Long Island Tennis Magazine September - October 2020 by United Sports Publications

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Long Island Tennis Magazine 1220 Wantagh Avenue • Wantagh, NY 11793-2202 Phone: (516) 409-4444 • Fax: (516) 409-4600 Web site: www.litennismag.com

Staff David Sickmen Publisher (516) 409-4444, ext. 309 david@usptennis.com Brian Coleman Senior Editor (516) 409-4444, ext. 326 brianc@usptennis.com Joey Arendt Art Director (516) 409-4444, ext. 307 Francine Miller Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 francinem@usptennis.com Emilie Katz Assistant Marketing Coordinator

Sidney Beal III Staff Photographer

Lee Seidner Staff Photographer

Senior Interns Rena Zervakos Tyler Cohen Kimberly Liao Sarah Schwartz Phoebe Warshauer Stefen Rosner Junior Interns Alexa Brecher Joanne Salloum

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SEPT/OCT 2020 • Vol 12, No 5

Table Of Contents

Osaka’s Mission

By Brian Coleman Naomi Osaka continues to play well on court while pushing for change off it See page 18 Photo credit: Getty Images for USTA

Highlights 6 12 26 30

Players Relish Return of LI Tennis Magazine Challenge Girls’ High School Preview 2020 French Open Preview Beyond the Baseline: Dick Zausner, Port Washington Tennis Academy By Brian Coleman

Features 4 10 11 14 16 22 28 32 34 37 38 40 43 44 46 48

Across Long Island … News and Notes From Across the L.I. Tennis Community Adult League Wrap-Up By Kathy Miller No Court? No Partner? No Problem…Say Hello to Slinger Bag Your Inner Scoreboard By Barbara Wyatt Top College Players Come Out for USTA Eastern Collegiate Series Can You Play Too Well In A Lesson? By Ricky Becker USTA Eastern Long Island Region Update Long Island Tennis Charitable Initiatives The Relevance of the Return By Chris Lewit inPhorm: Looking Forward Solving the Problem of Information Overload By Steve Kaplan Inside COVID-19 Bubble, New York Empire Win First Ever WTT Title By A.M. Brune The Tennis Guru: The Cave By Dr. Tom Ferraro Mindfulness at 125 MPH…Part Five By Rob Polishook Oresky, Tacher Win Eighth Straight Pine Hollow Club Championship In Memoriam: Greg Noone

Article Submissions/Press Releases To submit any material, including articles and press releases, please call (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com. The deadline for submissions is the first of the month preceding the target issue. Subscriptions To receive subscription information, contact (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com or check out our Web site: www.litennismag.com. Fax subscription changes to (516) 409-1600. Statements of fact and opinion in Long Island Tennis Magazine are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of United Sports Publications Ltd. Long Island Tennis Magazine reserves the right to edit, reject and/or postpone the publication of any September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com Long Island 2019 • LITennisMag.com 2 information articles, or data.Tennis Magazine • January/February Long Island Tennis Magazine is published bi-monthly by United Sports Publications Ltd. • Copyright © 2020 United Sports Publications Ltd.

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LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Across Long Isl Venus Stops By Glen Head Ahead of U.S. Open Prior to competing in the U.S. Open, Venus Williams arrived on Long Island to do her training in preparation of the tournament, spending some time at Glen Head Racquet Club. Pictured here with teaching pro Adam Lee.

Point Set Begins Hosting Junior Tournaments Again With tennis returning to the local tennis community, the end of the summer saw a resurgence of junior tournaments across Long Island. Point Set Racquet Club in

Oceanside was excited to be able to once again host junior events, and welcomed some of the top girls in the area to compete in the L3 Empire Cup Open Girls’ 18 Doubles. The second-seeded duo of Seren Agar and Valencia Xu took home the title.

Former Syosset HS Coach Levane Inducted Into Nassau Hall of Fame Earlier this year, former Syosset head coach Larry Levane (pictured second from right on the top) was inducted into the Section VIII Nassau County Hall of Fame. As an athlete Levane was a basketball star at Great Neck South high school, and would go on to have a 28-year career as head coach of the Syosset tennis teams, a run that included four straight Nassau and Long Island championships from 2009-2012.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

sland

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

Wygodzki Wins Singles, Doubles Tourneys

SPORTIME Campers Honor Local Heroes

Paige Wygodzki, who trains at Bethpage Park Tennis Center, has captured multiple titles in recent months. First, she went upstate and won the L4 Eastern Super Six at SPORTIME Schenectady, winning all of her matches in straight sets. Following that, Wygodski paired up with Shannon Lam and the top-seeded pair took home the title with wins in each of their matches in straight sets.

Sha, Goetz Take Empire Cup Doubles Title

Campers from SPORTIME Kings Park helped pay tribute to the local heroes and first responders in its community and received a visit from local police officers, firefighters and EMS workers. The kids dressed up and even got a chance to try out the fire hose.

Isabella Sha and Taylor Goetz paired up to win the L3 Empire Cup Doubles title at Park Avenue Tennis Center in Oakhurst, N.J. The duo took out both of the topseeds in the draw, including a 4-6, 7-6(4), 1-0(5) comeback victory to capture the title in the Girls 16s division.

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

THE LONG ISLAND

CHALLENGE 2020

issing that friendly competition that is at the heart of the Long Island tennis community, players came out to Sportime Quogue on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to participate in the 2020 Long Island Tennis Challenge. For the seventh straight year, the tournament featured a sold-out, full draw of doubles teams across four different divisions. The vast landscape of the club allowed for the tournament to happen while abiding by all proper safely protocols and precautions, with matches spread out across the 22 outdoor courts. Each division featured round-robin play that filtered into the playoff rounds. “It was good to get out and see friends that you haven’t seen in awhile, to see everyone happy and knowing that tennis is the bond that brings everyone together,” said Keith Lopez. “Everyone was wearing masks while walking around and each court had their own balls. It wasn’t that hard of a process to follow in order to be safe. It was a gorgeous day at a really nice place, what more could you want.”

Players Relis LI Tennis Magaz

Lopez partnered with Casey Schnabel to win the Men’s A Division (4.0-4.5), coming back from 2-3 down in the championship match to claim victory 6-4 over Christopher Wolfe and Tomas Kukla. “We just had to dig deep, it was a long day,” Lopez added. “It’s tough to maintain your focus and concentration throughout the day, but sometimes falling behind makes you reassess what you’re doing and helps you get back to basics.” The partnership of Jackie Clark and Liz Ingrassia proved to be too much for the competition as the pairing captured the title in the Women’s A division (4.04.5), beating Liz Harvey and Gina Hagadorn in the finals. “We’re so used to playing in a lot of leagues and for a lot of teams, and it’s been such a crazy time with all the leagues being canceled. So just to have this competition again was such an amazing feeling,” said Clark. “Being able to be part of the tennis community again felt good. Liz and I love playing together and we practiced a little over these last few weeks. I’m the crazy one on the court, making a lot of errors, and going

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

for a lot of shots I probably shouldn’t, and Liz is the steady one who keeps the ball in play and sets me up. She’s the setter and I’m the spiker.” Ingrassia added: “This format made it friendly yet competitive, so it was a ton of fun to be able to feel some of that adrenaline again. I think we went with the flow. Every opponent we played had a very different game, so there was an adjustment period, but we figured it out and kept a good temperament throughout.” Not every team entered the tournament with that much chemistry as Scott Weinstein and Greg Albert teamed up for the first time. The duo quickly developed a rapport together and went on to win the Men’s B Division (3.0-3.5). Avenging a 2-6 loss to Kevin Stanis and Brett Verini in round-robin play, Weinstein and Albert defeated that same team 8-6 in a tightly-contested championship match (pro-set). “We know each other from the Zone classes that Sportime does, but this was our first time playing together, so we had to figure it out a bit,” said Weinstein. “We

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had fun today; it was a really good time.” In the Women’s B division (3.0-3.5), Nancy Halpern and Danielle Rosen played consistent throughout the day and outlasted the competition to win the title, earning a win against Lisa Arniotes and Marilyn Sloan in the division’s championship.

“The key to our success was being patient and just staying focused,” said Halpern. “It was really fun. We’re normally just friends, and this was the first time we ever played together, but it worked out.” Throughout the day, players were treated to lunch provided by Town Bagel. At the conclusion of the tournament,

THE LONG ISLAND

CHALLENGE 2020

players and guests enjoyed the summer evening with a happy hour courtesy of Westhampton Brewing Company. Long Island Tennis Magazine would also like to thank our clothing sponsor inPhorm, and the tournament hosts Sportime Quogue and the John McEnroe Tennis Academy.

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LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

THE LONG ISLAND

CHALLENGE 2020

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

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THE LONG ISLAND

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By Kathy Miller

sat down to write this article (late as always because I always struggle with what to write), and due to procrastinating, decided to check my email first. I opened the email below and was smiling ear to ear as this is what it’s all about! We are living in such crazy times and this year’s goal for the USTA league was to just get people who are comfortable, out there playing again. I still heard stories about bad line calls, some nastiness on the court, and basic bad sportsmanship. It baffled me as we are living through a pandemic and playing a season of USTA league tennis that doesn’t even count for ratings or advancement. And then, I got this email.

