New York Tennis Magazine - September/October 2012 by United Sports Publications, Ltd.

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September/October2012 Volume 2, Number 5 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

Previewing the stars as they set to take over New York at the 2012 U.S. Open, with a closer look at the contenders, pretenders, the state of American tennis, what you can learn from the pros at the U.S. Open … the sights, the sounds, the attractions and the pageantry that is the 2012 U.S. Open.

Joel M. Berman President (516) 409-4444, ext. 310 • joel@usptennis.com Eric C. Peck Editor-in-Chief (516) 409-4444, ext. 312 • eric@usptennis.com Joey Arendt Managing Art Director 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 Anthony Pastecchi Editorial Coordinator/Reporter (516) 409-4444, ext. 314 • anthony@usptennis.com

Feature Stories 32

The Pros Shine on the Grandest Stage in London at 2012 Olympic Games A Look Back at the 2012 New York Sportimes Season

2012 Guide to New York Tennis Clubs

A closer look at the area’s top clubs, including: Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy, Go! Tennis, Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, Midtown Tennis Club, New York Tennis Club, Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, SPORTIME Randall’s Island, Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Park, TCR—The Club of Riverdale, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and West Side Tennis Club.

Emilie Katz Marketing Coordinator Tara Cook Billing Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 324 Beverly Koondel Office Administrator (516) 409-4444, ext. 316 Brent Shearer Editorial Contributor

Kristen Maggio Intern

Kenneth B. Goldberg Photographer

Jenna Poczik Intern

Kristen Kelleher Intern

Jessica Stiles Intern

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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.

2012 U.S. Open Preview

Additional Features 3 4 10 11 12 14 17 30 46 48 55 56 58 59

Muscle Memory in Tennis By Xavier Luna Learning at the U.S. Open By Bill Longua The Service Rhythm By Michael Misiti Rolf Jaeger of Tennis Boutique Discusses the Art of Tennis Boutique Mike Wallace Serves Both On and Off the Court By Mary Jane Moore Courtside With Skip Hartman of Advantage Tennis Clubs BOLT Releases New Light-Head Models Junior Tennis Around the World By Eric Faro Mommy and Me Tennis By Richard Thater Tennis Parenting By Gilad Bloom Tryouts Set for 2013 USA Maccabiah Tennis Team John McEnroe Tennis Academy Honors Eight With Fall Scholarships Juniors Work on Their Game and Get Career Advice at Camp A.C.E. McEnroe, Agassi, Sampras and Rafter to Compete in NASDAQ Indexes Cup at MSG in November

Columns 16 40 44 50 52 57 60 60 61 64

Winning Within: The Tennis Player is a Person First and Performer Second By Rob Polishook, MA, CPC USTA Metro Region Update Court Six: New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz Adult League Recap: USTA Leagues Update By Deborah-Rose Andrews Tips From the Tennis Pro: Three Secrets to a Better Serve Today By Lisa Dodson New York Tennis Magazine’s Literary Corner: Winning Tennis Strokes By Bill Longua By Brent Shearer Upcoming Events New York Tennis Club Directory New York Rankings USTA/Metropolitan Region 2012 Tournament Schedule

Muscle Memory in Tennis By Xavier Luna “The highest reward for a person’s work is not what they get for it, but what they become of it.”—John Rushkin Did you ever watch a professional tennis match and wonder how the players make their extraordinary shots look so effortless? Perhaps you even thought it looks so easy that you should be able to do it yourself. The very fact that the pros make it look simple explains the importance of “muscle memory.” Tennis is a habitual sport, meaning that the forehand and backhand swings that players execute throughout a match are practiced repeatedly until these movements become natural. That’s where the innovative learning strategy of muscle memory comes in. Muscle memory is a term given to the procedural memory that can be acquired from making something a physical habit. In terms of tennis, practicing backhand and forehand swings repeatedly teaches the brain to signal the body to reproduce these motions as ingrained habits. However, keep in mind that if you are practicing incorrectly and developing habits based on your flaws, your game will be flawed. That’s why it is important that your “muscle memory” is fundamentally sound. Here are some ways to ensure this:

I Practice, practice, practice: Spend lots of time on your own hitting tennis balls. Make each shot feel natural and not “forced.” It’s an old cliché, but practice really does make perfect. Some may argue that “perfect practice makes perfect,” and this is true when it comes to building effective muscle memory through habit. If you’re practicing incorrectly, you won’t get the most out of your practice hours, which will lead to frustration on the court. Check your form from time to time to make sure you’re still practicing perfectly.

Muscle memory is stored in the part of the brain known as the cerebellum, and practicing the same thing repeatedly essentially embeds the technique into this part of the brain. Note that while the cerebellum is only about 10 percent of the overall brain, it contains about 50 percent of the total neurons in the brain. As you may recall from science class, neurons process and transmit information through chemical and electrical signals. The plethora of neurons in this part of the brain is why it’s so essential to long-term muscle memory. So when you practice, practice and then practice some more, what you are practicing becomes engraved, essentially, in your brain as muscle memory. One example of a tennis great who has mastered the technique of hitting balls over and over again until the strokes become cemented in the brain. Consider the case of Roger Federer, whose 17 Grand Slam singles titles certainly put him in running for “best tennis player ever.” The practice and discipline that Federer displays on the practice court carries over to his matches. Federer has mastered the muscle memory technique and has capitalized on its benefits, thanks to rigorous practice and discipline. So the next time you I Coaching: Take the time to learn proper logis- hear the words “practice makes perfect,” keep in mind tics and form. Don’t take shortcuts and don’t that there is a great deal of truth to the popular phrase. allow bad habits to continue. Xavier Luna is director of Advantage All-City Junior I Patience: Muscle memory can also be Programs (Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, Manhatachieved individually, but it takes patience. Get tan Plaza Racquet Club and New York Tennis Club). your form down, then stay in this form through- He may be reached by phone at (917) 570-9650 or out your play, so that it becomes natural to you. visit www.advantagetennisny.com. NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Learning at the U.S. Open

“

By Bill Longua

The footwork of a professional when moving to a shot is great, but the constant small steps in between their shots is the key.

”

t’s the best time of year … time for the 2012 U.S. Open. This is a time where you can personally appreciate the amazing talents you are witnessing on the courts, but more importantly, a great time to improve your own game by observing the players, not just watching them. When watching great players, observe the areas that will assist you the best, realizing that many of those areas that are intricate in detail are best observed in person, not on television. My advice is to strictly focus on one player. This will allow you to observe entire points in the eyes of that one particular player and how intense the points truly are.

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

Here are some of the areas to zero in on when observing players. First and foremost, you will notice how important footwork really is to improving your game. The footwork of a professional when moving to a shot is great, but the constant small steps in between their shots is the key. The constant movement has them better prepared to react to the next oncoming ball. A very smart college coach, Jack Barnaby of Harvard, once said, “Tennis is 40 percent feet, 40 percent mind and 20 percent hitting the ball.” I’m not sure if those percentages are exactly true, but they seem pretty close to me. Another area that will improve your game again involves footwork, the spiltstep. See how a player approaching the net will split-step just prior to contact made by the opponent. The split will leave the player balanced and able to go to either side to reach for a shot. The other split step to watch is on the return of serve. If you can incorporate this into your game, I promise you will break serve more often. Notice how the player will start about a foot back of where he

or she wants to return the ball from and will jump-step forward landing on the balls of both feet right before service impact. The player is now moving forward, taking the serve early with a shortened backswing. In your game, this maneuver will allow you to catch up to the serves of those opponents who have overpowered you. Having a difficult time generating the amount of topspin you want on your ground strokes? Focus in on the player’s upward forward motion and wrist snap during the shot. There are different backswings, but they all basically end up at the same point, below the ball, which is why the focus should be the forward motion to contact.

Are you watching balls sailing long? Zero in on the follow through. Tennis has a lot of opposites in the game, and one big one is the shorter the followthrough, the higher the shot, the longer the follow-through the lower the shot. You know your own game and the same errors that keep creeping into your game. Take this opportunity to not just watch and enjoy the Open matches, but to also learn at the same time. Good luck and have fun. Bill Longua is the tennis director/head pro at Palm Island Resort in Cape Haze, Fla. Bill is a member of the USPTA, has been teaching tennis for more than 35 years, and is the author of Winning Tennis Strokes. Bill also enjoys teaching tennis on his Web site, http://onlinetennistraining.com. Please check out Brent’s Shearer’s Literary Corner for his review of Winning Tennis Strokes. Take advantage of the download version sale by going to http://onlinetennistraining.com/usopen. He may be reached at bill@onlinetennistraining.com.

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The Pros Shine on the Grandest Stage in London at 2012 Olympic Games ust three short weeks before the Olympics, history was made by Roger Federer, taking his record-tying seventh title at Wimbledon. At the age of 31, Roger won his 17th Grand Slam title, giving him the record for most Men’s Singles Grand Slam Championships and vaulting him back to the number one ranking. Approximately 470 hours after that final ended, the first Olympic tennis match was played on the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, kicking off the 2012 London Olympic Games. The grounds looked different, the standard dark green color was covered by the magenta banners of the Olympics. The standard “All-Whites” rule was not in effect, and players were free to wear what they

pleased, be it for national pride or to promote their newest line of clothing, for example Eleven by Venus Williams. It was to be the first time that Olympic Gold was contested on grass since 1920, and it seemed that Federer would finally fill in the one spot on his resume with any room for improvement, an Olympic Singles Gold Medal.

Men’s Singles

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Andy Murray defeated top-seed R o g e r F e d e r e r o f Switzerland, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 to

Finest daily teaching tips from Top pro Scott Perlstein Videos, News Match Previews and More! 6

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

capture the Gold Medal. It was a rematch of the 2012 Wimbledon finals, and this time, the outcome was in favor of the hometown Murray who became the first British man to win a singles gold medal in 104 years. “It’s definitely different,” said Murray. “I’ve won an Olympic Gold Medal. I haven’t won a Grand Slam. I know how this feels and it feels great. I’ve lost some tough matches in some tough finals and that’s hurt me a lot. I think tennis in the Olympics is getting better each time it’s played, because all the top players are playing now. For me, it’s the biggest win of my life.” Murray follows in the footsteps of John Pius Boland (1900), Laurence Doherty (1904), Josiah Ritchie (1908 outdoors) and Arthur Gore (1908 indoors) as male Olympic singles Gold Medalists representing Great Britain. “This week has been absolutely incredible, I’ve had a lot of fun,” said Murray. “I felt so fresh on the court today. I didn’t feel nervous really at all, apart from at the beginning of the match. The support’s been unbelievable. Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro defeated second-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia 7-5, 6-4 to win the Bronze Medal, capturing his nation’s first medal at the Games. del Potro has a 45-11 record this year, having won two ATP World Tour titles in 2012, at the Open 13 in Marseille and at the Estoril Open. He came into the match with a 1-4 lifetime record against Djokovic. “[It is a] disappointing end, but I enjoyed it,” said Djokovic after the loss. “It

was a pleasure playing for my country.” Djokovic has a 45-7 match record to date in 2012, with two titles under his belt, the Australian Open and the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. “It’s our [Argentina’s] first medal at this Olympic Games,” said del Potro. “It’s the first time in men’s singles. I think it means a lot for us. I wish a fantastic day for [Argentineans] to celebrate this with me … it’s amazing. It’s history, I think. It’s time to celebrate all together.”

Women’s Singles

hoto credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Fourteen-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams of the United States defeated Russia’s Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 to win the Gold Medal in the Women’s Singles Tennis Final. Serena joins elite company, as she has won a career singles Golden Grand Slam, in addition to the two doubles Gold Medals that she won with sister Venus. Serena is currently on a 17-match winning streak and has won the last seven matches she played against Sharapova, who took home the Silver Medal. Serena lost just 13 games in the four Olympic finals she has won: 2000 Sydney doubles, 2008 Beijing doubles, 2012 London singles and doubles. Olympic Bronze went to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Russia’s Maria Kirilenko. Azarenka’s win ensured that the three women’s Grand Slam winners to date collected three of the women’s singles medals up for grabs at London 2012, as Azarenka added a Bronze Medal to her 2012 Australian Open title, Sharapova added a Silver Medal to her 2012 French Open title, and Serena added her Gold Medal to her 2012 Wimbledon Championship.

Men’s Doubles

men’s doubles event since tennis returned to the Olympic Games in 1988. Frenchmen Richard Gasquet & Julien Benneteau defeat David Ferrer & Feliciano Lopez of Spain 7-6(4), 6-2 to win the Bronze Medal in men’s doubles.

Women’s Doubles Americans Bob & Mike Bryan won the Gold Medal in Men’s Doubles, defeating France’s Michael Llodra & Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 7-6(2). The Bryans capitalized on a slow start by their French opponents to break Tsonga in the first game, after they forced them into several volley errors. At 4-3, Mike Bryan came under tremendous pressure on serve. But fought back from 15/40 and saved five break points in total. “This is the biggest win of our career right here,” said Bob Bryan. “It’s unbelievable.” At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Bryans won the Bronze Medal. “To play on Centre Court at Wimbledon and win the gold medal is a dream come true,” said Mike Bryan. “We could stop tomorrow and we got a big smile on our face for the rest of our lives.” The Bryans join Australians Todd Woodbridge & Mark Woodforde as the only pairs to win multiple medals in the

The overpowering American pair of Serena & Venus Williams won the 2012 Olympic Women’s Doubles Gold Medal. The Williams Sisters beat Andrea Hlavackova & Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic, 64, 6-4 under the roof on a rainy afternoon at the All England Club. “We all talk about this. We have so many medals, but to be able to add to that, it’s like an unbelievable feeling,” Venus said. “You know that in that count, there you are. It feels amazing.” The Americans in the crowd at Centre Court broke into a chant of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” continued on page 8

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

The Pros Shine

continued from page 7

as the players left the court, the sisters pumped their fists, turned to wave, then slapped a highfive. This was another commanding performance, as the Sisters did not drop a set through their five matches in London. Third-seeded Maria Kirilenko & Nadia Petrova of Russia took the Bronze Medal by beating the top-seeded U.S. pair of Liezel Huber & Lisa Raymond, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Mixed-Doubles

Andy Murray didn’t have long to celebrate his Singles Championship, as he was slated to head back onto the courts just 45

minutes later in the mixed-doubles finals, as he and partner Laura Robson faced Max Mirnyi & Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Murray had to settle for silver however, as the pair fell to the Belarussians who prevailed in a close match tie-break to win Olympic Gold, 2-6, 6-3, 10-8. Mike Bryan won his second medal of the weekend when he and U.S. teammate Lisa Raymond took the Bronze Medal in mixeddoubles, which returned to the Olympics for the first time since 1924. The Americans performed extremely well in London, taking home three of five available Gold Medals in Olympic Tennis. More history was made at the All England Lawn Tennis Club with Murray becoming the first Brit to win Olympic gold in Men’s

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

Singles Tennis in 104 years and Serena becoming the first woman to ever complete the Golden Slam in both Singles and Doubles. With only three weeks between the Olympic finals and the start of the 2012 U.S. Open, many players have decided to take some time off. Serena said that now she has won everything and will go to Disney World, while Federer has reportedly decided to spend the time with his family. With the shortened warm up for the hard court season this year, it will be intriguing to see how players contend with the conditions in Flushing Meadows.

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The Service Rhythm By Michael Misiti ne of the first things we are told when we begin our journey in tennis is that the serve is the most important shot. Unfortunately, I ask many intermediate and advanced players about the simple biomechanics of the serve, and they become suddenly mute. We all understand that the toss is vital when trying to hit a good serve, but what’s not taught is that the toss should match the wind-up, or what I call the “rhythm” of the serve. When we go to the U.S. Open, we are mesmerized by the power, accuracy and spin of the servers on both the men’s and women’s side, but what is also quite interesting is that they all look quite different in their approach to the serve. As a general rule, we are taught that the first serve should be tossed between 12 o’clock and one o’clock (for right-handers) and between 11 o’clock and 12 o’clock (for left-handers). The first serve toss should always be out in front of the baseline, giving the server the opportunity to lean into the shot, putting their weight behind it in a linear fashion. For the second serve, however, the toss should be over one’s head, or perhaps

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behind one’s head to effectively be able to hit a kick serve by hitting upward on the ball. What’s not discussed enough is the height of the toss, and the ability to hit different serves from different tosses. What is the ideal height for the toss of the serve? The answer … there is none. The height of the toss should coincide with one’s rhythm of motion. There are three distinct rhythms that have been identified by coaches worldwide today. The first and most commonly taught service rhythm is the Classic Rhythm. This style requires a medium ball toss that neither gets lost in the clouds or looks like it’s stuck to your hand. The Classic motion is very efficient and aesthetically pleasing to the eye, as it represents the smoothest motion, as seen by Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. As you can see, when Federer releases the ball, his racket is up to shoulder

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height and is soon readying the famous trophy pose, where he will explode up to the ball. Roger exhibits balance between the right and left side of his body as he completes step two of his motion. The most important thing to understand regarding the Classic Rhythm is that because the racket moves up with the tossing arm at the same time, the toss requires a height neither too high nor too low, as can be seen in other service motions. The most unique and easily identifiable service motion is that of Andy Roddick. He was not only the first server to use an extreme Abbreviated Serve, he perfected it. Years after Roddick came on the ATP Tour, Rafael Nadal changed his serve under the guidance of Uncle Toni to an Abbreviated Motion. Another pro superstar with an Abbreviated motion is Gael Monfils whose serve is quite similar to that of Roddick.

As Roddick tosses the ball, his racket is already above his shoulder, almost in a set position. As soon as the ball is released, Andy will immediately start to bend his knees and ready himself for his explosive thrust upward to the ball. The Abbreviated Rhythm requires the lowest toss, because the racket is already moving up with the tossing arm, and is set much quicker than in any other motion. If the toss is too high with this motion, many bad habits can develop. It is important to sync your toss with the rhythm that is most comfortable to you, and for Andy, Rafa and Gael, they were able to develop the most power from the Abbreviated Motion.

The motion that requires the highest toss is that of the Staggered Rhythm. It happens to be my favorite motion because I have used it throughout my playing career and also because I admire the serves of Staggered Rhythm servers, Serena Williams and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. In this particular motion, the toss is completed while the arm holding the racket is still down by your side with your racket in the vicinity of your back foot. While this rhythm requires the highest toss which could be dangerous in windy conditions, it also gives the server the opportunity to build momentum slowly into an explosive finish where thrust, torque and linear movement can all come together. As you can see, Serena has already tossed the ball as her left arm is up and right arm is down. Her next step would be to push

able to complete all the steps necessary to create power, and she would get caught in a messy position. In fact, it’s the motion that requires the toss to be a specific height, and not vice-versa. As with pitchers in baseball, the delivery must be comfortable and one must decide what is best for them. The next time someone tells you where the height of your toss should be, make sure it is aligned with your serving rhythm!

her left hip outward, thus forcing her knees to bend. She would then ready her racket above her shoulder before exploding up to the ball. If Serena had a low toss, she would never be

Michael Misiti is director of High Performance at GO!Tennis in Bayside, N.Y. He has seven years of experience coaching top-ranked 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.

Rolf Jaeger of Tennis Boutique Discusses the Art of Tennis Boutique New York Tennis Magazine had the opportunity to interview Rolf Jaeger, owner of Tennis Boutique. Jaeger has been designing and collecting jewelry since the 1960s. When he started collecting tennis memorabilia, meant to be displayed in a museum in Indian Wells, Calif. in 1998, he realized that there was no “real quality” tennis jewelry available. “I want tennis enthusiasts to identify themselves with our great sport—not only on the court, but also at social events,” said Jaeger. When he exhibited his first memorabilia collection of 10,000-plus tennis-related items in Indian Wells, a small museum shop offered tennis jewelry with great success. The new Indian Wells tournament site was inaugurated in his museum setting. Since plans had changed for the Indian Wells Tennis Garden Museum, the displayed tennis memorabilia collection was purchased by Tennis Australia for their newly-designed tennis museum at Melbourne Park. Jaeger has started a second collection, which is currently in his possession. “These treasures should be displayed in a museum as well for

generations to come to protect the history of tennis,” said Jaeger. Most of the jewelry in the collection was inspired by tennis jewelry from the end of the 19th Century. The museum display and the jewelry shop were a great success and Jaeger started to design more and more “real” tennis jewelry. Today, on the Web site www.tennisboutique.com, he offers a large variety of tennis jewelry and gifts for everyone, from precious stones to inexpensive sterling silver jewelry. This site is great to find team captain’s gifts, young players’ jewelry, as well as exclusive diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire, etc. jewelry. Tennis Boutique does not only supply tennis jewelry, but also offers custom made jewelry of any type according to customer’s requests, such as wedding rings, any type of pendants, bracelets, etc., which are computer-designed. Tennis Boutique is proud to offer jewelry at the best quality for an affordable price. For more information, visit www.tennisboutique.com or e-mail tennisheritage@aol.com.

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

Mike Wallace Serves Both On and Off the Court BY MARY JANE MOORE

n and off the court, Mike Wallace entertained his team’s players and Midtown Tennis Club’s clientele for several decades. After his games, players would gather around him, while he gossiped and captivated them with his stories. The legendary television journalist passed away April 7 of this year. Mike was quoted as saying he would continue to play tennis “Til my toes turn up” and he almost made it. Mike played tennis for more than 70 years, and said the game sharpened his wit and his physical fitness as a great form of exercise. Mike continued to play on weekends at Midtown Tennis Club until his late

over his opponent’s heads were awesome. Mike showed no mercy on his subjects on the TV show, “60 Minutes.” His court captain for many years was “60 Minutes” producer, Fred Rosen. The long suffering Morley Safer was also a weekend victim of Mike’s gamesmanship. One prominent sportswriter noted that the producers of “60 Minutes” were aware of Mike’s gamesmanship, and knew if you beat him, you would be taunted for many years to come. The iconic Mike Wallace has left a void at Midtown Tennis Club on Sundays, and leaves a “sweet spot” in our memories.

80s. His style of play was crafty. His drop shot was infallible, and his lobs

Mary Jane Moore, Midtown Tennis Club.

