Long Island Tennis Magazine September / October 2024

USTA

Long Island’s Kids Day Events Provide Hundreds With Free Day of Tennis Fun

USTA

Long Island teamed up with Long Island Tennis Magazine to host three separate Kids’ Day events this summer, bringing free days of tennis to hundreds of kids on Long Island.

With each event consisting of multiple diverse, underprivileged and special needs organizations, these events allowed for 600 kids to experience special tennis-filled days this summer.

On court, the kids took part in tennis instruction that focused on the fundamentals as volunteers from USTA Long Island and Long Island Tennis Magazine’s event staff helped teach the

kids the basics of the sport.

While the focus is tennis, all the events provide additional fun off the court to help create a special experience that these individuals wouldn’t normally have. Activities included a DJ, dunk tank, water slides, bounce house, relay races, face painting, pop-a-shot, food and prizes.

“We strive to keep campers engaged with high-quality programs led by experts in our community. The team at Long Island Tennis Magazine as well as USTA Long Island do a masterful job combining tennis instruction and engaging programming whenever they host events for us," said Melissa

Algranati, Director at Island Quest Day Camp, whose group attended the events this summer. “We take pride in offering specialty tracks in STEM, Nature and Sports, so to be able to bring in tennis pros to both teach us and have fun with us - we LIVE for the dance party! - is always a highlight of the summer.”

The events are the perfect representation of the goals of both USTA Long Island and Long Island Tennis Magazine, and go a long way in helping to forge a pathway for kids to get introduced into the sport, and hopefully continue with it.

“It’s our goal to continue bringing tennis fun to so many deserving kids,

and it’s always fun to watch their faces light up during our Kids’ Day events,” said David Sickmen, Publisher of Long Island Tennis Magazine. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with USTA Long Island and help provide these sorts of experiences for young people. At these events, we supply kids with

information as well as an unforgettable experience to create a pathway to more tennis opportunities. All groups were provided with the ability to continue their tennis journey.”

Mike Pavlides, the USTA Long Island Region Council Director, added:

“The USTA Long Island Region was

pleased to continue to offer its yearly summer Kids’ Days, and introduce tennis to hundreds of kids that have never had an exposure to a game that so many of us play. Hopefully they will continue on the pathway that was provided to them, and learn to love the game as much as we do.”

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s July Tennis Challenge Brings Fun On and Off The Court

Thesecond Long Island Tennis Magazine Tennis Challenge of 2024 welcomed players to the clay courts at SPORTIME Hempstead Lake. The event featured three divisions of play, plus the amenities and atmosphere associated with the LITM Challenge tournaments.

“There are many options for local players when it comes to racquet sports, and we are appreciative that so many players come out to our events. I believe this is an indication that players see the professionalism and quality we

bring to the events we host, and that they have a great time on and off the court,” said David Sickmen, cotournament director of the Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge. “I want to thank our beautiful host facility, SPORTIME Hempstead Lake, as well as my co-director Michelle Stoerback, whose passion and energy for adult tennis is second to none, and our LITM Event staff, who did a fantastic job. We look forward to more community involvement, and are excited to see everyone at our next Challenge.”

Players were treated to a catered breakfast featuring muffins, croissants and more. In the afternoon, pizza was provided for all the players, and the happy hour bar opened as the pool play finished up and the knockout rounds began.

In the Men’s Doubles 7.0-7.5 division, the pairing of Cenzig Karakaya & Ray Omid took home the title after a hard-fought 7-5 victory over Donald Jackson & Declan Leonard in the championship.

“We were able to stay consistent and

The Men’s Doubles 7.0-7.5 Division Champions: Cenzig Karakaya & Ray Omid

The Mixed Doubles 8.5 – 9.0 Division Champions: Michelle Stoerback & David Siegel

The Women’s 7.0 – 7.5 Division Champions: Hayley Mink & Marija Vareikaite

just stayed calm in the important moments, and waited for the right time to close out points,” said Omid. “It was all about staying centered.”

Karakaya added:

“These events are always so wellorganized. [Tournament organizers] David [Sickmen] and Michelle [Stoerback] do a great job of running these tournaments, and it’s always fun to come back. Great people and a fun atmosphere.”

In the Mixed Doubles 8.5 – 9.0 division, the aforementioned Stoerback teamed with David Siegel to capture the title. The duo played their best tennis of the afternoon to defeat Rachel Neuman & Ryan Krimper 6-1 in the finals.

The pairing had never played doubles together before, so it took a little time to develop a rapport on court. But once they did, they played great tennis.“I think we were able to figure out each other’s game and the strengths we each have, and then utilized that.”

“We were having fun,” Stoerback added. “We made sure to stay loose, had a couple of margaritas and just tried to have fun. We wanted to have a good time, that’s what tennis is all about.”

The tournament wrapped up with the Women’s 7.0 – 7.5 division, where the pairing of Hayley Mink & Marija Vareikaite took on Lauren Siegel & Melissa Scheinman in the championship

match.Mink & Vareikaite got off to a fast start in the final and were able to establish a lead that they would not relinquish, eventually closing out their title with a 6-3 victory.

“We normally don’t play together, but have been on a USTA team together since 2018,” said Mink. “I was able to set her up today and she was able to finish the points for us.”

Vareikaite added:

“In the round-robin stage, we had a dip in play towards the end, but were able to regroup before getting ready for the semifinals,” said Vareikaite. “I think

one of the big things between Haley and I is that we aren’t too hard on each other, we just try to play freely and we complement each other. This event was great. We loved the location, the people and these great prizes. It was a fun tournament and we’ll be back for sure.”

The July Tennis Challenge was the second of four Tennis Challenges scheduled for 2024, with the next one set for Saturday, September 7 at SPORTIME Quogue. You can find out more information and register at LongIslandTennisMagazine.com/Events/ LITMSeptemberChallenge

By Brian Coleman

spotlight Junior Player

Lola Dangin Ross School Tennis Center

Onething that is important at any school or tennis academy is that the students and players there feel comfortable. More integral than anything else is creating a welcoming environment that allows those within it to flourish.

And that is what Lola Dangin has found at The Ross School Tennis Center, the top-tier private school which is also combined with an elite tennis training center in the idyllic setting of the Hamptons.

Born in New York City, Dangin moved to the East End when she was just two-years-old, and has since lived in Amagansett, a short drive from the East Hampton-located Ross School.

“The coaches here are amazing, and since I have been here for so long, it all feels like family,” said Dangin. “We all have such a good connection, and that really helps.”

Dangin began her tennis journey when she arrived in the Hamptons as a toddler. Tennis was always her main focus, and she has fond memories of her early tennis days, being able to go on court during the U.S. Open as part of a Net Generation clinic, and traveling down

to Florida to play in a tournament.

Despite playing other sports such as soccer, gymnastics, dance and softball, tennis was the sport that stood out to Dangin, even from a young age, a passion that continues to this day.

“I played softball for a lot of my life and did again last spring, but this year I am going to focus primarily on tennis,” she said.

That focus means training five days a week, more if she isn’t playing any tournaments on the weekend. Her goal this summer was to try to play a tournament every other weekend to continue to put her training to the test and attempt to improve her UTR.

Dangin trains primarily with Vinicius Carmo, the Ross School’s Director of Tennis, and because she attends school at the same place where she does her tennis training, she is able to maintain a balanced schedule that allows her to thrive on the court and in her academics.

“During the school year I go to school for a full day and then come to the after-school program for a couple of hours. I can then either stay here and do my homework, or do it when I get home,”

she said. “I don’t lose a lot of time by having to travel from school to practice where I have to do my work in the car or something like that, and rushing to get home, so it creates a really nice balance.”

Dangin possesses a big forehand that she uses to control points from the baseline. In her training now, Dangin and Carmo have placed an emphasis on improving her second serve and making that shot more consistent, something they are working on during her sessions. In addition, she is eager to become a more aggressive player by coming to the net, and is training hard to be comfortable up there to finish off points.

“I have been working with Lola since she was three,” said Carmo.

“She is always super focused and dedicated to the sport; Lola always comes ready and willing to

improve. I love her loyalty to our program and the coaches here. It makes us give our 100 percent to help her every day.”

All of that preparation now leads into the high school tennis season this fall, where she aims to build on what was a successful season last year.

As an eighth-grader, Dangin won the Suffolk County Division IV singles title, while also finishing in third place in the county championships to qualify for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) tournament.

Her Ross School team also reached the Suffolk County Small School final before losing a

junior player spotlight

continued from page 9

heartbreaking match to BayportBlue Point. This season, Dangin hopes to lead her team at least one step further.

“As a team, we’re really excited and motivated. It’s a great group of girls and we’re confident about what we can do,” said Dangin. “Last year was a really cool experience. My team was so supportive, and there were a lot of older girls who welcomed me in. Being able to travel with the girls was a nice experience, and its great having people cheering for you and having your team behind you.”

That support system is something that really helps, and Dangin has been fortunate enough to have it in both her private tennis training as well as with the school team. She has made so many friends through

tennis, and since they understand what she goes through as a highlevel tennis player, Dangin can lean on them.

“I’ve known Vinicius’ family since I was little, and a lot of my friends I know through tennis. Whether I am seeing them at tournaments, or training with them here at Ross, it’s nice having people that I can relate to,” said Dangin.

When she isn’t playing tennis, Dangin enjoys spending time at the beach or walking through town with her friends. She has taken an interest in photography as a hobby and is taking it as an elective in school.

“I want to expand my interests, and Ross is really great with allowing us to choose from so many electives here, in addition to tennis,” she said.

As we approach the end of summer, Dangin is set to begin her freshman year of high school, with the goal of returning to the New York State Championships. With her feeling right at home at The Ross School, and an ideal support system behind her, Dangin’s future in tennis remains extremely bright. She has goals of becoming a highlevel college player, and while she has a couple of years before that, she is excited to continue taking strides to get closer to that goal.

“Lola has always looked to develop her strokes, even if it meant not doing well in a tournament,” Carmo added. “She is mature enough to realize that she needs to play her best tennis later in life and developing her strokes and game plans are more important right now.”

inPhorm: Setting The Trend in Eco-Friendly Apparel

Q&A with Creative Director, Saad Hajidin

LITM: Saad, thank you for taking the time to do the interview with Long Island Tennis Magazine about inPhorm. Your brand has been making waves in the fashion industry for your commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. Can you tell us a bit about what inspired you to launch a brand with such a strong focus on these values?

Hajidin: Thank you. The inspiration for inPhorm came from a growing awareness of the fashion industry's impact on the environment and its workforce. We realized that there was a significant gap in the market for clothing that was both stylish and responsibly produced. Our mission is to demonstrate that fashion can be a force for good, and that by prioritizing sustainability and ethical practices, we can create a positive impact on the world.

LITM: That's admirable. Can you elaborate on the specific sustainable practices that inPhorm incorporates into its operations?

Hajidin: Absolutely. At the heart of our Eco-Forward ethos is our commitment to sustainable manufacturing. We carefully select partners who share our values and adhere to strict human rights and fair wage standards. We're proud to work with a manufacturing partner that is incorporating solar panels and implementing a wastewater recycling system. These initiatives are crucial steps toward a cleaner and healthier planet.

LITM: inPhorm also has a strong focus on empowering women. Can you tell us more about your commitment to gender equality within your company and the fashion industry as a whole?

Hajidin: Empowering women is a core value at inPhorm. We're proud to have a team that is predominantly female, with women contributing their expertise to every aspect of our business. In Thailand, where the gender pay gap is a significant issue, we're committed to providing equal pay for equal work. We believe that by leading by example, we can inspire other companies to follow suit and create a more equitable workplace for women.

LITM: The fact that 98% of your team is female is truly impressive. How do you see this diversity contributing to the success of inPhorm?

Hajidin: The 98% statistic is more than just a number; it's a symbol of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Women bring unique perspectives and ideas to the table, which enriches our decision-

making process. We believe that empowering women is not only the right thing to do, but it also drives business success.

LITM: Looking ahead, what are inPhorm's goals for the future? How do you envision the brand continuing to make a positive impact?

Hajidin: Our vision for the future is to solidify inPhorm's position as a leading Eco-Forward fashion brand. We want to continue pushing the boundaries of sustainable fashion and inspiring others to follow our lead. By empowering women, promoting ethical practices, and minimizing our environmental impact, we aim to create a legacy of sustainability and empowerment for generations to come.

LITM: Thank you, Saad, for sharing your insights with us. It's inspiring to see a brand like inPhorm making such a significant difference in the fashion industry. We wish you continued success.

Hajidin: Thank you for the opportunity!

2024 Long Island Girls’ High

The fall season is nearly upon us and when the leaves begin to change colors and the weather gets a bit chillier, that ushers in a new year of girls’ high school tennis here on Long Island.

A year ago, Long Island was home to the state champions in both singles and doubles, as Garden City senior Nina Wiese won the New York State Public High School Tennis Association (NYSPHSAA) Singles Championship, while the Westhampton Beach duo of senior Julia Stabile and junior Matilda Buchen brought home the NYSPHAA Doubles Championship.

In team play, Syosset was the winner of the Long Island Division I title before falling to Scarsdale in the state finals, while Cold Spring Harbor won its second consecutive Long Island Division II title, eventually dropping a tight contest to Bronxville in the state championship.

Now it’s time to look ahead to the 2024 season. Long Island Tennis Magazine has broken down some of the players and teams to watch, and also included is the key scheduling dates this fall as we prepare for another great season.

All players and dates are subject to change, be sure to visit LITennisMag.com for the most up-to-date information on all things high school tennis on Long Island.

Nassau County

Teams to Watch

Syosset

The aforementioned Braves of Syosset will be out to defend its Nassau County and Long Island titles, with the goal of taking it one step further than it did in 2023 with a state title in its sights. Syosset returns much of its roster from last year including a bulk of its starters, which includes its top singles players Zia Mukherjee and Stephanie Marcharet, who played one and two, respectively, a year ago. Elaine Liu provided great play in the third singles position as a freshman, and will aim to build on that in her sophomore campaign. While it loses key contributors such as Manami Wakazono, Syosset’s depth will continue to make it a difficult opponent for any team, and that depth includes experiences starters such as Sanam Mehta, Julia Isham, Diya Varma, Selena Wang and Manasi Pradhan.

Roslyn

Roslyn was one of the final four teams left standing in the Nassau County playoffs a year ago, and the Bulldogs are motivated to build on that success. Leading the way will be senior Anika Tolat in the top singles position, a player with loads of experience competing at the top of the high school level. She will be helped out by fellow seniors Alexandra Krol and Kaitlyn Yuen, as well as junior Ryan Rappaport, who all return to help lead Roslyn. In addition, Roslyn has talented young players including Emily Glass, who paired with Yuen at first doubles a year ago, as well as Shoshana Ross and Sofia Carlese who provided valuable depth in the doubles lineup. With a nice mix of veterans and young players, Roslyn should be one of the top teams in Nassau County this fall.

