Long Island Tennis Magazine January / February 2023

FEATURED SALES IN 2022

41 Shore Drive, Manhasset Sold for $7,000,000 26 West Drive, Manhasset Sold for $3,707,000 264 Northwoods Road, Manhasset Sold for $3,600,000 90 Harrow Lane, Manhasset Sold for $3,310,000 37 Valley Road, Manhasset Sold for $3,300,000 143 Searingtown Road, Manhasset Sold for $2,850,000 83 Parkwoods Road, Manhasset Sold for $2,500,000 141 Locust Street, Garden City Sold for $2,199,000 166 Old Trail Road, Water Mill Sold for $2,049,000 82 Barnyard Lane, Roslyn Heights Sold for $1,975,000 325 Trumbull Road, Manhasset Sold for $1,975,000 131 Firestone Circle, North Hills Sold for $1,850,000 151 Schenck Avenue, Great Neck Sold for $1,770,000 60 Quaker Ridge Road, Manhasset Sold for $1,455,000 6 Ridgeway Road, Port Washington Sold for $1,374,000 96 Deer Run, Roslyn Heights Sold for $1,250,000 109 Salisbury Avenue, Garden City Sold for $1,249,000 155 Luquer Road, Port Washington Sold for $1,155,000 92 Ivy Way, Port Washington Sold for $1,110,000

Fishermans Drive, Port Washington Sold for $1,083,000

Chestnut Hill, Roslyn Sold for $790,000

Old Field, Roslyn Sold for $678,000

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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.

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

PARSA’s picks

The State of the Real Estate Market with Parsa Samii

What sort of tips would you give potential home buyers looking to buy their first home?

This one is simple. Find a market expert in the area you’re looking, be patient and learn about the intricacies of purchasing a property. This is not made for TV, this is real life. For anyone out there needing help feel free to contact me to help you find your local expert.

The

real estate market is a constantly changing one, and something that can be difficult to evaluate on the outside looking in. We spoke with Compass Real Estate’s Parsa Samii, a Manhasset native and former Division I tennis player, about the state of the market as we head into 2023.

How would you describe/evaluate the real estate market here as we head into 2023?

Real estate is hyper local, and is very different from region to region. For example, on Long Island we are suffering from low inventory and that effect is simple, there are more buyers than sellers which makes the market competitive. We’re not seeing 12 offers per property but multiple offers still do exist and positioning yourself as a buyer with the best terms of your offer or as a seller making your home as “show ready” as possible are crucial to success.

Are you noticing more people putting sport courts in their homes? Do having courts on your property increase property taxes on it?

If so, why?

I see an increase in sport courts and all amenities since the pandemic but not many of them have come for sale. There is definitely more interest in homes that already have sports courts, pools, etc…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.

How has the market fluctuating over the last year affected home prices and interest rates? Market fluctuations have made buyers pause and wait before entering the market again. Prices have stabilized and the dramatic numbers have almost completely ended but it is also very dependent on the product that is being sold. Interest rates have also had an effect in that it simply costs more money to buy a home over the long haul. The intelligent buyer is finding ways around the interest rates and aligning themselves with trustworthy bankers who understand how to navigate these waters and set our clients up for long term success. Again, I have amazing contacts throughout the industry, nationwide, and I’m a phone call away.

What are some tips that you wouldn't normally hear/know about if you were a potential home buyer but that you should know?

My favorite one that doesn’t get spoken about often is whether or not a seller’s current mortgage is “assumable” which means that you could buy the house by taking over the current seller’s loan and keep their interest rate! Every loan is different and their bank would have to look at their specific loan to see if it is assumable. That house is worth a lot more if so!

What tips do sellers need to hear when listing their home in 2023?

It is more important than ever to show your house in the best light possible. Whether a fresh coat of paint, rearranging furniture or having a strategy to clean the house in 10 minutes before a showing will all lend themselves to helping you get the best price on your home. Pricing is also crucial and again it’s very important to have an expert representing you in your sale. There is a clear difference between agents who understand how to prepare a property, show the property, negotiate on the property and most importantly close on the property! There is a reason why top producers in real estate are successful in all markets. Align yourself with the best agent that works for you!

Across Long Isl

Across Long Isl

Hoo Wins Singles, Doubles Titles in

Cincinnati

Carrie-Anne Hoo, who trains out of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, captured both the singles and doubles titles at the L2 Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hoo won all of her matches in straight sets en route to the singles title in the Girls 14s division, and partnered with New Jersey’s Isabelle DeLuccia.

Kennedy Wins Eddie Herr Doubles Title

Long Island’s Jack Kennedy won the Eddie Herr International Boys 14s doubles title in Florida. The John McEnroe Tennis Academy player paired with California’s Keaton Hance won all of their matches in straight sets to capture the championship.

Bethpage Park Hosts Pickleball

Bethpage Park Hosts Beginners Night

McNulty Sisters Claim CHSAA Doubles Title

In her senior season, St. Anthony’s Kyleigh McNulty ended her high school career as a champion, pairing with younger sister, Peighton, to win the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) doubles title.

It was an accomplishment just to make it that far and being able to win the title with my sister by my side was even better. This moment between us will last a lifetime,” said Kyleigh. “Peighton and I used to go to the courts to hit against each other and it made a little rivalry between us. When we got put as double partners for the first time we were unsure how it would work out. It ended up working out great. We knew exactly how each other played and each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”

Thefourth and final Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge of 2022 brought together men’s and women’s doubles teams for a fun and competitive Saturday on the courts of Sportime Syosset.

Players were spread out across four different divisions with round-robin play leading into the respective knockout rounds.

The fast-paced format of the roundrobin matches allows for all the teams to play a multitude of matches against a variety of opponents, and requires teams to make adjustments throughout the tournament if they are to be successful.

For Dunja Froman & Lauren Norris, switching up the way they were playing after their first two round-robin matches was key in the pair winning the Women’s 6.0-6.5 division.

“We started with her on forehand and me on backhand, but it wasn’t

Fourth Long Island Tenni of 2022 Hits Sp

working so we swapped after two matches,” said Froman. “Once we made that change, things went more smoothly.”

The communication between the two players was also imperative to their success, as Norris compared playing doubles to another type of partnership.“It’s like a marriage, when one player is down, the other one needs to be up; you can’t both be down at the same time,” she said. “So we kept each other positive, and

made sure to stay together.”

In the Men’s 7.0-7.5 division, Neil Shmuely & Matt Grossman used their chemistry from playing doubles together during the summer to come away victorious.

“We’ve played together at our club for the last two summers so we know each other’s games pretty well,” said Shmuely. “We played a good allaround game, and when the points got tight we were able to battle thorough. We went down 3-4 in the finals but were able to claw our way back, win three straight games and close it out.”Hazel Zaldivar & Annette Delgado captured the title in the Women’s 7.0-7.5 division.

“Third time is the charm for me,” said Zaldivar, who had played in two previous LITM Challenges. “We know each other’s games very well, and even though I haven’t played a lot recently, she was able to carry me. It’s

THE LONG ISLAND 2022

Women's 6.0-6.5 Champions: Dunja Froman & Lauren Norris Men's 7.0-7.5 Champions: Matt Grossman & Neil Shmuely

nis Magazine Challenge Sportime Syosset

great to be able to win it.”

After the duo saw their 5-2 lead in the final get trimmed to 5-4, they had to refocus and make sure they remained solid in order to close out the win.

“It was great competition, especially toward the end in the final,” said Delgado. “As they were coming back, we tried to play a little more conservative and make sure we weren’t careless in our shots.”Stephen Weiss & A.J. Arena won yet another LITM Challenge title as the pairing held off a late comeback from their opponents in the final to win 6-4 in the Men’s 8.0-8.5 division.

“We actually haven’t played together since we won this tournament in September, and I think we tried to do what we did last time, which was having fun, taking it easy and trying not to put too much pressure on ourselves,” Arena said.

Weiss & Arena got out to an early

lead in the championship match and had to hold off a late comeback from their opponents in order to win.“It was a tough match, and we needed a spark as they were coming back, and we were able to hit a big shot to win a key point,” Weiss added. “That helped us get the momentum back.”

The competition on the court contrasted with the fun and social atmosphere that took place off the courts during the LITM Challenge. Players were treated to complimentary

lunch, as well as Apple Cider Sangria throughout the day which created a laid-back environment for everyone to enjoy themselves.

“This was such a fun event,” Norris added. “The women we played against were lovely, there was some great tennis and everyone was so sweet. This was very nice.”

As the LITM Challenge events continue to grow in popularity, Long Island Tennis Magazine’s goal is to continue to bring unique events such as this to the community.

“There are many options for local players when it comes to racquet sports, and we are appreciative that so many players came out and chose our event. To get a sold-out draw into this tournament on a holiday weekend was a real success. I believe this is an indication that players see the

THE LONG ISLAND 2022

Women's 7.0-7.5 Champions: Annette Delgado & Hazel Zaldivar Men's 8.0-8.5 Champions: Stephen Weiss & A.J. Arena

fourth litm challenge of 2022 hits sportime syosset

professionalism and quality we bring to the events we host, and that they have a great time on and off the court,” said David Sickmen, cotournament director of the Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge. “I certainly want to thank our host facility, Sportime Syosset, for being such gracious hosts and Mike Kossoff for helping us put on this special event, as well as my co-director Michelle Stoerback, whose passion and energy for adult tennis is second to none. We look forward to more community involvement moving into the fall and winter, and are excited to see everyone at our next Challenge.”

Stay tuned for news on more LITM events as we head into the winter, and be sure to be on the lookout for announcements on the 2023 LITM Challenge Series.

Adult League Wrap-Up

By Becky Bellino

The holidays are here, but tennis never stops as we have had weekends full of play through the Eve of Hanukkah! I want to start this article off with a huge THANK YOU to the Long Island tennis community for the support of Adult Leagues this past year and the incredibly warm welcome as my first year as League Coordinator comes to a fold. The job is a joy, and you all play a part in that. I have enjoyed getting to know many of you over the past few months and look forward to meeting many more come 2023!

Now down to business! Our 18 & Over Mixed Doubles Leagues are still going strong with the season half way through. Our team registrations for the 40 & Over Mixed Leagues are in line with last year and captains can look for their tentative schedules the first week of the New Year. These matches will begin in February and play through the winter/spring and conclude as our Adult League Season begins in May!

I’m excited to announce that our region will have a 55 & Over Mixed Doubles League in 2023. We will have 7.0 and 8.0 leagues if captains are still interested in forming a team.

As our Mixed Doubles Leagues continue on, our 4.5 Tri-Level leagues for the men and women have come to a close. Thank you to all who participated - it was a short but exciting season to say the least. For the women, Seema Imberman’s team from Sportime Roslyn took the top honors beating out EAC Blue Point in the playoffs. They will represent Long Island in the 4.5 Tri-Level Sectional being held January 20 – 22.

As for the men, Fayez Malik’s Long Beach team narrowly defeated Steve Subject’s Blue Point team in dramatic fashion and will represent Long Island in the Sectionals.

Lastly, I’d like to close with an

be reached at bellino@eastern.usta.com.

invitation to any new tennis players who are looking to get more involved with Adult Leagues or involved for the first time in 2023. On January 8, there will be a social play event for 2.5 and 3.0 players at Carefree Racquet Club.

I hope our newbies can join as it would be a wonderful opportunity to meet some veteran adult league players and ask questions about USTA Adult Leagues should you have any. I will be there as well, and love any chance to meet this passionate community.

If you would like to sign up to be a captain, or take part in any of our social events, contact bellino@eastern.usta.com.

I wish you all a very merry and bright holiday season and a Happy New Year. I look forward to talk tennis come 2023!

Becky Bellino is the new Adult League Coordinator for USTA/Long Island. A native of Bergen County, N.J., Bellino played collegiate tennis at Gettysburg College, and currently plays in USTA Adult Leagues. She may

40 Love Lifestyle: More Than Just a Tennis Shop

By Brian Coleman

Earlier

this year, the Long Island tennis community got its latest addition as 40 Love Lifestyle opened its doors in Manhasset, a unique store that would not only serve as a place to shop for your latest racquet sport needs, but also with the desire to bring together local players.