“Hi Kathy! I know that you receive daily emails with complaints about players & matches, but today I wanted to send you something on a more positive note. Last night, our club (Deer Park Tennis) had our last match of the season, scheduled on our home courts against Lynbrook. Aliza Bitton is the captain of their 4.0 team. She texted me a little after 3:30pm the day of the match (match time was set for 7pm) giving me a heads up that she might be short 1 player on a doubles court. She said that she’d know by 5:30pm for sure. Right on time @ 5:28pm, Lizzie texted me to LMK that her player was stuck at work & definitely wasn’t going to be able to make it to the match & they would have to forfeit 2nd doubles. Without any hesitation or prompting from me, she immediately took responsibility for her team & said that their team would be 10

paying for the forfeited court. Lizzie immediately did the right thing & was so honest & forthcoming, that before I even had a chance to call my club & let them know what was going on, she had already called in her full payment by credit card to the club...even though she was onsite at the club to play her match! And of course, we had a fantastic, friendly, competitive match that timed out at the bell...the most exhausting doubles match that I’ve played all season! I just wanted to let you know that Aliza Bitton is one of the nicest players I’ve met through playing USTA & her sportsmanship is TOP NOTCH...always, not just last night!!! We are so lucky to have the USTA league...I’ve met so many great people over the years & it’s such a great outlet for us...I’m so happy that we were able to get a season together with all of the crazy things that are going on in our world! Thank you for all that you do to keep us playing, Kathy! All the best, Traci Stevenson Deer Park Tennis 4.0 Night – Summer 2020 18+ Over Women” Thank you Traci and thank you Lizi! Not one but two wonderful people that get it! Not only did you both show such great sportsmanship but Lizi, knowing it’s a rule, called and paid the club for a late canceled court. Total class act Lizi, thank you! So, for the summer we were able to run the 18 & over USTA league, the 55 & Over and the 65 & Over. Most just

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

finished up and the winning teams and their captains are: 18 & Over Ladies l 3.0 Day: Point Set, Brenda Blum & Rosemarie Castellano l 3.0 Night: Lynbrook, Jamie Devine l 3.5 Day: Carefree, AnnMarie Conniff & Grace Grantio l 3.5 Night: Syosset, Dawn Schosberg l 4.0 Day: Huntington, Tracy Kleinberg & Lisa Newell l 4.0 Night: Syosset, Gigi Banks 18 & Over Men l 3.0: Deer Park, Ed Sinn l 3.5: Deer Park, Ed Sinn l 4.0 Point Set, Dan Bindler 55 & Over Ladies l 6.0: Bethpage, Mary Alice Ruppert l 7.0: Blue Point, Lisa Pomerantz 55 & Over Men l 8.0: Kings Park, Russ Difazio l 9.0: Nassau Indoor, Larry Lehman At the time of this article being due, the 65 & Over 7.0 men and the 65 & Over Mixed Doubles League is still playing. We will be starting the 18 & Over Mixed Doubles league mid-October and the 40 & Over Mixed Doubles League in January of 2021. If anyone is interested in joining a team, please let me know! Wishing you all a happy & healthy fall with lots of great tennis! 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.

No Court? No Partner? No Problem— Say Hello To Slinger Bag s U.S. sports begin to emerge, consumers are thinking about how to engage in their personal passions they have not access to since the new normal began last March. For tennis devotees, the biggest challenges are lack of partners and a convenient tennis venue. Say hello to Slinger Bag, the first truly portable and affordable tennis ball launcher that recently launched in the United States. Garnering positive reviews from the likes of Men’s Journal, Sunset and the Wall Street Journal, its proprietary technology enables enthusiasts to practice their favorite shots in their local parks, in their driveways, any open space or at their local club. Slinger Bag is the ideal social distancing technology for tennis— especially for these strange times. Its authenticity lies in the fact that is designed by players for players. Great care and attention has been paid to its functionality, design and engineering. Slinger Bag may be wheeled like carry-on luggage and can easily be tossed in the trunk of car, like a set of golf clubs. It is the 24-7 tennis partner, always available whenever and wherever you need it most. Product attributes include: l Quick Set Up: Slinger Bag may be set up to start launching balls within one minute. l Players Have Total Control of their Shots: Players easily control the launch speed and the launch

frequency of the balls using two customizable dials, providing best in class in terms of shot variation. l Lightweight Convenience: It is incredibly lightweight at only 33 pounds, easy to transport with a handle and wheels. l Value: It is priced at approximately 50% less than its key competitors. l Ideal for Players of all Skill Levels: Its ease of use is ideal for those playing tennis for the first time or tennis devotees looking to sharpen their skills. l Multi-functional: It is multi-functional, transporting 72 tennis balls, a wallet,

keys, towel and water bottle, and charges cell phones. Recognized as a product that may significantly propel participation in the sport of tennis, Slinger Bag is aligned with the Bryan Brothers, the most successful doubles team in tennis history, and respected icon Nick Bollettieri, who has taught some of the greatest tennis names in the sport. Slinger Bag is that perfect partner on the go, always loyal and ready to play at a moment’s notice. Slinger Bag will be with you through thick and thin.

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

2020

LONG ISLAND GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW Nassau County Teams to Watch Port Washington There’s been no better team on Long Island over the last few years than the Vikings of Port Washington. The team has lost just one time over its last 51 matches, and went undefeated in 2019 en route to a county and Long Island championship. With young talent still at the top of its lineup, including singles players Thea Rabman and Ellie Ross, Port Washington will once again be the favorite to repeat as county champions, and have the opportunity to defend its Long Island title. Great Neck North The Blazers from Great Neck North came up one win shy of the county title a year ago, falling to the aforementioned Port Washington Vikings. This year’s team will be without last year’s top singles player and one of the best players in the state in Amy Delman, but returns key contributors Alyssa Ghassabian and Alina Lyakhov, both of whom represented their team and the county at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Championships last year. With the two of them leading way, Great Neck North should once again be in contention for the county title.

Port Washington Hewlett One of the toughest teams to beat over the last couple of years has been the Hewlett Bulldogs, both because of its top-tier talent in singles, but also because of a deep roster that spreads talent across all of the seven courts during a match. Led by senior and Harvard-commit Rachel Arbitman, Hewlett will once again be on the radar for a county title. Arbitman won the state singles title two years ago, and partnered

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with Nyla Gershfeld to win the state doubles title a year ago. With those two anchoring the Hewlett lineup, the Bulldogs will be tough to beat this season. Syosset The Braves have been one of the more consistent teams over the last few years, and that should be no different in 2020. Despite losing some key contributors in its starting lineup, Syosset will be in good hands with Alex Ho and Alexa Brecher leading the singles lineup, and with depth at each position in the lineup, something Syosset has been known for over the years, the team will be a tough opponent for anyone in the county. Friends Academy Friends Academy should be in for a huge bump in success this coming season. A season ago, freshman Isabella Sha played first singles and won all 10 of her singles matches, something she will look to repeat and build upon this fall in her sophomore campaign. If Sha is able to have that sort of success once again, and Friends gets contributions from its doubles teams, the Quakers could be on the verge of a deep playoff run.

2020

LONG ISLAND GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW Suffolk County Teams to Watch Westhampton Beach The Hurricanes have been dominate in Suffolk County and have put together a great run over the past two seasons. Those seasons have ended in grand fashion with two Suffolk County titles, and a Long Island championship two years ago. Returning this year will be top player Rose Hayes, the twotime defending county singles champion, who will lead a group of girls eager to reclaim its throne as LI champions. Commack Commack has been one of the most steady teams on Long Island for the last several years, compiling multiple years of sustained success, and that should be no different once again in 2020. Led by one of the Island’s best players in Emily Tannenbaum, as well as a deep cast of singles and doubles talent to fill out the roster, Commack should be a serious threat to win its first county title since 2016. Islip The Buccaneers of Islip came up just one match-win shy of being the Suffolk champions and representing the county in the Long Island championship. Despite losing a host of senior talent, the Islip program will be eager to return to the county title game this fall, and go one step further than it did a year ago, a quest that will be led by Maya Levy, Ava Andria, Ava Delisle and Ciara Hand. Hauppauge Last year, Hauppauge was led by Andriana Zaphiris, who claimed the third-place prize at the county singles tournament. Now a senior, Zaphiris will look to build off of that success that she had, both in the individual tournament as well as in a leadership role for her Hauppauge Eagles. Along with second singles player Melody Chang, Zaphiris and Hauppauge look to put together a season that sees it make a deep playoff run.

Westhampton Beach Half Hollow Hills East By the Thunderbirds standards, 2019 was a bit of a disappointment, one it aims to make up for this fall. The Half Hollow Hills East program has been synonymous with winning for decades now, so failing to reach the county title match can seem like the team came up short. In 2020, look for Hills East to be a force to be reckoned with. Led by top talent such as junior Skylar Semon, who went to the state tournament a year

ago in doubles the Thunderbirds will be one of the teams in contention for a county title. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at the time this magazine went to print there is still uncertainty on how the fall athletic season will progress. Be sure to check out LITennisMag.com and follow @nytennismag on Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date news on the girls’ high school seasons.

