Indianapolis Tennis Magazine - Summer 2009

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Carmel girls top Homestead for IHSAA state championship

Indianapolis Tennis Magazine Summer 2009

Indy Championships

The return of popular former champ Andy Roddick takes center stage (and Stadium Court) at Indianapolis Tennis Championships

Madame President USTA President Lucy Garvin shares her insights for the group’s future as she begins her two-year term News & Notes

Troy Hahn added to USTA coaching staff

Focus on Fitness

End your match with these stretches

(pro)file

Five Seasons Sports Club’s Jennifer Reinbold

Destination

The Phoenician in Scottsdale, AZ


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• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009


Contents Volume 4, Issue 1

Summer 2009

ON THE COVER: (Front) Andy Roddick has the chance to join Pete Sampras as the only three-time winners of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships presented by Lilly. The top American on the men’s pro tour, who won the title in 2003 and 2004, returns after a year’s absence. (Photo by Scott Cooper)

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12 Indy Tennis Championships Olympus US Open Series kick-off event features the return of a favorite and a few new wrinkles for fans.

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Channeling your ‘Inner Coach’

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USTA president, board visit Indy

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Carmel claims girls’ net title

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Girls’ state doubles tournament

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Spirit Luncheon

Former IU All-American and touring pro Dave Power offers more than 300 tips to help you master the mental game of tennis.

During a national board meeting at the Midwest Section offices, USTA president Lucy Garvin shared her views on how the group can help grow the game.

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Greyhounds take fourth title with wins over Munster and Homestead.

Brebeuf Jesuit’s Annabeth Barnard and Gabrielle Rubenstein end season with state title.

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Plus… 4

Ad In – Publisher’s Commentary

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News & Notes – The USTA has announced that it has added former North Central standout Troy Hahn to its Player Development Program staff

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(pro)file – Five Seasons Sports Club’s Jennifer (Mundel) Reinbold

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On Court – Use these tips to get the most out of your clinic experience

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Focus on Fitness – Done playing? Don’t forget these post-match stretches

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Destination – The Phoenician in Scottsdale,

Arizona

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Area junior players and volunteers are recognized at annual event.

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Ad In

Indianapolis Tennis Magazine

Publisher’s commentary

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ndy Murray owes us – and by “us” I mean the tennis fans of Indianapolis. Actually, Andy Murray owes us and the Indianapolis Tennis Championships presented by Lilly. For two straight years, the Scotsman made an early commitment to the local tournament, only to pull out for various reasons prior to play. In 2007 it was due to a wrist injury suffered earlier at Hamburg; last year, it was for “personal reasons,” which, according to his spokesman, included “resting and recharging his batteries before a very grueling period, including the Beijing Olympics…” So, Andy, how’d that work out for you? The answer was a first-round singles loss in straight sets to Yen-Hsun Lu of Taipei, and a second-round doubles loss (with brother Jaime). However, in spite of those results, Murray still had what amounted to his highly-anticipated breakout year in ‘08, winning his first ATP Masters Series (now ATP World Tour Masters 1000) event in Cincinnati and then finishing second in Madrid. So far, 2009 has been just as good, with another Masters 1000 win at Miami and tournament titles in Doha (against Andy Roddick), Rotterdam (against Rafa Nadal), and London (against James Blake) as he headed to Wimbledon. The question is, having finally reached the Big Time, will Murray “big time” Indy? ****** Remember my suggestion last fall to require players to play in at least three events in order to qualify for the U.S. Series bonuses? It seems as if some in men’s pro golf are pushing for something similar. A Sports Illustrated article pointed out the idea of requiring players to play even the smaller events at least once every four to five years has the backing of tournament organizers and even some players. The women’s LPGA tour has already implemented a similar requirement.

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

The thought behind this is that it will help the smaller tournaments attract sponsors. As the article noted, what a bargaining chip it would be for the tournaments to be able to tell a potential sponsor that Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson would be playing in their event at least once every four years.

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With little variation, in pro tennis we tend to see the same players at the same tournaments year in and year out. The players’ schedules are always built around preparation for the four slams and/or with a nod to their preferred surface. For example, this year’s ATP Tour schedule lists 65 events spread out over about 44 weeks, excluding Davis Cup and the year-ending ATP World Tour Finals. Look for the top three or four players in the world to play, perhaps, 16 of those. ****** Based on the page counts, it looks as if a lot of you already know about our updated and improved website at www.indytennismag.com. Launched in late April, the new site will complement the print magazine by providing updated local news between issues. You’ll also be able to keep up with news from the pro tour (both men and women), as well as junior and college news, all updated daily via newsfeeds. Under our “Web Extras” tab you’ll find a special video instruction feature – also updated daily – in addition to online tennis-related games. The site is still evolving, and we’re hoping to add more video and audio instruction from local pros along the way. As always, thanks for reading and supporting Indianapolis Tennis Magazine, and we hope you enjoy our new website!

PUBLISHER Scott D. Cooper CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Linda Cook Chris Crawford Scott Hudson Tomas Johansson Linda Schroeder O’Neill Dave Power CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Shawn Barney Kathy Dalla Costa Karin Foley The Phoenician Resort GRAPHIC DESIGN Nardi Art, LLC Regina Nardi Bal-Bow Grafix Terri Balon-Bowden For advertising information, call (317) 918-0726

Indianapolis Tennis Magazine is published four times a year by Cooper Media Group, LLC Bargersville, Indiana Contact us at Indianapolis Tennis Magazine P.O. Box 21 Bargersville, IN 46106 (317) 918-0726; (317) 422-4559 fax; or e-mail to scott@indytennismag.com Material may not be used or reprinted without prior permission from Cooper Media Group, LLC. Copyright® 2009, Cooper Media Group, LLC www.indytennismag.com

Indianapolis Tennis Magazine and the Indianapolis Tennis Magazine logo are registered trademarks of Cooper Media Group, LLC. Indianapolis Tennis Magazine is the winner of Media Awards from the USTA/Midwest Section (2007) and Hamilton County Community Tennis Association (2008).


News & Notes Tennis happenings from around the area

USTA adds Troy Hahn to Player Development Program staff 2009 season. The players on the all-state teams were selected based on nomination by member coaches.

“Troy is another outstanding addition to our staff,” said Patrick McEnroe, general manager, Player Development. “He is a young guy who played professionally and can also speak to the importance of college tennis as both a former player and assistant coach. I think he is going to provide a lot of experience and enthusiasm which our players can feed off of.”

Carmel’s Sharon Rosenburg was named coach of the year in District 3, while Neil Behrman (Yorktown) and Gabe Muterspaugh (Mt. Vernon) shared the honors in District 4.

Hahn recently spent one year as assistant men’s tennis coach at Purdue University. He played professionally from 2004-07 and won six ITF Pro Circuit doubles titles while achieving a career-high doubles ranking of 410. He also served as a practice partner for the U.S. Fed Cup team during five ties over a two-year span. Hahn played collegiately at the University of Florida, where he lead the Gators to two SEC team titles.

North stars win annual ICGSA Tennis Cup The 11th annual Senior North-South All-Star Tennis Cup went to the North squad in the event played at the UIndy Tennis Pavilion. The match is sponsored by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association.

