New York Tennis Magazine September / October 2019 by United Sports Publications

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

nytennis New York Tennis Magazine

MAGAZINE

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

Allison Butler Senior Intern

Stefen Rosner Senior Intern

Caroline Lee Intern

Sophia Remnek Intern

Sarah Schwartz Intern

Phoebe Warshauer Intern

Angelina Remnek Intern

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

Table Of Contents

SEP/OCT 2019 • Vol 9, No 5

2019 US Open Preview By Stefen Rosner The stars of the sport return to the grand stage of the Big Apple for the final Grand Slam of the year, the 2019 US Open in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. See page 28

Photo credit: Getty Images for USTA

Highlights 10 2019 New York City Girls High School Preview By Brian Coleman 16 Junior Player Spotlight: Julian Joaquin Vasquez, Gilad Bloom Tennis By Brian Coleman 20 2019 New York Empire Season Recap: Empire Reach WTT Finals 27 CTA Spotlight: Hector Henry Championships Coming in September By Brian Coleman 40 2019 Guide to the Top Clubs/Programs for New York Tennis Players

Features 4 6 8 9 12 14 18 22 24 38 56 57 58 60 62 64 66 67 68 69 70 72 74 77 78 79

Across Metro New York Kozlov Beats Burgos to Win 2019 Centercourt Shootout NYJTL Hosts Annual Boathouse Bash Dwight Global Online: The Right Fit for Scholar-Athletes So, You Want Your Child to Love Tennis? By Geoff Grant inPhorm: Setting the Trend in Tennis Apparel New York Tennis Magazine’s Literary Corner: Navigating the Superhighway to Well-Being By Brian Coleman Three Secrets to a Better Serve Today By Lisa Dodson USTA Metro Region Update New York Tennis Charitable Initiatives Metro Corporate League Recap The Jensen Zone: Under the Bright Lights of the Grandest Stage of Them All By Luke Jensen The Importance of Structure With Junior Group Lessons By John Curtis Team USA Wins Fifth Annual Finance Cup Outside of the Can By Mark Santucci The Importance of Happiness, Self-Esteem and Positive Self-Image for Athletes By Conrad Singh The Myth of the “0-4 Shots” Rule By Gilad Bloom That Water Bottle Didn’t Help My Game By Barbara Wyatt How to Avoid a Burnout By Eric Faro How Does Fasting Work? By Dr. Rob Silverman Personality: Why It Matters and What to Do About It By Dr. Tom Ferraro Play the Game! It’s Supposed to be Fun … By Rob Polishook Creating a High-Performance Program By Joao Pinho MTG Hosts 25th Liberty Open Tournament By Sidney Beal III USTA Leagues Update: September/October 2019 USTA/Metropolitan Region 2019 Tournament Schedule

Get in the game! At Advantage Tennis Clubs. Beginners, experienced players, even tournament-level competitors are welcome on our courts! Three fantastic locations, with top facilities and friendly people. All Advantage Tennis Clubs oﬀer: Private and group lessons • Game arranging • Tennis programs & clinics • Leagues • QuickStart for ages 3 & up • Junior program • And more!

Choose from 3 fantastic locations.

Manhattan Plaza Racquet and Health Club

Roosevelt Island Racquet Club

New York Tennis Club

5 cushioned hard indoor courts

12 Har-Tru indoor courts

6 Har-Tru indoor/outdoor courts 6 Har-Tru indoor/outdoor courts

450 West 43rd St., New York, NY

281 Main St., Roosevelt Island, NY

3081 Harding Ave., Throgs Neck, NY

Contact Milos Vojvodic: 212.594.0554, milos@advantagetennisclubs.com, or Lauren Hartman lhartman@advantagetennisclubs.com

Contact Steve O’Keefe: 212.935.0250, sokeefe@advantagetennisclubs.com

Contact Mark Keye: 718.239.7919 markkeye@advantagetennisclubs.com

Find out more today—then choose your Advantage club! advantagetennisclubs.com NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Across Metro Ne NY Empire Presents NYJTL With $25,000 Check

During one of its home matches at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx earlier this season, the New York Empire presented NYJTL with a check for $25,000 to help with the organization’s programming, which helps develop and grow the city’s youth through tennis and education. The NYJTL currently serves more than 85,000 kids across New York City’s five boroughs.

City Parks Foundation Runs Lacoste Open

Flushing Meadows’ Corona Park played host to the 2019 Lacoste Croc Open, which the City Parks Foundation runs annually with Lacoste and Technifibre. It was another successful tournament with lots of competitive matches in both a boy’s and girl’s division.

Ross School Senior Friedman Wins August Championships Ross School Tennis Academy senior Ally Friedman ran the table at the L1 Ross August Championships to take home the title in the Girls 18s Division. Friedman did not drop a set all tournament long, including her 6-4, 6-0 win over the top seed in the finals.

USPTA Hosts Free Clinic in Brooklyn

MatchPoint’s Walsh Wins First 14U Tournament

The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Eastern Division stopped by the Knickerbocker Field Club in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn to give the kids of the program a free clinic.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Thomas Walsh, who trains at MatchPoint NYC, took home his first title in the Boys 14s Division as he won on his home courts at the L2 MatchPoint NYC August Open, winning both his semifinal and final matches in straight sets.

New York

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

Wozniacki Stops by JMTA Ahead of US Open

Claire An Wins National Hard Court Title

As she prepares for the 2019 US Open, former Australian Open champion and world number one Caroline Wozniacki arrived at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy at Sportime Randall’s Island to get a practice session in. Wozniacki, currently ranked 19th in the world, hopes her early arrival in New York bodes well for success in Flushing Meadows, a place where she has reached the finals twice in her career.

Claire An, a top student at CourtSense Tennis Training Center, captured the title at the USTA Girls 12s National Championships at the Windward Lake Club in Georgia. An, who was seeded fourth, did not drop a set all tournament long, and committed just nine unforced errors in her 6-2, 6-2 victory in the finals over top-seeded Bella Payne.

RIRC Hosting Round-Robins

Centercourt Players Take Home Titles at August Clash Two members of the Centercourt Performance Tennis Academy won their respective divisions at the L2 Crosscourt August Clash. Andrew Zielinski won the title in the Boys 14s Division, while the Boys 12s winner was Rafa Pawar.

Roosevelt Island Racquet Club has continued to grow its roundrobin programming throughout the summer as it hosts several groups coming in. Recently, the facility hosted its second ever MTG Round Robin, which featured a number of different singles and doubles players in the 3.0 and 3.5+ Divisions.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Kozlov Beats Burgos to Win 2019 Centercourt Shootout

Bruce Schonbraun, chairman of Saint Barnabas Medical Center Trustees, presents a $50,000 prize to Stefan Kozlov, winner of the 2019 Centercourt Shootout Victor Estrella Burgos, runner-up at the 2019 Centercourt Shootout Stefan Kozlov en route to his 6-2, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 championship win at Centercourt Athletic Club of Chatham merican Stefan Kozlov captured the 2019 Centercourt Shootout title, defeating Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic 6-2, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 at Centercourt Athletic Club of Chatham, earning the $50,000 winner-take-all prize. “When I found out about the tournament and they asked me to play, I was super excited to come here,” said Kozlov. “This can be life-changing money for some of us; the tour can be really tough sometimes, so I was really happy to win.” Bruce Schonbraun, chairman of Saint Barnabas Medical Center Trustees, presenting sponsor of the 2019 Center-

court Shootout, was on hand to present Kozlov with a check for the $50,000 prize. Kozlov, a 21-year-old Pembroke Pines, Fla. native, came to New Jersey fresh off a run to the Round of 16 at the Winnetka Challenger in Illinois, defeated Kevin King in the Centercourt Shootout quarterfinals before taking out Donald Young in the semifinals. That put him into the finals against Burgos, who beat Michael Redlicki and Collin Altamirano in his quarterfinal and semifinal matchups, respectively. Kozlov got things started early with a break of serve in the match’s opening game, and he

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

would break again for a 4-1 lead before going on to win the first set 6-2. Kozlov broke to open up the second set to take the early lead, and after he and Burgos traded breaks in the middle of the set, Kozlov held at 5-4 to take the commanding two-sets-to-love lead. Burgos played a dominant third set to extend the match into a fourth, but Kozlov wouldn’t allow the match to go on any further after that, finishing the match off with a 6-3 win in the fourth set. “Centercourt Athletic Club did a great job with us players, making us feel like we were at home,” said Kozlov. “It was a great tournament.”

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

NYJTL Hosts Annual Boathouse Bash Credit all photos to: A.J. Stetson & Joshua Leonard

New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) hosted its Boathouse Bash once again this summer. Held annually at the Central Park Boathouse, all proceeds from the event are dedicated to supporting NYJTLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to provide free tennis and education programs to children all across New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five boroughs.

The night consisted of cocktails and a buffet dinner, with dancing and a DJ, magicians, tarot card readings, a caricaturists, gondola rides and a photo booth. There were also silent auctions and raffles held with those proceeds going towards NYJTL programming as well.

A TENNIS SHOP FOR THE PROS

! ! ! CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES GROMMET INSTALLS FREE DEMOS 8

SHIPPING AVAILABLE! CONTACT US! WWW.HIGHCOUNTRYSKIANDTENNIS.COM ! ! ! ! !

!! ! !

New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;¢ September/October 2019 â&#x20AC;¢ NYTennisMag.com

Dwight Global Online: The Right Fit for Scholar-Athletes Has your child ever felt pulled between tennis and school? Having time to dedicate to tennis makes all the difference in maintaining a competitive edge, but the traditional 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. school day can limit a player’s options. Dwight Global Online School, the online program of Dwight School on New York’s Upper West Side, offers a solution. Dwight Global’s flexible scheduling allows players to maintain rigorous practice, travel and competition schedules, while pursuing academic excellence. Blended and flexible online learning At Dwight Global, students can attend Dwight online classes from home, their tennis center or on the road. Students are also invited to Dwight School’s campuses for in-person experiences. They may study at Dwight’s campuses in New York, London, Shanghai, Seoul and Dubai. Dwight players may choose to study Advanced Placement courses, the International Baccalaureate Curriculum, or their own personalized course of study. Classes are NCAA-approved—they pass rigorous standards required for entry into Division I and II schools.

prepare them for the college admissions process. While some athletes head straight to the pros, Dwight has a long tradition of placing graduates in leadership roles at top college athletic programs. Admissions officers recognize the difference between a prestigious Dwight Diploma and other online-only programs.

Inspiring faculty Dwight’s expert faculty encourage Dwight’s students to believe in their own talents, follow their hearts and take intellectual risks.

The Dwight Global difference for scholar-athletes l Students can pursue tennis without compromising their academics. l Dwight’s faculty are experts in their fields and dedicated to personalizing the Dwight Global experience for every student. l Students and teachers achieve deeper learning through small class sizes and college-style seminars. l We are laser-focused on collegereadiness and building lifelong skills. l We have a 145-plus year track record of admissions to top universities.

Specialized college guidance Starting in Grade 9, Dwight college counselors work closely with players to

Long-term leadership in academics and athletics Dwight’s Chancellor Stephen Spahn has

50 years of visionary leadership in global education and was an All-American basketball player at Dartmouth College. Dwight’s vice chancellor, Blake Spahn, captain of the undefeated 1994 Ivy League Champion Columbia University Men’s Tennis team, knows first-hand the demands on today’s scholar-athletes. We invite you to contact us at Admissions@Dwight.Global or call (212) 724-6360 to start crafting a personalized academic path for your child today.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2 0 1 9 N EW YOR K CI T Y G I R L S H IGH SC H O O L PREVIEW Photo credit: Damion Reid/PSAL

Beacon returns for the 2019 girl’s high school season to defend the “A” Division Championship

he high school season in New York City gets underway Monday, Sept. 9, as teams throughout the five boroughs will compete to try and claim a city championship. Last season, Beacon defeated Bronx Science to win the “A” Division Championship, while Queens Inquiry won the Bowl Championship, for the team that wins the city’s “B” Division. Below are some teams and players to watch for in the upcoming 2019 girl’s high school season:

Beacon School Beacon School once again claimed the city title a year ago, and will be out to make sure it defends it this fall. The team returns the majority of its starting lineup from its championship team last year, including two of its top singles players: Sofia Iantosca and Lorraine Bergmann. The latter’s older sister, Kyra, is one of the key contributors who Beacon has lost to graduation, as she played second singles, but Lorraine will fill in nicely in that sec10

ond spot to bolster the lineup. Iantosca posted an undefeated record at first singles last year in her freshman season, which only bodes well for her success this year in her sophomore campaign. With an experienced doubles group behind them, including the senior pair of Sofia Shen & Niki Truszkowski, Beacon will once again be a top threat. Stuyvesant High School Despite being seeded sixth in the tournament, Stuyvesant High School went on a spectacular run in the 2018 playoffs, as it reached the semifinals before losing to runners-up Bronx Science. That experience should only help them when the Lady Lobsters return to the court this season. Despite losing top singles player Celina Liu and Lily Wan at first doubles, Stuyvesant will be led by senior Alyssa Pustilnik and junior Talia Kahan who will anchor the team’s singles lineup, after playing second and third singles, respectively, last year. Palak Srivastava, Lauren Pehlivanian and Mia Gandis are among

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Junior Talia Kahan returns to the Stuyvesant High lineup for the upcoming girl’s high school season some of the doubles players who had significant impacts on the team’s success last year, and will be back to do so again in 2019. Brooklyn Technical High School Much like Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Technical High School snuck up on some to make a deep run in the playoffs last year. As the fifth seed, the Engineers powered into the semifinals, and will be eager to build on that run this season. Alina Abramoff returns in the first singles spot to lead her team, while Audrey Simon, who went 11-1 in the third singles flight in 2018, will most likely move up in the lineup to the second spot to make up for the loss of outgoing senior Maryna Bohdanovska. Both doubles tandems return to the lineup for Brooklyn Tech, including seniors Jenny Krush and Mira Gupta at the top spot, and sisters Naysa & Oralie Joseph-Gabriel at second doubles, to give the Engineers a talented and experienced lineup that will allow it to contend with the top teams in New York City’s “A” Division.

2 0 1 9 N EW YOR K CI T Y G I R L S H IGH S C H O O L PREV IEW

t High School eason

The Queens School of Inquiry from Flushing captured the “B” Division title and the Bowl Championship last year Curtis High School Led by a top-tier singles lineup, Curtis High School in Staten Island could be in for a big season in 2019. The Warriors were bounced in the first round of the city tournament last year, but it should see a different result this time around. It will have an all-senior singles lineup at all three positions, with Brianna Shaw leading the charge at first singles. Shaw helped lead Curtis to a 9-3 record and one of its best seasons in recent years. Behind her are Julia Holtermann in the second singles spot, and Lila Bruschi in the third singles spot, who will need to provide some lineup depth on a team that loses both of its doubles teams to graduation. The Queens School of Inquiry The title of New York City champions resides in Flushing with The Queens School of Inquiry after it captured the “B” Division title and the Bowl Championship last year, and the team should be right in contention to defend that title this season. Shakima Hotaki will look to build on an outstanding

Sisters Naysa & Oralie Joseph-Gabriel return to anchor the doubles lineup for Brooklyn Technical High School

sophomore season that saw her post an undefeated 11-0 record at first singles, including a key victory in her team’s 3-2 win over Fort Hamilton in the championship. Dawn Lei and Annabelle Rodriguez will be back to anchor the lineup at second and third singles, respectively, and if Queens Inquiry’s young doubles players are able to step up, the squad should be in prime position to make another playoff run this fall. Staten Island Tech Staten Island Tech was upset early in the city playoffs last year as it fell to 15th seed American Studies, which means the Seagulls will be out to redeem itself in 2019. Miriam Aziz, last season’s PSAL Girls Individual Champion and runner-up in the New York State Federation Championships, will return to lead the singles lineup. Aziz went unbeaten in that first singles position last season, and would bolster Staten Island Tech’s chances of getting a top seed in the playoffs if she is able to repeat that. Despite losing its second and third singles players, the Seagulls return all four of its doubles

players, which solidify an experienced and deep lineup. Key Dates (subject to change) l Monday, Sept. 9: Regular Season Begins l Saturday, Sept. 28: PSAL Invitational Tournament l Tuesday, October 15: Regular Season Ends l Thursday, October 17: Playoffs Begin l Monday, October 28: “B” Division Championship l Tuesday, October 29: “A” Division Championship l Friday, November 1: PSAL Individual Championships l Thursday-Sunday, November 7-10: Mayor’s Cup Tournament l Saturday, November 9: New York State Federation Tournament Brian Coleman is senior editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by email at BrianC@USPTennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

So, You Want Your Child to Love Tennis? By Geoff Grant ur world feels increasingly complex, unpredictable and scary. Some studies claim that extreme interconnectivity through social media, technological advancements and instant gratification are detrimental to the mental and emotional health of children. As a result, parents look to tennis for answers. Tennis is an amazing sport for developing independ-

ence, character and an active lifestyle. But how do we keep our kids engaged in tennis and get them to love the sport? Simply enrolling into a tennis camp or signing up for private lessons doesn’t guarantee a life-long love of the sport. The real success comes when a young person finds their own reasons to play. It’s this ownership and love of the game (from the inside) that is “The Holy Grail.” To instill long-term ownership, parents can take action in a few key ways …

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Watch the pros live and in-person Although ticket prices are expensive for just about anything these days, tennis offers pro-level quality viewing opportunities if you are willing to dig a little. For instance, Division 1 college matches are free and the level of play in the NCAA has never been higher. Furthermore, pro events still exist in the Northeast, from the grass courts of the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I.; to Long Island’s New York Open all the way down to pro events in Washington, D.C., as players warm up for the obvious crown

jewel, the US Open. There’s nothing like seeing a live professional event up-close and the impact of such an event on a youngster can be profound.

won’t cost you much during the warm weather months.

Invest in quality coaching Tennis is a highly technical sport, requiring sound fundamentals. A knowledgeable and inspiring coach makes all the difference. Try to find a coach who is able to make the learning process productive and fun at the same time. It’s all about learning the basics and having fun. If you cannot afford the great coach, make sure to align your child with a fun and nurturing coach who has charisma and charm, while providing enough knowledge to be helpful.

Read inspiring sports books There’s nothing like a great sports biography to light up the imagination and inspire. Kids take the written word very seriously and they like true stories of real-life people. Giving them examples of how a healthy sports life can be lived may be all the information one needs to try to make a dream come true. Some titles of sports-related books include Kid Athletes: True Tales of Childhood From Sports Legends by David Stabler, Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youth to Become Stars by Gregory Zuckerman, and Stephen Curry: Never Give Up by Stephen Herman.

Play tennis as much as possible with your kids Even if you’re a complete beginner, you can still find a way to get on the court and bring tennis to life! Find a court with a wall and give it your best shot together. Walls don’t miss, so the pressure is off. Bonding over a sport like tennis is as healthy as it gets and

Set up tennis play dates with other players If given the right opportunity, kids will find a way to have fun doing almost anything. Therefore, getting two friends (four is even better!) on a tennis court is more than half the battle. This is especially effective if the youngsters have a little bit of experience

with the game already. Beginner players may not have as much fun, so be careful, but all it takes is a little bit of planning and willing parents. The sport of tennis offers so many wonderful things to a healthy lifestyle. Yet there are so many distractions and alternatives. Finding a way to tap into the spirit of a young mind at an early age can make all the difference. Keep an active calendar of events and a keen focus on exposing your child to tennis and sports as much as possible. Find a way to elevate sports as a superior activity and incredible challenge will keep them coming back for more. Make sure the journey is always fun. It’s only a game, after all. Geoff Grant is a Duke graduate and former ATP player, ranked as high as 109th in the world in singles, and in 1998, reached the third round of the US Open. For the past eight years, he has been a part of the CourtSense team as a director of tennis and general manager of Tenafly Racquet Club.

Hy The Futur Introducing the From the makers of HydroCourt comes a new kind of subsurface irrigation system. Backed by 90 years of manufacturing m experience, Har-Tru’s HyQ Q Court takes clay court irrigation to th he next level.

The HyQ Court is an irrigation system e with smarts. Its intelligent design will optimize installation and operation curacy of irrigation. whille increasing the speed and acc With a completely redesigned digittal control centerr,, HyQ offe ers the next generation of equip pment for your court.

Call today for more informatio on on the HyQ Court and d other innovative court products by Har-Tru.

