52 minute read
Your Serve New Location
Serving the Serving theAtlanta AtlantaTennis Tennis Community Community BY EMMY POWELL, NET NEWS EDITOR
You see the signs and storefronts across our great city. From Buckhead to East Cobb, Johns Creek and most recently in Woodstock, Your Serve Tennis has been a cornerstone for tennis players across Atlanta since 1976.
Your Serve Tennis is the largest specialty store in the country in terms of the number of locations. There are 10 stores in operation, including the most recent, an outlet store, which just opened in Woodstock. The stores stock everything you could possibly need from racquets, shoes, clothing, and gifts, but this didn’t happen overnight. It has been a long but gratifying journey for the father/son team of Dale and Adam Queen, who own and operate Your Serve Tennis.
It all started in Dale’s garage. He had been working for Dunlop and soon realized there was a great need for someone who could string tennis racquets. Back in the 1970’s, people still played with wooden racquets, and you could usually find them only in a department store. Imagine having your racquet shipped off for stringing and waiting days for it to be returned. Dale’s stringing business picked up steam, and at the young age of 19, he opened his first store, Your Serve Racquet Shop in the Northwoods Plaza in Doraville.
“I trained every stringer for years. I am proud to have my second employee, Randy Bagley, still a vital part of our organization,” says Dale. Bagley says his job at Your Serve has never felt like work. He used to hang out at the store and would play tennis with Dale, who he says has been a great friend and more like a brother for about 46 years. During the last 17 years, he has watched Dale’s son, Adam, help run the day-today operations. “With both Dale and Adam, I still feel like a part of their family,” Bagley said. “The job itself has been extremely rewarding in that a great number of people who come into the stores are not only customers; they have become friends over the years.”
It’s that face-to-face interaction that has made the difference in Your Serve’s success. “In Atlanta, over 200 different storefronts that sold tennis merchandise have closed since Your Serve Tennis opened,” Dale said. “We have stood strong through the era of mail order and the surge of internet retailers.”
That direct customer connection also is a priority for Adam. He says since the beginning, Your Serve Tennis has had the long-term focus of helping the Atlanta tennis community. “We are Atlanta’s neighborhood tennis store, and our focus is to work face-to-face with customers and help them find the right racquet, shoes, strings, and accessories to help them play their best,” says Adam. Both he and Dale maintain this could not be done without the work of their amazing staff. “We would not be where we are without having great people on our team,” Dale says. “Keeping a high level of customer service and having great employees over the years have been key to our success.”
One other key to their success was the big tennis and building boom in the 70’s and 80’s, which resulted in the construction of swim and tennis neighborhoods throughout metro Atlanta. Public courts in parks also emerged throughout the city. “Tennis became very accessible to those looking to just try it out,” says Adam. He also says ALTA created a transition for those players to jump from just a casual player into a full-on tennis player. “The combination of the social aspect of ALTA and the natural competition and exercise that are part of playing tennis make it an amazing sport of a lifetime.”
The Atlanta tennis scene is bigger and more vibrant than any city in the country. To achieve that required many passionate and dedicated people from all walks of life who came together within the shared love of this “sport of a lifetime.” The contributions from Your Serve Tennis continue to be vital to that cause and serve as the nearly 50-year legacy for the Queen family and their employees.
Your Serve Your Serve Timeline Timeline
1976 First store opened in Doraville as Your Serve Racquet Shop. Dale was 19. 1982 Second store opened in Stone Mountain. 1986 Third store opened in Norcross (in this location for 29 years) and rebranded to Your Serve Tennis & Fitness. 1988 Dale named United States Racquet Stringers Association Stringer of the Year. Mid-90s Rebranded to Your Serve Tennis. 1996 Store opened in East Cobb (longest active store location). 2001 Named the inaugural Tennis Industry Association Retailer of the Year.
Store opened in Alpharetta. 2006 Store opened in South Forsyth. 2007 Adam joined the business full-time after graduating from Georgia Tech. Store opened in West Cobb. 2010 Store opened in Buckhead. 2013 Took over operations at Sandy Springs Tennis Center pro shop. Official Merchandise Store of WTA Charleston event (now Credit One Charleston Open). 2014 Named the Tennis Industry Association Retailer of the Year (first 2-time winner). 2015 Moved Norcross location to Johns Creek and Alpharetta to Milton; Snellville store (formerly Stone Mountain) closed. 2017 Acquired multiple locations from Serious Tennis (Roswell, North Gwinnett, Alpharetta). 2021 Opened Outlet at Woodstock (10th location).
Good Sportsmanship
BY LINDA SHEPHERD, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
ALTA prides itself on the camaraderie and strong, long-lasting friendships that result when people come together to play on a team. We truly have a unique league concept, and we hope as we continue to deal with the challenges of the pandemic that we can keep the important aspect of the social ALTA connection. Just as important is maintaining high levels of sportsmanship while either playing or organizing matches.
We want to hear from you. If you have someone you would like to nominate for a sportsmanship award, send an email to your coordinator or league vice president. You also can find the nomination form on our website (altatennis.org) under ALTA Documents>Sportsmanship Award.
Congratulations to this issue’s sportsmanship winners!
Seven Hills 2021 Fall Sunday Women B4
Captain: Dana Kubow Player: Dana Kubow Nominated by Gloria Sheets, Kennworth Tennis Center
Due to fall break, our availability was minimal. Of the available players I had, most had played at the lower lines. Movement rules were preventing us from being able to put together more than two legal lines. There were two players available to play Sunday morning at line 3. That would have allowed us to have four lines for the match. I called Dana and told her our situation. Even though she was pulling together makeup matches from the week before, she readily agreed to ask her team if anyone could play Sunday morning. Sheri and Kathryn, two players, agreed to play and Dana let me know early the next day. Seven Hills could have easily taken the three points. They showed great sportsmanship, and in the true spirit of ALTA, they wanted to be on the court. It was a beautiful day, and everyone had fun matches. Seven Hills won the match, but we were all appreciative of the great sportsmanship they exhibited by agreeing to play matches early to accommodate us.
