November/December 2020
That’s A Wrap!
CEO John Embree
pg. 37
No Challenge Too Great President Feisal Hassan pg. 39
Why ATP Pros Run Around Backhands Master Professional James Shaughnessy pg. 42
2020 Award Winners pg. 55
Jenny Gray
Alex Gordon Professional of the Year
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From the CEO USPTA
That’s A Wrap!
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e have tied a bow on our 2020 World Conference Virtual Event – and what an event it was! Having never done anything like this before, we sailed into uncharted waters. But our staff worked incredibly hard over a fourmonth period to turn this concept into a reality. I extend my heartfelt thanks to each of them for their tireless efforts to make this a success. The USPTA continues to be the undisputed leader in providing the best educational content to its membership while utilizing the latest technology. WC20 proved it unequivocally. It was the first event of any kind in our industry to offer three days of uninterrupted digital education. And it came off without a hitch. We connected with people from across the globe in a smart, cutting edge and first-class platform that was more than just your typical Zoom scenario. USPTA members should take great pride in what we delivered.
By the numbers:
1,000+ Over 1,000 people registered for the start of WC20 – amazing! As of this writing, the ink has still not dried on the final registration count, but the total exceeded our expectations. Not only that, but we had 10 of our International members to join us.
John R. Embree, USPTA CEO
Our Awards Presentation and General Membership Meeting always brings me such joy. We recognized our five new Master Professionals and presented the Alex Gordon Professional of the Year (Jenny Gray), our George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award (Ken McAllister) the President’s Paul Waldman Award (Kevin Theos), and inducted the late Bob Ryland into the USPTA Hall of Fame. We also recognized 14 distinguished members for their contributions to their communities and our Association in 2019. Finally, we presented an update on the state of our Association and the positive track we are on despite the impact of the global pandemic.
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We had 22 vendors at our Virtual Trade Show. Representatives from each company were available to chat with our members during the three days as they showcased their products and services with videos and live presentations. It was almost as if they were on the trade show floor meeting face to face!
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We hosted 15 Education sessions over three days featuring three International Tennis Hall of Fame members, plus several tennis celebrities and internationally renowned coaches. Each session was recorded and made available that evening and for the next 30 days, so our pros could teach during the day and watch the presentations at a more convenient time. Our virtual platform allowed Sarah Stone to present
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from Australia, Mats Wilander from Sweden, and Sandra Zaniewska and Sven Groeneveld joined from Paris as they prepared their players for Roland Garros. There was also a 50/50 split between male and female speakers, and 36% were from diverse backgrounds. The networking capabilities were fantastic. People logged into WC20 early each morning and began connecting with friends and colleagues from around the country. It was wonderful to see everyone interacting with each other. One member said that he has been a USPTA member for over 20 years but this was his first World Conference. We’re so glad he participated! 2020 is a different year on so many fronts. Producing a virtual World Conference this year instead of our usual annual gathering seemed fitting, given the extraordinary circumstances with which we have all been living. As Billie Jean King famously said, “Champions adjust.” The USPTA did exactly that and I am proud to say we delivered outstanding education and a wonderful experience for our membership. Congratulations, USPTA, for wowing our membership and the industry as a whole! *
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USPTA
No Challenge Too Great in 2020
O
h, how the world has changed since I last wrote in this column. The coronavirus pandemic forced us off the courts and into our homes for many months. Nevertheless, in the areas of diversity and inclusion, our COVID-19 response, continuing education and our World Conference, we accomplished a great deal in 2020.
Diversity & Inclusion
Photo courtesy of Patrick Kearns
In January, I laid out our goals for a more diverse and inclusive USPTA. We established the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, chaired by USPTA Board members Trish Faulkner and Mark Faber and comprised of members of all backgrounds, with smaller task forces to address specific challenges faced by our diverse groups. These task forces have developed surveys to gather pertinent information and are in the process of establishing new protocols and initiatives. I thank all you who have participated. In September, we paid homage to a trailblazer of American tennis by naming the USPTA Diversity Award after the late Bob Ryland, the first Black male to play professional tennis in the U.S. and a 62-year USPTA member. Mr. Ryland passed away at age 100 earlier this year and was the lone inductee into the USPTA Hall of Fame.
Patrick Kearns, USPTA Mid-Atlantic Executive Director
Feisal Hassan, USPTA President
COVID-19
When the coronavirus pandemic upended life in March, I established the USPTA COVID-19 Task Force to be led by Patrick Kearns, Executive Director of the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division. For two months, CEO John Embree, Patrick, myself and our team of Leslie Allen, Doug Cash, Sean Drake, Lane Evans, Jason Gilbert, Stan Oley, Ajay Pant, Phil Parrish, Len Simard, Butch Staples and Lisa Wilcott met on weekly conference calls to discuss the impact on our members and how we could support them. We collected resources on everything from filing for unemployment to best practices for safely re-opening. You can find them at uspta.com/howtoprepare and the USPTA COVID-19 Support Group on Facebook.
