Long Island Tennis Magazine January / February 2022 by United Sports Publications

LITennisMag.com • November/December 2021 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Long Island Tennis Magazine • November/December 2021 • LITennisMag.com

COMING IN MARCH

Distribution scheduled for 03/01/22 This edition will feature: • Guide to the Top Tennis Camps • Guide to the Top Court Builders & Manufacturers • Boys’ High School Tennis Preview • 2022 Australian Open Recap Distribution across Long Island at 300+ locations: • Indoor tennis clubs • Country clubs • Tennis camps • Retail stores • Gyms • Restaurants and health food stores • Supermarkets and • Many more!

Don’t miss the advertising opportunities in the next edition of Long Island Tennis Magazine March/April 2022! Facebook-www.Facebook.com/LongIslandTennis Instagram-@LITennisMag • Twitter-@LITennisMag

COMING IN MARCH: CAMP GUIDE & COURT BUILDERS GUIDE Submissions for both advertising and editorial are due by February 1, 2022 LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine 1 For more information, please call 516-409-4444 or e-mail Advertise@LITennisMag.com

January/February 2022 • Volume 14, Number 1

Table Of Contents

litennis Long Island Tennis Magazine

America’s New No. 1

MAGAZINE

Inside Taylor Fritz’s rise up the rankings

Long Island Tennis Magazine

See page 10

1228 Wantagh Avenue, Suite 203 Wantagh, NY 11793-2202 Phone: (516) 409-4444 • Fax: (516) 409-4600 Web site: www.litennismag.com

Staff David Sickmen Publisher (516) 409-4444, ext. 309 david@usptennis.com Brian Coleman Senior Editor (516) 409-4444, ext. 326 brianc@usptennis.com Joey Arendt Art Director Francine Miller Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 francinem@usptennis.com

Photo credit: Brad Penner/USTA

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Long Island Tennis Magazine Hosts Thanksgiving Challenge to Wrap Up 2021 Event Series Beyond the Baseline: Kathy Miller By Brian Coleman Parsa’s Picks 2021 Long Island Girls’ High School Recap LITM’s 2022 Guide to the Top Clubs/Programs Junior Player Spotlight: Abigail Eisenberg, Generation Next Tennis By Brian Coleman 2022 Australian Open Preview: Contenders, Pretenders and Sleepers

Emilie Katz Assistant Marketing Coordinator Barbara Wyatt Contributing Writer Rob Polishook Contributing Writer Lonnie Mitchel Contributing Writer

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Features

Advertising To receive any information regarding advertising rates, deadlines, and requirements, call (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com. Article Submissions/Press Releases To submit any material, including articles and press releases, please call (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com. The deadline for submissions is the first of the month preceding the target issue. Subscriptions To receive subscription information, contact (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com or check out our Web site: www.litennismag.com. Fax subscription changes to (516) 409-1600. Statements of fact and opinion in Long Island Tennis Magazine are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of United Sports Publications Ltd. Long Island Tennis Magazine reserves the right to edit, reject and/or postpone the publication of any articles, information or data.

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The Top Ten Tennis Tips of All-Time: Part One By Dr. Tom Ferraro Attacking the Net the Spanish Way By Chris Lewit Racquet Sport Report presented by All Racquet Sports Jack Kennedy Wins Les Petits As USA Playoffs USTA Eastern Long Island Region Update A Thing of Beauty By Lonnie Mitchel Stop the Conversation to End Tennis Frustration By Steve Kaplan USTA Eastern Long Island Region Year in Review By Neil Thakur Adult League Wrap-Up: A Farewell By Kathy Miller Height of the Sportsmanship Bar By Barbara Wyatt LITM’s Literary Corner: Mother Deuce by George Poppel The Power of the Pause: How to reset under pressure By Rob Polishook 58 Mythbusters: Not All Coaching Advice is Based on Facts, But You Should Certainly Believe In Your Coach…Part Three By Ricky Becker

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

THE LONG ISLAND

CHALLENGE 2021

Long Island Tennis Magazine Hosts Thanksgiving Challenge to Wrap Up 2021 Event Series More than 70 players competed across four divisions in this mixed doubles event he fourth Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge of 2021 took place as Sportime Kings Park played host to our Thanksgiving Mixed Doubles tournament. The event featured four divisions of play, with action scattered across the various hard and clay courts of the facility, as players came out to work off that Thanksgiving meal with highquality tennis inside a festive atmosphere. The event had a great turnout, with over 70 participants competing across four divisons. The tournament consisted of round-robin play which led into the knockout rounds. “We don’t compete a lot of times together outside of the summer, so it was really great,” said Alli Schwartz, referring to her partner Neil Shmuely. “This was our first LITM Challenge event, and we definitely plan to do more next year.” Schwartz & Shmuely are Mixed Doubles partners during their club season at Pine Hollow Country Club,

and used that experience in their LITM Challenge debut as the duo captured the title in the 7.0-7.5 division.

“Alli is great at moving to the net, and she reads the ball very well, and I was consistent from the baseline,” added Shmuely. “We’ve been partners at our club for the last few summers, so we know each other’s games well.” In the 6.0-6.5 division, it was the Father-Daughter combination of Scott & Olivia Eifert who took home the championship.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

“I don’t get to play with my dad a lot, so being able to come out here and play this event with him was so much fun,” said Olivia. Scott added:

“Our communication was the key. We even had a code word for me in case I got too competitive on the court. But she really stepped up her game today, and I’m glad she agreed to play with me in this tournament.” Throughout the day, players were able to enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages in between their

matches, including Apple Cinnamon Sangria, which kept the atmosphere loose and fun while the competition heated up on court. Dylan Granat & Katie Cirella used their loss at the Hamptons’ Summer LITM Mixed Doubles event earlier this year as motivation to come back stronger this time around, and the pair did just that in capturing the title in the 8.0-8.5 division. “This was our revenge for not winning at the Challenge event in the summer,” said Cirella. “We were better prepared this time around. Dylan’s serve and volleying was great today, so it was important for me to set him up for those put-away shots.”

The two have been playing tennis together since they were in middle school, and their friendship grew

stronger as they went on to compete for the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams when they played for Syosset High School. That chemistry was a key factor in them coming away with the title. “We didn’t really go in with a specific strategy, but we just used our experience playing together and the chemistry we have,” added Granat. “We communicated well and picked each other up during the big points.” Ed Mulhern & Sarah Landsman were the victors in the 9.0-9.5 division, using their chemistry, as well as some timely serves, to claim the title.

“Being that we know each other so well off the tennis court makes working together on the court that much easier,” said Mulhern. “A couple of big serves makes things

that much easier.” The Thanksgiving Challenge was the final LITM Challenge Series tournament of 2021, but we are excited to host more in 2022, and continue to provide fun and unique tennis events for the local community. Through these, we hope to continue to grow the game, and produce quality events for tennis players. “This was our first Thanksgiving LITM Challenge. We had a great turnout and it was a perfect way to wrap up the LITM 2021 event series,” said David Sickmen, Publisher of Long Island Tennis Magazine. “We’re happy to put on these community events and bring everyone together. As we head into 2022, we look forward to having more Challenge tournaments, as well as many other types of events to continue to support the local tennis scene. A special thanks to our co-Tournament Director for the LITM Challenge Michelle Stoerback, and to Sportime Kings Park for hosting us, and of course to all the players for making the final Challenge of 2021 a success.” To see more photos from this event and the whole LITM Challenge Series, visit Facebook.com/LITennisMag.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

BEYOND THE BASELINE

BEYOND THE BASELINE BEYOND THE BASELINE

BEYOND THE BASELINE BEYOND

beyondthebaseline

Kathy Miller By Brian Coleman

ach day, Kathy Miller makes the short drive from her Merrick home to Carefree Racquet Club in North Merrick, where she is the General Manager. She spends early mornings and late nights ensuring the club’s daily activities, from adult groups to junior lessons and everything in between, run seamlessly to provide the best tennis experience for all who enter the facility. But for the last 36 years, she has also spent countless hours running the adult leagues throughout Long Island,

serving as the Long Island Adult League Coordinator for USTA Eastern. For three decades, Miller has been crucial in organizing leagues, communicating with players, scheduling matches and solving problems. “There’s a lot of work involved even beyond organizing the leagues,” said Miller. “A lot of times, players come to me looking to join a team, and I help them find the right fit. The USTA also comes up with new programs that they want to create, so I spend

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

time reaching out to other clubs to try and get them off the ground. And the emails go on all day and all night long, hearing from players and fielding their questions, or dealing with grievances. Understanding how to deal with all the different personalities is a tremendous part of the job.” When Miller took over back in the 1980s, the leagues consisted of less than 500 players. Now, there are more than 4,000 league players, which creates the problem of having a lot of personalities to deal with.

OND THE BASELINE

BEYOND THE BASELINE BEYOND THE BASELINE

“I’m so lucky to have great team captains,” she said. “If I hear about a player who is exhibiting bad sportsmanship, I’ll usually call the captain and tell them I’ve been getting complaints, and that he/she should talk to them before a grievance is filed. Most of the captains are wonderful and on top of that. The clubs have also always been so supportive. They are accommodating in terms of booking court time and hosting matches. Without the support of the captains and the clubs, there wouldn’t be a league.” The Adult League teams from Long Island are often some of the most successful in the country, consistently winning sectional and national titles, including this past year when Long Island sent 12 different teams to Nationals. But after overseeing the league’s growth and success, Miller is retiring from her position effective April 15, 2022, putting a bow on a fantastic career in charge of the USTA Long Island Adult League. “I’ve been doing it for so long, and I think now is the perfect time to begin stepping away,” said Miller. “I’m still going to be at Carefree for a few more years but I’m definitely

going to miss the people I deal with through the league, which is why it’s good I am sort of phasing out of it. I’ll still be at Carefree, and will see a lot of the people that have become my friends.” Miller’s successor will be Jennifer Giordano, and the two have already begun working together to ensure that transition will be a smooth one. After finalizing the 40&Over Mixed Doubles league for the winter, their attention will turn to preparing the ever-growing summer leagues, featuring an array of divisions sorted by ages and skill levels. “Kathy is an absolute treasure and I now understand why she is so well respected,” said Giordano. “Having this opportunity to work alongside her on a daily basis will most certainly ensure my success.” Giordano will have some large tennis shoes to fill when she takes over, but she is prepared to grab the baton from Miller and continue growing these leagues. “One of my goals is to manage this position as well as she did, I know they are big shoes to fill but with her help I am up for the challenge!” Giordano added. “It has been a pleasure getting to know her and I wish her all the best.”

BEYOND THE BASELINE BEYOND THE Like with any major decision, Miller initially had some moments of pause where she debated whether or not to go through with the retirement, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized it was the right decision for her and her family. “When I made it official that I wasn’t going to do this anymore, I did have a few hang-ups and doubts, because I met some of my best friends through this league throughout all these years,” she said. “I’ve met wonderful people through this league, If there are 5,000 players in the league, 4,990 of them are amazing. It’s the 10 that aren’t that tend to stick out in your mind. But overall, I’m going to miss the people, and I love seeing the camaraderie of the teams when they are together. I’m definitely going to miss all of that.” For 36 years, Miller has been a vital cog in the engine that is the Long Island tennis community. “I am looking forward to being here for a few more years, and then having more time for myself and my family, and just be able to enjoy life a little more.” Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.

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The Top Ten Tennis Tips of All-Time: Part One By Dr. Tom Ferraro

What do the pros know that you don’t? Read on, and find out. n order to win on the courts, there are many skills one must have. After working with professional athletes and coaches for thirty five years in the fields of tennis, golf, soccer, football, baseball and more, I’ve learned that there are ten secret ingredients to winning in tennis.

Over the next year, I will spell out these ten secrets in detail and explain what you must do to learn them. Subjects will include mastering the emotions of anxiety, anger, and despair, understanding the importance of body language and gamesmanship, how to establish the right psychological

defenses such as suppression, anticipation and humor, gathering the right team and assets around you, practicing the right balance of fun and work, developing the traits of confidence, perseverance and focus and, finally, how to see the value of your education. For the first part of this series, we will be talking about anxiety, the number one psychological issue affecting performance. Anxiety Symptoms of anxiety include worry, the yips, jitteriness, tension, fatigue, nausea, feelings of weakness or light headedness, quirky compulsions like racket twirling and more. When anxiety becomes overwhelming, it can have a devastating effect on performance and prevent a player from playing to their full potential. It also leads to irritability, discouragement and even depression in some cases. Causes The cause of anxiety is multi-determined and is triggered by external events, but

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

its actual cause usually exists internally. Players frequently get anxious when facing a more highly-ranked opponent, when they are playing in front of big crowds, after making a few mistakes, when trying out for a team or when watched by scouts or coaches at showcases. Internally, the roots of anxiety will either stem from having low self-esteem, having guilt about winning, a fear of separation from others if they win, having weak defenses, or if they have conflicts with their own aggression. In addition, the player may feel extreme pressure from parents, coaches, fans or sponsors to always perform well. Treatment As a psychoanalyst, I believe that insight into the causes of your anxiety is crucial to establishing any lasting cure. This means coming into a sports psychologist’s office and being afforded the time to explore the actual causes of one’s anxiety. Over time, the

issues are revealed and ego strength begins to develop. It is only after this insight is gained and ego strength develops that one can usefully apply the variety of suppressive techniques that most of the top athletes are familiar with. These techniques will include deep breathing, positive selftalk, and goal-setting and visualization tips. Tennis is one of the most interesting games ever invented with an aura of refinement, beauty and gentility deriving from its roots. It was started as a game played by Monastics in cloisters in the 12th century, but eventually made its way out of France to England where it was enjoyed by the royals and by the highly-educated in Cambridge and Oxford. However, the modern game now requires great

fitness, cat-like agility, and refined skill sets which takes years to develop. And despite it being a genteel game based on a code of sportsmanship, it also requires aggression and a cocky attitude which then produces internal conflicts expressed as anxiety. The great joy of tennis is felt as one learns to face and overcome these anxieties and it is certainly no crime to get some help along the way. Anxiety is a nasty, scary feeling and why Sigmund Freud called anxiety “unpleasure.” Indeed, there is nothing quite like it when you’re able to face up to your inner demons and win. That victory is more noteworthy then beating Roger Federer or Serena Williams. In the next issue, we will talk about anger and how to use it to your benefit.

For consultations, treatment or on-site visits, contact Dr. Tom Ferraro Ph.D., Sport Psychologist, by phone at (516) 248-7189, e-mail DrTFerraro@aol.com or visit DrTomFerraro.com.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

PARSA’s picks eal estate on Long Island is some of the most sought after property in the world, and many of them are perfect for the tennis lover. With gorgeous landscapes, modern design and private tennis courts, among other amenities, these properties are truly one-of-a-kind. With the help of Parsa Samii of Compass Real Estate, we’re showcasing one of these beautiful homes for sale. Parsa is a former professional tennis player and coach who has transitioned into real estate, with a strong understanding of both the tennis aficionado and the home buyer. As Compass puts it, “Parsa is the ideal professional to navigate the evercompetitive real estate market.”

