New York Tennis Magazine November / December 2017 by United Sports Publications

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Staff David Sickmen Publisher (516) 409-4444, ext. 309 • david@usptennis.com Joel M. Berman President (516) 409-4444, ext. 310 • joel@usptennis.com Eric C. Peck Editor-in-Chief (516) 409-4444, ext. 312 • eric@usptennis.com Brian Coleman Senior Editor (516) 409-4444, ext. 326 • brianc@usptennis.com Joey Arendt Managing Art Director Francine Miller Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 • francinem@usptennis.com Emilie Katz Assistant Marketing Coordinator Scott Koondel VP of Operations (516) 409-4444, ext. 324

Sidney Beal III Staff Photographer

Lee Seidner Staff Photographer

Advertising To receive any information regarding advertising rates, deadlines, and requirements, call (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com. Article Submissions/Press Releases To submit any material, including articles and press releases, please call (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com. The deadline for submissions is the first of the month preceding the target issue. Subscriptions To receive subscription information, contact (516) 409-4444 or e-mail info@usptennis.com or check out our Web site: www.nytennismag.com. Fax subscription changes to (516) 409-1600. Statements of fact and opinion in New York Tennis Magazine are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of United Sports Publications Ltd. New York Tennis Magazine reserves the right to edit, reject and/or postpone the publication of any articles, information or data.

Table Of Contents

NOV/DEC 2017 • Vol 7, No 6

After First Full Pro Season, Bellis Ready to Break Out By Brian Coleman WTA Newcomer of the Year CiCi Bellis leads the next wave of American hopefuls. See page 8

Highlights 28 New York Tennis Magazine’s 2017 Tennis Travel Destinations Guide 42 2017 New York Tennis Magazine’s Coaches Roundtable Discussion 52 New York Tennis Magazine’s 2017 Holiday Gift Guide

Features 4 12 14 16 18 19 20 22 24 27 32 34 36 37 38 50 56 57 58 60 62 65 66 68 70 72 73 74 75 76 78 79

Across Metro New York Third Annual Johnny Mac Tennis Project Pro Am Isner, Nishikori and Bryan Brothers on Board for 2018 New York Open Technique and Tactics in Tennis By Damir Barisic Stages of Aces Bringing Tennis to the Local Concert Scene USTA Launches Net Generation at U.S. Open Laser Therapy for Tennis Injuries By Dr. Rob Silverman Junior Player Spotlight: Sophie Graver, John McEnroe Tennis Academy USTA Eastern Metro Region Update: November/December 2017 The West Side Tennis Club Celebrates Its 125th Anniversary 2017 New York Girls High School Recap 10 & Under Tennis: The Future of Tennis Academies By Oleg Mironchikov The Doctor’s Prescription: Play Tennis By Barbara Wyatt Once, Twice, Three Times a Player By Mike Williams The Jensen Zone: Okay! Here’s the Situation … By Luke Jensen Court Six: New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz Emilio Sanchez Hosts Adult and Junior Clinics in the Bronx Eastern Men’s Team Brings Home Sixth National Open Championship Kevin Anderson: The 6’8” Nightmare By Todd Widom More Than an Athlete: The Billie Jean King Story By Rob Polishook Do You Really Understand What Your Pro Is Talking About? By Lisa Dodson The West Side Tennis Club Hosts Sixth Annual “Little Mo” Internationals Should Your Child Be Playing Multiple Sports? By Chris Lewit A Mental Gym for Athletes By Dr. Tom Ferraro New York Tennis Charitable Initiatives Metro Corporate League Recap, Presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs The Benefits of Training With Low Compression Balls By Eric Faro and Andy Stuber The Battle of the Sexes By Richard Thater USTA Eastern Hosts Annual Junior Awards Gala at NTC Surf & Turf By Nick Rudman Citi Taste of Tennis Assembles the Best of the Kitchen and the Court USTA/Metropolitan Region 2017 Tournament Schedule

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Across Metro Ne CourtSense’s Yakoff Wins USTA Level 2 National Title Stephanie Yakoff of CourtSense Tennis Training Center captured the title in the Girls 12 and Under Division at the USTA Level 2 National Tennis Championships in Glen Cove, N.Y. Yakoff was the tournament’s top seed and she defeated second-seeded Elisabeth Dunac in the finals.

Collegiate Locals Make Deep Runs at Oracle/ITA Masters

Chris Lewit Academy’s Zaretsky Advances to “Little Mo” Consolation Finals Elana Zaretsky, a student of the Chris Lewit Tennis Academy, concluded her great run on the “Little Mo” circuit this year by competing in the “Little Mo” Nationals in Austin, Texas in the Girls 11s Division. Zaretsky advanced all the way to the finals of the consolation draw.

MatchPoint NYC’s Shabashkevich Captures Orange Level 1 Title MatchPoint NYC’s Katerina Shabashkevich continued her recent success in tournaments by winning the Youth Progression Orange Level 1 at Centercourt Florham Park. She defeated Nicole Okhtenberg in the finals.

Centercourt’s Wen Wins USTA National Singles and Doubles Titles Columbia’s Victor Pham put together an excellent run at the Oracle/ITA Masters on the campus of Pepperdine University. Competing against some of the best players in the country, Pham won four matches en route to reaching the finals, before falling to second-seed Brandon Holt of the University of Southern California in the title match. Jessica Livianu of St. John’s reached the quarterfinals of the Women’s Singles Draw, falling to Lily Miyazaki of Oklahoma.

Centercourt Tennis Academy’s Evan Wen won both the singles and doubles titles at the USTA National Level 2 Tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the Boys 14s Division, Wen (pictured right) defeated fellow Centercourt player Samir Banerjee (pictured left) in the singles final, and paired with Cooper Williams to win the doubles final.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

New York

… News and notes from across the New York Metro tennis community

JMTA’s Sorokko NTC Plays Host to 60-Plus for Crowned USTA National Selection NYC Aces Party Champ in Florida

John McEnroe Tennis Academy’s Michelle Sorokko won the USTA National Selection Level 2 Columbus Day Open in Florida. She hung on to beat the third-seeded Melissa Sakar, 6-1, 5-7, 62, in the finals.

Tennis Innovators’ Dhouib Victorious at L1A Fall Challenger Mehdi Dhouib of Tennis Innovators took home the title at the L1A Bethpage State Park Fall Challenger. The unseeded Dhouib beat Chenhe Lee 7-6, 6-0 in the finals, and has now won his last three USTA tournaments.

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center was host to over 60 young professionals who came together for the NYC Aces Night Session Party. Throughout the ten field courts, players began with a casual hit before taking part in the doubles competition featuring a prize from the New York Open. There was a great atmosphere with music, food and drinks, and the night concluded with a special raffle with the proceeds going to support the Big H Foundation, an organization named after the legendary Cardozo Coach Howie “Big H” Arons and whose mission is to fight cancer through early detection.

RIRC Hosts Member Appreciation Day

Roosevelt Island Racquet Club rewarded its dedicated members by hosting a Member Appreciation Day and U.S. Open Finals party as it continues to provide its members with events throughout the year.

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across metro new york

continued from page 5

Cary Leeds Center Hosts Net Generation Day

The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning hosted a Net Generation Day with special guests USTA President Katrina Adams and tennis legend Gigi Fernandez. There were interactive games and activities in order to promote tennis in a fun and welcoming way.

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New York Tennis Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ NYTennisMag.com

After First Full Pro Season, Bellis Ready to Break Out By Brian Coleman

hree years ago, Catherine Cartan “CiCi” Bellis captured the hearts of New Yorkers and tennis fans everywhere when the 1,208th-ranked teenager, playing in only her 13th professional match, defeated 12th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova in the first round of the 2014 U.S. Open. She became the youngest player to win a match at the U.S. Open since Anna Kournikova did so in 1996. “I love playing here. The crowd supports me so much,” Bellis said of playing in Flushing Meadows, a place that will always hold a special place in her heart. “I remember my first year playing here, I was a junior, and no one knew who I was, but they would come out and support America. They loved seeing Americans doing well and that was the best part about it.” Now 18-years-old and a year into her pro career, the girl from San Francisco has moved on from that unexpected victory. And she wants you to do the same. When asked if she gets tired of being asked about that victory three years ago, she replied unambiguously, “Yes!” “It was crazy, but it’s just something I’ve moved on from, and has nothing to do with my game now, and who I am now,” Bellis added. “It did show me that when playing my best, I could play with top players, even at that age. It was a good start for me. Obviously I have matured a lot as a player since then.” Bellis turned pro in 2016 after initially committing verbally to play collegiate tennis at Stanford. It was not an easy decision for her, but strong play in the second half of 2016 provided her with the confidence to begin her professional career. “I’ve been working really hard, and all my hard work is beginning to pay off,” Bellis

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bellis ready to break out

said. “But I think I can do whatever I want to in the sport of tennis. If I keep working hard, I think I can be one of the best players in the world.” In the year since turning pro, Bellis has no regrets about her decision, and she has quickly shot up the world rankings as one of the brightest young stars in the game. In her first tournament as a professional last year, Bellis reached the Quebec quarterfinals, the second WTA quarterfinal showing of her career. Her play heated up as 2016 concluded, capturing titles in the last three tournaments she played in, including two ITF 50Ks in Saguenay and Toronto before heading to Honolulu to take home her first WTA title, the Hawaii Tennis Open in November, where she defeated Shuai Zhang in the finals, 6-4, 6-2. “I think the way I finished last year and have been playing definitely validates my decision,” Bellis said. “It was a big decision for me, and at the time, I didn’t know if it was the right one or not. I guess it turned 10

out to be right.” She headed into 2017 with tons of momentum and ready to make a splash on the WTA Tour, but the year got off to a rocky start due to a hamstring injury which kept her off the court for all of January. Her season began in Doha, where she would fall in the second round of the qualifiers, but responded in a huge way the following week in Dubai. Bellis defeated 17th-seed Yulia Putintseva in the opening round, and after knocking off Laura Siegemund, she took out former champion and fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska to reach the quarterfinals. “It’s definitely the biggest win of my career,” Bellis said after the win. “And probably one of the best days of my life.” While she would lose in the Dubai quarterfinals to Caroline Wozniacki, the monster win was a huge stepping stone for the young American. Not only did she belong on the WTA Tour, but she had the ability to play against the very best in the world, further proven with the win over Radwanska.

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continued from page 9

The Dubai run moved her up 15 spots in the WTA Women’s Singles Rankings as her steady and gradual climb continued. She would win two matches in the main draw of the 2017 French Open, but was dealt a tough draw against two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka in the opening round of Wimbledon. She would win the first set, but Azarenka came back to win the final two sets and the match. Her best showing so far this season was at her home tournament in Stanford, Calif., the 2017 Bank of the West Classic. Seeded eighth, she powered into the semifinals, highlighted by a win over the second-seeded Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals, and followed it up the next week by reaching the final 16 in Toronto to rise to 36th in the world. “I’ve been so impressed by her maturity and self-reliance,” Chris Evert told the New York Times earlier this year. “And just the hunger she has to learn.” That maturity and self-reliance, as de-

scribed by the Hall of Famer Evert, may be Bellis’ most impressive qualities. She is an extremely talented player, but her maturity and demeanor on the court and as a professional have allowed her to be undeterred by any moment. She was tripped up in the first round of the 2017 U.S. Open, falling to Japan’s Nao Hibino, 3-6, 6-4, 5-7, but it was just one bad match in an overall fantastic 2017 season. “It definitely wasn’t my best match. I prepared really well for the tournament. It just wasn’t a good day for me,” she said afterwards. “I had a really good summer, so I am definitely not too bummed about it. Obviously I am bummed because this is one of my favorite tournaments, but you cannot control those types of things. I’m definitely happy with my overall improvement this year.” That improvement led to her being named the WTA Newcomer of the Year for 2017. She showed success on different court surfaces and in tournaments on American soil and outside of the United States, finishing the year ranked 42nd in the world, 48 spots higher than when the year began. The state of American women’s tennis is in great shape, especially considering the U.S. Open featured four semifinalists from the United States, three of whom are still under the age of 30. But the future of women’s tennis will be led by the California girl with the swinging pony tail who is still a

teenager for another year. She has already reached the third round at two different majors, has won a WTA title and has scored two wins over top 10 players. She is not worried about expectations, in fact, she embraces them, and as she continues to grow, Bellis will be a perennial force to be reckoned with on the WTA Tour for years to come. “I love it,” said Bellis about high expec-

tations. “It gives me more motivation to build upon what I’ve accomplished. My goal is to just keep improving each day, and hopefully one day, I’ll be one of the top Americans.” Brian Coleman is Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by phone at (516) 409-4444, ext. 326 or email BrianC@USPTennis.com.

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Credit all photos to David X. Prutting/BFA.com

Stars Come Out to the Hamptons for Third Annual Johnny Mac Tennis Project Pro Am

ennis legends John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, Chris Evert, Mats Wilander, Pat Cash, actress Jane Krakowski, and nearly 200 other tennis pros, amateurs, enthusiasts and spectators attended the Johnny Mac Tennis Project’s (JMTP) Third Annual JMTP Pro Am—one of largest Pro Ams in the world—in the Hamptons. The sold out, star-studded event—which has quickly become the premiere Pro Am in the Hamptons—raised more than $300,000 to support JMTP programs, including more than $100,000 raised at an evening auction. Illustrated by a moving video that launched the event under a tent on the grounds of Sportime Amagansett, the JMTP provides scholarships that change young lives by removing the economic and social barriers to success through tennis. “The Johnny Mac Tennis Project believes that tennis is a change agent and a sport of opportunity for kids,” said JMTP Executive 12

Director Ron Nano. “Our Tennis Pathway to Success initiative provides multiple, year-round opportunities, from introductory programs provided to schools and communitybased organizations, which focus on cultivating healthy lifestyles and selfdiscipline, to worldclass tournament training for aspiring college scholarship recipients and professional athletes.” John McEnroe said, “We created an annual event with 128 players, which is the size of a Grand Slam draw … pretty incredible. This year, we added Chris Evert and Pat Cash to the group, joining my brother Patrick, Mats and myself. It is all about the

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

mission—to bring tennis to New York City kids who could not otherwise get to play, and to make some great New York players.” The annual Pro Am—held at Sportime Amagansett in East Hampton—drew young and old amateur players excited to compete with top talent and alongside legendary tennis pros in a memorable afternoon of doubles matches. Participants competed in a

round-robin doubles tournament alongside former WTA and ATP World Tour professionals, current and former Division I College players, and top John McEnroe Tennis Academy pros. In total, 64 professional players were partnered with 64 amateurs—as about 75 spectators cheered them on—and at the end of the day, Mike Williams and Francisco Diaz were crowned the winners. The Pro Am included an exclusive Benefactor Level, in which eight lucky amateurs competed with and against tennis legends, and current and former ATP and WTA touring athletes. Throughout the day, enthusiasts

cheered as they watched the series of matches, mingled with tennis legends, dined on wine and appetizers, and bid on silent auction items. JMTP’s Pro Am in the Hamptons sponsors included: Bird in Hand, Hamptons Magazine, HEAD Penn, Nike, Polar Beverage and Sportime/John McEnroe Tennis Academy. Immediately afterwards was an After Party under a star-filled sky, where players, guests and fans enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, a buffet dinner, an open bar, entertainment, dancing, and a live auction. Attendees also bid on vacation stays, U.S. Open experiences, sports

memorabilia, photographs and Sports Illustrated covers autographed by tennis legends, and dining experiences. “This annual event is a unique and exciting opportunity in the Hamptons, right before the U.S. Open, to play or watch some great tennis, to see some Tennis Legends competing close-up, and to support a great cause,” says Patrick McEnroe, who serves as President of JMTP’s Board of Directors. “Most importantly, this event allows us to continue bringing tennis to kids and young adults who otherwise would not have access to the sport.”

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Isner, Nishikori and Bryan Brothers on Board for 2018 New York Open Stars set to return to Long Island for ATP World Tour 250 Series event BY BRIAN COLEMAN

he 2018 New York Open will bring some of the biggest and brightest stars from the ATP Tour to Long Island, Feb. 11-18, and the tournament has already announced some of the names who will be

competing inside NYCB Live, home of the Nassau Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum. GF Sports, a live events and sports media entertainment company, acquired the former Memphis Open in 2015 and partnered with Brooklyn Sports & Enter-

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

tainment to move the tournament to Long Island. The event is one of the longest-running American tournaments on the ATP World Tour and the only indoor championship contested in the United States One of those players who has already committed is Japan’s Kei Nishikori, the current world number 15, who was a fourtime champion in Memphis, and will look to continue his dominance of the tournament when it moves north. “Playing in New York has always been exciting for me, and to think I could win a fifth title during this ATP Tour week would be amazing,” said Nishikori. “I’ll miss Memphis, but I’m going to love New York.” New York has always been a special place for Nishikori. He compiled a magnificent run to the U.S. Open finals back in 2014, and followed it up by reaching the semifinals in 2016. Joining Nishikori in the New York Open singles’ field is big-serving American John Isner, owner of 12 career ATP titles, two of which came in 2017. Isner has been a

mainstay at the top of the world rankings for years now, spending the majority of the time as the top-ranked American. Isner has captured two titles on American soil so far this season, winning the BB&T Atlanta Open with a win over 2017 Memphis Open champion Ryan Harrison, and winning the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, R.I., defeating Australian qualifier Matthew Ebden 6-3, 7-6 (4) The North Carolina native is looking forward to trying to add to his trophy case when he comes to Long Island next year. “I’m excited about being one of the headliners for this first-time winter ATP Tour event in New York,” said Isner. “We hear NYCB Live has been renovated to be a first-class state-of-the-art arena, and it’s getting good buzz among the players.” The New York crowd will be excited to see the headliners of the doubles draw, as the legendary duo of Bob & Mike Bryan announced that they will also be competing at the New York Open. The Bryan Brothers are three-time Memphis Open champions and are seeking to become the first doubles winners inside Nassau Coliseum. The greatest doubles tandem of all-time have compiled a historic career, which includes 16 Grand Slam titles, four ATP World Tour Finals titles and an Olympic Gold Medal. “We love firsts, and the idea of bringing the tour to New York in February is going to be great,” said Mike Bryan. “ATP tennis is back in a big way, and we’re happy to play on Long Island at the Coliseum.” New York’s own John McEnroe will serve as the tournament’s Honorary Ambassador, and is set to take on another legend in an exhibition match on the Sunday that precedes the tournament’s main draw, while U.S. Open Champion Sloane Stephens will be playing in an exhibition match against one of her peers to kick off the week’s festivities. Adding to the local flavor will be the presence of Long Island-native Noah Rubin, who has also committed to play in the inaugural tournament. Rubin, a former Wimbledon Junior Champion and NCAA Singles Finalist, dealt with some injuries this past season and is currently ranked 219th in the world. South Korea’s number one-ranked player, Hyeon Chung, is another one of the

2018 New York Open Player Bios John Isner Country: United States of America Birth Place: Greensboro, N.C. Birth Date: April 26, 1985 Residence: Tampa, Fla. Turned Pro: 2007 Career Singles Record: 352-216 (as of 10/13/17) Career Titles: 12

Kei Nishikori Country: Japan Birth Place: Matsue, Shimane, Japan Birth Date: Dec. 29, 1989 Residence: Bradenton, Fla. Turned Pro: 2007 Career Singles Record: 331-155 (as of 10/13/17) Career Titles: 11

Bob & Mike Bryan Country: United States of America Birth Place: Camarillo, Calif. Birth Date: April 29, 1978 Residence: Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. Turned Pro: 1998 Career Doubles Titles: 114 young talents who will be on Long Island competing come February. Chung is an exciting young talent who currently sits at 60th in the world rankings, and has scored wins over the likes of Sam Querrey, Gael Monfils, Andrey Rublev, Feliciano Lopez and David Goffin in 2017. There will be more big names and announcements to follow in the coming month, which will only add to the anticipation as February draws near.