Port Washington

Two years ago, the Vikings of Port Washington were the Nassau County and Long Island Champions, and powered their way to the state final. Returning to the top is the goal of this year’s Port Washington team, and they just may have the talent required to do so. After a great freshman season playing first singles, Evie Loewy will play a big role again this season and the team will be bolstered by freshman Brianna Lewis, who was hurt all of last season. Now healthy, Lewis is set to make a key contribution. Sophomore Christiana Kent, who primarily played in the second singles position in 2023, returns, as do key pieces including Juliana

School PREVIEW

Johnson, Ruby Siskind and Shoriya Bhat-Bhandarkar in the doubles lineup. Look for Port Washington to put last season behind them and try to get back to where it was in 2022.

Cold Spring Harbor

It was another great season for Cold Spring Harbor a year ago, and the Seahawks are determined to return to the State Championships once again. While it will be without graduating senior Kati Cotek, Cold Spring Harbor brings back much of its Long Island Champion roster. That includes Cotek’s younger sister, Kami, who played third singles a year ago, as well as Brooke Winthrop who played first singles. In addition, crucial doubles players Stevie Sullivan, Dylan Savarese, Taylor Winthrop, Kaitlynn Hanna, Hadley Arcati and Emma Sullivan will be back, making Cold Spring Harbor a strong contender to defend its county and Long Island titles.

Herricks

A team that could be a dangerous opponent come playoff time is the Herricks Highlanders. Led by last year’s county semifinalist an all-state singles player Angel Walia, Herricks will be a strong contender to win Nassau County’s Conference II-A. Walia returns for her senior season with a goal of making it back to the New York State Championships, and will be backed up by fellow senior Priya Singh, as well as junior Catherine Jin. If Herricks can get great play from its doubles pieces, which includes Nikita Kumar, Gia Ninan, Grace Jeong and Aliyah Cohen, they should be due for an exciting fall campaign.

Additional Players to Watch

Nassau County

• Madison Lee (Great Neck South)

• Kaitlyn Ho (Great Neck North)

• Tiffany Lin (Hewlett)

• Teah Login (Friends Academy)

• Alex Raikos (Mepham)

• Charlie Travis (Lynbrook)

• Lina Vases (Manhasset)

Nassau County Key Dates

• Regular Season Begins - Friday, September 6

• Regular Season Ends - Tuesday, October 8

• County Individual Tournament - Saturday-Sunday, October 19-20

• Team Playoffs - Thursday, October 10 - Friday, October 18

• Small School Championship - Wednesday, October 23

• Large School Championship - Thursday, October 24

• LI Small School Championship - Monday, October 28

• LI Large School Championship - Tuesday, October 29

• NYS Individual Championships - Thursday, October 31Saturday, November 2

• NYS Team Championships - Friday, November 8

2024 long island girls high school preview

continued from page 13

Teams to Watch

Hills East

Suffolk County

The defending champions of Suffolk County are eager to defend its title, and the Hills East Thunderbirds bring back much of its roster from a year ago which will help in that quest. In fact, nine of its 11 starters will be back, which includes its top two singles players from last fall, Christina Zhao and Anjali Raza, respectively. While they will anchor the singles lineup, the two will also play some doubles during the season, adding increased depth to a doubles lineup that includes Sami Heyman, Emma Wilck, Jayden Seff, Kayla Grochow, Nadia Buffa, Remy Buffa and Chloe Zigman, all of whom combine to create a well-rounded Hills East lineup focused on returning to the Long Island Championship.

Westhampton Beach

The team that Hills East narrowly defeated to win the county title last year was the Westhampton Beach Hurricanes, and Westhampton Beach will aim to get back to the championship match in 2024. While it loses one half of the state champion doubles team in Julia Stabile, the other half, Matilda Buchen, returns for her senior season and will lead her team from the first singles position. Behind her will be Ava Borruso, who had a great season in the second singles spot as an eighth-grader, and will look to build upon that as she enters the season. Westhampton posses a deep and experienced roster that will allow it to remain at the top of the county, which includes players such as Didi Elliot and Eva Wax, who earned all-league honors a season ago.

William Floyd

A final four appearance was how the season ended for William Floyd in 2023, but the Patriots have its sights set on loftier goals this fall. While it will have to do so without three

key contributors from last year, graduated seniors Christina Dyakiv, Adrianna Filippelli and Alexa LaValle, Floyd has a lot of players returning from last year’s semifinalist squad. That includes Anabel Van Cott, Lydia Van Cott, Gianna Martin, Olivia Phillips and Drew Wiegand, all of whom were all-county selections last season.

Bayport-Blue Point

For the last three seasons, Bayport-Blue Point has represented Suffolk County in the Long Island Division II Championships, and has its sights set on returning there once again this fall. The Phantoms have been one of the most consistent teams in the county over the last several seasons, and with a bulk of its starters from last year returning, there is no reason to think that won’t continue. Leading the way will be Emilia Romano, one of the top singles players in the county, who paired with her younger sister, Evie to earn all-state honors in the county doubles tournament. In addition to the Romano sisters, Bayport-Blue Point has Lily Castka, Danielle Oleksiak, Charlotte Volpe and Leah Richardt back in the lineup, and expects contributions from underclassmen and even middle schoolers throughout the season, as it aims to return to the Long Island Championship.

Ross School

The last two seasons, Ross School has been the runners-up in the Suffolk County Division II championship, but that has only further motivated the Ravens heading into this fall. It will be led by Lola Dangin, who finished third in the county singles championships a year ago as just an eighth-grader, and will only improve as she enters her freshman season. The team’s youth will lead the way once again as Dangin will be aided by Olivia Caruso, another eighth-grader who contributed in singles last year. Mia Frohlich and Valentina

Sanchez were the first doubles pairing last season and will be key contributors in their junior season, as will Alexandra Kontokosta and Keira Forsman, as the Ravens seek to reach the Long Island championship.

Additional Players to Watch

• Anya Konopka (Smithtown East)

• Aleksa Brazyte (Connetquot)

• Aya Deckman (Harborfields)

• Lynelle Chernavsky (Ward Melville)

• Janita Files (Huntington)

• Amelia Kleiman (Commack)

• Abigail Lam (West Islip)

• Ella Tantillo (East Islip)

• Sarah Zaniel (Kings Park)

Suffolk County Key Dates

• Regular Season Begins - Tuesday, September 3

• Regular Season Ends - Tuesday, October 15

• County Individual Tournament - Saturday-Sunday, October 18-21

• Team Playoffs - Thursday, October 17 - Saturday, October 26

• Small School Championship - Saturday, October 26

• Large School Championship - Saturday, October 26

• LI Small School Championship - Monday, October 28

• LI Large School Championship - Tuesday, October 29

• NYS Individual Championships - Thursday, October 31Saturday, November 2

• NYS Team Championships - Friday, November 8

Aswe enter the fall season, many racquet sport athletes continue their rigorous training and competitive schedules. Understanding common injuries and how to treat and prevent them can help keep you on the court and performing at your best.

Common Injuries in Racquet Sports

The three most common injuries among tennis players and other racquet sports athletes are typically related to repetitive stress. In the upper body, tendinopathies, such as tennis elbow and shoulder tendinitis, are prevalent. These injuries result from repeated motions, causing inflammation of the tendons.

In the lower extremities, athletes often experience Achilles tendinitis and patellar tendinitis, commonly known as jumper's knee. These injuries are also caused by the quick

Staying on the Court: Treating and Preventing Common Racquet Sports Injuries

By Julian J. Sonnenfeld, M.D.

stop-and-go movements characteristic of racquet sports. When dealing with these common injuries, physical therapy is often the first line of treatment.

The Role of Physical Therapy

A comprehensive physical therapy program includes stretching, strengthening, and core exercises tailored to the specific injury. For upper extremity injuries like tennis elbow and shoulder tendinitis, physical therapists will focus on reducing inflammation and improving flexibility and strength. For lower extremity injuries, such as Achilles tendinitis and jumper's knee, the emphasis will be on improving the strength and flexibility of the surrounding muscles to alleviate stress on the tendons.

Treatment may include massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound, and a

combination of heat and ice, helping to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow, which promotes healing. Beyond these treatments, physical therapists provide valuable knowledge on exercises and modifications that athletes can continue at home to support their recovery and prevent future injuries.

In cases where physical therapy and conservative treatments are not sufficient, cortisone injections may be considered to reduce swelling and pain. However, prevention remains the best treatment. Regular stretching and strengthening exercises, like those performed in physical therapy, can significantly reduce the risk of these injuries.

The Importance of Rest and Recovery

Rest and recovery are essential components of the treatment process.

Allowing your soft tissues, including tendons, ligaments, and muscles, to heal does not mean you are losing valuable training time. Instead, it prevents further injuries and ensures longevity in your sport. Think of your season as a marathon, not a sprint — building in time for rest and recovery will help you maintain peak performance throughout the year.

Surgical Options for Severe Injuries

While the specialists at Orlin & Cohen strive to take the most conservative approach to treatment, sometimes surgery is necessary for severe or persistent injuries. Thankfully, there are many minimally invasive techniques. Surgical options for lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow as it's more commonly known, involve a small incision and tendon repair, typically requiring an outpatient stay. Recovery from such surgeries generally lasts four to six months. For rotator cuff injuries, shoulder arthroscopy may be performed, and for severe patellar tendinitis, another minimally invasive procedure can be a viable option for patients. Though the surgeries are often brief, the recovery process is crucial and requires diligent physical therapy to ensure

a successful and safe return to sports.

Preventing Injuries in Tennis and Other Racquet Sports

Overuse, lack of proper stretching, and insufficient strengthening are key factors contributing to the high rate of injuries in racquet sports like tennis and pickleball. Incorporating regular strength and conditioning training can help prevent injuries. Focus on strengthening the quadriceps, hamstrings, and core muscles, which play pivotal roles in stabilizing the body and reducing joint stress.

Flexibility and mobility are equally important in preventing injuries, as they can help condition your muscles and tendons for the repetitive motions of the sport.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many athletes make the mistake of

neglecting preventive measures such as stretching and strengthening exercises. Another common mistake is playing through pain, which can exacerbate injuries. By prioritizing prevention and listening to your body, you can avoid these pitfalls and enjoy a longer, healthier athletic career.

If you suspect an injury, take a break and seek attention from a physician or physical therapist as soon as possible. Continuing to play through pain can worsen the injury and prolong the recovery process. Early intervention is key to preventing further complications and getting back on the court sooner.

At Orlin & Cohen, our fellowshiptrained sports medicine specialists support athletes with personalized care plans that keep you at the top of your game. Visit orlincohen.com to learn more or schedule an appointment.

PARSA’s picks

Realestate on Long Island is some of the most sought after property in the world, and many of them are perfect for the tennis lover, especially those out in The Hamptons. With gorgeous landscapes, modern design and private tennis courts, among other amenities, these properties are truly one-of-a-kind.

With the help of Parsa Samii of Compass Real Estate, we wanted to showcase a current listing for sale. Parsa is a former professional tennis player and coach who has transitioned into real estate, with a strong understanding of both the tennis aficionado and the home buyer.

As Compass puts it, “Parsa is the ideal professional to navigate the ever-competitive real estate market.”

For more information, photos or to see more listings, email parsa@compass.com or call (516) 965-7445.

67 Feeks Lane • Locust Valley, N.Y.

$15,500,000

Floralyn, proudly nestled on one of Lattingtown's most prestigious streets, epitomizes the grandeur of Long Island's legendary "Gold Coast."

Originally built as a Quaker farmhouse, this historic Feeks Lane residence has been meticulously preserved and tastefully updated. Renovated inside and out by architect Mark Ferguson and designer Bunny Williams, Floralyn stands as a timeless example of refined elegance and sophistication.

Surrounded by tranquil rolling lawns and storied history, the estate spans 20 acres of meticulously maintained grounds. A haven for relaxation and recreation offering

tennis court, an inviting in-ground pool, charming pool house, a guest house, and the only residential practice golf green complex designed as a personal favor to the owner by Bill Coore of the Coore Crenshaw design firm who designed Sand Hills and Friar's Head.

Adjacent to the private mansion of Madame Chiang Kai-shek, Floralyn offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern convenience, creating a private oasis just 30 miles from the vibrant heart of New York City. Floralyn's legacy on the North Shore extends beyond its physical beauty. It continues to serve as a cherished retreat, ready for the next owners to start their own chapter to its illustrious story.

Listed by Margaret Trautmann, Compass

PARSA’s picks

71 Old Tappan Road • Glen Cove, N.Y.

$6,995,000

Experience the timeless elegance of "Beechwood Manor," the modernized and preserved 1930 estate once owned by John Pratt Jr. of Standard Oil Co. and The Pratt Institute.

Designed by famed architects Charles & William Platt, this Neoclassical Georgian Manor welcomes you with a majestic circular drive enclosed within private gates, hedging and European Beech trees. Meticulously landscaped grounds feature gardens displaying specimen trees, gravel pathways, grand lawns, fruit groves, a fountain, pool house and guest cottage. Soaring ceilings in the grand entry foyer greet guests and flow into formal entertaining rooms. With approximately 10,000 sq.ft. of luxurious design, the home also includes an elevator, paneled library, breakfast room, chef's kitchen and an

incredible third floor lounge. The expansive primary wing showcases dual private ensuite lounges and dressing rooms, while bedrooms feature fireplaces and ensuite baths. Every room provides smart home technology, offering seamless integration and convenience.

Beechwood Manor stands as a testament to timeless luxury and sophistication, offering a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of history redefined for modern living.

Other upgrades include high surveillance security, full generators, automated gates, restored windows, new copper gutters and leaders, upgraded boilers, A/C, and a 52' gunite salt water pool. Plans are archived at Columbia University with Platt's works i.e. Vincent Astor & Smithsonian. Close to NYC, travel, beaches and North Shore luxuries and amenities.

Listed by Margaret Trautmann, Compass

Alcaraz In The Big Apple

Carlos Alcaraz arrives in New York seeking a second U.S. Open title, and third straight major

By Brian Coleman

Two years ago, a 19-year old Spaniard arrived in New York and achieved the greatest feat of his young career. Carlos Alcaraz was already regarded as one of the brightest stars in the game, and had all the potential in the world, and it took delivering on the world’s biggest stage to make him a household name.

Alcaraz triumphed over Casper Ruud in four sets in the finals of the U.S. Open, winning the first major trophy of his career, and cementing his name in the record books forever.

“It’s crazy for me. I never thought that I was going to achieve something like that at 19years-old. So everything has come so fast,” said Alcaraz. “For me it’s unbelievable. It’s something I dreamed of since I was a kid, since I started playing tennis. Of course, lift[ing] this trophy today is amazing for me.”

