Net News July August 2023

ATLANTA OPEN

20th Anniversary Photo Contest p. 32

Summer Getaways p. 38

Spring Standings p. 66

ALTA, WHERE ATLANTA COMES TO PLAY

THEY CATCH EVERY OPPORTUNITY, THEY LAUNCH EVERY WINNING SHOT AND THEY SPAN EVERY SINGLE FRAME WE MAKE.

UP YOUR GAME WITH HEAD TENNIS STRINGS.

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Summer Excitement!

When I started my term as president, I cheerfully sang, “I’m so excited.” I sincerely meant it then, and I’m happy to say, I’m still excited.

It’s July! Our summer tennis leagues have been competing and are heading to the finish line. Our ALTA Pickleball inaugural season starts July 10th, and the Atlanta Open tennis tournament is just weeks away.

After your tennis matches this summer, you should head to the hottest event in Atlanta: the Atlanta Open at Atlantic Station. ALTA is a proud sponsor of this ATP World Tour of Men’s Professional Tennis. It all kicks off with a showdown event on Sunday, July 23, featuring Atlanta native and fan favorite, Coco Gauff, and the exceptional Leylah Fernandez who has reached the finals of the US Open and has won two career titles. Monday is your day; it’s ALTA day at the Atlanta Open, and you don’t want to miss out on the events planned exclusively for ALTA members! There will be special giveaways at the ALTA booth, a spotlight on our elite Junior players, recognition of our scholarship winners sponsored by our own ALTA Foundation, and more.

We are honored to welcome Atlanta Open’s Tournament Director, Peter Lebedevs. Peter is an Australian native, played collegiate tennis at the University of Memphis, and has coached tennis. He has received some of the highest compliments for running professional tournaments and events. Here’s a message from Peter to the ALTA community:

On behalf of the Atlanta Open, I would like to thank ALTA and all its members for the continued support of your ATP tournament. Each year, we strive to improve the event and hope you will enjoy the additions this year that include more food trucks, giveaways on changeovers during matches, and a new on-court voice of the Atlanta Open, Atlanta Braves broadcaster and ALTA member Jim Powell. We look forward to seeing you July 22-30 to watch some of the best tennis in the world!

Be sure to go to atlantaopentennis.com and get your tickets to this exciting event. I’ll be there and I look forward to seeing you there, especially on ALTA Day which is July 24.

As a president, I am always asking members for suggestions

For the latest news, information and events.

on how we can serve you better. Some members have asked why ALTA is starting a pickleball league. I can guarantee you ALTA still is focused as a tennis association. We know our tennis membership is our foundation. With pickleball being the fastest growing sport in the United States, we see it as an enhancement to the ALTA community. Offering our members the opportunity to learn and enjoy another sport, organized as an ALTA league, is a benefit for all. Adding pickleball will not diminish ALTA’s focus and dedication to tennis.

Recently, I had a team captain ask me to explain the 7-point tie break. This can be found in the Captain’s Handbook, page 29.

• The person whose turn it is to serve shall serve one point from the deuce court.

• The opponent shall then serve two points beginning from the ad court.

• Each player serves alternately for 2 consecutive points.

• After 6 points are played, the teams switch ends of the court.

• The first team to reach 7 points is declared the winner if the margin of victory is at least two points.

• After completing the tiebreak, teams will switch ends before the next set.

• The team that served the first point of the tie break will receive in the first game of the next set.

It is my honor to introduce you to our excellent customer service team: Renee Bowen, Michelle Camay, and Jena Pace. They are there for you, managing our phone lines, our leagues, and just about anything ALTA-related. They are dedicated to serving our members in whatever capacity necessary. We could not do or be who we are without them.

As I close, I welcome you to send me any suggestions or questions you have. I sincerely care about our members and hope we can continue to be the biggest and the best local tennis organization. Once again, I am excited to be your ALTA president!

altatennis.org

Linda Shepherd, 2023 ALTA President

facebook.com/Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association

instagram.com/ALTA_tennis netnewsmag.com

2023 ALTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 140, Roswell, GA 30076 Phone: 770.399.5788 Website: altatennis.org

President Linda Shepherd

First Vice President Chequetta Allen

Secretary Mimi McFall

Treasurer L arry Waters

VP Men’s League Greg McAfee

VP Thursday Karen Sullivan

Women’s League

VP Sunday Susan Levin

Women’s League

VP Senior Day Leagues Joan Marcinko

VP Senior Leagues Gina Clance

VP Mixed John Lowell Doubles League

VP Junior Leagues Wendy Fee

VP Junior Stacey Simmons

Challenge Ladder

VP Special Programs Mark LaRotonda

VP Events & Tournaments Marla Michalewicz

President’s Appointee Tammi Copelli

2022 President L amar Scott

2021 President Debbie Gaster

ALTA Foundation Rep Cameron Turner

2023 ALTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Sandy Depa

2021 ALTA President Debbie Gaster

2022 ALTA President L amar Scott

2023 ALTA President Linda Shepherd

The ALTA Foundation Rita Maloof

President

2022 Elected Member Keri Beck

2023 Elected Member Mitch Falkin

Treasurer L arry Waters

Secretary/

First Vice President Chequetta Allen

2023 THE ALTA FOUNDATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Rita Maloof Treasurer L arry Waters

Secretary Cameron Turner

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Net News Editor Emmy Powell

Features Editor Cory Sekine–Pettite

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and add-ons begin on Aug. 25

SEPTEMBER

4 Office closed – Labor Day

5 Senior Day Women – Fall play begins Wheelchair – Fall play begins

6 Senior Day Men – Fall play begins

7 Thursday Women – Fall play begins

9 Men – Fall play begins Junior Leagues – Fall play begins

10 Sunday Women – Fall play begins

OCTOBER

13 All winter 2024 leagues – Roster registration ends

17 Senior Day Women – Fall play ends

Wheelchair – Fall City Finals (rain date 10/24)

18 Senior Day Men – Fall play ends

19 Thursday Women – Fall play ends

21 Men – Fall play ends

Junior Leagues – Fall play ends

22 Sunday Women – Fall play ends

23 Senior Day Women – Fall playoffs (rain date 10/25)

24 Thursday Women – Fall playoffs (rain date 10/26)

25 Senior Day Men – Fall playoffs (rain date 10/27)

26 Thursday Women – Fall playoffs and fall City Finals for AA (rain date 10/31)

28 Men – Fall playoffs (rain date 10/29)

Sunday Women – Fall playoffs (rain date 10-29)

Junior Leagues – Fall playoffs (rain date 10-31)

29 Men – Fall playoffs (rain date 11/4)

Sunday Women – Fall playoffs (rain date 11/4)

30 Senior Day Women – Fall playoffs (rain date 11/1)

31 Thursday Women – Fall playoffs (rain date 11/2)

NOVEMBER

1 Senior Day Men – Fall playoffs (rain date 11/3)

2 Thursday Women – Fall City Finals for A, B and C

AUGUST

2023

4 Men – Fall playoffs and fall City Finals for AA (rain date 11/5)

Sunday Women – Fall City Finals for AA (rain date 11/5)

Junior Leagues – Fall playoffs (rain date 11/7)

Junior Leagues – Fall City Finals (rain date 11/5)

5 Sunday Women – Fall playoffs (rain date 11/7)

6 Senior Day Women – Fall City Finals for all levels (rain date 11/13)

8 Senior Day Men – Fall City Finals for all levels (rain date 11/15)

11 Men – Fall City Finals for levels A, B and C (rain date 11/18)

Junior Leagues – Fall City Finals (rain date 11/12)

12 Sunday Women – Fall City Finals for A, B and C (rain date 11/19)

16 ALTA Annual Meeting

23 Office closed – Thanksgiving holiday

24 Office closed – Thanksgiving holiday

DECEMBER

1 All Winter 2024 Leagues – schedules go online and add-ons begin Dec. 2

3 Junior Challenge Ladder – Ladder closes

22 Office closed – Christmas holiday

25 Office closed - Christmas holiday

SENIOR WOMEN

Jul. 13 Summer plan ends

Jul. 20 Summer playoffs (rain date 7/22)

Jul. 22 Summer playoffs (if needed- rain date day to day)

Jul. 27 Summer playoffs (rain date 7/29)

Aug. 5 Summer City Finals (rain date 8/12)

SENIOR MEN

Jul. 14 Summer play ends

Jul. 21 Summer playoffs (rain date 7/23)

Jul. 23 Summer playoffs (if needed – rain date day to day)

Jul. 28 Summer playoffs (rain date 7/30)

Aug. 6 Summer City Finals (rain date 8/13)

MIXED DOUBLES

Jul. 15 Summer plan ends

Jul. 22 Summer playoffs (rain date 7/23)

Jul. 23 Summer playoffs (rain date 7/29)

Jul. 29 Summer playoffs and City Finals for AA (rain date 7/30)

Aug. 5 Summer City Finals for A, B, and C (rain date 8/6)

SUNDAY WOMEN

Jul. 13 Fall roster registration ends

Sept. 10 Fall play begins

Oct. 22 Fall play ends

Oct. 28 Fall playoffs (rain date 10/29)

Oct. 29 Fall playoffs (rain date 11/4)

Nov. 4 Fall AA City Finals (rain date 11/5)

Nov. 5 Fall playoffs (rain date 11/7)

Nov. 12 Fall City Finals for A, B, and C (rain date 11/19)

MEN

Jul. 13 Fall roster registration ends

Sept. 9 Fall play begins

Oct. 21 Fall play ends

Oct. 28 Fall playoffs (rain date 10/29)

Oct. 29 Fall playoffs (rain date 11/4)

Nov. 4 Fall playoffs and AA City Finals (rain date 11/5)

Nov. 11 Fall City Finals for A, B, and C (rain date 11/18)

THURSDAY WOMEN

Jul. 13 Fall roster registration ends

Sept. 7 Fall play begins

Oct. 19 Fall play ends

Oct. 24 Fall playoffs (rain date 10/26)

Oct. 26 Fall playoffs and City Finals for AA (rain date. 10/31)

Oct. 31 Fall playoffs (rain date 11/2)

Nov. 2 Fall City Finals for A, B, and C (rain date 11/9)

SENIOR DAY WOMEN

Jul. 13 Fall roster registration ends

Sept. 5 Fall play begins

Oct. 17 Fall play ends

Oct. 23 Fall playoffs (rain date 10/25)

Oct. 30 Fall playoffs (rain date 11/1)

Nov. 6 Fall City Finals for all levels (11/13)

SENIOR DAY MEN

Jul. 13 Fall roster registration ends

Sept. 6 Fall play begins

Oct. 18 Fall play ends

Oct. 25 Fall playoffs (rain date 10/27)

Nov. 1 Fall playoffs (rain date 11/3)

Nov. 8 Fall City Finals for all levels (11/15)

JUNIOR LEAGUES

Jul. 28 Fall roster registration ends

Sept. 9 Fall play begins

Oct. 21 Fall play ends

Oct. 28 Fall playoffs (rain date 10/31)

Nov. 4 Fall City Finals (rain date 11/5) Fall playoffs (rain date 11/7)

Nov. 11 Fall City Finals (rain date 11/12)

JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER

Aug. 14 Registration ends

Aug. 20 Kickoff

Aug. 22 Ladder opens

Dec. 3 Ladder closes

WHEELCHAIR - RUN/ROLL

Jul. 18 Summer City Finals (rain date 7/25)

Jul. 28 Fall roster registration begins

Aug. 11 Fall roster registration ends

Sept. 5 Fall play begins

Oct. 17 Fall City Finals (rain date 10/24)

REPORTED BY EMMY POWELL, CORY SEKINE-PETTITE AND JOHN HANNA

A Big Salute to our Senior Scholarship Winners

The ALTA Foundation is excited to announce the 2023 L. Keith Wood Scholarship recipients. Foundation scholarship committee members poured through dozens of applications from so many

students who have outstanding credentials, impressive accolades, and a great work ethic. Each winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship to assist with school tuition and will be recognized on center court on ALTA Day, July 24, at the Atlanta Open. Please join us in congratulating our winners:

Asha Ahn - Atlanta, GA

ALTA Facility: Dekalb Tennis Center

Graduate of: The Paideia School

Attending: Barnard College of Columbia University

Sofia Arboleda - Decatur, GA

ALTA Facility: Dekalb Tennis Center

Graduate of: St. Pius X Catholic High School

Attending: University of Georgia

Ami Dodd-Mungin - Atlanta, GA

ALTA Facility: Briscoe Park

Graduate of: Atlanta Girls School

Attending: Spelman College

Samantha Fraser - Buford, GA

ALTA Wheelchair Facility: Hudlow Tennis Center

Graduate of: North Gwinnett High School

Attending: University of Arizona

Sahana Parekh - Duluth, GA

ALTA Facility: Bunten Road Park

Graduate of: Paul Duke STEM High School

Attending: Emory University

Samantha Ruder - Roswell, GA

ALTA Facility: Horseshoe Bend Country Club

Graduate of: Centennial High School

Attending: University of Tennessee

Caroline Scott - Dunwoody, GA

ALTA Facility: Dunwoody Country Club

Graduate of: Wesleyan School

Attending: University of Georgia

Avery Sisson - Canton, GA

ALTA Facility: Woodmont Golf and Country Club

Graduate of: Creekview High School

Attending: Georgia Institute of Technology

Michael Thomas - Suwanee, GA

ALTA Facility: Grand Cascades

Graduate of: Blessed Trinity Catholic High School

Attending: Georgia Institute of Technology

Legacy Park Teams Up With Universal Tennis Management

Legacy Park Tennis, a premier Club located in Kennesaw, Georgia, has entered a partnership with local business Universal Tennis Management (UTM) to manage the facility starting in August of this year. Legacy Park features 10 full-size outdoor tennis courts and four permanent pickleball courts. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country, and the Legacy Park membership has shown great interest in this fast-paced game.

