New York Tennis Magazine September / October 2023

New York Tennis

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Emilie Katz

Assistant Marketing Coordinator

Dr. Tom Ferraro

Contributing Writer

Rob Polishook

Contributing Writer

Barbara Wyatt

Contributing Writer

Interns

Frank Cannistra

Kayla Castellano

Tyler Cohen

Aryn Feldman

Nyla Gershfeld

Abby Kleiman

Brielle Marcus

Rachel Neuman

Saharsh Peddireddy

Victoria Wroblewskii

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Photo credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA

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Govila Notches J100 Title

Adi Govila, who plays in the Centercourt Tennis Academy Full-Time Program, captured the Boys' Singles title at the J100 Event in the Dominican Republic. Govila did not drop a set throughout the tournament en route to the title.

Yakoff Wins Back-to-Back Aruba Titles

Steffi Yakoff captured the doubles title at the J30 ITF Event in Noord, Aruba, pairing up with Zimora McKnight to claim the championship. Yakoff, who trains at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, followed that up by winning the singles title at the J30 ITF event at the same club the following week, not dropping a set in either event.

McHale Returns to CourtSense

Former professional women’s player Christina McHale visited her old stomping grounds this summer, stopping by CourtSense Tennis Academy and hitting with many of the academy’s junior players. McHale, who reached a career high singles ranking of No.24 during her playing career, trained at CourtSense during parts of her junior and professional career.

Cary Leeds Tennis Player Meets Venus Williams

Bryan Assi, a player at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning, got the once-in-alifetime opportunity to hit with tennis legend Venus Williams. Shenay Perry, a coach at the Cary Leeds Center, made the meeting possible, and Assi was able to get on court and hit with one of the greatest players in the sport’s history.

New York

New York

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

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

Columbia Named Host Site for ITA Fall Regionals

The Philip and Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center, the home courts of Columbia men’s and women’s tennis, will serve as a host site for the ITA Regionals in early October. Columbia will serve as one of two ITA Regional host sites

as the fall season gets underway, with women's tennis players competing in singles and doubles with a chance to advance to the ITA Super Regionals in West Point, New York later in the month.

across new york

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Ross School Tennis Academy Celebrates 15 Years

The Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) held a special event to commemorate the academy’s 15th anniversary, hosting a weekend long celebration to mark the special occasion. Throughout the weekend, the event featured an array of different activities including clinics for both young players and adults, special guests, and a pro-am tournament.

At the end of all the on-court activities, there was a dinner and auction held, with all proceeds benefitting Rede Tenis Brasil, an organization that uses tennis to uplift underprivileged communities.

MatchPoint’s Felker Wins Rafa Nadal Green Dot Champion

Nicole Felker, a young player in

MatchPoint

NYC’s QuickStart program, was the Green Dot Tournament Champion at the Rafa Nadal Camp this summer, using her training and practice at MatchPoint to take home the title.

JMTA’s Bounds Claims L6 Championship

New York City native Wyatt Bounds took home the title at the L6 Pinewoods Championship in Torrington, Ct. Bounds, who trains at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, was victorious in the Boys 14s Singles division.

USTA Metro Region Adult League Teams Heading to Nationals

Two of the USTA Eastern Metro Region Adult League teams will be heading to the National Championships later this year to represent the Section. The 18 & Over 3.5 team from Queens, captained by Patricia Gould & Rene Trujillo, and the 18 & Over 4.5 team from Manhattan, captained by Akiko Tohmatsu, will both be travelling to Surprise, Arizona to represent the Eastern Section.

Earlierthis spring, the top junior tennis players from across New York City competed at the annual Mayor Dinkins Cup at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning, the flagship home of the New York Junior Tennis & Learning organization. The Mayor Dinkins Cup is the largest interscholastic tennis competition in the country, an event that the city’s tennis players take great pride in.

For Chantajah Mills, a rising senior, the tournament meant a lot more than it normally did. For one, she trains at the Cary Leeds Center for her private practice and has been a part of NYJTL programs since she was a little kid, but also because she was still working her way back from a difficult injury she suffered in a freak accident. Mills was playing in a softball game, and felt her knee pop while rounding second base. While she would go on to score on the play, she later found out she broke her kneecap in half.

“That tournament was really important for me because I hadn’t played a lot of matches leading up to that, and wasn’t sure how my body would respond,” said Mills.

Mills would go on to win both the Girls’ Varsity Singles and Girls’ Varsity Doubles titles, pairing with

Chantajah Mills Ready to Take The Next Step In Her Career

By Brian Coleman

Jade Saintard for the latter one.

“Being able to play multiple good matches in a row was a huge confidence booster for me,” she said. “And it was great to be able to win the doubles with one of my best friends, that meant a lot.”

The victories were meaningful to Mills both in the sense that she won multiple titles on her home courts, doing so with a friend, but also because it signified she was recovered from her injury, a key factor as she approaches her senior season.

Mills has dreams of playing collegiate tennis and is currently deep in the recruiting process, talking with different coaches and various programs as she aims to play Division I tennis next fall. It would be the next step in a journey that began many years ago when she first began playing tennis, although her love for the sport was not something that happened right away.

Growing up with an older sister, Mills began playing tennis when she was about three-years-old because her sister was a player. Mills’ sister would beat up on her on the court while playing, which resulted in Chantajah disliking tennis at the onset.

But when her younger brother was born, as she says:

“Now I had somebody I could beat in tennis, and that got me to begin playing more and taking it more seriously. As I played more I really started to love it and wanted to stick with it.”

Mills continued to improve, and took part in multiple programs and lessons through the NYJTL. Family and tennis are two things that go hand–inhand for Mills, and her parents and siblings have been incredibly supportive to her during her tennis journey.

A few years ago, she began training exclusively at the Cary Leeds Center where she quickly became one of the top players in its Academy.

“I love training at Cary Leeds Center, the coaches there have helped my game so much. I have learned a lot about tennis in terms of strategy and point construction, that is one area they have helped me with tremendously, just understanding how to use your shots throughout a point to make your opponent uncomfortable. It’s about being a player and not a hitter.”

That work and improvement has paid off as Mills is one of the topranked players in her age group in the

country, and as she continues to get back to feeling 100 percent, she will only continue to get better.

This year, she was named one of the USTA Eastern’s Tennis Ambassadors, a distinction given to a few junior players in the Eastern Section who represent our area and the sport of tennis in the right way, both on and off the court.

“I began tagging USTA Eastern on my tennis posts on Instagram, and they asked me to be one of their ambassadors, and it was such a cool honor to receive,” said Mills. “It’s our job to help promote tennis and represent Eastern, not just by winning matches but also showing sportsmanship and being good role models for younger players.”

Mills is now excited for what lies ahead as she approaches the fall and winter months. With the ability to play more matches now that she is healthy, she has goals of getting her ranking up as well as communicating

with college programs across the country. After winning a recent L5 Girls 18s singles title, she posted on Instagram with the caption:

“I just want to say thank you for all the doctors, physical therapists,

coaches, friends and my parents who have helped and supported me through this long recovery. Without any of you I definitely wouldn’t be where I am right now. This time last year, I didn’t know if I was physically capable of playing high-level tennis again, but here I am. This is the only the start and I’m happy to have had another great tournament.”

She is certainly back to playing high-level tennis, and it’s that humility and recognition of those who have helped her throughout her journey that makes Mills not only a special tennis player, but a special person. That, combined with her immense talent and dedication to getting better, make her a highly-sought after recruit, and someone who will be an asset to any team or college she decides to attend next fall.

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

“Little Mo” Celebrates 70th Anniversary of Maureen Connolly’s Grand Slam Win

By Brian Coleman

As we approach another year of the U.S. Open, it’s great to look back at the history of the tournament and all the amazing champions that have come before. And in 2023, it provides a perfect opportunity to honor the 70th anniversary of one of the sport’s most incredible accomplishments: Maureen Connolly’s Calendar Grand Slam in 1953.

In the early 1950s, Connolly dominated women’s tennis. She was ranked No. 1 between 1952-1954, and was named the Women Athlete of the Year for the three years between 1951-1953. In that 1953 season, at the ripe age of 18-yearsold, Connolly won all four Grand Slam events, a run that culminated

here in New York with her triumph at the U.S. Open.

“She was the first woman and still the only American female to achieve this amazing distinction,” said Cindy Brinker Simmons, Connolly’s daughter and the President of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. “The Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation is so proud to celebrate this important 70-year milestone of Mom’s calendar Grand Slam victory which, in turn, has tremendously inspired the talented boys and girls who compete in the “Little Mo” tournaments. So many of these gifted young competitors will be future champions and hope to follow in “Little Mo’s” footsteps as

both a great player and an outstanding role model.”

The legacy of “Little Mo”, Connolly’s nickname, lives on through the foundation she founded in 1968. As a teenager she dominated the world of tennis, and after her career was cut short due to an injury, she had dreams of helping to pioneer the development of junior tennis, and she created the foundation with her dear friend Nancy Jeffett. Sadly, Connolly would pass away from cancer a year after starting the foundation, but thanks to her daughter and all the great work done by the MCB Foundation, her positive effect on the world of tennis remains to this day.

“Today, Mom’s impact on tennis continues through MCB and the generations of players who respect and applaud her contributions on and off the tennis court,” Simmons added. Connolly was known for the humility, grace and sportsmanship she displayed both on and off the court, traits that are exemplified by the players who compete in the “Little Mo” tournaments that are played each year. While the competition is intense during these events that take place all across the country, sportsmanship is at the core of its mission, and the foundation rewards players for displaying those qualities, as Simmons explains:

“My mom had an extraordinary tennis record, but what is as important to treasure about her was that she was so humble, kind and selfless,” she said. “She was

dedicated to investing in the lives of others, and that passion of making a difference propelled her to establish her foundation, which not only has

highly competitive “Little Mo” tournaments, but emphasizes the attributes of good sportsmanship, fair play, gratitude and giving back. Mom would absolutely love MCB’s focus on strong character and moral values. Mom was a remarkable woman who just happened to be a very good tennis player, and I think she would like to be remembered that way.”

That legacy and remembrance will be on display as we close out the summer, with our region hosting two of the premier “Little Mo” events. First, the West Orange Tennis Club in West Orange, N.J. will host the “Little Mo” Internationals from August 2024, the second leg of the “Little Mo” Slam. The winners of all three International events will win the tallest trophy in junior tennis–six feet tall!

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When the calendar changes from August to September, the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx will host the “Little Mo” North Regionals from September 35. The top four finishers in each age division at the Regionals advance to the “Little Mo” Nationals in Austin, Texas from September 22-25.

This year’s events have already been successful, and the foundation expects to have a great showing at this year’s events in the Northeast while paying tribute to its namesake.

“For all “Little Mo” tournaments, Wilson Sporting Goods has added the 70th anniversary logo to the balls so all players will be playing with the commemorative ball,” said Carol Weyman, MCB Foundation’s Executive Vice President. “Also, we

have 70th anniversary bag tags and cups for players as well. At the player party, we will be celebrating with our 70th anniversary-themed cupcakes and balloons. We have had a wonderful year so far with our player numbers doubling so far at our events.”

It is fitting that the North Regionals and Internationals will be played in the Metropolitan area while the best players in the world are also in town competing in the U.S. Open, the tournament that concluded Connolly’s incredible Calendar Grand Slam 70 years ago. As the foundation honors this feat and Connolly’s legacy and impact on the sport, the next generation of tennis players will be competing against one another, and doing so in a respectful and

sportsmanlike way.

“It is a great event for players because they can play the Regionals during the day and then they can watch the pros at the U.S. Open in the evening,” added Weyman. “It’s a win-win for the players. Many players such a Andy Roddick, Coco Gauff, Leylah Fernandez, Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys competed in the “Little Mo” tournaments when they were kids. Who will be the next rising “Little Mo” stars?”

To learn more about the MCB Foundation and the “Little Mo tournaments, or to find out how to register, visit MCBTennis.org or call (214) 754-7065.

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

What Does It Take To Be Number One?

Tennis Coach-Turned Real Estate Broker Named #1

LI Agent By Real Trends

By Brian Coleman

Tennis

and the real estate business; on the surface, these two things don’t have anything in common.