While major champions come and go, and there is oftentimes “one-hit wonders”, Alcaraz’s maiden title, even at the time, felt like it would be the first of many. And that quickly became evident, as the next season, Alcaraz backed up his U.S. Open title with a triumph at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, where he toppled Novak Djokovic.

After the win, Djokovic spoke on the fact that he knew Alcaraz would be a Grand Slam threat moving forward, but not this quickly, and not on that surface.

“I must say he surprised me. He surprised everyone how quickly he adapted to grass this year. He hasn't had too many wins on grass in the last two years that he played. Obviously him coming from clay, having the kind of style that he has. I must say the slices, the kind of chipping returns, the net play, it's very impressive,” said Djokovic. “I didn't expect him to play so well this year on grass, but he's proven that he's the best player in the world, no doubt. He's playing some fantastic tennis on different surfaces and he deserves to be where he is.”

That was the most impressive part of Alcaraz’s Wimbledon triumph a year ago. With his athleticism and power strokes, hard courts were a surface he could succeed on, and being raised on the clay as a Spaniard, there was no doubting he could play well on clay.

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alcaraz’s ascension

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But to be able to translate his talents successfully to grass courts is something that took everyone, Djokovic included, by surprise.

“He's got this mental resilience and maturity for someone who is 20 years old. It's quite impressive. He's got this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defense that we've seen with Rafa over the years,” Djokovic continued. “I haven't played a player like him ever, to be honest. Roger and Rafa have their own obvious strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is a very complete player. [He has] amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for a successful career on all surfaces.”

And that has continued into 2024, with Alcaraz elevating his game and adding more accolades to his ever-growing resume. Djokovic was not exaggerating about never playing someone like Alcaraz, and the young Spaniard has proven to be a thorn in the side of the 24-time major winner.

After winning the French Open for the first time in his career, earning the third major title of his career,

Alcaraz attempted to defend his Wimbledon title, with the aforementioned Djokovic once again being the man standing on the other side of the net.

“I know what I have to do. I’m sure he knows what he has to do to beat me,” Alcaraz said heading into the finals rematch. “But I’m ready to take that challenge, and I’m ready to do it well.”

It’s precisely that mentality, that Spanish mentality he grew up harnessing, that separates Alcaraz from other players his age. Of course, he has all the physical tools in the world, but he seems to rise to the moment and handle the pressure that come with those increasing expectations.

Alcaraz would control the match

from start to finish, except for a small dip in the third set, and defeated Djokovic in straight sets to repeat as Wimbledon champion, and hoisting his fourth Grand Slam championship. Djokovic would get his revenge a month later, as the two squared off once again, this time in the Gold Medal match of the Olympic Games. Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in straight sets to win the one thing missing from his impressive career, an Olympic Gold Medal.

But it’s hard to deny how quickly Alcaraz has become arguably the greatest player in the world, and how he continues to make a push towards his status among the all-time greats. As we enter this year’s U.S. Open, it’s a chance for Alcaraz to win his third consecutive major, and his second title in New York City.

He does not dwell on those sorts of narratives, and what each victory means for his legacy. For now, he is still just a 21-year-old living out his

dream, and trying to do whatever he can to win the match that is being played in front of him.

“I've heard all the stats that I am the youngest to win at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. I honestly try not to think about it too

much,” said Alcaraz. “Obviously it's a really great start to my career, but I have to keep going. I have to keep building my path. At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys. That's my main goal. That's my dream right now”

2024 U.S. Open Preview

It’sthat time of the year again, when the stars of the tennis world arrive in New York to compete on the world’s biggest tennis stage. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens hosts the world’s greatest tennis players here to New York to compete under the bright lights of the city that never sleeps, and carries with it a thrilling three weeks of tennis action.

In 2023, the U.S. Open once again delivered thrilling action, and saw American phenom Coco Gauff win the first major title of her career, achieving a dream she had since she first visited the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as a kid.

“I think the first was when I was eight and I came three or four years in a row to see Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day and I was just watching players compete on this court,” Gauff said. “When I was 13 or 14, I played U.S. Open juniors, and I watched the men’s final that year. So I had those visions of myself then.”

On the men’s side, it was far from the first for this winner.

Novak Djokovic won the U.S. Open for the fourth time as he added the 24th major title to his resume. The victory capped off a season in which he won three of the calendar’s four majors.

“Grand Slams, I have vocalized that in the last few years, have always been the highest goal and the priority of mine in the whole season,” said Djokovic. “I don’t play as much in terms of other tournaments, so I try to prioritize my preparation so that I can peak in Slams. There are the moments and these are the kind of emotions that I motivate myself with every single day when I’m not playing a tournament.”

This year’s U.S. Open begins on August 19 with the start of qualifying matches which kicks off Fan Week, and consists of an array of events and unique exhibitions to get the 2024 U.S. Open started in style.

Long Island Tennis Magazine has broken down the contenders, pretenders and sleepers for both the men’s singles and women’s singles draw.

Contenders, Pretenders, Sleepers

Men’s Singles Contenders

Carlos Alcaraz

It’s been the summer of Carlitos. The Spanish superstar has continued to outperform the lofty expectations people have of him as he has added two more majors to his resume, winning the French Open for the first time in his career, and defending his Wimbledon title from last year. Despite still only being 21-years-old, Alcaraz has established himself as a contender and threat at every tournament he plays, and

especially at the majors, when the pressure and intensity is turned up even higher. He is already a U.S. Open champion, winning in 2022, and is on record talking about how much he loves playing in front of the New York crowd. Alcaraz will be seeking a fifth major overall, and his third straight, and there is no reason to think he won’t be in contention for it.

Novak Djokovic

At 37-years-old, there is not much that Novak Djokovic hasn't accomplished in his decorated career. The only thing missing from his resume was an Olympic Gold Medal, but it is missing no more, as Djokovic defeated Alcaraz to earn the first Gold of his career. It was an impactful victory in more ways than one, as he not only achieved something for the first time, but was able to defeat Alcaraz, something he had failed at in his previous couple opportunities. Now he enters the U.S. Open feeling as confident as ever, and has his sights set on

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Contenders, Pretenders, Sleepers

defending his title from 2023, and his fifth triumph in New York City. Few players are capable of navigating the challenges of the two-week U.S. Open in the city that never sleeps, and Djokovic is at the top of that list.

Tommy Paul

It’s been 21 years since an American male last won a major title, and I’m sure Tommy Paul and his fellow colleagues from the United States are tired of hearing about it. This year’s U.S. Open could provide the perfect setting for the drought to end. Paul has demonstrated he has what it takes to succeed at the Slams, with a semifinal appearance at last year’s Australian Open, and reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon earlier this summer. Paul is one of the most athletic players on tour and has the game to thrive on the hard courts. He lost to fellow American Ben Shelton in the fourth round in Queens a year ago, but is poised to make a deep run in the second week at this year’s event, and has a great chance to snap that twodecade long streak of no majors for American men.

Pretenders

Casper Ruud

Two years ago, Casper Ruud enjoyed the best year of his young career, advancing to two major finals. First at the French Open, and then at the U.S. Open, coming up short both times however. He would make his way to the French Open final the following year, but would lose that championship match as well, making him 0-3 in major finals. Ruud’s game is perfectly suited to clay, so it’s no coincidence that the most success he has had has been at Roland Garros, which includes a deep run at this year’s Olympic Games. But hard courts are a different story. Out of his 12 career singles titles, only one of them have come

on hard courts, and if you remove his run to the 2022 U.S. Open finals, Ruud has only reached the third round in Queens one time, with his other appearances be first and second round exits. The Norwegian has had a very good 2024 season thus far, but don’t expect a deep run from him at the Open.

Andrey Rublev

It’s hard to think of a player who has been more consistent overall, yet has never been able to reach a semifinal of a major than Andrey Rublev. He has been a mainstay in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings for awhile now and while he has reached 10 Grand Slam quarterfinals, that’s the furthest he has advanced. At last year’s U.S. Open, he fell to Daniil Medvedev in the final eight, becoming the first player ever to lose their first nine quarterfinals, a tally which he added to at the Australian Open earlier this season. Rublev is extremely talented, but sometimes lacks the emotional maturity needed to make an even deeper run, as evidenced by the frequent outbursts he has on court. While Rublev is one of the best players in the world, until he shows he can advance past the quarterfinals, he has a ways to go to be considered a contender for a Grand Slam title.

Grigor Dimitrov

The man they referred to as “Baby Fed” when he was coming up as a top junior has had a resurgent last 18 months, recapturing the form that had him projected as the leader of the next generation when he was younger. Besides Djokovic, Dimitrov is the only player in The Top 30 who is 30-years-old or older, and that combined with his injury history creates doubt on whether he can traverse the fortnight of a major. He reached the French Open quarterfinals earlier this year, but prior to that, he hadn’t reached a major quarterfinal since the 2021 Australian Open. At his last four U.S. Opens, he reached the third round once and the second round three times, a trend that we can expect to continue at this years’ event.

Sleepers

Lorenzo Musetti

If Alcaraz wasn’t on tour, there would be no one on the men’s side who is having a better summer than Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti. Heading into the Olympic Games, Musetti climbed 75 spots in the rankings, moving into the edge of the Top 15. While he hasn’t won any titles, he has shown he is capable of competing with and beating the world’s best players, which includes two wins over American Taylor Fritz, and a difficult five-set defeat to Djokovic at the French

Open. After that defeat, he competed at Wimbledon where he compiled the best run at a major at his career, powering his way to the semifinals, the first time he made it out of the fourth round at any of the majors. At the Olympic Games, he defeated Alexander Zverev to reach the semifinals, and seems to be peaking at just the right time. Look for the young Italian to continue his 2024 success at this year’s U.S. Open.

Arthur Fils

The second highest ranked French player on tour, Arthur Fils is a bright young player who has all the tools to be one of the best in the world. Fils has a strong forehand and monster serve, a skill set that makes him a threat, especially on the hard courts. He is still coming into his own as a player, so he does not have the accolades yet, save for one title at the Hamburg Open earlier this season. However, at the Wimbledon Championships, Fils compiled his best showing at a major by reaching the fourth round, a result he will aim to duplicate and build upon when he arrives in New York.

It’s hard to call someone ranked sixth in the world a sleeper at a tournament, but in the case of Alex de Minaur, it somehow seems appropriate. You don’t hear his name mentioned a lot when there are discussions on the best players on tour, and yet, he is one of them. The 25-year-old Australian has had a wonderful 2024 season, posting a record of 36-12 while earning two titles, and cracking into the Top 10 for the first time in his career. At the Wimbledon championships earlier this summer, were it not for an injury he suffered in the previous round, he would have taken on Djokovic in the quarterfinals with a chance at reaching the first major semifinal of his career. That quarterfinal run came on the heels of reaching the French Open quarterfinals, and de Minaur will be out to move at least one step further when he begins play at the U.S. Open.

Women’s Singles Contenders

Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff suffered an earlier-thanexpected exit at the Olympic Games in Paris, so look for the young American to be even more focused when she arrives in New York for the U.S. Open. Gauff reached the summit a year ago when she won the first major title of her career in Flushing Meadows, overcoming the power of Aryna Sabalenka to come back from a set down and win. Gauff followed that up by reaching the final four at the Australian Open to begin this season, demonstrating just how good she is on the hard courts. With one of the best backhands on the women’s tour, if Gauff can continue to improve her forehand, she will fully round out her overall game. Look for the 20-year-old to make a strong push to defend her title.

Iga Swiatek

There is no doubting that the best player on the women’s tour for the last several years hails from Poland. While people always discuss how wide open the women’s game is, Iga Swiatek remains at the top, and continues to be the standard-bearer. Swiatek is a five-time major champion, which includes four French Open titles and one U.S. Open triumph, a tournament she won in 2022. While it has not been the typically-dominant season for Swiatek, as she lost in the early rounds at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon Championships, as well as failing to medal at the Olympic Games, all that means is Swiatek will be fresh entering the U.S. Open. Her aggressive, all-court style of play should be on full display at this year’s event as she aims to add a sixth major to her resume.

Qinwen Zheng

A player who has been able to beat Swiatek is China’s Qinwen Zheng, one of the brightest young players on the women’s tour. She is not a name that a lot of people know,

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Alex de Minaur

Contenders, Pretenders, Sleepers

but is still only 22-years-old, and is one of the most powerful players in the women’s game. She was named the Most Improved Player on the WTA Tour at the end of the 2023 season, momentum she carried into this year. To begin August, she knocked off Swiatek in straight sets to reach the final four at the Olympic Games, which continued a wonderful first seven months of her 2024 season. It began with a run to the Australian Open final, the first major final of her career, and includes a title in Palermo. A year ago, Zheng burst onto the scene by reaching the U.S. Open quarterfinals, and with another year of tour experience under her belt, Zheng will be out to go even further at this year’s event.

Pretenders - Women’s Singles

Barbora Krejcíková

While she is the reigning Wimbledon champion who also has a French Open title on her resume, the Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcíková could be due for an early exit at the U.S. Open. Krejcíková is a consistent player with an all-around game, yet it has not always translated to success here in New York. She reached the quarterfinals back in 2021, but since that, she only has a second round showing in 2022, and was bounced in her opening match a year ago. That is a trend that may continue in late August at this year’s U.S. Open, a tournament that has not always been kind to her.

Jasmine Paolini

One of the most improved players on the WTA Tour this season is the Italian Jasmine Paolini. The 28-year-old has put together the best season of her career in 2024, reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open, and the finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon, after never having made it out of the second round at any major in her career. She is a short player with great groundstrokes, but oftentimes can struggle on her serve, not allowing her to win some free, easy points that can be extremely beneficial on hard courts. There is no doubting how good of a season it has been Paolini, and one that has seemingly come out of nowhere, but don’t expect her to duplicate the runs she had at Roland Garros and the All-England Club when she arrives at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Aryna Sabalenka

A year ago, Aryna Sabalenka was so close to having a U.S. Open title on her impressive career resume. She was up one set on Coco Gauff before dropping the final two, failing to add another major to go along with her two

Australian Open titles. Sabalenka has been consistently inside the top 3 of the women’s tour, often exchanging places with Iga Swiatek, but it was not the best summer for the Belarusian. A shoulder injury kept her out of the Wimbledon Championships and it will be interesting to see if there are any lingering effects. If her shoulder injury is still bothering her, it could affect her serve, something that has presented her problems in the past, and if that’s the case, it could be an uncharacteristically early exit from the U.S. Open for her.