Medlock Bridge – Wilson Road 2021 Fall Junior 10U
Manager: Larisa Horback Players: Brendan, Caden, Chase, Michael, John, and Evan Nominated by Larisa Horback
I would like to nominate the players of my team who played City Finals this year. The City Finals is a lifetime opportunity for any player, especially young juniors. The road to the City Finals was not easy. We started last season as a team, and we were last in our division. This season, we worked extremely hard and practiced more often. We won our division by 1 point. It could have been luck, but maybe our hard work secured our spot. We were crushed in the City Finals; however, we never gave up, and we played every game honestly and solid. We fell down but managed to get up and continue play. We played hard even when we were down. We never gave up.
Chimney Springs 2021 Fall Sunday Women C3
Captain: Elisha MacEllan Player: Elisha MacEllan Nominated by Paula Denton, Bradshaw Farm
I am nominating Elisha MacEllan and her team from Chimney Springs for the ALTA Sportsmanship Award. Before the ALTA schedules were released, I knew I had an availability issue one of the weeks during the season. As soon as I knew the opponent for that week, I contacted her with my situation. It was a school fall break. Without any hesitation, Elisah understood my dilemma and was so gracious to work with us. She certainly did not have to do it. We thanked each of her players and found they were all just as accommodating as their captain. She simply believed it was better to win on the court than to just take a win due to a default.
Seven Oaks 2021 Fall Sunday Women B5
Captain: Alex Klein Player: Alex Klein Nominated by Lori Morlan, Captain, Atlanta Athletic Club
Unfortunately, a former teammate of ours lost her battle with cancer and passed away. Her funeral was scheduled for Sunday, October 24, at 2:00 p.m. I was made aware of this the afternoon of Thursday, October 21. I reached out to Alex and explained our situation. I was hopeful that we could a least play 1 or 2 lines early.
We did not want to default the entire match. Alex was understanding, and her team went above and beyond to accommodate our situation. We were able to play every line. It is important to note that we were tied with this team for first place. Clearly, it was to their advantage not to play lines early. That would have ensured a win for their team. Alex and her teammates are a perfect example of good sportsmanship.
Serving Our Customers
MIXED DOUBLES
Saturday 9:00 a.m. Summer registrations – Mar. 22 – Apr. 12 Summer season runs June 4 – July 16
BY JOHN LOWELL, MIXED DOUBLES LEAGUE VICE PRESIDENT
This is my first year as the Mixed Doubles Vice President for ALTA. I’m really pleased to see that we had 984 teams for the winter season, which is more than we have had for this league than at any time since 2018. That’s great. It’s not great enough.
Frankly, those numbers are nowhere near where they were back in the early part of this century when we often had more than 1,300 teams. I want to get back there, or at least close. In fact, I’ve said that I’d like to grow Mixed Doubles by 20 percent during my tenure.
To do this, we need more players. And, to get more players, we need to provide great customer service — and we need great ideas.
Let me address customer service first. It was my emphasis when the Mixed Doubles coordinator group gathered in late November to prepare for this winter season. There are more than 21,000 of you who are playing Mixed Doubles and you are being served by about 25 volunteers and an office staff of six. Given those challenges, you still have every right to expect that your problems and concerns are important to us and that to the extent that the rules allow, we will resolve them to your satisfaction.
When we get that right, it’s probably because of the hard work of the office staff and your coordinator and overall coordinator. When we don’t, that’s on me. So, when we do get it right, please show your appreciation for the volunteers and office staff who help you. When we don’t, please email me at mixedvp@altatennis.org. Your concerns are truly important to me.
Ultimately, great customer service keeps existing members happy. However, it doesn’t necessarily attract new members until they experience it as members. Some of those future members haven’t yet joined because they don’t know about ALTA. Please tell them. Some haven’t joined because they don’t think ALTA is the right league for them. Please tell them it is.
I also mentioned above that we need great ideas. All of the ideas that are now part of ALTA became a part because somebody had the idea and raised it. Some of your ideas may be about ALTA generally. Other ideas may relate to Mixed Doubles specifically. I’m sure most of you are thinking nobody will listen to you. If that’s your assumption, you’re wrong.
I say that with confidence because if you have a valid idea and you want to be heard, send it to me if you can’t decide who might listen. I might not agree with you, but if I don’t know what your idea is, there is no chance that I will agree with you. I promise that I will read it and unless it is clearly a joke, you will get a reply.
Who knows? Your idea might be the one that helps us to grow the league by 20 percent. And, if it is, I am going to want to thank you personally. I’ll want the league to know what you did.
How else can you help? Go out and play in this league and have fun. And make sure that you help to make it fun for your opponents as well. See you in the summer!
Climbing The Ladder in 2021
BY ANTHONY SWATSKI, JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER VICE PRESIDENT
Every challenge ladder season is a great opportunity for players to develop their skills, make new friends, and inspire others through their sportsmanship and fair play. This past year, nearly 180 players participated in the 2021 ALTA Junior Challenge Ladder season. Each rung earned provides players the ability to expand their pool of potential opponents as they make challenges up the ladder, so they can achieve greater heights. At the same time, those being challenged can defend the heights they have already achieved. It is a unique experience and a competitive environment that inspires players to challenge their personal glass ceiling and break through it. For those who have been in the program for multiple years, they can get a sense of where they stand given all the hard work they have put into improving their game.
We look forward to seeing players from across the metro area take on this challenge. Registration for the 2022 season will begin on May 15 and end on August 15. Play will begin August 23.
As we look toward the next season, we look back and celebrate this one. Finishing this season in the top spot for the boys was John Lasanajak, and for the girls, Michelle Jones topped the chart. Congratulations to them for achieving this honor.
Finally, there are many great players that have come through the program, culminating in their senior season, and this season was no different. Congratulations to our 2021 JCL seniors!
