A Division of the USPTA
June 2022
2022 USPTA World Conference September 18-22 New Orleans, LA
INSIDE: President’s Message 2 In Honor of Laurie Martin 3 Southwest Conference 4 Southwest Awards 5 Southwest Hall of Fame 6 World Conference 7-9 Area News 10--15
President’s Message Laurie Martin - USPTA Southwest President
Editor’s note: As most of you know, Laurie Martin, our beloved president, friend and fellow pro passed away this month. But in typical Laurie fashion she got her president’s message in early so we are including it in this publication. Laurie may be gone but she will never be forgotten.
Dear Fellow Pros: It was great seeing those of you who attended the joint Southwest USPTA/Southwest USTA Conference at Grand Canyon University. Thank you to the SWUSTA for helping make this in-person conference a reality and together we can work to grow the game of tennis. The joint breakfast of both boards was instrumental to listen and learn from each other. At the start of my term, I added Nicole Fintell as our USTA/USPTA Liaison on the board so that we stay connected and continue our work together. Hearing so many of you comment on how much you enjoyed being back in person and having the opportunity to network with your colleagues confirmed what I was witnessing. Thank you to Greg Prudhomme and Grand Canyon University for hosting the Southwest Conference this year. It’s the perfect venue that met all of our needs with the hotel, food service, classrooms and courts. Amy Badger and Amanda Fink did an excellent job with planning our conference and where would we be without our Executive Director, Jack Michalko taking care of every detail? We all enjoyed the new speakers and the variety of topics that were covered throughout the two days. On Sunday, there was a specialty course with Michele Krause for teaching Cardio Tennis and I can personally say from experience that it is truly a fitness class that is full of fun and is taught with orange balls. Ryan Johnson did a Pickleball Certification on
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Sunday as well which will help more of our USPTA pros to be able to teach tennis and pickleball. The Southwest USPTA now has its first Hall of Fame Class! Dave Moyer chaired this inaugural committee with Paul Burns and Brett Hall serving as committee members. Congratulations to Jack Michalko, Dick Johnson, and Jim Reffkin on being inducted into our Hall of Fame. I can’t think of 3 more deserving people who have done so much for our division. Hearing their stories from their early careers to the present was so inspiring to those in attendance. A common theme throughout their induction speeches were the USPTA pros they met throughout their careers that impacted them the most. The Division will continue to add a Hall of Fame member each year. This inaugural class will serve as next year’s HOF committee so please start thinking about any potential candidates. In Phoenix, the pros are enjoying a somewhat slower schedule due to the heat, while other areas like New Mexico are enjoying no snow and hopefully no wind to ramp up for the summer. With the increase in tennis participants, we must work hard to keep them playing the game. Innovative formats, smaller courts, and the low-pressure balls are key for beginners to make them feel successful on the court. I hope many of you will attend the USPTA World Conference in New Orleans September 18th-22nd. In addition to all the educational offerings there will be an evening on the Mississippi River aboard the Creole Queen! Register before August 1st to receive the early bird discount. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. The Southwest USTA has grant opportunities for adult education that I encourage you to apply for if cost is keeping you from attending.
June 2022
In Honor of Laurie Martin By Gregory Prudhomme, PhD
T
he diagnosis for all humans is termi nal, but the journey while we are here can be infinite. Most people consider it a great tragedy that we cannot choose how and when we leave this earth, but the real tragedy is when people leave without truly living. Granted, some people do leave us sooner than others or with more pain and suffering than they deserve. Although these truths can indeed be difficult, the fact that we get to choose how we live when we are here far outweighs the sadness of our departure. When we live with love, kindness, vitality, diligence, generosity, gratefulness, passion, and compassion then we are able to meet our fate whenever, wherever, and however it occurs, with extreme peace. Living in this way will provide us absolute serenity in knowing that we deeply connected with our loved ones, we experienced life, and we set a positive example that will live on. That is what Laurie Martin did. She lived more and positively influenced more lives in her time here than most could impact in multiple lifetimes.