But if you look closely, the ways to be successful in both of these fields often overlap. It takes dedication, discipline and confidence, and at their cores, they both require focusing on the process rather than results.

A great example of these parallels is Parsa Samii.

A native of Long Island, Samii was a top junior player before going on to have a successful college career at the University of MassachusettsAmherst. Samii would go on to compete on the pro tour in the years following college, but he began to get bit by the injury bug, which halted his professional tennis dream. And now as a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson for Compass, a national real estate agency, Samii has used the skills and work ethic he developed as a tennis player and coach to succeed in the real estate business.

And this year, he was named the #1 Individual Agent by Sales Volume on Long Island by Real Trends (as per 2022 closed sales volume).

“I’m not a big rankings person, and I think a lot of tennis players and parents out there will appreciate that. It’s not something I work towards or

work for,” he said of the honor. I don’t look at rankings as a validation of the work that I’ve put in, but it is a very gratifying result to have. It means a lot that I was able to help my clients, and I think that’s the number one thing. I get to use the great skills and traits I learned on the tennis court and use that relentless nature to continue and pursue the best interests of my clients. I think the validation comes moreso from the daily work, the habits you develop, and the effort you put in every single day, the same way I did when I was a coach or a player.”

That relentless nature is something he learned and developed from his years as a tennis player. It is about the process and the work you are doing, and it is important to do those things without always worrying about the end result.

“Playing one point at a time is something you are taught in tennis, and I’ve adopted that mentality in my business,” he said. “Just like if a tactic were to change during a match, and you need to problem solve right there on the court, I do the same thing in business.”

And with that mentality, Samii is not resting on his laurels, but continuing to put in the hard work to benefit the clients that depend on him. He is already moving on and working on

new deals as we head into the fall and winter months, and has a positive outlook on the state of the industry here in the latter part of 2023.

“The market has actually picked up from the beginning of the year, and a lot of that comes from the fact that buyers know what the lay of the land is,” he said. “They understand interest rates are high, but they can account for that, and be comfortable knowing it won’t be going too much higher or too much lower, it’s sort of settled. At the end of the day, people need houses, especially on Long Island, where there is always a demand for good schools and more space.

For sellers, it’s a great time to sell if the house is priced right and looks the part. There is a big fall market coming, and then preparing your house for the spring to maximize the amount of money you can get. It’s all dependent on where you want to go as a seller and what you are looking for. My suggestion is to find the best professional in your area.”

No matter what changes arise in the market in the future, Samii will continue leaning on the skills and traits he developed as a tennis player, and put in the necessary process work and let the results speak for themselves.

Novak and His Perfect Pitch

By Steve Kaplan

PITCH is the ability of a musician to play or sing a note at exactly the correct level. PERFECT PITCH is that stunning ability to decode with absolute perfection by indemnifying and mimicking just by "feeling." In music many come close to perfect pitch but few can match Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston or Stan Getz, to name three artists. This brings me to another artist, Novak Djokovic, and his “Perfect Tennis Pitch”. Now before proceeding I should mention that Novak is not a perfect tennis player. In fact he could still improve in some meaningful ways. "Perfect Pitch" is used here as an analogy /metaphor to explain Novak's innate ability to hit close to the right shot, in the right way at the right time, almost every time. Many performers in all areas can come close to such a high standard. The margins that separate the very best from the almost best however, are razor thin

and no matter how much we practice we can never match Stan Getz's ability to play a note on the Saxophone or Novak's ability to perceive the ball, court and opponent with the suppleness, dexterity and clarity that he and a few others display.

Novak feels the shot and sees the court differently than most players. He has great technique, mentality, physicality and tactics for sure, but there always seems to be something more to his game.

Novak has no excess in his movements and his shots. He moves with such effortless efficiency that he makes the sport look way easier than it really is.

He hits with an economy of effort that has as much pace, spin, height and distance as needed but no more. Some call his efficiency "pushing." If Novak is a tennis pusher then Ernest Hemingway is a literary "pusher"

As an athlete similar to Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky and, most recently, Nikola Jokic, Novak has a feel that can be described as a perfect pitch in athletics.

When combined with his incredible fitness, such feel with little interference leads to efficiency that is the foundation for why he can play at such a high level for so long in a match, and continue for so long, in his career.

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.

inPhorm Part Of The Solution

Long Island Tennis Magazine recently asked inPhorm’s creative director, Saad Hajidin, about sustainability and being “eco-forward.”

Why is sustainability important to you?

Call it Global Warming or Climate Change! When we started inPhorm 12 years ago there were skeptics and deniers. Scientists have warned us for years about the harmful effects if we continue down this path. I wanted our company to be part of the solutions, not the problem. I have a grand nephew who is four years old. Every day I think about what I can do to help make the world a better place for him and future generations.

On the notion of Eco-Forward, what do you mean by this?

When I founded inPhorm, I wanted to create a brand dedicated to sustainable production and to empower responsible consumers to choose products that are eco-forward and kinder to the Earth. My spouse, a journalist, coined the word “eco-forward,” because it suited me and my way of thinking. Being “ecoforward” is to think beyond “green” or eco-conscious. To look ahead with new ideas and innovations that contribute to sustainability.

To me, being conscious was not enough. If you talk the talk, then you must walk the walk. It’s been incredibly challenging to run a small company and to be sustainable, and we are taking one step forward every day.

Why is that important?

Preserving our environment is critical.

We inherited this precious beauty. It is not only our responsibility and duty to make sure that we preserve it.

How do your customers respond? What are they looking for?

As we evolved, so have our customers. They are much more engaged in the conversation. It used to be a fad to talk about sustainability, but today they demand it. We have consumers who are in tune with what’s going on in the world, and they are smart about it. Our job is to be innovative and to deliver what they’re looking for.

How do you balance performance with sustainability?

There are so many new and exciting technologies in textiles and manufacturing. From day one, inPhorm has always been innovative and forward thinking. We use materials from sustainable and recycled sources. Our factory uses solar panels and recycles its water. We’ve used dry dye technology in our fabrics.

How do you choose new fabrics or technologies to support this?

Through research and staying informed. There are so many new and exciting

technologies in textiles and manufacturing. As a small business, we don’t have the luxury of employing every new technology out there. The key is to look for something that can separate us from our competitors. And we work with companies that are willing to collaborate with us. For example, we are consulting with Acteev, an award-winning, odor-fighting textile, and we’ll soon be launching tennis and golf wear made from fabrics with Acteev antimicrobial technology. Our Fall 2023 Collection will be launched late this month.

inPhorm’s Harper Long Sleeve Crewneck and Angelika skirt are made from lightweight recycled polyester and the Harlow Jacket is made from recycled cotton blend with recycled poly

2023 New York Girls’ High S

Whenthe leaves begin to change colors and the weather gets cooler, that ushers in a new year of girls’ high school tennis here in New York City, where players and teams will compete across NYC for PSAL supremacy.

A year ago, the Hunter Hawks won its first PSAL “A” Division Championship in program history in thrilling fashion. The finals came down to the last court and a victory from senior Sophia Luo to clinch the title. In the PSAL “B” Division, Fort Hamilton won its third consecutive city championship, and will look to continue its dominance as we head into 2023.

This fall, the city’s high school tennis players will compete and New York Tennis Magazine has broken down some of the top players and teams to watch for this coming season.

New York City Teams to Watch

Hunter

When looking at the contenders for the PSAL championship this fall, Hunter has to remain at the top of the list. Despite losing the aforementioned Sophia Luo to graduation, the Hawks will bring back most of its starters from last season’s championship squad. That includes Ava Li , who played first singles last year and posted the second-most wins amongst singles players in 2022. Hunter will rely on the depth of its team in order to defend its title, and that includes Soleil Wizman who competed at first doubles last year, as well as the sophomore duo of Sophie Renault & Amy Ma who were crucial for the Hawks at second doubles in their freshman seasons.

Bronx Science

The Wolverines of Bronx Science were just one win away from being the city champions last season, and will be motivated this fall to try and claim that title. While they lost a few key contributors from last year’s team including Gabrielle Usvyat at first singles, the first doubles pairing of Sydney Siskind & Lillian Flynn and Amanda Barnkow at second doubles, the Wolverines still have a plethora of talent in its lineup that will keep it a contender. Leading the charge will be senior Margaux Vasilescu who is expected to move into the first singles spot, and Akari Wientzen , who competed in the third singles position as a freshman last season. Bronx Science has been a consistent factor deep into the city

School PREVIEW

playoffs over the years, something that should happen once again this fall.

Beacon

It’s hard to discuss the top teams in New York City without mentioning Beacon, a program that has been a fixture of the later rounds of the playoffs in both boys’ and girls’ tennis. Last fall, Beacon fell in the semifinals but as it returns many key contributors from that team, it enters this year with higher expectations. Beacon will be led by two seniors at the top of its lineup, Asima Sazan and Mia Sarzynska at first and second singles, respectively, who will ensure a top lineup despite losing graduating senior Naisha Rathi who played third singles a year ago. That means Beacon will rely on its depth thanks to players such as Nyla Ferdinand, Patrycja Filonik and Chase Thomas in order to try and make a return to the city championship.

James Madison

As the sixth-seed in last year’s playoffs, James Madison made its way all the way to the quarterfinals before its season came to an end. But the Lady Knights could be in line for bigger things this fall as it returns all but one starter from that team that reached the final eight in 2022. Leading the way will be sophomore Maria Vainshtein , who competed at first singles in her freshman campaign, and Nicoletta Draganchyuk , who played second singles in her freshman season. The Lady Knights are loaded with depth including Kristina Nefediev, Sofia Galyenko, Alexis Goodman and Yelyzaveta Abdullayeva as it attempts to make a deep playoff run.

Forest Hills

Last year’s A-1 Division winner, Forest Hills could be due for another great season in 2023. The Lady Rangers bring back Uma Pogrebivsky who competed at first singles a year ago, and will rely on Sharon Zlatnik , who played third singles a year ago, to play a big role in her senior season. Forest Hills possesses a deep roster which includes senior leadership in its doubles teams, comprised of Anna Kolbun, Morgan Jones, Delfina Balidemaj and Abril Sifuentes .

Over the last three years, there has been no better team in the PSAL “B” Division than Fort Hamilton. The Tigers have won the last three “B” championships and will be out this fall to try and win a fourth straight city title. The team last year had the unenviable task or replacing all three of its singles players from the season before, but the squad was able to do just that, showing the depth of talent it has in its program. This year, junior Isabella Tchij returns to play first singles, while Beatrice Tagliafierro , who competed at third singles a year ago, will need to play a big role both on and off the court as a senior leader, as will other returning starters such as Janice Li and Mari Gvelesiani .

Additional Players to Watch

Matilda Cox , Bard

Sabrina Peck , Maspeth

Katherine Zeferino Romero , Newcomers

Sabrina Shvarstsman , Brooklyn Tech

Deandra Smith , Abraham Lincoln

Nicole Soltsov , McKee/Staten Island Tech

Cyandra Vick , East New York Family Academy

Anusha Yadav , Francis Lewis

Fort Hamilton

Thereis no doubt that navigating the junior journey in tennis is one of the most complicated tasks for any parent and coach to understand. Obviously doing what is best for the player is the top consideration however we need to also understand that various ages and stages allow for a slightly different focus from all involved. Each player is an individual, which is another factor within the Matrix that we need to consider when making key choices. We know that a quality training program with a strong technical foundation is the top priority if the player is to have a trajectory leading to high level college tennis or a chance at playing professionally. However, at which stages do we start to put more focus into the physical development or the mental skill development ahead of Technical? How many matches per year and which levels of competition should your child be playing? What are the key performance indicators to help us in making these decisions and do we have a strong experienced professional network to lean on when making these calls.

For the sake of simplicity, the Player Development Matrix (PDM) should help to break down the key stages and to understand the various growth complexities that go with each.

Key Consideration Stages

• EXPLORE (4 - 7 years): Crucial

The Player Development Matrix – A Holistic Approach

By Conrad Singh

Foundational stages where quality experiences really matter. Ensuring kids fall in love with the game and are running into the courts with excitement. Its also a time to expose children to other sports which assist greatly.