SEEKING JEWISH TEN NNIS PLA AYER E S AGES 353 64 19th

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MASTERS TENNIS TR RYOUTS: ptember 10, 1 , 2012 at the MountainGate t Country Club in Los Angeles, CA West Coast: Sep East Coast: October 27-299, 2012 at the Boca Raton Res e ort & Club Interested applicants must send in an official applicatio i n as well as a tryout form to Maccabi USA

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

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NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine www.SportimeNY.com/Manhattan

Courtside With Skip Hartman of Advantage Tennis Clubs

ell us about your tennis background … Skip Hartman: I started playing tennis at the age of eight at camp and then in the public parks in Manhattan, specifically, a park that no longer is there on 63rd Street and York Avenue that I could ride my bicycle to. I was a good junior player, having played in high school as the number one singles player, going undefeated in my senior year. I never played in any Eastern Tournaments because all of the tournaments were in Long Island and Westchester, and my parents did not have a car. When I got to college as an unknown, I walked on to the Princeton tennis team as a freshman and played through my senior year. During college, I became an assistant tennis pro at a summer camp, playing with some of the best players in the world at the time, including three-time Grand Slam singles champion and 18-time Grand Slam doubles champion, Darlene Hard. I left the camp to become the summer tennis pro at the River Club on the East Side before getting my law degree. I practiced law for a

What do the Advantage Tennis Clubs provide to the New York City tennis community? Indoor courts, a clean environment, good lighting and air conditioning, among others. But the thing that is unique to Advantage is the game-arranging. One of the most difficult things about the game of tennis is finding a good match for a regular game. Availability, skill level and personal lives are just three of the obstacles in this neverending hassle. Each Advantage Tennis Club has at least one staff member whose sole responsibility is to arrange games between players with similar skills. Is there a specific teaching method that the pros at Advantage Tennis Clubs adhere to? For many years, the pros at Advantage Tennis Clubs adhered to the Van Der Meer system of teaching tennis, including progressions and stroke analysis. For upcoming juniors, this is still the preferred method of teaching; however, adults get a much more flexible program emphasizing the ability to play points, not necessarily perfect their form.

about a dozen more projects and now are operating three indoor tennis clubs.

few years until there was an opportunity to create an indoor tennis business by using a bubble on public land. The concept was to rent public park tennis courts for the winter, put a bubble over them and return them to the public for the outdoor season. In 1969, I convinced the New York City Parks Department to do just that, which led to the license for what became Stadium Tennis Center in the Bronx, the first site of its type which I ran until 1997. I partnered with Bob Kelton, who ran the Fieldston Bath and Tennis Club in the Bronx and was my high school tennis coach, to form HCK Recreation on this first project. We went on to do

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

Tell us about the Advantage Passport. In addition to membership costs at any of the three clubs, for a small fee, you can obtain the Advantage Passport. This essentially makes you a member at all three clubs. You can call and arrange games at any of the clubs and only pay member rates. This gives you the ability to play for free after 12 noon at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club for 12 weeks during the summer, as well as to play outdoors free from May to October at New York Tennis Club. Tell us about Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. Roosevelt is very convenient to get to, and has 11 Har-Tru courts year-round indoor with an adjacent pool that members can use. What is special about Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club? Location, location, location! It’s hard to beat a club right on 42nd Street. Manhattan Plaza is now year round indoors and boasts cushioned, all-weather courts and a full-service health club with a pool.

What makes New York Tennis Club unique? Outdoor courts set in a lovely area with trees and grass, a very pleasant escape from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan during the summer. In the winter the six Har-Tru courts are a few minutes longer to get too from Manhattan, but are less than half the price of Manhattan clubs. What is unique about the two Advantage Tennis summer camps? The Sea & Sport Camp at New York Tennis Club is unique in that it has such an array of waterfront activities using the SUNY Maritime campus. Campers learn to swim, sail and kayak, and even go on motor boating excursions. The location is very safe as the SUNY Maritime campus is gated with security. Roosevelt Island offers an incredible sports camp with a top-of-the-line tennis program. The Island is also an extremely safe location. Did your time at camp as a child influence you toward opening such great camps for Advantage? As a child I attended camp from the age of six on up and I enjoyed the experi-

ence. It was my first introduction to the sport of tennis. Any time you can introduce children to sports, it is a great thing and has a profound impact on their life. In your opinion, what makes tennis such a great sport? Tennis is a healthy activity that encourages you to be fit. Tennis appeals to your vanity. You want to look good on court, and that motivates you to keep fit and stay healthy.

Tennis brings people together from all walks of life. At the public courts, you don’t know who is a CEO and who works in the mailroom. What is important on the court is who has a great backhand and which player can take over a match from the net. Tennis motivates you to become educated. It opens doors both socially and professionally. Some would say it is the envy of all other sports in that regard. Tennis is the sport of a lifetime.

THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, WIMBLEDON Wimbledon attracts a worldwide audience of millions but only a tiny percentage of tennis fans are privileged enough to actually be there. The Wimbledon Experience is the only company in North America ofﬁcially appointed by the All England Lawn Tennis Club to provide tour programs to The Championships. A wide selection of tours for 2013 are available featuring top category reserved seats, accommodation at a choice of London hotels and admission to The Experience Club, where you will enjoy a buffet lunch and a Wimbledon tradition - strawberries and cream! Please mention New York Tennis Magazine when making a reservation to receive a free Wimbledon towel. New York Ofﬁce: 914-481-8594 Toll Free: 1-888-552-5632 www.wimbledon-experience.com

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

Winning WithinThe Tennis Player is a Person First and Performer Second By Rob Polishook, Mental Training Coach, MA, CPC The tennis player is a person first and a performer second. This idea may seem obvious, since we are all born without a racket in our hands, and when we first walked onto the court to play, we didn’t miraculously change identities—we were the same person. Rafael Nadal, in his book Rafa, says, “Tennis is what I do; it is not who I am.” Yet years later, when we hold that racket in our hands and demonstrate ability in the sport, the way others view us often begins to change the identity from person to player. Simply put, when you walk onto the court, the insecurities, experiences and traumas which you hold as a person do not go away. You carry them onto the court wherever you go. For this reason, it’s imperative to get your personal life in order whenever you hope to play peak performance tennis. It can be helpful to think of your development in sports and life as a tree. A tree starts from a seed where the roots create a foundation, an anchor of sorts. The roots can be thought of as the person’s values, belief system, cultural orientation, work ethic and soul. Influential people in our lives, like our parents, coaches, friends and extended family, play a role in how our roots grow. For example, by encouraging such traits as moral values, personal confidence, self-belief, personal resiliency and self-empowerment, a person will be better suited to face obstacles, setbacks, and life’s challenges. Jose Higueras stated, in the USTA High Performance Newsletter (Vol. 10, No. 1), “I’m a big fan of trying to make the player as independent as possible.” So remember, junior players … the stronger the root system, the stronger the physical trunk and branches become. The fruits are always a result of the roots. However, these fruits (outcome) often garner more attention than the roots (process). The 16

allure of the fruits often shift the focus away from development and the process. They shift the focus to the outcome and away from how and what needs to happen to achieve the outcome. Yet make no mistake, development all starts from the seed and the root system. Dr. David Grand, a psychologist and co-author of This is Your Brain on Sports, noted for his work in the field of sports and performance, says, “The foundation is the person—how you play is often a manifestation of yourself, including your weakest and strongest points.” Now, think back to the time you were having a bad practice or match, exhibiting bad body language, or were just not yourself. How much of this could have been a result of a rough day at school, an argument with a friend, parental expectations, or even anxiety about an upcoming tournament? Oftentimes, it is offcourt issues or unrelated stresses that affect performance on the court. Awareness of the complexity of the person-player relationship will help you realize that you’re not a robot! And those off-the-court stresses, experiences, and emotional and physical traumas oftentimes get suppressed in the mind, but the body remembers at the conscious or unconscious level. Another scenario is walking off the court after a heartbreaking loss, dejected and rattled. A match where you really felt you should have won, but lost your focus and missed a huge overhead in the third set tie-breaker. You could hear the crowd gasp, as your stomach clutched with embarrassment. Certainly, the next time a big overhead comes up in a match, it’s likely the missed overhead will flash before you like a shooting star. The mind and body remember trauma. Lastly, imagine this: The serve is a huge part of your game; in competition, you tear your rotator cuff, undergo surgery, and have to be sidelined from the game for four months. When you return, people ask how the shoulder

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

is. You reply like a warrior, “It feels great. Never felt better.” However, in practice, you’re afraid to go all out and hit your bombs due to some lingering pain. Then, you change your motion to alleviate the pain. After that you go through a period of excessive double faults. What’s important to understand is that the body remembers any kind of physical trauma, especially injuries and surgeries. The body will try to protect itself from further injury recurrence. Most athletes recover from injuries on a physical level, however healing the mental scars is much more difficult. Carlos Rodriguez, coach of Justine Henin, said it best in The New York Times, “The tennis player is still first a human being. If the human being is going good, feeling good, so will the tennis player.” James Blake, in his book Breaking Back, said, “My greatest professional successes occurred after I faced my most personal challenges … I used to think that was ironic; now I realize that success flows directly from having cleared those hurdles.” In summary, when an athlete crosses the lines, they are still the person and carry issues, experiences and traumas with them. The fruits are a result of the roots. 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.

BOLT Releases

New Head-Light Models BOLT Sports LLC, NY will introduce two new tennis racquet models, a 12-pack racquet bag and related apparel into its product line to coincide with the U.S. Open. The new racquet models, the B98.light and the B100.light, feature ZipStrip, BOLT’s springsuspension design. According to BOLT, the head-light balance of the new racquets makes them easy to swing and makes faster racquet head speeds easier to attain as compared to previous even-balance models. “The combination of faster racquet head speed with stiff BOLT frames and the extra dwell time afforded by our ZipStrips, is a ferocious recipe for extreme-velocity spin, particularly when coupled with polyester type strings,” said BOLT Director Brett Bothwell. The B98.light is for tournament-caliber players seeking a head-light, yet powerful and solid racquet with good feel. B100.light: 100 square inches, 10.5 ounces (strung), three points headlight, 27 inches long The B100.light is suited to a wide range of recreational players, from beginner to semi-pro. The 100.light is easy-to-swing, forgiving and super comfortable.

B98.light: 98 square inches, 11.1 ounces (strung), five points headlight, 27 inches long “The 98.light gets us into the mix with tournament juniors, a critical market for our future growth, and the 100.light has appeal for 3.0 and 3.5 players who are, of course, also critical to our future,” said Bothwell. “The player response to our ZipStrip design has been off the charts, but one certainly can’t

appeal to the entire market from pros to beginners with just a few frames. This introduction is the first of many more ahead as we expand the product line to include a wider range of sizes, weights, and balances, and to cover the full range of player types and playing levels in the future.” For more information, visit www.boltadvance.com or e-mail info@boltadvance.com.

• 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, Tournament Players)

4 Week Fall Session: September 10 - October 7th Two - 13 Week Indoor Sessions: October 15- January 20 & January 21 - April 21 GEORGE GARLAND, DIRECTOR OF TENNIS • MARIA ALIVENTI, GENERAL MANAGER NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW Fourth and Final Grand Slam of 2012 Set to Invade New York By Jessica Stiles eginning immediately after the conclusion of Wimbledon, the U.S. Open Series links together WTA and ATP tournaments which take place on hard courts across America throughout the summer. This year’s summer calendar was unique in the sense that it was interrupted with the 2012 Summer Olympic games held at the All-England Club. Here, players returned to the grass courts a few weeks after Wimbledon play. As the summer comes to a close, fans are gearing up for the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the season, the 2012 U.S. Open. With the 2012 U.S. Open beginning Aug. 27, the big names in tennis will have just enough time to play a warm-up event on the American hard courts before the start of the tournament. Since 1978, the tournament has been held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. and has been a highlight to the summers of New York tennis fans. This year’s championships will undoubtedly provide a high level of drama, action, and excitement as the world’s best players compete for the final Grand Slam title of the year. Some players go into the tournament looking to finish a disappointing season off on a more positive note, and some seek to build on the solid season they’ve had thus far. No matter what the player’s individual goals are for the tournament, we can fore-

cast the true contenders, pretenders and American hopefuls for this year’s U.S. Open. Contenders Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

On the women’s side, no one can argue Serena Williams as a major contender for this year’s title. After her shocking loss in the opening round at the 2012 French Open, Serena Williams has yet to lose a match. In June, Serena was crowned 2012 Wimbledon champ. With two U.S. Open titles under her belt, Serena’s game matches up impeccably well on the American hard courts. In addition to Serena, Maria Sharapova has proven to be another strong contender for this year’s U.S. Open title. Although she didn’t follow up her French Open victory with a strong showing at Wimbledon, Sharapova certainly played a strong string of tennis at the 2012 London Olympic games, taking home the Silver Medal for her nation of Russia. With the experience of winning the U.S. Open, Sharapova will take that knowledge and confidence with her from the start of the event. Although she has never before won a Grand Slam event, Agnieszka Radwanska has really proven herself this 2012 season. Currently ranked number three in the world, Radwanska reached the finals of this year’s Wimbledon championships, falling to eventual winner Serena Williams. Even though her game style doesn’t have the power of Sharapova and Williams, Radwanska makes up for it in her high level of “tennis IQ.”

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

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Of course one would expect Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to be the strong contenders going into the 2012 U.S. Open. Rafael Nadal has been struck with a seemingly reoccurring knee injury, forcing him to pull out of the Open. On the other hand, Djokovic certainly hasn’t had the same 2012 season as he had last year going into the Open. Obviously you cannot count Djokovic out of the equation, but going into this year’s event, it seems that the upper hand should go to Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro, and reclaimed world number one Federer. With Murray reaching the finals of Wimbledon and defeating Djokovic at the Olympic Games to earn Gold for his nation of Great Britain, he should approach the U.S. Open with confidence to clinch his first Grand Slam title. Former U.S. Open champion, Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina has also been playing a very high-level tennis of late. Del Potro is one of those players who can strike when you’re least expecting it and he has proven to have the ability to do just that at the U.S. Open. With Federer there is not much to say, he’s Roger Federer. He is a strong contender for every Grand Slam event he takes part in and it certainly helps that he is once again number one in the world, and just claimed the Wimbledon title. Pretenders Just as there are strong contenders for this years’ U.S. Open, there are also a few players who have been

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW struggling of late, falling somewhat off the radar. Svetlana Kuznetsova and Li Na have yet to display sparks of their former glory in the 2012 season. Both go into the U.S. Open with Grand Slam titles on their resumes, however of late, they haven’t produced results that would indicate a shot at U.S. Open glory. Both have been on the tour for a while now and some might conclude their careers are winding down.

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

On the men’s side, former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick will not enter this year’s U.S. Open with much in the way of confidence. There was a point in time when Roddick’s serve was consistently the biggest in the game. Today, the level of the game has increased just enough to where players don’t seem to be as intimidated to stand on the returning end of Roddick’s serve. Over a decade ago, Roddick won his one and only Grand Slam title in Flushing Meadows, however it will be hard at this point in his career to hold the trophy once more.

Stephens has also had a strong 2012 season thus far. She has made great strides, especially at Wimbledon this year. Hard courts are by far her best surface, suiting her powerful game style. Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

On the men’s side, Americans Mardy Fish, Ryan Harrison and big John Isner are the top American hopefuls for this year’s event. Although Fish was sidelined due to injury earlier this year, he chose to bypass the Olympics and get back to proper hard court form. He hasn’t produced the same level of results in this year’s U.S. Open Series; however, Fish will still remain an American favorite. Harrison has had a very up and down year with a lot of racquet throwing and frustration. Among all of the turmoil, he has reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of 60th. If Harrison can channel his mental fortitude, hopefully he can relish the kind of U.S. Open event he had in 2011. In addition to Harrison and Fish, Isner has the potential to have a very strong U.S. Open showing. Isner has proven this year that he can hang with the best of them. Admitting to homesickness during the clay court season, hopefully Isner can channel his energy playing in front of an American crowd.

Americans Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

There is nothing more exhilarating to the New York crowd than getting a chance to cheer for one of their own. Competing in this year’s U.S. Open are a handful of American hopefuls, on both the men’s and women’s collective sides of the event. On the women’s side, young up and comers Christina McHale and Sloane Stephens. The New Jersey native McHale has had a remarkable year, reaching a career high WTA singles ranking of 26th. She’ll be in front of her home crowd, which will hopefully give her some extra motivation to make it an Open to remember. In addition to McHale,

international success. Now, with the current generation of U.S. champions all over 30, American tennis is at a crossroads and the future is uncertain at best. Here is a brief look of the U.S. tennis scene at the 2012 U.S. Open ...

Jessica Stiles is an intern for New York Tennis Magazine and plays for the University of Kentucky Women’s Tennis Team.

The State of American Tennis By Steven Kaplan The United States was the dominant force on the world tennis scene for the first 30 years of the Open Era, but in the last decade, has experienced limited

The golden girls Serena Williams did a break dance on center court at The All England Club to celebrate a beat down on the rest of the world to win Olympic Gold. With this win, Serena joins Stefanie Graf as only the second woman to win all four Grand Slams and Olympic Women’s Singles Gold. Serena has her mojo back and she is a force of nature. She is the clear favorite at this year’s U.S. Open after a magical summer run in London that included a Wimbledon title. Venus Williams has played the WTA Tour for over half her life and her body is showing signs of wear and tear. Venus can be proud of her seven Grand Slam Singles Titles and when she partners with sister Serena, she is still a favorite to capture the doubles crown. The good old boys Twins Mike & Bob Bryan are the most successful doubles team in men’s tennis history and are still going strong at a combined age of 68. They now have an Olympic Gold Medal to add to their impressive resume. Mardy Fish has jumped tremendously in the ATP World Rankings over the past two years. Even if he can stay away from the devastating effects of glutton that had previously limited his court renaissance, he is over 30 years of age and is facing serious health concerns. Andy Roddick has been one of the most consistent performers on the men’s tour in the last 10 years and is the last American to win a Grand Slam in 2003 at the U.S. Open. While Roddick continues to grind on the tour, it looks as though the tour has been a grind on him. The current crop John Isner is the highest ranked American man, hovering at around number 10 in the

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

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW world rankings. He has the size and power to dominate, but questions remain concerning his mobility and all-around game. I see his near term chances of winning a Slam as a long shot. Local favorite, 20-year-old Christina McHale from Englewood Cliffs, N.J., has broken into the top 30 in the WTA rankings. Christina has heart, tenacity, youth and an all-around game. Expect her to battle for a top 10 world ranking if she can add a weapon to her game. Sam Querrey from San Francisco has a huge game and is ranked just inside the top 40 where he is likely to remain for a while. Melanie Oudin thrilled U.S. Open crowds in 2009 by beating Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova to become the youngest Grand Slam quarterfinalist since Serena Williams in 1999. Unfortunately, her career has stalled since and she is currently ranked outside the top 100. Ryan Harrison is ranked 60th in the world at the tender age of 20. After his first round loss to Santiago Giraldo of Columbia in the 2012 Olympics, The New York Times wrote, “Though the match was considered winnable for Harrison, the loss itself will be less remembered than Harrison’s petulant be-

havior as the match slipped away.” Still many expect great things from Harrison as he matures. Coco Vandeweghe is ranked 73rd on the WTA Tour and is the daughter of former New York Knick Kiki Vandeweghe. She has the size, power and potential to be a top 20 player in the world. Donald Young was once the topranked junior in the world, but has not lived up to his great potential. Young is currently ranked outside the top 50, having reached a career high of 38th. He has all the talent in the world, and at 23years-old, he is young enough to reshape his game. Irina Falconi, currently ranked 104th and grew up playing on The City Parks Foundation Courts at the National Tennis Center, and Julia Cohen, ranked 97th, are top young Americans who followed the unusual path of playing college tennis at Georgia Tech and The University of Miami (Florida). Bravo to these players. Last and not least by a long shot are Sloane Stephens and Taylor Townsend. Sloane is currently ranked 50th in the world, and at the age of 19, has the speed and power to be perhaps the most promising young American player in many years. Taylor Townsend is just 16 and the Australian Open Junior Cham-

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

pion. She could just be the top American of the future. The local crew Scott Lipsky who grew up in Merrick, N.Y. and played for Stanford University, is a doubles specialist ranked 34th in the world. In 2011, Scott teamed with Casey Dellacqua of Australia to win the French Open Mixed-Doubles title. Not too bad an accomplishment for a local kid and Stanford Graduate. Julia Elbaba of Oyster Bay, N.Y., Jamie Loeb of Ossining, N.Y. and Noah Rubin of Rockville Centre, N.Y. are local juniors who will be competing in this year’s Junior U.S. Open. All three of these rising stars have experienced great success against the best young players in the world in junior Grand Slams. Expect to be seeing their names in the main draws of women’s and men’s Grand Slams soon. What’s the problem? In 2011, Daniel Riley of GQ interviewed Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras for his article “Why Does America Suck at Tennis?” All three champions agreed that success runs in a cycle and we are clearly on a downturn. Agassi advocates that the USTA 10 & Under tennis initiative will be a great boost to “get the racquet in more kids hands.” He is optimistic that “We’ll make the adjustment and have our time in the sun again.” McEnroe explained that the evolution of equipment and the development of guys who are “Getting bigger, stronger and more athletic” has made the game “more of a track meet instead of a tennis match.” McEnroe thinks that convincing young American athletes to jump into tennis is “one of the big factors.” Sampras believes that the recent success of countries like Spain is “Just testament to how international the game is now that we’re not dominating anymore.” I think it’s also a testament to the miracles of modern science.

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW Looking ahead Success in tennis is similar to achievement in almost any endeavor, in that it requires both opportunity and motivation. Tennis is still a relatively expensive and exclusive sport in the United States for most families. Other countries are simply doing a better job of attracting the most promising athletes at a young age, especially since tennis has become an Olympic sport. U.S. athletes love to succeed and tennis players are no exception, but the risk to achieving reward as a singular “all or nothing” goal is less in this country than what exists elsewhere in many other parts of the world. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing for this country to have some parents who do not have their child drop out of school to roll the dice on pro tennis success. Many Americans see tennis as a means to achieving a healthier lifestyle and as an important part of a well-rounded education rather than as an escape from poverty or anonymity. Reuters reports that between the years 2000-2010, participation in tennis has outpaced growth in all other traditional sports in the U.S. by an astounding 46 percent. Tennis as a participatory sport is growing and thriving in the United States, and we are healthier and better educated because of this trend. Therefore, rather than ask why we “Suck at Tennis,” perhaps we should ask, “Why does it matter to us that we don’t dominate the tennis world?”

2012 U.S. Open Prize Money to Exceed $25 Million The USTA has announced that the 2012 U.S. Open prize purse has been increased by more than $2 million to reach a record $25.5 million. Additionally, the top three men’s and top three women’s finishers in the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series may earn up to an additional $2.6 million in bonus prize money at the U.S. Open, depending on their performance over the course of the Summer Series. With this bonus money, the total U.S. Open prize money could potentially reach $28.1 million. To support the majority of players, for 2012, prize money has been increased by a minimum of 18 percent for the first three rounds of the main singles draw. Both the men’s and women’s U.S. Open singles champions will earn a record $1.9 million with the ability to earn an additional $1 million in bonus prize money (for a total $2.9 million potential payout) based on their performances in the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series. The 2012 U.S. Open purse includes an 11 percent overall increase in men’s and women’s main draw singles prize money over last year’s total. First round main draw singles prize money has been in-

creased by 21 percent, and second round main draw singles prize money has been increased by 19 percent. In all, 224 of the 256 main draw singles players (87 percent of the main draw singles players) will receive an increase in prize money of at least 18 percent. For the 40th consecutive year, the USTA will offer equal prize money to both men and women—a Grand Slam first and U.S. Open tradition dating back to 1973. All players also receive per diem payments to help offset the cost of accommodations and other expenses. The Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series Bonus Challenge rewards the top three men’s and top three women’s finishers each year with bonus prize money at the U.S. Open and has resulted in the largest paychecks in tennis history for men (2007– Roger Federer, $2.4 million) and women (2005, 2010–Kim Clijsters, $2.2 million). The USTA will offer up to an additional $2.6 million in bonus prize money at the U.S. Open to the top three men’s and top three women’s singles finishers in the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series. Players must earn points in at least two Series events in order to be eligible for bonus prize money at the U.S. Open. More than $7.7 million in bonus prize money has been awarded since the Series began in 2004.

