Long Island Tennis Magazine January February 2014 by United Sports Publications, Ltd.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

LIMITED AVAILABILITY • LIMITED AVAILABILITY • LIMITED AVAILABILITY • LIMITED AVAILABILITY • LIMITED AVAILABILITY • LIMITED AVAILABILITY • LIMITED AVAILABILITY

75 76

WINTER/SPRING 2014

Junior Alps Program STARTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 21ST "ALPS" is a program for High Aptitude Learners.

he Early Hit Training Center is pleased to announce it's 9th season of group training. This comprehensive program will provide your child with all the resources necessary to reach his/her maximum tennis potential. The Early Hit Training Center incorporates all aspects of the game into our complete program. After a thorough warm-up, the student will work through the core components of tennis, including stroke production and drilling. We then move onto playing dynamics and strategy, and reinforce these lessons with focused match play. A session starts or ﬁnishes with an hour of conditioning. Come experience our team of renowned tennis teaching professionals, conditioning trainers and movement experts. TUESDAY 6:00pm - 8:30pm • 7:30pm - 10:00 pm SATURDAY 8:00am - 10:30am SUNDAY 8:00 am - 10:30am • 3:30pm - 6:00 pm

20142013 • LITennisMag.com Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February November/December • LITennisMag.com

WINTER/SPRING 2014

Early Hit DAILY 6:00 am - 8:00 am 365 Days a Year

Late Hit WEDNESDAY 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm

SATURDAY 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

FRIDAY 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm

SUNDAY 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Drills, coaching, and match play. Singles & Doubles at

Hidden Secrets of the Greats:

Roger Federer The artistic, graceful, catlike, quiet, invincible perfection of The Maestro

By Tom Ferraro, Ph.D. his year, we will be focusing on the traits of the top seven greatest tennis players of the modern era: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, Serena Williams and Billie Jean King. After discussing the single most important trait they possess, I will show you how you can learn this trait. I will rely on insights given to me by some of the most gifted coaches in the nation. The first coach I interviewed was Steven Kaplan, director of Bethpage Park Tennis Center right here on Long Island. Steven coaches elite players and is one of the most articulate coaches there is. It’s no surprise that he attended Columbia University as a post-grad student.

Credit all photos to Adam Wolfthal

The Maestro Our first player to analyze is Roger Federer. Every 100 years or so, a sport will produce a transcendent athlete, one who changes and transforms their sport. Roger Federer, like Tiger Woods in golf, single-handedly elevated his sport to a whole new level. He moved tennis from a sport that grunted, cursed and screamed, to a sport which took on the look of grace and ease. He let you believe that tennis was an easy game. This is the mark of a true genius. His peers uniformly praise him. Connors described him as “fluid and elegant.” Becker called him, “the best of his generation.” Agassi said, “Roger is the only player I have ever faced that had no weakness.” The press called him “The Maestro” which references his artistry. The fans call him “Fed Express.” His career stats are astounding. He has won more prize money than any tennis player in history ($78 million to date). He was world number one for a record 302 weeks. He has won 17 Grand Slam titles. In short, he is invincible and incomparable, and made winning look easy, graceful and inevitable … while barely breaking a sweat. I asked Steven Kaplan the impossible. I asked him to choose one word to describe Roger, a word that would describe his most important trait. He told me the word would have to be “PERFECTIONIST.” Steve said, “When you watch Federer, you can see how meticulous he is in appearance. He is totally put together. His technique is perfection and totally efficient and effortless. He has the softest landing force of the top 100 pros.” I then asked Steven what accounts for his perfection, and he told me, “Perhaps it is cultural. He is Swiss and they are known for being highly organized and wonderful craftsmen. Look at the watches they produce.” continued on page 3 LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

January/February 2014 Volume 6, Number 1 Long Island Tennis Magazine 1220 Wantagh Avenue • Wantagh, NY 11793-2202 Phone: (516) 409-4444 • Fax: (516) 409-4600 Web site: www.litennismag.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover story 4

The first Grand Slam of 2014 gets underway in January as the sport’s top stars take to the court. We take a closer look at the year’s contenders, pretenders and sleepers as they vie for glory Down Under.

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 Joey Arendt Managing Art Director Francine Miller Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 • francinem@usptennis.com

2014 Australian Open Preview

Long Island Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • LITennisMag.com

Cover photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Feature Stories 8

Grow Tennis New York Grow Tennis New York Inc.’s initial iniatives hit the Long Island tennis community.

14 Your 2014 Guide to Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Top Clubs & Programs We present the area’s top clubs and programs all in one handy guide.

Adam Wolfthal Director of Business Development (516) 409-4444, ext. 330 • adam@usptennis.com Brian Coleman Editorial Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 314 • brianc@usptennis.com

32 Newly Revamped MSG Set to Host the Biggest Stars in Tennis On Monday, March 3, the new MSG will host the Seventh Annual BNP Paribas Showdown.

48 2013 Girl’s High School Tennis Recap A look back at the winners of the 2013 Long Island Girl’s High School Tennis Season.

Emilie Katz Marketing Coordinator Beverly Bolnick National Sales Manager (516) 409-4444, ext. 316 Scott Koondel Office Manager (516) 409-4444, ext. 324 Lonnie Mitchel Editorial Contributor

Michele Lehat Intern

Michael Cervantes Editorial Contributor

Sasha Lipps 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.litennismag.com. Fax subscription changes to (516) 409-1600. Statements of fact and opinion in Long Island Tennis Magazine are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of United Sports Publications Ltd. Long Island Tennis Magazine reserves the right to edit, reject and/or postpone the publication of any articles, information or data.

Additional Features 27 31 38 41 43 46 60 62

One-on-One Doubles Tournaments to Return in 2014 Inside the Cage: Platform Tennis at Crest Hollow Country Club A Look Back at the Year That Was 2013 By Emilie Katz Nutrition as the Foundation to Optimal Athletic Performance New From the Publishers of Long Island Tennis Magazine: TennisTalkNewYork.com! Confidence: Where Can I Find It When I Need It? By Tina Greenbaum, LCSW QuickStart … An Accurate Name By Miguel Cervantes III Have Your Nose Up in the Air About D3 Tennis? By Lonnie Mitchel

Columns 1 10 12 26 28 34 42 44 47 56 61 64 66 69 72

Hidden Secrets of the Greats: Roger Federer By Dr. Tom Ferraro College Tennis Spotlight By Ricky Becker Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Charitable Initiatives The Jensen Zone: Shaping Your Game Through Practice Preparation By Luke Jensen Court Six: Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz USTA Eastern Long Island Region Update An Athlete’s Guide to Dealing With a Tough Loss By Rob Polishook, MA, CPC Adult League Wrap-Up By Kathy Miller The Fear of Winning By Steven Kaplan The Serve: A Foolproof Way to the Continental Grip on the Serve By Lisa Dodson Tips From the Tennis Pro: How to Always Play Your Best By Tonny van de Pieterman Fitness & Nutrition By Lori Ettlinger Gross Long Island Tennis Club Directory Long Island Rankings USTA/Long Island Region 2014 Tournament Schedule

hidden secrets of the greats continued from page 1 As I researched Switzerland’s history, I found that they are a pluralist nation with equal numbers of Germans, French and Italians. They have a reputation of being politically neutral and never taking sides. They are not a warring nation. They are multi-lingual and multi-ethnic, are tolerant and have successfully integrated all their diversity. Roger appears to me to also be tolerant, kind and not overly aggressive. This may give him his ability to focus on his game rather than on killing his opponent. This may be why he has been the recipient of the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award a record nine times. But his winning ways are more than just cultural. Yes, he is most certainly gifted genetically, but he also has two supportive parents with an intact marriage. His mother is his business manager. He was lucky to have met tennis pro Mirka Vavrinec in 2000 and has been with her

ever since. She retired from the tour in 2002 and has been at his side ever since. In other words, he has a trusted and steady team around him. Perfection is any sport is a rare occurrence. It always takes a multitude of factors to remain in place for at least 10 years to bring it about. You will need great genes, a supportive family, a caring and mature spouse, and a culture that reinforces certain traits such as meticulousness and tolerance. He has remarked that he owes his hand-eye coordination to playing a variety of sports growing up, including badminton, basketball and cricket. What can you learn from Roger? I asked Steven about how he deals with perfectionism in a person. Steven said, “You must gently help students recognize their mistakes and then offer corrections. It takes a lot of learning to become perfect. To admit to flaws is painful, but flaws

must be faced in order to improve as a student.” And this may be the real issue. One must be forgiving or have a forgiving coach so that flaws can be admitted to and then corrected. And the average person who has never picked up a racket can also learn from The Maestro. Roger Federer’s secret included: 1) Having a good team; 2) Forgiving yourself for mistakes and learning from them; and 3) Having a variety of interests rather than being too focused on one thing. These three things produced this transcendent warrior, this Maestro, this piece of perfection that is the Federer Express. Next issue, we will take a look at Rafael Nadal. 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 www.drtomferraro.com.

Train in the Hamptons FOR TODAY014! Y L P P A ER 2 SUMM ROSS SCHOOL TENNIS ACADEMY WEEKLY, JUNE 24–AUGUST 29 WWW.ROSS.ORG/TENNISACADEMY 631-907-5162

18 GOODFRIEND DRIVE E A S T H A M P TO N , N Y

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

2014 AUSTRALIAN

NEW YEAR BEGINS DOWN UND he 2014 Australian Open will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia from Jan. 13-26. ATP top-ranked Rafael Nadal will look to unseat reigning champion Novak Djokovic on the men’s side of the draw, while world number one Serena Williams looks to take the title from Victoria Azarenka, 2013’s defending women’s champ. Here is a look at this year’s contenders, pretenders and sleepers as well as an overview of what’s new this year in the land Down Under.

Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Juan Martin Del Potro is one of only a handful of players in the draw with a major title (U.S. Open) and an Olympic Medal (Bronze Medal). After his 2013 Aussie Open quarterfinal loss, Del Potro will be one to look out for in this upcoming Grand Slam as he has the weapons to compete with anyone. Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

The men’s side of the draw The contenders … Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

As a recordbreaking threetime defending champion of the Australian Open men’s singles title, Novak Djokovic is motivated to preserve his streak. Djokovic had his career breakthrough in 2011, winning three Grand Slam titles (U.S. Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open) and having an extraordinary record of 70 wins and just six losses. Having a winning record against the current top five players of the world, Djokovic remains a favorite going into the Aussie Open. Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Currently holding the number one ranking in the world and coming off the 2013 U.S. Open championship, Rafael Nadal is Djokovic’s biggest threat at the Aussie Open this year. Nadal was a finalist in 2012, losing a heartbreaking final to Djokovic in five sets. Rafa is filled with confidence and is healthy heading into 2014 and looks to avenge his 2012 finals loss to Djokovic. 4

Tomas Berydch is currently ranked seventh in the world and holds eight career titles. He has reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the past three years, and is ready to surpass his previous results and take the next step this January. The pretenders … Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

After losing five Grand Slam finals, Andy Murray got the proverbial monkey off his back at the 2012 U.S. Open. Last year, he finished runner-up in his third Australian Open final, beating Roger Federer in five sets in the semis and losing to Djokovic in a four-set finals match. This year, however, Murray is a pretender, coming off an injury and not yet in top form. He will be hard-pressed to win seven matches and an Aussie title with the rust he will inevitably have to shake off. Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

David Ferrer is currently ranked third in the world. He is a tough player and fights in every match. Ferrer historically beats the

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

guys below him, but cannot defeat the Big Four. He simply doesn’t have the major weapons needed to defeat them. He has a losing record against Djokovic, Murray, Nadal and Federer. This won’t be the major he breaks through for his first Grand Slam. Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has been one to keep an eye on in this tournament in the past as he has played well Down Under. He lost to Roger Federer in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Australian Open. However, Tsonga has recently returned from injury, and that’s not his only obstacle. He must also make sure his conditioning has returned as the Aussie heat will offer little sanctity. The sleepers … In 2013, Jerzy Janowicz reached his highest ranking of 14th in the world, and has shown he can play with the big boys. After many disappointing early round losses in majors, Janowicz was able to get to the semifinals of Wimbledon and showed everyone what he was capable of. At the upcoming Aussie Open, the 6’8” Pole will have the chance to continue his breakthrough. A good draw could mean we see Janowicz deep into Week Two. Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Being one of the tallest tennis players and known for his blistering serve, American John Isner is currently ranked 14th in the world. He hasn’t broken through at a major yet, but despite his inconsistent result, Isner has what it takes

N OPEN PREVIEW

DER WITH FIRST GRAND SLAM to win any match he plays. Maybe this is his year. American tennis could use it.

The women’s side of the draw

Currently ranked 20th in the world, Kevin Anderson is looking to take the next step in his career development. With no Grand Slam results passed the fourth round, the next step is clear ... a quarterfinal or better in a major. Anderson is bound to break through in one of the 2014 Grand slams, and this could be the one.

The contenders …

Being the youngest tennis player inside the top 20, Milos Raonic, is currently ranked 11th in the world, and continues to prove his strength and skill in every match he competes in. With his incredible height and strength, the 2014 Australian Open is the ideal setting for Raonic to be able to have the results he is looking for.

in Melbourne. Azarenka is clearly the biggest challenge to Serena, and as the two-time champion, can be considered a co-favorite.

Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

The world’s number one player, Serena Williams is the clear Aussie Open favorite as she looks for her sixth Australian Open title. The 32-year-old, five-time Australian Open champion was crowned 2013 U.S. Open Champion. Serena will also be motivated and looking to avenge her 2013 Australian Open quarterfinal loss to 19-year-old Sloane Stephens 6-3, 5-7, 4-6

Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Na Li had quite a successful 2013 and became the first Chinese player to reach the U.S. Open semifinals. Earlier in the year, Li also reached the finals at the Aussie Open, as she lost to Azarenka in a grueling match, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6. A two-time Australian Open finalist, Li has great potential to take the next step this year.

Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Photo credit: Kenneth B.

Victoria Azarenka is the two-time defending Aussie Open champion, and is back looking for a three-peat. Azarenka defeated American Sloane Stephens, and ultimately battled through yet another tough match against Na Li to win last year’s title

Goldberg

Currently ranked number four in the world, Russian Maria Sharapova had an impressive run during last year’s Australian Open. En route to the semifinals against Li Na, Sharapova gave up only nine games during her preceding five matches.

SPORTIME IS NEW YORK’S LEADER FOR SUMMER SPORTS DAY CAMPS Beautiful locations on Long Island, in Manhattan, and in Westchester EXCEL HIGH PERFORMANCE TENNIS CAMPS TENNIS & SPORTS CAMPS MULTI-SPORT CAMPS | PRESCHOOL CAMPS VOLLEYBALL CAMPS | HOCKEY CAMPS Go to www.SportimeNY.com/CAMPS to find out more!

888/698-3664 SportimeNY.com

Registration for SPORTIME’s Winter Tennis & Sports Prog rams going on now! Call today!

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

2014 AUSTRALIAN

NEW YEAR BEGINS DOWN UND Sharapova dominated in straight-set wins over Russian Ekaterina Makarova at 6-2, 6-2; Venus Williams at 6-1, 6-3; and Belgian Kristen Flipkens at 6-0, 6-1. She was upset by Li in the semis, but as a semifinalist in 2013, Aussie Open finalist in 2012, and a champion in 2008, she is a strong contender for the 2014 title. The pretenders … Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

With the crowd on her side, Australian Samantha Stosur looks to pose a serious threat to pocketing the Open’s trophy for the first time. However, she frequently tends to play poorly on home soil. Last year’s Aussie Open saw Stosur throw away a lead in an

upset loss to China’s Zheng Jie in the second round. Stosur tends to melt in the Australian heat and this year may be more of the same. Jelena Jankovic has only once reached the semis at the Australian Open and that was in 2008. Last year’s results saw a third round 5-7, 3-6 loss to Ana Ivanovic. Jankovic is playing well, but isn’t in the form that once had her at number one in the world. A deep run at the Aussie Open isn’t on the menu in 2014. Roberta Vinci had fought her way to the quarters of the 2012 and 2013 U.S. Open Championships, so she has proven some hard court success at a major in singles ac-

tion. However, she cannot seem to push her way past the third round of the Aussie Open, Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal and while she may do so this year for the first time in her career, a jump to the semis or finals seems unlikely. The sleepers … Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

The year 2013 was an eventful and successful one for the rising Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard, as the 19-year-old already pushed through the first few rounds

Introducing the Tennis Balance Board Scientifically Engineered to Perfect Your Game

“I have never seen a product that was able to create tennis specific balance and strengthening exercises. Anyone that is serious about their game should train on the Tennis Balance Board.” - Corey Parr, NCAA Champion, Wake Forest

www.TennisBalanceBoard.com 6

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

N OPEN PREVIEW

DER WITH FIRST GRAND SLAM of each of the four Grand Slams. Martina Navratilova describes Bouchard as “a potential Grand Slam champion.” Watch out for the talented star to move deep into the 2014 Australian Open. Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Tw e n t y - y e a r- o l d American Sloane Stephens may be the future of American women’s tennis. Last year in Australia, she pulled the tournament’s biggest upset, knocking off Serena Williams in the quarters and almost knocked off Azarenka in the semis as well. She also reached the Wimbledon quarters before losing to eventual champion Marion Bartoli. You can expect to see good things from Sloane in Melbourne. Twenty-three-yearold Jamie Hampton looks to be a prime candidate to make a good run at this year’s Australian Open. Last year’s Aussie Open saw the young rising star take her deepest run in a Grand Slam, advancing to the third round before falling to eventual champion Victoria Azarenka in three sets. The close loss and her rise in the rankings since, make her a “sleeper” in Melbourne this year.

New at the 2014 Australian Open The most visible change to the event in 2014 will be the new look Margaret Court Arena (MCA). The scene of many stunning Australian Open battles, MCA is undergoing a massive transformation as part of the Victorian Government’s $366 million redevelopment and will sport a dramatic new look including: l A distinctive new roof that will be fixed in an open position for Australian Open and fully retractable for the event in 2015. l More than 3,200-square meters of shade, 360-degrees around the MCA concourse level.

l l l l

l l l

l Also new for the Australian Open in 2014: l Roger Federer signs up as Ambassador for Kids’ Tennis Day and will join fellow players and Nickelodeon characters at a special Rod Laver Arena show on Jan. 11. l Expanded Australian Open Trophy Tour

through Asia, with first-time visits to Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong. The launch of Australia’s largest ever tennis participation drive, the AO Blitz. A special recognition of Brad Drewett and his contribution to the sport. Kerry Melville Reid to be inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame. A Legends Lunch on the final Saturday of the event to honor Mervyn Rose and celebrate members of the 1957 Australian Davis Cup team. A new public steakhouse-style restaurant, Grass ‘N’ Grain on the River Terrace. An elegant new contemporary Australian dining option, Zest, overlooking Garden Square. Major sponsor Kia Motors has extended its long-running sponsorship until 2018, while associate sponsor Jacob’s Creek has signed on for another five years. International electronics brand Hisense joins the Australian Open as official supplier of TVs, providing more than 1,000 onsite during the 2014 Australian Open. Pete Sampras to return to Melbourne 20 years after winning the first of his two Australian Open men’s singles championships.

Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

People are raving about 18-year-old American Madison Keys’ potential. Keys pushed hard to reach the third round of the 2013 Australian Open and Wimbledon. Keys is famously known for her stunning win against Serena Williams in a World TeamTennis match when she was just 14. Keys is expected to set career records this year, so keep on the lookout for the American. A breakthrough at a major is coming, is this the one?

• We carry EVERY 2014 Paddle • Gloves, Apparel, Bags, and more • Trade in your old paddle get credit towards a new one

•

347A Main Street Huntington, NY 11743 www.SolowSports.com 631-629-4940

•

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

GROW TENNIS

Grow Tennis

Long Island Tennis Magazine and JMTA at Sportime Bethpage Announce Scholarship Contest

As a way to say “thank you” to loyal readers, Long Island Tennis Magazine and the John McEnroe Tennis Annex at Sportime Bethpage are excited to announce a special contest that will allow two lucky winners, one boy and one girl, to elevate their tennis game during the 2014 indoor season. Entry is free and easy, and all interested junior players (ages six through 17) are asked to write a 300-word essay highlighting their dedication to tennis on Long Island, as well as what it would mean to be able to train at the John McEnroe Tennis Annex at Sportime Bethpage. The contest will be judged by the editorial staff of Long Island Tennis Magazine. Winners will be chosen and notified 8

prior to the start of the 2014 winter/spring sessions. The contest is part of Long Island Tennis Magazine’s new corporation “Grow Tennis New York Inc.,” a non-profit corporation. “Sportime and The John McEnroe Tennis Academy have been one of Long Island Tennis Magazine’s biggest supporters and fans throughout the years,” said Michael Kossoff, general manager and co-director of the John McEnroe Tennis Annex at Sportime Bethpage. “It gives us great pleasure to be able to give back to their loyal readership-base and award two scholarships to one of the best tennis academies in the world.” To enter the contest, visit LITennisMag.com/JMTA and submit your essay

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

by Friday, Jan. 17. Winners will be announced Monday, Jan. 20. We ask that entrants construct their own essays without the assistance of family or friends. The age of the entrant will be considered by the judges. The aim of Grow Tennis New York Inc. is to reach out to the five boroughs of New York, as well as the Long Island tennis communities, to get people involved in the sport of tennis. Grow Tennis New York Inc.’s mission is to recognize, support and encourage potential New York tennis players, as well as the businesses and industries that support them, along with their families. Happy New Year from Sportime and Long Island Tennis Magazine!

s New York

List of clubs participating in Tennis 1,2,3 RIP Huntington Indoor Tennis 100 Broadway Huntington Station, NY 11746 631-421-0040 Setauket Tennis and Fitness 5 South Jersey Avenue East Setauket, NY 11733 631-751-6767

Tennis 1,2,3 RIP Set to Hit L.I. Tennis Community Low-cost tennis programming for new players The 1970s tennis boom has diminished Thirty-eight years ago, Jim Donnelly opened Grand Slam Tennis. During that time, the amount of people playing tennis was fierce. The tennis clubs on Long Island were competing with one another to keep their players and help grow the game. Today, however, tennis needs a jump-start to re-invigorate the game we all know and love. How can we regain interest in tennis? Jim and Chase Donnelly, owners of Grand Slam Tennis, have developed the concept of Tennis 1,2,3 RIP, which stands for “Racquet + Instruction = Play.” This simple concept targets adults and adolescents while utilizing the new and innovative 10 & Under Tennis teaching tools. Tennis 1,2,3 RIP allows for an inexpensive and fun introduction to the sport of tennis. Benefits of the program? Through Tennis 1,2,3 RIP, interested parties can learn to play tennis in a fun and controlled environment. Instruction is basic and the sport is introduced using low-compression and foam balls. Juniors will use a variety of racquets, ranging from 25- to 26-inches, and adults will use 27-inch racquets with two head sizes, 105- and 110-inches.

Who qualifies and how does the program work? Ages six through adult are ideal candidates for the program. Interested parties can purchase a racquet from Grand Slam Tennis in Commack (23to 25-inch racquet: $75 and 27-inch racquet for $100). Contact a participating tennis facility or the SCJTL to purchase your lesson package. The end result Jim and Chase formed and are launching the idea of Tennis 1,2,3 RIP in hopes of growing the sport. Jim spent a great deal of time contacting the area’s local facilities in hopes of getting them on board with the idea. All of the clubs agreed that tennis needs a jump-start in introducing new players to the sport and to grow the game in the future. Launching the Tennis 1,2,3 RIP program will introduce people to the sport of tennis at a low cost and provide them with a great time learning the game. For more information, contact Grand Slam Tennis at (631) 499-6444. Grand Slam Tennis is located at 214 Commack Road in Commack, N.Y. 11725. Or, contact Joe Arias of the Suffolk County Junior Tennis League (SCJTL) at (631) 590-5019.

World Gym Setauket 384 Mark Tree Road East Setauket, NY 11733 631-751-6100 Eastern Athletic Club 100 Ruland Road Melville, NY 11747 631-420-1310 Eastern Athletic Club 854 East Jericho Turnpike Dix Hills, NY 11746 631-271-6616 SPORTIME Bethpage Tennis 101 Norcross Ave Bethpage, NY 11714 516-933-8500 SPORTIME Kings Park 275 Old Indian Head Road Kings Park, NY 11754 631-269-6300 SPORTIME Lynbrook 175 Merrick Road Lynbrook, NY 11563 516-887-1330 SPORTIME Massapequa 5600 Old Sunrise Highway Massapequa, NY 11758 516-799-3550 SPORTIME Quogue 2571 Quogue-Riverhead Road, Route 104 East Quogue, NY 11942 631-653-6767 SPORTIME Roslyn 1 Landing Road Roslyn, NY 516-484-9222 SPORTIME Syosset Tennis & Multi-Sport 75 Haskett Drive Syosset, NY 11791 516-364-2727

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

MYTHBUSTERS:

Is It Possible to Make a Comprehensive College Tennis List on My Own? By Ricky Becker any people feel overwhelmed when trying to create a list of tennis schools for their child. I have spoken with many who fear that they are missing out on a “diamond in the rough” college. There is a misconception out there that you need to hire a full-fledged recruiting service with all the add-ons to simply make a top-notch college list. Fortunately, this is not the case. Over the last 10 years, JuniorTennisConsulting has gone through the college rosters of every Division I, II and III school and recorded the junior ranking of every freshman player on the roster. These hours of data have been

put into a spreadsheet alongside average SAT/ACT score of the school, amount of international players, location of the school and a direct link to the team home page. This spreadsheet is known as the “JTC Recruiting Pages.” People often ask, “What ranking do you need for this school?” or “How high does my ranking have be for Division I?” I have included a table below of different ranking groupings sometimes known as different “Star levels” on tennisrecruiting.net. What you see here are what three colleges in Division I, II and III that have had the most freshman players in each junior ranking tier over the last 10 years. In a few cases, schools are listed in more than one category. This means a lot

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

of players are on the team. It is also safe to say, these schools “want” the higher ranking but will settle for the lower one if necessary. The hours upon hours of research make the JTC Recruiting Pages a very worthy investment. Happy hunting! Ricky Becker is the founder of JuniorTennisConsulting LLC, director of Tennis at Pine Hollow Country Club and high-performance manager at Glen Head Racquet Club. Ricky was named the Most Valuable Player for the 1996 NCAA Championship Stanford Tennis Team and was a top-five nationally-ranked junior. He can be reached by e-mail at rbecker06@yahoo.com, by phone at (516) 605-0420 or via JuniorTennisConsulting.com.