The lists include Courtney Wild, Megan Renninger, Olivia Trancik, Susie Chen and Sarah Rodefeld of state champion Carmel High School, as well as Gabrielle Rubenstein and Annabeth Barnard who won the state doubles title for Brebeuf Jesuit.

First Team - Singles: Chelsea Carter (Park Tudor); Carol Hsu (Hamilton Southeastern); Bethany Moore (Lebanon); Christina Riley (Avon); Courtney Wild (Carmel). Second Team: Taylor Eckert (Greenwood); Shelby Hullett (Indian Creek); Abi Schuster (Franklin Central); Mercy Scott (Anderson Highland); Lindsay Thygesen (Park Tudor). First Team - Doubles: Megan Renninger & Olivia Trancik (Carmel); Gabrielle Rubenstein & Annabeth Barnard (Brebeuf Jesuit); Sarah MacPhail & Caroline Emhardt (Park Tudor); Susie Chen & Sarah Rodefeld (Carmel); Carlene Eckhart & Cassia Wojtalik (Cathedral). Second Team: Madeline Clark & Megan Graves (Franklin Community); Sarah Richert & Diane Jones (Center Grove).

HCCTA honors nine at annual luncheon

Coached by Ft. Wayne Canterbury’s Jerry Geric and Tim Wright of West Lafayette, the North team included Kristina Carson and Abby Fritchley (Cardinal Ritter), Megan Renninger (Carmel), and Paola Usina (Cathedral). The South team, coached by Zionsville’s Pat Slama and Matt DeVault of Alexandria, included Eileen Dinnin and Lauren Formulak (Zionsville), Kelly Fritz (Tech), Stephanie Gartrell and Kathryn Vance (Roncalli), Chelsea Hook (Franklin), and Melissa Montgomery (Alexandria).

The Hamilton County Community Tennis Association (HCCTA) recognized students and volunteers among others during its 15th annual Recognition Luncheon at Carmel High School on June 4. Valerie Ginther of Carmel High School and Jamie Masnyk of Noblesville High School received the inaugural Gil Kett Sportsmanship Award. A leader in the Carmel community and former president of the Five Seasons Sports Club Board of Governors, Kett passed away earlier this year.

Local players named to girls’ all-state teams

Recognition Awards were handed out to Noblesville High School’s Meelyn Pandit (Student), the NCAA’s Suzanne Yoder (Corporation), HCCTA’s Shannyn Miller (Coach) and the HCCTA’s Colin Atkinson (Volunteer). Pandit was also one of four Scholarship PAGE 19 

The Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association (IHSTeCA) has released its first-and second-team selections for the girls’ all-state teams for the spring

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ormer North Central High School standout and IHSAA state singles champion Troy Hahn has been hired as a USTA coach. In this role, Hahn will facilitate coaching and training programs while working with players in the USTA Player Development Program. He will be based at the USTA Training Center headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., and will report to Ola Malmqvist, Head of Women’s Tennis, USTA Player Development.

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(pro)file A closer look at metro Indy teaching pros and coaches

‘Tennis is a gift’

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Wrong-way cab ride proved life changing for Jennifer Reinbold By Linda Cook

funny thing happened to 17-year-old Jennifer (Mundel) Reinbold on the way to the 1979 U.S. Clay Court Championships. When she and another teen player arrived in Indianapolis, they asked the cab driver to take them downtown to the recently-built Indianapolis Tennis Center. Instead, they wound up at North Central High School.

J

REINBOLD

ENNIFER

So there they were, two girls with their suitcases and racquet bags, uncertain of what to do next in completely unfamiliar surroundings. Fortunately for them, they would soon run into someone who not only knew the surroundings, but would be an incredible influence on Jennifer’s life for years to come. Barbara Wynne brought the lost girls to her home and took care of them during their stay, then allowed Jennifer to stay at the family’s homes in Indianapolis and Florida during tournaments. The Wynnes would also travel to Wimbledon and the French Open to watch her play.

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Raised in South Africa, Reinbold began playing tennis with her older brother when she was eight or nine years old.

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“The coach didn’t think I would be any good,” she said, “so he made me hit against a backboard and shag balls in the bush.” As she began to improve, her parents started taking her to Johannesburg for coaching, but the coaches kept moving to the United States. So many left the country that there was a “huge brain and talent drain,” she said. Reinbold went on to play on the British Adult Circuit as a 14 year old and at the same time began competing in international junior tournaments. In 1978, after winning the Apple Bowl in Spain and the doubles and mixed at the Orange Bowl in Miami, she was the No. 5-ranked junior in the world. Her subsequent pro career would take her to all of the major tour events, including all four Grand Slams where she would play against tennis legends Chris Evert, Billie

(Photo by Shawn Barney)


During her days on the women’s pro tour, Jennifer Reinbold played against many of the game’s greatest players, including Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Steffi Graff. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Reinbold)

it turned out, her future husband, Dennis, became a tournament sponsor, and Wynne happily played matchmaker.

“I’ve always felt like a team with P.A. and admire and respect him tremendously,” she explained. He works with her two sons, Derek and Graham, both of whom play tennis at Park Tudor.

Reinbold played on the pro tour for about nine years, living out of a suitcase for almost 10 months each year, until marrying Dennis in September 1987 and settling in Indianapolis. Her career came to an end two months earlier at the Tennis Hall of Fame tournament in Newport, Rhode Island when a fall on the wet grass dislocated her shoulder. While Reinbold’s shoulder was still in a sling, Wynne sent her off to coach one of her junior teams in a Chicago tournament. The team came back with a trophy, and Jennifer had found her new career.

Reinbold had always read a lot while on the tour, and spent a lot of her down time attending plays and touring museums. When she left the tour she was able to continue her own education and graduated from IUPUI with a 4.0 grade point average. “I loved school,” she reminisced. “It opened my eyes to the world and to new experiences.”

(pro)

Jean King, Pam Shriver, Martina Navratilova, Virginia Wade and Steffi Graff.

Along with her one career singles title in 1986 at Bakersfield, California, Reinbold said a highlight of her career was playing Navratilova in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1983 after having beaten two of the top seeds, Hana Mandlikova and Sylvia Hanika. Navratilova later told a reporter it was her toughest match of the tournament. Reinbold would again reach the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1986, this time in doubles.

“She’s been there at a lot of important stages in my life,” Reinbold said. Jennifer volunteers a lot in junior tennis and, thinking of Barbara and Pat, she said she does it “in their names.”

“Five Seasons has incredibly nice tennis families,” she said. “And I feel like a lot of these kids are my own. I’m excited about what P.A. and the rest of us have created here. We have a really phenomenal group of very qualified and committed pros here, and we work well together and have a great time. They’re all generous about sharing ideas.”

file

During the latter part of her tennis career, Reinbold trained at the Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago, where she met the director, Pat Freebody, who would become a good friend. Freebody, a former president of the USTA Midwest Section, is currently a Managing Director of the USTA. Jennifer and her friends also introduced Wynne to the WTA management, a turn of events that would spawn the Virginia Slims tournament in Indianapolis and yet another twist in Reinbold’s life. As

Wynne continued to be an important influence in Jennifer’s life, asking her to coach local juniors, helping her get her green card, and eventually taking her to the citizenship swearing-in ceremony while Dennis stayed home with their young son.