Sleepers - Women’s Singles

Jessica Pegula

Can the New York-crowd get behind Jessica Pegula enough to carry her to the U.S. Open title? We all know how impactful the U.S. Open crowd can be when it lends its support to a player, and Pegula hopes it can have that type of effect on her. The Buffalo-born Pegula has been such a consistent player over the last several years and has resided in the Top 10 of the WTA rankings for quite a while, but that has not led to Grand Slam success however. Similar to Rublev on the men’s side, there seems to be a roadblock between the quarterfinals and semifinals at

majors for Pegula, as she lost all six quarterfinals she has played in. An injury affected her through the mid-part of the season, forcing her out of the French Open, and she had an early exit at Wimbledon, but this year’s U.S. Open could be different for Pegula. She has acknowledged the struggles she has at this stage, and seems poised to break the chain.

“I had a spell where I couldn't win a first round. Then it became I would win my first two, then I would kind of lose in the third round. Now I've made a lot of quarters but I haven't made a semi,” she reflected. “I think there's always those little gaps where once you break through, it feels great, feels like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders a little bit.”

Donna Vekic

A couple of months ago, Donna Vekic compiled the best run of her career as she reached the semifinals at Wimbledon. It was there she suffered a difficult three-set defeat, the longest women’s semifinal in tournament history, to Jasmine Paolini which, at points, left her in tears. But it was an important tournament for Vekic who is having a resurgent season, and will look to build on

that when she plays at the U.S. Open. Five years ago, Vekic made the final eight of the U.S. Open, which remains her best showing in New York, but that’s something that could be set to change this year. She has the groundstokes capable of combating the power of the top players, and will be a dangerous opponent for anyone in the draw.

Paula Badosa

New York City-born Paula Badosa has had an injuryriddled last couple of seasons that have resulted in her falling outside the Top 60. But Badosa has all the talent to be able to make a deep run at a major, and as we have seen at past major events, there is oftentimes a female player that comes out of nowhere to reach the later rounds. Badosa has climbed as high as second in the world rankings and is aiming to rekindle that form. A month ago, she reached the Round of 16 at Wimbledon which is encouraging, and will be competing in many of the U.S. Open series tournaments to prepare for the hard courts of the U.S. Open. Badosa has a powerful serve and top-tier groundstrokes, and will look to use those to shock some people in Queens.

Reasons to Love the U.S. Open

Fan Week: US Open Fan Week will return in style in 2024, providing six days of amazing tennis, star-studded events and activities for all—with most free to the public—in the lead-up to the final Grand Slam of the year. Whether it's your first time or your 10th time visiting the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the slate of events scheduled from August 19 through August 25 will give you a savory sampling of the US Open’s unparalleled electricity.

Tennis under the stars: There is something special about summer nights in New York City, and that only gets amplified during the U.S. Open’s fortnight. Late-night tennis featuring star-studded matchups have become synonymous with the U.S. Open. The tennis stars always deliver big performances under the stars late into the early morning hours in the city that never sleeps, which provides unmatched energy not found anywhere else in the tennis world.

Practice court access: A two-stor y practice gallery

which allows fans unprecedented access to see their favorite players as they prepared for their matches. In addition to the viewing area of the practice courts, the gallery is also adjacent to Courts 4, 5 and 6 where matches are taking place, giving fans 360 degrees of tennis.

New York, New York: Tennis is an international sport with fans and players from all over the globe. But for a three-week period in the late summer, tennis’ home is located right here in our backyard. New York City becomes the sport’s host site and welcomes the best players and millions of fans to come celebrate the sport, and the city’s energy always brings out the best in the players.

Star Power: The U.S. Open is the best way to witness some of the greatest athletes in the world, right here in our backyard in New York. The intimate access to the practice courts are always packed when the top players are training, and walking around the vast USTA Billie Jean King National Center grounds, you can stumble on tons of great matches, especially in the early rounds.

2024 U.S. Open Player Compensation Reaches $75

Million, Making It The Largest Purse In Tennis History

Men’s and Women’s Singles Champions to Take Home $3.6 Million, With Total Player Compensation Increased by More than 15 Percent from 2023

TheUSTA announced that the 2024 US Open will offer the largest purse in tennis history, awarding $75 million in total player compensation. This amount tops the total $65 million in 2023, an increase of more than 15 percent. Men’s and Women’s Singles Champions at the 2024 US Open will receive $3.6 million, up from $3 million in 2023, a 20 percent increase.

Just as significant, all rounds in all events will see an increase from 2023. This is part of a deliberate and concerted effort in recent years by the US Open to ensure

significant payouts for all players competing in the event. These increases are seen both in the Main Draw and in the Qualifying Tournament, with an emphasis placed on early-round increases. As a result, over the last five years, prize money for reaching the first round of Main Draw Singles has increased by 72 percent ($58,000 in 2019) –reaching $100,000 for the first time, and up 23 percent from 2023. Prize money for the final round of Qualifying has also increased by 63 percent ($32,000 in 2019) over that same time period to

reach $52,000, up 16 percent from 2023.

Total prize money for Men’s and Women’s Doubles has seen an increase of 9 percent from 2023, with total prize money for Mixed Doubles increasing by 18 percent.

As there is no Wheelchair Tournament at the 2024 US Open due to the Paralympic Games, the USTA has made the decision to provide the players that would have been entered into the US Open via direct acceptance with a player grant, to ensure that these players are receiving the equivalent of prize money as compensation.

In addition, as was the case in 2023, an effort was made to provide all competitors from all professional Main Draw and Qualifying events with further player expense assistance. All players will receive travel vouchers of $1,000, as well as two hotel rooms in the official player hotel (or $600 per day if the player chooses to lodge at another accommodation). In 2024, players will also see an increase in meal allowance. In addition, players will receive free racquet stringing of up to five racquets per round.US Open Fan Week will return in style in 2023, providing six days of amazing tennis, star-studded events and activities for all—with most free to the public—in the lead-up to the final Grand Slam of the year.

Fan Week is a celebration of tennis and all the sport has to offer, as well as the players, fans and New York City—the tournament’s home. With tennis activities as well as entertainment for the whole family, the events that anchor each day of this beloved tradition offer something for everyone. The experience tries to break down any barriers to the sport, such as cost, equipment and knowledge of the game. Tennis is for everyone, so there’s something on offer for all ages and skill levels.

Nearly 112,000 visitors attended US Open Fan Week in 2022, with a record-setting 35,000 enjoying the

atmosphere and activities on Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.US Open Fan Week will include the following events in 2023:

Main Draw Singles

• Champion–$3,600,000

• Runner-Up–$1,800,000

• Semifinalists–$1,000,000

• Quarterfinalists–$530,000

• Round of 16–$325,000

• Round of 32–$215,000

• Round of 64–$140,000

• Round of 128–$100,000

Main Draw Doubles (per team)

• Champions–$750,000

• Runners-Up–$375,000

• Semifinalists–$190,000

• Quarterfinalists–$110,000

• Round of 16–$63,000

• Round of 32–$40,000

• Round of 64–$25,000

Qualifying Singles

• Round of 32–$52,000

• Round of 64–$38,000

• Round of 128–$25,000

Mixed Doubles (per team)

• Champions–$200,000

• Runners-Up–$100,000

• Semifinalists –$50,000

• Quarterfinalists–$27,500

• Round of 16–$16,500

• Round of 32–$10,000

2024 U.S. Open Schedule

(subject to change)

TheU.S. Open begins on Monday, August 19 as Fan Week begins and the qualifying tournament gets underway. The Main Draw begins on Monday, August 26 and the first four rounds will wrap up on Monday, September 2.

The Quarterfinals will get underway on Tuesday, September 3, with the Women’s Singles Semifinals beginning on Thursday, September 5, and the Men’s Singles Semifinals being played on Friday, September 6.

The Women’s Singles final is set for Saturday, September 7, and the Men’s Singles final will be held on Sunday, September 8.

34TH ANNUAL AWARDS JOURNAL

Regional Director’s Letter

Welcome to the 34th Annual USTA Long Island Regional Awards Dinner!

Tonight is an evening of celebration and recognition as we congratulate the Long Island junior and adult tennis players who will receive awards based on their play, accomplishments and dedication to the game. It’s a moment to come together and recognize the game itself, which continues to see participation grow and exceed its pre-pandemic levels. This year’s award ceremony will see a change in format. Listening to you, we have shortened the evening by foregoing the dinner; this has reduced the cost while still making sure we honor all of you. What makes the evening rewarding for the USTA LI Regional Council is that it gives us an opportunity to see you, hear you and recognize you. It is our yearly reminder of how diverse and special the Long Island tennis community truly is.

The new mission statement of the USTA is Growing Tennis to Inspire Healthier People and Communities Everywhere. We, the USTA Long Island Regional Council, will work to support this mission by continuing to reach out to the entire Long Island community to bring tennis to people of all ages and skill levels. We will also provide continued support and education in existing areas including awarding LI Regional Grants to foster new and innovative programing. Without the dedication of our regional council members (all volunteers), who give of their time throughout the year, we would not be able to the conduct the various activities that allow us to make this happen.

During the past year, as a Council we were proud to have the NET Generation players from our junior programs and camps go to the US Open and have an opportunity to participate in the NET Generation On Court Experience on Arthur Ashe Stadium court. We were humbled and proud to volunteer our time at the tennis portion of the Long Island Special Olympics. We supported Gold Coast Arts in presenting the Long Island movie premiere of “Who is Stan Smith?” and were pleased to be able to give complimentary tickets to the Senior Tuesday Tennis in the Park players as well as a discount code for tickets to all USTA members. We continued our support of Robbie’s Run and their mission of providing CPR training and AEDs. We provided a day of introductory tennis to hundreds of children at three Summer Kids’ Days. We also supported High School Coaches’ workshops and gave out Regional

Grants to those providers looking to support and/or establish a pathway for new and existing players. These events would not have been successful without our many partnerships. Thank you to our partner Long Island Tennis Magazine for their ongoing support of these initiatives, and to LuHi Camp, Sportime Hempstead Lake and Island Quest Camp for hosting these events.

Our high school tennis teams and their players once again had exceptional seasons, winning 3 of the 4 state titles. The girls’ season saw the Nassau singles champion -Nina Wiese of Garden City -- win the State title while the Suffolk girls’ doubles champions -- Julia Stabile & Matilda Buchen of Westhampton Beach -- won the State doubles title. The boys’ season saw the Suffolk doubles team of Harshith Pennabadi & Shashank Pennabadi (Ward Melville) win the State doubles title. In team competition, Long Island teams made the finals of both the Small and Large School Tournaments in both the girls’ and boys’ seasons, with Syosset repeating as the boys’ New York State Large School Champions.

We continued our support of high school tennis and supplied each Nassau and Suffolk public high school team with special plaques that allowed coaches to recognize one player on each of their respective teams for outstanding sportsmanship during the 2023-24 girls’ & boys’ seasons. We also provided sweatshirts to all Long Island girls and boys competing at the New York State Individual Championships.

We ask you to pay it forward by sharing, participating in and supporting the sport we all love by working with us on these and other programs and activities. By all of us doing our part, we will reach the goal of 35 by 35 (35 million players by 2035) set forth by USTA National, making the U.S. the world’s number one tennis-playing nation (by population) in the world.

Make sure to visit our web site, Facebook and Instagram pages frequently, and if you don’t already, please subscribe to our quarterly newsletter, “On the Ball: News from LI.”

I look forward to continuing the work we are doing and to reaching out and creating new pathways for those who have never had the opportunity to play and experience the “World's Healthiest Sport.”

Michael Pavlides

Long Island Regional Director (volunteer)

34TH ANNUAL AWARDS JOURNAL

Want to see photos from tonight’s awards or from past years? Need more information on our fabulous honorees and past awardees? Inspired to nominate someone for an award for next year? Visit www.longisland.usta.com for all you need to know about our Long Island Regional Awards Dinners from past to present!

34th Annual USTA Long Island Region Awardees

PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS

l Hy Zausner Lifetime Achievement Award

Dennis & Susan Erani

l Vitas Gerulaitis “For the Love of Tennis” Award

Jonathan Klee

l Rose Buck Scalamandre Tennis Family of the Year

The Donnelly Family

l Arthur Ashe Multicultural Award

Glen Cove Summer City Rec Camp

EXCELLENCE AWARDS

l Adult Volunteer of the Year

Sharon Rappapor t

l Charles Karp Memorial Award for Overcoming Adversity

Andy Funk

Lauren Norris

l Daniel Burgess, Sr. Community Service Award

Hamlet Phillip

l Junior Volunteer of the Year

Sanam Mehta

l Press Service Award

Roger Rubin (Newsday)

l Tennis Club of the Year

SPORTIME Port Washington

l Private Club of the Year

Piquet Lane Tennis Club

l Tennis Professional of the Year (Adult)

Russell Heier

l Tennis Professional of the Year (Junior)

Justin Redlich

l Birdie Tarulli League Captain Sportsmanship Award

Karen Cadorette

l Blane Magee League Captain Sportsmanship Award

Alan Turkiewicz

l Anuj Agarwal Junior Sportsmanship Award

Noah Mar tinez

l Jennifer Sherry Junior Sportsmanship Award

Blake Chang

l Madeline Zausner Junior Tournament Director Award

Jason Pasion

AWARDS JOURNAL

34th Annual USTA Long Island Region Awardees

l Long Island High School Tennis Team of the Year

Half Hollow Hills East Boys and Girls Teams

l USTA After School Tennis Program

HERO Tennis Program (Larry Cimino & Elissa Bestreich, Mike D’Agostaro)

l 10 and Under Tennis Award

Marilyn Super ville

2023-24 HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS

l Nassau County Boys’ Singles Champion

Herricks - Samar th Deepudass

l Nassau County Boys’ Doubles Champions

Syosset - Nikhil Shah & Devan Melandro

l NYS Boys’ Doubles Champions

l Suffolk County Boys’ Singles Champion

Ross School - Eduardo Menezes

l Suffolk County Boys’ Doubles Champions

Commack - James Yu & Eric Benderly

l NYS & Nassau County Girls’ Singles Champion

Garden City - Nina Weise

l Nassau County Girls’ Doubles Champions

Garden City - Kayla Castellano & Angelina Bravo

l Suffolk County Girls’ Singles Champion

Smithtown East - Anya Konopka

l NYS & Suffolk County Girls’ Doubles Champions

Westhampton Beach - Julia Stabile & Matilda Buchen

l Nassau County Coach of the Year

John F. Kennedy High School - Brian DeGaetano

l Suffolk County Coach of the Year

Elwood-John H. Glenn High School - Frank Schiraldi

Ward Melville - Harshith Pennabadi & Shashank Pennabadi

34TH ANNUAL AWARDS JOURNAL

34th Annual USTA Long Island Region Awardees

NATIONAL RANKINGS

(as of 07/17/24)