Steve Kaplan is the owner of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as the director of Reebok Academy for New York City Parks Foundation. Over the last 33 years, Steve has been the longtime coach of more than 500 nationally-ranked junior players, 15 state high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous touring professionals and prominent coaches. Steve’s students have been awarded in excess of $7 million in college scholarship money. He may be reached by e-mail at stevenjkaplan@aol.com. NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW Agassi to be Inducted Into U.S. Open Court of Champions Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

The USTA has announced that Andre Agassi, a two-time U.S. Open Champion, has been named the 2012 inductee into the U.S. Open Court of Champions, a U.S. Open and USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center attraction honoring the greatest singles champions in the history of the U.S. Championships/U.S. Open. Agassi will be inducted during an on-court ceremony in Arthur Ashe Stadium prior to the Men’s Singles Championship on Sunday, Sept. 9. Patrick McEnroe will host the ceremony. The U.S. Open Court of Champions salutes the tournament’s all-time greatest champions with an individual permanent monument that serves as a lasting tribute. Agassi will join prior inductees Arthur Ashe, Don Budge, Maureen Connolly, Jimmy Connors, Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Althea Gibson, Richard “Pancho” Gonzalez, Steffi Graf, Billie Jean King, Jack

Kramer, Rod Laver, Ivan Lendl, Molla Bjurstedt Mallory, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Margaret Osborne duPont, Ken Rosewall, Pete Sampras, Bill Tilden and Helen Wills. A panel of international print and broadcast journalists selected the 2012 inductee from the roster of U.S. champions based on their performances at the tournament and their impact on the growth of the event. “Few tennis players have impacted the sport of tennis more than Andre Agassi,” said Jon Vegosen, chairman of the board and president of USTA. “He is a champion both on and off the court, elevating the popularity of our sport while playing, and now helping to enhance the lives of children off the court with his generosity and dedication to providing young people with the opportunity for a quality education. He truly deserves this honor.” Agassi, the son of a former Olympic boxer, grew up in Las Vegas with a ball machine in his backyard, developing extraordinary hand-eye coordination that has seldom been matched in the history of tennis. Turning pro at the age of 16, he quickly established himself as one of the sport’s top talents and a definitive fan favorite. Bold, brash and bigger-than-life, Agassi won the U.S. Open Men’s Singles Title in 1994 (the first unseeded player in the Open

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

era to capture the U.S. Open) and again in 1999. His punishing baseline game, unparalleled return-of-serve and superior athleticism allowed him to win a career Grand Slam and a total of eight career Grand Slam titles, as well as a Gold Medal in singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He also was a member of two U.S. Davis Cup-winning teams. Agassi competed in a men’s Open-era record 21 consecutive U.S. Opens. He was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2011. Currently, he focuses a good deal of his time and efforts on the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education and the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a tuitionfree public charter school for at-risk youth in Las Vegas.

Lineup Announced for Arthur Ashe Kids Day The USTA has announced that pop band The Wanted, chart-topping singer Carly Rae Jepsen, special guest performer Owl City, and from Nickelodeon’s “How to Rock,” Cymphonique Miller and Max Schneider, will team up with reigning U.S. Open Champion Novak Djokovic, U.S. number one men’s singles player John Isner, three-time U.S. Open Champ Kim Clijsters and Mardy Fish at the 17th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids Day Presented by Hess, set for Saturday, Aug. 25 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. from 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Hosted by AAKD alumnus Jordin Sparks and TV personality Quddus, the full-day tennis and music festival will feature interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis activities. Arthur Ashe Kids Day Presented by Hess will kick off the 2012 U.S. Open, which runs from Aug. 27-Sept. 9. From 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., kids and their families can enjoy an exciting schedule of free tennis games, live music and attractions taking place throughout the

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., the live tennis and music show will feature fun exhibition matches and skills competitions with Djokovic, Isner, Clijsters, Fish and other top players and celebrities with musical performances by The Wanted, Carly Rae Jepsen, Owl City, Cymphonique Miller, Max Schneider and other talent to be announced. Over the years, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has featured many of music’s biggest acts including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Sean Kingston, Britney Spears, Ne-Yo, Gavin DeGraw, Jessica Simpson, Backstreet Boys, Cody Simpson, Bow Wow and Hanson. The Grounds Festival offers a wide range of interactive activities as well as a chance for children of all ages to test their skills, hit with top tennis pros, win prizes and enjoy music: I Hess Express Stage: The Grounds Festival’s free concert featuring a line-up of upand-coming musical talent including urban super group Love Jones Girlz, Interscope Records prodigy Ahsan, and from Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up!” Caroline Sunshine! More acts to be confirmed. I 10 & Under Tennis: A chance for kids to learn real tennis and have real fun doing it. 10 & Under Tennis follows almost every other youth sport and uses racquets, balls and courts that are sized right for kids so that they enjoy the game right from the start. I Hess Express Obstacle Course: Kids can test agility, balance, running and tennis skills. I Hess Target Time: Intermediate and advanced-level kids have a chance to test their skills hitting targets on this court. I Nike Tennis: Tennis and skill activities on two courts featuring Nike sponsored athletes. I IBM Speedzone: Two radar guns on court test the speed of kids’ serves. I Xerox Beat the Pro: Kids will have the chance to challenge the pros on this fastpaced court. I Mario Tennis Open for Nintendo 3DS: Players of all ages and skill levels can

enjoy friendly competition and fast-paced tennis action with Mario Tennis Open, a video game for the Nintendo 3DS handheld system. Join Mario and Luigi in the South Plaza for some fun photo opps and check out this new attraction. USTA Serves/Aetna Tennis Skills: This court will have six to eight various stations for very young kids or special populations. Stations may include things like rolling the ball with a racquet and bouncing a koush ball. PTR Speed Tennis: Children can hit with PTR certified professionals on mini-courts at full speed and with complete strokes using a special restricted flight foam ball. USPTA Little Tennis: Ideal for younger participants to hit and learn, USPTA certified teaching professionals host this court consisting of 30 colorful hitting stations using a variety of teaching aids. USRSA Pro Racquet Round-Up: Kids can see what it feels like to hit with a top pro’s personal racquet such as Venus and Serena Williams using actual racquets weighted and balanced to each player’ s specifications. World TeamTennis: Co-ed relay races, targeting beginner players, particularly the youngest children attending AAKD.

Activities tailored to the age, size, strength and experience level of participants. I Also: Watch the Pros Practice, Player Autographs, Juggling Workshop, FacePainting, Hair Braiding, Storytelling, and more.

Kids comment on the U.S. Open experience During our travels this summer visiting many of the area tennis camps, New York Tennis Magazine asked participants the following question: “If you had the chance to play in the U.S. Open, how would you feel and what do you think it would be like?” “If I could play at the U.S. Open I would be so excited to play against my favorite players, like Nadal, I would also be nervous at the same time but it would be an amazing experience.“—Oliver, 11, Dick Savitt Tennis Center “I would be so surprised to play in the U.S. Open and really nervous to play in front of a lot of people.”—Annie, 9, Stadium Tennis Center

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2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW “I would be stunned! I would try to win and I would want to play Nadal.”—Danny, 10, Advantage Sea & Sport Tennis Camp

out. I would want to play Serena because she is my favorite player.”—Macy, 11, Prospect Park Tennis Camps

“It would be really exciting to play in the U.S. Open. I would want to play against Maria Sharapova.”—Yara, 9, Advantage All City Tennis Camp

“It would be really cool to play in the U.S. Open, I would try to win but it would be very tough. I would want to play Roger Federer.”—Jason, 10, Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy (C.A.T.S. Camp)

“To be able to play in the U.S. Open would be awesome, but scary at the same time.”—Hannah, 9, Central Park Tennis “I’d want to cream Rafa Nadal.”—Rohan, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Camp “I would like my sister, Sarah, to be my coach for the tournament.”—Michael, West Side Tennis Club “It would be really scary to play in the U.S. Open, I would be afraid of hitting the ball

“It would be amazing to play in the U.S. Open. It would be unbelievable to play Serena.”—Amery, 14, Camp ACE You heard from the kids, now what do the pros have to say about playing at the U.S. Open? I enjoy the camaraderie that you can get from the fans for the American players— it’s definitely the most favorite Slam for the Americans as far as being able to play in those big courts and having the crowd behind you. We go to so many

places, in Spain and in Italy and in England, where you can play a guy from that country, and those fans are just going crazy for their player. But we know for a fact that we have that one big event where everyone wants to do well, and we’re going to have the fans behind us and rooting as loud as they can for us. So that makes it so much fun and exciting and one of the best times of the whole year for us.”—Mardy Fish “Well, you know, New York, I feel like it’s a great fan base. They’re going to give you whatever you give them. They certainly appreciate hustle. They like a bit of a show. You give them some energy, they’re going to give it right back to you. I feel like it’s a pretty clear-cut understood relationship, at least from my perspective. It doesn’t get a whole lot better as far as atmosphere goes than a night session up there.”—Andy Roddick

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

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW More Than 400 Vie for 80 Spots at 2012 U.S. Open Ballperson Tryouts By Kristen Kelleher

Richard DeGregoris, a current ballboy, helped at this year’s tryout. “I’ve been a ballboy for four years now,” said DeGregoris. “I really like it not just because it’s great money, but it is the experience of a lifetime being on court with the pros. You also meet a lot of new friends.” With the applicant pool being so large, the selection for spots is extremely competitive. Those selected will have the unique opportunity to be on-court at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with some of the sport’s biggest stars at the Open. Kristen Kelleher is an intern with New York Tennis Magazine. She is currently attending Loyola University Maryland and may be reached by e-mail at kristen@litennismag.com.

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

On June 21, the 2012 U.S. Open Ballperson Tryouts were held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. More than 400 people were on hand to show off their skills in running, throwing and catching for a shot at one of the 80 available spots. The extreme heat did not stop competitors ranging in age from 14 on up from impressing the U.S. Open officials for their shot at the big stage in late August. “I feel like it went well. It was nerve wracking at first since you’re around a bunch of people you’ve never met before,” said 15-year-old Gabrielle Williams. “You just have to move quickly and remember what you’re doing it for.” Those who are chosen to become a ballperson work during both the qualifying and main draw of the U.S. Open. “I think this tryout is pretty hard. It shows how much effort needs to be put in. The heat was also really tough,” said Lawrence Chih, 17. With the temperature in the 90s and the sun blaring down on the courts, potential ballpersons had to not only flex their skills but battle the elements thrown their way by Mother Nature, but as the officials continually stressed to the competitors, “This is U.S. Open weather.”

Five Ways to Improve Your Game by Watching the World’s Best Tennis Players at the Open By Steven Kaplan Walk around the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during this year’s U.S. Open and you will see players from every part of the globe. Even multi-generations are represented in the junior and senior events. While the assortment of differing playing styles is vast, the fundamentals displayed by the world’s top tennis players are similar. Learn what the pros know about tennis success by studying their tactics, attributes and skills. 1. Ramp up your play Even the pros are nervous at the start of a match. They handle these jitters by aiming conservatively, but striking the ball aggressively when beginning a match. After hitting their way into a personal comfort zone and

only after having successfully made some shots, do the pros confidently go for more. Chris Evert once explained that her goal in the first game was to “hit her way into the match” and “ready herself to win.” 2. Seize the opportunity While the Girls 12 & Under players often choose to attack only when they feel comfortable and ready, this strategy is not going to work at the highest levels because here, aggressive play is opportunity driven. If a U.S Open competitor passes up a chance to go for it in the point, they know very well that they might not get another chance. Most elite players will play the open court in combination with their serves almost every time, because the best time to attack is the first opportunity. 3. Mix it up with a purpose The specific purpose of variety is to expose weaknesses and increase uncertainty which limits reaction time. Therefore, shot variety is a means to an end, not just a goal in itself. Variety makes your play more offensive, because it delays an opponent’s decision-making process. Serena Williams will serve wide to an opponent to force them to return from a more forward and wider return position. Once she sees her opponent has adjusted, she will go with pace to middle and keep pounding away until the returner repositions again. 4. Be decisive How do the best players in the world know when to come to net? They don’t, they take an educated guess, but they do so with decisive commitment. The pros believe that decisive decisions are often more important than making the right tactic or shot choice because by the time they know that it’s the right choice, it’s too late to start. Position and hit with no hesitation and make your willingness to commitment your strength. 5. Compete like a pro Here is some bad news that you probably already know. Few people who ever pick

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

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW up a racket will ever play as well as Maria Sharapova or Roger Federer. Here’s some better news however, almost anyone can perform every bit as confidently and professionally as these great champions over 80 percent of the time because that’s the amount of time spent in between points. The ratio of play to in between play is 7:1, which is just about 17 minutes of actual play in a two-hour match. The organizational court habits of every player at the U.S. Open in between points is remarkably uniform. You still won’t play like Roger even if you act like him, but you will play better. The U.S. Open can be an exciting and eye-opening learning experience for tennis players at every level, if you know where to focus your attention. Steve Kaplan is the owner of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as the director of Reebok Academy for New York City Parks Foundation. Over the last 33 years, Steve has been the longtime coach of more than 500 nationally-ranked junior players, 15 state high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous touring professionals and prominent coaches. Steve’s students have been awarded in excess of $7 million in college scholarship money. He may be reached by e-mail at stevenjkaplan@aol.com.

USTA Announces New Stadiums to be Built at National Tennis Center Photo credit: Anthony Pastecchi

The USTA has joined with New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Queens officials to release details of a proposed strategic vision for future development at the USTA Billie Jean King 26

National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, site of the U.S. Open. The strategic vision—a series of interconnected construction projects that include building developments, infrastructure upgrades and improvements to site circulation—aims to enhance the current conditions at the NTC and preserve its stature as a world-class venue. The project will positively impact the facility’s ability to host its flagship event, the U.S. Open, while simultaneously providing a superior experience for both visiting fans and players, allowing the City of New York to continue to reap substantial economic benefits. “The U.S. Open is one of the city’s greatest sporting events, and it generates more than $750 million a year in economic activity,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The City recognizes the crucial need to improve the USTA facility and supports this vision, so that the center remains a top-ranked tennis venue capable of hosting the U.S. Open, and thereby, allowing the tournament to remain in New York City for many decades.” The project, expected to develop throughout a multi-year period and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, will be undertaken by the USTA, which will investigate a multitude of potential financing options. The project will primarily entail the replacement and renovation of aging facilities and infrastructures. Since 1978, the USTA has invested more than $500 million of its own funds into the NTC, and this project will continue that investment. “Our goal remains to ensure that the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center remains a world-class facility for the top professional tennis players, for the hundreds of thousands of fans who annually attend the U.S. Open, and, as importantly, the near hundred thousand recreational tennis players who use this facility all yearround,” said Jon Vegosen, chairman of the board and president of the USTA. “The Strategic Vision will enable us to achieve this goal.” Currently, the U.S. Open is New York City’s largest and most valued annual public sporting event, and generates $756 mil-

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

lion in economic impact. Attendance now regularly tops 700,000, making the U.S. Open the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world. On television and through various media, the U.S. Open reaches a global audience, attracting 85 million TV viewers in the United States and is broadcast to 188 countries, with more than 41,000 hours of coverage. Most notably, the project calls for the construction of two new stadiums, one to replace the aging Louis Armstrong Stadium in its current location at the northeast corner of the site, and the other a brand new Grandstand Stadium, built in a different location at the southwest corner of the property. Seven tournament courts on the southern section of the site will be relocated between 30-50 feet, and a new walkway will be built to allow for easy access through the southern part of the site. Two parking garages will be constructed over existing parking lots to accommodate additional spaces, and seven courts on the northwest section–five practice and two tournament- will be replaced and linked by a new, elevated viewing platform that will provide better seating and viewing options for fans. As a direct result of the collective enhancements, the project will enable the facility to accommodate an extra 10,000 people each day during the U.S. Open, increasing attendance by approximately 100,000 new visitors, and amounting to a significant economic boost to Queens, New York City and the entire metropolitan region. The U.S. Open creates 6,000 seasonal jobs–with 85 percent of all employees coming from New York City and 41 percent from Queens. These 6,000 seasonal jobs yield the equivalent of 585 (direct and indirect) full- and part-time jobs for Queens residents, earning $40.33 million in direct and indirect employee compensation. Situated on approximately 42-acres in the park, the NTC is one of the world’s largest public recreational tennis facilities, with indoor and outdoor amenities open for public use throughout most of the calendar year, hosting approximately 100,000 patrons.

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW U.S. Open restaurants Along with the best tennis and entertainment in the world, the U.S. Open offers premium-dining experiences—from Mojito, a Cuban-inspired restaurant and bar, to Champions Bar & Grill, a classic American steakhouse. Whether you are in the mood for a light snack, lunch, dinner, meeting friends for cocktails or satisfying a sweet tooth, the restaurants on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center can cure any craving. Come experience all the U.S. Open has to offer. Aces Vaulted ceilings, vibrant colors and a casual but elegant wine and sushi bar combined with superlative seafood offerings, makes Aces the ultimate dining experience. You can also enjoy Aces’ flavorful and sumptuous cuisine in your suite with the Aces Platinum Package Series. Join us for lunch, dinner or after the matches. Champions Bar & Grill A contemporary setting with classic leather and wood accents, Champions Bar & Grill is a modern take on the traditional clubhouse atmosphere. The Grill offers premium steaks, hearty chops, fresh seafood, salads and a wide variety of wines. Join us for fun, delicious menu items and the finest cuts of meat and more. Bring your friends for lunch, dinner or after the matches, and you won’t miss a minute of the action with live matches and other sporting events on our many TVs. U.S. Open Club Presented by Emirates Airline The U.S. Open Club Presented by Emirates Airline is located on the ground floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The U.S. Open Club Presented

by Emirates Airline is available to all Subscription Series ticket holders for the duration of the tournament for a nominal entrance fee, and is included for Silver Loge Box seat holders. The U.S. Open Club Presented by Emirates Airline, with its striking contemporary décor, is famous for its Chef’s Table and seasonal selections of eclectic American cuisine. Patio Café & Bar Soak up the beautiful surroundings of the U.S. Open grounds at our expanded charming outdoor café and bar located outside the U.S. Open Club Presented by Emirates Airline. Enjoy fresh selections of seasonal sandwiches and salads paired with summer specialty cocktails. The Patio Café & Bar is available for all ticket holders. Join us for lunch, dinner or after the matches. Mojito Restaurant & Bar Mojito, a Cuban-inspired restaurant, transports you to a dramatic setting in a tropical oasis reminiscent of 1950s Havana. Experience Mojito’s luscious flavors with Latin specialties and cool cocktails either inside or outdoors in our whimsical outdoor garden. Mojito is available for all ticket holders. Join us for lunch, dinner or after the matches. Mojito is located on the ground floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium near the Patio Café & Bar. Heineken Red Star Café The new Heineken Red Star Café is located next to the South Plaza Fountains. The redesigned café will be on the top level of a new two-story building providing guests with a unique view of the grounds. Guests

can enjoy a spacious, ideal setting to unwind and keep track of the matches while enjoying the café’s laid-back atmosphere and enhanced menus. The new U.S. Open Collection Store, located on the ground level, will feature a complete assortment of 2012 U.S. Open merchandise and mementos alongside a limited selection of Heineken-branded offerings. Join us for lunch, dinner of after the matches. Moët & Chandon Terrace The new Moët & Chandon Terrace located next to the Patio Café & Bar features Moët & Chandon Imperial Champagne along with full-service bar options. Guests can relax and enjoy a glass of champagne in an outdoor lounge setting. Rejuvenate by the Fountains Visit our refreshing food destinations by the fountains, including the South Plaza Café, Cuppa Spotta, Carnegie Deli and Ben & Jerry’s. Baseline Cocktails Come quench your thirst with a full-service bar that includes premium wine upgrades. Wine Bar Food Sample Mediterranean flavors with wines to match. Grey Goose Bar Located in the Food Village, the Grey Goose Bar features the Grey Goose Honey Deuce, the U.S. Open signature cocktail, along with Grey Goose specialty cocktails and a full-service bar. Food Village Enjoy regional cuisine and specialty items at the U.S. Open Food Village: I I I I

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop Carnegie Deli Classic Burger Cuppa Spotta

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

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW I I I I I I I I I I I I

I Tennis racquets I Any other items deemed inappropriate or dangerous by the U.S. Open personnel

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U.S. Open attractions

The following items are prohibited and MAY NOT be brought onto the premises and grounds of the U.S. Open: I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Backpacks Hard coolers or like containers Sealed packages of any kind Bottles or cans (glass or metal) Aerosol cans or noisemaking devices Alcohol Video cameras or recording devices Computers or laptops Food (except in limited quantities, or for medical, dietary or infant purposes) Weapons Animals (unless a service animal) Flags, banners or signs Any materials constituting unauthorized advertising or promotion Laser pointing devices

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•

I U.S. Open American Express Fan Experience: The U.S. Open American Express Fan Experience that premiered during the 2011 U.S. Open is moving inside and will be located in the space previously occupied by SmashZone (within the Chase Center). Open to the public, the U.S. Open American Express Fan Experience will feature swing analysis hitting bays allowing fans to get instant feedback on their swing along with other activities. Also new for 2012, the Fan Experience will include a fullsize tennis court with daily programming and special offers and assistance for American Express Cardmembers. I Mobile Shopping: The 2012 U.S. Open features an enhanced mobile experience that includes merchandise-ordering capabilities in addition to the ability to check live scores, daily schedules, the latest news and watch live matches. With this dynamic shopping feature, you’ll be able to purchase merchandise while on the grounds for pick-up or delivery to select locations at your convenience.

I Fountain/Plaza Desk: ESPN and CBS will broadcast live during select sessions. You won’t want to miss interviews with today’s tennis stars! I Where to See the Stars: The practice courts located by the West Gate are a great place to get an up-close look at some of the world’s best players. I Membership: Here’s your chance to make tennis, make a difference in communities across the country. Join the USTA today and help us change lives through tennis Stop by the USTA Membership Booth next to the U.S. Open American Express Fan Experience under the overhang of the Chase Center. A vast array of tournament souvenirs and mementos are available to commemorate your U.S. Open experience. I Merchandise: A vast array of tournament souvenirs and mementos are available to commemorate your U.S. Open experience. I International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum Gallery at the U.S. Open: Be sure to visit the U.S. Open Gallery, located inside the Chase Center.

USTA/Metropolitan Region

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

nited Sports P

For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. SEE PAGE 64 28

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

2012 U.S. OPEN PREVIEW 2012 U.S. OPEN MATCH SCHEDULE Date/Session

Day/Evening

Subject to change Time

Featured Matches

Monday, August 27 1 2

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s/Women’s 1st Round Men’s/Women’s 1st Round

Tuesday, August 28 3 4

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s/Women’s 1st Round Men’s/Women’s 1st Round

Wednesday, August 29 5 6

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s 1st Round/Women’s 2nd Round Men’s/Women’s 2nd Round

Thursday, August 30 7 8

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s/Women’s 2nd Round Men’s/Women’s 2nd Round

Friday, August 31 9 10

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s 2nd Round/Women’s 3rd Round Men’s 2nd Round/Women’s 3rd Round

Saturday, September 1 11 12

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s/Women’s 3rd Round Men’s/Women’s 3rd Round

Sunday, September 2 13 14

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s 3rd Round/Women’s Round of 16 Men’s 3rd Round/Women’s Round of 16

Monday, September 3 15 16

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s/Women’s Round of 16 Men’s/Women’s Round of 16

Tuesday, September 4 17 18

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Round of 16/Women’s Quarterfinals Men’s Round of 16/Women’s Quarterfinals

Wednesday, September 5 19 20

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s and/or Women’s Quarterfinals Men’s and/or Women’s Quarterfinals

Thursday, September 6 21 22

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Quarterfinals/Mixed-Doubles Final Men’s Quarterfinals

Friday, September 7 23

Day

11:00 a.m.