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At Five Seasons, Reinbold assists with junior tennis programming, including running “super group” challenge matches and preparing kids for tournaments. Along with Shelly Wild, she organized the inaugural “Rally for the Cure” fundraiser last October, an event that included tennis, a tennis fashion show, and lunch to benefit breast cancer research. She also writes “Take Five,” Five Seasons’ monthly newsletter, and prepares colorful and informative bulletin boards and displays around the club.

Reinbold also worked in the junior development program at Indianapolis Racquet Club, where she met P.A. Nilhagen. She said they were friends from the start, and he respected her work ethic. Her family was also charter members of Five Seasons Sports Club, where she now works alongside Nilhagen.

Reinbold plans to continue playing tennis and working with junior development.

“I’m really grateful for the way things worked out,” she mused. “Tennis has been a real gift. I appreciate the sacrifices my parents made in letting me go, and I’m grateful to have my kids grow up in America. Americans are incredibly hospitable and generous.”

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On Court Tips to help improve your game

How to make the most

C

By Tomas Johansson and Chris Crawford

of your clinic experience

onsider the following questions and answers: Q: Why are you doing a tennis clinic once a week, Robert? A: I don’t want the hassle of having to reserve a court just to be stood up by somebody. I just want to show up and play. Q: What about you, Caroline, what is your favorite thing about your weekly tennis clinic? A: I love the workout. It sure beats getting on a treadmill. I also want to get better and learn new things that can help me do just that. Q: Why are you taking a clinic once a week, Mark? A: I like the faster pace it offers. I also like to meet new people and perhaps find a new doubles partner or practice partner.

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If you already participate in a tennis clinic, or are thinking about signing up for one, it’s helpful and important to understand the various reasons players have for taking a tennis clinic, especially since they may be different than your own. Understanding your fellow tennis players’ incentives or motivations will make the time spent in the clinic much more worthwhile and maximize your clinic experience. Therefore, it’s important to consider the following guidelines.

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Be a team-player

Take the blame

Remember that a clinic is not a private lesson. If you feel you’re just a bit better than the other players and your pace is a bit faster, try to raise the other players’ level by helping them. The best way to do that is to work as hard as you can both physically and mentally. Move the way you expect others to move, and keep a positive attitude. From experience we know it only takes one negative player to ruin a clinic for five or six other players. Even on a bad day when you’re either not playing well or just can’t shake the frustration from a rough day at work, don’t be the player who ruins a clinic. Instead, be the one who, with full effort and enthusiasm, makes the clinic the best clinic possible. Also remember that a clinic is not an exhibition to show who’s the best player. Be a good team player, and chances are the clinic will be stronger in spite of the differences in levels and personalities.

When you’re part of a larger group of people, or in this case a tennis clinic, it’s often hard to admit when you’re wrong. Instead, approach your tennis clinic with openness to suggestions and constructive criticism, as well as an expectation that you’re probably not going to execute every shot correctly. The best thing to do is keep the dynamics and atmosphere positive. If you ended up in the wrong position, whether you won or lost the point, admit it to your partner so he isn’t left confused or thinking he may have been in the wrong position. As instructors, the most unwanted situation in a doubles clinic is when a player believes their partner made a positioning error or missed an easy shot and reflects that negativity, either verbally or with poor body language. A good instructor should halt play after a situation like this and go over what happened, and what could have been done differently, before the situation escalates. The point is to stay positive and encourage your partner. Leave the rest to the instructor to sort out, but never take any suggestions or advice from an instructor as a personal attack. They are there to help you enjoy your clinic, make you a better player, and keep any unnecessary situations to a minimum.


On Court Nothing is as bothersome to an instructor as having players talking off the side during a break as you’re trying to explain the next drill. Although it’s easy to get distracted by the elements in a clinic, do your best to be courteous, not only to the instructor, but more importantly to your fellow players. Always know what’s going on in your clinic. When an instructor is explaining the next drill or demonstrating a technique to work on, be sure to pay close attention. You should never have to ask where you should be in the drill or how the drill works. If you paid attention but still feel uncertain of what is going on, it’s up to the instructor to realize that and do a better job communicating. If you’re in the right clinic with a good instructor, you should feel very comfortable asking questions. Tennis can be tough enough as it is, but listening and paying close attention to direction and instruction will go a long way in making the clinic stronger.

Keep a positive attitude

In our eyes, tennis is the most enjoyable activity you can participate in. It can be an escape from the grind of your everyday life or a chance to be active and have fun. And it’s an opportunity to let your competitive juices flow in a controlled manner. The same applies to a tennis clinic. Make sure you enjoy yourself and never hesitate to give compliments to your fellow tennis players. If you miss a shot, whether it’s an easy one or a difficult one, try not to show any frustration. Instead, look to redeem yourself on the very next shot. The most fun, most productive, and best clinics are not the ones with the best instructors, but instead are ones in which the participants always keep a positive attitude, with themselves as well as with others. In conclusion, try to make your tennis clinic as enjoyable and productive as possible. Be aware of your own and other players’ reasons for participating in the clinic in the first place. This will make the clinic stronger and better for everybody, and the time you spend on the court will be the most rewarding, most stress-relieving, healthiest, and the most fun time of the week.

Get healthy,

have fun at Westview Healthplex Sports Club O

pened in 1998, Westview Healthplex Sports Club is a comprehensive, medically based health and fitness facility located on the northwest side of Indianapolis. The facility includes two swimming pools, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, an indoor walking and running track, Pilates, strength and cardiovascular training, as well as a spa, massage therapy, Courtside Café and child care services. Tom Campbell, executive director, and Miguel Dungo, director of tennis, recently sat down to explain the advantages and benefits of the club.

Q – With so many other health club options in the area, what makes Westview Healthplex Sports Club stand out? A – A couple of things. We’re the only medicallybased fitness center in town (owned by Westview Hospital), and with that we have a strong emphasis on prevention. We try to integrate clinical operations along with blending fitness and health care. When a member joins, we do an initial screening to ensure they get the proper care once they join the club. In a medical fitness center we focus on the continuum of care. We obviously focus on prevention, but there’s also a rehab component the Healthplex can offer. And we’re so multi-purpose; you can do a little of everything here. We have excellent, very qualified staff and again that also plays into the fact that most medical-fitness centers have very educated and certified personnel. Q – You mentioned the club’s emphasis on prevention. What are some of the ways you do that? A – In order to become a member you have to go through a pre-screening, unlike other facilities where you may be able to just sign up and go. If something during the screening jumps out at us, we like to be able to refer them back to their primary care physician for a follow up and to clear them for exercise. We also have a fitness assessment program that all members are welcome to go through where they can get a baseline of their fitness status, showing their aerobic capacity, strength, endurance and PAGE 19 

Tomas Johansson (left) is the director of junior tennis and Chris Crawford is a teaching pro at Westview Healthplex Sports Club.