Boys/Girls

l Boys 12 singles: #1 Jacques Chen, #2 Keita Iwata

l Boys 14 singles: #1 John Murphy, #2 Alexander Lerman

l Boys 16 singles: #1 Jack Kennedy, #2 Zavier Agustin

l Boys 18 singles: #1 Jack Kennedy, #2 Edward Liao

l Girls 12 singles: #1 Gabrielle Alexa Villejas, #2

Chloe Wang

l Girls 14 singles: #1 Sofia Kedrin, #2 Blake Chang

l Girls 16 singles: #1 Sophia Holod, #2 Brooke Wallman

l Girls 18 singles: #1 Sophia Holod, #2 Kady Tanenbaum

Men

l Open Singles: #1 Adam Lee, #2 Amani Siddiqui

l 35+ Singles: #1 Paul Koenke, #2 Jonathan Klein

l 40+ Singles: #1 Adrian Pagani

l 45+ Singles: #1 Gerr y Bohner #2 Jonathan Klein

l 50+ Singles: #1 Jonathan Klein, #2 Jay Harris

l 55+ Singles: #1 Michael Davies, #2 Nick Haridopolos

l 60+ Singles: #1 Jeffrey Chu, #2 Steven Brill

l 65+ Singles: #1 Steven Brill

l 70+ Singles: #1 Steven Brill, #2 Marshall Hubsher

l 75+ Singles: #1 Marshall Hubsher

Women

l Open Singles: #1 Elizabeth Kobak, #2 Rose Hayes

l 35+ Singles: #1 Elizabeth Kobak

Family

l Father/Son 60+: Adam Rosen & Benjamin Rosen

NTRP National Championship (Women)

Singles

l 18 & Over Women 4.0: Betsy Bickar

NTRP National Championship (Men) Singles

l 18 & Over Men 3.0: Mar tin Guichardo

l 18 & Over Men 4.0: Mikayel Ayvazyan

Doubles

l 18 & Over Men 4.0: Brian Yan

l 55 & Over Men 3.5: David Singer, Joe Shimer

USTA LEAGUE TEAM AWARDS

Eastern Sectional Champions

Fall 2023

l 18 & Over 2.5 Women - National Champions

Point Set - Captains - Laura Crain & Cristina Handal

l 18 & Over 4.5 Men - Sectional Champions

Long Beach Tennis Center - Captains - Mitchell Low & Amani Siddiqui

l 40 & Over 3.5 Men - Sectional Champions

Christopher Morley Tennis Center - CaptainAdam Moramarco

l 40 & Over 4.0 Women - Sectional Champions

Huntington Indoor Tennis - Captains - Lisa Newell & Tracy Kleinberg

l 55 & Over 6.0 Men - Sectional Champions

Long Island Health & Racquet - Captain - Robert Kronenberg

l 55 & Over 7.0 Men - Sectional Champions

Sportime Kings Park - Captains - Dan Marklin & Bill Carson

l 65 & Over 8.0 Men - Sectional Champions

Christopher Morley Tennis Center - Captains - Al Silverstein & Ken Luba

l 65 & Over 8.0 Women - Sectional Champions

Sportime Syosset - Captain - Lydia Eitel

l 40 & Over 9.0 Mixed Doubles - Sectional Champions

Deer Park Tennis - Captains - Roslyn Chua-Mcalonie & Justin Laible

l 2023 4.5/4.0/3.5 Tri-Level Men - Sectional Champions

Long Beach Indoor Tennis Center - Captain - Zane Siddiqui & Faran Nazir

34th Annual USTA Long Island Region Awardees

Spring 2024

l 18 & Over 9.0 Mixed Doubles - Sectional Champions

Deer Park Tennis Center - Captains - Roslyn Chua-Mcalonie & Justin Laible

l 55 & Over 7.0 Mixed Doubles - Sectional Champions

Sportime Syosset - Captains: Jennifer Mao & Dawn Schosberg

l 2024 5.0/4.5/4.0 Tri-Level Men - Sectional Champions

Long Beach Indoor Tennis Center - Captain - Amani Siddiqui

W2024 Eastern Team Tennis National Champions

l 18 & Under Impact Tennis Nationals

Long Island Health & Racquet Club: Tito Perez

2024 Eastern Team Tennis Sectional Champions

l 12 & Under L5 Division

Port Washington Ninjas: Rong Ma

l 14 & Under L5 Division

Sportime Aces: Jason Pasion

THANK YOU

e are grateful to all our supporters for helping to make the 34th Annual USTA Long Island Region Awards program a success. Special thanks to Long Island Tennis Magazine for publishing tonight’s awards program. Thank you to our fabulous dinner committee headed by the incomparable event planner Randi Wilkins and featuring the hard work of our Long Island Regional Council.

Long Island Regional Council Executive Committee

Mike Pavlides, Regional Director

Jonathan Klee, Past Regional Director

Sunny Fishkind

Tito Perez

Jason Wass

Randi Wilkins

Committee Members

Terri Arnold-McKenzie

Scott Axler

Shannon Blue

Hilar y Bressler

Stephen Green

Herb Harris

Jackie Clark

KerriAnn Jannotte

Kathy Miller

David Sickmen

Jason Pasion

Sharon Rappaport

Fabiana Rezak

Clark D. Ruiz II

Denise Schmidt

Michelle Stoerback

Dunja Froman

Jacki Binder, Newsletter Editor

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

Becky Bellino, USTA Eastern Leagues Coordinator

www.longisland.usta.com

Facebook: Play Tennis Long Island

Instagram: usta_eastern ustaonlongisland@gmail.com

A Look At USTA

Eastern’s Community Involvement

Aswe move closer to the start of the final major of the year, we are lucky to be able to welcome in the tennis world to New York as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center plays host to the world’s largest tennis event: the U.S. Open. It’s one of the best times of the year in the community if you are a tennis fan, and creates the perfect setting to showcase the work being done by USTA Eastern. Throughout this year, USTA Eastern has continued to help the sport of tennis grow, maintaining and improving on a trend that we’ve seen happening over the last several years. Long Island Tennis Magazine sat down with Jenny Schnitzer, USTA Eastern’s Executive Director & CEO, to discuss how the year has gone so far, what is planned for the U.S. Open and look ahead to the final portion of 2024 and the beginning of 2024.

LITM: What were the goals for USTA Eastern heading into 2024, and how have you been able to meet those goals so far?

Schnitzer: Our ultimate goal is always to grow tennis across New York

and New Jersey. We want to bring new players into our community, welcome back those who may have put down a racquet for a couple years, and of course, keep all the people currently hitting the courts engaged and invested in our sport. In 2024, we’ve focused on some specific areas under that larger umbrella, including increasing beginner and social play opportunities, strengthening and growing our local stable of coaches, and continuing our collaborative efforts with local parks across the section.

LITM: Were there any new initiatives you ushered in this year? How have those gone thus far?

Schnitzer: A few new initiatives of note:

•Promoting sportsmanship is always a top priority for our competitive department. This year, our junior competition team launched “The Sportsmanship Project,” where players participating in junior tournaments can nominate their peers for exemplary on-court conduct through the use of an app.

This is only the beginning and we are very proud of the direction in which we are headed. We’ve received more sportsmanship nominations this year to-date than at this point last year.

•We’re extremely passionate about sharing the many health benefits of the sport. This past February, in honor of American Heart Month and in partnership with our hospital sponsor NewYork-Presbyterian, we hosted a series of free cardio tennis events at facilities around the Metro region.

•One of our biggest initiatives of the year was opening up our annual conference to a larger audience beyond volunteers and industry partners. We wanted junior and league players to participate in the event as well and feel like they too could have a hand in supporting our overall mission. We’re extremely proud that we were able to bring the inaugural Tennis Innovation Summit to life and that so many varied and energetic members of our community joined us on a rainy Saturday in March to participate in the event, which included sessions on everything from cardio tennis to technological

The USTA Eastern Tennis Innovation Summit was introduced for the first time in 2024 and helped connect all aspects of the tennis industry

advances in the industry. It helped that Kim Clijsters was able to serve as our keynote speaker!

LITM: What are some of the plans/activities/events you have going on at the 2024 U.S. Open?

Schnitzer: As we did last year, we will be organizing an Asian-American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanderfocused event on August 19 during Fan Week. We will also once again hold our annual Eastern Junior Awards Gala on Day 1 of the US Open. At the Gala we celebrate the top three ranked Eastern juniors in each age division, as well as our 2023 Sportsmanship Award winners. We love hosting this event because after the ceremony the players we honored are free to walk around the grounds and watch some Round 1 matches with their families. It’s a great reward for all their hard work and dedication.

Similarly, we also host our annual DEI Champions Award Ceremony on

opening day. This is an event where we celebrate leaders from throughout the section who have gone above and beyond growing tennis in diverse communities.

USTA Eastern staff is also, as always, heavily involved in organizing the oncourt Net Generation demonstrations that precede the matches. The vast majority of the kids who participate, including those who serve as coin tossers before the start of each contest, come from the Eastern section.

LITM: Have you seen a growth in tennis participation this year up to this point? To what do you attribute that if so?

Schnitzer: Across the board we’re seeing growth in the competitive space. Year over year, event registrations are up 8%, tournament registrations are up 9%, and tournaments hosted are up 11%.

We’re particularly proud of the growth we’ve seen in social adult

programming. This is programming we’ve developed for players who want to hit the courts with their friends and enjoy a little relaxed, friendly competition but maybe don’t want to commit to playing tournaments or competing in USTA Leagues. We can attribute the growth in this category to the relatively new USTA Flex app, which enables players to meet new competitors in their area, at their level. We’ve been running box leagues through the app in New York City for the last two summers, and another league will kick off this fall after the US Open.

LITM: Eastern has been at the forefront of diversity & inclusion, and welcoming in new players from all walks of life into our sport. Why is this such an important mission for Eastern, and what sorts of things have you done to try and achieve this?

Schnitzer: Diversity and inclusion is just

continued on page 42

a look at usta eastern’s community involvement

continued from page 41

imperative to our overall mission, and it’s as simple as that. It’s embedded in everything we do. How can we possibly grow this sport if we’re not being inclusive, if we’re not reaching out to diverse audiences? Tennis is a game for all.

We have developed strong partnerships with a wide range of organizations including Jack & Jill of America, Heart of Dinner and Metropolitan Tennis Group.

We often set up shop at events that are not necessarily tennis-oriented but that already attract large, diverse audiences. Our approach has enabled us to greatly increase the visibility of the sport. For example, at the “Juneteenth in Queens” event this past June, we were able to set up a booth at tennis courts near the celebration. We brought in instructors from Brookville Tennis and festival attendees received the opportunity to step on court and get an informal lesson. We partnered with the All-Love Racquet Club and shared information about places to play and get instruction in the area. We’re doing this to show that tennis welcomes everyone, especially through park play.

LITM: As we enter the final quarter of the year, what are the organization's goals for the final few months?

Schnitzer: We are really inspired by the growth we’ve already seen in 2024. USTA National has boldly set the goal to increase the country’s tennis-playing population to 35 million tennis players by 2035, and we are committed to doing our part to make

that a reality. We are working every day to make tennis more accessible in our section of the country, and we are helping to improve public court conditions where possible. We are focused on New York City specifically, where we see a huge opportunity for growth!

LITM: Have you begun preparing for 2025? What can people expect from Eastern as we approach a new year?

Schnitzer: Low-compression red tennis balls continue to be a big source of potential in our view. They help beginners more quickly grasp the fundamentals of the game, which will ultimately help keep them invested in playing. Again, growing the number of tennis players in our section isn’t just about finding new players. It’s also about retention. To that end, we are constantly working to improve players’ experiences. That’s why we are so committed to experimenting with new formats like USTA Flex and LVBL, as well as celebrating sportsmanship and strengthening our coaching base.

The Net Generation clinics on-court are always a highlight for the local kids and programs at the U.S. Open

What Federer Didn’t Learn In College Three Tennis Lessons That Can Change Your Life

By Rob Polishook

Likemany of you, I was excited to learn that Roger Federer was giving a commencement speech. How fortunate for Dartmouth that Tony Godsick, his agent, had a daughter in the Dartmouth University 2024 graduating class, which is also Godsick’s alma mater.

Much like Federer’s career, the speech went viral. Some described it as motivational, full of humility, vulnerable and, yes, even a bit awkward. What was obvious was that Federer spent time on the speech and got to know the student’s favorite hangouts and activities. The speech had all the ingredients to draw an audience in and also relay very important points. He spoke about three big lessons; I believe these lessons are seminal for both an athlete and person to embrace in order to achieve maximum well-being and performance.

when no one was looking!”

Federer further stated, “I got there by trying to outwork my opponents, I believed in myself…belief has to be earned.”

In the remainder of the article, I will share thoughts from my perspective as a holistic mental training coach regarding Federer’s poignant lessons and why they are so important and ultimately serve to set the stage for better performance.

1. Effortlessness is a myth: Federer is known for being one of the most fluid, artistic, and graceful players ever to swing a racket. However, up-front and without remorse, he acknowledges that “I had to work hard to make it look easy… and this hard work was usually put in

His words clearly illustrate that he was focused on the process, not the outcome. He was focused on what it took to be successful. Federer then went on to share that “talent matters… talent has a broad definition, but most of the time, it’s not about having a gift, but about having grit…in tennis like in life, discipline is also a talent, so is patience, trusting yourself is a talent, embracing and loving the process is a talent, managing your life…these can be talents too…some are born with them, everyone has to work at them.”

What I love about this last statement is that Federer seems to recognize what I call the three talents of the Whole Human Athlete. Certainly, he recognizes physical talent, but he also clearly speaks to personal talents like patience, trust and sticking to the

process. These talents are often overlooked by coaches, parents, and even the players themselves. Lastly, throughout his speech he makes reference to how his experiences, culture and upbringing have been so important to shaping who he is. So how can a junior player apply this lesson? It easy to say, harder to do, but put in the work, love the process, and be yourself.

2. It’s only a point: This is a guy who has won 103 singles titles including 20 Grand Slams. However paradoxically, he said “while playing, the point has to be the most important thing in the world, but when it’s behind you, its behind you, this mindset is really crucial, because it frees you to fully commit to the next point …with intensity, clarity and focus.” He goes on to say, “the truth is, whatever game you play in life sometimes you’re going to lose…it’s a roller coaster with ups and down…but negative energy is wasted energy, you want to become a master at overcoming hard moments, to me that’s the sign of a champion.”

Federer mentioned how he won 80 percent of his matches but only 54 percent of the points. He said “the best in the world are not the best because they win every point, it’s because they know how to lose again and again and learned how to deal with it.” So how can a junior tennis player apply this lesson? As Federer says, become a master at accepting and working to

overcome hard moments and adversity. I call this adversity management. This is the game within the game; it’s the game that you can control, not the outcome.

3. Life is bigger than the court: This was Federer’s last key lesson. He shared that, “when I was first starting out, tennis could show me the world, but tennis could never be the world.”

He further said, “Even when I was in the top 5, it was always important to have a life, a rewarding life full of travel, culture, friendship, and especially family, I never abandoned my roots and never forgot where I came from… but these were the reasons I never burned out maybe?”