87 77- 4-HAR--TTRU | hartru.com 877-4-HAR-TRU (877-442-7878) | hartru@hartru.com | 22OO Old Ivy Road, Suite 1OO, Charlottesville, VA 229O3

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Setting the Trend in Tennis Apparel Founded in 2008, inPhorm’s mission was to create an active and lifestyle brand dedicated to sustainable production and empowering responsible consumers to choose products that are eco-forward and kinder to the Earth. The name “inPhorm” is a nod to customers’ fitness, athletic prowess—and their “informed” passion for preserving the environment and enhancing its recovery. Dressing women in feminine, comfortable and stylish tennis, golf and active wear has always been inPhorm’s focus, and that will be expanded when menswear and children’s lines debut in the Fall of 2020. The original inPhorm creative team, Founder/Designer/Creative Director Saad Hajidin and Manufacturer Supinya Vongsurapichet, has evolved and grown into an international business, with a main office in Dallas, Texas, and a design studio in New York City. inPhorm products are sold in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Singapore and Southeast Asia. Read more about the professionals wearing inPhorm, and its brand ambassadors by visiting its Web site, inPhormNYC.com, or following the brand on

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. inPhorm has recently instituted a Pay it Forward campaign, which allows the brand to give back to the community. A growing list of charitable organizations will be involved, such as The Pete Brown Junior Tennis Program and the “Believe” Tennis Camp. The Pete Brown program provides free tennis to under-served minority children in Compton, Calif., many of whom come from

families who live under or near the poverty line. The fun day of tennis instruction and games, gifts and food is supported by the USTA, the City of Los Angeles and the LAPD. The “Believe” Tennis Camp for young girls is spearheaded by an inPhorm ambassador, former pro Melanie Oudin. “Believe” stresses the fun of becoming better tennis players, as well as learning to believe more in yourself on the court.

24 Years of Great Results

A Few Of Our Professional Players Coached

Amanda Anisimova WTA 54 Alexandra Stevenson (USA) WTA 18 Jamie Cerretani (USA) ATP 40 Doubles Darian King (BAR) ATP 106 Eyal Ran (ISR) ATP 120 Israel Davis Cup Captain Pablo Campana (ECU) ATP 150 & Davis Cup Rudy Rake (USA) #1 USA Alex Bogomolov (RUS) ATP 100

Dennis Istomin (UZB) ATP 46 Anmanmuradova Akgul (UZB) WTA 90 Soﬁa Melikishvili (GEO) Orange Bowl Finallist Gabriela Paz (VEN)ITF top 10 US Open Jr Finalist Alexandrina Naydenova (BUL) WTA 93 Alexander Ritschard (SUI) #1 National Nathan Rosenfeld #1 National USA, David Crisovan #1 National USA

7000 Miramar Parkway l Miramar, FL 33023

954-478-3941 l protennis@usa.com I dominguezprotennis.com 14

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

SUPRE EME COUR RT T

A FA AV VORITE PRAC TICE FACILIT T Y F OR INTERNATIONALLY RANKED TOUR PROFESSIONAL S S, THE RACQUET Q CLUB AT FISHER ISLAND OFFER S 4 PLAYING SURFACES C INCLUDING EACH GRAND SLAM SURFACE .

2 DECOCUSHION HARD COURTS | 5 EUROPPEAN RED CLAY COURTS | 2 GRASS COURTS | 9 HAR-TRU C CLA AY Y COURT S

HE N NE WEST LUXURY CONDOMIN IUM ON MIAMI’S PRIVATE ISLAND ENC PALAZ ZO DELLA LUNA OFFER S 3- TO 7-BEDROOM RESIDE FROM $ 6. 5 TO $2 0 MILLION AND PENTHOUSES WITH PRIVATE ROOF TO FROM $2 6. 5 TO $40 $ MILLION. COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 2 019. S CHEDULE AN APPOINTME ENT: +1 30 5. 535.607 1 | INF O @ PALAZ ZODELLALUNA PALAZ ZODELLALUNA .COM ORAL REPRESENTA TA ATIO ONS C ANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORREC TLY STA ATTING T REPRESENTA TA ATIONS OF THE DE VEL OPER. FOR CORREC T REPRESENT ATIONS,• MNew AKE REFERENC BY SEC TION 718.503, 718 503 FL F ORIDA STA TA ATUTES, TUTES TO BE FURNISHED BY A DE VELOPER O i •’s September/October hi ec tur all r ender d ings i k2019 h , g r aphic hi maYork i l Tennis an TONYTennisMag.com A BUY ER OR LESSEE . A ll ar tist or ar chit , sket ches t er ials descr ibed her ein are proposed and c onc eptual onlyy, and are based upon preliminar y dev elopmen t plans, which ar e subjec t t o change. T his is not an offer ing in any sta t e in i not an offer ing. I t is a solicita tion of in t erest in the adver tised proper t y. No off ffer ing of but in which r eg istr a tion r equiremen ts ha h ve not y et been met . T his adv er tisemen t is o made and no deposits can be ac c ept ed, or r eser v a tions, binding or non-binding, can be made in New Yor k un til an offer ing plan is filed with the New Yor k S ta t e D epar tme en t

Magazine

ED wise i equir ed its can be

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

J U L I A N J O A Q U I N VA S Q U E Z GILAD BLOOM TENNIS hen he was around sevenyears-old, Julian Joaquin Vasquez can remember his aunt giving him an old tennis racket and he began hitting balls against a wall. “I hit for about an hour, and then when we were supposed to leave, I didn’t want to at all,” recalls Vasquez. “This made my parents realize they should look for a place for me to play tennis.” This is where Vasquez’s love of tennis began, and almost a decade later, that passion and desire to play has not wavered. “I love the individual aspect of playing tennis … that I kind of get to escape when I get onto the court,” he said. “I’m in control of my actions, decision-making and emotions. I also enjoy the physical exercise involved with the sport … being able to work out and push myself to be in the very best condition I can be in.” Julian began playing regularly at the Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program and then at Gotham Tennis Academy before he met Gilad Bloom, who was working at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy at the time. Bloom, a former pro on the ATP World Tour who had a successful professional career, would soon launch his own program, of which Vasquez has become an integral member. “About two years ago, I was a practice partner for one of the kids he was doing a private training session with, and that’s how our

relationship began,” said Vasquez. “I began going to his academy, and we’ve grown very close over these last couple of years.” For the last couple of years, Vasquez has been training with Bloom at the Riverdale Tennis Center in the Bronx, N.Y. When he arrived at the program, he was a big-hitter with an aggressive style of play, and through Bloom’s tutelage, Vasquez has worked to harness that aggressiveness on the court.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

“At first, my idea of getting better was just trying to grind out balls and hit winners,” he explained. “But throughout the years and training on clay courts, Gilad has taught me how to develop points and play more strategically. I learned to hit heavier shots to make my opponents move around the court more. I’m very aggressive when I play, but he has taught me to be aggressive in a more intelligent way, to develop a variety of shots and make wiser decisions against my opponents.” Developing an all-around game is a crucial aspect of the foundation of a successful tennis player, and Vasquez has been more than willing to put in the time and work in order to achieve that goal. He trains for four to five days a week during the school year, but is out on the court training nearly every day during the summer months. Making sure to establish a consistent serve was also a point of emphasis, Vasquez said. He had a somewhat inconsistent serve toss and motion, but has since trained rigorously to establish one that works for him: “I’ve done many different serving drills to help me jump more into the court, and attack balls off the serve and hit better volleys.” As he has developed a more consistent serve and has improved his volleying, those aspects have only complimented his already strong play from the baseline with both his forehand and backhand. With that

balance and all-around game, Vasquez has started to see the fruits of that labor as he competes in tournaments this summer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the past few months, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve really been getting into tournaments, playing up in the 16s Division; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been playing tournaments almost every other weekend,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been working on volleying recently, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been trying to come to net a lot more in matches, and it seems more natural to me now. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel as stressful as it once did. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just serve, come to the net and put the ball away.â&#x20AC;? The constant work he has put in comes from his desire to be on the court whenever he can, something he has felt since he picked up his first racket all those years ago. Vasquez is an incoming freshman at the Dwight School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where he plans on playing for the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tennis team, something he is very excited about. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My old school didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a tennis team, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking forward to being part of a team,â&#x20AC;? explained Vasquez. Before that, though, Vasquez will conclude his summer as part of the 2019 US

Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where he will serve as a ballperson for the first time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my first time ever doing it. I had watched some videos beforehand to sort of see how it works, and just went in and gave it my best,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got a call back after the first tryout, went back again, and they told me I made it and to come in for training. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really excited about it.â&#x20AC;? He will be up close and oncourt with some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest tennis players, and may even be on-court with players like Rafael Nadal and Julian Joaquin Vasquez, who will be attending the Dwight Alexander Zverev, who he says School in the fall, with his coach, Gilad Bloom are his two favorite players on tour. he hopes to take his tennis career into his Vasquez will continue to grow as a college years and beyond. player and person, both on and off the court, and has a great coach and trainer in Brian Coleman is senior editor of New York his corner in Bloom. As his love and desire Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at to play and practice remains a part of him, BrianC@USPTennis.com.

Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation presents

Night on JAffa Road

A once-in-a-lifetime event that will delight your soul as you experience the sights, sounds & tastes of the Israeli Shuk in NYC. Join us November 6, 2019 - 6-9 PM & Educatio n nis

nters Ce

Israel Te n

The Prince George Ballroom New York City

U N D AT I O N

Israel Tennis & Education Centers is a social service organization that uses sports, academic enrichment & life-skills mentoring to empower vulnerable children from diverse backgrounds. The event proceeds will help provide scholarships for these children to ITECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 14 locations. %$#"$#! #$ # #$ $! # # # ! # # # #$ $! " " NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ September/October 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

Navigating the Superhighway to Well-Being Dr. Robert Silverman set to release new book on gut-brain relationship By Brian Coleman ne of the most overlooked aspects of the synergy between health and sports performance is the connection between a person’s gut and Dr. Robert brain, a relationship that is Silverman integral in maximizing one’s athletic prowess and overall health. “I think that most people don’t realize that gut health isn’t just important for overall immune health, it’s also the epicenter, if you will, for athletic performance,” said Dr. Robert Silverman, a White Plains, N.Y.based sports chiropractor and certified clinical nutritionist, specializing in functional medicine and the treatment of joint pain. “Athletes who perform more than two hours of strenuous exercise, and that’s about the length of a tennis match, compromise their gut. And when you do that, you compromise your performance, and it makes you more susceptible to a host of deleterious issues like diabetes, muscular skeletal injuries, lack of brain function and the like. So keeping your gut in pristine condition and functioning at its highest level will increase your tennis performance and tennis recovery.” Dr. Silverman has spent two decades treating patients and has helped countless athletes not only return to competition sooner and more improved, but also with the knowledge of how to listen to their own body to achieve optimal levels of performance. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Bridgeport, College of Chiropractic, and has achieved many more educational

accomplishments, including becoming a certified nutrition specialist, a certified clinical nutritionist, and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He founded Westchester Integrative Health Center, where he applies all of his knowledge and expertise in helping his patients. Three years ago, he published Inside-Out Health: A Revolutionary Approach to Your Body, where he outlines how you can take charge and improve your well-being with steps you can take on your own to head down the path to wellness. “Dr. Silverman’s book is a magnificent tour de force full of practical tips on how to use functional medicine to stay fit and healthy and lose weight, starting with the gut,” said Dr. Vincent Pedre, who authored the book, Happy Gut. “If you are frustrated with your health, wanting to rid yourself of body pains, and looking for ways to achieve total wellness, Inside-Out Health is a great start to a happy gut and overall well-being.” To expand on that, Dr. Silverman is set to release his follow-up book, The Superhighway to Health. The new book is scheduled for release in February 2020, and will be a must-read for athletes, especially tennis players. “This book still incorporates inside-out health, because it talks about the gut to brain axis. It’s the next iteration. In my forthcoming book, I get into the pathways and the knowledge of this bi-directional interaction between your brain, the organ in your body that communicates with all the other organs, and your gut, the organ in your body that has the most immune cells,” said Silverman. “It’s the

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

next iteration for overall health, health performance, and sports performance.” Dr. Silverman will be making many public appearances over the next few months to discuss his book and continuing to stress the importance of understanding gut health and how it impacts us, especially those who want to maximize their athletic performance. “It’s, without question, one of the most talked-about points among doctors, but the information hasn’t reached the patients and not enough athletes are paying attention to it,” Dr. Silverman said about the knowledge of the gut-brain axis. With the book slated to come out in the beginning of 2020, it will be an important read for many who want to start their year off right, or make sure they are sticking to those alwayshard-to-maintain New Year’s resolutions. “When they hit that level of frustration, 30 to 45 days after they started their resolutions, this book is going to be standing there showing them how to get right back on the wagon in an efficient manner,” said Dr. Silverman. Dr. Silverman continues to be one of the leading minds in his field and has used this knowledge to help tennis players reach their full potential, both on and off the court. He helps inform the public on these issues through his Web site (DrRobertSilverman.com) and social media channels, where he posts educational videos on his Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, as well as taking part in podcasts and speaking appearances. He will dive into these subjects in detail when The Superhighway to Health hits the shelves early next year.

SPO OR ME ORTI JOHN M ENROE E TENNIS S ACADEMY DEMY

PROGR RAMS FFOR ALL AGES AND A LEV VELS: •

Te en nnisW Wh hizz zz ffo or Presschoole ers

•

SPO ORTIME R Red Ball Te en nnis & MAC Red at JMTTA TA!

•

SPO ORTIME O Orra ange Ball Te en nnis & MA MAC Orra ange at JMT J TA A!

•

SPO ORTIME G Grre een & Ye elllow Ball Te Tennis Rec creation nal and High g Perf rfor form manc ce fo or Juniors!! The e John McEnr M ro oe Te en nnis Aca ademy – New Yo ork’ k’ss Prre em mier Academy Adu ult Prro ogrra rams – Beg ginners to t Adv va anced - Se eries and d Drro op In Priv vatte va e Lesssons, Lea agues an nd Morre e

ll tto o ﬁnd outt morre e tto oday!

2-427-61 150 w.SportimeNY w. Y..c com/TTe ennis

The 20 019 9-20 9 20 Tenn e iss Season ennis S is Herre. Are yo ou Re eady? SPORTIME ME clubs feature more than 150 indoor and outdoor cour c ts, the best coaches an anywhere, great programs a for the whole family, exclusive member beneﬁtss, online e court book booking an nd account management, g , and more. Why pla p ay anywher h e else? Join today!

Follo o w us at @jmtany

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 New York Empire Season Recap Empire Reach WTT Finals

his summer, the Bronx played home to the best season in the history of World TeamTennis’ New York Empire franchise, as the place to be from mid-July through early August was the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning. After an up-and-down start to the season, the Empire caught fire towards the end as it pursued the first playoff appearance in team history. Sitting on the edge of the playoff picture, the Empire won three of its final four matches in the regular season including a dominating performance over the first place Philadelphia Freedoms on the season’s final day. “It’s incredible to lead this team to the playoffs for the first time in team history,” said first-year Empire Head Coach Luke Jensen. “I was very blessed when I was given the opportunity by the Empire and the league and Commissioner Carlos Silva who thought this was a good fit. The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis is a special place, where more than 80,000 kids go through. We are built for World TeamTennis and Billie Jean King was the driving force for my family to start playing tennis.” Coach Jensen’s contagious energy helped guide his team, whose core roster was comprised of Kirsten Flipkens, Neal Skupski, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Ulises Branch and Mardy Fish, and who were joined early in the season by top 20

Americans John Isner and Sloane Stephens as they appeared in one match each, and Varvara Lepchenko joined the team to fill in for Flipkens when she returned to the WTA Tour briefly. With the playoff spot secured, the Empire packed up and headed out west for the WTT playoffs at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. It was a quick turnaround as the Empire took on the Freedoms once again, playing for a third time in a week, in the semifinals. Blanch was called into action in the semifinals, as Fish went down with a hamstring injury and the young American was needed. He filled in perfectly, winning the Men’s Singles Set 5-4 and pairing with Skupski to win at Men’s Doubles 5-4 en route to the Empire’s 24-18 victory, clinching its place in the championship match. “I just tried to focus and when I stepped on the court, I knew a great part of it was mental and I just tried to deliver,” said Blanch. “The first night we played them at home, they kind of blew us away, we weren’t really ready. In Philly, I think we played a great match and we came into this match confident that we could win it.” Unfortunately, the Empire would come up short in the championship match against the defending champion Springfield Lasers, who rallied in the match’s final set to win 20-19 and capture its second con-

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

secutive WTT title. “I just love the way we fought … I love the way we played,” said Jensen. “It came down to losing just one game. What an amazing opportunity to be in this arena and this league with this atmosphere!” While the season may have ended in disappointing fashion, it was still a successful one for the Empire. For his performances, Skupski was named the league’s Male Most Valuable Player, as he and MartinezSanchez were the top mixed doubles duo in the league all-season long. The Empire also provided wins off the court as well, participating in many community events and holding special theme nights during its home matches throughout the season, including a “Community Hero Night,” where it honored Bronx’s police officers, firefighters, active-duty military and veterans and public school teachers; a “Taste of the Bronx Night,” where the local cuisine of the Bronx was on full display; a “Fan Appreciation Night” and “Family Fun Night;” and an “Empower Her Night,” where it honored Billie Jean King and the Women’s Sports Foundation. With another year of World TeamTennis and New York Empire action here in New York City in the books, the team truly set the bar this season. The Empire and its fans are eager for the team’s return in 2020, as it hopes to build off this season and its run to the championship.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Three Secrets to a Better Serve Today By Lisa Dodson n today’s game, there are many schools of thought as how to create the best serve. The information is often unclear, the terminology is difficult and the execution is near impossible. I’d like to give you three clear and simple concepts to think about that will change your serve for the better in a relatively short period of time.

1. Relax already! It is truly rare to find a player who under22

stands what “relaxed” means in the game of tennis. Often when searching for a relaxed state, a player becomes so loose that strokes and technique are slow and sloppy. They simply haven’t hit enough technically sound serves to be confident in letting the racket head do the work for them. Especially problematic for the serve is the uncomfortable Continental Grip. Players squeeze the grip tight as not to lose the grip. At the same time, they are killing the fluid and rhythmic technique they are trying to achieve. A relaxed mind, hand and body have a

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

direct effect on the speed your serve will travel. Here are a few practical things you can do to physically understand what a relaxed grip means. Gently put your hand in the correct grip position on the racket. Slide your hand down so that only your first finger and your thumb are on the flared butt-end of the racket. Your other three fingers will be curled under the butt of the racket. Now go through your service motion without hitting a ball. The racket should feel heavy and uncontrollable. You can feel all of the “links” in your arm contributing to your service motion. Now try hitting a ball with this grip.

You’ll be surprised that this seemingly impossible task is really effective. As you put more fingers on the grip, strive to maintain the whippy feeling that allows all of the “links” in your arm to contribute to the serve. 2. Look up before you toss! Most tennis players think that they are looking up to their ball toss when they are actually looking out. To test what you do, stand up, relax your neck and let your head go back as far as it can against the top of your back. If you are inside, you should be looking at a spot on the ceiling almost directly above your head. Your tossing arm lifts and the fingers of your tossing hand go to the sky. A high tossing hand will set the tossing shoulder higher than the hitting shoulder, making this head position feel more natural. Clear vision is essential for great contact on a ball. A little-known fact is that the best servers look up before the ball is tossed. Looking up in anticipation of the arrival of the ball is a much more efficient method of serving. If your head goes up

in advance of the toss, your eyes will be still. Now you will be fully able to focus on the target. Try envisioning a small picture frame hanging in the air at optimum contact point. Look up to that picture frame and work on being able to place the toss in that area. Your focus and intent to strike the ball will be far greater. 3. Toss with a flat hand The position of the toss hand and arm are neglected areas when dealing with the serve. The toss arm has several critical functions. How the ball is propelled up is important not only for the result of the toss but also for the next phase of the serve. Ball tosses should travel straight up and down, without spin or arc (except when intended). Fingers bent or curled around the ball assure failure. For a successful toss, flatten your fingers and place the ball on the creases of the last joint segment. Place your thumb gently over the top of the ball, making sure to keep the hand flat by laying your wrist down. Straighten your elbow, bring

your toss arm down and up in the direction of the right net post (for a righthanded server). The toss comes from the shoulder and gentle body action, and the hand finishes up in the “picture frame” described above. Gently popping the hand open at the release point eliminates “flipping” the ball off the fingers. The toss hand continues to the sky to set the tossing shoulder higher than the hitting shoulder and allowing an upward hit. The three secrets to a great serve aren’t flashy, but are critically fundamental to the serve that you simply cannot be as successful without them. Make mastering these principles a priority and you will soon have the stress-free, dominant and powerful serve that you have been wanting. 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.

WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED Play tennis year round under a Farley bubble. The Farley Group is the world leader in air-supported structures and has provided over 20 tennis bubbles in New York and Long Island. Contact us today to learn about how you can turn your outdoor courts into a year round facility.

www.thefarleygroup.com l info@thefarleygroup.com

1-888-445-3223

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA Metro Region SBTA Takes Part in Annual “Vive Tu Vida” Event

The USTA Metro Region and the South Brooklyn Tennis Association (SBTA) brought the sport of tennis to the Hispanic Federation’s “Vive Tu Vida” event earlier this summer. “Vive Tu Vida,” which translates to “Live Your Life,” is an annual event hosted by the city’s Hispanic Federation, and the SBTA was a part of the event for the sixth time. “I must say I truly love it and look forward to it each year,” said Pablo Sierra, USTA Metro Region’s president. “The people running the event are so welcoming, the music just flows through your veins. The kids are awesome and they love going out on the minia-

ture tennis courts to hit, many of whom are swinging a tennis racket for the very first time in their lives. The kids always walk away with a smile on their faces.” The event is predominately a health and wellness event, where the organization promotes health screening, nutrition and exercise. They have always been a big supporter of tennis, and the hope is that kids walk away from the event wanting to continue to play tennis. You can visit SouthBrooklynTennis.com to learn more about the programs the SBTA offers throughout the City’s five boroughs.

New York Empire Hosts Metro Night This summer, the New York Empire enjoyed its most successful season in franchise history, reaching the World TeamTennis finals. The kids in the USTA Eastern Metro Region got to be a part of that experience when the team and the USTA Eastern Section provided more than 60 tickets for its home match against the Springfield Lasers. “It was great seeing the kids come in and be excited to have an opportunity to see a live professional tennis match,” said Sierra. “I think it’s so important for kids to see live tennis, as it inspires and motivates them to continue to play; it’s about promoting the game.” After the match, the kids were able to go on the court to meet the players and get some autographs. 24

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA Metro Region Highland Park Tennis Association Wins Sectionals

The 18U Intermediate team from the Highland Park Tennis Association, the Highland Park Hawks, represented the Metro Region at the recent USTA Junior TeamTennis Sectional Championships in Albany, N.Y. The Hawks are coached by Hector Henry and then team consists of Nia Dabreo, Geanna Richard, Beyonce Blake, Imani Jean, Alexander Pierson, Robert Sandy, Owais Mulla, Kacper Niepokoj and Dylan Lachmanen. The squad will now be heading down to San Antonio, Texas to represent the Eastern Section at the National Championships, from Nov. 13-17. NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ September/October 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

USTA Metro Region Lincoln Terrace, Kings County Compete in Net Generation Team Tournament

Earlier this summer, the Lincoln Terrace Tennis Association and the Kings County Tennis League joined forces to compete against one another in a Net Generation Team Tournament. As the Net Generation programming grows and expands, and organizations continue to embrace this initiative, the Metro Region hopes to see more interclub and inter-organization tournaments thriving in the Region. 26

New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ September/October 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ NYTennisMag.com

CTA Spotlight Hector Henry Championships Coming in September By Brian Coleman

We often hear the cliché that tennis is the sport of a lifetime, because you have the ability to play and remain involved with the sport throughout your entire life. Few people embody that concept as much as Brooklyn’s Hector Henry, who is set to turn 87-years-old in early September, but has not missed a beat on the tennis court. “I played soccer for much of my life, and at the end of my soccer career, tennis was really starting to become popular with the US Open here and the emergence of players like Arthur Ashe,” said Henry, who was a talented soccer player, competing for the Jamaican national team and later semiprofessionally in the United States. “I had played cricket early in my life back home in Jamaica, and the two sports seemed to have some similarities in their strokes and things like that. I thought I could play because I had to do something after I was done playing soccer, and that’s really how I became involved with tennis.” After his soccer career, Henry became a student at Brooklyn College and played for its tennis team, and would go on to become the program’s coach after graduation. His coaching career would continue at New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL), where he has been for the last 30 years. “I love working with the kids and being able to see them develop; I’ve had some really good players over the years,” said Henry. “My relationship with the kids … they’re like a family. I start playing with the kids and get involved with their families, so it’s just been great.” For the last 15 years, he has also worked with the Highland Park Tennis Association (HPTA) in Brooklyn, and he has become a favorite amongst both the kids and parents of both programs. “Coach Hector has been one of the cornerstones of the Highland Park Tennis As-

Hector Henry and the 18U Highland Park Hawks captured the USTA Eastern Sectionals earlier this summer sociation’s Junior Tennis Program. He has been by my side since day one, 15 years ago,” said Dion Lachmanen, HPTA’s president. “With more than 40 years of coaching experience at every level of the game, he brings an enormous amount of credibility to our program.” Because of all he has given to the sport, Lachmanen led the way to get a USTAsanctioned tournament named and played in Henry’s honor, and was able to do so. The “Hector Henry Championships,” set for Friday-Monday, Sept. 6-9, will launch its inaugural event this year. With Henry’s birthday being Sept. 7, he will get to celebrate his 87th birthday around the folks he calls family, right in the midst of the first annual Hector Henry Championships. “I’m really looking forward to it,” said Henry. “I was really surprised when I heard,

and I’m delighted that people thought that much of me. Over the years, I’ve met a lot of great parents and kids, and it’s just been a wonderful pleasure in my life.” The tournament will be held at the Linden Park Tennis Courts in Brooklyn, and feature multiple divisions for both boys and girls, and singles and doubles. “Hector has quietly given so much over the years to the children he has taught and to the sport of tennis, that having a tournament named in his honor is just a small token of appreciation compared to his contribution to the sport,” added Lachmanen. “He is a remarkable person to still be doing this at 86-years-old … in fact, it’s ‘saintlike.’” Brian Coleman is senior editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by email at BrianC@USPTennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 US Open Preview August 19-September 8, 2019 USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center l Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

What to Watch for ... By Stefen Rosner

Domination Novak Djokovic has been on a tear over a long stretch that dates back to the summer of 2018. He has added some nice hardware to his collection this season, having taken down Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open in straight sets, as well as outlasting Roger Federer in a tiebreaker to win Wimbledon for the second consecutive year. The US Open has not been too kind to the Serbian, as he owns a 2-5 record in the US Open Finals throughout his 12-year pro career. But he is the tournament’s defending champion and since 2016, winning is all we really have seen from him. The 32-year-old will look to continue his dominant year, and being currently ranked number one in the world, he will definitely be a heavy favorite. He has shown that he can beat a variety of opponents on any surface and will look to dominate like he did last year in Flushing Meadows. Youngest gun looks to improve At the age of 15, Cori Gauff, who goes by 28

the nickname “Coco,” shocked the tennis world at Wimbledon. She became the youngest player in the modern era to qualify for the main draw at the event. And in the first round, she made a bigger name for herself, as she knocked out her idol, Venus Williams. She was able to win her next two matches, reaching the Round of 16, before losing to eventual champion Simona Halep. It was an electric start to the youngster’s career, and now back on home soil, she will look to make waves in the Women’s Singles Draw. However, she may face some added pressure after her accomplishments over the pond. But in an interview with CNN, Coco stated that she is living the dream. As she grows more mature, her physical and mental toughness will propel her to superstar status in the tennis world for many years to come. She already captured her first WTA title during the US Open Series with a doubles win at the Citi Open, and will be looking to perform under the bright lights of the final Grand Slam of 2019 for the New York crowd.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Serena is far from done

At the age of 37, Serena Williams is still the name everyone thinks of when they talk about the best in the world. But the greatest players cannot win them all, and as they get older, it becomes increasingly difficult to continue to dominate a sport

2019 US OPEN PREVIEW that grows younger by the day. At Wimbledon, Serena was able to make it back to the finals, but lost to Simona Halep 2-6, 2-6. She was even fined $10,000 for damages to a practice court earlier in the tournament. Surprisingly, Serena has struggled to win over the last handful of tournaments she has played. This year has been a rough one by her own standards where she has not won any titles in six events. Last year, she reached the finals of the US Open, but lost to Naomi Osaka in controversial fashion, as Serena was hit with three penalties in the second half by match chair umpire Carlos Ramos. She felt as if Ramos took the match away from her, and expressed that by directly calling him a “thief,” which he penalized her for. Now she will need to redeem herself and prove that she can win another Grand Slam before her career comes to an end.

fellow German Phillip Kohlschreiber in four sets. He has beaten the top dogs like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in ATP events, but hasn’t been able to get it done on the biggest stages. With still so much time to improve, it will be interesting to see if Zverev can go deep at the US Open. These are the events that separate the good players from the great players, and if he wants to join the ranks of tennis greatness, then a run at the US Open is pivotal for the 22-year-old Zverev.

abdominal injury. Osaka was then defeated at the Madrid Open in the quarterfinals. The Italian and French Opens were no different: She lost the top-ranking heading into Wimbledon and a first round elimination just made matters worse. Heading back to the US Open should give Osaka some comfort as that is where she made her big splash. And maybe those good memories can kick start a great finish to the year for the young star.

Osaka looks to bounce back

Not a worry in the world for Kyrgios

Naomi Osaka has struggled mightily since winning the US Open a year ago and the Australian Open earlier this year. The 21year-old was able to beat Serena Williams in straight sets to take home her first ever major win last September in Flushing Meadows. If that does not add a vote of confidence at her young age, not much will. Beating your idol is something that many dream of doing, but very few ever get the opportunity. A couple of months later, Osaka took home another major, winning the Australian Open in three sets against Petra Kvitova. She became Asia’s first number one ranked player, male or female, but the pressure of that distinction seems to have overtaken her ability to play the style of tennis that got her there. She lost in the Round of 32 at the Dubai Tennis Championship, the Round of 16 at the Indian Wells Masters, Round of 32 at the Miami Open and retired during the semifinals at the Stuttgart Open due to an

Whether it’s not practicing, or going out the night before a big match, Nick Kyrgios is just living his life and playing tennis. He recently took down Daniil Medvedev to take home the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. in what he described as one of the best weeks of his life. At Wimbledon, he battled hard against Rafael Nadal in the second round as they went to two tie-breakers with Nadal taking both, and he won the Mexican Open back in March, beating the young Zverev in straight sets. His clash of talent and apathy can often irk fans and reporters, and he even recently said he doesn’t particularly care about winning a major. He has the skills to be great, but just has not displayed the work ethic needed to take his game to the next level. We will see if his recent triumph at the Citi Open will help him remain focused during the US Open, where he can put on an exciting show for the New York fans.

Overcoming the big stage

At just 22-years-old, Alexander Zverev has already cemented himself in the sport’s history after becoming the youngest player to crack the top 10 back in 2018. But even more impressive is that he is now ranked inside the top five in the world and has won 11 ATP titles in singles and two in doubles. But for the German youngster, he has yet to win a major, or even make it out of the quarterfinals. He is coming off a shocking loss which saw him dismissed in the first round at Wimbledon. And at the US Open a year ago, Zverev lost in the third round to

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 US OPEN PREVIEW

USTA Grants Main Draw Wild Cards to Crop of Young Americans The USTA has announced the 2019 US Open Men’s and Women’s Singles Wild Card recipients for the tournament’s main draw, which gets underway Monday, Aug. 26. Americans Francesca Di Lorenzo, Coco Gauff, Caty McNally and Whitney Osuigwe will join US Open Wild Card Challenge winner Kristie Ahn and USTA Girls’ 18s National Champion Katie Volynets as Main Draw Wild Card recipients. Australia’s Samantha Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, and France’s Diane Parry will also receive US Open main draw wild cards by virtue of the wild card exchange agreements between the USTA and those two Grand Slam nations. On the men’s side of the draw, Americans Bjorn Fratangelo, Marcos Giron, Chris Eubanks, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jack Sock join US Open Wild Card Challenge winner Ernesto Escobedo and 2019 USTA Boys’ 18s National Champion Zachary Svajda as 2019 US Open Men’s Singles Main Draw Wild Card recipients. Antoine Hoang was awarded a main draw wild card by the French Tennis Federation as part of its reciprocal agreement with the USTA, and Tennis Australia’s reciprocal agreement main draw wild card will go to Kokkinakis. Kristie Ahn, 27, of Upper Saddle River, N.J., won the US Open Wild Card Challenge to earn her first US Open Singles Main Draw appearance since 2008 when she qualified as a 16-year-old. The three-time All-American at Stanford University recently reached the quarterfinals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic as a qualifier.

Fla., made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2018 US Open. The former French Open Junior Champion won the ITF World Tennis Tour W80 event earlier this year in Charlottesville, Va., and is currently ranked a career-best 105th.

Coco Gauff, 15, of Delray Beach, Fla., became the youngest qualifier in the history of Wimbledon in July, reaching the fourth round in her Grand Slam debut. In her first professional event following Wimbledon, she partnered with fellow Wild Card recipient Caty McNally to win the Citi Open Doubles title.

Francesca Di Lorenzo, 22, of New Albany, Ohio, utilized a US Open qualifying wild card last year to reach the main draw, making her Grand Slam debut, where she reached the second round. The former NCAA Doubles Champion is currently ranked a careerbest 128th in the world. 30

Caty McNally, 17, of Cincinnati, qualified for the Wimbledon Main Draw in July and, in addition to winning the doubles title in Washington, D.C., reached the singles semifinals of the Citi Open, notching the first three WTA wins of her career. Whitney Osuigwe, 17, of Bradenton,

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

France’s Diane Parry, 16, will make her US Open Main Draw debut after winning the French Federation’s Wild Card Playoff. The USTA and French Federation exchanged main draw wild cards into the French and US Opens this year for one man and woman from the opposite country. American Lauren Davis earned the reciprocal wild card into Roland Garros this year, where she reached the second round. Samantha Stosur, 35, the 2011 US Open champion, will make her 15th US Open Main Draw appearance after being awarded Tennis Australia’s reciprocal wild card. Katie Volynets, 17, of Walnut Creek, Calif., won the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championship and will make her debut in the US Open Main Draw.

2019 US OPEN PREVIEW Marcos Giron, 26, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., was the 2014 NCAA Singles Champion at UCLA. He spent nearly a year away from competition following two hip surgeries in 2015 and 2016 and has had a career resurgence this year, including a run through qualifying to the third round at Indian Wells. Antoine Hoang, 23, of Aix-En-Provence, received the French Federation’s reciprocal wild card. He is ranked 101st and reached the third round at Roland Garros this year. Ernesto Escobedo, 23, of Los Angeles, earned his wild card by winning the US Open Wild Card Challenge. Ranked as high as 67th in the world as a 21-year-old, Escobedo won his first ATP Challenger Tour title in nearly three years this July.

Jack Sock, 26, of Kansas City, Mo., is a former world number eight, who missed six months with a thumb injury sustained at the Australian Open. Sock has played in every singles main draw of the US Open since 2010, reaching the fourth round in 2016, and is a former US Open Champion in Men’s Doubles (2018, with Mike Bryan), Mixed Doubles (2011, with Melanie Oudin) and Boys Singles (2010).

Chris Eubanks, 23, is a former AllAmerican at Georgia Tech University who achieved his breakthrough on the ATP Tour when he reached the quarterfinals in Atlanta two years ago. Bjorn Fratangelo, 26, of Pittsburgh, was the second-highest-ranked American in US Open Qualifying, at 121st. Fratangelo has played in the US Open Main Draw three times, from 2015-2017, reaching the second round in 2017.

Thanasi Kokkinakis, 23, received the reciprocal wild card from Tennis Australia. He has been ranked as high as 69th in the world, and reached the US Open Junior Singles Final in 2013.

Zachary Svajda, 16, earned his wild card by winning the USTA Boys 18s National Championship. A San Diego native, Svajda regularly trains at the USTA National Campus and has counted Roger Federer, John Isner and Taylor Fritz among his hitting partners.

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

e school year • Integrated academics and training program during the • 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/rsta

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

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 US OPEN PREVIEW

US Open to have richest purse in tennis history The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced that the 2019 US Open will feature the largest purse in the sport’s history, as it will surpass $57 million in prize money. In addition to the increased prize money, the USTA will also be making a $1 million payment to support the ATP and WTA Tour player programs. “The US Open prides itself on offering the best tennis players in the world, the richest total prize money in our sport,” said Patrick Galbraith, USTA chairman of the board and president. “We strive to be innovative, and feel that our new contribution of $500,000 to the ATP’s player programs, including its pension and the WTA Tour’s transition programs for players, will go a long way toward the long-term financial well-being of all of our sport’s athletes.”

l Round of 32: $163,000 l Round of 64: $100,000 l Round of 128: $58,000

The uptick in prize money represents an eight percent increase over the compensation handed out in 2018, with main draw prize money for the first round increasing by 47 percent over the last four years. The men’s and women’s singles champion will each earn $3.85 million, while the men’s and women’s doubles championship teams will earn $740,000, both of which are the highest in U.S. Open history. Here is a breakdown of the round-byround payouts:

Doubles (each team) l Winner: $740,000 l Runner-Up: $370,000 l Semifinalist: $175,000 l Quarterfinalist: $91,000 l Round of 16: $50,000 l Round of 32: $30,000 l Round of 64: $17,000

Singles l Winner: $3,850,000 l Runner-Up: $1,900,000 l Semifinalist: $960,000 l Quarterfinalist: $500,000 l Round of 16: $280,000

The US Open gets underway with the Qualifying Tournament which begins on Monday, Aug. 19, with the main draw beginning on Monday, Aug. 26 and running through Sunday, Sept. 8 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Where to eat/drink at the US Open (courtesy of USOpen.org)

l Aces: Located on the Club Level in Arthur Ashe Stadium between Gates 3 and 4, Aces is available to Courtside Box seat holders and Luxury Suite guests. Loge and Promenade Subscription Series ticket holders may purchase restaurant passes. l Champions Bar & Grill: Also located on the Club Level in Arthur Ashe 32

Stadium between Gates 3 and 4, Champions Bar & Grill is a first-class chop shop featuring premium steaks, hearty salads and fresh seafood prepared by Benjamin Steakhouse, which is consistently rated one of New York City’s best. Bring your friends for lunch, dinner or after the matches. You won’t miss a moment of the action with live matches on our many TVs. l US Open Club: The US Open Club is located on the ground floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Available to all Subscription Series ticket holders, the Club is available for a nominal entrance fee and is included in select Lodge seat subscriptions. With its striking contemporary décor, the US Open Club is famous for its Chef’s Table and seasonal selections of American

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

cuisine, and is open for lunch, dinner and after matches. l Heineken Red Star Patio Café: Soak up the beautiful surroundings of the US Open grounds at the charming outdoor Heineken Red Star Patio Café, located outside the US Open Club. Enjoy fresh selections of seasonal foods, paired with a Heineken or a summer specialty cocktail. The Heineken Red Star Patio Café is available for all ticket holders. l Mojito Restaurant & Bar: Located on the ground floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium near the Heineken Red Star Patio Cafe, Mojito features a menu inspired by Chef Marcus Samuelsson. Experience Mojito’s luscious flavors with Latin specialties, enhanced by multiple TVs showing the live matches. Mojitos is available for all ticket holders.