• DEVELOP (7 - 10 years): Technical fundamentals with strong athletic base is the priority. Ensuring Visual, Physical and a love for basic competition is critical. Outside of well-planned training, players also need to undertake own unstructured practice without coaching too, ensuring they are consolidating learning.

• ENCOURAGE (10 - 12 years): Players should start to own the journey a little more here and begin to have preferences for Styles of Coaching, Game Style and also including a lot of Doubles here is key. A more Game Based Approach is critical with new experiences and a lot of Practice Sets. Parent Support and development of Peer groups also are essential in this age.

• ENHANCE (12 - 15 years): Choice of competition and balance in program must be considered. Players need to begin looking at the efficiency of the time they are putting in and ensuring to close the Technical Stages. Emotional, mental and overall stress handling skills need to be included into training programs. A coach and program that also mentors

players beyond the court becomes more important also.

• CULTIVATE (15 - 17 years): Working in a strong academy with peers and other players is key, and players starting to initiate and take more control of the journey is important. Competing in higher level and most critically is the number of overall matches players are playing a year. Including considerable Supervised match play and traveling with coaches becomes important. At this stage, top boys need to be around strong boys, and girls need strong boys also to practice with. Game styles should see more all court focus.

• PERFORM (17+ years): We should now be ready to pull it all together when needed. Players now are discovering the landscape of tennis and trying to find the form that will help them through the next stages of transition. Technical issues should be solved, and clear game style awareness is important. A well-balanced schedule with a wellrounded physical program is very important.

The key takeaway points here are:

• Know how to manipulate the various jigsaw puzzle pieces at which times.

• Coach needs to be in touch with Life Concepts of kids at various stages.

• Understand the Interaction between all Stages of the PDM

Eight Components of the Six stages of the Player Development Matrix:

• PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

• TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT

• TACTICAL DEVELOPMENT

• MENTAL & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (Brain vs Mind)

• SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

• PARENTAL ROLE & SUPPORT

• EDUCATION

• COMPETITION / TOURNAMENTS

Understanding The Why

It is beyond essential to know what the real goals for the various stages are. We must know the players very well and understand the drivers of both player and family to make the smartest decisions and assist with the journey in the most effective way as coaches and academies.

Purpose Reasons

Family: Resources available, quantity of time available; which sibling number is the player?

The Power of Observation: Take time to know all factors surrounding the players life.

Culture Drive: Major effects on learning style and motivation

The Back Story: How did the player come to your world and vice versa?

Goals: Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timeframe (SMART)

Five Clear Tennis Development Circles or Environments To Consider

• Training Environment

• Practicing opportunities

• Competing and selection of the right events

• Home Factors

• School / Social / Peers

Overall Player Development Matrix

• Understand: Educated coach must understand where the student is at, and all factors are equally important but some more so at various stages

• Adjust and manipulate: Adjust and manipulate the variables to create a personalized developmental idea

• Remember: Remember that RELATIONSHIP is the basis of all successful tennis development

• Include: Include the parents as they have the greatest chance to assist your methodology if they understand it

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.

SPORTIME Randall’s Island To Add 12 Indoor Pickleball Courts This Fall

SPORTIME

Randall’s Island is in the final stages of a facility expansion, which includes the addition of 10 new tennis courts, making the 30-court facility one of the largest in the world. In an effort to respond to the unprecedented growth of pickleball, and to welcome NYC pickleball players, SPORTIME will retrofit five of its bubbled, hard-surface, tennis courts, so that those courts can also provide 12 hybrid pickleball courts, which will be available for pickleball players to enjoy seven days a week.

“Pickleball is a natural expansion of our racket sports business in NYC and at our clubs across New York State, and we are thrilled to be bringing the first large-scale, indoor, pickleball facility to NYC,” explains SPORTIME CEO & President, Claude Okin. “Our goal is to welcome thousands of NYC’s most committed picklers during the indoor season, so that they can

keep playing all year and experience the best-in-class facilities, programs and amenities that SPORTIME has to offer!”

Added Okin, “With the unveiling of our $45 million expansion project at Randall’s Island this fall, and the addition of pickleball, SPORTIME hopes to be the go-to destination for racket sports players of all ages and abilities to learn and enjoy our lifetime sports.”

Pickleball players of all levels will have the opportunity to improve their games, to join social and competitive, level-based group play, to rent courts seasonally or by the hour, and to enjoy a host of special events and tournaments throughout the year. SPORTIME tennis and pickleball members enjoy great benefits, including 7-day advanced court-time reservations, member pricing on lessons and events and access to SPORTIME Pickleball programming. Joining the SPORTIME

Randall’s Island leadership team is Pickleball Director Lisa Scotti . A New York native, Lisa has excelled at a variety of sports, including pickleball, paddleball, tennis, softball and paddle tennis.

Lisa is a member of the Paddleball Hall of Fame, but, a few years ago she shifted her focus to playing and teaching pickleball exclusively, and she has achieved great success in prestigious tournaments across the Tri-State area and nationwide. As a Professional Pickleball Registry certified pickleball coach, Lisa enjoys introducing newcomers to the game and helping players of all ages and levels improve and compete. Lisa is a devoted ambassador for the sport, and SPORTIME is excited to have her at the helm of pickleball at its flagship facility in NYC!

Court-time rentals, instructional clinics, social and competitive open play sessions, events and more will all be on the menu for the hundreds of thousands of City residents who have become part of the pickleball craze

Specificity:

The Holy Grail That's Been Missing from Our Sport

By Botond Sari

Every sport evolves over time, not only in the techniques that define it but also the language used to describe and to teach it. Tennis, a game deeply rooted in tradition, has often been taught using broad strokes. This lack of specificity has long been the Achilles' heel of tennis education. But why does specificity matter so much, and how does adequate language play into this?

In the early days of tennis coaching, the emphasis was on getting the basics right, often at the expense of nuance. Coaches would teach one forehand and one backhand practicing the same swings over and over again. Players were expected to use these strokes universally, irrespective of the ball’s speed, height, depth or their position on the court. This one-sizefits-all approach failed to recognize the varied scenarios that arise in the actual game, hindering players from expanding their repertoire.

This changed with the gamebased approach, which prioritized real-time situations and encouraged players to adapt and strategize.

While this shift is a step forward, making training more dynamic and versatile, pushing players to come up with their own solution for each problem, it comes with its challenges. Although tennis is an open-skilled sport with unpredictable and constantly changing situations, each one has an appropriate solution. These situations can be categorized based on the technical execution, making it easier to understand which shot types a player can and should use in a given situation. These categories clarify the chaos of so many variables and keep the player on point.

Such precision isn't just about sporting excellence; it taps into the cognitive process itself. Research into linguistic relativity, often known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, says that the structure of one's language can influence their cognitive processes. For instance, cultures with numerous words for different shades of a color can discern those shades more distinctly than cultures with fewer terms. As we see, language isn't just semantics.

Translated into the sporting realm, the specificity of terminology can directly impact an athlete’s cognition, expanding his ability to distinguish between different situations and perfecting each movement to its finest detail so they can use it when it’s the right time. When coaches neglect the importance of distinct terminologies, they're not merely limiting terminological richness; they're potentially holding back cognitive and technical growth. In tennis, by merely classifying shots as “forehand” without delving into the multitude of scenarios and technical solutions that can arise, coaches unthinkingly limit their players' capacity to understand and interact with the game's complexity. On the other end of the spectrum, adopting a purely gamebased approach where the player is left alone to decode all the varying situations can be overwhelming, resulting in confusion and a potential lack of structured development. How then can a systematic approach be developed to bridge this gap and

provide clarity in tennis coaching?

Just as golf has its unique language with terms like 'Five iron, punch shot, from the rough', a new way of looking at tennis, Gotta Tennis Analytics, brings similar clarity to tennis, revolutionizing the way the sport of tennis is analyzed and understood. By meticulously studying the game's nuances, the company developed a comprehensive language that encapsulates every significant situation that can transpire on a tennis court. Their groundbreaking approach allowed for a detailed breakdown of player perceptions, shot selections, and executions in a manner previously unachieved. This linguistic innovation is not only capable of enhancing how coaches and players analyze performances but also can elevate the spectator's experience by providing deeper insights into match narratives.

With decades of research, Gotta achieved this clarity by breaking down the complexity of the game and simplifying it into 5 zones, 5 modes, and 10 groundstroke shot types and multiple serve, overhead and volley shot types. This system not only gives us the ability to precisely describe the given situation but also makes the strategy crystal clear. The Zone plus the Mode you are in equals the shot type(s) you should use. Easy as that. Instead of describing the following scene as “10 feet inside the baseline (Zone 2) a fairly easy ball where you try to be

aggressive but not trying to finish the point (Challenge) taking the ball at shoulder level, driving the ball flat and through the court (dip drive) and approach after” we just call it a Zone 2, Challenge, forehand, dip drive, approach, giving us clarity of the situation and also on the tactical intent. This detailed categorization is at the heart of Gotta's innovative approach.

Dive into the world of tennis like never before by following the @gotta_tennis page on Instagram to unlock the secrets of the game and stay ahead with their upcoming educational resources.

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.

USTA Eastern Metro Region Board Spotlight:

Joe Ceriello

NYC

resident Joe Ceriello is a member-at-large on USTA Eastern’s Board of Directors who also currently serves as the Executive Director of the Kings County Tennis League (KCTL) in Brooklyn. Ceriello tells us about his life and career in tennis, and how it all started with Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and a driveway.

When did you first pick up a racquet? When did you first engage with the sport?

CERIELLO: I fell in love with the sport in the ‘80s, watching the rivalry between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova with my grandma. I also had two neighbors, and we played driveway tennis together for a number of years. We happened to live near an abandoned court, and we took a vote on whether we should move [our game] to the abandoned court, which had cracks with grass growing through it. I was the lone vote that wanted to continue tennis in the driveway, so we moved to the court. [Laughs]. I had my first lesson at 13, and I’ve been playing ever since. It’s been a major part of my life.

What do you love about the game that has kept it a part of your life?

CERIELLO: I wasn’t necessarily an athletic child. I was very closeted. I was always so hesitant to step outside of myself. Tennis was really something that allowed me to find my athleticism. I really came into my own. It was really the gateway to all sports, to be honest. You could have chosen many different career paths. Why were you specifically interested in looking for a job in the tennis industry?

CERIELLO: I’ve had three great passions throughout my life that have been pretty consistent. Theater and arts has been one. Tennis has been one. Languages and culture is another. I was a theater performer, and when I decided to leave the business, I knew that I had to go into something else that I loved, so I actively pursued a career in tennis. I applied for jobs for two or three years unsuccessfully. Flash forward to today, I honestly think you’d be hard-pressed to find another individual on the planet who’s had more jobs in tennis than I have.

You started in the ticket office at the US Open and over time have worked in many different capacities: with Team USA events like Davis Cup, in player services, in USTA community marketing. Prior to your role with KCTL you served as the Chief

Marketing Officer at New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL), the largest nonprofit tennis and education program in the country. What’s been one of the highlights for you during your time in this business?

CERIELLO: I would say a standout is getting to be the tournament director for a [WTA tour] US Open lead-in event at the [NYJTL facility] Cary Leeds Center. That was something I never thought I’d be able to achieve. But there’s actually many [highlights]. Getting tennis featured on Good Morning America and Today. Last year, we brought in a $1 million dollar endowment that will go directly to helping kids pursue tennis and education. I got to be a key player [in organizing] the Davis Cup final in Portland where Team USA beat Russia [in 2007]. There’s been a lot of great stuff. More recently, you’ve specifically worked with organizations who bring the sport to underserved communities, like NYJTL, and at KCTL, which focuses on developing tennis opportunities for kids in Brooklyn public housing. Why has that work been meaningful to you?

CERIELLO: The last number of years, I’ve been on the nonprofit side of the business. I knew how tennis changed my life. It opened up a world that I never felt connected to. So I see it as a great connector. I jumped at this particular opportunity with KCTL because I knew the programming was so good, and that the organization’s efforts have made such an impact on the community where we work. As a member yourself, how do you think tennis as a whole can best serve and support the LGBTQ community?

CERIELLO: I think the LGBTQ community within tennis is wonderful. The Gay & Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA) is a real community. I’m a parent, I don’t get to play that much, but that group is so warm, welcoming and robust. I’ve loved the warmth I’ve received from those in tennis, as well as the friendships I’ve made. Overall it’s all about being inclusive. As I’ve said, the game is really a connector, an equalizer.