Federer then went on to explain that he realized that he, “didn’t just want to travel the world as a tourist, I realized pretty early that I wanted to serve other people in other countries.” He elaborated that he started his foundation before he was ready, and

that he wanted to use philanthropy where he could use more personal talents like his ideas, time and energy to a mission larger than himself.

The idea that Federer speaks about life being bigger than the court is similar to how Rafa says “tennis is what I do, not who I am.” While tennis is obviously important to Federer and Nadal, they speak to recognizing that tennis is not who they are. These perspectives illustrate awareness, balance and clarity as whole human athletes. So how can a junior tennis player, their coach and parents use the idea that life is larger than tennis? I suggest the importance of cultivating a balance in life, be it friends/family, hobbies, and serving

others on

In summary, Federer’s speech resonated with many people in many ways. He delivered his speech with humility, gratefulness, and appreciation to others that have helped and shared in his journey. His three lessons of: Effortlessness is a myth, it’s only a point, and life is bigger than the court speaks to not just tennis but also to life and the whole human athlete.

This perspective will be helpful off the court but on the court, it can take pressure off of the performance. It will be helpful to leverage not just your physical talents but also the personal talents and cultural experiences.

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

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It

has been said that the National Football League is a copycat league, meaning that when a team wins the Super Bowl or has lots of success, other teams will often try to mimic what they do.

Tennis definitely has seen this as well.

Throughout the years, when a new player breaks out on tour and has success with something that hasn’t been done, kids will want to incorporate that dynamic into their game, and coaches will sometimes, but not often, teach junior players this technique or style.

In this article, I’ve turned back the clock to reminisce and examine nine changes brought on by a player’s breakthrough that might be construed as revolutionary, and have helped shape the game into what it is today.

Players Who Have Changed Trends Around The World

By Ricky Becker

1. Carlos Alcaraz’s Drop Shot

Alcaraz certainly did not invent the drop shot, and there may be some recency bias here but he certainly put the drop shot back on the radar of today’s junior player. The coaching quip that you shouldn’t drop shot on a big point has definitely become a tougher sell with Alcaraz hitting drop-shots whenever and wherever. This is definitely the in-vogue shot of today.

2. Daniil Medvedev’s Return Position Way Behind the Baseline

This one I find a bit surprising. I remember as a junior player this was frowned upon because it was too easy for an opponent to use all that extra time to serve-and-volley, and then either hit a drop volley or use the extra open court from the

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returner being so deep. I do see more and more players at the pro level serving and volleying against this tactic and it’s working. I still think that this return position is a liability against someone who is coming to net off the serve, if the volleyer is functional up there. The only exception is if the returner is just getting flat out overpowered by the serve which interestingly would not necessarily be the case with Medvedev.

3. Rafael Nadal’s Reverse Forehand

The thought of a player following through on the same side of the body as the swing was definitely unheard of and something coaches would think was crazy until Nadal started doing it to generate more spin on balls at the beginning of his career. Then, in the early 2010s, it became a shot that pretty much every high-level junior had in his arsenal. It’s really most effective for players with a western grip who are stuck with a late contact point on a particular shot. While it’s still definitely out there, I don’t see it as in-vogue with junior players as was the case 15 years ago.

4. Andy Roddick’s Short Service Motion

Everyone used to bring their racquet back in an underhand motion to start their serve. Andy Roddick did too. But then one day, he was messing around with his coach, pretty much threw the ball in the air, brought his arm directly up, smacked the ball

harder, the ball went in and asked his coach why he can’t just serve like that. From there, a new trend in serving motions was born. Towards the end of Roddick’s career I was talking to his brother who mentioned to me that Andy knows his arm is going to be shot at the end of his career because of the motion, but with the success he was having, there was no way he was going to change it. Rumor has it that Roddick plays a lot in Charlotte, North Carolina, but it’s mostly baseline games.

5. Andre Agassi’s Taking the Ball Early Before Agassi, players hit the ball from behind the baseline. Agassi started hitting the ball hard from the baseline, inside the baseline or as the ball was coming up and not down. This takes incredible talent and this coaching technique and playing style is still a great tactic today by a lot of players. Taking the ball early is like adding miles-perhour on to the ball because your opponent has less time to recover and the player taking the ball early is hitting the ball when it is coming to them faster so it is adding more pace.

6. Steffi Graf’s Inside-Out Forehand

I can’t confirm that Graf was the first player to use the inside-out forehand but she’s the one I remember popularizing it. Her game plan was straight forward: stand a bit to the ad side; take forehands as much as possible and control the rally to her opponents’ backhand; after controlling the rally put the ball away inside-in. The term “serve plus one” wasn’t used back then but she was the first person I remember doing it. Opponents knew what she was going to do but couldn’t stop it.

7. Martina Navratilova’s Book Eat-To-Win

This isn’t an on-court feature but when Martina Navratilova published

her book that she co-wrote Eat To Win, it was revolutionary. It was like, “You mean if I eat well, it can help my tennis game!?” Some pros started eating what it said in the book, some people came up with their own plans and some people kind of ignored the whole food thing altogether. Nowadays, professionals take great pains to get everything right that they need for their diets. Interestingly, a lot of what she advised was that eating complex carbohydrates like pasta was gold. I am lucky that was considered good nutrition back then!

8. Yannick Noah’s Tweener

Most people younger than 40 don’t know that Noah was the first person to hit this shot on the grand stage, but when he did it at the U.S. Open in the early 80s, everybody was like. “what did I just see!?” After that, junior players would practice it and fail (myself being one of them.)

As the game gets more advanced, it is obviously still a very tough shot to execute but the novelty of it was gone each U.S. Open there will be a handful of them.

9. Jimmy Connors’ Two-Handed Backhand

Admittedly, I wasn’t around when this trend started but before Connors pretty much all men players had one handed backhands. Connors was able to almost “shovel” the ball and his backhand return was practically considered unbreakable as he was winning Grand Slams. This slowly got the ball rolling to where most backhands in the pro game are twohanders.

Sports are always evolving, and tennis is no different. As athletes continue to improve and new players enter our sport, it will be interesting to see what the next trends will be as the game continues to move forward.

Ricky Becker is The Director of Tennis at Glen Oaks Club. Ricky also coaches highperformance juniors throughout the year and has been the Director of Tennis at three of Long Island’s biggest junior programs. As a player, Becker was the Most Valuable Player for the 1996 NCAA Championship Stanford Tennis team, four-time MVP for Roslyn High School and ranked in the top-five nationally as a junior. He can be reached at rbecker06@yahoo.com or 516-359-4843.

An in-depth look at Pickleball on Long Island In the Kitchen

Q&A With Bill Levin, TopSpin Tennis & Pickleball

Overthe last several years, pickleball has continued to see an increase in popularity, not only globally but specifically here on Long Island. With new facilities opening up, and courts being installed at parks from the edge of Nassau County to the East End, the pickleball surge is here to stay.

To get a sense of how this has affected other aspects of the racquet sports industry, Long Island Tennis Magazine sat down with Bill Levin, the owner and operator of TopSpin in Syosset, who has been providing Long Islanders with top-tier service for more than three decades. Levin is one of the most knowledgeable people regarding the ins and outs of the local tennis community, and we spoke with him about pickleball and the effect it has had on him and his business.

Long Island tennis players, and now pickleball players, for over 30 years, and we’re still going strong!

LITM: How have you seen the industry change since you first opened?

LITM: How long has TopSpin in business? When did you first open up shop?

Levin: Topspin has been 'serving'

Levin: The tennis industry has changed (or more accurately-evolved) as much as the game itself. The technology in rackets, apparel and

footwear has developed from wood to aluminum to high modulus graphite which increases the power and spin we see in today's game. The style of play has dictated that the strings provide that along with placement and control. Footwear technology and engineering has also changed from canvas back from decades ago to customization, durability, performance and injury prevention. Shoe companies also compete with advanced styles and fashion.

LITM: With the rise of pickleball over the last couple of years, what were some adjustments and changes you had to make?

Levin: Participation in pickleball has exploded over the past three years. Since it is easier to play, all age groups have rushed to the courts. The market for equipment and shoes has seen rapid innovation and since the sport is in its "infancy" stage the changes have come at a high rate

and as a retailer we must adjust to the newest and best products.

LITM: Did you know a lot about pickleball when you first started stocking items related to the sport?

Levin: No. Pickleball was a revelation and has become a special culture in itself. We continue to learn the dynamics and developing market conditions and innovations to help us provide the best products and services as we have always done for tennis.

LITM: Has the growth of pickleball helped business overall?

Levin: Of course! Sales have increased significantly in our store as a huge add-on to our business.

LITM: What, if any, are some differences you see between people coming in for tennis equipment versus pickleball equipment?

Levin: There has been an interesting interaction and even a kind of competition between players of the

two sports. Tennis players tend to be more serious and tend to protect their "turf" while some friendly mocking goes on based on their perception that tennis is more athletic. Pickleball players on the other hand, are out for more of a social interaction and fun, as well as competition and exercise.

Topspin carries the top brand pickleball paddle companies such as Selkirk, Engage, Holbrook and many more. Topspin also has the largest selection of court shoes on Long Island. Visit TopSpinTennisLI.com for more information!

Pickleball Padel Product Review: Selkirk Sport LUXX Control Air

Tennis

Olympian and four-time Grand Slam champion Jack Sock recently transitioned into professional pickleball, and has released his own signature paddle: the LUXX Control Air from Selkirk Sport.

The LUXX Control Air is engineered with advanced technology to provide unparalleled control and finesse on the court. Each paddle feature’s Sock’s

signature, as well as a bold red, black and white colorway that reflects Sock’s dynamic personality and competitive spirit.

The paddle was released more than a year ago and is designed for players who crave control, precision and finesse on the court. It includes a Florek Carbon Fiber paddle face, a thick honeycomb core and enhanced edgeless technology,

which combine to give players a larger sweet spot and ample power on the court.

The LUXX Control Air is designed for tacticians, and with a large sweet spot and thick core, the paddle delivers unequaled control, ample power and accelerated spin on every shot.

To learn more about the LUXX Control Air and more top pickleball products, visit Selkirk.com.

continued from page 49

SPORTIME Hosts Red, White and Blue Tournament at PORT Washington

To celebrate our nation’s birthday and provide its players with unique tournament experiences, SPORTIME Port Washington hosted a Red, White and Blue tournament earlier this summer. The event was a Mixed Doubles tournament and featured both great competition on the court, and a fun time off the court. Below are the results.

• Gold Medal Winners: Greag Tufenkdjian/Paula Picone

• Silver Medal Winners: Lisa Moccaldi/Dan Palumbo

• Bronze Medal Winners: Scott Davis/Ashley Davis

Long Island Pickleball Challenge Coming to Hempstead Lake

AsLong Island Tennis Magazine continues its community involvement and tournament offerings, we’re excited to once again host the Long Island Pickleball Challenge, which will hit the courts of SPORTIME Hempstead Lake.

The tournament will feature four different divisions of play:

• Women’s Doubles 3.5 - 4.0

• Men’s Doubles 3.5 - 4.0

• Men’s Doubles 4.0 - 4.5

• Mixed Doubles 3.5 - 4.0

The format will be round-robin play that lead into the knockout rounds. Players will be treated to catered breakfast and catered lunch, as well as complimentary drinks throughout the tournament. There will be prizes for the winners of all divisions, and winners will be featured in the next edition of Long Island Tennis Magazine.

You can learn more and register for the Long Island Pickleball Challenge by visiting LongIslandTennisMagazine.com/Events/SeptemberPickle ballChallenge.

literary corner

The Wisdom of a Coach: Health, Wealth, Education, Athletics—A Game Plan for Life

By Barry Goldsmith

Growingup in the New York City Housing Projects in the 50s and 60s, Barry Goldsmith learned at a young age the importance of an education, and doing things the right way. And now, he is passing on those lessons and what he learned in his book, The Wisdom of a Coach: Health, Wealth, Education, Athletics—A Game Plan for Life

.

Goldsmith has a resume that spans decades, and includes being a high school and college teacher for more than 50 years, as well as 57 seasons of experience as a tennis coach. That includes stints coaching the men’s tennis team at Midwood High School, Long Island University, South Shore High School and Kingsborough Community College, the latter stop lasting 33 years, where he also coached the women’s team for 10 years. He holds the title of Master Professional in the USPTA, and was inducted into the College Coaches Hall of Fame by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

In his new book, The Wisdom of a

Coach: Health, Wealth, Education, Athletics—A Game Plan for Life, he shares his knowledge, experiences, stories and aphorisms of Warren Buffet, John McEnroe, Arthur Ashe, Dr. George Sheehan, Venice Williams, Dennis Vander Meer, Rick Macci, Nick Bollettieri, as well as motivational speakers Anthony Robbins and Raymond Aarons, plus famed coaches from other sports like Dean Smith, Joe

Paterno, Vince Lombardi and John Wooden, plus more.

Tennis teachers and players will learn strokes, singles and doubles strategy, the serve and volley techniques, and drills to practice. All teachers will learn how to make every lesson meaningful and significant.

Together with his wife, Rachelle, Goldsmith has visited more than 45 countries, seen three Olympic Games live, and walked in the opening day ceremonies at the 2009 USA Maccabi Games; Goldsmith’s knowledge and expertise comes from his more than a half-century of educational experience, and worldly knowledge learning from philosophers, teachers and coaches from across the globe.

You can read the 1,000 philosophies, solutions, suggestions, answers and strategies to navigate any obstacle in life in Goldsmith’s book, which is available on Amazon in paperback, hard cover or digital formats.

Asthe men’s quarterfinals singles match at the U.S. Open unfolded inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, a young boy and his grandpa sat sideby-side, engrossed in the high-stakes drama. The players split sets, and during the changeover, the boy turned to his grandpa with a worried expression.

“Grandpa,” he said, his voice tinged with anxiety. “I'm afraid of competition. Both in practice and tournaments. I get so nervous before I play that I can't perform my best.”

Grandpa looked at him with a knowing smile. “Everyone gets nervous in competition,” he replied gently. “You'll learn that as you get older. It takes a very rare and unique competitor to get nervous before they play.”

“Really?” the boy asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

“Yes, really,” Grandpa affirmed.

Parent vs. Coach: Competition

By Eldad Campbell

“The ones who don't care or aren't committed usually don't get very nervous. But even they get nervous sometimes. The more committed you are and the greater your desire, the more nerves you'll feel. Over time, you'll realize that the conventional view of competition is a trap. Competition is not just about winning and losing.

The boy listened intently as Grandpa continued, “Imagine you're a 12-yearold kid playing six tournaments against opponents below your level. You win all six, and your coach and parents praise you. You feel good about yourself. But during those matches, you just pushed the ball without any goal to improve your game. Sure, you move up in the rankings and feel like a better player. But what happens when you're 15 and struggle to win against the players you used to beat? You might change coaches, start blaming others, and, at best, quit tennis.”

