New York Tennis Magazine March/April 2014 by United Sports Publications, Ltd.

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

March/April 2014 Volume 4, 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 12

Staff

Bob & Mike Bryan have dominated the doubles game since bursting onto the scene back in 1998. We take a closer at what the duo has left to accomplish as they set their sights on more Olympic Gold in Rio in 2016.

David Sickmen Publisher (516) 409-4444, ext. 309 • david@usptennis.com Joel M. Berman President (516) 409-4444, ext. 310 • joel@usptennis.com Eric C. Peck Editor-in-Chief (516) 409-4444, ext. 312 • eric@usptennis.com Joey Arendt Managing Art Director

Cover photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Feature Stories 28 BNP Paribas Showdown Caps Annual World Tennis Day By Dave Suskin

Francine Miller Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 • francinem@usptennis.com David Suskin Director of Marketing and Business Development (516) 409-4444, ext. 306 • suskin@usptennis.com

The pros came and left the Big Apple in early March, but not before providing the MSG crowd with an evening of great tennis before this summer’s U.S. Open brings the pro game back to New York.

36 2014 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide With summer right around the corner, we present the area’s top tennis camp destinations and what they have to offer your child for the summer of 2014.

Brian Coleman Editorial Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 314 • brianc@usptennis.com Emilie Katz Marketing Coordinator Beverly Bolnick National Sales Manager (516) 409-4444, ext. 316 Scott Koondel Office Manager (516) 409-4444, ext. 324 Lonnie Mitchel Editorial Contributor

Michele Lehat Intern

Michael Cervantes III Editorial Contributor

Sasha Lipps Intern

Doubles Trouble: The Bryan Brothers Look to Maintain Doubles Dominance

Additional Features 4 6 11 17 17 22 30 34 50 55 62 66

The Secrets of Spanish Tennis By Chris Lewit Finding the Right College Program By John W. Sherwood Fast Forward: Tennis Is Ready for Change By Cliff Drysdale Centercourt Athletic Club Named USTA Member Organization of the Year Centercourt Hosts Coach Chuck Kriese for Junior Clinics The Percentage Game By Cosmin Cotet Is Tennis (in the U.S.) in Trouble? By George Garland Questions to Ask Before Skipping College to Turn Pro By Steven Kaplan How to Get the Most Out of Your Adult Tennis Class By Andy Stuber Queens College Tennis Bubble Gets Lighting Upgrade Doubles Specialist Ross Hutchins Fights Back From Cancer By Andrew Eichenholz Which Should be More Consistent? The Forehand or Backhand? By Bill Longua

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

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

Subscriptions To receive subscription information, contact (516) 409-4444 or email 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.

Columns 10 16 18 20 24 52 56 58 61 64 67 68 71 72

Metro Corporate League Recap, Presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs The Jensen Zone: Finding Comfort in Your Racquet By Luke Jensen Court Six: New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz The Theory of Exaggeration By Gilad Bloom USTA Metro Region Update College Tennis Spotlight By Ricky Becker I Suck! How to Tame Negative Self-Talk By Rob Polishook, MA, CPC The Serve: Let’s Finally Fix Your Serve Toss By Lisa Dodson Adult League Recap By Deborah-Rose Andrews Tips From the Tennis Pro: Stay Out of No Mans Land … Seriously? By Richard Thater New York Tennis Club Directory New York Rankings USTA/Metropolitan Region 2014 Tournament Schedule Upcoming Events

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Secrets of Spanish Tennis BY CHRIS LEWIT pain currently has 14 players in the ATP top 100, quite a feat for a relatively small country. Players and parents often ask me: What have the Spanish been doing so well in the last 20 or 30 years to produce so many world-class players? What are the secrets to their success? Over the last six years, I have been studying the Spanish system with many of the most well-known, legendary Spanish coaches, including Lluis Bruguera and William “Pato” Alvarez, giving me a unique inside perspective about the Spanish way of training. Here are six common core elements that are seen across the different training systems in Spain and that have contributed to Spanish success.

1. Footwork and balance Spanish coaches are obsessed with training footwork and balance. Training on clay can assist the coaches as they strive to create world-class, graceful and efficient movers on the courts. 4

For the Spanish, tennis is a running game that requires great agility and balance. Spanish coaches believe in teaching players to move well in all directions, 360 degrees, including a strong emphasis on moving backwards diagonally for defense. Spanish players are taught from an early age to adjust to the incoming ball and to position the body in an optimal, balanced way, so that they can hit the ball with power, accuracy and consistency. Other systems talk about footwork, but in Spanish pedagogy, footwork is the highest priority. 2. Racquet speed and weapon building Most Spanish coaches are also obsessed with building huge racquet speed—maximum acceleration, to create a heavy topspin and power ball. There are many Spanish exercises that are taught to the players to help them develop acceleration. Playing on clay regularly also helps develop power and spin. Spanish coaches tend to over-

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

weigh the forehand in development, preferring to build a big heavy, topspin forehand that can be used to dictate points. When you look at Spanish champions like Sergi Bruguera from the 80s and 90s and current superstar Rafael Nadal, you can see clear examples of the protypical Spanish forehand weapon. 3. Consistency A hallmark of all Spanish players is consistency from the baseline. The majority of Spanish training is done around the baseline working on developing rock solid groundstrokes that never miss. This helps to give the Spanish players a confidence during extended rallies. In Spain, the coaches strongly emphasize patience during rallies, making fewer mistakes than one’s opponent, and not beating oneself with unforced errors. In Spanish systems, footwork is the key to creating groundstroke consistency. 4. Defense Unlike many other training systems, especially in the U.S. historically, Spanish

coaches tend to build players’ games from the defensive perspective. This means players are taught to counterattack as means to victory, as well as the traditional attacking strategy. In practice, this means that many drills are designed to force a player into a defensive or counterattacking position before the players can switch to the offense. The concept of defending against and defusing an opponent’s power and weapons is highly prized and valued in the Spanish model, and players learn that frustrating an opponent with great defense is often as rewarding as hitting a glorious winner, and can be a powerful tool of psychological warfare. 5. Physical training Another hallmark of the Spanish style of training is a strong focus on physical conditioning, especially off-court stamina, strength and injury prevention work. Many academies in Spain dedicate nearly half of their training to physical and athletic development, and they do a

lot of prehabilitation work to prevent injuries before they happen. Thus, Spanish players tend to be very strong physically, don’t break down as much in the latter parts of matches, and stay healthy and injury free for longer periods of time than many of their peers from other countries. Spanish players also tend to be very resilient physically, and they bounce back quickly when injuries do present themselves. Many other systems tend to overweight the tennis training so much, they develop great ball strikers but with fragile injury prone frames and athleticism that is not at the highest level of the game.

age that suffering and overcoming high levels of pain and fatigue on the court are true qualities of a champion, and young Spanish players desire to have the heart and fight of famous Spanish champions of the past and present, like Bruguera, Ferrero, Moya and Rafa, among many others. If there is any one commonality among the teaching systems across all of Spain, surely the principle of learning to suffer and fight to the end, is a very important one. To learn more about The Spanish Way, visit www.secretsofspanishtennis.com or www.chrislewit.com.

6. Suffering (mental toughness) The hard work the Spanish put in on the physical conditioning side undoubtedly plays a major role in their mental toughness. There is a saying in Spain that: “The Spanish players love to suffer,” and indeed, the Spanish coaches actually teach the principle of suffering to their players. Spanish players learn from an early

Chris Lewit, a former number one for Cornell and pro circuit player, directs the Chris Lewit Tennis Academy (CLTA) in New York City. CLTA specializes in training aspiring junior tournament players/ using authentic and progressive Spanish and European training methods. His new book, Secrets of Spanish Tennis, will be published by New Chapter Press in September of 2014.

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE PROGRAM s you begin the college search process, looking to balance your academic and athletic needs, there are a few secrets that will help ensure your success in finding a program that is right for you. Unfortunately, too many players find themselves in a college tennis program where one’s game stagnates or erodes, where one feels athletically unchallenged, or perhaps, one finds themself just outside of the starting lineup. College tennis should be one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences a young tennis player has in their tennis career. In selecting a college, the education and the educational support a school offers should be the most important part of your decision. Period! Your college degree provides the foundation for success in your life. Having said that, listed below are a few tips to consider when choosing a college tennis program for you.

able online tool in helping a player understand the basic dynamics of a college tennis team. Players can find both Men’s and Women’s teams for NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, NJCAA and CCC Schools, listed by conference and school name. Players should ask the following questions: l Over the past two years, what level or star ranking players have been recruited to this school? l How do I compare to these players? l Where are the players from … local or abroad? Top programs typically target highly-rated players from both the U.S. and abroad. Some schools favor American players, some foreign, while others like a balance between the two. Still other schools may draw a majority of their players from certain geographical regions within the U.S. or favor local players for whom the coaches may be more familiar. Tennis Recruiting Network can help you understand these basic recruiting trends for each school so you can better target your search.

Do your homework Tennis Recruiting network (TRN) is a valu-

Visit the school’s Web site Questions to ask yourself as you review

By John W. Sherwood

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

the school’s site include: l Who are the coaches and what is their contact information (e-mail and phone)? l How long has the coach been a part of the school’s program? This will provide insight in the stability of the program and build confidence that the coaches recruiting you will more likely be the ones you will be guided by during your four years of eligibility. l What is the coach’s background and coaching philosophy? Does it match your own? l What is the team’s match schedule? What is the strength of that schedule? What is the mix between dual matches, tournaments, and post season play? l Does the coach allow/promote you to play tournaments outside of your schools competition schedule? l How many players on the team graduate the year before you become a freshman? This will give you an idea as to how many openings a coach may have to fill for the year you will be joining as a freshmen. Typically, teams look for one to three new players each season.

l How does the team’s freshmen’s TRN rankings compare to your own? Where did they play in the lineup? What were their results? Be aware that the coach’s job is to recruit the “best players” they can each year and they typically will recruit for the top of the lineup. This results in players being pushed down the lineup. So, if you select a team where you are fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth in the lineup your freshman year, and if players above you are not “graduating” out of the lineup, you run the risk that the new recruits may push you lower, or out of the lineup entirely. Look for a school where you can start at least in the third or fourth position as a freshman. Your goal is to improve your game and having a few teammates stronger than you will provide you with good practice partners as you build your foundation in your freshman year and strengthen your game during season match play. This way, you are better prepared to improve or defend your position in the lineup your sophomore and subsequent years.

Understand the tennis facilities and training support at the school l Where does the team practice and play? The quality of college tennis facilities vary widely, from world-class courts and amenities, to renting courts at local clubs, to practicing on multisport gym floor surfaces. l How are the outdoor and indoor facilities? The number of courts for each? Some schools have top-notch outdoor facilities, but limited on-site indoor court access or off-site indoor courts. A minimum for adequate practice and match play would be six indoor and six outdoor. l What is the access to these facilities? Understand if your facility is dedicated to varsity tennis or has additional clients to serve such as gym classes, members and/or faculty, and the times they are allotted to use the courts. NCAA rules limit how much formal, structured practice time you can have with your coach. In most cases, this is less total practice time than many top junior players put in

prior to college. If your goal is to continue to improve during your college career, you will need to find additional practice time on your own. So easy and convenient access to courts is important. Travel time to offsite courts or clubs eats up valuable practice and study time. l What type of fitness and training facilities do they have? What time(s) do you and your team have access to them? How well equipped are they? l What is the quality of the trainers? Are they generalists or do they have specific knowledge in training tennis players? How well do they know the game, techniques, skills and training regimens that will help you excel and develop as a player? This makes a big difference. Connect with the coach Reach out to the coach and get to know them and help the coach get to know you. Develop a relationship within the continued on page 8

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

the right college progam continued from page 7 NCAA recruiting guidelines. Send an email expressing your interest and perhaps asking a few questions that will let you learn more about the program and the coach. Ask about their coaching and training philosophy as you will be spending a lot of time with this person practicing, training and traveling to matches. Make sure your philosophies are aligned. You will be influenced by this person during your four years of college. Look beyond just their tennis knowledge and assess their character by asking the following questions: l Will this person be a good mentor and role model for you and your teammates? l Is this someone you can trust and respect? l Can he/she help you grow as a person, player and student? l Does he/she possess the tennis IQ to have a positive impact on your development as a player? l Is he/she willing to help you achieve your individual tennis goals in conjunction with the team’s goals? l Will the coach help you transfer/release you from the school in a manner that does not hurt your eligibility elsewhere if the school/program turns out not to be a good fit?

Market yourself If you are a highly-ranked TRN player (Blue Chip, 5-Star and 4-Star players), you will likely have a slightly easier road. Typically, you will have played top national events and some ITF tournaments, and coaches from top tennis schools may already have some insight into who you are as a player. You may have interacted with them at recruiting events in the past. However, you will still need to do the work and contact schools and coaches. l You should develop a spreadsheet of target schools during your freshman or sophomore year of high school. Include the school name, coaches’ names, e-mails and phone numbers. Know that the list will change and evolve throughout your high school years. l E-mail the coaches of the prospective schools, developing a regular, but not excessive, schedule of contact. l Go on both unofficial and official visits. l Create a video between three to five minutes, including all key shots and highlight your specific strengths (big serve, forehand, etc.). Include match play with a well-balanced partner or opponent to show your skills in a competitive situation.

l Link your video and any articles about you to your TRN account and send the links directly to coaches, as well as posting them on YouTube with limited access. l Send e-mails updating coaches on key tournament results and share your practice and training routines. l Respond to all inquiries coaches send you. Network with all the coaches who have reached out to you even if you believe that you may not be a good fit for a specific school. It will be productive because these coaches may know another coach, school or program that would be a great fit for you. l Ask coaches for help and guidance. l Many schools have summer tennis camps so discuss this option with the school’s coach. If they are actively involved, interacting at tennis camps may be a great way for you to really get to know the coach and for them to get to know you and see you play. Here are just a few of the sites and resources you may wish to explore to assist with your college search process: l Tennisrecruiting.net l Intercollegiate Tennis Association: ITATennis.com l USTA College Tennis: USTA.com l Collegetennisonline.com l NCAA Eligibility Center: web1.ncaa.org l Fee based consulting services: l Scholarship for Athletes: Scholarshipforathletes.com l NCSA Athletic Recruiting: NCSASports.org l Donovan Tennis Strategies: DonovanTennis.com John Sherwood is a USPTA Elite Professional and USTA High Performance Coaching Graduate. John played Division I tennis for the University of Toledo, after which, he embarked on a business career running national sales organizations, then structuring and operating small business turnarounds. John is currently the director of High Performance Tennis for Centercourt Athletic Club in Chatham, N.J. He may be reached by phone at (216) 4031374 or e-mail j1sherwood@aol.com.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

he Metro Corporate Tennis League, presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs, is a joint initiative of the Metrotennis Community Tennis Association (MCTA) and the USTA/Eastern–Metro Region. Our League is divided into three levels of play, Intermediate (3.0-3.5), Advanced Intermediate (4.0) and Advanced (4.5+). We also offer an Advanced Beginner Clinic program for teams that are not ready to compete. Please help us congratulate last season’s winners (Fall 2013), HBO (Intermediate Division), Credit Agricole (Advanced Intermediate Division), and Bloomberg (Advanced Division). We wish them luck as they move up a level in our current Winter 2014 season. On Feb. 3, we kicked off the Winter 2014 season at CityView Racquet Club. We have a total of 44 teams competing and three teams in training (Advanced Beginner Clinic Program). The following is our roster for this season:

Advanced Division 1. NYJTL 2. Bloomberg 3. BNP Paribas 4. Ernst & Young 5. Barclays 6. Cleary Gottlieb 10

7. PwC 8. Goldman Sachs Advanced Intermediate Division I 1. Bloomberg 2. BNP Paribas 3. Barclays 4. HBO 5. Nielsen 6. Opera Solutions LLC Advanced Intermediate Division II 1. Proskauer Rose 2. Bank of America 3. Deutsche Bank 4. Cleary 5. Google 6. Bloomberg 7. Credit Suisse 8. Horizon Intermediate Division I 1. Bloomberg 2. Paul Weiss 3. Fried Frank 4. Sullivan 5. HBO 6. ING Intermediate Division II 1. Practical Law

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

2. Ipreo 3. Moody’s 4. MSCI 5. NY Times 6. PVH Group (Tommy Hilfiger) Intermediate Division III 1. PwC 2. Deutsche Bank 3. Schulte 4. D.E. Shaw & Company 5. Cleary Intermediate Division IV 1. Google 2. Sidley 3. Highbridge Capital 4. Bank of Tokyo 5. White & Case We would like to welcome Tommy Hilfiger (PVH Group) and Practical Law to our corporate team roster as they join us for the first time. The Winter Season will run through mid-April, culminating with an end-of-season party at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. If you are interested in joining the League or finding out more information, please visit www.metrotennis.com (under the “Corporate” tab) or e-mail Luis Espinoza at luis@metrotenis.com.

Fast Forward: Tennis Is Ready for Change By Cliff Drysdale ne of my greatest joys is to see how tennis rapidly becomes a lifestyle in and of itself for so many enthusiasts; young and old, beginner to competitor. There truly is no better choice for a healthy, fit and fun lifestyle! That being said, the evolution of the game and its perception is vital to the sport’s continued success and we all know that change is difficult. We are at a crossroads in the tennis industry where thinking outside the traditional box, addressing the tough issues and getting organized is becoming more paramount than ever to the sport’s continued growth and enhancing the experience for players and spectators. Tennis's public presentation could be dramatically improved if the powers that rule the pro game were not so fragmented. The main changes need to come from external factors—such as the calendar, technology and consistent rule enforcement.

Quiet please! Take the grunting on the women's tour, for example. The WTA acknowledges that it is a problem, but with two of their top three stars as the worst offenders, they are re-

luctant to address this until the next generation. The problem is, according to my friend and fellow commentator Mary Joe Fernandez, the next generation is already shrieking! Wimbledon and the other majors would love to stem the infernal racket on the court, but continue to look to the Tours to fix the issue. Since it's not an ATP Tour problem, a good resolution would be for the ATP Tour to enact noise level guidelines. This would give cover to the Grand Slams who could then utilize these guidelines for all pro players. Give the players a year to adjust, and we as spectators and viewers could relax! The time has come … It's also time for a time clock on court to speed up play. All tournaments should install time clocks so the players are not operating in the dark, and know exactly when the 25 seconds allowed between points are up. I realize there is strong sentiment to avoid this and other technology creeping into the sport, but this is not going to hinder the integrity of the game or the athletes. Davis Cup who? Grand Slam events are the crown jewels of the calendar. The Davis Cup could stand

alongside these majors, but the format stinks. The matches are played during the year and separated by months of Davis Cup inactivity. Ask an American about the Davis Cup and they will likely respond with “Um … Davis … what?” Do you know who won last year? Do you know who is still in this year? Do you care? If the competition was played in a season like the NCAA’s March Madness, the NFL’s playoffs, soccer’s World Cup, or golf’s Ryder Cup, the Davis Cup would join those as part of the international sports landscape, and viewers would take notice. Despite these issues, tennis remains the sport of a lifetime, and at the top echelon of the pro game, the Slams and the Masters 1000 of the ATP Tour, thrives. The WTA Tour is, by far, the most preeminent women's sport. No other comes close. Tennis also holds its own against competition from the online world. It is still the sport of exercise, competition, and most of all, fun! Cliff Drysdale is an International Tennis Hall of Famer, ESPN commentator and manager of tennis clubs nationwide, including Southampton Racquet Club and Camp in Southampton, N.Y.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

Credit all photos to Adam Wolfthal

New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ March/April 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ NYTennisMag.com

Doubles Trouble

BY DAVE SUSKIN

The Bryan Brothers Look to Maintain Doubles Dominance e know from experience that family relationships can be complicated and we have all heard cautionary tales about getting into business with family members. Despite sharing DNA, Bob and Mike Bryan have managed to forge the most successful partnership in the history of the professional doubles game. Through a business-like approach that emphasizes hard work and determination, the Bryan Brothers have produced a joint resume that makes an overwhelming case for them as the best doubles team and partnership in the history of the game. Now 35 years of age and still playing some of the best tennis in their 15-plus year careers since turning pro in 1998, their list of accomplishments is staggering, including 94 doubles titles, 15 men’s doubles Grand Slam titles, a 21-4 career Davis Cup record and a Career Golden Slam as the first doubles team to hold all four major titles and the Olympic Gold Medal. Just six titles shy of 100 career titles, the Bryans recently discussed this career mile-

stone during a press conference to promote their appearance at Madison Square Garden as part of the BNP Paribas Showdown. “I think that would be a fun number to hit. Who knows if we’ll get it this season or next, but that is a goal—to try to reach 100 before we retire,” said Mike Bryan. “I think we’ve been playing great tennis over the last few years and it’s attainable. It’s in our

sights and we want to still play well at the Grand Slams and re-qualify for the world group in the Davis Cup.” Perhaps most impressively, they’ve finished the ATP year-end ranking as the number one doubles team on Tour a record

nine times between 2003-2013. The Bryan Brothers’ story is a bright spot in an otherwise grim decade-plus long drought in American men’s tennis. It is also an anomaly. With the singles game garnering the lion’s share of the spotlight, doubles has been relegated to second tier status with most of the top men’s and women’s players having all but abandoned it (a notable exception being the Williams Sisters). This could be due to a variety of factors, including the demands, physical and otherwise, of the modern singles game, along with economic factors, with players lacking incentive to participate due to lesser prize money stemming from a lack of sponsorship dollars and television advertising revenue for the doubles game. The reality today … in stark contrast to the 1980s when most top singles players also played doubles and the likes of John McEnroe won seven singles and nine men’s doubles titles at Grand Slam tournaments, doubles has become a lost art. So what is it about the Bryan’s that has made them so great and able to sustain their level of performcontinued on page 14

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

Credit all photos to Adam Wolfthal

doubles trouble continued from page 13 ance at the very top of the men’s doubles game for so long? “The Jensens [Luke and Murphy] popularized doubles back in the early 1990s. We loved watching them and became pretty close with them once we turned pro,” said Mike Bryan. “The Woodys [Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde] and all of the records they achieved, we were really inspired to be like them and break some of their records. But growing up, we loved [Andre] Agassi also. We worked on singles and doubles which a lot of guys don’t do. We spent at least a half hour to 45 minutes a day working on our volley which you don’t see juniors doing these days, but we’ve always loved doubles and at our first tournament at the age of six, we played doubles.” Is it their specialization and perhaps technical or strategic superiority as a result, or is there something else at work here? It all comes back to family in the opinion of this writer. A couple years back, following an Andy Roddick tweet where he jokingly predicted Roger Federer’s newborn identical twins would be future Wimbledon Doubles Champions, the Bryans weighed in with some advice by reflecting on what being twins represented and how its contributed to their success on the court. What came through above all was a sense that both Bob and Mike truly valued their connection as something special and that they embraced it both personally and professionally. From a very young age, the Bryans’ parents emphasized this approach and let their love for the game and partnership develop naturally. In a tennis landscape full of overbearing fathers, mothers and coaches, Wayne and Kathy Bryan immersed their sons without forcing them on court. With both parents having played professionally, and Kathy once rising to 11th in the U.S. Wayne and Kathy ran a tennis club and took the boys to professional tournaments, but let them develop their own appreciation for the game. Teamwork was stressed and they insisted Bob and Mike not play against each other in competition until the 14

