New York Tennis Magazine - September/October 2011 by United Sports Publications, Ltd.

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NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

September/October 2011 Volume 1, Number 2

Cover story Cover photo credit: USTA National

2011 U.S. Open Preview: Stars Collide at the Open

New York Tennis Magazine

Everything you wanted to know about the 2011 U.S. Open all bundled into one neat package … from the contenders, to the pretenders, to the best places to eat, to where to get autographs of the stars as the final Grand Slam of 2011 sets to take over the New York area.

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Staff David Sickmen Publisher (516) 409-4444, ext. 309 • david@usptennis.com Andrew T. Berman Vice President/Sales (516) 409-4444, ext. 333 • andrew@usptennis.com

Features 8

Joey Arendt Managing Art Director Jon Blake Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 • jonb@usptennis.com Michael Sarro Director of Business Development (516) 409-4444, ext. 330 • michael@usptennis.com Anthony Pastecchi Editorial Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 314 • anthony@usptennis.com Emilie Katz Marketing Coordinator Tara Cook Billing Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 324 Brent Shearer Editorial Contributor

Monica Gorny Editorial Contributor

David Drucker Editorial Contributor

Jenna Poczik Intern

Rachel Silverman Intern

Ken Goldberg Photographer

Andre Agassi is immortalized as a legend of the sport with his 2011 induction into Newport, R.I.’s International Tennis Hall of Fame.

12 Successful Season for the Sportimes Falls a Bit Short A look back at highlights of the New York Sportimes during the 2011 World TeamTennis season.

32 Kid’s Tennis in Brooklyn By Nina Sporn Nina Sporn takes us inside Brooklyn’s Knickerbocker Field Club, an outdoor club that is home to more than 150 members.

34 Tennis Injury Prevention By Sophie Scott Sophie Scott discusses measures one an take to avoid some common on-court injuries

36 Teaching Vs. Coaching: What is Teaching? What is Coaching? By Ajay Kumar Ajay Kumar breaks down the characteristics between a coach and a teacher on the tennis courts and what makes each role unique to the development of a player.

38 New York Tennis Magazine Presents Your Guide to New York Tennis Clubs A closer look at the area’s top clubs, including: Cunningham Sports Center, Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, Midtown Tennis Club, New York Tennis Academy at Great Neck Estates, New York Tennis Club, Prospect Park Tennis Center, Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, Sportime, Stadium Tennis Center, Vanderbilt Tennis Club at Grand Central Terminal, West Side Tennis Club and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

45 Dreams Really Do Come True By Monica Gorny Monica Gorny recaps the work of the Garden of Dreams Foundation and their recent trip to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

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

48 Get “Outta Your Mind” and Into the Zone

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.

10 Adult League Recap By Deborah-Rose Andrews Deborah-Rose Andrews takes a look back at the 2011 Adult Spring/Summer Season and recognizes the local teams who will represent the Metro Region at the Sectionals in Syracuse, N.Y.

14 CTA Spotlight: Metro Community Tennis Association (MCTA) A look at work of the Metro Community Tennis Association (MCTA) and its Play Tennis New York (PTNY) program.

15 The Jensen Zone By Luke Jensen Current Syracuse Women’s Tennis Coach and tennis great Luke Jensen looks back at his experiences on one of the grandest stages the sport has to offer, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at the U.S. Open.

26 USTA/Eastern-Metro Region The latest happenings from the USTA/Easter-Metro Region including the Metro Board at World TeamTennis, results of the Second Annual Kings Cup, the SBTA taking part in the Fordham Road Renaissance Festival, and West Side Tennis Club playing host to the Grass Court National Championships.

30 USTA Metro Player Spotlight: Susan Bilotta A closer look at the work of local player Susan Bilotta and her involvement with the Michael J. Fox Foundation in finding a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

44 New York Tennis Magazine’s Literary Corner By Brent Shearer Brent Shearer takes a look at the book, On the Line by Serena Williams with Daniel Paisner.

45 New York Tennis Magazine Accessory Review: Stringlet Alan Brofka takes a look at the versatile Stringlet bracelet accessory, fashionable both on and of the court.

50 Good to Great: A Model for Safely Building the Tennis Champions of Tomorrow By Steve Kaplan

46 College Tennis Spotlight: Mythbusters … You Really Can

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Author Steve Kaplan discusses the synergistic relationship between skill development and physical development in a junior tennis player’s career.

51 Frequently Asked Racquet Fixes By Roman Prokes

Roman Prokes takes a look at some tips and remedies to repair and diagnose some common ailments of your racquet.

See What College Path Your Junior Ranking Might Take You at Any Age By Ricky Becker

Ricky Becker discusses what college tennis programs are looking for in a junior tennis player’s ranking and what these schools have to offer to ranked players at various levels.

52 New York Tennis Club Directory 52 Upcoming Events

Columns

Tips From the Tennis Pro: Preparing for Success on the Practice Courts By Eric Faro Eric Faro discusses the importance of each practice session and the lessons learned each time you step on the court.

A look back at the Summer 2011 season in the Metro Corporate Tennis League (MCTL), presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs and a look forward to the Fall 2011 season.

By Alan Brofka

Metro Corporate League Recap

Rob Polishook discusses separating the physical and mental aspects of the game.

Subscriptions To receive subscription information, contact (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com or check out our Web site: www.nytennismag.com. Fax subscription changes to (516) 409-1600.

By Rob Polishook, MA, CPC

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

Agassi Inducted Into International Tennis Hall of Fame By David Drucker

Eric C. Peck Editor-in-Chief (516) 409-4444, ext. 312 • eric@usptennis.com

Court Six: Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz

A look at the off-the-court lives of the sport’s top stars.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

53 USTA/Metropolitan Region 2011 Tournament Schedule 52 New York Rankings

News Briefs

7 Congrats to Our Locals …

47 Hamptons Tennis Classic to Benefit PRASAD

Preparing for Success on the Practice Courts By Eric Faro Every time you step onto the tennis court, you should learn something. Whether you are playing in the finals of a national tournament, or working on your slice serve out wide, you should have an objective as to what you are doing and be working on improving your game. Often when I ask players how their practice was, they will respond by saying, “Great, I hit a lot of balls.” What exactly does that mean? To me, it means they are practicing without a purpose. They are going through the motions without any thought. I would equate this to reading a book and have no idea what you are reading about; you may read an entire novel and have no idea what you just read. Preparation is where success is found. Remember, you should have control of yourself and the effort you give to bring out your best on the court. I encourage players to bring a small notepad on the court with them to each practice session. Pack it in your bag like you would with your wristbands or Gatorade bottle. Jot down one or two things you would like to work on while you are on the court that day. Make sure it is not too much. “People learn more effectively in bitesized amounts, rather than everything all at once,” said legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. If you have too much on your mind, you will not practice effectively. It could be something like the grip change you have been working with your coach on, your forehand shot, or sticking your volleys. Make sure you really keep to your plan during the entire practice session. Work on improving. Remind yourself that you are going to get better each day.

When you get home after practice, open up your notepad and give yourself an honest grade. Did you practice everything you wrote down? How effective were you? Also write down a few notes, whether it is something your coach taught you, or something you picked up yourself that day on the court. This is a great way to ensure that you are getting the most out of your practice sessions. The night before each match, take out your notepad and write down a few notes to remember during the competition. Every athlete knows that when the competition starts, your mind can go a little crazy. The adrenaline of the match may make you forget certain things you want to do while you are out there. Make sure to keep your points simple and concise. For example, remind yourself to play high percentage tennis, or keep your head up on your serve. During changeovers, take a peek at your notes. This is a great way to keep yourself focused. After the match is over,

while you are cooling down, write down a few things you did well and a few things you didn’t do so well. Learn from your mistakes so they don’t happen again at your next match. Also, write down a few notes on your opponent … you may play them again down the line! Don’t wait too long, as things are still fresh in your mind when you step off the court. There is a lesson to be learned every time you step between the lines. 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.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Twitter’s top 100 SportsIllustrated.com released its Twitter top 100 list. Appearing on the list are three professional Serbian tennis players: Novak Djokovic (@djokernole), Andrea Petkovic (@andreapetkovic) and Janko Tipsarevic (@tipsarevicjanko). And the ESPY goes to Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams won ESPY Awards for the Best Male and Female Tennis Player at the recent ESPN awards show.

“Planking” anyone? Team USA engaged in some planking before their loss in the Davis Cup. You can find the photos online, but here are the highlights of the “plank war:” I Mardy Fish started things off by planking in the arms of teammates after the Davis Cup tie’s announcement. I Andy Roddick countered that by planking up an escalator. I Mardy Fish returned the favor by planking from an ice cooler. That’s two to one in favor of Fish, but Roddick’s plank was probably the best so we’ll call it even. 4

To play or not to play Venus Williams left doubt as to her Olympic future and the idea that she will indeed play mixed-doubles with Bob Bryan at the 2012 London Olympics. She said, “You know, I’ve been known not to commit to relationships,” she said with a laugh. “So I’ll be waiting until the last minute to see what’s best, you know? I’m always a ‘grass is greener’ kind of girl. It’s a bad habit that has followed over to tennis.” It was a confusing answer from Venus, who had previously said she’d partner with Bob in hopes of Olympic glory. Also her sister, Serena Williams and Andy Roddick made a commitment to play the Olympic Games together. When asked by Long Island Tennis Magazine recently if she was still on course to partner up with Roddick, Serena said, “We will see. I’m not sure who I will be playing with. I love all the American players.” So it remains to be seen if either Venus or Serena will be playing mixed-doubles at the Olympics and if so, who they will be playing with. Let’s play the Feud John McEnroe recently inferred that the timing of Andy Roddick’s marriage to model/actress Brooklyn Decker has coincided with a slide in the quality of A-Rod’s on-court results. “I know Andy as well as anyone, and I

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

think the marriage is one of the reasons he’s still playing,” said Mardy Fish. “I think what’s been said is completely unwarranted. It’s not a great comment to talk about wives.” Fish and Roddick are close friends, and Fish himself is also married to a model, Stacey Gardner. Roddick and McEnroe also shared another exchange recently when Johnny Mac asserted that, “The unknown is what we want, something unpredictable—watching the players trade practice shots takes away from that,” McEnroe told The London Evening Standard. “They should go out there like boxers, to huge applause and announcements, have a coin toss and then, boom, first serve.” Roddick had the following retort: “I think it’s easy to not have the warm-up when you’re the one not doing it anymore.” Also, about waiting out rain delays and long matches, “I’ve been sitting around for fourand-a half hours, and he [McEnroe] wants me to go out there and serve 145mph? That’s irresponsible is what it is.” Here comes the bride on ice Elena Dementieva, who retired at the end of 2010 without ever claiming a Grand Slam title, has still added another worthy trophy to her collection, and it’s the most important of all … the love and affection of her hockey-player husband, Maxim Afinogenov. The pair

married on July 16th on the roof of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow. Another bride-to-be, Gisela Dulko, reportedly missed Argentina’s 4-0 Fed Cup loss against Japan because she was preparing for her own wedding.

Mardy Fish (@MardyFish): What does the REM stand for in the band REM?

Serena Williams (@serenawilliams): I think I have insomnia or “I’m so tired I can’t sleep!”

The Biggest Loser Anna Kournikova was a no-show for the 2011 World TeamTennis season this summer and the reason is that she has joined the cast of the hit NBC extreme weight-loss show, The Biggest Loser. Kournikova will be replacing trainer Jillian Michaels, who is leaving the series to pursue whatever celebrity trainers end up pursuing after a successful run on a reality TV series. Executive Producer Todd Lubin told New York magazine’s Vulture that the show is “Getting slightly away from just the tape measure, and getting into overall well-being and health.” Congrats are in order World number one doubles player Bob Bryan has announced via his Twitter account that he and his wife, Michelle, are going to have a child. He got the buzz going by tweeting out, “Boom! 10 hours of sleep and 10 days until the next shindig. Finally a little break. Oh, and I’ve got some news for you …” He then revealed, “This little baby could be your 2034 Wimby champ!”

Justin Gimelstob (@ justingimelstob): Zurich is a beautiful city. I’m a few hours away from doing my extensive interview with Roger Federer.

Sania Mirza-Malik (@mirzasania): Finally a day off after eight days … looking forward to doing NOTHING for a change except one photo shoot for a cou-

Justin Gimelstob (@ justingimelstob): Not a great feeling showing up at Zurich airport at 5: 45a.m. for a flight to Atlanta and realizing I forgot my passport in my hotel room! Andy Murray (@andy_murray): Having a little game of backgammon with the dog …

Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): Running and tennis in the morning, had a small nap and now the gym and tennis at five. Mardy Fish (@MardyFish): My baby sis is gonna have a boy!

ple of hours! Amer Delic (@amerdelic): Just finished re-watching season seven of Entourage.

Tennis tweets of late What is on your favorite tennis players mind and what are they are up to? We learned this through the wonderful world of Twitter: Caroline Wozniacki (@ c a ro w o z n i acki): Had a good day in London, photo shoot went well and now I am on my way back to Monaco, practice starts tomorrow :) NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Metro Corporate Tennis League, Presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs Recap Summer ‘11 Season Playoffs

he Metro Corporate Tennis League, run by the Metrotennis Community Tennis Association (MCTA), is currently in its playoffs stages for the Summer 2011 season as this article was written. On July 28, Ernst & Young went up against Thomson Reuters and Deutsche Bank went head-to-head with Mitsubishi UFJ Securities in the Intermediate Division Semifinals. The matches took place at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. Ernst & Young proved to be a stronger team and defeated Thomson Reuters, 36-16. Deutsche Bank and Mitsubishi came down to the wire, with Deutsche Bank

winning by 2, 32-30. On Aug. 2, Ernst & Young and Deutsche Bank faced off for the Intermediate Division title at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club as Ernst & Young took the match and was crowned 2011 Intermediate Division champs. In the Advanced Division, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton went up against the Thomson Reuters team, also at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. Congratulations to Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton on their finals win and being named 2011 Advanced Division Champions. Also on Aug. 2, the Metro Corporate Tennis League hosted its end-of-season

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

party for all the teams that participated in the 2011 Summer League. While the summer season has come to an end, we are starting to take registrations for the Fall 2011 season, and are expecting more than 50 corporate teams competing in three division levels, intermediate, advanced intermediate and advanced. The Fall 2011 season includes a minimum of six matches, with each match played for two hours on two courts. Levels of play for the Fall 2011 season are Advanced and Intermediate. The season will conclude with an end-of-season party where all league participants will enjoy a

buffet dinner and open bar, tennis, dancing and other activities. The winners of all divisions advance to the semifinals or finals for their league. Each team match consists of six individual matches played as regular no-ad sets:

tennis game. Each league night, refreshments are served after the matches, including hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer. The Metro Corporate Tennis League matches are held weekday evenings at the following locations:

N N N N N

N West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y.

One women’s singles One men’s singles One women’s doubles One men’s doubles Two mixed-doubles

Games won are totaled cumulatively throughout the season. The winners of all divisions advance to playoffs at the end-ofseason party. In the case of a tie, the headto-head scores will be the tie-breaker. Coaching and player substitutions are permitted during the match. This allows for more players to get involved and creates a fun atmosphere. All league champions have the right to advance to the National WTT Championships. The Metro Corporate Tennis League emphasizes networking and social occasions, as well as opportunities to improve your

N Roosevelt Island Racquet Club in Roosevelt Island, N.Y. N CityView Racquet Club in Long Island City, N.Y. For more information on the Fall 2011 season of the Metro Corporate Tennis League, contact Debra Leffe at (914) 482-8471 or visit www.metrotennis.com.

Congrats to Our Locals … Congratulations to our local Metro junior players who took home honors at the National Opens that took place throughout the month of July. Aston, Pa. N Girls 18s Singles Third Place............Emily Safron (New York, N.Y.) Denver N Girls 18s Doubles Champion............Leighann Sahagun (Queens Village, N.Y.) Montgomery, Ala. N Boys 16s Singles Champion ............Daniel Kerznerman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) N Boys 16s Doubles Champion ..........Daniel Kerznerman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) North Little Rock, Ark. N Boys 14s Singles Consolation ..........James Wasserman (New York, N.Y.) Champion

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Photo credit: Kate Whitney Lucey

Agassi INDUCTED INTO

INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME B Y D AV I D D R U C K E R

here simply isn’t enough time in the day to describe all of the wonderful things about Andre Agassi. From the moment he stepped onto the professional courts of the ATP tour, he turned the sport of tennis upside down. Who could forget those long blonde locks and denim shorts? Agassi has provided tennis fans and sports fans alike with a number of precious moments throughout his career. From his rivalry with fellow American Pete Sampras, to the low points of his career plummeting in the rankings, to his final run as a pro in 2006 at the U.S. Open. In early July, Andre Agassi was officially immortalized in Newport, R.I. when he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. I am proud to admit, that I was always an Agassi guy, not a Sampras guy. When someone asks you who you root for, the Mets or Yankees, tennis’ equivalent was, who do you root for, Sampras or Agassi? Agassi always had the charisma and energy that Pete never had. Mind you, Pete Sampras has provided us with some of the most memorable matches ever. With Agassi, it’s different. If you read his autobiography Open, you would have read how much Agassi loathes tennis. Being pushed

by his father his entire childhood to play and to play well is the reason we have Andre Agassi. Andre has publicly made it known that the relationship he had with his father was not a great one. His father was always telling his son what to do. During his Hall of Fame induction speech in Newport, he thanked his father in sincere fashion, “Dad, when I was five, you told me to win Wimbledon. When I was seven, you told me to win all four Grand Slams. And more times than I can remember, you told me to get into the Hall of Fame. And when I was 29, you told me to marry Steffi Graf ... best advice you ever gave me. So dad, please don’t ever stop telling me what to do.” Agassi’s wife Steffi Graf and their two children, Jaden and Jazz, looked on as the American legend thanked the game of tennis time after time for all it has given him. Trying to hold back the tears, Agassi reminisced what he had done with his charity work, most notably, his “Agassi Prep Academy” in Las Vegas. As Agassi wept, it brought back memories of his last match at the U.S. Open in 2006. When he spoke to the fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium after his loss, I, along with others in attendance and I’m sure at home, couldn’t help but shed a tear as well. That’s

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

sort of what we sport fans do with our favorite athletes. We laugh when they laugh, smile when they smile, and cry when they cry. For all that Andre Agassi has given to the world, an induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame was mandatory. Agassi’s storied career includes 60 titles, the number one ranking, an 870-274 career match record, more than $30 million amassed in prize money, eight Grand Slam titles, and an Olympic gold medal. These achievements that Agassi has accomplished aren’t what the people will remember most. They will remember the story that Agassi wrote throughout his playing career. The drama that he brought to the court, whether it was a fashion statement, a hairpiece or a rivalry, Agassi provided sports fans with memories that will never be forgotten. “I fell in love with tennis far too late in my life. But the reason I have everything I hold dear is because tennis has loved me back,” Agassi said. G David Drucker of New York Tennis Magazine is a member of the Nichols College Men’s Tennis team. He may be reached by e-mail at davidd@usptennis.com.

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NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

By Deborah-Rose Andrews

2011 Spring and Summer Seasons Wrap Up The 2011 Adult Spring/Summer season concluded in early August. The Metro Region has Men’s and Women’s teams in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. Manhattan is the largest league, with 74 teams and 1,292 players who participated in the 2011 Spring/Summer season. This league plays at six different clubs, both indoors and outdoors, and on hard and Har-Tru surfaces. The Queens league has 39 teams and plays outdoors on the hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and at Alley Pond Park. The Brooklyn league is the smallest league, due to the lack of courts, as the 2011 season featured 11 teams playing at Prospect Park Tennis Center and Mill Basin. We were very happy to have a Staten Island-based team playing this season. Playoffs are held at the district level with the winners advancing to the Regional Playoffs. In

The Queens 4.0 Men’s team, captained by Ting Zhang, celebrates their big win the Regional tournament, the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens teams play a round-robin event to determine who will represent the Metro area at the Section Championships.

The Manhattan and Queens District Playoffs team experienced some weather-related issues. The first night of the Manhattan District Playoffs brought torrential downpours.

SPORTIME RANDALL’S ISLAND WINTER BREAK CAMP SAVE THE DATES: December 19th - 23rd & 26th - 30th The best place for your children this winter when they’re not in school is a SPORTIME Tennis Camp! And we’ve got two great camps to choose from: ■ EXCEL Tennis Camp, ages 7 to 17, FEATURING TEACHING PROS FROM THE JOHN MCENROE TENNIS ACADEMY – Focused stroke production, drills, and Matchplay. Play and drill like players from the Mac Academy! ■ Junior Tennis Camp, ages 5 to 16, featuring some of the same great pros from the staff of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, this camp offers a variety of tennis drills and point play, as well as fitness, games and multi-sport activities. Membership is not required. We expect to sell out, so register today by downloading an application at SportimeNY.com/Manhattan and faxing it to us at 212-427-5650. For more information, contact our Camp Directors at CampsRI@SportimeNY.com.