Continuing Education
Our Education Team capitalized on all the time on everyone’s hands during the pandemic to provide top-notch free continuing education in the form of weekly webinars. Nearly 4,000 members tuned in for over 20 webinars on topics including on-court coaching, keeping in touch with students while they’re away and safely reopening tennis facilities. All these webinars can be found on TennisResources.com. We also unveiled USPTA-U, our brandnew online education platform that makes it as easy as possible for members to watch webinars, listen to podcasts and take advantage of a plethora of professional development opportunities all in one place.
USPTA/USTA Dues Subsidy
These unprecedented times prompted the USPTA and USTA to offer free 2021 dues to USPTA members. The requirements to qualify were simple: 1. Teach and reside in the U.S. 2. Be certified and in good standing 3. Complete USPTA Continuing Education requirements 4. Complete USTA Safe Play and background screening 5. Show good faith and introduce 50 new people to tennis The deadline to qualify for free dues was Oct. 1 but I am pleased to announce that a second window is available now thru Dec. 31 for members to qualify for free dues in 2022. You can find more details at uspta.com/freedues.
#WC20
It certainly wasn’t easy, but I’m so proud of the National Staff’s efforts in organizing such a successful World Conference Virtual Event with just a few short months’ notice. WC20 featured 15 educational sessions presented by many of the biggest names in coaching and professional development. Over 1,000 members had the opportunity to earn up to 7.75 CEUs, win great prizes courtesy of our endorsees and reconnect with old friends in the virtual lounge. We also honored the 2020 Award winners, and they will be recognized in person at next year’s World Conference in Las Vegas. We hope you’ll join us! 2020 challenged us in ways we’ve never experienced before. I am so proud of our members for the solidarity, perseverance and commitment to our sport that they showed. Long may that continue. *
November/December 2020
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Wilson
Wilson
USPTA Master Professional Corner
3D Data Suggest Why the Best ATP Pros Run Around Backhands James Shaughnessy, USPTA Master Professional
I
Wawrinka cannot be accused of having defensive backhands, yet they routinely spend the energy to run around these elegant weapons. Why? At the SCiO 3D Sports Library of the world’s greatest players at the Tucker Tennis Academy, we have at our disposal a database of the best players of the current era in live tournament play. By comparing successful backhands of the best ATP players, we conducted a study to identify the important qualities that will help coaches understand why Braden’s advice is currently disregarded. The purpose of our study was to compare biomechanical data of ATP pro backhands with the forehand data from a previous study of ATP forehands2. Additionally, the study was used to compare elite level academy players’
Photos courtesy of Leonard Zhukovsky
n the late 1970s and early ‘80s, many coaches frowned upon the practice of running around your backhand to hit a forehand. The great USPTA Master Professional Vic Braden contended that the backhand could be an offensive weapon. Braden taught that instead of overplaying your strength by running around a backhand, you should conserve energy and avoid giving ground by developing an effective backhand. Braden explained that not running around a backhand allowed a player to remain more centrally positioned, where an opponent was forced to hit more precise shots1. Clearly, this advice sounds reasonable and encouraging, but in today’s game, this advice seems to be viewed as faulty or archaic. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan
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November/December 2020
backhands with the ATP pros’ backhands to discern crucial technique differences that could justify running around a backhand. Once identified, the technique differences would be more easily assessed by coaches and thus be better applied to developing players. Eighteen successful ATP Tour-level backhands were studied to identify trajectories of the ball and racquet tip 5 milliseconds before and after impact. Samples were taken from live match play in ATP Masters 1000 events. Seven onehanded and 11 two-handed backhands were selected. Backhands were selected if they were winners, produced an error by the opponent or produced an advantage in the rally. Also studied were 18 successful backhands of a group of elite juniors. The group had an average age of 16 and average UTR score of 10.95. The results showed that the elite juniors’ average ball velocity was equal to the elite ATP players at 74 mph. As in a previous study of mine, there was a significant difference between the juniors and the ATP players in their upward racquet velocity. Simply put, elite junior backhands may be traveling at the same rate as ATP backhands, but the pros have a lot more topspin. When we compared data from this backhand study to the previous forehand
Master Professional Corner USPTA study, we find successful ATP forehands average 86 mph, with an average upward swing velocity of 37 mph. Meanwhile, successful ATP backhands average 74 mph, with an average upward swing velocity of only 30 mph. These trajectories were calculated using the Ariel Performance Analysis System (Ariel Dynamics, Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) The results of the study showed the average upward racquet trajectory to be 29.53 degrees for ATP backhands, whereas ATP forehands had an average trajectory of 35.75 degrees. The previous forehand study showed a correlation between the upward trajectory of a player’s racquet path to their UTR rating. The current backhand study found a similar correlation. Meanwhile, the elite junior group showed an average upward racquet trajectory of 20.79 degrees. This is significantly different than the ATP backhands, which were upward at nearly nine more degrees. The data showed that ATP forehands are hit much harder than backhands and have greater upward swing speeds and steeper trajectories, producing more topspin on their forehands. The data shows crucial new evidence that the best on the ATP Tour do not hit through the path of the ball on
successful backhands less than six feet off the ground. Additionally, the data shows that current average trajectory of top ATP backhands is equivalent to the upward forehand trajectory of elite college players. In 1999 at International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports, it was suggested that the ideal trajectory for a forehand is 28 degrees upward3. Interestingly, we find that top college forehands and top ATP backhands are nearly equivalent to the 1999 suggestion, yet the world’s greatest players often run around that 28-degree trajectory for a 36-degree forehand swing trajectory. The truth in Braden’s advice may be that some energy is saved by not running around the backhand, but the data indicates that if a player is in adequate physical condition, the additional ball speed and topspin that can be produced by running around the backhand may be well worth the energy required. High-performance coaches should therefore focus on producing higher upward velocities and steeper racquet trajectories with appropriately adjusted fitness programs when developing players. *
Citations
1. Braden, V. and B. Bruns, Vic Braden’s Tennis for the. Future. Boston: Little, Brown and Co, 1977. 2. Shaughnessy, J., A new direction for racquet head speed. ADDvantage, 2018. September/October: p. 48-49. 3. Bahamonde, R., Producing an ‘Explosive’ Forehand and Backhand. 1999.