“The reaction from the player locker room about the New York Open has been extremely encouraging,” said GF Sports Executive Vice President and Tournament Director Josh Ripple. “The opportunity for these athletes to be showcased in a venue like the Coliseum and the unique two-court indoor configuration that we have created will be special. We are confident the New York fans will be very happy to finally have a winter pro tennis tournament they can call their own.”

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Technique and Ta

By Damir Barisic here are several important factors that contribute to match performance of a tennis player, including: Physical, Psychological, Technical and Tactical (management of skills or decision-making). Although these different factors all together contribute to a tennis player’s match performance and will determine a player’s average level of play, for the purpose of this article, I will only focus on two factors: Technical and Tactical.

Technique From the practical perspective, a tennis player’s technique/skills will determine what that tennis player is consistently capable of doing with the tennis ball through different types of strokes (forehand, serve, backhand, slice, etc.), in a variety of practice situations and then during a variety of match situations. Some key words and terms here are “consistently” and “variety of practice and match situations.” This is because something could be classified as “highly-skilled” or “proficient,” only if it can be successfully repeated multiple times under different conditions (situations). For

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

example, a tennis player’s forehand crosscourt could be considered technically highly proficient (skilled) if that tennis player is able to make 90 percent or more of their forehands while hitting in various situations in different ways. In situations such as feeding drills and live ball rallies, hitting your cross-court forehand on the run and hitting the crosscourt forehand slice shot, during practice points, are effective techniques. Hitting your cross-court forehand on the rise and hitting a cross-court forehand with more or less pace, height and spin will bring variation to your game. Once the tennis player

Tactics in Tennis has the technical ability (skill) of the specific element (stroke) in tennis, one can hope that that kind of skill would be successfully transferred to official tournament match situations. This logic could be applied to mastering all different types of elements/strokes in tennis, such as slice, serve, return, volley, overhead, drop shot, etc. Naturally, it is wise to work on a variety of technical skills in tennis because the more skilled the tennis player is, the more tactical (decision-making) options in a match they will have and will be able to successfully execute. Tactics To be able to compete well in a match, a tennis player needs (besides specific tennis skills as described in the paragraphs above) to consider some of the tactical aspects of the game, such as understanding

patterns of play (the geometry of play), higher versus lower percentage choices of plays/shots, and an opponentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strengths and/or weaknesses, to mention a few important ones. Also, to compete well in a match, a tennis player needs to understand, feel and be realistic about their own level of specific tennis skills. This awareness can contribute significantly to the quality of their own match performance. For example, a tennis player who is more realistic about their own level of specific tennis skills is more likely to manage those skills better, or in other words, make better decisions (shot and pattern selection) during points. With that in mind, the player will be able to perform on a higher level in the match relative to their level of specific tennis skills than a player who is less realistic about their own level of specific tennis skills. In my opinion, these are some technical

and tactical aspects of tennis that are worth considering for training and in point play. In the end, technique/skills determine the amount and variety of tactics and choices a tennis player can use successfully in a game.

Damir Barisic is a High Performance Coach at CourtSense-Bogota Racquet Club, and holds the highest level coaching license in Croatia. Prior to joining CourtSense, Damir competed on a professional level and achieved ATP ranking in singles and doubles, and after that he spend time coaching at the IMG Nick Bolletieri Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in the Niki Pilic Tennis Academy in Munich, Germany, as well as privately coaching players such as Anja Konjuh and Donna Vekic. At CourtSense, Damir is working with juniors and adults from all different levels, including many nationally-ranked players.

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

Stages of Aces Bringing Tennis to the Local Concert Scene

Credit all photos to: Perry Bindelglass

he idea of tennis in the middle of a music festival probably isn’t one you have heard of before, but Stages of Aces is bringing it to life. Rolled out at the Northside Festival this past summer in Brooklyn, Stage of Aces brings tennis to the masses in a unique, fun and memorable way. Placed inside of major festivals, the pop-up short court gives people the opportunity to enjoy the game with their friends in a new and unforgettable setting. Free, self-managed and customized for all, Stage of Aces makes tennis the ideal

activity for festival-goers looking for a great workout, something to do between performances, or bragging rights over friends. The pop-up court has appeared at the Northside Festival in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and The Brooklyn Music Festival at Governors Island, drawing thousands of festival guests to swing by and play to the sounds of fast-paced music, while competing in games for prizes and meeting America’s next generation of pro tennis players. “When you look at Millennial participation in major sports in the U.S., tennis ranks last,” said Stages of Aces Founder

Jonathan Raude. “The number of tennis players 18- to 34-years-old has been declining between two and four percent each year, and less Millennials are watching pro tennis each year. This is alarming for the future of tennis, as Millennials are the next generation of trendsetters, and if Millennials aren’t interested in tennis, future generations also won’t be interested. By placing tennis inside music festivals Millennials attend, we give this group the opportunity to enjoy tennis in engaging, energetic atmospheres, leaving them closer to the sport than they were before.”

At Gotham Tennis Academy, we’re passionate about teaching tennis. From beginners to rising stars, Gotham’s PTR certified pros are experienced in teaching the fundamentals while stressing sportsmanship, hard work, and fun. With our prime locations throughout Manhattan and the greater NYC metro area (including Stadium Tennis Center–NYC’s newest and largest indoor/outdoor tennis center), we’re only a short trip away from you. And with our growing number of offerings at locals schools, it’s more convenient than ever to get your kids into the game.

GET IN THE GAME AT SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE 18

To enroll now or learn more about us, call 646.524.7069 or email info@gothamtennis.com.

ASK US ABOUT OUR EXPANDED WEEKEND HOURS AND SUPER-COOL TENNIS BIRTHDAY PARTIES.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

WWW.GOTHAMTENNIS.COM

USTA Launches Net Generation at U.S. Open

he USTA launched its new initiative, Net Generation, during the 2017 U.S. Open, unveiling the organization’s push to create the next generation of tennis players. The program was officially launched during the U.S. Open fan experience in Manhattan’s Seaport District. “I am a parent, and for the longest time I didn’t know how to get in touch with coaches and trainers for my children, and I am from the tennis world,” said Gigi Fernandez, Tennis Hall of Famer and an ambassador for Net Generation. “This will act as a one-stop place to find talented kids and help them understand

tennis is a viable career option.” Kids from a number of different clubs and programs throughout Long Island, New York City and New Jersey got the chance to take part in showcases prior to the start of play during the U.S. Open, going out on court to display their skills on the short courts. Some players even got the chance to perform the coin tosses before matches. Net Generation is for kids ages five to 18 and suits players based on skill level and developmental readiness, which in doing so provides coaches more flexibility to be able to customize lessons which meets the needs of the player and makes learning the

game more fun. The initiative will work with schools, coaches and parents and offer them the aUSTA’s full support. One of the most exciting and innovative aspects of Net Generation is the online tools which will be available. Players and coaches can create personalized profiles on the Web site to stay connected and expand upon their network. By being a part of the Net Generation family, coaches get access to teaching and promotional tools, starter kids with teaching curriculum and event opportunities, and players get access to coaches, promotions, events and much more. For more information, visit NetGeneration.USTA.com.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Laser Therapy for Tennis Players By Dr. Rob Silverman Good form, conditioning and nutrition are key to preventing tennis injuries. Even so, injuries do occur. When they do, the conventional treatment is often powerful drugs to relieve the pain, swelling, and limited mobility of an injury. These drugs are helpful, but they are also accompanied by some negative side-effects. They mask the pain, but can delay or even derail the healing process. A mild injury can become chronic and even disabling enough to end your tennis playing career. I recommend a better, safer alternative: Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), also known as “Cold Laser Therapy” to relieve the discomfort of the injury, Particularly when used in the first few days after an injury, LLLT can be very effective for helping pain and swelling go down fast. It can put you on the path to a quick return to the tennis court. How it works When soft tissues such as muscles, tendons and ligaments are injured, they release chemicals that set off the body’s natural inflammatory response. The area becomes red, swollen, warm and painful. 20

Icing, compression and elevation all help reduce the inflammation, but these are basically first-aid approaches that are only helpful if applied immediately. Even when they are, the inflammation and pain will persist for days or even weeks after the injury and could become chronic. A healthcare provider using an FDA-approved laser is a safe, fast, and effective way to help heal soft tissue injuries without the risks of drugs. It works by exposing the injured soft tissue to coherent light at a specific wavelength, better known as laser. The light passes through the skin harmlessly and reaches the damaged area of soft tissue. When it does, it triggers a biological response that amplifies the healing process. The injured area pours out a cascade of natural chemicals that help reduce pain and swelling and improve mobility in the joint. By reducing the inflammation and stimulating your natural healing processes, laser therapy helps you feel and heal better and return to your tennis game faster. As a bonus, by quickly reducing inflammation at the site of the injury, LLLT helps reduce your risk of later developing osteoarthritis in the injured joint. Laser treatment is painless. There’s no sensation of heat and the skin and tissue aren’t damaged in any way. The laser light

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

is delivered to the injured area using an FDA-approved device that emits light at 635 nm—the wavelength that has been shown to penetrate the skin and reach the soft tissue most effectively. The treatments are also short, taking only about three to five minutes a session. LLLT is particularly effective for common tennis injuries such as tennis elbow, rotator cuff tears, and Achilles tendon inflammation. It’s also helpful for other common tennis injuries, such as lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, knee strains, and mildly arthritic joints. In fact, laser therapy works so well that the prestigious British Journal of Medicine includes LLLT in its clinical evidence recommendations for tennis elbow. The American Physical Therapy Association recommends using laser therapy for injuries to the Achilles tendon. Overall, more than three thousand published studies in medical journals show that LLLT is safe and effective for sports injuries. Studies show that when LLLT and exercise therapy are combined, they are even more effective than exercise alone. The two modalities complement each other, as shown by numerous studies that compare exercise and laser therapy with exercise or laser therapy alone. In studies of lower back pain, for example, laser plus exercise

back on the court and playing with confidence sooner. LLLT is now being used extensively to rehab professional sports injuries, not limited to football, baseball, and/or basketball. I have found LLLT to be a great tool for rapid recovery and increased performance from a tennis injury. I consider it the most efficient, versatile and safest tool of the 21st century for sports injuries.

reduces pain levels far more than either modality alone. Laser therapy works quickly. Most people feel real relief soon after the first treatment and feel continuous improvement with each additional treatment. Fast, lasting pain relief is key to getting back to your tennis game and keeping the injury from

becoming chronic. The longer you’re off the court, the more your conditioning and skills are reduced and the longer it takes to get them back. The beauty of laser therapy is that the pain relief is not only almost immediate, it’s ongoing. The relief lasts for many hours, and is less severe when it comes back. With laser treatment, you’ll be

Dr. Robert G. Silverman is a White Plains, N.Y.-based sports chiropractor and certified clinical nutritionist, specializing in functional medicine and the treatment of joint pain with innovative, science-based, nonsurgical approaches. He is also on the advisory board for the Functional Medicine University and a health contributor to various major TV networks. He is the author of Amazon’s Number One Best-Seller, InsideOut Health. In 2015, he was honored with the prestigious Sports Chiropractor of the Year award by the ACA Sports Council. He can be reached by phone at (914) 2876464, e-mail Info@DrRobertSilverman.com or visit DrRobertSilverman.com.

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

J U N I O R P L AY E R S P O T L I G H T BY BRIAN COLEMAN

S O P H I E G R AV E R JOHN MCENROE TENNIS ACADEMY The John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) at Sportime Randall’s Island has produced many top college players since its inception almost a decade ago, and the latest in that group is Sophie Graver. The Auburn-bound New Jerseynative is the 19th-ranked player in the country and has quickly climbed up those rankings in the last couple of years since joining JMTA. Graver bounced around different clubs in New Jersey before continuing her training at JMTA, a decision that came after she met Lawrence Kleger, the Academy’s Co-Director of Tennis and one of the top coaches in the country. “When I was 16, I traveled to Zonals. Lawrence Kleger was there and he saw me playing,” recalls Graver, who started playing tennis around seven-years-old when one of her older sisters began teaching her. “At the time, I wasn’t enrolled in an academy, so I started training at the JMTA. Coming here not only helped my tennis, but it also helped me grow up. I was immature. Lawrence helped me so much because he doesn’t take any of that; if you do act out, you are done for the day. I needed that and now my head is on straight.” Graver’s game has taken off since then. She had attended Wall High School in New 22

Jersey for her freshman season, but decided to be homeschooled beginning in her sophomore year which allows her to train full-time with Kleger and the team of JMTA coaches at Randall’s Island. “I never liked the idea of being homeschooled because it seemed so lonely,” said Graver. “But I wanted to devote more

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

time to my tennis. At JMTA I get to train alongside a group of other kids who are homeschooled, so it’s been great. The responsibility of being homeschooled has also helped my tennis because it forces me to be organized and independent. The coaches here are unbelievable, I’ve grown ten times as a person.” When he began working with Graver, one of the main points of emphasis that Kleger knew he wanted to focus on was her attitude and mental toughness. More recently, the two have been working on more tactical aspects of the game to try and harness and better utilize the power that exists in her game. “I am absolutely delighted with the progress Sophie has made over the last six months in not just her tennis, but in all aspects of her life,” said Kleger. “Six months ago we made some important adjustments to her basic strategy and tactical plan. We ratcheted up her fitness and started holding her to a very high standard of attitude and effort on and off the court. As a result, her tennis has improved and she has become the role model in our academy for what we expect from our student-athletes.” Those adjustments have paid off as

Graver quickly became one of the most highly-recruited players in the nation, by schools including Michigan, Florida, Texas Tech, Clemson and Vanderbilt. She made the decision to continue her tennis career at Auburn University. Her introduction to the school came from Dan Cochrane, a coach at the JMTA and former standout at Auburn. “Most of the schools I was looking at were either in the south or the west coast. It eventually came down to Florida and Auburn,” said Graver. “The Auburn coaches and team were awesome. Once I saw Auburn, I cancelled my visit to Florida, and texted Dan about how I couldn’t see myself anywhere else.” Graver also gives a lot of credit to her parents, for their support both growing up and throughout the college recruitment process. “I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” she said. “I am so lucky. I could lose to anyone and they would still be proud. I could be playing my worst match ever and not be worried about getting yelled at. They are there for me no matter what. They wouldn’t comment on where I committed to school because they wanted me to decide for myself.” In her own words, Graver considers herself an extroverted and optimistic person, and she has embraced the team events that she has been able to compete in. This makes her ex-

cited about the transition into college tennis and becoming part of a team. “I am so excited for the team atmosphere,” said Graver. “I’ll be on Court 3 cheering for Court 1 and Court 6; you can’t do that in junior tennis. I love being able to encourage each other.” Graver has come a long way both on and off the court in the last couple of years and the changes are evident. She has shot up the rankings and has become a more well-rounded individual. She will continue to grow both as a player and a person when she begins her time at Auburn, but

will always remember and remain a part of her JMTA family. “Now that I look back, it’s insane that I was maybe a 4-star recruit as a high school freshman and now I’m top 20 in the country,” said Graver. “This [JMTA] was the right environment for me. I am so close with everyone here. Having that solid support system has helped so much. When I’m at tournaments I get messages from the players and coaches here; when I committed everyone was so excited. It’s going to be a weird transition not seeing everyone all the time next year, but I know they will be with me in spirit.”

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA Metro Region

A Message From USTA Eastern Metro Region President Pablo Sierra Papi Tennis!: The Bronx’s New Shining Star

Papi Tennis! was born in April of 2017, the brain child of Daniel Arzuaga, a tennis player and enthusiast. Daniel imagined creating a tennis community that fosters playing opportunities for people of the Norwood section of the Bronx, a community of working class immigrants and Bronx natives, most of whom have never been exposed to the sport of tennis. The premise of the group was simple. Daniel supplies the balls, the rackets, even beginner instruction for those who have never played. All you have to do it show up. Bring your heart and your enthusiasm to the court and “Let’s do it!” The group was affectionately named “Papi Tennis!” because of the large Hispanic demographic of the neighborhood, but the group is all inclusive and includes Afro-Americans, AfroCaribbeans, Central and South Americans, Middle Eastern and South East Asians, men and women, kids and elders, members of the LGBTQ community, and many other religious and ethnic backgrounds. The first Papi Tennis! gathering was comprised of six people. The week after, eight, then 12. The group has grown steadily over this past summer. The group now boasts more than 200 participants. Papi Tennis! now has a Facebook Page (Papi Tennis!), as well as Instagram and Twitter accounts, and it recently registered 24

as a USTA Community Tennis organization. “Growing up in the Bronx, I wanted to play tennis as a kid,” said Daniel, who is nicknamed “Papi” by the group. “I never had access to the sport back then, but I finally discovered and embraced tennis later in life. The regret never went away, I always wished I had started playing at a younger age. I want Papi Tennis to be a vehicle where anyone from the Bronx, who wants to play tennis, can without worrying about access, court time, equipment and instruction fees. I also want to build a positive community in the Bronx centered around tennis, a sport that I cherish and love.” “Papi Tennis! has been my savior,” said Richard Pitman, a Papi Tennis! regular. “I came from Guyana to care for my mom. Papi Tennis! has been the perfect place to escape my daily routine, play a sport I love and make wonderful tennis friends in the process.” Adding to the accolades is Olivia, who found out about Papi Tennis! when she stopped for coffee at a local Dunkin Donuts and saw Daniel carrying a tennis racket. “I’ve been wanting to play tennis all my life,” shared Olivia. “But I never knew anyone who played. It was always a dream to play. Papi Tennis! has allowed that dream to come true. I’m finally learning the sport I love in a setting filled with incredible support and camaraderie.”

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

USTA Metro Region Tennis in Staten Island

On Aug. 19, I took a trip to Staten Island to see what was available regarding tennis programming. I took a trip to the College of Staten Island, and I came across the Staten Island Community Tennis Center. They have very nice indoor and outdoor tennis courts, pro

shop, plenty of parking. In addition to their facilities I was pleased to come across their programming schedule. They offer tennis to all age groups, at reasonable prices. For additional information, visit StatenIslandTennisLessons.com.

USTA Flex Leagues Spots Available Do you want to work on your singles game, without worrying about your USTA rating? Does your schedule make it difficult to play on a USTA team? Do you want to find new players to play against? Then Flex League may be for you. Flex League is designed to fit in your schedule—allowing you to play when it’s convenient for you. Matches are arranged directly with your opponent at a mutually agreeable day, time and location. Each session is approximately two months long. Players can anticipate six to 10 matches during each session (exact number is determined by the number of players in the flight). Once registration closes, you can access a list of opponents and suggested play-by dates. Once the match is played, the scores are recorded online. USTA membership is not required and Flex League matches do not affect, nor generate, a USTA rating. Ready to try Flex League? Visit USTA.com/en/home/play/play-as-a-member/eastern/FlexLeagues.html to search for and register for Flex Leagues. l Choose your Division: “Adult Men’s Singles” or “Adult Women’s Singles” l Select “New York” and then the area you wish to play in. Registration is currently open for New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island), and Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk) for the Spring League. The registration fee is $35 ($25 for USTA members). For more information about Flex League in these areas, please e-mail FlexLeague@live.com.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA Metro Region Tennis Meets Physics

In the heart of Sunset Park, there is a company called BioBAT. I work with BioBAT regarding placing student interns to work there in order to obtain some clerical skills. Kathleen Otto is the Executive Director of BioBAT, whose mission is to come up with cures for HIV and forms of cancer. One of Kathleen’s passions is tennis. One day I visited her and we started talking tennis. She knew from previous conversations that the South Brooklyn Tennis Association (SBTA) enjoyed promoting the game of tennis by taking the game of tennis on the road. She mentioned that BioBAT was looking to bring in the smartest minds in the world, and I recall mentioning that tennis players are always thinking. I then took the conversation in a dif-

ferent direction, and before we knew it, we were talking the science of tennis, lighter rackets, ball spins, decision-making, strategy, competition, etc. … the list went on and on. She mentioned to me that she would love if I could present the game of tennis to one of her partner programs, called “The New York Academy of Science.” I am happy to say that we had a great time introducing the game of tennis. Prior to playing tennis, we gave a mini-class on how physics plays a role in tennis. After the class, we did light stretching, followed by a light warm-up, and away we went. The kids had a great time. Kathleen would like to call this the BioBAT Tennis Academy and continue doing it the following year. SBTA can be visited at SouthBrooklynTennis.com.