ADVERTORIAL

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Pay attention

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Focus on Fitness Off-court strategies to help your game on the court

Post-match stretching essential to decrease soreness, speed recovery

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By Scott Hudson re you taking care of your body after your tennis match?

In addition to rehydrating and getting the proper food in your system after your tennis workouts, ample time should be given to post-workout stretching. In the spring issue we discussed “dynamic” stretching before tennis workouts. “Static” stretching should be done after working out. This type of stretching facilitates range of motion improvements and may also decrease muscular soreness. Massage can also be beneficial to help the body recover, but the next best thing to massage is a foam roller. Foam rollers range anywhere from $15-$40 depending on the material it is made of. Foam rollers break up adhesions in the muscles and allow the muscle to be more pliable. Three static stretching exercises and 3 foam roller exercises are described here. As always, be sure to confer with your doctor, certified athletic trainer or certified personal trainer prior to incorporating these into your exercise routine.

Hamstring Stretch Purpose: Stretch the hamstring muscle How it’s done: Lay flat and place your heel in a doorway jamb; do not let your opposite hip come up off the floor; if your leg begins shaking that means you are overstretching.

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Duration: Hold for 1 minute on both legs

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Piriformis (‘Pretzel’) Stretch Purpose: Stretch the external hip rotators How it’s done: Lay flat on the ground and cross your right leg over the left; gently pull your left leg to your chest; switch for the other leg. Duration: Hold for 1 minute on each leg


Crossover (‘Figure 4’) Stretch Purpose: Low back stretch

Fo cu s

How it’s done: Gently pull the opposite leg with opposite arm across the body, making sure to lift your shoulder up on the leg that is across the body; do not perform this stretch if you have disc issues. Duration: 1 minute to each side

Foam Roller Exercise #1

on

Purpose: Increase mobility of the external hip rotators

How it’s done: Sit on a roller and cross one leg over the other knee; roll hip on cross-legged side.

tn Fi

Duration: Roll for 2 minutes or hold on sore spots for 30 seconds

Foam Roller Exercise #2

es

Purpose: Increase mobility of the Illiotibial Band

How it’s done: With the bottom leg raised off floor, roll just below the hip joint down the lateral thigh to the knee.

s

Duration: Roll for 2 minutes or hold on sore spots for 30 seconds

Purpose: Increase mobility of the Tensor Fascia Latae How it’s done: Place the foam roller lateral to the anterior pelvic bone. Duration: Roll for 2 minutes or hold on sore spots for 30 seconds

Scott Hudson, MS, ATC, CSCS, is an athletic trainer at the St. Vincent Sports Performance Center specializing in training techniques and rehabilitation services for tennis players. An athletic trainer at selected USTA pro events, he has worked with Carmel’s Rajeev Ram and currently works with several of the top juniors in the Indianapolis area.

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Foam Roller Exercise #3

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Chronicles Top American

of Roddick

seeks record-tying third Indy Championships title By Scott Cooper Editor’s note: As of our print deadline, the players spotlighted in the following preview were still scheduled to appear in Indianapolis.

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rom the return of a popular champion to a new schedule format, the 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships presented by Lilly will say goodbye to some long-standing traditions while ushering in new ones.

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The early announcement of the commitment to the tournament by Andy Roddick was welcome news to both the tournament’s ticket manager and fans alike. The two-time champion (2003 and 2004) and highest-ranking American player returns to Indy after a year’s hiatus seeking a third tournament title that would tie him with Pete Sampras.

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“Andy has been a fan favorite over the years and he is not shy in saying that Indianapolis is one of his favorite venues to play tennis and sharpen-up for U.S. Open competition,” said Tournament Director Kevin Martin. “He is a box-office ticket draw not just because he brings a high level of tennis competition to the hard courts, but because we can also count on some fun entertainment during his matches.” Roddick’s popularity also prompted tournament officials to make an unprecedented announcement in May, disclosing in advance that the 26-year-old will play his first match on stadium court on Tuesday, July 21. Dubbed, “Andy’s Day,” the non-profit Andy Roddick Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving quality of life and enhancing educational and economic opportunities for all children, will receive a portion of that day’s ticket sales. Roddick last played in Indianapolis two years ago, losing in the semi-final to Frank Dancevic. But his road to a third title shouldn’t be a cakewalk. Should he stumble along the way, fellow American Sam Querrey will be waiting to possibly pick up his second career ATP title, the first coming last year in Las Vegas.

Andy Roddick’s last visit to Indianapolis two years ago ended with a loss in the semi-final to Frank Dancevic.


Sam Querrey has advanced to the semi-finals in his last two appearances in Indianapolis.

Former champ Dmitry Tursunov was also on the early entry list, but an ankle injury that forced him to retire from the first round of Wimbledon could de-rail his Indy hopes.

“We traditionally had double starts – an 11 a.m. day session, and then a 7 p.m. evening session,” said Kerry Lynn Bohen, media director for the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. “We switched to the 4 p.m. starts for MondayThursday (single session) about 10 years ago or so, and it has actually worked out well. The majority of our crowds still arrive closer to 7 p.m., but we have more crowds in daylight than we ever did for the 11 a.m. start. People are more willing to take a little time off at the end of the day and head over to tennis than they are to take an entire day off.”

Players and fans will both benefit by a change that will see only a single session of main-draw play not beginning until 4 p.m. from Monday through Thursday. Tournament officials said weather (most notably heat) was a factor in the decision, as was the opportunity to have more matches scheduled on the outer courts later into the week. The ATP Tour also recommended the tournament move to the later start time. In past years, the tournament had two sessions, one beginning at noon and the other at 7 p.m. “No one wants to play that noon match with the heat, and the ATP felt like we’d be getting the same number of matches in by starting at 4 p.m.,” said Sarah Brelage, executive director of staff operations. The same format has been successfully used for many years by the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C.

Goodbye ladies; hello families Traditional tournament features, such as Kids Day and Ladies Day, are also gone. Kids Day has been replaced by Family Fun Day on Sunday, July 19. Special $40 packages include four admission tickets, four hot dogs, four drinks and four tournament cinch bags. At least one main draw match will be played that day, in addition to the final rounds of the qualifying draw. USTA Member Appreciation Day is back and this year will be held on Thursday, July 23 from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. USTA members can also show their membership card at the box office and receive $4 off for tickets for the Saturday-Friday (July 18-24) sessions (previouslypurchased tickets are not eligible for the discount).

(Photos by Shawn Barney)

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

Start times moved back

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The Inner Coach Book describes techniques

to master the mental aspects of tennis Editor’s note: As a teaching professional, former Indiana University AllAmerican Dave Power has developed a self-coaching system that has helped thousands of players improve their mental toughness on the court. Over a 40-year career, he coached and was instrumental in four players winning national titles, worked with two players who reached the Top 50 in the world on the pro tour, and helped more than 50 students earn college scholarships. The following is an excerpt from his book, The Inner Coach.

By Dave Power

E

In The Inner Coach, Dave Power guides the reader through hundreds of techniques to help master the mental game of tennis.