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

age of 17. As a result, they took turns forfeiting to each other. “Tennis has done so much for us and we’re very grateful for the life that it has created for us,” said Bob Bryan. “It has taught us so many great lessons that we’re honored to be a part of such a great day and to increase exposure around the world is only a positive for us.” And as they embark on yet another ATP season in 2014, they do have a goal in the not too distant future … to again represent the United States at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. “We want to stay healthy and make it to the Olympics, have a good showing, and maybe sail off into the sunset from there,” said Bob. “We’ll see how we feel, and who knows just how we’re going to feel twoand-a-half years from now. We’ll probably re-evaluate, but that’s our goal—make it there and go for another gold.” In this age of the singles game, the Bryan Brothers’ success and partnership can be attributed in large part to a combination of hard work, mutual respect, passion for tennis and commitment to pushing themselves and each other to excel. They have also commented, at length, about the value of remaining grounded and humble despite their success, which they feel has paid dividends on the court. Their work, through The Bryan Bros. Foundation, a non-profit organization they established to identify and support charities and causes that help atrisk youth survive and thrive around the world, is a true testament to just that. In all its work, the foundation promotes the ideals of sports—and tennis in particular—to emphasize the importance of hard work, dedication and perseverance. Born only a couple minutes apart, Bob and Mike Bryan have been in sync ever since. Perhaps we can all learn a little something from their approach both on and off the court. Their results speak volumes. Dave Suskin is director of marketing and business development for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by e-mail at suskin@usptennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

Finding Comfort in Your Racquet

By Luke Jensen hen a top-ranked player on the Pro Tour decides to change racquets, it becomes a big story. This change can be very tricky for the athlete. You get used to a feel of a frame and confident in the frame that helps you win. Most of the time, a change made by a top pro is due to a big pay day from a new sponsorship or endorsement company. In a recent big change, this was not the case, but a change of sticks was made to add a little more pop in his game. The great Roger Federer has been play-testing through his career. He began as a junior with an 85 square-inch frame. The

classic Wilson Pro Staff that was used by Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert and made famous by Pete Sampras. Through playtesting the same frame with a 90-inch head size, Roger began his run of 17 Grand Slam titles. At some point, Father Time catches up to us all and the swing speed we had as teens and into our 20s is no longer there. I was told during one my own play test sessions in my 30s toward the end of my career that “I wasn’t 18 anymore.” The adjustment for me then, was the same as it is for Roger now and can help him with his game. Let the frame help you with a little bit of a bigger sweet spot for more pop and the racquet will do more for you than you. My advice about a racquet change is to

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

make sure the new frame does not affect your favorite shot. Do not compromise the shot or shots that win you critical points. The new racquet should enhance your weapons and not compromise them. As we head into spring, maybe it’s time to pull a Federer and find a really coollooking and feeling stick that makes your game amazing! A good place to start is the local stringer. Stringers are the ultimate gear geeks of tennis and know all the latest on the newest technology. Tell them a bit about the style you play, and I promise the stringer will point you in the right direction. Let the new technology add more zip to your game, unless you are a classic like me looking to make a statement when I play these days—I’m a Jack Kramer Autograph player. It was the first frame I bought for $20, and I will go down the long tennis road with it. That is my swing! Go for the lines at ALL times! Born in Grayling, Mich., Luke 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.

Centercourt Athletic Club Named USTA Member Organization of the Year he USTA announced it will present the Centercourt Athletic Club in Chatham, N.J., with the USTA Organization Member of the Year Award. The Award is given annually to an organization that provides outstanding service to its members and to the local community. The club will be honored at the USTA Annual Meeting and Conference, March 15-17 at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif. Located in Chatham N.J., Centercourt has established itself as one of the nation’s leading racquet facilities. The club features eight climate-controlled indoor hard courts, 12 outdoor Har-Tru courts and four platform tennis courts. Centercourt also features a fitness center, field house and club house. Centercourt was the first facility of eight courts or more in the U.S. to paint permanent 36’ and 60’ blended lines on all

its outdoor courts. The facility offers extensive junior tennis programming that serves more than 400 students per session, including a high-performance academy that specializes in the development of competitive players and four levels of daily 10 & Under Tennis classes that service more than 200 students ages three to 10. “The club’s mission is to help every student-athlete we train realize his or her full potential; athletically and academically,” said Centercourt Managing Partner Clay Bibbee. “We believe that their tennis experiences will help our young athletes become leaders on and off the court. Our players respect the game, their peers, parents, environment, and coaches. Enrolled players are coached to not only become great players, but hard-working,

self-sufficient individuals.” The USTA Annual Meeting and Conference brings together USTA leadership, national staff, national committee members and section volunteers and staff in pursuit of the USTA mission: To promote and develop the growth of tennis. Along with leadership and committee meetings, the AMC provides educational opportunities for all attendees to develop and enhance their personal and professional skills and learn new ways to promote the game. “The Centercourt Athletic Club epitomizes ‘Tennis Everyone’ as they offer ample play opportunities for players of all ages and abilities,” said Kurt Kamperman, chief executive of community tennis for the USTA. “It’s a model tennis facility that epitomizes community engagement through grassroots programming.”

Centercourt Hosts Coach Chuck Kriese for Junior Clinics n early February, Centercourt Athletic Club of Chatham offered two junior clinics with world renowned coach Chuck

Kriese. The event was a huge success for all the players who took part. Orange Ball to High Performance players trained with

Hall of Fame Coach Kriese along, with the Centercourt Performance Tennis Center coaches. The two-day event included high impact clinics and a parent symposium following each clinic. Centercourt would like to thank Coach Kriese, its coaching staff, and all of the players for making this a truly special event.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

Sharapova in Sochi Maria Sharapova went to Russia to showcase the city of Sochi for NBC, the TV home of the recently wrapped 2014 Winter Olympics. While there, she returned to one of the courts at the Evgeniy Kafelnikov Tennis Academy where she started her career, a court that Nike recently refurbished in her honor to offer inspiration to the local tennis community. There is also now a mural of Maria on the court as well as this inscription: “This is more than a line on a wall. It’s where a little girl hit her first thousand tennis balls. It’s daring to go further. It’s defying the doubters. It’s deciding what you want. Then doing something about it. This is not just a line on a wall. It’s where legends are made.”

Cibulkova launches new clothing line Dominika Cibulkova has debuted a signature collection of hats and T-shirts called “Domi.” In doing so, Cibulkova joins the ranks of such elites as Venus Williams (EleVen) and Maria Sharapova (Cole Haan) in owning a fashion line or collection. Cibulkova noted on Facebook that proceeds from 18

the Domi brand will go to her foundation, called AHN in Slovakia, noting, "I try to help people that are not so lucky in life like me."

Bouchard and the Biebs? Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Wozniacki hires new coach

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Caroline Wozniacki has hired Martin Mortensen, who previously coached Li Na and worked with Wozniacki as a junior. Wozniacki split with coach Thomas Hogstedt after their partnership lasted only three months. Mortensen has already identified where Wozniacki was suffering, saying, "She needs to get her joy in playing back—both in matches and on the practice court. A lot has happened with her game, but I'd like to see more of the old Caro. I'd like to see a fusion of the old Caroline with the new Caroline. Mortensen continued, “From the latest I've seen of her from watching her matches, there have been a lot of flat shots without any pace changes, something she earlier was a master at. She's shouldn't be just another one of the players on the tour who just hit hard. She needs to use more facets. She is a great strategist. She needs to get comfortable again with her game."

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

Nineteen-year-old Genie Bouchard was one of the biggest stories on the women’s side of the Australian Open. The Canadian advanced to the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Li Na. After the match, Bouchard, who has gained many male fans during her run, was asked in her on-court interview with 7 Sports which celebrity she’d like to date. Bouchard was totally embarrassed by the line of questioning, but she did manage to sheepishly provide an answer. “Justin Bieber,” she said. Bouchard’s answer was not taken well by the fans, who mostly groaned or booed. Bouchard was asked what she’d say to him if he were watching, and she gave a cute, flirty wave and smile

Wedding bells for Djokovic Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Novak Djokovic will soon marry his fiancee and longtime girlfriend, Jelena Ristic. The number tworanked tennis

player and six-time major champion told Ristic during a Serbian television talk show: “Jelena, enjoy it while you can. In a couple of months you will be changing your last name to Djokovic.” Ristic was Tweets from the pros l Eugenie Bouchard (@geniebouchard): shown smiling. Dropped my phone in the ice bath and it The two have been together for more still works. Today is a good day. than eight years. l Andy Roddick (@andyroddick): Yes @drewbrees beat me in tennis when I Roger rakes it in was 9 and he was 11. Twice.... I finally Photo credit: beat him and he quit tennis. You're welKenneth B. Goldberg come football Roger Federer eaned $71.5 million l Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki): The sun is rising & I'm done with 1st physio in 2013, first + training session! Feels so good. among ATP and WTA Pro tennis l Andy Murray (@andy_murray): How long before Sharapova makes an applayers. Maria pearance in opening ceremony? I'm Sharapova came taking 12 minutes. in second among all ATP and WTA touring pros, with Novak l Chris Evert (@chrissieevert): I love Djokovic, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal playing tennis with my good friends rounding out the top five. @maevequinlan and @GavinRossdale ... Fun night ... l Roger Federer (@rogerfederer): Enjoyable time on the court today, #office #sunshine #goodtimes

l Sania Mirza (@mirzasania): Annnddd it's 28 outside … bbrrrrr #freezing #cantfeelmyhands l Gael Monfils (@gael_monfils: @RedFoo: I got a doubles partner with more super human powers then Batman! And Elastic man! … @gael_monfils Whooo! @vika7 @serenawilliams l Rafa Nadal @rafaelnadal): Very grateful to the Laureus Academy members for nominating me for two categories @LaureusSport. Always an honor! l Bob Bryan (@Bryanbros): Escaped #DelrayBeach for a night to go home and hang out with my homies @ Sunny Isles Beach l Lindsay Davenport (@ldavenport76): Already packing up & donating all the newborn size outfits. Four weeks has gone by fast.

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

THE THEORY OF

EXAGGERATION By Gilad Bloom ennis is a unique sport in so many ways. Being an individual sport makes it highly mental, as there is no contact between the opponents, both players are never on the same side of the court, and the battle is more tactical and psychological. A tennis player, unlike in team sports, cannot play the clock when leading. He/or she actually needs to win the last point. Therefore, a player never knows how long a match is going to last when walking onto a tennis match. Another major difference between tennis and 99 percent of other sports is that coaching is not allowed during matches (except in Davis Cup, Fed Cup and college tennis). This means that, as a coach, my work is basically done once the match starts. The player must learn to deal with varying scenarios from a young age. The coach’s job is to send the player to tournaments equipped with the right tools, both technically, tactically, physically and mentally. It is obvious that there is a huge difference between practices and real matches. Certain players play great in practice and choke in real tournaments, while others are mediocre in practice, but bring out their best when it counts. In professional team sports, playing games consistently will keep you in shape for the season. Most of the practice sessions during the playing season between games are used for rest and light training. In tennis, if you only played matches, you would find yourself out of shape in a few weeks (unless you reached the finals every week). Tennis players need to constantly keep working out on the court between matches and during tournaments just to maintain the level of stamina and explosiveness required to compete at a high level. Being out of shape and not sharp for a match will cost not only victories but may also cause injuries.

The length of tennis matches can be a bit deceiving. During a three-hour match, the actual playtime is about 20-25 minutes. The remainder of time consists of “dead time,” as there is, on average, 25 seconds between every point and 90 seconds or so every two games. In fact, many of the points end with a service winner or after two or three shots, especially on fast surfaces. The average point of a tennis match is not very long. The extreme fatigue from playing tennis comes from mental stress and from having to play multiple matches a day over a period of a few days in a row. To be able to recover from each match and perform without the body falling apart requires a very high level of fitness, and that is acquired only by practicing harder than in a real match. For that reason, I developed the “Theory of Exaggeration.” When I was a 12-year-old, I had the privilege of meeting the great Jimmy Connors who came to Israel for an exhibition. He asked me how many hours a day I trained, and I told him four to five hours per day. When I asked him the same question, he answered that he played one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. “But,” Connors added, “My one hour is worth more than your four hours because I run down every ball and I never stop moving my feet during the entire hour.” A few years later, I was fortunate enough to be on the pro tour and had the chance to train with Connors a few times, and I found out firsthand that he was not kidding. From the minute that we started playing, Connors was on top of every ball. We both hardly missed, and when we played a set, we were constantly running to pick up balls between the points. This way of training does a few things to your game. You simply hit more balls in a shorter amount of time. That is basic math. The other benefit is that you become used to always playing with your heart rate a bit higher than you would in a

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

real match which raises your stamina. After playing with Connors a few times, I adopted this method of working, and as a coach, I implemented his theory on a daily basis both in my junior program and in my private lessons. The Theory of Exaggeration is heavily influenced and based on the great Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. When asked to explain his theory to the simple man, Einstein once gave the following example: “If you are sitting on a porch for 10 seconds drinking a glass of lemonade, it would seem to you like it is a very short time, but if you put your hand on a burning stove those 10 seconds would seem like a very long time.” The logic behind the theory in the tennis context is: If you make your practice sessions more intense and condensed than a real match, a real match would seem like a walk in the park. The theory is implemented into all aspects of the session. For example, in a real match, you take a 90-second break every two games. With my advanced students, they never rest during sets. I try to make them play without a break for 15-20 minutes at a time, and if they take a drink break, I make sure that it is a short one. When it comes to technique, I will insist that the players emphasize their followthrough and finish the shot with a longer contact, swinging freely all the way through the ball, while keeping their eyes on the ball “Federer style.” The same goes for bending their knees on low balls. Nobody likes to do that, but I will make them hit and bring their knee all the way down to the floor, in an exaggerated fashion. This is taking into consideration the fact that, during a real match, many shots are hit off balance and on the back foot. There is a natural tightness in the strokes that occurs in official matches that makes us become tentative and less fluid. The same goes for style of play. Many players tend to get a bit cautious and pas-

sive when they play a tournament match. Therefore, I always encourage my students to play ultra-aggressive in practice matches. I make them play closer to the baseline and take the ball on the rise at all times during practice, knowing that when in a real match, they take a step back from the baseline and will feel like that guy Einstein described as sitting on the porch drinking lemonade. The Theory of Exaggeration/Relativity works in reality. This I know for a fact, not only from my 18 years of teaching experience, but also from my own personal experiences as a pro player. When I was near the end of my pro career, way past my prime, I made the main draw of a tournament in Saint Polten, Austria. The tournament was on red clay, my least favorite surface. In fact, I didn’t play on clay for a year before that event. But I got into the main draw and flew to Austria with very low expectations. When I arrived at the club house, the first person I saw was Thomas Muster, who was, at the time, the best player in the

world on red clay. Muster is my age and we knew each other from playing in our youth. I told him that I had not played much on clay in a while, and that I could use some high level practice. He was nice enough to let me practice with him for a few days. In the next three days leading up to the event, I had six practice sessions with Muster (two a day). Each session was two-and-a-half-hours and we did exactly the same thing in every session—we hit some cross-courts, then switched to a cross-court/down the line movement drill, hit a bucket of serves and played a couple of sets. There was nothing fancy about the sessions, but they were relentless, without breaks and I had to keep up with the level of play and physical intensity of one of the top five clay court players of all time. I won my first round match 6-1, 6-1 against a player who came through the qualifying rounds. Relative to Muster, that player’s pace, intensity and general level seemed like I was playing a junior player. Furthermore, in the morning before my sec-

ond round match, I warmed up with Muster again and went on to beat Carlos Costa who was seeded second in the tournament and was ranked 11th in the world at the time. That was my best career win on clay. Compared to Muster, even Costa, who was a great player, seemed beatable and human, and I managed to just barely beat him thanks to having practiced at a much higher level than I was accustomed to. Unfortunately, I couldn’t have Thomas Muster as my regular practice partner on a regular basis. Gilad Bloom is a former ATP touring professional who, at his peak, was ranked 61st in singles and 62nd in doubles in the world. Five times an Israel’s Men’s Champion, three times in singles and twice in doubles, Gilad is currently the director of tennis at The Club of Riverdale. He was the director of tennis at John McEnroe Tennis Academy for two years, and before, that ran Gilad Bloom Tennis for nine years. He may be reached by phone at (914) 907-0041 or email bloom.gilad@gmail.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Percentage Ga

How to improve the probability of winn by using the geometry of the court to your By Cosmin Cotet n today’s world of tennis, it pays to be stubborn. Those of us who watched the 2013 Australian Open Men’s Singles Final saw how defending champion Novak Djokovic captured his fourth title in Melbourne at the expense of Andy Murray in a thrilling four-hour match. It was a performance that showcased 20 to 30 rallies per point on many occasions. Just a few years ago, some of those rallies would make for “the point of the match or the tournament.” But in this case–and in today’s game overall– these long rallies are becoming more and more characteristic of the modern game. Undoubtedly, tennis has become more physical than ever, so stamina–not just power– is a crucial part of a player’s fitness and success. Big servers like Goran Ivanisevic, Greg Rusedski, Mark Philippoussis, Richard Krajicek, and more recently, Andy Roddick and Ivan Ljubicic, used to be at the top of the food chain in professional tennis. All they had to do was blast through their service games and fight for a break of serve, and the victory would be sealed. But now, with more emphasis placed on conditioning, players have managed to adapt to the speed of the ball, and the sanctity of the monster serve has diminished considerably. In the current men’s top 10 rankings, the big server is a rare animal, with only John Isner and Milos Raonic getting a sniff at this exclusive club. But even they, too, can play from the baseline. Today’s top 10 players have enabled themselves to stay in long rallies by improving their stamina, strength and speed on the court. These improvements have played a critical role in maintaining their focus through an increasing number of long, grueling matches.

And that is where the difference is made– playing “percentage tennis” throughout an entire match. In other words, playing the type of tennis that gives you the highest probability of keeping the ball in play. Playing the percentages There are two basic mistakes you can make during a tennis match: Hit the ball into the net–the obstacle that stands exactly in the middle of the court between you and your opponent—or hit outside the court’s lines, either long or wide. If we consider the geometry of a singles court—a rectangle—a couple of aspects can be easily spotted: The net gets higher as you go from the middle of the court towards the sides (three feet in the middle and 3.6 feet on the sides), and the cross-court distance is longer than the down-the-line distance (82.5 feet compared to 78 feet, respectively). Also, the service boxes are more accessible for a taller player who can hit the ball harder, since the angle at which the ball is hit by his racquet is smaller than the one required for a shorter player. From a probability point of view, we can conclude that during rallies, there is higher risk in hitting a down-the-line shot compared to hitting cross-court. Hitting down the line requires a higher margin for the ball to clear the net, and at the same time, a shorter distance for the ball to travel in the air before the court ends (both of which require more energy to create spin on the ball). And when hit at a high speed, the risk increases even more. It is even more risky when the angle at which the ball is redirected increases because the timing necessary to perform this change in direction is crucial. For example, if an opponent hits a shot down the line, a player would have to hit the ball earlier than usual to change its direction to cross-court. This action requires fast footwork. Similarly,

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

if the ball comes from cross-court, in order to redirect it with a down-the-line trajectory, it needs to be hit a bit late, again requiring good timing. Thus, the safest way to return the ball is to maintain its direction and increase the number of balls that travel through the middle part of the net. Let’s consider a regular point during a match, with one player serving and the other returning. The server has the highest probability of winning the point, as he makes the first decision and sends the ball to the returner at “X” mph. The return of serve points won is one of the most important variables in match statistics to predict who will win or lose a match. To improve this statistic, a player should apply the same rule of percentages in returning as he does in rallying: return the ball to the direction it came from. Therefore, a wide serve requires a crosscourt return, not only to have the ball pass through the lower part of the net and maintain a low redirecting angle, but also to give a player more time to return to the court by sending the ball on a longer path. A serve “down the T” calls for a return down the line or down the middle of the court—as you find yourself inside the court—but you will be returning the ball towards the lowest part of the net at the lowest redirecting angle possible. After the successful return, the rally begins, and the returner’s chances of winning the point have already increased. Consistency favors percentages During the rally, it is important to maintain a ball speed that is realistic based on the player’s ability to stay consistent. In other words, hitting a 90 mph forehand inside the lines 10 consecutive times has a low probability of success. But if you lower the speed of the forehand, the probability increases. Again, percentage tennis is in play with the safest shots going through the

ame

ning a point advantage middle of the net at the lowest possible redirecting angle. It is true that spectators will always remember those amazing shots that Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic hit during a match, and they will learn to judge their genius based on that. But if you study their rallies, those shots were nothing but outliers in an otherwise consistent pattern of play. At last year’s Australian Open, Djokovic was the most able to abide by these rules, a strategy that earned him $2.4 million. In today’s modern tennis, it pays to be stubborn. The more your body and mind are ready to play by the laws of probability, which favor success in tennis, the more

successful you will become as a player. We always hear Federer stating that his fiercest opponents “understand” the game. Top tennis players do understand the game, that is, how to increase their chances of winning. It is a mixture of strength and conditioning, technique, mental toughness and tactics that, when put together in the right way, produces a tremendous display of tennis greatness. I call this right way, being stubborn on the tennis court. There is an ongoing debate about what is the most important stat in tennis, as more data is now gathered from tennis matches than ever before. So, is it the number of unforced errors, winners, second-

serve percentage points won or break points won that separate the champions from the rest? The “Win Equation,” the Holy Grail of tennis, you name it, is a soup of all the above ingredients, and it differs from one player to another. But it is the stubbornness of constantly increasing their chances of winning that propels them above the rest. Cosmin Cotet is assistant Academy director at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy in New York City and a former ATP player and college standout at Texas Christian University. He can be reached by e-mail at ccotet@gmail.com.