Division I Junior National Ranking of Male Freshman

Schools with the Most in Each Category

Junior National Ranking of Female Freshman

1-10

Texas A&M (9), Virginia (8) Florida/Stanford (7)

1-10

UCLA (14), Stanford (12) USC (10)

11-25

Harvard (7), Illinois (6), Florida State (6), Stanford (6)

11-25

North Carolina (12), Arizona State (7), Michigan (6), Princeton (6), Notre Dame (6), Tennessee (6)

26-75

UPenn (12), Illinois (12) Notre Dame (11)

26-75

Boston College (11), Brown (11) Michigan (10), Penn (10), Yale (10), Syracuse (10)

76-200

Cornell (16), Furman (14) Navy (14)

76-200

Cornell (17), Brown (14) Dartmouth/Army (13)

201-350

Wofford (12), Furman (11) Bucknell (11)

201-350

Army (13), Rhode Island (10) Air Force/Presbyterian (9)

351-525

Creighton (9), Lafayette (8) IUPUI (8)

351-525

Army (11), Bradley (9) Presbyterian (9)

Foreign Players

Farleigh Dickinson (25) Troy (21), Tennessee Tech (19)

Foreign Players

Schools With the Most in Each Category

Sacramento State (23) Sam Houston State (17) Four Schools With 16

Division II 1-100

Rollins (3), Cal-San Diego (2) Eight Schools With One

1-100

101-225

Cal-San Diego (7) Florida Gulf-Coast (5)

101-225

Grand Valley State (5) Kennesaw State (4), St. Edwards (4)

226-350

Cal-San Diego (9) Abilene Christian (5) S. Illinois-Edwardsville (5)

226-350

Cal-San Diego (11), Erskine (8) Three Schools With Six

Foreign Players

Lynn (20), Augusta State (19) Northwood (19)

Foreign Players

Abilene Christian (4), Lynn (2) Incarnate Word (2)

Augusta State (17), California of PA (16), Delta State (16)

Division III 1-75

Emory (3) Claremont-Mudd Scripps (3) Wash U./Amherst (2)

1-75

76-200

Emory (14), Middlebury (12) Williams (11)

76-200

Williams (13), Amherst (12) Johns Hopkins (10)

201-350

Wash U.-St. Louis (15) Claremont-Mudd Scripps (14) Redlands (13)

201-350

Johns Hopkins (12), Amherst (12) Emory/Trinity (TX) 11

Foreign Players

Wesleyan (NC) (23), Averett (12) NYU/Suffolk (MA) (8)

Foreign Players

Amherst (3), Emory (1) Washington and Lee/Moravian (1)

CUNY-Baruch (11), Mount Union (10) Averett (10) LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine 11

L O N G

I S L A N D

charitabl

Justin Gimelstob Raises $300,000-Plus for Credit photos to Adam Wolfthal

Andy Roddick helped the Justin Gimelstob Foundation raise $300,000plus for children’s charities

Centercourt players take part in the pre-exhibition clinic

For the sixth time, New Jersey native and former tennis phenom Justin Gimelstob hosted a tennis exhibition to raise money for a variety of children’s charities, including The Valerie Fund, a non-profit organization supporting healthcare services for children with cancer and blood disorders. This year’s event, held at Centercourt Athletic Club in Chatham, N.J., was a huge success and raised more than $300,000. Gimelstob, who is now a broadcaster and player representative on the ATP World Tour Board of Directors, was joined by former world number one and U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick; former world number four James Blake; current top American player John Isner; and former world number 33 and New Jersey resident Alex Bogomolov. Also joining in the activities was Gimelstob’s friends and tennis enthusiasts, Golden Globe Award winner David Duchovny; internationally-acclaimed model Anne Vyalitsyna; New York Mets allstar pitcher Matt Harvey; former Villanova and New Jersey Nets basketball star Kerry Kittles; and Bobbi Brown, founder and CCO of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. The players began the event by taking part in clinics for junior players at 4:00 12

Actor David Duchovny celebrates a winner

p.m. and then signing autographs for the kids afterwards. Then it was time for the main exhibition where Roddick would team with Duchovny to face the team of Isner & Blake (along with Gimelstob who was subbing in for Isner at the midway point of the pro-set) in doubles. Prior to taking the court, the good-natured trash talk was already underway as Roddick said, “I look forward to expanding my undefeated record against Justin, as well as supporting The Valerie Fund!” The first match was highly entertaining, and in the end, the trio of Isner, Blake & Gimelstob came out on top. The second match-up was a Roddick versus Isner singles pro-set in which Roddick earned the win, showing he still “has it,” even after retirement. The players and celebrities were all happy to be part of such an entertaining event for a great cause. “When you have a friend like Justin, you will do whatever you can to help him,” said Blake. “For me, it means a lot to help out a hospital where children are treated because I have one young daughter and another on the way. It has much more of a special meaning now. I wouldn’t know how I would handle it if my daughter was sick seeing

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

New York Mets pitcher Matt Justi Harvey serves as a guest of th official Tenn

how much joy she brings to me.” “It’s a good cause and it’s something Anne [Vyalitsyna] and I are very interested in,” said Harvey. “Any time there is a good cause around New York or something we can support, we go. Obviously, I am a huge sports fan so something like this event that involves sports and giving back is very important to me. It’s an honor to be able to come to events like these and help out. It is very important that you take a little bit of time as an athlete to give back.” “Justin has been a good friend of mine for a very long time,” said Isner. “He has done such an unbelievable job with his foundation and it is great to know that not only am I helping a good friend, but I am helping and giving back to others.” “What brings me out here tonight is the foundation is a way of giving back,” said Dolgopolov. “I’ve known Justin for a long time, and when I first came onto tour, he was very encouraging and friendly, and I think he does a tremendous job for his foundation and on the tour for us as players.” “The most obvious reason is my friend, Justin,” said Roddick. “He and his family have been huge supporters of my own foundation, and I trust his efforts. I am

T E N N I S

M A G A Z I N E ’ S

le initiatives

r Children’s Charities at Star-Studded Event

Credit photo to Sasha Lipps

in Gimelstob with a copy Andy Roddick and John Isner he latest issue of New York during their post-match nis Magazine handshake

happy to lend my support.” It was also great to see how the American players were so tight-knit and supporting one another. The many jokes at each others expense was a prime example at how close and comfortable they all are with one another. “I am fortunate to be part of the generation where Andy and I got along,” said Blake. “We played Davis Cup together and really felt like teammates and friends. We heard stories that years ago, the players did not get along as well and we felt sorry for them because it does get lonely out there and you feel isolated. You’re on the court by yourself and it makes life so much easier when you have friends. I was lucky to have all these guys as my friends then and now.” Isner added, “Six years ago when I was first coming up James [Blake], Andy [Roddick], Mardy [Fish], Sam [Querrey] and I would always stick together and go out to dinner and that’s how it always has been. So it’s not just for show, we all are really good friends.” Roddick made sure to point out that despite the friendships, they were all professionals who, when they took to the courts,

Andy Roddick, Justin Gimelstob, John Isner James Blake gets in some practice and James Blake sign autographs prior to swings before the exhibition the exhibition

needed to win. “Sticking together, not sticking together ... whatever as long as you’re working hard and still wanting to beat each other up,” noted Roddick. “That’s what I like to see.” The Justin Gimelstob Children’s Fund was established in 1998 with the mission to provide financial support to a variety of children’s charities and related causes in the

Brooklyn Decker, Madison McKinley, Rosa Sinnott, Carol Smith and Cary Sinnott pause for a photo

Northern New Jersey and the Metropolitan New York area “When we started this event and my Foundation 15 years ago, I could never have imagined it would have grown into what it is today,” said Gimelstob. “It brings me so much pleasure to come back home and bring world-class tennis with me ... all for a great cause.”

NIKE TENNIS CAMPS SERIOUS. FUN.

Robbie Wagner’s Tournament Training Camp – Glen Cove, New York

USSportsCamps.com All Rights reserved. Nike and the Swoosh design are registered trademarks of Nike, Inc. and its afﬁliates, and are used under license. Nike is the title sponsor of the camps and has no control over the operation of the camps or the acts or omissions of US Sports Camps.

■

3 weeks of Junior Overnight and Day Camps

■

7 weeks of Day Only Camps

■

Ages 9-18

1-800-NIKE CAMP (1-800-645-3226)

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

Long Island tennis players have great choices when it comes to where to play tennis. Below is a list of Long Island Tennis Magazine’s top clubs and programs with descriptions of what each has to offer.

Bethpage Park Tennis Center 99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Building #4 Farmingdale, N.Y. (516) 777-1385 Bethpage Park Tennis Center is located just a few hundred feet from the Black Course at beautiful Bethpage State Park, which has served as home to the U.S. Golf Open. Four indoor hard courts and four indoor red clay courts are airconditioned for year-round play, along with two outdoor Har-Tru courts. The Tennis Center offers an array of adult seasonal, leagues, lessons and walk-on court opportunities. It’s free and low-cost program for seniors and special populations is perhaps the largest of its kind in New York State. The Center is best known for its renowned junior development program, led by top coaches Steve Kaplan and Keith Kambourian. Collectively, they have developed more players than anyone else in the east. Steve is the owner of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as the director of Lacoste Academy for New York City Parks Foundation. Over the last 36 years, Steve has been the long-time coach of more than 750 nationallyranked junior players, 16 state high school singles champions, two NCAA 14

Division I Singles Champions, and numerous touring professionals and prominent coaches. Steve’s students have been awarded in excess of $7 million in college scholarship money. Keith, co-owner of the club, is a voice of reason in the often-stressful world of junior tournament tennis. Keith’s philosophy is simple, “Train hard and compete hard, and you will achieve.” This outlook has enabled Keith to excel as both a player and a coach. He was ranked in the top 30 nationally in the Boys 18 Division. His playing career flourished at Duke University, where he received a full scholarship and was ranked nationally among the best collegiate players. He directed the Reebok Urban Youth Tennis Academy at Flushing Meadow, N.Y. and has since coached players from beginners to international touring professionals. In 1998, he was awarded the ETA Long Island Region Tennis Professional of the Year Award. Keith has a Master’s Degree is Sports Management. His level-headed approach to junior tennis ensures that students develop and maintain a positive and productive mental outlook. Bethpage Park Tennis Center offers a comprehensive program of group and individual lessons, workshops, match plays and tournament team programs during the indoor session. In the summer, the finest players in the east join us for summer camp on four indoor hard courts and four indoor red clay courts that are air-conditioned, along with two outdoor Har-Tru courts. Lunch is provided and transportation is available. While our standards are high … our prerequisites are not! We charge no membership fee and encourage and value our beginners equally with our nationally-ranked players. All we re-

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

quire at the Bethpage Park Tennis Center is the desire to attend a serious tennis camp and to learn in an intensive, personal and fun environment … and the drive to achieve your personal best!

Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy 188 Maple Avenue • Rockville Centre, N.Y. (516) 763-1299, ext. 10 www.catsny.com • catsrvc@gmail.com The Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy is proud to be the first of its kind on Long Island devoted entirely to the USTA’s 10 & Under Tennis Program. We feature three state-of-the-art QuickStart, U.S. Open blue green courts. We offer professional tennis programs for group, semi private and private lessons, plus birthday parties and special events. Directed by former U.S. National Amateur Champion and former top 70 player, the Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy will use the USTA and the International Tennis Federation QuickStart tennis guidelines. This progressive curriculum will focus on developing children’s tennis skills on a sizeappropriate scale, utilizing smaller courts, low compression balls and smaller rackets. Drills and games will be played with particular emphasis on developing skill sets in a fun environment.

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

Carefree Racquet Club 1414 Jerusalem Avenue, #1 • North Merrick, N.Y. (516) 489-9005 www.carefreeracquetclub.com Carefree Racquet Club is Long Island’s premier indoor tennis club. With our newly re-surfaced courts along with our constant upgrading, we cannot be matched. Carefree has seven indoor tennis courts, two racquetball courts and a half court basketball court. Our league coordinator, Debbie Cichon, offers adult singles, doubles and team doubles leagues that are always on level to insure you a good game every time you play. Carefree has many USTA teams in the adult, senior, mixed doubles and TriLevel leagues. For those that are new to the game or just want to improve, we have 14-week learn and play groups. Players get an hour lesson each week, along with an hour-and-a-half of practice time each week. For players looking for a more relaxed social atmosphere, Karen Guigliano has her parties on Friday nights where food is served and Karen arranges all games for the night. Jean Tanklowitz, our senior program coordinator, has many retired or people that simply have a flexible schedule, playing Monday through Thursday in the afternoon. All games are arranged by Jean. For junior players, Ronny D’Alessandro, Carefree’s director of tennis, coordinates the Junior Development Program, a 14week program starting at age five and run-

ning through the age of 18. Children can take group, semi-private or private lessons and get practice time and ladder match play as well. New this year is our high school program that Ronny started for children that play on their school team. Carefree also offers a QuickStart tot program for children ages three to five years old. This adorable program uses all the props to keep the children’s attention and is unmatched by any other club. Carefree Racquet Club is managed by Kathy Miller, who is also the Long Island USTA Adult, Senior, Super Senior, Mixed and Tri-Level League Coordinator. Kathy, along with her assistant manager, Pat McIlwee, pride themselves on the organization and smooth running of the best indoor club on Long Island that has never and continues to NOT charge membership fees. So if you are looking to join a program or just rent a court now and then, we would love to see you at Carefree!

Centercourt Performance Tennis Center 65 Columbia Road • Morristown, N.J. (973) 635-1222 • www.centercourtclub.com/cptc clay@centercourtclub.com This year, Centercourt Performance Tennis Center (CPTC) launched its full-time boarding and non-boarding tennis academy in Morristown, N.J. CPTC is a one of a kind facility fully-dedicated to the development and performance of tennis

players. The Performance Center recently went through a complete renovation and has seven hard courts (five are domed in the winter and two are permanent), one red clay court, state-of-the-art strength and conditioning room, study area and new locker rooms. CPTC Founder and Director Clay Bibbee has assembled an elite staff of world-class tennis and fitness professionals to help facilitate the growth and development of every junior tennis player enrolled in the program. Director Rich Reyes is responsible for the day-to-day on-court tennis curriculum development, tournament scheduling and all tournament travel with players. The Centercourt curriculum features on- and off-court lesson programming, which includes comprehensive tennis instruction complimented with both physical and mental conditioning conducted by performance specialist. Total athletic training programs are designed to increase player development and facilitate higher overall performance by incorporating mental toughness, nutrition counseling, speed/movement, communication, and vision/reaction skills in all of our players. For the convenience of our national and international student athletes, residence halls are available and include separate and private boys and girls living quarters. The residence halls are part of Sun Valley, a town home complex adjacent to Centercourt Athletic Club of Chatham’s property. Each residence includes individually controlled central air and heating, full-sized washer and dryer, kitchen, and wall-towall carpeting. Each residence hall will have a full-time, live-in house parent to provide 24-hour supervision. CPTC’s philosophy is that if you want to improve, you need to train. While players don’t have to be exceptionally talented, they do need to be seriously committed to

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

their training. Our mission is to help every student-athlete we train realize his or her full potential both athletically and academically. We believe that the trials and tribulations that our student-athletes endure in the tennis pathway will develop our young athletes into leaders on and off the court. Our players respect the game, their peers, parents, environment, and coaches. Our players are coached to not only become great players, but hard-working, self-sufficient individuals. If you are serious about your tennis and want to be the best athlete you can possibly be, you owe it to yourself to experience the Centercourt Performance Tennis Center. Whether you are interested in our fulltime academy, after-school programming, or weekend drop-in sessions, CPTC provides players with all the tools to maximize their potential. E-mail clay@centercourtclub.com to set up a complementary training day with our elite coaches and players today!

matches to group/private lessons those looking for personal directives with no membership fees. Our pros come from a variety of different backgrounds each with a unique set of skills utilized for training our students. Our staff focuses their lessons to ensure personal development on all of our students. Our programs/court time rates are very affordable compared to our competitors. We offer discounted rates for seniors during specified times. Please call (631) 667-3476 to inquire. Our JDP program includes a four-person group lesson for 17 weeks which could be coupled with a weekend ladder match for an additional affordable rate. Students are given individual attention in our group lessons to focus on technique/footwork/match strategies. Enrollment includes two free practice times a week, where students are separated based on their tennis proficiency. Please call to set up a testing time if you are interested. If you have any questions or concerns on our programs and what we have to offer, please call us at (631) 667-3476, or come on by and visit us at 30 Burt Drive in Deer Park N.Y. Deer Park Tennis and Fitness is conveniently located by the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park (Exit 51 on the LIE, off Grand Boulevard or Exit 39N on the Southern State Parkway).

Deer Park Tennis and Fitness 30 Burt Drive • Deer Park N.Y. (631) 667-3476 www.deerparktennis.com A family-friendly tennis facility with more than 20 years of experience in the tennis field, Deer Park Tennis and Fitness offers a variety of competitive/non-competitive programs year round from league/ladder 16

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

Early Hit Training Center at Glen Head Racquet Club 95 Glen Head Road • Glen Head, N.Y. (516) 455-1225 The Early Hit Training Center is located in the Glen Head Racquet Club, at 95 Glen Head Road in Glen Head, N.Y. Home of the ALPS Program, they specialize in accelerated learning through a combination of private lessons, group sessions and physical training in tennisspecific exercises. The program was designed by Carl Barnett with the help of Pat Etcheberry. The program focuses on the players and their need for accessible court time, coupled with a flexible schedule and parent-friendly budget. Early Hit also features a 6:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. adult program that is open 365 days a year. Late Hit is on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. During the indoor season, Early Hit is a terrific value. They feature a fabulous summer camp, pro shop, restaurant and private training all year long.

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

Glen Head Racquet Club 95 Glen Head Road • Glen Head, N.Y. (516) 455-1225 ghrctennis@optimum.net With the addition of Ahsha Rolle and the continued on-court presence of Ricky Becker leading the way, Glen Head Racquet Club is continuing to build on its very strong customer satisfaction base. Ahsha had a career-high ranking of 82nd in the world in 2007 and played on the United States Fed Cup team. Ricky is the only Long Island program director who was a top nationally-ranked junior player, NCAA Champion at Stanford and a native of Long Island area. With our on-court leaders, the intimacy of our six-court facility and our very talented and experienced General Manager, Stephanie Leo, Glen Head provides a down-to-earth, caring, hardworking atmosphere unmatched anywhere on Long Island. With an emphasis on personal attention and attention to detail, we are able to provide more hands on teaching to all levels. Our management team isn’t just a sales marketing tool, rather the conduit to productive, well run programs. Glen Head’s QuickStart programs are run with pride and passion. Our experienced QuickStart pros take a special interest in making sure the programs are highly instructional, creative and taught with warmth.

Our instructional match play programs are incredible opportunities for our younger tournament kids to get oncourt instruction from Ricky or Ahsha and get more acclimated to tournament competition. Our training groups are catered to the children in the group. Tournament players will get really pushed in their groups, while more casual players will also be pushed in a less competitive atmosphere. The size of the facility ensures that everybody is watched and nobody “falls through the cracks.” We take enormous pride in being the lowest-priced, quality-run player development center on Long Island. For a free player evaluation to determine which of our programs offers the best fit for your child, contact Stephanie Leo or Ricky Becker at (516) 676-9849 or e-mail ghrctennis@optimum.net or sleo@optimum.net.

Great Neck Estates Tennis Club 12 Shore Drive Great Neck, N.Y. (516) 233-2790 Great Neck Estates Tennis Club is located in the scenic Great Neck Estates Waterfront Park. The lobby and front desk area of the Club provides players with an incredible view of New York City. This new tennis center features a brandnew, fully-insulated air structure and five Har-Tru courts. The air structure, manufactured by the world famous Farley Group of Canada, is the most advanced air structure of its kind and provides a tennis experience second to none. When

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

players walk onto the court, they are instantly amazed by the quality of the lighting system. Plans for the new Great Neck Estates Tennis Center have been ongoing for the past few years, with many different tennis groups wanting to develop this special site for tennis. The Trustees of the Village of Great Neck Estates decided on the team of Howie Arons and his New York Tennis group, and Willie Notar, the director of Great Neck Estates tennis for the past 25-plus years, to join together and develop a program that Great Neck Estates residents could be proud of. What truly makes a facility excellent are the people who create the programs, direct the programs and instruct the programs. Both Howie Arons and

Willie Notar have an incredible passion for tennis and for what players expect their tennis experience to be like. For the past 38 years, Arons has been one of the most successful coaches in the Eastern Section. His programs have produced more than 75 Division I college players and hundreds of high school players. At Cardozo High School where he has been the head coach for 37 years, his teams have won 18 PSAL Championships and 12 Mayors Cup Championships. Arons has the most wins of any tennis coach in New York State with 582. In 1989, he was recognized as ETA Coach of the Year by the USTA, and in 2007, he was named Coach of the Year by the USPTA. Willie Notar has been a standout in

Eastern tennis since 1980. As a senior at Cardozo High School, Notar won the PSAL Singles Championship and the prestigious Iron Horse Trophy, awarded to the best player of the year in New York City tennis. He accepted a full scholarship to St. John’s University and played for coach George Seewagen. As a sophomore, it was apparent that Notar’s game had gone to a higher level, so he left St. John’s and turned pro. Notar gave pro tennis a three-year run and achieved amazing results. He had wins over such standouts as Emelio Sanchez and Mark Woodford, and achieved a world ATP ranking of 282. Upon returning home, Notar began his career in tennis instruction at Great Neck Estates Park. In addition to run-

Call C a ll 7 718-997-2771 18 -997-2771 o orr v visit isit q qc.cuny.edu/tenniscenter c .c uny.edu/tenniscente r LIKE US

QC TENNIS CENTER

WATCH US QC TENNIS CENTER

REVIEW US

QC TENNIS CENTER

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

ning adult and junior programs at Great Neck Estates, Willie is also the head pro at Fresh Meadows Country Club where he currently coaches some of the area’s top senior men. From QuickStart to tournament training, New York tennis at Great Neck Estates is striving to offer junior tennis players the best tennis experience. Arons stated, “Our goal is to motivate our juniors to want to be the best they can be. Whether the player wants to play every day with passion to improve for tournament play, or just once a week to have fun, we get it. Our pro staff is amazing and each day, we strive to bring out the best in all of our players.” The club’s weekend junior tournament training programs is its trademark. On both Saturdays and Sundays, a threehour tournament training program is offered, consisting two-hour lesson/drill followed by a full set of tennis. The session includes rigorous competitive drills, point play and fitness, and then each player participates in a ladder match. The results of the ladder match determines the player’s court next week. This type of experience weekly prepares juniors for both high school and tournament tennis. During the mornings and early afternoons, Willie Notar organizes and directs programs for adult players that will surely meet your needs and level. To burn calories, there is Boot Camp, a rigorous drill ($25 per session) that will give you that cardio boost. For players in the evenings, there are men’s drill and play leagues, or you can come in with a friend and book a court for an evening on an open or seasonal basis. Come in and visit the all-new Great Neck Estates Tennis Club and see one of the finest tennis facilities on Long Island. From beginners to experienced tennis enthusiasts, Great Neck Estates would love to serve your tennis needs.

John McEnroe Tennis Academy 101 Norcross Avenue • Bethpage, NY (516) 933-8500 www.johnmcenroetennisacademy.com In September 2010, tennis legend John McEnroe launched the John McEnroe Tennis Academy in his hometown of New York City at the SPORTIME Randall’s Island Tennis Center in Manhattan. SPORTIME Randall’s Island is the flagship location for the Academy and for SPORTIME’s 13 clubs. John McEnroe and SPORTIME have assembled a talented staff of world-class teaching and fitness professionals, who have joined together to make John’s vision of a New York based, non-residential tennis

academy a reality. The John McEnroe Tennis Academy exists to: Develop worldclass players at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy; excite New Yorkers, especially kids, about the game of tennis; and provide opportunities to motivated and deserving NYC area kids—young players who would not otherwise have the resources to reach their full potential as players and/or scholar-athletes JMTA professionals work as a team to deliver a training program that will assure the best possible outcome for serious junior players; a program that will enable JMTA players to make the most of their abilities, while supporting them in their academic pursuits and in living balanced, healthy lives. In September 2012, JMTA expanded its geographic reach to SPORTIME locations in Westchester and on Long Island: SPORTIME Lake Isle, a beautiful, eightcourt, state-of-the art year-round facility in Eastchester, New York in lower Westchester; and SPORTIME Bethpage in central Long Island, a six-court indoor facility that has long been SPORTIME’s high performance training mecca. Find out more at www.johnmcenroetennisacademy.com.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

Top Clubs & Programs

Point Set Indoor Racquet Club 3065 New Street â&#x20AC;˘ Oceanside, N.Y. (516) 536-2323 www.pointsetracquetclub.com Extreme makeover tennis club edition! Upgrade yourself by enjoying the all new U.S. Open blue tennis courts, gleaming locker rooms, renovated lobby/office and redesigned social space of post-storm Point Set Indoor Racquet Club! A state-of-the-art, spare no expense renovation out of respect to our customers! With 350-plus juniors in developmental programs, 60-plus QuickStart PeeWees, 500-plus adult players in

leagues/contracts/drills, Point Set Racquet Club is working towards fulfilling its mission statement: Point Set aspires to be the most vibrant tennis club on the South Shore by integrating heart with sport in the community. The dedicated Dream Team staff of tennis professionals administers a top tier Tournament Training Program (TTP) for three levels of junior competitors. It addresses all aspects of competition: drills, match play, fitness and mental toughness. See what a difference the Point Set staff delivers as the facility has added air-conditioning for a controlled climate for play year-round! Point Set Indoor Racquet Club recognizes that customers are our most important asset. The collegial relationship of the staff, on and off the court, translates into a friendly environment for our customers. We are a full-service club and your gateway to challenging yourself to explore, enjoy and improve yourself through the great sport of tennis. Experience the difference a supportive environment makes! Come play at Point Set where fun meets fitness.

