC 5. D.E. Shaw & Co. 6. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Ja

Intermediate Division II 1. D.E. Shaw & Co. 2. NYCEDC 3. BNP Paribas 4. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton 5. Barclays 6. Sidley Austin

Hi-Five Division 1. Bloomberg (Fischler) 2. Havas 3. Penguin Random House 4. Bloomberg (Sai) 5. Penguin Random House 6. Bloomberg (Brett) 7. Bloomberg (Dylan) 8. Schulte, Roth & Zabel LLP 9. The Corcoran Group 10. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Intermediate Division III 1. Deutsche Bank 2. Société Générale 3. ING 4. Bloomberg 5. MongoDB 6. Moody’s 7. Macquarie

The season will run from January to April, culminating with an end-of-season party at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. Please help us welcome new teams, Natixis North America LLC, and Ropes & Gray LLP. For more information regarding the Metro Corporate Tennis League, please visit MetroTennis.com under the tab labeled, “Corporate” or e-mail Luis@MetroTennis.com. 62

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Being the Right Parent for Your Child By Vinicius Carmo Unfortunately, tennis is not as popular a sport as soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and many other team sports where you have teammates to share pressure when winning and losing. Tennis is an expensive sport, and it requires a financial and time commitment from the player’s parents. Junior tennis players feel a tremendous amount of pressure to win, and on the top of that, they feel pressure from their parents as well. All parents want the best for their child, and they work hard to provide their children with the best they can, but parents need some coaching on how to be “tennis parents” so their children can be the best they can be playing tennis. It is very important to raise your child and give them the building blocks to great confidence, resilience, work ethic, modesty and the courage to be a tennis player. But parents need to trust their children’s coaches about their technique and time on the court spent with their child. Parents need to find a good program and a good coach that fits their child. They

need to conduct a great deal of research about tennis programs to find the right program that is dedicated to developing players and teaching your child everything they know. Parents also need to find a coach who wants the best for your child and who has knowledge about the game. Loyalty is another key factor in finding the right coach. Parents often take their child to different tennis programs and take private lessons at various tennis clubs. These actions may confuse the child and make it difficult to find balance and stability. Coaching philosophies that differ may confuse a child, thus stunt their growth as a player. Once this work is done, the parents need to take a step back and not get involved in any tennis techniques … they should leave that up to the coach. A child’s tennis game is not going to be perfect day in and day out. There may, in fact, be very few days where you feel amazing on the court, where every ball you hit is perfectly placed. Parents must understand that their child will not be perfect every day on the court, and they need to deal with adversity. They need to develop the skills to cope with days like these both

on the court and in their everyday life. All coaches understand that parents need to be connected with their children’s tennis game so their children can participate in tennis programs, take private lessons, participate in fitness sessions and play in tournaments. If you don’t have all of these things going on, the chances of the child sticking with tennis are minimal. I recommend that parents do the proper research and find the proper coach for their child on the court, while they provide the proper support as a parent off the court. The most important factor to this all is that the child’s tennis experience is a positive and happy one, full of support both on and off the court. Vinicius Carmo is Founding Director of Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA). Vinicius finished among the top five in Brazil’s 1996 Junior National Ranking and he attended the University of Tennessee on a full tennis scholarship. He directed prestigious tennis programs in the Hamptons before coming to Ross, where he continues to develop exciting events, tournaments and competitive training techniques for players of all ages.

Get Your Game On O ROSS SCHOOL TENNIS ACADEMY EAST HAMPTON, NY

• Integrated academics and training program during the school year • After-school programs for all ages and levels • Private lessons and court rentals • Adult clinics for all levels

See details on seasonal programs at www.ross.org/rs sta

631-907-5162 TENNISACADEMY@ROSS.ORG WWW.ROSS.ORG/RSTA

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

So What’s the Big Deal About a Split-Step? By Lisa Dodson t’s important that players understand the importance, function and movements of the splitstep. When you finally “get it,” tennis becomes a very different game. Split-steps link together movements and create a brief pause allowing players to make decisions, react efficiently, see where the ball is going and change direction quickly. Split-stepping is as important to movement on a tennis court as breathing air is to our bodies.

What is a split-step? Think of the split-step as gaining a perfect ready position from movement. Because of the brief pause, it lets you see and respond, in advance, to shots efficiently. It is the basis 64

of correct footwork and technique when approaching an incoming ball. There is a forward split-step and a lateral split-step. These two have to be technically different because you are approaching the position from different directions. This article will be referencing the forward split-step. In order to split-step, it’s good to know what a good ready position is. For reference, please see my article, “Ready Position? Who Cares?” in the November/December 2018 issue of Long Island and New York Tennis Magazine. Why is the split-step so important? Balance in movement is essential to playing any sport well. Since tennis is a game that requires coverage of a large court, we need to enable good vision, quick changes of direction, explosive movement and specific foot-

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

work. All of these elements start with balance. With a timed “stop,” players can see an incoming ball, and move to it efficiently. Here is one example of using a split-step: You are coming forward to attempt a first volley. A volley has specific footwork that stems from ready position. If you land a balanced split-step, you have created a ready position from movement. Then, you will be able to transition directly into the volley. Another example: As you are approaching the mid-court you are watching your opponent. They look to be in a defensive position and you anticipate a lob. Make your split-step in order to balance and anticipate where the ball might take you. If the lob is successful, then you can use your specific overhead footwork to move back. If the lob is unsuccessful and is coming slowly over the net, then you use your volley footwork to go forward to the ball. The split-step will allow you time to make a

conscious decision and to use appropriate Take-off It’s much easier to do this movement from a footwork for each shot. short run so that you have some momentum How do you physically for the one-legged leap. So, start at the create a split-step? baseline, shadow a forehand, run forward a A split-step is a specific movement done the few steps and take off one leg to land softly same way each time, but with some modifi- on two feet. You should travel anywhere from cations depending on how far the ball you one to three feet from take-off to landing. hit will travel. It is basically two move- Your upper body is in a ready position bements—the take-off and landing—with the tween take-off and landing. upper body in a ready position and the head Also, most people have a “take-off” leg or still. one leg that feels more natural to jump off of. Many of you may have played hopscotch That is perfectly natural. when you were kids. In this footwork game, you jumped forward off of one foot and Landing landed on two feet, then stepped into the Momentum is good, but it can also be unnext move. Split stepping is the same basic manageable. A forward-moving jump can be difficult to land in a balanced stance. Your movement. If that is not familiar, try this exercise … feet should land “toe-heel” in order to soften stand two feet behind the service line with the landing. Basically, the balls of your feet your weight on one foot, leg flexed. Jump off will hit the ground first and then your heels. of one leg towards the service line and land This also allows the feet, legs and body to with both feet hitting the ground at the same act in a propulsive manner known as a plyotime. This may be difficult due to a lack of metric movement. Then, you will be able to momentum, but it’s important to attempt this produce a dynamic movement to the next to isolate the movement. Practice taking off ball. With this landing, you’ll sink down with of your right leg and your left leg.

your ankles, knees and hips to absorb shock. Your center of gravity will naturally be back when you are in the air and when you land. Otherwise, you’ll spill forward. When you land, your knees will allow your weight to shift forward onto the front of your feet. This bouncy position will blend into an immediate push off of either the right foot or the left foot to the next hit. It will also allow you to balance to go back for an overhead. A good way to practice the landing is to jump off of a low lift (eight- to 10-inches), landing on two feet. Instinctively, you will have your feet in a wide position and you will land toe-heel, letting your knees bend and your butt go towards the ground. This instinctive shock absorption is our way of softening the landing so that it doesn’t hurt. Your arms will also get involved in the slowing down process. Later on, you’ll need more specific positioning with your arms out away from your body. After practicing your landing, then shadow a movement to a forehand or backhand volley. This will help you understand how the continued on page 66

