Long Island Tennis Magazine March / April 2021

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USTA Eastern Holds Annual Conference…Virtually f there is one thing we learned is necessary during the past year is the ability to adapt to any given situation. Work meetings, school, appointments, etc. were all forced to move to a virtual meeting place.

The annual USTA Eastern Conference was no different, and while the task was a difficult one, the Section held the yearly event, which is normally hosted at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains, virtually and did so with great success.

“The biggest challenge in putting together a virtual conference is that we’d never put together a virtual conference before!” said Jenny Schnitzer, USTA Eastern’s Executive Director and CEO. “Like almost everything else in the past year, this was uncharted territory for us. We really had to research digital platforms; we wanted to find one that would not only manage registrations and house our sessions, but that would also offer some of the features of a normal, inperson conference, like networking opportunities.”

Once they found the ideal digital platform to host the week-long conference, it was essential that they could figure out the best way to present the materials and content to the audience.

“We had to think about how we were presenting and packaging our material. What do we need to do to keep our audience engaged through a

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computer screen? Some of us became IT experts in the process,” adds Schnitzer. “There was a couple technological glitches along the way, but the good news is that over the

course of the week we started to understand what really clicked. We can use that in our planning for 2022 if we are unable to meet in person again.”

Of course, holding the conference virtually was not ideal, but it did turn out to have some positive effects.

“I do want to emphasize that while holding the conference virtually would not be anyone’s first choice, it did allow us the opportunity to bring in some great speakers who maybe wouldn’t have been available to attend in-person in the past,” said Schnitzer, referring to acclaimed speakers such as USTA Fed Cup Captain Kathy Rinaldi and USTA CEO & Executive Director Mike Dowse. “A virtual conference also allowed us to really open up registration to different groups in our community. We held

sessions for league players, parents, juniors and more. As a result, we had more attendees this year than ever before.”

The theme of this year’s conference was #EasternStrong as the community came together to display its perseverance and resiliency after what was a difficult 2020.

“Our tennis community dealt with many, many challenges in 2020, and collaborating and innovating—working together—is our real strength in facing those challenges,” added Schnitzer. “We embedded our collaborative efforts and support for our community in each presentation throughout the week: Here’s how we can help, here’s how we can work together, here’s what we can offer.

But our theme also speaks to the positives we can take away from a year as tough as this. Our providers exhibited a great deal of their own strength as they worked hard to safely preserve tennis in the middle of a pandemic, and it’s because of their efforts that we have so much to build upon as we move forward into 2021.

We wanted to share and spotlight those incredible stories of creativity and resilience.”

The Conference demonstrated the strength of the local tennis community, and the willingness to adapt to a given situation, a strong representation of how the Section continues to look to the future and build on past successes.

LITennisMag.com • March/April 2021 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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March/April 2021 • Volume 13, Number 2

Table Of Contents

litennis Long Island Tennis Magazine

Stefanos the Great

MAGAZINE

Greece’s Tsitsipas is ready to take over the men’s tour By Brian Coleman—See page 6

Long Island Tennis Magazine 1220 Wantagh Avenue Wantagh, NY 11793-2202 Phone: (516) 409-4444 • Fax: (516) 409-4600

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Highlights

Staff David Sickmen Publisher (516) 409-4444, ext. 309 david@usptennis.com Brian Coleman Senior Editor (516) 409-4444, ext. 326 brianc@usptennis.com

6 12 28 34 50

NY Tennis Expo Through the Years At the Net w/ Rachel Arbitman By Brian Coleman LITM Hosts First Ever Winter Challenge Events 2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide 2021 Australian Open Recap

Joey Arendt Art Director (516) 409-4444, ext. 307 Francine Miller Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 francinem@usptennis.com Emilie Katz Assistant Marketing Coordinator Barbara Wyatt Contributing Writer Rob Polishook Contributing Writer

Sidney Beal III Staff Photographer

Lee Seidner Staff Photographer

Interns Tyler Cohen Julia Cicchillo Phoebe Levitsky Joanne Salloum Alexa Brecher

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

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

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

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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.

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Features 1 4 18 19 20 22 24 26 27 53 54 57 58 60 62 63 64

USTA Eastern Holds Annual Conference…Virtually Across Long Island…News and Notes from Across the L.I. Tennis Community Windridge Camps: Always Adding to It Unplug. Unwind. Uncomfortable? Great Things That Camp Can Do For Your Children By Jason Wass Proper Tennis Education in the United States By Jason Joseph Blamers, Shamers and Claimers By Steve Kaplan USTA Eastern Long Island Region Update Tennis: The Friend Who is Always There By Ricky Becker PGA Tour Superstore: A Tennis Destination Court Six: LITM’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz Necesito El Ritmo: The Importance of Rhythm in the Spanish Method By Chris Lewit Adult League Wrap-Up By Kathy Miller All Head Cases Welcome! By Tonny van de Pieterman Whole Human Athlete: The Secret to Being Your Best

By Rob Polishook The Tennis Guru: Murphy’s Law By Dr. Tom Ferraro Racquet Stringing: An Art or a Science? By Barbara Wyatt Jensen Zone: Spring Tennis is Almost Here By Luke Jensen

Long Island Tennis Magazine is published bi-monthly by United Sports Publications Ltd. • Copyright © 2021 United Sports Publications Ltd.

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Across Long Isl Loeffler Takes L6 Title John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) player Nicolette Loeffler took home the title at her home club as she won the L6 Girls 18s Sportime Syosset Challenger.

Lawrence Kleger, the JMTA’s Co-Director, said: “We are very excited for Nicolette winning this Girls 18s tournament at her home JMTA Syosset site. She beat the #1 seed in the quarters and the #2 seed in the finals, both in 10 point super breakers. Nicolette works very hard and this title is well-deserved.”

NTC Hosts Men’s and Women’s Open The top junior players in the area gathered at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to compete in the Men’s and Women’s Open. The event featured the best high school players and included many Division I players, and in the end it was Ari Cotoulas who won the Men’s Open title, and Rachel Arbitman who won the Women’s Open title.

Graham Leads UNC To ITA National Championship

Ziets-Segura Takes Third Place in National Event in Minneapolis

Alexa Graham added yet another accomplishment to her already outstanding college resume, as the Garden City native led the University of North Carolina women’s tennis team to its second straight ITA Indoors National Championships. Graham won her singles match over the University of Texas’ Lula Sun 6-3, 6-2 to help the Tar Heels win the overall match 4-3.

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Linda Ziets-Segura, who trains with Adam Lee at Glen Head Racquet & Fitness, took her talents up to Minneapolis, Minn. to compete in the USTA National L2 Girls 16 event at the Baseline Tennis Center. ZietsSegura fought hard and played well, ultimately claiming the third-place prize.

land

… News and notes from across the L.I. tennis community

Carmo, Teixeira Take Titles at RSTA It was a successful L7 12U Ross School Open tournament for players in the Ross School Tennis Academy in early February, as Leandro Carmo won the boys title and Luma Teixeira won the girls title.

Carefree Hosts Annual Susan Levy Memorial Tournament Each year, Carefree Racquet Club honors former Rockville Racquet Manager Susan Alvy by hosting a memorial tournament in her name. The facility hosted the tournament once again this year, with Casey Schnabel and Chris Chan defeating Chris Wolfe and Yassine Azagar to win the title.

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New York Tennis Expo Through the Years ne of the highlights each year in the Long Island and Metro tennis communities has been the New York Tennis Expo that is hosted by Long Island and New York Tennis Magazine, and is a celebration of all things tennis that brings the community and industry together for a free day of fun.

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The event has become the largest tennis expo anywhere in the country, and has come a long way throughout its decade of existence, which includes three different locations and constant innovation.

“It's this type of fun, grassroots tennis which helps us to grow the game,” said Jonathan Klee, the USTA Long Island Region President.

In 2009, the first Expo was held on the campus of 6

Farmingdale State College with more than 1,200 attendees, the most attended event in the Section outside of the US Open. The goal was to provide a way for consumers and providers in the tennis industry to have a face-to-face interaction, as well as to showcase all aspects of the sport to families by having something for everyone, which would benefit the community as a whole.

That first installment of the event established a successful format that featured an array of activities to do from walking the sold-out exhibit hall, taking part in on-court playing options, learning from some of the best in the industry at the speaker panels and enjoying our activity zone which had interactive video games and other racket sports.

After a successful couple of years at Farmingdale, the Expo outgrew the location and it was time to move to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. By doing so, we were able to add options like an expanded Kids and Activity Zone, including a speed serve booth, have clinics on the U.S. Open show courts and provide tours of Arthur Ashe Stadium for attendees, plus so much more. Featured guest speakers included Nick Bollettieri, Tim Mayotte and Sean Hannity, as the event’s attendees soared above 3,500 and the Expo continued establishing itself as one of

Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

the area’s premier tennis events.

In 2018, the New York Open ATP Tour 250 event was set to debut on Long Island, and organizers asked us to host the Expo on the opening day of their tournament. This partnership brought the Expo back to Long Island, to Nassau Coliseum, and allowed for additional features which continued the event’s growth. The stars of the tournament spoke on the panels, and took part in autograph sessions, and attendees could watch the players practice as they prepared for the tournament. There were new activities such as beach tennis, gaga ball, a mechanical bull and so much more as we ensured the event had something for everyone.

A cool new feature was the addition of the Draw Ceremony which took place during the Expo, where attendees could participate in pulling the names of the draw, as well as a tennis fashion show, where local high school players modeled the latest in tennis apparel. The Draw Ceremony was featured on the Expo’s Broadcast Plaza, which also housed interviews with businesses and guests which were then sent out and shared to the public, creating a well-rounded multimedia event.

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All of this converged to create the largest event yet in 2020 and is an indicator of the event’s continued growth, with more than 6,500 attending in February 2020 (pre-pandemic). Perhaps the Expo’s greatest achievement has been the involvement of local charities. Last year we held an Autism Tennis Clinic on the Grandstand Court of the New York Open, with dozens of instructors bringing tennis to a number of local groups that help children with autism. At the 2020 Expo, we honored local Junior Team Tennis players who had the opportunity to talk with and take pictures with tennis legend Jim Courier.

In addition to Bollettieri, the Expo has had celebrity guests and tennis players such as Andy Roddick, Eugenie Bouchard, Steve Johnson, Hannah Berner, Jack Sock and many more. Players took part in autograph sessions, and joined local coaches on our speaker panels. These panels provide invaluable information for both parents and players as professional players, former college players and other coaches talk about their life experiences.

The Expo did not set out to be an annual event, but

because of the demand, we ran the event three consecutive years from 2018-2020, with attendance increasing each year. Of course, we were unable to hold an Expo in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we do expect to return in 2022.

“We have heard great feedback from both attendees and vendors each year, and we are so excited to see the continued growth of the Expo,” said Sickmen.

“One of the goals of the event is to create a more unified tennis community, create new players and build excitement for the sport. We have seen from the massive attendance growth as well as sold-out exhibit space each year that the demand for this event is there. Unfortunately, we couldn’t hold an Expo in 2021, but will continue innovating and building to provide an even better event in 2022.”

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See what they are saying about the Expo “I never picked up a racquet before, but was so inspired by the speeches and activities at the Expo that I can’t wait for next year’s event,” said attendee Ruhima Hajang in 2013. “I will now be playing tennis full-time thanks to my experience here today.”

“I would say our favorite part has been the activities for the kids,” said Simone Martin, an attendee last year from Queens who brought her two children to the Expo. “They loved the 10 & Under courts, and they also got to play on the court where the professionals are going to play. The interactive activities going on here have been great as well.”

“The Expo seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year.

USTA Eastern was proud to help sponsor and coordinate our Net Gen programming with the event which allowed children of all ages to play on the Black Courts with College, High School and local club volunteers. Combining the Expo with the qualifiers was a win win situation for everyone in that it brought the Long Island tennis community together with vendors in a

carnival like atmosphere while also watching great quality tennis.”

– Jonathan Klee, Regional Director, USTA Eastern Long Island Region “The New York Tennis Expo is an incredible event because it brings area tennis enthusiasts together with fun, excitement, education and service to the local community. The Expo grows the sport by raising awareness of the wealth of tennis opportunities in the New York area.”

–Steve Kaplan, Owner and Managing Director, Bethpage Park Tennis Center "The NY Tennis Expo was a wonderful opportunity to connect with young tennis players and their families.”

– Louisa Childs, Head of School, Dwight Global Online School “Amazing job by David Sickmen and his staff. It just gets bigger and better every year!”

- Kathy Miller, General Manager, Carefree Racquet Club “The New York Tennis Expo is an event we look forward to every year at the Evert Tennis Academy. The expo brings in tennis families from all across the state of New York and it is a great networking tool that we will use for years to come! The

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Expo staff was tremendous and it was overall another great experience!”

–Andrew Parker, Director of Sales and Marketing, Evert Tennis Academy "The New York Tennis Expo continues to be a unique event that brings together the entire tennis world. We were once again thrilled to be a sponsor of the event, and were able to connect with players and parents from the Long Island and New York area, and Nick Bollettieri was thrilled to take part in the speaker sessions, clinics and autograph signings."

–David Cotrone, Director of Business Development, IMG Academy “Point Set was proud to once again be a part of the New York Tennis Expo. The event continues to grow every year and there is no better way for us to showcase our programs and classes then by being able to sit down in front of the thousands and thousands of attendees that come out for the Expo. We look forward to coming back again next year!”

–Lori Sarnelli, Club Manager, Point Set Tennis

“The New York Tennis Expo was clearly the place to be for tennis enthusiasts. The atmosphere was exciting, with lots of family-friendly activities and exhibitors from all facets of the industry. A well-attended event, providing us the exposure and brand awareness we were hoping for.”

—Ian McCormick, Vice President Sales and Marketing, The Farley Group "The event exceeded our expectations in every way. Not only did we interact with tennis families and enthusiasts from the local area, but we also made fantastic new connections with other professionals in the tennis industry. We were thrilled with the amount of traffic at our table, and the level of interest in our tennis travel programs. We anticipate that the event will yield many new clients and partners for Elite Tennis Travel, and we will surely be back next year.

Congratulations to the team at Long Island and New York Tennis Magazine for executing such a fun and professionally rewarding event!"

—Lisa Scholtes, Managing Partner, Elite Tennis Travel

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C O M I N G I N M AY

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net at the

By Brian Coleman

with Rachel Arbitman

his fall, Rachel Arbitman will begin the next stage of her tennis career as she heads to Cambridge, Mass. to join Harvard University after a stellar junior career.

“Since joining us at JMTA, Rachel quickly emerged as a leader both on and off the court,” said Greg Lumpkin, JMTA Long Island’s Associate Director.

“Rachel is the ideal role model for our up and coming players. Her focus, dedication and discipline has allowed her to reach the highest level of tennis in the country while maintaining an excellent academic standard. I expect to see her continue to thrive with her tennis and academics as she starts her next chapter at Harvard.”

It was a long recruiting process, one that dates back multiple years as Arbitman was one of the country’s top recruits since she was a sophomore in high school. Choosing the right college is always a difficult decision for a high schooler, but it can be even more difficult when you are one of the top recruits, a five-star, blue chip recruit, in your respective sport and have a multitude of options presented in front of you.

“I really tried to take my time with the process, and really narrow it down to where I wanted to use my official and unofficial visits,” said Arbitman. “I originally got it down to seven schools,

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four Ivy Leagues which were Harvard, Dartmouth, Columbia and Yale, and University of California Berkley, Ohio State and Rice. I really wanted to see the different environments and what the atmospheres were like at the different schools, so I could really make an informed decision.”