“40 Love Lifestyle was created with the idea of bringing a unique experience to Manhasset, where our local customers could benefit from finding the perfect outfit, the equipment necessary and all the encouragement needed to pursue their hobby,” explained co-founder

Fiona Branchinelli.

And for the last year, Branchinelli and fellow co-founder Shauna Devardo, a pair of Manhasset moms and tennis players, have been doing just that, providing its customers not only to the latest equipment and apparel, but also helping to create its own community to help grow the games we love.

The idea was first hatched over a glass of wine with Fiona and Shauna realizing that this may the perfect time in both of their lives to take this idea and turn it into something.

“It was a moment in our lives

when we both had the time, energy and commitment to do something fun and creative that would encompass both our interest and our passion,” said Devardo. “The store was launched in May of 2022. Finding the actual brick-and-mortar location was not as challenging as we had imagined and we found the perfect place, nestled on the main street amidst restaurants, coffee shops and salons; the perfect spot to launch our unique brand.”

The store, which they refer to as a “Sportique”, combining both fashion and sport needs, has a wide array of selections for tennis players

40 Love Lifestyle Fiona Branchinelli and Shauna Devardo, pictured here at Citi Taste of Tennis, bring their shared love of tennis to their brand

of all levels and ages, and has expanded to offer other sports.

Beyond tennis, 40 Love Lifestyle includes badminton, pickleball, racquetball and even golf. The goal of 40 Love Lifestyle is to provide its customers with equipment and apparel that inspires you to feel your best while being active and living your best life.

Part of its brand is not just selling products, but bringing people together, which means hosting events to further showcase that they are not just a business on main street, but a part of the community themselves.

“The tennis community has been so welcoming and it’s been a real pleasure getting to know them and helping them to further their love of tennis,” said Branchinelli. “We recently held a tennis mixer for all our customers, where we enjoyed an evening of fun, tennis, pizza and wine to try and create an all-

encompassing social event for all levels of players. The event also supported a local charity, the Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program. We hope to build on the success of this event by continuing this type of activity in the new year.”

What began as an idea between two women who had a mutual love of tennis and wanting to share that with others has blossomed into a successful shop in the affluent neighborhood of Manhasset, and helped build a community of likeminded people.

Branchinelli and Devardo are a shining example of following your dreams and making it happen.

Between their shared passion for

tennis and other racquet sports, the dynamic duo have built something that they hope becomes a pillar of the tennis community and beyond. It’s their unique approach to running a retail shop that has them excited of what lies ahead.

“We like to think that our enthusiasm, love of the sport, and our flair for fashion and sporty trending gear gives the edge over our competitors, all wrapped up in a friendly neighborhood feel,” said Devardo. “Everyone is invited to stop in for a coffee or a chat, whatever their game!”

You can learn more about their vision, and all they have to offer, by visiting 40LoveLifestyle.com.

Polish Power

Iga Swiatek looks to back up her dominant 2022 season

By Brian Coleman

Morethan two years ago, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, the French Open was, for the first time, not held during its usual place on the calendar. The typical spring-time event in Paris was pushed back until late-September, just weeks after a spectator-less U.S. Open, and months after the Wimbledon Championships were canceled for the first time since World War II.

That late-fall French Open, one of the most unique in the prestigious event’s history, would introduce the world to a little-known Polish teenager: Iga Swiatek. The hard-hitting 19-year-old announced her arrival swiftly and mercilessly, never losing more than five games in any of her six straight-set victories en route to capturing the title.

Despite entering the event as the 54th ranked player in the world, after just a couple of weeks, Swiatek quickly became a household name among tennis fans.

“You believe in things, but in the back of your head you know that there’s going to be a huge amount of work that you have to do to win that,” said Swiatek afterwards. “Then after two weeks of great playing, you already have it. It’s just overwhelming.”

Fast-forward to now, and Swiatek has been atop the WTA Rankings for nearly a full year, and will begin 2023 as the top-ranked player in the world. Her transition from being over-whelmed at winning her maiden Slam title at the end of 2020 to embracing being the hunted rather than the hunter did not happen overnight. In fact, Swiatek has been very open about the work she has done away from the tennis court which has allowed her to succeed on it.

She has talked a lot about the mental side of the game, and the time she has put in with a sports psychologist over the last couple of years.

“When I started to work with Daria [Abramowicz] in 2019, my main goal was to improve things on court, being more focused and in control of my emotions,” said Swiatek. “But then it switched to talking more about my personal life, working on my confidence as a person, and growing up, dealing with popularity, or the business side of the sport. I feel we’ve been working on everything.”

That work went a long way to helping Swiatek after winning the French Open,

and that work continues now that she is the No. 1 women’s player in the world.

“Since the big thing happened, when I won in Roland Garros, I didn’t have time to chill out. I felt like I always needed to chase something, prepare for the next season and those big expectations,” she said. “And now that I’m No.1, it only doubles. So it feels like we had a lot of work to do with Daria. She’s really helpful. It’s necessary for my team to take care of me. My coach takes care of my tennis, my physio takes care of my body, but I also need someone to be there for me when I want and need to talk.

I want to have fun, play good and do the best I can. But I don’t want to lose myself. I want to enjoy my life on tour, so I’m trying to keep it cool.”

And she has indeed kept it cool, and her 2022 season was the best of her career up to this point. It began with her reaching the semifinals Down Under at the Australian Open, and a few months later, after Ash Barty announced her abrupt retirement from tennis, Swiatek was the world number one.

She backed up that ranking by becoming the youngest woman and fourth overall to ever win the Sunshine Double, capturing titles in

Miami and Indian Wells.

“I feel pretty privileged that I can be amongst those players because I wouldn’t even dream of it a few years ago,” said Swiatek. “I knew it’s going to be tough playing these two tournaments in a row. I realized at the end it’s just another match and I took it step-by-step.”

Those victories would be the beginning of a dominant spring for Swiatek, as she would go on to win her second French Open title with a victory over Coco Gauff in the finals. That win would be Swiatek’s 35th consecutive win on the season.

After that win, she discussed how her mental state and match approach had changed.

“Two years ago, winning this title was something amazing. I wouldn’t expect it ever. But this time I feel like I worked hard and did everything to get here even though it was pretty tough

and the pressure was big,” she said. “I felt the pressure, I felt the baggage on my shoulders; I wasn’t the underdog anymore. I’m even more proud of that—that I could do it and make it for the second time.”

She would get bounced early, in the third-round, at Wimbledon which would end her match-winning streak at 37, but it was still the longest streak by a woman in this century, and validated her presence at the top of the world rankings.

Swiatek’s dominant 2022 season would culminate in New York, as she proved she can win a major on the hard courts, capturing the title at the U.S. Open, the third major title of her career.

“At the beginning of the season I realized that maybe I can have some good results on WTA events, said Swiatek, whose best results prior to this year came on clay. I also made it to the semifinal of the Australian Open. But I wasn’t sure if I was on the level yet to win a Grand Slam, especially [at the] U.S. Open where the surface is so fast. It’s something that I wasn’t expecting for sure. It’s also like a confirmation for me that the sky is the limit. I’m proud, also surprised a little bit, just happy that I was able to do that.”

All of that 2022 season synopsis for Swiatek leads her into 2023, where she will once again be feeling the pressure of being the top-ranked player in the world, and her need to continue to solidify her spot as the best player in the world. Her counterpart on the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz, who won the U.S. Open the day after Swiatek did to secure his spot atop the men’s rankings, heaped praise upon Swiatek and looks to her as an example of what he now needs to do.

“I see her year has been incredible, she broke a record I think for the longest winning streak (this century). It’s amazing,” he said. “I wish to be like her, to not lose the number one [spot]. But I think it’s almost impossible. I’m going to lose it but the point is to recover it and stay

there at No. 1 as much as I can.”

Still only 21-years-old, Swiatek is now looked to as one of the faces of tennis, and one of the players who is ushering in a new era of the sport. Whether or not Swiatek is able to maintain the top ranking throughout

the year remains to be seen, but the greatest women’s tennis player from Poland has arrived and is here to stay.

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

The Top Ten Tennis Tips of All-Time Part Seven: The articulate mind of the gifted athlete

By Dr. Tom Ferraro

Oneof the great myths in sports is that great athletes are “dumb jocks”. This could not be further from the truth. I have been lucky enough to work with and know some of the best athletes on earth, and one thing they all have in common is keen intelligence.

I’ve administered 100’s of fulllength IQ tests both in graduate school and afterwards and became very good at guessing the person’s IQ before we get through five minutes of conversation. So I can pretty accurately tell what a person’s IQ is.

There are many examples of great athletes with gifted IQ’s. When I first met Tiger Woods, my immediate impression was that he had an unusually high intelligence with exceptional focus and I was not at all

surprised to learn that he was a straight-A student in high school and went to Stanford University. I have never met another human being who had the ability to focus the way he did, despite being hounded by thousands of adoring fans every time he teed it up.

One of the traits of gifted children is that they possess unusually good focus, concentration and attention span. They are able to sit at a kitchen table and do their work despite noise and mayhem all around them. And there was no greater mayhem then when Tiger Woods played golf.

I once worked with a world #3 taekwondo fighter who also happened to be a world-class chess player. I worked with an MLB pitcher who also was a math genius; great athletic ability is invariably linked to

great intellectual powers.

In tennis, when you talk to Andy Roddick, you notice three things: He is big, he is healthy looking and he is bright. And one thing that is immediately obvious in press interviews with tennis stars is that they all speak multiple languages. Djokovic, Federer and Nadal can switch languages in the middle of a sentence, going from English to French to Spanish without missing a beat.

Characteristics of gifted people include greater-than-average curiosity, an obsessive interest in one thing, a tendency to be shy, isolating or highly emotional, perfectionist, ambitious and a feeling that destiny is calling them.

A young tennis player who is destined to achieve greatness will

be practicing upwards of six hours per day on his or her craft, whereas an average youngster will only be devoting five hours per week on tennis.

As an example, Pete Sampras was a shy kid who spent endless hours in his basement as a young child pounding tennis balls against the wall.

Novak Djokovic came from a family of elite athletes and he is known as, “The Djoker”. A keen sense of humor is another characteristic of high intelligence. Billie Jean King was the greatest female player of her generation and went on to be a force for women’s rights. She displays the highest level of ethics and altruism which is a trait of the gifted.

When you work with professional athletes, no matter what the sport, one quickly learns that they are fast studies and catch on to sport psychology tips rapidly. I once

worked with a soccer star who refused to take penalty kicks because once in the past she had missed one during a big Olympic game. One lesson on how to be more targetaware while kicking was all it took to resolve her conflict.

If you are a young tennis player who is doing well on the court it is probable that you are already gifted mentally as well. One can take comfort in that fact. Awareness that you are smart leads you upward into confidence, fluidity and calmness while playing the game you love. So the tip I offer here from my work with the pros is that half of the battles along the road to victory involve strategy, planning, thinking

and using your smarts. This will include learning from your coaches, remembering what you have learned by writing it down, studying your opponents weaknesses before you play or as you warm up and then exploiting the, knowing your own strengths and using them, knowing your game plan and sticking to it.

As the game of tennis advances, it will do so by using analytics, and more sophisticated strategies. All this requires the use of one’s brain power. And the smarter you try to be, the more you will win. The mind has become another tool that pros use to win so don’t be afraid to use yours.

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.

In the Kitchen

Aspickleball fever continues to spread throughout our area, the country and the world moreover, Long Island Tennis Magazine will be bringing readers the latest news, including features, profiles, product reviews and more, on one of the fastest-growing sports here in our community. Each edition we will bring you more content covering pickleball on Long Island.

Pickleball Plus Launches First Junior Pickleball Program

you can no longer play tennis or other activities. But as the sport continues to grow here on Long Island, that has proven not to be the case.

And helping to shake that stigma and usher in the next generation of pickleball players is Pickleball Plus, Long Island’s largest dedicated pickleball facility, which launched the area’s first ever junior program for pickleball back in September.