2019 US OPEN PREVIEW l Emirates Sports Café: The Emirates Sports Café is located on the west side of the South Plaza, adjacent to Court 7 and positioned above the US Open Collection Store. With a spacious, ideal setting to unwind and keep track of the matches, guests can enjoy the Café’s laid-back atmosphere and assortment of food and drink offerings. Emirates Sports Café is available for all ticket holders. l Cafe Spiaggia: Cafe Spiaggia is bringing its inviting and lively take on casual Italian fare to US Open guests. James Beard Award-Winning Chef Tony Mantuano and winner of Top Chef Season 15, Joe Flamm, have curated a bright, fresh menu packed with shared plates, handmade pastas, and impeccable wines that provide the perfect setting for guests to savor and socialize. Arthur Ashe Stadium Food

traditional techniques and original recipes to deliver the most authentic artisanal flatbreads. Enjoy a Heineken or Honey Deuce as well. l Dean & DeLuca: Located at Gate 10, Dean & Deluca brings you the world’s finest gourmet and artisan food. The acclaimed upscale American market and purveyor of fine food joins the concessions offerings serving nutrientrich performance bars and tasty, lighter options. l Oyster Bar: Located at Gate 4, the Oyster Bar offers a selection of oysters, lobster rolls, and crab cakes with beverages to match! l Wine Bar Food: Located at Gate 8, Wine Bar Food serves up its signature favorite flat bread, flaming ouzo shrimp, and other dishes by acclaimed Chef Tony Mantuano. l Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream: Located at Gate 35, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream serves hand-dipped ice cream with an array of toppings, milkshakes and smoothies. l Franks & Sausages: Located at Gates 22, 23 & 27, Franks & Sausages serve New York Italian sausage, Coney Island foot-long frankfurters, all-beef frankfurters, kettle chips, baked pretzel braids, crackerjacks and ice cream.

l Fuku: Located at Gate 32, Fuku is a casual chicken concept by Momofuku. Originally started as a fried chicken sandwich joint, Fuku has since grown to serve a variety of chicken and seasonal offerings. l Grand Slam Grill: Located at Gates 26 & 34, Grand Slam Grill serves up the classics … all-beef frankfurters, New York Style Italian sausage, grilled hamburgers and cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, seasoned french fries, baked pretzel braids and crackerjacks. l Grey Goose Bars: Located at Gate 26, the Grey Goose Bars will again feature the Honey Deuce, the US Open’s signature cocktail. l Italian Experience: Craving Italian? Visit the Italian Experience, located at Gates 25 & 36, for traditional cheese pizza, pepperoni and grilled panini sandwiches. l JoJu: Serving classic Vietnamese sandwiches. l Lemonade & Popcorn: As simple as it sounds … fresh-squeezed lemonade and fresh-popped popcorn, located at Gates 28 & 32. l The Open Bar: Located at Gates 27, 33, & 38, the Open Bar serves US Open Signature Cocktails, Wine by the

l Pat LaFrieda Meat Company: New York’s “King of Meat” Pat LaFrieda serves his signature filet mignon steak sandwich and other favorites. l Hill Country Kitchen: Located at Gate 9 and straight from Texas, Hill Country brings authentic barbeque to Flushing Meadows. Comfort food items are served up at this casual, down-home eatery. l Angry Taco: Chef David Burke serves up a flavorful Mexican street food menu. Menu items include carne asada beef tacos, pescado tacos, nachos; chips and guacamole. l Bar Tartine: Located at Gate 6, Bar Tartine uses the finest ingredients, NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 US OPEN PREVIEW Glass, Heineken, wraps, sandwiches, kettle chips, crackerjacks and baked pretzel braids. l Stellar Cellars Wine Bar: Serving delicious wines by the glass. l Prime Burger: Located at Gate 29, Prime Burger serves grilled hamburger and cheeseburger, grilled chicken breast sandwich, World’s Greatest hot dogs and seasoned french fries.

hand-dipped ice cream with an array of toppings, milkshakes and smoothies. US Open Food Village

Backyard x17

l Franks & Fries: Satisfy your craving for comfort food, Franks & Fries features hot dogs, Italian sausage, chicken tenders and fries. l FIELDTRIP: Offering a selection of rice bowls, grain buns and salads. l Creperie: Enjoy traditional French crepes by Chef Paul. Choices include Le Boeuf (steak), Le Poule Dijon (chicken) and Le Classic (ham). l Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream: Serving

l Curry Kitchen: Offering traditional cuisine, including chicken tikka wraps, kati rolls, and lamb handi. l Angry Taco: Chef David Burke serves up a flavorful Mexican street food menu. Menu items include carne asada beef tacos, pescado tacos, nachos; chips and guacamole. l Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream: Serving hand-dipped ice cream with an array of toppings, milkshakes and smoothies. l Farm2Fork: If you’re looking for a healthy option, Farm 2 Fork has you covered. Give the grain bowl a try— barley topped with chicken, roasted sweet potato, roasted beets and arugula. l Fish Shack: Featuring lobster rolls, shrimp cocktail, poached salmon

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

salad, and shrimp and lobster salad created by Chef David Burke. l Franks & Fries: Satisfy your craving for comfort food, Franks & Fries features hot dogs, Italian sausage, chicken tenders and fries. l Fuku: Fuku is a casual chicken concept by Momofuku. Originally started as a fried chicken sandwich joint, Fuku has since grown to serve a variety of chicken and seasonal offerings. l Grey Goose Bar: More than 275,000 melon balls will be used to garnish the US Open signature cocktail—the Honey Deuce. Get one and take the glass home as a souvenir. l Glatt Kosher: Enjoy sausage and peppers, pastrami, tuna wraps and knish. l Hill Country Kitchen: Straight from Texas, Hill Country brings authentic barbeque to Flushing Meadows. Comfort food items are served up at this casual, down-home eatery. l Korilla BBQ: Korilla features rice bowls served with caramelized kimchi, beansprouts, fire roasted corn, garlic spinach and choice of bulgogi (marinated ribeye), braised ginger sesame chicken, slow roasted pork shoulder in gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes), and organic tofu, with choice of Korilla’s signature sauces. l Lavazza Café: Lavazza brings the flavor of authentic Italian coffee to the US Open. Located in the Food Village and behind Court 6, the Lavazza Cafe serves hot and iced coffee, single or double espresso, café latte and more. l Melt Shop: NYC’s comfort-food haven introduces several of its classic melted sandwiches and sides in Food Village. l Neapolitan Express: Neapolitan’s pizzas feature locally sourced vegetables, as well as all-organic ingredients. Choices include margherita, meat lovers, and for dessert, the nutella pizza. l Poke Yachty: Guests’ choice of classic tuna, spicy tuna, salmon, crab and shrimp and tofu poke bowls.

2019 US OPEN PREVIEW l Prime Burger: Serving grilled hamburgers and cheeseburgers, grilled chicken breast sandwiches, World’s Greatest hot dogs and seasoned French fries. l Stellar Cellars: Serving delicious wines by the glass and other fine beverages at the full service bar. Grandstand Food Village

this casual, down-home eatery. l Neapolitan Express: Neapolitan’s pizzas feature locally sourced vegetables, as well as all-organic ingredients. Choices include margherita, meat lovers, and for dessert, the nutella pizza. l Prime Burger: Serving grilled hamburgers and cheeseburgers, grilled chicken breast sandwiches, World’s Greatest hot dogs and seasoned French fries. Louis Armstrong Stadium Main Concourse

l Oyster Bar 7: The Oyster Bar 7 is located adjacent to Grandstand and features a menu curated by Lure Fish Bar serving fresh oysters, lobster rolls and crab cakes in a unique setting. l Angry Taco: Chef David Burke serves up a flavorful Mexican street food menu. Menu items include carne asada beef tacos, pescado tacos, nachos; chips and guacamole. l Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream: Serving hand-dipped ice cream with an array of toppings, milkshakes and smoothies. l Fish Shack: Featuring lobster rolls, shrimp cocktail, poached salmon salad, and shrimp and lobster salad created by Chef David Burke. l Grey Goose Bar: More than 275,000 melon balls will be used to garnish the US Open signature cocktail—the Honey Deuce. Get one and take the glass home as a souvenir. l Franks & Fries: Satisfy your craving for comfort food, Franks & Fries features hot dogs, Italian sausage, chicken tenders and fries. l Hill Country Kitchen: Straight from Texas, Hill Country brings authentic barbeque to Flushing Meadows. Comfort food items are served up at

l Angry Taco: Chef David Burke serves up a flavorful Mexican street food menu. Menu items include carne asada beef tacos, pescado tacos, nachos; chips and guacamole. Angry Taco can also be found in Louis Armstrong Stadium in the Upper Concourse.

l Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream: Serving hand-dipped ice cream with an array of toppings, milkshakes and smoothies. l Curry Kitchen: Offering traditional cuisine, including chicken tikka wraps, kati rolls, and lamb handi. l Fuku: Fuku is a casual chicken concept by Momofuku. Originally started as a fried chicken sandwich joint, Fuku has since grown to serve a variety of chicken and seasonal offerings. l Grand Slam Grill: Grand Slam Grill serves up the classics … all-beef frankfurters, New York Style Italian sausage, grilled hamburgers and cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, seasoned french fries, baked pretzel braids and crackerjacks. The Grand Slam Grill can also be found in Louis Armstrong Stadium in the Upper Concourse. l Grey Goose Bar: More than 275,000 melon balls will be used to garnish the US Open signature cocktail—the Honey Deuce. Get one and take the glass home as a souvenir. l Heineken Bar: Enjoy delicious Heineken draught beers, including Heineken, Heinken Light, and H41.

Give yourself the added advantage. Dr. Robert Silverman 311 North St. Ste. G1 White Plains, NY 10605 Ph: 914.287.6464 www.DrRobertSilverman.com Specializing in: · Tennis elbow · Concussion · Rotator cuff injuries · Performance · Ankle sprains · Muscle strains · Tendonitis/tendonosis · Plantar fasciitis NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 US OPEN PREVIEW l Hill Country Kitchen: Straight from Texas, Hill Country brings authentic barbeque to Flushing Meadows. Comfort food items are served up at this casual, down-home eatery. l Pat LaFrieda Meat Company: New York’s “King of Meat” Pat LaFrieda serves his signature filet mignon steak sandwich and other favorites. Upper Concourse l Franks & Fries: Satisfy your craving for comfort food, Franks & Fries features hot dogs, Italian sausage, chicken tenders and fries. l Korilla BBQ: Korilla features rice bowls served with caramelized kimchi, beansprouts, fire roasted corn, garlic spinach and choice of bulgogi (marinated ribeye), braised ginger sesame chicken, slow roasted

pork shoulder in gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes), and organic tofu, with choice of Korilla’s signature sauces. l Melt Shop: NYC’s comfort-food haven introduces several of its classic melted sandwiches and sides in Food Village. l Neapolitan Express: Neapolitan’s pizzas feature locally sourced vegetables, as well as all-organic ingredients. Choices include margherita, meat lovers, and for dessert, the nutella pizza. Outside of Louis Armstrong l Melt Bakery: Craving some dessert? Melt has a pop-up dessert station situated outside Louis Armstrong Stadium. Featuring delicious desserts.

South Plaza

l Dean & DeLuca: Dean & Deluca brings you the world’s finest gourmet and artisan food. The acclaimed upscale American market and purveyor of fine food joins the concessions offerings serving nutrient-rich performance bars and tasty, lighter options. l Pat LaFrieda Meat Company: New York’s “King of Meat” Pat LaFrieda serves his signature filet mignon steak sandwich and other favorites.

Top reasons to love the US Open

l Entertainment from start to finish: From live music to interactive games and kids tennis sessions, there’s something for everyone at the 2019 US Open. It starts with Arthur Ashe Kids Day, which will take over the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King 36

National Tennis Center on Saturday, Aug. 24. Again this year, access to the grounds and all grounds activities are free. For the first time, courtesy of the USTA Foundation, general admission promenade seats in Ashe Stadium for the concert are free. That entertainment continues throughout the tournament with the Opening Night Ceremony, and with Net Generation clinics taking place on court before each Day Session of the Main Draw. l Tennis under the stars: There is something special about summer nights in New York City, and that only gets amplified during the US Open’s

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

fortnight. Late-night tennis featuring star-studded matchups have become synonymous with the US Open. From Onny Parun and Stan Smith at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills to Andre Agassi and James Blake nearly 15 years ago, the tennis stars always deliver big performances under the stars late into the early morning hours in the city that never sleeps. l Practice court access: A two-story practice gallery debuted at the 2014 US Open, which allowed fans unprecedented access to see their favorite players as they prepared for their matches. In addition to the viewing area of the practice courts, the gallery is also adjacent to Courts 4, 5 and 6 where matches are taking place, giving fans 360 degrees of tennis. l Qualifying week: One of the coolest aspects of the US Open’s first week is the access to the qualifying tournament. Few things are free in

2019 US OPEN PREVIEW this world, let alone professional sporting events, but the US Open allows fans to come in and see the players competing in the qualifying draw at no cost. 128 men and 128 women compete to qualify for the final 16 positions in the main draws of the US Open. The qualifying

tournament, which offers the fifthlargest purse for a tennis event in the U.S., takes place from MondayFriday, Aug. 19-23. l New York, New York: Tennis is an international sport with fans and players from all over the globe. But for a three-week period in the late

summer, tennis’ home is located right here in our backyard. New York City becomes the sport’s host site and welcomes the best players and millions of fans to come celebrate the sport, and the city’s energy always brings out the best in the players.

2019 US Open Schedule (schedule subject to change) Session 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 23 23 24 24

Day

Date

Session Time

Matches Scheduled

Monday Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Friday Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday Monday Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Friday Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday

08/26 08/26 08/27 08/27 08/28 08/28 08/29 08/29 08/30 08/30 08/31 08/31 09/01 09/01 09/02 09/02 09/03 09/03 09/04 09/04 09/05 09/06 09/06 09/07 09/07 09/08 09/08

11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 1 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 1 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 1 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 1 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 2 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 2 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 2 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 2 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 3 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 3 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 3 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 3 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round of 16 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round of 16 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round of 16 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round of 16 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals 7:00 p.m. Women’s Singles Semifinals 12:00 p.m. Men’s Doubles Final 4:00 p.m. Men’s Singles Semifinals 12:00 p.m. Mixed Doubles Final 4:00 p.m. Women’s Singles Final LITennisMag.com • July/August 2019 • LongFinal Island Tennis Magazine 37 1:00 p.m. Women’s Doubles 4:00 p.m. Men’s Singles Final NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

charitable initiatives Gotham Tennis Academy Gives Back to the Community

The Gotham Tennis Academy at Stadium Tennis Center is at the core of sports and athletics in the Bronx, and this summer, the program and facility has continued its efforts to bring tennis to the community in which it resides. “An important part of our mission at Gotham Tennis Academy and Stadium Tennis Center is to introduce tennis to children from the Bronx,” said Joel Kassan, a principal at Gotham Stadium Tennis Center and a board member of the Bronx Children’s Museum. “This summer alone, we have offered tennis to more than 100 children from our local community through our free programs.” Throughout the summer, different organizations from the Bronx community have been invited to come to Stadium Tennis Center and take part in free programming provided by Gotham and its teaching instructors. These organizations include 38

Bronxworks, City Parks Foundation and several different local Bronx Schools. For many of these kids, it is the first time that they are playing tennis or even holding a racket in their hands, and they are receiving basic instruction from some of the top teachers in the city. “One of our goals is to break down the economic and social barriers to playing tennis,” said Kassan. “Just recently, I saw

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

an eight-year-old pick up a tennis racket for the first time. He showed incredible promise. Gotham’s tennis professionals and the Bronxworks staff were impressed with this child’s talent. Since we offer scholarships to promising players, we are looking forward to having this child and others return and continue to learn the game. Who’s to say that a future US Open champion may not be right here in our backyard?” Kassan and his team have made a strong and concerted effort to reach out and help out the community, and give back to its neighbors. That has been evident in the free programming it has provided this summer, and it will continue to expand on this initiative moving forward. “We would like to thank NYC Parks and our community partners for their support of our efforts to make tennis more accessible to children from the Bronx,” said Kassan.

Couple Donates Rackets While on Safari As Jeff Monteheit and Jaime Altabet were planning their safari trip to Africa, they read through the packing guidelines for the safari they would be going on. The guidelines read: “We are proud members of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travellers, like you, to make a lasting impact in the community at their travel destination. If you can save just a few kilos of space in your luggage and bring needed supplies for local schools and villages, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives of local children and families.” Monteheit and Altabet, who are members at West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y., knew they wanted to help. One of the items listed was equipment for sports and games, and so the couple immediately knew they wanted to help, and sort of items they wanted to contribute. “We had old frames sitting around the

house that were taking up space,” said Monteheit. “We had the room in our luggage so we figured they would have a better use with them than sitting in our closet.” Altabet said, “The staff at the camp where we stayed were the ones who accepted the rackets on behalf of the school,

and they were so appreciative. They said that they really don’t have much and thanked us for bringing them across the world and throughout our three-week journey in Africa as the camp was our last stop on the trip. They said they can use anything we had, so I ended up leaving sneakers and a raincoat with them as well.”

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 Guide To The

Top Clubs/Programs For New York Tennis Players 40

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning 1720 Crotona Avenue Bronx, N.Y. (718) 247-7420 CaryLeedsTennis.org CaryLeedsInfo@NYJTL.org

The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning houses a two-story, 12,000-square foot clubhouse, educational spaces, and access to 20 courts (10 bubbled for winter/indoor use) and two stadium courts that seat up to 800 spectators. Seven-time Grand Slam Champion Liezel Huber leads a world-class team of tennis professionals offering programs and private lessons for juniors and adults of all skill levels. The Center also hosts summer camps, tournaments and community-based events. The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning is the flagship home of New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL), the largest youth tennis and education non-profit in the nation. In serving its larger mission, the Cary Leeds Center provides 6,000 hours of free tennis court time to the community.

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ September/October 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

Centercourt Performance Tennis Academy 65 Columbia Road Morristown, N.J. (973) 539-2054 CentercourtAcademy.com SportsAcademy@CentercourtClub.com

Centercourt Performance Tennis Academy can be summarized by one phrase: “Culture of excellence.” From its training to academics to tournament travel; the coaches, academic advisors, tutors and support staff are what make Centercourt a great training base, as well as a place to call home. Centercourt’s facilities are comprised of six New Jersey locations, with more on the way. Centercourt’s Performance Tennis home base is located in Morristown, N.J., conveniently located 45 minutes from New York City with transportation and boarding options available. While Centercourt encourages a tennis culture of excellence, Centercourt also places a strong emphasis and focus on academics and work ethic. Since its full-time academic inception two years ago, Centercourt’s scholarathletes have committed to play collegiate tennis at strong academic institutions such as Columbia University, Wake Forest University, New York University and more. Centercourt offers schooling through both Laurel Springs and The Dwight School, a prestigious preparatory school located in the heart of Manhattan. There is a strong sense of team and family at Centercourt that is pivotal in complimenting strong tennis training. Centercourt’s full-time athletes reside in a beautiful home setting on a 60-acre estate providing the luxury of a family environment. On the weekends when players are not competing, Centercourt makes sure they take advantage of its prime location by providing excursions to New York City shows or a night of bowling. Centercourt is truly a performance athletes’ home away from home. Visit CentercourtAcademy.com for more information on after school, weekend and full-time training.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

CourtSense Tennis Training Centers at Tenafly and Bogota Racquet Club 195 County Road Tenafly, N.J. (201) 569-1114/(201) 489-1122 CourtSense.com

CourtSense offers the best tennis facilities in Northern New Jersey and provides a comprehensive program of tennis instruction delivered by professional coaches, using the finest techniques and technologies. 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. Children under 10 years of age benefit immensely from a proper training foundation—eliminating poor techniques that could mar their game later in life. If you’d like yours to take up the challenge, CourtSense is the best place—we’ll make them as great as they can and want to be. CourtSense Tennis Training Centers have a whole range of activities to support junior and adult tennis lovers. From teddy tennis and afterschool clinics to high-performance full-day program, cardio tennis, internal and USTA leagues, and private and group sessions, we have something to suit everyone. CourtSense students have access to 15 indoor tennis courts (10 PlaySight smart-courts), world-class strength and conditioning centers and luxury players’ lounges. CourtSense’s club in Bogota, N.J. primarily specializes on the high-performance and tournament players. We have worked with players who have become ATP- and WTA-ranked players, U.S. Olympians, as well as many college scholarship athletes. CourtSense’s high-performance coaches, in collaboration with its fitness staff and a sports psychologist, have developed a program that maximizes athletes’ strengths, both on and off the court. CourtSense uses tennis as a vehicle to teach life lessons by tapping into the spirit of every player, with passion, expertise and character. CourtSense wants its juniors to be the best tennis players they can possibly be, but at the same time, be prepared to be successful in anything they want to be once their tennis careers are over. Another unique aspect to CourtSense’s facilities is the fitness programming provided in partnership with Magnus: Expand Human Potential. Magnus’ team has the ability to assess, correct, enhance and reassess an athlete–giving you everything you need to compete like a winner. CourtSense members have access to cutting-edge strength and conditioning technology, private sessions, nutritional counseling and psychological skills training. For more information on CourtSense programs, call (201) 569-1114 and (201) 489-1122 or e-mail Info@CourtSense.com. Registration is now open for the fall clinics at CourtSense.com. NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

Gilad Bloom Tennis (914) 907-0041 Bloom.Gilad@gmail.com GiladBloom.com

Gilad Bloom Tennis has been operating in New York City since 2000 and is a boutique junior program geared for juniors ages six through 18, who want to take their game to the next level. It is a year-round program which offers group sessions, private lessons and tournament travel, seven days a week. The program is personally run by Gilad Bloom, there’s a strong emphasis on technique and footwork, and a lot of personal attention, as well as attention to detail, with a maximum of four kids per court. During the Fall/Winter Season, Gilad Bloom Tennis runs sessions at Riverdale Tennis Center (May-October), on Oct. 20, it moves indoors to New York Tennis Club until May 1, and then it moves back outdoors to Riverdale TC. Gilad Bloom Quick Start Tennis Program for ages 4-8 Bloom is a former Israeli Davis Cup player and two-time Olympian, who has been running his own tennis program since 2000. Gilad served as director of tennis at John McEnroe Tennis Academy for two years. He played on the ATP Tour from 1983-1995, reaching the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 1990. Gilad reached a career-high singles ranking of 61st in the world and was Israel’s singles champion on three occasions. For more information, visit GiladBloom.com or e-mail Gilad Bloom directly at Bloom.Gilad@gmail.com.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