CORPORATE SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES City Parks Foundation’s sports-themed outings and special events provide fun, unique and tax-deductible ways for NYC corporations to engage with their staff or clients, while helping us provide free sports programs for kids in New York. Over the years we have created a variety of tennis and golf events and competitions for companies who are looking for new team-building or entertainment options that are fun, nearby and socially conscious. Opportunities range from a weekly tennis league in Central Park to attending our annual US Open Tennis Benefit!

For more information visit www.CityParksFoundation.org/CorporateEvents NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA METRO REGION

A Message From USTA Eastern Metro Region President Jackie Clark The USTA Metro Region Board held its first meeting of the year during the USTA Eastern Annual Meeting in White Plains in January. As we discussed our goals and plans for the year ahead, I stood there looking around the room and could not help but feel such a strong sense of community and connection. I felt exhilarated and excited, and it really got me thinking about what a profound effect tennis has had on my life. Aside from the competition, exercise, fitness, the stress outlet and the amazing feeling of hitting that ball, it goes much deeper on so many levels. Through tennis, I have achieved success, fought through giving up at times, learned to grow from setbacks and failures (not always very easily), developed my confidence personally and skill wise, forged many new friendships with teammates and competitors, lost some friendships, experienced disappoint-

ment in others and disappointment in myself, bounced back, developed discipline, learned to work harder, was inspired, developed more compassion, became a better team player, strengthened my work ethic, developed better communication skills, felt support, smiled, laughed, cried, felt joy, felt sadness, felt inspiration, felt motivation, felt purposeful and learned to give more. I have had the opportunity to meet many passionate, talented and good-hearted people who share the same love for the game. Having the opportunity to meet with and get to know many of the leaders and volunteers from all of the NJTLs, CTAs and USTA Member Organizations continues to inspire me as we share the same vision. I am looking forward to another incredible year in the tennis world! Jackie Clark, President USTA Eastern Metro Region

USTA Metro Grant Applications now being accepted The USTA Metro Region has grant money available for USTA Member Organizations to grow tennis participation. The Metro Regional Board of the USTA Eastern Section is soliciting grant proposals from its New York City based USTA Member Organizations, who will support and participate in the Region’s mission to promote and develop the growth of tennis in the Metro Region. USTA’s Metro Region is focused on fostering participation in tennis and USTA programs with the USTA Member Organizations of New York City. Special consideration will be given to organizations seeking to expand tennis programs to the following groups: l Special Populations l Minority Populations l Parks and Recreation l Community Tennis Associations l Schools/After School l Wheelchair Tennis l Senior Tennis

The full application can be found online at www.metroregion.usta.com. 24

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA METRO REGION

Metro Region awards grants

The USTA Metro Region Board has awarded a grant to help with expenses for Metro Region players to compete at the recent Second American Tennis Association Winter Invitational, presented by the USTA Middle States and Legacy Youth Tennis and Education. Approximately 50 diverse, high performance junior players, ages

14-18, took part in the event, representing northeast regional ATA and NJTL chapters from Middle States, Eastern, New England and the Mid-Atlantic Sections. The players also were involved in a college readiness workshop, a community service event and an evening bowling outing.

Staten Island Junior Team Tennis League off to a great start

It’s the best thing to happen to Staten Island tennis since Mary Ewing Outerbridge introduced the game of lawn tennis to the U.S. in 1874. The Birthplace of American tennis now boasts its very own USTA Junior Team Tennis league. The new League, which is coordinated by local teaching professional Bill Noonan, has 52 kids registered to compete in 12 & Under, 14 & Under, and 18 & Under age divisions. “The children and the parents have really embraced the league,” said Noonan. “Junior Team Tennis allows kids to gain competitive experience in very fun way.”

The Staten Island Stars, Silver Lake Smash and Silver Lake Slice have been battling it out every Saturday night this winter at the Staten Island Community Tennis Center. Eric Olsen, who coaches the Smash, is happy that his son William is participating in Junior Team Tennis. “Nowadays, so many kids take lesson after lesson, but they simply don’t play enough matches,” said Olsen. “Junior Team Tennis has filled a void here on the Island.” Considering that this was the first year for the league, the future certainly looks bright.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA METRO REGION

STA Metro Region recognizes award winners The Eastern Annual Meeting & Award Celebration was held in January at the Renaissance Hotel in White Plains, N.Y. During the event, many USTA members were honored for their work and dedication to the sport over the past year. Congratulations to the following award winners and thank you for your dedication to promoting the sport of tennis.

USTA Eastern Metro Region President Jackie Clark congratulates the Ron Smyth Parent Sportsmanship Award winner, Sherree Williams from Brooklyn, N.Y.

USTA Eastern Metro Volunteer of the Year Joani Akpan (second from right) is congratulated on her honor

USPTA Eastern Contributor of the Year Mike Phillips with Metro Volunteer of the Year Award winner Joani Akpan

Congratulations to the Junior Awards winners for all of their hard work

USTA Eastern Metro Region Board and volunteers attending the 1st Metro Region Board Meeting of the year during the USTA Eastern Annual Meeting in White Plains, N.Y. Attendees gather for a photo during the Eastern Annual Meeting & Award Celebration

The Metro Region would like to thank all of the award winners for their hard work on behalf of the association

New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ March/April 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ NYTennisMag.com

U.S. Loses Both Davis Cup and Fed Cup Matches espite a brave effort from American Sam Querrey, world number six Andy Murray clinched Great Britain’s first Davis Cup Quarterfinals appearance since 1986, defeating the 49th-ranked American, 76(5), 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-3, on red clay at Petco Park in San Diego over the United States. “I played a good match today. I gave him very few opportunities when I was serving,” said Murray. “Maybe gave him a couple in the third set. He was also making some mistakes as well. But overall, it was a good match for me. I played well.” Great Britain claimed the latest victory in the oldest rivalry in Davis Cup history, defeating the U.S. for the first time since 1935 and winning on American soil for the first time since 1903. Since Murray won the tieclinching match in four sets, the fifth singles rubber scheduled to be played between Donald Young of the U.S. and James Ward of Great Britain was not played. “I am proud of myself for putting it behind me and coming out strong today,” said Querrey. “You know, we’ve got another Davis Cup later in the year and we’ve got next year and the year after. Although it’s only a one-year kind of mini-journey

and we have a good team, hopefully we’ve got many years to come together and hopefully we hoist the trophy one of these years.” Great Britain will now play Italy in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in April. The U.S. will play in September’s World Group Playoff against an opponent to be determined. Attendance for Sunday’s singles match in the temporary stadium built in left field of Petco Park was 6,249, bringing the threeday total to 18,796. On the women’s side, it was reigning Fed Cup champion Italy who advanced to the Fed Cup World Group Semifinal, defeating the U.S., 3-1, on the second day of play at the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Quarterfinal between the U.S. and Italy at Cleveland’s Public Auditorium. After losing its first two singles matches, the U.S. team is now 011 when it trails 0-2 after the first day of play (since the World Group format was instituted in 1995). The U.S. is now 37-5 alltime in Fed Cup ties played at home. Italy has won the last four meetings against the U.S. in Fed Cup with the U.S. still leading the series 9-4. Italy’s Karin Knapp clinched the tie for Italy and won her second singles match of

the weekend, defeating American Alison Riske, 6-3, 7-5, in one hour and 37 minutes. Riske made her Fed Cup debut and replaced Madison Keys, who was originally set to compete in the first singles rubber. World number 46 Riske and world number 40 Knapp had met once prior to today, facing off in the 2013 Australian Open qualifying draw, where Knapp won the match. Following Riske’s match, Cleveland native Lauren Davis & Madison Keys competed in the dead doubles rubber against Italy’s Nastassja Burnett & Alice Matteucci. Davis & Keys, who both made their Fed Cup debuts, won the doubles match, 6-2, 6-3. Davis won the 2008 Division II state high school singles championship for Gilmour Academy in Ohio as a freshman. Italy advances to face either Spain or the Czech Republic in the semifinals, April 1920. The U.S. will be relegated to the World Group Playoff in April and will need to win to stay in the World Group. There will be four seeds among the eight nations in the World Group Playoffs (World Group first round losers and World Group II first round winners), held April 19-20.

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Credit all photos to Dave Suskin

John McEnroe preps for his exhibition match against the Bryans at MSG

The Bryan Brothers discuss their MSG experience during the post-match press conference

BNP Paribas Showdown a Caps Annual Wo

Djokovic-Murray & McEnroes-B

B Y D AV E ew York tennis fans were treated to some of the tennis world’s top stars on the evening of March 3rd as two exhibition matches were held as part of the 7th Annual BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden. The BNP Paribas Showdown is part of the Second Annual World Tennis Day, a global celebration of tennis that included Showdown exhibition events in Hong Kong and London. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and its member nations also hosted participation events, such as clinics and open houses at clubs around the world

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as part of this day’s events to raise awareness and grow participation in the game. Produced by MSG Sports and StarGames Inc. and broadcast live internationally on ESPN’s networks in 48 countries, the BNP Paribas Showdown kicked off with a unique cross-generational battle of brothers, as John & Patrick McEnroe teamed up to take on the current world number one doubles team of Bob & Mike Bryan, arguably the best doubles team of all-time. The much-anticipated main event featured a rematch of the 2012 U.S. Open and 2013 Wimbledon finals between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

In the evening’s first match the 35-yearold Bryan Brothers showed just why they are the best in the world. The Bryans, who hold a record 15 Grand Slam Doubles Titles, were simply too much for the McEnroes from start to finish. Playing an eight-game pro set, they jumped out to a 7-0 lead and eventually won 8-3. John McEnroe at 55years-old, and his brother Patrick at 47, did all they could, but the Bryans are in midseason form and were able to dictate points from both the net and the baseline. The match was entertaining and fans saw each team’s trademarks, the Bryans’ chest bump

Andy Murray takes to the court at MSG

Novak Djokovic speaks to the New York media

at Madison Square Garden World Tennis Day

Bryans entertain fans worldwide

E SUSKIN and John’s racket toss. Next up was singles action, where the current world number two Djokovic outshined Great Britain’s Murray in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(2) in a match that mixed the usual exhibition antics—including a guest on-court appearance from former Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli, as well as some kids from the crowd—with some extended rallies reminiscent of their epic Grand Slam matchups. Murray nearly sent the match to a third set as he led 5-3 in the second before Djokovic dug in and broke back, eventually winning a second set tie-break.

“We might never get the chance to play here again,” Murray said of the MSG experience. “I wanted to enjoy it, and hope that everyone who came along had a good time as well. That was the whole point today.” While New York plays host to the sport’s premier event, the U.S. Open, the area is short of professional tennis over the course of the other 11 months of the year. “I was amazed by the size of it,” Djokovic said of the recently renovated and revamped arena. “With its history in the world of sports, entertainment and music, it’s probably the most impressive and most im-

portant indoor facility in the world.” While an exhibition like the BNP Paribas Showdown is not the same as a pro tournament, for one winter’s night in March, the crowd at the “World’s Most Famous Arena” was treated to a nice night out and a chance to see the best in the world do battle. New Yorkers can only hope that more is coming in the future! Dave Suskin is director of marketing and business development for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by e-mail at suskin@usptennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

Is Tennis (in the U.S.) in Trouble? By George Garland I’m a tennis lifer—a product of the tennis boom in the U.S. in the 1970s. It may sound crazy, but from the first time I picked up a racquet as a 15year-old in 1971, I knew I would be in tennis for the rest of my life. I’m not kidding. In the 43 years that followed, I have played on the high school, collegiate, satellite and senior levels. I have been a teaching professional, country club pro, camp director, college coach, national speaker/clinician, program director, tennis director and club owner. The reason I tell you this is that I want you to know that I’ve been around the block. The opinions I am going to express come from years of teaching, dealing with players and families, and being involved in pretty much every facet of the business. The main thing I want to convey to you is this: I am really concerned about the future of tennis in the United States. I say this for a variety of reasons. Some are political, some economic, and some are the result of living in an “American Idol\Reality Show” world where everyone wants to be a star— qualified or not. And finally, an idea that I’d love the USTA to consider. At first glance, you may think these issues aren’t necessarily related. But, trust me, each one plays a role in jeopardizing the future of the sport we all love. 30

Lack of the American champion Presently, tennis is dominated by foreign players, particularly in men’s tennis. I hope I’m wrong, but I think it is entirely possible that we may not see another American champion in my lifetime. What does having a great player do for tennis across the country? It makes us care. It makes us pay a little more attention. It makes the possibility of becoming a great player a little more tangible. If that kid from Florida or California can do it, maybe you can, too. Better yet, that kid from Douglaston or Howard Beach. Why aren’t we producing any great champions? In my opinion, it’s pretty simple. In our country, unlike more successful tennis nations, there is not one singular tennis federation that players must pass through. There has never really been one. The closest thing we had was the Bollettieri Academy in the 1980s, back in the days of Agassi, Courier and Wheaton. You see, the process of making a champion doesn’t have to be that complicated. Take the best players in the country and put them in one place. Have them live together, train together, compete and basically beat the hell out of each other. They will make each other better. Eventually, one or two will rise to the top and will be stronger and tougher for having gone through the process. Unfortunately, after people saw the economic success Nick Bollettieri was having, everyone

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

and their brother started their own academy and each one was predicting similar results. The problem is that the talent pool is now fractured into these smaller groups that have their own individual interests and agendas. Players are separated and protected from each other, instead of being forced to compete and push each other to greater heights. It’s way too much about who your coach is and what academy you are attending. Management groups are giving big checks to kids who haven’t won anything with the hope that one day they might. And the whole time, other countries that have real, effective tennis federations, are looking at us and smiling. The problem is, the genie is out of the bottle, and it will be nearly impossible to go back. We have confused the process of building a champion with the prospect of making money in the tennis business. They are two very different pursuits. But because we live in a free capitalistic country, there is no way to get everyone on the same page. As long as there are people out there proclaiming that they can manufacture champions, some parent is going to have their kid on the other side of the net and pay for it. So we remain a nation of little tennis tribes that are trying (albeit unsuccessfully) to create a champion for their own personal gain, not for that of their country.

“Going pro” If I hear one more kid ranked in the Top 50 or 60 in the East say that he or she may “Go pro” some day, I’m going to scream. No … they’re not. Let’s get a few things straight. Currently, less than 40 men on planet Earth make more that $500,000 a year playing professional tennis. The number 100 player in the world probably doesn’t make as much money as the head pro or director at your local club. Crazy, but true. Think about it … if you were the 100th best doctor or lawyer or businessman in the world, you’d be rich and you probably be famous. If you are the 100th best tennis player in the world, you can barely make a go of it. And you’re only going to have the gig for a short time because there are hundreds of more players, just like you, who are dying to take it. If you really think you have a future as a playing professional, just do this: The next time a major tournament is on TV (one where the draw is made up of the top 125 to 150 players in the world), ask yourself if you can beat any of the play-

ers you’re watching. If the answer is no, you just figured it out. Going back to what I was saying before in regard to building a champion, this is something that is relevant to only the top one percent of one percent. We’re talking about 20 or 25 kids in the country in a few age groups. Everybody else should be thinking in terms of collegiate tennis, high school tennis, or even, God forbid, playing just because you truly love to play. Why is everybody, from coaches, to parents, to kids, so insistent on creating the illusion that they are on this path to the U.S. Open? The chances are really good that you are not going to “go pro.” My question is: Why is there anything wrong with that? High school tennis I feel like it is my job to help each kid figure out where tennis fits into their life, and guide them down the appropriate road—kind of like a tennis guidance counselor. As you can see, the problem I am talking about starts at the top and works its way down. Since there is not

one sole federation to deal with the small number of players that could potentially play professionally, it’s the Wild West out there. Not only are sleep away academies claiming to be the answer, but even junior programs at local clubs are promoting themselves as breeding grounds for future champions. Kids who play only a handful of tournaments each year are turning down the opportunity to play high school tennis, saying that it is a waste of their time and talent. Is everybody going crazy? My philosophy is to help kids try to regain some perspective and create a healthy tennis atmosphere for them. I feel like it is my job to help each kid figure out where tennis fits into their life, and guide them down the appropriate road. I work with a bunch of great kids who love to play. They play two or three days a week, and they either currently play or are preparing to play on their high school team. They may also enter the occasional junior tournament. In many cases, because continued on page 32

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is tennis in trouble? continued from page 31 they’re pretty darn good players, kids like this are thrown into typical tournament training programs because their goals aren’t exactly the same as a kid that, lets say, is trying to become top 20 in the east, they can get a little lost in the shuffle and feel disenfranchised. I think its important for them to find a program where they can stand out. It makes them feel like they belong, and their enjoyment of the game and subsequent improvement is obvious. Again, the goal is to put each kid in the right program based on their true intentions in the game. One final thought regarding high school tennis ... my club is truly fortunate to have St. Francis Prep Boys and Girls Coach John Brennan at the head of our Varsity Prep Program. John has been coaching for 22 years and has won 29 league championships. But more important, you are simply not going to find a coach more dedicated to tennis on the high school

level. Unfortunately, coaches like John are in the vast minority. Most times, high school teams are coached by teachers or faculty members that have played a little bit, and could use a few extra bucks. The reason that more qualified tennis professionals don’t get involved is that they either cannot get away from their clubs, or they cannot afford the pay cut they would have to take in order to coach. Here’s an idea. Since the USTA is always looking for ways to grow the game, let them help. Let them take a portion of the millions of dollars they make each year during the U.S. Open and subsidize a program that will help high schools afford to hire better, more qualified coaches. The structure of leagues and teams is already in place all across the country. If the quality of school programs could be raised, more kids would look at it as a viable option. Many would find it a compliment, if not a substitute, for tournament tennis. They would also have the positive ex-

perience of playing on a team, one of the benefits sports like lacrosse and soccer offer. In the end, I want to see tennis get healthy again—structurally, mentally and emotionally. I’d love to see our country come together, pool its considerable resources, and create some great players. Although, I have to say, I’m not holding my breath on that one. I’d like to see everyone else get their head on straight. Players, coaches and parents. Think in terms of playing in college. Think in terms of playing for your high school. Set realistic, accomplishable goals for yourself and go about the truly engaging and rewarding process of attaining them. It’s about the journey. It’s about the process. It’s about the love of the game. If we can all get back to that, the future of tennis will look much brighter. George Garland is the principal owner and director of Go! Tennis programs, located at North Shore Tennis & Racquets Club in Bayside, N.Y. He has been involved in tennis for over 43 years. George may be reached by e-mail at george@gotennisprograms.com or call (718) 224-6303.

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

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

COMING IN MAY 2014

Distribution scheduled for 05/01/14 This edition will feature: • Guide to the 2nd Annual New York Tennis Expo • Top Tennis Apparel Stores • 2014 French Open Preview • Boys High School Tennis Coverage

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Questions to Ask Before Skipping College to Turn Pro By Steve Kaplan ost serious young tournament tennis players from the local area aspire to transition from the junior ranks to college tennis. A college education is not the best path for every young person or every young tennis player, however, and some of the greatest tennis players of all time opted to skip college and had impressive careers. Clearly it made sense for the likes of Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick and the Williams Sisters to follow their dreams of playing

professional tennis. They were highly successful at a very young age and made fortunes doing something they love. It also seems reasonable for players from countries who may not have an opportunity to seek higher education to see pro tennis as the way to a better life. The decision to forego formal education to pursue a career, any career for that matter, is a life-altering event and should be considered carefully. The cost of a topnotch four-year college education can be as high as $250,000 for a degree and that number rises almost every year. If you give up a scholarship to turn pro and you wish

to go back for a degree, one day you will look back and think about what you will have to earn in order to have the ability to pay for it. Those who read my blogs and columns know that I am a strong believer in the value of higher education, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pretend to suggest that one definitive path is right for everyone. Instead, I propose questions that athletes should ask in order to make an informed choice before skipping (or leaving) college to play professional tennis. Ten questions to ask before skipping college to turn pro 1. Is this something you truly want to do, or are you satisfying the business interests, ego and aspirations of family, friends, coaches and agents? 2 Do you fully understand your college tennis opportunities for receiving training, competition, financial support and professional playing experiences? 3. Have you considered which option gives you the best chance of long-term professional tennis success? 4. How much do you value formal education and the college social experience? 5. Are you ready to enter the work world

New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ March/April 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ NYTennisMag.com

and embrace the lifestyle of a young professional tennis player? 6. Have you weighed the risk/reward of college with the risk/reward of a professional tennis career? 7. Have you fully investigated the successes and/or failures of players in a similar position who have come before you? 8. Have you sought the advice of players who have been in similar positions and who have now experienced the consequences of their choices? 9. Have you considered the long-term financial ramifications of your choice? 10. Have you considered your life after tennis? According to a study in 2010 conducted by the USTA National Collegiate Varsity Committee: l The average age of the top 200 men is 26 years of age and women is 24 years of age. Both ages are steadily rising. l The average career length of a professional tennis player is seven years, regardless of the starting age. You will likely work for 40 years. l The cost of one year on the ATP Tour is about $143,000 annually and the

break-even ranking is 164 for men and 119 for women. l The value of a scholarship is $43,000 each year and the educational and tennis developmental value is $90,000 per year. These numbers are, of course, way higher now and are inflating. l It is estimated that the average lifetime value of an undergraduate degree is worth $1 million more than a high school diploma. l The NCAA rules for college tennis have changed. Many schools will allow the best players to leave for the Pro Tour and return to finish their education on

scholarship. This sounds like having your cake and eating it too. Steve Kaplan is the owner of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as the director of Lacoste Academy for New York City Parks Foundation. Over the last 34 years, Steve has been the longtime coach of more than 600 nationally-ranked junior players, 16 state high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous touring professionals and prominent coaches. Steve’s students have been awarded in excess of $8 million in college scholarship money. He may be reached by e-mail at stevenjkaplan@aol.com.

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26th Annual College Tennis Exposure Camp June 15-19 (University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla.) July 7-11 (University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va.) July 20-25 (Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.) July 27-Aug. 1 (Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.) (813) 684-9031 www.collegetennis.com Coach Ed Krass’ 26th Annual College Tennis Exposure Camp is the nation’s only training camp taught exclusively by head college coaches. The camp is open to all players, ages 15-18, who are interested in playing college tennis. Players receive instruction and training from head coaches representing every level of the college game. Ed Krass coached varsity tennis teams at Harvard University, Clemson University and University of Central Florida prior to founding the College Tennis Exposure Camp. Under the skillful eyes of top college coaches, players showcase their singles, doubles and One-on-One Doubles skills, and receive specific feedback on their game. Instructional drills and match play competitions are conducted in the same style and intensity as collegiate practice sessions. Players have the opportunity to sample various coaching styles and re36

ceive on-court coaching during team competitions. Classroom seminars with college coaches motivate and educate players about college tennis preparation. The camp is offered at University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. from June 1519; University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. from July 7-11 and at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. for two sessions, from July 20-25 and July 27-Aug. 1. Air-conditioned dormitory accommodations, cafeteria meals and 24-hour adult supervision are provided. For more information, call (813) 684-9031 or visit www.collegetennis.com.

Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Camp at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, N.Y. Contact: Xavier Luna (212) 935-4049 myadvantagetennis@gmail.com 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 10year-olds. Programs and groupings are based on age, playing level and goals, and include beginners, recreational, competi-

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

tive, 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 eight 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 recreational activities. The camp also utilizes an adjacent indoor swimming pool, Sportspark and various other athletic fields just a short walk from the club.

Advantage Sea & Sport at SUNY Maritime College and New York Tennis Club 3081 Harding Avenue Throgs Neck, N.Y. Camp Director: Paul Fontana (718) 239-7919 pfontana@advantagetennisclubs.com www.advantagecamps.net The Advantage Sea & Sorts Camp is unique in the New York Metro area. We hold camp at the beautiful 55-acre campus of the Maritime College in Throgs Neck, N.Y., conveniently located near Manhattan, Queens and lower Westchester. The

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE award-winning waterfront program offers Advantage campers ages six through 17 the opportunity to sail, kayak and motorboat their way to fun! An aquatic center and extensive recreational facilities encourage swimming, soccer, basketball and more. Advantage Sea & Sports Camp even includes a tennis program at The New York Tennis Club, only two minutes from Maritime College. Staffed with tennis professionals, the Club includes a QuickStart and tournament training program in a beautiful country-like setting.

Centercourt Performance Tennis Center 65 Columbia Road Morristown, N.J. (973) 635-1222 www.centercourtclub.com/cptc Contact: Clay Bibbee clay@centercourtclub.com “Our Mission: Create the Next American Champion!” The Centercourt Performance Tennis Center (CPTC) is the ultimate training facility featuring seven hard courts, one red clay court, a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center, a modern and innovative academic center, and a beautifully renovated lobby located on the second floor of the club house. The CPTC offers both fulltime and comprehensive after-school programs 7 days per week. CPTC also offers a multi-faceted and great summer camp

program, strength and conditioning programs, as well as tournament travel yearround. Why you should choose CPTC: l Train in a world-class environment with high-performance level coaches from around the world. l Achieve significant individual improvement in all facets of your game, including technical, physical, and mental aspects. l We are dedicated to meeting the individual needs of each and every one of our students. l Our Academy players are among some of the top sectional, national, and ITF ranked players from around the world. l We put the needs of the player first, in a development-focused model of training. l Each camp will be tailored to the skill levels and goals of our players; featuring small group training, match play, individualized fitness plans, mental coaching, and video analysis. l Tournament coaching and travel l Players who commit to our training will see themselves develop life skills that will enable them to become champions both on and off the court. CPTC provides a superior junior player pathway, which satisfies the needs of sectional and nationally ranked juniors. CPTC programs have rolling admissions from September 9 to June 8, 2014, and it offers an 11-week summer camp from June 16-Aug. 29, 2014. For more information, contact Clay Bibbee by phone at (973) 635-1222 or e-mail clay@centercourtclub.com.

Chris Lewit Tennis Academy NYC & Westchester Locations (914) 462-2912 www.chrislewit.com Spanish and European Training Paradigms Chris Lewit Tennis Academy (CLTA) is a leading high performance academy training players from the New York City area and around the country and world. The camp is lead by Chris Lewit, former number one for Cornell and Pro Circuit player, and offers a unique curriculum based on authentic and progressive Spanish and European teaching methods. CLTA offers an internationally recognized summer camp in Westchester at the Hackley School in Tarrytown (www.hackleyschool.org) and in NYC at The New York Tennis Club (www.newyorktennisclub.com). CLTA specializes in building the complete foundation for aspiring tournament players and serious players of all levels. All camps are led personally by Chris Lewit, who works daily on the court with each student in a small group setting. With the Spanish student to coach and court ratio of approx. 2:1, all players receive individualized and personal instruction from Chris and his team, and no players slips through the cracks. At both locations, the full-day academy starts at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. and includes six hours of training (one hour lunch/rest break). Players training full-day will be on court for four hours working to achieve

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE both a strong technical game and a very complete tactical system. Two hours a day are also devoted to fitness, including injury prevention, cross-training and strengthening. Sessions begin June 15 and end Aug. 15. For more information please visit www.chrislewit.com.

Future Stars Summer Camps (914) 273-8500 www.fscamps.com The College at Old Westbury 223 Store Hill Road Old Westbury, N.Y. (516) 876-3490

Southampton, N.Y. Programs are directed by experienced and qualified teachers and coaches who share a passion for working with children. Weekly programs are offered for boys and girls entering grades K-12. Tennis camps offer the perfect mix of match play, drill work, strategy sessions and off-court activities to challenge players of all levels. The program is designed to improve every facet of the game, including technical, tactical, physical and mental components under the guidance of our experienced and enthusiastic tennis professionals. Campers will be carefully grouped according to skill level and age and will be encouraged to enhance their strokes and strategies via group lessons, skill building drills organized play, target training, fitness routines and more. At Future Stars Summer Camps we play with confidence, enthusiasm and a genuine love of the game! Stop by our regular oncampus open house events to view the facilities, meet the directors, and take advantage of enrollment savings.

Gotham Tennis Academy in The Hamptons Napeague Tennis Club 47 Montauk Highway Amangansett, N.Y. (646) 524-7069 info@gothamtennis.com www.gothamtennis.com

Farmingdale State College 2530 Broadhollow Road Farmingdale, N.Y. (631) 609-0438 Future Stars Tennis Club 1370 Majors Path Southampton, N.Y. (631) 287-6707 LIU Post Summer Sports Camps 720 Northern Boulevard Brookville, N.Y. Future Stars Summer Camps offer the finest weekly tennis day camps at four outstanding locations: The College at Old Westbury, Farmingdale State College, LIU Post and Future Stars Tennis Club in 38

& Racquets Club by Director of Tennis George Garland, the camp has the use of 19 courts (14 Har-Tru and five 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 teaching veteran Marvin Dent. The camp season consists of nine, one-week sessions beginning June 26 and ending Aug. 22. There are scheduling and programming options available for all campers.

Go! Tennis Summer Day Camps 34-28 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. (718) 224-6303 www.gotennisprograms.com The year 2014 marks the 17th year of operation of the Go! Tennis Day Camp in Bayside, N.Y. Conducted at North Shore Tennis

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.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, USPTAcertified 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!

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE The Napeague summer program features: An outstanding tennis and multisport day camp featuring instructors with international backgrounds; half-day and full-day options are available; basketball, soccer and other field sports on our multipurpose 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. Light snacks and beverages are provided. Round-trip or one-way transportation may be arranged.

Gotham Tennis Academy Morning Summer Camp at Reebok Sports Club/NY Reebok Sports Club/NY 160 Columbus Avenue New York, N.Y. (646)-524-7069 info@gothamtennis.com www.gothamtennis.com Dates: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays starting in June, 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.

Joel Ross Tennis & Golf Camp info@joelrosstennis.com www.joelrosstennis.com (914) 723-2165

Joel Ross, owner and director of Joel Ross Tennis & Golf Camp in Kent, Conn., is a native Long Islander, having grown up in Westbury, N.Y. He won the New York State High School Singles Championships two consecutive years and earned a full tennis scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he captained the team and played number one singles. In 1971, Joel was Big 10 Singles Champion and was featured on the cover of Tennis Magazine. His best cir-

cuit wins include John McEnroe and Tom Gullikson. He currently resides in New Rochelle, N.Y. with his wife, Ellen, and four children. Joel Ross Tennis & Golf Camp, located only 90 minutes from the Whitestone Bridge, is located in beautiful Kent, Conn., at the base of Mt. Algo, alongside the Housatonic River. The camp facilities include 13 on-campus tennis courts, including four indoor in our own steel building. We do not have to bus the campers to tennis facilities! Our swimming pool and squash courts are also on-campus. We have recently added a golf program. We have a 300-yard driving range/mini course right on campus! Our tennis campers can even do one week of golf! Joel is a hands-on director, in attendance 24/7. His program of instruction and fitness in the morning and ladder play in the afternoon and evening has endured for 20 years since the inception of the camp in 1991. Our campers play ladder matches daily and our tennis groups change two to three times each week, based on the ladder results. The afternoon/evening ladder is the glue of the camp. All of our campers and staff are residents. Our tuition covers everything: Private lessons, laundry, snacks, trips, etc. Our campers can also participate in many electives, including archery, squash, canoeing, kayaking, basketball, soccer, football and more! We have a multi-tiered “Bully Prevention Program” in place as well. Our campers can canoe and kayak in the Housatonic River! Give us a call at (914) 723-2165 and find out why Joel Ross Tennis & Golf Camp is a keeper!

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2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE

Junior Tennis Champions Center Summer Camp 5200 Paint Branch Parkway College Park, Md. (301) 779-8000 www.jtcc.org Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) is a world-class training program offering opportunities for junior players from all backgrounds to reach their full potential on the court and in the classroom. JTCC was selected by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) as the first Regional Training Center for its high performance program. JTCC Summer Programs Champions: Tournament level players between the ages of 12 and 18, requires approval of the senior director of tennis. l On-court training including technical fundamentals, tournament preparation and high level competition. l Mental training with emphasis on concentration, momentum control and situational techniques i.e. “playing the score.” l Strength and Conditioning Fitness Coaches conduct speed and agility training, tennis specific weight training and yoga and flexibility exercises. Junior Champions: Tournament level players between the ages of seven and 12, 40

requires approval from the director of junior champions. l 78’ court with green dot balls. l Premier performance training program for tournament level players between the ages of seven and 10. Weekly camps consist of 25 hours of training including drilling, fitness and competition with peers during match play sessions. l “Junior Champs” serves as a great place for talent identification and is officially the first stage in the Champions pathway. Future Champions Competitive Training Camp For players who have achieved sectional rankings between 51 and 150 or are playing varsity high school tennis. l Focus on technical and tactical development as well as delivering understanding of singles and doubles strategies necessary to compete at tournament level. Throughout the week, players drill, play matches and complete a fitness regimen that will aid them in becoming a more complete player Future Champions Middle School and High School Training Camps l Focus on fundamentals of tennis in a fun, encouraging atmosphere plus development of athleticism through daily, age-appropriate fitness activities. Players in the Summer Program have the option of staying in the D.C. area with a family of another student in the program or a JTCC coach. Host families/coaches will provide breakfast, dinner and transportation daily. Summer Camp is 11 weeks from June 9-Aug. 22. For more information and to register for one or multiple weeks, please contact Marco Impeduglia at mimpeduglia@jtcc.org.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

Midtown Tennis Club 2014 Summer Camps 341 8th Avenue (27th Street) New York, N.Y. (212) 989-8572, ext. 104 www.midtowntennis.com Midtown Tennis Club (MTC) 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 tennis secret. The main attraction on these courts is the club’s Adult Outdoor Tennis College. MTC hosts these group classes year-round, but the summer months attract 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.-8:00 p.m.) in both one- and two-hour formats. The one-hour classes are drill-based and instructional, covering all the basics. The two-hour edition adds match play, strategy and games to complete your game. Classes are offered in a series of four sessions at competitive rates and there are no membership fees. For advanced players, Midtown offers Camp from 9:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. MondayWednesday for 4.0-5.0 Level players. Also “Stroke of the Week” clinics on Saturdays

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE and Sundays are a great way to sharpen your skills. Midtown’s spectacular view of the Empire State Building and city street life are an ideal escape from the office. MTC is centrally located in Chelsea (8th Avenue at 27th Street) and easily accessible by the C, E or 1 Train. The first outdoor classes will be in June and registration begins Wednesday, May 7. The programs sell out quickly, so call Alex at (212) 989-8572, ext. 104 to reserve your spot!

New Rochelle Tennis Club 114 Valley Road New Rochelle, N.Y. Owner: Michael Aronstein Tennis Director: Juan Rios (914) 633-3388 www.newrochelletennisclub.com

player and Olympian, our new tennis director, will be hands-on and personally in charge of all tennis instruction. Juan has been working with kids and running camps worldwide for 30 years. We specialize in teaching your young players the game of a lifetime. Your kids will enjoy learning techniques and footwork in addition to playing matches and games with other campers. Our most important priority is to provide a safe and healthy environment for all of our participants. Since this is a multi-sport camp, in addition to playing tennis, our campers will also enjoy other activities including soccer, golf, pingpong, dodgeball and chess. The camp consists of 10 sessions running from June 16-Aug. 22. The program begins daily at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. (pickup by 4:00 p.m. with no additional charge). Lunch, snacks and refreshments are included in the tuition for all campers. Sessions will not be cancelled when there is inclement weather, however, since we are outdoors, there will be other activities for campers to get excited about and be entertained. There will be team competitions amongst area clubs and t-shirts provided to all campers.

Nike Tennis Camps (800) NIKE-CAMP (645-3226) www.ussportscamps.com/tennis Come join the fun and get better this summer at a Nike Tennis Camp! With more than 80 locations nationwide, both overnight and day options, there is a camp for everyone. Nike Tennis Camps provide young players the opportunity to improve their tennis skills, work hard, make new friends and have a lot of fun. Our dedicated camp directors have a passion for teaching and a gift for helping you take your game to the next level. This summer, Robbie Wagner’s Tourna-

New Rochelle Tennis Club is pleased to announce its first multi-sport camp for children ages five through 16. Our Club is one of the oldest tennis-only clubs in the United States, where all-white attire is still enforced. Over the years, the Club has hosted numerous celebrities from the tennis world and entertainment industry, including Ivan Lendl, Steve Denton, Wojtek Fibak, Olympic athlete and New York Giants announcer Marty Glickman, television personality Stone Phillips, and legendary tennis referee Jack Stahr. Juan Oscar Rios, former Davis Cup NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

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CAMPGUIDE ment Training Camp in Glen Cove, N.Y. is offering three weeks of overnight and day camp (8:45 a.m.-4:15 p.m.) for ages nine through 18 and an additional seven weeks of day camp only (8:45 a.m.-4:15 p.m.) for ages nine through 18 with half day (9:00 a.m.-noon or 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.) options for ages five through 10. Other locations in the Northeast include: Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, N.J.), Colgate University (Hamilton, N.Y.), Elizabethtown College (Elizabethtown, Pa.), Chirico-Cohen Tournament Training at Chestnut Hill College (Chestnut Hill, Pa.), Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, Conn.), Amherst College (Amherst, Mass.), and Curry College (Milton, Mass.). Who says that only kids can go to camp? The Nike Adult Tennis Camp at Amherst College has hosted more than 30,000 adult tennis players since 1972. Camp Directors Reiny Maier and Maureen Rankine are outstanding teachers and passionate coaches who inspire all players to get better and love the game. Multiple camp options and dates offered throughout June and July. Visit www.ussportscamps.com for details.

NYJTL Outdoor Program Offerings Advanced Training Program-Summer Tournament Team Tryouts at Crotona Park May 24, 2014 (time TBD) Contact: Elena Bantovska (347) 417-8168 ebantovska@nyjtl.org Community Tennis Summer Program (begins July 7) Register for free on-site during hours of operation Contact: Scott Daly (347) 417-8177 • tc@nyjtl.org The Advanced Training Program’s Summer Tournament Team, provides talented play-

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

ers ages six through 18 with year-round onand off-court elite training by USPTA- and PTR-certified coaches. The program focuses on helping Tournament Team members develop their skills, and improving technique, footwork, balance, coordination and point construction. Our professional staff work to improve the children’s tennis skills and build character through the sport. Through training, each student develops discipline, decision-making skills, self-esteem, the ability to focus on goals, and a commitment to high standards. Tryouts for the Summer Tournament Team are scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at Crotona Park in the Bronx. USTA’s QuickStart equipment will be used for all players ages eight and under. Selected Summer Team members receive free on court training and conditioning five hours a day, five days a week, for eight weeks. NYJTL Tournament Team members participate in USTA Junior Team Tennis, travel to top local and national competitions, and receive free entry in designated USTA Tournaments. In addition, they compete in the Arthur Ashe essay contest, receive scholarship opportunities and counseling in support of continuing their education in college. Training takes place at the future home of the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning at Crotona Park in the Bronx. Free transportation is provided from NYJTL’s main office in Woodside, NY. NYJTL also offers free Community Tennis Programs in more than 40 sites throughout the five boroughs for children ages five through 18. Community Tennis Spring programs run May and June and summer programs run in July and August and offer children tennis instruction at absolutely no cost. Everything required to play tennis is provided, except sneakers. Community Tennis Program participants also have the opportunity to go on special trips to Mets and Yankees games, Junior Team Tennis tournaments, U.S. Open qualifiers and Arthur Ashe Kids Day.

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE For more information about NYJTL’s programs or about how you can support them, visit www.NYJTL.org or call (347) 4178176.

PETER KAPLAN’s

Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy

Peter Kaplan’s Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy Contact: Peter Kaplan (631) 288-4021 or (914) 234-9462 peterkaplan2002@yahoo.com www.westhamptonbeachtennis.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 90minute clinics are offered daily. Camps and one- through 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, shopping, 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 highquality 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!

Riverside Park Conservancy’s Multi-Sport Summer Camp 96th Street Red Clay Tennis Courts and at the 102nd Street Playground Executive Director (RCTA): Mark McIntyre (212) 870-3078 mark@rcta.info www.rcta.info Riverside Park Conservancy’s Multi-Sport Summer Camp offers week-long day camp in four different sports, including tennis, as well as several dual-sport weeks, at the ball fields and courts of Riverside Park on the West Side of Manhattan. RPC is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from the camp go towards the improvement of the park. Tennis Camp is run by the Riverside Clay Tennis Association at the 96th Street Red Clay Tennis Courts and at the 102nd Street Playground, where 36’ and 60’ courts have been lined on existing volleyball and basketball courts. Participants four- through eight-years-old will play on the well-shaded playground, while eight- to 16-year-olds will play at the beautiful red clay courts along the Hudson River. The Tennis Camp can accommodate participants with all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. A week of tennis camp, which operates 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, is $450. Early registration, multiple week and sibling discounts are available. Registration is available online at

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE www.riversideparknyc.org. For more information, contact RCTA Executive Director Mark McIntyre at mark@rcta.info. The RPC Multi-Sport Camp also offers baseball, soccer and basketball weekly camps. Soccer camp is run by the Carlos Rivera Soccer Academy, which has been operating summer programs in Riverside Park for over 10 years. Baseball and basketball camps are run by Kids of Summer, a long-time provider of after school and summer programs throughout New York City. Some dual camps are offered, for example, soccer in the morning and baseball in the afternoon. Details for all camps, as well as registration, can be found at www.riversideparknyc.org or call the RPC camp director at (212) 870-3070.

Ross School Tennis Academy 18 Goodfriend Drive East Hampton, N.Y. (631) 907-5162 www.ross.org/summerterm/tennisacademy tennisacademy@ross.org

At RSTA’s Summer Term program, you will: l Train on six impeccably maintained Har-tru courts in preparation for USTA tournaments. l Practice for four hours daily in group and private sessions. l Participate in weekly group sessions with RSTA’s sports psychologist. l Use Dartfish video comparison analysis to improve your form and your skills. l Reside in luxurious boarding houses with students from around the world, dining at our renowned Ross Café and taking part in weekend and evening excursions to local Hamptons activities or to New York City. Additional private training, sports psychologist sessions and coaching are available for a fee. Phil Williamson had been coaching nationally-ranked juniors at the Grand Slam Tennis Center in Bedford, N.Y., where he served as senior head pro. His experience in tennis includes the management of clubs, but his passion lies in coaching. Phil is a Life Member of the USTA and was named 2007 Pro of the Year by the USPTA/Eastern Section. He is a USPTA Member with a P1 rating, and he was certified as a High Performance Coach in 2007. As a player, Phil led the Columbia University team to their second Ivy League title in three years and achieved a rank of 31st in Head Intercollegiate Tennis Standings. He has placed in the U.S. Open four times and achieved an ATP singles ranking of 294th and 133rd in doubles.

USTA/ITF players aged 12-18, join us this summer at Ross School Tennis Academy, where you can increase your skills under our highest-level tennis training program. This intensive program is specially designed for a small group of players dedicated to training to their highest potential every day. 44

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

Southampton Racquet Club & Camp Director: Thomas Coffey Winter: 85 Crescent Beach Road Glen Cove, N.Y. (516) 953-5176 Summer: 665 Majors Path Southampton, N.Y. (631) 488-4700 tom@camptlc.com www.southamptonrcc.com Southampton Racquet Club & Camp (SRCC), part of the TLC Family of Camps, offers an extraordinary program at their Southampton, N.Y. location for children ages two-and-a-half through 10 years of age. Our Southampton Racquet Club & Camp campus features a beautiful 17-acre wooded landscape in the middle of Southampton, just 1.5 miles north of Route 27. We offer the perfect summer program for every camper with our tennis camp program filled with a unique blend of age appropriate activities including aquatics, athletics and creative arts that help build a strong foundation of physical movement skills and cross-training, essential for the development of every child. SRCC offers air-conditioned bus transportation, included in tuition, from Westhampton-Bridgehampton, flexible enrollment options, including full and mini-day, and is also committed to small groups with extensive staffing. Qualified teachers, coaches and

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE activity specialists ensure that all campers have the best summer possible. Our tennis program is facilitated by the nationally-renowned Cliff Drysdale Tennis company, and provides world class coaching from a highly qualified national and international staff. With a well-balanced program of technique, strategy, game-play, fitness and having lots of fun our program is established to instill qualities on and off the tennis court. With our structured curriculum, we help improve and develop tennis and skills in young players, not just for the season, but for life. Come and join us at Southampton Racquet Club & Camp and enjoy the perfect summer program, building self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience in a safe and fun environment.

