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March/April 2022 • Volume 12, Number 2

nytennis New York Tennis Magazine

Table Of Contents

MAGAZINE

Rafa’s Record

New York Tennis Magazine

Nadal wins 21st major title By Brian Coleman—See page 10

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

Highlights 8

Junior Player Spotlight: Rhys Spano, Professional Children’s School By Brian Coleman Teaching Styles From All Over the World Converge in the Hamptons 2022 NYC Boys’ High School Preview Coaching Spotlight: Michael Smookler, USPTA Eastern By Brian Coleman 2022 New York Tennis Magazine’s Camp Guide Your 2022 Guide to Court Builders and Suppliers

23 27 28 32 54

Emilie Katz Assistant Marketing Coordinator Dr. Tom Ferraro Contributing Writer Luke Jensen Contributing Writer Steve Kaplan Contributing Writer

PG 8

Barbara Wyatt Contributing Writer

14 18

Article Submissions/Press Releases To submit any material, including articles and press releases, please call (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com. The deadline for submissions is the first of the month preceding the target issue. Subscriptions To receive subscription information, contact (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com or check out our Web site: www.nytennismag.com. Fax subscription changes to (516) 409-1600. 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.

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Features

Rob Polishook Contributing Writer

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20 22 24 31 48 50 52 53 56 58 59 60 62 64

Across Metro New York…News and Notes From Across the New York Metro Tennis Community King Richard Reflections By Chris Lewit Power Up Your Tennis Game The “Complex Way” By Richard-John Mensing Get a Cue By Steve Kaplan Metro Corporate League Recap presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs USTA Eastern Metro Region Update Between Point Psychology By Dr. Allen Berger and Jim Klein The Top Ten Tennis Tips of All-Time: Anticipation By Dr. Tom Ferraro Preparation for a Tournament By Gilad Bloom How Junior Players Can Improve Their Game This Summer By Ajay Kumar Racquet Sport Report presented by All Racquet Sports Rafa Resilience: Beyond Rafa’s Mental Game By Rob Polishook Tennis Tips: Discovered By Barbara Wyatt Metro Adult League Wrap-Up By Christopher Dong Specific Tennis Footwork and Movement Skills By Cinto Casanova The Lefty Side of Things By Michael Smookler The Jensen Zone: Never a Dull Moment in the World of Tennis By Luke Jensen New York Tennis Magazine is published bi-monthly by United Sports Publications Ltd. • Copyright © 2022 United Sports Publications Ltd.

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Across Metro Ne N Cragg Earns Girls 12s Title Kathryn Cragg, who trains at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning, captured the title in the Girls 12s singles division at the Level 5 tournament at Bogota Racquet Club. Cragg was the event’s topseed and did not drop a set in any of her last three matches of the event.

Rabman, Yakoff Hit With Aussie Open Finalist Collins Two top local junior tennis players recently got the chance to hit with one of the world’s best players, as Thea Rabman and Stephanie Yakoff took part in a hitting session with recent Australian Open women’s singles finalist, and the top-ranked American woman Danielle Collins.

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

New York Markov, Teixeira Take Home L5 Doubles Title Milana Markov, who trains at MatchPoint NYC, and her partner, Ross School Tennis Academy’s Luma Teixeira took home the title at the L5 February Open at Ross School Tennis Academy in East Hampton. Teixeira also won the singles event, while Markov earned a third place finish.

Chandler Wins Multiple February Tournaments

… News and notes from across the N.Y. Metro tennis community Wang Wins Huntington Title Aaron Wang who trains with Chris Lewit Tennis Academy won the title at the L6 February Open at Huntington Indoor Tennis. Wang was the event’s fourth-seed and did not drop a set en route to the title.

Sharma Wins L5 Open

February was a successful month for John McEnroe Tennis Academy’s (JMTA) Summer Chandler, who captured three titles in three different states. First, she won the L5 Clay Courts Open at New York Tennis Club in the Bronx, before heading to Overland Park, Ka. where she won the L4 Open at the Overland Racquet Club, winning 6-0, 6-0 in the championship. Finally, Chandler won the Girls 16s division at

Nolan Sharma, who trains with CourtSense Tennis Training Center, played well on the home courts of Bogota Racquet Club as he captured the title at the L5 CourtSense Open in the Boys 12s singles division. Sharma did not drop a set en route to the title.

the L4 Open in Newington, Ct.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

Across Metro New York Columbia’s Lin Honored by NCAA Centercourt Introduces WTN Tournaments

Recent Columbia graduate Jack Lin was named as one of the NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award winners, which is given to former student-athletes for their successes in athletics, in the classroom and in the community. Lin and the other nine recipients were recognized at the Honors Celebration on Jan. 19 during the NCAA Convention in Indianapolis. Lin was a standout on the Lions’ tennis team where he helped guide his team to two Ivy League titles, and was a four-time All-Ivy League selection.

World Tennis Number is the new global rating for all tennis players, regardless of age, gender or ability, introduced by the ITF to begin this year. Centercourt Tennis Academy was one of the first clubs to hosts events under this rating, featuring four different divisions.

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USTA WTN (World Tennis Number) Boys 16’s Level 6 (pictured) • Winner: Vujnovich, Bode • Runner Up: Ganchi, Camron USTA Green Ball Boys • Winner: Adamson, Graham • Runner Up: Sesulka, Tate

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

Junior Player

spotlight By Brian Coleman

Rhys Spano Professional Children’s School ompeting as a high-level junior tennis player can sometimes feel like a fulltime job. Between the training, practices, fitness, travelling and match preparation, it’s often difficult to find a balanced schedule, especially when you factor in school and a normal social life. It’s for this reason that many players decide to enroll in schools that provide them the flexibility and convenience to pursue their goals outside of school while also obtaining a high-level education. Located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Professional Children’s School embodies that mission, and has helped a number of young tennis players chase their tennis dreams without sacrificing the educational aspect. Take Rhys Spano for example. The high school sophomore is in his first year attending Professional Children’s School, and has loved his time there thus far. Prior to arriving at Professional Children’s School,

Spano attended the Lycee Francais de New York, a school he enjoyed but was inconvenient to his rigorous tennis schedule. “Being at Professional Children’s School has been great, and has helped me so much already,” said Spano. “They are very accommodating to my schedule, and if I need to leave early for tournaments, I am able to, and the teachers help you avoid falling behind. I was previously at an all-French speaking school, and they have helped me adjust fast to being at an American school.” Spano has been in love with tennis for as long as he can remember, and first started playing when he was around two-years-old. “I can remember going on a trip with some family friends,” Spano recalls. “They were renting a house for the summer which had a tennis court. They all went out to play and I joined them, and picked up a racquet for the first time. Since then I’ve been in love with the sport.”

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

er spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior player spotlight junior

Growing up, in addition to tennis, Spano played in a variety of other sports, including golf, swimming, skiing, skateboarding and soccer, but tennis was always at the forefront. Competing in those other sports has helped Spano develop important skills that he now incorporates into his tennis game. “Skateboarding helped with my balance, while soccer helped with my footwork,” he says. “Swimming helped strengthen my upper body and core, while golf helped hone my precision, focus, and maintaining consistency. The mental game in golf is also huge, and has helped me in my tennis.” All of that has played a factor in Spano’s development, and with a more accommodating schedule, he is able to travel to bigger tournaments, and more tournaments in general, providing essential match play and new experiences. Spano has even given people a glimpse into what it is like to train and travel for a tournament via his video blogs on YouTube. He shares highlights on everything from his practice sessions to car rides to hotel visits, which has been a fun experience for him to both shoot and edit his videos in his downtime. “I’ve always loved making videos to share with other people, and I wanted to combine two of my favorite things, which is creating videos and tennis,” said Spano. “So I just started making vlogs about how I train, playing tennis, traveling, etc. They’re fun to make and it’s also nice to look back at the footage after you finish a tournament and keep those memories. It’s been great being able to document some of my tennis experiences.” Part of that training has been a recent emphasis on weight lifting and getting stronger. Spano stands about 5’6’’ and only about 100 pounds, so putting on weight and growing is a major emphasis for him right now. Spano comes from a family of tall people, including both of his parents and a couple of uncles, so he is

confident he will continue getting taller as he gets older. “I have an all-around game, and I can get blown off the court a little bit by bigger players, especially in the 16s divisions, but I know it’s only a matter of time before I grow into my body. I know I will grow, so I just have to keep grinding hard on the training court, because I know that once I grow, I will be at the top…I started doing weight training this year, and on top of that, you have to eat well. My trainer is also a nutritionist, and we talk about the importance of both fitness and nutrition. It all works together.” Spano has a goal of becoming a professional tennis player one day, and takes his preparation for matches very seriously. Prior to his matches, Spano tries not to use his phone for about an hour beforehand, except to listen to music, and does about three minutes of mediation and visualization. “I try to envision how I want to hit the ball, how I want to think out there during the match, and prepare how I am plan on playing the important and crucial points,” he said. “I also do Box Breathing. It’s where you breathe in for four seconds, hold it for four seconds and exhale for four seconds. I learned about it from watching TennisTV. They had a video clip on it during the

Novak Djokovic-Roger Federer match at Wimbledon a couple of years ago. I decided to try it and it has really helped my game; I’ve been doing it ever since.” With his continued training and growth, Spano is set to continue improving and rising up the junior rankings. He has already come a long way in the last year, and that will only increase with more tournament play and his practice sessions. But he isn’t focused on his ranking too much, and wants to continue putting in the work, and let the rest take care of itself. “I’m really not trying to think about my ranking. I feel like when you do that, it can mess with your head, you over think it, and then you feel down on yourself if you don’t achieve the ranking you thought you should,” he explained. “So I’m trying to focus on being the best I can be, and if I do that, the ranking will go up. I just need to focus on the process, and the results will handle themselves.” With its accommodating schedules and the academic tools it provides, Professional Children’s School has created the ideal environment for tennis players like Spano to pursue their dreams and goals outside of school. Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

Rafa’s Record By Brian Coleman

s fans and spectators, we look to sports not only for entertainment, but also as a source of inspiration. We attend elaborate venues to witness the greats, and turn on our television or cell phones to watch men and women compete at the highest level in their respective sports. By simply watching, between the talent on display and the amount of effort put in, we can understand just how dedicated one must be to get to that point. And while athletes of all sports can be considered symbols of determination, few have ever embodied that as much as Spain’s Rafael Nadal. There’s a famous Nike commercial from years ago featuring Nadal, and it is a montage of points he has played throughout his multiple decades on tour, with John McEnroe’s commentary serving as the audio. At the end, McEnroe says, “Is he going to play every point like that?” It was a fitting tribute to the amount of effort and fight Nadal has displayed throughout his career. That spirit was no more evident than at the Australian Open, the event that kicked off Nadal’s 2022 season. He arrived in Melbourne under not so ideal circumstances. He had to recover from COVID-19, which he contracted while playing in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi in late December, and his last competitive tournament before landing in Australia was at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. in early August. But even at 35-years-old, Nadal delivered perhaps the signature performance of his career, as he came back from two-sets-to-love down to defeat the tournament’s favorite, second-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, to win the Australian Open. Nadal won 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in an historic championship match that resulted in the Spaniard earning his 21st major title, a new men’s singles record. “It was one of the most emotional matches of my career. To share the court with Daniil was just an honor. It is amazing,” Nadal said while holding the Norman Brookes Trophy. “To be honest, one and a half months ago, I wasn’t sure if I was [going to] be able to be back on the Tour playing tennis again. But today, I am here in front of all of you with this trophy in front of me, You are just amazing, thank you so much. Having the huge support I received over the past three weeks is going to stay in my heart for the rest of my life, so thank you very much.”

continued on page 12

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

Credit all photos to Tennis Austrtalia

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

nadal’s number 21 continued from page 10

It was a magical performance that left his peers amazed, as tennis players and other athletes all across Twitter were praising Nadal’s efforts and incredible victory. Even his opponent, Medvedev, was enamored. “It’s tough to talk after playing for five hours and 30 minutes and losing, but I want to congratulate Rafa because what he did today, I was amazed,” Medvedev told the Melbourne crowd. “After the match I asked him, ‘Are you tired?’ because it was insane. You raised your level after the first two sets for your 21st Grand Slam title. You are an amazing champion, it was unbelievable.” Nadal now stands alone atop the men’s all-time Slam titles list, one above Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Entering 2022, the general consensus was that a player would win their 21st major title at the Australian Open, but the thought was that it would be Djokovic. Of course, the saga of Djokovic’s lack of vaccination, his medical exemption and his detainment at the Australian airport prevented him from playing, which opened the door for Nadal. But the Australian Open had been the one major where Nadal had the

least success throughout his career. Prior to his win in January, only one of his career major titles came Down Under, that was in 2009. In between his 2009 and 2022 titles, Nadal did reach the finals four separate times, but came up short in each of them. Those final losses came in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019, and were present with Nadal during his championship match this year. “I was repeating to myself during the

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whole match that I lose a lot of times here while having chances,” said Nadal. “Sometimes I was a little bit unlucky. I just wanted to keep believing till the end, no? I just wanted to give myself a chance.” He seized that chance, and in doing so became only the second player, joining Djokovic, to have won each of the four majors at least twice, and has bolstered his case as the greatest men’s tennis player of all-time. His illustrious career got its start all the way back in 2001, when Nadal turned pro at the spry age of 15. His debut at a major was at Wimbledon in 2003, shortly after his 17th birthday. A couple of years later, Nadal would secure the first of his 21 majors at the 2005 French Open. He first defeated Federer in the semifinals in stunning fashion, before coming from a set down to defeat Argentine Mariano Puerta in the finals. “When I won, I thought at that time that it was the biggest thing I would achieve in my career,” he would recall in the years after that title. “Now, I’m going to play with peace of mind, I’m going to play more relaxed for the rest of my career. But I was completely mistaken. The years go by and you’re

nervous for all of them. In all of them, you want to play well, you want to have a chance to keep on winning and, honestly, the peace of mind that I thought winning Roland Garros would give me was fleeting.” That French Open title was the first of what would become an incredible 13 titles at Roland Garros for the Spaniard. The clay-court master, a notion he was stigmatized with early in his career, would break out from that stereotype to win multiple times at each of the other three venues, displaying his greatness on clay, hard and grass surfaces. And Nadal is primed to add to his collection as we approach the spring, and prepare for Roland Garros, a tournament and venue he has dominated for the last 20 years. The opportunity to extend his lead over Djokovic and Federer is right in front of him, but both players should be ready to go by the time the French Open comes around. Djokovic will certainly be ready, and more motivated than ever, while hopefully Federer can be healthy

enough to compete. “If Novak does return, I think we’re talking about Rafa and Novak going into the French as the co-favorites,” said ESPN tennis analyst and coach Darren Cahill. “Obviously you’ve got to be able to beat Rafa over five sets on clay, and we’ve seen how difficult that’s been, but Novak has been pretty damn impressive there the last few years. I think what Rafa did can put a little fuel in Roger’s tank, too. Roger could say, ‘If Rafa is out there still doing it, why can’t I do it if I get healthy and still have that love of the game?’ So, I think this energizes the Big Three.” Rafa’s unrelenting fighting spirit and determination has elevated him to the top of the Big Three, and provided a thrilling beginning to the 2022 tennis season in general. It was hard to watch the finals and not come away with an enormous amount of respect for the 21time major champion, and be left

inspired by his efforts. It’s hard to forecast who will finish their career with the most major titles of all-time, and Nadal is okay with it; he has a humble and positive outlook on his life and career, and will continue to fight every second that he is out there on the tennis court, which is something that sports fans around the world are lucky for. “I am super satisfied and feel like a very lucky person in general for all the things that happen to me in this life,” he said before playing Medvedev. “You can’t be always frustrated if your neighbor has a bigger house than you, or a better phone or a better thing, no? I’m not going to be frustrated if Novak or Roger finishes the career with more Grand Slams than me. Let’s enjoy the situation that every one of us has. We did very special things in our sport; let’s enjoy that. The other thing doesn’t matter.”