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Your Inner Scoreboard By Barbara Wyatt

rapport with my partner. For two hours, I want them to know that they are the most important person on court. I have their What three questions do back. If they are forced off court by a you ask yourself before a wicked angled shot, I swoop toward the tennis match? What are your private, self-explorative middle to cover their side of the court and thoughts that can improve your mental state mine. If they lunge for a poach, I prepare and physical game? for a return by crafty opponents…just in case. I wink and say positive teamI will share my innermost questions. I building comments throughout the match. keep it simple and ask only three. The questions vary, dependent on a social or competitive match, but they follow a similar What am I going to work on this game? I am always in pursuit of a better weapon theme. to launch against opponents, and a How can I treat my partner like my best strategy for more consistent play. I will attempt more swinging volleys and take friend? response time away from opponents. Or When playing doubles, I aspire to build a

perhaps I will hit a higher percentage of first serves into the box. What the heck, I’ll do both. What is the most important thing that I want at the end? I want to be drenched in sweat with a big smile on my face. I want all players to have enjoyed long thrilling rallies. How did I do? I communicated with my partner. I waited patiently for the right ball to use the swinging volley stroke. At the end of the match, I exited the court with a smile on my face and a joy of physical exertion. On my inner scoreboard, I gave myself a seven out of ten. I crave for more first serves to land in and more accuracy on my volleys. Did you notice that I never asked, “What do I need to win?” If I treat my partner like my best friend, implement a new weapon to confound the opponents plus my game remains consistent, and I never give up, what do you think will be the final match score? Wink, Wink. Smile. Barbara Wyatt is a writer, photographer, USTA official, and mobile app developer of iKnowTennis!, the tennis rules app. Her poem, Ode to Tennis, an amusing poem on the joys and frustrations when learning tennis, is available at Amazon. She can be reached by e-mail at BarbaraW@iKnowTennis.com.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

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Top College Players Come Out for

Liam Krall won the Men’s Singles division in the first installment of the USTA Eastern Collegiate Series.

Jessica Livianu (left) and Valencia Xu (right), the two finalists of the Women’s Singles division.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

Evan Lee (left) and Gabriel the finals of the Collegiate

or USTA Eastern Collegiate Series

abriele Brancatelli (right) squared off in giate Series’ second weekend.

UCLA’s Elysia Bolton (left) defeated top junior Ariana Pursoo (right) in the Women’s Singles final.

fter months away from competitive tennis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the area’s top current, incoming collegiate and junior players competed in the USTA Eastern Collegiate Series, a four-weekend long string of

tournaments at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx. The first two of those tournaments were played in August, with the final two to be played in mid-September. In the opening weekend tournament, St. John’s senior Jessica Livianu took

home the title in the Women’s Singles division by way of a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Valencia Xu, who will be heading to Stanford for her college career. "It was exciting. I was really happy to be back on court competing, but of course you’re a little rusty," said Livianu. "So it was about shaking off that rust so I could play better with every match." In the Men’s Singles, Liam Krall, who will be a freshman at Southern Methodist University, came through the draw to claim the title. “It was really fun to compete again. It’s something that was lacking this summer for sure. And I was really happy that I could get out and compete before I left for college,” said Krall. “It’s great that I was able to win the tournament and hopefully become a better player. I think this helped my confidence in playing college players and it is hopefully a stepping stone to the next level.” The following weekend, Purduecommit Gabriele Brancatelli defeated Evan Lee 6-3, 6-3 in the finals of the Men’s Singles division, while UCLA’s Elysia Bolton notched a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Ariana Pursoo to take home the Women’s Singles title.

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LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

comeback complete

Osaka’s Mission

continued from page 20

By Brian Coleman

his year has been one of the most turbulent years in more than a century. Between a global pandemic that has thrust us all into a new normal, a heated presidential election and a renewed push for racial and social justice, 2020 will be a year that will be talked about in history books. If there is one positive thing that can be taken from this year, it’s the empowerment that athletes have felt to advocate for issues that are important to them. We have seen this through the teams in the National Basketball Association striking, and the solidarity shown by other leagues including the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer. Athletes pushing for social justice weren’t limited to those team sports, however, as tennis players have also made their voices heard, including former U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka. “It’s a reset that perhaps I greatly needed. I asked myself, ‘If I couldn’t play tennis, what could I be doing to make a difference?’ I decided it was time to speak up,” Osaka said of the time off from the tennis tours. “I flew to Minneapolis with my boyfriend days after the murder to pay our respects and have our voices heard on the streets. We grieved with the people of St. Paul and protested peacefully. We visited the George Floyd memorial and connected with those who came together to mourn yet another senseless act and life lost without reason. Being on the ground in Minneapolis was what felt right at the moment.” The 22-year-old Japanese born Osaka engaged in a sort of strike of her own at the Western & Southern Open, normally played in Cincinnati but an event that is being held in the U.S. Open bubble this year, as she was set to compete in the semifinals against Belgium’s Elise Mertens. “Hello, as many of you are aware I was scheduled to play my semifinals match tomorrow,” Osaka wrote in a post on social media. “However, before I am an athlete, I am a black woman. And as a black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis. I don’t expect anything drastic to happen with me not playing, but if I can get a conversation started in a majority white sport I consider that a step in the right direction.”

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 LITennisMag.com continued on• page 20

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine Photo Credit: USTA/Simon Bruty

osaka’s mission continued from page 18

This decision, much like protests by the players in the NBA and other sports, were met with much skepticism, and beyond that, anger and vitriol, by those who either deemed the cause unworthy or did not like the way in which these athletes chose to voice their opinions. But Osaka knows that comes with the territory when you speak out against injustice. “A lot of people ask me if I feel more stressed out ever since I started speaking out more,” she said after winning her opening round match at the U.S. Open. “To be honest, not really. At this point, if you don’t like me, it is what it is.” Before and after that match, a three-set win over Japan’s Masaki Doi, Osaka wore a mask with the name Breonna Taylor on it to honor the woman who was shot and killed by Louisville police officers earlier this year while she slept in her apartment. “Actually I have seven,” she said when asked about the mask, referring to different masks she brought with her to the bubble. “It’s quite sad that seven masks isn’t enough for the amount of names. So hopefully I’ll get to the final and you can see all of them.” It’s a big leap in outspokenness for someone who once came off as shy and guarded, especially during her triumph at

Photo Credit: USTA/Mike Lawrence

the U.S. Open two years ago. A tearyeyed Osaka dealt with boos from the crowd, albeit not directed towards her, during the trophy ceremony. She was visibly uncomfortable on the stage of

what should have been the happiest moment of her career. But Osaka has come out of her shell in the time since then and that maturity and confidence has helped develop someone

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

who stands up for what they believe in, and rightfully so, the 22-year-old is proud of the message she has been sending. “I think the responses that meant the most to me are probably people saying, ‘Thank you.’ And for me, I don’t know, it always takes me by surprise because I don’t know if I feel like I’m doing anything,” said Osaka. “But people say, ‘Thank you and I’m proud of you,’ and for me that’s something that’s really touching to my heart.” Osaka’s colleagues and peers have expressed their support for her as well. “She’s special on and off court, what she stands for,” said Frances Tiafoe at the U.S. Open. “Always nice and quiet. But to see her actually use her platforms and go crazy, it’s special. You tip your hat off to that.” While Osaka has made her voice heard off the court with a dedicated mission to raise awareness of injustice in the country, providing a voice for those who are voiceless, her play on the court continues to astound. Entering the U.S. Open, Osaka remained inside the Top 10 of the WTA rankings, a place it seems she will remain for years to come. Owner of two Grand Slam titles, Osaka was one of the favorites

to hoist this year’s U.S. Open trophy. “I just want to play,” she said ahead of the tournament. “It’s been so long and I miss the feeling of working through tough matches and figuring out how to come out on top. It’s a feeling that I’ve been used to but now that I’ve had this break, I appreciate it even more…My training has been consistent and hard, we’ve just had to get creative because gyms and other facilities where I normally train are closed.”

That training put Osaka right back into form and her early results at the U.S. Open were proof of that. Whether or not she is able to claim her second U.S. Open title is secondary to the matches she is fighting off the court, something it seems she will continue to do in the months and years to come. It may come as a surprise to some people, but her family knows this is who she is. “I think that most other people would have given up and not wanted to continue grinding if they kept losing like that, but Naomi never gave up,” her mother Mari said. “Her focus is unmatched. Of course, people see that during her biggest matches, when she maintains her composure through the ups and downs, but it’s also evident when she’s just living her day-to-day life. One thing to know is that Naomi is very authentic, so if she feels strongly about something, she will speak up about it. Just like with her work, when Naomi decides to commit to something, she puts herself in 100 percent and is not afraid of criticism if she knows that it’s the right thing to do.” Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

MY THBUSTER S

Can You Play Too Well in A Lesson? BY RICKY BECKER

By Ricky Becker Yes. Yes you can. Think about the best that you’ve ever played. This was the time that everything seemed easy. The time you felt like you had all the time in the world to hit your shots. The time you almost wanted your opponent to play even better because you wanted to be challenged, and you knew you had the answer. Were you thinking much about the

technique of your strokes every time you hit? Each shot you hit, did you think about where the smart place would be to hit your shot? I hope I’m not putting words in your mouth...But no, you probably were not. It’s a commonly accepted theory in sports psychology that you play your best in any sport when everything comes naturally and you don’t have to think through things. You are just reacting. The concept of paralysis by analysis is alive. This is where the title of this article

comes into play. If you are looking to improve during your lesson you need to think about what you and your coach are working on. If you are thinking about making a technical improvement during a lesson, you are thinking during your shots. This is not conducive to playing really well. But this is ok! If you play tournaments, school tennis or even leagues, does it really matter how well you are playing in a lesson? You are trying to acquire and master tools that you can use in competition without having to think

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

about how to do it in competition. Sometimes casual junior players or an adult player will say to me, if they miss a couple of shots, “Ok. Now, I’m thinking too much. I’m going to play better if I don’t think”. I’ll tell them they are correct but that they are paying hard-earned money to learn and think about ways to improve that are new. Save the nonthinking for matches! If you really want to improve, you have to get through this point. What does it really matter if you are not playing as well as you can in a lesson? In fact, you are taking a lesson to think about what you are doing on the court. Unless you just wanted cardio or a steady rally ball that a pro can give, is the purpose to think during the lesson? Speaking for myself, when I played competitively, I almost looked at it as if I was wasting “time in the zone” if I felt this way in a lesson. Yeah, it was fun to hit that point, but since it hasn’t been figured out yet how to be in the zone at all times, I didn’t want to waste my “zone time” in a lesson where score wasn’t being kept and results weren’t being recorded.