James R. Shaughnessy MSS, CSCS, is a USPTA Master Professional specializing in the application of sports biomechanics to elite tennis players training at Tucker Tennis Academy, a USTA Regional Training, Racquet and Health Center located in Tulsa, Okla. He is an award-winning professional with 30 years of experience as a speaker, researcher, analyst and consultant in tennis biomechanics, 3D motion analysis and computerized exercise prescriptions. He is the founder of SCiO 3D Sports. Special thanks to Hank and Molly Pelegrini, who make this work possible.
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USPTA
Alex Gordon Professional of the Year: Jenny Gray Lucas Casás, USPTA Communications
F
rom organizing USPTA and USTA tournaments, to running the tennis programs at two clubs in Austin, Texas, 2019 was an eventful year for Jenny Gray. Her dedication earned her recognition as the Alex Gordon USPTA Professional of the Year. Gray directed 13 sanctioned and unsanctioned tournaments across the country, including the USPTA Texas Ladies Champion of Champions Cup, the USPTA National Hard Court Championships and the USPTA World Championships in Las Vegas, where Fast 4 scoring was used for the first time at a USPTA Surface Championship event. Within her own club, she hosted her 16th annual Rally for the Cure benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the DGG Ladies Cup, Davis Cup Member/Guest and a holiday event benefiting Toys for Tots, among others. “I look at tournaments like they’re a puzzle,” Gray said. “Making sure you have all the details carefully thought out and implemented, creating the draws and interacting with the players and other tournament staff are all pieces of that puzzle. The goal is when all those pieces fit together, you have hopefully created an enjoyable experience both on and off the court for everyone involved.” Planning tournaments and events has been
It’s been incredibly rewarding to be part of something that is bigger than our own lives and routines. much different in 2020. Gray has had to deal with many challenges stemming from the pandemic. Most of her tournaments were cancelled, so she created new events and programs for smaller group sizes to comply with all city, county and state health requirements, all while reassuring players that it’s safe to return to the courts. Still, the most important aspect of a successful post-pandemic program remains the personal connections with her staff, co-workers and club members. “It’s making sure that everyone on your professional staff knows that they are an important part of the team. As the Director, it is essential to know each of your employee’s strengths, then utilizing those strengths to create a wellrounded, quality program,” she said. “Players quickly realize there is someone on the staff to meet their individual needs. Whether it’s 10-and-under tennis, a highperformance program or adult level class.” Gray is also involved in USPTA leadership. She served on the Executive
Committee for seven years and was President of the USPTA Texas Division for three years. And when the Texas Divisional Board needed her, she stepped up to serve a second term as Regional Vice President for 2018 and ’19. She is currently serving as the Past President through 2021. She says she likes being involved with the USPTA to be a part of “something bigger than ourselves.” “We all get so involved in the day-today at our clubs and facilities, but it’s been incredibly rewarding to be a part of something that is bigger than our own lives and routines. It has been an honor to be part of the USPTA Texas family and leadership team and to help organize programs, events, or activities that directly affect other USPTA Texas professionals. On the national side of things, it has been humbling to be a part of a group with varying opinions and experiences that is trying to make a difference in the tennis industry.” Throughout her career, Gray has relied on other USPTA members for mentorship and guidance. She sees Jim Sciarro of Tyler, Texas; Alan Cutler, a USPTA Master Professional; and Charlotte Wylie, Executive Director of the USPTA Texas Division, as “my three go-to people when I have questions or if I need to bounce an idea of someone. Their friendships and professional support have been invaluable to me throughout my career.” *
November/December 2020
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USPTA
George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award: Ken McAllister
K
en McAllister didn’t expect to play tennis in college. Instead, he thought he’d play golf or basketball. New Mexico Highlands University dropped its golf program right when McAllister arrived in 1960, so he turned to basketball. Unfortunately, at 5-foot-6, McAllister lasted just a week. Soon, he saw a sign promoting tennis try-outs. “It was just a walk-on team, so I tried out and made the team,” he remembers. “By the end of my freshman year, I had won the No. 3 singles title in the Frontier Conference.” McAllister eventually transferred to Southwestern University and finished his career playing No. 1 singles. He was inducted into the Southwestern University Hall of Fame in 2014. But, even after college, McAllister still didn’t plan on a career in tennis. Then he found Snyder High School in Texas. “The school had been looking for a tennis coach for three years, hadn’t found anybody that could even keep score,” McAllister said. “I could keep score, so they hired me as the tennis coach.” McAllister spent 10 years coaching high school tennis, as well as football and basketball, while teaching high school math. “When the tennis boom hit, it was all pure luck,” McAllister said. “I already had experience and I was in the right place at the right time, living in Houston. Ended up getting some good tennis
