New York Tennis Magazine January / February 2023

Of

New York Tennis Magazine

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David Sickmen

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Brian Coleman Senior Editor

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Statements of fact and opinion in New York Tennis Magazine are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of United Sports Publications Ltd. New York Tennis Magazine reserves the right to edit, reject and/or postpone the publication of any articles, information or data.

Photo credit: Brad Penner/USTA

Emilie Katz Assistant Marketing Coordinator

Dr. Tom Ferraro

Contributing Writer Steve Kaplan Contributing Writer

Rob Polishook Contributing Writer Barbara Wyatt Contributing Writer

Across Metro N

Across Metro Ne

Werdiger Wins Gold Ball at Nationals

Centercourt Orange Ball Team Wins USTA JTT Playoffs

Julia Werdiger (pictured left) captured the Gold Ball at the USTA Girls 16s Indoor National Championships, winning the event as the ninth-seed and without dropping a set! Werdiger, a junior at Horace Mann High School, credited her win to the work she puts in at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning:

“Winning indoors was an indescribable feeling. Being able to see all of my hard work and training pay off was so rewarding, and I am beyond grateful to have gotten this experience. It is something I have always dreamed of and will never forget.”

The team from Centercourt Tennis Academy came away victorious at the USTA Eastern 10U Orange Ball Junior Team Tennis Playoffs. The team, which featured Arjun Asrani, Serge Graham, Carolina Gualtier, Arav Mahajan, Aarush Navath and Kian Siva, finished in first-place in the team competition.

New York

New York

Murray Claims L6 Title

Ligaya Murray won four straight matches en route to winning the championship at the L6 Open in the Girls 18s division. Murray, a Yonkers native who trains at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, was seeded second and won all of her matches in straight sets.

MatchPoint’s Ugel Wins New Jersey Event

Lucas Ugel, a freshman who trains at MatchPoint NYC in Brooklyn, was the winner of the L4 Open Gravy Bowl tournament. Ugel was the event’s fourth seed, and he defeated the top two seeds in the semifinals and finals, including a 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 comeback win in the championship match.

… News and notes from across

N.Y. Metro tennis community

the

… News and notes from across the N.Y. Metro tennis community

CourtSense Named USTA Eastern Member Organization of the Year

At the annual USTA Eastern Tennis Conference, one of the highlights of the weekend is the Awards Dinner and Ceremony where individuals and businesses are honored and recognized for the positive impact they had on the tennis community. This year, CourtSense, the tennis training facility with multiple locations in New Jersey, was named the Member Organization of the Year, and will be honored during the ceremony in late-January.

Miraflores Wins Doubles Title, Reaches Singles Final

Isabella Miraflores, a Manhattan native who trains with Gilad Bloom Tennis, had a great tournament run at the L6 Calamari Arabiate Classic. Miraflores finished as the runnerup in the Girls 14s singles division, and paired up with Mana Brod to win the Girls 14s doubles title.

PARSA’s picks

The State of the Real Estate Market with Parsa Samii

How would you assess the real estate market here in 2023?

The real estate market will continue to be very competitive based on the low supply of homes available in our area. There is some hesitation from people to sell their homes as they are unsure of where they want to go. Most are hoping for the pandemic to blow over but for now that hesitancy is what will continue to drive the market, not to mention the continued historically low interest rates. Residential real estate is largely an emotional process and for now most are in a wait and see mentality.

How has that changed, if at all, from what we saw entering 2022? Why is that? The only real difference between 2022 and 2023 is what we know, meaning we can’t truly predict the market and make comparisons until we reflect on the year but as low inventory issues were the theme of 2022, our expectation is the same for 2023.

Do having tennis courts on your property increase property taxes on it? If so, why? Great question. Anything that effects the overall appraised value of the property will increase property taxes in Nassau County. In theory a property featuring a tennis court and in ground pool is seemingly more valuable than a property without those in a structure of similar age and property size.

If not, do courts increase the value of a home, are they a worthwhile investment? I would say it’s very dependent on the buyer. The hybrid type courts where they can be used for other activities as well are definitely more of what people are looking for if a court were to exist.

That being said tennis has gained popularity in this pandemic era.

I’m a buyer in this market, what are the 3 most important things I should be aware of while navigating the purchase process in 2022?

1: Educate yourself. Surround yourself with the best buyer agent in your neighborhood and ask people you trust who they have interactions within the industry.

2: Find what your ‘Must haves’ in a property are and also what you would ‘Prefer’ in your next home. Make sure that the home you bid on has all that you NEED and as much of what you really would prefer. There are sacrifices in this market. If you’re clear on your objective then the chance of success in the end will be significantly higher and relatively stress free.

3: Prepare your finances. It is very important to understand what risks you can take in order to make your offer more appealing to a seller versus another bid. Differentiation in the amounts of cash in a deal, waiving a contingency or a quick close are different ways that an offer can be structured that could mean something to a seller. Know what you can do, then ask the right questions of the seller and see if you can make your deal a little more appealing to the seller while minimizing your threshold of risk.

I’m a seller in this market, what are the 3 most important things I should be aware of?

1: Hire the most knowledgeable agent you can find. Its important that your listing agent demonstrates knowledge of the homes that have sold in the area and also their general knowledge of the real estate market. Just with a couple of simple questions you should be able to identify the right person for the job.

2: Marketing the property which includes photography, brochures, advertisements etc. Its important that you have someone who cares about their brand and the material they produce for their listings which would include your property.

3: The absolute most important. Presentation: Your house must be presented in the best light possible when potential buyers are visiting. From staging, to painting, to minor changes of furniture positioning can make all the difference. Most of the time this is the most under utilized tools from sellers who see it as a risk but in reality most who don’t pay attention to their presentation leave money on the table.

•We offer a full-range of junior and adult programs for recreational and tournament players in partnership with Gotham Tennis Academy, a leader in developing and operating tennis programs in New York City and the Hamptons.

•Our professional tennis staff has some of the most talented, personable and engaging tennis professionals in NYC. For more information about our pros, please visit www.stadiumtennisnyc.com

•Sign up now for our popular Junior Programs, Adult Clinics, Private Lessons, and Seasonal Courts.

•Sixteen US Open style deco turf tennis courts with spacious backcourts. Twelve courts are indoors from October through April.

•For the convenience of our regular players and their families, the Tennis Center offers complimentary on-site parking and Transportation referrals.

•An adjacent clubhouse features a pro shop, light snacks and beverages, complimentary Wi-Fi, and workspaces for schoolwork.

•Please see our Safe Play Procedures summarized at www.stadiumtennisnyc.com

Just Minutes from Manhattan Near Yankee Stadium

beyondthebaseline

Ahsha Rolle, Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning

By Brian Coleman

At the height of her playing career, Ahsha Rolle reached the third-round of the U.S. Open back in 2007, and peaked at No. 82 in the WTA Rankings.

A competitive tour player with a unique playing style and graceful onehanded backhand, Rolle also competed on behalf of the United States in both Fed Cup and Billie Jean King Cup action.

However, knee injuries, specifically

bone spurs, closed the curtains on a promising playing career when Rolle was just 28-years-old. But while her time competing on tour may have been over, she was not done with tennis just yet.

“During my offseasons I would do a little coaching, mainly at country clubs down in West Palm Beach,” said Rolle. “I liked doing it, and found out that I was actually pretty good at coaching. I got some positive

feedback from players. I found a new passion for the sport, and found it less self-absorbed than being a player. I like seeing the growth and development of a player and finding ways to constantly encourage them during that process.”

So when Rolle officially retired from professional tennis, her coaching journey would begin on Long Island at the Glen Head Racquet Club. Following her time there, Rolle joined New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL),

specifically at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx, flagship home of the NYJTL.

Since the Cary Leeds Center opened in 2015, it has offered thousands of hours of free tennis instruction in addition to the paid programming it offers for adults and juniors. Rolle was initially brought on to be the Director of Adult Tennis, and after doing that for about a year, she was named the Director of Tennis of not only the Cary Leeds Center, but NYJTL as a whole

“Tennis has opened so many doors for me, and it’s really come full circle for me to be able to be at an organization like NYJTL, and be able to help the next generation of players, and expose them to all the things that tennis has done for me,” said Rolle. “It’s been great. In addition to the coaching I do on court, I also train the coaches organization-wide, and being able to train hundreds of different coaches has been extremely rewarding.”

Rolle got her start in tennis on the public courts in Miami where she grew up. A self-described tomboy growing up, Rolle would follow her older brothers around when they would play sports, and can recall picking up a racket for the first time when she was nine-years-old on those very courts.

“The local park near where we lived had basketball courts, and right behind them were tennis courts,” she recalls. “I’m pretty sure my brothers convinced my parents to let me take lessons there just to get me out of their hair, but that’s how it all started. The coaches told my parents that I was talented. Neither of my parents played tennis, so it’s really just by chance that we found it.”

Rolle would go on to become one of the top juniors in the country and at just 19-years-old, she turned professional. She credits much of her success to Lori McNeil, the former Top 10 player who went on to become a successful tennis coach. Rolle was profoundly impacted by McNeil’s tutelage, not only as a tennis player but as a person.

“Lori was the one who introduced me

to the USTA. I was a young player and didn’t have much money coming from my family to travel and play on tour, but Lori connected me to the USTA which allowed me to have a coach travel with me, and provided fitness coaches as well as traveling partners,” said Rolle. “All of that was possible because of Lori, and she was essential to my development. She found me as a junior and opened doors for me to be able to sustain a professional career. When I went into coaching, I took all of the lessons I learned as a kid, from Lori and all of my coaches, and try to use them to help the next generation. It’s really been full circle for me.”

Rolle now brings all of her experience and knowledge to the 20court facility that resides just outside Crotona Park in the South Bronx, helping to mold the next generation of tennis players.

As an African-American woman who grew up playing on public courts, Rolle knows the importance of a person who looks like her being in a position such as Director of Tennis, especially in a dense urban area like the Bronx, which is similar to the one she grew up in Miami.

“It’s huge. Having someone that looks like them and who they can relate to is really important,” said Rolle. “We actually just started a new series called Holding Court: Speaker Series, which brings prominent players to engage with our community. We

THE BASELINE

had current ATP Tour Player Chris Eubanks come in and provide clinics for our local youth programs as well as for adults. To be able to have a player like that, before he goes to play at the Australian Open, speak to the kids is such great exposure, and shows them there are different possibilities. Lori [McNeil] will be coming in at the beginning of February for Black History Month, and it’s just been a huge part of what I have tried to do here. They may not all grow up to be professional tennis players, but you can take the skills you learn from this sport and apply it to whatever you choose to do.”

Since its inception more than seven years ago, the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning has helped introduce the game to countless new young players, who may not otherwise wanted to play, or were able to play. Rolle tells the story of one mother who approached her at a free instructional lesson for the community and told her that her young son wanted to be a football or basketball player when he grew up, but now wants to be a tennis player.

That is the sort of impact that exposure can have on a young person, and seeing those possibilities encourages them to continue in tennis. Rolle was once that little kid who had tennis transform her life, and her mission now is open as many doors as she can for the next generation of players.