Universal Tennis Management prides itself on growing tennis in the metro Atlanta area, and they are excited to bring their expertise to the Legacy Park membership. Stewart Russell, a UTM partner, will oversee the transition and Kennesaw native Evan Stack will be the director of tennis. Russell is excited about the future at Legacy Park saying, “Legacy Park is a beautiful facility with a great membership base. We hope to build their programs and customer satisfaction to even greater levels than they have seen in the past. We can’t wait to get in there and meet the wonderful people of Legacy Park!”

A Major League Homerun for ALTA and USTA to Benefit AYTEF

The night of June 7 at Truist Park proved to be a huge success for tennis and baseball fans across Atlanta.

ALTA and USTA Atlanta teamed up for the second annual Atlanta Tennis Night and raised nearly $4,000 for AYTEF (Atlanta Youth Tennis and Education Foundation). Major kudos to AYTEF student Hannah Brown (pictured) who helped get the night off to a great start with her rendition of “It’s time for Braves baseball…

Let's play ball!” We’d like to give a big shout out to everyone who purchased the special discounted tickets and those who made additional donations. Fans who made the pre-game event picked up some unique co-branded ALTA and USTA tennis wristbands. The Braves posted a 7-5 victory over the New York Mets, while fans who were among the first 15,000 to come through the gates picked up an Austin Riley “Hometown” bobblehead.

Photo by Laura Barnard

ALTA ONLINE

BY JOAN APPELBAUM, ALTA IT MANAGER

You've got questions—we've got answers!

How can I update my email address on the ALTA website?

Simply select My Profile from the Sign In dropdown, make the change there, and be sure to save your changes.

I know my facility is blocked since we haven’t submitted teams in a while. How long can a facility go without teams before they are blocked? ALTA considers nonuse of a facility for three years (12 seasons) to be the cutoff. Facilities are automatically

blocked when the system detects no rosters submitted for the 12th season.

How do I know that I have successfully added a player to my team? If you start to navigate away from the roster page before saving your player add, you will get a popup letting you know that you are not finished. Following a successful addition, you will be taken to the Roster Confirmation page.

Net News Photo Contest Celebrates 20 Years!

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ALTA photo contest, we have added a special category to commemorate this milestone. Please send in your favorite ALTA tennis anniversary photo. No wedding photos please. Maybe it’s a photo with your multiple ALTA Championship plates or an old photo of your team/captain who has been playing ALTA for 20 years or more. Details to enter are on page 32.

Prizes courtesy of

2023 State Summer Special Olympic Games: Thank You to Our ALTA Volunteers

BY RITA MALOOF, ALTA FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

Special Olympics would not exist today — and could not have been created — without the time, energy, commitment, and enthusiasm of volunteers. I want to thank you all for everything that you did to make this year’s event a HUGE success! While things got hectic at times and weather was a bit of an issue this year, those smiles made it all worth it! Together, you, your families and friends, made it possible for more than 170 athletes and their unified partners to compete in the 2023 State Summer Olympic Tennis games. That is up 70 percent over 2022. Your willingness to serve as umpires, scorekeepers, ball persons, floaters, and award presenters is so appreciated. A special shout out to our volunteer groups from Adobe, AYTEF, and Regions Bank for pitching in wherever help was needed regardless of your tennis knowledge. Thank you for continuing to enrich the lives of special needs individuals through sports.

Debbie Adams

Tye Adeshigbin

Will Anthony

Hilary Aslaksen

Keri Beck

Kim Beebe

Alex Begg

Vic Bell

Michelle Bennett

Jackie Berkelhamer

Susan Blalock

Roslyn Brailsford

Patricia Brito

Darryl & Terri Brown

Kim Buckwalter

Greg & Michele Burch

Diana Burger

Schylar, Sojourner & Soloman Canady

Cynthia Cassell

Vernon Cobb

Gwen Cole

Ali Collins

Barbara Cook

Cathleen Croll

Becca Cross

Zack Cunningham

Lindsey Davis

Emma de Cardenas

Ava Jane, Davis & Lyla Denny

Brooke Donnelly

Mika Edwards

Jackson, Matt & Sara Emery

Brian, Ellie, Finn & Lilly Esser

Julia Fehr

Kimberly Fraiser

Jean Francois

Jill Gee

Jacob Ginsberg

Jackson Gordon

Debbie Granger

Elizabeth Graves

Rory Hansen

Karen Harris

Daniel & Elizabeth Hayden

Mike, Steve and Tom Hughes

Barbara Ingram

Lori Jackson

Lindsay Johnson

Arjit Kandalai

Debbie Kenneday

Sangeetha Krishnakumar

Pavan Kumar Gaddam

Jack, Josie & Margaret Lane

Kelly Lewis

Ageu Lima

Robert Lyles III

Ashley & Elizabeth Mangine

Sebastian Mayorga

Kris McCorstin

Jacquelyn McKellar

Laura & William McMahan

Robert & Susan McManus

Dylan, Harrison, Jack, Jessica & Rob Miller

Michael Moore

Mickail Morre

Brandon Morris

Aleya Murphy

Lee Muthama

Evan Nguyen

Brandi Nickerson

Valerie Olzer

Kayla Parham

Hayden, Hudson, Mary & Scott Parkinson

Beverly Patterson

Kathy Pham

Loretta Phillips

Marium Raza

Ashley Rives

Kirsten Robles

Diane Royston

Tate Sams

Vivian Schreeder

Bijan & Lena Shah

Betsy Shepherd

Bryan Shepherd

Alexa, Janet, Samantha, Thad Slaton

Jamelia Smith

Nicole Springer

Caroline, Dave, Isabel, Kate & Maggie Stroth

Ashriya Suddala

Karen Sullivan

Janet Tubbs

Shaker Vengarai

Keri Vermaak

Christy Vickery

Keith Walton

Sonya Watts

David Webb

Tameka West

Angie Wredberg

Kicking Off the Atlanta Open in High Style

It was quite the crowd who gathered to help launch the official kick-off of the Atlanta Open tennis tournament. Familiar and new faces were welcomed to this exciting event, held at the new Meals on Wheels venue in midtown. ATP tour player Reilly Opelka was on hand to entertain the crowd, sign autographs, and take photos. Peter Lebedevs takes over this year as the Atlanta Open Tournament Director. He introduced the new voice of the tournament, Jim Powell, an Atlanta Braves broadcaster and longtime ALTA member. Powell will handle all on-court interviews and announcements during the tournament at Atlantic Station.

A big shout out to Modern Luxury Media who helped sponsor the event, along with Meals on Wheels Atlanta CEO Charlene Crusoe-Ingram and Earnest Ingram for serving as the hosts.

You can get your tickets now! Use ALTA discount code ALTA30 to get a 30-percent discount on Sessions 1-9, and check out the details of the exclusive ALTA Captain’s Package on Page 24. We hope to see you on Monday, July 24, for ALTA Day!

Photos by Laura Barnard

Atlanta Open Tournament Director Peter Lebedevs and hosts Charlene Crusoe-Ingram and Earnest Ingram.

ATP player Reilly Opelka and Atlanta Open Tournament Announcer Jim Powell

Winter Senior Mixed Doubles Changing to Five Lines

Summertime tennis in Georgia is in full swing, and we don’t even want to think about winter, right? BUT since you don’t want to miss out on Senior tennis during the cooler weather, you need to prepare now for Senior Mixed Doubles registration. ALTA made a big change in the format of the Senior Mixed Doubles matches, and we want your team to be ready.

Beginning with the 2024 winter season, Senior Mixed Doubles will consist of one line of men’s doubles, one line of women’s doubles and THREE lines of mixed doubles! This change will do away with the post-season tiebreaker when a dual meet is split 2-2. It also will do away with playing in reverse order in the playoffs and City Finals. Bonus: more players get to hit the courts each week!

What this means for captains:

• A roster must have at least 12 players (6 men and 6 women) to be submitted.

• Regular ALTA movement and sandbagging rules will apply to the Mixed Doubles lines only. If you need a re minder of these rules, please see page 24 in the Captain’s Handbook on the ALTA website.

• Men’s and Women’s lines can be defaulted before a Mixed line, but Mixed lines must be defaulted from line 3 Mixed first.

Registration for Senior Mixed Doubles is open from Sept. 15 – Oct. 13 for ALTA members ages 45+. Matches are played on Saturdays at 10 a.m., January through March. Start working on your rosters NOW!

We need more Senior Mixed Doubles teams! If you’ve never

Photo by Laura Barnard

Atlanta Ranks 77th for Access to Public Pickleball Courts

According to a recent report from the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a pro-parks nonprofit, Atlanta ranks 77th on the list of the most pickleball courts per capita among the largest U.S. cities. The organization says Atlanta has 1.7 pickleball courts per capita.

The pickleball data is part of a larger index ranking park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities. TPL’s 2023 ParkScore® report underscores how powerful parks can be for addressing some of the most complex problems facing cities today, including health challenges such as rising obesity rates, mental health issues, and loneliness, the organization says. From this analysis, TPL reports that cities with the highest ParkScore rankings are healthier places to live. You can read the full study at tpl.org.

Overall, TPL reports, there’s now one pickleball court for every 24,000 residents in these cities. There’s been a sixfold increase in the number of public pickleball courts in the 100 biggest U.S. cities since 2017 — from 420 to 2,788 — but municipal leaders say they

still can’t come close to meeting demand.

Developers are working to fill that demand with commercially run facilities, including redeveloping empty retail locations. Business Insider reported in June that the “retail apocalypse” that swept through brick-andmortar stores over the last decade-plus left in its wake large, empty shells begging to be repurposed — now, entrepreneurial pickleball enthusiasts are coming to the rescue. The publication notes that a venture called Picklemall aims to open 50 locations in vacant indoor and strip mall spaces across the country in the next two years.

Axios Atlanta reports that America’s fastest-growing sport is a boon for players who are aging out of tennis — and others who dig its vibe — but it’s noisy and draws nonstop complaints from tennis players who’ve been kicked off their turf. Meanwhile, cities can’t build courts fast enough — and they’re tapping everything from COVID-19 relief funds to municipal bonds to raise the necessary cash.

1. Seattle, Washington

2. St. Petersburg, Florida

3. Lincoln, Nebraska

4. Honolulu, Hawaii

5. Madison, Wisconsin

The most pickleball courts per capita among the largest US

cities:

Luke’s Legacy – Giving Hope to Children and Their Families

Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of disability and death in children and adolescents in the United States. According to The Center for Head Injury Services, approximately 1 in 500 schoolage children each year receive a head injury severe enough to be hospitalized. Although families are eligible for state and federal financial support, funding is limited, and families are often forced to pay for medical care on their own.

Former professional tennis player and collegiate tennis coach Tim Siegel knows this all too well. “I served as the tennis coach at Texas Tech for 23 years. On July 8, 2015, I resigned to spend more time with my wife, Jenny, and our four beautiful children: Alex, Kate, Ellie, and Luke. Twenty days later, Luke had his accident.”

Nine-year-old Luke had been in a golf cart accident. When Siegel arrived at the hospital, the first words he was told were, “Luke has been in cardiac arrest. He has suffered head and chest trauma.” Next came multiple brain surgeries, days in the hospital, followed by months of treatment and rehab. He was finally able to return home. “My little Luke is the greatest fighter I’ve ever seen. Luke’s love of sports fueled his competitive spirit to fight every day.” He lost that fight in August of 2021 following complications from COVID-19. People rallied for the family and reached out to provide love, prayers, and support. “Luke was able to inspire thousands without ever saying a word,” says Siegel. It was that inspiration that led to Team Luke Hope for Minds.

Siegel decided to make it his mission and that of Team Luke to enrich the lives of children with brain injuries by giving hope to their families through support and education. In 2018, Team Luke merged with Austin, Texas-based Hope for Minds, a similar non-profit dedicated to assisting children and families who suffered a brain injury. “Every single day or every week, it seems as if we have an applicant, which is good and bad. People need our help,” says Siegel. That help includes providing families with adequate resources, such as education, therapeutic services, and adaptive equipment. Team

Luke Hope for Minds is a one-of-a-kind organization that services families, both financially and emotionally. “The emotional, physical, and financial strain of caring for a disabled child takes an enormous toll on families,” Siegel adds.

There are 13 families in Georgia who benefit from Team Luke Hope for Minds, the majority of whom live in the Atlanta area. To help provide the crucial services needed by these families, Siegel and his team work to organize events and fundraisers throughout the year. To learn more about how you can help, visit teamlukehopeforminds.org.