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very competitive tennis player must develop a basic philosophy that will guide his approach to each and every match. This philosophy, or set of guiding beliefs, will provide a mental framework he will utilize in making important choices on the court. Together with these beliefs, the player must also develop specific goals that will help him establish a successful game plan. By combining a strong basic philosophy with realistic match goals (which are covered in Chapter 3 of The Inner Coach), he will build a solid foundation for a tough mental game. This strong basic philosophy needs to begin with a belief in himself.

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A player must have the following eight essential beliefs for a winning mental game:

I will stay positive

I will never give up

The player must expect to win the match. Even if his opponent’s ability is greater, a mentally prepared player realizes there are many factors that can equalize a match and affect the outcome. For instance, his opponent might not play up to his ability level that day for several reasons: he might be injured or recovering from an illness; he might not play well in wind or poor weather conditions; he might develop cramps on hot days; or, he might choke at a critical time in the match. The player must be positive in his belief that he can win. If he enters the match with a negative attitude, he will find a way to lose. In many matches, both players will have opportunities to win. In close matches, the win will go to the player whose belief in winning is strongest.

The player who never gives up is very difficult to beat because he is always mentally in the match, regardless of the score. He has the ability to turn a match around and frequently makes tremendous comebacks because he knows the match is not over until he loses match point. Even if he is playing poorly, the player still possesses the ability to compete. When frustrated or discouraged, many players either do not make the necessary comeback, or they begin the comeback too late. Tanking, or giving up before the match is over, can be viewed as the opposite of this principle. One who tanks a match is a negative thinker who would prefer not to try, rather than give the appearance of trying and losing. Tanking is a losing philosophy that reflects poorly on the player involved.


I will win ugly if necessary The player must find a way to win in any manner possible within the rules. This might mean hitting 30 balls per point and playing for three hours, or taking some pace off a hard-hit ball. The baseliner may need to come to the net, or the serve-and-volley player may need to stay back and rally. It is acceptable to win ugly, because looking good isn’t as important than winning. It is not essential to stroke every ball. Sometimes, a defensive block of the ball is the more effective way to handle a deep, hard-hit shot.

I will never alter a winning strategy There is no reason to change a winning game. The player is winning because he is playing the right game against his opponent. If his opponent changes his strategy, then he may have to counter with some changes of his own. The player who changes a winning game without reason often creates a more difficult situation for himself. He may even lose a match that he had control over. This approach is especially important to remember toward the end of a set when there is more pressure on each shot. Under pressure, many players who are winning change their strategy for no apparent reason. Instead, remember that it is always mentally smart to stay with what is working well.

Tennis is a sport unlike all others because coaching is either not allowed or limited. Tennis is 90% mental and it is important for players to have mental references to guide them through a match and help them make the proper decisions. Every chapter of The Inner Coach is filled with tips and thoughts that break down in detail every aspect of the mental game. ******

A native of Evanston, Illinois, Dave Power won two state high school singles championships and helped lead his team to three team titles. He was a two-time All-American at Indiana University and was a member of the U.S. Junior Davis Cup Squad. He played in five Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the third round in singles at Forest Hills and the semi-finals in doubles at the Australian Nationals (now the U.S. and Australian Opens). A USPTA Master Professional, Power is currently a partner in the Windward Lake Club in Alpharetta, Georgia.

I will always change a losing game If a player is losing badly, then he obviously needs to make a change. First, he must determine why he is losing, and then he must make the proper adjustments. If that does not work, the player needs to change his game. He might even win the match with a different style of play than he had originally intended. Staying with a losing game will never lead to victory.

Smart players will focus on forcing their opponents into errors rather than hitting their own winning shots. Many points are lost in a match because the player over hits the ball. A winner might look good and feel good, but the effort in trying to hit a winner adds unnecessary pressure to the shot. The smart player knows that it is impossible to hit winners continuously. He knows he must be patient until he has the right opportunity to attempt a winner. It is important to focus more on hitting winning shots rather than winners. Make an opponent hit a wide ball on the run, or a ball below the net when he is volleying. Relying on these shots will help a player win most of his points off his opponent’s error. The Inner Coach is available through Beth McCaskill of Tennis Players Network at (678) 622-3708 or beth.mccaskill@tennisplayernetwork.com.

Dave Power addresses members of the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association (IHSTeCA) during its annual conference last February at the Indianapolis Racquet Club. (Photo by Scott Cooper)

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

I will win most points on errors, not winners

15


Madame President Lucy Garvin

stresses teamwork as she leads the USTA By Linda Schroeder O’Neill

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The USTA Board of Directors held one of its regular meetings at the headquarters of the Midwest Section during May. While in town, newly-named USTA President Lucy Garvin sat down with Indianapolis Tennis Magazine to discuss the current state of tennis and her view of the future of the USTA..

hen Lucy Garvin started her term as United States Tennis Association (USTA) president in January, not only did it give her the challenge of leading a 730,000 member organization and overseeing its 15-member board, it was the culmination of nearly three decades of experience as a volunteer at every level of the organization. A former president of the USTA Southern Section, Garvin had already served the USTA Board of Directors for four terms in other capacities. “I can only tell you that every step of the way, it’s been a pleasure and an honor to serve,” she said. “It does have its challenges and politics are always there, but overall it’s been very positive.” Over the years, Garvin has met few people in tennis that she didn’t believe were there for the right reasons.

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

“The USTA is very fortunate to have many hundreds of qualified volunteers throughout the organization; the challenge for the president is that you can only choose 40 who will be in leadership positions,” she said. “You select the best people you feel can serve in a role, and you let them do the job.”

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Encouraging teamwork throughout all levels of the USTA and the tennis industry is Garvin’s vision during her presidency, as characterized by her motto “Teamwork: One Team, One Goal. To Promote and Develop the Growth of Tennis”. “We cannot accomplish our goals unless we work together,” said Garvin. “If we can use this approach from the top down and across the tennis industry, I believe it will benefit everyone and it will benefit our sport. Teamwork is very important. If ever there was a time to work together, it is now as we have challenges we haven’t faced before. And I don’t just mean the USTA; I am speaking about the tennis industry and tennis professionals as well. All of us, working together, will ensure a successful outcome as we focus our efforts on growing the game.”

USTA President Lucy Garvin with some of the memorabilia on display at the offices of the Midwest Section.

Garvin emphasizes the immeasurable importance of the USTA sections in ensuring the success of the organization. The sections are closer to the consumer, and it is the sections that nurture and support tennis in schools, parks and communities across the country. “It’s our job to provide the resources that the sections, districts/state associations and CTAs (community tennis associations) need to grow the game, and we spend a tremendous amount of money to support these efforts,” said Garvin. “Our structure is quite unusual with 17 sections of various sizes, demographics and their own unique challenges. Our job is to work with them to get the job done.”


Another priority for Garvin is to introduce more young players to tennis. Starting children early with programs using the QuickStart tennis play format is the first step. QuickStart tailors tennis to a child’s age and size, with appropriately-sized equipment and smaller courts. “QuickStart will help us deliver tennis to younger groups and help us identify young athletes,” she said. “If we introduce young people to the sport through QuickStart, get them involved in Junior Team Tennis and keep them involved through high school and college, we are making great strides in growing the game.” A high priority for Garvin is keeping all of this affordable for participants, especially since there are many hidden costs, such as travel to section competitions that may be several hundred miles away. “We want tennis to be available and accessible to all players,” said Garvin. “Those who really love it and excel are going to take it to the next level and go on to play in college. And, we may find the next generation of world champions.”