2021 JCL Seniors
Brennan Davenport Cooper Davis Macsen Higgins Reese Hilsen John Lasanajak Dean Kingsley Lauren Khou Mary Jacoppo Ayden Mamaghani Andrew Munn Andrew Pietkiewicz Kennedy Talbert Ryan Thompson
Additionally, awards this season included bag tags for all players, and tennis apparel was given to all players who completed their season. Players who won three matches in a row received a large blue ALTA match towel. Furthermore, the following recognition for other achievements was given in the following categories: Most Matches Played JCL Girls:
Manasi Bedi Shresta Gunda Bella Lotz Athithi Ayyappan JCL Boys:
Moulik Jain Ashrith Vemireddy Jack Xu Lucas Vasilescu
Most Movement
(players who moved up the farthest from their original position on the ladder) JCL Girls:
Manasi Bedi Jigisha Singh Isabella Massay JCL Boys:
Jeffrey Hallett Moulik Jain Vivaan Sethi Special Recognition JCL Girls:
Ladder Manager Award:
Lily Meyers and Myra Wu VP Award: Manasi Bedi
Sportsmanship:
Alexis Taylor JCL Boys:
Ladder Manager Award:
Nicholas Ivchenko and Mathew Mui VP Award: John Lasanajak
Sportsmanship:
Grayson Perlman
We also honored our Top 10 JCL players who were active all season and completed the majority of their matches. These players received a medal, and a gift of cufflinks was presented to the boys, while the girls were awarded an Alex and Ani tennis bracelet. Congratulations to all of these outstanding JCL players! JCL TOP 10 GIRLS
1 Michelle Jones 2 Mckenzie Shelton 3 Franchesca Brown (Snellville) 4 Mana Fawcett 5 Jensen Diianni 6 Madison Andrews 7 Sasha Dimitrov 8 Jigisha Singh (Johns Creek) 9 Manasi Bedi 10 Myra Wu JCL TOP 10 BOYS
1 John Lasanajak 2 Dean Kingsley 3 Reese Philip Hilsen 4 Andrew Pietkiewicz 5 Stephen Zhu 6 Kellen Simmons 7 London Vasilescu 8 Jackson Brady 9 Parth Mody 10 Jason Eigbedion
Junior Challenge Ladder 2021 Standings
Boys
JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER
Registration runs May 15 – Aug. 15 Ladder begins Aug. 23
1 John Lasanajak 2 Dean Kingsley 3 Reese Philip Hilsen 4 Andrew Pietkiewicz 5 Stephen Zhu 6 Kellen Simmons 7 London Vasilescu 8 Jackson Brady 9 Parth Mody 10 Jason Eigbedion 11 Matteo Maddaleni 12 Ethan Swatski 13 Robert Frierson 14 Maddox Iliescu 15 Jack Miller 16 Justin Wilson 17 Asher Negandhi 18 Brandon Kim 19 Vivaan Sethi (Johns Creek) 20 Tom Hughes 21 Chingiz Nadyrshin (Atlanta) 22 Moulik Jain (Alpharetta) 23 Cooper Davis (Johns Creek) 24 Kevin Screws 25 Andrew Munn 26 Ayden Mamaghani 27 Tyler Austin 28 Ryals Earnhardt 29 Bryan Powell 30 Shiv Siju 31 Ashrith Vemireddy 32 Mike Hughes 33 Jacob Dorland (Dunwoody) 34 Harrison Odom (Marietta/East Cobb) 35 Grayson Perlman 36 Alexander Sloan 37 Benjamin Krebs 38 Devesh Venkateswaran (Johns Creek) 39 Connor Mowrey 40 Ayaan Valiani (Gacs) 41 William Hackney 42 Logan Gilleland (Marietta) 43 Nicholas Ivchenko 44 Graham Antin (Johns Creek) 45 Gene Yun 46 Dhruvsai Dhulipudi 47 Jeffrey Hallett 48 Will Grable 49 Matthew Mui 50 Brennan Davenport 51 Lucas Vasilescu 52 Andrew Godbey 53 Raymond Gabler 54 Aditya Bhoti 55 Ryan Thompson (Villages At Huntcrest) 56 William Miller (Marietta) 57 Aaryan Ralkar 58 Landon Marcus (Decatur) 59 Alex Barber 60 Nicholas Pate 61 Jack Xu (Marietta) 62 Macsen Higgins 63 Everett Wenzel 65 Ryan Halligan 66 Gavin Koch-Yip 67 Dale Huertas (Austell) 68 Buddy Cason 69 Karaya Macharia 70 Andrew Halligan 71 Ethan Sanders 72 Trace Wood 73 Jordan Leon (Sugar Hill) 74 Garratt Builder 75 Marc Maldonado 76 Levi Howard 77 Ezra Brooks 78 Michael Muldoon 79 Jackson Bennett (Decatur) 80 Nikesh Patel 81 Sumant Baishya 82 Vihaan Boddula
Girls
1 Michelle Jones 2 Mckenzie Shelton 3 Franchesca Brown (Snellville) 4 Mana Fawcett 5 Jensen Diianni 6 Madison Andrews 7 Sasha Dimitrov 8 Jigisha Singh (Johns Creek) 9 Manasi Bedi 10 Myra Wu 11 Lauren Khou 12 Jaala Screws 13 Amanda Tanaka 14 Ishita Ravi 15 Prisha Mody 16 Alyssa Khou 17 Lauryn Swatski 18 Mary Jacoppo 19 Trinity Porter 20 Kylie Johnson 21 Bernadette Kotscher 22 Kimaya Paranjpe 23 Sydney Wszolek 24 Kennedy Talbert 25 Teri Brantley 26 Manavi Bedi 27 Athithi Ayyappan 28 Alyssa Braude 29 Megan Mckinnon 30 Juliana Diianni 31 Molly Mcwethy 32 Caroline Malcom 33 Stephanie Malcom 34 Lauren Powell (Roswell) 35 Deekshu Devarasetty 36 M’kenzi Pate 37 Grace Hauge 38 Virginia Fisher 39 Samantha Ruder 40 Joiya Middlebrooks 41 Valeria Bazan 42 Isabella Luce 43 Meghna Baishya 44 Ansley King 45 Lily Kate Bell 46 Bella Lotz 47 Lily Meyers 48 Shresta Gunda 49 Diya Khurana 50 Katie Koenning 51 Isabella Massay (McDonough) 52 Jamaya Williams 53 Lillian Lee 54 Lilianna Lavelle 55 Keza Macharia 56 Jaiden Palmer 57 Claire Morris 58 Nyah Ralkar 59 Kaiya Sharp (Alpharetta) 60 Ashleigh Grable 61 Kavya Mistry 62 Marysa Mansfield 63 Audrey Pak 64 Alexis Taylor (Marietta) 65 Mahi Ravi 66 Ava Mckay (Roswell) 67 Brooke Marsden 68 Elliana Cristadoro (Marietta) 69 Natasha Varas 70 Gabrielle Christie 71 Vera Koch-Yip 72 Tanika Saravanan
SENIORS
Women, Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Men, Fri. 6:30 p.m. Summer registration – Mar. 22 – Apr. 12 Summer season runs June 2 – July 15
Summer Seniors Will Be Heating Up Soon!