Pablo Sierra is USTA Eastern Metro Region President Pablo Sierra. Pablo also serves as Founder and President of the South Brooklyn Tennis Association (SBTA). 26

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

The West Side Tennis Club Celebrates Its 125th Anniversary

his year marked a special year for The West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, as the historic club celebrated its 125th anniversary. To ring in the anniversary, the Club hosted a day-long celebration, giving its members and the public a chance to play on the famous grass courts before taking in exhibition matches from former professional tennis players, followed by a ceremony and a dinner. Luke Jensen, Vince Spadea, JanMichael Gambill and Michael Russell were the pros who battled it out on West Side’s center court, with the matches played of one FAST-4 set. The players entertained the guests with some excellent tennis and some good-natured ribbing of each other. After the tennis, a ceremony was held to celebrate the Club’s anniversary, while also honoring the legacies of Jack Kramer, a twotime U.S. singles champion; and Maureen Connolly, winner of the “Grand Slam” of tennis in 1953. A banner was raised for them outside Forest Hills Stadium. “Our members and their guests seemed to love the event,” said Bob Ingersole, Tennis Director of The West Side Tennis Club. “We had about 200-250 people here, and about 50 playing on the grass courts before the exhibition event. People from places like Australia and Germany came in for the event, and we had great representation from the USTA and the families of the people we honored. It all came together for a very nice event.” Much of the proceeds from the celebration went towards the West Side Tennis Club Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps introduce tennis to children and the physically-challenged, while also preserving the history of the West Side Tennis Club. “After we set up the Foundation, we kept adding to its mission statement as we saw needs in the community,” said Ingersole. “First, it was helping needy children through tennis, as we do a great deal of

outreach to public schools to introduce tennis to the local communities, and provide scholarships to our programs based on need and not ability. Anywhere there are kids who have potential needs, we are interested in trying to empower them through tennis.” West Side’s Foundation is just one example of the initiatives and progress undertaken that have allowed it to sustain over the past 125 years. Even over the last 15 years, the junior program at West Side has grown, an indoor tennis facility was built to make it year-round and the renovated Forest Hills Stadium is once again bringing in concerts and top-notch entertainers. One of the goals for the future is to try and bring professional tennis back to West Side. The Club hosted the U.S. Open

Championships for more than 60 years, and Ingersole hopes to one day bring back professional tennis. The West Side Tennis Club’s history is unlike any other and its prestige and tradition have been the foundation of its success over the years. The celebration this past summer was symbolic of the community-oriented focus of the club, and it will continue to be a staple of the New York tennis community for years to come.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Academia Sanchez-Casal

Albany Tennis Academy

+1 (239) 263 1818 Infos@Sanchez-Casal.com Academy Sanchez-Casal (ASC) opened its doors 18 years ago in Barcelona, Spain, with the purpose of providing tennis players with a custom-designed academic curriculum, combined with advanced tennis and athletic performance training. Today, ASC‘s world-renowned schools and training academies in Barcelona and Naples, Fla. inspire and enable players of all ages and ability levels to reach their full potential. The Unique Training System at ASC is one of the most well respected systems in the world. Throughout its history, the elite ASC coaching staff has sent hundreds of graduates on to leading college tennis programs, and has produced top ATP and WTA professionals like Andy Murray, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Grigor Dimitrov, Daniela Hantuchova, Ana Ivanovic, Juan Mónaco, Bovina and many others. ASC offers weekly and weekend training programs for youth, adults and coaches in a family environment, including a Family Holiday Program in Naples, Florida. Naples is the crown jewel of Southwest Florida—nestled on the beautiful, sun-drenched beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. In 2017, ASC joined the ranks of Eddie Herr, Little Mo and The Orange Bowl by introducing the Sanchez-Casal International Winter Junior Cup. n Middle/High School Tennis Academy Semesters with ES International School (Sept-June) n The International Exchange Program (One semester in Barcelona plus one in Naples) n Monthly Training Stays (customized) n Pre-Tournament Camps n Plus … upgrade any weekly program above to an Extra Intensive/Tour Prep program

(242) 823-5979 WindsorHighschoolAtAlbany.com GrantDoyle@WindsorPrep.com Located on New Providence in The Bahamas, the Albany Tennis Academy is set on the 25-acre campus of Windsor High School, adjacent to the renowned, luxury resort community of Albany. The unique day and boarding school combines an academic curriculum based on the Cambridge system with unprecedented athletic and training academies for both tennis and golf. Powered by former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, the Albany Tennis Academy delivers an intensive training and development program for aspiring student-athletes, with personalized instruction, conditioning and guidance from an expert team of coaches and staff, including Director Grant Doyle. Student-athletes train on Windsor High School’s cutting-edge facilities, which include the latest PlaySight smart court technology, a fully interactive technology which monitors and tracks all activity on the court and offers professional-level analysis. “At the Albany Tennis Academy, we prepare student-athletes both physically and mentally for the game’s highest level,” said Lleyton Hewitt. For parents or families visiting Albany Tennis Academy student-athletes, the ideal place to stay is the luxury resort community of Albany. The collective vision of its founders–Joe Lewis and the Tavistock Group, and golfing greats Tiger Woods and Ernie Els–Albany features an unparalleled combination of surroundings, architecture, service and sporting amenities including an 18-hole championship golf course, a mega-yacht marina, fitness center, boxing ring and CrossFit course, spa and salon, a racquet center with Har-Tru courts and a paddle court, numerous pools, including a kid’s waterpark, and restaurants. Albany’s boutique hotel provides some of the finest accommodations in the Caribbean.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

Casa de Campo

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

(800) 336-5520 CasaDeCampo.com.do Casa de Campo offers the widest array of experiences found in the Caribbean. The 7,000-acre luxury resort offers choice accommodations, whether in hotel rooms and suites or spacious villas. The deluxe lodging options are accented by dining at acclaimed restaurants, such as The Beach Club by Le Cirque and La Cana by II Circo. Dozens of other restaurants, bars and lounges give guest plenty of variety during their stay. For those guests seeking more of a thrill, The Sporting Life has countless options for athletic excitement. Experience 90 holes of Pete Dye designed gold courses—Teeth of the Dog, Links, La Romana Country Club and Dye Fore—Shooting Center, Equestrian Center, Polo Club, Marina for deep sea and river fishing, Yacht Club and exclusive beaches. Called the “Wimbledon of the Caribbean”, La Terraza Tennis Club overlooks the entire resort, as well as the Caribbean Sea. The club features 13 fast-dry Har-Tru courts, 10 of which are lighted for night play. Thirty-two ball boys in crisp white tennis attire chase errant shots, which not only makes guests’ matches more pleasant, but also helps local Dominican children learn the game and look forward to a brighter future.

(808) 882-5420 MaunaKeaBeachHotel.com The legendary Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an architectural icon designed to coexist beautifully with the unforgettable landscape of the Kohala Coast, is located on a silky white-sand crescent beach, Kauna’oa Bay. Escape to paradise where you will find 252 luxurious guest rooms, Laurance S. Rockefeller’s collection of Asian and Pacific artwork gathered exclusively for Mauna Kea, service with Aloha, one of the world’s finest golf courses and tennis club plus tantalizing cuisine with unforgettable settings. The 11-court Seaside Tennis Club is one of the largest and most sought-after tennis experiences in Hawaii. Each one of the 11 courts offer an incredible view of the Pacific Blue Ocean, and on a clear day, you can see Maui in the background. Craig Pautler and his team serve up some of the most thoughtful touches available at the best private luxury tennis clubs, along with a comfortable lanai to relax in the shade. Facilities and services include 11 ocean-side tennis courts, a pro shop offering equipment and apparel, equipment rentals, men’s and women’s locker rooms, video instruction service, ball machine, tournament planning, racquet stringing, individual game-matching, customized special events, tennis clinics, round-robin tournaments, and private and group lessons. Enjoy the many other amenities offered at the resort, such as beach activities, daily children’s program, a weekly luau and clambake, 2,500-square-foot fitness room, and spa, meeting spaces and private dining venues, just to mention a few. Disconnect and rejuvenate at this world-class resort, improve your tennis game while taking in some of the most incredible views in the world and create memories that will be treasured for a lifetime. Mauna Kea’s timeless magic endures. Visit OnlyMaunaKea.com for details.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Peter Kaplan’s Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy (631) 288-4021 • (914) 234-9462 PeterKaplan2002@yahoo.com WestHamptonBeachTennis.com Peter Kaplan’s Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy, and the affiliated Grassmere Inn, is a wonderful destination for beginners to nationally-ranked players of all ages. Private instruction, clinics, one to seven full- and half-day camps are offered. The flexibility of the programming enables participants to enjoy the nearby beautiful ocean beaches, charming village, Performing Arts Center, movie theatre, wine country, shopping, cafes, restaurants and nearby water park. The Tennis Academy features 12 soft courts and features an enthusiastic staff, renowned for its high-quality instruction with an average student/staff ratio of 2:1. Most participants seek a less intensive program of three to five hours of instruction daily. Visiting tennis pros bring students with Kaplan’s staff available to supplement the pros. Here, you can play tennis during the day, go to the beach and have a glass of wine at sunset, and then dine at a great restaurant, or take in a movie or a show at the Performing Arts Center. Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy is the only academy in the world the USTA selected for the members benefits program for both juniors and adults. And Westhampton Beach Junior/Adult Tennis Academy is annually selected among the top 25 in the world and number one in the East by TennisResortsonline.com. Programs including accommodations and tennis instruction begin at $99 per person/day. 30

Tennis Fantasies With John Newcombe and the Legends Contact Steve Contardi: (800) 874-7788 TennisFantasties.net SteveC@TowneProperties.com Enjoy the best tennis vacation of your life! Tennis Fantasies with John Newcombe and the Legends, the original tennis fantasy camp, is your chance to play tennis and rub shoulders with the alltime greats of the game. Join host three-time Wimbledon Champion John Newcombe and his “mates” at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas for a most memorable tennis event. The legendary staff will include International Tennis Hall of Fame Members John Newcombe, Roy Emerson and Charlie Pasarell, as well as Grand Slam winners Ross Case, Marty Riessen, Dick Stockton, Brian Gottfried, Rick Leach and The Jensen Brothers. Together, more than 150 Grand Slam titles and hundreds of other major championships are assembled under one roof! Learn, play and mingle with tennis royalty. Tennis Fantasies 2017 offers two great programs: n March 1-4, 2018: Tennis Fantasies for Men and Women n Oct. 21-26, 2018: Tennis Fantasies, Men Only On-court activities include clinics, team competition, and “fantasy” pro-am matches. After tennis, guests will enjoy the “Aussie-style” hospitality of the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch. The Ranch is located just outside of New Braunfels in the rolling Hill country of central Texas, 30 minutes from the San Antonio airport. The crystal clear water of Canyon Lake, the Guadalupe River, and the Comal River are just minutes from the Ranch. Accommodations at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch are one- or two-bedroom condominiums or a courtside room. The Ranch has 32 deco-turf and four Har-Tru courts, eight lighted and four all-weather covered courts for guaranteed tennis every day.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

2017 New York Girls High Francis Lewis’ Ally Wins PSAL Invitational Tournament for Second Straight Year

Rachel Chin of Francis Lewis, Talia Kehan of Stuyvesant and PSAL Invitational Tournament winner Alleyah Ally of Francis Lewis

Alleyah Ally of Francis Lewis has won the PSAL Invitational Tournament for the second consecutive year, coming back to beat Talia Kahan of Stuyvesant 6-4 in the finals. Ally fell behind 0-3 in the finals, before rallying to win six of the next seven games to clinch the championship and defend

her title. The junior, who plays second singles for Francis Lewis, had to fight through the largest draw in the tournament’s history as 26 girls competed in this year’s Invitational. In the semifinals, Ally defeated Curtis’ Brianna Shaw before moving on to defeat Kahan in the finals. Prior to that, Ally beat

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

Haley Resnick of Eleanor Roosevelt and Arielle Klein of Lab Museum. Ally’s Francis Lewis teammate, Rachel Chin, finished in third place. After losing to Kahan in the semifinals, Lin was set to face off with Shaw in the third place match. A shoulder injury forced Shaw to withdraw, resulting in Chin’s third place finish.

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Singles Play Leads Brooklyn Tech to NYC Title

Brooklyn Tech captured the New York City PSAL “A” Division title for the first time in more than 12 years, with a 3-2 victory over defending champion Beacon Brooklyn Tech captured the New York City PSAL “A” Division title for the first time in more than 12 years, as Nicole Semenov

won the decisive match at second singles to clinch the 3-2 victory over defending champion Beacon.

Chelsea Williams put Brooklyn Tech on top early by downing Kyra Bergmann 6-2, 6-0 at first singles, and Michelle Kleynerman added to the lead by winning 6-3, 6-2 over Sophia Shen in the third singles spot as the Engineers moved within one win of the city title. But Beacon’s doubles teams responded with back-to-back victories to even things at two-all, as Niki Truszkowski & Sophia Prudhomme notched a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Alina Abramoff & Ltliko Chung at first doubles and Andrea Osses Konig & Maya Arnott defeated Audrey Simon & Mira Gupta 6-4, 6-3 at second doubles. That left the championship to be decided by the second singles match between Semenov and Beacon’s Lorraine Bergman. Semenov dropped the first set, but would rally to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to seal the title for Brooklyn Tech.

Lab Museum Wins Second Consecutive “B” Division Title

Lab Museum captured the PSAL “B” Division title for the second straight year, defeating Maspeth for the championship Lab Museum captured the PSAL “B” Division title for the second straight year, defeating Maspeth 3-2.

As had been the case all season long, the Lab Museum Gators were led by Arielle Klein at first singles. The senior defeated

Angelina Perez of Maspeth 6-1, 6-1 to give Lab Museum the early advantage. Samantha Bodin chipped in a 6-4, 6-2 win over Katelin Ildefonso at second singles to contribute to the Lab Museum scoring. The third point came at first doubles as Orli Rein & Skylar Moss held on to win 63, 4-6, 7-6 over Angelica Pavone & Klaudia Truskolaska. “The girls were highly motivated players who worked as a team this year,” said Juliet Crupi. “The captains really helped the younger players, and the girls focused game-by-game, point-by-point.” For Maspeth, Carol Garcia Merlo won 7-5, 6-1 against Sophia Demeo at third singles, while Sabrina Ortiz & Zeinabou Ly won a thrilling 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 match versus Arielle Weiss & Liberty An Abordo at second doubles.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

10 & Under Tennis: The Future of Tennis Academies

By Oleg Mironchikov aunched in 2010, 10 & Under Tennis remains one of the hottest topics in the tennis world. Some may love it, while others may hate it, but the reality is that the 10 & Under Tennis pathway is here to stay. Tennis in the U.S. is finally catching up to other sports and introducing young generations of players to smaller racquets and court sizes, as well as lower compression balls that are easier to manage at such a young age. These adjust-

ments are supposed to inspire the youngsters and give them a chance to have more fun playing the sport while developing the needed foundation to quicker advance their game. There is a lot of controversy going on regarding the new system, but I would like to focus on the importance of youth tennis as a whole and its vitality to the prosperity of any tennis academy. Tennis remains one of the most elite sports, and helps kids develop important qualities like time management, perseverance, patience and work ethic among others. Organizations such as USTA in-

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vest a lot of resources in promoting 10 & Under Tennis programs in the United States to attract a larger group of young players and boost overall participation in the sport. It’s not uncommon to see three-year-old children trying out the sport. The question becomes, “What can tennis academies do to inspire the love for the game among youth and encourage them to keep playing the sport?” Let’s also not forget that, for a traditional tennis academy/club, an average “life span” of a junior tennis player is between five- and 17-years-old. Once teens get

close to graduating high school, they are ready to move on to the next chapter of their lives (i.e. go to college and possibly move out of the area and start a career). Academies that run successful 10 & Under programs manage to retain those customers throughout these years, which, in turn, positively impacts sales and overall growth of the business. I would start by introducing smaller class sizes where each player gets plenty of attention from instructors and a chance to perfect his foundation. For example, limit the class size to eight players and always maintain a 4:1 player/instructor ratio. A tennis court can be divided into several areas with the help of smaller nets (depending on the age and level), and players can easily rotate between stations, playing games and drilling. It also gives the teaching pros a unique opportunity to get to know their players and forge a positive emotional connection. This emotional connection will go a long way and ignite the spark needed among young athletes. Consequently, a true re-

lationship is born between a coach and his student. Second, it’s up to the management of any tennis facility to hire and assign knowledgeable and enthusiastic coaches to 10 & Under programs with the zeal for kids’ development. It’s such a sensitive age group, where kids can be easily discouraged after just one unsuccessful practice. Moreover, their attention span is limited, therefore, teaching pros have to be continuously on lookout for creative ways of keeping their students engaged during class. Special equipment including cones, targets, buckets, among others, can be used to better explain drills and games, and encourage kids to have more fun. Lastly, a well-balanced curriculum will prove to be a contributing factor to the development of any 10 & Under program. Many clubs and academies make a mistake and are either too serious with young children or are not providing enough depth in training sessions. It must be a balancing act be-

tween fun and hard work. It’s important to teach this age group important values that will extend well beyond the tennis court, but at the same time, allow kids to be kids. Tennis at the 10 & Under level is still a new mindset for the United States. It will take another seven to 10 years to truly see the results. While the community is patiently waiting for the revival of the Golden Age in American tennis, I am staying very hopeful and am looking forward to seeing clubs and academies continue investing time and resources into growing 10 & Under programs–the future of tennis. Oleg Mironchikov is Assistant Director of Operations at Tennis Innovators Academy, located in White Plains, N.Y. He received his BA from Delaware State University where he played in the top singles and doubles positions before earning his Master’s Degree from Florida International University. He may be reached by e-mail at Oleg@tennisInnovators.com.