SPORTIME Randall’s Island EXCEL Summer Camp SPORTIME Randall’s Island One Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. (212) 427-6150 campsri@sportimeny.com sportimeny.com/manhattan Dates: June 9 until Labor Day (Monday-Friday, weekly from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) Welcome to 2014 EXCEL Summer Tennis Camp at SPORTIME Randall’s Island, flagship location of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy! Starting on June 9, and extend-

ing until Labor Day weekend. Last summer was our most successful camp season to date and we are already making plans to make summer 2014 even better. Not only did we have campers at all levels of play last summer, we had a great group of nationally- and sectionally-ranked players. The level of energy, excitement and fun was outstanding. And to top it off, eight players who competed in the 2013 Junior U.S. Open trained for the event at EXCEL Summer Camp, including JMTA’s own Noah Rubin and Jamie Loeb. The EXCEL Camp is designed and directed by Lawrence Kleger, SPORTIME’s executive director of tennis and director of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy. Assisting Lawrence as head coaches will be EXCEL Camp Director Greg Evans and JMTA Directors Bruce Haddad, Felix Alvarado, Nate Emge and Cosmin Cotet. Our pro staff includes former ATP- and WTA-ranked professionals, world-class developmental coaches and top collegiate players. This team will ensure the highest quality and most intense summer tennis camp experience in the New York Metropolitan Area. Program Philosophy EXCEL Tennis Camp offers a uniquely challenging tennis training program for serious-minded junior competitors. It is ideal for those interested in improving their skills and taking their game to the next level. Instilling confidence and pursuing excellence is a big part of everything we do at EXCEL. We turn weaknesses into strengths; and strengths into a winning game. Our head coaches carefully evaluate campers and customize a program to meet their developmental needs. Campers are divided into small groups to achieve the following: l Technical proficiency l Peak physical conditioning l Effective implementation of strategy and tactics

l Positive self-esteem and mental toughness We believe that attitude, intensity and commitment are key elements in developing a complete tennis player and determining future success. 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 12 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 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 10 until Labor Day weekend. 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.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE intermediate and advanced players. Ages five through 14 are welcome to enroll. Your child will learn proper stroke production fundamentals, strategy, match-play, conditioning and footwork. Round trip transportation from points in NYC, Westchester and New Jersey may be arranged.

Stadium Tennis Center Summer Camps Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Park 725 Gateway Center Boulevard (formerly Exterior Street) at E152nd Street and the Harlem River Bronx, N.Y. Contact: Eric Faro or Rachel Aaron (718) 665-4684 info@stadiumtennisnyc.com www.stadiumtennisnyc.com Stadium Tennis Center offers a unique array of summer camp programs designed for tennis players of all levels to experience. Through our partnership with Gotham Tennis Academy, we have assembled some of the most talented, 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 their fullest potential. Stadium Tennis Center offers two distinct summer tennis camp experiences to choose from: l The Summer Elite High Performance Tennis Academy is designed for those juniors who are ranked in the top 30 or better in their section. It includes a low player-to-coach ratio, on-court drills, match play, video analysis, mental toughness training and an extensive fitness program to prepare for sectional and national events. l The Junior Summer Tennis Development Program is designed for beginner, 46

TCR—The Club of Riverdale 2014 Tennis Camp 2600 Netherland Avenue Riverdale, N.Y. (718) 796-9099 www.tcr-nyc.com For 21 years, TCR’s “one of a kind” club has been offering the best tennis camp, facilities and staff in New York City. TCR’s 150,000-square foot facility is one of the nicest in the industry. Campers will benefit from six indoor air-conditioned courts, 14 outdoor courts, a recreation hall and gymnasium for court sports, kids-only locker rooms, and an indoor 25-yard swimming pool. TCR also boasts an indoor café, outdoor deck with grille service, full fitness and spa facilities, and a golf center. Camp philosophy: To provide all campers with an energized and captivating environment that will inspire them, and increase their self belief to learn, practice and play tennis with more focus, enthusiasm, and enjoyment of the game. TCR Camp Director Steve O’Keefe will

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

oversee all aspects of TCR’s camp program. The TCR Tennis Camp is designed to further develop your child’s love of the game, no matter their age or ability level. Camp groupings: l Future Stars (ages 4-7): A minimum of two hours of tennis per day; two swim periods per day; gym sports; arts and crafts; and a buffet lunch. l Hot Shots (ages 8-11): Two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hour of tennis per day; a daily swim; gym sports; and a buffet lunch. l Competitive Edge (ages 12-15): Three to four hours of tennis per day; a daily swim; gym sports; and a buffet lunch. l Tournament Training: Four to five hours of tennis/ per day; conditioning and fitness; a daily swim; gym sports; and a buffet lunch. Key camp features: l Caring and professional international staff l Multi-level teaching curriculum featuring TCR’s progressive teaching methodology l Friday afternoon awards ceremony l Weekly interclub matches against other camps and clubs in Westchester, Fairfield, New York City and the Hamptons. l Week-long “Color Wars” team competition l Friday “Davis Cup” team tennis competition l Complimentary early drop-off and late pick-up l Door-to-door transport l Flexible attendance options TCR runs 13 weekly camp sessions from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with complimentary early drop-off at 8:00 a.m. and late pick-up until 6:00 p.m. Door-to-door transit is offered from Wall Street to as far north Greenwich, Conn. For enrollment, additional information, a tour of the club, or group specials, contact TCR Tennis Manager/Camp Director Steve O’Keefe at (718) 796-9099 or e-mail steve@tcr-nyc.com.

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE that helps them navigate their surroundings and their world.

Tennis Innovators Tennis & Sports Summer Camp 2014 520 2nd Avenue (Kips Bay Court) New York, N.Y. 899 10th Avenue (John Jay Court) New York, N.Y. Contact: Juan Andrade (646) 476-5811 jandrade@tennisinnovators.com Tennis Innovators is proud to once again provide your junior with one of the top tennis camps in New York City. The Tennis & Sports Summer Camp 2014 begins on June 16 and runs through Aug. 29. We offer your junior a daily dose of stroke development, private instruction, fun drills and games. Our camp ensures a successful experience developing tennis skills and coordination while enjoying a fun and exciting summer camp day. Outdoor fields are available for multi-sport activities, where players can enjoy soccer, basketball, baseball and more to keep each camp day fresh and exciting. Tennis Innovators offers: Indoor and outdoor locations; tennis lessons and games; multi-sport activities; arts and crafts; and sprinklers and a trip to the pool. A typical summer camp day at our camp runs from 8:45 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and features yoga-infused stretching; tennis instruction, drills and games; multi-sport activities; lunch; and a cool down at the pool or in the sprinklers. Full-day, half-day or weekly enrollment is available. For more information, please call (646) 476-5811 or visit www.tennisinnovators.com.

Tennis Mom Sailing Dad (TMSD) lauraann@tennismomsailingdad.com www.tennismomsailingdad.com (917) 882-0901 Tennis Mom Sailing Dad (TMSD) was launched as a way to use sports and travel together to foster and empower juniors to think both critically and autonomously on and off the court. Tournaments among Friends, (TAF), our adult program, was established as a private concierge service engaging friends in tennis training, friendly competition while on vacation. Junior Camp l MSD acts as a full-service chaperone offering three-week sessions during summer months as a way of providing aspiring juniors the opportunity to train at the acclaimed Ferrer Tennis Academy (FTA) in Javea, Spain. l In addition to junior tennis instruction, a home-away-from home experience is offered. Home-cooked meals, laundry services and chauffeuring to and from the FTA just to name a few. Daily Spanish lessons are provided and local excursions included. l Juniors are cared for as part of TMSD’s extended family. Friendships are forged, sporting skills enhanced, and memories are formed that will last a lifetime. Most importantly, juniors become empowered with a sense of confidence

FTA Residency Programs l FTA has joined forces with the Lope de Vega International School of Benidorm, Spain offering year-round Residency Programs. Students study full time while concurrently training at the FTA under the direction of Javier Ferrer, Director of the FTA and former tennis professional, Israel Vior. l Students gather from around the world and together they enjoy athletics, academics and a culturally enriching experience. Juniors will immerse themselves in Spanish customs while partaking in intensive tennis training and tournament participation. l In the end, students graduate with a master of English, French and Spanish. Additionally, their game will be brought to the next level, while simultaneously preparing themselves for college scholarships or a professional tennis career. Adult Camp l TAF specializes in luxurious, all-inclusive tennis packages worldwide. l As friends with TAF, you will share in elite destinations, exclusive villas and gourmet dining all the while training for friendly and competitive tournaments. l TAF acts as your private concierge service, customizing your vacation, your way.. Tourna-cations: l Offers the same luxurious, all-inclusive tennis packages following major tennis events of your choice, such as our Jet Setter Package: Nice Open, Monte Carlo Grand Prix, French Open. If you want, you can even rent a Ferrari for the day, and have lunch in Portofino, Italy. Now that’s a vacation!

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Summer Camps Flushing Meadows Corona Park (718) 760-6200 www.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 2014. 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 10 & Under programs 48

(visit www.quickstarttennis.com for information about this 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 Tennis Academy training program which runs Monday-Friday, from 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. We have 22 outdoor courts, 12 indoor courts, and four stadium courts. We have available on-site Ping-Pong tables, ball machines, 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 www.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.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

West Side Tennis Club’s 2014 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@forestillstennis.com www.foresthillstennis.com The West Side Tennis Club’s Summer Camp offers top notch coaching at the most historic tennis venue in the U.S. 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 HarTru 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 play-

2014 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE

CAMPGUIDE ers 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 9, and transportation is available from Queens and Manhattan. For more information, call (718) 268-2300 or email thomas@foresthillstennis.com.

Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps | Premier Sports Camps Contact: David Schilling (330) 333-CAMP (2267) dschilling@premiersportscamps.com www.wilsontenniscamps.com Higher learning for your game The number one brand in tennis. The nation’s top college coaches. The camp where young players fulfill their potential. Beautiful college campuses set the background for the Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps. It’s here where boys and girls, ages eight through 18, experience a

structured curriculum. Catering to all skill levels, our camps offer five-and-a-half to six hours of tennis every day. Each camper is exposed to personal instruction as well as various formats of match play. Our camps offer a unique blend of the latest teaching techniques and focused training progressions in firstrate facilities. Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps are the premier camps for young players who strive to participate in middle school, high school, USTA team tennis, or who are preparing to compete in USTA leagues and/or tournaments, or just learn how to play the game. l Personalized curriculum: Wellrounded days with a comprehensive curriculum that progresses through the course of the week, coupled with first rate facilities at the most beautiful campuses, our camps will feature small group instruction and personal attention in a fun and safe environment. Each camper will receive in-

• 8 Har-Tru Courts • Game Matching (Players of All Levels) • WCTL (Rough & Semi Rough Divisions) • MITL (A,B,C, & Jr. Levels) • Club Championships • 24-Hour Restringing Service • Lounge, Snack Bar & Free Wifi

struction on the fundamentals of all major strokes which will enhance their skills through repetition, ball-feeding drills, live-ball situations and competitive match play. In addition, campers will be exposed to team play and match play in singles and doubles and learn aspects of team play. l All skill levels: Offering camps for all levels of young players, The Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps features the widest variety of camp programs in the nation. No matter where you are or where you want to go, we have a camp program to help you get there. l Safety: Safety is one of the bedrocks of our camps. Kids are monitored at all times during their time at camp and experienced staff members prioritize the need for awareness and safety both on and off the courts. The Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps is where learning is organized, fun is emphasized and safety is prioritized.

• Instruction • Tennis Director – Juan Rios (Former Olympian & Davis Cup Captain) • Adult Group & Private Instruction

• Cardio Tennis • Junior Summer Camp • Full Service Pro Shop

Open May – November The New Rochelle Tennis Club: 114 Valley Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804 Phone: (914) 633-3388 • Fax: (914-636-1136) Email: nr10sc@aol.com Website: newrochelletennisclub.com NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

How to Get the Most Out of Your Adult Tennis Class By Andy Stuber dult classes are getting very popular and are a great way for you to share the great sport of tennis with your peers. But, as coaches and instructors, how do make the best out of your adult tennis class?

Preparation is everything Preparation starts early with good time management. Try to schedule your tennis activity for the week in advance. It will make you more relaxed and gives you a better opportunity to enjoy the class itself. Give yourself enough travel time to get to the facility. This also allows you to cut loose from the hectic work day and change your mind set to focus on the more fun stuff. Getting to the facility early allows you to warm up and stretch your muscles. It might also allow you to have a quick chat with your instructor or with some of the other players beforehand. Your mind and muscles are now ready to play! Stay consistent Let’s be realistic, taking just one adult tennis class per week will not make you a great tennis player. But at least it’s a good start, as long as you are staying consistent with it. Try to have your one “holy” tennis night. If there is a chance for you to raise the frequency, then add more classes. Vary your training The more variety you bring into your program, the better you will play. Put some time into arranging a smart schedule. Ideally, you can plan a mix of technical, physical, as well as tactical and mental exercises. For the technical part, a one-onone instruction is optimal, but an instructional group class with a low ratio of 50

players per court and instructor is good as well. For the physical part, cardio tennis classes are great. They increase your stamina on the court and improve your footwork. If you cannot arrange any cardio tennis sessions, you can also do tennisspecific exercises in the gym or just grab a jump rope. Jumping rope is one the best tools to improve your footwork on the court. For the tactical and mental parts, you should put time in playing points. Drill and plays are a great way to improve your tactics and match play. Additionally, you have to also find the time to play some competitive matches. Only a real match situation will give you true feedback about your tactical and mental levels of play. Do not set too many goals at once Try not to be too ambitious going into a lesson or a match. Achieving one goal in a lesson is ideal and you should then be proud of yourself. Often, our problem is that we try to achieve too many goals at once, and are then frustrated when none of them have been accomplished. Check the quality Good, experienced instructors and a good ratio are crucial and have to be taken in consideration when comparing different programs. Check coaches’ bios and try to find out some more about them from other people. A good coach is usually very energetic, inspiring and has good people skills. They will be able to adapt to each individual and make them a better player. The student to teacher ratio is important as well. It depends on the class. The lower the ratio, the more attention you will get from the coach. For an instructional group clinic, a good ratio is up to four students per coach; in a drill and play, up to six per coach; and in a cardio tennis class, up to eight per coach to guarantee a good quality class experience.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

Bond with your teacher The better you bond with your coach, the better the better your chances will be to optimize your improvement in the classes. Teachers are human and respond very well to positive feedback occasionally. Feed their ego and make them feel liked. It’s okay to criticize them from time to time, and at times, even give them some negative feedback. Sticking to a limited amount of coaches allows for less confusion and improves your success. Take the opportunity to socialize Playing tennis offers a huge opportunity to meet people, both on and off the court. Throw yourself into the mix. Participate in a doubles mixer or in a league and you will find people who share in the same passion. This might not only lead to new friendships, but you might also find a great practice partner. Find a club that offers a variety of programs Look out for a tennis center that offers a variety of classes. There should be a little bit of everything. This should include individual classes, instructional group clinics, drill and plays, cardio tennis classes, some social doubles and singles events, as well as some competitive opportunities for match play, such as singles leagues or adult tennis tournaments. As scheduling can be tricky, find a club that offers flexibility by offering packages and drop-in clinics. Andy Stuber is the adult tennis director of the Gotham Tennis Academy and Stadium Tennis Center. A teaching pro from Basel, Switzerland, Andy grew up playing his tennis on European red clay courts. He may be reached by e-mail at andy@gothamtennis.com.

WTT’s Sportimes to Relocate to San Diego ylan World TeamTennis is returning to San Diego as the San Diego Aviators will make their debut this summer after local businessman Russell Geyser bought the New York Sportimes franchise and has relocated the team. The Aviators will begin their inaugural season in July and plan to construct a temporary 3,000-seat stadium in a downtown location. The team plans to announce the final venue selection in a few weeks. “Tennis has long been a passion of mine, and the opportunity to continue to bring world class professional tennis to San Diego was a remarkable one,” said Geyser. “It is our goal to field a championship team in an unparalleled venue and combine each event with music and charity. We named the team The San Diego Aviators to be evocative of San Diego’s long, storied history of military and commercial aviation.” Geyser is the owner of the San Diego

franchise with Jack McGrory as a minority partner. Shelly Hall will serve as the Aviators’ general manager. San Diego’s history with Mylan World TeamTennis dates back to the 1970s and 1980s when the San Diego Friars played in the League. Mylan WTT co-founder Billie Jean King, who is a Southern California native from Long Beach, also hosts an annual junior tournament in San Diego. The 39th season of Mylan WTT begins July 6 and concludes July 27 with the Mylan WTT Finals. The Aviators will play 14 regular season matches, including seven at their home venue. San Diego will have the option to retain the rights to the 2013 New York Sportimes players although their 2014 team lineup will not be determined until the Mylan WTT Marquee Player Draft and the Mylan WTT Roster Player Draft on March 11. San Diego will pick first in both drafts

because of New York’s last place in 2013. Mylan WTT is well-known for showcasing and introducing innovative elements to tennis including instant replay, teams featuring men and women in equal roles, cumulative and no-ad scoring, on-court coaching and timeouts, Overtime and Supertiebreakers, multi-colored courts and player names on the back of shirts. Each Mylan WTT team is comprised of two men, two women and a coach. Team matches consist of five sets, with one set each of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. The first team to reach five games wins each set. One point is awarded for each game won, and a ninepoint tiebreaker is played if a set reaches four all. If necessary, Overtime and a Supertiebreaker are played to determine the outright winner of the match.

Centercourt Performance Tennis Center (CPTC) is a one of a kind facility dedicated to the development and performance of tennis players. After a complete renovation in 2012, CPTC features seven hard courts, one red clay court, a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center, and an academic center. Our mission is to help every student-athlete realize his or her potential athletically, academically, and within life itself. Our players respect the game, their peers, parents, and coaches. Our curriculum features comprehensive tennis instruction as well as physical and mental conditioning. CP TC offers both full-time and after-school programs 7 days per week with tournament coaching and travel. Programs have rolling admissions from September 9 to June 8, 2014 and offer an 11-week summer camp from June 16 to August 29, 2014. Contact us to schedule an appointment and discover the place championships come to train.

Centercourt Performance Tennis Center 65 Columbia Road, Morristown, NJ www.centercourtclub.com

Contact Clay Bibbee: clay@centercourtclub.com NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

MYTHBUSTERS:

Do I Need to Improve My USTA Ranking for Coaches to be Interested in Me? By Ricky Becker On the surface, it seems obvious. College coaches want the best tennis players. This is true to a point. The tense is incorrect. Coaches want players who will be the best tennis players. After corresponding with hundreds of college coaches, I put together a tiered list of what coaches look at when deciding on whom to recruit. All coaches have their recruiting quirks and preferences but this is what I have seen nationwide.

Tier 1 l TennisRecruiting.Net: This ranking is the starter for all conversations. When

Division 1, 2 or the top Division 3 schools ask about a ranking, they are asking about one’s tennisrecruiting.net ranking. Tennisrecruiting.net ranks kids by grade and uses an algorithm based on quality of one’s wins and losses. It is not based on how far one goes in a tournament. This ranking is seen as the most accurate because the advantage of point chasing is minimalized. It also puts a slight premium on more recent results and best wins.

Tier 2 l Admittance potential: If a child has a tennisrecruiting.net ranking, the next question I get is “How are the academics?” If the child has grades

that are above the average of the regular student body, this appeals to a coach because they won’t have to ask for a favor from admissions or they may even be able to recruit another player who is more below the academic average than usual. Also, the coach doesn’t have to worry about recruiting the player only to have it fall through with admissions at the end. For this reason, a coach won’t want to recruit somebody who he/she thinks won’t get admitted even with the easier standards for athletes.

Tier 3 l Financial situation of a player: The amount of tennis scholarships that

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

are allowed per school is capped, the same way the NBA, NFL or NHL have a salary cap (4.5 maximum for D1 and D2 men; eight maximum for D1 women and six maximum for D2 women). Therefore, if you are LeBron James, you will get your “max contract” or full-scholarship anywhere. If you aren’t at the very top of the national rankings, however, more doors will be open to you if there is a smaller “cap hit” attached. D3 coaches may care a little about the financial aid (non-athletic) needed from the recruit only because it is another hurdle to overcome with admissions. l Attitude: Simply put, coaches don’t want to complicate their lives by having a player who is a headache. This means a player who won’t get along with teammates, the coach or even opponents. Work ethic is also something that coaches try to find out about. Character references are what college coaches look for the

most when I speak to them about a player. l A recruit’s perceived interest in tennis vs. using tennis for admission: This is especially important for Ivy League coaches and coaches of strong academic schools that do not offer athletic scholarships. One top Ivy League coach told me that his biggest job in recruiting is figuring out who wants to contribute to the team versus who is using him to get admitted just so they can quit once getting on campus. l Record vs. category: For the unfamiliar, tennisrecruiting.net groups kids into categories (Blue chip, FiveStar, Four-Star, etc.). I have noticed a definite uptick in coaches asking what the child’s record is against a certain category.

Tier 4 l USTA ranking: This actual ranking is a bigger deal with mid- to lower-level

tennis D3 schools. It’s really only relevant with the D1s, D2s and stronger D3s to determine which national tournaments you can get into. Qualifying for certain tournaments can limit or enhance your exposure to coaches who travel to tournaments and recruit. Although, you should also be contacting them! l Game style/technique: This does vary a lot among coaches. When we were winning championships at Stanford, the coaches never saw us play and literally went down the ranking list for recruiting believing that if you knew how to win, that was enough. A lot of coaches do want players who have bigger games that they will grow into. Coaches also like lefties. l Doubles ability: Doubles are an important component of team matches. Coaches aren’t necessarily looking for doubles specialists, continued on page 54

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

college tennis spotlight continued from page 53 but do prefer recruits who aren’t “singles only,” especially if the recruit is going to be near the bottom of the singles lineup. l References: Coaches aren’t going to do a friend a favor and take someone the friend works with who clearly doesn’t belong on the team. If the recruit is near the cut-off they can take the relationship into consideration though. Especially if it’s a relationship they want to foster. l Recruitability: Does the kid respond to e-mails quickly? Is the school on the kid’s list of 20 schools or is the school on the short list? Is the child making himself/herself available for a visit? l Domestic players: With two players being equal, most schools (not all)

prefer the American player to an international player. I have spoken to coaches who see international students as lower-maintenance.

Tier 5 l Rise in rankings: Is the child’s ranking improving through the years or is it getting worse? If it’s getting worse, what is the reason? l High school tennis: Some coaches do sympathize with kids not playing high school tennis if the recruit can give a good reason why it is a waste of time. If two kids are equal, it is definitely an advantage to show your love of being on a team by playing high school tennis. l Does the coach think you will be happy: Of course, the coach is thinking about how to field the best and

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

most unified team. However, no college coach wants kids to transfer. Some coaches will consider that although it may be a good fit for them, you will not like the lack of playing time, location, etc. and that you may want to transfer after a year.