pro jobs, got into the USPTA and just got really involved.” In hindsight, it’s easy to see how McAllister, a USPTA Master Professional, became a tennis coach. His father “was a coach of everything but tennis,” McAllister said. “He taught me to play tennis, but it was more of an afterthought.” As he got more involved with the USPTA, that afterthought became his life’s work. McAllister joined the USPTA 45 years ago and became a Master Professional in 1987. He was instrumental in developing the first USPTA certification test with George Bacso himself in the late 1970s. McAllister tells the story in his book, Cattle to Courts: A History of Tennis in Texas. “There are some adjustments and improvements that have been made, but it’s still basically a private test, a group teaching test and how you teach lessons and organize them,” McAllister said. “I love telling that story.” As the years passed, McAllister’s grew more involved with the Association. He was a teaching pro and the USPTA Head Tester in Texas for just under 20 years before becoming Executive Director of the Tennis Texas Association, which became USTA Texas, for 24 years. In 2008, he created the Community Tennis Association plan to give the power of running Texas tennis to local
Photo courtesy of Ken McAllister
Lucas Casás, USPTA Communications
communities in Texas. He also served on the USPTA National Board of Directors in 2016 and ’17. McAllister is also an accomplished player on the USTA circuit. His highest USTA national ranking was No. 6 in men’s 40s doubles. He entered a 75-and-over doubles tournament in Waco, Texas, in September and made it to the finals with partner Pat McDavitt. “I’ve never been super great. I’ve been okay,” he said. Today, McAllister is President of the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame. It’s one more way he can stay involved and pass on the love of tennis to future generations. “I just put a lot of mileage in tennis,” McAllister reflected. “I just got involved and tried to help with what everybody else is doing. It’s just to make tennis better because I am a believer that this is the best sport of all sports. I really think that. And I coached football and basketball.” *
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USPTA
Tim Heckler Hall of Fame Award: Bob Ryland Lucas Casás, USPTA Communications
L
ong before he coached the greatest players of our time, Bob Ryland cleared the path on which they traveled. In his 62 years as a USPTA member, Ryland coached at clubs across the country, spreading the game of tennis to people of all ages and backgrounds. His lifetime of achievement and contributions to tennis make him this year’s inductee into the USPTA Tim Heckler Hall of Fame. Ryland passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 2, seven weeks after his 100th birthday. He coached at the YMCA of Montclair, N.J., for nearly 30 years, and taught the rich and famous at St. Albans Tennis Club in Washington, D.C., and Midtown Tennis Club in New York. He coached Arthur Ashe, Harold Solomon and Bruce Foxworth, and later, Venus and Serena Williams when they were teenagers. But even before he coached such legends of the game, he became one himself. In 1955, Ryland won the national single’s title in the American Tennis Association, the oldest African-American sports organization in the U.S., which earned him an invitation to the 1955 U.S. National Championships in Forest Hills, N.Y. Four years later, Jack Kramer invited Ryland to the World Pro Tour Championships, making Ryland, at age 39, after battling segregation and discrimination all his life, the first Black male professional tennis player. Ashe, the only Black man ever to win singles titles at the U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon, famously said he wanted “to be good enough to beat Bob Ryland.” Ryland’s journey to such universal esteem was one
through the toughest adversity. His mother and twin brother died when he was an infant, so his father sent him to live with his grandmother in Mobile, Ala. As a child in the Jim Crow South, Ryland picked cotton alongside his great grandfather, himself a former slave. He returned to his father in Chicago at age 10 and his love for tennis took hold. In 1939, he won the Illinois State and junior ATA singles titles. He earned a scholarship to play at Xavier University of Louisiana, a Historically Black College and University in New Orleans. Ryland spent his freshman year at Xavier before joining the U.S. Army during World War II. Serving stateside, Ryland continued competing, finishing as ATA singles runner-up three consecutive years while capturing several tournament titles in Detroit. At war’s end, Ryland earned a scholarship to play at Wayne State University, where he was one of the first two Black players to compete in the NCAA tennis championships. After two years, Ryland left Wayne State to head to California. He became the first Black player to play at the Los Angeles Tennis Club. Years later, Ashe became the second.