3 Tatem Way Village of Old Westbury he Village of Old Westbury is known for its history of magnificent, gold coast mansions, where for decades notable industry leaders have built their dream homes. In that image, this new, custom and modern-day masterpiece resides at 3 Tatem Way. Featuring a beautiful tree-lined courtyard that leads us into the entrance of this white columned, Georgian manor, this four acre property is completely with expansive bluestone patios, outdoor fireplace, a pool/spa, tennis court, 3-par Golf Tee and a child’s playground. Double mahogany doors lead you inside the home where effortless living is at the forefront. There is a wet bar, game room, playroom, gym and theatre, plus a new cherrywood kitchen and a luxirous master bedroom suite. There are both formal and personal rooms, to entertain guests and retire to your own personal quarters. In all, this 9,500 sqaure-foot home features seven bedrooms and seven baths, and is a dream destination in the historic Village of Old Westbury. To learn more about this listing and more homes like it, visit Compass.com.

credit: Darren Carroll/USTA Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 •listings, LITennisMag.com 10 For more information, photos or to see more email parsa@compass.com or callPhoto 516.965.7445.

PARSA’s picks LI Tennis Magazine Q&A with Parsa Samii How would you assess the real estate market here as we head into 2022? The real estate market will continue to be very competitive based on the low supply of homes available in our area. There is some hesitation from people to sell their homes as they are unsure of where they want to go. Most are hoping for the pandemic to blow over but for now that hesitancy is what will continue to drive the market, not to mention the continued historically low interest rates. Residential real estate is largely an emotional process and for now most are in a wait and see mentality. How has that changed, if all, from what we saw entering 2021? Why is that? The only real difference between 2021 and 2022 is what we know, meaning we can’t truly predict the market and make comparisons until we reflect on the year but as low inventory issues were the theme of 2021, our expectation is the same for 2022. Do having tennis courts on your property increase property taxes on it? If so, why? Great question. Anything that affects the overall appraised value of the property will increase property taxes in Nassau County. In theory a property featuring a tennis court and in ground pool is seemingly more valuable than a property without those in a structure of similar age and property size. If not, do courts increase the value of a home, are they a worthwhile investment? I would say it’s very dependent on the buyer. The hybrid type courts where they can be used for other activities as well are definitely more of what people are looking for if a court were to exist. That being said tennis has gained popularity in this pandemic era. I’m a buyer in this market, what are the 3 most important things I should be aware of while navigating the purchase process in 2022? 1. Educate yourself. Surround yourself with the best

buyer agent in your neighborhood and ask people you trust who they had have interactions with in the industry. 2. Find what your ‘Must haves’ in a property are and also what you would ‘Prefer’ in your next home. Make sure that the home you bid on has all that you NEED and as much of what you really would prefer. There are sacrifices in this market. If you’re clear on your objective then the chance of success in the end will be significantly higher and relatively stress free. 3. Prepare your finances. It is very important to understand what risks you can take in order to make your offer more appealing to a seller versus another bid. Differentiation in the amounts of cash in a deal, waiving a contingency or a quick close are different ways that an offer can be structured that could mean something to a seller. Know what you can do, then ask the right questions of the seller and see if you can make your deal a little more appealing to the seller while minimizing your threshold of risk. I’m a seller in this market, what are the three most important things I should be aware of? 1. Hire the most knowledgeable agent you can find. It’s important that your listing agent demonstrates knowledge of the homes that have sold in the area and also their general knowledge of the real estate market. Just with a couple of simple questions you should be able to identify the right person for the job. 2. Marketing the property which includes photography, brochures, advertisements etc. It’s important that you have someone who cares about their brand and the material they produce for their listings which would include your property. 3. The absolute most important. Presentation: Your house must be presented in the best light possible when potential buyers are visiting. From staging, to painting, to minor changes of furniture positioning can make all the difference. Most of the time this is the most underutilized tool from sellers who see it as a risk but in reality most who don’t pay attention to their presentation leave money on the table.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Magazine 11 For more information, photos or to see more listings, email parsa@compass.com orIsland callTennis 516.965.7445.

America’s New No. 1

Inside Taylor Fritz’s rise up the rankings By Brian Coleman

t the French Open this year, American Taylor Fritz had to be taken off of the famed red clay in a wheelchair. Fritz felt a pop in his knee during the second-round clash with Dominick Koepfer, and the results from an MRI the next day revealed a torn meniscus. He would be forced to fly home to California and have surgery. Despite that, Fritz made a commitment to himself to be ready in time for Wimbledon, which happens only a few weeks after the French Open. “The day I got the MRI, a day after I tore my meniscus, was 28 days away from the start of Wimbledon, and I was told some people can come back from this in about a month,” Fritz told ESPN in an interview back in June. “So I thought, ‘Well, it’s possible.’…I was just really determined and I kind of had this goal. I’m a very stubborn person, so when I put in my mind that I want to play Wimbledon, that’s all I could think about. So I was just really motivated and determined.” That determination led to Fritz working hard to recover and rehab, and he was indeed ready to return to action at Wimbledon. There, he won his first two rounds before running into Germany’s Alexander Zverev in an exciting third-round clash. Zverev would win in four tough sets, and while Fritz’s run at Wimbledon would come to an end, his dogged determination to recover from injury, and the toughness he showed, served as a seminal moment not only for his season, but also his career. Following that defeat at Wimbledon, Fritz, who is still just 24-years-old despite being on the professional tour for six years already, put together a dominant end of the season. At the U.S. Open in Queens, he outlasted Alex de Minaur in five sets, before falling to compatriot Jenson Brooksby in a physical, four-set affair that lasted more than four hours. While that defeat was a difficult one for Fritz to bear, it would set the stage for a career-altering final few months of the year. In an interview with ATPWorldTour.com

continued on page 14

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

Photo credit: Manuela Davies/USTA

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

america’s new no. 1 continued from page 12

in October, one of Fritz’s coaches, David Nainkin, discussed that loss and what it would mean for Fritz moving forward. “The summer’s been probably below-par for him. He hasn’t done as well as he thought,” Nainkin said. “Losing to a good Jenson Brooksby, that was a great match. But since the U.S. Open, we had three great weeks of training. He’s in a really good place with is game. He’s been practicing well, and I think he’s in a good place going into the next five weeks of tournaments.” That statement would prove to be prophetic, as Fritz closed out the 2021 season playing the best tennis of his career. It began in Indian Wells at the BNP Paribas Open, where he knocked off Italians Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini, before a Wimbledon rematch with Zverev in the quarterfinals. Fritz fell behind 2-5 in the third set, but showed fight and toughness to come back from that deficit to stun Zverev. In doing so, Fritz advanced to the first Masters 1000 semifinal of his career. “I was really down and out but I

Photo credit: Brad Penner/USTA

kind of found a way to put myself into it,” Fritz said. “I was able to get back into the match. It just feels really great to play well with the pressure on. It’s amazing, such high emotions until the very end, with the crowd. It’s a dream come true, really.”

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

While he would lose in the semifinals to Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, reaching a Masters 1000s semifinal was a milestone for him, and one he would build on. The following week, he reached the finals in St. Petersburg, and then

defeated sixth-ranked Andrey Rublev on his way to the quarterfinals in Paris. In all, Fritz finished his year with wins in 12 of his final 16 matches, which brought his ranking to a career-high of 23rd in the world, and thus will enter 2022 as the highestranked American man. It’s a big step for the young American, but just one of many he plans on taking in his career. “[It’s] obviously a goal that I’ve worked for my whole life so it’s amazing to see it happen,” Fritz said while back home in California competing in World TeamTennis. “But you know I’m ranked 23 in the world right now, and I want to go so much higher. So being the number one American is cool but the next goal and next step is to see myself in the top 10.” Fritz will now headline the list of American men aiming to end the decades-long Grand Slam champion drought. Not since Andy Roddick

won the U.S. Open back in 2003 has an American man won a major title. The mantle of the next great American man has been bestowed on a number of players before, both fairly and unfairly, but it seems as though Fritz has moved up to the next level of his career. After scoring wins over multiple players in the Top 10 this season, including pushing topranked Novak Djokovic to five sets at the Australian Open back in January, Fritz is now ready to continue rising up the ranks. Beginning the season as the topranked American comes with its pressures, but the easy-going, California-mentality that Fritz possesses helps him shrug off some of that weight. “He’s one of the best competitors I’ve seen and his game has actually evolved and improved,” said

Nainkin. “It’s been a battle over the past three or four years trying to break into the top 20, top 15. He’s kind of bumped his head in the third round of majors. I’d say that’s the biggest hurdle for him, that he hasn’t really gotten through that.” Moving to the next stages of majors is the next step for Fritz in his development, and the American has proven he has the ability to play with any opponent. American tennis fans have been spoiled by the success of the women over recent years, notably Serena and Venus Williams, but also Sofia Kenin, Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens and more. But they still crave a men’s champion, or at least the hope of having a men’s champion, and at this point in time, that hope may rest on Fritz’s shoulders.

Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.

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LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Photo credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA

Attacking the Net the Spanish Way By Chris Lewit

istorically, most Spanish players have been averse to attacking the net. Typically they would be content to grind from deep behind the baseline and win points through attrition and defense. That stereotype has now been shattered in the modern pro game. Spanish players have become well known for their offensive capabilities, particularly their forehand weapons, and they have also become well-rounded all court players who can finish consistently at the net. Rafael Nadal is a prime example and exemplifies this trend on the ATP Tour. Nadal has become more aggressive over the course of his career and also more willing to attack the net. Carlos Alcaraz is another good example, and he is a fantastic Next Gen player with a prototypical modern Spanish allcourt game. I’ve noticed in my travels throughout Spain that the net attack and transition game are taught differently than in the US and other

countries. In the US and other fast court dominated countries, such as England and Australia, the net is usually regarded as the ultimate place to finish points and to dominate your opponent. In Spain, however, coaches and players have a more nuanced and different philosophy regarding the net attack. From the Spanish perspective, the net is potentially advantageous—but also potentially very dangerous. I’ve observed that most American coaches and players don’t view the net that way. Spanish players and coaches understand that being at the net is not ALWAYS a good thing and that you can win points quickly there —but also lose points quickly too. Therefore, because of this more nuanced understanding, Spanish players tend to be more circumspect and judicious in terms of attacking the net. They are willing to move forward but only after good point construction and a thorough assessment and calculation of the risks and benefits. The legendary Spanish coach and player Jose

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

Higueras describes this as being a “responsible” attacking player. He teaches his athletes to be responsible and selective when choosing to approach the net. This mature and conservative style is a hallmark of the Spanish mindset vis-à-vis attacking the net. Selectivity is very important from the Spanish point of view. By being more selective, the approaching player increases the odds of winning the net point and often will produce a win/loss point ratio at the net of 60-70 percent, which is remarkably high. Typically, analytically speaking, Spanish coaches and players like to make fewer total approaches per match with a higher win/loss percentage while players from other countries attack the net more frequently and have a win/loss ratio closer to 50 percent. From a Spanish perspective, a close to 50/50 win/loss ratio means the player is probably not approaching responsibly—assuming they have good net skills.

To simplify the discussion, here are some important bullet point differences between the American net attack style and the Spanish that I have observed over the years: • In the US, attacking the net is usually viewed as the ultimate finishing move. Players are often taught that they should always finish points by moving forward. • In Spain, attacking the net is generally viewed as one of many viable options to win the point. Players can move forward to win, but can also move backward to win. • In the US, players are typically taught to take every short ball and go to net. • In Spain, players are typically taught to selectively take some short balls to net while incorporating other short balls strategies such as drop shot and

forehand winner. This creates some uncertainty for the defender and less predictability by the attacker. • In the US, there is a predominant philosophy that players should approach down the line. • In Spain, famous coaches like the legend William Pato Alvarez actually argue for the efficacy of the crosscourt and crosscourt angled approach shot. • In the US, it’s common for players to be taught to slice deep and approach the net. • In Spain, the slice approach is not the preferred way to attack the net. For example, Luis Bruguera, the revered Spanish coach, discourages the slice approach in most instances, especially on clay. Rather, forehand topspin drive or topspin swing volley are the preferred shots to approach with.

• In the US, players are commonly taught to hit the first volley deep and players almost always volley flat or with underspin. Topspin swinging volleys are rarely encouraged or taught. • In Spain, players are encouraged to look for short angled volleys and drop shot volleys, even on first volleys. Topspin swinging volleys are actively taught as an excellent way to finish points. • In the US, going to net is almost always viewed as giving the advantage to the attacking player. Going to the net means the attacking player is “applying pressure” to the defender, who will eventually buckle. • In Spain, there is a recognition that the net is a double-edged sword and can be just as advantageous continued on page 18

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attacking the net the spanish way continued from page 17

for the defender as the attacker. The Spanish believe that a good defender can often pick apart and defeat a net rusher under the right circumstances. • In the US, serve and volley is regarded as a bold strategy or game style. In Spain, serve and volley is a dangerous tactic to be cautiously employed. Conclusion So how do you view going to the net? Can you see the interesting differences between the Spanish way and the American way? Who is right in your view? In the end, the better way can often depend on the speed of the surface, the matchup between players, and the skills of the player attacking and also defending. If the court surface is slow

and the defender passes well, it’s probably smarter to move to the net, or “rise” to the net (as they say in Spain) very selectively. If the court is fast and the defender struggles to pass, attacking the net more aggressively may be the winning way to play. In the end analysis, the Spanish style of attacking the net is more balanced and conservative, and I believe makes for a great foundation to teach most players of all levels and

personalities—especially younger kids. On top of this foundation, it’s fairly simple to accommodate the rare serve-volley player or ultra aggressive net rusher as a higher level later developmental stage. In my latest video and audio podcast, Prodigy Maker Show Episode 57, I discussed this topic at length. Check it out on your favorite podcasting platform or the Chris Lewit YouTube channel. Vamos!

Chris Lewit is a former number one for Cornell and pro circuit player. He is a highperformance coach, educator, and the author of two best-selling books: The Secrets of Spanish Tennis and The Tennis Technique Bible. He has coached numerous top 10 nationallyranked players and is known for his expertise in building the foundations of young prodigies. Chris coaches in NYC and year-round at his high performance tennis academy in Manchester, VT, where players can live and train the Spanish Way full-time or short-term. He may be reached by phone at (914) 462-2912, e-mail Chris@chrislewit.com or visit ChrisLewit.com.

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Racquet Sport

Report presented by

What Is Padel? Padel is referred to as the “swiss army knife of Racquet Sports”, combining elements of platform, racquetball, squash and tennis to create a unique and easy-to-learn game. Padel is played on a court which is roughly one-third the size of a tennis court, and is surrounded by glass on the back and parts of the sides. The middle of the sides of the court have a metal mesh fencing with two side doors that open up. The scoring, and most of the rules, are similar to tennis, with the main differences being that you can play the ball off the walls, and the serving is done underhanded. Padel is almost always played doubles, men’s, women’s and mixed, and the racquet is made of an EVA foam core that is 17 inches long and has holes in it. The racquet comes with a strap, and is covered by either fiberglass or carbon fibers on the outside. The ball is a bit heavier than a regular tennis ball, but has less compression, helping to sustain longer rallies and allowing it to bounce better off the walls. Where to play Padel? The first ever Padel Club will open in New York City in 2022. Housed in a 30,000 square-foot Williamsburg, Brooklyn warehouse, one of the fastest growing sports in the country will have a new home in New York City. The Williamsburg club will be called

All Racquet Sports

and new players joining each day. As a result, there is a new indoor, state-of-the-art, threecourt Padel club opening up at the beginning of 2022 in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., the first of its kind in the Northeast. You can visit Padelphia.com to learn more.