You can also register at any of the following fundraising events in late July. Registration is $150.00 at each facility. Contact each club for more information.

Friday, July 21

Windermere Tennis Club

6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Contact: Schindlerb@comcast.net

Saturday, July 22

Concourse Athletic Club

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Contact: Ndoherty@concourseclub.com

Sunday, July 23

Windy Hill Athletic Club

Adults 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Kids 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Contact: marceloferreira2310@gmail.com

Babolat Launches Range of Specially Designed Children's Racquets

Thirty children had the opportunity of a lifetime when Toni Nadal taught them how to become champions, while playing with Carlos Alcaraz and Dominic Thiem. The event in Paris was part of the launch of a range of specially designed Babolat racquets for young players.

Racquets for children are hardly new, but until now, most of them have been simply smaller versions of a full-sized model. Thanks to Babolat’s pioneering work with scientists, coaches, and behavioral experts in France and America, the manufacturer says its new range of kids’ racquets was conceived, designed, and developed with the needs of 4-12 year-olds in mind.

As part of the launch of these racquets, the most successful coach at the Paris Grand Slam, Toni Nadal, taught 30 youngsters aged 8-12 how to play like the best on clay. 2020 US Open Champion Dominic Thiem and US Open reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz were also part of the event.

The lucky youngsters were selected from various tennis associations in Paris, the Fête le Mur charity founded in 1996 by Yannick Noah that uses tennis as a vehicle for helping children break out of deprived inner-city areas, and Lagardère Paris Racing, the country club in the Bois de Boulogne just north of Roland Garros which hosted the event. As well as enjoying on-court coaching from the best in the world, the kids also learned how to string a racquet.

“Since juniors are the future of tennis, our goal as a brand is to foster a love of the sport among the young generation of players,” says Eric Babolat, the fifth-gen-

eration head of the family-owned French firm. “We have therefore tapped into our tradition of innovation and research to offer young players equipment specifically suited to their needs.”

Scientific input came from the French laboratory LIBM (Laboratoire Inter-uni versitaire de Biologie et Motricité), which looked at what a racquet needs to offer a child for optimum development of motor skills and biomechanics, in particular to prevent injuries in growing bodies.

Pedagogic advice came from a group of around 10 top coaches who specialize in techniques of learning and teaching tennis, which enabled Babolat to design racquets that helps children to progress in their practice and to enjoy playing.

Psychological and behavioral expertise came from Court 16, the tennis club in New York exclusively for children, which looks at new and exciting ways of teaching and practicing tennis. Together, Babolat and Court 16 created the first Babolat Kids Lab, a space to observe and analyze kids on the court, and to test new equipment. Out of this research has come a range of 10 racquets: five BFly models (for girls) and five Ballfighter models (for boys), each in increasing size to be age appropriate. Among the differences from child-size replicas of adult racquets are:

• Smaller grip size for better handling and a decrease in shock and harmful vibrations

• Lighter weight for the best maneuverability

• Open and evolutionary stringing pattern to allow for easy power

• Thicker and longer bumper to better protect the racquet and improve durability

• Learning tools on the racquet for easy learning (icons, improved bumper)

• Sticker in the yoke (or bridge – top of the throat) to personalize racquets

• Gender orientated: BFly range for girls, Ballfighter for boys, kids activities on the facecards, pro players mascot support practice, and other features.

All 10 racquets are priced in around $35 and are recommended for ages 4 to 12.

YO U R G OA L S

t the year off right with a Lobster ball machine! Our wide range of innovative training tools help players quickly improve their game!

Star

•LED Retrofits

•Custom Tennis Lighting & Maintenance for your unique application

•Private, Country Club or Neighborhood Courts

Enjoy the beauty of the north Georgia mountains and Big Canoe for your next get away with your tennis and pickleball crew! We will put together the ultimate tennis and/or pickleball get away to get you ready for the season, enjoy your spring break, and spend some quality time on the courts!

Big Canoe Racquet Club

706-268-3367

Lacoste Celebrates 90 Years of Brand History

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the iconic Lacoste polo shirt, which was introduced in 1933 by pro tennis player René Lacoste and industrialist André Gillier.

The original Lacoste L.12.12 polo shirt was crafted from a then-new breathable petit piqué jersey cotton. It was both flexible and lightweight, providing the ideal fabric for a tennis match. Lacoste included his signature Crocodile logo (based on his nickname) on the shirt — against the advice of his friends, apparently — and the famous polo shirt was born.

According to The Lacoste Group, René was an inventive man in addition to being a gifted athlete. Among his non-fashion innovations is the tennis ball machine, which he debuted in 1928 to improve his training and ball-striking technique. In 1963, he revolutionized the tennis world with the invention of the steel tennis racquet. The product proved aerodynamically superior to the wood racquets of the time and paved the way for modern racquet designs. Additionally, in 1971, René invented a damper located in the handle of his racquet.

Geoff Hedges Racquet Club Director ghedges@bigcanoe.org

Between rigor and coolness, freedom and elegance, precision and expression, Lacoste stands for fashion sport and French savoir-faire. The Lacoste Group continues René’s legacy of innovation and is celebrating the 90-year history of its famous Crocodile polo with a new marketing campaign and website, as well as in-store events throughout the year. Learn more at lacoste.com/us.

SPIN IS IN

SHIFT: The incredible new racket with mind-bending spin for more shots in.

wilson.com/shift

Photo Contest

11. Judges reserve the right to title photos if no title is provided and to change the category into which a photo has been entered.

12. Photos not taken by the entrant must be accompanied by a release form signed by the photographer. ALTA and Net News are not responsible for any copyright violations.

13. Judges reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet the above rules and regulations.

15.

NEW!

1. Photos must be provided in a high resolution format. (300dpi at a minimum of 5" x 7") This means your photo will be a file that is between 1.5MB and 3MB in size!

2. When uploading images from your phone, always choose the "Actual Size" option.

CATEGORIES: HUMOR | ACTION | COURTSIDE | CHILDREN | PETS | STILL LIFE | DEADLINE IS SEPT. 15TH! Upload original digital photos through the Net News website at netnewsmag.com/photo_contest All photos must relate to tennis • All entries due September 15, 2023 T W ENTIETH A N NIVERSARY PHOTOGR A P HY YEARSCONTEST plus... Anniversary!

Last Issue’s Trivia Contest Winner Is …

Congratulations! We drew our winner from a pool of readers who submitted correct answers, and Danielle McAuley, Kenworth Women’s AA2 won a prize pack from FILA! Try your luck with this issue’s contest and see if you can join the ranks of our previous trivia contest winners. Here is the original quiz and the correct answers:

1. What was the name selected as the winner for the most recent Mizuno shoe contest and out of which facility do they play? Roaming Oh’s and Juli-Nets from Notting Hill

2. What are the registration dates for ALTA Pickleball? May 1 –May 31

3. What is the name of the captain and facility out of which his team plays who agreed to work with the opposing team to accommodate their request to adjust their match time due to the funeral of a teammate? Martin Chen and Georgetown

July/August Trivia Contest

Enter for your chance to win a great prize!

To enter the contest, correctly answer the following three questions, in addition to submitting a new favorite courtside recipe, and mail it to New South Publishing, Attn: Cory Sekine-Pettite, 9040 Roswell Road, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30350. Answers and recipes may also be submitted online at netnewsmag.com. Hint: The answers can be found in this issue.

Entry deadline: Monday, August 8.

1. The Atlanta Open is one of the premier tennis tournaments where ATP players come to our city in July. The event kicks off with a women’s event, the Sunday. Showdown. Which two players will face off in that exhibition?

2. What organization dedicates its mission to enrich the lives of children who have suffered a brain injury and give hope to their families by providing support and education?

3. What is the name of the ALTA member who has been awarded a scholarship for both wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis and to which university will he attend?

Please submit a favorite courtside recipe along with this entry to be eligible.

ENFORCE YOUR WILL

ALL-NEW WAVE ENFORCE TOUR AC™

Combining maximum levels of energy return, cushioning, stability and durability, the All-New WAVE ENFORCE TOUR AC is the ideal shoe for powerful competitors looking to dictate points from the baseline.

6-Month Outsole Warranty included.

New AW23 colors coming soon

@MizunoTennisUSA mizunousa.com

The Pickleball Pivot

BY AMY BERGIN, NET NEWS CONTRIBUTOR

Pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it is thriving here in Atlanta. The sport began in the mid-1960s when a few guys looking for something to do started playing on a badminton court with ping pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. They improvised with the court equipment, eventually lowering the net and moving the game to an asphalt surface since the ball bounced better. A decade later, in 1976, Tennis magazine published an article naming pickleball “America’s newest racquet sport.” Today, pickleball courts are popping up all over metro-Atlanta neighborhoods like wildflowers in spring.

L egacy Park in Kennesaw is one such area that now has four lighted pickleball courts that constantly are in use. These courts also are home to former tennis players Jay Buxton and Jake Tuchmann, now rising pickleball professionals. We hope their story serves as an inspiration for you to give it a try.

Buxton and Tuchmann are accomplished ALTA and USTA amateur tennis players whose paths crossed when Buxton moved into Legacy Park in November 2020. Buxton grew up in Marietta and attended Marietta High School, where he played on the varsity tennis team. After graduating in 2013, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and played on the club tennis team. Tuchmann was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and moved to Kennesaw when he was young. His family settled in Legacy Park, and he grew up

Photos by Milana Balatbat

ALTA players become pickleball pros almost overnight!

playing baseball and tennis but was all in for tennis once high school started. In 2016, he earned a scholarship to play tennis for Lincoln Memorial University, located north of Knoxville, Tennessee. The pair started playing in T2 leagues out of Legacy Park, then played on the same men’s ALTA team, and continued playing mixed doubles. Their partnership would carry them into more T2 tennis seasons, Ultimate Tennis, and USTA tournaments. Then in the fall of 2022, this dynamic duo decided to dabble in pickleball and never looked back.

It’s late November 2022. They, along with Jay’s wife, Maranda, and her brother, Chris Dove, form a foursome to play more pickleball. It didn’t take long for their competitive drive to kick in, and they entered the Chateau Elan Pickleball Tournament in the Men’s 4.0 division in early December. After a full day of pool play with 12 men’s teams competing, they won the championship! This win gave them the confidence to enter more tournaments in Georgia and Florida. As of May 2023, they have played in five, winning three Gold medals and one Bronze medal. Their most notable finish came at the APP Daytona Beach Open this past February — a Golden Ticket Qualifier for Amateurs and Pros. This event was MMP (Medal Match Plus) sanctioned, which means there must be a referee for the winner bracket and consolation bracket finals, as well as the Gold/Silver and Bronze medal matches. They entered the Amateur Men’s Doubles 19+ 35+ (Skill/Age) and the 5.0 division seeded #10 out of 11 pairs. In their first match, they cruised past the #7 seed, then took on the #2 seed and defeated them 15-10. Their next round was against the #3 seed, which was close, and they came out on top. This win set up a match against the #1 seed. They were edged out 15-13 and the #1 seed went on to win the tournament, but Buxton and Tuchmann won a spot on the podium with third place, making them hungry for more. In addition to men’s doubles, they also compete in singles and mixed doubles divisions.

To take it a step further, both Tuchmann and Buxton have landed sponsors to provide equipment, nutritional support, apparel, and bonus earnings for winning. They are both sponsored by Envision supplements and Tyrol (shoes). For equipment (paddles & balls), Tuchmann is sponsored by Selkirk, and Buxton is sponsored by PCKL. While still considered “weekend warriors,” these sponsorships help pave the way for them to compete in the professional ranks. From here, the focus is building their ranking through playing events sanctioned by USA Pickleball or PPA (Professional Pickleball Association). “In a perfect world, I would love to do this as a career, but for now I will continue to dedicate weekends to traveling to tournaments and working my day job,” Buxton says. “We have to put the work in to be comfortable and competitive at the pro level. At this level, everyone has fundamentals, so it’s more about being strong mentally and having great footwork. For me, being tall is an advantage since the court is smaller than tennis.”

“It’s competitive for sure but still feels like a ‘beer league,’” adds Tuchmann, “so don’t knock it until you try it! It’s a very quick sport, but it’s also fun, easy to learn, and anyone can play. At the pro level, there is great sportsmanship while also being highly competitive. We meet so many people who love an active lifestyle, and I enjoy the social aspect of pickleball as much as I did with ALTA.”

They both credit their meteoric success in pickleball to having solid racquet sports fundamentals from tennis.

A recent Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) report finds pickleball now has up to 8.9 million players in the United States. The ALTA Pickleball League is forming using the fundamentals of league play that have served us well for more than 50 years. The first-ever league season has begun, and plans are in the works for more in 2024.

Will you be next to make the pickleball pivot?

ALTA PICKLEBALL LAUNCHES ITS INAUGURAL SEASON

ALTA Pickleball is here and kicks off in a big way on July 10. Rosters have been formed, and schedules have posted. We are starting this inaugural season with 233 teams and 3,771 players. You will want to try to win the first-ever ALTA Pickleball City Championship gold medal.