You are in the middle of serving your first term on the USTA Eastern Board of Directors. What compelled you to join?

CERIELLO: Tennis has given me a lot. So I really thought that I could give something back. And I was really drawn to Eastern’s leadership.

USTA Eastern has made a concerted effort to diversify its

“It’s hard to name a job in tennis that I haven’t had,” Ceriello says with a laugh

USTA Eastern Metro Region

board over the last couple of years. What has your experience been like working alongside such a varied group of leaders?

CERIELLO: The Eastern board strikes me as wildly diverse in a way that I’ve rarely seen in tennis. That feels

wonderful. I love that aspect of it. That’s part of the reason why I love being a New Yorker. I feel most comfortable in that diversity of thought. It’s also a really smart group of people, and it’s a really kind board. You can feel the camaraderie.

Betty Newfield Wall, from Queens, inducted into Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame

Betty Newfield Wall, who grew up in Jackson Heights, N.Y., is one of the six individuals who will be inducted into the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the River Club in New York City on August 26.

Newfield Wall was one of the most decorated Eastern juniors of the 1970s. Over the course of her playing career, she attained the No. 1 ranking in the section in every age division and was ranked as high as No. 2 nationally. In doubles, Newfield Wall found even more success, achieving the No. 1 ranking nationally (with fellow Eastern Hall of Famer Caroline Stoll) and capturing two National titles. She would eventually go on to compete for the University of Florida, where she was awarded the MVP distinction in 1981.

Both Newfield Wall’s parents worked at a tennis club in Flushing, N.Y.—her mother as a manager and her father as a teaching pro—so she jokes that she was born holding a racquet. In actuality, she was just two-and-ahalf years old when she stepped onto a court for the first time, and even at that early age she began to develop a fondness for the family pastime.

“There were a lot of people at the club and as a kid I enjoyed playing with them,” she remembers. “And obviously my parents were very enthusiastic about me playing, so I responded to both of those things. I also seemed to get good very quickly.”

She progressed so quickly, in fact, that she reached the final of the first 12-and-under Eastern tournament she entered, at just age nine.

“I think I had a really great forehand, a good drop shot, and I was really fast,” Newfield Wall says of what made her such a formidable opponent. “And I hated to

lose, so that was helpful. I think when people played me, they knew that they were going to have a tough match.”

One player who understood that?

Future Grand Slam champion Tracy Austin. She and Newfield Wall—who happened to be great friends— contested the 14-and-under final of the Port Washington Tennis Classic, with the latter emerging victorious.

“It was totally unexpected,” Newfield Wall recalls of her victory. “She was two years younger than me, but she was dominating, even back then, so there was no expectation for me to win. In fact, my parents were so sure I was going to lose that they told me that if I won, they would take me to buy new bedroom furniture. So that became a motivating factor, and to their surprise, we went bedroom shopping right after the match!”

During this time, Newfield Wall procured multiple New York state championships. She also made a name for herself at the National level, reaching finals of both the Orange Bowl—where she finished runner-up to future Top 20 WTA player Anne White—and the 12 & Under National Championships—where she lost to another future professional player (and the 1978 US Open girls’ singles champion), Linda Siegel. In doubles, her fruitful partnership with the No. 2 Eastern junior Stoll yielded two National Championship titles, in 1973 and 1975.

Of course, when Newfield Wall reflects on all of her many highlights in tennis, what she remembers the most—more than the points or the scores or the victories—is the bond she shared with her family through the game: playing at her parents’ club, traveling to National tournaments, even embarking on a last-minute shopping trip after an unexpected win. Over the years her mom, Margaret, also established a remarkable

Newfield Wall takes a photo with her father after reaching her first junior final

USTA Eastern Metro Region

record in the sport in her own way, first as a very active Eastern volunteer, and then later, upon retiring down south, as the president of USTA Florida from 1988-89. She was just the second woman ever to hold that position.

“We really were a tennis family,” Newfield Wall says.

“I remember after getting to my first final, I went back to the tennis club where my dad taught. He was on the court and I took a picture with him and my trophy. It just made [these experiences] more special. We could all connect through tennis.”

Love Serving Autism Helps Grow the Game in New York

Ifyou need an example of how tennis can change lives, look no further than the effect Love Serving Autism has had on the many kids enrolled in its programming. The nonprofit organization’s enthusiastic founder Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix—a certified speech language pathologist who has over 20 years of experience treating kids and adults with autism— can list off countless examples.

“One of our students was nonverbal when I met him through tennis about five years ago,” she recalls. “He was communicating with gestures by pointing and using communication visuals. I still work with him once a week, and he’s now verbal. He attends all our tennis events. His mom said that through the sport he's been able to make friends and improve his communication. It gave him more confidence.”

That’s not all. Just last month, he finished in the Top 8 in the country in a national geography bee.

“It just shows that you can never give up on someone who’s young, who has autism and maybe doesn’t have the language skills,” Pugliese-LaCroix says. “It doesn't mean that they never will. They could [develop those] someday, and [possibly] through tennis.”

The non-profit originated in Florida as one program at a charter school in 2017; Pugliese-LaCroix taught every class herself. Today it offers programming at 28 locations across the Sunshine State and serves around 300 students. In addition to helping teach the fundamentals of the game, the organization hires speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapists as independent contractors through grants to help participants improve their communication, coordination, motor and life skills.

Amid the expansion, Pugliese-LaCroix has begun taking the show on the road, helping other tennis providers around the country develop their own adaptive operations, including in New York and New Jersey. She has helped establish programming in East Brunswick, N.J., Summit, N.J., West Orange, N.J. and in Middle Village, Queens.

In addition to her efforts to bolster adaptive offerings in the

area, Pugliese-LaCroix has also led in-person training sessions for many other tennis professionals in the USTA Eastern section, including in Guilderland, N.Y. and Watertown, N.Y., as well as with teachers in the New York City public schools. Through these efforts, she hopes to empower more people in the tennis world to serve a woefully underserved group.

“Whether it’s someone with the YMCA or a tennis director or a P.E. teacher, it’s about helping them realize that they are in fact capable of developing this programming,” she says. “It's not like you have to be a certified tennis professional. There are a lot of tools and resources available to create a successful experience for participants. I think that providers can be intimidated by the process. They don't think that they're adequate or equipped to do this. And after a training, many realize, ‘Okay, I think I could do this.’ So it’s very exciting to see. The hope is that maybe a handful of the people who attend these workshops will initiate something at some point in their career in adaptive tennis.”

Of course, you don’t have to look very far to see the impact just one such program can make. Pugliese-LaCroix shares that mere weeks after the Middle Village offering got off the ground, an elated father sent her a message. His daughter struggled with several sensory challenges, and he wasn’t even sure if she would like tennis.

“She loves it,” Pugliese-LaCroix says. “She knows the calendar of tennis classes, and the family plans their whole day around it. It’s something that she really looks forward to. And she’s becoming more physically independent on court, more coordinated, more social, which is great. It’s so exciting to hear. And this is only after four weeks!”

Are you a tennis provider interested in implementing adaptive programming? We can help you get started. Contact USTA Eastern Diversity & Inclusion Director David Williams at williams@eastern.usta.com or Parks & Recreational Play Coordinator Kelsey Altavilla at altavilla@eastern.usta.com to learn more.

Pugliese-LaCroix (third from left) leads an adaptive tennis training session for New York-based instructors

Dwight Global Partners With USTA Eastern To Become Official Program Sponsor of Level 3 Elite Junior Tournaments

The Eastern Section of the United States Tennis Association (USTA Eastern) is proud to announce Dwight Global Online School as the Official Program Sponsor of Level 3 (L3) Elite Junior Tournaments. In this capacity, Dwight Global will maintain a robust presence at these events and help improve overall player experience, including contributing giveaways, featured speakers and other enhancements.

“We are honored to work with Dwight Global to strengthen one of our signature competitive offerings,” said USTA Eastern Senior Director of Competition Julie Bliss Beal. “Our section has always remained steadfastly dedicated to developing wellrounded athletes, and that development extends beyond the confines of a tennis court. Dwight Global offers a world-class learning experience that also affords these young champions the opportunity to pursue their future in the sport.”

L3 Elite Tournaments are considered the top competitions offered in the USTA Eastern Section, with some of the best players ages 12-18 from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut competing at these events.

The first three of the four events were held in January, May and June, with the fourth and final one

of 2023 scheduled for November.

“Today, the demands placed on junior players are enormous. In order to perform and compete at the highest levels, these students need additional flexibility in their week to dedicate to training and travel,” said Dr. Blake Spahn, Vice Chancellor of The Dwight Schools, who also served as Captain of the 1994 Columbia University Ivy League Championship Tennis Team. “Dwight Global not only provides preprofessional tennis players with this critical flexibility, but also with top-notch academics that will prepare them for D1, D2, and D3 universities. As the leading choice for studentathletes in grades 6-12, we are thrilled to partner with USTA Eastern to bring Dwight Global academics to pre-professional tennis players across the Eastern Section.

Several prominent USTA Eastern players are enrolled at Dwight Global. In January, Eastern player and current Dwight Global student Cooper Williams captured the 2023 Australian Open boys’ doubles championship (with partner Learner Tien). Williams is headed

to Harvard University this fall. Additionally, 2022 Wimbledon boys’ singles finalist Michael Zheng—of Montville, New Jersey—graduated from the school last spring. Zheng currently attends and competes for Columbia University in New York.

To learn more about Dwight Global and the way it allows top tennis players to maintain their training and tournament schedules while also offering top-level academics, visit Dwight.edu/Dwight-Global-OnlineSchool.

Alcaraz Island

The World No.1 is in pursuit of a second straight U.S. Open trophy

By Brian Coleman

Ona beautiful Sunday afternoon in London, Carlos Alcaraz arrived at the famed All-England Lawn Club faced with the unenviable task of trying to dethrone Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic, the 23-time Grand Slam Champion, had not lost at Wimbledon since 2017, and did not show any signs of ending that streak with the eyes of the sports world watching the Men’s Singles Final. And at just 21-years-old, instead of shrinking from the moment against arguably the sport’s greatest player of all-time, Alcaraz took on the challenge.

Over the course of five sets and nearly five hours, Alcaraz and Djokovic put on a tennis masterclass, and in the end, it was the young Spaniard who walked away victorious, claiming his second career major title with a 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win.

“It’s a dream come true for me. As I said before, of course it’s great to win, but even if I had lost, I would be really proud of myself with this amazing run,” said Alcaraz. “Making history in this beautiful tournament, playing a final against a legend of our sport. It’s a dream come true to be able to play on these stages. It’s amazing for a boy, 20-years-old, to reach this kind of situation really fast. I’m really, really proud of myself and the team that I have, the work we put in every day, to be able to lift this.”

The Wimbledon triumph validated what we already knew about Alcaraz, which is that he has the ability to beat anybody, anywhere. Djokovic even commented about it during his post-championship speech:

“I thought I would have trouble with you only on clay and maybe on hard courts, but not on grass,” he said. “But it’s a different story on grass from this year, obviously. Amazing way to adapt to the surface. You played twice before this year’s Wimbledon on grass, and it’s amazing what you did.”

That is seemingly the beauty and intrigue of Alcaraz’s game. As a native of Spain, everyone knew he would be successful on clay, being raised and developed on the array of clay courts in his home country, and he won his maiden major trophy at last year’s U.S. Open which demonstrated his ability to be

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alcaraz island

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dominant on hard courts.

“I’ve been playing in big stadiums, big games, fighting for big things. I think that helped me a lot to grow as a player, as a person. A year later, I’m totally different,” Alcaraz said of the difference between last year and this. “I have the Wimbledon trophy in my living room, so every time I have lunch or dinner with my family, I see the title. It’s something I don’t want to forget.”

Now with the Wimbledon trophy on his resume, it’s hard to find a flaw in his game. And as he makes the transition from the grass court season to the hard court season, Alcaraz is ready to return to New York and try to defend his U.S. Open title.

The athletic young star was all about the crowd energy when he was here last year, and learned about the atmosphere that can only be provided by New York, including the fans staying until after 3:00 a.m. to watch Alcaraz take out Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals.