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

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

King Richard Reflections By Chris Lewit

finally had a chance to watch “King Richard”, one of the best tennis films I have seen— perhaps ever—and I would like to share my thoughts as both a high-performance coach and parent. Richard Williams was wonderfully portrayed by Will Smith who delivered a powerful performance. The acting—by all involved—was excellent overall and even the tennis technique was fairly close to the actual strokes of the sisters and their competitors, which helped the realism of the film. It is very difficult to find good actors who can also demonstrate decent technique and make it all work in a dramatic movie. It was cool that the actor portraying Venus even mimicked the hitch in her two-handed backhand. I’m interested in the level of accuracy of the story that was portrayed in the movie. For example, Richard Williams was a chronic smoker and this aspect was not included in the film. Another discrepancy was when Rick Macci visited the Williams family in Compton. In his excellent and highly

recommended book, Macci Magic, Rick has a slightly different version of events as they transpired. For example, Macci says in his book that Richard did not commit until months later—not immediately as depicted in the film. Another discrepancy in the film is that the breakup of Macci and Richard—which is notorious in the tennis world—is never presented. Macci discusses the split at length in his book. Richard got a deal with Reebok and bought a house in West Palm Beach, hired away a couple of Macci’s hitters, and started coaching the girls himself, according to Rick, in Macci Magic. In addition, Richard tried to change all the terms of Rick’s contract, which Rick refused to accept. Rick admits that the rift was so great that he prepared a 14 million dollar lawsuit against Richard. Yet, in the book and in many recent media interviews, Macci claims Richard and he were best friends. That’s hard to believe. Overall, however, Macci has claimed the movie is very accurate. Discrepancies aside, the movie is riveting and dramatic, and it holds

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

many lessons for parents and coaches. It is interesting that the movie juxtaposes the pressures of the father with the pressures applied by the coach. In the film, Richard clearly accuses Rick of malpractice with Capriati, highlighting her fall from grace and turn to drugs, a situation that Macci laughed off and minimized in the film. Rick, in turn, accuses Richard of putting too much pressure on the girls by billing them as the next great champions all the time. Those countervailing positions are intriguing. You have two men tied up in a business deal together with a lot of money at stake, and they are both accusing each other of pushing the girls too hard to get success. The film suggests that Richard saved the girls from a similar fate as Capriati. I wonder if this is how the story really went—or if it was Rick who tried to protect the girls from their father. The film’s condemnation of the junior circuit is striking. Richard repeatedly suggests that the junior circuit is worse than Compton, the way the kids and the parents behave.

He says that junior parents “should be shot”. This is the real dirty truth of the junior tennis game that the current powers that be do not want to address. Cheating is rampant and behavior is at a nadir for both players and parents. Rick has stated in interviews that he agrees that cheating is out of control in junior tennis. The film spends a significant amount of time presenting the contributions of Paul Cohen, who I never knew helped the sisters—and I’m in the business. The influence of his coaching is important to note for the historical record. (And the fact that he coached the girls for free and did not appear to receive any compensation, at least not as shown in the film). While I have the utmost respect for Rick Macci as a talented coach, the audience is left to wonder whether he is also an equally gifted gambler. I have argued in the past that the most successful junior coaches have the qualities of a great stock trader and

WINTER January Half Moon Bay, Jamaica

investor. I'm not sure if his portrayal in the movie was entirely positive. He is portrayed as a quirky, funny, fasttalking, charismatic and hard-charging coach. The film makes a point that his student Capriati was a tremendous prodigy but then fell to personal problems and burn out. Those in the tennis world also know that another Macci prodigy, Tommy Ho, who was mentioned in the film, didn’t accomplish nearly as much success on tour as in his junior career, a sensitive topic that Rick explains away in Macci Magic, saying that Tommy just wasn’t “athletic” enough to be make it higher than about #80 singles and #7 doubles in the world. It appears that even the most gifted coaches may need to roll the dice on talented players in order to reach superstardom. The level of financial output that Macci gave to the Williams family is shocking, and according to Macci Magic, most of the funding went unpaid back to Rick.

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According to Rick in Macci Magic, he settled for a much smaller amount with the family rather then implementing the 14 million dollar lawsuit. As a high performance coach myself, I’m left to wonder if the way to the top of the coaching world inherently involves a financial gamble like the one Macci took, or if a talented coach can develop a champion without such a monetary sacrifice. Do any of our most famous coaches accept payment for their most gifted players? In Macci Magic, Rick says that Tommy Ho’s family, for example, paid him throughout their relationship. In a telling scene in the movie, Richard refers to the lower level players at Macci's academy as "chum." Macci replies, “You need a few cheeseburgers to pay for the sirloin. You sell enough sirloin you can get the filet mignon.” It's a cynical continued on page 22

FALL October November Innisbrook Resort Tampa, FL

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king richard reflections continued from page 21

view. I know the academy business often works that way, but I wonder if there are elite coaches who don't work that way. Or do they go out of business because they can't compete? Surely, the movie asks the question for all junior coaches that if they were blessed to encounter a player of supreme ability, would they sacrifice as much as Macci did to achieve greatness? Or would they say “no thanks,” like Vic Braden and numerous other coaches did in the film. The fascinating choice Richard made was to make his girls his family business. Rather than building a successful career himself and supporting his family, which most cultures highly value and encourage for fathers, he took an iconoclastic approach. In essence, his girls were

his family business in the most entrepreneurial sense. Thus, he operated a bare bones start up for many years with a delayed payoff. He therefore needed a stable income from his wife to help support the family. This role of father-entrepreneur is unusual in a world that typically tells men to “bring home the bacon” in a traditional job. I see this type of father or mother from time to time in my coaching. It’s an all-in gamble and approach. If the “business” fails it can be devastating for the family. Indeed, even if it works, as in the case of Richard Williams and his girls, the toll on the family unit may be severe, as it was on the relationship between Oracene and Richard. Parents have to decide what is the

most ethical and healthy way to raise their children and build their family. Parents must decide whether they are willing to take an entrepreneurial gamble with their kid or, rather, focus their energy into another career field to earn money for the kid’s training and expenses. I’m certain that conservatively wired parents will not be inclined to roll the dice like Richard did—too much downside risk. I am also continually amazed at the level of personal deprivation exhibited by fathers (and mothers) like Richard who take on the unusual parenting/coaching/entrepreneurial role. They sacrifice almost everything for the child, leaving little room for personal aspirations. You have to be uniquely wired to see the world this way and live this way.

PROFESSIONAL CHILDREN'S SCHOOL YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A GREAT EDUCATION AND YOUR DREAMS PCS provides an individualized schedule and the ﬂexibility students like Kristie need in order to balance pre-professional and professional endeavors and their academic goals, leaving time for both school work and competitions, tournaments & training. VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, April 13 Program begins at 5:30 PM

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

Kristie Ahn PCS Alumna, Class of 2010

Parents of champions can either make money off court and parlay those earnings into the player’s development, or they can actively make the kid’s tennis their business and life’s work. Typically you see parents who embrace this latter role when the focus is on grand slams and a big money payoff, not simply playing college ball. One key takeaway is the powerful message of the film about the poison of the junior tennis tour and the genius of Richard in being circumspect enough to keep the girls out of that cesspool as much as he could. It’s a lesson that many junior tennis players and parents and coaches should learn. It’s not always necessary to chase points and play 30+ events a year. There is another more healthy way to the top that deemphasizes tournament play or at least adjusts the frequency of tournament play down. Another key takeaway is a challenge to parents about what role

they see themselves playing in their child’s development. Will they adopt a passive role, a semi-active role, or make their child’s tennis into a fulltime entrepreneurial venture? It’s important for parents to identify what role they would like to play in their child’s tennis development. It’s also important for parents to decide whether they want to take on the risk that Richard took with his girls and family. With great risk comes great reward, but also the chance of catastrophic failure. Another thought is that coaches and parents should probably be wary to assume what Richard did can be duplicated. I have met some parents who echo the actions and

words of Richard; some who have even studied his approach in detail and copied much of what he did, assuming it will work again. All coaches and parents should be judicious and understand that the remarkable success of Richard and his daughters is truly a miracle and may not ever happen again in our lifetime. Parents, coaches and players should definitely watch this film! There is a lot to contemplate. Please let me know your thoughts by shooting me an email. You can also learn more about the junior development journey on my podcast, The Prodigy Maker Show, available on all your favorite podcasting platforms.

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

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

Power Up Your Tennis Game the “Complex” Way By Richard-John Mensing

ou play how you train and train how you play.” This mantra is echoed across fields, on courts and in athletic training facilities around the world. When it comes to tennis, strength, power, speed and muscle endurance are all physical performance components vital to creating a high-

performance athlete and a successful player. It is imperative that both players and their coaches understand not only the relationships between these components, but more importantly, how integrating them into a sportsspecific program produces the desired results, at the desired times, and

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

utilizes athletes’ dominant abilities. Every sport requires strength training, but it is each sport’s intrinsic demands that will determine the type of strength training needed to smartly and effectively elevate an athlete’s performance. Because tennis demands power (serve and groundstrokes), power

endurance (constant change of direction) and force and explosiveness (acceleration, deceleration and firststep) functional strength and plyometric work serve as a potent training combination. After a player has properly progressed through the technical (proper form/stability), biological (motor control/muscle recruitment) and loading phases (amount of weight/number of sets/number of repetitions) of both strength and plyometric work, and only after the player has done so, should a coach advance the athlete using methodologies such as Complex Training. Complex Training is designed to increase strength and power. It combines heavy and slow tempo strength exercises with explosive and fast plyometric exercises. The purpose of Complex Training is to simultaneously use the heavy-loaded movement to maximally recruit the central nervous system, and taking advantage of that heightened recruitment with a fast exercise to activate the fast-twitch muscle fibers. This is vital to enhancing speed and explosiveness, both on and off the court. This method is ideal for players who are in pre-competition or who are inseason, but have limited training time. However, Complex Training should

only be used after an athlete has first successfully performed the prescribed exercises under the supervision of the athlete’s coach and with proper form. Below is an example of a singleday workout used for elite juniors, college-bound, and ATP and WTA pro players. Each set of exercises should be performed in their entirety before moving on. Dynamic Warm-up Exercises should include hip mobility, crawling, thoracic and lumbar range of motion (ROM), lunging, skipping and pushing. Complex training block • Back Squat & Squat Jumps: Three sets of four to eight reps at 75-85 percent plus eight jumps (two minutes, rest and repeat) • Bench Press & Medicine Ball Chest Pass: Three sets of four to eight reps at 75-85 percent plus 10 throws (two minutes, rest and repeat) • Single Leg Deadlift & Lateral Traveling Lunge Jumps: Three sets of four to eight reps each leg plus

five Lunge Jumps in each direction (two minutes, rest and repeat) • One-Arm Dumbbell Rows & SplitStance Medicine Ball Push Throws: Three sets of four to eight reps each arm plus five Push Throws for each arm (two minutes, rest and repeat) • Forearm Plank & Prone Back Hyper Superman: Three sets of 45 second Planks plus 12 Supermans (30 seconds, rest and repeat) Cool down • Flexibility/ROM work, stretching and yoga poses Complex Training should be performed two to three times per week, and is most effective with a comprehensive and progressive conditioning program on alternate days. The program should take place over a six- to 12-week period, with the frequency and duration of Complex Training coming into clearer focus as coaches and players formulate their yearly plans. Want to train harder? Work smarter and power up your game? It’s time to incorporate Complex Training.

Richard-John Mensing Jr. is the Director of Performance and Junior Athletic Development at John McEnroe Tennis Academy and SPORTIME Randall's Island. He has more than 20 years of professional experience as an athlete, coach trainer and athletic educator, working in numerous sports with athletes of all ages and levels. You can reach him at rmensing@sportimeny.com.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

GET A CUE By Steve Kaplan

ffective coaches use words strategically so that their message has the greatest positive impact and throughout my career, I have looked to find a better cue or phrase to coach with clarity. Sometimes the improvements that I have found are subtle yet they can be meaningful. I've developed a better ability to adapt to the unique learning style of each student by focusing on my communication skills and further, I've come to recognize that the most knowledgeable coaches are lifelong students who are always leading by example and reinventing themselves. Below are some common tennis instructional phrases, or cues, that I often hear, and also my recommendation for what I believe to be better cues.