Ryland’s love for tennis never faded. He taught until the end, and was the oldest person with a tennis permit in New York City. Ryland was inducted into the Wayne State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991 and has since been inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, the USTA Eastern Hall of Fame and the USTA Midwest Hall of Fame. He is enshrined at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with a paver reading “In honor of Robert Ryland, Coach & Friend.” Ryland’s legacy as a tennis player and coach is second only to his legacy as a champion for equality. Through it all, he was driven by his passion for tennis. *
USPTA
Military Service Inspired by Tennis Corps Amanda Folks, ThanksUSA Development Manager
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Photo Courtesy of Ananth Gunupati
ho would have thought playing tennis with military veterans would lead a young athlete to the United States Naval Academy? Junior tennis player Ananth Gunupati is heading in that direction, inspired in part by wounded warriors. Gunupati has participated in Tennis Corps, a ThanksUSA program in partnership with the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in College Park, Md. Once a week, junior tennis players are paired with disabled veterans to share their skills and learn from each other. For Gunupati, the experience has been an eye-opener. “I see integrity, discipline and inner strength when I am with the veterans. I have learned from the vets’ stories and what they have been through,” he says. “When I am with the veterans, I get a boost of confidence and am immediately made aware that anything can be achieved with the right mindset.” And now, as he enters his final year, this high school senior and second-generation American is setting his sights on becoming the first member of his family to serve in uniform as a naval scholar. That drive also comes from a family legacy of strength and sacrifice. As a
cardiovascular surgeon in India, Gunupati’s grandfather immigrated to the United States in 1967. Eager to gain experience in his career, he earned citizenship a few years later. Gunupati recalls hearing about his grandfather’s experiences in his early years in the U.S. “He always made it a point to tell me how kind America has been to him.” Gunupati is paying that kindness forward, in part, through Tennis Corps, which is more than a physical rehabilitation program for disabled veterans and a teaching program for junior tennis players. It is a social inclusion program that brings together these two unlikely groups both on and off the court. When non-profit organizations ThanksUSA and JTCC came together to create Tennis Corps, Gunupati was just the type of young player they were looking for. His commitment and drive helped this unique mentoring program attain its goals. This success has drawn the attention of the USTA, which recently partnered with ThanksUSA to promote Tennis Corps nationwide. After adopting the program at their weekly military clinic at the National Campus, the USTA agreed that the social inclusion and rehabilitation
benefits of Tennis Corps are something that should be shared. It turned out that these weekly tennis sessions were doing much more than strengthening Gunupati’s teaching and training skills – they were instilling in him an idea that had been planted by his grandfather and cultivated by his experiences growing up near Washington, D.C. Gunupati and Navy retiree Shaun Sabio developed a friendship as they spent time together on the court. “After serving in the U.S. Navy for over 20 years, there is zero doubt in my mind that Gunupati would be an outstanding addition to the military,” Sabio said. “I would be proud to serve alongside him.” It will be several months before Gunupati knows if he has been accepted to the Naval Academy. During that time, ThanksUSA and the USTA hope to make the Tennis Corps program a staple in military rehabilitation and tennis communities throughout the United States. “We have seen so much good come from this program,” says ThanksUSA President & CEO Jon Rosa. “And we are honored to share it.” In the meantime, Gunupati will continue his studies, grow as an athlete and attend Tennis Corps each week. And the veterans will continue to encourage and cheer for his success. *
Learn more about ThanksUSA: www.ThanksUSA.org
Learn more about launching Tennis Corps in your community: www.TennisCorps.org
November/December 2020
ADDvantage Magazine - 49
USPTA
Introducing Five New Master Professionals Gary Trost, USPTA Master Professional Committee Chair
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s USPTA members, we constantly strive to elevate our standards and develop as professionals. Becoming a USPTA Master Professional takes years of dedication to our industry. Indeed, to even apply, a member must hold Elite Professional rating for 10 years, complete Continuing Education requirements and fulfill a broad spectrum of service to tennis. Each of the following members has met and exceeded the requirements for becoming a USPTA Master Professional. They have shown a commitment to elevating the standards of our Association. It is my pleasure to introduce my new fellow USPTA Master Professionals.
Evans devotes a lot of time helping kids at First Serve of Oklahoma City. He also teaches at Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla., where he lives with his wife, Lori. He has been a USPTA member for 31 years.
Bo Gard
is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors, where he provides comprehensive investment planning for individuals and businesses, and also currently serves on the actively manages the USPTA Board of Directors USPTA Supplemental and chairs several Savings Program. Bo is a national committees, USTA Mississippi Vice helping oversee National President and serves as Awards, Division Past a board member at his Presidents, Global, local club, Bayou Bluff Tennis Club. He is a USPTA Tester and he Pickleball and Wheelchair frequently speaks at national and division USPTA educational Tennis. A champion of events. He is involved with the USTA Southern Junior Team continuing education, Tennis and Scheduling Committee. Evans is a Master Tennis Bo served as USPTA Mississippi State President for eight years. Performance Specialist He was the director of tennis at Laurel Country Club in Laurel, with the iTPA, is certified Mississippi, for seven years. He currently lives in Gulfport, Miss., by RacquetFit and recently became a Certified Master Trainer with his wife, Kristen, and their two children. He has been a with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). He was USPTA member for 14 years. recognized by the USPTA Missouri Valley Division as its 2018 and 2019 Education Merit Award winner.