TOPSPIN

TENNIS & FITNESS

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Long Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tennis Storeâ&#x20AC;? Kids Apparel & Sneakers t Great Prices On Racquets Workout Apparel t 1 Hour Stringing t Tennis & Running Shoes

Open 7 Days t Demos Available Shipping Available ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

USTA Long Island Retailer of the Year

218 JERICHO TURNPIKE SYOSSET t 516-364-9470 ACROSS FROM SYOSSET HOSPITAL

TopSpinTennisLI.com 20

$5 OFF Racquet Restringing

8 $0610/ t &YQ t /PO DPNCJOBCMF ONE COUPON PER FAMILY

$10 OFF Tennis Shoes 8 $0610/ t /PO DPNCJOBCMF ONE COUPON PER FAMILY 4PNF &YDMVTJPOT "QQMZ t &YQ

Long Island Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ January/February 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ LITennisMag.com

Port Washington Tennis Academy 100 Harbor Road â&#x20AC;˘ Port Washington, N.Y. (516) 883-6425 â&#x20AC;˘ www.pwta.com The Port Washington Tennis Academy (PWTA) is dedicated to young people, primarily from the ages of four through 18. PWTA was created in 1966 as a non-profit facility to use tennis as a means of fostering educational success for children, by developing a stimulating lifelong activity that is fun, healthy, and scholastically and socially beneficial. This is accomplished by utilizing specialized techniques with a wide range of instructional programs, special inhouse competitions and several USTAsanctioned tournaments. Additionally, graduating high school seniors get the benefit of PWTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many years of experiences and up-to-date knowledge of schools, teams and coaches when it comes to identifying, selecting and the eventual placement at a university meeting their individual capabilities and goals. While PWTA is well-known for many world-class professional players graduating from its programs, encouraging educational excellence will always be the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main focus. PWTA also offers an extensive variety of adult programs at all levels. Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daytime and evening leagues, private lessons, group clinics (three players plus a professional), seasonal courts, including instructional and season-ending doubles play sessions, are just part of the

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

club’s broad spectrum of activities. PWTA is the largest indoor tennis facility on the East Coast, with 17 indoor courts (four hard and 13 Har-Tru) and a unique elevated quarter mile-long indoor running track. PWTA also provides many extras not found as part of a teaching program, such as an international teaching staff, closedcircuit TV for each court, upper TV lounge for relaxed viewing, spectator viewing galleries to ensure full visibility of every court, comfortable lounge areas, extensive men’s and women’s locker rooms, meeting rooms, etc. Complimentary coffee, tea, milk, cookies, juice and potassium rich bananas are always available to PWTA members. In addition, the Academy has a fully-stocked pro shop to meet the needs of members. For more information, call (516) 883-6425 or visit www.pwta.com.

Queens College Tennis Center 65-30 Kissena Boulevard • Queens, N.Y. (718) 997-2771 www.queensknights.com/tenniscenter The Queens College Tennis Center (QCTC) is determined to provide the patrons of the Queens College Tennis Cen-

ter with a state-of-the-art facility, professional service and a healthy environment to enhance their tennis experience. Newly reopened, QCTC is centrally located in Flushing, Queens and is easily accessible via car, bus or subway. Enjoy indoor rain-free tennis year-round in our spacious state of the art facility. QCTC offers six indoor and outdoor newly resurfaced Deco-turf courts available for use seven days a week. Youth and Adult tennis classes are available for all ages and levels of play. All tennis program curriculum has been carefully structured for the progression of each player. Private and semi-private lessons are available with our experienced coaching staff. Please contact Queens College Tennis Center for court reservations and class

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

registrations. For more information, visit www.queensknights.com/tenniscenter.

Ross School Tennis Academy 18 Goodfriend Drive • East Hampton, N.Y. (631) 907-5162 www.ross.org/summerterm/tennisacademy tennisacademy@ross.org USTA/ITF players aged 12-18, join us this summer at Ross School Tennis Academy, where you can increase your skills under our highest-level tennis training program. This intensive program is specially designed for a small group of players dedicated to training to their highest potential every day. At RSTA’s Summer Term program, you will: l Train on six impeccably maintained Har-tru courts in preparation for USTA tournaments. l Practice for four hours daily in group and private sessions. l Participate in weekly group sessions with RSTA’s sports psychologist. l Use Dartfish video comparison analysis to improve your form and your skills. l Reside in luxurious boarding houses with students from around the world, dining at our renowned Ross Café and taking part in weekend and evening excursions to local Hamptons activities or to New York City. Additional private training, sports psy22

chologist sessions and coaching are available for a fee. Phil Williamson had been coaching nationally ranked juniors at the Grand Slam Tennis Center in Bedford, N.Y., where he served as senior head pro. His experience in tennis includes the management of clubs, but his passion lies in coaching. Phil is a Life Member of the USTA and was named 2007 Pro of the Year by the USPTA/Eastern Section. He is a USPTA Member with a P1 rating, and he was certified as a High Performance Coach in 2007. As a player, Phil led the Columbia University team to their second Ivy League title in three years and achieved a rank of 31st in Head Intercollegiate Tennis Standings. He has placed in the U.S. Open four times and achieved an ATP singles ranking of 294th and 133rd in doubles.

Ross School Tennis Center 18 Goodfriend Drive • East Hampton, N.Y. (631) 907-5162 www.ross.org/tennis The Ross School Tennis Center, located on the Upper School campus in East Hampton, N.Y., is a wonderful resource in the Hamptons open to seasonal and year-round residents. The Center features six Har-Tru tennis courts that are enclosed by a bubble from mid-fall through mid-spring, allowing for year-

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

round play. The courts are directly adjacent to the beautiful, state-of-the-art Fieldhouse where players can take advantage of its many amenities, including locker rooms, lounge, snack bar, and ping pong tables. The Fieldhouse is also used for a variety of special events and is available for private parties. l Jump Start Program is a junior program allows children to develop spatial awareness, movement, and locomotor skills using appropriately sized rackets. They learn how to volley, throw, catch and rally, building a foundation not only for tennis, but for any future athletic activities. l Junior Development Program offers games and level-specific drills and training for building a strong foundation. Designed with having fun in mind, the program improves skills and motivates young players into continuing the sport. l Accelerated Tournament Preparation features drills, tennis-specific conditioning and game strategy designed specifically to prepare advanced players for junior tournaments and match play. l High Performance (summer only) for ages 10–17, is offered to players who are current USTA members and have some tournament experience. Try-outs required. l Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) offers an unusual and dynamic program for national and international junior players that combines an engaging, global curriculum with the highest level of competitive tennis training available. Designed for USTA/ITF players in grades 7-12 and post-graduates, the RSTA is the first in the New York City area to have a full academic program with a complete physical and mental conditioning program. Students who attend the Academy

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

experience high-performance tennis training while studying alongside their peers in a stimulating, college preparatory, learning community following a regular academic year. RSTA Summer is an invitation only program for USTA/ITF and professional players. Boarding options are available. Adults have many programs to choose from at the Ross School Tennis Center, including Adult Clinics for all levels in the mornings and evenings, as well as the Pro-Am Doubles League on Tuesday nights, which allows advanced players to compete with and against the pros in a competitive, high-level game. Private instruction is available for all

levels of play. The Tennis Center staff provides a fun and supportive atmosphere that allows for the greatest amount of success. Guests can also rent courts during the weekday, weekend, or seasonally. Call (631) 907-5162 for more information or to make reservations.

SPORTIME (888) NY-TENNIS www.sportimeny.com SPORTIME is proud to have received 2013 awards for Best Tennis Club Facility in New

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

York City and in Suffolk County, as well as for Best Tennis Director. SPORTIME’s courts, facilities and club environments have set a new standard of excellence, and we are getting even better. With over 162 hard and soft surface courts, indoors and outdoors, we offer great tennis programs and facilities for players of all ages and abilities. When you are at a SPORTIME club you won’t want to leave! To find out more, go to www.sportimeny.com. Programs for everyone l Juniors: From our 10 & Under Tennis developmental programs, which start with toddlers, to our Elite and HighPerformance programs for nationally ranked juniors, to SPORTIME’s ultimate opportunity to train with New

York tennis icon Johnny Mac and the John McEnroe Tennis Academy team at Randall’s Island and at our JMTA Annex locations in Bethpage on Long Island and at Lake Isle, Eastchester in Lower Westchester, SPORTIME offers a complete menu of tennis programming for every level of play. Our Tennis Kinetics philosophy helps students turn their weaknesses into strengths and their strengths into winning games! l Adults: SPORTIME‘s Adult Tennis Kinetics program is the largest adult group lesson program in the country. For those looking for the ultimate challenge, we offer Adult Elite, modeled after our highly successful Junior Elite programs. Major League Tennis, Cardio Tennis, and our signa-

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

ture “Zone” high-intensity competitive games program all provide great workouts and skills development and are a lot of fun! Mixed doubles parties, round robin mixers, club tournaments and other special events round out our adult schedule throughout the year. We offer SPORTIME Camps SPORTIME offers the best tennis camps anywhere and we have a camp location near you! SPORTIME summer camps utilize our fun and fast-paced training methods, featuring stroke production, competitive games and tactical training for match play, along with tennis-specific conditioning tailored to all camper levels. SPORTIME campers develop positive self-esteem and laser-like focus, while

YOUR 2014 GUIDE TO LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Top Clubs & Programs

having FUN! We also offer Multi-Sport camps and School Break camps.

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center 12402 Roosevelt Avenue • Flushing, N.Y. (718) 760-6200 www.ntc.usta.com The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, home of the U.S. Open, is one of the world’s largest public tennis facilities, offering year-round programs for all ages and skill levels. We have 18 outdoor courts, 12 indoor courts, four bubbled clay courts, four stadium courts and five outdoor 10 & Under courts on our new DeckZone, all of which are available for public, year-round rental. The National Tennis Center’s yearround programs encompass 10 & Under Tennis, for players as young as fouryears-old, Junior Development, Tennis Academy, Summer Camps, Cardio Tennis, Drill & Play, private lessons and seasonal court time. Programs teach the necessary skills, techniques, tactics, and sports conditioning geared to maximizing the learning experience in a fun presentation. As players develop, they are advanced to more challenging groups. The NTC also offers a variety of adult and senior programs, as well as a weekly wheelchair tennis program. The National Tennis Center is also the

home of USTA Training Center–East, one of USTA Player Development’s three national training centers, and additional Player Development programs for topranking juniors residing in the Northeast. Last year, the Training Center–East recently began its open “Feeder Program” for players ages nine through 13, which holds open tryouts twice per year for players to eventually enter into the USTA Player Development training program. Further, the National Tennis Center partners with local National Junior Tennis & Learning chapters and the CityParks Foundation to host a diverse collection of youth programs, such as alternative classroom learning opportunities for local students, life skills curriculum, SAT preparation and a speaker series that has featured such guests as former Grand Slam champion Virginia Wade. The NTC also offers yearround daytime school programs and hosts many corporate and special events. Detailed information regarding our programs, availability and special events can be found at www.NTC.USTA.com.

World Gym Bay Shore 225 Howells Road • Bay Shore, N.Y. (631) 968-8668 www.worldgym.com/bayshore World Gym Bay Shore is the proud home of the South Shore division of Game Set Match Tennis Academy, directed by Head Pro and Tennis Director Tracie Forsythe. Here at this club, the tennis staff makes it their mission to provide quality tennis lessons to people of all ages. The club also features a two-level gym that has state-of-the-art fitness equipment, as well as a heated indoor lap pool to help all tennis participants either step it up or wind it down. The staff are all tennis players themselves, having competed in international and national tournaments, as well have played competitive high school and college tennis. The junior program is proud to be able to train many local children who have aspirations to compete at a high level. Our All Aces program for ages four through seven uses techniques that are set up by the USTA 10 & Under program, and has trained pros to ensure the youngsters have great instruction and positive reinforcement as they start out. The courts are available for seasonal contract time as well as open time.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Shaping Your Game Through Practice Preparation

By Luke Jensen s we head into another year of opportunity, a proper mind set is critical towards your enjoyment and improvement in our great game of tennis. I would really like to stress having a plan towards your tennis. If you are a competitive player at any level, you will know what parts of your game are letting you down and what parts of your game are winning pressure points for you. Having balance with your approach to your practice sessions will help you prepare for success in your competitions. I like to start most workouts with serving drills. Serves are the most important part of the game because it is the one shot that be-

gins every point of the match. The serve is usually the shot worked on the very least and at the very end of practice what I call garbage time when the coaches are just trying to kill time and serving practice becomes all too social. I like to make serving drills competitive, by including targets and result-based scenarios where the players are serving under pressure. After serving, I get right into transition tennis drills that stress the improvement and confidence in the approach shot volley area of the game. It is another area that is very important, but rarely done well or worked on. Approach shot drills and volley drills for singles and doubles really improve your results in matches. By this time, groundies take over between consistency and power … lots of

balls hit here. Most points played in singles and doubles today are played with players hitting from the baseline and the winners usually have the best ground strokes. I finish with volleys and overheads to work on my front court attack game. This part of my game helps close out points with confidence and beat players who outplay you from the baseline. Make sure your sessions are played with a ton of positive energy to duplicate the intensity of a match. As a coach, I am responsible for a sound practice plan and raising the passion of a positive practice. I really try to make sure the sessions are fresh and fun. Boring practice plans produce bored players that are not ready for the game speed of a match. Make sure you bring new ideas to your

• Group and private lessons available for all ages • Quality instruction at great rates

WorldGymBayShore.com 225 Howells Rd. Bay Shore, NY 11706 26

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

for more information

pro next time you have a private or group lesson. Let the pro know what is working for you and letting you down in matches. This will give the pro some hints how to shape a more productive practice. Finally, if you are a player who gets nervous under the pressure of match play, change your mental approach from a practice mindset to a rehearsal mindset. A rehearsal approach is directed to the urgency faced in a match. Using the word “practice” is too casual for me, and often results

in casual sessions. Rehearsing with the right intensity and mental approach will help with nerves in tough match situations. You will be ready to play and ready to win! Have a great winning new year! Go for the lines! Born in Grayling, Mich., Luke Jensen is head coach of the Syracuse University Women’s Tennis Team. Jensen’s resume includes 10 ATP Tour doubles titles and sin-

gles victories against Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Jim Courier. Jensen and his brother, Murphy, won the 1993 French Open doubles title. He was also a member of the 1991 and 1992 Davis Cup Teams. His ambidextrous play, including his ability to serve the ball with either hand at 130 mph, earned him the nickname “Dual Hand Luke.” He may be reached by phone at (315) 443-3552 or e-mail lbjensen@syr.edu.

One-On-One Doubles Tournaments to Return in 2014 ne-On-One Doubles Tournaments will return to Florida in its music filled format. The three-hour tournaments will be played at The Kiwi Tennis Club, in Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. on Friday, March 7 and at Hawks Landing Tennis Club in Plantation, Fla. on Saturday, April 5. Both Men’s Open tournaments will offer $3,000 in prize money and are piloted by USTA/Florida. This unique tennis event integrates rockin’ blues music throughout the three-hour event. A live rockin’ blues concert and a dinner party for the tournament players, club members, event sponsors and guests will immediately follow the tournament. This event has been hosted two times at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in 2009 and 2010. Jared Palmer, 2001 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, won the 2009 tournament in New York. One-On-One Doubles, endorsed by the USTA, is a half-court, serve-and-volley singles game played on the doubles court. It brings the full arsenal of tennis shots into a new fast-paced, spectator-friendly sport. Having been played at USTA, USPTA, ATP and ITA national tournaments, One-on-One Doubles is making a name for itself as the third game of tennis. Since 2005, One-OnOne Doubles Tournaments have been hosted at the annual ITA National College Coaches Convention. In the summer of 2012, Tennis Channel aired a Professional One-On-One Doubles Tournament, hosted by the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, that was won by Michael Pernfors, 1986 French Open Singles finalist. The game’s founder, Ed Krass, is also

the director of the College Tennis Exposure Camps. “The tournaments will consist of some of the state’s and nation’s top players going after the One-On-One Doubles titles,” said Krass. “This will surely be a great mix of tennis and music to entertain the fans.” The National One-On-One Doubles Championships is scheduled for Nov. 9, 2014 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. One of the Florida tournament winners will earn an all-expense

paid trip to compete in the National event in November “One-On-One Doubles events are a blast,” said Krass. “Customizable and team format-friendly, it’s a natural addition to any tennis clubs’ schedule both for regular play and special events.” Any tennis club director interested in hosting the Electric Tennis and Rockin’ Blues Event featuring One-On-One Doubles Prize Money tournaments can contact Ed Krass at oneononedoubles@yahoo.com or call (813) 684-9031. All players can register, starting mid-January, online at www.florida.usta.com/tournaments/adult. For more information about One-On-One Doubles Tournaments, visit www.oneononedoubles.com.

Our facility features 18 outdoor courts, including 4 stadium courts, 12 indoor courts and 4 bubbled clay courts in our state of the art, 245,000 square foot indoor tennis facility. We are open 11 months of the year and offer the following: t : FBS SPVOE 1SPHSBNT GPS "EVMUT BOE +VOJPST t BOE 6OEFS t 4VNNFS $BNQT t 4FBTPOBM $BNQT t 0QFO $PVSU 5JNF t $POUSBDU $PVSU UJNF

t $PSQPSBUF &WFOUT t #JSUIEBZ QBSUJFT t 'JFME 5SJQT t 5PVST t 1SJWBUF -FTTPOT t $BSEJP 5FOOJT t "OE PUIFS 4QFDJBM &WFOUT

For more information call

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

E M I L I E

KAT Z

Off the court and into the Octagon

bian basketball player, had been dating for around three months.

Vania King had an unforgettable few days at a recent UFC event in Las Vegas. It all started on a Friday as she watched the weigh-ins, did a backstage tour and took a few photos in the Octagon and the following day, the American two-time Grand Slam doubles champion watched the fights, even sitting Octagon-side for the action with Dana White, president of the UFC.

A new surface

Break point

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have added another chapter to the “crazy tennis exhibition match” file. The world’s top two players were in Argentina for the retirement festivities for David Nalbandian and found time to play their first ever matches against each other on the South American continent—albeit matches that won’t officially count. The match took place on a barge with Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier serving as an unforgettable backdrop.

Coaching carousel

Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Ana Ivanovic and new boyfriend Ivan Paunic have already broken up, less than a week after the Serbian press publicized their relationship. There is speculation that the way Paunic spoke about the relationship publicly was a major turnoff to the Serbian tennis player. Ivanovic and Paunic, a Ser28

Maria Sharapova has announced that she has hired a new coach for the upcoming tennis season. The 26-year-old will be

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

working with Sven Groeneveld who has a reputation for helping to train and coach some of the top female players over the past two decades. “I’m happy to announce my official partnership with Sven Groeneveld,” Sharapova wrote on Facebook. “We’ve been working together since I got back on the court and after seeing him on the opposing side for so many years, I’m excited to have him become a part of my team. It has been a very seamless transition and I have had a lot of fun with the hard work we have put in so far. Looking forward to the year ahead.” Groeneveld recently served as a coach and consultant at the Adidas Player Development Program. He most notably has coached Monica Seles, Mary Pierce and Ana Ivanovic. Former top five player Daniel Hantuchova has named veteran Ricardo Sanchez as her new coach. The 30-year-old Hantuchova has worked with a slew of coaches over the years, most recently, with Eduardo Nicolas. Sanchez has worked with several players, including Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic. “We have known each other for years, so the transition has been very natural,” Hantuchova said on Facebook. “I’m looking forward to all the hard work and excited about the work we have already done last week in Spain!”

l Sloane Stephens (@sloanetweets): 13 years later and still baking bread with grandpa … some things will never change! Happy Thanksgiving! Happy holiday tweets l Ana Ivanovic (@anaivanovic): There is from the stars! something special about this time of l Andrea Petkovic (@andreapetkovic): year and all Xmas decorations … #famI just heard “Last Christmas” for the first ilytime time this year. Everything goes downhill l Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): Christmas from here. gift ideas floating around … l Angelique Kerber (@angeliquekerber): Happy #thanksgiving to all my American fans and friends!!! l Chris Evert (@chrissieevert): I feel so What do tennis stars fat today...:)))) #toomanyhelpings do off the court?! l Sorana Cirstea (@sorana_cirstea): l Shahar Peer (@shaharpeer): ShopDecember tradition ... #HomeAlone ping in NYC has just started! l Jimmy Connors (@jimmyconnors): It’s l Marion Bartoli (@bartoli_marion): Got Turkey Day & a lot to be thankful for. the amazing honor to meet Mr. Tommy Wishing all a great day. For those we Hilfiger in NYC ! What an experience! love who are with us & those we love l Maria Kirilenko (@mkirilenko): Lets go who are not. Caps!!! @washcaps Well done boys!?? l Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): I was almost on the ice today LOL! Happy Thanksgiving to all my American l Ana Ivanovic (@anaivanovic): Who friends! says it’s not good to eat ice cream in l Petra Kvitova (@petra_kvitova): winter time?! I say it’s still very yummy!!! Happy Holidays! Stastne a Vesele! #happyhappy :)

l Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob): Lots of @UCLAFootball pride right now! Go Bruins! l Andy Roddick (@andyroddick): Hahahaha!! This J Kidd “fake spill” thing is hilarious. Zero chance it was an accident. He leaned into the guy while pretending to look away. l Ryan Harrison (@ryanharrison92): Anyone else get talked into going to watch the Hunger Games during the second half of the Iron Bowl? Guess it was just me. l Eugenie Bouchard (@geniebouchard): Wow! What an honor to be named the WTA Newcomer of the Year. Thank you @WTA and everyone who voted for me.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

COMING IN MARCH

Distribution scheduled for 03/01/14

This edition will feature: • Guide to Long Island’s Top Tennis Camps • 2014 Long Island Tennis Expo Announcements • Boys High School Tennis Season Preview • Australian Open Recap • Guide to Long Island’s Top Court Builders and Manufacturers

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

Don’t miss the advertising opportunities in the next edition of Long Island Tennis Magazine March/April 2014! are due by February 1, 2014 For more information, please call 516-409-4444 or e-mail Advertise@LITennisMag.com

Submissions both advertising and editorial Long Island Tennis Magazinefor • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

inside the

cage

Platform Tennis at Crest Hollow Country Club ennis outside in the winter? Well not “tennis,” but platform tennis or another term for the sport you may have heard “paddle.” The game has been around for 80 years; however, many tennis players on Long Island have never tried it. Platform tennis is an American racquet sport enjoyed by thousands of people of all ages. It is the only racquet sport that players can enjoy outdoors in cold weather. This unique appeal attracts people who desire fresh air, competition and social engagement—all on a chilly winter’s day or night. It is played in over 15 locations on Long Island, but one of the premier locations is Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, N.Y. “To me it is just as much about the love of the game itself and being outdoors in the fresh air, as it is about the camaraderie with your teammates and guys on the other team,” said Brian Moss, a fourth year player. Crest Hollow Country Club has much to offer its platform tennis members, including: l Five heated and lighted platform tennis courts

l Six men’s teams who participate in LIPTA League play l Five women’s teams who participate in LIPTA League play l A great network for social games with 100-plus members l Open court time seven days a week l A full calendar of events, including the Thanksgiving Turkey Shootout, Member-Guests, Charity Tournaments and more l Lessons available to both members and non-members The platform tennis program at the club is run by Director of Racquet Sports Matt Garavaglia. He is a PPTA 1 Pro who has been teaching platform tennis for 13-plus years (originally in Chicago and now on Long Island). He has been a nationallyranked platform tennis player for the past 10 years. “I played in a snowstorm my first year and was hooked on the sport,” said Joe McGorry, a fourth year player. “Just being at Crest Hollow with the snow falling was beautiful and playing a sport outside was tons of fun. It was the closest thing to being a kid again.

Also the camaraderie on and off the court is fantastic. I’ve made a ton of friends all over Long Island from playing paddle. It’s a tight knit group.” There are many things that make platform tennis a must for athletes in the Long Island area. For those who do play, once they get involved, they cannot get enough and it gets almost a cult-like following among the die-hards. “It’s the winter warrior sport,” said Garavaglia. “It gets you outside playing a competitive game with your friends in the winter months. You meet life-long friends and great people from all over the country.” “The learning curve is extremely fast,” said Julien Klein, owner of Solow Sports, who began playing platform tennis this year and is already hooked. “If you have any kind of racquet sports background, you can just pick up a paddle and be competing in a league in a week or two.” Long Island winters can be pretty cold, but platform tennis is a great way to remain active and have fun. Head out to Crest Hollow Country Club to see it some platform tennis action in person or visit www.cresthollow.com for more information.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Newly Revamped MSG Set to H

7th Annual BNP Paribas Showdown

he 7th Annual BNP Paribas Showdown is set for Monday, March 3 at Madison Square Garden. The event will provide an unbelievable night of tennis when some of the biggest names in the game take to the court in

T 32

the World’s Most Famous Arena. The event will feature tennis’ number one rivalry, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, as well as, for the first time in its history, a unique brothers doubles match with John & Patrick McEnroe teaming up to take on Bob & Mike Bryan, arguably the best doubles team of all-time. The doubles match,

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

which begins at 7:00 p.m., will be an eightgame pro set followed by a best-of-three sets for the singles match. The BNP Paribas Showdown is produced by MSG Sports and StarGames. The 7th Annual BNP Paribas Showdown, which consistently attracts the biggest names in tennis, will follow the likes of Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Ivan Lendl, Juan Martin del Potro, Serena and Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic, and Jelena Jankovic, all who took part in previous Showdowns providing unforgettable memories for New York tennis fans. “I am looking forward to coming to Madison Square Garden,” said Djokovic. “I have heard nothing but great things about this event and it should be a big night for tennis in New York, one of my favorite places to play.” “I’m excited about coming to the Garden next year,” said Murray. “Ivan [Lendl] has told me plenty of stories about matches and other events that have taken place there. There is so much history attached to the venue and it should be a great night for both Novak and me.” Once again, the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden will headline a full day of nationwide activities as part of “Tennis Night in America” and “World Tennis Day,” a global tennis participation effort. Both events promote tailoring the game to players 10 & Under with smaller racquets, lighter balls and modified scoring.