Same thing goes for the pre-match warm-up. No, you don’t want to feel sluggish and shank balls all over the place but you also don’t want to hit your highest competitive state until the match starts. The purpose of the warm-up is to sweat, get your mind focused, maybe practice a few combinations and peak with a few points at the end to get yourself to that point playing peak. I wouldn’t recommend crying after the prematch warm-up or giving a big “Lets go!” after the end of the warm-up point session…and yes, I have seen both. Use the warm-up to put you on an even-keel emotionally and re-boot. Don’t ever let the warm-up control your emotions. I’ve seen kids play incredibly well in the warm-up and once things go mildly south during the match, it’s like a punch in the face. I have never seen a correlation between the level of play in the warm-up and the match itself anyway. In groups or playing practice sets against someone, it can be a little different. Depending on where you are with your training and competitive match

schedule, it may be good to try and hit the zone. If you play throughout the year, you may want to just let it all hang out on the court and play your best without thinking to practice trying to hit that match zone. Otherwise, these practice sessions are best used by putting what you are practicing into action. If you play more seasonally and are just going out for a team, maybe this period is the week before to go out and “just play.” Good luck getting out there and hitting the zone at the right times! Ricky Becker is The Director of Tennis at the prestigious Pine Hollow Country Club for his ninth year, coaches highperformance juniors throughout the year and has been the Director of Tennis at three of Long Island’s biggest junior programs. As a player, Becker was the Most Valuable Player for the 1996 NCAA Championship Stanford Tennis Team and was ranked top-five nationally as a junior player. He can be reached at rbecker06@yahoo.com, 516-359-4843 or via juniortennisconsulting.com.

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LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

2020 FRENCH OPEN PREVIEW

The French Open has a new home on the calendar this year, moving from its typical start time in May to the end of September, with the 2020 event set to run from September 21-October 11. Much like the U.S. Open, the French Open will have a different feel to it this year, but as the pro circuits shift from hard-courts to clay, let’s take a look at some things to watch out for when the pros descend on Roland Garros in Paris, France. Fans in the Stands French Open officials have indicated that it will allow up to 60 percent capacity in the crowd for this year’s tournament. “The number of spectators allowed in the stadium will be 50%-60% of the usual capacity,” the FFT (French Tennis Federation) said. “This reduction will allow strict distancing measures to be respected.” Wearing masks will be recommended when fans are lined up to enter the grounds or when they are sitting in the stands, but must be worn when moving around. This is a strong change from the way the U.S. Open approached its “bubble”, with no spectators and very limited media, so it will be interesting to see how strictly the French Open officials enforce this mask policy and if everyone involved can remain safe. Transition from Hard Courts to Clay While many of Europe’s biggest stars opted to not travel to New York for the U.S. Open, for those that did, moving from the hardcourts of the United States to the clay courts of Paris could prove a difficult transition. There will be tune-up tournaments in Austria, Italy and Germany prior to the start of the French Open, but quickly adapting your game between surfaces is not as easy as it sounds, and therefore those players who decided to remain 26

in Europe could be at an advantage in terms of their preparation and readiness for the world’s premier clay court event. Andy Murray Back Competing at Grand Slams Tennis fans were delighted to welcome Andy Murray back to the tour this summer, after the Briton nearly retired due to injuries, and has not been himself over the last couple of years. Murray did travel to New York and competed in the U.S. Open, his first Grand Slam singles event since the 2019 Australian Open. Murray came back from two sets down to win his opening round match in Queens, but fell to young Canadian star Felix Auger Aliassime in the second round. Nonetheless, the fact that Murray was able to compete in a fiveset match is a good sign for the three-time Grand Slam singles champion, and he has committed to playing the French Open, although most likely won’t participate in the tournaments leading up to it in order to allow his body to recover.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

2020 FRENCH OPEN PREVIEW Is Halep the Women’s Favorite? Romania’s Simona Halep was one of those top players who opted to remain in Europe in the late summer to prepare for the French Open, and the second-ranked player in the world made good on that decision by capturing her 21st career WTA title at the Prague Open in the Czech Republic. “I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision,” Halep said after winning Prague, indicating her decision to opt out of the U.S. Open. “And I therefore prefer to stay and train in Europe.”

Halep, who hoisted the French Open trophy in 2018, is the presumptive favorite to reign in Paris again this year, with the abundance of training she can do on clay ahead of the events. Can Nadal Win Lucky Number 13? No athlete has dominated a single event or venue like Rafael Nadal has Roland Garros. The Spaniard is a 12-time champion at the French Open, and with him set to play this year’s event, he is the favorite on the men’s side once again. Nadal did not travel for the U.S. Open and is spending his time preparing for the clay season which culminates in Paris. “My hope and my intention would be to be there at the French Open,” he said in early August. “I trust it will yes, it is in my mind and I am preparing for it.” With Nadal in the fold, the greatest clay-court player of alltime will be the tournament favorite. Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.

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LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

U S TA E A S T E R N L O N G I S L A N D R E G I O N

USTA Eastern Seeks Nominations for Annual Awards

2019 Long Island Region Volunteer of the Year Hilary Bressler (center) with Team Long Island With its annual awards, USTA Eastern honors those who have made remarkable contributions toward growing and promoting tennis at the grassroots level. Recipients are typically recognized in January during a ceremonial dinner at the Eastern Tennis Conference. Although 2020 has not been a typical year by any stretch, USTA Eastern still plans to honor the remarkable achievements of those within its community. These individuals and organizations will be celebrated at a date and in a format TBD. The nomination form is available at USTA.com/EasternAwards. Individuals and organizations may be nominated for one of more

than 20 awards, including Tennis Woman of the Year, Tennis Man of the Year, Tennis Family of the Year and Member Organization of the Year. All members of USTA Eastern's tennis community are encouraged to submit nominations for the different categories. Those making nominations are asked on the form to provide some brief biographical information on the person or organization being nominated and a short explanation outlining why the nominee deserves to be recognized. This information is very important to the selection process and will only take a few minutes to complete.

USTA Eastern Long Island Regional Council Executive Committee l Jonathan Klee, Regional Director l Michael Pavlides, Past Regional Director l Sunny Fishkind, Vice Regional Director l Randi Wilkins, Secretary For more information on the USTA Long Island Region, please visit LongIsland.USTA.com, e-mail USTAOnLongIsland@gmail.com, visit us on Facebook at USTA Long Island and follow us on Twitter @USTA_LI. 28

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U S TA E A S T E R N L O N G I S L A N D R E G I O N

Tuesday Tennis in the Park Returns for Summer 2020

Front row: AnnMarie MacDonald, Nancy Rosenthal, Arthur Raskin, Jean Franklin, Peggy Gershon, Susan Dalessandro, MaryAnn Ferguson,Peggy Gluck Rear row: Jim Friscia, Charlie Kaplan, Marshal Hubsher, Stan Froelich, Anna MacKay, Bob Nathan, Michael Ferguson, Howie Schoor, Al Silverstein

When Al Silverstein returned from Florida in early June during the COVID-19 pandemic, he immediately reached out to Sue D’Alessandro, his co-coordinator and co-creator of the 65and-over USTA Mixed League that plays out of Hempstead Lake State Park in the summer. “We discussed the need to provide an avenue for players to get out of quarantine and pursue the sport that they loved,” said Silverstein. “We weighed the need to play against the dangers of a group activity. When we finally got the green light from the State in early July to resume play, the response was enormous. While all of our players were eager to get out and play, the overall level of play was challenging as many of our players had not played for three or even four months; frustration reigned supreme!” Silverstein added: “But that has changed now because tennis is very important to people who are retired. Indeed, the future of tennis is in the hands of those who later in life have the time to work on their game as a craft.” He cited as evidence the vast number of players who joined the USTA Mixed League for players 65 and over this summer and the number of players who regularly play on Tuesdays. Now in its third season, the league has 50 registered participants who play matches three days a week. With a dozen matches already played, the league intends to continue into the winter months. Al says Tuesday Tennis in the Park regularly attracts over 30 mask-wearing players per session. “USTA 65+ team tennis is especially important for seniors during our Nation's current pandemic,” said Bob Nathan,

Men's USTA 65+ Team Captain from Bethpage. “Like all people, seniors need exercise, and because tennis is rated by most sports authorities as ‘the safest’ during COVID 19, it is wonderful to have a sport that creates a positive mental attitude while enhancing physical wellness. The social benefits of senior tennis are also wonderful to behold. “Tennis, by its nature, is conducive to social distancing. Health and safety is paramount, and tennis comes second, but once that first box is checked, and it's deemed safe, it's the perfect sport for all of us to participate in, coming out of our nations' current health challenge. The USTA released tips and recommendations for playing tennis safely, based on guidance from the USTA Medical Advisory Group. Our Long Island 65+ USTA 8.0 league honors those guidelines,” Nathan said. According to League participant Pat Molloy: "Playing tennis with our 65+ Mixed Doubles group brings a sense of normalcy, health, camaraderie, accomplishment and inspiration to these difficult times. I smile when I look around at our large number of tennis players and see athletes who still enjoy playing, staying fit, improving their evolving game, being inspired by great play and learning from each other. What is really special is the laughter emanating from the courts after some great and not-so-great points! Tennis has always served as a distraction from life’s difficulties but it’s particularly helpful now when we can focus on our game, enjoy our friends and laugh at ourselves instead of thinking about Covid-19, personal concerns and societal problems."