In the end, it came down to University of California at Berkley and Harvard University.

“When it came down to UC Berkley and Harvard, one was a full-ride whereas the other one we’d have to pay everything. It was definitely a tough decision, but between the location and where I wanted to be academically, Harvard was the right choice for me. I fell in love with the amazing and friendly atmosphere there! It was

Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

awesome to see such teamwork and collaboration which is what I’ve always wanted in a school.”

But before that, Arbitman is getting ready for her senior season competing for the Hewlett Bulldogs, something that may not have seen possible just a few months ago. The girls tennis season here on Long Island is set to start in the beginning of March, after the season was postponed and moved to the spring, tennis players across the Island are excited for the return of interscholastic sports.

One of the players who may be most excited is Arbitman, who gets to enjoy tennis in her senior year of high school.

“In the beginning, we really did not think we were going to have any type of season with how the pandemic was going,” she recalls. ‘They literally cancelled everything. We only found out very recently that we were even going to have a season. With tennis, we were hopeful because it’s a sport that’s easy to social distance with, and it was one of the first sports back after quarantine ended…our team is like a family, we are all so close. And especially coming back for my senior year, I’m so excited that I’ll be able to represent my school and play with this team one last time.”

Arbitman has been one of the most dominant players on Long Island, if not

the most, over the last couple of seasons, racking up accolades that include winning the New York State singles title in 2018, and the state doubles title in 2019. But beyond her play inside those white lines, Arbitman has had a strong impact on her teammates and the Hewlett program.

“Rachel and I have definitely gotten much closer since we’ve been on the same team and it’s always a good time hanging out with her as she’s a positive influence, and we share a lot in common,” said Nyla Gershfeld, a Hewlett freshman who won the state doubles title with Arbitman in 2019.

“She’s also a great team leader because when I first joined the team, in seventh grade, I didn’t know many people but Rachel welcomed me, made me feel like I was a part of a family, and made playing high school tennis a really fun experience.”

For a player who is used to traveling the country to compete in some of the biggest national tournaments, and train on a consistent basis, the quarantine has abruptly halted that routine. Her dedication to getting better wouldn’t allow her just to let that time pass by, and instead she really turned her focus to fitness.

“Everything was closed and locked up, I couldn’t even step on a tennis court,” she recalls. “I became really into fitness. It was always a big part of my

life, but even more so during quarantine. Going for runs and working out, that’s really how I kept the athletic part of my life going.

Another thing was I was able to spend more time with my family, which was great. Between traveling to different states and going to school, my schedule was always so hectic. I was always running around and staying busy, so to have the time to lay back and spend time with family was really awesome for me.”

Arbitman is now set to spend time with her second family, her teammates on the Hewlett Bulldogs. Her teammates have been in close contact throughout the past year-plus, and are ready to get right back into team practices and workouts when the time comes.

“We had a team meeting including coaches which was really good.

Throughout the year, though, the team has been talking a lot, because we’re all really close friends,” she said. “As we get closer to the season I think we’ll do some team workouts. I definitely want to get those organized and I’ve already talked to the girls about that.

That’ll be a really good start.”

While it will be nice to see and compete with her teammates again, the Hewlett Bulldogs have goals it wants to reach this season. Hewlett has been right in the thick of the county title race over the last couple of years, and is

ready to take the next step this year, led

by Arbitman at the top of the lineup.

“Definitely to take it all home,” she said when asked what the goal is for Hewlett this year. “It’s my last year, we just want to win. We all want to win.”

The senior year for a high schooler is supposed to be one of fun and enjoying the last months of this chapter in your life.

For seniors across the country, that has not been the case this year, but it doesn’t mean there are not good things to come on the horizon, and Arbitman has decided to look at the bright side of things.

“The senior year is supposed to be all about the social aspect, where you can hang out with your friends one last time before everyone scatters across the country to different colleges,” she said.

“All in all, it’s not that, but we’re all trying to make the most of it. Hopefully prom and graduation will happen, and I know everyone is really excited that sports are coming back as well.

I’m just excited to get closer with everyone on the team again, and actually be able to be with them. After not seeing everybody for such a long time, this tennis season should be great and we can be a family again like old times.”

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

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Stefanos the Great Greece’s Tsitsipas is ready to take over the men’s tour

By Brian Coleman

“Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.”

When you open up the official website of Stefanos Tsitsipas, that is the motto that greets you right away, and it has become the embodiment of the 22-year-old Greek star. He has done just that, creating his own opportunities, as he is already the greatest tennis player ever from his home nation, and has established himself as one of the best players in the world.

“I know it’s a great career I have, I’ve done some good things in tennis but obviously I’m just getting started with it and there is plenty of way to go and many more tournaments and opportunities for me to be given,” he told the Roland Garros website prior to the start of 2021.

Tennis is in Tsitsipas’ blood. As the son of two former tennis players, including his mother, Julia, who was ranked No. 1 in the world during her junior days, Tsitsipas was raised in a tennis environment, which helped mold the young Greek. He began taking lessons at the Tennis Club Glyfada in his home city of Athens, primarily coached by his father, Apostolos, whom continues to be on his coaching team to this day.

As you’d expect between family members working together, there have been times where the two have been at odds during matches, most notably during the ATP Cup in 2020 after Stefanos struggled against Nick Kyrgios. But their relationship is a very positive one, both say, and they understand toeing the line between father-son and coach-player.

“Stefanos was a charismatic child. He really listens and tries hard every day for many years to achieve his goals,” said Apostolos. “He listens carefully to each coach and believes that he can learn something from everyone. Our cooperation is completely harmonious, and it is my pleasure to work with Stefanos because I love him, as I love my other children.”

Apostolos can recall a time when his son was only nine-years-old after a tournament in France, Stefanos said: “Dad, I have to tell you something: I want to become a tennis player, I like the competition, I like the challenge.”

And from there, Stefanos was on his path to becoming a professional tennis player. His father even quit his job when his son was 12-years-old and needed continued on page 16

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Photo credit: USTA/Darren Carroll

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stefanos the great continued from page 14

someone to travel to tournaments with him.

“I don’t know if he had a choice, but he just risked it. He just quit himself and started traveling with me,” he recalls. “I do appreciate what he did for me, because it’s amazing. Not many fathers would do this for their son.”

Tsitsipas continued to train in Athens and still does on occasion to this day, but at age 17 he traveled to France and began training at the famed Patrick Mouratoglou Academy.

Tsitsipas was clearly talented from the onset and continued to develop as he progressed through his junior career, climbing to the top spot in the world junior rankings and joined the ITF Junior Circuit when he was around 14-years-old. A few years later, in 2016, he turned pro and was competing in events on the Futures and Challenger Tours. He made a name for himself at the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2018 after his breakout season.

Tsitsipas won all three of his matches in the Group Stage, and then defeated Andrey Rublev and Alex de Minaur in the semifinals and finals, respectively.

The following year, in 2019, Tsitsipas moved up to the adult table and captured the title at the ATP Finals,

the biggest win of his young career.

“I feel like my game is getting better over time, and I believe I’m really close on being crowned a Grand Slam champion,” said Tsitsipas after that win. “I know these are strong words that I say, but I do feel like I belong

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there. I’m competing against one of the best players in the world, and the amount of effort and the amount of work I put in every day deserves to have an outcome like this.”

With that victory, Tsitsipas has established himself as one of the world’s top players, and has remained inside the Top 10 since the start of 2020. The next step would be that elusive Grand Slam title he referenced, and 2021 could be just the year that produces that result for him.

His year began Down Under as he prepared to compete in the 2021 Australian Open. All players who arrived for the event were forced to stay under strict quarantine guidelines which were required by the Australian government. Being stuck in quarantine in a hotel was a daunting task for most players, but Tsitsipas optimistic outlook on nearly everything he does helped him cope with the isolation. He even gave a tour of his suite during the quarantine process on his YouTube channel.

That channel is one of Tsitsipas’ creative outlets off the court, and his videos have nearly 4.5 million total views and 169,000 subscribers. He has a strong desire to connect with people off the court, and has used his time off the court to explore his creative side.

“There was a lot of traveling for me when I started touring and playing tennis. I was watching a lot of creators and people that were creating nice content on YouTube, and I found this platform unique and the perfect platform to express yourself,” he said.

“I did start my YouTube channel. I was inspired by a few people to create. I love cinematography, filmmaking, photography. I believe there are a lot of positive ways that you can use that to your advantage. It relaxes me. I get connected with my fans and the people that are interested in me.”

His off-court endeavors and desire to connect with the fans has made Tsitsipas one of the best follows on social media, and has really endeared himself to the tennis world. In addition to connecting with fans, he has done great charitable work as he uses his platform for good, launching a fund, the Beyond 100 Support, at the start of the last year to help financially support lower-ranked tennis players.

“As the youngest player in the Top 10, I feel responsible to help the future

Play. er.

Di over Disc e Create.

of tennis,” said Tsitsipas. “I understand how critical it is for the sustainability of both ATP and WTA players ranked beyond the Top 100 and how difficult it is to make a living from professional tennis, especially with no tennis events going on for an undefined period of time. Through the creation of 'Beyond 100 Support', I hope to start a movement that my fellow players will follow suit.”

While Tsitsipas is one of the most accessible players on tour and has a good heart, when it comes time to hit the court, he is as serious as they come, especially considering his desire to claim that first major trophy.

His best chance would come in Melbourne as he reached the quarterfinals and had a showdown with Rafael Nadal. In one of the most remarkable wins in recent memory, Tsitsipas came back from two-setsdown to beat the legend, becoming only the second player ever to come back from two-sets-to-love down to defeat Nadal at a Grand Slam as he advanced with a 3-6, 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, 7-5 victory.

“Moments like this haven’t happened a lot in my career, and the fact that I was able to come back the way I did and the way I fought against such a

top, respected player like Rafa was something extra, something I have never felt before,” said Tsitsipas. “To be able to just walk up to my team and hug them and share that little moment of appreciation and solidarity, it was epic. It was everything I ever dreamed of, and I’m glad where I am today.

There is obviously light at the end of the tunnel, and there is plenty more to go.”

Unfortunately, Tsitsipas’ run would come to an end in the semifinals at the hands of Russian Daniil Medvedev, but Tsitsipas will take away positives from his run in Australia, setting up what should be a dominant season for him.

“I created some amazing memories.

I had a very nice stay in Australia…it was a hell of a trip here in Australia,” Tsitsipas said. “I’ve proven that I have the level to beat these players…So let’s hope for something better next time. I really hope it comes.”

As we progress through 2021 and beyond, a Grand Slam title looks to be in Tsitsipas’ future, but of course nothing is guaranteed. He won’t sit back and wait for something like that to happen to him, but instead will go out there and live by his motto, and create his own opportunity.

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

thl i s, With over 20 programss in the areas of Athletics M, you can customize your Arts, Recreation, and STEM A er. of all LuHi has to offer m summer to make the most

n o o more information hisummercamps.org for Visit luh LITennisMag.com • March/April 2021 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

17

Windridge Camps: Always Adding to It

indridge was founded in 1968 in Jeffersonville, Vt. by Alden Bryan and Ted Hoehn. Bryan, a professional landscape artist and businessman, played tennis at Harvard and was passionate about the sport. Hoehn was only 26-years-old when the two met and decided to go into business together. But Hoehn had already made quite a name for himself in the tennis world. The son of Red Hoehn, the Dartmouth Tennis and Squash Coach, Ted was the number one ranked player in New England in the 13, 15, and 18 & Under Divisions.

He was also a high ranked player nationally. He was recruited to play tennis by the University of North Carolina, where he played # 2 singles and #1 doubles on the perennially powerful UNC team. Ted was twice the champion of both the ACC and Eastern Intercollegiate Doubles titles.

After a two-year stint in the Army, followed by a couple of years playing tennis internationally, Hoehn decided to settle down in his native New England and go into partnership with Alden Bryan.

When Windridge first started, it was essentially a specialized tennis camp. But as the camp expanded in the 1970s and 1980s, so too did the camp broaden its featured sports offerings. Soccer, the world’s most popular sport, became a “major” sport at Windridge.

As Windridge grew in popularity and size, more international campers attended, many of whom were already very talented in soccer. When Windridge purchased its facility in Roxbury, Vt. in 1985, which was formerly known as Teela Wooket, an all-girls riding

W

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camp, horseback riding joined tennis and soccer as another major sport.

Now Windridge has a fourth major…golf. Last spring, Hoehn purchased the Northfield Country Club, which is located three miles down the road from the camp. Founded in 1927, the club has been voted many times as the #1 nine-hole course in Vermont. It operates as a private club, but is also open to the public. Windridge campers who major in golf may now spend either all morning or all afternoon on the links honing their games.

Although Adult Camps at Windridge have been in existence since 1970, they have always been limited to offering just tennis instruction. With the addition of the Northfield Country Club, golf now shares the spotlight.

“Both tennis and golf are lifelong sports,” says Hoehn.

“Tennis is more physically challenging, and therefore adults tend to play less tennis and more golf as they get older. So I’m expecting many adults will jump at the chance to play half a day of tennis and half a day of golf. And anyone who wants to spend the whole day on the courts or the course may do so.”

Adult campers are housed at the Inn at Teela-Wooket, a lovely five-bedroom, five-bath renovated farmhouse located on the Windridge grounds. The food is both nutritious and delicious. There is a social hour each evening before dinner. There are three Windridge Tennis & Golf Camps scheduled for the summer of 2021. Each session runs from Noon on Wednesday to Noon on Sunday. The dates for the Adult Camps are July 15-18; August 5-8 and August 26-29.

For further information, call Ted Hoehn at (802) 2388379 or e-mail ted@windridgecamps.com.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

Unplug, Unwind, Uncomfortable?

Great Things That Camp Can Do For Your Children

By Jason Wass fter a year of uncertainty, virtual schooling, limited social activity, and a plethora of other challenges, it seems we are starting along the path to normalcy, whatever that may mean. Maybe we will be able to do and play and interact with each other in a way that was more familiar before 2020.

Maybe.

Whatever “normal” turns out to be, we know one thing for certain: kids need camp. Camp can be restorative for children and their parents in ways that few experiences in the world ever are. The development of independence, life skills, and socialization that happens at camp often makes for some of the best times in a young person’s life.

Summer 2021 is quickly approaching and local camps are preparing to start on a new adventure.

Here are a few (lesser spoken about) benefits I see for camp this year.

A

Unplug Ok, maybe this one is obvious, but it's worth discussing.

Today's youth has become increasingly (and necessarily) more comfortable with technology including phones, video games, iPads and the like. Of course, a level of comfort and understanding of technology is paramount as we understand how life and careers will change in the future. Still, there is no substitute for face time, and I’m not talking about the app, I’m talking about live face to face encounters (masked and/or socially distanced of course) where you can meet new friends and

make memories, in real life. Camp not only encourages kids to get out and experience new things, but kids quickly want to put down the device and engage with peers.

Unwind Teachers, tests, book reports, deadlines and projects all teach kids valuable lessons in their own right. To kids, school is their job, handling it in new ways such as remote learning shows just how adaptable children can be to new and challenging environments. Camp allows kids the chance to unwind from some of those stresses while still teaching valuable lessons along the way. Camp promotes independence, gives children a chance to try new things and make new friends, skills that are vital parts of development, parts that have been difficult to create during the pandemic. Camp traditions and events transform seemingly average days into extraordinary adventures and give them memories that last a lifetime.