The boy frowned: “Can't I just keep winning the same way I've been winning?”

“You mean by playing not to lose and winning at all costs?” Grandpa asked. “You can, but how do you control winning and losing when playing against another living, breathing, thinking entity?”

“I'll do it the same way I did when I was 12,” the boy insisted.

“And what if that doesn't work?” Grandpa challenged.

“What if your way doesn't work?” the boy retorted.

Grandpa smiled at his grandson's determination. “Good point. Here's what we'll do. I'll have you read an article tonight, and at the end, you tell me which approach increases the probability of future success.”

“Deal,” the boy said, a mischievous glint in his eye. “But if I don't see the logic, you'll have to run on the court naked like those streakers at Wimbledon during tomorrow's ladies' semifinal match.”

Grandpa chuckled. "Who said we're going to tomorrow's ladies' semifinal match?"

“Grandpa, you and I both know we're going tomorrow. So let's not play that game. I'll read the article tonight.”

As the match resumed, the boy's mind was already racing with thoughts of the challenge ahead, eager to uncover the secrets of true competition.

This article, titled Competition, is part three of the Parent vs. Coach (P vs. C) series and discusses the underlying objectives and approaches to match play in tournaments and practice. Part one, titled Coach Selection, offered advice on selecting a suitable coach,

and part two, titled Long-Term Commitment, examined the importance of devotion.

What is the ultimate goal of competition? While victory is a primary objective, competition serves a broader purpose that can be uniquely personal. Competition furnishes an opportunity to stretch abilities, fitness, mental aptitude, and technical skills. The stretching of capabilities creates advances in limitations, propelling the mind and body to adapt successively to elevated levels of complexity.

How should you approach competition? There are myriads of data detailing techniques and strategies for competition. P vs. C - Competition focuses on three assertions comprising the mindset of winning and losing in practice, the importance of 'player level' and its relationship to results, and failure justifications and their effect on the player's inclination to throttle up or down during play. P vs. CCompetition will conclude with a concise strategy for overcoming nervousness.

The image of triumph and defeat in practice matches should not exist in a player's consciousness. Practice matches exist to improve talent through repetition, experimentation, and discovery. It creates an environment for unlimited revision under the vigilant watch of an experienced professional,

allowing instantaneous productive feedback. The primary focus of practice matches should concern analysis and documentation. With this mentality, greater control of directional development and workable information becomes available for future growth tracking. Consequently, the coaching professional develops a nuanced capability to prescribe tournaments that align with the player's developmental trajectory, possessing an advanced degree of certainty regarding the impact of event outcomes on the player's overall growth.

Practicing without considering the prospect of winning and losing may seem taboo, as winning is a prerequisite for excelling in the game. The next point will address this subject. Player level directly correlates to success and loss in tournaments. Higher player levels commonly result in victory. The primary goal during practice should be to enhance one's intrinsic level of play. The player's level serves as the most accurate predictor of tournament performance. By concentrating on augmenting this level rather than the mere frequency of tournament participation, the player will experience incremental improvements with each successive competition. These enhancements will be quantifiable and readily discernible.

How do you advance one's level? To

advance a player's level, focus on specific details during practice matches, rigorously evaluate the outcomes, and implement refined techniques and strategies to fix identified weaknesses. Upon attaining a heightened level, the player, during competition, should embody their training and innate talent, performing actions seamlessly and instinctively—a state often described as being in the flow.

By practicing with deliberate intent and precision, the athlete will achieve more substantial rewards, ultimately refining their game and ascending to a higher level of mastership.

The justification of failure profoundly influences match intensity, revealing the intricate mental landscape of a player. Fear of underperformance often leads players to devise pre-practice and precompetition excuses, serving as a buffer for their ego in the event of an unfavorable outcome. These excuses frequently manifest as self-fulfilling prophecies, bringing about the mere results the players aimed to avoid.

The optimal approach is to compete valiantly, accepting full responsibility for the performance. The mindset should be, “I gave my best effort, and I will address and correct my deficiencies.”

Embracing this philosophy in competition and practice, one assumes

continued on page 54

full accountability for triumphs and setbacks. This commitment to continuous self-improvement will inevitably lead to marked advancements in skill level and performance outcomes.

This article merely scratches the surface when discussing competition and its various approaches. The concepts presented here are intended to spark thoughtful consideration and offer fresh perspectives for readers. Strive to win, but remember that without continuous growth in your game, your tenure at the pinnacle of the sport will be short-lived.

Later that night, the young boy sat on his bed, deeply engrossed in the article Grandpa had given him. The strategies and insights intrigued him, sparking a newfound determination within him. When he finished, he hurried back to

the living room, clutching the magazine excitedly.

“Grandpa," he exclaimed, “I loved the article! I think I'll go with your method, so you don’t have to run on the court naked tomorrow.”

Grandpa chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Good, good.”

The boy's face grew serious. “But Grandpa, it never told me how to deal with my nerves.”

Grandpa leaned forward, his expression earnest. “When you're nervous and anxious, what you truly fear is the embarrassment of not performing at your best. Though there's

no foolproof remedy, the best approach is to be well-prepared. Use your nerves to your advantage—breathe deeply, stay in the present, and take yourself lightly. And if that doesn’t work, get naked and run around the court—that should surely solve the problem.”

The boy burst into laughter, the weight of his worries lifting. He hugged his grandpa tightly, feeling a surge of love and gratitude. “I love you, Grandpa.”

Grandpa hugged him back, his heart full. “I love you too, kiddo. Now, let's get to bed and get some rest. I’m taking you to tomorrow's semi-final match at the US Open. “

Why a Low Trajectory Ball Is Not A Slow Spinning Ball

By Steve Kaplan

Acommon misunderstanding in tennis is that a ball that spins faster follows a more vertical path. While true in some cases, it's not true in all circumstances.

Does This Matter?

Consider that such two dimensional thinking that confuses rotation and revolution is why we once thought the earth was flat, too.

Ball Flight

We impart three primary qualities when we hit a tennis ball:

1) Trajectory of the ball flight,

2) Spin or ball rotation

3) Speed.

These are all relatable but distinct qualities.

Trajectory is the path the ball travels. It can be very steeply arced or it can be less steep and thus flatter. A flatter shaped ball arc does not travel with more speed but it does travel a shorter distance than a steep arced ball therefore it has greater velocity and will reach its target sooner.

When we talk about a nonrotation ball we should remember that there is no such thing as a nonrotating ball struck in tennis. If a ball travels any distance, it spins. If you can throw a ball 60 feet and make it rotate just five times, drop your tennis racket and sign your multimillion dollar contract with the Yankees as their new knuckle-ball ace. Spin is a matter of magnitude and direction.

Diagonal Spin

The common and unfortunate misconception is that the ball only spins on the vertical axis and therefore there are only two kinds of

spin: topspin or forward spin, and slice or backspin. The ball however can and most often does spin on a horizontal axis or tilted axis. This horizontal spin results in the ball moving horizontally when it lands, and this effect has been called “The Fade and “The Draw”, by coach and author Chuck Tomlin, using a familiar term from golf. It's important to understand that when a ball is moving with greater diagonal spin it will likely have less arc and thus be "flatter" but it can still have more spin than a highly arced traditional topspin shot.

The Fact Of Physics

The greater the ball velocity, the

greater the rotation frequency the ball will have. So a ball rotating with a forward vector will slow very little and actually accelerate after bouncing from its impact force restitution.

A common way to describe a shot hit with a low trajectory path is to call it “flat”. This does not mean, however, it is hit faster with more power or with a less spin rate than a ball with a steeper trajectory path.

Why It Matters

Very simply, the best players in the world use diagonal spin to add ball velocity, increase control and the distance and timing challenges of their opponents.

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, executive director and founder of Serve & Return Inc. and co-director of The City Classic Junior Tennis Academy. Steve has coached more than 1,100 nationally- ranked junior players, 16 New York State high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous highly-ranked touring professionals. Many of the students Steve has closely mentored have gone on to achieve great success as prominent members of the New York financial community, and in other prestigious professions. He may be reached by e-mail at StevenJKaplan@aol.com.

Adult League Wrap-Up

By Becky Bellino

Anotheryear is in the books, and what a season it was this summer! The 18+ and 40+ mens’ and womens’ seasons have come to a dramatic close, as always, with many league winners coming down to the wire, which makes for high energy entering into Sectional Season!

The following teams will compete for the Eastern crown either up in Schenectady or Westchester.

Congratulations to all of our Long Island men and women, best of luck in your quest to Nationals!

Women:

• 18+ 2.5 – SPORTIME Lynbrook, Avvinti/Foley

• 18+ 3.0 - Point Set Tennis, Crain

• 18+ 3.5 - SPORTIME Port Washington, Ma/Rothbort

• 18+ 4.0 - Lynbrook, Bitton/Arnone

• 18+ 4.5 - Dix Hills, Capilets

• 40+ 3.0 - Point Set Tennis, Crain

• 40+ 3.5 - Christopher Morley, Rosenkranz

• 40+ 4.0 – SPORTIME Lynbrook, Tavernier/Bitton

• 40+ 4.5 – SPORTIME Roslyn, Sorin/Tacher

Men:

• 18+ 3.0 - Deer Park, Ng/Dikman

• 18+ 3.5 – SPORTIME Kings Park, Jackson

The 18+ 3.0 team out of Point Set Tennis

The 18+ 3.5 team out of SPORTIME Port Washington

• 18+ 4.0 - Huntington, Hyman/Weiss

• 18+ 4.5 - Long Beach, Malik/Low

• 18+ 5.0 - Long Beach, Ghaffar

• 40+ 3.0 - Long Island Health & Racquet, Berger/Kronenberg

• 40+ 3.5 - Deer Park, Barot/Bunting

• 40+ 4.0 - Christopher Morley, Moramarco/Bindler

• 40+ 4.5 - Carefree, Chesney/Chaffer

The senior leagues are still in full swing and will close out the 2025 season in August. So far, the 65+ 7.0 and 8.0 women’s leagues have a winner determined. Congratulations to Maureen Cornacchia and Nancy Johnson’s 7.0 team out of Christopher Morley, and to Lydia Eitel and Mona Giovanni’s team out of SPORTIME Syosset!

Just because summer is coming to a close doesn’t mean that tennis is! Look

out for team registration emails regarding the mixed and 4.5 tri-level leagues.

Thank you all for your participation and we will see you on the courts!

Becky Bellino is the Adult League Coordinator for USTA/Long Island. She may be reached at bellino@eastern.usta.com.

The 40+ 4.0 men's league winner out of Christopher Morley

The 18+ 4.0 women's league winner out of SPORTIME Lynbrook

STANDARDIZED TESTS

There are many fallacies surrounding techniques for taking the SAT and ACT. Simply using the wrong approach to these tests will certainly decrease your score and not reflect your true ability. Here is just a sampling of the most useful techniques:

When Answering Questions, Do Not Look For The Right Answer!

Out of the four choices, the three wrong answers will be very easy to spot if you remember that there are only three reasons an answer can be wrong (called Deal Breakers)

1) The answer was never mentioned in the story

2) The answer was contradicted in the story

3) Two answers are saying the same thing. Those deal breakers will be

Guaranteeing Success On SAT/ACT, College Application Essays and Choosing Your Tennis School

By Barbara Becker

obvious so all you have to do is quickly skim the passage to eliminate the obvious deal breakers. You do not have to justify the correct answer!

The ACT Is A More “StudentFriendly” Test And Can Be Mastered More Easily Than the SAT!

The ACT hasn’t changed in decades. There are so many actual tests circulating because students who took them got them back and gave them to their tutors (I, myself, have ACT’s from the last 15 years), so you can very accurately predict actual grammar questions verbatim from your practice. Tests are copyrighted. Therefore, test prep companies cannot use them. However, if you work with a tutor who has these tests, you’ll have the opportunity of experiencing much of the ACT you’re taking beforehand. Even the Reading Comprehension

topics are repeated. The ACT is also easier because the answers to the reading questions are “word for word” staring at you in the passage, whereas on the SAT you have to make educated guesses based on other information that’s only implied. Because the SAT has undergone vast changes in the recent past, there are few actual tests available. Colleges admit that they don’t really know how to interpret the scores.

You Can Only Write In Your ACT Test Booklet! Underline A Phrase Or Two In Each Paragraph (The Kernel) Which Sums Up The General Idea Of That Paragraph!

Don’t get bogged down in details like names or dates. Keep the big picture in mind. Underlining a kernel in each paragraph is very helpful when you have to go back to the passage to

help you quickly locate an answer. You have to take the SAT on a computer so you have to use your memory much more.

Application Essay

I have a lot of experience reading and rating college application essays because I have been a member of the Essay Evaluation Committee of the Admissions Board at the Newhouse School of Communication (Syracuse University), ranked #1 Journalism School in the U.S. The criteria for an outstanding essay are the same for every school in the country. Their goal is to get to know you well enough to decide if you would add value to their student body. So, in 650 words you must distinguish yourself as a UNIQUE BRAND among a super competitive pack.

Showcase Personal Growth And Reflection!

Admission officers are interested in personal development. You MUST demonstrate maturity, self-awareness, and ability to learn from experience. Use anecdotes liberally and SHOW, DON’T TELL! Use vivid descriptions and concrete details to create an engaging, immersive STORY (not essay). Create emotional impact by sharing moments of vulnerability and honesty to connect with the reader.

They want to know your qualities, not your skills.

Every

Prompt (Except Last) Has Several Additional Specific Implicit Questions That Must Be Addressed!

If you don’t answer those queries you’ll have an incomplete essay. Ask others for help if you can’t find them. Be sure every word stays on the main theme of the prompt.

BRAND YOURSELF! An effective essay can be summarized in a simple focused punchy description or label. To accomplish this, choose a creative topic (or creative twist on a common topic) and write about it with enough detail to burn an image of yourself in the reader’s brain. Grab Your Reader In The First Paragraph!

Choosing Your Tennis School

It’s very worthwhile to ask kids on the team about the coach. During recruiting, coaches are glorified sales people and your college choice shouldn’t be determined on his/her

sales pitch. However, the tennis players often have very few people to vent to, so they will be candid about the coach and the whole general tennis experience. Also get a sense of how you interact with the team. Are these boys/girls you feel comfortable with and would enjoy spending most of your 24/7 with?

Don’t let your college choice be determined by the coach’s sales pitch. Once you’re on the team, the coach will use, for example, his/her gut based on challenge matches, individual tournament results, who’s playing better at the time to decide what position you’ll play.

Conventional college wisdom says that the steadier the player, the lower he goes in the lineup and the player with more upside/downside goes higher in the lineup. Experience has shown that if you don’t start in the line-up right away, there is a good chance you will sit on the bench permanently. So, if playing tennis is important to you, attend a school where you expect to start immediately.