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

By Brian Coleman

Beyond the Baseline 30

Dick Zausner Port Washington Tennis Academy or the last half-century, Port Washington Tennis Academy (PWTA) has stood as one of the pillars of the Long Island tennis community. In that time, the beautiful facility on the north shore of the Island has produced some of the game’s top players, a list that includes John and Patrick McEnroe, Vitas Gerulaitis, Peter Fleming and Tracy Austin. The club opened up in 1966, and for the last 54 years has been known as one of the premier indoor facilities in the country. The idea to start the club came when Hy Zausner met Nick Bollettieri in Puerto Rico, and Bollettieri, the famed tennis coach, convinced Zausner to open a facility. “Nick wanted to have lessons in the area on a regular basis and needed a place to hold the lessons,” said Dick Zausner, Hy’s son who has run the club for more than 40 years now. “They were successful. The two would eventually go their separate ways, but it grew from there. At that time there were just five courts underneath a bubble, and we’ve continued expanding over the years.” Those five courts have now expanded to 17, and the club also includes a ¼ mile track that overlooks the courts and four pickle ball courts. In the 1970s, PWTA was home to players who would go on to have amazing professional careers. “The 1977 United States Davis Cup team which had John McEnroe, Gerulaitis and Fleming were all our players,” said Zausner. “Peter [Fleming], who lived in New Jersey at the time, stayed at my house on the weekends when he trained here. It was an amazing time with some really great players here.” PWTA has always made sure to make tennis accessible to everyone, which included giving scholarships to players to train there. Gerulaitis was one of those players who received a scholarship, and Zausner and his team have helped so many kids over the years.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

“That was always our attitude,” he said. “The purposed of the scholarship was to help kids get into college. I remember when I was a kid, my father was a scout master; he was always involved with helping kids. He had that mentality, and it was something I inherited from him. I assumed that was the way of life and the way you were supposed to do things.” And it’s precisely that mentality that has allowed PWTA to flourish. Like everywhere else, though, this year has been hard on the club. In order to maintain safety of both the staff and the kids, it decided to not hold a summer camp. “We have some morning activity with court rentals and a couple of private lessons, but we did not want to run a camp, and that’s the bulk of our business in the summer,” said Zausner. “Even starting up junior programming is a question. The parents are figuring out what’s going on with school, and deciding if their kids are taking classes online or in-person. Even if the parents who would normally come in for morning programs aren’t sure if they will be free in the morning if the kids are still home.” Those struggles are common across the landscape of local tennis in what has been such an unprecedented year. As we move into the fall and winter, there is hope that this trend will turn around.

Despite the difficult summer, Zausner continues to spend his days at the club he has called home for decades, a place that has helped countless young men and women over the years. Because of his dedication to growing tennis and helping youngsters, he was honored with the Vitas Gerulaitis “For The Love of Tennis” Achievement Award by the USTA Eastern Section. “I look back with tremendous satisfaction of helping kids. It doesn’t necessarily come from the McEnroes, the Gerulaitis’, the Flemings and many others, but comes from the kids who do well off the court,” he said. “We’ve had students go on to be doctors, lawyers and more. We take great delight in those cases. The accomplishments of the kids outside of tennis are certainly more significant to me than the pros we’ve helped produce. I certainly don’t give us 100 percent credit for that, but it’s just very rewarding to see that your hard work has paid off.”

Now 86-years-old, Zausner has no plans to retire, and still enjoys running the club that his father built all those years ago. “I want this to go on. I’m searching out possible successors. I’m not young, I’m 86-years-old; the time for most people to retire would have happened already,” he said. “I have no intention of retiring. Whether I drop dead here or at home one day, I can’t tell you that. But I always joke with people who come in that I have a box in my office, and if I’m in that, then you know I retired. That’s my attitude towards retirement.” Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He can be reach at brianc@usptennis.com.

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

charitable initiatives SPORTIME Amagansett Hosts Successful Charity Pro-Am Event raises money for the Johnny Mac Tennis Project

Each year, the Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP), a 501(c)(3) founded by tennis legend John McEnroe, hosts a pro-am event in the Hamptons to raise money in support of the charity’s mission of providing free community and school programs and scholarships to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy to underresourced, talented and deserving children in New York City. Like everything else this year, the 2020 JMTP Pro-Am was a bit different than in the event’s previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, a brutal weather forecast forced the event to be pushed back a day. Despite these potential road blocks, JMTP put on a oneof-a-kind event at SPORTIME Amagansett. “The 2020 Johnny Mac Tennis Project’s 6th annual Pro-Am was the most gratifying yet,” said Claude Okin, SPORTIME Clubs’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “COVID-19 took away our annual who’s who of tennis legends, locked JMTP leaders, John and Patrick McEnroe, in the U.S. Open bubble, and caused us to dramatically pare down the event to assure 32

social distancing. We had to ask our friends and supporters to focus on the charity, and on the tennis, more than the hoopla, and then we had our first rain date! Despite all the challenges, we had 112 committed pros and amateurs, played great tennis crowned amazing champions, and raised over $200,000 for JMTP’s deserving NYC tennis kids.” While the event is JMTP’s primary annual fundraiser, providing essential support towards its mission to provide high-quality tennis programming to young NYC players who could not otherwise afford it, this year’s event was also symbolic of the resiliency of the local tennis community. “Considering that we almost cancelled the event, we are all very relieved at how well JMTP did,” added Okin. “As Johnny Mac likes to say, ‘NYC is the greatest city in the world’, and, although some New Yorkers are in the Hamptons and elsewhere right now, JMTP is all about supporting under-resourced NYC kids and changing their lives through tennis. And NYC is not going anywhere, nor is SPORTIME or the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, or our

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

important and growing charitable partnership with the Johnny Mac Tennis Project. I think in the end that is what the Pro-Am represented this year for a lot of the folks who played and volunteered. It was really awesome.” In a year that has been so unpredictable and, at times, hard to bear, the Pro-Am was a reminder of the impact tennis can have on so many lives. The outpouring of support demonstrates just how important it is to have tennis back in the fold, both on Long Island and in New York City. Said Jordan Botjer, Executive Director of the Johnny Mac Tennis Project, “We are moved by how many sponsors, pros, amateurs and volunteers rallied to support the event and to raise critical funds to help JMTP remove social, economic and racial barriers to success through tennis.” Event sponsors included Lalique, which provided trophies to the champion and runner-up, BodyArmor, Thunderbird Bars, C.O. Bigelow, Solinco, Head/Penn and Bird in Hand. You can learn more about the Pro-Am and all the great work that JMTP does year-round by visiting www.JMTPNY.org.

LITLSS Continues Decades-Long Effort of Giving Back

Tennis truly is the sport of a lifetime, and for the kids who are involved with the Learning Institute of Tennis, Life Skills and Sportsmanship (LITLSS), that mantra could not be any truer. The LITLSS, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was started more than 30 years ago by longtime tennis coach Daniel Burgess, who continues to run the program, and the group, who range from Pre-K through 10th Grade, just wrapped up a successful summer despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Social distancing was a bit of a challenge. My wife is a nurse, so she would come down and help us mark off areas where the kids could stand, provided masks and did temperature checks,” said Burgess. “We ran the program for about five weeks and no one got sick, so it was a

success…This was the best thing that could’ve happened to the kids this summer. They’ve been locked in their homes for months, and these are kids who are used to being active. So to get out of the house, go outside and play a sport, they were all very excited.” The program is free for kids to attend, and the program asks for donations but they are not required. “We do ask for donations, but we don’t require it,” added Burgess. “We don’t want anyone coming to us and saying that they can’t afford this, so it’s free. I want to make sure every kid has the opportunity to experience tennis.” And like the program’s title indicates, it does more than just teach tennis skills to the kids. The kids get writing and reading enrichment classes once a week, as well as

cultural enrichment classes which this year included a demonstration of West African dance. The kids did their part to give back to their community this summer as well, helping clean up debris from fallen trees in the park and on the tennis courts in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias. Because of their hard-work and community service, the program got a visit from Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. Now three decades in, the program continues to flourish and Burgess continues to hear from many of his former students on whom he has had a major impact. “I felt like I could help these kids through sport, and through a sport that they can play for a lifetime,” he said. “I spoke with one of my former students just recently, who went onto join the FDNY. 30 years after I first taught him, he wants to start playing tennis again. Those are my biggest success stories, the people who have come out of the program who have gone on to be civil service workers, lawyers, doctors, engineers, social workers, and many of whom have gone on to become tennis directors or top coaches. You can learn more about LITLSS by visiting www.TennisLifeSkills.org.