Gotham/Stadium NYC 725 Exterior Street at East 152nd Street and the Harlem River Bronx, N.Y. (718) 665-4684 StadiumTennisNYC.com

Gotham Stadium NYC is located two blocks south of Yankee Stadium at East 152nd Street and the Harlem River. This popular facility is quickly shaking its label as “the best-kept secret in New York City tennis,” featuring 16 cushioned, newly-surfaced US Open-style Deco-Turf hard courts, including 12 indoor courts, which are now open for year-round indoor play. Stadium’s first indoor season came at the end of 2010, and today, the staff, players and families are thrilled with the success and tremendous growth of their favorite facility. The “Bubble” continues to reign as one of the largest tennis bubbles or tennis domes of this type in the world, covering an area of more than four million cubic feet and a footprint of more than 75,000-square feet. The “Bubble” features a brand new state-of-the-art lighting system to complement its high indoor ceilings and spacious backcourts. These offerings please the playing public and the many tournament level, interscholastic and collegiate players who compete at and call Stadium Tennis Center their “home court.” Stadium Tennis Center also offers complimentary on-site parking to the north of the facility. The newly-remodeled Café and Clubhouse will welcome you to host special events, birthday parties, and tennis gatherings for all of your family and friends, and the updated Pro Shop offers all your tennis necessities. The Clubhouse also features clean, secure locker rooms and lounge areas, Wi-Fi computer access, a workspace where children can do schoolwork and read, as well as an always-growing tennis library. This highly-touted facility offers a full complement of tennis programs for juniors and adults of all skill levels and ages. In partnership with Gotham Tennis Academy, a leader in developing and operating tennis programs in New York City and the Hamptons, Stadium Tennis Center employs high level, experienced tennis professionals from all over the world who have established a strong sense of ownership in the success of the total Stadium Team. Stadium’s Elite High Performance and Junior Development Programs continue to expand exponentially, and the 10 & Under Program has been reinforced to follow the true Gotham Pathway to tennis. For adult players, fast-paced group clinics and cardio tennis workouts are offered daily, in addition to indoor seasonal court rentals, private lessons, game-arranging, leagues and tournament play. More information about Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Park, visit StadiumTennisNYC.com or call (718) 665-4684. More information about Gotham Tennis Academy, visit GothamTennis.com or call (646) 524-7069.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club 450 West 43rd Street New York, N.Y. (212) 594-0554 AdvantageTennisClubs.com Milos@AdvantageTennisClubs.com

Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club (MPRC), an Advantage Tennis Club, is located at 450 West 43rd Street (between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue) in New York City (open Monday-Sunday from 6:00 a.m. until midnight). MPRC offers luxury tennis in the heart of Manhattan, with five indoor championship hard courts, air conditioning in the summer, a luxurious duplex clubhouse with terrace, a new tennis bubble, private lessons and group lessons for all ages and levels, game-arranging, quality tennis programs for members and non-members, leagues, tennis camps, parties, doubles play, tournaments, a pro shop with stringing services, and nice locker rooms. MPRC membership includes a full membership to Manhattan Plaza Health Club. MPRC members can fully access the Health Club’s many fitness classes, climbing walls, gym, glass enclosed swimming pool, sundeck, sauna and more. There is indoor parking also available on the premises. MPRC’s most popular program for members is game arranging that follows the NTRP Rating System. MPRC has some of the best tennis-teaching professionals in New York City who offer private lessons and group lessons. MPRC offers several categories of membership, including the Advantage Passport Tennis/Sports MultiClub Membership to Roosevelt Island Racquet Club & Sports Park and the New York Tennis Club. For membership information, contact MPRC Assistant Manager and Membership Director Lauren Hartman at (212) 594-0554. MPRC also offers season/open tennis time, and for more information on these opportunities, contact MPRC Manager Milos Vojvodic at (212) 594-0554. For more information on tennis lessons and Adult Tennis Programs, contact MPRC Assistant Tennis Director Bruce Barney at (212) 594-0554. MPRC also offers QuickStart classes for ages three and older as well as Junior Development Programs for boys and girls ages six to 17. For more information, contact MPRC’s Junior Program Administrator Gabriel Slotnick at (212) 594-0554.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

MatchPoint NYC 2781 Shell Road Brooklyn, N.Y. (718) 769-0001 MatchPoint.NYC

2350 East 69th Street Brooklyn, N.Y. (718) 444-3600 MatchPointComplex@gmail.com

9000 Bay Parkway Brooklyn, N.Y. (718) 372-9000 MatchPoint.NYC

MatchPoint NYC clubs are your sports and fitness destination for the entire family and with three locations throughout New York City, you are never too far from your next tennis adventure. MatchPoint NYC is the sports and fitness destination for the entire family, with three locations in Brooklyn, N.Y., only 30 minutes away from downtown Manhattan. Spread across 120,000-square-feet, MatchPoint’s premier health and fitness complex features a cutting-edge tennis facility that includes nine indoor tennis courts. MatchPoint’s Tennis Coaching Team is led by Numrud Nino Muhatasov, co-founder and director of MatchPoint NYC (a former coach of top WTA and ATP players, former captain and number one singles and doubles player for the St. John’s University Tennis Team, Big East Conference Finalist and two-time Most Valuable Player), together with Director of Tennis Sergey Igel (U.S. Open Official Hitting Partner, 2011 MAAC MVP of the Year, USPTR Certified Coach). MatchPoint NYC’s world-class junior tournament training programs (by invitation only) are comprised of highly-ranked players on national and international levels. The club offers personalized coaching for each player, plus private lessons, intensive drills, match play, tennis-specific fitness conditioning and mental conditioning. MatchPoint has a wide range of programs for all levels, including adult leagues, QuickStart, Junior Development (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) and private lessons taught by accredited USPTA-certified coaches. MatchPoint NYC’s WiFi-enabled Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Relax and unwind after a game, grab a bite to eat or relax while you watch your child on the court. Enjoy a healthy snack or get refreshed with a smoothie at the juice bar. Stop by the Pro Shop if you forgot something or if you need your racket restrung. Additional club features include a luxury full-sized gym, three group fitness studios, a Junior Olympic pool, a basketball court and a variety of youth and adult training programs. MatchPoint NYC-certified instructors and personal trainers are friendly, approachable and ready to assist in your individual fitness objectives. The group swimming and exercise classes in MatchPoint’s specialized studios or outdoor field, health metrics assessments, and one-on-one training will get you the desired results in your quest for a healthier lifestyle. Complete your day of health and fitness by winding down and relaxing in the steam sauna. NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue New York, N.Y. (212) 989-8572 MidtownTennis.com

Midtown Tennis Club is Manhattan’s original indoor tennis facility, conveniently located in the heart of New York City. Situated on 8th Avenue, between 26th and 27th Streets, Midtown Tennis Club is easily accessible by public transportation. In a city filled with commitments and membership dues, it’s a breeze to reserve at Midtown for an hour or more of court time, a private lesson or one of Midtown’s clinics. Midtown has four indoor HarTru courts for year-round use and four outdoor HarTru courts which are bubbled and heated during the winter months. Midtown’s outdoor season enables City-dwellers to play on our open-air courts with spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. Midtown offers an extensive team of tennis professionals who are available to provide lessons to all ages and levels. If you are looking to develop your existing skills, learn new techniques, get a great cardio workout or prepare for your next tournament, Midtown can accommodate your needs! Midtown’s clinics are offered for total beginners and all levels up to competition players. Sign up for one month, one day or all-year! The Friday Night Round-Robin is a popular event in the winter season which attracts intermediate to advanced players looking for friendly doubles matches. It is a great way to meet new tennis friends. Midtown is home of The Manhattan Tennis Academy (TMTA), New York City’s premier Junior Development Program. TMTA offers after-school classes for juniors of all ages (four years of age and up) and levels. TMTA features the QuickStart program, as well as a competitive training program, and offers small classes throughout the school year and full day camp during the summer months.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

New York Tennis Club 3081 Harding Avenue Throgs Neck (Bronx), N.Y. (718) 239-7919 AdvantageTennisClubs.com MarkKeye@AdvantageTennisClubs.com NYTCTreasurer@gmail.com

Founded in 1886, New York Tennis Club is the oldest active tennis club in New York. Throughout the years, the Club has maintained a reputation for its restful atmosphere, congeniality of its members and its professional approach to a truly popular sport. With a patio and viewing deck and six HarTru courts, the Club is a haven in a quiet corner of the City. Convenient to Manhattan, Queens and lower Westchester, it’s also the best value in the Tri-State area. Sit back and relax in the recently renovated clubhouse and lounge, grab a bite to eat at the snack bar or unwind in the remodeled locker rooms. There is also on-site racquet stringing in the pro shop and ample free parking located on the premises. New York Tennis Club is a club for all seasons. For the upcoming indoor season, mid-October to the end of April, New York Tennis Club offers high-quality courts at competitive rates. The two climate-controlled bubbles are equipped with shadow-less, non-glare lighting, with hourly court time at rates between $42-$95 per court, as well as seasonal court options. Hours of operation are 7:00 a.m.-Midnight, seven days a week, and no membership is required. The rest of the year is outdoor season, when the Club offers unlimited play—as much tennis as members wish. Tennis lovers can soak up the sun on lush lawns surrounded by flower gardens, sit in the shade of willow trees or have lunch on a covered patio or in the clubhouse, which offers dining facilities, locker rooms and showers. For additional information, visit NewYorkTennisClub.com. The Club offers adult programs for skill sets of all levels. Program offerings include singles and doubles leagues, a comprehensive game arranging program for both singles and doubles players, private and group instruction for all levels, cardio tennis classes, and tennis parties, where guests are welcome. Whether you are new to tennis, or want to take your game to the next level, New York Tennis Club has a program for you. Advantage Tennis Clubs hosts over 30 USTA sanction tournaments at NYTC throughout the year. Players enrolled in Advantage QuickStart and the Jr Development Program receive a 20 percent discount on entry fees. For more information please contact Bill Wiese at BWiese@AdvantageTennisClubs.com or call (718) 239-7919. One more special feature: The Advantage Passport Membership, which offers members a whole new level of benefits and access. Passport memberships include free summer court time on reserved courts at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC) and New York Tennis Club, plus membership privileges at Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, Manhattan Plaza Health Club and New York Tennis Club. For more information, call (718) 239-7919. See you on the courts! NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, N.Y. (212) 935-0250 RIRCTennis.com SOKeefe@AdvantageTennisClubs.com

Now in its 27th year of operation, Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC) is part of Advantage Tennis Clubs. Roosevelt Island Racquet Club is conveniently located on beautiful Roosevelt Island, New York City’s oasis on the East River. The Club features 12 HarTru courts under new bubbles with shadowless, non-glare lighting, heated and air conditioned for comfortable year-round play. The exercise room includes a treadmill, exercise bikes, elliptical trainers and free weights to accommodate almost any workout. The Club boasts a completely stocked pro shop, locker room facilities, two social lounges, Riverview Lounge with a breathtaking view of Manhattan’s skyline, and free parking. RIRC is easily accessible by tram, ferry, subway or car (free on-site parking). The Roosevelt Island Tram (from 60th Street and 2nd Avenue) stops adjacent to the Club, and the subway (F Train) stops one block from the club. RIRC offers a range of adult programs for players of all levels. Program offerings range from the Advanced Singles League for the experienced competitive player, to Beginner Group Lessons for people new to the sport of tennis. Cardio tennis is one of the Club’s most popular programs and is offered daily for those looking to combine a cardio workout with tennis. Whatever your goal, there is a program for you! The Advantage Junior Tennis Program offers year-round classes, camps and programs for all ages and levels. There are QuickStart classes for ages three and older, summer and holiday camp programs, after-school programs, tournament training for advanced competitive players, and match play. During the school year, classes are offered both after-school and on Saturdays. The Advantage Junior Tennis Camp offers one-week sessions from midJune through the end of August. RIRC offers a Gold Membership that includes full Club privileges, 14-day advance reservation privileges, member court fees with an average savings of $35 per court hour, game arranging and member discount on all programs. The Club is excited to offer Advantage Passport Membership, which offers members a whole new level of benefits and access. Passport Memberships include free summer court time on reserved courts at RIRC and New York Tennis Club, plus membership privileges at Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, Manhattan Plaza Health Club and New York Tennis Club. For more information, contact Steve O’Keefe at (212) 935-0250.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

Ross School Tennis Academy 20 Goodfriend Drive East Hampton, N.Y. Ross.org/Tennis TennisAcademy@Ross.org (631) 907-5162

Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) is the premiere training center in the Hamptons, boasting a beautiful tennis facility that is open to the public and located on the Ross Upper School Campus in East Hampton, N.Y. The Tennis Center features six HarTru courts that are enclosed by a bubble from mid-fall through mid-spring, allowing for year-round play. The Tennis Center features state-of-the-art amenities such as spacious locker rooms, lower level lounge, convenient snack bar, and ping-pong tables, and the staff provides a fun and supportive atmosphere that allows for the greatest amount of success. After-school programming, a dynamic program for junior players, and specialized summer programs are offered to make Ross Tennis Academy the place to play tennis in the Hamptons. After-school Programs (Pre-K–Grade 12) l Nursery-Grade 4: Specialized one-hour training program where players build a strong foundation through a variety of game-based and cooperative activities using 10U age appropriate (Red, Orange or Green) balls and nets that will prepare them for eventual full court play. l Grade 5-Grade 12: Players build off their 10U foundation to further develop fundamental skills and techniques as they transition into yellow balls and prepare for full-court tournament competition. Ball control, strategy, and work ethic are all emphasized in this 90-minute session of drills and point play. Players in kindergarten and higher are required to play twice per week in this program. Integrated Training + Academic Program l Designed for USTA/ITF players in grades seventh through 12 and postgraduates, RSTA is the first in the New York City area to have a full academic program with a complete physical and mental conditioning program. In addition, unlike other tennis academies, RSTA is a small, intimate program that allows student-athletes to develop lasting relationships with coaches, while receiving personalized instruction. Students who attend the Academy experience high-performance tennis training, while studying alongside their peers in a stimulating college preparatory learning community following a regular academic year (Ross.org/Tennis). l Lessons and Court Rentals: Ross Tennis Academy also offers adult clinics, court rentals and private and group instruction for all ages and levels. The Tennis Center is also used for a variety of special events and is available for private parties. NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

Sportime Randall’s Island

Home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy and the 501(c)(3) Johnny Mac Tennis Project One Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. (212) 427-6150 SportimeNY.com/Manhattan JohnMcEnroeTennisAcademy.com JMTPNY.org • JKarl@SportimeNY.com Sportime Randall’s Island, a state-of-the-art, 20-court tennis and training facility located on Randall’s Island in Manhattan, is home to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) and the 501(c)(3) Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP). Sportime Randall’s Island features 160,000-square feet of tennis courts and amenities, including five indoor and five indoor/outdoor Deco-Turf tennis courts, and 10 indoor/outdoor HarTru clay tennis courts. This extraordinary club also features a functional training and fitness center; a sports vision training lab operated by Dr. Anne Hanna, MD, founder of Gold Coast Optometric Vision Performance; comfortable lounge areas with excellent viewing; a pro shop featuring top brands and 24-hour stringing; locker rooms with steam; a café serving healthy food, snacks and beverages; and classrooms, party rooms and meeting facilities. In 2010, Sportime and tennis legend John McEnroe together launched JMTA at Sportime Randall’s Island. The Academy is led by Managing Director, Bennett Schlansky; General Manager, Michael Ward; Directors Patrick McEnroeand Lawrence Kleger, who has trained and coached more nationally-ranked and world-ranked juniors than anyone in the history of the USTA Eastern Section; Director of Sports Performance, Richard-John Mensing Jr.; and other world-class directors. The athletic development coaching staff is comprised of more than 40 experienced professionals from around the world, all selected by Johnny Mac and the Sportime/JMTA leadership team, who, implement the innovative and unique vision of JMTA. Sportime/JMTA is proud to have developed hundreds of players who have received full or partial scholarships, or favored admissions, to top colleges and universities including, to name just a few, Wake Forest University, University of North Carolina, Harvard, Stanford and Princeton. Current pro players who train or have trained at JMTA include Christina McHale, Noah Rubin and Jamie Loeb. Sportime offers a wide variety of programming for players of all ages and levels, including a “Tennis Whizz” program for preschoolers, JMTA’s trademarked Mac Red and Mac Orange Ball programs for younger, developing players, and the best group programming and facilities in New York City for adult players. Also based at Sportime Randall’s Island is the Johnny Mac Tennis Project, which provides scholarships to JMTA players and introduces the sport of tennis as a life-long health, fitness and social activity to thousands of under-resourced New York City area kids. JMTP’s mission is to change young lives by removing the economic and social barriers to success through tennis. 52

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows Corona Park Flushing, N.Y. NTC.USTA.com (718) 760-6200

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open Tennis Championships, is the largest public tennis facility in the world. It is, most certainly, a “Tennis Welcome Center.” The Tennis Center is open to the public year-round for court rentals and offers exciting programming, as well as numerous events throughout the year. Programs are offered for all ages and levels, as well as clinics, private lessons, leagues, tours, field trips, summer camps, corporate events, birthday parties, and tournaments. The NTC also supports all USTA Community Tennis and Player Development initiatives. The professional staff also conducts community tennis programs, including 11 & Under Tennis for children 11 years of age and under to learn tennis in a fun and dynamic way; USTA Junior Team Tennis for youth match play; USTA League Tennis for competitive, level-of-play competition, and an official Cardio Tennis site for on-court heart-pumping fitness. Initiatives for USTA Player Development include an Invitational USTA Competition Training Center for ranked players, Player Development programs for top-ranking juniors residing in the Northeast, and a year-round USTA Tournament Training Program for ranked juniors. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis also provides for diverse community outreach programs including; the New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL), the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, various Community outreach events, the Queens District Attorney’s Star Track/Say Yes to Tennis, No to Violence program for Queens at-risk youth. The NTC hosts various tennis opportunities for special populations, including wheelchair tennis instruction for the physically-challenged from the months of October through July, HERO (Help Expand Recreational Opportunities) for developmentally challenged adults and tennis for autistic children through NYFAC (New York Families for Autistic Children). There is an extensive summer camp program which provides basic tennis instruction starting as young as 11 and under up through and including Academy level players. Camps include instruction and fitness programs; the encouragement of good sportsmanship leading to general character building for the children of all ages and levels. These services are provided at a nominal cost, making it affordable for youngsters who would not otherwise get the chance to attend camp or receive tennis instruction. Lastly, the Project ACES (Alternative Classroom Environment for Students), implemented at the NTC in 2009, is geared towards children from schools from the New York City Metropolitan Area. This program provides students the opportunity to visit the NTC; the kids are given a tour of the entire site, including Center Court in Ashe, followed by an hour of on-court tennis instruction. NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

2019 GUIDE TO THE

Top Clubs/Programs F O R N E W Y O R K T E N N I S P L AY E R S

West Side Tennis Club 1 Tennis Place Forest Hills, N.Y. (718) 268-2300 ForestHillsTennis.com

West Side Tennis Club is well-known for hosting the US Open Tennis Championships. Today, it is home to 830 members, maintaining the best of a celebrated past and rich history. West Side Tennis Club often surprises firsttime visitors. Anchored by its historic stadium, the renowned Tudor-style clubhouse, along with a junior Olympic pool complex, West Side’s 12 acres are both a majestic setting and a tranquil oasis in the heart of New York City. West Side Tennis Club is located just 20 minutes from the bustle of midtown Manhattan, easily accessible by car, bus, subway or the Long Island Railroad. West Side maintains 38 tennis courts on four different surfaces: Grass, HarTru, Red Clay and Deco-Turf and provides year-round tennis utilizing its 10-court indoor facility. Former French Open Grand Slam Doubles Champion Luke Jensen is the new director of racquet sports, and Akemi Kinoshita, who competed at all four Grand Slams, is the associate director of racquet sports. Members can take advantage of group or private lessons, clinics, tournaments, ladders, arranged matches, round-robins and a year-round junior program, including summer camp, a pro shop and swimming lessons. West Side Tennis Club also offers a full-service restaurant and bar with spectacular sunset dining, and private party and corporate outing facilities. Platform tennis, bridge, and fun-filled activities and social events for all ages at all levels are scheduled year-round. On weekends and weekdays, it’s a fabulous warm weather getaway for families, with a tennis day camp that is the perfect summer activity for children. So convenient, what better way to end a day at work than with a game of tennis, a dip in the pool, and watching the sun set having drinks on the club house patio. And for getting business done in a special way, it’s a unique place to spend quality time with customers, business associates and colleagues. There is even wireless Internet access available anywhere in the clubhouse. Want to do a truly special event for a small or large group of people, West Side Tennis Club has everything you could want to create a special occasion. There is something for everyone at the West Side Tennis Club. For more information, visit ForestHillsTennis.com or call (718) 268-2300.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