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2022 Southwest Conference In Review
This year’s conference made strides in continuing to diversify what kind of education we are providing our tennis professionals. No speaker lacked in passion or energy. Long after the event, attendees will probably still reflect on the yells of Michele Krause encouraging her athletes to move faster and Matt Previdi cracking a humorous analogy to spark questions about racket (spelled as is here) truths or strings/string tension theories. Whether discussing the potential of pickle ball with our own Ryan Johnson, challenging junior curriculum with Tracy Lawson and Alex Mouquin or thinking about where our careers should be going in the next 5 years with Alan Cutler, professionals were challenged to stop and think about what we are doing in a different way. To top it off, we got to celebrate our division pros with its awards ceremony and celebrate its history inducting its first division hall of fame class. Congrats to Jack Michalko, Jim Reffkin and Dick Johnson for all their amazing contributions to this community. After a long period of virtual interaction being together to embrace different ideas while celebrating our division’s’ success and history is just what we all needed. by Amanda Fink/Conference Co-Chair
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June 2022
Amy Badger Industry Excellence Award
Larry Lineberry Lifetime Achievement Award
John Perry Pro of the Year Award
2022 Southwest Award Winners Sterling Fetty High School Coach of the Year
Leslie Banks Stars Award
Tatum Prudhomme Elevate Award
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Gregory Prudhomme College Coach of the Year
Tracy Lawson Southwest Proud Award
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2022 Southwest Hall of Fame Inductees Jack is currently the Executive Director for the USPTA Southwest Division, a position he has had for over 31 years. He also served four years as a vice president on the USPTA National Board of Directors and was chairman of the USPTA National Membership Committee. Jack was the Director of Tennis at the Phoenix Country Club in Phoenix, Arizona for 39 years retiring in 2009. Michalko is a former two-term USPTA Southwest Division President and was the Southwest Pro of the Year in 1984, 2004 and again in 2016. Jack was also inducted into the USTA Central Arizona Hall of Fame in 2011. He has served on the USPTA’s National Awards Committee and was chairman of the USPTA National Nominating Committee. Michalko was presented Tennis Buyer’s Guide “America’s Best Retailer” award in 1989. Jack has lectured at the 1998 and 1999 USPTA World Conferences in La Quinta California and Miami, Florida, the USPTA Northwest Division’s Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Intermountain Division’s Convention in Vail, Colorado, New England Division Conference in Norwich, Connecticut and the Southwest USPTA/USTA Tennis Teacher’s Conferences in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. He and his wife Rita have been married for 53 years and have two grown children and a granddaughter. Dick Johnson has been the district coordinator for SWPTA Northern New Mexico district for the past 5 years and was the SWPTA President in 2000-2001. He has been the USTA Northern New Mexico President on three occasions. Dick was named to the Southwest USTA Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2016, he was the USPTA National High School High School Coach of the Year, in 2017, the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame High School Coach of the Year by the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2019 the NHSACA named him High School Coach of the Year. His high school, La Cueva named him to the school’s Sports Hall of Fame. He is entering his 32nd year as the Boys Tennis Coach as La Cueva High School. His boys’ team has captured the State title 7 of the past 8 years. Johnson has been a member of the USPTA for 45 years and continues to be active in his community. He was the President of the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame 2019-2021 and raised close to $100,000 and distributes scholarships to over 20 New Mexico athletes yearly. This past year the organization raised money for its past-president, Gene Pino who
if stricken with ALS. Coach Johnson has spoken at state athletic conventions, USPTA sectional workshops, and business groups over the past 15 years. He currently has three junior tennis camps that he headed up over the past 30 years. He has taught over 3000 youngsters during this time as a USPTA Elite Pro. Johnson and his wife Marcie have been married 49 years and enjoy travel and their pups, Gizmo and Lulu. Jim has been a member of the USPTA for 49 years (since 1973). He is a USPTA Past President (1986-88) and was the director of tennis for the city of Tucson’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Reffkin Tennis Center (renamed in his honor in 2009) for 40 years. He was named USPTA Professional of the Year in 1996 and he was inducted into the USTA Southwest Section Hall of Fame in 2005 and inducted into the USTA Southern Arizona (SAZ) Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013. For 20 years, Jim was the coach of the Salpointe High School Tennis teams in Tucson, Arizona as well as the head coach of the Pima Community College Women’s Team, winning two national NJCAA titles and numerous regional championships. He was the Athletic Director at Salpointe in the late 1960’s. He instituted the first National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) Chapter in the Southwest Section. Jim served for two years as President of the USTA Southwest Section and for 2 years as President of the USPTA Southwest (197475). He has served on numerous Sections and USTA national committees over the years. Jim became the first USPTA Master Professional in the Southwest. The International Tennis Hall of Fame awarded Jim the National “Education Merit Award”. The USTA awarded him the “National Community Service Award”. The awards, the offices, the different roles that Jim has played throughout his long and distinguished career in tennis are all due to his intense passion and love of the game of tennis.