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

The Relevance of the Return By Chris Lewit he return of serve is arguably the second most important shot in tennis, after the serve, yet it is probably the most under practiced, underappreciated, and undervalued shot in the game. In my annual program at my academy, players can train 25 hours per week with me, and I’ve structured the day so that we can work on serve and return for a significant amount of time. Lately, as I have worked with different players individually on the return, I am seeing common themes

and issues that all players, parents and coaches can learn from: Eyes and Mind I have noticed that many players are not alert with their eyes. They are not targeting the server’s toss and technique with their eyes, reading and anticipation the incoming shot. There are many cues to look for in terms of toss location, technique, body language, head and eyes position of the rival server that can give information to help the returner know where the ball is going before it is struck. The best returners are also good at reading the psychological tendencies and the tactical intention of the server and then making educated guesses as to

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

the direction and selection of the incoming serve. I’ve read that Novak Djokovic practices eye exercises to improve his reactions and alertness. Training the eyes in this fashion using technology is a new trend in the game and there are experts in the field of vision training starting to focus in this area. Check that these cool new technologies! Hands The swing must be modulated or adjusted to the speed of the incoming ball. This is an important principle that I teach all my students. If the ball is coming faster, the shape of the backswing should be flatter and more compact. Players with significant loops

need to learn to keep their hand or hands lower and to reduce the length of their backswing to be effective returning fast serves. Players also need to understand the relationship between return positioning and size of backswing. The deeper the player positions himself, the more time that gives him or her to make a larger swing. If the player wants to take the serve earlier, this necessitates a smaller more compact backswing. Many young or inexperienced players don’t understand this relationship well and just take the same loop as on their normal groundstrokes regardless of their court position or the speed of the incoming serve. Feet I’ve noticed that many players have poor split-step technique, incorrect timing of the split-step, and an inefficient recovery for the first shot after the return. Coaches, players and parents should dial in on these areas to improve the technique and rhythm. Players often split-step too narrowly and with poor balance and posture. They land flat-footed or on their heels. These types of postural or technical problems need to be corrected. Players commonly split-step at the wrong time, either too early or too late. Mistiming the split undermines quick reaction and movement to the incoming ball.

If players never practice the footwork after hitting the return, they often move sluggishly or establish a poor position in the court for the start of the rally. I like to work on the recovery footwork technique after the return is made so that it’s quick and efficient and puts the player in the optimal position to be consistent on the return plus one shot. Positioning In addition to the relationship between backswing and court position, players need to understand that the best returners are always moving around the court to find the best possible position to receive the service. The optimal position varies and is not fixed. Many students I see want to stubbornly maintain one return position and never deviate from it. In contrast, I want my players to adjust to the situation. Against some servers, they can hang back and play heavy topspin. Against other rivals they can step up inside the baseline and take time away—or any combination in between depending on the details of the moment. Players need to be comfortable with both styles of returning and have the courage and smarts to adjust. In addition, many inexperienced returners wait for contact to move. However, the best returners move before the ball is struck, either to get into position to use their weapon, like

hitting a runaround forehand, or because they anticipate where the serve is going. It is critical that players learn how to move before the ball is struck—not after. Routines I spend a lot of time on pre-return routines or rituals. I’ve noticed that a lot of kids practice their serve rituals but not much time is spent on return rituals. It’s important to create calmness in the mind and to automate all the movements before the return is struck. Rituals help to prepare the mind and body to receive the onslaught of a big serve. Targeting and Tactics My less experienced students have poor tactics on the return and poor targeting. Many players are just trying to get the ball in the court, rather than returning to a specified place. There is no tactic without a target. Honing in on targets helps develop the tactical anticipation so that a player can start to visualize how and where the server will play his first shot. For example, if I return down the line deep to the backhand from the deuce court, I have a pretty good chance of receiving a cross-court reply to my backhand on the first shot by the server. Players need to practice their targeting on the return and start to predict the next reply from the server based on continued on page 36

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the relevance of the return continued from page 35

percentages and the geometry of the court. Legendary coach Nick Saviano likes to call this type of knowledge “generic tactics.” Conclusion How many players will go out and serve buckets of balls to improve their serve consistency? Not enough—but many more than those who go out and practice return. How many lessons include return practice in addition to serve practice? Few. There are many challenges to practicing the return of serve including the biggest one: whom can you get to serve to you? Structure and plan your return practices well. My recommendation is to try and incorporate specific return of serve time into your training every week. Find or hire someone to serve to you. Practice second serve returns and first

serve returns. Practice adjusting your backswings. Work on your positioning. Clean your technique. Automate your rituals. Improve your targeting and tactical awareness. Train your eyes, mind, and feet! Some of these skills can be practiced shadow style without the ball if you don’t have a partner. Do that! If you have a partner to serve to you, thank them and value that time dearly. Another option is to buy or get access to some of the serving ball machines that are now available on the market, but they are unfortunately super-expensive. The ultimate goal is to be able to get a high percentage of first serve and second serve returns back into play. The best players in the world consistently make returns and keep pressure on the server. That’s how they get break opportunities. Fine tuning your return skills is the only

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

way to achieve a high level of return consistency. To master the return, you need to get out there and do thousands of reps until you can return any type of serve to all the court locations. Chris Lewit is a former number one for Cornell and a pro circuit player. He is a high-performance 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 nationally-ranked players and is known for his expertise in building the foundations of young prodigies. Chris trains players during the school year in the NYC area, and players come from around the country to his summer camp in the paradise of Vermont. He may be reached by phone at (914) 462-2912, e-mail ChrisLewit@gmail.com or visit ChrisLewit.com.

Looking Forward

“Forward" has always been a part of inPhorm’s DNA. At the debut party for inPhorm in 2008, a giant poster of the word “ECO-FORWARD” was front and center. Eco-Forward was the brand’s initial message — its designing and manufacturing approach that represented the Founder and Creative Director Saad Hajidin’s passion for preserving our environment and enhancing its recovery. Today, being forward is about reimagining your brand. Consumer habits have changed and so has fashion. Casual dressing and athleisure wear dominate the garment industry. In the last few months, inPhorm’s creative team has been rethinking tennis fashion. l Designing collections that include basic tops and bottoms that are a bit more casual, while retaining elements of luxury fashion. l Adding pieces that can transition from tennis courts into casual lifestyle wardrobes.

l Using fabrics that look and feel good, with technical properties like moisture management and UV protection, and are “eco-forward.” inPhorm's Fall 2020 collection is filled with styles that transition from day into evening -- tennis looks that easily blend in at cocktail hour. Spring 2021 is a tribute to the 60’s and the 70’s, when “Mod” fashion introduced its modern, bold and simple geometric look, and a new type of design geared to athletic and active women. Bold and colorful patterns are used in our new collections, adding excitement to the classic inPhorm DNA. As we look ahead to recovering from the pandemic and to business returning to “normal,” we look forward to seeing more fresh and creative ideas from inPhorm. To view the new fall “Autumn Blush Collection,” visit www.inphormnyc.com

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Solving the Problem of Information Overload By Steve Kaplan It’s often been said that to be the best at tennis you must be a great "problemsolver", yet very little is actually written about how coaches can help students learn how to solve problems. Specifically, an often neglected yet vital topic is: how can a young tennis player reconcile differing instruction from multiple professional sources? It’s particularly relevant today because we live in a world in which so much information is accessible, inevitable and 38

conditioned by reinforcing our confirmation bias. Some primary coaches deal with potential information "overload" by demanding that they be the singular source of instruction and no other opinions are valid or permitted. Unfortunately, such a demand is unrealistic, immature and selfish. Teachers shouldn't fear information and students shouldn't avoid it. Instead, teachers can help students, examine instruction, conceptualize it, flush it out and break it down to teach students how to separate misinformation from fact and

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

observation from wisdom. Tennis is about solving problems and if students don't have a strong instruction receptive filter, shielding them from information doesn't offer a solution, it creates another problem. There is a better way. We can teach students to be intelligent, active decision-makers because the best players take responsibility for their successes, their failures and their education. I start by inviting students to question the instruction that I provide to them. Saying "listen carefully and thoughtfully,

consider everything you have heard and if you do your own research, I think you will agree with me" is more compelling than saying "trust me." Here's a simple process to follow for players to take ownership of information: 1. Ask yourself how does the instruction reinforce or conflict with what you know of the world? Sound instruction is logical, reasonable, realistic, specific, simple and sciencebased.

someone an expert on teaching tennis. 4. Watch slow motion video of the best players. Do they perform the movements as you have been instructed? l If you notice almost uniformity it's a fundamental. l If you see variation it's a style. l If no one does it, it's wrong.

2. Consider, is the instruction an observation or an insight? Observations identify problems, insights solve them.

5. Examine the instruction. Is it suitable for you? l If it's a fundamental, it is. l If it's a style it might be dependent on your physical, technical and mental attributes and outlooks. l If it's wrong it's not.

3. Examine the source of the information. Is it credible? Playing tennis does not make someone an expert on teaching tennis. Teaching tennis to expert players does not make someone an expert on teaching tennis. Education, experience, knowledge, wisdom, passion and practice make

The best teachers don't simply provide the answers to the test, they teach students how to find the answers. The best students don't passively wait for instructions, they actively ask questions and seek solutions. The best teachers encourage the development of the best students and the

best students become the most successful players. The ability to solve problems on the court is a learned skill and an important part of a developing player’s education. Steve Kaplan is the owner and managing director of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as director emeritus of Lacoste Academy for New York City Parks Foundation, and executive director and founder of Serve &Return Inc. Steve has coached more than 1,100 nationally- ranked junior players, 16 New York State high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous highly-ranked touring professionals. Many of the students Steve has closely mentored have gone to achieve great success as prominent members of the New York financial community, and in other prestigious professions. In 2017, Steve was awarded the Hy Zausner Lifetime Achievement Award by the USTA. He may be reached by e-mail at StevenJKaplan@aol.com.