COMING IN NOVEMBER 2019

Distribution scheduled for 11/01/19

This edition will feature: • Top Coaches Roundtable Discussion • Tennis Travel Destination Guide • Holiday Gift Guide Feature • 2019 Girls High School Season Recap

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 November/December 2019! Facebook-www.Facebook.com/NYTennisMag Instagram-@NYTennisMag • Twitter-@NYTennisMag Submissions for both advertising and editorial are due by October 1, 2019 For more information, please call 516-409-4444 or e-mail Advertise@NYTennisMag.com 55

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Summer 2019 Season Wraps Up at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club

Bloomberg LP repeated as champs of the Metro Corporate League’s Advanced Division for the summer season

De Shaw Investment Group was crowned summer 2019 champs of the Metro Corporate League Intermediate Division

The team from Morgan Stanley edged Dechert LLP to capture the Metro Corporate League’s Advanced Intermediate Championship

he Summer 2019 season in the Metro Corporate League came to a close in late August, as the League gathered the top two teams in each division for the end-of-season party and finals event at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. In the Intermediate Division, De Shaw Investment Group knocked off the team from BNP Paribas to win the championship, while Morgan Stanley edged Dechert LLP to capture the Advanced Intermediate Championship. Bloomberg LP reclaimed the title in the Advanced Division with a hard-fought win over Ernst and Young LLP, continuing its reign of championships in the Metro Corporate League’s top flight. The Fall 2019 leagues begin in mid-September with five different levels of play, including Advanced, Advanced Intermediate 1, Advanced Intermediate 2, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 The top teams from each of the Intermediate Divisions will meet in quarterfinal and semifinal playoffs. Those winning teams will play for the Intermediate League Championship at the end-of-the-season party, as will the top four teams in the Advanced and Advanced Intermediate Divisions (or the top two teams of each division, in the case of two divisions). All players competing in the playoffs must have played in at least one match for that team during the regular season. The champion of the Advanced League will receive the Corporate League Champion trophy. The winners of the Advanced Intermediate and Intermediate Leagues will receive the respected trophies. All trophies will be displayed at the companies’ respective headquarters until the end of the following season, when they will be relinquished to the new champions. The winners of the Intermediate Division will move up to the Advanced Intermediate Division the following Fall or Winter season. The winner of the Advanced Intermediate Division will move up to the Advanced Division the following Fall or Winter Season. Contact Luis@MetroTennis.com for more information on the league and how to join, or visit MetroTennis.com.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Under the Bright Lights of the Grandest Stage of Them All By Luke Jensen Tennis Rock Stars … how was your Summer of 2019? Can you believe it has gone way too fast and the US Open is right around the corner to shift us into another school year and fall tennis? The US Open marks the finish line for the majors on the calendar for the pros. My siblings and I would play World TeamTennis and build confidence through the US summer series of events, hoping to peak at the end of August just in time for the pressure on the big stage in New York City. I always felt Wimbledon was the halfway point of the calendar year with the US Open as a proving grounds for my overall mental and physical talent. It was my last chance to add a major to my trophy case for that calendar year, while getting a great lift from the partisan American fans in Flushing Meadows. New York fans ask only two things from you for their hard-earned dollar to watch you perform: To play your guts out and to W-I-N! New Yorkers hate losing and want their tennis heroes to face the pressure and come out victorious. I felt my brother and I played extremely well in New York because the expectations of the fans drove us to deliver a better performance. Winning matches in New York in late August/early September feels like conquering the world. The weather is hot and humid, but can quickly turn into cold and windy during the second Tuesday of the Open. The tennis Gods test every tennis players’ toughness with conditions that are tough to endure, and only a laser-like hyper focus approach to every point will produce the best tennis you can.

How does the US Open build on an extraordinary Wimbledon? Look for the Big Three on the men’s side to navigate any tricky spots in the draw with heady play and patience. Will this be the major event where a youngster from the “Next Generation” takes that next step? They may have all stumbled at Wimbledon, but the kids are eager and confident to make an impression in Flushing Meadows. On the women’s side, it is really hard to overlook 15-year-old Cori “Coco” Gauff. The young American captivated the tennis world with amazing play at Wimbledon. Coco won more games off the eventual Wimbledon Champion Simona Halep than Serena did. America had a winner for a very long time, especially someone as mentally tough as Serena. For my money, it will always be about Serena relaxing and allowing herself to not press and just play. The last 12 months have been solid for Serena, with ap-

pearances in two finals, Wimbledon, the US Open and the semis of the Aussie Open. If she is healthy and can prepare for the US Open, I say look out! Enjoy everything at the US Open and if you are there, take a peek at the Avenue of Champions in the Doubles Champions area for a very special dedication to the most influential role model who is responsible for making the Jensens winners. Go for WINNERS! 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.

• Groups, Private lessons, Tournament Travel, 7 days a week • Certiﬁed ATP coach with 22 years of HP experience • 13 years on the pro tour playing ATP, Davis Cup and Olympics • Former 3 time Israeli singles champion • Outdoor Fall season at Riverdale Tennis Center starts Sept 3rd • Indoors Winter sessions at NYTC Indoors (Throgs Neck) starts Oct 20th • NEW - Outdoor Fall QuickStart program (ages 4-7)

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

The Importance of Structure With Junior Group Lessons

By John Curtis s it pertains to running a good clean group lesson—with juniors in particular—being organized with your time allocation is extremely important. Let’s be honest: If you allow them, kids can and will completely derail your lesson plan within the first minutes of the class. We have all likely received crazy requests from our students such as a request to play King and Queen of the Court for the whole hour or even a re-

quest to engage in a “Belting the Pro With the Ball” contest. If you teach tennis to juniors, you have most certainly been on the receiving end of such requests. In all fairness, kids are going to be kids. They more than likely come to you immediately after school, after a full day of listening and paying attention. The last thing a child wants to do upon arrival at their tennis lesson is once again sit and listen intently to their pro waxing profoundly about the difference between a Semi-Western Forehand Grip vs. a Continental Forehand Grip. It goes without saying that such lessons should be saved for later, when the

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

pro has the child’s full attention. At my club, our teaching pros follow a general rule of breaking each one hour class into a 10/40/10 structure. The first 10 minutes of the class (give or take a couple of minutes) is devoted to a dynamic warmup. “Dynamic” is the key word here. Allow the kids time to run and hit and make mistakes and blow off the steam that has built up during their school day. Pros should refrain from offering corrective techniques during this time, and instead focus on warming up and gradually raising heart rates. In my experience, kids are just not ready to listen in the first 10

minutes of a lesson. Instead, they are reconnecting with their group, getting a sense of freedom (from school and adults), and recalibrating their brains to a different activity. This is a really important time to back off a bit from preaching and reminding them that it is time to listen to yet another adult! If you play this right, this is your time to be the “cool pro,” simply by allowing them to have a little space. That said, you certainly don’t want chaos, just a spirited warmup. The dynamic warmup should be relevant to what the day’s lesson is going to be. Don’t do a double-feed warmup to the backhand side if the day’s lesson is focused on forehands, etc. Once everyone is through the first 10minute phase and balls are picked up, it is time to actively take on the role of a teaching pro. Assuming the first 10 minutes were handled appropriately, you will hopefully have the attention and respect of your students. In this 30-40 minute period of time, the focus should be on instruction. Find your voice—know your

audience—and make every attempt to shift the focus from yourself to your students. It is crucial during this time that you are not at all concerned with the students’ perception of you. That is, this is not the time to be the “cool” pro who impresses their students with trick drop shots and tweeners. This is the time when the best pros shine—the pros who take a group of kids in September and turn them into players by June. As a pro, it is critical that you know how to teach in both style and substance. You cannot fake this part. Stay organized with your message and do not overteach by being too verbose or scattered. Rather, stick to one correction for each child, so that each such singular correction can be absorbed. The last 10 minutes or so of the lesson should once again be very active. During this time, you should aspire to incorporate the day’s lesson into a fun drill game or live ball game—depending on the level of the children that you are teaching. I have always found it most successful when the pro participates in the drill game and once again allows his or her fun side to shine be-

fore the lesson concludes. During this time, positive reinforcement, such as high fives, as well as team camaraderie, go a long way. This is what the kids remember most and what parents love to see—their kids having fun! While this model clearly is not rocket science, you would be surprised how easy it is to deviate from your lesson plan if the one hour lesson lacks a structured framework. Stick to the 10/40/10 rule and you will find that your junior groups will not only learn more, but most importantly, have a lot more fun. John Curtis is executive director at Manhattan Tennis Academy. He has held a number of positions at various tennis clubs, and was head coach of the NYU Men’s tennis team from 1996-2006. Afterwards, focusing on junior development, Curtis was the 2006 PTR Coach of the Year in the Northeast Region and in the 2009 PTR Member of the Year in Northeast Region. He can be reached by phone at (212) 3599535 or by e-mail at John@ManhattanTennisAcademy.com.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Team USA Wins Fifth Annual Finance Cup

Team USA (in blue) and Team Europe (in white) faced off in East Hampton for the Fifth Annual Finance Cup

ast Hampton, known for its summer weekend homes for the rich and most powerful in the finance world, played host to the recent Fifth Annual Finance Cup, as Team USA and Team Europe battled it out in what has become a yearly tradition. For the last five years, former professional and top college players who currently work in the finance sector in the United States and Europe compete against one another in this team competition, which provides an opportunity for young, aspiring financiers to network with some of the titans of the industry, including Christer Gardell, Bill Ackman, Robert Pohly, John Doran and Walter Dolhare. For the fourth time in five years, Team USA captured the title, defeating Team European 10-4. “This year, Carl Icahn was courtside for the matches and had the audience in stitches with his speech and trophy presentation,” said Jeffrey Appel, captain for Team USA. “Carl has played tennis his whole life, and he and his wife, Gail, still play weekly and are omnipresent at the U.S. Open. Carl had a special interest in watching his ‘Golden Boy’ Christer Gardell play. Carl seeded Christer when he started

Team USA’s Richey Reneberg, Mario Ancic, Byron Talbot, Jeffrey Appel and Bill Ackman accept the Finance Cup from Carl Icahn (second from right) Team USA’s Byron Talbot was named Most Valuable Player of the Fifth Annual Finance Cup

Cevian Capital in 1996, and retains an ownership stake in the management company. Icahn told me last year his significant investment seeding Christer may have been his best investment ever, as Gardell is now considered Europe’s biggest and most feared activist investor.” The heat and humidity of the New York summer played a factor throughout the weekend, and unfortunately for Ackman, it got the best of him as he had to retire from his doubles match down 1-6, 2-2. Appel & Howard Sands defeated Gardell & Jan Olssen 6-3, 6-3 in one of the weekend’s matches. “Both teams are already looking forward to 2020 in Barcelona where the Europeans are hoping for the home surface advantage

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

on the red clay,” added Appel. “While the tennis is important, the camaraderie and relationships are very important as well.” Team USA’s lineup included former professional Mario Ancic, now at One Equity Partners, who was once the seventh-ranked player in the world, and former world number one doubles player Richey Reneberg, now a partner at Taconic Capital Advisors. The 28-player roster also included an array of former ATP players ranked inside the top 150, including Michael Yani, Kevin Kim, Graydon Oliver, Albert Chang, Mark Kaplan, Jonathan Canter and Byron Talbot. All participants work full-time in the financial world, representing such companies as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, State Street Corporation, Pershing Square, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Samlyn Capital, Citigroup, BNP Paribas, Soros Management, European Central Bank, SocGen, Deutsche Bank and Cevian Capital. Talbot was recognized as the MVP as he won his match alongside Eddie Barretto in the 55+ Division, and then filled in for an injured Robert Givone and played with Dolhare in the 45+ Division to win his second match of the day. Reneberg won the Sportsmanship

Award once again, and was referred to as the “Class Act of Tennis” from the group of players; Ancic received the Career Achievement Award for raising the level of play and for his accomplishments off the court. Back in 2002, Ancic made his Grand Slam debut as a teenager and defeated Roger Federer at Wimbledon. Two years later in 2004, he reached the Wimbledon semifinals. Unfortunately, injuries cut his career short and forced him to retire early, but he made the wise decision to go back to school and get his college degree. After moving to New York City and earning a degree from Columbia Law School, he joined Credit Suisse as an investment banker for a few years before becoming an associate at private equity firm One Equity Partners. Appel, who founded the event with Team Europe Captain David Anving, continues to be impressed with the progression of the event. “We are all trying to build an event that endures many years,” he said. “Having

Carl Icahn as the Master of Ceremony at Bill Ackman’s house for the event party and awards ceremony was a special experience. Every single one of us looks up to Carl, and it was a great way to wrap up a great weekend.” Below are the full results from the weekend’s matches: Open Division l Smith & Nunez (United States) defeated Pain & Whiteford (Europe) 7-6(7), 6-2 l Pinsky & Powers (United States) defeated King & Colautti (Europe) 6-2, 6-0 35s Division l Walter & Doran (Europe) defeated Yani & Francis (United States) 4-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(6) l Ancic & Gruendler (United States) defeated Hildebrand & Smole (Europe) 6-4, 6-0 l Kim & Oliver (United States) defeated Smole & Ketola (Europe) 6-4, 6-4 l Brezac & Schaeffer (Europe) defeated Kleigerman & Majmudar (United States) 7-6(6), 7-6(3)

45s Division l Renenberg & Chang (United States) defeated Davids & Noteboom (Europe) 7-5, 6-3 l Chess & Kaplan (United States) defeated Visconti & Doyle (Europe) 6-4, 6-1 l Persson & Meringoff (United States) defeated Tintore & Persson (Europe) 6-4, 6-4 l Schmuecking & Stockoff (Europe) defeated Leschley & Pohly (United States) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 l Vrbsky & Caturano (Europe) defeated Canter & Ackman (United States) 6-1, 2-2 (retired) l Dolhare & Talbot (United States) defeated Nuttall & Irani (Europe) 6-4, 6-2 55s Division l Talbot & Barretto (United States) defeated Alger & Fenichell (Europe) 6-3, 6-3 l Appel & Sands (United States) defeated Gardell & Ollson (Europe) 6-3, 6-3

TENNIS & SKIING IN NEARBY SOUTHERN VERMONT This architect designed Post and Beam home offers beautiful views on 43+/- acres and a private trail network for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. The meticulous Har-Tru tennis court, viewed from the multiple decks and interior living space, is recognized as the best private court in the Mount Snow area. A two-story barn was built along the antique stonewalls which remain from the original homestead. There are antique apple trees, lush blueberry and raspberry bushes and lovely perennial beds. One can enjoy an array of colorful blooms from May thru September, leading into the spectacular fall foliage across the countryside. While enjoying the beautiful landscape around this home, you will appreciate the relaxing lifestyle and the convenience of the central location near town, golf, skiing, and lakes. Located less than 4 hours from NYC and 2 ½ from Boston this home, within 1+ hour of international airports, is a southern Vermont special gem. Listed at $799,000 For more information, contact Arlene Palmiter at 802.380.3077 ArlenePalmiter.FourSeasonsSIR.com

FourSeasonsSIR.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Outside of the Can

Low compression tennis ball training is not just for 10 and under juniors By Mark Santucci PSSHHHTTTTTT …. the sound of a new can of tennis balls opening. Mmmmmm … nothing like that new ball scent. Three bright optic yellow spheres glistening in the light. Bounce, bounce, bounce. Ready to rock! Now, in the quest to take your tennis game to the next level, let’s train “Outside of the Can.” Put down the yellow professional tennis balls and do some training with low compression balls. “Wait … these are dead balls!? I have seen six-year-olds use these!” Yes, junior tennis players use low compression tennis balls, and are able to rally 10 times or more in a row and grow a love for the game almost instantly. Rallying is FUN! They are able to chase down shots, prepare with a unit turn, load and develop crosscourt and down the line control skills … maybe even navigate a short ball and begin to comprehend the approach shot and volley tactic—all from using a ball that bounces slightly less and travels slightly slower, allowing for a developing player to handle the speed of a complex game. But let’s talk about low compression tennis ball training for adults and juniors who play regularly and have some developing skill sets. The game of tennis has certainly evolved. 62

About 10 years ago, I had the privilege of working with Simon Gale at Yonkers Tennis Center, along with several other key individuals in an effort to lead the low compression tennis ball revolution for junior players in the U.S. We then worked on evolving this concept to help beginner adult players. Now let’s take this concept to the next level and train skilled players with low compression balls. The concept was to use these tennis balls of different sizes and air pressures to allow for rallying and playing as soon as a player steps on to the court. Through using these balls, a player can realize the fun of the sport very early on, because a rally was able to happen so much easier. This leads to more engaged players, better practices, quicker development and higher retention in the game. A little bit about the low compression tennis balls: l The Red Ball, a slightly larger tennis ball than the professional yellow ball, with about 25 percent of the air pressure. l The Orange Ball, about the same size as a professional yellow ball, with about 50 percent of the air pressure. l The Green Ball, the same size as a professional tennis ball and has approximately 75 percent of the air pressure. You can see this tiered approach, 25 percent to 50 percent to 75 percent, and ultimately, to yellow ball.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

So now for the benefits. How can this help you? For the beginner tennis player, plain and simple, a low compression tennis ball will make tennis just a little bit easier and a lot more enjoyable to play. Practicing with these balls will slow down the game, giving players more time to run to and prepare for a shot that is coming to them. The balls do not travel as far, so the mis-hits, which happen often when you are starting, are not as severe. This helps the ball stay inside the lines more regularly, giving you and your opponent more chances to hit the ball back and forth. More rallies equal more quality reps, which results in quicker improvement. Tennis is a numbers game, and the more quality repetitions you experience, the better you will get. Talking about tennis and watching others hit the ball while you are in line waiting your turn, only gets you so far. Not to mention, rallying back and forth is fun. It is what the game is all about. Graduating to the intermediate player who is making decent contact on the forehand side, is working on consistency and control on the backhand side. You have heard coaches say, “Follow through” and “Hit through the ball” quite often. Because a low compression ball does not travel as far as a professional yellow ball, it inherently forces the player to have a longer contact with the ball, elongating the swing and forcing the player to push through contact. If a player wishes to put some sort of pace on the ball, they must gen-

erate racket head speed, swinging through the contact point with the follow through happening naturally. These are the beginnings of better ball control, and in due time, spin. One of the main reasons players do not follow through is because they are rushed to prepare for the ball and do not appropriately distance themselves for weight transfer and contact. With just a little bit of extra time, thanks to low compression tennis balls that travel slightly slower, a player can develop better ball tracking skills and spacing to line up their confident swing. I just mentioned spin. It is what today’s professional game is all about. Intermediate to advanced players … have you ever questioned if your shot has spin? At times, it can be hard to tell. Looking to gain more spin and RPMs on the ball? Try this … use a Red Ball or an Orange Ball, one that has the twotone panels. The different color panels spinning through the air create an immediate visual that a player can judge how well they are producing spin. It is so clear if a player is brushing up and generating topspin, chipping down and slicing the ball, or bunting the ball with very little spin. Real-time results

and quick tweaks by the player can result in better spin instantaneously. Now for our big hitters—tournament players. I know you are looking for bigger shots, heavier top spins, adding more “umph.” Let’s train with the Orange Ball. Focus on developing lower knee bend in preparation and stronger explosiveness when releasing the body through contact and pulling the handle of the racket through the ball. As this training is happening, because low compression balls do not travel as far as the professional Yellow Ball, a player must generate some serious racket head speed to get the ball moving quickly. It is what every professional tennis player is looking for. More racket head speed equals a higher spin rate. Watch Jack Sock or Nick Kyrgios hit a forehand. It is so “whippy.” The quest for more racket head speed has another tool. What started with beginner four- and eight-year-old tennis players, then progressed to beginner adult players, can be adapted to all levels of play and be extremely beneficial. More players and coaches are recognizing the benefits of low

compression tennis balls and implementing training times with different, out of the box, cross-training exercises. The results are huge, it is so easy to do, and it’s fun! Rallies will last longer, leading to enhanced ball-tracking skills, fuller swing paths, better use of body mechanics, more spin and racket speed and more dramatic competition. Players will be developing higher level skills without over-thinking. Learning through doing, rather than learning through commands from coach … it is truly a winwin situation. Mark Santucci is director of adult tennis at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. He came to Roosevelt Island after 10 years as director of tennis and operations, director of junior tennis and director of adult programs at Yonkers Tennis Center. A native of Rhode Island, Santucci was the captain of the Marist College Tennis team, where he helped lead his team to a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. He can be reached by e-mail at MSantucci@AdvantageTennisClubs.com or follow him on Instagram @Tucci_Fit.