Padel Haus, and is the brainchild of Santiago Gomez, a Mexican restaurateur. Padel Haus will include one of Gomez’s restaurants, Cosme, in the facility. Combining Padel courts with a restaurant is indicative of the fun and social atmosphere associated with Padel. Right now though, the best and closest place for people to play in the Northeast is “Padelphia”, the unique pop-up location in Philadelphia, Pa. Earlier this year, the pop-up club was open for six weeks, and more than 500 players came out to try the sport, including 50 kids. There was an “Intro to Padel” program that was taught to dozens of racquet sports professionals, and even an eight-club, inter-city Padel Challenge Club tournament. The success of the pop-up club is a sign of things to come, as the sport’s continued growth will lead to more courts being opened and available,

2022 World Padel Tour Begins in Miami For the second time in the last five years, the World Padel tour will bring an event to the United States, as the Miami Padel Open will kick off the tour’s 2022 season at the Florida Gardens Club & Marina from February 22-27. Racquet sports continue to gain momentum and increased popularity, and Padel is helping to lead that charge. Padel combines the best parts of many of the games players already love, and could be coming to a place near you real soon. Marcos del Pilar, a USPTA Elite Professional and MASTER Padel Professional said: “It is a great workout for all levels and ages. Padel is a sport for the entire family. On top of that, it’s extremely social and you not only enjoy while playing, but also just hanging out watching other matches with your friends. Padel is the perfect addition to any sports facility and an incredible way to attract new members with no previous experience in racquet sports.”

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

2021 Long Island Girls’ High Syosset Edges Port Washington in Epic Nassau County Championship s Amanda Huang walked to the service line following the changeover, she remained calm and tried to focus as best as she could on the task at hand. With the Nassau County Large School Team Championship tied at 3-3, only one court remained, and Huang and fourth doubles partner Abby Glenn held a 5-4 lead in the deciding third set of their match. “I just wanted to serve an ace every single point, but it was all about focusing on what I needed to do,” said Huang. “I knew getting the toss right was important and would start off my serves well. It was just about maintaining my composure and staying focused.” And Huang did just that, confidently firing up her serves, which included a couple of service winners, to clinch the fourth doubles victory 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-4, sealing Syosset’s third county title in the last four years in the process. After coming back from 2-5 down and saving a match point in the second set, Huang and Glenn fell behind 0-4 in the final set as Chloe Fanous & Yasmeen Munoz raced out to the early lead. But Huang and Glenn had been in this type of position before, and had multiple comeback wins throughout the season. “They’ve been amazing all year,” said Syosset head coach Shai Fisher. “They have a never give up mentality, and they had been down this year before. Even sets when they are down 1-4, or 2-5, they just have a knack for turning it around. They play extremely well under pressure.” That was necessary as the pressure was palpable as the entire crowd of spectators, including both teams, had gathered by the fourth doubles court. Each point resulted in cheers from one of the side’s supporters as the tension continued to rise. “It definitely helped us out,” said Glenn. “It was so fun, and the cheering really carried us. We took it point by point, and never counted ourselves out.” The fourth doubles match was the final one of an extremely competitive and well-played afternoon by both teams. The scoring started off in favor of the Braves as Mia

Silverman & Manami Wakazono notched a 6-3, 6-3 at third doubles. Soon after, Syosset stretched its lead to 2-0 as Zia Mukherjee won 61, 6-3 at third singles. But Port Washington would respond thanks to first and second singles victories from Dasha Perfiliev and Ellie Ross, respectively, and a 6-4, 7-6(2) Abby Glenn & Amanda Huang embrace after win by Gaby Sorin clinching the Nassau County title for Syosset & Grace Ain at second doubles, to take the overall lead 3-2, and put them one match away from the title. Rachel Lin & Alex Ho knotted things up again for Syosset by way of a 7-6(3), 6-3 first doubles victory, resulting in the county championship coming down to the fourth doubles court. “It was hard being down, but we never doubted that them,” senior co-captain Alexa Brecher said of Huang and Glenn. “We knew they would pull through like they did all season.” “This one is definitely a little more emotional than last year, because it is our last year. It’s a good way to say good bye, but it’s emotional,” said Ho, Brecher’s fellow cocaptain. “We’re very confident heading into the Long Island Championship. We know how good of a team we have, and the amount of adversity we faced and the

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

h School Recap resilience we showed throughout the year.” Fisher added: “I give all the credit to the girls. They sacrifice so much, and work so hard both in season and in the preseason. Our depth, and the improvement they show year-to-year, is a testament to all the work they put in. The girls didn’t get to compete for a Long Island championship last year, so I’m happy for them to have this opportunity.” For Port Washington, the loss was a difficult way to end the season, but one that will provide adding

motivation entering the 2022 season. "I am extremely proud of our girls for the fight they played with throughout the season. The championship was obviously a devastating and heartbreaking loss. Syosset is a great team. Our girls gave us a chance to win which is all I could ever ask of them,” said Port Washington head coach Shane Helfner. “I think our girls will use the success of this season and championship match as a spring board to be even more ready and hungrier next year. We have a very positive and bright future going forward!”

Malik Comeback Clinches County Title for Hills East or the first time in six years, Half Hollow Hills East is the Suffolk County Girls’ Champions. The Thunderbirds defeated the Hurricanes of Westhampton Beach 4-3 at Hills East High School, edging the West Bracket champions in a thrilling county final that came down to one court. “I’m so proud of this whole team,” said Hills East head coach Steven Ferrantello. “This team is extremely deep, and they are always having fun. They try not to put too much pressure on themselves. They work hard in practice, and come out here and execute during matches. I couldn’t be prouder of this group.” Hills East and Westhampton Beach would split the first six matches of the day, leaving the county final to be decided by the fourth singles showdown between Angelina Malik of Hills East and Emma Way of Westhampton Beach. Way took the first set 6-4, but Malik began to work her way back into the match in the middle of the second set. As the other courts finished up, the teams and fans began to gather by the fourth singles court. “I definitely used that as motivation,” said Malik. “It made me want to win the match even more, knowing I had my whole team back there supporting me.” Malik secured a late break to claim the second set, forcing

a deciding third which only added more tension to the county championship. “I kept on telling her, keep fighting, take it point-by-point, and don’t worry about the overall score,” said Ferrantello. “If you play your game, you’ll be okay. She had the belief that she could back in it, she could win it.” With all eyes on them, Malik and Way battled it out in the third set. The two traded breaks to open the set, and would continue to go back-and-forth throughout the decider. Things remained even until Malik broke for a 6-5 lead, and proceeded to serve out the set and clinch the county championship for her team. “I was just trying to keep moving my feet and keep going,” said Malik. “Just take it point-by-point, and not give up.” Malik’s victory was the fourth one on the day for Hills East. The Thunderbirds were also led by its doubles teams, as Leila Curtis & Rachel Neuman defeated Emily D’Alessandro & Lexi Sielaw at first doubles, Ariel Dubler & Alana Zinkin won against Kylie Way & Ana Way at second doubles, and Maggie Wang & Samantha Heyman beat Melina Pinozek & Mia Failla on the third doubles court. For Westhampton Beach, Katelyn Stabile defeated Victoria Czoch at first singles, Matilda Buchen beat Emma Sarner at second singles, and Julia Stabile was a third singles winner over Christina Zhao.

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2021 long island girls high school recap continued from page 21

Syosset Captures Long Island Championship t has been nearly a decade, but the Syosset Braves are once again Long Island Champions. The girls from Syosset captured their first Island title since 2012 after defeating Half Hollow Hills East 7-0 in the Long Island Large School Championship at Eisenhower Park on Wednesday afternoon. “I’m extremely proud of them for how hard they have worked to get to this point,” said Syosset head coach Shai Fisher. “To come through this year after not being able to have this opportunity last year is a testament to their dedication. Hills East is an excellent team with excellent depth, and our girls played their hearts out today.” The Braves are typically known for its doubles depth down the lineup, and while that still remains true, the Syosset singles players led the charge on Wednesday. Syosset claimed the first three singles courts to race out to the 3-0 lead. First off was Zia Mukherjee, who notched a third singles victory over Angelina Malik, which was followed by Alexa Brecher’s win over Emma Sarner at second singles. To close out singles play, Eesha Kaushik defeated Victoria Czoch in the first singles flight. Needing one court to clinch the Long Island title, the third

doubles duo of Mia Silverman & Manami Wakazono came through for their team, notching a 6-2, 6-4 win over Maggie Wang & Samantha Heyman. “I think it’s amazing to be able to do this with all the girls,” said Silverman, a senior. “It’s my last year playing for my school, and I wanted to have the best tennis season possible, and it’s been great so far.” Wakazono added: “Our serves were key for us today. It was something we practiced and focused a lot on coming in and it helped us today.” Syosset got two comeback victories from its doubles tandems as Abby Glenn & Amanda Huang came back to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 over Victoria Koch & Christina Zhao, while Olivia Tiegerman & Sara Gao won 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(6) against Ariel Duber & Alana Zinkin at second doubles. To round out the scoring, Alex Ho & Rachel Lin were winners at first doubles over Rachel Neuman & Leila Curtis. “There was a lot of hype for this match. We made sure we continued to have fun and not lose that drive to win,” said Ho, referring to the long layoff in between matches for Syosset. “It’s a very exciting win, and The Saw Mill Tennis Club we are so excited to go to States.” Mount Kisco, NY “This is for our seniors,” added Lin. “We wanted to do this for them.” more information, contact Paul Fontana at Syosset advanced to the New York State Final where it would fall to eastern-ed@uspta.org Scarsdale 4-3. TM

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

Friends Academy Wins Long Island Small School Championship ompeting in Nassau’s Conference I, and with some of its top players missing time early on, Friends Academy got off to a slow start this season. But throughout the fall, the team continued to get better with each match it played, and the Quakers captured the Long Island Small School Championship by defeating Bayport Blue-Point 4-1. “It’s very exciting,” said Friends Academy head coach Owen Kassimir. “To be able to win a Nassau County championship, and now a Long Island championship is really exciting for all the girls and this program.” Leading the charge for Friends Academy was Isabella Sha, the Nassau County Individual Singles champion, who re-joined her team about a week into the season. And once Sha returned, as well as key doubles contributors Taylor Overstrom and Eva Sun, Friends Academy hit its Login was a 7-6(4), 6-1 winner at third singles for Friends stride. Academy. Riley Duerr & Grace Blanchard notched a 6-1, “Once she shows up, everything started to mesh 6-2 win at first doubles for Bayport-Blue Point. together,” Kassimir said of Sha. “Taylor and Eva were out For Bayport-Blue Point, while its season ends in a loss, in the beginning also, so once we had our full lineup, it the Phantoms went undefeated in the regular season, 14-0, really began to show in our matches.” and captured the first-ever Suffolk County Small School After Skylar Cohen won 6-1, 6-1 at second singles to put Championship. Friends into the early lead on Monday, Sha notched a 6-0, "I’m extremely proud of the girls on my team this 6-1 victory at first singles. season, not only for winning the Suffolk County “I’m super glad to be back, not only because I won Championship but for the effort they put into practices all counties and as a team we won a county and Long Island season, for the way they supported each other on and off title, but just to be back with my team again,” said Sha. the court, and the high standard of sportsmanship they “That was definitely the driving factor that made me decide upheld throughout the season," said Bayport-Blue Point to play again. Being able to be a part of this team and head coach Keith Scharf. bond with the girls again is amazing.” Friends Academy advanced to the New York State Final Because the Small School playoff format consisted of where it would fall to Byram Hills. three singles and two doubles matches, as opposed to the sevenmatch format played during the regular season, after Cohen and Sha’s wins, Friends Academy needed just one more victory to clinch the Long Island title. “Long Island’s Tennis Store” That victory would come on the second doubles court as Eva Sun & Kids Apparel & Sneakers • Great Prices On Racquets Largest selection Erica Na won 6-1, 6-3 to seal the Tennis Shoes • 1 Hour Stringing • Pickleball of Tennis Rackets, championship. Pickleball Paddles, Open 7 Days • Demos Available “We have a strong singles lineup, Apparel and Shoes Best Selection of Tennis Gear on L.I. and our first two doubles teams are on Long Island ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED very good also, so this format helps 218 JERICHO TURNPIKE us,” added Sha. “Coming into today, we talked about just trying to SYOSSET • 516-364-9470 ACROSS FROM SYOSSET HOSPITAL do our best, not thinking about what was at stake.” TopSpinTennisLI.com To round out the scoring, Teah

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2021 long island girls high school recap continued from page 23

Longwood’s Matos Claims Suffolk Singles Title; Stabile Sisters of Westhampton Beach Win Doubles winning the first set and taking the early advantage. But Matos regrouped on the changeover, and got back to her game. “I had a rough start; mentally I wasn’t really in it. But then when we changed over, I told myself to just take it one point at a time,” said Matos. “I started to feel better about myself and my game, and just getting Longwood’s Victoria Matos (right) defeated Kady Tannenbaum Westhampton Beach sisters Katelyn & Julia Stabile won the that confidence back in (left) of Commack to win the Suffolk County singles title Suffolk County doubles title myself was key.” Matos now heads up to ongwood sophomore Victoria Matos came into this season Schecendaty to compete in the New York State Public High more motivated than ever. A year removed from finishing School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Championships. runner-up in the Suffolk County Singles Championship, “I’m really excited,” she said. “This is my first time going Matos claimed the county title this time around, defeating to States, so it feels great and I can’t wait to play.” Commack’s Kady Tannenbaum 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. Tannenbaum captured the Suffolk County Doubles title a “It feels good,” said Matos. “I’m really proud of myself for year ago alongside her sister Emily, and this season it was a coming back this year and playing well, especially after last different pair of sisters who won the county doubles title, as year. It was a long, tough match, but I managed to come Westhampton Beach’s Katelyn and Julia Stabile defeated back, so I’m really happy.” another sister pairing in Alysson and Drea Pierro of It was by no means an easy victory for Matos, as Patchogue-Medford 7-6(5), 6-4 to win the doubles crown. Tannenbaum came out of the gates playing extremely well, “It feels really good. I’m a senior, and I wanted to do something special in my final year with my sister, and we can’t wait to go play at States,” said Katelyn Register Now Stabile. for 2022 Julia added: “We’re really excited. We’ve put in a Summer Camp! lot of hard work, and we’re hoping we can place at States.” Junior Tennis Camp—June 27 to August 26, 2022 One of the keys to their success was Every Monday-Friday, 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm the chemistry between the two sisters. It Our camp combines the learning and fun of the game through personalized was a hard-fought, tight match, and the instruction, interclub matches, round robins, ladder matches and drill games. ability to come through in the biggest Safety precautions in place for indoor play! points was crucial. • State-of-the-art LED Lighting • No membership fees "We knew they were consistent and • Air Conditioning and UV Air Puriﬁcation System • 6 Har-Tru courts had strong serves so we decided just 100 Broadway l Huntington Station, NY 11746 to take one point at a time and made Located next to the Huntington train station sure to have good communication Phone: 631.421.0040 Email: HITennis@HITennisNY.com and to support each other," added www.HuntingtonIndoorTennis.net Katelyn.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