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Inside COVID-19 Bubble, New York Empire Win First Ever WTT Title By A.M. Brune

Credit Photos to Ryan Loco/World TeamTennis

t was the forehand heard round the tennis world. And it was so unbelievable, it required a Hawk-Eye glance. At 20 games to 20 and six-points-all in the World TeamTennis championship match, winning came down to one point in the final set: women’s doubles. Veteran doubles player Bethanie Mattek-Sands took her place at the net, while her partner, Sloane Stephens, of the Chicago Smash lofted the ball skyward. The New York Empire’s Coco Vandeweghe set her feet, took her racquet back and—against partner Nicole Melichar’s better judgment—ripped a down-the-line forehand that nicked the back of the baseline. “I could hardly put into thoughts or words what was going on—it was Star Wars out there,” said Empire Coach Luke Jensen. “Genie Bouchard was hitting a ball to save her face, Kamau [Murray] substituted Sloane, Nicole was flying around the net, and then Sloane hits a bomb to save match point. I called a time out and Coco was like ‘I’m taking next serve’. “Bethanie is then at the net with her ankles and instincts and Coco unleashes

the beast right past her. Just the way the world is, I could go on and on how it could have gone sideways, but it didn’t,” Jensen added. Hawk-Eye confirmed the “in” call. The New York Empire had won its first King Trophy and the $500,000 purse. In five years, the New York franchise, put together in 2016 as an expansion team, has come from the very bottom of the league to the top through three coaching changes, three venue moves and several roster switchups, including absent marquee stars. But after an exhaustive three weeks and 66 league matches in a tennis “bubble” at the Greenbrier, the Empire won its first King Trophy. Both Jensen and the team attributed a large measure of the Empire’s success to the addition of Kim Clijsters, who also acted as the team’s assistant coach, according to Jensen. Clijsters, although sidelined for some matches, chalked up big singles victories

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

— following an eight-year hiatus from professional tennis, as well as pairing with veteran Neal Skupski for mixed doubles. But to get the Empire to that playoff spot, Jensen had to tinker with the team camaraderie. Vandeweghe and Melichar had originally signed with the San Diego Aviators in March, but in an 11th-hour deal on the Sunday night before the season’s last week, Jensen traded Empire players Kveta

Peschke and Sabine Lisicki for the doubles pair. “It’s not in the tennis culture to trade or substitute, so you don’t want them happy about it, you want them to say, ‘I can win, coach.’ But for the franchise you’ve got to at least get in the playoffs,” Jensen said. The acquisition quickly paid off. In her first match for the Empire, Vandeweghe racked up 13 crucial games in three of five sets over the Orange County Breakers. “My Uncle Kiki (former New York Knicks player) sent out a mass email down in his bubble in Orlando saying, ‘Coco’s playing for New York now!’” Vandeweghe said. Once the Empire sealed the fourth spot

in the playoffs, Jack Sock became the star of the day as he and Vandeweghe took the Empire to an early lead by winning mixed doubles, 5-1, and with Skupski, men’s doubles. With losses in both women’s singles and women’s doubles, Sock delivered once more, defeating ATP No. 24 Taylor Fritz, to take the Empire to the championship. The New York squad jumped out to a quick start in the final against the Smash. The mixed-doubles team of Sock and Vandeweghe, and the men’s doubles team of Sock and Skupski brought the Empire to 10-6 lead (5-2, 5-3). But Smash rookie Brandon Nakashima reeled off a 5-0 win

against Sock to swing the match in favor of Chicago, 11-10. “I think I would chalk that up as my worst set of the three weeks, and unfortunately it came on the most important day,” Sock said. With Clijsters still sidelined, Vandeweghe returned to the court to face Stephens in the fourth set of women’s singles. Stephens capped off a 5-3 victory to push the Smash lead to 16-13. The King Trophy still remained near the reach of either team, as Mattek-Sands and Genie Bouchard faced Vandeweghe and Melichar, who had won a previous matchup continued on page 42

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new york empire win first ever wtt title continued from page 41

5-1 when they played as San Diego Aviators. It wouldn’t be as easy the second time. Each team held serve to tie at 3-3, before the Empire broke Mattek-Sands’ serve to lurch ahead 4-3 and pull the team to 19-17. The Empire had the chance to win the set and force extended play, but Melichar double-faulted at 40love. The Smash rallied to force a set tiebreak at 4-4 and had the momentum to capture an easy win and call it a day, as it fell on the Empire to not only win the set tiebreak, but also the next two games to tie the Smash’s overall score at 20-20 and finally compel a match first-to-sevenpoint super tiebreak. The chase to seven points began with Chicago subbing in Stephens for Bouchard. New York went up 2-0 after Vandeweghe served. The Smash evened with Stephens’ serve. Mattek-Sands pushed Chicago ahead 5-3. Vandeweghe-Melichar knotted the score at 5-all, then 6-all, before Stephens served to Vandeweghe, whose knees hit the ground when she heard the word “in” from the baseline. “They didn’t call it out… I was thrilled, but then the fact that (the Smash) were challenging (the call), we were like ‘oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no’ and then it was just

pure joy. It was just incredible,” Melichar said. “I mean I’ve never been under that kind of pressure, ever,” Vandeweghe added. “It really accentuated what World TeamTennis is: the team vibe, team energy, people picking each other up when they’re down. I had so much fun out there.” “A flip flop in the middle of the match… you couldn’t ask for any more than that,” said WTT CEO Carlos Silva. “And Coco’s winning forehand was like a walk-off home run, a buzzer-beater.” WTT owners have yet to take stock of

the season, Silva said, but already plans are in the works for year-round events. “The results just continue to build on what we have been saying: the format was exciting, we had to grow the audience. The ESPN, CBS and Tennis Channel deals did that.” Since 2001, A.M. Brune has reported and written hundreds of freelance newspaper, magazine and website articles – from pitch to print – for publications, such as the New Yorker, The Guardian and The Nation. She lives, writes and plays league tennis in Manhattan.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

The Tennis Guru: The Cave By Dr. Tom Ferraro It had been a long journey through the woods and as it approached 4 p.m. Yin turned to Virgil and said, “Virgil, look over there . It looks like a big cave is cut into the side of the mountain. Let’s go look!” “No Yin, I would advise you not to go. The cave leads down into a cavern that is over 80 feet deep. I’ve heard that a demon lives at its bottom. It’s best not to enter.” “Don’t be silly Virgil. There is no such thing as demons. Let’s take a look.” And with that ,Yin ran over and entered the cave. Yin could see that this cave led to a deep cavern. Yin turned back to Virgil and said, “We need to find some long rope so that you can lower me down to the bottom. I want to see what’s there.” They hunted around the cave and found some old rope. Yin then tied one end around a big tree outside the cave, threw the rest into the cavern and began lowering himself down. When he was about 50 feet down he noticed a wide ledge and he stepped onto it to rest for a while. In short order, he fell asleep and when he awoke he was sitting in a beautiful meadow right alongside a creek with wonderful clear water and fish that were swimming just below the surface. He took a sip of the water and when he looked up he heard the whimpering of a girl and turned to see who she was. On the other side of the creek was a pretty girl about Yin’s age wearing a lovely tennis outfit of white and red. She was the prettiest girl Yin had ever seen. Yin asked her what was wrong and she said, “I have been locked down here in this cavern for over five years. I was on my way to work with The Tennis Guru but somehow the demon lured me into his trap and here I am! The demon lives nearby and he will not let me leave. You had better go now. The demon is a real psycho and if he sees you talking to me there surely will be trouble.” Yin didn’t know what to do. He knew the girl needed saving but he was afraid of the

wrath of the demon. He decided to risk it all, jumped into the creek and swam through the current until he got to the other side. He ran to the pretty girl, grabbed her hand and said, “Follow me!” Right then he heard the girl scream in terror. The demon was on a big black horse and like a tornado he was riding through the meadow to claim his possession. “Come quickly, Miss, we must escape”, and they raced through the woods until he found the rope which they could climb to get out of the cave. He told her to climb first and he followed after her. They climbed up and finally out of the cave. And as they reached the top they heard the demon roar from below: “Give me that which is mine or you shall both be cursed forever!” As they rushed out of the mouth of the

cave, Virgil was waiting there with a worried look on his face. Yin and the girl looked at Virgil then Virgil said with a stunned look of disbelief,“Where did you find her!?” Yin said, “Hurry Virgil, let’s get out of here now. I will tell you what happened when we are safe.” He took the girls hand and off the three of them went up the mountain path to get to The Tennis Guru’s school. Yin could never have imagined how difficult and strange this journey was becoming. To be continued… For consultations, treatment or on-site visits, contact Dr. Tom Ferraro Ph.D., Sport Psychologist, by phone at (516) 248-7189, e-mail DrTFerraro@aol.com or visit DrTomFerraro.com.

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Mastering the Mind Mindfulness at 125 MPH ... Part Five By Rob Polishook n our previous articles in the Mastering the Mind Series: Stillness at 125 MPH, we talked about the benefits of meditation, who does it, and why it’s important. We also outlined a concrete meditation practice that’s easy to start and will have a positive impact on and off the court. And then last month, we spoke about three key principles that can help players adapt to high-pressure situations: impermanence, equanimity and gratitude. This issue, we are going to work on the three key principles that can help you keep focus during in competition and ultimately be your best. If you study all the top players, they have relied on these principles throughout their careers, including Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Dominic Thiem, Coco Gauff, etc. The list goes on. Amongst many things, the main thing these principles do is to help you concentrate on what you can control, and let go of what you can't.