Uncomfortable Why? Why would anyone want their child to be uncomfortable? This is the most underrated skill that camp brings out in people, and it’s not just the campers. One of earliest items during staff training, learn to be “comfortable with the uncomfortable”. Once again, why is this a positive? Think about it this way. Moving to a new town, starting a new school, beginning a sport for the first time, being the “new guy/girl” at a job, these are “uncomfortable” situations happening throughout life that constantly challenge us and test our internal fortitude. Camp allows this to happen in small doses, in safe environments giving children the opportunity to make choices on their own and learn from those experiences and thrive from them. Campers may get the opportunity to choose what electives they participate in or choose to be the first person to introduce themselves to the “new camper” in their group. One of the most gratifying experiences as a camp director is watching first time campers become veteran campers and in some cases watch them start as young staff members and blossom into leaders and friends.

Camp is a special place and I know I can’t wait for Summer 2021, it is needed now more than ever before. So Parents, get comfortable with the uncomfortable and you could be rewarded with the opportunity to unplug and unwind.

Jason Wass is the Director of LuHi Summer Programs, he spent over 20 years as a Director of Tennis for Sportime Clubs. A USPTA and USTA Net Generation Certified Coach, Jason has a passion for youth sports development. Jason believes in developing strong foundational skills in all young athletes. He strives to provide positive athletic and camp opportunities to families to encourage healthy habits and lifestyles.

LITennisMag.com • March/April 2021 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

19

Proper Tennis Education in the United States

By Jason Joseph

eginning this year, tennis teaching certification and coach education will move into the largest change seen in the United States in over 10 years. The United States Tennis Association (USTA), the national governing body for the sport of tennis in America, has taken the reigns in creating a scaffolding of sport science-based parameters that each certification body must adhere to in order to receive accreditation from the USTA. The goal of this endeavor is to increase the standards of tennis

B

delivery in this country.

Some years back, it was discovered that tennis coach education delivery in the U.S. was below the international norms (ITF, 2005). Upon recognizing this, the USTA decided to take action.

This made for a precarious situation.

You see, every other top 30 tennis nations in the world has their national governing body delivering the coaching education. One slight exception to this would be in the United Kingdom where the first three levels, of five, can be delivered by

independent coach education companies. In doing so, they still need to follow strict parameters by the Lawn Tennis Association, or LTA, which is the national governing body in the U.K. Every other leading tennis nation takes responsibility to deliver the entire coach education curriculum.

Currently in the U.S., the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) have both been accredited by the USTA to deliver tennis professional certification. Theses

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mainstream trade organizations have already begun to restructure themselves to fit the parameters given by the USTA. The USTA has decided upon four levels of certification. Theses labels are: • Level 1 or Instructor • Level 2 or Professional • Level 3 or Specialist • Level 4 or Master This is similar to how the other top 30 tennis nations around the world create their systems. The idea that there is a universal system of levels helps distinguish tennis instructors, professionals, and coaches apart from those that peruse more detailed understanding of tennis player development, or the applied business side of the tennis industry.

These changes are slated to go into effect in June 2021, yet one can already see how they are adapting to the upcoming changes. The PTR, for instance, has already redesigned their certification levels into the four above mentioned levels, and the USPTA will

roll out their version by the summer.

The USPTA is beginning the process of encouraging those members who are recreational coaches to upgrade and become certified tennis instructors. In order to do this, they must follow the parameters set forth by the USPTA, including taking a Teaching Essentials 1 course. Similarly, those who are currently PTR “Professionals,” which is the current Level 1 certified instructors, are encouraged to upgrade to a Level 2 Professional. They can do so by completing their First-Aid requirements, a physical development course and an online exam.

In all, the contemporary changes that we are seeing in the U.S. tennis provider certification process are a positive movement towards enhancing the sport that we love.

These changes will raise the standards of tennis delivery across the U.S., and will also allow for uniformity in how instruction is delivered via evidence-based, sport science principles that help accelerate the skill of the learner and improve the quality of play nationwide. It will also allow American coaches to be recognized internationally, something that currently is not seen.

In closing, the idea that the rising tide lifts all ships is a good metaphor for the coming wave of change in coach education in the United States. The USTA, in conjunction with the USPTA and the PTR, will help create higher standards in our industry while helping the individual tennis provider reach a higher skill level of tennis delivery.

Jason Joseph is a Level 4 Master Performance coach and a Level 4 Junior Development coach through the PTR. He also has performance coaching certification that is recognized by the USTA and Tennis Canada. Jason currently serves on the USPTA Eastern Board of Directors as the Education Chairman.

LITennisMag.com • March/April 2021 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

21

Blamers, Shamers and Claimers

How to overcome the internal and external triggers that cause anger on the court and become indestructible

By Steve Kaplan

ver the many years that I have coached top juniors, it's clear that some players dwell on failure more than others. Some move on after a small or even large setback, while others make excuses and remain stuck in place. No matter how good a player you may be, the simple fact is that there is no certainty in tennis and, as I remind my students, "that's a good thing."

Imagine a video game in which you are shooting with unlimited shots at a target that doesn't move and can't fire back. Great game, right? Of course not! Such a game would be boring. You need uncertainty to feel challenged and motivated, and you need to fail sometimes to help you to strive further.

It's not a question of "if" you fail but "how" you react to failure that determines how far you will go.

While tennis players manage outcome uncertainly and stress in many different ways, they often follow three prototypes: The "Blamer," the "Shamer" and the "Claimer." Perhaps something sets off a player during a match and

O

22

they seethe with anger. Maybe it was a missed easy overhead on top of the net, or one too many double faults.

Sometimes it's not even their own behavior that riles them up. Their opponent slaps their leg and shouts "come on!" to the world as others clap obnoxiously after you hit the ball into the net. They may know intellectually that a negative reaction will undermine them yet time and time again, they act out of uncontrolled raw emotions and assign culpability because others did something "wrong” or they did something "stupid." They may "blame" others, or "shame" themselves for failure but some players are very different. They are too busy solving problems to bother assigning blame.

These are the "Claimers" of the sport, and they go far on the court as well as off it too. They don't think about the bumpy road of failure, they only focus on the smooth path to success.

The "Blamers" Some players blame everyone and everything but themselves for failure.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

They assume no responsibility for mistakes but stake full credit for successes. They have often been brought up in a world that seeks simple explanations for outcomes with a zero sum, "Us" against "Them" mentality. Since they believe the world has plotted against them, they are simply defending themselves by acting badly. If they make bad line calls it's not cheating, but a noble attempt at justice since their opponent has already cheated them many times, and if they haven't yet they surely will. "Blamers" may love to compete but they rarely embrace the joy of playing tennis; it's the outcome, and not the process, that they focus on. They are compelled to play to prove their value to the world and their opponents. They often see the world as a hierarchy with the best players having the greatest status and success. The goal for these players is to ascend in status but their poor behavior is counterproductive because they rarely succeed to where they are content.

The "Shamers" Some players throw a pity party for themselves every time they play. They are "Shamers" because every mistake is seen as failure. Such a mindset leads to pessimism and an attitude of questioning, "What's the point of trying if I'm going to fail anyway?" Sometimes it's a defense mechanism protecting players from recognizing failure with the rational, "I didn't really fail because I didn't really try." This undermines effort since optimism and perseverance are identified as two of the three most important personal qualities for achievement. If you believe you will succeed you will see failure as part of the journey and you will continue to try your best without being discouraged.

More efforts are like buying more lottery tickets. They improve the odds of winning. "Shamers" decrease the odds of success.

"The Claimers" The third quality vital for achievement is

opportunism, and this is the defining characteristic of a "Claimer." Claimers are too focused on solving problems and trying to succeed to worry about assigning blame to others or themselves. They see each moment as a chance to solve a problem instead of a chance to internalize anger and angst. Claimers see the flaws of others as well as their own flaws as an opportunity to learn to adapt.

"Claimers" are practical and realistic in that they recognize the attitude that the best players embody and they copy and internalize it.

The irony of the "Blamer" and

"Shamer" is that they usually want to succeed so badly, and this very desire tends to promote the behaviors which undermines them. They indulge in negative thought patterns and behaviors which might momentarily make them feel like they have greater control but like scratching an itch they lead to a vicious cycle of irritation. The first step to becoming a "Claimer" is to recognize that the goals you seek and practice the skills that led to success. Be grateful that you are challenged enough to fail because we all love the opportunity to play up.

Anyone can identify problems, the best players solve problems.

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 nationallyranked 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 to achieve great success as prominent members of the New York financial community, and in other prestigious professions. In 2017, Steve was awarded the Hy Zausner Lifetime Achievement Award by the USTA. He may be reached by e-mail at StevenJKaplan@aol.com.

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LITennisMag.com • March/April 2021 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

23

USTA Eastern Long Island Region Eastern Tennis Conference & Awards The annual USTA Eastern Tennis Conference (ETC), “Eastern Strong,” in January may have looked different than usual – the entire event was virtual – but the week was jam-packed with workshops, speakers, programs and more. These events were all designed to give the tennis community the tools they need to succeed, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A highlight of the ETC each year is the celebration of the best in the Section at the awards celebration. Long Island was well-represented at this event, with several in our community being honored. They are: Daniel Burgess, Sr. was recognized posthumously as the Leslie J. FitzGibbon Tennis Man of the Year for his long and outstanding service to tennis in the section. A longtime USTA Long Island volunteer, Daniel passed away in September. In addition to being a three-term USTA Long Island President, he led the USPTA Long Island and served on the Board of USTA Eastern. Over more than three decades, Daniel was a strong advocate of bringing tennis into the community and could be seen on the local courts introducing tennis to children and adults through events and programs like USTA Long Island Kids’ Day, PAL tennis, street fairs and festivals, and school tennis.

Newsday tennis reporter Jeff Williams received the Press Service Award for his consistent coverage of high school, college, US Open and NY Open tennis for more than a decade and, in particular, his coverage of tennis during the pandemic.

Joan Manfredi-Carter received the Louise Cilla Award, which recognizes a female adult (senior) player who has exemplified outstanding sportsmanship both on and off the court and who has contributed much to the game. Joan is a 24

longtime #1 tennis player on LI and in the Eastern Section. She has taught and played against many local players and has been the tennis pro at Old Westbury Golf and Country Club for more than 30 years. She previously was a physical education teacher and coach with NYC schools. From 20092018 Joan was the top LI player in the Women's Open Eastern Division.

Allan Silverstein & Susan D’Alessandro received the USTA League Award for their efforts spearheading the launch and fostering the growth of the 65-and-over mixed doubles 8.0 league on Long Island. This first of its kind league continues to grow and Susan and Allan have reached out to various tennis clubs to provide court time at reduced rates. The pair organize daytime play three times a week at four different locations. Susan has also organized two courts of a women’s doubles tennis group of 25 women every Tuesday evening at Carefree Racquet Club in Merrick for approximately 30 years. Allan spends most of his time volunteering to promote mixed tennis for seniors on Long Island and in Florida.

Gavin Vander Schaaf, a 15-yearold 10th grader, received the Profiles in Courage Award in recognition of his overcoming adversity and displaying strength and optimism. Diagnosed at age 5 with Chiari Malformation, a disease in which parts of his brain were extending into his spine, Gavin underwent several brain surgeries and had constant headaches and chronic pain. He also was diagnosed with both Celiac and Lyme Diseases, which caused his immune system to be at war with its own body.

He had severe vitamin deficiency and debilitating nerve pain. For several years he used a wheelchair because he could not stand without excruciating pain. Although his multiple diagnoses and constant pain meant he was unable to participate in sports as a child, by the time he reached

Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

USTA Eastern Long Island Region 7th grade he was eager to find a sport to help him feel like the other kids. He picked up a tennis racquet and never looked back. In the Spring of 2018, he made the middle school tennis team, playing 4th singles. Two years later, he made the varsity team at his school, despite being in constant pain.

Michelle Stoerback was named the Long Island Region Volunteer of the Year. The Adult Tennis Director at Sportime Kings Park/Quogue, Michelle is an avid USTA league tennis player herself who has captained several league teams. She is an active volunteer on the Long Island Regional Council and has donated numerous hours of her time at local tennis events including the USTA Long Island Annual Awards Ceremony, Kids Days and volunteer clinics.

Sportime NY received the Corporate Service Award, given to an organization whose sponsorship of tennis and programs has helped to grow the sport in the section.

Sportime was recognized for, among other things, its early and regular communications to members about COVID-19 and ways to keep safe while continuing to enjoy tennis.

To see the awards presentation video, please visit USTA Eastern on Facebook and scroll down to videos or visit https://fb.watch/3ko__hK8cr/ . Make sure to fast forward through the 10-minute countdown.

Emily Moore, longtime USTA Long Island volunteer and the founder and head of Alliance Junior Tennis in Roosevelt, has been selected for induction into the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony is expected to take place in late summer 2021. Stay tuned for details.

Coming Soon!

The USTA Long Island Region Council is excited to announce that Nassau and Suffolk Kids’ Days will be back this summer! Stay tuned to these pages, to our “On the Ball: News from LI” newsletter and to our Facebook pages (USTA Long Island and USTA Eastern-Long Island Region) for details about dates and locations.

The Council is also pleased to announce that the popular Long Island Awards Ceremony is returning! The pandemic may have delayed the festivities, but we intend to recognize the best and brightest in the LI tennis community this fall. More information will follow.

Grants Are Available USTA Eastern is offering several grants to help tennis providers and players. Visit USTAEastern.com and scroll down to “Scholarships and Grants” for details on grants including the 2021 Growing Tennis Together grant and those for school, youth, diversity and inclusion and adaptive and wheelchair tennis program. For information on any of these, please contact Neil Thakur at 914-5894500 or thakur@eastern.usta.com Also available for USTA Eastern is marketing support for providers, organizations and facilities. The USTA Eastern Marketing and Communications Team wants to help tennis providers market and promote your programs. Please contact Monica LaMura at lamura@eastern.usta.com to learn about the promotional support available, including customizable flyers to recruit participants, Facebook advertising and more.

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

LITennisMag.com • March/April 2021 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

25

Tennis: The Friend Who Is Always There

By Ricky Becker

t has been widely circulated that during this life-changing pandemic people have started evaluating what is important to them. While family is certainly number one, the circumstances of COVID has gotten me to appreciate something that I knew all along: Tennis is that friend who is always there for me.

Sometimes in the past, not proudly, I feel like the relationship between tennis and me is like the relationship between the boy and the tree in The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, but not anymore.

What I write is all within context.

Some people have had their lives affected forever by COVID and while I have been fortunate, I don’t lose sight of that fact. Tennis, though, has been something that through its’ layout has enabled many people to achieve fitness, fun and normalcy throughout the past year, whereas many other activities do not achieve that. On my block alone, about ten people have either started tennis or increased the amount they have been playing. And I want to thank Tennis for that. Tennis has provided me a way to continue having social interactions in person while continuing “working.” I want to thank Tennis for that. Tennis has allowed me to see others interact, have

I

fun and compete with one another. I want to thank Tennis for that, too.

Throughout the years, there are other ways Tennis has been my most loyal friend. The best tennis I ever played was immediately after I felt snubbed socially in high school. I felt rejected but Tennis was there for me as it always is, and it helped me channel my emotions in the best way possible. Two years ago, a student of mine who I care deeply about got into a fight with one of her best friends, and the following weekend she had her best tournament ever. Just like a good friend, Tennis can’t make problems go away but can help you feel better and maybe help you find perspective. I want to thank Tennis for that.