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

so what’s the big deal about a split-step? continued from page 65 feet, knees, legs and hips move powerfully hit a hard, low ball, it will get to the other side quickly so you’ll get a shorter distance in from the landing to the next move. than if you hit a slower, higher ball. When do you produce a splitCommon errors step? What is the timing? You make a split-step every time after you l A split-step is not just a stop. Many players shuffle, slow down or strike a ball. When exactly that is varies. How completely stand still in random areas hard and high you hit your ball, the distance of the court. These attempts are not you are coming in from and how far apart split-steps. They merely hinder gaining you are from your opponent are big factors good court position, the ability to in when to split-step. respond quickly and to change Generally speaking, you will split-step direction. after your ball lands on the other side of the court and before your opponent strikes the l Most players split without accuracy. Good timing and technique are both ball. That’s a lot of space and distance for necessary to respond well to a ball the ball to travel, so you need to understand and to once again gain good court a few things in order to be successful. position. How quickly the ball will get to your opl Another common error is trying to get ponent is the number one consideration. too far into the court before making a On paper, this is pretty easy to undersplit-step. It’s best to split early so that stand. Being in the moment makes it a lot you are always coming in with the ball more difficult. well in front of you. For example, many If you hit a hard and low ball, it will get to players think they need to get to the the opponent faster, giving you less time to service line each time when they are run before the split no matter where you are coming forward. That is incorrect. coming from and no matter where your opponent is. You’ll naturally get a shorter dis- l Many players approach the split-step either too slowly or too aggressively. tance in because your ball is traveling faster. Too slowly will leave you short of good If you hit a higher and slower ball, then your court position. Too aggressively leads potential to get further forward is greater. to going in too far and being out of So, for example, if you and your opponent control for a balanced split-step. are far apart (baseline to baseline) and you

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Decision-making time means you are in control If you are in control of your body and you can see what is coming then you have the ability to make good decisions. Anything else is reflexive and reactive. While those two qualities are good to have, we don’t want to depend on them as our basis of play. When you split-step at an appropriate time and in an organized manner, you are poised to be able to make great decisions. A split-step is your decision-making time. Should you volley or half-volley? How quickly should you move to a ball, where would you like your shot to go? Being able to think quickly on your feet is extremely helpful. Remember, when you split-step, it is a powerful, balanced and propulsive ready position. If you do this before your opponent strikes each ball you can clearly see how and when the ball is hit by the opponent and how it is approaching you. This gives plenty of time to respond to each incoming ball. Then, you will have the ability to move athletically and with precision to a ball that you can see. That is the recipe for success for any player. Lisa Dodson is the Developer and Owner of Servemaster, a USPTA Elite Professional and a former WTA world-ranked player. She is currently the Director of Tennis at Shenorock Shore Club in Rye, N.Y. She may be reached by e-mail at Lisa@TheTotalServe.com or visit TheTotalServe.com.

USTA Eastern Holds Annual Conference in White Plains

STA Eastern once again brought together all the pieces that make up the Section’s puzzle for a weekend as it hosted its annual Tennis Conference at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains, N.Y. The Conference serves as the Section’s annual professional development gathering, where leaders and professionals in the tennis industry and join forced to learn about the state of tennis, both competitive and community-oriented, talk about new trends in the Section and provides a platform for innovative collaborations to be formed. “One of the most important things about the conference is the amount of networking that occurs,” said Jenny Schnitzer, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for USTA Eastern. “So many people are able to get together and share what’s working, what can be done to improve things and discuss how to get new people involved in the game.” The Section brings in experts in their respective fields to discuss teaching techniques and methods. This year featured Mark Bey, USPTA Elite Professional, TV analyst and Assistant Coach of the Bryan Brothers; Emilio Sanchez Vicario, Co-Founder of the Academia Sanchez-Casal and former number one-ranked doubles player on the ATP Tour; and Craig Morris, General Manager of USTA Community Tennis. There were sessions both on and off court to promote things like business development, competitive development and community development. One of the main initiatives discussed was getting tennis into

local schools throughout the Section, something that USTA Eastern has put an emphasis on in recent years. Beyond bringing tennis into the schools, the discussion focused on how to build on the next steps of it to create a pathway forward. “We have been doing the schools program for a long time now, and it’s our number one initiative,” said Schnitzer. “We want to make sure that they have community partners in order to move forward, whether it’s a club, community tennis association or a local parks & recreation department. Once we get the schools program started, in a physical education class or after-school program, then these partners have the chance to get the kids to their facility, parks program or community tennis association. It’s all about developing that pathway for kids to get them to love tennis and stick with it.”

The discussions also circled around programs for young adults, to create some more leagues and events that combine competitive tennis with a social atmosphere, as well as continuing to grow the Junior Team Tennis leagues, which gained a great deal of traction in 2018. The Junior Award Lunch and Adult Awards Dinner honored those who have had a positive impact both on and off the court in the Eastern Section. The Junior Award Lunch featured special guest speaker Jessica Long, an American Paralympic swimmer who spoke to the players about the obstacles she has overcome in her life, and even brought her Gold Medals. With the Annual Conference in the books, it will be exciting to see what the tennis world in the Eastern Section brings and how the sport continues to grow in our community in 2019.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Tie Break Tens Launches Challenger Series at Cary Leeds

Tie Break Tens launched its Challenger USA series earlier this winter, with the first tournament of the series taking place at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis Learning in the Bronx, N.Y. as players battled for a chance to earn a trip to the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. Played with no games and no sets, just a 10-point tiebreak, Tie Break Tens is a quick, fast-paced version of tennis that anyone can play. It made its debut with professional tennis players a couple of years ago and has hosted events in New York, London, Madrid, Melbourne and Vienna. And as 2019 started, Tie Break Tens began its Challenger series which gave junior players an opportunity to compete in this format. “We have been thrilled by the results in our Challenger USA roll-out, with some fantastic feedback from both players and coaches,” said Felicity Barnard, Chief Executive Officer of Tie Break Tens. “We are 68

looking forward to expanding this across the United States in the coming months. Our objective is to inspire kids to pick up a racket and have a go, no matter their ability, because Tie Break Tens is a quick, fun format that anyone can understand and play.” At Cary Leeds, players competed in this format with the final eight players earning an all-expenses paid trip to Indian Wells, Calif. where they will compete in the TB10 Challenger USA finals. The finals will take place on one of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden’s most prestigious courts, and the players will have the chance to mingle with global tennis stars at VIP shoots held by Wilson and FILA, two of Tie Break Tens partners, as well as take part in Meet & Greets with pro players. “In my opinion, Tie Break Tens is all about fun,” said Liezel Huber, Executive Director of Tennis for Cary Leeds and NYJTL. “It’s about excitement. It’s face-paced. It’s

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

not all about who has the most skill, but who has got the mind. We would like to thank Tie Break Tens, Wilson and FILA for investing in these kids who come from the poorest areas because this is really a dream come true for them.” Below are the eight players who are headed to Indian Wells: l l l l l l l l

Christian Bobko, 16 Alani Naje Connor, 16 Deliala Friedman, 15 Imani Jean, 14 Romero Jones, 14 Keisha Marcellin, 14 Charles Robertson, 15 Shawn Mitchel Yonn, 13

“Matches are all about opportunities and chances, and taking those risks,” said Keisha Marcellin, one of the players headed to Indian Wells. “This format has really helped me improve my game.”