Men’s Doubles Final/Women’s Semifinals

Saturday, September 8 24 25

Day Evening

11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Semifinals Women’s Final/Pre-Match Ceremony

Sunday, September 9 26

Day

12:00 p.m.

Women’s Doubles Final/Men’s Final

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

Junior Tennis Around the World the technical skills. My academy was small, so I usually just worked with one coach for years at a time. We played a lot of games, but never too many drills.

By Eric Faro ennis is becoming an increasingly international sport every year. Though it is more readily available, there are still many noticeable differences in the background of the junior athletes being developed all over the globe. I took some time to interview three former top junior players from different backgrounds. Matt Belenchia from Atlanta, Ga.; Max Beliankou from Minsk, Belarus; and Mike Haddad from New York City. They are now three of the top teaching instructors at Stadium Tennis Center. I was surprised to find the many similarities and differences in their answers.

How were the facilities in your area? Matt Belenchia: The facilities were not that nice. Most of the courts were covered with cracks. I never played indoors growing up. The winters were not too extreme, so we would usually play all year-round outdoors. Max Beliankou: I trained at the National

Matt Belenchia, Mike Haddad and Max Beliankou of Stadium Tennis Center each share their perspective of growing up in the sport with unique backgrounds Tennis Center in Minsk. It had four indoor and 25 outdoor courts. The outdoor courts were grass, clay and hard courts. It was the nicest facility in my town. Mike Haddad: I trained primarily on public courts. I played at Van Cortland and Seton Park. At 11-years-old, I started playing at Stadium Tennis Center. That was the first private club I ever played at. What was the style of coaching? Belenchia: Most of my coaches taught me good competitive skills, but not so much on

Beliankou: I didn’t have a particular coach that I worked with, but all of the coaches stressed limiting unforced errors. However, I don’t remember spending much time on my serve. Haddad: My coaching was mainly in the after-school junior program. I worked on high performance drills, strategy and highpercentage tennis. My practice sessions usually consisted of drilling in the first hour and match play in the second hour. How was it getting access to court time? Belenchia: Court access was very easy to come by. Most of the courts were public and I would often hang around after practice to play in pick-up matches with other kids from the academy. My family never had to pay for court time for me to play or train. We also used to climb the fences of public courts just to hit some balls.

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.

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

Beliankou: It was tough to get on the court during the indoor season. Since there were only four indoor courts, I would often have to practice at 6:00 a.m. or 9:00 p.m. Haddad: Tennis has a high demand in New York City due to the limited places to play. Whether you are playing at a club or on a public court, it wasn’t easy to get on the court when you wanted. If you wanted to play as bad as I did, you could eventually find some time. Was it difficult to get to and from your practice sessions? Belenchia: I grew up playing five minutes from my house. If my parents couldn’t take me, I would ride my bike to practice. When I got older, it was easy to drive my pick-up truck to the courts. Beliankou: No, it wasn’t easy. I had to take the subway and the bus and it would take me at least an hour to get to the courts. Haddad: Transportation was not easy. When I was young, my parents played a huge role in getting me to and from practice every day. As

I grew older, I would take the subway and buses, which made me feel mentally stronger and more dedicated to the sport.

cal training and match play. I would have played more tournaments starting in the 14s in order to gain more valuable experience.

What is the best quality about your tennis you would attribute to where you grew up? Belenchia: The ease of traveling to and from tournaments … the readily available courts.

Beliankou: I would have focused more on my serve and volleys. I would like to have worked on a more aggressive style of tennis.

Beliankou: The best part is my dedication. The coaches would play with me at any time of the day. No one would complain about the old facilities. I would often spend an hour each way traveling just to play for one hour. Haddad: From the ages of about 12 to 17, I would go to Van Cortland Park and play sets with my friends. We would all watch each other play and critique each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This was a great place to practice and socialize. If you could change one thing about your training as a junior what would it be? Belenchia: I would have liked more techni-

Haddad: There was a few years’ gap where I didn’t play. If I could go back, I would not only have played, but I would have given it 100 percent. Practice is everything in tennis or any sport. You’ll never know how far you could have gone unless you put the time in. Eric Faro is program director at Gotham Tennis Academy and Stadium Tennis Center, just south of Yankee Stadium. Eric grew up in Riverdale and attended Horace Mann, where he played number one singles for all four years. He attended Ohio State University and won more than 100 matches during his collegiate career. He may be reached by e-mail at eric@gothamtennis.com, or online at www.stadiumtennisnyc.com or www.gothamtennis.com.

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

A L O O K B A C K AT T H E 2012 NEW YORK SPORTIMES SEASON NY Sportimes Advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and Look to Cap Off Successful Campaign The New York Sportimes completed another successful season of World TeamTennis (WTT) action this summer. Home matches were played at both Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island (five matches) and the SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y. (two matches). Attendance was up this year, as fans have started to realize how much fun these matches can be. A noisy atmosphere between points is encouraged, and WTT is a great chance to see some of the stars of the game up close and personal in an intimate atmosphere.

Playoffs await the Sportimes The New York Sportimes were the second best team in the 2012 WorldTeamTennis season, and with a 9-5 record, the Sportimes qualified for the 2012 WTT Playoffs. On Saturday, Sept. 15, the Sportimes will face off against the defending cham-

pion Washington Kastles for the Eastern Conference Championship. The Sportimes will look to end the Kastles unprecedented 30-match winning streak and advance to the 2012 WTT Finals, and a shot at the WTT Championship for the first time since 2010. The Newport Beach Breakers will face the Sacramento Capitals on Friday, Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Western Conference Championship match. The two Conference Champions face off for the King Trophy on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

Legends collide in the Big Apple Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Featuring two hallof-famers, one particular Sportimes home matchup created quite the buzz with the largest turnout of the season. Actor and comedian John Leguizamo, along with former New York Mayor David Dinkins, were two of the celebrities who were courtside to watch two legends, John McEnroe (Sportimes) and Andre

Online Tennis Training with Bill Longua USPTA Please see the review of this book in this month's issue of New York Tennis Magazine. For the download version please go to http://onlinetennistraining.com/usopen Get in the US Open spirit and take advantage of this great deal for only $9.99! Go to http://onlinetennistraining.com/members for details. E-mail Bill at bill@onlinetennistraining.com for more info.

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

Agassi (Boston Lobsters) compete in the night’s men singles and mixed-doubles events. First up was singles and as a spectator at the event, it was apparent that both players had not lost the competitive nature that made them world champions. Famous for his incredible return of serve, Agassi was able to jump on the opening game and break Johnny Mac’s serve. Both players continued to hold serve, giving Agassi a chance to serve for the set at 4-3. However, McEnroe turned the tables around with some great returns of serve and one incredible slice backhand up the line. With the set knotted at 4, it was time (per WTT rules) for a nine-point tiebreaker. McEnroe couldn’t help himself from throwing his racquet and arguing with the linesperson as tensions began to build in the breaker. Agassi was able to keep the cool hand though and prevailed 5-4 (5-3 in the breaker). In the next match, McEnroe was able to redeem himself in the mixed-doubles event. The Sportimes team of McEnroe & Martina Hingis paired up against Agassi & Carly Gullickson-Eagle. McEnroe & Hingis were able to secure an early break and serve for the match, taking it 5-3 over the Lobsters.

Hingis wins WTT MVP

Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Former world number one-ranked Martina Hingis of the Sportimes was named WTT Most Valuable Player (Female) for the World TeamTennis Pro League presented by GEICO. Bobby Reynolds of the Washington Kastles was named Male MVP. Hingis finished first in women’s singles

A L O O K B A C K AT T H E 2012 NEW YORK SPORTIMES SEASON this season with a .593 winning percentage. Hingis teamed with Ashley Harkleroad to finish as the top-ranked team in women’s doubles with a .571 winning percentage. This is the fifth season of WTT play for Hingis, who led the Sportimes to the 2005 WTT title. “I’m proud to win the WTT MVP award,” said Hingis. “The 2012 season was both challenging and rewarding. I was part of a great team and much of my success was thanks to my teammates, coach, team owner and great New York Sportimes fans.” Other Sportimes players were recognized by WorldTeamTennis for their strong showings in 2012 as well, as Jesse Witten was named fourth Best Men’s Singles Player, Harkleroad won the award for Second Best Women’s Doubles Player and Robert Kendrick was named Third Best Mixed-Doubles Player.

Scenes From the 2012 New York Sportimes World TeamTennis Season Credit all photos to Kenneth B. Goldberg

The New York Sportimes gather after a successful night against the Philadelphia Freedoms

Robert Kendrick & Jesse Witten of the Sportimes were 5-3 winners over Luka Gregorc & Jordan Kerr of the Philadelphia Freedoms

Growing the sport The WTT season offers the opportunity for Long Island Tennis Magazine to help continue the growth of grassroots tennis throughout New York. With Sportime’s support, a free copy of our July/August edition was distributed to all fans in attendance at all home matches. A booth was setup across from USTA Eastern in the outdoor food area. Also our professional photographer was on hand for all home matches to capture the matches and we had writers to do interviews and recaps post match.

Ashley Harkelroad in women’s doubles action for the Sportimes at Sportime Stadium

John McEnroe of the Sportimes in his match against Andre Agassi

Season overview All in all, this WTT season was a great prelude to the sport’s stars coming in for the 2012 U.S. Open, and with New York currently not a host site of either an ATP or WTA tournament, the chance to see the stars of WTT in action should be embraced and appreciated by tennis fans throughout the area. NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

New York Tennis Magazine PRESENTS YOUR

2012 Guide to New York Tennis Clubs Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy 235 East 49th Street • New York, N.Y. (212) 832-1833 CATSNY.com catsturtlebay@gmail.com For over 75 years, the Seewagen Family has known that physical competence empowers children to develop a healthy self-esteem. In 1984, CATS developed a unique cross-training curriculum with the assumption that if a child achieves success the child will have more fun. Through interaction, students are given the steps to achieve their goals. The more success a child has the more fun the child will have leading to a lifelong love of being active. The Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy is proud to be the first of its kind in New York City devoted entirely to the USTA’s 10 & Under Tennis program. We use an allnew method of teaching tennis established by the USTA and the ITF. Butch Seewagen, co-founder and athletic director of CATS, is a former top 70 world-class touring pro who competed at Wimbledon, the French Open and the U.S. Open.

Go! Tennis 34-28 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. (718) 224-6303 GoTennisPrograms.com Go! Tennis Programs are operated at North Shore Tennis and Racquets Club in Bayside, Queens. North Shore has 14 outdoor HarTru courts, 10 that are bubbled for the indoor season. Players are provided with beautifully-maintained courts, as well as excellent lighting and heat. The club also boasts a beautifully appointed clubhouse featuring spacious locker rooms, lounge, and a full service bar and grill. Go! Tennis Programs are under the direction of 35-year tennis veteran George Garland. The junior program caters to players of all ages and skill levels, from QuickStart through Tournament Team. The program is known for its high level of instruction. Go! Tennis also offers a wide range of programs geared for 34

adults. Whether its competitive leagues, clinics, drills, or private lessons, Go! Tennis has it all. An attentive, caring professional staff, coupled with first-rate facilities, make Go! Tennis at North Shore Tennis and Racquets Club the place to play.

Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club 450 West 43rd Street New York, N.Y. (212) 594-0554 AdvantageTennisClubs.com info@mprcnyc.com Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club (MPRC), an Advantage Tennis Club, located at 450 West 43rd Street (between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue) in New York City (open Monday-Sunday from 6:00 a.m. until midnight), offers luxury tennis in the heart of Manhattan with five indoor championship hard courts, air-conditioning in the sumCredit: Photo by MPRC member Sam Kanter, courtesy of MPRC mer, a luxurious duplex clubhouse with terrace, a new tennis bubble, private and group lessons for all ages and levels, game arranging, quality tennis programs for members and non-members, leagues, tennis camps, parties, doubles play, tournaments, a pro shop with stringing services, and nice locker rooms. Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club membership includes a full membership to Manhattan Plaza Health Club. MPRC members can fully access the Health Club’s many fitness classes, climbing walls, gym, glass enclosed swimming pool, sundeck, sauna and more. There is indoor parking also available on the premises. MPRC’s most popular program for members is game arranging that follows the NTRP rating system. MPRC has some of the best tennis-teaching professionals in New York City who offer private lessons and group lessons. MPRC offers several categories of membership, including the Advantage Passport Tennis/Sports MultiClub Membership to Roosevelt Island Racquet Club & Sports Park and the New York Tennis Club. For membership information, contact MPRC Assistant Manager and Membership Director Calvin Sharpe at (212) 5940554. MPRC also offers season/open tennis time, and for more information on these opportunities, contact MPRC Manager Gertrud Wilhelm at (212) 594-0554. For more information on tennis lessons and Adult Tennis Programs, contact MPRC Assistant

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

New York Tennis Magazine PRESENTS YOUR

2012 Guide to New York Tennis Clubs Tennis Director Bruce Barney at (212) 594-0554. MPRC also offers QuickStart, and for more information, contact MPRC Director of Programs Outreach Gil Amar at (212) 594-0554.

Midtown Tennis Club

341 8th Avenue • New York, N.Y. (212) 989-8572 • MidtownTennis.com Midtown Tennis Club is Manhattan’s original indoor tennis facility conveniently located in the heart of New York City. Situated on 8th Avenue between 26th and 27th Streets, Midtown Tennis Club is easily accessible by public transportation. In a city filled with commitments and membership dues, it’s a breeze to reserve at Midtown for an hour or more of court time, a private lesson or one of Midtown’s clinics. Midtown has four indoor Har-Tru courts for year-round use and four outdoor Har-Tru courts which are bubbled and heated during the winter months. Midtown’s outdoor season enables City-dwellers to play on our open-air courts with spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. Midtown offers an extensive team of tennis professionals who are available to provide lessons to all ages and levels. If you are looking to develop your existing skills, learn new techniques, get a great cardio workout or prepare for your next tournament, Midtown has a pro for whatever your interest. Midtown’s clinics are offered for total beginners and all levels up to competition players. Sign up for one month, one day or all year. The Friday Night Round-Robin is a popular event in the winter season which attracts intermediate to advanced players looking for friendly doubles matches. It is a great way to meet new tennis friends. Midtown is now the home of John Curtis’s Manhattan Tennis Academy, Midtown’s new Junior Development Program. John’s after-school classes are available for juniors of all ages and levels. The Manhattan Tennis Academy also will feature the USTA 10-and-Under program and will offer small classes beginning in September.

New York Tennis Club 3081 Harding Avenue Throgs Neck (Bronx), N.Y. (718) 239-7919 AdvantageTennisClubs.com lhartman.nytci@gmail.com Founded in 1886, New York Tennis Club is the oldest active tennis club in New York, as 2012 marks New York Tennis Club’s 127th consecutive season. Throughout the years, it has maintained a reputation for its restful atmosphere, the congeniality of its members and its professional approach to a truly popular sport. With new patio and viewing deck and six newly resurfaced Har-Tru courts, The New York Tennis Club is a haven in a quiet corner of the City. Convenient to Manhattan, Queens and lower Westchester, New York Tennis Club is also the best value in the Tri-State area. Sit back and relax in New York Tennis Club’s recently renovated clubhouse and lounge, grab a bite to eat at the snack bar or unwind in the remodeled locker rooms. There is also on-site racquet stringing in the pro-shop and ample free parking located on the premises. For the outdoor season, New York Tennis Club offers unlimited summer play from May through October. Members can play as much tennis as they wish and soak up the sun on lush lawns surrounded by flower gardens, sit in the shade of willow trees or have lunch on a covered patio or in the clubhouse, offering eating facilities, locker rooms and showers. The indoor season offers the same high-quality courts during the winter at competitive rates. New York Tennis Club Indoors features two climate-controlled bubbles, equipped with shadow-less, non-glare lighting, offering hourly court time with rates between $34-$70 per court, as well as seasonal court options. Hours of operation are 6:00 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, and no membership is required. The Club offers adult programs for skill sets of all levels. Program offerings include singles and doubles leagues, a comprehensive game arranging program for both singles and doubles players, private and group instruction for all levels, cardio-tennis classes, and tennis parties with guests are welcome. Whether you are new to tennis, or want to take your game to the next level, The New York Tennis Club has a program for you. The Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Program at New York Tennis offers year-round classes, camps, and programs for all ages and levels. There are QuickStart classes for ages four through

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

New York Tennis Magazine PRESENTS YOUR

2012 Guide to New York Tennis Clubs nine, summer and holiday camp programs, after-school programs, tournament training for advanced competitive players, and match play. During the school year, classes are offered both after school and on Saturdays. The Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Camp offers one-week sessions from mid-June through the end of August. We are very excited to offer Advantage Passport Membership, which offers our members a whole new level of benefits and access. Passport memberships include free summer court time on reserved courts at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC) and New York Tennis Club, plus membership privileges at Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, Manhattan Plaza Health Club and New York Tennis Club. For more information, call Manager Lauren Hartman, or Director of Adult Programs & Advantage Sea and Sports Camp Paul Fontana at (718) 239-7919.

Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, N.Y. (212) 935-0250 RIRCTennis.com netennis@aol.com Now in its 20th year of operation, Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC) is part of Advantage Tennis Clubs. Roosevelt Island Racquet Club is conveniently located on beautiful Roosevelt Island, New York City’s oasis in the East River. The Club features 12 Lee green clay courts under translucent bubbles with shadowless, non-glare lighting, heated and air-conditioned for comfortable yearround play. The exercise room includes a treadmill, exercise bikes, elliptical trainers and free weights to accommodate almost any workout. The Club boasts a completely stocked pro shop, locker room facilities, two social lounges, Riverview Lounge with a breathtaking view of Manhattan’s skyline, a snack bar and free parking. RIRC is easily accessible by tram, subway or car (free on-site parking). The Roosevelt Island Tram (from 60th Street and 2nd Avenue) stops adjacent to the Club, and the subway (F Train) stops one block from the Club. Members also have use of an indoor swimming pool and fitness center next door in the Sports Park. RIRC offers a wide range of adult programs for players of all levels. Program offerings range from the Advanced Singles League for the experienced competitive player, to Beginner Group Les36

sons for people new to the sport of tennis. Cardio-tennis is one of the Club’s most popular programs and is offered daily for those looking to combine a cardio workout with tennis. Whatever your goal, there is a program for you! The Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Program offers year-round classes, camps and programs for all ages and levels. There are QuickStart classes for ages four through nine, summer and holiday camp programs, after-school programs, tournament training for advanced competitive players, and match play. During the school year, classes are offered both after-school and on Saturdays. The Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Camp offers one-week sessions from mid-June through the end of August. Roosevelt Island Racquet Club offers a Gold Membership that includes full Club privileges, 14-day advance reservation privileges, member court fees with an average savings of $35 per court hour, game arranging and member discount on all programs. The Club is excited to offer Advantage Passport Membership, which offers members a whole new level of benefits and access. Passport Memberships include free summer court time on reserved courts at RIRC and New York Tennis Club, plus membership privileges at Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, Manhattan Plaza Health Club and New York Tennis Club. For more information, contact Gordon Kent, Tom Manhart or Kimberly Latif at (212) 935-0250.

SPORTIME Randall’s Island One Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. (212) 427-6150 SportimeNY.com/Manhattan membershipri@sportimeny.com SPORTIME Randall’s Island, a stateof-the-art, 20-court facility located on Randall’s Island in Manhattan, is the home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA). New York sports legend John McEnroe opened his world-class training academy in the world’s greatest city in September 2010. JMTA is led by Lawrence Kleger, SPORITME’S executive director of tennis, who has trained more ranked juniors than anyone in the history of the USTA Eastern Section. Lawrence is also the personal coach of JMTA’s Noah Rubin, a top American tennis prospect who recently reached his career-best of 14th in the ITF junior world ranking for boys 18 & Under. JMTA staff is comprised of experienced teaching professionals, including As-

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

New York Tennis Magazine PRESENTS YOUR

2012 Guide to New York Tennis Clubs sistant Academy Directors Fritz Buehning, Bruce Haddad, Karim Balagh and Nate Emge. Fritz is a former world top 20 player and U.S. Open finalist, Bruce is a two-time All-American at Arizona State University, Karim has coached with the Moroccan Davis Cup team, and Nate is a former number one player at the University of Kentucky and an assistant coach at Michigan State University. In addition to a world-class junior tournament training program, SPORTIME Randall’s Island offers the best New York City has to offer for adult players of all levels. We have a wide range of adult tennis and fitness offerings, including group clinics and private lessons, taught by the same great teaching pros who are training the next Johnny Mac at JMTA. The club also offers adult singles and doubles leagues, private and group personal training in its well-equipped fitness center, and a variety of monthly events where you can meet new people as you improve your tennis. Members enjoy preferred rates for court times and seasonal courts. SPORTIME Randall’s Island features 160,000-square feet of tennis courts and amenities, including five indoor and five indoor/outdoor Deco-Turf tennis courts, as well as 10 indoor/outdoor Har-Tru clay tennis courts. All 20 courts are available for year-round play. This extraordinary club also features a functional training and fitness center; comfortable lounge areas with excellent viewing; a junior lounge/computer lab; a pro shop featuring top brands and 24-hour stringing; a complimentary nursery; steam baths in the member locker rooms; a café serving healthy food, snacks and beverages; and classrooms, party rooms and meeting facilities. So come see for yourself. It’s all right here on Randall’s Island under the RFK/Triboro Bridge. Contact Membership Director Zef Lekaj at (212) 427-6150 or e-mail membershipri@sportimeny.com for more information and to schedule a visit.

door tennis center commenced its first indoor season at the end of 2010. The excellent lighting, high indoor ceilings and spacious backcourts of the new Stadium Tennis Center are sure to please the tennis playing public and tournament level players. The new Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Park offers a full complement of tennis programs for juniors and adults of all skill levels in partnership with Gotham Tennis Academy, a leader in developing and operating tennis programs in New York City and the Hamptons. Through its partnership with Gotham Tennis Academy, the new Tennis Center has established a team of top-notch, experienced tennis professionals and offers popular junior development and advanced training tennis programs including high performance elite training for ranked juniors. For adult players, fast-paced group clinics and cardio tennis workouts are offered daily, in addition to indoor seasonal court rentals, private lessons, game arranging, leagues and tournament play. The state-of-the art indoor seasonal “bubble” covering 12 tennis courts at the new Stadium Tennis Center is one of the largest tennis “bubbles” or domes of this type in the world, covering an area of over four million cubic feet and a footprint of more than 75,000-square feet. In addition, an adjacent clubhouse will be completed in the coming months and will feature a pro shop, café, locker rooms and lounge areas, Wi-Fi computer access, a workspace where children can do schoolwork and read, and a tennis library. More information about Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Park can be found at www.stadiumtennisnyc.com or by calling (718) 6654684. More information about Gotham Tennis Academy can be found at www.gothamtennis.com or by calling (646) 524-7069.

Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Park

TCR—The Club of Riverdale

725 Gateway Center Boulevard at East 152nd Street and the Harlem River Bronx, N.Y. (718) 665-4684 StadiumTennisNYC.com The new Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Park, located in the shadow of Yankee Stadium at East 152nd Street and the Harlem River, can be labeled “the best-kept secret in New York City tennis.” With 16 cushioned, U.S. Open-style deco-turf, hard courts—including 12 indoor courts which are open for indoor play from October through April, New York City’s newest indoor/out-

2600 Netherland Avenue Riverdale, N.Y. (718) 796-9099 TCR-NYC.com TCR—The Club of Riverdale is entering its 20th year as New York’s premier tennis and health club. We are proud to welcome Gilad Bloom as our new director of tennis. Gilad, for the last two years, was the director of tennis at The John McEnroe

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

New York Tennis Magazine PRESENTS YOUR

2012 Guide to New York Tennis Clubs Tennis Academy at Randall’s Island, and before that, ran his own academy at The New York Tennis Club. Gilad commands the reputation of inspiring the most from the high-performance athletes in the field. It is his inspirational quality that is going to not only lead the Tournament Training Program at TCR, but will raise the level of effort and productivity on all the courts that Gilad will personally impact each and every day. The 150,000-square foot club has six indoor tennis courts, a 75foot swimming pool, basketball gymnasium, table tennis rec hall, fitness center, golf center, group exercise and spinning studios, spa, café, sun deck and childcare center. TCR’s Junior Development Program has led the market regards operational excellence since 1993. TCR’s quality pro staff, unparalleled on-court product, mature transport operation, great facilities and the most convenient club location in NYC have combined to make TCR’s program the go-to program for the most discerning tennis enthusiast. TCR is accepting a limited number of applications for its Junior Development Tournament Training Program that begins Monday, Sept. 10. TCR’s transport network offers the convenience of door-to-door transport from school or home, seven days a week, for all hours of the day and night. The program will offer a supplemental fitness program to provide that extra edge as well as private tennis lessons on a seasonal basis. TCR will also be running ETA Tournament excursions for its kids, as well as school break camp sessions. Gilad will not only head the Junior Development Program during the school year, but will also bring High-Performance to TCR’s Summer Camp Program. Students can experience weekly camp sessions at TCR with door-to-door transport offered from throughout New York City. TCR invites you to come and meet Gilad and visit the Club. To arrange for an on/off-court appointment with Gilad, call (718) 796-9099.

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Meridian Road at Grand Central Parkway Flushing, N.Y. (718) 760-6200 USTA.com The Community Tennis Development program at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (NTC) is intended to promote and develop the game of tennis as a means of healthful recreation and physical fitness for youngsters and the general public while utilizing the facilities at the NTC. The NTC is open to the public seven days a week, except for the time period of the U.S. Open. The general public is encouraged to come utilize the indoor/outdoor tennis courts and other facilities. 38

Courts may be reserved two days in advance or used on the day of play on a first-come/first-served basis. In 2011, it is estimated that more than 85,000 individuals utilized the facility in this manner. Among the many participants in Photo credit: Anthony Pastecchi the programs are the New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL), the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, Star Track/Say Yes to Tennis, No to Violence clinics for Queens at-risk youth, etc., providing thousands of youth with a free opportunity to learn and play tennis. Free tennis clinics are conducted for NYC Department of Education teachers/coaches. The NTC hosts various tennis opportunities for special populations, including wheelchair tennis instruction for the physically-challenged from the months of October through July, HERO (Help Expand Recreational Opportunities) for developmentally challenged adults and tennis for autistic children through NYFAC (New York Families for Autistic Children). The NTC tournaments program promotes tennis play at the NTC by providing various tournaments for local players. At the junior level (ages eight to 18), more than 1,000 boys and girls compete against each other based on their abilities. The USTA NTC Junior Classic, a larger, Level 1 sectional tournament, is held for boys and girls ages eight through 18 from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. This tournament has more than 350 competitors. NTC summer camps provide basic tennis instruction, including the 10-and-Under QuickStart format for younger children, and basic fitness programs; encourages good sportsmanship; and leads to general character building of children in the New York City area. These services are provided at nominal cost, making it affordable for youngsters who would not otherwise get the chance to attend camp or receive tennis instruction. NTC’s teaching programs provide the public with reasonablypriced tennis instruction from USPTA- or PTR-certified, full-time teaching staff. These teaching programs service thousands of players, from the very young (four years old) to senior citizens (92 yearsplus) with a wide variety of lesson plans suited to their abilities. Project ACES (Alternative Classroom Environment for Students) started at the NTC in 2009. The program is geared toward six- to 10-year-old children from schools around the five boroughs, providing them the opportunity to visit the NTC and learn about the history and the game of tennis. The kids are given a walking tour of the entire site (excluding Stadium 2/3), including Center Court in Ashe, a video presentation in Interview Room 1 on the history and the game of tennis and the great players of the sport, a tour of the locker rooms, and roughly an hour of tennis instruction from the NTC’s pro staff, ending with lunch at the Indoor Tennis Center.

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

New York Tennis Magazine PRESENTS YOUR

2012 Guide to New York Tennis Clubs West Side Tennis Club 1 Tennis Place Forest Hills, N.Y. (718) 268-2300 ForestHillsTennis.com The West Side Tennis Club is well-known for hosting the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. Today, it is home to 830 members, maintaining the best of our celebrated past and rich history. The West Side Tennis Club often surprises first-time visitors. Anchored by its historic stadium, the renowned Tudor-style clubhouse, along with a junior Olympic pool complex, West Side’s 12 acres are both a majestic setting and a tranquil oasis in the heart of New York City. West Side Tennis Club is located just 20 minutes from the bustle of midtown Manhattan, easily accessible by car, bus, subway or the Long Island Railroad. West Side maintains 38 tennis courts on four different surfaces: Grass, Har-Tru, Red Clay and Deco-Turf and provides year-round tennis utilizing its 10-court indoor facility.

Members can take advantage of group or private lessons, clinics, tournaments, ladders, arranged matches, round-robins and a year-round junior program, including summer camp, a pro shop and swimming lessons. West Side Tennis Club also offers a full-service restaurant and bar with spectacular sunset dining, and private party and corporate outing facilities. Platform tennis, bridge, and fun-filled activities and social events for all ages at all levels are scheduled year-round. On weekends and weekdays, it’s a fabulous warm weather getaway for families, with a tennis day camp that is the perfect summer activity for children. So convenient, what better way to end a day at work than with a game of tennis, a dip in the pool, and watching the sun set having drinks on the club house patio. And for getting business done in a special way, it’s a unique place to spend quality time with customers, business associates and colleagues. There is even wireless Internet access available anywhere in the clubhouse. Want to do a truly special event for a small or large group of people, West Side Tennis Club has everything you could want to create a special occasion. There is something for everyone at the West Side Tennis Club. For more information, visit ForestHillsTennis.com or call (718) 268-2300.

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A Chat With Ron Rocchi USTA Eastern volunteer Daisy Schwartz had a chance to chat with Ron Rocchi, senior designer-CRO, global tour manager of racquet sports for Wilson Sporting Goods about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which we all know is really tennis! When/how/why did you get your start in tennis? Tell me a little bit about yourself. Ron Rocchi: I consider myself a life-long tennis player and tennis enthusiast, and as I look back on the different stages of my life, tennis has always been a major influence. I was the first person in my family to play tennis and had no real influence or exposure to the sport as a young child. Around the age of eight or nine, I picked up a racquet and have had one in my hand ever since. I love playing the sport and found competitive tennis filled a desire to train and compete, through high school, college and beyond. I am fortunate to have worked in the tennis industry for more than 30 years now, and my experience is extremely diverse. My very first job in tennis was folding towels at the local club in trade for court time, and I even washed courts at a resort as a full-time job! I have taught tennis in both private and public facilities, at resorts and country clubs, managed facilities, developed innovative programs and trained teaching professionals. Currently, I am the senior designer and global tour manager for Wilson Racquet Sports, and work with over 100 professional tennis players on tour. What about the sport are you most passionate about? Equipment, more specifically, racquets and strings. For any player in the world, having the right equipment absolutely can make a difference in their game. Elite athletes and professional players have the same desire and need to match the right racquet that will allow them to play their best tennis as does the average player at the local club. There are many factors that contribute to the racquet, the string, and the handle, all of which will determine how each player will perform. The challenge is to find the right combination for each individual player. In the history of tennis, we have never seen the sheer magnitude of products being produced and offered for players than today, and to understand those equipment choices takes a comprehensive knowledge. What about tennis is most inspirational? One aspect of tennis I find inspirational is the unique path each player takes to reach the top level. For the pros, background is almost unim40

portant as many of the top players come from a very modest upbringing. Then, the drive to be the best takes over and with a lot of hard work, amazing things can happen. Our media coverage of the sport today does not begin to tell these amazing stories, full of struggle and challenge. These stories transcend tennis, and are truly inspirational. What direction do you see tennis going in, overall? Court-balanced with the external business influences. Around the world, the governing bodies of tennis struggle with the notion of how to protect the sport, while increasing the revenue required to grow and improve. For example, the addition of “oncourt” player challenges has proven to be a real improvement to the sport, without changing the dynamics of play. But this addition has cost significant dollars in research, testing and equipment. On the business side, sponsors, agents, manufacturers, tournaments and players all compete to find their share of the respective pie. This delicate balance is important and should be a major focus for those of us involved in the sport of tennis to protect its future. What advice do you have for young players just getting started? Take your tennis extremely seriously. Training, diet, skill-building, tactics and shot selection are the cornerstones of your game. I guarantee your opponents are working with 100 percent of their effort and even beyond. Do all of the little things well, know your equipment, shoes and grips, and these things will factor into your success. How did you come up with the idea for an all-star international team of stringers? What are some of the tournaments where we can find you and your team? For decades, Wilson and the USTA have been partners on many projects, from grassroots programs, to being the official ball of the U.S. Open. In 2006, the USTA identified a need to upgrade the stringing service provided to the players at the tournament, and approached Wilson with this request. What most tennis fans don’t know is that the “on-site” stringing service is a major component of how the tournament is operated, and is extremely difficult to perform well. We will see almost every player each day, and to fulfill their specific stringing needs is no simple task. On a busy day, we will string more than 350 racquets, each with their own set requirements tailored toward the individual players. Our ability to string their racquet efficiently and correctly each day is central to their performance and can make the difference between a loss and a win. This is something we take very seriously. To handle this monumental task, having a well-trained team is essential. The Wilson Stringing team was created to become the very best in the world, and perform at the highest level possible at a Grand Slam event. While many other

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

USTA METRO REGION

stringing services are just that—a service—we operate as a team. Each stringer goes through a rigorous and comprehensive training program, and we have standardized every aspect of stringing down to how we tie certain knots. Team members come from all over the world, and are the some of the finest tournament stringers in the world today. In 2012, the Wilson stringing team can be found stringing at the Australian Open, Sony Ericsson Open, and the U.S. Open. These tournaments represent three out of the five biggest tournaments in the world, and they trust Wilson for their stringing. When you are in New York City during the U.S. Open, which restaurants/bars do you like best? Any tips for the fans/spectators? During the U.S. Open, there is not much time to get out and enjoy the city. The stringing team stays in midtown Manhattan, and we are always looking for late night spots to eat or just hang out. We have been known to frequent Smith and Wo, Blondies, Wheel Tapper, Dos Caminos and East Japanese for sushi. If you are considering coming to the U.S. Open as a fan to watch tennis, consider a weekday during the first week. This is your best chance to see many outer courts of action with great players, and also take in a night match which is a must during the Open. In the second week, there is less tennis to see and the demand is greater. Be prepared to spend some money as the U.S. Open is expensive. You may have to fight some crowds, but the experience is well worth it as a fan! I have been to every major tournament in the world, and almost all of the smaller ones as well, and what you hear is true, there is nothing like a night match at the U.S. Open! Although on the tour so much of the time, where do you spend most of your days coming up with your great ideas? Without revealing too much, what are you working on now? As senior designer for Wilson Racquet Sports, I am always working on new and innovative products for players of all skill levels. Currently, our BLX line of racquets can be found in stores, clubs, and online all over the world. We typically launch new models once a year, and are rapidly approaching the 2013 debut of new models. I am currently working on some great things for 2014, and have even started work on things for 2015! Stay tuned for some great products from Wilson. Outside of tennis what else are you up to this summer? For a lot of people, today it is challenging to balance work and family, and this is certainly true for me as well. I spend as much time as possible with my wife and kids just doing summer things and taking vacations. I had two boys playing baseball this summer and it was great to go to all the games. The girls were busy with friends, soccer and activities. We did find the time to take a road trip to Colorado. When at home, we like to spend time at the pool. I consider myself to be a semi-professional chef and love to barbeque all summer long!

The David Dinkins Tennis Club Offering Free 10 & Under Tennis The David Dinkins Tennis Club at The Jungle has announced that it is offering a summer of Free 10 & Under family tennis. Every Saturday morning from 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. through Saturday, Sept. 30, five- to 10-year-old children and their parents are encouraged to participate in tennis instruction with their children at Fred Johnson Park, located at 150th Street and 7th Avenue. These lessons are presented under the direction of Sam Penceal, a USPTR-Certified Professional, and racquets, balls and all equipment is provided. To RSVP for these sessions, send an e-mail with the names and ages of participants to princsam@aol.com or call (917) 687-2576.

Yonkers Native Jonathan Agyeno Selected to Attend USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning Leadership Camp The USTA has announced that 13-year-old Jonathan Agyeno from Yonkers, N.Y. was one of 36 student/athletes from around the nation selected to attend the 28th Annual USTA/NJTL Tennis Leadership Camp in Minneapolis, held July 16-20. The camp is for kids ages 12-14 who participate in National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network chapters nationwide. This year’s camp was held on the campus of the University of Minnesota. Agyeno was nominated by Dante Brown from the Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program based on his leadership qualities, academics, tennis skills and extracurricular activities. The all-expenses paid week-long camp provides the attendees with tennis instructions, as well as rewarding educational and motivational experiences. During the camp, instructors emphasized the importance of individual skill development, physical fitness, proper nutrition and good sportsmanship. The students received tennis lessons four to seven hours daily from several of the most experienced coaches in the game; heard from guest speaker Jon Rydberg, U.S. Men’s wheelchair tennis player and 2012 Paralympian; and volunteered locally to sort and pack donated books for shipment to the “Books for Africa” projects and programs. The USTA/NJTL Tennis Leadership Camp was created in 1984 to provide an educational and motivational tennis experience for NJTL participants who might not otherwise have access to such an opportunity.

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

USTA METRO REGION

Bronx Player Raising Funds to Rebuild School, Tennis Courts in Niger Work being done on a tennis court in Niger

Ibrahim Siddo of the Bronx, N.Y. The world of tennis knows no bounds. Just ask Ibrahim Siddo of the Bronx, N.Y. who founded a non-profit organization last year after learning about the destruction of a school in his hometown of Niger during the country’s rainy season. Siddo, who visited the school in December, saw the impact on the local community firsthand: Students were sitting on bricks in classrooms, the school was missing basic educational supplies and the tennis courts where he used to play were all ripped up. We caught up with Siddo and asked him about his organization, SUPAD Inc., and its efforts to help rebuild and develop Niger.

the school of Fetetchide. This can be seen on the Web at www.supadinc.org. I am also doing everything I can, as mandated by the Niger Tennis Federation, to collect balls, rackets, shoes, nets and anything anyone can give to support the Niger Tennis Federation. If people want to help, how can they contact your organization? Whoever wants to help can do so at www.supadinc.org or mail us at: SUPAD Inc. • 1230 E. Tremont Avenue, #10F • Bronx, NY 10460 They can also call us at (917) 545-9825. What’s your hope for the children who are learning to play tennis in Niger? My hope for the children who are learning to play tennis in Niger is to have decent courts, nets, and balls which, I have no doubt, will galvanize these children and lead them to be even more enthusiastic about tennis. This will ultimately create champions for Niger.

Local Players Compete in the American Tennis Association’s National Championships By Esu Ma’at

What is the name of your organization? What is its mission? SUPAD Inc. comes from truncating the words “SUPport” and “Advancement,” and its mission is to help create better conditions for learning and development for children in Niger. What inspired you to create this organization? My inspiration to create this organization came two years ago when I received an e-mail from a cousin of mine from my native village asking me to send money to help reconstruct the classrooms the storms destroyed during the rainy season. When I saw the pictures of the damage, I shared them with friends and colleagues who did not hesitate a bit to join me when I told them about my idea of creating a non-profit to help in this poor country where small help could go far. That was how SUPAD was created on July 25, 2011. In December 2011, I traveled to Niger, and saw for myself how serious the situation was. The school had no benches or tables, the students were sitting on bricks in classrooms and had no basic school supplies. The tennis club I used to play at was unrecognizable, the courts were ripped, the nets torn and the balls were worn out beyond recognition. That is why I have decided to do something to bring this situation to the knowledge of those who are capable and willing to join us to make a difference for these children. What can people do to help your organization? When I came back from Niger, I developed the first project: To support 42

Thirteen players from the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program (HJTEP) took part in the 95th Annual American Tennis Association (ATA) National Championships, held July 29-Aug. 4 at the Jimmy Evert Tennis Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Formed in 1916 by a group of AfricanAmerican businessmen, college professors and physicians, the ATA, is the oldest African American sports organization in the United States. The first ever ATA National Championships, consisting of three events (men’s and women’s singles, and men’s doubles) took place at Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park in August of 1917. In August 2012, several thousand players took part in more than 50 different events at the 95th Annual ATA National Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Representing the HJTEP were: Shayna Spooner, Donovan Spigner, Nia Rose, Kiara Rose, Courtney “Jaycen” Murphy, Alexa Colas, Joakim Duffy, DJ Smith, Zuhri Masters, Jonathan Agyeno, Kumeil Hosain, Ameer Hosain and Vashni Ballesti. The HJTEP has been a member club and fervent supporter of the American Tennis Association. Juniors making the annual ATA National’s excursion is a time honored tradition for the 40-year program located in Central Harlem. For most of the students, this is an all-expenses-paid trip. The HJTEP is a non-profit organization. Operational expenses are largely covered by fundraising efforts, grants and private donations. For more information or to support the HJTEP, visit http://harlemjuniortennis.org.

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

PUT MORE PLAY

IN YOUR DAY THERE IS AN EVENT HAPPENING NEAR YOU!

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and tennis is the perfect sport to get your kids active. Attend a USTA Free Tennis Play Day in celebration of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play. The USTA is hosting Free Tennis Play Days across the country from September 1 through October 6

For more information visit

Nickelodeon, Worldwide Day of Play, and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

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

Tweets from the pros Daniela Hantuchova (@dhantuchova): Hey guys, I had so much fun last night at the ESPYs! It was fun seeing so many great athletes under one roof. It’s always great to be in LA!

Casey Dellacqua (@caseydellacqua): Justin Bieber seems like a lovely young lad with a good head on his shoulders. Mardy Fish (@MardyFish): I’m not an Angels fan at all but obviously I have to root for a guy named Mike Trout right??? Novak Djokovic (@djokernole): I’m officially back in the office! I hit a couple of balls with Maria, trust me … she didn’t take it easy on me :) Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki): Done for the day. It feels so good to get home after a good day of practice. I’ll sleep like a baby tonight!

Shahar Peer (@shaharpeer): After a really good day of tennis and fitness I had a massage, and now I’m going to have dinner! Really happy about today :-) Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): Evening on the couch for me! 6 hours of training in 30 degrees should do it.

Serena Williams (@serenawilliams): I’m at Chef Chu’s restaurant in Palo Alto Ca. This place is insanely good! Thanks Chef! I love it!!!

Robin Soderling (@RSoderling): Acupuncture time!

Tweets from the 2012 London Olympics Bob Bryan (@Bryanbros): Trying on some snazzy gear at USA team processing.

Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki): Woohoo on my way to London!!! So excited!

Ryan Harrison (@ryanharrison92): Made it to London! Awesome new Nike gear for the Olympics! Can’t wait to get going. Serena Williams (@serenawilliams): OLYMPICS!!!!!

Andy Roddick (@andyroddick): It’s awesome when you’re behind someone at the grocery store and as they are getting wrung up they run to get five more things.

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

Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): Back in London and can’t wait for the Olympics! I am so excited to represent Denmark!!

Body Issue Daniela Hantuchova has followed Serena Williams and Vera Zvonareva in appearing before the cameras for ESPN The Magazine’s annual Body Issue. There’s precedent for Hantuchova’s (lack of) coverage: She featured prominently in Sports Illustrated’s 2009 Swimsuit Issue, alongside fellow pros Maria Kirilenko and Tatiana Golovin.

nant with the couple’s first child. Both players are 27 and have been dating for two years. On his way to tying the knot is James Blake. Blake is set to be married on Nov. 9 in San Diego. Blake and his fiancee Emily just recently had their first child, a baby girl named Riley. María José Martínez Sánchez has been enjoying some of the best years of her career recently and the Spaniard got married in Barcelona on July 14 to her boyfriend of nine years, Juan Domingo Pérez.

Serena hopes not to Basketball Meets Tennis argue at U.S. Open

Scottie Pippen, part of Serena Williams jokes the six-time World Chamthat her goal at this sumpion Chicago Bulls and mer’s U.S. Open is to the original Dream Team, “maybe not get into an watched Serena Williams argument.” In her last two advance to the next round appearances at Flushing at Wimbledon and Dallas Mavericks star Meadows, Williams threatDirk Nowitzki watched his German ened a linesperson after being called for a compatriot Sabine Lisicki upset Maria foot fault (in the 2009 semis), and then arSharapova at Wimbledon as well. gued with chair umpire Eva Asderaki over a hindrance call, calling her “not a very nice And the ESPY goes to … person inside” (in the 2011 final). “If someone makes me really angry I Maria Sharapova made a might have to get into a little bit of an argucameo on the red carpet ment, but my goal is to try to stay calm if I at the ESPY Awards held can,” Serena said with a smile. “If not I’m at Los Angeles’ Nokia going out with a bang as I did the past two Theatre. She then won the years.” Best Female Tennis Player honor, but was beaten for Best Female Athlete by Baylor University basketball champ Brittney Griner, and for Best Comeback by Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Novak Djokovic also won at the ESPYs, as Best Male Tennis Player.

Back to school Venus Williams is taking online classes through Indiana University. She wore her school colors and letters while watching sister Serena play at Wimbledon

Love and marriage Marcos Baghdatis and Karolina Sprem married in Trakoscan castle in her homeland of Croatia in July. Sprem is also preg-

Last call at Open for Clijsters This year’s U.S. Open will be the last for former world number one-ranked Kim Clijsters of Belgium. Clijsters has announced that she plans on retiring after the event. She initially retired in 2007 due to a hip injury, but returned in 2009 to win her second U.S. Open title that year. Earlier this year, Clijsters had already announced this would be her last season. “As it stands, I will end my career at the U.S Open,” said Clijsters. “That is where I enjoyed my greatest triumphs and it is a very special place for me.” She is a three-time champion in Flushing Meadows, winning the tournament in 2005, 2009 and 2010.

McHale and Stephens on the USS Midway

Two of America’s most promising young stars, Christina McHale and Sloane Stephens, had a very special experience on Day 1 of the Mercury Insurance Open, playing tennis on and then touring the USS Midway, the longest-serving U.S. Navy carrier of the 20th Century and the most visited floating ship museum, with more than five million visitors since 2004.

Tube stations

In celebration of the Olympic Games in London 2012, the names of 361 tube stations will be changed to carry the names of Olympic athletes. Roger Federer now has his own stop near the city centre. “Roger Federer” will be one of the stops on the black line, the so-called Northern Line and will replace the normal stop “Old Street.” Athletes like Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Usain Bolt, Fabian Cancellara, Carl Lewis, Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali were also honored with their own tube station stops during the Olympics this summer.

