New York Tennis Magazine - March/April 2012 by United Sports Publications, Ltd.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

March/April 2012 Volume 2, Number 2 New York Tennis Magazine 1220 Wantagh Avenue • Wantagh, NY 11793-2202 Phone: (516) 409-4444 • Fax: (516) 409-4600 Web site: www.nytennismag.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover story Cover photo credit: Getty Images

Staff David Sickmen Publisher (516) 409-4444, ext. 309 • david@usptennis.com

The Stars Set to Shine Under NYC’s Bright Lights On Monday evening March 5, the pros return to New York City’s Madison Square Garden for the BNP Paribas Showdown featuring Maria Sharapova facing Caroline Wozniacki and Roger Federer against Andy Roddick.

Andrew T. Berman Vice President/Sales (516) 409-4444, ext. 333 • andrew@usptennis.com Eric C. Peck Editor-in-Chief (516) 409-4444, ext. 312 • eric@usptennis.com Joey Arendt Managing Art Director Jon Blake Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 • jonb@usptennis.com

Feature Stories 36

New York Tennis Magazine helps you chart the course for your summer camp plans by highlighting some of the top summer programs in the area.

Michael Sarro Director of Business Development (516) 409-4444, ext. 330 • michael@usptennis.com Anthony Pastecchi Editorial Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 314 • anthony@usptennis.com Emilie Katz Marketing Coordinator Tara Cook Billing Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 324 Brent Shearer Editorial Contributor

Gary Simeone Editorial Contributor

David Drucker Editorial Contributor

Ken Goldberg Photographer

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Article Submissions/Press Releases To submit any material, including articles and press releases, please call (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com. The deadline for submissions is the first of the month preceding the target issue.

Subscriptions To receive subscription information, contact (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com or check out our Web site: www.nytennismag.com. Fax subscription changes to (516) 409-1600. Statements of fact and opinion in New York Tennis Magazine are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of United Sports Publications Ltd. New York Tennis Magazine reserves the right to edit, reject and/or postpone the publication of any articles, information or data.

New York Tennis Magazine’s 2012 Summer Camp Guide

Additional Features 3 12 14 15 20 22 27 28 31 34 46 47 50 52 54 55 58

Finding the True Spirit of 10 & Under Tennis By Richard Thater USTA Honors Local Volunteers and Juniors By Michael Sarro Courtside With Midtown Tennis Club Director Jennifer Brown USTA Flex League Comes to NYC New York Tennis Magazine’s Junior Player Spotlight on Shane Monroe By Caroline Gilpin Let’s Add Another to the List of Top Greats … By Brad Shafran Former Top 10 Pro Mayotte Lends a Hand By Michael Sarro 2012 Australian Open Recap Bolt Launches New Line of Racquets Playing Rafa: Alex Kuznetsov Shares His Thoughts on Playing Rafael Nadal By Eric Faro QuickStart Takes Off on the Intrepid World TeamTennis Gears Up for 2012 Season With Star-Laden Marquee Player Draft Julien Morel Joins Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club Jamie Loeb of Ossining Takes Singles and Doubles Titles at USTA Winter Nationals Long Island’s Noah Rubin Wins ITF Event in Costa Rica Are the Inmates Running the Asylum? By Joel Ross USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to Host U.S. Open National Playoffs Eastern Qualifiers

Columns 4 16 23 24 26

Why Can’t I Play Matches Like I Practice? By Rob Polishook, MA, CPC Court Six: Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz The Jensen Zone By Luke Jensen Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Literary Corner: High Strung By Stephen Tignor By Brent Shearer Fitness and Nutrition: Fueling Your Tennis Game: Nutrition Tips From Coach Murph By Michael L. Murphy

48 50 52 59 59 60 63

New York Tennis Magazine’s Adult Player Spotlight: Darcy Novick Metro Corporate League Recap Off the Court: Spotlight on Artist Andres A. Bella New York Tennis Club Directory Upcoming Events New York Rankings USTA/Metropolitan Region 2012 Tournament Schedule

Finding the True Spirit of

10 & Under Tennis By Ri cha rd T ha t e r

eading the corporate publications of the ITF and the USTA, one might think that 10 & Under Tennis is being universally welcomed. Contrast this with the views reported in a recent Wall Street Journal article by Tom Perrotta, a senior editor at Tennis magazine. He outlines the complaints of tournament fast trackers (young players, parents and coaches), where, according to the article, about 14,000 children under the age of 10 play in sanctioned tournaments annually. This is a small percentage of people (maybe one percent?). I remember playing softball as a boy, and realizing that if I could not hit the outfield fence on the fly, I was relegated with the majority of boys to the “less than” group. If you were not a fast-tracker, then reading and swimming became attractive alternatives. And how about that one percent? Does that bring back bad memories of the days when our sport was criticized for being only for elites?

I think that viewing 10 & Under tennis solely from the tournament perspective is limiting and not keeping with the spirit of the program. I don’t fantasize about developing a student who will play in a future U.S. Open. But my students are laughing and having fun, while improving their fundamental tennis skills. Some of them will grow up to be great club presidents and enthusiastic USTA volunteers. Is that bad? Speaking of fun, the same Wall Street Journal article reports that the Serbian Tennis Federation is against fun. The magic of the 10 & Under program is that we do suggest changes in strokes and footwork, and we do many repetitive exercises, but it is not punishment. That’s why we call it fun. Why is an industry that embraces frequent changes in racket technology, new footwear, and even clothing that helps manage our sweat, so resistant to changes in how the game is taught?

35 years…20,000 players from 40 countries

Campus Life at Villanova University and Haverford College

jkcp.com/tennis

Let’s make “10U Tennis” the default term for the new USTA program for teaching tennis to children and limit QuickStart to discussions about equipment and rules. The word “quick” suggests that this is a program of introduction and familiarization. Early programs for QuickStart even had six to eight week lesson plans as handouts. But the phrase itself prompts parents to wonder how quickly their child can progress and advance to what they perceive as “real tennis.” The 10U program is comprehensive, with its progressions clearly marked by different compression balls (it’s not just the color, folks) and court sizes. If you have 60-ft. courts in place, it is easy to tell parents and children they are being promoted. I believe the success of 10U Tennis depends on how well the industry adapts to the 60-ft. court. It is the most important progression in the program. Keep in mind that the USTA is mirroring the nationwide trend of less structured play. I think the USTA believes this program will help produce future champions, because when more children stay and play the game, the talent pool grows larger. While supervising a tennis hockey match between two of my four-and-ahalf-year-old students, I saw their emotions run the gamut from disappointment to elation. They were enjoying the ride and that sounds like fun. Isn’t that why we play tennis? Richard Thater is director of 10 & Under Tennis at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills N.Y. He is PTR-certified in Junior Development. He may be reached by phone at (917) 749-3255 or e-mail richthater@aol.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Why Can’t I Play Matches Like I Practice? Five reasons this happens

By Rob Polishook, Mental Training Coach MA, CPC “Why do I play better in practice than in matches?” It’s probably the second-most popular question I hear from players, exceeded only by some variation of “OMG, I’m nervous, what do I do?” Sometimes, this question comes out as a defiant statement, where the player stubbornly says, “If I played like I did in practice, I would have killed him—the match would not have been close.” Interestingly, that statement is usually true. Yet what the person is missing is that matches and practice are different from each other in intensity and pressure. Even practice matches are different, as environmental factors like fans and the stakes of a tournament are difficult to simulate. It’s interesting to note that in martial arts, they call all levels of competition “practice.” In martial arts, they realize that no matter whether a competitor is practicing or in a match, it’s all part of a journey where continual improvement is the goal. They don’t look at matches as “judgment day” where a win or a loss has significance

other than taking that result and learning from it. Additionally, the martial arts faction understands the expectation that practice automatically takes place within a competitive match setting, further recognizing that one’s game need not be perfected going into competition. The events that take place during the competition will provide “match play practice” and lead to a better overall competitor. Rafael Nadal has often been quoted as saying that each match into the tournament, he improved and built on the previous match, much like anyone would want to do in practice. This is a very useful mindset that has clearly served him well. Hopefully, when a player becomes aware of the difference between practice and matches, and begins to adopt the martial arts mentality wherein match play is a time to “practice,” they will no longer express the frustration of performing differently—and will use this mentality to improve in match play. The remainder of this

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

article will explore five key reasons players usually play differently in practice and match play. 1. Loss of focus In matches, a player’s focus is usually on the outcome rather than on the present moment. When a player focuses on the outcome, they are focusing on something they cannot control. When they focus on the present, they are in a problem-solving mode. In practice, the focus is usually on the process: Learning new shots, adjusting and experimenting with new strategies. The key is to let go of the outcome! Focus on what it takes to win, specifically, on the process of what you have to do to get the desired result. 2. Too many expectations In matches, a player usually expects to hit perfect shots, and shows little tolerance when this doesn’t happen. Conversely, in practice, a player usually expects to make mistakes and uses these

mistakes to learn from. In fact, they are a vital part of improvement. In essence, the player is allowing themselves to make mistakes with the possible reward of experiencing breakthroughs. Paradoxically, perfection doesn’t exist. Players should expect to make mistakes in matches, and make appropriate adjustments just as they would in practice. This is a vital part of the process and challenge of competing. 3. Poor time management In practice, players often rush through drills, allowing little time to incorporate rituals or even to discuss with your coach purpose, intention and the learning points for drills. It’s imperative to build in time to discuss purpose and intention for most everything you do on the practice court. Additionally, as a player, ensure that you take some time between shots or drills to simulate a match situation. Specifically, practice your between-point rituals. This built-in similarity to match play will help players relax and consequently play better, more strategic points.

4. Judging self In practice it is rare that a player is nervous. This is often because they are not judging themselves, nor is anyone else. However, in match play, judgment and nervousness almost always accompany a player. This is the result of focusing on uncontrollables such as what others think or holding on to past points or events—to name just a couple of potential issues. It’s important to recognize that if you are nervous, so is your opponent! Everyone knows top players at all levels and sports get nervous. It’s not a matter of avoiding nerves, but accepting the nervousness and playing anyway. John McEnroe said, “Everybody chokes; it’s a matter of what they do next.” 5. Trying to impress others In practice, a player’s focus is on improving and performing the drills that their coaches are working on with them. In matches, all of a sudden, others are watching and ranking points are on the line. Players often lose track of the match and instead focus on impressing the people who are watching. Conversely, they start thinking about how

their ranking will rise or fall based on the projected outcome of the match. They may also consider whether a loss to a lowerranked competitor would “look bad,” or worry about criticism from a parent or coach. In all cases, the player’s focus is no longer on the present, but on the uncontrollable future. It is key for a player to recognize when they lose their focus and to bring it back to the point at hand, and direct all thoughts to the present moment. 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 of all levels. His work focuses on helping athletes gain the mental edge and letting go of blocks which get in the way of peak performance. He is a USTA Zonal Coach and has spoken and been published for the USTA, USPTA and ITA. Additionally, he has conducted workshops nationally and internationally in India and Israel. He may be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, email rob@insidethezone or visit www.insidethezone.com.

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The Stars Set to Shine Under NYC’s Bright Lights

ennis has certainly become a global sport, but one of the sport’s largest markets, the New York area, has lost some high-profile events through the years from both the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tours. The season-ending tournament is often referred to as the fifth most prestigious WTA event after the four Grand Slams. From 1972-2001, the season-ending women’s tournament was played at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City, and it featured the top 16 ranked singles players. The tournament has changed names and sponsors over the years, from 6

the Virginia Slims Championship (19711978 and 1983-1994), to the Avon Championship (1979-1982) and then the Chase Championship (1996-2000). The tournament had become a featured event for the WTA Tour, giving a week-long spotlight to the ladies in New York City. In 2001, due to an increase in the popularity of women’s tennis, the tournament was moved to Munich, Germany. Moving the tournament to Munich broadened the reach of prime-time television coverage, and allowed European fans a chance to attend and watch the matches live. While Munich is a fantastic city and broadening the game is important, what the WTA Tour

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

lost was the glitz and glamour of the backdrop of the Big Apple. From 2002-2003, fruit juice manufacturer Apple & Eve, along with Newsday, attempted to bring professional women’s tennis to Long Island as co-sponsors of the Long Island Tennis Classic, presented by Pathmark. The tournament was a USTAsanctioned women’s challenger event, with a $50,000 purse. The Long Island Tennis Classic was played on hard courts at Syosset-Woodbury Community Park in Woodbury, N.Y. and held in mid-July, about a month prior to the start of the U.S. Open. Marian Bartoli, current, was a finalist at this tournament. After 2003, the Long Island

The Stars Set to Shine Under NYC’s Bright Lights Tennis Classic was canceled and the Long Island and New York area lost yet another professional tennis event. On the men’s side, the staple ATP Tour event on Long Island was best known as the Waldbaum’s Hamlet Cup (1992-2001), also known as the TD Waterhouse Cup (2002-2004) and the Norstar Bank Hamlet Challenge Cup (1990-1991). The Hamlet Cup was a popular Long Island tennis event that was in existence for 24 years. The Hamlet Cup’s former home was Commack, N.Y., a popular stop for players prior to the U.S. Open due to its close proximity to the season’s final Grand Slam event, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park. The Hamlet Cup began as an exhibition event called the Hamlet Challenge Cup, which was held in Jericho, N.Y. The tournament was created in part to promote housing built near a country club. Initially, the tournament was played at the Hamlet East Condominium Association in Jericho, and throughout the 1980s, it featured some of the sport’s top stars, including John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Ilie Nastase and Stefan Edberg. The tournament, as well as its community promotion, was a success, and the event moved to The Hamlet in Commack, N.Y. in 1990. It was in 1990 that the Long Island tournament officially entered the ATP Tour. In the 1990s, Pete Sampras,

Andre Agassi, James Blake, Patrick Rafter, Michael Chang and Lleyton Hewitt were among the leading players to compete on Long Island. The Hamlet Cup had become an end-ofsummer ritual for the many tennis fans in the Metropolitan area. There was always a lot to do at the tournament, with all the exhibits, interactive sports and various foods, as well as the very intimate atmosphere that allowed attendees to view the games’ best players up close. The players loved coming to Long Island, as well, enjoying the golf, fans and great food that The Hamlet had to offer. After the 2004 tournament, the ATP sought to expand the 32-man draw to a 56man draw as a way of opening more opportunities for U.S. Open entrants. Tournament organizers attempted to move the tournament from Commack to a proposed new, larger facility at Eisenhower Park. Unfortunately, the negotiations between Hamlet Sports Inc. and Nassau County stalled, and without the money for a new tennis facility, Long Island lost their only ATP Tour event. The tournament was moved to New Haven, Conn. in 2005 and has been operating there since. Three years later in 2008, professional men’s tennis returned to the Big Apple and the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden (MSG) in front of a packed house of 19,000-plus with the highly suc-

cessful NetJets Showdown exhibition match between American Pete Sampras and Switzerland’s Roger Federer. In 2009, professional women’s tennis returned to MSG for the BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup, an exhibition featuring a foursome of former number one women’s tennis players. The event marked the first time professional women’s tennis was held at MSG since they hosted the season-ending championships as Americans Serena and Venus Williams, and Serbians Anna Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic competed in the one-night-only event for the distinction of being crowned winner of the inaugural Billie Jean King Cup. In the final, Serena defeated her sister Venus, 6-4, 63 to win the event. Also in 2009, the launch of “Tennis Night in America” coincided with the BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup as a marketing initiative brought forth by the USTA designed to increase grassroots tennis participation in the sport of tennis nationwide. The promotion underscored a “National Junior Tennis Registration Night” at more than 700 locations. “Tennis Night in America” has annucontinued on page 8

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The Stars Set to Shine Under NYC’s Bright Lights ally marked the start of the tennis season in the United States and begins a month of professional events that includes the BNP Paribas Open and Sony Ericsson Open. In 2010, the Billie Jean King Cup returned for its second year at MSG, as Serena and Venus, along with Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova and Belguim’s Kim Clijsters took the Garden court in the third exhibition in as many years. In the end, Venus Williams was a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victor over Clijsters. In March of 2011, the theme was “Rivalries Renewed at the World’s Most Famous Arena,” as the men returned to action in New York City. The 2011 BNP Paribas Showdown brought together stars from the 1980s and 1990s together, as John McEnroe faced longtime rival Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras faced Andre Agassi. Sampras was a 6-3, 7-5 winner over Agassi, while McEnroe, up 6-3 in the one-set, first-toeight exhibition, was hobbled by an ankle injury and forced to retire, thus giving Lendl the win. This year, the newly-renovated MSG will welcome back the top stars of both the WTA and ATP Tours on Monday, March 5 as former world number one-ranked Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark will face the number two-ranked Russian and three time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova at the 2012 BNP Paribas Showdown. Representing the ATP Tour, the number three-

ranked Federer will face world’s 17thranked and former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick of the United States. Sharapova currently holds 24 career singles titles, including the Australian Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon championship, and has been in five Grand Slam finals. She started playing tennis at the age of four and is currently ranked number two in the world, reaching the world’s number one spot for the first time in August of 2005 and last regained the ranking for the fourth time on May 19, 2008. The WTA has ranked Sharapova world number one in singles on four separate occasions. Sharapova made her professional breakthrough in 2004 when, at the age of 17, she upset two-time defending champion and top seed Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final for her first Grand Slam singles title. Known for her interests beyond the court as well, Sharapova signed with IMG Models in 2003 and has been featured in a number of modeling assignments, including a feature in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. “Playing in Madison Square Garden has always been a dream of mine,” said Sharapova. “Everyone wants to play there at least once in their career. I look forward

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

to coming back to New York for the Showdown.” Wozniacki made her professional debut in 2005, eight days after her 15th birthday, a loss to Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg Patty Schnyder in the first round at Cincinnati. Wozniacki currently holds the world’s number four ranking, becoming the 20th player in WTA history to hold the top ranking. She held the top spot for 46 weeks. The 21 yearold Denmark native was awarded the 2008 WTA Newcomer of the Year award and holds 18 career singles titles. “I really enjoy it,” said Wozniacki of her upcoming MSG experience. “I think that kind of atmosphere is great and it really pumps you up and it is not like playing a tennis match. It is more similar to being at a futbol match, but I really like that. Although they are very loud and cheerful, they are still very respectful. I really enjoy coming back to New York. I will probably come three days early and spend some time in the city and enjoy it.” Sharapova currently holds a 3-2 advantage in head-to-head matchups with Wozniacki. They have each beaten the other in 2011. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Federer is currently the num-

The Stars Set to Shine Under NYC’s Bright Lights ber three player in the world and a former world number one player who held the top spot for a record 237 consecutive weeks (Feb. 2, 2004-Aug. 18, 2008) and 285 weeks overall. Federer makes his return to The Garden after facing Sampras in 2008 in front of a sold out crowd. He has won a men’s record 16 Grand Slam singles titles. Federer is one of seven male players to capture the career Grand Slam and the only male player in tennis history to have reached the title match of each Grand Slam tournament at least five times. Federer has appeared in an unprecedented 23 career Grand Slam finals, of which 10 were consecPhoto credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg utive appearances, and appeared in 18 of 19 finals over the four-and-a-half years from the 2005 Wimbledon Championships through the 2010 Australian Open, the lone exception

being the 2008 Australian Open. Andy Roddick is a former world’s number one-ranked player and led the United States to a Davis Cup title in 2007. He is currently the second highest-ranked American player in the world at 17th, nine spots behind fellow American Mardy Fish. Known for his extremely powerful serve, Roddick held the world record for the fastest serve at 155 mph between 2004 and 2011. The Nebraska native has 30 career singles titles and captured his only Grand Slam at the 2003 U.S. Open, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the finals, marking the last North American male player to win a Grand Slam singles event. “I have never had a chance to play at the Garden before and to play Roger there will make it a special night,” said Roddick. “I am really looking forward to a great event.” Federer and Roddick played each other in an epic Wimbledon final in 2009 where the victory over the number six- seeded Roddick gave Federer his 15th Grand Slam singles championship, breaking a tie with Pete

Sampras for the most in history. The five-set marathon lasted four hours and 16 min. “Having four of the most popular tennis players of the past decade at the BNP Paribas Showdown should make for an exciting night Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg of tennis for the New York fans,” said Jerry Solomon, executive producer and president of event producer StarGames. “This lineup carries on the great tradition of tennis at Madison Square Garden and should form the basis for a great celebration of the sport on Tennis Night in America.” New York tennis fans are spoiled every year by having the U.S. Open in their own backyard. But with all the tournaments the area has lost over the years, any time the Big Apple has the opportunity to host the sport’s shining stars, it’s a memorable event the New York area should savor. continued on page 10

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Stars Set to Shine Under NYC’s Bright Lights

2012 BNP Paribas Tale of the Tape

Roger Federer vs. Andy Roddick Swiss August 08, 1981 Basel, Switzerland Bottmingen, Switzerland 1998 Right-handed

Nationality Birth Date Birthplace Residence Turned Pro Plays

(one-handed backhand)

3 815-188 16

American August 30, 1982 Omaha, Neb. Austin, Texas 2000 Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

2011 Ranking Career Singles Record Grand Slam Titles

14 590-198 1

Maria Sharapova vs. Caroline Wozniacki Russian April 19, 1987 Nyagan, Russia Bradenton, Fla. 2001 Right-handed

Nationality Birthdate Birthplace Residence Turned Pro Plays

(two-handed backhand)

4 420-106 3

Danish July 11, 1990 Odense, Denmark Monte Carlo, Monaco 2005 Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

2011 Ranking Singles Career Record Grand Slam Titles

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

1 303-109 0

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA Honors Local Volunteers and Juniors By Michael Sarro

s one of the largest not-for profit organizations in the world, the USTA is driven by many dedicated individuals who donate their time and effort to help develop and grow the sport we all love. In having so many willing volunteers, the USTA holds workshops to help instill in their volunteers the core values they should be coaching to their tennis students as well as recognizes them for their hard work and dedication. This year, the USTA Eastern held their Volunteer Development Workshop from Jan. 20-21 at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains, N.Y. The meeting this year featured sessions on grant

writing, running USTA sanctioned tournaments, and the best ways of teaching 10 & Under Tennis. Many prominent USTA pros, coaches and employees lead the discussions in order to inform volunteers of USTA practices and procedures. There were also opportunities for participants to do networking with other volunteers, teaching pros, and USTA Representatives. Included in the festivities of the workshop was the 2012 Junior Awards Luncheon where USTA Eastern awarded 16 outstanding students for their sportsmanship and for showing their appreciation of Arthur Ashe’s legacy through the Arthur Ashe Essay Contest. The sportsmanship

awards were presented to eight Eastern juniors, four boys and four girls, for the respect, and fair play they showed while participating in USTA sanctioned tournaments throughout the year. The section also honored the seven Eastern winners of the USTA Arthur Ashe Essay Contest and the section’s National winner of the USTA Arthur Ashe Art Contest (Clara Kim, Flushing, N.Y.). These eight Eastern juniors competed against 16 other USTA sections in the national competition, which engages the entire network of National Junior Tennis and Learning centers and recognizes the legacy of Arthur Ashe and his impact on the world.