Athleticism. Tennis. Opportunity. Athletic development for juniors By Andy Wegman hat is athleticism? You cannot define the term on one individual characteristic. One athlete may have more power, more speed or more conditioning, etc. but each individual junior player’s game should be molded around their talents. Whether they can do six push-ups vs. 10 push-ups, run one mile in six minutes vs. seven minutes should not be your goal. It is important to understand that they are training to be a tennis player, not to be on a weightlifting or track team. What they need to be able to do is “fill those buckets.” Run a mile, check. Do some push-ups, check. Do a chin-up, check. Have a good vertical jump, check. Body rotation, check. Being a good athlete doesn’t mean they will be a great tennis player, but it will give them a set of tools to increase their chances to be one. When you find a missing link, or “empty bucket,” do not look at it as a weakness, but rather, as an opportunity to challenge them to become even better. Tennis is a sport of skill, but its basis lies in movement, hence the ever-growing emphasis on strength and conditioning. Traversing a tennis court requires tennis IQ, speed, reaction time, strength and conditioning. Each match played, whether a win or a loss, will show you, the coach and the athlete what aspect of their game needs improvement. Most recently, tennis has become a sport of volume. If a player didn’t win a tournament after 10 hours of practice, the next week they practice 14 hours. While those hours are important, the quality of each minute spent during those practices is of even greater importance. Every moment should be spent with a specific goal or purpose in mind (that includes FUN). If the task at hand is to hit 50 serves, but after 40 you can tell the player is fatigued,

stop, step-back and assess why this happened. Your next step should be to work on building a plan so that the following week, the player has an opportunity to hit 50 powerful serves. Today, athleticism is on equal grounds with the art of tennis itself. The goal for each player and ourselves, as coaches, is to create greater opportunity for success both on and off the court. The faster they can run down the ball, the more movement they have on court, the stronger they are, then the more opportunities they will have to elevate their game. The key is having the ability to take a two-hour lesson and feel strong throughout, working hard the whole time, as well as being able to better “fill each bucket” with regards to their strength and conditioning goals, every time they are asked to attack it. They must have the opportunity to beat a better opponent because of increased energy and clearer thought process four rounds into a tournament. Two hours of tennis working at 100 percent effort is more valuable than four hours at 80 percent. The objective here is not to be the best in

the gym, but to create the most athletic version of themselves, and for every person that will vary. Every time they have the chance to train, take that opportunity to improve them by making it count and doing what their personal curriculum needs. Whether that means spending an extra 20 minutes practicing their return game, or in the gym improving their conditioning, what is right for them may not be right for someone else. Talk with the athlete, list their strengths and weaknesses, and make sure you are building a program around them, not fitting the athlete into yours. Andy Wegman is the Associate Director of Performance and Junior Athletic Development for the John McEnroe Tennis Academy and SPORTIME Randall’s Island. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and his Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from the University at Buffalo, and is a licensed NYS Certified Athletic Trainer. He also volunteers his time working with the USA Wrestling Team, and has worked USA Track & Field Olympic Trials and Championships Meets in Eugene, Ore.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Untold Secret Behind the Big Win Your More Beyond the Score By Rob Polishook, Mental Training Coach MA, CPC Most of us saw Novak Djokovic’s dominating win over Rafael Nadal in the finals of the 2019 Australian Open. Usually, coaches, parents, fans and even the athletes themselves write off this kind of big win as: “He just played great.” But this explanation is often too simplistic. In sports and in life, we tend to miss the larger story beyond the score. The underlying reasons for the win are not just skill, talent, technique and physicality, but also that which is unseen. I call this a player’s “More.” The More is a unique combination of heart, en-

ergy and spirit that fuels and sustains performance, even under the most adverse of conditions. To get a clear picture of a player’s More in competition, imagine Roger Federer playing against Nadal. In both players, you see skill, but you also see a synergy of heart, energy and spirit. This is their More, and it is what makes these athletes champions. Part of Nadal’s More may be his unbelievable grit. Federer shows us his More when he exhibits his calm and stylish grace. Mark Twain pointed to the More, when he said, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” Bringing your individual More to the

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

court is often the difference between winning and losing. We see the elements of your More when we look below the surface—the heart, energy and spirit braid together in symbiotic relationship with skill, talent, technique and physicality, like a steel rope, that once intertwined, the sum is greater than the parts. The first part of the More is the heart. Heart manifests as desire. Think about Nadal. Rafa has a tremendous love of the game. Rather than looking at his opponent as better or worse, he respects the opponent as a person, and is grateful for being able to play. He is not playing with expectation or ego, he is playing for love … his love for competi-

tion and the game, and love for always trying to be the best that he can be. If you think of something greater than yourself when you play, it can power your game. In doing this, clients of mine have identified their big “I,” an inspiration for playing. It might be to inspire other young siblings or disadvantaged athletes. The second part of the More is their energy. How many times have you heard a commentator discuss a player’s energy or the crowd’s energy feeding a player? Think about a grueling five-set match when a player’s emotional energy fluctuates up and down, similar to an EKG. Energy can shift from none to low, to balanced to hyper, to overwhelmed. Like anyone, Federer’s energy shifts throughout a match, but he always knows where his energy is, and he is able to stay in control of his game because of it. Observing junior tournaments, one can sometimes see players forcing points from a state of hyper-energy, rather than patiently waiting for an opportu-

nity to attack. Without knowing it, they keep pressing, until they finally feel so overwhelmed, they crash. Conversely, if you are playing tight and in a state of low energy, by focusing on your breath or movement, you can bring it back to balance. Knowing where your energy is can be a critical part of staying balanced, and staying balanced is one of the keys to peak performance. The third part of the More is spirit. Spirit is a person’s spark, their passion and resiliency. Spirit is how a player navigates success, failure and adversity during competition. Think about Novak Djokovic … his spirit is unlike any other player’s. There is a calm, Zen-like way about him, yet he also has a beautifully explosive spark to him. This allows him to manage adversity, while others players crash under the same situation. Spirit is not about the knock down, it’s about the get-up. When you play, you can show a strong spirit by bouncing back rather than spiraling out of control or giving up. A player is more than an athlete. Ath-

letes are often trained based on their skill, talent, technique and physicality, but a player is more than that. Their More—the combined effort of their heart, energy, and spirit—actually defines their game. Playing from their More is really the only way an athlete can maximize one’s full potential. Next time when you see a player pull off that great win, look below the surface. Sure they may have played well, but why did they play well? Most likely because they were connected to their More. When a player brings who they are to what they do, More happens … every time. Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is Founder and Director of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a Mental Training Coach, he works with athletes and teams, focusing on helping athletes gain the mental edge. Rob is Author of Tennis Inside the Zone: Mental Training Workouts for Champions. He may be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, email Rob@InsideTheZone.com or visit InsideTheZone.com.

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz Osaka Splits From Coach

Photo credit: USTA/Darren Carroll

Just 16 days after capturing her second consecutive Grand Slam in Melbourne, 21year-old Naomi Osaka announced that she was splitting from her coach, Sascha Bajin. Osaka said her decision to part ways with Bajin, the WTA’s 2018 Coach of the Year, had been brewing since Melbourne. “Everyone thinks it was a money-related issue, but it wasn’t,” Osaka told WTA.com. “For me, that’s one of the most hurtful things I’ve ever heard. I travel with everyone on my team, I see them more than my family. I would never do that to them. I’m not going to say anything bad about him because, of course, I’m really grateful for all the things that he’s done. I wouldn’t come here and say anything bad.” Osaka was aiming to have a new coach by the time she gets to the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif. in March.