Barbara Becker, M.S., M..A has tutored the Verbal sections of the ACT, PSAT, and SAT for several decades. She achieved perfect Verbal scores on all those tests in high school. Her unique psychology-based copyrighted methods and materials position students to achieve guaranteed long term memorization and ultimately reach their highest potential. Ms. Becker was a member of the Admissions Committee specializing in Essay Evaluation at Newhouse School of Communication (Syracuse University), ranked #1 in U.S. She has assisted students with their college essays for decades. She can be reached (cell/text) 516-448-4343 Email: BBCKR100@aol.com

VERBAL PSAT/SAT/ACT EXPERTISE COLLEGE/GRAD SCHOOL APPLICATION ESSAYS

Barbara Becker, M.A., M.S.

CALL/TEXT 516-448-4343

BBCKR100@AOL.COM

Roslyn, N.Y.

H Past Member Admissions Committee at Newhouse School of Communication (Syracuse University), ranked #1 in U.S

H Decades of experience teaching my unique copyrighted proven successful test-taking techniques

H 100% Success Relieving Test Anxiety

H Very Reasonable Rate

H Stellar References

H Achieved Perfect Scores On My Own Tests

H Zoom and In-Person Options

Sports Vision and Eye Dominance

An

excerpt from Chris Lewit’s new book, Winning Pretty, which will be available in paperback in 2025

By Chris Lewit

There is now a widespread belief in the tennis coaching world that eye dominance, where one eye is assumed to be preferred over the other for sighting, plays an important role in tennis biomechanics. But is it true and/or helpful?

The theory of ocular dominance states eye dominance should be tested and incorporated into tennis technical development decisions. But there is significant controversy about this subject. Not all coaches agree about the importance of eye dominance and many sport scientists and eye experts question the validity of the connection between eye dominance and technique.

Two highly successful coaches, Jofre Porta and Patrick Mouratoglou, plus professional trainer Paul Dorochenko, are examples of experts in the tennis

world who believe in the dominant eye theory. But the question is whether it is real or myth.

The below excerpt focuses on Mouratoglou’s philosophy on this subject. To read more about the contrasting theories, check out “Winning Pretty” on TennisPlayer.net, and be on the lookout for the paperback version to be released in 2025.

Patrick Mouratoglou advises adjusting stances and head position to maximize vision with the dominant eye. Mouratoglou is one of the most famous professional coaches in the world. He believes eye dominance can affect many areas of a player’s technique including their stance, trunk rotation, head position, and contact point.

According to Mouratoglou, by watching top players and the way they set up their stances, shoulder

turn, head position, and their contact points, he can often determine their eye dominance just by observing. He believes coaches should actively adjust player technique based on their dominant eye.

Mouratoglou produced a video entitled, “Your Dominant Eye and Your Technique” that went viral in 2023. Because Mouratoglou has promoted the dominant eye theory so publicly, it has become one of the most interesting and important topics in modern tennis technique. But, unfortunately, more and more people are talking about the dominant eye now with less and less scientific underpinning.

Mouratoglou makes many claims regarding the dominant eye and tennis technique. According to Mouratoglou, the dominant eye plays a tremendous role in technique, not just in tennis but in all sports. He says that the dominant eye relays information more accurately than the non-dominant one, with profound technical implications.

Says Mouratoglou: “The neurons respond preferentially to information from one eye versus the other. This means the neurons in your arms, legs, and hands respond preferentially to the information received from your dominant eye, and head position can affect how the dominant eye processes information.”

Eye experts disagree about the veracity of this statement: Don Tieg agrees, while Daniel Laby does not. For Mouratoglou, it is essential for tennis players to position the body

so as not to block the dominant eye and to leverage the accuracy of the dominant eye for ball tracking because the non-dominant eye sees the ball less accurately with a small displacement, causing the body to be in the wrong position to receive the ball.

Tieg agrees with this assertion while Laby says it’s important not to block either eye, while focusing on binocular vision. According to Mouratoglou, blocking the dominant eye in tennis is why some players feel less comfortable hitting on one side of their body, either the forehand or backhand side.

Mouratoglou argues that champion tennis technique is always influenced by the dominant eye. “These champions tend to have one side with a bigger shoulder rotation, a more lateral contact point, and a strong transfer. Contrarily, the opposite side has less shoulder rotation, a contact point more in front, and less transfer through the ball. This weaker side uses more ‘wrist action’ to compensate for these differences,” states Mouratoglou.

Alleged Advantages of Cross-Dominance

Patrick Mouratoglou also states that cross-dominance, when the dominant eye is opposite the dominant hand, affords a special advantage in tennis. According to Mouratoglou, players like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are famous cross-dominant professional players who have incredible forehands, partly due to their crossdominance.

Dr. Teig is one expert who agrees with Mouratoglou that cross-dominance is an advantage in baseball and tennis, while Drs. Laby and Kirschner do not. For example, for right-handed players with left eye dominance, Patrick says these athletes can have a bigger shoulder rotation and yet still have great perception of the

incoming ball, which means these players are typically in the best position to receive the ball.

This is the first advantage of cross-dominance. The second advantage of cross-dominance is that the larger shoulder turn in the preparation for cross-dominant individuals means more power on the forehand, presumably from a greater degree of separation between shoulders and hips. The larger trunk rotation gives the player more power on this side, according to Mouratoglou.

The third advantage of crossdominance is that the contact point for cross-dominant players is more lateral, generally between the legs, according to Mouratoglou. Mouratoglou argues that this later contact point allows for more contact time for the strings on the ball during impact, helping to give more control and power to the shot.

Players like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal demonstrate these three advantages in their forehands, according to Mouratoglou. Mouratoglou also states that cross-dominant players like Roger Federer are very dangerous running to their forehand side because they can see and track the ball with their dominant eye when running laterally. Don Tieg accepts that this may be true.

Same-Side Dominant Players

Mouratoglou describes common characteristics of same-side dominant players such as Alexander Zverev. He says that for same-side dominant players like

Zverev, their best shot is generally the backhand. According to Mouratoglou, same-side dominant players have a shorter shoulder rotation on the forehand to ensure their head fully faces the net and their dominant right eye can track the ball.

At the impact, right eye/right hand dominant players will open their shoulders more to the net with their chest facing the ball more at impact than cross-dominant players do and they will tend to use semiopen to open stances to promote better ball tracking with their right eye.

Mouratoglou argues that sameside dominant right handed players tend to have much better backhands than forehands as compared to cross-dominant individuals because they can watch the ball more accurately with their dominant eye while turning more deeply with the shoulders, meet the ball later in the impact zone, and keep the shoulders semi-turned through the impact.

They can turn very deeply on the backhand and still have a good perception with the dominant right eye. The deep turn provides these players with more power from trunk rotation, states Mouratoglou. According to Mouratoglou, the later contact point and semi-open shoulder position favors a long passage through the ball, bringing both power and accuracy on the backhand side. Same-side dominant players can hold the ball on the strings longer for better power and control, asserts Mouratoglou.

To read more about this subject and many more, be sure to visit WinningPretty.com.

Chris Lewit is a leading high-performance coach, educator and author of the best-selling book, The Secrets of Spanish Tennis, and a new technique book, Winning Pretty, which will be published in 2025. Secrets of Spanish Tennis, Second Edition will be published in September 2024. As a coach, he has trained hundreds of nationally ranked juniors. He directs a full-time academy for homeschool/online players and a high performance summer camp program, as well as bespoke high performance training for all ages and levels, all at his club in the beautiful green mountains of Vermont. Contact Chris directly by phone/WhatsApp 914-462-2912 or chris@chrislewit.com.

Why Do GOATS Always Go Crazy?

By Dr. Tom Ferraro

Withthe obvious exception of the great Roger Federer, nearly every Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.) implodes, goes nuts or otherwise has a serious meltdown. The word GOAT is used as a term of undying admiration but buyer beware because, if history is any indicator, when you become a GOAT, you will soon experience a host of emotional and psychological problems. Let me list a few well-known GOATS for you.

Simone Biles: Biles is considered an otherworldly gymnast who can leap over 12 feet in the air during her floor routines and considered by most to be the greatest gymnast in history. She experienced a well-advertised collapse during the Tokyo Olympics where she contracted a case of the yips which forced her to withdraw during those games. It was eventually revealed that she was a victim of sexual abuse.

Michael Phelps: Phelps is considered the most dominant swimmer in history with 23, yes 23, gold medals. But shortly following the

Tokyo Olympics he had a breakdown and was treated for depression.

Tiger Woods: Tiger Woods is considered by most to be the greatest golfer in history but his sex addiction led to a huge scandal and put an end to his glorious reputation. It also brought an end to nearly $700 million in endorsement money.

Michael Jordan: The beloved, majestic and balletic Michael Jordan won six NBA titles and is considered to be best basketball player of all time. He is also the guy that has bet $100,000 on a ‘rock, paper scissors” hand. His gambling addiction is wellknown and though it did not appear to produce a psychological collapse, he still is evidence of a big internal problem.

Mike Tyson: The ferocious and intimidating “Iron Mike” was the youngest boxer in history to hold the heavyweight crown. He was the undisputed heavyweight title holder from 1987 to 1990, but by 1992, he

was in prison serving six years for rape.

Michael Jackson: “The King of Pop” Michael Jackson is considered to be one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century and the man who popularized street dances like the moonwalk and the robot. His 1982 album “Thriller” was credited for breaking down racial barriers, and was the highest selling album of all-time. But by the late 1980’s his changed appearance sparked controversy and he was accused of sexually abusing minors. By the age of fifty he was dead of an overdose.

Naomi Osaka: Naomi Osaka was one of the most marketable and highest-earning female athletes in the world, having risen to #1 in the world by age 21. However in 2021

Fame and fortune always take a toll on the superstar. Here is Naomi Osaka showing us how painful stardom usually is

at the French Open she refused to give interviews, was fined $15,000 and promptly retired from the game citing mental health issues. She was credited as one of the first athletes to openly discuss mental health problems and the strain that big time sports produce.

These stories all reveal the pressure, dangers and stress that every competitive athlete feels, especially those who are considered to be GOATs. This may seem counter-intuitive, but if you think about it, it does make sense. As you rise to the top all things increase in nature. Expectations rise, as well as the amount of money that is at stake. Endorsements increase as long as you stay on top. Your entourage gets bigger as does the payroll. Your tax bracket keeps going up and public recognition goes through the roof. The demands on your time increase on a steady basis and athletes have a hard time resisting opportunities to make more money. As an example of how tempting endorsement dollars are, Tiger Woods would regularly get one million dollars for a one day corporate event he was willing to do.

That is what makes someone like Federer so unusual. He is considered a GOAT in tennis yet

appears to be remarkable stable, gracious and someone who retired at a suitable time. One must assume many things went right for him throughout his life. He came from an intact home where he learned his self restraint and cool demeanor. He played multiple sports as a kid including badminton, basketball, football, skiing and swimming as well as tennis. Federer believes his fluidity and great eye-hand coordination is due to his playing many sports as a kid. He has been married to Mirka Vavrina since 2009 and they have four children. She was also a professional player and her work ethic rubbed off on Roger.

All of these dynamics coalesced together to shield him from collapse. Or as Hillary Clinton said, “it takes a village.”

But sadly, Roger Federer is the exception to the rule. Much more frequently, when one achieves the greatest heights in a sport the price one pays is mental and physical

health and sometimes even death. Achilles was considered to be the greatest warrior of all time and in “The Iliad” he seeks the counsel of his mother Thetis who was a sea nymph and had divine powers. Achilles wonders if he should participate in the Trojan Wars and his mother says that all men must take one of two paths: they can either choose the path of domestic tranquility, remain near home and hearth and live a long and happy life, or they can choose the life of the warrior where they may achieve fame and immorality but their life will be filled with pain, suffering and an early death.

This nicely describes the life of the GOAT. Our modern day Achilles’ such as Naomi Osaka, Tiger Woods, or Michael Phelps will go into the record books, achieve fame and fortune and, in this way, achieve immortality. But as Thetis told Achilles, their life will most certainly be filled with pain and suffering and often end quickly.

This is the silent, secret and sometimes deadly price of fame.

Butterflies Are Memory Makers

Tennis = Life

Anticipatory anxiety is a very common experience. Entering a new environment or playing in a challenging match with unfamiliar people can be all it takes to make you feel self-conscious and have these feelings come up. Everyone undergoes them; some people are more troubled by them than others.

These uncomfortable feelings are also a necessary obstacle to growth in tennis and in life, so re-framing them into something positive can be a great help. The butterflies in your stomach are memory makers!

Olympic athletes condition themselves to recognize anxiety as positive excitement. They understand the anxiety jitters that register in their body as a sign that they are about to do something meaningful, which in their case, is hopefully win a medal. If you are not experienced enough yet to see your nerves in a positive light, there is a good chance your anxiety will turn into fear, and possibly panic. The pressure keeps building in your mind and the nerves will get worse and worse. The expectations

By Tonny van de Pieterman

you have for yourself are mainly made out of your own awareness, and they have kept you in denial of reality. You have a secret!

Here are five remedies you could use that will help relieve the pressure cooker:

1) Tell someone!

Tell a trusted coach that you are a bit nervous. Tell a doubles partner who is likely in the same boat. Don’t keep it to yourself. The thoughts in your head will play a ping-pong match otherwise and continue to deliver these unpleasant feelings. The moment you tell someone, you will feel some relief.

2) Say it out loud

Once you say it out loud, even to yourself, it is out. The pressure releases. Use humor if you can. You know it is not a life-threatening situation, but just a tennis match. Isn’t it fascinating that you can get so worked up over it? What is the worst that can happen?

3) Write it down

Journaling your thoughts and feelings

can also be very helpful, just to have them come out of your head and show up on paper, or in your phone. Just jot down that you are nervous, that you want to run for the hills, etc. “Mommy, I need my bottle and my blankie”

4) Make some power poses

Remember Rebecca in the show, ‘Ted Lasso’? Go to the bathroom and make yourself as tall as you possibly can. Stretch out and take up as much space as you possibly can. You deserve to be here, claim your spot! For some reason our physiology affects our mind, and vice versa. Act big and you will feel big! The victory pose will work as well.

5) Use anger

If you are fed up with being scared, anger can temporarily break through as a substitute for the courage you are disconnected from. In that same show, Ted Lasso, little Nate would look in the mirror and see a pathetic person. He would then call on his anger and spit at the mirror: “I am Nathan F@%#*% Shelly,” he would curse out.

What do any of these things do?

They break the denial, and they release the pressure. They connect you to yourself, and this will create the space for humor and opens up the options for problem solving. The energy that was trapped will now be released and can be used to be a hero.

Have a great match (if you want to).