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USTA Eastern Executive Director D.A. Abrams, Dante Brown, USTA Metro Region President Carl Summerlin and Jeff Williams at the Annual Awards Reception

Isis Gill and Shelly Yaloz, USTA Eastern Arthur Ashe Essay Contest Winners

At the end of the workshop, the Annual Awards Dinner was also held as USTA Eastern honored 28 volunteers, teaching pros, players, and organizations in recognition for aiding the growth of tennis in the section. “All of the award winners have had a major impact in their tennis communities,” said D.A. Abrams, executive director of USTA Eastern. “Whether they are teaching kids, running tournaments or volunteering at special events, their dedication and hard work has allowed players of all ages and abilities to learn and play this great sport.” Local volunteer, Pablo Sierra, founder of the South Brooklyn Tennis Association (SBTA) won the Multicultural Leadership Award for his efforts in promoting tennis to kids of all backgrounds. “I am very honored to be receiving this award but to be honest, it feels funny receiving an award for something I love doing which is teaching kids tennis,” said Sierra. “It is a great honor, and I am looking forward to continuing my efforts in promoting tennis in 2012, especially for 10 & Under Tennis.” Pablo also volunteers as the Brooklyn Delegate for the USTA Metro Region and is the Head of the Volunteer Committee for Eastern making him more than deserving of the award.

USTA Eastern Past President Bob Ingersole and Dina Ingersole

The Awards Dinner concluded the workshop for this year and in all, almost 50 awards were given out to the local tennis community.

Michael Sarro is director of business development for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by phone at (516) 409-4444, ext. 330 or e-mail michael@usptennis.com.

2012 Junior Awards Edith Martin Girls 18 Sportsmanship Award Hannah Shteyn (Staten Island, N.Y.) USTA Arthur Ashe Art Contest Winners Clara Kim (Flushing, N.Y.) USTA Eastern Arthur Ashe Essay Contest Winners Girls 10 and Under: Shelly Yaloz (Little Neck, N.Y.) Boys 10 and Under: Christopher Beharry (South Richmond Hill, N.Y.) Girls 11-12: Jennifer Yu (Forest Hills, N.Y.) Boys 11-12: Noah Castillo (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Girls 13-14: Isis Gill (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Boys 13-14: Stephen Mai (Little Neck, N.Y.) Boys 15-16: Justin Selig (New York, N.Y.)

2011 Adult Awards Regional Volunteer of the Year (Metro): Daisy Schwartz (New York, N.Y.) Multicultural Participation Leadership Award: Pablo Sierra (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Collegiate Award: Columbia University (New York, N.Y.) Clinician of the Year Award: Lou Reid (New York, N.Y.) Tennis Welcome Center of the Year: Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program (New York, N.Y.) NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Courtside With Midtown Tennis Club Director Jennifer Brown veryone who lives in New York City has a unique and interesting story. For this edition of New York Tennis Magazine, we had a chance to speak with one of New York’s most influential supporters of tennis to hear her New York City tennis story—Midtown Tennis Club’s Director Jennifer Brown.

Tell us a little about your tennis background and personal life. I started playing tennis when I was fiveyears-old in New Jersey. I loved it and couldn’t get enough. My mom had to drag me off the courts. I played after school and in high school, and I was an assistant tennis pro in the summers dur-

ing high school. In college, I played for Ithaca and still loved it. I wanted to major in sports management, and at the time, it wasn’t officially offered as a major, so I had to double as a business major and try to get a sports management degree at the same time. Finally in my senior year, they passed the major, and I was the first graduating student with a degree in sports management from Ithaca College. From there, I did an internship at Madison Square Garden with the Virginia Slims Championship which, at the time, was the culmination of the top 16 women on the tour. During this time, I was playing at Midtown Tennis Club and I was 22-years-old, trying to find my way in the city and playing with my brother late at night to get a cheap rate. He gave me the idea to take a part-time job at

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

Midtown so we could play free tennis. So I came to interview with Midge Moore, who was the director of tennis for Midtown at the time. She had an opening as her assistant manager, bookkeeper and program director were about to leave. I knew I could handle all of those jobs, so she took me on and little by little I developed more responsibilities and when she retired I took over her position.

Could you give us a little history and background on Midtown Tennis Club? What I have heard, is that Midtown was originally built to be a bowling alley in the early 1960s. Prior to the lease being signed, a businessman and tennis enthu-

siast came in and changed the property configuration to be an indoor Har-Tru tennis club. The bubble was later added to the rooftop for the accommodation of four additional courts and here we are today. Midtown is New York City’s original indoor tennis club.

What would you say makes Midtown Tennis Club stand out? Although there is limited space behind the baseline, Midtown Tennis Club is a great place to play indoor, clay tennis, inside of a building in NYC. In the summer, the bubble comes down and players are able to play on our rooftop in Midtown Manhattan. The best thing about Midtown Tennis is that there is something for everybody. We don’t require a membership, so even if you’re visiting from out of town, you could play here during your stay. You can participate in all of our programs and events, parties, camps, etc. We offer a variety of programs and do our best to include all tennis fans of all ages.

What made you decide to choose a career in the tennis industry? It happened purely by accident. Once I graduated and did my internship, I knew

I wanted to work in professional sports. I had a connection in the National Football League (NFL), but found it extremely difficult to tap into the industry as a woman despite my connections. So I started to realize that being at Midtown could offer me a career should I reach Midge’s level of position. I hung in there for 10 years and it worked out in the end. I love tennis and love being around the game and couldn’t imagine doing anything else at this point. I also still try to play tennis as much as I can.

How is playing tennis different in NYC than other places? It is so different! I grew up playing tennis in New Jersey where there are courts all over the place, indoor and outdoor, and you don’t need to pay by the hour. In my junior program, I played three days a week from 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., took privates and practiced often. This seems impossible for the juniors in the city. The courts in the city are also more scarce compared to other places, so it is definitely more difficult to play as often here as in the suburbs or more rural areas. There is a lot of competition to get on the courts at Midtown during prime time hours.

What is your favorite part of your job? The favorite part of my job is meeting all the different people who love tennis as much as we do here. I also enjoy when the Grand Slams are on and all of the tennis pros and customers are around and we are all debating who we think will win and all of the different political things going on with tournaments. Watching people play and improve their game is also an aspect of the job which I love.

Anything else you would like NYC tennis players to know about you or your club? We have the best location, we have the best prices, and we have indoor clay courts. We have a great staff of pros and many have been here for 20-plus years. They are great teachers ranging in experience from Davis Cup Players and coaches to former Division I players. It is a very special place to play, and we have something to offer players of all ages and levels.

USTA Flex League Comes to NYC Do you want to work on your singles game without impacting your USTA rating? Does your schedule make it difficult to play on a USTA League team? If so, the USTA Flex League may be for you. Flex Leagues allow you to play when it’s convenient for you. You decide the match day, time and location with your opponent. Court costs, if any, are split. Registration for the 2012 USTA Flex League can be found online at

USTAFlex.com. Once registration is closed, a schedule will be generated. You will receive a list of opponents and suggested play-by dates. Once the match is played, the scores are recorded online. Additionally, all players registered for the USTA Flex League are entered into the USTA Flex League Sweepstakes where the grand prize is a trip for two to the 2012 U.S. Open. Registration dates for the 2012 USTA

Flex League are as follows: I Spring Session: Registration is open until Sunday, March 25 and play begins Friday, April 6. I Summer Session: Registration is open Thursday, March 1-Saturday, June 16 and play begins Monday, June 25. For more information, visit USTAFlex.com or e-mail FlexLeague@Live.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

What do the pros do when not on the court? Serena Williams (@serenawilliams): I just saw a scary movie, Apollo 18. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really scared. Every time I close my eyes, I see the scary creatures. what if one eats me :( Venus Williams (@venuseswilliams): I got wayy too much sun today â&#x20AC;Ś whoa!

Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki): Watching American football right now.

Sania Mirza-Malik (@mirzasania): Two practices, two treatments and one gym session later I am ready for Indian food and a Bollywood movie tonight :)

Shahar Peer (@shaharpeer): Baking a cakeeeeee!!

C a ro l i n e Wo z n i a c k i (@carowozniacki): Always busy when I am back home. Looking forward to get some home cooked dinner, always a treat!

Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob): SHAMELESS is my new show, bizarrely funny and entertaining.

Lindsay Davenport (@ldavenport76): I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like it when I hear my h u b b y â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4 : 3 0 a . m . alarm. Well maybe now I can get some stuff done before my 2 little ones wake up.

Thoughts on the Aussie Open â&#x20AC;Ś Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): Dream came true! I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t describe how happy I am! Thank u everybody for your nice messages! I appreciate every single one of u! Thanks a lot.

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Andy Roddick (@andyroddick): Djokovic-Rafa … Absolute war! Physicality of tennis has been taken to another level in the last five years. Six straight hours of

Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): I can’t possibly imagine that anyone is not watching match between Rafa and Roger! Even rethinking dinner :))) power/speed. Taylor Dent (@taylordent81): Congratulations to Djokovic! My stomach is in knots for Nadal. I know he’s tough and will recover from such an emotional loss. Great Oz Open!

Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob): Me being SPEECHLESS, says it all … Congrats to two warriors @DjokerNole and @RafaelNadal taking the sport to new Mike Bryan (@bryanbrothlevels! ers): It’s 4am and I’m just about to lay my head on the John Isner (@johnisner): pillow. Following a Nadal Can’t help but be immatch in the night session = pressed with Nadal and sleep deprivation. Djokovic. Ridiculous athletes C a ro l i n e Wo z n i a c k i (@carowozniacki): Unfortunately today was the end of my 2012 Australian Open. Amer Delic Kim played really well today, (@amerdelic): lost 6-3 7-6. Next stop home. Watching Dolgopolov vs. Tomic is Svetlana Kuznetsova like watching Tom (@svetlanak27): Such a & Jerry cartoons. good night so much of reHowever, I am not spect for Rafa! Good night quite sure which my friends! one is which.

No more dancing for Andrea … You won’t be seeing Germany’s Andrea Petkovic do her muchpublicized victory dance after some competitors deemed it insulting and rude, according to her Photo credit: father, Zoran. The SerKenneth B. Goldberg bian-born star’s dance, which went viral on the Internet last year, featured the 24-year-old shaking her backside to celebrate each time she won a match. Her dad claims other players bellyached the dance was too “over the top.” “[People] didn’t tell me to my face and I don’t read about myself so I wouldn’t know [if there was criticism], but the questions they started saying, ‘Don’t you feel like it’s disrespectful towards your opponent?’ … and this question came up over and over again,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald. Petkovic decided to shelve the shuffle to avoid repeated questions from reporters in the United States. “It’s strange—on the one hand the Americans really like me and they come to my matches, but they’re like really bipolar,” she told the Australian paper. “They either love me or they hate me.” Petkovic tacitly suggested she’s a victim of sexism, especially since guys in the NFL and soccer are allowed to have similar victory dances. continued on page 18

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

court six “The thing I used to say was always, listen, the soccer players when they shoot a goal and they celebrate with all kinds of things and they don’t even win the match, and nobody would ever say something against them. Or the American football guys, when they do a touchdown they do a cha-cha-cha and nobody ever says anything against them.” While fans won’t be seeing the popular “Petko Dance” anymore, she is working on her next move. Should you attend one of her matches in the coming weeks, expect to see the much more conservative “Petko Dunk,” which is part of a lost bet with German soccer star Bastian Schweinsteiger. Petkovic began playing tennis at the age of six. She’s the highest-ranked German singles tennis player in the world at 10th. The 5’11” right-hander speaks French, German, English and Serbian. Wozniacki on dining in NYC … Caroline Wozniacki spoke with TheTennisSpace.com: Favorite restaurant on the tour: Les Halles, in New York. “I love New York,” said Wozniacki. “I’m not sure it loves me yet. Actually, no Grand Slam seems to love me yet. But I will keep hitting on them.”

Mike Bryan engaged … Mike Bryan got engaged to longtime girlfriend Lucille Williams. “She knows a good thing when she sees it!” Mike tweeted/exclaimed after proposing. Brother and doubles partner Bob Bryan responded, “Congrats, bro! Way to step up!” 30 under 30 … Caroline Wozniacki, still all of 21 years young, has added to her many plaudits with inclusion on one of Forbes magazine’s “30 Under 30” lists. Said the mag of Woz: “Outgoing, top-ranked tennis beauty has rich roster of sponsors including Compeed, Turkish Airlines and Sony Ericsson.” The only other athletes who appeared on Forbes’ broadly based entertainment roster were NBA baller LeBron James and college quarterback/Heisman Trophy candidate/NFL draft number one bait Andrew Luck. Other notables who made the cut included actors Donald Glover, Jonah Hill, Jennifer Lawrence, Chloe Moretz and Jaden Smith. Back to school … Serena Williams has enrolled in two online courses that began on Jan. 23, one in management, the other in kinesiology. She’s al-

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ready texted one of her professors to tell him she won’t get the first assignment in on time. “He was like, it’s fine. I was wondering if it was really you,” she told reporters after beating Greta Arn, 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the fourth round at Melbourne Park. “I haven’t been able to reach my kinesiology teacher. Hopefully she will understand that I am going to get those assignments in. But I’m a wee bit busy.” Serena, a 13-time Grand Slam champion who’s cultivated off-court interests in fashion and acting, said she became interested in kinesiology because of the rash of injuries she’s experienced over the course of her career. “Every time I go to the doctor, I can pinpoint and tell him exactly what’s wrong with me,” said Serena. “I’ve always thought if I could just learn about my body and keep learning about physiology, sciences, stuff like that, just for the future I thought it would be really cool. You never stop learning about your body.” Serena said the more she’s struggled with injuries, the more interested she’s become in holistic approaches to healing. Her latest passion—acupuncture. “I think it’s really cool,” said Serena. “I actually wanted to take an acupuncture class, but I have to be there. I can’t do that one online. I would never get any clients.”

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

9 WEEKS: JUNE 25 – AUGUST 24, 2012 Want to start sooner? Indoor season goes through April 22, 2012 8 week outdoor Junior Program: April 30-June 24

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Shane Monroe: Thriving in the Big Apple By Caroline Gilpin

ow that he isn’t in the car for six hours, four days a week on a round trip from his home in Ventnor, N.J. to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) at Sportime Randall’s Island, Shane Monroe can spend more time actually playing tennis. The extra training time with JMTA coaches is paying off. The high school sophomore, who now lives weekdays in New York City, was recently ranked number one in USTA Middle States Boys 16 & Under, and is currently ranked number two in the 18 & Under. Shane is also listed as 15th in the national college rankings for his grade at TennisRecruiting.net. “Shane Monroe is one of the fastest improving kids in the Academy,” said John McEnroe Tennis Academy Director of Tennis Gilad Bloom. “We re-constructed his game in the last year and a half, and as a result, he became very solid from the baseline and added a first serve to his game. He got in good shape and had some good solid results in recent months, including winning six matches in the Orange Bowl. He is a hard working kid.” Shane finished the 16th round at the Orange Bowl in December and was the last American boy to be eliminated, his father Cary said. Officials at the JMTA helped find a host family for Shane this year to eliminate the rugged commute. JTMA members Jason Kaplan and wife Nola Bonis, parents of tennis players Zachary and Anna Maite, offered to have the high schooler stay with their family at their home in New York City. Shane’s dad said he and his wife Vicki

and Shane’s brother Matthew miss him, but are grateful to the Kaplans and to JMTA for helping Shane get to a new level of tennis. “The Kaplans have been so gracious,” said Cary Monroe. “They offered to have him stay with them during the week and it means I can go back to work. I pick him up and bring him home on weekends when he isn’t competing.” Shane takes buses and a subway to the Academy each weekday morning, and

works on his online Laurel Hill Springs School lessons when he isn’t playing tennis or competing in tournaments. Both Monroes say that improved fitness has been key to Shane’s improved tennis. Shane, who started playing at age four but didn’t become serious about tennis until the age of 12, lost in the semifinals of the New Jersey State Championship last year, and lack of top conditioning was to blame. “That wouldn’t be the case now,” Cary

John McEnroe Tennis Academy In 2010, New York City tennis legend John McEnroe launched the John McEnroe Tennis Academy at the state-of-the-art, $18 million SPORTIME Randall’s Island Tennis Center in Manhattan. The director of tennis at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy is Gilad Bloom, a former Israeli Davis Cup and ATP player (high ranking of number 60 Cary Monroe; Juan Rios, assistant director of the in the world in singles and douJohn McEnroe Tennis Academy; Shane Monroe; bles). Fritz Buehning, another forand Zachary and Jason Kaplan, McEnroe Acad- mer top-ranked ATP Player (21st in emy player and father and host family for Shane singles and fourth in doubles) is an while in New York, at the 65th Annual Orange assistant Academy director, as are Bowl National Tennis Championships. former NCAA and pro players, Bruce Haddad and Harel Srugo, and former Moroccan Davis Cup coach Karim Balagh. Gilad and the assistant Academy directors and the world-renowned JMTA pros have worked with Johnny Mac to develop a training program that enables serious junior players to make the most of their abilities, while encouraging them to live at home and pursue their academic and athletic goals and live balanced, healthy lives.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

said. “The coaching at JMTA is the best in the country. They are probably all overqualified. Every one of them has contributed to Shane’s success.” Shane said, “I am working hard on my upper body. [JMTA director of perform-

ance] Sophie Scott has worked hard with me to improve my fitness.” JMTA Assistant Director of Tennis Felix Alvarado said, “Shane is a terrific player. His ground strokes and fitness have improved amazingly since joining JMTA. He is a great

competitor with a bright future ahead.” How does the South Jersey native like living in New York City? “I haven’t even had time to walk around the block,” Shane said. “I’d rather be playing tennis.”

Uptown Down Under By Michael Sarro ven if it was taking place on the other side of the world, the Australian Open was reason enough for local tennis fanatics to get into the spirit of the first Grand Slam of 2012. To spur on the action, Team HousingWorks held an event at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club titled, “Uptown Down Under,” a tennis tournament benefiting HousingWorks, an organization dedicated to the HIV/AIDS community. This was their second annual Australian Open-inspired tennis tournament fundraiser, and a few dozen participated in the roundrobin doubles tournament. The eventual winner was Michele Drohan who played amazing team tennis en route to her victory. Included in

the festivities were hors d’oeuvres, sparkling wine, and raffle prizes of U.S. Open memorabilia provided by the USTA, Duke and UNC gear, and autographed memorabilia. A raffle prize that one lucky winner went home with was an autographed tennis shoe by Stan Smith, provided by Stan’s daughter, Austin Smith who was the team captain for the UNC Tarheels. Austin even decided to join in on the fun and participated in the event herself. Ramsey Smith, Austin’s brother and current Duke Blue Devils head tennis coach, did not participate, but was kind enough to donate the Duke raffle prizes.

Michael Sarro is director of business development for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by phone at (516) 409-4444, ext. 330 or e-mail michael@usptennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Let’s Add Another to the List of

Top Greats … By Brad Shafran

hen discussing the greatest men’s professional tennis players of all time, the conversation generally includes Rod Laver, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Bjorn Bjorg, John McEnroe and Rafael Nadal. These men are undoubtedly amongst the best to ever swing a racket. However, a name often overlooked and much unheralded is Bill Tilden—the preeminent player of the early 20th Century who dominated international tennis in the 1920s. He was the Babe Ruth of tennis. Unfortunately, Tilden’s well-chronicled and shameful off-the-court troubles toward the end of his life tarnished his legacy, and he died destitute and devoid of the fame and fortune tennis brought him. While Tilden’s off-court actions are unforgiveable, his on-court prowess must not be forgotten. Tilden’s legacy is the basis for today’s champions. Tilden left the tennis community with several books on the sport, as well as a

plethora of handwritten letters sent to one of his protégés, Arthur Anderson, that help us understand his thoughts on the game. Tilden considered Anderson and his mother Marion to be his family. He took Anderson under his wing, teaching him the game of tennis and monitoring his results like a modern-day coach would. While I’ve handled dozens of these autographed letters, it’s the following letter that I just obtained that I consider to be one of the best tennis-content letters in existence, with Tilden offering his “manifesto” on tennis, as follows: The coming tournament starting next Saturday is a very good test for you Babe. It is the first time since you put your teeth really back into the game, to show just how far you have gone in the past few weeks. If you will really “give,” refuse to lose, dominate every match, get in and push your opponents around all over the court, hitting with the freedom and confidence that you seemed to have mastered in practice, you will be outstanding in your class. Please, Babe, for me give in every match. Let me see the winning

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

spirit show up. If you get a lead, fight it home at once, push every chance to win so pressure never lessens on your opponent. Have complete confidence to hit hard and aggressively when the chance comes, and always when you are attacked. Prove to me, that you have completely made up your mind to win. Bring out all your new power and use it with confidence. Do not even think you might lose. Forget defeat and think and believe victory. Read this over a few times Babe, perhaps it might be worth taking along to remind you I am thinking of you, believing in you and pulling for you in every point of every match. Win! As I continue to compete around Long Island and teach students at Bethpage Park Tennis Center, I find this letter from Tilden, written in 1949, to still stand true today. It is worthy of carrying a copy in a tennis bag to remind any player of correct strategy and how to react in certain situations. Tilden pleads with his student to believe in himself, to have confidence in his game and to be determined enough to allow himself to win—that is the basis, in my belief, for any competitive sport in which we strive to succeed. Regardless of how history remembers Bill Tilden, this letter affords a firsthand account of how a champion viewed the game he loved and dominated, and offers insight into his tennis philosophy—a philosophy that is as fundamentally sound and inspiring today as it was when Tilden put pen to paper over sixty years ago. Brad Shafran is a full-time autograph dealer and part-time tennis pro at Bethpage Park Tennis Center. He can be reached by phone at (516) 978-0094, e-mail brad@shafrancollectibles.com or visit www.shafrancollectibles.com.

itting cross-court or down the line is always the big question for any player at any level. The cross-court shot is the high percentage shot over the low part of the net, while down the line is the lower percentage shot because it is over the high part of the net. There is a tactical side of both options. The simple approach is to stay crosscourt while you are behind the baseline, and then hammer the shot down the line only when you are on or inside the baseline. The down the line shot is the kill shot and is best played when you have a short ball to drive. I like to take it to the next level. Extraordinary players like Andre Agassi or a modern day great like Novak Djokovic use their backhand drive down the line as a massive weapon. Agassi would always feel that his game was on when his backhand drive down the line was on target. In the game, we see the forehand being the dominant weapon from the ground. Most players look to run around the backhand side as much as possible to rip the forehand to control the rallies. Agassi and Djokovic do the same. Their “backhand down the line play” is used AGAINST an opponent who runs around the backhand and rips an inside-out forehand to the Agassi or Djoker backhand. As soon as that sequence begins to unfold, our heroes are waiting to spring the backhand trap and fire down the line while the opponent has left that side of the court exposed. The dominance of