Djokovic Takes to the Slopes of Italy

Photo credit: @DjokerNole/Twitter

Nadal Hits the Links

Just days after winning his seventh Australian Open title, Novak Djokovic took to the slopes of Val Gardena in Italy for a ski trip. Djokovic celebrated his Aussie Open title by filming himself singing while skiing Val Gardena. Djokovic first started skiing in Serbia when he was just two-years-old. Djokovic returns to the courts in early March at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif. where the world number one will be seeking his sixth title at the event.

Photo credit: USTA/Garrett Ellwood

Serena Appears at 2019 Oscars

Photo credit: Getty Images

At the 2019 Oscars, Serena Williams spoke about what the Oscar-nominated “A Star Is 72

Born” means to her. Nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Song, Serena discussed the film’s cultural and personal impact. Serena joined Kacey Musgraves, a recent Grammy winner for Album of the Year, and many others as on-stage speakers during the 2019 Oscar Awards ceremony.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Rafael Nadal recently put his golf game on full display, finishing second in the 30 & Over Division at the Balearic Islands Championship at Vall D’or Golf Club in Spain. Nadal boasts a 1.5 handicap and often organizes tournaments at Son Servera, his home town of Mallorca’s golf club, for charitable causes. “I more or less have a good short game, and I am solid with the driver,” Nadal told Fox Sports Australia. “Being honest, I never take a lesson and I never go to the range and hit balls. I don’t have much time for it. When I have the chance, the only thing that I like to do is go and play with the family or the friends. If I don’t play with a family or friends, I don’t go. I like to play

by teams. We have teams tournaments in Majorca and I have the team from my club and enjoy playing with them, playing the tournament, then have lunch. That’s it.”

Murray had a surgical procedure on his right hip last January and returned later in the season. He was 1-2 in 2019 prior to his surgery.

Murray Sidelined After Hip Surgery

Doubles Star Hlavackova Announces Pregnancy

U.S. Open, both with partner Lucie Hradecká, and the 2013 U.S. Mixed Doubles title with Max Mirnyi. “I have no concrete plans to come back to tennis right away, but I will definitely keep my options open,” Hlavackova told the WTA. “I’ve taken a protected ranking and will freeze it for as long as I can, so I might make a better decision about whether to come back. That would only happen after our baby is born, and healthy and going through all the right things. I definitely want to be able to say a proper goodbye to my career and announce a career retirement one day, but I don’t know what to expect now that I’m expecting!”

Photo credit: @andymurray/Instagram

Andy Murray recently underwent right hip surgery in London. “I underwent a hip resurfacing surgery in London yesterday morning ... feeling a bit battered and bruised just now but hopefully that will be the end of my hip pain. I now have a metal hip,” said Murray via his Instagram account.

Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Andrea Sestini Hlavackova has announced that she and her husband, Fabrizio Sestini, are expecting their first child. Hlavackova is winner of 27 career doubles titles, including two Grand Slam Women’s Doubles titles, the 2011 French Open and the 2013

nytennis New York Tennis Magazine

MAGAZINE

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Controversy Surrounds the New ITF Rules on the Pro Tour By Gilad Bloom ou probably will not hear about it on the Tennis Channel or in the mainstream media, but there is a boiling controversy that is shaking up the lower tier (Futures and Challengers) pro circuit. Beginning in January 2019, the ITF implemented a new structure to the circuit, introducing a new ranking system, smaller draw sizes and new regulations about wild cards, which include saving a few wild cards for juniors in each event. The new structure will hardly affect the top players in the world, who have already established themselves in the rankings; however, it will have a devastating impact on the careers of hundreds of players in their mid-20s who are now facing a reality

that makes an already barely possible mission close to impossible. The problem created is that there are way too many players and way too little spots in the draw, as the days of open draws are all but gone. This step by the ITF has turned the lower tier tour upside down. Players are revolting, many of them are complaining that they can’t compete and are forced to retire because the qualifying draws are much smaller and they cannot guarantee they will get in the draw; therefore, it’s a big risk to fly somewhere and not know if you get in. How did it all come to this you might ask? How is this good for the game? It isn’t of course. The sad thing here is that logic behind this decision is purely economic and has to do with a deal the ITF made with betting agencies, allowing them to use live scoring for gambling purposes. I would think that

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

anyone who thinks purely about the interest of the sport, especially a governing body, would ban gambling on tennis as it is toxic and invites corruption. In reality, the money is too big and the lower-ranked player doesn’t really have any influence on such decisions. In this case, a few hundred Facebook posts will probably not help. It’s a perfect example of how a financially based decision benefits very few people, but negatively impacts many others, and mainly, the sport of tennis. The ITF claims that they want more young players to break in so their solution is to give the juniors an unfair advantage with guaranteed wild cards. The tournament directors don’t want to spend money on hotel accommodations for lower ranked players, and are losing money so they made the draws smaller. The problem of too many players competing could be solved by in-

creasing prize money and draws, that is what they did in the Challengers, but that helps the mid-level players who are already ranked 150-300. The real problem was that there were about 3,000 players competing for the next 500 spots in the rankings, the prize money is too small and those players are struggling. The best thing for the players would be to distribute the prize money more evenly so a player who is ranked 400500 can make an average or decent income. Instead, they cut off half of the competitors and shrunk the tour in half. It is unfortunate because we know that in today’s game, it takes a few years for a player to reach their peak, often players who hang around without giving up break to the top 100 in their mid to late 20s. With the new rules, it will be very hard, especially since by next year, there will only be around 750 pro players who will have an ATP ranking. It will be a very exclusive club, and players with a good ranking who don’t get hurt can stay there for many years. Pro tennis has always been an ultra-capitalistic business. The top players, not just Roger Federer and Serena Williams, are literally making millions. A top 50 singles player and even a top 100 player can rake in huge prize money checks every week. The ranking system encourages players to play more events, and with the prize money on the tour increasing every year, there is a lot of money to be made if you play 20-25 events a year, plus the four majors which award ridiculous amounts of money even

for losing in the first round. With improved training methods and breakthroughs in sports medicine, players are prolonging their career well into their 30s, making it very hard for newcomers to break into the top 100. The problem, of course, is the prize money distribution (did we mention capitalism?). There really is no good reason why there is such a difference in prize money between a top 100 player and a person ranked in the 300s. Anyone who knows tennis knows that the players in the top 500 could be in the top 100 with four or five good tournaments. However, when you start to go below the 150th mark, the decrease in prize money is very steep, yet the expenses remain the same for a top player or a lower level player. Most players ranked below 250th in the world in singles are struggling to break even and cannot afford their own apartment. This harsh reality created a fiercely competitive pro tour, with thousands of players dreaming of making a living out of tennis and fulfilling their potential. At the end of 2018, there were 14,000 professional players, with the new system already being implemented every day that goes by the number is shrinking. By the end of this year, it is safe to say that close to half of those players will be forced to retire from the tour. How will that affect the game? In the short term, it will probably have an effect on the college system, as more top juniors will opt go to col-

lege and use their tennis skills to earn a scholarship and give up the dream of becoming a pro before it begins. Another result might be that many players will turn to competing in off-tour money tournaments in Europe mainly. Inevitably, many will turn to coaching. So, how will all of this affect us in the junior coaching community? In the short term, it will not be felt, but in the long term, the decrease in the number of players on the tour and the difficulties involved in starting a pro career will make the pool of talent for future pros smaller, making it almost unachievable. This will ultimately affect teaching pros like myself who are working with high performance students. The new structure might make financial sense and help form a tighter product from the TV point of view, but it takes away opportunities from players to break through the ranks, hurting late bloomers or players who don’t have an endorsement deal or an agency that helps them with wild cards. Gilad Bloom, former Israeli Davis Cup player and two-time Olympian, played on the ATP Tour 1983-1995, reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 1990, reached a highest ranking of 61 in singles, was Israel Singles Champion three times. Bloom has been running his own tennis program since 2000 and also was Director of Tennis at John McEnroe Tennis Academy for two years. He can be reached by e-mail at Bloom.Gilad@Gmail.com.