“I was lucky in a sense, because I know players don’t always know what to do next in their careers, but I was a bit more enlightened on what my next steps would be. Being able to progress my coaching skills over the years, and now be at an organization where I am able to help so many different people has been an amazing ride. I hope to continue to impact the sport in a positive way as much as I can.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I was comfortable playing.”

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

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

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

to find their ideal collegiate tennis fit.”

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

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

person first, and the player second.

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

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

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

brand, connect with others and learn more.

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

extremely important in this process.”

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

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

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

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

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

American Made

Taylor Fritz leads American charge into 2023

By Brian Coleman

For many years now, the American tennis fan has been starving for a male major champion. As we head into 2023, it’s been 20 years since Andy Roddick hoisted the U.S. Open trophy in New York City, which is the last time an American man has won any of the four major tournaments.

But for the first time in awhile, there is legitimate hope for that streak to come to an end. Just a few months ago, Frances Tiafoe powered his way into the U.S. Open semifinals. Prior to that, Taylor Fritz achieved the best result of his grand slam career as he made his way into the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Those results indicate that the American men are knocking on the door, and with eight of them ranked inside the top 50 of the ATP World Tour rankings, we could be entering a new successful era of American men’s tennis.

The aforementioned Fritz is the head of the class when it comes to Americans in the rankings, a place he held for the entirety of last year, and he begins 2023 as the top-ranked American and the ninth ranked player in the world.

He knows the expectations and pressure that comes with being a member of the top 10, but the 25-year-old California native is embracing that role now as we enter 2023, despite those same expectations potentially hurting his play last season.

“It’s definitely not easy to be in the top 10, to accumulate all the points,” said Fritz. “There is added stress to produce the consistent results that you need to stay in it.”

Fritz’s success in 2022 is something he can use as a springboard for even greater results in 2023.

“Fortunately for me I think there are a lot of positives to take out of this year and where I finished,” he added. “I finished where I did and I missed pretty much the whole clay court season, didn’t have any training going into the beginning of the hard court season. I was dealing with injuries and I was still able to produce a really solid year. I’m just excited to kind of get back to work, keep improving, and next year look to cement my spot even more.”

And that is the goal for Fritz in 2023, trying to accomplish what is a difficult task for any athlete: getting to the top is one thing, staying there is another. As he

american made

from

mentioned, he suffered an injury in the middle of last season which forced him to miss much of the clay court season, and resulted in a lack of match fitness as he approached Wimbledon and the ensuing hard court season.

But Fritz still put together the best major result of his career at the AllEngland Club in June, but following that he struggled for the next couple of months, including a shocking firstround exit to Brandon Holt in the opening round of the U.S. Open.

Following that defeat, Fritz was extremely candid when asked about how he was feeling, and gave a sobering response:

“I had really high hopes. I feel like an idiot for thinking that I could win this thing, winning the U.S. Open. I can’t go out and play a match like that. It sucks. I feel awful.”

Fritz responded by capturing the Tokyo title later in the year, and despite falling in his home Slam in upset fashion, with another year of experience, Fritz is ready to defend his status this year as the top-ranked American male player.

And fans can watch him not only on the court during his matches, but also behind the scenes footage from his 2022 campaign as Fritz will be one of the featured players on Netflix’s new Break Point documentary series which debuts in January. Fritz’s girlfriend, social media influencer Morgan Riddle, is reported to be featured in the show as well, as tennis officials hope the documentary can help generate interest in tennis from a more universal audience.

He has said he tried not to hold anything back in front of the cameras, and provide viewers with an unfiltered look at life on the tour, hoping to bring the sport out of its stigma as “boring”.

“I’m tired of it. It’s so boring. It’s always the same stuff,” Fritz said of

typical tennis interviews. “I just didn’t want to act differently in front of the cameras. Tennis is a game [where] the fan base is much older and very stuck in traditional ways. I’d say there’s not enough invitation to be different.”

Fritz is part of the new generation of tennis players who hopes to carry the game into its new era, something

he is trying to do both on and off the court, through his results but also providing fans more unfiltered access to players in order to bridge the gap between both parties.

in popularity here in the United States will be the success of the Americans on tour. When Tiafoe reached the final four at the U.S. Open earlier this year, it became a nationwide sports story with athletes of all sports chiming in and watching, including NBA star Bradley Beal sitting in Tiafoe’s player box during matches.

Fritz hopes he can put together similar runs like that this season, beginning at the Australian Open in January, an event where he reached the fourth round last year, and he will lead a determined group of players into the new year, “I absolutely feel like I belong,” he said. “I think that I’ve proved that I belong in the top 10 and I belong here. I just need to keep working hard.”

Racquet ReportSport

presented by adidas Pickleball

Padel Continues to Make Waves in New York

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

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

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

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

Here in New York, the Pine

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

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

are looking to take the program to new heights.”

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

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

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

Coming To The Net

By Saul Salazar

In

the current state of tennis, it is difficult to consistently win points coming to the net, because the players have become faster and stronger and the racquets are more powerful, and with newer strings, you can put more spin on the ball. It is difficult, but not impossible. There are two keys:

1. Come to the net at the perfect time (when your opponent lost his balance or reached the ball in a very bad position)

2. Put great quality into the shot you are using to come to the net.

There are three ways/reasons you come to the net:

1. Because you have to This means that your opponent purposely hit a short ball, which could be a drop shot, a low, short slice, or your opponent hit a very short ball close to the service line.

2. Because you decide to This means that the shot of your opponent was soft, bouncing at three-

quarters of the court, and you decide to hit solid and come to the net. Another example is when you serve and volley or return and volley on a second serve (chip and charge).

3. Because you read it (perception)

Your opponent reached the ball with a very bad balance, and you come to the net anticipating that your opponent will send a lob or slice, looking for time. This can be a swing volley or a regular volley.

In the three cases, there are a few certain factors that are necessary to successfully finish the point at the net:

l Make sure that you put great quality in the shot you use to come to net (approach shot, serve or return).

l Approach the net following the ball to cover the angle of the next shot.

l Split step as the opponent is a

making contact with the ball l React fast, moving diagonally into the ball.

The idea is to win the point using the least amount of volleys or overheads possible, every weak volley or overhead gives your opponent an opportunity to pass you.

Playing serve and volley is not seen very often anymore, but it is still very effective if you use it as a variation in your game. Be focused on serving with great placement, depth, and heaviness. Don’t get in a rush when you come to the net. Your first volley should be to the open court, if you serve wide. If you serve down the T, play behind your opponent.

It is very important that when you come to the net with an approach shot, choose good targets, so you can hit big without making mistakes.

I hope some of the above tips will help you improve your net play.

Saul Salazar has been one of the Directors of High Performance at CourtSense for 14 years, and has played a major part in players winning major junior titles like the Orange Bowl and a few USTA Gold Balls.

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Gotham Tennis Academy is a leading operator of innovative tennis programs in NYC and Montauk in the Hamptons.

RedBall Programs are the entry door to the sport for all of our young players. It’s often their first experience and it will leave them with a life lasting impression. Such is the importance of this program in our clubs, that it could become an entry to a lifetime of love for tennis, or it could become a revolving door where kids come and go but don’t stay.

The general principles that define a great Red Ball Program are the same that define any other program: care for the kids. The care of the coaches for their players will always trump the amount of knowledge they possess.

However, provided they care, there are specific goals great red ball programs need to achieve. We have to set up, from scratch, the foundation for the talent to develop and progress; a pathway to link red ball to further stages of development.

The fundamental abilities and skills to be developed at red ball are:

• To understand the court space.

• To develop a game mind (how to win points, rules, learn to score).

• To anticipate the trajectory and bounce and be able to play off of 1 bounce or no bounce.

• To develop laterality on FH and BH sides.

• To serve overhead with consistency.

Red Ball Talent Development Pathway

By Cinto Casanova

Red Ball Stage Key Areas

Physical Technical Game Sense

Balance Touch skills To score

Coordination FH/BH LateralitySpatial awareness width/depth

Movement/AgilityRally and RhythmTactical mind

RhythmVolley Reaction and Serve and Throwing and Catching Anticipation

War m ups must include exercises and games that develop the physical skills above. I like to use circuits where balance and agility are challenged. Relay competitive movement patterns are specially engaging and fun for these ages. Always remember red ball kids are in a stage of discovery and fun, it is not a stage for training; traditional training exercises in the warm ups (laps around the court…) will be a receipt for sure failure.

Technically, the Red Ball Stage of development has a very wide range of levels, from complete beginners to competitive players. Understanding the rhythm and the bounce of the ball is the first step; followed by developing laterality in the forehand and backhand sides. From here, I like to use exercises that connect the general

coordination with the specific technique:

• Forehands Backhands = Swing

• Volleys = Catch

• Serve = Throw

The specificity and complexity of the movements increases as our players progress, to the point where the advanced red ballers can already work on setting open and closed stances, grip changes and other advanced technical aspects of tennis.

It is crucial that all of this is wrapped under a gaming mind. Tennis has to be a game star ting on day one. Understanding the geometry of the court and how to manipulate the space is capital. During the initial stages, where technique is not developed yet, their game mind has to be developed using different tools, adapting the games to the skills of the

Weekly Curriculum

All these fundamentals have to be developed through a progressive weekly curriculum that goes from the first week to the last week of the program. Any organized club should have a written weekly curriculum for each one of their programs. That means, each week has a different “Main Goal”. In each session of that particular week, we use different contents (drills and games) related to that goal. Kids must be clear about the goal of the week is in order to facilitate and focus on the learning process.

There is a common misconception among some coaches that, in a single tennis lesson, we must teach all areas and skills needed in tennis; then rinse and repeat, each lesson becoming a disconnected succession of contents

(now forehand, now backhand, now volleys, now serve, etc.) While this may be valid in certain practice situations; it makes no sense at the starting red ball stage where kids have little if any experience in tennis. Trying to fill a lesson for a starting player with everything there is to learn is an overload of information and becomes boring for the kids. Think of it this way; if you had to learn Math from scratch and you had a one-hour lesson; would you do 12 min of arithmetic, 12 min of calculus, 12 min of algebra, 12 min of geometry and 12 min of trigonometry? I don’t think so.

That is why a program that focuses weekly on a different main goal is essential if we want to create a Learning Pathway.

Personalized Programs

Complementary to this program, kids with special interest in tennis, who seek to speed up the development process, can follow a Personalized Program, where personal needs are closely followed and monitored by a personal coach. Balance between the Red Ball Group Program and the Personalized Program is the key for setting our kids in the right path of development.

I wish your red ball programs become an exciting and engaging welcome to tennis for all the kids who join it. These programs bear the responsibility for captivating the kids and retaining them in the sport for a lifetime.