BY GINA CLANCE, SENIOR LEAGUE VICE PRESIDENT
Are you turning 45 this year? Or are you already over that hump? If you answered yes to one of these questions, you are in for a treat! You can finally join the ALTA Senior Leagues! This gives you more opportunities to be outside with friends, enjoying some fantastic tennis.
Our winter Senior Mixed Doubles League was a great way to get through our ‘frigid’ Southern winter, but now it’s time to prepare for the summer Men’s and Women’s Senior Leagues! Congratulations to all of our winter Senior Mixed Doubles City Champions! We know you had a great time celebrating your victories! ALTA appreciates your enthusiasm — it’s what makes this organization such a fun, social group!
As the cooler temperatures leave us behind, we are looking forward to spending the long, warm Georgia evenings on the tennis courts with friends! ALTA summer Senior Leagues are open to men and women ages 45+ and feature four lines of doubles play at each dual meet. The women play on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., and the men take the courts on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. This league continues to grow, proving that metro Atlanta residents can’t get enough tennis.
Roster registration begins March 22 and ends April 12. Each team only needs 10 players (although a few extras are a good idea…and more fun), so get your friends together NOW! The league features all levels of play — from AA to C. The season begins June 2 (women) and June 3 (men) and runs through July 14 and July 15. City Finals will be August 6 and 7, wrapping up another great summer of ALTA tennis! For more information, check out the ALTA website, altatennis.org. Hope to see you on the courts!
WHO SERVES NEXT?
During a match, the score was tied 6-6, prompting a tiebreaker to be played. Team A served first in the tiebreaker and Team B was last to serve when the tiebreaker was over. When they started the next set, Team A said it was their turn to serve because they were next in the rotation serve. Team B argued it was their turn to serve because team A was first to serve in the tiebreak. Who is correct?
Tammi Copelli, Junior League Vice President
Team B would serve first. Referring to Rule 5b in USTA “Official Rules of Tennis,” the player whose turn it was to serve first in the tiebreaker shall be the receiver in the first game of the following set. Therefore, Team B would be the first to serve in the next set.
CAN PLAYERS RECEIVE COACHING DURING SUSPENSION?
During a match, play is suspended due to light rain. During the suspension, one team’s captain calls his team’s players over and starts coaching them regarding shot selection and strategy. One of the opponents hears the captain coaching his players. Play resumed after a short delay, but the opponent says the team that was coached should default the match, as coaching is not allowed. Is this correct?
Mitch Falkin, Men’s
League Vice President
General Rules Adult Leagues IV Dual Meets H: Coaching is illegal during match play. Because that rule does not address the issue of coaching during a suspended match, USTA rules govern play. Found in “Friend at Court,” Part 1 – ITF Rules of Tennis, Section 30 Coaching: Players are allowed to receive coaching if play is suspended. DOES THE SERVER REQUIRE 3 BALLS?
My opponents always demanded the third ball before they started the next point. Shouldn’t they be able to start the point when they have two balls?
Karen Sullivan, Thursday
Women’s League Vice
President
It is perfectly ok for the server to wait and request all three balls. USTA Rules Part 3, 22. Server’s request for third ball. When a server requests three balls, the receiver shall comply when the third ball is readily available. Distant balls shall be retrieved at the end of a game. CAN I HIT OUTSIDE THE NET POSTS?
My partner had to go wide outside the double’s lane for a return. In addition, she had to extend her racquet out to make the play. It was a great get and landed just inside the back corner of the opponent’s court. However, since the return was outside the net posts, who wins the point?
Susan Levin, Sunday
Women’s League Vice
President
Even though the return was outside the net posts, the point is good. Rule 25 in USTA “Rules of Tennis” states that it is a good return if the ball is returned outside the net posts, if it hits the ground in the correct court.
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.
Does Your Tennis Facility Have A Defibrillator?
What a crazy start to tennis in 2022! The Djokovic situation at the Australian Open in January was a mess. I wonder how that will affect his tennis moving forward? Nadal continues to be amazing as he won a record 21 major singles titles in men’s tennis. With his favorite tournament — Roland Garros, where he has won 13 titles — coming up, can anyone stop him? I do know Roger Federer still wants to play, but setbacks with his knee rehabilitation have pushed his return to maybe Wimbledon this summer.
There are so many story lines in professional tennis that make following the best ballers so interesting. On the WTA side with so many talented players, Aussie Ash Barty pulled away from the field to win her country’s major in dominating fashion. Barty impacts the game with an effective serve and a wonderful second serve that has tons of kick on it. That means the big power returners have a tough time taking control of the point right from the return.
This spring, I highly recommend you take a road trip to the Tennis Garden at Indian Wells, California or the Miami Open in Hard Rock Stadium. These are two extraordinary venues in which to see the best players on the planet. Some of the best views are seats on the practice courts where fans get to see how the world-class players prepare to play bigtime tennis.
On a personal note, my brother, Murphy, and I have spent a lifetime on tennis courts, but a fun exhibition last fall almost ended it all. Early in the match, Murphy was about to serve to me when he went into cardiac arrest. Luckily, there were off-duty medical professionals and first responders there who rushed to Murphy’s side. After assessing my brother, the first thing the medical professionals asked for was a defibrillator. Fortunately, there was a defibrillator right behind that tennis court. They brought back Murphy a total of five times before reaching the hospital!
Murphy is alive because of extraordinary work from extraordinary first responders who met the moment. He also is alive because the Garden of the Gods Resort & Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado made it a priority to have lifesaving equipment in their facilities. The next time you play tennis, keep an eye out for that facility’s emergency equipment. You absolutely never know when you may need a defibrillator. Seconds matter.
“Miracle Murphy” is doing better every day with physical therapy and rest. He’s already back on the tennis court and having fun, but with a defibrillator implanted on his left side for the rest of his life to prevent this same situation happening to him again. I wanted to share with you a scary situation that turned out well because a facility was prepared for a worst-case situation. I hope you never have to go through anything like this but being at a facility that is prepared makes the difference. It did for my brother.
Always prepare for everything! I am forever grateful to Garden of the Gods Resort.
The next time you play tennis, keep an eye out for that facility’s emergency equipment. You absolutely never know when you may need a defibrillator. Seconds matter.