Host the Biggest Stars in Tennis

n coming to the Big Apple March 3 The tale of the tape F I R ST MAT CH Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Perhaps the best doubles team of all-time, Bob & Mike Bryan are the current world number one doubles team. The duo notched their 15th Grand Slam title after winning the 2013 Wimbledon finals, simultaneously becoming the first team in tennis history to have all four majors plus an Olympic Gold Medal all at the same time. The American pair recently broke John Newcombe & Tony Roche’s record of 12 Grand Slams after winning their sixth Australian Open in January.

vs. John McEnroe has been dubbed one of the best doubles players of all time. The U.S. native holds 17 major titles: nine in doubles, seven in singles, and one in mixed. He formed a powerful team with doubles partner Peter Fleming, with whom he won seven out of his nine major titles. McEnroe finished his career with an 875-198 overall record, and 77 titles. He reached the world number one rank on March 3, 1980.His younger brother, Patrick McEnroe, reached a career-high ranking of 28 on Sept. 11, 1995. He finished his career with a 140-163 singles record, and recorded a Grand Slam doubles championship win along the way. In 1989, the younger McEnroe paired with Jim Grabb to capture the French Open title.

S E C OND MAT CH Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Novak Djokovic is one of the most decorated players in the sport, and is the current world number two player. The Serbian-born Djokovic won his sixth Grand Slam title this year at the 2013 Australian Open after defeating Murray in four sets. With the win, he joined the likes of Andre Agassi and Roger Federer as four-time Australian Open winners. In 2011 Djokovic captured both the Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles as well. On June 1, he became the 40th man to win 500 matches in ATP World Tour history.

vs. Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Andy Murray rose to his current ranking of fourth in the world after teaming up with tennis legend, Ivan Lendl. He won his first Grand Slam title at the 2012 U.S. Open, defeating Djokovic in a marathon five-set match. Murray also made it as far as the finals in the 2013 Australian Open, defeating Roger Federer in the semifinals and eventually falling to Djokovic in the finals. On July 7, 2013 Murray became the first Brit to win the Wimbledon title since Fred Perry in 1936, where he defeated Djokovic in three sets to claim the crown.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

USTA EASTERN LONG ISLAND REGION

USTA Eastern Section Recognizes Long Island Volunteers

Congratulations to the following Long Island volunteers who will be honored by the USTA Eastern Section at its annual awards dinner in January: l Lifetime Achievement Award: Terry Fontana, founder and director of the Hicksville Community Tennis Association and longtime USTA volunteer. This Award is given to a volunteer in recognition of years of dedicated service while promoting and developing tennis in the community around them. This individual has made a great impact on spreading their passion of tennis while touching the lives of many. l George Seewagen Award: Lawrence Kleger, executive director of tennis at Sportime. Awarded to a USTA Eastern teaching professional who exemplifies excellence in competition, sportsmanship and love of the game.

l Press Service Award: David Sickmen, publisher of Long Island Tennis Magazine and New York Tennis Magazine. This Award is given to a member of the press corps for excellence in reporting tennis in the section. l Service to People or People with Disabilities Award: Gillian Cohen. This Award recognizes outstanding people dedicated to working with special populations through tennis or to give special recognition to a disabled player. l USTA League Award: Ginger Wade. Awarded to a captain or coordinator who has made a significant contribution in the growth and development of USTA League Tennis in the Section. l LI Regional Volunteer of the Year: Ronni Klein. Given in honor of a volunteer from each of the six regions who has given special service to the Section.

USTA Long Island Schedules Awards Dinner The USTA Eastern Long Island Region has announced that its 24th Annual Awards Dinner has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, N.Y. The event will be a wonderful celebration of tennis, honoring members of the community who have achieved greatness both on the court and off. For more information on the dinner, please visit www.longisland.usta.com and click on “Awards Dinner” on the left hand side of the home page.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

USTA EASTERN LONG ISLAND REGION

Competition Training Center Program Gets Underway The 2013-2014 Long Island Annual Competition Training Center (CTC) training program kicked off on Dec. 14 at the NY Tennis Academy in Great Neck, N.Y. The CTC program brings together top juniors, ages 10-14, for competitive training opportunities that motivate and encourage all to develop to their highest competitive level. CTC helps young players develop

competitive skills without worrying about rankings. The program, which supplements players’ training schedules and is not intended to replace any aspect of their regular training, each year assists about 2,000 players nationwide. Local training sites this year are Point Set, Glenwood Landing, Deer Park, World Gym and Locust Valley.

10-and-Under Team Tennis Season to Start

The winter session of USTA 10 & Under Junior Team Tennis has launched under the direction of Tito Perez, JTT Long Island Coordinator. Participants under the age of 10 make up teams from clubs across Long Island. Matches are played using the USTA’s 10-and-under league red ball, green ball and orange ball format, which tailors the equipment to the player’s age and ability. For information on a team near you, please contact your local tennis club or contact Tito Perez

by phone at (631) 7516100, ext. 10 or e-mail vtapr@hotmail.com or contact Bill Mecca, USTA Eastern Tennis Service Representative by phone at (516) 7462163. This past summer, World Gym Setauket’s 10 & Under program fielded three teams at the Eastern Sectional tournament, with the Red Ball team taking first place. USTA 10 & Under Tennis uses racquets that are smaller, courts that are shorter and balls that bounce less than traditional tennis, making the sport more accessible for younger players.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

CREATING HOMETOWN CHAMPIONS

e k McEnro ic r t a P d n t a rothers a See John B n a y r B vs. the 14 – in action arch 3, 20 a M n o G S M ric ht in Ame Tennis Nig Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

WINTER-SPRING SESSION STARTS SOON! Call the JMTA location nearest you to find out more SPORTIME RANDALL’S ISLAND ONE RANDALL’S ISLAND, NYC 212/427-6150 Named USTA Facility of the Year 2013

SPORTIME LAKE ISLE SPORTIME BETHPAGE TENNIS 660 WHITE PLAINS ROAD, WESTCHESTER 101 NORCROSS AVE, LONG ISLAND 914/777-5151 516/933-8500

JohnMcEnroeTennisAcademy.com

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

SPORTIME 10 and Under Junior Tennis Tennis Programs

Adult Tennis Programs

Leagues, Lessons and More

NEW YORK’S TENNIS LEADER SINCE 1994 AND GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR!

162 tennis courts in soft and hard surfaces, indoors and outdoors, across Long Island, in NYC, Westchester and the Capital Region Convenient online court booking Lowest hourly and seasonal court rates for members World-Class tennis professionals offering the ﬁnest tennis instruction for kids and adults League programs for adults and juniors of all ages and levels Complimentary court-time for members Complimentary game arranging High Performance Elite Junior training and EXCEL Tennis Camps Home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy

facebook.com/SportimeNY CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE TO FIND THE SPORTIME CLUB NEAREST YOU

Awarded Best Tennis Club, NYC Awarded Best Tennis Club, Suffolk County Best Developmental Coaches Awards Best Tournament Director Awards

WINTER SESSION BEGINS NOW! Take advantage of these special offers and see why SPORTME is the ONLY place to play!

FREE

$50 OFF

10 AND UNDER TENNIS CLASS

ANY WINTER/SPRING PROGRAM

Get your kids playing tennis fast! Book a FREE class by February 28, 2014 at any location. New members/particpants only. Not to be combined with any other offer or discount. 3599-TAUT

Join SPORTIME by January 31, 2014 and save $50 off the cost of a multi-week tennis program. New members/particpants only. Not to be combined with any other offer or discount. Does not apply to TAUT programs. 3599-SPT

888/NY TENNIS SportimeNY.com

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

A Look Back at the Y BY EMILIE KATZ

2013 Grand Slam Champions

Wimbledon

ATP Year-End Award Winners

Australian Open

l Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) defeated Andy Murray (Great Britain) 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 l Men’s Doubles: Bob & Mike Bryan (USA) defeated Robin Haase (Netherlands) & Igor Sijsling (Netherlands) 6-3, 6-4 l Women’s Singles: Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) defeated Li Na (China) 4-6, 64, 6-3 l Women’s Doubles: Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci (Italy) defeated Ashleigh Barty & Casey Dellaqua (Australia) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 l Mixed-Doubles: Jarmilla Gajdosova & Matthew Ebden (Austrailia) defeated Lucie Hradecka & Frantisek Cermak (Czech Republic) 6-3, 7-5

l Men’s Singles: Andy Murray (Great Britain) defeated Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 l Men’s Doubles: Bob & Mike Bryan (USA) defeated Ivan Dodig (Croatia) & Marcelo Melo (Brazil) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 l Women’s Singles: Marion Bartoli (France) defeated Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 6-1, 6-4 l Women’s Doubles: Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE) & Peng Shuai (China) defeated Ashleigh Barty & Casey Dellaqua (Australia) 7-6, 6-1 l Mixed-Doubles: Kristina Mladenovic (France) & Daniel Nestor (Canada) defeated Lisa Raymond (USA) & Bruno Soares (Brazil) 5-7, 6-2, 8-6

French Open

U.S. Open

l Men’s Singles: Rafael Nadal (Spain) defeated David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 l Men’s Doubles: Bob & Mike Bryan (USA) defeated Michael Llorda & Nicolas Mahut (France) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 l Women’s Singles: Serena Williams (USA) defeated Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-4, 6-4 l Women’s Doubles: Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina (Russia) defeated Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-2 l Mixed-Doubles: Lucie Hradecka & Frantisek Cermak (Czech Republic) defeated Kristina Mladenovic (France) & Daniel Nestor (Canada) 1-6, 6-4, 10-6

l Men’s Singles: Rafael Nadal (Spain) defeated Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 l Men’s Doubles: Leander Paes (India) & Radek Stepanek (Czech) defeated Alexander Peya (Austria) & Bruno Soares (Brazil) 6-1, 6-3. l Women’s Singles: Serena Williams (USA) defeated Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 l Women’s Doubles: Andrea Hlavackova & Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) defeated Ashleigh Barty & Casey Dellacqua (Australia) 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 l Mixed-Doubles: Andrea Hlavackova (Czech Republic) & Max Mirnyi (Russia) defeated Abigail Spears (USA) & Santiago Gonzalez (Mexico) 7-6, 6-3

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

l ATP Year End Number 1: Rafael Nadal secured the year end number one ranking with a successful season in which he won the last three Grand Slam titles (French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open). l ATP Number 1 Doubles Team: Bob & Mike Bryan win for a fifth consecutive year and record ninth overall. The 35year-old American twins guaranteed their year-end number one ranking on Aug. 19, the earliest ever by a doubles team. They won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, making them the first team to hold all four majors and the Olympic Gold Medal at the same time. l ATP Star of Tomorrow Award: Jiri Vesely was the youngest player to finish in the top 100 rankings. Vesely, who began the season ranked outside the top 250, broke into the top 100 in July, two days before his 20th birthday and reached a career high of 78 by August. The Czech made his tour level maindraw debut as a qualifier at the French Open and also won three ATP Challenger Tour titles. l Most Improved Player of the Year: Pablo Carreno Busta climbed from a year-end number 715 last season to a career high number 66 in 2013. He won 35 straight matches and seven titles on the Future’s Circuit. He made his Grand Slam debut at Roland Garros this year. l ATP Comeback Player of the Year: After being sidelined for seven months with a knee injury, Rafael Nadal made his return in February to claim 10 titles, including an eighth French Open title, a

Year That Was 2013 l

second U.S. Open championship and a record-tying fifth Masters Trophy. Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award: Roger Federer was the 2013 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award winner, as voted on by his fellow players on the ATP Tour. This year marked the ninth time Federer has won the award and the third year in a row he won the honor. Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year: Roger Federer has been named the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year for a second time in recognition of his Foundation’s support of children in Africa and Switzerland. The Roger Federer Foundation was established in 2003. ATPWorldTour.com Fans Favorite Singles: Roger Federer was named ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favorite Singles Player of the Year for the 11th consecutive year. Federer received 56 percent of the vote. ATPWorldTour.com Fans Favorite Doubles: Bob & Mike Bryan received 43 percent of votes to win this award for a record ninth time. Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award: Bendou Zhang, the Shanghaibased Zhang is the tennis writer for Titan Sports, China’s most successful sports newspaper. Zhang has been a journalist for more than 20 years, two years ago.

of women’s tennis. Serena won 11 WTA titles, accumulating 78 match wins. She only lost four matches in 2013 and pushed all of them to three sets. This is the fifth time in her career that Serena has won the WTA Player of the Year Award. l WTA Doubles Team of the Year: Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci of Italy were named the 2013 WTA’s Doubles Team of the Year. This duo won the Australian Open and held the number ranking all year long. l Most Improved Player of the Year: Simona Halep of Romania has been named the most improved player of 2013. It all started with an incredible run in Rome. She reached the semifinals as a qualifier beating four highly ranked players along the way before falling to Serena. Following this tournament, Halep went 43-8 in her last 14 WTA main draws of the year. She won her first 6 WTA titles and finished the year with a number 11 ranking. l Comeback Player of the Year: Alisa Kleybanova beat Hodgkins Lymphoma, built her game back up on the ITF Women’s Circuit, and is now playing on

WTA Tour again. Kleybanova is very deservedly the WTA’s Comeback Player of the Year Award. l Newcomer of the Year: Eugenie Bouchard burst into the international spotlight in 2012 by winning junior Wimbledon and becoming the first Canadian, male or female, ever to win a Grand Slam title in singles. But sometimes the transition from the juniors to the pros is a difficult one. The talent is evident but players need some time to develop the “complete package.” But when it comes to this year’s WTA Newcomer of the Year, it didn’t take long at all for Eugenie to succeed. Bouchard reached a career high ranking of 32nd in the world which not only makes her the top-ranked Canadian, but makes her the highest ranked teenager in the world. l WTA Fan Favorite Award: Agnieszka Radwanska has been voted by her fans as fan favorite singles player in 2013 for the third straight year. She finished the season ranked number five in the world. continued on page 40

WTA Year-End Award Winners

l WTA Player of the Year: Serena Williams didn’t just have the best season of anyone in 2013, she put together one of the best seasons in the history LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

the year that was 2013 continued from page 39 l WTA Fan Favorite Doubles Team: Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina were chosen as the fan favorite 2013 doubles team.

Players who retired in 2013 ATP Tour James Blake’s professional tennis career came to an end at this year’s U.S. Open. Blake, who attended Harvard University before turning pro in 1999, reached a career-high ranking of number four in 2006. He won 10 singles titles in his career. At Grand Slam tournaments, he reached the quarterfinals on three occasions. Blake was ranked 100th on the ATP Tour at the time of his retirement.

Xavier Malisse retired after 15 years on the ATP Tour. The 33-year-old from Belgium had a career high ranking of 19th in the world and won three ATP titles. His best Grand Slam result was the Wimbledon semifinals in 2002, when he lost a five-set match to David Nalbandian. Nicolas Massu announced his retirement from professional tennis in 2013. The 33 year-old from Chile had a career high ranking of ninth on the ATP Tour. He won six Tour titles, but the highlight of his career was winning Olympic Gold Medals in both singles and doubles at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. WTA Tour

David Nalbandian spent 13 years on the ATP Tour, reaching a career high of number three in the rankings in 2006 and spending five consecutive years in the top 10. He reached at least the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments, as well as playing at the Wimbledon finals. Nalbandian won a total of 11 singles titles in his career.

Marion Bartoli of France shocked the tennis world with her decision to quit the sport just six weeks after winning Wimbledon. This was the first Grand Slam title of her career. In addition to her prestigious Wimbledon victory, the 29 year old won seven other WTA singles titles earning her more than $11 million in prize money during her career.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

Anne Keothavong announced her retirement after a string of injuries and disappointing results. The 29-year-old never won a WTA singles title, but did claim 20 titles on the ITF circuit. In 2009, Keothavong broke a 16-year absence of British women in the top 50 by reaching her career high ranking of 48. At the age of 24, nine years into her pro career, Hungarian Agnes Szavay announced her retirement from the sport. She was suffering from chronic back pain that required a risky surgery that Agnes chose not to undergo. Szavay won five WTA singles titles and her career high ranking was number 13 in 2008. Anna Chakvetadze officially announced her retirement from tennis this year due to injury. Russian born Chakvetadze is just 26-years-old and made her WTA Tour debut in 2004. She won her first tour event in 2006 in Moscow. Her career high ranking was number five in the world. Esther Vergeer announced her retirement from wheelchair tennis bringing an end to the most dominant career the sport has ever seen. The 31-year-old Dutch star, who celebrated 10 years without a defeat on the international wheelchair circuit has been the face of the sport for more than a decade. Vergeer’s dominance of wheelchair tennis started when she became world number one for the first time in 1999. She has been named ITF wheelchair champion for the last 13 years, winning 169 titles and ends her career on a winning streak of 470 matches. In Grand Slam tournaments, Vergeer won every singles event she entered, racking up an amazing 21 singles titles and 23 doubles titles at the majors. She also won eight Paralympic medals during her career.

Nutrition as the Foundation to Optimal Athletic Performance roper nutrition is one of the most important components of a competitive tennis player. An athlete, cannot reach their full potential at any sport without fully understanding how their body works and what is needed in order to sustain energy and prevent exhaustion, dehydration and cramping during an athletic event. Remember … it’s always the fittest athlete that comes to the finish line first. In the professional tennis world, a nutritionist is always an important asset to a team of tennis coaches, physical therapists, conditioning/fitness experts and sports psychologists. Proper nutrition will help an athlete improve their game and achieve maximum competitiveness during an event. Athletes are increasingly relying on the importance of proper nutrition and hydration prior to an event. Athletes achieve peak performance by eating and drinking a variety of specific foods. Irina Belfer-Lehat has founded Nutritional Solutions on the premise that through education, young and old alike can be empowered to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. Irina has been a clinical dietitian for 13 years. Her experience has allowed her to gain a broad understanding of how proper nutrition and nutritional education can profoundly impact everything from how we feel to our athletic performance.

Utilizing her vast knowledge, Irina has developed educational programming geared towards all athletes and those looking to live a more healthy existence. Program 1: Athletes Proper nutrition is one of the most important components of an athlete’s performance and ensures that you avoid fatigue, cramps and poor stamina. Irina will carefully assess your needs and design a nutritional program that ensures you are performing at your peak during competition. Program 2: Adult Whether you are a college student cooking for the first time, an adult with diabetes or just someone looking to shed a few pounds, Irina introduces quick and easy adjustments to your lifestyle that will result in a big impact on how you feel.

Program 3: Family This unique program applies a holistic approach to nutrition, tailor made for your family. It begins with a home visit, where Irina learns about your family’s health history, lifestyle and food preferences. Based on her findings, she will then customize a session that includes the whole family and allows each member to take control of their nutritional well-being. Program 4: Young Adult Today’s youth are constantly bombarded with conflicting messages from celebrities and TV commercials showcasing size-two bodies and sugar-laden cereals. Irina will help install positive body image and healthy habits. The youth program is perfect for schools and youth centers and is appropriate for elementary-aged through high school-aged children. For more information, contact Irina at irinalehat@gmail.com or call (917) 769-8031.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

An Athleteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide to Dealing with a Tough Loss Five Steps to Handling Disappointment By Rob Polishook, Mental Training Coach MA, CPC magine this â&#x20AC;Ś you are playing in front of 200 spectators, grinding it out on the hard courts under the hot sun. The first set youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve won 7-5. Then, in a tight second set, you narrowly lose 6-7 and that was after holding two match points! You are now in the third set tie-breaker and the score is 5-6. Your opponent hits a let court which trickles over the net. You hear an echo in your head â&#x20AC;Ś game, set, match. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another disappointing loss, 7-5, 6-7, 6-7. But this one hurts even more as you had two match points in the second set and opportunities to break in the third. Slowly, you walk up to the net and shake your opponentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand. Your hand feels limp and your body feels like the energy has been sucked out by a vacuum. Your legs are wobbly and your eyes are glazed over. You simply cannot believe what has happened.

So whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a player to do? How can you get over this disappointment? Your parents and friends tell you itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing, and to just move on. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do better next time, they say. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you just hate that phrase?! However, still covered in sweat and feeling partially paralyzed, you hear them but can

barely say anything. You feel as if you have lockjaw, unable to mutter a word. In your mind, you are still replaying the points that you feel you should have won, holding onto the advantages with dear life. So let me repeat â&#x20AC;Ś whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a player to do? How do you cope with the disappointment? How do you bounce back from such painful defeat? First off, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acknowledge, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not easy and it hurts! However, at some point, when the pain starts lessening, anywhere from a few hours to a day or so, it becomes imperative to view the match through another lens. That is, how do you begin to pick the pieces up? And what must you do next time to get better? How will you take advantage of certain situations and continually put yourself in a position to get over the hump? The following are five steps to help you, the broken player, experience and move past a disappointing performance. Equally so, this list is great for parents, coaches and friends as they try to support the player during the process of disappointment, release and rebounding.

RACQUET CLUB +FSVTBMFN "WFOVF /PSUI .FSSJDL /: t

Learn To Play Tennis or Just Improve Your Game Adults: 14 Week Learn & Play Session

t Beginning January 20th t 4 students in a group with pro for 1 hour each week plus 1-1/2 hr. practice time each week. t Day, Night & Weekend Times Available, Groups Now Being Formed

Juniors: 14 Week Session

t Beginning January 20th t Group, Semi Private & Private Lessons Available t Ladder Match Program y & Sunday Practice Time t Saturday

Long Island Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ January/February 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ LITennisMag.com

Call for an appointment for testing No Membership Fees! Call Today! To oday!

1. You have the right to be disappointed You’ve earned the right to be disappointed. Let’s face it, after putting it all on the line, competing with all your heart, it is practically impossible to put on a smiling face and just forget things after a close loss. Give yourself some time. Disappointment is a natural emotion, it even hurts, and that’s okay too. It’s not something that needs to be fixed. It is time that usually heals the disappointment. 2. One step closer Believe it or not, you are actually one step closer to your goals! The great Babe Ruth used to say every time he struck out, “I’m one step closer to hitting a home run!” Babe would learn from being up at bat, and change his strategies every time he stepped up to the plate. You can do the same. It took Rafael Nadal two years to gain the number one ranking. Each time he lost during this period, he wondered how he could improve and do better the next time out. It’s obvious that he learned a lot after beating Federer on grass and hard courts. Don’t forget, slumps fit in here too. It may look like you’re going nowhere, even backwards, but keep on plugging away and learning. Maybe the competition is getting stronger or the match-up is not as favorable. That slump may be a major

learning curve that just needs to be ridden out, much like a wave. And just beyond the wave is smooth sailing … just hang on. 3. Failure provides feedback If you listen, you become aware. Failures, setbacks and obstacles always throw us for a loop, but it’s the true champion who can readjust and glean valuable feedback. Feedback should be viewed without judgment and as a learning opportunity in which you can make changes and adapt, adjusting to the situation next time. Think about it … was there ever a great champion, individual or team, that didn’t learn from failures, setbacks and obstacles? All great champions know why they are competing and use this big “Why” to get themselves back on track. How long did fans judge Federer during his early days? They said he was all hype. He used failure as feedback en route to his rise. 4. Reframe it! Simply stated, after you have decompressed, ask yourself the basic questions. What’s another way to look at this loss or situation? How can I find something positive from it? What’s the lesson here? Even though you lost, what can you learn? And don’t forget, at some point; give yourself some credit for showing up and putting yourself on the line. How many others are competing with such a heart as yours?

5. Focus on the process, not the outcome This is probably one of the most important points and a major one that all other points can probably be folded into. While you lost this performance, it is another step toward your ultimate goal. The match gave you valuable experience and exposed you to the situational pressure of match play. This is highly valuable and cannot be duplicated in practice. Remember, all great champions have to pay their dues and earn their experience. There was a time when people were saying Rafael Nadal would be the best number two player in the history of the game. Now, people are saying this guy may win more Grand Slams than Roger Federer. Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder and director of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach, he works with athletes and teams in all sports and levels, helping them to gain the mental edge. He has spoken nationally and internationally and has been quoted by ESPN, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times and other major media publications. His new book, Tennis Inside the Zone has just been released. He may be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, e-mail rob@insidethezone or visit www.insidethezone.com.

New From the Publishers of Long Island Tennis Magazine:

TennisTalkNewYork.com! n an effort to further inform the public about the sport of tennis, the publishers of Long Island Tennis Magazine are pleased to announce the launch of TennisTalkNewYork.com. This premier destination for tennis talk will serve as the gateway for an Internet radio show that will feature players and tennis industry experts, interviews, panel discussions, event promotions and recaps, product promotions, and an indepth analysis of the tennis world, both locally and nationally. The shows will spark debate on important topics as well as showcase the players, coaches and businesses that are the backbone of the New York tennis scene. The show will be broadcast Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. EST on BlogTalkRadio.com/TennisTalkNewYork beginning in late February. For more information, e-mail info@usptennis.com.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

B Y K AT H Y M I L L E R

The Mixed-Doubles season is underway, having begun in October. Playoffs are as follows: l 6.0 Level: 1st vs. 2nd playing the weekend of March 28 l 7.0 Level: 1st vs. 2nd playing the weekend of April 11 l 8.0 Level: 1st vs. 2nd playing the weekend of April 11 l 9.0 Level: 1st vs. 4th and 2nd vs. 3rd playing the weekend of March 21, and the two winning teams play the weekend of March 28 Since the 7.0 and 8.0 Levels have three divisions, the winner of each playoff will now play a three-team round-robin at a Regional Championship the weekend of April 25. The winner from each Level will then advance to the Sectional Championship the weekend of May 30-June 1st in Schenectady, N.Y. The season for the 40 & Over League will be starting the first week in May and will play until the beginning of July. The season for the 18 & Over League will start the beginning of

June and play until the beginning of August. The 55 & Over League will begin mid- to end of June and play until the end of August. We are doing our best to have as little overlap of Leagues as possible. Due to limited court time, it is impossible to not have any overlap, but we are trying to keep it to a minimum and here is what we are going to try for the upcoming season: l 40 & Over League: Players must turn 40 in the calendar year of 2014. A match will consist of two courts of singles and three courts of doubles. The levels for the 40 & Over League are 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5+. At the 4.5 Level, a team may have two 5.0 players who must play first singles or first doubles. It is our goal to schedule eight to 10 matches for each team. l 18 & Over League: Players must turn 18 in the calendar year of 2014. The levels are 2.5 which plays one court of singles and two courts of doubles. The 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 Levels will play two courts of singles and three courts of doubles. The 5.0+ Level plays one court of singles and

2013 ETA Recipient “Innovative Tennis Program of the Year” LI’s first Tennis Academy devoted to the USTA’s 10 & under Initiative. Butch Seewagen is a former varsity coach at Columbia University. He holds over 15 national and international titles and is the owner/program director of the Children’s Athletic Training Schools.