Djoker over Rafael Nadal in 2011 is a great example of this deadly down the line play. Rafa is a lefty, so the dynamic is a little different, but Djokovic taking Rafa’s lefty forehand and redirecting the ball down the line works right into the weaker backhand groundie of Rafa. You can You Tube last year’s U.S. Open Finals match and see this pattern played out over and over. I’m a big fan of down the line play on both sides. On any surface at any time the down the line, this shot can change the look of any baseline exchange. I used it often when I felt outmatched from the ground, and going down the line first put me in control of the point if I was able to execute the first ripping shot down the line. Use your down the line shot next time you compete and always remember what

the Big Guy says: “It’s not about the big fish eating the little fish. It’s about the fast eating the slow.” Go hit some winners! 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 singles 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.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

High Strung: Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and the Untold Story of Tennis’ Fiercest Rivalry By Stephen Tignor

or tennis fans too young to remember the glory days of the 1970s and the early 1980s, High Strung: Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and the Untold Story of Tennis’ Fiercest Rivalry is a thoroughly researched guide to an era when the game was on the front pages of the world’s sports consciousness in a way it hasn’t been since those days. Tignor has used the Borg-McEnroe rivalry as a jumping off point to write a fascinating history of the game as it was during the last gasp of the wood racquet era, or to put it another way, before men’s shorts got baggy. The centerpieces of the book are the

Borg-McEnroe Wimbledon finals of 1980 and 1981. Tignor describes the famous fourth set tie-breaker of the first year and Borg’s comeback in the fifth set. The next year, McEnroe ended Borg’s run of five straight Wimbledon titles and by defeating him, helped push him into retirement at the age of 25. Of course, one of the things that make the Borg-McEnroe match-up worth writing about more than 30 years later is the ice and fire extremes of each player. But different as they were, their 25th year was a turning point for both men. Borg quit tennis at that age, and McEnroe, three years younger, never won another Grand Slam after 1984 when he was 25. Despite its title, High Strung, understandably, has a broader focus than just on Borg and McEnroe. There are chapters on Ilie Nastase, Australian coaching legend Harry Hopman, as well as a lot of material about McEnroe and Borg’s fellow Grand Slam winners and frequent opponents, Jimmy Connors and Vitas Gerulaitis One of Tignor’s evocative set pieces in the book is his description of Gerulaitis’ funeral

with Borg, McEnroe and Connors in attendance. The author resists the temptation to overwrite this scene, but considering that so much of High Strung is an elegy for the passing of the Tennis Boom Era, Gerulaitis’ funeral is a “Day the Music Died” moment. Tignor does a good job of charting the minieras of the post-Open tennis period, identifying Borg as the first Open era “native” champion, meaning that he never played when the game was split into amateurs and pros. Although both Borg and McEnroe battled foes like Nastase and Arthur Ashe, Tignor makes the useful point that Nastase and Ashe were transitional figures whose careers started in the era of segregation between pros and amateurs that ended in 1968. The author is quite eloquent about the implications of the passing of the wood racquet, and how when the wooden racquets died, it was like the last nail in the coffin of the pre-1968 game. I think Tignor gets right to point to the 1981 Wimbledon final as one of our game’s turning points, not only because it was Borg’s

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last Wimbledon, but because its finalists were the last two men to win Wimbledon with wooden racquets. Tignor makes the valid and original point that McEnroe was caught in mid-career by the change in racquets and was never really able to adjust to the new racquets. He also has a poignant section on Borg’s attempted comeback in 1991 when he had to have the kind of wooden racquets he used in his prime specially made for him. But, probably for a number of reasons, not the least of which was that he was 35-years-old, the outdated racquets being another, Borg’s comeback didn’t work. Extrapolating from Tignor’s book, it isn’t farfetched to say that there will never be another pure touch artist in the game like McEnroe because of the change in the racquets. Not that Federer doesn’t have a touch game, but as a modern player with modern equipment, he has power as well. Not only does Tignor tell a great story well, but for older readers of Long Island Tennis Magazine, his illuminating coverage of the demise of wood racquets gives us a new excuse when we lose to younger players. If a McEnroe couldn’t fully adjust to compos-

ite racquets, it’s no surprise that I haven’t been able to. The next time I’m out there with my continental grip getting destroyed by a younger player using one of these, western-grip, wristlike forehands and two- handed backhands, I’m going to explain in my imaginary post-match press conference that like Johnny Mac, I haven’t been able to adjust to the post-Dunlop Maxply era. If you’re old enough to have learned the game using wooden racquets, I think it is impossible to generate the amount of racquet head speed that gets the most out of modern racquets, never mind the Luxilon and other polyester strings. I’d rather think or say that than admit I’m just old and feeble so everybody in the senior ranks can thank Tignor for making this excuse more feasible. Tignor’s book tells a fascinating story and is a compelling read. He sprinkles the text with quotes from writers and broadcasters who covered the Borg-McEnroe rivalry while it was happening. But according to the rules of the book reviewer’s union, you have to find a few flaws even in such a good book as High Strung so that readers can draw the conclusion that the reviewer is smarter than the author.

So, in order to keep my membership in the National Book Critics Circle unchallenged, here is one flaw. Tignor describes Gerulaitis as being from Brooklyn, N.Y., but area tennis fans will surely wince at the Howard Beach, Queens, native being identified with basketball star Chris Mullin’s borough. True, he was born in Brooklyn, but nobody, including McEnroe, who famously said about his 1979 U.S. Open final with Gerulaitis that you’re never again going to have two guys from Queens in a Grand Slam final, would say he was from Brooklyn. But to switch back to the positive, I have to thank Tignor for explaining why Borg didn’t play more in the U.S. beyond his U.S. Open jinx, it wasn’t as I supposed that he was too Euro-cool for the land of McDonald’s. It was because his management company, IMG, about which Tignor is also very thorough, didn’t like the tax treatment of Borg’s U.S. earnings. Throughout, Stephen Tignor’s High Strung presents a compelling portrait of one of tennis’ greatest match-ups. Brent Shearer may be reached by e-mail at bbshearer@gmail.com.

www.gothamtennis.com

WWW.GOTHAMTENNIS.COM NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Fueling Your Tennis Game Nutrition tips from Coach Murph By Michael L. Murphy he saying goes: “You are what you eat.” But you are also “How you eat” and “When you eat.” A tennis training diet should be focused on high-energy foods and proper hydration. The adequate portions of your diet should be timed appropriately before and after competition. Some hydration tips include:

I Limiting or avoiding caffeinated beverages (iced teas, coffee, colas), especially right before and after a practice or match.

I Having two liters of water/sports drink courtside for your practice or match. I Drinking 17 to 20 oz. of fluid within two hours before your match. Consume five to 10 oz. of fluid every 15 to 20 min., especially at changeovers, for optimal hydration and performance. Water, water, water! Your body is composed of 60 to 70 percent water. When you become dehydrated, your thought process becomes impaired. Lack of adequate water also has a profound impact on your energy levels.

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

Food tips Carbohydrates (whole grains, cereals, vegetables, fruits, beans, rice and pasta) are arguably the most important source of energy for athletes. Under-consumption of carbohydrates, particularly in the pre-and post-match time is very common. I see the same nutrition mistakes made over and over that often mean the difference between winning or losing your matches! Vitamins that enhance your energy I Thiamin (Vitamin B1) is essential in helping the body convert carbohydrates into energy. Foods that are good sources of thiamin include beans and peas, whole grains and sunflower seeds. I Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) and niacin also help us use the energy obtained from our food more effectively. Sources of riboflavin include yogurt, mushrooms and whole grains. Niacin food sources include mushrooms, whole grains, tuna, salmon, chicken and beef. I Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) assists in protein metabolism. Foods high in pyridoxine include spinach, bananas, soybeans, sunflower seeds, tuna and beef. Minerals that enhance energy Several minerals also assist in energy metabolism. These minerals are phosphorus,

zinc, iodine, copper and chromium. Here are some food sources for these minerals: I Phosphorus: Dairy products, poultry, fish, eggs, whole grains, nuts and seeds. I Zinc: Poultry, fish, eggs and whole grains. I Iodine: Salt-water fish and dairy products. I Copper: Seafood, nuts and seeds. I Chromium: Egg yolks and whole grains. In addition to these foods, you want to maintain a varied diet of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein sources for good health and energy. With all of these foods, you want to use moderation in the size of your portions, since overeating also drains your energy. Time your high-energy meal (two to three

hours prior to your match), monitor your nutrient intake, maintain and replenish fluid levels, and consume a post-exercise meal (carbohydrates plus protein) within two hours after play. The post-exercise meal also improves your ability to train consistently. Fuel up properly and have fun! Good luck!

Michael L. Murphy is director of performance for Advantage Tennis Clubs NYC. His program design is very educational including functional movement screening, injury prevention, strength and conditioning, applied nutrition, strategy, and more. As a National Academy of Sports and Medicine (NASM)-certified trainer, Murphy has spent his last few years in New York City training, coaching and instructing all ages, from 4 years and up to collegiate and professional athletes. He had the privilege to work with ATP world number one-ranked Novak Djokovic train at John McEnroe’s Tennis Academy, and work with New York City’s top teaching pros. He can be reached by phone at (781) 635-8296 or e-mail coachmurph9@gmail.com.

Former Top 10 Pro Mayotte Lends a Hand By Michael Sarro

t’s not every day when a junior tennis player has the opportunity to meet and learn from a former top 10 ATP Tour player. But on Jan. 22, City Parks Foundation tennis players had the opportunity to receive on-court training from Tim Mayotte, former number seven-ranked singles player in the world. Students of the Reebok Tennis Academy and the Chase Aces Tennis Program were given a pep talk, offered advice, and participated in a question and answer session with Mayotte. To start his discussion, Mayotte took a tennis ball and drew a smiley face on it. He then told the players to stare deep into the ball and not look away. He then had

them pair up and had each pair draw a design on their ball, and told them all to focus on that design as they were hitting. After the hitting session, he asked them all what they saw in the process. Many players said they could barely see the design and that it was just a blur as they were hitting it. Other students said that not only were they able to see their unique design, but that it looked as if the ball was slowing down as they were preparing to swing. In the end, the overall feeling from the drill was that the students said they had more focus, longer rallies and were more engaged in their rallies. “The ability to focus is one of the most

difficult things for a human being to do,” said Mayotte. “If you are able to focus, it makes everything, particularly in tennis, that much easier.” The Chase Aces and Reebok Tennis Academy are free tennis programs for select tennis players. CityParks Tennis provides free tennis lessons to thousands of kids ages five to 16 annually in more than 36 parks throughout the five boroughs of New York. Michael Sarro is director of business development for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by phone at (516) 409-4444, ext. 330 or e-mail michael@usptennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

2012 Australian Open Recap Djokovic survives epic six-hour men’s final and Azarenka takes over WTA top spot with finals victory as the 2012 Grand Slam season begins

Men’s singles: Djokovic continues his domination World number oneranked Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Spain’s Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg Rafael Nadal in the longest Grand Slam singles final in the history of professional tennis, winning 57, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 after five-hours and 53-min. to claim his third Australian Open title. At 1:37 a.m. local time in Melbourne and 9:37 a.m. ET, Djokovic became the fifth man since the Open Era began in 1968 to win three straight Grand Slam finals. This final surpassed the previous longest major singles final by just under an hour (Mats Wilander’s win over Ivan Lendl at the U.S. Open in 1988, which lasted 4 hours, 54 min). This was one of the most dramatic fi-

nals in the history of the game. The level of play was outstanding throughout and the efforts seemed superhuman. During the trophy presentation, the players were so exhausted that they were given chairs and a bottle of water while the speeches were made and trophies were presented. As usual, both players were very gracious both in victory and in defeat. “We made history tonight and unfortunately there couldn’t be two winners,” Djokovic said. While Djokovic’s comment is one that certainly has merit, it didn’t change the fact that Djokovic’s win now gives him seven straight finals wins against the world number two-ranked Nadal. This includes defeating Nadal in three straight majors. In Nadal’s post-match speech he said, “Good morning, everybody, Congratulations to Novak and his team. They

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

deserve it. They are doing something fantastic, so congratulations.” The level of play somehow seemed to improve in the fifth set as the match went into its fifth hour. The point of the match was at 4-4 in the fifth when Djokovic hit a backhand long after a 31-shot rally the longest of the match and then collapsed to the court in exhaustion. Nadal had only lost one match of his previous 134 in Grand Slams after winning the first set, but he found his serve coming under more and more pressure as the match wore on. After coming back from 5-3 down to win the fourth-set tiebreaker, Nadal was up a break at 4-2 in the fifth set against Djokovic. Djokovic, who was coming off a near five hours semifinal win against Andy Murray, somehow responded. He broke for a 6-5 lead and saved a break point before finally taking the win and championship.

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2012 Australian Open Recap Women’s singles: Azarenka defeats Sharapova to win crown and take over WTA top spot

the first Grand Slam event of 2012. The closest she has come to a title in the past was a semifinal loss to Petra Kvitova at last year’s Wimbledon in June. Azarenka is the first women’s player to move from third to first after her first V i c t o r i a major’s title win. Azarenka from “She did everything better than I did Belarus de- today. I had a good first couple of feated Rus- games, and that was about it,” s i a n Maria Sharapova said. “Then she was the one Sharapova in that was taking the first ball and hitting t h e A u s - it deep and aggressive. I was always the tralian Open Women’s singles finals in one running around like a rabbit, you just one-hour, 22-min. Azarenka swept know, trying to play catch-up all the the three-time Grand Slam winner, 6-3, time.” 6-0, and won 12 out of the final 13 Sharapova took the first two games games to quickly capture her first pretty quickly, but that soon would Grand Slam win against the former change, and there would be only one number one-ranked Sharapova, and in more game won by Sharapova in the the process, claim the top spot atop entire tournament. Sharapova leveled the WTA rankings the game 3-3 and would not win an“It’s a dream come true,” said other game in that set or the final set. Azarenka. “I have been dreaming and “As in any sport, you have your good working so hard to win the Grand Slam, days, you have your tough days and you and being number one is a pretty good have days where things just don’t work bonus. Just the perfect ending and the out,” said Sharapova. perfect position to be in.” Azarenka moves into 2012 after havAzarenka has now won 11 straight ing her best season in 2011, winning 55 matches, including her run to win the of 72 matches to finish the year ranked Sydney International title, in capturing third in the WTA rankings.

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Juniors: American Taylor Townsend wins girls singles and doubles crowns Fifteen-yearo l d Ta y l o r Townsend from Stockbridge, Ga., defeated 17-year-old Russian Yulia Putintseva, 6-1, 36, 6-3, to win the 2012 Australian Open Girls Singles Title. Townsend also partnered with 15-year-old Gabrielle Andrews of Pomona, Calif., to win the 2012 Australian Open Girls Doubles title. Townsend became the first American to sweep the junior singles and doubles titles at a Grand Slam event since Lindsay Davenport, who won both girls’ titles at the 1992 U.S. Open. She is now the only American to ever sweep the junior singles and doubles titles at a Grand Slam event outside the U.S. “If you just compete and work really hard, anything is possible,” said Townsend. “You know, the family support and the support of people that are around you is key.” Townsend is the top-ranked player in the USTA Girls 18s National Standings, and

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

2012 Australian Open Recap trains full-time at the USTA Training Center Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla. She becomes the second consecutive Georgia native to reach win the girls singles title at a Grand Slam event, after Grace Min of Norcross, Ga., captured the 2011 U.S. Open girls singles title.

Worst showing ever for American males Down Under When 16th-ranked John Isner from North Carolina fell to the 18th-ranked Feliciano Lopez of Spain, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 it marked the first time since 1968 that no American has made it to the fourth round of the Australian Open. “It’s very disappointing,” Isner said. “That’s not a good effort from the Americans this tournament. I knew going in to my match, I was the last one left and I

wanted to keep on going, but just didn’t happen. But it’s very ugly, to be honest, to have no one in the round of 16. We’ve got to try to rectify that next time the big tournaments roll around.” American Andy Roddick had withdrawn in his second round match. He was trailing two sets to one when he was forced to retire against Australian Lleyton Hewitt. Behind 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, Roddick approached Hewitt and said, “Lleyton. That’s it,” and retired. Top-ranked American Mardy Fish fell at the hands of Alejandro Falla from Colombia in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 in the second round. Fish did not seem himself and had built up frustration which shown through his play. He made a comment to a ball boy and also made numerous complaints to the chair after Falla took numerous breaks to see a trainer.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

Locals at the first Grand Slam of 2012 Scott Lipsky, a native of Merrick, N.Y., and his partner Rajeev Ram, came into the 2012 Australian Open as the number 13 seeds in the Men’s Doubles Draw. In the first round, they defeated Albert Montanes & Albert Ramos of Spain in straight sets, and in the second round, they defeated Andre Sa of Brazil & Michal Mertinek of Slovakia. In the third round, Lipsky & Ram fell to the number four seeds, the team of Rohan Bopanna & Mahesh Bhupathi of India, 6-7, 2-6. Julia Elbaba of Oyster Bay, N.Y. first advanced out of the Juniors Qualifiers Draw and into the Junior Girls Singles Main Draw. Then, Julia won her first round match with an upset over the number 13 seed, Donna Vekic of Croatia, 6-4, 6-1 before falling in the second round to Australian Storm Sanders, 3-6, 4-6.

BOLT Launches New Line of Racquets OLT Sports LLC has announced the launch of its new brand on a platform of cutting-edge, proprietary racquet technology called ZipStrips. “Consumers want innovation and quality design in everything, including tennis racquets,” said BOLT Founder and Director Brett Bothwell. “Look at how mobile devices and computers have advanced in the last 10 years, why not racquets. The bar is high, but we’re problem solvers, and we’re prepared to look at everything with fresh eyes and with new techniques of design and fabrication at our disposal. The first problem we tackled is the fundamental riddle of the composite racquet frame.” Bothwell has a background in architectural design and engineering, and has been involved with the sport of tennis for almost 40 years, and according to him, “tennis racquets have improved to a degree with stronger and lighter materials, but the inherent trouble with conventional composite racquets mostly gets worse with the evolution.” As composite racquets become stronger and lighter, they generally become more rigid and brittle, and have reduced capacity to absorb vibration and shock. Recent trends include modifying the chemical content of composite material to include vibration dampening “softening” agents or elastomeric compounds, or another is to fill the racquets with various kinds of foams, in order to absorb impact shock and vibration. Bothwell believes these solutions are simply stop-gap measures adopted by the industry to compensate for a larger problem. “If the strength of the composite is compromised for example, and the frame is made softer and more flexible, then the overall stability and performance of the racquet will be compromised as well,” said Bothwell. “Internal foam helps vibration dampening, but it doesn’t solve the underlying problem and the flexible frame.” Conventional racquets are designed to flex

along their entire length in order to control ball rebound speed. Unfortunately, this flexibility makes them less precise and less accurate than a stiffer racquet. A stiffer racquet, on the other hand, doesn’t absorb much ball impact energy and becomes too powerful for a professional to use. BOLT concluded that the only way to achieve both power and control together is to separate the vehicles for each. “It couldn’t be that both the control and the power are a result of the same flexible shaft,” said Bothwell. “There had to be another element that could flex, apart from the frame, to regulate ball rebound speed.” Following 15 years of research and development, and borrowing in part from the automotive industry, BOLT developed ZipStrip, a design which mimics the suspension system of an automobile. In a BOLT racquet, the strings ride on ZipStrips which are integrated around the racquet head frame. A ZipStrip is a spring-like, flexible composite bar which controls ball rebound speed by responding dynamically to ball impact, much like an auto suspension reacts to bumps on a road. While the ZipStrip flexes to control ball rebound speed, the racquet frame can be made stiff, powerful and accurate. “With a car, the question is not whether you want a suspension system at all, not having one would be ridiculous, but rather, what kind of suspension system is desired,” said Bothwell. “Whether to have a quick, agile, gently-buffered response like a sports car, or whether to have a more plush, fully-buffered response, like that of a luxury car, is the question. In a sense, it’s ridiculous not to have an integral shock-absorbing suspension system in a racquet when you consider the tremendous impact forces occurring in the game today and the repetition involved.” Players will have the ability to select a ZipStrip based on the racquet response they prefer, like selecting a car and its suspension system. The specific traits of a ZipStrip drive

the performance of the racquet. Professionals will likely prefer a ZipStrip with traits like a sports car, quick and with great feedback. Less experienced, recreational players may prefer a ZipStrip with more luxurious traits like a sedan with a premium on comfort. On Jan. 23, tennis enthusiasts had a chance to test out the ZipStrip technology for themselves at the official BOLT Racquet Launch Party held at CityView Racquet Club. In attendance were Mark McIntyre, head of the Riverside Clay Tennis Association; former USTA Eastern Presidents Tim Heath; and Richard Scheer, top local teaching pros; former New York Mayor David Dinkins; and others eager to demo the new Bolt racquets. People stepped on to the court and starting hitting tennis balls, and immediately saw a difference in their game. “This racquet made me look good,” said Mark McIntyre. The party gave everyone an opportunity to try the brand new racquets, as well as take part in a Q&A session with the manufacturer. “I am loving my Bolt 100,” said Heath. Mayor Dinkins, who has already been using the Bolt, said, “The Bolt racquet has added years to my game and allows me to play for a longer time frame each time.”