PGA National Resort & Spa Palm Beach Gardens, Florida December 1-6, 2017 Boys & Girls: Ages 8-14 Singles/Doubles/Mixed Doubles “Little Mo” Yellow Ball: Ages 8-12 “Little Mo” Green Dot: Ages 8, 9, 10 “Big Mo”: Ages 13 and 14

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The Doctor’s Prescription:

Play Tennis By Barbara Wyatt uring tryouts for a high school basketball team, the coach tactfully pulled a young student aside and said, “Perhaps you should try tennis.” The young man hung his head in despair, but picked up a tennis racket and turned the rejection into a winning high school and college tennis career. Greg Smith went on to study under Vic Braden, managed tennis clubs for more than 30 years, and now works privately with students in the United States and Canada. Why do our mentors and friends suggest “try tennis” when we face a challenge, a bad day at work, or rejection from the basketball team? Because it works! Blasting a yellow ball back and forth is good for mind and body, affordable, builds friendships, and can be therapy for a day’s frustrations. The benefits don’t end there. On June 6, 1944, D-Day, Art Larsen, a young American soldier in the 15th Cavalry, 17th Squadron, landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy. “Out of nowhere, a fleet of bombers began strafing and bombing us,” Larsen said in a quote from Sporting Gentlemen by E. Digby Baltzell (1995). “Our own Air

Force had mistaken us for Nazis. Half the troops were killed; ambulances were lined up for miles.” Larsen, a tommy-gunner, survived, but most of his unit did not. A few months later, Larsen was engaged in a battle in Brittany, France. The Americans used air support and firepower to force the Germans out of the city of Brest, a key port held by the Germans and needed to provision Allied troops. To defend their position, the Germans had stockpiled ammunition and entrenched troops throughout the city. Larsen’s unit had to advance houseto-house in intense fighting. After several months, the Germans surrendered the city, but had rendered the port facilities useless. The City of Brest was razed to the ground. Larsen was awarded four bronze campaign stars. He had witnessed firsthand the horrors of war over his three years of heavy combat reconnaissance missions. Mental scars ran deep. His doctor prescribed tennis. “I was so nervous and shell-shocked that the exercise in the open air, through tennis, was the only thing that cured me,” said Larsen. Five years later, Art “Tappy” Larsen (1925-2012) won the 1950 U.S. National

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

Championship, the precursor to the U.S. Open, and reached the final of the French Championships (later the French Open) in 1954. He was ranked in the world’s top-10 several times. Larsen earned the nickname “Tappy” because he tapped objects for good luck. When he went through a doorway, he would tap it with his toe—one tap for Monday, two for Tuesday, etc. On the court, he would tap the net, the umpire’s chair, the baseline and opponents. He smiled at birds that flew over the court believing they brought good luck. His eccentricities were tolerated by those who knew of his military service. The tennis court will always be a strong competitive environment for the exceptional athlete. Tennis is also the game that welcomes casual players to stay in shape and enjoy friendships. And it is a refuge for players looking to sort through a day’s challenge, a life’s struggle, or maybe even rejection from the basketball team. RX: Play tennis! Barbara Wyatt is a Writer, Photographer, USTA Official, and Mobile App Developer of iKnowTennis!, the tennis rules app. Her poem, Ode to Tennis, an amusing poem on the joys and frustrations when learning tennis, is available at Amazon. She can be reached by email at BarbaraW@iKnowTennis.com.

Once, Twice, Three Times a Player By Mike Williams t’s the winter tennis season across the Tri-State area, and I know you are all looking to get back into the full swing of things. Getting better is simple. The more you play, the better you’ll get. Right? Author Malcolm Gladwell would tell you that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill—which may be true, if you can find the time. But mastery is more than how much you play—how you practice matters too. When it comes to your tennis game, the best way to set you up for success—to ensure measurable and sustainable improvement to your game—takes getting on the court multiple times a week, having a training objective with each session, and then putting it into play.

The three steps to improvement 1. Drilling classes Designate one court session to drills and skill building by taking a class that emphasizes technique and shot execution. The repetitive nature of drilling helps develop motor skills and muscle memory, which takes conscious thinking out of shot-making in high-pressure situations. For adult and junior players, “Drill and Play” clinics are perfectly designed for this and cater to almost every playing level. Also, if you want a great, non-stop workout, take a Cardio Tennis class (which uses Green Dot balls to promote sustained rallies). Or try a Live Ball class which mixes point-play in a competitive doubles environment.

2. Take lessons with a professional Get personalized coaching as much as you can with one-on-one instruction. Even if it’s once a week or once a month, deliberate, goal-based practices to further refine the skills you pick up in training sessions and matches will help fine tune your strokes, learn proper technique, and create strategies for match play. Customize these sessions to your individual needs by asking specific questions, and attain new information that will help you grow as a player and improve your game. 3. Play in competitive situations Finally, synthesize everything you’ve learned and put it into play. Get involved at your local tennis club! They are sure to have variations of different programs such as: USTA League teams and tournaments, club mixers, adult singles leagues and adult game arranging services. Match play tests your skills and strategies against others, so it is here you will identify what your current strengths and weakness are, and what you should work on in your next practice session. I look forward to seeing you on the court! Mike Williams is the Tennis Director at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC). He captained the Clemson University Tennis Team and played on the Satellite Tour following his collegiate career. He won the Men’s Open Doubles Championship in 2013 and has more than 20 years of coaching experience, dedicated to helping players of all levels by focusing on the fundamentals of the game and designing programs that will help each individual reach their highest level. He can be reached by e-mail at MWilliams@AdvantageTennisClubs.com.

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Okay! Here’s the Situation ... By Luke Jensen et’s get the tennis ball rolling into a new you on the tennis court! A new approach to a tactical you and how about the Americans at a red white and blue 2017 U.S. Open?! As usual, I am pumped up about a new edition to the Jensen Zone. So many things to cover, but I can only do it in so many words. I have been developing an idea for players who go into the arena against a steadier opponent or more experienced team. If you play their game, they will beat you. Maybe your game is their game and they just do it better than you.

I may have the best formula to attack and even best that type of opponent. Our game is pretty straightforward … players that hold serve and break serve win. Digging deeper into that is the critical 15-30 point. Players who can capitalize in that scenario win the close matches. Imagine if you could be that server that can get out of a 15-30 jam and hold serve. How about you are returning at 15-30 and can jump on your opponent and get the break of serve? I have always loved watching matches at all levels of play because no matter what skill level, from Wimbledon champion to lower more recreational tennis, the match is always won and lost in how players succeed and fail in situations. I call it situational tennis.

Now how do you play in certain situations? How do you start a match? What kind of adjustments to do you make if any at all through the first set. How do you finish sets? How do you start the next set? Finally … how do you close out a match? I didn’t even get into how you play when you are down a break or even a set and a break. Let’s stick with a situation where you find out pretty early on in the contest you don’t have your stuff. You quickly find that your current level of play is just is not going to be enough to win. In this case, I present you with “The Disrupter Strategy.” When you use the word “disrupter,” what comes to mind? A trouble maker, unpredictable and a nuisance? Yes … all of the above! I knew in certain match ups

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that I needed to be that disrupter to give myself the very best chance to win. Now that meant playing a game that is completely opposite of what my opponent wants to play. Tennis players like rhythm and getting in a groove. Well today, you are going to be the antigroove and rhythmic player. Anything you can do to disrupt the other side. So, okay, here we go … Set up a battle plan where you try a different tactical approach on every point. Maybe start with a drop shot as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Then, on the next point, try a moon ball high to the back hand and see what kind of reply your opponent has to the high ball. Then a serve and volley or SABR blitz play where you come to the net on a short ball. You could then combine a series of shots from one topspin to one underspin through the rally. Maybe go cross-court the entire point, followed by going down the line the entire next point. So many ways to throw off the other side. Once you have tried all of these plays in the first couple of

games, remind yourself to see what works. If you find something that wins you the point … KEEP DOING IT! Playing disruptive tennis can be creative and fun. You will explore new areas of your game and expand your shot selection. You never know when a situation will come up and you will need a unique play to help you win the big point that makes the difference between chump and champ! Now, for a little bit on the Americans at the 2017 U.S. Open … If you had a crystal ball and saw such a great run by the Stars and Stripes, I hope you cashed in because there was always hope that we had enough talent to turn the corner, but wow! Four amazing American women in the semis and one was not Serena! They all played with such great courage and confidence. I’m so happy for them and the future of American tennis. There is always promise, but until there is confidence and courage, talent will never be enough. Sloane is such a gracious champion, and the way she was more

concerned about her friend Madison Keys impressed me so much. When the moment was all about Sloane and all Sloane wanted to do is give her friend a hug, that shows enormous personal character in my book. Madison Keys will learn from a bad match in the finals, but building off a great run to get there, she will win her Slam down the road. I will never forget how American tennis power flexed its muscle in the 2017 U.S. Open and declared to the tennis world that the American charge is on! See you on the courts! Born in Grayling, Mich., Luke Jensen’s resume includes 10 ATP Tour doubles titles and singles victories against Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Jim Courier. Jensen and his brother, Murphy, won the 1993 French Open doubles title. Luke is currently Director of Tennis at Sea Island Tennis Center in Georgia. He may be reached by phone at (315) 443-3552 or e-mail LukeJensen84@yahoo.com.

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l Exhibitor Hall: Featuring top programs, camps, products, apparel, sports medicine, travel destinations and much more l Tennis Courts: Use of the two main courts the pros will use during the New York Open l Kids’ Zone: Featuring a bouncy house, face painting, music, games and more l Speaker Sessions: Learn from a panel of ATP stars and top coaches l Chance to Meet the Stars of the ATP Tour: Autograph signing and photo opportunities with the sport’s top stars l Fashion Show: Featuring the latest and trendiest tennis apparel l Activity Zone: Featuring 10U tennis courts, beach tennis courts, a speed serve booth, product demos and more

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

NYTennisMag.com â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ New York Tennis Magazine

2017 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion The metro New York tennis community has some of the sport’s finest facilities, both indoor and outdoor, and best coaches in the world. With this wealth of talent available right in our own backyard, New York Tennis Magazine recently took the opportunity to pick the brains of some of these top coaches. What you will find below are some of the sport’s top instructors sharing their ideas and strategies on health and fitness of today’s athletes, 10 & Under Tennis, the role of the parent, the current state of the local scene, and much more.

Meet the participants … Gus Alcayaga Gus Alcayaga is a former world ranked Argentine ATP Tour and junior player. He has worked closely with junior tennis for the last 25 years. He currently works with National- and Eastern-ranked junior players and is the Junior Program Director at The West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, NY.

Vinicius Carmo Vinicius Carmo is Tennis Director of The Ross School Tennis Academy and Coach of the Boy’s and Girls’ Varsity Tennis Teams. As a player, Vinicius was ranked among the top five junior players in Brazil and played several international junior tennis tournaments. He attended the University of Tennessee for four years on a full scholarship.

Damir Basiric Damir Basiric is a High Performance Coach at CourtSense-Bogota Racquet Club, and holds the highest level coaching license in Croatia. Born in Osijek, Croatia, Damir was the top-ranked tennis player in every junior age division in Croatia. Prior to joining CourtSense, he competed on a professional level and achieved ATP rankings in both singles and doubles, and after that, spent time coaching at the IMG Nick Bolletieri Academy in Bradenton, Fla.; the Niki Pilic Tennis Academy in Munich, Germany; as well as privately coaching top 100 WTA players including Anja Konjuh and Donna Vekic. At CourtSense, he is working with juniors and adults from all different levels, including many nationally-ranked players.

Lisa Dodson

Born in Chappaqua, N.Y., Lisa Dodson is a 40-year teaching professional and former world ranked player. Having spent 20 years in Northern California, Lisa returned home to Mt. Kisco, New York in 2013. Lisa is now the seasonal Director of Tennis at Shenorock Shore Club in Rye, N.Y., and professional at The Saw Mill Club in Mt. Kisco, N.Y. Lisa is a former WTA player with a world ranking of 270th in singles. She played basketball and tennis for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1979 with a BA in Political Science. Lisa also competed on the Eastern United States Volleyball travel team and went to Olympic basketball trials while at Horace Greeley. She has held sectional rankings in women’s singles and doubles in the Eastern, Florida and Northern California

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

Sections and has been a USTA Nor Cal 35s, 40s and 45s sectional team player. Tony Huber Tony Huber is the Director of High Performance Tennis at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning. Tony began his career at the worldrenowned Van der Meer Tennis University in Hilton Head, S.C. as the “Right Hand Man” of founder Dennis Van der Meer. Tony has coached numerous professional players in 15-plus years on the WTA Tour. Tony, and his wife Liezel Huber, have celebrated tremendous success on the courts with 199 weeks as the world number one doubles player, two Olympics and seven Grand Slams. Tony is a Master Professional with Professional Tennis Coaches Association, a PTR National Tester and has been awarded Coach of the Year on the ATP and WTA tour. Tony has a knack for finding the most efficient way to help players at any level improve their game, whether its technical, tactical or mental. Lawrence Kleger Lawrence Kleger is recognized as one of the top developmental coaches in the United States. He has trained more ranked juniors than anyone in the history of the USTA/Eastern

2017 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion Section. His students have won numerous National and Regional Championships, and 18 USTA Eastern Year-End Sportsmanship Awards. Lawrence is the Director of Tennis of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, which makes its home at Sportime Randall’s Island in Manhattan. Ed Krass Ed Krass coached the Harvard Women’s Tennis Team to four consecutive Ivy League titles from 1986-1990. Ed is the Founder and Director of the Annual College Tennis Exposure Camps, which are taught exclusively by all head college coaches for high schoolaged players (15-18). Ed is also the Founder of One-On-One Doubles tournaments, which have been played at USTA, ATP, ITA and USPTA national events. Chris Lewit Chris Lewit, a former number one for Cornell and pro circuit player, coaches in the New York City area and also runs a high-performance boarding summer camp in Southern Vermont. He specializes in training aspiring junior tournament players using progressive Spanish and European training methods. His best-selling book, Secrets of Spanish Tennis, has helped coaches and players worldwide learn how to train the Spanish way. Oleg Mironchikov Oleg Mironchikov is the Assistant Director of Operations at Tennis Innovators Academy, located in White Plains, N.Y. He received a BA

from Delaware State University, where he played top singles and doubles before earning his master’s degree from Florida International University. He has experience with players of all stages of development. Andy Stuber Andy Stuber is a Director of Tennis at Gotham Tennis Academy at Stadium Tennis Center. Andy grew up playing his tennis on European red clay courts and brings a tremendous work ethic and passion to the courts at Gotham Tennis Academy. Andy has been known to use his European work ethic to teach and inspire our juniors. Andy is comfortable teaching all levels of players, including the munchkin, JDP, ATP and adult levels.

Mike Williams Mike Williams is the Tennis Director at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC). He captained the Clemson University Tennis Team and played on the Satellite Tour following his collegiate career. He won the Men’s Open Doubles Championship in 2013 and has more than 20 years of coaching experience, dedicated to helping players of all levels by focusing on the fundamentals of the game and designing programs that will help each individual reach their highest level.

Khrystsina Tryboi Khrystsina Tryboi is currently the Director of Marketing for MatchPoint NYC. She is a former Division II tennis player from Belarus, and is currently working for MatchPoint NYC in their QuickStart tennis program and is leading their marketing team. She is highly involved with USPTA and USTA to help grow the game. Todd Widom Todd Widom is a former Top 200 ATP Professional in both singles and doubles, and Owner of TW Tennis, South Florida’s top small group/private tennis training geared exclusively for the highperformance junior, collegiate or professional tennis player.

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MAGAZINE

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2017 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion The roundtable ...

What is the most effective type of fitness regimen for tennis players? Damir Barisic: In my opinion, fitness preparation and training for tennis players should be a continuous process. It should be planned, programmed and executed professionally, over a long period of time. It should also consider and respect specifics of the player involved in the fitness program, such as age, gender, stages of development, etc. Furthermore, it should consider and respect specifics of the sport of tennis. Andy Stuber: There are a ton of different regimens addressed, but if I have to pick one, I would focus on overall quickness and agility. These skills can be achieved by doing short sprints and using a jump rope. Mike Williams: Tennis players need stability and flexibility. Strength training should be focused on the development of a player’s legs and core. The best players in the world tend to carry most of their weight in the lower body, while their upper bodies tend to be comparatively smaller. This is not by coincidence. Also, flexibility exercises like 44

stretching and elastic band stretches are vital to the development of a winning player.

performance players along that path and the low compression balls give you a little more time at each stage.

How do you think 10U Tennis is progressing? How has it impacted juniors over the past few years? Tony Huber: In regards to low compression balls and the training of juniors, there are definitely some great benefits. In my experience, young players have an easier time starting to play tennis with a lower skill base because of the low compression balls. A general rule of thumb for me is if the player can serve the ball in play without “beating themselves,” then they are ready to start match play. Now, if you are a coach and have a player willing to take the extra steps on instruction on the front end of playing, the long-term result could likely be the same or may even be better. I believe that good high performance coaches can teach under both scenarios and need to find the right fit for the particular player. I am a data guy, and right now, I haven’t seen solid data to make me draw the line in the sand. With that being said, low compression balls provide a great entry way for learning. We have designed a junior pathway at the Cary Leeds Center to welcome recreational and high-

Khrystsina Tryboi: I think with the introduction of youth progression, we can attract more children to the game and finally shift the scale to our advantage. Unfortunately, right now we are engaging and attracting the same number of new tennis players as they retire from the game. The game has been aging for a while now, and it’s up to us to change that.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

Do you feel more is learned from wins or from losses? Gus Alcayaga: In general, we all learn from our losses more so than we do from wins and that is true. I believe you can learn from both. Success is not only measured by wins, but the journey it takes you to reach the top. As Serena Williams one said, “If anything, I think losing makes me even more motivated.” Tony Huber: Learning is the key no matter what, so win or lose, the player who can properly evaluate the last match will be the better player in the long run. In my experience coaching and being around some of the best players in the world, I have seen the great champions hate losing even more

2017 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion than winning. There are quite a few champions still holding onto that one big loss. A player’s winning ratios are important to maintain for the player’s psyche, and as a general rule, staying in the 4:1 win to loss ratio yields both confidence and new skill learning. I will tell you the best get angry after a loss, so I always allow my players to take a little time and then recharge and get at it again! We have built a team building concept at the Cary Leeds Center to help the players push each other along through the tough times–and I see that working very well. Chris Lewit: Both of course. The key is for the player to learn, in general, and to have a learning mindset—also known as a growth mindset. This basically means the player is always asking, “What did I do well and what can I do better?” Responsible players with a growth mindset take notes after matches and have a good analytical review with a parent or coach. If a player is actively trying to learn from both wins and losses, taking important “nuggets” from every match, they will develop faster than players who are just playing and not really learning that much. Every match reveals important clues for technical, tactical, mental and emotional development. Players who view tournaments and matches as “learning experiences”—not just as opportunities for ranking points—have a very healthy perspective on junior tennis How does a parent know if their coach is getting the most out of their child’s ability? Lawrence Kleger: Based on a parent’s totally rational and objective opinion about their child, the answer is “no” with every coach. Seriously, this

is a tough one. What I tell parents when it comes to choosing a coach is to do their due diligence, but once you engage a coach that you have confidence in, do not micromanage that coach. Developing a tennis player is a long process … a marathon, not a dash. A parent should request a Developmental Plan for the player and that should answer many of the questions like, “When is my child’s second serve going to be reliable?” “What are the ranking/standing expectations for the next three months, six months, one year, etc.” In the end, a parent has to make this call and it is not always easy. And no offense to parents … but it’s not always right. Chris Lewit: They usually don’t know and that is why so many poor and ineffective coaches stay in the business. However, smart parents usually have an instinct that tells them their child is underachieving. If a player is stressed or anxious and not achieving their goals, it’s worth checking in with another coach or two to see if there may be something missing in the player’s training. In general, the parents I have worked with who are most effective are constantly seeking out expert advice for their child. This does not mean they are not loyal to one coach, rather, it means they seek the best advice from the best minds in the industry. Even one great coach does not know everyone or have expertise in every area of tennis training. Also, I think smart parents should invest in consulting with experts, even if it’s expensive. If you want the best advice, you have to be willing to pay for it. I frequently see players underachieving because parents stubbornly refuse to pay more for better coaching and

consulting, while throwing away money week after week to coaches giving bad advice. Todd Widom: The child should feel like they are being challenged when they are in a training session. The junior player should feel and see that they are improving certain aspects of their game that is going to help them achieve their goals. Lastly, there is TennisRecruiting.net and Universal Tennis Rating which are excellent tools to see if your child is progressing in terms of their tennis tournament results. Results never lie. What is a parent’s role in their child’s s training? What are some common mistakes you see from parents? Gus Alcayaga: The parent’s role in their child’s training is to be “supportive,” as the “coach” will train and teach and the “tennis player” will fulfill their role by preparing under the coaches’ instruction. Parents, too often, want to be all three of the above. Most of the time, the biggest mistake is their focus on the outcome, rather than the process. Sometimes … no, most of the time, parents watching their child train and compete is too much for them to handle. Lisa Dodson: Initially, find a good, reputable coach who will provide structure while having fun. If a child wants to take it further, provide regular instruction (as appropriate). The parent simply supports the child in their endeavor with structure, encouragement and organization. Parents show interest, but don’t coach and micro-manage, constantly ask how their lesson was or if they won a practice match. This is what should happen at all levels of play.