Lane Evans
CONGRATULATIONS! 50 - ADDvantage Magazine
November/December 2020
USPTA Bruce Lipka
currently serves as the director of tennis at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md., a position he has held since 2000. He also owns TNT Coaching and Consulting, which helps individuals to live more powerful lives. Additionally, Lipka is an international tennis coach and consultant, working with adults, juniors and Division I college players, as well as professionals on the ATP and WTA Tours. A former ATP Tour professional, Lipka started his coaching career as an assistant men’s tennis coach at the University of Florida before becoming head men’s tennis coach at Miami University (OH). He was inducted into the Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 for his accomplishments as a player and coach. Bruce currently competes internationally and serves as the men’s captain for the USIC. Bruce lives has three children and two dogs and lives in Maryland with his wife, Jodi. He has been a USPTA member for 34 years.
João Pinho
is the Head Professional of 10U and High Performance Programs at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., where he works with many elite juniors. Pinho was named USPTA Middle States Professional of the Year in 2015 and 2019 and has been on the Division’s Board since 2011, including as President from 2017 to 2018. As a player, Pinho played four years of Division I tennis, two at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee and two at Utah State, where he was team captain and named Most Valuable Player. He earned his MBA from the University of Toledo. As a junior, he was national doubles champion in his native Brazil. He has been a USPTA member for 10 years.
Bill Riddle
is currently the Men’s and Women’s Head Tennis Coach at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn. He has earned over 100 career victories in eight seasons of collegiate coaching, with a previous six-year stint as men’s and women’s head coach at Cumberland University in Tennessee. Previously, he was the Director of Tennis at Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club in Tennessee for 21 years. Riddle is also a fixture in the global tennis coaching landscape. In 2012, he provided TV commentary for the WTA Texas Tennis Tournament in Dallas, and also created and co-hosted “Tennis Talk,” a weekly radio show in Nashville. Additionally, he regularly speaks at national and international coaching and player workshops, including at the Australian Open, the US Open, in China and at the USPTA World Conference. He was presented with the 2014 USPTA Lessons for Life™ award and is a three-time USPTA Tennessee Professional of the Year. He has been a USPTA member for 29 years and lives in Nashville where he serves on the USPTA Southern Board.
November/December 2020
ADDvantage Magazine - 51
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USPTA
What is POP Tennis? Ken Lindner, International POP Tennis Association CEO
op Tennis is a fun, fast, exhilarating, aerobic sport that is easier than tennis to learn, play, and master. In POP Tennis, the court is smaller than tennis, and the racquet is shorter — so that the hitting surface is closer to the hand — and the ball is less lively. Additionally, the players serve underhand, not overhand, as in tennis. The benefits of POP Tennis are that rallies are generally longer, there is more exciting net play and poaching, there is less court to cover, and there are no overhead serves to learn. As a result, there is far less running and stress on the back, legs, feet and shoulders. POP Tennis is an excellent way for youngsters to learn how to play tennis. It teaches them how to hit consistent groundstrokes, volley, move to the ball and effectively strategize and compete. With a lower compression ball, smaller court and shorter racquet, it is easy for children to quickly master their strokes, and thus gain empowering feelings of success and confidence. Additionally, POP Tennis is a wonderful sport for adults of all ages to play.
Photo courtesy of Ken Lindner
P
As Kent Seton, a top ex-college tennis player and top open POP Tennis player, points out, once tennis players leave college, join the workforce and play less frequently, their skills naturally begin to decline. However, in POP Tennis, you have less court to cover and no overhead serving, so it is far easier to maintain your skill level for decades. All of these factors make POP Tennis a fun and exciting sport for individuals of all ages to play and to enjoy for a lifetime. POP Tennis certainly worked for me. I started playing POP Tennis at 7 years old, then transitioned to tennis at 13, and played both POP Tennis and tennis until I attended college. Due to my training in POP Tennis, I immediately became a top-ranked junior tennis player. I then became captain and the No. 1 singles and doubles player on the Harvard University Varsity Tennis Team and the Eastern Junior Davis Cup Team. During this time, I won a plethora of singles and doubles tournaments. At age
35, I went back to playing POP Tennis exclusively because I found it to be so fun, exhilarating and satisfying. And as Seton observed, I could continue to play POP Tennis at a very high level, whereas I was nowhere as good in tennis as I had been in college. Because of its unique attributes, POP Tennis can be played at a high level for a lifetime, with less practice and diminished physical prowess. To this day, at age 67, I am still a top POP Tennis open doubles player. Additionally, due to the shorter distance between you and the player(s) on the other side of the net, POP Tennis increases hand speed and develops quicker hand/eye coordination. One benefit of this increased speed and quickness is that when you do play tennis, your reflexes and reaction time will be quicker. Playing POP Tennis should significantly improve your tennis game. For all these great reasons, POP Tennis is a fantastically fun and satisfying sport that you can play from ages 5 to 95! *
November/December 2020
ADDvantage Magazine - 53
USPTA
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USPTA
2020 Award Winners
2020 Star Award — Ron Woods
Ron Woods currently serves as President of Tennis Success, a local non-profit NJTL Chapter in Corpus Christi, Texas, that provides free tennis, education, healthy living programs and college scholarships to underserved youth in the community. He also directs the Whataburger Invitational High School Tennis Tournament, which has raised over $30,000 for college scholarships in the three years he has run it. Ron is a USPTA Master Professional, a National Past President and a 53-year member.
Continuing Education Earner — Michael Friedman
These members led our Association in Continuing Education Units earned in 2019: Michael Baugh, Kimberly Davis, Lane Evans, Allan Jensen, Jason Kutzura, Jose Pastrello, Suresh Maurya, Michael Moriarty and Bill Riddle. Congratulations to Michael Friedman of Highland Park, Illinois, who led all USPTA members with 256 credits earned in 2019 – his second consecutive year winning this award. He is a USPTA Professional and has been a member for 30 years.
USTA/USPTA Community Service Award — Ed Collins
In his 48 years as a USPTA member, Elite Professional Ed Collins has made giving back to the San Diego tennis community his life’s work. His career started as a volunteer assistant at Monte Vista High School before being asked to take over the men’s program at the University of San Diego, which he led for 19 years. Ed also established a college fund in his father’s name, Julius Collins, which has raised thousands of dollars to provide free instruction and summer camps for children from low-income areas.
Bob Ryland Diversity Award — Andy Rodriguez Nerger
Under Andy Rodriguez Nerger’s leadership, the Twos Athletic Club in Toledo, Ohio, started a wheelchair tennis program for up to a dozen players. The club also installed ramps for easy access to the courts. After many wheelchair tennis clinics, the club hosts socials with drinks and pizza for wheelchair and able body players to enjoy together. Andy was also presented the Wheelchair Performance Award by the USTA Midwest Section. Andy is a USPTA Professional and has been a member for one year.
USPTA Lessons for Life™ — Clint Sumrow
In 2019, Clint Sumrow co-directed the 29th annual Children Helping Children tennis tournament, which raised over $85,000 in 2019. The tournament was founded by Clint’s parents, Ken and Pam, in 1991 after Clint was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, which he beat after a year of treatment. Over 375 players competed in the USTA sanctioned junior open singles tournament, and it also featured raffles, a silent auction and adult mixer. He is a USPTA Elite Professional and a seven-year member.
USPTA Elevate Award — Neely Zervakis
As Associate Director of the McCormack Nagelsen Tennis Center, Neely Zervakis developed ACEing Autism Williamsburg and directs many of the events at the club. In the Spring of 2019, Neely led the 10U and 12U JTT teams to championships. She also volunteered at tournaments and camps, including working with over 500 kids at Clara Byrd Baker Field Day. She is a USPTA Elite Professional and has been a member for six years.
President’s Paul Waldman Award — Kevin Theos
Kevin Theos currently serves as President of the USPTA Southern Division. For the last four years, Kevin has also led our mentorship program that has involved nearly 400 members across the country who help USPTA members with career advice and counseling. Kevin saw that there was a need for this program within the Association and took it upon himself to start it, manage it and grow it every year. Kevin is a USPTA Elite Professional and has been a member for 25 years.
November/December 2020
ADDvantage Magazine - 55
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USPTA Tester of the Year — Don Henson
Don Henson was a USPTA member for 54 years. He served as a Tester and was named Professional of the Year for the New England, San Diego and Southern California USPTA divisions. He was inducted into the USTA New England Tennis Hall of Fame in 2017 and gave educational presentations, including at the 2019 USPTA World Conference. Don passed away peacefully on June 10 at the age of 76.
Industry Excellence — Kevin Young
As Pacific Northwest Territory Manager for Wilson Sporting Goods, Kevin Young drove 50% growth in performance racquet sales, as well as increases in ball and Wilson/Luxilon string sales. Throughout his career in tennis, Kevin has increased tennis participation and grown tennis businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest. Kevin is a USPTA Elite Professional and has been a member for 28 years.
Small Facility Manager of the Year — Marshall Carpenter
As Director of Tennis at the James M. Swiggart JCC Tennis Center in Denver, Colo., Marshall Carpenter increased his after-school junior program to over 1,100 players through creative scheduling and active marketing in 2019. He also grew the adult drills and cardio tennis participation by over 20%. He also ran the Bow Mar vs. The World Pro-Am, where eight high-level players from Bow Mar took on eight pros from around Denver. Marshall is a USPTA Elite Professional and has been a member for 27 years.
Large Facility Manager of the Year — Robin Robertson
In 20 years as owner/operator of the Bellingham Training & Tennis Club in Bellingham, Wash., Robin Robertson has grown the tennis membership from 150 to a cap of 450, and the number of tennis clinics and camps serving players aged 5 to 85 has grown every year. Robin lives out the club’s core value to “Always Improve” by investing in a fifth indoor court, new LED lighting and other facility expansions and upgrades, and she requires her entire staff to be USPTA-certified.