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

SPORTIME RANDALL’S

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

ISLAND

MER CAMPS Offered Weekly: June 11th - August 31st With transportation available in Manhattan, SPORTIME Randall’s Island Summer Camps feature tennis pros from the John McEnroe Tennis Academy and caring counselors who deliver an unforgettable experience to every camper! The 2012 EXCEL Summer Camp, for tennis players ages 7-16, features four hours of intensive coaching from McEnroe Academy professionals and two hours of fitness and cross-training. The SPORTIME 2012 Tennis & Sports Camp, for kids 5-15, provides two hours of tennis and four hours of other sports, including basketball, softball, and soccer; plus an activity tent, slip ‘n slide and more! For more information email Camp Director and Master Tennis Professional Greg Evans at CampsRI@SportimeNY.com, call 212-427-6150, or log onto www.SPORTIMENY.com/Manhattan

212/427-6150 SportimeNY.com/Manhattan If you’re traveling east, check out the summer camp offerings at SPORTIME clubs in the Hamptons: SPORTIME Amagansett, 320 Abrahams Path, 631.267.3460, SportimeNY.com/Amagansett SPORTIME Quogue, Route 104, 631.653.6767, SportimeNY.com/Quogue NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Playing Rafa: Alex Kuznetsov Shares His Thoughts on Playing Rafael Nadal By Eric Faro

I have known Alex Kuznetsov since he was 10 years old. I have seen him mature from a young, talented phenom, into a world class player. He showed amazing potential at a very young age and worked extremely hard both on and off the court. Alex had an illustrious junior career, as he reached the finals of the 14s Orange Bowl and Easter Bowl, and winning the 18s Easter Bowl. In 2004, Alex reached the finals of the junior French Open at Roland Garros where he lost to Gael Monfils. In 2005, Alex was involved in a car accident and broke his femur. This was obviously a major setback in his career. Alex is now 24 and a seasoned ATP tour veteran with a ranking of 179th in the world. He is training harder than ever, and in my opinion, is ready for a breakout year. Last month, Alex qualified for the main draw at the 2012 Australian Open. He won his three qualifying matches handily and was ready to make a nice run in the first major of the year. Then, he received the news he would be playing Rafael Nadal on Rod Laver Arena in the first round. He would be facing one of the greatest players in the history of the sport on one of the biggest stages in the game. This would be the opportunity and experience of a lifetime for Alex. Many of our students at Stadium Tennis Center had either seen Alex play in the qualifying rounds at the U.S. Open the past few years or had heard me talk about him. They were very excited for the match and many even woke up at 3:30 a.m. to watch it. Alex played a tough first set, losing 6-4, and then lost the next two sets, 6-1, 6-1. After the match, our students were very curious about his experience against an all-time legend. Instead of me telling them about it, I decided to let them ask Alex himself. Here are the questions our students asked along with their school. 34

Zak Gelfond (Riverdale): What was your reaction when you first saw the draw? Alex Kuznetsov: Excited and nervous at the same time. I thought people were messing with me. Nicholas Crary (Birch Wathen Lenox): What was your first thought when you stepped onto the court? Alex: This is awesome. I have seen Rafa on TV a bunch, and now I am standing across the net from him. Teddy Friedman (Allen Stevenson): What was the biggest challenge you had when playing Nadal? Alex: Matching his intensity on every point.

Evan Lieberman (Friends Seminary): What happened after you played a close first set? Alex: I got my butt whipped the next two. Ha ha! Scott Kaufman (Friends Seminary): Was that the most nervous you had ever been on the court? Alex: I think so. I don’t really get nervous before matches anymore, but before the match, I definitely had butterflies in my stomach. Emma Kassan (Fieldston): Did you motivate yourself any differently playing against a legend? Alex: I tried to think of it as if it was just another match, but it was hard to do that. I definitely had a little more fire in me playing him.

Ethan Moszkowski (Town School): How did you plan your game for Rafa? Alex: Play aggressive. Look to take my chances when he left balls short. Attack the backhand and get to the net some. Devon Kodali (Steven Gaynor): Did that plan change once the match started? Alex: No. I tried to play the same way the whole time. It was tough playing at such a high level the whole time. He doesn’t give you many freebies. Jason Grunfeld (Berkeley Carroll): Did you have any verbal interaction with Rafa either before or after the match? Alex: No, nothing before, but he wished me good luck on the rest of the season after the match.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

Rachel Okin (Horace Mann): How heavy was Nadal’s second serve? Alex: Not that heavy. He has a lot of spin on it, but it is attackable. Henry Hochfelder (Birch Wathen Lenox): In your heart, did you truly believe you could beat Rafael Nadal? Alex: I never go into a match thinking I have no chance. I knew I would have to play the match of my life in order to beat him. Eric Faro is program director at Gotham Tennis Academy and Stadium Tennis Center, just south of Yankee Stadium. Eric grew up in Riverdale and attended Horace Mann, where he played number one singles for all four years. He attended Ohio State University and won more than 100 matches during his collegiate career. He may be reached by e-mail at eric@gothamtennis.com, or online at www.stadiumtennisnyc.com or www.gothamtennis.com.

DO YOU LOVE TO PLAY TENNIS? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR TENNIS IN YOUR AREA? CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY TENNIS ASSOCIATION! Community Tennis Associations work on coordinating and maintaining tennis programs and services in local areas. With over 1,000 registered Community Tennis Associations across the US, there is always someone available to help you enjoy the sport of Tennis in your community.

For more information e-mail CTA@USTA.com or contact your local CTA from the Metropolitan CTA directory below: Riverside Clay Tennis Association http://www.rcta.info Mark McIntyre phone : (212) 870-3078 e-mail: mark@rcta.info

Highland Park Tennis Association http://www.hptany.org Dion Lachmanen phone: (718) 355-9338 e-mail hptany@gmail.com

Youth and Tennis http://www.youthandtennis.org Bill Briggs phone: (718) 658-6728 e-mail: youthandtennis@msn.com

Junior Tennis Clinic http://www.Jtcny.org Mel Swanson phone: (718) 789-5084 e-mail tennisclinicny@gmail.com

Prospect Park Tennis Center http://www.prospectpark.org/tennis Paul Campbell phone: (718) 436-2500 email: pcampbell@prospectpark.org

Metrotennis CTA http://www.metrotennis.com Lou Hernandez phone: (718) 639-8936 e-mail: lou@metrotennis.com

Metropolitan Tennis Group http://www.metrotennisgroup.com Daniel Arzuaga phone: (646) 417-0910 e-mail: arzuaga_daniel@yahoo.com

Kings County Tennis League http://www.Marcytennisclub.org Michael McCasland phone (202) 359-9534 e-mail: Marcytennisclub@gmail.com

Co-op City Tennis Club http://www.coopcitytennis.com Lorraine Alexander phone: (718) 671-4437 e-mail: lmtennis01@aol.com

Washington Heights Tennis Association http://www.TennisHeights.net Leo Reynoso e-mail: TennisHeights@aol.com

South Brooklyn Tennis Association http://www.southbrooklyntennis.com Pablo Sierra phone: (917) 685-9483

Lincoln Terrace Tennis Association Charles East Phone: (917) 379-0094 e-mail: ce49614@aol.com

119th Street Tennis Association http://www.119TA.net Liz Hydes phone: (212) 870-3070 e-mail: 119thtennisassoc@gmail.com

Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program, Inc. http://www.HJTEP.org Katrina Adams Phone: (212) 491-3738 E-mail: kadams@HJTEP.org

e-mail southbrooklyntennisassn@yahoo.com

McCarren Tennis http://www.mccarrentennis.org Sean Hoess phone: (917) 348-4411 e-mail: sean@mccarrentennis.org

New York Junior Tennis League http://www.nyjtl.org Ron Nano phone: (347) 417-8194 e-mail: rnano@nyjtl.org

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

New York Tennis Magazine’s

2012

Summer Camp Guide

Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Camp at New York Tennis Club Contact: Ajay Kumar (718) 239-7919 New York Tennis Club 3081 Harding Avenue Throggs Neck, N.Y. Info@AdvantageCamps.net AdvantageCamps.net Called one of the “Best kept secrets in New York City,” New York Tennis Club is conveniently located just minutes from Manhattan, Queens and Westchester. Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Camp at New York Tennis Club has a beautiful setting with six Har-Tru tennis courts, a club house and viewing deck. Our mission is to provide each player with the opportunity to learn tennis fundamentals, improve their game, have fun and make new friends. Our team of instructors are some of the finest coaches in the East and they help build self-esteem and a respect for others that are valuable both on and off the court. Transportation is provided from Manhattan and the Bronx.

Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Camp at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club Contact: Xavier Luna (212) 935-4049 Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, N.Y. Info@AdvantageCamps.net AdvantageCamps.net Advantage All-City Junior Tennis is the city’s oldest and most established junior tennis program. Our summer day camps and year-round programs serve players of all ages and skill levels, including our QuickStart program for four- through 10-year-olds. Programs and groupings are based on age, playing level and goals, and include beginners, recreational, competitive, and serious tournament players. Xavier Luna, director of junior programs for the Advantage Tennis Clubs, has been directing the Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Camps for seven years. His love of the game and professional skills inspire campers who return year after year to the All-City Junior Tennis Camps. The Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Camp at Roosevelt Island is a wonderful place for young tennis players to grow and to have fun this summer. The Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Camp incorporates tennis drills, competitive play and rounds out each day with other

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

New York Tennis Magazine’s 2012 Summer Camp Guide recreational activities. The camp also utilizes an adjacent indoor swimming pool, Sportspark and various other athletic fields just a short walk from the club. Transportation is provided from Manhattan.

Advantage Sea & Sports Camp at SUNY Maritime College Contact: Paul Fontana (718) 239-7919 New York Tennis Club 3081 Harding Avenue Throggs Neck, N.Y. Info@AdvantageCamps.net AdvantageCamps.net SUNY Maritime College 6 Pennyfield Avenue Throggs Neck, N.Y. Advantage Sea & Sports Camp at SUNY Maritime College is perfectly located for kids living in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Westchester. Situated on a beautiful 55-acre campus, SUNY Maritime College offers waterfront activities like sailing, kayaking, fishing and motor boating. An aquatic center and extensive recreational facilities encourage swimming, soccer, basketball, tennis and more! We even get to explore Fort Schuyler, an original Civil War military structure and museum. Our mission is to provide each camper with the opportunity to pursue his or her interests, whether it’s learning, improving and competing in a sport, or simply having fun and making friends. We provide private transportation using our year-round bus fleet Advantage Sea & Sports Camp at SUNY Maritime College is an exciting and unique experience that will leave your child looking forward to each day of the summer!

Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy 2012 Summer Camps Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy @ CATS of 49th Street 235 East 49th Street New York, N.Y. (212) 832-1833, ext. 222 CATSTurtleBay@gmail.com CATSNY.com Two Four-Week Sessions (MondayThursday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. & Friday, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.) June 25-July 20 and/or July 23-Aug. 17 The Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy is proud to be the first in New York City devoted entirely to the USTA’s 10 & Under Tennis, an all-new method of teaching tennis to young children

established by the USTA and the International Tennis Federation. Butch Seewagen is co-founder and athletic director of CATS (Children’s Athletic Training School), is a former coach to 70 worldclass touring pros competing at Wimbledon, the French Open and the U.S. Open. This special program includes: Tennis, swimming, cross-sport skill training, fitness, stretching and movement drills which will put every child on the path to success. Open to a select group of boys and girls, ages five- to nine-years-old who want to maximize their tennis experience. The environment will be supportive, while developing a love of tennis. To establish this productive learning environment, our 1:4 coach to student ratio will ensure we reach the maximum potential of every child. Children are dropped off at Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy @ CATS of 49th Street, located at 235 East 49th Street, for pretennis exercises and stretches, and then are off to The Millennium Health & Racquet Club, located at 1 UN Plaza & 44th Street.

Central Park Tennis Center 2012 Summer Camps Central Park Near 96th Street New York, N.Y. Manager: Carla Hughes (212) 316-0800, ext. 6 Tennis Director: Yakubu “Mo” Mohammed (212) 316-0800, ext. 7 CPTennis@earthlink.net CentralParkTennisCenter.com Arguably one of the most famous parks in the world, Central Park is a manmade wonder. Not only is it the first public park built in America, but it is also one of the most frequently visited, with more than 25 million guests per year. Located in Central Park, near 96th Street, within walking distance from 5th Avenue and Central Park West, Central Park Tennis Center includes 26 Har-Tru tennis courts and four asphalt tennis courts. Over the last 12 years, Central Park Tennis Center (CPTC) has provided the opportunity to thousands of children from all over the world to learn the skill and play tennis. Our weekly camps start in early June and continue until the end of August and are provided in a safe, comfortable environment with adult supervision at all times. With direction from Yakubu “Mo” Mohammed (pictured above) and our personable and engaging professional staff, the instruction provided is always rewarding and enjoyable. Mo is a hands-on director leaving his personal touch on all of CPTC’s programming. This includes our Pee Wee and Junior

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

New York Tennis Magazine’s 2012 Summer Camp Guide Camps, after school programs and all adult programs and clinics. A native of Ghana, Mo has competed nationally and internationally. He was the tennis director at Stadium Tennis before joining CPTC, and in the off season, you can find him at CityView Racquet Club and Stadium Tennis. Mo has a tremendous following from both children and adults. Pee Wee Program Central Park Tennis Center’s Pee Wee Program, for children from four- through seven-years-old, is offered Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. This program is designed for children who are just beginning to learn the basic fundamentals of tennis, including court familiarity, hand-eye coordination, etc. Junior Camp Central Park Tennis Center’s Junior Camp is designed for children from six- though 16-years-old and is for students from any player level—from beginners to advanced players. The weekly camp is offered Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Students will be provided with 10 weeks of instruction (three hours per class) that includes team competition, singles matches and lots of fun. For our simple application and more information, please visit CentralParkTennisCenter.com.

Cunningham Sports Center 2012 Summer Camp Cunningham Sports Center 196-00 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Contact: Bill Anthony Racho, Director of Junior Programs (718) 740-6800 CunninghamSportsCenter.com Cunningham Sports Center is proud to be offering two camps this summer: A tennis camp and a recreational sports camp. Cunningham’s tennis camp is perfect for those hoping to improve their skill and game while having fun. With five hours of tennis and fitness each day, campers will build endurance while learning proper technique and footwork. Campers will end each day with competitive match play to practice what they have learned. No matter what the camper’s skill level, our tennis professionals will help each camper reach his or her full potential. Our recreational camp focuses on health and fun by involving campers in all types of sports. With tennis being at the forefront campers will learn to love the sport through drills and games. When campers are off the tennis court they will have the opportunity to play soccer, volleyball, kickball, baseball, basketball and more. Campers will have the chance to attend trips to the U.S. Open, the movies, Major League Baseball games, etc. No matter which camp option you choose, campers will get to 38

enjoy many benefits offered by Cunningham Sports Center, including: Early drop-off and late pick-up; an air-conditioned clubhouse; catered lunch from Boston Market, Subway, and our local pizzeria and Chinese restaurant; swimming pool access; and Friday Camp Color Wars. Cunningham’s camps guarantee an active, healthy and funfilled summer experience.

Go! Tennis Summer Day Camps 34-28 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. (718) 224-6303 GoTennisPrograms.com The year 2012 marks the 15th year of operation of the Go! Tennis Day Camp in Bayside, Queens. Conducted at North Shore Tennis & Racquets Club by Director of Tennis George Garland, the camp has the use of 19 courts (14 Har-Tru and hard courts). There is a daily program for every level of player, from QuickStart to ranked tournament juniors. The Tournament Player program is directed by Michael Misiti. The camp season consists of nine, one-week sessions beginning June 25 and ending Aug. 24. There are scheduling and programming options available for all campers.

Gotham Tennis Academy Summer Camp at Riverside Park in Manhattan 96th Street Red Clay Courts in Riverside Park 96th Street & Riverside Park New York, N.Y. Contacts: Joel Kassan or Warren Rand (646)-292-3511 Info@GothamTennis.com GothamTennis.com Dates: June 11-Aug. 31, 2012 Camp Hours: Weekdays from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (half-day option: 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.) NEW! Early drop-off option: 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Gotham Tennis Academy’s Summer Camp at Riverside Park is a great way to keep your child active and improve his or her tennis in a fun and supportive environment. The Gotham Tennis Academy’s Summer Camp at Riverside Park is situated in a beautiful park setting at the 96th Street Red Clay Courts in Riverside Park on the Upper Westside. The camp, which in addition to tennis, will also feature field trips in Riverside Park and other fun, athletic activities, is designed to take

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

New York Tennis Magazine’s 2012 Summer Camp Guide your child to the next level towards tennis proficiency in our fun and supportive environment. Gotham Tennis Academy certified tennis instructors with international backgrounds excel at teaching junior players of all levels between the ages of five through 14. Whether your child is a beginner or advanced level player, he or she will gain confidence and learn appropriate stroke production fundamentals, strategy, match play, conditioning, and footwork during the camp. Light snacks and beverages are provided, although we recommend that you send a bag lunch with your child. Round-trip or one-way transportation may be arranged.

Gotham Tennis Academy in The Hamptons Napeague Tennis Club 47 Montauk Highway Amangansett, N.Y. Contacts: Joel Kassan or Warren Rand (646)-292-3511 Info@GothamTennis.com GothamTennis.com Gotham Tennis Academy offers summer tennis and sports day camps in the Hamptons at the Napeague Tennis Club, located at 47 Montauk Highway in Amangansett, N.Y. Directed by our enthusiastic, USPTA-certified tennis coaches in a beautiful setting emphasizing skill development, fun and a supportive environment. The tennis and sports camp based at the Napeague Tennis Club is situated in a beautiful location on the Napeague Stretch, five miles east of Main Street in Amagansett, N.Y., next to Cyril’s, only steps from the beach and the bay! The Napeague summer program features: An outstanding tennis and multi-sport day camp featuring instructors with international backgrounds; half-day and full-day options are available; basketball, soccer and other field sports on our multi-purpose court; kayak, beach trips and mountain bike excursions may be arranged; and transportation can be arranged upon request. New this year, an early drop-off option between 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

Gotham Tennis Academy Morning Summer Camp at Reebok Sports Club/NY Reebok Sports Club/NY 160 Columbus Avenue New York, N.Y. Contacts: Joel Kassan or Warren Rand (646)-292-3511 Info@GothamTennis.com GothamTennis.com Dates: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, June 4-Aug. 31 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Gotham Tennis Academy Morning Summer Camp at Reebok

Sports Club/NY (Upper West Side) is a great way to keep your child active and improve his or her tennis in a fun and supportive indoor atmosphere. Indoor tennis offers a safe, sun/rain/bug-free environment so children can really enjoy the sport! The Gotham QuickStart Tennis Program emphasizes skill development and fun on a specially equipped tennis court at the Reebok Sports Club/NY. In friendly, small group tennis lessons, Gotham Tennis Academy’s certified professional instructors utilize foam balls and pressure-free balls, mini-nets, and age- and level-appropriate miniature racquets to accelerate the development of early muscle memory. In no time, your child will learn to swing the racquet and move his or her feet like a tennis prodigy! For beginners and advanced beginners between the ages of three to nine, you can expect your child to have fun, develop self-confidence, and learn tennis fundamentals. Julian Krinsky School of Tennis– Powered by HEAD Tennis Weekly Residential Sessions From June 10-Aug. 11 (610) 265-9401 Villanova University & Haverford College, Pa. JKCP.com/Tennis Julian Krinsky School of Tennis–Powered by HEAD Tennis takes you to the next level through daily instruction, personalized coaching, match play and mental and physical conditioning. Taught by professional coaches, this weekly tennis camp is tailored to improve your strokes and game whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced player. Players will enjoy residential life on campus: High school players at Villanova University and middle school players at Haverford College. Here’s why JKCP is the right choice for your Summer Tennis Camp: I Tennis professionals are affiliated with USPTA, USPTR, ITF and trained at the year-round Julian Krinsky School of Tennis. I Tennis instructors are some of the best, plus a skilled separate staff of residential counselors to handle your on-campus living and activities. I Play rain or shine for five hours each day on 50 outdoor and 28 indoor courts. I The program works with each student individually. I Students make friends from all over the world and have fun. I Training system improves every part of your game—technical, tactical, mental, physical and your nutrition. I Match play and weekly tournaments. Over the past 35 years, Julian Krinsky’s Tennis Camp has trained over 20,000 players from 40 countries. Price reductions are available for multiple week stays. For more information, visit JKCP.com/Tennis.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

New York Tennis Magazine’s 2012 Summer Camp Guide Loomis Racquet Academy Swarthmore College 500 College Avenue Swarthmore, Pa. Contact: Jeremy Loomis, Camp Director (610) 328-8204 Camp@LoomisRacquetAcademy.com LoomisRacquetAcademy.com The Loomis Racquet Academy is a tennis and racquet sports camp that focuses on individualized attention and a low student to counselor ratio to help make a positive difference in someone’s game. We design creative yet challenging programs from the beginner level player through to the nationally ranked athlete and employ Dartfish analysis to compare strokes with touring professionals. On-court instruction will include a morning drill session, followed by afternoon match play. During the last hour in the afternoon session, campers also have an option to learn how to play other racquet sports such as badminton, table tennis, or squash, or enjoy a swim in the pool. We are located on the campus of Swarthmore College in a quaint college town just 11 miles from Philadelphia. Swarthmore College was recently noted in Travel and Leisure Magazine’s list of “America’s Most Beautiful

College Campuses” and is rated the number three Liberal Arts College by US News. The director, Jeremy Loomis, is the head women’s tennis coach at Swarthmore College. He was the number one singles and number one doubles player at the University of Maryland and is a former ATP World Ranked Doubles Player and World Maccabiah Games Gold Medalist. Jeremy has previously coached in Indonesia, Duke University, the University of Maryland and Miami (Ohio) University. During his coaching tenure, his teams have won five Conference Team Championships, 11 Individual NCAA All-Americans, and numerous other honorable distinctions. The tennis facilities on the Swarthmore College campus include 12 outdoor tennis courts and three indoor tennis courts. Residents of the camp stay on campus in a gorgeous Victorian style dorm, and in the evening, enjoy the camaraderie with fun events such as World TeamTennis, bowling, go karts, mini-golf and other activities. Residents also receive a half-hour private lesson each week with one of our exceptional staff counselors. The Loomis Racquet Academy is a great way this summer for players young and old to enhance their tennis skills, meet new friends, and experience a wonderful college setting in just a two-hour drive from New York City, easily accessible by Amtrak and the Philadelphia Airport.