212/427-6150 10

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

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We were able to move inside, however the 3.0 Women’s teams were in for a long wait. They ordered food, warmed up in the lobby and patiently waited for their matches to begin. The final round began three hours after its scheduled start time. Luckily, the weather on Saturday and Sunday was beautiful and the other matches went off without a hitch. On the night of the Queens 3.5 Men’s and Women’s Finals, a hail storm hit the area. The storm stayed just east of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, however, the lightning strikes were clear in the far distance and the thunder could be clearly heard. Some players were stuck on Long Island due to the storm damage; however, the teams had substitutes in place and the matches went off as planned. The Metro Region Playoffs were held Aug. 5-7 outdoors at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Friday saw beautiful weather, but the forecast for Saturday predicted late night storms and we hoped to get in all of the matches. Unfortunately, the skies opened up at around 6:30 p.m., right in the middle of the 3.5 Men’s and Women’s matches. The 4.0 matches were cancelled and the 3.5 matches were delayed two hours,

as players hoped for a break in the storm that never came. Sunday’s weather forecast was dismal, but we were finally lucky, as the 4.0 Men and 4.0 Women played, and then the 3.5 Men & 3.5 Women finished their matches. The last teams playing had to deal with sporadic showers, but were able to finish, but it was so hot and humid that I’m sure those sprinkles felt good to the players! Congratulations to the following teams who will represent Metro at the Section Championships in Syracuse. N 3.0 Women ..Sheila Astudillo & Shannon Smith N 3.5 Women ..Yao Fu Bailey & Ariane Qureshi N 4.0 Women ..Lynnette Cruz N 4.5 Women ..Eileen Melniker N 5.0 Women ..Pam Glick N 3.0 Men ........Daryl Fox & Brad Aspel N 3.5 Men ........Obong Akpan N 4.0 Men ........Ting Zhang N 4.5 Men ........Ian Katz & Eduardo Salanova N 5.0 Men ........Todd Getz

The 4.5 Men’s Metro team, co-captained by Ian Katz & Eduardo Salanova, gather for a team photo Our Senior League is in full swing right now. Our next season will be the 2011 Mixed-Doubles League. The Manhattan League begins in October, while the Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx Leagues begin in January. Enjoy the rest of the summer and the U.S. Open. Deborah-Rose Andrews is the Local League Coordinator for the Metro Region. She is also the co-chair of the Eastern Adult League Committee and a member of the Metro Region board of directors. She may be reached by e-mail debrose@metrotennis.com.

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Singles and doubles competition in a team format by ability levels-fun and competitive! We'll ﬁnd you a team, or bring your own team!

metrotennis.com 718-639-8936

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Successful Season for the Sportimes Falls a Bit Short he 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. The Sportimes season on the court did end up a little disappointing as they failed to make the 2011 WTT Playoffs, coming off the 2010 season where they won the Eastern Conference. This season, the Eastern Conference was dominated by the Washington Kastles who went wire-to-wire with a perfect 16-0 record. The Sportimes wound up in a tie for second place with the Boston Lobsters as both teams finished the season with identical 7-7 records. Since the teams split their head-to-head series, the tie-breaker came down to most total games won in the head-to-head matchups, where Boston came out ahead

and advanced to the WTT Playoffs. In the playoffs, the Kastles continued their domination, defeating the Boston Lobsters and the St Louis Aces en route to the 2011 WTT Championship. While it would have been nice to make the playoffs again in 2011, the Sportimes season still provided a number of highlights for New York fans:

Former world number one ranked players Serena Williams and Martina Hingis competed in front of another soldout crowd at Sportime at Randall’s Island

Credit all photos to Kenneth B. Goldberg

In addition to Borg and Serena, the Sportimes (pictured above) hosted the number one doubles team in the world, The Bryan Brothers as well

John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg renewed their epic rivalry as they played in front of a sold-out crowd at Sportime at Randall’s Island

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

Martina Hingis competed in all of the Sportimes’ matches this summer and John McEnroe made two home appearances

Chris Evert was a special guest at the Sportimes home match against the St. Louis Aces, as she came oncourt to play a mixed-doubles exhibition with students from the John McEnroe Academy

Two concerts were held at Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island … one prior to the home opener featuring local pop singer Tiffany Giardina (pictured above), and the second following John McEnroe’s match with Bjorn Borg featuring John McEnroe and his Johnny Smyth Band Top doubles specialists Leander Paes (pictured in action above) & Liezel Huber, and young stars Beatrice Capra and Coco Vandeweghe made stops in NY to face the Sportimes

The WTT season was also a great lead-in for the launch of New York Tennis Magazine. A free copy of our inaugural edition was distributed to all fans in attendance at all home matches. Also, our professional photographer was on hand for all home matches as well. You can check out photos from the season on our Facebook page or our Web site LongIslandTennisMagazine.com. All in all, this WTT season was a great prelude to the sport’s stars coming in for the 2011 U.S. Open, and with New York currently not a host site of either an ATP or WTA tournament, this chance to see the stars in WTT action should be appreciated by tennis fans throughout the area. Tweets from the stars of World TeamTennis Katie O’Brien (@katiejobrien): I’m still pinching myself that I was on the same team as McEnroe & Hingis … both absolute legends. The Bryan Brothers (@bryanbrothers): Sneaking in a few winks on the journey to the next city. Sleep is a valuable commodity during WTT! Murphy Jensen (@murphyjensen): 14-0 Washington KASTLES!!!! I love this team! Love it!

Katie O’Brien (@katiejobrien): Incredible team effort by the Sportimes tonight to beat Kansas City feat. Bryan Bros & Peschke (current world number ones & Wimby champs). AWESOME! The Bryan Brothers (@bryanbrothers): Playing the Philly Freedoms tonight in the last of a six-match and eight-day WTT run across the U.S. Hoping to finish strong and get KC playoff bound! Lindsey Davenport: (@LDavenport76): Woohoo! RT @stlouisaces: THE ACES ARE GOING TO THE WTT FINALS!!! The team beat Kansas City to clinch the top seed in the Western Conference! Serena Williams (@serenawilliams): 4 days, 7 different cities … man! A new one today!!

Katie O’Brien (@katiejobrien): I’m leaving with lifelasting memories from both on and off the court. Big thanks to my awesome teammates and the @NYSportimes crew. I love you all!

PLAY ON RED CLAY

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

Photo: Joe Josephs

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

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Metro Community Tennis Association (MCTA) Founded in 2002, Metrotennis is a not-forprofit organization that provides tennis leagues, classes and information about tennis in New York City. Metrotennis promotes the sport of tennis in New York City, by running USTA team leagues, corporate leagues, USTA Junior Team Tennis, USTA Flex Leagues, and the PTNY program. The Play Tennis New York (PTNY) program, which is operated by the Metro Community Tennis Association (MCTA), provides low-cost adult group tennis lessons throughout New York City. This summer, classes were offered in Manhattan, and featured 165 participants. The program targets adult beginners who are interested in getting into the

game of tennis. Most participants take Phase I, Phase II and Phase III classes, and many students have been with the Play Tennis New York program for more than three years. Some of them have gone on to play in USTA Leagues, while others have become substitute players in the Metro Corporate Tennis League. PTNY has proven to be the impetus for many adult tennis enthusiasts to pick up a racket and not only enjoy watching the game but being part of it. Phase I of the PTNY program consists of adult beginners learning to play tennis taught by professional instructors. There are eight to 10 students per instructor, and each lesson lasts 90 min., meeting once a week on a specific day for a period of four weeks. In some cases, classes will meet for two hours over a span of three weeks.

Phase II is for those who choose to continue developing their tennis skills, consisting of classes taught by professional instructors in a smaller group of six to eight students. Classes are approximately 90 min. long and take place once per week on a specific day for a period of four weeks (or two hour-long classes over a three-week span). For those looking to advance their tennis skill set even further, Phase III is the next step in the PTNY program. Like Phase I and Phase II, Phase III is taught by professional instructors in smaller groups of four to six students. Classes are held on a specific day for a period of four weeks or classes that last two hours over a span of three weeks. For information on the PTNY program, call (718) 639-8936. For more information on Metrotennis, visit Metrotennis.com.

Fall after school locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn Including: Upper East Side, Murray Hill, West Village, Tribeca, Park Slope and Riverdale, as well as New Jersey and Westchester locations.

Matchplay, drills, conditioning, round table discussion with former and current college players.

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www.elftennis.com 14

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

For any tennis player in the United States, the U.S. Open is the Mac Daddy of everything tennis … it is the biggest tournament in the world. This event has the biggest monetary prize to win; it is played in the biggest tennis stadium in the world and it is played in the greatest city in the world … New York City! The fan who attends the U.S. Open is very special to the game of tennis. The Open attracts more sports fans than traditional tennis fans and that makes playing the U.S. Open extremely unique. The sports fan loves the drama that is sport … the turmoil of the athletic contest. You will find fans like this at other tournaments around the world, but in New York, the fan wants to get involved in the action. There were so many times where I would be in some tough match at the Open and I would be getting advice from these random people from the sidelines. Pizza Joe was the favorite of all my New York coaches. Now, they were not coaches at all, I’m pretty sure they didn’t even play tennis, and I know Pizza Joe was about 150 pounds over anything athletic when I met him. Pizza Joe had three amazing lines he would use—two the entire match, and one that I will never forget. If I was winning, he would say, “Jensen, you got’em … he can’t hang with you!” Now if I was losing, Pizza Joe would let me have it, “Yo Jensen, I can miss that shot too … pick it up! His best line was if I was losing badly, he would say over and over, “Jensen, I PAID to see this?” No matter what my result was, Pizza Joe would be there to see me when I walked off the court. He was so nice after the match no matter what the result was. It was more about the effort put into the contest that New York fans respect the most. To me, that’s what makes the U.S. Open so very special. The

fans want you to give your heart and soul in the fight for victory. It’s not easy playing the Open with planes, trains and the smell of burgers coming from the food court as some common distractions. There is nothing like the smell of a greasy burger when you are deep into a five-set singles match. The best way to cruise the Open is to bounce. Bouncing is going from close match to close match and wedging yourself into an area to watch the drama. More players tap out and go nuts at the Open than at any other major, as the year has been long and the nerves begin to wear thin. Just the drive from the city every day in traffic can freak out any player on game day. The Open is ENERGY and tons of it. Day matches and night matches with tie-breakers in the final set … for any player or fan, the U.S. Open is the best tennis experience in the world. Other events like Wimbledon have tradition. The French Open is all about fashion and the Aussie is about fun. The U.S. Open is the final

major of the year, the final test for all the players searching for Grand Slam glory! The Open is bold and brash. The logo is a tennis ball flying through the air on flames … just like Americans like the game played. Going for the lines! For all fans, and especially the ones like Pizza Joe, thanks for making the U.S. Open an amazing experience! Enjoy the Open! G Born in Grayling, Mich., Luke Jensen is head coach of the Syracuse University Women’s Tennis Team. Jensen’s resume includes 10 ATP Tour doubles titles and singles victories against Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Jim Courier. Jensen and his brother, Murphy, won the 1993 French Open doubles title. He was also a member of the 1991 and 1992 Davis Cup Teams. His ambidextrous play, including his ability to serve the ball with either hand at 130 mph, earned him the nickname “Dual Hand Luke.” He may be reached by phone at (315) 443-3552 or e-mail lbjensen@syr.edu.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Stars Collide at the Open 2011 U.S. Open Arrives in New York

he sport’s top stars are set to make New York their home away from home from Aug. 29-Sept. 11, and this article will serve as your guide in and around the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as the Open takes place. From trendy places to eat, to where to go to possibly meet and greet the stars of today and the stars of tomorrow, this article looks to provide you with those little extra tidbits of information on this year’s U.S. Open.

See the stars of tomorrow today The 2011 U.S. Open qualifying rounds will take place Tuesday-Friday, Aug. 23-26 beginning at 11:00 a.m. each day (gates open at 10:00 a.m.). Admission to these qualifying rounds is free, so why not stop by and see the stars of tomorrow leaving it all on the line for a spot in the 2011 Open. 2011 Arthur Ashe Kids Day U.S. Open Champions Rafael Nadal and Kim Clijsters, world number one ranked Novak Djokovic, former U.S. Open Champion Andy Roddick and the 2010 U.S. Open Wheelchair Champion David Wagner will team up with actor Bradley Cooper, New York Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony, and pop star Cody Simpson at the 16th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess Saturday, Aug. 27 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 16

9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Hosted by TV personalities La La Anthony and Quddus, the show will feature more musical guests and tennis stars set to be announced in coming weeks. The popular full-day tennis and music festival for children and adults alike includes interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis activities. It will also feature performances from up-andcoming stars including Girls Nite Out, Action Item, Jacob Latimore and Nickelodeon’s The Fresh Beat Band. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Presented by Hess will kick off the 2011 U.S. Open, which runs from Aug. 29-Sept. 11. From 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., kids and their families can experience an exciting schedule of free tennis games, live music and attractions taking place throughout the 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 Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Kim Clijsters, Andy Roddick, David Wagner and other top players and celebrities with musical performances by Cody Simpson and more. General admission promenade tickets cost $10 and loge tickets are $20. Arthur Ashe Kids Day will be broadcast nationally by CBS on Sunday, Aug. 28, from noon1:30 p.m. (ET). Kids 12-and-under with stadium show tickets will receive a free Arthur Ashe Kids Day hat from the USTA and Hess on a first-come, first-served basis.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

Open practice day On Sun, Aug. 28, take advantage of this rare opportunity to see the stars of the sport of tennis take to the practice courts for their final tune-up prior to the 2011 U.S. Open. Get a rare glimpse into the habits and drills the stars use in their warm-up routine, and who knows, maybe you could pick up some pointers from the pros in the process. Where the stars sign Want to get photos and autographs of your favorite tennis pros? The best spot for both is what has been dubbed “Autograph Alley,” which runs alongside Courts P1-P5. Be sure to come prepared with a Sharpie marker, photos or balls for the players to sign. There are no guarantees that you’ll be able to meet the stars, but if you do, you can file it away as a memory forever! U.S. Open Wheelchair Competition The 2011 U.S. Open Wheelchair Competition, now in its sixth year, will be held Sept. 8-11, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. The competition will feature 20 of the top wheelchair tennis athletes from around the globe. The competition will feature a Men’s, Women’s and Quad Division, and will include six events: Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, Quad Singles and Quad Doubles.

Wheelchair tennis follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis, except that the ball can bounce twice. This is the first time that the world’s top seven ranked men’s and women’s wheelchair players (according to the July 18 ITF Rankings) will all enter the tournament. The top three ranked quad players also will all compete (world number three Johan Andersson recently retired). Additionally, one wild card was selected on both the men’s, women’s, and quad sides. The total purse for the event will be $120,000, a $20,000 increase in prize money over last year. The U.S. will be represented in singles and doubles by the two-time Paralympic Quad doubles gold medalists David Wagner of Hillsboro, Ore. and Nick Taylor of Wichita, Kan. Wagner is the defending U.S. Open Quad singles champion and looking to win his third consecutive Grand Slam Quad singles title. Other Americans include 21-year-old Emmy Kaiser of Fort Mitchell, Ky., the topranked American woman player, who will compete in the women’s singles and doubles events, and 39-year-old former world number one Stephen Welch of Southlake, Texas, is a four-time Paralympian and 1996 doubles gold medalist, who will compete in the men’s singles and doubles. Welch, Kaiser, and Taylor all received wild cards into the tournament. U.S. Open Base Prize Money Reaches the $23.7 Million Mark The 2011 U.S. Open purse has increased by more than $1 million to reach a record $23.7 million. In addition to the base purse of $23.7 million, the top three men’s and top three women’s finishers in the Olympus U.S. Open Series may earn up to an additional $2.6 million in bonus prize money at the U.S. Open, providing a potential total payout of $26.3 million. Both the men’s and women’s U.S. Open singles champions will earn a record $1.8 million with the ability to earn an additional $1 million in bonus prize money (for a total $2.8 million potential

payout) based on their performances in the Olympus U.S. Open Series. The Olympus 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–Kim Clijsters, $2.2 million).

Places to eat at the Open Aces ceilings, vibrant colors and a casual but elegant wine and sushi bar combine with superlative seafood offerings, making Aces the ultimate dining experience. You can also enjoy Aces’ flavorful and sumptuous cuisine in your suite with the Aces Platinum Package Series. 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, fresh seafood, salads and a wide variety of wines. This year, delicious new items highlight the menu, featuring the finest cuts of meat and more. Bring your friends and come for lunch, dinner or after the matches … you won’t miss a minute of the action, with live matches and other sporting events on Champions’ many TVs. U.S. Open Club The U.S. Open Club is located on the ground floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Club 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 is famous for the Chef’s Table and seasonal selections of eclectic American cuisine. Mojito Restaurant & Bar Mojito, is a Cuban-inspired restaurant that transports visitors 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 Mojito’s whimsical garden. Mojito is available to all ticket holders. Mojito is located on the ground floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium next to the Patio Café. Patio Café & Bar Soak up the beautiful s u r r o u n dings of the U.S. Open grounds at this expanded charming outdoor café and bar located outside the U.S. Open Club. Enjoy fresh selections of seasonal sandwiches and salads, paired with summer specialty cocktails. The Patio Café & Bar is available for all ticket holders. Heineken Red Star Café Located in the South Plaza near Court 7, the Heineken Red Star Café has a sports bar atmosphere complete with TVs covering the action on all of the featured courts, light snacks, specialty beers featuring Heineken and Heineken Light, frozen cocktails and a full bar … all set outdoors in the middle of the action. The Heineken Red Star Café is available to all ticket holders throughout the day and evening.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Rejuvenate by the Fountains! Visit our refreshing food destinations by the fountains including the South Plaza Café, Carnegie Deli, Cuppa Spotta and Ben & Jerry’s. Baseline Cocktails Come quench your thirst with a full service bar that includes premium wine upgrades. Wine Bar Food Serving Mediterranean flavors with wines to match located in the South Plaza by Fountains. U.S. Open Food Village Enjoy regional cuisine and specialty items at the U.S. Open Food Village including a Honey Deuce Cocktail at the Grey Goose Bar! Featured vendors include: Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop, Carnegie Deli, Classic Burger, Cuppa Spotta, Franks and Fries, Fresca Mexicana, Fulton Seafood, Glatt Kosher Cart, Grey Goose Bar, New Delhi Spice, Pizza/Pasta, Southern Barbeque, Stonyfield Café, and Sweet & Savory Crepes.

U.S. Open attractions Fountain Desk Plaza ESPN and CBS will be broadcasting live during select sessions from the Fountain Plaza Desk in the South Plaza. You won’t want to miss interviews with today’s tennis stars! SmashZone Located in the Chase Center, SmashZone has something for the whole family to enjoy, including QuickStart Tennis courts, a rally wall challenge and interactive photos and games. Pick up a drawsheet for a list of special guests, autograph sessions and player demonstrations. International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum Gallery Be sure to visit the U.S. Open Gallery, located inside the Chase Center, where this year’s champions will be commemorated. 18

Family Day The U.S. Open is holding its third annual Family Day on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Parents accompanied by children 14-andunder can sit together in reserved seating in Louis Armstrong Stadium. An exclusive family breakfast, located in the Corporate Hospitality Pavilion in the Chase Center, is also available as a ticket package for purchase and includes early access to SmashZone and an exclusive gift bag. 12th Annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis Event The world’s top tennis players and chefs will serve-up a kickoff to the U.S. Open on Thursday, Aug. 25 from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. at the W New York in midtown Manhattan at the 12th Annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis event, to benefit the New York Junior Tennis League. One of summer’s most anticipated New York nightlife events, BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis gives guests the opportunity to mingle with their favorite tennis stars and chefs, while sampling an eclectic mix of specially-designed dishes that earn rave reviews each year. This year’s lineup includes former U.S. Open and Davis Cup Champion Andy Roddick, Wimbledon Semifinalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, along with top 10 players Mardy Fish and Tomas Berdych. On the women’s side, the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis field is stacked with three of the top 10-ranked players in the world, including Li Na, Francesca Schiavone and Victoria Azarenka. These stars will cook alongside notable chefs from many of the nation’s premiere restaurants, including James Beard award winner Michelle Bernstein from Miami’s Sra. Martinez, Anita Lo of Annisa, Buddakan’s Brian Ray and Humberto Leon & Ashley Palma of STK, among many others.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

The State of American Tennis: The Men’s Side By David Drucker Another year brings another U.S. Open, and the question on the mind of many Americans is who can step up for the host country this year and make an exciting run to the title? Does anybody remember the last time an American won a Grand Slam? That would be in 2003 where up and coming star Andy Roddick defeated Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero at the U.S. Open. Shortly thereafter, we were introduced to the era of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. These two champions have simply dominated the sport since 2004, winning 25 of 31 Grand Slams, starting with the 2004 Australian Open. Out of those 31 Grand Slams, only five have featured American finalists. Roddick was a finalist in 2004, 2005 and 2009 at Wimbledon, as well as the 2006 U.S. Open. Andre Agassi was a finalist in the 2005 U.S. Open. All five finals losses came at the hands of Roger Federer. Going into this year’s U.S. Open, there are no Americans who would be considered favorites to win the title, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have contenders with a shot. So, which American has the best chance to win our nation’s Grand Slam? Let’s first begin with tier one or the “top” Americans to look out for: Mardy Fish Ever since losing a significant amount of weight thanks to a healthy diet, Mardy Fish has seemed to resurrect his career. Fish has recently overtaken the number one American ranking from his buddy Andy Roddick, who had been carrying the U.S. on his shoulders for more than six years now. Fish is coming off his best career performance at Wimbledon,

reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Rafael Nadal. Sadly though, Fish’s best result in a Grand Slam during his entire career has been a trip to the quarterfinals. Sorry “Fish Heads,” as Mardy likes to refer to his fans, don’t look for anything better then a quarterfinals appearance in this Slam. Andy Roddick For Andy Roddick, it must feel like a century ago since he won the 2003 U.S. Open. Since then, Roddick failed to live up to expectations, losing in each of the four Slam finals he’s reached since 2003. Andy was shocked in the second round by Feliciano Lopez at this year’s Wimbledon, which is why Andy will be my American favorite at this year’s Open. Roddick, who has been embarrassed in his recent Grand Slam performances is seeking redemption and looking to make one last splash in a Grand Slam before he calls it a career. Pending Roddick’s draw, I pick him as the top American hopeful at the U.S. Open. In tier number two, I think there’s only one American who fits that category. That American would be John Isner.