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

y m m o M and M e Tennis BY RICHARD THATER

was asked this past spring by the parents of some of my five-year-old students if I would consider starting a class for two-, three- and four-yearolds. The younger children had been coming to my club as tagalongs to their siblings’ lessons and were feeling left out. Secure in my belief that Google would rescue me, I enthusiastically said yes. Knowing that Mommy and Me programs are very popular, I was dismayed to get just three hits from my search. And those hits were for programs that had been discontinued. Since I am teaching mostly 10 & Under Tennis classes, I decided to modify what I do for the needs of younger children. I began by determining how strict I was going to be with the requirements for joining this experimental program. First, the mothers had to be club members. Outsiders might balk at my club’s rule about all-white cloth46

ing in the summer. Then, the children had to have an older sibling in another program I teach. I expected the mothers to be players themselves. And, finally, the mother had to come and participate with her child. I had to turn down one applicant because her busy work schedule would have required her to send her nanny with the child. I spend every summer day setting up four QuickStart courts in the historic stadium of the West Side Tennis Club so I have plenty of

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

room. For Mommy and Me, I set up a court parallel to these four so I can easily incorporate this group into my summer camp program. The young children feel they are part of the action with the big guys, and, since all the classes break for a fruit snack at the same time, they feel even more included. Setting up a court is easy. For net posts, I use the large white and red tubs that are shipped full of 36-foot court balls. I attach a length of yellow tennis/caution tape between the tubs as the net, and I throw down 12-inch yellow rubber strips to set the boundaries of the court. You have probably seen the class on television where children use an inverted cone to catch balls. For younger children, I use balls that are extra soft, with no bounce. This increases the success my students have in keeping the balls in the cones (a folded set of socks also works). I then progress to using rackets to catch floppy toys, having the children just hold their rackets in front of them like frying pans to catch the floppy toys on the strings. These methods reduce the risks of failure while the children learn the principles of tracking and receiving. Then it is time for Italian lessons. I tell them that Bocce is the Italian word for

bowling, and for kisses. Using throw down lines, I set up two targets at different distances from the children (maybe three-feet and eight-feet) and have them try to bowl a ball as close to the line as possible. They don’t know that they are also getting a lesson in depth perception, a concept not easily grasped by children. Next step is tennis horseshoes, using a few hula-hoops and some spare ball hoppers. Para-communication is critical when teaching young children. Show them, don’t tell them. I place one hoop on the hopper so they see what the goal is. I then show them how to hold the hoop (palms up) and how to turn their bodies sideways to get power on the toss. Positioning the children and their mothers about five-feet from the hopper, I have them try to toss the hula-hoops over the hoppers. One of my favorite exercises for helping young children learn how to move their bodies is to let them practice transitioning from large motor movements into smaller and more precise actions. I set a ball down on a spare racket, about five-feet from the net and use an inflatable tennis player balloon that is larger than my children. This

can be lots of fun. You can also modify a hopper or shopping cart, with a racket stuck up in front as a target. The children run full speed to the ball on the racket, stop, pick up the ball, and then throw it at the target. I remind them that throwing successfully demands that the opposite foot be put forward, and the throw should start behind the ear. I limit the Mommy and Me lessons to just 30 minutes. No one gets too tired, and no

one gets bored. Everyone in the program wants to come back in the autumn and winter, so I am going to judge this experiment was a success. Richard Thater is director of 10 & Under Tennis at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills N.Y. He is PTR-certified in Junior Development. He may be reached by phone at (917) 749-3255 or e-mail richthater@aol.com.

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Tennis Parenting What is Right and What is Wrong By Gilad Bloom Any coach who teaches mostly junior players has had to deal with the parents of their students. It is a delicate job that requires a lot of psychology. As a parent myself, I know that when it comes to our kids, we all get a bit emotional and our judgment is sometimes clouded. When I talk to the parents of my students, I try to remember that fact and I am very cautious. However, as a professional, I have an obligation to tell the parents what they need to hear, whether they like it or not. This can cause friction at times. Some diplomacy is needed, but I have learned that, as a coach, it is best to draw some red lines and keep a few principles in order. It may have cost me a few students over the years, but in the long run, it actually got me many more. I find that both parents and kids will respect a pro who stands up for his/her philosophy of coaching. I have seen many pros being dictated to by the parents which is understandable because the parent is the employer of the pro and the pro wants to keep his or her job. But on the other hand, the parent is paying us as tennis pros to give them an honest opinion about their kid’s game and that can sometimes entail telling the parent to step back. 48

As a teaching pro, I try to set ground rules when it comes to my relationships with parents. It is part of my job to educate the parents on how to be a good, positive and supportive tennis parent. Many (if not most) of the parents don’t have the background and are unsure about how to handle a young kid who suddenly gets the “tennis bug” and starts dragging them to USTA tournaments. Here are some of the rules I try to establish. Many don’t always listen to me, but I am consistent about these rules, and in time, most of them do come around and improve because there are many common mistakes that can be avoided when raising a young child in a competitive sport. 1. The parent cannot talk to the child during lessons This is an iron clad rule. In fact, ideally, the parent should not be on the court and should not attend most lessons. It is better to let the coach do the job and show up sporadically to show some support and check out on the development of the student. It is totally acceptable for the parent to get a report from the pro about the child‘s development, but the parents have to understand their role in this equation— they provide parental guidance and the pro teaches tennis. 2. Never talk about rankings I have had parents call me and say, “My

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

goal is to get my child into the top 10 by the end of the year.” That is the wrong approach entirely, because rankings can be misleading. I have nothing against a high ranking, as we all want to be number one, but it is best not to talk about it because it can put unnecessary pressure on the child. The right terms that I like to use and recommend the parents to use have to do more with specific things that are within the child’s control. For example, let’s improve the student’s practice habits or other areas that they need work on, such as footwork, strategy, technique, on-court demeanor, mental strength in the game, etc. This way, when we check ourselves every few months, we can assess the improvement in these different areas and compare the student’s current performance to past performances. The last thing to worry about is where they stand in the rankings. The mentality should be that if we work hard on all of those things, their spot in the rankings will take care of itself and good results will come. 3. Talk to the child as little as possible about tennis This is something that I‘m sure most parents don’t listen to me about, but I still preach it. My reasoning is this: A tournament player usually plays three to five times a week, multiple hours a day, including private lessons under the supervision of a coach or multiple coaches who are usually

pretty vocal and dominant. The last thing the student needs is to hear more stuff about tennis on the car ride home after practice or a match. That is the coach’s job! Also, as we all know as parents, after a certain age, kids will stop listening anyway. Most parents cannot resist and have to tell the kid something about the match, it is usually counterproductive. My advice to parents is to leave the kids alone and let them figure out things on their own. This way, they can develop their style through learning from their own mistakes and working with their coaches. I recommend asking kids questions, rather than barking at them and criticizing them. Oftentimes, the child will shut down if the parents are too deep into their affairs. If the parent takes a back seat, the student will often come around and ask the parent about their opinion, but it has to come from the child. In any case, unless the parent was at least a Division I college player, his or her answer should be, “Just try to listen to your coach and do what he says.” The only time I would recommend the parents to step in is if the player behaves in an unsportsmanlike manner, then the parent can and should be the educator. But when it comes to tennis,

it usually hurts the child to receive any kind of tennis instruction. Most parents don’t like to hear this, but a good 12- or 13-yearold player knows way more about the game than an average parent who has not competed at a high level. 4. Do not exhibit or display any physical gestures or emotion during matches I often see parents during matches and it’s a tragic/comic situation. The parent will live the match as if they are actually playing it. If the parent thinks that their behavior during matches doesn’t impact the child, they are living in denial. Kids are very sharp and they pick up on any facial expressions or gestures. We all know that what the child wants most of all is to please his/her parents, and when they see that winning or losing a point has an emotional effect on their parents, it sends the wrong message. The right message should be, “This your sport, you love it and I am here to support you. I want you to win, of course, but it doesn’t really change anything. I will still love you just the same ... win or lose.” I strongly recommend that parents sit stoically during matches and not change

the expression on their face. Do not get overzealous when the child is winning and not get upset if they are having a bad match. After the match, the parent should ask questions like, “What do you want for dinner?” Needless to say, this one is a tough one for the parents to implement. We all need to remember that this is a sport and we are creating childhood memories for these kids. The goal is that, when they are older, they can look at the junior years as some of the best years of their life. We need to find the fun and sanity in all of this, and I believe that if we help create healthy tennis players, they will enjoy the game for life. 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.

USTA Flex League New York City Do 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. You arrange a mutually agreeable match day, time and location with your opponent. Court costs, if any, are split.

Registration is completed online at www.ustaflex.com. Once registration is closed, a schedule will be generated. You will receive a list of opponents and suggested “play by” dates. Once the match is played, the scores are recorded online. We have leagues in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, and Staten Island has now joined in on the fun. Leagues are currently

open at the 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 Levels for men and women. You can find the Staten Island League by searching “NYC-Staten Island” at www.ustaflex.com. All players registered for the USTA Flex League are entered into the USTA Flex League Sweepstakes, where the grand prize is a trip for two to the U.S. Open. Fall registration dates for the USTA Flex League run from June 15 through Sept. 20.

For more information, e-mail flexleague@live.com. NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTAByLeagues Update Deborah-Rose Andrews The Manhattan Spring/Summer Playoffs were held over two weekends in July, as the 3.0 Women’s & Men’s, 3.5 Women’s & Men’s, 4.0 Women’s & Men’s, 4.5 Women’s & Men’s, and 5.0 Women all competed. The 5.0 Men’s team received direct entry to the Sectional Championships. The winning teams are listed below by captain: I 3.0 Women ....Catherine Skryzpek/ Shannon Smith I 3.0 Men..........Brad Aspel/Tony Andrade I 3.5 Women ....Ashley Rowe/Yao Bailey I 3.5 Men..........Obong Akpan I 4.0 Women ....Sarah Pomerantz I 4.0 Men..........Fred Derman I 4.5 Women ....Eileen Melniker I .5 Men............Ian Katz I 5.0 Women ....Eileen Melniker I 5.0 Men..........Michael Doane The Brooklyn teams compete in a smaller

league with a lesser number of teams, and the winners advance directly to Regional Championships. I 3.0 Women ....Liz Bednarz I 3.5 Women ....Ashley Rowe I 4.0 Men..........Jason Hee The Queens league was plagued by rain this year. There were more than 160 courts rained out this season. A particular cloud hung over the 4.0 Men’s team, captained by Ron Lense/Jeffrey Fairbanks, who had five of their matches rained out. They advanced to the playoffs which were also rained out! Despite having two playoff date rainouts, the playoffs finally finished on Thursday, Aug. 2 with the following teams advancing. I 3.0 Women ....Bonnie Aves/ Avegale Legaspi I 3.0 Men..........James DeSilva/ Samm Ticol

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3.5 Women ....Yao Bailey/Ariane Qureshi 3.5 Men..........Pete Veloso/Hermie Aguda 4.0 Women ....Elina Kapostina 4.0 Men..........Jin Hwang/Angelo Ragione

This year, we also had a new league, the Staten Island 3.5 Women. Three teams (Layne/Loffreno; Lacqua/Pasko and Hansson) competed during the season. Matches were played at the College of Staten Island, Richmond County Country Club and Tottenville Tennis Club. The team captained by Cindy Lacqua and Michelle Pasko won the league and advanced to the Regional Championship. The 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 Level teams competed at the Regional Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center the weekend of Aug. 3-4. Each district (Manhattan, Queens, etc.) played the other districts to determine who would represent Metro at the Sectional Championships. The Queens teams were on a roll—winning the 3.0 Women’s, 3.0 Men’s, 3.5 Women’s, 3.5 Men’s and 4.0 Women’s Levels. Manhattan won the 4.0 Men’s Level. Yao Bailey was the captain/co-captain of two teams that advanced to Regional Championships—the Manhattan Rowe/Bailey team and the Queens Bailey/Qureshi team. Yao’s co-captain in Queens was away, so Yao had to make the difficult decision to captain the Queens team and remove herself from the Manhattan team. To make things more difficult, the 3.5 Women’s Playoffs would be decided in the last match— Queens vs. Manhattan. It was a hard-fought match, and in the end, Yao’s Queens team prevailed for a repeat trip to Sectional Championship, which will be held in Schenectady, N.Y. this year.

The 3.5 and 4.5 Levels competed the weekend of Aug. 10-12 as this issue went into production: I I I I

3.5. Women’s..Bailey/Qureshi 3.5 Men’s ......Veloso/Aguda 4.5 Women’s ..Melniker 4.5 Men’s ......Katz

The 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 Levels will compete the weekend of Aug. 17-19: I I I I I I

3.0 Women’s ..Aves/Legaspi 3.0 Men’s ......DeSilva/Ticol 4.0 Women’s ..Kapostina 4.0 Men’s ......Derman 5.0 Women’s ..Melniker 5.0 Men’s ......Doane

Our Senior Leagues are playing now for places at the Sectional Championships in September. Metro will once again plan for a Tri-Level League in September/October at the 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 Levels. This league consists of three doubles courts—one court of 3.5 Level players, one court of 4.0 Level players and one court of 4.5 Level players. It’s a great opportunity to play with your friends who have different ratings. Please note that self-rated players may participate, however, only computer-rated players may advance. If you are interested in the Tri-Level League, please e-mail me at debrose@metrotennis.com and put “TriLevel” in the subject line.

The Mixed-Doubles League will begin in October with the Manhattan-Mixed. The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens Leagues will begin in January. This League also runs with three courts of mixed-doubles. We have leagues at the 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 and 10.0 Levels (the 9.0 and 10.0 Levels play in the Manhattan League). Additional details will be posted online at www.metrotennis.com in mid-September. 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.

The 3.0 Men’s team, captained by James De Silva and Samm Ticol, advanced to the playoffs

The 4.0 Men’s team, captained by Fred Derman, were Manhattan Spring/Summer Playoff winners at the 4.0 Level

The 4.0 Women’s team, captained by Elina Kapostina, advanced in Queens

The 4.5 Men’s squad, captained by Ian Katz, were Manhattan Spring/Summer Playoff winners at the 4.0 Level

The Men’s 3.5 team, co-captained by Pete Veloso and Hermie Aguda, advanced in Queens

The 3.5 Women’s team, captained by Yao Bailey and Ariane Qureshi, were winners at the 3.5 Level in Queens The Women’s 3.0 team, captained by Bonnie Aves and Avegale Legaspi, proudly represent Queens NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

Three Secrets to a Better Serve Today By Lisa Dodson

“Clear vision is essential for great contact on a ball.”

In today’s game, there are many schools of thought as to how to create the best serve. The information is often unclear, the terminology is difficult and the execution is near impossible. I’d like to give you three clear and simple concepts to think about that will change your serve for the better in a relatively short period of time.

tributing to your service motion. Now try hitting a ball with this grip. You’ll be surprised that this seemingly impossible task is really effective. As you put more fingers on the grip, strive to maintain the whippy feeling that allows all of the “links” in your arm to contribute to the serve.

I. Relax already! It is truly rare to find a player who understands what “relaxed” means in the game of tennis. Often when searching for a relaxed state, a player becomes so loose that strokes and technique are slow and sloppy. They simply haven’t hit enough technically sound serves to be confident in letting the racket head do the work for them. Especially problematic for the serve is the uncomfortable Continental Grip. Players squeeze the grip so as not to lose the grip. At the same time, they are killing the fluid and rhythmic technique they are trying to achieve. A relaxed mind, hand and body have a direct effect on the speed your serve will travel. Here are a few practical things you can do to physically understand what a relaxed grip means. Gently put your hand in the correct grip position on the racket. Slide your hand down so that only your first finger and your thumb are on the flared butt-end of the racket. Your other three fingers will be curled under the butt of the racket. Now go through your service motion without hitting a ball. The racket should feel heavy and uncontrollable. You can feel all of the “links” in your arm con-

II. Look up before you toss! Most tennis players think that they are looking up to their ball toss when they are actually looking out. To test what you do, stand up, relax your neck and let your head go back as far as it can against the top of your back. If you are inside, you should be looking at a spot on the ceiling almost directly above your head. Your tossing arm lifts and the fingers of your tossing hand go to the sky. A high tossing hand will set the tossing shoulder higher than the hitting shoulder, making this head position feel more natural. Clear vision is essential for great contact on a ball. A little-known fact is that the best servers look up before the ball is tossed. Looking up in anticipation of the arrival of the ball is a much more efficient method of serving. If your head goes up in advance of the toss, your eyes will be still. Now you will be fully able to focus on the target. Try envisioning a small picture frame hanging in the air at optimum contact point. Look up to that picture frame and work on being able to place the toss in that area. Focus and intent to strike the ball will be far greater.

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

III. Toss with a flat hand The position of the toss hand and arm are neglected areas when dealing with the serve. The toss arm has several critical functions. How the ball is propelled up is important not only for the result of the toss but also for the next phase of the serve. Ball tosses should travel straight up and down, without spin or arc (except when intended). Fingers bent or curled around the ball assure failure. For a successful toss, flatten your fingers and place the ball on the creases of the last joint segment. Place your thumb gently over the top of the ball, making sure to keep the hand flat by laying your wrist down. Straighten your elbow, bring your toss arm down and up in the direction of the right net post (for a right-handed server). The toss comes from the shoulder and gentle body action, and the hand finishes up in the “picture frame” described above. Gently popping the hand open at the release point eliminates “flipping” the ball off the fingers. The toss hand continues to the sky to set the tossing shoulder higher than the hitting shoulder and allowing an upward hit. The three secrets to a great serve aren’t flashy, but are so critically fundamental to the serve that you simply cannot be as successful without them. Make mastering these principles a priority and you will soon have the stress free, dominant and powerful serve that you have been wanting. 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.

Distribution scheduled for 11/01/12 This edition will feature: • 2012 Year in Review • U.S. Open Recap • Summer Camp Photo Recap • Tennis Vacation Destinations

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Tryouts Set for 2013 USA Maccabiah Tennis Team ob Delman, Gil Koppel and Peter Simel, Masters Tennis Co-Chairmen, of the 19th Maccabiah USA Organizing Committee, and Head Coach Roy Kozupsky are actively seeking the best Jewish tennis players from across the country to try out for the Maccabiah team. The Masters Tennis team will be part of the 1000+ USA Maccabiah Team competing at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel next July. Masters Tennis athletes must be 35 years of age and up as of July 2013 and age divisions for the team are: 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 5559 and 60-64. All interested Jewish athletes must fill out an application for the team, prior to the tryouts which can be found at www.maccabiusa.com. The East Coast tryout will take place SaturdayMonday, Oct. 27-29 at the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Fla. The World Maccabiah Games has a magical quality about it which awakens feelings that touch the hearts and reach the

souls of the Maccabiah participants. The athletes readily explain that these feelings remain long past the conclusion of the

competition—they last a lifetime. The Maccabiah is more than an international athletic competition; it is a celebration of Jewish culture, unity and pride, and support for the State of Israel. Coach Kozupsky of New York City has more than 30 years of coaching experience in both Israel and the United States. He has an extensive history with the Israel Tennis Centers and was a coach at Ramat Hasharon from 1978-1980, where he had the opportunity to coach and work with many young elite Israeli Tennis players. Most recently, in 2010-11, Kozupsky was the volunteer coach for the men’s and women’s club tennis teams at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. For additional information or for questions regarding the tryouts, please contact either: Rob Delman at robdelman@gmail.com; Gil Koppel at gilkoppel2@yahoo.com; Peter Simel at psimel@handler-re.com or Roy Kozupsky at rkozupsky@gmail.com.

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

John McEnroe congratulates the recipients of Fall Scholarships to his John McEnroe Tennis Academy Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

John McEnroe Tennis Academy Honors Eight With Fall Scholarships ight boys and girls, ranging in age from seven to 16, were introduced this week as winners of full or partial scholarships to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA). Each were among approximately 170 participants ages six through 17 in an open tryout on July 21, and the eight were honored on-court during the World TeamTennis matchup between the New York Sportimes and Washington Kastles at Sportime Randall’s Island.

The eight winners were: Palmer Clare, North Bellmore, N.Y. (16) Diane McCready, Brooklyn, N.Y. (11) Natalie Eordekian, Woodside, N.Y. (7) Cameron Daniels, Oakland Gardens, N.Y. (15) I Leonte Wilder, Plainfield, N.J. (11) I Sean Wei, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. (12) I Tomas Kopczynski, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. (12) I Amber O’Dell, Chesterfield, Mich. (11)

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In all, 23 semifinalists advanced to an afternoon session at the tryout, from which the winners were selected. “These eight boys and girls showed a great deal of potential and positive, winning attitude,” said McEnroe. “I was pleased with how much talent and competitive spirit we saw at the tryout, and my Academy staff and I are looking forward to working with these exceptional young athletes to maximize their abilities.” The JMTA, expanding with annexes on Long Island and in Westchester to open in September 2012, continues to draw a wide range of talented young people from all walks of life who are interested in learning tennis from its Hall of Fame namesake and from the elite team of JMTA coaches that have been assembled. The third annual session of the Academy will begin in September. The day-long tryout was held at the JMTA Flagship location, Sportime Randall’s Island, with young players between the ages of six and 17 having worked out for JMTA coaches. McEnroe observed and evaluated the players in the second opportunity for young players to participate in open tryouts for spots in the JMTA. In July 2010, over 300 young people participated in tryouts, with five boys and seven girls awarded full or partial scholarships to the JMTA.

Winning Tennis Strokes By Bill Longua

inning Tennis Strokes is a short guidebook to tennis techniques and a splendid general introduction to tennis strokes. With this book, Bill Longua, a veteran tennis instructor and USPTA pro, has produced a concise guide to learning the fundamentals of the game. As Longua explains in his foreword, this book is intended for players who range from beginners to NTRP 4.0. Unlike some other tennis books reviewed in this space, there are no admissions of drug use or high-level strategic concerns in Winning Tennis Strokes. What you get instead is basic instruction with a non-bossy tilt. Loop backswing on groundstrokes or straight-back? Eastern, Western or Continental Grips? One-handed backhand volleys or two-handed backhand volleys for players with a two-handed backhand groundstroke? Longua says players learning the game can take their pick from these options. Fair enough. The book also includes some practice

tips for players just learning the game which, while basic, will be useful. He says beginners should bring as many balls as possible to the court so they don’t have to spend so much time picking them up. This is a good point. You could also use this concern as a reason as to why beginners should take lessons, because with a pro and a hopper in use across the net, the student can make the most of their court time. Longua does caution readers of his book that before they show up at the courts with a shopping cart full of practice balls, they should make sure there are not many players on adjacent courts. At the East River Park courts in Manhattan where I play, there is a sign that says you can only bring six balls on the court. Most people interpret this to mean you can only have six balls per court, but it could just as well mean there can only be six balls in use at any one time on all 12 courts. This would make Longua’s advice hard to put into practice. Longua is an advocate of the “watch the ball onto the strings” theory of tennis. There are other theories about this, even if nobody says to not watch the ball. Some pros say that watching the ball is overrated advice. In any case, Longua is a traditionalist on this topic. A topic that Longua does tackle, is the open stance/closed stance debate. He takes a compromise position on this. Players should start off with what he calls the traditional forehand, turn, step, hit (closed stance) and when they graduate to an intermediate level, may switch to The Modern forehand, load, explode, land (open stance).