Hamptons? Jersey Shore? Catskills? Why not experience the convenience of

Inwood Country Club? Winners of the 2011 Long Island Men's Tennis League, Inwood Country Club caters to all levels of play from the 2.5 to the 5.0 player and is located just 30 minutes from Manhattan and minutes from JFK Airport. Our new, very affordable, 3 Year Introductory Tennis Membership starts at just $5,200 per year and includes: • 10 Har Tru Courts • Weekly clinics for women and children • Tennis traveling teams • Share of a locker at our Atlantic Ocean Beach Club including seasonal beach parties (Cabanas additional price) • Fully equipped Fitness Center • Use of our Historic U.S. Open & PGA Championship Golf Course • Elegant Clubhouse with rental of Guest Suites • Introductory Golf Memberships Also Available

Tennis, Beach & Golf = Inwood Country Club For details about all of our different types of membership packages contact Heidi Chriest, Membership Director

516-239-2800, x. 186 • or membership@inwoodcc.org. • Web site: www.inwoodcc.org. 40

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

New York Tennis Magazine’s 2012 Summer Camp Guide

Midtown Tennis Club 2012 Summer Camps Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue (17th Street) New York, N.Y. (212) 989-8572, ext. 104 MidtownTennis.com Midtown Tennis Club offers a unique summer option in New York City—outdoor rooftop tennis! The bubble is dismantled from June through September and the upper four courts become the city’s best kept secret. The main attraction for these courts is the Adult Outdoor Tennis College. Midtown Tennis Club hosts these group classes year-round, but the summer Adult Outdoor Tennis College attracts tennis enthusiasts of all levels looking to meet new people, while improving their skills. Groups of six are arranged based on skill level and include instruction on stroke technique, footwork and strategy. In the summer months, classes are held daily for all levels at convenient after work hours (6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.) in both one- and two-hour formats. The one-hour sessions are drill-based and instructional, covering all of the basics. But, to truly put your skills to the test, try the two hour program, which includes match-play, strategy and games in addition to drills and basic instruction. Classes are offered in a series of four sessions at competitive rates and there are no additional membership fees at the club. Midtown’s spectacular views of the Empire State Building and city street life are an ideal escape from the office. Midtown is centrally located in Chelsea, (8th Avenue and 27th Street) and easily accessible by either the C, E or 1 train. The first outdoor session will be in June and registration begins Wednesday, May 2. The program sells out quickly, so call (212) 989-8572, ext. 104 to reserve your spot.

ping, cafes, restaurants, water park and other East End attractions. Peter Kaplan, an attorney, former New York State Tennis Champion, and a graduate of Cornell University, is on-site every day. Resident students/families/teams stay at the historic Grassmere Inn, located on quiet, tree-lined Beach Lane in Westhampton Beach, N.Y., only 50 yards from the beginning of the charming village, yet less than one mile from a beautiful ocean beach. The location could not be better. The Grassmere has 22 guest rooms, all with air conditioning, WiFi, cable television and private bathrooms. Ideal for families, are two suites or interconnected rooms. A delicious breakfast of fresh muffins, bagels, cereal, fruit, juice, coffee, tea, milk and yogurt is included daily. The Tennis Academy, located three miles away, is primarily a teaching center featuring 12 soft courts. We have welcomed participants from over 25 countries and 30 states since 2000. The Academy features an enthusiastic staff, renowned for its high-quality instruction and low student-to-staff ratio. The maximum ratio is 4:1, but the average ratio is 2:1. Thirty-five Japanese juniors have been coming for three weeks annually, for the last eight years. They run three miles before breakfast and then 10 hours of instruction, running and matches. However, most participants seek a less intensive program, taking three to five hours of instruction daily. The staff is always accommodating and happy to tailor programs to fit the needs of the customer. Frequently, an adult team will come at the beginning of the season and return for a family vacation. There are also tennis pros who bring groups. The Academy’s staff is available to supplement visiting pros staff. The groups always have an incredible time, some having returned for 10 consecutive years. Tennis during the day, a trip to the beach in the late afternoon, perhaps a glass of wine at sunset, and then dining at a great restaurant, a movie or a show at the Performing Arts Center. Occasionally, guests are coaxed into karaoke with the international staff!

Peter Kaplan’s Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy Contact: Peter Kaplan Westhampton Beach (631) 288-4021 Junior/Adult or (914) 234-9462 Tennis Academy PeterKaplan2002@yahoo.com WestHamptonTennis.com Peter Kaplan’s Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy, and the affiliated Grassmere Inn, is a wonderful destination for beginners to nationally-ranked players of all ages. Private instruction and 90-min. clinics are offered daily. Camps and one- seven-day programs are available. The flexibility of the programming enables participants to enjoy the nearby beautiful ocean beaches, charming village, Performing Arts Center, movie theatre, wine country, flower farms, shop-

Prospect Park Summer Youth Tennis Program 2012 Prospect Park Tennis Center 50 Parkside Avenue • Brooklyn, N.Y. Contact: Chris Werben (718) 436-2500 CWerben@ProspectPark.org ProspectPark.org/Tennis Sessions run June 12-Aug. 31 Prospect Park Tennis Center, part of historic Prospect Park in the heart of Brooklyn, is welcoming back children of all skill levels for its eighth Summer Youth Program. Kids ages six to 16 can get personalized tennis lessons by our expert pros. With 11 outdoor courts, a modern clubhouse, and top-notch sports fields, Prospect Park Tennis Center provides a great place for kids to spend their summer.

Peter

Kaplan’s

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

New York Tennis Magazine’s 2012 Summer Camp Guide Our year-round staff is made up of tennis coaches who are both expert players and great teachers. They’ll help kids improve their serve, stroke and confidence on the court. Kids participate in drills and match play, getting both individualized tips and good experience working together in groups. Beginners will gain a thorough understanding of the game, as well as basic skills and strategies. Experienced players can hone their game with individualized instruction geared toward match play. The Summer Youth Program runs from June 12-Aug. 31. Registration begins Monday, April 2. Participants can sign up for halfday or full-day sessions over one or more weeks throughout the course of the summer, for a flexible schedule that will meet your needs. Morning Sessions run from 9:00 a.m.-Noon, Afternoon Sessions run from Noon-3:00 p.m., and Full-Day Sessions run from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Please note that the weeks of Aug. 2024 and Aug. 27-31 are Morning Sessions only. Space is limited and applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The Program is held rain or shine and a box lunch option is available. For more information, visit ProspectPark.org/Tennis.

slide! This is a perfect summer camp program for young athletes who love tennis and sports! Both camps are offered on a weekly basis from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, and will operate from June 11 through Labor Day. Shuttle transportation is available from the East Side, West Side and Midtown areas of Manhattan. Please inquire about doorto-door transportation. Campers are offered a fresh, healthy lunch for an additional fee. SPORTIME Randall’s Island offers a unique Summer Tennis & Sports camp experience minutes from Manhattan. SPORTIME Randall’s Island features 160,000 square feet of tennis courts and amenities, including five indoor and five indoor/outdoor Deco-Turf hard courts, and 10 indoor/outdoor Har-Tru clay courts. Camp facilities also include outdoor sports fields and an outdoor multisport court. This extraordinary club also features a functional training and fitness center; comfortable lounge areas with excellent viewing; a junior lounge/computer lab; a pro shop featuring top brands and 24-hour stringing and a cafe serving healthy food, snacks and beverages.

SPORTIME Randall’s Island Excel Summer Camp SPORTIME Randall’s Island One Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. (212) 427-6150 TCRI@SportimeNY.com SportimeNY.com/Manhattan June 11 through Labor Day (Monday-Friday, weekly from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) SPORTIME Randall’s Island Excel Summer Camp is led by Gilad Bloom, director of tennis at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy and a former ATP and Davis Cup player, and is staffed by the world-class teaching and coaching professionals from the John McEnroe Tennis Academy. The Excel Summer Camp, for players ages seven through 17, includes all the critical components of achieving top performance on the court tennis instruction with drills and match play, tennisspecific cross-training, speed and agility training, and strength and conditioning for improved fitness. For juniors interested in mixing a variety of team sports with great tennis, SPORTIME Randall’s Island offers our Tennis & Sports Summer Camp. Campers ages five through 15 will take part in a variety of group sports, fitness training, and fun activities with daily tennis instruction, including by teaching professionals from the John McEnroe Tennis Academy. Tennis & Sports campers learn to play basketball, soccer, kickball, flag football, softball and other team sports on our beautiful outdoor fields and facilities. And don’t forget our popular slip ‘n

Stadium Tennis Center Summer Camp Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Park 725 Gateway Center Boulevard (formerly Exterior Street) at E152nd Street and the Harlem River Bronx, N.Y. Contacts: Eric Faro or Rich Reyes

(718) 665-4684 Info@StadiumTennisNYC.com StadiumTennisNYC.com Make plans now for your child’s summer tennis! Here at Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond, we offer 16 hard surface courts. Through our partnership with Gotham Tennis Academy, we have assembled some of the most talented, personable and engaging tennis pros in New York City. Our pros share a passion to work closely with players of all levels and ages to help them develop to their fullest potential. Directions can be found at StadiumTennisNYC.com/Contact.html. We offer free parking at the Gateway Center Shopping Mall, located across from our courts. Stadium Tennis Club will offer three types of summer programs: The Summer Tennis Academy; The Summer High Performance Tennis Academy; and The Summer Tennis, Sports and Fitness program. The Summer Tennis Academy consists of: The Gotham Tennis Academy coaching system and curriculum; geared for players In Gotham Tennis Academy’s year around Junior Development (JD) and Advance Training Programs (ATP); tennis featuring drills,

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

New York Tennis Magazine’s 2012 Summer Camp Guide

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Summer Junior Training Program at the Dick Savitt Tennis Center Dick Savitt Tennis Center 575 West 218th Street New York, N.Y. Contact: Gaurav Misra, Director of the Columbia University Tennis Center (212) 942-7100 gm320@columbia.edu This summer the Summer Junior Training Program at the Dick Savitt Tennis Center will feature a three-week daily program beginning June 11. Players have the choice of getting intensive training for three hours in the mornings or two hours in the afternoon. They also have the choice of coming for both sessions. The Dick Savitt Tennis Center features six cushioned hard courts under a bubble located at the upper end of Manhattan. The program is designed to accommodate different age groups and levels. The emphasis being on developing a player’s game in a style of their own. An experienced coaching staff covers all aspects of the game, with emphasis on technique, strategy, match play and physical fitness. We will also have a junior program throughout the summer, including 10 & Under tennis instruction. The Dick Savitt Tennis Center is open from 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. every day and summer membership allows unlimited play from May to the middle of September.

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Summer Camps USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows Corona Park (718) 760-6200 NTC.USTA.com The USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center will once again offer seven weeks of fun in the sun tennis camps starting in June 2012. Enrollment is available online and you may choose to registration for one, two or as many as seven weeks. The weekly program runs from Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break or a twilight session from 4:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Campers work on development of tennis techniques, tactics, sports conditioning, and strategy geared to maximizing the learning experience in a fun presentation. As the juniors develop, they are advanced to more challenging groups. Tennis activities include Stroke-of the Day, team games and Competitive Match Play. The camp also offers cross-training activities such as soccer, softball and basketball in the park or at the Corona park multipurpose recreational facility, swimming at the nearby FMCP Aquatics Center, off-site field trips include ice skating, Mets games, etc., and full access to the many fun activities on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. We accept junior players, ages four through 10 for the QuickStart programs (visit www.quickstarttennis.com for information about this new tennis learning format). Children 10-years-old and up are enrolled in the Junior Camps (8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.). Advanced High Performance Tournament training campers will be invited to participate in an intensive training program which runs Monday-Friday, from 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. We have 22 outdoor courts, 12 indoor courts, and three outdoor QuickStart courts. We have available on-site ping-pong tables, ball machines, beach tennis, fitness center, arts and crafts, and other engaging sporting activities. Our primary focus will be on developing tennis skills while offering other activities to enhance the learning and camp experience. Detailed information will be available soon at NTC.USTA.com. We are located in Flushing Meadow Corona Park. You may contact the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at (718) 760-6200 for more information about year round and summer camp programs.

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match play, video analysis, tournament and USTA teams and more; 10 & Under teaching tools used to prepare for USTA-sanctioned events; and emphasis on doubles play for high school players; and a sports and fitness program geared to develop the ABCs—Agility, Balance and Coordination—for all ages The Summer High Performance Tennis Academy consists of: The Gotham Tennis Academy coaching system and curriculum; tennis featuring first-class coaching, match play and video analysis with Dartfish software; and an extensive fitness program to prepare for nationals and professional events. The Summer Tennis, Sports and Fitness program consists of: The Gotham Tennis Academy coaching system and curriculum; tennis for beginners and intermediate levels (geared toward middle school and juniors); an introduction to basketball, soccer and other sports; Summer QuickStart tennis, for ages three through seven, where your little players will love this tennis experience. Our QuickStart Camp was developed to introduce the sport in a fun and exciting way, while ensuring success during the development of strokes and hand-eye coordination. Stadium’s Tennis Summer programs offers your junior a daily dose of stroke development, private instruction, instructional group drills and games. Our camp director will ensure that each player is being challenged, while enjoying their fun and exciting day.

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New York Tennis Magazine’s 2012 Summer Camp Guide USTA Eastern’s Camp A.C.E. Sunday-Friday, July 22-27 Ramapo College of New Jersey 505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, N.J. Contact: Linda Mann Mann@Eastern.USTA.com USTA Eastern’s Camp A.C.E will be held Sunday-Friday, July 22-27, 2012 at Ramapo College of New Jersey, and for the third straight year will feature Rodney Harmon, the coach of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s tennis team and a former U.S. Open quarterfinalist. The overnight camp provides players ages 14-17 a week of daily tennis instruction, college guidance and career preparation, geared to helping students continue their success after graduation. This year marks the 14th anniversary of the camp. “We are very excited to have Rodney back,” said Linda Mann, managing director of Community Tennis Development for USTA Eastern. “He is an outstanding coach who gives students the tools they need to succeed on the court and throughout their lives.” Last year, students at Camp A.C.E. had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve their tennis games, learn about careers in professional and community tennis, and hone their writing skills at the camp. In addition to Harmon, the camp featured world-class touring and teaching pros. Harmon, who coached the U.S. Men’s Tennis team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, instilled in the kids a sense of responsibility. In addition to the visit by the pros, the camp included a trip to the Museum of American Finance on Wall Street, a Junior Team Tennis tournament, a writing session for the USTA Arthur Ashe Essay Contest and a seminar on careers in sports administration from top executives at the USTA. Plans are already in the works to make 2012 the best year in the camp’s history. To register for the camp, visit www.eastern.usta.com/campace. For more information, contact Linda Mann at mann@eastern.usta.com.

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West Side Tennis Club’s 2012 Summer Camp The West Side Tennis Club One Tennis Place Forest Hills, N.Y. Contact: Thomas Gilliland, Assistant Tennis Director (718) 268-2300, ext. 135 Thomas@ForestHillsTennis.com ForestHillsTennis.com The West Side Tennis Club’s Summer Camp offers top notch coaching at the most historic tennis venue in the United States. Led by former touring pro Bob Ingersole, who has coached numerous sectional, national and professional players, our program outlines the “Road to Success.” Former home of the U.S. Open, the Club still maintains grass, hard, red clay and Har-Tru courts. Each day, campers receive three hours of instruction from our certified staff. Our 10 & Under program is an innovative way to start children off on the right foot. Using graduated-length racquets, low compression balls and smaller nets, we can immediately increase their success rate which makes learning tennis more fun. Our Tournament Training Program was created to meet the needs of the top players in the area. Gus Alcayaga, one of the highest caliber coaches in the area, heads up our team of senior staff professionals. In addition to the high intensity drills we conduct on the court, we incorporate conditioning and match play into the curriculum to make sure our players reach their maximum potential. The camp consists of players ranging from touring pros to complete beginners. Campers also have two hours of free swim in our Junior Olympic-sized pool. The camp provides drinks throughout the day, a snack of fresh fruit, a lunch catered by our restaurant and towels for pool time. Day to day activities are handled by Assistant Tennis Director Thomas Gilliland. A national coach, graduate of Columbia University’s Maters of Sports Management Program and vice president of the USTA Metro Region, Thomas has run the camp for the past five years. Thirteen weeks of camp begin June 4, and transportation is available from Queens and Manhattan. For more information please call 718-268-2300 or e-mail Thomas@ForestHillsTennis.com.

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

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QuickStart Takes Off on the Intrepid

s a part of the Intrepid Air and Space Museum’s Kid’s Week during the President’s Week vacation, local sports organizations, such as the New York Rangers, Knicks and Mets, USTA Eastern hosted a QuickStart 10 & Under Tennis clinic for kids wanting to learn the sport as part of its festivities. Kid’s Week features dynamic, interactive exhibits and a host of fun-filled, hands-on activities. As part of the event, several QuickStart (QST) courts were set up in Exploreum Hall among large flying aircrafts. USTA brought along Patrick McEnroe, general manager of USTA Player Development, to assist with the activities. McEnroe took to the QST court to chal-

lenge the young tennis players and offer them pointers on their game. “Any time we can get the word out about 10 & Under tennis, the better,” said McEnroe. “Everyone in the industry is aware of QST, but we still need to inform non-tennis players about the rule changes that the USTA have devised. Step One is getting the kids to come out and play with the right-sized equipment. The more they enjoy playing tennis, the longer they will want to play tennis.” When asked what Step Two entailed, McEnroe said, “Step Two is getting them playing more consistently. Of course, we want the kids to enjoy playing tennis, but we also want them to have the desire to

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

improve. With QST, they get a taste of the game, and hopefully, they continue playing their entire lives.” When asked about what QST offers to the future of tennis, McEnroe said, “QST is on the path of creating more higherlevel players. Each step in tennis proposes new challenges. Without the first step of QST, the other steps are not possible or attainable. In order for them to want to continue on their path, they need to have fun which is exactly what QST offers.” After the kids were finished with their lessons, McEnroe took part in photo opportunities and signed some tennis balls for the young players.

World TeamTennis Gears Up for 2012 Season With Star-Laden Marquee Player Draft

ix current or former world number one-ranked players from the United States, including Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Bob and Mike Bryan, Lindsay Davenport, and John McEnroe, were among the names drafted by the eight franchises in the World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League presented by GEICO. Other top names selected in the 2012 WTT Draft include the top-ranked American on the ATP Tour, Mardy Fish, along with Martina Hingis, James Blake, Mark Philippoussis and John Isner who stunned the tennis world with a dominating win recently over the world’s number threeranked player, Switzerland’s Roger Federer in Davis Cup action. The WTT Pro League, presented by GEICO, was co-founded by Billie Jean King, and begins Monday, July 9 and runs through Sunday, July 29. The top two teams from both the Western and Eastern Conferences advance to the WTT Finals Weekend, presented by GEICO, Sept. 1416, at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C. Two former world number ones in both singles and doubles return to the New York Sportimes this seaon. John McEnroe and Martina Hingis will play for the Sportimes at their home venue in Randall’s Island, also home to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy. The Sportimes will play five home matches at Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island in New York City, and will bring two of their home matches to the SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., during the WTT season this July. One of the matches in Albany will feature John Isner and his Boston Lobsters, while the other match will see Hingis face off with Venus Williams and the Washington Kastles. Two-time League MVP Lindsay Davenport returns to the WTT courts for the first time this summer since the birth of her third

child in January. Davenport, an Olympic gold medalist and three-time Grand Slam singles champion, will head up the Orange County Breakers team. “I am excited to be back in Orange County, and it will be great for my kids to get to see me play,“ said Davenport. “I have always loved playing on a team, so I am looking forward to getting back on the court.” The Philadelphia Freedoms selected former world number eight-ranked Mark Philippoussis with their first round selection. The popular Australian originally played for the Freedoms in 2002. He will be joined on the Freedoms squad by former world number four-ranked American James Blake. The 2012 season will mark Blake’s seventh WTT season and his first with the Freedoms. The Washington Kastles will try to build on their undefeated 2011 championship season with the all-American lineup of

Serena Williams and Venus Williams. The Boston Lobsters are bringing back one of the hottest ATP stars in the towering John Isner, who defeated Federer and led the U.S. Davis Cup team to a stunning 5-0 win over Switzerland in early February. The Sacramento Capitals will build their 2012 squad around America’s top-ranked male player, Mardy Fish. Currently ranked eighth on the ATP Tour in singles, Fish was also a major part of the U.S. Davis Cup team that dominated the Federer-led Switzerland team in early February. Dates for the marquee player appearances will be announced when the 2012 WTT League Schedule is released. Team lineups will be finalized at the WTT Roster Draft on March 13. Marquee players typically play a limited schedule, while roster players play the full season. Additional marquee players could be added prior to the start of the season.

2012 WTT Pro League Marquee Player Draft Selections (in draft order)

1. Philadelphia Freedoms: Mark Philippoussis (first round draft selection), James Blake (second round draft selection) 2. Springfield Lasers: No selection

3. Orange County Breakers: Lindsay Davenport (first round draft selection) 4. New York Sportimes: John McEnroe (first round protection), Martina Hingis (third round protection) 5. Kansas City Explorers: Bob and Mike Bryan (first round protection) 6. Boston Lobsters: John Isner (second round protection) 7. Sacramento Capitals: Mardy Fish (first round protection) 8. Washington Kastles: Serena Williams (first round protection), Venus Williams (second round protection) NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Darcy Novick arcy Novick is a long-time USTA league player who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 after a routine exam. Here is her story …

My favorite things have always come in twos. Diamond earrings, a pair of Aces, my tennis sneakers, my lucky number 33. Recently, I added my breasts to my MVP (Most Valuable Pairs) list. It was kind of strange actually. To be perfectly honest, I’d never really thought too much about them. Last December, I realized that there was one thing I really did like about them—the fact that they were a pair and they were mine. “The Girls” had been part of my anatomy since birth, and my recent diagnosis of breast cancer threatened that partnership … a frightening and unpleasant thought for sure. Through the next seemingly endless days, weeks and months of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, I discovered that I wasn’t alone in my battle. I was lucky to always have family and friends beside me to hold my hand, make me laugh and remind me that I was strong enough to emerge triumphant at the end of all the craziness. I learned so much through the course of my treatment, but there’s definitely one thing that will stay with me forever. I had some of the best specialists in the world taking care of me, and I will be forever grateful for their efforts, but it was my loved ones, my “buddies,” who saw me through it all. 48

The secret, the jewel of this situation: The doctors bring the medicine, but LOVE brings the magic. Magic for me came in the form of early morning cups of coffee left outside my door from a dear friend, weekly fresh flowers form a favorite neighbor, a decorated door when I came home from the hospital and much-needed nights of laughter on my couch with my “peeps” when I was too sick and tired to go out. It was these moments that buoyed my spirit, calmed my nerves and reminded me that, despite my circumstance, I really was fortunate, needed and LOVED! When “The Girls” and I received the “ALL CLEAR” from my first post-treatment scan, the gratitude and relief I felt was almost overwhelming. I’m feeling a bit better and at the point where I want to give back, do whatever I can to promote awareness, encourage early detection, help find a cure and to let people know that “Breast Friends” are the best friends because they can make all the difference in the outcome.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

Darcy formed “Bosom Buddies,” an idea that first came about when she decided to take part in the Making Strides walk in October for the American Cancer Society. She wanted a team name, and asked Diane Ventura to help her come up with one. “Bosom Buddies’ was formed. Darcy drew the logo and they had shirts made up for the walk. They were stopped during the walk by people wanting to purchase the shirt. The next day, Darcy trademarked the logo and formed the corporation. The goal of Bosom Buddies is to be a universally recognized symbol of the bond between those battling breast cancer, survivors, victims and the priceless support of those who love them. A portion of all proceeds is donated to the American Cancer Society. Bosom Buddies is Darcy’s small way of helping you remind your friends and the women you love that you stand with them in their fight against this dreaded disease. If you have a friend with breast cancer, give her a hug, a shoulder to cry on, and most importantly, a reason to smile. Be there. Tell her she’s beautiful. Take her to a movie or give her a Bosom Buddies shirt to support the cause and let her know she’s not alone. And on a happy tennis note—Darcy is back on the court. She had her first match in late January and won! To support Darcy’s cause, please visit TheBosomBuddies.com.