John Isner The 6 ft.-9 in. John Isner, who is coming off his second career ATP title in Newport, R.I., will hope to slay a few opponents and surpass his 2010 performance, when he lost in the third round. When on his game, Isner is a dangerous opponent and top players would prefer not to see him in their draw. However, Isner’s serve simply cannot carry him to a Grand Slam title. Tier number three is a group of Americans who have slipped in the rankings, perhaps ones you’ve forgotten about. Without a fantastic draw, these Americans will have a tough road to glory:

on Querrey making it past the second round should he play in the Open. James Blake Yes folks, James Blake is still playing tennis, and no … he is not retired. James has simply fallen in the rankings hence why you barely see him at the major tournaments. Currently ranked 91st in the world, Blake has struggled with his game in recent years, but is looking to make one more major run like he did when he reached the quarterfinals of the Open in 2005 and 2006. As much as I like Blake, I don’t see positive results for the “JBlock” at this year’s Open.

Sam Querrey We haven’t seen Sam Querrey since the AEGON Championships, a tune up tournament for Wimbledon. Querrey eventually withdrew from Wimbledon, citing an arm injury. Should Querrey even be healthy enough to compete at this year’s U.S. Open, he is no threat to anyone. Sam has won only one match in three Grand Slams this year, and lacks any major wins. His best win in 2011 was defeating Spain’s Fernando Verdasco. Don’t bank

Lastly, who will be the American long shots to possibly make a name for themselves. At this year’s U.S. Open: Ryan Harrison Rookie American Ryan Harrison does have game and will look to put his game on display should he make the main draw of the

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

U.S. Open, which he should. In 2010, he made the second round after upsetting former top five player Ivan Ljubicic in the first round. Harrison, though young, can still win a few matches in Flushing Meadows. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope for a good draw and a nice Cinderella story here. Donald Young Year after year, we wait for Donald Young to do something big. This year, Young upended Andy Murray for the biggest win of his life at Indian Wells. However, what we would like to see is Donald show us some game in the Grand Slams. Unfortunately, we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen that at all from the young American in his already seven-year career. Based on past experiences, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect anything beyond the second round at best for Young. Alex Bogomolov Jr. Most fans arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too familiar with Alex Bogomolov Jr. as heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never done well in the rankings. His career-high ranking in singles is where he currently strands in the rankings, 63rd in the world. However, Bogomolov Jr. has just come off his best Grand Slam performances at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wimbledon, making it to the third

round before falling to Tomas Berdych. Unfortunately, the American hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t made it past the first round of the U.S. Open. This is the year I believe Bogomolov Jr. can make it out of round one and possibly equal his Wimbledon performance, if not better, pending his draw. Realistically, Bogomolov Jr. wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it out of week one, but he will be entertaining to watch with the way heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been playing of late.

don final, which cost him his number one world ranking. Nadal, who defeated Djokovic in the finals of last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U.S. Open, has a great shot to repeat this year. Expect nothing less than a semifinals appearance from the now world number two.

Going into the U.S. Open, there will be players looking to continue to dominate, looking to repeat, and looking to break out. More than likely, a top 20 player will win the title as thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the trend that has existed over the last 10 years. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U.S. Open will be no different in my eyes. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s break down this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s players to watch into three categories.

Novak Djokovic, who is the new number one in the rankings, the hottest player on tour, and easily having the best year in his career, is an obvious pick for the later rounds of the Open. Already winning two of the three Grand Slams this year, Djokovic will be looking to capitalize at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U.S. Open where heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s made the finals twice in his career, losing to Federer and Nadal. The number one-ranked Serbian should be seeded first at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open, therefore he should find himself in a great position to make a run at the championship.

The no-brainers Rafael Nadal is the defending champion at Flushing Meadows, and you can bet that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be looking for revenge against Wimbledon champ Novak Djokovic whom he lost to in four sets in the Wimble-

Roger Federer is suffering the biggest Grand Slam drought of his career, failing to win a major since the 2010 Australian Open. Since then, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reached only one Slam final, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s French Open where he lost to Nadal yet

Contenders and Pretenders for the 2011 U.S. Open: The Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Side

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New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ September/October 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ NYTennisMag.com

again. For Federer, it looks like the door may be starting to close with the emergence of Djokovic. However, I do not rule the Swiss maestro out, as he has always faired well at the U.S. Open. Each time he has lost on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, he had his chances to win, but was simply outplayed in the end. Look for the five-time champion to make it to at least the semifinals. Andy Murray, believe it or not, has made the semifinals or farther each Grand Slam in 2011. Murray faltered in the finals of the Australian Open to Djokovic, and the semifinals of the French Open and Wimbledon to Nadal. Out of the four no-brainers, Murray is the one I have the least confidence to go deep in the Open. It seems as if he just cannot break through on the big stage. Though he’s been extremely consistent in Grand Slams this year, I don’t see Murray making it past the semifinals should he make it there. The contenders Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion has always mentioned how much he enjoys playing on the hard courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Though his recent results in Grand Slams have been considered embarrassing for Roddick, I believe he is ready to redeem himself at this year’s Open. Roddick has won this Slam in the past, and has been to the finals in 2006. He knows what it takes. Though he’s slipped a bit in the rankings, the shot at redemption is what I’m banking on that will take Roddick into week number two. Juan Martin del Potro, for those of you who don’t remember, won the U.S. Open in 2009 when he stunned Roger Federer in

five sets. Since then, del Potro has struggled with injuries that have sidelined him for nearly a year. After looking to be fully recovered, del Potro is a big threat with his heavy strokes and massive presence. Look for the Argentinean to make it into the second week as well, possibly clashing with a big name like Nadal or Federer in the quarters. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has been flying under the radar this year, but at this year’s Wimbledon, he did something that caught the eyes of every tennis fan in the world. Tsonga became the first player ever to beat Federer when down two sets to none in a Grand Slam. For this reason, along with his huge serve and forehand, Tsonga is a contender at this year’s Open. The fast hard courts suit his game well; therefore, Tsonga should find himself in week two as well. Tomas Berdych is a player who can catch fire with every aspect of his game at any moment. Take, for example, last year’s Wimbledon where he dismissed the defending champion at the time, Roger Federer, with ease. Berdych painted lines every point hitting winner after winner. Should Berdych start hitting his spots, he will be extremely dangerous and difficult to beat. Berdych was embarrassed in the first round of last year’s Open, but this year should be different for the big hitting Czech. The pretenders Robin Soderling, similar to Berdych, is another big hitter. If he catches fire, watch out. His example of that type of hitting was evident at the 2009 French Open where he ran defending champion Rafael Nadal ragged. Soderling and Berdych could go either way, but in this case, I feel Sodeling is a pretender because he lacks the allaround game that Berdych has. If this were the French Open, then I would reverse the positions as I believe Soderling moves bet-

ter on clay, but the U.S. Open is played on a hard court. The tall Swede will struggle. David Ferrer will always be one to give you everything he has in the tank when playing a match. Unfortunately for Ferrer, he lacks the knockout punch in his arsenal to do any damage. The only thing he can do which can and has worked in the past, is run his opponents off the court. However, when Ferrer makes it into the later rounds of a Grand Slam, he is usually met by someone who possesses that killer shot, or the knockout blow. That’s why I don’t see the Spanish warrior making it past the quarterfinals of the Open. Gael Monfils may be the most entertaining out of all the players listed thus far, no-brainers and contenders included. The young Frenchman is quite the show on-court, with his cat-like speed and heavy strokes. To go along with those weapons, he loves getting the crowd involved after the big points to help fuel his fire. The problem that Monfils runs into is that he lacks the ability to sustain his high-quality level of play for a best of five set match with the top players of the world; therefore, he is no threat to win a Grand Slam at this time. Mardy Fish is now the topranked American in the world, surpassing Andy Roddick who was the top-ranked American for a number of years. Fish has been playing the best tennis of his life as of late. Reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon was his best performance ever at the grass court Slam. Coming into this year’s U.S. Open, I feel he can only carry that momentum so far before succumbing to defeat. David Drucker of New York Tennis Magazine is a member of the Nichols College Men’s Tennis team. He may be reached by e-mail at davidd@usptennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Women’s Side: American Hopefuls for the 2011 U.S. Open Crown

successful season thus far and has not managed to pass the first round at any of the previous Grand Slams. Will the 2011 U.S. Open serve to reignite her young career?

By Monica Gorny

Top Picks for the 2011 U.S. Open Women’s Title

American youngster Christina McHale is moving up the rankings and making steady progress in her young professional career. She comes into the 2011 U.S. Open with a WTA ranking of 65, and hopes to make it further than her U.S. Open-best showing of making it to the second round in 2009. McHale has often been described as one of the most ambitious young players on tour, and chances are that she will look to prove herself on home soil at the 2011 U.S. Open. Currently ranked number 88 on the WTA Tour, Vania King is another American hopeful at this year’s U.S. Open. King has had most of her career successes in the doubles field, where she is currently ranked number seven. Her best result in the U.S. Open singles draw is a third round appearance in 2009. Will King pleasantly surprise the American public in this year’s tournament? Coco Vandeweghe stormed into the U.S. Open limelight in 2008, where she won the girl’s singles title, and is currently ranked 99th on the WTA Tour. In her two showings at the Open, she did not manage to pass the first round. However, the New York native will be hungry to show her potential on her home turf and could cause some upsets along the way. American sweetheart Melanie Oudin had a terrific run at the U.S. Open in 2009 when she reached the quarterfinals. However, Oudin has not had a 22

The no-brainers Kim Clijsters, comes into the 2011 U.S. Open as the defending champion. The Belgian is currently in second place in the WTA rankings and has won the U.S. Open championship three times before. Clijsters was forced to withdraw from this year’s Wimbledon due to a foot injury; however, a speedy recovery is underway and indications are that the Belgian will be ready to defend her crown at this year’s Open, making her a real threat in the women’s draw. American hopes for the 2011 U.S. Open crown will rest on the shoulders of Serena Williams, who is making a comeback to the tennis world after a difficult year of injuries, including a pulmonary embolism. Williams is a three-time U.S. Open champion, with her last victory on home soil coming in 2008. Due to her difficult season, Williams did not compete in last year’s tournament. A powerful serve and fiery groundstrokes, coupled with a home court advantage, makes Serena a notable favorite to hoist the tournament trophy. The “old” Maria Sharapova is back and looks more determined than ever to make her presence felt once again on the WTA Tour. After suffering from shoulder injuries for the past two seasons, Sharapova made a startling comeback at this year’s Wimbledon where she reached the finals. The Russian is currently ranked number five in the world, but has been

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

ranked as high as number one in the past. Her performance at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is highlighted by her U.S. Open victory in 2006. Will Sharapova be able to continue her stellar play and add another Grand Slam title to her record? Czech young gun Petra Kvitova took the world by storm when she recently defeated a string of top-ranked players to take the Wimbledon crown. The Czech is currently ranked number seven on the WTA Tour, with her best result at the U.S. Open coming in 2009 when she reached the fourth round. With her aggression and ability to stay composed, Kvitova is a hot favorite to win this year’s Open championship. Rounding out the favorites for the 2011 U.S. Open is Venus Williams who has won the tournament twice before. Like her sister Serena, Venus has not played much this season due to injuries. However, the American’s powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes are perfectly suited for the hard courts, making her an undeniable threat and possible victor of the tournament. Contenders The current world number one, Caroline Wozniacki has yet to win a Grand Slam title. However, her performance at the USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center has been her strength in Grand Slam showings. The Dane reached the finals of the Open in 2009 and reached the semifinals last year. Is this the much-awaited year for a Wozniacki victory in the finals? After reaching last year’s final on the U.S. Open courts, Vera Zvonareva will look to repeat her successes at this year’s Open, and hope-

“I love New York and I love the atmosphere here. It’s very intense. To play on center court with 23,000 people watching you, especially during the night session, that’s an amazing feeling. That’s what you train for.” —Caroline Wozniacki

fully, one-up her 2010 performance. The number three-ranked Russian is one of the feistiest players on the WTA Tour and could pose a threat to the usual favorites in the women’s draw. Na Li’s performance has been at its peak during the clay court seasons of the past two years. The Chinese woman had her career highlight when she won this year’s French Open. At the U.S. Open, Li’s best run came in 2009 when she reached the quarterfinals. The current world number six has the game to takedown anyone on the tour, making her a strong contender at this year’s Open. Germany’s Sabine Lisicki has proven to be one of the world’s best with her performance throughout the grass court season this year. After winning the AEGON Classic, Lisicki went on to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon with her wildcard status. Her U.S. Open career has not been as impressive, with a second round showing being her best result. However, the German should not be taken lightly, as she has shown that she has the true heart of a champion. The pretenders It’s hard to believe that Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic was ever ranked number one in the world with her performance over

the past year. She failed to pass the fourth round at any of the Grand Slams of the 2011 season, and has not reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open for the last two years. It is doubtful that the current world number 15 will make a strong showing at this year’s Open. Aussie doubles specialist Samantha Stosur has made tremendous progress in her singles career over the past few years. Last year can be considered the peak year of her career where she reached a career-high ranking of number six and was a finalist at the French Open. Stosur’s successes have mainly come on the slower clay, and her 2011 season has not been as promising thus far. Chances are that the Aussie will not fair well at this year’s Open. Not so long ago, the tennis world marveled at the steady progress that Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic exhibited on the WTA Tour. Within only one year, Ivanovic went from being ranked outside the top 20, to number one on the tour. However, Ivanovic’s 2009 season was nothing short of disastrous, as her ranking plummeted to outside the top 20 once again. Any hopes for an Ivanovic comeback at Wimbledon 2011 were dashed with her elimination in the third round. Clearly, the 2011 Open will not be the Serb’s time to shine. Despite being ranked in t h e t o p 2 0 , Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska has not had much success on the Grand Slam scene. Her greatest successes over the years have come on the grass courts of Wimbledon where she reached the quarterfinals twice. The U.S. Open has never been her strong point, and thus her prospects for a first U.S. Open title look gloomy. Monica Gorny of New York Tennis Magazine is a member of the Duke University Women’s Tennis team.

So You Think You Know Everything About the U.S. Open? I The U.S. Open originated in 1881 in Newport, R.I. I A USTA competition ball must bounce 53 inches when dropped from 100 inches in order to be used in the tournament. I 70,000 balls get used during the course of a U.S. Open tournament. I $22,668,000 in total prize monies were awarded during the 2010 U.S. Open. Approximately $100,000 in total prize money was awarded in 1968. I In 1977, transsexual Renee Richards, who first played in the U.S. Open as Richard Raskin in 1960, was allowed to compete. “She” reaches the semifinals of women’s doubles. I Last year’s clip of a fight in the stands in the upper deck of Arthur Ashe Stadium Court at the U.S. Open drew 1,320,719 views on You Tube. I 1927 was the first tournament to use seedings. I 1950 was the first Grand Slam to allow a black woman to play (Althea Gibson). I The fastest serve in U.S. Open history was 147mph by American Taylor Dent. I When Andy Roddick and Ernest Gullbis played in 2008, their night match ended at 1:34 a.m. At that time, they were each celebrating their birthday. I The U.S. Open is played on hard court known as “Deco Turf.“ I The U.S. Open began using instant replay in 2006. I U.S. Open Champions with most career titles: Connors (109), Lendl (94), McEnroe (77), Sampras (64), Agassi (60), Federer (45 and counting) and Ashe (33). I The latest a men’s match at U.S. Open finished: Mats Wilander defeated Mikael Pernfors, 7-6(3), 3-6, 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 at 2:26 a.m. I The latest women’s match at U.S. Open finished: Sam Stosur defeated Elena Dementieva, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(2) at 1:35 a.m.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

I The youngest man to win at the U.S. Open was Pete Sampras at 19-years-old in 1990. I The youngest woman to win the U.S. Open was Tracey Austin at 16-years-old in 1979. I In the longest U.S. Open match ever, Stefan Edberg defeated Michael

Chang, 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-4. Total match time was five hrs. and 24 min. I Most aces in a U.S. Open match: Richard Krajicek (49). I Most consecutive wins at the U.S. Open: Roger Federer (40).

“Amazing, I’d feel famous.”—Peter Bukary, 9 “I would feel awesome, in power.” —Jason Yu, 10 “Nervous … a lot of pressure, and everyone is watching.”—Kat Changtroralekely, 14

What if the kids had a shot at the Open?

“An overwhelming moment … awesome! I’d feel unbelievable.”—Jonathan Ochoa, 16

With the U.S. Open on the horizon, we recently asked some local junior players the following question: What would it feel like if you got to play in the U.S. Open on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court?

“I would feel amazing, accomplished and proud.”—Sophie Barnard, 16

“It would be a dream come true for me because its one thing I’ve always dreamed of. My tennis idols, like Serena Williams, have played there, so it would really be a dream come true.”—Andrea Hernandez, 10 “It would be amazing, because then I could play on the same court as Roger Federer.”—Matt Zeifman, 5 “Pretty amazing … hard work pays off!” —Michelle Lehat, 14 “I can show the world just how big my forehand is!”—Patrick Maloney, 11 “Very important part of my life, a snapshot

moment, breathtaking, an honor, really cool to play with experienced players.” —Christopher Grisham, 11 “Exhilarating … a good experience to play against professionals, nervous because a lot of people are watching, I would probably freak out, good thing it’s not going to happen to me for a few more years.” —Madison Battaglia, 13

“Very proud, psyched to play with true pros.”—Vanessa Pavia, 16 “I would be excited because the U.S. Open is one of the biggest tournaments in the world.”—Samantha Civil, 8 “I would be very proud that I would have made it that far to be able to play in the U.S. Open.”—Julia Misciagna, 10

“Great because everyone would be watching me play tennis, I would like to be number one in the world.”—Ronnie Hohmann, 9

“I would feel nervous, but I’d also feel good, because I know Rafael Nadal played there.”—Anthony Giraci, 10

“I’d feel proud because I worked so hard to get there.”—Vanessa Scott, 14

“I would be happy, and maybe I could play with my dad on the court and get signatures from the other pros.”—Joshua Baron, 6 “It would be a great experience to be seen by other people and to show my talent.” —Andre Gillespie, 10 “Amazing if I could get that far.” —Louie Kotler, 10 “Awesome just being there … cool seeing all the people.”—Jordyn Berry, 13 “I’d feel more excited, I wouldn’t care how I did because I’d just be so happy to be there.“—Claire Handa, 12

prospectpark.org/tennis (718) 436-2500 24

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

“I would try to make it as far as I could. It would be amazing to improve and play against good players.”—Steven Sun, 10

2011 U.S. Open Schedule (Subject to change) Date

Session

Time

Featured Matches

Date

Session

Time

Featured Matches

Monday, August 29

1 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s/Women’s 1st Round 2 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s/Women’s 1st Round

Monday, September 5 15 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s/Women’s Round of 16 16 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s/Women’s Round of 16

Tuesday, August 30

3 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s/Women’s 1st Round 4 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s/Women’s 1st Round

Tuesday, September 6 17 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s Round of 16/Women’s Quarterfinal 18 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s Round of 16/Women’s Quarterfinal

Wednesday, August 31

5 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s 1st Round/Women’s 2nd Round 6 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s/Women’s 2nd Round

Wednesday, September 7 19 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s and/or Women’s Quarterfinal 20 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s and/or Women’s Quarterfinal

Thursday, September 1 7 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s/Women’s 2nd Round 8 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s/Women’s 2nd Round Friday, September 2

9 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s 2nd Round/Women’s 3rd Round 10 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s 2nd Round/Women’s 3rd Round

Saturday, September 3 11 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s/Women’s 3rd Round 12 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s/Women’s 3rd Round

Thursday, September 8

Friday, September 9

21 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s Quarterfinal/Mixed-Doubles Final 22 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s Quarterfinal/Women’s Doubles Semifinals 23 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s Doubles Final/Women’s Semifinals

Saturday, September 10 24 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s Semifinals 25 Evening 7:00 p.m. Women’s Final/Pre-Match Ceremony

Sunday, September 4 13 Day 11:00 a.m. Men’s 3rd Round/Women’s Round of 16 14 Evening 7:00 p.m. Men’s 3rd Round/Women’s Round of 16 Sunday, September 11 26 Day

Noon Women’s Doubles Final/Men’s Final

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USTA/Eastern-Metro Region

Metro Board at World TeamTennis

Members of the McCarrenPark team prepare for their finals match

The USTA Eastern Metro Region Board had a presence at the New York Sportimes World TeamTennis (WTT) home matches at Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island. Metro Region Board members gave out free racquets to all children that came to the matches. The racquets were donated by USTA Eastern and the New York Sportimes. The Board members also distributed materials and answered questions about USTA membership, USTA Adult Leagues, Metro Corporate Leagues and the Play Tennis New York program. The Board was happy to support World TeamTennis and the New York Sportimes during their 2011 campaign. Pictured above, Jeffrey Fairbanks, USTA Metro Manhattan representative; USTA Metro Regional President Carl Summerlin; USTA Eastern Metro Second Vice President Jackie Clark; and Metro Brooklyn Representative Pablo Sierra at Sportime Stadium.