Make That Adjustment
BY JOHN IRVIN, HOT SHOTZ JUNIOR ACADEMY DIRECTOR
Iplayed in my first ALTA match in 1999. We were tied 2-2 with the other team, with my line deciding the outcome. The score was tied 4-4 in the first set when my partner, Brian, and I finally garnered a break point. The server had one of those wicked, lefty slice serves that was giving me a lot of trouble. So, I decided to take a calculated risk: I stood a yard to the left from where I normally stood, leaving the serve up the "T" totally exposed. The server looked at me for a second, smiled, and proceeded to blast an attempted ace up the "T". It was out by 2 inches. On his second serve, I didn’t budge; he was not smiling. He then tried to hit his customary, wide slice and it hit the top of the net and rolled back. We won the set and the match 6-4,6-4.
Tennis matches are frequently won and lost by players making the right adjustment at the right moment. So, why don’t more players try it more often? The answer is twofold. The first reason is fear of embarrassment. The late, great Vic Braden once said, “Tennis players would rather lose than look foolish.” So, if you are losing your serve playing standard doubles and your team decides to start poaching, you may get burned down the alley and look (and lose) even worse! This is a realistic fear, but if you allow it to take over, you will not be open to making adjustments. The second reason is just plain not knowing what adjustments to make! Here are some problems you may encounter and their solutions:
Positional Adjustments
• Return of service:
Really fast serve — back up three feet behind the baseline
Really slow serve — move up three feet inside the baseline
Really short second serve — move halfway between the service line and the net
Really wide serve — stand three feet to the right for righty slice, three feet to the left for lefty slice • Service: The returner is having no problem directing their return of serve and you are struggling to hold serve. I did a clinic years ago with Stan Smith (He won Wimbledon in 1972 and had an exceptional serve.). He told me if you’re having trouble holding serve, adjust the place that you serve from. So, if you normally stand halfway between the service line and the net, try standing next to the center mark (like singles) or behind the doubles sideline. It doesn’t change the speed or spin of your serve, rather, it changes the angle of your delivery. • Volleys: The returner is blasting the return right at you, and you are having difficulty getting the ball in play. The solution is to back up a yard. If you’re still having trouble, back up two yards.
If that doesn’t work, back up behind the baseline.
• Groundstrokes: The opposing baseline player is out rallying you. The solution is, mix your shots up; throw in slices and lobs so your opponents don’t get into a groove. Tactical Adjustments
• Opposing net player is nailing you and your partner when your side is return-
ing serve. I used to employ a tactic we called “George Lott” after the famous 1930’s doubles champion. You play two back in tandem on the return, hence taking away the target from the poacher and forcing the other team to hit a series of overhead smashes. It drives players crazy!
• Return of server has a tremendous an-
gled crosscourt. Solution: Go Australian.
• Return of server burns you and your
partner down the alley. The solution is (after you’ve yelled at your partner for continually serving wide), leave the alley wide open and then shift into the alley just before the net player hits their return there.
So, next time you play a (preferably practice) match, be fearless and give a few of these adjustments a whirl. You may be pleasantly surprised! USTA GEORGIA-GPTA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT: JOHN IRVIN
Hometown (City/
State): Acworth, Georgia
How did you get involved in teaching tennis?
Coached high school tennis initially and thought it would be fun to do full-time.
Diehard fan of what sports team?
Chicago Blackhawks
Best part of your game? Making my opponents run.
Dream doubles match would be me
and… “Pistol” Pete Sampras
When I’m not teaching tennis, I’m…
Drinking IPAs, eating pistachio nuts, and watching the Blackhawks.
My favorite tennis memory is:
Playing doubles with my sons, Chris and Cameron.
My favorite professional player is:
Rafael Nadal
#1 reason why I enjoy teaching &
coaching tennis: It’s absolute joy to provide students with the tools they need to enjoy the game more.
What important tennis message
do you want to promote? Tennis is without a doubt the best sport ever invented. Whether young or old, you can be competitive regardless of age, gender, or physicality. It’s a sport for life.
Add Shots To Stop The Clock!
BY TIM NOONAN, FOUNDER, UNIVERSAL TENNIS ACADEMY
Ihad a “big” birthday in the Fall of 2021, and hopefully everyone reading this has big birthdays ahead! I’ve heard that 60 is the new 40, but I’m certain that the saying didn’t come from a 40-year-old! I’m not as fast as I used to be. I don’t jump quite as high, and my serve doesn’t have the pop that it did when I was 40. Despite these disconcerting facts, I can still play the sport that I love at a fairly high level. And so can you!
We just need to add some things to our game to make up for some of the things that are working against us. When I was younger, I would tell my students: “Add a shot, jump a level!” Now, when talking to my students who are, like me, in the third set of life, the line is, “Add a shot, stop the clock!” I used to tell people to add a wrinkle or two to their game, but the last thing we need at this stage of life is more wrinkles!
So, the next question is: “What should I be adding to my game?” Since Atlanta, with ALTA leading the charge, is primarily a doubles town, I offer two options for players of a certain age.
The drop shot off of second serves
Anybody out there like being on the receiving end of a good drop shot? Me neither. I still move pretty well, but there is no answer for a well-placed drop shot. Moving someone side to side in a doubles match is a difficult prospect, and wide misses are likely to occur if we insist on trying. Covering 18 feet of court space (half of a doubles court width) is not that difficult, but a player standing three feet behind the baseline (a fairly standard rallying position) is 42 feet from the net. An average drop shot still means a run of more than 30 feet! Why a second serve? It is the only guaranteed short ball we have in a point, and most players that I see are not going too big or serving & volleying off of a second serve.
Becoming a triple threat off the ground
If you’ve ever played against players who only do one thing well, finding a solution is usually not that difficult. If I’m playing a banger who is just ripping the ball, I can close in tight without fear of getting lobbed over. If I am playing a “lob first” player, I can station myself at the service line and wait for the inevitable overhead. If my overhead is solid, I shouldn’t have any major issues controlling the points. But when I come up against a player who can drive, lob, and angle the ball with some level of disguise, I know that I may be in for a rough ride. If I close too quickly, they may lob. If I hang back looking for a lob, that opens up the angle for them. If I cover the angle, they may drive it hard through the middle. It all adds up to the uncomfortable realization that I am no longer in control, and not being in control of the action in a tennis match usually means one thing — a loss.
In conclusion, add these shots to stop the clock and control more points! Your local certified pro is ready to help!