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Are You a Fight or Flight Player? By Barbara Wyatt Have you uncovered the magic elixir to an improved tennis stroke or strategy? Was it discovered on a tennis instructional video somewhere in YouTube Universe? I discovered a new mental dominance tactic to add to my arsenal of tennis strokes, strategies and prayers while watching a video authored by Gigi Fernandez, Puerto Rican athlete of the century. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame with a record of 17 Grand Slam doubles titles, earned with various partners, along with two Olympic Gold Medals with Mary Joe Fernandez. The video focused on the “Physiology of Fight or Flight.” Gigi explained reactions to stress … whether it’s the sight of a large furry bear in

the forest or a competitive tennis opponent on a court, the flight reaction is to freeze, then run. The player’s feet will feel like lead, accompanied by a sense of “I’m not enjoying myself; I don’t want to be here.” You’ll want to run from the match. To regain composure in the match, flight players need to move their feet, be aggressive and go for a hard put-away. They begin a soft chant, “Move my feet.” After losing several points in a row in doubles matches, I follow my partners’ leads. My partners were always the better players; they bounce on their toes and chant, “Move the feet, move the feet.” I imitate their behavior and bounce on my toes and chant with them. Gigi showed me another way based on my physiology tendencies. Staying light on your feet is critical for all players. But when confronted with a competitive opponent, like many others, I want

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to stand and fight. My fight physiologic response is to be aggressive, go for the winner, and leap into a poach, no matter how far the stretch. Players with fight response hear inner voices that cry out, “Win the point! Now! Right now! Charge the net for an awesome put-away!” You know what happens next … balls soar out of the court or in a wild poach, rackets connect with the ball and volley it into the bottom of the net. The chant, “Move your feet,” was not the best for my game. Fighters, like me, need to focus on the opposite mental approach as those of flighters. I need to say, “Calm down. Take a deep breath. Have patience. No, you don’t have to put away that shot. Wait for the right one.” In a tennis match, players may have butterflies in the stomach, dry mouth, tight muscles, a tightness in the chest, tunnel vision; they may sweat profusely in the match; or feel a pounding heart … these physiological responses are completely normal. Welcome them, and learn how to identify and manage them. When I need better control, I will be chanting, “Patience, breathe, wait for the right ball, then show your controlled aggression.” My partners, who always knew the correct chant for their game, will hum, “Move your feet, go for it, stay loose and poach!” We will be in perfect harmony. Barbara Wyatt is a Writer, Photographer, USTA Official, and Mobile App Developer of iKnowTennis!, the tennis rules app. Her poem, Ode to Tennis, an amusing poem on the joys and frustrations when learning tennis, is available at Amazon. She can be reached by e-mail at BarbaraW@iKnowTennis.com.

Four Tips to Help Low Intermediate to Intermediate Level Players step with the ball in good a contact point; recover while facing the net; and split-step constantly while waiting for the next ball.

By Harvey Becker hen you play only once or twice a week in a friendly (or unfriendly) doubles or singles match, it is hard to make big changes without constant practice. So here are a few fixes for you without having to make big changes to your game. Having coached all levels and ages for more than 25 years, here are some simple ideas on how to look at making improvements yourself whilst on court. I have chosen one fix for each aspect below …

1. Technique Problem: Balls are going long, wide or into the net—groundstrokes. It is obvious, but there are only four results your shot can have: Into the net, long, wide, or the one we want, in the court. Simply put, the ball will go where your racket wants it to go. In other words, contact point in relation to your body and racket angle are the two factors, along with the swing path, to get to that contact point. Tip: Focus on the contact point being a comfortable distance from your body, a little in front with the racket face as square as possible (not open where he ball goes out) and not closed (where he ball goes into the net). Note: The racket face needs to be open on slice with the swing path going more in a downward path. 2. Footwork During Rally: The Four Movements Problem: Hitting while moving is a common fault, so is hitting while off balance. Tip: For starters, move to the ball. Arrive and be steady with a final

3. Strategy: Volleying Balls in Center in Doubles Problem: Covering the alley too much with poor balance. Tip: When moving to cover your alley, steady yourself before the opponent hits. Most people move to the alley and are leaning that way when opponent hits, so getting to balls moving the other way is more difficult. And try not to move too near the alley … you only need to be two large steps away from outside alley line. 4. Mental: A Tip on Focus in Play Problem: A sloppy start to the point. Once a rally is in progress, you are reacting and its happening. Focus loss often occurs at the start of the point. For example, you rush your serve or you are in a lazy ready position. Tip: Take your time on your serve. Be in a good, ready position on your toes for the return. Loosely plan where you intend to serve or return plus the shot after. You can always adjust your plan if needed. So if you get focused, control your contact point, move with balance and poach those volleys then get that Wimbledon Entry Form ready! Harvey Becker is a Tennis Instructor at CourtSense Tennis Academy and Director of Tennis at EFC. Becker played on the pro circuit from 1980-1985. He captained and coached county and national teams, and then became head coach at three prestigious London tennis clubs. He was also Tennis Director at a major David Lloyd Indoor Centre.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Legendary Legendary coach coach Nick Nick Bollettieri Bollettieri on on the the black courts of NYCB Live during the black courts of NYCB Live during the 2019 2019 New New York York Tennis Tennis Expo Expo

A Panel of Superstar Coaches Discuss the Secrets to Success By Dr. Tom Ferraro t’s always fun to sit on the dais with some of the great thinkers in the world of tennis. I was recently invited to participate in a panel discussion at this year’s New York Tennis Expo at NYCB LIVE. The panel consisted of Steve Johnson, the California-born powerhouse currently ranked 34th in the world; and Nick Bollettieri, the famed philosopher/coach who trained the likes of Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles and Jim Courier. Also on the panel was Brazilian tennis guru Ricardo Acioly; the psychologically-gifted tennis coach Jay Harris; serving mastermind Lisa Dodson; and the astoundingly bright tennis coach, Steve Kaplan of Bethpage Park Tennis Center. And then there was me. I tried desperately to fit in and not feel outmatched, but how does one compete with a panel full of superstars? The room was filled and they were asked to provide questions to each of us.

Steve Johnson, who took part on the Coaches Roundtable Live panel discussion at the 2019 New York Tennis Expo, described his experiences playing with Roger Federer

Johnson was asked to describe what separated Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic from the rest of the pack and Johnson made the wise comment that they do exactly what every other tour player does, but just a little bit better. He

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

then made the interesting remark that when you play against these three, you do feel their aura which is also something you are playing against. Bollettieri, Dodson, Acioly are all highly experienced coaches and all made

interesting comments. But there were two remarks made during our talk that are worth expanding upon in some detail. The first was made by Jay Harris in response to a question from a high school player who asked if it is wise to contact a college coach more than once. Jay answered that you show interest by contacting the coach on a weekly basis and that it would be a sign that you were enthusiastic and highly motivated. The other comment I want to mention was that of Steve Kaplan, in response to a question about what it takes to get to the top. Kaplan said that the three traits of the high achiever include optimism, perseverance and opportunism. He went on explain that optimism means that you believe in yourself and remain hopeful; perseverance means that you do not stop if at first you fail; and opportunism means that when an opportunity occurs, you take advantage of it. These are all sensible words to live by, and of course, if success were a mere matter of astute verbal instruction, then I would be out of business. The fact of the matter is that most athletes already know that optimism helps, perseverance is crucial and opportunism works. But exactly how does a parent, coach or therapist instill these traits in an athlete? Here is what I say â&#x20AC;Ś if the coach or parent wants to instill optimism, perseverance and opportunism in their charges, they must do the following and they must do it over many years: 1. As many of the panelists remarked, each athlete is different and one must hone all interventions towards each individual, rather than make believe there is a cookie-cutter approach. 2. Spend most of your energy watching and listening to the athlete, rather than talking to them. 3. Support the natural intuitive instincts of the player and support their efforts. 4. Allow the athlete to ventilate frustrations. There is much healing that occurs when feelings are freely expressed. 5. Slowly and repeatedly build self-image, self-esteem and dignity. 6. Exercise patience with the athlete so that they see you are not frustrated with their progress. 7. Understand that building optimism, per-