Commack’s Tannenbaum, Port Washington’s Perfiliev, Ross Win State Titles he best high school tennis players from New York gathered at Sportime Schenectady to compete in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Individual Championships. There were 11 different Sections of the state represented, but it was the two from Long Island, Nassau County (Section VIII) and Suffolk County (Suffolk XI), that reigned supreme. In singles, Commack sophomore Kady Tannenbaum powered her way to the state title, winning five consecutive matches to become the fourth Long Islander in the last seven tournaments to win the state singles title. “It was a fun weekend and I’m really honored to win,” said Tannenbaum. “I just had to stay focused throughout. Most of the players I played were seeded higher than me, but I knew if I remained focused I could still do well. I was just trying to be aggressive and it worked out really well for me.” Tannenbaum’s run began with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Julia Laspro in the opening round, before she came back to win 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 against Bronxville’s Victoria McEnroe. In the quarterfinals, Tannenbaum would meet her opponent from the Suffolk County Singles Final, Victoria Matos of Longwood. While she lost the county final, Tannenbaum exacted her revenge with a 6-2, 7-5 victory to book her spot in the state semifinals. “I knew the match would be tough because Victoria is a really good player, but I think losing the week before took some pressure off of me,” said Tannenbaum. “I saw how I played the week before and I made the right adjustments.” She would meet another Long Islander in the semifinals: Nassau County singles champion Isabella Sha of Friends Academy. Tannenbaum played lights out tennis to win 6-0, 6-2 and secure her spot in the finals. Her high level of play continued in the championship match as she defeated Larisa Kotok of Marion/Gananda 6-4, 6-0 to claim the state title. “I am incredibly proud of Kady. She has been an integral part of our Varsity team since seventh grade, and our whole team is celebrating her success,” said Commack head coach Jackie Clark. “Kady has a fantastic game that includes a terrific serve, penetrating backhand and a

blistering forehand. Staying low and using her weapons were key, but she did not get rattled, and remained positive even if she lost a point. She would just take a breath and move on to the next one. Her mental toughness was what took her over the finish line.” Bringing home a state title to Nassau County was Dasha Perfiliev & Ellie Ross of Port Washington. The county doubles champions made good on their top-seed billing, the fifth Long Island duo in the last seven tournaments to win the state doubles title. “It means the world to us,” said Perfiliev. “Obviously we hoped we would win, but now that we actually did, it seems surreal. We knew it would be tough but we had faith in ourselves, and I’m so proud of the both of us.” Ross added: “I am so glad we were able to represent Port Washington at States and win the whole thing. Even though we had won counties, we knew there were great teams throughout the state and it would be tough. Winning was definitely an ambition of ours, and to be New York State champions means everything.” The duo received walkover into the second round, and then lost just four total games in their Round of 16, Quarterfinal and Semifinal victories combined, securing their spot in the state final against Orchard Park’s Kelly Barnes & Maya Clinard. In the finals, however, something happened to the Port Washington pairing that hadn’t throughout the county or state tournaments up to that point: they lost a set. Barnes & Clinard took the opening set 6-3, forcing Perfiliev & Ross to play from behind for the first time. “Dropping the first set was kind of nerve-racking because we had never been down before in a match,” said Perfiliev. “We reminded ourselves of what we were playing for and I think that really helped us to make an adjustment in the second and third sets.”

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2021 long island girls high school recap continued from page 25

One of those adjustments was a change up in their positioning on the court, something they had practiced before. “Dasha and Ellie had practiced using Australian formation doubles as a way to change things up,” said Port Washington head coach Shane Helfner. “Once we started using this, and making our opponents have to change their return of serve, and this definitely helped change momentum and turn the match around in our favor.” The close relationship between both players helped

them execute these adjustments, and the end result was a 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 comeback victory. “By communicating, using new strategies and staying positive, we were able to turn it around,” said Ross. “We knew that after the first set, the pressure was on our opponents and we had to just play our game.” The wins by Tannenbaum and Perfiliev & Ross completed the sweep of titles for Long Island at the New York State Individual Championships.

St. Anthony’s Giannola Wins CHSAA Singles Title ne thing that makes a coach’s job easier, in any sport, is having the team’s best player be its hardest worker, and setting the example for the rest of their team. That’s the case for the St. Anthony’s girls tennis team and its star player Nicolina Giannola. The junior is in her second year competing for St. Anthony’s and in the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), but already making a profound impact. “She is always pushing herself to be the best player she can be,” said St. Anthony’s head coach Curtis McCalla. “Nicolina isn’t one to just come in and say, ‘I’m the best player, so I am not going to work too hard’. In all the times I have seen her train, she is a constant worker on the court, and an even better teammate off of it.” That hard work would pay off this past fall, as Giannola put together a dominant season that resulted in her winning the CHSAA singles title. Giannola defeated Abigail Eisenberg of St. Francis Prep in the title match. “It was a good day for me,” she said looking back on the victory. “My favorite surface is outdoor clay, and the tournament was on outdoor clay, so I was able to use my drop shot and backhand slice a lot. I really incorporated those shots into my game, and with my being a windy day, used it to my advantage.” Giannola came to St. Anthony’s last year, after initially beginning her high school tennis career at Port Jefferson High School, competing in Section XI. Her first year at St. Anthony’s was a bit of an adjustment period, and adding to that was the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in an abbreviated season. But in that season, she was able to compete in some first singles matches, and that helped her get accustomed to

playing in that position and scope out the type of competition she would have to face. “I alternated first singles matches with another girl, and after she graduated last year, I took over the first singles spot,” said Giannola. “It really helped me get ready for this season, and I enjoyed playing against some fresh faces and new opponents.” Her ability to scout opponents and make the right adjustments is one of the traits that makes her special, says McCalla. “She really pays attention to the Xs and Os,” he said. “She is great at figuring out the strengths and weaknesses of her opponents, and then understands how to expose those weaknesses. That’s the kind of player she is.” The daily routine for Giannola differs from most players her age. She lives in Port Jefferson, and each morning has to get up before dawn to take the train into Huntinigton to attend school at St. Anthony’s. Following school, she either attends practice for St. Anthony’s, or heads to Sportime Syosset or Kings Park for her private training. Those can make for long days, but Giannola has not allowed that business to affect either her tennis or her academics. “One of the biggest things for me is time management,” she said. “I live an hour away from school now, so I have to be smart in terms of staying on top of my school assignments and everything else.” Giannola now looks ahead to next year when she has an opportunity to defend her singles title, and will continue to put in the necessary work to constantly improve. “The future is really bright for Nicolina,” said McCalla. “She is always paying attention to the players who are at that next level, and understanding what it takes to get there. She’s always willing to do what’s needed to add to her skill set and become the best version of herself.”

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

Jack Kennedy Wins Les Petits As USA Playoff n late 2021, Huntington 13-year-old Jack Kennedy (pictured third from the left) traveled south to Boca Raton, Florida to compete in the United States playoffs of the prestigious Les Petits As junior tennis tournament. Adjusting to the outdoor conditions and competing against some of the best junior players in the country, Kennedy put together a dominant run. He did not drop a set during his time in Florida, and won the playoffs to qualify for the Les Petits As event in late January in Tarbes, France. “It was a great experience playing against some of the top players from all across America, some of whom I had never played against and others who I have been competing against for a number of years now,” said Kennedy. Moving from the cold conditions of New York, which forces players to train indoors in the fall and winter months, to the warm, sunny weather of South Florida was a difficult transition for Kennedy. But once he got used to the different climate, his game spoke for itself. After finishing atop Group D in the round-robin stage, Kennedy then defeated Jackson Hinderberger of Texas 6-1, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, then friend and fellow Long Islander Sebastian

Bielen 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals, before toppling California’s Ford McCollum 6-1, 6-4 in the finals. “My training definitely helped. My coach Greg [Lumpkin] and I have been working really hard together over the last few months. It was a tough atmosphere down there in terms of the conditions. Going from training indoors in New York to playing outdoors in Florida, it was definitely an adjustment as the wind was a big factor. But after the first couple of matches I got used to it, and it worked out.” As he prepares for 2022, he wants to improve on his ability to sustain long rallies, and play shots with high

margins. Consistency, he says, will be a major key for him as he gets ready to play the top national and international tournaments in the year to come. Highlighting that tournament schedule will be a trip in January to Tarbes, France for the Les Petits As, which runs from January 20-30. “I’ve never been outside of the country before, it’s going to be amazing,” said Kennedy. “It’s Sebastian and I and two other Americans traveling to France. Hopefully we can try some baguettes and croissants while we’re there. It’s going to be an incredible experience, traveling to Europe to play tennis. I’m really looking forward to it.”

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

USTA Eastern Long Island Region USTA Eastern to Honor Long Islanders at Annual Conference USTA Eastern will honor several Long Islanders during an awards ceremony in late January. According to USTA Eastern, “It has been two years since we were last able to gather, and we hope that the return of our signature event will empower you to hit the court running in 2022.” For more information on the Eastern Tennis Conference, visit www.eastern.usta.com Representing Long Island at the awards ceremony will be:

High School Coach of the Year: Shai Fisher

Fisher has coached several Nassau County Champions: Brian Gao & Jeremy Levine (2021 Doubles); Kabir Rajpal (2019 Singles and NYS singles runner-up); Eli Grossman & Preet Rajpal ( 2018 and 2017 Doubles); Neel Rajesh & Kabir Rajpal (2016 Doubles), and Dylan Granat & Daniel Shleimovich (2015 Doubles). Since 2011, he also has been Coordinator of Section VIII (Nassau County) Girls Tennis. His many other accomplishments include overseeing the changing of the Nassau County team playoff format from a Conference 1 (top ability only) format to a 16-team tournament draw (including Conferences 2A, 2B, 3A & 3B). In addition, he has worked with his players to help them coordinate many charitable and community programs over the years.

Courage Award: Jason Pasion

Fisher is the longtime coach of the Syosset High School boys’ and girls’ tennis teams. Under his guidance, the boys’ team won the Nassau County & Long Island Team Championships in 2021, 2018 and 2017 (in 2017, they won the Executive Cup – sponsored by the USTA Long Island Region) and won the Nassau County championship in 2016 and 2015. The 2021 girls’ team won the Long Island Championship and finished as the runner-up in the first-ever New York State Team Championship. Fisher’s girls’ teams also won the 2020 and 2018 Nassau County Team Championships. 28

Pasion was the head tennis coach at Hofstra University prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. When everything shut down in March 2020, he decided to put his physician’s assistant degree to use and went into hospitals to volunteer. Speaking of his decision, Pasion said: “First, we learned at Hofstra that they were ending our spring season. And then I was hearing on the news that there’s a shortage of health care workers, so it got me really thinking: ‘I’ve got this degree and I can do something with it, and this is probably where I’m needed the most right now.’ I still keep in touch with a lot of my classmates from PA school, and they all work at hospitals and private practices. So I reached out to a few people that I went to school with and decided that I would volunteer at a few hospitals.”

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

USTA Eastern Long Island Region Pasion's history in the medical field dates back over 20 years. He was working as an EMT on 9/11 and ended up at Ground Zero to support firefighters within hours of the towers falling. He was there for three days straight. As he recalls, he had no cell phone service and his parents had no way to contact him for those three days. They didn’t know if he was okay until he finally was able to return home. This past July, Pasion resigned as Hofstra coach in part to return to the medical field. He said volunteering made him realize he wanted to return to health care. So as not to completely leave the world of tennis, he accepted a position at Sportime Lynbrook to stay involved in the sport.

excel in various sports including basketball and tennis. Eugene became highly engaged with tennis when his granddaughters first started to play. The first grandchild, Ariana Pursoo, was introduced to the game with his help and Eugene made the sacrifices needed to get her on court. With the support of her grandfather, Ariana has become a world class junior and one of the best in the country. As Eugene became more involved with helping his granddaughters be successful tennis players, his attention has also shifted to his two younger granddaughters, Gabby and Ashley, who are competitive players in the 12U age division. Eugene continues to impact on the tennis community by coaching at the Lu-Hi School.

Family of the Year: The Pursoo Family

Long Island Regional Volunteer of the Year: Clark D. Ruiz II

Eugene Pursoo was born on the island of Grenada; he came to New York and attended college at Fordham University. He went on to have four children who would

Ruiz, a longtime member of the Long Island Regional Council, volunteers as Nassau County Delegate and serves on the Junior Competition Committee. He has run numerous USTA junior tournaments on Long Island and volunteered his time on a number of committees and at many Council events. He was instrumental in setting up and being the tournament director for the Girls High School tournament run by the Long Island Regional Council this past spring.

USTA Eastern Long Island Regional Council Executive Committee Jonathan Klee, Regional Director Michael Pavlides, Past Regional Director Sunny Fishkind, Vice Regional Director Randi Wilkins, Secretary Follow USTA Long Island by visiting Facebook and searching “Play Tennis Long Island” LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

A Thing of Beauty By Lonnie Mitchel

f you follow my articles in this publication you know by now that I write about the game of tennis every two months, and often I intimate that the game can mean so many things to so many people. I try to impart that wisdom so that it bears fruit some day in some way. While preparing to write this article, another epiphany came to me while I was teaching an adult clinic. On the court next to me were six 4.5 level players that were drilling. Two of these players were young women that I would estimate were in their early to mid-20’s. I watched them hit with admiration and my adrenaline rushed as it usually does when I see a good level of play, and even some jealousy because I just want to get out on the court and hit. However, I

had to concentrate on the clinic I was teaching, and my ambition was to get the players I was coaching to aspire to get to that level. Let’s face it, there are plenty of 4.5 players out there, but in the world of competitive tennis, only a small percentage of them get to such a skilled place. The NTRP states you are an advanced player if you are a 4.5 competitor. After further observation on that neighboring court, I recognized two of the young women. They were former junior players that graduated some years ago from college, and even played in the tennis program at that same club where I taught for many years. At that moment I am reminded that many of the other instructors at the club, and of course their parents,

are responsible for providing these women with the tennis prowess they now possess. These players were just another example of parents and instructors that gave them the great gift of tennis, the sport for a lifetime. There they were hitting screeching groundstrokes, crisp volleys and good consistent serves. I was in awe of their tennis because maybe 13 or 14 years ago they could not even sustain a rally. I know I wasn’t watching Serena Williams or top professionals, however, I was watching young adult players smile, compete and play an advanced level of tennis. I can certainly turn on the Tennis Channel every day and watch terrific professional tennis, but this brand of tennis, one that was

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

developed in my own backyard from a grassroots level, was equally entertaining for me. You can bet these young women are developing a social network that provides them another dimension to their lives all of which is rooted from their tennis. I wish their parents were there because I wanted to say to them, “job well done”. Sure, let us give these players the credit too because they stuck with it over the years. Once again, I am brought back to a place where I am immersed in the joys of tennis. During the school year and collegiate season, I can be mentally drained by the time the season comes to an end. The travel, organization, recruiting, daily practices and total commitment working through coaching the competition can be a lot, and by season’s end, I am as fried as the players are. I can forget that the game is beautiful

and the other dimension that I just wrote about is equally as wonderful. These two players at the club do not know that I am writing about them, but I want to thank them for allowing me to observe something beautiful. The beauty was seeing the result of parents and instructors who supported them all these years, and the enjoyment of seeing all that work resulting in them continuing to play this great sport. I work side-by-side at the College of SUNY Oneonta with a colleague who coaches the Men’s and

Women’s Swimming teams. This coach reminds me of the influence we as mentors provide young men and women, and that we plant a seed that can lie dormant for awhile and might not bear fruit for years. These two young women were perfect examples of that, and inspire me to continue coaching and teaching the game I love to more youngsters. Thank you for reminding me that coaching young tennis can influence lives on the court and beyond. It really was a thing of beauty!