“Adult leagues are a tremendous program and the players have a lot of fun,” said Garvin. “For those who used to play tennis or took it up late in life, it gets them into a competitive atmosphere.” The USTA has expanded its adult league program to include different combinations, as well as flex leagues that cater to a player’s schedule, ability and preferences. Like every organization these days, the economy will impact how many of these goals and priorities can be reasonably achieved. “The economy is impacting the time and money players have to devote to the game at the recreational level,” said Garvin. However, Garvin noted that more than 70 percent of tennis is played on public courts, and this number could grow even higher in this current economy. Garvin and the USTA will also be keeping a keen eye on tournament attendance as another indicator. “The economy is impacting attendance, so we will continue to do all that we can to sell tickets to the U.S. Open in addition to retaining our sponsors.” A certified tennis referee, Garvin still runs a junior tournament in the Southern Section, which she sees as a way to stay connected to the grassroots level and to the junior competitive area. “In my new role, it’s even more important for me to stay connected at this level, and I believe it’s a huge benefit

During her two-year term, USTA President Lucy Garvin will stress teamwork throughout the organization, as well as emphasizing the need to develop new junior players through the QuickStart tennis play format and Junior Team Tennis. Photos by Kathy Dalla Costa

for me and the board to be aware of what the issues are at the section level,” she said. “Attending section meetings and refereeing helps me learn from other people. I have my own convictions and viewpoint, but I balance them on what I learn from listening to others.” Garvin’s busy schedule may keep her connected to tennis, but chances to actually play are now limited. Over the years, she has won a number of titles at the local, state and sectional levels. Her husband is also an active player, and her two children played in college. Now, with seven grandchildren, “We have several recreational players in this new generation,” said Garvin. When her term is over at the end of 2010, Garvin will serve an additional two years as immediate past president and she will continue her tenure with the International Tennis Federation (ITF). But, for now, accountability and continuity are very important to her. “You should not come in for two years and try to make your mark,” said Garvin, who noted one of her personal goals is to strive for continuity and to work closely with everyone. “Every president should have their own vision, but it’s not about the president. It’s about the USTA and the interaction with the staff and volunteers. It’s about the board of directors doing the best job they can for the whole.”

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

Garvin’s goals for her tenure also include promoting the philosophy of tennis as a lifelong sport. She refers to the USTA adult leagues, which offer structured play opportunities to a large portion of its membership, as “our premier program”, which helps promote the health benefits of tennis.

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• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

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It just proves you never know

who you’ll run into at dinnertime, even if you are the number one-ranked player in the world. While playing the Madrid Open, Rafael Nadal just happened to dine at the same restaurant as Indianapolis’ Karin Foley (center) and Carolyn Claude. Nadal would later lose in the final to Roger Federer (only his second loss to Federer on clay) and he also suffered his first-ever loss at the French Open, aggravating the tendonitis in his knee in the process. We’re sure it was purely a coincidence! (Photo courtesy of Karin Foley)

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PAGE 5

Recipients, along with Eric Murphy (Carmel High School) and Devon Strand and Andy Vissing (Hamilton Southeastern High School). HCCTA president Helen Moser Petersen also announced that the HCCTA’s Summer Reads Program book will be Billie Jean King’s Pressure is a Privilege.

Atkinson’s excellent Wimbledon adventure When local pro Rajeev Ram was making his travel plans for last month’s Wimbledon tournament, he asked friend Colin Atkinson to come along. And he didn’t have to ask twice. Atkinson stayed with Rajeev, giving him a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes as Ram prepared for matches during the fortnight. Atkinson will be sharing those observations with a story and photos in the fall issue of Indianapolis Tennis Magazine.

USTA rebrands National Junior Tennis League The National Junior Tennis League will be re-branded as the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network, the USTA has announced. With the new name and logo, the 40-year-old network of community tennis associations will continue its mission of developing the character of young people through tennis and education. The re-brand will heighten awareness of NJTL initiatives and broaden the public’s understanding of its mission to instill in youngsters the values exemplified by Arthur Ashe throughout his life – humanitarianism, leadership, and academic excellence. NJTLs are charged with providing free or low-cost programming for youth during out-of-school time that combine tennis and education to help keep kids safe, healthy and strong. Key NJTL initiatives include the Community Building Initiative, the Capacity Building Program, and the After-School Intermediary Project. The re-brand comes in conjunction with NJTL’s 40th anniversary, and NJTL chapters across the country will take part in a number of regional rallies throughout this summer. Earlier this year the Indianapolis chapter was named NJTL of the Year. The new brand identity is now being incorporated into all USTA materials, including newsletters, the USTA website, and other promotional mediums. Information on NJTL can be found at http://www.usta.com/NJTL.

Get healthy 

PAGE 9

flexibility. This assists our fitness staff in designing a program for the individual member. It doesn’t matter whether you’re here just to use the pool or tennis courts. Having that fitness assessment really helps us design a fitness program that can supplement those other activities. Q – How does all of this translate into the club’s overall philosophy toward its members? A – We’re positioned to focus heavily on service. Although we may be a high-end club, we place a higher expectation on service. Likewise, our members also have a high expectation of us, and we want to do our best to make sure they use the facility. We’re not all about signing up as many people as we can and then hoping they don’t use the facility. We want to make sure they’re using us at least once or twice a week. And if they don’t, we’ll follow up with them to find out what’s going on. Even though we’re a very large facility, with a lot of members, we also want to have that personal touch. We don’t want our members to think they’re just a number. We try to develop those personal relationships and make sure our frontline staff and management team get very involved with our members. We want our members to feel as if this is a second home. Q – What distinguishes the Westview Healthplex Sports Club tennis programs from other clubs or facilities in the metro area? A – Again, it goes back to our customer service. We want to make sure there’s value added to your membership. To that end we offer free walk-on court time for members, and we allow them the opportunity to make up missed clinic sessions if they’ve already paid for them. We realize that things happen – people get sick or injured or maybe something else came up. We don’t think it’s fair to punish a member in that situation, so we allow them to make it up in another clinic during that six-week session. And if they want to reserve a court up to five days in advance, we only charge up to a $5 fee. If you’re a tennis player, there’s no better deal in town. Westview Healthplex Sports Club is located at 3660 Guion Road, Indianapolis. For more information, or to schedule a tour, call (317) 920-7400 or visit their website at www.healthplex-indy.com.

ADVERTORIAL

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

News & Notes

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IHSAA state finals Greyhound girls top Homestead

for championship

C

By Scott Cooper

armel High School girls’ tennis coach Sharon Rosenburgh stood off to the side, her clothes slowly drying after a surprise victory shower from her team which had just beaten Homestead, 4-1, for the IHSAA state championship. As the sun re-emerged and her girls continued to celebrate, she was asked, “is this the best feeling for a coach?” “The thing that makes it the best feeling is that the players get to enjoy this,” she said. “Not too many athletes get to do that. We did have some obstacles, little things that would go wrong everyday that we would laugh at through the season, but they got through it and that’s what makes it really special.”