For Boys and Girls 3 – 10 years old.

188 Maple Avenue • Rockville Center Phone: 516-763-1299

www.catsny.com 44

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

two courts of doubles and may have two 5.0 players on the team who can play the singles spot or first doubles only. It is our goal to schedule eight to 10 matches for each team. l 55 & Over League: Players must turn 55 in the calendar year of 2014. This League is combined levels of 6.0 (two 3.0 players, a 2.5 & 3.5), 7.0 (two 3.5 players or a 3.0 and 4.0), 8.0 (two 4.0 players or a 3.5 and 4.5), and 9.0 (two 4.5 players or a 4.0 and 4.5). Matches consist of three courts of doubles. Our goal is to schedule eight to 10 matches for each team. We ask that captains please find out how committed your players are to your team. Last season, players spread themselves too thin, coupled with the new format giving teams a huge amount of matches during the same season of all leagues, made for a tremendous amount of forfeited courts. Clubs were very unhappy as were the players. I ask that players please consider that a captain’s job is a difficult one and often a thankless one. Many captains had a lot of extra work last year in getting a full lineup for matches. Please consider the amount of time needed for each team that you join. Anyone looking for a team or would like to start a team, please contact me at kathym65@aol.com. I must know of all teams by March 1, 2014. We are looking forward to a successful season of USTA Adult League play! Lastly, Good luck to our Tri-Level teams which will be competing at the Section Championship in Schenectady, N.Y. the weekend of Jan. 18-19. Our ladies team is captained by Debbie Cichon and our men’s team is captained by Ian Shapiro. Kathy Miller is the manager at Carefree Racquet Club and is also the Adult League Coordinator for USTA/Long Island. She may be reached at kathym65@aol.com.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

CONFIDENCE WHERE CAN I FIND IT WHEN I NEED IT? By Tina Greenbaum, LCSW was standing on the sidelines watching a young high school player prepare for tryouts for his varsity tennis team. His coach was proud of the way he was hitting the ball and felt he had a really good chance of making this highly competitive roster. One of the pesky problems that had frequently plagued this young man was his inability to consistently perform well under pressure. His nerves would get the best of him, and he was known to choke during important situations in a match. Hoping to infuse his mentee with the motivation necessary to play tough, his coach’s final words to him were, “Go out there with confidence … be aggressive!” After watching this scene, I said to the coach, “You’re telling him exactly the right thing, the problem is … he has no idea how to do it!” Does this sound like a familiar scenario? How many times have you wanted to “be confident,” but didn’t have the strategies to implement such a request? Let’s look at how confidence is really built, and then I will offer you three tips to get you started on the road to mastery.

Do you remember when you first picked up a tennis racquet? How old were you? Do you think you were a confident player when you started? I would venture to say, probably not. You were a beginner. And because you were a beginner, you lacked experience. And the more you practiced, the better you got and the better you got, the more confidence you had in your ability to play the game. So confidence is based on our successes. Now, let us imagine that you were playing a match with an opponent who was clearly better than you, but you had the expectation that you “should” beat him or her. So your expectations were in one place and the reality was in another. What you ended up with was disappointment and frustration, and an opinion of yourself that you’re “just not that good.” The confidence you had been developing was now eroding. Let’s look at a few tips that can help you build your confidence on a solid foundation: Tip #1: With a non-judgmental attitude, assess the situation While warming up, realistically ask yourself, “Is my opponent someone I could conceivably beat?” And if it is, know that you are on equal footing and focus on playing point by

point to the best of your ability. If you recognize that your opponent is clearly a more experienced player than you, find something that you can challenge yourself with … something that you can feel successful about, even if the outcome of the match is a loss. Tip #2: Flush out the demons We are often not confident on the court because of a painful past experience or a critical parent or coach that has taken residence in our unconscious mind without our conscious awareness. It is imperative that you take the time and get the help you might need to flush out the demons. Depending on the level of severity, they can unnecessarily continue to plague you for a lifetime and ruin your chances for great success and happiness. Tip #3: Proper preparation Many coaches will tell you that the best way to build your confidence is to prepare. Prepare for your upcoming matches. Get enough sleep and eat well. Gather your gear together the night before so that you do not create last minute chaos and stress. Get to the courts with plenty of time to spare. Have a pre-game ritual that sets you “in the zone” well before the match even begins. If you begin to implement these three important tips and strategies, you will be on the road to being known as one of the players who cannot be shaken. Your opponent will have to beat you “fair and square.” And most importantly, you will know how to find that confidence within yourself when it’s needed the most. Tina Greenbaum, LCSW is a sport psychology consultant. She, along with her partner Fred Sperber is co-owner of Tennis to the Max, a program that combines the technical elements of the game with the all-important mental side to ensure maximum performance. She may be reached by e-mail at tina@tennistothemax.com or visit www.tennistothemax.com.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

winning T H E

F E A R

By Steve Kaplan s an avid sports fan, I cannot help but notice that the greatest champions hate to lose more than they love to win. Elite professionals use their passion to avoid a loss as the fuel to drive an obsessive desire for the thrill of completion. As a coach, it’s clear, however, that junior tennis dynamics differ from the pros. The emotional identity development of children and adolescents is more fragile and fluid than the character of adults. As counterintuitive as this may sound, young players sometimes prefer to lose. Players won’t admit to this desire and their pain in losing is still evident, but the need to lessen the burden of ever-increasing expectations is a prime motivator when success escalates external and internal performance demands. It’s an endless cycle if the bar by which success is defined is raised after a few wins and past performances become the benchmark for parents and coaches to demand greater results. I have coached many players in my career with parents who started with modest goals for their child, but evolved to expect their child to be a world beater. An expectation metamorphosis may start with a statement like: “If one day they make the high school team, we’ll be thrilled.” Later on, with a moderate Sectional Ranking comes the inevitable, “I don’t understand why they didn’t make Nationals,” followed by, “If they could only get a little more power while serving, they would break the top three.” These external performance expectations aren’t the only source of pressure felt by junior tennis players. High-performing players are often perfectionists and place enormous internal achievement demands on themselves. Such perfectionism can be a self-limiting attribute because the end

O F

game is inevitable failure and it’s the rare athlete who can persevere with tireless optimistic determination while chasing the proverbial, “carrot at the end of the stick.” The creation of a challenging, but safe, environment is the key to a long-term emotionally successful and motivating relationship between parents, coaches and players. The operators of dog tracks understand how to motivate their greyhounds. They recognize that the dogs will stop racing if they catch the mechanical rabbit, but they will also stop chasing if they feel that the rabbit is so far away that their pursuit is futile. Successful motivation here is the result of establishing goals that are clear, well-defined, challenging and obtainable. In children and adolescents. It’s also about setting expectation boundaries that are behavioral rather than outcome-based. Simply stated, stop trying to be “The Best” and learn to be “Your Best.” Those who don’t accept this reality had better get used to consistent disappointment. It’s unsettling to hear a committed young player explain, “I’m a good kid, and I get good grades. I don’t drink or smoke. I try

so hard in tennis, but I get nervous, lose and get balled out for it. If I didn’t play, I would be left alone.” I’ve heard words like these more times than I could count and the logic used here is compelling because junior players who find the external demands of satisfying the expectations of those around them overwhelming believe losing to be the solution to many of their problems. No one likes to lose, but the fear of losing approval from their support group can be the most feared loss for a young athlete. Steve Kaplan is the owner of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as the director of Lacoste Academy for New York City Parks Foundation. Over the last 34 years, Steve has been the longtime coach of more than 600 nationally-ranked junior players, 16 state high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous touring professionals and prominent coaches. Steve’s students have been awarded in excess of $8 million in college scholarship money. He may be reached by e-mail at stevenjkaplan@aol.com.

Sports Hypnosis • Learn Instant stress reduction • Discover Intense & Quick Focus • 4 Keys to a Competitive Edge • Learn to Identify and Control Distraction • Identify & Control Negative Self Talk • How to Prepare Mentally for Competition • Utilize Power Visualization • Recover Quickly • Make better use of professional instruction and WIN!!!

www.danschaeferphd.com Complimentary Conference Call 917-880-6758 LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s

2013 Girl’s High School Tennis Recap

Port Washington Crowned 2013 Nassau County Champs Port Washington took home the 2013 Nassau County Team Championship by securing a 4-3 victory over Manhasset

he 2013 Nassau County High School Girls Team Championship was decided as Port Washington and Manhasset went head to head at Wheatley High School. In a hard-fought battle by both teams, Port Washington took home the Nassau Championship by locking up a 4-3 victory. It secured Port Washington their first Nassau Championship since 2008. Port Washington had a 3-2 overall lead

with two matches to play (second singles and second doubles). With both teams cheering on their teammates, the duo of Emma Rosenberg & Syd Levy defeated Caitlin Gleason & Liz Arenare, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, in second doubles to clinch the title for Port Washington and the team rushed the court in celebration. After the match, they were presented with their championship plaques by BOCES Section VIII Nassau County Girls Tennis Coordinator Shai Fisher.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

One of Manhasset’s wins came in third doubles where Courtney Connors & Lia Frankis defeated Alex Larizadeh & Rebecca Schaub in a match that went into three sets, Courtney Connors of Manhasset said, “We struggled in the beginning and it was tough to come back, but we dug deep and pushed through.” Her doubles partner Lia Frankis added, “We started to communicate better and we were more relaxed at the end.” Courtney and Lea won their match 7-6, 5-7, 6-1.

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s 2013 Girl’s High School Tennis Recap

Hills East Captures Third Consecutive Suffolk Title he 2013 Suffolk County Finals was a battle of two undefeated teams, as top-seeded Half Hollow Hills East went up against second seeded Floyd. With both teams coming in without a loss, there was a lot on the line as one team would have their undefeated season come to end while the other would be crowned Suffolk Champion. Hills East’s first singles player Ester Chikvashvili set the tone, defeating Emily

Fernandez of Floyd in three sets, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1. The rest of Hills East singles players followed up her performance with impressive wins of their own. Ester’s sister Stephanie Chikvashvili defeated Brooke Fernandez in three sets, 7-5, 0-6, 6-2. Hills East’s two remaining singles players, Vanessa Scott (second singles) and Brynn April (fourth singles), didn’t drop a game as both won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. By winning all four singles matches, Hills East

clinched the overall best-of-seven match. In doubles, Alli Huber & Natalie Haebich from Hills East defeated Lisa Lin & Kelci Henn 6-2, 6-2. Huber teamed with Vanessa Scott to win the 2013 Suffolk Doubles Title a week earlier when they also defeated Lin & Henn in the finals. Floyd got their two wins at second and third doubles. Hills East finished the 2013 season 19-0 and Floyd finished 20-1. This was the third straight Suffolk Title for Hills East.

Long Island Girls Again Well-Represented at 2013 NYSPHSAA Championships his year, 18 girls (six singles and 12 doubles) from Nassau and Suffolk County represented Long Island at the 2013 NYSPHSAA High School Tennis Championships, held at Tri City Tennis in Latham, N.Y. Long Island has done extremely well at States the past few years, as for the past two years, Long Island’s top girls high school players have returned home with a State Singles Title (in 2011 it was Hannah Camhi of Syosset and in 2012, Vivian Cheng of Syosset). This year, the players were once again successful, but unfortunately no State title is coming back to the Island. In singles, Aimee Manfredo (ShorehamWading River) was the most successful of the Island’s representatives. Manfredo, the Suffolk County Singles Champion, was seeded third coming into the tournament and was very impressive in her first two matches as she didn’t drop a set. In the quarterfinals, she faced fellow Long Islander Taylor Cosme of Herricks, the Nassau County Singles Champion, who was seeded sixth in the draw. It was a very hard fought battle, but in three sets Manfredo defeated Cosme 6-3, 6-7, 6-4. Fatigued from that match, Manfredo was unable to pull out a win against the second seeded Sabrina Barisano from the Ursuline School in New Rochelle, N.Y. in the semifinals and fell 1-6, 1-6. Barisano advanced to the fi-

Alex Koniaev of Locust Valley, Brittany Burke of Garden City, Taylor Cosme of Herricks, Katie Cirella of Syosset, Rhea Malhotra of Syosset, Liz Kallenberg of Port Washington, Allie Linder of Port Washington, Hannah Eilbeck of Garden City and Nicole Koskovolis of Manhasset at the 2013 NYSPHSAA High School Tennis Championships

Nassau County Girls Tennis Coordinator Shai Fisher with 2013 NYSPHSAA Singles Consolation Champion, Nicole Koskovolis of Manhasset

nals, but finished runner-up to the eventual winner, the top-seeded Christina Sisti, also of the Ursuline School, 4-6, 6-2, 0-6. In two more all-Long Island encounters, Alexandra Koniaev of Locust Valley defeated Jackie Bukzin of Eastport-South Manor in their first round match 7-6, 6-1, and Ester Chikvashvili of Half Hollow Hills East defeated Nicole Koskovolis of Manhasset 1-6, 7-6, 6-4. Chikvashvili lost in the quarterfinals to Barisano. Koniev was defeated by top seeded Christina Sisti in the

second round. Koskovolis and Bukzin both recovered from their opening round losses to perform well in the backdraw. In the backdraw finals, Koskovolis defeated Bukzin in the fourth All-Long Island match-up of the singles draw 8-6. Two Long Island teams made it to the quarterfinals in the doubles draw. Syosset’s Katie Cirella & Rhea Malhotra won their first two matches in straight sets before falling to the top-seeded team of Ekim Buyuk &

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s 2013 Girl’s High School Tennis Recap Diana King of Rye Neck 2-6, 5-7. Port Washington’s duo of Ally Linder & Liz Kallenberg won both their first and second round matches in straight sets as well. In the quarterfinals, they played valiantly before being defeated by the second seeds Alexa Goldberg & Tomo Iwasaki of Edgemont, 7-5, 7-5. Brittany Burke & Hannah Eibeck of Gar-

den City, Vanessa Scott & Allison Huber of Half Hollow Hills East, and Danah Han & Lauren Salzano of Half Hollow Hills West all advanced to the second round. The lone all-Long Island matchup saw Linder & Kallenberg defeat Han & Salzano in the second round 6-1, 6-3. “The regular season exhibited some very competitive tennis throughout the

entire county, which prepared the girls for individual and team postseason play,” said Nassau County Girls Tennis Coordinator Shai Fisher. “The girls successful performance at the state tournament showed once again how dedicated and passionate they are about tennis and how committed they are to playing it at the high school level.”

Suffolk County Girls Recognized for Successful 2013 Season he 2013 Suffolk County Girls High School Awards Dinner took place Nov. 5 at Villa Lombardi’s, with more than 400 players, coaches and parents in attendance. After a successful fall tennis season, the high school girls varsity tennis teams received recognition from the Suffolk County Girls Tennis Coaches Association for their outstanding athletic performances. Both individuals and teams were honored. There was a dinner, raffle prizes and a performance by X-Factor singer Emery Kelly.

Half Hollow Hills East’s Ester Chikvashvili, Jacqueline Bukzin of Eastport-South Manor and Aimee Manfredo from Shoreham-Wading River were all recognized for taking part in the 2013 NYSPHSAA Girls High School Tennis Championships

Center Moriches Tennis Coach Joe Arias congratulates Aimee Manfredo

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s 2013 Girl’s High School Tennis Recap

Locust Valley’s Guidone Awarded Coach of the Year Honors ach high school season, Long Island Tennis Magazine sponsors and awards a High School Coach of the Year. This year, Locust Valley High School Tennis Coach Mike Guidone was awarded the 2013 Girls Nassau County High School Coach of the Year. Working with Shai Fisher, BOCES Section VIII Nassau County Girls Tennis Coordinator; Barry Kubit, BOCES Section VIII Nassau County Boys Tennis Coordinator; and Mike Pavlides, BOCES Section VIII Assistant Coordinator for both the Boys and the Girls, the choice was made and a very worthy winner was selected. The criteria for High School Coach of the

Year is as follows: (1) Sportsmanship and character; (2) Overall team improvement from one season to another; (3) Community outreach; and (4) Overall final record. “We are looking forward to working with Long Island Tennis Magazine to continue recognizing the fabulous high school tennis players in Nassau County, as well as their high school coaches,” said Fisher. Shai Fisher, BOCES Section VIII Nassau County Girls Tennis Coordinator, presents the 2013 Long Island Tennis Magazine High School Coach of the Year Award to Mike Guidone, Locust Valley High School tennis coach

Girls LI Championship Match Cancelled, Kids and Sport Lose Out t has been announced that the 2013 Long Island High School Tennis Championship for both the Girls and the Boys has been cancelled this year and moving forward. Shai Fisher, the BOCES Section VIII Nassau County Girls Tennis Coordinator tried everything possible to keep the match going, but in the end reluctantly said, “Due to the different established rules between the two Sections (Section VIII and Section XI) and the inability for the two Sections to come to a joint resolution on how to bridge the rules in order to accommodate the LI Championship, it has been mutually agreed upon that the LI Championship shall no longer take place. Any further questions, please call the executive directors of each respective Section.” The LI Championship was a great high school tennis tradition started a decade ago by Pete Cesare (Suffolk County Girls and Boys Tennis Coordinator) and Barry Kubit (Nassau County Boys Tennis Coordinator). The idea was to have the Suffolk County Team Champion play the Nassau County Team Champion for the overall Long Island Championship. The Counties have alternated hosting the match-up each year since it’s inception. With Nassau and

Suffolk having a slightly different set of rules on their tennis season (Nassau County plays three Singles/four Doubles and Suffolk plays four Singles/three Doubles) the setup/rules for the LI Championship was supposed to be based on whichever County was hosting that year’s final. When the tradition first started, things went well and it was a match that drew media coverage and much-needed positive

feedback for the high school tennis world. It was a great way for the kids to end their season. With some of Long Island’s top players shying away from high school tennis, matches like this, which provide for positive exposure, are very important to help entice them to play and bring them back to the high school game. Over the past several years, the Long Island Championship has come under fire amid much controversy though.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s 2013 Girl’s High School Tennis Recap In 2011, Nassau County Girls Champion Syosset High School and Suffolk County Champion Half Hollow Hills East (HHHE) High School were supposed to play to determine the winner of the Long Island Championship. That day ended with HHHE Coach Tom Depelteau putting his team back on a bus instead of playing the match after heated exchanges about lineup stacking with Syosset Coach Larry Levane, Nassau County Girls High School Coordinator Shai Fisher and parents. Nassau County claimed that Hills East was “stacking” by moving players up or down from their regular positions throughout the season. The next day, the coaches, coordinators and directors met, but after not being able to reach an agreement on playing the match, a forfeiture for Hills East was decided upon by Sectional Coordinators and the heads of Nassau/Suffolk BOCES awarded Syosset the 2011 Championship. Needless to say, the losers in this were the girls from both teams who never got a

chance to play, especially the seniors who were robbed of their final match. One Syosset player had this to say about the fiasco that ensued instead of the tennis match that should’ve been played: “As a member of the Syosset High School girls tennis team, I still cannot come to grips that our championship match was never played. We sat on a perfect tennis day with anticipation of playing a match. We wanted to play! “Our team left Cold Spring Harbor in anticipation of a rescheduled match. I checked my texts all night waiting for a text from my captain to say when the match was to be played. The next day, we got to practice and Coach Levane told us that the other team forfeited. We won the Long Island Championship. To me, it didn’t feel like a win. The “win” should have been decided on the court. “Everyone on my team was stunned and so sad. I looked at the seniors on my team. I

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

thought about the previous year when we won the championship—there was no better feeling than rushing onto the court, hugging my teammates, screaming for joy that we won. Those memories are priceless, and something that I will always take with me. Sadly, that is something we missed out on this year, had we won. “I am sorry for the girls of the other team that this match wasn’t played. I am not sure if they felt under-matched or their coach did. But as an athlete and competitor, I welcome the challenge of being over-matched. Who knows … maybe today could be the day? “I hope that we make it to the championships next year, and that whatever issues are out there get resolved. I would hate to see another team experience what we did. Win or lose, we missed the opportunity to compete in our sport; for the championship, and were stripped of priceless memories.” Problems continued with the boys season in 2011, as Cold Spring Harbor also

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s 2013 Girl’s High School Tennis Recap accused Hills East of “lineup stacking” in the same fashion they attempted in the girl’s final. While much tension was in the air, Cold Spring Harbor decided to play the match anyway. The 2012 LI Championship was played in Suffolk County, and while there were still issues with lineups, both finals were played without much incident. In 2013, with Nassau ready to host the finals again, the boys season saw tensions come to a head once again. This time, lineups were submitted in advance of the match and as soon as they were shown to the opposing coaches the “stacking” issue was upon us again. In this particular situation, hours of arguing and posturing took place after the initial lineups were submitted. No agreement could be reached and things actually got to the point where a “gag order” was put in place for the Suffolk and Nassau Coordinators! Is any of this in the spirit of high school athletics? After over a week, the match was finally played and once it was, the spectators were

treated to a fantastic match-up that came down to the final match. But now, we have no more LI High School Championship. No more premier match for Long Island. Everyone seems unhappy about it, yet they have also seemingly given up, at least for the time being, as no discussions are scheduled to clear up the situation. “It became too difficult to hammer out a solution to the lineup problem with both Sections (Counties) having such a different standard for how their lineups could be drawn up,” said Ed Cinelli, Section XI president. “We (Ed and I) spent hours trying to come up with guidelines for this event, and unfortunately, even after our best efforts, there were still concerns,” said Nina Van Erk, Section VIII president. The bottom line is that this match should be played this year and in all future years. Not playing the match because adults cannot come to a fair resolution to benefit the

sport of tennis and more importantly the kids is not acceptable. Nina Van Erk said, “Maybe the absence of the LI Championship will rekindle the need for it.” While hopefully she is right, this situation never should have come to this. It is impossible to argue that this is good for high school tennis or for the players. Maybe the adults should just be left out of the equation. If the kids were given a few cans of tennis balls, captains designated for each team, and the players (who generally all know each other and are friends from junior tennis or other places) would figure things out in about 10 seconds. We’ve heard the argument that it’s hard to determine unequivocally what order players should play in. That is just simply not true. The players know who are best and who should be playing where if they are playing in strength order. If the adults cannot figure it out, leave them at home and let the kids play!

Point Set Tennis Newly Renovated - Come See Us!

Call Today: 516 536-2323 Ask for Tonny or Lori

Great Seasonal Contract Times Available - like Saturdays 9:30-11am!! (ONLY $25pp per play for 33 weeks, based on doubles!!)

DON’T DELAY! Leagues Too!

www.pointsettennis.com www.pointsetTTP.weebly.com www.pointsetQuickStart.weebly.com

JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT Camp 2013 PROGRAMS July-August for all ages indoor+outdoor!

Newly installed air conditioning Birthday system Parties! Come play in our (multi-sport) climate controlled environment year round

7 Indoor Newly Re-Surfaced Courts 2 Full-Court Basketball Courts Fun and Friendly Staff 3065 New Street Oceanside, NY 11572 LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s 2013 Girl’s High School Tennis Recap

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s 2013 Girl’s High School Tennis Recap

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

: e v r e S eh

p l o o AF

C e h t o t y a W f o o r

By Lisa Dodson just returned from a great “teaching vacation” in Mexico with a large group of players, some whom I have known and worked with for many years. I always learn a lot every time I walk onto the court to teach, but this time was really striking. These people really love to play tennis … I mean really love it, and it was fun trying to tune up some of the major parts of their games. So, we worked a lot on the serve and the biggest obstacle was, of course, the grip. By far the most common misunderstanding, difficulty and hurdle with the

t n e n ont i

serve is feeling OK with the Continental grip (see left). It’s really not that difficult, simply different than the grip most people hold. The problem starts when players initially start serving with the forehand grip. The forehand grip sets a full racket face forward to contact point so there is a high success rate of over the net and in the box. This addresses the first practical goal of the serve and the first big step towards playing a point. The problem is that the longer we serve with the wrong grip the harder it is to change. Eventually attempting to hit spin, speed and variety becomes hopeless.

A few observations Here are several tips for teaching pros,

ARE YOU TRAINING AT THE BEST INDOOR CLUB IN THE COUNTRY? 17 COURTS PLUS ¼ MILE RUNNING TRACK...

INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL STAFF. 10 LEVEL JR. PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS..

SUPERVISED PRACTICE AND MATCH PLAY... OUR RESULTS ARE OUTSTANDINGLY SUCCESSFUL…..