Lonnie Mitchel is head men’s and women’s tennis coach at SUNY Oneonta. Lonnie was named an assistant coach to Team USA for the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel for the Grand Master Tennis Division. Lonnie may be reached by phone at (516) 414-7202 or e-mail lonniemitchel@yahoo.com.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

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Your 2022 Guide to Long Island Tennis Magazine’s

Top Clubs & Programs

Long Island tennis players have great choices when it comes to where to play tennis. We have compiled a list of some of the top clubs and programs 34 Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com with descriptions of what each has to offer.

Bethpage Park Tennis Center 99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Building #4 Farmingdale, N.Y. l (516) 777-1358 Bethpage Park Tennis Center is located just a few hundred feet from the Black Course at beautiful Bethpage State Park. Four indoor hard courts and four indoor red clay courts are air-conditioned for year-round play, along with two outdoor Har-Tru courts. Bethpage Park Tennis Center offers an array of adult seasonal court opportunities, Men's and Women's leagues, Lesson and Junior Development Programs, Quickstart, Zone tennis and walk-on court opportunities. New this year is the addition of Pickleball and Saturday night tennis/pickleball parties. It’s free and low-cost program for special populations and veterans is perhaps the largest of its kind in New York State. The Center is best known for its renowned junior development program, led by top coach Steve Kaplan who has developed more top players than anyone else in the East. Steve is the owner of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, director emeritus of City Parks Foundation Lacoste Academy and Executive Director of Serve and Return Inc. Steve has been the long-time coach of more than 1,100 nationally-ranked junior players, 16 state high school singles champions, two NCAA Division I Singles Champions, and numerous touring professionals, prominent coaches and many prominent members of the New York financial. Steve's students have been awarded in excess of $11 million in college scholarship money. In the summer, the finest players in the East join Bethpage Park Tennis Center for summer camp on four indoor hard courts four indoor red clay courts that are air-conditioned, along with two outdoor Har-Tru courts and six nearby outdoor hard courts. Lunch is included and transportation is available. Bethpage Park Tennis Center charges no membership fee and values all of its beginners equally with its nationally-ranked players. We follow all COVID safety protocols and charge no membership fees.

STEVE KAPLAN’S

BETHPAGE PARK TENNIS CENTER

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

BethpageParkTennis.com

Carefree Racquet Club 1414 Jerusalem Avenue, #1 l North Merrick, N.Y. CarefreeTennis@gmail.com l (516) 489-9005 Carefree Racquet Club is Long Island’s premier indoor tennis club, offering seven indoor tennis courts, two half-court basketball courts and four pickleball courts. League Coordinator Samantha Perri offers adult singles, doubles and team doubles leagues that are always on the correct level to insure you a good game every time you play. Carefree has many USTA teams in the 18 & Over, 40 & Over, 55 & Over Men's, Women's and Mixed Doubles Leagues, along with Tri-Level Leagues. For those new to the game or just want to improve, Carefree offers two 14-week sessions of learn and play groups, coordinated by Louis Vallejo. Players get an hour lesson each week, along with 90 minutes of practice time each week. Jean Tanklowitz, senior program coordinator, has many retirees who simply have a flexible schedule, playing Monday through Thursday in the afternoon. All games are arranged by Jean. For junior players, Ben Marks, Carefree’s director of tennis, coordinates the Junior Development Program with two 14week sessions starting at the age of five, running through the age of 18. Children can take group, semi-private or private lessons, along with practice time and ladder match play as well. Ben also runs a high school prep program and an Elite program. Carefree is very proud of its QuickStart Tot Program for children ages three- to five-years-old, which uses props to keep the children’s attention and is coordinated by Vikki Roberto. Carefree Racquet Club is managed by Kathy Miller, along with Assistant Manager Pat McIlwee, who pride themselves on the organization and smooth running of Long Island's premier indoor tennis club that has never and continues to not charge membership fees. Carefree offers a summer camp for Juniors from the end of June until mid August. We offer a Red Ball Camp (10 years of age and under) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday's from 9am to noon with Kristen Cassidy. In addition we have a camp for all ages (6-18) that runs Monday- Friday 1:00-5:00 run by Lou Vallejo. Call us for more details! So if you are looking to join a program or just rent a court now and then, come down and visit Carefree Racquet Club!

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

CarefreeTennis.com

Chris Lewit Tennis Academy 3997 VT-100 l Londonderry, Vt. l (914) 462-2912 Chris@ChrisLewit.com l YouTube.com/Chris Lewit Chris Lewit Tennis Academy (CLTA) is a serious high performance academy set in the natural paradise of Vermont. The club offers European style red clay courts and indoor hard courts, gym and clubhouse. We never get rained out! Families love to visit nearby Manchester, Vermont, known internationally as a mountain tourist destination for its quaint village and charming shops and restaurants. CLTA offers year-round full-time training, short-term training, and a world-famous high performance boarding summer camp. All players get to work on court directly with Chris. Chris is not just a figurehead; he is active on court working with players in the trenches daily. That’s what makes CLTA unique and special, and that’s why players come to train with Chris from all over the world. Chris Lewit is one of leading high-performance junior development coaches in the United States. Author of the bestselling book, The Secrets of Spanish Tennis, Chris has spent the last 14 years studying with many of the legendary coaches in Spain and Europe. He brings the most cutting-edge training methods from Europe back to the U.S. for his students. Chris is known as an expert in technique and biomechanics, and in Spanish training methods. He has developed numerous top 10 nationally-ranked juniors, one Little Mo National champ, and many elite players now graduating to the pro circuit. He also has unmatched experience building the foundations of many young prodigies. CLTA offers a unique teaching system based on the Bruguera Method, Toni Nadal Method, and the system of William Pato Alvarez—all from legendary coaches in Spain. Chris is one of the only coaches in the world who has attained certification in these three systems, and he brings unparalleled experience to this who want to train authentically the Spanish Way. Come experience the best in Spanish training or technical/biomechanical development year-round at the CLTA. You will be treated like part of the family!

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

ChrisLewit.com

Eastern Athletic EACTennis@gmail.com l EACTennis@yahoo.com (631) 363-6063 l (631) 773-6293 Multiple locations on Long Island and in Brooklyn Eastern Athletic is family-owned and is one of the New York’s original and finest tennis and fitness facilities, offering a wide variety of programs for the tennis enthusiast and fitness buffs. Offering five locations throughout Suffolk County and Brooklyn to accommodate the ever changing needs of our clientele, Eastern Athletic has 11 Nova Ultra cushion indoor tennis courts, seven racquetball courts, eight squash courts, Indoor Pools and much more. To find out about all we have to offer, visit us at EasternAthleticClubs.com. Eastern Athletic Tennis offers season and open court rentals, private and group instruction for the pee-wee through the seasoned octogenarian. All programs, lessons, drills, clinics, zones, leagues, performance training, ladders, parties and camps are offered year-round in climatecontrolled facilities. Our Blue Point location has a USTA 10 and under program with over 120 students and room for more! We host one of the largest Men’s Singles Flex Ladder/Leagues on Long Island, as well as highly competitive men's and women's leagues, ladders and are host more than 15 USTA teams. Many of our teams have competed in regional, sectional and national competition. In addition, Eastern Athletic has one of the best performance training programs, integrating tennis with athletic performance programs. Eastern Athletic has produced some of the top tennis players on Long Island under the direction and supervision of Gary Guadio at our Blue Point location and Laurie Tenney Fehrs at our Dix Hills Location with their renowned tennis staff. Eastern Athletic has programs for Juniors and Adults of all ages and level of play, and is confident there is something for you. For more information and to join our growing family, e-mail EACTennis@yahoo.com or visit: • EAC in Blue Point: 9A Montauk Highway, Blue Point, N.Y. — (631) 363-2882 • EAC in Dix Hills: 854 East Jericho Turnpike, Dix Hills, N.Y. — (631) 773-6293 • EAC in Brooklyn Heights: 43 Clark Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. — (718) 625-0500 • EAC in Prospect Park: 17 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, N.Y. — (718) 789-4600

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

EasternAthleticClubs.com

Generation Next Tennis 12 Shore Drive l Great Neck, N.Y. l (516) 233-2790 A hidden gem conveniently located and open to players of all ages and levels, Generation Next Tennis is a short ride from anywhere in Nassau County and Queens. This scenic club over looking the Little Neck Bay features five year-round clay courts, two outdoor season hard courts, and a highly-skilled and experienced coaching staff comprised of former ATP, ITF and NCAA players. New York Tennis at Great Neck is now under a new name which is Generation Next Tennis it has been serving up tennis in this location since 2010. Initially formed over 30 years ago by the late and legendary Tennis Director Howie Arons, the junior program has produced more than 90 NCAA players, 250 ranked junior players, and 1,000 high school players. The club’s adult program prides itself in having a wide array of programming, from dynamic clinics and express tennis for beginners, to high energy cardio tennis and in-club competitive leagues, ensuring adults have exactly what they&#39;re looking for. The waterfront location, accommodating staff, and friendly atmosphere has also made the club an increasingly popular destination for those looking to host events, such as birthday parties, holiday parties and corporate outings. What players enjoy most about playing at the club is the comfortable, relaxed and welcoming environment that they feel when they walk through the doors of Generation Next Tennis at great neck estates. Passion, consistency and authenticity ring true every day at the club, where everyone feels at home and part of one big, but at the same time, tight-knit tennis family.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Glen Head Racquet and Fitness 95 Glen Head Avenue l Glen Head, N.Y. l (516) 676-9849 Glen Head Racquet & Fitness Club is a boutique tennis club that provides the highest tennis standards in the North Shore Area, the reason why it was named “2018 Tennis Club of the Year!” Though the Club has been one of the pioneers in the area, gathering and forming many champions over the years, under the new ownership, Glen Head Racquet and Fitness Club has been modernized in many ways. From the elegant fully-equipped locker rooms to the cozy lounge and LED lighting, everything comes together to satisfy every client. With easy access from both Glen Cove Road and LIRR (Glen Head Station), Glen Head Racquet & Fitness has a fantastic playing facility: Six high-quality hard courts of which four can be used for pickleball and table tennis classes. The satisfaction and results of the facility’s clients are priorities for us and now you can learn from the knowledgeable, certified pros. Their programs include: •

• •

• • • • •

A wide variety of junior and adult tennis clinics are available for all ability levels. These tennis programs feature video analysis, stroke development and refinement for both basic and advanced skills, including the use of spin, repetitive/tactical drills and some competitive situations. These clinics are a great opportunity to build solid technique and to learn new skills Accommodation for groups and teams year-round. If the existing programs do not meet your needs, we can tailor a group training session just for your team. We are happy to accommodate groups and teams year-round at our site. Glen Head’s summer camps offer technical and tactical training from highly-skilled and passionate certified coaches. Players will receive world-class instruction on every stage of their game, thus aiding in the advancement of their skill level. Glen Head’s coaches push each player to perform at their highest level and although it's intense training, the coaches see to it that the week is fun and enjoyable. 10 & Under Tennis School break camps Pickleball classes Special events Private birthday parties

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

GlenHeadRAF.com

Huntington Indoor Tennis 100 Broadway l Huntington Station, N.Y. hitennis@hitennisny.com l (631) 421-0040 Huntington Indoor Tennis is celebrating 41 years as the top tennis facility in the greater Huntington area! Some of our players that trained and competed with us as children, now play here as adults and bring their own children to Huntington Indoor to learn the sport. Huntington Indoor has six climate-controlled HarTru courts with new state-of-the-art LED lights. We recently refurnished our lounge area for our customers’ comfort and enjoyment. The club is conveniently located next to the Huntington train station with free onsite parking. Open to the public daily from 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., and there are no membership fees. Huntington Indoor Tennis offers organized adult programs including in-house singles and doubles leagues for women and men; mixed doubles league; USTA leagues; tennis fitness programs; clinics and lessons. In addition, we offer seasonal and hourly court reservations. The “Early Bird” program offers discounted play from 7:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. year-round and senior discounts are available. Huntington Indoor tennis is proud to be the home facility of 18 USTA teams in 2021, including women’s, men’s and mixed in levels from 3.0 to 4.5 and all age groups. We have a robust program for children including junior development, junior competition, in-house leagues and USTA tournaments. There are currently 300 children enrolled in our junior programs. Our premier children’s summer camp is offered every week from late-June through August, including both full day and half day sessions. Huntington Indoor has an amazing group of pros. Most of our dedicated pros have been working here for 20+ years, coaching children and adults to improve their game and tennis skills. Contact us anytime for information or visit HuntingtonIndoorTennis.net.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

HuntingtonIndoorTennis.net

Nassau Tennis & Sports Center 75 Fern Place l Inwood, N.Y. info@nassautenniscenter.com l (516) 239-8303 Nassau Indoor Tennis Club, which has been the go-to tennis club in the Five Towns area of Nassau County for more than three decades, has re-branded to Nassau Tennis & Sports Center. Conveniently located on the South Shore, 30 minutes from Manhattan and 10 minutes from JFK Airport in Inwood, N.Y., Nassau Tennis is easily accessible from anywhere on Long Island or New York City. Under new ownership, the recently reconditioned Har-Tru Tennis Courts are the perfect venue for the tennis enthusiast. Proud members of the USTA, Nassau Tennis offers something for everybody. Looking for an outstanding youth program, private lessons, adult leagues, seasonal or hourly court time? Looking to throw a tennis party and cannot find a facility to rent? Nassau Indoor is available for all-sized parties, big or small. Nassau Indoor Tennis is happy and able to accommodate your tennis needs. The Club is proud host to USTA-sanctioned junior tournaments and USTA Adult League Teams. Nassau Tennis provides unparalleled professional instruction to children and adults of all skill levels and abilities. Rest assured, when you join Nassau Tennis & Sports Center, you'll get hands-on instruction from some of the region's best and nationally-ranked professionals. Whether you are taking up tennis for the first time or have been playing for a long time, Nassau Tennis is available for all of your tennis needs. Nassau Tennis & Sports Center is open seven days a week, and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Hourly and seasonal court time is also available. Whether you would like to sign up for individual or group lessons, rent hourly or seasonal court time, join a league, or need some questions answered, Nassau Indoor Tennis’s friendly staff is available to assist you. For more information, visit NassauTennisCenter.com.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