• Common Cue: "Bend your knees" • Better Cue: "Hinge your hips" or "Get your butt back" • Why: The purpose of bending is to lower your center of gravity so that your first step is quick and balanced. A focus on bending your knees may pitch you forward but an emphasis on pushing your butt back and hinging your hips will automatically lower your center of gravity and put you in an optimal starting position . • Common Cue: "Reach up on your serve" 20

• Better Cue: "Push into the ground on your serve" • Why: You get power from the ground as force is the result of an "equal and opposite action and reaction" Extension is not the goal of the serve but rather it is the result of strong mechanics as well as a great assessment that force has been delivered to the hit. Pushing into the ground will help extension to happen naturally and encourage maximum power delivery into the hit. • Common Cue:"Punch the volley" • Better Cue: "Catch the volley" • Why: The ball and the racket are lively and reliability and stability of your racket rather that power is the most important attribute of a volley. Be like a wall and let the ball mostly reflect off of your strings. Then move to your target to add force. This method takes away the critical timing needed to execute the shot because it keeps the racket face in the path of the ball and promotes a compact, reliable and consistent movement. • Common Cue: "Brush the ball" • Better Cue: "Soften your grip" • Why: When your racket exerts a force on the ball, the ball is also exerting a force on the racket. Brushing the ball takes split second timing and is very difficult to

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

modulate for all but the most expert player. In contrast, allowing the ball to compress on your strings and slightly alter the racket angle to elicit spin is passive, reliable and therefore easier to execute. • Common Cue: "Run as fast as you can to the ball" • Better Cue: “Run as fast as you need to the ball" • Why: Sprinting to the shot requires a lot of energy and slowing abruptly before the shot takes even more energy and usually causes you to lift your body at the worst possible moment. Sure you don't want to be late to the shot, but equally true and almost as disruptive to a good hit, you don't want to be early. The goal is to be on time so move smoothly, efficiently and as fast as needed. • Common Cue: "Recover fast" • Better Cue: “Finish the hit and recover fast" • Why: The most important shot in tennis is the one you are hitting, not the shot that might or might not occur. Finish first before making the common mistake of recovering before finishing the hit. Smoothness and rhythm as said above are vital when executing the shot but less important when recovering from the shot so use the energy you saved running to the hit

for a full effort from the hit to enhance your readiness for the next ball. • Common Cue: "Step in" • Better Cue: Step forward to the net" • Why: Why use vague language when you can use specific language? Say exactly what you mean and don't assume that the student knows what you mean • Common Cue: "Low to high" • Better Cue: "Drop your racket head and raise it as you swing forward" • Why: See above and say what you mean. • Common Cue: "Toss the ball" • Better Cue: Place the ball" • Why: The word "toss" is often interpreted to mean "use your arm" because that is how most people toss an object. The "serve toss" is more of a full body movement using your arm, torso, hips and legs. Saying "place the ball" conveys the message that using your full body is the goal. • Common Cue: "Racket back early" • Better Cue: "Coil your torso, early" • Why: If you want to teach a unit turn it's best to not use language suggesting that the racket is prepared without the body. Further taking the

racket back fast often causes the student to take the racket back with force which can cause many to believe that they are "late" when in fact they are simply mechanically disadvantaged. Finely referencing cues with body parts rather than racket parts are often easier for beginners • Common Cue: "Snap your wrist on your serve" • Better Cue: "Relax your elbow and allow your wrist to flex" • Why: The wrist movement on a serve is a very natural movement which will enviably happen if it is not prevented by tensing during the hit. It's a passive, not active movement because the wrist is primarily a transmitter and not a generator of force. Keep your arm loose and let the snap just happen. • Common Cue: “Get into the ‘trophy position’” • Better Cue: "Keep making circles with your elbow" • Why: Trophies are stationary objects and the goal of the serve is to be as dynamic as possible. The reference to

the static moment in time that a trophy represents can cause the serve to be choppy and disconnected. By making continuous circles with your elbow you will ensure that your serve is a connected part of the kinetic chain. These cues should be adapted to the age and experience of the student. "Push into the ground using your ankles" might resonant with a Division I college player but "squish a bug with your foot" might be simpler cue for a nine-year-old beginner. Furthermore, while not the main focus of this article, it should be noted that language cues work best when paired with object lessons. For example, before teaching someone to catch the volley, I might toss them the ball so that they can experience how much easier it is to allow the ball to be received into their hand then it is for them to dart their hand forward to intercept the ball. Telling a student is not the same as coaching a student. The best coaching practices are the ones that are a good match to the student’s learning preferences.

Steve Kaplan is the owner and managing director of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as director emeritus of Lacoste Academy for New York City Parks Foundation, and executive director and founder of Serve & Return Inc. Many of the students Steve has closely mentored have gone to achieve great success as prominent members of the New York financial community, and in other prestigious professions. In 2017, Steve was awarded the Hy Zausner Lifetime Achievement Award by the USTA. He may be reached by e-mail at StevenJKaplan@aol.com.

At Gotham Tennis Academy, we're passionate about teaching tennis. From beginners to rising stars, Gotham's PTR certified pros are experienced in teaching the fundamentals while stressing sportsmanship, hard work, and fun. With our prime location at Stadium Tennis Center - NYC's newest and largest indoor/outdoor tennis center, we're only a short trip away from you. It's more convenient than ever to get your kids into the game. To enroll now and learn more, please visit www.stadiumtennisnyc.com or call 718-665-4684.

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Gotham Tennis Academy is a leading operator of innovative tennis programs in NYC and Montauk in the Hamptons. NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

Metro Corporate League Looking Towards 2021 Presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs

Metro Corporate League Set for Spring Season

Intermediate Division Champion: Douglas Elliman

he Metro Corporate Tennis League presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs is an initiative of the Metrotennis Community Tennis Association (MCTA). Our league is divided into three levels of play, Intermediate (3.0-3.5), Advanced Intermediate (4.0 – 4.5) and Advanced (4.5+). The leagues also offer a Hi-Five program for teams that are not ready to compete but want to get into the sport while getting a great workout. The league will host more than 25+ teams for our Winter 2022 season.

Advanced Division Champions: Proskauer Rose

The season will run from February through April, culminating with an end-of-season party at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. Please help welcome new teams, Blackrock, Inc., Latham &amp; Watkins LLP, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, and HSBC. Congratulations to past season’s Champions, Fall 2021 season Advanced Division, Proskauer Rose, and Advanced Intermediate Division, Douglas Elliman.

For more information regarding the league, please visit www.metrotennis.com under tab labeled, “corporate” or e-mail Luis@metrotennis.com. 22

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

Teaching Styles From All Over the World Converge in the Hamptons eading out to the East End of Long Island, travelers are presented with beautiful scenery featuring farms, wineries, markets, shops and more. You can head down to the beach, or grab lunch at one of the many restaurants along the way. But for tennis players, there exists a hidden gem inside the Hamptons that provides a one-of-a-kind tennis experience. Tucked away behind a forest full of trees sits Southampton Camp & Club, a unique, outdoor facility featuring seven Har-Tru courts that rests on the idyllic natural landscape of Southampton. Tennis pros come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and thus bring their own teaching styles to the table which creates a well-rounded tennis experience for players. The pros at Southampton Camp & Club range from all over the world, including Australia, England and Spain, amongst others. Elliot Pegg is the Club Director at Southampton Camp & Club, and originally comes from Southampton,

England. Growing up there, he took great pride in grassroots tennis, and building a program from the ground up, which helps ensure that the needs of all players are met. “One of our key focuses is transitional methods between each age and level progression through a mixture of live ball and feeding drills,” said Pegg. “The primary focus that we have adopted is the in depth teaching of the foundations of each stroke, and also emphasizing that not only is tennis a sport, but also a recreational activity where you can develop life skills such as patience and teamwork.” Carlota Escoda is a former standout at Fordham University in the Bronx, and brings her experience and knowledge from the clay courts of Spain to her teaching at Southampton. “I love to bring all my experience growing up training on the red clay, and applying the coaching foundations I learned here to the Hamptons,” said Escoda. “I teach the grit and grind of being a clay-court

player, while also preaching the importance of being fit, and stress the healthy aspects and the physical demands of tennis.” Hailing from Australia is Sam Alexander, who brings his passion for the sport from the other side of the world. “My style is high-pace, high-energy and passion for the game, and I use that in all of my lessons and clinics,” said Alexander. “I try to share my unique style of enthusiasm and technical knowledge of the game as well as teaching the famous Australian formation doubles style of play.” Southampton Camp & Club is open to anyone and not restricted to members only. This has allowed an array of people to have the privilege of playing at the facility, and learning from the diverse and energetic staff that Southampton has employed. You can learn more about Southampton Racquet Club, including its expansive pro shop, by visiting www.SouthamptonCC.com/Racquet_ Club.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA Eastern Metro Region USTA Commemorates National Tennis Month

he USTA will kick off a month-long celebration of tennis this May and will work in tandem with providers across the NYC area to develop programming that attracts new and returning players to the game. “Tennis has enjoyed some truly impressive growth—all the more remarkable in the face of the pandemic,” USTA President and Chairman of the Board Mike McNulty said in announcing the initiative. “During National Tennis Month, the USTA, along with many of our partners in the tennis world, will be making a concerted effort to add to our sport’s momentum by providing resources, ideas and support for coaches, facilities, Parks & Recs, Community Tennis Associations, NJTLs, and providers of all kinds to help bring new players into tennis and reinvigorate those who’ve already made this sport a part of their lives.”

USTA Eastern will specifically support six flagship events across the section, including one in the Metro Region. The organization is also particularly focused on partnering local parks with clubs and other providers of tennis so that together they can accommodate all of the new interest in the sport. “I grew up playing in my local park in Inwood, so I know firsthand how important it is to foster these connections and create more playing opportunities for those discovering the sport on their neighborhood courts,” said Executive Director & CEO Jenny Schnitzer. “We look forward to facilitating collaboration and celebrating all tennis has to offer our communities in May.” Visit usta.com/NationalTennisMonth to learn more about the celebration and how local tennis providers can get involved.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA Eastern Metro Region USTA Eastern Honors Metro Region Stalwart Darcy Cobb with Tennis Woman of the Year Designation

Darcy Cobb (pictured, second from right) was named USTA Eastern’s 2021 Tennis Woman of the Year for her long record of service to the USTA League program in the Eastern Section, as well as her tireless efforts to grow the game in the Metro Region.

t all started with a cancellation. Cobb’s husband held a standing tennis appointment with a friend each week, and on one occasion, the friend couldn’t make it. So Cobb joined her husband at Brooklyn’s Prospect Park courts instead, and there she saw some information about a so-called day league hanging up on the wall. “It had all these ladies’ names on it, and I knew a couple of the women, so [later] I asked them what it was,” Cobb remembers. “They said ‘Oh it’s a lot of fun. We go play during the day, we have a little lunch afterwards.’ At the time, I worked out of my home, and my schedule was

flexible. So I started playing in this day league.” Not long after, Cobb helped the woman who ran the day league launch the USTA League program in their little corner of Brooklyn. Cobb served as a captain for one of the teams, named the Racqueteers. The group rocketed to success right out of the gate, reaching the USTA Eastern Sectional Championships the first two years they competed. “Back then, League play wasn’t as [intense] as it is now,” Cobb says. “We were just in it for the camaraderie and the competition. We had 12 women on that team,

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA Eastern Metro Region and we really got to be close. We’re still close to this day. So it's the relationships that you build with your team members. That to me is what the league program is about.” Cobb’s local league coordinator took note of how organized Cobb was as a captain, and recommended that she become a coordinator herself. She decided to take on the contract role and held the position for the next 10 years. “In New York City back then, you did it for the love of the game because we just got a stipend for expenses,” Cobb says. “[But] I loved it. My master’s degree was in conflict resolution, and that really came in handy. A lot of what you hear as a coordinator is ‘Well, he said this’ or ‘Well, he said that,’ or, ‘He's making bad line calls.’ And you just have to listen to people, figure out how to make them feel better and resolve the issue.” While serving in this capacity for USTA Eastern, Cobb also became a founding member of the Metrotennis Community Tennis Association (CTA). Incorporated in 2002, Cobb and others formed the CTA to more efficiently run USTA Leagues in the New York City area. But the organization eventually developed other tennis offerings, including local competitions. Cobb—who has served multiple non-consecutive terms as Metrotennis’s president— conceived of one such event in which players and clubs battled against each other within each respective borough.

The winners of each would face off in the interborough Mayor’s Cup. The event is still around, though it is now known as the Battle of the Boroughs. In 2006, USTA Eastern informed Cobb of an opening in its Leagues department, an opportunity she just couldn’t pass up. “I knew that my real passion was the Leagues program, and working directly for that would be very special,” she says. “So I took the job as an assistant in the department, and then after about a year, I moved into the section league coordinator position.” In this role, Cobb oversaw around 50 local league coordinators across the section. She also developed many of the rules and regulations that are still central to the Eastern-specific program today. In 2011, Cobb moved on from the Eastern position to accept a job with the National Leagues staff. There, she was part of the team that ran the USTA Leagues National Championships and worked the flagship event for many years. Overall, Cobb is happy that much of her life has been dedicated to helping develop a program that has personally brought her so much joy. “[Witnessing] the growth of USTA Leagues, both throughout the section and nationally, is a real positive,” she says. “I’m happy I had a minute role in helping ensure that it survived.”

Metro Region Council Offers Regional Grants

rganizations in the Metro Region can still apply for regional grant funding to support programming aimed at increasing tennis participation in the community. Special consideration will be given to: school and afterschool programming; junior competitive play; adult competitive play; diversity and inclusion initiatives; Community Tennis Associations (CTA)

& National Jr. Tennis and Learning (NJTL) Programs; special populations and wheelchair tennis programming; and innovative programming. Regional grant awards are up to $1,000 and are for tennis programs and events operating in 2022. To learn more about eligibility requirements please visit USTA Eastern’s website at usta.com/eastern.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

2022 NYC Boys’ High School

Preview

igh school tennis returns to its normal point on the calendar as the boys’ season gets underway this spring. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a shutdown of the seasons over the last two years, but it is exciting to have boys’ high tennis back in the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) New York City in 2022. While last year there was an abridged season, with only some teams and players competing, this spring will play host to a full season. The season is set to begin in March, although at the time of the publication, the official schedule and other championship dates had not been announced yet. Please be sure to check NYTennisMag.com for the latest information, recaps, photos and more throughout the season. Note: All players and dates are subject to change. Please visit NYTennisMag.com for the latest information.

Beacon Under the tutelage of first-year boys’ head coach Martina Choi, Beacon won all seven of its matches in a shortened 2021 season, and is set to once again claim its place among the PSAL’s best. It does lose last year’s first singles player Arnav Agostinho to graduation, but still have a list of talented players on its roster to pick up the slack this spring. Soren Rudin Aulenbach will move up to the top singles position, while the first doubles duo of Arjun Agostinho & Erik Johansoon return to lead the doubles teams. With experienced players back, plus young talent waiting in the wings, Beacon is one of the city’s favorites again this season. New Utrecht The Utes of New Utrecht went unbeaten in Brooklyn’s League I. It will have to replenish much of its talent from last season’s roster, with both first singles player Timothy Lee and second singles player Maximillian Bolkhovsky having graduated. But leading the way for the Utes will be Raymond Lian who as a freshman played second singles, and will be thrust into a bigger role this spring. New Utrecht will aim to repeat its success from 2021 in hopes of becoming the best team in Brooklyn.