Lincoln Terrace Tennis Association Wins Second Annual Kings Cup A team from the Lincoln Terrace Tennis Association (LTTA) won the USTA Eastern’s Second Annual Kings Cup on July 23, beating out teams from five other public and private tennis facilities in Brooklyn and earning a place in New York City tennis history. The day-long tournament was held at the Prospect Park Tennis Center in Brooklyn, and gave recreational players a chance to experience tennis as part of a team and learn about the wide range of opportunities to play tennis throughout the borough. In the finals against the McCarren Park team, LTTA’s Kwamy Griffith won the men’s singles, Akilah James won the women’s singles, and Griffith & James teamed up to win mixed-doubles. 26

Charles East, captain of the 2011 Kings Cup champs, Lincoln Terrace Tennis Association (LTTA)

Congratulations to the Lincoln Terrace Tennis Association (LTTA), winners of the Second Annual Kings Cup The LTTA team was captained by Charles East, and included Sophia Bishop, Colin Clarke, Prince Debo, Gloria Moody, Debbie Paul, Tony Tull and Ray Wilson. The event attracted teams from Fort Greene Park, Fort Greene Tennis Ladder, Knickerbocker Field Club and Prospect Park. “Every member of the LTTA team played well against tough opponents, and we are very happy to come out on top,” said East.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA/Eastern-Metro Region

SBTA Participate in “Vive Tu Vida! Get Up! Get Moving!” Event The South Brooklyn Tennis Association (SBTA) and some of the Brooklyn area CTAs and NJTLs (High Park Tennis Association and Marcy Tennis) recently participated in the “Vive Tu Vida! Get Up! Get Moving!” event in the Bronx, at the Fordham Road Renaissance Festival. The event, sponsored by the Hispanic Federation with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, was held to promote physical activity, healthy nutrition, and also provided various health screenings. For this year’s event, the Hispanic Federation partnered with the Fordham Road Renaissance Festival. The SBTA and its friends were on hand to promote Kids 10 & Under Tennis, as tennis demonstrations were held for all in attendance. SBTA explained to attendees that playing tennis every other day for 50-60 min. is a great way of reducing stress, and even lowering glucose levels in the event you are diabetic.

West Side Tennis Club Hosts Grass Court National Championships Congratulations to Roslyn Chua-Mcalonie of Miller Place, N.Y. for advancing to the finals of the Women’s 30 Singles Championship at the 2011 USTA National Women’s 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 & 80 Grass Court Championships, held July 18-24 at The West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y. Roslyn was defeated by the number two seed Monica Rincon of Columbus, Ohio in the Women’s 30 Singles finals, 7-5, 6-4.

USTA Metro Region Board Carl Summerlin

Regional President

summtennis@aol.com

Thomas Gilliland

First Vice President

thomas@foresthillstennis.com

Jackie Clark

Second Vice President

jackiec555@aol.com

Allon Lifshitz

Secretary

allonl@gmail.com

Bronx Representative

Janice Campbell

tennis4players@yahoo.com

Brooklyn Representative

Pablo Sierra

psierra@sierrahospitality.com

Manhattan Representative

Jeffrey Fairbanks

jftennisne1@aol.com

Queens Representative/Adult Leagues

Deb-Rose Andrews

debrose@metrotennis.com

Staten Island Representative

Donald L. Malech

donmalech@yahoo.com

Junior Recreation Representative

Thomas Gilliland

thomas@foresthillstennis.com

Junior Team Tennis

Kathy Yee

jttmetro@aol.com

Adult Competition Representative

Robin Lieberman

roblieber1@yahoo.com

At-Large

Jeff Jones

stvoyager@email.msn.com

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

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NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Susan Bilotta By Jacki Clark Whether it is a USTA League tennis match or raising money to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease, Susan Bilotta gives so much of herself, but realizes that the team approach is the best way to be successful. Susan approaches all challenges in life by following the belief, “Together everyone achieves more.” In Susan’s world, this means, “Together we win matches and together with The Michael J. Fox Foundation, a cure will be found.” Susan Bilotta is a selfless, hard-working and motivated woman as you will get to know her here in the Metro League Player Spotlight. How long have you played tennis and how long have you been playing in the USTA leagues? I have been playing tennis for over 35 years and have played in USTA Leagues for over 15 years. Tennis, like Tips for Parkinson’s, brings

difficult places to get a court. I have great friends due to tennis and the USTA. My team not only plays as one, but we support and encourage each other off the court. I am so very lucky to have a team that supports me both on and off the court. It takes a team to win on the court, and takes a team to put Tips for Parkinson’s together.

Susan Bilotta people together and some of my closest friends are tennis players. I am captain of a 3.5 team and they are an amazing group of women. What has USTA league tennis meant to you? USTA has given me an outlet to play tennis in New York City, probably one of the most

Brent Shearer

Partial Student List: Alan Greenspan, Designer Mary McFadden, Newsman Mike Wallace, Former Paine Weber CEO Don Marron

646.270.8371 30

tribecatennis@gmail.com

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

Who or what has inspired you to help others and how did you get involved with the Michael J. Fox Foundation? My mother and the many people battling Parkinson’s Disease each and every day are my inspiration. I have seen, through my mother and the friends I have made through Team Fox, the affects of Parkinson’s. I want to help close the doors of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. That means a cure has been found and I know The Michael J. Fox Foundation will be behind it. I was introduced to The Michael J. Fox Foundation 10 years ago at The Parkinson’s Unity Walk in Central Park. I was invited to many of their roundtables that updated individuals on Parkinson’s research and the Foundation’s involvement. It was not until January 2006 when Team Fox was launched that I became really involved. Team Fox was the grassroots arm of The Michael J. Fox Foundation and was a way for The Michael J. Fox Foundation to support the heroes all over the country. These individuals made it their personal mission to find uniquely creative and fun ways to raise funds for Parkinson’s research. Team Fox provides guidance, tools and resources for the thousands of amazing people all over the world who are walking, running, baking, party planning, paddling, pedaling and dancing to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s research. In Team Fox’s first five years, members raised $12 million. Tips for Parkinson’s is a

bartending competition which started in June 2006, and I have had the event each May since that time. Tips for Parkinson’s started in the local bar, Vertigo, and we raised $14,000. We continued to have Tips at Vertigo for a total of four years, and then moved to a larger bar in 2010, and then to the incredible IAC HQ in 2011. This year, we have raised more than $190,000. Tips is an event to bring friends together for a cause I believe in, and it has grown from 100 friends and family, to more than 580 people. I enjoy getting people together and having fun and Tips was a way to do this for an incredible cause. The Michael J. Fox Foundation means there is hope and promise for a cure. The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Team Fox will put an end to the disease. Like USTA tennis, Tips for Parkinson’s is a TEAM event and it is truly due to the bartenders and friends that have helped to grow Tips for Parkinson’s and to increase awareness. The amazing bartenders group raised more than $90,000 in 2011 before the night of the event. I am blown away by the support and help I have received by colleagues, my tennis team, friends and family. It is truly amazing!

What are some goals that you are still working to accomplish? I love bringing people together and would like to continue to build awareness and raise more funds. I am considering forming a 501(c) (3) Foundation in order to grow and do more for Team Fox-The Michael J. Fox Foundation. I am honored to be a Team Fox Mentor Susan Bilotta with friends and teammates at the Tips for Parkinto other Team Fox mem- son’s event bers, and I would like to inspire others to over $237,000 as a result of the event. For more information or to donate, do more. Right now a donation will be matched please visit TeamFox.org, MichaelJFox.org by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and his or TipsForParkinsons.org. wife, Anne Wojcicki, co-founder of 23andMe. The couple recently issued a Jackie Clark is second vice president on $50 million challenge grant that provides a the USTA Eastern Metro Region Board, dollar-to-dollar match for all new, return- chairperson of the USTA Eastern Adult ing and increased donations to the Foun- Competition Committee, a member of the dation. Tips is an example, since we USTA National Membership Committee raised $52,000 more than we did in 2010. and a USTA League Captain. She may be The Foundation will ultimately receive reached by e-mail at jackiec555@aol.com.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

s i n n te

Kid’s

Brooklyn

By Nina Sporn nless you are a diehard tennis player who has built-in radar that locates tennis courts in unexpected places, you would never know that there are five beautiful Har-Tru courts located on East 18th Street in Brooklyn, N.Y., just steps away from the Church Avenue Q train stop. The Knickerbocker Field Club, also known as “The Knick,” was built in 1892, and is the outdoor tennis home to 150 members. Tennis enthusiasts have a unique desire to share their love of the game, especially children, and to this end, the Knicker-

bocker Field Club sponsors a free instructional program for local kids to introduce them to the sport. Twice a week, for twoand-a-half hours, the Club’s two teaching pros and a team of volunteers recruited from the Club’s membership, work up to 50 kids, ranging in age from five to 16, on fitness and tennis technique. The enthusiasm for the program can be seen in the radiant faces of the players and the coaches, and by the number of children who return to the program year after year. Recognizing that tennis skills can only be sustained and enhanced through ongoing instruction, the Knickerbocker Field Club held a fundraising event in 2010 which

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

raised enough to support four scholarships to Prospect Park Tennis Center’s Junior Development program. These students are now back at The Knick and continue to improve, and the Club’s members are committed to this program as a way of creating a new crop of tennis players for the future. Nina Sporn is a freelance grant writer with a focus on community and public health initiatives for children and families. She is a lifelong tennis enthusiast who shares her love of the game by volunteering in local tennis programs that encourage new players through grassroots outreach and support.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Tennis Injury Prevention “Injuries are prevalent in both the adult and adolescent population. It has been shown that approximately eight percent of adolescents drop out of recreational sports activities each year due to injury.” By Sophie Scott A physically active lifestyle is important for all age groups. Reasons to participate in sports, such as tennis are many, such as pleasure and relaxation, competition, socialization, maintenance and improvement of fitness and health. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of premature mortality in general, and in particular, coronary heart disease, hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Tennis is one of the major global sports with more than 75 million participants worldwide from 200-plus countries that are directly affiliated with the International Tennis Federation (ITF). However, as with many other sports, playing tennis puts players at the risk of injury, which may lead to either time away from the sport or impairment in actual performance due to pain or limitation of movement. Identifying risk factors for injury and correcting them through a structured conditioning and training program can both reduce injury and improve overall performance and health. Injuries are prevalent in both the adult and adolescent population. It has been shown that approximately eight percent of adolescents drop out of recreational sports activities each year due to injury. The preteen athletes are at a particular risk of sports injury due to high levels of exposure at a time of major physiological change. It is vital to develop effective measures for the prevention of injuries in young athletes. Sports injuries result from a complex interaction of multiple risk factors and events, and injury prevention generally focuses on modi34

fication of risk factors: Extrinsic factors, such as equipment, playing surfaces and work load (hours and intensity of activity) and intrinsic factors such as fitness, flexibility and balance, previous injury and age. The common types of injury sustained in most sports are as a result of overuse, rather than acute trauma. For non-competitive tennis players, improper or inadequate physical and technical training may be the cause of overuse injuries. Common sports injuries N Muscle strain (mild=common) e.g., calf strain N Ligament strain (common) e.g., ankle N Bone stress e.g., shin N Tendon e.g., Achilles/shoulder–rotator cuff

single tennis shot. Efficient function, with maximum performance and minimal risk of injury, requires optimal activation of all the links of the kinetic chain. Individuals seeking to reduce injury and improve their performance should seek a full-functional screening and assessment from a qualified practitioner. The results will provide invaluable information to the individual athlete and coach from which a unique conditioning training program can be designed—a program that will enable the individual to maximize potential and minimize injury and poor performance. The conditioning program should consist of strength and conditioning training methods, such as resistance training and plyometrics, as well as cardiovascular fitness and recovery strategies.

Baseline musculoskeletal screening is commonly used in professional and other elite level sports environments to measure potential intrinsic injury risk factors, by identifying characteristics of the musculoskeletal system that may predispose an individual athlete to injury or identify compensations resulting from an injury that may predispose the athlete to further injury. Screening is promoted as an integral part of both an injury risk management strategy and a performance and wellness enhancement strategy, not only for the elite athlete, but also the recreational one as well. Tennis involves the successful interaction of multiple parts of the musculoskeletal system through what is termed the “kinetic chain” in order to perform a functional movement pattern that will result in a

Sophie Scott is currently director of performance at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy at Sportime Randall’s Island in New York where she has been since September 2010. She designs and implements the musculoskeletal screening and conditioning programs for the developmental Academy and elite academy squad. Sophie has worked as an Osteopath in professional sport for the last 13 years. Having worked for six years in the British Soccer Premiership with the Fulham Football Club, Sophie spent five years prior to joining the McEnroe Academy team as Senior Osteopath to the top British players at the National Tennis Centre in London, where she was instrumental in constructing the screening program for the elite squad. She may be reached by phone at (212) 427-6150.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

e-mail southbrooklyntennisassn@yahoo.com

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

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

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Teaching vs. Coaching What is teaching? What is coaching? By Ajay Kumar onestly, after checking out every dictionary, the great minds have concluded that both “teaching” and “coaching” are synonymous—and no one will ever argue with that. But, how about trying to look at it in a different way? What can be different about teaching and coaching? When one mentions “teaching,” the classroom flashes, the headaches of homework, (the always annoying) pop quizzes, tests, exams, your friend bothering from behind, etc. come to mind. When one says “coaching,” I recognize an instructor in my head telling me to run laps for not hitting my volleys in the corner target of the court. A teacher would have a different method though. They may express that: “It’s good to set up the volley at that point because it will give a higher percentage of winning the point.” This will reflect both in terms of learning a stroke as well. Teachers will break down a particular stroke and explain the reason behind the technique, as opposed to coaches, (well, most coaches, in my opinion), who will likely just show you the technique and would likely say, “Just do it this way, imitate

me, and it will work” (of course, I’m exaggerating here!). I believe the difference between teachers and coaches is simple … it’s not what one says, it’s how one says it—and how one describes something, whether it be eloquently or just plain bluntly. It is about ‘what you say, who you say it to and how you say it,’ is the basic idea behind coaching versus teaching. I would like to emphasize, again, that this is based upon my personal experiences in tennis, both playing and working—and might not reflect yours. I’ve had both types of “instructors”—teachers and coaches—and teachers have helped me at certain levels (beginners to intermediates), while coaches have helped me at other levels (intermediate to advanced). In our academy, we encounter a variety of players of all ages and levels—from the basic 10 & Under QuickStart players, to highly-ranked juniors. They are all unique in their way of learning and understanding and being who they really are! Instructors have to understand that children are unique, and that their minds are still developing, trying to sort out the good from the bad, right from wrong, and what is fun and not fun. Adults, to some extent, already know what is right for

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

them and are reluctant to change their ways. Kids, on the other hand, are sponges—always absorbing what they see or hear and as instructors, we must take advantage of this and realize that every player/student of the game learns the game in their own way. The maturation as a person and a player (physically) are not the same. Over the years, I have encountered different sets of instructions from different perspectives, and I’ve had the good fortune to learn good, proper guidance. The beauty of learning from both personalities of instructors is that players can thrive at each level/age of learning the game. I believe that teachers and coaches have the same general thoughts, but the tone or how they project information is what differentiates the two. For me, I was extremely fortunate to have teachers who were calm, collective, and most importantly, had the patience of a saint (remember, every student of the game is unique and will learn the sport in their own way). However, I’ve also been surrounded by coaches who are prone to be boisterous and aggressive—whereas this is the exact opposite of what teachers are—to some extent. Instructors have to indentify the person-

ality of a student, their background, enthusiasm, humility, competitiveness—to see and evaluate what method of instruction is best for them. The method I would describe would be the personality of the instructor: Whether they are a teacher or a coach. As an instructor, I cannot, in the right frame of mind, instruct or work with a player the way I was instructed—because every player/person learns differently and should be handled with care. Most people who have studied education and have done extensive research in the field of neuroscience have shown that every person is different and learns the fundamentals of their livelihood differently. Some are auditory learners, some are visual learners, while some can do both. I grew up with players and coaches who instructed me to do as they did—I was never as talented or athletically gifted as my instructors. But they thought that if it worked for them—the way they were taught—it would eventually work for me. To this day, I have to

“I believe the difference between teachers and coaches is simple … it’s not what one says, it’s how one says it …”

admit that I never became as close to who they were. However, I was fortunate enough to learn from them and be successful to a certain degree. My instructors and I are not the same … never were and never will be. Some love to see a pro in action and imitate them, whereas some players want to see a video of themselves and compare it to the ability of a pro. Both are visual learners, but are learners nonetheless. Some players can actually repeat what you tell them—“brush the outside part of the ball using your wrist, which will get you to hit cross-courts”—and they instantly grab the concept and run with it (of course, a few dead ball drills help)—but you get the idea.

The next time you are with a player on the court, have an open mind to your instructing skills and take a step back and evaluate and educate. There is no wrong way to accommodate a player to their needs. Ajay Kumar is currently the director of tennis at one of the oldest tennis facilities in New York, the New York Tennis Club (NYTC), and is an assistant director for the Advantage Tennis Clubs family, servicing out of four-major locations in Manhattan. Prior to taking over the director of tennis position at NYTC, Ajay was a partner at Metro Tennis Academy and was instrumental in developing a renowned junior program that serviced both recreational and competitive players. He has played in the USTA Eastern Section, and as well as in the ITF. He graduated with a sports medicine major from Manhattan College, where he played competitively in its Division I varsity team as a scholar-athlete. He may be reached by phone at (646) 294-2653, email ak.advantagetennis@gmail.com or visit http://advantagecamps.net.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

CUNNINGHAM SPORTS CENTER 196-00 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. (718) 740-6800 CunninghamSportsCenter.com Cunningham Sports Center, where “Your success is our main goal,” is a 10-hard court facility which offers a wide array of tennis programs to suit all ages and levels. Cunningham’s Junior Development Program is one of the largest and best in the area. Using innovative techniques, players of all stages are provided with the tools and challenges necessary to advance to the next level. Cunningham’s highly successful QuickStart program, for ages four through seven, uses specialized equipment, shorter court dimensions, and modified scoring to introduce the Photo credit: Daniel Avila youngest players to the game of tennis. From beginners to advanced tournament training, Cunningham offers one-, two- and three-hour programs for all levels of play. Cunningham’s newly-designed Tournament Team is by tryout only and is comprised of the best of the best. Cunningham’s tennis pros will prepare your child for high level tournament play, offering personal training, drills, fitness, tournament scheduling and assistance. Cunningham also offers junior and adult leagues, match play and live ball programs to inspire sportsmanship and the competitive spirit. Adult drills are offered weeknights and weekends. Parents are encouraged to join Cunningham’s programs and play while their child plays, and programs are packaged to offer the most for your money. Private lessons are also available for people of all ages. Cunningham offers seasonal and open court time with special walk-on rates, senior rates and non-prime time pricing that will fit any budget. Let Cunningham help you on the road to loving the great sport of tennis. MANHATTAN PLAZA RACQUET CLUB 450 West 43rd Street New York, N.Y. (212) 594-0554 ManhattanPlazaRacquetClub.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 Monday38

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 summer, a luxurious clubhouse, a new tennis bubble, private lessons and group lesPhoto credit: MPRC member Sam Kanter, sons, game arranging, quality courtesy of MPRC tennis programs and clinics for members and non-members, leagues, tennis camps, parties, doubles play, tournaments, and a pro shop with stringing services. New to Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club members, a full membership to Manhattan Plaza Health Club. MPRC members can also 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 New Advantage Passport Tennis/Sports Multi-Club Membership. For membership information, contact MPRC Assistant Manager and Membership Director Calvin Sharpe at (212) 594-0554. 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 group lessons, contact MPRC Assistant Tennis Director Bruce Barney at (212) 594-0554. MPRC will also be offering QuickStart in the fall of 2011, and for more information on programs and clinics, contact MPRC Director of 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

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

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 preparing 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. Manhattan Tennis Academy also features the USTA 10-andUnder program and will offer small classes beginning in September. NEW YORK TENNIS ACADEMY AT GREAT NECK ESTATES PO Box 220252 Great Neck, N.Y. (631) 431-1180 or (516) 662-6351 All new for the 2011-2012 tennis season, a brand new, state-of-the-art, fivecourt tennis facility will be opening in Great Neck Estates. Under the direction of Howie Arons and Willie Notar, the programs for adults and juniors will be the best on Long Island. Both Willie and Howie bring more than 35 years of elite tennis instruction to the program, and the goal of New York Tennis Academy is to develop the best junior program in the area. New York Tennis Academy at Great Neck Estates is conveniently located in Great Neck Estates Park, which includes ample parking. If you have any questions regarding any Great Neck Estates programs, call Howie at (631) 431-1180 or Willie at (516) 662-6351.