The program is headed up by Mike Kazin, a tennis player of 30 years who coached varsity high school tennis, and began playing pickleball in 2019. Kazin knew the sport existed from his time in graduate school studying to become a physical education teacher, but only started playing himself after seeing courts at his local gym.

“Once I tried it and started playing, I took a liking to it right away,” said Kazin. “People told me it was like a combination of tennis and ping-pong, which I love, so it was perfect for me. I quickly became an avid player.”

“It’s an amazing facility with so much to offer, and adding the junior program in September only bolstered that,” said Kazin. “We have programming for players ranging from 3-years-old through 17-years-old, so we have beginners who are playing for the first time, but also teenagers who you can tell are tennis players because they have those same skills that translate to both sports. We have a wide range of skill level, and groups in between, and we’re hoping to keep building on it and continue to make it bigger.”

When Pickleball Plus first opened, it consisted of eight pickleball courts, but owner Dr. Harry Kent converted an existing turf field into four more courts, expanding the club’s ability to host more programming. That has resulted in the groups continuing to grow and expand, with Kazin seeing new faces picking the sport up.

Pickleball, for some, still carries with it a stigma that it is for older people; a sport you play when

Since then, he has become a highlevel player who plays in competitive tournaments, and is bringing his love for the sport and experience as a teacher to lead the junior program at Pickleball Plus.

The importance of having a junior program cannot be overstated, especially for a sport such as pickleball. The fastest growing sport in the country has plenty of adults playing it, and even young adults who are tennis players are beginning to play, but to be able to take a new generation and create a grassroots movement for the sport is essential for its

sustained growth.

“We have talked about the importance of this since the beginning,” explains Kazin. “Of course you are going to get kids coming over from tennis, but to be able to start fresh with some of these young kids is imperative. You can see how much they love it, the smaller court, the smaller paddle and a slower ball, it’s much easier for them to learn it. To get these kids coming in that don’t have a tennis background, in a lot of ways I enjoy that more, you can see them building on skills like dinking, and to see those skills develop is awesome.”

So as we head into 2023 and beyond, the sport of pickleball seems to be continuing its upward trajectory, and junior programs such as the one at Pickleball Plus will become more of the norm.

There are more and more tournaments available to junior players as well where they can take those skills they learn and apply them to match play, and truly get a sense of how fun and rewarding the sport can be.

“I am extremely excited about what’s to come,” said Kazin. “I tell the kids to look online and see that there are more tournaments available and I hope that continues. Some juniors can compete with older groups and the higher levels, but they would benefit greatly from

there being junior- dedicated tournaments and events, just like they do for tennis. We want more kids playing, and to demonstrate that this isn’t a sport for your grandparents only, but that it is an incredibly interactive game that provides an amazing workout. I am looking forward to seeing more kids join our program here, but also seeing them pick it up all over Long Island to further grow this great game.”

Q&A with Bethpage Park’s Andrew LaCorte

Island Tennis Magazine sat down with LaCorte to discuss his background, the state of pickleball on LI, and what he is bringing to Bethpage Park.

Can you tell me about your background? What were you doing before you took over at Bethpage Park Tennis Center?

I played tennis in high school and in college, but my sport and passion originally was track cycling. I was a 36 time district champion, a five-time U.S. National Champion and rode for the United States in England and Australia.; I started playing pickleball 2.5 years ago and have not looked back yet. I still have a full-time job in Information Technology, but loving the opportunity I have here at Bethpage Park.

Do you provide beginner programs only, or are there more advanced programs/lessons available at Bethpage Park?

Last fall, Bethpage Park Tennis Center brought in Andrew LaCorte to run its pickleball program. Long

I have introduced some new clinics for beginners, our latest and sold out event was for beginners for couples. Our planmed clinics coming up are for advanced beginners, tricks and tips, and tournament and game

in the kitchen continued from page 19

preparation. I am also teachIng a few women groups. We also brought open play for 3.0 to.3.5 and 3.5 to 4.0 players on Friday night and Sunday nights espectively. We have advanced 4.0 to 4.5 on Tuesday and Saturdays and 4.5+ on Sunday mornings.

Do you plan on hosting tournaments/events as well? If so, can you talk to me a little bit more about the events? We will be doing a couple of tournaments after the new year along with some charity events/tournaments to raise awareness for a few causes such as suicide awareness. the US Coast Guard Foundation, dementia, and womens breast cancer, so we are really excited to be able to use pickleball as a way to give back to worthy causes and organizations.

How have you seen Pickleball grow here on Long Island over the last couple of years? Where do you see the sport going as we move into 2023? Pickleball has grown tremendously. I think we're up 36.2 percent from last

year and the sport remains the fastest growing sport in the United States. Parks with pickleball courts are popping up all over the place and when it is warm out there is still a waiting group eager to get on the court to play. Now you have Major League Pickleball making its name with pro athletes purchasing teams. Its fantastic to see the sport evolve.

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Radisch to Head Up SPORTIME Pickleball

Programming

The adidas Adipower ATTK is the latest pickleball paddle that will help

David

“It is rare to have a chance to turn the sport you love into your career, so I was extremely excited about the opportunity,” he said. “Sportime’s leaders and I share a vision of what pickleball programming should look like, including multi-level clinics, level-based open play, unique tournaments and events and more. And Sportime is a world-leader in junior training programs, which will definitely be part of the future of pickleball. We have been able to hire some of the most highly skilled and committed instructors on Long Island – people with great enthusiasm for the sport, who will bring that positivity and commitment to our club and our programs.”

When Sportime Clubs began managing the Port Washington Tennis Academy last year, part of its plan was to convert some of the club’s tennis court capacity to welcome pickleball. And since Sportime always seeks to provide players with the very best in sports programming, skilled staff was needed.

“I started spreading the word that we were looking for a pickleball director, and David’s name was the one that kept coming up,” said Joe Siegel, Sportime Partner and Senior Managing Director. “He and I met several times and we hit it off –David was the perfect fit. Coming to Sportime full-time has allowed David to apply his previous experience at a much larger venue, where programs include clinics, tournaments, parties and more. David brought a ton of energy and creativity to our new courts at Port Washington. We have a great calendar of events coming up this winter and plan to grow from there.”

In just the few months since Radisch joined Sportime, more than 200 players have participated in Sportime pickleball programs, which include clinics, group play, lessons and more. One of the most popular aspects of pickleball is how social the game is, and Radisch considers that fun and social vibe to be his

specialty. He gets to know his clientele well and tries to create uniquely fun events that combine the sport’s physical activity with a lively and welcoming atmosphere.

His next special event will be a Pickleball Rocks party in mid-January.

“Sportime management is supporting this event that I have wanted to do for more than four years,” said Radisch. “On Saturday, January 14, we will be hosting the first-ever pickleball open- play party with a live rock band. I guess it could be a disaster, but we got a great band and it should be awesome – and if you don’t push the envelope, then you will never know.”

Siegel explained that when he was going through the hiring process, Radisch’s creativity really stood out, “And having pickleball at multiple locations will also let Sportime brings things to another level. This winter, we will be hosting a tournament series that includes our pickleball programs at Port Washington and at our Kings Park location, where the program is led by Michelle Stoerback.” Said Siegel, “One weekend we’ll have a holiday party and tournament at the Port Washington location, and then, on a different weekend, we will be hosting similar events but at Kings Park or at

our facility in Bethpage. So, our pickleball players will have many chances to take advantage of these great social and competitive opportunities and to do so at clubs that are most convenient for them.”

In just a few short months, Radisch has helped create a foundation for Sportime’s pickleball programs and events, which will continue to expand in 2023. And the not too distant future will include a full junior program, based on Sportime’s existing and successful junior tennis programs.

“I see how amazing the Sportime junior tennis programs are,” explains Radisch, “and I am very excited to try and match that model with our future pickleball programs for kids.” Radisch added, “Over the past couple of years, the excitement around and growth of pickleball has meant that that municipalities along with public and private facilities, like Sportime, cannot meet the demand for court-time and events. The uniqueness of pickleball is that it is so much fun, and leads to great friendships between people of all ages and backgrounds. It is easy to get started playing, and the pickleball community is very welcoming of new players. Pickleball is here to stay - to play pickleball is to love it!”

SATURDAY NI COURTS & 2022 COURTS &SLIATKCOC

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s newest event series, Courts & Cocktails, returned with a sold-out night hosted at Glen Head Racquet Club.

As has come to be expected, the Courts & Cocktails event welcomed

adults in for a night of tennis, food, drinks and friends, with players turning up the intensity on the court and enjoying themselves in a social atmosphere off the court. On court, tennis professionals organized drills, games and competitions, with the

players moving from court-to-court to switch up the pros and players with whom they were playing with. Players had their choice of lessons, games or match play.

Throughout the evening, players could visit the open bar where bartenders

NIGHT FUN AT COCKTAILS

mixed together everyone’s favorite cocktails, including the famous U.S. Open signature drink, the Honey Deuce, as well as beers and other mixed drinks. There was catered food including pizza, pasta, appetizers, salads, desserts and more.

The Courts & Cocktails series provide a great way for tennis players to spend an evening during the cold winter months. This event series combines tennis with food and drinks in a social environment.

The event was sponsored by USTA Eastern in partnership with Grow Tennis New York, the 501c(3) nonprofit organization of Long Island Tennis Magazine

“The Courts & Cocktails events continue to be successful and a fun time for everyone involved,” said David Sickmen, Publisher of Long Island Tennis Magazine. “We would like to thank our sponsors, partners, host club and participants that helped make the night special. We look forward to hosting more of these

events as we head into 2023, as we continue to grow the game and bring the community together."

Be sure to visit Long Island Tennis

2022 COURTS & OC SLIAT

Magazine on Facebook and Instagram to see more photos from Courts & Cocktails, and be on the lookout for future events.

USTA Eastern Long Island Region

USTA Eastern Honors Long Islanders

of the USTA Eastern annual calendar is its Awards Dinner at the Eastern Tennis Conference. This year, the conference will be held January 2728, 2023 in Mahwah, New Jersey. With its annual awards, USTA Eastern honors those who have made remarkable contributions toward growing and promoting tennis at the grassroots level. These individuals and organizations demonstrate what makes the Eastern Section so unique and innovative.

Ahighlight

This year, five recipients represent Long Island, including former Long Island Region President Scott Axler, who has been named the 2022 USTA Eastern Leslie J. Fitz Gibbon Tennis Man of the Year. Axler has run junior tournaments on Long Island for decades and is still part of multiple USTA Eastern Committees including Junior Comp, Junior Grievances and the Section nominating committee. He is still involved in running many USTA Junior Tournaments on Long Island out of Robbie Wagner’s Tennis Center, where he is a principal. He was a Long Island Regional Award winner in 2006 and 16 years later is still actively volunteering on Long Island and for the Eastern Section.

Also being honored are:

• 10 & Under Tennis Award: Christopher Morley Tennis (program director Hilary Bressler)

• Press Ser vice Award: Jacki Binder (“On the Ball: News from LI” newsletter)

• Virginia and Chuck Landis High School Coach of the Year Award: Steven Ferrantello

• Long Island Region Volunteer of the Year: Mike Pavlides

pandemic, more than 100 children participated in the facility’s clinics and this year, 140 students were registered for the Fall session. In May 2022, during National Tennis Month, the club held a Red Ball Festival that brought in numerous players for games, snacks and more. Morley participates in after school Net Generation programs including programs in local elementary and private schools. The facility helps children facing financial obstacles to play tennis by creating a privately funded program for the Boys & Girls Club in Glen Cove. The club also has organized a three-week Nike Tennis Camp program at the Buckley Country Day School.

Binder, the founder (with the late Daniel Burgess Sr.), writer and publisher of “On the Ball: News from LI,” has been a longtime volunteer on the Long Island Council handling public relations, social media and member communications. In addition to producing the quarterly newsletter for the Long Island Regional Council, she also produces the USTA Long Island pages in Long Island Tennis Magazine, publicizes many Long Island events and activities including the annual Awards Dinner and coordinates content for the Regional website.