The author says, “I recommend that players using the closed stance learn to hit in an open stance when pulled to the corner for a forehand.” He doesn’t define closed versus open, so let me say that a closed stance for a righty’s forehand means the left (front) foot is out in front and further to the right than the back foot. Open stance means hitting off the left or back foot without the body having fully turned sideways to the net. Because I learned the game in the era of white balls, wood racquets and long pants, I believe the closed stance is the morally superior way to address the ball. But I do agree with Longua’s general approach, which is that players should have some flexibility as they learn the strokes. In his section on serving, Longua identifies three kinds of serves: Flat, spin and slice. This is a little weird since a slice serve is a spin serve. What he calls a “spin” serve must be what many call a “kick” or an “American Twist.” But no harm, no foul. In the section on lobs, Longua says, “Many players feel the lob is a cowardly shot and an easy way out of a difficult predicament.” This may be true of inexperienced players, but I recently attended an exhibition match in which three of the four players had ATP points on their resumes and the one player who didn’t used the lob volley to great effect. But for beginners and intermediates, this compact book will be a great companion to take to the courts with you. Brent Shearer may be reached by e-mail at bbshearer@gmail.com.

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

Credit all photos to Jessica Stiles

Juniors Work on Their Game and Get Career Advice at Camp A.C.E.

unior tennis players from across the USTA Eastern Region had the chance to improve their games and learn about careers in tennis, as they received coaching from top tennis executives and two former professional tennis players, Rodney Harmon and Leslie Allen, at the Section’s 14th Annual Camp A.C.E. Camp A.C.E. (Achieving through Coaching and Education), held July 22-27 at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Camp A.C.E. is a National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) Regional Leadership camp, which provides world-class tennis and fitness instruction, and sessions on playing tennis in college, career choices in tennis, team building, and leadership skills. “We are very excited to have Rodney,

Leslie, and these outstanding tennis executives here this year,” said Linda Mann, managing director of community tennis development for USTA Eastern. “The campers are not only improving their skills on court, but also learning what it takes to succeed off the court, in college and their future careers.” The on-court training was led by Harmon, a former U.S. Open quarterfinalist who coached the U.S. Men’s Tennis Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The classroom sessions featured a range of speakers, including sessions about personal growth led by Dale Caldwell, a director-at-large on the USTA Board of Directors; and Leslie Allen, a former player on the WTA Tour, and a panel discussion about careers in tennis.

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

The panel discussion featured D.A. Abrams, chief diversity and inclusion Officer, USTA; Michelle Blake Wilson, managing director of marketing and communications, USTA Eastern; Jill Fonte, executive director and chief operating officer, USTA Eastern; Brian Hainline, chief medical officer, USTA; Ed Neppl, chief financial officer, USTA; Renee Tirado, manager of diversity and inclusion, USTA; Jeff Williams, publisher, Tennis Magazine; and Jocelyn Cruz, tennis service representative for USTA Eastern’s New Jersey Region. In addition to the on-court and panel discussion, the camp included a trip to Columbia University, a New York Sportimes match at Sportime Randall’s Island, and a Junior TeamTennis tournament.

McEnroe, Agassi, Sampras and Rafter to Compete in NASDAQ Indexes Cup at MSG in November nsideOut Sports + Entertainment has announced that tennis legends John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Patrick Rafter will be competing in the NASDAQ Indexes Cup as part of the PowerShares Series Tour at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. on Monday, Nov. 5. Formerly known as the Champions Series, the PowerShares Series will visit a total of 12 U.S. cities during its seven-week season. In addition to McEnroe, Agassi, Sampras and Rafter, the tour, produced by Larry Magid, will feature fellow Grand Slam champions Jimmy Connors, Jim Courier, Michael Chang and Mats

Wilander, as well as Davis Cup Champion Todd Martin. The athletes will be competing for a prize pool totaling $1 million to be shared by the top three finishers at the conclusion of the season. Each PowerShares Series tournament will showcase four of the legendary players competing for ranking points playing in two, one-set semifinals followed by a one-set championship match. Pete Sampras finished the 2011 season as the number one-ranked player, followed by Jim Courier and Andre Agassi. “We are thrilled to be coming to Madison Square Garden with the PowerShares Series,” said Jon Venison, partner

at InsideOut Sports + Entertainment. “New York audiences expect to see the best and this event will showcase four former world number ones and U.S. Open Champions competing against each other in a one-night shootout tournament. It will be a fantastic night of tennis at The Garden.” The PowerShares Series is a tennis circuit for champion tennis players over the age of 30, created in 2005 by InsideOut Sports + Entertainment, the New York based firm which is co-owned and operated by former SFX executive Jon Venison and former world number one Jim Courier.

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

UPCOMING SEPTEMBER 2012 Saturday, September 1 David Dinkins Tennis Club at the Jungle Presents Free 10 & Under Tennis Fred Johnson Park 150th Street and 7th Avenue New York, N.Y. 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. For more information, call (917) 687-2576 or e-mail princsam@aol.com. Friday, September 7 The Legends Ball 2012 Cipriani 42nd Street 110 East 42nd Street (between Lexington & Park Avenues) New York, N.Y. For more information, call (401) 849-3990, e-mail newport@tennisfame.com or visit www. tennisfame.com.

EVENTS

Saturday, September 8 David Dinkins Tennis Club at the Jungle Presents Free 10 & Under Tennis Fred Johnson Park 150th Street and 7th Avenue • New York, N.Y. 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. For more information, call (917) 687-2576 or e-mail princsam@aol.com. Saturday, September 15 David Dinkins Tennis Club at the Jungle Presents Free 10 & Under Tennis Fred Johnson Park 150th Street and 7th Avenue • New York, N.Y. 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. For more information, call (917) 687-2576 or e-mail princsam@aol.com.

Saturday, September 29 David Dinkins Tennis Club at the Jungle Presents Free 10 & Under Tennis Fred Johnson Park 150th Street and 7th Avenue New York, N.Y. 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. For more information, call (917) 687-2576 or e-mail princsam@aol.com. NOVEMBER 2012 Monday, November 5 2012 NASDAQ Indexes Cup PowerShares Series Tour Madison Square Garden 4 Pennsylvania Plaza New York, N.Y. For more information, visit www.powersharesseries.com.

Saturday, September 22 David Dinkins Tennis Club at the Jungle Presents Free 10 & Under Tennis Fred Johnson Park 150th Street and 7th Avenue • New York, N.Y. 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. For more information, call (917) 687-2576 or e-mail princsam@aol.com.

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

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2012 • NYTennisMag.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

NEW Boys & Girls Metro Rankings (as of 07/30/12)

BOYS Metro Boys 12 Singles Rank..Name ..........................City 1 ........Derek Lung ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Nicholas Pustilnik ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Stevan Stojkovic ............Flushing, N.Y. 4 ........Kemal Irfan Aziz..............Staten Island, N.Y. 5 ........David Dylan Pines ..........New York, N.Y. 6 ........Mitchell Mu ....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 7 ........Scott Fischer ..................New York, N.Y. 8 ........David Moldovan ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 ........Henry Hochfelder ..........New York, N.Y. 10 ......Alexander Petrov............Middle Village, N.Y. 11 ......Derrick Mu ......................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 12 ......Jonathan Glinsky............Brooklyn, N.Y. 13 ......Eitan Khromchenko........Staten Island, N.Y. 14 ......Sidharth Chawla ............New York, N.Y. 15 ......Shawn Jackson..............Staten Island, N.Y. 16 ......Robert Shinder ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 17 ......Logan Gruss ..................New York, N.Y. 18 ......Gregory Coe ..................New York, N.Y. 19 ......Eli Taylor-Kerman ..........New York, N.Y. 20 ......Ryan McCook ................Saint Albans, N.Y. 21 ......Pieter Wernink ................New York, N.Y. 22 ......Blake Frank ....................New York, N.Y. 23 ......David Krasner ................Staten Island, N.Y. 24 ......Noah Edelman................New York, N.Y. 25 ......Brandon Torres ..............Bronx, N.Y. 26 ......Brandon Cohen..............New York, N.Y. 27 ......Jacob Livianu ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 28 ......Ethan Finley ....................New York, N.Y. 29 ......Wesley Zhang ................Staten Island, N.Y. 30 ......Joseph Shulkin ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 31 ......Teddy Brodsky................New York, N.Y. 32 ......Joseph Wilkanowski ......Long Island City, N.Y. 33 ......Nash Johnson ................New York, N.Y. 34 ......Bryce Kassalow..............New York, N.Y. 35 ......Javier Luna ....................New York, N.Y. 36 ......Daniel Maseyev ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 37 ......Ameer Hosain ................New York, N.Y. 38 ......Felix Levine ....................Long Island City, N.Y. 39 ......Dylan Friedman ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 40 ......Daniel Helfgott................

Metro Boys 14 Singles Rank..Name ..........................City 1 ........Leonardo Escudero........Ozone Park, N.Y. 2 ........Horia Negru ....................Middle Village, N.Y. 3 ........Kevin Yan ........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 4 ........Andrew Zucker ..............New York, N.Y. 5 ........Daniel Schaw..................New York, N.Y. 6 ........Garrett Sopko ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 7 ........Robert Millman ..............New York, N.Y. 8 ........Scott Glauber ................New York, N.Y. 9 ........William Trang ..................Staten Island, N.Y. 10 ......Barak Harari....................Hollis, N.Y. 11 ......Andrew Hauser ..............New York, N.Y. 12 ......Adam Bernstein..............New York, N.Y. 13 ......Josh Charap ..................New York, N.Y. 14 ......Denis Korol ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 15 ......Jahmall Forde ................Jamaica, N.Y. 16 ......Dan Ion Negru ................Middle Village, N.Y. 17 ......Derek Lung ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 18 ......Evan Liberman ..............New York, N.Y. 19 ......Jordan Rey-Anatole ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

YORK

......Xavier Pacthod ..............New York, N.Y. ......Mark Karpovas ..............Staten Island, N.Y. ......Logan Gruss ..................New York, N.Y. ......David Moldovan ............Brooklyn, N.Y. ......Noah Solano ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. ......Kermal Aziz ....................Staten Island, N.Y. ......Nate Newhouse..............New York, N.Y. ......Adam Borak....................Brooklyn, N.Y. ......Jack Metzger..................New York, N.Y. ......Eric Ryklin ......................New York, N.Y. ......Ray Fishman ..................New York, N.Y. ......Massimo Costantini ......New York, N.Y. ......Jake Laurence................New York, N.Y. ......Brandon Zhang ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. ......Ethan Moszkowski ........New York, N.Y. ......Gabriel Broshy................New York, N.Y. ......Mitchell Mu ....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. ......Sam Krevlin ....................New York, N.Y. ......Kristjan Tomasson..........New York, N.Y. ......Gabriel Sifuentes............Flushing, N.Y. ......Ethan Leon......................Woodhaven, N.Y.

Metro Boys 16 Singles Rank..Name ..........................City 1 ........David Farina....................New York, N.Y. 2 ........Jonathan Cohen ............New York, N.Y. 3 ........Benjamin M. Erichsen....Bronx, N.Y. 4 ........Jordan Selig....................New York, N.Y. 5 ........Leonardo Escudero........Ozone Park, N.Y. 6 ........Christopher Huynh ........Astoria ,N.Y. 7 ........Samuel Caloras..............Little Neck, N.Y. 8 ........William Trang ..................Staten Island, N.Y. 9 ........Leonard Margolis ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 10 ......Justin Selig ....................New York, N.Y. 11 ......Ryo Kono........................New York, N.Y. 12 ......Michael Jasienowski......Middle Village, N.Y. 13 ......Zachary Kaplan ..............New York, N.Y. 14 ......Andrew Penn..................New York, N.Y. 15 ......Joshua Freud..................New York, N.Y. 16 ......Garrett Sopko ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 17 ......Justin Ho ........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 18 ......Dillon McKenzie..............Laurelton, N.Y. 19 ......Kevin Huynh ..................Astoria, N.Y. 20 ......Alexander Fallone ..........New York, N.Y. 21 ......Teddy Drucker ................New York, N.Y. 22 ......Jonathan Compres ........East Elmhurst, N.Y. 23 ......Kevin Ching ....................Bayside, N.Y. 24 ......Michael Lesser ..............New York, N.Y. 25 ......Lorenzo Soo ..................New York, N.Y. 26 ......Alexander Pintilie............New York, N.Y. 27 ......Safraz Hamid..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 28 ......Jahmall Forde ................Jamaica, N.Y. 29 ......Andrew Hauser ..............New York, N.Y. 30 ......Kumiel Hosain ................New York, N.Y. 31 ......Marc Betito ....................Floral Park, N.Y. 32 ......Josh Weiner....................New York, N.Y. 33 ......Kevin Valdez ..................Jamaica, N.Y. 34 ......Lamar Hurt......................New York, N.Y. 35 ......Benjamin Beruh..............Bronx, N.Y. 36 ......Ira Rey-Anatole ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 37 ......Alexander Newhouse ....New York, N.Y. 38 ......Douglas Mo ....................Douglaston, N.Y. 39 ......Yihao Yang......................New York, N.Y. 40 ......Christian Gloria ..............Queens Village, N.Y.

Metro Boys 18 Singles Rank..Name ..........................City 1 ........David N. Zhukovsky ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Jordan Selig....................New York, N.Y. 3 ........Justin Selig ....................New York, N.Y.

RANKINGS 4 ........Benjamin Erichsen ........Bronx, N.Y. 5 ........Brad Gaffin......................New York, N.Y. 6 ........Sean Solomonoff............New York, N.Y. 7 ........Kevin Ching ....................Bayside, N.Y. 8 ........Alexander Pintilie............New York, N.Y. 9 ........Lorenzo Soo ..................New York, N.Y. 10 ......Ryo Kono........................New York, N.Y. 11 ......Jonathan Cohen ............New York, N.Y. 12 ......Christopher Huynh ........Astoria, N.Y. 13 ......Mark Semerik ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 14 ......Josh Weiner....................New York, N.Y. 15 ......Jordan Jordan ................Astoria, N.Y. 16 ......Hugh Mo ........................Douglaston, N.Y. 17 ......Teddy Drucker ................New York, N.Y. 18 ......Matthew Glaser..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Enrique Torres ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 20 ......Jack Walla ......................New York, N.Y. 21 ......Jahmall Forde ................Jamaica, N.Y. 22 ......Travis Arffa ......................New York, N.Y. 23 ......Kevin Huynh ..................Astoria, N.Y. 24 ......Michael Leon ..................Woodhaven, N.Y. 25 ......Mitchell Cheung ............Woodside, N.Y. 26 ......Alexander Fallone ..........New York, N.Y. 27 ......Zachary Kaplan ..............New York, N.Y. 28 ......Christopher Walla ..........New York, N.Y.

GIRLS Metro Girls 12 Singles Rank..Name ..........................City 1 ........Sabrina Boada................Woodhaven, N.Y. 2 ........Dakota Fordham ............New York, N.Y. 3 ........Victoria Hanuman ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 4 ........Zoe Kava ........................New York, N.Y. 5 ........Gabriella Eitkis................Brooklyn, N.Y. 6 ........Caroline Kantor ..............New York, N.Y. 7 ........Sofie Levine ....................New York, N.Y. 8 ........Rachel Okin ....................New York, N.Y. 9 ........Anastasya Menshikova..Brooklyn, N.Y. 10 ......Jean Soo ........................Flushing, N.Y. 11 ......Diana Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 12 ......Carolyn Brodsky ............New York, N.Y. 13 ......Rosa Aksanova ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 14 ......Hanna Yip ......................New York, N.Y. 15 ......Perene Wang..................New York, N.Y. 16 ......Audrey Pacthod ............New York, N.Y. 17 ......Skyie Stamper................Bronx, N.Y. 18 ......Amanda Solecki ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Stephanie Li....................New York, N.Y. 20 ......Miriam Aziz ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 21 ......Diana McCready ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 22 ......Sonia Tartakovsky ..........New York, N.Y. 23 ......Amalia Parrish ................Queens Village, N.Y. 24 ......Najah Dawson ................Rosedale, N.Y. 25 ......Brittny Ferreira ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 26 ......Christina Huynh..............Astoria, N.Y. 27 ......Steffi Antao ....................Briarwood, N.Y. 28 ......Bella Kaplan....................New York, N.Y. 29 ......Lorraine Bergmann ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 30 ......Samantha Fischer ..........New York, N.Y. 31 ......Kyra Bergmann ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 32 ......Johnniesha Breiten ........Bronx, N.Y. 33 ......Lena Kovacevic..............New York, N.Y. 34 ......Sophia Weiland ..............Ridgewood, N.Y. 35 ......Tiana Fernandez ............Bronx, N.Y. 36 ......Olga Drahanchuk ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 37 ......Alexandra Miasnikova....Rego Park, N.Y. 38 ......Rebecca Krupatkin ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 39 ......Isabella Cooper ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 40 ......Isabella Tushaj ................Bronx, N.Y.

Metro Girls 14 Singles Rank..Name ..........................City 1 ........Keren Khromchenko......Staten Island, N.Y. 2 ........Marierose Apice ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Jennifer Yu ......................Forest Hills, N.Y. 4 ........Victoria Zezula ................Ridgewood, N.Y. 5 ........Zorriana B. Johnson ......New York, N.Y. 6 ........Anna Maite Kaplan ........New York, N.Y. 7 ........Donna Marie Episcopio Bayside, N.Y. 8 ........Sarah Hirschfield............New York, N.Y. 9 ........Sydney Lynn Katz ..........New York, N.Y. 10 ......Arianna Motta ................Staten Island, N.Y. 11 ......Isabelle Rovinski ............New York, N.Y. 12 ......Kiara Rose ......................New York, N.Y. 13 ......Marion Goldberg ............New York, N.Y. 14 ......Vanessa Hanuman ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 15 ......Victoria Judy Hanuman Brooklyn, N.Y. 16 ......Sabrina Lee Abrams ......New York, N.Y. 17 ......Alexandra Sanford ........New York, N.Y. 18 ......Val Leifer..........................New York, N.Y. 19 ......Kayla Schumacher ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 20 ......Veronika Semenova ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......Electra Frelinghuysen ....New York, N.Y. 22 ......Nicole Khorosh ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 23 ......Cecilia Sweson ..............New York, N.Y. 24 ......Brooke Jin ......................New York, N.Y. 25 ......Stephanie Li....................New York, N.Y. 26 ......Rosa Aksanova ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 27 ......Caitlin Ervine ..................New York, N.Y. 28 ......Danielle Kade..................New York, N.Y. 29 ......Olivia Morris....................Floral Park, N.Y. 30 ......Christina Huynh..............Astoria, N.Y. 31 ......Jean Soo ........................Flushing, N.Y. 32 ......Alexandra Miasnikova....Rego Park, N.Y. 33 ......Emma Wrazej ................New York, N.Y. 34 ......Emma Gray ....................New York, N.Y. 35 ......Anu Alalade ....................Rosedale, N.Y. 36 ......Elizabeth Khusid ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 37 ......Eliza Lesser ....................New York, N.Y. 38 ......Cheyenne Jenkins..........Bronx, N.Y. 39 ......Olga Drahanchuk ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 40 ......Hanna Yip ......................New York, N.Y.

Metro Girls 16 Singles Rank..Name ..........................City 1 ........Nicole Serras ..................Whitestone, N.Y. 2 ........Emi Lewis........................New York, N.Y. 3 ........Vania Savic ....................Woodside, N.Y. 4 ........Keren Khromchenko......Staten Island, N.Y. 5 ........Erika Tinalli......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 6 ........Hediye Karabay..............Flushing, N.Y. 7 ........Nicole Schnabel ............Woodhaven, N.Y. 8 ........Alexus Gill ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 ........Keri Anne Picciochi ........Flushing, N.Y. 10 ......Irina Titova ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 11 ......Dina Levy-Lambert ........New York, N.Y. 12 ......Priscilla Signore..............Staten Island, N.Y. 13 ......Annie Reiner ..................New York, N.Y. 14 ......Bianca Signore ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 15 ......Jennifer Yu ......................Forest Hills, N.Y. 16 ......Nia Rose ........................New York, N.Y. 17 ......Brittany Biggs ................Bronx, N.Y. 18 ......Julia Zbarsky ..................New York, N.Y. 19 ......Isadora Braune ..............New York, N.Y. 20 ......Jenna Borestein ............New York, N.Y. 21 ......Marion Goldberg ............New York, N.Y. 22 ......Sarah Horne ..................New York, N.Y. 23 ......Paula Faltynowicz ..........Flushing, N.Y. 24 ......Anika Pornpitaksuk........Flushing, N.Y. 25 ......Anna Kaplan ..................New York, N.Y.

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ September/October 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

NEW 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

......Camille Price ..................New York, N.Y. ......Stefana Vujinovic............Brooklyn, N.Y. ......Shayna Spooner ............New York, N.Y. ......Kiarah Williams ..............Bronx, N.Y. ......Sarah Levy-Lambert ......New York, N.Y. ......Kara Rosenblum ............New York, N.Y. ......Lipika Raghunathan ......New York, N.Y. ......Zorriana Johnson ..........New York, N.Y. ......Champagne Mills ..........New York, N.Y. ......Savannah George ..........Bronx, N.Y. ......Lydia Weintraub..............New York, N.Y. ......Zoe Anderson ................Brooklyn, N.Y. ......Nicole Holloran ..............Bayside, N.Y. ......Sofia Degtyar..................Brooklyn, N.Y. ......Sophia Kryloff ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

Metro Girls 18 Singles Rank..Name ..........................City 1 ........Nicole Serras ..................Whitestone, N.Y. 2 ........Rachel Colton ................New York, N.Y. 3 ........Priscilla Signore..............Staten Island, N.Y. 4 ........Bianca Signore ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 5 ........Kimberly Salkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 6 ........Alexus Gill ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 7 ........Kyra Bergmann ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 8 ........Nicole Schnabel ............Woodhaven, N.Y. 9 ........Hediye Karabay..............Flushing, N.Y. 10 ......Charlotte Camacho........New York, N.Y. 11 ......Michelle Khaimov ..........Jamaica, N.Y. 12 ......Nicole Snegur ................Staten Island, N.Y.

Boys & Girls Sectional Rankings (as of 07/30/12)

BOYS Sectional Boys 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Gary Fishkin....................Staten Island, N.Y. 18 ......Jeffrey Gorilovsky ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 22 ......Oliver Jevtovic ................Astoria, N.Y. 23 ......Ethan Leon......................Woodhaven, N.Y. 26 ......Sam Vagner ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 28 ......David Mizrahi..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 35 ......Zachary Jordan Lieb ......New York, N.Y. 38 ......Derek Raskopf................New York, N.Y. 47 ......Gabriel Sifuentes............Flushing, N.Y. 51 ......Shand Stephens ............New York, N.Y. 54 ......Robbie Werdiger ............New York, N.Y. 55 ......Steven Daniel Nazaroff ..Brooklyn, N.Y. 56 ......Kemal Irfan Aziz..............Staten Island, N.Y. 57 ......Christopher Tham ..........Flushing, N.Y. 59 ......Will Coad ........................New York, N.Y. 62 ......Jonah Jurick ..................New York, N.Y. 73 ......Jeffrey Fradkin................New York, N.Y. 75 ......Logan Gruss ..................New York, N.Y. 76 ......Henry Hochfelder ..........New York, N.Y. 78 ......Lantis Wang....................New York, N.Y. 84 ......Nicholas Pustilnik ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 90 ......Joseph Reiner ................New York, N.Y. 92 ......Alex Portnoy ..................New York, N.Y. 95 ......Jeffrey McCready ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 97 ......Dylan Friedman ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 100 ....Kai Yuminaga..................Little Neck, N.Y. 106 ....Eitan Khromchenko........Staten Island, N.Y. 111 ....Derrick Mu ......................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 115 ....Ethan Finley ....................New York, N.Y.