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2017 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion Oleg Mironchikov: On a competitive level, a parent frequently takes on the role of a manager, dietician and mental coach, on top of being a parent. Coaches, of course, aid in the development of an athlete, but parents are the ones who instill the needed value and qualities in children that determine the long-term success of a player. The most common mistake among parents is either being too strict or too soft with their kids. The key is in finding a perfect balance where children learn the value of hard work, yet enjoy the life-long journey in tennis. Andy Stuber: Parents should be supportive and let the coaches do their job. Their primary role should be to be a good parent and stress good sportsmanship. A good tennis parent should use the game of tennis to teach life lessons. Some common mistakes I see are parents getting overly-involved in their child’s tennis—focusing too much on winning, rather than the development of the child, and not showing enough respect for their child’s opponent. Mike Williams: Kids would benefit if parents could be an understanding and inspiring friend. Tennis can be hard on a child’s psyche. Although many parents are not versed in the game, they know the difference between right and wrong, the spirit of competition and fair play. At its best, tennis inspires, but at its worst, it can tear a kid down from the inside. It’s the parent’s responsibility to make sure this never happens. Parents forget that tennis is a game and that everything that happens before, during and after a tennis match or practice is an opportunity for your child to learn something new and extraordinary. 46

How do you prepare a junior player to be mentally tougher on the court? Damir Barisic: In my opinion, developing good habits could help a junior tennis player to be mentally tougher on the tennis court. Some of these good habits include a good work ethic during practices and matches, fair play, enjoying the competition more than the outcome, etc. Vinicius Carmo: The preparation comes from daily habits that coaches implement in the routine of training such as: Determination and being goal-focused, sticking with the plan under pressure and always striving for the goals; Toughness in embracing challenges and going all in with everything we have; Resiliency and the ability to bounce back when struggling; Engagement and immersing at the moment; Confidence in believing in themselves; and Happiness in doing what they love and enjoying every moment. Lisa Dodson: Encourage them how to be well-rounded, self-sufficient and sure of their ability to produce dependable strokes. Then, they can concentrate on how to form and change strategy. A shaky stroke is always somewhere in the back of a player’s mind and ready to become a negative factor when the going gets tough. If any player has a firm confidence in their technical ability, then they will naturally have a path to become mentally more secure. How would you describe the current state of tennis in the metro New York area? What are the pros and cons? Andy Stuber: Tennis is on an upswing

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in general because of modifications in equipment, teaching methods and accessibility. At the same time, there’s always more that can be done to offer more playing and learning opportunities. We are trying to do our part to create even more opportunities for play at all levels and for all ages. Khrystsina Tryboi: I think as a Section, we are getting stronger and attracting new players to the game. There are more facilities opening with a wider variety of programs, ranging from community, NYJTL, to tournament training. This is helping tennis to be more affordable and attract players who otherwise would not have played. There is a lot of talent out there, we just need to properly attract, identify and mentor. Do you think it’s beneficial for kids to play multiple sports growing up? Why or why not? Vinicius Carmo: I do believe that it is beneficial, but it should not take time away from the tennis practices. Coaches today should also implement other physical exercises that will supplement tennis players. The fitness could be playing soccer, baseball or playing flag football. Tennis today is different than 10 or 20 years ago, as today, it is much more competitive and physical. Ed Krass: I think it is important that our young tennis players get exposed to playing at least one other sport in their formative years, ages 10-13. I know that I played flag football, JV basketball and Little League baseball, leading up to playing tennis full-time at the age of 14 going forward. I do think that the athletic skills one develops playing other sports can help transfer over to tennis. However,

2017 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion with tournament tennis being such a demanding and technical game, one should think about “specializing” in the sport at around the ages of 13 or 14, as the quantity of time invested will often dictate the type of quality results a junior player will receive. Do you think top juniors should play for their high school varsity teams? Tony Huber: Once again, I will not tell you what to do, but I will say there is data out there. Currently, around three percent of Division 1 college players played on their high school teams. So, it seems that with all the hours it takes to make a college player, the current ones couldn’t fit playing high school tennis into their schedules. It really is a shame though, as I consider college tennis the happiest time for a player and the high school tennis experience is a close second. I played in high school, and I loved being on the team and I got better. In short, make your decision and stick with it, I think you can make both scenarios work.

keep pace with other higher level junior players. There are many options in states like Florida and California to train at full-time academies. What is your best argument for convincing those players to stay home and train in New York? Vinicius Carmo: The Eastern Section is one of the strongest Sections in the country. There is enough competition and we have good academies with schools in the Eastern Section. The academy schools, in general, are also better up north. I don’t advise anyone to leave home and their parents at an early age if you can find a good tennis academy and school close by. Of course, if you don’t have a good school or academy around, you have to leave and find what fits the best. Also, people say all of the time that the weather is better for tennis in Florida. Do you know how many days of practice you miss because of rain? Also, your practice is much shorter when dealing with humidity and warmer temperatures.

Oleg Mironchikov: While it looks good on a resume when applying for colleges, top junior athletes should focus on national and international level events to get the needed exposure and experience to successfully compete on the highest level. Consequently, this exposure may lead to gaining sponsorships and endorsement deals– something any professional athlete needs for the duration of their career.

Khrystsina Tryboi: First, we have fulltime opportunities right here in New York, and second, home walls always help you. You can get the support, training and mentoring right in New York of the same quality, plus you don’t have to move away from your family and friends. I am a big believer in having a strong support network for players.

Mike Williams: Because top juniors are usually the best players on their respective teams, I believe they should play high school tennis from eighth until 10th grade. After that, they will most certainly need to find more competitive tennis environments to

What effect do you think the recent success of the American women at the U.S. Open will have on American tennis? Lisa Dodson: Hopefully, this success will inspire more coaches to teach women a varied and effective game,

rather than just standing them on the baseline to see who can hit better groundstrokes. The rest of the world has been working on this for ages. The current top women are serving more effectively and have more variety, along with power and speed from the baseline. They are being encouraged to use their athleticism, speed and smarts to play a more wellrounded game. As it should be. Ed Krass: The recent success of our American women at the U.S. Open was very inspiring to see! I think that these amazing results show our American women (and men) that if a player has great motivation, talent and opportunity, that the sky could be the limit! Any time an American player wins a Grand Slam, it’s reassuring to know that our country’s top players are truly the best in the world! Chris Lewit: The U.S. is lucky to have so many great, young American players coming up, while still retaining some older legends. I think we will see even more participation and diversity entering the sport, especially on the girl’s side. I attribute much of that success to changes at the USTA and in Player Development. Ola Malmqvist, Head of Women’s Coaching, is an unsung hero and has done an amazing job, while remaining virtually unheard of. Jose Higueras has revamped the entire coaching curriculum to model the best practices from Spain. The USTA Team USA concept is fantastic and has allowed better partnerships with private high performance coaches like myself and others. The results speak for themselves. We currently have the best country in the world for female tennis, and more and more girls are rising up the ranks.

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2017 NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

Coaches Roundtable Discussion The USTA has officially launched its Net Generation initiative. What would you like to see from it to help grow and mold the next generation of tennis players in our area? Gus Alcayaga: The Net Generation initiative should help our tennis players receive more exposure through different channels. There are so many junior tennis players with so much talent who sometimes fall through the cracks. We need to ensure that there is a place for their continued development. As an industry, we need to identify these young athletes, making sure they are receiving full support from the USTA as they become America’s next generation of champions. We are working with local schools and hope to discover the next Serena Williams or Roger Federer of the tennis world. Damir Barisic: I think the Net Generation initiative that USTA has launched could be very useful in making tennis more available to a larger audience. I also think that the Net Generation initiative will help bring together a stronger tennis community of parents, players, coaches, etc. Oleg Mironchikov: My hopes are that the USTA achieves its goals in creating a perfect platform where coaches, players and tennis organizations can work together and inspire new generations of players to try out the sport. The introduction of interactive and creative curriculums will stimulate interest among players and accelerate their development. I would like to see tennis clubs and academies investing more time and resources in expanding 10 & Under programs. After all, these players are our future. 48

Todd Widom: The Net Generation Initiative sounds like a great way to bring young tennis players of all skill levels together to promote a healthy competitive environment. This program may be able to mold some great kids in the New York area into tennis players who may have otherwise not had these resources. I would love to see more young kids playing tennis and continue to play throughout their junior career and on into college. What are some tips to help a high-level player secure a college scholarship? Lawrence Kleger: I think it is rather simple in concept: Get good enough at tennis. As far as the process, once you are good enough, that would take more space than I am allowed for my answer, but what I say to my students is this: Start the process early and decide on the importance of the academics and the tennis. This will help you compile a list of universities that would seem to be a good fit for you. Be thorough in evaluating which school and tennis program would be right for you. The school has to offer the academic major you are interested in pursuing. Do you believe that you will be comfortable with the coaching staff? Do you see yourself fitting in with the players on the team? And last, but certainly not least, do you have an excellent chance to play in the top six? I might even put that last one at the top of this list. Ed Krass: For a high-level junior player to secure a college tennis scholarship, they must be tremendously dedicated to achieve at the highest level. The topics of setting goals, creating your vision, making a game plan for achievement, alongside

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

getting exposure to top college coaches will all help in a player’s goal to receiving a college tennis scholarship. Todd Widom: The best tip I can tell you is to peak and play your best tennis when you are 16- to 18-years-old. To do this, you and your coach need to be organized about the development process, make sure you are playing in the correct tournaments, and perform well at those tournaments. Of course, make sure to do well in the classroom as well.

nytennis New York Tennis Magazine

MAGAZINE

COMING IN JANUARY 2018

Distribution scheduled for 01/01/18

This edition will feature: • Australian Open Preview • 2017 Girls High School States Recap • 2017 Year in Review/2018 Preview • Mental Tennis Roundtable • Tennis Fitness Feature

Distribution across New York at 300+ locations: • Indoor tennis clubs • Country clubs • Restaurants and health food stores • Tennis camps • Retail stores • Gyms • Supermarkets and • Many more!

Don’t miss the advertising opportunities in the next edition of New York Tennis Magazine January/February 2018! Facebook-www.Facebook.com/NYTennisMag Instagram-@NYTennisMag • Twitter-@NYTennisMag Submissions for both advertising and editorial are due by 2017 December 2017 NYTennisMag.com • November/December • New York 1, Tennis Magazine 49 For more information, please call 516-409-4444 or e-mail Advertise@NYTennisMag.com

courtsix New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz Serena Welcomes Her First Child While her older sister Venus was taking to the court for her U.S. Open thirdround match against Maria Sakkari, Serena Williams and her fiancé Alexis Ohanian welcomed their first child, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., a healthy six pound, 13 ounce baby girl, to the world.

Date Calls It a Career Kimiko Date has announced her retirement from the WTA Tour as the 46-year-old put an end to her storied career. After her loss to Aleksandra Krunic in the first round of the Japan Open, the Japannative told fans that it would the last time she played professional tennis. “Thank you so much to all tennis fans, and of course, the Japanese fans,” Date said. “Tennis is always a wonderful sport, especially for women. I have enjoyed the tour so much.” 50

Next Gen Finals to Experiment With Electronic Line Calls

The 2017 ATP Next Gen Finals in November will feature electronic line calling on all lines during the tournament, as the only match official on court will be the Chair Umpire. “This could be a landmark moment for officiating in our sport,” said Gayle David Bradshaw, Executive Vice President of Rules and Competition for the ATP. “Our athletes work incredibly hard, and they deserve the very best and most accurate officiating we can offer. The technology is now in a place where we feel comfortable trialing this new system in a real tournament environment.”

Puig Lends a Hand With Hurricane Maria Relief With the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig is doing all

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

she can help her home country, starting a YouCaring page to raise money for relief efforts. Her original goal was $25,000, but it soon surpassed that, and to this date, she has raised more than $110,000. Some of her peers, including Maria Sharapova and Nick Kyrgios, contributed to the effort, as Kyrgios pledged to donate $50 for each ace he hits the rest of the season, and Sharapova will donate all profits from her candy company, Sugarpova, from the rest of the year to the fund.

Battle of the Sexes Hits the Big Screen

The much-anticipated “Battle of the Sexes” film has hit theatres, starring Emma Stone as Billie Jean King and Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs, retelling the story of the infamous 1973 showdown. King was extremely pleased with the accuracy in which the film portrayed not just the match, but everything that encompassed the event, both socially and culturally. “I was amazed how close they could come to reality like that,” King said. “They got the essence of the story, they got the essence of our personalities.”

Evans Banned a Year by ITF Great Britian’s Dan Evans has been handed a one-year ban for testing positive for cocaine, the ITF announced. The ban is through April 23, 2018. “Mr. Evans is granted credit for his prompt admission,” the ITF’s ruling said. “In all of the circumstances of this case, including the time and expenses saved by reaching an agreed outcome rather than having a disputed hearing, the ITF accepts that a 12-month reduction is within the range of reasonable outcomes.”

Team Europe Upends Team World for Laver Cup

Team Europe defeated Team World in the inaugural Laver Cup earlier this fall. This

new event pitted six of the top European players against six top players from the rest of the world in a three-day event with both singles and doubles competitions. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Alex Zverev and John Isner were amongst the names who participated in the exciting new competition.

Roger Federer (@RogerFederer): We’re basically the same height

Tweets from the pros

Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova): With the CHAMPION @DjokerNole Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal): With my doubles partner @RogerFederer very happy to have played with Roger @LaverCup #TeamEurope

Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens): BEST. DAY. EVER.

Stanislas Wawrinka (@StanWawrinka): Rehab time will pass much quicker with the new @NBA2K and @PlayStation !! Thanks @NBA2K ! #NBA2K18

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

30Fifteen

inPhorm

30Fifteen.co.uk Hello@30Fifteen.com

(214) 749-0300 inPhormNYC.com

Introducing 30Fifteen, a women’s tennis wear brand originally from the U.K. 30Fifteen provides stylish, affordable tennis, fitness and lifestyle clothes, encouraging women to be active and feel confident. 30Fifteen’s collections are designed to offer a style to suit any body type, with attention paid to design, fit and quality of fabric, using technically finished fabrics for ultimate comfort. When you step onto the court you want to be focusing on nothing but your game, and that’s when you want to turn to 30Fifteen. 30Fifteen is motivated by the idea that “If you’re feeling good, you’re playing great.” 30Fifteen knows that this cannot come from clothing alone, so the whole brand is dedicated to offering tools that help women feel good allowing them to step onto the court with confidence. 30Fifteen’s latest collection hit pro shops and its online store in early September, get your hands on some of the pieces today! Take advantage of the season (of giving) and scroll through 30Fifteen.co.uk to purchase a look you’ll love. Use discount code “30shipping15” at the checkout for free shipping on all purchases.

inPhorm is a distinctive collection of tennis and active wear that has gained an avid following, not only amongst tennis retailers, but also among tennis players and a growing lineup of touring pros, as well as other celebrities. Creating environmentally-friendly international designer active and leisure wear has been inPhorm’s mission since it was launched in 2008. Luxurious tennis, active and lifestyle outfits are made predominantly of recycled fibers and offer sun protection of a 50 UV. inPhorm is constantly devising new processes and technology to reduce the environmental impact of apparel manufacturing. This year, inPhorm began offering active and tennis wear that have been colored with a proprietary dry-dye process that doesn’t use or pollute water. inPhorm crafts every fabric and stitch of clothing in their own textile mills and sewing factories to ensure high quality from start to finish. inPhorm recently announced its increase of sponsorships of young professionals on the circuit, added to their inner-city fundraising to help young adults expand in their tennis goals, as well as added to their international sales force. On the courts at Wimbledon, Indian Wells, the U.S. Open, Davis Cup or World TeamTennis, inPhorm-sponsored athletes define athleticism and beauty with an eco-conscious pedigree! You can visit the inPhorm Web site at inPhormNYC.com or call (214) 749-0300. First-time shoppers on inPhormNYC.com can use new customer code: “STAYINPHORMED” for a special discount. Follow inPhorm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest! Expect more great things from inPhorm, as the company begins to offer more athleisure, always mindful that the creation of high design does not preclude protecting the planet.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

Ode to Tennis by Barbara Wyatt

Nutrition Solutions PC

The Gift of Humor

705 Middle Neck Road Great Neck, N.Y. (516) 439-5090 Irina@IrinaLehat.com IrinaLehat.com A gift from Nutrition Solutions PC for you! Get 20 percent off on your personalized diet plan! A five-day meal plan, designed just for you by Irina Belfer-Lehat, a registered dietitian that will include a pre-match meal, recovery meal and fluid, calories and protein calculations! Call (917) 769-8031 today and see where good nutrition can take you! Irina Belfer-Lehat of Nutrition Solutions PC is a New York State-licensed dietitian and certified dietitian-nutritionist. Irina Lehat RD Nutrition Solutions offers group classes for kids in kindergarten through high school. Small groups, affordable prices! For more information, call (917) 769-8031, e-mail IrinaLehat@gmail.com or visit IrinaLehat.com.

For the holiday stockings, give the gift of humor with the book, Ode to Tennis by Barbara Wyatt, featuring the delightful rhyming poem of a player in a tennis lesson. It’s the perfect little gift book for tennis players. The illustrated poem highlights a player’s joy and frustrations during a tennis lesson, capturing the euphoria and struggles of players who take up the game of tennis later in life. “I chase the ball in tournaments, “I compete in the USTA “Yet my strokes leave players laughing, “I’m more comical than Tina Fey! Reviews: n “A great work to be ready by anyone who likes the sport of tennis!” n “It is a feel good book, well-written and illustrated. Made me smile the whole time I was reading it.” n “A great gift! So much truth in a fun wonderfully illustrated book. Enjoy.” Ode to Tennis is available on Amazon for $9.95 (paperback) and $2.99 (Kindle).

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

ServeMaster (925) 570-1326 TheTotalServe.com Lisa@TheTotalServe.com Give the gift of an ACE! Did you know that in just 15 swings of ServeMaster, a beginner tennis player can learn to serve with the same fluid motion as a pro? Free online videos show you how to improve your serve and overhead strokes by using ServeMaster. It can be used to for forehand and backhand drills too. It’s like having a tennis coach in your bag! How it works: Follow the easy steps included in the package, watch ServeMaster videos online or get free tips emailed to you. With the Continental Grip (markings on the handle will get you in position), move slowly through your entire service motion. Because it is completely flexible, flaws such as hitches, erratic rhythm, inconsistent timing and poor technique will cause ServeMaster to “flop,” stop and bump you. With practice, you’ll have a rhythmic and flowing service motion. The ServeMaster is available in three sizes for players of all ages and abilities. Wholesale academy packages for teaching pros and group lessons are available. To find the size ServeMaster that’s right for you, visit TheTotalServe.com. New Junior and LTE versions of ServeMaster are now available in orange!