Cinto Casanova is the Director of Coaching and Talent Identification at Centercourt Tennis Academy. He has held leading positions in Junior Player Development for over two decades in Japan, China and Spain. He has helped to develop top junior programs that produced successful national and international junior players. He may be reached at cinto@centercourtclub.com

Tips for Parents with Aspiring Tournament Players

Helping

your child make the transition from recreational to competitive levels of play can be challenging. It involves a big commitment of time, money, energy and sacrifice from parents and the players themselves. As codirectors of Gotham Stadium

NYC’s Junior Programs, we are frequently asked for advice about how to help parents and players make good decisions in this area. Throughout this article, we would like to touch upon a few key points which we believe are critical for tournament players’ development.

Be Prepared for Your Child to Have Ups and Downs

Although it may seem obvious, parents should be aware that improving at competitive tennis is a process. Your child will go through hot streaks, slumps and other ups and downs. It is important for parents to be supportive, understand the process and realize that your child is playing “the long game.” The long game is about longterm development. Every player develops at a different rate and the final product will occur at your child’s own pace. For more information about parenting an elite athlete, there’s an excellent new resource that can be found at www.coachathleteparentproject.com.

Private Lessons Should Supplement Group Training

Although private lessons are highly valuable in developing a tournament player, they should be used in a manner which supplements group play. Too often we see players who have perfect technique but struggle to compete in match situations. This is

Chris Destefano and Baloo Turcsik

typically a telltale sign of the player’s inexperience in competing against other similar level players. Players who only take private lessons often don’t learn to handle pressure, formulate points, and most importantly compete. Although we are proponents of private lessons and feel that technical work can be done most effectively in that setting, we strongly believe that private lessons must be done in tandem with group training.

Importance of Match Play

When deciding to enroll your child in a junior program, it is very important that you and your child take your time and find one that offers a good match play component. Since it often isn’t feasible to play a tournament every weekend, match play as part of a junior program is an essential way for a developing player to hone their competitive game. Just as learning to properly hit a forehand or a backhand is a skill, so is competing. Figuring out

how to play under pressure, select shots, and fight are often learned through repetition and match play experience.

Good Sportsmanship

Parents can and should advocate for their child to be a good sport and behave appropriately. This means promoting good line calls, proper celebration and occasional applause of an opponent’s shots or other aspects of their play.

While helping your child develop as a competitive tennis player is not easy, there are some simple steps you can

take which will help promote success. After parents and their children find the right program and coaches in a setting that includes a balance of group training, match play and private lessons, development will occur and the rewards of development will be achieved both on and off the court. Remember to be positive, promote good sportsmanship and most importantly realize your child is learning a lifelong game. As aspiring tournament players train and gain experience, they will learn to compete and problem-solve—skills which will help them pursue their dreams in sport and life

Chris Destefano and Baloo Turcsik are co-directors of the Gotham Stadium Tennis NYC Junior Program. Chris was born and raised in NYC and was a top-ranked junior and college player at Penn State University. Baloo is from Budapest Hungary where he was a top-ranked junior and then became a national coach. They have coached many top national and sectional players and can be reached by email at chris@gothamtennis.com and baloo@gothamtennis.com or by visiting www.stadiumtennisnyc.com.

USTA Eastern To Honor Metro Volunteers and Organizations at Annual Awards Ceremony

Withits annual awards, USTA Eastern honors those who have made remarkable contributions toward growing and promoting tennis at the local level. Four of the organization’s 2022 recipients hail from the five boroughs.

Ogbonna Chilaka will be honored with the 2022 Umpire Service Award. Chilaka has served as an official at many Metro-area events, including the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Boys’ Team Championship held earlier this year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Allon Lifshitz receives the 2022 Special Service Award. Lifshitz served as an active member of the Metro Region Council for many years and has also held a wide variety of volunteer positions with USTA National. He currently chairs the Constitution & Rules Committee.

Steven Mingo receives the 2022 Diversity & Inclusion

Leadership Award. A previous recipient of the Clinician of the Year distinction, Mingo has played an integral role in bringing a USTA Eastern presence to both the Mayor’s Action Plan and Fresh Air Fund, two NYC initiatives that help provide activities for children from low-income communities.

Sasha Thomas has been named the 2022 Metro Region Volunteer of the Year. Thomas has been actively involved in planning many Metro Region Council events, including the free tennis clinic for essential workers, held earlier this year in Brooklyn. She also volunteered her time and services during the US Open for Net Generation on-court activations and Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.

The recipients will be honored at a ceremony in late January. Congratulations to all our Metro Region awardees! For a full list of winners, please visit the USTA Eastern website at USTA.com/eastern.

USTA Eastern Metro Region

NYC-based Team Places Second at League Championships

Afinish

with a flourish. On the final weekend of competition at the 2022 USTA League National Championships, USTA Eastern’s Mixed 7.0 team— based out of New York City—finished in second place in the division.

Impressively, the team amassed a 4-0 record through the early rounds of competition, sailing past opponents from USTA Southwest, USTA Midwest, USTA New England and USTA Missouri Valley. They dropped just one court (and lost just three sets) to head into the semifinals as the top-ranked team. And perhaps even more astoundingly, they scored the enviable results with a shallow bench, as they arrived to the competition in Surprize, Ariz. with a smaller number of players than other squads.

“Since we were a slim team, we just dug deep,” said captain Esther Hong. “We wanted to represent Eastern and our teammates who could not join in the best way possible. With each match, we banded together and fought with all that we had.”

Due to the size of the group, some players had to

compete in every match, which ultimately made for an exhausting weekend overall. In the end, they were more than elated to lift the finalist trophy.

“It feels a bit like a dream,” Hong said. “I’m still amazed by what our team accomplished in Arizona. We had hopes of doing well and prepared as best we could. I never imagined we would finish the round robin matches in first place. Then making it to finals was just icing on the cake.”

Of course, the greatest part of the experience for Hong was getting the opportunity to bond with her teammates, as well as meet new people. She said one of the most fun matches she’s ever played was in her battle against a New England team, a contest she and her doubles partner ultimately ended up losing.

“Our opponents were a great pair,” she said. “We both nominated each other for ‘Best Sportsmanship’ awards, and they even stuck around to cheer us on during the semis and then finals. It’s great that the USTA League program offers so many opportunities to meet and play with different people.”

USTA Eastern’s Mixed 7.0 team—based out of New York City—pose with their trophies after finishing as finalists at the 2022 USTA League National Championships

USTA Eastern Metro Region

USTA Eastern Helps Organize Net Generation at the US Open

Each year, on the biggest stage in tennis, a few local little stars get their moment in the spotlight.

Net Generation, the USTA’s youth platform, enjoys a healthy presence at the US Open. Young players from across the country don yellow and blue shirts to serve as coin tossers before matches and trophy holders at championship ceremonies; many get the chance to show off their skills in oncourt demonstrations before the schedule of play commences each day.

USTA Eastern plays a big role in organizing this particular facet of the Grand Slam. In fact, 1,130 of the 1,600 kids selected to participate in Net Generation activities over the course of the fortnight at the 2022 installment hailed from the section. It’s a huge undertaking, and one that Neil Thakur, Eastern’s Metro Region Community Tennis Coordinator, gladly takes on each year. Thakur dedicates much of his spring and summer to preparing for the event—including overseeing the selection process.

In selecting candidates, Thakur specifically seeks out players from organizations that actively participate in USTA programming, like Junior Team Tennis. But he also looks for facility managers and clinicians he can count on to capably prepare the kids for their big day.

“We want tennis providers who will make that extra effort to select the right kids to prepare them properly,” he says. “Because oftentimes the juniors will be part of an on-court

demonstration, we want them to know what they’re getting into, know how to rally, and just be prepared before they come onto the court.”

Beyond preparation, Thakur and his colleagues care deeply about inclusivity.

“We want to have a good mix of participants—so not just kids from commercial clubs, but also kids from community programs (like parks programs) and NJTLs,” he explains. “And we also don’t want just high-level kids. We want to give kids who are just starting out this opportunity so that it can inspire them to hopefully go further in tennis.”

And since Thakur has been involved with Net Generation since 2017, he’s witnessed this kind of inspiration firsthand.

“You’ll remember some of these kids who were at Arthur Ashe Kids' Day with Serena Williams back in 2018,” he says. “And then you meet them a few years later when they're in high school and they still come up to you and thank you. It’s great to see that.”

It’s those kinds of moments that make this project a true labor of love for Thakur.

“It’s a lot of work, especially those first ten days,” he admits. “It’s a whirlwind, bringing in all these different groups and kids. But it's really satisfying when you see the kids smile, see their parents smile, see how happy they are to be there. I love doing it. For me personally, it's the best part of my year, despite all the long days and hours that we put in.”

Juniors from 54 USTA Eastern facilities—many of them NYC-based—got the chance to show off their skills on-court at the US Open. Photo Credit: Dustin Satloff/USTA

Winter 2022 Season Comes to a Close

Theholiday season brought with it the end-of-the-year finals for the Winter 2022 Metro Corporate League.

The top teams from each of the league’s divisions gathered at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club to battle it out for league supremacy, and celebrate another successful season in the Corporate League.

Below are the league’s three champions for the Winter 2022 season:

l Advanced Division Champions: Bloomberg (Vighnesh)

l The Advanced Intermediate Champions: J.P. Morgan

l The Intermediate Champions: Brown Harris Stevens

The champion of the Advanced league received the Corporate League Champion trophy. The winners of the Advanced Intermediate and Intermediate leagues received their respected trophies. All trophies are displayed at the companies' respective headquarters until the end of the following season, when they will be relinquished to the new champions.

The winners of the Intermediate division will move up to the Advanced Intermediate division the following season, while the winner of the Advanced Intermediate division will move up to the Advanced division.

The Winter/Spring 2023 season gets underway in early February, and there is still time to sign-up a team or join one. For more info, please contact Luis Espinoza at (347) 886-3117, or e-mail luis@metrotennis.com.

Presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs

The Advanced Division Champions: Bloomberg (Vighnesh)

The Advanced Intermediate Champions: J.P. Morgan

The Intermediate Champions: Brown Harris Stevens

spotlight Junior Player

Zavier Augustin Advantage Tennis Clubs

Likea lot of young tennis players, Zavier Augustin’s introduction to tennis began through watching his siblings. In Augustin’s case, it was his older sister, Karah, whom he would watch take tennis lessons on the weekends on a court in Bayside, Queens.

Each time, after watching his sister’s lessons, he would tell her the same thing:

“You know I can beat you if I play you,” the young Zavier would say. That daily challenge was all the inspiration his parents needed to see to know that young Zavier wanted to be a tennis player.

“I was always pretty competitive as a kid, and was always active and looking for a sport to play,” said Augustin. “I would be at her lessons all the time, so when she was practicing I would go on the court sometimes, and that’s the first time I picked up a racket. I began taking more lessons and taking the sport more seriously, and it all started on those courts with my sister. I really looked up to her, and still do; she’s the reason I got into tennis and developed a passion for it.”