YORK

117 ....Harry Portnoy ................New York, N.Y. 121 ....Stevan Stojkovic ............Flushing, N.Y. 123 ....Itamar Oron ....................New York, N.Y. 127 ....Aleksa Pljakic..................Forest Hills, N.Y. 128 ....Tristan Taylor ..................New York, N.Y. 132 ....Oliver Obeid....................New York, N.Y. 135 ....Derek Lung ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 136 ....Tyler Kats ........................Astoria, N.Y. 143 ....Joseph Wilkanowski ......Long Island City, N.Y. 145 ....Maxwell Kachkarov........Flushing, N.Y. 146 ....Zachary Portnoy ............New York, N.Y. 148 ....Marcos Lee ....................New York, N.Y.

RANKINGS 111 ....Steven Koulouris ............Long Island City, N.Y. 112 ....Jack Spiegel ..................New York, N.Y. 121 ....Alex Knaff........................New York, N.Y. 123 ....Matthew Balilo................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 126 ....Felipe Osses-Konig........Rego Park, N.Y. 131 ....Michael Pisarek ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 135 ....Jacob Frisch ..................New York, N.Y. 150 ....Jonathan Compres ........East Elmhurst, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City

Sectional Boys 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 4 ........Alex Knaff........................New York, N.Y. 11 ......Aleksandar Kovacevic ..New York, N.Y. 12 ......Mitchell Ostrovsky..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 13 ......Cole Gittens....................New York, N.Y. 14 ......Philip Raytburg ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 16 ......Ananth Raghavan ..........New York, N.Y. 17 ......Jordan Jordan ................Astoria, N.Y. 31 ......Alex Chao ......................New York, N.Y. 36 ......Ian Witmer ......................New York, N.Y. 39 ......Peter Lohrbach ..............Little Neck, N.Y. 45 ......Calvin Chung..................Bronx, N.Y. 48 ......Sumit Sarkar .................. New York, N.Y. 58 ......Christian Gloria ..............Queens Village, N.Y. 59 ......Max Prohorov ................Rego Park, N.Y. 61 ......Cameron Gruss..............New York, N.Y. 66 ......Evan Liberman ..............New York, N.Y. 83 ......Tyler Pasko......................Staten Island, N.Y. 90 ......Leonardo Escudero........Ozone Park, N.Y. 99 ......Xavier Pacthod ..............New York, N.Y. 105 ....Allan Magid ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 106 ....Jared Fields ....................New York, N.Y. 107 ....William Trang ..................Staten Island, N.Y. 118 ....Adam Borak....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 128 ....Robert Kennedy ............New York, N.Y. 129 ....Adam Bernstein..............New York, N.Y. 131 ....Jacob Kern ....................New York, N.Y. 141 ....James Dill ......................New York, N.Y. 143 ....David Mizrahi..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 145 ....Ethan Moszkowski ........New York, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 11 ......James Wasserman ........New York, N.Y. 14 ......Win Smith ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 18 ......Oliver Sec........................New York, N.Y. 19 ......Artemie Amari ................New York, N.Y. 24 ......Lucas Pickering..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 26 ......Richard Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 28 ......Victor Miglo ....................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 29 ......Cameron Daniels............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 31 ......Christopher Paul Auteri..Staten Island, N.Y. 41 ......Marcus Smith ................Little Neck, N.Y. 46 ......Joshua Gordon ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 49 ......Daniel Kerznerman ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 52 ......Gal Sossen ....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 68 ......Edan Sossen ..................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 70 ......Maurice Russo ..............New York, N.Y. 72 ......Douglas Mo ....................Douglaston, N.Y. 79 ......Jun Yuminaga ................Little Neck, N.Y. 84 ......Michael Anzalone ..........Howard Beach, N.Y. 94 ......Ethan Nittolo ..................Flushing, N.Y. 100 ....Alexander Pintilie............New York, N.Y. 104 ....Alexander Thrane ..........New York, N.Y.

1 ........Richard J. Del Nunzio ....Forest Hills, N.Y. 9 ........Joshua Yablon................New York, N.Y. 20 ......Courtney Murphy ..........Bronx, N.Y. 23 ......Justin Fields....................New York, N.Y. 28 ......Jake Sosonkin................Brooklyn, N.Y. 31 ......Eric R. Brinzenskiy ........Staten Island, N.Y. 42 ......Ryoma Haraguchi ..........New York, N.Y. 43 ......Christian Waldron ..........Bronx, N.Y. 59 ......Richard Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 65 ......Daniel Kerznerman ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 78 ......David Zhukovsky............Brooklyn, N.Y. 87 ......Zachary Yablon ..............New York, N.Y. 91 ......Alexis Cai ........................Woodhaven, N.Y. 92 ......Jonathan Selegean ........East Elmhurst, N.Y. 93 ......Leon Pan ........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 99 ......Joseph Motta ................Staten Island, N.Y. 103 ....Christopher Jou..............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 106 ....Harold Schaaff................New York, N.Y. 109 ....Artemie Amari ................New York, N.Y. 117 ....Andrew Arnaboldi ..........New York, N.Y. 126 ....Sean Solomonoff............New York, N.Y. 131 ....Mark Semerik ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 134 ....Alexander Pintilie............New York, N.Y. 145 ....Dennis Druzhinsky ........Brooklyn, N.Y.

GIRLS Sectional Girls 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 4 ........Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 5 ........Dasha Kourkina..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 ........Chelsea Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 11 ......Michelle Sorokko............Douglaston, N.Y. 12 ......Nicole Semenov ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 13 ......Jennifer Yu ......................Forest Hills, N.Y. 18 ......Lauren Munari ................Middle Village, N.Y. 19 ......Anastasia Koniaev..........Forest Hills, N.Y. 23 ......Shelly Yaloz ....................Little Neck, N.Y. 24 ......Katherine Kachkarov......Flushing, N.Y. 31 ......Christina Huynh..............Astoria, N.Y. 44 ......Kyra Bergmann ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 46 ......Isabel Balilo ....................Flushing, N.Y. 53 ......Dakota Fordham ............New York, N.Y. 60 ......Diana McCready ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 61 ......Marie Ivantechenko........Brooklyn, N.Y. 62 ......Rosie Gross ....................New York, N.Y. 63 ......Carolyn Brodsky ............New York, N.Y. 65 ......Amanda Solecki ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 68 ......Sarah Finley....................New York, N.Y. 71 ......Diana Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 75 ......Stephanie Li....................New York, N.Y. 77 ......Elvina Kalieva..................Staten Island, N.Y. 82 ......Olivia Morris....................Florak Park, N.Y. 83 ......Miriam Aziz ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 84 ......Alice Pinho......................Woodside, N.Y. 87 ......Steffi Antao ....................Briarwood, N.Y. 90 ......Sabrina Boada................Woodhaven, N.Y.

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

91 ......Najah Dawson ................Rosedale, N.Y. 92 ......Isabella Tushaj ................Bronx, N.Y. 94 ......Zoe Kava ........................New York, N.Y. 96 ......Gabriella Eitkis................Brooklyn, N.Y. 101 ....Rachel Okin ....................New York, N.Y. 103 ....Sofie Levine ....................New York, N.Y. 114 ....Perene Wang..................New York, N.Y. 116 ....Amalia Parrish ................Queens Village, N.Y. 118 ....Elisabeth Schlossel ........New York, N.Y. 119 ....Rebecca Fisch................New York, N.Y. 135 ....Rebecca Izyayeva ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 136 ....Anastasya Menshikova..Brooklyn, N.Y. 138 ....Caroline Kantor ..............New York, N.Y. 141 ....Rosa Aksanova ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 148 ....Grace Kennedy ..............New York, N.Y. 149 ....Isabella Sifuentes ..........Flushing, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Jessica Livianu ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Sabrina Xiong ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 6 ........Brianna Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......Isis Gill ............................Brooklyn, N.Y. 22 ......Yuka Lin ..........................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 23 ......Regina Furer ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 24 ......Alexus Gill ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 25 ......Sophia Kryloff ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 28 ......Anastasiya MalinouskayaStaten Island, N.Y. 29 ......Victoria Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 32 ......Alexandra Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 33 ......Julia Fisch ......................New York, N.Y. 36 ......Jennifer Richards ..........New York, N.Y. 44 ......Jillian Auteri ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 47 ......Lauren Munari ................Middle Village, N.Y. 63 ......Michelle Khaimov ..........Jamaica, N.Y. 67 ......Patricia Obeid ................New York, N.Y. 69 ......Julia Zbarsky ..................New York, N.Y. 72 ......Nicole Semenov ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 75 ......Jennifer Yu ......................Forest Hills, N.Y. 79 ......Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 80 ......Lisa Marchelska ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 83 ......Marierose Apice ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 99 ......Sydney Katz ..................New York, N.Y. 102 ....Anna Kaplan ..................New York, N.Y. 112 ....Sarah Hirschfield............New York, N.Y. 120 ....Keren Khromchenko......Staten Island, N.Y. 122 ....Victoria Zezula ................Ridgewood, N.Y. 131 ....Chelsea Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 137 ....Cecilia Swenson ............New York, N.Y. 146 ....Sabrina Abrams..............New York, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 2 ........Jessica Golovin ..............New York, N.Y. 10 ......Ariana Rodriguez............Bronx, N.Y. 11 ......Arnelle Sullivan ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 13 ......Destiny Grunin................Brooklyn, N.Y. 14 ......Jessica Livianu ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 17 ......Sabrina Xiong ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 18 ......Elizabeth Tsvetkov..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Hannah Shteyn ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 26 ......Stefanie Lineva ..............Middle Village, N.Y. 33 ......Nia Rose ........................New York, N.Y. 37 ......Shayna Spooner ............New York, N.Y. 47 ......Kimberly Salkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 51 ......Victoria Zoha ..................New York, N.Y. 53 ......Anastasiya Malinouskaya Staten Island, N.Y. 59 ......Sophia Kryloff ................Brooklyn, N.Y.

NEW 71 ......Christina Puccinelli ........New York, N.Y. 72 ......Champagne Mills ..........New York, N.Y. 78 ......Jillian Auteri ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 79 ......Sophia Schlossel............New York, N.Y. 81 ......Augusta Conway............New York, N.Y. 83 ......Illana Levich ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 84 ......Erika Tinalli......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 85 ......Briel Biggs ......................Bronx, N.Y. 88 ......Julia Zbarsky ..................New York, N.Y. 92 ......Anna Ulyashchenko ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 97 ......Isis Gill ............................Brooklyn, N.Y. 119 ....Michelle Khaimov ..........Jamaica, N.Y. 123 ....Annie Reiner ..................New York, N.Y. 129 ....Vania Savic ....................Woodside, N.Y. 131 ....Nicole Schnabel ............Woodhaven, N.Y. 138 ....Brittany Biggs ................Bronx, N.Y. 143 ....Keren Khromchenko......Staten Island, N.Y. 146 ....Brianna Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 4 ........Emily Safron....................New York, N.Y. 5 ........Ariana D. Rodriguez ......Bronx, N.Y. 14 ......Nadia Smergut ..............New York, N.Y. 16 ......Hannah Shteyn ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 19 ......Samantha P. Tutelman ..New York, N.Y. 22 ......Lily Bondy ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 24 ......Alexa Meltzer..................New York, N.Y. 37 ......Denise Starr....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 42 ......Destiny Grunin................Brooklyn, N.Y. 46 ......Laura Chitu ....................New York, N.Y. 54 ......Jessica Golovin ..............New York, N.Y. 63 ......Katie Derienzo ................Douglaston, N.Y. 70 ......Paulina Velasquez ..........Kew Gardens, N.Y. 72 ......Kyra Silitch......................New York, N.Y. 76 ......Angela Assal ..................Bronx, N.Y. 80 ......Kimberly Salkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 88 ......Lisa Ventimiglia ..............Bayside, N.Y. 89 ......Anastasiya Malinouskaya Staten Island, N.Y. 90 ......Arielle Griffin....................Jamaica, N.Y. 91 ......Charlotte Camacho........New York, N.Y. 92 ......Charlotte Camacho........New York, N.Y. 94 ......Dayana Agasieva............Forest Hills, N.Y. 96 ......Leighann Sahagun ........Queens Village, N.Y. 109 ....Augusta Conway............New York, N.Y. 112 ....Victoria Zoha ..................New York, N.Y. 119 ....Madison Gordon ............New York, N.Y. 126 ....Monica Gokhberg ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 128 ....Arnelle Sullivan ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 133 ....Becky Shtilkind ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 136 ....Brianna Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 137 ....Isis Gill ............................Brooklyn, N.Y. 138 ....Sabrina Xiong ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 145 ....Nakia Miller ....................Rosedale, N.Y. 149 ....Nicole Snegur ................Staten Island, N.Y. 150 ....Ilana Levich ....................Staten Island, N.Y.

YORK

Boys & Girls National Rankings (as of 08/15/12)

RANKINGS GIRLS National Girls 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City

BOYS National Boys 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 73 ......Gary C. Fishkin ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 159 ....Jeffrey Gorilovsky ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 160 ....Sam V. Vagner ................Staten Island, N.Y. 306 ....Zachary Lieb ..................New York, N.Y. 353 ....Ethan Leon......................Woodhaven, N.Y. 501 ....Derek Raskopf................New York, N.Y. 599 ....Oliver Jevtovic ................Astoria, N.Y. 616 ....David Mizrahi..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 644 ....Henry Hochfelder ..........New York, N.Y. 945 ....Gabriel Sifuentes............Flushing, N.Y.

National Boys 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 88 ......Alex Knaff........................New York, N.Y. 108 ....Aleksandar Kovacevic ..New York, N.Y. 113 ....Cole Gittens....................New York, N.Y. 122 ....Mitchell Ostrovsky..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 137 ....Ananth Raghavan ..........New York, N.Y. 167 ....Philip Raytburg ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 237 ....Jordan D. Jordan............Astoria, N.Y. 338 ....Alex Chao ......................New York, N.Y. 421 ....Christian Gloria ..............Queens Village, N.Y. 495 ....Ian Witmer ......................New York, N.Y. 909 ....Sumit Sarkar ..................New York, N.Y.

National Boys 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 25 ......Daniel Kerznerman ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 117 ....Win Smith ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 145 ....James Wasserman ........New York, N.Y. 258 ....Oliver Sec........................New York, N.Y. 296 ....Richard Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 341 ....Lucas Pickering..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 368 ....Victor Miglo ....................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 395 ....Cameron Daniels............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 478 ....Christopher Auteri ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 731 ....Gal Sossen ....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 737 ....Joshua Gordon ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 821 ....Edan Sossen ..................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 921 ....Maurice Russo ..............New York, N.Y.

National Boys 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 32 ......Richard J. Del Nunzio ....Forest Hills, N.Y. 71 ......Daniel Kerznerman ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 167 ....Joshua Yablon................New York, N.Y. 269 ....Jake Sosonkin................Brooklyn, N.Y. 437 ....Eric R. Brinzenskiy ........Staten Island, N.Y. 667 ....Courtney Murphy ..........Bronx, N.Y. 694 ....Justin Fields....................New York, N.Y. 756 ....Ryoma Haraguchi ..........New York, N.Y. 891 ....Zachary Yablon ..............New York, N.Y.

37 ......Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 41 ......Dasha Kourkina..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 65 ......Chelsea Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 82 ......Michelle Sorokko............Douglaston, N.Y. 89 ......Jennifer Yu ......................Forest Hills, N.Y. 105 ....Lauren Munari ................Middle Village, N.Y. 127 ....Nicole Semenov ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 218 ....Katherine Kachkarov......Flushing, N.Y. 277 ....Anastasia Koniaev..........Forest Hills, N.Y. 288 ....Shelly Yaloz ....................Little Neck, N.Y. 419 ....Christina Huynh..............Astoria, N.Y. 654 ....Marie Ivantechenko........Brooklyn, N.Y. 757 ....Isabel Balilo ....................Flushing, N.Y. 767 ....Isabella Tushaj ................Bronx, N.Y. 771 ....Kyra Bergmann ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 918 ....Miriam Aziz ....................Staten Island, N.Y.

National Girls 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 34 ......Denise Starr....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 46 ......Emily Safron....................New York, N.Y. 127 ....Ariana D. Rodriguez ......Bronx, N.Y. 156 ....Hannah Shteyn ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 175 ....Samantha Tutelman ......New York, N.Y. 369 ....Jacqueline Katz..............New York, N.Y. 509 ....Arielle Griffin....................Jamaica, N.Y. 573 ....Angela Assal ..................Bronx, N.Y. 626 ....Nadia Smergut ..............New York, N.Y. 643 ....Jessica Golovin ..............New York, N.Y. 667 ....Lily Bondy ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 729 ....Dayana Agasieva............Forest Hills, N.Y. 841 ....Alexa Meltzer..................New York, N.Y. 843 ....Madison Gordon ............New York, N.Y. 925 ....Katie Derienzo ................Douglaston, N.Y. 941 ....Laura Chitu ....................New York, N.Y.

National Girls 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 19 ......Jessica Melane Livianu..Brooklyn, N.Y. 70 ......Sabrina Xiong ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 113 ....Brianna Williams ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 178 ....Isis Gill ............................Brooklyn, N.Y. 304 ....Sophia Kryloff ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 321 ....Yuka Lin ........................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 365 ....Alexandra Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 367 ....Regina Furer ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 389 ....Victoria Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 446 ....Julia Fisch ......................New York, N.Y. 458 ....Anastasiya Malinouskaya Staten Island, N.Y. 460 ....Alexus Gill ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 689 ....Patricia Obeid ................New York, N.Y. 700 ....Jillian Auteri ....................Staten Island, N.Y. 849 ....Aleksandra Bekirova ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

National Girls 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 14 ......Jessica Golovin ..............New York, N.Y. 135 ....Ariana D. Rodriguez ......Bronx, N.Y. 181 ....Hannah Shteyn ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 243 ....Destiny Grunin................Brooklyn, N.Y. 247 ....Arnelle Sullivan ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 333 ....Elizabeth Tsvetkov..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 408 ....Sabrina Xiong ................Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 461 ....Shayna Spooner ............New York, N.Y. 504 ....Jessica Livianu ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 510 ....Stefani Lineva ................Middle Village, N.Y. 547 ....Nia Rose ........................New York, N.Y. 662 ....Anna Ulyashchenko ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 704 ....Sophia Kryloff ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 872 ....Victoria Zoha ..................New York, N.Y. 883 ....Kimberly Salkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 919 ....Anastasiya Malinouskaya Staten Island, N.Y.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 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. SEPTEMBER 2012 Friday-Sunday, September 7-9 L3 Alley Pond End of Summer UPS Alley Pond Tennis Center 79-20 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Novice BG (14-12)s, RR Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Thursday, Sept. 6 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, September 7-9 & 14-16 L1B Sportime Randall’s Island September Challenger Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG (16-14)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Aug. 24 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301. Friday-Sunday, September 7-9 L3 Staten Island September UPS Staten Island Community Tennis Center 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, N.Y. Divisions: Regular BG (16-12)s, RR Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Sept. 3 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 984-3711.

Friday-Sunday, September 14-16 & 21-23 L2O Sportime Randall’s Island September 2012 Open Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG (12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Aug. 31 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 427-5650.

Friday-Sunday, September 21-23 & 28-30 L1B Sportime Randall’s Island September 2012 Challenger Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger B (14)s, SE G (18-14)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 7 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 427-6150.

Saturday-Sunday, September 15-16 L2R Flushing Meadows Metro Region Invitational City Parks Foundation—Flushing Meadows Flushing Meadows Park Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG (16-12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $28.00 per player (deadline for entries is Saturday, Sept. 1) For more information, call (718) 760-6985.

Friday-Sunday, September 28-30 L3 Sportime Randall’s Island September 2012 UPS Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Novice B (12)s, RR; G (14-12)s, RR Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 14 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 427-6150.

Monday-Sunday, September 17-30 USTA National Men’s 40, 55 & 60 Grass Court Championships West Side Tennis Club 1 Tennis Place Forest Hills, N.Y. Divisions: M (40, 55-60)sd Surface Type: Grass Entry Fee: $97.25 per player singles, $65 per player doubles (deadline for entries is Monday, Sept. 3 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 268-2230.

OCTOBER 2012 Friday-Sunday, October 12-14 L1B Sportime Randall’s Island October Challenger Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger B (16)s, SE; G (18-14)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 28 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301.

Friday-Sunday, September 7-9 L1B Crotona Park Challenger Haffen Park Sports Association 2748 Eastchester Road Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger BG (16-14)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Aug. 24 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (347) 920-3038.

Friday-Sunday, September 21-23 L3 Bill Holloway 10U QuickStart UPS Harlem Junior Tennis Program 40 West 143rd Street New York, N.Y. Divisions: QuickStart BG (10)s, FRLC; QuickStart BG (10)s, FRLC Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $33 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Sept. 17 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 491-3738.

Friday-Sunday, October 19-21 L2R NCT October Metro Regional North Shore Tennis 34-28 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG (18-16)s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Oct. 5 at 5:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 220-4172.

Monday-Sunday, September 10-16 + Columbia University Championships Columbia University Tennis Center 575 W. 218 Street New York, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked M (Op, 40)s, SE; W (Op)s, SE; X (Op)d, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player singles (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 7 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 942-2220.

Friday-Sunday, September 21-30 Staten Island Tennis Center Men’s Championships Staten Island Community Tennis Center 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked M (Op)s, FRLC Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 14 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (516) 984-3711.

Friday-Sunday, October 26-November 4 2012 NCT November Classic North Shore Tennis 34-28 214th Place • Bayside, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked X (Op)d, SE; M (45, 55)sd, SE; NM (3.5-4.5)s, SE; NW (3.0-4.0)s, SE Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $75.75 per player singles $38.13 per player doubles (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 21) For more information, call (646) 220-4172.

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

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SIGN up tod SIGN today day whi le your r fi rst while first choi ce loca ation choice location iis s sti ll ava ailable! still available! New Y New York o ork T Tennis e enniss Club Club 3081 Har ding A venue e , Harding Avenue, Neck,, N NY TThrogs hrogs Neck Y 10465 Roosevelt Ro osevelt Island Island d Sports Gym, Sp orts Park Park G ym m, 552 Main Main St., St., Roosevelt Roosev elt Island, Island, N Y 10044 NY Manhattan attan Plaza Plaza Racquet uet Club, Club, 450 West est 43rd 43rd St., St.,. New York, ork, NY NY 10036 10 0036 Columbia Prep mbia P rep p School ool Gym Gym est 93rd 93rd St. St. 4 West wY or o k, NY NY 10025 New York,

Call Kimberly a att 212-93 212-935-4049 35-4049 Email: klatif@rirctennis.com rirctenniss.com ckstartn ny.com Visit: www.quickstartny.com *Offer applies to new students only.

we’ve w e’ve got yyour our game NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2012 • New York Tennis Magazine

It’s a triple tennis win! Play at 3 top clubs for 1 low price. Plus get FREE outdoor court time.

Enjoy y membership in all 3 Advantage Advan ntage Tennis Clubs, C FREE outdoor courtt time, time advance advanc ce booking & more. m more

GET YYOUR OUR O ADVANTAGE ADVANT A TAAGE

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