Ferrantello is the Boys and Girls Varsity Coach at Half Hollow Hills High School East. He has been the boys coach since 2018 and girls coach since 2020. Coaching is not simply an after-school job for him; he also has created fundraiser events for charities that have raised thousands of dollars for breast cancer awareness and more. His teams play a

Christopher Morley Tennis has an active and vibrant 10 and Under Red Ball program. During the COVID-19

USTA Eastern Long Island Region

“pink out” match each October and, in 2022, he coordinated a tournament that brought together teams from the lower portion of New York State. Ferrantello always focuses on his players, whether he’s bringing snacks on match days or staying after practice to help guide the students on their college choices. Under his stewardship, the the boys’ team has won the County Championship along with back-to-back semifinal appearances and the girls’ team won the Long Island Large School Championship in 2021 and has been Suffolk County Champion. In addition to his coaching duties, he is the Division 1 Coordinator for the boys and girls tennis in Suffolk County. He has been voted Boys League 1 Coach of the Year, Girls League 1 Coach of the Year, Girls Suffolk County Coach of the Year and Suffolk County Coach of the Year by Long Island Tennis Magazine. He also was named the USTA Long Island Suffolk County Coach of the Year 2022.

been USTA Eastern Awards chairperson for six years. He is starting his 3rd year on the USTA National High School Committee and has been the boys and girls tennis coach at Massapequa High School for more than 25 years.

New Council Taking Over In 2023

Pavlides, a longtime volunteer with the USTA Long Island Regional Council (15+ years) is the incoming Long Island Regional Director. He also volunteers as Long Island High School Rep., editor of “On the Ball: News from Long Island” and has

USTA Eastern has announced its new slate of Board of Directors including the election of Olga Harvey as President. The new Board will serve a two-year term from 2023-24. In addition to Harvey, the 2023-24 Board of Directors includes Ari Roberts, vice president, Jonathan Klee, secretary (moving up from USTA Long Island Regional Director), Maria Gorskia, treasurer, and Perren Wong, USTA Section Delegate.

Mike Pavlides will become Long Island Regional Director. Other Long Islanders taking leadership positions within USTA Eastern are Claude Okin, CEO of Sportime, who will be a Member At Large, as well as LI volunteers Herb Harris and Clark Ruiz, who have been appointed to the Eastern Nominating Committee.

The new Regional Council will begin its term in January at the USTA Eastern Tennis Conference (ETC). A highlight of the ETC will be a presentation on Friday, January 27th from 2:30-3:30pm at Ridgewood Racquet Club. At this session, Tito Perez, general manager and director of tennis at Long Island Health & Racquet Club, will lead a PTR OnCourt Session featuring drills and exercises focused on improving teamwork and providing drills and activities designed to engage all of a high school team’s athletes together.

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

Neil Thakur, Manager, School Tennis and Long Island & Metro Region CTC

www.longisland.usta.com • Follow USTA Long Island on Facebook: Play Tennis Long Island

Forhigh school-aged tennis players, looking towards the future and where they will embark on the next chapter of their lives in college can be a daunting endeavor, and it can be difficult to know where to even begin when searching for the right fit.

Similarly, for college coaches, searching for the right players and people to enter your program is an equally-difficult task, with so many players out there to choose from.

Enter the USTA Eastern College Showcase Day, one of the pillar events of the Eastern Section which has helped revolutionize and simplify the college recruiting process for all the parties involved.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the last two years of the Showcase have been held virtually, with coaches watching players play via video, and seminars and lectures being held online. And while the virtual showcase was effective, it was unable to achieve the true mission of the Showcase.

But earlier this fall, the two-year Showcase hiatus came to an end, and the event returned to its natural habitat: in-person. The 34th annual

USTA Eastern College Showcase brought together players, coaches, parents, experts and more to The Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco to form a bridge between high school tennis players and collegiate tennis coaches.

“We were so excited to be able to do this in-person again,” said Julie Bliss-Beal, USTA Eastern’s Senior Director of Competition, who runs the annual Showcase, who also added this year’s event featured a record number of student athletes in attendance. “The virtual was a great concept considering the environment we were in at the time, but parents and players never knew who was watching their kid play. You also lose that one-on-one interview process and being able to learn more about a coach or program, something that can be difficult sometimes through a computer or phone.

I also think it’s important for parents to see and talk to other parents, and for players to see their friends and peers here, because they are all going through a similar process. So it’s a great way for them to continue to network, and I’m sure there are a lot of coaches here from programs that they may never even had heard of,

and wouldn’t really be able to learn about in a virtual environment. So it’s really invaluable.”

Monica LaMura, the Director of Marketing and Communications, echoed that sentiment:

“Having it back in person is really meaningful for us,” she said. “It feels a lot different to be physically here, rather than trying to communicate all these things through pamphlets, brochures and Zoom calls. This just hits different, and being in person is such a better way to do this.”

The Showcase runs all day and includes an array of different activities for both players and coaches to take part in.

“I feel that this event presented a great opportunity to not only display my skills in front of a wide range of coaches but also see the other types of players and see how they challenged me,” said junior Rachel Neuman. “Also, it gave me connections to coaches from schools that attended the event and ones that didn’t. Some even from schools that I had previously applied to! I learned a lot about the recruiting process and what it takes to play on the different division levels which helped clarify where I felt

I was comfortable playing.”

Spread out across the 13-plus courts at the Saw Mill Club, players take part in match play, both singles and doubles, as coaches rotate around the courts and observe. This allows players to demonstrate how they compete against different types of competition, while coaches are able to see how these players handle pressure moments and match scenarios.

“I can’t sing the praises of this event enough,” said Kevin Kane, the Vice President and General Manager at the Saw Mill Club. “It’s a great marketplace of ideas, where you get a chance to put kids who are good players and give them a recruitment opportunity in front of Division I, II and III schools. When Julie and I connected on this event about a dozen years

ago, I knew it was the perfect thing for our club to sponsor. We close down for a day, put carpets down on our two show courts which then serves as the main room where all the coaches and colleges set up. These players ought to be playing tennis for life, and this event provides the venue

to find their ideal collegiate tennis fit.”

Helping to create a showcase that covers all aspects of the college recruiting process is the workshops and seminars that take place as well which cover a range of topics including one for players on how to get recruited, where experts discussed how to communicate with collegiate coaches and what helps a player stand out, as well as one emphasizing the importance of the mental game, given by Rob Polishook, acclaimed mental sports coach and author.

Polishook also presented a seminar to the coaches in attendance entitled “From Hothead to Hero”, where he demonstrated how to coach the

usta eastern college showcase

continued from page 27

person first, and the player second.

“We talked about the importance of coaching the whole human athlete and it went really well,” said Polishook. “The coaches were very receptive and engaged, and we spoke about the three Cs: Care, Connect and Communicate, and gave examples on how they can do that, and how crucial it is to have coaches identify what their personal talents are, not what makes them a good or bad tennis player, but makes them who they are.

I think this is such a great event to be able to discuss this concept to, and helping them be able to get their players to focus on their process and be their authentic selves, which will help them become better tennis players.”

Longtime tennis coach Whitney Kraft is entering his first season as the head coach for the men’s and women’s tennis teams at Oneonta State in upstate New York, and used the Showcase to further his program’s

brand, connect with others and learn more.

“I found the presentations on mental toughness from Rob Polishook, and How to Get Recruited by Scott Treibly very valuable learning sessions,” said Kraft. “The Eastern College Showcase delivers an invaluable resource for college coaches and provides us faceto-face time with players and parents. The opportunity to both watch the athlete in action on court, as well as answer questions and highlight your school’s offerings, campus life, and other pertinent information are

extremely important in this process.”

In addition, Kraft emphasized the unique opportunity the event provides for coaches to talk with each other.

“It was great meeting other coaches, and discuss potential future match opportunities between our schools, fundraising ideas, along with the best practices for developing a team culture and brand,” he said. “The Showcase proved very important for me as a first-year head coach.”

For the last three decades, the USTA Eastern’s College Showcase Day has been a pinnacle event for the organization, and an integral one for its overall mission of growing the game of tennis in our community. The 2022 edition of the Showcase was a return to normal, being hosted inperson as opposed to virtually, as it will continue to help play match maker for student-athletes and colleges.

“I think there is a misconception sometimes when it comes to college tennis, that it has to be uber competitive and all-consuming,” LaMura added. “For some players it is and they will go on to play at great Division I schools, but as you see when you come here, a lot of colleges offer intramural sports, or have Tennis on Campus, so there are a lot of ways for these students to continue to play tennis when they go to college, and do so on their terms. This is a great platform to learn about all of those opportunities and hear from experts. The Showcase is a one-stop shop for them to be able to get all of that information, and we are thrilled to be able to provide that for them.”

brianc@usptennis.com.

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

20 Resolutions to Maximize A Healthy Tennis Outlook

By Steve Kaplan

Ourattitudes, outlooks and practices toward training, learning and competing shape who we are, who we become and, in large part, how successful we are.

Below is a list of 20 pieces of advice worth considering, in no particular order. It's never too late to learn what is always necessary to know, so this list is worthwhile at any age.

1. Be willing to accept and learn from failure to enhance success.

2. Hold yourself and others accountable without blame.

3. Having an ego is normal but it should be regulated, so release ego fallacies and unhealthy ego tendencies and embrace ego regulators in order to have a solid, strong and healthy sense of self.

4. Tennis doesn't need to be fun to be worthwhile, but it needs to be worthwhile for fun to be relevant.

5. If you give your best, be proud. If you can't, get used to a lifetime of disappointment.

6. Practice positive behaviors because your function affects your form therefore how you act reflects who you become.

7. We can't be perfect but we can try to be excellent. Embrace and

harness the beneficial effects of excellence seeking perfectionism for motivation and engagement and let go of the negative effects of failure-avoiding perfectionism.

8. Always be optimistic.

9. Never give up

10. When practicing skills and tactics you are not good at don't hold yourself accountable to unrealistic expectations

11. When practicing skills and abilities you are good at hold yourself accountable to higher expectations.

12. When practicing your competitive behavioral skills hold yourself accountable to the highest expectations.

13. Begin with the end in mind by setting end -goals and finding opportunities to achieve them.

14. Work toward these goals in a safe progression.

15. Embrace change and revise your goals.

16. Mentally rehearse to minimize suffering in matches.

17. Find a flow state through full involvement, intrinsic motivation, an energized focus, challenging goals, feedback and selfempowerment to find the joy and peace of being mindful.

18. We are not our thoughts, and fear is just a thought.

19. Recognize anger for what it is. If you get angry often, especially when working hard, you're probably confusing the feeling of effort with the feeling of anger because physically they feel the same.

20. When you have more, you have more to give. This is enlightened self interest because as you elevate others you elevate yourself.

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.

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. Steve has coached more than 1,100 nationally- ranked junior players, 16 New York State high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous highly-ranked touring professionals. Many of the students Steve has closely mentored have gone on to achieve great success as prominent members of the New York financial community,

spotlight Junior Player

Diane Durante Sportime/JMTA

By Brian Coleman

Injuries

are, unfortunately, something that every high-level athlete has to deal with at some point or another during their careers. The ability to work through those injuries and overcome them is one indication of a dedicated athlete, and being able to do so usually has a positive impact on them moving forward.

For Diane Durante, a freshman at Manhasset High School who trains out of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy’s Long Island annex at Sportime Syosset, an injured wrist affected her tennis play for the better part of 2022.

“I sprained my left wrist, and then developed tendinitis, and it really stopped me from being able to hit a simple backhand,” said Durante, who has played for Manhasset varstiy tennis since seventh grade and was an All-State doubles player this past high school season. “I was playing a match one day and it really started hurting, and then when I went to my lesson the next day it felt even worse. I played through it and didn’t use my left hand at all. I would try to just hit forehands, and if someone hit to my backhand, I would try to run around it, or slice it. It was really challenging.”

While Durante played through the injury, it did limit her ability to play her best tennis. As she played through it, she also was seeking treatment to alleviate herself of the injury and get back to feeling 100 percent physically.

“It did help me improve my slice a lot, and a lot of girls in the Eastern Section don’t like playing against slices, so it sometimes worked to my advantage,” she said. “But it also brought down my confidence because if someone hit a ball hard to my backhand, I had a hard time getting it back and being consistent with it.”