NEW YORK TENNIS CLUB 3081 Harding Avenue Throggs Neck (Bronx), N.Y. (718) 239-7919 NewYorkTennisClub.com Founded in 1886, New York Tennis Club is the oldest active tennis club in New York, as 2011 marks New York Tennis Club’s 126th 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 a new patio and viewing deck and six newly resurfaced Har-Tru courts, 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 proshop 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 climatecontrolled bubbles, equipped with shadow-less, non-glare lighting, offering hourly court time with rates between $34-$64 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, New York Tennis Club has a program for you. The Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Program at New York Tennis Club 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. We are very excited to announce the launch of the Advantage Passport Membership, which offers our members a whole new level of ben-

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

efits 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, Director of Adult Programs & Advantage Sea and Sports Camp Paul Fontana, or Director of Tennis & Junior Programs Ajay Kumar at (718) 239-7919. Prospect Park Tennis Center

50 Parkside Avenue Brooklyn, N.Y. (718) 436-2500 ProspectPark.org/Tennis Prospect Park Tennis Center is located at the Parade Ground on the corner of Coney Island and Parkside Avenues (Park Circle). Street parking is available on Parkside Avenue. The facility is open daily year-round, from 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. The 2011 Outdoor Season begins May 21 and runs through Oct. 9, and the 2011-2012 Indoor Season begins Oct. 24. If you are a tennis lover, Prospect Park Tennis Center has programs for you. Group or individual tennis lessons for adults and children are available for players of all levels. The Tennis Center also hosts tournaments, round-robins and league play at a variety of levels and times. Adult group classes are offered throughout the week and the Tennis Center’s professionals are available for private and semi-private lessons. Prospect Park Tennis Center offers 11 courts, two Deco-Turf hard courts and nine Har-Tru clay courts. All the courts are protected under bubbles in winter. In warm weather months, the action continues outdoors. Five of the 11 courts are available for play even when the sun goes down, thanks to state-of-the-art lighting. The Tennis Center features a two-story, air-conditioned clubhouse with locker rooms, showers, viewing areas, outdoor patio and other amenities. Prospect Park Tennis Center’s Junior Development Program has introduced thousands of local children to the sport of tennis. Youth scholarships for programs are awarded periodically based on merit and need. Special Aces, the Prospect Park Tennis Center’s program for children with special needs, promotes health, fitness, coordination and confidence through experience on the courts. The Prospect Park Tennis Center at the Parade Ground is a program of the Prospect Park Alliance, which is committed to providing a high level of service to the community. All proceeds benefit Prospect Park and the ongoing maintenance of the Tennis Center. For more information or to reserve a court, visit ProspectPark.org/Tennis. 40

ROOSEVELT ISLAND RACQUET CLUB 281 Main Street Roosevelt Island, N.Y. (212) 935-0250 RIRCTennis.com Now in its 19th 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 year-round 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. The club 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 Lessons 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 announce the launch of the 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.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

SPORTIME 1 Randalls Island New York, N.Y. (212) 427-6150 SportimeNY.com/Manhattan Sportime Randall’s Island, a state-of-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 worldclass training academy in the world’s greatest city in September 2010. The JMTA is led by former ATP pro and Israeli Davis Cup player Gilad Bloom and a staff of experienced teaching professionals, including Assistant Academy Directors Fritz Buehning, Bruce Haddad, Harel Srugo and Karim Balagh. Fritz is a former world top 20 player and U.S. Open finalist, Bruce is a two-time All-American at Arizona State University, Harel is a former ATP professional and was captain of the men’s tennis team at UCLA, and Karim has coached with the Moroccan Davis Cup team. In addition to 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 in the JMTA. The club also offers adult singles and doubles leagues, private and group personal training in our well-equipped fitness center, early morning cardio-tennis, and monthly mixers 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-sq. ft. of tennis courts and amenities, including five indoor and five indoor/outdoor Deco-Turf hard tennis courts, and 10 indoor/outdoor HarTru clay tennis courts. All 20 courts are covered from October through May. 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 cafe serving healthy food, snacks and beverages; 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.

STADIUM TENNIS CENTER 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. Openstyle deco-turf, hard courts—including 12 indoor courts which are open for indoor play from October through April—New York City’s newest indoor/outdoor 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 cardiotennis 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 is one of the largest tennis “bubbles” or domes of this type in the world, covering an area of more than million cubic feet and a footprint of more than 75,000 sq. ft. In addition, an adjacent planned 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. VANDERBILT TENNIS CLUB AT GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL 15 Vanderbilt Avenue, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. (212) 599-6500 TennisInManhattan.com For more than 30 years, we have been providing top quality tennis programs for the residents of this island. Sutton East Tennis Club at Sutton Place and 59th Street, Yorkville Tennis Club at York Avenue and 89th Street, and with the grand opening of our newest location, Vanderbilt Tennis Club at Grand

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Central Terminal, we are proud to offer a wide range of programs at three Manhattan locations, all with no membership fees! Our largest program provides professional instruction to pre-schoolers and juniors alike: Pee-Wee tennis (ages three to five) is the best way for a young child to get familiar with the game of tennis in a safe and fun-filled environment, while our Junior program (ages six through 18) emphasizes stroke production and match-playing related skills. All children’s programs conform to the USTA QuickStart guidelines for 10 & Under tennis, and all groups have a 1:4 instructor to student ratio. Even though our locations are open to the public, we do offer seasonal court time, where one can commit to a weekly time slot throughout the year. For those who can not commit to a specific time slot, we offer a wide range of options: Open court time, leagues and round-robin match play are ideal for advanced players. Those who further need to hone their skills can take private, semi-private or group lessons. Our trained professionals are committed take you to the next level. Tennis as a cardio workout has proven to be in high demand in recent years, and cardio-tennis classes are offered every day and throughout the day, early mornings to late evenings. The cardio-tennis classes are maxed at six players per court and your heart rate is guaranteed to increase significantly. In addition, Vanderbilt Tennis Club offers: Personal training sessions and open gym time; two state-of-the-art practice lanes with automated ball machines that will provide players of all levels a controlled environment for improvement; video analysis, the latest word in visual instruction, as nothing beats seeing yourself hitting in slow-motion; and much more. 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 825 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 14 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 min. 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. 42

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 hold 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. 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. Courts may be reserved two days in advance or used on the day of play on a first-come/first-served basis. In 2010, it is estimated that more than 75,000 individuals utilized the facility in this manner. Among the many participants in 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

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

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 physicallychallenged 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 years-plus) 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.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

On the Line By Serena Williams with Daniel Paisner think many of us in the tennis world, understandably, take the Williams Sisters and their accomplishments for granted. But just because they have been mainstays on the women’s tour for more than 10 years, it is instructive to take another look because Venus and Serena are quite a story. One way to review their accomplishments with fresh eyes is by reading On the Line, Serena’s memoir written with Daniel Paisner. The book covers Serena’s career up through the 2008 U.S. Open, so you won’t find any reaction to Serena’s verbal attack on the lineswoman that was a big story on the women’s side of the 2010 U.S. Open. That’s just as well since everyone has, I think, absorbed that incident and has adjusted their opinion of Serena as a result. For all of the ink that has been spilled about Serena’s default, I think one unremarked-upon aspect of Serena’s meltdown is the way that courtside reporter Mary Joe Fernandez froze and was too terrified of an enraged Serena to interview her as she stormed off the court against Kim Clijsters following her default. Fernandez was Fed Cup Captain at the time and was afraid to confront her own potential team member. But even Patrick McEnroe gave a lot of thought to how to broach the subject of the default later that weekend after Serena and Venus won the doubles title. You have to love the conflicts of interest in our game. On the Line does devote a chapter to an

earlier controversy in the Williams’ career. Playing at Indian Wells in 2001, Venus defaulted due to an injury in the semis, allowing Serena to advance to the final against Kim Clijsters. It’s funny how Clijsters is always there when the Williams Sisters run into controversy. The crowd of 14,000 booed Serena on the court and Richard and Venus in the stands. Since then, the Williams have boycotted the event. No doubt it was an ugly scene and I’d support the Williams’ family decision to boycott, although in On the Line, Serena gives in to the temptation to cast the boycott as a moral crusade. But what makes On the Line a compelling read for the tennis fan is its portrait of the early years of the Williams Sisters. Serena talks about how, for years, all of the attention from the outside world of coaches, potential sponsors and the press was totally focused on Venus. Within the family, everyone agreed that Serena’s time would come, but rarely has birth order played such a role as it did for Serena as she waited for some of the spotlight to move from her big sister to her. Even a casual tennis fan will be intrigued by Serena’s story of the girls’ upbringing and the way that their father created two champions out of his five daughters. One way to look at the Williams Sisters’ story is that their father is the most successful junior development coach the world has ever seen. Two out of five kids make it to number one … not bad. I’ve always thought the explanation for the way the Williams Sisters can drop in and out of the WTA Tour and be successful is that they just serve better than any of their competitors. You can also say that they are better athletes, but while I think that is true, you see the strength of their serves frequently bailing them out when they come back from an injury or have been off the tour for other reasons.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

So, here’s a note to teaching pros, parents and players. One thing Richard Williams did with Serena and Venus to improve their serves was to have them throw American footballs back and forth across the net. Serena relates how the girls started tossing the ball from a few feet away from the net, then moved to the service line, and eventually to the baseline. The next time you watch that bag check feature on the Tennis Channel, don’t be surprised if more women players are packing footballs with their jump-ropes and other gear. Because the Richard Williams football drill and, no doubt, many other serving drills, created the two best hitters of the game’s most important shot in women’s tennis history. Richard Williams made Serena and Venus the pros they have become. He may get credit for having a master plan now, but as Serena writes in On the Line of one of his famous decisions, to not let his girls play junior tennis, he was making it up as he went along. Serena quotes her dad explaining this decision by saying, “Meeka, I don’t see why you and your sister should travel all over just to beat up on these other little girls.” With the Williams, family and their Jehovah’s Witness religion was the foundation for everything they accomplished. What comes across in On the Line is the sweetness Richard Williams nurtured in his family for tennis. I don’t think most players, with Andre Agassi as an exception perhaps, become champions without coming to love the sounds and rhythms of the game. Richard instilled this in his girls, even the three who didn’t become champs and the result has forever changed the history of tennis. G Brent Shearer may be reached by e-mail at bbshearer@gmail.com.

Dreams Really Do Come True Credit all photos to Avi Gerver/MSG Photos

By Monica Gorny elping make dreams come true for children facing life obstacles is the primary goal of the Garden of Dreams Foundation (GDF). The GDF works closely with all areas of Madison Square Garden to provide children with oncein-a-lifetime experiences. From July 6-12, 40 children were lucky enough to realize their aspirations by taking part in the GDF’s “Dream Week” summer program. On July 12, children from the SCO Family of Services, a partner of the GDF, were given the opportunity to tour the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and take part in a session with USTA teaching professionals to learn the basics of tennis. The tour commenced with a visit to the Arthur Ashe bronze statue located just outside the center. The tour leader stressed the significance of the statue by explaining that it not only commemorates Ashe as a great tennis player, but as an inspiring humanitarian who left behind a legacy that still lives on. Following this, the tour covered much of the inside and outside areas, giving the children an idea of the size of the facility. The conclusion and the highlight of the tour came with the much-awaited visit to Center Court of Arthur Ashe Stadium. This had a profound impact on the children, as they realized that many of the sport’s legends played on this court. Following this, the children were led to Louis Armstrong Stadium for their own opportunity to try out the sport. After the children received complimentary waters, hats and rackets, the USTA teaching professionals started the session off with a warm-up routine of side shuffles and knee-high skips. The purpose of this was to show the importance of an adequate warm-up to prevent injuries. The children were then fed a series of forehands and backhands, while teaching pro-

fessionals corrected their grips and techniques. Activities came to an end once they had covered all of the basic tennis strokes to give everyone an overall feel for the sport. The day’s scorching heat which bordered on 100 degrees was not enough to ruin the jubilant atmosphere amongst the children. Everyone seemed pleased with what they learned and experienced at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, thus concluding another very successful “Dream Week” for the Garden of Dreams Foundation.

Monica Gorny of New York Tennis Magazine is a member of the Duke University Women’s Tennis team.

New York Tennis Magazine Accessory Review: Stringlet By Alan Brofka As someone who has attended tennis tournaments for years, I have rarely seen much out there that is new or interesting in the way of souvenirs and accessories for fans of the sport. Sure, there are tennis ball keychains, jumbo tennis balls and t-shirts, but what about something more subtle yet just as engaging for the true tennis enthusiast? We recently came across the Stringlet (tennis STRING braceLET) and think this might fill that void for fans looking for something that says “tennis,” but doubles as just more than a tennis accessory. The Stringlet is a lightweight bracelet braided from tennis string, similar to a high-tech friendship bracelet, and comes with a locking magnetic clasp that remains secure even during play. The Stringlet makes a great gift for tennis fans and players of all levels and is available in 12 color schemes to represent team/league colors, country colors or personal favorites. If you enjoy playing tennis, and want to look good doing so, the Stringlet is a must-have for the tennis aficionado. For more information, visit www.stringlet.net. Alan Brofka has worked at Sportime Syosset since 1999. He played collegiate tennis at Adelphi University and has a MA in communications from New York Institute of Technology. For more information, visit www.alanbrofka.com. NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Mythbusters: You Really Can See What College Path Your Junior Ranking Might Take You at Any Age By Ricky Becker here is no doubt that junior rankings for kids change, and I feel strongly that the kids who are best served are the ones who don’t focus on rankings too much at a young age, but focus more on development. Statistics from ninth grade through 12th grade may surprise you though. In 2009, only one boy who was in the top 75 in the country his senior year of high school was outside the top 200 nationally in his freshman year of high school, according to tennisrecruiting.net, the premier college tennis recruiting site in the country. This means that only one boy outside the top 200 as a freshman in the whole United States cracked the top 75 by the time he was a senior. And the girls only had six who did this! I have numerous examples of the lack of ranking movement at all levels. What this means is that once your child is in high school, you could at least start taking a look at where your child’s college tennis path is taking him/her. Use this generic guide to see how far your child’s tennis can take her/him collegiately.

Top 25 I Division 1: Girls can usually get a full scholarship to highly-desired schools. Boys can get a partial scholarship to the most-desired schools or a full scholarship to a major conference. All Ivy League schools are very interested. I Division 2: Full scholarships are available, but rarely if ever taken. 46

I Division 3: Huge bump for admission, but I cannot recall anyone this high going to a D3 school. 25-100 I Division 1: Full scholarships for girls to many schools in a major conferences. For boys, there are plenty of “partials” out there and with some digging, full scholarships are available. Ivy League schools are interested in getting people in early. I Division 2: Full scholarships are available, although only one or two kids per year at this level take one. I Division 3: There is a huge bump for admission, but only one or two boys at this level go to D3 schools per year … even less for girls. 100-200 I Division 1: Partial scholarships are available to some schools. A full scholarship can possibly be found with a lot of digging. Ivy League schools are often interested, but it is contingent upon who they get or don’t get with a better ranking.

200-350 I Division 1: There are occasional bench spots for teams in major conferences and starting spots are available for smaller teams. It’s hard to find much tennis money at the D1 level though. Very little help with Ivy League admissions. I Division 2: There is some scholarship money available and many starting spots are available outside of the top national D2 teams. I Division 3: Definite academic bump to most Division 3 schools. This level of player will compete for a starting spot on a nationally-ranked D3 team and start for most non-ranked D3 teams. 350-525 I Division 1: Starting spots are available on least competitive teams or schools that have tough academics that don’t give major admissions bumps to athletes. Maybe guaranteed roster spot with general admission.

I Division 2: Full scholarships to D2 schools are often available.

I Division 2: Some scholarship money is available and many starting spots are available outside of the ranked national D2 teams.

I Division 3: There is a big academic bump for admission. Pretty much all D3 colleges are very interested in players within this ranking range. Players in this range will start on most, if not all, D3 teams.

I Division 3: Academic bump to nonranked Division 3 teams. Would get onto most ranked rosters with a “general” admission … that is admittance without the “recommendation” of the college coach.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

525+ I Division 1: Roster spots, and even some starting spots, are available for least competitive teams. An academic bump is pretty minimal. A player at this level would have to tryout for many teams once enrolled. I Division 2: Many roster and starting spots are available at non-scholarship schools. Finding athletic scholarship money is possible, but also extremely difficult. I Division 3: Starting spots and academic bumps are available on the lesser competitive teams. Also, opportunities are available at schools that have tough academics that do not give major admissions bumps to athletes. Unranked nationally I Division 1: Starting spots and roster spots are available, on less competitive teams. Most, but not all, teams are outside of this region. Not much if any of an academic bump and no tennis scholarships. May need to tryout once enrolled. I Division 2: Starting spots and roster spots are available, on less competitive teams. Most, but not all, teams are outside of this region. Not much, if anything, in the way of an academic bump and/or scholarship. May need to tryout once enrolled. I Division 3: Starting spots and roster spots are available on many non-ranked teams. Not much if any of an academic bump. Will probably need to try out for the team once enrolled in school. Please note, use this guide only as a template. Other factors, such as rapport with a college coach, doubles ability, perceived upside, etc. can play a role into the equation. The extra tennis scholarships allotted to women’s tennis makes scholarships more readily available.G Ricky Becker is founder of JuniorTennisConsulting LLC, which offers off-court college guidance services to junior tennis players. He can be reached by e-mail at rbecker06@yahoo.com, by phone at (516) 605-0420 or via JuniorTennisConsulting.com.

charitable initiatives Hamptons Tennis Classic to Benefit PRASAD n Saturday, Sept. 17, the Hamptons Tennis Classic will be held at Sportime Amagansett, located at 150 Town Lane in East Hampton, N.Y. from noon5:00 p.m. The rain date for the event will be the following day, Sunday, Sept. 18. All proceeds from the event will benefit The PRASAD Project and PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program (PRASAD CDHP). The Hamptons Tennis Classic is an event for tennis players, as well as anyone wanting to have a day of fun in beautiful surroundings, for a great cause. PRASAD CDHP works to improve the quality of life of children by providing oral care services and dental health education. PRASAD CDHP serves economically marginalized children, by offering clinical treatment and oral health education programs through its Mobile Dental Clinic. In the past decade, PRASAD CDHP has served more than 62,000 children, providing more than 170,000 procedures at 17 different community sites in Sullivan and Ulster Counties in New York. PRASAD CDHP also provides dental services to expectant women and infants who have no other access to that care. Ticket prices for the Hamptons Tennis Classic is $150 for adult players, $75 for junior players (18 and under), and $50 for guests and children. Admission to the event also includes lunch, snacks, classes, a silent auction, an awards reception and a gift bag. The event begins with registration from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., followed by a light lunch and warm-up. Play begins at noon. There will be activities for those not participating in the tournament. A silent auction will give participants an opportunity to bid on unique items and bus transportation will be available from Manhattan. There are also opportunities available for businesses and individuals to become sponsors of the Hamptons Tennis Classic, ranging from $500-$10,000, all of which include visible signage at the event, listing on the PRASAD Web site and complimentary tickets for guests. G

For more information, call (845) 434-0376, e-mail prasadtennis@prasad.org or visit prasad.org/1379/raise-a-racquet-to-raise-funds-for-prasad.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Get “Outta Your Mind” and Into the Zone It’s the only way to compete!