More clubs have either converted tennis courts to dedicated pickleball courts or placed permanent pickleball lines on their tennis courts to accommodate their members and to meet the demand. Therefore ALTA, as the tennis leader in Atlanta, also is looking to provide league play for pickleball players in Atlanta.

It’s an exciting time to be a part of ALTA, as we look to provide more fun, more social and competitive opportunities, more sponsorship offers, and more value to being an ALTA member.

Photos by Milana Balatbat

Close, picturesque destinations for tennis fanatics GETAWAYS

BY CORY SEKINE-PETTITE

Summers are for creating memories. One way to do that is to hit the courts in a new setting. Whether you prefer the clean mountain air or a cooling ocean breeze, an unforgettable summer getaway is just a short drive away at any of the following locales.

WATERSONG

Ellijay, Georgia

mountainvibevacations.com

850.888.0515

Watersong features stylish, modern cabins with shared neighborhood features including a rushing creek and private hiking trails. Individual cabins have their own unique features that include waterfall views & access, mountain views, creek views, creek access with trout fishing (catch & release only), indoor pools, outdoor pools, fire pits, and now pickleball courts.

Watersong is located just 10 minutes from downtown Ellijay and 25 minutes to downtown Blue Ridge. Take advantage of local shopping and dining, wineries, bike trails, tubing, summer festivals, and more.

BIG CANOE RACQUET CLUB

Jasper, Georgia

bigcanoepoa.org | 706.268.3367

The “Mountains of Big Canoe” are but a backdrop to the newly updated Racquet Club facility, which can play host to a tennis or pickleball excursion. The 107-yearold former Wolfscratch School underwent a major renovation this year, with an expansion of the tennis and pickleball retail area. Pro tip: If you want to really soak in the ambiance of what the Native Americans called “the enchanted land,” take it all in while relaxing with a cup of coffee at one of the patio tables.

Big Canoe has weekly tennis and pickleball clinics for all levels and seven different weekly round-robins. The club’s amenities include 10 tennis courts (six clay, two hard courts, and two indoor courts) and four stand-alone pickleball courts. The Racquet Club also can set you up to play on one of Big Canoe’s four bocce courts — or hook up the junior Djokovic’s in your party with a kids’ tennis

G A M E S E R E L A X

S e r v i n g u p t h e b e s t t e n n i s i n N o r t h w e s t

F l o r i d a . F e a t u r i n g 1 2 w o r l d - c l a s s H y d r o G r i d

c l a y , t h r e e h a r d , a n d s i x p i c k l e - b a l l c o u r t s , p l u s , a w i d e r a n g e o f e x p e r i e n c e s i n c l u d i n g : p r i v a t e l e s s o n s , j u n i o r s t e n n i s p r o g r a m s , a n d R o u n d - R o b i n t o u r n a m e n t s .

A f t e r a d a y o n t h e c o u r t s , r e l a x a t t h e a w a r d - w i n n i n g S p a L i l l i a n a , l o c a t e d a t H o t e l

E f f i e S a n d e s t i n a n d i n d u l g e i n a t e n n i s m a s s a g e f o c u s i n g o n t h e c r i t i c a l a r e a s t o s u p p o r t s a f e a n d e f f e c t i v e m o v e m e n t w h i l e y o u p l a y I m p r o v e y o u r g a m e b y p r i o r i t i z i n g y o u r r e c o v e r y !

8 5 0 . 2 6 7 . 7 1 1 4 | | S A N D E S T I N . C O M

EDGE OF HEAVEN IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee mountainvibevacations.com

850.888.0515

There is something for everyone at this amazing cabin, which features six bedrooms (and sleeps up to 28 guests), 4.5 bathrooms, breathtaking Smoky Mountain views, a pickleball & basketball court, playground, hot tub, fire pit, swim spa, and more.

Play and rest in total seclusion, or head into town for endless family entertainment options from theme parks, water parks, shopping, and dining. Availability is limited for this amazing mountain home, so check the website for details.

PALMETTO DUNES OCEANFRONT RESORT

Hilton Head, South Carolina

PalmettoDunes.com/tennispickleball | 866.287.2679

Tennis and pickleball lovers near and far can book their perfect weekend escape at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island and enjoy tennis and pickleball court time, lessons, clinics and more. Hilton Head Island remains evergreen year-round, making the 2,000-acre resort an ideal weekend destination. Palmetto Dunes offers 17 Har-Tru tennis courts (four lighted), 24 pickleball courts (all lighted) as well as a well-stocked, 1,800-square-foot pro shop. Eight of the pickleball courts have recently been resurfaced with a Nova Sports USA all-weather surface system. Along with the courts and the beach, Hilton Head’s generally mild climate makes the Lowcountry ideal to enjoy one of Palmetto Dunes’ three award-winning, championship golf courses, as well as miles of paved bike paths, or explore Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina for a variety of dining, shops, and entertainment.

PALMETTO DUNES TENNIS & PICKLEBALL CENTER

S tay & P lay Carolinas’ #1 Tennis Resort

*Package rates are per person, per night, based on two (2) person occupancy in a one bedroom resort villa & includes taxes & resort fees. Some restrictions apply. Subject to availability. Prices subject to change. Rates expire August 31, 2023.

Turquoise Place | Orange Beach, AL

Experience Luxury at Turquoise Place, Orange Beach’s premier resort. Take your vacation to the next level with our oversized condos, balcony hot tub views, and endless amenities. It’ll be a vacation you will never forget.

• 2 Tennis Courts

• 2 Fitness Centers

• Lazy River

• 3 Pools

• Sauna & Steam Rooms

• Kids Playground

• Poolside Bar & Grill

• Gulf Front Cabanas

• Beach Chair Rentals

The Beach Club Resort & Spa | Gulf Shores, AL

Escape to the Gulf Coast’s Secluded Beach Resort. From the beautiful oceanfront condos & lakeside cottages, to the endless activities and four on-site restaurants, you’ll find everything you need right here!

• 8 Tennis Courts

• Walking Trails

• Fitness Center

• Spa & Salon

• Clothing Boutique

• 6 Pools

• Sauna & Steam Room

• Beach Chair Rentals

• Daily Activities

Book direct through Spectrum Resorts for a worry-free vacation experience. Spectrum guests receive added benefits including discounts on on-site dining and shopping, freshly laundered coverlets with every stay and zero down on vacations booked more than 45 days in advance.

SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT

Miramar Beach, Florida

Sandestin.com | 800.622.1038

When you book directly with Sandestin, the resort rolls out the red carpet of complimentary amenities. Fabulous perks and extras help you get the most out of your stay, whether it’s biking Sandestin’s miles of trails, kayaking the bay, boogie-boarding, access to four resort pools and the fitness center, or getting in some spirited sets of tennis on one of 15 HydroGrid clay and hard courts. Free beach parking and a resort tram are offered to all Sandestin guests. The resort offers daily tennis clinics and mixed round robins on the weekends. Ladies’ tournaments are offered during the fall. After a game of tennis, you can walk over to the marina for lunch or head straight to the beach. Everything you need is right within the 2,400 acres of the resort. World-class shopping, award-winning dining, activities, adventure, and more!

Create memories with an summerunforgettable getaway!

SPECTRUM RESORTS — THE BEACH CLUB RESORT & SPA AND TURQUOISE PLACE

Gulf Shores, Alabama thebeachclub. spectrumresorts.com 888.224.7684

Orange Beach, Alabama turquoiseplace. spectrumresorts.com 866.348.9112

With Spectrum Resorts, you can enjoy every second of your vacation without stressing over the details. You’ll have everything you need right at your resort, with priority access and premium perks that promise a VIP experience at The Beach Club Resort & Spa and Turquoise Place. If you want to brush up on your technique or learn some new skills, you can participate in one of multiple tennis clinics, which are open to any skill level and are offered for adults and children.

Away from the court, The Beach Club offers basketball, shuffleboard, fitness trail, spa/salon, restaurants, fitness center, volleyball, indoor/outdoor pools, and sauna/ steam room. At Turquoise Place you will find a Lazy River, indoor/outdoor pools, fitness center, hot tubs on every unit balcony, and sauna/steam room.

SEA ISLAND

Sea Island, Georgia seaisland.com | 855.572.4975

With expansive settings and five miles of private beach, Sea Island offers guests an array of beautifully appointed accommodations from which to choose, including private cottages, elegant guestrooms, and spacious suites. With a host of off-the-court activities, the availability of private lessons, custom clinics, eight pickleball courts and 14 Har-Tru courts (8 lighted) combine to make Sea Island the perfect getaway to improve your game.

An exceptional resort, appealing to those who appreciate gracious service and heartfelt hospitality, Sea Island is home to four Forbes Five-Star experiences – The Cloister at Sea Island, The Lodge at Sea Island, The Spa at Sea Island, and the Georgian Room restaurant. Off the court, Sea Island features a 65,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, three championship golf courses, seven pools (one indoor), a Beach Club, Yacht Club, Shooting School, and more.

Smoky Mountains ~ Pigeon Forge, TN

Gather your entire pickleball team and experience the splendor of Edge of Heaven, a magnificent 6-bedroom home spanning 7000 sq ft with stunning views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Engage in thrilling basketball games and embark on exhilarating hikes Conveniently situated in Pigeon Forge, with easy access to Gatlinburg and Dollywood, this is the ultimate retreat for unforgettable adventures.

Blue Ridge Mountains ~ Ellijay, GA

Discover the enchanting neighborhood of Watersong in the North Georgia Mountains. Immerse yourself in the magic of our modern homes ranging from 2 to 5 bedrooms, complete with delightful amenities such as hot tubs, fishing spots, waterfalls, and scenic hiking trails. Several new cabins will soon feature private pickleball courts. Explore downtown Ellijay and the nearby North Georgia wine country for an unforgettable getaway

Celebrating Our Coordinators!

BY KAREN SULLIVAN, THURSDAY WOMEN’S LEAGUE VICE PRESIDENT

We are heading into the fall tennis season, and I would like to remind everyone of some important fall dates. Roster submission starts on June 22 with the deadline of July 13. Schedules will be posted on the website on August 24. The season starts Thursday, September 7 and fall play ends on October 19.

The cooler temperatures make autumn a wonderful time to play tennis, and fall is a great season to consider being a captain! There is no spring break to worry about, and (fingers crossed) the weather may be more cooperative. As a captain, you can find helpful information on the ALTA website. The adult league rules, season information packet, and the captain’s handbook can be found under “ALTA documents.”

Your level coordinator is another great resource when you have questions, but please be aware that they may play in the same Thursday Women’s League and may not be available on

THURSDAY WOMEN

Fall roster registration runs June 22 – July 13

Fall season is from Sept. 7 – Oct. 19

Thursday mornings. They also have many teams under their administration, so do be considerate of their time.

I am continually amazed by the dedication of our volunteers. From the ALTA president to all the league VP’s, overall coordinators, and coordinators; each plays an important role in how our league operates. The hours put in by all these volunteers truly make our leagues so special. Every coordinator in the Thursday Women’s League has devoted untold hours in responding to emails, texts, and phone calls. Indeed, our leagues could not run without our coordinators.

We certainly do appreciate all you do as captain of an ALTA team, and I would like to thank you for your time and efforts in managing your team. Have you, as a member, ever considered being a volunteer for ALTA? We are always looking for tennis enthusiasts who bring energy and ideas to our organization. You can sign up on the ALTA website!

by Laura Barnard

Photos

MEN

Fall registration runs June 22 – July 13

Fall season is Sept. 9 – Oct. 21

Recruit Players To Avoid Defaults

BY GREG MCAFEE, MEN’S LEAGUE VICE PRESIDENT

Every season I get asked by many players and captains, “How can I find more players,” or “How can I find a team to play on?”

Recruiting tennis players can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it also can be a challenge. Finding the right players who are committed, skilled, and enthusiastic can take time and effort. Perhaps you are looking for a team to join but don’t know where to start. You can start by using ALTA’s website to search for players looking for teams or teams looking for players, but here are a few tips and strategies for recruiting new players to join your team or finding a team to join.

Network within your community : One of the best ways to find new players is to reach out to your local tennis community. Attend local tournaments, clinics, and yes, some other leagues (shh, I

didn’t say that), and talk to other players about your team. Let them know about your team’s goals, practice schedule, and skill level. You also can ask other players to refer potential recruits to you.

Advertise on social media: Social media can be a powerful tool for recruiting players. Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to post about your team and your need for new players. You also can create a flier or poster and share it on social media or local tennis clubs.

Host a recruitment event: Consider hosting a recruitment event, such as a round-robin tournament or a social mixer. Invite players from your community to attend. Use the event to showcase your team, introduce players to each other, and recruit new members.

Create a team website: Creating a website for your team can be a great way to attract new players. Include informa-

tion about your team’s history, goals, practice schedule, and contact information. You also can use the website to showcase your team’s accomplishments with photos and videos.

Reach out to local colleges: Many schools have recreational tennis programs and reaching out to them can be a great way to find new players. Contact the coach or athletic director and let them know about your team. You also can ask if they can share your team’s information with their players.

Offer incentives: Consider offering incentives to new players who join your team. This can include discounted fees, free gear, or social events. Incentives can help motivate potential recruits and make them feel welcome.