TENNIS OPP OPPO O T OR TUNITIES F FOR ADULT TS IN NYC C! Lessons for the adult beginner looking to improve their game!

M ETRO

in n the

Corpo orate Te Tennis L League A night of fun, networking, and tennis with a happy hour vibe!

2 Courts, 2 Teams, 2 Sexes Too much fun! To

A fun n, co-ed team tenniis experience for yo ou and your co-w workers!

A new, young ung & social tennis is club. Not your parents arents tennis league! ue!

N w YYoork Ne

Something For Every yone! www. w.metrotennis.com or calll: 212.244.2845 NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Importance of Happiness, Self-Esteem and Positive Self-Image for Athletes

By Conrad Singh I always wonder why whenever a player I work with is in a positive mindset about themselves, they tend to also be playing very well. Take for example Nick Kyrgios at the Citi Open … If you saw him on and around the courts and listened to his interviews, he was in a positive state of mind all week. This resulted in him acting professionally, keeping his routines and feeling like he was ready to play, leading to him winning the event. The relationship with how you feel and what you think about yourself clearly determines how you act, which has an overwhelming correlation to positive outcomes. When a player has a general sense of happiness, those positive feelings flow over into better performance on the court. The question then is: How do you create those optimal feelings within your rituals to experience happiness? The key aspects which are most important to our happiness are: l Autonomy = A sense of choice about what you do. l Competence = You are effective at what you do. l Connected = Being close to people and bonding socially with the feelings of support. 64

l Challenged = Having a challenging daily obstacle or target to keep you motivated to achieve. l Fulfillment = Being proud of the work load and satisfied with giving it your all. The ultimate goal then is self-esteem or how you see yourself as a person. A positive self-image is one major part of this, but it is so much more than just how you look. Self-esteem can lead to huge bursts of confidence, which can lead to extreme outcomes and the all-important belief factor. How does Novak Djokovic overcome such huge occasions and obstacles of being down match points and win, as he did in the Wimbledon finals this year. It is important to also note that many “successful” people may have achieved great things in their careers without healthy self-esteem, they are not fulfilled. As a result, they will not feel happy with their achievements. We see this a lot with former Olympic athletes and players who retire from the professional tour … it can take a very long time to acclimate back to normal life. l Self-esteem is the feeling that your selfworth is strong and you value yourself for being who you are. l Your feeling of self-development of skills and talents is high on your priority list. l You respect yourself and others at all times.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

l You value your own performances, activity, intelligence and contributions to your field. Improving your self-esteem will always lead to the feeling of being more confident, resilient, motivated, happy and that you can always find your best levels in any situation. We are and become what we believe we are and deserve One of the key ways we influence our own feelings of self-esteem is through our selftalk. The all-important inner voice is something that can and must be deliberately trained. Each day, we should be training our players to keep a diary written by hand and to always find the points of improvement, but also to identify the things you did well! Self-talk is the mental conversations we all have within our own minds and it reflects what we are thinking. Positive self-talk is one of the most powerful tools we can develop, in that it allows us to make positive constructive comments. It also allows us to problem-solve and feel like we are doing it in our own way as we are following the verbal instructions we are giving to ourselves. We often know that our self-talk is not actually true, but we still believe it in the end after repeating these messages to ourselves so many times. Negative self-talk is the opposite of being constructive, and we often can be

courtside and hear the player who is not performing well speak such comments as: “I’m hopeless,” “I’m not good enough to be here.” When you are in the habit of this negative self-talk, you are not receptive to experiencing a successful outcome. What’s worse is the reality that the more you do this, you begin to believe what you are saying–it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Not only do you begin to believe your comments, but so too does your opponent if they are smart enough to be picking up the cues. Listen to your self-talk and try to hear the things you say to yourself and be sure to be fair in your comments. Many people are highly critical of themselves, but undermine their achievements and accomplishments. It’s important to praise yourself, both internally and externally, when you do something well. If you stop to listen to players after matches in the press room, they protect themselves and their ego. They build walls around what they hear and open up when they are hearing positives that fuel self-belief and self-worth. It is so important that tennis players un-

derstand that if much of your internal conversation is negative, then this may be the very thing blocking you from achieving your best and truly enjoying the entire process of tennis. We know that negative self-talk raises your expectations, increases stress levels and could lead to self-destructive behavior. The final areas for focus and to become a player with high self-esteem and positive self-image, you will need to reprogram the negative into positive self-talk, and to learn the one skill hardest to achieve mentally: Blocking distractions and stopping personal negative thoughts as they enter your mind. In your own quiet time, practice asking yourself these questions, and write down your responses regularly by recording them in a diary … 1. Are the thoughts I am having actually true? Confide in a close team member if you need support. 2. How do I know what is true? 3. Will my current self-opinion, image and esteem improve, or will it hinder me from achieving my goals?

4. Would I say these types of things to a close friend or someone I really care about? 5. Am I looking at the whole story here or taking the negative parts from it? We all know that those who are positive and exude good energy are people we want to be around. They are the ones who seem to attract good results and positive outcomes. These are the type of people that we need to surround ourselves with in tennis, and in time, we will certainly learn better behaviors. 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.

CENTERCOURT HIGH-PERFORMANCE

Centercourt Philosophy: 3 Clinics + 1 Private + 2 UTR League/UST TA A Matches W We eekly

TENNIS ACADEMY

FOR STUDENT A AT THLETES • Full Time Programs with Academics

ELITE

UTR 9+ • Age 13-17

• Individual Player Dev ve elopment Plans • Player yer//Parent Meetings an a d Progress Reports • Personalized Academics • Internationally-Renowned e Coaches • State-off--the-Art Facilities s in Northern NJ • Only 25 Miles f rom NYC • Housing and Transportattion A Av vailable

PLATINUM T

UTR 7+ • Age 13-18

GOLD

UTR 5-6.9 • Age 11-17

SILVER

UTR 3-5 • Age 10-14

FULL TIME

UTR 7+ • Age 13+

FULL TIME TRANSITION UTR 3-6.9 • Age 10+

BRONZE

UTR 0-2.9 • Age 9-12

CREA AT TING LEADERS ON N COURT & OFF

Conta act Conrad Singh conrad@centercourtclub.com m • +1 862-308-3029 www.centercourtCTA TA .com

BOOK K YO OUR FREE E ASSESSMENT T AND CAMP A US S VISIT TODAY!

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Myth of the “0-4 Shots” Rule By Gilad Bloom The game of tennis keeps evolving, and like other sports, we are starting to rely more and more on data and statistics. This evolution grows easier as new technologies are introduced and implemented. But data alone without context is nothing but numbers, and of course, people analyze data differently. For example, data tells us that, on the pro tour, approximately 70 percent of the points end within zero to four shots. Long points, points that last longer than 10 shots, happen only about 10-12 percent of the time. As a coach, this can be interpreted in a few ways. The obvious is to focus on quick exchanges of two to four shots, work on certain patterns that, when successfully executed, will create a chance to open up the court and finish the points quickly with a 12-3 punch. Some of the “New Age” coaches are shifting away from the old school cross-courts down the line and other tedious drills we grew up on. Many of them focus primarily on inside-out forehand drills and developing power shots early on in the point while neglecting other areas of the game such as consistency, point structure, percentage play and a net game—doing that might help create one dimensional players. I obviously understand the importance of working on a huge serve/return and jumping on the ball early to create an advantage and set the tone. But I also understand that a tennis match is a mini-marathon chess game. There is more than one way to win a match, and having a defensive game can 66

take you a long way … it is an area that needs to be worked on constantly. It’s all nice and dandy when you are hitting your first serves in and your big forehand is working, but on the days when it’s windy, your timing is off, when the court is slow or when the opponent has a great return, you will need your “Plan B” game. You will need to play longer rallies, grind out “ugly” points, and most of all, play the percentage game, choosing the right shot for each situation even if it means hitting a cross-court moon ball to stay in the point or have endless points against so-called “pushers.” To me, one thing has not changed in tennis and it is that in most cases the most consistent player will win, the one who wins the “ugly points,” and the big points of course, 15-30 points, the break points, the tie-breakers, therefore, I’m not that impressed with the stat about points being shorter. Many times, like in the recent 2019 Wimbledon final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, the biggest points of the match ended up being the longest points. When it’s a very close match, it can become a battle of consistency, who is going to blink first and make the unforced error. It’s no coincidence that the top two players in the world, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, are also by far the most consistent players, usually out-rallying their opponents without having to hit a winner, simply by forcing the error. The ability to stay in the point long enough for the opponent to miss is, to me, the number one quality of a tennis player. This basic ability can only be achieved by hitting countless balls and having endlessly long rallies in practice. This repetition will create a rhythm

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

and elevate one’s confidence, as well as improving stamina and overall fitness for those long matches. Building a player solely on a big game and relying only on a weapon and on finishing points early can be the right way to go in certain specific cases in the example of extremely tall players with huge serves, like John Isner, Reilly Opelka, Nick Kyrgios, Ivo Karlovic and Kevin Anderson. This type of player has a huge serve and knows that they are going to hold serve 90 percent of the time. They don’t want to battle from the baseline against shorter, quicker opponents as they will lose the baseline battle and get tired which will hurt their first serve percentage on which they rely. We see Kyrgios do it all the time … he would fight the first two points of a return game and if he’s down 30-0, he will tank the game because he has such a strong service game. He can allow himself to take risks and play low percentage shots. When it goes well, he will win easily, and if he’s not playing that well, he will still have a tie-breaker in the pocket. But for most of us “humans” of average height who cannot ace the opponent off the court, I would strongly recommend to keep working the most important ability—your ability to not lose to yourself, even on a bad day. 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.

That Water Bottle Didn’t Help My Game

By Barbara Wyatt

’m grinding it out on the court. My footwork is better, I’m hitting the split-steps, my coach is helping me with my slice, and I’ve made some cool friends from the team. This is a hard letter to write, but this is how I really feel. After I lost the match yesterday, you yelled at me. You threw a water bottle at me. On court … in front of my friends. The bottle hit me in the chest and water splashed all over the court. It didn’t hurt, but I can still feel it smack against my ribs. I can still see my teammates’ jaws drop. Don’t throw a bottle at me because you don’t like a match score. Don’t rip this letter up and throw it in my face ‘cause you don’t like what you’re reading. I knew I lost the match. Yeah, I doublefaulted more than the earlier match. But did you notice the extra spin on my serve, especially in the second game? You know, the one I won 40-0? Did you notice my back-

hand down-the-line shots? I was killin’ it! You only counted my unforced errors. You didn’t see what I was doing right or tried to do right. #CoachToldMeTo. Tennis is not football or pro-wrestling or basketball … you’re not supposed to shout and yell from the sidelines. Sometimes, during a point, all I think about is what my elbow is doing. Or if my right or left foot should be in front. I might be locked in a long powerful rally, then struggle to make a nearly impossible shot. Don’t groan or yell at me when the ball hits the net or the back curtain. I see it. C’mon. Stay silent during live play. After the point is over, go ahead and cheer and clap for good shots by me and my opponent. Don’t laugh at errors. Don’t call balls in or out. Don’t boo my opponents … it’s only a game! Let me handle any on-court challenges. I don’t need Mom or Dad to rush out to save me. I must learn how to ask for help from the official. If I forget the score or the opponent makes a really bad line call, that’s why the officials are there—to keep the game fair.

Support me, win or lose. C’mon—read that again—support me, win or lose. Don’t argue with other parents in the bleachers. Oh yeah, stop bringing D’Angelo to my matches, or at least stop him from running around and yelling during a match. And when I do something right like a great put-away after a long rally, I want to hear a loud and spirited cheer. That’s when I need you the most. At the end of the game, I want to hear five words from you. If you want me to be the absolute best I can be, say: “I love watching you play.” That’s would mean the world to me. Your son, Caleb 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.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

How to Avoid a Burnout By Eric Faro Burnout in tennis is an everyday occurrence. The game can become such a physical and mental grind, and it can really take a toll on your mind and body. Players often push themselves to the point of exhaustion that they no longer enjoy playing the game. There are a few key things that you can do to avoid feeling this way. 1. When you start to feel like you need a break, get away Don’t force yourself to continue to play when you are totally burned out. Serious players often feel guilty when they take some time off, so they don’t really get away from the game. They may only take a few days off and get back on the courts before they are really ready or study tapes and watch matches. This is not really clearing your mind because you are not really into what you are doing when you are on the court. My suggestion is to put your rackets in the closet, don’t turn on the Tennis Channel, and stay away from tennis magazines until you are ready. When you find yourself really missing the sport with a passion, it is time to return to the court. 68

2. Vary your practice sessions It can become very monotonous and boring to practice the same way every time you step on the court. Make sure you vary your drills. Give yourself goals when you are drilling and change up the length of your sessions. You don’t always have to spend the same amount of time on the court to be productive. With intensity, effort and concentration, you can get things done in a much shorter amount of time than simply going through the motions of a long, boring practice. 3. Practice with different partners and at different facilities It can be tedious to play with the same people all the time. In order to spice up your practice a little, play with different players who play different styles. This will also help your game, rather than falling into the same tendencies of playing the same players all the time. It can also be a drag to always play at the same club. Every now and then, go play somewhere else. It would also be a good idea to play on different surfaces. 4. Listen to a different voice There may come a time when you are no longer totally connecting with your

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

coach. It happens to coaches in all sports. It happened to Joe Torre. It happened to Bill Parcells. It happened to Pat Riley. After a period of time, you may drown out what your coach is telling you and it may make you feel like it is draining you mentally. You may lose your motivation to play. You may need to a hear a new voice. A new coach may tell you the same exact thing as your old coach, but the way they say it may click in your head. It could be their tone, their enthusiasm or their body language, but a different voice can sometimes do wonders for your game and make playing tennis fun once again. Eric Faro is director of Tennis at Gotham Tennis Academy. Eric grew up in Riverdale, N.Y. and attended Horace Mann, where he played number one singles all four years and subsequently at Ohio State University. Eric brings a wealth of coaching experience from his extensive background at Stadium Tennis Center, NYC’s newest indoor/outdoor tennis center and home to one of the world’s largest, state-of-the-art tennis bubbles covering 12 indoor courts, along with four outdoor courts. He may be reached by phone at (718) 665-4684 or email Eric@GothamTennis.com.

How Does Fasting Work? By Dr. Rob Silverman The practice of fasting dates back to the earliest humans. At a time when food sources were scarce and irregular, eating cycled between periods of hunger and feast. This cycle encouraged—and ultimately, evolved—the body’s ability to survive during periods of food scarcity. Today, food abundance, not scarcity, is the nutritional problem. We now use fasting selectively as a means to manage body weight, remove harmful toxins in the body, and challenge the body’s stress response pathways. Fasting works on both sides of the calorie equation. Not eating increases the number of calories burned by boosting the metabolic rate and reduces the number of calories consumed. When fasting continues for more than 24 hours, the body can start to consume lean muscle mass along with stored fat. The stress of fasting, without food or intermittently, on the body activates autophagy—the body’s natural cellular regeneration process. Autophagy literally

means self-eating. During autophagy, damaged cells break down, as the body recycles their components for energy and as the building blocks of new cells. Autophagy helps the body remove the harmful and toxic compounds released when cells break down, recycles damaged proteins, and increases the production of ketones. It also removes damaged immune system cells and activates stem cells. True fasting with no food intake is difficult to maintain, however—it causes powerful hunger sensations and isn’t compatible with daily life and work schedules. A long-term alternative to fasting without eating is intermittent fasting, or eating only within a limited daily timeframe. The eating window during intermittent fasting typically spans between four and seven hours during the day. It can be reduced or expanded, depending on dietary needs, but the fasting period should be at least 12 hours from the last meal of the evening to the first meal the following day. During intermittent fasting, calories are not restricted, only the timeframe for consuming them. The diet (preferably healthy

with no processed foods or sugar) remains as usual, with no caloric limits. Even without cutting calories, intermittent fasting can lead to weight loss of three to eight percent of body weight, if it is done consistently over a period of three to 24 weeks. Intermittent fasting with at least 12 hours overnight without eating puts the body into mild ketosis, which can lead to weight loss, greater insulin sensitivity, and improved body composition. Dr. Robert G. Silverman is a White Plains, N.Y.-based sports chiropractor 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, InsideOut 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) 2876464, e-mail Info@DrRobertSilverman.com or visit DrRobertSilverman.com.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

When the crowd turns against you, they can become another opponent you must deal with

Personality: Why It Matters and What to Do About It By Dr. Tom Ferraro he 2019 Championship at Wimbledon served up a startling contrast in personality. The Gentlemen’s Singles Finals pitted the number two seed Roger Federer against number one-seeded Novak Djokovic in front of a sold-out crowd which included Kate Middleton, Prince William, David Beckham, Kate Beckinsale, Stanley Tucci, Jude Law and Eric Bana. At the conclusion of this five-set, fivehour marathon, television commentator John McEnroe described it as the greatest tennis match he has ever witnessed and Novak Djokovic described the experience as the most mentally grueling match he has ever played. Anyone who watched this match knew that it was two against one with the tag-team of the crowd and Roger fighting Djokovic all by his lonesome. It is clear why the crowd favored Roger so much. His age (37), his finesse, his good looks, the way they dress him, his reputation as a class act, the way he moves like a cat, or maybe the fact that he is from Switzerland and speaks English, French and German fluently, gives him an enormous likability factor. This polish and charm translates into huge endorsement contracts for him,

which includes the recently-signed contract with Japanese apparel giant Uniqlo for $300 million. Federers’ image brings him over $65 million in endorsement dollars yearly, fully five times more than he earns in prize money. And on the other side of the net in the Men’s Singles Finals was the “Un-Federer” and crowd-unfriendly Novak Djokovic. The Serbian was fully aware that he would have to face a hostile crowd and spent months leading up to the match visualizing the boos and figuring out ways to ignore them. He remarked that he used a technique called “transmutation,” where he would train himself to hear “Novak, Novak, Novak” when the crowd was shouting “Roger, Roger, Roger!” Novak earns about half the endorsement dollars compared to Federer and this, in all likelihood, is based upon his perceived personality and overly acerbic, sardonic and disconnected from the fans. He is obviously bright and does try to manage to display a sense of humor, but it often comes across as too biting. In the world of big-time tennis, a likable personality adds up to crowd support and large endorsement dollars, but most amateur players rarely play in front of big crowds and never earn significant endorsement dollars, so one could argue that personality in amateur tennis means noth-

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

ing. But that would not be true at all and here’s why. 1. Friendly body language: If you manage to display friendliness when under pressure, remain upbeat when behind and calm after a missed point or bad call, this sends a strong non-verbal message to your opponent that you are confident and relaxed and therefore expect to win. I have observed countless head-to-head matches in tennis and golf, and there is a palpable force that is felt from the player who is calm and relaxed. It says: “I’m calm and you’re not.” 2. Coaches and recruitment time: One of the key issues that college coaches are looking for is a player and a family who will be calm, friendly and easy to work with. College coaches always have their hands full with endless petty team dynamics and jealousies and will avoid like the plague any player who presents with personality problems no matter how much talent they have. 3. Social acceptance: Amateur tennis, especially at country clubs, is largely a social affair and the players want to feel at ease and have fun so if you present with too much aggression, competitiveness and anger, over time, you will wind up alone with no one to play with. This is one of the great challenges of amateur tennis because