By the time he was five-years-old, he was enrolled in his own tennis lessons with coach Evan Vrsaljko, and when Vrsaljko joined Advantage Tennis Clubs in New York City,

By Brian Coleman

which operates the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club and New York Tennis Clubs, Augustin followed him and the two have been training together there ever since. Being a high-performance player, Augustin trains on both surfaces, hard and clay. To complement his clay court training with coach Evan, Augustin also trains with Jay Devashetty. Basically, Augustin splits his training time among these two coaches.

Fast-forward to present day and Augustin has become one of the topranked juniors in the country in his age division, reaching as high as No. 10 in the Boys 14s division, and currently sitting inside the top 20 of the rankings.

“I go there about two to three times a week to train, and it’s been so good for my game,” he said. “I love playing there; the courts are excellent and it’s a nice atmosphere. I think it’s definitely a great setting for high performance players to work on their games.”

One of the strengths of Augustin’s game is his sheer desire to constantly improve, and be the hardest working person on the practice court and during matches.

Throughout the years, I’ve learned so much from my coaches,” said Augustin. “Whenever I am playing a match, I can replay the words Evan tells me, ‘no free

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

points; you must earn every shot, every point’. It’s these words of encouragement that keep me going. He really helped me develop an identity for my game and established a confidence in me.”

That unrelenting work ethic originated from his parents, whom Augustin credits for instilling that character trait in him, and something he carries with him every time he steps on the court or in the gym.

“I get that work ethic from both my parents. They always told me, no matter what I do that I should put my all into it,” he said. “I’m always looking to get better, and I go by the quote, ‘practice makes progress.’ Practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, but you can get better every day. I put my all into my practices and try to push myself as much as I can. If I can make things uncomfortable for myself during practice and training, then I’ll be prepared for uncomfortable

situations in tournaments. I am always looking to test my mind and body.”

Augustin is a big kid with powerful weapons on court, something he uses to his advantage. He has a huge forehand that he is able to use effectively to win points, and he possesses a big serve as well.

These are the strengths of his game, and Augustin is always working to add more weapons to his arsenal and become a more well-rounded player.

“I can trust my forehand, and I really emphasize the serve-plus-one shot pattern. I work on that a lot in practices,” said Augustin. “I want to focus on other technical aspects of the game to complement my aggressiveness.”

For the last several months, Augustin has been playing in the Boys 16s division of tournaments as he gets ready to age out of the Boys 14s division, and that’s where his size and strength can play a critical factor in

him making that transition smoothly.

His goals in the short term are to continue improving, and in 2023 play more ITF events as he aims to not only raise his ranking there, but compete against the best of the best on the junior circuit.

“A goal I have for myself is to try and reach the Top 1,000 internationally, and I’m excited about what 2023 has in store for me,” he said. “Long term, I want to play for a Division I, Power 5 school, that’s a main goal I have. And just continue progressing from there, and see where it leads me. I would love to play professionally and of course that’s the ultimate goal. I have to work on myself now, and continue to put the work in, and set myself up for success down the road.”

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

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

The2023 tennis season begins where it always does, on the other side of the world in Australia. While it isn’t exactly the first tournament to be played this year, the 2023 Australian Open is the first pivotal event of the tennis calendar as the best players in the world will gather in Melbourne, Australia to compete in the first major.

This installment of the Aussie Open probably won’t have the same drama or controversy surrounding it like the 2022 version did, with the primary story being the absence of Novak Djokovic. At the time, Djokovic was the top-ranked player in the world and a three-time defending champion of the event, but his visa was cancelled multiple times by Australian government officials due to his lack of vaccination.

On the court last year, Ash Barty delighted her home fans as she captured the women’s singles title, defeating American Danielle Collins in the finals. She became the first Australian to win the title since Chris O’Neil in 1978, but it would turn out to be Barty’s last match as a professional with the 25-year-old announcing her retirement soon after. The men’s final delivered a classic, with Rafael Nadal earning the record 21st major of his career after coming back from two-sets-to-love down against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev

That brings us to the 2023 version of the event, for which the main draw begins on Sunday, January 15 and runs through Sunday, January 29.

Djokovic has already been approved to travel to and play in Australia as he seeks his 10th title Down Under. It’s

safe to say that Djokovic will be more motivated than ever this time around, harnessing the frustration of last year’s controversy as well as his desire to add a 22nd major to his resume. Mats Wilander of Eurosport, a seven-time major champion, considers Djokovic the favorite this year: “I don’t think that we have ever seen a more hungry

tennis player in terms of wanting to get revenge or wanting to win matches. I don’t think anyone has ever been hungrier than Novak is going to be,” he said. “When you play the way Novak plays, he doesn't have ups and downs. Everybody is not 100% ready in Australia. Some are very ready, some are not ready, and he is always somewhat ready. Somewhat ready for him means he's the favorite. The surface is perfect.”

The women’s side will feature a new champion with the aforementioned Barty being retired, and that sets up an exciting cast of potential winners. That cast begins with Iga Swiatek, the current world number one. She is a three-time major champion with the most recent of those three coming at the U.S. Open last summer, which proved that she is capable of winning hard-court majors. As a semifinalist in Melbourne last year, Swiatek will enter this year’s event as the tournament favorite.

Two intriguing American women that could be due for deep runs as Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula each seek their first career major. Both are ranked inside the Top 10 and seemed to have hit their stride in 2022, which makes for higher expectations this year. Pegula has reached the quarterfinals in Australia each of the last two years, while Gauff is eager to avoid another early-round

upset like she suffered last year. Gauff is a much more mature player than she was at this time last year, and is used to the pressure that accompanies all of her matches now, which sets her up nicely to make a deep run.

There is a chance that we will have a new champion on the men’s side this year. Nadal has had his share of injuries including needing abdominal surgery in the middle of 2022, and may not get out to the fastest start in the New Year. Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has reached three straight Aussie Open Semi Finals, along with last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev, are two strong contenders to win the title. Both Tsitsipas and Medvedev are dominant hard court players who thrive on the fast conditions in Australia, and will be the biggest threats to Djokovic’s quest for a 10th major there.

Be sure to pay attention to some of the Americans as well, notably Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, who are motivated to snap the American male drought at majors. They have proven they can play well at majors, evidenced by Fritz’s run to the Wimbledon semifinals and Tiafoe’s semifinal showing at the U.S. Open, and both start the year inside the Top 20 of the ATP World Tour Rankings.

The New Year always brings with it a clean slate in the tennis world and a fresh season is upon us.

Top Clubs & Programs

Top Clubs & Programs

New York tennis players have great choices when it comes to where to play tennis. We have compiled a list of some of the top clubs and programs with descriptions of what each has to offer.

Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning

1720 Crotona Avenue l Bronx, N.Y. l (718) 247-7420 CaryLeedsInfo@NYJTL.or g

The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning houses a two-story, 12,000square foot clubhouse, educational spaces, and access to 20 courts (10 bubbled for winter/indoor use) and two stadium courts that seat up to 800 spectators. Led by a world-class team of tennis professionals offering programs and private lessons for juniors and adults of all skill levels, the Center also hosts summer camps, tournaments and community-based events.

The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning is the flagship home of New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL), the largest youth tennis and education non-profit in the nation. In serving its larger mission, the Cary Leeds Center provides 6,000 hours of free tennis court time to the community.

Centercourt Performance Tennis Academy

Centercourt Tennis Academy boasts the toughest playground in the Northeast and has created a true culture of excellence as proven by results: 3 CTA players making the Wimbledon Junior Finals from 2019-22. The quality and intensity of programs, the daily in-person academic support, and the personalized scheduling, plus hosting a full calendar of UTR/ITA tournaments, makes CTA the top choice.

Established in 1974, Centercourt® Club & Sports has become a leader in sports programming in the Northeast. Our portfolio consists of 8 sports training facilities that are focused on delivering top-level year round training. Centercourt’s Performance Tennis home base is in Chatham, N.J., conveniently located 45 minutes from New York City.

Our coaches have walked the pathway and take pride in delivering only the best cutting edge Player Development Programs which are personalized to the needs of each athlete.  Centercourt’s methodology is well-proven with the number of top players coming from our programs. We firmly believe in communication between the players, parents and coaches and that players need to be developed holistically to become the best they can be.

Academics

Centercourt encourages a tennis culture of excellence and places a strong emphasis and focus on academics and work ethic. Centercourt’s scholar-athletes have committed to play collegiate tennis at strong academic institutions such as many of the Ivy League Colleges and other top D1 schools. Centercourt offers schooling through ICL Academy, K12, Laurel Springs and The Dwight School. Centercourt’s point of difference is our on-site teachers who work individually with each student-athlete.

Competition

We believe that Competition is the backbone to development with players competing locally, nationally and at ITF level regularly. Centercourt’s full-time athletes become proficient in Technical through the use of our SMAP Video Analysis Programs and also undertake regular seminars on Mental Toughness, Match Analytics, Nutrition and other key areas of development.

Centercourt® Pathway

The pathway starts early with our specialist NEW! Red Ball Development Center. We have a dedicated area for young players to become athletes under specialist coaching. The foundations of Elite Players are formed through Technical and Tactical skill development using key footwork patterns and cutting edge teaching methods in conjunction with our established curriculum.

Chris Lewit Tennis Academy

Chris Lewit Tennis Academy (CLTA) is a serious high performance academy set in the natural paradise of Vermont. The club offers European style red clay courts and indoor hard courts, gym and clubhouse. We never get rained out! Families love to visit nearby Manchester, Vermont, known internationally as a mountain tourist destination for its quaint village and charming shops and restaurants.

CLTA offers year-round full-time training, short-term training, and a world-famous high performance boarding summer camp. All players get to work on court directly with Chris. Chris is not just a figurehead; he is active on court working with players in the trenches daily. That’s what makes CLTA unique and special, and that’s why players come to train with Chris from all over the world.

Chris Lewit is one of leading high-performance junior development coaches in the United States. Author of the bestselling book, The Secrets of Spanish Tennis, Chris has spent the last 14 years studying with many of the legendary coaches in Spain and Europe. He brings the most cutting-edge training methods from Europe back to the U.S. for his students. Chris is known as an expert in technique and biomechanics, and in Spanish training methods. He has recently coached the number 1 player in the US and gold ball winner Maggie Sohns, numerous top 10 nationally-ranked juniors, one Little Mo National champ Elana Zaretsky, and many elite players now graduating to the pro circuit. He also has unmatched experience building the foundations of many young prodigies.

CLTA offers a unique teaching system based on the Bruguera Method, Toni Nadal Method, and the system of William Pato Alvarez—all from legendary coaches in Spain. Chris is one of the only coaches in the world who has attained certification in these three systems, and he brings unparalleled experience to this who want to train authentically the Spanish Way.

Come experience the best in Spanish training or technical/biomechanical development year-round at the CLTA. You will be treated like part of the family!

CourtSense Tennis Training Centers at Tenafly and Bogota Racquet Club

CourtSense offers the most up to date tennis facilities in Northern New Jersey and provides a comprehensive program of tennis instruction delivered by professional fulltime coaches, using the finest techniques and technologies. With CourtSense, you’ll achieve your personal best, because our training is of the highest professional caliber—and easily tailored to suit your age and skill level.