With a little luck and some effort, you will have a full squad ready to take on the fall Men’s League ALTA season.

Photos by Laura Barnard

SENIOR DAY

Fall roster registration runs June 22 – July 13

Fall season is Sept. 5 – Oct. 18

Our ALTA Seniors Love To Come Out And Play!

BY JOAN MARCINKO, SENIOR DAY LEAGUES VICE PRESIDENT

ALTA’s Senior Day League continues to grow every season! We had a total of 288 women’s teams (seven new teams) and 88 men’s teams for a grand total of almost 5,000 players. Our spring season was wonderful with few conflicts and not a lot of rain on our Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I’d like to thank all the Senior Day overalls and coordinators for their support and dedication to this league. I encourage you to take the time to thank your coordinator, too!

As we move forward to the fall season, we will be looking to include more players and teams. The only requirement to play is that you are at least 55 years of age. A new team can be formed with a minimum of eight players. This league starts at 10:00 a.m., and we play only three lines. Our format for play changed slightly at the beginning of this year. If a line of doubles split sets

in this senior league, all four players must agree to play a full third set, otherwise you must play a 10-point tiebreaker as the third set. I found that most players did play the full third set in the spring, as we had such great weather and lots of teams have three courts available on match day.

It is important to me to hear from captains and players in this league. We are trying to provide better customer service, so we would love to hear from you. If you have concerns for the fall season, please use the Request for Review option when submitting your roster and/or email me at seniordayvp@ altatennis.org.

Don’t miss out on the fun for fall tennis in the Senior Day Leagues. Registration opened June 22 and closes July 13. See you on the courts!

Photos by Laura Barnard

SENIORS

Women – Summer play ends July 13

Men – Summer play ends July 14

ALTA Seniors Rock!

BY GINA CLANCE, SENIOR LEAGUES VICE PRESIDENT

Here’s a huge THANK YOU for all your comments to our recent survey regarding possible changes to our Senior Leagues (winter Senior Mixed Doubles and summer Senior Men and Senior Women). Many comments addressed the same topics, so I’d like to address a few of them here.

Travel: We know extended travel is a huge issue in the ALTA Senior Leagues. This summer, we combined some levels to shorten your drive time. Hopefully, we were successful, and you are spending less time in your cars and more time on the courts. Atlanta traffic isn’t going to improve anytime soon, so the only way we can lessen travel time is to have more teams join the leagues. Consider splitting a large team — if your roster has 30 people on it, you have enough for two teams (with a few players to spare). Playing against your friends and neighbors in this league could be a great excuse for a cookout at the courts! Encourage others to start a new team — ALTA has plenty of folks ready and willing to help a new captain maneuver his/her first season.

Match start times: Some of you wanted matches to start later than 6:30 p.m. due to summer temperatures and travel time. Regarding the weather, we do allow a one-hour delay if the air temperature (not the heat index) is above 95 degrees. Except for a week or two of a major heat wave, most of the summer nights are well below 95 by 6:30 p.m. and definitely by 7:30 p.m. But this is Georgia, and our summers are hot! We want each player to assess his/her own health before taking the court in high temperatures. Changing the official start time causes problems with many of our approved facilities. We require court lights to stay on until 11 p.m. for these matches. If the lights go off while matches are still in progress, you may have to return on another evening to finish.

10-point tiebreaker vs full third set: There still is much confusion on this rule. Beginning in January, all Senior Leagues now use the 10-point tiebreaker as the default. If all

four players wish to play a full third set, they may do so. If all four don’t agree, a 10-point tiebreaker is played. It is up to the four players on the court and may be decided at any point before the third set is to begin. This was done to help with the extreme temperatures in the winter and summer seasons and to help with the late nights in the summer.

Adding another line to summer Seniors: Our survey asked if you wanted to reduce the number of lines from four to three to help with late nights, 2-2 splits, and playing in reverse order in the postseason. Many of you suggested going to five lines instead of four. Five lines would get rid of the 2-2 split and playing in reverse order, but it would cause more issues with late night finishes and court lights not being able to stay on. The survey showed you don’t want to reduce the number of lines to three, so the summer Senior Leagues will remain at four lines of play.

City Finals start times: The reason City Finals are earlier (4 p.m. or 5 p.m.) than the other matches is because some of the facilities we use for City Finals close early. We reserve courts for City Finals months before they are played, and we appreciate each and every facility manager with whom we work. We want to continue to be able to play at these facilities, so starting early to accommodate the staff is a simple way to help them.

Seniors changing from 45 to 50 years old: If ALTA changes the age requirement for the Senior leagues, players who already are playing in the current Senior leagues would remain eligible to play. We would increase the age requirement without forcing folks to leave their current teams. This change has NOT been implemented. You will be notified through Net News, email, and social media if this or any changes are made to any of ALTA’s leagues.

Thank you ALL for your participation and comments! The only way we can know what you want is to ask, and we appreciate you taking the time to offer so many constructive (and sometimes entertaining) comments.

Photos by Laura Barnard

Introducing A Rising Star

BY WENDY FEE, JUNIOR LEAGUES VICE PRESIDENT

ALTA continues to look for ways to improve our leagues and better serve our members. One way we are doing that is to bring on a younger ALTA member to help make positive changes with the Junior Leagues.

The ALTA Board of Directors has unanimously voted to generate an unprecedented volunteer position for the ALTA Junior League. This new position has been created by one of our own Junior players. We are pleased to announce Sakethram (Saketh) Ramakrishnan as our new “Junior Tennis Ambassador”!

Saketh will serve as a liaison between the ALTA Junior League members and the ALTA Board of Directors. He will be working closely with ALTA Marketing Director Emmy Powell, alongside myself, to develop campaigns and programs to increase junior memberships. By developing community outreach and potential new league changes through social media platforms, he plans to improve engagement with other junior players. This youthful presence will not only add a different dynamic but it also will enhance and expand a new perspective within ALTA!

One of Saketh’s initiatives being considered is working with more high school teams that may not have much involvement with ALTA. By collaborating with the GHSA (Georgia High School Association), he hopes to implement more match play outside of the regular spring season by creating a separate division during the off-season.

High school tennis is a spring sport with a long off-season. Usually, these teams have girls and boys junior varsity and varsity teams, comprised of approximately 40-60 total students per high school. Many of those players are not aware of or do not play in the ALTA Junior League. A high school league would benefit those teams in a variety of ways. Not only will players get more experience, but they also don’t have to wait eight to nine months for the next season to start. “Coaches get to see their players grow and develop so they can better plan during the spring season,” Saketh says. Players would be able to play with their teammates, creating stronger bonds and unforgettable

memories. In addition, he would like to get more of the high school girls involved into ALTA, helping bolster many more aspects of our Junior Leagues.

Saketh has been playing on the ALTA Junior Boys League for the past four years; he is 16 years old and is now playing on an 18U ALTA team. He also is the captain of his high school JV tennis team at Lambert High School, as well as the Junior captain of his ALTA team. As such, he is familiar with organizing lineups and coordinating with opponents. He is optimistic to see his ideas come to fruition in hopes of facilitating better team bonding and bringing more members on board.

As a well-regarded tennis player, he always has appreciated that tennis is considered an “individual” sport, but he has had wonderful experiences with his ALTA team throughout the years. Through ALTA, Saketh hopes to get more involved and give back to his community.

As alluded to before, one of the ways he plans to reach out to his peers is to communicate through social media, primarily Instagram, and several other platforms. The transfer of information is so immediate and easily accessible these days, especially to our youth. He hopes that many newcomers will connect with him online, inquiring about ALTA’s programs. Thus, he welcomes new players to join ALTA and to interact with his fellow junior players @juniorleaguealta on Instagram. Community outreach and working with past, current, and future members will surely be one of the most gratifying parts of his new position as the Junior Tennis Ambassador of ALTA.

For Saketh personally, it is a priority to hear from his fellow junior players so he can incorporate their plans for the future of the sport. To do this, he will be hosting a monthly virtual get-together where juniors in ALTA can connect using their own experiences in ALTA and interact with guest speakers to help them advance in their tennis journeys.

We at ALTA look forward to seeing him reach his goals of developing creative ideas to showcase what it means to be a Junior ALTA member.

Pictured L-R: Tanish Killedar, Sakethram Ramakrishnan, and Thailesh Muruganandam.

JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER

Ladder closes Aug. 14 Ladder play runs from Aug. 22 – Dec. 3

The First 50 Players To Sign Up Get A Special Welcome Gift

BY STACEY SIMMONS, JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER VICE PRESIDENT

ALTA Junior players: Don’t miss out on one of the best junior tennis leagues in Atlanta. This is a unique ALTA league where you can compete at a high level and challenge other junior players on your own schedule. The Junior Challenge Ladder (JCL) attracts some of the best players in the metro-Atlanta area and is still one of the best deals in town. Here are the requirements:

• Players must be 10-18 years old

• Players need an ALTA $15 junior membership and must pay the $15 JCL fee

• Register at altatennis.org.

As a member of the JCL, you can participate in round-robin events, meet new players, and make lifelong friendships. Most of the players say their favorite things about the JCL are the fun events, the ALTA swag/clothing that is provided, the awards program, and the end-of-season party. Register today! There’s a welcome gift for the first 50 players to sign up. The deadline is August 14. For more information, you can email Jrchallengevp@altatennis.org.

Photos by Laura Barnard

WHEELCHAIR

Fall registration runs Jul. 28 – Aug. 11

Fall play is Sept. 5 – Oct. 17

Wheelchair Sports Pave The Way For A Future College Athlete

BY AVA DURRETT, NET NEWS CONTRIBUTOR

Anew school year is approaching and many of our ALTA juniors are off to college. It’s such an amazing time for change and growth; however, change is not something that is new to Jude Hiley. Jude is one of ALTA’s wheelchair tennis players and has been awarded a scholarship to Auburn University for the upcoming school year where he will be able to grow in his passion for wheelchair sports.

When he was 11, Jude was diagnosed with a bone cancer in his right leg. He later had to have that leg amputated. Since then, he has found many ways to still enjoy and pursue his dreams of being a college athlete.

One such avenue is through BlazeSports and the ALTA Wheelchair League. Mark LaRotonda is the ALTA VP of Special Programs and a BlazeSports Wheelchair tennis coach. LaRotonda first met Jude in April of 2021 when he came to a BlazeSports Wheelchair tennis practice. “He was very coachable, even though it was his first time using a wheelchair to play sports,” LaRotonda recalls.

Rob Popelka also coaches in the same leagues and says Jude was a natural athlete the minute they saw him in a chair. “He advanced so quickly, so Coach LaRotonda worked to get him

into their ALTA league,” says Popelka. One of Jude’s first seasons included the Run/Roll League where he was able to play with BlazeSports Coordinator Tommy Shipeck.

At Auburn, Jude intends to improve in his sport and just have fun. “Auburn is special to our entire family. We are a third-generation Auburn family as my parents went there, as well as my grandfather who worked as a Dean of Liberal Arts,” says Jude. It’s quite special for him to participate at a college where he has always wanted to attend and be able to compete in both wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. Wheelchair tennis continues to grow and flourish at larger colleges, and Jude feels fortunate to have such a great opportunity. “I am really looking forward to moving to Auburn, playing collegiate sports, and majoring in graphic design,” says Jude.

Jude is a natural athlete and a great young man who will have a positive impact on everyone around him. We all look forward to following his academic and athletic career and can’t wait to hear what he does next. Popelka adds, “Auburn University is lucky to have him. His hard work ethic and love of competition are going to take him to exciting places.”

Photos by Laura Barnard

Fall registration runs June 22 – July 13

Fall season is Sept. 10 – Oct. 22

Get Ready for Fall Tennis

BY SUSAN LEVIN, SUNDAY WOMEN’S LEAGUE VICE PRESIDENT

It’s hard to think about fall being just around the corner with our hot summer days and warm muggy nights surrounding us, but now is the perfect time to start planning for fall tennis. Our Sunday Women’s League registration for fall started on June 22 and ends July 13.

Captains are reaching out to their players to confirm they will be returning to their team in the fall before they submit the team’s roster. Once the fall rosters are submitted and the fall registration and correction period ends, then ALTA begins the work of reviewing rosters and calculating the various levels to enable more than 1,000 teams to have a fun, competitive season.

So, you may be thinking, “How can I prepare while waiting for the fall season to begin in September?” Here are a few ideas to help you get ready.

Check out the ALTA website: altatennis.org. ALTA provides a wealth of information on its website for captains and players. Simply sign in. Every ALTA member has a “Member Portal” with a selection of icons to choose from; “My Resources” is a great place to start. It includes a section for teams looking for players or players looking for teams, facilities, ALTA documents for players and captains, plus much more.

Review the Rules. Now is a good time to go to the ALTA documents to review the rules. Whether new to ALTA or a member for decades, it’s always best to review the rules as a refresher before the season starts. All players should know the rules and where to find them. For example, did you know that cell phones should be turned off during the entirety of the match? Were you aware that players cannot be removed from the roster after the roster correction dead-

line has passed? (Note: When a player is added to a roster, an automated email is sent to the player notifying them they’ve been added. If for any reason a player does not wish to be added to the team, that person should request to be removed immediately before the deadline.)