100 Harbor Road, Port Washington, New York 11050 > > (516) 883-6425 Our 49th year serving our community as a non-profit teaching facility, for students of any race, color, nationality and ethnic origin.

n o p i al Gr

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

e v r e the S

coaches and good players trying to help others: 1. We show players what to do. Don’t overestimate the ability of our students to copy or to see what we are trying to show them. Unless you have an exceptional athlete on the court, showing a nuance or move (for example, dropping the racket down the back or a hit hand opening in back) does not help a player to be able to do it. They may get it intellectually, but this rarely leads to the physical ability to produce the motion. This is especially true when showing pronation. You need to get them to feel and experience what you are trying to get across 2. We tell players what to do. People can only concentrate on one thing at a time. When trying to string together movements to create an effective motion, we just clog them up with too much information. Yes, it’s important that they have a concept of what they are trying to achieve, but let them feel success before you move on. Even if they have some other glaring flaws, achieve one thing at a time. Again, feeling is the key to real understanding and success 3. In summary, with the serve we show the grip (necessary) and then we get way too detailed with showing how the hand moves and pronates and we tell players what they should be doing. Faster and more understandable results will happen if we just put the racket in the hand and let them feel what they are attempting. Let the body, not the brain, do the work. Players … set yourself up for success by hitting a slice-serve Understand that if you are going to be making a grip change on your serve, you are no longer hitting the same serve as you were before. So, don’t expect the same sound, feel and result. With a fore-

hand grip on the serve, you can only hit flat. With a Continental grip, you are now going to hit the ball with a specific spin (a slice-serve). We’re going to keep this really simple. Remember, you cannot think of 17 things at once. You can really only concentrate on one thing at a time. If you allow the small successes to move you forward, you will improve significantly very quickly. These are the initial signs leading to success with the Continental grip on the serve: l The grip feels different, awkward and difficult l When you strike the ball, it feels powerless and sounds funny l The ball often doesn’t reach the net and curves off sharply to the left (for right handed servers and to the right for lefties) It sounds unbelievable that these symptoms should be positive signs considering they are common reasons players quickly abandon doing the right thing. If you stay with the grip for 25, 50, 80 balls, you’ll start to get it and see some light at the end of the tunnel. Most players expect results immediately and when they don’t get them they quit. Understand this … when you are learning and changing, you have to get worse to get a lot better. Doing anything differently the first time is a challenge so we have to be willing to work through the tough parts for the rewards.

The foolproof drill The Foolproof Drill (see left) will allow you to feel all of the things you have been shown and told. The goal of the drill is to hit the left side fence on the opposite side of the net (for righty, reverse all for lefty) 1. With a loose Continental grip, stand about 10-feet from the net on the right side of the court. If you are on a single court with surrounding fences, this is ideal. If not, move a bench or large object as a target to the opposite side of the net, wide of the alley and service box (in the picture above, the ball cart to the left is the target) 2. Begin with your racket in an abbreviated position, hand closed behind your head. Toss your ball up, forward and to the right (as you are looking at the net) so that it is in front of your hitting shoulder when it comes around to square with the net (see picture above).

3. Let the edge of your racket lead to the ball (see pic left). The correct grip will set the edge forward so be sure to leave it that way. This will cause your ball to curve sharply from right to left giving you success in hitting your target. The reason: This is the direction that the ball will travel naturally so let it go there. Do not attempt to flatten your hand or to “pronate” to get the ball to travel in a straight line. Keep doing this from the same place well after you are having success with the drill and are consistently hitting the side fence, wall or bench. You need to accept that this is the correct feel and sound for the serve. Your hand, wrist, elbow and upper arm will begin to naturally do the right thing. The hit will get stronger later. 4. Gradually move back to the service line, then step back three paces at a time until you reach the baseline. Continue hitting the serve into the side fence. The ball should be hitting the same target point each time. Now you have worked your way back to the baseline with a curving slice serve. continued on page 58

Ricky Becker’s

Junior Tennis Consulting

Home of the JTC Recruiting Pages! Visit www.JuniorTennisConsulting.com to Make the Most Comprehensive College List Anywhere! Still Available: Personal Consultation – Get answers to a myriad of questions that you have about walk-ons, timelines, videos, and items you didn’t consider! Every child deserves to get personal attention.

Full-Service College Guidance Program – Get the benefit of our 200+ college coach contacts, as well as, step-by-step guidance through the process.

Contact former Stanford University and Roslyn High School MVP Ricky Becker today at 516-605-0420 or rbecker06@yahoo.com. LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

the serve continued from page 57 The trick part: Fool your brain You’re getting really good at hitting the fence now, right? So how do we get the ball to go into the service box? It is really quite easy but first you have to understand something pretty simple. Previously with a forehand or flat grip, you hit a ball that traveled in a straight line to the target point because the strings were all heading directly towards the ball. Your brain accepted this fact and thought that the ball would always travel in a straight line. Now, with the Continental grip, the front edge of the racket is heading towards the ball. You are surprised when it curves (and consequently think it’s wrong) because normally you ball travels straight. Understand this … if you are righthanded, now your (slice) serve will always curve from right to left. If you are lefthanded, your slice serve will always curve from left to right. So, if you aim in a

straight line you will fail to hit the service box. Do this Put a cone or target in the center of the deuce service box across the net from you. Take a towel and hang it on the net to the right and midway between the center net strap and the inside alley line (see pic left). Hold your Continental grip and prepare to hit the ball with the same technique you hit into the side fence. In your “mind’s eye,” serve to

the towel (which is about 15-feet to the right of the target). Your ball should curve and land somewhere in or near the correct service box. Now you will begin to get the idea of how to aim a curving ball. The key Give yourself time to start feeling what it is that will give you great results. Don’t quit because it’s not going perfectly right away. Do this drill several days in a row if possible to start making some headway. With a little persistence, you will finally understand what everyone is talking about when it comes to the Continental grip. What once seemed impossible will now be your strength and you’ll have room to grow into a bigger and better game. Lisa Dodson is owner of Servemaster at The Total Serve, a USPTA Elite Pro, a formerly world ranked player and radio show host. She may be reached by e-mail at lisa@thetotalserve.com or visitwww.thetotalserve.com.

Learn & Play & Drills 3.0, 3.5 & 4.0 for Adults Monday, Tuesday & Friday

Learn, have fun, & play amazing tennis!

Men’s Leagues 3.5 & 4.0 Tuesday & Thursday Evenings

Junior Program The best in Suffolk County Try it & you will love it!

Ladies Leagues 3.0, 3.5 & 4.0 Monday to Friday

10 and Under Tennis Program For Information, call (631) 667-3476 30 Burt Drive | Deer Park, NY 11729 | 631.667.3467

www.DeerParkTennis.com 58

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

™

QuickStart … An Accurate Name

By Miguel Cervantes III I love QuickStart and if you have a young child interested in tennis, then you should love it too! It’s taken a while for me to get to this point, but here I am professing my love for something that, just a few years ago, I was very skeptical of. What is QuickStart tennis? It’s the tennis balls with the funny colors orange/yellow, red/yellow and green/yellow. They’re low compression balls, so they feel flat and dead, and don’t bounce as high. QuickStart uses modified courts with short nets. It’s awkward, weird and completely strange because it is different … but it’s effective! QuicksStart can get children, young or old, playing tennis. They have fun and improve their game. I first heard about QuickStart at least six years ago when I attended a demonstration and training session. It seemed like a novelty back then. I was resistant to its potential for the wrong reason. My reservation

was that it was new. Most sports are not open-minded enough to endorse new and emerging paradigm shifts and tennis is not exempt from this idea. “Tennis champions have been trained for decades using regular tennis balls, so why fix it if it ain’t broke,” was my thinking. I was worried that my students would not have an exit strategy with the new balls. I was concerned that they would get used to hitting a slow, flat ball and never get accustomed to a fast, traditional ball. Their timing would be ruined and they would never be able to excel. Looking back in time gives us 20/20 vision though, and I’m happy now to both use and encourage the use of the QuickStart balls and the QuickStart program. One of the problems in teaching young children is that it is hard for them to develop the habit of hitting the ball at their waist. No matter how good a feeder the professional is, the traditional tennis ball just bounces too high for someone so young (short). I believe that this is why we see so many professional players with semi-Western

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY Learn how to manage your emotions with a credentialed Ph.D. level Sport Psychologist.

Dr. Tom Ferraro is an international noted Sport Psychologist who has worked with professional and Olympic level athletes in many ﬁelds. He publishes internationally and appears both on television and radio. • Control anger • Cope with anxiety • Re-establish conﬁdence • Learn how to focus • Get proper diagnosis and treatment for your emotions

1-1 consultations, phone consults, family counseling, on site visits Dr. Tom Ferraro (516) 248-7189 • 2 Hillside Avenue, Ste. E • Williston Pk, NY 11596 Drtomferraro.com • drtferraro@aol.com

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

and full-Western grips now. It makes sense because the professionals of today grew accustomed to using these grips to compensate for balls bouncing high and having to strike it above waist-level. QuickStart balls solve this issue though. From a very young age, it’s easier for the child to hit the ball at the waist-level because the ball is not bouncing as high. The ball is appropriate for them. Learning happens at a more rapid pace. Another issue was that the traditional ball is difficult for kids to get a solid strike. The ball feels too heavy. Children compensate for that by swinging wildly and creating a problem of the ball flying far and out. QuickStart balls alleviate this issue because they can be struck easily, due to their low compression, and do not fly out. The combination of factors leads to one result—rallies. Rallies are what move the needle in terms of improvement. Results cannot be seen without rallies. When a child can rally, the world of tennis opens up to them. Now, they can play points and learn new skills, the pro can use different drills and begin to work on their tennis IQ even sooner. QuickStart makes the learning process easier on the pro and better for the student. Children get more out of the program and have fun doing it. I sincerely hope that now, with a few years of the program being in use, that parents, pros and facilities alike being to trust it more as I have. Hopefully, this will also lead to a new generation of enthusiasm in tennis and some American champions at the majors down the road. Miguel Cervantes III now teaches at Carefree Racquet Club and privately outdoors. Miguel specializes in teaching beginners, training juniors and coaching doubles. He may be reached by e-mail at understandingtennis@gmail.com.

How to Always Play Your Best By Tonny van de Pieterman “I always play well …” Whenever I say this, a look of disbelief often stares back at me. My statement is not coming from a place of misplaced arrogance. Let’s look a little deeper. “Playing well,” or “playing poorly” are subjective. Please understand … I do not always win, so obviously I do not always play well enough to win! Is it getting a little clearer now? The reason for my bold statement is that I have reached a level of self-mastery on the tennis court. This means that I accept the way I am playing at any given moment. Sure, I have my reasons why I am not hitting my shots better, but I also know that

those reasons do not matter to this event, since I cannot change them now. I also understand that in the game of tennis, my opponent is ever-present in the dynamic of my feelings. If I am losing some faith in my backhand in a match, it is because my opponent’s play is making me aware of it. By giving the opposition some credit, I will not blame myself, but try to find a way to avoid it or overcome it. In addition, after much soul-searching and analyzing, I know what I am trying to do on the court as far as strategy and game planning. I cannot always execute, but I know what I am trying to accomplish. This gives me great strength. While navigating my way through a match, I am trying to get a feeling for my incidental errors versus reoccurring errors. If I cannot avoid certain errors from returning,

I know that I am learning a lesson. After the match, I need to learn a new behavior or a new shot in order to succeed the next time out. I believe that every match is a learning lesson for a bigger match to come in the future. This helps me keep a healthy perspective. I accept, I understand, I know, I learn and I believe … therefore, I always feel like I play well. Now it’s up to you! Tonny van de Pieterman is director of tennis at Point Set Indoor Racquet Club. He was recently named USTA Tennis Professional of the Year for the USTA/EasternLong Island Region and helped the Eastern Section win this year’s Talbert Cup. He may be reached by phone at (516) 536-2323 or e-mail tonny@pointsettennis.com.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

HAVE YOUR NOSE UP IN TH You will be humbled very quickly! By Lonnie Mitchel iscover, develop and dedicate! How about completive excellence, having a player who will be a four-year impact player and maintain a GPA above the student body average? Do these attributes resonate with you at all? I should hope so as these are fantastic qualities when reinforced throughout the collegiate journey. Qualities like these almost always produce a graduate to send off in the competitive world of life giving students a solid foundation. These are the qualities I look for in student athletes. I am the head coach of the flagship Division III men’s tennis program in the SUNY System, as well as one of the top three women’s tennis teams in the State University of New York Conference. This is not a personal testimonial about SUNY Oneonta where I coach, but rather, a celebration of Division III tennis. I travel the state going to many USTA Tournaments and tennis academies to recruit players. Quite frankly, I am a little put off when parents or a potential student ask this first question. What kind of athletic scholarship can I expect from the institution? I give the honest answer and very quickly that family has crossed SUNY Oneonta and the Division III student/athlete experience off their short list before knowing the real facts. I infer they are waiting for that full scholarship to be given to that potential student athlete. I

have even felt this attitude from a variety of tennis academies directly where their business model is based on the fact that they “send players on full scholarship to Division I schools.” I am going to give you some hard facts to digest. Only about two percent of high school seniors win sports scholarships every year to NCAA institutions. The average athletic scholarship is less than $11,000. Being an athlete, however, can boost a teenager’s admission chances because all schools, regardless of whether they offer scholarships, desire strong sports programs. You do not have to be a superstar athlete to increase your chance of admission. You do not need to capture a sports scholarship to ultimately make the college tab more affordable. In reality, athletic scholarships are often not as generous as regular financial aid or merit scholarships that tennis players can earn for their academics and other talents. Do you still have your nose in the air about Division III athletics where sports are well-balanced with the more important academic rigors? Competitive collegiate tennis can augment a student athlete’s education with a valuable experience providing tools that are used every day in the real world. I think it probably safe to say that you are not knocking off Rafael Nadal or Serena Williams in the Wimbledon finals anytime soon unless you can beat the billion to one odds! Buy a lottery ticket; you have a better chance of winning that than winning Wimbledon.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

Last year, I sent graduating players from my team off to get great jobs at places like JP Morgan, one got a job at a top eight accounting firm, one ran for political office and all graduating seniors are working in the career fields they prepared for while at college. So to all the snobs out there, get your priorities in order! In Division III, you will play a high level of tennis, get a great education and get prepared for life. You will get coaches who support you in your studies, encourage players to make an impact, both on and off the court. Do you still want to play tennis at a Division I or II school? Great! Just know this … you will disproportionality work on your tennis and perhaps studies potentially could take a back seat. You have to be careful in se-

HE AIR ABOUT D3 TENNIS? lecting the school you want. Rest assured though, you are not going to win the U.S. Open the year after you graduate. You will have to look for work or go to graduate school. Will you be prepared? One final thought for you dreamers out there ... consider this: John Isner, a successful American playing professionally on the ATP Tour, played NCAA tennis for Division I University of Georgia and lost in the finals of the individual NCAA Championships singles tournament and achieved a career-best number nine in the world. Really impressive and indeed world class … no Wimbledon

or U.S. Open Title though! Can you accomplish this? Maybe, but right now there are only six American men in the top 100 ATP World Rankings and eight women in the WTA World Rankings. You might consider a better path to success, and that is to Discover, Develop and Dedicate at the Division III Level, I’ll bet heavily on your success! Lonnie Mitchel is head men’s and women’s tennis coach at SUNY Oneonta. Lonnie was named an assistant coach to Team USA for the Maccabiah Games in Israel this summer for the Grand Master Tennis Division. Lonnie may be reached by phone at (516) 414-7202 or e-mail lonniemitchel@yahoo.com.

• Experts in elimination of termites, carpenter ants and other wood boring insects • Residential and commercial pest control maintenance programs • Experienced pest control professionals for over 26 years • Nassau, Suffolk, Queens County and Brooklyn • References available • Certiﬁed Pesticide Applicator NYS #C1-625256

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Pilates for Tennis Training Strength + Flexibility = Power Performance By Lori Ettlinger Gross Resistance training for tennis performance has two functions: First, to improve a player’s strength because explosive power is essential in the game today; and secondly, to decrease the risk of injury. Pilates is a natural fit when it comes to training for tennis performance. The Pilates repertoire trains the body for strength, flexibility, balance, rotation, and stability—all of these key components increase power as well as pre-hab, to teach the player to use the muscles in a way that prevents injury. Core strength improves stroke power. It assists with balance and control for quick reactions and direction change. Pilates abdominal

work is essential for the tennis player, and while most people are familiar with the emphasis of core training, they are not as well educated in what constitutes the core: Abs, lower back, gluteals, hamstrings, quads, and hip flexors and extensors. Rotation of the body in tennis is an active part of the game. Training for these movements, and improving the strength and flexibility of the abdominal obliques in Pilates offers tennis players the opportunity to work to both stabilize and strengthen simultaneously. Training for power in the legs and arms is equally dynamic in the Pilates repertoire. The core is required to steady and balance the body as the movements of the arms and legs are challenged. Flexibility for the entire body is essential for

effective tennis performance. Increasing ranges of motion, covering greater distances on the tennis court, and injury prevention are among the many benefits of being able to counter tight hip flexors, quads and hamstrings—so often seen in tennis players. Shoulder injuries are prevalent in tennis, and need special attention. Due to these particular demands, tennis has specific flexibility goals for which the Pilates repertoire is essential. Pilates uses active and dynamic stretching techniques that strengthen and stretch muscles simultaneously. Static stretching has been shown to reduce strength, speed and power movements when performed prior to play. When dynamic range of motion training is done using the correct techniques, it can address muscle imbalances in strength and flexibility which results in greater functional movement for the competitive tennis player. Pilates for tennis performance should be an integral part of training, whether it is for the recreational or the competitive player. Through the Pilates repertoire, stabilizing the body while simultaneously challenging strength and flexibility offers one of the most effective ways to achieve tennis power performance. After 20 years of practicing Pilates, Lori Ettlinger Gross became a BASI PILATES-accredited instructor for mat and all apparatus in 2012. She is working towards her Tennis Performance Trainer certification through the International Tennis Performance Association. Her appointment-only studio, Sweatstyle Pilates is located in Great Neck, N.Y. She may be reached by phone at (516) 644-8808 or e-mail sweatstylepilates@gmail.com.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

Dr. Drew Tortoriello, M.D. Medical Director of SIRM New York Board Certiﬁed Reproductive Endocrinologist Sher Institute - New York State-of-Art Fertility Center

425 Fifth Avenue • New York, NY 10016 Toll Free: (866) 747-6692 Phone: (646) 792-7476 Fax: (646) 274-0600 newyork@haveababy.com “We help complete your journey to parenthood”

Sher Institute - Westchester Phone: (914) 696-7476

From the moment you walk into our state-of-the-art fertility center located on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, you'll feel the warmth and compassion that will deﬁne your experience at our reproductive center. Our professional services include: General Infertility, In Vitro Fertilization, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), ICSI, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Reproductive Surgery, and Egg Donation and Surrogacy.

Metropolitan Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Afﬁliates With SIRM-NY We are pleased to be afﬁliated with Michael Bennett L.Ac., Dipl. O.M. from Metropolitan Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, LLC in our SIRM-New York office. Michael Bennett is a Licensed Acupuncturist in New York and New Jersey and is a Board Certified Herbal Medicine Consultant by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). As our in-house acupuncturist and herbalist, Michael specializes in the treatment of female and male infertility, stress and pain. He offers free consultation to new patients.

Did you know that Acupuncture can positively impact your chances to conceive? It is a safe and scientifically-proven method to enhance fertility and increase your chances of conception! At Metropolitan Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, we specialize in helping couples make the journey from infertility to family. We are conveniently located in Manhattan on the third floor of 425 Fifth Avenue at the corner of 38th street, across the street from Lord & Taylor. We are the official acupuncture and herbal medicine practice for the renowned Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Manhattan.

To discuss your condition or to schedule an appointment call:

Michael Bennett L.Ac., Dipl. O.M. 347.565.4255 For more information, please visit: www.metropolitanacupuncture.com

Metropolitan Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, LLC 425 Fifth Avenue at 38th St. | Third Floor | New York, NY 10016 | Office: 347.565.4255 LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine 65

LONG ISLAND TENNIS CLUB

directory Bethpage Park Tennis Center Andrea Pappas—Manager 99 Quaker Meeting House Road #1 Farmingdale, NY 11735 (516) 777-1358 • bptcenter@aol.com Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy @ Rockville Centre CATS Jami Madison—Director 188 Maple Avenue • Rockville Centre, NY 11570 (516) 763-1299, ext. 10 • catsrvc@gmail.com Carefree Racquet Club Kathy Miller—Manager 1414 Jerusalem Avenue • Merrick, NY 11566 (516) 489-9005 • carefreetennis@aol.com Deer Park Tennis Club Afzal Ali—Director of Tennis 30 Burt Drive • Deer Park, NY 11729 (631) 667-3476 • www.deerparktennis.com Eastern Athletic Club Cira Jones—Manager 9 Montauk Highway #A • Blue Point, NY 11715 (631) 363-2882 • www.easternathleticclubs.com Eastern Athletic Club Betsy Johnson—Manager 854 Jericho Turnpike Huntington Station, NY 11746 (631) 271-6616 • www.easternathleticclubs.com Eastern Athletic Club Gary Jones—Manager 100 Ruland Road Melville, NY 11747 (631) 753-3696 www.easternathleticclubs.com

Port Washington Tennis Academy Manny Iqbal—Director of Tennis 100 Harbor Road • Port Washington, NY 11050 (516) 883-6425 • tennis@pwta.com • www.pwta.com Robbie Wagner’s Tournament Training Center @ Glen Cove Stephen Alcala—Managing Partner 60 Sea Cliff Avenue • Glen Cove, NY 11542 (516) 759-0505 • www.rwtt.com

SPORTIME Lynbrook Danny Caseas—Director of Tennis 175 Merrick Road • Lynbrook, NY 11563 (516) 887-1330 • dcaseas@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/lynbrook

Robbie Wagner’s Tournament Training Center @ Glenwood Landing Adrian Chirici—Director of Tennis 142 Glenwood Landing Road Glenwood Landing, NY 11547 (516) 676-9107 • www.rwtt.com

SPORTIME Massapequa Chris Leahy—General Manager 5600 Old Sunrise Highway • Massapequa, NY 11758 (516) 799-3550 • cleahy@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/massapequa

Rockville Racquet Club Colleen Woods—Manager 80 North Centre Avenue • Rockville Center, NY 11570 (516) 764-5350 • rockvilletennis@optonline.net

SPORTIME Quogue Greg Bolitsky—Director of Tennis 2571 Quogue-Riverhead • East Quogue, NY 11959 (631) 653-6767 • gbolitsky@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/quogue

Ross School Holly Li—Manager 18 Goodfriend Drive • East Hampton, NY 11937 (631) 907-5162 • hli@ross.org • www.ross.org/tennis Shinnecock Tennis Club 125 Sandy Hollow Road • Southhampton, NY 11968 (631) 283-3422 • www.shinnecocktennisclub.com SPORTIME Amagansett Sue de Lara—General Manager 320 Abrahams Path • Amagansett, NY 11930 (631) 267-3460 • amagansett@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/amagansett Eric Scoppetta-Camp Director (631) 267-2267 (CAMP) • ehsc@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/ehsc

Early Hit Training Center at Glen Head Racquet Club 95 Glen Head Road • Glen Head, NY 11545 Carl Barnett: (516) 455-1225 • earlyhit@optonline.net Stephanie Leo: (516) 676-9849 glenheadrc@verizon.net

SPORTIME Amagansett Multi-Sport Mike Ritsi—General Manager 385 Abrahams Path • Amagansett, NY 11930 (631) 267-3460 • mritsi@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/amagansett-multi-sport

New York Tennis Academy at Great Neck Estates Howie Arons—Director of Junior Tennis Program 12 Shore Drive Great Neck, NY 11021 (516) 233-2790 • bightennis@aol.com

SPORTIME Bethpage Tennis Long Island Home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy Mike Kossoff—General Manager 101 Norcross Avenue • Bethpage, NY 11714 (516) 933-8500 • mkossoff@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/bethpage-tennis

Point Set Indoor Tennis Tonny vandePieterman—Director of Tennis 3065 New Street • Oceanside, NY 11572 (516) 536-2323 • tonny@pointsettennis.com www.pointsettennis.com

SPORTIME Bethpage Multi-Sport Randy Louie—General Manager 4105 Hempstead Turnpike • Bethpage, NY 11714 (516) 731-4432 • rlouie@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/bethpage-multi-sport

SPORTIME Kings Park Jeff Morys—Director of Tennis 275 Old Indian Head Road • Kings Park, NY 11754 (631) 269-6300 • jmorys@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/kings-park

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

SPORTIME Randall’s Island Manhattan Home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy Allison Hodgkins—Director of Tennis Central One Randall’s Island • New York, NY 10035 (212) 427-6150 • ahodgkins@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/manhattan SPORTIME Roslyn Jay Harris—General Manager Landing Road, PO Box 1 • Roslyn, NY 11576 (516) 484-9222 • jharris@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/roslyn SPORTIME Syosset Tennis & Multi-Sport Wendi Enright—General Manager 75 Haskett Drive • Syosset, NY 11791 (516) 364-2727 • wenright@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/syosset-tennis SPORTIME Lake Isle Westchester Home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy Harel Srugo—General Manager 660 White Plains Road • Eastchester, NY 10709 (914) 777-5151 • hsrugo@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/lake-isle USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Whitney Kraft—Director of Tennis Flushing Meadows Corona Park • Flushing, NY 11568 (718) 760-6200 • www.usta.com World Gym Bay Shore Tracie Forsythe—Director of Tennis 225 Howells Road • Bay Shore, NY 11706 (631) 456-0994 • tracieforsythe@yahoo.com www.worldgymbayshore.com

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

LONG Boys & Girls Long Island Rankings (as of 12/23/13)

BOYS Long Island Boys 12 Singles Rank Name..................................City 1........Luke Karniewich ................Glen Head, N.Y. 2........Timothy Lewis Chiu............Holtsville, N.Y. 3........Sohrob Yavari ....................Syosset, N.Y. 4........Kian Louis Ghazvini............Glen Head, N.Y. 5........Robert Steven Bellino ........Huntington, N.Y. 6........Aryan Kumar Sethi ............Dix Hills, N.Y. 7........Justin Benjamin Oresky ....Syosset, N.Y. 8........Max Daniel Safir ................Old Westbury, N. Y. 9........Gunnar S. Overstrom ........Locust Valley, N.Y. 10......Adrian Kristofer Tsui ..........Roslyn Heights, N. Y. 11......Arin Siriamonthep ..............Greenvale, N.Y. 12......Alexander Hom ..................Manhasset, N.Y. 13......Mark Ryan Taranov ............Valley Stream, N.Y. 14......Louie Kotler ........................Roslyn, N.Y. 15......Brandon Zhu ......................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 16......Bradford J. Lin....................Great Neck, N.Y. 17......Alexander Karman..............Port Washington, N.Y. 18......Avi Anand............................Dix Hills, N.Y. 19......Michael Hayden Singer......Greenlawn, N.Y. 20......Amani Siddiqui ..................West Babylon, N.Y. 21......Brandon Lee ......................Valley Stream, N.Y. 22......Ravi MacGurn ....................Amagansett, N.Y. 23......Torin Suner Bograd ............Huntington, N.Y 24......Valentine LeGoupil-Maier ..Oceanside, N.Y. 25......Jared M. Phillips ................Plainview, N.Y. 26......Maximillian Wreidt ..............Locust Valley, N.Y. 27......Anthony Casale ..................Old Bethpage, N.Y. 28......Jared Lake ..........................Hewlett, N.Y. 29......Justin McMackin................North Baldwin, N.Y. 30......Ethan Sims..........................Roslyn, N.Y. 31......Christopher Lall ..................Oyster Bay, N.Y. 32......Sujay Alluri ..........................Old Westbury, N.Y. 33......Yoel Andre Yamus ..............Deer Park, N.Y. 34......Jacob Buchbinder..............Roslyn, N.Y. 35......Tommy George Srisuro......Garden City, N.Y. 36......Daniel Chikvashvili..............Melville, N.Y. 37......Jack Louchheim ................Sagaponack, N.Y. 38......Michael Weitz ....................Roslyn, N.Y. 39......Tyler Damato ......................Commack, N.Y. 40......Joshua Elenowitz ..............Syosset, N.Y.