The father of one of her friends who competes in USTA tournaments with Durante is a physical therapist, and she visited him frequently to undergo acupuncture treatment, something she said helped immensely.

“I would go there and he would stick needles in my hand, and put me through these other exercises. Over time it helped so much. After months of treatment, it is fully better now, and I am back to where I was.”

Now fully healthy and with the high school tennis season behind her, Durante can now put the majority of her time and energy into her private training and her tournament schedule.

junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player s

Between starting high school earlier this fall, injuring her wrist, and competing on her high school team, those things had to take a backseat for much of the fall, but Durante is excited to get back to her normal training schedule, improve her ranking and continue playing in the highest level of tournaments.

“Lawrence Kleger and I are teaming up as coaches for Diane this past year, and now that Diane is finally healthy, we can focus on continuing to improve her overall game,” said Mike Kossoff, Director of Tennis at Sportime Syosset. “Lawrence and I both feel that although she has a few weapons in place, there is room for growth across every aspect of her game. That excites both of us and we look forward to seeing her reach her potential on the court.”

Durante dedicates a lot of her time to her tennis, practicing for about three hours a day, five or six days a week between her on-court training and offcourt fitness. She began training at Sportime when she was in fifth grade, and now as a ninth-grader, has seen her game develop immensely over that time span. As we head into the 2023, Durante will continue that work alongside Kossoff, Kleger and the Sportime training staff.

“Her shot selection, along with her movement, are two aspects of her game that we are focusing on in the short term,” Kossoff added. “If Diane continues to put in the work on and off the court, we don’t see why she won’t be a highly-ranked national player.”

Over the last several months, Durante has been competing in some of the biggest junior tournaments in the country, including Super Nationals and Zonals, putting that hard work and training to the test. Most recently, despite being 14-years-old, has been playing up in the 16s divisions of these events, further proof of her continued progress and improvements.

Despite all of this time spent playing tennis, Durante has not let it affect her school work, as for the last three years

she has been a member of her school’s honor roll. That is no different this year, as despite being in her first year of high school, Durante has been able to balance all of the things she has on her plate.

“This past year was very challenging because it was the start of the school year, my first year of high school, and my third year of playing high school tennis,” she said. “I know that three out of the five days of the week I am going to have matches after school and being at school very late, all while knowing I have homework and studying to do when I get home. It

set me back a bit in terms of my tennis, because I wasn’t able to do all the outside training I wanted to, between matches and practices. Now during the winter, I am able to go to my private practice right after school, and play tournaments on the weekends. I am just able to do more now.”

Durante is still unsure if she will play high school tennis next fall, but what she is sure of is her work ethic, and her desire for continuing to improve as a tennis player. When she isn’t on court, Durante likes to spend time with her friends like any normal teenager, as well as bake and cook in her free time. This summer, she even got some of her non-tennis friends into pickleball, where her tennis skills translated nicely.

But her biggest passion remains, of course, tennis, and as Kossoff said, as she continues to work on her game, it will be exciting to see what is to come for her.

“Heading into this winter, I just want to get a lot better, and become much more mentally strong on the court,” she said of her goals. In the long term, I would love to play college tennis, and get into a good school for my tennis.”

spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior

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

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 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.

STEVE KAPLAN’S BethpageParkTennis.com

BETHPAGE PARK TENNIS CENTER

Carefree Racquet Club

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 Kristen Cassidy offers adult singles, doubles and team doubles leagues that are always on the correct level to ensure 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 Ryan White. 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 Ryan White. 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!

Chris Lewit Tennis Academy

Also coaches in Greenwich, Ct, New York City and Westchester 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 recently coached the number 1 player in the US and gold ball winner Maggie Sohns, numerous top 10 nationally-ranked juniors, one Little Mo National champ Elana Zaretsky, 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!

Eastern Athletic

Eastern Athletic is family-owned and is one of 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 or call 631-363-2882, 631-2716616, 718-625-0500, 718-789-4600.

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 climate-controlled 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

Evert Tennis Academy

10334 Diego Drive South l Boca Raton, Fla.

The Evert Tennis Academy (ETA) is located in the Mission Bay area of Boca Raton, Fla.

With 23 courts, pristine grounds, state-ofthe-art-equipment, a caring staff and family atmosphere combine make ETA a beautiful and unique training environment.

As the proud home to more than 15 Grand Slam participants and over 100 Division I college athletes, the Evert Tennis Academy has a proven record of success in developing champions at the highest levels.

Chris Evert, tennis legend and winner of 18 Grand Slam titles, and John Evert, world-renowned developmental coach and academy director, believe in designing personalized programs that consist of a strategic balance between technical, tactical, mental and physical training. They pride themselves on handpicking some of the finest developmental coaches working in the sport who are dedicated to the instruction, development and success of each athlete

Academy and Developmental Programs

The Academy Program at Evert systematically addresses every aspect of a player’s game through a daily regimen of technical, tactical, mental and physical training. The Morning Training Session is composed of drilling, and strength and conditioning. The program is continued in the afternoon with a focus towards competition and tactics. The Developmental Program at Evert Tennis Academy is designed to take players to the next level by providing a very exclusive, individualized program and the difference between it and the Academy Program lies within the daily 1:1 lesson. Boarding students age 18 and younger enrolled in the Full-Time, Weekly or Camp programs, stay in our on-campus threestory dormitory. Each dorm room houses up to two students during the school year and up to four students during Camp and Summer Sessions with boys and girls being housed on separate buildings.

Evert Tennis Academy conveniently provides one-on-one airport transportation for its boarding students, for a fee (subject to change), to all three area international airports: (PBI) West Palm Beach (35 minutes), (FLL) Fort Lauderdale (35 minutes), (MIA) Miami International (55 minutes).

All transportation coordination is handled directly through the Academy, making it stress-free and easy for you.

Please contact Evert Tennis Academy at (561) 488- 2001 for more information or e-mail

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 per form 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

Huntington Indoor Tennis

100 Broadway l Huntington Station, N.Y. hitennis@hitennisny.com l (631) 421-0040

Huntington Indoor Tennis is celebrating 42 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 2022, 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.

HuntingtonIndoorTennis.net

Point Set Indoor Racquet Club

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 now offers pickleball! With eight, newly-lined pickleball courts, Point Set is proud to offer clinics, lessons and tournaments, as well as court rentals on Fridays through Sundays.

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.

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 fur ther 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.

SPORTIME Tennis Clubs

Home of the John

McEnroe Tennis

Academy 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 185 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.

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 and 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 also include world-class, age and level appropriate athletic training, mental toughness 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 coaching from the very first lesson. SPORTIME students also benefit from a full competitive pathway from our World Tour events designed to create the perfect first competitive experience, through Junior Team Tennis and Team Cup, plus an extensive calendar of UTR and USTA events. SPORTIME is not just the best place to learn the game but the best place to play it too!

• Adults:: SPORTIME’s Adult Tennis Kinetics is the largest adult group lesson program in New York. Other Adult Programs, including League Tennis Cardio Tennis, and SPORTIME’s signature “Zone” high-intensity, competitive games program, all provide great workouts, combined with skill development and lots of fun! For those looking for the ultimate challenge, SPORTIME offers Adult EXCEL, modeled after our 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. So whether you want to meet your next opponent or partner, take your game to another level, or just get a great workout with friends, the answer is SPORTIME!

• 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, including 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.

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.

Confessions of a Teaching Professional

By Tonny van de Pieterman

Theother day I picked up a new lesson. Someone had called in for a tennis lesson and it happened to fit right into an open spot in my schedule. All I knew about my new client was his first name, so when I met him at the front desk of the club, I naturally introduced myself.

With a great look of disbelief, he said: “I know you! I can’t believe it; you were my instructor when I was a child!”

When I looked into his eyes, this 30something year old mountain of a man turned into the 10-year-old junior player that I worked with for a few years when I first moved to New York many years ago. We were both perplexed.

On the way to the court, he told me that he hadn’t played since he was 14, and that he had recently started playing again. He said that he enjoyed the workout and felt that he still had some skills left. He was hooked! Meanwhile, I tried not to trip on my beard, that’s how old I felt. (I don’t have a beard). I was looking forward to the hit though, assuming it would be a nice relaxing hit with a former student. It had been a long week for me, so a little miniworkout would be nice. Just banging the ball back and forth a bit.

To a certain extent it was a nice easy hit. Early on he had asked me what I thought of his game.

“You still got it, bud”, I replied.

Tennis is like riding a bike; if you played as a kid, it comes back to you real fast. Then, several more times he asked me what I thought. As we rallied, I felt his competitiveness come through. Strong. He was berating himself for nearly every missed shot and continued to ask me to critique him, or so it seemed.

“What am I doing?”

“What do I need to work on?”

“I am so out of shape”

“I need a better backhand”

“I used to be able to flatten out the forehand”

These questions instantly drained me. “What difference does it make now?

You are 35 years old! Is there a tournament I don’t know about? You just picked up the game again, just enjoy it! You were never that good in the first place,” I thought to myself.

Of course, I did not say any of those things, I am a teaching professional with good manners. I offered some helpful tips, came up with some good drills to do , and tried to create a positive experience for him. All of a sudden, this

became hard work. He was trying his best to perform, and nothing was good enough in his eyes. My easy relaxing hit turned into a dramatic theater play, and I was just a spectator.

With some ten minutes left in the lesson he insisted on playing competitively versus me. I tried to deflect and offer another option, but he was adamant about it.

“Let's go, play a couple of games against me”, he pleaded.

At the end of it, he seemed in a state of shock. I had blitzed him in five straight games, hitting winner after winner. He seemed completely dejected. Perhaps he was under the illusion that after all this time he could beat me, and I popped this delusion. I don’t know. All I know is that I am a jerk. Why did I have to beat him so badly? Was that really necessary? Am I really the one that needs to get rid of my delusions? All I wanted was a nice relaxing hit, and I had to ruin it by being the star in my own theater play!

This is my confession. Tennis lessons are not about me, but about my students. I will do better.

Tonny van de Pieterman is a tennis professional at Point Set Indoor Racquet Club in Oceanside, N.Y. He was recently named USTA Tennis Professional of the Year for the USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region and helped the Eastern Section win this year’s Talbert Cup. He may be reached by phone at (516) 536-2323 or e-mail Tonny@PointSetTennis.com.

Pickleball Plus Is Area’s Largest Dedicated Pickleball Club

Located at 525 Eagle Ave in West Hempstead, Pickleball Plus LLC is Long Island’s largest dedicated indoor pickleball club with 12 courts. The facility features special lighting, court surfaces and added space between courts plus many other amenities that pickleball players expect. Even the color of the walls was chosen to optimize the playing experience.

Opened in October 2021, Pickleball Plus has become a vibrant gathering spot for both experienced and new players. Programs include Open and Social Plays, leagues for all levels of players, tournaments and events. Our staff of fully certified pros is available for a complete range of lessons for all levels including private, semi-private and small group lessons, and learn- and-plays. The club launched the area’s first program for children with its Júnior Pickleball Academy for ages 3-17, as well as pickleball programming for summer camps and other youth organizations. In addition, Pickleball Plus offers parties and events such as fundraisers for individuals and groups.

“Success is our ability to fill our courts with happy pickleball players enjoying our programs and events every day,” says owner Dr. Harry Kent. “By that measure, we have achieved great success. We listened to our members and created programs and events based on their feedback.”

Other amenities include:

• Tournament-sized courts offer extra room around the courts and no obstructions

• Resur faced cour ts in three colors

• Homogenous lighting – no shadows and no glare

• Climate control system featuring central A/C

• New roof and ceiling tiles

• Updated lobby, locker rooms and party room

• Online reser vation and payment options

• Exterior painting and landscaping

• One tennis cour t that converts to pickleball

Pickleball Plus LLC has easy online scheduling options that allow you to

view upcoming events, register and pay from an app or website. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff can assist you in scheduling all programs, events and lessons. We also offer par ties and events designed for you to meet new players, grow your game and enjoy the sport.

Contact Pickleball Plus at 516-5505700 or by visiting PickleballPlusLLC.com, to learn more about all of our options, programming, events and more, and join us as we continue to play a major role in the fastest growing sport in the country!