Prepare to travel. During the regular season, matches are scheduled for seven weeks. Like other sports, both youth and adults, there will be some travel to other teams’ facilities during the season. Three or four matches will be at your home courts, and the other three or four will be at the opponent’s home courts. To make the drive more enjoyable, many teams carpool and travel together as a team, rather than individually. Some teams call their away matches their team’s field trip. To make it a positive experience, they use the drive time to build team spirit, get to know one another, and it also gives partners a chance to strategize in preparation for their match.

Exhibit good sportsmanship. All ALTA members love to play tennis! If not, we wouldn’t go out on Sunday afternoons to chase a fuzzy yellow ball around the court. To get the most enjoyment out of a good competitive tennis match, everyone should exhibit and be the recipient of good sportsmanship. As VP, I hear all kinds of stories. Most ladies and teams who truly represent the spirit of ALTA go over and above to be kind, helpful, and show respect to their opponents. Regretfully, there are a few incidents of unsportsmanlike behaviors and actions that are completely unacceptable. As we prepare for the fall season, whether we win or lose, or we’re the host team or the guest, we must always treat others like we prefer to be treated. Positive behavior will help ensure a fun, fall season for everyone.

SUNDAY WOMEN

Photos by Laura Barnard

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD

Last season, my team played B3 and we didn’t make the playoffs. So, we asked for B5 and you gave us B1. Why did you do that to us?

John Lowell, Mixed Doubles League VP

Leveling in ALTA Adult Leagues is done by the league vice presidents and the overall coordinators. When doing leveling, that group considers your team’s performance from last season as well as players that you added and players that you

RULES OF THE TIEBREAK

Following a tiebreak, who should serve first and what side of the court should we be on for the start of the next set?

Karen Sullivan, Thursday

Women’s League VP

USTA Rules of Tennis states: “Players shall change ends after every six points and at the conclusion of the tiebreak game.” This means that you switch sides from where you ended the tiebreak. It also states under rotation of service,“the pair whose turn it was to serve first in the tiebreak game shall receive service in the first game of the following set.”

lost to come up with a Preliminary Placement. That is formulaic. From there, we drill a bit deeper to see if there are reasons to move your team away from that Preliminary Placement.

In the specific case of your team, you added a strong A2 ranked man and a strong A2 ranked woman to your team. And, while your team did not make the playoffs last season, you came close.

As a result, your Preliminary Placement was at B1 (2 flights higher than you were last season) and we saw no reason to deviate from that Preliminary Placement. While we sometimes move teams because we need it to make scheduling work, in this case we did not have to do that.

JUNIOR TENNIS BALLS

What are the differences in tennis balls for each age group in the Junior Leagues?

Wendy Fee, Junior Leagues VP

10U: Low-compression orange balls. They can be re-used during their home matches for the duration of the season.

12U: Green Dot balls are used. Two unopened cans of USTA-approved green dot balls for each dual meet. Both cans will be opened and used for the first two matches and re-used for subsequent matches of the dual meet.

15U: Two unopened cans of USTAapproved yellow balls for each dual meet. Both cans will be opened and used for the first two matches and re-used for subsequent matches of the dual meet.

18U: Four unopened cans of USTAapproved yellow balls must be provided each week.

GET OFF MY COURT

If my opponent hits a shot at such an angle that the ball travels to the adjacent court and I run to the ball and am in a position to return it, but a player on the adjacent court is in my way and prevents me from swinging, may I call a “let?” Also, the same scenario, but the ball is in the court space between my court and the adjacent court and a player from the adjacent court is in my way and prevents me from swinging at the ball.

Greg McAfee, Men’s League VP

According to the USTA code and Rule 26, the playable area includes the area between courts but does not include any of the adjacent courts, therefore you can only call a hindrance if the player from the next court is in your way if you are on your court or the space between courts. Once you are on their court, it cannot be called.

DID YOU EVER WONDER ABOUT … ?

If you’ve ever had a situation occur in a match where no one on the court knew the rule that applied, send your inquiry to Good Question. ALTA officials answer questions in each issue of Net News and yours could be chosen next. Submit your question, along with your name, league, team name and level to altaeditor@ altatennis.org.

Photos by Laura Barnard

Tennis Fun In The Summer Sun

Luke Jensen

It’s my favorite time of year! The U.S. summer hard court season is underway, with the best players in the world starting on the hard courts in America. For the ATP, it’s Atlanta, Georgia! This is a special tournament for me because it was the first professional tournament I ever attended. I was eight years old and the Jensen family was on summer vacation to visit family who lived in Marietta.

It was so much fun in a big city with so much to do and going to the Atlanta Open was on the agenda. My dad was a high school tennis coach, so going to see the tennis was a priority. One early morning, we grabbed our racquets and went to the Atlanta Open for the junior tennis clinic. My brother, Murphy, who was just six at the time, and I were on the court with two future hall of famers — THE Stan Smith and Dennis Ralston. I remember hitting a ton of balls and noticing how tall Stan Smith was. The

blurry, old photos are still some of my favorite childhood memories of trying to learn the game from the professionals. It has been nearly 50 years since that clinic and the Atlanta Open still is thriving! Now, I am the one leading the clinics all tournament long. The tennis is worldclass with so many elite talents using the tournament to prepare for a US Open run later in the summer. But what makes the Atlanta Open special are the fans. Atlanta is a MASSIVE global tennis city with tens of thousands of players, and they come out to enjoy the pros! It’s a festive and relaxing atmosphere where the pro players are mixing in with the fans. The site is Atlantic Station where tons of food and drink options are available with loads of great shopping. The players’ hotel also is in that area and seeing them cruising around Atlantic Station is a common site.

Another thing the Atlanta Open does well is bring in the WTA stars! Coco

Gauff was a HUGE hit last year and returns for an exhibition match this year. She spent many of her early years growing her game in Atlanta and her father played basketball for Georgia State University. Her scheduled opponent is the fierce Leylah Fernandez.

The Atlanta Open also supports its local league play. The ALTA Mixed Doubles season concludes at the Atlanta Open tournament. The best teams play the finals onsite with the fans, families, friends and pros watching! It’s EXTREMELY competitive and gets quite rowdy!

Playing mixed doubles in an art. The teams that successfully navigate the power of the men with the creativity of the women usually win. Working together is critical. The strategy is so different from basic gender doubles where every player normally plays their side of the court. In mixed doubles, the power is important but not the main factor. The consistency and well-placed shots from the woman can neutralize the power of the man’s racquet. I absolutely loved playing mixed doubles. Martina Navratilova, who won 59 Grand Slams in her amazing career, won a ton in mixed doubles. Her last major was at 49 years old with Bob Bryan at the US Open.

I played Martina at Wimbledon and she was so tough to play. She would use my power to hit sharp angles and wellplaced lobs. She gave a lesson that day and it was an honor to compete against her. Next time you are on the court in mixed doubles, remember it is a thinking game and a communication game more than anything. Find a partner who wants to have fun and likes to high five! THAT is a winning combination!

— LUKE JENSEN FRENCH OPEN DOUBLES CHAMPION

Photo by Kaori Sekine-Pettite

How To Improve Your Game

BY RAPHAEL RODRIQUES, TENNIS DIRECTOR, DRUID HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

There are many ways tennis players can improve their game. They can work on mechanics/techniques, footwork, conditioning, court positioning, strategy/ tactics, mental game, and the list goes on and on.

It is important to work on all these things to reach a higher level of play; however, tennis is a lot more than just hitting the balls past your opponents — it also is hitting where they are not.

I always like to remind my students that, while working on any aspect of their game — either mechanical, physical, or tactical — a tennis player must remember three fundamental principles when selecting your shots: remember the score of the game, your positioning on the court, and your opponent’s positioning on the court. I find these elements crucial on any level, regardless if you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player.

By selecting your shots according to the three components mentioned above, a player tends to make smarter decisions instead of simply hitting the ball back. Consequently, the concern about their mechanics becomes a secondary issue. During a match, the last thing a player wants to do is become worried or to try to fix their strokes. This will likely make them tight, confused, and nervous. The result is always more errors because we can’t fix mechanics during matches.

Once a player becomes “score smart” with their tennis game, they tend to take risks at the right time and when in the right position on the court. As a result, they should feel more confident and not second-guess their swings and decisions. Too often, we see players going for winners simply because they receive a short ball. However, if you are down a game point or break point, that shot should be more of an approach shot, and not a winner.

Another advantage of being score smart and having better court awareness is that a player can grow to be a better defender and select bigger targets or higher balls when defending from the back of the of the court or behind the baseline.

When playing a match, it also is important to know the situation of each point — offense, defense, and neutral.

1. Offense: a short ball, inside of the service line, where a player can consider attacking and moving forward (keeping the score of the game in mind).

2. Neutral ball: a ball that is going to be struck by the player from “no man’s land” to the baseline; a player should look to hit big targets on the opposite side and not take too much risk.

3. Defense: a ball that pushes a player behind the baseline and to the corners of the court; a player should try and hit it back high and deep, so it does not bounce short on the opposite side and becomes an easy ball for your opponent to attack.

Overall, if players of all levels can keep in mind the game score, their court position, their opponent’s position, and the three point situations (offense, defense and neutral), I believe they can improve their game quickly and become a more complete tennis player, and not just a good ball striker.

Hometown (City/ State): Brasilia/Brazil

How did you get involved in teaching tennis? Had a close friend who was a tennis director and I found it was a very cool lifestyle and job to have; and I was right!

Diehard fan of what sports team?

Brazil national soccer team

Best part of your game? Return of serve

Dream doubles match would be me and… Gustavo Kuerten

When I’m not teaching tennis, I’m Playing soccer (futebol)

My favorite tennis memory is: Playing national tournaments on red clay as a junior in Brazil.

My favorite professional player is: Gustavo Kuerten

#1 reason why I enjoy teaching & coaching tennis: I love to see students (adults and juniors) smile and have fun while learning new skills and making friends. Since tennis is a lifetime sport, when they grow older, I want them to remember the good times they had and still have the same fun.

What important tennis message do you want to promote? Tennis is not just about winning; it’s about learning from each match, enjoying this beautiful game, and challenging yourself to continue to improve to be a great competitor and a strong teammate.

Cues To Poaching: What To Watch For

BY IAN THOMPSON, DIRECTOR OF TENNIS, CARL E. SANDERS FAMILY YMCA AT BUCKHEAD

shot more than two steps from the opponent, and balls lobbed over the opposing net player.

The low ball to the backhand

Poaching in doubles is one of the most effective ways to keep your opponents off their games because they must consider what you are doing at the net. The question I am asked most often from players is, “When should I poach?” There are numerous opinions for this tactic, and each tactic works well for certain groups. This article will focus on cues to watch for in your match to determine when to poach. One of the biggest things to consider is no matter how good you are at poaching, your partner will be half of the equation to get you involved. If they are not giving

you the right balls to play, you will not be successful at poaching. So, talking over what you want to look for will allow your partner to understand the shots on which you want to poach.

I am not going to discuss the deep approach shot because any team that can lob the shot will stop the poaching immediately. If this is something that you look for when you play, then make sure to discuss it with your partner because it can be effective. But realize, any lob will render the poach completely useless. The three cues I will discuss are the low ball to the backhand, any

The first cue that I watch for is the low ball to the backhand because it will force the opponent to hit up on the ball. The backhand is harder to generate pace, so a lower ball means more time for you to get to the ball. The other reason the low backhand is a good option is that it is going to be difficult to get a lob over you off the backhand — one less shot you must worry about trying to cover. The backhand is a shot most people do not practice enough, so it can break down easier in tight situations. When you are playing right-handers, the backhand will be on the ad side wide and yes, that means a right-handed player will be moving to a backhand poach. Mentally, when a player poaches on the backhand side to end the point it shows that the player has a practiced and efficient poach. This means you will win more free points over time with this tactic. Make sure you are confident in the shot, so if you do not feel comfortable in your backhand poach, consider a different cue.

Any shot more than two steps from the opponent

The next cue is any shot that makes the opponent move more than two steps. Most players will have a tougher time getting into perfect position the more their footwork has to be precise in

There is no perfect time to poach but discussing with your partner about what you are looking for on the poach can help the process.

taking more steps. More time to get to the shot also could change the stress level on the opponent. They may overthink the ball they will hit or see whether you are moving to poach or faking it. While there will be some highlight shots with players on the run, the inconsistency of repeating these will heavily favor your team. Again, seeing the ball off to the backhand side could be more effective because it is usually the shot that will not have as much power. If someone is not a strong poacher, then going through the middle also could work with a drive. Again, talk with your partner and decide what you want to see.

Balls lobbed over the opposing net player

Finally, the lob over the net player can change how the match is going to go. Here is an example of why this can be so effective. How do you get to the backhand when the right-hand player is in the deuce court? The lob is the most effective and easiest way to get them over to the backhand and on the

run. When you are playing, and you are having consistent rallies cross-court, the lob can be a way to change things. Again, do not change a winning plan. If you are winning, keep doing what you are doing until you must make a change. If you are losing, you need to adjust, and the lob is a good shot to throw into the mix. For the poacher, look for a weak and short lob, and make a strong overhead for a winner. There is no perfect time to poach but discussing with your partner about what you are looking for on the poach can help the process. Your partner is vital in making sure you have opportunities to poach, and they need to know what cues will allow you to help them win the points. There are many cues other than those described here. Please discuss with your partner so you are both on the same page and work on it in practices. One of my former bosses, Jeff Chandley, had a perfect saying about the poach that “you should be on the hunt for the ball.” When you see your cue, it is happy hunting!