As someone in my 40s, I feel younger than I am. I want to thank Tennis for that.

During the summer, I’m fortunate to have a staff of young adults in their late teens and 20’s. Besides working together, we constantly enjoy poking fun at each other about random things. Besides possibly being a mentor, I am friends with these younger people which gives me vibrancy. I thank Tennis for that. I made the decision before the pandemic to start playing tournaments again which has motivated me to get in better shape

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

which of course is good for my health.

Tennis is not just my friend but my motivational trainer. Thank you Tennis.

As a junior player, I felt like I paid my dues. I trained when others were having fun. In addition to great highs from winning, I felt deep painful disappointments when I lost. Tennis helped me get into a college situation I would not have gotten into. Job doors were opened, social doors were opened and I didn’t always appreciate that it was because of Tennis. I felt like it was because of me. My friend Tennis wasn’t looking for credit but I would not have many of these opportunities without my loyal friend. I didn’t have perspective then but I have perspective now. And Tennis forgave me. Thank you Tennis.

In my early 20s I was not enjoying Tennis. Trying to make it professionally, I was tired of going to random town after random town around the world trying to make it. Like a kid who has a sleepover and the friend stays too long the next day, it all became too much. I was tired of my friend. For five years, I’d check in occasionally but didn’t want to hang out with my friend much. My good friend Tennis didn’t hold a grudge and extended its’ arms out to me when I wanted to be friends again. Thanks for your loyalty Tennis!

I have tried to see the positives out of the negative situations and COVID has been a very negative situation. Oh yeah, my buddy Tennis taught me that as well.

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

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PGA TOUR Superstore Westbury is recognized with a United States Racquet Stringers Association certification.

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Restringing Service Selecting strings is just as, if not more, important than selecting your racquet. We offer a wide selection of strings from the top brands like Wilson, Babolat, Tecnifibre, Head, Solinco, and Gamma. While we strive to complete all restring work within 24-hours, seasonality may extend that required completion time.

Racquet Fitting Our tennis experts are educated in the latest fitting technology and techniques. You will be guided through the racquet fitting process to learn about key performance attributes that help you choose the best racquet for your swing type and style of play.

Re-Gripping Like strings, grips wear out over time and need to be replaced. We offer several grip services, ranging from rewrapping a replacement grip to altering your grip size and shape.

Grommet Replacement One of the tricks to keeping your racquet performing at its best is making sure your bumper guard and grommets are in good condition. Over time, bumper guards get beat up from contact with the court during play and expose the structure of the frame. Similarly, grommets can also wear out over time, which could lead to strings breaking.

Pickleball Did you know that pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S.? An easy game to play – both outdoors and indoors – by people of all ages, fitness levels, and backgrounds. We offer paddles from all the top brands, including Gamma and Onix.

We invite you to come visit PGA TOUR Westbury at 1254 Corporate Drive, Westbury, New York. Store hours are Monday – Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. For more information give us a call at 516-824-3000 or online at: www.pgatoursuperstore.com.

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ong Island Tennis Magazine wrapped up its 2020 series of events with two LITM Challenge winter tournaments, the first a Mixed Doubles event at SPORTIME Kings Park and the second a Women’s Doubles draw at Carefree Racquet Club.

Over one hundred players competed in the two events which featured a variety of draws in the 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 combined levels.

Mixed Doubles pairings arrived at SPORTIME Kings Park, competing across the facility’s hard and clay courts. The tournament began with pool play, with the top teams (most cumulative games won) during those round-robin matches advancing to the playoff rounds.

“We all love tennis, so being here and having a venue to play this at during COVID is really special,” said Karyn Sackstein. “And on top of that, being able to do that while playing with a great partner and a great friend is just the best.”

That partner was Yassine Azagar, and together the duo captured the title in the 9.0 Combined division after a

hard-fought final against Roey Heymann and Valerie Alliger.

The final, which was one full set, was all knotted at four when Azagar and Sackstein notched a crucial break of serve to jump ahead 5-4. In the ensuing game, Azagar ripped a running forehand winner to set up two match points, and sealed the victory on the second try with an ace.

“We communicated really well throughout the match which helped,” said Azagar. “She was great with her volleys and I hit well from the baseline. We got tight down the stretch, but we knew if we played our best tennis that they weren’t going to beat us, and we were able to do that.”

In the 8.0 Combined division, Chris Wolfe teamed with Devon Carroll to come out victorious. After a competitive start to their championship match, Wolfe and Carroll were able to pull away in the end.

“The team we played in the finals was really good, and they gave us a tough match,” said Wolfe. “They got every single ball back so we had to keep the ball in. Devon

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stayed back more and I came to the net more.”Carroll added: “It was great to be able to come out here after a big holiday and sweat out some of those holiday festivities…I think our key to winning was just keeping the ball in more frequently than they did.”

The 7.0 division winners entered the tournament with lots of chemistry and used that to their advantage, as the husband-wife duo of Jung Park and Jaeeun Lee were the last team standing when it was all said and done.

“We try not to fight when we’re on court, and just stay calm and play well,’ said Lee. “Early in the finals, I was so nervous, I could hardly hit the ball. He just told me to be aggressive, don’t hesitate and think too much and just

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go for it. That worked and it helped us win.”

That aggressive mentality was crucial as the final progressed, and turned out to be the key to their win.“The tournament was great, it was competitive and there was a variety of different players,” said Park. “The team we beat in the finals, we have played against in USTA leagues and even in the early rounds today, so we just had to be consistent and get everything back; don’t be passive, we wanted to make sure we stayed aggressive.”

The tournament series headed west to Nassau County a couple of days later as Carefree hosted the Women’s Doubles event.

After competitive pool play matches, Michele King and

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Elite Tennis is a full-day program for experienced players entering grades 6-10.

The Jason Pasion Tennis Camp is a one-week intensive program designed for players competing or striving to compete in USTA Regional, Sectional and National Tournaments, and those interested in playing tennis competitively at school.

For more information, visit hofstra.edu/camp or call 516-463-CAMP. LITennisMag.com • March/April 2021 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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Cathy Nicosia squared off against Lily Tang and Zsuzsa Price in the championship of the 7.0 division. King and Nicosia used their crafty style of play to dictate the way the match was played, and would pull away in the end to win the title.

“The goal was just trying to be more consistent and better than our opponents,” said Nicosia. “We played well, and in the end it was just about will power…we do play together a lot. The short format here makes it tough because by the time you figure out your opponents, the pool match is over. But we know where each other is going to be on the court, so we back each other up well and that’s what we made sure to do today.”King added: “I just tried to play my game and not let them dictate

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the play. A lot of these players like to play with power, and I like to slice and try to take their pace off, and give them junk and let them make the mistake.”

The 9.0 division was well-played throughout, but in the end, Crissianne Kintanar and Yen So proved to be too much and captured the title with a win over Kim Pflaumer and Cara DiSabato in the championship.

“We played so many matches together, both in leagues and hitting together a lot,” said So. “She knows how I play and I know how she plays. We don’t even need to call switches when we cross on the court…We had to pace ourselves through the whole tournament. There’s no ad scoring so you have to remain mentally tough with that, so we tried to get to the net a lot and finish off

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points. I loved the variety of players we got to play against, and that forced us to adjust and stay focused each match.”The two events closed out a successful 2020 Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge Series. The host facilities of our Winter Tournaments, SPORTIME Kings Park and Carefree Racquet Club, and specifically Michelle Stoerback and Kathy Miller, respectively, did a fantastic job of helping to safely host the events.

The Long Island Tennis Magazine Challeges aim to provide a unique tournament experience for adult players, featuring catered food, media coverage, prizes and competitive play on the court but also a friendly environment off of it.

“These were our first indoor winter events and we’re

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thrilled that they both went well and were done safely.

We look forward a full series of events in 2021,” said David Sickmen, Publisher of Long Island Tennis Magazine and Tournament Director. “I think what makes the Challenge events most special is we get a lot of returning players and so we combine the on-court competition with a friendly environment off it. In addition to the high level of play, our events are known for the social atmosphere, food, prizes, media coverage and, of course the outdoor after parties in the summer. We look forward to seeing some familiar faces as well as new ones in 2021.”

Be sure to check out LITennisMag.com and NYTennisMag.com for more information on our events throughout the year.

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2021 Tennis Magazine 2016 GuideLong to the TopIsland Clubs/Programs for New York Tennis Players

Camp Guide

Bethpage Park Tennis Center Summer Tennis Camp 99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Building #4 l Farmingdale, NY (516) 777-1358 l BethpageParkTennis.com The 2021 Summer Junior Tennis Program at Bethpage Park Tennis Center, where Safety, Enjoyment, Value and Improvement is at the forefront. Our 10-week Summer Junior Tennis Program begins on Monday, June 21, and runs consecutively every weekday through Friday, August 27.

Safety First We offer two sessions daily: a morning session from 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m., and an afternoon session from 1 p.m.-4:15 p.m. with limited enrollment for each session. For the many players who stay full day, we are offering an optional specialized package which will maximize improvement opportunities in a quality and result-driven program. Based on last year’s highly successful and safe summer we are continuing several new policies that will maintain the highest degree of safety standards for both staff and players alike.

Among these are a daily comprehensive disinfecting of the facility; use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all players and staff and active player and staff social distancing. Other safety measures are still in development and will continue to be as needed. As an extra measure of safety for our players and staff, food and water will no longer be provided. Please make sure to bring your own snacks, lunches, towels and have plenty of fluids to drink. Also, for the current Summer Junior Tennis Program transportation services are suspended.

At Bethpage Park Tennis, we have two large air conditioned structures with four courts in each as well as two outdoor courts. All 10 courts have been allocated to our Summer Junior Tennis Program to ensure that social distancing rules are followed and maintained. With our programs enrollment limitations, our safety policies as well as our commitment to the health and safety of all, our Summer Junior Tennis Program will be one of its kind.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Enjoyment Sport-based programs like ours should be fun and as stress free as possible during these unprecedented times. We have a great staff of full-time teaching professionals as well as top college players, all of whom have been with us for many years.

With our experienced and successful coaching staff, our plentiful courts and the safe nurturing environment for which we have been known, our Summer Junior Tennis Program players will remain active and smiling.

Improvement For over 40 years, our junior program has provided the best learning environment to develop top student-athletes. Our record of development with our long-time students including 20 players ranked #1 nationally, numerous ATP, WTA and NCAA champions, and over 2000 nationally ranked players is unrivaled and unprecedented for a single facility that is not a massive academy. As enrollment is limited, act soon to ensure a spot.

Carefree Racquet Club 1414 Jerusalem Avenue l North Merrick, N.Y. l (516) 489-9005 l CarefreeTennis.com Where can you find a junior summer tennis camp highlighting the excitement of competition, high-structured instruction and plenty of all-around play time?

At Carefree Racquet Club, complete with seven air-conditioned indoor tennis courts, two half-court basketball courts, a cozy lounge and snack area … that’s where! At Carefree’s Summer Camp, the staff encourages the social and healthy aspect of loving sports just for the fun of it.

Carefree Racquet Club is proud to celebrate its 26th year of its Junior Summer Camp. The success of the summer program comes from the outstanding facility, fun to win attitude and superior pro staff. Camp hours are from noon to 5:00 p.m. Students come in fresh and relaxed with energy, and ready for action.

Summer Camp This runs from Monday-Friday, June 28th to August 20th from 1:00-5:00 p.m. A typical day at camp consists of stretching and warm-up, stroke production, instruction, drills and thrills and ladder matches! Cross-training is also involved including basketball.

Contact CarefreeTennis@gmail.com, call (516) 489-9005 or visit CarefreeTennis.com to sign-up or for more information.

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2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Centercourt Tennis Academy

High-Performance Full-Time Academy & Elite Camps Offered Weekly, Annually and for Specific Periods required Chatham l Florham Park l Drew University l Newark Academy l Gillette l Marlboro Just 25 miles from Manhattan (862) 308-3029 l Centercourtcta.com l Conrad@Centercourtclub.com Our commitment to Excellence at Centercourt Tennis Academy has earned our reputation as the Toughest Playground in the Northeast.

With a passion for Elite Player Development and with a dedicated High-Performance Team as well as our multiple World-Class facilities from Indoor and Outdoor Clay & Hards to our Strength and Conditioning Institutes.

Our players experience Only the Best in Competitive Training and an array of Tournaments and Events in one Academy.

Based just 25 Miles from Manhattan Players come from International as well as the Tri - State area. We offer Additional Homestay and Transportation Options upon request.

The Centercourt Tennis Academy Points of Difference l World renowned International Tennis Coaches on Court daily in our innovative environment l Attention to detail allows athletes to improve in multiple dimensions: Technical, Tactical Fitness, Emotional & Mental l Centercourt’s list of events including USTA, ITA & official UTR tournaments provide opportunities for athletes to compete weekly and improve UTR ratings quickly. l Centercourt is dedicated to meeting the individual needs of each one of our players l Centercourt’s players results are amongst top National rankings and the ITF100 ranked players. Our Alumni are competing ay Ivy League as well as top Colleges all over the country. l Centercourt puts the needs of the player first, in a development-focused model of training l Athletes are grouped in level by UTR; featuring small group training, match play, individualized fitness plans, Mental Toughness Training and On the Spot video analysis. l Tournament Support, Supervised Practice Sets and Team coaching are all available. l Our Environment shows our commitment to develop players Holistically - we believe in shaping people from the Inside Out and guide our team in our Team based Academy setting.

Centercourt Tennis Academy's Proven Superior Player Development Model has seen countless outstanding results achieved in recent times. With our athletes competing at Top Colleges around the nation we are confident in our ability to bring your Childs Ability to their potential .

Centercourt Tennis Academy offers OPEN ENROLLMENT—CALL FOR EVALUATION & PLACEMENT programs with rolling admissions year-round and Summer Camp from 17 Courts, 4 Pickleball Courts & ¼ Mile Running Track...

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100 Harbor Road, Port Washington, New York 11050 > > (516) 883-6425 Our 56th year serving our community as a non-profit teaching facility, for students of any race, color, nationality and ethnic origin.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Chris Lewit Tennis Academy Manchester, Vermont l (914) 462-2912 l ChrisLewit.com l Chris@ChrisLewit.com Chris Lewit Tennis Academy (CLTA) Summer Camp is a serious high performance sleepaway and day camp set in the natural paradise of Vermont. In addition to the summer program, Chris Lewit Tennis Academy also offers year-round training—with boarding—both short term and long term!

Players at CLTA have the opportunity to train personally in very small groups with Chris Lewit, one of leading high-performance junior development coaches in the United States. Chris is known as an expert in technique and biomechanics, and in Spanish training methods. Chris wrote the best-selling book, Secrets of Spanish Tennis, and he is currently pursuing an advanced degree in Kinesiology and Biomechanics. He has developed numerous top 10 nationally-ranked juniors, many of whom are now graduating to the pro circuit. He also has experience building the foundations of many young prodigies.

The camp focuses on players from ages 8-18, from serious beginner to national and ITF ranked players, and offers day or full boarding options. Campers live in a charming Vermont Inn and have exclusive use of a private tennis club, CLTA Vermont, which offers both outdoor red clay courts and indoor hard courts in the event of rain, gym, yoga studio and clubhouse, all set on 15 picturesque acres with a majestic river for swimming onsite.

The camp features daily morning yoga and mindfulness training from a certified master yoga instructor and an injury prevention program overseen by a NSCA certified strength and conditioning coach who is training for the Olympics in Track and Field.