Children under 10 years of age benefit immensely from a proper training foundation—eliminating poor techniques that could limit their game later in life. We love helping juniors and adults achieve their goals on and off the tennis courts, and our ultimate goal is for everyone that steps into our facilities to learn something new while leaving with a smile on their face.

CourtSense Tennis Training Centers have a whole range of activities to support junior and adult tennis lovers. From redball tennis and afterschool clinics to high-performance full-day program including a partnership with the Dwight School and ICL Academy, Hit to Fit tennis, internal and USTA leagues, and private and group sessions, we have something to suit everyone. CourtSense students have access to 15 indoor tennis courts with new LED lighting, world-class strength and conditioning centers and luxury players’ lounges. The indoor facilities have also been updated with state of the art UVGI systems that are constantly sanitizing the air inside the facilities and making sure that air is of the highest quality.

CourtSense’s club in Bogota, N.J. primarily specializes on the high-performance and tournament players. We have worked with players who have become ATP- and WTA-ranked players, U.S. Olympians, as well as many college scholarship athletes, and currently work with some of the top juniors in the Eastern Section. CourtSense’s high-performance coaches, in collaboration with its fitness staff, have developed a program that maximizes athletes’ strengths, both on and off the court. The goal is to use tennis as a vehicle to teach life lessons by tapping into the spirit of every player, with passion, expertise and character. We want our juniors to be the best tennis players they can possibly be, but at the same time, be prepared to be successful in anything they want to be once their tennis careers are over. We also have a partnership with the Dwight School and ICL Academy that all our high performance players can take advantage of.

Another unique aspect to CourtSense’s facilities is the fitness programming provided in partnership with Magnus: Expand Human Potential. Magnus’ team has the ability to assess, correct, enhance and reassess an athlete–giving you everything you need to compete at the best of one’s abilities. CourtSense members have access to cutting-edge strength and conditioning technology, private sessions, nutritional counseling and mental toughness training.

Evert Tennis Academy

10334 Diego Drive South l Boca Raton, Fla.

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

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

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

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

Academy and Developmental Programs

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

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

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

Please contact Evert Tennis Academy at (561) 488- 2001 for more information or e-mail rachelle.borges@EvertAcademy.com.

Gilad Bloom Tennis

(914) 907-0041 Bloom.Gilad@gmail.com

Gilad Bloom Tennis has been operating in New York City since 2000 and is a boutique junior program geared for juniors ages six through 18, who want to take their game to the next level. It is a year-round program which offers group sessions, private lessons and tournament travel, seven days a week.

The program is personally run by Gilad Bloom, there's a strong emphasis on technique and footwork, and a lot of personal attention, as well as attention to detail, with a maximum of four kids per court.

During the outdoor tennis season, Gilad Bloom Tennis runs sessions at Riverdale Tennis Club between April-October, and in October, it moves indoors to New York Tennis Club Indoors until April.

Gilad Bloom Tennis' Advanced Group Sessions meet Monday through Thursday from 5-7:00 p.m. and every Saturday from 2-4:00 p.m. Groups for players aged 4-7 meets on weekdays from 4-5:00 p.m.

Bloom is a former Israeli Davis Cup player and two-time Olympian, who has been running his own tennis program since 2000. Gilad served as director of tennis at John McEnroe Tennis Academy for two years. He played on the ATP Tour from 1983-1995, reaching the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 1990. Gilad reached a career-high singles ranking of 61st in the world and was Israel’s singles champion on three occasions.

For more information, visit GiladBloom.com or e-mail Gilad Bloom directly at Bloom.Gilad@gmail.com.

Gotham/Stadium NYC

725 Exterior Street at East 152nd Street and the Harlem River Bronx, N.Y. l (718) 665-4684

Gotham Stadium NYC is located just minutes from Manhattan, several blocks south of Yankee Stadium at East 152nd Street and the Harlem River. This popular facility is quickly shaking its label as “the best-kept secret in New York City tennis,” featuring 16 cushioned, US Openstyle Deco-Turf hard courts, including 12 indoor courts, which are open for indoor play from October through April.

The “Gotham Stadium Bubble” continues to reign as one of the largest tennis bubbles or tennis domes of this type in the world, covering an area of more than four million cubic feet and a footprint of more than 75,000-square feet. The “Bubble” features high 65 ft indoor ceilings and spacious backcourts. These offerings please the playing public and aspiring junior players from throughout the metropolitan NYC region including beginners and advanced beginners, intermediate and advanced tournament level, interscholastic and collegiate players who train and compete at and call Stadium Tennis Center their “home court.” Stadium Tennis Center also offers complimentary on-site parking to the north of the facility. The on-site Clubhouse will welcome you to host special events, birthday parties, and tennis gatherings for all of your family and friends, and the updated Pro Shop offers all your tennis necessities. The Clubhouse also features clean, secure locker rooms and lounge areas, Wi-Fi computer access, a workspace where children can do schoolwork and read.

This highly-touted facility offers a full complement of tennis programs for juniors and adults of all skill levels and ages. In partnership with Gotham Tennis Academy, a leader in developing and operating tennis programs in New York City and the Hamptons, Stadium Tennis Center employs high level, experienced tennis professionals from all over the world who have established a strong sense of ownership in the success of the total Stadium Team. Stadium’s Elite High Performance and Junior Development Programs including the Gotham Stadium NYC Summer Camp and the 10 & Under Junior Program are proven programs that get results in a fun, supportive atmosphere. For adult players, fast-paced group clinics, liveball and cardio tennis workouts are offered daily, in addition to indoor seasonal court rentals, private lessons, gamearranging, and leagues.

For more information about Stadium Tennis Center at Mill Pond Park, visit StadiumTennisNYC.com or call (718) 6654684.

Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club

Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club (MPRC), an Advantage Tennis Club, is located at 450 West 43rd Street (between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue) in New York City (open Monday-Sunday from 6:00 a.m. until midnight).

MPRC offers luxury tennis in the heart of Manhattan, with five indoor championship hard courts, air conditioning in the summer, a luxurious duplex clubhouse with terrace, a new tennis bubble, private lessons and group lessons for all ages and levels, game-arranging, quality tennis programs for members and non-members, leagues, tennis camps, parties, doubles play, tournaments, a pro shop with stringing services, and nice locker rooms. MPRC membership includes a full membership to Manhattan Plaza Health Club. MPRC members can fully access the Health Club’s many fitness classes, climbing walls, gym, glass enclosed swimming pool, sundeck, sauna and more. There is indoor parking also available on the premises.

MPRC’s most popular program for members is game arranging that follows the NTRP Rating System. MPRC has some of the best tennis-teaching professionals in New York City who offer private lessons and group lessons.

MPRC offers several categories of membership, including the Advantage Passport Tennis/Sports MultiClub Membership to Roosevelt Island Racquet Club & Sports Park and the New York Tennis Club. For membership information, contact MPRC Assistant Manager and Membership Director Lauren Hartman at (212) 594-0554.

MPRC also offers season/open tennis time, and for more information on these opportunities, contact MPRC Manager Milos Vojvodic at (212) 594-0554. For more information on tennis lessons and Adult Tennis Programs, contact MPRC Assistant Tennis Director Bruce Barney at (212) 594-0554. MPRC also offers QuickStart classes for ages three and older as well as Junior Development Programs for boys and girls ages six to 17. For more information, contact MPRC’s Junior Program Administrator Gabriel Slotnick at (212) 594-0554.

MatchPoint NYC is the sports and fitness destination for the entire family, with three locations in Brooklyn, N.Y., only 30 minutes away from downtown Manhattan. Spread across 120,000-square-feet, MatchPoint’s premier health and fitness complex features a cutting-edge tennis facility that includes nine indoor tennis courts.

MatchPoint’s Tennis Coaching Team is led by Numrud Nino Muhatasov, co-founder and director of MatchPoint NYC (a former coach of top WTA and ATP players, former captain and number one singles and doubles player for the St. John's University Tennis Team, Big East Conference Finalist and two-time Most Valuable Player), together with Director of Tennis Sergey Igel (U.S. Open Official Hitting Partner, 2011 MAAC MVP of the Year, USPTR Certified Coach).

MatchPoint NYC’s world-class junior tournament training programs (by invitation only) are comprised of highly-ranked players on national and international levels. The club offers personalized coaching for each player, plus private lessons, intensive drills, match play, tennis-specific fitness conditioning and mental conditioning. MatchPoint has a wide range of programs for all levels, including adult leagues, QuickStart, Junior Development (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) and private lessons taught by accredited USPTA-certified coaches.

MatchPoint NYC’s WiFi-enabled Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Relax and unwind after a game, grab a bite to eat or relax while you watch your child on the court. Enjoy a healthy snack or get refreshed with a smoothie at the juice bar. Stop by the Pro Shop if you forgot something or if you need your racket restrung. Free parking is also offered on premises.

Additional club features include a luxury full-sized gym, three group fitness studios, a Junior Olympic pool, a basketball court and a variety of youth and adult recreational and competitive training programs. MatchPoint NYC-certified instructors and personal trainers are friendly, approachable and ready to assist in your individual fitness objectives. The group swimming and exercise classes in MatchPoint’s specialized studios or outdoor field, health metrics assessments, and one-on-one training will get you the desired results in your quest for a healthier lifestyle. Complete your day of health and fitness by winding down and relaxing in the steam sauna. Join MatchPoint NYC and FIND YOUR GAME!

New York Tennis Club

Founded in 1886, New York Tennis Club is the oldest active tennis club in New York. Throughout the years, the Club has maintained a reputation for its restful atmosphere, congeniality of its members and its professional approach to a truly popular sport. With a patio and viewing deck and six HarTru courts, the Club is a haven in a quiet corner of the City. Convenient to Manhattan, Queens and lower Westchester, it’s also the best value in the Tri-State area. Sit back and relax in the recently renovated clubhouse and lounge, grab a bite to eat at the snack bar or unwind in the remodeled locker rooms. There is also on-site racquet stringing in the pro shop and ample free parking located on the premises.

New York Tennis Club is a club for all seasons. For the upcoming indoor season, mid-October to the end of April, New York Tennis Club offers high-quality courts at competitive rates. The two climate-controlled bubbles are equipped with shadow-less, non-glare lighting, with hourly court time at rates between $42-$95 per court, as well as seasonal court options. Hours of operation are 7:00 a.m.-Midnight, seven days a week, and no membership is required.

The rest of the year is outdoor season, when the Club offers unlimited play—as much tennis as members wish. Tennis lovers can soak up the sun on lush lawns surrounded by flower gardens, sit in the shade of willow trees or have lunch on a covered patio or in the clubhouse, which offers dining facilities, locker rooms and showers. For additional information, visit NewYorkTennisClub.com.

The Club offers adult programs for skill sets of all levels. Program offerings include singles and doubles leagues, a comprehensive game arranging program for both singles and doubles players, private and group instruction for all levels, cardio tennis classes, and tennis parties, where guests are welcome.

Advantage Tennis Clubs hosts over 30 USTA sanction tournaments at NYTC throughout the year. Players enrolled in Advantage QuickStart and the Jr Development Program receive a 20 percent discount on entry fees.