CHOOSE A GREAT PARTNER!

BY STEPHEN HUSS, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, HUSS 75 76 TENNIS AT CROOKED CREEK

Everyone is familiar with the old joke that the most important part of doubles is choosing the best partner … but it’s true!

However, it is not necessarily the best singles or doubles player at your club or in your area. Often, I see two similar (and good) players not do as well as expected when they play together.

You want someone who complements your own skills and usually has strengths different to yours. If you are a strong groundstroker, then try to play with a good volleyer and vice versa. If you are not as strong at net, you want to play with a big server and a big hitter so they can protect you from your opponents’ attacking you. This will set you up for easier volleys.

Again, compete hard no matter who you play with but look for a partner who complements your skills — and look to complement theirs.

Maximizing Performance On The Tennis Court

BY MARK KOVACS, PH.D., CTPS, MTPS, KOVACS INSTITUTE

TIPS FOR THE SUMMER SEASON

By incorporating these expert tips into your summer tennis routine, you can give yourself a competitive edge and enjoy a successful season on the court.

As the summer months approach, tennis enthusiasts are gearing up for an exciting season of competition and recreation. However, to truly excel on the court, players need to adopt a strategic and holistic approach to their training and preparation. As a sports scientist who works with top-level athletes, including some of the best tennis athletes in the world, here are some tips that can help you improve your game this summer.

Prioritize physical fitness

Tennis is a physically demanding sport that requires players to be strong, fast, and agile. As such, players should focus on developing their cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and agility. Engaging in off-court exercises that involve intermittent sprint activities like running, cycling, swimming, and agility drills can help to enhance one’s physical fitness.

Refine your technique

While physical fitness is certainly important, it is not enough on its own to ensure success on the tennis court. Players also must strive to perfect their technique and execution of strokes. To do so, consider enlisting the help of a coach who can provide real, personalized feedback and guidance. A good coach can speed up your improvement significantly. Additionally, practice drills that focus on specific aspects of your game, such as your serve or backhand, to further refine your technique.

Stay hydrated

Proper hydration is a key aspect of tennis performance that often is overlooked. Players should aim to drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after their matches to avoid dehydration, which can lead to fatigue and decreased performance. The hot and humid conditions in Atlanta during the summer always are a challenge but taking the right step with your hydration can provide some significant benefits.

Protect yourself from the sun

Playing tennis during the summer months often means spending significant time in the sun, which can be harmful to one’s skin and overall health. It is therefore essential to protect oneself by wearing a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen with an adequate SPF level. So many great options now exist, from clothing options, great sunglasses, and sweat-resistant sunscreen.

Prioritize rest and recovery

Finally, players should make rest and recovery a priority in their training regimen. Adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and taking breaks as needed all can help to prevent burnout and injury. Remember, taking care of oneself off the court is just as crucial to performance as playing the game itself.

By incorporating these expert tips into your summer tennis routine, you can give yourself a competitive edge and enjoy a successful season on the court. Whether you are a seasoned player or someone getting started, prioritizing your physical and mental well-being is key to unlocking your full potential as a tennis player.

Fruit

Let’s be honest: Most of us don’t eat enough fruit. The following recipes from your fellow ALTA members will encourage you to add more delicious and nutritious fruits to your diet. From easy-bake breakfast, to snacks, to a pre-match meal, we’ve got you covered.

Yes, Fruit Cake!

Delicious Anytime Fruit Cake

Helen Joyce, Polo G&CC, Thursday

Senior Day Women A1

2 cups self-rising flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup dried mixed fruit

1 egg

2 oz. butter

1 cup milk

1 tsp. British Mixed Spice honey to glaze

Mix flour and butter until fine like breadcrumbs. Add fruit, spice and brown sugar, then milk and egg. Add a few cherries or nuts to make it richer. Spoon into loaf tin and cook at 350 degrees for 1.5 hours. Place on cooling rack. Serve room temp or warm with butter.

Sonoma Style

Chicken Salad with Grapes

Margaret Pepe, Dressage, Sunday

Women A7

1 rotisserie chicken

1 cup seedless grapes

2 celery ribs

½ tsp. horseradish sauce

½ - ¾ cups mayonnaise salt + pepper to taste

Skin and shred chicken. Slice grapes in half and thinly slice celery; add both to shredded chicken. Add mayo and horseradish; mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with rolls.

Easy & Tasty

Easy Fruit Salad

Elizabeth Yarbrough, Peachtree

City Tennis Center, Thursday

Women B1

1 can peach pie filling

1 can chunk pineapple, drained

1 can dark pitted cherries

1 large bag strawberries—16 oz, frozen

2 or 3 bananas, sliced

1 small to medium bag slides peaches, frozen

Thaw frozen fruit. Mix all ingredients. Serve chilled.

Make-Ahead Breakfast

Banana, Walnut and Date Muffins

Elena Vasilescu, Chastain, Sunday

Women AA3

2 cups almond flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 pinch sea salt

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

1 cup dates, pitted and chopped

3 ½ bananas; half to serve as topping

3 eggs

¼ cup coconut oil

¾ cups walnuts, chopped

2 Tbsp. chia seeds

Preheat oven to 350. Line a muffin tray with paper muffin cups. In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In a food processor or blender, combine dates, 3 bananas, eggs and melted coconut oil. Add wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir to combine. Fold through the chopped walnuts. Once combined, spoon mixture into the muffin tins. Top each muffin with a slice of banana and chia seeds. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the muffins are golden and cooked through. Serve warm with a smear of almond butter, if desired. Store in airtight container in fridge for 3-4 days.

Delicious Combo!

Arugula Salad w/Strawberries

James Stewart, Woods of Parkview, Saturday Men B6

1 lemon, peeled

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 fennel bulb, sliced

5 oz. baby arugula

1 cup strawberries, sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl, which together lemon juice and olive oil, along with a dash of salt and pepper. Add arugula, strawberries, fennel, and toss gently. Enjoy at your ALTA match!

Simple & Sweet

Fruit Salsa

Linda Lanham, Dellinger Park, Thursday Women C4

1 can fruit cocktail, drained

1 pint strawberries

Chop fruit cocktail with chopper, then chop strawberries and mix with fruit. Serve with Stacy’s Cinnamon Pita Chips.

From the Vault

Summer Fruit Pizza

Submitted by Carol Matthiesen, St Ives

CC, 1995

1 20-oz. package refrigerated slice & bake sugar cookies

1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened

½ cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Suggested toppings: Kiwi (peeled and sliced), fresh strawberries (sliced), fresh or canned pineapple slices (drained), bananas (sliced), mandarin oranges (drained), fresh or canned peaches, green or purple seedless grapes (halved).

Slice cookie dough as directed on package. Arrange slices on pizza pan close together but not touching. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. Allow cookie to cool completely. Combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Spread mixture over cooled cookie. Arrange fruit over cream cheese. Cut into slices to serve.

STANDINGS SPRING 2023

THURSDAY WOMEN

PEACHTREE CITY T (WEISSFL) 45

PEACHTREE CITY T (WOOD) 42

SOUTH FULTON TEN 40

DEKALB TENNIS CE (WHITE) 31

A3

01 ANSLEY

A1 Litchfield 100 (Robin Schorr, captain)

AA2 Kenworth TC (Heidi Contractor, captain)

AA3 Druid Hills (Susie Cobb, captain)

AA1 Bitsy Grant/Soft Courts (Lee King, captain)

(TRAYLOR) 57

THE MANOR GOLF & 57 WESTBROOK 51

FOWLER PARK 51

KINGSLEY ESTATES 45

SEVEN OAKS 42

CREEKSTONE ESTAT 34

CHEROKEE TOWN CL (HADEN) 68 CAPITAL CITY (STEPHENSON) 68

BLACKBURN 51

CHEROKEE TOWN CL (SNUGGS) 48

PRINCETON MILL I 40

CHEROKEE TOWN CL (CLEVELA) 34

CAPITAL CITY (HARRIS) 25

05 SEVEN HILLS

62

B2 Piedmont Driving Club (Liz Cannon, captain) B3 Sterling on the Lake (Earron Martin, captain)

A7 Fieldstone (Jennie Laliberte, captain) B1 Turtle Creek (Elissa Gilbert, captain)

A3 Ansley (Tinsley Hayes, captain)

A5 Deerlake (Amy Reilly, captain)

BUFORD CITY PARK 48

CHATEAU ELAN SPO 42

HAMILTON MILL I 40

ROCKDALE TENNIS 37

GGC TENNIS FACIL 5

03 EAST HAMPTON 82

CHEROKEE TOWN CL (COSTANZ) 62

BITSY GRANT/SOFT (BASSETT) 57

SENTINEL LAKE 54

CHEROKEE TOWN CL (BRASELT)42

CHASTAIN 42

BITSY GRANT/SOFT (WESTMOR) 37

SHARON LESTER TE 20

04 BUNTEN ROAD PARK 77 BARRINGTON 71

EDINBURGH 65

WINDERMERE/FORSY 60

SWEET BOTTOM PLT 48

CHATTAHOOCHEE RI 40

SHAKERAG 28

THORNGATE 8

05 CROOKED CREEK (ALLAN) 71

GLEN ABBEY I 62

PARK BROOKE II 57

NESBIT LAKES 51

OXFORD MILL 45

ATLANTA ATHLETIC 40

NEELY FARM 37

CROOKED CREEK (SWANSON) 31

06 BROOKFIELD CC (MEYER) 74

HARRISON T C 51

BROOKFIELD CC (FRAME) 48

CHIMNEY LAKES 48

FOREST CREEK 48

TRIPLE CROWN 48

BRADSHAW FARM 40

WEXFORD 40

07 LIFE TIME ATHLET 94

LESLIE BEACH 80

DUNWOODY CC (BATSON) 42

DUNWOODY CC (YOUNG) 42

HUNTLEY HILLS 42

THE CLUB AT SPAL 34

DUNWOODY CC (JOINES) 31

BLACKBURN 31

B5

01 PEACHTREE CITY T 71

RICHARD CRAIG PA (SECCURO) 68

DEKALB TENNIS CE 65

CANOE CLUB 65

PIEDMONT DRIVING 40

RICHARD CRAIG PA (JUSTICE) 37

ANSLEY (COHEN) 31

ANSLEY (KRONENBERGER) 20

02 NORTHAMPTON (LEPROHON) 80

KENNWORTH TENNIS 77

WELLESLEY @ TOWN 57

NORTHAMPTON (BADGER) 51

TOWNE LAKE HILLS 45

THE OVERLOOK @ M 42

BROOKSTONE CC 31

MARIETTA CC 11

03 DUNWOODY CC 68

CHASTAIN 68

CHEROKEE TOWN CL 62

RIVERSIDE S&T 48

B4 Bunten Road Park (Yukiko Hayashi, captain)

B5 TPC @ Sugarloaf (Sandra Read, captain)

C3 Peachtree City TC (Jenny Tortola, captain)

C1 St Ives CC (Sarah Little, captain)

B8 Village Mill (Katherine Verlander, captain) B7 Druid Hills (Casey Moriarty, captain)

C5 Rivermoore Park (Jessica Sepmeyer, captain)

C8 The Manor Golf & CC (Joanna Neumann, captain)

MEN

AA1 Mt. Vernon Woods (Marcus Hurtig, captain)

AA2 Birkdale (Gary Reed, captain)

AA3 Sharon Lester TC (Benjamin Van Hout, captain)

AA4

Hammond Hills (Brick Faucette, captain)

A1 Leafmore Creek (Brandon Smith, captain)

A3 Bitsy Grant/Hard Courts (Andrew Findling, captain)

A5 Blackburn (Andre Asbury, captain)

A6 Piedmont Chase (Kellen Grachek, captain)

A7 Fieldstone (Michael Bates, captain)

A8 Sandy Springs TC (Roberto Bazzani, captain)

TERRELL MILL T C 71

SPRINGS 60

SPRINGMONTE 62

CREEKSTONE ESTAT 57

HERRINGTON TRACE 54

FIELDSTONE 45

BRANDON HALL 40

THORNGATE 37

PARK 80

68

RU 65

CREEK 57

MILL II (KAY) 48

TRILOGY PARK 42

WINDSOR AT LANIE 22

LANIER SPRINGS 14

03 WILDWOOD SPRINGS 80

LAKESIDE AT ANSL 62

CHATSWORTH 54

WOODBINE STATION 51

HARMONY ON THE L 48

HANEY WALK 45

ESTATES OF FERNW 42

DEER RUN WEST 14

04 SHARON SPRINGS P 80

WOODLAND PARK 22 05 THE FIELDS I 80

SHARON LESTER TE 71

BERKELEY HILLS C 60

HAMPTON HALL/DEK 54

SUGAR CREEK 42

NEELY FARM 42

WATERS EDGE 25

PEACHTREE STATIO 22

GLASTONBERRY 62

WOODMONT GOLF & 62

CHADDS WALK 51

B1 Chestnut Grove (Allen Barnhart, captain)