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Winter Metro Corporate Tennis League Action Underway The Winter Metro Corporate Tennis League season will feature 49 teams this year. This season, two new companies/teams, Opera Solutions and Blue Wolf Holdings, have joined in on the action. The following is a divisional breakdown: I Advanced Division: Seven teams I Advanced Intermediate Division: 17 teams I Intermediate Division: 24 teams

I Beginner’s Clinic Program: One team The 2012 Winter Metro Corporate Tennis League is scheduled to run the season until the first week of April. Playoffs will begin the second week of April and the divisional finals and end-of-season party will take place the third week of April. For more information, visit MetroTennis.com.

Julien Morel Joins Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club anhattan Plaza Racquet Club (MPRC) has announced the addition of its newest tennis pro, Julien Morel. Julien has many years of professional competitive and coaching experience, and began coaching ATP/WTA players on a part-time basis in 2000, including such players as Mary Pierce at the French Open 2000 (winner), Alexandra Stevenson at the French Open 2001 (advanced to the third round), and Venus and Serena Williams at the 2001 U.S. Open (both made the Finals). Born in Rouen, Normandy, France, Julien started playing tennis at the age of four and competed in national and international junior tournaments until 1991. Julien turned professional in 1992 and played on the ATP tour until 2001. Julien’s best ATP rankings include 680th in singles and 540th in doubles. Following his move to New York City in 2001, Julien has

taught at various tennis clubs in New York City, such as the Columbus Racquet Club (2001), Tennisport Inc. (2001-2008), CityView Racquet Club (2008-2012), and now with MPRC. Julien teaches tennis to all levels and ages, and enjoys giving technical instruction, as well as teaching endurance training to children and adults. Julien is the brother of MPRC International Tour Coach Olivier Morel. Julien is a few years younger than Olivier, but the two trained together in France for a short period as youngsters and then went their separate ways. Olivier said, that in France, the government pays fully for sports training, and that is a good system, but added that the government does not pay for tournaments and travel. Olivier coached 2012 Australian Open winner and current world number oneranked women’s player Victoria Azarenka in 2010, Ana Ivanovic in 2011, and since last summer, Olivier has been coaching professional tennis player Sergei Bubka.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

United States Finishes Off Switzerland With 5-0 Davis Cup Sweep he United States defeated Switzerland in 2012 Davis Cup action, 5-0, as Americans Ryan Harrison and John Isner both had straight set victories to complete the sweep for the U.S. The matches, held on an indoor red clay court at the Forum Fribourg in Fribourg, Switzerland, saw Harrison win back-to-back tiebreakers against Michael Lammer in his debut at the Davis Cup, while Isner defeated Marco Chiudinelli, 6-3, 6-4. In doubles action, the team of Mike Bryan & Mardy Fish defeated Stanislas Wawrinka & Roger Federer, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Fish also defeated Wawrinka in their singles match, 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 9-7. This recent victory marked the United States’ third consecutive win on the road in the Davis Cup, all of which so far, have been on clay. The U.S. hasn’t had a 5-0

sweep since the first round of the Davis Cup in 2008 against Austria. With this first round victory, the United States will secure a spot in the World Group for the next year. This is the longest uninterrupted run they have had in the World Group, going back to 1989. Ryan Harrison’s victory debut took place at the age of 19 years and eight months, just a year older than Andy Roddick’s debut in 2001 and a month older than John McEnroe’s debut in 1978. “I learned that Isner can beat anyone at any time because no one has a chance if he plays the way that he plays and serves the way that he serves unless they play incredible tennis, incredible defensive tennis, because he plays first rate tennis,” said U.S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier. “Certainly we knew that Mardy and Mike could play good doubles. They proved

they could play clutch doubles against a world class team.” Friday, Feb. 10 Results I Singles A: Mardy Fish (USA) defeated Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI), 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 9-7 I Singles B: John Isner (USA) defeated Roger Federer (SUI), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 Saturday, Feb. 11 Results I Doubles: Mike Bryan & Ryan Harrison (USA) defeated Roger Federer & Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 Sunday, Feb. 12 Results I Singles C: Ryan Harrison (USA) defeated Michael Lammer (SUI), 7-6(0), 7-6(4) I Singles D: John Isner (USA) defeated Marco Chiudinelli (SUI), 6-3, 6-4

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

OFF THE COURT Spotlight on Artist Andrés A. Bella ndrés A. Bella was born in Queens, N.Y. in 1977. His passion for tennis started when he picked up a racquet for the first time at the age of four, eventually becoming captain and Most Valuable Player of the Quinnipiac University Division I Men’s Tennis Team. Andrés also discovered his passion for art at an early age, and combined both tennis and art into one, creating pieces using the very same materials with which the great game of tennis is played. Andrés’ concept is unique and is best when seen in person to grasp the complexity behind his work. For example, when looking at his piece titled “Celebrating Rafa,” one will notice that Nadal’s likeness was created using cut up tennis string and grommets, his shirt was made from tennis balls, and the blue portion on the canvas is actually overgrip. Another one of his popular pieces titled “Who Framed Roger Federer?” incorporates the exact model racquet that is synonymous with Roger, mounted on a grass court painted canvas, paying tribute to

Celebrating Rafa Federer’s reign at Wimbledon. Federer’s face was created using tennis string above the strung racquet, and then painted in black giving it a bold appearance. Roger’s face casts a wonderful shadow on the grass court canvas stamping his greatness at Wimbledon. Andrés is currently exhibiting the pieces mentioned above at the Midtown Tennis Club, along with another piece titled “Advantage, Roger.” If you are in the area we recommend that you to take a few minutes to stop in and see his great work.

Advantage, Roger For more information on Andrés A. Bella and his work, visit AndresBellaArt.com/tennis or he may be reached by phone at (203) 556-9115 or e-mail andres@andresbellaart.com.

Who Framed Roger Federer?

Jamie Loeb of Ossining Takes Singles and Doubles Titles at USTA Winter Nationals ixteen-year-old Jamie Loeb of Ossining, N.Y. swept the Girls 18s Singles and Doubles Titles at the 2011 USTA 18s Winter National Championships held in late December in Mesa, Ariz. Many of the nation’s top junior tennis players competed in eight USTA National Championships, the last major national junior championships of 2011, in five cities in Arizona last week. Loeb, the event’s number five seed, de-

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feated second-seeded Mayo Hibi of Irvine, Calif., 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, in the Girls 18s Finals.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

Later, Jamie teamed with Madeline Lipp of Lake Forest, Ill. to win the doubles title. She dropped just two sets in seven matches en route to the title. The win gives Loeb her second USTA Winter National title in as many years after winning the Girls 16s Title in 2010. Current professionals who own USTA Winter National titles include Christina McHale (12s, 2004); Donald Young (14s, 2002); Alexa Glatch (14s, 2002); and Jack Sock (12s, 2004, and 16s, 2008).

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Long Island’s Noah Rubin Wins ITF Event in Costa Rica

ong Island’s Noah Rubin downed the number five seed, Connor Farren of Northern California, in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, to win an all-American final at the 48th Copa del Café in Costa Rica. Rubin and Farren had played in late 2011 when Rubin had beaten the 17-year-old convincingly 6-2, 6-1 in a quarterfinals match, but this match was far more competitive. “It was just such an unbelievable experience in a beautiful country,” said Rubin after the win. “The tournament officials and the crowds were so supportive of me during the entire tournament and playing in front of them at night was fantastic, so exciting.” Rubin showed his customary mental toughness throughout and after falling behind a set. He rallied to even the match and then again in the final set when he went down an early break (0-2) he again rallied for the victory. “Aside from his terrific play, what I was most impressed with was his court presence and professionalism,” said Lawrence Kleger, Noah’s coach and executive director of tennis of Sportime Clubs of New York. “After the last point of the championship match in which he came back to win from a set down and 0-2 in the third, he gave a little fist pump and calmly walked up to shake hands. Like it was no big deal winning an ITF Level 1 event. It was a big deal! He is not a cocky kid but he does have deep inner confidence in his ability.” Rubin’s first ITF event was the qualifying of the U.S. Open juniors in September of 2011, and making good use of his wild cards, he has now won his first ITF title. Rubin will break into the top 100, jumping 60 spots to number 41. The last American to win at the Grade 1 hard court event was Madison Keys in 2009. Keys will made her Australian Open debut in January after winning a USTA Playoff in December to earn a main draw wild card. Keys fell in defeat to China’s Jie Zheng, the 38th-ranked player in the world, 2-6, 1-6. “As Noah’s dad and coach, I couldn’t be more proud of him both as an incredibly warm and wonderful son and as an astonishing tennis player,” said Eric Rubin. “He is just such an amazing individual.” Results from the 48th Copa del Café in Costa Rica I Boys Champion: Noah Rubin (15) of the United States I Boys Doubles Champions: Filip Bergevi (17) & Fred Simonsson (17) of Sweden I Girls Champion: Sachia Vickery 16 of the United States I Girls Doubles Champions: Laura Pigossi (17) of Brazil & Marcela Zacarías (17) of Mexico

Are the Inmates Running the Asylum? By Joel Ross

Several years ago at my sleepaway camp, there was an “incident” which illustrated to me the importance and urgency of switching to “synchronized teaching” at camp. “Synchronized teaching” is a system of instruction where every instructor on every court is teaching the same drills simultaneously. It enabled me to maintain control of our teaching program. The title character of the story was one of our best playing counselors, a 21-yearold who was very enthusiastic and whom I thought was one of our very best instructors at camp that summer. During pre-camp training with our tennis staff, I went over all the drills that I wanted them to use. Most of these drills are very fastpaced, and either technique- or strategy-oriented. They have been proven over time to be excellent training drills and games. When this incident occurred, the tennis director and I were both present. We had 10 courts being worked out on simultaneously, and each court had four students and one pro. The pro in question had our best campers. He knew the drills that we trained him in during pre-camp training. We made it clear that those were the drills to use.

At his own whim, he decided to use his own overhead drill. His drill came down to an overhead for one player around the service line with his opponent at or inside the opposite service line. The one hitting the overhead was given instructions to hit the overhead right through his opponent. His opponent was given instructions to return the overhead and defend his side of the net. My director and I noticed the drill right away. It didn’t look like anything we had taught the instructors in pre-camp training. We both immediately went over to see what he was doing. As soon as we got there, the one hitting the overhead nailed an overhead right at his opponent, who was standing inside the service line. It hit him in the upper thigh. The kid went down. He was 15-yearsold, one of our best players and he was in pain. I held my breath while imagining that this was going to be serious. He eventually recovered after about a half-hour and was able to return to the court. It was a scary moment, and we all got off lucky. He could have been seriously injured. It was a reckless drill. When we asked the instructor about it, he said that his coach uses it with the players on the team. We asked him why he didn’t ask us first if he could use it and he just shrugged. He just wanted to do it with his group.

Brent Shearer

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646.270.8371

tribecatennis@gmail.com

“‘Synchronized teaching’ is a system of instruction where every instructor on every court is teaching the same drills simultaneously.” This is a prime example of an “unsafe” drill. There are other times when instructors will implement their own drills which are pointless, boring or ineffective. We now use “synchronized teaching” at camp. Either I or the tennis director give the list of drills to be used that day to each instructor (the list changes daily). We give the instructors a “one-min. warning” before switching drills every 10 min. In one 90 min. class, we are able to get in around six to eight drill sequences. I believe it allows for a very energetic, purposeful and safe drilling environment on each court. When parents send their kids to camp, they expect that the instructors will be doing the right thing with their children. Most staffers at a tennis camp are great players, and at the same time, need to be taught how to handle a group of children on their court. “Synchronized teaching” enables directors/instructors to maintain control of their program, monitor the drills and maximize the overall experience for our campers. Joel Ross is the owner and director of Joel Ross Tennis & Golf Camp in Kent, Conn. Over the past 22 years, more than 5,000 campers have enjoyed the ‘Joel Ross’ tennis camp experience. Joel was New York State High School Singles Champion in 1967 and 1968 while playing for Westbury High School. He was Big 10 Singles Champion in 1971 while attending the University of Michigan and was featured on the cover of Tennis Magazine that year. He was player/coach of the U.S. Maccabiah Tennis Team in 1977 and won a gold medal in men’s doubles with his partner, Peter Rennert. He may be reached by e-mail at ROSSTennis@aol.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

a r k c c

Why Does My Tennis Court

By Kevin J. Healion, CTCB

have heard this question repeatedly over the past 35 years. I asked that same question when I first started repairing tennis courts in 1976. At an early age, I learned to patch tennis courts and apply rubber and color coatings. Repairing cracks was the most difficult. We would fill cracks with all types of fillers that were recommended by the same manufacturers that sold the color material. So often, we would hear of new fillers and try it without success. In addition, the installation of fabric membranes over the cracks were thought to be a sure fix. We soon learned that not only did it not work, but it often led to the membrane lifting and it became a tripping hazard which was dangerous and more costly to fix than just crack filling. We also came up with our own idea of heating the asphalt back up and filling with hot asphalt, tamping and applying color, but as soon as winter came along or a moderate change in temperature occurred, the crack would be back. Understanding the basic properties of asphalt paving is very important to understanding cracking on the court. First, asphalt is the most common type of material used in building a hard-type tennis court surface. Private tennis courts and public tennis courts, like schools and public parks, use an asphalt base with a colored playing surface on top. There are many reasons why an asphalt tennis court will crack, the most common being “age.” Asphalt is, in simple terms, a slow-curing concrete. When new, asphalt will stay pliable and soft, when compared to poured

concrete. When new, asphalt can withstand the severe winter cold because it can flex with the heave of a frost. As time passes, asphalt becomes harder as it cures. This process of hardening or curing happens over a period of 10 years or so, depending on the type of asphalt used. Once the asphalt is cured, it unfortunately becomes brittle. The oils that make the asphalt pliable begin to dry out, subsequently shrinking the area. Once brittle, a frost or change in temperature stresses the asphalt and a crack begins, small at first, but it grows in width and length as time goes on. In the winter, rain water fills inside the crack, freezes, then expands the crack wider resulting in the crack growing in length as well. Another type of crack may develop from other means, such as settling or sinking areas, which is a clear sign of poor subbase construction and poor compaction. Cracking, resulting from severe settling is typically caused by something buried under the tennis court surface which will essentially make the tennis court unusable. Rebuilding the tennis court is the best option with special attention given to the sunken area in this case. Repairing a crack is really a perpetual maintenance issue. No one can really permanently repair a crack once it has developed. A contractor can fill a crack or cover a crack using a membrane, but the truth is, the crack will return, typically after the winter months. A better question to ask is: “Which method of repair will last the longest?” Filling a crack is the most inexpensive way to repair or maintain a cracked court. It is also is the least effective and is consid-

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

ered a temporary fix used for cosmetic purposes lasting just one season. I must also mention that the color of the repairs will never match the old color due to sun fading and color batch differences. It still remains important to maintain these repairs in order to slow the deterioration of your court surface and make it at least playable. One method, which is newer in design and is recognized as an option of the American Sports Builders Association is “Armor Crack” repair or “RiteWay” Crack systems. These systems are considered temporary repairs, but seem to last longer than the typical filling, sometimes up to five years. It is basically a series of membranes over a filled crack that is designed to bridge the crack. While the crack may return, it will not reflect through the surface. This process is more expensive to apply, but will relieve the owner of the anguish of seeing a crack every season, for a while anyway. It should be noted that this type of repair should be considered when it is time to apply a color system over the whole tennis court. The decision of the type of repair is often a difficult one and depends largely on the owner’s expectations and budget. Unfortunately, there is always a point where these perpetual repairs will exceed the cost of rebuilding the tennis court base. As you can see, there are many reasons for cracking and I hope I have shed some light on this affliction which has plagued both private and public tennis court owners. Kevin J. Healion, CTCB of Deer Park, N.Y.based Century Tennis Inc. may be reached by phone at (631) 242-0220 or e-mail Kevin@CenturyTennis.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

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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.

SIRM-NY Welcomes Metropolitan Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine We are pleased to welcome Michael Bennett L.Ac., Dipl. O.M. from Metropolitan Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine to 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 d you u know w thatt Acupuncture e can n positively impact yourr chances s to o conceive? Itt is s a safe e and d scientifically-proven n method d to o enhance fertility y and d increase e your r chances s off conception! At Metropolitan n Acupuncturee & Herball 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. Wee aree thee officiall acupuncturee and d herball medicinee practicee forr thee renowned d Sherr Institutee forr Reproductivee Medicinee in n Manhattan.

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Metropolitan n Acupuncture e & Herball Medicine,, LLC 425 5 Fifth h Avenue e att 38th St.. | Third d Floorr | New w York,, NY Y 10016 6 | Office:: 347.565.4255 NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine 57

USTA Billie Jean King NTC to Host U.S. Open National Playoffs Eastern Sectional Qualifiers he USTA Eastern Section has announced that the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. will host the U.S. Open National Playoffs Eastern Sectional Qualifying Tournament, June 1117, 2012. The U.S. Open National Playoffs will again include both men’s and women’s singles and mixed-doubles in 2012. The USTA created the U.S. Open National Playoffs to expand the footprint of the U.S. Open to cities nationwide by providing the opportunity for all players 14 years of age and older to earn a berth into the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open National Playoffs men’s and women’s singles champions earn a wild card into the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament, held the week prior to the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open National Playoffs mixed-doubles champions receive a main draw wild card into the 2012 U.S. Open. The U.S. Open National Playoffs begin as a series of sectional qualifying tournaments, held in 13 USTA Sections throughout the country, including Flushing, N.Y. The 13 men’s, women’s and mixed-doubles champions from each sectional qualifying tournament will advance to the U.S. Open National Playoffs–Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles and Mixed-Doubles Championship. All three tournaments will be held in conjunction with the New Haven Open at Yale, presented by First Niagara, a U.S. Open Series event. The U.S. Open National Playoffs–Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles Championship will be held Aug. 17-20. The U.S. Open National Playoffs–Mixed-Doubles Championship will be held Aug. 22-25. “We are excited to have the playoffs return to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the third consecutive year,” said DA Abrams, executive director

of USTA Eastern. “The tournament is an amazing experience, and provides an opportunity for anyone with a dream and a love for the game to compete on the same courts where the U.S. Open will be played this summer.” Registration opens on March 15 at USTA.com/Tennislink. The entry fee is $100 for singles and $120 for each mixed-doubles team ($60 per player). All players competing must have a current USTA membership valid through Aug. 27, 2012. Participants can be of any playing level, from aspiring novice to seasoned professional, giving everyone an equal opportunity to advance. Additional information can be found at USOpen.org/NationalPlayoffs. “For the third year, we again expect strong singles and mixed doubles competition among top junior players, collegians, teaching professionals, ‘weekend warriors,’ and recreational players to earn their way into the U.S. Open,” said Jeff Ryan, U.S. Open National Playoffs Tournament Director. “The New Haven Open at Yale will also again serve as an ideal host for the championships, as it is a wonderful setting, never mind extremely convenient, for those winning players to travel to New York for the U.S. Open.” In all, 1,380 players (690 in men’s singles,

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

306 in women’s singles, and 384 in mixed-doubles) competed in the 2011 U.S. Open National Playoffs, ranging from experienced professionals (including former doubles world number two-ranked and 2001 Australian Open mixed-doubles champion Ellis Ferreira, two-time ATP singles champion Jeff Tarango, and former NCAA singles champions Amanda McDowell and Bea Bielik) to recreational players of all talents and walks of life (including ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, who teamed with six-time U.S. Open champion Chris Evert in mixed-doubles, jewelry store owner and young-adult fiction writer Shawn Cormier of East Brookfield, Conn., 65-year-old senior USTA League player Glenn Baxter, of Granbury, Texas, and the teenage brother-sister team of Samantha and Harrison Adams, who won the USTA Texas Sectional Qualifying Tournament). In the end, former University of Arkansas All-American Blake Strode, who deferred Harvard Law School to pursue a pro tennis career, won the U.S. Open National Playoffs men’s title for a second straight year to earn a wild card into the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament, where he reached the second round (also for a second straight year). Teenager Robin Anderson won the U.S. Open National Playoffs women’s singles title, prevailing over a series of more experienced opponents. Anderson was a girls’ singles quarterfinalist at the 2010 U.S. Open and now plays for UCLA. The winners of the inaugural mixed doubles title were Christina Fusano and David Martin, who between them have won 34 USTA Pro Circuit doubles titles. The duo faced the number five seeds Daniela Hantuchova and Mark Knowles in the first round of the 2011 U.S. Open mixed-doubles tournament.

NEW YORK TENNIS CLUB

DIRECTORY

Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy @ CATS of 49th St. Geri Goetz, Director 235 East 49th Street • New York, NY 10017 (212) 832-1833, ext. 222 catsturtlebay@gmail.com CATSNY.com

Go! Tennis at North Shore Tennis & Racquet Club George Garland—Director of Tennis 34-28 214th Place Flushing, NY 11361-1720 (718) 224-6303 george@gotennisprograms.com

New York Tennis Club Lauren Hartman 3081 Harding Avenue • Bronx, NY 10465 (718) 239-7916 lhartman.nytci@gmail.com NewYorkTennisClub.com or AdvantageTennisNY.com

Cunningham Sports Center Bill Racho—Director of Junior Tennis Programs 196-00 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, NY 11366 (718) 740-6800 bill@cunninghamsportscenter.com CunninghamSportsCenter.com

Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club Gertrud Wilhelm 450 West 43rd Street New York, NY 10036 (212) 594-0554 g.wilhelm@mprcnyc.com ManhattanPlazaRacquetClub.com or AdvantageTennis NY.com

Prospect Park Tennis Center Paul Campbell, Director of Tennis 50 Parkside Avenue • Brooklyn, NY 11226 (718) 436-2500, ext. 300 pcampbell@prospectpark.org ProspectPark.org/Visit/Activities/Tennis

Dick Savitt Tennis Center at Columbia University Gaurav Misra, Director 575 West 218 Street • New York, NY 10034 (212) 942-7100 gm320@columbia.edu GoColumbiaLions.com

Midtown Tennis Club Jennifer Brown—Director 341 8th Avenue New York, NY 10001 (212) 989-8572 midtowntennis@netzero.com MidtownTennis.com

UPCOMING

Roosevelt Island Racquet Club Tom Manhart—Assistant General Manager 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, NY 10044 (212) 935-0250 tmanhart@rirctennis.com RIRCTennis.com or AdvantageTennis NY.com

SPORTIME Randall’s Island Ted Dimond—Director of Tennis 1 Randall’s Island • New York, NY 10035 (212) 427-6150 randallsisland@sportimeny.com SportimeNY.com/Manhattan Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Joel Kassan—Tennis Director 725 Gateway Center Boulevard Bronx, NY 10451 (718) 665-4684 joel@gothamtennis.com StadiumTennisNYC.com USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Whitney Kraft—Director of Tennis Flushing Meadows Corona Park Flushing, NY 11368 (718) 760-6200 kraft@usta.com USTA.com West Side Tennis Club Bob Ingersole—Director of Tennis 1 Tennis Place • Forest Hills, NY 11375 (718) 268-2300 tennisdirector@foresthillstennis.com ForestHillsTennis.com/index.html

EVENTS

MARCH 2012 Fridays, March 9, 16, 23 & 30 Friday Night Tennis Parties Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue & 27th Street New York, N.Y. 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Round-robin doubles tournaments for 3.5 players or better For more information, call (212) 989-8572, ext. 104, e-mail MidtownTennis@netzero.com or visit MidtownTennis.com.