“It means a lot to me to have a lot of people supporting me here in

New York…this year was unscriptable,” he said. “There were a lot of tough moments for me, tough matches. They were there all the time believing in me and supporting me. I finished the match against Jannik at almost 3:00 a.m. and they were supporting me until the last ball. I could say this trophy is for them as well. It’s thanks to them. Maybe if I hadn’t had them supporting me all the time, I couldn’t have this trophy today.”

For years, tennis fans have been waiting patiently for the next generation of players to supplant the Big Three. Many have tried and many have not succeeded at that, but with Roger Federer having retired and Rafael Nadal retiring after next season, Djokovic is the only one remaining from that Golden Era of tennis. And it seems as though Alcaraz is poised to take the baton from Djokovic and become the new face of the men’s game, something even Djokovic recognizes:

“I think people have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his

game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa and myself. I would agree with that. I think he’s got basically the best of all three worlds,” said Djokovic. “He’s got this mental resilience and maturity for someone who is 20-years-old. It’s quite impressive. He’s got this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defense that we’ve seen with Rafa over the years.”

And perhaps the most poignant comment from Djokovic was:

“I haven't played a player like him ever, to be honest. Roger and Rafa have their own obvious strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is a very complete player. Amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for successful career on all surfaces.”

But Alcaraz still has a ways to go in order to be mentioned with these all-time greats, and it’s all about longevity and the ability to succeed over many years. For now, he is in possession of a second major title, and will be out to defend his U.S.

Open trophy.

Alcaraz will put his stunning athleticism and unbelievable shot making ability on display in front of the New York crowd once again as we close out the summer. While he is still out to accomplish more, he knows just how far he has come in his career already.

“I know that everything came so fast. Great tournaments, two Grand Slams, and I’m just 20-years-old. I know that I’m so young,” said Alcaraz. “It’s something that I worked to be in this position to fight for great things. But you never realize until you’ve done it. There are some times that I think about the last point of the U.S. Open, the last point of Wimbledon, and other great tournaments that I won and I still can’t believe it and still get goosebumps, so it’s crazy.”

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

2023 U.S. Open Preview

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

A year ago, the U.S. Open delivered amazing moments and thrilling matches, which included the final professional match in the legendary career of Serena Williams, as well as the crowning of two new U.S. Open champions.

Carlos Alcaraz won the Men’s Singles title, his first career major, and Iga Swiatek won the Women’s Singles title, her third major title overall (at the time), and the two victories gave the tennis world a glimpse

into the future. Alcaraz added to his count by capturing the Wimbledon title earlier this summer, and Swiatek won the French Open to add a fourth major title to her resume.

“There were a lot of tough moments for me, tough matches. They were there all the time believing in me, supporting me,” Alcaraz said of the impact the New York crowd had on him winning. “I finished the match against Jannik [Sinner] at almost 3:00 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. Maybe if I hadn’t had them supporting me all the time, I couldn’t have this trophy today.”

It’s those special moments and the unique relationship that forms between the New York crowd and the players that makes the U.S. Open such a thrilling event, and we expect no less in 2023.

Contenders, Pretenders, Sleepers

Contenders – Men’s Singles

Carlos Alcaraz

When examining the men’s singles field for this year’s U.S. Open, look no further than top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard is the event’s defending champion, and he backed up that maiden Grand Slam victory by winning Wimbledon in July, dethroning Novak Djokovic in one of the most exciting tennis matches in recent history. That victory was notable both in the sense that it earned Alcaraz a second major trophy, but also showed he has the toughness to take

down an all-time great like Djokovic in a big spot. His unparalleled athleticism combined with his massive forehand make him a dominant hard-court player, and with his new found confidence from that Wimbledon title, Alcaraz is the betting favorite at this year’s U.S. Open.

Novak Djokovic

The aforementioned Djokovic is always a threat when he is in the draw, and should be motivated to avenge his defeat to Alcaraz at Wimbledon. Djokovic is arguably the greatest player of all-time and has not shown any signs of slowing down, despite being 36-years-old. He won both the Australian Open and French Open titles earlier this year, and still remains at the top of his game. While the U.S. Open only accounts for three of his 23 major titles, Djokovic knows what it takes to succeed under the bright lights of New York City, and rises to the occasion of those big matches while his opponents often shrink in these same moments.

continued on page 34

Contenders, Pretenders, Sleepers

Frances Tiafoe

The United States is starving for a men’s singles major champion, and it would be an unbelievable story if that champion was crowned right here in the States. Frances Tiafoe could be just the person to snap the 20-plus year drought, as he has shown he has what it takes to succeed here in New York. A year ago, he knocked off Rafael Nadal in the Round of 16 and Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals to reach the final four of the U.S. Open. He would end up losing to the eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, but it was still a successful run for the American, one he aims to follow up this year.

Contenders – Women’s Singles

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka is one of the best hardcourt players on the women’s side, and after capturing her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open to begin this year, she will be out to bookend her year with a title here at the U.S. Open. Her powerful groundstrokes thrive on the fast hard courts in New York, and with her serve troubles deep in her past, Sabalenka has found the all-around game that makes her a threat at the majors. She will be a difficult out for any of her opponents as she attempts to win a second career major.

Elena Rybakina

Another power player on tour is Elena Rybakina, and she is certainly one of the favorites heading into this year’s U.S. Open. She showed she has what it takes to win a major, winning the Wimbledon title a year ago and then reaching the finals of the Australian Open earlier this year. Rybakina is a player that primarily plays from the baseline, has a big serve and forceful groundstrokes which make her an effective hard-court player. Rybakina is coming off a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon and is playing good tennis thus far in 2023, something she will look to continue when she gets to Queens.

Iga Swiatek

She has been at the peak of the women’s rankings, so Swiatek is used to having that target on her back, which will be the case again at this year’s U.S. Open. Swiatek is a four-time major winner who captured the title here in New York a year ago, and she will seek to become the first back-to-back women’s singles champion at the U.S. Open since Serena won three straight between 2012-2014. Swiatek will use her aggressive, all-court game to try and defend her title, as Swiatek aims to continue the incredible run she has been on to start her young career.

Pretenders – Men’s Singles

Stefanos Tsitsipas

One of the most talented players in the world, Tsitsipas has still not been able to win his maiden major title. The Greek star has been a mainstay in the Top 10 for several years now, and is always one of the most talked about players. He has the game to compile a great two-week run, but the U.S. Open has always been an enigma for Tsitsipas. He has never made it past the thirdround making the U.S. Open his least successful major event. Do not be surprised if Tsitsipas suffers an early exit again this time around in Queens.

Cameron Norrie

Despite being a fixture in the Top 15 of the ATP World Tour rankings, Cameron Norrie has not been able to see that success shine through at the U.S. Open. The best result of his career in New York came last year when he reached the fourth round, but the Brit has still yet to reach the second week of the year’s final major. Norrie is a player with consistent groundstrokes who likes to counter punch, but he lacks the type of weapons that would make him a feared player on hard courts. He was a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year, but other than that has not reached the second week at any of the other majors.

Taylor Fritz

The highest-ranked American is still out to bring glory back to American men’s tennis, but the U.S. Open has been the major where he has had the least success in his career. Whether it’s the pressure of being an American competing at his home event or something else, there is something about Fritz and the New York courts that don’t connect. Out of his seven times competing in the U.S. Open main draw, his best results are two appearances in the third round. In 2023, Fritz has not been successful at the majors, reaching the second round, third round, and second round at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, respectively, a trend that could continue at the year’s final major.

Pretenders – Women’s Singles

Coco Gauff

One of the most exciting young stars we have in the game today, Coco Gauff is an easy player to root for, and has the game to back it up. But since ascending into the Top 10, Gauff has struggled a bit at the majors. While she did reach the French Open quarterfinals, she followed that up with a first-round exit at Wimbledon, a disappointing loss for someone who broke onto the scene at Wimbledon a couple of years ago. Gauff is still trying to find consistency with her forehand and until she does so, her game has a flaw that can be attacked by her opponent. Future major success could very well be in Gauff’s future, but it may not show at this year’s U.S. Open.

Maria Sakkari

The ninth-ranked Sakkari reached the semifinals in Queens two years ago, and has one of the most powerful games on the women’s tour, but 2023 has not been kind to her in terms of success at the three Grand Slams. She was bounced in the third round at the Australian Open, and then did not win a match at either the French Open or Wimbledon events. Prior to her semifinal run in 2021, Sakkari had never made it out of the fourth-round here in New York, and a year ago saw her tournament come to an end in the second round, an early exit that could happen again in 2023.

Marketa Vondrousova

The darling of Wimbledon put her best tennis forward for two weeks in London. In doing so, she became the first unseeded and lowest ranked Wimbledon champion in the Open Era. It was a resurgence for a player who missed much of 2022 with injuries after she was a finalist at the French Open back in 2019. But the Czech has never found much success at the U.S. Open with her best result being a fourth-round showing, and her game style is more suited to the clay with her crafty approach lending itself to a slower surface. Coming off her first major championship, Vondrousova may face an early exit in New York.

Sleepers – Men’s Singles

Matteo Berrettini

Injuries have been the name of the game for Berrettini in the last two years which temporarily derailed his career. In 2021, Berrettini peaked in the world rankings at No. 6 after reaching the quarterfinals at the French Open and the U.S. Open, and the finals at Wimbledon. His two main weapons are his forehand and serve, which suit him well on the fast U.S. Open hard courts. With him feeling healthy once again, Berrettini is a threat. He reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in July which showed that he was back and ready to compete with the world’s best.

Karen Khachanov

A year ago, the 27-year-old reached the semifinals before falling to Casper Ruud, which set him on a successful course at the majors that proceeded it. He reached the semifinals at the Australian Open at the beginning of this year, and then the quarterfinals at the French Open. He had to withdraw from Wimbledon with an injury, but Khachanov has seemed to find his footing. If he is healthy, look for Khachanov to be playing into the second week of the U.S. Open.

continued on page 36

Contenders, Pretenders, Sleepers

Alexander Zverev

While Germany’s Alexander Zverev is a former finalist at the U.S. Open, his name isn’t one that is mentioned much when discussing the best players in the world. But perhaps that could be something that works to his benefit. Zverev was the face of the Next Gen when he broke out and was supposed to be one of the players to carry the torch for tennis’ future. With that pressure now subsided, Zverev is playing more relaxed tennis which has resulted in more success. He reached the semifinals at the French Open earlier this year, and with a deep U.S. Open run in his past, Zverev could be due for another one this September.

Sleepers – Women’s Singles

Belinda Bencic

A quarterfinalist two years ago, don’t be surprised if Belinda Bencic returns to that stage of the event in 2023. Bencic has returned to form over the last year-or-so, after injuries ravaged what was a promising young career. She is still only 26-years-old and has began playing like the player

she was when she first broke onto the scene, which saw her reach the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open back in 2014. She is up to No. 15 in the world rankings and has been playing consistently well all year long. Bencic has shown she can succeed at the U.S. Open, and will aim to do so once again.

Victoria Azarenka

The veteran Azarenka has a deep resume that features a lot of Grand Slam success, and she is prepared for a secondweek run at this year’s U.S. Open. Azarenka has returned to the form that made her one of the top players in the world for years. She reached the Australian Open semifinals at the beginning of this year, reaching that milestone for the first time in a decade, and will look to continue that major success in Queens. She is a three-time U.S. Open finalist, so she won’t shy away from the bright lights of New York.

Madison Keys

A former finalist at the U.S. Open, Madison Keys knows what it takes to go far at this tournament. A powerful player with big groundstrokes, her game is suited to the hard courts, and she will look to build on the success she has had thus far in 2023. Keys reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon which came on the heels of her title at Eastbourne the week before. If Keys can remain consistent and cut down on her errors, she is a force to be reckoned with, especially with the American crowd support behind her.

Reasons to Love the U.S. Open

Fan Week

US Open Fan Week will return in style in 2023, providing six days of amazing tennis, star-studded events and activities for all—with most free to the public—in the leadup to the final Grand Slam of the year. Whether it's your first time or your 10th time visiting the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the slate of events scheduled from Tuesday, Aug. 22 through Sunday, Aug. 27 will give you a savory sampling of the US Open’s unparalleled electricity.