Coach Sharon Rosenburgh got an unexpected shower from her team after the Greyhounds finished a 19-1 season with a state title.

The championship capped a 19-1 year for the Greyhounds, their only dual-match loss coming in the regular-season finale against Park Tudor. But Carmel gained its revenge by topping the four-time defending state champs by the same 3-2 score in the finals of the North Central semi-state. As they had been all season, the doubles teams were automatic for Carmel in the finals. Sarah Rodefeld and Susie Chen completed a perfect 17-0 season with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2, while Megan Renninger and Olivia Trancik put the Greyhounds’ second point on the board at No. 1 with their 6-3, 6-1 win. Sophomore Courtney Wild notched the title-clinching point with her 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 1 singles. Unfortunately, a loss in the morning semi to Munster’s Mary Hill cost Wild a berth in the individual singles tournament and the chance to avenge last year’s three-set loss to Columbus North’s Caroline Hedrick in the final. Senior Elizabeth Trancik finished her career at Carmel by giving the Greyhounds their final point, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 3 singles.

“I would much rather have a team state championship than an individual one,” she said. Wild went into the match having never defeated the Mustang senior, who finished her high school career with a record of 102-1 and would win the state singles title a week later. “She moves me around and really knows when to put the ball away.” Prior to the state finals weekend, Rosenburgh had predicted the outcome of Carmel’s match with Munster would likely come down to the No. 2 singles match between the Greyhounds’ Mikaela Carlson and Bobbi Modesto. Both freshmen had missed matches during the season, Modesto with a strained rotator cuff and Carlson with a stress fracture that kept her out of match play until the sectionals.


With the team scored tied at 2-2 and a trip to the state finals on the line, Carlson took a 6-0, 7-6 win.

The Carmel girls’ tennis team celebrates with the spoils of victory after earning its fourth overall net championship and the first in six years.

“The crowd was all crazy,” Carlson said, adding that she still wasn’t 100 percent recovered from her injury. “But you don’t really feel too much of it (pressure) out there. It was exciting.” It was a championship that was a year in the making following Carmel’s loss to eventual state champ Park Tudor in last year’s North Central semi-state. “When we started meeting once a month back in September to set goals and organize things such as uniforms, and then in January when pre-season conditioning and team development started, we decided that we would start right where we left off, which was on these courts against Park Tudor,” Rosenburgh explained.

Although she didn’t see action until the sectionals due to injury, Mikaela Carlson put the Greyhounds into the state finals with a 6-0, 7-6 win over Munster’s Bobbi Modesto.

Carmel’s win solidified the grip that local schools have had on the state tennis championship, as 12 of the last 13 champions have come from the Indianapolis metro area.

Megan Renninger (left) and Olivia Trancik celebrate a point during their No.1 doubles match.

Susie Chen (foreground) and Sarah Rodefeld went undefeated this season at No. 2 doubles and dropped only four games in their two matches in the state finals. (Photos by Scott Cooper)

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

Hill was named the recipient of the IHSAA’s Mental Attitude Award. Munster finished in third place with a 4-1 win over Terre Haute South in the consolation match.

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Sweet revenge New partnership

W

pays dividends for Brebeuf duo By Scott Cooper

ho says singles players can’t play doubles? Don’t tell that to Annabeth Barnard, Gabrielle Rubenstein or even Brebeuf coach Rick Scotten. Not after Barnard and Rubenstein capped a 24-1 season with a title in the IHSAA girls’ doubles tournament, defeating Carmel’s Megan Renninger and Olivia Trancik, 6-4, 6-1.

Even though Rubenstein had played No. 1 singles for the Braves her first two years, she and Barnard approached Scotten to ask about pairing up. “They actually came to me and said they wanted to play doubles together,” Scotten said, adding he knew early on they’d be a formidable combination. “Annabeth is mentally positive all of the time and Gabrielle is so talented that they balance each other out.” This was Scotten’s first title as a coach, but he said the key to the win was Rubenstein’s play early in the match. “I’ve said all along that if Gabrielle plays well, we’ll win,” he said. “She’s the best doubles player, probably, around. If she was off, it was going to be one whale of a match, it was going to be really close, but she was on. She didn’t make

Megan Renninger of Carmel moves to put away a volley during the first set of the girls’ high school state doubles tournament final against Brebeuf. Renninger and partner Olivia Trancik lost for only the second time all season.

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

very many mistakes and got a lot of first serves in, and Annabeth is always solid.”

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The win also avenged the pair’s only loss during the regular season. In the singles tournament, Munster senior Mary Hill capped an undefeated season with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win in a somewhat annoying grunt-fest over defending state singles champ Caroline Hedrick of Columbus North. Avon senior Christina Riley and Lebanon freshman Bethany Moore were the only two metro area girls to advance to the final rounds of the state singles tournament, but both were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Brebeuf’s Annabeth Barnard returns a shot as Gabrielle Rubenstein closes toward the net during the state girls’ doubles tournament final. The pair won the title, 6-4, 6-1.

(Photos by Scott Cooper)


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• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

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Destination Places to go – places to play

Tennis oasis in the Sonoran Desert

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

beckons players

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S

An aerial view of The Phoenician shows just a small part of its more than 250 acres at the base of the Camelback Mountain.

ince it first opened its doors in 1988, The Phoenician has set the standard for luxury and service in the Sonoran Desert. The AAA Five Diamond resort is a visual masterpiece, spanning 250 acres of lush gardens and dramatic desert terrain against the spectacular backdrop of Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona. Here, the spirit and vitality of the Southwest are embodied throughout the resort’s landscaping, art and architecture. But The Phoenician is much more than a world-class luxury resort. Fine touches, such as painstaking attention to detail, inspiring decor, unsurpassed amenities and attentive service are among the countless features setting The Phoenician apart.


Within The Phoenician’s Tennis Garden, you can play on four different types of surfaces, including a Wimbledon-style grass court.

Amenities Representing works by European, Asian and Native American artists, The Phoenician houses a museum-quality collection of fine art and antiques valued at $25 million. Last year, the resort unveiled a new self-guided audio tour of the art collection, providing guests with an educational and exclusive look at the resort’s program. The audio device, consisting of a portable earpiece and programmer, allows visitors to enjoy each piece of art at their own pace, providing interpretive insight into the artist and item. A two-acre Cactus Garden stretches along the northern edge of the main building at the base of Camelback Mountain. The garden includes 250 varieties of cacti and succulents from around the world. Each is labeled for those who prefer a leisurely, self-guided tour.

Over the course of the nine-month tennis grand slam season, the best players in the world will play on four different surfaces: two variations of hard courts, grass and clay. However, you can play on four different surfaces – all in one day – at The Phoenician. The resort’s Tennis Garden features 12 lighted courts and four different surfaces: the revolutionary durable/ resilient Rebound Ace from Australia; a Wimbledonstyle championship grass court (one of the few in the U.S.); a Prestige PlexiCushion surface; and a Plexipave hard surface. Facilities include a center court with spectator seating and a tennis shop with locker rooms. Clinics are offered daily and tennis professionals are available for private instruction. Every 30 minutes fresh towels, water and sports drinks are carried to the 12 lighted courts. A massage at the Centre for Well-Being is the perfect way to unwind after trying out this extensive selection of surface.