CLTA offers a unique hybrid teaching system based on the Toni Nadal, Pato Alvarez/Sanchez-Casal, and Bruguera Methods from Spain, as well as other European influences based on Chris Lewit's travels abroad. Chris has spent the last 14 years studying with many of the legendary coaches in Spain and Europe. Recognized as a world-leading expert in Spanish systems, he is the only coach in the US certified in three distinct Spanish styles: Nadal, Bruguera, and Sanchez-Casal. Chris brings the most cutting-edge training methods from Europe back to the U.S. for his students.

New this year is a character building and mindset training based on the teachings of Toni Nadal!

All students receive personal coaching and mentoring directly from Chris Lewit, and are supported by his highly trained staff of top college and ATP players.

This summer, the academy will host a full series of UTR tournaments, Little Mo Sectionals, U14 World Championship Qualifiers, and UTR Pro Money event featuring players as high as 200 ATP! For more information, contact Chris directly to discuss your player's summer development plan by e-mail at Chris@ChrisLewit.com, or text/call/WhatsApp (914) 4622912, or visit ChrisLewit.com.

You can also learn more about Chris’s philosophy at his Prodigy Maker Blog, and podcast, The Prodigy Maker Show. Visit ProdigyMaker.com for the blog and show links.

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2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide CourtSense Tennis Training Center at Bogota Racquet Club (home of the High Performance program) 156 West Main Street l Bogota, N.J. l (201) 489 1122

CourtSense at Tenafly Racquet Club (Home of the Performance program) 195 County Rd. l Tenafly, N.J. l (201) 254 5836 CourtSense.com l Info@CourtSense.com With CourtSense, you’ll achieve your personal best, because our training is of the highest professional caliber and easily tailored to suit your age and skill level. We use tennis as a vehicle to teach life lessons by tapping into the spirit of every player, with lots of passion, expertise and character. Students have access to 32 outdoor and 15 indoor tennis courts and to CourtSense’s revolutionary PlaySight smart court system that is installed on 20 courts.

High Performance Summer Tennis Camp at Bogota Racquet Club. This camp is geared towards High Performance Tournament and high level High School players for UTR level 4 and above and age group 11 to 18 years old. CourtSense has trained and is currently training players who have become ATP- and WTA-ranked players, U.S. Olympians, as well as many college scholarship athletes. CourtSense’s International High Performance Coaches, in collaboration with its fitness staff and a sports psychologist, have developed a program that maximizes all athletes’ strengths, both on and off court. l Full Day High Performance Tennis Camp at Bogota Racquet Club runs from Monday-Friday, June 28-Aug. 27 (nine weeks), featuring 10 hours of tennis training; 5 hours of fitness and 8 hours of match/point play) for players ages 11-18, and UTR level 4.00 and above. Campers will have access to outdoor and indoor hard and clay courts, with a 3:1 student-to-coach ratio.

Weekly dual matches with other academies, and mental toughness training are also included. Evaluation is required prior to enrollment. Transportation service between locations is provided. l Full Day Performance Tennis Camp at Tenafly Racquet Club runs from Monday-Friday, June 28-Aug. 27 (nine weeks), featuring 8 hours of tennis training; 4 hours of fitness and 6-8 hours of match/point play) for players ages 8-12, and UTR level under 4.00. Campers will have access to a premier and very unique facility where they will be able to experience playing on all grand slam surfaces (European red clay, grass, hard court), with a 3:1 student-to-coach ratio. Mental toughness training is also included. Evaluation is required prior to enrollment.

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2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Eastern Athletic Club’s Summer Camp Multiple locations across Long Island and New York City EasternAthleticClubs.com l EACTennis@yahoo.com Eastern Athletic is family-owned and is one of the New York’s original and finest tennis and fitness facilities, offering tennis camps during July and August. With three locations throughout Suffolk County to accommodate the ever changing needs of our clientele, Eastern Athletic has 17 Nova Ultra cushion indoor tennis courts, seven racquetball courts, and much more.

Eastern Athletic’s camp is directed by Laurie Tenney Fehrs and the multi-cultural tennis staff that all have a commitment to see their students happy and successful in all aspects of their lives. Eastern Athletic Tennis Camps integrate strength and agility training, drill sessions, group lessons and match play. Eastern Athletic offers camp from two hours up to five hours per day for one day up to eight weeks.

In addition, Eastern Athletic has one of the best performance training programs, integrating tennis with athletic performance programs. All of their programs are offered year-round in a climate-controlled tennis facility. Eastern Athletic has produced some of the top tennis players on Long Island under the direction and supervision of Laurie Tenney Fehrs and a renowned tennis staff. Eastern Athletic has programs for juniors and adults of all ages and level of play, and is confident they have something for you.

To find out all about what Eastern Athletic has to offer, visit EasternAthleticClubs.com. For more information and to join the growing family, e-mail EACTennis@yahoo.com or visit one of Eastern Athletic’s locations: l EAC in Blue Point, 9A Montauk Highway, Blue Point, N.Y. (631) 363-2882 l EAC in Dix Hills, 854 East Jericho Turnpike, Dix Hills, N.Y. (631) 271-6616 l EAC in Melville, 100 Ruland Road, Melville, N.Y. (631) 773-6293 l EAC in Brooklyn Heights, 43 Clark Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. (718) 625-0500 l EAC in Prospect Park, 17 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, N.Y. (718) 789-4600

Ed Krass' 33rd Annual College Tennis Exposure Camp® & Clinics The Long Island Health & Racquet Club: Saturday-Sunday, June 5-6 Mercer Country Park Tennis Center: Friday-Saturday, July 23-24 (813) 684-9031 l CollegeTennis.com Coach Ed Krass' 33rd Annual College Tennis Exposure Camp & Clinics, for ages 14-18, are taught exclusively by head college coaches who will work with you on-court to improve your singles and doubles match play strategies and provide college recruiting advice. Instructional drills and match play competitions will be conducted in the same style and intensity as a college team practice.

The two-day College Tennis Exposure Camp will be offered at the Long Island Health & Racquet Club in Setauket, N.Y., Saturday-Sunday, June 5-6 and Mercer County Park Tennis Center in Windsor, N.J., FridaySaturday, July 23-24 Coach Ed Krass, Founder and Director of College Tennis Exposure Camp & Clinics, has coached varsity tennis teams at Harvard University, Clemson University and the University of Central Florida prior to founding the College Tennis Academy.

For more information, call Coach Krass at (813) 684-9031 or visit CollegeTennis.com.

Look for more camp locations at CollegeTennis.com.

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2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Evert Tennis Academy 10334 Diego Drive South l Boca Raton, Fla. l (561) 488-2001 EvertAcademy.com l Evert@EvertAcademy.com The Evert Tennis Academy is located in sunny Boca Raton, Fla., and is considered by many as one of the best tennis camps in the country. John and Chrissie Evert set out to continue their father’s legacy 22 years ago by installing core values: Excellence, Resilience, Integrity and Leadership. “Our core values are the roadmap to coaching every student-athlete towards reaching their full potential.”–John Evert Evert Tennis Academy clinics will focus on technical development, tactical training and competitive settings. Players will experience a typical Evert program that includes tennis lessons, strength and fitness conditioning, mental conditioning and competitive match play against players from all over the world. Players will get a coach’s evaluation during their stay here to review at home.

Top four reasons why to attend this summer (Monday-Sunday, May 31Aug. 21): 1. Coaches/program: Our coaching staff continues to put a program together that is second to none. Each program is designed so that each player will get the personalized attention needed to improve his or her game while having fun. Whether you are an intermediate player looking to fine tune your game or a high-level nationally ranked player we have the program for you.

2. Facility/boarding: Evert Tennis Academy is one of the only academies to provide boarding services for any student wishing to stay only steps away from the courts. Its eight-acre facility provides a safe environment nestled in the beautiful and secure Mission Bay residential neighborhood, surrounded by lakes, manicured lawns and lush Floridian foliage.

3. Competition: The Evert Tennis Academy provides match play for each student every day and all levels are welcome. Although the tournament schedule is not yet confirmed, we normally host three UTR tournaments throughout the summer for any player looking to get match play prior to the Clay Court & Hard Court Nationals, Zonals or just get access to players of equal playing level.

4. Family Oriented and Personal: The Evert Tennis Academy in known worldwide for a family oriented atmosphere and a place where players enjoy both on-court training and off-court activities. Students that choose the Developmental Program will receive a taylor made personalized program that is second to none in the industry.

5. Location: Located in the beautiful town of Boca Raton, Fla., the Evert Tennis Academy is located only a few minutes away from the beach and only 30 minutes away from the Fort Lauderdale and West Tennis Court Equipment & Material Palm Beach airports making it an Now Available:Graco SaniSpray HP easy trip Airless Disinfectant Sprayers from the Tennis Posts & Nets • Court Accessories northeast.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Glen Head Racquet and Fitness 95 Glen Head Avenue l Glen Head, N.Y. l (516) 676-9849 l GlenHeadRAF.com Summer Camp at Glen Head Racquet Club is a great place for young athletes to improve their tennis skills, work hard, make new friends and of course, have a lot of fun. Our Pros use the latest teaching methods to help youngsters to achieve the highest level and be successful.

The Junior Development Program is designed for athletes that have an interest in play tennis but don’t have any intensive instruction. The students learn: l Stroke production, foot work, simple fitness drills l Decision making and tactics l Shot selection and game style strategies l Court position match play and scoring The High Performance program is a fun yet achievement-orientated environment with emphasis on a systematic approach to player development.

There is a great focus on mental enhancement, proper fundamentals for ultimate strokes, footwork drills. We have indoor and outdoor locations available.

Hofstra Summer Tennis Camp Hofstra University l 1000 Fulton Avenue l Hempstead, N.Y. l (516) 463-CAMP l Hofstra.edu/Camp A great tennis experience for two, four or seven weeks Hofstra Summer Camps offers three unique tennis programs for beginner and experienced players to learn and refine their tennis skills.

In the new USTA program “Net Generation” players in grades 2-10 learn the basics of tennis using tennis equipment in a scaled down version to fit their smaller size, and it builds confidence, respect, responsibility, cooperation and much more. All aspects of tennis are introduced and taught, all scoring, strokes and strategy, and all in a fun and entertaining way!

The Elite Tennis program offers experienced players in grades 6-10 the opportunity to receive full-day instruction. Campers will participate in supervised practice and competition, while the afternoon will consist of learning new skills and strategies, as well as drills and specific games to enhance the camper’s full tennis skill set. Admission to this program is selective; campers will be interviewed to see if this is the right fit.

The Jason Pasion Tennis Sports Academy Camp is a one-week intensive program specifically designed for players competing in or striving to compete in tournaments and on school teams. Coach Jason Pasion joined by others from the Hofstra University Tennis teams coaching staff will demonstrate techniques and help develop campers’ skills in a fun, supportive and positive environment.

Program includes: l Stretching and warm-up exercises l Drilling and Instruction – live ball hitting, technique development and improvement l Point and match play l Tennis specific cross-training and mental toughness training. l And More!

For additional information about Hofstra Summer Tennis Camp, call (516) 463CAMP or visit Hofstra.edu/Camp.

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2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide John McEnroe Tennis Academy Summer Tennis Training Camps Locations on Long Island including the Hamptons, in Manhattan and Westchester: JMTA New York City l SPORTIME Randall’s Island l (212) 427-6150 JMTA Long Island l SPORTIME Syosset l (516) 364-2727 JMTA Hamptons l SPORTIME Amagansett l (631) 267-3460 JMTA Westchester l SPORTIME Lake Isle l (914) 777-5151 CampsNYC@SportimeNY.com l SportimeCamps.com/JMTA No one knows tennis training for juniors better than SPORTIME! And, with multiple tennis camp locations across Long Island, including in the Hamptons, and in New York City and Westchester, aspiring tennis players can enjoy John McEnroe Tennis Academy and SPORTIME tennis training programs across the region, throughout the summer. Faced with the challenges of COVID-19, we responded immediately with new guidelines and protocols designed to keep our players, campers, members, guests and staff safe and healthy. To find out more, go to SportimeNY.com/Covid19_Guidelines.

SPORTIME’s and JMTA’s training methods are fun and fast-paced and feature technical and tactical training. Innovative tennis training techniques are rooted in competitive games and tennis-specific conditioning regimens. Newer players learn and enjoy the sport in age and level appropriate groups. Higher level training prepares serious juniors for the physical, mental and emotional demands of match and tournament play. SPORTIME’s international coaching staff is dedicated to turning weaknesses into strengths and strengths into winning games.

For our youngest players, ages 10 and under, campers work through clearly defined stages of development that follow an internationally accepted progression of court sizes (red 36’, orange 60’), ball types (red, orange) and net heights that make it possible for kids to actually play tennis from the moment they step onto the court. With our fun and unique “gamification” approach, our junior players don’t just take lessons—they get sent on missions, acquire skills, collect points and achieve milestones. Campers also enjoy instruction and competition in a variety of team sports activities.

Visit SportimeCamps.com to find the SPORTIME EXCEL or JMTA Summer Tennis Training Camp nearest you, or e-mail CampsNYC@SportimeNY.com to find out more. Programs vary by location.

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• Tennis • Pickleball • Basketball • Volleyball • Bocce ball Clay, Asphalt and Concrete 56 Brook Avenue l Deer Park, NY 11729 l 1-800-660-PLAY l www.centurytennis.com 42

Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide LuHi Summer Programs 131 Brookville Road l Glen Head, NY 11545 l luhisummercamps.org LuHi Summer Programs offers a premier tennis experience for players of all levels, but also so much more! Located on a scenic 32-acre campus in the heart of Long Island's North Shore, LuHi Summer Programs has been the home and camp choice for thousands of Long Island children for 60 years. We provide a fun-filled learning experience in a variety of sports, educational, and recreational programs to bring out the best in each of our campers. With over 20 diverse programs to choose from, campers from all across Long Island and NYC find their home here at LuHi Summer Programs.

Foster personal growth, team spirit, and perseverance in one of our varied Athletics programs designed to challenge and motivate athletes to be their best. Inspire curiosity, spontaneity, and independence in our diverse Arts programs designed to nurture creativity and expression. Spark new passions, hobbies, and friendships with well-rounded Recreation options to suit all learning styles and interests. Galvanize tomorrow’s makers, creators, and innovators with science and technology options in our STEM division that drive experimentation and investigation.

If all four of these programming areas sound right for your child or they just want to try them all, they may yet find their home in LuHi Country Day, where action, adventure, and discovery await them! A culmination of LuHi’s culture, LuHi Country Day offers a safe & structured environment where campers are encouraged to engage in new experiences, form friendships, and most importantly, have fun!

With so many offerings, families have the opportunity to customize their summer based on their schedule and child's varying interests. The day-camp format also allows children to experience all of the best parts of camp during the day and spend time with their families during the evenings and weekends. Professionals in their specific field direct each LuHi program, providing experiences that educate, enrich, and inspire each child. We hope to welcome you to the LuHi Family for Summer 2021!

New York Tennis at Shelter Rock Tennis Club 100 Long Island Expressway l Manhasset, N.Y. l (516) 233-2790 NYTAGN.com l Info@NYTAGN.com The New York Tennis Academy at Shelter Rock Tennis Club is under the Direction of Brian Stein and Chris Tasso. For more than 20 years they have both developed and coached some of the top juniors in the Long Island/New York City area. They will be sure to look after every junior's personal needs, as well as instill a real competitive presence at the camp. In addition to their leadership at the camp, Brian and Chris are also the Directors of Junior Tennis at New York Tennis at Great Neck.