One more special feature: The Advantage Passport Membership, which offers members a whole new level of benefits and access. Passport memberships include free summer court time on reserved courts at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC) and New York Tennis Club, plus membership privileges at Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, Manhattan Plaza Health Club and New York Tennis Club.

Roosevelt Island Racquet Club

Now in its 27th year of operation, Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC) is part of Advantage Tennis Clubs. Roosevelt Island Racquet Club is conveniently located on beautiful Roosevelt Island, New York City’s oasis on the East River. The Club features 12 HarTru courts under new bubbles with shadowless, non-glare lighting, heated and air conditioned for comfortable year-round play. The exercise room includes a treadmill, exercise bikes, elliptical trainers and free weights to accommodate almost any workout. The Club boasts a completely stocked pro shop, locker room facilities, two social lounges, Riverview Lounge with a breathtaking view of Manhattan’s skyline, and free parking. RIRC is easily accessible by tram, ferry, subway or car (free on-site parking). The Roosevelt Island Tram (from 60th Street and 2nd Avenue) stops adjacent to the Club, and the subway (F Train) stops one block from the club.

RIRC offers a range of adult programs for players of all levels. Program offerings range from the Advanced Singles League for the experienced competitive player, to Beginner Group Lessons for people new to the sport of tennis. Cardio tennis is one of the Club’s most popular programs and is offered daily for those looking to combine a cardio workout with tennis. Whatever your goal, there is a program for you! The Advantage Junior Tennis Program offers year-round classes, camps and programs for all ages and levels.

There are QuickStart classes for ages three and older, summer and holiday camp programs, after-school programs, tournament training for advanced competitive players, and match play. During the school year, classes are offered both after-school and on Saturdays. The Advantage Junior Tennis Camp offers one-week sessions from mid-June through the end of August.

RIRC offers a Gold Membership that includes full Club privileges, 14-day advance reservation privileges, member court fees with an average savings of $35 per court hour, game arranging and member discount on all programs. The Club is excited to offer Advantage Passport Membership, which offers members a whole new level of benefits and access.

Passport Memberships include free summer court time on reserved courts at RIRC and New York Tennis Club, plus membership privileges at Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, Manhattan Plaza Health Club and New York Tennis Club.

Ross School Tennis Academy

20 Goodfriend Drive l East Hampton, N.Y.

TennisAcademy@Ross.or g l (631) 907-5162

Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) is the premiere training center in the Hamptons, boasting a beautiful tennis facility that is open to the public and located on the Ross Upper School Campus in East Hampton, N.Y. The Tennis Center features six HarTru courts that are enclosed by a bubble from mid-fall through mid-spring, allowing for year-round play. The Tennis Center features state-of-the-art amenities such as spacious locker rooms, lower level lounge, convenient snack bar, and ping-pong tables, and the staff provides a fun and supportive atmosphere that allows for the greatest amount of success.

After-school programming, a dynamic program for junior players, and specialized summer programs are offered to make Ross Tennis Academy the place to play tennis in the Hamptons.

After-school Programs (Pre-K–Grade 12)

• Nursery-Grade 4: Specialized one-hour training program where players build a strong foundation through a variety of game-based and cooperative activities using 10U age appropriate (Red, Orange or Green) balls and nets that will prepare them for eventual full court play.

• Grade 5-Grade 12: Players build off their 10U foundation to further develop fundamental skills and techniques as they transition into yellow balls and prepare for full-court tournament competition. Ball control, strategy, and work ethic are all emphasized in this 90-minute session of drills and point play.

Players in kindergarten and higher are required to play twice per week in this program.

Integrated Training + Academic Program

• Designed for USTA/ITF players in grades seventh through 12 and postgraduates, RSTA is the first in the New York City area to have a full academic program with a complete physical and mental conditioning program. In addition, unlike other tennis academies, RSTA is a small, intimate program that allows student-athletes to develop lasting relationships with coaches, while receiving personalized instruction. Students who attend the Academy experience high-per formance tennis training, while studying alongside their peers in a stimulating college preparatory learning community following a regular academic year (Ross.org/Tennis).

• Lessons and Court Rentals: Ross Tennis Academy also offers adult clinics, court rentals and private and group instruction for all ages and levels. The Tennis Center is also used for a variety of special events and is available for private par ties.

SPORTIME Randall’s Island

SPORTIME Randall’s Island, a state-of-the-art, 24-court tennis club and training facility located on Randall’s Island in Manhattan, is home to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA), named one of the top five academies in the country, and to the Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP) a 501(c)(3) organization.

SPORTIME Randall’s Island features 200,000-square feet of tennis courts and amenities, including five indoor and five indoor/outdoor Deco-Turf tennis courts,7 indoor HarTru soft-surface clay tennis courts, and 7 indoor/outdoor HarTru clay tennis courts, featuring HydroQ subirrigation technology. An expansion project, underway, will add 6 additional hard courts, new and newly renovated locker rooms and social spaces, and much more, for a total of 30 year-round courts, all with a projected completion date of September 2023. This extraordinary club also features a functional training and fitness center; comfortable lounge areas with excellent viewing; a pro shop featuring top brands and 24-hour stringing; spacious locker rooms; a café serving healthy food, snacks and beverages; and classrooms, party rooms and meeting facilities. In 2010, SPORTIME and New York tennis legend John McEnroe launched JMTA at SPORTIME Randall’s Island. The Academy is led by New York tennis legend Patrick McEnroe and Co-Director Lawrence Kleger, who has trained and coached more nationally-ranked and world-ranked juniors than anyone in the history of the USTA Eastern Section, joined by Director of Sports Performance, Richard-John Mensing Jr. and many other world-class directors. The athletic development and tennis coaching staff includes more than 40 experienced professionals from around the world, all selected by the SPORTIME/JMTA leadership team, implementing the innovative and unique vision of JMTA.

SPORTIME/JMTA is proud to have developed hundreds of players who have received scholarships, or favored admissions, through their tennis, to top colleges and universities including Wake Forest University, University of North Carolina, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, MIT, Brown, Louisiana State University, Auburn, William and Mary, Tufts and Vanderbilt to name just a few. In addition to world-class group training for top juniors, SPORTIME offers a wide variety of programming for players of all ages and levels, including SPORTIME Bounce for preschoolers, JMTA’s trademarked Mac Red Ball and Mac Orange Ball programs for younger, developing players, and the best group programming and facilities in New York City for adult players. Also based at SPORTIME Randall’s Island is the Johnny Mac Tennis Project, which, in partnership with SPORTIME, provides scholarships to motivated and deserving young players and introduces the sport of tennis as a life-long health, fitness and social activity to thousands of under-resourced New York City area kids. JMTP’s mission is to change young lives by removing the economic and social barriers to success through tennis.

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Flushing Meadows Corona Park l Flushing, N.Y.

(718) 760-6200

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open Tennis Championships, is the largest public tennis facility in the world. It is, most certainly, a “Tennis Welcome Center.” The Tennis Center is open to the public year-round for court rentals and offers exciting programming, as well as numerous events throughout the year.

Programs are offered for all ages and levels, as well as clinics, private lessons, leagues, tours, field trips, summer camps, corporate events, birthday parties, and tournaments. The NTC also supports all USTA Community Tennis and Player Development initiatives.

The professional staff of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center also conducts community tennis programs, including 11 & Under Tennis for children 11 years of age and under to learn tennis in a fun and dynamic way; USTA Junior Team Tennis for youth match play; USTA League Tennis for competitive, level-of-play competition, and an official Cardio Tennis site for on-court heart-pumping fitness.

There is an extensive summer camp program which provides basic tennis instruction starting as young as 11 and under up through and including Academy level players. Camps include instruction and fitness programs; the encouragement of good sportsmanship leading to general character building for the children of all ages and levels. These services are provided at a nominal cost, making it affordable for youngsters who would not otherwise get the chance to attend camp or receive tennis instruction. Lastly, the Project ACES (Alternative Classroom Environment for Students), implemented at the NTC in 2009, is geared towards children from schools from the New York City Metropolitan Area. This program provides students the opportunity to visit the NTC and learn about the history and the game of tennis. The kids are given a tour of the entire site, including Center Court in Ashe, a video presentation on the history of tennis and the great players of the sport, followed by an hour of on-court tennis instruction.

20 Resolutions to Maximize A Healthy Tennis Outlook

By Steve Kaplan

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

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

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

2. Hold yourself and others accountable without blame.

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. Always be optimistic.

9. Never give up

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

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

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

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

14. Work toward these goals in a safe progression.

15. Embrace change and revise your goals.

16. Mentally rehearse to minimize suffering in matches.

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

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

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

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

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

Steve

2022 New York Girls’ High S

Hunter Girls’ Win First Ever PSAL “A” Division City

For the first time in program history, the girls of Hunter are New York City tennis champions.

The Hawks captured their first ever PSAL “A” Division title with an exciting 3-2 victory over Bronx Science in the city finals at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

“I’m so incredibly proud of the girls and how hard they fought. It’s a testament to how well they prepared and how hard they work in honing their craft and skills,” said Hunter head coach Mannix Cheng. “To win the first one in school history is a special achievement, especially in a league like ours where there are so many good teams and talented players. It’s never easy.”

And the final against the Wolverines of Bronx Science was nothing but easy. The two evenly-matched teams battled across five courts, and like a lot of team

Title

tennis matches, it would come down to one court after the two teams traded wins to bring the overall score to 2-2 after the first four flights finished.

At second singles, senior Sophia Luo won the first set and raced out to a 5-1 lead in the second set with the city championship on the line. She would see that lead slip down to 5-3, but regained her composure, and served out the match to clinch the title for her team.

“I was just trying to take it one point at a time, and play my game,” said Luo. “Everyone gathered around the courts and my team was right there cheering for me, so I knew it came down to my court. I was just happy I was able to close it out for my team.”

Cheng added:

“Sophia has been such a leader of the team throughout the season, and she really stepped into that

Ava Li won her match at first singles to help lead Hunter Hunter senior Sophia Luo clinched her team’s city championship

Bronx Science’s Lillian Flynn & Sydney Siskind won at first doubles

School RECAP

leadership role beautifully. She even admitted to me that she was a bit nervous that it came down to her match but she handled it so well. She remained present in the moment and it was amazing to see.”

Prior to Luo’s clinching victory, Ava Li won her first singles match 6-3, 6-1, and Sophia Chi-Chen won 6-3, 6-3 at second singles to round out the scoring for Hunter. Bronx Science’s Lillian Flynn & Sydney Siskind won 6-1, 6-2 at first doubles, while Amanda Barnkow & Annika Richard were 6-4, 7-5 victors at second doubles.

The historic Hunter victory will be the last match coached by Cheng, who told his team after the win that he would be stepping down as the girls’ tennis head coach. He leaves the program with its first ever city title,

but for Cheng and his team, the wins and losses are never the top priority.