B2 Windward Lake (Jeff English, captain)

B3 Glenlake I (Arnie Ahn, captain)

B4 Harrison TC (Mike Rose, captain)

B5 Sharon Springs Park (Ganapati Kotharkar, captain)

B6 Chastain (Ryan Buck, captain)

B7 Greater Atlanta Christian Schools (Chris Allen, captain) B8 Rivermoore Park (Jeffrey Brassow, captain)

C1 Wild Timber (Paul Summers, captain)

C2 Mountain Park (Asifuddin Khadari, captain)

C3 The Branches (Robert Timmons, captain)

C4 Towne Lake Hills (Michael Resnick, captain)

WEST SMYRNA S&T 65

CHESTNUT SPRINGS 65

INDIAN HILLS CC 48

CHIMNEY SPRINGS 42

LEGACY PARK 40

LOCH HIGHLAND 34

HARMONY ON THE L 31

02 LEAFMORE CREEK 70

PEACHTREE CORNER 60

PEACHTREE STATIO 56

WINDING VISTA 53

RIVERMIST/GWINNE 46

BITSY GRANT/SOFT 40

GLENLAKE I 23

03 TRADITIONS (VENTERU) 71

SENECA 62

ABERDEEN 54

CONCORD FARMS 45

JAMES CREEK TENN (NALADAL) 45

JAMES CREEK TENN (NANJIAN) 45

TRADITIONS (MASCHERIN) 40

COPPER CREEK-FOR 34

04 MEDLOCK BRIDGE - 82

SUGAR MILL 80

FALLS OF AUTRY M 62

WINDWARD LAKE 54

STONEBRIER AT SU 48

OLDE ATLANTA CLU 28

CC OF ROSWELL 25

DULUTH RACQUET C 14

C8

01 SANCTUARY 65

HUNTCLIFF/FUL 62

GLENLAKE I 57

WEXFORD 57

MARTIN’S LANDING 45

PARK AT CEDARCRE 40

BRITTANY 37

HOWELL FARMS 25

02 AVOCET CLUB 91

HILLBROOKE 74

CAMBRIDGE 60

EDENWILDE 57

DUNMOOR S&T 54

SEVEN OAKS 34

LIFE TIME ATHLET 22

PEACHTREE CORNER 5

03 JAMES CREEK TENN 93

CROOKED CREEK 70

LONGLAKE SWIM/TE 53

STERLING ON THE 46

FIELDSTONE 40

LAUREL SPRINGS/F 33

BRAMBLETT GROVE 13

C6 Traditions (Pradeep Venteru, captain)

C8 Sanctuary (Ryan Repic, captain)

SUNDAY WOMEN

AA1 Bitsy Grant/Hard Courts (Victoria Traynor, captain) AA3 Blackburn (Paige Oelke, captain)

22

B2

01 WESTOVER/COBB 68

WOODBRIDGE @ HAM 62

BARNES MILL 57

LEGACY PARK (FERNANDEZ) 57

LEGACY PARK (MICHEL) 48

CHESTNUT HILL 45

CAMDEN POINTE 31

HUNTER PARK-CITY 28

02 MCGHEE TENNIS CE 68

BITSY GRANT/SOFT 62

LEAFMORE CREEK 60

CHASTAIN 57

DRUID HILLS 48

DEKALB TENNIS CE 42

BITSY GRANT/HARD 34

CARL SANDERS YMC 25

03 EAGLE WATCH 80

CRABAPPLE LAKE/P 57

HIGHLAND POINTE 54

WINDY HILL ATHLE 51

CARMICHAEL FARMS 51

SEWELL PARK 42

OLDE TOWNE 37

CHASTAIN 25

04

GEORGETOWN 77

DUNWOODY CC (REECE) 68

THE BRANCHES 60

SANDY SPRINGS TE (RICHARD) 57

DUNWOODY CC (HUTCHENS) 54

HAMMOND HILLS 37

DUNWOODY CC (LIVINGSTON) 31

SANDY SPRINGS TE (LEESON)

A1 Peachtree Corners S&R (Lindsey King captain)

A7 Woodlands (Bridget Merryman, captain)

A8 Wild Timber (Mary Geil, captain)

A3 Bitsy Grant/Soft Courts (Katie Thomas, captain) A5 Summergrove (Angela Galusha, captain)

A2 Sandy Springs TC (Elaine Stice, captain)

B3 Leslie Beach (Maryellen Stockton, captain)

B5 The Fields I (Tasha Hilson, captain)

B4 Dunwoody CC (Rebecca Davis, captain)

B6 Heritage @ Roswell (Alicia Rodriguez, captain)

B1 Foxcroft (Kathy Burke, captain)

B2 Eagle Watch (Christi Fiorentini, captain)

80

SUGAR CREEK (POPE) 65

DEKALB TENNIS CE (MOSKOWI) 62

DRUID HILLS 54

RICHARD CRAIG PA 37

DEKALB TENNIS CE (JACKSON) 37

LEAFMORE CREEK 34

SUGAR CREEK (WEAVER) 28

02 KIMBALL BRIDGE C 65 GREATER ATLANTA 62

THE FIELDS I 54

SEVEN OAKS 51

EDENWILDE 51

STANDARD CLUB 45

CC OF ROSWELL 37

RIVERMOORE PARK 31

03 BLACKBURN 77

HUDLOW T C 71

MJCCA 68

KINGSLEY 51

HAMPTON HALL/DEK 37

HORSESHOE BEND 34

SANDY SPRINGS TE 31

PANGBORN 28

04 DUNCAN’S LAKE TE 71

FLOWERS CROSSING 57

TURTLE CREEK 57

WHITE HAWK 51

WILDWOOD 51

PEACHTREE WOODS 40

BROOKWOOD MANOR 37

GGC TENNIS FACIL 34

05 SHARON LESTER TE (PIERCE) 68

WEATHERSTONE 68

HAMPTON FARMS 60

MONTCLAIR

@ ROSWE 80 HOLLY SPRINGS 77 JOHNSONS LANDING 60 CHESTNUT CREEK 45 MOUNTAIN CREEK R 42

C1 Mill Glen (Teresa Acosta, captain)

C3 Lifetime Athletic & Tennis (Elisabeth Hidle, captain)

C2 Richard Craig Park (Kallie Medbery, captain)

C4 Crooked Creek (Milena Armani, captain)

B7 Capital City (Emily Scanlon, captain)

B8 Windward Lake Club (Victoria Roos Olsson, captain)

C8 Seven Oaks (Lauren Duke, captain)

C5 Edenwilde (Ellen Hake, captain)

C6 Brookfield CC (Sascha Chaney, captain)

JUNIOR GIRLS

JUNIOR GIRLS

53

MANOR GOLF & 80 ST IVES CC 80

POST OAK REC 76

DUNWOODY CC 75

BRANDON HALL 75

WHITE COLUMNS G 65

CAPITAL CITY 51

BYRNWYCK S & T 34

15 - C3

01 EAST ROSWELL PAR 90

FIELDSTONE 72

DEERLAKE 59

GREATER ATLANTA 50

02 KENNWORTH TENNIS 75

OAKHURST PARK 74

HAMPTON HALL/DEK 67

HIGHLAND POINTE 44

15 - C4

01 CHEROKEE TOWN CL 86

CHASTAIN 84

SEVEN HILLS

10 C3 Buford City Park (Leia Richardson, team manager)

10 C5 Deerlake (Disha Mudulodu, team manager) 12 C1 Twin Lakes (Lynn Douglas, team manager)

12 C3 Chatsworth (Corinne Cartwright, team manager)

12 C5 Sugar Creek (Veronica Warner, team manager)

Foxworth (Jennifer Yammout, team manager)

JUNIOR BOYS

15 C1 The Manor Golf & CC (Victoria Lemke, team manager)

15 C3 East Roswell Park (Easter Worden, team manager)

18 A1 Briscoe Park (Sondra Turnbough, team manager)

18 B1 Sugar Creek (Rocky Warner, team manager)

18 C1 Kings Farm (Komunyaka Stephens, team manager)

15 C4 EE Robinson Park (Changsook Moon, team manager)

10 C3 The Paddocks (Jaidev Desai, team manager)

10 C5 Chateau Elan Sports Club (Lauren Young, team manager)

12 C1 Shakerag (Ranjit Jagirdar, team manager)

12 C3 The River Club/Gwinnett (Jennifer McCoy, team manager)

15 C3 Fowler Park (Sridhar Ravikanti, team manager)

18 B1 Seven Oaks (Vaishali Jadhav, team manager)

12 C5 Chestnut Grove (Matthew Graham, team manager)

15 C4 Smoke Rise CC (Eric Hoffman, team manager)

18

Atlanta Athletic Club (Christi Luskin, team manager)

15 C1 Highlands at Hamilton Township (Beth Arp, team manager)

18 A1 Sharon Springs Park (Shinki Hong, team manager)

SENIOR DAY MEN

B5 Weatherstone (Ron Ice, captain)

B7 Maple Ridge S&T (Larry Newkam, captain)

A5 W.P. Jones Park (David Lee, captain)

B1 Park Brooke II (Neil Paauwe, captain)

AA1 Fowler Park (Bryce Korowin, captain)

A1 Chateau Elan Winery and Resort (Tom Denmark, captain)

SENIOR DAY WOMEN

61

A1 Dellinger Park (Wynell Daniel, captain)

A5 Traditions of Braselton (Jane Murphy, captain)

AA1 Camden Place (Betsy McCain, captain)

AA3 Dunwoody CC (Cathy Prince, captain)

C1 Harrison TC (Rick McKeone, captain)

B3 Sugar Creek (Barbara Hamler, captain)

B7 Laurel Park (Carol Ann Martin, captain)

B5 Standard Club (Donna Meyer, captain)

B9 Lost Mountain TC (Patricia Hurst, captain)

A7 Lost Mountain TC (Kathy Johnson, captain)

B1 Rockdale TC (Diane Hartline, captain)

C1 Rockdale TC (Rosie Cecil, captain)

C3 Holly Springs (RK McQuitty, captain)

Employment

Your Serve Tennis – We are looking for new members of the YST team. YST provides a relaxed, fun work environment where our focus is the game we all love — TENNIS! Flexible hours available and weekend availability is required. We have positions available at all of our locations (Buckhead, East Cobb, Johns Creek, Milton, Sandy Springs, Suwanee and West Cobb), ranging from part-time stringers to store managers. We are also hiring for office and shipping/receiving positions out of our Roswell Home Office. For more information visit yourserve.com/jobs or submit your resume/application to jobs@yourserve.com.

PGA TOUR Superstore is looking for fun, energetic tennis enthusiasts to join our team. We are seeking part-time and seasonal sales associates and experienced racquet stringers for our Duluth, Roswell, and Kennesaw locations. For more information, please inquire in person to one of our stores.

Services

RACQUETTECH.COM and the US RACQUET STRINGERS ASSOCIATION are looking to make you a “KNOW IT ALL PRO”—Get connected to the most up-todate interactive information for racquet sports professionals at racquettech.com. Membership also includes the Stringers Digest, Racquet Sports Industry magazine, manufacturer discounts, free marketing samples, and the only racquet service certification program in the industry. All benefits are available with USRSA Membership - $129. Contact: USRSA, P.O. Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096, (760) 536-1177, FAX: (760) 536-1171, Email: USRSA@RacquetTECH.com, WEBSITE: RacquetTECH.com.

August 4, 2023

Contact Us at 770.399.5788

n All ALTA vice presidents (below) have phone extensions at the ALTA office, but do not work in the office on a regular basis. Voice messages are checked frequently and answered in a timely manner.

n The phone number of your league coordinator is in your captains’ packet.

n To contact a member of the Executive Committee, call the ALTA office at 770.399.5788

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EMAIL EXT

Questions?

ALTA office personnel cannot answer your league-related questions. Team members should first contact their captain. If unable to answer, the captain should contact a league official.

n Questions about rules must be directed to league officials, which include coordinators, overall coordinators and league vice presidents.

n Concerns about team placement and levels should be directed to league officials.

n Credit card questions? Call ext. 107.

n Want information about new facility requests? Contact the First Vice President at ext. 114.

n IT issues? Contact Joan Appelbaum at ext. 103.

Directions & General Information

The ALTA office is located at 300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 140, Roswell, GA 30076. From GA 400 North, take exit 8 (Mansell Road) to Colonial Center Parkway (1.3 miles west).

ALTA office: 770.399.5788

ALTA office hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Call the office during weekdays as employees occasionally work remotely. Membership dues: Adults – $30, Juniors (18 and under) – $15. Dues are for the calendar year and expire at the end of the fall league season.

n ALTA website: altatennis.org

n ALTA’s calendar of important dates can be found on the website and in each issue of Net News.

n Your membership number is printed on the Net News mailing label and is also available on the ALTA website.

n To update your mailing address, log in to your account on the ALTA website and go to My Profile.

SINCE 1983 SHAPING THE GAME.