Read this list like a pyramid Not everything is going to fit perfectly but the stronger you can build the base of your pyramid, the higher your pyramid can potentially grow. You do need that top however, or it’s not a pyramid! Ricky Becker is the founder of JuniorTennisConsulting LLC, director of Tennis at Pine Hollow Country Club and high-performance manager at Glen Head Racquet Club. Ricky was named the Most Valuable Player for the 1996 NCAA Championship Stanford Tennis Team and was a top-five nationally-ranked junior. He can be reached by e-mail at rbecker06@yahoo.com, by phone at (516) 605-0420 or via JuniorTennisConsulting.com.

Queens College Tennis Bubble Gets Lighting Upgrade

he Queens College tennis bubble took another step forward in its renovation with the recent installation of improved lighting in the facility. The lights will now reflect light upward and not downward, thus improving the quality of play for the users. The Queens College tennis bubble offers tennis players a myriad of options for their

pleasure. There are lessons for both adults and juniors, open court times, as well as various clinics and USTA events throughout the year. The state-of-the-art lights reflect light upward, keeping the glare out of players’ eyes; while still providing ample light to play long into the night. The tennis bubble, which was

a victim of a tornado in 2010, had undergone a rebirth with new equipment, facilities and now, brand new lighting. The new lighting, which cost approximately $320,000, was part of an overall $2.4 million renovation to the Queens College bubble and took three months to complete.

2013-2014 Queens College Men's Tennis Schedule All home matches played at Queens College, located at 65-30 Kissena Boulevard in Queens, N.Y. For more information, visit www.queensknights.com.

Date

Opponent

Time

Friday, Feb. 28

Fordham

Noon

Saturday, March 8

Philadelphia U.

6:00 p.m.

Friday, March 14

Post

11:00 a.m.

Saturday, March 15

at Chestnut Hill

Noon

Friday, March 21

Bloomfield

3:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 23

Stonehill

Noon

Friday, March 28

at St. Thomas Aquinas*

3:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 29

Merrimack

Noon

Sunday, March 30

University of the Sciences

Noon

Wednesday, April 2

at NYIT*

3:00 p.m.

Friday, April 4

Adelphi

Noon

Saturday, April 5

Dowling*

Noon

Friday, April 11

Daemen*

3:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 12

Roberts Wesleyan*

Noon

Wednesday, April 16

at Caldwell

3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 18

at District of Columbia*

Noon

Friday, April 25

ECC Championship Day 1, Hosted by Queens College

TBA

Saturday, April 26

ECC Championship Day 2 Hosted by Queens College

TBA

All home matches in italics

*Denotes conference game

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

I Suck!

How to Tame Negative Self-Talk By Rob Polishook, Mental Training Coach MA, CPC ll competitive players recognize negative self-thoughts. It starts with that devilish little voice in our head which raises doubts, fear and questions about our ability to perform. The little voice usually comes during the most pressure-packed times in a match. It’s that voice that says, “I suck! I’m pathetic!” after a missed approach shot, or, “How could you do that again?” after another wide backhand. It’s that cynical little voice that whispers, “If you double fault again, you’re going to lose this match,” or, “I wonder what my friends and parents are thinking now,” after you flub an easy overhead. Negative selfthoughts precede negative self-talk, and without the proper awareness, they can bring even the most competitive player down. When a player chooses to listen to their

negative self-thoughts and begins selftalk, that’s when the downward spiral usually begins. It often looks something like this: A player misses a ball which they expected to hit without fail, and in their head the little voice of doubt enters and begins chiming in. Simultaneously, their body

T E N N I S

starts to get tight. Instead of moving to the next point, stepping away from the line, or any other form of refocusing, the verbal self-talk begins and the player continues to harp on the past, verbally berating themselves. All this leads to tight muscles, loss of feel, and further errors. What’s important to understand is that we have a choice regarding whether to react or respond to our negative selfthoughts. When we react to this devilish little voice with defensiveness and deny its existence, the voice gets louder and louder. There is a saying: “What you resist persists.” In other words, by trying to deny this voice or feeling, it only wants to be heard even more. It’s also important to understand that just because you conjured up this negative self-thought doesn’t mean that thought is true. For example, have you ever been at the brink of losing a match, and had a negative self-thought, like “It’s over; I’m going to lose,” only to bounce back? This is because you accepted this thought, not as

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

true or false, or as a validation of anything, but just non-judgmentally. As a result, the thought just faded away and you were able to play the point like any other. So what can a player do when they get bombarded with negative self-thoughts, especially in the thick of a tight match when under pressure? If the player is aware of the self-thoughts and the patterns, they can make the choice to step away and change their focus. Following are six practices you can use when negative self-thoughts start creeping into your head, and negative self-talk begins to come out of your mouth. 1. Be aware, and watch it dissolve away: The problem is not the selfthoughtsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;those are normal. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resist it or fight with it. Instead, simply understand that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a by-product of being in a high-pressure situation. With awareness of the self-thoughts, take a step back, bring your attention to your breath and visualize the selfthoughts being released with your exhalation. 2. Welcome and normalize: Say â&#x20AC;&#x153;helloâ&#x20AC;? to the self-thoughtsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;by acknowledging them, you normalize them. You can actually say to these selfthoughts, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hey, thanks for sharing your concerns, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in the middle of a match. Go back to the bleachers.â&#x20AC;? You might also pretend that your

favorite comedian is mimicking this reply, which may bring humor to the situation.

five-second distraction is usually enough to help you calm down and regain your concentration.

3. Put a time lid on it: Here again, the concept of acceptance comes through. If you find yourself muttering â&#x20AC;&#x153;I stinkâ&#x20AC;? after a shot or game, rephrase that by saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I stunk on that shot,â&#x20AC;? or, â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was one bad game.â&#x20AC;? Even after a match, many times a kid will come off the court sullen and saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I suck.â&#x20AC;? While ideally the young player would not feel this way to begin with, a realistic and far healthier approach would be, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I may have sucked today, but tomorrow is another day.â&#x20AC;?

6. Towel off: The towel is a great reason and excuse to take a moment to regroup. It provides a break from the action, and a time to just let go. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s players are always being followed by a ball boy with a towel in their hand, and it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just to mop up sweat!

4. Reframe the situation: Imagine that it is match point, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to serve. The thought comes up: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Uh oh, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so nervous.â&#x20AC;? Ask yourself: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another way of looking at this? How about considering the opportunity to hit a great serve to win the match? Instead of dwelling on the obstacles associated with our nerves, we can shift attention to the process that entails what we must do to overcome them. 5. Change your focus: You hear those self-thoughts â&#x20AC;Ś. it feels like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re about to be swallowed up by a wave. This is the time to change your focus. Bring your attention to your strings or your breath, and just be curious. This

In summary, we all have negative selfthoughts, yet when you sense them escalating to self-talk, you need to regain control of the situation. The best players in the world have doubts, fears and get nervous, just like us. It happens to everyone. The question becomes how you will respond, play through it and avoid the negative spiral downward? When in doubt, go back to the six practices when working with self-thoughts. Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder and director of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach, he works with athletes and teams in all sports and levels, helping them to gain the mental edge. He has spoken nationally and internationally and has been quoted by ESPN, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times and other major media publications. His new book, Tennis Inside the Zone has just been released. He may be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, e-mail rob@insidethezone or visit www.insidethezone.com.

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NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ March/April 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

: e v r Se e

By Lisa Dodson t’s no secret that there is nothing exciting about the ball toss for the tennis serve. In fact, the important details can be somewhat tedious and are subsequently glossed over. The exciting part is that great toss technique will potentially add many miles per hour to your serve, amplify spin, increase accuracy and versatility. It will create efficiency in the motion that takes away strain, saves you from painful injury and gains you lots of cheap points. There are many schools of thought as to the “best” way to toss. I’m a believer that there is no one single best way to do

s s o T e v r e S r u o Y x i F y l l a n i F s ’ t Le anything in tennis but that there are common factors in each style that lead to a high success rate. This is true with the toss. So, the purpose of this article is to give you some easy to understand, very detailed information about the toss. You may not be able to tackle it all at once, but at least you can start to assemble the right details for success First, understand this: Your toss will only be as good as how you treat it. If you are quick and careless you’ll get what you put into it. The toss needs to be consistent, dependable and accurate. Just like everything else, success is in the details. Chances are you have some sloppy habits and you just don’t know it. Current information about the toss (and about the serve in general) is varied, confusing and sometimes downright im-

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

possible for a majority of players to attempt. For example, every article, YouTube clip and video series seems to be about how one of the top players does it. You have to remember that this is what these people do for a living and they are exceptional athletes who dedicate their lives to tennis. There are many pitfalls to following popular advice. Choosing the highest degree of difficulty may not be in your best interest. Six important points to study before you ever toss again On the whole, players tend to simply launch the ball with the non-dominant hand without much attention to detail. Follow these solid techniques for a higher rate of success. It may not be a replica of what your favorite touring pro does but if you want to look like anyone keep it simple like Roger!

1. Do: Hold the ball lightly on the fingertips of your tossing hand with the thumb over the top. As you look down at the ball you will see more ball to the left of the thumb than to the right (see photo above). In other words, the palm of the hand will not be facing the sky. The fingers are flat and the wrist is slightly laid back. The forefinger and second finger are the supporting fingers underneath the ball and the third finger has light contact. The pinkie may or many not be involved, but if it is, the touch is minimal.

Don’t curl your fingers around the ball, hold onto the ball with two fingers and rest your racket on the third finger/pinkie or hold onto the strings with the fingertips of the toss hand. Notice what you do because you may do something like this and don’t know it. Keep it clean and simple. 2. Do: Keep your elbow straight, even locked (see photo to the right) so that the entire action comes from the shoulder. Remember, the toss is a whole body action, meaning that it is created from turning of the torso and using the legs in conjunction with the swing. Since the shoulder attaches the arm to the torso, we want to use this powerful joint to do the lifting. A straight arm allows a straight traveling toss. Don’t use bent fingers, wrist or elbow to toss the ball. Typically, this leads to a toss that consistently goes to the left, over or behind the head. 3. Do: Begin the downswing of the toss and hit arms with a slow tempo. The serve is a two-speed hit. This means

that the drop and raise of the toss arm and the drop or take back of the racket are a slow, coordinated and deliberate speed. This slow speed allows all of the moving parts of the serve to be set for a ballistic and upward acceleration to contact. It also assures that the release point of the toss will be secure and stable. Don’t drop and raise the toss and hit hands quickly. Most players are not aware that they do this. This causes the toss hand to move too fast for accuracy and usually results in a poor toss. 4. Do: Drop the toss hand down to a point between both legs almost touching the inside of the right thigh (right-hander) and then up in a straight line. The simplest technique is to move your toss hand down and up in the direction of the right net post (for righty, left net post for lefty) on both the deuce and add side. Moving your toss arm in this direction gets the body rotated and allows the ball to move in a straight line forward of the body and in front of the hitting shoulder. So, for a basic flat or slice serve, this toss technique is dependable and accurate. It also works beautifully for a topspin or kick serve toss (with some modifications) Beware: On the flip side, some current information advises us to make the toss arm rise on a line parallel to

the baseline (the toss hand is moving in the direction of the right fence). Many of the men’s ATP and college players are using this method of tossing as a part of gaining heavy rotation of the trunk and upper body. This may be great for rotation but lousy for actually getting the ball to go forward where it needs to be. So, depending upon your level, athletic ability and amount of time devoted to the serve, this technique may or may not be for you. 5. Do: Realize that the release point of the ball is pretty tricky. If released too early, the ball goes too far forward and if released too late it will go behind the head. This is a matter of inches so it’s pretty delicate. Make sure to release the ball around eye level. Generally, the fingers of the toss hand are spread open right after the release of the ball. You might think of the release as a “pop” opening of the hand. The ball toss should travel in a straight line up and down with no spin or arc, unless tossing for a kick or topspin serve. Don’t underestimate the precision needed for a good release point. Curled fingers around the ball and a fast upswing of the toss arm cause major problems for a consistent release point. continued on page 60

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

the serve continued from page 59 “The details of 6. Do: Continue the hand up to full extension, fingertips to the sky and the shoulder under the chin (see photo to the right). This enables the head to get up and to stay up. The toss arm leads the way up to the ball by holding the body firmly up and the eyes look over the toss hand at the ball. This big, strong stretch upwards sets the correct shoulder angle for maximum upward drive to the ball. Hold the toss hand up to a quick count of one, two and three while the legs, torso and hit arm continue to move. For the simplest finish of the hand at

full extension, you will be looking up at the “V” between the thumb and forefinger. Again, if you look at the pros, you’ll see a broad range of palm up, thumb up or top of the hand up to the sky. Don’t: Stop the toss arm and hand immediately after release of the ball (just above parallel to the ground) This stunted upswing causes uncontrolled tosses, doesn’t give the player enough time to complete the swing arm action and fails to set proper shoulder angle. That’s plenty of information for now. As always, take one thing at a time but try to understand

the toss will make or break your toss.” the entire picture. The details of the toss will make or break your toss. Pay attention and you’ll be on your way to great serve technique. Have fun and work hard! Next issue … what happens after the ball release, toss location and grip/toss combinations for specific serves. Lisa Dodson is owner of Servemaster at The Total Serve, a USPTA Elite Pro, a formerly world ranked player and radio show host. She may be reached by e-mail at lisa@thetotalserve.com or visitwww.thetotalserve.com.

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA Leagues Update BY DEBORAH-ROSE ANDREWS

he 2014 USTA Mixed-Doubles League is coming to a close. The Manhattan Mixed League is in its playoffs, and the Queens and Bronx Leagues are scheduled to finish at the end of March. Congratulations to the following teams advancing to playoffs:

6.0 Mixed Kates/Tang Caballero 7.0 Mixed Low/Derman Shimon/Trinidad Huttner’s Rowe/Tarlow Bailey’s Rosenberg/Bordick 8.0 Mixed Minatodani Freed/Helene Johnson/Lee Wilson/Arnot Slotnick/Schaffer

Metro League, meaning matches are played in multiple boroughs. This year, we have added two new clubs–Go! Tennis in Bayside, N.Y. and the newly opened Match Point in Brooklyn, N.Y. (formerly Brooklyn Racquet). We are starting to plan for the 18 & Over Men’s & Women’s Spring/Summer season. Manhattan will begin in April, with the outer boroughs following in May. The 3.0, 3.5. 4.0 and 4.5 Levels play five courts: Two singles courts and three doubles. The 5.0+ Level is played with one singles court and two doubles courts. Please watch your e-mail and our Web site, www.metrotennis.com, for more information. The 55 & Over League is also a Metro League. This format is three courts of doubles played at the 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 or 9.0 Levels. The Levels are based on the player’s combined ratings (3.0 + 3.0 = 6.0 or 3.0 + 4.0 = 7.0). The difference between the partner’s ratings may not exceed 1.0. Are you ready to play League Tennis? l If you know your rating, you can con-

tact the appropriate level coordinator through our Web site, www.metrotennis.com. Click on “USTA Leagues,” click the appropriate borough on the left, then “Coordinators.” Fill out the form completely, and a level coordinator will get back to you. l If you do not know your rating, you can go to TennisLink (tennislink.usta.com/ leagues), complete the self-rating form, and then contact the appropriate level coordinator. l You can also e-mail info@metrotennis.com with your full name, current age, area you wish to play in and tennis background. If you played college tennis, please include the college name, years played and position(s) played. Deborah-Rose Andrews is the Local League Coordinator for the USTA Metro Region. She is also vice chair of the Adult League Committee and a member of the USTA Metro Region Board of Directors. She can be reached by e-mail at info@metrotennis.com.

9.0 Mixed Hing/Tomasini Freed/Glick 10.0 Mixed Melniker Glick After a successful introduction last year, Metro’s 40 & Over League is off to a good start. We have 24 teams competing at the 3.0 through 4.5+ Levels. This League is a

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www.NewYorkTennisMagazine.com NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

Doubles Specialist Ross Hutchins

By Andrew Eichenholz oss Hutchins came into the 2014 Australian Open just the way any player would want to, with a win. Partnering with Colin Fleming, he won a three-set match to advance to the second round of the first Grand Slam tournament of the season. For most players, this would be an ordinary win, a solid way to start off the new tennis year. In the world of Ross Hutchins, this win was anything but ordinary. At the end of the 2012 season, Hutchins went into his training camp after having the best season of his career. Representing Great Britain in the Davis Cup, reaching the Round of 16 at two Grand Slams, and taking home two titles to boot, Hutchins was at the high point of his tennis career. All of that changed when Hutchins went to his doctor during the offseason. After a

series of appointments and tests, the 28year-old got a scary diagnosis: He with diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Receiving treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital in England, Hutchins would have to endure six months of intense chemotherapy before even pondering a return to the Pro Tour. For a player who enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2012, that pill may have been a tough one to swallow. Regardless of the fight on his hands, Hutchins stayed in close contact with the sport throughout his battle. After his first session of chemotherapy on Jan. 12, 2013, Hutchins tweeted about the success of his doubles partner Colin Fleming in winning a tournament. Staying in the public’s view was a constant throughout his treatment, as in between chemotherapy sessions, Hutchins made appearances for many different media outlets. As the summer approached, Hutchins made many television appear-

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

ances to promote an event he was heavily involved in, raising funds in support of the fight against cancer. Along with his friend Andy Murray, the Rally for Cancer was initiated just before Wimbledon. Hutchins and company brought together many tennis and celebrity personalities for the benefit of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity on June 16. As Hutchins looked on, a celebrity doubles match took place following the finals of the AEGON Championships, which Murray won. Jonathan Ross, Richard Branson and others joined tennis stars Tomas Berdych, Ivan Lendl, Tim Henman and Murray for an entertaining doubles match at the Queen’s Club. According to a charity page put together by the AEGON Championships, the event itself wasn’t just a huge success, but the monetary gains were huge as well. Donors contributed nearly 300 percent of the target for donations, with 276,323.66 Euros

Fights Back From Cancer

raised. This was great news for the charitable cause in support of Hutchins and the fight against cancer would lead to even better news just over a month later. On July 22, Hutchins brightened the tennis world’s day by announcing on Twitter that his doctor, Professor David Cunningham, told him that he was in remission. After fighting against a terrible disease, Hutchins could finally look forward to jumping back on the tennis court. As if nothing had happened, Hutchins was back at it again, starting a full slate of

tournaments with the same partner, Fleming, in 2014. While no match will ever be as tough as the battle he has already won, Hutchins looks to get back towards the top of the tennis world once again. The Wimbledon native does not want to be seen as the guy that beat cancer, but tennis professional Ross Hutchins. After his win at the 2014 Australian Open, Hutchins said, “I’m a player, and I want to be treated as a player.” For his own peace of mind, Hutchins doesn’t have to worry about earning respect on the Pro Tour ever again.

Andrew Eichenholz is a journalism student at Stony Brook University, where he currently is a staff writer for The Statesman, covering tennis amongst many sports. He grew up playing tennis at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where he learned to love the game, eventually becoming a part time tennis instructor, working for the most part with the QuickStart 10 & Under Program. Andrew has also served as a ballperson at the U.S. Open. He may be reached by e-mail at andrew.eichenholz@stonybrook.edu.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

Stay Out of No Mans Land ... Seriously? By Richard Thater oaches have been forever telling students to stay out of No Man’s Land (NML). On a tennis court, NML is roughly that area one yard in front of the baseline to one yard behind the service line. During the First World War, the phrase gained currency by describing the territory between the trenches of opposing armies. Once you exited the trenches and moved forward, you were exposed and defenseless—no man wanted to go there. You are equally defenseless on a tennis court if you spend too much time in NML. If you stand at the center of possible returns—either on the baseline or at the net—the odds are that you can successfully negotiate the time/distance ratio and effectively return your opponent’s shot. But in NML, you frequently do not have the time or the distance to return a shot. This does not mean that you should decide to be a grinder from the baseline, or a reckless net charger. Three techniques to effectively transition in and out of NML are:

l The Carioca Step for quickly closing 64

on the net, while hitting a backhand approach shot l Hitting off the same side foot when approaching the net, while hitting a forehand approach shot l Using a cone or rubber disk to mark a spot three feet in front of the baseline, then moving forward to hit a ball

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

at that spot, then taking a few quick steps back to recover behind the baseline. “Carioca” (the correct pronunciation is with an “a” at the end, not an “e”) is the name of a dance first popularized by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the

1933 film “Flying Down to Rio.” This step requires you to move to the left or the right while placing one foot first behind the other, then in front of the other. This might be an entertaining way to practice agility, balance and coordination, but I see few players using it to move about a tennis court. To hit the classic Carioca approach shot, you should turn your body to the left (if you are a righty) as you approach a ball in NML, then you place and lock your left leg behind the right and use it to push off and thrust yourself forward as you hit the ball. To quickly exit NML when hitting a forehand approach shot, you should step forward with your left foot while bringing your racket back with your right hand. As you move to hit the ball, you should simultaneously move your right leg and right arm forward. You might hear this referred to as the off foot, the wrong foot or the same foot approach shot. Note that no matter what this shot is called, there is no split-step in the hit-

ting sequence. Using cones or rubber disks is a great way to help your decision-making in NML. Place the disks at varying distances from the baseline. Then, have a coach or practice partner hit balls to the different spots. As you move around hitting balls, try to find your comfort zone— ask yourself if you should you move forward this time or backpedal to the baseline. If you dillydally in NML, you may find yourself hitting lots of low volleys. I love to demonstrate my low volley to my students. I point out how well my knees are bent, how well I have my hips rotated, that my racquet head is higher than my elbow, and that my contact point is well forward. Then I ask them to tell me what is wrong with the shot. I’ve never heard the answer I want. What’s wrong is that hitting a low volley is proof that my preparation was inadequate. I should have made a better decision and had a quicker first step so that I could hit my volley at waist level, or even shoulder height.

I have described some effective ways to avoid getting stuck in NML. What happens if you do get stuck there? Here is a simple game that forces you to rely on reflexes and quick thinking, rather than on technique. It helps you practice unorthodox responses and is a good game for mixed level recreational players The boundaries for the playing area are the service lines, the baselines and the singles lines. All balls must be hit inside those boxes. Balls hit in the service boxes are out. All serves should be bounce hit from just in front of the baseline. You cannot hit a volley, you must let the ball bounce before hitting it. You cannot step out of the boundaries (think of a mixed martial arts contest). Welcome to chaos! 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.