Tennis under the stars

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

Practice court access

A two-story practice gallery debuted at the 2014 US Open, which allowed fans unprecedented access to see their favorite players as they prepared for their matches. In addition to the viewing area of the practice courts, the gallery is also adjacent to Courts 4, 5 and 6 where matches are taking place, giving fans 360 degrees of tennis.

New York, New York

Tennis is an international sport with

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

Star Power

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

U.S. Open Fan Week Kicks Off 2023 Event

USOpen Fan Week will return in style in 2023, providing six days of amazing tennis, star-studded events and activities for all—with most free to the public—in the lead-up to the final Grand Slam of the year.

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

Nearly 112,000 visitors attended US Open Fan Week in 2022, with a record-setting 35,000 enjoying the atmosphere and activities on Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.US Open Fan Week will include the following events in 2023:

US Open Qualifying Tournament

From Tuesday, Aug. 22 through Friday, Aug. 25, 128 men and 128 women will compete for the final 16 spots in both singles main draws, with matches scheduled around the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Legends of the Open presented by Moderna

Fans can watch top players and former US Open favorites Kim Clijsters, James Blake and Caroline Wozniacki play an exhibition match in Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 7:00 p.m.

Stars of the Open Exhibition Match

Carlos Alcaraz, Christopher Eubanks, Elina Svitolina, Frances Tiafoe, John McEnroe and more will take to Louis

Armstrong Stadium for a ticketed exhibition match at 7:00 p.m. on Aug. 23, with all proceeds benefiting Ukraine relief efforts.

Flavors of the Open

Returning for a second year, the US Open’s signature culinary event will delight attendees with the wide range of food and beverage offerings available, coupled with celebrity chefs and top tennis talent.

The chefs will interact with the crowd while serving up signature US Open dishes served at their on-site restaurants, but the action in Louis Armstrong Stadium isn’t limited to food. Fans will have the opportunity to meet—and potentially rally with—Bob and Mike Bryan, while the concourse features games, music and even a photo op with the US Open's Tiffany trophies.

Flavors of the Open takes place on Thursday, August 24 at 6:30 p.m., and chefs scheduled to participate include Alex Guarnaschelli, Josh Capon, David Burke, Pat LaFrieda, Masaharu Morimoto, Kwame Onwuachi, Melba Wilson and James Kent.

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day

Oriented toward kids and families, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day celebrates the life and legacy of tennis icon and civil rights activist Arthur Ashe. Fans of all ages can play tennis, enjoy performances and participate in other fun activities starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Open Practice Day

The grounds are open on Sunday, Aug. 27, as players put in their last hours of practice before the tournament officially gets underway the next day. Visitors can watch some of the top talent while enjoying concessions from the Food Village.

U.S. Open Prize Money Reaches $65 Million

Tournament will mark the 50th anniversary of equal prize money at the U.S. Open

player per diem for all competitors, with the introduction of travel vouchers of $1,000 for the first time, as well as an additional hotel room for all players (or a doubling of player hotel allotment from $300 to $600 per day if the player chooses to lodge at another accommodation).

In addition, players will see an increase in meal allowance as well as racquet stringing for all players. This includes both Main Draw and Qualifying competitors in Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles events; Mixed Doubles players; and Men’s, Women’s and Quad Division Wheelchair competitors.

Main Draw Singles

• Champion: $3,000,000

TheUSTA today announced that the 2023 U.S. Open will award $65 million in total player compensation for the first time. This amount tops the $60 million number of 2022, an increase of more than 8 percent.

Player compensation takes on even greater significance this year, with 2023 marking the 50th Anniversary of Equal Prize Money at the U.S. Open. Fifty years ago, in 1973, the US Open became the first sporting event in history to offer equal prize money to both men and women competitors, with each competing for total purses of $100,000, including a $25,000 payout to both the men’s and women’s singles champion.

Ensuring significant payouts for players in all rounds was a priority in the creation of the prize money structure. Players eliminated from Main Draw Singles in the Round of 128 will receive $81,500 – this represents a 44 percent increase since 2019 ($58,000). At the same time, Main Draw Singles Champions will receive $3 million in prize money, up from $2.6 million in 2022, a 15% increase.

In addition, U.S. Open Qualifying players will be awarded $22,000 for first round, $34,500 for second round, and $45,000 for final round, representing increases of 100 percent, 92 percent and 41 percent since 2019, respectively.

In addition, an effort was made to provide greater assistance to all competitors from all events, regardless of finishing position, with the implementation of further player expense assistance. The 2023 U.S. Open will see a significant increase in

• Runner-Up: $1,500,000

• Semifinalists: $775,000

• Quarterfinalists: $455,000

• Round of 16: $284,000

• Round of 32: $191,000

• Round of 64: $123,000

• Round of 128: $81,500

Main Draw Doubles (per team)

• Champions: $700,000

• Runners-Up: $350,000

• Semifinalists: $180,000

• Quarterfinalists: $100,000

• Round of 16: $58,000

• Round of 32: $36,800

• Round of 64: $22,000

2023 U.S. Open Schedule

COMING IN NOVEMBER

Distribution scheduled for 11/01/23

This edition will feature:

• Coaches Roundtable Discussion

• Tennis Travel Destination Guide

• Holiday Gift Guide

• 2023 Girls’ High School Recap

• 2023 U.S. Open Recap

• And Much More!

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Junior Player

By Brian Coleman

Leo Carmo Ross School Tennis Academy

Growingup in the middle of a tennis academy, Leo Carmo’s life has always revolved around the sport. Ever since he can remember, he was walking around on the clay courts of the Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) while his father, Vinicius, the academy’s Director of Tennis, orchestrated and operated its programming.

“I’ve been playing tennis ever since I could walk,” said Leo Carmo. “My dad always had me holding a racquet while walking around, and even from an early age he was putting me through hand-eye coordination drills. Being out there practically every day, I’ve watched him work with so many players over the years, and Ross has always felt like a second home to me.”

And so from an early age, Carmo fell in love with tennis. While he would play soccer for a few years growing up, as well as leaning into his Brazilian roots and doing jujitsu training, tennis was always number one in his heart.

While growing up in and around Ross School Tennis Academy, with your father as its director, could lead to a burnout from the sport, that has not been the case for Leo, who credits that to the dynamic relationship he has with his father.

“He has been super inspirational to me and has always been there,” he said. “He doesn’t put too much pressure on me, he’s not a typical tennis parent who is always pressuring you or

telling you to do things a certain way. He understands tennis and what it takes, so that’s helpful, but we do a good job of separating coach and father.”

Vinicius added:

“I think it’s harder for me than it is for him. I have to be his father and his coach, so when we are on court I tell him what to do, and then when we get home I do the same thing, so it’s important to find that balance. But I’m lucky that he is such a mature kid for his age, and the fact that he has been here since he was young watching me coach, and running the programs makes him in tune with what should be happening on the courts.”

Carmo has a big serve and effective forehand, and his main focus now in his training is improving his match play and gaining more experience in matches. He wants to continue getting better at point construction and understanding how to properly use his weapons during matches.

Helping him to achieve that goal are the talented coaches at RSTA, many of whom are former professional players or currently compete collegiately, and from all different backgrounds. RSTA has a very international feel and that is evident with its plethora of coaches and instructors which helps foster a well-rounded approach to teaching tennis.

“I’ve been through the whole pathway here, from red dot and green dot to orange ball. This is my second home,” said Carmo.

“The coaches are great and amazing people, and it’s great to be able to learn from a mix of coaches who come from different backgrounds. Some coaches who are good players don’t always know how to interact and connect with their players, but the coaches here are not like that at all. They make everyone feel comfortable and welcoming, which helps us have fun while training but still taking it seriously.”

The RSTA provides not only tennis instruction but also top-tier fitness and dietary training to all of its players. Those services and amenities aren’t reserved just for the elite players in the Academy, but are available to the players in all the programs, as well as the kids from local schools in the Hamptons who often come to RSTA to play.

“This is part of the full Ross School Academy experience, it’s well-rounded and we offer it to everyone,” said Vinicius. “We have a sports psychologist here, we help teach them how to eat,

proper breathing when on court and everything it takes. This is not just the Tennis Center’s mentality, but it’s the Ross School mentality.”

All of that has helped Leo Carmo become one of the top players in the RSTA, and this past spring he helped the Ross School varsity high school team capture the Suffolk County Small School title and advance to the Long Island Championship. Having been used to competing individually throughout most of his tennis career, Carmo embraced being part of the team and was a key factor in his team’s success.

“It was an amazing season. From the young guys like myself through the older guys, we all got along super well and were great friends,” said Carmo. “It felt nice to be a part of a team. I play all of these tournaments and it can be lonely sometimes, so to have the team support and hear people cheering for you was a cool experience. I’m excited to try and do better next season and hopefully go

to the State Championships.”

The younger Carmo has goals of one day playing college tennis, citing his love of the team experience he felt competing in high school tennis, and then hopefully be able to turn professional sometime after that. But for now, he will continue to put in the work and use all of the resources he has access to at the RSTA to improve his game.

For Vinicius Carmo, his objective with Leo is the same as it is for all the kids he teaches:

“My goal for him, and all the players here, is first and foremost be the best they can be,” he said. “That’s the ultimate goal, and it means something different to each person. Tennis can teach us so much about ourselves, how to deal with adversity and how to handle struggles, things like that. If I can pass those sorts of lessons onto my son and he can take that away from me, then we did something right.”

What’s Your On-Court Persona?

By Dr. Tom Ferraro

AsI was speaking to a tennis player the other day, we came upon the interesting notion of “on-court persona”, the characteristic manner in which a player will conduct themselves on the court. Many amateur players haven’t established one at all and lose control of themselves when dealing with setbacks or mistakes by getting panicky or angry, or simply giving up. But obviously that is not the right way do go about things. An on-court persona is like a defense mechanism that provides the means to cope with any temporary setback.

Over the years, all the greats had their own on-court persona that was self-evident. Jimmy Connors had a fiery on-court persona and John McEnroe had a bullish on court persona. Bjorn Borg was called the ice man because of his unflappable on court persona. Pete Sampras was criticized for being too robotic in his personality. On-court personas are a defensive shield which helps you to organize your thoughts, roll with the punches and finish off matches without wavering.

The closest theory about this was by Dr. George Kelly, who was a psychologist from the 1950s and

developed the Personal Construct Theory. He felt that our personalities were based upon the way we felt things would turn out. Unfortunately for many amateur players, their personal construct is, “I’m a loser”, and this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

George Kelly believed that one can

adopt a certain personal construct which can help a great deal in coping with missed shots, and when you are on the edge of victory and need to finish off matches.

The ideal personal contract for you will be based partly upon your temperament and partly on the traits any tennis player needs to have if they are to have a winning career. These traits would include resilience, adaptability, aggression, poise, focus, confidence and the belief that they are winners. I once asked a highly ranked tennis player what it felt like to play against Roger Federer and he said “Well, he believed he would beat me, the crowd believed he would beat me and I believed he would beat me.”

The way to achieve a convincing and a winning personal construct is to think about it, embrace it, develop it and use it has a defense to cope with all setbacks as you play every match. Over time you will learn to accommodate to your new on court persona and it will become you.

You may feel you do not want to be too cocky or too confident but you need to realize that a winning on-court persona is a great device which can shield you form losing control of your emotions and we all know that tennis is a highly emotional game. In psychoanalytic terms this is called “identification with the aggressor” and is one of the essential defense mechanisms that winning athletes use.

All great tennis players have a tried and true on court persona which they use automatically and unconsciously. When you see them enter center court with that game face on what you are really seeing is their on-court persona, that unshakable attitude that gets them in the zone and keeps them there.

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.

Every great tennis player has a characteristic on court persona that they use to stay focused and even

Morethan 30 years ago, Jonathan Baker and James Van Patten teamed up to create the tennis comedy, ‘Dirty Tennis’, a hilarious take on sports instructional videos that starred Dick Van Patten, Caitlyn Jenner (then Bruce Jenner) and Nicolette Sheridan. And while the era of the VHS is over, the film is getting a new life as earlier this year it became available on streaming services and introduced to a new generation of tennis fans.