Photo credit: USTA/Darren Carroll

A good personality means more endorsement dollars and crowd support we all want to win and in order to win, one must tap into aggression. But since the game is largely social and not really related to money, one must figure out how to manage both. How to combine the powerful will to win with social grace. An answer One idea is to observe the professional

players who do show both charm, selfcontrol and manners, but still have the will to win. The two best examples of this would be Bjorn Borg and Roger Federer. When they were young players, they both had fiery tempers, would throw rackets and scream. In both cases, they were disciplined by parents who took away their tennis for a long period in order to teach

them a lesson. And in both cases, it worked. They learned how to internalize their anger and not to show it while playing. This was also what Tiger Woods’ mother did when he was young and showed temper tantrums when playing golf. Competitive sports are so enjoyable because they bring us emotions like anxiety, anger, shame, disappointment, pride and meaning. These are the reasons we play the games we do. And one of the many things one must master is controlling these emotional states. The way we deal with them defines our personality. For the pro, that translates into applause and endorsement deals. For the amateur, that translates into more social acceptance, more scholarship money and more wins as you master the art of body language. 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.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Play the Game! It’s Supposed to be Fun ... By Rob Polishook, Mental Training Coach MA, CPC Every year for the past 10 years, I teach a workshop at the Omega Institute in upstate New York called “Tennis Inside the Zone: Becoming More Than an Athlete.” The workshop is targeted toward adult tennis players. We spend the week reconnecting to those unique attributes, characteristics and skills that make us uniquely ourselves. And we learn how to bring these to the court and to competition. The logic behind this is pretty simple: When we stop focusing on what we can’t control, we let go of stress, tension and playing tight. When we stop over-trying, playing to others’ expectations and focusing on outcome, we are able to bring more of who we are to what we do and become better, balanced players. At the workshop, we do something called the “Intention Exercise.” First, we identify our intentions, then we list three attributes we can use to accomplish this

intention. Finally, we presuppose a greater outcome. For example, an intention might be to stay focused on what you can control. The attributes to accomplish this might be patience, awareness and curiosity. The greater outcome might be that you are better able to manage adversity when it comes up in a match. While going around the circle, one of the students innocently said, “I have been playing for years and no one told me this game is supposed to be fun!” The air was sucked out of the room. The pink elephant appeared. Everyone looked at each other in disbelief. It reminded me of when Andre Agassi penned, “I hate this game” in his book Open. It’s the kind of thing we think but never say. Whether you are a recreational player, weekend warrior, competitive junior or professional, it’s of utmost importance to keep the fun in the game. Without fun, the journey will be a fast track to disappointment, frustration and burnout. We all can envision that player who just doesn’t want to be on the court. Maybe they are talking to themselves, screaming at others, and

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

seeming as though they want to be anywhere else than on the tennis court. So, what’s a player to do? 1. Your big “Why:” I suggest connecting to the reason that has nothing to do with winning or losing, but will always be there no matter the outcome. Maybe it’s your love of competition, a camaraderie with friends, trying to be the best you can, or challenging yourself to improve. Maybe you have identified those you hope to inspire when you play. Often, a client of mine will want to inspire their siblings or the group of players they are part of. This helps to recognize there is a greater reason for playing. It isn’t just about you. Lastly, give some thought to what you get back from playing. What lessons does the game teach you? This might be staying calm under pressure, fitness or remembering that the game is supposed to be fun! 2. “Play the game:” Let’s break up the phrase and think about what “Play” means. The online dictionary states: “An activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children.” This brings up memories of playing as a kid, where the only focus was unconditionally trying to be and do my best. Also adapting and adjusting to whatever was happening without fear of the outcome. Imagine if we let go of the outcome? How loose, free and relaxed would you be when you played? In defining “game,” the online dictionary states: “A complete episode or period of play, ending in a definite result.” Think back to your childhood … playing a game wasn’t do or die. We weren’t pressed or forced. We didn’t over-try. Not a chance! It was a game. As soon as we start to put too much importance on the game, we compromise our ability to “play the game!” The author of this article experienced this lesson in his last tournament.

I had lost the first set 5-7, and I was in a second set tie-breaker, with the score 5-6. I served and volleyed, trying to hit a crosscourt volley winner which I inexplicably missed and lost the match. I couldn’t figure out how I could miss what I considered such an easy shot? After careful reflection, I realized that I stopped playing the game. I was over-trying and forced things. Simply, at that point, I stopped playing the game, rather, pressured the game. So, the next time you walk on the court, don’t fall into the trap that so many others including two-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka did. She recently shared on her Instagram, “I can honestly reflect and say I probably haven’t had fun playing tennis since Australia and I’m finally coming to terms with that while relearning that fun feeling …” So what’s a player to do? Remember your “Big Why” and “Play the Game.” After all … it’s supposed to be fun! Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is founder and

Author and Mental Training Coach Rob Polishook recently instructed his “Tennis Inside the Zone: Becoming More Than an Athlete” workshop where the group examined the re-discovery of “fun” in the sport of tennis 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 In-

side the Zone: Mental Training Workouts for Champions. He may be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, e-mail Rob@InsideTheZone.com or visit InsideTheZone.com.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

Creating a High-Performance Program

By Joao Pinho any pros or clubs aspire to develop a robust high-performance program, with the goal of developing, attracting and retaining competitive juniors. While many attempt to do so, the reality is that few are able to deliver a product that can be truly qualified as a high-performance program. The objective of this article is to highlight not only the necessary standards needed for such a program, but also to provide a list of actions needed to either develop a program from scratch or improve upon an existing one. “If you build it, he will come.” The classic quote from the movie “Field of Dreams” is a good way to start this discussion. It’s important to understand that, like with most ventures, having a vision of

what the program will be is a crucial first step. As someone who is now developing junior programs at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, I can attest that having such vision can make a significant impact. In other words, knowing how your competitive program will look and feel will give you the direction needed to guide you through the ups and downs. More specifically, developing your program’s values and identity will improve your ability to create a unique image. This uniqueness can be the intensity that is implemented during your sessions, or the emphasis on technical/tactical development, or your staff’s ability to “connect” with the players and create a sense of community. Once you have this settled, other coaches and players who identify themselves with the reputation of your program will join you for the ride. Another important factor is understanding that competitive players can some-

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

times have a “high maintenance” reputation. Some of the challenges include: Players often switching programs, difficulties with parents and the expectation of significant discounts or scholarships. However, be aware that there are ways to mitigate such issues, which we will explore later, and many underestimate the benefits associated with adding a high-performance track to a club’s portfolio. Here are five clear advantages to do so: 1. Impact the bottom line: Committed players are more likely to spend larger sums than purely recreational players, as they tend to attend multiple clinics, private lessons, etc. Some of the top players I work with spend as much as 17 times the amount of recreational players! 2. Create an aspiration for lower levels: Having a solid high-performance pro-

gram is an indirect way to boost recreational classes, as those players have something to look forward to and build toward. 3. Boost staff morale: Coaches tend to feel more rewarded when working with more committed players. Even if the level is not necessarily high, most would agree that working with students who are willing to work hard is more enjoyable. Therefore, having more of these players at your facility can create a boost of productivity from within your staff. 4. Fill your non-prime time slots: Competitive players are more willing to come at non-ideal times as tennis is a priority to them, thus improving your ability to sell non-prime time slots. 5. Improve your club’s overall image: The reality is that most clubs tend to become associated with the quality of its junior programs. The better the juniors, the better your image will be. With that said, below are some steps to be strongly considered when looking to either create or improve a competitive program. The order of these steps would be adjusted based on where one is in this process: 1. Develop your method, values, and culture that you hope to create: This

will ultimately be your key differentiator and create a unique bonding between you and the player. A successful program is often known for a specific characteristic. 2. Offer a tryout event: Create a buzz about your program by promoting your staff, facility, program structure, etc. This could be a one-day event or a series of days throughout the year. 3. Use scholarships or other similar methods to attract top players in the area: While the programs I have been involved with do not engage in such practice, this is commonly used. The reality is that many players and parents often care more about “who else is training there” than the quality of the program or coaches. While this tactic can be helpful at times, being able to develop players from the ground up is a better strategy in the long-run. If the program is good, you should be able to charge for it. 4. Provide parents with lots of education: Despite their reputation, I feel that most tennis parents are not problematic. However, most of them are uneducated about the journey of building a competitive player. Providing constant communication, in individual and group meetings, while explaining the journey of a junior

player and the parent’s role in that process, can be extremely helpful. 5. Be a role model for the players and develop a positive relationship with them: Most people will learn best if it comes from someone they like. We are tennis coaches, so we should live what we preach. In other words, if you are out of shape, get in shape. If you have a more limited playing background, work on it. One doesn’t need to be a world-class player to be a great coach, but it’s important to be able to know what the player is going through and see things at a deeper level. Being a more established player can help with that. Also, it’s important to know what your players like outside of tennis, show an interest in their overall life and personal growth, not just their forehands and backhands. 6. Continue to learn: Take every course you can, both in-person and online. Even if you learn just one new thing, you now have one more piece of information or concept to share with your players. 7. Train your staff: Put them through the drills you’ll do with the players, make them feed with the same tempo continued on page 76

Play SMART - Coach SMART With

SERVEMASTER

Accelerate learning for your upcoming season with Servemaster Servemaster lets you FEEL every part of the service motion and groundstrokes Simple for players and coaches to use at all levels Great for ground strokes, too! How and why does it work? Check it out at:

www.totalserve.com

Lisa Dodson lisa@thetotalserve.com NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

creating a high-performance program continued from page 75

and trajectory, while providing feedback in a similar manner. Otherwise, if every court is different, you don’t really have a program; only pros running their own independent classes. One important aspect I try to emphasize with my staff, is that “the skill matters more than the drill!” So, drills should be simple and emphasize fundamentals performed relative to the player’s level. 8. Create a curriculum for your classes: What are the skills that players should have before moving to a higher level? Such a list does not have to be complex, in fact, simpler is better in most cases. If you don’t have one, I suggest using the Net Generation templates and adjust them to your program’s needs.

9. Attend tournaments regularly: Watch your players compete. Not only will you be able to better understand how your player performs under pressure, but you will also develop a closer relationship. This goes a long way in showing your players and their families that you care and have a joint interest and commitment in their progress and success. In turn, players and families will likely feel a greater sense of connection and loyalty. Additionally, other players and parents will see you there which is a nice form of marketing your program. However, do not make this an opportunity to poach players from other programs. 10.Keep track of your players’ success: Nothing speaks louder than

actual results. While it’s important not to stress results and rankings at an early age, keep track of how your players progress by promoting their results to demonstrate your program’s availability to develop, retain and attract competitive juniors. In all, developing a quality high-performance program is not easy. It often takes some years to get enough players through your system, and its key to have the right type of personnel. However, the clubs who do it right often have lower employee turnover, higher player retention rates, and healthier programs in general. Joao Pinho is the head professional of 10U and high-performance at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. He is a USPTA elite professional, a former NCAA DI coach and player, and has specialized in developing competitive junior players over the past decade. Currently, he is the private coach of three national champions and a WTA touring pro.

GET IN THE GAME THIS FALL! It’s the perfect time to make a fresh start. Learn something new. Tennis! At 7 convenient NYC locations.

UPTOWN NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED!

Advantage QuickStart makes it easy •Customized for age, ability & fun •Smaller racquets, slower-bouncing balls •Great for ages 3 & up •Best intro to tennis ever!

MIDTOWN

WEST SIDE THROGS NECK

Sign up today! Find out more at quickstartny.com. Contact Paul Fontana at 646.884.9649 or pfontana@advantagetennisclubs.com.

EAST SIDE

ROOSEVELT ISLAND

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

MTG Hosts 25th Liberty Open Tournament By Sidney Beal III Credit all photos to Sidney Beal III

Casey Schnabel (pictured here) teamed with Tavaris Delaney to win the Open Doubles Division during the 25th Annual Liberty Open

Andres Bustani was crowned Open Singles Division champion at the 25th Annual Liberty Open

etropolitan Tennis Group (MTG) has long been one of the stalwarts in the LGBTQ New York sports community as the group’s members have given their time and have dedicated resources to raising money for various charities in the community every year. This year, MTG was honored to have a float and participate in World Pride Day, as New York City marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and a half-century of LGBTQIA+ liberation. Directly following World Pride Day, MTG hosted its tennis tournament as the Liberty Open celebrated its 25th season and was held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open. “MTG has hosted some of the most talented GLTA (Gay Lesbian Tennis Association) players, and the ones who took home the prizes included a lot of first timers,” said Albert Cousins. Players from all over the world came to play in the Liberty Open and compete on the same grand stage as players like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka have played on. “Playing in the Liberty Open was one of my best tennis experiences so far,” said Anres Bustani, who competed in the Liberty Open for the first time and won the title in the Open Singles Division. “Being able to play at the grounds of the US Open and experiencing what the pros feel when playing there was amazing. And the incredible group of people who played in the tournament

A great time was had by all at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at the 25th Annual Liberty Open

and organized it were amazing! It was a great event, and I will definitely be playing again next year.” 25th Liberty Open Winners l Open Singles Division: Andres Bustani defeated Casey Schnabel l A Singles Division: Paul Jacobus Smit defeated Beaury Andrew Talley l B Singles Division: Amin Dhaou defeated Miroslav Trunec l C Singles Division: Clint Metzger defeated Aluko Akini Hope l D Singles Division: Roderick A. Ferguson defeated Robert Lee l A Singles 50+ Division: Benjamin Johnson defeated Jean Telfort l B Singles 50+ Division: Humberto Rosa defeated R. Cooper l C Singles 50+ Division: Nils Meewes defeated Truett Lee Vaigneur Jr. l Open Doubles Division: Tavaris Delaney & Casey Schnabel defeated Michael Amico & Calvin Tramaine Sullivan l A Doubles Division: Rodney Ferrell & Barry Yu defeated Norris P. Sam & Joaquin Turley l B Doubles Division: Jeff Silverman & Miroslav Trunec defeated Edison Borja &Pacifico Marquezl C Doubles Division: Luis Alberto Gutierrez & Aluko Akini Hope defeated Jay Clarkson & Adam Hayes Sidney Beal III is a contributing author for New York Tennis Magazine.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2019 • New York Tennis Magazine

adult league U S T A L E A G U E S U P D AT E

The Women’s 3.5 team, captained by Hazel Zaldivar & Christine Pon, is heading to the Eastern Sectional Championships in Albany, N.Y.

The Men’s 4.0 team, led by Scott Radar & Shien Lee, have qualified for Sectional Championships in Albany

Karen Fungfeld & Leigh Flayton will lead the Women’s 3.0 team that has qualified for the Eastern Sectional Championships in Albany

Nelly Lee & Angel Ragione, co-captains of the Men 3.5 team, are headed to the Eastern Sectional Championships

The Women’s 4.0 team, captained by Paddi Hurley & Susie Choi

It’s that time of year where the Adult League season in the USTA Eastern Metro Region wraps up, with teams competing for regional titles in the hopes of advancing to the Eastern Sectional Championships in Albany, N.Y. later this fall. Below are the teams that won their respective divisions and will be representing the Metro Region at Sectionals: l Men 3.0: Martin Young l Men 3.5: Nelly Lee & Angel Ragione l Men 4.0: Scott Radar & Shien Lee l Men 4.5: Michael Doane l Men 5.0: Gerald Di Chiara 78

l Women 3.0: Karen Fungfeld & Leigh Flayton l Women 3.5: Hazel Zaldivar & Christine Pon l Women 4.0: Paddi Hurley & Susie Choi l Women 4.5: Maria Salnikowa l Women 5.0: Karen Garfield

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA/Metropolitan Region

2019 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. SEPTEMBER 2019 Sunday-Sunday, September 1-8 U.S. Open Junior Tennis Championships USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows, Corona Park Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Boys’ & Girls’ Singles & Doubles: 78’ Yellow Ball 18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $3 per player For more information, e-mail USOpenJrs@USTA.com or call (718) 760-6200. Friday-Sunday, September 6-8 L2 Staten Island Tennis Open Staten Island Community Tennis Center 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (FMLC) and Intermediate Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Sept. 2 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail KLastique@yahoo.com or call (718) 982-3355. Friday-Sunday, September 6-8 L1B Hector Henry Championships Linden Park Tennis Courts 559 Stanley Avenue Brooklyn, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles & Doubles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Aug. 25 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail DLachmanen@gmail.com or call (646) 701-1844. Friday-Sunday, September 6-8 & September 13-15 L1B Sportime Randall’s Island September 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, Sept. 2 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail TournamentsRI@Sportimetfm.com or call (212) 427-6150.

Saturday-Sunday, September 7-8 L3 Alley Pond TC Sept UPS Divisions: Entry Level Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Green Ball 12, 78’ Yellow Ball 14-16 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Sept. 4 at Noon) For more information, e-mail AlleyPondTennisCenter@gmail.com or call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, September 13-15 & September 20-22 L2 Sportime at Randall’s Island September 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, Sept. 9 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail MattyTrumino@gmail.com or call (212) 427-6150. Saturday-Sunday, September 14-15 L2 City Parks Invitational Tournament Flushing Meadows Park Courts Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Level 2 Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12-16 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $3 per player For more information, e-mail TomTvedt@yahoo.com or call (718) 760-6999. Saturday-Sunday, September 14-15 L1B Haffen Park September Challenger Crotona Park 1700 Crotona Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12-16 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail EBWaldron@aol.com or call (917) 609-3648.

Sunday, September 15 L3 Mill Basin MatchPointNYC UPS MatchPoint NYC Mill Basin 2350 East 69th Street Brooklyn, N.Y. Divisions: Entry Level Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Green Ball 12, 78’ Yellow Ball 14 (RR) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Thursday, Sept. 12 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail KLastique@yahoo.com or call (718) 769-0001. Saturday, September 21 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, Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Victor@CunninghamTennis.com or call (718) 740-6800. Saturday-Sunday, September 21-22 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 (NEF) Surface Type: Clay Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (718) 239-7919. Friday-Sunday, September 27-29 L1 Tennis at Throgs Neck September Championships Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, N.Y. Divisions: Championships Boys’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 18 (SE) and Championships Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12-14 (SE) Surface Type: Clay Entry Fee: $65 per player For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (212) 935-0250.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 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-Sunday, September 28-29 L3 Alley Pond Tennis Center UPS Divisions: Entry Level Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Green Ball 12, 78’ Yellow Ball 14-16 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600. OCTOBER 2019 Friday-Sunday, October 4-6 L1B Mill Basin MatchPointNYC October Challenger Matchpoint NYC Mill Basin 2350 East 69th Street Brooklyn, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail KLastique@yahoo.com or call (718) 769-0001. Friday-Sunday, October 4-6 Eastern Super Six at Alley Pond (National L4) Divisions: Super 6 Event Boys’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 18 (FIC-R16) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $134.88 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600.

Saturday-Sunday, October 5-6 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 (NEF) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Sept. 29 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (718) 239-7919.

Friday-Sunday, October 18-20 L1B New York Tennis Club October Challenger New York Tennis Club Indoors 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14, 18 (SE) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $65 per player For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (718) 239-7919.

Sunday, October 6 L3 Mill Basin MatchPointNYC October UPS Matchpoint NYC Mill Basin 2350 East 69th Street • Brooklyn, N.Y. Divisions: Level 3 Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Green Ball 14-18 (RR) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail KLastique@yahoo.com or call (718) 769-0001.

Friday-Sunday, October 18-20 L1B APTC October Challenger Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 12,16 (SE) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail AlleyPondTennisCenter@gmail.com or call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Sunday, October 11-13 & October 18-20 L1B Sportime at Randall’s Island October 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 For more information, e-mail MattyTrumino@gmail.com or call (212) 427-6150.

Saturday-Sunday, October 19-20 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, Oct. 13 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Victor@CunninghamTennis.com or call (718) 740-6800. Friday-Sunday, October 25-27 L1B Challenger at Throgs Neck New York Tennis Club Indoors 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys’ & Girls’ Singles: 78’ Yellow Ball 14-16 (SE) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $65 per player For more information, e-mail BillWiese4@gmail.com or call (718) 239-7919.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2019 • NYTennisMag.com

Why Should Your School?

Dwight Global â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the online program of Dwight School2120/.-,2+.**),2('&%.-,2)*2 $-&#.,2"2+02! 2&2 . ) '.2, .# '.2 )'.2 -. .) )*$2&2 0-'# '&,,2.# &+)0*

FLEXIBILITY TO PURSUE TENNIS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL 2 0)*20*')*.2 '&,,.,2 -0 2&*% .-. 2 + #%2&+2 )$ +2 & ( ,.,2)*2 . 2 0- 2 0*#0* 2 &*$ &) 2 .0 ' 2&*#2 &) 2 & .2, .-2 0 -,., Photo: Â©Istock/gilaxia

A WORLD-CLASS PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION 2 *')*.2,. )*&-,2&*#2, &''2 '&,,2,) ., 2 2&*#2 2 0 -,. 0- 2 2 0(2 0''.$.2& .(+&* .,2&*#2-. - )+ .*+

High School of

Karl Poling

New York | London | Seoul | Shanghai | Dubai

2018-19 Ivy League Rookie of the Year Dwight Class of 2018 Princeton Class of 2022

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;¢ July/August 2019 â&#x20AC;¢ New York Tennis Magazine 106

&# ),,)0*, # )$ + .# 2 2 ! " 2 2 # )$ + $'0 &'

107 New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2019 • NYTennisMag.com