USPTA High School Coach of the Year — Karen Ronney
Karen Ronney is in her 14th year as girls’ head tennis coach at Patrick Henry High School, where she has accumulated a 127-23 record in the CIF San Diego Division. She has led her team to eight Eastern League Championships in 12 years, and has produced five Singles champions and 11 Doubles champions. Karen also worked hard to create team-building activities and philanthropic initiatives, such as giving sandwiches to the homeless in San Diego and volunteering in the community. She is a USPTA Elite Professional and a 20-year member.
Steve Wilkinson College Coach of the Year — Kim Gidley
In 2019, Kim Gidley led the Air Force Academy women’s tennis team to a 22-3 record, which tied a school record for wins and set a new Division I era program record. The Falcons became the first service academy women’s tennis team to be ranked in the top 50. Air Force captured the Mountain West Conference championship and Gidley was named conference coach of the year. Additionally, four of her players were named to the Mountain West Academic All-Conference team. Kim is a 22-year USPTA member.
Tim Gullikson Touring Coach of the Year — John DeVorss
John DeVorss of Portland, Ore., coaches several world-ranked wheelchair tennis players, including No. 3 David Wagner. In 2019, Wagner captured the NEC Wheelchair Singles Masters title and the Georgia Open title, and was runner-up at the 2019 US Open in doubles. John has been a USPTA member for 20 years.
November/December 2020
ADDvantage Magazine - 57
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2020 USPTA WORLD CONFERENCE
Thanks for coming!
USPTA Career Development
Career Development USPTA Certification Testing Dates Nov. 6-7................................................. Ivory Ridge Swim and Tennis Club Lehi, UT Nov. 7.....................................................................Rush Copley Healthplex Aurora, IL Nov. 8.......................................................... A-Copi Tennis & Sports Center Augusta, ME Nov. 8................................................Wentworth By The Sea Country Club Rye, NH Nov. 9............................................................................ Balboa Tennis Club San Diego, CA Nov. 9-10........................................................ USTA National Tennis Center Orlando, FL Nov. 13-14................................................................ Lakeside Country Club Houston, TX Nov. 14-15...................................................................... Park Crossing Club Charlotte, NC Nov. 14-15...............................................Forest Meadows Tennis Complex Tallahassee, FL Nov. 15..................................................... ACAC Fitness & Wellness Center Midlothian, VA Nov. 15.............................................................. Westchester Tennis Center Port Chester, NY Nov. 15-16.......................................... West Hills Racquet and Fitness Club Portland, OR Nov. 16-17............................................................................ Bay Clubs SFTC San Francisco, CA Nov. 20-21.................................................................Paseo Racquet Center Glendale, AZ Nov. 20-21........................................................... Greenwood Athletic Club Greenwood Village, CO Nov. 21-22.....................................................................Oaks at Boca Raton Boca Raton, FL Nov. 29..................................USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows, NY Nov. 30-Dec. 1...................................................................... Bay Clubs SFTC San Francisco, CA Dec. 4.................................................... Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center Minneapolis, MN Dec. 4......................................................................... Sinking Spring YMCA Reading, PA Dec. 4-5........................................................................ Paseo Racquet Club Glendale, AZ Dec. 5-6.......................................................................Atlanta Athletic Club Johns Creek, GA
Dec. 6......................................Williamson County Indoor Sports Complex Brentwood, TN Dec. 7.......................................................... Omni La Costa Resort and Spa Carlsbad, CA Dec. 7-8.......................................................... USTA National Tennis Center Orlando, FL Dec. 9-10.................................................... Forest Meadows Tennis Center Tallahassee, FL Dec. 11-12.............................................................. Bent Tree Country Club Dallas, TX Dec. 11-12..............................................................Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA Dec. 13............................................... The Sports Club of West Bloomfield West Bloomfield, MI Dec. 14-15............................................................................ Bay Clubs SFTC San Francisco, CA Dec. 17.................................................................... Trumbull Racquet Club Fairfield, CT Dec. 19-20.....................................................................Oaks at Boca Raton Boca Raton, FL Dec. 19-20................................................................... Trump National D.C. Potomac Falls, VA Dec. 28-29..............................................Highland Meadows Tennis Center Windsor, CO Dec. 30..................................USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows, NY Dec. 30-31............................................................... Burbank Tennis Center Burbank, CA
visit uspta.com/freedues
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE
President................................................................. Feisal Hassan First Vice President.............................................Richard Slivocka Vice Presidents...............Lane Evans, Mark Faber, Trish Faulkner, Jason Gilbert, Bill Mountford Immediate Past President............................................ Gary Trost CEO...........................................................................John Embree Legal Counsel........................................................George Parnell
Editor...................................................................................... Jim Burke Managing Editor.................................................................Lucas Casás Layout/Design.............................................................Kevin Karczewski Editorial Assistance .............................Alegna Hollis, Ramona Husaru, Sid Newcomb, Fred Viancos, Ellen Weatherford Circulation..................................................................... Trevor Trudelle USPTA World Headquarters 11961 Performance Dr. Orlando, FL 32827 800-887-8248- www.uspta.com
60 - ADDvantage Magazine
November/December 2020
ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association. The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the United States Professional Tennis Association. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from the USPTA.