While the film was shot in Los Angeles, it has a strong connection to the New York tennis community. Baker is a native of Manhattan who spends his summers out in the Hamptons. As the owner of the famed Maidstone Hotel in East Hampton, he held a rerelease of the film earlier this spring at the hotel where he brought together people from throughout New York, including many of the local tennis clubs out in the Hamptons.

“Dirty Tennis came out because after Dick and his family moved out to California, I caught up with them and visited him at his house,” recalls Baker. “At the time, I was working on a film called ‘Dorf on Golf’, which was a big success, and I thought, wouldn’t it be interesting to do something like this for tennis. At the Van Patten’s house, I saw Dick on his tennis court playing, with no form, crappy old racquets, dressed like he was in the circus, and yet, he was beating everybody. I turned to his son Jimmy, who wrote the script, and said this is crazy. He’s dancing around, playing music, it was hysterical. I said we have to show this to the world.”

‘Dirty Tennis’ Lives To See Another Day

By Brian Coleman

From there, the inspiration for the film was born. They decided to bring in world-class swimmer Bruce Jenner to costar in the film, and then brought in Nicolette Sheridan as well. Van Patten’s wife, Pat, and sons, James, Vincent and Nels, are also featured. The film is a short comedy that parodies tennis instructional videos, with Van Patten as the instructor and teaching his students all about how to use tricks to succeed on the tennis court.

Vincent Van Patten, who was a professional tennis player on the ATP Tour who reached 26th in the world, said:

“On the tennis court, our dad, Dick Van Patten wore the wrong clothes, held the racquet the wrong way, had no tennis etiquette, but never lost… He played ‘dirty tennis’.”

The film’s co-star, Caitlyn Jenner, added:

“‘Dirty Tennis' lives to see another day. Jonathan Baker's relentless journey to keep his tennis show alive in the public eye has been as fun to watch as is this comedy itself.”

That desire to keep the film alive derives from Baker’s love of tennis. He still plays three hours a day every other day, and is a huge fan of the sport in general, so when he saw what was happening on the Van Patten court, he knew he had to combine his love of tennis with his filmmaking expertise.

“When I saw Dick on the court with his outfits and misshapen racquets, I was in shock, and saw the oxymoron of what he was doing clashing with the typical traditions of tennis,” said Baker.

This is a throwback, a novelty piece. It was made in 1988, and it looks like it was made in 1988, but tennis transcends those differences. If you love tennis, you’ll love ‘Dirty Tennis’.”

With the U.S. Open arriving here in New York, there is no better time to revisit Baker’s hilarious film. It is available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV/iTunes and Google Play, with 20 percent of profits going to benefit the Women’s Shelter of East Hampton.

And with it being written and produced by New York natives, it is the perfect viewing to prepare yourself for the final major of the year, right here in our backyard.

“The movie features New Yorkers and so many different personalities, and I love that it’s available to a new audience right in time for the U.S. Open,” added Baker.

Tennis Through the Lens

I don't consider myself a Sports Artist. I am merely a witness to tennis players releasing raw grit to hit a yellow ball— perfectly.

When I look through the viewfinder of my camera, I am no longer an observer as the match unfolds. I feel the player's heartbeat synchronize with the rhythm of the game. Adrenaline rushes through their veins, and mine. I sense the tension in their muscles when they execute a shot. I share their joy in a powerful return. My heart sinks as their shoulders slump and eyes roll when a ball fails to go over the net.

Like players on court, I seek the right moment for the winning shot—when to click the shutter. I zoom in on the sweat on a player's brow, the narrowing of eyes and the intensity of grip on the racket. And then it happens—that perfect shot materializes. A player lunges with

By Barbara Wyatt

grace, their muscles taut and eyes fixed on victory. The ball dances on the racquet strings.

CLICK!

Sometimes, the photograph isn't right—the timing slightly off, the composition not as compelling as I hoped, just like unforced errors on a tennis court. Yet, if I do it correctly, that mere snapshot can reveal a player's soul of tennis—their beauty,

athletic prowess, and unwatering concentration on a little yellow ball.

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

Barbara Wyatt’s original photo of Michael Or

The color explosion style photo of Michael Or

Metro Corporate League’s Fall 2023 Season Set to Get Underway

September

will mark the beginning of the new season in the Metro Corporate Tennis League presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs, with teams competing across multiple divisions featuring an array of levels.

The Fall League runs from September through December with teams available in the Advanced, Advanced Intermediate and Intermediate Divisions, as well as the Hi-Five league, designed for players looking to for a less competitive and more socially engaging format.

Currently, the Summer 2023 season is heating up with playoffs and the

end-of-season finals looming. Below are the current standings heading into the final few weeks of the season:

Advanced Division

Bloomberg

Proskauer Rose

Macquarie

Advanced Intermediate Division

Sullivan & Cromwell

PwC

J.P. Morgan

Intermediate Division #1

PwC

D.E. Shaw & Co

Bloomberg (J)

Bloomberg ®

White & Case

Intermediate Division #2

Bloomberg (A)

Bloomberg (K)

BNP Paribas

Bloomberg (L)

Raistone

The season will run until September, culminating with an end-of-season party at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club.

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

Presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs

More Than 30 Years In, High Country Still Going Strong

In1988, Bill Silverman, along with a college buddy, bought what was then called Racquet & Ski Shop in an old banking building in Livingston, N.J.

A few years later, they would move to a bigger location and rebrand the store to High Country Ski & Sports, and for the last 30-plus years, have been providing New Jersey with top-of-the-line equipment and apparel with unparalleled customer service.

“Customer service is our top priority,” he said. “You can go down the road and get ignored by the big chain places, but when you come in here, we tailor our work to ensure you get the product you need. It’s absolutely what we are all about. We try to make sure we have what our customer wants, and if there's something we don't have, we do our best to get it in store quickly so that they can enjoy it.”

High Country Ski & Sports is open seven days a week, and in addition to the array of equipment and apparel, also offers stringing services, grip replacements, as well as repair work and more for skiers and snowboarders. Silverman says they string over 2,000 racquets a summer, and that customer service is their top priority.

“When I started in 1988, there must have been 40 tennis shops in New Jersey, and there are very few now,” said Silverman. “We’ve become sort of the kids of tennis in the state, we’re the last standing specialty tennis store in

New Jersey.”

With an established brand and success that only continues to climb over the last couple of years, the next step for High Country is to expand farther. The store has added an array of pickleball offerings as well, leaning in to one of the fastest growing sports in the country, as High Country always makes sure to stay ahead of the curve to make sure it

meets all of its customer needs.

“We’re hoping to open some other stores in the future,” said Silverman. “There are a lot of areas that seem to be ripe for tennis, and our goal is to continue expanding and growing into those areas.”

High Country Ski & Tennis is located at 465 West Mountain Pleasant Avenue in Livingston, N.J.

Is Perfect Technique Needed?

By Leo Correa

Oneof the primary ghosts that haunt tennis players everywhere is that of technical issues. The belief that success in the modality depends on perfect strokes, movements millimetrically aligned with the biomechanical model, and impeccable executions, resonates as a premise for success. Perhaps some of the blame for this lies on Roger Federer, who has become synonymous with perfectly played tennis during his tennis career. Also, much of the content found on the Internet related to tennis is related to striking gestures and their variations. Books, courses, and classes are not far behind as one more option to achieve better results. But, in this constant search, which goes back to the history of tennis, at a certain point, you may be faced with the following question:

“Do you need to have the perfect technique to be able to play?” Before giving an opinion on this tricky question, let's analyze a little tennis technique.

Technique

Technique in tennis refers to the set of motor actions performed to hit the ball in its most diverse situations, as well as moving around the court. Therefore, it ranges from the grip to the completion of a stroke, from the exit for the ball leaving the racquet to the return after the hit. The technique is the “how to”, the endless ways to play and move. Proper technique will always point to the best way to do each step of the actions involved in the game.

Range of Acceptability

As the name implies (with form), conformity permeates the form of a stroke. It’s plasticity. It doesn't matter how good or bad the result of the stroke is, what is really relevant is how close it is to the biomechanical model, the ideal strike. The angles of the body segments in each stage of the execution, the amplitudes, and the rhythm, always try to be aligned with an established pattern. Compliance ensures the best way to hit the ball with the least amount of energy and the least risk of injury. It's what we observe on a day-to-day basis when we notice that someone hits well, that stroke is clean, or that the ball moves easily. It's what many look for in private lessons and hours on the internet watching slow-motion videos of the best players in the world. It is not difficult to predict that a player with inferior technique, but more trained and physically better, will be superior on the court. Technique is important, but it is not the only factor that defines a player.

Technical Efficiency

But is this beautiful-looking stroke effective? Technical effectiveness is understood as the result of the strike, whether it is deep, consistent, powerful, varied, and manages to put it executer at an advantage. What matters is the result of the action and not necessarily how it is done. And now comes a character who alters the romantic quest for the perfect hit. Who hasn't lost to that player with "ugly" strokes? There is no doubt that the worst defeats that are decreed for us come at the hands of these tennis players

with weird, heterodox techniques. What we are often not prepared to see is that, behind this strangeness, lies an effective production of strokes: solidity, effects, direction, and power, giving great quality to the ugly game that we condemn. And this is not just limited to amateur tennis: there have been and still are many “uglies” among the best in the world.

Being effective is important. In fact, it's what will define a player's level. But at what price? Movements that deviate from the technical standard surely overload some parts of the body. Nor are they economical, they end up demanding more energy and tiring the practitioner. The increased risk of injury can shorten a career. Spending more than you need is also a clear limitation. When we get the best result with the lowest expenditure of energy, with the best preservation of our body, we are efficient. Technical efficiency values the most appropriate way to hit, which, in turn, fulfills its objectives in the order of the game. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are both extremely effective as they achieve incredible results with their strokes. But Federer is much more efficient, as he expends less energy and preserves his body more to achieve his goals. Just look at the injury history of both players to see how efficient the Federer was before retiring.

Why does this happen?

And why then doesn't that player with such beautiful strokes have better results? Compliance in itself does not imply effectiveness. Having a correct motor

gesture is a positive thing, but that does not mean that it will be precise, solid, and powerful. Accuracy depends on many repetitions, hours, and hours of training. Consistency obeys the same rules. Power is beyond. In addition to training volume, it depends on the player's physical capabilities. There are players who are so physically powerful that they achieve great acceleration on the ball, much more because of their physical virtues than technical ones.

Thus, it is not difficult to predict that a player with inferior technique, but more trained and physically better, will be superior on the court. Something that illustrates this situation well is found in youth tennis. According to many organizations, up to 14 years old, the main factor that defines the quality of players is technique. But, from the age of 16, the mental and physical are more important and will be the main responsibility for the quality of the player. For this reason, we often see a 12-year-old “star” simply disappear at 18, when his peers will become

stronger and mentally superior. Technique is important, but it is not the only factor that defines a player: there are many more issues involved. We must look for safe patterns of movement, and take great care of our physical and mental abilities. Create good standards of play and make good decisions on the court. That way we will be efficient.

Suggestions

1. Social players must be very attentive to the technical repertoire. This helps to avoid injuries and be long-lasting in tennis.

2. Young people should be concerned with the technique as soon as they are initiated. The idea is to reach the age of 14 with superior and wellestablished technical standards. After that age, technical work is more laborious and costly for the player.

3. It must be remembered that technique undergoes a major transformation when the player is under competitive pressure. A

technically correct stroke can translate into a different and nonstandard motor action when the player faces a moment of great tension or anxiety during the match. Blaming the coup is looking for the solution in the wrong place: one must improve the player's mental skills. It's the old story of the double fault in the last game of the set, which erroneously sells the image that the serve is not good. The Technique usually pays for mistakes, but in competitive situations, the villain, who left without paying is almost always the mental aspect.

4. Try to develop the game as a whole. Attention to the physical part, to the acquisition and improvement of mental skills, and, above all, learning and evolving in the tactical universe of tennis. This set, the global one, is preponderant when defining a player's level. After all, in the complexity of tennis, after all, it is not necessary to have the perfect technique to play.

Thereturn of serve is arguably the second most important shot in tennis, after the serve, yet it is probably the most under practiced, underappreciated, and undervalued shot in the game.