Saturday, March 10 Project Aces USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows Corona Park • Flushing, N.Y. Project Aces will introduce tennis to local school kids 10 and under at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Fridays, March 9, 16, 23 & 30 Carla’s Friday Night Tennis Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club (MPRC) 450 West 43rd Street New York, N.Y. Singles and Doubles NTRP 4.0 and Above 8:30 p.m.-11:00m p.m. For more information, call (212) 594-0554 or e-mail CPTennis@earthlink.net.

Monday, March 26 NYJTL Recreational Coach Workshop USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows Corona Park • Flushing, N.Y. 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. • Cost: $30 For coaches, parents and instructors who spend most of their time working with players of all ages. For more information, contact York Chu at (347) 458-2405 or e-mail ychu@nyjtl.org.

APRIL 2012 Fridays, April 6, 13, 20 & 27 Friday Night Tennis Parties Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue & 27th Street New York, N.Y. 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Round-robin doubles tournaments for 3.5 players or better Saturday, March 24 For more information, call 11th Annual Jana Hunsaker Memorial ITF (212) 989-8572, ext. 104, Wheelchair Tournament Fundraiser USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center e-mail MidtownTennis@netzero.com or Flushing Meadows Corona Park • Flushing, N.Y. visit MidtownTennis.com. Fridays, April 6, 13, 20 & 27 Carla’s Friday Night Tennis Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club (MPRC) 450 West 43rd Street New York, N.Y. Singles and Doubles NTRP 4.0 and Above 8:30 p.m.-11:00m p.m. For more information, call (212) 594-0554 or e-mail CPTennis@earthlink.net.

Saturday-Saturday, April 7-14 Longines Junior Tennis Challenge Invitational USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows Corona Park Flushing, N.Y. Monday, April 30 NYJTL Recreational Coach Workshop USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadow Corona Park Flushing, N.Y. 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. • Cost: $30 For coaches, parents and instructors who spend most of their time working with players of all ages For more information, contact York Chu at (347) 458-2405 or e-mail ychu@nyjtl.org.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW

YORK

RANKINGS

Boys & Girls Metro Rankings

16 ......Bojidar Todorov ............Rego Park, N.Y.

37 ......Douglas Mo..................Douglaston, N.Y.

38 ......Julia Kirsh ....................New York, N.Y.

17 ......Andrew Zucker ............New York, N.Y.

38 ......Spencer Bistricer..........New York, N.Y.

39 ......Rebecca Krupatkin ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

(as of 02/22/12)

18 ......Josh Charap ................New York, N.Y.

39 ......Kristjan Tomasson ........New York, N.Y.

40 ......Diana McCready ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

BOYS

19 ......William Trang ..............Staten Island, N.Y.

40 ......Rohil Vir Basu ..............New York, N.Y.

Metro Boys 12 Singles Rank ..Name............................City 1 ........Derek Lung ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Kemal Irfan Aziz ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 3 ..........Mitchell Mu ......................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 4 ........Eitan Khromchenko ......Staten Island, N.Y. 5 ........Christopher Tham ........Flushing, N.Y. 6 ........David Moldovan ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 7 ..........Derrick Mu ......................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 8 ........Gregory Thomas Coe ....New York, N.Y. 9 ........Ethan Finley ................New York, N.Y. 10 ......Stevan Stojkovic ..........Flushing, N.Y. 11 ......Philip Belmatch ............Staten Island, N.Y. 12 ......Shand Stephens ..........New York, N.Y. 13 ......Itamar I. Oron ..............New York, N.Y. 14 ......Oliver Jevtovic..............Astoria, N.Y. 15 ......Matthew Joshua Ross ..New York, N.Y. 16 ......Christopher Kolesnik ....Staten Island, N.Y. 17 ......Robert Shinder ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 18 ......Logan Gruss ................New York, N.Y. 19 ......Jonathan L. Molfetta ....Howard Beach, N.Y. 20 ......Michael Cooper Jr. ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

20 ......David Farina ................New York, N.Y.

Metro Girls 14 Singles

21 ......Ethan Moszkowski ......New York, N.Y.

Metro Boys 18 Singles

22 ......Massimo Costantini......New York, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

1 ........Keren Khromchenko ....Staten Island, N.Y.

23 ......Jordan Rey-Anatole......Brooklyn, N.Y.

1 ........David N. Zhukovsky......Brooklyn, N.Y.

2 ........Jenna B. Borenstein ....New York, N.Y.

24 ......Cameron Gruss ............New York, N.Y.

2 ........Sean J. Solomonoff ......New York, N.Y.

3 ........Vanessa Hanuman........Brooklyn, N.Y.

25 ......Jonathan Molfetta ........Howard Beach, N.Y.

3 ........Brad Gaffin ..................New York, N.Y.

4 ........Nicole Holloran ............Bayside, N.Y.

26 ......Leonardo Escudero ......Ozone Park, N.Y.

4 ........Alexander Pintilie ........New York, N.Y.

5 ........Zorriana B. Johnson ....New York, N.Y.

27 ......Cole Fluehr ..................Forest Hills, N.Y.

5 ........Ryo Kono......................New York, N.Y.

6 ........Jennifer Yu ..................Forest Hills, N.Y.

28 ......Daniel Usvyat ..............Forest Hills, N.Y.

6 ........Mark Semerik ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

7 ........Sarah Hirschfield..........New York, N.Y.

29 ......Frank Nicolazzi ............Flushing, N.Y.

7 ........Benjamin M. Erichsen ..Bronx, N.Y.

8 ........Julia Zbarsky................New York, N.Y.

30 ......Kevin Pertsovsky ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

8 ........Hugh Mo ......................Douglaston, N.Y.

9 ........Alexandra Sanford........New York, N.Y.

31 ......Mitchell Mu ..................Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

9 ........Ryan E. Villarruel ..........Staten Island, N.Y.

10 ......Marierose Apice ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

32 ......Gabriel Broshy..............New York, N.Y.

10 ......Teddy Drucker..............New York, N.Y.

11 ......Anna Maite Kaplan ......New York, N.Y.

33 ......Matthew Chin ..............Flushing, N.Y.

11 ......Enrique Torres ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

12 ......Victoria Zezula..............Ridgewood, N.Y.

34 ......Kumeil Hosain ..............New York, N.Y.

12 ......Jack Walla....................New York, N.Y.

13 ......Nicole Schnabel ..........Woodhaven, N.Y.

35 ......Adam Bryan Borak ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

13 ......Christopher Walla ........New York, N.Y.

14 ......Lydia Greer Weintraub ..New York, N.Y.

36 ......Marc Betito ..................Floral Park, N.Y.

14 ......Jonathan Cohen ..........New York, N.Y.

15 ......Cecilia Anne Swenson ..New York, N.Y.

37 ......Sam Krevlin..................New York, N.Y.

15 ......Mitchell Cheung ..........Woodside, N.Y.

16 ......Arianna Motta ..............Staten Island, N.Y.

38 ......Nick Papyan ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

16 ......Justin Selig ..................New York, N.Y.

17 ......Kiara Rose....................New York, N.Y.

39 ......Kristjan Tomasson ........New York, N.Y.

17 ......Michael Gross ..............Floral Park, N.Y.

18 ......Jennifer Richards ........New York, N.Y.

40 ......Kevin Yan ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

GIRLS

Metro Girls 12 Singles

Rank ..Name ..........................City

19 ......Sydney Lynn Katz ........New York, N.Y. 20 ......Sabrina Lee Abrams ....New York, N.Y. 21 ......Nicole Serras................Whitestone, N.Y.

21 ......Lantis Wang ................New York, N.Y.

Metro Boys 16 Singles

22 ......Dylan Friedman ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

1 ........Sydney Lynn Katz ........New York, N.Y.

23 ......Bryce Philip Kassalow ..New York, N.Y.

1 ........Jonathan Cohen ..........New York, N.Y.

2 ........Victoria Hanuman ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

24 ......Nicholas Rudman ........New York, N.Y.

2 ........Benjamin M. Erichsen ..Bronx, N.Y.

3 ........Juliana Kislin................New York, N.Y.

25 ......Javier Nathaniel Luna ..New York, N.Y.

3 ........Michael Jared Lesser ..New York, N.Y.

4 ........Jennifer Yu ..................Forest Hills, N.Y.

26 ......Daniel Helfgott ..............New York, N.Y.

4 ........Michael Jasienowski ....Middle Village, N.Y.

5 ........Rachel Okin..................New York, N.Y.

27 ......Joseph R. Reiner ..........New York, N.Y.

5 ........Jonathan Compres ......East Elmhurst, N.Y.

6 ........Dakota Fordham ..........New York, N.Y.

28 ......Shawn Jackson............Staten Island, N.Y.

6 ........Justin S. Selig ..............New York, N.Y.

7 ........Lia Kiam ......................New York, N.Y.

29 ......Zachary Jordan Lieb ....New York, N.Y.

7 ........Brad Gaffin ..................New York, N.Y.

8 ........Carolyn Brodsky ..........New York, N.Y.

30 ......Harry Portnoy ..............New York, N.Y.

8 ........Joshua Freud ..............New York, N.Y.

9 ........Victoria Zezula..............Ridgewood, N.Y.

31 ......Adam Bernstein............New York, N.Y.

9 ........Leonard Margolis ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

10 ......Danielle Kade ..............New York, N.Y.

32 ......Emil Nadybekov ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

10 ......Jordan A. Selig ............New York, N.Y.

11 ......Olga Drahanchuk ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

33 ......Blake Frank..................New York, N.Y.

11 ......Gregory Gon ................Flushing, N.Y.

12 ......Kyra Bergmann ............Forest Hills, N.Y.

34 ......Griffin Katz ..................New York, N.Y.

12 ......Ryo Kono......................New York, N.Y.

13 ......Anna Maite Kaplan ......New York, N.Y.

35 ......Max Adelman ..............New York, N.Y.

13 ......Anthony Santino ..........Douglaston, N.Y.

14 ......Brittny Jo Ferreira ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

36 ......Gabriel Broshy..............New York, N.Y.

14 ......Dillon McKenzie ..........Laurelton, N.Y.

15 ......Christina Huynh............Astoria, N.Y.

37 ......George Allen ................New York, N.Y.

15 ......Justin Ho......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

16 ......Patricia Obeid ..............New York, N.Y.

38 ......Jonathan Glinsky..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

16 ......Daniel Witke ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

17 ......Sonia Tartakovsky ........New York, N.Y.

39 ......Alex Huynh ..................Astoria, N.Y.

17 ......Jason Grunfeld ............New York, N.Y.

18 ......Charlotte May Mosler ..New York, N.Y.

40 ......Ian Leifer......................New York, N.Y.

18 ......Teddy Drucker..............New York, N.Y.

19 ......Isabelle Rovinski ..........New York, N.Y.

19 ......Mark Semerik ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

20 ......Stephanie Li ................New York, N.Y.

Metro Girls 16 Singles

20 ......Zachary Kaplan ............New York, N.Y.

21 ......Isabella Nicole Tushaj ..Bronx, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

21 ......David Farina ................New York, N.Y.

22 ......Gabriella Eitkis ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

1 ........Emi Lewis ....................New York, N.Y.

1 ........Denis Korol ..................Brooklyn, N.Y.

22 ......Christopher Huynh........Astoria, N.Y.

23 ......Sarah Finley ................New York, N.Y.

2 ........Vania Savic ..................Woodside, N.Y.

2 ........Evan Liberman ............New York, N.Y.

23 ......Jack Spiegel ................New York, N.Y.

24 ......Johnniesha Breiten ......Bronx, N.Y.

3 ........Dina Levy-Lambert ......New York, N.Y.

3 ........Andrew E. Hauser ........New York, N.Y.

24 ......Alexander Pintilie ........New York, N.Y.

25 ......Katherine Kachkarov ....Flushing, N.Y.

4 ........Jenna B. Borenstein ....New York, N.Y.

4 ........Horia George Negru......Middle Village, N.Y.

25 ......Alexander Newhouse....New York, N.Y.

26 ......Amalia Parrish..............Queens Village, N.Y.

5 ........Erika Tinalli ..................Brooklyn, N.Y.

5 ........Scott Glauber ..............New York, N.Y.

26 ......Alexander Fallone ........New York, N.Y.

27 ......Kiara A. Rose................New York, N.Y.

6 ........Sara Levy-Lambert ......New York, N.Y.

6 ........Nate Newhouse............New York, N.Y.

27 ......Lamar Hurt ..................New York, N.Y.

28 ......Sabrina Lee Abrams ....New York, N.Y.

7 ........Julia Zbarsky................New York, N.Y.

7 ........Xavier Pacthod ............New York, N.Y.

28 ......William Trang ..............Staten Island, N.Y.

29 ......Caroline Paige Kantor ..New York, N.Y.

8 ........Nicole Schnabel ..........Woodhaven, N.Y.

8 ........Andrew Penn................New York, N.Y.

29 ......Mitchell Cheung ..........Woodside, N.Y.

30 ......Miriam Aziz ..................Staten Island, N.Y.

9 ........Irina Titova ..................Brooklyn, N.Y.

9 ........Garrett Thomas Sopko..Brooklyn, N.Y.

30 ......Safraz Altaf Hamid........Brooklyn, N.Y.

31 ......Bella Kaplan ................New York, N.Y.

10 ......Keren Khromchenko ....Staten Island, N.Y.

10 ......Brett Robert Raskopf ....New York, N.Y.

31 ......Kevin Valdez ................Jamaica, N.Y.

32 ......Steffi Antao ..................Briarwood, N.Y.

11 ......Jennifer Yu ..................Forest Hills, N.Y.

11 ......Alexander Fallone ........New York, N.Y.

32 ......Andrew Penn................New York, N.Y.

33 ......Skyie Stamper..............Bronx, N.Y.

12 ......Nia Rose ......................New York, N.Y.

12 ......Oliver Mai ....................Little Neck, N.Y.

33 ......Travis Arffa ..................New York, N.Y.

34 ......Maryna Bohdanovska ..Brooklyn, N.Y.

13 ......Brittany Biggs ..............Bronx, N.Y.

13 ......Zachary Kaplan ..........New York, N.Y.

34 ......Nick Papyan ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

35 ......Alice Soares Pinho ......Woodside, N.Y.

14 ......Paolina Zanki................Astoria, N.Y.

14 ......Robert Millman ............New York, N.Y.

35 ......Benjamin Beruh ..........Bronx, N.Y.

36 ......Perene Wang................New York, N.Y.

15 ......Nicole Serras................Whitestone, N.Y.

15 ......Dan Ion Negru ..............Middle Village, N.Y.

36 ......Yihao Yang....................New York, N.Y.

37 ......Zoe Kava......................New York, N.Y.

16 ......Isadora Braune ............New York, N.Y.

Metro Boys 14 Singles

Rank ..Name ..........................City

New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ March/April 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ NYTennisMag.com

22 ......Isadora Braune ............New York, N.Y. 23 ......Shammiel Amoros ........New York, N.Y. 24 ......Electra Frelinghuysen ..New York, N.Y. 25 ......Lipika Raghunathan ....New York, N.Y. 26 ......Sarah Horne ................New York, N.Y. 27 ......Stefana Vujinovic..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 28 ......Val Leifer......................New York, N.Y. 29 ......Marion Goldberg ..........New York, N.Y. 30 ......Isabelle Rovinski ..........New York, N.Y. 31 ......Hannah Jaye Gendel ....New York, N.Y. 32 ......Hannah Spears ............New York, N.Y. 33 ......Danielle Kade ..............New York, N.Y. 34 ......Caitlin Ervine................New York, N.Y. 35 ......Grace Tom....................Rego Park, N.Y. 36 ......Patricia Obeid ..............New York, N.Y. 37 ......Victoria Hanuman ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 38 ......Donna Episcopio ..........Bayside, N.Y. 39 ......Emma Wrazej ..............New York, N.Y. 40 ......Rebecca Okin ..............New York, N.Y.

NEW

YORK

RANKINGS

17 ......Danielle Hupper............New York, N.Y.

96 ......Allan Ethan Magid ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

41 ......Daniel Kerznerman ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

25 ......Nicole Semenov ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

18 ......Annie Reiner ................New York, N.Y.

97 ......Robbie Werdiger ..........New York, N.Y.

45 ......Christopher Paul Auteri Staten Island, N.Y.

31 ......Anastasia Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y.

19 ......Sarah Horne ................New York, N.Y.

102 ....Steven Nazaroff............Brooklyn, N.Y.

47 ......Cameron Daniels..........Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

40 ......Brittny Jo Ferreira ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

20 ......Clair Harnett ................New York, N.Y.

103 ....Philip Belmatch ............Staten Island, N.Y.

49 ......Sachin Raghavan ........New York, N.Y.

45 ......Shelly Yaloz ..................Little Neck, N.Y.

21 ......Alicia Ng ......................Howard Beach, N.Y.

110 ....Matthew Joshua Ross ..New York, N.Y.

63 ......Andrew Arnaboldi ........New York, N.Y.

48 ......Christina Huynh............Astoria, N.Y.

22 ......Shayna Spooner ..........New York, N.Y.

112 ....Jonah Jurick ................New York, N.Y.

68 ......Alexis Cai ....................Woodhaven, N.Y.

55 ......Juliana Kislin................New York, N.Y.

23 ......Stefana Vujinovic..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

117 ....Henry Hochfelder ........New York, N.Y.

70 ......Joshua Gordon ............Staten Island, N.Y.

56 ......Katherine Kachkarov ....Flushing, N.Y.

24 ......Bianca Signore ............Staten Island, N.Y.

121 ....Christopher Kolesnik ....Staten Island, N.Y.

72 ......Douglas L. Mo ..............Douglaston, N.Y.

64 ......Alice Soares Pinho ......Woodside, N.Y.

25 ......Camille Price................New York, N.Y.

122 ....Eitan Khromchenko ......Staten Island, N.Y.

86 ......Michael Anzalone ........Howard Beach, N.Y.

65 ......Kyra Bergmann ............Forest Hills, N.Y.

26 ......Claire Keyte..................New York, N.Y.

125 ....Nicholas Rudman ........New York, N.Y.

90 ......Steven H. Koulouris ......Long Island City, N.Y.

73 ......Olivia Simone Morris ....Floral Park, N.Y.

27 ......Nicole Druzhinsky ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

128 ....Dylan Friedman ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

98 ......Victor Miglo..................Kew Gardens, N.Y.

76 ......Lia Kiam ......................New York, N.Y.

28 ......Lipika Raghunathan ....New York, N.Y.

132 ....Derek Lung ..................Brooklyn, N.Y.

99 ......Jonathan Selegean ......East Elmhurst, N.Y.

77 ......Sarah Finley ................New York, N.Y.

29 ......Paula Faltynowicz ........Flushing, N.Y.

135 ....Stevan Stojkovic ..........Flushing, N.Y.

105 ....Marcus T. Smith ..........Little Neck, N.Y.

81 ......Victoria Hanuman ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

30 ......Julia Greenberg............New York, N.Y.

136 ....Christopher Tham ........Flushing, N.Y.

113 ....Alex Knaff ....................New York, N.Y.

86 ......Olga Drahanchuk ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

31 ......Priscilla Signore ..........Staten Island, N.Y.

137 ....Lantis Wang ................New York, N.Y.

116 ....Matthew Balilo ............Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

87 ......Isabel Balilo..................Flushing, N.Y.

32 ......Zorriana Johnson ........New York, N.Y.

140 ....Mitchell Mu ..................Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

119 ....Alexander Pintilie ........New York, N.Y.

89 ......Miriam Aziz ..................Staten Island, N.Y.

33 ......Sofia Aisiks ..................New York, N.Y.

143 ....Itamar Oron..................New York, N.Y.

124 ....Gal Mathew Sossen......Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

90 ......Rachel Okin..................New York, N.Y.

34 ......Champagne Mills ........New York, N.Y.

150 ....Tyler Kats ....................Astoria, N.Y.

139 ....Jack Spiegel ................New York, N.Y.

99 ......Stephanie Li ................New York, N.Y.

140 ....Jun Yuminaga ..............Little Neck, N.Y.

100 ....Rosie Garcia Gross ......New York, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 14 Singles— Metro Region

147 ....Jacob Frisch ................New York, N.Y.

102 ....Carolyn Brodsky ..........New York, N.Y.

148 ....Edan Sossen ................Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

105 ....Diana Ellen Sosonkin....Brooklyn, N.Y.

38 ......Briel Biggs....................Bronx, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

150 ....James Rubin ................New York, N.Y.

111 ....Perene Wang................New York, N.Y.

39 ......Lydia Greer Weintraub ..New York, N.Y.

3 ........James Wasserman ......New York, N.Y.

40 ......Zoe Anderson ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

8 ........Oliver Sec ....................New York, N.Y.

Metro Girls 18 Singles

10 ......Alex Knaff ....................New York, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 18 Singles— Metro Region

11 ......Aleksandar Kovacevic ..New York, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

131 ....Charlotte Mosler ..........New York, N.Y.

13 ......Victor Miglo..................Kew Gardens, N.Y.

8 ........Andrew Adams ............South Richmond Hill, N.Y.

133 ....Olivia Lynch-Burgdorf ..Douglaston, N.Y.

14 ......Philip Raytburg ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

13 ......Richard J. Del Nunzio ..Forest Hills, N.Y.

137 ....Rebecca Fisch..............New York, N.Y.

15 ......Edan Lee Sossen..........Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

19 ......Jake Sosonkin..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

147 ....Rebecca Izyayeva ........Staten Island, N.Y.

16 ........Mitchell Ostrovsky ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

32 ......Eric R. Brinzenskiy........Staten Island, N.Y.

149 ....Johnniesha Breiten ......Bronx, N.Y.