NassauTennisCenter.com

Point Set Indoor Racquet Club 3065 New Street l Oceanside, N.Y. Lori@PointSetTennis.com l (516) 536-2323 Extreme makeover … tennis club edition! Upgrade yourself by enjoying the all new U.S. Open blue tennis courts, gleaming locker rooms, renovated lobby/office and redesigned social space of post-storm Point Set Indoor Racquet Club! A state-of-the-art, spare no expense renovation out of respect to our customers! With 350-plus juniors in developmental programs, 60-plus QuickStart Pee-Wees, 500-plus adult players in leagues/contracts/drills, Point Set Racquet Club is working towards fulfilling its mission statement: Point Set aspires to be the most vibrant tennis club on the South Shore by integrating heart with sport in the community. The dedicated dream team staff of tennis professionals administers a top tier Tournament Training Program (TTP) for three levels of junior competitors. It addresses all aspects of competition: drills, match play, fitness and mental toughness. See what a difference the Point Set staff delivers as the facility has added air-conditioning for a controlled climate for play year-round! Point Set Indoor Racquet Club recognizes that customers are its most important asset. The collegial relationship of the staff, on- and off-the-court, translates into a friendly environment for its customers. Point Set is a full-service club and your gateway to challenging yourself to explore, enjoy and improve yourself through the great sport of tennis. Experience the difference a supportive environment makes! Come play at Point Set, where fun meets fitness.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

PointSetTennis.com

Port Washington Tennis Academy 100 Harbor Road l Port Washington, N.Y. Tennis@PWTA.com l (516) 883-6425 Port Washington Tennis Academy (PWTA) is dedicated to young people, primarily from the ages of four through 18. PWTA was created in 1966 as a non-profit facility to use tennis as a means of fostering educational success for children, by developing a stimulating lifelong activity that is fun, healthy, and scholastically and socially beneficial. This is accomplished by utilizing specialized techniques with a wide range of instructional programs, special in-house competitions. PWTA also offers an extensive variety of adult programs at all levels. Men's and women's leagues, private lessons, group clinics (three players plus a professional), seasonal courts, are just part of the club’s broad spectrum of activities. PWTA is the largest indoor tennis facility on the East Coast, with 17 indoor courts (four hard and 13 HarTru) and a unique elevated quarter mile-long indoor running track. PWTA also provides many extras not found as part of a teaching program, such as an international teaching staff, closed-circuit TV for each court, upper TV lounge for relaxed viewing, spectator viewing galleries to ensure full visibility of every court, comfortable lounge areas, extensive men's and women's locker rooms, meeting rooms, etc. Complimentary coffee, tea, milk, cookies, juice and potassium-rich bananas are always available to PWTA members. In addition, the Academy has a fully-stocked pro shop to meet the needs of members. For more information, call (516) 883-6425 or visit PWTA.com.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

PWTA.com

Ross School Tennis Academy 20 Goodfriend Drive l East Hampton, N.Y. TennisAcademy@Ross.org l (631) 907-5162 Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) is the premiere training center in the Hamptons, boasting a beautiful tennis facility that is open to the public and located on the Ross Upper School Campus in East Hampton, N.Y. The Tennis Center features six HarTru courts that are enclosed by a bubble from mid-fall through mid-spring, allowing for year-round play. The Tennis Center features state-of-the-art amenities such as spacious locker rooms, lower level lounge, convenient snack bar, and ping-pong tables, and the staff provides a fun and supportive atmosphere that allows for the greatest amount of success. After-school programming, a dynamic program for junior players, and specialized summer programs are offered to make Ross Tennis Academy the place to play tennis in the Hamptons. After-school Programs (Pre-K–Grade 12) • Nursery-Grade 4: Specialized one-hour training program where players build a strong foundation through a variety of game-based and cooperative activities using 10U age appropriate (Red, Orange or Green) balls and nets that will prepare them for eventual full court play. • Grade 5-Grade 12: Players build off their 10U foundation to further develop fundamental skills and techniques as they transition into yellow balls and prepare for full-court tournament competition. Ball control, strategy, and work ethic are all emphasized in this 90-minute session of drills and point play. Players in kindergarten and higher are required to play twice per week in this program. Integrated Training + Academic Program • Designed for USTA/ITF players in grades seventh through 12 and postgraduates, RSTA is the first in the New York City area to have a full academic program with a complete physical and mental conditioning program. In addition, unlike other tennis academies, RSTA is a small, intimate program that allows student-athletes to develop lasting relationships with coaches, while receiving personalized instruction. Students who attend the Academy experience high-performance tennis training, while studying alongside their peers in a stimulating college preparatory learning community following a regular academic year (Ross.org/Tennis). • Lessons and Court Rentals: Ross Tennis Academy also offers adult clinics, court rentals and private and group instruction for all ages and levels. The Tennis Center is also used for a variety of special events and is available for private parties.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Ross.org/Tennis

SPORTIME Tennis Clubs Home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy New York Region—11 locations across Long Island, Manhattan, Westchester and the Capital Region

PlayTennis@SportimeNY.com l (888) 698-3664 SPORTIME’s facilities, programs and coaches have set the tennis standard of excellence in New York since 1994. With more than 150 hard and soft surface courts, indoors and outdoors, we offer great tennis clubs, cutting-edge programs, summer and school break tennis training camps for players of all ages and abilities, and the John McEnroe Tennis Academy at four locations, in NYC, on Long Island and in Westchester. Faced with the challenges of COVID-19, we responded immediately with guidelines and protocols designed to keep our players, members, guests and staff safe, healthy and continuing to enjoy tennis for recreation, fitness and social connection. To find out more, go to SportimeNY.com/Covid19_Guide. Programs for everyone include: • Juniors: From Bounce for preschoolers, to the SPORTIME U10 tennis pathway for red and orange level players, to SPORTIME EXCEL for green and yellow level juniors, to the ultimate opportunity to train with New York tennis icon Johnny Mac in the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) team, SPORTIME offers a complete menu of tennis programming for every level of junior development and play. Our curriculums include world-class, age and level appropriate athletic training, mental toughness training, vision training, and more, reflecting our commitment to developing complete players. SPORTIME/JMTA’s approach, including gamification, gets kids playing fast and blends technical and tactical learning and coaching from the very first lesson. SPORTIME students turn their weaknesses into strengths and their strengths into winning games! • Adults: SPORTIME’s Adult Tennis Kinetics is the largest adult group lesson program in the country. Major League Tennis, Cardio Tennis, and SPORTIME’s signature “Zone” high-intensity, competitive games program all provide great workouts, combined with skills development and lots of fun! For those looking for the ultimate challenge, SPORTIME offers Adult EXCEL, modeled after the Junior EXCEL and JMTA programs. Mixed-doubles parties, round-robin mixers, club tournaments, special events, and concierge-style game arranging, enhance adult play throughout the year. • SPORTIME Summer Camps and JMTA Tennis Training Camps: SPORTIME offers the best tennis and sports camps anywhere and has a camp location near you! SPORTIME summer and school-break camps, including U10, EXCEL and JMTA player development camps, utilize fun and fast-paced training methods, competitive games, technical instruction and tactical training for match play, as well as off-court athletic and mental toughness training. Multi-Sport, Preschool, Volleyball and Hockey camps are also offered.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

SportimeNY.com

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows Corona Park l Flushing, N.Y. (718) 760-6200 The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open Tennis Championships, is the largest public tennis facility in the world. It is, most certainly, a “Tennis Welcome Center.” The Tennis Center is open to the public year-round for court rentals and offers exciting programming, as well as numerous events throughout the year. Programs are offered for all ages and levels, as well as clinics, private lessons, leagues, tours, field trips, summer camps, corporate events, birthday parties, and tournaments. The NTC also supports all USTA Community Tennis and Player Development initiatives. The professional staff of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center also conducts community tennis programs, including 11 & Under Tennis for children 11 years of age and under to learn tennis in a fun and dynamic way; USTA Junior Team Tennis for youth match play; USTA League Tennis for competitive, level-of-play competition, and an official Cardio Tennis site for on-court heart-pumping fitness. There is an extensive summer camp program which provides basic tennis instruction starting as young as 11 and under up through and including Academy level players. Camps include instruction and fitness programs; the encouragement of good sportsmanship leading to general character building for the children of all ages and levels. These services are provided at a nominal cost, making it affordable for youngsters who would not otherwise get the chance to attend camp or receive tennis instruction. Lastly, the Project ACES (Alternative Classroom Environment for Students), implemented at the NTC in 2009, is geared towards children from schools from the New York City Metropolitan Area. This program provides students the opportunity to visit the NTC and learn about the history and the game of tennis. The kids are given a tour of the entire site, including Center Court in Ashe, a video presentation on the history of tennis and the great players of the sport, followed by an hour of on-court tennis instruction.

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Stop The Conversation To End Tennis Frustration By Steve Kaplan

aulty second serves, shaky volleys, careless ground strokes and anger over bad line calls may rob us of many points. However, none of these are the primary cause of why most points are lost. Our mistakes are not as costly to us as are our negative reactions to our mistakes. For most players, more points are lost because of an inability to focus only on the present, then for any other reason. Specifically, our reaction to previously failed points, as well as a fear of future point outcomes, keeps us from succeeding in the moment. Just how troublesome is a lack of focus on the present, or what many call mindfulness? In order to put this issue into context, a historical review of ATP tour results reveals some starling numbers. If you win

just 54 percent of the points for the year on the pro tour you will win over 90 percent of your matches. Both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have achieved this benchmark in recent years. If you win 50 percent of the points, you score a victory in about 50 percent of you matches. So if you change the outcome of just one out of every 25 points you play, you go from being an all-time great to mediocre. Now consider, how often do you give away more than one out of 25 points out of anger or fear? I often challenge players to embrace the mindset that it's OK to not be perfect, because no one is. What is not acceptable, however, is to lose even one single point because we can't accept that we are imperfect. With this idea in mind we can recognize that each

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

point counts for just one point. This same principle applies also to every game, set, match and season. There is an expression in psychology, "If you want to be angry or sad, think about the past. If you want to be fearful or anxious, think about the future. If you want to be calm and focused be in the present." Billie Jean King calls this, "Being in the now", and as the famous author Eckhard Tolle explains, "The past no longer exists and when the future comes it will be the present; there is only now." So how exactly can you avoid unwanted thoughts? Well, you can't because it's virtually impossible to control what enters your mind. This concept is called the "White Bear Effect." Try not to think of White Bears and what do you think about? White

Bears of course. The key to dealing with unwanted thoughts on and off the tennis court is not to avoid them, but instead to manage them by stopping pointless and harmful conversations from derailing the task at hand. Learn and practice the ability to stop ruminating with unwanted thoughts by letting them go and then moving on by replacing the past and future with a laser focus on the present. One technique of many for example, is to imagine unnecessary thoughts as clouds in the sky. Notice them and let these thoughts leave your mind and body by exhaling them and watching them dissolve into the wind. Perhaps the most effective technique for managing the stress of unwanted thoughts is to focus on slow and purposeful exhaling because this practice brings you to the present moment, and steadies

you by triggering your nervous system with a soothing parasympathetic response. Prolonged expiratory breathing to calm your mind and your body, as with any skill, can be refined and perfected with deliberate practice. The best players in the world, like, Djokovic, Roger Federer and Stefanos Tstisipas have all spoken recently about just how important developing breathing techniques have been to

their success. While the top pros have embraced the value of proper breathing technique, this ability is still a poorly understood and underappreciated skill by many juniors that really should be incorporated as a part of every players workout routine. Breathe deep, exhale slowly and stop the conversation to be calm and in the now. You will win many more matches if you focus only on the present.

Steve Kaplan is the owner and managing director of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as director emeritus of Lacoste Academy for New York City Parks Foundation, and executive director and founder of Serve & Return Inc. Many of the students Steve has closely mentored have gone to achieve great success as prominent members of the New York financial community, and in other prestigious professions. In 2017, Steve was awarded the Hy Zausner Lifetime Achievement Award by the USTA. He may be reached by e-mail at StevenJKaplan@aol.com.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

USTA Eastern Long Island Region Year in Review By Neil Thakur

hile many tennis players know about our leagues program, USTA Eastern is actively involved in many other aspects of tennis across the Island. Here’s a look at some of our big projects in 2021:

PE Tennis in Schools USTA Eastern provides free resources to all public and private schools to teach tennis in their PE classes in any indoor or outdoor space. (No tennis courts are required!) The free resources include age appropriate equipment, a K-12 PE Curriculum developed in partnership with SHAPE America, free training for the teachers and a connection to a local school partner to help with in-school and after school programming. In 2021, 97 teachers across Long Island registered to receive these free resources. If your school is not offering tennis in PE, please contact us and we will help provide them with what they need to get started. Racquet Drive Our USTA Long Island Junior Council collected over 350 used racquets during its recent racquet drive. These racquets will be cleaned up and distributed to community programs across the Island in the coming months. If you know of a program in need of racquets, please let us know. Parks With the current “tennis boom”, many more players are playing on public courts across Long Island. USTA Eastern supports our local providers who have programs in the parks by offering grants and other resources to help bring more new players into the game. Over the summer, we partnered with the Nassau County Parks Department to offer tennis to over 600 new junior players at their summer camps. We also supported a senior tennis league at Hempstead Lake Park, which tripled in size by the end of the season. If you are interested in bringing more tennis programs to your local park, please contact us. Partners USTA Eastern works with various partners such as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the NYS Parent Teacher Association to help promote the healthy benefits of tennis to their members. We held events for each of these organizations which were very well received. 50

If you work with an organization that would like to partner with us, please let us know. Cultural Events USTA Eastern held events at various clubs and parks to celebrate cultural holidays such as Black History Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Pride Month, etc. Some of these events included raising money for COVID relief in areas where it was most needed. If you would like us to help organize a tennis event for a cultural holiday, please let us know. High School Tennis USTA Eastern supports high school tennis by providing resources to coaches and players. We held several invitational tournaments to offer more playing opportunities to the many students who lost a year of competitive tennis. We also take special pride in recognizing those players who display good sportsmanship. U.S. Open After two years, the US Open welcomed back fans to the stands. USTA Eastern once again received the opportunity to select a few junior players to serve as Coin Tossers, Trophy Holders and “Net Casters” at the Open. Long Island was well represented in all categories, and we look forward to bringing even more participants to Flushing Meadows in 2022. Interested in receiving support from USTA Eastern? Contact Neil Thakur at thakur@eastern.usta.com. Neil Thakur is the Long Island Community Tennis Coordinator & Manager, School Tennis, for USTA Eastern. He may be reached at thakur@eastern.usta.com.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

Adult League Wrap-Up By Kathy Miller

A Farewell his will be the last USTA Adult League article I write for Long Island Tennis Magazine. After 37 years, I am retiring from coordinating the USTA leagues. I will still be at Carefree Racquet Club for a few more years and will be working with the new USTA League coordinator until mid-April. I leave you in the very capable hands of Jennifer Giordano. We have been working together since mid-November and I have no doubt that the transition will be seamless. On that note, the 40 & Over mixed teams are being formed. If you are looking to play on a team, please let Jennifer know and she will see which teams need players; she can be reached at Giordano@eastern.usta.com. Matches will start the last weekend in February and the first weekend in March, and run through June. The 18 & Over mixed league will be complete by the

end of March. We will be getting the email out by the end of January for the 2022 Men’s and Women’s leagues which will play May through August. We will have leagues for the 18 & Over League which will be two courts of singles and three courts of doubles at the 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 level. The 2.5 and 5.0 level leagues consist of one court of singles and two courts of doubles. The 40 & Over League will be one court of singles and four courts of doubles at the 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 levels. The 55 & Over League will have teams at the 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 for women, and 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 for men. We would love

to get a women’s 9.0 league together if the interest is there. Lastly, we will have the 65 & Over at the 7.0 and 8.0 levels. All 55 & Over matches and 65 & Over matches consist of three courts of doubles. By January, all of last year’s captains, and any new captains, that have reached out to us will receive an email with all of the upcoming season’s information to register, rules changes, fees and more by the end of this month. That’s all the news for this issue. I have truly loved coordinating this league, have made some great friends and will miss it all tremendously. I look forward to still seeing many of you at Carefree!