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

Which Should be More Consistent? The Forehand or Backhand? By Bill Longua he forehand, for most players, is the more confident shot when talking about the forehand and backhand. It is normally more of a weapon in matches, and generally thought of as the easier shot. However, I beg to differ on the easier shot part of that statement. When you look at the form of both strokes, it is much easier to have an error on the forehand than the backhand. Wherever you are, pick up a racquet and face forward as if you are facing the net. In this little demonstration, do not move your feet, now take the racquet back for preparation

on the forehand and see that if you turned your shoulders it was a conscious effort. Now, do the same on the backhand, without moving the feet and see that the top half of the body is in the correct position with a shoulder rotation without a conscious effort. It does not matter if you have a one or two hand backhand; the result will be the same because the arm holding the racquet is in front of the body causing a natural shoulder turn. There is one other reason why the backhand is more natural and consistent, that is, the shoulders will remain turned through

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contact, as opposed to the possibility of an early open shoulder turn before contact on the forehand because the arm is behind the body resulting in a late hit or open racquet face. The stance for the forehand might be open or closed, but the stance for the backhand is primarily closed, again, due to the arm being in front. The stances dictate how long the shoulders remain in line during contact. I am not advocating a particular stance on the forehand, both are correct; I am advocating a closed stance on the backhand unless pulled wide to the sideline for a shot. All players start out learning the forehand first. There is a mindset that thinks forehandforward-positive. Then you learn the backhand, oh-oh, backhand-backwards … must be more difficult! Wrong, the technique is basically easier. Enjoy the backhand and do not be afraid of it, it’s your friend. Good luck and have fun! Bill Longua is the tennis director/head pro at Palm Island Resort in Cape Haze, Fla. Bill is a member of the USPTA, has been teaching tennis for more than 35 years, and is the author of Winning Tennis Strokes. Bill also enjoys teaching tennis on his Web site, http://onlinetennistraining.com. To purchase Bill’s book, visit http://onlinetennistraining.com. He may be reached by e-mail at bill@onlinetennistraining.com.

NEW YORK TENNIS CLUB

DIRECTORY Centercourt Athletic Club

Midtown Tennis Club

Clay Bibbee—Managing Partner and Academy Founder 222 N. Passaic Avenue Chatham, NJ 07928 (973) 635-1222 clay@centercourtclub.com www.centercourtclub.com

Jennifer Brown—Director 341 8th Avenue New York, NY 10001 (212) 989-8572 midtowntennisnyc@gmail.com www.midtowntennis.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 www.gotennisprograms.com

Gotham Tennis Academy Eric Faro—Director of Tennis 358 W. End Ave #3A New York, NY 10024 (646) 524-7069 info@gothamtennis.com www.gothamtennis.com

Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club Gertrud Wilhelm—General Manager 450 West 43rd Stree New York, NY 10036 (212) 594-0554 gwilhelm@advantagetennisclubs.com www.advantagetennisclubs.com

Roosevelt Island Racquet Club

Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond

Tom Manhart—Membership Director 281 Main Street • Roosevelt Island, NY 10044 (212) 935-0250 tmanhart@rirctennis.com www.advantagetennisclubs.com

Joel Kassan—Executive Director 725 Gateway Center Boulevard Bronx, NY 10451 (718) 665-4684 joel@gothamtennis.com www.stadiumtennisnyc.com

New Rochelle Tennis Club

SPORTIME Harbor Island

Juan Rios—Tennis Director 114 Valley Road New Rochelle, NY (914) 633-3388 www.newrochelletennisclub.com

Tennis Courts in Harbor Island Park Carlos Campo—General Manager Mamaroneck, NY 10543 (914) 777-5050 ccampo@sportimeny.com www.sportime.com/harbor-island

New York Tennis Club Lauren Hartman—General Manager 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, NY 10465 (718) 239-7916 lhartman.nytci@gmail.com www.advantagetennisclubs.com

Prospect Park Tennis Center Paul Campbell—Director of Tennis 50 Parkside Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11226 (718) 436-2500, ext. 300 pcampbell@prospectpark.org www.prospectpark.org/visit/activities/tennis

Queens College Tennis Club 65-30 Kissena Boulevard Queens, NY 11367 (718) 997-2795 athleticsinfo@qc.cuny.edu www.athletics.qc.cuny.edu/communityrec/tennis

SPORTIME Randall’s Island Manhattan Home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy Felix Alvarado—Assistant Director of Tennis One Randall’s Island • New York, NY 10035 (212) 427-6150 falvarado@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/manhattan

Tennis Innovators NYC Juan Andrade—Executive Director 520 2nd Avenue (Kips Bay Court) 899 10th Avenue (John Jay Court) New York, NY (646) 476-5811 www.tennisinnovators.com

The Country Club of Riverdale (TCR) Gilad Bloom—Director of Tennis 2600 Netherland Avenue Riverdale, NY 10463 (718) 796-9099 bloom.gilad@gmail.com www.tcr-nyc.com

SPORTIME Lake Isle Westchester Home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy Brian Inglis—General Manager 660 White Plains Road Eastchester, NY 10709 (914) 777-5151 binglis@sportimeny.com www.sportimeny.com/lake-isle

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Whitney Kraft—Director of Tennis Flushing Meadows Corona Park Flushing, NY 11368 (718) 760-6200 kraft@usta.com www.usta.com

West Side Tennis Club Bob Ingersole—Director of Tennis 1 Tennis Place Forest Hills, NY 11375 (718) 268-2300 tennisdirector@foresthillstennis.com www.foresthillstennis.com/index.html

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW Boys & Girls Metro Rankings (as of 02/24/14)

BOYS Metro Boys 12 Singles Rank..Name ................................City 1 ........David Krasner..................Staten Island, N.Y. 2 ........Jonathan Glinsky ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Anthony Cataldo ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 4 ........Daniel Leon Maseyev ....Brooklyn, N.Y. 5 ........Blake Frank......................New York, N.Y. 6 ........Michael Gechka ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 7 ........Sachin Palta ....................Forest Hills, N.Y. 8 ........Joakim Duffy ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 ........Bradley Bennett ..............New York, N.Y. 10 ......Nicholas Pustilnik............Brooklyn, N.Y. 11 ......Brandon Torres................Bronx, N.Y. 12 ......Donald James Smith ......Roosevelt Island, N.Y. 13 ......Kemal Aziz ......................Staten Island, N.Y. 14 ......Noah Eisenberg ..............New York, N.Y. 15 ......Eitan Trantz......................Bronx, N.Y. 16 ......Jasper August Hunt........New York, N.Y. 17 ......Rudolph Merlin................Brooklyn, N.Y. 18 ......Daniel Galisteo Gordon ..New York, N.Y. 19 ......David Alan Khaimov........Jamaica, N.Y. 20 ......Igor Maslov......................Brooklyn, NY 21 ......Dylan Lachmanen ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 22 ......Paul Elghouayel ..............New York, NY 23 ......Wesley Zhang..................Staten Island, N.Y. 24 ......Oliver Tockman ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 25 ......Donovan Brown ..............New York, N.Y. 26 ......Cooper Williams..............New York, N.Y. 27 ......Matthias Frijs-Djurhuus ..New York, N.Y. 28 ......Jeffrey Yu ........................Forest Hills, N.Y. 29 ......Kevin Daniel Golub ........New York, N.Y. 30 ......Charles William Phillips ..New York, N.Y. 31 ......Evan Friedmann..............New York, N.Y. 32 ......Michael Glazomitskiy......Brooklyn, NY 33 ......Ty Switzer ........................New York, N.Y. 34 ......Noah Kaye ......................New York, N.Y. 35 ......Milan Jain ........................New York, N.Y. 36 ......John-Tomas Bilski ..........New York, N.Y. 37 ......James Adamini ..............New York, N.Y. 38 ......Donovan Spigner ............New York, N.Y. 39 ......Winter Forest Fagerberg New York, N.Y. 40 ......Sidharth Chawla..............New York, N.Y.

Metro Boys 14 Singles Rank..Name ................................City 1 ........Derek Lung......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Henry Hochfelder............New York, N.Y. 3 ........Andrew Zucker................New York, N.Y. 4 ........Wiley Schubert Reed......Brooklyn, N.Y. 5 ........Nicholas Pustilnik............Brooklyn, N.Y. 6 ........Max Schindel ..................New York, N.Y. 7 ........Jonathan Glinsky ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 8 ........Peter Frelinghuysen ........New York, N.Y. 9 ........Christopher Tham ..........Flushing, N.Y. 10 ......Daniel Davis ....................New York, N.Y. 11 ......Tanner Ross Bhonslay....New York, N.Y. 12 ......David Kressner................Staten Island, N.Y. 13 ......Jeffrey McCready............Brooklyn, N.Y. 14 ......Igor Maslov......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 15 ......Shawn Jackson ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 16 ......Alex Portnoy....................New York, N.Y. 17 ......Daniel Leon-Maseyev ....Brooklyn, N.Y. 18 ......Donald James Smith ......Roosevelt Island, N.Y. 19 ......Kermal Aziz......................Staten Island, N.Y.

YORK

20 ......Leonidas Vrailas ..............New York, N.Y. 21 ......Teddy Friedman ..............New York, N.Y. 22 ......Dominick Pajor................Brooklyn, N.Y. 23 ......Julian Szuper ..................New York, N.Y. 24 ......Leaf Fagerberg................New York, N.Y. 25 ......Neil Agarwal ....................New York, N.Y. 26 ......Wesley Zhang..................Staten Island, N.Y. 27 ......David Moldovan..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 28 ......Richard Wickman............Bayside, N.Y. 29 ......Michael Lee Jozoff..........New York, N.Y. 30 ......Tyler Kats ........................New York, N.Y. 31 ......Blake Frank......................New York, N.Y. 32 ......Ethan Finley ....................New York, N.Y. 33 ......Robbie F. Werdiger..........New York, N.Y. 34 ......Eliot Stein ........................New York, N.Y. 35 ......James Baumann ............New York, N.Y. 36 ......Ben Warren......................New York, N.Y. 37 ......Joakim Duffy ..................Brookly, N.Y. 38 ......Isaac Lennon ..................New York, N.Y. 39 ......Harry Portnoy ..................New York, N.Y. 40 ......David Dylan Pines ..........New York, N.Y.

Metro Boys 16 Singles Rank..Name ................................City 1 ........Andrew Zucker................New York, N.Y. 2 ........Leonard Margolis ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Adam Lane Bernstein ....New York, N.Y. 4 ........Leonardo Escudero ........Ozone Park, N.Y. 5 ........Steven Serras..................Queens Village, N.Y. 6 ........Oliver Mai ........................Flushing, N.Y. 7 ........Horia Negru ....................Middle Village, N.Y. 8 ........Jonathan L. Molfetta ......Howard Beach, N.Y. 9 ........Tanner Ross Bhonslay....New York, N.Y. 10 ......Dan Ion Negru ................Middle Village, N.Y. 11 ......Jacob Daly ......................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 12 ......Kevin Yan ........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 13 ......Justin Belnavis ................Jamaica, N.Y. 14 ......Gabriel Sifuentes ............Flushing, N.Y. 15 ......Jordan Rey-Anatole........Brooklyn, N.Y. 16 ......Sam Krevlin ....................New York, N.Y. 17 ......Kyran Luke Somar ..........Bronx, N.Y. 18 ......Nicholas Pustilnik............Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Stephen Mai ....................Flushing, N.Y. 20 ......Daniel Enrique Corona....Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 21 ......Daniel Ertel ......................New York, N.Y. 22 ......Douglas Nover ................Bayside, N.Y. 23 ......Oliver Jevtovic ................Astoria, N.Y. 24 ......Arthur Elghouayel............New York, N.Y. 25 ......Neil Agarwal ....................New York, N.Y. 26 ......Jonathan Coden ............Bronx, N.Y. 27 ......Andreja Radevic..............New York, N.Y. 28 ......Benjamin Thier ................New York, N.Y. 29 ......Avery Bicks......................New York, N.Y. 30 ......Lantis Wang ....................New York, N.Y. 31 ......Nate Newhouse ..............New York, N.Y. 32 ......Xavier Pacthod................New York, N.Y. 33 ......Adam Borak ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 34 ......Bojidar Todorov ..............Rego Park, N.Y. 35 ......Dylan Friedman ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 36 ......Igor Maslov......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 37 ......Shawn Jackson ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 38 ......Marco Vonderheide ........New York, N.Y. 39 ......Michael Dozortsev ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 40 ......Barak Harari ....................Hollis, N.Y.

Metro Boys 18 Singles Rank..Name ................................City 1 ........Kumeil Hosain ................New York, N.Y. 2 ........Stefan Radevic................New York, N.Y. 3 ........Joshua Freud ..................New York, N.Y.

RANKINGS 4 ........Stephen William Fields ..Bronx, N.Y. 5 ........Sam Krevlin ....................New York, N.Y. 6 ........Anthony Santino..............Douglaston, N.Y. 7 ........Marco Vonderheide ........New York, N.Y. 8 ........Arthur Elghouayel............New York, N.Y.

GIRLS Metro Girls 12 Singles Rank..Name ................................City 1 ........Karolina Lankamer..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Natalie Eordekian............Woodside, N.Y. 3 ........Amy Kaplan ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 4 ........Shakima Hotaki ..............Flushing, N.Y. 5 ........Daniella Benabraham ....New York, N.Y. 6 ........Maryna Bohdanovska ....Brooklyn, N.Y. 7 ........Rachel Zhang..................Forest Hills, N.Y. 8 ........Nadejda Maslova............Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 ........Alyssa An ........................New York, N.Y. 10 ......Nathalie Williams ............New York, N.Y. 11 ......Rachel Rubenzahl ..........New York, N.Y. 12 ......Maxine Zaretsky..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 13 ......Isabella Hartman ............New York, N.Y. 14 ......Katherine Krieger ............New York, N.Y. 15 ......Naomi Park......................New York, N.Y. 16 ......Miriam Aziz ......................Staten Island, N.Y. 17 ......Khyanna Singh................Queens Village, N.Y. 18 ......Julia Dementyev..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Sarah Lucy Youngberg ..New York, N.Y. 20 ......Rebecca Sitkovetsky......Staten Island, N.Y. 21 ......Michelle Kleynerman ......Staten Island, N.Y. 22 ......Ksenia Kulakova ............New York, N.Y. 23 ......Guiliana Rosa Gibson ....Bayside, N.Y. 24 ......Nicolette Fundator ..........Brooklyn, N.Y 25 ......Emily Moczulski ..............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 26 ......Bella Kaplan ....................New York, N.Y. 27 ......Masha Serjantov ............New York, N.Y. 28 ......Rebecca Izyayeva ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 29 ......Josephine Kimball ..........New York, N.Y. 30 ......Nadzeya Fliaha................Brooklyn, N.Y. 31 ......Medina Garunja ..............Bronx, N.Y. 32 ......Emma Abels Eisenberg ..New York, N.Y. 33 ......Isabel Mays Stern ..........New York, N.Y. 34 ......Shawnte Natalique Beale..Bronx, N.Y. 35 ......Taylor Simone Williams ..New York, N.Y. 36 ......Lena Kovacevic ..............New York, N.Y. 37 ......Rebecca Fisch ................New York, N.Y. 38 ......Anna Regina Kroner........Forest Hills, N.Y. 39 ......Lara Rose Berliner ..........New York, N.Y. 40 ......Angelique Sahara............Flores Forest Hills, N.Y.

Metro Girls 14 Singles Rank..Name ................................City 1 ........Elizabeth Khusid ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Veronika Semenova........Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Maryna Bohdanovska ....Brooklyn, N.Y. 4 ........Jenelle Downer................Brooklyn, N.Y. 5 ........Amalia Parrish ................Queens Village, N.Y. 6 ........Kiara Rose ......................New York, N.Y. 7 ........Sarah Anne Fassberg ....New York, N.Y. 8 ........Diana Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 ........Maxine Zaretsky..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 10 ......Tomi Alalade....................Rosedale, N.Y. 11 ......Liana Weitzman ..............Whitestone, N.Y. 12 ......Caroline Paige Kantor ....New York, N.Y. 13 ......Yuhan Wang ....................Little Neck, N.Y. 14 ......Theodora Vrailas ............New York, N.Y. 15 ......Marie Ivantechenko ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 16 ......Miriam Aziz ......................Staten Island, N.Y. 17 ......Anastasya Menshikova ..Brooklyn, N.Y.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

18 ......Autumn Greco ................Staten Island, N.Y. 19 ......Nicole Mika......................Staten Island, N.Y. 20 ......Gianna Gaudio ................Staten Island, N.Y. 21 ......Isabella Sinclair Cooper..Brooklyn, N.Y. 22 ......Sofie Kate Levine ............New York, N.Y. 23 ......Mia Simone Parrish ........Queens Village, N.Y. 24 ......Tiana Fernandez ............Bronx, N.Y. 25 ......Dakota Fordham ............New York, N.Y. 26 ......Kayla Schumacher..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 27 ......Johnniesha Joy Breiten ..Bronx, N.Y. 28 ......Giuliana Rose Gibson ....Bayside, N.Y. 29 ......Karolina Lankamer..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 30 ......Grace Caroline Feagin....New York, N.Y. 31 ......Alice Soares Pinho..........Woodside, N.Y. 32 ......Olivia Simone Morris ......Floral Park, N.Y. 33 ......Amy Kaplan ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 34 ......Michelle Gao ..................Sunnyside, N.Y. 35 ......Bri’Yonna Johnson..........Bronx, N.Y. 36 ......Christina Calabrese ........Staten Island, N.Y. 37 ......Makenzie Udell................Long Island City, N.Y. 38 ......Gabriella Etkins ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 39 ......Nadejda Maslova............Brooklyn, N.Y. 40 ......Bella Kaplan ....................New York, N.Y.

Metro Girls 16 Singles Rank..Name ................................City 1 ........Electra Frelinghuysen ....New York, N.Y. 2 ........Alesssandra Ricciardi ....Howard Beach, N.Y. 3 ........Sarah Hirschfield ............New York, N.Y. 4 ........Lindsay Shan Jadow ......New York, N.Y. 5 ........Jenna Borenstein ............New York, N.Y. 6 ........Kiara Rose ......................New York, N.Y. 7 ........Ashley DelMissier............Forest Hills, N.Y. 8 ........Liana I. Weitzman............Whitestone, N.Y. 9 ........Gaelle Conille ..................New York, N.Y. 10 ......Keri Anne Picciochi ........Flushing, N.Y. 11 ......Nicole Schnabel..............Woodhaven, N.Y. 12 ......Jennifer Reiss..................New York, N.Y. 13 ......Victoria Zezula ................Ridgewood, N.Y. 14 ......Amanda Solecki..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 15 ......Anna Maite Kaplan..........New York, N.Y. 16 ......Annie Reiner ....................New York, N.Y. 17 ......Alexandra Sanford ..........New York, N.Y. 18 ......Katie Pazz........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Maria Kogarova ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 20 ......Monique Magyar ............New York, N.Y. 21 ......Dakota Fordham ............New York, N.Y. 22 ......Anu Alalade ....................Rosedale, N.Y. 23 ......Stefana Vujinovic ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 24 ......Kayla Schumacher..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 25 ......Liza Levison ....................New York, N.Y.

Metro Girls 18 Singles Rank..Name ................................City 1 ........Gaelle Conille ..................New York, N.Y. 2 ........Emily Sham ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Jenna B. Borenstein ......New York, N.Y. 4 ........Kyra Bergmann ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 5 ........Briel Biggs ......................Bronx, N.Y. 6 ........Emi Lewis ........................New York, N.Y. 7 ........Alexandra Waldman........New York, N.Y.

NEW Boys & Girls Sectional Rankings (as of 02/13/14)

BOYS Sectional Boys 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 4 ........Jeffrey Fradkin ................New York, N.Y. 5 ........Derek Raskopf ................New York, N.Y. 9 ........Noah Edelman ................New York, N.Y. 12 ......Steven Daniel Nazaroff ..Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Robbie Werdiger ............New York, N.Y. 22 ......Brandon T. Cohen ..........New York, N.Y. 23 ......Alexander Petrov ............Middle Village, N.Y. 24 ......Alexander Nielsen ..........New York, N.Y. 29 ......Harry Portnoy ..................New York, N.Y. 32 ......Kai Yuminaga ..................Little Neck, N.Y. 42 ......Alex Portnoy....................New York, N.Y. 44 ......Oliver Obeid ....................New York, N.Y. 47 ......David Weiner ..................Rego Park, N.Y. 48 ......Joseph Wilkanowski ......Long Island City, N.Y. 50 ......Aleksa Pljakic ..................Forest Hills, N.Y. 51 ......Jeffrey McCready............Brooklyn, N.Y. 53 ......Christopher Tham ..........Flushing, N.Y. 55 ......Wesley Zhang..................Staten Island, N.Y. 60 ......Maxwell Kachkarov ........Flushing, N.Y. 61 ......Ryan McCook ................St. Albans, N.Y. 63 ......Scott Fischer ..................New York, N.Y. 68 ......David Krasner..................Staten Island, N.Y. 69 ......Charles William Phillips ..New York, N.Y. 77 ......Marcos Souza Lee..........New York, N.Y. 86 ......John-Thomas Bilski ........New York, N.Y. 88 ......Mitchel Pertsovsky..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 90 ......Nash Crofoot Johnson ..New York, N.Y. 92 ......Jonathan Glinsky ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 93 ......Simon Camacho ............New York, N.Y. 99 ......Sidharth Chawla..............New York, N.Y. 104....Anthony Cataldo ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 106....Sachin Palta ....................Forest Hills, N.Y. 108....Donovan Brown ..............New York, N.Y. 110....Tyler Kats ........................New York, N.Y. 114....Jace Alexander ..............New York, N.Y. 116....Zachary Portnoy..............New York, N.Y. 117....Tristan Taylor....................New York, N.Y. 118....Michael Gechka ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 119....Eitan Trantz......................Bronx, N.Y. 127....Michael Cooper ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 130....Blake Frank......................New York, N.Y. 132....Ty Switzer ........................New York, N.Y. 134....Jeffrey Yu ........................Forest Hills, N.Y. 138....Jasper August Hunt........New York, N.Y. 146....Brandon Torres................Bronx, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 14 ......Sumit Sarkar.................... New York, N.Y. 22 ......Gary Fishkin ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 25 ......Zachary Jordan Lieb ......New York, N.Y. 39 ......Oliver Jevtovic ................Astoria, N.Y. 40 ......Igor Maslov......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 47 ......Ethan Leon ......................Woodhaven, N.Y. 50 ......Allan Ethan Magid ..........Brooklyn, N.Y 54 ......Shawn Jackson ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 55 ......David Mizrahi ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 56 ......Sam Vagner ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 59 ......Lantis Wang ....................New York, N.Y. 61 ......Jeffrey Gorilovsky............Brooklyn, N.Y. 62 ......Nicholas Rudman ..........New York, N.Y.

YORK

68 ......Christopher Kolesnik ......Staten Island, N.Y. 69 ......Nicholas Pustilnik............Brooklyn, N.Y. 70 ......Henry Hochfelder............New York, N.Y. 75 ......Emil Nadyrbekov ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 77 ......Alexander Chiu................New York, N.Y. 87 ......Gabriel Sifuentes ............Flushing, N.Y. 110....Philip Belmatch ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 112....Ameer Hosain..................New York, N.Y. 113....David Moldovan..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 118....Zachary Targoff ..............New York, N.Y. 125....Max Prohorov..................Rego Park, N.Y. 131....Mitchell Mu......................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 132....Alfi von Auersperg ..........New York, N.Y. 133....Steven Daniel Nazaroff ..Brooklyn, N.Y. 135....Kemal Irfan Aziz ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 136....Gabriel Isaac Rissman....Brooklyn, N.Y. 139....Dylan Friedman ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 150....Christopher Tham ..........Flushing, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 8 ........Felipe Osses-Konig ........Rego Park, N.Y. 9 ........Oliver Sec ........................New York, N.Y. 16 ......Victor Miglo......................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 19 ......Ananth Raghavan ..........New York, N.Y. 22 ......Marcus Smith..................Little Neck, N.Y. 28 ......James Wasserman ........New York, N.Y. 29 ......Cole Gittens ....................New York, N.Y. 30 ......Aleksandar Kovacevic ....New York, N.Y. 34 ......Gal Matthew Sossen ......Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 37 ......Edan Lee Sossen............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 46 ......Ethan Nittolo....................Flushing, N.Y. 50 ......Jack Haroche ..................New York, N.Y. 56 ......Alexander Thrane............New York, N.Y. 74 ......William Trang ..................Staten Island, N.Y. 78 ......Faris Nathoo....................New York, N.Y. 80 ......Jordan D. Jordan ............Astoria, N.Y. 84 ......Alex Chao ........................New York, N.Y. 94 ......Noah Kyle Agarwal ........New York, N.Y. 95 ......Mitchell Ostrovsky ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 99 ......Calvin Chung ..................Bronx, N.Y. 102....Xavier Pacthod................New York, N.Y. 120....Kevin T. Huynh ................Astoria, N.Y. 127....Ethan Moszkowski..........New York, N.Y. 129....Adam Bryan Borak ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 131....Avery Bricks ....................New York, N.Y. 133....Robert Kennedy ............New York, N.Y. 134....Leonard Margolis ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 135....Leonardo Escudero ........Ozone Park, N.Y. 138....Bojidar Todorov ..............Rego Park, N.Y. 141....Christian Gloria................Queens Village, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 6 ........Lucas Pickering ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 7 ........Daniel Kerznerman..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 10 ......Oliver Sec ........................New York, N.Y. 17 ......Win Smith ........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......Felipe Osses-Konig ........Rego Park, N.Y. 23 ......Christopher Paul Auteri ..Staten Island, N.Y. 31 ......Richard Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 36 ......Artemie Amari..................New York, N.Y. 41 ......Marcus T. Smith ..............Little Neck, N.Y. 46 ......Justin Fields ....................New York, N.Y. 47 ......Victor Miglo......................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 49 ......Steven Koulouris ............Long Island City, N.Y. 51 ......Ethan Nittolo....................Flushing, N.Y. 58 ......James Wasserman ........New York, N.Y.

RANKINGS 60 ......Courtney Jaycen Murphy Bronx, N.Y. 64 ......Sachin Raghavan............New York, N.Y. 67 ......Maurice Russo ................New York, N.Y. 77 ......Cameron Daniels ............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 78 ......Michael William Anzalone Howard Beach, N.Y. 87 ......Alexander Pintilie ............New York, N.Y. 91 ......Edan Lee Sossen............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 100....Benjamin Gottschalk ......New York, N.Y. 111....Faris Nathoo....................New York, N.Y. 114....Andrew Arnaboldi ..........New York, N.Y. 122....Gal Matthew Sossen ......Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

GIRLS Sectional Girls 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 4 ........Rosie Garcia Gross ........New York, N.Y. 5 ........Michelle Sorokko ............Douglaston, N.Y. 7 ........Dasha Kourkina ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 ........Christina Huynh ..............Astoria, N.Y. 10 ......Dakota Fordham ............New York, N.Y. 17 ......Elvina Kalieva ..................Staten Island, N.Y. 21 ......Perene Wang ..................New York, N.Y. 22 ......Marie Ivantechenko ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 26 ......Miriam Aziz ......................Staten Island, N.Y. 27 ......Nadejda Maslova............Brooklyn, N.Y. 39 ......Kyra Bergmann ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 40 ......Amanda Solecki..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 41 ......Rebecca Eliana Fisch ....New York, N.Y. 42 ......Isabella Tushaj ................Bronx, N.Y. 46 ......Diana McCready ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 47 ......Zoe Kava ........................New York, N.Y. 48 ......Sonia Tartakovsky ..........New York, N.Y. 51 ......Diana Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 55 ......Carolyn Brodsky..............New York, N.Y. 57 ......Karolina Lankamer..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 60 ......Emily Moczulski ..............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 61 ......Amy Kaplan ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 63 ......Lena Kovacevic ..............New York, N.Y. 64 ......Anastasya Chesnokova..Staten Island, N.Y. 65 ......Isabella Cooper ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 68 ......Giuliana Gibson ..............Bayside, N.Y. 71 ......Shakima Hotaki ..............Flushing, N.Y. 73 ......Lorraine Bergmann ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 76 ......Daniella Benabraham ....New York, N.Y. 78 ......Khyanna Singh................Queens Village, N.Y. 80 ......Gabriella Eitkis ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 85 ......Natalie Eordekian............Woodside, N.Y. 92 ......Sabrina Boada ................Woodhaven, N.Y. 100....Rachel Rubenzahl ..........New York, N.Y. 113....Masha Serjantov` ............New York, N.Y. 120....Anastasya Menshikova ..Brooklyn, N.Y. 126....Sarah Youngberg ............New York, N.Y. 127....Isabella Hartman ............New York, N.Y. 133....Rachel Zhang..................Forest Hills, N.Y. 139....Nathalie Williams ............New York, N.Y. 145....Naomi Park......................New York, N.Y. 148....Michelle Tikhonko ..........Forest Hills, N.Y. 149....Shawnte Beale ................Bronx, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 5 ........Michelle Sorokko ............Little Neck, N.Y. 6 ........Dasha Kourkina ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 15 ......Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 17 ......Jennifer Yu ......................Forest Hills, N.Y. 18 ......Shelly Yaloz......................Little Neck, N.Y. 20 ......Anastasia Koniaev ..........Forest Hills, N.Y. 23 ......Nicole Semenov..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

32 ......Chelsea Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 33 ......Lauren Munari ................Middle Village, N.Y. 37 ......Christina Huynh ..............Astoria, N.Y. 39 ......Stephanie Li ....................New York, N.Y. 41 ......Victoria Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 42 ......Katelyn Walker ................New York, N.Y. 53 ......Katherine Kachkarov ......Flushing, N.Y. 55 ......Kyra Bergmann ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 63 ......Dakota Fordham ............New York, N.Y. 66 ......Brittny Jo Ferreira............Brooklyn,, N.Y. 69 ......Sonia Tartakovsky ..........New York, N.Y. 71 ......Lia Kiam ..........................New York, N.Y. 77 ......Grace L. Kennedy ..........New York, N.Y. 89 ......Olga Drahanchuk............Brooklyn, N.Y. 90 ......Diana Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 92 ......Nadejda Maslova............Brooklyn, N.Y. 94 ......Elvina Kalinova ................Staten Island, N.Y. 97 ......Isabel Balilo ....................Flushing, N.Y. 100....Barbara Podvorchani......Bronx, N.Y. 103....Miriam Aziz ......................Staten Island, N.Y. 110....Marie Ivantechenko ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 111....Amalia Parrish ................Queens Village, N.Y. 113....Rosie Garcia Gross ........New York, N.Y. 122....Liana Weitzman ..............Whitestone, N.Y. 125....Amanda Solecki..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 126....Olivia Morris ....................Floral Park, N.Y. 128....Audrey Pacthod ..............New York, N.Y. 136....Elizabeth Khusid ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 137....Regina Furer....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 139....Sofie Kate Levine ............New York, N.Y. 141....Sarah Finley ....................New York, N.Y. 142....Alice Soares Pinho..........Woodside, N.Y. 144....Caroline Paige Kantor ....New York, N.Y. 150....Maryna Bohdanovska ....Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 3 ........Sabrina Xiong..................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 5 ........Jessica Melanie Livianu..Brooklyn, N.Y. 6 ........Brianna Williams..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 8 ........Arnelle Sullivan................Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Alexandra Koniaev..........Forest Hills, N.Y. 20 ......Alexus Gill........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 22 ......Jessica Golovin ..............New York, N.Y. 23 ......Sophia Kryloff..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 28 ......Anna Ulyashchenko........Brooklyn, N.Y. 29 ......Isis Gill..............................Brooklyn, N.Y. 42 ......Shayna Spooner ............New York, N.Y. 47 ......Yuka Lin ..........................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 56 ......Lauren Munari ................Middle Village, N.Y. 57 ......Anastasiya Malinouskaya....Staten Island, N.Y. 64 ......Sofia Anouk Aisiks ..........New York, N.Y. 66 ......Jillian Auteri......................Staten Island, N.Y. 67 ......Keren Khromchenko ......Staten Island, N.Y. 74 ......Victoria Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 76 ......Stephanie Li ....................New York, N.Y. 85 ......Julia Fisch........................New York, N.Y. 87 ......Patricia Obeid..................New York, N.Y. 88 ......Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 90 ......Michelle Khaimov............Jamaica, N.Y. 91 ......Michelle Sorokko ............Little Neck, N.Y. 93 ......Tristan Lorich ..................New York, N.Y. 96 ......Sydney Lynn Katz ..........New York, N.Y. 113....Nicole Khorosh................Brooklyn, N.Y. 121....Sabrina Lee Abrams ......New York, N.Y. 131....Ashley DelMissier............Forest Hills, N.Y. 137....Jennifer Yu ......................Forest Hills, N.Y. 141....Dakota Fordham ............New York, N.Y. 143....Marierose Apice ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 148....Julia Zbarsky ..................New York, N.Y.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW Sectional Girls 18 Singles— Metro Region

YORK

RANKINGS

National Boys 14 Singles— Metro Region

788....Khyanna Singh................Queens Village, N.Y. 803....Lena Kovacevic ..............New York, N.Y.

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

7 ........Ariana D. Rodriguez........Bronx, N.Y. 9 ........Hannah Shteyn ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 11 ......Arnelle Sullivan................Brooklyn, N.Y. 13 ......Jessica Golovin ..............New York, N.Y. 15 ......Anna Ulyashchenko........Brooklyn, N.Y. 29 ......Sabrina Xiong..................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 33 ......Christina Puccinelli..........New York, N.Y. 46 ......Jessica Livianu................Brooklyn, N.Y. 47 ......Isis Gill..............................Brooklyn, N.Y. 50 ......Denise Starr ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 52 ......Kimberly Salkin................Brooklyn, N.Y. 59 ......Yuka Lin ..........................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 61 ......Nadia Smergut ................New York, N.Y. 62 ......Hediye Karabay ..............Flushing, N.Y. 67 ......Nia Rose ..........................New York, N.Y. 71 ......Keren Khromchenko ......Staten Island, N.Y. 74 ......Alexus Gill........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 83 ......Anastasiya Malinouskaya....Staten Island, N.Y. 92 ......Stefani Lineva..................Middle Village, N.Y. 94 ......Shayna Spooner ............New York, N.Y. 98 ......Destiny Grunin ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 99 ......Sofia Anouk Alsiks ..........New York, N.Y. 111....Annie Reiner ....................New York, N.Y. 112....Erika Tinalli ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 122....Julia Zbarsky ..................New York, N.Y. 125....Alexa Meltzer ..................New York, N.Y. 129....Alexandra Koniaev..........Forest Hills, N.Y. 130....Stefana Vujinovic ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 139....Emi F. Lewis ....................New York, N.Y. 147....Lauren Munari ................Middle Village, N.Y. 150....Daniella Roldan ..............New York, N.Y.

163....Sumit Sarkar....................New York, N.Y. 306....Zachary Jordan Lieb ......New York, N.Y. 309....Gary Fishkin ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 344....Steven Daniel Nazaroff ..Brooklyn, N.Y. 354....Oliver Jevtovic ................Astoria, N.Y. 698....Igor Malsov......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 935....Ethan Leon ......................Woodhaven, N.Y. 950....Christopher Kolesnik ......Staten Island, N.Y. 984....Sam V. Vagner ................Staten Island, N.Y.

National Girls 14 Singles— Metro Region

Boys & Girls National Rankings (as of 02/26/14)

BOYS National Boys 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 24 ......Jeffrey Fradkin ................New York, N.Y. 103....Derek Raskopf ................New York, N.Y. 107....Steven Nazaroff ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 140....Robbie Werdiger ............New York, N.Y. 151....Noah Edelman ................New York, N.Y. 193....Alex Portnoy....................New York, N.Y. 356....Alex Petrov ......................Middle Village, N.Y. 396....Max Kachkarov ..............Flushing, N.Y. 409....Alexander Nielsen ..........New York, N.Y. 444....Brandon T. Cohen ..........New York, N.Y. 451....Harry Portnoy ..................New York, N.Y. 530....Oliver Obeid ....................New York, N.Y. 628....Christopher Tham ..........Flushing, N.Y. 729....Wesley Zhang..................Staten Island, N.Y. 774....Garrett Chao....................New York, N.Y. 787....Jeffrey McCready............Brooklyn, N.Y. 855....Ryan McCook ................St. Albans, N.Y. 914....Joseph Wilkanowski ......Long Island City, N.Y. 936....Kai Yuminaga ..................Little Neck, N.Y.

National Boys 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 74 ......Victor Miglo......................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 84 ......Oliver Sec ........................New York, N.Y. 85 ......James Wasserman ........New York, N.Y. 132....Felipe Osses-Konig ........Rego Park, N.Y. 161....Ananth Raghavan ..........New York, N.Y. 310....Edan Lee Sossen............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 335....Aleksandar Kovacevic ....New York, N.Y. 416....Marcus Smith..................Little Neck, N.Y. 486....Ethan Nittolo....................Flushing, N.Y. 554....Gal Matthew Sossen ......Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 567....Cole Gittens ....................New York, N.Y. 643....Alexander Thrane............New York, N.Y. 876....William J. Trang ..............Staten Island, N.Y.

National Boys 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 7 ........Daniel Kerznerman..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 98 ......Oliver Sec ........................New York, N.Y. 148....Artemie Amari..................New York, N.Y. 170....Lucas Pickering ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 191....James Wasserman ........New York, N.Y. 202....Win Smith ........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 390....Felipe Osses-Konig ........Rego Park, N.Y. 415....Christopher Auteri ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 428....Sachin Raghavan............New York, N.Y. 496....Richard Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 514....Ethan Nittolo....................Flushing, N.Y. 966....Andrew S. Arnaboldi ......New York, N.Y. 967....Ryoma Haraguchi ..........New York, N.Y. 992....Maurice Russo ................New York, N.Y.

GIRLS National Girls 12 Singles— Metro Region

Rank ..Name ..........................City 64 ......Dasha Kourkina ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 111....Michelle Sorokko ............Little Neck, N.Y. 148....Shelly Yaloz......................Little Neck, N.Y. 179....Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 309....Anastasia Nicole Koniaev Forest Hills, N.Y. 343....Jennifer Yu ......................Forest Hills, N.Y. 349....Lauren Elizabeth Munari Middle Village, N.Y. 403....Nicole Semenov..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 574....Katelyn Walker ................New York, N.Y. 578....Chelsea Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 714....Katherine Kachkarov ......Flushing, N.Y. 732....Stephanie Li ....................New York, N.Y.

National Girls 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 61 ......Sabrina Xiong..................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 75 ......Jessica Livianu................Brooklyn, N.Y. 131....Jessica Golovin ..............New York, N.Y. 149....Brianna Williams..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 207....Arnelle Sullivan................Brooklyn, N.Y. 248....Alexandra Koniaev..........Forest Hills, N.Y. 250....Sophia Kryloff..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 337....Anna Ulyashchenko........Brooklyn, N.Y. 350....Isis Gill..............................Brooklyn, N.Y. 396....Alexus Gill........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 561....Shayna Spooner ............New York, N.Y. 700....Keren Khromochenko ....Staten Island, N.Y. 930....Julia Fisch........................New York, N.Y.

National Girls 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 97 ......Jessica Golovin ..............New York, N.Y. 134....Ariana D. Rodriguez........Bronx, N.Y. 198....Denise Starr ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 230....Hannah Shteyn ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 249....Arnelle Sullivan................Brooklyn, N.Y. 274....Anna Ulyashchenko........Brooklyn, N.Y. 487....Sabrina Xiong..................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 503....Jessica Melanie Livianu..Brooklyn, N.Y. 572....Isis Gill..............................Brooklyn, N.Y. 608....Nadia Smergut ................New York, N.Y. 647....Keren Khromchenko ......Staten Island, N.Y. 900....Christina Puccinelli..........New York, N.Y.

Rank ..Name ..........................City 19 ......Dasha Kourkina ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 46 ......Dakota Fordham ............New York, N.Y. 49 ......Rosie Garcia Gross ........New York, N.Y. 100....Christina Huynh ..............Astoria, N.Y. 144....Marie Ivantechenko ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 148....Perene Wang ..................New York, N.Y. 151....Elvina Kalieva ..................Staten Island, N.Y. 154....Miriam Irfan Aziz..............Staten Island, N.Y. 247....Isabella Tushaj ................Bronx, N.Y. 291....Kyra Bergmann ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 386....Nadejda Maslova............Brooklyn, N.Y. 463....Diana McCready ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 527....Diana Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 613....Rebecca Eliana Fisch ....New York, N.Y. 694....Amanda Solecki..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 741....Anastasiya Chesnokova Staten Island, N.Y.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA/Metropolitan Region

2014 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. MARCH 2014 Friday-Sunday, March 14-16 & March 21-23 L1B Sportime Randall’s Island March Challenger Sportime at Randalls Island 1 Randalls Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(14-18)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, March 7 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301. Saturday-Sunday, March 15-16 L3 APTC Spring UPS Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Novice BG(12-18)s, RR Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, March 12 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, March 21-23 Eastern Super Six APTC (National L4) Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix G(16)s, FIC-R16 Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $113.38 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, March 10 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, March 21-23 L2O Cunningham Park Tennis Center March Open Cunningham Sports Center 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(12-18)s, FMLC; BG(12-18)d, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 for first singles/$28 for first doubles (deadline for entries is Monday, March 17 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 740-6800. Friday-Sunday, March 21-23 Eastern Super Six Stadium Tennis Center (National L4) Stadium Tennis Center 725 Exterior Street • Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix G(12)s, FIC-R16 Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $113.38 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, March 10 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 665-4684.

Friday-Sunday, March 21-23 Eastern Super Six NCT (National L4) North Shore Tennis-Go!Tennis 3428 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix G(18)s, FIC-R16 Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $113.38 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, March 10 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 224-6303.

Friday-Sunday, April 4-6 L1 NCT April Championships North Shore Tennis-Go!Tennis 3428 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. Divisions: Championships B(18)sd, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 for first singles/$28 for first doubles (deadline for entries is Thursday, March 27 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 224-6303.

Monday-Thursday, March 24-27 L1B John McEnroe Tennis Academy 2014 Spring Break Classic Sportime at Randalls Island 1 Randalls Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(12-18)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Thursday, March 20 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301.

Friday-Sunday, April 11-13 L1 NCT April Championships North Shore Tennis-Go!Tennis 3428 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. Divisions Championships: G(18)sd, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 for first singles/$28 for first doubles (deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 1 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 224-6303.

APRIL 2014 Friday-Sunday, April 4-6 L1 APTC April Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger G(14)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Thursday, March 27at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, April 4-6 L2O Cunningham Sports Center Spring Open Cunningham Sports Center 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(12-18)s, FMLC; BG(12-18)d, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 for first singles/$28 for first doubles (deadline for entries is Friday, March 28 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 740-6800.

Friday-Sunday, April 11-13 L1 APTC April Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Championships B(16)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, April 4 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, April 11-13 & April 18-20 L2O Sportime RI 2014 April Open Sportime at Randalls Island 1 Randalls Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(14-18)s, FMLC Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 1 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301. Friday-Sunday, April 18-20 L2O Staten Island Community Tennis Center April Open Staten Island Community Tennis Center 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(12-18)s, FMLC Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 982-3355.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA/Metropolitan Region

2014 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. Friday-Sunday, April 18-20 L3 APTC Spring UPS Classic Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Unranked BG(12-14)s, RR Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, April 18-20 & April 25-27 L2O Sportime Randall’s Island April 2014 Open Sportime at Randalls Island 1 Randalls Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(12)s, FMLC Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, April 11 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301.

Friday-Sunday, April 25-27 L1 10U West Side Tennis Club Spring Championships The West Side Tennis Club 1 Tennis Place Forest Hills, N.Y. Divisions: Championships BG (10 [78’Court/Green Ball])sd, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 for first singles/$28 for first doubles (deadline for entries is Monday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 268-2300. Friday-Saturday, April 25-26 L3 Sportime at Randall’s Island April 2014 UPS Sportime at Randalls Island 1 Randalls Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Novice BG(12)s, RR Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301.

Friday-Sunday, April 25-27 Empire Cup National Doubles at APTC Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Championships BG(18)d, FMLC Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $33.00 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, April 16 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600.

UPCOMING

EVENTS MARCH 2014 Friday, March 14, 21 & 28 Round Robin Doubles Party Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue New York, N.Y. 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. (reservations required) 3.5-5.0 Level players For reservations, call (212) 989-8572, ext. 104.

APRIL 2014 Friday, April 4, 11, 18 & 25 Round Robin Doubles Party Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue New York, N.Y. 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. (reservations required) 3.5-5.0 Level players For reservations, call (212) 989-8572, ext. 104.

Saturday, March 29-Saturday, April 5 2014 Jim San Marco Team Tennis Invitational Hosted by Edgemont High School & Scarsdale High School Edgemont High Schoo • 200 White Oak Lane • Scarsdale, N.Y. Scarsdale High School • 1057 Post Road • Scarsdale, N.Y.

Thursday-Sunday, April 24-27 Big East College Tennis Conference Championships USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows, N.Y. For more information, visit www.bigeast.com.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com

LITennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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

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Metropolitan Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, LLC 74

425 Fifth Avenue at 38th St. | Third Floor | New York, NY 10016 | Office: 347.565.4255 Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • LITennisMag.com

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2014 • New York Tennis Magazine

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2014 • NYTennisMag.com