Thisarticle is partially excerpted from the forthcoming Secrets of Spanish Tennis Second Edition, coming soon in 2023! Vamos!

I have recently been working hard to finish the Secrets of Spanish Tennis Second Edition and get the manuscript to my publisher. The original book was published in 2014 and a lot has changed in Spain since the first publication! What has not changed are the many advantages of training on clay.

Many American players really hate clay. Sometimes parents and coaches feel the same dislike too. Try to keep an open mind about clay court tennis, even though it may make you or your player feel uncomfortable until all the nuances of the clay court game are mastered. The following is an excerpt from the new book about the benefits of playing on clay. Enjoy!

“We play a lot on clay in Spain because we have a lot of clay courts and it’s good for learning the game,” said Javier Piles, long-time coach of David Ferrer, the 2013 French Open singles finalist. “On clay the players learn to

By Chris Lewit

move and hit their shots on balance even when they are under pressure and this helps them a lot.”

The ubiquitous red clay courts of Spain are perhaps the true “Secret” of Spanish tennis. As all Spanish coaches will testify – the clay helps the development of tennis players in myriad ways:

1. The clay in Spain is generally very slow, and by slowing down the ball speed, it becomes very difficult to hit clean winners when kids are young. Young players learn to win with consistency and patience rather than by trying to go for outright winners. Therefore the clay tends to reward defense and helps to tame hyperaggressiveness. In Spain, young players learn quickly to play mature, responsible and balanced tennis rather than impulsive, aggressive tennis.

2. Because the points are longer and slower, players learn tactics better— they learn how to construct points rather than just hit winners. Players learn how to position their opponent,

hurt them, move them around, and use the geometry of the court—they learn the chess game of tennis.

3. The clay is less stressful on the joints of the lower body and the back, allowing players to train longer and play more with less pain and fewer chronic injuries. The courts are soft and cushion the legs and back from the incessant pounding they receive in tennis. This is a frequently underappreciated aspect of clay court training that is very beneficial to players.

4. The slow ball speed on clay can assist in the development of proper technique in young, developing players. The balls generally don’t bounce too high or too fast promoting good grips and contact points for 10and-under players, and the extra time produces a lot of long rallies for good quality stroke production repetitions. Therefore in Spain, the red, orange green progression that American families are very familiar with (and often frustrated with) here in the US, is not commonplace.

5. The slow and heavy conditions on the red clay force the player to maximize kinetic chain and racquet speed development in order to successfully compete. Players learn by necessity to develop a strong acceleration or they simply will not be able to attack well and win points. Many people don’t realize that the clay can coagulate on the balls and add significant weight in grams to each ball. Hitting a literally heavier ball makes the musculature more strong and powerful over time. The weight of the clay on the ball is reminiscent of the old coach’s trick to help develop power by dunking balls in a bucket of water before drills to make them heavier.

6. The inherent instability of the clay surface helps players develop better dynamic balance, stability on the run, and general lower body and foot coordination. Just as hockey players and ice skaters develop strong legs and fantastic balance and agility, so do tennis players who spend significant time on the slippery clay. In fact, in Spain the skill of sliding is often called “skating.”

7. Unexpected bounces on the clay develop reactive capabilities, handeye coordination and technical adaptability—sharpening the mind and nervous system. In addition, high bouncing balls help develop strength

above the shoulder. Many do not realize that developing this last split second swing adaptability is a big asset for clay court trained players, no matter what surface they play on. Moreover, muscular strength and endurance on shoulder height balls is critical for players if they want to succeed on clay. Hard court players tend to strike the ball at lower heights. Those hard court players who have not been exposed to clay often feel fatigued in clay court matches because they are not accustomed to striking the ball frequently at higher contact points.

8. Because the points tend to be longer and the matches are often tough grinds, players develop strong character attributes. The clay helps teach competitors to control emotions under fatigue, fight, endure pain, and to manage suffering. For these reasons, Spanish players are often known as the best fighters in any tournament.

9. Due to the slow courts and longer points, players develop better general cardiovascular stamina and

muscular endurance. The physical endurance of Spanish players has become legendary.

Here in New York, it can be difficult to find good clay courts to practice on. Sometimes the green clay is not maintained well or simply not available. Some of the green clay in New York is very fast, unfortunately, as fast as a hard court even! Nevertheless, even fast green clay still develops the athleticism of the player and some of the other aspects above.

My recommendation is to seek out clay court training at least half of the week or half of the year. For the best benefits, athletes can train indoor hard court in the winter and outdoor clay all summer like players in many European countries do, or divide the training days each week into a half clay and half hard schedule for the entire year.

To all coaches, parents and players who read this article—above all else, don’t be clay haters! Learn to love playing on the dirt. The myriad benefits to playing on clay will help your game or your player’s game immensely!

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.

Lesson Catchphrases

By Ricky Becker

Before the last issue of Long Island Tennis Magazine was published, the father of a couple of my students surprised me by sharing with me what he called, “Rickyisms”, or what I would refer to as catchphrases that I have used over the years. I wasn’t consciously aware that I use them but if in a few short words can drive home a point, I’m all for it!

In the last issue of this magazine, I presented ten of them. Here are 12 more:

1.Don’t fall victim to the pressure of the rally. At the end of the day, 95 percent of matches outside the pro level are won by the person who makes

fewer errors. Yes, part of the goal is to force your opponent into errors, but if you are losing the rally, rather than “check out” and go for a low percentage shot because you feel like you are about to lose the point, get the ball back in play and make them execute the last 20 percent of the point themselves.

2.I didn’t love that. Actually I am being nice; I hated it.

3.Let’s see the helicopter arms. This refers to the arms being linked and in sync on the forehand, and the arms tearing through the air to get power like propellers of a helicopter.

4.Walk through the door to enter the point. Too many times at the lower levels, players march horizontally through the court and turn around to either serve or return. When is the last time you’ve seen a professional player do this? Always walk to the baseline while facing your opponent’s side of the court to make sure you do not rush mentally and get ready for the next point.

5.Respect everyone. Fear no one. I credit my college coach at Stanford, Dick Gould, for this one. I still remember him telling us that San Jose State recently lost a match 1-6 to UCLA and since we lost to UCLA two years earlier, we better respect San Jose State that afternoon. Fear no one is self-explanatory. No matter who you are playing, you deserve to be on that court as much as they are!

6.Hover! “No Man’s Land” isn’t always bad. Sometimes one might hit a shot from inside the court which is not good enough to approach the net on, but is offensive enough that it’s not a good idea to retreat to the baseline. This is when you wait in “No Man’s Land” to take advantage of another short ball or come in and pick off a floating volley.

7.Would you throw a ball farther if you were in the shallow end of a pool or the

deep end where you have to tread water? The answer is you would throw further from the shallow end but you would have to work harder to throw it far from the shallow end. The reason this is significant is that it exhibits how the ground gives you more power when you use it correctly than swinging your arms independent of the body ever can.

8.Forward, back, hip, lift! If you guessed that these are quick cues for weight transfer on the serve…you are correct. This is short for: rock forward, rock back, rock forward leading with your hip and use the hip to lift up your body to extend up to the serve.

9.Play “plus one” tennis. Simply put, hit every shot like you intend on hitting another shot rather than taking risk going for an outright winner unnecessarily. It’s like going for the two-putt in golf. This strategy is not for pure shot

makers but is good if you do not miss much, if you are trying to physically wear down your opponent and feel confidently that you can win as long as you don’t beat yourself.

10.Ole! This is meant to mimic a bull fighter when a player pulls their head or body up from a short hop too quickly, like a matador does with his cape.

11.Get your work boots on, this is a blue collar shot. Short hops, half-volleys, fast shots while you are at the net. Use shots that you don’t want to hear an “ole” because you’ve got to be tough, physical and stay in the point. Get low, get your head down and be tough! These shots are the ones

that would most likely elicit an “ole!” from your opponent.

12.Take away time. Of course you can’t literally take away time, but when your opponent is off the court it is more advantageous to hit your next shot earlier, either on the rise or inside the court, so you take away their chance (or time) to get back into the middle of the court. When your opponent is in the middle of the court it’s not as necessary to take their time away because they are presumably ready for the next shot. This also applies to someone who has a very long backswing. If you can hit with pace it will take away time for them execute this big backswing and often force errors.

Ricky Becker is The Director of Tennis at Glen Oaks Club. Ricky also coaches highperformance 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.

2022 Long Island Girls’ High

In the November/December 2022 edition of Long Island Tennis Magazine, we recapped the individual championships on Long Island this past fall. In this edition, we recap the team championships. To see more photos from these events, and all the high school tennis action from this past season, check out LITennisMag.com, or visit us on Facebook and Instagram.

Loeffler Leads Cold Spring Harbor to Nassau County Small School Title

Forthe second straight season, the Nassau County Girls’ Small School Championship came down to a battle between Cold Spring Harbor and Friends Academy.

And for what felt like the hundredth time, resulted in a first singles showdown between Nicolette Loeffler of Cold Spring Harbor, and Isabella Sha of Friends Academy. The top two players in the county faced off in each of the last two finals in the individual championships, and this time around, the team county championship was on the line.

Through the first four flights of the county final, Cold Spring Harbor and Friends Academy were all tied up at two. Thus, all the fans and spectators gathered by the first singles court to watch Loeffler and Sha battle it out for the title.

“It was a lot of pressure,” said Loeffler. “I lost the first set and that was tough. But my whole mindset was just that I

have to come back, and every point counts. I really tried to be more aggressive and go for some down-the-line shots, try to make her move, and it worked out.”

After dropping the opening set, Loeffler responded with a win in the second set to force the decider. Both players struggled on serve to begin the third set with three straight breaks of serve, until Loeffler secured a key hold for a 3-1 lead. Both players continued to rip winners from the baseline in a tightly-contested match, and eventually it would come down to Loeffler serving for the match up 5-2.

The senior would calmly serve it out to seal the win, and clinch the county title for the Seahawks, completing the 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

“Isabella is such a great player, it’s always an honor to play her,” said Loeffler. “Losing to her twice in the county

Nicolette Loeffler won a key match at first singles to lead Cold Spring Harbor to the Nassau Small School title

Brooke Winthrop gets ready to hit a forehand during her win at third singles

h School RECAP

finals makes this one a little sweeter. To win a county championship with my team, it’s all I’ve wanted. My teammates are great, they are always with me, and the support from my coach is amazing. This is just great.”

Cold Spring Harbor head coach Melissa McLees added: “I’m so proud of the way the girls fought all the way to the end. Every single one of them wanted this coming in and they brought it today. After we lost to Friends last year, we walked away feeling a bit defeated, but came into this season with a different mindset. We really came together as a team and it made all the difference in the world.”

In regards to the county final being decided by Loeffler and Sha, McLees said:

“I’ve known Nicolette since seventh grade, and to watch her grow into the player and person she is today is just wonderful. I’m so happy for her, it felt like it was meant to come down to her match. To have the final be decided by them, who have been playing together since they were little, and are such good friends but also great competitors, it just felt right.”

Cold Spring Harbor’s other two victories came from Brooke Winthrop’s triumph at third singles, and a 6-2, 6-3 victory from the second doubles tandem of Veronika Walkin & Dylan Savarese. For Friends, Skylar Cohen won a three-set match at second singles, while Eva Sun & Sofia Schwarz were winners at first doubles.

Bayport-Blue Point Claims Second Straight Suffolk County Small School Championship

Throughthe first six flights of the Suffolk County Girls’ Small School Championship on Wednesday afternoon, Bayport-Blue Point and The Ross School were all tied up at three matches each. Thus, the county championship would come down to one court: first

singles.

Bayport-Blue Point’s Emilia Romano had secured the first set against Emmy Winter of The Ross School and was up a break in the second set when she noticed all the spectators gather by her court at Casamento Park in Bay

Bayport-Blue Point was led by Emilia Romano who won at first singles en route to the county title

Grace Blanchard and Emma Romano were first doubles winners in the county final

2022 long island girls high school recap

continued from page 00

Shore. On one of the changeovers, she asked her coach, Keith Scharf, what the overall team score was.