In my annual program at my academy, players can train 25 hours per week with me, and I’ve structured the day so that we can work on serve and return for a significant amount of time.

Lately, as I have worked with different players individually on the return, I am seeing common themes and issues that all players, parents and coaches can learn from:

Eyes and Mind

I have noticed that many players are not alert with their eyes. They are not targeting the server’s toss and technique with their eyes, reading and anticipation the incoming shot.

There are many cues to look for in terms of toss location, technique, body language, head and eye position of the rival server that can give information to help the returner know where the ball is going before it is struck.

The best returners are also good at reading the psychological tendencies and the tactical intention of the server and then making educated guesses as to the direction and selection of the incoming serve.

I’ve read that Novak Djokovic practices eye exercises to improve his

The Relevance of the Return

By Chris Lewit

reactions and alertness. Training the eyes in this fashion using technology is a new trend in the game and there are experts in the field of vision training starting to focus in this area. Check that these cool new technologies!

Hands

The swing must be modulated or adjusted to the speed of the incoming ball. This is an important principle that I teach all my students. If the ball is coming faster, the shape of the backswing should be flatter and more compact. Players with significant loops need to learn to keep their hand or hands lower and to reduce the length of their backswing to be effective returning fast serves.

Players also need to understand the relationship between return positioning and size of backswing. The deeper the player positions himself, the more time that gives him or her to make a larger swing. If the player wants to take the serve earlier, this necessitates a smaller more compact backswing. Many young or inexperienced players don’t understand this relationship well and just take the same loop as on their normal groundstrokes regardless of their court position or the speed of the incoming serve.

Feet

I’ve noticed that many players have poor split-step technique, incorrect timing of the split-step, and an inefficient

recovery for the first shot after the return. Coaches, players and parents should dial in on these areas to improve the technique and rhythm.

Players often split-step too narrowly and with poor balance and posture. They land flat-footed or on their heels. These types of postural or technical problems need to be corrected. Players commonly split-step at the wrong time, either too early or too late. Mistiming the split undermines quick reaction and movement to the incoming ball.

If players never practice the footwork after hitting the return, they often move sluggishly or establish a poor position in the court for the start of the rally. I like to work on the recovery footwork technique after the return is made so that it’s quick and efficient and puts the player in the optimal position to be consistent on the return plus one shot.

Positioning

In addition to the relationship between backswing and court position, players need to understand that the best returners are always moving around the court to find the best possible position to receive the service. The optimal position varies and is not fixed. Many students I see want to stubbornly maintain one return position and never deviate from it.

In contrast, I want my players to adjust to the situation. Against some servers, they can hang back and play heavy topspin.

Against other rivals they can step up

inside the baseline and take time away— or any combination in between depending on the details of the moment. Players need to be comfortable with both styles of returning and have the courage and smarts to adjust.

In addition, many inexperienced returners wait for contact to move. However, the best returners move before the ball is struck, either to get into position to use their weapon, like hitting a runaround forehand, or because they anticipate where the serve is going. It is critical that players learn how to move before the ball is struck—not after.

Routines

I spend a lot of time on pre-return outlines or rituals. I’ve noticed that a lot of kids practice their serve rituals but not much time is spent on return rituals. It’s important to create calmness in the mind and to automate all the movements before the return is struck. Rituals help to prepare the mind and body to receive the onslaught of a big serve.

Targeting and Tactics

My less experienced students have poor tactics on the return and poor targeting. Many players are just trying to get the ball in the court, rather than returning to a specified place. There is no tactic without a target. Honing in on targets helps develop the tactical anticipation so that a player can start to visualize how

and where the server will play his first shot.

For example, if I return down the line deep to the backhand from the deuce court, I have a pretty good chance of receiving a cross-court reply to my backhand on the first shot by the server. Players need to practice their targeting on the return and start to predict the next reply from the server based on percentages and the geometry of the court. Legendary coach Nick Saviano likes to call this type of knowledge “generic tactics.”

Conclusion

How many players will go out and serve buckets of balls to improve their serve consistency? Not enough—but many more than those who go out and practice return. How many lessons include return practice in addition to serve practice? Few. There are many challenges to practicing the return of serve including the biggest one: whom can you get to serve to you?

Structure and plan your return practices well. My recommendation is to try and incorporate specific return of

Chris

serve time into your training every week. Find or hire someone to serve to you. Practice second serve returns and first serve returns. Practice adjusting your backswings. Work on your positioning. Clean your technique. Automate your rituals. Improve your targeting and tactical awareness. Train your eyes, mind, and feet!

Some of these skills can be practiced shadow style without the ball if you don’t have a partner. Do that! If you have a partner to serve to you, thank them and value that time dearly. Another option is to buy or get access to some of the serving ball machines that are now available on the market, but they are unfortunately super-expensive.

The ultimate goal is to be able to get a high percentage of first serve and second serve returns back into play. The best players in the world consistently make returns and keep pressure on the server. That’s how they get break opportunities. Fine tuning your return skills is the only way to achieve a high level of return consistency. To master the return, you need to get out there and do thousands of reps until you can return any type of serve to all the court locations.

www.inphormnyc.com

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.

adult league wrap-up

USTA Metro Region Adult League Update: September/October 2023

By Cole Newsome

Thespring 2023 local season was punctuated by the Metro Regional Championships which were held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Winning teams from each borough competed for the right to represent New York City at the USTA Eastern Sectional championships.

This season marked the highest total participation in USTA Metro leagues in recent years and the increased competition was reflected in the high level of play. Below are the winning teams below represented by their team captain:

Brooklyn 18 & Over Women

l 3.0: Deborah Fantera & Bridget Brennan

l 3.5: Lisa Bernstein

Manhattan 18 & Over Women

l 3.0: Erica Korngut & Jessica Sasaki (REGIONAL CHAMPION)

l 3.5: Lina Lekser

l 4.0: Rita Zhang & Anna Tang

l 4.5: Akiko Tohmatsu (REGIONAL CHAMPION)

l Open: Pam Glick (REGIONAL CHAMPION)

Queens 18 & Over Women

l 3.5: Patricia Gould & Rene Trujillo (REGIONAL CHAMPION)

l 4.0: Patricia Gould & Kathy Rey (REGIONAL CHAMPION)

Staten Island 18 & Over Women

l 3.0: Lillian Escobar & Deborah Fafian

l 3.5: Gregg & Jeanine Hansson

Bronx 18 & Over Men

l 4.0: Daniel Bindler

Manhattan 18 & Over Men

l 3.0: Yuij Okumura & Lina Lekser (REGIONAL CHAMPION)

l 3.5: Thomas Rinaldi

l 4.0: Daniel Katz

l 4.5: Mitchell Low & Adam Moramarco (REGIONAL CHAMPION)

l 5.0: Matt Hansen (REGIONAL CHAMPION)

Queens 18 & Over Men

l 3.5: Kuo Wu & Julien Li (REGIONAL CHAMPION)

l 4.0: Simon Chong (REGIONAL CHAMPION)

Staten Island 18 & Over Men

l 3.5: Emma Cioffi

Fall women’s, men’s, and mixed-gender leagues are beginning now and USTA is seeking new players and captains of all levels. For more information about all leagues, please contact Cole at newsome@eastern.usta.com

Cole Newsome is the Adult League Coordinator for the USTA Eastern Metro Region. He can be reached at newsome@eastern.usta.com.

Thereare an array of paddle and racquet sports that continue to take off in popularity across the country and throughout the world. Many people have turned to these sports either in replace of or in addition to tennis, and either way, this boom continually welcomes in new players.

One of those sports is Padel, a racquet sport that originated in Acapulco, Mexico. Typically played in doubles format, it’s court is an enclosed one that is a bit smaller than a regular doubles tennis court. The scoring is the same as tennis, but that’s about where the similarities end. The rules, strokes and technique are different, and the balls are less pressurized. Because the court is

Racquet ReportSport

presented by adidas Pickleball

enclosed, balls are able to be played off the walls, which makes for some fast and intense points being played.

Padel is played across 90 different countries globally, and is taking off here in the United States. Estimates say there will be over 200 courts here in the United States by the end of this year, a massive jump from the just 50 that existed a couple of years ago. The amount of clubs opening and building courts grows every day, and a pro league, the PPA, has even been formed.

A huge ambassador of padel is tennis great Andy Murray, who has invested money into a United Kingdom-based company, and he has been outspoken on the appeal of padel.

“There’s obviously a bit of crossover to tennis. But it’s probably a little bit easier, a bit more forgiving on the body,” he said. “But it’s probably a little bit easier, a bit more forgiving on the body. But it’s fun, it’s competitive, it’s good exercise. It’s a great game to play socially. I believe it is a better game to play than pickleball, which I know everyone is trying now.”

Right here in New York City we have seen the game take off, with Padel Haus opening, a dedicated padel complex in Brooklyn. As we move towards the end of the year and more courts continue to become available nationwide, padel could very well start to see the boom that pickleball has had in recent years.

Play More Points in the Present Accept-Breathe-Concentrate

By Rob Polishook

Irememberit like it was yesterday, coaching the Zonals for the 16 & Under age group. The competition was fierce with top kids from the country. Inevitably, various issues came up before matches. For example, I received a late-night text from my number two player saying her friend, our number three player, was really nervous about tomorrow’s match. She asked, “What should I do? How can I help her?” Or the other scenario, where my number four player was sitting at the changeover telling me how many lines his opponent had hit in the previous two games.

So, what’s a player to do?

Conventional sports psychology might tell you to ignore your feelings and just play, or even to forget about the score—get back out there and compete. Both ideas sound good, but in fact, they really don’t address the reality of the situation. What is the player experiencing at this exact moment, and what’s the starting point to moving forward?

I’d like to introduce what I call the “A, B, C’s” to regaining your focus when a distraction occurs. Well, wait you say … “sounds kind of gimmicky.”

Call it what you want, but this simple acronym is your roadmap to getting back on track once your concentration has wavered, or you have full blown lost it. The key to the “A, B, C’s” is to be aware that you have lost your concentration. From this point, they can be exercised to help you regain your composure, focus and game.

Let me explain what each letter stands for and provide a description and how to use it given the previous examples:

“A” stands for Accept: Using the example of my number two player who was nervous, accept the means to simply accept that you are nervous. Being nervous isn’t bad or good. In fact, I would say that it means that there is a match you care about and feel challenged. If you didn’t attach emotion to it and simply accepted it, you might say “Okay, I’m nervous” and just let it be. By fighting the nerves, you only make things worse and create an internal dialogue of what will happen next with the nerves. It’s okay to be nervous. Furthermore, if you are nervous, guess who else is likely to be nervous? Yes, that’s right … your opponent! Lastly, your name isn’t nervous, a part of you is nervous. Who wouldn’t be? You are getting ready to put yourself on the line.

“B” stands for Breathe: Yes, breathe! Using the example of my number four player who was complaining that his opponent was painting the lines. We discussed the simple truth that yes, he painted lines during the last six points, unheard of, but true. No need to fight it, it happened. Then, the work became to shift my player’s focus away from the past to the present. He brought his attention to his natural anchor—his breath. Little known fact, breath is always in the present. In order to connect to the present, you can simply just observe it, notice the sound, feel or rhythm for a few seconds. Or you

can breathe in to a count of three, hold it for two counts, and breathe out to a count of three … you choose the pattern. Or simply breathe in and out. Not only does this shift of focus connect you to the present moment, it will help you relax, stay calm and slow down.

“C” stands for Concentrate: Specifically, we are talking about making the choice to focus on what you can control and let go of what you cannot. In the case of my number three player, instead of concentrating on her nervousness, she could concentrate on what she needs to do to prepare for her match the evening before, and then how she wants to play. What is her game plan going to be? In the situation of my number four player, he can concentrate on playing his game, maybe keeping the ball away from his opponent’s forehand where most of the winners came from. And most importantly, know that he cannot control his opponent’s shots. He can only control his shot selection, his effort and how he competes. Concentrating on what you can control doesn’t guarantee winning, however, it’s your best path.

The “A, B, C’s” are a surefire way to get your game back on track when you lose your focus. Watch any of the top players and you can see when they move through these steps. Make no mistake, the “A, B, C’s” are simple, but are not easy.

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