By Rob Polishook, Mental Training Coach MA, CPC e have all heard people say, “She played out of her mind!” referring to someone who played exceptionally well and beyond expectations. As an athlete, have you ever performed out of your mind? Either pitching to perfection, running like the wind or serving lights out? Maybe there is more to this “out of your mind” concept than meets the eye. The idea is ultimately a metaphor for playing within yourself, where everything is effortless, where little thought occurs and optimal performance just happens. In this article, I will discuss how literally getting “out of your mind” is the best way to reach optimal personal peak performance in competitive sports. When an athlete plays “in their mind,” they are not playing from instinct. They are usually overanalyzing, their thoughts are cluttered and disorganized, and they are unable to get out of their own way. Further, their thoughts are in the past and future, tied to expectations, ego, excitement and fears. Essentially, their thoughts are weighing them down—athletes describe it as playing with an imaginary weight around their waist and trying to run, jump, hit and concentrate while their mind is over-thinking every move. Specifically, they hold onto past points or games, think about uncontrollable past and future situations, focus on expectations, or deride themselves for not living up to the pre-conceived standard they expected. We all know what happens when this kind of mentality creeps in—the dreaded spiral where a player loses control! Physically and mentally, it looks like this: An initial loss of focus, fear about what might be or what is occurring, tightened muscles, heavy breathing and loss of feeling. Then, the poor play follows, usually ending in disappointment and defeat. The only way to optimize performance is to play in the moment (present), to respond

to situations with calm awareness—as opposed to reacting out of ego, fear and anxiety. I call this the “Eye of the Hurricane,” calm on the inside, yet aware and active on the outside. The key to staying in the moment is within all of us … the secret lies in our own bodies. Our body is always in the present moment. When an athlete becomes aware of his or her body, such as the rhythm in their hips when they swing a bat, racket or a club, they simplify things and enter a place of curiosity where they are simply noticing their present actions. This heightened awareness shift moves them away from the distracting ego, fear, and anxietydriven thoughts. In fact, all of the “what ifs,” “shoulda” or “coulda” thoughts are no longer in the way because the focus is on observations, rather than judgment. Essentially, by getting “out of your mind,” you get “out of your way” and simply allow the technique you have practiced and your performance to happen or flow in the present. If an adjustment is necessary, it can then be made without judgment. How can a player shift their focus “outta their mind” (thoughts, past, future and judgments) and into their body (present)? It starts with a keen awareness; when they become aware of being submerged in over-thinking, fear or that recognizable negative spiral, the idea is to simplify things and shift their attention to something in the present. For example, the athlete may focus on their breathing or a place in the body they feel calm and centered. This refocus of “out of your mind” and “into your body” serves as a reconnection to the present—a place of calm and observation. From this place, the athlete can play by observing and noticing, instead of judging their technique or performance. Ultimately, by the start of the match, game or performance, the athlete has the skills nec-

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

essary to compete at their personal highest level. The competition is not the time to analyze technique—it is the opportunity to simply play, by getting “out of your mind” and allowing the body to do what it has been trained to do. It is easy to let your mind creep toward the result, get caught up in expectations, question whether others are judging your performance, or think about the missed opportunity of a previous exchange. Yet, the aforementioned tools can help the player to keep their attention out of the mind and in the present, able to respond to the moment. Athletes love those times when they feel immersed in competition, competing with great effort for sustained periods of time, and ultimately, playing inside the zone. Shawn Green, in his book The Way of Baseball, talks about how he used the batting tee and focus on his breathing to get out of his mind and reconnect with his natural swing. Billie Jean King, in her book Pressure is a Privilege, also talks about how she uses her breath to limit distraction and stay inside the zone. So, at your next competition, shift your focus “outta your mind” away from fears or judgments and “inside the zone” to your breath and body, and begin on the path to unlocking your potential. G Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder and director of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach he works with athletes and teams of all levels. His work focuses on helping athletes gain the mental edge and letting go of blocks which get in the way of peak performance. He is a USTA Zonal Coach and has spoken and been published for the USTA, USPTA and ITA. Additionally, he has conducted workshops nationally and internationally in India and Israel. He may be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, e-mail rob@insidethezone or visit www.insidethezone.com.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

Good to Great:

A Model for Safely Building the Tennis Champions of Tomorrow

By Steve Kaplan The long-term growth and development of competitive young tennis athletes is best accomplished by working in concert with their biological and psychological development factors. The principals of applied functional science dictate that while the protocols of training are specific, the timetables and parameters of movement development are a function of the individual. Simply stated, athletes must earn their progressions to develop seamlessly and safely. While the body responds to the demands placed on it, young athletes must be physiologically and psychologically prepared to respond with an appropriate adaptation. As Charles Darwin, “The Father of Evolutionary Science,” explains, “It’s not the strongest who survive it’s the most adaptable.” In order to develop a young tennis player from good to great, it is essential to first evaluate and understand the physical system in which the player operates. A poor stroke pattern, for example, could be a movement dysfunction or inefficiency, or it may be a correcting compensation. If it is an adaptation to an underlying weakness or imbalance, then correcting the stroke first might do more harm, than good. Remember, great players are great problem solvers and adaptive correcting compensations are performed by great players all the time. We must first assess to progress. A distinction should be made between testing and evaluating. Testing players in vertical leap, short sprints and the shuttle run can help give context to setting general group performance parameters; however, it gives no useful insight into the development of a performance plan to improve the individual athlete. Every high performance player should be assessed with a Functional Movement Screen (FMS) as a starting point. It is a 50

simple, accessible and valuable tool to establishing a baseline of movement, strength and limitation. The data is overwhelming that the screening of athletes at every age is highly correlated to avoiding injury and safe performance development. The current mantra of training high performance players is that greater racket acceleration equals better performance. The USTA High Performance Program has embraced this idea and with a good reason, it is a necessity to successfully compete at the highest levels in today’s power-driven game. Conflict exists, however, when this concept is applied to young and immature players. Greater racket acceleration begins with greater body deceleration or load and progresses to body acceleration or explosion. We are playing with fire here, since greater forces demand greater mobility and stability management. Raise the racket head of a young player on the forehand side and you create greater potential energy, drop it and you have greater kinetic force. Ask a developing player with limited thoracic mobility and posterior shoulder instability (a common condition in young players) to perform this movement and you will often get a biceps tendon strain starting at C6 and working through an over-stressed thoracic outlet or worse still, lumbar spine instability issues, as the athlete compensates to manage greater forces. QuickStart Tennis was developed by the USTA with the idea that “Children shouldn’t have to play like adults.” If we expand that concept, it is clear that children shouldn’t have to progress to perform like adults until they are developmentally ready. Psychologically, athletes must be ready to embrace change in order to grow. Neural changes are best managed by players prepared and ready for change. Self-conscience behavior, precipitated by change, is great for learning but it undermines performance.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

Young tennis players should be readied emotionally to endure the learning curve adaptation of a grip change to evolve the technique, seamlessly. In tennis, power is speed and speed is relaxation. If you put players in a fun, rewarding and positive environment then they relax and move fast. Tension makes you slow. As Thomas Myers, author of Anatomy Trains and Training, explains, “The age of conformity, repletion and the isolation of individual parts to achieve development of the whole is an outdated paradigm.” We cannot, as coaches, just drill success into aspiring players with a ball basket. The great basketball coach John Wooden said, “Activity is not achievement.” Kinesthetic awareness, literacy and development are the goals, and that goal is achieved by providing players with the physical and emotional tools to mange the mini crises that occur every point. The current parameters of today’s champions were outside the grid of acceptable technique 20 years ago. While environments change constantly, the qualities that great players consistently display are originality and adaptability. As coaches looking to build the tennis champions of tomorrow, we must encourage the individual’s unique qualities, not inhibit them. G 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, 14 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.

Frequently Asked Racquet Fixes By Roman Prokes

The longer you play this sport, the more problems you come across. After servicing racquets for decades, we have learned some great remedies to the everyday problems that players come across. Here are some tips to help diagnose and fix some common problems. Loose butt cap

Tennis players tend to hold a racquet as low as possible. It allows for a higher range of motion and maneuverability. It’s not uncommon to see players even have a pinky hanging below the bottom of the grip. This puts a tremendous amount of stress on the racquet, which can ultimately loosen the butt cap. When this cap starts to wiggle, you should remove all grip layers until you get to the mold or pallet. Fasten the cap to the end of the racquet and apply staples from a high pressure staple gun. Applying too many staples can damage the handle beneath. If you get down to the pallet or mold and find the handle is corroded or severely damaged, you can have it remolded or have the pallet replaced.

Rattling inside the racquet Nothing beats the sound of a forehand cracking off the strings or an overhead smash echoing through a building, but this isn’t always the case. Tapping the frame of your racquet can reveal some unwanted noises. This is the result of small particles of the racquet breaking off and falling inside the frame through normal wear. It could be chips of the frame, bits of grommet, granulated clay or other things. What you would need to do is create an opening for the piece to

exit. The biggest hole to access is through the butt cap (or trap door on the butt cap). Tilt and tip the racquet until you get the piece to move through the frame and exit. If the piece does not make it through the handle hole, you can take out the grommets and use the string holes as another option.

The grip is too small Players often get a racquet in which the grip isn’t perfect for them, as stress to the elbow becomes painful for some. Ninetynine percent of players will add one or more layers of overgrip to the handle. This is a horrible way to fix the problem! Adding overgrips in this manner will severely round out the racquet. The purposeful octagonal handle becomes a round cylinder where switching grips and controlling racquet torque is near impossible. The quick fix is to remove the grips and add a heat sleeve which shrinks to the size of the handle with applied heat to increase the grip one to two sizes. The better fix is to remold or change the pallets to the size of your liking, which gives a professional and factory finished product. The grip is too big

The opposite can happen as well. Adding to a racquet is typically easier than taking away, and this is no exception. The evolution of the game is favoring smaller grips for added spin and racquet head speed. An oversized grip has to be perfectly shaved down panel by panel exactly even on all eight sides. It’s practically impossible to properly sand this down by hand. At RPNY, we use an industrial machine which is calibrated to the thousandth of a millimeter to evenly shave down all sides flawlessly. Some racquets have handles which cannot be altered this way and others even have

pallets, a shell-like plastic grip casing, which can be changed.

Bad string breaks Players hope they break strings in the sweet spot due to repeated clean hits in the middle of the racquet. However, the string can break almost anywhere on the racquet. Breaks near the outside can be due to poor stringing, string shearing, old string and damaged grommets. When the grommets are damaged, they can cut into the string and damage it, instead of their normal role of adding a layer of buffer between the string and sharp edges of the racquet frame. Players should change entire grommet strips regularly or replace single grommets when one is defective. A knowledgeable stringer will know when to add pads, tubing, pick the correct gauge or other methods to promote proper string life. Blisters Blisters are common side effects to excessive play. They can also occur if grips are not installed correctly. Check to make sure your grip is smooth from top to bottom without severe grooves. Fingers slide into the groves with added contact to the skin for unnecessary friction. Also, check to see that your grip goes from the very edge of the butt cap to the top of the handle. Exposed plastic on the butt cap quickly blisters the palm. The proper wrapping of the grip with the use of some finger tape can go a long way to keeping you on the court.

Roman Prokes has perfected his art of gripping by traveling with the most finicky players like Agassi, Haas, Sharapova, Berdych, etc. He has traveled the world over not only to string rackets, but to also put on customized grips. He has produced several grips which are world-renowned, like RPNY Artificial Leather, RPNY Tacky and RPNY Cushion Perforated. For more information, call (516) 759-5200, or visit www.facebook.com/RPNYtennis or www.RPNYtennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW YORK TENNIS CLUB

DIRECTORY

Cunningham Sports Center Bill Racho—Director of Junior Tennis Programs 196-00 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, NY 11366 (718) 740-6800 bill@cunninghamsportscenter.com CunninghamSportsCenter.com Dick Savitt Tennis Center, Columbia University Gaurav Misra—Director 575 W. 218 Street • New York, NY 10034 (212) 942-7100 gm320@columbia.edu Gocolumbialions.com

Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club Gertrud Wilhelm 450 West 43rd Street • New York, NY 10036 (212) 594-0554 g.wilhelm@mprcnyc.com ManhattanPlazaRacquetClub.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 Academy at Great Neck Estates Howie Arons—Director of Junior Tennis Programs P.O. Box 220252 • Great Neck, NY 11022 (631) 431-1180 bightennis@aol.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

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

UPCOMING AUGUST 2011 Saturday-Tuesday, August 27-30 USTA 41st Annual Tennis Teachers Conference The Grand Hyatt New York 109 East 42nd Street • New York, N.Y. 2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. For more information, call (914) 696-7004 or visit USTA.com/TTC. Saturday, August 27 Tennis Show 2011, 5th Annual TIA Tennis Forum & 4th Annual Tennis Industry Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony The Grand Hyatt New York 109 East 42nd Street • New York, N.Y. For more information, visit TennisShow.com.

SPORTIME Randall’s Island Ted Dimond—Director of Tennis 1 Randall’s Island • New York, NY 10035 (212) 427-6150 randallsisland@sportimeny.com SportimeNY.com/Manhattan Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Joel Kassan—Tennis Director 725 Gateway Center Boulevard Bronx, NY 10451 (718) 665-4684 joel@gothamtennis.com StadiumTennisNYC.com Sutton East Tennis Club Jerry Elman 488 East 60th Street New York, NY 10022 (212) 751-3452 jerry@suttoneasttennis.com SuttonEastTennis.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

Vanderbilt Tennis Club at Grand Central Terminal Eldad (Dadi) Zvulun—Manager/Head Professional 15 Vanderbilt Avenue, 4th Floor New York, NY 10017 (212) 599-6500 dadi@vanderbilttennisclub.com TennisInManhattan.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 Yorkville Tennis Club Neal Feinberg 1725 York Avenue New York, NY 10009 (212) 987-0301 neal@yorkvilletennisclub.com YorkvilleTennisClub.com

EVENTS

Sunday-Friday, August 28-September 2 World Police and Fire Games Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond & Sporitme Randall’s Island New York, N.Y. For more information, visit 2011wpfg.org. Monday, August 29 2011 USTA Junior Awards Gala USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Meridian Road at Grand Central Parkway Flushing, N.Y. 10:30 a.m. For more information, call (718) 760-6200 or visit USTA.com.

SEPTEMBER 2011 Thursday, September 8 2011 U.S. Open Wheelchair Competition USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Meridian Road at Grand Central Parkway Flushing, N.Y. For more information, visit USOpen.org.

Friday, September 9 2011 Legends Ball Cipriani Wall Street 55 Wall Street New York, N.Y. For more information, call (401) 8493990, e-mail mforts@tennisfame.com or visit TennisFame.com/2011LegendsBall.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

Monday, September 12 Eastern Adult Tennis Foundation’s Annual Grants Awards Luncheon Beach Point Club 900 Rushmore Avenue Mamaroneck, N.Y. 9:00 a.m. Tennis Noon Awards Luncheon For more information, call (914) 714-8723, e-mail comopromo@aol.com or visit Eastern.USTA.com.

USTA/Metropolitan Region

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. SEPTEMBER 2011 Friday-Sunday, September 2-11 U.S. Open Junior Tennis Championships USTA National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows Corona Park Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: BG (18)sd, SE Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: No Entry Fee (deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 26) For more information, call (561) 962-6400.

Monday-Sunday, September 12-25 USTA National Men’s 40, 55, & 60 Grass Court Championships The 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 singles, $65 per player doubles (deadline for entries is Monday, Aug. 29 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 268-2300.

Friday-Sunday, September 23-25 L3 Bill Holloway 10 & Under QuickStart Championships Harlem Junior Tennis Program 40 W. 143rd Street • New York, N.Y. Divisions: QuickStart BG (10)s, FRLC; Championships BG (10)s, FRLC Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $33 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 9 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 491-3738.

Friday-Sunday, October 14-16 & 21-23 L1 Alley Pond Eastern Designated Closed Championships Level 5 SE Alley Pond Tennis Center 79-20 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Grand Prix B (18)sd, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $70.38 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Oct. 3 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Sunday, September 2-4 L2O Milton Alexander Memorial Co-op City Championships Co-Op City Tennis Club NJTL Chapter 140 Asch Loop Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG (16-12)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Aug. 19 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 671-4437.

Monday-Friday, September 12-23 Columbia University Championships Columbia University Tennis Center 575 West 218th Street • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked: M (Op, 40)s; W (Op)s; X (Op)d Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player singles, $23 per player doubles (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 9 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, call (212) 942-7100.

Friday-Saturday, September 23-24 L3 Sportime RI September Championships Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Novice B (10)s, RR; G (12-10)s, RR Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 9 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301.

Friday-Sunday, October 21-23 L2R NCT Metro Regional Championships-October North Shore Tennis-Go! Tennis 34-28 214th Place Bayside, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked BG (18-16)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Oct. 7 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 220-4172.

Friday-Sunday, September 9-11 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: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Aug. 26 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (347) 275-6422.

Friday-Sunday, September 16-25 L2O Sportime RI September Championships Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate B (12-10)s, SE; G (14-10)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 2 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301.

Friday-Sunday, September 9-11 L3 Alley Pond Eastern UPS Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Novice BG (14-10)s, RR Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 2 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600.

Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18 L2R Flushing Meadows Metro Region Invitational Championships City Parks Foundation—Flushing Meadows Olmstead Center/Josette Apostolo Flushing Meadows Park • Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG (16-12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $28 per player (deadline for entries is Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 760-6999.

Friday-Sunday, September 9-18 L1B Sportime Randall’s Island Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island • New York, N.Y. Divisions: BG (18)sd, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Aug. 26 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301.

Thursday-Sunday, September 22-25 L2O Staten Island Championships Staten Island Community Tennis Center 2800 Victory Boulevard • Staten Island, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate BG (18-10)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Thursday, Sept. 8 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 982-3355.

OCTOBER 2011 Friday-Sunday, October 7-16 L1B Sportime RI October Challenger Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger B (18-16)s, SE; G (18-14)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 23 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301. Friday-Sunday, October 14-16 Alley Pond NTRP Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 79-20 Winchester Boulevard • Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked NMW (3.0-4.0) s; NX (3.5) d Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $65 for doubles, $33 per player for singles (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600.

Monday-Friday, October 24-28 Alley Pond Men’s/Women’s Singles Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 79-20 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Ranked MW (Op)s, SE Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $65 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Oct. 7 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Sunday, October 14-23 L2O Sportime Rl October Championships Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate B (12)s, SE; G (16-12)s, SE Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 30 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (646) 783-5301.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW Boys & Girls Metro Rankings (as of 07/19/11)

BOYS

Metro Boys 10 Singles Rank ..Name ............................City 1 ........Kemal Irfan Aziz............Staten Island, N.Y. 2 ........Shand Stephens ..........New York, N.Y. 3 ........Derek Raskopf ..............New York, N.Y. 4 ........Stevan Stojkovic ..........Flushing, N.Y. 5 ........Derrick Mu....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 6 ........Maxwell Kachkarov ......Flushing, N.Y. 7 ........Eitan Khromchenko ......Staten Island, N.Y. 8 ........Sidharth Chawla ..........New York, N.Y. 9 ........Lantis Wang..................New York, N.Y. 10 ......Tyler Kats ....................Astoria N.Y. 11 ......Christopher Tham ........Flushing, N.Y. 12 ......Noah D. Edelman ..........New York, N.Y. 13 ......Oliver Obeid..................New York, N.Y. 14 ......Alexander Nielsen ........New York, N.Y. 15 ......Robbie F Werdiger ........New York, N.Y. 16 ......Zachary G. Targoff ........New York, N.Y. 17 ......Will Coad ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 18 ......Tristan Taylor,................New York, N.Y. 19 ......Jonathan Glinsky ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 20 ......Oliver Tockman ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......Alex Zlotchenko ............New York, N.Y. 22 ......Harry Portnoy................New York, N.Y. 23 ......Joseph Wilkanowski ....Long Island City, N.Y. 24 ......Shawn Jackson ............Staten Island, N.Y. 25 ......Alex Portnoy, ................New York, N.Y. 26 ......Christian Gruyon ..........Bronx, N.Y. 27 ......Steven Nazaroff ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 28 ......Christopher Borter ........New York, N.Y. 29 ......Max Kessler..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 30 ......Teddy Brodsky ..............New York, N.Y. 31 ......Aaron Jackson..............Staten Island, N.Y. 32 ......Wesley Zhang ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 33 ......Zachary Portnoy............New York, N.Y. 34 ......Jacob David Livianu......Brooklyn, N.Y. 35 ......Dylan Renziniano ..........New York, N.Y. 36 ......Jaysen Ian Altman, ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 37 ......Jeffrey Fradkin..............New York, N.Y. 38 ......Angus Kearney ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 39 ......Quinn McLeod ..............New York, N.Y. 40 ......Vako Gvelesiani ............Brooklyn, N.Y.

Metro Boys 12 Singles Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Oliver Jevtovic ..............Astoria, N.Y. 2 ........Peter Lohrbach ............Little Neck, N.Y. 3 ........David Mizrahi................Brooklyn, N.Y. 4 ........Mitchell Mu ..................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 5 ........Kemal Irfan Aziz............Staten Island, N.Y. 6 ........Ethan Moszkowski........New York, N.Y. 7 ........Cameron Gruss ............New York, N.Y. 8 ........AJ Lehrman ..................New York, N.Y. 9 ........Derek Lung ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 10 ......Gabriel Sifuentes ..........Flushing, N.Y. 21 ......Derrick Mu....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 22 ......Ethan Finley..................New York, N.Y. 23 ......Lantis Wang..................New York, N.Y. 24 ......Max Leon Adelman ......New York, N.Y. 25 ......Jonathan L. Molfetta ....Howard Beach, N.Y. 26 ......Philip Belmatch ............Staten Island, N.Y. 27 ......Robert Shinder..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 28 ......Dylan Friedman ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 29 ......Sam Vagner ..................Staten Island, N.Y. 30 ......Joseph Reiner ..............New York, N.Y. 31 ......Logan Gruss ................New York, N.Y. 32 ......Will Coad ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 33 ......Adam Lane Bernstein....New York, N.Y. 34 ......David Dylan Pines ........New York, N.Y. 35 ......Nicholas Rudman..........New York, N.Y. 36 ......George Allen ................New York, N.Y.

YORK

37 ......Nicholas Ostrovsky ......Staten Island, N.Y. 38 ......Ethan Leon ..................Woodhaven, N.Y. 39 ......Itamar I. Oron................New York, N.Y. 40 ......Alexander Nielsen ........New York, N.Y.

Metro Boys 14 Singles Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Leonard Margolis..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Nate Newhouse ............New York, N.Y. 3 ........Zachary Kaplan ............New York, N.Y. 4 ........Andrew E. Hauser ........New York, N.Y. 5 ........Andrew Penn ................New York, N.Y. 6 ........Brett Robert Raskopf ....New York, N.Y. 7 ........Bojidar Ivanov Todorov ..Rego Park, N.Y. 8 ........Oliver Mai ....................Little Neck, N.Y. 9 ........Adam Chan ..................New York, N.Y. 10 ......Frank Nicolazzi ............Flushing, N.Y. 11 ......Evan Liberman..............New York, N.Y. 12 ......Denis Korol ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 13 ......Antony Jippov ..............New York, N.Y. 14 ......Alexander Fallone ........New York, N.Y. 15 ......Garrett Thomas Sopko ..Brooklyn, N.Y. 16 ......Massimo Costantini ......New York, N.Y. 17 ......Seid Mulic ....................Long Island City, N.Y. 18 ......Lamar Hurt ..................New York, N.Y. 19 ......Owen Silitch ................New York, N.Y. 20 ......Peter Lohrbach ............Little Neck, N.Y. 21 ......Cole Fluehr ..................Forest Hills, N.Y. 22 ......William J. Trang ............Staten Island, N.Y. 23 ......Kevin T. Huynh ..............Astoria, N.Y. 24 ......Leonardo Escudero ......Ozone Park, N.Y. 25 ......Ira Rey-Anatole ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 26 ......Nick Papyan ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 27 ......Kevin A. Pertsovsky ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 28 ......Matthew Chin ..............Flushing, N.Y. 29 ......Cameron Gruss ............New York, N.Y. 30 ......Xavier Pacthod..............New York, N.Y. 31 ......Kumeil Hosain ..............New York, N.Y. 32 ......Robert Millman ............New York, N.Y. 33 ......Jordan D. Jordan ..........Astoria, N.Y. 34 ......Eric Harrison Helfgott....New York, N.Y. 35 ......Max Phillip Nelson ........New York, N.Y. 36 ......Christian O. Gloria ........Queens Village, N.Y. 37 ......Jake Millman................New York, N.Y. 38 ......Alex Chao ....................New York, N.Y. 39 ......Jonathan L. Molfetta ....Howard Beach, N.Y. 40 ......Akash Jagdish Vaidya ..Staten Island, N.Y.

Metro Boys 16 Singles Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Gregory Gon ................Flushing, N.Y. 2 ........Daniel Witke ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Michael Jared Lesser....New York, N.Y. 4 ........Jack K. Spiegel ............New York, N.Y. 5 ........Brad Gaffin ..................New York, N.Y. 6 ........Jordan A. Selig..............New York, N.Y. 7 ........Joshua Freud................New York, N.Y. 8 ........Jonathan Cohen............New York, N.Y. 9 ........Michael Jasienowski ....Middle Village, N.Y. 10 ......Justin S. Selig ..............New York, N.Y. 11 ......Anthony Santino ..........Douglaston, N.Y. 12 ......Benjamin M. Erichsen ..Bronx, N.Y. 13 ......Mark Semerik ..............Brooklyn, N.Y 14 ......Kevin Patrick Roan........Howard Beach, N.Y. 15 ......Eugene Rozygrayev ......New York, N.Y. 16 ......Luke E. Sherman ..........New York, N.Y. 17 ......Mitchell Cheung............Woodside, N.Y. 18 ......Sam Schwarz ..............Bronx, N.Y. 19 ......Jason Grunfeld ............New York, N.Y. 20 ......Alexander Newhouse ....New York, N.Y. 21 ......James Dorman ............New York, N.Y. 22 ......Joshua Gordon ............Staten Island, N.Y. 23 ......Alexander Pintilie ..........New York, N.Y. 24 ......Lorenzo Soo..................New York, N.Y. 25 ......Justin Ho ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 26 ......Ira Rey-Anatole ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 27 ......Kevin Valdez ................Jamaica, N.Y.

RANKINGS 28 ......Paul Pricop ..................New York, N.Y. 29 ......Jonathan Compres........East Elmhurst, N.Y. 30 ......Travis A. Arffa................New York, N.Y. 31 ......Brian Murray ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 32 ......Jun Yuminaga ..............Little Neck, N.Y. 33 ......Matthew Winter ............New York, N.Y. 34 ......Enrique Torres ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 35 ......Carlos Saavedra ..........Flushing, N.Y. 36 ......Leonard Margolis..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 37 ......Ethan Nittolo ................Flushing, N.Y. 38 ......Aleksey Olovyannikov ..Staten Island, N.Y. 39 ......Jack Walla ....................New York, N.Y. 40 ......Benjamin Beruh ............Bronx, N.Y.

Metro Boys 18 Singles Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Ryan E. Villarruel ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 2 ........David N. Zhukovsky ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Michael Gross ..............Floral Park, N.Y. 4 ........Sean J. Solomonoff ......New York, N.Y. 5 ........Rodion Kaplounov ........New York, N.Y. 6 ........Michael Sorge ..............Bronx, N.Y. 7 ........Ian Antonoff ..................New York, N.Y. 8 ........Jacob S. Huber ............New York, N.Y. 9 ........Julius Barnathan ..........New York, N.Y. 10 ......James M. Rubin............New York, N.Y. 11 ......Michael Leon ................Woodhaven, N.Y. 12 ......Lear Haninovich............New York, N.Y. 13 ......Brad Gaffin ..................New York, N.Y.

GIRLS

Metro Girls 10 Singles Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Carolyn Brodsky ..........New York, N.Y. 2 ........Miriam Irfan Aziz ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 3 ........Marie Ivantechenko ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 4 ........Juliana Kislin ................New York, N.Y. 5 ........Kyra Bergmann ............Forest Hills, N.Y. 6 ........Katherine Kachkarov ....Flushing, N.Y. 7 ........Christina M. Huynh ......Astoria, N.Y. 8 ........Gabriella Eitkis..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 ........Diana McCready ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 10 ......Isabella Nicole Tushaj....Bronx, N.Y. 11 ......Diana Ellen Sosonkin ....Brooklyn, N.Y. 12 ......Nicole K. Cee ................New York, N.Y. 13 ......Izabela Almaleh ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 14 ......Lena Kovacevic ............New York, N.Y. 15 ......Rebecca Izyayeva ........Staten Island, N.Y. 16 ......Sonia Tartakovsky ........New York, N.Y. 17 ......Zoe Kava ......................New York, N.Y. 18 ......Dakota Fordham ..........New York, N.Y. 19 ......Audrey Pacthod ............New York, N.Y. 20 ......Grace L. Kennedy..........New York, N.Y. 21 ......Amy Kaplan ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 22 ......Kassia Taylor ................New York, N.Y. 23 ......Rebecca Eliana Fisch ....New York, N.Y. 24 ......Isabella T. Hartman ......New York, N.Y. 25 ......Olivia Lynch-Burgdorf ..Douglaston, N.Y. 26 ......Elisabeth G. Schlossel ..New York, N.Y. 27 ......Bella Kaplan ................New York, N.Y. 28 ......Caroline Paige Kantor ..New York, N.Y.

Metro Girls 12 Singles Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Patricia Obeid ..............New York, N.Y. 2 ........Sydney Lynn Katz ........New York, N.Y. 3 ........Juliana Kislin ................New York, N.Y. 4 ........Kyra Bergmann ............Forest Hills, N.Y. 5 ........Katherine Kachkarov ....Flushing, N.Y. 6 ........Olga Drahanchuk ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 7 ........Stephanie Li ................New York, N.Y. 8 ........Dasha Kourkina ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 ........Jennifer Richards..........New York, N.Y. 10 ......Lia Kiam ......................New York, N.Y. 11 ......Alexa Nobandegani ......New York, N.Y. 12 ......Danielle Kade ..............New York, N.Y. 13 ......Rachel Okin ..................New York, N.Y.

New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ September/October 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ NYTennisMag.com

14 ......Sarah Finley..................New York, N.Y. 15 ......Jennifer Yu....................Forest Hills, N.Y. 16 ......Miriam Irfan Aziz ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 17 ......Shelly Yaloz ..................Little Neck, N.Y. 18 ......Victoria Hanuman ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Chrstina Huynh ............Astoria, N.Y. 20 ......Brittny Jo Ferreira ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......Nicole Semenov............Brooklyn, N.Y. 22 ......Isabelle Rovinski ..........New York, N.Y. 23 ......Kyra Alison Whitelaw ....New York, N.Y. 24 ......Anastasia Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 25 ......Olivia Simone Morris ....Floral Park, N.Y. 26 ......Maria Kogarova ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 27 ......Charlotte May Mosler....New York, N.Y. 28 ......Michelle Sorokko ..........Douglaston, N.Y. 29 ......Johnniesha Breiten ......Bronx, N.Y. 30 ......Aleksandra Bekirova ....Brooklyn, N.Y. 31 ......Steffi Antao ..................Briarwood, N.Y. 32 ......Victoria Zezula ..............Ridgewood, N.Y. 33 ......Maryna Bohdanovska ..Brooklyn, N.Y. 34 ......Sonia Tartakovsky ........New York, N.Y. 35 ......Isabella Nicole Tushaj....Bronx, N.Y. 36 ......Anna Maite Kaplan........New York, N.Y. 37 ......Nicole K. Cee ................New York, N.Y. 38 ......Donna Episcopio ..........Bayside, N.Y. 39 ......Izabela Almaleh ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 40 ......Zoe Radojicic ................New York, N.Y.

Metro Girls 14 Singles Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Ashley Sarah DelMissierForest Hills, N.Y. 2 ........Jenna B. Borenstein......New York, N.Y. 3 ........Nicole Holloran ............Bayside, N.Y. 4 ........Erika Tinalli ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 5 ........Nicole Druzhinsky ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 6 ........Kaitlyn Marie Poje ........Glendale, N.Y. 7 ........Alexus Gill ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 8 ........Julia Zbarsky ................New York, N.Y. 9 ........Keren Khromchenko ....Staten Island, N.Y. 10 ......Vanessa Hanuman ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 11 ......Brittany Elizabeth Poje ..Glendale, N.Y. 12 ......Jennifer Richards..........New York, N.Y. 13 ......Alexandra Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 14 ......Sofia Anouk Aisiks ........New York, N.Y. 15 ......Lydia Greer Weintraub ..New York, N.Y. 16 ......Michelle Khaimov ........Jamaica, N.Y. 17 ......Hannah Jaye Gendel ....New York, N.Y. 18 ......Camille Price ................New York, N.Y. 19 ......Emi F. Lewis..................New York, N.Y. 20 ......Isadora Braune ............New York, N.Y. 21 ......Cecilia Anne Swenson ..New York, N.Y. 22 ......Shammiel Fleischer ......New York, N.Y. 23 ......Jennifer Yu....................Forest Hills, N.Y. 24 ......Rebecca Okin ..............New York, N.Y. 25 ......Bernarda Reyes ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 26 ......Hannah Spears ............New York, N.Y. 27 ......Alexandra Sanford ........New York, N.Y. 28 ......Madelaine Hilal ............New York, N.Y. 29 ......Sarah Hirschfield ..........New York, N.Y. 30 ......Patricia Obeid ..............New York, N.Y. 31 ......Zorriana B. Johnson......New York, N.Y. 32 ......Electra Frelinghuysen ..New York, N.Y. 33 ......Brianna Baichulall ........Queens Village, N.Y. 34 ......Val Leifer ......................New York, N.Y. 35 ......Nicole Stephanie Stay ..Flushing, N.Y. 36 ......Chelsea Williams ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 37 ......Anna Maite Kaplan........New York, N.Y. 38 ......Jennifer Reiss ..............New York, N.Y. 39 ......Annie I. Reiner ..............New York, N.Y. 40 ......Marion Goldberg ..........New York, N.Y.

Metro Girls 16 Singles Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Isis Gill..........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Angeline Devanthiran....Corona, N.Y. 3 ........Loulou Revson ..............New York, N.Y. 4 ........Whitney Schott ............Forest Hills, N.Y.

NEW 5 ........Jenna B. Borenstein......New York, N.Y. 6 ........Julia Zbarsky ................New York, N.Y. 7 ........Sara Levy-Lambert ......New York, N.Y. 8 ........Paolina Zanki ................Astoria, N.Y. 9 ........Emi Lewis ....................New York, N.Y. 10 ......Danielle Hupper ............New York, N.Y. 11 ......Arielle L. John ..............Cambria Heights, N.Y. 12 ......Erika Tinalli ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 13 ......Anne Oliver ..................New York, N.Y. 14 ......Alicia Ng ......................Howard Beach, N.Y. 15 ......Alex Morgan Leopold ....New York, N.Y. 16 ......Camille Price ................New York, N.Y. 17 ......Claire Harnett ..............New York, N.Y. 18 ......Sarah Rahman..............East Elmhurst, N.Y. 19 ......Claire Keyte ..................New York, N.Y. 20 ......Brianna Williams ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......Vania Savic ..................Woodside, N.Y. 22 ......Samora Alexis ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 23 ......Sara Heath ..................New York, N.Y. 24 ......Alexandra N. Samadi ....Staten Island, N.Y. 25 ......Julia Greenberg ............New York, N.Y. 26 ......Champagne Mills..........New York, N.Y. 27 ......Sofia Anouk Aisiks ........New York, N.Y. 28 ......Ashley DelMissier ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 29 ......Olga Voronetskaya ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 30 ......Brittany Elizabeth Poje ..Glendale, N.Y. 31 ......Kaitlyn Marie Poje ........Glendale, N.Y. 32 ......Alexus Gill ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 33 ......Olivia Poon....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 34 ......Nava Kidon ..................New York, N.Y. 35 ......Sofia Degtyar................Brooklyn, N.Y. 36 ......Jennifer Yu....................Forest Hills, N.Y.

Metro Girls 18 Singles Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Juliana Nelkin ..............New York, N.Y. 2 ........Monica Y. Gokhberg ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 3 ........Sophia N. Schlossel ......New York, N.Y. 4 ........Rachel Colton ..............New York, N.Y. 5 ........Cara Borenstein ............New York, N.Y. 6 ........Dina Levy-Lambert ......New York, N.Y. 7 ........Kimberly Salkin ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 8 ........Charlotte Camacho ......New York, N.Y. 9 ........Averie Bowen ..............New York, N.Y. 10 ......Alexandra Samadi ........Staten Island, N.Y. 11 ......Savannah Bowen..........New York, N.Y. 12 ......Sara Levy-Lambert ......New York, N.Y.

Boys & Girls Sectional Rankings (as of 07/27/11)

BOYS

Sectional Boys 10 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 2 ........Ethan Leon ..................Woodhaven, N.Y. 9 ........Derek Raskopf ..............New York, N.Y. 15 ......Shand Stephens ..........New York, N.Y. 17 ......Robbie F. Werdiger ........New York, N.Y. 20 ......Steven Nazaroff ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 24 ......Oliver Obeid..................New York, N.Y. 27 ......Jonathan Glinsky ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 29 ......Stevan Stojkovic ..........Flushing, N.Y. 30 ......Eitan Khromchenko ......Staten Island, N.Y. 34 ......Michael Cooper Jr.........Brooklyn, N.Y. 37 ......Derrick Mu....................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 38 ......Aleksa Pljakic ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 39 ......Tyler Kats ....................Astoria, N.Y. 40 ......Harry Portnoy................New York, N.Y. 41 ......Noah D. Edelman ..........New York, N.Y. 42 ......Will Coad ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 44 ......Christopher Tham ........Flushing, N.Y. 45 ......Maxwell Kachkarov ......Flushing, N.Y. 48 ......Lantis Wang..................New York, N.Y. 51 ......Christopher Borter ........New York, N.Y.

YORK

53 ......Marcos Souza Lee ........New York, N.Y. 54 ......Jacob David Livianu......Brooklyn, N.Y. 61 ......Sidharth Chawla ..........New York, N.Y. 65 ......Alex Portnoy ................New York, N.Y. 67 ......Kai Yuminaga................Little Neck, N.Y. 75 ......Christian Gruyon ..........Bronx, N.Y. 78 ......Brian Tyutyunik ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 79 ......Aaron Jackson..............Staten Island, N.Y. 85 ......Nash Johnson ..............New York, N.Y. 86 ......Shawn Jackson ............Staten Island, N.Y. 88 ......Alexander Nielsen ........New York, N.Y. 93 ......Jeffrey McCready ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 94 ......Teddy Brodsky ..............New York, N.Y. 96 ......Tristan Taylor ................New York, N.Y. 97 ......Zachary Portnoy............New York, N.Y. 100 ....Nicholas Pustilnik ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 102 ....Oliver Tockman ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 103 ....Alex Zlotchenko ............New York, N.Y. 107 ....George Bader ..............New York, N.Y. 114 ....Blake Frank ..................New York, N.Y. 115 ....Max Kessler..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 116 ....Joseph Wilkanowski ....Long Island City, N.Y. 118 ....David Krasner ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 119 ....Wesley Zhang ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 125 ....Dylan Reziniano ............New York, N.Y. 127 ....Jaysen Ian Altman ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 130 ....Jeffrey Fradkin..............New York, N.Y. 132 ....Simon Camacho ..........New York, N.Y. 135 ....Quinn McLeod ..............New York, N.Y. 136 ....Ryan David Brandes ....Rego Park, N.Y. 142 ....David Brandes ..............Rego Park, N.Y. 145 ....Samuel Charlton ..........New York, N.Y. 146 ....Harry Charlton ..............New York, N.Y. 147 ....Daniel Gordon ..............New York, N.Y. 149 ....Scott Fischer ................New York, N.Y. 150 ....Brandon Nydick ............New York, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 7 ........Sumit Sarkar ................New York, N.Y. 17 ......Jeffrey Gorilovsky ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 30 ......Max Prohorov ..............Rego Park, N.Y. 33 ......Sam V. Vagner ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 37 ......Gary C. Fishkin ............Staten Island, N.Y. 50 ......Ethan Leon ..................Woodhaven, N.Y. 55 ......Jacob Kern ..................New York, N.Y. 59 ......Peter Lohrbach ............Little Neck, N.Y. 60 ......Cameron Gruss ............New York, N.Y. 62 ......Oliver Jevtovic ..............Astoria, N.Y. 72 ......James Kandel Dill ........New York, N.Y. 75 ......David Moldovan............Brooklyn, N.Y. 76 ......David Mizrahi................Brooklyn, N.Y. 81 ......Kemal Irfan Aziz............Staten Island, N.Y. 86 ......Allan Ethan Magid ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 99 ......Matthew Joshua Ross ..New York, N.Y. 102 ....Gabriel Sifuentes ..........Flushing, N.Y. 106 ....Robert Kennedy ............New York, N.Y. 109 ....Zachary Jordan Lieb ....New York, N.Y. 110 ....Logan Gruss ................New York, N.Y. 121 ....Mitchell Mu ..................Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 138 ....Stevan Stojkovic ..........Flushing, N.Y. 141 ....Joseph R. Reiner ..........New York, N.Y. 148 ....Andrew Pokorny ..........New York, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 7 ........James Wasserman ......New York, N.Y. 8 ........Christopher Auteri ........Staten Island, N.Y. 11 ......Gal Mathew Sossen ......Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 14 ......Alex Knaff ....................New York, N.Y. 16 ......Edan Lee Sossen ..........Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 19 ......Oliver Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 20 ......Mitchell Ostrovsky ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......Philip Raytburg ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 24 ......Victor Miglo ..................Kew Gardens, N.Y.