Intention Intention has a tremendous amount to do with playing tennis and winning a match. At times, intention can come across as a “wishy-washy” concept, and it’s true that a goal with no clear plan has no teeth or power. For instance, “to win” is too open-ended a goal. While intention isn’t black and white, it

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is specific, and it allows for you to adjust and improve your skills based on the present moment. For example, if your intention is to play more aggressively, then you have a clear goal. You may find yourself playing more aggressively 40 percent of the time. Pat yourself on the back and reset your intention of increasing those opportunities the next time you play. Intention rewards you for you for what you did and encourages you to do more. It should have to do with something you can control, not the outcome. An intention is about focusing on what you can control and aligning your energy to be your best at that one aspect. Next time you play, take a moment to set aside time and journal your intentions. Afterwards, evaluate how you did. Then reset the intention. Awareness A former coach of Federer's once said that his strength lies in knowing what he needed because he “knows where he is”. That is awareness, and it allows you to move beyond frustration and accept where you are, so that you can think clearly about what you need to do next.

Think about the word “WIN” and imagine that it stands for “What’s Important Now?” In order to answer this question you need an awareness of where you are now, and that awareness is the first step to changing, for the better, what’s happening in the moment. Being aware means that you are suspending judgment and comparison, and instead focusing on the present moment and strategies to help your game. Imagine being down 1-4 in the third set and, rather than getting panicked or down on yourself, you ask yourself: “What’s important now?”, “What do I need right now?” Maybe patience, maybe changing a strategy or maybe a technical switch; or possibly all three. Without awareness it’s almost impossible to know where you are on the path to reaching your goal. Through awareness you always have a chance to make a change, and then adapt and adjust to the current situation. Awareness is the key to accomplishing any goal! Recall times you were aware and subsequently made changes under

pressure. How did you do that? Could you do that again next time you play? Humility A player who demonstrates respect for others and themselves has humility. They don’t waste time or energy trying to psych the other player out or get in their opponent’s head. They are focusing on being their best and the steps they need to take. The humble player also doesn’t define themselves by the outcome, rather they know that the opponent is there to challenge them and ultimately make them better. Think of the great rivalries like Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, Federer and Rafael Nadal, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. The common thread in all these pairs is that they pushed each other to improve, not by being arrogant, but by respecting each other’s game and understanding what they needed to do to counteract it. Humility is about focusing on the journey to be your personal best, not necessarily the best. If that results in being the best all the better! What were times where you displayed humility in competition? How did it impact

your game? Just as impermanence, equanimity and gratitude are helpful principals to bring to competition and life, intention, awareness and humility can keep you focused on the steps you need to take to make your game the best it can be. Think of these six principles as tools in your mental tool box. Using them can be the difference between feeling stressed and playing relaxed, forcing versus allowing, and losing versus winning. Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach, he works with athletes helping them to unleash their mental edge through mindfulness, somatic psychology and mental training skills. Rob is the author of two 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, or following on Instagram @insidethezone.

LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

Oresky, Tacher Win Eighth Straigh

By Brian Coleman

Oresky and Tacher (left) won the Women’s Doubles championship for an eighth straight year

or the eighth year in a row, Maxine Oresky and Amy Tacher are the winners of the Pine Hollow Country Club Women’s Doubles Championships. The duo defeated Robyn Finn and Randi Fagen 6-3, 7-5 to capture the title and continue their reign. “I think it’s because we’re very positive with each other on the court and we compliment each other’s games very well,” said Oresky. “Amy is an amazing doubles player and I try to follow her lead.” Defending their championship was not an easy task, as Fagen and Finn came ready to play. The challengers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on Oresky and Tacher after an early break of serve to put the pressure on the reigning titlists. “There were definitely some nerves on my part early,” said Tracher. “Maxine was very steady in the first few games which gave me the ability to shed those nerves, and we got back to playing our game.” The two would rally to win six of the next seven games to take the opening set. The second set was back-and-forth and tightly46

In a rematch of last year’s final, Jay Waldhauser and Steve Soifer (right) defeated Ricky Spike and Mike Ferber contested. At 5-6, 40-15, Fagen and Finn were serving to stay in the match when Oresky and Tracher won four straight points to secure the break, win the match and seal their eighth straight title. Tacher would come back later in the weekend and compete in the Women’s

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

Singles final against Alli Schwartz. Schwartz defended her crown by way of a 6-3, 6-0 victory. “Overall I think I played pretty well,” said Schwartz. “I trusted myself to hit winners when the time was right and played a strong net game. Winning the first set was huge for

ght Pine Hollow Club Championship

Neil Shmuely (left) defeated Ricky Spike to win the Men’s Singles division

Mixed Doubles champs Neil Shmuely and Alli Schwartz with their respective families after their victory

me and I was able to take that momentum and finish the second set strong.” Schwartz would then pair with Neil Shmuely to win the Mixed Doubles championship, notching a 6-4, 6-2 win over Tracher and Gonzalo Saravi, rebounding from a difficult third-set tiebreak defeat in last year’s final. Shmuely would also take home the Men’s Singles title as he defeated Ricky Spike 6-3, 6-1 in the championship. “I have to go into the match with a

different game plan when facing Spike,” said Shmuely. “He is the best net player I have played against, and his style of play matches up to my weaknesses quite well…I recall telling [Pine Hollow Tennis Director] Ricky Becker last year that my goal was to get my name on the wall, no matter what tournament it was for. Now that it’s there a few times, I just want to keep improving my game and anything from there is icing on the cake.” Rounding out the Pine Hollow Club

Alli Schwartz, Women’s Singles winner, with her husband Matt

Championships winners was Jay Waldhauser and Steve Soifer, who came back from a set down and avenged a defeat in last year’s final to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 over Spike and Mike Ferber. “Our club tournament definitely provided normalcy to our members this year,” said Becker. “A lot of changes to our schedule were necessary to be responsible with COVID but our annual tournament which started in late June definitely put tennis as a safe activity on the map for us this summer.”

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djcmnyc@gmail.com LITennisMag.com • September/October 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

USTA-U GREG NOONE IN MEMORIAM

College Course Returns This Fall If you are interested in a career in the tennis industry or in advancing your career in that industry, you should take a close look at what Queens College-CUNY is offering. On November 2, and running through mid-February, the USTA/Queens CollegeCUNY Professional Tennis Management will commence its’ second semester. This adult education certificate program consists of three semesters and includes Dear Friends, online and Monday We hope you are doing well during these most difficult times. evening classroom learning, on-court Last year we lost Greg Noone (2/27/49-4/4/19), of East Islipworkshops, NY, a tennisexperiential learning with internships anddo guidance enthusiast of the highest order. We write to you now, because not only we missfor job placement. There are two tracks: Greg, but because we want to recognize his impact on our band of players. Grega coaching track tennis pros andwith a so was so much a part of tennis on Long Island. He played allfor over, all the time, management track for those seeking many people, and in so many tournaments and leagues. He was, as they say, a offcourtthe careers. student may “permanent fixture” of our community. He loved game,Aand made ourenroll gameat the start of any one of the semesters, and will better by always being there! secure their certificate after successful Greg left behind his wife Bonnie, two sons, Greg and Sean and their families, and completion all three. his daughter Hope and her husband. Greg was the bestoffamily man! We can’t The tuition cost is $1,575 per semester. overstate how much he loved his family. He never missed attending a game that any A major new feature this fall will be the of his children ever played, and they were all great athletes. By the way, Greg would never pass up a tennis game, even if he had to drive to East Hampton at a moment’s notice, unless he had a family responsibility. Some of Greg’s friends are celebrating his life with the installation of a small plaque and park bench at Brookwood Hall, Irish Lane in East Islip. These were his favorite courts, so now when we play there, we will have a permanent reminder of what he meant to us and to local tennis. In the future, if you find yourself playing at Irish Lane, please rest on Greg’s bench and keep his memory alive. There is no better way to honor Greg than to keep playing and enjoying tennis, so we’ll see you out on the courts. Sincerely, Mark Troiano Kevin Tuohy Darryl Rivera Ken Lewis Kevin Lewis Rich Slizlewski Lloyd Mcaragle Danish Vader Bob Walker Brian O’Hara

Jeff Silberman Tut Sidari Will Kendall Fernando Archilla Greg Bault Ron Sprung Danny Birmbaum Pete Maranti Mike Edwards John Sciara

Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com

Ray Ribarri Richie Bustamonte John Pepe Mike Edwards Bob Bretch Kevin Nathan Bob Nathan Jim Brady Gene Boos Justin Skidmore

Mike Bose Billy Maorino Rick Ramsey Allan Chaskin Norm Wingert Rich Rubin Mike Glass Al Silverstein Paul Gallowich

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Long Island Tennis Magazine September - October 2020

Articles inside

In Memoriam: Greg Noone

Oresky, Tacher Win Eighth Straight Pine Hollow Club Championship

Mindfulness at 125 MPH…Part Five By Rob Polishook

By A.M. Brune

Solving the Problem of Information Overload By Steve Kaplan

Inside COVID-19 Bubble, New York Empire Win First Ever WTT Title

inPhorm: Looking Forward

Long Island Tennis Charitable Initiatives

The Relevance of the Return By Chris Lewit

Beyond the Baseline: Dick Zausner, Port Washington Tennis Academy By Brian Coleman

USTA Eastern Long Island Region Update

Top College Players Come Out for USTA Eastern Collegiate Series

Can You Play Too Well In A Lesson? By Ricky Becker

2020 French Open Preview

Your Inner Scoreboard By Barbara Wyatt

No Court? No Partner? No Problem…Say Hello to Slinger Bag

Adult League Wrap-Up By Kathy Miller

Girls’ High School Preview