Silent Partner Tennis (800) 662-1809 SPTennis.com SPTennis@on.aibn.com “Give the gift of a Silent Partner Tennis Ball Machine this holiday season!” Independently owned and operated since 1989, Silent Partner Tennis is committed to the quality of its machines and the satisfaction of its customers. Silent Partner Tennis offers a range of machines to fit any budget. The machines ship door-to-door, and shipping is always free. Silent Partner Tennis Ball Machines are perfect for beginners and experts alike. The machines don’t judge. They can help groove your strokes or simulate play at the U.S. Open. Their features will put a smile on the face of your techie tennis pros. Whether battery-powered or plugged-in, take the machine anywhere, and try to keep up! The machines are always up to play and they work around your schedule. Plus, who doesn’t love a great-looking hitting partner? Check Silent Partner Tennis out online at SPTennis.com. Here is to another great year of tennis. Silent Partner Tennis hopes that it can help you make 2018 the best one yet. Happy holidays!

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

Up or Down LLC

Vibetennis

(631) 882-3442 UpOrDownSpin.com UpOrDownSpin@gmail.com Up or Down is a new tennis apparel company. The company originated with one vision in mind: To Unite the Tennis Order. We begin tennis matches with a spin of the racket, followed by the words, “Up or Down.” It is here where the match truly begins! The spinning of the racket is the game within the game, the first strategic move before the opening serve. The octagon enclosed Up or Down design mirrors the butt end of each racket, the inspiration behind the company’s concept. Up or Down supplies both on- and off-the-court apparel. Along with hats and visors, Up or Down’s performance tshirts, tanks and collared shirts are moisture-wicking for extreme lightweight comfort and breathability while playing. Also, Up or Down’s lightweight hoodies and moisture-wicking hooded sweatshirts provide comfort on cool evenings. Whether you are a tennis enthusiast or just enjoy a weekend game, show off apparel that defines you. Regardless of what brand of racket you play with, Up or Down applies to all tennis players. It is Up or Down’s hope that you join the team at Up or Down and help “Unite the Tennis Order!” Visit Up or Down at UpOrDownSpin.com.

(516) 724-3788 Vibetennis.com Vibetennis@gmail.com The magical fusion of musical vibes and tennis have never been felt this way before, a realistic spot where art fully embraces sports—a place where Vibetennis has successfully taken the audience to. Vibetennis Apparel was birthed out of a deeper passion for tennis, art, music and good ‘ole positive vibrations. It has fully built a stronger connection in between tennis and humans, using music and art as accompaniments. Long ago, the fans cheered the players and one could sense an unbalanced level of excitement; Vibetennis’ presence has brought harmony and some flair to the pitch, yet, not leaving out focus. Vibetennis Apparel launched late summer in 2016 in New York City and has been moving forward ever since—breaking bounds and exploring new opportunities that come our way. Vibetennis Apparel e does not relent, there is always new challenges and new mountains to climb, and the vibe have always kept the company going. So far, Vibetennis Apparel’s concept has been a movement that lends itself to tennis players and non-tennis players alike, catering to both. This has prompted the company to always keep its audience in mind, especially as we approach the holiday season. We have a good selection of hats, tees and tanks to choose from. Bags and accessories will come early in 2018. It’s a season where every single person is feeling the vibe, and it’s not a good thing for you to be left out. Grab a shirt or hat as a gift for the season, and be part of the movement.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Emilio Sanchez Hosts Adult and Junior Clinics in the Bronx

milio Sanchez, the three-time Grand Slam Doubles Champion, and CEO and Founder of Academia Sanchez-Casal, hosted clinics over the course of two-days for both junior and adult players at the Riverdale Tennis Center in the Bronx.

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“It was a great experience to coach this group of talented players at the Riverdale Tennis Center in New York. I loved the vibe and energy of the group and I saw their great potential,” said Sanchez. “We had a taste of the ASC Training System, which focuses on the four key pillars of tennis: Technical, Tactical, Physical and Mental.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

I’m looking forward to coaching more clinics in the Big Apple soon.” Taking place during the U.S. Open qualifying week, Sanchez brought his coaching expertise to New York City, putting players through drills and practices to help them become better doubles players.

Eastern Men’s Team Brings Home Sixth National Open Championship

he New York Athletic Club (NYAC) Men’s National Team won the National Open Team Championships, which benefits the American Cancer Society, at the Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas for the sixth time in eight tries. Representing the USTA Eastern Section, the team from NYAC was captained by Jeffrey Appel and featured Michael Redlicki, Michael Shabaz, Connor Smith, Maciek Romanowicz, Yale Goldberg and Ryan Shane. “Jeff loves tennis, and the fact that his team challenges for a National Title every year is indicative of that,” said Cedric Jones, Director of Athletics at New York Athletic Club. “He is a great ambassador for tennis, not only in New York, but also for the Club.” Appel’s squad defeated the team from Northern California representing the California Tennis Club, which featured Andre Dome, Corey Pang, Nicholas Brunner, Matthew Berry and JT Sundling at the Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas. “The quality of the players Jeff brings elevates the competition,” said Tournament Director Susan Johnson Maurer. “He puts a lot of work and effort into this tournament and is very supportive of charity events.” Appel, a graduate of the University of

Representing the USTA Eastern Section, the team from New York Athletic Club, captained by Jeffrey Appel and featuring Michael Redlicki, Michael Shabaz, Connor Smith, Maciek Romanowicz, Yale Goldberg and Ryan Shane, were crowned winners of the National Open Team Championships Pennsylvania and known as the “Mayor of New York Tennis,” has captained the team for the last eight seasons, and has forged relationships with a lot of the players that extends past the tennis court. He has helped more than 50 young professionals find careers after tennis. “Jeffrey Appel is one of the best organizers, supporters and networkers the sport of tennis has,” said David Geatz, Men’s Tennis Head Coach at the University of Pennsylvania. “He is the pied piper of tennis in New York City and has helped more former players jump start their careers than

anyone I know. Jeff is a great ambassador of tennis and his success is a direct credit to his determination, hustle, love of the game and his willingness to help others.” Jared Donaldson, currently ranked 50th in the world in the ATP Men’s Singles Rankings, is a friend of Appel’s and is not surprised at the success he has had in putting together winning tennis teams. “I knew the title would go back to its rightful owner,” Donaldson said. “Jeff understands which players will work together in a team environment, which is why I believe he’s had so much success.”

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NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Kevin Anderson: The 6’8” Nightmare By Todd Widom any people have their opinions of how someone became so good on the ATP Tour and then there are those who played and saw the progression of how someone became such a great tennis player. I am not sure if I was fortunate or unfortunate to have played Kevin Anderson five times on the ATP Tour. I was 0-5 against the big South African and most of those matches, I felt coming off the court that I played an excellent match, but unfortunately lost. You see, the margins in tennis are so slim at the professional level that one ball missed at a bad time will cost you the set. I played Kevin between 2006-2009 in a number of places: Champaign Ill.; Winnetka Ill.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Ky.; and Granby, Canada. Of the 12 sets we played in those five matches, six of the sets went to either 7-6 or 7-5. In the Cincinnati Masters match, I already lost to Kevin twice at that point, so I knew what was coming at me. At under six-feet tall, the shorter player usually has a disadvantage in tie-breakers

due to serving, I won the first set tiebreaker, only to go on to lose the second set 2-6. I looked up at the scoreboard and realized that Kevin had served 92 percent first serves that set. I thought to myself, “Good luck breaking his serve!” In the third set, I had break point and had a high fore-

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

hand to put away, I ripped it for a winner and it just hit the top of the net, but did not go in. Kevin played a couple of good return points in the third set tie-breaker, and I went home unhappy again for the third time. Later that year, I played Kevin in Louisville on a lightning-fast indoor court.

I thought that this time, I should try slicing returns to try and somehow get the point started on his serve. It was a good match. Kevin went back to his hotel with a smile on his face. I lost 5-7 in the third set. I played Kevin one more time, in Canada and lost 6-7, 5-7. It is difficult playing someone serving 140 mph coming from a 6’8” frame. Watching 20 aces go by you in a match is

tough. The basis of this article is about how Kevin evolved into one of the best tennis players on the planet. When I played Kevin, I felt like, from the baseline, I was dominating him groundstroke for groundstroke. His amazing serve kept him in the matches that we played against one another and it should be that way considering his size. His groundstrokes were solid, but he was defensive

from the baseline which is not normal for a guy his size. In amateur tennis (junior and college tennis), you can win many matches playing good solid tennis. However, at the highest level of tennis, you have to apply pressure, hurt people with your weapons, and force the opponent into making errors due to the quality of your groundstrokes. I always thought that if Kevin could take the ball earlier, play a bit closer to the baseline, and develop a great transition game coming towards the net, he could be an amazing player. This is what you saw at the 2017 U.S. Open. I have been seeing it for some years now, but it really came together at the biggest professional tennis tournament in the world. Kevin was and obviously still is very professional about how he goes about his daily work. I saw this from when we were playing because he was very disciplined about his profession. Kevin is a great person and kudos to him for making the necessary adjustments and finding the right people to take his game all the way to the top of the professional tennis world. Todd Widom is a former top 200 ATP professional in both singles and doubles, and owner of TW Tennis, South Florida’s top small group/private tennis training geared exclusively for the high-performance junior, collegiate or professional tennis player. Todd may be reached by e-mail at Todd@TWTennis.com or visit TWTennis.com.

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Lisa Dodson l Lisa@thetotalserve.com NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

More Than an Athlete The Billie Jean King Story By Rob Polishook, Mental Training Coach MA, CPC It was Tuesday night, the 19th of September in 1973, exactly 44 years ago when I sat in front of the TV and watched Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in a tennis match called the “Battle of the Sexes.” Fast-forward to 2017, and Billie Jean is walking the red carpet in New York City with actress Emma Stone for the premier of the movie by the same name. The film is about social change, equality and Billie Jean’s life. Clearly, the message is about more than just tennis. We all know Billie Jean King is heralded for winning 39 Grand Slams (combined singles, doubles and mixed doubles), has a National Tennis Center named after her in Flushing Meadows, founded the Women’s Tennis Association, is a lifelong proponent of gender equality and LGBTQ rights, and so much more. However, her underlying story of vulnerability, personal motivation, and the courage to accomplish what she has is far less known.

At the movie premier, Billie Jean spoke about her unique, purpose-driven reason for persevering beyond all odds. I call this a person’s Big Y(why). “I realized if I could get good enough, become number one, then maybe I could change the world to make it a better place,” said King. “We could become more inclusive, lift each other up …” She went on to say that when she was 12-years-old, she had an epiphany while playing in Los Angeles. Everyone was wearing white shorts, white socks, white tops and everyone’s skin color was white. “I asked myself,” Billie Jean remarked. “Where was everyone else? And that was the moment that changed my entire life. I was going to fight for equal rights, men and women. I dedicated my life to this cause because I thought it was so important.” With this Big Y of equal rights, Billie Jean King became the quintessential example of someone who is “More Than an Athlete” … an athlete who brings her whole self to the sport. She doesn’t just bring her talent, technique

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

and skills. She brings her spirit, story, soul and self. Billie Jean’s story illustrates how obstacles, fears and myths, whether on or off the court, can get in our way. But whenever athletes break out of slumps, play freely, and reach the next level, it is because they brought their whole selves to the competition. They metaphorically used their “more” as rocket fuel to propel them forward, just like Billie Jean did. So often in society, we look to accolades, trophies, championships and highlights on ESPN to define an athlete’s worth. Through this narrow lens, we categorize athletes to fit what we imagine a champion to be. Billie Jean King didn’t get caught up in this trap. Her story illustrates what was really at work behind her forehand, backhand and great net game—her courage to stand out and be herself when things got rough. She made hard choices to become an advocate for causes that are sometimes frowned upon. In the early 1970s, Billie Jean campaigned for equal prize money, which then led to championing the Woman’s Tennis Association (WTA) and the infamous match against Bobby Riggs. She continues to stand up for gender equality, gay rights, and runs a leadership initiative called “Lift. Learn. Lead.” to achieve inclusive leadership. During the post movie Q&A panel, she spoke about the uncertainty of pioneering causes that are not always popular. “It’s scary, I’m scared a lot, it’s about courage, just do it, try your best. It’s good enough,” King said. “And please don’t judge yourself on how well you do. Just because you’re highly skilled in something doesn’t mean you’re a good person. How are you as a human being? That’s number one. How am I as a person? Am I doing the right thing every day? Am I taking care of myself so I can take care of others?”

This great message directly relates to the uncertainty athletes face on and off the court. So often when I work with an athlete, they will say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I was only confident, I would play this way or win that way!â&#x20AC;? Shonda Rhimes, famous television producer, personally invited by Billie Jean, spoke to that when she added an important note about confidence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not confidence, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s courage,â&#x20AC;? said Rhimes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be confident and know you can do something, you just have to be courageous enough to try to do it. We all think we already have to be brave, to already know, be that person that thinks they are a badass. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be that person, we just have to be courageous enough to take a step and try.â&#x20AC;? Many wonder how Billie Jean had the fortitude to fight for social causes while playing professional tennis. From my lens, she recognized she was more than an athlete and understood that Big Y that she identified as a 12-year-old was her real motivation to achieve. Billie

Jean is truly â&#x20AC;&#x153;More Than an Athlete,â&#x20AC;? an example of bringing who you are to what you do. She is an inspiration to us all. Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is Founder and Director of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training

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Do You Really Understand What Your Pro Is Talking About?

By Lisa Dodson Hurry! Turn! Move your feet! Watch the ball! Hit up! These are catch phrases that so many instructors use that are really meaningless without explanation. Yet they are yelled across the court everywhere as though repeating them over and over will do the trick. Then, we have an overload of online instruction with enough contradiction and personal touches to confuse anyone. I have people ask me all the time, “What do they mean and how do I know who to believe?” As tennis players, we are all eager to learn more, watch more and play more tennis and that’s great. We think we understand what we are taking in, but in reality, we typically either misunderstand or don’t understand the full impact of many basic and essential parts of the game. A little detailed knowledge of what you do and what needs to change will do wonders for your game. Anything done in a general manner, in the game of tennis, is not done well. We are talking about a very specific set of basics that will determine what kind of player you can become. Below is a list of things we hear all of the time that really mean nothing to players without knowing specifics. Yet these comments are repeated as though if you hear them enough times, they will solve your problems. One of them is just plain wrong. An entire tennis narrative could be written about each of these words or 62

phrases, but I’ve simply followed up with what YOU, the player, can feel free to ask: Watch the ball! Watch it do what? Get your racket back! Just plain wrong. Hurry! Where? The ball is only four feet away. Turn! I can’t because I have to hurry. Move your feet! Where should I go? Stay away from the ball! I can’t because I hurried. Hit the ball sooner! I can’t because I didn’t stay away from it. Rotate! I don’t know what that means. Follow through! I can’t because I didn’t stay away from the ball. Bend your knees! Both or one? How much and why? Let’s find some meaning in the first four phrases (words) above that can change your game in a positive way. You’ll see how to connect the dots and that one thing always causes another. If you need more definitions, please e-mail me and I’ll be happy to provide them. 1. Watch the ball Watching the ball is really misunderstood. We say it over and over, but it has no meaning. Players “watch” the ball least when they should be watching most and most when they should be watching least. Solution: The most important time to have an eagle eye on the ball starts when it is on your opponent’s side of the court and they are striking it. Of course, we want to see what the opponent’s relationship is with the ball (are they looking good and balanced with

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

the ball in their striking zone, is the ball slightly out of their reach, etc.) Watching the opponent and the ball strike gives you the first idea of what you will be receiving. Is it coming to my forehand or backhand, was it sent high, is it going to land deep, mid-court or short? Wherever it is going, we need to watch the flight as we are calculating where, when and just how fast to move. We watch the entire flight, including the ball going down to hit the ground and coming off it and as close to our racket contact point as possible. Keeping the head stationary at this point is crucial so that our cameras (eyes) have the ability to focus on contact. After that, you will basically stop watching the ball and focus more on the opponent. Remember, you’ll see the ball, but it’s not your main focus. After all, you pretty much have an idea of where it’s going, right? So, you don’t need to inspect it with laser vision as it leaves you. You will see the ball in the big picture, but it is more important to see the relationship that the opponent is creating with the incoming ball. This will tell you tons about what is coming back to you.

Then, you start the process all over. Watch their relationship and strike, watch the flight, watch the bounce, watch as close to contact as possible. Then, let it go. Again and again. 2. Get your racket back This one is easy. It’s nonsense. This is done with the turn. 3. Hurry Do you run into your forehand? Most everyone does. If you do, then stop hurrying. “Hurry” is one of the most destructive words we use. It tells the player that they need to go, and go fast, to the ball. In reality, we want to move early and efficiently, and sometimes quickly. Hurried is the last thing you ever want to feel on the tennis court. Solution: As a teaching professional, I spend a good amount of my time helping players see the opponent’s strike of the ball earlier, helping make a proper turn, and slowing down the first movement for better distancing from the ball. Be aware of when the ball is being struck by the opponent and make an appropriate

first movement (turn). Most of the time, this does not include going anywhere. Realize that the average distance to a ball is four to eight feet. Two-and-a-half steps take a player seven to eight feet and the step to the ball, reach of the arm and a two-foot racket covers the last four feet. If one starts early, there should be no hurry. Combine that with a physical “set” of the racket turn as a response to an incoming shot. This will stop the “hurry” and give you time to calculate where to go and how fast. 4. Turn Let’s talk about a forehand. Do you know how simple a forehand turn is? Turning is problematic because players don’t know how much, how far and with which body parts (feet, hips, shoulders) to turn. A turn is mainly stationary or static, then going into immediate movement. Typically, players take off and run toward a ball without knowing where they are going or how much space to leave between the contact point and themselves. Or, they turn by continued on page 64

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

do you really understand what your pro is talking about? continued from page 63

moving their feet around in small steps which makes weight set difficult, is very slow and time consuming. Solution: First, turning is used on rotational shots (groundstrokes, serving, overhead). For a forehand, use a simple and compact movement combined with a “set” of the racket. Don’t get excited and start going anywhere. Turn first, move second. The turn happens in response to the ball being struck by the opponent. When you recognize the ball coming to your right

(forehand for righty) or to the left (backhand for righty) simply do this: A. Hold onto the racket with both hands and turn to the hitting side by taking the weight off of the non-dominant foot (do not pick up this foot). Rotate the non-dominant foot so the bottom is flat to the side fence and the knee is bent inward. Let 80 percent of your weight sit on the hit side leg (weight set). Bending this ankle and knee lets the weight load on the hit side leg. Now

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you are ready to move any direction or take any size step in order to approach the ball. B. After you have made your preparation and recognition turn, then you can calculate where and when you need to move to the incoming ball. This preliminary move helps you make good decisions, recognize just how much time you have (a lot!) and prevents running into balls. The job of a tennis professional can be complex, but it is mainly to find solutions to your problems in a simple and understandable way. Exciting descriptions and new and shiny ideas about how to produce a stroke are fun but often confusing and ineffective. Repetitive word use is not helpful. Make it your goal to start making clear sense of the ball watching, hurrying (throw this one out the window), and turning. You’ll improve your game by leaps and bounds. Give it a shot and ask more questions. Lisa Dodson is the developer and owner of Servemaster, a USPTA Elite Professional and a former WTA world-ranked player. She is currently the director of tennis at Shenorock Shore Club in Rye, N.Y. She may be reached by e-mail at Lisa@TheTotalServe.com or visit TheTotalServe.com.

The West Side Tennis Club Hosts Sixth Annual “Little Mo” Internationals Credit all photos to: Brian Coleman

he Sixth Annual “Little Mo” Internationals hit the courts of The West Side Tennis Club, as some of the top junior tennis players from around the globe visited Forest Hills, N.Y. for one of the most anticipated and exciting weeks of junior tennis the world has to offer. The tournament featured more than 180 players from 23 different countries as well as from 16 different states in the United States. The week-long tournament played host to compelling tennis in a multitude of divisions. Below is a list of the winners in the singles divisions: l Boys 12: Gonzalo Zeitune (Yerba Buena, Argentina) l Girls 12: Stacey Samonte (Whittier, Calif.) l Boys 11: Jordan Reznik (Great Neck, N.Y.) l Girls 11: Christasha McNeil (Massapequa, N.Y.) l Boys 10: Dominick Mosejczuk (East Elmhurst, N.Y.) l Girls 10: Akasha Urhobo (Lauderhill, Fla.) l Boys 9: Sebastian Bielen (Glen Cove, N.Y.) l Girls 9: Natalie Oliver (Fallston, Md.) l Boys 8: Tadevos Mirijanyan (Palm Coast, Fla.) l Girls 8: Zaire Clarke (Greenacres, Fla.) l Boys 8 (Green Dot): Drew Hassenbein (Roslyn, N.Y.) l Girls 8 (Green Dot): Luiza Viesi Santoro Pereira (São Paulo, Brazil)

As with all “Little Mo” tournaments, the quality of tennis on the court is not the only priority, as sportsmanship and kindness are two pillars of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation and the “Little Mo” tournaments.

Jagger Leach of Newport Beach, Calif. and Ellie Ross of Port Washington, N.Y., were honored with the “Little Mo” Sportsmanship Awards, while Noah Johnston of Anderson, S.C. and Stacey Samonte of Whittier, Calif., received the Kindness Awards. By winning their respective divisions, Mosejczuk, Urhobo, Samonte and Oliver are all still in the running for the 2017 “Little Mo” Slam, which players win by capturing the title at the three “Little Mo” Internationals (California, New York and Florida). Urhobo is attempting to become the first player to win a second “Little Mo” Slam title after winning it last year. “The ‘Little Mo’ Internationals in Forest Hills was a big success, with more than 170 players from 18 different countries! It’s always special having our event at the beautiful West Side Tennis Club and the historical site where Maureen ‘Little Mo’ Connolly won the Grand Slam in 1953,” said Carol Weyman, Executive Vice President of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Foundation, Founder and Organizer of the “Little Mo” series. “The players enjoyed the opening ceremony and parading on the stadium court with their country flags. The families enjoyed a fun night at the player party with games and a dinner overlooking the famous grass courts. Players also received colorful ‘Mo’ coins for their good sportsmanship. It was great seeing the young future stars of tennis and we are looking forward to watching their progress through the coming years.” The 11th Annual “Little Mo” Internationals in Florida will be held Dec. 1-6 at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Should Your Child Be Playing Multiple Sports? By Chris Lewit Sports scientists and most coaches agree that it is valuable to play another sport or multiple sports to support the athletic development of a tennis player and prevent injuries. While it’s true that some prodigies specialize in tennis very early, the vast majority of players show an interest in multiple sports at young ages. Thus as parents, it’s important to choose sports that a child likes of course—but also steer the player towards sports that have the best athletic benefits for tennis players. It is very healthy for kids to play other sports than tennis and can also help to reduce overuse injuries, which are currently at epidemic levels on the junior circuit. I like to advise my clients to choose one main cross-training sport that their child loves and that builds valuable athletic skills for tennis. If a child plays too many extra sports, it can dilute the focus on tennis, and can slow tennis skills development. Here is a list of my top 10 favorites in no particular order, that my best players over the years have benefited from. Remember, the best sport to cross-train is the sport your child enjoys. It makes no sense to force a kid to play a sport he or she doesn’t like, just because it has great athletic benefits for tennis! 66

1. Soccer The favorite pastime of children in Spain, this is also a popular cross-training sport in the U.S., and is well-organized and relatively inexpensive. Develops stamina, footwork, and eye-foot coordination skills especially. It’s better if your child plays a position that runs up and down the field as much as possible, for the cardio benefits. Goalies build good eyes and reflexes—but not much cardio! 2. Boxing and kickboxing My favorite cross-training sport. Relatively inexpensive to train, these sports have a culture that builds toughness and discipline. Athletically, they develop the eyes and reactions, full-body agility and coordination, footwork, and power development in the hips and body, and stamina. If parents are concerned about contact to the head, players can simply participate in the training sessions—and skip live sparring. 3. Wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu Another personal favorite, and also inexpensive. These sports are like gymnastics, but with strategy and a fighting spirit. They build tough tennis warriors mentally. Physically, these sports enhance full-body power, core stability, flexibility, body awareness and agility. Just be careful to choose responsible training partners and coaches for your child to work with to prevent unnecessary injuries.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

4. Traditional martial arts I have had many students participate in traditional martial arts like karate, taekwondo, etc. These sports have many of the same benefits of boxing and kickboxing. Striking develops hand-eye and foot-eye coordination, footwork and power development. Traditional martial arts also build a warrior spirit and discipline. 5. Gymnastics A great cross-training sport that many girls like, but it’s an often overlooked sport for boys. Gymnastics builds flexibility, core strength, balance and strengthens a child’s body overall, but offers low cardio benefits. Depending on how serious the training is, there is an injury risk, so just be careful and find a responsible coach. 6. Ice hockey This is a really great cross-training sport for tennis that is often overlooked. It can also be expensive, so perhaps that’s why it’s not used as much as it could be. The game really parallels clay court tennis in the sense that players learn how to handle a stick like a racket and learn movement skills on an unstable surface. Balance, coordination, speed and agility are all trained in ice hockey. Hockey players also learn to be tough as part of the culture of the sport, which aids in the mental department.

7. Baseball The American classic. Baseball is great for developing the booming American serve! The throwing practice in baseball is really valuable in this regard. However, the downside is not too much cardio, movement and footwork benefits. Catching and hitting are great for hand-eye coordination. 8. Basketball Basketball is popular, well-organized and relatively inexpensive. It is good for developing some footwork patterns and handeye coordination, focusing more on upper body coordination skills than lower body (like soccer for example). 9. Football A great sport to make a tough warrior as the culture and training habits build mental strengths. Many parents are concerned about head injuries, so this aspect needs to be monitored carefully. Football players can derive different benefits from playing different positions. Throwing a football is an excellent training tool for the serve. Catching is valuable for hand-eye coordination. Posi-

tions that have more sprinting and footwork are more beneficial for tennis than more stationary positions. 10. Cross-country or track and field I have had many kids participate in running sports. Tennis is, after all, a running sport, even though not all players in the U.S. like to run! Give me a well-trained cross-country runner any day and I can build a good tennis player. When a player likes to run and has a good cardio-stamina base, tennis is easier to master. Obviously, the sport doesn’t have any hand or foot to eye coordination benefits, but is still valuable if a player really enjoys it. Crosscountry or track and field also builds the mental benefits of focus and patience, basically forming the Spanish mindset that a player needs to have to grind on clay. Conclusion This list is not exhaustive and represents some of my personal favorites and sports I have seen work well for my players over the years. I may have missed a few good ones! If you have a personal favorite not on the list, feel free to e-mail them to me and explain

the athletic benefits for tennis players. Remember … don’t force a child to play a sport that is “better” for tennis if they hate it! A healthy practice is to use the cross-training sport for fun on an “active day off” from tennis, or as an extra fitness session for your child on a regular tennis day. Parents should understand that building a tennis champion means preventing injuries and maximizing athletic development, especially during the early, critical development years. Building a champion does not only mean hitting thousands of balls! Chris Lewit, a former number one for Cornell and pro circuit player, coaches in the New York City area and also runs a high-performance boarding summer camp in Southern Vermont. He specializes in training aspiring junior tournament players using progressive Spanish and European training methods. His best-selling book, Secrets of Spanish Tennis, has helped coaches and players worldwide learn how to train the Spanish way. He may be reached by phone at (914) 462-2912, email ChrisLewit@gmail.com or visit ChrisLewit.com.

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A Mental Gym for Athletes

A Mental Gym for Athletes By Dr. Tom Ferraro very serious athlete is familiar with the gym and all its equipment. There are treadmills, stair masters, elliptical machines, medicine balls, punching bags, dumbbells, barbells, kettle bells, balance machines, TRX rooms and much more. You work out every day, you get stronger, and naturally, you play better. This is obvious. So where on Earth is a mental gym with its own machines to give your mind a workout in order to be stronger emotionally? Well, to date, there is no such thing as a mental gym, and I can guarantee you that the first guy to invent one is going to get rich. Every athlete I know, whether they are willing to admit it or not, needs to develop mental and emotional strength or what I like to call “character.” Tennis players, football players, golfers, boxers … you name it, they all need to develop character, courage, focus, pain tolerance, forgiveness, aggression and a desire to win. So here are my suggestions on areas to focus on when I build that mental gym.

Station #1: The Dream Machine Equipment: A couch The drill: Spend time with the athlete asking them to talk about their big goals in sports. Tiger Woods placed a picture of Jack Nicklaus on his bedroom wall when he was five-years-old and dreamt about being more successful than Jack. When the athlete envisions their dream, go find a photo which represents that dream and post in on the wall to look at every day. Station #2: The Focus Machine Equipment: Blinkers The drill: The blinkers are merely a symbol of how one must train your mind to stay in the present. The run of the mill sport psychologist will tell the athlete to “stick to the process, not the results.” Or better yet, to “stay in the moment,” yet will have a hard time teaching the athlete exactly how to do this. If you are two serves away from match point, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself, get over anxious and grow

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cautious. The field of psychoanalysis provides the only theory which addresses this issue. They call it “defense mechanisms,” which include repression, suppression and compartmentalization. The athlete must come to realize that fantasies about winning will creep in and be trained to use suppression and compartmentalization in order to return to the present. The way this occurs is by pointing out times when focus was lost and then teaching corrections and self-talk in order to prepare the athlete for the next time. Station #3: The Forgiveness Machine Equipment: A band aid The drill: Harsh self-attack and perfectionism are very common problems in sports, and the athlete often does not realize just how hard they are on themselves. They often feel that they deserve to be punished for making mistakes. Once again, the drill for this is to talk about how previous mistakes were met with self-attack, to understand where this tendency comes from

and to have the therapist demonstrate a more forgiving attitude. A band aid is a good symbol of this and can even be worn as a reminder of self-forgiveness. Station #4: Self-Belief Machine Equipment: A mirror The drill: Have the therapist ask the player to recall all of their highest achievements and write them down on a piece of paper. Then, have them look in the mirror and tell themselves just how talented they really are. Your most significant achievements are often symbolized by trophies and that is why it is a good idea to keep your trophies shined up and in a place of prominence. Sports can often shake oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sense of confidence, and it is wise to have a daily process which reminds you of your true talent. Station #5: The Winning Machine Equipment: Ear plugs Drill: The athlete must remain cool, calm

and quiet in order to defeat their opponent. An internal focus allows one to tap into a feeling of being separate from the opponents in order to win. Bjorn Borg was perhaps the best at this. He played like an ice man. Nothing got into this head. Station #6: The Terminator Machine Equipment: A video tape of Chrissy Evert walking with shoulders back and head held high The Drill: Instruction in body language and how to walk tall and with pride. Research done by George Kelly shows that when you walk with pride, you actually begin to feel proud and dominant. This attitude helps both in sports and in business. Our family attorney was Leon Hirshbaum, and I was always amazed at how he carried himself in the courtroom. He was the very image of confidence, as he strutted about with his shoulders back and head held high. He really did look like a terminator.

Station #7: The Aggression Machine Equipment: Boxing gloves The drill: Tiger Woodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; parents told him two things: First, he must get straight Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in school if he wanted to play golf; and second, he was given permission to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go out there and kill them all.â&#x20AC;? His mom and his father, who was a Green Beret, had given him full permission to be aggressive. That was one of the reasons he became the biggest winning and wealthiest athlete of all time. All athletes need permission to be aggressive. Light training with the punching bag can help get you in touch with your aggression. So there you have it. Seven machines and seven training stations that will build character and mental strength in an athlete. No one has built it yet, but some day, someone will â&#x20AC;Ś I promise. For consultations, treatment or on-site visits, contact Dr. Tom Ferraro Ph.D., Sport Psychologist, by phone at (516) 248-7189, e-mail DrTFerraro@aol.com or visit DrTomFerraro.com.

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charitable initiatives USTA Eastern Raises More Than 10K for Disaster Relief

Credit all photos to: Sidney Beal III

STA Eastern hosted a Rally for Relief event at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to raise money for natural disaster relief. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Hispanic Federation UNIDOS Disaster Relief Fund to support Puerto Rico and Mexico following the devastating natural disasters that struck the region. “The event came together because we knew we had to act quickly,” said Jocelyn Cruz, Senior Manager, Schools & Community Tennis for USTA Eastern. “Many of us felt helpless for all those people suffering during the natural disasters. We knew one 70

of the key things we are capable of doing is organizing a tennis tournament or event. So we combined the urgency to help people in need and what we do well—running tennis programs. We felt that tennis brings people together—which encompasses what Eastern is all about.” Cruz, along with USTA Eastern’s Tennis Service Representative for the Metro Region, Gustavo Loza, put the event together in a very short timeframe. Loza, a native of Mexico, was personally affected by the earthquake that rocked Mexico City, and knew he wanted to help. “It was inspiring to see the New York City tennis community come together to support a great cause,” said Loza. “That is

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

what sports are all about, uniting people no matter the age, club, background, or NTRP rating. We wanted to put together a great event and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without all these people with big hearts that contributed in one way or another.” The National Tennis Center opened up the courts to be used for the round-robin doubles tournament portion of the event, Cruz and Loza worked to bring together as many people from as many backgrounds in the tennis community. The original goal was set at $5,000, but the event’s success increased thanks to the kindness of people who attended and donated as more than $10,000 was raised to provide relief.

HPTA Hosts Community Play Day and No Book Left Behind

he Highland Park Tennis Association (HPTA) hosted its annual Community Paly Day and No Book Left Behind Day as it continued its work of bringing the community together through tennis. The event got a favor from Mother Nature as the scheduled rain held off to make way for the more than 30 guests who came

out to play, many of whom were playing tennis for the first time. At the event, the kids were able to take home books that were donated as a part of No Book Left Behind. The players also received new rackets and balls. “I’m going to come and play tennis with my new racquet with my new friends. I had fun,” said six-year-old Erla.

The event featured giveaways, raffles and numerous on-court activities including target hitting, footwork drill course, Beat the Pro and a speed zone. “We at HPTA are dedicated to growing the game by introducing as many players to the wonderful sport we love …Tennis,” said HPTA President Dion Lachmanen.

Advantage Junior Programs Learn. Play. Enjoy. Compete!

Players ages 3 and up learn to serve, rally and play “real tennis” customized for kids!

Players 7 and up love this blend of group lessons, special events and more!

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QuickStart classes at 10 NYC locations! Other classes at Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, New York Tennis Club and Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. Details at advantagejuniorprograms.com

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he Metro Corporate Tennis League, presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs, is an initiative of the Metrotennis Community Tennis Association (MCTA). The League is divided into three levels of play, Intermediate (3.0-3.5), Advanced Intermediate (4.0-4.5) and Advanced (4.5+). Also recently launched was the Hi-Five program for teams that are not ready to compete, but want to get into the sport, while getting a great workout or just need to get the rust off their rackets. This season, the MCTA will host more than 54 teams, including:

Advanced Division 1. Deutsche Bank 2. Bloomberg 3. Ernst & Young 4. Credit Agricole 5. BNP Paribas 6. The Corcoran Group 7. PwC (Gellert) 8. Proskauer Rose LLP 9. Deloitte LLP Advanced Intermediate Division I 1. HBO 2. Bloomberg (Ankur) 3. Bloomberg (Ming) 4. Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP 5. BNP Paribas 6. The Corcoran Group 7. Bloomberg (Vineet) Advanced Intermediate Division II 1. Nielsen 2. White & Case LLP 3. Moody’s

4. Macquarie 5. Societe Generale 6. Mizuho Bank Intermediate Division I 1. AMC Networks 2. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP 3. Bloomberg 4. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 5. Macquarie 6. Barclays Intermediate Division II 1. ING 2. Moody’s 3. BNP Paribas 4. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP 5. ghg | greyhealth group 6. Deutsche Bank Intermediate Division III 1. Deutsche Bank 2. HBO

3. Bloomberg 4. Barclays 5. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP 6. D.E. Shaw & Company Intermediate Division IV 1. Xaxis 2. Akin Gump 3. Sidley Austin LLP 4. PwC 5. Ipreo 6. MongoDB Hi-Five Division 1. Bloomberg (Peggy) 2. Penguin Random House 3. Havas 4. The Corcoran Group 5. Bloomberg (Brett) 6. Bloomberg (Norihito) 7. Bloomberg (Sai) 8. Bloomberg (Amy)

The season will run from October to December, culminating with an end-of-season party at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. Please help us welcome new teams, ghg | greyhealth group and MongoDB.

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

The Benefits of Training With Low Compression Balls What parents and players need to know

By Eric Faro and Andy Stuber

t’s hard to believe that not too long ago, young students once learned to play tennis without low compression balls. Low compression balls became the standard for young tennis players in Europe and then other countries followed. However, the USTA was slow to adopt the ROGY (Red, Orange, Green and Yellow) progressions and to recognize the added benefits from smaller equipment and courts sized for young players. But, the USTA is now fully behind the benefits of training with low compression balls, smaller racquets and smaller courts as the best way to develop young players. Despite the adoption of ROGY by the USTA and its widespread support by coaches and academies as the right way to train, there are still some parents who mistakenly think that their child would benefit from learning tennis with yellow balls and larger racquets. In contrast, there is now near universal support by coaches who agree that using slower balls, smaller racquets and smaller courts is the best way for young players to develop. It’s critical that parents are 100 percent on board and fully-informed of the benefits of training with low compression balls so that

their children can fully engage in their training. It’s counterproductive for parents to want their children to progress too quickly from low compression balls and smaller racquets, to yellow balls and bigger racquets. “Why does my child still have to play with green balls when they can already play with regular balls?” We hear this question from some parents who are not yet familiar with the full benefits of progression training with low compression balls. An on-court rally demonstration of low compression balls versus playing with yellow balls can be an eye-opening experience for parents inclined to adopt yellow balls too soon. When we do such a demonstration, we consistently find that our academy students who use low compression balls benefit in a number of important ways: The key benefits of training with low compression balls l Proper stroke fundamentals l Longer rallies l Faster racket head speed and quicker adoption of proper grips l More appropriate contact points l Better court positioning

l Better mobility and anticipation l Increased confidence and enjoyment At our academy, we firmly believe that each player needs to be able to progress at their own pace and that the ROGY progression does, in fact, accelerate player development in the long term. Every year, we refine our teaching curriculum, covering specific stages maximizing technical, tactical, physical and competitive areas of development. Our formula is quite simple: As our students are progressing and meeting their goals, they find tennis to be more fun, and therefore, want to be on the court more frequently. With the aid of low compression balls and age- and level-appropriate equipment, students naturally progress to incrementally higher and higher levels. So, why wouldn’t you want your child using a training method that offered all of the above benefits? Eric Faro and Andy Stuber are Directors of Tennis for Gotham Tennis Academy at Stadium Tennis Center. For more information, e-mail Eric@GothamTennis.com or Andy@GothamTennis.com or call (718) 665-4684.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

The Battle of the Sexes

By Richard Thater

I was one of the 90 million viewers who watched the televised match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs on Thursday, Sept. 20, 1973—the highly touted “Battle of the Sexes.” I felt let down after watching the program. The hoopla surrounding the spectacle reminded me of the wrestling matches that were popular on television. As a young player aspiring to some level of social sophistication, I believed the presentation showed tennis in a poor light, almost as if it were a B-Level vaudeville act. I imagined a poster headlining that “Male Chauvinist Pig Tackles Angry Libber.” I am happy to report that watching the new movie “Battle of the Sexes,” forced me to rearrange my thoughts about Billie Jean King, Bobby Riggs and their 1973 event. The movie is great entertainment, while also offering thoughtful insight into the players and American cultural values of the 1970s. The film tastefully addresses Billie Jean King’s emerging sexuality, and the pain it caused her and her then husband Larry. It takes a hard look at Riggs’s gambling, and the personal losses he suffered as a result of that lifestyle. I experienced a few queasy moments watching the movie. Riggs easily defeated Margaret Court in their much ballyhooed 74

Mother’s Day Massacre match in 1973. When I saw her curtsey after being gifted with roses from Riggs, I blanched. I never saw even one curtsey on Downton Abbey. King writes that watching the curtsey she knew that “disaster had struck, and that the match was over before it even began.” My stomach churned a second time watching Riggs disrupt a Gamblers Anonymous meeting, telling the members that their problem wasn’t gambling, but losing. He was appropriately hustled out before he could put forth his plan on how to improve the members’ lives. And being reminded of the men’s clothing we wore back then required a double Tums treatment. The collars on shirts we wore hung nearly as low as a Trump tie. Probably the best re-creation of the times is how the movie portrayed the actual match. Emma Stone and Steve Carell are reported to have worked long and hard to look and move like their real life models. I think it would be hard to spot the difference if newsreels from the 1970s were shown next to the movie’s version of the match on a 12 -inch black and white TV set. In her book Pressure is a Privilege, Billie Jean King writes that she “never thought that women were better than men, but that men and women had the same entertainment value, which is why they should be paid equally.” King has always maintained before and after the match against Riggs, that for her, it was a one-and-done. By winning, she

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proved everything she needed to prove. I have heard another side to this story. In the late 1970s, I was at a charity event and had a chance to spend some time with a top five player who was a longtime friend of Riggs. His story was that Riggs claimed he was tricked by King’s entourage, that his understanding was that he had agreed to play three matches against Billie Jean. He would lose the first, win the second, and then play the third match for real. Contemporaries of Riggs say he never cheated on a tennis court, but that his off-the-court ethics could be shifty. I’m thinking we should suspect that some alternative facts are in play here. When you watch the film, try to stay until the credits finish flashing at the movie’s end. Don’t miss the touching coda that tells us that Billie’s husband remarried and has two children, and that Billie Jean and her partner, Ilana Kloss, are the godparents. In closing, we learn that Billie Jean King and Bobby remained friends. On the night before Riggs’s death from prostate cancer in 1995, they spoke by phone and shared that they loved each other. Richard Thater is a long-time teacher and player on New York City courts. He is PTRcertified in both Junior and Adult Development, and has played in senior tournaments in the Greater New York area. Richard currently teaches at the West Side Tennis Club. He may be reached by phone at (917) 749-3255 or e-mail RichThater@aol.com.

USTA Eastern Hosts Annual Junior Awards Gala at NTC John Klenner, Justin Gimelstob and Jenny Schnitzer at the USTA Eastern Junior Awards Gala honored Ty Switzer, Samir Banerjee and Even Wen in the Boys 14s Division

Boys and Girls honored in the 12s Division by John Klenner, Justin Gimelstob and Jenny Schnitzer included Max Safir, Alan Hua and Elizabeth Tkachenko USTA Eastern President John Klenner, Tennis Channel Broadcaster Justin Gimelstob and USTA Eastern Executive Director and COO Jenny Schnitzer congratulate Stefan Sarcev, Andrew R. Ena and Drew Fishback at the Annual Junior Awards Gala efore the start of the 2017 U.S. Open main draw, USTA Eastern held its Annual Junior Awards Gala, recognizing the Section’s top junior players from the past year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Each of the 30 players honored were in the top three in their age group as a result of their tournament performances over the past year. Justin Gimelstob, former professional player and current Tennis Channel broadcaster, was on hand to speak to the players and parents, reflecting on his time growing up and playing in the Eastern Section. Gimelstob is also a member of the USTA Eastern Hall of Fame. Below is the list of the players who were honored: Boys 18s #1 Harris Walker, South Salem, N.Y. #2 Sean Wei, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. #3 Patrick Maloney, Oyster Bay, N.Y.

Girls 18s #1 Rachel Lim, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. #2 Amber O’Dell, New Milford, N.J. #3 Andrea Cerdan, Bloomfield, N.J. Boys 16s #1 Eliot Spizzirri, Greenwich, Conn. #2 Ryan Fishback, Geneva, N.Y. #3 Ronald Hohmann, Oyster Bay, N.Y. Girls 16s #1 Amber O’Dell, New Milford, N.J. #2 Andrea Cerdan, Bloomfield, N.J. #3 Julia Andreach, Rochester, N.Y. Boys 14s #1 Even Wen, Morristown, N.J. #2 Samir Banerjee, Basking Ridge, N.J. #3 Ty Switzer, New York, N.Y. Girls 14s #1 Valencia Xu, Livingston, N.Y.

#2 Madison Sieg, Greenwich, Conn. #3 Hibah Shaikh, Teaneck N.J. Boys 12s #1 Alan Hua, Ridgewood, N.J. #2 Max Safir, Old Westbury, N.Y. #3 James Lian, Parsippany N.J. Girls 12s #1 Daria Smetannikov, Morganville, N.J. #2 Stephanie Yakoff, Fort Lee, N.J. #3 Elizabeth Tkachenko, Lincroft, N.J. Boys 10s #1 Stefan Sarcev, Wayne, N.J. #2 Andrew R. Ena, Rego Park, N.Y. #3 Drew Fishback, Geneva, N.Y. Girls 10s #1 Samantha Ostrander, Glenville, N.Y. #2 Olivia Zuba, Morganville, N.J. #3 Christasha McNeil, Massapequa, N.Y.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Surf & Turf By Nick Rudman Professional tennis players say that playing a different sport improves their performance. Rafael Nadal believes golf and fishing allow him to relax after the stresses of a tennis tournament. His argument is perfectly logical: Outside sports let athletes hone their native skills, escape their frustrations with a mental reset, and move in new ways, encouraging muscle growth and repair. The components of tennis are frequently compared to those of other sports: The serve to a baseball pitch, the forehand swing to a golf drive, or the mental strategy to a chess-player’s pondering. But one sport which shares a striking number of similarities with tennis, both mentally and mechanically, is often overlooked. Although tennis may seem more mechanically aligned with other sports, its mental requirements most closely resemble those of surfing. Both on the court and on the waves, these athletes face the same two opponents: the conditions and them76

selves. Tennis and surfing, a land-based racket sport and a water-based balance sport, may initially appear to occupy opposite extremes of the sporting spectrum, but a closer examination suggests otherwise. A surfer begins by paddling out atop his surfboard into the calm waters. He looks around, listens to the ocean, absorbs the sun and enjoys the moment. But this calm did not bring him to the beach–the waves, their challenges, and the adrenaline they provide lured him here and keep him coming back. Although these factors can throw him off his board to tumble violently beneath the waves, they also establish the conditions that lead him back to tranquility: Calm waters follow each tumultuous wave. If he can ride his board through this moment’s test, he can take advantage of the tranquil seas following and confidently anticipate the next wave. A tennis player’s match begins as he rests peacefully in the locker room, waiting to hear his name called from the cue which summons him from the clubhouse into the quiet of the tennis courts to begin warm ups. As the match commences, everything

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might seem to be going perfectly: Ideal conditions, all shots firing, a comfortable lead, and a perfect mental state. But just as with surfers to the ocean, the calm is not what brings great tennis players to the court. Instead, the challenges of finding your game, overcoming bad conditions, accepting bad calls, or just conquering frayed nerves are each the “waves” that get a tennis player’s adrenaline surging. Both kinds of athlete must understand their “waves” are uncontrollable; therefore, they cannot expect to ride each perfectly. Instead, the best strategy is simply to hold on, stay afloat, and ride them out into the calm. For tennis players, the wind, court conditions, or the player on the next court cannot be distractions. Similarly, surfers cannot be diverted by the water temperature, wave size, or spectators on the beach. Tennis players and surfers cannot, however, ignore these external factors; instead, they must take them in, adjust strategically, and hang on as best they can. These obstacles test mental strength and strategic agility; they also lead to triumph. The athlete’s patience to wait out the “waves” and his faith

that calm will follow prevent him from falling off the board or “tanking” a match. Without faith that calm will follow the storm, maintaining a pragmatic mindset is unlikely. Another parallel between the two sports is the aspect of strict solitude. While boxers return to corner coaches after each round, golfers discuss strategy with their caddies, and cyclists rely on their large support teams, both surfers and tennis players are on their own during competition, making repeated split-second decisions without any outside advice. To accomplish this, they must occupy that “zone” that great athletes so often talk about. The ability to “stay in the moment” is crucial for both high-level surfers and tennis players alike. To be “present” mentally allows athletes to let training instincts to take over, rather than to project too far into the future or dwell on the past. In order to remain “in the zone,” athletes frequently turn to their between-action rituals: adjusting their strings, taking deep breaths, or even going to the towel. These allow the athlete to feel a sense of control, regardless of what is transpiring at any given time, and ultimately these rituals can allow the athlete

to hang on and battle it out during a wave. Greg Bolitsky, a high-performance tennis coach, former member of the Canadian national junior tennis team, and active tennis player for 40 years, began surfing roughly 15 years ago. Since then, he credits much of his improvement as a tennis player and as a coach to surfing. “I have been able to overcome my fears and surf a wide variety of waves comfortably,” said Bolitsky. “As I wait for a return now, I am reminded of the feeling as a wave approaches. Compared to a 6-8 foot wave, no task on the court seems too great now. Even if I or one of my players is down 5-0, 40-0, … we have a chance.” Bolitsky also praises surfing for its role in recovery and injury prevention. “I have been injury-free over the past 10 years and noticed my fitness on the court reach an all-time high. I have built muscles that tennis never gave me, allowing me to be balanced on the court in all situations,” said Bolitsky. Bolitsky affirms that surfing has made him a mentally and physically stronger tennis player and has profoundly affected his

approach to coaching high-performance tennis players. Given the numerous mental and physical benefits of participating in both sports, it is no wonder that tennis greats like Gustavo Kuerten, Pat Rafter and Coco Vandeweghe are also avid surfers. The shared mental acuity both sports require allows tennis players to develop their mental skills while also relieving mental stress. Progressing through the ranks of surfing, from one to ten-foot waves, will build tennis players’ confidence performing beyond their comfort zones as they overcome ever greater challenges. Nick Rudman is a freshman at the University of Chicago. Native of New York City, Nick has played in various Eastern Sectional, National USTA and international tournaments throughout his tennis career. With Nick’s mother as his first tennis coach, Nick started playing tennis at three-years-old. Inspired by the impact tennis has had on his life, Nick hopes to nurture passion for this sport to younger players through his book, My First Tennis Tournament.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

Citi Taste of Tennis Assembles the Best of the Kitchen and the Court

Credit photos to Getty Images for AYS World

Masaharu Morimoto–the Iron Chef, James Beard Award Winner, and Citigold Lounge Host–led the roster of world-class culinary masterminds at the Citi Taste of Tennis’ event this year at the W New York. In its 18th year, Citi Taste of Tennis is a food and tennis experience, produced by AYS. Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer was the host of this year’s event, where New York City’s top chefs showcased their culinary skills with some of world’s best tennis players serving attendees. 78

Serving first at Citi Taste of Tennis was the dynamic duo of Bob and Mike Bryan, who faced off in a Sushi Challenge alongside Morimoto during the exclusive VIP hour. After that, guests enjoyed samples from leading chefs, sipped on cocktails, and escaped to destination-themed lounges. In addition to the Bryan Brothers, other tennis stars on hand for the event included Venus Williams, Gael Monfils, Nick Kyrgios, Sam Querrey, Eugenie Bouchard, Shelby

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

Rogers and Ryan Harrison, amongst others. The fun continued with Citi Taste of Tennis After Dark, a delectable dessert-tasting experience in the CitiGold Lounge from where ticketholders enjoyed trendy treats from vendors like Wowfulls, I CE NY and Cookie DO, dessert drinks, and the company of top tennis players who also had a sweet tooth. The next Citi Taste of Tennis event will be held in Indian Wells, Calif. in March of 2018.

USTA/Metropolitan Region

2017 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. NOVEMBER 2017 Friday-Sunday, November 10-12 Eastern Sweet 16 at Cary Leeds The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning 1720 Crotona Avenue • Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 18 (COMP) and Challenger Boys Doubles 78’ Yellow Ball 18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $144.55 per player For more information, e-mail WWiese@NYJTL.org or call (718) 247-7420.

Saturday-Sunday, November 11-12 L3 Alley Pond November UPS Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard • Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Entry Level Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 1216 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Sunday, November 10-12 L2 NYJTL Eastern Open The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning 1720 Crotona Avenue • Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (FMLC) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player For more information, e-mail WWiese@NYJTL.org or call (718) 247-7420.

Friday-Sunday, November 17-19 L1 November Championships at APTC Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard • Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Championships Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 14-16 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Nov. 13 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600.

Friday-Sunday, November 10-12 L1A #KindTennis Stadium Tennis Center November Championship Stadium Tennis Center • 725 Exterior Street • Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Championships Boys’ Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 16 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player For more information, e-mail Lauren@StadiumTennisNYC.com or call (718) 665-4684.

Friday-Sunday, November 17-19 & November 24-26 L1B Sportime RI November 2017 Challenger Sportime Randall’s Island • 1 Randall’s Island • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 1416 (SE) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Nov. 13 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail MTrumino@SportimeNY.com or call (212) 427-6150.

Friday-Sunday, November 10-12 Eastern Sweet 16 at APTC Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard • Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Advanced Girls Singles & Doubles 78’ Yellow Ball 16 (COMP) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $151 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600.

Saturday, November 18 Youth Progression Orange L2: Bronx Stadium Tennis Center • 725 Exterior Street • Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 2 Boys & Girls 10 and Under Singles 60’ Orange Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Saturday, Nov. 11 at 11:00 a.m.) For more information, e-mail Lauren@StadiumTennisNYC.com or call (718) 665-4684.

Friday-Sunday, November 10-12 & November 17-19 L1B Sportime at Randall’s Island 2017 November Challenger Sportime Randall’s Island 1 Randall’s Island • New York, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 14, 18 (SE) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player For more information, e-mail TournamentsRI@SportimeNY.com or call (212) 427-6150.

Saturday-Sunday, November 18-19 Youth Progression Green Level 1 Fresh Meadows Cunningham Tennis 19600 Union Turnpike • Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Green Level 1 Boys & Girls 10 and Under Singles 78’ Green Ball 10 (FMLC) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Nov. 12 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Victor@CunninghamTennis.com or call (718) 740-6800.

Friday-Sunday, November 24-26 L1 APTC Thanksgiving Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Championships Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 for first singles/$28 for first doubles (deadline for entries is Monday, Nov. 20 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, November 24-26 L2 Cunningham Tennis November Open Cunningham Tennis 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 14-16 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 for first singles/$28 for first doubles (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 740-6800. Friday-Monday, November 24-27 USTA Boys’ 12 National Indoor Championships USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows, Corona Park Flushing, N.Y. Divisions: Level 1 Boys Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (MFIC) and Level 1 Boys Doubles 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $140.25 for one event; $140.76 for two events; additional fees may apply if registered in three or more events For more information, e-mail NTCTournaments@USTA.com call (718) 760-6200. Saturday-Sunday, November 25-26 L3 Alley Pond TC Thanksgiving UPS Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Entry Level Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Green Ball 12, 78’ Yellow Ball 14-16 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Nov. 20 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600.

NYTennisMag.com • November/December 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

USTA/Metropolitan Region

2017 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE For detailed information on these and all USTA tournaments, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. DECEMBER 2017 Friday-Sunday, December 1-3 L1B APTC Winter Challenger Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 14-16 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Nov. 24 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail hemco2@aol.com or call (718) 264-2600. Saturday-Monday, December 2-4 L1B Cary Leeds Center December Challenger The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning 1720 Crotona Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 12, 18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $43.50 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Nov. 17 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail WWiese@NYJTL.org or call (718) 247-7420. Saturday, December 2 Youth Progression Orange Level 2 Fresh Meadows Cunningham Tennis 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 2 Boys & Girls 10 and Under Singles: 60’ Orange Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Nov. 26 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail VCaraballo08@aol.com or call (718) 740-6800. Saturday-Sunday, December 2-3 Youth Progression Green Level 1: Bronx Stadium Tennis Center 725 Exterior Street Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Green Level 1 Boys & Girls 10 and Under Singles 78’ Green Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Saturday, Nov. 18 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Lauren@StadiumTennisNYC.com or call (718) 665-4684.

Friday-Sunday, December 8-10 L1B Cary Leeds Winter Challenger The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning 1720 Crotona Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Challenger Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 14-16 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Dec. 4 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail WWiese@NYJTL.org or call (718) 247-7420. Friday-Sunday, December 8-10 L1 APTC December Championships Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Championships Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, Dec. 4 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail AlleyPondTennisCenter@gmail.com or call (718) 264-2600. Friday-Sunday, December 8-10 L1 Stadium Tennis Center December Championship Stadium Tennis Center 725 Exterior Street Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Championships Boys Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Dec. 1 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Lauren@StadiumTennisNYC.com or call (718) 665-4684. Friday-Sunday, December 15-17 L2O Alley Pond December Open Alley Pond Tennis Center 7920 Winchester Boulevard Queens Village, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Friday, Dec. 8 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail AlleyPondTennisCenter@gmail.com or call (718) 264-2600.

New York Tennis Magazine • November/December 2017 • NYTennisMag.com

Friday-Sunday, December 15-17 L2 Cunningham Tennis Winter Open Cunningham Tennis 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (FMLC); Intermediate Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (SE); and Intermediate Boys & Girls Doubles 78’ Yellow Ball 12-18 (SE) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 for first singles; $28 for first doubles; maximum fee charged per player is $75 plus the processing fees for the number of events you select (deadline for entries is Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, call (718) 740-6800. Saturday, December 16 Youth Progression Orange Level 1 Fresh Meadows Cunningham Tennis 19600 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 1 Boys & Girls 10 and Under Singles 60’ Orange Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Dec. 10 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail Victor@CunninghamTennis.com or call (718) 740-6800. Saturday-Sunday, December 16-17 Youth Progression Green L1, Bronx The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning 1720 Crotona Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Green Level 1 Boys & Girls 10 and Under Singles 78’ Green Ball 10 (FMLC) Surface Type: Hard Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, Dec. 3 at 11:59 p.m.) For more information, e-mail WWiese@NYJTL.org or call (718) 247-7420. Saturday-Monday, December 23-25 L2 NYJTL Holiday Open The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning 1720 Crotona Avenue Bronx, N.Y. Divisions: Intermediate Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 12 (FMLC); and Intermediate Boys & Girls Singles 78’ Yellow Ball 14-18 (SE) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Saturday, Dec. 9 at 1:00 p.m.) For more information, e-mail WWiese@NYJTL.org or call (718) 247-7420.

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888-698-3664 | www.SportimeNY.com | www.JMTA.com NYTennisMag.com • September/October 2017 • New York Tennis Magazine

New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2017 • NYTennisMag.com