Hometown (City/
State): Originally St. Louis, Missouri
How did you get involved in teaching tennis?
Started teaching in high school.
Diehard fan of what sports team?
Fighting Irish, Blues, Cardinals
Best part of your game? Volleys
Dream doubles match would be me
and… the late Ken Flach, Walt Disney, and Charles Schulz
When I’m not teaching tennis,
I’m… Playing golf, hockey, skiing, or watching my teams!
My favorite tennis memory is: Hitting with Rod Laver when I was 12.
My favorite professional player is:
Roger Federer
#1 reason why I enjoy teaching &
coaching tennis: There is nothing better than helping someone improve their game and achieve their goals.
What important tennis message do
you want to promote? If you learn the sport correctly, the sky is the limit!
The off-season is a great time to revamp the weakness with practice and take it out of the “fear zone” and into the “confidence zone.” Weaknesses – They Are There, Now What?
BY IAN THOMSON, DIRECTOR OF TENNIS, CARL E. SANDERS FAMILY YMCA AT BUCKHEAD
Every person who has ever played tennis has a weakness in their game. Yes, that means that players who make a living doing this are on the list. Many of you reading this right now are thinking of some weakness you have, and maybe are even considering calling your coach for a lesson before your next ALTA match. It is important to understand that a weakness can be turned into a strength and can be somewhat protected in matches. While there are ways to combat someone who protects their weaknesses, this article will deal with the weakness before the match, during the match, and following the match.
The most important thing to realize is what a weakness is, and how it came into existence. Common weaknesses among tennis players are the backhand and the serve for most levels of play. Part of the issue might be your coach; most pros, myself included, will be so focused on drills and strategy that we do not realize we are feeding all the balls to your forehand. Think of your last practice and see what percentage of shots started with a forehand versus a backhand; it is probably 75/25 or 80/20. You can see why there is more confidence in the forehand.
Think of something in which you are confident and think about how many times you have done this activity. The example I tell my players is to consider the route you use driving home from playing tennis. You know the route well and can take any number of alternate routes if needed. Do you have the same confidence going on a different route for the first time? Practice builds confidence. Consider how many serves you do in the team practices. While you should not spend too much time serving, would 5-10 minutes working on it be better than serving in a doubles rotation? The next time you are in a lesson, look at what is going on and ask for some backhands on the feed to begin adding to the reps. I feel a 60/40 split between your favorite shot versus your weaker shot will help build your confidence for match play.
What can you do during matches to protect the weakness? For example, since the backhand is a common shot to protect, some simple tactics might be in order. The first tactic might be in warm-up to run around your first couple of forehands and hit backhands. cont. on pg. 54
cont. from pg. 52, "Weaknesses—They Are There, Now What?"
Then look at your partner and act as if the lightbulb turned on and start hitting forehands. This will confuse your opponents because hardly anyone runs around forehands for a backhand unless they love the shot. This will make them really have to ponder where to hit the ball. This is ethical gamesmanship and is fair so long as it isn’t taken too far. Another tactic for protecting your weak backhand is to use the Australian formation to make sure you are running to the side where you can hit more forehands. This is based on the player’s strength, but usually deuce court for right-handed players and ad court for left-handed players. If a team uses the lob, have your partner play a little deeper in the box so the lob is not a good option, which forces your opponents to hit to your forehand side.
There are many other ways to protect your weakness. Talk with your coach about how to protect during a match based on their personal knowledge of your game. If your first serve is a weakness, use your second serve as a first a few times each set so you are making more first serves. This will decrease the likelihood that your second serve will be attacked so decisively.
Once you’ve started implementing these new strategies, reflect on each match and see how well you protected your weakness. Did the opponents exploit your weakness? How do you feel about the way you played? Make some notes and discuss these with your coach. Make sure you continue to work on the weakness so it is no longer something that you will be as stressed over in a match. The last part of your post-
match work is setting up a game plan on what you are going to do when you get the shot in a match. It can be that every backhand will be cross court, a lob, or a slice. It does not matter what shot you choose so long as you have a plan to take that guesswork out of the equation, which will allow you to relax during the match.
The next time you are in a lesson, make sure you take the time to analyze the breakdown of the shots you are hitting. Are you at the net all the time and neglect groundstroke work? Do you spend too much time on the baseline? All forehand feeds, or backhand feeds? Tennis professionals really want you to have a good time, so hitting your favorite shot is sometimes just an automatic reaction for your benefit. While this will make the practice a lot of fun, it will continue to leave a weakness without getting practice on it. You can work on this before the match so when you get on the court it is easier to have more confidence. Have a game plan to protect or confuse your opponent in the warm-up. And after the match, reflect on what happened so when you come to practice, you have something to discuss with your coach. The off-season is a great time to revamp the weakness with practice and take it out of the “fear zone” and into the “confidence zone.” Good luck in your matches!
What Can Tennis Players Learn From Baseball?
BY DR. MARK KOVACS, CTPS, MTPS; CEO, KOVACS INSTITUTE; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL TENNIS PERFORMANCE ASSOCIATION
It is not often that tennis and baseball are used in the same sentence when it comes to training and/or competition. However, since the Atlanta Braves won the 2021 World Series and the 2022 baseball season is about to start, I thought it would be valuable to think about some things that you can learn from baseball that are applicable to tennis. There are commonalities between the two sports such as hitting a ball at high speeds, the throwing mechanics of a pitcher compared with the serve motion, and the fast reflexes/reactions required of both activities. I have been fortunate to work in both sports for many years, and I have concluded that tennis players can learn a lot from baseball.
Athletes in both sports suffer from shoulder and elbow injuries that can sometimes linger for months at a time. Over the last few years, baseball has seen a significant decrease in shoulder injuries, but an increase in elbow injuries. In professional baseball, athletes spend more time strengthening their shoulder area, including the rotator cuff. At the recreational level, many of the injuries are due to poor technique, lack of injury prevention work, and overuse. The same way a pitcher has a pitch count, a tennis player should limit their weekly play time in order to allow the body a chance to recover and heal. Increasing range of motion (especially in internal rotation) also has been shown to decrease shoulder injuries in pitchers.