Kathy Miller is the manager at Carefree Racquet Club and is also the Adult League Coordinator for USTA/Long Island. She may be reached at kathym65@aol.com.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spo

Junior Player

spotlight By Brian Coleman

Abigail Eisenberg Generation Next Tennis his fall, the St. Francis Prep girls’ tennis team captured the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) team championship. The Terriers put together a dominant season which saw the team go undefeated and claim not only the Long Island Catholic title, but the State Catholic title as well. To go undefeated, a team has to receive contributions up-and-down the lineup, and one key cog in the Terriers’ success was Abigail Eisenberg. The sophomore played the third singles flight for her team and delivered match-in-and-matchout, going unbeaten in singles play throughout the season. “I could not have asked for better teammates. It was amazing to watch everyone grow on and off the court,” said Eisenberg. “This season really brought us closer together. Tennis is an individual sport but having my team cheering for me from behind the gate really gave me the confidence to push myself further. Their positivity

and encouraging nature is unsurpassable; we learned from each other and grew together.” Eisenberg’s tennis journey is one that did not begin all that long ago. She only started playing tennis back in 2017, when she attended a sleepaway camp where tennis was one of the activities offered. She was a basketball player prior to that, but was immediately bitten by the tennis bug after that first experience. Adding to that was a trip to the U.S. Open later that summer, and from there Eisenberg was fully hooked on tennis. “That fall, my mom got me my first tennis racket. She would take me to the public courts to play for fun, and over the next few years I would play a couple of times a month including taking lessons here and there,” she recalls. “I was still playing basketball at this time, because I was better at it than tennis, but in the summer of 2020, after graduating eighth grade, I really began to take tennis seriously.”

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

er spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior

That summer, she began feverishly playing on the public courts near where she lived, and developed the goal of trying to make the varsity team at St. Francis Prep. She knew it would be a difficult task, for someone who was still relatively new to the game to compete, especially at a high school always known to be good at tennis. But Eisenberg was determined, and embraced the challenge of the goal she set for herself. Eisenberg then tried out in her freshman year. She made the team and competed at second doubles. Continuing that hard work, she then moved up to the third singles spot this past season as a sophomore, and helped guide her team to a dominant fall campaign. “Tennis forced me out of my comfort zone, and taught me how to focus,” Eisenberg says. “Learning to be mentally tough helped build my confidence both on and off the court. The game does not just make me a better player, it makes me a better version of myself, a version I really like.” Eisenberg’s tennis path is proof that there is no one approach to becoming a tennis player, and is a testament to her passion for the game and her desire to continue to improve. Much of that comes from her time training at Generation Next Tennis, and with her coach Marvin Jeffrey, who is her first and only tennis coach. “Generation Next Tennis is great. I love the atmosphere, the facility, everything,” said Eisenberg. “Everyone here is positive, passionate and willing to help you get better. They genuinely want to see you be the best that you can be. There is a family-like feel here that I really love.” Together, Eisenberg and Jeffrey have developed a successful coachplayer partnership, and Eisenberg credits her improvements to the work they do together.

“We practice at least once a week, and most times more. As I am playing more matches now, I am focused on more of my mental toughness and consistency on the court,” she said. “I’m trying to correct those silly mistakes, and also improve my second serve…There can be a misconception about coaches that they only provide support for physical growth, but this is far from the truth. Marvin has taught me that if my head isn’t in the game, then my physical abilities wouldn’t matter. And on days that I doubted myself, he has reminded me of the vision, and that I am capable of doing more and being more.” Jeffrey is a high performance coach at Generation Next Tennis, which was formerly New York Tennis at Great Neck, and has been thrilled with the progress he has seen in Eisenberg over the last couple of years. The next step in the development is to prepare her for tournament play, and continue working on how to approach matches. “Our main focus now is working on making Abigail a tournamentlevel player, and improving things like game planning and match strategies,” said Jeffrey. “She has come a long way in only a couple of

years, and continues to get better. She has a good forehand and backhand, and can really zip around the court with good speed. The goal is to keep getting her ranking up and I’m excited to see what’s in store for her.” Between many honors classes she takes at St. Francis Prep and her tennis training, Eisenberg has a busy schedule, but still enjoys playing basketball, and spending time with her family and friends. She has aspirations of playing college tennis in a couple of years, and is ready to put in the necessary work in order to achieve that. Her rapid progress over the last couple of years are indicators of someone who is poised to continue improving, and her love for the sport will be the motivating factor driving her work ethic. “That’s what I love about tennis, the challenge of challenging yourself to be better, and working hard and seeing the results of your hard work,” she said. “The results may not always be winning, but it brings you closer to where you want to be.” Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Height of the Sportsmanship Bar By Barbara Wyatt

We are still scratching our heads. The USTA match was scheduled for a 5:15 p.m. start. The host team booked a court prior for an extra warm-up. With only one available court, the host team will use it from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m., then provide the final half hour to the visiting team. Or, they work all players onto the court as they arrive, allowing players on both teams to warm each other up. On this afternoon, Court 10 had four host team members hitting ground strokes. At 4:50 p.m., I stepped onto the court, waited quietly. When a player turned around, I asked, “Will my team have an opportunity to use this warm-up court?” The answer was “It’s not my decision, I’m not the host captain.” In this great sport with wonderful people, their veins raging with positive energy from endorphins, it seemed an odd response. I returned to advise my teammates (the visiting team). Heads

tilted to the side, eyebrows raised, and mouths twisted in confusion. The custom to share a warm-up court with all players—hosts and opponents—had been derailed. Did the club abandon it? Are they aware it could be perceived as poor sportsmanship and a snub to visitors? “I’ll try again,” I tell my teammates. At 5:00 p.m., I again asked the players on court, “May we use the court for warm-up?” “It’s not my decision.” “I think this is more of a sportsmanship issue,” I said. I held my breath, hoping that these players with years of USTA experience would remember how well they are respected and treated at other locations. Surely, they will behave as the most gracious of hosts and in the spirit of friendly competition, provide their opponents (who traveled some distance) access to the court.

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Their feet remained ensconced on court. Faces stared at me blankly. I returned to my mates to announce the hosts are not sharing the court. A few minutes before match start time, we were told we could use the court. I was encouraged—perhaps it was competitive jitters that created a misunderstanding on pre-match courtesies. I was wrong. Two host players refused to leave and announced that all visitors may only use half the court. After having access to the court to practise volleys, ground strokes and serves for over an hour, these two monopolized half the court for the remaining seven minutes. My mates tucked far into the corners for short frying-pan tennis rallies and two rallied on their half of the court. I was proud of my teammates—the visiting team. They adjusted to the slight and didn’t complain. Sharing a pre-match court is not a rule; it is an indication of the height of the sportsmanship bar of the host team. Is it fair to invoke a home-team advantage, and forbid opponents access to a court? Should all players enter the match under a fair level playing field? On this afternoon, Karma stepped in and answered my questions. My mates and I (the visiting team) won the match. Barbara Wyatt is a Writer, Photographer, USTA Official, and Mobile App Developer of iKnowTennis!, the tennis rules app. Her poem, Ode to Tennis, an amusing poem on the joys and frustrations when learning tennis, is available at Amazon. She can be reached by e-mail at BarbaraW@iKnowTennis.com

LONG ISLAND TENNIS MAGAZINE

Mother Deuce: Tennis Etiquette and the Rules of the Game ennis can be a complicated game to learn. With a scoring system that goes from 15 to 30, to 40, it can sometimes be difficult to translate, especially to young kids. Author George Poppel has the answer with his book, Mother Deuce: Tennis Etiquette and Rules of the Game, published by Inprint Books. Through witty rhymes and colorful illustrations, Mother Deuce takes us on the journey of a typical tennis match, breaking down what to do, and what not to do while playing a tennis match, as well as the basic rules of the game we love.

Fairness comes up: “You must call the lines fairly, to win a point squarely Even if the ball merely touches the line, you must call it in and please don’t whine.” Poppel also demonstrates tennis’ unique scoring system and sets it up in a colorful way: “First, you must learn how to keep score This is not a very difficult chore.” The most important topic of the book is about sportsmanship:

“Winning is not the most important thing, good competition should make your spirit zing It is better to lose than to make a bad call, tennis etiquette is being gracious and fair above all.”

These lines are accompanied by illustrations by Everfever, and the book is a quick and amusing ride through tennis. Mother Deuce is dedicated to Poppel’s two grandchildren, Caroline and Isabel, so you know tennis and children are close to his heart. Tennis is the sport you can play for your entire life, and Poppel’s book is the perfect introduction to tennis for kids. Mother Deuce is available in paperback on Amazon, as well as digitally on Kindle, and makes a great gift for that youngster in your life.

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The Power of the Pause How to reset under pressure By Rob Polishook n the book, The Competitive Buddha, written by my colleague Dr. Jerry Lynch, he speaks about the importance of patience. He says “patience is an important virtue for those of us in athletics, we want success, and we want it now…and we do not want to wait. This makes us tight, tense and tentative, which in turn delays what we desire to have happen.” In this article, I’d like to expand on Dr. Lynch’s perspective on patience and introduce the power Photo Credit: Andrew Ong/USTA of the pause. The pause is a component of patience and a tool properly set up, balanced, and able which can be used when facing to choose the most efficient path to challenges, obstacles and adversity. the ball. In short, without the splitChoosing to pause will enable step, a player will rush and run competitive tennis players to step through their shots. back, open up, and play in the here What would happen if there was and now. also a mental split-step? Something Interestingly, all great tennis a player could do between points, players physically pause before they games or even sets to help them make contact with each shot. It may mentally recalibrate? There is and, be a crushing Novak Djokovic like the split-step, it is even more so backhand down-the-line or a Paula overlooked by junior players. The Badosa forehand deep and heavy. mental split-step is a pause, which We all see it; it’s in the split-step. provides the player the choice to The split-step is an integral part of settle down, re-center, and exist in the technical shot. However, its moments of adversity without purpose is often overlooked. The rushing. It can allow them to cope split-step ensures that a player is with challenging situations and

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

provide clarity to evaluate what is happening. Pausing can also help a player to let go of negative energy or excess energy and refocus on what’s important now. The mental pause technique which I recommend is called Feel, Breathe, See. It can be done for 10 seconds to a minute, or even shorter or longer depending on the situation. A player can also choose just one element, for example, the breath, and bring their awareness to that for three-tofive seconds The mental pause (Feel, Breathe, See) is simple, but it’s not easy to do! Why? Because often a player will be so caught up in the emotions of a match, or distracted by what they cannot control, that they forget to pause. I recommend that players get a three-by-five inch index card and write a few mental points which are meaningful to them. One of the entries would be: Pause… Feel, Breathe, See. The card can be referenced at change overs and between sets. Alternatively, for immediacy, it can

be stapled to the corner of a player’s towel. Anything to help the player pause, slow down, and play their game. Feel, Breathe, See can be used during different situations and times in a match. As an example, here are three different times a player can use the pause…Feel, Breathe, See: Pre-match: As the player walks out to the court, they can bring their attention to their feet, and simply feel the sensation of their feet on the ground. Then when they put their bag on the ground, they shift their attention to their breath, just noticing their breath. Then, when they are walking to the baseline, once again shifting their attention to what they see, looking around the complex, orienting to the court and surroundings. Changeovers: As the player sits down, they can bring their attention to the feel of the chair on

their body, and noticing their feet on the ground, then again shift their attention to the breath, just observing their breathing, and then when they are ready to return to the court, allowing their eyes to re-orient to the court. Between points: As the point ends, the player can do the entire Feel, Breath, See exercise or only incorporate one element. For example, noticing their feet as they walk to the ball, or bringing their awareness to their breath, or orienting to their strings or maybe a tree in the distance.

In summary, every match has its challenges, momentum shifts and moments of adversity. I encourage my clients to incorporate the pause, Feel, Breathe, See, either in entirety or just one aspect into their between point ritual. The power of the pause is a great way to step back, slow down and recharge. Remember, just like a great player doesn’t forget to split-step prior to a shot, they also don’t forget to mentally re-center before each point. The power of the pause is a game changer; don’t play a match without it.

Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach, he works with the whole human athlete helping them to unleash their mental edge (heart.energy.spirit) through mindfulness, somatic psychology, animal wisdom and mental training skills. Rob is author of 2 best-selling books: Tennis Inside the Zone and Baseball Inside the Zone: Mental Training Workouts for Champions. He can be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, by e-mail rob@insidethezone.com, by visiting insidethezone.com, following on Instagram @insidethezone

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LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Mythbusters Not All Coaching Advice is Based on Facts, But You Should Certainly Believe In Your Coach ... Part Three By Ricky Becker

present to you Part Three of a series. There are many tennis strategies, techniques and theories that are debatable, presented as fact by coaches but that are, in fact, opinions. While good coaches feel strong in their convictions, there are many instances where top players have taken different paths on a myriad of topics. In the last two issues of Long Island Tennis Magazine, I discussed: 1) Whether the net player should look back in doubles 2) When a junior player should start to learn a continental serve 3) Whether it is better to play orange ball USTA tournaments or wait until the age you are allowed to play fullcourt tournaments 4) When to teach open stance forehands 5) The importance of confidence vs. technique on volleys 6) Is it better to slide the back foot up (pinpoint) or keep it back (platform) on the serve.