Bronx Science Bronx Science also posted an undefeated record in the shortened 2021 boys’ season, and will enter this spring with a lot of those players back in hopes of winning a PSAL title. Luke Ellerstein competed at second singles a year ago, and will most likely jump up a spot in the lineup as Neil He, who played first singles last year, graduated last year. The Wolverines will look to get a big season from the first doubles duo of Justin Fong & Jeffrey Yang, as well as brothers Adam and David Kamenetz at second doubles. Cardozo Cardozo could be one of the most intriguing teams in all of New York City this season as much of its roster from last spring will be back this year for the Judges. The team that went unbeaten in the Queens I division returns its first singles player Akash Hongal, Peter Vanechanos at second singles and Nathan Shtilerman at third singles. The first doubles tandem of Zachary Dubilirer & Justin Lau are also back, which provides the Judges with a talented and experienced lineup ready to compete against anyone throughout New York City. Tottenville While it finished in second place in Staten Island last spring, the Pirates of Tottenville could be due for a much more successful season in 2022. Johnathon Belibasakis will return to compete at first singles, plus Matthew Finkelstein and Eugene Saturchenko, both seniors, round out the singles lineup at second and third, respectively. The Pirates will also have the first doubles duo of seniors Steven Spreen & Louis Larocca. With a senior-heavy team, look for Tottenville to use that experience to make a deep run in New York City’s playoffs later this spring. More Players to Watch l Kyle Ramsingh – John Adams l Salena Dilraj – John Adams l Justin Tsemekhin – McKee/Staten Island Tech l Matthew Elgenio – Townsend Harris l Angier Lei – Stuyvesant l Austin Huang – Townsend Harris l David Pomerantz – Hunter

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

By Brian Coleman

Coaching Spotlight 28

Michael Smookler USPTA Eastern t the beginning of this year, USPTA Eastern ushered in a new era in the organization’s history as Michael Smookler was named its new President. While Smookler is new to the role of President, he takes over the position with a wealth of experience on USPTA boards dating back to 2005. “Our goal is to try and make all of our members proud, and that is our motto for this year: USPTA Proud,” said Smookler. “I’ve tasked everyone on our board to reach out to new members this year, and try to get them to come to our events and conferences. The goal is to get more USPTA coaches involved in everything that we do, because I feel a lot of coaches don’t necessarily know all the things we have to offer.” The USPTA provides a number of important resources for its members including teaching techniques, a job finder tool, specialty courses and more, plus its yearly events and conferences that provide not only education but also a great opportunity to network with other coaches and industry experts. Smookler knows first-hand all the resources the organization provides as he has been a member since he graduated from Lyndon State College in Vermont. There, Smookler was a standout tennis player, serving as its captain in his senior year, and pursued a degree in Tennis Management. His coach and mentor there was Dudley Bell, who would serve as an important inspiration for Smookler. “He was a USPTA icon,” said Smookler. “He was there from the beginning. We were very lucky to have him both as our coach, but also running the tennis management program. The first thing he told me was that every summer, I would have a different internship, which was a

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

position in the tennis industry. One summer I was at a country club, one I was at a resort, and so on. He told me all about the USPTA and how it sets the bar high for tennis coaches, and stressed the importance of what the organization does. I was ready to take the exam once I completed college, and I became certified right after I graduated.” Since his graduation and USPTA certification, Smookler has been in the tennis industry in management roles. He got his first director’s job at the age of 25 in his native New Jersey, and then headed back up to Vermont where he would serve as the Tennis Director at Sugarbush Resort. There, he served on the board of USPTA New England, and was in charge of hosting conferences and events for that chapter of the organization. “That was my main responsibility while on the board there,” Smookler recalls. “I really enjoyed the

camaraderie of it, and getting big names in the industry to come to the events and share differing perspectives. It’s great to get everyone together and learn from other coaches and directors.” It’s through doing that that he had the opportunity to meet many former professional players, including one that he looked up to as a kid, Guillermo Vilas. “I had the opportunity to work with him for many years, traveling and doing clinics,” he said. “Seeing people who idolized him being able to take part in a clinic with them, and the fact that I helped create memories like that for people is very rewarding. I don’t take any of that for granted.” After many successful years in Vermont, Smookler moved back to his home state of New Jersey a little more than a decade ago, and he now serves as the Club Manager & Tennis Director at West Orange Tennis Club. Upon returning, he was asked to join

the USPTA Eastern board, and has been there since. “This will be my first run at being the president of the organization,” he said. “We have a great team here, and there are lot of exciting things we are planning.” Smookler will work hand-in-hand with Executive Director Paul Fontana, who has a ton of experience himself in the industry, and who has been at the helm of USPTA Eastern for many years. “I’ve known Paul since about 2010, and we hit it off from the very beginning,” said Smookler. “I was really excited that he is staying on as executive director, and it was a good indicator for me that I was ready to take on the responsibilities as president.” Fontana added: “We’re very excited for what’s to come, and I think what has continued on page 30

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coaching spotlight continued from page 29

happened over the last two years has created a paradigm shift in the tennis industry. Mike has been in a leadership role in USPTA Eastern for a long time, and now as president I think he is really motivated to do a lot of positive things for the membership, and grow the association even more than it already has.” The team is already in the process of putting on events this year, with a conference set for May 14-15 at Saw Mill Racquet Club in Mt. Kisco. Big names such as former USTA President Katrina Adams, and Slam champion Luke Jensen are committed to speaking at the conference, and Smookler, Fontana and the USPTA Eastern team are excited for what’s to come. “All of us on the board are tasked

with getting three new people to come to the conference,” said Smookler. “There is going to be a lot of great things there including social functions, a feeding contest with prize money, trade show, educational seminars and more. The goal is to get as many USPTA coaches involved as we can, and demonstrate all of the resources we can offer and how the members can benefit.” With participation in tennis and other racquet sports rapidly increasing over the last couple of years, the industry remains in good shape, and therefore it’s important for tennis coaches and providers to take advantage of what an organization like USPTA Eastern has to offer. The resources provided, and the reputation that comes with being

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USPTA certified are important for the development of any coach. “I always tell clients when I am working with them that you get out what you put in,” said Smookler. “If you really want to improve and take advantage of this lesson, focus and do your thing. Give it your all. It’s the same with USPTA. It’s a tremendous resource, and you get out of it what you put in. And I want more of our members to take advantage of that. If we can get more of our base energized and USPTA Proud, we are going to get more coaches certified, and it improves the standard for coaches in our area.” Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.

Between Point Psychology: Tennis is More Than Hitting the Ball By Allen Berger, Ph.D. and Jim Klein

hat happens when you show up to take a tennis lesson? Typically the pro will ask you what you want to work on. Being eager to improve your game you tell the coach that your backhand was off in your last league match. “Can you help me figure out what I am doing wrong with my backhand?” you plead while secretly hoping that this lesson will finally give you a backhand that will strike fear in your opponent. Similar conversations like this occur in tennis lessons all the time. But let’s stand back and ask ourselves, what is often missing in our approach to improving our game that may also be a contributing factor to our problems with our backhand or whatever shot or aspect of our game that we are dissatisfied with and desire to improve? The answer is that we solely focus on improving our game by concentrating on strokes (on-task) or strategy rather than being more comprehensive and asking what can we do to improve our performance when we are “off-task” as well. When we learn to use off-task time to enhance on-task performance we are now playing optimal tennis. Let’s define “on-task” and “off-task” time. When you are on-task in a tennis match you are actively involved in playing the point, you are starting your ritual to serve or receive or you are executing a shot or positioning yourself to react to your opponents shot. When the point is over you are now off-task. A match flows from ontask to off-task to on-task to off-task over and over again until the match is completed. The space or time between playing points is referred to as between points and this time is regulated by the rules of the game. We have 25 seconds

between points to resume play and 90 seconds on changeovers. The time between points and during change over is considered off-task time. It may seem counter intuitive but we spend more time off-task during a tennis match than on-task. I was fortunate enough to watch the Rafael Nadal vs. Adrian Mannarino match in the fourth round of the 2022 Australian Open. We were enthralled with the level of play both players exhibited throughout the first set which ended in an amazing tie breaker, which became an instant classic. The tie breaker lasted 28 minutes and 40 seconds. They played a total of 30 points during the tiebreak and because it was a tiebreaker there was no change over, just a side change. Dr. Berger decided to record the amount of time that the players were on-task during the tiebreaker. He started the stop watch the moment a player stepped up to the service line and began his service ritual (on-task), and stopped the timer when the point ended (off-task). Guess how much time these two great players were on-task? Here’s the answer: They were ontask for 12 minutes and 58 seconds out of 28 minutes and 40 seconds. So they were on-task 44% of the time. This means they were off-task for 15 minutes and 42 seconds or 56% of the time. Here’s another interesting statistic, the average amount of time there were on-task during the tiebreak was 25 seconds whereas they were off-task for an average of 32 seconds.

Off-task time was greater than ontask time. This is typical of any match, we spend more time off-task during a match than on-task. Given the amount of time spent offtask the question becomes how can we best use this time to enhance our performance? It’s important to note that if we don’t use this time to enhance our performance we will do things that will diminish our performance. In other words we will likely sabotage ourselves. The process that will help enhance performance is between point psychology. Between Point Psychology is a psychological law that where we focus is where our energy goes. For instance, if I begin my serve by telling myself “DON’T DOUBLE FAULT!!!!!”, then I am much more likely to double fault. You see the brain doesn’t process negative commands. It only registers “double fault.” When this happens we are focusing on cues (don’t double fault) that are task (serve) irrelevant. We do it all the time. We call this choking. Choking is caused by focusing on cues that are task irrelevant. So, if our focus determines where our energy goes we want to direct our attention to cues that are performance enhancing. Several coaches have suggested ways to use off-task time to enhance performance. There are a number of different approaches. To learn more about my preferred approach, the Three R’s approach, visit LITennisMag.com.

Dr. Allen Berger received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of California, Davis. He received his USPTA Elite Pro Certification in 2005 and was the architect of the very popular Elite Tennis Summer Camp for Juniors at UC Santa Barbara. This summer, he and Jim Klein will be running their Elite Tennis Camp. Klein, co-owner of Doylestown Tennis Club is a Vic Braden trained teaching pro for the past 37 years. You can reach them at abphd@msn.com and jklein1227@protonmail.com. NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

2022 New York Tennis Magazine

2016 Guide to the Top Clubs/Programs for New York Tennis Players

Camp Guide

Advantage Junior Tennis Camp - Two Great Locations EAST SIDE: Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC) 281 Main Street l Roosevelt Island, N.Y. l Contact: Mike Barbato l (212) 935-0250 WEST SIDE: Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club (MPRC) 450 West 43rd Street l New York, N.Y. l Contact: Gabe Slotnick l (212) 594-0554 AdvantageCamps.net Advantage Junior Tennis Camp is “tennis heaven for kids”–giving players ages seven to 17 more drills, more skills and more time on the courts! Directed by Xavier Luna, it’s the City’s oldest and mostestablished junior tennis program. Girls and boys learn from a team of pros— including some of the finest coaches in the East. Campers use 12 Har-Tru indoor courts and three outdoor courts to improve their game with instruction, match play and cross-training. And if you’re looking for more tennis instruction, we can arrange a private lesson with the RIRC coach of your choice during your Camp week. While the focus is on tennis, campers go swimming, too! Choose single or consecutive weeks—and ask about the sibling discount! We even offer individual days with our 10-, 20-, 30-pack option. Camp is at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, easy to get to by tram, ferry, subway or car and Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club on West 43rd St.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Advantage QuickStart Tennis Camp West Side: Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club 450 West 43rd Street l New York, N.Y. l Contact: Gabe Slotnick l (212) 594-0554, ext. 20 AdvantageCamps.net East Side: Roosevelt Island Racquet Club 281 Main Street l Roosevelt Island, N.Y. l (212) 935-0250 l AdvantageCamps.net Advantage QuickStart Tennis Camp delivers a super summer for kids ages four through eight, with tennis customized for age, ability—and fun! During half days from 9:00 a.m.-noon, campers love playing with smaller rackets and slower-bouncing balls that make the game accessible. Engaging drills and games mean there’s always something new to learn and enjoy. Camp is led by an all-star tennis pro who specializes in teaching kids. And our coaches receive intensive specialty training in teaching the Net Gen 10 & Under curriculum. Enrolled campers also benefit from free unlimited Play More Sessions that make practice fun and Athletic Zone Sessions that help develop agility, balance and more. Choose only the weeks you need– and the more you choose, the lower the weekly rate!

Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning 2022 Summer Camp 1720 Crotona Avenue l Bronx, NY l 718.247.7420 caryleedsinfo@nyjtl.org l caryleedstennis.org Summer Camp at the Cary Leeds Center The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning offers Summer Camp from June 14 to August 20, for juniors ages five to 18 years old. All levels are welcome from beginners in the development level program to advanced players in the high performance level program. Players will train to develop necessary tennis technique, improve consistency and create basic patterns of play for effective point construction. Included is a fitness component designed to improve players’ footwork, balance, speed and overall strength. Camp hours run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. NYJTL Community Tennis Program The Cary Leeds Center is the flagship home of New York Junior Tennis & Learning and offers free programming as a part of its commitment to the community. The summer Community Tennis Program is coming soon! NYJTL offers free programming throughout all five boroughs. Please check our website, nyjtl.org to find a location near you. NYJTL’s mission is to develop the character of young people through tennis and education for a lifetime of success on and off the court. All proceeds from the Cary Leeds Center fund its mission.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Centercourt Tennis Academy

High-Performance Full-Time Academy & Elite Camps Offered Weekly, Annually and for Specific Periods required Chatham l Florham Park l Gillette l Marlboro Just 25 miles from Manhattan (862) 308-3029 l Centercourtcta.com l Conrad@Centercourtclub.com Our commitment to Excellence at Centercourt Tennis Academy has earned our reputation as the Toughest Playground in the Northeast. With a passion for Elite Player Development and with a dedicated High-Performance Team as well as our multiple World-Class facilities from Indoor and Outdoor Clay & Hards to our Strength and Conditioning Institutes. Our players experience Only the Best in Competitive Training and an array of Tournaments and Events in one Academy. Based just 25 Miles from Manhattan Players come from International as well as the Tri - State area. We offer Additional Homestay and Transportation Options upon request.

The Centercourt Tennis Academy Points of Difference l World renowned International Tennis Coaches on Court daily in our innovative environment l Attention to detail allows athletes to improve in multiple dimensions: Technical, Tactical Fitness, Emotional & Mental l Centercourt’s list of events including USTA, ITA & official UTR tournaments provide opportunities for athletes to compete weekly and improve UTR ratings quickly. l Centercourt is dedicated to meeting the individual needs of each one of our players

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide l Centercourt’s players results are amongst top National rankings and the ITF100 ranked players. Our Alumni are competing ay Ivy League as well as top Colleges all over the country. l Centercourt puts the needs of the player first, in a development-focused model of training l Athletes are grouped in level by UTR; featuring small group training, match play, individualized fitness plans, Mental Toughness Training and On the Spot video analysis. l Tournament Support, Supervised Practice Sets and Team coaching are all available. l Our Environment shows our commitment to develop players Holistically - we believe in shaping people from the Inside Out and guide our team in our Team based Academy setting. Centercourt Tennis Academy's Proven Superior Player Development Model has seen countless outstanding results achieved in recent times. With our athletes competing at Top Colleges around the nation we are confident in our ability to bring your Childs Ability to their potential . Centercourt Tennis Academy offers programs with rolling admissions year-round and Summer Camp from June 13 – September, 2 2022. Annual Full Time Academy with Academics commenced Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

Chris Lewit Tennis Academy Manchester, Vermont l (914) 462-2912 l ChrisLewit.com l Chris@ChrisLewit.com No Rainouts Ever! We have indoor courts onsite. Train seriously in the picturesque green mountains of Vermont! Chris Lewit Tennis Academy (CLTA) Summer Camp is a serious high performance sleepaway and day camp set in the natural paradise of Vermont. In addition to the summer program, Chris Lewit Tennis Academy also offers year-round training—with boarding—both short term and long term! Players at CLTA have the opportunity to train personally in very small groups with Chris Lewit, one of leading high-performance junior development coaches in the United States. Chris is known as an expert in technique and biomechanics, and in Spanish training methods. Chris wrote the best-selling book, Secrets of Spanish Tennis, and he is currently pursuing an advanced degree in kinesiology and biomechanics. He has developed numerous top 10 nationally-ranked juniors, many of whom are now graduating to the pro circuit. He also has experience building the foundations of many young prodigies. The camp focuses on players from ages 8-18, from serious beginner to national and ITF ranked players, and offers day or full boarding options. Campers live in a charming Vermont Inn and have exclusive use of a private tennis club, CLTA Vermont, which offers both outdoor red clay courts and indoor hard courts in the event of rain, gym, yoga studio and clubhouse, all set on 15 picturesque acres with a majestic river for swimming onsite. The camp features daily morning yoga and mindfulness training from a certified master yoga instructor and an injury prevention program overseen by a NSCA certified strength and conditioning coach who is training for the Olympics in Track and Field. CLTA offers a unique hybrid teaching system based on the Toni Nadal, Pato Alvarez/Sanchez-Casal, and Bruguera Methods from Spain, as well as other European influences based on Chris Lewit's travels abroad. Chris has spent the last 14 years studying with many of the legendary coaches in Spain and Europe. Recognized as a world-leading expert in Spanish systems, he is the only coach in the US certified in three distinct Spanish styles: Nadal, Bruguera, and Sanchez-Casal. Chris brings the most cuttingedge training methods from Europe back to the U.S. for his students. New this year is a character building and mindset training based on the teachings of Toni Nadal! All students receive personal coaching and mentoring directly from Chris Lewit, and are supported by his highly trained staff of top college and ATP players. This summer, the academy will host a full series of UTR tournaments, Little Mo Sectionals, U14 World Championship Qualifiers, and UTR Pro Money event featuring players as high as 200 ATP! For more information, contact Chris directly to discuss your player's summer development plan by e-mail at Chris@ChrisLewit.com, or text/call/WhatsApp (914) 462-2912, or visit ChrisLewit.com. You can also learn more about Chris’s philosophy at his Prodigy Maker Blog, and podcast, The Prodigy Maker Show. Visit ProdigyMaker.com for the blog and show links. NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide CourtSense Tennis Training Center at Bogota Racquet Club (home of the High Performance program) 156 West Main Street l Bogota, N.J. l (201) 366-2898

CourtSense at Tenafly Racquet Club (Home of the Performance program) 195 County Rd. l Tenafly, N.J. l (201) 254-5836 CourtSense.com l Info@CourtSense.com With CourtSense, you’ll achieve your personal best, because our training is of the highest professional caliber and easily tailored to suit your age and skill level. We use tennis as a vehicle to teach life lessons by tapping into the spirit of every player, with lots of passion, expertise and character. Students have access to 17 outdoor and 16 indoor tennis courts and to CourtSense’s revolutionary PlaySight smart court system that is installed on 20 courts. High Performance Summer Tennis Camp at Bogota Racquet Club. This camp is geared towards High Performance Tournament and high level High School players for UTR level 4 and above and age group 11 to 18 years old. CourtSense has trained and is currently training players who have become ATP- and WTA-ranked players, U.S. Olympians, as well as many college scholarship athletes. CourtSense’s International High Performance Coaches, in collaboration with the fitness staff and a sports psychologist, have developed a program that maximizes all athletes’ strengths, both on and off court. l Full Day High Performance Tennis Camp at Bogota Racquet Club runs from Monday-Friday, June 27-Aug. 26 (nine weeks), featuring 10 hours of tennis training; 5 hours of fitness and 8 hours of match/point play) for players ages 11-18, and UTR level 4.00 and above. Campers will have access to outdoor and indoor hard and clay courts, with a 3:1 student-to-coach ratio. Weekly dual matches with other academies, and mental toughness training are also included. Evaluation is required prior to enrollment. Transportation service between locations is provided. l Full Day Performance Tennis Camp at Tenafly Racquet Club runs from Monday-Friday, June 27-Aug. 26 (nine weeks), featuring 8 hours of tennis training; 4 hours of fitness and 6-8 hours of match/point play) for players ages 8-12, and UTR level under 4.00. Campers will have access to a premier and very unique facility where they will be able to experience playing on all grand slam surfaces (European red clay, grass, hard court), with a 3:1 student-to-coach ratio. Mental toughness training is also included. Evaluation is required prior to enrollment.

Ed Krass' 34th Annual College Tennis Exposure Camp® & Clinics (813) 684-9031 l CollegeTennis.com l USTA National Campus, Lake Nona, Fla.: Saturday-Sunday, June 4-5 l Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.: Saturday-Sunday, July 16-17 l Mercer County Park Tennis Center, Windsor, N.J.: Friday-Saturday, July 22-23 l Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.: Saturday-Sunday, July 30-31 l University of Colorado, Boulder, Co.: Saturday-Sunday, August 13-14 Coach Ed Krass' 33rd Annual College Tennis Exposure Camp & Clinics, for ages 14-18, are taught exclusively by head college coaches who will work with you on-court to improve your singles and doubles match play strategies and provide college recruiting advice. Instructional drills and match play competitions will be conducted in the same style and intensity as a college team practice. The two-day College Tennis Exposure Camp will be offered at the Long Island Health & Racquet Club in Setauket, N.Y., Saturday-Sunday, June 5-6 and Mercer 36

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide County Park Tennis Center in Windsor, N.J., Friday-Saturday, July 23-24 Coach Ed Krass, Founder and Director of College Tennis Exposure Camp & Clinics, has coached varsity tennis teams at Harvard University, Clemson University and the University of Central Florida prior to founding the College Tennis Academy. For more information, call Coach Krass at (813) 684-9031 or visit CollegeTennis.com. Look for more camp locations at CollegeTennis.com.

Elite Junior Intensive High Performance Tennis Camp Doylestown Tennis Club l 10 Weldon Dr. l Doylestown, Pennsylvania (818) 584-4795 l abphd@msn.com Get Pumped Up for the Summer Tournament Schedule The goal of this weekend elite tennis camp is to provide a training experience that will help the competitive junior tennis player take their game to the next level. The camp will run from Friday-Sunday, June 3-5. Friday, June 3 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Meet & Greet 6:30-9:30 p.m. – On-Court Play Saturday, June 4 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. – Seminar with Dr. Berger 12:00-1:30 p.m. – Lunch (On Your Own) 1:30-4:30 p.m. – On-Court Play 4:30-6:00 p.m. – Dinner (On Your Own) 6:00-9:00 p.m. – On-Court Play Sunday, June 5 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – On-Court Play 1:00-3:00 p.m. – Lunch Provided, Wrap-Up, Q&A and Pro Feedback Dr. Allen Berger and Jim Klein have created a unique opportunity for student athletes to integrate into their play an understanding of both the laws of physics that apply to tennis and the psychological laws of optimal performance. This intensive week of instruction and training will consist of both on-court and off-court instruction. Participants will learn to: l l l l l l l l l

Apply an understanding of the laws of physics to help play better tennis and generate better on court strategies. Use the time when not engaged in playing a point to enhance performance (we call this between point psychology). Compete with a relaxed intensity. Increase self-awareness and use this information to perform better. Manage anxiety or anger to keep negative emotions from interfering with or diminishing performance. Apply cognitive agility, creativity, and flexibility to cope with challenging moments on and off the court. Keep perfectionism from interfering with optimal performance. Focus on what you can control during a match instead of expending energy trying to control things you can’t. Develop attitudes and behaviors that enhance athletic performance.

This is a unique opportunity for a select group of competitive junior players to enhance their tennis skills. Therefore, the camp will be limited to 12 players to ensure a high level of individualized instruction. For registration procedure and other inquiries, e-mail Dr. Berger at abphd@msn.com or call him at (818) 584-4795.

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2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Evert Tennis Academy 10334 Diego Drive South l Boca Raton, Fla. l (561) 488-2001 EvertAcademy.com l Evert@EvertAcademy.com The Evert Tennis Academy is located in sunny Boca Raton, Fla., and is considered by many as one of the best tennis camps in the country. John and Chrissie Evert set out to continue their father’s legacy 22 years ago by installing core values: Excellence, Resilience, Integrity and Leadership. “Our core values are the roadmap to coaching every student-athlete towards reaching their full potential.”–John Evert Evert Tennis Academy clinics will focus on technical development, tactical training and competitive settings. Players will experience a typical Evert program that includes tennis lessons, strength and fitness conditioning, mental conditioning and competitive match play against players from all over the world. Players will get a coach’s evaluation during their stay here to review at home. Top four reasons why to attend this summer (Monday-Sunday, May 31Aug. 21): 1. Coaches/program: : Our coaching staff continues to put a program together that is second to none. Each program is designed so that each player will get the personalized attention needed to improve his or her game while having fun. Whether you are an intermediate player looking to fine tune your game or a high-level nationally ranked player we have the program for you.

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide 2. Facility/boarding: Evert Tennis Academy is one of the only academies to provide boarding services for any student wishing to stay only steps away from the courts. Its eight-acre facility provides a safe environment nestled in the beautiful and secure Mission Bay residential neighborhood, surrounded by lakes, manicured lawns and lush Floridian foliage. 3. Competition: The Evert Tennis Academy provides match play for each student every day and all levels are welcome. Although the tournament schedule is not yet confirmed, we normally host three UTR tournaments throughout the summer for any player looking to get match play prior to the Clay Court & Hard Court Nationals, Zonals or just get access to players of equal playing level. 4. Family Oriented and Personal: The Evert Tennis Academy in known worldwide for a family oriented atmosphere and a place where players enjoy both on-court training and off-court activities. Students that choose the Developmental Program will receive a taylor made personalized program that is second to none in the industry. 5. Location: Located in the beautiful town of Boca Raton, Fla., the Evert Tennis Academy is located only a few minutes away from the beach and only 30 minutes away from the Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach airports making it an easy trip from the northeast.

Future Stars Summer Camps (914) 273-8500 l FSCamps.com l Purchase College SUNY 735 Anderson Hill Road Purchase, N.Y. (914) 273-8500 l The College at Old Westbury 223 Store Hill Road Old Westbury, N.Y. (516) 226-CAMP (2267) l Farmingdale State College 2530 Broadhollow Road Farmingdale, N.Y. (631) 769-CAMP (2267) l Future Stars Tennis Club 1370 Majors Path Southampton, N.Y. (631) 287-6707 l St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue 155 West Roe Boulevard Patchogue, N.Y. (631) 572-0232 l Aspatuck Tennis Club 25 Howell Lane, Westhampton Beach (631) 287-6707 Future Stars Summer Camps offer the finest weekly tennis day camps at five outstanding locations: Purchase College SUNY, The College at Old Westbury, Farmingdale State College, St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue and Future Stars Tennis Club in Southampton, N.Y. Programs are directed by experienced and qualified teachers and coaches who share a passion for working with children. Weekly programs are offered for boys and girls entering grades K-12. Tennis camps offer the perfect mix of match play, drill work, strategy sessions and off-court activities to challenge players of all levels. The program is designed to improve every facet of the game, including technical, tactical, physical and mental components under the guidance of our experienced and enthusiastic tennis professionals. Campers will be carefully grouped according to skill level and age and will be encouraged to enhance their strokes and strategies via group lessons, skill building drills organized play, target training, fitness routines and more. At Future Stars Summer Camps, we play with confidence, enthusiasm and a genuine love of the game! Stop by our regular on-campus open house events to view the facilities, meet the directors, and take advantage of enrollment savings. NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Generation Next Tennis 100 Long Island Expressway l Manhasset, N.Y. (516) 233-2790l genxtennis@gmail.com Generation Next Tennis at Shelter Rock Tennis Club is under the Direction of Brian Stein and Chris Tasso. For more than 20 years they have both developed and coached some of the top juniors in the Long Island/New York City area. They will be sure to look after every junior's personal needs, as well as instill a real competitive presence at the camp. In addition to their leadership at the camp, Brian and Chris are also the Directors of Junior Tennis at Generation Next Tennis at Great Neck Estates. The coaching staff at the camp will feature a highly accomplished set of former ATP, ITF and NCAA players, as well as current college players that were once juniors in the program and fully understand the hard work philosophy. The camp is hosted at a beautiful facility of Har-Tru courts, a large pool that campers can enjoy in the afternoons, and is centrally located right off of the Long Island Expressway in Manhasset. On days it rains, the camp utilizes several indoor courts located on-premises to keep up the tennis fun. Finally, the Generation Next Tennis’ mission is that every junior player loves going to camp and has an incredible summer tennis experience. The entire staff will be dedicated to giving campers a summer they'll never forget.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Gigi Method Doubles Camps With Hall of Famer Gigi Fernandez www.GigiFernandezTennis.com/Camps l info@gigifernandeztennis.com Camp Locations: WINTER: Half Moon Bay Resort, Jamaica SPRING: Indian Wells during the BNP Paribas Open. SUMMER: Aspen, Co. and Stowe, Vt. FALL: Innisbrook Resort, Tampa, Fl. Gigi Fernandez conducts Gigi Method Doubles Camps for adult tennis players. The camps take place throughout the year in various locations through the United States and Caribbean. This is a unique opportunity to learn the game of doubles from one of the best doubles players in the history of the game. What makes Gigi unique from other Grand Slam doubles champions is that she has spent the past decade teaching recreational the art and science of doubles and helping them maximize their potential. She also conducts camps with other Legends of the game like Martina Navratilova, The Bryan Brothers, Chris Evert and Tracy Austin. l l l l l l l

All camps include: 10-14 hours of tennis over three days or four days Four to one player to coach ratio with Gigi explaining all drills. Gigi’s staff of experienced and certified Gigi Method Coaches Two-plus hours of tennis discussions over two lunches Welcome Reception Dinner SWAG bag with Tennis Express and OnCourtOffCourt gift cards. Priority Registration for Legends Camps Legends camps take place at various times throughout the year. To attend a camp with Gigi, please visit www.GigiFernandezTennis.com/Camps

Gilad Bloom Tennis Summer Camp Riverdale Tennis Center l 3671 Hudson Manor Terrace l Riverdale, N.Y. The Gilad Bloom Summer Camp begins on Monday, June 29 and runs four times a week, Monday-Thursday, for 10 weeks until Thurs, Sept. 3. Summer Camp Hours: 12:00pm-4:00pm. Schedule: 12:00-2:00 p.m.-Group session 2:00-2:30 p.m.-Snack/Lunch break 2:30-4:00 p.m.-Match Play Gilad Bloom Tennis also provides: l Private lessons before and after the group session. l Match play before and after group session. l Fitness sessions before or after the group. Tournament travel available seven days a week. Come learn and train under Gilad Bloom and his program which enters its 20th year. Bloom played on the pro circuit for 12 years and reached a career high singles NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide ranking of 61st in the world and reached the U.S. Open fourth round in 1990. Bloom scored victories over Jimmy Connors, Petr Korda, Brad Gilbert, Mark Philliposis and Marcelo Rios among others during his career, and represented Israel in Davis Cup for 11 years and is a two-time Olympian (1988,1992). For more info please go to GiladBloom.com.

Gotham Stadium NYC Summer Camps at Mill Pond Park Minutes From Manhattan Next to Yankee Stadium (718) 665-4684 l www.StadiumTennisNYC.com l Reservations@StadiumTennisNYC.com Stadium Tennis Center offers a unique array of summer camp programs designed for tennis players of all levels to experience. Through our partnership with Gotham Tennis Academy, a leading operator of innovative tennis programs and camps in NYC and the Hamptons, some of the most talented and engaging tennis pros in New York City have been assembled. Our pros share a passion to work closely with players of all levels and ages to help them develop to their fullest potential. Gotham Stadium Red and Orange Ball Junior Summer Tennis Development Program (Ages 5-10): Designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced players. A great way to keep your child active and improve his or her tennis in a fun and supportive environment. The camp is designed to take your child to the next level towards tennis proficiency in our fun and supportive environment. Certified tennis instructors with international backgrounds excel at teaching junior players at this formative stage of development. Your child will not only have lots of fun, but also gain confidence, learn appropriate tennis fundamentals and make new friends. Gotham Stadium Summer Elite Yellow Ball High Performance Tennis Academy (Ages 7-15): Designed for those juniors who aspire to become more competitive tournament players and prepare them for more competition and advanced play. On-court drills, match play, conditioning and mental toughness training fitness will prepare your child for the next level of advanced play. If your child is ready to reach for new heights on the tennis court, then you owe it to yourself to experience high performance summer training at the Stadium Tennis Center. Your child will learn proper stroke production fundamentals, strategy, match play, conditioning and footwork. We have a flexible enrollment policy with full and half day options all summer long. Round-trip door-to-door transportation from points in New York City, Westchester and New Jersey may be arranged.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide IHCTA Tennis Camp (914) 345-2155 l www.IHCTennisAcademy.com l Joel@CampIHC.com The IHC Tennis Academy offers the best of both worlds—A tennis academy program combined with an incredible summer camp experience. Our all-inclusive five-day overnight tennis camp is designed to give kids high level tennis coaching while also allowing our camp culture to help them develop both on and off the court. Players will have the opportunity to play tennis, experience camp, create friendships and gain a greater sense of independence. Our one-of-a-kind program includes: l Tennis drills, stroke production, game analysis, on/off court conditioning, and nutritional guidance l Competitive and recreational UTR certified matches l Alternative activities such as: Yoga, zip-lining, water skiing, paddle boarding, rock climbing, swimming, ropes course, flag football, basketball and more Our tennis coaches work toward creating a space where each and every camper feels both comfortable and challenged. We offer group lessons & private lessons with our head coaches. At IHCTA, we take pride in providing the tools to prepare our campers not only for tennis competition, but to deal with life situations through instilling the importance of work ethics, discipline, consistency, goal setting, respect, team work, responsibilities, accountability, and compassion. Our tennis coaches are a mix of former top 500 players, national champions, state champions, PTR, ITF & USTA qualified coaches, LTA coaches & D1 college players. The IHC Tennis Academy is hosted at one of the top summer camps in America - Located just two hours from New York City! Visit www.ihctennisacademy.com for dates, rates and more information.

John McEnroe Tennis Academy Summer Tennis Training Camps Locations on Long Island including the Hamptons, in Manhattan and Westchester: JMTA New York City l SPORTIME Randall’s Island l (212) 427-6150 JMTA Long Island l SPORTIME Syosset l (516) 364-2727 JMTA Hamptons l SPORTIME Amagansett l (631) 267-3460 JMTA Westchester l SPORTIME Lake Isle l (914) 777-5151 CampsNYC@SportimeNY.com l SportimeCamps.com/JMTA No one knows tennis training for juniors better than SPORTIME and the John McEnroe Tennis Academy! And, with multiple tennis camp locations across Long Island, including in the Hamptons, and in New York City and Westchester, aspiring tennis players can enjoy John McEnroe Tennis Academy and SPORTIME tennis training programs across the region, throughout the summer. SPORTIME’s and JMTA’s training methods are fun and fastpaced, and feature multi-dimensional technical and tactical training. Innovative tennis training techniques are rooted in competitive games and tennis-specific conditioning regimens. Newer players learn and enjoy the sport in age and level appropriate groups. Higher level training prepares serious juniors for the physical, mental and emotional demands of match, tournament and high-school and college play. SPORTIME/JMTA’s international coaching staff is dedicated to turning weaknesses into strengths and strengths into winning games. For our youngest players, ages 10 and under, campers work through clearly defined stages of development that follow an internationally accepted progression of court sizes (red 36’, orange 60’), ball types (red, orange) and NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide net heights that make it possible for kids to actually play tennis from the moment they step onto the court. With our fun and unique “gamification” approach, our junior players don’t just take lessons—they get sent on missions, acquire skills, collect points and achieve milestones. Campers also enjoy instruction and competition in a variety of team sports activities. Visit SportimeCamps.com to find the SPORTIME EXCEL or JMTA Summer Tennis Training Camp nearest you, or email CampsNYC@SportimeNY.com to find out more. Programs and facilities vary by location.

MatchPoint NYC 2781 Shell Road l Brooklyn, N.Y. l (718) 769-0001 MatchPointComplex@gmail.com l MatchPoint.NYC/Camp The most immersive, joyful, and thrilling Summer sports experience in Brooklyn is back this summer at MatchPoint NYC! We are excited to make our club your child's second home this summer, as well as to help them make new friends & develop long-lasting friendships with other participants. Our Tennis, Swimming, & Rhythmic Gymnastics FullDay Programs help young athletes learn, excel, and master the sports they're devoted to. For those who are not devoted to a single sport, we offer a Multi-Sport FullDay Program, that introduces kids to a wide range of sports, including tennis, soccer, basketball, boxing, swimming, and more! Each Full-Day Summer Program is run & coordinated by professional, certified coaches who are devoted to the safety and athletic development of each participant. Each program includes drills, match play, and fitness sessions, along with healthy lunches served each day. Snacks & plenty of water are also provided keep our athletes energized to play their favorite sports. MatchPoint NYC is the sports and fitness destination for the entire family. It is located in Brooklyn - just 20 minutes away from downtown Manhattan. Spread across 120,000-square feet, MatchPoint NYC’s premier health and fitness complex features a cutting-edge tennis facility that includes eight gorgeous indoor tennis courts. Additional features include full-sized gyms for weight lifting, cardio, and CrossFit training, three group fitness studios, a Junior Olympic pool, a rhythmic gymnastics center, a basketball court, yoga studio, and a variety of youth & adult competitive & recreational training programs. For more information about MatchPoint NYC and its Full-Day Summer Programs, visit matchpoint.nyc/summer-camp or call (718) 769-0001. Let us help you find your game. Sign up today!

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide Nike Tennis Camps (800) NIKE-CAMP (645-3226) l USSportsCamps.com/Tennis Come join the fun and get better this summer at a Nike Tennis Camp! With more than 80 locations nationwide, both overnight and day options, there is a camp for everyone. Nike Tennis Camps provide young players the opportunity to improve their tennis skills, work hard, make new friends and have a lot of fun. Dedicated camp directors have a passion for teaching and a gift for helping you take your game to the next level. Locations include: Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, N.J.); Randy Mani Tennis Academy at Hardscrabble Club (Brewster, NY); Colgate University (Hamilton, NY); Amherst College – Junior and Adult (Amherst, MA); and Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH). Please visit our website for more information as camp details and programs being offered will vary according to local regulations.

Ross School Tennis Academy and Ross Summer 20 Goodfriend Drive l East Hampton, NY l 631-907-5162 ross.org/tennis l tennisacademy@ross.org Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) is a beautiful tennis facility in the Hamptons that is open to the public and located on the Ross Upper School campus in East Hampton, NY. The tennis center features six HarTru courts that are enclosed by a bubble from mid-fall through mid-spring, allowing for year-round play. There are also 2 hard courts for junior tournament training. The courts are directly adjacent to the state-of-the-art Field House, featuring amenities such as locker rooms, lounge, snack bar, and ping-pong tables, and the staff provides a fun and supportive atmosphere that allows for the greatest amount of success. Summer Tennis Academy Monday–Friday, June 20–August 26: From specialized U10 programs with orange and green dot balls designed for developing competitive tennis players to our high-performance training with live ball drills and match play series for players entering middle and high school, this 10-week all-encompassing summer program is our most intense and complete junior tennis education offered and is considered the best in the Hamptons. Legendary tennis coach Larri Passos will work on-site with players from July 11–August 19. Players considering the tennis program should be serious about their commitment, consistently practicing at least three days per week year-round. All training in each age and development level includes daily fitness, match play, and gourmet lunch from our renowned café. Players ages 6–16 can sign up for this weekly, but space is limited. Tryout required (videos accepted). Boarding is available select weeks for grades 7–12. Visit ross.org/summer for more information.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide SPORTIME Summer Tennis & Sports Camps Locations across Long Island, in Manhattan and Westchester and in Schenectady: SPORTIME Bethpage l (516) 933-8500 SPORTIME Kings Park l (631) 269-6300 SPORTIME Lynbrook l (516) 887-1330 SPORTIME Quogue l (631) 653-6767 SPORTIME Roslyn l (516) 484-9222 SPORTIME Schenectady l (518) 356-0100 SPORTIME Syosset l (516) 364-27274 SPORTIME Westchester l (914) 777-5050 EHSC@SPORTIME Amagansett l (631) 267-2267 SPORTIME Volleyball Camps l (515) 731-4432 Camps@SportimeNY.com l SportimeCamps.com “Last year, I had the best summer ever!” Who said that? Every kid who attended a SPORTIME Summer Camp last summer! That's because at SPORTIME summer camps, our staff of teachers, coaches and counselors makes sure that every camper has a positive and memorable experience. SPORTIME knows how to make camp fun and safe! How does SPORTIME do it? Our experienced, certified, international staff members are skilled at providing camp programming that is challenging, innovative and educational - at facilities that are state-of-theart, safe, and easily accessible. From preschoolers to pre-teens, kids who enjoy tennis, sports, friendship and fun love coming to SPORTIME summer camps, which offer programs and events tailored to every age group and interest. With camp locations across Long Island, including in the Hamptons, and in New York City and Westchester, we’ve got your summer covered! Go to SportimeCamps.com to find the perfect camp for your child, or e-mail us at Camps@SportimeNY.com for personal assistance. We are here to help! Programs and facilities vary by location.

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New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

2022 New York Tennis Magazine Camp Guide USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadow-Corona Park l Flushing, N.Y. l (718) 760-6200 l NTC.USTA.com The USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center will once again offer fun in the sun tennis day camps starting in June. Enrollment will soon be available online for the weekly programs: Please note that the camp will be held both indoor and outdoor this summer. l June 22, 2022 - August 5, 2022 We offer summer camps for all ages and levels from 10 and under tennis to recreational juniors to highperformance players. Space may be limited so register early. The weekly full-day program runs Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break or a twilight session from 4:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Campers work on the development of tennis techniques, tactics, sports conditioning, multi-sports, and strategy geared toward maximizing the learning experience in a fun presentation. As the juniors develop, they are advanced to more challenging groups. Tennis activities include Stroke of the Day, team games, and competitive match play. The camp also offers cross-training activities, such as soccer, softball, and basketball in the park or at the Corona Park multi-purpose recreational facility, when possible, off-site field trips include ice skating, Mets games, and more, and full access to the many fun activities on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The program accepts junior players, ages four- through 10-years-old for the 10 & Under programs. Recreational players 11-years-old and up are enrolled in the Junior Camps (8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.). Advanced High-Performance Tournament training campers will also be invited to participate in an intensive Tennis Academy training program. The National Tennis Center has 18 outdoor courts, 12 indoor courts, and four stadium courts. Also on-site are ping-pong tables, ball machines, a fitness center, and other age-appropriate fun activities like arts, multi-sports, arts and crafts, and other engaging sporting events. The primary focus will be on developing tennis skills while offering other activities to enhance the learning and summer camp experience. Also offered are junior evening The Saw Mill Tennis Club and weekend programs, as well as Mount Kisco, NY adult daytime, weekday evening, and weekend camps. For more information, contact Paul Fontana at TM

Upcoming Annual USPTA Eastern Conference

Saturday-Sunday, May 14-15, 2022

eastern-ed@uspta.org

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Top Ten Tennis Tips of All-Time: Anticipation By By Dr. Dr. Tom Tom Ferraro Ferraro

ver the years I have learned a key intervention that helps tennis players in their effort to win is anticipating any and all problems that will occur during an event and preparing a reaction to it. This common sense approach is surprisingly neglected by all but the most elite players. In 1971, Carly Simon wrote her most famous song “Anticipation” which begins with the line “We can never know about the days to come, but we think about them anyway”. She intuitively outlined one of the most mature and crucial defenses that athletes need in order to win The realistic anticipation of future inner discomfort and surprise problems is one of the central keys to winning in any sport. This is commonly referred to as “Murphy’s Law” or that the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray so you had better be prepared for any and all problems. The bigger the event, the more likely that strange and unexpected discomfort will happen.

Most tennis players do not anticipate most things and go into events blindly and naively. Tennis tournaments are like war and as in war, you had better have a carefully prepared plan or you will soon be dead. You may have noticed that in postgame interviews, the winners of the event will often express appreciation to their team of doctors, trainers, physio guys, coaches and spouses. The team that surrounds the athlete is responsible for anticipating any and all problems and prepared the athlete to be ready. A few years ago I ran a conference and one of the guest speakers I invited was Gary Wadler, M.D., the sport medicine guru. He told a story of working with Martina Navratilova the year she won the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadow. They had anticipated very high temperatures and the possibility of heat stroke on the last weekend and so intravenous fluids were used to prevent dehydration. That is a good example of

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

anticipation. The list of problems that might occur during a tournament includes both external and internal issues. There may be traffic on the way to the event, there may be a sudden rainstorm which makes the court wet or the wind may not be to your liking. You may be paired against someone who upsets you or who has a big rep or who bores you. Maybe the opponent is a pusher and you dislike that kind of game. Perhaps the referee or your opponent makes a bad call. It might be that you are on the verge of burnout, are exhausted or got only four hours sleep the night before. Maybe you suddenly feel nausea, have back pain or you’re coming down with a cold or just coming back from an injury. Maybe there are inner demons at work like being too tense, in a slump, depressed, distracted by some recent social problem or overthinking your stroke or yipping. Any and all of these things happen to players on a regular basis and so how

does one talk about them and plan ways to cope. If one does not anticipate these events then when they hit you by surprise. You will enter the event blindly and in denial of what is to come. And the chances are you will be unprepared and the problems will inevitably distract you, overwhelm you and defeat you . Anticipation takes work. This strategy is not just a magic work. Let me give you an example of how we develop anticipation. I work with many younger players who are rising stars and not accustomed to the cameras, the interviews and the crowds that inevitably are a part of stardom. To keep them from imploding this is what we do. 1. The first thing is to help them to describe the triggers and what happens to them, their feelings and their game. What they will often say is that they become distracted, lose focus, get anxious, get tight and when this starts they fall down the

rabbit hole of doubt and despair and will lose matches that they should have won. 2 The next step is tracing this problem backwards and we explore various aspects of their past that contribute to their distractibility, anxiety and lack of defense. The answers vary in these cases and the insights gained repair the athlete a great deal and this process of real insight is what differentiates depth sport psychology for standard sport psychology. 3. After this we embark on the process of building up better defenses to cope with the crowds or the fame or the pressure. We rehearse body language, visual focus, tricks like the use of silence and a variety of self-talk strategies. Anticipation is a mature

and very high level defense because it allows one to prepare for any discomfort that is sure to arise in the course of winning matches. It is not surprising that most athletes do not do this because no one was there to teach them. If a parent happened to be a professional tennis player then their youngster will be taught this strategy. But more often the player needs to learn this from a professional coach or sport psychologist. To paraphrase Carly Simon “we can never know about the days or the matches to come but we need to think about them anyway.” Next month we will talk about the third secret all top players use to win.

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.

TENNIS TENN NIS NIS FoR FoR EVER RYoNE RYoNE E EVERYoNE ALL SUMMER SUM MMER LONG! LONG! O

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

Preparation for a Tournament By By Gilad Gilad Bloom Bloom

ne of the biggest challenges of a tennis player is to compete at a high level in an official tournament match. Often there is a big drop, and the things that looked simple in practice at the local club all-week become harder. It seems to be more difficult when you play a Friday night match on court 23 in a remote bubbled facility, after a full-day of school, and against a solid opponent who is out to get you and fist pumping after every point that he wins. Coaching isn't allowed during the match and having a coach at a tournament is a luxury for most junior players. Once the match starts, players are basically on their own. Clearly nerves are a huge part of the level drop, after all the ability to bring out the best version of your tennis to each match is the secret of this game, the great champions have a natural gift for being calm during tight situations and have the ability to close out matches in a clinical way; essentially, they play the match the same way they do in practice. It is one thing to have nice strokes and a good game, but another thing to actually execute the plan during a match, it takes not only calmness, but also preparation, and that starts way before the day of the actual match. Once a tennis match starts there is no telling how it will end, a player can't control the court conditions or the opponent's style, bad calls or bad

weather. Junior matches are often filled with rollercoaster lead swings and drama, often there is more than one match a day and many factors come into the picture. The most a player can do is to try to control only the things you can control. The preparation starts, of course, the week before the event, playing a lot of practice sets and creating tight match situations in practice (start games at 1530 or break point down). It is also important to take it easy on the fitness sessions on the days prior to the tournament, you are not going to get in shape in three days, it is more beneficial to let the body arrive to the matches fresh and ready to go deep in the tournament. On the night before the tournament it is time to start getting specific. Find out your match time, book a practice court, find a good hitting partner in advance, book an early dinner with good healthy food and, most importantly, get a good night’s sleep. It is highly recommended to prepare the bag the night before and double check that you have all the things that you'll need ready and packed in the bag, the idea is to get to the day of the match with as few distractions as possible. That means you should have your favorite racquet freshly strung and gripped, make sure you have spare grips and strings, sweatbands, towels, extra

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

shirts and shorts and energy drinks and bars, the night before! On the day of the match, a nutritious breakfast is a must and a proper physical warm up close to the time of the match is required. Often players warm up hours before the match then sit for a few hours, but there must be a good warm up right before the match. You need to go to the match already sweating a bit. Remember, 75 percent of the time, the winner of the match is the one who wins the first set, so you can't afford a slow start if you are going to go deep in the tournament. If you're going to win the tournament, every point counts. Scouting is obviously important. Knowing some basic information about your opponent can help, however if it's a new unknown opponent you should use the warm up to check out tendencies such as if the player runs around the backhand or if they are using the wrong grip in the volley. Also, try to sneak in a few returns on their serve during the warm-up, you can learn a lot from those small things. As far as the strategy going into the match, it is of course specific to each player and their style, but going into the match a player should have a certain game plan that worked in the past and set basic simple goals. The main goal should be to simply execute the game plan. The goals for each match should be based on the history of previous matches,

remembering things that held you back in the past and setting simple goals which can help get a better outcome. It can be technical things such as trying to get more first serves in or cutting down on errors on a certain shot or a personal goal to try to hit a forehand after each serve to start the point with a purpose. It can be a strategic goal such as trying to be more aggressive and daring on big points, or deciding to put more pressure on the opponent's second serve. It can be a mental goal to try and stay calm and tantrum free, or to prevent mental letdowns at the beginning of each set. Having specific goals going into a match can help calm down the nerves and get you to perform close to your potential. Knowing that there are going to be ups and down during a match is key. That awareness during the match will help you get through the bad patches with minimal damage, and can hopefully help turn the match around and shift the momentum your way. Another key is to have a Plan B, in

case your game plan is not working and you are getting beaten badly in the first set. In that case don't keep playing the same way, try to change the losing game even if it means playing against your own style, if you are going to go down the least you can do is give the opponent a different look. Often a tactical switch can change the course of a match and, remember, this is junior tennis. I've seen some crazy comebacks when players don't give up and use their imagination. The main thing to do while playing a tournament match is to not show any emotions, as hard as that may be. Tennis is like chess or poker; the opponent can use any piece of information to their advantage. It is hard enough to win to begin with, so you shouldn't reveal any information about yourself or your state

of mind, and certainly don't show any frustration. The only way to have a chance of a comeback is if you act like you are about to make a comeback, that takes mental work and maybe a bit of acting. Remember, as tired as you are, the opponent doesn't have to know about it. Maybe he or she is more tired than you and is about to cramp any minute. This last one is the toughest thing about tennis. Think about it: how hard is it to play someone who doesn't show any negative emotions even when playing badly? I would say that the most important trait is to have guts; the guts to put your butt on the line every point, and to keep a positive attitude especially when things are not going your way. The guts to not make excuses and to stick to the game plan, that is what being a good tennis player is all about.

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.

Get Your Game On ROSS SCHOOL TENNIS ACADEMY EAST HAMPTON, NY • Integrated academics and training program during the school year • Private lessons and court rentals • Adult programs for all levels • Summer programs for all ages

See details on seasonal programs at ross.org/tennis and summer programs at ross.org/summer 631-907-5162 TENNISCENTER@ROSS.ORG

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

How Junior Players Can Improve Their Game This Summer By Ajay Kumar

ummer is just around the corner! And with COVID hopefully on the decline, now is the time to think about summer tennis training that may be beneficial to aspiring junior players. Many NYC parents of players in the Gotham Stadium Tennis Academy ask me for advice on whether it is beneficial to send children to tennis camps in Europe, Florida, California, or Vermont, to name a few. There are so many options and it can be confusing for parents and talented players. Going away to a new environment away from home offers many opportunities for personal growth, and I encourage going away for a brief period of time. However, from the standpoint of purely improving one’s tennis game, I have found that spending time at home training with a coach or team of coaches who already know the player offers the best opportunity to improve. The biggest issue with sending players away to a tennis camp is that your child may not receive personal attention. Some tennis camps can be more like a “factory”

where some players can get lost in the mix. Other tennis camps may try to overhaul a game in too short a period of time, which can be detrimental. By contrast, using the summer to strengthen the ‘bond’ between a player and a coach or a team of coaches who know your child year-round can be a critical ingredient in player development, no matter what age or level of play. I have found that the process of improving requires an athlete to push themselves. There is no substitute for hard work. Summer is a critical time to focus on specific skills and training without the pressures of school and homework. It is a time to ramp up strength and

conditioning, on-court strategy and tactics, and build up mental toughness. To sum up, in my experience, summer is a great time to further develop a stronger bond between a player and a coach or a team of coaches who know the player well. This bond between player and coach can be instrumental in helping the player to attain new heights and reach their full potential. Therefore, going away to a tennis camp for a brief period of time, such as one or two weeks, can be beneficial. Developing a stronger bond with your coach or a team of coaches at home for most of the summer will yield the best results in the long term.

Ajay Kumar is a Director of Tennis at Gotham Stadium Tennis NYC. During the summer, he directs Gotham Stadium's High Performance Tennis Camp. He can be reached at ajay@gothamtennis.com.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

Racquet Sport

Report presented by

e’ve talked in previous issues about the growth and popularity of racquet sports over the last several years as people all across the country and world have begun playing not just tennis, but sports such as pickleball, padel, beach tennis and more. With so many more people playing recreationally and professionally, it’s important to recognize the work being done by the governing bodies of these sports to maintain that growth. Take the United States Padel Association (USPA) for example. The USPA is based in Houston, which is where the sport of Padel was first introduced in the United States in 1993. And for the last 30 years, the USPA has been at the forefront of growing the sport. The organization is is set to embark on a successful 2022 season. There are tournaments scheduled throughout the country including in

All Racquet Sports

Texas, Florida, California, Nevada and more. You can learn more by visiting PadelUSA.org, where you can find more information on the growing amount of clubs featuring Padel and more places to play. “In case you were unaware there is a USPA located in Houston, Texas (United States Padel Association),” All Racquet Sports said in a statement to its distributors. “We are happy to announce Marcos del Pilar, our Director of International AFP Certification and Director at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, has been named the President to lead the organization from here onwards. Here you can find the ever-increasing number of tournaments, players and courts coming online in the US!” Padel Court at Australian Open

While you may have been enthralled with the tennis during the Australian Open, there was something exciting happening off the main tennis courts. There was a pop-up Padel court set up

on the grounds of the Australian Open, as the sport was introduced to Aussie tennis fans who had not seen it played before. “I got a little bit addicted,” one local told The Age, an Australian newspaper. “Padel is a lot easier than normal tennis and probably more accessible. I’ve noticed that some different mates who I don’t normally play tennis with come down for a hit. The court was open in Melbourne Park for the duration of the Australian Open, and it attracted many guests to try it for the first time. The pop-up came on the heels of the first Melbourne padel club opening in Lorimer Street, Docklands, last year. At the French Open last year, a similar pop-up Padel court was set up. It’s just another indicator of the continuing spread of these racquet sports, and how they have attracted new players seeking an alternative to tennis.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

Century Tennis 56 Brook Avenue Deer Park, N.Y. (631) 242-0220 CenturyTennis.com

Since 1965, Century Tennis has been dedicated to the growing sport of tennis by building quality tennis courts and providing a specialized service to the tennis club industry, as well as the private community. By maintaining a high-quality of service and customer satisfaction over the years comes a trust that is ever so hard to attain. “We simply want to be the best at what we do.” In order to build great tennis courts, you have to start at the bottom with an understanding of soil conditions and converting it to a good base. Lasercontrolled road graders enable Century Tennis to build with accuracy. Building Post-Tensioned Concrete, instead of the old asphalt type courts, are proving to be a great alternative for “crack-free” tennis courts. Whether it is a hard court with the softness of Deco-Turf or Classic Turf Rubber or whether it is a soft court like Har-Tru or Hydro Court, or a surface that offers a little of both like Nova Synthetic Turfs … Century Tennis can deliver. The company is a member of the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Long Island Builders Institute (LIBI). Century Tennis’ building techniques meet and or exceed those of the ASBA and the USTA and with its “Certified Tennis Court Builder” staff assures this quality. The company’s intention is to deliver the very best tennis courts for the most demanding players and tennis club owners. “Expanding the game of tennis, one court at a time.”

The Farley Group Air-Supported Structures 6 Kerr Crescent Puslinch, Ontario, Canada (888) 445-3223 TheFarleyGroup.com

The Farley Group has installed more than 20 tennis bubbles in the New York City and Long Island areas, helping tennis facilities extend their season into the winter months. For seasonal or permanently installed tennis bubbles, The Farley Group is your number one source for quality, service and dependability. As a manufacturer, supplier, installer and service provider of air-supported structures, The Farley Group works with you from conception to implementation and beyond. The company’s philosophy is built around the belief that a customer never leaves The Farley Group—from project planning and installation to ongoing service and maintenance—we become a trusted member of your team. The company’s expert staff of sales consultants, designers and highly-skilled production and service professionals are well-experienced in all facets of air structure technology, ready to help you through every phase of your tennis bubble project.

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

Gold Coast Tennis

Har-Tru LLC

31 Prospect Street Huntington, N.Y. (631) 547-5200 GoldCoastTennis.org Info@GoldCoastTennis.org Tennis and Sports Courts Since 1984 Gold Coast Tennis has been trusted for more than 35 years by Long Island’s top clubs and hundreds of homeowners to design, build and maintain tennis and sport courts. Gold Coast’s in-house team of experienced and knowledgeable tradesmen use only the best quality materials and have the ability to address any situation to ensure your court is ready for you to play at your highest level. Gold Coast Tennis is a specialist and expert in both clay and asphalt courts, including Har-Tru, Deco Systems, and Douglas sports equipment for multi-use courts. Gold Coast provides annual Har-Tru reconditioning, as well as weekly/bi-weekly/monthly court servicing. All weather court repair incorporates the use of Rite-Way crack repair system. In addition to building and maintaining the court surfaces, Gold Coast Tennis designs and builds the entire court environment including fencing, irrigation, lighting, panting, masonry and seating furniture. Gold Coast’s approach ensures that your tennis or sport court enhances the appearance of your home and fits with your outdoor living lifestyle.

166 Industrial Way Troy, Va. (877) 4-HARTRU HarTru.com Har-Tru, LLC is a global tennis company based in Charlottesville, VA. It is the world’s leading provider of tennis court surfaces, tennis court consultation, court equipment and accessories. The company strives to help others build and maintain the best courts in the world, leveraging its products, knowledge, and experience to most effectively meet the needs of each customer. Har-Tru stays active in the in the industry as an advocate for the sport and sponsor of tennis related activities.

NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

Rafa Resilience Beyond Rafa’s Mental Game By Rob Polishook ennis fans were treated to a special Men’s Singles Finals at the 2022 Australian Open between Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev; we all witnessed an incredible comeback. Nadal was down two sets and faced triple breakpoint at 2-3 in the third set. Nadal was clearly being pushed around by Medvedev. However, the Spaniard then began serving better, his forehands began to increase in weight, and Medvedev began feeling some pressure and missed a bit more. We all know what happened next: Nadal completed what he considers to be one of the greatest comebacks in his career, and attained his 21st Slam title, putting him one in front of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic What has always stood out when watching Nadal compete is his resiliency. He is one of the greatest competitors in all of sports, let alone tennis. Part of his greatness is his consistent ability to bounce back, never give up, stay the course, and play each point like it’s his last. After the Australian Open final, many people described Nadal’s comeback with accolades such as amazing, incredible, unparalleled, and other worldly. Tennis commentator John McEnroe lamented with his national television audience that it would be great to package this mentality for junior players. What if we could? What if young players could develop the Rafa mentality? Or what I call, “Rafa Resilience.” Rafa Resilience actually highlights more than just his incredible mental strength. It is the foundation for Rafa to be focused, balanced, and competitive even under great pressure. Developing Rafa Resilience is not a one-and-done mental skills program like rituals, goal

Photo courtesy of Tennis Australia

setting, or imagery all of which are important, but they are just tools. Rather, they are a well-blended collection of characteristics developed over years, both on the court and equally off the court from his family and environment. Admittedly, the characteristics are intangible and, unless you’re willing to take a step back, may not be entirely obvious at first glance. The following are three key characteristics which make up the foundation of “Rafa Resilience”. Please note that there are others, however, for the scope of this article we will highlight three. • Humility: When observing Rafa, it is clear that he is extremely humble. He is never trash talking or belittling an opponent. Before a match, when Rafa is asked whether he will win, he always responds with something along the lines of, and this is not a direct quote, “I don’t know, so and so is a good player, I will have to

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

play my game, play my best.” His attitude ensures that his focus is on his game, what’s important for him, and what he can control. In a Financial Times article from 2014, John Carlin writes that humility is not an affection for Nadal, rather it is a strategy. In the article, Nadal shared, “The acclaim, the success that I am as good as people seem to think, or as the numbers say I am…the moment I believe that it would be all over. I’d be finished.” Nadal is referring to the idea that he would lose his edge, be distracted, and no longer focus on what’s important in the moment and drift to expectations and outcome. Further he states, “…never do I think I am going to go out and win because I am better than the other player, I’ve never felt that.” • Equanimity: Often times, we don’t think of equanimity as being part of sports and competition. Sometimes the word has a “soft” connotation. However, let’s explore the meaning from the Oxford on-line dictionary. It lists mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation. Certainly, these would be good characteristics for any player in any match to possess. Further, the dictionary’s example of equanimity is, "she accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity." From my perspective, while Rafa certainly didn’t like being behind and on the brink of losing, only by working though that moment was he able to let go, strategize, and move forward in order to come from behind. No matter the scoreline, we saw Rafa taking his time, sticking to his routines, and building one point

at a time. Nathan Healy, former Australian professional player and now coach of Max Purcell, shared his thoughts with me about Nadal and a message Rafa often shares: “Rafa is willing to suffer, every day. He understands suffering changes and there is power in that. Just being with it, rather than fighting it. Stressful thoughts can create suffering, his willingness (ability) to stick with the thoughts and situations, rather than pushing them away, sweeping them under the rug, and not dealing with them, when you do that the same or similar situation arises just in a different way.” Certainly, one can see how this mindset can free Rafa up to play with equanimity no matter the situation. • Heart: Nadal’s heart is on display every time he takes the court. Even the most casual fan can feel his passion, his intensity, and his never

give up attitude. There is not a ball that Rafa doesn’t run for, always making his opponent win the point many times before the point actually ends. This is exhausting for opponents, knowing that they have to hit three or four “winners” before the point is really over. In the book, The Master: The Long Run and Beautiful Game of Roger Federer, author Christopher Clarey highlights a quote from Rafa where he says, “I love the competition…maybe I like more fighting to win than to win.” This statement illustrates his passion, love of the battle, and straight from his heart. Rafa brings who he is to what he

does. He is a whole human athlete bringing his heart, energy and spirit to matches and life. He plays with humility, equanimity and heart. These characteristics are the foundation of “Rafa Resilience”. They set the stage for his mental strength and allow him to let go, play free, and play in the moment. All competitive players wanting to compete like Nadal should ask themselves, how can they develop and bring these characteristics to competition? What would it look like for them when they are faced with adversity? And lastly, what other character characteristics that are unique to them? And how can they bring them to competition? Vamos!

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

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Whether you want to be a pro or you just want to get moving on the court, this is the place for you! Join us at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning today! All levels welcome! (ages 5-18) nyjtl.org/caryleeds/programs/juniors NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

Tennis Tips: Discovered By Barbara Wyatt

n pursuit of a better backhand/serve/return-ofserve/anything-to-do-with-tennis, I refuse to fall down the rabbit hole of YouTube tennis videos. During drills and lessons, I asked my pro for specific steps to better warm-ups, strategies, strokes, equipment and more. She led me to a wealth of materials that I think can help everyone, and I have outlined them below.

Dynamic Warm-Up and Mini-Tennis l The USTA provides a list of seventeen exercises with video instruction for the pre-match warmup. Can’t remember them all? USTA also offers a free bag tag featuring these exercises. l RacquetFit showcases tests to demonstrate how your body functions in relation to tennis moves. Can you stretch your shoulders behind your ears with your arms extended? If not, does that help or impede your serve? http://www.racquetfit.com/articles Court Movement and Strokes l International Tennis Performance Association, https://itpatennis.org/index.html, offers a 53-page eBook on tennis movements and footwork. Did you know there are four major footwork movements for the volley? Answer: jab, pivot, split step, recovery. l Watch some of the excellent online 58

instructional tennis videos. Some favorites are Gigi Fernandez, John Yandell, Will Hamilton, Serena Williams on MasterClass, Ian Westermann, Craig O’Shannessy, Jeff Greenwald, Florian Meier, and Jeff Salzenstein, Enjoy the freebies and subscribe to the in-depth training. Take notes then practise with your local pro and hitting buddy. l Steve Smith, www.greatbasetennis.com, includes podcasts and blogs to his instruction courses. Using comedian Jeff Foxworthy’s format in a blog, he writes “You know you’re a tennis player if….you go to the net for reasons other than picking up balls and shaking hands. You know you’re a tennis player if….you know that “Billie Jean” is much more than just the name of Andy Roddick’s dog.” Strategies l I have a copy of the classic tennis book, Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert, on my bookshelf, and I recommend picking one up yourself. There is also a free mobile version online. Equipment l The USRSA, United States Racquet Stringers Association, offers a onemonth access to their members-only portal. Read an article about the ten reasons why strings break— and how to prevent it. Gain access

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

to the “Racquet Selector” that makes finding the perfect new racquet effortless. You enter a wish list in eight racquet attributes (from power to head size) and weight the importance of each. The algorithm spits out racquet recommendations based on your vision of the perfect racquet. Rules l During a key match point, an opponent will cry “Hindrance!” when there is no interference. Take the free Hindrance quiz at www.iKnowTennis.com. Recovery l The ITF, International Tennis Federation, provides a library of information for treating common tennis injuries. Update your knowledge about various injuries and treatments by visiting ITFTennis.com. These are only a sampling of resources to answer the questions: “What can I do to improve my tennis game today? Got any tips, Coach?”

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

adult league

wrap-up By Christopher Dong

he USTA Eastern Metro Region Adult Leagues are in full swing, with many of the seasonal leagues finishing up earlier this winter, some are still playing, and others will begin as we head into the spring. Below is a recap of the action in the Metro Adult Leagues.

l 18&Over, All Level and Boroughs: Matches consist of five courts, two singles and three doubles l 55&Over: Matches consist of five courts, two singles and three doubles l 55 & Over Mixed Doubles: Matches consist of three courts of doubles

Past Champions l Men’s Tri-Level 3.5/4.0/4.5: Captained by Theron McInnis l Women’s Tri-Level 3.5/4.0/4.5: Captained by Jinny Welch

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

Mixed Doubles Manhattan Champions l 6.0: Captained by Karen Funfgeld/Marija Vareikaite l 7.0: Captained by Lisa Bernstein/Jeff Linderman/Leigh Flayton l 8.0: Captained by Sonia Danon/Aaron Nelson l 9.0: Captained by Akiko Tohmatsu The following leagues began in January, and will wrap up at the end of April: l 40&Over Tri-Level 3.0/3.5/4.0 l Mixed Doubles Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn l Mixed Doubles 40&Over

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

Specific Tennis Footwork and Movement Skills By Cinto Casanova

ovement is a key performance factor in tennis. As tennis coaches, we are responsible for developing player’s movement skills, as well as their racket swings. The goal in this article is to point out which are the specific movement skills required in tennis and to give a basic guide about suitable activities to

develop those skills within the tennis program. Below are four of these key tennis specific movement skills, with a breakdown of each: Footwork coordination Players have to be able to control the rhythm of their steps and to increase

or decrease the frequency of them as needed. However it is not only about how fast they can move their feet; its is also about the control and accuracy of the steps; it is about stepping where you want (at an appropriate angle and position). Dissociation is an essential skill related to footwork too. Left and right feet should function independently without interference in different movement/rhythm patterns. To develop this footwork and coordination skills, our tennis programs have to allocate time to agility ladder programs, stepping exercises, aerobic step platforms or any other type of exercises that focuses on rhythm, control and dissociation of our player’s footwork. Explosive first step To be fast and powerful to start the movement is not only a matter of power and strength. Our players need to master the “split step” and its different variations (split step from one or two feet, static or in motion). It is crucial to learn how to recruit

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

elastic energy from the split step and transform it into movement. Not all players can do this naturally, but the reactiveness is trainable. Tennis programs need to have basic physical exercises to develop this reactiveness, skipping rope exercises as an example are highly effective for that. Plyometric exercises suitable to the age of the player are also important (small hurdles, cones, jump boxes…). Change of direction Our players have to be able to stop and start the movement with balance and efficiency. They must develop a wide base and a low center of gravity. They have to master the different techniques available: change direction from a slide, from a mogul step, from a pivot step… The change of direction is crucial in tennis after running to a shot, when the player has to then recover to the middle position on the court. Change

of direction in recovery is quite often a neglected movement skill in tennis. Our programs should have basic exercises like cone touches and more specific recovery exercises with shadow swings or racket and ball. Connection with the ball Perception, space and trajectory awareness are a key part of an efficient and accurate movement. When we work on all the movement skills, we should not work on them only in isolation; a big part of the exercises have to be connected to tracking an object. Reaction and anticipation components should be mixed in the movement exercises

(reacting to signals…). We could also argue Set Up and Release skills are part of the movement skill set of a player, (stances, striking, balance transfer…). However I prefer to separate them from the pure movement and consider them more within the Striking skills. In conclusion, the development of movement skills has to have an important role in any serious competitive tennis program. As tennis coaches, we need to learn and understand the key specific movement skills needed in tennis and include suitable activities in our tennis lessons to develop them.

Cinto Casanova is the Head Physical Trainer and Senior Elite Tennis Coach at Sakurada Club in Tokyo. He has held leading positions in Junior Player Development for over two decades in Japan, China and Spaiin. He has helped to develop top junior programs that produced successful national and international junior players. He may be reached at rc.cinto@gmail.com.

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NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Lefty Side of Things t’s at that moment you realize your opponent looks strange. The ball isn’t bouncing the right way. You say, “Oh, they’re a lefty.” Speaking from the lefty’s point of view, the most important tactic is to get off to a quick start. The lack of awareness from your opponent is an advantage you should be taking advantage of. Eventually, righties will make the necessary adjustment to get back in the match. Hopefully by that time, you have a comfortable lead.

Righty spin, lefty spin Lefties hit the same spin a righty does. The difference is the side of the ball they hit from. For example, a righty’s slice serve is struck on the right side of the ball and bounces left to right of the returner. A lefty’s slice serve is hit on the left side of the ball and bounces right to left of the returner. A practical serving tactic is for the lefty server to jam the returners’ forehand on the deuce side and take them out of the court on the ad side. This is an easy way 62

to create a weak return or open up the court to take control of the point. For groundstrokes, a lefty forehand will tend to jump right to left of the opponent and left to right on the backhand side. There are usually some cheap points to win off of those shots since the righty may not be prepared for the awkward bounce. Lefties work on your weakness On the deuce side, work on serving out wide and up the service T. Now, when you are warming up your serve during your match warm up, serve to your strength. Do not show them you can hit the other spots. Once the match begins, after a few points, start mixing up location, like a dominant pitcher does in a baseball game. Once your opponent has made their adjustments, mixing up location becomes more important to keep them off balance and guessing. Do you like your backhand? What I have noticed, as a fellow

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

By Michael Smookler

lefty and a teaching pro over the years, is that we tend to favor our backhand over the forehand. How many lefties do you know, if they swing a bat or golf club, swing from the right-hand side? This is more common than you think. Ask a lefty, because if that’s the case, their backhand should be stronger. That should be the first test in the warm up, check to see if the lefty is running around their forehand to hit a backhand. Federer and Nadal The cross-court lefty forehand is a natural shot and it is important to take advantage of your opponent’s backhand side. When you watch Rafael Nadal, you cannot help but notice how much topspin he uses. A strategy that works well for him against Roger Federer is he hits a high looping topspin forehand cross-court to Roger’s backhand. The ball jumps up quickly out of Federer’s comfort zone. This creates either a weak shot for Rafa to move in and take control of, or

Roger tries to go for a shot that’s not there and makes an unforced error. Countering a lefty Challenge them on their serve by favoring their stronger targets. Meaning, take their lefty serve away from them and make them show you they can hit the out wide serve on the deuce side and up the T on the ad side. Once they show you they can, get into a more neutral returning position. As a server, try to serve more to the lefty serving targets. Serve up the T on the deuce side and out wide on the ad side. Remember, earlier I mentioned lefties generally prefer their backhands. If you can catch them off guard and serve to their forehands, you might be able to get an easy hold. They are expecting you to serve to their backhand. Now you can stay on pace and go for the break on their serve.

Your doubles partner is a lefty If a lefty and righty are playing together in doubles, I feel the lefty should play the deuce side. This gives the doubles combo overheads and forehands in the middle of the court. To hit to a lefty’s backhand, the ball must be hit down the line or hard cross-court. These are tougher shots than down the middle and may create unforced errors. But subconsciously, forced.

These are just a few things to think about from the lefty’s and the righty’s perspective. Of course, every individual is different and really what you want to do during a warm-up and match is to see where your opponent might be comfortable and uncomfortable. But most importantly, notice which hand they are swinging their racket with before it’s too late.

Michael Smookler is the Club Manager & Tennis Director at West Orange Tennis Club, as well as the USPTA Eastern President. Coaching and directing tennis since 1989, Smookler was the 2019 USPTA Eastern Pro of the Year, and the 2017 USPTA Eastern High School Coach of the Year. He has trained with retired pros Guillermo Villas, Mats Wilander, Rod Laver and more.

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Find out more today—then choose your Advantage club! advantagetennisclubs.com NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

Never a Dull Moment in the World of Tennis By Luke Jensen

hat a crazy tennis start to 2022, and you can bet I am looking forward to the warmer weather and the outdoor tennis season. But before that, we have to talk about the first months of the 2022 tennis season. The Novak Djokovic situation at the Australian Open was a mess and I wonder how that will affect his tennis moving forward. Rafael Nadal continues to be amazing, and for the first time he goes from the record chaser, to the record holder. He now has 21 major titles, and that is with his favorite one, Roland Garros, coming up. He has won there 13 times! I know Roger Federer still wants to play but setbacks with his knee rehabilitation have pushed his return back to Wimbledon, maybe, but nothing is for certain. There are so many storylines in professional tennis that makes following the best ballers so interesting. On the WTA side, despite the strong depth, Aussie Ash Barty continues to pull away from the field as she won her country’s major in dominating fashion. Barty impacts the game with a very effective serve, and a wonderful second serve that has tons of kick on it. That means the big power returners have a tough time taking control of the point right from the return.

This spring, I highly recommend a road trip to the Tennis Garden at Indian Wells, Calif. or the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Two extraordinary venues to see the best on the planet play. Some of the best views are seats on the practice courts where fans get to see how the world class players prepare to play big time tennis. On a personal note my brother and I have spent a lifetime on a tennis court, but a fun tennis exhibition last fall almost tuned tragic. Early in the match, Murphy was about to serve to me when he went into cardiac arrest. Fortunately there were off duty medical professionals and first responders to rush to Murphy’s side. The first thing the medical professionals asked for after assessing that Murph had flat lined was, “Where is the defibrillator?” Fortunately there was a defibrillator right behind that tennis court and it brought back Murph a total of five times before reaching the hospital. Murphy is alive because of extraordinary work from the amazing

first responders who met the moment. Murphy is also alive because the Garden of the Gods Resort made it a priority to have life-saving equipment like a defibrillator in their facilities. Next time you go play tennis just keep an eye out for that facility’s emergency equipment; you absolutely never know when the moment comes when seconds matter. Miracle Murphy is doing better every day with physical therapy and rest. He’s already back on the tennis court and having fun but with a defibrillator implanted on his left side for the rest of his life to prevent this same situation happening to him again. I wanted to share with all of you a scary situation that turned out well because a facility was prepared for a worst-case-scenario situation. I hope you never have to go through anything like this and being at a facility that is prepared makes the difference. It did for my brother Murphy. Always prepare for EVERYTHING! Forever GRATEFUL to the Garden of the Gods Resort…

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

New York Tennis Magazine • March/April 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

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New York Tennis Magazine • January/February 2022 • NYTennisMag.com