In tennis, the serve goes through a series of eight stages (check out the Kovacs Institute 8 Stage Model For The Serve). A pitcher goes through a similar series of stages when throwing. In both sports, this requires not just learning proper biomechanics, but also controlling the body through each stage of the motion. The pitching motion
and a tennis serve begin by shifting back into a loading position. They then rotate and set the arm before accelerating and releasing all the stored energy. Both motions decelerate at the end, but because of the weight and length of a tennis racquet, it takes some stress off the shoulder. The important lesson here is the transfer of weight and rotational control; they are the key to accuracy and placement. Reaction speed is another key component to tennis and baseball alike. A batter must react to the incoming pitch and make the proper adjustments the same way a tennis player returning a serve must react to the change in speed, bounce, and direction of a tennis ball. Baseball players will tell you that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports. At the highest levels of tennis and baseball, the average reaction time for a batter is 0.42 of a second, whereas in tennis the average reaction time is between 0.47 to 0.55 (on a return of a hard serve). Improving anticipation and reflexes to increase reaction time will help your return-of-serve reaction speed. Hand-eye coordination is extremely important in helping the brain process all incoming information. The faster one reacts, the easier it becomes to return the incoming serve or the pitch. Reflex training with a variety of balls, light systems, and starting positions helps train the body and the mind to always be ready during training or competition. A baseball player reacts to the ball coming out of the pitcher’s hand. In tennis, many players react to the signs/tells of the player serving rather than paying attention to the ball. This causes a delay in reaching the next ball and places the individual out of position for the next shot. By training your reflexes and anticipation, you will reduce the number of times you are caught out of position or setting up for a ball.
The next time you watch a baseball game, try to watch the pitcher and the batter, and try to incorporate some of these aspects into your training and preparation for tennis.
Photography for all your needs.
majestickphotography.com
Building Stronger Bones For Better Tennis
Clearing up five common dairy myths
BY PAGE LOVE, MS, RDN, CSSD, USPTA AND BAILEY BRUMBACH, DIETETIC INTERN, LIFE UNIVERSITY
Why is dairy nutrition important to tennis players? Dairy products are packed with essential nutrients that are vital for the health and maintenance of the body, especially when it comes to tennis performance. Milk and other high-fluid dairy products, such as yogurt or cottage cheese, provide electrolytes, protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and fluid. For athletes, milk and other dairy products provide a great source of carbohydrates to fuel the body during sports, and they offer a high-quality source of protein and electrolytes that are important for recovery and rehydration. In fact, research has shown that flavored milk (such as chocolate) rehydrates athletes more efficiently than sports beverages and water.
The unique nutritional composition of this food group gives milk and other dairy products an important role in both pre- and post-exercise nutrition. But there are a lot of common misconceptions about dairy consumption having a negative impact on athletic performance. Here are five common dairy myths and what current research has to say about debunking these false beliefs.
Myth 1
Milk contains harmful antibiotics and hormones that may affect hormone levels in our body
Fact:
Store-bought milk goes through rigorous testing to ensure no antibiotics have entered the milk supply. Any milk that contains trace antibiotics is not allowed to be sold in stores and must be discarded. Naturally occurring, trace amounts of hormones present in milk, as well as other animal and plant foods, are completely broken down by the body during digestion (making them biologically inactive), and research has shown that they pose no health risks to hormone levels in our body or to athletic sports performance.
Additionally, many athletes have cut out milk and other dairy products from their diet unnecessarily due to fears that it will cause inflammation and irritate their gut, therefore hindering their athletic performance. Recent scientific evidence has revealed that milk and dairy products do not have adverse, systemic inflammatory effects in the body. In fact, evidence suggests that milk and fermented dairy products, like yogurt or kefir, may reduce systemic inflammation and improve inflammatory biomarkers. This benefit may, in fact, lessen muscle soreness after physical activity.
Myth 2
Dairy products contribute to excess mucus and exacerbate asthma
Fact:
There is no evidence to suggest that milk or dairy consumption causes excessive mucus production or increases the occurrence of asthma exacerbations. Nor does it decrease athletic performance. Study results suggest that the perception of the way milk feels in the mouth and throat contributes to individuals’ reports of feeling that milk and dairy products worsen mucus production rather than any direct effect milk and dairy products have on these symptoms.
Myth 3
You must avoid all dairy products if you are lactose intolerant
Fact:
For many athletes who have a lactose intolerance, consuming small amounts of aged cheeses, such as sharp cheddar, or yogurt tend to be tolerable because they have a low-lactose content. Yogurt contains live cultures that help to break down the lactose aiding in digestion. It’s important to remember to introduce dairy products slowly and only increase as tolerated. Additionally, bloating symptoms after dairy consumption are usually brought on by the body’s attempt to break down lactose. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should cut out dairy all together. Consuming low-lactose dairy foods, such as cottage cheese or low-fat milk and yogurt, make it easier on your body to digest and allows you to perform your best on the court!
Cutting out dairy will help with body fat loss
Fact:
Dairy foods, when consumed in moderation and in conjunction with a healthy and balanced diet, can aid in weight loss. Dairy foods increase satiety, meaning they help you to feel fuller longer and reduce the occurrence of overeating, which can help with sustainable weight loss. Often, athletes will cut out dairy without replacing the nutrients it provides with another dietary source. Naturally, the total removal of an entire food group will promote weight loss if the removed calories are not replaced with an adequate alternative. However, this weight loss is not sustainable and can end up doing more harm than intended to athletic performance due to the removal of key nutrients needed for peak performance.
Myth 5
Don’t consume dairy before sports
Fact:
Milk and other high-fluid dairy foods provide adequate amounts of fluid with electrolytes and are an excellent carbohydrate source that is low in fiber. These attributes make dairy a great pre-sport snack to enhance athletic performance. Furthermore, research supports that consumption of a rich source of calcium, particularly from a dairy source, just before sport may protect bone health.
For athletes who have chosen to remove dairy from their diet due to a diagnosed health condition or for environmental/ethical reasons, there are great fortified and natural vegan-friendly foods and beverages that provide the nutrients found in dairy foods.
Great vegan sources of calcium and protein include fortified soy, almond, and/or rice milk; fortified orange juice; leafy greens such as turnip greens, collards, and kale; garbanzo, kidney, and navy beans; seitan; tofu and edamame; and lentils.
What makes an adequate vegan dairy option? Look at the nutrition facts label and make sure the product provides 8-10 grams of protein and 300 mg of calcium per 100 ml.