RANKINGS 27 ......Felipe P. Osses-Konig....Rego Park, N.Y. 32 ......Cole Gittens ..................New York, N.Y. 34 ......Marcus T. Smith............Little Neck, N.Y. 35 ......Alexander Thrane..........New York, N.Y. 36 ......Ananth Raghavan ........New York, N.Y. 38 ......Aleksandar Kovacevic ..New York, N.Y. 45 ......Christian O. Gloria ........Queens Village, N.Y. 74 ......Jared Fields..................New York, N.Y. 96 ......Ian Witmer ....................New York, N.Y. 111 ....Alex Chao ....................New York, N.Y. 115 ....Cameron Gruss ............New York, N.Y. 116 ....William J. Trang ............Staten Island, N.Y. 117 ....Peter Lohrbach ............Little Neck, N.Y. 131 ....Jordan D. Jordan ..........Astoria, N.Y. 136 ....Ethan Nittolo ................Flushing, N.Y. 140 ....Michal Pisarek ..............Forest Hills, N.Y. 141 ....Antony Jippov ..............New York, N.Y. 143 ....Andrew Penn ................New York, N.Y. 149 ....Maurice Russo..............New York, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 3 ........Joshua Yablon ..............New York, N.Y. 15 ......Dennis Druzhinsky........Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Courtney Murphy ..........Bronx, N.Y. 23 ......Ryoma Haraguchi ........New York, N.Y. 27 ......Zachary Yablon ............New York, N.Y. 28 ......Artemie Amari ..............New York, N.Y. 31 ......Hugh H. Mo ..................Douglaston, N.Y. 38 ......Win Smith ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 39 ......Justin Fields ................New York, N.Y. 41 ......Daniel Kerznerman ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 44 ......Lucas Pickering ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 50 ......Richard Sec ..................New York, N.Y. 74 ......Sachin Raghavan..........New York, N.Y. 78 ......Cameron Daniels ..........Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 94 ......Steven H. Koulouris ......Long Island City, N.Y. 95 ......Christopher Auteri ........Staten Island, N.Y. 97 ......James M. Rubin............New York, N.Y. 98 ......Alexis Cai......................Woodhaven, N.Y. 118 ....Douglas L. Mo ..............Douglaston, N.Y. 126 ....Jonathan Selegean ......East Elmhurst, N.Y. 130 ....Jacob Frisch ................New York, N.Y. 133 ....Matthew Balilo..............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 142 ....Jun Yuminaga ..............Little Neck, N.Y. 144 ....James Wasserman ......New York, N.Y. 148 ....Alexander Pintilie ..........New York, N.Y.

Sectional Boys 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 3 ........Andrew Adams ............South Richmond Hill, N.Y. 17 ......Stefan D. Ilic ................Forest Hills, N.Y. 28 ......Jake Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 30 ......Richard J. Del Nunzio....Forest Hills, N.Y. 36 ......Eric R. Brinzenskiy ........Staten Island, N.Y. 49 ......Alexander J. Petrone ....Staten Island, N.Y. 63 ......Dennis Druzhinsky........Brooklyn, N.Y. 65 ......David F. Arroyave ..........Floral Park, N.Y. 68 ......Justin Vijungco ............Forest Hills, N.Y. 73 ......Leon Pan ......................Brooklyn, N.Y. 78 ......Justin S. Pagan ............Flushing, N.Y. 82 ......Joseph Motta................Staten Island, N.Y. 89 ......Jacob S. Huber ............New York, N.Y. 91 ......Christopher Jou ............Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 96 ......Jeremy Kochman..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 101 ....Joshua Yablon ..............New York, N.Y. 102 ....Christopher Jimenez ....Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 104 ....Steven W. Wilson ..........Bronx, N.Y. 114 ....Ian Antonoff ..................New York, N.Y. 121 ....Stephen Monk ..............New York, N.Y. 135 ....Ryoma Haraguchi ........New York, N.Y. 146 ....Ryan E. Villarruel ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 150 ....David N. Zhukovsky ......Brooklyn, N.Y.

GIRLS

Sectional Girls 10 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 4 ........Dasha Kourkina ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 6 ........Christina M. Kuynh........Astoria, N.Y. 10 ......Nicole K. Cee ................New York, N.Y. 12 ......Michelle Sorokko ..........Douglaston, N.Y. 13 ......Juliana Kislin ................New York, N.Y. 14 ......Miriam Irfan Aziz ..........Staten Island, N.Y. 16 ......Shelly Yaloz ..................Little Neck, N.Y. 17 ......Marie Ivantechenko ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 19 ......Isabella Nicole Tushaj....Bronx, N.Y. 27 ......Kyra Bergmann ............Forest Hills, N.Y. 29 ......Katherine Kachkarov ....Flushing, N.Y. 30 ......Carolyn Brodsky ..........New York, N.Y. 31 ......Gabriella Eitkis..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 32 ......Rebecca Eliana Fisch ....New York, N.Y. 34 ......Perene Wang ................New York, N.Y. 35 ......Rebecca Izyayeva ........Staten Island, N.Y. 37 ......Diana McCready ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 41 ......Anastasya Menshikova ..Brooklyn, N.Y. 45 ......Diana Ellen Sosonkin ....Brooklyn, N.Y. 53 ......Dakota Fordham ..........New York, N.Y. 57 ......Stella Gray....................New York, N.Y. 58 ......Steffi Antao ..................Briarwood, N.Y. 60 ......Lena Kovacevic ............New York, N.Y. 62 ......Valicia Browne..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 71 ......Zoe Kava ......................New York, N.Y. 75 ......Audrey Pacthod ............New York, N.Y. 78 ......Grace L. Kennedy..........New York, N.Y. 83 ......Amy Kaplan ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 86 ......Kassia Taylor ................New York, N.Y. 88 ......Isabella T. Hartman ......New York, N.Y. 92 ......Elisabeth Schlossel ......New York, N.Y. 93 ......Cassie Tian ..................Flushing, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Sarah Rahman..............East Elmhurst, N.Y. 8 ........Nicole Stephanie Stay ..Flushing, N.Y. 10 ......Aleksandra Bekirova ....Brooklyn, N.Y. 16 ......Alexus Gill ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 17 ......Dasha Kourkina ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......Jennifer Yu....................Forest Hills, N.Y. 22 ......Jennifer Richards..........New York, N.Y. 24 ......Chelsea Williams ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 27 ......Regina Furer ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 31 ......Lauren Munari ..............Middle Village, N.Y. 32 ......Victoria Sec ..................New York, N.Y. 33 ......Nicole Semenov............Brooklyn, N.Y. 37 ......Michelle Sorokko ..........Douglaston, N.Y. 49 ......Brittny Jo Ferreira ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 50 ......Anastasia Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 53 ......Patricia Obeid ..............New York, N.Y. 61 ......Shelly Yaloz ..................Little Neck, N.Y. 76 ......Olivia Simone Morris ....Floral Park, N.Y. 80 ......Katherine Kachkarov ....Flushing, N.Y. 86 ......Kyra Bergmann ............Forest Hills, N.Y. 89 ......Alice Soares Pinho ........Woodside, N.Y. 90 ......Olga Drahanchuk ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 98 ......Juliana Kislin ................New York, N.Y. 101 ....Christina Huynh ............Astoria, N.Y. 102 ....Stephanie Li ................New York, N.Y. 103 ....Sydney Lynn Katz ........New York, N.Y. 106 ....Zoe Radojicic ................New York, N.Y. 107 ....Danielle Kade ..............New York, N.Y. 109 ....Isabel Balilo ..................Flushing, N.Y. 112 ....Sarah Finley..................New York, N.Y. 118 ....Lia Kiam ......................New York, N.Y. 119 ....Kyra Alison Whitelaw ....New York, N.Y. 125 ....Charlotte May Mosler....New York, N.Y. 127 ....Victoria Hanuman ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 131 ....Alexa Nobandegani ......New York, N.Y. 132 ....Johnniesha Breiten ......Bronx, N.Y. 134 ....Kaya Alagappan............New York, N.Y.

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW 143 ....Rachel Okin ..................New York, N.Y. 146 ....Olivia Lynch-Burgdorf ..Douglaston, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 1 ........Anna Ulyashchenko ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 ........Jessica Golovin ............New York, N.Y. 3 ........Jessica Livianu ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 5 ........Stefani Lineva ..............Middle Village, N.Y. 7 ........Arnelle Sullivan ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 ........Sabrina Xiong ..............Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 17 ......Elizabeth Tsvetkov ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......Shayna M. Spooner ......New York, N.Y. 29 ......Sophia Kryloff ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 30 ......Yuka Lin........................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 32 ......Christina Puccinelli ......New York, N.Y. 34 ......Isis Gill..........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 36 ......Anastasiya Malinouskaya Staten Island, N.Y. 40 ......Jillian Rose Auteri ........Staten Island, N.Y. 55 ......Alexus Gill ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 57 ......Regina Furer ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 59 ......Julia D. Fisch ................New York, N.Y. 60 ......Michelle Khaimov ........Jamaica, N.Y. 61 ......Ashley DelMissier ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 70 ......Julia Zbarksy ................New York, N.Y. 84 ......Brittany Elizabeth Poje ..Glendale, N.Y. 86 ......Dasha Kourkina ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 95 ......Kaitlyn Marie Poje ........Glendale, N.Y. 97 ......Ilana Levich ..................Staten Island, N.Y. 99 ......Erika Tinalli ..................Brooklyn, N.Y. 109 ....Marierose Apice............Brooklyn, N.Y. 113 ....Rebecca Fakas ............Little Neck, N.Y. 115 ....Alexandra Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 119 ....Sarah Rahman..............East Elmhurst, N.Y. 122 ....Jennifer Richards..........New York, N.Y. 123 ....Jennifer Yu....................Forest Hills, N.Y. 143 ....Aleksandra Bekirova ....Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 7 ........Ariana D. Rodriguez ......Bronx, N.Y. 9 ........Hannah Shteyn ............Staten Island, N.Y. 11 ......Emily Safron ................New York, N.Y. 15 ......Nadia Smergut..............New York, N.Y. 18 ......Lily Bondy ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 21 ......Arielle N. Griffin ............Jamaica, N.Y. 22 ......Samantha P. Tutelman ..New York, N.Y. 27 ......Kyra Silitch ..................New York, N.Y. 30 ......Jessica Golovin ............New York, N.Y. 32 ......Destiny Grunin..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 36 ......Laura Maria Chitu ........New York, N.Y. 39 ......Kimberly Salkin ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 40 ......Angela Assal ................Bronx, N.Y. 46 ......Alexa Sara Meltzer........New York, N.Y. 47 ......Victoria Lynn Zoha ........New York, N.Y. 60 ......Stefani Lineva ..............Middle Village, N.Y. 69 ......Anna Ulyashchenko ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 89 ......Loulou Revson ..............New York, N.Y. 91 ......Monica Y. Gokhberg ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 95 ......Sophia N. Schlossel ......New York, N.Y. 105 ....Arnelle Sullivan ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 112 ....Isis Gill..........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 115 ....Jessica Livianu ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 125 ....Sabrina Xiong ..............Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 127 ....Augusta Conway ..........New York, N.Y. 129 ....Sophia Kryloff ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 141 ....Elizabeth Tsvetkov ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 142 ....Christina Puccinelli ......New York, N.Y. 146 ....Arielle L. John ..............Cambria Heights, N.Y. 148 ....Shayna Spooner ..........New York, N.Y.

Sectional Girls 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 3 ........Leighann Sahagun........Queens Village, N.Y.

YORK

8 ........Emily Safron ................New York, N.Y. 15 ......Becky Shtilkind ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 16 ......Ariana D. Rodriguez ......Bronx, N.Y. 21 ......Manuela Velasquez ......Kew Gardens, N.Y. 22 ......Alexis S. Tashiro............Jamaica, N.Y. 23 ......Jacqueline R. Katz ........New York, N.Y. 27 ......Hannah Shteyn ............Staten Island, N.Y. 32 ......Kathleen Piit Uy ............Elmhurst, N.Y. 35 ......Angela Assal ................Bronx, N.Y. 36 ......Madison Gordon ..........New York, N.Y. 38 ......Nicole Rydzewski..........Maspeth, N.Y. 41 ......Arielle N. Griffin ............Jamaica, N.Y. 46 ......Nadia Smergut..............New York, N.Y. 49 ......Gabrielle Sullivan ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 51 ......Dayana Agasieva ..........Forest Hills, N.Y. 55 ......Jordan P. Zola ..............New York, N.Y. 57 ......Allison Immergut ..........New York, N.Y. 59 ......Ashley A. Masanto ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 61 ......Katie Derienzo ..............Douglaston, N.Y. 63 ......Marylen G. Santos ........Jamaica, N.Y. 65 ......Jemila A. Brady ............Bronx, N.Y. 68 ......Samantha P. Tutelman ..New York, N.Y. 70 ......Ester I. Goldfeld ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 73 ......Kyra Silitch ..................New York, N.Y. 76 ......Lily Bondy ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 77 ......Joanna V. Haich ............Flushing, N.Y. 82 ......Monica Y. Gokhberg ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 90 ......Destiny Grunin..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 91 ......Sophia N. Schlossel ......New York, N.Y. 94 ......Loulou Revson ..............New York, N.Y. 97 ......Laura Maria Chitu ........New York, N.Y. 99 ......Charlotte Camacho ......New York, N.Y. 101 ....Kimberly Salkin ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 102 ....Lisa Ventimiglia ............Bayside, N.Y. 125 ....Stephanie Rettig ..........New York, N.Y. 128 ....Maria Pia Sifuentes ......Forest Hills, N.Y. 132 ....Jessica Golovin ............New York, N.Y. 136 ....Olivia Boccardi..............New York, N.Y. 139 ....Bessie Rentzler ............New York, N.Y.

Boys & Girls National Rankings (as of 08/03/11)

BOYS

National Boys 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank..Name ..........................City 221 ....Sumit Sarkar ................New York, N.Y. 255 ....Jeffrey Gorilovsky ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 327 ....Gary C. Fishkin ............Staten Island, N.Y. 369 ....Max Prohorov ..............Rego Park, N.Y. 500 ....Sam V. Vagner ..............Staten Island, N.Y. 731 ....Cameron Gruss ............New York, N.Y. 786 ....Ethan Leon ..................Woodhaven, N.Y. 813 ....Kemal Irfan Aziz............Staten Island, N.Y. 885 ....Oliver Jevtovic ..............Astoria, N.Y.

National Boys 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 25 ......James Wasserman ......New York, N.Y. 70 ......Gal Mathew Sossen ......Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 72 ......Christopher Auteri........Staten Island, N.Y. 109 ....Edan Lee Sossen ..........Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 117 ....Alex Knaff ....................New York, N.Y. 122 ....Oliver Sec ....................New York, N.Y. 165 ....Victor Miglo ..................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 179 ....Mitchell Ostrovsky ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 298 ....Alexander Thrane..........New York, N.Y. 341 ....Cole Gittens ..................New York, N.Y. 393 ....Philip Raytburg ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 429 ....Ananth Raghavan ........New York, N.Y. 495 ....Felipe P. Osses-Konig....Rego Park, N.Y.

RANKINGS 648 ....Marcus T. Smith............Little Neck, N.Y. 661 ....Aleksandar Kovacevic ..New York, N.Y. 838 ....Christian Gloria ............Queens Village, N.Y.

National Boys 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 25 ......Daniel Kerznerman ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 66 ......Joshua Yablon ..............New York, N.Y. 159 ....Zachary Yablon ............New York, N.Y. 230 ....Dennis Druzhinsky........Brooklyn, N.Y. 296 ....Hugh H. Mo ..................Douglaston, N.Y. 313 ....Courtney Murphy ..........Bronx, N.Y. 348 ....Win Smith ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 397 ....Justin Fields ................New York, N.Y. 465 ....Artemie Amari ..............New York, N.Y. 540 ....Ryoma Haraguchi ........New York, N.Y. 611 ....Sachin Raghavan..........New York, N.Y. 804 ....Richard Sec ..................New York, N.Y. 917 ....James Wasserman ......New York, N.Y. 970 ....Lucas Pickering ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 995 ....Douglas L. Mo ..............Douglaston, N.Y.

National Boys 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 17 ......Andrew Adams ............South Richmond Hill, N.Y. 55 ......Alexander J. Petrone ....Staten Island, N.Y. 103 ....Richard J. Del Nunzio....Forest Hills, N.Y. 312 ....Stefan D. Ilic ................Forest Hills, N.Y. 426 ....Jake Sosonkin ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 457 ....Eric R. Brinzenskiy ........Staten Island, N.Y. 609 ....Daniel Kerznerman ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 782 ....Andrew J. Scheiner ......New York, N.Y. 999 ....Christopher Jimenez ....Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

GIRLS

National Girls 12 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 60 ......Sarah Rahman..............East Elmhurst, N.Y. 143 ....Nicole Stephanie Stay ..Flushing, N.Y. 164 ....Aleksandra Bekirova ....Brooklyn, N.Y. 236 ....Alexus Gill ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 282 ....Chelsea Williams ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 292 ....Dasha Kourkina ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 302 ....Lauren Munari ..............Middle Village, N.Y. 311 ....Jennifer Richards..........New York, N.Y. 334 ....Jennifer Yu....................Forest Hills, N.Y. 381 ....Michelle Sorokko ..........Douglaston, N.Y. 384 ....Victoria Sec ..................New York, N.Y. 454 ....Nicole Semenov............Brooklyn, N.Y. 498 ....Regina Furer ................Brooklyn, N.Y. 678 ....Anastasia Koniaev ........Forest Hills, N.Y. 752 ....Patrica Obeid ................New York, N.Y.

National Girls 14 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 55 ......Anna Ulyashchenko ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 67 ......Jessica Golovin ............New York, N.Y. 85 ......Jessica Melane Livianu Brooklyn, N.Y. 159 ....Stefani Lineva ..............Middle Village, N.Y. 166 ....Arnelle Sullivan ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 179 ....Sabrina Xiong ..............Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 324 ....Shayna M. Spooner ......New York, N.Y. 362 ....Isis Gill..........................Brooklyn, N.Y. 386 ....Yuka Lin ......................Kew Gardens, N.Y. 412 ....Christina Puccinelli ......New York, N.Y. 476 ....Elizabeth Tsvetkov ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 563 ....Anastasiya Malinouskaya Staten Island, N.Y. 570 ....Julia D. Fisch ................New York, N.Y. 636 ....Sophia Kryloff ..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 772 ....Jillian Rose Auteri ........Staten Island, N.Y.

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2011 • NYTennisMag.com

National Girls 16 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 47 ......Emily Safron ................New York, N.Y. 98 ......Ariana D. Rodriguez ......Bronx, N.Y. 178 ....Hannah Shteyn ............Staten Island, N.Y. 205 ....Nadia Smergut..............New York, N.Y. 249 ....Lily Bondy ....................Brooklyn, N.Y. 255 ....Samantha Tutelman ......New York, N.Y. 318 ....Arielle N. Griffin ............Jamaica, N.Y. 351 ....Destiny Grunin..............Brooklyn, N.Y. 361 ....Kyra Silitch ..................New York, N.Y. 449 ....Jessica Golovin ............New York, N.Y. 500 ....Alexa Sara Meltzer........New York, N.Y. 538 ....Angela Assal ................Bronx, N.Y. 633 ....Laura Maria Chitu ........New York, N.Y. 774 ....Kimberly Salkin ............Brooklyn, N.Y 909 ....Anna Ulyashchenko ......Brooklyn, N.Y. 970 ....Victoria Lynn Zoha ........New York, N.Y.

National Girls 18 Singles— Metro Region Rank ..Name ..........................City 54 ......Leighann Sahagun........Queens Village, N.Y. 86 ......Emily Safron ................New York, N.Y. 125 ....Jacqueline R. Katz ........New York, N.Y. 239 ....Ariana D. Rodriguez ......Bronx, N.Y. 271 ....Becky Shtilkind ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 308 ....Ester I. Goldfeld ............Brooklyn, N.Y. 425 ....Alexis S. Tashiro............Jamaica, N.Y. 446 ....Manuela Velasquez ......Kew Gardens, N.Y. 469 ....Gabrielle Sullivan ..........Brooklyn, N.Y. 475 ....Angela Assal ................Bronx, N.Y. 569 ....Madison Gordon ..........New York, N.Y. 585 ....Dayana Agasieva ..........Forest Hills, N.Y. 596 ....Nicole Rydzewski..........Maspeth, N.Y. 605 ....Hannah Shteyn ............Staten Island, N.Y. 745 ....Kathleen Piit Uy ............Elmhurst, N.Y. 748 ....Arielle N. Griffin ............Jamaica, N.Y. 767 ....Diana Dzarasueva ........Brooklyn, N.Y. 815 ....Stephanie Rettig ..........New York, N.Y. 865 ....Jemila A. Brady ............Bronx, N.Y.

NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2011 • New York Tennis Magazine

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2011 • NYTennisMag.com