Steven Kaplan and Ricardo Acioly discussed the path to collegiate tennis during the New York Tennis Expo severance or opportunism is a gradual process that takes a long time, but is worth the effort. 8. Recommend movies, books or articles that explain or demonstrate these traits and discuss the stories after. 9. Reinforce remarks or behaviors that demonstrate optimism, perseverance or opportunism by the athlete.

anything, it is that learning to be a success takes time and support. To be a good parent, good coach or good sport psychologist takes patience, focus and willpower. The successful coach is the one who is always optimistic, unendingly perseverant and opportunistic, just like all of the panelists I sat with at the 2019 New York Tennis Expo.

Anything short of this process is like saying to the athlete, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry, be happy.â&#x20AC;? That little slogan makes a nice jingle, but in fact, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work in reality. If my experience as a sport psychologist has taught me

For consultations, treatment or on-site visits, contact Dr. Tom Ferraro Ph.D., Sport Psychologist, by phone at (516) 248-7189, e-mail DrTFerraro@aol.com or visit DrTomFerraro.com.

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High School Tennis: Don’t Discount the Benefit, There Are Many By Lonnie Mitchel see this all too often in my travels as a collegiate head coach at the State University of New York at Oneonta—many players being trained by academy pros being advised not to play high school tennis. As I also go through the many letters, notes and communication I receive from potential student/athletes wanting to play collegiate tennis at my program, there are certain things that jump out at me. One such thing is if they played on their high school tennis team. If not, there is a lot more vetting that I will have to do to see if a player is suited to play in a collegiate team atmosphere, where teamwork is paramount to success.

It is a fact that high school tennis players tend to perform better in school. In 2013, the USTA did extensive research and found that high school tennis players spend more time doing homework. Fortyeight percent of those students reported an “A” average and more than 80 percent of them will want to attend college. On average, tennis players simply perform better in high school. High school tennis players can use tennis to improve in other sports having cross-training benefits. With all the endurance, hand/eye coordination and flexibility benefits gained from tennis, those skills provide benefits in becoming allaround athletes. I like to recruit tennis players who have social skills or have the tools necessary that can be developed to succeed on a

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

collegiate team and in the workforce. A high school tennis player will have a leg up in that area. Throughout the course of the season, there are countless opportunities for the team to build camaraderie and friendships that can last a lifetime. Tennis is often thought of as an individual sport, and in many instances, this is true, but kids who play on their high school team are part of something bigger than themselves. Each individual is a small part of a larger group that is working towards a common goal. This, along with playing doubles with a partner, helps these players develop teamwork skills. Research has also shown that playing high school sports helps to “instill a sense of responsibility.” Lastly is the mental toughness component. There are few things that are more

difficult than standing alone on a tennis court during a singles match and maintaining composure while also having to endure the physical challenges. As we know, especially in the game of singles, there is no one else out there to pick up the slack … it simply demands mental toughness. This is compounded in a high school team environment when others are depending upon you. Wearing your school colors and being an ambassador of your educational institution is a trait that college coaches covet. Being exposed to big points with your teammates and coaches watching is a true learning experience and can prepare a student to perform in the bigger moments in life. I am not going to write and say that I discount all high level tennis players who have not played high school varsity tennis. I will say that it is a huge red flag. I can assure you I have had a few players who played only USTA tournaments and did not participate on their high school team. It is a significant minority though. Those who do not come

with a team background in high school tend to adjust slower to the rigors of collegiate tennis. The travel, the practice and not playing on your own terms is something that not all players can handle. Some top tier USTA tennis players will say the competition in high school is not as great as in USTA tournaments. In many cases, that could be true. So what? You get to put your school ahead of yourself. If you are good enough, you will play in the individual county and state championships against the best talent in the region with your school colors shown to spectators. Conference championships, and high school individual championships will provide you with the accolades in your community helping you to stand out. USTA tournaments come and go, there are tournaments to register for all-yearlong almost every weekend. Your high school team activities last but two to three months for just four years of your school career. That’s a blink of the eye in the grand scheme of things. Your school is bigger than you are! Represent your high school with pride! Bring atten-

tion to the game of tennis and bring trophies back to the school for your classmates, coaches and administration to enjoy. Your USTA win is yours; nobody else’s, but in a week, people forget about it. Go represent your school with joy and pride, and do your part to bring attention to the game of tennis in your local community. Give to something that’s bigger than you. Lonnie Mitchel is Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at SUNY Oneonta. Lonnie was named an Assistant Coach to Team USA for the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel for the Grand Master Tennis Division. Also coached for Team USA in Berlin and Chile in 2015 and Team USA Maccabiah for the Open Division working with Division I players and professionally ranked in the Israel Games in 2017. Was also named Coach of the Year in 2015 for State University of NY Athletic Conference. Lonnie may be reached by phone at (516) 414-7202 or email LonnieMitchel@yahoo.com.

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 Aust Credit all photos: ATPWorldTour.com and WTATennis.com

Novak Djokovic continues to dominate After winning the last two Grand Slams of 2018, Novak Djokovic continued to assert his dominance in Melbourne. Djokovic annihilated Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the Final to capture his seventh Aussie Open title. The 31-yearold Serb shows no signs of slowing down, having won 45 of his last 49 matches going back to 2018. With 15 Grand Slam Singles titles, Djokovic sits five back of Federer for the all-time lead, and is six years younger than the Swiss maestro. Nadal cruises … until the Final After missing more than four months of action, Rafael Nadal showed little rust at the Australian Open. The 17-time Grand Slam winner made it all the way to the Final without losing a set. Over his first six matches, Nadal lost an average of just eight games per match. However, that statistic was turned on its head in the Final, when Nadal won just eight total games in a straight sets defeat at the hands of Novak Djokovic. Tiafoe digs deep Frances Tiafoe appeared to be on the verge of defeat. The 21-year-old American was down a set and a break to world number six Kevin Anderson. He had lost all three matches he played against the South African in 2018. Instead of giving up, Tiafoe battled back for a thrilling comeback win. “I dug insanely deep,” said Tiafoe after 82

the match. The Maryland native continued to dig deep, beating Andreas Seppi in five sets and Grigor Dimitrov in four before falling to Nadal in the quarterfinals. American struggles continue As Tiafoe became a household name Down Under, many of his compatriots fell by the wayside. Ninth seeded John Isner (pictured here), the number 31 seed Steve Johnson, and Sam Querrey all lost in the opening round. Other than Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz was the only American male to make it past the second round, falling to Roger Federer in round three. Tsitsipas won’t tell you his secret In 2018, Stefanos Tsitsipas’ breakthrough came in Toronto when he defeated Dominic Thiem, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Kevin Anderson in four consecutive matches to reach the Rogers Cup Final. In Melbourne, the 20-year-old made his Grand Slam breakthrough with a spirited run to the semifinals. No win was more significant than his four-set defeat of Roger Federer in the Round of 16. After beating the 20-time Grand Slam champion, Tsitsipas was careful not to divulge the strategy he’d used to pull off the upset. “If I tell you, it won’t be a secret anymore,” he said. Kvitova shows her mettle In December 2016, an intruder broke into Petra Kvitova’s apartment and attacked her with a knife. The two-time Wimbledon champion sustained severe injuries to her left hand, and underwent surgery to help

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

repair her ligaments and tendons. In Melbourne, the 28-year-old showed the world what she was still capable of by winning her first six matches, advancing to the Final without dropping a set. After her semifinal win, Kvitova discussed her challenging journey. “I’ve been through many things, not really great ones … I didn’t know if I was going to hold a racket again,” said Kvitova. Osaka’s second Slam Last September, Naomi Osaka became a household name after she beat Serena Williams to capture the U.S. Open title in Flushing Meadows. In Melbourne, the Japanese native notched her second straight grand slam title, defeating Petra Kvitova, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-4 in the Australian Open Final. Osaka rose to the number one spot in the WTA Women’s Singles Rankings as a result of her triumph. The 21-year-old is the youngest player to hold the top spot in the WTA rankings since Caroline Wozniacki reached number one in the rankings at the age of 20 in 2010. Serena’s surprising collapse Leading 5-1 in the third set against Karolina Pliskova, Serena Williams seemed moments away from reaching her ninth Australian Open semifinal. Instead, Pliskova won six consecutive games to take the third set 7-5, saving four match points in the process. Following the match, the 23time Grand Slam winner was quick to give credit to her opponent. “I can’t say that I choked on those match points,” said Serena. “She

ustralian Open Takeaways BY PETER MENDELSOHN

literally played her best tennis ever on those shots.” American Collins wins first Grand Slam match … and more Entering the 2019 Australian Open, American Danielle Collins had never won a Grand Slam singles match. The Florida native won’t have to worry about that statistic after Melbourne. Collins defeated three seeded players en route to a semifinals appearance. After a dominant 6-0, 6-2 win over the second-seeded Angelique Kerber in the Round of 16, the 25-year-

old made it clear that her run was no fluke. “I may not have won a Grand Slam match before this week,” Collins said. “But I have to tell you, I think it’s going to keep happening.” The rise of Amanda Anisimova After a junior career that included winning the 2017 U.S. Open Girls Singles title, big things were expected of 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova. But it would be understandable if it took the teenager some time to post major results on the professional tour. Instead,

Anisimova won her first three matches in Melbourne, before bowing out in the Round of 16. Her run was highlighted by a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of 11th-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the third round. “I loved playing out there today,” said Anisimova after the match. “I never had that match fun in a match before.” Peter Mendelsohn is the Owner of TennisDork.com. He is currently pursuing a degree in sports journalism. He may be reached by phone at (647) 984-5509 or email at Peter.R.Mendelsohn@gmail.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Creative Tennis Positioning By Mike Puc s players age, the tactics of the game of tennis also change. The typical, albeit annoying, byproduct of getting older is the loss of mobility and power. Instead of remembering how fast and strong you were and trying to recapture this younger innate characteristic, it would be wise to accept the changes, and modify and adapt your game to suit your current abilities. A good tactic in doubles to compensate for reduced foot speed is to shorten the court and play three feet inside the baseline, or even further forward to the service line as your new backcourt home base. Depending on the quality and speed of your opponent’s serve, this can be an ideal position to aggressively return the ball to start the point. By playing closer to return serve,

you may now penetrate with a deep cross court return, drop a weak serve or drive down the line. While this position does limit the lob area to down-the-line, it will reduce your area to cover and allow you to get to the dreaded short ball. After both the return and serve, experiment with playing in “No Man’s Land.” The old adage of playing all the way back or all the way up does not apply if you cannot get to the ball. You will however find yourself hitting some specialty shots in this zone that you should practice. More balls will be hit to your toes, requiring a half-volley. The halfvolley is a shot that should be perfected as it occurs in all positions on the court. Stay low, shorten the backswing, and take the ball early for an effective return. Taking deep balls out of the air from this position will save you from stepping backward while reducing reaction time for your opponent. Hit this shot as a positional shot

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

and not an aggressive winner by setting your racket face on the proper angle to deliver a deep or short return. It is also easier to judge out balls from this position and let them go. When you are forced to move forward, you will be there in five steps instead of 10, allowing you to drop low balls and drive high balls. While this positioning idea is great for senior players, it can be equally effective for all ages and levels to accommodate reduced foot speed. Less running will save your energy and control the play. Mike Puc has been the Director of Tennis at Gleneagles Country Club in Delray Beach, Fla. since 1998. A winner of 15 national titles and an ATP world ranking, Mike directs 25 teams with 350 players in nine leagues, while offering the most extensive Calendar of Events in South Florida that includes tournaments, lectures and social round-robins.

Columbia’s Goswami to Retire After 2019 Season Credit all photos to: Columbia University Athletics

id Goswami, longtime Head Coach for Columbia Men’s Tennis, announced he will be retiring following the conclusion of the 2019 season. “It has been my absolute privilege and honor to serve as Columbia University’s Men’s Tennis Coach these last 37 years,” Goswami wrote in a message to the program’s alumni, fans and friends. “I am confident our program is in a very healthy and strong position now, so it feels this is the perfect time for me to retire. How apropos then—and most exciting for me—that my very first recruit, Howard Endelman, will take over the helm of Lions tennis.” In the nearly four decades leading the Columbia program, Goswami left his mark as a true legend in the college tennis world. He has posted a 493-196 record, the most wins by a coach in school history, and has established Columbia as a consistent contender on the national scene. In all, Goswami has won 13 Ivy League

titles, including five consecutive from 20132018 and has his team in position for a sixth straight title in 2019. Columbia has reached the NCAA Tournament 13 times and advanced to the Sweet 16 three times, and Bid has coached seven Ivy League Player of the Year winners. “Bid Goswami is synonymous with Columbia University and Columbia Men’s Tennis,” said Peter Pilling, Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Columbia. “He is a genuine, humble leader who has always been focused on helping his student-athletes achieve more than they ever thought they were capable of accomplishing both on and off the court. To compete consistency on a national level while displaying the highest level of academic success is truly remarkable. We owe him a heartfelt thank you for his lifetime contributions to our tennis program.” In his final season, Goswami has his Lions in prime position for another Ivy League title and beyond. Ranked inside the

Top 10, the team fared well at the ITA National Indoor Championships where it defeated ninth-ranked Baylor and number 11 Notre Dame, and the team’s lone loss of the season, up to this point, came at the hands of top-ranked Wake Forest. Taking over for Goswami starting next season will be Howie Endelman, who has served as the Associate Head Coach since 2010. As a player, Endelman was Goswami’s first recruit and played for the Lions from 1984-1987, helping to win two Ivy League titles and was inducted into the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. “As a member of Bid’s first recruiting class, it has been an honor to play for, work with and now succeed a true legend, mentor and close friend,” said Endelman. “To borrow one of Bid’s favorite phrases, he has left his ‘footprints in the sands of time’ at Columbia by impacting the lives of so many of us in such a meaningful, significant and special way.”