“The only goal I really set for the team is to grow and keep improving throughout the season, and really enjoy playing tennis,” he said. “Part of my coaching philosophy is not to set goals and expectations on how far we want to go. It’s to instill a growth mindset and continue growing as the season goes on. I will miss the team. It’s such a wonderful group to be around; not only as tennis players but as human beings. I always hear from other coaches about how polite and supportive our girls are. I will always remember winning the title, but even more so I’ll remember how great a group of tennis players and people this team had.”

recap

Fort Hamilton Claims Third Consecutive “B” Division Championship

It’s a three-peat!

The Fort Hamilton Tigers reigned supreme in NYC’s PSAL “B” Division for a third straight season, defeating Bard 4-1 in the city finals at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

“I am so proud of these girls for the way they came together before the season and knew what was expected from them,” said Fort Hamilton head coach Nagi Muad. “They all played and motivated each other every single game. They became a family, and it was amazing to watch them compete and win their third straight city championship.”

Family is something that Muad and the Fort Hamilton program take a lot of pride in, and is a key factor in the team continuing to produce season-after-season.

After winning back-to-back city titles, the Tigers had to reload their roster after losing the top three singles players from last season, which required new players to step into those leadership roles this season.

And that is precisely what happened. Leading the way was Isabella Tchij, a sophomore who won her first singles match 6-3, 6-2 in the finals against Bard, while senior Julia Aksamentova won 7-6, 6-2 at third singles.

To round out the singles flights, junior Beatrice Tagliafierro was a 6-1, 6-4 winner at third singles. “Isabella and Julia were doubles players last year, and Beatrice was a substitute,” said Muad. “All three girls practiced all year and it improved their performance on the courts astoundingly. Julia was our team captain who held the team together from the start of the season through the championship. My doubles players Janice Li, Nicole Yan, Madeline Mayes and Mari Gvelesiana also played a key role in our championship run; it was a full team effort.”

Mayes & Gvelesiani would win 6-0, 6-4 at second doubles in the finals for Fort Hamilton, while LauraAlbane Peyronnet & Matilda Gannon-Sias won 6-2, 7-5 at first doubles to secure the lone point for Bard.

Fort Hamilton will look to win its fourth consecutive city championship next fall, and will once again rely on the pillars of its program in order to do so.

“Our program and recent success have always revolved around hard work, sacrifice and love for the game,” said Muad. “We’re excited to come back next season and try to do it again.”

fought

alongside Maya Vora

In Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club 5 cushioned hard indoor courts 450 West 43rd St., New York, NY Contact Lauren Hartman: 212.594.0554, lhartman@advantagetennisclubs.com

sports, we Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main St., Roosevelt Island, NY Contact Pam Glick: 212.935.0250, pglick@advantagetennisclubs.com

are all too familiar with the repeated cliches we hear about the “heart of a champion” and the type of determination you have to have in order to win. But they are clichés for a reason; as often times they are true. Take the Scarsdale girls’ tennis team for instance, the reigning New York State Public High School Athletic Association 12 Har-Tru indoor courts 3081 Harding Ave., Throgs Neck, NY For Indoors Contact Mark Keye: 718.239.7919 ext 1 markkeye@advantagetennisclubs.com For Outdoors Contact: 718.239.7919 ext 2 admin@newyorktennisclub.com Find out more today—then choose your Advantage club! advantagetennisclubs.com

(NYSPHSAA) Division I Champions. The team came into this season with nearly its full roster intact from last year, and had the goal of repeating as state champions. And they accomplished that goal, defeating Port Washington 7-0 in this year’s state finals to claim its second straight championship. 3 fantastic locations! Get in the game! At Advantage Tennis Clubs. 51 NYTennisMag.com • January/February 2023 • New York Tennis Magazine

2022 long island girls high school recap

continued from page 51

“It was very special to win it last year, the final against Syosset was a real nail biter, and we knew it was going to be tough again this year against Port Washington,” said Scarsdale head coach Jen Roane. “We had started to play them at a tournament at the beginning of the season but it got rained out, but we knew how good they were. To win 7-0, I was a bit shocked, but so proud of the way the girls fought.”

The Scarsdale girls would not be denied in its quest to repeat, and perhaps nobody embodied that sentiment more than Yelena Sahakyan. Playing third doubles alongside Maya Vora, Sahakyan was chasing down a shot deep in the corner during the first set when she rolled her ankle and was in a lot of pain.

“When I made my way over to the court, I told her that if you don’t want to continue, it’s okay. We came here to compete and win, but your health is more important,” said Roane. “She told me, ‘Coach, there is no way I’m not playing. Last year, Maya and I lost our match here, and I’m not going to let that happen again’. It was probably a bit of the adrenaline talking, but I was taken aback by the dedication and determination she had, and that was true for our entire team.”

Playing through the pain, Sahakyan & Vora won 7-5, 6-4 at third doubles to give Scarsdale one of their seven victories, while

Maya Cukierman & Emma Ha were 6-1, 6-2 winners at first doubles.

The second doubles tandem of Kay Cottrell & Campbell Alin held on to win 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 at second doubles, and Natasha Pereira & Emily Hyman won 6-3, 6-1 at fourth doubles to complete the doubles sweep.

Giana Marks was a 6-3, 6-2 winner at second singles, and Natalie Hu brought home the Scarsdale victory with her 6-4, 26, 7-5 win at first singles.

“I’m so happy, a lot of this season has been leading up to this, and we felt like we could do it,” said Hu. “Being able to celebrate with the team is the best way to end the season. I think we brought a lot of energy, and also were able to deal with the stress of being the defending champions. We were a focused team today.”

Freshman Katie Kendall, the one player who was not on the Scarsdale championship team from a year ago, was a 6-2, 6-2 winner at third singles to finalize the scoring for the Raiders.

Scarsdale remains the cream of the crop in New York State tennis, and despite losing a few seniors from this year’s team, the Raiders will be ready next fall to go for its third straight state title.

Byram Hills Wins Back-to-Back New York State Division II Championship

Heading into this season, Byram Hills knew it would be a targeted team after winning the first-ever New York State Division II championship last year.

The team handled that pressure well throughout the

year and defended that title, culminating with a 4-1 victory over Cold Spring Harbor in the state championship.

“This is amazing. We weren’t sure if we would be

able to do it again, but this means so much to us,” said Byram Hills’ captain Chloe Bernstein, who won the New York State individual doubles title the week before. “Everyone came in focused on their individual matches and it’s just great to be able to do this as a team again.”

While Bernstein would lose her match at first singles in the finals to Cold Spring Harbor’s Nicolette Loeffler, her teammates stepped up on the other four courts to secure the victory. Jenna Kleynerman, Bernstein’s doubles partner in the individual championships, notched a 6-4, 7-6(2) win at second singles, while Anika Bobra won 7-5, 7-6(5) at

third singles.

In doubles, Daphne Bernstein & Justine Maresco posted a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the first doubles flight, while Jordyn Bernstein & Lily Anchin were 6-0, 6-3 winners at second doubles to finalize the scoring for Byram Hills.

“It’s pretty awesome. When we started making the run, our community got into it, and I can’t wait to celebrate with them,” said Byram Hills head coach Mike Racanelli. “We’re so happy to be in this position. There are a lot of great teams out there who fought to be in this spot, but we were the only team able to finish with a win.”

Victoria McEnroe Claims NYSPHSAA Singles Title

Bronxville’s Victoria McEnroe captured the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) singles title, defeating Longwood’s Victoria Matos 6-4, 7-5 in the final.

“I’m so happy to win the state tournament,” said McEnroe. “The high school season is my favorite part of the year, as it is so special to be part of a team and to play for my school. I’m playing for something more than just myself which really motivated me to get the title.”

McEnroe dropped the opening set of her first-round match to Giselle Vlassis of Christian Brothers Academy, but played nearly perfect tennis from that point on. She would rally to win the final two sets of that match, and would not drop another set en route to the title.

“I worked and fought really hard this weekend, so it’s super rewarding to be the champion,” McEnroe added.

In the doubles final, the Byram Hills pairing of Jenna Kleynerman & Chloe Bernstein defeated defending champions Dasha Perfiliev & Ellie Ross of Port Washington, coming back from a set down to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the championship match.

“After losing the first set, we tried to regroup and knew we had to change out tactics and find a way to come through,” said Kleynerman.

Bernstein added:

“I just think it shows that we can do anything when we work together. We complement each other’s games so well and that shows on court.”

Victoria McEnroe

Chloe Bernstein

Why Is Playing On Clay So Beneficial?

By Chris Lewit

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

I have recently been working hard to finish the Secrets of Spanish Tennis Second Edition and get the manuscript to my publisher. The original book was published in 2014 and a lot has changed in Spain since the first publication! What has not changed are the many advantages of training on clay. Many American players really hate clay. Sometimes parents and coaches feel the same dislike too. Try to keep an open mind about clay court tennis, even though it may make you or your player feel uncomfortable until all the nuances of the clay court game are mastered. The following is an excerpt from the new book about the benefits of playing on clay. Enjoy!

“We play a lot on clay in Spain because we have a lot of clay courts and it’s good for learning the game,” said Javier Piles, long-time coach of David Ferrer, the 2013 French Open singles finalist. “On clay the players learn to move and hit their shots on balance even when they are under pressure and this helps them a lot.”

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

1. The clay in Spain is generally very slow, and by slowing down the ball speed, it becomes very difficult to hit clean winners when kids are young. Young players learn to win with consistency and patience rather than by trying to go for outright winners. Therefore

the clay tends to reward defense and helps to tame hyperaggressiveness. In Spain, young players learn quickly to play mature, responsible and balanced tennis rather than impulsive, aggressive tennis.

2. Because the points are longer and slower, players learn tactics better— they learn how to construct points rather than just hit winners. Players learn how to position their opponent, hurt them, move them around, and use the geometry of the court— they learn the chess game of tennis.

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

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

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

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

7. Unexpected bounces on the clay develop reactive capabilities, hand-eye coordination and technical adaptability— sharpening the mind and nervous system. In addition, high bouncing balls help develop strength above the shoulder. Many do not realize that developing this last split second swing adaptability is a big asset for clay court trained players, no matter what surface they play on.

Moreover, muscular strength and endurance on shoulder height balls is critical for players if they want to succeed on clay. Hard court players tend to strike the ball at lower heights. Those hard court players who have not been exposed to clay often feel fatigued in clay court matches because they are not accustomed to striking the ball frequently at higher contact points.

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

9. Due to the slow courts and longer

points, players develop better general cardiovascular stamina and muscular endurance. The physical endurance of Spanish players has become legendary.

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

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

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

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

The Top Ten Tennis Tips of

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

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

There are many examples of great athletes with gifted IQ’s. When I first met Tiger Woods, my immediate impression was that he had an unusually high intelligence with exceptional focus and I was not at all surprised to learn that he was a straight-A student in high school and went to Stanford University. I have never met another human being who had the ability to focus the way he did, despite being hounded by thousands of adoring fans every time he teed it up.