My opinions are: 1) Yes 2) Once the player can get 75 percent of their serves in with their natural grip 3) Play orange ball. 58

4) After understanding weight transfer in a closed stance position 5) Physically and comfort is as important as technique on the volley to a large extent. 6) Whatever the student is more comfortable with but present both. These are not facts though, and no level of confidence by any coach makes them so. Below are three more items that I have heard coaches differ on and have seen great players do differently. While I will give my personal opinion and communicate how strongly I feel about it, I realize there are other good coaches out there who believe differently (and the same) as I do. Which side should partners play when one is a lefty and the other is a righty? Club players will often tell me they have been told that righties should play the deuce side, and lefties should play the ad side. This way each player can hit a forehand cross-court and not have to hit their weaker shot when it is served out wide. I strongly agree with that at competitive junior, collegiate and professional levels. At the club level however, I think this reasoning is flawed

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

and shouldn’t be copied. The biggest reason is that club players are much more comfortable at the net poaching to their forehand. When a righty plays deuce and a lefty plays ad, both players are going to be poaching to their backhand side which in most cases renders them in effective to poach. Secondly, depending on the level, most club players are returning serves where if they are returning from the correct position on the court should be able to hit a forehand return pretty comfortably because servers aren’t serving fast or placing their serves so great at the club level. At the higher levels, with players equipped to poach on their backhand volley and servers who can hit wide serves that can force backhand returns, in most cases it does make sense to play righty on the deuce and lefty on the ad side. Like many of these questions, the individual player’s tendencies factor into the equation. If you are an adult doing a Zone or a Bounce program with the pro feeding to start the point (no serving), it definitely makes sense to have lefty play deuce and righty the ad side. How important is it to play “Up” a level in tournaments and practice? Throughout the years, I have seen players

reach their potential by winning or even dominating each level tournament before moving to the next level. I have also seen other players reach their potential by playing in older age groups and higher levels when there are plenty of other age and level-appropriate tournaments available. I truthfully think that in tournaments you have to learn to win and most kids who play “up” a level too often do it to feed their own egos, and take the pressure off because. It sounds good to say you play 14-andunders when you are 11-or-12 years old. I also rarely see kids who can’t win a Level 5 tournament go play international ITF tournaments and really get better for it. The USTA Sports Science Department has said previously that anywhere between 3:1 and 1:1 win/loss ratios work. As far as practice goes, I remember a situation about 20 years ago where two kids of similar ages played at the same club in different scenarios. One child (let’s call her Jasmine) was always told how good she was and was put with older, stronger kids constantly. Another child (let’s call her Brittany) was overlooked because she didn’t strike the ball as cleanly and didn’t come off as athletic. Brittany was placed in groups where she was the best but the others on her court could “hang.” Over time, Brittany developed the hunger and confidence where she realized she had

to go out and earn her victories and over time became a stronger player than Jasmine. I am not saying you should always be the best player on your court, but it is definitely not always necessary to play with stronger players. Talking with program directors, it sometimes seems like court placement concerns are more about perception than actual improvement. Which forehand grip is appropriate? As I’m sure many of you know, what was considered an unacceptable grip years ago is considered acceptable today. As a 14-year old, my coach at the time went on a kick that I couldn’t have a semi-western grip because it was too far to the right and I wouldn’t get enough power. Nowadays, semiwestern is considered by many coaches to be the ideal grip. While it is of course sometimes nearly impossible to see a little kid and know where they are going to be in their late teens, but the more one could project the future, the easier it is to get the proper grip. Characteristics such as future dedication to the sport, future size,

speed, athleticism and even personality of the player can play into the decision. So can game-style. Generally, players who are going to be fast, in good shape, patient and play on slower surfaces can afford to have a more western grip or hold the racquet more to the right. This is because they will generally hit higher over the net and hope to “out grind” most players. Players who are going to be playing a bigger game and wanting to play shorter points are going to hit with their hand a bit more to the left in semi-western or even eastern. The sooner one starts with their permanent grip, the better. As anyone who can attest, switching grips once you have one established could be a major pain and, in my experience, not a great idea even if the reasoning is sound. It is such a major adjustment and it may not even be good enough to make a difference, all the while other parts of your game would get neglected while working on it. Again, these are my opinions, and you should ask your coach what his or her opinion is on these topics!

Ricky Becker is The Director of Tennis at the prestigious Pine Hollow Country Club for his tenth year. He also coaches high-performance juniors throughout the year and has been the Director of Tennis at three of Long Island’s biggest junior programs. As a player, Becker was the Most Valuable Player for the 1996 NCAA Championship Stanford Tennis team and ranked in the top-five nationally as a junior. He can be reached at rbecker06@yahoo.com, 516-359-4843 or via juniortennisconsulting.com.

LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Photos courtesy of USTA

As it does every year, the new year of tennis will get underway at the Australian Open. On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic will be seeking his fourth consecutive Australian Open title, while Naomi Osaka is in pursuit of her third title in the last four years. One of the primary storylines heading into this year’s Aussie Open will be whether or not we see new champions announce themselves, or if Djokovic and Osaka will continue their dominance there. Unfortunately, a storyline that remains intact is the COVID-19 pandemic that still exists, especially with the new variants spreading across the world. The Australian Open brass has already announced that players in the event will have to be vaccinated, and with new lockdowns starting in Australian this past November, it will be interesting to see what is required of players when they enter Australia in January. However, for the purpose of this article, we will stick to tennis, and examine some of the Contenders, Pretenders and Sleepers for the 2022 Australian Open.

pursuit of both the Golden Slam, and the Grand Slam, before failing to medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and then losing in the U.S. Open finals to Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic would also lose to Alexander Zverev at the end-of-the-year ATP Finals, finishing his year on a losing note. While he still won three Slam titles in 2021, I’m sure to Djokovic it feels like something was missing. Look for a motivated and determined Djokovic to make up for that as he opens up his 2022 Slam campaign in Melbourne. Matteo Berrettini

Contenders – Men’s Singles Novak Djokovic It would be impossible to have any sort of preview of this year’s Australian Open without beginning with the world’s greatest player: Novak Djokovic. The top-ranked Serb has won the last three Aussie Open titles, and is the owner of nine titles Down Under in his illustrious career. He also may enter 2022 more motivated than ever. Djokovic was in 60

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

One of the keys to succeeding on the fast hard-courts at the Australian Open is having a consistent serve, and that is where Italy’s Matteo Berrettini stands at the top of the ATP Tour. According to an Infosys ATP Beyond the Numbers analysis, the seventh-ranked Berrettini led the tour in service games won in three of the six different score categories (0/40, 15/30 and

30/40) examined by the analysis in 2021, indicating that more than anyone else, Berrettini dug himself out of service games holes throughout the season. He finished the tour fourth in total service games won at more than 89 percent. That blistering serve, and Berrettini’s huge forehand make him a devastating opponent to face on hard courts, and look for Berrettini to compile his best showing at the Australian Open thus far.

get out of the third round at the Australian Open in each of the last two seasons, the previous three years saw her reach one semifinal, and two quarterfinals in Melbourne. Look for us to get that version of Pliskova in 2022, and carry the good vibes she had to close out 2021 into the new season. Garbine Muguruza

Alexander Zverev The aforementioned Zverev compiled a fantastic 2021 season, winning 59 matches and reaching two major semifinals. He also captured the Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and the end-of-the-year ATP Finals. But something still seems to be missing from Zverev’s resume, and that is that elusive Slam title. Zverev has seem to come into his own as a tennis player, and has never been more consistent in his career, which leads him into a crucial Australian Open event for the 24-year-old. He was a quarterfinalist a year ago, and reached the semifinals two years ago, but Zverev has proven he can beat any player inside the Top 10, including Djokovic, and will be a major favorite to win the year’s first major.

Contenders – Women’s Singles Karolina Pliskova Karolina Pliskova, the fourth-ranked Czech, put together two deep runs at the year’s final two majors, momentum she will now carry to Australia in 2022. Pliskova reached the Wimbledon finals and the U.S. Open semifinals, and is eager to finally claim that elusive Slam title. A perennial member of the Top 10, Pliskova is always a threat to advance to the second week of majors. Despite failing to

Don’t call it a comeback. Spain’s Garbine Muguruza went back to her old, Slam-winning form in 2021, and that should remain the same in 2022. Muguruza began the year ranked 15th, and finished it ranked third in the world, helped by her triumph at the end-of-the-year WTA Finals. Muguruza is owner of a French Open and Wimbledon title, but could be in line to add a third trophy to that collection after the Australian Open. Her aggressive, allcourt style coupled with her powerful groundstrokes

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translate well to the hard courts, and she has proven that she has the fortitude to beat any other lady on tour, and can rise to the occasion in even the most pressure-filled matches. Ash Barty There is always pressure to win in your home country. That pressure is only amplified when you are the top-ranked player in the world, but it doesn’t seem as if Australia’s Ash Barty gets rattled by those sorts of things. Barty won the Wimbledon title in 2021, but will have the eyes of her nation upon her as she tries to navigate her way to an Australian Open title to begin 2022. She has been successful Down Under over the last three years, reaching the quarterfinals twice, and the semifinals in her last three appearances, but look for Barty to take that one step further this time around. She has always had the variety and craftiness in her game, making her a tricky opponent to face, but Barty has established a very good and consistent serve as well now. The combination of all that, plus her experience, makes Barty a real threat to have a victorious homecoming.

Pretenders – Men’s Singles Andrey Rublev The 2021 campaign ended nicely for Andrey Rublev who helped guide his Russian team to the nation’s third Davis Cup title, and he finished the season ranked fifth in the world. However, despite a quarterfinal showing at the Australian Open to begin the season, Rublev did not fair well at the other three majors, getting bounced in the opening round of the French Open, the fourth-round at

Wimbledon, and the third-round at the U.S. Open. He has never made it out of the quarterfinals at a major, and that could be the case once again to begin 2022. Rublev is certainly one of the best young talents in the game, but making that next jump to the latest stages of a major is something he is still searching for. Casper Ruud Norway’s highestranking player ever, Casper Ruud, had a careerbest season in 2021. He finished the year eighth in the rankings, reached the semifinals of the ATP Finals and won five titles in all. But Ruud is primarily known as a clay-court player, which is where the majority of his success came on. He was bounced in the fourth-round of the Australian Open to start the season, his best Slam showing, and was eliminated in just the second-round of the U.S. Open. His inconsistency on the hard courts puts him on a potential upset alert in the early rounds at the 2022 Australian Open, and while he is a young, promising player on tour, Ruud still hasn’t proven he can advance to the second week of a Slam event. Hubert Hurkacz Improving his ranking 25 spots from start-to-finish of 2021, Hubert Hurkacz enjoyed himself a breakout season last year. The tall and lanky Pole moved into the Top 10 for the first time in his career, becoming the highest-ranking male player in his country’s history, and he did win three titles. But it was on the biggest stages where Hurkacz seemingly stumbled as he lost in the opening rounds of the Australian Open and French Opens, before falling in the second-round of the U.S. Open. He did advance to the Wimbledon

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

semifinals, which did a lot to bolster his ranking, but his struggles in Melbourne over the course of his career, which includes two opening-round exits and a second-round departure, do not bode well for him entering 2022. Like Ruud, he is a promising young talent, but don’t look for him to be a deep threat at this year’s Australian Open.

many fans don’t ever see. The scrutiny she faced and backlash she received was outnumbered by the outpouring of support, but that attention can take a toll on a person. She last played at the U.S. Open in September, so there is little doubt rust will be a factor when she returns, making it difficult for her to defend her title in Melbourne.

Pretenders – Women’s Singles

Paula Badosa The New York City-born Paula Badosa put together an incredible 2021 season that was the best of her career to date. Badosa won 43 matches and two titles, and shot up to a career-high ranking of eighth in the world, and is now one of the premier women’s players on tour. She grew up in Barcelona, Spain, and therefore clay is her favorite surface, indicated by her run to the French Open quarterfinals this past season. But she did struggle a bit on hard courts and that was indicated by a first-round exit at the Australian Open, and a second-round exit at the U.S. Open. Badosa has come into her own as a professional, and has the game to sustain her stay at the top of the rankings, but her hard-court struggles at the majors is something she needs to overcome.

Aryna Sabalenka The secondranked player in the world is perhaps its biggest hitter, as Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka possesses a huge forehand and powerful serve that translates well to the hard courts. We saw her reach the semifinals of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2021, but the Australian Open is still an event where success eludes her. She reached the fourth-round in Melbourne a year ago, but prior to that she was eliminated in the first-round twice, and the third-round once. While Sabalenka is no doubt one of the most formidable players on tour, some events are tricky for players, and it seems as if the Australian Open is that for Sabalenka.

Sleepers – Men’s Singles Felix Auger-Aliassime New seasons set the stage for new players to break out and potentially win a major, and this year could be it for Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime. The 11th ranked, 21-yearold is coming off a semifinal appearance at the U.S. Open, momentum he aims to bring with him into the new year. He is now being coached by Toni Nadal, who of course helped lead Rafa to the heights he has reached, and with that Slam experience being passed down to him, look for Auger-

Naomi Osaka It feels a bit counterintuitive to place Naomi Osaka in the “Pretenders” section of this preview, but here we are. Due to a lack of match play, Osaka has dropped out of the Top 10 and now sits at 13th in the world rankings. Her only title of the season came in Melbourne as she won the Australian Open title to open up the season, but it was a trying year for Osaka. She battled mental health issues, and served an important role in shining a light on the mental health issues that not only tennis players, but all athletes, face that LITennisMag.com • January/February 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Aliassime to take the next step in his career. He still has yet to win a title on the ATP Tour, but do not be surprised if the young Canadian is in contention for one at the 2022 Australian Open. Aslan Karatsev Arriving on the scene later than most, Russia’s Aslan Karatsev isn’t the young tennis phenom that some of the other players in this section are, but the 28-year-old has been steady over the last year or two, and that bodes well for him heading into 2022. He is ranked 18th in the world at the moment, and that’s after hardly playing on the ATP Tour prior to last year. In fact, he had to go through qualifying just to reach the main draw of last year’s Australian Open. What did he do after qualifying? Karetsev proceeded to reach the semifinals, in what was his first ever main draw appearance at a Slam. Karatsev showed he can perform well in Australia, something he aims to do again in 2022. Jannik Sinner

Rounding out the Top 10 on the men’s side of the rankings is Italy’s Jannick Sinner, and intriguing young player who has shown signs of brilliance throughout his brief career so far. He has an excellent two-handed backhand, and a long frame that makes him a fantastic defensive player, and a powerful forehand which allows him to play both offensive and defensive tennis. Sinner has not been great at the Australian Open in his two showings, both early exits, but still just 20-years-old, Sinner has the talent to make a deep run at any major. His calm, laid-back approach can work to his benefit, and there is no contender in this event who wants to see the young Italian on the other side of the net.

Sleepers – Women’s Singles Anett Kontaveit Perhaps the best player on the women’s tour no one knows 64

about is Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit. The steady 26-year-old is the highest ranked player in her country’s history, and she looks to continue climbing up those rankings as we enter 2022. She currently sits at seventh in the world, and is coming off of her best season to date, one that saw her win four WTA titles, and reach the championship of the WTA Finals. Kontaveit was a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open in 2020, and as she continues to play the best tennis of her career, don’t be surprised if she advances even further than that this time around. Sofia Kenin It seemed to be a forgotten season for Sofia Kenin, as she played no matches after Wimbledon in the summer, so it’s easy to forget just how good this young American is. Kenin won the Australian Open title in 2020, and perhaps the notoriety and pressure of being a top player had an effect on her, but Kenin should be back to her old self this coming season. She is reunited with her father as her coach, after they split in May of 2021, and that report should produce great results once again. With her coaching staff back in place, and her recovered health from some nagging injuries, Kenin is a top threat to win the Australian Open title in 2022. Elina Svitolina Now out of the Top 10 for the first time since 2016, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina is ready to surprise some people in 2022. Despite her perennial ranking inside the Top 10 over the last several years, Svitolina was never able to reach the finals of a major event. She has been to multiple semifinals, and a number of different quarterfinals, but reaching the finals of a major has to be priority number one for her playing career. She certainly has the physical tools to do it, and perhaps being more motivated than ever before, Svitolina is a dangerous player entering 2022. With her ranking dropping, she may be able to sneak up on some of her opponents to begin this year. Svitolina is a two-time quarterfinalist in Melbourne and could make a deep run at the Australian Open, and make it her best one yet.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • LITennisMag.com

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