From cities to country clubs, tennis never really went away. “I tennis is a popular pastime for a want to play for the rest of my few simple reasons. It’s a social life,” Podolsky said. Today, she sport that provides a whole-body continues to rack up experience, workout which athletes can play but now as a summer camp throughout their entire life. Decoach, breaking out her gear spite the coordinated outfits and whenever she gets a chance back high-performance gear you may rom home. cities to country clubs, see on TV, it’s not that expensive tennis Tiffanypastime Bittar, afor a is a popular to pick up: all you really need are fewsophomore psychology major, simple reasons. It’s a social tennis balls and a racket, which sport has that a similar story, having played provides a wholecan even be borrowed in a pinch. body competitively in highcan school workout athletes play Abby Podolsky, a before coming UM. Tennis, throughout their entire life. to Despite the senior marketing major coordinated at Unishe said, is high-performance a humbling sport—it outfits and versity of Miami, pickedgear up her one to workit’swith you mayteaches see on television, not aanpartfirst tennis racket when expensive she was sport nerto (ifpick they’re doubles), up: playing all you really need just three years old and hasn’t andand allows one to test themself. are tennis balls a racket, which could put it down since. As a child, sheborrowed “It’s easy even be in aenough pinch. to pick up,” she played competitively, winning said, “but hard marketing to get goodmajor at.” Abby Podolsky, a senior two state championshipsatinUniversity high Playing singles, sheupsaid, of Miami, picked her also first inschool and being rankedtennis as theracketspires rely on and take when players she wastojust three years top female singles playerold in and Del-hasn’tresponsibility for themselves. put it down since. As a child, aware at one point in hershe career. Because when you’re the played competitively, winning twoonly state These days, Podolsky doesn’t play oneinout there, it’s hard to blame championships high school and being for the big trophies; despite being for mistakes. ranked as theothers top female singles player in scouted by colleges, she Delaware put her at one point in For beginners looking her career. These academic success over her athletto doesn’t step on play the court forbig the first days, Podolsky for the ic one. “I ended up choosing life despite time,being Podolsky’s advice is simple: trophies; scouted by colleges, over tennis,” she said. “I she wanted Just get out there.over While put her academic success herthe athletic to learn at a school that was can be played at atennis, very ”high one.at “I endedsport up choosing life over my level academically.” But level, lots of players of all ages she the said. “I wanted to learn at a school that do was at my level academically.” But tennis never really went away. “I want to play for the rest of my life,” Podolsky said. Today, she continues to rack up experience, but now as a summer camp coach, breaking out her gear whenever she gets a chance back home. Tiffany Bittar, a sophomore psychology major, has a similar story, having played competitively in high school before coming to UM. Tennis, she said, is a humbling
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it purely for fun. As a workout, Bittar said, tennis provides a little bit of everything—players run and sidestep to hit the ball, working all sorts of muscle groups as well as testing cardiovascular stamina. It can be as intense (or un-intense) as theone players make sport—it teaches to work with a partner it—another reasondoubles), the sportand is allows one (if they’re playing popular amongst“It’s aneasy olderenough crowd.to pick up,” to test themself. said, “but “You probably can’t at.” Playing she hard to get good play football when 60,”players to rely singles, she said, alsoyou’re inspires said Catalina Gonzalez, vice on and take responsibility for themselves. president of UM’s Club Because when you’re theTennis only one out there, team and sophomore it’s hard to ablame others health for mistakes. management andlooking policy major. For beginners to step on the court “But is a lifelong sport. ” for thetennis first time, Podolsky’s advice is simple: get outGonzalez said the anyone Just there. While sport can be lookingatto play high on campus is welplayed a very level, lots of players of come club, which has As close all agesindothe it purely for fun. a workout, to 200said, members. with a bit of Bittar tennis Those provides a little competitive edge, she said, everything—players run andcan sidestep to hit try ball, out for the competition the working all sorts of team, muscle groups which travels around Florida stamina. It as well as testing cardiovascular playing schools. But for as the players can be asother intense (or unintense) newbies or individuals make it—another reasonlooking the sport is popular to play for she said the club’s amongst anfun, older crowd. recreational groupcan’t is a play greatfootball when “You probably place to started, make some vice you’re 60,get ” said Catalina Gonzalez, friends and work on new skills.team and a president of UM’s Club Tennis sophomore health management and policy major. “But tennis is a lifelong sport.” Gonzalez said anyone looking to play on campus is welcome in the club. Those with a competitive edge, she said, can try out for the competition team, which travels around Florida playing other schools. But for newbies or individuals looking to play for fun, she said the club’s recreational group is a great place to get started, make some friends and work on new skills.
WHERE TO PLAY Looking to get a few sets in? You don’t need a membership to a fancy club. Check out these free courts located near the University of Miami!
Neil Schiff Tennis Center 5821 San Amaro Dr. Coral Gables, FL 33146
Saga Bay Park SW 205 ST & 80 Ave. Cutler Bay, FL 33189
Phillip’s Park 90 Menores Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Brewer Park 6300 Miller Dr. Miami, FL 33155
Summer 2021 DISTRACTION 55