Page Love is an avid ALTA participant and sport dietitian/nutrition advisor for the WTA and ATP professional tours, served on the USTA sport science committee for 25 years, and has a private practice in Sandy Springs. You can reach her at nutrifitga.com. Bailey Brumbach is a dietetic intern with Life University’s Dietetic Internship and interned with Page this last year as she is training to become a registered dietitian.
Sandwiches
You know them. You love them. Whether you’re rolling them, grilling them, baking them, or eating them cold, they are simple to prepare. They’re easy to share. They’re sandwiches. The following recipes were submitted by your fellow ALTA members and already have proven popular as courtside cuisine. So, give these a try for your next match. Easy & Cheesy
Colorful & Appetizing
Hidden Valley Ranch Pinwheels Vanessa Siguenza, Peachtree City Tennis Center, Thursday Women B4
2 8-oz. pkgs cream cheese, softened 1 oz. Hidden Valley Ranch original salad dressing mix packet 2 green onions, minced 4 (12-inch) flour tortillas 4 oz. jar diced pimentos 4 oz. can diced green chilies 2.25 oz. can sliced black olives
Mix first three ingredients. Spread evenly on tortillas. Drain vegetables and blot dry on paper towels. Sprinkle equal amounts of remaining ingredients on top of cream cheese. Roll tortillas tightly. Chill at least 2 hours. Cut rolls into 1-inch pieces. Discard ends. Serve with spirals facing up. Makes 3 dozen. Mexican For Sandwich
Goat Cheese Torta
Karen Ideker, The Highlands at Parkbridge, Thursday Women B3
6 oz. goat cheese 6 oz. cream cheese 3-4 cloves garlic parsley to garnish ½ cup pesto ½ cup chopped, oil-packed sundried tomatoes with 2 tsp. marinate salt and pepper to taste
Mix cheeses with garlic and salt & pepper to taste. Line small bowl with plastic wrap. Put 1/2 cheese mixture in bowl. Top with pesto. Top with sundried tomatoes. Top with remaining cheese mixture. Cover with plastic and chill at least 2 hours or up to 4 days. Invert and serve with crackers or bread.
Ham & Cheese Mini Sandwiches
Lori Hamada, Edinburgh, Thursday Women B3
1 cup butter, softened 3 Tbsp. poppy seeds 1 onion, grated 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 Tbsp. prepared Dijon-style mustard 2 (12 oz.) packages white party rolls ½ pound chopped cooked ham 5 oz. shredded Swiss cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, mix together butter, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce, and prepared Dijon-style mustard. Slice rolls in half horizontally and set aside tops. Spread bottoms with the butter mixture. Top with ham and Swiss cheese. Replace tops. Arrange rolls in a single layer in a medium baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven 10 to 12 minutes, until rolls are lightly browned and cheese is melted.
Timeless Combo
Baked Turkey and Cranberry Sliders
Jennifer Lee, Avocet Club, Sunday Women B3
Cooking spray ½ stick butter, melted 1 ½ Tbsp. Dijon mustard, or more to taste 1 Tbsp. dried minced onion 1 ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 (12 count) package Hawaiian bread rolls, split 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise, or to taste ½ (14 ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce ½ pound cooked honey-roasted turkey, shaved 6 slices Havarti cheese, cut into halves
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray. Whisk melted butter with Dijon mustard, dried onion, and Worcestershire in a small bowl. Place the bottom halves of the rolls into the prepared pan. Spread mayonnaise and additional Dijon mustard to taste along the rolls. Spread cranberry sauce. Add turkey and 1/2 slice of cheese to each. Spread melted butter mixture evenly over tops. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, uncover, and continue to bake until cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes.
For Pesto Lovers
Turkey Pesto Sandwiches
Michael Turney, Leafmore, Men B2
2 thick slices sourdough bread 4 Tbsp. (60 mL) pesto sauce (store-bought or homemade) 1 package (300 g) Oven Roasted Carved Turkey Breast 4 slices bacon, cooked according to package directions 6 slices provolone cheese 4-6 large sundried tomatoes, diced 4 Tbsp. (60 mL) unsalted butter, divided
dough, side by side on a cutting board. On both slices of sourdough, spread 2 tbsp of pesto evenly. On one slice, top with 2 slices of Oven Roasted Carved Turkey Breast, followed by 2 slices of bacon, 3 slices of provolone cheese, and 3 sundried tomatoes. Place the second slice of sourdough on top. Smear the top of the sandwich with 1 tablespoon of butter, and then place that side of the sandwich down on the large griddle or skillet. Smear the remaining tablespoon of butter over the top. Toast the sandwich in the pan until golden brown and the cheese begins to melt, about 4-5 minutes per side. Place a lid on top of the pan while cooking to speed up the cheese melting.
Or Blue Cheese If You Prefer
Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Chase Peden, Flowers Crossing, Men A8
12 dinner rolls 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese 3 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded cup hot sauce ½ cup ranch dressing 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
Preheat oven to 350 F. Slice the pack of dinner rolls in half. Remove the tops and place the bottom sections in a 9x12 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the bottom with 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Top the cheese with the shredded rotisserie chicken. Drizzle the hot sauce and ranch dressing evenly over the chicken. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Place the top half of the rolls on top and brush evenly with melted butter. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
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Check out previously published Court Cuisine recipes online at netnewsmag.com.
FROM THE VAULT
Reprinted from ALTA: Its History, Humor & Hors D’Oeuvres by John Williams.
Sizzling Barbecue Sandwiches
Submitted by Patti Cox, Crooked Creek, 2002
1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 Tbsp. olive oil 2 cups ketchup 1 cup red wine vinegar ½ cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed ¼ cup liquid smoke ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 jalapeno peppers, minced 2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. coriander seeds, crushed 1 tsp. cumin seeds, crushed 1 4-pound beef brisket 1 jumbo package of hamburger buns
Saute´ onion in olive oil, stirring constantly until tender. Stir in ketchup and next 4 ingredients. Combine garlic, jalapeno peppers, salt, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds. Stir well. Add to sauce mixture. Simmer uncovered over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Trim excess fat from brisket and place on a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil in a roasting pan. Spoon 1 cup of sauce over the brisket; seal foil around the brisket. Bake at 325 degrees F for 3-3½ hours or until meat is very tender. Let cool slightly and shred meat. Add 3 cups of sauce to shredded meat. Serve on jumbo buns with remaining sauce.