“I wasn’t going to tell her the score, but she asked and wanted to know,” said Scharf. “I told her it was 3-3, and from there she really brought it.”

Rather than hide away from the pressure, Romano embraced it. She played some of her best tennis to pull away and close out her match 7-6(5), 6-3 and clinch the county title for the Phantoms for a second straight season.

“I was just really trying to finish the points when I could, but not rush anything,” said Romano. “I knew there was pressure and the match came down to our court, but I tried to play through it. It was tough, but I am glad I was able to pull through.”

On a chilly and windy afternoon, the conditions proved to be tough for tennis. To neutralize the wind, Romano changed up some of her tactics.

Cold

Spring Harbor

Sweeps

“She played really smart tennis, the wind was tough today and she used her slice as a weapon, more than she normally does,” Scharf added. “She combined it with her power, and just played great tennis.”

Bayport-Blue Point’s other three victories came from Scarlett Kingston at second singles, Danielle Oleksiak at fourth singles, and the first doubles tandem of Grace Blanchard and Emilia Romano’s older sister, Ella.

“We had an amazing team last year, but I knew we had good players on the team again this year and that we could do this,” added Emilia Romano, whose younger sister, Evie, plays second doubles. “My older sister is a senior on the team, and that really helps not only me but the whole team because she is such a great leader.”

Scharf added:

“This was a really tough Ross team, and all the credit in the world to them. This was a difficult match.”

En Route to LI Small School Championship

Cold Spring Harbor captured its first Long Island title in program history as the Seahawks defeated BayportBlue Point 5-0 in the LI Small School Championship at Casamento Park in Bay Shore.

“I’m so proud of the girls. We all really wanted this, and we came out focused,” said Nicolette Loeffler. “This is the first time making it here to the Long Island championship, and we came out hungry today.”

Loeffler, the Seahawks’ first singles player, notched a 6-2, 6-1 victory on Tuesday, and it came soon after Kati Cotek

posted a 6-0, 6-1 victory at second singles. Cotek’s win got the scoring started in the LI championship.

“It was great to be able to get the first win and sort of get things going for our team,” said Cotek. “I am very happy with the way I was able to play. I played aggressive and that worked in my favor, the shots were going in, it was a good day.”

After Cotek notched the first point of the day, and Loeffler continued her undefeated play in team competition with her first singles triumph, Cold Spring Harbor needed to win one of the three remaining courts to claim the LI title.

Kati Cotek won her second singles match in straight sets to get Cold Spring Harbor’s scoring started

Cold Spring Harbor captains Nicolette Loeffler and Hailey Schulsinger with head coach Melissa McLees

That victory would come from the first doubles pairing of Hailey Schulsinger & Kami Cotek, who clinched their team’s victory with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph.

“I think we were just trying to stay focused,” Shulsinger said of understanding there the overall score of the match was. “It’s such a great honor to be able to seal it, and we feel so accomplished in playing a big role in the win.”

Cotek added:

“We work really well together, and communicated very well, understanding where the other one was on the court. That helps a lot.”

Rounding out the scoring was a 6-4, 6-3 win from Veronica Walkin & Dylan Savarese at second doubles, and Brooke Winthrop's 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 win at third singles.

“We have a lot of seniors on this team, and we put it all out on the court this season,” Loeffler added.

Port Washington Comes Back to Win Nassau County Large School Title

Staring

down a 1-3 deficit with only three matches remaining in the Nassau County Girls Large School Championship, the Port Washington Vikings had no margin for error.

And one-by-one, Port Washington worked its way back into the match.

First, Katie Kors & Grace Ain hung on to win 6-2, 7-5 at first doubles to keep the Vikings’ county championship hopes alive, leaving just two courts remaining. And so the array of fans and spectators in attendance gathered by the second singles and third singles courts with the county title hanging in the balance.

It would be up to senior Ellie Ross at second singles, and eighth-grader Evie Loewy at third singles.

“Hearing everyone cheering on the sideline was definitely motivating, especially when it came down to Evie and I,” said Ross. “I knew the pressure that we both needed to win our matches, but I tried not to think about that and just stay consistent.”

Ross would hang on after a long second set to win 63, 7-5, and tie up the overall team match at 3-3.

Loewy had dropped the opening set in her match, but from the second set on she was in control. She claimed the second set 6-1, and built a commanding lead in the deciding third set, and led 5-0 as all eyes turned to her court.

“I had a big lead in the set which helped, but I just wanted to come through for my team,” she said.

And Loewy did just that, closing out the match in the next game, winning at third singles and clinching the Nassau County title for Port Washington.

“She’s an eighth grader, and the maturity she has shown from last year to this year is tremendous,” said Port Washington head coach Shane Helfner. “Any other middle schooler would have been rattled by the moment, but when I talked to her on changeovers she was composed and smiling, and stayed locked in on court.”

The Vikings are a veteran-led team filled with eighth seniors, all of whom wanted to make sure they ended their high school careers with a county title.

“I’m at a loss for words, I wanted this for them so badly,” Helfner added. “We have eight seniors who have worked so hard over the years to keep the

Evie Loewy clinched the Port Washington win with her victory at third singles Seniors Grace Ain and Katie Kors won at first doubles in the Nassau Final

2022 long island girls high school recap

continued from page 00

program where it is, and they deserved to go out with a county title in their senior year. Coming back from last year we talked a lot about mental toughness and trying to be strong in that area. The girls really dug down deep and found a way to get to the finish line.”

Dasha Perfiliev, one of those eight seniors, got the

Vikings scoring started with her 6-4, 6-3 win at first singles earlier in the afternoon.

“Our team worked so hard all year, and I’m so glad we put our talents together and pulled through,” she said. “It’s been a long three years [since we last won a county title], and I’m so proud of the whole team.”

Harborfields Remains Unbeaten, Beats Hills East to Claim Suffolk Large School Championship

Isabella Frangione & Allie Bigelow won 6-3, 6-2 at third doubles

TheHarborfields Tornadoes captured the Suffolk County Girls’ Large School Championship on Friday afternoon, holding off the Thunderbirds of Half Hollow Hills East 5-2 in a battle of the county’s top two seeds.

“I could not be more proud of the team because I know how hard we’ve worked from day one,” said Isabella Frangione. “Everyone on the team is part of this win, and I’m so happy we pulled through in the end. We have a special bond with each other, and it’s more than just being teammates.”

Isabella Frangione secured one of her team’s wins on Friday as she paired with Allie Bigelow to win 6-3, 6-2 at third doubles. Her sister, Victoria, posted a key victory at second doubles, teaming with Brianna Coakley to post a 63, 6-4.

The top doubles duo of Josie Rudloff & Carsen Rittberger won 6-4, 6-2 to complete the doubles sweep for the Tornadoes.

Hills East’s victories came from Victoria Czoch, a 1-6, 64, 6-0 winner at first singles, and Christina Zhao, who won

Aya Deckman came back to win 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 win at fourth singles

6-3, 6-2 at second singles.

To help clinch their win, Harborfields got singles wins from the Deckman sisters, as Aya Deckman posted a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 win at fourth singles, while Hana Deckman held on to win 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 at second singles to seal the county championship.

“It feels amazing because we all worked so hard and stayed determined to secure the victory,” said Victoria Frangione.

Harborfields came into this season with a determined attitude, following a semifinal loss to this Hills East team last year. It exacted its revenge this season, and have now won 18 consecutive matches heading into Tuesday’s Long Island Large School Championship.

“I am so proud of the way our team came together this year,” said head coach Jimmy Delevante. “Each match was another challenge and the girls supported each other throughout every contest. When things got really close, they never gave up, they never stopped fighting, and they never lost focus.”

Port Washington Defeats Harborfields to Win Long Island Large School Title

Port Washington reclaimed the title of Long Island Champions on Tuesday afternoon as the Vikings knocked off Harborfields, the Suffolk County champions, 6-1 in the Long Island Large School Championship at Casamento Park in Bay Shore.

“We definitely came in very motivated, especially us seniors since this is our last year and it’s been awhile since we last won it,” said Ellie Ross. “It feels good to be back in this position again.”

Ross helped get her team’s win started on Tuesday as she posted a 6-1, 6-0 victory at second singles. That win came on the heels of Dasha Perfiliev winning 6-2, 6-1 at first singles as the Vikings quickly raced out to the early lead.

“I think it’s really important to bring that energy because it becomes contagious throughout the other courts,” Ross added. “If Dasha and I are able to pull out the wins early it just motivates the rest of the girls to finish strong.”

Port Washington head coach Shane Helfner added: “I told them a couple of days ago that not many coaches can put state champions at the top of their lineup. We’re very grateful they wear our uniform, and our program is what it is because of players like Dasha and Ellie, and our entire senior class.”

Soon after the wins at first singles and second singles, Port Washington’s Chloe Fanous & Christiana Kent completed their 6-1, 6-0 victory at third doubles, bringing their team within one win of the Long Island title.

That win would come from the senior pairing of Katie Kors & Grace Ain, who sealed their team’s victory with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph at first doubles.

“We were able to reset pretty fast,” Ain said of her and Kors’ key to winning. “We lost the first games in both sets, but we were able to refocus and said, ‘it’s just tennis, let’s get the ball in’, and it worked.”

The duo had a sense that their team was winning, but were unaware they were the clinching match until they walked off the court.

“We knew our teammates were up but we tried not to pay too much attention to the other scores and just wanted to focus on what we were doing,” Kors added. “So it was a bit of a surprise when we came off and everyone told us we were the clinching match.”

Evie Loewy notched a 6-2, 6-1 win at third singles, while Yasmeen Munoz & Isabelle Dibner notched a 6-2, 6-2 victory at fourth doubles to round out the scoring for Port Washington.

“We knew coming in that Harborfields had a great season and was a really tough team, and that there would be some battles,” said Helfner. “I think our lineup is so deep that we don’t rely on any one court, and from first singles down through fourth doubles and our exhibition players, everyone on this team contributes and helps push each other.”

Victoria Frangione & Brianna Coakley would secure the lone victory for Harborfields as they came back to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 at second doubles.

Port Washington won its first Long Island title since 2019

Dasha Perfiliev got her team going with a win at first singles in the LI championship

Scenes from the 2022 Girls' High School Season

A Baker’s Dozen of Truths

1. Tennis builds better humans. Tennis requires physically and mentally strong athletes. Work toward your physical goals and always give your opponent the benefit of any doubt in line calls.

2. Hang on and enjoy the journey. Tennis is like a wild rafting trip down a river. The journey seems slow when learning a stroke, then speeds around corners and tosses you into the air when you try that stroke in a competitive match. But all you pray for is to avoid the looming boulder ahead: doublefaulting the last point in a tiebreak.

3. Tennis is one of the best sports to ensure a long life. Look it up: The Blue Zone by Dan Buettner.

4. Tennis is difficult to learn. So what? Be one of the brave ones. Feel-good hormones, known as endorphins, surge through your body and improve your mental health, reduce stress, and lower risk to other ailments of the body and mind.

5. Opponents teach you. Opponents teach you what your strengths and weaknesses are. Respect players

on the other side of the net and learn.

6. Opponents can become friends. Win or lose, when you click racquets at the end of the match, exchange contact information. That opponent may be your next favorite partner.

7. Tennis players use nearly every muscle in matches. They run, squat, lunge, stretch, bounce, and jump when reacting quickly or engaging in a smooth return.

8. Tennis is filled with great people. The people in my circle are marvelous humans.

9. Tennis pre-screens potential life partners. The sport reveals a person's true character on the court. How do they deal with the win? React to a loss? How do you both work together as partners?

10. Tennis players master the art of patience. A player calculates each shot, calmly waiting for the

By Barbara Wyatt

opportunity to win a point. Patience will serve you for the rest of your life.

11. Tennis players master the art of communication with their partners. There are only two things to say to your partner in a match: "You'll get the next one" when they make an unforced error and "Well Done!" on their good shots. Talk strategy using the word, "we."

12. Enlightenment will arrive. You just don't know when. The secret to a stronger serve or better backhand is waiting for you. It may arrive through private coaching, in a drill, or playing with friends.