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA/Metropolitan Region

2019 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. MARCH 2019 Friday-Sunday, March 15-17 Eastern Empire Cup National Doubles at NYTCI (National L4) New York Tennis Club Indoors 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Advanced Girls’ Doubles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (MFIC) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $59.63 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 5 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (718) 239-7919. Friday-Sunday, March 15-17 L1B Gotham Challenger Gotham Tennis Academy 725 Exterior Street Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.52 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, March 11 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Michael2.Moore@yahoo.com or call (718) 665-4684. Friday-Sunday, March 15-17 Eastern Empire Cup National Doubles at Cross String Tennis (National L4) Queens College 6530 Kissena Boulevard Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Advanced Boys’ Doubles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (MFIC) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $59.63 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 5 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Steve.Beatty2584@gmail.com or call (716) 946-4348. Friday-Sunday, March 15-17 & March 22-24 L1B Sportime RI March 2019 Challenger Sportime @ Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12-18 (SE) Surface Type: Clay Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, March 11 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail TournamentsRI@Sportimetfm.com or call (212) 427-6150. 86

Saturday-Sunday, March 16-17 L3 Alley Pond TC March UPS Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Entry Level Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Green Ball 12, 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, March 13 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Sunday, March 22-24 L1B APTC March Challenger Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, March 20 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600.

Saturday-Sunday, March 16-17 Youth Progression Green Level 1 Fresh Meadows Cunningham Tennis 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Green Level 1 Boys’ & Girls’ 10 and Under Singles: 78’ Green Ball 10 (FMLC) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, March 10 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Victor@CunninghamTennis.com or call (718) 740-6800.

Monday-Wednesday, March 25-27 L1B Sportime RI Spring Break 2019 Challenger Sportime @ Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12-16 (SE) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 19 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail TournamentsRI@SportimeNY.com or call (212) 427-6150.

Friday-Sunday, March 22-24 L1B Cross String Tennis Academy March Championships Queens College 6530 Kissena Boulevard Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12, 18 (SE) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player For more information, e-mail Steve.Beatty2584@gmail.com or call (716) 946-4348.

Friday-Sunday, March 29-31 L1B Gotham Tennis Spring Break Challenge Gotham Tennis Academy 725 Exterior Street Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.52 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, March 25 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Michael2.Moore@yahoo.com or call (718) 665-4684.

Friday-Sunday, March 22-24 L2 NYTCI Singles and Doubles Championships New York Tennis Club Indoors 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (FMLC); Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (SE); and Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Doubles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14, 18 (SE) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $65.00 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, March 17 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (718) 239-7919.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Friday-Sunday, March 29-31 L1B Cross String Tennis March Challenger Queens College 6530 Kissena Boulevard Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 16 (SE) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, March 24 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Steve.Beatty2584@gmail.com or call (716) 946-4348.

USTA/Metropolitan Region

2019 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. Saturday-Sunday, March 30-31 Youth Progression Green L1 New York Tennis Club Indoors 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Green Level 1 Boys’ & Girls’ 10 and Under Singles: 78’ Green Ball 10 (FMLC) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, March 24 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (718) 239-7919.

Friday-Sunday, April 5-7 L2 Mill Basin MatchpointNYC Open Matchpoint NYC Mill Basin 2350 East 69th Street • Brooklyn, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (FMLC); and Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 2 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail KLastique@yahoo.com or call (718) 769-0001.

Friday-Sunday, April 12-14 L2 APTC April Open Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard • Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (FRLC); and Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $65.00 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, April 10 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600.

APRIL 2019 Friday-Sunday, April 5-7 Eastern Empire Cup National Doubles at New York Tennis Club Indoors (National L3) New York Tennis Club Indoors 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Advanced Girls’ Doubles: 78’ Yellow Ball 16 (FMLC) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $59.63 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (718) 239-7919.

Friday-Sunday, April 5-7 & April 12-14 L2 Sportime at Randall’s Island April 2019 Open Sportime @ Randall’s Island • 1 Randall’s Island • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14-16 (SE) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, April 1 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail MTrumino@SportimeNY.com or call (212) 427-6150.

Friday-Sunday, April 12-14 L1 Cross String Tennis Academy April Championships Queens College 6530 Kissena Boulevard • Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Championships Boys’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, April 8 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Steve.Beatty2584@gmail.com or call (716) 946-4348.

Friday-Sunday, April 12-14 L1* Tennis at Throgs Neck Championships New York Tennis Club Indoors 3081 Harding Avenue • Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Championships Boys’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 16 (SE) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, April 8 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (718) 239-7919.

Friday-Sunday, April 12-14 L1B Sportime RI April 2019 Challenger Sportime @ Randall’s Island • 1 Randall’s Island • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (SE) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, April 8 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail MTrumino@SportimeNY.com or call (212) 427-6150.

Friday-Sunday, April 5-7 Eastern Empire Cup National Doubles at Cross String Tennis Academy (National L3) Queens College 6530 Kissena Boulevard Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Advanced Girls’ Doubles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14 (MFIC) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $59.63 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Steve.Beatty2584@gmail.com or call (716) 946-4348. Friday-Sunday, April 5-7 Eastern Empire Cup National Doubles at APTC (National L3) Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Advanced Boys’ & Girls’ Doubles: 78’ Yellow Ball 18 (MFIC) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $59.63 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail AlleyPondTennisCenter@gmail.com or call (718) 264-2600.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA/Metropolitan Region

2019 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. Saturday, April 13 Youth Progression Orange Level 2 Fresh Meadows Cunningham Tennis 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 2 Boys’ & Girls’ 10 and Under Singles: 60’ Orange Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, April 7 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Victor@CunninghamTennis.com or call (718) 740-6800.

Friday-Sunday, April 19-21 L1B Mill Basin MatchpointNYC Matchpoint NYC Mill Basin 2350 East 69th Street Brooklyn, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 16 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail KLastique@yahoo.com or call (718) 769-0001.

Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14 L3 APTC Spring UPS Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Entry Level Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Green Ball 12, 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, April 10 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Sunday, April 19-21 L1B APTC Spring Challenger Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 16-18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $65.00 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, April 17 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Sunday, April 19-21 L1B Gotham Tennis Academy April Challenger Gotham Tennis Academy 725 Exterior Street Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.52 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Michael2.Moore@yahoo.com or call (718) 665-4684.

Saturday-Monday, April 20-22 USTA National L3 Tournament @ Cary Leeds Center Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning 1720 Crotona Avenue, Ste. 1 Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14 (FIC-R16); and Girls’ Doubles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $145.63 per player (deadline for entries is Thursday, March 28 at 11:59 a.m.) For more information, e-mail MOljaca@nyjtl.org or call (718) 247-7420.

Friday-Sunday, April 19-21 L2 Cross String Tennis Academy Open Queens College 6530 Kissena Boulevard Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (FMLC); Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (SE); and Intermediate Mixed Doubles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12-18 (SE) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Steve.Beatty2584@gmail.com or call (716) 946-4348.

Friday-Sunday, April 26-28 L1A* Tennis at Throgs Neck April Championships New York Tennis Club Indoors 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Championships Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 16 (SE) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (718) 239-7919.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Friday-Sunday, April 26-28 Eastern Super Six at Cross String Tennis Academy (National L4) Queens College 6530 Kissena Boulevard Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Super 6 Event Boys’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (FIC-R16) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $134.88 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 16 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Steve.Beatty2584@gmail.com or call (716) 946-4348. Friday-Sunday, April 26-28 Eastern Super Six at Alley Pond (National L4) Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Super 6 Event Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (FIC-R16) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $134.88 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 16 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, April 26-28 L1B Challenger in the Bronx Gotham Tennis Academy 725 Exterior Street Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12-14 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.52 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, April 22 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Michael2.Moore@yahoo.com or call (718) 665-4684. Saturday, April 27 Youth Progression Orange Level 1 Fresh Meadows Cunningham Tennis 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 1 Boys’ & Girls’ 10 and Under Singles: 60’ Orange Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, April 21 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Victor@CunninghamTennis.com or call (718) 740-6800.

NYTennisMag.com • January/February 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

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New York Tennis Magazine • January/February 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

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