Customize your golf experience at The Phoenician by choosing among its three nine-hole courses.

The resort boasts nine pools, including an “edgeless” oval swimming pool in the Canyon Suites that covers more than 2,800 square feet. The resort’s “signature” pool, with The Phoenician logo in the center, is inlaid with hand-crafted iridescent mother of pearl tiles. The environmentally-designed Necklace Lake Lagoon is

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

Tennis at The Phoenician

Fine Carrera Italian marble, imported from the same city where Michelangelo procured his marble for sculpting, is laid throughout the property. Prior to its installation, each tile was numbered, so the sequencing of color and veining could be matched to create an attention to detail seldom seen.

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woven throughout the casita area, creating humidity for tropical plants and serving as a recirculation system for watering the resort’s landscaping. The Centre for Well-Being is a 22,000 square-foot spa complex offering comprehensive programs and á la carte services ranging from herbal body treatments to energy therapies and fitness classes. Facilities include a weight room, aerobic studio, men’s and women’s locker rooms with sauna, steam and whirlpools, a full-service salon and boutique shop, a Meditation Atrium and the Waters Bar. The Phoenician offers diverse and inspired dining options, including Il Terrazzo with authentic Italian cuisine and hand-crafted artisan breads. Guests can visit the Café and Ice Cream Parlor or enjoy poolside fare at the Oasis and Canyon Pool Grills. And, of course, The Phoenician is home to an awardwinning USGA Championship golf club, with 18-hole combinations available across three nine-hole courses. Clinics are offered daily, and golf professionals are available for private instruction.

The luxuriously appointed guestrooms feature handselected art that blends with the warm, indigenous color schemes. Suites feature one, two and three bedrooms averaging 1,200 square feet of space and offering magnificent views. The second-floor casita suites feature hand-carved travertine fireplaces. In addition to its 643 guestrooms, The Phoenician offers an alternative resort experience in The Phoenician Residences, a fractional ownership community located near the property’s main entrance. These two- and three-bedroom villas are highlighted by rich, hardwood floors, natural stone fireplaces, private plunge pools and spas, and outdoor summer kitchens with gas grills. Owners have access to all resort services and amenities. When available, The Phoenician Residences are offered on a nightly basis. For more information, visit the resort’s website at www.thephoenician.com.

Accommodations

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

The Phoenician features 577 guestrooms, 62 suites, and four presidential suites. Guestrooms and suites are spread over three locations: the main building, which is centrally located near pools and restaurants; the casitas, which are a short stroll from the main building and provide both doorstep parking and private entrances; and the Canyon Suites, which are nestled against Camelback Mountain, feature a boutique resort within a resort with its own secluded pool and cabanas.

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The Centre for Well-Being spa complex offers comprehensive programs and services ranging from herbal body treatments to energy therapies and fitness classes.

Spectacular views of The Phoenician’s unique grounds – and the surrounding Sonoran Desert – come with each guest room.


Spirit Luncheon T

recognizes players, volunteers, umpires

he Indianapolis Junior Tennis Development Fund’s annual Connie Held Spirit Luncheon, held May 28 at the Barbara S. Wynne Tennis Center, recognized local top junior players and volunteers, in addition to dedicating new umpire chairs for the courts on the campus of North Central High School.

Brooke Austin received both the Dottie Meyer Scholarship and Kurt Freudenthal Award.

Barbara Wynne paid special tribute to Ann Schaefer, who passed away earlier this year. A former director with the RCA Tennis Championships, Schaefer also was the first director of the WTA Kraft General Foods tournaments hosted by the Indianapolis Racquet Club in the 1980s. She also served as chairman for tennis events for both the National Sports Festival and the Pan-American Games. Kelly Csiszar was named the winner of the Rita Stoeppelwerth Scholarship.

Other honorees were: • Brooke Austin – Dottie Meyer Memorial Scholarship • Kelly Csiszar – Rita Stoepplewerth Memorial Scholarship • Annabeth Barnard and Andrew Kahn – Stan Malless Tennis, Academic & Leadership Award • Phylis Gesellchen – Connie Held Spirit of Volunteerism Award • David Moss and Reid Garlock – Connie Held North Central Spirit Award • Maggie MacPhail – Mariann Nilhagen Memorial Scholarship Kurt Freudenthal Memorial Awards were given to USTA National Open winners Brooke Austin, David Beasley, Nick Chappell, Mihir Kumar, Sameer Kumar, Ronnie Schneider, Joe Van Meter, and JT Wynne. The National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) of Indianapolis was recognized with an achievement grant for its 40 years of service to the local tennis community, as well as having been named NJTL of the Year by the USTA. The Indianapolis Community Tennis Association also received a grant in recognition of its Community Service Day in the Parks and wheelchair tennis programs. The newly-built umpire chairs were dedicated in thanksgiving and in memory of the following Central Indiana Tennis Association officials: Frank Dowling, Dan Horan, Bob Infanger, Richard Sommers, Terry Carpenter, John McIlwraith, Marion Rice, Carl and Jan Weigle, Lynda Hinshaw, Woodie Sublett-Walker and Don Frydell.

David Moss (left) and Reid Garlock were both recognized with the Connie Held North Central Spirit Award.

Christina Riley (left) received the first Ann Schaefer Scholarship, and Maggie MacPhail was awarded the Mariann Nilhagen Scholarship.

(Photos by Shawn Barney)

This page is compliments of the Indianapolis Junior Tennis Development Fund

• INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS - Summer 2009

“Ann was the first and best advocate of developing this tennis center,” Wynne remarked. “She attended endless meetings with architects and contractors to assure the completion of the center.” A newly-established scholarship in Schaefer’s name was presented to Christina Riley.

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We are Indy’s best kept secret. Westview Healthplex Sports Club offers the finest tennis and fitness facilities, programs and staff in Central Indiana.

Our features include: • • • • • • • •

Lessons from Top Pros

NO COURT FEES Six indoor courts Three outdoor courts An award-winning professional staff Private lessons Adult group clinics Singles and doubles leagues & tournaments Junior programs

Miguel Dungo (pictured), director of tennis at Westview Healthplex Sports Club and former ATP touring professional, has played the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and Davis Cup. For more information about our tennis programs, or any of our many other services, call (317) 920-7400 or visit us on the web at healthplex-indy.com

SUMMER SPECIAL: 1 FREE TENNIS CLINIC (per household) AND $0 ENROLLMENT FEE TO JOIN. May not be combined with any other offer. Some restrictions may apply. Offer expires September 30, 2009.

3660 N. Guion Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46222

4 miles from IMA, 6 miles from downtown, 7 miles from Broad Ripple, minutes from Speedway, 5 miles from Eagle Creek, 11 miles from Zionsville and 15 miles from Avon. Look for the BLUE ROOF off I-65.


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