13. Being off the tennis court can fill a heart with joy. Show your love of the sport when on an extended break or resting an injury. Supply new balls and equipment to a school team. Buy tennis biography books and leave them in free lending libraries.

TENNIS INC.

Specializing In Sports Court Construction

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 email at BarbaraW@iKnowTennis.com

Compete: The Key to W.I.N’ing

By Rob Polishook

I hear it all the time…a parent, coach, friend, or even the athlete themselves explain away poor behavior because “they are so competitive”. Or, “they don’t like to lose!”

Now, in the most extreme cases, a player will get defaulted in a match. This happened to John McEnroe in the 1990 Australian Open in the fourth round vs. Mikael Pernfors, Serena Williams at 2009 U.S. Open semifinal vs. Samantha Stosur, and Novak Djokavic at the 2020 U.S. Open. Other examples of competing poorly happen when we observe broken rackets, verbal abuse and, generally, a player going ballistic. Google Nick Kyrios top 10 ballistic moments to see a few examples.

In all these situations, let’s be clear, there is nothing competitive going on! Being competitive is about focus, adversity management, regaining calm, and never giving up. Certainly, when a player gets defaulted, they have given up their choice to be competitive. And when the player goes ballistic, they also are not focused, and managing adversity. If they were being competitive, then the player would be focused on what’s important now (W.I.N) at that moment in the match.

So, what does it mean to compete? Just look at Rafael Nadal’s entire career and especially the 2022 Australian Open come back against Daniil Medvedev, few would argue the importance of competing

consistently in achieving long-term success. I’d like to highlight eight keys that indicate a true competitor.

1. Focus on what you can control: A competitor stays focused on what they can control: such as effort, energy, patterns, routines, attitude, breathing, and bouncing back from adversity—to name a few. They understand that they cannot control how well their opponent plays, court conditions, winning, losing, and their draw.

2. Humility /Sportsmanship: It’s important that an athlete respects themselves, their opponent, and the game. Their focus is on trying their best. A competitor plays with belief but checks their ego at the door. This allows them to play free and adjust to situations. They acknowledge their opponent for putting him or herself on the line and understand that their opponent is not an enemy. Rather, they view them as a challenge, an opportunity, and a partner that is necessary to take their game to the next level.

3. Respect for the process: A competitor understands that their development is a process, and while a loss may hurt in the short term, there are lessons that can be learned. They see setbacks and losses

as an opportunity to grow, not as a problem.

4. Never, ever, ever, ever give up: A competitor never gives up. A true competitor understands that not every day is going to bring top-level performance. Perfection is not even possible. Such a player cam embrace adversity, especially the adversity of having to figure out what to do when their game is not on. A true competitor doesn’t mind winning a tight, or even ugly, contest. They have perspective; they prioritize learning from the experience over the result.

5. Adapt and adjust to situations: Constantly adjusting and adapting within a match is imperative. Momentum shifts are a given in a tennis match. What’s most important is to be aware of what is happening and adjust and adapt. Too often in the heat of competition, athletes get caught up solely on the result. This singular focus takes them away from a key question: What do I need to do now, or to get back in the match?

6. Be ok with being uncomfortable: A competitor understands that during competition they may have to take a calculated risk, try something new, or hit a shot not quite the way they

would ideally like to. They understand the idea of being ok being uncomfortable

7. Be aware and make high percentage choices: A competitor makes highpercentage choices during all stages of their competition. For example, they don’t try to hit a screaming winner down the line that may appear on ESPN, rather they counter with a neutral shot that will get them back in the point. Usually, the best choice is to stay patient, stay in the point until an opportunity presents itself.

8. Learn from mistakes: Mistakes are only bad if the player does not learn from them. Mistakes provide a player the opportunity to learn and adjust,

essentially correcting their mistakes from the previous setback. Nothing great was ever achieved without mistakes.

In summary, many players we know are known as being great competitors. However, is it also possible that in certain moments, situations, or periods of time they did not compete well. No one is

perfect and we all have moments where we don’t compete well.

Let’s minimize these moments, be aware that our behavior is not helpful and get back to what’s important now (W.I.N). Focus on the eight keys of competing and bring them to the court. It’s not easy staying focused, but now is the time to stop blaming yourself, others etc. Take responsibility, refocus and compete!

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

Creating a High-Performance Program

By Jay Pinho

Manypros or clubs aspire to develop a robust highperformance program, with the goal of developing, attracting and retaining competitive juniors. While many attempt to do so, the reality is that few are able to deliver a product that can be truly qualified as a highperformance program. The objective of this article is to highlight not only the necessary standards needed for such a program, but also to provide a list of actions needed to either develop a program from scratch or improve upon an existing one.

“If you build it, he will come.”

The classic quote from the movie “Field of Dreams” is a good way to start this discussion. It’s important to understand that, like with most ventures, having a vision of what the program will be is a crucial first step. As someone who is now developing junior programs at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, I can attest that having such vision can make a significant impact. In other words, knowing how your competitive program will look and feel will give you the direction needed to guide you through the ups and downs. More specifically, developing your program’s values and identity will improve your ability to create a unique image. This uniqueness can be the intensity that is implemented during your sessions, or the emphasis on technical/tactical development, or your staff’s ability to “connect” with the players and create a

sense of community. Once you have this settled, other coaches and players who identify themselves with the reputation of your program will join you for the ride.

Another important factor is understanding that competitive players can sometimes have a “high maintenance” reputation. Some of the challenges include: Players often switching programs, difficulties with parents and the expectation of significant discounts or scholarships. However, be aware that there are ways to mitigate such issues, which we will explore later, and many underestimate the benefits associated with adding a highperformance track to a club’s portfolio. Here are five clear advantages to do so:

1.Impact the bottom line: Committed players are more likely to spend larger sums than purely recreational players, as they tend to attend multiple clinics, private lessons, etc. Some of the top players I work with spend as much as 17 times the amount of recreational players!

2. Create an aspiration for lower levels: Having a solid highperformance program is an indirect way to boost recreational classes, as those players have something to look forward to and build toward.

3. Boost staff morale: Coaches tend to feel more rewarded when working with more committed players. Even if the level is not necessarily high, most would agree

that working with students who are willing to work hard is more enjoyable. Therefore, having more of these players at your facility can create a boost of productivity from within your staff.

4. Fill your non-prime time slots: Competitive players are more willing to come at non-ideal times as tennis is a priority to them, thus improving your ability to sell non-prime time slots.

5. Improve your club’s overall image: The reality is that most clubs tend to become associated with the quality of its junior programs. The better the juniors, the better your image will be.

With that said, below are some steps to be strongly considered when looking to either create or improve a competitive program. The order of these steps would be adjusted based on where one is in this process:

1. Develop your method, values, and culture that you hope to create: This will ultimately be your key differentiator and create a unique bonding between you and the player. A successful program is often known for a specific characteristic.

2. Offer a tryout event: Create a buzz about your program by promoting your staff, facility, program structure, etc. This could be a one-day event or a series of days throughout the year.

3. Use scholarships or other similar methods to attract top

players in the area: While the programs I have been involved with do not engage in such practice, this is commonly used. The reality is that many players and parents often care more about “who else is training there” than the quality of the program or coaches. While this tactic can be helpful at times, being able to develop players from the ground up is a better strategy in the long-run. If the program is good, you should be able to charge for it.

4. Provide parents with lots of education: Despite their reputation, I feel that most tennis parents are not problematic. However, most of them are uneducated about the journey of building a competitive player. Providing constant communication, in individual and group meetings, while explaining the journey of a junior player and the parent’s role in that process, can be extremely helpful.

5. Be a role model for the players and develop a positive relationship with them: Most people will learn best if it comes from someone they like. We are tennis coaches, so we should live what we preach. In other words, if you are out of shape, get in shape. If you have a more limited playing background, work on it. One doesn’t need to be a world-class player to be a great coach, but it’s important to be able to know what the player is going through and see things at a deeper level. Being a more established player can help with that. Also, it’s important to know what your players like outside of tennis, show an interest in their overall life and personal growth, not just their forehands and backhands.

6. Continue to learn: Take every course you can, both in-person and online. Even if you learn just one new thing, you now have one more piece of information or concept to share with your players.

7. Train your staff: Put them through the drills you’ll do with the

players, make them feed with the same tempo and trajectory, while providing feedback in a similar manner. Otherwise, if every court is different, you don’t really have a program; only pros running their own independent classes. One important aspect I try to emphasize with my staff, is that “the skill matters more than the drill!” So, drills should be simple and emphasize fundamentals performed relative to the player’s level.

8. Create a curriculum for your classes: What are the skills that players should have before moving to a higher level? Such a list does not have to be complex, in fact, simpler is better in most cases. If you don’t have one, I suggest using the Net Generation templates and adjust them to your program’s needs.

9. Attend tournaments regularly: Watch your players compete. Not only will you be able to better understand how your player performs under pressure, but you will also develop a closer relationship. This goes a long way in showing your players and their

families that you care and have a joint interest and commitment in their progress and success. In turn, players and families will likely feel a greater sense of connection and loyalty. Additionally, other players and parents will see you there which is a nice form of marketing your program. However, do not make this an opportunity to poach players from other programs.

10. Keep track of your players’ success: Nothing speaks louder than actual results. While it’s important not to stress results and rankings at an early age, keep track of how your players progress by promoting their results to demonstrate your program’s availability to develop, retain and attract competitive juniors.

In all, developing a quality highperformance program is not easy. It often takes some years to get enough players through your system, and its key to have the right type of personnel. However, the clubs who do it right often have lower employee turnover, higher player retention rates, and healthier programs in general.

Jay Pinho is the Head Professional of 10U and High-Performance at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. He is a USPTA Elite Professional, a former NCAA DI coach and player, and has specialized in developing competitive junior players over the past decade. Currently, he is the private coach of three national champions and a WTA touring pro.

Racquet ReportSport

presented by adidas Pickleball

Padel Continues to Make Waves in New York

As racquet sports continue to rise in popularity and spread like wildfire across the country, we will examine one of them in this month’s Racquet Sport Report: Padel.

What do you get when you mix tennis and squash? The answer is padel.

Padel is a sport which combines action with fun and social interaction. It’s a great sport for players of all ages and skills, as it is both quick and easy to pick up. Most players get the basics within the first half an hour of playing so that they can enjoy the game.

Padel is not as dominated by strength, technique and serve as it happens in Tennis and therefore is an ideal game for men, women and youth to compete together. An important skill is match-craft, as points are won rather by strategy than by sheer strength and power. Padel is a mix between Tennis and Squash. It’s usually played in doubles on an enclosed court surrounded by walls of glass and metallic mash. The court is one third of the size of a tennis court.��The ball can bounce of any wall but can only hit the turf once before being returned. Points can be scored when the ball does bounce twice in the competitors’ field. Here on Long Island, the Pine

Hollow Club in East Norwich became one of the first places to put up a padel court. Since installing it last year, the Pine Hollow Club membership base has taken to the sport, and there is excitement for more people to pick up padel.

“We are thrilled to be one of the only two clubs in New York with a padel court. This court is just the start of the future of an incredible Racquet Sports experience here at Pine Hollow,” said Heidi Stanya, Pine Hollow’s Director of Marketing and Membership. “With the help of Alina Volman, Director of Racquet Sports, and the rest of the team, we

are looking to take the program to new heights.”

When the court first opened, Pine Hollow Club hosted an Evening with Sushi, Wine, Tennis, and a Padel Exhibition to help introduce its members to the sport, and demonstrate how fun it is. Two padel professionals played an exhibition match against Volman and her husband, fellow tennis director Ben Marks.

“I think the event was great. I love seeing everybody coming out,” said Volman. “It’s nice to see players who usually do only pickleball or only tennis come out and enjoy themselves. It brings everyone and the club together. It’s great for moving around, it really is a great workout. Padel is a little bit different than tennis obviously, you have to have some kind of good racquet skills. It’s so much fun.”

More and more people all across the country, and specifically here on Long Island, continue to hit the courts and playing a variety of different racquet sports. Padel is one of those that continues to rise in popularity, and with more padel courts being built all across New York, there is more opportunities for racquet sport enthusiasts to try their hand at this sport.