20 ......Felipe P. Osses-Konig ..Rego Park, N.Y.

33 ......Joshua Yablon ..............New York, N.Y.

21 ......Cole Gittens..................New York, N.Y.

36 ......Stefan D. Ilic ................Forest Hills, N.Y.

23 ......Gal Mathew Sossen......Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

47 ......Courtney Murphy..........Bronx, N.Y.

24 ........Ananth Raghavan ........New York, N.Y.

58 ......Christopher Jou............Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

26 ......Marcus T. Smith ..........Little Neck, N.Y.

59 ......Christian Waldron ........Bronx, N.Y.

27 ......Alexander Thrane ........New York, N.Y.

62 ......Alexander Petrone ........Staten Island, N.Y.

30 ......Jack Haroche ..............New York, N.Y.

64 ......Ryoma Haraguchi ........New York, N.Y.

33 ......Ian Witmer....................New York, N.Y.

66 ......Justin Fields ................New York, N.Y.

35 ......Jordan D. Jordan..........Astoria, N.Y.

68 ......Dennis Druzhinsky ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

36 ......Ethan Nittolo ................Flushing, N.Y.

69 ......Leon Pan......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

46 ......Christian O. Gloria ........Queens Village, N.Y.

75 ......Joseph Vivaldi Motta ....Staten Island, N.Y.

(as of 01/30/12)

61 ......Alex Chao ....................New York, N.Y.

90 ......Ian Antonoff..................New York, N.Y.

BOYS

69 ......Cameron Gruss ............New York, N.Y.

109 ....Jeremy Kochman ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 12 Singles— Metro Region

84 ......Peter Lohrbach ............Little Neck, N.Y.

115 ....Justin Vijungco ............Forest Hills, N.Y.

90 ......Max Prohorov ..............Rego Park, N.Y.

116 ....Mikolaj Kevin Borak......Brooklyn, N.Y.

Rank ..Name............................City

96 ......Jared Fields ................New York, N.Y.

122 ....Zachary Yablon ............New York, N.Y.

6 ........Sumit Sarkar ................New York, N.Y.

106 ....Antony Jippov ..............New York, N.Y.

131 ....Daniel Kerznerman ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

9 ........Jeffrey Gorilovsky ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

107 ....Leonardo Escudero ......Ozone Park, N.Y.

135 ....Alexis Cai ....................Woodhaven, N.Y.

12 ......Gary C. Fishkin ............Staten Island, N.Y.

117 ....Evan liberman ..............New York, N.Y.

145 ....Mark Semerik ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

22 ......Sam V. Vagner ..............Staten Island, N.Y.

121 ....William Trang ..............Staten Island, N.Y.

149 ....Sean Solomonoff..........New York, N.Y.

28 ......Ethan Leon ..................Woodhaven, N.Y.

130 ....Andrew Hauser ............New York, N.Y.

150 ....Hugh Mo ......................Douglaston, N.Y.

38 ......Max Prohorov ..............Rego Park, N.Y.

136 ....Andrew Penn................New York, N.Y.

35 ......Ashley DelMissier ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 36 ......Olga Voronetskaya........Forest Hills, N.Y. 37 ......Hediye Karabay ............Flushing, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Juliana Nelkin ..............New York, N.Y. 2 ........Rachel Colton ..............New York, N.Y. 3 ........Charlotte Camacho ......New York, N.Y. 4 ........Sophia N. Schlossel......New York, N.Y. 5 ........Kimberly Salkin ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 6 ........Dina Levy-Lambert ......New York, N.Y. 7 ........Alexandra Samadi ........Staten Island, N.Y. 8 ........Sara Levy-Lambert ......New York, N.Y. 9 ........Michelle Khaimov ........Jamaica, N.Y. 10 ......Nicole Snegur ..............Staten Island, N.Y.

Boys & Girls Sectional Rankings

45 ......Jacob Kern ..................New York, N.Y.

118 ....Isabella Tushaj..............Bronx, N.Y. 126 ....Dakota Fordham ..........New York, N.Y. 128 ....Alexa Nobandegani ......New York, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Jessica Livianu ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Jessica Golovin ............New York, N.Y. 4 ........Arnelle Sullivan ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 5 ........Anna Ulyashchenko......Brooklyn, N.Y. 6 ........Sabrina Xiong ..............Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 14 ......Shayna M. Spooner ......New York, N.Y. 21 ......Isis Gill ........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 23 ......Sophia Kryloff ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 29 ......Yuka Lin ......................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 32 ......Julia D. Fisch................New York, N.Y. 36 ......Regina Furer ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 38 ......Jillian Rose Auteri ........Staten Island, N.Y. 39 ......Alexus Gill ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 45 ......Anastasiya Malinouskaya..Staten Island, N.Y. 46 ......Jennifer Richards ........New York, N.Y. 47 ......Brianna Williams .......... Brooklyn, N.Y. 48 ......Alexandra Koniaev........Forest Hills, N.Y. 68 ......Michelle Khaimov ........Jamaica, N.Y.

GIRLS

72 ......Julia Zbarksy................New York, N.Y.

56 ......Oliver Jevtovic..............Astoria, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 16 Singles— Metro Region

59 ......David Mizrahi ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

91 ......Dasha Kourkina............Brooklyn, N.Y.

61 ......Gabriel Sifuentes..........Flushing, N.Y.

3 ........Joshua Yablon ..............New York, N.Y.

6 ........Aleksandra Bekirova ....Brooklyn, N.Y.

93 ......Marierose Apice ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

64 ......Zachary Jordan Lieb ....New York, N.Y.

22 ......Lucas Pickering............Brooklyn, N.Y.

7 ........Sarah Rahman ............East Elmhurst, N.Y.

99 ......Ashley DelMissier ........Forest Hills, N.Y.

73 ......James Kandel Dill ........New York, N.Y.

23 ......Zachary Yablon ............New York, N.Y.

9 ........Dasha Kourkina............Brooklyn, N.Y.

109 ....Aleksandra Bekirova ....Brooklyn, N.Y.

79 ......Shand Stephens ..........New York, N.Y.

24 ......Win Smith ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

13 ......Chelsea Williams ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

123 ....Cecilia Anne Swenson ..New York, N.Y.

80 ......Logan Gruss ................New York, N.Y.

28 ......Ryoma Haraguchi ........New York, N.Y.

15 ......Jennifer Richards ........New York, N.Y.

131 ....Chelsea Williams ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

84 ......Derek Roskopf..............New York, N.Y.

31 ......Artemie Amari ..............New York, N.Y.

18 ......Jennifer Yu ..................Forest Hills, N.Y.

133 ....Lauren Munari..............Middle Village, N.Y.

85 ......David Moldovan ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

32 ......Richard Sec..................New York, N.Y.

21 ......Michelle Sorokko..........Douglaston, N.Y.

135 ....Keren Khromchenko ....Staten Island, N.Y.

94 ......Will Coad......................New York, N.Y.

33 ......James Wasserman ......New York, N.Y.

23 ......Lauren Munari..............Middle Village, N.Y.

138 ....Sofia Anouk Aisiks ........New York, N.Y.

52 ......Kemal Irfan Aziz ..........Staten Island, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 12 Singles— Metro Region

77 ......Jennifer Yu ..................Forest Hills, N.Y. 88 ......Patricia Obeid ..............New York, N.Y.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW

YORK

RANKINGS

147 ....Vanessa Hanuman........Brooklyn, N.Y.

89 ......Charlotte Camacho ......New York, N.Y.

217 ....James Wasserman ......New York, N.Y.

149 ....Victoria Sec..................New York, N.Y.

90 ......Dayana Agasieva..........Forest Hills, N.Y.

224 ....Win Smith ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

National Girls 16 Singles— Metro Region

91 ......Loulou Revson..............New York, N.Y.

363 ....Artemie Amari ..............New York, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

93 ......Sophia Schlossel ..........New York, N.Y.

440 ....Richard Sec..................New York, N.Y.

132 ....Nadia Smergut ............New York, N.Y.

95 ......Kimberly Salkin ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

458 ....Lucas Pickering............Brooklyn, N.Y.

164 ....Jessica Golovin ............New York, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

100 ....Arielle N. Griffin ............Jamaica, N.Y.

468 ....Sachin Raghavan ........New York, N.Y.

165 ....Ariana D. Rodriguez......Bronx, N.Y.

7 ........Ariana Rodriguez..........Bronx, N.Y.

104 ....Marylen Santos ............Jamaica, N.Y.

610 ....Ryoma Haraguchi ........New York, N.Y.

178 ....Hannah Shteyn ............Staten Island, N.Y.

9 ........Jessica Golovin ............New York, N.Y.

109 ....Anastasiya Malinouskaya..Staten Island, N.Y.

721 ....Joshua Gordon ............Staten Island, N.Y.

210 ....Lily Bondy ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

11 ......Nadia Smergut ............New York, N.Y.

110 ....Kyra Silitch ..................New York, N.Y.

801 ....Douglas L. Mo ..............Douglaston, N.Y.

251 ....Destiny Grunin ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

13 ......Hannah Shteyn ............Staten Island, N.Y.

127 ....Gabrielle Sullivan ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

995 ....Andrew Arnaboldi ........New York, N.Y.

408 ....Alexa Sara Meltzer ......New York, N.Y.

18 ......Lily Bondy ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

130 ....Kathleen Uy..................Elmhurst, N.Y.

24 ......Destiny Grunin ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

134 ....Allie Jackson................Rosedale, N.Y.

29 ......Stefanie Lineva ............Middle Village, N.Y.

135 ....Brianna Williams ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

National Boys 18 Singles— Metro Region

32 ......Alexa Sara Meltzer ......New York, N.Y.

138 ....Joanna Haich ..............Flushing, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

844 ....Arnelle Sullivan ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

35 ......Kimberly Salkin ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

143 ....Rachel Colton ..............New York, N.Y.

31 ......Andrew Adams ............South Richmond Hill, N.Y.

988 ....Elizabeth Tsvetkov........Brooklyn, N.Y.

42 ......Laura Maria Chitu ........New York, N.Y.

146 ....Nicole Snegur ..............Staten Island, N.Y.

90 ......Richard J. Del Nunzio ..Forest Hills, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 16 Singles— Metro Region

669 ....Stefani Lineva ..............Middle Village, N.Y. 679 ....Laura Maria Chitu ........New York, N.Y. 786 ....Anna Ulyashchenko......Brooklyn, N.Y.

45 ......Jessica Livianu ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

93 ......Alexander J. Petrone ....Staten Island, N.Y.

49 ......Elizabeth Tsvetkov........Brooklyn, N.Y.

272 ....Jake Sosonkin..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

National Girls 18 Singles— Metro Region

389 ....Daniel Kerznerman ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

390 ....Eric R. Brinzenskiy........Staten Island, N.Y.

60 ......Emily Safron ................New York, N.Y.

62 ......Anna Ulyashchenko......Brooklyn, N.Y.

Boys & Girls National Rankings

66 ......Sophia N. Schlossel......New York, N.Y.

(as of 02/22/12)

435 ....Stefan D. Ilic ................Forest Hills, N.Y.

91 ......Leighann Sahagun ......Queens Village, N.Y.

71 ......Briel Biggs....................Bronx, N.Y.

BOYS

507 ....Joshua Yablon ..............New York, N.Y.

126 ....Jacqueline R. Katz........New York, N.Y.

GIRLS

195 ....Ariana D. Rodriguez......Bronx, N.Y.

60 ......Arnelle Sullivan ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

76 ......Sophia Kryloff ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 77 ......Ilana Levich..................Staten Island, N.Y. 78 ......Shayna Spooner ..........New York, N.Y. 81 ......Erika Tinalli ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 94 ......Isis Gill ........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 97 ......Augusta Conway ..........New York, N.Y. 102 ....Nia Rose ......................New York, N.Y. 104 ....Christina Puccinelli ......New York, N.Y. 110 ....Anastasiya Malinouskaya..Staten Island, N.Y. 117 ....Allie Jackson-Hing ......Rosedale, N.Y. 122 ....Brianna Williams ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 123 ....Rebecca Fakas ............Little Neck, N.Y. 126 ....Brittany Biggs ..............Bronx, N.Y. 140 ....Jenna Borenstein ........New York, N.Y> 146 ....Vania Savic ..................Woodside, N.Y. 149 ....Michelle Khaimov ........Jamaica, N.Y.

National Boys 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 127 ....Sumit Sarkar ................New York, N.Y. 140 ....Jeffrey Gorilovsky ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 183 ....Gary C. Fishkin ............Staten Island, N.Y. 310 ....Sam V. Vagner ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 383 ....Max Prohorov ..............Rego Park, N.Y. 437 ....Ethan Leon ..................Woodhaven, N.Y. 532 ....Jacob Kern ..................New York, N.Y. 729 ....Kemal Irfan Aziz ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 874 ....Oliver Jevtovic..............Astoria, N.Y.

National Boys 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 25 ......James Wasserman ......New York, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 18 Singles— Metro Region

60 ......Oliver Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 69 ......Gal Mathew Sossen......Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

74 ......Edan Lee Sossen..........Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

6 ........Ariana D. Rodriguez......Bronx, N.Y.

88 ......Alex Knaff ....................New York, N.Y.

8 ........Emily Safron ................New York, N.Y.

106 ....Victor Miglo..................Kew Gardens, N.Y.

14 ......Leighann Sahagun ......Queens Village, N.Y.

120 ....Mitchell Ostrovsky........Brooklyn, N.Y.

15 ......Hannah Shteyn ............Staten Island, N.Y.

190 ....Felipe P. Osses-Konig ..Rego Park, N.Y.

23 ......Samantha P. Tutelman ..New York, N.Y.

198 ....Ananth Raghavan ........New York, N.Y.

25 ......Jacqueline Katz............New York, N.Y.

225 ....Alexander Thrane ........New York, N.Y.

26 ......Becky Shtilkind ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

227 ....Cole Gittens..................New York, N.Y.

32 ......Madison Gordon ..........New York, N.Y.

282 ....Philip Raytburg ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

37 ......Nadia Smergut ............New York, N.Y.

433 ....Marcus T. Smith ..........Little Neck, N.Y.

40 ......Destiny Grunin ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

610 ....Ian Witmer....................New York, N.Y.

43 ......Alexis Tashiro ..............Jamaica, N.Y.

629 ....Jack Haroche ..............New York, N.Y.

45 ......Angela Assal ................Bronx, N.Y.

715 ....Christian Gloria ............Queens Village, N.Y.

47 ......Katie Derienzo..............Douglaston, N.Y.

745 ....Jordan D. Jordan..........Astoria, N.Y.

49 ......Lily Bondy ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

846 ....Ethan Nittolo ................Flushing, N.Y.

51 ......Laura Chitu ..................New York, N.Y.

957 ....Alex Chao ....................New York, N.Y.

57 ......Alexa Sara Meltzer ......New York, N.Y. 66 ......Lisa Ventimiglia ............Bayside, N.Y.

National Boys 16 Singles— Metro Region

69 ......Allison Immergut ..........New York, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City

70 ......Manuela Velasquez ......Kew Gardens, N.Y.

26 ......Daniel Kerznerman ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

72 ......Jordan P. Zola ..............New York, N.Y.

33 ......Joshua Yablon ..............New York, N.Y.

80 ......Monica Gokhberg ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

100 ....Zachary Yablon ............New York, N.Y.

64 ......Jessica Golovin ............New York, N.Y.

National Girls 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 87 ......Aleksandra Bekirova ....Brooklyn, N.Y. 107 ....Dasha Kourkina............Brooklyn, N.Y. 142 ....Chelsea Williams ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 164 ....Jennifer Yu ..................Forest Hills, N.Y. 195 ....Jennifer Richards ........New York, N.Y. 212 ....Lauren Munari..............Middle Village, N.Y. 215 ....Michelle Sorokko..........Douglaston, N.Y. 319 ....Sarah Rahman ............East Elmhurst, N.Y. 359 ....Nicole Semenov ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 473 ....Anastasia Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 845 ....Shelly Yaloz ..................Little Neck, N.Y. 935 ....Christina Huynh............Astoria, N.Y. 971 ....Isabella Tushaj..............Bronx, N.Y. 982 ....Katherine Kachkarov ....Flushing, N.Y. 990 ....Brittny Jo Ferreira ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

National Girls 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 44 ......Jessica Golovin ............New York, N.Y. 45 ......Anna Ulyashchenko......Brooklyn, N.Y. 49 ......Jessica Melane Livianu Brooklyn, N.Y. 134 ....Arnelle Sullivan ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 158 ....Sabrina Xiong ..............Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 211 ....Shayna M. Spooner ......New York, N.Y. 248 ....Isis Gill ........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 375 ....Julia D. Fisch................New York, N.Y. 389 ....Sophia Kryloff ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 420 ....Yuka Lin ......................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 594 ....Anastasiya Malinouskaya..Staten Island, N.Y. 690 ....Jillian Rose Auteri ........Staten Island, N.Y. 708 ....Brianna Williams ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 730 ....Jennifer Richards ........New York, N.Y. 811 ....Regina Furer ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 842 ....Alexandra Koniaev........Forest Hills, N.Y. 977 ....Alexus Gill ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

234 ....Hannah Shteyn ............Staten Island, N.Y. 356 ....Samantha Tutelman ....New York, N.Y. 388 ....Becky Shtilkind ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 625 ....Madison Gordon ..........New York, N.Y. 637 ....Angela Assal ................Bronx, N.Y. 642 ....Dayana Agasieva..........Forest Hills, N.Y. 686 ....Arielle N. Griffin ............Jamaica, N.Y. 849 ....Manuela Velasquez ......Kew Gardens, N.Y. 883 ....Charlotte Camacho ......New York, N.Y. 966 ....Gabrielle Sullivan ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

USTA/Metropolitan Region

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. MARCH 2012 Friday-Sunday, March 2-4 & 9-11 +L1 Alley Pond Eastern Designated Closed Championships Bobby Kaplan Memorial L5 SE Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard • Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix BG (16)sd, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $70.38 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Feb. 20) For more information, call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, March 2-11 Sutton East Men’s March Open Championships Sutton East Tennis Club 488 East 60th Street • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked M (Op)s Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $70.38 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 11:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 751-3452. Friday-Sunday, March 2-11 2012 NCT Winter Senior Championships North Shore Tennis–Go! Tennis 34-28 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked: X (Op)d, SE; M (35,45, 55)s, SE; W (35)sd, SE; M (35)d; M (45,55)d, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $75.75 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Feb. 24 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 220-4172.

Saturday-Sunday, March 10-18 Roosevelt Island Men’s NTRP 4.0 Open Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked NM (4.0)s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $75.75 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 6 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 935-0250.

Friday-Sunday, March 23-25 Sportime Randall’s Island March Championships Sportime at Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: M (Op, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65)s, SE; W (Op)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $70.38 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, March 16 at 11:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 427-5650.

Friday-Sunday, March 16-18 & 23-25 L1B Sportime Randall’s Island March Challenger Sportime at Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG (18-16)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 427-5650.

Friday-Sunday, March 23-25 & March 30-April 1 +L1 Alley Pond Eastern Designated Closed Championships L5 FIC Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix G (16)s, FIC Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, March 12 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Sunday, March 16-18 L1B APTC’s March Challenger Alley Pond Tennis Center 79-20 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG (14-12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 454-6028.

Friday-Sunday, March 9-11 L3 Staten Island March UPS Championships Staten Island Community Tennis Center 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, N.Y. Divisions: Novice BG (18-12)s, RR Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, March 7 at 11:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 982-3355.

Monday-Sunday, March 19-25 Alley Pond Men’s & Women’s March Open Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 79-20 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked MW (Op)s, SE, X (Op)d, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $65 per player singles, $33 per player doubles (deadline for entries is Saturday, March 17 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 454-6028.

Friday-Sunday, March 9-11 & 16-18 L2O Sportime Randall’s Island Open Sportime at Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate B (14)s, SE; G (18-14)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Feb. 24 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 427-5650.

Friday-Saturday, March 23-24 L3 Sportime Randall’s Island March UPS Championships Sportime at Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Novice B (14)s, RR, G (14-12)s, RR Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, March 9 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 427-5650.

Friday-Sunday, March 23-25 & March 30-April 1 +L1 NCT G18 Eastern Designated Closed Championships L5 FIC Go! Tennis 34-28 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix G (18)s, FIC Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, March 12 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 224-6335. Friday-Sunday, March 23-April 1 2012 NCT March Classic Go! Tennis 34-28 214th Place • Bayside, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked X (Op)d; M (40)sd; NM (3.5-4.5)s; NW (3.0-4.0)s Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $75.75 per player, $38.13 per player doubles (deadline for entries is Friday, March 16 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 224-6335. Friday-Sunday, March 30-April 1 L2O NYTC 10 & Under March Open New York Tennis Club Indoors 3081 Harding Avenue • Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Quick Start BG (10 [78’ Court/Green Ball])s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, March 23 at 11:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 239-7919.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA/Metropolitan Region

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. Friday-Sunday, March 30-April 8 Sutton East Men’s March Open Sutton East Tennis Club 488 East 60th Street New York, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked M (Op)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $70.38 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 27 at midnight) For more information, call (212) 688-9759.

Saturday-Sunday, April 14-22 Roosevelt Island Robert Kelton Memorial Open Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked M (Op)s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $75.75 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 10 at 11:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 935-0250.

APRIL 2012 Monday-Friday, April 9-13 Alley Pond TC Men’s April Open Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked M (Op)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $65 per player (deadline for entries is Saturday, April 7 at 11:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 454-6028.

Wednesday-Tuesday, April 18-24 + USTA BJK NTC Men’s & Women’s Senior Sectionals USTA National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows Corona Park Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked M (35, 45, 55)s, SE W (35)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 6 at 10:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 760-6200.

Thursday-Sunday, April 12-15 New York Tennis Club April Open New York Tennis Club Indoor 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked M (35, 55, 65)s, Se W (Op, 35, 60)s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoors Entry Fee: $65.00 per player (deadline for entries is Thursday, April 5 at 11:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 239-7919.

Friday-Sunday, April 20-22 & 27-29 L2O Sportime’s April Open @ Randall’s Island Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate B (12)s, SE G (14-12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 427-5650.

Friday-Sunday, April 13-15 & 20-22 L1 Sportime Randall’s Island April 2012 Championships Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Championships B (14)s, SE, G (16-12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, March 30 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 427-5650.

Friday-Sunday, April 20-22 L1B APTC April Challenger Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG (18-14)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 454-6028.

Friday-Sunday, April 13-15 L2O Alley Pond Tennis Center April Open Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG (18-12)s, SE; BG (10 [78’ Court/Green Ball])s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, April 9 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Saturday, April 27-28 L3 April UPS @ Sportime Randall’s Island Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Novice BG (18-16)s, RR Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, April 13 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 427-5650.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine