New York Tennis Magazine - November/December 2012 by United Sports Publications, Ltd.

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

Also inside this issue: Holiday Gift Guide & Tennis Travel Destinations

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NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

November/December2012 Volume 2, Number 6 New York Tennis Magazine 1220 Wantagh Avenue • Wantagh, NY 11793-2202 Phone: (516) 409-4444 • Fax: (516) 409-4600 Web site: www.nytennismag.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover story Cover photo credit: Getty Images/USTA

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

We gather 13 of the area’s top coaches to discuss the sport and the development of players through the junior and collegiate ranks on through the pros.

Joel M. Berman President (516) 409-4444, ext. 310 • joel@usptennis.com NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Eric C. Peck Editor-in-Chief (516) 409-4444, ext. 312 • eric@usptennis.com Joey Arendt Managing Art Director Jon Blake Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 • jonb@usptennis.com Adam Wolfthal Director of Business Development (516) 409-4444, ext. 330 • adam@usptennis.com Daisy Schwartz Editorial Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 314 • daisy@usptennis.com

Feature Stories 38

Kristen Kelleher Intern

Kenneth B. Goldberg Photographer

Jessica Stiles Intern

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

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

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

Roddick and Clijsters Call It Quits at 2012 U.S. Open Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters both played their final matches at the 2012 U.S. Open and said goodbye to the Flushing Meadows faithful, closing out their respective professional careers.

New York Tennis Magazine’s Tennis Travel Destinations A guide to four locales that offer sun, relaxation and plenty of on-the-court tennis opportunities.

New York Tennis Magazine’s 2012 Holiday Gift Guide We provide you with a catalog of four tennis options for your holiday shopping needs, from equipment from BOLT, to jewelry from Love Tennis by hazel, clothing from Lupo Designs and tennis training equipment from The Total Serve.

Tara Cook Billing Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 324

Brent Shearer Editorial Contributor

Also inside this issue: Holiday Gift Guide & Tennis Travel Destinations

Emilie Katz Marketing Coordinator

Beverly Koondel Office Administrator (516) 409-4444, ext. 316

Coaches Roundtable Discussion

Additional Features 5 14 15 16 20 20 21 22 34 35 36 37 52 54

The Mental Game By Gilad Bloom West Side Tennis Club Hosts Bryan Brothers and Nestle Nesquik “Little Mo” International Open The Benefits of Playing Tennis By Peter Pine Unleash the Player Within By Jessica Stiles CityParks Foundation’s Novice Tennis Tournament Hits NYC Introducing Love Tennis by hazel The Keys to a Solid Ground Stroke By Bill Longua Nadal to Face del Potro and Serena to Face Azarenka at 2013 BNP Paribas Showdown at MSG USTA Honors Local Juniors John McEnroe Presented With Tennis Hall of Fame Ring at U.S. Open What Does Racquet Head Speed Mean for the Serve? By Lisa Dodson Sportimes Fall to Rival Kastles in WTT Eastern Conference Title Match The Usual Suspects By Ajay Kumar City Parks Foundation Honors Locals at Annual Dinner

Columns 8 10 12 44 48 53 57 59 60

Tips From the Tennis Pro: How to Find the Right Coach for Your Child By Michael Misiti Metro Corporate League Recap, Presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs The Jensen Zone By Luke Jensen The Biofile: Tim Mayotte By Scoop Malinowski USTA Metro Region Update How Do I Get the Mental Edge? By Rob Polishook, MA, CPC Adult League Recap: USTA Leagues Update By Deborah-Rose Andrews New York Tennis Club Directory New York Metro Rankings & USTA Metropolitan Region 2012 Tournament Schedule

NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Tennis Travel Destinations IMG Academy

Luxury Italian Tours

Located in Bradenton, Fla., IMG Academy is home to the IMG Academy Bollettieri Tennis program. Under the guiding principles of its founder, Nick Bollettieri, and the leadership and direction of Rohan Goetzke, the IMG Academy Bollettieri Tennis program sets the standard by which all tennis academies are measured. With a collegiatestyle schedule that balances elite academics with a customized on-court and off-court training program, IMG Academy annually sends student-athletes to some of the nation’s highest-performing universities, including Brown, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Stanford and countless others. Many of the world’s top professionals have trained at IMG Academy, including Maria Sharapova, Kei Nishikori, Sabine Lisicki, Ryan Harrison and Andre Agassi, just to name a few. IMG’s student-athletes and alumni have won 939 singles titles, 441 doubles titles, 86 Grand Slam singles titles, 49 Grand Slam doubles titles, 12 Olympic Gold Medals, 10 have reached number one in the world in singles and four have been number one in the world in doubles. With more than 50 tennis courts, all students who attend IMG Academy will receive multiple hours of on-court training per day that includes match-simulation drills and match play. Off the court, students work with physical, mental, vision training and nutrition specialists to ensure a well-rounded game. In addition, to the Academy Program, IMG offers the following: • Five-week summer camps • Five-week summer camps with education options • Three-week camps (available in winter and summer) • Weekly camps (available year-round) • Holiday/Spring Break Camps • Adult camps • ATP/WTA training • Collegiate/team training

Luxury Italian Tours specializes in travel to Italy and offers a variety of unique, small group tours, as well as customized trips designed especially for individual clients. Our expert team looks forward to sharing Italy’s beauty, food and rich culture so you can discover new places without forgetting the lasting favorites. Luxury Italian Tours’ philosophy is to provide you with a glimpse of Italy from our local perspective to give you an experience that you will treasure for a lifetime. Luxury Italian Tours’ customized services cover an enormous range and cater to your specific interests—whether this is your first trip to Italy, a return visit, your honeymoon or even an offbeat adventure you have long desired. Luxury Italian Tours plans well-organized visits to all of the historic points of interest, but we also offer unique experiences throughout the country that other groups do not provide. There is probably no Italian experience you might want that we could not help you with. With our small group tours and individually-designed trips, you will experience the ultimate luxury of Italy whether it is over a bottle of wine, during a meal, or marveling at its simple beauty. So, whether you are interested experiencing Rome during the Italian Open, racing Ferraris on a Formula One track, going on a truffle hunt, learning how to make local specialties with professional chefs, wine-tasting at renowned vineyards or simply relaxing in an underground grotto with naturally heated spring waters, andiamo! For more information, visit www.luxuryitaliantours.com or call (855) 248-2542.

With programs available year-round for all ages and ability levels, IMG Academy has a program to help you become more! For more information, visit www.imgacademy.com or call (800) 872-6425 NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Tennis Travel Destinations Mauna Kea Beach Hotel . What makes Mauna Kea a “Top Tennis Destination?” The legendary Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an architectural icon designed to coexist beautifully with the unforgettable landscape of the Kohala Coast is located on a silky white-sand crescent beach, Kauna’oa Bay. Escape to paradise where you will find 258 luxurious guest rooms, Laurance S. Rockefeller’s private collection of Asian and Pacific artwork, impeccable service, one of the world’s finest golf courses and tennis club plus tantalizing cuisine with unforgettable settings. The 11-court Seaside Tennis Club is one of the largest and most sought-after tennis experiences in Hawaii. Each one of the 11 courts offer an incredible view of the Pacific blue ocean and on a clear day, you can see Maui in the background. Craig Pautler and his team serve up some of the most thoughtful touches available at the best private luxury tennis clubs, as well as lessons and daily clinics, round robin tourneys, and a comfortable lanai to relax in the shade. Recent accolades include top 25 Tennis Resorts and World’s Top 100 Resorts, tennis resorts and camps by Tennis Resorts Online and Top 10 Resorts in the U.S. (bi-annual) by Tennis Magazine. Facilities and services include 11 ocean side tennis courts, a pro shop offering equipment and apparel, equipment rentals, men’s and women’s locker rooms, video instruction service, ball machine, tournament planning, racquet stringing, individual game-matching, customized special events, tennis clinics, round robin tournaments, private and group lessons. Enjoy the many other amenities offered at the resort, like the weekly Lu’au and Clambake, 2,500 square-foot fitness room, and spa just to mention a few. Enjoy some private time at this worldclass resort, improve your tennis game while taking in some of the most incredible views in the world and create memories that will be treasured for a lifetime. The club is open 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. daily, and can be reached at (808) 882.5420 or by visiting www.MaunaKeaBeachHotel.com. 4

Peter Kaplan’s Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy. Peter Kaplan’s Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy, and the affiliated Grassmere Inn, is a wonderful destination for beginners to nationallyranked players of all ages. Private instruction and 90-minute clinics are offered daily. 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 high-quality instruction and low student-tostaff ratio. The maximum ratio is 4:1, but the average ratio is 2:1. Serious junior players 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. 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. For more information, call Peter Kaplan at (631) 288-4021 or (914) 234-9462, e-mail peterkaplan2002@yahoo.com or visit www.westhamptonbeachtennis.com.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

The Mental Game By Gilad Bloom

Tennis is often referred to as a “mental sport.” It is true, of course, but what really makes it such a challenging and unique sport? Apart from the obvious of tennis being an individual sport and no coaching is allowed, it is a sport that constantly tests your nerves, week-in, weekout, and it is a very challenging task to play at a consistently high level. Very few manage to do this, and in this article, I will attempt to write about some mental aspects of the game. Anyone who had a playing career has experienced the trickiness and intricacies of the sport. There is an old tennis phrase that I’ve heard from my coaches and from my days of playing more than 1,000 pro matches: “You never own the game and you cannot take anything for granted in this beautiful, but sometimes frustrating, game.” One day, you are playing great, hitting the ball crisply and feeling light on the court. The next day, you could feel sluggish, heavy on the court and shanking balls all over the place. 1. Learning to not cry over spilled milk One of the things that makes tennis a tough sport mentally is the nature of the game. It is a game of errors and most points end with someone missing a shot. Every lost point is a mini-failure, and a player has to put their bad points behind them and start every new point with a positive attitude. The ability to put the last

point behind you is essential. This works the other way as well, as you should not celebrate a great shot with too much exuberance. That one great shot is still worth only one point. Often during a match, a player will have bad patches which might cost a few games or even a set. The mental challenge is to not let the bad spell impact your confidence. You must remain calm, stick to the game plan and give yourself a chance to get back into the match. Many times, if you keep your cool, the other player will have their bad spell and you will be able to seize your opportunity to get back in the match. 2. Overcoming varied conditions without letting them impact your game The ability to overcome adversity and changes in a match can make or break a player. We all know that tennis is not just about hitting ground strokes, serves and returns, there are many factors that can affect players. Matches can be delayed and moved to a different surface; the weather can become windy, hot, humid or cold; your opponent might be calling the lines really tight; the ref is blind … etc. All of the above are opportunities to bail out mentally can be used as an excuse. I have witnessed many good players who cannot make the proper adjustments and let things that have nothing to do with tennis get into their head. My old coach used to train and prepare me to thrive under those types of conditions. He used to tell me, “The worse off the conditions, the better it is for you because

the other player will go nuts while you will use these conditions to your advantage.” As a coach, I remind my students that whatever the conditions are, they are the same for their opponent (something that they tend to forget sometimes). I also try to tell them to adjust to the conditions rather than fight them and get frustrated. This way, you can use the conditions to your advantage. 3. The ability to bring what you did in practice to a real match The tennis world consists of two types of players—the ones who play better in practice and the ones who play better in real matches. Many times, players cannot perform during matches as they do in practice. They tighten up, their shots fall short and the swing is all of a sudden not as smooth as it once was. The $1 million question is: “How do we get the player to perform as they do in practice?” The answer is, of course, more practice and repetition drills until the shots become second nature. There are also mental exercises that can be done to get into that loose and instinctive mode that we want. I used to utilize visualization exercises. I simply visualized myself hitting perfect, free-flowing shots which I know I have done in practice. I would do it during the changeover. Other techniques that worked for me were to focus on breathing constantly between points and always being bouncy on my feet before the points started. I found that moving around made me looser. Being aware of the situation is a big part of tennis, and as a coach, I make kids aware of what’s happening to

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

their game when they “choke” and how to deal with it when met with these adverse situations. If the player knows what to expect and has an idea of how to deal with the situation, he or she might be able to overcome the demons and work out of the situation accordingly. 4. The ability to close out matches This is a huge issue that haunts almost every player on Earth at one point or another in their career. We have all been there … you play a perfect match for nearly two sets, have your opponent where you want them and you are serving for the match. All of a sudden, things begin to go wrong. Your opponent hits a few good shots as they are loose and have nothing to lose. You start to play tentatively and passively. Balls begin to fall short, and before you know it, the momentum has shifted and you see the match slip away. In tennis, unlike other ball sports, you cannot milk the clock when you have the lead. You actually need to keep the pressure on until the last point and waiting for your opponent to fold is not a strategy.

Early in my career, I had a period of a few months in which I couldn’t close out matches. I was on the verge of beating players who were very highly-ranked and I was playing very good tennis, but match after match, the pattern repeated itself … I would build up a nice lead only to see the match slip away due to the lack of a “killer instinct” in the big points. As soon as I was up, I started to play “not to lose” instead of “to win.” To work on how to close out a set or a match, I would simulate tight situations in practice and purposely play more aggressive—attacking on the big points. It took me a few matches to get it right, but once I put together a couple of close wins, my confidence came back and I emerged from my slump. 5. Playing smart and using your brain to get inside of your opponent’s head The purest form of being mentally strong is playing a smart game. A smart player will use their intelligence to win points. The ability to detect your opponent’s weaknesses early in the match is a mental tactic

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

and, so is picking the right strategy against different players. A smart player will find the right strategy early in the game, and if it works, they will stick with it, just like the old Bill Tilden quote: “Never change a winning game, always change a losing game.” It sounds obvious, but many times, I see my students play a certain way which works for them only to see them stray away from what worked while letting their opponent back in the match. Playing a smart game will not only win you more points, but it will also demoralize your opponent and get inside their head. 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.

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

How to Find the Right Coach for Your Child By Michael Misiti

When your son or daughter catches the tennis bug and has a little talent to match, it could be very overwhelming when figuring out what academy to join or what coach to train with privately. Parents often make quick decisions based on unnecessary facts. In today’s very competitive business environment, many coaches recruit at tournaments constantly. While it seems like a great way for coaches and parents to meet, I believe it is not. A good coach never recruits, but is recruited by a player or parent. As Gilad Bloom has written, a good coach is in charge of his or her student, and not vice-versa, therefore any relationship that is started by a coach going to tournaments and recruiting is not a relationship that has started out on the right foot. The player-coach relationship that exists in tennis is the most delicate relationship in sports. Coaches cannot produce miracles, but the relationship one forms with his or her coach can certainly produce either success or failure. Here are some important tips when contemplating a coach: 1. Chemistry with your coach The most important aspect when choosing a coach is the chemistry that exists between the coach and student. If your son or daughter wishes to be a serious player, they are going to spend a lot of time with their coach. My first student became like a son to me, but it also didn’t happen overnight. In fact, at first, we did not even speak the same language. I would pick the boy up from school every day of the week, 8

play with him for two hours, and drop him back off at home. We spent nearly four hours per day together, and within a few months, we were very close, and he learned English! After two years, he was one of the best players in the nation, and we spent a lot of time traveling the country playing tournaments. If we did not have each other’s our company, perhaps he would not have been as successful. He understood the way I taught and I learned to read his emotions very well. Some coaches tend to resonate better with certain players, and it is important to find a coach that your son or daughter not only respects, but also gets along with. No better example of chemistry can be seen than that of the relationship between James Blake and his coach, Brian Barker, who coached James from the age of 12 to 29. 2. Don’t ask, “So who plays at your academy?” This has to be the most commonly asked question by parents to coaches. Parents always seem to want to know which topranked players attend a particular academy, in the slight chance that their son or daughter will get on the court with these top players. Large academies will always have the finances to offer more scholarships, thus having more topranked local players. They may or may not have an academy built for creating good players, but the number of scholarships they give out will have no impact on this. It is more important to analyze who has the academy or coach produced from scratch. Keep in mind … players like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer came from very small projects.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

3. Coaches have strong points and weak points, but good coaches admit it A few years ago, Novak Djokovic brought in Todd Martin as a second coach. He had already won a Grand Slam, and his coach was clearly Marion Vajda. After some long discussions, Marion admitted it would be a good idea to bring in some new ideas, especially someone to help out Novak’s serve and volleys. Not long after, Novak also hired doubles legend Mark Woodforde to help him with his volleying. We all know that Novak is a much more complete player now than he was say three years ago, but it must be noted that his coach recognized his own limitations, and putting his ego aside, urged Novak to get help from a second coach. Some coaches are strong in the area of technique and biomechanics. They have studied many years’ worth of sports science, and while they may not be able to play well anymore, they can feed 2,000 balls, breaking apart a swing and putting it back together again. A coach of this mold is excellent for beginners and young players as they can give the player the technical foundation needed. Some examples of phenomenal technical coaches are Robert Landsdorp, John Yandell, Gabriel Matteazzi and George Garland. Landsdorp himself has said that for every one hour spent taking a lesson, one should also spend an hour with a hitter working on the very same thing in a live-ball setting. This is an example of a coach who recognized that a player might need more than just his coach to succeed. A travel coach is also somewhat different, and could complement your coach at

home. A good travel coach will be very organized, tactically savvy, and have good knowledge of fitness and nutrition regimens. When Rafael Nadal was young, he had a second coach by the name of Jofre Porta, who would take him to tournaments in other countries. There are also some coaches who are master motivators. The Eastern Europeans are notorious for being tough on their students, but also finding ways to motivate them. Nick Bollettieri is the best American coach for motivation, as he offers an “Us vs. The World” dynamic that can keep students working hard every minute of every day. It is certainly possible for a coach to be efficient in all areas of coaching, but it is important to understand what type of coach may be best for you at a particular part of your career. 4. What are his or her credentials? This is not the only way to find a good coach. In fact, some coaches fly under the radar of the general public because they wish to. They run very small projects working with adults and small children, or they may run the day-to-day operations of a

club. However, most good coaches have produced top players at some stage in their career. It’s your job to find out whom they have produced, and where they have studied. In Spain, for instance, all coaches (even former professionals) go through a rigorous coaching certification course in which they study anatomy, biomechanics, nutrition and physiology in order to become a coach in that country. There are similar coaching certifications and courses that exist here in the United States, and many coaches do the bulk of their education through these programs such as the USPTA and PTR. Also, some coaches have been able to study under very distinguished coaches, and therefore, may have a similar philosophy to that coach. It is your job to find out what that coach has done in their career, and if he or she is the right fit for you or your child. 5. Find a coach you trust, and be loyal to them When choosing a coach for a serious tennis player, one should do their homework. When you find a coach that has all of the qualities you wish to see, trust the coach. A

good coach should be able to handle all aspects of a player’s tennis game, including choosing a sufficient tournament schedule, nutrition and physical training (or setup the student with a colleague who can handle this), and helping the student create an identity for themselves. Some parents have their children in four different programs, or bounce around from academy to academy. This creates a situation where the child is being taught differently all of the time, and they can be seen as just a number to the academy, as opposed to a loyal student with long-term goals. If the student plays with other coaches or academies, it should be the mutual decision of the coach and student. Michael Misiti is director of High Performance at GO!Tennis in Bayside, N.Y. He has seven years of experience coaching topranked national juniors, and was captain of the Fordham University Division I Men’s Tennis Team. He was also a hitting partner for Fernando Verdasco for three years during the U.S. Open. He may be reached by phone at (347) 539-9893 or e-mail misiti99@yahoo.com.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

PRESENTED BY ADVANTAGE TENNIS CLUBS he Metro Corporate Tennis League, presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs, is a joint initiative of the Metrotennis Community Tennis Association (MCTA) and USTA/Eastern-Metro. We are currently in our Fall 2012 season, and the 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. Our first League match kicked-off on Sept. 19 at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. The following is our roster for the Fall 2012 season:

Advanced Division 1. BNP (Thibaud) 2. Thomson Reuters (ADV) 3. PwC (ADV) 4. ING (ADV) 5. Ernst & Young 6. Barclays (ADV) 7. Goldman Sachs 8. NYJTL Advanced Intermediate I 1. Credit Agricole 2. Proskauer 3. Mitsubishi 4. Patterson 5. Thomson Reuters 6. Horizon 7. Bloomberg (Amit) 8. Deloitte Advanced Intermediate II 1. Bank of Toyko 2. Bloomberg (Boris) 3. Bloomberg (Huy) 4. Deutsche (Elena) 5. Google 6. BNP (Jack) 7. Cleary 8. Freshfields 10

Credit all photos to World TeamTennis

Can you spot the tennis legend? Pictured here (from left to right) are members of the Deloitte Aces, Alex Friesen, Yana Parfenyuk, Denise Shapiro, Michael Rosenthal, Sherolyn Reid and Larry Shapiro with Billie Jean King (center) at the 2012 World TeamTennis Corporate Nationals

Intermediate I 1. Bloomberg (Keming) 2. DESCO 3. Fried Frank 4. Moody’s 5. HBO2 6. TWC

Intermediate IV 1. Cleary 2. Bloomberg (Ankur) 3. Deutsche (Tony) 4. ING 5. Lend Lease 6. MSCI

Intermediate II 1. PwC 2. Sullivan 3. Nielsen 4. Sidley 5. Akin Gump 6. Credit Suisse

Advanced Beginner Clinic 1. Bloomberg (Judy)

Intermediate III 1. Ipreo 2. Barclays (INT) 3. White & Case 4. Paul Weiss 5. HBO1 6. Schuite

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

We would like to welcome Lend Lease to our corporate team roster as they join us for the first time. The 2012 Fall Season runs through early December, culminating with an end-of-season party at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. While we are excited that the Fall Season is underway and look forward to another great season, we are elated to announce that one of our corporate teams whom won the Intermediate Division Championship during the Fall 2011 season were invited to play at

the World TeamTennis (WTT) National Corporate League Championship in Charleston, S.C. This is the first time that the Metro Corporate Tennis League has sent one of our teams to compete at the national level. The Deloitte Aces not only competed in the WTT Corporate Nationals, but took home the trophy! The Deloitte Aces competed in matches twice a day to establish their seeding for the championships. They won the semifinal to then play against the reigning, defending champions, Boston Scientific from Minnesota. We would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the Deloitte Aces and their team captain, Denise Shapiro, for their efforts and success at the WTT National Corporate League Championships. We would also like to congratulate Summer 2012 Intermediate Division Champions, Thomson Reuters, and Advanced Division Champs, Ernst & Young, on their success.

The Deloitte Aces take center court to display their championship banner in Charleston, S.C.: Larry and Denise Shapiro, Sherolyn Reid, Yana Parfenyuk, Michael Rosenthal and Alex Friesen

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

“Tennis is a simple game played by very complicated people.” That is a quote my brother Murphy uses all the time when talking about tennis. At all levels of play, the game of tennis is more about the management of unforced errors. It is a simple formula … make sure your unforced error number is below that of your opponent at the end of the match. It seems simple enough, but I find many players are not aware of all the unforced errors they are making. I use video analysis on every match my players play and go over the match, win or lose, in film study sessions following the match. During the film sessions, I have the player chart their own matches and grade themselves on attitude and positive body language, as well the winners to unforced errors in

the match. Using this time has made massive jumps in my players’ awareness of what is going on during their matches. Grading them is an easy way for them to use their classroom mindset and where they are rather, than the score of a match. Pros at the WTA and ATP levels have mastered this level of play and mental approach. Pros have solid overheads and groundies. Pros do not have glaring weaknesses or massive holes in their games. The players in the Grand Slams have the next level of play and the ability to manage offense. The Grand Slam players must navigate through the power and placement required to win at the highest level of the game. There are the power ball players that grip it and rip it. They understand there is high risk in that ap-

Online Tennis Training with Bill Longua USPTA Bill’s Holiday Book Sale! The perfect gift for yourself or tennis playing friend. Go to http://onlinetennistraining.com/holidayspecial to purchase the download for $3.99. Another gift idea: Receive Bill's book FREE by working online with Bill to improve your game for ONLY $14.99/YEAR. YOUR OWN PERSONAL PRO! Go to http://onlinetennistraining.com/members for details. E-mail Bill at bill@onlinetennistraining.com for more info. 12

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

proach, but high reward as well. There is the pro pusher that is using placement and precision as the weapon of choice. These players are the savvy strikers that will redirect pace to the open court or use a cut slice to disrupt their opponent. Both are different ways to attack, but the mindset is more about what you want to do to your opponent instead of not trying to beat yourself with silly errors during the course of the match. For you, it’s real simple … master the game of efficiency and simplicity. Don’t play the game that beats yourself. Just because the players on TV do it, doesn’t mean you should. I watch the Indianapolis 500 on TV, but that doesn’t mean I can drive 220 mph! Let your opponent miss first in the rally and go home a winner! Fight to the last swing! Born in Grayling, Mich., Luke Jensen is head coach of the Syracuse University Women’s Tennis Team. Jensen’s resume includes 10 ATP Tour doubles titles and singles victories against Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Jim Courier. Jensen and his brother, Murphy, won the 1993 French Open doubles title. He was also a member of the 1991 and 1992 Davis Cup Teams. His ambidextrous play, including his ability to serve the ball with either hand at 130 mph, earned him the nickname “Dual Hand Luke.” He may be reached by phone at (315) 443-3552 or e-mail lbjensen@syr.edu.

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine www.SportimeNY.com/Manhattan

Credit photo to David Kenas Photography

Credit photo to Adam Wolfthal

Credit photo to David Kenas Photography

The Bryan Brothers take part in a doubles exhibition against Christian Harrison & Max Miryni at West Side Tennis Club

Quik the Rabbit hanging out with the players before the Opening Ceremony and Mike Bryan shows the “Little Mo” International Open participants his technique

West Side Tennis Club Hosts Bryan Brothers and Nestlé Nesquik “Little Mo” International Open Event n late August, West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y. hosted the Nestlé Nesquik “Little Mo” International Open, a tennis tournament for boys and girls ages eight through 12 which is part of a series of events put on throughout the U.S. by the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. In 1953, Maureen Connolly became the first woman, and only American to achieve the Grand Slam in tennis, winning all four major championships in one calendar year at the age of 18. This feat secured her place in tennis history, and from that point forward, she was known as the incomparable “Little Mo.” After her retirement from the game the following year due to a horseback riding accident, she dedicated her life to promoting the sport she loved, eventually founding the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. The Foundation sponsors events including the Little Mo international open, Little Mo Nationwide circuit, Mini Mo tournament, as well as international competitions including the MCB cup and Maureen Connolly Challenge Trophy where American girls face off against Australia and Great Britain respectively. “Nestlé Nesquik is the perfect partner for our tournament,” said Carol Weyman, exec-

utive vice president of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. “As a beloved brand that has been a part of childhood and beyond for years, it is the perfect product to be paired with Little Mo.” The players arrived on Aug. 19 for a tour of the grounds. The first couple of hours were spent practicing on the clay courts. After observing the grandeur of the former site of the U.S. Open, the boys and girls gathered on the famous grass courts in front of the West Side clubhouse for the opening ceremonies where all rules of play for the tournament were announced for the players and their parents. Staying in the custom of West Side Tennis club, players were dressed in “all white” tennis gear for the ceremony. The pinnacle of excitement on opening day unfolded as a procession led by Quiky, the Nestlé Nesquik bunny, headed from the grass courts to the stadium court where the eager fans waited to see the spectacle. Each player held a flag representing their country of origin, and after arriving and encircling the court a few times, the players were introduced by name and hometown. With more than 200 players signed up to compete, this is one of the largest junior tour-

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

naments that most of the players have participated in. The main singles tournament format is a 32-person draw with first match loser consolation bracket in each of the five age divisions for boys and girls, as well as 16-team doubles tournament in each of the age groups. For many players, Aug. 23 was surely the highlight of the week, regardless of whether they made it into the finals that morning. Sponsored Nestlé Nesquik athletes and Olympic Gold Medalists Bob & Mike Bryan hosted a clinic for all “Little Mo” players at The West Side Tennis Club. Following the clinic, the Bryans faced off in an exhibition match against former “Little Mo” champion, Christian Harrison and former number one doubles player, Max Miryni, on the historic stadium court. Along with the Bryan Brothers and the Men’s Doubles Gold Medal won at the London Games in July, Miryni had also just won gold at the Olympics as part of the Belarus mixed-doubles team and they entertained the hundreds of visitors, along with the tournament juniors and their families who watched the exhibition in the historic home of the U.S. Open, Stadium Court at the West Side Tennis Club.

The Benefits of Playing Tennis By Peter Pine or the vast majority of tennis players, the main reason we play tennis is because we find it fun. Putting the fun part aside, I am sure many of you have wondered about the benefits associated with playing tennis. Studies have been conducted and show that there are many benefits which make it one of the best sports to play for all ages. Below are a few of the major benefits outlined.

Improved physical health This is the most obvious benefit because due to the fact that tennis players are constantly on the go, sprinting, jumping and hitting. What the average person does not realize, especially those who have never played the sport, is just how hard of a workout tennis can be. Competitive tennis burns more calories than aerobics or cycling, according to studies in caloric expenditures. People who participate in tennis three hours per week, at a moderately vigorous intensity, cut in half their risk of death from any cause, according to the late Dr. Ralph Paffenbarger, who was an internationally recognized exercise authority and studied more than 10,000 people for 20 years.

Tennis players scored higher in vigor, optimism and self-esteem while scoring lower in depression, anger, confusion, anxiety and tension than other athletes and non-athletes, according to Dr. Joan Finn and colleagues at Southern Connecticut State University. A high level of concentration is also needed during practice to develop strokes, as this same concentration is vital during match play to execute these same strokes under pressure. Players are required to think tactically and make necessary adjustments during matches. Since tennis requires alertness and tactical thinking, it may generate new connections between nerves in the brain and promote a lifetime of continued development of the brain, reported scientists at the University of Illinois. Social awareness Tennis is a great way to meet new people and network, especially in New York City. There are many leagues, match play ladders, and group lessons at local clubs that people can join. Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world, and more often than not, these groups will be very diverse in composition.

The sport of a lifetime Tennis is truly a sport of a lifetime because no matter your age, you will be able to play. You can start at any age, and since it is a complex skill, the challenge will still be there years after you pick up a racquet for the first time. Studies and scientific research have shown that tennis has a positive impact on almost every aspect of your life. So, if you are looking to improve your physical and mental health, expand your social circle and are looking at a sport you can compete in throughout your entire life, then tennis is your answer. Peter Pine is a PTR-certified coach at the Gotham Tennis Academy and Stadium Tennis Center where he teaches all ages and levels. He was born and raised in Princeton, N.J. where he was a top-ranked junior in the Middle States Section. He graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges where he played first singles and doubles all four years and was highly ranked in the Division III Northeast Section. He may be reached by e-mail at peterpine83@gmail.com.

Mental health Tennis improves your mental health in various ways. To become good at tennis you need a positive attitude and must constantly believe in yourself. Tennis outperforms golf and most other sports in developing positive personality characteristics, according to Dr. Jim Gavin, author of The Exercise Habit. Match play forces players to manage adversity and stress. Players have to adjust their game based on the elements in the environment around them, such as the wind, sun, court surface, noise and distractions, and must remain focused on the match and their opponent across the net. NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

Unleash

the Player Within BY JESSICA STILES n August, Rob Polishook, mental training coach, founder of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group, and New York Tennis Magazine contributor, led a five-day workshop at the renowned Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, N.Y. Omega is a trusted source for wellness and personal growth, welcoming more than 23,000 people to workshops and conferences throughout the year. The goal of Rob’s workshop was to inform, inspire and support tennis players of all ages and levels to develop their tennis game from the “inside out.” The workshop was aptly named “Unleashing the Tennis Player Within.” The primary focus was on exploring the mental game of tennis, and specifically, how the perspective of viewing the tennis player as a person first and performer second will maximize performance. Off the court, participants broke into groups and discussed questions such as:

I What is your primary reason for playing tennis? I What do you get back from tennis? I What’s holding you back from performing your best? I What would your best tennis look like? I What would it take to commit to the process of improvement? On the court, each day started with breathing exercises, dynamic warm-ups, demonstrations, live ball play, all to the steady beat of music. All of the on-court exercises, drills and games incorporated foam tennis balls, low-compression balls and regulation balls. The purpose was on discovering your feel, understanding your ideal tennis rhythm, creating awareness of the ideal contact point, establishing targets, and saying “yes” to “the process of relaxing and improving without negative self-talk. Each session ended with yoga. 16

Through this gradual progression, players of all levels had fun, experienced success and pushed themselves to achieve their best. Each day, players began to play in a more relaxed manner, view their oncourt challenges with more perspective, and as a result, see their games improve before their eyes. Workshop participants completed the workshop with a renewed feeling of satisfaction and a desire to continue to use the tools Rob encouraged throughout the week. Additionally at the completion of the workshop, each participant was given a personal Inside the Zone Gratitude, Goal and Centering Journal to help facilitate their process on their own. Rob and his assistants, Jessica Stiles (number one singles for the University of Kentucky) and Parker Chang (number four for Washington U in St. Louis) helped set the precedent that the mental game is intricately intertwined with technique, strategy and fitness. Previously, the program was directed by Dr. Jena Marcovicci, who created the Joy

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

of Athletics Foundation in 1991. Skye Marcovicci, Jena’s wife, said “his vision was to awaken the bright loving spirit in children. He wanted to share his love for the game, and help others reach their potential.” Jena called the program The Dance of Tennis. Dr. Jena Marcovicci passed away in 2007. To learn more about his foundation, visit www.danceoftennis.com. “It is an honor to continue the program at Omega, it makes me smile to know the program is being held on courts which Omega dedicated in Jena’s memory, Jena was a dear friend and mentor,” said Polishook. For more information about the program or mental training services, contact Rob Polishook at rob@insidethezone.com, visit www.insidethezone.com, call (973) 723-0314, or visit the Omega Web site for a listing of all of their programs at www.eomega.org. Jessica Stiles is an intern for New York Tennis Magazine and is a player for the University of Kentucky Women’s Tennis Team.

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

Celebration! After his U.S. Open triumph, Andy Murray and 30 of his guests went to the trendy New York restaurant, Hakkasan, and racked up a sizeable bill of $6,448. The drinks alone contributed $1,408 to the total bill, and out of all those fancy drinks, including “Green Destinies” and “Zesty Martinis,” the only thing Andy drank was the $6 lemon soda!

Sasha Vujacic. “It was obviously a challenging decision from both of our ends. It was a really nice period of time for both of us, but our career schedules just made it extremely difficult to see each other with the traveling,” said Sharapova. Vujacic, formerly with the Lakers and Nets, has been playing basketball overseas. “He wasn’t home one time during the 10 months that he was in Turkey, so that made it extremely difficult. But we have a tremendous amount of respect for each other. We spent really great years together.”

Andre loves NY It’s over Maria Sharapova has revealed that she has broken off her engagement to former NBA guard

On the very court where he played the final match of his storied career in 2006, Andre Agassi was inducted into the U.S. Open Court of

Champions at this year’s U.S. Open. The humbled Las Vegan told the New York fans that the reason he never skipped the event over a 21-year span “quite honestly, is you.”

Goodbye Cardinals Stanford standout Mallory Burdette, who, in her freshman year provided the clincher in the Cardinals’ 4-3 win over Florida in the national championship match, advanced to the third round of the 2012 U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows and subsequently turned pro, forgoing her senior year. “I am very sad to leave my coaches and teammates at Stanford, but excited to build upon my recent summer success,” said Burdette.

Baby on the way

Seven-time Grand Slam tennis champion Justine Henin is expecting her first child. The retired Belgian player announced that she is pregnant and the baby is due in March. Henin said she and her partner Benoit Bertuzzo “have some nice news to announce. Yes, soon there will be three of us.” 18

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

Moving on In addition to the departures of Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters, another former number one, Juan Carlos Ferrero, said he will retire after playing in his hometown Valencia Open in late October. The 32year-old Spaniard moved to the top of the rankings in 2003 after winning the French Open and reaching the U.S. Open final, where he lost to Andy Roddick. In 14 years as a professional, he won 15 titles and helped Spain win two of its five Davis Cups.

Williams Sisters set for South African safari U.S. Open champion Serena Williams and sister Venus will play each other in an exhibition match on a visit to South Africa in early November. Organizers say the Americans will also attend a coaching clinic in the Soweto township when they travel to the country in support of a women’s charity.

Good sportsmanship recognized at U.S. Open Photo credit: John Foxx

U.S. Open men’s doubles champions Bob & Mike Bryan and 2011 women’s champion Samantha Stosur were the first recipients of the Grand Slam tennis tournament’s sportsmanship award. The USTA sportsmanship award comes with a $5,000 donation to the charity of the winner’s choice

Fashion Week Venus Williams debuted the latest collection of her clothing line EleVen by Venus at New York Fashion Week. Williams, who has an associate degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, stuck to her sporting roots by having sev-

eral athletes model her clothing line. “I really don’t know why all of us athletes are doing [this]. I just know that I went to school and I love design,” Venus said. “I try to make a difference in things. This is a big show, but I wasn’t nervous.”

Tweets from the tennis pros Andy Roddick (@andyroddick): 1-0 in fantasy football!! ... How do you win a game when your QB throws one TD and no position players score? I’ll take it! Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob): Beautiful day in Central Park.

Maria Kirilenko (@mkirilenko): Finally, I’m back home and having some rest!

Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): It’s been an amazing three weeks in #NYC … I will always love you and will always come back :)))

Caroline Wozniacki (@caro wozniacki): Kindles are so smart … don’t need to carry heavy books on the road! Great gift from your parents @mcilroyrory. Melanie Oudin (@melanie_ oudin): Such a fun day shopping!

Lindsay Davenport (@LDavenport76): Congrats to Liezel Huber who adopted a beautiful baby boy this morning. Ryan Harrison (@ryanharrison92): At the airport, Headed to China! Watched Rush Hour 2 last night … perfect preparation!

Serena Williams (@serenawilliams): Ummmm … I’m kinda obsessed with “How I Met Your Mother!”

Venus Williams (@venuseswilliams): I can’t believe #GREYGOOSE created a drink named after me! The guests at my EleVen by Venus Williams presentation seemed to love The MaVen!

B E AU T I F Y YO U R G A M E A more beautiful site for tennis simply doesn’t exist. The Seaside Tennis Club at the legendary Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Kohala Coast, Island of Hawaii. 1.866.977.4589 MaunaKeaBeachHotel.com

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

City Parks Foundation’s Novice Tennis Tournament Hits NYC hile the pros were preparing for the 2012 U.S. Open, more than 75 beginner level tennis players, ages eight to 16, competed in the final rounds of City Parks Foundation’s Novice Tennis Tournament. The youngsters, who learned to play tennis this summer in parks across the five boroughs through free lessons with City Parks Tennis presented by Chase, were narrowed down from over 300 players who participated in two days of pre-tournaments. Winning competitors will also be presented with

trophies of recognition. City Parks Tennis, presented by Chase, provides free tennis lessons to more than 7,000 children, ages five to 16, each year

in more than 35 parks throughout the five boroughs. The program promotes physical fitness, while building self-confidence, and is designed to make the sport of tennis freely available to those who want to learn the game in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. North Shore-LIJ Health System, the nation’s third-largest, non-profit, secular healthcare system, is a signature sponsor of City Parks Foundation’s Sports & Fitness Programs, which offer free expert instruction to 15,000-plus New York youth and seniors at more than 60 locations citywide.

Introducing Love Tennis by hazel

tennis ball stud earrings

he holidays are coming and we’re all scrambling to find that perfect gift. Well, no need to look any further, we have found an amazing collection of classic tennis-inspired fine jewelry that will guarantee you hit an ace this holiday season. Introducing Love Tennis by hazel, a game-changing new line of jewelry that celebrates passion for the game with elegantly hand-crafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Designer and Owner Hazel Nussbaum, an avid tennis player and fan, launched the

racquet & ball hook bracelet

line this year to rave reviews. It was even presented to the quarterfinalists at the New Haven Open! The line includes a total of four collections based on the Grand Slam tournament host cities. New York and Paris are available now, while Melbourne and London will debut in 2013. These classic and timeless pieces are a great way to express one’s passion for the game. Some pieces are whimsical, others more bold, but all are simply beautiful. The New York collection features the Racquet & Ball Hook Bracelet (see center

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

court icon necklace

image) with a sterling silver racquet and gold-plated handle that gently hooks onto a sterling silver tennis ball. The tennis ball stud earrings (see left image) are a clever take on a timeless classic. The Paris Collection features the Court Icon Necklace (see right image), reminiscent of prairiestyle architecture that is certain to elicit compliments both on and off the court. Happy shopping! All pieces are proudly made in the USA. Visit www.lovetennisbyhazel.com to view the entire collection.

The Keys to a Solid Ground Stroke By Bill Longua

There are many facets to hitting a solid ground stroke, but if you key in on four simple areas, your shots will improve. Movement is number one. Tennis is a sport that requires quick feet. The stroke is dependent on the fact that you are in the right spot to hit the ball. Moving the feet side to side in between shots is a must. This movement will have you ready to react to the ball faster. When approaching your shot, try to use quick small steps, except when all-out running is necessary. Preparation is number two. Whether you have a straight-back or loop-back swing, early preparation is the key to a smooth, non-hurried swing. The straight-

back players should use the guideline that when your opponent’s shot lands on your side of the court, the racquet should already be back. Unlike the loop-back swing, the straight-back swing is not in continual motion, but in two halves, back early-wait-hit. The loop should be started early enough so that the racquet head is below the height of the ball before the forward swing. Number three will be balance. If you go back to number one, and have quick small steps, that will lead you to a balanced shot. When hitting, you do not want to be stretched or leaning too far forward, but more erect. This allows for a balanced weight transfer into your shot. Never transfer all the weight, only half, leaving the other half on the back leg, at contact. Remember, bend the knees! The last will always be your followthrough. No shot is ever complete without a complete follow-through over the shoulder. Just trust your swing. There is

an opposite factor here, (tennis has many of them) which is, the shorter the follow-through, the higher your shot will go, the longer the follow-through, the lower it will stay. You need to keep the ball on the strings as long as possible to generate your control factor, topspin. 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. Take advantage of the holiday book sale and log on to http://onlinetennistraining.com/holidaysale to purchase the download for just $3.99. He may be reached at bill@onlinetennistraining.com.

www.gothamtennis.com

WWW.GOTHAMTENNIS.COM NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Nadal to Face del Potro and Serena to Face Azarenka at

2013 BNP Paribas Showdown at MSG

ew York area tennis fans are in for another great night of tennis with some of the world’s top players scheduled to appear for the Sixth Annual BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden on Monday, March 4. Victoria Azarenka, the reigning Australian Open champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist, will get the night started against Olympic Gold Medalist Serena Williams. Following the women will be Argentine Davis Cup star, 2009 U.S. Open champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist Juan Martin del Potro, who will step onto The Garden court against one of the game’s all-time greats, former world number one and 11-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal. The BNP Paribas Showdown is produced by MSG Sports and StarGames. One of the most exciting players of alltime, Nadal has won a total of 11 Grand

Slam singles titles, including an all-time record seven French Open championships; the 2008 Olympic gold medal; and a record 21 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments; and was also part of the Spain Davis Cup team that won the finals in 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011. del Potro broke the top-10 ranking in 2008 and reached his career-high ranking of fourth in 2010. He was named the Comeback Player of the Year in 2011 after rising from a low of 485th to finish the season at 11th in the world. In 2008, del Potro became the first player in ATP history to win his first four career titles in as many tournaments. del Potro captured his first Grand Slam title at the 2009 U.S. Open, defeating Nadal in the semifinal and Roger Federer in the final becoming the first man to defeat both heavyweights in the same Grand Slam tournament. Del Potro is the only player

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

other than Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Nadal and Federer to have won a Grand Slam singles title since 2005. He became the second Argentine and the fifthyoungest man to win the U.S. Open title in the Open Era. Del Potro recently captured the Bronze Medal at the London Olympics in 2012. “New York and the New York fans represent something special for me as I had my first Grand Slam win here,” said del Potro. “So it will be great to come to Madison Square Garden and play in a world famous arena against Rafa which should bring out a lot of flags from Spain and Argentina, making it an exciting night of entertaining tennis. I am really looking forward to playing in the Showdown.” Serena Williams has held the top ranking on five separate occasions, dating back to 2002 and is considered one of

the greatest players of all-time. Serena has won four Olympic Gold Medals, one in women’s singles and three in women’s doubles. During the 2012 London Olympics, she became the second player after Steffi Graf to win a career Golden Grand Slam after winning the Gold Medal and the first player in history, male or female, to win the Golden Grand Slam in both singles and doubles (with sister Venus Williams). “I always love playing in New York and at Madison Square Garden,” said Serena. “The last time I played there, I won the Billie Jean King Cup which was a huge honor for me. It will be exciting to be back at the Showdown with the other great players. I am sure it will be another fantastic night.” Azarenka won the 2012 Australian Open singles title, becoming the first Belarusian player to win a Grand Slam in singles. Her other achievements include winning the Bronze Medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, two mixed-doubles Grand Slam titles, the 2007 U.S. Open (Max Mirnyi), the 2008 French Open (Bob Bryan) and the Gold Medal in the mixed-doubles at the 2012 London Olympics (Max Mirnyi). “I have heard from some of the other players how exciting it is to play in the Showdown at Madison Square Garden so I am really looking forward to being part of the event,” said Azarenka. “It should be a great night for tennis.”

Victoria Azarenka, Juan Martin del Potro and Serena Williams visit the construction site of Madison Square Garden during its summer renovations as the trio prepares to take part in the Sixth Annual BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden on March 4 “Tennis Night in America” has annually marked the start of the tennis season in the United States and begins a month of professional events that include the BNP Paribas Open and Sony Ericsson Open. “It is hard to believe that this is the sixth year of the BNP Paribas Showdown which has now established itself on the tennis calendar as one of the most enter-

taining nights of the year,” said Jerry Solomon, executive producer and president of StarGames. “We are honored to have Rafa, Serena, Juan Martin and Victoria join a list of only the very best in tennis who have played at the Showdown. It promises to be another ‘must see’ event for New York tennis fans.”

• All instructors are full time professionals with years of experience • 10 Indoor Har-Tru courts with excellent lighting and heat • All ages (4-18) • All levels (Quickstart, Beginners, Academy, Tournament Team)

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Two - 13 Week Indoor Sessions: October 15- January 20 & January 21 - April 21 GEORGE GARLAND, DIRECTOR OF TENNIS • MARIA ALIVENTI, GENERAL MANAGER NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

2012 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion he New York metro tennis community has some of the sport’s best facilities, both indoor and outdoor, and best coaches in the world. With this wealth of talent available right in our own backyard, New York Tennis Magazine recently took the opportunity to pick the brains of some of these top coaches. What you will find below are some of the sport’s top instructors sharing their ideas and strategies from how to handle juniors, the differences between coaching girls and boys, the singles and doubles games, the benefits of 10 & Under Tennis and much more. Even the best coach can always learn an extra tip or two, and the following article will provide all players and coaches with a chance to learn from the cream of the area’s crop.

Meet the participants … Miguel Astorga Midtown Tennis Club Miguel Astorga is a USPTA- and PTR-certified tennis professional with 15 years of tennis development and coaching experience. Miguel has trained juniors and adults at all levels in various international tennis clubs, including those in U.S., Mexico, Bahamas and Cuba. Miguel found his passion for tennis when he started playing in Santiago, Chile and later played juniors at the prestigious Club Stade Francoise. Miguel found his passion for tennis playing every day after school starting at seven-years-old and still remembers his first coach who showed him the Eastern Grip on his wooden Wilson racquet. His first coach had a lasting impact on his love for the game and Miguel later dedicated his career to providing young players with an enjoyable and challenging tennis experience. Miguel is currently living in New York City with his family and enjoys teaching at Midtown Tennis Club in Manhattan.

Roger Dowdeswell Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club Roger Dowdeswell was ranked in the world’s top 60, and competed at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, French Open and the Australian Open many times. He also played Davis Cup for Rhodesia, coached both the U.S. and New Zealand Junior Davis Cup teams, and as Zimbabwe’s National Coach, he established a tennis development program involving 20,000 juniors. Roger has taught both John and Patrick McEnroe, as well as many other world-class players. Recently, Roger represented Zimbabwe at the World Senior Team Championships in Turkey. Zimbabwe won their section and finished sixth out of a field of 20 teams. In the Individual Senior World Championships, Roger reached the last 16 in singles, and he and his partner reached the finals in doubles. Roger has been the tennis director of Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club (MPRC) for many years. With 30 years of tennis teaching experience, Roger can help optimize the learning curve at any level.

Gilad Bloom The Club of Riverdale 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 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.

Eric Faro Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Park Eric Faro grew up in Riverdale and attended Horace Mann, where he played number one singles for all four years and subsequently at Ohio State University. Eric is excited about his new role as a director at Gotham Tennis Academy and this new phase of his tennis career in New York City and the Hamptons. Eric has an engaging personality that kids enjoy, and he brings a wealth of coaching experience from his extensive background at Stadium Tennis and Central Park Tennis Center.

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Coaches Roundtable Discussion Paul Fontana New York Tennis Club Paul Fontana is the director of tennis at the New York Tennis Club. He is also the director of the Advantage Sea and Sports Camp at Maritime College. Paul is on the board of directors of the USPTA Eastern Section and is a past president of the PTR Eastern Section. Paul is a Lifetime Member of the USTA. George Garland Go! Tennis Programs at North Shore Tennis and Racquets Club George Garland is director of tennis and president of Go! Tennis Programs at North Shore Tennis and Racquets Club in Bayside, N.Y. A former coordinator of adult tennis at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Garland played on the collegiate, satellite and senior levels. George, a national teaching clinician for the USTA, is a personal coach to numerous sectionally- and nationallyranked juniors, as well as many television, music and movie personalities. Rohan Goetzke IMG Academy As director of the IMG Academy Bollettieri tennis program, Rohan Goetzke oversees all aspects of the tennis program and ensures delivery of the optimal training and highest level of development to each male and female tennis athlete at the junior, high school, postgraduate, collegiate and professional levels. A native of Australia, Goetzke joined IMG Academy from the Dutch Tennis Federation, where he was responsible for the development and implementation of the nation’s tennis program from the junior through professional ranks. Prior to joining the Dutch Tennis Federation as technical director, Goetzke served as the national head coach of the Federation, working with top professionals including Robin Haase, Michaella Krajicek, Thiemo De Bakker and Arantxa Rus. He also privately coached Mario Ancic for several years, during which Ancic rose to 17th in the world. Additionally, he served as Richard Krajicek’s coach for more than 10 years, during which Krajicek rose to a number four world ranking and captured the Wimbledon singles title in 1996. From a team perspective, Goetzke has served as the Dutch Davis Cup coach for the past six years, and the Fed Cup coach for the past two.

Gordon Kent Roosevelt Island Racquet Club Gordon Kent is the general manager and tennis director of Roosevelt Island Racquet Club and was the tennis director of Stadium Tennis Center from 1979-1997. He was also the owner and director of the New England Tennis Camp from 1991-2010. Gordon brings more than 25 years of teaching experience with every level of junior—from beginner through tournament competitor. One of the finest coaches in the East, Gordon’s programs attract hundreds of juniors each year. Gordon was named “Pro of the Year” for the USPTR, Eastern Division (1989). In 1992, he received the same award from the USPTA, Eastern Division. In 1986, he received the USTA/USPTR “Public Service Award” for outstanding contributions to tennis development. He is a past chairman of the Junior Competition Committee for the Eastern Tennis Association. Lawrence Kleger John McEnroe Tennis Academy A native New Yorker, Lawrence Kleger is recognized as one of the top developmental coaches in the U.S. He has trained more ranked juniors than anyone in the history of the USTA/Eastern Section. Lawrence is also the personal coach of Noah Rubin, who trains at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy and has been Lawrence’s student since the age of seven. Noah is a top American tennis prospect, reaching a careerbest 14th in the ITF Junior World Ranking for boys 18 and under, number one in U.S. Boys 16 and Under Division, and reached the quarterfinals of the 2012 Junior French Open. Lawrence’s students have won numerous national and regional championships and 18 USTA Eastern Year-End Sportsmanship Awards. He is the director of tennis at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, which makes its home at Sportime Randall’s Island in Manhattan. Whitney Kraft USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Whitney Kraft is director of tennis programs at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and director of player operations for the U.S. Open. A native of Summit, N.J., Whitney brings more than 25 years of tennis experience to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Prior to joining the USTA, Kraft served as director of tennis for the city of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. where he oversaw the daily programming and operations of more than 45 courts at nine different facilities. As a tennis player, Kraft was a four-time National Mixed-Open Champion and most recently in 2006, Kraft was the USPTA International Championship 45 Doubles Champion.

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Coaches Roundtable Discussion Tim Mayotte 360 Tennis Tim Mayotte was one of the United States’ best tennis players during the 1980s. Twice during the 80s, he finished the year ranked in the world’s top 10. Over the course of his career, he has recorded wins over the greatest players of his era, including Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and others. Besides reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon and the Australian Open, he also won a Silver Medal in the Olympics and represented his nation in Davis Cup action. For the last decade, Tim has shifted his focus to developing top American players and is currently running 360 Tennis at the Cunningham Tennis Center with his partners, Lee Hurst and Carl Thorsen.

Butch Seewagen Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy Ranked number one in every age category in the East as a Junior and Men’s Open Division, Butch Seewagen was a finalist at the U.S. Nationals at Kalamazoo, and a two-time All-American from Rice University. Butch was a U.S. Amateur Champion before turning pro and was ranked in the top 70 in world and was holder of more than 15 national and international titles. A former coach of Ivy League Champion Columbia University and coach of four top 50 ATP players, Butch is co-owner of CATS: Children’s Athletic Training School Inc. and Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy in Rockville Centre and Manhattan for children three to nine years of age. Richard Thater West Side Tennis Club Richard Thater is a long-time teacher on New York City tennis courts. He is PTR-certified in both adult and junior development and has competed as a ranked player In Long Island Region USTA senior tournaments. Richard is the director of 10 & Under Tennis at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills.

The roundtable …

What do you think Americans coaches need to do to develop top professional players? Miguel Astorga: American coaches are on the right path in tennis development. The USTA is taking the right approach to work with Spanish coaches, so they can incorporate different tennis teaching techniques and unlock why Spanish players have been so successful in all types of surfaces. Spain counts 13 players in the ATP Tour’s top 100, more than any other nation and nearly twice as many as the USA. Roger Dowdeswell: What we are doing in this country presently is obviously not working. We need to identify the most promising juniors, leave them with the pros who have developed them, and give those pros technical and financial support. Exactly what that support would consist of would be determined on a per-case 26

basis. This is not a question with a simple answer! Paul Fontana: I think the first step is to identify who is responsible for developing top professional players. The USTA is clearly the largest group responsible for developing young talent in this country. The second largest group is the academies throughout the country attempting to get the most out of players and propel them into the national spotlight. The third group would be individuals programs attempting to develop juniors into professional players. All are good, all are valid. A parent needs to find the best situation for their child. Through the USTA junior tournaments and the national ranking system, many players rise through the ranks and achieve success, which propels them to the professional ranks. This is pretty much the way it is done. Any system can improve and it appears the

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Coaches Roundtable Discussion USTA is constantly trying to make their system better. The USTA, with the help of the USPTA and PTR (the two largest professional teaching associations in the USA), is attempting to grow the game through 10 & Under Tennis. The USTA believes that by introducing the game to more children and by making it more accessible, there is the possibility of developing more professional players. Secondly, by teaching proper fundamentals to children at a younger age, we will have a greater pool of skilled players who will be better able to become professional players. I think we need to have patience and confidence in the direction the USTA is headed. No system is perfect. However, I think we are headed in a good direction. Rohan Goetzke: I believe that American coaches are doing a good job developing top professional American and foreign players. I believe that a focus on strong fundamentals at an early age— practicing as much as possible on clay; starting young with age-appropriate tennis balls like we see in the U10s—helps develop good technique, and a long-term development plan. It’s important for the coach to establish that a player should not expect immediate success, but must stay focused on winning. The coaches also have to work with the parents of players to make sure they are consistent with their message and stay positive. Being too overbearing does not allow the player to develop their own personal confidence which is important in a player’s personal life and for their tennis career. The player also has to love the game, and finding a good coach and group training environment at an early age is beneficial. Tim Mayotte: That is a very difficult question as the list is so long. Motivational skills and helping a kid nurture and grow a player’s passion is the most important thing. A big part of motivational skills would be to help the younger player learn to manage frustration and turn anger into focusing on the process. I also think an awareness of technical development is critical both in terms of the shape of swings and the technique of movement. Without great efficiency in these last two areas, a player’s game will stall somewhere along the line. Butch Seewagen: I don’t feel that the onus to develop top professional players falls primarily on coach’s teaching abilities. The level of coaching today is the highest it has ever been … never have there been so many qualified coaches. The mission is to increase the quality of the talent pool. The job is to identify great athletes and get them involved in tennis instead of traditional team sports. Tennis is huge in other countries, as in many places, tennis is the number one sport. They have the luxury of the best of the best going into tennis. The job of the USTA and the coaches is to get the best athletes to try tennis and then to keep them in the game. Once in our coaches’ hands, we will have no problem producing top players.

What qualities do you look for in a potential student that may set them apart from other juniors? Eric Faro: I look for the “IT” factor. Some students may have beautiful strokes and have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in private lessons, but they may lack that hunger to be a great player. I look for the students who really want to work to improve. They will do whatever it takes to get that next shot over the net. I look for a kid with heart and the will to do whatever it takes to win. That is what I call the “IT” factor. Gordon Kent: Of course you would look for raw physical talent. What often gets overlooked is their dedication to improving and their ability to concentrate and work hard on the court. You can look at a student’s performance in school to get clues as to how successful they will be on the court. Also, parental support is critical. This doesn’t necessarily mean the parent needs to be involved in coaching their child. A parent needs to be there for emotional support and needs to support their child by taking them to lessons, tournaments, etc. Becoming a successful junior player is a huge commitment for not only the player, but also for their family. Tim Mayotte: First, I look for a young person who can focus. One who has a desire to win, but can tolerate frustration. A wellrounded athlete can be developed over time given the capacity. Finally, if the child has supportive parents; that is critical. Butch Seewagen: Apart from the necessary athletic skill sets, the two qualities that are most important in a potential student are stomach and heart. The stomach is not the dog in the fight, but simply put, it is the fight in the dog. A student must enjoy the competition. It is from winning and losing that improvements are made. The heart involves the love of the game, and most importantly of all, determination. Calvin Coolidge said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men/women with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” Is there a difference between coaching girls and boys? Miguel Astorga: There is a big difference depending on ages, but generally speaking, girls come to learn tennis and also like to build relationships and friendships on the tennis court. Boys are less interested in relationships and are highly competitive. Of course, it all depends on the age but you can see big difference in ability and power between girls and boys. Eric Faro: I like to think of my players as athletes rather than boys or girls. I try to treat them all the same. I expect the same work ethic out of all of them, no matter the gender. I think the kids all appreciate this rather than treat some of them with “kid gloves.” This way, none of them either get special treatment or feel like I am treating them unfairly.

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Coaches Roundtable Discussion George Garland: There are two sides to this question. As it relates to the physical game, there is a real difference. The women’s game at this point in time is not the same game that men are playing, so there is an inherent difference in many of the skills and concepts you work on. The physicality of the game also changes. In regard to the mental/emotional side of things, I think most coaches will say they treat girls and boys a little differently. They are a little less tough on the girls. I try to take each case on its own. I’ve had girls that were incredibly mentally tough, and boys that needed to be coddled. It works both ways. I’ve never looked at it as a boy/girl thing. Richard Thater: I have more experience teaching than I do as a coach. I find that critiquing works better than criticizing, for both boys and girls. Assuming boys and girls are working toward the similar goal of becoming better players, I would say the girls are more receptive to specific instruction, whereas boys seem more interested in styling and meandering to the same goal. Once I accept these differences, it is easier for me to allow both groups to find and discover their individual paths to success. I am always shaken when I read about coaches whose behavior borders on the abusive. I recommend reading Hope Solo’s autobiography for instances of great and horrible coaching. What should a parent’s role be in a child’s training? Roger Dowdeswell: The most important role of a parent is to be supportive. In the case of the Williams Sisters, it was the complete package, more often being less directly involved will be more successful. Almost never is it a good idea for the parent to be oncourt during a lesson with a teaching pro. Again, the level of support will be varied according to each individual player and his/her parents. Paul Fontana: A parent has the most important role in a child’s training—parenting. The parent is responsible for the child’s health and welfare. Is the child getting enough rest and nutrition? Is the child doing their school work and socializing properly in school and at home. The parent is the greatest role model for their child. They set the example for how the child acts and develops on and off the court. Parents need to let the coach work on tennis skills and on-court development, they are the professionals. The parent has every right to know what the coach is doing with their child. However, once the child steps on the court with the professional, the parent needs to let the process work. If the parent or child does not trust the professional, it is time to get a new professional. Once you are comfortable with someone you trust, let them do their job. Rohan Goetzke: The role of the parent is very important. A player needs positive support from their parents. In most cases, parents are an important part of the equation. They fill many roles in driving the development of their child. They help their children 28

by finding the best coaches, travel opportunities and providing the resources necessary for their child. At the same time, parents need to be aware of the boundaries that need to exist between being a supportive parent, allowing the player to develop, and allowing the coach to do their job. Oftentimes, the lines are blurred, and it creates a less-than-optimal situation for everyone involved, and might be detrimental to the development of the player in some cases. Lawrence Kleger: I always try to have a good relationship with the parents of the players that I personally coach. I‘m not always successful, but I try! I believe in managing the relationships in the triangle–player, parent and coach. If all three are not on the same wavelength, the player’s development can suffer. I think it’s important for coaches to accept the fact that many players who have reached the highest level of our sport had one or both parents as the driving force in their tennis. And if a parent believes that he or she needs to be involved, he or she will be involved! However, if that parent is overly involved with the actual day-to-day coaching (and he or she is not a tennis coach), that situation can look more like an amoeba than a triangle. One way to make that triangle work is for the coach to create a Developmental Plan for the player. A Developmental Plan is a document that serves as a blueprint for the player’s growth with input from the player, parent and coach. It includes an evaluation of the player in all aspects, tournament schedule and goal-setting. With this document in place, everyone is aware of what the player and coach will be working on over the next three, six and 12 months. It avoids many of the misunderstandings between the coach and the parents, and provides structure and discipline for the player. Whitney Kraft: The recently-published USTA’s “Positioning Youth Tennis for Success” says it best stated with the following synopsis: “Good tennis parenting involves a combination of providing support, knowing when to push, and focusing on the development process rather than on winning.” The “optimal parent push” means motivating a child without placing undue pressure on the child to succeed. Tim Mayotte: The role of the parent is multi-faceted. At the core and most importantly, a parent must nurture a young player’s passion by providing unconditional support, regardless of results. The parent must also help a youngster learn to embrace the process of taking on something that takes great skill, and hence, requires sacrifice and the willingness to tolerate and work through fears. In junior tennis, players make their own line calls. How do you tell your players to handle a situation where they feel like they are being blatantly cheated? Roger Dowdeswell: I tell my players that this is a critical part of becoming a successful competitive tennis player. Exactly how to respond depends on each individual. I will give them a number of ways to respond and explain that they should choose a way that

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Coaches Roundtable Discussion suits them and sometimes this will involve trial and error. The one essential is that they must confront the opponent in some way that will end the cheating. The most desirable is giving the opponent a warning at the first instance, then calling the referee and refusing to accept the second bad call. Sometimes it is not possible to get a referee and other methods must be resorted to. Eric Faro: I tell my players the first time you are blatantly cheated to question your opponent. Simply ask them if you are sure the ball was out. The second time, go directly to the tournament director and demand a line judge on the court. If you are playing this same opponent in another tournament I tell my players to no longer give them the benefit of the doubt. After the first blatant bad call, ask for the lines judge. Paul Fontana: This is part of the coaching/parenting equation. A coach needs to teach ethics and a parent needs to build moral character in their child. If a child is not guided through this maze, they are left to their own devices. Cheating arises from the false belief in the need to win at all costs. If the coach or parent endorses such behavior, they are ultimately harming the child. The USTA has a set of rules. Follow the rules. Call for a linesperson and move on. I think all junior tournaments should have roving officials at all matches. This will help deter cheating. Transactional coaches tend to ignore the cheating issue. Transformational coaches see it as a greater life issue (a learning moment), which calls for understanding and resolution. They want to take the child to a higher level (the “high road”). Lawrence Kleger: Unfortunately, this question seems to come up with alarming frequency. My first advice to a player is that if you are certain that your opponent has made an incorrect call, you should question it. You probably will not get your opponent to change their call, but it’s worth a shot if you are certain. This does not mean you question every call, but you can if you are certain it is an incorrect call. After what you think is clearly a second incorrect call by your opponent, and again he or she refuses to change the call, I suggest going to the tournament desk and in a very respectful way, ask if you may have a linesperson on the court. It would be nice if this advice solves the problem, but that is not always the case. Our tournaments do not have enough linespersons to have one on every court that requests them. Many times, you have a situation where while the linesperson is on the court, the offending player does not make a “bad” call. So, the linesperson leaves thinking, “They don’t really need me here.” As soon as the linesperson leaves, the offending player is back at it. This goes on two or three times before the end of the match. Personally, while I find the obvious cheating in junior matches incredibly frustrating, I have not been able to advise my students to cheat back. First of all, there is a very stiff penalty for a retaliatory bad call-disqualification. Second, cheating back may seem justified, but it is

still cheating. However, when a player asks me “what am I supposed to do if there is no official on the court and my opponent is cheating me blind?” I find myself without a great solution. At that point, I tell them the rules and the consequences of certain decisions. Then, I tell them to make their own decision, but make one that they can live with when the match is over. How important do you think it is for a junior to participate in doubles as well as singles? Gilad Bloom: Doubles adds a lot to your overall game … no doubt about it. It can bring confidence up when singles results are not great. It allows the opportunity for kids to experiment with their net game under less pressure and to enjoy the team camaraderie. I personally hate it when kids stay back in doubles, even though I can understand why they do it. In practice, I make my advanced students serve and volley on both serves to make the doubles experience more intense. For me, the whole point of doubles is to work on the returns, serve and volley, quick volley exchanges, and playing smart tactically. The tactical part is important, as many kids don’t really have a clue as to how to play doubles. It is not enough to just let them play, the coach should teach them the basic strategy of doubles. It can come in handy later on in their career because in high school and college, doubles can be a crucial point in many cases. George Garland: If they play doubles correctly, it can be very beneficial. The fact that it is an aggressive, net acquisition game gives them an opportunity to use skills they might not use that much in singles. Serve, return of serve, volleys and overheads can all improve. Unfortunately, most juniors take a singles sensibility onto the doubles court and just hit a lot of cross-court groundstrokes. Additionally, doubles can be an opportunity to experience teamwork with a partner, or simply be an another way to get comfortable in a competitive environment. Rohan Goetzke: Playing doubles is very important for the development of junior players. It teaches social skills, teamwork and is fun. The strategy and skills necessary to be successful in doubles are different in comparison to singles. It offers the possibility to develop a broader skill set and different strategic perspective. It makes a player more complete. Gordon Kent: It very important for junior players to play doubles, as well as singles. In doubles, you must go to the net, and hence, improve your volleys, in order to be successful. You learn different strategies than in singles and you learn to work with a partner. Lawrence Kleger: Since most of my players’ aspirations are to play in college and doubles is an important part of a college match, it is really important to juniors. Junior standings at the Sectional, National and ITF Levels include doubles results. The fact that you do not see that many ATP pro singles players in doubles competition doesn’t mean that those players cannot play doubles. They

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Coaches Roundtable Discussion might, in fact, be excellent doubles players, but to reach their highest ATP singles ranking, they might just decide not to play doubles. Chances are some of their singles prowess was developed through their doubles play, John McEnroe being the most notable example. At the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, we have made a concentrated effort to put more doubles play into our program curriculums. And with the greatest doubles player in history steering the ship, our kids cannot help but to get better! If you had to choose one player on the pro tour to be a role model for your student, which player would it be and why? Miguel Astorga: Roger Federer. He is a role model for everyone—kids, adults, beginners and advanced players. Roger represents excellent sportsmanship and that is an especially good example for kids to follow. Eric Faro: The player I would choose as a role model would be Rafael Nadal. The reasons are simple … the way he fights and claws for every point of every match. He gives maximum effort, no matter the situation. If you are watching Nadal play, you cannot tell if he is destroying his opponent or is in a fifth set tiebreaker. He is grinding and hustling for every ball. This is what makes him an amazing role model. Paul Fontana: I think Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are both excellent role models. Fortunately, they reach the semifinals and finals often, so their good behavior is on display quite frequently. They are hard workers and are constantly improving their game, even when they are at the top of the rankings, they continue to strive to make themselves better. They are true elite athletes and excellent role models. Gordon Kent: I would choose Roger Federer because of his longevity, consistent performance, integrity and technique. How important is a strong playing background/ability to coaching juniors? Miguel Astorga: It is important to have tennis experience and a strong knowledge of the game, but it is not essential to be a good coach. A good coach has to know how to give feedback and motivate juniors, and develop their strengths and confidence from a young age. Gilad Bloom: It certainly helps to have a strong playing background. Naturally, it’s easier to teach something if you have done it before at a high level. The student will respect the coach a little more if they know that he/she was a world-class player. However, it is not an automatic that any good player can be a good coach. This assumption is far from being true. Many players who had great careers found out that teaching the game is very different, and some of them cannot make the transition so easily. It is one thing to have a beautiful backhand on the run, and it’s another 30

thing entirely to have to teach a bunch of beginners how to hold the racquet. The good news is that even if you were not a serious high-level player, it doesn’t mean that you cannot be a world-class pro. Shlomo Zoreff, who coached me from the ages of nine to 29, was never a player past his junior years, yet he produced a number of top 100 pro players from Israel over the last 30 years, coached the Davis Cup team for years and is an icon in Israel despite no playing experience as an adult. Shlomo compensated for the lack of playing experience in other areas, such as being a great motivator, learning the technical side of the game and becoming a technical expert. He also possessed two of the biggest assets of being a teaching pro, charisma and character. There are many examples of very successful teaching pros who were never great players or even average players, with the most famous being Nick Bollettieri. He hardly played college tennis, but produced a number of top 10 players and Grand Slam champions, and still is considered a great coach and mentor even past the age of 80. The important qualities for a good teaching pro are the ability to get inside the student’s head and make him/her work on their game. That, together with knowledge of the fundamentals of the game, and most importantly, passion and love for the game, and pass that along to the student. Roger Dowdeswell: A strong playing background/ability is not essential, however, it is undoubtedly a huge advantage. There are certain aspects of the game that are difficult to fully appreciate if one has not played at a high level or if one does not have great ability. As the junior progresses and begins to reach a higher level, a lack of this background/ability becomes more problematic. Lawrence Kleger: I think I have to answer this question by saying it is not that important or I will lose all of my students! I was never a great tennis player, so I had to learn the game from a completely different perspective. Great players learn the game from inside out. Most of what they are capable of doing is so automatic that they may or may not understand when and how they acquired the skill. Someone who never attained the highest level in the sport has to learn and teach the sport from outside in. That means having a total understanding of every aspect of the game and how to create and develop skills in another human being. There are many examples in other sports of great coaches who did not reach a high level in their respective sport. Michael Phelps is considered the greatest swimmer of all time, and his coach throughout his entire career, Bob Bowman, never reached the highest level as a swimmer. Google him and check out his coaching accomplishments. Nick Bollettieri in our sport is a prime example as well. I coach one America’s top juniors, Noah Rubin. People ask me how I can coach Noah to be a Grand Slam champion if I was not one myself. I tell them that I cannot tell Noah what

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2012 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion it’s like to be on center court at Wimbledon on the second Sunday … but John McEnroe can! That is why John is such an import part of Noah’s coaching team. A big part of being a great coach is maximizing your strengths and knowing your limitations. Tim Mayotte: I think it helps, but is not essential. Nick Bollettieri is an example of a great coach with no playing background. A coach must be able to motivate first and foremost. He did that. I do think having played does help one understand the specific struggles a player faces technically, tactically and emotionally. Having played myself, I am motivated to find out about technique and how to deal with frustration alone on a court. That last skill is very much singular to tennis. Even in boxing and golf, a player gets help. Does a player learn more from a win or a loss, and why? George Garland: Most coaches will tell you that you learn more from losses. The reason being that your weaknesses may have become apparent in the loss and now you can more closely address them. Losing will also test your love for the game and your willingness to work through adversity. Everything is great when you are winning and what you’re doing is working. It takes a lot of heart to admit that you have deficiencies and then set out to make the necessary changes. Whitney Kraft: The player benefits from both winning and losing experiences. The important takeaway is that the player is competing, trying their best, and continuing to learn and develop. Playing the right amount of matches and at the correct level is of even greater importance. Butch Seewagen: Most coaches probably feel that players learn more from losing than winning, when in all actuality, both are very important. However, the timing of the discussion following a match is different. After a loss, a coach or parent should avoid any discussion of the match. Of course, polite, supercritical supportive comments are okay, such as: “Nice match,” “You’ll get ‘em’ next time,” etc. Any in-depth constructive criticism is best saved until the player has sufficiently recovered from the match and can rationally discuss exactly “what happened” with a clear mind. Although both winning and losing are “coachable” moments, I personally think that winning a tough match can have the most value. The caveat here is that the pupil did their own free-thinking in the match. A player is then able to intelligently discuss the strategy employed and the tactics used for the successful outcome. Giving a player a detailed game plan sometimes is useful, but often stunts the player’s development by prohibiting their ability to figure out “how to be successful” for themselves. When they do that, we see the most happy and empowered pupils. Richard Thater: Winning teaches different lessons than losing. The classic advice is to never change a winning game and always change a losing game. If I am consistently winning by hitting short

balls to my opponent’s forehand, I should not suddenly try to win by hitting deep just to see what happens. A key lesson to be learned from wins is that competition is not practice, and that consistency may be boring, but it wins. I think losing opens up a broader range of questions: Do you need technical improvements? Do you practice enough? Do you even practice? How about your diet, and conditioning? How is your ratio of wins to losses? If you are losing to the same people week after week, your regular opponents may be better than you and it might be time for a change. Comment on the new proposed changes to college Division I Championships. Richard Thater: The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Committee recently proposed changes to speed up the college game of tennis. According to an initial NCAA report, the changes were designed to make the game more marketable and “viewer friendly.” I agree with the critics, who believe the proposed changes alter the essence of the game—the rules would take away the luxury and the privilege of indefinite time. Recreational players are used to fitting their games into the one or two hour slots allowed by clubs. Forty people, six courts—you do the math. But the beauty of our game happens on those late August afternoons when courts are empty, when the clock disappears, and time looms large. Different questions and problems suddenly crowd your mind. Why am I getting into to these endless deuce games? Why am I mostly losing after leading 40-0? Do I make similar mistakes at my job? These are issues that change tennis from a game into a way of life. I would regret losing these opportunities for personal growth in the interests of speeding up a schedule. Give your overall opinion on 10 & Under Tennis being good or bad for the game? Gilad Bloom: The smaller courts and softer balls for 10 & Under is an interesting and logical evolution since kids start so young today. The proportionate courts and softer balls allow the kids to be able to hit more balls in a row earlier than before. The low bounce allows them to hit the balls the right height and use better grips. The small courts allow them to come in more often without the fear of a lob. I have been using it in my programs with the younger kids and it is very effective among the four- and five-year-old age groups and up to about ages seven and eight. However, the advanced kids who are capable of hitting a real ball early on don’t really need the soft balls or the smaller court. In my opinion, they can handle the regular balls easily and most of them prefer to never play on the smaller court and use different balls. When I work with young kids who cannot play on a full court, I make the court smaller by simply playing mini-tennis or placing the child a little behind the service line. There is no need to build new lines, etc.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

2012 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion The current situation is that anybody who is any good plays the 12s and skips the 10s so in effect, the best players in the country don’t really use the small courts. Its biggest effect will be at the recreational level. The advanced player doesn’t really benefit from it and therefore, most of them don’t use it. George Garland: I think the concept is great, but I don’t always agree with the application. As a club owner and tennis director, I see the merit in a program that makes success more attainable for a greater number of kids. The format allows players to do things on the smaller court they might not be able to do on a larger one. I have always thought that, in theory, courts should be different sizes for different level players. However, just like QuickStart for younger kids, I don’t think it is applicable across the board. Many 10-year-olds and younger are more than ready to play on a full-sized court, even competitively. And even though they’ll do a lot of short court work in skillbuilding sessions, I’m fine with them playing on a real court. Programs like 10 & Under Tennis and QuickStart are great alternatives that potentially give our sport a broader base, but you can’t paint all kids with the same brush.

Gordon Kent: I think 10 & Under Tennis is a big step forward in developing young players. It provides structure for their teaching and lays out a clear pathway for development. The system may need a little tweaking over time, but that is to be expected. Richard Thater: I am a believer in 10 & Under Tennis. I just don’t see the point in watching a nine-year old flailing his arms and legs trying to hit a regulation ball with his father’s older racket … remember, the older the racket, the heavier … and being happy to bloop the ball 25-feet up in the air. I mostly teach on 36-foot courts. I just transitioned two seven-yearsolds to a 60-foot court. What I see are children who are moving their bodies gracefully, hitting compact strokes that look good, and playing the game of tennis. Using age-appropriate equipment designed for their height and stride length enables young students to stay within their own comfort zone. And their comfort zone grows with them. Ten & Under Tennis wants to retain young players and increase the talent pool. Hopefully, the increase in volume will produce an increase in top performers.

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USTA Honors Local Juniors STA Eastern honored 27 junior players, at the Indoor Training Center of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, for their outstanding performance in Sectional Tournaments and provided them with free grounds passes to see the best players in the world compete on Opening Day of the 2012 U.S. Open. The juniors, in the 12 to 18 age divisions, were honored at the Section’s Junior Awards Gala, an annual event recognizing those players who finished the best in Sectional Tournaments in the first half of the year. Among those honored were Jamie Loeb, who won her first pro tournament this summer and received a wild card into the Main Draw of the 2012 Junior U.S. Open, and Louisa Chirico, who received a wild card entry into the 2012 Junior U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament. In addition, many of the juniors being honored traveled across the country this summer to represent the Eastern Section in team competitions. “These juniors are not just great individual competitors, but also outstanding team players,” said Julie Bliss, director of competition and player development for USTA Eastern. “They recognize the importance of playing local tournaments and representing the section on Eastern teams in places like Michigan, North Carolina and California.” This year, the Section is also recognizing 10 Eastern winners of the USTA NJTL Arthur Ashe Essay Contest. The winners were selected by a section committee of staff and volunteers, and wrote essays responding to the question: “If Arthur Ashe were alive today, what do you think would give him hope?”

Junior Award Gala Winners Boys 12 1. Gary Fishkin (Staten Island, N.Y.) 2. Brian Shi (Jericho, N.Y.) 3. Daniel Pellerito (Syosset, N.Y.) Girls 12 1. Dasha Kourkina (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 2. Aleksandra Bekirova (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 3. Hannah Zhao (Syosset, N.Y.) Boys 14 1. Sam Turchetta (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) 2. Matthew Gamble (Webster, N.Y.) 3. Alex Knaff (New York, N.Y.) Girls 14 1. Stephanie Schrage (Millburn, N.J.) 2. Brianna Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 3. Courtney Provan (New Providence, N.J.) Boys 16 1. Shawn Hadavi (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) 2. Daniel Grunberger (Great Neck, N.Y.) 3. Kyle Mautner (Greenwich, Conn.) Girls 16 1. Jacqueline Urbinati (Harrison, N.Y.) 2. Eva Siskova (Cornwall, N.Y.) 3. Madison Stevens (Mendham, N.J.) Boys 18 1. Andrew Yaraghi (Mill Neck, N.Y.) & Josh Levine (Syosset, N.Y.) 2. Jonathan Carcione (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) 3. Vihar Shah (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) Girls 18 1. Emily Safron (New York, N.Y.) 2. Louisa Chirico (Harrison, N.Y.) & Hannah Camhi (Woodbury, N.Y.) 3. Jamie Loeb (Ossining, N.Y.) & Lexi Borr (Westfield, N.J.)

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA Eastern Arthur Ashe Essay Contest Winners I Skyla Forrester, Girls, 10 and Under Bronx, N.Y. (New York Junior Tennis & Learning) I Brandon Torres (National Winner), Boys, 10 and Under Bronx, N.Y. (Co-Op City Tennis Club) I Asia Shedrick, Girls, 11-12 Queens, N.Y. (New York Junior Tennis & Learning) I Zachary Arthur, Boys, 11-12 New York, N.Y. (Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program) I Taylor Jean-Jacques, Girls, 13-14 Greenwich, Conn. (Jerry Alleyne Memorial Foundation) I Jonathan Agyeno, Boys, 13-14 Yonkers, N.Y. (Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program) I Mindy Hugo, Girls, 15-16 Mount Vernon, N.Y. (Jerry Alleyne Memorial Foundation) I Jordan Drake-Griffiths, Boys, 15-16 Fayetteville, N.C.; formerly of Haverstraw, N.Y. (Reach for College) I Amina Dickson, Girls, 17-18 Maplewood, N.J. (Reach for College) I Christopher Charles, Boys, 17-18 Valley Stream, N.Y. (Long Island Junior Tennis League)

John McEnroe Presented With Tennis Hall of Fame Ring at U.S. Open merican tennis star and former world number one John McEnroe was presented the highest honor in tennis in 1999, induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and at this year’s U.S. Open, this important achievement was celebrated once again, when McEnroe was presented his official Hall of Fame Ring. The ring was presented by Hall of Fame Chairman Christopher Clouser. McEnroe’s ESPN colleagues and fellow Hall of Famers Pam Shriver and Chris Evert also joined in the special presentation, along with ESPN’s Darren Cahill, Cliff Drysdale, Mary Joe Fernandez, Patrick McEnroe and Chris McKendry. “John is undoubtedly one of the greatest legends of the sport of tennis. As a player, he delivered some of the most exciting moments in the sport’s history, and today, he continues to play an active, important role in the game as a commentator,” said Clouser. “He is one of New York’s most iconic sports heroes, and a US Open legend, and we are so pleased to recognize his achievements with this special ring at an event where he is such an integral part of the history.” In the late 1970s, McEnroe rose to fame as one of America’s most exciting tennis stars. Known for his competitive spirit and outstanding volley skills, McEnroe attracted countless fans to the sport. His epic Wimbledon matches and rivalries with fellow tennis legends like Bjorn Borg and Ivan Lendl are

among some of the most celebrated moments in tennis history. Among his 17 Grand Slam tournament titles, McEnroe won three singles titles at Wimbledon, and five doubles titles, as well as four US Open singles titles and four US Open doubles titles. His first major victory came at the 1977 French Open, when he John McEnroe with his Tennis Hall of Fame Ring, with Pam Shriver, Cliff won the mixed doubles Drysdale, Mary Joe Fernandez and Chris Evert title with Mary Carillo. He was ranked world number one in both Grande Nuit de Tennis at the Monte-Carlo singles and doubles. A highlight of McEn- Rolex Masters where Frankie Durr, Ilie Nasroe’s legacy in the sport is his commitment to tase, Nicola Pietrangeli, and Gianni Clerici the Davis Cup. He was a dedicated member were honored, and at the Copa Claro tourof the team for more than a decade, and nament in Buenos Aires, where Gabriela helped lead the Americans to four Davis Cup Sabatini was presented her ring. The ring championships. McEnroe remains active in presentations have offered a platform for tennis today, serving as a commentator for tennis fans to re-connect with some of the ESPN and CBS. He continues to play senior greatest champions of the sport at venues events, and in 2012, he partnered with his and events that have significant meaning to brother, Patrick, to win the French Open sen- the Hall of Famers and their fans. The personalized rings bear a green stone set in ior doubles title. The Hall of Fame rings were introduced gold, to complement the Hall of Fame’s last year and are being presented to Hall of brand colors. In addition, the rings are Famers at tennis events around the world etched with each honoree’s name and the over the next few years as a special symbol Hall of Fame logo crest. The rings have of their induction. Hall of Fame ring cere- been generously underwritten by The Bruce monies have been hosted recently at La T. Halle Family of Scottsdale, Arizona.

USTA Flex Leagues Come to Staten Island o you want to work on your singles game, without affecting your USTA rating? Does your schedule make it difficult to play on a USTA League team? USTA’s Flex League may be for you. Flex Leagues allow you to play when it’s convenient for you. The match day, time and location is mutually decided with you and your opponent. Court costs, if any, are split. Registration is now open online at www.ustaflex.com (search for NYC–Staten Island). Leagues at the 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 Levels for men and women. Once registration is closed, a schedule will be generated. You will receive a list of opponents and suggested playby dates. Once the match is played, the scores are recorded online. Additionally, all players registered for Flex League are entered into the USTA Flex League Sweepstakes where the grand prize is a trip for two to the U.S. Open. For more information on USTA’s Flex League, e-mail flexleague@live.com.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

What Does Racket Head Speed Mean for the Serve? By Lisa Dodson s a tennis professional, I always hear people use general terms and phrases to describe very specific actions. For example, you have probably read or heard the term “racket head speed.” This is just the common, quick reference to a very detailed and intricate action. One must understand the words mentally, physically and visually before any meaningful improvement can be made. Most of the time, teaching ends with repeated use of the term: “You need more racket head speed!” or “Snap your wrist for more racket head speed!” Repeating the term does nothing to get the real meaning across to the player. The serve is such a complex stroke that getting the correct sequence of actions leading to the point of contact can be very challenging. All combined components of the serve lead up to generating racket head speed. So, in order to be successful in creating faster racket head speed, we must consider a number of factors, including but not limited to: The grip (commonly referred to as Continental), an overall relaxed arm and body, and getting the racket head moving on a loose and determined path to contact point. So, what is the simple answer to “What is racket head speed?” How do we get more of it? Obviously, racket head speed is just that: The speed that the racket head travels during a swing to and through a ball. The average server moves their hand and racket head at the same speed from the shoulder. This is exactly the wrong way to produce racket head speed. This way, power is generated by the shoulder and bicep and a whip-like action cannot be produced. When trying to power through a ball with muscular action, we only slow down the racket head and beg for injury. The motion needs to be loose and independent, the racket head set on a path with the ball sitting in the way. The key to getting more speed on the serve is getting the racket head moving faster than the hand during the upswing and through the contact point of the ball. In order to understand this, we will look at four frames

of the serve. What you will notice is that the elbow, wrist and hand move a far shorter distance than the end of the racket.

Picture 1: We see the racket head is dragging way behind the elbow and hand. The racket is cocked, the legs are driving up and the tossing arm is beginning to pull away. At this point, the chest is driving up, the hitting shoulder is coming forward and the elbow is coming with it. The KEY here is that the hand and racket are lagging way behind the elbow. The further the racket head is behind the hand, the more “sling” you will get. This principle is similar to using a “sling shot.” We load an object into an elastic band and catapult it away from its base. The correlation is that the catapulted object—the racket head, the elastic band— the arm and the base—the elbow. Picture 2: Notice that the server is at full extension, the racket head is straight up and that the hand is pronated. The grip must be correct to achieve this position. This is the only time during the serve that the hand should be in a direct line under the racket head. By using the triceps and forearm to extend up and allowing the wrist and hand to move from an inside to an outside position (pronation) we reach contact point. It is critical to notice that the elbow has made no measurable forward movement, but the racket head has traveled all the way from the back of the swing to straight up contact point.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

Picture 3: The racket head has “slung” up and forward. It is critical to notice that the elbow has barely moved forward, but the racket head is continuing its free acceleration and is now fully in front of the body. The racket head is moving much faster than the hand to produce racket head speed. If the hand was going at the same speed as the racket head, we would see the hand in a direct line with the racket head and would achieve a far slower serve. Picture 4: Here, we see that the elbow has finally lowered to around waist height and that the racket head has continued well past the opposite side hip. A critical error that most players make is swinging the serving hand all the way to the hip in a single motion. We want the racket head to keep moving as quickly as possible with the elbow, forearm and hand coming to an abrupt, slamming stop. This is known as deceleration. Please compare Picture 1 and Picture 4. Notice that the racket head has traveled in approximately a 280-degree sweep while the elbow has made minimal forward movement to achieve a brilliant service motion. In summary, racket head speed on the serve is generated by making the racket head move very quickly up and through contact with little movement forward of the elbow. The hand moves by means of the elbow and forearm, and will travel

roughly three times the distance of the elbow. Please notice that I have only mentioned use of the shoulder as a factor that will slow the serve down. Think of the shoulder as the hinge pin that holds the arm onto the body, not as a source of power. The less you use it, the longer it will last.

In a very good service motion, the racket head will travel in a sweeping arc that starts back in a cocking position and finishes on the opposite side of the body with minimal movement of the elbow, forearm and hand. The further the hand moves, the slower the served ball will travel! So, get your grip, loosen up your

hand and let the strings fly for maximum speed, power and spin on your serve! Lisa Dodson is owner of The Total Serve, a USPTA Pro 1, and a formerly WTA worldranked player. She may be reached by email at ldodson57@yahoo.com or visit www.thetotalserve.com.

Sportimes Fall to Rival Kastles in WTT Eastern Conference Title Match he 2012 World TeamTennis (WTT) Eastern Conference Championship match was tied at 14 games all with one match to play. With the final match of the night being the Women’s Singles match that meant Venus Williams (Kastles) would face Ashley Harkelroad (Sportimes) to determine which team would face the Sacramento Capitals (Western Conference Champions) in the 2012 WTT Finals. Harkelroad managed to break Venus in the first game of the match, but unfortunately for the Sportimes, Harkelroad was not able to handle Venus from that point forward and she took the next five games to earn a 5-1 victory that kept the Eastern Conference champion Kastles’ win streak intact. The Kastles, 15-0 on the season and winners of 31 straight WTT matches, faced the Sacramento Capitals in the finals to win the 2012 WTT Championship and their 32nd consecutive match. “I like the lineup like that. I like the pres-

sure. There was a lot of pressure. She really played well and brought every ball back,” Harkelroad said. “To get those games as a cushion at the end helped me relax. She was being very, very consistent and I thought to myself I really need to start going for more. I started making more errors but, you know, what could I do? I never really believed I would pull it out and that’s probably the main problem.” Earlier in the matchup Leander Paes & Bobby Reynolds put the Kastles up 5-2 in the first match, beating the Sportimes’ John McEnroe & Robert Kendrick in men’s doubles. But the Sportimes won the mixed-doubles by the same 5-2 score to level the match at 7-7 overall when their team of Kendrick, who substituted midway for McEnroe, and Kveta Peschke edging Williams & Paes. The Kastles’ Bobby Reynolds defeated Jesse Witten in men’s singles, 5-2, to put Washington back on top. In the fourth

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

matchup, the Sportimes again evened the score as Harkleroad & Peschke defeated Williams & Anastasia Rodinova 5-2. Harkleroad said winning the women’s doubles and tying the match for her team was a lift. “I was sure proud of myself for winning the doubles. I played fantastic and my partner did too,” said Harkelroad.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Roddick and Clijs

CREDIT ALL PHOTOS TO KENNETH B. GOLDBERG

t the 2012 U.S. Open, two storied careers came to a close, as both American Andy Roddick and Belgium’s Kim Clijsters took to the court for the final time in their careers. Roddick’s career came to a close at the 2012 U.S. Open, when he was beaten 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, 64 by Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round. Roddick’s last shot of his career was a running forehand that went long. After the match, he

A 38

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Roddick and Clijsters continued from page 39 was handed a microphone and emotionally addressed the Flushing Meadows crowd: “For the first time in my career, I’m not sure what to say. Since I was a kid, I’ve been coming to this tournament and I felt lucky just to sit where all of you are and watch this game and see the champions that have come and gone. And I’ve loved every minute of it.” Roddick ended a career which saw him win the 2003 U.S. Open and briefly reach the top of the ATP Tour World Rankings. He also made a second U.S. Open final and three Wimbledon finals, but lost them all to Switzerland’s Roger Federer. “I’m thankful for everything he’s done for the game, especially here for tennis in America,” said Federer. “It has not been easy after Agassi and Sampras, Courier, Chang, Connors, McEnroe, you name it … It’s been hard for him as well at times. I thought he always did the best he could; that’s all you can ask from a guy.” With his wife and parents watching from the stands, Roddick struggled to keep his emotions in check as the realization that his career was over began to

sink in. Del Potro and Roddick hugged at the net after the match, and del Potro allowed Roddick to have his final moment with the New York crowd. Roddick wiped away the tears as the crowd stood to applaud him. “It was really high intensity during all the match, and Andy played really well,” said del Potro. “But also he retired in fantastic shape. It’s amazing.” Clijsters was upset 7-6(4), 7-6(5) by 18-year-old Laura Robson of Great Britain in the second round of the U.S. Open and headed into retirement after she finished playing doubles at Flushing Meadows. She walked away from the sport once before, in May 2007, then returned after a hiatus of two-plus years. Now 29-years-old, the Belgian insisted this season that she means it this time, and decided the U.S. Open—and its hard courts that she conquered on the way to three championships—would be her final tournament. “I’m happy that in the last year and a half or even two years, it’s been kind of up and down, and I’m happy that I stuck through it and I was able to kind of live a lot of these

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emotions that I’ve had in these 18 months or so,” said Clijsters. “Kind of in a way proud of myself that I was able to do that. I feel happy. I have doubles tomorrow, so I have to stay focused.” The loss to Robson ended Clijsters’ 22match winning streak in New York, encompassing titles in 2005, 2009 and 2010, plus a first-round win at this year’s Open. “Kim always displayed grace and character on and off the court,” said USTA Chairman of the Board Jon Vegosen. “So it’s appropriate that Arthur Ashe Stadium brought out her best, because she embodies so many of Arthur’s qualities. We will miss this great champion, and wish Kim and her family all the best.” Clijsters and mixed-doubles partner Bob Bryan fell 6-2, 3-6, 12-10 to Eketerina Makarova & Bruno Soares, officially ending her professional playing career. The match went back and forth, but ended as Clijsters’ final shot as a pro hit the net. Even in defeat, Clijsters put on a show for the packed crowd on Court 17 and smiled through it all. Husband Brian Lynch was watching from the stands with the couple’s four-yearold daughter, Jada, in his lap playing with a stuffed animal. “I had a great night,” Clijsters said. “And I couldn’t have asked for a better way to finish here.” Clijsters finished her career with a 523-127 career record, notching 41 singles titles and 11 doubles titles along the way. The Belgian has been a well-respected figure on the WTA Tour throughout her career. She defeated Caroline Wozniacki twice in the U.S. Open final—in 2009 and 2010—and rose above Li Na in last year’s Australian Open. “Just kind of being home, I guess, being home and kind of having that routine for my family, you know, for our daughter,” said Clijsters on her post-tennis life. “I’m sure in two months I’m going to be like, ‘Ah...’ But I told my husband, ‘Look, I’ve been traveling since I’m 11 years old. Every so often I need to go stay in a hotel where I can just go and line up for breakfast and don’t have to set up and clean the table, make up the beds every

day, all that. I enjoy that. I enjoy it a lot when I come back from a long trip. I want to do it. I look forward to that next chapter, as well, where I can help younger kids and girls who would like to be in our shoes.”

Highlights of Andy Roddick’s retirement press conference …

Why now? Roddick: I just feel like it’s time. I don’t know that I’m healthy enough or committed enough to go another year. I’ve always wanted to, in a perfect world, finish at this event [U.S. Open]. I have a lot of family and friends here. I’ve thought all year that I would know when I got to this tournament. When I was playing my first round, I knew. Is there any way to quantify how much the health issue is versus the mental and emotional issue? Roddick: It’s tough to say. It’s kind of like the chicken or the egg. How much of mental fatigue is because you don’t feel like you can do what you want to do physically? You don’t know where it starts. But it’s tough to put a number. . What projects would you like to do now that the tennis career has come to an end? Roddick: We announced that we are building, with my foundation, a youth tennis and learning center in Austin, Texas. I’d like to be hands-on with that and not see it periodically. I’d like to be kind of on-site every day. There are some other projects, kind of side projects, that I’ve been doing. Those excite me a lot right now. So I’m looking forward to it.

don’t think I’m one of the guys who won’t pick up a racquet for three years. I still love the innocent parts of the game … I love hitting tennis balls. I love seeing the young guys do well. I’ll still have a lot of friends to watch. I’ll miss the relationships probably the most. As time passes, I’ll probably miss the tennis more, but immediately, that’s probably the thing that is toughest for me.

Like any other top American athlete, you’re praised and you’re criticized. What are you most proud of in your career? If you could point to one or two things that you might have changed, what would that be? Roddick: I don’t know that I would change much. Obviously, I think everybody would want to win a match or two more. Had I won a match or two more, we’d be looking back at something a little bit different. But that’s also shaped kind of who I am and how I’ve been able to learn. If everything would have been easy the whole way, who knows how you’d view things. I’m pretty content with the way I did it.

What does it mean to you to be the face of American tennis for the last eight years? Roddick: It’s been a pleasure. It’s not something that’s easy every day, for sure, especially when you get kind of anointed at a young age, 17, 18. It’s something you roll with. For the moments where it’s been hard, I’ve had 25 positive things that have come from it. Again, anything that people may view as tough, I’ve been very lucky and very fortunate. I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities. I wouldn’t trade away a day of it. I’ve loved every minute. There are plenty of athletes that make this kind of announcement in a flood of tears. You seem quite clear about it. Roddick: I feel clear. If I’m being honest, I would have bet against myself on getting through this without tears today. I must have already gotten them all out earlier. I feel pretty good today. This has been a huge part of my life always. But, I don’t know that it’s always been my entire life. So I do feel very confident in the things and the people that I have to fall back on. Do you think it’s going to be an adjustment to be at home? Roddick: You know, I don’t think I’m foolish enough to think that it’s all going to be easy for me. I don’t know that I would be that presumptuous. I love my home life, my friends, my wife. It will be an adjustment, continued on page 42

What do you think you’ll miss the most? Roddick: I’m not sure. I am lucky enough that there are a lot of players where I live. I NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

but hopefully if I ever want to come say hi to you all, they’ll give me a credential

Highlights of Kim Clijsters’ retirement press conference …

\ Were the emotions any different with your final singles match or doubles match? Clijsters: Of course. It was a lot more relaxed obviously than my singles. In my singles, I was still so focused. Even afterwards, I knew that my singles career was over, but I was really focused on trying to do well in doubles and mixed. There was no partying yet or anything. I kind of stayed in my same routine as usual. Now when I was in the shower … it really felt like a big release.

We saw Jada in the crowd. Was she aware that you were going to be retiring soon? Clijsters: I’ve been telling her I’m going to be home a lot when this tournament is completely done. I don’t think she understands the meaning of the word “retirement.” But she will realize that we’re probably not going to be traveling as much as these last few years. How do you want to be remembered as a tennis player? Clijsters: I don’t think about that. I mean, that’s not important to me. You know, I always tried to give my best, even from when I was eight-years-old until my last match, I always tried to give my best in everything that I did, whether it was sitting here, on the practice court. That is something I would like to be remembered for. What was your main emotion? Are you relieved? Exhausted? Upset? Clijsters: No, not exhausted at all. Not upset. Happy … I don’t know. It feels right. I cannot describe it in any other way. It’s surprising that I’ve kept it dry, I haven’t been crying. I think that’s just another sign that it’s the right choice.

Kenneth Goldberg PHOTOGRAPHER

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Roddick and Clijsters continued from page 41

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It’s a Wrap ... 2012 U.S. Open Sweeps Through Flushing Meadows Credit all photos to Kenneth B. Goldberg

he 2012 U.S. Open was a success across the board. From television ratings, to attendance totals, the annual event continues to up the ante each year. This year saw new winners, rising stars and great tennis dramatics from the sport’s top stars for two solid weeks of action in late August/early September. In addition to the curtain closing on the pro careers of Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters, total attendance at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center topped the 700,000 mark for the fifth time, finishing at 710,803. Television viewership of the three-set women’s singles final featuring Serena Williams defeating Victoria Azarenka on CBS Sports was the highest since 2002, with 17.7 million viewers watching all or part of the match. The men’s five-set thriller where Olympic Gold Medalist Andy Murray captured his first Grand Slam victory by defeating Novak Djokovic was seen by 16.2 million viewers on CBS Sports, the most viewers to watch a men’s singles final since 2007. This year’s event was broadcast in 180 countries around the world, and aired on CBS Sports, ESPN and Tennis Channel in the U.S. Also on the digital media front, the tournament’s official Web site, USOpen.org, generated more than 325 million page views and was accessed by more than 11.7 million visitors worldwide; the fourth consecutive year that unique visitors have topped 10 million, with more than 2.8 million hours of free live streaming action, across computers, mobile devices and tablets, was viewed by fans domestically. The free streaming was available across computers, mobile devices and tablets.

American Andy Roddick announced his retirement from the pro tour during the 2012 U.S. Open

Bob & Mike Bryan added another doubles title to their trophy case after their U.S. Open doubles finals 6-3, 6-4 win over the team of Leander Paes & Radek Stepanek

Great Britain’s Andy Murray built off his Gold Medal win at the 2012 London Games with a U.S. Open finals win over Serbian Novak Djokovic

American Serena Williams captured the 2012 U.S. Open women’s singles title after her 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 victory over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus Russia’s Maria Sharapova in action under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium

Long Island’s own Noah Rubin took part in the 2012 U.S. Open Junior event World number one-ranked Roger Federer in action against Bjorn Phau NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Biofile: Tim Mayotte By Scoop Malinowski

Status: Former ATP pro from 1981-1992. Silver Medalist at the 1988 Olympics. Currently teaches tennis at Cunningham Park. Date of birth: Aug. 3, 1960 in Springfield, Mass. First tennis memory: Hitting a ball against the garage in my backyard at about the age of five with an old Jack Kramer racquet. Why do you love playing tennis: I love it more now because there’s not so much pressure anymore. Just the feeling of moving and hitting a ball well just gives me a feeling of challenge and freedom. I think that second when you hit a ball perfectly, you get a sense of control, and to me, that’s probably the thing that keeps me coming back. Earlier on, it was more about the competition … the idea of making your mark and moving up. Greatest sports moment: I think the most exciting was playing Davis Cup, particularly in Mexico City in 1986 … just being in a volatile, crazy country. There were death threats, and it was in a bull ring, which was kind of symbolic! It was played on red clay, and I had a terrible record on clay. And winning the silver medal at the Olympics … that was the only time my mom watched me as a pro. My dad never watched me. My dad never was able to watch me because he got too nervous. One time, he came to watch when I was in the finals of Key Biscayne in 1985 versus Scott Davis. He came to the stadium, but turned around and left because he got too nervous. He ended up going to a bar around the corner and watching it there. It was televised on NBC. Most painful moment: A lot of them. I think probably losing against Ivan Lendl in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1986, 9-7 in the fifth set. I had won the Queens tournament the week before and had beat Stefan Edberg, 44

Boris Becker and Jimmy Connors back to back. I was cruising through and actually thought I had a shot to win Wimbledon that year. I just came up short, so that was very, very painful. Strangest matches: One time, I was playing the fourth round of the Australian Open against probably the biggest server back then, Slobodan Zivojinovic. A big, old brute of a Yugoslavian, Slobodan served a 145mph serve that skidded off the line and hit me below the belt. I fell down, almost unconscious. The trainer came out and wanted to put ice on my groin area I got up and lost. The Davis Cup in Mexico City was surreal. We had machine guncarrying bodyguards around us. And after the matches, we were driving home celebrating in our caravan of three or four vans. And our lead van got cut off by some Mexicans who recognized us from the stadium. Then, as the van was moving, our bodyguards opened the van door and they were leaning out pointing their machine guns. It was a strange week. We had all our food flown in from the States because we thought they would try to poison us. It was unlike anything I’ve experienced in tennis. Every time I’d miss a serve, the mariachi band would strike up a song and the crowd would start chanting. I double-faulted 28 times, but still won. Mexicans were leaning over saying, “Go home gringo. I’m gonna kill you.” But the Mexican players were great, terrific. Toughest competitor encountered: Ivan Lendl. Most embarrassing tennis memory: At the end of my career, my ranking had really fallen. I was playing an event in Taiwan or Taipei. It was the only blatant tank of my career. Just got on the court and didn’t try. It was horrible. (Against who?) Jeremy Bates. Favorite sport outside tennis: Baseball. Funniest tennis memory: So many things. I think I remember one time Johan Kriek had

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

lost a match, it was at Philadelphia, the U.S. Pro Indoor. It was about 10 degrees outside. And there was a snowstorm. He lost at The Spectrum. It was about a four-mile walk to the hotel. I just remember seeing him walking down the street in his shorts and a t-shirt in the snow. Another thing he did, someplace in Florida. There was a lake near the back of the courts. He lost and took all his racquets and threw them in the lake. It was a different time back then. Things like that don’t happen now. Personality qualities most admired: I think grace under pressure. Arthur Ashe epitomizes it. I went to the fundraiser at the Riverside Courts. Bob Ryland was there. He was the first African-American to play professional tennis. You think about that kind of adversity. Obviously Billie Jean King, who I’ve come to know, standing up for individual rights and gay rights. Martina Navratilova … what she did defecting and coming out. How they handled it. That kind of nobility under great pressure. In the middle of controversy. Arthur Ashe having AIDS was nothing compared to dealing with racism. The hatred he had to deal with. I cannot imagine showing up to a tournament where they won’t let you play. College: Stanford. Career accomplishments: Olympic Silver Medalist in Seoul, South Korea in 1988; U.S. Davis Cup team member; winner of 12 ATP singles titles; achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of seventh in 1988; compiled an ATP won-loss record of 340-203 in singles; reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 1982 and Australian Open in 1983; reached quarterfinals of the 1989 U.S. Open; and won the NCAA singles title in 1981. Scoop Malinowski is the co-owner of Tennisprose.com. His book, Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely Knew, is available at Amazon.com. He may be reached by e-mail at mrbiofile@aol.com.

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BOLT B100.light Tennis Racquet The BOLT B100.light Tennis Racquet is a great racquet for any level of recreational play. Equipped with ZipStrips, BOLT’s cutting-edge technology which makes this racquet super-forgiving and super-comfortable. It’s powerful, but with great control as well, and it’s practically vibration and impact-shock free. It’s truly an Innovation You Can Feel. Go to www.boltadvance.com, and enter code: “metrotennismag” in the checkout cart coupon box to redeem the special holiday price of $189.95 (a $215 value), and to receive your free BOLT visor cap. Happy Holidays from BOLT! The BOLT B100.light Tennis Racquet features a 100-square inch/645 square centimeter area; weighs 10.5 ounces/298 grams strung; is three-points head-light in balance; measuring 27 inches/69 centimeters (standard) in length, with a beam of 23-25.5 millimeters.

For more information, visit www.boltadvance.com or e-mail info@boltadvance.com. 46

Love Tennis by hazel We are in love with this cool new line of tennis-inspired jewelry. We’re used to seeing the standard and boring racquet pendant, but were pleasantly surprised when we got a look at this collection. Here are a few of our favorites just in time for the holiday season! I Tennis Ball Stud Earrings: The perfect accompaniment to the Tennis Ball Pendant necklace, these earrings are a clever take on a timely classic ($150). I Sterling Silver Tennis Ball Icon Cufflinks: Invite him to wear his love of tennis on his sleeve. Playful yet understated, these sterling silver cufflinks rest on a 14K gold-plated base ($350). I Racquet & Ball Lariat Necklace: The hallmark of the New York Collection, a sterling tennis ball gently slips through the sweet spot of a sterling silver racquet with gold-plated handle on a sterling silver cable chain. Available in 20” and 24” lengths ($300). I Court Pendant Necklace: Zen-like in its simplicity and grace, this piece subtly reveals her love of the game ($200). I Racquet Icon Bracelet: A petite racquet on a silver chain that makes your forehand look even better than it already is ($125)! I Tennis Ball Pendant Necklace: What could be more iconic and elegant? A solitary tennis ball suspended on a sterling silver cable chain. Available in 16” and 18” lengths ($175). In all, there are a total of four collections each based on the Grand Slam host cities. The New York and Paris Collections are available now (Melbourne and London will launch next year in January and June, respectively). All items are Sterling Silver and are proudly made in the USA.

For more information, visit www.lovetennisbyhazel.com or e-mail info@lovetennisbyhazel.com.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Lupo Designs Lupo Designs’ Howling Wolf Polo is the perfect comfortable shirt to go straight from the court to the club. The polo sports a unique design of a howling wolf on the chest, with a moon on the collar. Whether you are going five sets, playing 18 holes or heading in for casual Friday, make an impression with Lupo Designs’ polo shirt. Check out the new Howling Wolf hoodies so you can stay warm and look stylish all winter long. Super soft and sized large for comfort, the hoodie sports the Howling Wolf logo with a big moon on the side of the hood. Tired of that plain black or white T-shirt? Try out a Howling Wolf T. Splash a little personality into your everyday T-shirts. Great to wear around the house, warming up on the court or under a blazer out at the club. Custom team colors are available. A portion of all profits generated by all Lupo Designs products will be donated to Defenders of Wildlife in order to protect our nation’s wolves.

For more information, visit www.lupodesigns.com or e-mail lupodesigner@gmail.com. 47

Give the Gift of Aces— Serving Made Easy With The Total Serve The Total Serve … it looks funny, but actually works. It is a flexible, handheld tool with a realistic grip and a weighted end that helps players understand what the serve should FEEL like. It is a user-friendly tool that can be used anywhere for practice, and it’s been tested and proven to accelerate understanding and improvement of the serve EASILY and QUICKLY. The Total Serve comes in three different sizes and weights, making it easy to teach the serve to 10 & Under kids all the way to advanced adult players. Why is it so difficult to master the service motion, gain power, spin and accuracy? The serve is very complex and must be hit with a very uncomfortable grip for success. Most players give up trying to improve because they simply don’t have enough time to practice the serve let alone make effective and long lasting changes. With The Total Serve, players of all levels and ages can teach themselves or practice what they are taught off of the court. It is also ideal for pros, instructors and coaches to teach their students and to give them a true understanding of the serve. Using The Total Serve, you can quickly develop the correct motion and use it for repetitive training, stretching, strengthening, injury prevention, overheads and even groundstrokes. If you are looking for that gift that every player will love and thank you for, The Total Serve is the answer! Help the tennis player in your life make those difficult breakthroughs and improvements that they’ve been struggling with. Give The Total Serve … the truly fun, fast and effective way to a killer serve! For more information, visit www.thetotalserve.com or e-mail lisa@thetotalserve.com.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2012 • NYTennisMag.com NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA METRO REGION

USTA Eastern and SBTA Support Health Initiatives at La Feria DeSalud The USTA and South Brooklyn Tennis Association (SBTA) were on hand to support La Feria DeSalud or “The Health Fair” at St. Mary’s Park in the Bronx, N.Y. Feria DeSalud is an event sponsored by the American Diabetes Association and is attended by approximately 4,000 people throughout the day. The event promotes being healthy and exercise. Pablo Sierra, founder of the SBTA, believes that tennis is a great way of exercising, especially using today’s modified equipment using the low-compression and foam ball, modified rackets and smaller nets. This equipment is not only good for promoting 10 & Under Tennis, but is also a great way for teenagers and adults to exercise while monitoring their glucose levels. Today’s modified equipment enables the game to be played anywhere, anytime, anyplace. “I enjoy being able to participate in this event as it is very festive, and the kids really enjoy coming out and playing the game,” said Sierra. “The kids were out in full force and by the end of the day, many kids had the opportunity to hit and play, and had a great time.”

Fort Greene Tennis in the News Congratulations to Sam Burns who won this year’s Addison Steadman Memorial Tournament held by The Fort Greene Tennis Association. Sam put on an impressive show, beating last year’s winner, Jahdiel Williams, 6-0, 6-2. This is the fourth year of the tournament, now named in memory of Addison Steadman, who sadly passed away this year. Addison worked for the city as the court attendant. The purpose of the tournament is to build community spirit and to raise money for the repair and maintenance of the tennis courts. Right now the courts are in bad shape, with many cracks and depressions. The goal is to fix them this upcoming spring, with the support of the NYC Parks Department and the Fort Greene Park Conservancy. The singles tournament was held over two weekends this summer, Aug. 18-19 and Aug. 25-26, and brought in $900, which will go with the additional $710 brought in from a dou48

bles tournament held earlier in the year. Prizes were donated for the singles tournament by Walter Foods of Ft. Greene and Pt. Restaurant in Williamsburg. “Everyone has a lot of fun,” said Michael Brownstein, president of the Fort Greene Tennis Association. We like to see who’s going to win and we really enjoy hanging out. We look forward to seeing the courts in better shape over the next few years.” For more information about the Fort Greene Tennis Association and how you can make a donation, please e-mail msbrownstein@gmail.com. Pictured here, Sam Burns (right), winner of the 2012 Addison Steadman Memorial Tournament with Jahdiel Williams (left).

USTA and American Express Unveil Refurbished Courts at Brooklyn’s Highland Park USTA and American Express unveiled 18 refurbished tennis courts at Brooklyn’s Highland Park during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 22. The renovations, which included repairing and resurfacing 10 78-foot courts and creating eight 36-foot 10 & Under Tennis courts, were part of the Fresh Courts program, introduced in 2010 by American Express and the USTA to support local tennis in communities across the U.S. The renovation project, which began earlier this year, was completed in conjunction with the 2012 U.S. Open. Among those in attendance were Commissioner Adrian Benepe of the NYC Parks & Recreation Department; Gordon Smith and Dale Caldwell of the USTA; and Alexander Chang of American Express. Also on hand for the event was American pro Jack Sock (pictured above). Dion Lachmanen was honored with the Fresh Courts Tennis Award for his tireless efforts to grow the local tennis community. As a life-long tennis player and advocate, Lachmanen founded the Highland Park Tennis Association (HPTA) in 2004 to create a place where he and other players could play and enjoy the sport of tennis. In partnership with local organizations, such as the YMCA and Parks Department, Lachmanen has revitalized tennis in the local community for many years to come.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA METRO REGION

Celebrating Tennis in Riverside Park Credit all photos to Julio Gonzalez

Bob Ryland, former New York Mayor David Dinkins and Bill Cosby

Riverside Park Fund President John Herrold and former Mayor David Dinkins join honorees Seth Abraham, Bob Ryland and Tim Mayotte, and Event Chair Dale Caldwell

The Riverside Park Fund’s Annual Sports in the Park Benefit was held on Oct. 9 at the New York Yacht Club in Midtown Manhattan. This year’s event celebrated tennis and honored four New Yorkers who have made significant contributions to the sport, both on and off the court: Dick Savitt, Bob Ryland, Tim Mayotte and Seth Abraham. Riverside Park Fund President John Herrold welcomed more than 100 guests and thanked them for supporting sports in the public parks. RPF raises funds to improve and maintain Riverside Park and its many playgrounds, ballfields and courts. Event Chair Dale Caldwell, author of Tennis in New York and Katrina Adams, executive director of Harlem Junior Tennis Foundation, presented the awards. Both Dale and Katrina currently serve on the USTA Board of Directors. They were joined by special guests, former Mayor David Dinkins and Bill Cosby to present Ryland his award. Breaking barriers early on, Ryland was the first African-American to play professional tennis. Today, at 92-years-old, Bob remains passionate about teaching tennis and can be seen at both the Riverside Park Clay and 119th Street courts–never missing an opportunity to give tips and encouraging advice to neighborhood players. He last competed and won the 1996 National Public Park’s super singles tournament when he was 86 years of age. In 1992, Bob was inducted into the USTA Eastern Hall of Fame. “Riverside Park is a wonderful example of what a public park should be offering: Activities and beautiful grounds for all to enjoy,” said Ryland. “Riverside Park is cleaner, safer and better because of the work of Riverside Park Fund.”

Tim Mayotte discusses his pro career at the Riverside Park Fund’s Annual Sports in the Park Benefit

A devoted tennis fan and life-long New Yorker, Abraham is currently director-at-large on the USTA board of directors. His career highlights include serving as president of Madison Square Garden. Prior to MSG, he was president of HBO Sports and he served as CEO of Time-Warner Sports. Mayotte is a former tennis professional and devotee of Riverside Park. He served as vice president of the Riverside Clay Tennis Association where he regularly plays. He also plays at the 119th Street tennis courts. Tim’s illustrious career in tennis includes reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon and the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. He also earned a Silver Medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Tim currently works with high-performance juniors enrolled in his program, 360 Tennis, in Cunningham Park, Queens. Former Wimbledon and Australian Singles Champion (1951), Savitt won many elite tennis titles during the years he was ranked among the top 10 Americans. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1973 and the USTA Eastern Hall of Fame in 1999. Dick is a regular player at the Riverside Clay tennis courts and can also be seen playing at his namesake facility–the Dick Savitt Tennis Center at Columbia University. Mark McIntyre, executive director of the Riverside Clay Tennis Association, said, “New York is filled with tennis greats and legends, but these four guys really deserve to be recognized for what they have done for the game over the course of their lives and careers–and a lot of it is behind the scenes, or perhaps, forgotten. Sometimes after barriers get broken, we forget they were ever there.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA METRO REGION

Metro Volunteers Help Keep the 2012 U.S. Open Safe and Sound Jackie Clark showing off her skills at the U.S. Open Membership Booth

Can you guess whose racquet this is?

Roger Federer outside the Player’s Lounge USTA Eastern Member Organization, the Kings County Tennis League, at Arthur Ashe Kids Day 2012

Andy Roddick serves, taken from the “pit”

This year, many volunteers from USTA Eastern Section, Metro Region served up their time, efforts and expertise during the 2012 U.S. Open Championships. Here are a few behind the scenes highlights … Jackie Clark, USTA Metro Region Second VP and Eastern Adult Competition Committee Chair was at the Membership Booth and the New York Junior Tennis and Learning VIP box, working alongside volunteer Pam Glick to make spectators’ experiences even more memorable. At the USTA Membership Booth, Jackie answered questions about membership and various USTA programs. She also signed up new members and renewed existing memberships. Jeffrey Fairbanks, the Manhattan rep on the Metro Region Board, had the daunting task of crowd control. He is the guy in Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums and the Grandstand, who you look at and say, “But my wife and kids are right there. Can’t I just sneak into my seat?” Once Jeffrey kindly tells you to please wait until the point is over, you then file in. Jeffrey recently told us that one day when this happened, a fan came over to him and said, “Now I get it. I’ve been watching what you do over these last few days and it is amazing. I apologize for cursing you out before!” Deb-Rose Andrews, the Queens rep on the Metro Board and Daisy Schwartz, a member-at-large, happily took on the role of “coach” on Arthur Ashe Kids Day (AAKD). They were assigned to the World TeamTennis court during AAKD, helping to teach be50

ginner players. Deb-Rose is also the USTA Metro Region Local League Coordinator, Vice Chair of the USTA Adult League Committee and USTA Flex Leagues Local Tennis Organizer. Don Fergerson, the Metro Regional Volunteer of the Year in 2005, was also at AAKD teaching kids tennis at the IBM Speed Zone. Daisy Schwartz also worked with the Wilson String Team, the official stringer of the U.S. Open. There, Daisy helped manage the player racquets coming in (and out) to be strung and customized. Daisy mentions that “the process is so efficient, a player only spends like 30 seconds when here!” The U.S. Open Wilson String Team Grand Slam single day record was 490 racquets on Aug. 29, 2011. This year, they beat their tournament record, stringing a total of 3,838 racquets. The President’s Gate is certainly one sweet spot! Many of the players and celebrities come in and out of the President’s Gate. That is where Jeff Jones spent much of his time during the two week tournament, as a VIP greeter. Jeff is the guy you see around the grounds and say, “I want his gig!” But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the USTA Metro Region folks at the Championships. Take for instance, Pablo Sierra, currently USTA Eastern Volunteer Committee Chair and the Brooklyn Rep on the Metro Board, who managed on-court activities for 10 & Under Tennis during the 2011 U.S. Open Qualifying rounds. Here is looking back at a great 2012 and here is looking forward to 2013 ….

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

G 3 IN 01 M CO IN Y 2 AR NU JA

Distribution scheduled for 01/01/13 This edition will feature: • Australian Open Preview • Girls High School Tennis Recap • NYC Top Health & Fitness Clubs

Distribution across the New York Metro area at 300+ locations: • Country clubs • Tennis camps • Retail stores • Gyms • Indoor tennis clubs • Supermarkets, and • Many more!

Don’t miss the advertising opportunities in the next edition of New York Tennis Magazine January/February 2013! Submissions for both advertising and editorial are• July/August due by December 2012. NYTennisMag.com NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York1, Tennis Magazine

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The Usual Suspects By Ajay Kumar

Verbal Kint was the man! Sorry for those who haven’t seen this classic, The Usual Suspects, but this movie was an instant classic in my humble opinion! Every time I watch that flick, I get a kick out of it. (Spoiler alert: Seeing and understanding how Verbal takes the little details and creates a story.) The little details, unfortunately, for the Special Agent Kujan, is what eventually led the detective to figure our Verbal’s story, and if he had paid more attention in the beginning to Verbal’s small details that created the story of Keyser Soze, Verbal wouldn’t have been that successful in getting out of the interrogation. Details are generally small—glad you’re still with me and haven’t skipped to the next article. Anyways, tennis has its own “usual suspects,” and they are also tiny details—so tiny, that they generate the most attention. In this piece, I will be talking briefly about a few details that relate to technique. Small details are the most important ones and dictate the overall aspect of a stroke. I look for them at a Grand Slam event, a local tournament, or when a developing player of any age or level comes in for a lesson and wants to improve. As a tennis professional, I believe it’s my job to “Identify” and “Fix” issues—the big “IF,” as I call it. That’s the only IF I have in developing a player—I’m pretty sure of it because I’m pretty sure of anyone who wants to get better and improve. Absent details are aplenty when I watch some of the developing players—not so much on top levels. But players are in awe of watching the flight of the ball on TV rather than to take note of the effort or the body at work. I will talk about two of such tiny details. Take, for example, the “ready” position. Every coach and player knows what a ready 52

position is. And having watched many players in and out, the ready position is non-existent AFTER the first showing. It usually appears when it’s enforced again, which might be after a while—as opposed to getting the racquet ready before EVERY shot (minus the serve, of course). And the fact that ready position—racquet head up (butt-cap pointing to the ground), toes moving—is the ideal position to generate a proper technique for almost all the strokes in the business—is not enforced constantly because muscle memory isn’t there— is what I consider, an outrage. Most strokes are made or broken in that first step—however, most players spend a boat load of time and money on learning that “perfect stroke” filled with muscle memory, this and that, before they even work on that basic, simple, tiny detail as the ready position. Just ask yourself, “Where am I starting my racquet before every shot?” and “And out of 10 shots, how many times does it start at the proper place?” That’s just one tiny detail that holds monstrous importance! Another minute detail to ponder about is “small steps.” You know, the ones a player makes before they make contact with the ball. The annoying, squeaking of the shoes that are created to help the player settle and adjust cleanly to the bounce of the ball, therefore helping setup to strike a better ball. Do you make those sounds? Do you hear them on TV when you watch your favorite player take the court, or do you just watch the flight of the ball go back and forth? Every building is built from the ground up: The penthouse isn’t built first and installed at the top of a completed building. The foundation of a building is first—in tennis sense, the basics, in more instances than one, simple details are the foundations. Build a solid foundation of simple ready position and small

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

steps, and enforce it. Add the penthouse— whatever you think a penthouse needs or is for the player—at the very end. To me, penthouse for a tennis player is the sheer power or muscle. A small tip: Cover one-half of the TV screen, top or bottom, whatever player you like. And when you block out one-half, just focus on the half that’s visible. You will learn a lot more about small details that make a big point. See if you can imitate them, and be open to learn many more details that can be learned and used in an effective way! Splitsteps is another detail. There are many more to know and learn. Get those details as part of a nutritional daily-diet and this in turn will be part of your muscle memory and your game will only improve! The usual suspects are aplenty, make sure you don’t miss out on those details. If you are having trouble with your improvement, drop me an e-mail at AK.AdvantageTennis@gmail.com, and we can work out a session! Ajay Kumar is currently the director of tennis at one of the oldest tennis facilities in New York, the New York Tennis Club (NYTC), and is an assistant director for the Advantage Tennis Clubs family, servicing out of four-major locations in Manhattan. Prior to taking over the director of tennis position at NYTC, Ajay was a partner at Metro Tennis Academy and was instrumental in developing a renowned junior program that serviced both recreational and competitive players. He has played in the USTA Eastern Section, and as well as in the ITF. He graduated with a sports medicine major from Manhattan College, where he played competitively in its Division I varsity team as a scholar-athlete. He may be reached by phone at (646) 294-2653, e-mail AK.AdvantageTennis@gmail.com or visit AdvantageCamps.net.

How Do I Get the Mental Edge? Unlock the mystery of the mental game ... By Rob Polishook, Mental Training Coach, MA, CPC sk any athlete how important the mental game is and most would say it’s between 50 percent and 99 percent of competition. In individual sports like golf, running, swimming and tennis, the value always pushes the higher limits. In team sports like baseball, basketball, lacrosse and football, it has great relevance as well. Remember Yogi Berra’s famous quote, “Half of this game is 90 percent mental.” Many athletes don’t understand how to unlock the mystery of the mental game. The first secret begins by asking the right questions.

Who has the mental edge? Two modern-day tennis players come to mind. These icons are Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. These two players have been atop the men’s game for the previous seven and five years, respectively, and have accounted for 22 of the past 27 Grand Slam titles. Most importantly, they both have demonstrated their will to compete, their respect for sportsmanship, opponents, and the game, and their ability to adjust to adversity. Similarly, the great NFL quarterback Tom Brady also comes to mind. Brady can often be observed inspiring teammates on the field, and appears generally unflappable after his own mistakes. He never seems concerned with the referee’s decisions, a raucous environment in a rival stadium, or a particularly aggressive defense. He simply controls what he can, raises his intensity level when he senses his teammates need it, and works with purpose and consistency during and after practice. What is the mental edge? Athletes with the mental edge rise under

adversity and adapt to what’s happening in the present moment. Other characteristics include patience, focus, calmness under pressure, focusing on what you can control, and getting comfortable being uncomfortable. These players also have the ability to raise their level when it’s needed most. Think about Pete Sampras serving his way out of a 0-40 hole. Or consider Michael Phelps, the great Olympic swimmer, before each race listening to his iPod, letting go of anxiety. At race time his mind was clear, and he performed with complete attention to the moment.

Why is the mental edge important? It’s the glue that holds everything together. When you have it, you exhibit flexibility in situations, accept imperfection, and work with what you have on that given day. This creates an ability to stay calm and centered under pressure. It is rare a winning performance is perfect; more often it is the “perfectly imperfect” shots and plays which change the course of a competition. A great mental approach is the most surefire way to walk into competition with an advantage.

When do you need the mental edge? Performing under adversity is truly the mark of a champion. This is the time the mental edge is imperative. Most players can win when they are playing well—they have the momentum and their confidence. However, the true champions are the ones who find a way to win when they are not playing their best. Athletes with the mental edge take little for granted, give a full effort, and trust their process no matter the score or situation.

How do I get the mental edge? This is the million-dollar question. We know that having the mental edge is a crucial component of any elite athlete’s game. What many of us don’t understand is that, similar to confidence and winning, the mental edge is a consequence of actions, behaviors, commitment, experience, and discipline, to name a few. Great players are very aware and trusting of themselves, their sport, and their personal process. Much like practicing your technical skill set, commit yourself to entering each practice and competition with purpose, intention, and a focus on what you can control—and allow the results to follow.

Where does the mental edge come from? The mental edge lies within each of us. It starts on the inside and can be cultivated on the outside by people and experiences. The key is to trust the process, do your best and learn from mistakes, setbacks, and obstacles. Refer to Michelangelo: He knew when he bought a block of marble that the David was inside, and chip-by-chip his masterpiece appeared for the world to see. The masterpiece already lay within the block of stone, but his genius rested in figuring how to uncover it!

Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder and director of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach he works with athletes and teams of all levels. His work focuses on helping athletes gain the mental edge and letting go of blocks which get in the way of peak performance. He is a USTA Zonal Coach and has spoken and been published for the USTA, USPTA and ITA. Additionally, he has conducted workshops nationally and internationally in India and Israel. He may be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, e-mail rob@insidethezone or visit www.insidethezone.com.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

City Parks Foundation Honors Locals at Annual Dinner

Billie Jean King (right) presents the Vitas Gerulaitis Community Service Award to Pam Shriver (left)

Billie Jean King (second from right) honored the work of locals in the tennis community during the City Parks Foundation Tennis Benefit

Attendees were on hand to support the hard work of the City Parks Foundation

n Aug. 28th, the City Parks Foundation held a Tennis Benefit dinner and reception on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at the 2012 U.S. Open. This annual fundraiser helps to provide free accessible tennis instruction and equipment to more than 8,000 kids at 40 parks citywide. The event was hosted by Budd Mishkin, and cochaired by both Billie Jean King and John McEnroe. Sabrina Bragerton-Nasert, a 17-yearold junior player, who played out of Silver Lake Park, was recognized at this year’s dinner. She has come up through the City

Parks Foundation program and won the Chase Aces Tournament twice. Sabrina was sent to London by City Parks in 2010 to compete and will be attending the College of Staten Island Honors Program where she will play number one singles in the fall. “The dedication the workers and coaches have towards the program. I wouldn’t be here tonight without them. They support you the entire way and give you every opportunity to get better and achieve everything.” said Sabrina about her history with the City Parks Foundation staff.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

Some of the auction items on display during the City Parks Foundation Tennis Benefit Dinner This year’s Vitas Gerulaitis Community Service Award, an annual award given to a single deserving figure, was presented to Pam Shriver, a 22-time Grand Slam Champion and current tennis commentator. “City Parks pays individual attention to what your needs are because they want each kid to reach their fullest potential,” said Sabrina when asked about what separates City Parks from the rest of her tennis playing experiences. The evening concluded with both a silent and live auction with proceeds benefiting the foundation and a viewing of the U.S. Open night session.

Inwood Country Club Wins 2012 NSMTL Championship

Inwood Country Club, captained by Jonathan Klee and co-captained by Lionel Goldberg, won the NSMTL Championship defeating the Shelter Rock Rebels, captained by Michael Zeller in the final held at Inwood Country Club on Aug. 21 nwood Country Club, captained by Jonathan Klee and co-captained by Lionel Goldberg, won the NSMTL Championship defeating the Shelter Rock Rebels, captained by Michael Zeller in the final held at Inwood Country Club on Aug. 21. Inwood Country Club finished in a three-way tie for second place in the regular season and defeated Piquet Lane in the Quarterfinals and Engineers Country Club in the semifinals on the way to their first ever NSMTL title. Shelter Rock made the final by defeating Country Estates in the quarterfinals, and Old Westbury Country

Club in the semifinals. The Tuesday Night League or North Shore Men’s Tennis League (NSMTL) currently consists of 10 teams, with clubs and players from all over Long Island and New York City. Match play consists of five doubles courts on a Har-Tru surface and rosters are limited to 30 players per team. Each team plays a nine-match schedule with the top eight teams advancing to the playoffs. Limited to players 35 years of age and over (each team is allowed one player over 30 to play at one time), the teams are also limited to playing one teaching profes-

sional over the age of 50 and one USTA ranked 5.0 player at a time. Founded in 1983, prior winners of the NSMTL Championship include Piquet Lane, Shelter Rock, Roslyn Country Club, South Shore, North Shore, Fleetwood, Cove Tennis Center, Carefree, Great Neck Park, Country Estates, Woodbury and Cold Spring Valley. If you are interested in information about the league or are a club considering fielding a team during the 2013 season, please contact Steve Abbondondelo by e-mail at steveabby@optonline.net.

PLAY ON RED CLAY

at this fabulous, public 10-court facility in Riverside Park along the Hudson River Greenway, maintained by the Riverside Clay Tennis Association. Present a NYC Parks Department tennis permit, or pay $15 at the gate to play on these courts. • The RCTA oﬀers clinics, tournaments, ladders and “speed tennis” meets. • FREE CONCERTS Saturday nights at 7pm throughout the summer!

Photo: Joe Josephs

Get more information about the RCTA and its programs at at www.rcta.info. Find out about the GreenOutlook, the RCTA’s plan to provide New Yorkers with the greenest buildings in the city at www.greenoutlook.info.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Ray Benton Saved My Life: A Review of Joel Drucker’s “Jimmy Connors Saved My Life” By Brent Shearer

am supposed to review books about tennis in this space, but every so often, a book comes along that weaves the tennis content with so much other profound content that the tennis parts seem secondary. Joel Drucker’s Jimmy Connors Saved My Life is one such book. It’s a great title for starters. The book describes the author’s teenage and young adult years, as he and his family grapple with his brother’s mental illness. Like Frank Conroy‘s Stop-Time, Drucker’s book traces his development into an adult as he deals with normal adolescent crises and some that were specific to him and his family. To deal as sensitively with these issues, to be able to open up his life for his readers, and to use the tennis star who gave vulgarity a bad name as his sounding board is ironic on about a million levels, but Drucker pulls it off. But let’s give Connors some credit, too. Toward the end of the book, Drucker quotes him as saying, “Your story, that could be of interest. But not me. From me, they want only smut.”

At first, Drucker wasn’t a fan of Connors. Then he was, and in a big way. In addition to Drucker’s struggles to find the appropriate role tennis should play in his life as he grows up, there is another theme that makes Jimmy Connors Saved My Life so affecting. As a young man, Drucker got to know Connors, interviewed him a few times and wrote some stories about his hero. He dreamed of being Connors’ official biographer, but he could never get Connors to commit. In the truest punk rock ethos, when Connors balked, Drucker went ahead and wrote his book about him anyway. And make no mistake, even if readers of Jimmy Connors Saved My Life hear a lot about Drucker, the book is also a compelling history of the Connors era of tennis. The knowledgeable fan will learn things about Connors, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl that are fascinating. Today, the tennis world knows of Ray Benton, the chief executive officer of the Tennis Center in College Park, Md. as one of the country’s prime developers of tomorrow’s stars. Maybe we know that Benton has worn many hats in the game, including working with Donald Dell in early iterations of the tennis management business. But Drucker describes the moment in 1975 when Benton was in the middle of one of the sport’s many intense political battles. As director of the Denver World Championship Tennis event, to be televised by NBC (remember the networks used to have some power in American media), Benton had to watch as Connors entered the qualifying round of his Denver event. Connors was scheduled to play in the CBS-sponsored Challenge Match in Las Vegas shortly after. The two stars weren’t supposed to play each other in the weeks leading up to the CBS event. When Connors entered the qual-

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

ifying event, John Newcombe had to drop out. Benton was on the scene trying to soothe the warring factions. One refreshing aspect of Jimmy Connors Saved My Life is that Drucker doesn’t see his hero through rose-colored glasses. After recounting the Benton story, he writes that Connors’ behavior at the Denver event was just the kind of craven act that made him so despised. Drucker also repeats the single quote that sums up his choice of White Whale the best. When Arthur Ashe was asked if Connors was a pain in the neck, he replied, yes but he was his favorite pain in the neck. This isn’t to say that Drucker’s book is flawless. About halfway through it, he starts using the word tepid on every other page. Nor does he avoid the worst temptation of the tennis writer. If I had the ear of Wimbledon’s board, I’d tell them to take down the sign on the grounds that reads: “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat these two Impostors just the same.” Drucker uses this riff himself, and then quotes another writer recycling these lines from Rudyard Kipling. By the power vested in me, this quote should never be used or referred to. But, there is nothing tepid about Drucker’s book, either as a memoir of his coming of age or as a thorough recounting of the 70s and 80s glory days of our game. Even to the tennis-besotted, Jimmy Connors is an unlikely muse. But Drucker succeeds like in the jazz adage, “It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing” and Jimmy Connors Saved My Life swings. Drucker’s book is a sublime accomplishment by a former tennis nerd. Of course, Connors used a straight backswing, while I prefer a loop, but … Brent Shearer may be reached by e-mail at bbshearer@gmail.com.

USTAByLeagues Update Deborah-Rose Andrews ur teams did very well at 2012 Sectional Championships, which were held in Schenectady, N.Y. this year. The 3.5 and 4.5 Levels competed Aug. 1012 and the 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 Levels competed Aug. 17-19. And the winners were:

I 3.0 Men—James DaSilva/Samm Ticol I 4.5 Women—Eileen Melniker I 5.0 Women—Eileen Melniker The finalists were: I I I I

3.0 Women—Bonnie Aves/Avegale Legaspi 3.5 Women—Ashley Rowe/Yao Bailey 4.0 Women—Elina Kapostina 5.0 Men—Michael Doane

Our Senior League competed in August and the following teams advanced to the Sectional Championships: I I I I

these boroughs will begin to form in early December. Approximately one month before each league starts, detailed information will be posted online at www.metrotennis.com. If you are looking for a team to play and know your rating, you can contact the appropriate level coordinator through our Web site, www.metrotennis.com. Click on “USTA Leagues,” click the appropriate borough on the left, and then on “Coordinators.” Fill out the form completely, which will be sent on to the level coordinator. If you do not know your rating, please e-mail info@metrotennis.com with your full name, current age, area you wish to play in and your tennis background. If you played college tennis, please include the college name, the years played and position(s) played. A coordinator will get back to you.

You can also go to TennisLink.USTA.com, complete your self-rating in advance of the league and then contact the appropriate level coordinator. Deborah-Rose Andrews is the Local League Coordinator for the Metro Region. She is also vice chair of the Adult League Committee and a member of the Metro Region board of directors. She may be reached by e-mail debrose@metrotennis.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS For upcoming events in your area, see page 59!

3.5 Women—Jean Chin/Tamara Glenny 4.0 Women—Susan Peck 3.5 Men—Fred Derman 4.0 Men—Howard Helene

The Senior Sectional Championships were held Sept. 16-17. Fred Derman’s 3.5 Men’s team won the Sectional Championships and will advance to the Nationals. Our upcoming season is the MixedDoubles League. Manhattan will begin in late October, with leagues at the 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 and 10.0 Levels (the level is a combination of the player’s ratings, for example, two 4.0 players would play 8.0). Teams are beginning to form now. Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens begin in January at the 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 Levels. Teams in NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Bryan Brothers Take on FDNY Team in Ping-Pong for Charity Event Identical twins and 2012 U.S. Open Men’s Doubles Champs Bob & Mike Bryan are recent Olympic Gold Medalists and have racked up 11 men’s doubles career Grand Slam Titles and 61 overall titles. The duo recently went head-to-head with a team of unlikely, but worthy, opponents … firefighters from FDNY’s esteemed units in all five boroughs. Unlike the Bryans, the pros this time met New York’s bravest on a different type of court—the table tennis court, as part of a ping-pong charity tournament hosted by Nestlé Nesquik and held at Spin Galactic on East 23rd in New York City. Sixteen doubles teams representing FDNY competed in tournament-style matches to vie for the winning spot in the final round against the Bryans. The winning FDNY team then faced the champions as part of the final round of competition, culminating with a $25,000 donation made by the Bryans on behalf of Nesquik to support the FDNY Foundation—the official not-for-profit of the FDNY that promotes fire safety in New York City and health and wellness training of FDNY members. Winning FDNY doubles team members, Captain Tom Spade of Brooklyn’s Engine Company 242 & Firefighter Glenn Brown from Manhattan’s Engine Company 1, couldn’t prevail against the Bryans in action, but a good time was had by all. The tournament was sponsored by Nesquik to support the FDNY and raise awareness for ways that athletes and consumers alike can keep their bodies in prime shape following physical exercise. To support their peak performance, the Bryans both drink Nesquik as their athletic recovery drink of choice after they exercise. Replacing muscle fuel after exercise is essential for an athlete’s recovery—and results from recent studies suggest that low-fat chocolate milk, like Nesquik, contains just the right mix of carbs and protein to aid in this process. 58

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October November/December 2012 2012 • NYTennisMag.com • NYTennisMag.com Credit all photos to Adam Wolfthal

UPCOMING NOVEMBER 2012 Friday, November 9 Just Tennis Party Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue • New York, N.Y. Round-Robin Doubles for 3.5-5.0 Levels $45 per person • 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (212) 989-8572, ext. 104 to reserve your spot. Sunday, November 11 26th USTA Eastern College Showcase Day Saw Mill Club 77 Kensico Drive • Mt. Kisco, N.Y. For more information, visit www.eastern.usta.com. Friday, November 16 Just Tennis Party Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue • New York, N.Y. Round-Robin Doubles for 3.5-5.0 Levels $45 per person • 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (212) 989-8572, ext. 104 to reserve your spot.

EVENTS

Friday, November 30 Just Tennis Party Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue New York, N.Y. Round-Robin Doubles for 3.5-5.0 Levels $45 per person 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (212) 989-8572, ext. 104 to reserve your spot. DECEMBER 2012 Saturday, December 1 Just Tennis Party Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue New York, N.Y. Round-Robin Doubles for 3.5-5.0 Levels $45 per person Reservations are required. Call (212) 989-8572, ext. 104 to reserve your spot.

Saturday, December 8 Just Tennis Party Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue New York, N.Y. Round-Robin Doubles for 3.5-5.0 Levels $45 per person Reservations are required. Call (212) 989-8572, ext. 104 to reserve your spot. Saturday, December 15 Just Tennis Party Midtown Tennis Club 341 8th Avenue New York, N.Y. Round-Robin Doubles for 3.5-5.0 Levels $45 per person Reservations are required. Call (212) 989-8572, ext. 104 to reserve your spot.

NEW YORK TENNIS CLUB

DIRECTORY Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy @ CATS of 49th St. Geri Goetz, Director 235 East 49th Street • New York, NY 10017 (212) 832-1833, ext. 222 catsturtlebay@gmail.com CATSNY.com Go! Tennis at North Shore Tennis & Racquet Club George Garland—Director of Tennis 34-28 214th Place Flushing, NY 11361-1720 (718) 224-6303 george@gotennisprograms.com Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club Gertrud Wilhelm 450 West 43rd Street New York, NY 10036 (212) 594-0554 g.wilhelm@mprcnyc.com ManhattanPlazaRacquetClub.com or AdvantageTennis NY.com

Midtown Tennis Club Jennifer Brown—Director 341 8th Avenue New York, NY 10001 (212) 989-8572 midtowntennis@netzero.com MidtownTennis.com New York Tennis Club Lauren Hartman 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, NY 10465 (718) 239-7916 lhartman.nytci@gmail.com NewYorkTennisClub.com or AdvantageTennisNY.com

Roosevelt Island Racquet Club Tom Manhart—Assistant General Manager 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, NY 10044 (212) 935-0250 tmanhart@rirctennis.com RIRCTennis.com or AdvantageTennis NY.com SPORTIME Randall’s Island Ted Dimond—Director of Tennis 1 Randall’s Island • New York, NY 10035 (212) 427-6150 randallsisland@sportimeny.com SportimeNY.com/Manhattan

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

Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Joel Kassan—Tennis Director 725 Gateway Center Boulevard Bronx, NY 10451 (718) 665-4684 joel@gothamtennis.com StadiumTennisNYC.com

The Country Club of Riverdale (TCR) Gilad Bloom—Director of Tennis 2600 Netherland Avenue Riverdale, NY 10463 (718) 796-9099 bloom.gilad@gmail.com TCR-NYC.com USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Whitney Kraft—Director of Tennis Flushing Meadows Corona Park Flushing, NY 11368 (718) 760-6200 kraft@usta.com USTA.com West Side Tennis Club Bob Ingersole—Director of Tennis 1 Tennis Place • Forest Hills, NY 11375 (718) 268-2300 tennisdirector@foresthillstennis.com ForestHillsTennis.com/index.html

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW

YORK

RANKINGS

Boys & Girls Metro Rankings

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

39 ......Gurjot Singh....................Flushing, N.Y.

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

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

40 ......Eric Ryklin ......................New York, N.Y.

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

(as of 09/24/12)

19 ......Leaf Fagerberg ..............New York, N.Y.

BOYS Metro Boys 12 Singles Rank..Name............................City 01 ......Derek Lung ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Nicholas Pustilnik ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Stevan Stojkovic ............Flushing, N.Y. 4 ........Alexander Petrov............Middle Village, N.Y. 5 ........Kemal Irfan Aziz..............Staten Island, N.Y. 6 ........David Dylan Pines ..........New York, N.Y. 7 ........Henry Hochfelder ..........New York, N.Y. 8 ........Scott Fischer ..................New York, N.Y. 9 ........Logan Gruss ..................New York, N.Y. 10 ......Jacob Livianu..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 11 ......David Krasner ................Staten Island, N.Y. 12 ......Pieter Wernink ................New York, N.Y. 13 ......Wesley Zhang ................Staten Island, N.Y. 14 ......Ryan McCook ................Saint Albans, N.Y. 15 ......Shawn Jackson..............Staten Island, N.Y. 16 ......Eitan Khromchenko........Staten Island, N.Y. 17 ......Brandon Torres ..............Bronx, N.Y.

20 ......Logan Gruss ..................New York, N.Y. 21 ......Jorge Arenas ..................Bronx, N.Y. 22 ......Jack Metzger..................New York, N.Y. 23 ......Daniel Corona ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 24 ......Eric Ryklin ......................New York, N.Y. 25 ......Jake Laurence ................New York, N.Y. 26 ......Brandon Zhang ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 27 ......Dan Ion Negru ................Middle Village, N.Y. 28 ......Max Lederman ..............New York, N.Y. 29 ......Gabriel Broshy................New York, N.Y. 30 ......Mitchell Mu ....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 31 ......Alex Huynh......................Astoria, N.Y. 32 ......Mark Karpovas ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 33 ......Massimo Costantini ......New York, N.Y. 34 ......Kristjan Tomasson..........New York, N.Y. 35 ......Jacob Daly......................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 36 ......Leonidas Vrailas ............New York, N.Y. 37 ......Scott Glauber ................New York, N.Y. 38 ......Gabriel Sifuentes ............Flushing, N.Y. 39 ......Oliver Jevtovic ................Astoria, N.Y. 40 ......Cameron Gruss ..............New York, N.Y.

14 ......Sidharth Chawla ............New York, N.Y. 19 ......Joseph Wilkanowski ......Long Island City, N.Y. 20 ......Anthony Cataldo ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......David Weiner ..................Rego Park, N.Y. 22 ......Joseph Shulkin ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 23 ......Blake Frank ....................New York, N.Y. 24 ......Eli Taylor-Kerman............New York, N.Y.

34 ......Samantha Fischer ..........New York, N.Y.

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

Metro Boys 16 Singles Rank..Name............................City 1 ........Jonathan Cohen ............New York, N.Y. 2 ........Kevin Huynh ..................Astoria, N.Y. 3 ........Christopher Huynh ........Astoria, N.Y. 4 ........David Farina....................New York, N.Y.

Metro Boys 18 Singles Rank..Name............................City 1 ........David N. Zhukovsky ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Jordan Selig....................New York, N.Y. 3 ........Jonathan Cohen ............New York, N.Y. 4 ........Justin Selig......................New York, N.Y. 5 ........Benjamin Erichsen ........Bronx, N.Y.

35 ......Perene Wang ..................New York, N.Y. 36 ......Kyra Bergmann ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 37 ......Alexandra Miasnikova....Rego Park, N.Y. 38 ......Rebecca Krupatkin ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 39 ......Isabella Tushaj ................Bronx, N.Y. 40 ......Danielle Kezeli ................Staten Island, N.Y.

6 ........Kevin Ching ....................Bayside, N.Y.

Metro Girls 14 Singles

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

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

8 ........Lorenzo Soo ..................New York, N.Y.

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

9 ........Christopher Huynh ........Astoria, N.Y.

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

10 ......Mark Semerik ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

3 ........Victoria Zezula ................Ridgewood, N.Y.

11 ......Josh Weiner ....................New York, N.Y.

4 ........Christina Huynh..............Astoria, N.Y.

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

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

13 ......Nolan Crawford ..............New York, N.Y.

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

14 ......Jordan Jordan ................Astoria, N.Y.

7 ........Marierose Apice ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

8 ........Donna Episcopio............Bayside, N.Y.

16 ......Matthew Glaser ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

17 ......Enrique Torres ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

10 ......Veronika Semenova ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

18 ......Jahmall Forde ................Jamaica, N.Y.

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

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

12 ......Nicole Khorosh ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

13 ......Marion Goldberg ............New York, N.Y.

21 ......Michael Leon ..................Woodhaven, N.Y.

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

22 ......Mitchell Cheung ............Woodside, N.Y.

15 ......Olivia Morris....................Floral Park, N.Y.

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

16 ......Victoria Judy Hanuman..Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

25 ......Kevin Huynh ..................Astoria, N.Y.

18 ......Val Leifer..........................New York, N.Y.

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

19 ......Kayla Schumacher ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 20 ......Electra Frelinghuysen ....New York, N.Y.

GIRLS

21 ......Cecilia Sweson ..............New York, N.Y.

6 ........Leonard Margolis............Brooklyn, N.Y.

Metro Girls 12 Singles

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

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

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

8 ........Samuel Caloras ..............Little Neck, N.Y.

1 ........Sabrina Boada................Woodhaven, N.Y.

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

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

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

3 ........Christina Huynh..............Astoria, N.Y.

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

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

12 ......Garrett Sopko ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

13 ......Peter Sillis ......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

6 ........Caroline Kantor ..............New York, N.Y.

14 ......Ira Rey-Anatole ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

7 ........Gabriella Eitkis................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

8 ........Isabella Cooper ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

9 ........Sofie Levine ....................New York, N.Y.

17 ......Michael Lesser ..............New York, N.Y.

10 ......Maryna Bohdanovska....Brooklyn, N.Y.

18 ......Lorenzo Soo ..................New York, N.Y.

11 ......Anastasya Menshikova..Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

12 ......Jean Soo ........................Flushing, N.Y.

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

13 ......Diana Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

Metro Boys 14 Singles

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

14 ......Nadejda Maslova ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

22 ......Jahmall Forde ................Jamaica, N.Y.

15 ......Theodora Vrailas ............New York, N.Y.

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

23 ......Kumiel Hosain ................New York, N.Y.

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

1 ........David Moldovan ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

17 ......Victoria Judy Hanuman..Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

18 ......Hanna Yip ......................New York, N.Y.

3 ........Kevin Yan ........................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

19 ......Lorraine Bergmann ........Forest Hills, N.Y.

4 ........Derek Lung ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

27 ......Michael Sklar ..................New York, N.Y.

20 ......Audrey Pacthod..............New York, N.Y.

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

5 ........Kermal Aziz ....................Staten Island, N.Y.

28 ......Josh Weiner ....................New York, N.Y.

21 ......Lena Kovacevic..............New York, N.Y.

1 ........Hediye Karabay..............Flushing, N.Y.

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

29 ......Benjamin Beruh..............Bronx, N.Y.

22 ......Sophia Weiland ..............Ridgewood, N.Y.

2 ........Nicole Serras ..................Whitestone, N.Y.

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

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

23 ......Tiana Fernandez ............Bronx, N.Y.

3 ........Vania Savic......................Woodside, N.Y.

8 ........Ray Fishman ..................New York, N.Y.

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

24 ......Amanda Solecki ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

9 ........Daniel Schaw..................New York, N.Y.

32 ......Ray Fishman ..................New York, N.Y.

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

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

10 ......Barak Harari....................Hollis, N.Y.

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

26 ......Anna Tselikovskaya........New York, N.Y.

6 ........Anika Pornpitaksuk ........Flushing, N.Y.

11 ......Horia Negru ....................Middle Village, N.Y.

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

27 ......Diana McCready ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

35 ......Kristjan Tmoasson ........New York, N.Y.

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

8 ........ Alexus Gill ......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

13 ......Noah Solano ..................Brooklyn, N.Y.

36 ......Stephen Fields................Bronx, N.Y.

29 ......Najah Dawson ................Rosedale, N.Y.

9 ........Keri Anne Picciochi ........Flushing, N.Y.

14 ......Emil Nadyrbekov............Brooklyn, N.Y.

37 ......Dhruv Bhatia ..................New York, N.Y.

30 ......Naomi Park ....................New York, N.Y.

10 ......Erika Tinalli......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

15 ......Wiley Schubert ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

31 ......Rosa Aksanova ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

25 ......Noah Edelman................New York, N.Y. 26 ......Robert Shinder ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 27 ......Rudolph Merlin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 28 ......Brandon Cohen..............New York, N.Y. 29 ......Mitchell Mu ....................Oakland, N.Y. 30 ......Ameer Hosain ................New York, N.Y. 31 ......Christian Rabinowitz ......Bayside, N.Y. 32 ......Jonathan Glinsky............Brooklyn, N.Y. 33 ......Elias Rabayev ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 34 ......Derrick Mu ......................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 35 ......Teddy Brodsky................New York, N.Y. 36 ......Gregory Coe ..................New York, N.Y. 37 ......Nash Johnson ................New York, N.Y. 38 ......Igor Maslov ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 39 ......Alex Huynh......................Astoria, N.Y. 40 ......Daniel Maseyev ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

5 ........Jordan Selig....................New York, N.Y.

New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ NYTennisMag.com

23 ......Brooke Jin ......................New York, N.Y. 24 ......Rosa Aksanova ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 25 ......Jean Soo ........................Flushing, N.Y. 26 ......Kiara Rose ......................New York, N.Y. 27 ......Alexandra Miasnikova....Rego Park, N.Y. 28 ......Maria Kogarova ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 29 ......Alexandra Sanford..........New York, N.Y. 30 ......Emma Gray ....................New York, N.Y. 31 ......Miriam Aziz ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 32 ......Anu Alalade ....................Rosedale, N.Y. 33 ......Elizabeth Khusid ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 34 ......Chloe Trang ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 35 ......Olga Drahanchuk ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 36 ......Hanna Yip ......................New York, N.Y. 37 ......Cheyenne Jenkins..........Bronx, N.Y. 38 ...... Reena Sarkar ................New York, N.Y. 39 ......Yasmeen Reza................New York, N.Y. 40 ......Michaella Irby-Estevaz ..New York, N.Y.

Metro Girls 16 Singles

NEW

YORK

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

59 ......Igor Maslov ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

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

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

15 ......Nicole Schnabel ............Woodhaven, N.Y.

62 ......Jonah Jurick ..................New York

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

RANKINGS Sectional Boys 16 Singles— Metro Region

12 ......Michelle Sorokko............Douglaston, N.Y. 14 ......Jennifer Yu ......................Forest Hills, N.Y. 16 ......Shelly Yaloz ....................Little Neck, N.Y.

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

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

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

11 ......Win Smith........................Brooklyn, N.Y.

22 ......Katherine Kachkarov......Flushing, N.Y.

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

75 ......Nicholas Pustilnik ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

30 ......Christina Huynh..............Astoria, N.Y.

18 ......Jenna Borestein..............New York, N.Y.

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

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

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

19 ......Marion Goldberg ............New York, N.Y.

80 ......Kai Yuminaga..................Little Neck, N.Y.

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

47 ......Marie Ivantechenko........Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

81 ......Alex Portnoy ..................New York, N.Y.

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

48 ......Rosie Gross ....................New York, N.Y.

21 ......Paula Faltynowicz ..........Flushing, N.Y.

97 ......Noah Edelman................New York, N.Y.

25 ......Lucas Pickering..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

98 ......Ethan Finley ....................New York, N.Y.

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

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

23 ......Anna Kaplan ..................New York, N.Y.

100 ....Jeffrey McCready ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

57 ......Diana McCready ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

101 ....Derrick Mu ......................Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

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

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

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

102 ....Dylan Friedman ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

36 ......Marcus Smith ................Little Neck, N.Y.

60 ......Amanda Solecki ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

26 ......Kiarah Williams ..............Bronx, N.Y.

106 ....Maxwell Kachkarov........Flushing, N.Y.

38 ......Daniel Kerznerman ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

107 ....Tristan Taylor ..................New York, N.Y.

56 ......Gal Sossen ....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

64 ......Isabella Tushaj ................Bronx, N.Y.

28 ......Kara Rosenblum ............New York, N.Y.

115 ....Stevan Stojkovic ............Flushing, N.Y.

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

65 ......Diana Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

116 ....Alexander Petrov............Middle Village, N.Y.

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

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

30 ......Savannah George ..........Bronx, N.Y.

122 ....Ameer Hossain ..............New York, N.Y.

66 ......Douglas Mo ....................Douglaston, N.Y.

75 ......Elvina Kalieva..................Staten Island, N.Y.

31 ......Lydia Weintraub..............New York, N.Y.

123 ....Tyler Kats ........................Astoria, N.Y.

68 ......Felipe Osses-Konig........Rego Park, N.Y.

77 ......Sabrina Boada................Woodhaven, N.Y.

32 ......Nicole Holloran ..............Bayside, N.Y.

124 ....Joseph Wilkanowski ......Long Island City, N.Y.

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

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

33 ......Briel Biggs ......................Bronx, N.Y.

129 ....Wesley Zhang ................Staten Island, N.Y.

72 ......Maurice Russo ..............New York, N.Y.

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

34 ......Jade Barnett-Irons ........New York, N.Y.

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

74 ......Steven Koulouris ............Long Island City, N.Y.

84 ......Najah Dawson ................Rosedale, N.Y.

35 ......Gabrielle Freitag ............New York, N.Y.

133 ....Garrett Chao ..................New York, N.Y.

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

89 ......Olivia Morris....................Florak Park, N.Y.

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

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

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

91 ......Gabriella Eitkis................Brooklyn, N.Y.

37 ......Sophia Kryloff ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

137 ....Aleksa Pljakic..................Forest Hills, N.Y.

88 ......Ethan Nittolo ..................Flushing, N.Y.

92 ......Steffi Antao ....................Briarwood, N.Y.

38 ......Brittany Biggs ................Bronx, N.Y.

141 ....Nash Crofoot Johnson ..New York, N.Y.

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

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

39 ......Bria Heyward..................Brinx, N.Y.

143 ....David Pines ....................New York, N.Y.

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

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

40 ......Reena Sarkar..................New York, N.Y.

144 ....David Krasner ................Staten Island, N.Y.

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

105 ....Sofie Levine ....................New York, N.Y.

147 ....Oliver Obeid....................New York, N.Y.

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

108 ....Alice Pinho......................Woodside, N.Y.

148 ....Alexander Nielsen ..........New York, N.Y.

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

114 ....Nadejda Maslova ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

146 ....Michael Pisarek ..............Forest Hills, N.Y.

115 ....Sophia Weiland ..............Ridgewood, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 14 Singles— Metro Region

Sectional Boys 18 Singles— Metro Region

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

5 ........Nicole Schnabel ............Woodhaven, N.Y.

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

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

6 ........Alexus Gill ......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

Metro Girls 18 Singles Rank..Name............................City 1 ........Nicole Serras ..................Whitestone, N.Y. 2 ........Priscilla Signore ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 3 ........Bianca Signore ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 4 ........Kimberly Salkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

N.Y.

116 ....Rebecca Izyayeva ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 119 ....Caroline Kantor ..............New York, N.Y. 123 ....Rebecca Fisch................New York, N.Y. 129 ....Audrey Pacthod..............New York, N.Y. 135 ....Anastasya Menshikova..Brooklyn, N.Y. 142 ....Elisabeth Schlossel ........New York, N.Y.

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

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

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

13 ......Mitchell Ostrovsky..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

14 ......Courtney Jaycen Murphy Bronx, N.Y.

8 ........Hediye Karabay..............Flushing, N.Y.

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

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

9 ........Michelle Khaimov ..........Jamaica, N.Y.

15 ......Jordan Jordan ................Astoria, N.Y.

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

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

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

38 ......Jake Sosonkin................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

19 ......Philip Raytburg ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

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

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

3 ........Jessica Melanie Livianu Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

5 ........Sabrina Xiong ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y.

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

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

6 ........Brianna Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

45 ......Calvin Chung ..................Bronx, N.Y.

69 ......Daniel Kerznerman ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

16 ......Yuka Lin ..........................Kew Gardens, N.Y.

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

75 ......Christian Waldron ..........Bronx, N.Y.

19 ......Alexus Gill ......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

20 ......Isis Gill ............................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

21 ......Regina Furer ..................Brooklyn, N.Y.

78 ......Tyler Pasko......................Staten Island, N.Y.

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

23 ......Alexandra Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y.

83 ......David Mizrahi..................Brooklyn, N.Y.

105 ....Alexis Cai ........................Woodhaven, N.Y.

25 ......Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

125 ....Dennis Druzhinsky..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

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

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

133 ....Win Smith........................Brooklyn, N.Y.

111 ....James Dill........................New York, N.Y.

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

1 ........Gary Fishkin....................Staten Island, N.Y.

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

114 ....Allan Magid ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

47 ......Jillian Auteri ....................Staten Island, N.Y.

20 ......Oliver Jevtovic ................Astoria, N.Y.

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

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

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

48 ......Julia Fisch ......................New York, N.Y.

21 ......Ethan Leon......................Woodhaven, N.Y. 23 ......Jeffrey Gorilovsky ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

27 ......Sam Vagner ....................Staten Island, N.Y.

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

28 ......David Mizrahi..................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

137 ....Jeffrey Gorilovsky ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

38 ......Derek Raskopf................New York, N.Y.

138 ....Adam Borak....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

39 ......Jeffrey Fradkin ................New York, N.Y.

140 ....Zachary Lieb ..................New York, N.Y.

Boys & Girls Sectional Rankings (as of 10/16/12)

BOYS Sectional Boys 12 Singles— Metro Region

Sectional Girls 14 Singles— Metro Region

53 ......Michelle Khaimov ..........Jamaica, N.Y.

GIRLS

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

Sectional Girls 12 Singles— Metro Region

70 ......Lisa Marchelska..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 71 ......Nicole Semenov ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

4 ........Dasha Kourkina..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

45 ......Steven Daniel Nazaroff ..Brooklyn, N.Y.

5 ........Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

86 ......Sydney Katz....................New York, N.Y.

48 ......Christopher Tham ..........Flushing, N.Y.

9 ........Nicole Semenov ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

98 ......Sabrina Abrams..............New York, N.Y.

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

10 ......Chelsea Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

102 ....Anna Kaplan ..................New York, N.Y.

72 ......Marierose Apice ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW

YORK

RANKINGS National Boys 16 Singles— Metro Region

186 ....Isis Gill ............................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

63 ......Kimberly Salkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

67 ......Ilana Levich ....................Staten Island, N.Y.

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

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

124 ....Victoria Zezula ................Ridgewood, N.Y.

84 ......Katie Derienzo ................Douglaston, N.Y.

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

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

125 ....Chelsea Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

85 ......Anna Ulyashchenko ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

17 ......Daniel Kerznerman ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

397 ....Alexandra Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y.

131 ....Christina Huynh..............Astoria, N.Y.

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

91 ......Win Smith........................Brooklyn, N.Y.

443 ....Alexus Gill ......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

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

463 ....Julia Fisch ......................New York, N.Y.

142 ....Yelizaveta Aginskaya......Brooklyn, N.Y.

102 ....Augusta Conway............New York, N.Y.

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

584 ....Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

103 ....Elizabeth Tsvetkov..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

648 ....Jillian Auteri ....................Staten Island, N.Y.

108 ....Victoria Zoha ..................New York, N.Y.

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

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

113 ....Angela Assal ..................Bronx, N.Y.

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

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

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

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

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

120 ....Nakia Miller ....................Rosedale, N.Y.

409 ....Christopher Auteri ..........Staten Island, N.Y.

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

122 ....Arnelle Sullivan ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

434 ....Lucas Pickering..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

134 ....Lisa Ventimiglia ..............Bayside, N.Y.

560 ....Gal Sossen ....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

135 ....Isis Gill ............................Brooklyn, N.Y.

814 ....Maurice Russo ..............New York, N.Y.

138 ....Sabrina Xiong ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y.

881 ....Marcus Smith ................Little Neck, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Jessica Golovin ..............New York, N.Y. 7 ........Arnelle Sullivan ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 10 ......Ariana Rodriguez............Bronx, N.Y. 11 ......Sabrina Xiong ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 14 ......Jessica Livianu ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

16 ......Elizabeth Tsvetkov..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 22 ......Hannah Shteyn ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 31 ......Nia Rose ........................New York, N.Y.

Boys & Girls National Rankings

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

(as of 10/17/12)

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

43 ......Sophia Kryloff ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

230 ....Yuka Lin ..........................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 310 ....Regina Furer ..................Brooklyn, N.Y.

National Girls 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 14 ......Jessica Golovin ..............New York, N.Y.

National Boys 18 Singles— Metro Region

168 ....Ariana D. Rodriguez ......Bronx, N.Y. 170 ....Arnelle Sullivan ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 182 ....Hannah Shteyn ..............Staten Island, N.Y.

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

283 ....Elizabeth Tsvetkov..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

331 ....Sabrina Xiong ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y.

62 ......Daniel Kerznerman ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

375 ....Jessica Livianu ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

46 ......Christina Puccinelli ........New York, N.Y.

BOYS

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

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

56 ......Kimberly Salkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

National Boys 12 Singles— Metro Region

402 ....Jake Sosonkin................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

641 ....Sophia Kryloff ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

580 ....Courtney Murphy ..........Bronx, N.Y.

750 ....Kimberly Salkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

63 ......Victoria Zoha ..................New York, N.Y.

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

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

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

66 ......Anna Ulyashchenko ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

834 ....Stefani Lineva ................Middle Village, N.Y.

70 ......Stefani Lineva ................Middle Village, N.Y.

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

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

886 ....Brianna Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

80 ......Michelle Khaimov ..........Jamaica, N.Y.

151 ....Jeffrey Gorilovsky ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

951 ....Christina Puccinelli ........New York, N.Y.

84 ......Briel Biggs ......................Bronx, N.Y.

209 ....Alexander Chiu ..............New York, N.Y.

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

88 ......Augusta Conway............New York, N.Y.

371 ....Ethan Leon......................Woodhaven, N.Y.

90 ......Isis Gill ............................Brooklyn, N.Y.

431 ....Derek Raskopf................New York, N.Y.

GIRLS

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

487 ....Oliver Jevtovic ................Astoria, N.Y.

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

541 ....David Mizrahi..................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

National Girls 12 Singles— Metro Region

104 ....Brianna Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

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

105 ....Erika Tinalli......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

717 ....Jeffrey..............................Fradkin, N.Y.

31 ......Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

107 ....Julia Fisch ......................New York, N.Y.

730 ....Igor Maslov ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

33 ......Dasha Kourkina..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

153 ....Samantha Tutelman ......New York, N.Y.

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

774 ....Steven Nazaroff..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

54 ......Chelsea Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

121 ....Alexus Gill ......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

67 ......Michelle Sorokko............Douglaston, N.Y.

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

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

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

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

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

127 ....Jenna Borenstein ..........New York, N.Y.

951 ....Kemal Aziz ......................Staten Island, N.Y.

100 ....Nicole Semenov ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

544 ....Lily Bondy ......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

958 ....Tristan Taylor ..................New York, N.Y.

180 ....Katherine Kachkarov......Flushing, N.Y.

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

133 ....Vania Savic......................Woodside, N.Y.

976 ....Garrett Chao ..................New York, N.Y.

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

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

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

747 ....Alexa Meltzer ..................New York, N.Y. 991 ....Anastasiya Malinouskaya....Staten Island, N.Y.

60 ......Jillian Auteri ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 61 ......Illana Levich ....................Staten Island, N.Y.

139 ....Tristan Lorich ..................New York, N.Y. 140 ....Nicole Schnabel ............Woodhaven, N.Y.

National Boys 14 Singles— Metro Region

391 ....Christina Huynh..............Astoria, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 18 Singles— Metro Region

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

720 ....Isabella Tushaj ................Bronx, N.Y.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

803 ....Steffi Antao ....................Briarwood, N.Y.

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

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

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

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

145 ....Mitchell Ostrovsky..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

888 ....Elvina Kalieva..................Staten Island, N.Y.

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

158 ....Philip Raytburg ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

897 ....Diana Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

226 ....Jordan D. Jordan............Astoria, N.Y.

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

22 ......Lily Bondy ......................Brooklyn, N.Y.

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

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

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

35 ......Alexa Meltzer ..................New York, N.Y.

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

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

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

National Girls 14 Singles— Metro Region

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

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

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

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

937 ....Jeffrey Gorilovsky ..........Brooklyn, N.Y.

18 ......Jessica Melane Livianu..Brooklyn, N.Y.

561 ....Marie Ivantechenko........Brooklyn, N.Y. 576 ....Kyra Bergmann ..............Forest Hills, N.Y.

47 ......Denise Starr ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

65 ......Sabrina Xiong ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y.

62 ......Paulina Velasquez ..........Kew Gardens, N.Y.

67 ......Brianna Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

National Girls 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 32 ......Denise Starr ....................Brooklyn, N.Y.

USTA/Metropolitan Region

2012 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. NOVEMBER 2012 Friday-Sunday, November 2-4 L3 Staten Island November UPS Staten Island Community Tennis Center 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, N.Y. Divisions: Novice: BG(16-12)s, RR Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 982-3355. Friday-Sunday, November 2-4 L2O Cunningham November Open Cunningham Sports Center 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(18-12)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 740-6800. Friday-Sunday, November 2-4 & Thursday-Saturday November 8-10 +L1 Alley Pond Eastern Designated Closed Chmps Level 5 FIC Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix B(14)s, FIC Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Oct. 22 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600. Thursday-Sunday, November 8-11 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championship USTA National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows, Corona Park Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: MW(Op)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entries open Tuesday, Nov. 6 For more information, call (718) 760-6200. Friday-Sunday, November 9-18 L1B Sportime RI NOVEMBERRR! Challenger Sportime at Randalls Island 1 Randalls Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(14-12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player singles (deadline for entries is Friday, Oct. 26 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301.

Thursday-Sunday, November 15-18 Roosevelt Island Harvest Cup Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked M(Op)s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $75.75 per player (deadline for entries is Saturday, Nov. 10) For more information, call (212) 427-5650.

Wednesday-Sunday, November 21-25 L1B NCT Thanksgiving Classic Challenger North Shore Tennis-Go! Tennis 34-28 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG(18,14)s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 224-6303.

Thursday-Sunday, November 15-18 +Men’s New York Tennis Indoors Sectional Championships New York Tennis Club Indoors 3081 Harding Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked M(45)sd Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $38.13 per player/$70.37 per doubles (deadline for entries is Thursday, Nov. 8 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 239-7919.

Friday-Sunday, November 23-25 USTA National Open USTA National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows, Corona Park Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: B(12)s, FIC; B(12)d, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $134.88 per player (deadline for entries is Thursday, Oct. 25 at 11:59 a.m.) For more information, call (718) 760-6200.

Friday-Sunday, November 16-25 L2O Sportime RI November Open Sportime at Randalls Island 1 Randalls Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate G(18-12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player singles (deadline for entries is Friday, Nov. 2 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301.

Friday-Sunday, November 23-25 USTA National Open Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: G(12)s, FIC; G(12)d, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $134.88 per player for one event, $135.38 per player for two events (deadline for entries is Thursday, Oct. 25 at 11:59 a.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Sunday, November 16-18 L3 Cunningham Sports Center November UPS Cunningham Sports Center 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Novice BG(16-12)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 740-6800. Friday-Sunday, November 16-18 L2O Alley Pond November Open Alley Pond Tennis Center 79-20 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate B(18-12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Nov. 9 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718)264-2600.

Monday-Sunday, November 26-December 2 Alley Pond TC Men’s & Women’s Singles Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked MW(Op)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $70.37 per player (deadline for entries is Saturday, Nov. 24 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600. Thursday-Sunday, November 29-December 2 L2O Staten Island November Open Staten Island Community Tennis Center 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG(18-12)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Nov. 26 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 982-3355.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA/Metropolitan Region

2012 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. Friday-Sunday, November 30-December 2 & Friday-Sunday December 7-9 L1 APTC November Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Championships BG(12)sd, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player, $27.25 per player for doubles (deadline for entries is Friday, Nov. 23 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, November 30-December 9 Sutton East November Men’s Open Sutton East Tennis Club 488 East 60th Street New York, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked: M(Op)s Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $70.37 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 751-3452.

DECEMBER 2012 Friday-Sunday, December 7-16 +2012 NCT Holiday Classic Norht Shore Tennis–Go! Tennis 34-28 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked X(Op)d, SE; M(35,45,55-60)s, SE; W(35)sd, SE; M(35,45,55)d, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $75.75 per singles, $38.13 per player per doubles (Entries open Monday, Oct. 22) For more information, call (718) 224-6303. Monday-Saturday, December 10-15 Alley Pond Men’s & Women’s Winter Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked MW(Op)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $70.37 per player (Entries open Wednesday, Oct. 31) For more information, call (718) 264-2600.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2012 • NYTennisMag.com

Friday-Sunday, December 14-23 Sutton East Men’s Open Sutton East Tennis Center New York, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked: M(Op)s Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $70.38 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212)751-3452. Wednesday-Monday, December 26-31 USTA National Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Mixed Open Indoor Championships USTA National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows Corona Park Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Open MW(Op)s, FMLC; MW(Op)d, SE; X(Op)d, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $86.50 for singles, $43.50 per player for doubles (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 6:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 760-6200.

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine