New York Tennis Magazine

NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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AGN NIA VUSTS TS SINA A

TOP 10 IN DOUBLES IIN THE COUNTRY Winneer & Finalist of Nationaals L1, L2, L3 Tournaments o m t

Toop 155 in Doubles & Toopp 30 0 in Singgles at 14U

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STA ARTING 09.05 USPTR Certified Coa USPTR ach 10 years e of coaching g experience Coac ched & Mentored d Many T Tennis Players to Get into To Top US Collleges Top o 3 East & To Top 25 Nation N 18 and Under

OSTROME ET TSK SKY KY KY 10U

USPTR Certified Coa ach Form mer To Top 30 Sectional Junior Player in 16s & 18s Division 1 College Player P George Washington it U iversity Univ

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New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

PROGRAMS all leve vels

10 and Under

JMTP Hosts Annual Pro-Am in the Hamptons Photo credit: Joelle Wiggins

ach summer, generous supporters and tennis fans head out to the Hamptons to take part in the annual Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP) Pro-Am. The fundraiser benefits the mission of the JMTP, the charitable arm of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, which aims to change young lives by removing the racial, economic and social barriers to success through tennis.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, JMTP introduces tennis to thousands of under-resourced New York City area children, particularly those living in East Harlem and the South Bronx, two communities immediately adjacent to our base at Sportime Randall’s Island.

The Pro-Am is the signature fundraising event for JMTP,

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and this year, at the eighth annual installment of the event, more than $565,000 was raised.

Tennis legends came out to support including the Bryan Brothers, Gigi Fernandez, Mary Joe Fernandez, Mats Wilander, and of course, John and Patrick McEnroe. The Legends Flight of the Pro-Am was a star-studded affair, with 88 Grand Slam titles in total being represented, providing fans in attendance to an amazing day of tennis.

Following the tennis, there was dinner and cocktails to put a bow on a successful and fun day out at Sportime Amagansett.

Next year’s Pro-Am is scheduled for August 26, 2023.

You can visit JMTP.org to learn more information.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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November/December 2022 • Volume 12, Number 6

nytennis New York Tennis Magazine

Table Of Contents

MAGAZINE

The Arrival of Alcaraz

New York Tennis Magazine

After U.S. Open title, Carlos Alcaraz is the new world number one —See page 18

1228 Wantagh Avenue, Suite 203 Wantagh, NY 11793-2202 Phone: (516) 409-4444 • Fax: (516) 409-4600

Photo credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA

Web site: www.nytennismag.com

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

Highlights 8 12 17 22 32 48

Centercourt Tennis Academy Continues to Produce on Global Stage

By Brian Coleman NYTM Challenge Closes Out Summer in the Hamptons Citi Taste of Tennis Returns to the Big Apple Beyond the Baseline: Gilad Bloom and Chris Lewit By Brian Coleman 2022 New York Tennis Magazine’s Coaches Roundtable Discussion 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

Marie Santora-Lent Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 Marie@usptennis.com Emilie Katz Assistant Marketing Coordinator Dr. Tom Ferraro Contributing Writer Luke Jensen Contributing Writer Steve Kaplan Contributing Writer Rob Polishook Contributing Writer Barbara Wyatt Contributing Writer

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

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

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

PG 17

PG 22

PG 32

PG 48

Features 1 4 7 10 16 24 27 28 30 38 40 41 42 44 46 58 59 60 61 62

JMTP Hosts Annual Pro-Am in the Hamptons Across Metro New York…News and Notes From Across the New York Metro Tennis Community Top Juniors From Across the Globe Compete in 11th Annual “Little Mo” Internationals in NYC Remember, “Tennis, anyone?”…Now It’s, “Tennis, everyone!”

Are You At Your Wit’s End While Playing Tennis? By Botond Sari USTA Eastern Metro Region Update Metro Adult League Wrap-Up By Christopher Dong The Top Tennis Tips of All-Time Part Six: The Problem of Guilt in Sports By Dr. Tom Ferraro Coaching the Whole Human Athlete: From Hot Head to Hero

By Rob Polishook Tactical Thinking for Young Competitive Juniors By Cinto Casanova Hidden Delight By Barbara Wyatt Racquet Sport Report presented by adidas Pickleball Handelman, Forsythe Win Pickleball Open Pro Doubles Division The Split Step in Three Steps By Steve Kaplan How Many Hours a Week Should a College-Bound Junior Play Tennis? By Gilad Bloom Metro Corporate League Recap presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs 8 Keys to Hitting the Drop Shot Like Carlos Alcaraz By Chris Lewit Out With Legends, In With the New Stars By Luke Jensen Court Six: New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz USTA Eastern Welcomes in New Hall of Fame Class 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 RSTA JTT Team Wins NY Clash

Centercourt Hosts Green Ball, Orange Ball Events [INSERT: Felix_Photo] Centercourt Tennis Academy hosted four divisions of Green Ball and Orange Ball events at Centercourt Chatham. The winners are below. Pictured: Felix Zwierlein

Teams from all across the United States gathered at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to compete in the 10U New York Clash. The courts were filled with some of the top young junior players in the country, and Team Eastern, led by the players from The Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) would come away victorious, with the USTA Middle States team finishing as runner-ups.

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New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA Orange Ball - Boys Winner: Vihaan Agarwal Runner Up: Niam Jain

New York

… News and notes from across the N.Y. Metro tennis community Mills Captures Boys 14s Title

USTA Orange Ball - Girls Winner: Hazelin Luu Runner Up: Nadia Jar USTA Green Ball - Boys Winner: Felix Zwierlein USTA Green Ball - Girls Winner: Carolina Gualtier Runner Up: Sofi Erkavun

Seth Wins L6 Event at Bogota Racquet Club Devin Seth, who trains at CourtSense, took home the title at the L6 Championships at Bogota Racquet Club. Seeded sixth in the Boys 14s division, Seth won three consecutive deciding third sets in the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals to win the tournament.

John Henry Mills was victorious at the L6 Tennis Innovators Academy Championships, winning the title in the Boys 14s division. Mills, who trains out of the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning, was seeded second and won four consecutive matches en route to the title.

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across metro new york continued from page 5

Reyniak Wins Crotona Park Event

Friedman Captures Title in South Carolina Brooklyn native Leena Friedman went down to Sumter, South Carolina and won the title at the L2 USTA National Championships.

Friedman, a John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) player, won all of her matches in straight sets, and also earned the event’s Sportsmanship Award.

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New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

Matias Reyniak, who trains with Gilad Bloom Tennis, was the winner at the L2 Championships at Crotona Park in the Boys 14s division.

Reyniak won all five of his matches in the event in straight sets, including a 6-2, 6-2 triumph in the finals.

Top Juniors From Across the Globe Compete in 11th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in NYC

he 11th Annual “Little Mo” Internationals took place at The West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills as some of the world’s top junior players gathered in New York to compete in this prestigious event.

Across an array of different divisions, players competed for a chance to win one of the three legs of the “Little Mo” Internationals Series, with fair play and sportsmanship as a key component of the matches. The tournament is preceded by the Opening Ceremony and Group Photo which provides a great way for the players to meet new friends from all across the world.

Below are the winners from each respective division. Local Long Island and New York players are bolded:

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• Boys 8 Doubles: Safin Qalbani/Bence Leber • Boys 9 Doubles: Lennox Kelly/Magnus Mitby • Boys 10 Doubles: Cavan Donnelly/Jaxon DeLuccia • Boys 11 Doubles: Grayson Prince/Marcus Gonzales • Boys 12 Doubles: Liam Raykis/Raghav Narayanan

• Girls 8 Doubles: Juliette Prince/Nandika Singamala • Girls 9 Doubles: Chloe Chang/Daniella Yogumyan • Girls 10 Doubles: Chloe Wang/Helena Xue • Girls 11 Doubles: Sarabeth Hoo/Ava Chu • Girls 12 Doubles: Haniya Minhas/Juliana Castellanos Trujillo • Boys 8 Singles: Colin Pental • Boys 9 Singles: Jacques Kaan Gunalp • Boys 10 Singles: Cavan Donnelly • Boys 11 Singles: Vallab Kumar • Boys 12 Singles: Ishaan Long Islanders Grayson and Juliette Prince won multiple Yadlapalli events at the "Little Mo" Internationals in Forest Hills • Girls 8 Singles: Juliette Prince • Mixed 10 Doubles: Cavan • Girls 9 Singles: Noa Boar Donnelly/Chloe Wang • Girls 10 Singles: Kareena Cross • Mixed 11 Doubles: Grayson • Girls 11 Singles: Sarabeth Hoo Prince/Sarabeth Hoo • Girls 12 Singles: Haniya Minhas • Mixed 12 Doubles: Thomas O’Neill/Haniya Minhas • Mixed 8 Doubles: Safin Qalbani/Juliette Prince • Mixed 9 Doubles: Suzanne Kang/Krish Yadlapalli NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Centercourt Tennis Academy Continues to Produce on Global Stage

By Brian Coleman uilding a tennis academy is no easy task. Beyond the obvious challenges of running a large business of that nature, establishing a reputable academy for junior player development takes a committed team of people working in unison, and providing an environment for players in the academy to grow.

That is precisely what Centercourt Tennis Academy has established since its inception, and over the last several years, they have produced some of the world’s top junior tennis players, with many of them finding success on the international stage to further bolster Centercourt’s reputation.

For the past three events (no event in 2020), the Wimbledon junior finals has featured a player from the Centercourt program. In 2021, Samir Banerjee, who now plays at Stanford University, captured the Wimbledon junior title, and brought the acclaimed trophy back home to New Jersey. Back in 2019, Alexa Noel reached the finals.

“There was so much excitement here at the club. We had texts going back and forth, and there was buzz amongst all the coaches and players,” said Centercourt CEO of Tennis Operations Conrad Singh. “Just watching the way he played, we flipped out. It was phenomenal to see what he was doing.

Samir walked into Centercourt as a nine-

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year-old boy, and so watching him go from that to winning Wimbledon is mind-blowing.”

This past summer, another full-time Centercourt player, Michael Zheng, made his way into the finals. And although he came up just short, it was just another example of Centercourt’s prowess on the biggest stages in junior tennis.

Later in the year, Zheng advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open junior event, another phenomenal result, and he gave credit for his development to his training at Centercourt.

“I first moved to Centercourt when my coach, Adrian Contreras, went there and it’s been great. Everyone in the program is really good and it’s very competitive,” said Zheng. “We do a lot of point play, and everyone is trying to move up the ladder to the top court.

That aspect, where everyone is aiming to beat the person ahead of them, helps make everyone better.”

And that is one of the key components of the Centercourt Tennis Academy, the idea that iron sharpens iron, and that if you want to become great, you also have to compete against other great players.

“It was very exciting to have some of the best players in the country all training together at the same academy,

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

as well as only living about 30 minutes away from each other,” Zheng added.

“The training there is very good and the coaches are all top notch. I think everyone had the commitment to go there and work hard to improve, and that helps everyone.”

Over the last several years, the fulltime academy has produced phenomenal results on the world stage, and that is in part due to the dedication of the academy’s leadership, beginning with Owner and Founder Clay Bibbee, who brought in Singh back in 2017. Singh arrived at Centercourt after teaching and running programs in Australia, China, England, Japan and more, and brought that wealth of international tennis knowledge to the academy.

“When I came here in 2017, and even with the conversations I had with Clay in late-2016, the mission became clear. We wanted to have one boy and one girl representing us at the Junior Slam level, and one professional male and one professional female representing us,” said Singh. “Until we get all four of those, our mission isn’t totally complete. And that was sort of a change in direction for Centercourt, who had previously been producing tons of collegiate talent, Division I and Ivy League schools, but they weren’t

playing a lot of international and ITF events.”

That international component was key in developing the next crop of toptier juniors from Centercourt, and adding to that was the introduction of the HomeBase program, in which players that Singh has worked with in his travels throughout the world, come to Centercourt for two, three and sometimes four weeks at a time to train.

The touring professionals who come are seeking the comforts of a home base to train at, as the tour can sometimes become a lonely place, and their presence has had a profound impact on Centercourt’s full-time academy players.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Singh. “In terms of motivation, the professionals are right there with them, and that’s what these juniors want to see. Believe it or not, the pros spend so much time on their own, they love having the juniors to train with. The energy is fresh, and these young players try to

beat the pros, which is great. The competition is real. These young guys and girls are really going for it and want to earn some bragging rights. That dynamic has really been amazing. And for the players, having those comforts of home go a long way. While it isn’t necessarily their home, they are familiar with me and my family, and some Centercourt members even house players. We create a bit of an international family for them.”

And as illustrated earlier, the results of that dynamic have been clear and proof that the strategy and mission has been working. But the mission is not complete yet, and Singh and his team are excited to continue developing some of the area’s top junior players, and maintain its reputation on the world stage.

There is a distinct pathway at Centercourt to continue the pipeline of players entering the full-time program.

“Those guys in the full-time continue to inspire the next generation of players here,” added Singh. “We’re so pumped for what is ahead. We have our pathway set up and have some unbelievable talent in the 12U category. I actually plan on taking a group of kids to play on Asian Tennis Federation’s 14U Tour next year, which is for players aged 11-13. A lot of kids in those events go on to play ITF, which is crucial, so we are very excited to continue that growth and continue to do everything we can for the players here.”

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Remember “Tennis, Anyone?”…Now It’s “Tennis Everyone!” fforts to bring the sport—and all the athletic, scholastic and health benefits that it can help engender— to underserved youngsters around the country, have long been a goal, not just of the USTA, but of organizations in cities around the country. They are supported by civic institutions, donors, and various groups and corporations involved in the tennis world.

A current example of how an emerging international brand of tennis apparel is bringing support and joy to inner-city kids has come to our attention, and we hope it inspires others to reach out in kind. inPhorm, which produces comfortable, stylish and sustainable tennis, golf and athleisure wear, has from its inception in 2008 been aiding several programs with donations of tennis outfits. Its founder and designer, Saad Hajidin, sent us this note and photos that show the joyful reaction of the kids.

It comes from Anne Star, a Board Member of the Pete Brown Junior Tennis Program in Los Angeles, which provides

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inner-city kids with tennis lessons and clothing, and an involving experience that points them to better health practices, community involvement and success in school and their future lives.

Pete Brown was an esteemed athlete, coach and educator with a lifelong commitment to enriching the lives of children living near the Harvard Tennis Park community in Los Angeles. He devoted his time to PBJTP for 40 years until his death in 2009. To learn more

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

about PBJPT, go to www.pbjtp.org Star wrote to Hajidin: “I wanted to let you know that your beautiful inPhorm clothes are being loved! I asked for donations from my friends and raised over $7,000 for our program!! And all our inner-city girls received a special assortment as well as many of the moms. Nearly every person admired how nice the quality is and how beautiful the garments are. When I handed out special bags to each of the girls, I got big hugs and there was a lot of squealing going on! Lol! You made a big group of girls very very happy today!

Probably the nicest tennis apparel they have ever had!

So a huge thank you, Saad! I am beyond grateful and all those hugs I received today were really for you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

Hajidin and the whole inPhorm family sent back hugs to Anne and to PBJT’s dedicated staff — and, of course, to the kids.

To learn more about inPhorm. go to www.inphormnyc.com.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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New York Tennis Ma Closes Out Summer

Women's 6.0-6.5 Champions

hile the professionals were in Queens playing in the 2022 U.S. Open, the outdoor clay courts of Sportime Quogue were filled with local athletes competing in the Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge.

More than 90 players arrived in the Hamptons to take part in the Challenge with play taking place across six divisions of various levels. Throughout the afternoon, the fierce competition on the court was contrasted with a friendly and social atmosphere off the court, along with catered lunch, and an open bar available to players as the pool deck of Sportime Quogue doubled as the perfect viewing area for matches.

The six divisions featured roundrobin pool play with the top teams advancing into the knockout rounds.

In the Women’s 6.0-6.5 division,

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Women's 7.0-7.5 Champions

THE LONG ISLAND

CHALLENGE 2022

Lauren Siegel & Tanya Mattera came away victorious, using a simple yet effective strategy to claim the title“We tried to keep it simple and just go for our shots when they were available,” said Materra.

A key factor in surviving the pool play and playing their best tennis in the playoff rounds was embracing the amenities that come with the Challenge events.

“We made sure to have a couple of drinks which kept us relaxed,”

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

Women's 8.0-8.5 Champions

said Siegel. “I think we were a little tense in the beginning, but we made sure we stayed consistent and remained positive with each other.

This isn’t our first time playing in the Challenge events, we love it.”

In a tournament such as this, often times you play opponents you are unfamiliar with, making for intriguing matchups. For the Women’s 7.0-7.5 winners, Lauren Calandra & Kathy Blenk, making sure to stay ready and adjust to those differing opponents was a major factor in them winning their title.

“The key was adjusting to all the different playing styles of the opponents, and we were able to do that well today,” said Calandra.

“We had a lot of fun and stayed positive throughout.”

The pairing doesn’t normally play doubles together, but have played

Magazine Challenge er in the Hamptons

Men's 7.0-7.5 Champions

against each other a lot recently.

“We have played mixed doubles against each other all summer long, but this is the first time we paired up together,” Blenk added. “And for me, my favorite part was just being outside in the beautiful weather in this beautiful setting against some great competition.”

In the Women’s 8.0-8.5 division, the duo of Jen McCormack & Morgan Milleisen joined forces and used their experience of competing on the same USTA women’s team together to triumph over the other teams at their level.“We haven’t played much since Sectionals about a month ago, and we thought this would be a fun tournament to play and it’s here on Long Island,” said Milleisen. “There were a lot of teams and great competition; it was such a fun tournament.” “There were a couple of times we were down

Men's 8.0-8.5 Champions

THE LONG ISLAND

CHALLENGE 2022

and instead of giving up, we made some changes and kept fighting,” McCormack added. “I think our mindset was the key to our success.”

On the men's side, Paul Schneider & Josh Rogowsky won the title in the Men’s 7.0-7.5 division.

“It’s fun to be out here and spend a day outside with a friend while beating some other friends in the finals,” said Rogowsky. “It was super enjoyable.”The pairing were one of the last entries into the

tournament, but used their prior playing experience together to remain consistent throughout the event.

“We decided to play last minute and it was definitely worth it,” Schneider added. “It’s always such a friendly atmosphere, but still competitive. Josh and I play a lot together, and he was amazing today, hitting his shots with a lot of pace.”

A doubles team that played together for the first time was Stephen Weiss & AJ Arena who quickly developed an on-court chemistry which resulted in them winning the Men’s 8.0-8.5 division.

“I think we got better as the day went on because he figured out what I did well, and I figured out what he did well, and we were able continued on page 14

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courts and cocktails returns continued from page 13

Men's 9.0-9.5 Champions

to communicate without talking,” said Weiss.The duo played its best tennis on the biggest points throughout the day which was a key factor in them winning both playoff rounds.

“We managed to play the bigger point well. I think we had a good record on the deuce points, the ones that could have went either way, which helped us,” said Arena.

“Overall it was a great day at a beautiful venue, and there is nothing better than playing on outdoor clay.”

In the Men’s 9.0-9.5 division, a doubles team who used to play together regularly rekindled their chemistry from their college playing days to come away victorious in the top level of the tournament. Former Fordham Rams Harris Durkovic & Cameron Posillico teamed up for the first time since they were college teammates to capture the title.“We were doubles partners in college and haven’t really played a competitive match 14

together since then,” said Durkovic.

“So it was fun to get on court together and play again.”

Poscillo added: “The highlight of the day for me was Harris hitting a screaming backhand winner down the line on deuce point during the finals.”

All in all, the Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge was a great

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

celebration of tennis and brought so many different players together for a fun afternoon in the Hamptons.

The Challenge events continue to grow in popularity and participation as we combine competitive on-court tennis with a social mixer off the courts for the best of both worlds.

“There are many options for local players when it comes to racquet

sports, and we are appreciative that so many players came out and chose our event. To get close to 100 players into this tournament was a real success. I believe this is an indication that players see the professionalism and quality we bring to the events we host, and that

they have a great time on and off the court,” said David Sickmen, cotournament director of the Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge.

“I certainly want to thank our beautiful host facility, Sportime Quogue, as well as my co-director Michelle Stoerback, whose passion and energy for adult tennis is second to none. We look forward to more community involvement moving into the fall and winter, and

are excited to see everyone at our next Challenge.”

The next Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge event will be held indoors as Sportime Syosset will host the Fall Challenge on Saturday, November 26. Visit LITennisMag.com/ThanksgivingChall enge for more information and to register.

THE LONG ISLAND

CHALLENGE 2022

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Are You At Your Wit’s End While Playing Tennis?

In this mode you can take some risk, as it is your chance to go for an outright winner.. It’s better to miss a couple of shots than to miss all of your opportunities.

ver felt like you don’t really know what to do during a match? You just kind of run around and hit the ball here and there? Understanding the question in tennis is half of the battle. It’s all to do with the incoming ball. So, the first step is to learn to rate the incoming balls difficulty on a scale of one through five (one is a very easy ball, and five will be a very difficult ball) that is the question you are being asked, that is the mode you are in.

Obviously, the same ball wouldn’t be the same level of difficulty for everybody.

A lot of balls that are super easy for the top players would still be very difficult to handle for a beginner player. With the correct understanding of your own level of play you can take the appropriate risks at all times, which will reduce your unforced errors and give you a much clearer understanding of when to put the pressure on and go for the winners at the right time.

Let’s discover all the modes with the eyes of an advanced player.

Challenge With a relatively easy incoming ball you should be aiming to create some trouble for your opponent. Your goal is to put the pressure on and get them into the defense/counterattack mode. The goal is not to finish the point outright, even though you may end up hitting a clean winner. An example of a challenge ball would be a groundstroke that is comfortably in your strike zone and the incoming ball is easier/shorter than usual, or it could be an easy ball taken with a swinging volley. Another example would be a return on a weaker second serve.

Remember, look for the opportunity and challenge when you have the chance not when you run out of patience.

Attack In this mode your goal is to finish the point with the upcoming shot. Common examples are overheads inside the service line, an easy volley in zone 1 or a dip drive in the front of zone 2.

Rally If two players are approximately the same level the most frequent mode is going to be the rally mode where your goal is to be consistent but still execute with good quality. The most common shot

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New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

By Botond Sari

type in this mode is the arc ball, 3-4 feet over the net with topspin aiming deep and far away from the lines. Your goal is to stay consistent and patient in the rally mode and wait for a lower quality shot from your opponent. When that moment occurs, you can then challenge with a more aggressive shot.

Counterattack Some say ‘the best defense is offense’ and in this case they are right. If you find yourself in a situation where your opponent challenged you with a relatively difficult ball than your best option is to counter-attack. Common examples when you could counterattack are passing shots, groundstrokes on the run, returning difficult overheads, etc. There are many ways to counterattack depending on the situation: drive to take your opponent’s time away, a loop ball to push them back and get the ball out of their comfort zone, slice to keep the ball low or, if you are pushed wide you could respond with angle shots.

Counterattacking requires the most sophisticated skills on the tennis court. You should be confident in all the other modes before you start messing around with Counterattacking.

Defend When you have to defend your goal is to slow down the game to give yourself time to recover and get back in the court for the next shot. Staying in the point means another chance for your opponent to miss! Common defensive shot types are lobs, loops and slow slices to buy yourself Time.

After understanding the theory behind the modes it’s time to practice recognizing the mode you are in, preferably with your coach. Understanding and judging the modes correctly will make you indestructible at your own level!

Botond Sari is a former Top 5 Junior in Hungary, Sari is a Certified Level 1 and Level 2 ITF Coach, and worked at one of the most successful junior clubs in Hungary where he coached future national champions.

Citi Taste of Tennis Returns to the Big Apple Famed event combines cuisine with tennis stars and celebrities iti Taste of Tennis NYC made its exciting return to New York ahead of this year’s U.S. Open, bringing back the premier food and tennis experience to New York City at Cipriani 42nd Street.

The event brought together accomplished chefs and some of the world’s top pro tennis players to celebrate tennis. This year marked the 22nd anniversary of AYS Sports Marketing’s creation of this one-of-akind event.

Citi Taste of Tennis NYC was headlined by Nick Kyrgios and Naomi Osaka, and two- Michelinstarred celebrity Chef Emma Bengtsson of Aquavit. The event offered a fun filled evening for foodies and tennis fans alike. New York City is the fifth and final stop of the 2022 Citi Taste of Tennis season, following successful events in Indian Wells, Miami, London, and Washington, D.C. Citi Taste of Tennis NYC included an unforgettable evening of sampling fine food, sipping signature cocktails, and mingling with some of tennis’ biggest stars.

Citi Taste of Tennis featured a diverse lineup of chefs including: • Emma Bengtsson – Aquavit • Anastacia Son – Kumi New York

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• John Mooney – Bell Book Candle • Kerry Heffernan – Grand Banks Oyster Bar and Galley • Chef Jassi Bindr – Amrina the Woodlands • Franklin Becker – Press Club Grill • Chris Scott – Butterfunk Biscuit Company • Alfred Portale – Portale Restaurant • Fany Gerson – La NewYorkina • Sujan Sarkar – Baar Baar • Hari Nayak – SONA • Bao Bao – Baoburg • Admir Alibasic – Admir Alibasic • Michael White – The Lambs Club • Chef Shorne Benjamin – Saint Lucia • Ali Ghriskey – Pine & Polk • Oscar Gonzalez – Hard Rock Cafe • Cedric Tovar – Lotte Palace • Chef Omar – Jamaica Tourist Board • Chef Derrick – Jamaica Tourist Board

• Shinichoro Noguchi – Nikutei Futago • Sunbong Lee, Sunchol Lee – Yakiniku Futago • Belinda Bishop – Flavours of Grenada Entertainment included music provided by DJ Mad Linx, with fine wines courtesy of Catena Zapata, and specialty VOSS cocktails. Chef Bengtsson hosted an exciting on-stage cooking demonstration which dazzled the crowd.

The event benefitted the New York Junior Tennis and Learning (NYJTL).

“It takes an army to put these events together and we have to take a moment to thank Citi, our title sponsor, along with all the other incredible sponsors who contributed so much to this unforgettable experience!” Citi Taste of Tennis wrote on Facebook. “Cheers & thank you!”

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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The Arrival of Alcaraz

By Brian Coleman

n the last few months in professional tennis we have seen the exits of not only two of the sport’s greatest players ever, in Serena Williams and Roger Federer, but also two of the sport’s most recognizable stars.

Both Williams and Federer have been pillars of the tennis world and helped the sport grow immeasurably in their two-plus decades competing on tour. And as each has announced they are retiring, there naturally is concern that their absence creates a void.

But tennis fans should realize the game is in good hands with young stars such as Carlos Alcaraz who have made their breakthroughs and demonstrated that perhaps they are capable of carrying that torch. Federer himself even acknowledged this dynamic and explained why he wasn’t worried.

“People thought tennis was not so cool and great anymore once Sampras and Agassi retired. Here I was like, ‘I’m sorry, it’s kind of me also, with [Andy] Roddick and [Juan Carlos] Ferrero and [Lleyton] Hewitt especially. So for me to now look at the future, I know it’s incredibly bright and we don’t have to worry about it on either side, men or women. I think it’s going to be great and I will be following it closely of course.”

Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferraro, has even made the comparison to Federer: “It is difficult to compare [anyone] to Roger Federer, of course, but if I had to say one name [in comparison to Carlos], I’m looking for somebody that is very aggressive and is able to do a lot of things on the court, and Roger is the best in these situations,” he said. “He can play on any surface and can play any type of style.”

Alcaraz has been a budding star for the better part of the last year, and comments from some of the game’s greats have indicated what they think of Alcaraz’s future. He broke into the mainstream at the end of the 2021 when he reached the final eight at the U.S. Open, at the young age of 18-years-old.

His undeniable talent pops off the screen when you watch him on television, and is even more impressive when you see him in person, and with his excellent results at the end of last year, there were high expectations coming into 2022. The Spaniard

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the arrival of alcaraz continued from page 18

has not only met those expectations, but he may have surpassed them so far.

To that point, Alcaraz got a big win here in the United States, as he won the first ATP Masters 1000 title of his career by hoisting the trophy at the Miami Open, becoming the youngest male champion at the event in nearly four decades.

“I have no words to describe how I feel right now,” Alcaraz said as he addressed the crowd in his on-court interview. “I have an unbelievable team with me…I’m so happy with the win.”

His win in Miami, at such a young age, would be enough to make anyone else’s season, but Alcaraz was not done. And a few months later, Alcaraz would secure the biggest victory of his career.

Right here in New York, the Spanish teenager would win the U.S. Open, defeating Norway’s Casper Ruud in the championship match.

“It’s crazy to me,” Alcaraz said.

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

The match was not only for the U.S. Open title but also the world No. 1 ranking, and Alcaraz now becomes the youngest No. 1 in the history of the ATP rankings, as well as the youngest major champion on the men’s side since his compatriot Rafael Nadal won the French Open in 2005.

He’s the youngest male U.S. Open champion since American Pete Sampras won in 1990.

“This is something I tried to achieve, all the hard work I did with my team,” said Alcaraz. “I’m just 19-years-old.

All the tough decisions were with my parents and my team. This is something really special for me.”

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Alcaraz fed off the energy of the New York crowd throughout his fortnight in the Big Apple, which included two matches deep into the New York night, including a post-3:00 a.m. finish against Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals.

“It means a lot to me to have a lot of people supporting me here in New York. What I lived last year was

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

incredible. But this year was unscriptable,” he said. “As I said, there were a lot of tough moments for me, tough matches. They were there all the time believing in me, supporting me. I finish the match against Jannik at almost 3 a.m. and they were there supporting me until the last ball. I could say this trophy is for them, as well. It's thanks to them. If I hadn't had them

supporting me all the time, I couldn't have this trophy today.”

Besides his talent, Alcaraz brings the type of energy and enthusiasm that makes him a fan favorite, and someone that a crowd like the ones in New York embrace. In order to be able to be the one carrying the torch into a new era of tennis, it isn’t enough to simply be good at tennis and win titles. Star power matters, especially when you are one of the faces of a sport.

Ferraro, who has competed against some of the game’s greats and coached others, knows what it takes to be great and carry the sport on your shoulders, sees those qualities in Alcaraz, and knows that he is not satisfied.

“You can see it on the court, people enjoy him,” he said. “I think he is born to play this kind of tournament, born to play these kinds of matches. Since the moment that I started [working] with him, I saw some things that were different than the other guys at his age.

I am still seeing that on court. In important moments, he is always trying to go. This was one of the more difficult things in tennis, even in his first Grand Slam final. He’s a great competitor, and he is trying all the time.”

Tennis is in good hands with players

such as Alcaraz leading the charge into 2023 and beyond, despite the loss of some of the sport’s greats. Still just 19-years-old, there remains an immense amount of potential for a player who has already accomplished so much, and the Spaniard will be at the forefront of the new era of tennis.

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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BEYOND THE BASELINE

BEYOND THE BASELINE BEYOND THE BASELINE

BEYOND THE BASELINE BEYOND

GILAD BLOOM

beyondthebaseline Gilad Bloom and Chris Lewit

By Brian Coleman

hroughout our lives, we are lucky if we come across even one person that can serve as a mentor of sorts; someone who helps us see things in ourselves that we didn’t know were there, and puts us on the right path.

For Chris Lewit, that person came into his life in the early 2000s following a successful career playing first singles for Cornell University. He was looking for a coach to help him prepare at a possible professional playing career, and found one in Gilad Bloom, the Israeli tennis

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star who was coaching highperformance tennis here in New York.

“I met Chris around 2003, I was living in Westchester at the time and had a court at my house and would give lessons there on the weekends,” recalls Bloom. “I got a call from Chris, who was in Vermont, and asked if I could coach him. And he would drive down every weekend do lessons with me, then go back up to Vermont to go back to work on Monday.”

Lewit added:

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

“It was just after my college career, and it was a really unique experience. I worked with Gilad almost every week, and he transformed my game, completely cleaning up the holes in my game. He is really a genius when it comes to technique, and he became a mentor to me. At that time, he was still playing and winning prize money tournaments, and in between we would play and train together. It was an amazing few years.”

While Lewit was a top-tier collegiate

OND THE BASELINE

BEYOND THE BASELINE BEYOND THE BASELINE

player, Bloom used his knowledge of technique and how to fix it on a player to tighten up Lewit’s game and put him on the path to becoming a professional tennis player.

“He was super tough, strict and demanding, and I liked that. I came from a military family and enjoyed training under him in that type of environment. I liked being pushed,” said Lewit. “And he just has an eye for technique. Some people can take apart a motor or an engine, and put it back together, Gilad can do that CHRIS LEWIT with tennis technique. He can see a affect Lewit, a chronic knee injury and player and visualize what their strokes bilateral adductor tears. He continued should look like, take apart their to give it a try and work through those technique and put it back together injuries, but would ultimately come to through different methodology. I think the decision to give up the dream of that’s where his genius lies. He is very demanding, but he has a tremendous gift playing professional tennis, and move into the new phase of his life. for correcting technique, and it’s all of But his time working with Bloom had those things that make him a great opened his eyes to what could be, and coach.” coaching and teaching tennis suddenly As the coach-player relationship became an option available to him. continued to grow, so did the success “It was serendipitous that I had Gilad Lewit would be having on court. Lewit as a mentor, he was the first person I developed a big serve and liked to really saw who had a career in attack the net following up that serve, teaching high performance,” said Lewit. and as Bloom helped correct his strokes, “I never even thought of having a he began to win some low-level pro career in coaching before that, I tournaments in New England and New York areas, and had plans to compete in thought teaching tennis was just feeding balls to old ladies at country clubs. So some pro events in the Caribbean, with working with Gilad was not only the goal of making it to the U.S. Open important to help me improve as a qualifying draw. player, but it opened my eyes to a “When he first came to me he had potential career that I enjoyed and homemade strokes with a continental could use to support my family. He was backhand grip and western forehand very influential to me first as a coach, grip, but he had a decent serve, and it but then also a teacher who showed me was obvious he didn’t get proper what it took to become a coach.” coaching when he was young,” Bloom knew early on in working with explained Bloom. “But he had good Lewit that his protege had what it took hands and a great work ethic. He was to make the transition into coaching. one of my most dedicated students, and “I was proud of what we achieved we basically reconstructed his strokes when he was fully fit, and it proved to within weeks, moving the grips closer to me that it was possible to improve and the modern game. Every week he would reconstruct your game, even in your come back better, and after a few 20s,” said Bloom. “After his forced months he moved to New York City retirement from playing, I told Chris that permanently to train in my program fullI thought he would make a good time.” coach, and offered him a job as my Unfortunately, in a story that is all too right-hand man in my program. He familiar for athletes, injuries began to

BEYOND THE BASELINE BEYOND THE agreed and for the next two years he was my top assistant and helped me run my junior program. He was very motivated to learn, and he made the transition very smooth.”

That experience would prove invaluable, and together Bloom and Lewit worked hand-in-hand to develop junior players here in New York. After a couple of years of doing that, Lewit was ready to go out on his own and created his own tennis program for juniors. First, he traveled to Spain to study under some of the famed coaches there, and used the knowledge he gained from all of those to create his tennis philosophy.

“Travelling to Spain after I left Gilad was a very different experience for me,” said Lewit. “The one commonality is the importance of hard work, but in Spain they don’t focus as intently on the technical side of things, it is more about the movement and footwork methodology, weapon building, and tactical side of the game, where you can improve but don't necessarily have to fix technique. So I think it was the best of both worlds for me, and really helped me become a well-rounded coach. It definitely gave me more tools in my tool box which I continue to use in my teaching.”

Now, several years after they met and worked together for the first time, both Bloom and Lewit run their own successful tennis programs. In operating their own boutique programs, they are somewhat of a rare commodity in the industry. Both of them have had a profound impact on the other, and to this day they remain in touch.

“I am extremely thankful for everything that Gilad taught me, both as a player and coach” said Lewit. “He put me on the path to becoming not only a better player, but turned me onto a career in high performance coaching, and for that I am very grateful.”

Bloom added: “We still remain in touch, and often share students and information. I am very proud of the coach and person he has become.”

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USTA Eastern Metro Region Metro Region Hosts USTA Eastern Adaptive Sectional Championship

The champions and finalists at the 2022 USTA Eastern Adaptive Sectional Championship pose for a photo after the event n a bright, sunny fall afternoon in New York, Nicholas Kirkwood and Steven Mingo captured USTA Eastern’s second annual Adaptive Sectional Championship, held October 9 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens. The pair—along with finalists Jeremy Arellano and Jake Levine—will now head down to the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida in November to represent the section at the national event.

“I think [I feel] speechless,” Kirkwood said after claiming the championship point.

The tournament was contested in a unified doubles format, which means that one player with an intellectual

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disability competes alongside another player without one.

Mingo, a member of the Metro Region Council, said that although he and Kirkwood had never previously played or practiced together, they immediately clicked as partners, which was key to their overall success. He noted that Kirkwood was particularly receptive to his advice and that the pair served consistently throughout the day. And of course, the fact that Kirkwood produced some SportsCenter Top 10 shots at critical moments during the competition didn’t hurt either.

“We were playing in a tiebreaker in our second match, and we had a match point at 6-5,” Mingo said. “Nick hit a

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA Eastern Metro Region wicked backhand cross court for a winner! We jumped for joy as we claimed victory!”

That wasn’t the only close battle of the day. Tournament Director Mark McIntyre said that tiebreakers were a recurring theme as all the players in the draw brought out their absolute best while competing at the same location where Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek lifted their first US Open trophies just months earlier.

“Overall, competitiveness was a highlight,” McIntyre said. “I think the athletes started the matches just being happy to play. As they got accustomed to the locale, I noticed that the level started to rise. There were some astonishing points that had the players and crowd going wild. Some great bang-bang reaction shots at the net.

Once they started to see how well they were performing under pressure, the athletes got much more serious about the competitive side.”

Indeed, the matches became so competitive that they even drew some outside spectators.

“There were two guys on a nearby court playing in some sort of corporate league match,” McIntyre recalled. “Our players were pretty loud. And when I saw these two guys stop playing and walk to our court, I thought they were

coming over to complain. But they just started to watch.

And they stayed a long time before they went back to their own court to continue their match. They were all smiles.”

It’s the same reaction McIntyre has experienced each time he has run the event—and why he hopes to continue to organize it for many years to come.

“One word: joy,” he said. “These athletes, through no fault of their own, are born with such disadvantages. The opportunity to play a sport, practice and then get to a tournament like this provides them with unmitigated, raw joy. And such joy is infectious.”

For Mingo—who was named USTA Eastern’s Clinician of the Year earlier in March—participating in such a joyful event ultimately has given him the confidence to expand his coaching efforts to also include adaptive students.

“I was always nervous about how adaptive players might receive my coaching,” he said. “After partnering up with Nick, it’s made me comfortable and ready to start working with the adaptive community. I want to encourage every coach to step into this space.”

USTA Eastern hosts several adaptive training sessions for coaches throughout the year. Interested in attending? Email David Williams at williams@eastern.usta.com.

USTA Eastern Offers Corporate Leagues

STA Eastern is developing a Corporate League program. Interested in starting a league at your place of employment, or know a business or organization

U

that might be interested in offering tennis to its employees?

Contact Monica LaMura at lamura@eastern.usta.com so we can get the (tennis) ball rolling.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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USTA Eastern Metro Region Columbia University Wins USTA Eastern’s Tennis On Campus Sectionals

or the first time since 2017, a Columbia University team (pictured) lifted the championship trophy at USTA Eastern’s Tennis on Campus (TOC) Sectional Championships, held September 17 on the tennis courts at SUNY Cortland in Cortland, N.Y. Columbia now automatically advances to the National TOC tournament, which will be held in spring 2023 in Surprise, Arizona.

Runner-up Fordham—another NYC-based contingent—also earned a spot at Nationals due to their success at the event.

“It felt great [to win],” Columbia captain Alexander Nielsen said after the victory. “We were all really happy. In a tournament with 16 good teams, coming in first place is a significant accomplishment, and we all felt very satisfied.”

Nielsen noted that the Columbia squad is composed of a number of former top junior athletes, and that receiving the opportunity to compete against quality clubs from across the area really motivated all of them to bring out their best tennis on the day.

“I caught one point where [my teammate] Ava moved the opponent around the court, stepped in with a forehand approach cross-court, and finished the point with a clean inside-out forehand swinging volley,” he said. “I was very impressed that she could play like that after so much time away from competitive tennis!”

Fordham produced the biggest upset of the day, taking out top seed Cornell in the semifinals to score the club's bestever finish at the event. Cornell had claimed the last two USTA Eastern TOC Sectional titles in a row and 13 of the last 15, dating back to 2005. Fordham captain Emily Pallaki said their success ultimately came down to teamwork.

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“We were constantly pumping each other up during matches,” she said. “Every game counts [for TOC scoring], which truly enforces the team aspect. So working together and keeping each other positive played an essential role in our second place finish.”

And while Pallaki noted that advancing to the final over such a high-caliber opponent as Cornell was without a doubt a major highlight of the tournament, she was most excited about finally getting the chance to travel to and compete at the National Championship in Surprise.

“I started playing on my club team freshman year [which] was the first time Fordham Club Tennis qualified for Nationals,” she said. “I remember being on that team and thrilled that we had qualified and subsequently disappointed when everything was canceled due to the pandemic. Now I am president of the club and a senior, and once again, we have qualified.”

Nielsen, too, had the same experience as a freshman on the Columbia club team in 2019. He echoed Pallaki’s sentiments and was also looking forward to sharing another fun, challenging experience with the friends he’s made over the years through club tennis.

“When I first came to Columbia, I was initially hoping to play on the varsity team because I wanted to keep taking tennis very seriously,” he said. “When I didn't get on the team, the next step was to join club tennis. Club tennis offers something for everyone, because you can decide how serious and committed you want to be, and the environment is always social and laid back. But I'm very happy to be able to compete at Sectionals and now Nationals, because it offers a huge challenge that allows me to tap into my competitive side.”

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

adult league

wrap-up

By Christopher Dong

The Metro (New York City) Regional Champions: l 40 & Over 4.0 Women: Fredrica Ford/Debra Bricker Currently, the Fall 2022 leagues that are finishing up are. Be sure to read the January/February 2023 edition of this magazine to see the results: l Introductory Leagues l Tri-Level 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 l Mixed Doubles (Manhattan)

The 40 & Over 4.0 Women champion team captained by Fredrica Ford/Debra Bricker

Leagues coming up in the Winter 2023 season are: l Tri-Level 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 l 40 & Over l 40 & Over Mixed Doubles l Mixed Doubles (Queens)

t has been another successful Adult League season in the USTA Eastern Metro Region, which sets us up for an exciting year in 2023.

Below are the leagues that have finished up recently, are currently being played, and ones that will begin in the winter of 2023.

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

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

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The Top Ten Tennis Tips of All-Time Part Six:

The Problem of Guilt in Sports ven though it’s rarely talked about, guilt is one of these hidden emotions that influences many athletes, whether they are amateurs or pros. Guilt is felt when a tennis player pities are weaker opponent, or when a player fails to win a match and chastises themselves with self-ridicule. If a

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player is guilty about making a mistake, they will get angry, ruminate, get distracted, feel deflated and be unable to get beyond their mistake. This is how guilt becomes self-punishment.

Sometimes winning will make an athlete feel separate from their past identity or their family and this can

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

By Dr. Tom Ferraro

produce enough guilt to produce self-sabotage.

Most pros must learn how to handle guilt since they have no choice but to say “no” to the endless requests demanded of them from fans who want autographs, media who want interviews or endorsers who want time with them. And if the pro does not master the guilt of saying “no”, they will soon be saying yes to everyone and quickly burnout by overextending themselves.

There is little mention of the word guilt in standard sport psychology texts, since almost all of those authors abhor Freud, who was the first to talk seriously about guilt and how it impacts most people.

Guilt is a complex moral emotion and is connected to many other emotions and is seated in an unconscious part of the mind referred to as our superego. When we feel we have compromised our standard of conduct, this produces shame, anxiety, anger, and the need for punishment. Examples of

guilt are seen when a talented player tends to lose to weaker opponents. This often occurs because the more talented player unconsciously pities the weaker player and feels shame and remorse if they were to beat them.

I have collaborated with boxers who have extreme guilt about hurting their opponents in the ring and when we remove this inhibiting guilt they often result in TKO’s and first round knockout wins.

Guilt is a necessary emotion for humans since it allows us to control our aggressive and our sexual impulses which insures a stable society. We learn to experience guilt through parents, teachers, religious and governmental institutions. Without guilt, civilization would quickly fall into chaos. But too much guilt surely produces problems on the tennis court since it inhibits our aggression and our killer instinct.

The way I work with tennis players to remove self-defeating guilt is first by discussing these dynamics which are unconscious. When we make it conscious, we have a chance of altering it to make it more reasonable which allows the player to contact their power and will to win without any conflict.

Guilt is often the player’s most difficult enemy largely because it is

invisible. A tennis amateur or professional who wants to achieve world class status must master the unconscious tendency to feel guilty when winning or making mistakes.

This is one of the secret ingredients of the greats in tennis. And when guilt is removed one of the pleasant consequences is that they enjoy their matches much more and they win more as well.

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.

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Coaching the Whole Human Athlete

From Hot Head to Hero

By Rob Polishook very year I receive numerous calls from college freshmen who seemingly out of the blue have lost their feel, instincts and confidence. Their mental game used to be reliable but now they are experiencing anxiousness, anger and an unstable attitude playing for their new team. They can’t believe what they are experiencing: some describe it as becoming mechanical and tight. Others describe it as overthinking and over trying.

After listening to their experiences, I usually ask them, “what has changed?” and, “when was the last time you had that feel of playing loose, relaxed and with ease?”

Then I’ll dig a bit further and ask “what was happening during the last time they were playing relaxed both on and off the court?”

In the case of one of my players, we’ll call them “Ari”, he told me that he was coming off a great summer of training and was really looking forward to his upcoming freshman year at college. He was eager to play in a new environment and crack the lineup as a freshman. He also shared with me how his support system on the court was rock-solid and off the court, he felt very connected to friends that always went out together. He also shared how his tournament results were more about the process and focusing on little goals. His youth coaches not only knew about his tennis game, but they knew what motivated him, and what drove him to grind and never give up.

Then he shared what he was experiencing currently, as a new college freshman in the fall season.

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He said, “I’m constantly worried about how I’m playing, what a missed shot means for my position on the team, what the coach thinks of me, and whether I’m doing what the coach wants.” He mentioned that his ankle is a bit sore but doesn’t want to say anything to his coach or teammates for fear of being seen as weak. Further, he said, “practice and challenge matches feel all about the outcome.

If I win, I’m happy, if I lose, I’m depressed. I’ve lost my balance.”

Lastly, he shared, “off the court, I don’t have non-tennis friends that I can decompress with, my girlfriends at another school and classes are way more challenging than I thought.”

Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Why is this important from a coach’s perspective? Simply put, it can help put the new recruit at ease.

When the coach has the best interests of their players in mind (as a person, not just an athlete) then the relationship will not be all about the results. If the coach doesn’t, then the relationship will be unstable, unpredictable and have no foundation of belief, trust and support.

It’s imperative for the coach to recognize that the athlete they recruited is the same kid they spoke to, saw play, and tracked their results. The only changes, and they are huge, are the new stakes, new teammates, and new coaches. Add to this the new environment, school challenges, new friends, living alone and there is a lot going on below

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

the surface in the mind of this player.

This article will discuss three ways in which coaches, in this specific instance, college coaches, can support to their players during a challenging transition: not just as a tennis player but as whole human beings.

Connection: This may sound so basic, in fact because it is, it’s often overlooked. Val Kondos, the infamous UCLA gymnastics coach, shared in her TED talk how she thought she could connect to her kids through knowledge of the sport, until they asked for a team meeting to tell her that she didn’t “get them.” Certainly, this is every coach’s nightmare.

So, how can you create connections? A great place to start is discussing with your individual players exactly what motivates them?

That intrinsic reason of “why” they play the game that has nothing to do with winning and losing. I call this their Big Y (see chapter 2 of Tennis Inside the Zone). Often times, players don’t even know their Big Y. They allow their wins and losses to dictate their mood and daily activities. I have had clients tell me their Big Y is: love the competition, love the problemsolving, love the fitness, and for others it is the camaraderie. A solid Big Y should have nothing to do with the outcome, but solely the process. A player’s Big Y will remain constant, despite the instability of wins or a tough loss. Discussing a Big Y allows a coach to connect with their players and will help them remember why they are playing the game, beyond the outcomes.

Understand: So often we label people like jars, and more often, do

the same for athletes! It’s so important to know that tennis isn’t who the player is, but rather what they do. Often times, the players themselves lose sight of this! When a coach understands and reminds their players about this their focus is on more than tennis but on caring, developing and empowering the whole human athlete: person first. It encourages the player and the coach to not only recognize a player’s talent, technique and skills but equally uncover their intangible values, attributes and characteristics (V.A.C’s) that they bring to life both on and off the court. V.A.C’s don’t make someone better or worse than others, but rather make them who they are. These intangible things are prevalent in a player’s performance.

Think Rafa and his heart, energy and spirit. Similarly, I would also encourage any players to reflect on how they could bring their heart, energy and spirit to competition.

Balance: Just because something is hard to explain, doesn’t mean it is less important. In fact, in the instance of staying balanced regarding one’s mental health, wellbeing, and resiliency both on and off the court, I would say it’s of paramount importance. As coaches it’s imperative to recognize players (especially freshman) are balancing

many off and on court issues. Off court it may be living alone for first time, new academic requirements, new friends and relationships, and family. On court it may be working with a new coach, navigating new tennis friendships, being part of a team, and playing the game style which helped them gain the coaches attention. Add all these elements together and there is a lot for the freshman to balance. Key for the coach is to support their players so they can help them navigate these new demands. Equally, for the players to remember what got them there in the first place, that is focusing on what they can control, focusing on what’s important now, bringing their personal talents to the court and playing their game.

In summary, tennis doesn’t define who a person is, tennis is what they

do. Apolo Ohno, the famous Olympic speed skater in his recent book Hard Pivot said “success and failures come and go and they never define who you are.

Tennis players are whole human athletes: person first. They are not only bringing tennis talent but also their personal talents. It’s key for a coach to connect to their players by identifying their Big Y for playing. Understanding them and encouraging them to bring their values, attributes and characteristics to competition.

Lastly, helping them to find balance both on and off the court.

Not only will this strategy contribute to their mental wellbeing but also as a natural consequence it will help motivate them to bring their best self to challenges both on and off the court.

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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2022 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion T

he local tennis community boasts some of the top coaches in the world, and with this wealth of talent available, New York Tennis Magazine took the opportunity to pick the brains of some of these coaches. These coaches share their thoughts on a wide variety of tennis topics and issues, ranging from junior tennis to the professional game.

Meet the participants …

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.

Vinicius Carmo is the Director of Tennis at the Ross School Tennis Academy. A former standout player from Brazil, Carmo attended the University of Tennessee on a full tennis scholarship, before moving on to direct several prestigous tennis programs in the Hamptons before going to RSTA. Carmo has expanded the program to include events, competitive training techniques and more, using his NCAA experience and extensive connections to help RSTA graduates in the next stage of their tennis careers.

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Ion Efrim is the Senior Assistant Director, Camp Director, On-Site Tournament Director for Sportime Randall’s Island and the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA). Originally from Romania, Efrom was a top-ranked junior in his home country, as well as the European Champion in the Boys’ 14s Division. As a senior at Alabama State University, he was named Player of the Year and MVP of the SWAC Conference Tournament, as well as Student-Athlete of the Year at ASU. Ion spent three summers at the SPORTIME/JMTA during college, before joining the team full-time as a tennis coach and the site's Tournament Director in 2020.

Dale Evans is the Director of Tennis Operations at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Originally from Oakland, CA, he is a two-time tennis industry national award winner and two-time national coaching champion who has spoken at several conferences and USPTA World Conferences. After playing collegiate tennis at Jackson State University (MS), he has spent an extensive amount of time coaching players and leading high-performing teams throughout the tennis industry. He holds a B.S. in Management and M.S. in Sports Management and certifications from

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USPTA, PTR, Academia De SanchezCasal, and IPTPA. Ed Krass coached the Harvard Women’s Tennis Team to four consecutive Ivy League titles from 1986-1990.

Ed is the founder and director of the Annual College Tennis ExposureCamps, which are taught exclusively by all head college coaches for high school-aged players (15-18). Ed is also the founder of One-On-One Doubles tournaments, which have been played at USTA, ATP, ITA and USPTA national events.

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 inManchester, VT, where players can live and train the Spanish Way fulltime or short-term.

2022 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion Ognen Nikolovski is the general manager of CourtSense and director of tennis at Bogota Racquet Club. He is a former top junior from Yugoslavia who went on to play college tennis at Rollins College where he became an all-American. He went on to become a world-ranked singles and doubles player on the ATP Tour and was a captain of the Macedonia Davis Cup team. He joined CourtSense in 2008 where his passion and experience has become instrumental in developing the program.

Shenay Perry is the Associate Director of High Performance and Adult Programming at The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx, N.Y.. Perry won nine singles and seven doubles titles on the ITF tour, and reached a career-high ranking of 40th in the world in singles.

Conrad Singh is the Chief Operating Officer of Tennis & Director of Coaching at Centercourt Club & Sports. He has held Head Coach and Director positions in Australia, England, Japan and China, and has been involved in professional tennis player development for well over two decades. Singh came to Centercourt from Shanghai, China, where he helped to develop a top highperformance player program, which saw more than 200 athletes train under his system.

The roundtable ...

How do you find the right balance between training and rest/recovery for junior tennis players?

Carmo: I think every player is different and the coach needs to understand how much rest/recovery between training is needed for each player on an individual basis. Some players play with less intensity and still do very well. These players can go for more hours and get less recovery time between sessions. Other players are very physical and need more time to recover. We also have to consider the mental part of the recovery during competition; some players can play several matches in a row and enjoy the competition. Other players will

have a lot of stress and mental fatigue after a competition and need more time for recovery.

Nikolovski: The best method for this is to keep good track of the heart rate of the player before, during and after every practice, and based upon that, plan the practice load and intensity of the players. In the past this was not as easy, however with the help of today’s technology where the players can easily wear accurate heart rate monitors during their practices, and the coaches having easy live access to it, this is much easier. Obviously, it is very important that the coach has a good understanding of the ability, the capacity, and the work load that each

player can handle at certain stages of their maturation process.

Understanding that each player is different is also very important, as some players need more recovery time than others, and also some players need to spend more time on the court than others.

Mental health is an important topic that has been brought to the forefront of athletics recently. How often and how do you engage your players on their mental well-being, both on and off the court?

Bloom: If I notice that the kid is stressed out or nervous, I’ll initiate a conversation and ask what’s on their

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2022 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion mind, what’s bothering them, etc.

Many times it can be pressure that they put on themselves (in school or on the tennis court), and my goal is to defuse the pressure and try to get the player to focus on the positives and on relaxing, enjoying the journey. In the pursuit of winning, they sometimes forget that it’s a game and that it’s supposed to be fun. As a coach I try to give them that perspective. If I feel that the kid is in a bad place I’ll talk to the parents. In general my job as a coach is also to mentor the students on the mental side but when necessary I’ll refer them to an expert mental coach that I know can help them. I work with two mental coaches and I find it very helpful to work with an expert who focuses on the mental side of the game.

Carmo: It is extremely important to engage in their mental well-being both on and off the court. Coaches need to listen and understand each player individually. The coach needs to understand what is going on with their players to help them perform better.

Understanding and dealing with their well-being is as important as tennis practice on the court or doing fitness every day. Coaches must take time on and off the court daily to talk to their players and support them.

Lewit: Mental health is often unfortunately ignored by elite coaches. Rather, the goal is winning and results only. When I’m in a longterm coaching relationship, I build up a rapport and trust with the student and that connection can open up doors to talk about the player’s personal feelings and mental health.

It’s important for coaches to keep the doors of communication open with other coaches, trainers, and especially 34

parents of junior players too. Parents are often shut out of the team by coaches who mistakenly believe the parents are the problem. I see parents differently. I see them as a valuable resource and I regularly engage them to learn about my player’s well-being off the court.

Perry: I believe it is important to speak with young players as often as possible about the upkeep of their mental health. Exposing them to awareness of thoughts and feelings helps keep them accountable for learning how to manage expectations and goals. It also provides them mental clarity on how to solve problems better.

Gamesmanship and cheating are always controversial topics at the junior level. How do we begin to try and eliminate those sorts of things from the game?

Bloom: The cheating and gamesmanship in tennis is a big problem, and as a coach I always tell them to expect to be cheated and not to let it frustrate them. I never tell them to cheat back, just to stand up for their rights. For example, if they feel that the opponent cheated they should go to the ref and tell them that they don’t trust the calls and demand that someone stands on the court to supervise, the cheaters need to know that they’re watched. Another solution is not to hit too close to the lines so they can’t cheat (although not too practical). The bad line calling frustrates me as a coach and at the end when you play a junior match you just have to take into consideration that you will get cheated two or three times per match at least, it doesn’t mean that you can’t win, you just have

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to win decisively and get through the cheaters and into the final rounds.

Usually in the final rounds there’s more supervision and less bad calls.

Evans: The key to eliminating gamesmanship and cheating is the pro-activity of coaches. As tennis industry leaders, coaches must take responsibility in players’ pursuit of realistic performance goals, players preparation for adverse on-court situations, and cultivation of a cohesive player-parent-coach relationship. Communicating realistic performance goals to players and parents will emphasize that not winning every match is part of developing as a player. With the proper win- to-loss ratio, players should look at losses as learning opportunities, therefore diminishing the pressure to cheat.

Krass: The temptation to cheat is always going to be there for players in tournaments, but event officials can play a role in preventing this. Many College matches, especially at the Division I Level, have a ref or umpire on every court. I recommend we start paying extra for referees and charge more to play; I bet most parents would buy into this!

Nikolovski: Unfortunately, this will always be an issue, unless the line calling technology that is currently being used at the pro level, becomes available at all tournaments. With the rate that technology is moving forward, this might not be in the so distant future. In the meantime, we as coaches and parents have to keep emphasizing to our players of how important fair-play is, and help the juniors understand that integrity is one of the most important character traits

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Coaches Roundtable Discussion that any individual can have.

Introducing and elevating “Sportsmanship Awards” is another way to deal with it, to the point where the players that receive these awards at tournaments actually are celebrated and maybe even get extra bonus points that count toward their ranking, or can easily be viewed once somebody is able to pull up the players ranking profile. I am sure if a college coach has to make a choice between two players of similar level, where on their record one player has three Sportsmanship Awards during their playing career, and the other player none, it would be a pretty easy choice of which player would be picked.

Perry: Making sure the player understands process vs outcome at a very young age. Also, helping the parent/coach encourage these behaviors.

What is missing from the development of American tennis on the professional stage?

Bloom: The million dollar question! I think that there are a few issues that hurt US juniors coming up, the main one is that in Europe and South America the kids grow up mainly on red clay which helps to raise more fit and more tactically aware players.

The slow soft surface allows you to push the kids without getting injured and the longer rallies create players that have better endurance, better court sense and better consistency from the baseline which is the key to modern tennis. Another aspect that we are behind in is coaching in the younger ages, I feel that in the US there’s a lack of high performance coaches that are developing young talents from a very young age , we

now know that it is crucial to start specializing in tennis at a very young age in order to have a chance to do well as an adult.

top of the Men's and Women's game.

We sure will miss Roger and Serena, but it is an exciting time of tennis for sure.

Efrim: I think one of the challenges is that, these days, the best athletes in the United States often choose to play other sports, such as football, basketball and baseball, instead of tennis. In comparison, in most European countries, the best athletes are far more inclined to choose tennis.

This is evidenced by the fact that the last two decades or so have been dominated by European tennis players, other than Serena and Venus Williams of course. Tennis is currently experiencing a bit of a boom in the United States, so hopefully that results in more of our best athletes choosing tennis first!

Lewit: Absolutely. It’s an exciting time to be a tennis fan with many new next gen players rising up the rankings and hitting the big stage. I just recently came back from a study trip in Spain where I spent a week at Carlos Alcaraz’s training home and observed his practices up close. I must say that he is the real deal, with great talent and also charisma that is a positive for the game. On the women’s side of the game, Swiatek has been on an amazing run and is having a breakout year. One of the lesser known stories in women’s tennis is the remarkable depth developing in the pro game.

We saw Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek win U.S. Opens, and the retirements of Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

Is tennis entering a new era?

Evans: Simply stated, yes. Tennis is entering what I anticipate being known as the post-golden era. With four elite champions amassing 20 or more Grand Slams each, this era will most likely be regarded as a transitional era. This seems to be similar to the transition from the golden era of American Men’s tennis in the early 2000s which gave way to a few years of parody. Nowhere has that parody been on display more than here in New York at the National Tennis Center with the last four US Open Men’s and Women’s champions being four different players.

Krass: We are entering into a new era of Tennis and I think we will see more true all court players competing at the

Singh: Absolutely, an era where movement, stamina, all-court tennis skills are essential and players' ability to sustain high intensity goes beyond any levels I have seen in my 30 years developing players. Physical training combined with Mental Toughness Training and skills are more important than ever before in my mind.

There has been a surge in popularity of other racquet sports in recent years. Can this be beneficial to tennis?

Why or why not?

Efrim: I think it can be beneficial to tennis, and that these other racquet sports can coexist and thrive along with tennis. There is no racquet sport that is as complex, engaging and rewarding as tennis, both physically and psychologically. So, while some tennis players will try other racquet sports, I believe that they will do so in addition to tennis, not instead of tennis. If anything, I think tennis will

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2022 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion benefit from additional interest in racquet sports generally.

Evans: It is too soon to draw any correlations between the many upand-coming racquet sports and their impact on tennis. The real question we should ask is how these sports will impact the real estate footprint of tennis courts. If they create new spaces, then I can see these sports as feeders into tennis. If they repurpose tennis courts, then I can see these sports as bleeders. With tennis’ twoyear growth rate of 27 percent, we are on the right track and look forward to any newcomers helping us increase tennis participation.

Krass: Other Racquet Sports are all an offshoot of tennis and ultimately help to promote our great game. I know many are fearful about the rise in pickleball popularity, but tennis needs a rising star, in racquet sports, to truly evolve into a more exciting game for all!

Singh: Generally speaking, one racquet sport often feeds another, so I do think that the benefits for tennis are there if we can find ways to continue to be inclusive and to open opportunities for people to find the sport. It's also interesting that the surge in other racquet sports is primarily Older Populations that are coming back to the court - and that the social side of the game is driving much of the return. I certainly hope we can leverage off this post-COVID push back to racquet sports!

What fundamental beliefs about tennis technique have you questioned or changed over time?

Efrim: I have changed my views on 36

the forehand follow-through, as well as the stance used for the forehand.

Back in the day, players were taught to follow-through and catch the racquet out in front with their nondominant hand, regardless of the shot they were hitting. They were also taught to hit from a closed stance most of the time. Now, follow-through technique varies based on the specific shot that a player is trying to make.

For example, hitting a short angle shot would in most cases warrant a different follow-through than hitting the ball high and heavy. Also, players now use a semi-open or open stances when appropriate, rather than a closed stance.

Evans: My fundamental technical beliefs have remained relatively the same, with slight modifications as we evolve in sports science. Tactically, however, that is a different story in two key areas: use of the drop shot and exploitation of the court’s middle third in singles.

After traveling with many players nationally, I firmly believe the drop shot should be layered into tactics early in matches to test an opponents’ vertical mobility and set his/her baseline positioning. This will create more passing lanes in the outer thirds of the court, especially for younger competitive juniors. For exploiting the middle third, the current generation has yet to embrace moving forward willingly so using deep “point builders” can be a great tactic.

Lewit: One of the technical concepts that I have challenged and changed is that players should stay on the ground when learning groundstrokes and the serve. I have developed a method for teaching the groundstrokes and serve with controlled jumping that is much

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more effective than traditional methods of teaching grounded technique. The game of tennis has become dramatically more airborne over the past few decades. I’m surprised to see so many coaches teaching some old school techniques—such as always staying on the ground—that have clearly become outdated.

Nikolovski: “Correct grips” has been a term that I have always struggled with. At the beginning of my coaching career, I always thought that players must have specific grips in order to perform a good stroke, however over time I have realized that “correct grips” is a pretty strong term, and that in reality there is not one specific set grip for each stroke, but more like the grip has to be within certain parameters.

Perry: In my opinion, fundamentals will always be necessary for the grassroots. There can be slight alterations as the player develops into their own style, but fundamentals of the game don’t change.

How do you teach students to solve problems?

Bloom: By playing a lot of points and asking them many questions, during the point playing part of the session it is important to make sure they know what they did wrong, why they lost certain points, what they did wrong.

First I let them come up with the solution on their own, I’ll ask them what they would do differently if they could play the point again and if they don’t get it I’ll tell them.

Krass: We need to, as coaches, ask our students more questions about

2022 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion where and when they experience problems. We need to have them come up with the solution with some subtle leadership involved!

Singh: You can not buy experience so for me playing more practice sets, playing more matches that don't have anything riding on them allows players to experiment and to try things. Solving Problems is directly correlated to needing to solve them and being creative - which requires more time on playing sets and matches in a practice environment where you must draw on previous experiences.

How do you feel about students who question you?

Carmo: I feel that it is valid as long as the players respect the coaches and they have a valid point. Coaches are also learning every day and some methods work differently with each player. Players can share their ideas and ask why the coach is doing a specific kind of training and what is the purpose of the training. Players also need to trust that the coach knows what he or she is doing.

Questioning is ok as long as there is an understanding that the coach wants the best for their players and players feels that the coaches want the best for them.

Efrim: I do not take offense at all when students question me about my approach to coaching, in fact I encourage it, especially in the early stages of the player/coach relationship. One, it shows that they are analyzing their tennis games and what they are being asked to do, which bodes well for them since tennis is such a cerebral sport. Two, a coaching relationship needs to be a

collaboration between student and coach, not a one-way street, and you have to encourage dialogue and earn the trust of your students in order to establish a successful one. That can take time, but once trust is established, and the student/coaching relationship is collaborative, the sky is the limit.

Leit: It depends on the situation and tone of the questions. If the student is being blatantly disrespectful than we are going to have a serious problem.

However, if the student has sincere questions and wants to start a dialogue about technique or tactics or anything in his or her game, this type of communication is valuable and should be encouraged by the coach.

It’s wrong when the coach has a huge ego and doesn’t tolerate any doubts or concerns from his or her students. Many elite coaches can fall into this pattern of behavior. I believe that no matter how high your level is as a coach or what you’ve accomplished, you are only as good as your current lesson.

Perry: I always welcome feedback from the players. Their perspective is important on how they are feeling day to day to get an accurate depiction on how to further help them.

Can and should junior players have more than one coach?

Carmo: I think that one coach only should be responsible for the player's strokes and development. It can get tricky when players receive information from different coaches.

There is not one right away to teach tennis. Some coaches achieve the same results using different methods of coaching. I think it is ok to have more than one coach for different things a long as everyone on the team

understands that only one main coach works with the player's strokes and development.

Nikolovski: This is always a difficult conversation as it ultimately depends on the player and the coach(es). In general, having more than one personal coach, or one voice, can only create the issue of too much information and ultimately confuse the player, however certain type of players are able to deal with this, and also if there is good and healthy communication between the coaches that are working with a certain player this can work. The key here is that if there is more than one coach involved with a given player, then the coaches should have the same understanding of what needs to be achieved with the player, and also use similar language with the player. From my experience, the more advanced the player is, the easier it is to involve more coaches, and the less experience and/or the lower level the player is, probably it is best to have only one coach.

Singh: Absolutely, and I feel it is beyond essential that Juniors have more than one coach. The issue lies in the Director of that player’s development being organized, planned and caring enough to bring the team together at one table to meet regularly with the parents and player to bring all findings back to base and build the development plan each three months. Being a coach, not a tennis pro, is then an essential characteristic for that leader of the team and Listening skills with the ego being left at the door are as essential as coaching skills.

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Tactical Thinking for Young Competitive Juniors

By Cinto Casanova

actical thinking is an area that gets often overlooked in junior tennis programs all over the world. There is a tendency among coaches to over train “how to hit the ball” and under train “how to play the game”. Technical and Tactical sides of tennis are both equally important and we have to allow time for both of them in our programs with juniors.

In this article we’ll discuss what are the key tactical ideas young competitive juniors need to work on and how to implement that work practically.

Coaching tactics is about asking questions to our players and letting them think and answer. How to win points in tennis? What are your most effective ways to win points? And your least effective? How does this opponent like to win points?

Questions have to play a big role in our lessons if we want to develop smart players.

When I teach tactics to starting competitive juniors, I like to break down the different ways to win a point and associate them to the key tactics:

T

1. Out Rally To win by opponent’s errors is the most basic and primary of the tactics and still is a very successful tactic in young juniors. As coaches, we have to keep in mind that longer points equal to more development time for our player (physical and technical). It is a 38

fundamental tactic all young players need to understand and practice with purpose.

It’s important to master hitting with depth; limiting the changes of direction and extending the length of the points.

Knowing if the opponent has a weakness in consistency in one of their sides is key to exploit this tactic too.

Exercises to work on it: • On unforced errors, give two points to the opponent.

• Set number of balls before the point can start (for example: 10 balls cross court before playing the point).

• Play points with “safety lines” marked on the court (safety lines are places three feet from the side line, reducing the court and forcing players to play more centered balls).

2. Move the Opponent To win points by forcing opponents’ errors attacking his movement is a fundamental tactic too. They have to understand the court’s geometry and how to create spaces to attack. Players have to develop control of the court targets (angles and depth). Controlling the rally patterns for changing directions is also key.

Exercises to work on it: • Pattern points: points start from a fixed pattern (cross court (CC) to down the line (DL)) • Only one player is allowed to hit down the line (once he/she hits the

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DL, the point opens for both players) • Forced error on the open court counts two points.

• Cross Court Animal: one player can hit both CC or DL, but the other player can hit only CC. 3. Winners Even if being consistent is a very successful tactic in U12; players also need to practice and understand aggressive tennis. They have to develop confidence attacking when they have the chance.

Exercises: • Clean winners, give two points • Shots that are hit from the attack zone are not penalized if they miss (allowing players to loosen up from attack position) • Start 5-5 and play to 10 points; unforced error -1, forced error or winner +1.

4. Approach and volley Young juniors have to be able to identify at least to situations where it is suitable to finish the point at the net during play: • Attack the short ball and finish at the net • Charge the net when opponent is in defense (especially off balance with slice) Exercises: • Feeding an attack ball and finish at the net (fixed attack target) • Feeding a defense ball and opponent charges the net

• Open point, but finishing the point with both feet inside the service box gives you two points.

• Sneak in volley (after a heavy spin on opponent’s weak side) • Serve and volley

5. Drop Shot + Passing Shot / Lob To win the point by luring opponent to the net and passing by him/her or over him/her. It is a great tactic to mix in when the opponent’s strength is at the baseline. It is important to develop the awareness and intention of moving opponent first before going for the drop shot.

Exercise: • Start the point with a drop shot; opponent starts touching a marker outside of the baseline.

• Start from rally CC; one player is allowed to mix in the drop shot.

Even U12 can be successful at these plays in competition if practiced with the right purpose.

Exercises: • Heavy spin to weak side + sneak in volley (coach feeds and the return has to be controlled defensive lob to the center of the court) • Serve to target + volley (return has to be limited to a target area to facilitate the success of the volley)

6. Other Mixed Plays Juniors also need to understand the concept of changing opponent’s rhythm.

Some plays are good at catching opponent by surprise if mixed properly:

7. Variations Using variations of speed / spin / use more slice / change height can help to force errors or to create opportunities.

Players should not only understand the tactical component of changing gears, but also be able to do it technically.

Exercises: • Rally four Basic balls (B balls) at the center of the court; the fifth is a faster ball (A ball) to a corner to start the point.

• Rally four B balls CC, fifth is a high heavy top spin to start the point.

• Rally four B balls CC, fifth is a slice to start the point.

• Four slice CC then start open point.

To conclude this article, make sure your young juniors have enough tactical work in their programs. Understanding the game of tennis and learning to manipulate the game and its situations has to be as important as learning how to hit the ball.

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

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Hidden Delight lob drifted two feet over my partner's head. I stepped to run behind him, but Michael turned to dash back and get in front of the ball. An errant ball from another match rolled close to our baseline. I said, "Ball on court."

The opponent made their opinion clear—I didn't have the right to call "Ball on court." They said, "The point was over."

Both Michael and I were racing for a return.

"No, the point was not over," I said.

"Your return was still in the air when I called "Ball on court."

"Yeah, I know," the opponent admitted. "But your partner couldn't reach it."

The truth had come out—they believed they had the right to call balls on our side of the court and predict our returns.

Yet on this day, the more they raised their voice, flared nostrils, and grew red in the face, the calmer I felt. I held a hidden delight: I know the rules. I study them as an official, wrote www.iKnowTennis.com, and carry USTA's Friend at Court in my bag.

According to The Code 18, "When

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By Barbara Wyatt

a ball from another court enters the playing area, any player on the court affected may call a let as soon as the player becomes aware of the ball."

I reviewed the key points about this rule. "Was I affected by the rolling ball?" Yes, an errant ball rolled close and distracted me. "Did I call it without unreasonable delay?"

Yes, I called it immediately.

"Could my partner have returned the ball?"

That's never applicable. The rule is about what to do when an errant ball distracts a player. If a ball rolls into the playing area, but doesn't impede the play or distract a player, let the game continue!

On this day, their lob landed in.

Since I called "Ball on court," while the ball was still in play, the point is replayed.

If the ball landed out? No replay, we win the point.

I didn't engage in the opponent's petulant behavior. I returned to the service line, waited for the angry diatribe to stop, then served again.

Michael and I had this opportunity to bond as partners. Privately, he confessed he wasn't sure he could have returned the ball. I said, "You could have returned it, you're that good." He laughed.

We played the rest of the match with compliments like, "good shot" and "great rally," tossed back and forth over the net among all players.

After the match, players and spectators commented that our opponent's reputation was to raise their voice and sputter misinterpretations of one rule, or another. Most players back down to keep the peace.

Michael and I knew the rules, stayed calm and ensured a competitive fun match for all players.

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

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

Racquet Sport

Report presented by

adidas Pickleball

Tom Brady, Lebron James, Kevin Durant and More Invest in Major League Pickleball Franchises he 2022 season in Major League Pickleball (MLP) came to a close earlier this fall as another exciting season in MLP wrapped up in Columbus, Ohio. The final event, MLP Columbus, brought the curtain down on the most successful year to date in the league.

While the play on the courts was exciting enough, as pickleball continues to grow, so does the level of investment pouring into the sport and the MLP in particular.

First, seven-time Super Bowl champion and arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time, Tom Brady, teamed up with four-time major tennis champion Kim Clijsters announced their part of an ownership group for a new MLP expansion team. Brady and Clijsters are part of a group led by Knighthead Capital Management.

“Of course, I'm excited at the investment opportunity," Clijsters said in a statement. "But what excites me the most about becoming an MLP owner is that I get to help shape the future of pickleball, a sport I have come to love, with great people -- who also happen to be some of my best friends. I'm thrilled to help showcase professional pickleball and make an impact on the sport through my experience gained in the top levels of professional tennis.”

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Prior to that, Lebron James announced that he will be an owner of another expansion team alongside his business partner Maverick Carter, as well as NBA players Draymond Green and Kevin Love, former NFL star Drew Brees, and former tennis player James Blake.

Most recently, NBA star Kevin Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman’s company, Thirty Five Ventures (35V), have bought a new expansion team in the league.

“35V is committed to investing in the future of sports and emerging opportunities, and Major League Pickleball is a league we are incredibly excited about,” said Kleiman. “We can’t wait to build this team from the ground up as well as work to elevate the sport and the league to unprecedented heights. As an avid pickleball player and fan, the interest in the sport was a natural fit.”

MLP is now set to have its largest expansion yet as we head into the 2023 season, growing from 12 teams to 16, increasing the amount of

events, and bolstering the player prize money and payouts to more than $2 million.

“Kevin Durant, Rich Kleiman, and 35V are going to be game-changing partners for Major League Pickleball,” said MLP Founder and CEO Steve Kuhn. “They not only bring passion for the game, but also unrivaled expertise to help us to continue to grow. We’re especially excited about their plans to bring pickleball to underserved communities – something they have done with basketball for years.”

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P ICKLEBALL ON LONG ISLAND

P ICKLEBALL ON LONG I

Handelman, Forsythe Win Pickle

Erik Forsythe & Eric Handelman won the Pro Doubles Division to earn the $3,000 championship prize money

Gary & Spencer Heitzler won the Pickleball Open Members Only event

The Mixed Doubles winners, Courtney and Altman

n a beautiful late summer day out in The Hamptons, close to 100 players came out to take part in the Hamptons Pickleball Open at Tennis & Pickleball at The Barn in Westhampton, competing for a $5,000 tournament purse and additional prizes.

The event featured three divisions of play spread out across the day, beginning with a doubles draw for club members of “The Barn”, followed by a 4.0+ Mixed Doubles division in the midday, and concluding with the Pro Doubles division in the afternoon.

The Members Only event kicked off the day and consisted of intense pickleball play on the courts but a fun atmosphere off of it with breakfast and refreshments available to players and music playing in the background.

When it was all said and done, the father-son duo of Gary & Spencer Heitzler captured the title, and each won a Halftime Chiller cooler for their win.

“We tried to keep the ball in play as much as we could, and get better with each match. I think we were able to do that,” said Gary Heitzler. “We wanted to come out here and have a good time against some good competition. It was a really fun event.”Earlier this summer, the brother-sister combination of Courtney & Kevin Kowalsky won the Mixed Doubles title at Long Island Tennis Magazine’s first Hamptons Pickleball Open event in June, and the sibling pairing defended that title, using their chemistry and athleticism to play its best pickleball when it counted most.

“I think the key was both of us staying confident and sticking to our game plan,” said Courtney. “Being brother and sister definitely helps us on the court. We grew up playing a lot of tennis together so we sort of know what the other one is thinking on court during matches, and that has applied to pickleball as well.”

Kevin added: “We kept our heads in it and placed the ball well. That’s how we ended up taking the win against some really tough competition here today, and it’s awesome to be able to win the Halftime Chiller cooler which I plan to use for future tournaments.”

The duo has now won back-to-back Hamptons Pickleball Open Mixed Doubles titles and is looking forward to the next Long

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G ISLAND

P ICKLEBALL ON LONG ISLAND

P ICKLEBALL

leball Open Pro Doubles Division

ey and Kevin Kowalsky, with "The Barn" owner Barry Allen Fitzsimmons & Chris Ouellette were the runners-up at the Hamptons Pickleball Open Island Tennis Magazine pickleball event.

“This is definitely the most fun I have at tournaments. It’s set up so well, there is always music, drinks, good food, and this facility is beautiful. Out here in the Hamptons, you can’t get a better location. It’s been awesome.”As the Mixed Doubles division finished up, the tournament transitioned to the Pro Doubles division which featured some of the best pickleball players in the Northeast. The players in the earlier divisions stayed to watch the pro division and enjoy the event’s festivities which included catered lunch and an open bar.

The fierce competition throughout Tennis & Pickleball at The Barn’s six professional-grade pickleball courts was palpable as $5,000 in prize money, courtesy of the event’s main sponsor Tennis & Pickleball at The Barn, was up for grabs. After pool play and knockout rounds, it came down to the finalists with Eric Handelman & Erik Forsythe squaring off against Allen Fitzsimmons & Chris Ouellette.

The Handelman & Forsythe duo built an early lead to move within just a couple points of the title, but Fitzsimmons & Ouellette did not go quietly. They fought back to make the match much closer and put the pressure

back on Handelman & Forsythe.

“Just gotta close it out,” Forsythe said of the pair’s strategy at that point.

And they did just that, regrouping to halt the comeback from Fitzsimmons & Ouellette to close out the championship.

“We took it one point at a time. They are a really good team, but we knew we were playing well, so we had to just focus in and let it come to us,” said Handelman. “It was a really high-level of competition all day long, and especially when there is a lot of money up for grabs, it ups the stakes and forces everyone to elevate their game.”

Forsythe echoed that sentiment: “The competition was top notch; everyone wanted that money,” he said.

“It was such an awesome event. It ran smoothly, and this place is amazing.

We’re looking forward to the next one.”

As champions, Forsythe & Handelman earned the top prize of $3,000, while runners-up Fitzsimmons & Outlette won $1,500. In the third-place match, Thomas Finale & Frank Sciacca defeated Enrique Catter & Sam Kim to earn $500 in prize money.“We were thrilled to host the Pickleball Open once again. The excitement for the event was real, and the entire day of events was a wonderful success,” said Barry Altman,

Thomas Finale & Frank Sciacca were the third-place finishers in the Pro Doubles Division at the Hamptons Pickleball Open Owner of Tennis & Pickleball at The Barn. “It was great to see two sets of family members win titles, and that is one of the things that makes the sport uniquely fun. We’re excited to host more of these in the future, and thanks to everyone who came out and supported the event.”

"We have been running events for multiple racquet sports for over a decade all around the Metropolitan area, and we just recently entered into the pickleball world, and were thrilled to team up with Barry Altman and Tennis & Pickleball at The Barn," said David Sickmen, Owner of Long Island Tennis Magazine. "When we run events, we like to make sure that in addition to the competitiveness on-court, players and fans can enjoy the fun atmosphere off court. Tournament Director David Radisch did a great job making the event run smoothly, and the catered breakfast, lunch and open bar kept everyone well-fed and well-"hydrated".

The best part is the pickleball world is filled with great people who were a pleasure to get to know, and we would like to especially thank our sponsors Tennis & Pickleball at The Barn, adidas and Halftime Chiller. This was a real team effort all around!”

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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The Split Step in Three Steps

By Steve Kaplan

he split-step is an essential tennis movement that is often misunderstood, poorly-performed and misapplied. With a little knowledge of WHY, WHEN and HOW to perform the split-step, you will move quicker and faster, and have better balance on the tennis court.

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WHY do we need to Split Step?

All movements have three segments: The Start, The Acceleration and The Stop. Acceleration movements can also be in any of four horizontal directions: right, left, forward and backward.

If you know you are moving in

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

only one direction or linear like a sprinter, you will have a narrow base so that you maximize your stride length and turnover. However, if you must prepare to move in any of the four directions or multidirectional, as in tennis, you must have a wide base to maximize stability and versatility.

All starting movements can be made in two vertical directions: downward or upward.

Downward movements in tennis are inefficient because they are slow and ineffective since they must be corrected with an additional upward step. Non-vertical, sideways steps, or "slides", are useful for The Stop, but not efficient or effective for starting. Upward first steps are the quickest and fastest movements and, in order to move up, you must first gain ground force greater than your mass by pushing down. This is Newton's Third Law of Action and Reaction.

The split-step, therefore, is a movement which provides a wide base and a downward push or

"load" into the ground so that the next multi-directional step can be a quick, fast upward-step.

WHEN do we need to split-step?

All movements need ground force as a part of the start. The split-step is nothing more than a loading movement that pushes our body mass into the ground so that the ground pushes up with greater force than our mass which helps us move up. The goal is to time the split-step at the moment when we need to make a movement decision. As tennis movements are multidirectional, the split-step might be thought of as the "decision-step."

HOW do we split-step?

Since the goal of a split-step is to push force into the group for the next transitional movement you must widen and lower your base. This is done first by pushing your knees

outward so that it lines up to your fourth toe, since your base is only as stable as how wide your knees are, not how wide your feet are.

Concurrently, think of driving your quad's upward to your chest without raising the top of your head. The goal is to disconnect your feet from the ground without gaining height. It helps to bend or hinge from your hips and if you are moving forward fast, to push your feet forward and to land on the "balls" or mid-foot and not the toes as is commonly

misunderstood. This is because while a toe landing helps for acceleration movements during a run, a mid-foot landing is a more stable base for stopping and redirecting force.

Remember, the end of one movement is always the beginning of the next movement. The split-step is the best way to transform a linear movement into a multi-directional movement to manage the uncertainty of handling a shot in tennis.

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

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 • Year-round programs for all ages • Summer Tennis and Multi-sport Programs

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

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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How Many Hours a Week Should a College-Bound Junior Play Tennis?

By Gilad Bloom

any of the students I teach ask me how many hours a week they should train in order to reach the college level. The answer is … not that many. It’s the quality and the effort that counts.

Anywhere between three to six times a week is a good start, no more than two hours per day, either in a group or private lesson. If you practice about 10-12 hours per week in total, that would still leave you ample time to work on academics and have a normal childhood.

I’m not a big believer in sending a child from their home environment to an “academy,” playing tennis all day and living in a dorm away from their parents. I believe that collegiate level tennis can be achieved while staying home and attending a regular school.

Having said that, I would also like to add that if you are looking to reach the professional level, I would strongly suggest home schooling as an option and to take a much heavier load of sessions. But to reach the collegiate level, even Division 1, a few things need to happen …

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1. Great practice habits This could be the most important 46

aspect of a tennis player and something that every college coach appreciates. With good practice habits, you don’t have to train that long, and as long as the intensity is there, two hours of practice per day is plenty. Just make sure that you don’t take too many breaks (and if you do, make them short). Also, run down every ball without exception.

I learned that from the top players in the world from my era. They were all animals on the practice court. In my opinion, when you spend five to six hours a day on the court, the level of concentration and quality declines, especially the intensity. It’s better to go all out for two hours and go home.

3. Play another sport (preferably a team sport) This current generation is not at all a “Ball Handling Generation,” unless it’s a video game. Tennis is a one-sided, asymmetrical sport that can cause an imbalance in the body (especially the back). Playing other sports will help balance the body, prevent injuries and improve coordination. Playing a team sport is a nice relief for a tennis player who is used to being on their own all the time. Sure, we all love the individuality of the sport of tennis, but it’s nice to be with the boys/girls out there on the field and develop the ability to win and lose as a team.

2. An extensive fitness program This program should include one to two hours per week with a trainer, and another two or three times when you exercise on your own.

Physical fitness was always an important aspect of the game, but in the past, you could get away with not being fit. Today, everyone is in shape … it’s a must. Proper stretching is essential as are regular visits to the trainer for physical sessions in order to stay injury-free.

4. Find an outside hobby A musical instrument as an outside interest off the court is highly recommended. We all know how hard and stressful the game of tennis can be at the competitive level. A player needs something to fall back on when things are hard— a release, an escape, something that relaxes them. A musical instrument can be carried around to tournaments, but so can books, chess, movies, art or anything. The point is, there are things out there other than tennis. This can be very

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

useful at a time when injuries are a part of the game.

5. Play tournaments regularly on weekends After the age of 12, I’d recommend at least two tournaments per month. Weekend tournaments are essential to the development of the junior player, there is no substitute to a real USTA match. Competition is the breeding ground for improvement and staying sharp for matches throughout your junior years will bring you to college with ample experience in tight matches.

night’s sleep, most kids are more coachable and are easier to push to the limit. Just make sure they play, mostly on clay, five to six hours each day.

7. Take breaks Make sure that kids take two or three breaks per year, at least one week at a time. It is very important to get away from the game from time to time, in order to recharge and plan the next step or to just forget about it all and disconnect.

Breaks are also vital in the sense they can also prevent future burnout.

6. Step it up during the summer and when on vacations When off from school, kids should take advantage and double their sessions to twice a day. This is the time to push it a bit. Without the burden of school and with a good

8. Combine private lessons with group sessions Having one-on-one lessons is irreplaceable. Some parents sign their kids up only for group lessons and that is a mistake.

Specific corrections can only be given effectively in private lessons.

The instructions in a group setting are a follow up to what happens in a private lesson. A combination is ideal as group lessons are usually more fun and allow kids to interact and compete. Keep the lessons fun and enjoy the journey, even if it’s filled with hard work.

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.

Kids get on the courts this fall!

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 40 Love Lifestyle

39 Plandome Rd. • Manhasset, NY 11030 •(516) 570-0781 Instagram: @40LoveLifestyle Tennis inspired fine jewelry locally designed in New York by female Designer and tennis mom, the Yasmine Collection New York is the perfect gift for the tennis lover in your life this holday season.

Order now in time for the holidays!

Available now, these one of a kind Diamond Tennis racquet & ball necklaces in 14K yellow or rose gold, featuring pink sapphires and 0.25 carats of diamonds.

Necklaces are 17” with additional loops for wearing at adjustable lengths.

Custom orders available by request!

Come stop by 40 Love Lifestyle to learn more about our tennis-inspired jewelry and find the ideal gift. 40 Love features an array of tennis, pickleball, racquet ball and golf apparel, accessories, bags and more, including niche items that will help you style up your game.

Visit 40LoveLifestyle.com to see more!

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE adidas Pickleball info@allracquetsports.com A Racket Tailored to Your Needs The new ESSNOVA CARBON CTRL HD will give a new dimension to your game. The 3K CARBON composition alongside the POLYPROPYLENE HONEYCOMB CORE will give you the power you demand. Its CTRL format will endow absolute precision that will make you dominate the game at will.

Power Its 3K CARBON composition and Hi-Density POLYPROPYLENE HONEYCOMB Core provides excellent power.

Comfort Its CTRL format and the materials used provide excellent comfort.

Materials EssnovaCarbonCtrlHd2021_PB1A2Y12_Front.jpg Frame: Carbon Reinforcement Surface: Carbon 3K Core: High Density Polypropylene Honeycomb Specifications Dimensions: 16 x 8” Weight: 7.7-8.2 oz Thickness: 14.28 mm Sweet Spot: Center Grip Size: 4 1/8 Grip Length: 4 3/4

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

allracquetsports.com

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Halftime Chiller

info@halftimechiller.com • Instagram: @Halftime_Thiller Have you been searching for the perfect cooler that not only holds and keeps your drinks cold, but also doubles a storage unit? Halftime Chiller has you covered.

The innovative 4-in-1 design allows it to function as a cooler, seat, and dual portable storage unit. Features include: Pressure lock system • Fill the bottom half with ice, drinks & snacks • Holds 24 bottles and cans • Stays cold for hours No chairs? No problem • Standard stool height • Comfortable padded, sturdy seat • Telescoping handle makes it light and easy to pull • Imprinted wood grain design for visual appeal Hidden compartment under the lid • Keeps personal belongings secure and easily accessible • Removable tray Mesh back pocket for extra storage space • Perfect for clothing, towels, equipment, books, games, supplies, etc.

• Two halves stack inside one another to save space when being stored The Halftime Chiller is the multi-function rolling cooler you need for all of your tailgating, picnic and outdoor activities.

Halftime Chiller comes in a variety of styles, sizes and colors.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE inPhorm NYC

inPhorm, known for its “simple elegance and classic” outfits for tennis and golf, is adding a new plaid “Academy Pattern” to its holiday collection.

We asked the creative director, Saad Hajidin, what inspired his color palette this season?

“Vintage plaid is always popular,” he noted. “Every time we include a print or patterns in our collection, people respond positively. My thought for this Holiday was to elevate our tennis and golf looks with a plaid pattern with colors that are inspired from collegiate sports. I’ve combined Academy Blue with light shades of Bluebell, Silver Grey and White making it look traditional, classic and appropriate for the taste level that inPhorm’s customers have come to expect from us.

“I was very careful to scale the patterns so that each color variation blends and compliments the others tastefully. In addition to the Academy Pattern, we also have Midnight Blue, Vapor and our Classic White — colors that work well on their own or pair with the pattern pieces.” inPhorm’s Holiday 2022 collection is replete with styles that transition from the daytime court and course to the evening’s activities — stylish tennis and golf looks that easily blend in at any occasion.

In the last few months, inPhorm’s team has been engaged in conversations with its customers, gathering reviews of products, fits and functionality. “We like to say that by listening to our customers, we ‘Stay inPhormed,’” Saad says You can learn more about inPhorm by visiting its website, www.inphormnyc.com

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Ode to Tennis by Barbara Wyatt BarbaraWyatt@yahoo.com The Gift of Humor For the holiday stockings, give the gift of humor with the book, Ode to Tennis by Barbara Wyatt, featuring the delightful rhyming poem of a player in a tennis lesson.

It’s the perfect little gift book for tennis players. The illustrated poem highlights a player's joy and frustrations during a tennis lesson, capturing the euphoria and struggles of players who take up the game of tennis later in life.

“I chase the ball in tournaments, I compete in the USTA Yet my strokes leave players laughing, I’m more comical than Tina Fey! Reviews: • “A great work to be ready by anyone who likes the sport of tennis!”

• “It is a feel good book, well-written and illustrated. Made me smile the whole time I was reading it.”

• “A great gift! So much truth in a fun wonderfully illustrated book. Enjoy.”

Ode to Tennis is available on Amazon for $9.95 (paperback) and $2.99 (Kindle).

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Ode to TENNIS

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Sassy Li

lisafuchs559@gmail.com • (516) 286-5211 Discover the perfect tennis bag Sassy Li was founded by Lisa Fuchs, who spent most of her professional business career in sales working with some of the top fashion companies in the world. Through these clients, she developed a real sense of fashion and style. But even more important, was recognizing and appreciating the secret of these organizations was that they were able to make women feel as good as they looked.

The first bags were purchased right here on Long Island by Advantage Tennis in Westbury.

The Sassy Li tennis bags are the perfect gift for the tennis lover in your family this holiday season, including these two in particular: The Sassy Li Royal Blue Bag is a lightweight tennis bag that offers a good amount of space for players on the go. Featuring high-tech features and boasting a fresh perspective on style, this bag is built for durability and premium functionality. You can easily organize your belongings with the backpack, which has room for two racquets, a zipper pocket to store cell phones, two side pockets to keep water bottles or tennis balls, and changeable velcro straps among others.

With ultra-padded adjustable straps and a cool modern look, you’ll be traveling comfortably as well as in style!

Built from the highest-quality materials, the Ultimate White bag is a modern solution for players seeking years of durability, all-day capacity, and keen pocket organization. The bag is well customized to store two tennis racquets or your laptop when not in use on the court. The additional storage compartment includes a zipper pocket to store cell phones, two side pockets to keep water bottles or tennis balls, and changeable velcro straps among others. The SASSY LI ULTIMATE WHITE BAG is made from 100% down quilted polyester that will persevere through years of training and tournament travel.

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SassyLi.com

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Silent Partner Tennis

(800) 662-1809 l SPTennis@on.aibn.com Give the gift of a Silent Partner Tennis Ball Machine this holiday season!

Silent Partner Tennis has been independently owned and operated since 1989. Check us out online at SPTennis.com.

Our ball machines make great holiday gifts. We have a range of portable machines to match any budget with features for beginners and experts alike.

Oscillation with top spin and back spin capability comes standard on all of our machines. Our SMART model machine includes advanced features such as Match Play mode, which simulates playing points in a match, and Select-A-Drill, which allows you to input customised drill sequencies.

Feature-for-feature, we are the best deal around. Plus, shipping from our factory to your front door is free.

We pride ourselves on our customer service, so if you have any questions before or after buying your machine, feel free to give us a call!

Here’s to your best tennis yet. Wishing everybody all the very best of the holiday season and a safe, healthy 2023.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE The Heel Pad

support@rtptennis.com • Instagram: @RTPTennis The RTP Heel Pad XC is no average or ordinary shoe insole. It will change the way you feel on the tennis court and beyond as it softens the shocks absorbed by your heels, ankles and knees while you run, stop, cut and stomp during the rigor of tennis.

Your enjoyment of tennis shouldn’t have negative lingering effects hours and days later. The Heel Pad XC can act as a shock absorber for your feet so that you don’t have to spend more time recovering away from the sport you love.

Created from Sorbothane, the same material used in our ShockSorbs, and one of the most absorbent polymers in the world, the Heel Pad XC doesn’t need to be thick or bulky to be effective.

Just a tenth of an inch thick - about the height of two pennies - the Heel Pad XC’s don’t add significant height, squishiness or bulk to the wearer’s shoes. The astonishingly thin insole is sticky on both sides and is intended to be worn beneath the full footbed insole originally included with your tennis shoes (or your favorite footwear).

Once installed the Heel Pad XC’s are sometimes undetectable, though the same cannot be said about the added comfort and protection to your lower body and joints.

This would make the perfect gift for the tennis player or athlete in your life that battles plantar fasciitis after playing, wears a knee brace to combat knee tension, tendonitis and general soreness.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE The ShockSorb

support@rtptennis.com • Instagram: @RTPTennis The RTP ShockSorb is perhaps the world’s most effective tennis shock absorber. Not just another decorative dampener, The ShockSorb is the only tennis dampener that incorporates Sorbothane, one of the world’s most absorbent materials.

If you have a tennis player in your family or group of friends that wears an arm brace while playing, struggles to avoid tendonitis or suffers from general elbow discomfort as a result of playing tennis, The ShockSorb may allow them more comfort, less pain and more opportunities to play the sport they love.

This Holiday Season, you could gift a loved one the chance to get more out of their time on the tennis court, and ensure they don’t have to spend too much time recovering off the court.

Rigorously refined and play-tested for the best results and design, The ShockSorb has earned the respect of tennis players of all ages and levels. A vibration dampener is a common racquet accessory - but no other product is designed to protect elbows from general discomfort to acute tension and pain quite like the ShockSorb.

Considered an indispensable racquet accessory by its users, The ShockSorb is about the same size as a traditional dampener, sporting a sleek and classic look. Yet it is unlike traditional dampeners in its effectivity of reducing the shock passed from a players racquet to arm. The ShockSorb is also very stable and durable, with a compact design that rarelyever falls out of position or off the racquet during regular hitting.

The ShockSorb comes in two varieties: Classic and Ultrasoft. The classics are available in black and white, and perfectly balance comfort with the feel of the ball. The retained feel yet newfound comfort may even impress players who don’t usually opt for dampeners. The Ultrasoft model is for those looking to achieve maximum comfort and absorption from their dampener, even in colder temperatures. Coming in a variety of colors, there will be one to match your individual style.

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New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE UltraGrips Socks

support@rtptennis.com • Instagram: @RTPTennis The UltraGrip Socks are for the athlete in your life that could use more traction.

Mildly compressive, the UltraGrip socks have a tacky, checkered external surface to unite the sock and the shoe as one, but also internally to grip the foot of the wearer.

The double-sided grip ensures that whether you are accelerating, changing directions or slamming on the brakes, your foot, sock and shoe do it all as one unified unit.

Getting clothes as a gift never felt so good!

This Holiday Season, gift the athlete in your life more traction on the court or field. Not strictly for tennis, the UltraGrip sock grants unprecedented traction without stickiness, residue, unnecessary bulk or discomfort.

The same thickness as most athletic socks, the UltraGrip socks have a slight compression and comfortable fit.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Metro Corporate League Looking Towards 2021 Presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs

Bloomberg Wins Summer 2022 Corporate League Season he Metro Corporate Tennis League presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs is an initiative of the Metrotennis Community Tennis Association (MCTA).

The league is divided into three levels of play, Intermediate (3.0-3.5), Advanced Intermediate (4.0 – 4.5) and Advanced (4.5+). It has also launched our Hi-Five program for teams that are not ready to compete but want to get into the sport while getting a great workout or just need to get the rust off their racquets.

The Fall season will run from October to December, culminating with the Playoffs at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club.

Please welcome new teams: The International WELL Building Institute, J.P. Morgan and Rothschild Co. to the league.

Below are the previous season champions: Intermediate Champions, BNP Paribas • Intermediate Champions, BNP Paribas • Advanced Intermediate, BlackRock • Advanced Division, Bloomberg (Vighnesh)

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Advanced Division, Bloomberg (Vighnesh)

Advanced Intermediate, BlackRock

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

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New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

8 Keys to Hitting the Drop Shot Like Carlos Alcaraz

By Chris Lewit e can all learn how to hit the drop shot better by observing the master of this shot—Carlos Alcaraz—in action. Alcaraz has recently skyrocketed up the rankings to reach #1 in the world and his dropshot has become a consistent and effective weapon that he uses to tire opponents and keep them off balance.

There is a funny drop shot story that I like to tell my students and their parents: I personally love the drop shot and have tried to teach it to many of my students. Over the years, however, I have noticed a lot of pushback from kids and their parents who haven’t believed in the shot and don’t see the value in practicing it. I’ve tried for years to convince juniors and parents to consider the dropshot as a valuable tool—but the resistance has persisted.

Well now—with the rise of Alcaraz—I no longer have to try and convince anybody about the effectiveness of the drop shot; ironically, rather, juniors and parents are frequently seeking me out to help them with the drop shot. Alcaraz has simply made the drop shot cool again, and he has demonstrated the shot’s effectiveness at the highest levels of the game. Alcaraz has single-handedly shifted the perspective on the use of the drop shot and captured the creative minds of tennis players around the world.

Here are eight keys to hitting the drop shot like Alcaraz:

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1. No grip change or imperceptible grip change to maximize disguise I have conferred with Alcaraz’s team at Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy and they believe that one of the reasons that Carlos is so effective with his drop shot, especially on the forehand side, is because he has little to no grip change.

No grip change means the shot is unreadable.

2. Execute the drop shot when

receiving slow to medium balls—rarely on very fast incoming balls Watch carefully and you will see that Carlos typically attempts a drop shot on slow to medium balls rather than fast balls. This improves his control of the shot.

3. Utilize forehand inside out drop shot pattern Alcaraz utilizes an unusual and surprising pattern where he often aims the forehand drop shot inside out. This catches the opponent off guard and is very effective.

4. Develop the surprise forehand inside in drop shot In addition to his go-to inside out pattern, Alcaraz has a good inside in drop shot ready to go if the opponent is handling the inside out favorite.

5. Stay away from the edges of the court Watch the way Alcaraz aims his drop shot with margin, typically away from the sidelines. Sometimes he will be very aggressive and locate the drop shot near the line, but more often than not he aims the ball with safety. That’s a good lesson for everyone. Too many players try to make the drop shot too good and often miss in the alley as a consequence.

6. Use the classic backhand down the line drop shot Alcaraz has an excellent backhand down the line drop shot that he disguises very well. Like Djokovic and other good two handed players, Alcaraz uses maximum disguise and no grip change

with his backhand drop shot. The down the line backhand drop shot is the first pattern I teach players who are learning to experiment with the drop shot. It’s fundamental.

7. Use the drop shot as an approach The drop shot can make a fantastic entry to the net; it is an underrated approach shot. After executing the drop shot, the player can move in to the midcourt or net and play a volley rather than groundstroke on the subsequent ball. A great strategy is to float to the midcourt after the drop shot and look to execute a volley lob over the opponent’s head.

8. Understand the court geometry to optimize the drop shot but sometimes break the rules In general, the best strategy is for the player to use the drop shot when he or she is inside the court. That’s standard practice. But the best drop shot players bend and sometimes break the rules. I have had some top ranked players who occasionally drop shot successfully moving backwards and also on the run wide for example. While it’s riskier, with risk sometimes comes great reward because the opponent will not expect a drop shot in those situations.

Final thoughts It’s such a breath of fresh air to see Alcaraz on the big stage playing creative drop shots. It’s a shot that adds a lot of fun and excitement to a match. I hope these eight keys help you develop your drop shot skill and effectiveness.

Vamos!

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

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

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Out With Legends, In With the New Stars

By Luke Jensen ennis lifers! How ya playing?! I hope you are staying warm on the tennis court. I absolutely love the winter gear options to stay cozy and “cool” during the winter season, especially the long-sleeve shirts and leggings that warm you and your muscles up for your best performance.

Don’t forget to bring your frames in for a tune-up with fresh grips and new stringing to adjust to the winter conditions.

For example, on my over grip I go from Tourna grip that absorbs the sweat during summer humidity to the Wilson Pro that I enjoy during the dry winter months that seems to grip me back when I swing through the ball. When I string my frames for the colder months I go from 53 lbs in the summer where the ball flies faster in warmer conditions, to 50 lbs when the colder weather makes the ball feel heavier. Remember, the looser you go in tension the more power you will have; the higher you go up in tension the more control you will have because the ball will not stay on the string bed that long, where the looser tension is more like a trampoline that pockets the ball and sling shots it over to the other side of the court.

Knowing your equipment and how it works for your style of game is very important. Do you see yourself as a power player, a control player or a combination of the two? Have you tried new strings and see how new technology can improve your game? I am always speaking to players, coaches, stringers and company reps on

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what are the latest innovations that could provide me with a new advantage to my game.

As we get adjusted to a pro game without Serena and Fed competing, we can look at the various things they did extremely well. One thing they did to improve every year was to play test new equipment from racquets, shoes and strings; anything that might improve them for the upcoming season. Usually this happened in the late fall before the initial training period for the Aussie Open. If the GOATS focused on new gear technology then YOU should too!

I’m really bummed out that Serena and Fed are no longer competing, but they have left us with so many extraordinary memories of tennis battles that will be replayed for decades. They inspired so many players to watch and compete in this sport we love.

What I will remember most was Serena and her tough mindset under pressure, and a confidence that carried her to 23 major titles. Her fight would intimidate her opponents and lift her level when she needed it.

Fed brought a style the game had never seen before. John McEnroe said Fed is the most beautiful tennis player that he has ever seen. Fed just had developed so many tools to draw from and used them to such effectiveness time

after time. He always lived with a growth mindset and his game was always improving because of that approach.

Moving forward, the WTA has so much talent beginning with world number one Iga Swiatek and about 50 other players that can win majors. I think Jessica Pegula being the only player in the world in the top 10 in singles and doubles makes her a player to watch. Coco Gauff is about to join that list and is the world number one in doubles. Playing both disciplines improves so many aspects of the anyone’s game.

On the ATP, the new number one Alcaraz is just 19-years-old! I absolutely love his temperament and calmness under pressure. He is a great role model for all young players on being a problem solver when things are not going your way in a match. I also like the army of American competitors that are on the rise: Tiafoe, Korda, Paul, Opelka, Fritz, Cressy, Eubanks and others in the ATP Top 150, and I am excited to see their growth as we head towards 2023.

It’s a bittersweet time to be watching legends reach the end of their careers, but I am so encouraged watching the young talents emerge and come into their own. I can’t wait to see who emerges from the pack and becomes the tour’s dominant force moving forward.

Keep WINNING and going for the lines!

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 • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

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To register, go to LITennisMag.com/ThanksgivingChallenge For more information, contact info@usptennis.com or call 516-409-4444

Eastern Hall of Fame inductee Virginia Wade at a recent U.S. Open final. Photo Credit: Mike Lawrence/USTA

USTA Eastern Welcomes in New Hall o t the 35th annual USTA Eastern Hall of Fame Ceremony, six new members were given the prestigious honor of being named to the Hall of Fame.

The ceremony takes place during the U.S. Open each year, and while it honors those who have made significant contributions to tennis in our Section, it also helps raise money

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for the Junior Tennis Foundation (JTF), with all proceeds including ticket sales benefiting the JTF. The six new members of the USTA Eastern Hall of Fame, and short bios on each of them: Nick Bollettieri is a renowned tennis coach whose influence on the sport over the last 40 years is undeniable and unparalleled. In 1978, the Pelham, N.Y. native established

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2022 • NYTennisMag.com

his own self-titled teaching academy in Bradenton, Fla.—the first tennis “boarding school”— and the facility would go on to produce a wealth of future world No. 1 players and Grand Slam champions. Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Jelena Jankovic, Mary Pierce, Marcelo Ríos, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova and many others developed and refined their games with guidance from Bollettieri.

longtime tennis advocate and visionary. As the national program director for the Arthur Ashe Safe Passage Foundation from the late 1980s to the mid1990s, the New York City native played a central role in introducing the sport to thousands upon thousands of children across the country. To Davis, the position was more than just a job. It was deeply personal work, and something, he says, that he was born to do.

of Fame Class Additionally, several future Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame inductees counted themselves among some of the first students at the academy, including Paul Annacone, Jimmy Arias, Pam Casale and Kathleen Horvath. For his lifetime of service to the sport, Bollettieri was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014.

Robert C. “Bob” Davis is a

Wilbert “Billy” Davis was a Harlem native who would go on to attend Tennessee State University on a tennis scholarship, compete at both the U.S. National Championships and Wimbledon, and serve as a mentor for many of the Black athletes in his orbit, including both Grand Slam champions (and 1988 Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame inductees) Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson.

Astoundingly, he captured 11 American Tennis Association (ATA) national titles over a 33-year period, beginning with the boys’ 16 national junior championship in 1945 (in both singles and doubles) all the way through the Men’s 45 national championship in 1978 (in singles). Over that timeframe, he also collected five men’s singles titles: in 1958, 1959, 1963, 1966 and 1967.

With Bob—who was 14 years his junior—he captured the men’s doubles title in 1962.

Ted Robinson is an acclaimed television broadcaster and commentator. Over the course of his esteemed, four decades-long career, the Queens native has contributed his talents to a wide variety of televised sporting events, including those in professional baseball, basketball and golf, college basketball and football, and 12 (and counting) Olympics. Since 1986, he has served as one of the preeminent

voices in tennis, anchoring coverage of multiple Grand Slams and other tournaments across three different networks, often alongside fellow Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame inductees Mary Carillo and John McEnroe.

Caroline Stoll is a former professional player on the WTA circuit who was ranked as high as 15th in the world. Although she only competed on the tour for three years—opting to retire in 1980—she reached seven tournament finals in that time, ultimately winning five of them.

Throughout the course of her short career, she collected victories over 1977 French Open champion Virginia Ruzici, three-time Grand Slam finalist Wendy Turnbull and Australian Open finalist Dianne Fromholtz. She reached the third round of the US Open twice.

Virginia Wade is a former professional player and seven-time major champion who has lived in the greater New York City area since the 1970s. Notably, the British native captured all three of the Grand Slam women’s singles finals that she contested: the 1968 US Open (where she defeated home favorite Billie Jean King), the 1972 Australian Open (where she defeated home favorite Evonne Goolagong) and the 1977 Wimbledon Championships (where, as the home favorite, she rallied from a set down to defeat Betty Stove). From 1967 until 1979, she was consistently ranked among the world’s Top 10 players, attaining a career-high ranking of world No. 2 in 1975.

By the time she retired in 1986, Wade had procured an astonishing 55 singles titles and competed in a record 26 Wimbledon Championships. For all her many, many milestones in the sport, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine

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COMING IN JANUARY

Distribution scheduled for 01/01/23 This edition will feature: • Guide to the Top Tennis Clubs/Programs • Tennis Travel Destination Guide • 2022 Year in Review/Look Ahead to 2023 • 2022 Girls’ High School Recap • And Much More!

Print distribution across New York at 300+ locations.

Digital distribution across website and social media pages, and the e-Edition will be e-mailed out to our full data base.

Don’t miss the advertising opportunities in the next edition of New York Tennis Magazine January/February 2023!

Facebook-www.Facebook.com/NewYorkTennis Instagram-@NYTennisMag • Twitter-@NYTennisMag

Submissions for both advertising and editorial are due by December 9, 2022 For more information, please call 516-409-4444 or e-mail Advertise@NYTennisMag.com

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