Long Island Boys 14 Singles Rank Name..................................City 1........Tyler London ......................Dix Hills, N.Y. 2........Justin Ullman......................Huntington Station, N.Y. 3........Alexander Roti ....................Locust Valley, N.Y. 4........Rohan Mathur ....................Dix Hills, N.Y. 5........Jack Cameron Goldman ..Old Westbury, N.Y. 6........Connor Leaf........................Dix Hills, N.Y. 7........Samir Singh ........................Syosset, N.Y. 8........Nicholas Gajda ..................Smithtown, N.Y. 9........Matthew Kolkhorst ............Sea Cliff, N.Y. 10......Sol Yoon..............................Commack, N.Y. 11......Adam Bradley Wilck ..........Dix Hills, N.Y. 12......Lynus Arevalo Fortaleza ....North Babylon, N.Y. 13......Evan Kirsh ..........................Roslyn, N.Y. 14......Matthew Terlovsky ............Merrick, N.Y. 15......Matthew Reid Zapken ......Roslyn, N.Y. 16......Jagger Gillman ..................Glen Head, N.Y. 17......Josh A. Antell......................Oyster Bay, N.Y.

ISLAND

18......Julian Thomas MacGurn ..Amagansett, N.Y. 19......Mark Julian Baker ..............North Baldwin, N.Y. 20......Avi Anand............................Dix Hills, N.Y. 21......Matthew T. Roberts............Setauket, N.Y. 22......Cameron Klepper ..............Dix Hills, N.Y. 23......Marco Ammirati..................Halesite, N.Y. 24......Michael Wexler ..................Old Westbury, N.Y. 25......Peter Leonard Fahy............Huntington, N.Y. 26......Adam M. Canarick ............Woodbury, N.Y. 27......Tyler Neirman......................Dix Hills, N.Y. 28......George Kaslow ..................Port Washington, N.Y. 29......Ian Bank..............................Old Westbury, N.Y. 30......Peter Yu ..............................Smithtown, N.Y. 31......Jeffrey M. McDonnell ........Glen Cove, N.Y. 32......Aditya Dave ........................Syosset, N.Y. 33......Justin Lempert....................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 34......Andrew Marc Nakhjavan ..Dix Hills, N.Y. 35......Aaron Askowitz ..................Great Neck, N.Y. 36......Carl Grant............................Water Mill, N.Y. 37......Sanford Greenberg ............Dix Hills, N.Y. 38......Christopher Grisham..........Huntington, N.Y. 39......Sohrob Yavari ....................Syosset, N.Y. 40......Preet Rajpal ........................Syosset, N.Y.

Long Island Boys 16 Singles Rank Name..................................City 1........Simar Deep Sawhney ........New Hyde Park, N.Y. 2........Jay Burkett..........................Syosset, N.Y. 3........Oliver Jaskowski ................Malverne, N.Y. 4........Kenneth Francis Chiu ........Holtsville, N.Y. 5........Christopher McGorty ........Bellmore, N.Y. 6........Patrick Sean Lombardi ......Halesite, N.Y. 7........Faran Nazir..........................Deer Park, N.Y. 8........Saiteja Damineni ................Albertson, N.Y. 9........Nick John Stamatos ..........Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 10......Drew Greenberg ................Dix Hills, N.Y. 11......Matthew Kolkhorst ............Sea Cliff, N.Y. 12......Jack Cameron Goldman ..Old Westbury, N.Y. 13......Nicholas Gajda ..................Smithtown, N.Y. 14......Joshua Samuel Simoncic..Glen Head, N.Y. 15......Julian Thomas MacGurn ..Amagansett, N.Y. 16......Evan Lander........................Old Bethpage, N.Y. 17......Evan Lowitt ........................Syosset, N.Y. 18......Zane Siddiqui......................Long Beach, N.Y. 19......Derek Menker ....................Great Neck, N.Y. 20......George Robert Muller ........Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 21......Benjamin Craddock ..........Stony Brook, N.Y. 22......Nicholas Troiano ................Oakdale, N.Y. 23......Joonho Ko ..........................Huntington, N.Y. 24......Vincent Tozzi ......................North Babylon, N.Y. 25......Jason Gerber......................Commack, N.Y. 26......Jack Aaron Briamonte ......Great Neck, N.Y. 27......Kevin Alec Kowalsky..........Oyster Bay, N.Y. 28......Jonathan Eisenson ............Saint James, N.Y. 29......Harris Durkovic ..................Dix Hills, N.Y. 30......Kyle Hudson Gower ..........Oceanside, N.Y. 31......Kenneth Michael Wang......Manhasset, N.Y. 32......George Carmi ....................Lloyd Harbor, N.Y. 33......Kenneth Edward Fox ........Smithtown, N.Y. 34......Austin Egna ........................Port Washington, N.Y. 35......Spencer Lowitt ..................Syosset, N.Y. 36......Jake Parker Cohen ............Oceanside, N.Y. 37......Robert Sangirardi ..............Lynbrook, N.Y. 38......Curran Varma......................Manhasset, N.Y. 39......Aaron Askowitz ..................Great Neck, N.Y. 40......George Kaslow ..................Port Washington, N.Y.

RANKINGS

Long Island Boys 18 Singles Rank Name..................................City 1........Matthew Bahar ..................Woodbury, N.Y. 2........Cory Seltman......................Dix Hills, N.Y. 3........Nick John Stamatos ..........Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 4........Evan Kober ........................Wantagh, N.Y. 5........Florimond Le Goupil-MaierOceanside, N.Y. 6........Sebastian Alvarez ..............Mastic Beach, N.Y. 7........Chirag A. Doshi ..................Sands Point, N.Y. 8........Joshua Sydney ..................East Northport, N.Y. 9........Connor Gould ....................Rockville Centre, N.Y. 10......Christopher McGorty ........Bellmore, N.Y. 11......Faran Nazir..........................Deer Park, N.Y. 12......Vincent Thompson ............Massapequa, N.Y. 13......David Henry Reinharz ........Rockville Center, N.Y. 14......Cole Laffitte ........................East Setauket, N.Y. 15......Kenneth Michael Wang......Manhasset, N.Y. 16......Evan Lowitt ........................Syosset, N.Y. 17......Joseph James D’orazio ....Saint James, N.Y. 18......Tyler Grosse........................Bayport, N.Y. 19......Steven Kucharczyk ............Rocky Point, N.Y. 20......Adam Diaz ..........................Bellerose Village, N.Y. 21......Luke Douglas Johnston ....Port Washington, N.Y. 22......Timothy Sorenson..............Glen Cove, N.Y. 23......Max E. Huffman..................Bayport, N.Y. 24......Chris Buckley......................Bohemia, N.Y. 25......Evan Nierman ....................Dix Hills, N.Y. 26......Michael Liebman................Roslyn, N.Y. 27......Cameron Posillico ..............Bayville, N.Y. 28......Troy Michael Haas..............Huntington Station, N.Y. 29......Jonathon Brandon Ochoa Hicksville, N.Y. 30......Christopher Peter Kramer..Valley Stream, N.Y.

GIRLS Long Island Girls 12 Singles Rank Name..................................City 1........Alexis Madison Huber........Melville, N.Y. 2........Hannah Vinod Abraham ....Syosset, N.Y. 3........Madelyn Kay Germano......Islip, N.Y. 4........Alina Rebeca Lyakhov ......Great Neck, N.Y. 5........Julia Gentile ........................Rockville Centre, N.Y. 6........Madeline Richmond ..........Syosset, N.Y. 7........Janae Fouche ....................Freeport, N.Y. 8........Jill Olga Lawrence..............Hauppauge, N.Y. 10......Lucia Hu..............................Roslyn, N.Y. 11......Julia Kielan..........................Valley Stream, N.Y. 12......Lauren Zola ........................Rockville Center, N.Y. 13......Ally Friedman......................East Hampton, N.Y. 14......Lauren Hutton ....................Huntington, N.Y. 15......Daniela J. Benigno ............Shoreham, N.Y. 16......Gabriela Sciarrotta ............Woodmere, N.Y. 17......Margaret Esther Haykin ....Great Neck, N.Y. 18......Janelle Chen ......................Dix Hills, N.Y. 19......Kaya Amin ..........................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 20......Ivanna Nikolic ....................Glen Head, N.Y. 21......Annaliese Zola ....................Rockville Centre, N.Y. 22......Ida Nicole Poulos ..............Manhasset, N.Y. 23......Julianna Marie Romeo ......Massapequa, N.Y. 24......Brianna Loeffler ..................Syosset, N.Y. 25......Anna Vanessa Malin ..........Oceanside, N.Y. 26......Kristina Pali ........................Great Neck, N.Y. 27......Morena DeVito....................Syosset, N.Y. 28......Hannah Rose Niggemeier Sayville, N.Y. 29......Lauren Jordana Druz..........Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 30......Sofia Rose Anzalone..........Center Moriches, N.Y. 31......Kavina Amin........................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 32......Remi Berlent ......................Huntington, N.Y. 33......Grace Isabel Riviezzo ........Syosset, N.Y.

34......Rebecca Suarez ................Huntington, N.Y. 35......Rebecca Kuperschmid......East Hampton, N.Y. 36......Sarah Gunasekera ............Mt. Sinai, N.Y. 37......Sarah Jayne Lubow ..........Locust Valley, N.Y. 38......Allison Cooney....................Locust Valley, N.Y. 39......Sarah Gabrielle Faber ........Roslyn, N.Y. 40......Shoshana Leah Tokar ........Great Neck, N.Y.

Long Island Girls 14 Singles Rank Name..................................City 1........Michelle Roitgarts ..............Roslyn, N.Y. 2........Madeline A. Clinton............Manhasset, N.Y. 3........Samantha Lena Galu ........Jericho, N.Y. 4........Hannah Vinod Abraham ....Syosset, N.Y. 5........Christina Lorraine Jud........Glen Head, N.Y. 6........Stephanie Margaret Cole ..Manhasset, N.Y. 7........Evangelia Maria Frankis ....Manhasset, N.Y. 8........Carly Menker ......................Great Neck, N.Y. 9........Francesca Karman ............Port Washington, N.Y. 10......Julia Kielan..........................Valley Stream, N.Y. 11......Kaitlyn Byrnes ....................Massapequa, N.Y. 12......Rachel Flynn Collins ..........Port Jefferson, N.Y. 13......Lucia Hu..............................Roslyn, N.Y. 14......Ann Sophia Kogosov ........Syosset, N.Y. 15......Julieta Eulau........................Oceanside, N.Y. 16......Riley Elizabeth Katzman ....Halesite, N.Y. 17......Morgan A. Wilkins ..............Huntington, N.Y. 18......Emily Rose Fernandez ......Shirley, N.Y. 19......Erica Forrest........................Jericho, N.Y. 20......Olivia Faulhaber..................Saint James, N.Y. 21......Ariana Lynn Fixon-Owoo ..Lynbrook, N.Y. 22......Mina Sarcevic ....................Dix Hills, N.Y. 23......Isabelle Policarpio ..............Rocky Point, N.Y. 24......Elena Artemis Vlamakis ....Garden City, N.Y. 25......Haley Raphael ....................Great Neck, N.Y. 26......Stephanie Zelenetz ............Sea Cliff, N.Y. 27......Lauren Gold........................Old Westbury, N.Y. 28......Jade Fixon-Owoo ..............Lynbrook, N.Y. 29......Rachel Hirschheimer..........Jericho, N.Y. 30......Victoria Anna Bialczak ......New Hyde Park, N.Y. 31......Gabrielle Raziel ..................Melville, N.Y. 32......Joelle Ann Benigno ............Shoreham, N.Y. 33......Danah Han..........................Dix Hills, N.Y. 34......Janae Fouche ....................Freeport, N.Y. 35......Ivanna Nikolic ....................Glen Head, N.Y. 36......Fallon Berger ......................Syosset, N.Y. 37......Denise Lai ..........................Setauket, N.Y. 38......Julia Gentile ........................Rockville Centre, N.Y. 39......Madeline Lane....................Port Washington, N.Y. 40......Jacqueline Guidice ............East Northport, N.Y.

Long Island Girls 16 Singles Rank Name..................................City 1........Danielle Mirabella ..............Wantagh, N.Y. 2........Michelle Carnovale ............Massapequa, N.Y. 3........Sabrina Ferretti ..................Setauket, N.Y. 4........Emily Kate Shutman ..........Huntington, N.Y. 5........Katherine Changtroraleke..Greenvale, N.Y. 6........Nicole Kielan ......................Valley Stream, N.Y. 7........Noa Alexandra Dubin ........Southampton, N.Y. 8........Laura Jean Halsey..............Westhampton, N.Y. 9........Ann Sophia Kogosov ........Syosset, N.Y. 10......Adele Sukhov ....................Westbury, N.Y. 11......Victoria Makulik ..................Medford, N.Y. 12......Rachel Weiss ......................Great Neck, N.Y. 13......Rebecca Elizabeth Stern ..Dix Hills, N.Y. 14......Brooke Emily Digia ............Manhasset, N.Y. 15......Rini Halder ..........................Huntington, N.Y. 16......Courtney Connors..............Manhasset, N.Y.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

LONG 17......Courtney Kowalski ............Oyster Bay, N.Y. 18......Michelle Roitgarts ..............Roslyn, N.Y. 19......Julia Khan ..........................Port Washington, N.Y. 20......Lindsay Jane Haley............Hicksville, N.Y. 21......Elena Nitsa Maria Nastasi..Bayville, N.Y. 22......Emma Kate Rosenberg......Port Washington, N.Y. 23......Rachel Flynn Collins ..........Port Jefferson, N.Y. 24......Grace Graham....................Rockville Centre, N.Y. 25......Emily Rose Fernandez ......Shirley, N.Y. 26......Victoria Evelyn Villalba ......Oyster Bay, N.Y. 27......Nia Gilliam ..........................Central Islip, N.Y. 28......Elizabeth Sossan................Valley Stream, N.Y. 29......Lauren Difazio ....................Greenlawn, N.Y. 30......Olivia Rose Scordo ............Glen Head, N.Y. 31......Morgan A. Wilkins ..............Huntington, N.Y. 32......Sophie Grace Wilson ........Oyster Bay, N.Y. 33......Mara Danielle Stewart........Oceanside, N.Y. 34......Sarah Seeman....................Port Washington, N.Y. 35......Rosa LaCorte......................Merrick, N.Y. 36......Fiona Stocks-Lyon ............Glen Cove, N.Y. 37......Juliana Shenker..................Rockville Center, N.Y. 38......Julia Kielan..........................Valley Stream, N.Y. 39......Kendall Julia Kutner ..........Rockville Centre, N.Y. 40......Alexandra Jabour ..............Garden City, N.Y.

Long Island Girls 18 Singles Rank Name..................................City 1........Suzanne Silecchia..............Rockville Centre, N.Y. 2........Julia Khan ..........................Port Washington, N.Y 3........Claudia Ruiz........................Glen Head, N.Y. 4........Eirini Margarita Kontaki......West Islip, N.Y. 5........Cameron Leigh Moskol......Wantagh, N.Y. 6........Juliana Shenker..................Rockville Center, N.Y.

Boys & Girls Sectional Rankings (as of 12/19/13)

BOYS

Sectional Boys 12 Singles— Long Island Region Rank Name..................................City 2........Spencer Brachman............Commack, N.Y. 4........Cannon Kingsley ................Northport, N.Y. 5........Ronald P. Hohmann ..........Oyster Bay, N.Y. 7........Billy G. Suarez ....................Huntington, N.Y. 11......Kabir Rajpal ........................Syosset, N.Y. 19......Logan Paik Chang..............Old Westbury, N.Y. 20......Jack Flores..........................Huntington, N.Y. 22......Niles Ghaffar ......................Massapequa, N.Y. 25......Sujay Sharma ....................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 27......Maxwell Moadel ................Brookville, N.Y. 37......Oliver Worth ........................Locust Valley, N.Y. 45......Rohan Gaddam Reddy......Glen Head, N.Y. 48......Jeffrey M. McDonnell ........Glen Cove, N.Y. 49......Sam Reichbach..................Syosset, N.Y. 57......Aman K. Sharma................Glen Head, N.Y. 67......Karan K. Amin ....................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 72......Tommy George Srisuro......Garden City, N.Y. 76......Jack Louchheim ................Sagaponack, N.Y. 77......Richard James Kelly ..........Manhasset, N.Y. 83......Daniel Chikvashvili..............Melville, N.Y. 88......Valentine Le Goupil-Maier Oceanside, N.Y. 92......Luke Louchheim ................Sagaponack, N.Y. 93......Alexander Karman..............Port Washington, N.Y. 95......Luke Torel Karniewich........Glen Head, N.Y. 105....Justin Benjamin Oresky ....Syosset, N.Y. 108....Aryan Kumar Sethi ............Dix Hills, N.Y.

ISLAND

111....Kian Louis Ghazvini............Glen Head, N.Y. 121....Amani Siddiqui ..................West Babylon, N.Y. 127....Adrian Kristofer Tsul ..........Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 132....Sohrob Yavari ....................Syosset, N.Y. 136....Brandon Lee ......................Valley Stream, N.Y. 146....Brandon Zhu ......................Rosyln Heights, N.Y. 150....Adam Lammers..................Central Islip, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 14 Singles— Long Island Region Rank Name..................................City 5........Finbar Talcott ......................Sea Cliff, N.Y. 8........Brian Shi..............................Jericho, N.Y. 9........Ryan Goetz ........................Greenlawn, N.Y. 13......Alan Delman ......................Great Neck, N.Y. 15......Daniel Eric Pellerito ............Syosset, N.Y. 16......Cannon Kingsley ................Northport, N.Y. 19......Steven Well Sun ................Glen Cove, N.Y. 26......Keegan James Morris........Franklin Square, N.Y. 31......Gardner Howe....................Locust Valley, N.Y. 32......Rajan Vohra ........................Glen Head, N.Y. 33......Daniel Weitz ........................Roslyn, N.Y. 36......Patrick Maloney..................Oyster Bay, N.Y. 39......Michael Medvedev ............Oceanside, N.Y. 40......Ronald Hohmann ..............Oyster Bay, N.Y. 42......Pete Siozios........................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 43......Yuval Solomon....................Plainview, N.Y. 44......Neel Raj ..............................Oyster Bay, N.Y. 51......Matthew Porges ................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 61......Ben Snow ..........................Water Mill, N.Y. 63......Benjamin Cole Grossman..Sands Point, N.Y. 105....Maxwell Moadel ................Brookville, N.Y. 109....Matthew Terlovsky ............Merrick, N.Y. 116....Daniel Meinster ..................South Setauket, N.Y. 117....Abinhav Srivastavas ..........Melville, N.Y. 122....Alexander Roti ....................Locust Valley, N.Y. 128....Zachary Ian Khazzam ........Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 133....Adam Bradley Wilick..........Dix Hills, N.Y. 136....Timothy Hayden Nacca ....Garden City, N.Y. 143....Jeffrey McDonnell ..............Glen Cove, N.Y. 145....Spencer Brachman............Commack, N.Y. 147....Jack Cameron Goldman ..Old Westbury, N.Y. 148....Sangjin Song ......................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 149....Xin Eric Yu ..........................Manhasset, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 16 Singles— Long Island Region Rank Name..................................City 1........Brenden Volk ......................Dix Hills, N.Y. 3........Alexander Lebedev ............Island Park, N.Y. 11......Sean Mullins ......................Lloyd Harbor, N.Y. 14......Lubomir Cuba ....................Massapequa Park, N.Y. 17......Athell Patrick Bennett ........Valley Stream, N.Y. 21......Jesse Levitin ......................Manhasset, N.Y. 23......Bryant Born ........................Manhasset, N.Y. 26......Eric Wagner ........................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 32......Travis Leaf ..........................Dix Hills, N.Y. 38......Finbar Talcott ......................Sea Cliff, N.Y. 40......Colin Francis Sacco ..........Brightwaters, N.Y. 44......Sean Patrick ......................Oyster Bay, N.Y. 48......Stephen Gruppuso ............Bayport, N.Y. 49......Palmer Clare ......................North Bellmore, N.Y. 51......Aziz Rashidzada ................Dix Hills, N.Y. 57......Brian Hoffarth ....................Fort Salonga, N.Y. 58......Michael James DeNigris....Islip, N.Y. 63......Dylan Granat ......................Woodbury, N.Y. 64......Yuval Solomon....................Plainview, N.Y. 67......Alex Grossman ..................Sands Point, N.Y. 81......Duane Davis ......................Dix Hills, N.Y.

RANKINGS

83......Mark Julian Baker ..............North Baldwin, N.Y. 86......Daniel Shleimovich ............Syosset, N.Y. 90......David Henry Reinharz ........Rockville Centre, N.Y. 94......Ryan Goetz ........................Greenlawn, N.Y. 95......William Bader......................Water Mill, N.Y. 97......Nasser Abdel Ghaffar ........Massapequa, N.Y. 98......Pete Siozios........................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 103....Ross Reiffman ....................Melville, N.Y. 104....Kyle Hudson Gower ..........Oceanside, N.Y. 106....Dylan Davis ........................Dix Hills, N.Y. 109....Rajan Vohra ........................Glen Head, N.Y. 115....Joseph James D’Orazio ....Saint James, N.Y. 118....Noah Reisch ......................Floral Park, N.Y. 120....Brian Shi..............................Jericho, N.Y. 122....Nicholas Kevin Fox ............Commack, N.Y. 124....Del Schunk ........................Westhampton Beach, N.Y. 125....Tyler Ng ..............................Great Neck, N.Y. 131....Andy Zhou ..........................Commack, N.Y. 138....Chris Kuhnle ......................Shoreham, N.Y. 144....Garrett Malave....................Laurel, N.Y. 145....Connor Dove ......................Baldwin, N.Y. 147....Nikhil Raj ............................Oyster Bay, N.Y. 149....Faran Nazir..........................Deer Park, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 18 Singles— Long Island Region Rank Name..................................City 2........Daniel Grunberger..............Great Neck, N.Y. 6........Josh Silverstein ..................Great Neck, N.Y. 12......Noah Rubin ........................Rockville Centre, N.Y. 19......Brendan Volk ......................Dix Hills, N.Y. 23......Conor Mullins ....................Lloyd Harbor, N.Y. 28......Alexander Lebedev ............Island Park, N.Y. 36......Bryant J. Born ....................Manhasset, N.Y. 40......Ethan Bogard......................Lido Beach, N.Y. 43......Zain Ali ................................Dix Hills, N.Y. 45......Jonathan Paris....................Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 46......Vihar Shah ..........................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 47......Samuel Lam........................Old Westbury, N.Y. 51......Benjamin Rosen ................Port Washington, N.Y. 55......Kyle Alper............................Dix Hills, N.Y. 56......Justin Park..........................Huntington, N.Y. 59......Dylan Appel ........................Locust Valley, N.Y. 68......Jared R. Halstrom ..............Bellmore, N.Y. 69......Aidan Talcott ......................Sea Cliff, N.Y. 77......Fernando Filho....................East Hampton, N.Y. 80......Cory Seltman......................Dix Hills, N.Y. 84......Lubomir Cuba ....................Massapequa Park, N.Y. 87......Kevin Cino ..........................East Quogue, N.Y. 88......Cooper Lacertera ..............Speonk, N.Y. 90......William Bader......................Water Mill, N.Y. 100....Henry Tell ............................Woodbury, N.Y. 101....Alex Sacher ........................Glen Head, N.Y. 108....Matthew Bahar ..................Woodbury, N.Y. 109....Mike Nelson........................Manhassett, N.Y. 111....Joseph James D’Orazio ....Saint James, N.Y. 112....Dennis Uspensky ..............Atlantic Beach, N.Y. 121....Pete Siozios........................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 125....Douglas Notaris..................Wantagh, N.Y. 127....Tyler J. Hoffman..................Sayville, N.Y. 128....Chirag A. Doshi ..................Sands Point, N.Y. 133....Luke Douglas Johnston ....Port Washington, N.Y. 134....Ankur Kerjiwal ....................Hewlett, N.Y. 136....Cole Lafitte..........................East Setauket, N.Y. 144....John D’Alessandro ............Northport, N.Y.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

GIRLS

Sectional Girls 12 Singles— Long Island Region Rank Name..................................City 4........Lea Ma ................................Dix Hills, N.Y. 14......Merri Kelly ..........................Oyster Bay, N.Y. 15......Alexa Susan Goetz ............Greenlawn, N.Y. 17......Rachel Arbitman ................Hewlett, N.Y. 18......Maryam Beshir Ahmad......Albertson, N.Y. 24......Francesca Karman ............Port Washington, N.Y. 41......Amy Delman ......................Great Neck, N.Y. 42......Madison Jane Williams......Glen Cove, N.Y. 46......Denise Lai ..........................Setauket, N.Y. 51......Ivanna Nikolic ....................Glen Head, N.Y. 52......Julia Kielan..........................Valley Stream, N.Y. 82......Calista Sha..........................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 83......Gabriela Sciarrotta ............Woodmere, N.Y. 87......Kimberly Liao......................Commack, N.Y. 88......Lucia Hu..............................Roslyn, N.Y. 93......Jade Fixon-Owoo ..............Lynbrook, N.Y. 102....Hannah Vinod Abraham ....Syosset, N.Y. 106....Alina Rebeca Lyakhov ......Great Neck, N.Y. 107....Alexis Madison Huber........Melville, N.Y. 108....Julia Gentile ........................Rockville Centre, N.Y. 110....Madeline Richmond ..........Syosset, N.Y. 125....Ally Friedman......................East Hampton, N.Y. 127....Madelyn Kay Germano......Islip, N.Y. 128....Lauren Hutton ....................Huntington, N.Y. 131....Janae Fouche ....................Frrpor 138....Kaya Amin ..........................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 146....Rebecca E. Suarez ............Huntington, N.Y. 149....Lauren Zola ........................Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 14 Singles— Long Island Region Rank Name..................................City 12......Jasmine Olivia Abidi ..........Glen Head, N.Y. 16......Lea Ma ................................Dix Hills, N.Y. 17......Jacqueline Rae Bukzin ......Manorville, N.Y. 20......Ashley Lessen ....................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 28......Claire Handa ......................Rockville Centre, N.Y. 46......Stephanie Chikvashvili ......Melville, N.Y. 56......Nicole Kielan ......................Valley Stream, N.Y. 60......Olivia Rose Scordo ............Glen Head, N.Y. 62......Francesca Karman ............Port Washington, N.Y. 65......Courtney Kowalsky............Oyster Bay, N.Y. 69......Julia Kielan..........................Valley Stream, N.Y. 76......Trinity Chow........................Glen Cove, N.Y. 82......Risha Malhotra ..................Syosset, N.Y. 93......Stephanie Anne Petras ......Manhasset, N.Y. 97......Dasha Dlin ..........................Glen Head, N.Y. 98......Evangelina Maria Frankis ..Manhasset, N.Y. 104....Ariana Lynn Fixon-Owoo ..Lynbrook, N.Y. 105....Samantha Lena Galu ........Jericho, N.Y. 106....Mina Sarcevic ....................Dix Hills, N.Y. 109....Julieta Eulau........................Oceanside, N.Y. 119....Denise Lai ..........................Setauket, N.Y. 121....Emily Rose Fernandez ......Shirley, N.Y. 123....Kaitlyn Byrnes ....................Massapequa, N.Y. 124....Madeline Clinton ................Manhasset, N.Y. 125....Michelle Roitgarts ..............Roslyn, N.Y. 142....Lucia Hu..............................Roslyn, N.Y. 145....Olivia Faulhaber..................St. James, N.Y.