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

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

In tennis, when you talk to Andy Roddick, you notice three things: He is big, he is healthy looking and he is

All-Time Part

Seven: The articulate mind of the gifted athlete

By Dr. Tom Ferraro

bright. And one thing that is immediately obvious in press interviews with tennis stars is that they all speak multiple languages. Djokovic, Federer and Nadal can switch languages in the middle of a sentence, going from English to French to Spanish without missing a beat.

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

A young tennis player who is destined to achieve greatness will be practicing upwards of six hours per day on his or her craft, whereas an average youngster will only be devoting five hours per week on tennis.

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

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

When you work with professional athletes, no matter what the sport, one quickly learns that they are fast

studies and catch on to sport psychology tips rapidly. I once worked with a soccer star who refused to take penalty kicks because once in the past she had missed one during a big Olympic game. One lesson on how to be more target-aware while kicking was all it took to resolve her conflict.

If you are a young tennis player who is doing well on the court it is probable that you are already gifted mentally as well. One can take comfort in that fact. Awareness that you are smart leads you upward into confidence, fluidity and calmness while playing the game you love.

So the tip I offer here from my work with the pros is that half of the battles along the road to victory involve strategy, planning, thinking and using your smarts. This will include learning from your coaches, remembering what you have learned by writing it down, studying your opponents weaknesses before you play or as you warm up and then exploiting the, knowing your own strengths and using them, knowing your game plan and sticking to it.

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

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

A Baker’s Dozen of Truths

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

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

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

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

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

on the other side of the net and learn.

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

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

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

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

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

By Barbara Wyatt

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

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

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

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

Barbara Wyatt is a Writer, Photographer, USTA Official, and Mobile App Developer of iKnowTennis!, the tennis rules app. Her poem, Ode to Tennis, an amusing poem on the joys and frustrations when learning tennis, is available at Amazon. She can be reached by email at BarbaraW@iKnowTennis.com

The Challenges of Coaching the New Generation

By Gilad Bloom

The game of tennis has changed a lot since I picked up a wooden racquet in 1976. Looking back to those days, it almost seems like a different sport now, and while other sports have evolved as well, it feels it has happened more so in tennis. There is almost no connection between the tennis that Rod Laver played and the way Rafael Nadal plays. There’s no way that Nadal would develop his style of play without the ultra light racquet he uses and the powerful live strings that exist in modern-day tennis.

If you watch old videos of sports such as soccer and basketball, there are similarities between the games then and how they are played now, with the technique of a jump shot or soccer kick remaining relatively the same. In tennis though, the grips, swings and stances are totally different today than when I started playing. As a coach, I have had to re-invent myself a few times in order to keep up with the ever-changing game.

I used to think that young coaches looked up to experienced coaches and that still may be the case, but the evolution of the game happens naturally and instinctively for each new generation, and as a coach I like to keep my eyes open and always continue learning. The world we live in is constantly changing as well which effects how you have to coach and teach the new generation. Simply put, to be a successful coach, you always have to make adjustments so the game

doesn’t pass you by. Below are some adjustments I have made in my coaching career:

1. The importance of physical fitness in the curriculum of a tennis program

It has been a huge factor for many years and has become a must for any serious tennis program. When I was growing up we didn’t have internet and there were less things to do so we played more sports. Today’s generation is almost always in front of screens and there is less motivation to exercise. In my program there’s a full time fitness coach that makes strength and conditioning an integral part of every tennis session.

2. The importance of working on your mental game

Tennis has always been a mental game. I had a mental coach on tour with me when I was a player, but the difference today is that I recommend the kids to start working with a mental coach even earlier. The main goal from mental training is to be able to perform close to your ability during matches, but not only that, working on your mental game with a professional helps you develop the set of tools which you’ll need on and off the court. Some say this is part of a coach’s job, but there are professionals in this field who are better suited to do so. I can get them to a higher level when they are relaxed and have the right mental

attitude. Working on your mental game is just like working on your backhand or serve, and the habits that you develop as a young player will stay with you for the rest of your career. Learning how to control your emotions and performing with the right mental approach takes practice, and there are methods that can be implemented if the discipline is there.

3. Injury prevention

I feel that my most important job as a coach is to keep the student injury free and happy while on court. I’ve seen many good players hampered by injuries and mental burnout which are the most common reasons for quitting tennis. Playing high performance tennis can be grueling. The way the junior tournaments are set up in the Eastern Section is that you are required to play four or five matches over a weekend, sometimes with very little break in between and, many times, on hard courts. This can take a toll on the young body and the mind. Also, the kids wake up early to go to school and go to train right after school, sometimes even before school as well; it is a very demanding routine. I try to keep a close eye and monitor the load of work, and taking the foot off the gas when needed is the right thing to do. Taking a day off after a tournament is a must, and making sure they take time off every few weeks to recuperate is essential.

I constantly ask the kids if they are sore or in pain and, just as important, I ask how they’re feeling and adjust the

level of intensity accordingly. It’s important that the player comes to the session with a positive outlook and goes home with a feeling of accomplishment and pain free. Over training might be worse than under training because the result can be a grumpy kid sitting home injured or even worse, burned out from tennis. In order to prevent over loading on certain muscles I try to not hit the same shot too many times in one practice so the work load is spread evenly across the body.

4. Percentage play, boiling it down to patterns

With 70 percent of points ending after 0-4 shots, it makes sense to practice certain patterns that happen frequently. Many of the sessions boil down to simple patterns of shots which are repeated in practice such as return plus the next shot, or serve plus the next shot. The ability to hit a forehand after you serve increases your chances

of winning the point. Practicing that simple thing can be very helpful and more effective than having 500 shot rallies. I’ve seen Nadal work on his patterns for hours with his coach, one simple drill in which he opens up the court with an inside out forehand (deep) then follows it with a short cross forehand. That pattern happens often during matches, so practicing it repeatedly is essential. There are a few more combinations of course but not that many, because basically you can either hit crosscourt or down the line, short or deep; that’s it!

5. Early specialization

On the past I used to recommend young players play many sports until they were 10 or 11, and start focusing on tennis after that age. But

today if a kid has dreams of being a high performance player, they need to specialize in tennis early on, and that means that the tennis specific sessions must start early and often. Tournament play doesn’t necessarily have to start that early but the attention to detail and the discipline can be implemented at a very young age, in some ways it’s easier because at that age, their brain is like a sponge. The danger is, of course, over training and burn out, that’s why it’s important for the coach to always know what they are doing, and find the balance of it being fun and light, but also intense and detailoriented. That is the challenge. If the right balance is applied, it is possible to raise a healthy player that will excel, be injury free and, most of all, enjoy their journey.

Gilad Bloom is a former Israeli Davis Cup player and two-time Olympian, played on the ATP Tour 1983-1995, reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 1990, reached a highest ranking of 61 in singles, was Israel Singles Champion three times. Bloom has been running his own tennis program since 2000 and also was director

of tennis at John McEnroe Tennis Academy for two years. He can be reached at bloom.gilad@gmail.com.

Creating a High-Performance Program

By Jay Pinho

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

“If you build it, he will come.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Use scholarships or other similar methods to attract top

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

adult league wrap-up

By Christopher Dong

USTA Metro Region Adult League Update: January/February 2023

By Christopher Dong

Thecompetitive play in the USTA Eastern Metro Adult League continued across all five boroughs as some leagues finished up and had their playoffs recently, while others are in right in the middle of their seasons.

Below are results and updates for the all the Metro leagues. Winning teams are identified by their captains:

Fall 2022

l Tri-Level 3.5/4.0/4.5 Men Champions: Theron McInnis/Chikudi Richardson

l Tri-Level 3.5/4.0/4.5 Women Champions: Andrea Condur/Brittney Eady

l 2.5-3.0 Women: Alicia Ulin/Anna Yeager

l 3.0-3.5 Men: Steve Hohl

The Winter 2023 leagues are currently underway in the following divisions. Stay tuned for the March/April 2023 edition of this magazine to see the full results of these leagues:

l Tri-Level 3.0/3.5/4.0

l 40&Over

l 40&Over Mixed Doubles l Mixed Doubles Queens

l 3.5 Women's Day League

The below leagues get underway in the Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 seasons, and the leagues are currently accepting new teams.

l 18&Over Manhattan

l 18&Over Queens

l 18&Over Brooklyn

l 18&Over Bronx

l 18&Over Staten Island

l 55&Over Mixed Doubles NYC

l 55&Over NYC

New players, teams and captains are welcome. For more information, please contact Christopher Dong, Adult League Coordinator, Metro, at cdong@eastern.usta.com.

Christopher Dong is the Adult League Coordinator for the USTA Eastern Metro Region. He may be reached at cdong@eastern.usta.com.

Compete: The Key to W.I.N’ing

By Rob Polishook

Ihear

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

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

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

So, what does it mean to compete? Just look at Rafael Nadal’s entire career and especially the 2022 Australian Open come back against Daniil Medvedev, few would argue the importance of competing consistently in achieving long-term success. I’d like to highlight eight keys that indicate a true competitor.

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

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

3. Respect for the process: A competitor understands that their development is a process, and while a loss may hurt in the short term, there are lessons that can be learned. They see setbacks and losses as an opportunity to grow, not as a problem.

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

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

key question: What do I need to do now, or to get back in the match?

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

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

8. Learn from mistakes: Mistakes are only bad if the player does not learn from them. Mistakes provide a player the opportunity to learn and adjust, essentially correcting their mistakes from the previous setback. Nothing great was ever achieved without mistakes.

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

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

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Netflix’s Break Point to Premier in January

Debuting in 2023 will be the new Netflix documentary, “Break Point”, which follows several highly-ranked professional tennis players to showcase what life on the tour is really like. Put together by the same producers who did the acclaimed series F1: Drive to Survive, and will coincide with the 2023 Australian Open.

Tennis Legend Nick Bollettieri Passes Away

Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri passed away at his home in Florida at the age of 91. One of the pillars of tennis coaching over the last half-century, Bollettieri was a Hall of Fame coach who coached the likes of Andre Agassi and Monica Seles, as well as founding his own tennis academy which laid the foundation for the development of young junior tennis players.

Bollettieri, who was born in Pelham, New York, had been battling a number of health issues recently, and his manager Steve Shulla said he received so many messages and notes of kindness from his former players and those he has impacted.

New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column

By Emilie Katz

Suarez-Navarro and Wife Expecting First Child

Former world number six Carla Suarez-Navarro, who retired at the end of 2021 after overcoming a battle with Hodgkin lymphoma, announced that her and partner, former professional soccer player Olga Garcia, are expecting their first child in June.

“Let’s grow the family,” Suarez-Navarro wrote on Instagram. “Excited and happy to face this big moment. Very soon we will be one more.”

Alcaraz, Nadal to Play Las Vegas Exhibition

The world’s top two men’s tennis players will square off in a special one-night championship match when all-time tennis great Rafael Nadal visits Las Vegas for the first time to meet current world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in “THE SLAM: Nadal vs. Alcaraz,” hosted by MGM Resorts International. The event is scheduled for Sunday, March 5 inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena with the winner taking home The Lion’s Cup presented by MGM Rewards.