The coaching staff at the camp will feature a highly accomplished set of former ATP, ITF and NCAA players, as well as current college players that were once juniors in the program and fully understand the hard work philosophy.

The camp is hosted at a beautiful facility of Har-Tru courts, a large pool that campers can enjoy in the afternoons, and is centrally located right off of the Long Island Expressway in Manhasset. On days it rains, the camp utilizes several indoor courts located on-premises to keep up the tennis fun.

Finally, the New York Tennis Academy's mission is that every junior player loves going to camp and has an incredible summer tennis experience. The entire staff will be dedicated to giving campers a summer they'll never forget.

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2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Nike Tennis Camps (800) NIKE-CAMP (645-3226) l USSportsCamps.com/Tennis Come join the fun and get better this summer at a Nike Tennis Camp!

With more than 80 locations nationwide, both overnight and day options, there is a camp for everyone.

Nike Tennis Camps provide young players the opportunity to improve their tennis skills, work hard, make new friends and have a lot of fun.

Dedicated camp directors have a passion for teaching and a gift for helping you take your game to the next level.

Locations include: Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, N.J.); Randy Mani Tennis Academy at Hardscrabble Club (Brewster, NY); Colgate University (Hamilton, NY); Amherst College (Amherst, MA.); Buckley Country Day School (Roslyn, NY); and Curry College (Milton, MA).

Please visit our website for more information as camp details and programs being offered will vary according to local regulations.

Park Avenue Tennis 100 Partridge Lane l Huntington, NY l 631-271-1810 Kids Summer Camp – “Good Vibes Only” Park Avenue Tennis offers the perfect balance of fun and top quality tennis instruction in the nicest indoor tennis facility on Long Island. During our ½ Day Tennis Camp your child is guaranteed to have fun, improve their game and make new friends, in our air-conditioned facility. Park Avenue Tennis is family owned with on site owners (Karen & Phil Cadorette) that strive to offer a safe Country Club tennis camp experience like no other club on Long Island.

We offer four, US Open style deco turf hard courts built over a rubber base, which provides comfortable play for all levels.

Seasoned club players in the area have rated our LED Direct Lighting among the best in the Tristate area.

Once you come to Park Avenue you know your children will be treated to a safe Country Club atmosphere with a luxurious professionally decorated lobby, brand new locker rooms, a second floor lounge, which includes Air Hockey, Cornhole and Foosball as campers wind down their day.

Our glass showcase “Fed Court” includes a 2.5 story pop art mural by Andaluz, a famous Long Island street artist – who also did a Kobe tribute opposite Barclays Center. Our professional instructors incorporate the (ROGY) red-orangegreen-yellow ball, teaching system as outlined by the USTA for the maximum benefit of our campers. Our diverse teaching staff has included former tour players, college coaches, and former and current college players.

At Park Avenue Tennis, our motto is “Good Vibes Only” and we offer a positive tennis experience for players and 44

Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide campers of all levels. Our half-day camp focuses on tennis technique, strategy, match play and teamwork. While “You Can’t Be Serious” intimidation techniques might be entertaining on TV, we teach our campers about on court etiquette, sportsmanship, setting goals and competing with integrity.

The Secret of Park Avenue Tennis is out and our members are not too happy. With a small boutique club, our programs fill up fast and space is extremely limited. We “Sold Out” almost every session last summer and 85 percent of our campers attended more than one session and some as many as 6-7 sessions. We welcome you to stop by, Call 631-271-1810 or visit www.parkavetennis.com to reserve your spot and see what customers have to say about our facility. “Good Vibes Only!

Ross School Tennis Academy 18 Goodfriend Drive l East Hampton, NY 11937 l 631-907-5376 Ross Summer, built on the innovative, educational foundation of Ross School, is an exciting and enriching experience for kids and teens! Ross Summer offers fun programs in the arts, media, and sciences, for-credit academic courses with top faculty, and high-level athletic training. Ross is a leader in COVID preparedness with extensive facilities and a COVID Response Team that maintains the highest safety standards.

Premium services enhance the Ross Summer experience and provide an opportunity for families to create their ideal summer.

Ross Summer Camp, which is celebrating its fourteenth year, is a place where children can learn and grow in a supportive environment under the tutelage of professional instructors. Along with all the fun of a traditional summer camp, campers can participate in a wide range of immersive and exciting week-long programs!

Ross Sports Camp provides young athletes with an opportunity to spend their summer training under expert coaches and sports professionals. From specialized U10 programs to our high-performance training with live ball drills and match play series, our all-encompassing summer program is our most intense and complete junior tennis education offered. Ross also brings the same dedication and experience of the Ross School Tennis Academy to the soccer field and basketball court, with programs designed to help young athletes of all levels build their skills.

Programs include: l High-performance tennis training for players 7–16 l Strengthen individual and team basketball skills l Individualized soccer instruction for all levels l Multisport program for ages 4+ l Limited capacity, enrolling now Ross Stay Sharp allows students to earn high school credits and participate in enrichment programs by working with Ross School’s world-class faculty. Rigorous academic courses are balanced with relaxation and time at the beach in idyllic East Hampton.

Ross also offers a Summer Concierge Service, allowing families to create their ideal summer with custom-designed programs. Contact us to learn more. ross.org/summer

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2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide SPORTIME Summer Tennis & Sports Camps Locations across Long Island, in Manhattan and Westchester and in Schenectady: SPORTIME Bethpage l (516) 933-8500 SPORTIME Kings Park l (631) 269-6300 SPORTIME Lynbrook l (516) 887-1330 SPORTIME Quogue l (631) 653-6767 SPORTIME Roslyn l (516) 484-9222 SPORTIME Schenectady l (518) 356-0100 SPORTIME Syosset l (516) 364-27274 SPORTIME Westchester l (914) 777-5050 EHSC@SPORTIME Amagansett l (631) 267-2267 SPORTIME Volleyball Camps l (515) 731-4432 Camps@SportimeNY.com l SportimeCamps.com “Last year, I had the best summer ever!” Who said that? Every kid who attended a SPORTIME Summer Camp last summer! That's because at SPORTIME summer camps, our staff of teachers, coaches and counselors makes sure that every camper has a positive and memorable experience. SPORTIME knows how to make camp fun and safe!

How does SPORTIME do it? Our experienced, certified, international staff are skilled at providing camp programming that is challenging, innovative and educational, all at facilities that are state-of-the-art, safe, and easily accessible.Faced with the challenges of COVID-19, we responded immediately with new guidelines and protocols designed to keep our players, campers, members, guests and staff safe and healthy. To find out more, go to SportimeNY.com/Covid19_Guidelines.

From preschoolers to pre-teens, kids who enjoy tennis, sports, friendship and fun love coming to SPORTIME summer camps, which offer programs and events tailored to every age group and interest. With camp locations across Long Island, including the Hamptons, and in New York City and Westchester, we’ve got your summer covered! Go to SportimeCamps.com to find the perfect camp for your child or e-mail us at Camps@SportimeNY.com.

Programs and facilities vary by location.

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2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadow-Corona Park l Flushing, N.Y. l (718) 760-6200 l NTC.USTA.com The USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center will once again offer fun in the sun tennis day camps starting in June. Enrollment will soon be available online for the weekly programs: Please note that the camp will be held both indoor and outdoor this summer. l Week 1: June 21 - June 25 (Mini-Session) - Only offered Week 1, you can sample our camps daily or choose the whole week. More information coming soon. l Week 2: June 28 - July 2 l Week 3: July 5 - 9 l Week 4: July 12 - 16 l Week 5: July 19 - 23 l Week 6: July 26 - 30 l Week 7: TBD We offer summer camps for all ages and levels from 10 and under tennis to recreational juniors to high performance players. Space may be limited so register early and get the best pricing.

The weekly program runs Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break or a twilight session from 4:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Campers work on the development of tennis techniques, tactics, sports conditioning, multi-sports and strategy geared toward maximizing the learning experience in a fun presentation. As the juniors develop, they are advanced to more challenging groups. Tennis activities include Stroke of the Day, team games and competitive match play.

The camp also offers cross-training activities, such as soccer, softball and basketball in the park or at the Corona Park multi-purpose recreational facility, off-site field trips include ice skating, Mets games, and more, and full access to the many fun activities on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

The program accepts junior players, ages four- through 10-years-old for the 10 & Under programs. Recreational players 11-years-old and up are enrolled in the Junior Camps (8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.).

Advanced High Performance Tournament training campers will also be invited to participate in an intensive Tennis Academy training program.

The National Tennis Center has 22 outdoor courts, 12 indoor courts, and four stadium courts. Also on-site are ping-pong tables, ball machines, a fitness center, and other age-appropriate fun activities like arts, multi-sports, arts and crafts, and other engaging sporting events. The primary focus will be on developing tennis skills, The POP-iTs are the only tennis accessory while offering other activities to that goes on your racquet and makes ball enhance the learning and summer pick up effortless and safe during these camp experience.

Also offered are junior evening times of COVID concerns. and weekend programs, as well as adult daytime, weekday evening The POP-iT Program makes and weekend ball pickup fun, camps.

finally!

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2021 Long Island Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Windridge Tennis and Sports Camps 1215 Roxbury Road l Roxbury, Vt. l (802) 860-2005 WindridgeCamps.com l ramsey@windridgecamps.com Windridge ... a tradition of tennis, soccer, horseback riding and golf for over 50 years. Located in the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Windridge Tennis and Sports Camp stands unique in that they feature specialized sports programs within the framework of a traditional New England camp setting.

Since 1968, children have come to Windridge from most of the 50 states and more than 30 countries to share in the Windridge experience. Campers make a commitment to hard work, good sportsmanship, and wholesome fun and laughter, within a warm and friendly environment.

Windridge offers two-week and three-week coed sessions from June through August, serving ages seven through 15.

Windridge’s 4:1 camper-to-counselor ratio is an important factor in its warm and nurturing environment. In addition, we offer 10-day Rookie Camps for 7-10-year-old first-time campers.

Windridge offers “majors” in tennis, soccer, riding and golf. Campers will develop skills in their chosen major each day while rounding out their schedule with electives like mountain biking, archery, basketball, volleyball, arts and crafts, and more. Windridge adds to this a wide variety of exceptional evening activities and special events, such as Carnival Day and Teela-Games to create a well-rounded experience for each camper.

• 2018 USTA Long Island Private Tennis Club of The Year • Run by former Stanford University MVP and Roslyn High School MVP Director Ricky Becker and his staff of 13-pros including Long Island Icons Karl Sommer and Carrie Strum • Free Weekly Member Practices • Free Bi-Weekly Sunday Events • Multiple Women's and Men's Club North Shore Long Island Club Championships • Very welcoming membership with players at all levels • Appropriate coaching for players at all levels ranging from adult beginners and tots to high-ranked juniors and serious adult players • Many extra special tennis events throughout the summer

We have so much going on “on the courts” - it is no surprise that our court usage has increased by 1000% over the past 9 years. Schedule a tour with Heidi today!

Contact Heidi Stanya, Director of Membership at 516-922-0300, x115 or heidi@pinehollowcc.org 48

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Congratulations USPTA Eastern 2020 Award Winners

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USPTA Eastern Division Professional of the Year Jason Joseph Facility Manager of the Year Michael Starke HS Coach of the Year Matt Thormahlen College Coach of the Year Matt Johnson Elevate Award Khrystsina Tryboi Industry Excellence Award Alex Pop-Moldovan USPTA Stars Award Greg Yahia Major Contributor Millie Didio

Jason Joseph is a performance and development coach currently in Buffalo, NY. Jason is a graduate of the USTA High Performance Coaching Program and holds a Level 1 USTA Sport Science assessment. He currently is the Head Racquets Professional at Park Country Club as well as the director of The Academy at Hamburg Racquet Club.

Khrystsina Tryboi is a USPTA Professional at MatchPoint NYC and is the Director of Marketing, Tournament Director, 10U Coordinator, and Teaching Professional.

Michael Starke has been the manager at the Binghamton Tennis Center, a year-round indoor/outdoor facility serving the tennis community since 1985.

Alex Pop-Moldovan is working with Olympic level tennis players, and youth progression, and excels at providing Adaptive Tennis in his community. He is a Love Serving Autism Coach and a member of the USPTA Adaptive Tennis Committee.

Matt Thormahlen has been a USPTA member for the past 21 years and is the Head Coach for the East Aurora Girls Tennis Team, he has led the team to undefeated seasons the last two years while winning division titles four out of the past five years.

Greg Yahia has loved tennis since he was a teenager and knows "Tennis shows your character!"

Matt Johnson, Former Head Coach at SUNY Fredonia (22-8) and Berry College PTM.

Millie Didio is a two-time Tour Player on the WTA/ITF Tour Pro Player, Member of WTCA (Women’s Tennis Coaches Association). A Senior Teaching Pro at Tennis Club of Hastings since 2013 and a Staff Pro at Lifetime Racquet Sports.

Save the Date!

USPTA Eastern Division Virtual Spring Workshop on April 29, 2021 For more information contact Paul Fontana at: eastern-ed@uspta.org LITennisMag.com • March/April 2021 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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For more information about becoming a USPTA member go to www.uspta.com

Credit all photos to Australian Open

A Ninth for Novak erbia’s Novak Djokovic delivered a masterful display of tennis to win the 2021 Australian Open, defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to claim his ninth title at the event and earn his 18th career Grand Slam.

“I would like to thank this court, I would like to thank Rod Laver Arena,” Djokovic said as he embraced the winning trophy. “I love you each year more and more—the love affair keeps going.”

In what was billed as a showdown between one of the Big Three and a member of the next generation of tennis greats, it was the elder player who reigned supreme. That build-up was part of Djokovic’s motivation as he knew what was at stake when he took on Medvedev.

"Everyone talks about the new generation coming and taking over us, but realistically that isn't happening still,” Djokovic told Eurosport. “We can talk about it all day but with all my respect to the other guys, they still have a lot of work to do. I'm not going to stand here and hand it over to them. I'm going to make them work their ass off for that."

After breaking to close the opening set, Djokovic was broken easily to begin the second set. But Medvedev could not capitalize on the opportunity, and gave the break right back to the Serb, and the wheels began to come off from that point forward. After rolling through the second set, Djokovic had to save a couple of break points in the opening game of the third

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set, but after doing so, eventually built a 3-0 lead and never looked back.

In all, Djokovic needed just one hour and 53 minutes to claim his ninth major title Down Under, and inch closer towards Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the all-time Grand Slam singles winner list, as his 18 titles is two less than those above him.

“Roger and Rafa inspire me. That's something that I've said before, I'll say it again. I think as long as they go, I'll go,” Djokovic said. “In a way it's like a race [of] who plays tennis more, I guess, and who wins more. It's a competition between us in all areas. But I think that's the very reason why we are who we are, because we do drive each other, we motivate each other, we push each other to the limit.”

Perhaps more impressive was that Djokovic played nearly the whole second half of his tournament with a muscle tear in his abdomen, something that continued to get worse as the event went on.

“Whether I was aware of the fact that I'm going to possibly make more damage and risk more damage to this injury? Yes, I was aware of that,” Djokovic said. “If there was any tournament, it's going to be here and it's going to be any major where I would risk worse injuries or damage in order to try to give myself a chance to go far in the tournament.

“Of course, I haven't done it myself. [The] medical team, my physio, [they] have done tremendous work. With God's grace, I managed to achieve what I achieved and I'm very thankful.”