LONG Sectional Girls 16 Singles— Long Island Region Rank Name..................................City 1........Alexa Graham ....................Garden City, N.Y. 4........Madison Battaglia ..............Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 14......Taylor Cosme......................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 30......Celeste Rose Matute ........Oyster Bay, N.Y. 33......Claire Handa ......................Point Lookout, N.Y. 45......Michele Sheila Lehat..........Great Neck, N.Y. 50......Esther Chikvashvili ............Melville, N.Y. 53......Stephanie Nakash..............Great Neck, N.Y. 57......Katie Jane Cirella................Woodbury, N.Y. 61......Vanessa Scott ....................Dix Hills, N.Y. 63......Ashley Lessen ....................Old Westbury, N.Y. 70......Dominique Woinarowski....Syosset, N.Y. 86......Sarah Seeman....................Port Washington, N.Y. 87......Courtney B. Kowalsky ......Oyster Bay, N.Y. 90......Abigail Claire Okin ..............Amagansett, N.Y. 91......Amanda Allison Foo ..........Manhasset, N.Y. 96......Nicole Kielan ......................Valley Stream, N.Y. 100....Lea Ma ................................Dix Hills, N.Y. 103....Katherine Changtroraleke..Greenvale, N.Y. 113....Rini Halder ..........................Huntington, N.Y. 114....Jacqueline Rae Bukzin ......Manorville, N.Y. 115....Michelle Carnovale ............Massapequa, N.Y. 118....Madison Courtney Appel ..Locust Valley, N.Y. 120....Mara Danielle Stewart........Oceanside, N.Y. 122....Adele Sukhov ....................Westbury, N.Y. 123....Danielle Mirabella ..............Wantagh, N.Y. 125....Rachel Weiss ......................Great Neck, N.Y. 129....Mia Vecchio ........................Manhasset Hills, N.Y. 131....Elena Nitsa Maria Nastasi..Bayville, N.Y. 135....Ellen Nicole Huhulea ..........Rockville Centre, N.Y. 142....Noa Alexandra Dubin ........Southampton, N.Y. 143....Emily Kate Shutman ..........Huntington, N.Y. 148....Sabrina Ferretti ..................Setauket, N.Y.0

Sectional Girls 18 Singles— Long Island Region Rank Name..................................City 4........Aleksandra Mally................Franklin Square, N.Y. 15......Alexa Graham ....................Garden City, N.Y. 24......Madison Battaglia ..............Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 29......Aimee Manfredo ................Shoreham, N.Y. 32......Sunaina Vohra ....................Glen Head, N.Y. 38......Paulina Tafler ......................Oceanside, N.Y. 39......Sophie Barnard ..................Mill Neck, N.Y. 48......Claudia Ruiz........................Glen Head, N.Y. 50......Nicole Koskovolis ..............Manhasset, N.Y. 51......Claire Handa ......................Point Lookout, N.Y. 59......Bridget Elaine Harding ......Northport, N.Y. 62......Lauren Ann Livingston ......Sands Points, N.Y. 70......Alexandra Linder ................Sands Point, N.Y. 72......Vivian Cheng ......................Woodbury, N.Y. 75......Emma Brezel ......................Port Washington, N.Y. 83......Michele Sheila Lehat..........Great Neck, N.Y. 86......Cameron Leigh Moskol......Wantagh, N.Y. 87......Brittany Burke ....................Garden City, N.Y. 92......Stephanie Nakash..............Great Neck, N.Y. 96......Allison Gabrielle Huber ......Melville, N.Y. 102....Bridget Connors ................East Quogue, N.Y. 110....Taylor S. Cosme ................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 113....Katie Jane Cirella................Woodbury, N.Y. 128....Rithika Reddy ....................Syosset, N.Y. 130....Eirini Margarita Kontaki......West Islip, N.Y. 136....Lauren Elizabeth DiFazio ..Greenlawn, N.Y. 148....Danielle Gianetti..................Oyster Bay, N.Y.

ISLAND

Boys & Girls National Rankings (as of 12/19/13)

BOYS

National Boys 12 Singles— Long Island Players Rank Name ............................City 5........Cannon Kingsley ................Northport, N.Y. 9........Ronald P. Hohmann ..........Oyster Bay, N.Y. 38......Billy Suarez ........................Huntington, N.Y. 41......Spencer Brachman............Commack, N.Y. 77......Kabir Rajpal ........................Syosset, N.Y. 109....Logan Paik Chang..............Old Westbury, N.Y. 211....Sujay Sharma ....................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 242....Jack Flores..........................Huntington, N.Y. 269....Niles Ghaffar ......................Massapequa, N.Y. 368....Karan Amin ........................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 426....Maxwell Moadel ................Brookville, N.Y. 553....Oliver Worth ........................Locust Valley, N.Y. 563....Richard James Kelly ..........Manhasset, N.Y. 661....Jeff McDonnell....................Glen Cove, N.Y. 698....Alexander Karman..............Port Washington, N.Y. 889....Rohan Reddy......................Glen Head, N.Y. 894....Aman Sharma ....................Glen Head, N.Y. 972....Sam Reichbach..................Syosset, N.Y. 1049..Daniel Chikvashvili..............Melville, N.Y. 1347..Tommy George Srisuro......Garden City, N.Y.

National Boys 14 Singles— Long Island Players Rank Name ............................City 40......Brian Shi..............................Jericho, N.Y. 46......Steven Well Sun ................Glen Cove, N.Y. 50......Ryan Goetz ........................Greenlawn, N.Y. 126....Daniel Eric Pellerito ............Syosset, N.Y. 174....Alan Delman ......................Great Neck, N.Y. 214....Patrick Maloney..................Oyster Bay, N.Y. 215....Keegan James Morris........Franklin Square, N.Y. 238....Cannon Kingsley ................Northport, N.Y. 256....Rajan Jai Vohra ..................Glen Head, N.Y. 293....Daniel Weitz ........................Roslyn, N.Y. 315....Ronald P. Hohmann ..........Oyster Bay, N.Y. 317....Yuval Solomon....................Plainview, N.Y. 318....Gardner Howe....................Locust Valley, N.Y. 336....Neel Raj ..............................Oyster Bay, N.Y. 339....Michael Medvedev ............Oceanside, N.Y. 442....Pete Siozios........................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 536....Matthew Franklin Porges ..Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 784....Nicolas Demaria ................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 1032..Daniel Meinster ..................South Setauket, N.Y. 1215..Benjamin Cole Grossman..Sands Point, N.Y. 1369..Abhinav Raj Srivastava ......Melville, N.Y. 1388..Ben Snow ..........................Water Mill, N.Y.

National Boys 16 Singles— Long Island Players Rank Name ............................City 14......Alexander Lebedev ............Island Park, N.Y. 32......Brenden Andrew Volk ........Dix Hills, N.Y. 128....Lubomir Cuba ....................Massapequa Park, N.Y. 190....Bryant Born ........................Manhasset, N.Y. 205....Eric Wagner ........................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 211....Athell Patrick Bennett ........Valley Stream, N.Y. 231....Jesse Levitin ......................Manhasset, N.Y. 247....Sean Mullins ......................Lloyd Harbor, N.Y. 386....Finbar Talcott ......................Sea Cliff, N.Y. 475....Sean Patrick ......................Oyster Bay, N.Y. 571....Travis Leaf ..........................Dix Hills, N.Y. 704....Colin Francis Sacco ..........Brightwaters, N.Y. 756....Palmer Clare ......................North Bellmore, N.Y.

RANKINGS

785....Dylan Granat ......................Woodbury, N.Y. 841....Michael James DeNigris....Islip, N.Y. 846....Brian Shi..............................Jericho, N.Y. 991....Yuval Solomon....................Plainview, N.Y. 1062..Ryan Goetz ........................Greenlawn, N.Y. 1120..Brian Hoffarth ....................Fort Salonga, N.Y. 1268..Daniel Shleimovich ............Syosset, N.Y. 1302..Nasser Abdel Ghaffar ........Massapequa, N.Y. 1349..Dylan Davis ........................Dix Hills, N.Y. 1360..Alex Grossman ..................Sands Point, N.Y. 1397..Stephen Grappusso ..........Bayport, N.Y. 1398..Jai Rajan Vohra ..................Glen Head, N.Y. 1460..Daniel Weitz ........................Roslyn, N.Y.

National Boys 18 Singles— Long Island Players Rank Name ............................City 15......Noah B. Rubin ....................Rockville Centre, N.Y. 57......Daniel Grundberger............Great Neck, N.Y. 119....Josh Silverstein ..................Great Neck, N.Y. 163....Alexander Lebedev ............Island Park, N.Y. 229....Dennis Uspensky ..............Atlantic Beach, N.Y. 337....Lamar Remy ......................Roslyn, N.Y. 423....Branden Volk ......................Dix Hills, N.Y. 446....Samuel Lam........................Old Westbury, N.Y. 463....Conor Mullins ....................Lloyd Harbor, N.Y. 529....Ethan Bogard......................Lido Beach, N.Y. 667....Vihar Shah ..........................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 701....Jonathan Paris....................Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 722....Benjamin Rosen ................Port Washington, N.Y. 734....Aidan Talcott ......................Sea Cliff, N.Y. 747....Philip Daniel Antohi ............Glen Head, N.Y. 822....Kyle Alper............................Dix Hills, N.Y. 896....Dylan Hobbs Appel............Locust Valley, N.Y. 984....Alex Sacher ........................Glen Head, N.Y. 1062..John P. D’Alessandro ........Northport, N.Y. 1079..Zain Ali ................................Dix Hills, N.Y. 1085..Jared Halstrom ..................Bellmore, N.Y. 1113..Julian Zlobinski ..................Greenvale, N.Y. 1214..Brant Born ..........................Manhasset, N/Y/ 1245..Lubomir Cuba ....................Massapequa Park, N.Y. 1333..Douglas Notaris..................Wantagh, N.Y. 1358..Jesse Levitin ......................Manhasset, N.Y.

774....Nicole Keilan ......................Valley Stream, N.Y. 1050..Stephanie Chikvashvili ......Melville, N.Y. 1270..Stephanie Anne Petras ......Manhasset, N.Y. 1315..Olivia Rose Scordo ............Glen Head, N.Y.

National Girls 16 Singles— Long Island Players Rank Name ............................City 26......Alexa Graham ....................Garden City, N.Y. 58 ......Madison Battaglia ....................Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 124....Madison Courtney Appel ..Locust Valley, N.Y. 190....Taylor S. Cosme ................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 358....Claire Handa ......................Point Lookout, N.Y. 716....Vanessa L. Scott ................Dix Hills, N.Y. 756....Celeste Rose Matute ........Oyster Bay, N.Y. 900....Esther Chikvashvili ............Melville, N.Y. 977....Stephanie Nakash..............Great Neck, N.Y. 1108..Dominique Woinarowski....Syosset, N.Y. 1166..Katie Jane Cirella................Woodbury, N.Y. 1283..Michele Sheila Lehat..........Great Neck, N.Y. 1330..Mia Vecchio ........................Manhasset Hills, N.Y. 1372..Ashley Lessen ....................Old Westbury, N.Y.

National Girls 18 Singles— Long Island Players Rank Name ............................City 156....Aleksandra Mally................Franklin Square, N.Y. 270....Alexa Graham ....................Garden City, N.Y. 440....Sunaina Vohra ....................Glen Head, N.Y. 501....Aimee Manfredo ................Shoreham, N.Y. 518....Sophie Barnard ..................Mill Neck, N.Y. 532....Vivian Cheng ......................Woodbury, N.Y. 650....Claudia Ruiz........................Glen Head, N.Y. 733....Madison Battaglia ..............Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 746....Nicole Koskovolis ..............Manhasset, N.Y. 812....Paulina Tafler ......................Oceanside, N.Y. 846....Taylor S. Cosme ................New Hyde Park, N.Y. 929....Madison Courtney Appel ..Locust Valley, N.Y. 1115..Rithika Reddy ....................Syosset, N.Y. 1245..Bridget Elaine Harding ......Northport, N.Y. 1283..Lauren Ann Livingston ......Sands Point, N.Y.

GIRLS

National Girls 12 Singles— Long Island Players Rank Name ............................City 10......Lea Ma ................................Dix Hills, N.Y. 77......Alexa Goetz ........................Greenlawn, N.Y. 79......Merri Kelly ..........................Oyster Bay, N.Y. 128....Francesca Karman ............Port Washington, N.Y. 140....Maryam Beshir Ahmad......Albertson, N.Y. 186....Rachel Arbitman ................Hewlett, N.Y. 360....Madison Jane Williams......Glen Cove, N.Y. 451....Denise Lai ..........................Setauket, N.Y. 527....Amy Delman ......................Great Neck, N.Y. 543....Rebecca Suarez ................Huntington, N.Y. 825....Julia Kielan..........................Valley Stream, N.Y. 868....Ivanna Nikolic ....................Glen Head, N.Y. 1155..Kimberly Liao......................Commack, N.Y.

National Girls 14 Singles— Long Island Players Rank Name ............................City 237....Ashley Lessen ....................Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 346....Lea Ma ................................Dix Hills, N.Y. 357....Jasmine Olivia Abidi ..........Glen Head, N.Y. 441....Jacqueline Rae Bukzin ......Manorville, N.Y.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

USTA/Long Island Region 2014

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. JANUARY 2014 Friday-Sunday, January 10-12 L2O Eastern Athletic Winter Open Eastern Athletic Clubs 9 Montauk Highway, Unit A Blue Point, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(14,18)s, FRLC Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Saturday, Jan. 4 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (631) 363-2882. Friday-Sunday, January 10-12 L2O Kings Park Sportime January Open Sportime-Kings Park 275 Old Indianhead Road Kings Park, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(12,16)s, FRLC; QuickStart BG(10 [60’Court/Orange Ball])s, FRLC Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Jan. 5 at 9:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 484-9222. Friday-Sunday, January 10-12 L1B Sportime Bethpage January Challenger Sportime Bethpage 101 Norcross Avenue Bethpage, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(12,16)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 933-8500.

Friday-Sunday, January 10-12 L1B Christopher Morley ATS Challenger Christopher Morley Tennis Center 500 Searingtown Road Roslyn, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(14,18)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Jan. 6 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, call (917) 991-0088.

Friday-Monday, January 17-20 L1 Christopher Morley January Championships Christopher Morley Tennis Center 500 Searingtown Road Roslyn, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(14,18)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Thursday, Jan. 9 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, call (917) 991-0088.

Friday-Sunday, January 10-12 L3 RWTTC January UPS Robbie Wagner Tournament Training at Glen Cove 60 Sea Cliff Avenue Glen Cove, N.Y. Divisions: Novice BG(12-14)s, RR Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Jan. 6 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 759-0505.

Friday-Monday, January 17-20 Eastern Super Six World Gym (National L3) World Gym Racquet & Sports Arena 384 Mark Tree Road East Setauket, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix G(16)s, FICS; G(16)d, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $134.88 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Jan. 6 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (917) 991-0088.

Friday-Monday, January 17-20 Eastern Super Six Sportime Bethpage (National L3) Sportime Bethpage 101 Norcross Avenue Bethpage, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix G(18)s, FICQ; G(18)d, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $134.88 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Jan. 6 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 933-8500.

Friday-Monday, January 17-20 Eastern Super Six Sportime Roslyn (National L3) Sportime-Landing Road P.O. Box 1 Landing Road Roslyn, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix G(14)s, FICQ; G(14)d, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $134.88 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Jan. 6 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 484-9222.

#1 Children’ s Boutique on Long Island Bellmore • Cedarhurst • Little Neck • Oceanside E. Northport • Plainview • Scarsdale NEW JERSEY - PENNSYLVANIA - FLORIDA

Keeping Over 3 Decades ofCool! Kids Looking 72

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

Friday-Monday, January 17-20 Eastern Super Six Huntington Indoor (National L3) Huntington Indoor Tennis 100 Broadway Huntington Station, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix G(12)s, FICQ; G(12)d, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $134.88 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Jan. 6 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (631) 421-0040. Friday-Sunday, January 17-19 L1B Sportime Kings Park Winter Challenger Sportime-Kings Park 275 Old Indianhead Road Kings Park, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(14-16)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Jan. 12 at 9:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 484-9222.

USTA/Long Island Region 2014

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. Friday-Sunday, January 17-19 L2R Sportime Massapequa Winter Regional Sportime Massapequa 5600 Old Sunrise Highway Massapequa, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(12-14)s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Jan. 10 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 799-3550.

Friday-Sunday, January 24-26 L1B LBTC’s January Challenger Long Beach Tennis Center 899 Monroe Boulevard Long Beach, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(12,18)sd, SE; XJ(12,18)d, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Jan. 12 at 6:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 432-6060.

Friday-Sunday, January 31-February 2 L1B Christopher Morley Tennis Center January Challenger Christopher Morley Tennis Center 500 Searingtown Road Roslyn, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday Jan. 27 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, call (917) 991-0088.

Friday-Sunday, January 17-19 L2O Long Beach January Open Long Beach Tennis Center 899 Monroe Boulevard • Long Beach, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(12-16)s, FMLC; BG(14)d, SE; XJ(14-16)d, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Jan. 12 at 6:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 432-6060.

Friday-Sunday, January 31-February 2 & February 7-9 L2R Long Island Regional at Deer Park Tennis Center Deer Park Tennis Center 30 Burt Drive Deer Park, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(12-18)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Jan. 24 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (631) 667-3476.

Friday-Sunday, January 31-February 2 L1B LBTC January Blue Starz Challenger Long Beach Tennis Center 899 Monroe Boulevard Long Beach, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(10 [78’Court/Green Ball])s, SE; Challenger BG(16)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Jan. 26 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 432-6060.

Friday-Sunday, January 31-February 2 & February 7-9 L1B Glen Head Racquet Club February Challenger Glen Head Racquet Club 95 Glen Head Road Glen Head, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(18)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Jan. 24 at 2:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 676-9849.

FEBRUARY 2014 Saturday, February 1 L3 10U UPS & 8U Playday at Sportime Syosset Sportime Syosset 75 Haskett Drive • Syosset, N.Y. Divisions: QuickStart BG(8 [36’Court/Red Ball] ,10 [60’Court/Orange Ball])s, RR Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 364-2727.

Friday-Sunday, January 24-26 L3 Sportime Kings Park January Green-Orange Ball UPS Sportime-Kings Park 275 Old Indianhead Road Kings Park, N.Y. Divisions: Novice BG(12-14)s, RR; QuickStart BG(10 [60’Court/Orange Ball])s, RR Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Jan. 19 at 9:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 484-9222. Friday-Sunday, January 24-26 L1B Sportime Syosset January Challenger Sportime Syosset 75 Haskett Drive Syosset, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(16)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 364-2727. Friday-Sunday, January 24-26 L1B Christopher Morley Winter Challenger Christopher Morley Tennis Center 500 Searingtown Road Roslyn, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(14)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday Jan. 20 at 9:00 p.m.) For more information, call (917) 991-0088.

PREVENTATIVE NUTRITION HEART DISEASE & DIABETES ADOLESCENT BODY IMAGE SPORTS NUTRITION For groups and individuals

irinalehat@gmail.com 917.769.8031

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

USTA/Long Island Region 2014

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. Friday-Sunday, February 7-9 L2O EAC February Open Eastern Athletic Clubs 9 Montauk Highway, Unit A Blue Point, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(12-14)s, FMLC Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Jan. 31 at 9:00 p.m.) For more information, call (631) 363-2882.

Friday-Monday, February 14-17 L1 Deer Park February Championships Deer Park Tennis Center 30 Burt Drive Deer Park, N.Y. Divisions: Championships G(16)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Feb. 3 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (631) 667-3476.

Friday-Sunday, February 21-23 L2R Sportime Bethpage February Regional Sportime Bethpage 101 Norcross Avenue Bethpage, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate G(14,18)s, FMLC Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 933-8500.

Friday-Sunday, February 7-9 L1B CMTC Winter Challenger Christopher Morley Tennis Center 500 Searingtown Road Roslyn, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(16-18)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Feb. 3 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, call (917) 991-0088.

Friday-Monday, February 14-17 L1 Huntington February Championships Huntington Indoor Tennis 100 Broadway Huntington Station, N.Y. Divisions: Championships G(14)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Feb. 3 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (631) 421-0040.

Friday-Sunday, February 21-23 L2O Sportime Syosset February Open Sportime Syosset 75 Haskett Drive Syosset, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate B(12,18)s, FMLC; G(12)s, FMLC Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 364-2727.

Friday-Sunday, February 7-9 & February 14-16 L1B Glen Head Racquet Club Winter 10U Classic Glen Head Racquet Club 95 Glen Head Road Glen Head, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(10 [78’Court/Green Ball])s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Jan. 31 at 3:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 676-9849.

Friday-Sunday, February 14-16 L1B Sportime Quogue February Challenger Sportime of The Hamptons 2571 Quogue Riverhead Road East Quogue, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(10 [78’Court/Green Ball])s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Jan. 6) For more information, call (631) 653-6767.

Friday-Sunday, February 28-March 2 L1B RSTA February Challenger Ross School Tennis Academy 18 Goodfriend Drive East Hampton, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(12,16)s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Feb. 17 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (631) 907-5162.

Friday-Tuesday, February 14-18 L2O RSTA February Open Ross School Tennis Academy 18 Goodfriend Drive East Hampton, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(12-18)s, FMLC Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Feb. 10 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (631) 907-5162.

Friday-Sunday, February 14-16 L1B LBTC’s February Challenger Long Beach Tennis Center 899 Monroe Boulevard Long Beach, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(16-18)sd, SE; XJ(16-18)d, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 for first singles/$28 for first doubles (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 432-6060.

Friday-Sunday, February 28-March 2 L1B LBTC March Challenger Long Beach Tennis Center 899 Monroe Boulevard Long Beach, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(14,18)sd, SE; XJ(14,18)d, SE; Challenger BG(10 [78’Court/Green Ball])s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 for first singles/$28 for first doubles (deadline for entries is Saturday, Dec. 28) For more information, call (516) 432-6060.

Friday-Monday, February 14-17 L1 Sportime Bethpage February Championships Sportime Bethpage 101 Norcross Avenue Bethpage, N.Y. Divisions: Championships G(12)s, MFIC Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Feb. 3 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 933-8500.

Monday-Friday, February 17-21 L1B Port Washington Winter Challenger Port Washington Tennis Academy 100 Harbor Road Port Washington, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(12-18)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Thursday, Feb. 6 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 883-6425.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com

Friday-Sunday, February 28-March 2 & March 7-9 L1B Glen Head Racquet Club Winter Challenger Glen Head Racquet Club 95 Glen Head Road Glen Head, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(16)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Feb. 21 at 3:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 676-9849.

SINGLE–EVENT SUITE RENTALS OKPOSO 21 KYLE

TAVARES 91 JOHN

GAMES, CONCERTS & SPECIAL EVENTS Connect with clients, engage new prospects or entertain family and friends in a ﬁrst-class environment. We offer amenities and price points to ﬁt all your needs.

Suite rentals include: • Ability to host 8–20 guests • Catering options for any budget • VIP parking (one pass per four guests) • Dedicated VIP entrance

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

516.501.6823 | SUITES@NEWYORKISLANDERS.COM LITennisMag.com • January/February 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

*Photos courtesy of Getty Images. *Players subject to change.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2014 • LITennisMag.com