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Osaka Beats Brady for Fourth Major Title

Osaka would get her hold of serve, forcing Brady to serve to stay in the set.

At deuce in the next game, a floating shot from Osaka landed deep on the baseline forcing Brady to sail the ensuing shot wide. On the next point, a running forehand was set up for Brady but she fired it into the net, resulting in a 6-4 opening set victory for Osaka.

Osaka would break for 2-0 in the second set and continued putting distance between herself and Brady.

After building a commanding lead, Osaka allowed Brady to sneak back into the match as the American got it to 3-5, but Osaka ended that run and closed out the match in one hour and 17 minutes.

“I don't look at expectations as a burden anymore,” Osaka added.“I feel like I'm at the point now where it's something that I've worked for. Like, people wouldn't expect things from me if I hadn't done things prior. If that makes sense. I feel like no one has expected things of me when I was younger, and now that I have kind of climbed up the ranks, of course there's going to be more pressures, but I feel like also that's motivation, because I also want to do better for myself, as well.”

aomi Osaka continues to establish herself in the pantheon of the greats, claiming her fourth career major title with a straight-sets victory over American Jennifer Brady in the women’s singles final.

The third-seed Osaka won 6-4, 6-3 to claim her second Australian Open title in three years and extend her winning streak to 21 matches.

“For me, I have this mentality that people don’t remember the runners-up. You might, but the winner’s name is the one that’s engraved. I think I fight the hardest in the finals,” Osaka said leading up to the finals. “I think that’s where you sort of set yourself apart.”

That mentality has led to Osaka posting a 4-0 record in her major finals appearances, becoming the first woman to win her first four Grand Slam final matches since Monica Seles in the early 1990s, and only the third person in the last 50 years to accomplish, as Federer also did it.

“Well, my reaction is that that’s very amazing company,” said Osaka. “I hope that I can, have, like, one grain of how their career has unfolded. But, you can only wish and you can only just keep going down your own path. But, yeah, it's definitely something crazy to hear.”

The biggest game of the opening set came at 4-4 with Osaka serving. Brady got deep into the game, setting up a break point, but Osaka saved it with a deep return out wide that Brady was unable to get to. A few points later,

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Despite Singles Defeats, Mertens/Sabalenka Take Doubles Title

wo of the highest seeded players in the women’s singles draws teamed up on the doubles court Down Under, producing some flawless tennis en route to winning the women’s doubles title.

The second-seeded pairing of Belgium’s Elise Mertens and Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka beat the Czech duo of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 6-3,

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winning their second major title and fifth overall together.

“I know she can do it with her serve, it's like I'll just stand at the net,” Mertens said of the pair’s strategy. “We had a really good couple of weeks. We had a tough draw actually in doubles, so we’re really happy that we pulled through. Some days, like today, we just kept on fighting.”

The duo also won the U.S. Open title together two years ago in 2019. Earlier that year, they also won the Sunshine Double as the victors at both Miami and Indian Wells.

“I think in the semis we played much better. Today wasn’t the level which I expect, but we tried really hard no matter what,” said Sabalenka. “We’re just happy that we got it.”

Despite the success, the players announced their doubles partnership may be taking a pause as each player focuses on singles.

“Together we're not going to play Grand Slams, maybe a little bit of Premier tournaments,” Sabalenka said. “For this year, I want to put more focus on singles, so a little bit less doubles.”

team, but she didn’t. Three years running lifting this trophy is an amazing job,” Ram said at the trophy ceremony. “I’ve faced Matt so many times over the years, we’ve been on tour together for so many years, always a pleasure to play you. Sam is obviously a legend, especially in Australian tennis, real pleasure to share the court with you guys.

This is so cool, especially in front of you guys, we haven’t played with fans in such a long time.”

The title is Krejcikova’s third-straight in Melbourne. After pairing with Ram to win the event in 2019, she played with Croatia’s Nikola Mektic to win the 2020 title. Her and Ram reunited this year and did not miss a beat, dropping only one set throughout the whole tournament.

Dodig, Polasek Win First Grand Slam Title Together

American Ram Pairs With Krejcikova to Win Mixed Doubles Titles

van Dodig and Filip Polasek knocked off the defending champions to win their first Grand Slam doubles title together, knocking off Ram and Joe Salisbury 6-3, 6-4 to claim the men’s doubles title.

“Since we started to play one and a half years ago, we are really enjoying and playing good tennis,” said Dodig.

“We are having a lot of fun and hopefully it is going to continue."

The Croatian-Slovakian pairing got the key game in the sixth game of the opening set when they were able to break the serve of Ram. Another break in the middle of the second set, this time on Salisbury’s serve, proved to be the difference as Dodig and Polasek went on to win the match in straight sets.

“Just got to say big congratulations to Ivan and Filip,” said Salisbury. “That was way too good today. Gotta be one of the best performances in a final ever.”

I ajeev Ram and Barbora Krejcikova are Australian Open Mixed Doubles champions once again.

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The American-Czech duo won the title for the second time in three years as they defeated the Australian duo of Samantha Stosur and Matt Ebden 6-1, 6-4.

“I’ve got to thank my partner. We had a year off as a

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Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column

By Emilie Katz

USTA Announces Tennis Participation Up in 2020

Wozniacki Announces Pregnancy

The USTA released numbers on tennis participation in 2020, and the sport grew significantly in the last year, increasing by 22 percent.

21.64 million people hit the courts according to recent data from the Physical Activity Council’s Participation (PAC) report produced by Sports Marketing Surveys. The survey and report monitor more than 120 different sports and activities participated in by Americans.

Of the more than 21 million Americans saying they played tennis last year, 6.78 million were new and returning players. The near three million new players (2.96 million) was a 44 percent increase over new players in 2019. Additionally, the 3.82 million Americans who returned to the sport was a 40 percent increase over those returning to the sport in 2019.

American Gibbs Announces Retirement Nicole Gibbs told fans last month that she will be officially retiring from professional tennis, and plans on pursuing a law degree.

“My dreams and ambitions are continuously morphing and crystallizing as I go through this transition, but I know I wish to work in public service: to give a voice to those are institutionally silenced or sequestered to the margins of society,” she wrote in her post. “Whether this manifests as a career in civil rights, politics, or writing, I am unsure.

Getting comfortable with uncertainty has been the main lesson and challenge of this past year.”

Recently retired Caroline Wozniacki announced on social media that she is pregnant. The former Australian Open champion broke the news on social media, and said that she and husband David Lee, former NBA player who played for the New York Knicks, are expecting a baby girl in June.

Bouchard Dating NFL’s Mason Rudolph Canadian Eugenie Bouchard and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mason Rudolph have officially announced they are in a relationship. The couple became “official” after Rudolph made a Valentine’s Day Instagram post with the two together.

My Tennis Life to Feature Bellis, Sandgren The fifth season of Tennis Channel’s My Tennis Life will feature two Americans, Cici Bellis and Tennys Sandgren, as both document their lives on tour throughout the year.

The series includes updates on their season, engagement with fans and chronicles the ups and downs faced by players during a season. The show helps give unique access to what life is like on the professional tennis tours.

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Necesito El Ritmo: The Importance Of Rhythm In The Spanish Method ByBy Chris Chris Lewit Lewit “Necesito el ritmo,”—“I need (the) rhythm”—is a common phrase heard on the tennis court in Spain, both from players and coaches. Rhythm, cadence, timing, and control are essential aspects of the Spanish style of training.

What is rhythm and why is it important in Spain? How do you achieve good rhythm? Let’s explore Spanish rhythm in more detail.

Spanish rhythm can mean many things Rhythm can mean many things in the Spanish style. For example, there is a rhythm when hitting the ball: You can see it and even hear it. There is rhythm to the footwork and movement on the court. There is a rhythm to playing on the red clay courts. There is rhythm to match play. And there is rhythm to the drills and exercises performed in practice. In Spain, coaches search for rhythm in these myriad areas: Rhythm of the hands Rhythm of the hands means the technical swing.

In Spain, there is an obsession with creating a fast racquet head while maintaining control of the body.

Maximum acceleration is achieved by slowly starting the racquet during the backswing— after the initial unit turn— 54

leading to a crescendo of racquet speed into the forward swing to the ball. There is a smooth slow to fast buildup. This pathway to maximum acceleration should not be jagged or abrupt, “no bruscos”, as Toni Nadal likes to say.

At the end of the swing, players in Spain—and especially in the Toni Nadal and Lluis Bruguera Methods— are taught to pause or “pausa” at the end of the follow through. For example, Nadal was taught by Toni to tap his upper arm with his racquet for his pause at the end of the forehand swing. Watch Rafa practice or warm-up and you will see his biceps tap. This pause helps to balance the body and organize the technique before the recovery.

Thus, the rhythm of the Spanish swing is typically slow to fast, with a pause at the end of the finish. I see many players with very chaotic swing paths and rough technique who would benefit from the Spanish approach.

Rhythm of the feet Spanish players are famous for their footwork. They demonstrate grace and balance when moving around the court.

These traits are due to their obsession with movement and getting the body in a good balanced position to receive the ball. Watching Spanish players move is

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a beautiful sight to behold, especially on clay.

Legendary Spanish coach Pato Alvarez likened movement on the court to a dance, and he developed a unique movement and balance training style he dubbed “Doble Ritmo”, or double rhythm.

Pato was obsessed with the rhythm of the feet and argued that his movement style should be practiced every day through repetitions. While not every Spanish system agrees with Pato’s double ritmo philosophy, they all empathize moving fluidly on the court.

In general, good players flow around the court quickly with good balance and body control. Bad players are clumsy and often move with inefficiencies. Their movements often look chaotic and slow.

The Spanish are experts at improving the movement of players.

Rhythm of red clay Red clay has its own unique rhythm. The surface is very slow and leads to longer rallies. The ball bounces higher and sits up for the players to strike. There is a slower beat to rallies on red clay and players in Spain are attuned to this rhythm. Spanish players are always seeking rhythm on red clay, and thus they often look to extend rallies and grind rather than always striking first during points.

Rhythm in a match While not unique to Spain, players there are taught to manage the rhythm of a match, controlling the time and tempo to achieve maximum advantage. Pato Alvarez, the great Spanish coach, famously said that the best players control everything around them in their environment. Spanish players learn to command the rhythm of a match by organizing their mind, their rituals, what they want to do with the ball tactically, and the external elements that they can control.

Rhythm in training Spanish training has a unique rhythm because, across the country, academies and coaches tend to teach with unique constraints and parameters. For example, Spain is famous for its two player per court ratio, which allows for one player to train while another rests. Long repetitions of 20 or more consecutive balls in drills are also commonplace

in Spain, and this type of extreme repetition builds incredible patience, focus, and cardiovascular stamina.

“La pared”, the wall, is a famous Spanish drill where players develop consistency and control with long repetitions of sometimes hundreds of consecutive hits without a rest.

Players who fall in love with the Spanish system tend to enjoy the flow of practice that comes from these unique aspects of the Spanish style.

In Spain, you cannot have rhythm if you don’t have control 1. Control of the technique This means a smooth acceleration and a swing that is not jagged or choppy. Lifting up and creating good net clearance and topspin are important elements of a controlled swing. Control of the body and technique during peak acceleration is also an obsession in Spain.

2. Control of the body This means balance and postural control. I see players who frequently flail at the ball and play with a chaotic body. In Spanish systems, control of the body and balance are obsessions.

In addition, physical and muscular endurance are developed so the body never fails the athlete. A player who is not fit will eventually lose body control.

3. Control of the mind In Spain, players are taught to develop a long attention span and deep concentration. Players who are impatient or impulsive do not develop a good rhythm for the game.

4. Control of the emotions As Toni Nadal speaks to frequently, without control of the emotions all is lost on the tennis court. It is impossible to master the game without good emotional control. When a player’s emotions run too continued on page 56

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necesito el ritmo: the importance of rhythm in the spanish method continued from page 55

hot or he feels anxiety or embarrassment or other powerful emotions, these feelings can undermine focus and control of the mind, body, and technique. Emotional control underpins all of the elements that lead to good rhythm.

5. Control of the situation and your opponent As mentioned previously, the legendary Spanish coach Pato Alvarez always says that the greatest champions are able to manipulate and control all the variables in a match to their advantage. If a player does not handle these situations well, the rhythm of the game will be sacrificed.

Conclusion In the end, one way to appreciate Spanish training is to understand that

control of all these factors is paramount.

Control is at the heart of the Spanish method. Control brings harmony to the game, reduces anxiety on the court, and leads to a beautiful flow—or rhythm.

I meet many players who come to me for training and on assessment they are very arrhythmic—like a dysfunctional heart muscle. I see my work as finding control and bringing harmony and rhythm to my players’ game.

How is your rhythm?

Next time you are out on the court, analyze your own rhythm—or if you are

a coach or parent— observe the rhythm of your player. If you notice a lack of control, and a chaotic approach to the game in any of the areas I have mentioned above (hands, feet, or mind for example) consider making adjustments to your training methods to develop more control, which will lead to better rhythm, and ultimately less anxiety—and more success— on the court.

On my podcast, The Prodigy Maker Show Episode 50, we discussed this same topic. Check it out for further learning on Spanish rhythm. Vamos!

Chris Lewit is a former number one for Cornell and pro circuit player. He is a highperformance coach, educator, and the author of two best-selling books: The Secrets of Spanish Tennis and The Tennis Technique Bible. He has coached numerous top 10 nationallyranked players and is known for his expertise in building the foundations of young prodigies.

Chris coaches in NYC and year-round at his high performance tennis academy in Manchester, VT, where players can live and train the Spanish Way full-time or short-term. He may be reached by phone at (914) 462-2912, e-mail Chris@chrislewit.com or visit ChrisLewit.com.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

Adult League Wrap-Up

By Kathy Miller

ith all the snow and ice, I was happy to get the email out to captains regarding the upcoming season as it means the warmer weather isn’t too far ahead!

We have all had a rough year during the pandemic, but I am happy to announce that USTA League Tennis is back in full swing on Long Island!

Long Island ran the 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 Tri Level leagues in the fall for both men and women. Unfortunately, the Sectional Championship was cancelled out of concern for everyone’s safety and well-being due to COVID, but it was great to see players playing! Congratulations to the Long Island winning teams: the Ladies team from Sportime Roslyn captained

by Seema Imberman, and the Men’s team from Carefree Racquet captained

by Frank Fattizzi.

The 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 Tri Level League has a ladies division which is still playing local matches and will have a Sectional Championship.

The 18 & Over Mixed Double League played this fall and early winter at the 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 levels. The winning teams are: 6.0, Sportime Lynbrook, captained by Donna Healy, and 9.0 also from Sportime Lynbrook captained by Shanon Blue. The 8.0 Mixed Doubles league has the two top teams of first place Point Set captained by Paul Schnabel and Jenn Jaeger playing the

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second place team, from Sportime Lynbrook captained by Donna Healy.

The 7.0 Divisions is too close to call at this point. The winning Long Island teams will advance to a Sectional Championship in June.

The 40 & Over Mixed Doubles League is just starting match play with teams at the 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 levels and winning teams will also advance to a Sectional Championship.

Long Island will be running the 18 & Over league at the 2.5 level (one court of singles, two courts of doubles), 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 (two courts of singles and three courts of doubles) and at the 5.0 level (one singles, two doubles).

The 40 & Over league will be running at the 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 levels (all will play one court of singles and four courts of doubles).

The 55 & Over league will have 6.0 for the ladies, 7.0 and 8.0 for both ladies and men, and 9.0 for the men.

We will also be running the 65 & Over league at the 6.0 level for the ladies and the 7.0 and 8.0 for both ladies and men. All the matches for both 55 & Over and 65 & Over consist of three courts of doubles.

In the past, the 18 & Over 5.0 division was able to have 5.5 players on their team and the 40 & Over 4.5 teams were able to add 5.0 players.

That is no longer the case. All players must be the NTRP level or lower of the league they are playing in. We don’t want to lose our 5.5 players though!

We already have an Open division forming for the ladies and we are hoping to have the same for the men.

All the mentioned leagues will have a Sectional Championship in August/September.

Teams are presently registering for the Men’s and Women’s leagues which will run from May to August. I am so happy to see the response from teams and hearing from captains. Although a very small league was run last summer without advancement, I missed all my captains!

I say it every year and I have to say it again, without all of your work, organization and love for tennis, there would not be a league without you and I thank you for that!

Looking forward to another season of great league tennis and seeing everyone on the courts!

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

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All Head Cases Welcome!

A challenge to help you find the path to your true potential

By Tonny van de Pieterman Playing tennis is easy, right?

Most people can hit the ball over the net a few times. Some people can direct the ball to certain areas of the court in order to make their opponent run. More experienced players can even execute strategic patterns of shots based on a game plan that is designed to combat their adversaries. However, no matter how long we have been playing, or how many lessons we have taken, we are rarely pleased with our performance.

Why is that? Why do we often feel that we have not played up to our level?

As in most challenging areas of life, we are our own worst enemy. We do it to ourselves!

After each errant shot, we choose to blame ourselves: “what a lousy shot!”, “I should have made that volley”, “what a choke”, “I knew he was going to hit it there”, “I am so slow”.

Why do we do this? Why does it feel that we have to assign blame?

Somehow it feels right, to be critical, to 58

offer ourselves ‘constructive’ criticism, or worse.

It’s as if someone is asking: “A mistake has been made, so someone must be at fault. Who is the perpetrator? Someone is going to have to pay for this!”

And we are so eager to comply: “I found him, your honor! It’s me! I did it. I am guilty.”

The constant self-badgering wears us down. All the guilty pleas add up. They add up until all our moral fiber has been shredded to mush. It leaves us feeling deflated and unable to ‘remember’ all of the hopeful energy that we started the match with. We have plenty of good intentions. We try to make every shot to the best of our abilities, but it just isn’t enough. The selfjudge is insatiable and ruthless. After every miss, with every judgment, our mood sours more and more. At this point some of our critical capacities as far as tennis is concerned are not available to us anymore. The ability to

Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

problem-solve, and adapt to our opponents play are only at our disposal when we are in a better state of mind. The downward spiral is completed when we finally agree that we are indeed guilty of not playing up to our potential. We are often even ashamed of it!

So, here is the challenge: I predict it might be the hardest thing you will ever do on a tennis court.

Play your next match with the intention of NOT judging yourself.

Make this priority number one.

As soon as you are aware of a selfjudgment, let it go. Every sigh, moan or begrudging eye roll counts. Try and register even the tiniest transgression against yourself. Just the curiosity alone to find out how long you can last will help you continue. You have my respect if you can allow yourself to take this step. Try and be gentle with yourself.

The reason it will be difficult is because of the addictive nature of our ego.

When our ego is involved, we think of

everything as cause-and-effect. This good-or bad, black-or white type of reasoning needs to be released in order to succeed at the challenge. Here’s how to take a broader view: l Accept that you can do everything right in a point and still lose it. l Be willing to roll with the eb-and flow of a match. l Display the courage to stop blaming anyone, including yourself. l Use compassion to make your corrections proportionate. l See the joy in learning about yourself.

In order to make this challenge worthwhile some mental preparation is required. Most of you reading this article will not follow through on that. I am aware that while you are reading these lines, your ego is peeking in as well! You will decide that next time will be different. That’s fine. You have not suffered enough yet (at your own hands).

A small minority of you are ready for

“

Play your next match with the intention of NOT judging yourself. Make this priority number one. this. You have had to learn the same lesson one too many times, and therefore are ready to give it a go.

”

Good Luck! Email me your experience! Return message guaranteed.

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.

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Whole Human Athlete The Secret to Being Your Best

By Rob Polishook

hat’s the secret to being your best? How do the top pros sustain their performance tournament after tournament?

Clearly, this is an important question, one worth exploring and trying to understand.

With this knowledge, we could greatly improve our individual performance, coaches could better guide their students, and parents could help their kids.

As a mental training coach, I have front row seats to the challenges, adversity and obstacles that tennis players face at all levels from juniors to professionals.

Many people think that if a player works harder, push’s stronger, and focuses on the prize with more intensity that that will be enough. Certainly, these elements are important even vital.

However, this doesn’t take into account the whole picture.

The mental side must be part of the equation, without it, there is an imbalance. For peak, sustained and repeatable performance, an athlete must commit to their game, focus on what they can control and to be comfortable “in their own skin” among other things. From this place they can approach a tournament from a grounded, centered and balanced place. They can bring their personal heart, energy and spirit to the competition. Only from this place will they have the capacity to manage challenges, obstacles, adversity, pressure and the natural ups and downs in a match.

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Remember a time when you watched a player who got nervous, tight, or seemingly just froze during competition. You know that “deer in the headlights” look? We wonder how this can happen especially when the athlete has been in this situation before or performed the shot hundreds of times in practice? In fact, if we are honest with ourselves, many of us have been in that situation one time or another.

What is usually holding an athlete back is not what’s on the outside. It’s not the part that everyone can see: the athletic talents, skills and technique.

These skills can always be improved upon. The key is to look at the whole person, the whole human athlete. We always need to look at what’s on the inside, what’s happening below the

Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

surface of the player. Competitors are not robots, what’s on the inside affects how we play on the outside- it’s one and the same.

Sometimes issues that get in the way of performance might be: confidence, focusing on the result, worrying about what others think, or ranking pressures. Other times it might be something that is not tennis related but the player carries onto the court such as a bad test result in school, an argument with a friend, family problems, fear of a reoccurring injury, or a combination of some of these stressors. No matter what the issues, carrying this weight on your shoulders will negatively impact performance every time!

When an athlete, coach or parent doesn’t understand the synergy between the person and the athlete?

There is a disconnect; they are not taking into account the multifaceted whole human athlete. Usually, it’s a fast track to performance blocks, anxiety and burnout. The player becomes unable to get the most of themselves because they are pushing and pulling so hard that they never step back to be patient, piece things together, and reset to allow their skills to show through.

As players, coaches, and parents we must look at the whole human athlete, not solely the performer or performance in front of us. We must refocus through the lens of the athlete within the person.

From this lens, we immediately see a

wider perspective to what’s happening and also additional attributes which make the player unique. We see their all important heart energy and spirit.

This expanded visibility allows the athlete to utilize more tools during their performance. and for coaches, parents and fans to see the whole picture, what the player is experiencing on the inside and outside both on and off the court.

When an athlete competes, they are more than just a tennis player. Their unique energy, distinctive spirit and authentic heart is what makes them the player they are. This is the foundation of any athlete’s greatness. We all have our own DNA and wiring. The key is tapping into this uniqueness, not assimilating to a one-size-fits-all mentality.

Rafael Nadal said “tennis isn’t who I am, it’s what I do.” His greatness starts with the person (heart, energy and spirit) and then transcends to the player (talent, skills, technique) and

“ ”

The mental side must be part of the equation, without it, there is an imbalance. then the performance. The next time you compete or watch the greats remember you are a whole human athlete. Your success lies in not only

bringing your talent, technique and skills but also your heart, energy and spirit. Play your game, be yourself, it’s what makes you, you!

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

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The Tennis Guru: Murphy’s Law

By Dr. Tom Ferraro

his is Part Eight of Dr. to stay focused until the end.

Ferraro’s The Tennis Furthermore, always be Guru series. Check ready for surprises because LITennisMag.com to read surprises will always come. the first parts.

This is what they call Yin, Rebecca and Virgil Murphy’s Law and it means awoke early the next day, that you ought to expect the packed up camp and unexpected and have a made their way up the plan which allows you to let mountain path to see The go of your anger, surprise Tennis Guru. Yin thought and panic.” about the dream he had This was a lesson well the night before, that learned for Yin and they all magical kiss from Rebecca relaxed, set up a camp, and how he was feeling built a fire and dried off. about all this. Though he They had a hardy meal of couldn’t quite recall all the baked beans and franks details of his dream, he and as the fire crackled Yin now felt more calm, began to doze off and confident and cool about thought of all he had things. He looked over at learned so far on this Rebecca and joked, journey came to his head.

“Wow Rebecca. You He remembered how he really are my good luck had met Virgil who charm.” instructed him that “haste Rebecca smiled and makes waste.” He thought winked at him which only about the two wolves that “They are stood in shock as the storm raged and they realized the path ahead was made Yin feel even more guarded the easy passage blocked” confident. way up, his ferry crossing As the two love birds over the River Styx and the sauntered along, Virgil kept a keen ring of courage that Charon had given In a moment they were all drenched to him. He recalled his dangerous dissent watch on Yin and worried that Yin the bone and found shelter under the may now begin to lose focus as they into the demons cave and how he met stony ledge. advanced to the summit. He could no Rebecca who had taught him how to Virgil asked Yin if he had brought longer hold his tongue and shouted at have self-respect. And finally, he any rain gear and Yin shook his head Yin, “Hey pal, let’s stayed focused. thought about Murphy’s Law and how no. Virgil asked him if he had a change one had better be ready for surprises We’re not home yet.” of clothes and Yin again said no.

Yin looked back at Virgil and said, which always will come. As he Virgil then said to Yin, “You were so approached the threshold of sleep he “Relax bud, you worry way too confident and cool just one minute much!” smiled to himself and thought how ago and take a look at you now! Let The moment Yin finished his remark much fun this entire journey had been. this be a lesson. Never count your there was a loud crack of lightning Then he fell into a deep restful sleep. which hit a tree that was hanging over chickens before they hatch and learn To be continued… the path just ahead of them. Yin, Rebecca and Virgil all flinched and For consultations, treatment or on-site visits, contact Dr. Tom Ferraro Ph.D., Sport Psychologist, froze as the tree came crashing down by phone at (516) 248-7189, e-mail DrTFerraro@aol.com or visit DrTomFerraro.com. across the path 50 feet ahead of them. The wind began to pick up and rain came thundering down on them.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2021 • LITennisMag.com

Racquet Stringing: An Art or a Science?

By Barbara Wyatt substitute player joined our tennis group for the third week in a row. At a set break, he asked me, “Would you like to play better tennis?”

“Of course,” I told him. What else could I say? “No?” “Hand me your racquet,” he said.

My eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Trust me,” he said. “I understand your swing, your aggressive net play. I know what you need to make it sing.”

I handed him my racquet with trepidation. The following day, he returned it with new hybrid strings. This new player was a professional stringer. I was a naïve stringee.

As a 4.0 Level player, I am not sophisticated enough to understand more than to re-string according to my frequency of play per week. Play four times a week; re-string four times a year. (By the way, this is no longer the preferred practice.)

By the end of our warmup, I loved my new hybrid string bed. The balls landed inside the white lines. There was less vibration up my arm. A warm balanced harmonic thwack sang out when the ball hit the sweet spot.

Was this science or was this an art form?

My racquet was performing like the winning chantress from the television program “America’s Got Talent.”

According to the book, The Physics and Technology of Tennis by Howard Brody, Rod Cross and Crawford Lindsey: “The life’s purpose of a tennis racquet is to change the speed and direction of a tennis ball.” The strings, ball, and racquet engage in a mad mix of physics as they stretch, vibrate, twist about, store and release energy. The ball zips away “like vibrating jelly.”

This mad mix of physics is taught by the United States Racquet Stringers Association, which offers certifications for Professional Racquet Advisor (PRA), Certified Stringer (CS), and Master Racquet Technician (MRT).

A

Members use the USRSA database to scientifically sort through more than 1,100 different strings and select a perfect balance of string material, matching stiffness, elasticity, and durability to a client’s tennis style.

Racquet stringing is neither science nor an art. It is a craft. Most people can learn it and with care, education and experience, first-class stringers do a better and more consistent job.

Stringing is not merely the installation of the strings, but knowing what strings work best for what person. It’s the ability to know when something isn’t working.

It’s the mastery to duplicate that magic mix to perfection—on every court surface, against different opponents, in humid or dry weather, at sea or at high altitudes.

Science provides the consistency so

that the racquet, string and tension setting combination provide the same result every time. First-class stringers gather a deep understanding of your game, strokes, style and then balance those nuances against the calibrated scientific choices.

When should you re-string? That is your decision based on the loss of tension of your racquet’s string bed. Do you notice 15 percent loss from the initial stringing? Or is it a 25 percent loss? Test the racquet tension by using a pro shop’s racquet diagnostic equipment, ERT 300 Tennis Computer, or the mobile app, RacquetTune. Strings lose their tension at different rates based on time, frequency of play, durability attributes of the string, and style of play.

Choose your stringer carefully … they can make your game sing.

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

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JensenZone

By Luke Jensen

Spring tennis is almost here! ast year the world stopped, including those spring tennis sessions that jump starts everyone’s outdoor tennis season. But the pro tour jumped out of the gates in a massive way in 2021 with 388 matches in the warm-up events the week before the 2021 Australian Open. Watching the best tennis players in the world find ways to stay in rhythm and maintain fitness while quarantining is something I will never forget. I’m just not sure who is going to pay for the dry wall damage from players hitting tennis balls against their hotel room walls with the pace of the pros!

I saw loads of footwork drills and practice swings. I hope all of you that follow some of your favorite tennis stars took some of their indoor quarantine training and added it to your tennis

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training routine.

I have always found the toughest transition in tennis is going from indoor play to outdoor play. The outdoor elements with the wind and sun can be a challenge especially when you’ve been playing indoors for the winter.

Windy conditions make the ball seem like it’s dancing all around and force all tennis players to move their feet more to set up all shots. These small steps are called “adjustment steps”. It’s easy to see an elite player, they never miss.

Accomplished players can make the ball move with various placements, change up pace and use spins to disrupt any player. Did you know that you can always hear the sign of a top player? Next time you are watching world class tennis on TV close your eyes and listen. What did you pick up

besides the ball being struck? Did you hear the squeaks? Those are the many small adjustment steps top talent takes to set up for shots and in the wind adjustment steps are mission critical to hitting a clean ball.

Next time you step on the court and rally you can count the number of steps you take between shots. Club players take on average of seven-to-nine steps.

For college players, it’s nine-to-11, and the pros are about 11-15 steps between strikes of the ball. This is an emphasis on moving into position for a wonderfully stuck ball. The best when I played was Jimmy Connors while Roger Federer, who NEVER seems to miss hit a ball, is one of the best in today’s game.

Tennis participation numbers really shot up through the pandemic due to its natural social distancing benefits. I saw a stat recently from 2020 that tennis is up 46 percent compared to 2019. That also includes more players in tennis leagues around the USA! As the country warms up, bring a buddy out who has never played tennis and show them how fun tennis can be!

Until next time…stay safe out there and go for WINNERS! Born in Grayling, Mich., Luke Jensen’s resume includes 10 ATP Tour doubles titles and singles victories against Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Jim Courier. Jensen and his brother, Murphy, won the 1993 French Open doubles title. Luke is currently director of tennis at Sea Island Tennis Center in Georgia. He may be reached by phone at (315) 443-3552 or e-mail lukejensen84@yahoo.com.

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