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June 2022
Back in The Big Easy! By: Marisa Lampe
T
he largest annual gathering of tennis professionals, in a city world-renowned for its music, cuisine, and celebrations: The USPTA 2022 World Conference (USPTA WC22) in New Orleans is one you don’t want to miss! We’re returning to NOLA September 18-22.
Five days of education will be served up, beginning Sunday with two Specialty Courses featuring Kim Bastable and Craig O’Shannessy. Then a wide array of both classroom and on-court sessions are planned for Monday through Thursday. Other World Conference speakers include Chanda Rubin, Dr. Mark Kovacs and both of our esteemed 2022 USPTA Hall of Fame Inductees, Dr. Jack Groppel and Dr. Jim Loehr, with many more world-class speakers to come. Conference check-in begins Sunday, September 18. Stop by the USPTA registration desk to check-in and pick up your name badge. Your name badge is your ticket to all conference events, and it is necessary to have to earn education credits. USPTA members will earn educational credits for sessions attended during USPTA WC22. The sessions will cover content from the business of tennis, to teaching to facility management and sports science. This year, there will be a few brand-new events to help enhance your USPTA WC22 experience. Have you ever played tennis in the dark? Sunday night, our courts will be transformed with blacklights, florescent graphics and music for XGLOsive Tennis. Tuesday morning will provide an extra opportunity to get to know your peers. A Networking Breakfast will take place from 7:15-8:15 a.m. with experts set up at different tables, to help lead discussions on various topics that will be relatable to your club or teaching world. Also new this year, a chance to step back in time as we hop on board and cruise down the Mississippi on the Creole Queen. The luxurious Paddlewheeler is docked just steps away from our hotel and will set sail, with the USPTA aboard, Wednesday evening. For USPTA WC22 we’ll be returning to the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, which is within walking distance to the French Quarter and Harrah’s Casino, as well as shopping, dining, and countless other things to do. The hotel has a variety of spacious guest rooms, many of them with views of the city or the Mississippi River. There is also a 100,000 square foot full-service health and fitness facility- HealthClub by Hilton. It has the only indoor, air-conditioned tennis courts in New Orleans! Plus, a fitness center, exercise classes, pickleball, basketball and racquetball courts and you can follow up your workout with a dip in one of two outdoor swimming pools. Premier education, our Merchandise and Trade Show and tons of social events, all in a place where you can begin each day with a beignet. Learn more about the 2022 USPTA World Conference in New Orleans at uspta.com/ WC22/ and register today!
June 2022
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Northern New Mexico by Dick Johnson
Hi everybody! I just got back from an annual USPTA/USTA Southwest Conference. Thank you for all your hard work, and I know Jack and Amy put in a lot of hours in making this a success. I was honored at the conference along with Jack Michalko and Jim Reffkin to be inducted into the first Southwest USPTA Hall of Fame. Dave Moyer, our past Southwest USPTA President, started this idea four years ago, and it was a wonderful honor to me. I have been a USPTA Elite Professional for 45 years, Past President of SWPTA, Past President on 3 occasions of USTA Northern New Mexico. The people I have met, the experiences, and places I have gone, have been an amazing, rewarding, and huge part of my life. This organization and the networking it has provided has been so valuable, and I will cherish them all my life. Thank you, Brett Hall, for my introduction. Our friendship encompasses many years. My good friend Dave Shambach, a regular contributor to our newsletter from Rio Rancho, has been quite ill over the past two weeks. He was really looking forward to the conference and unfortunately could not make it. Get well soon, you are a valuable part of our organization. To all our Northern New Mexico pros, have a wonderful summer. All the best!
Amy Badger Reports: I really enjoyed working on the annual USPTA Southwest Conference, bringing top notch speakers from several areas of the tennis industry. As a regular conference and convention speaker, our own Amanda Fink
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was a terrific resource. Teaching professional, Jesse Opdyke, is in the process of completing his tennis instructor certification and attended the USPTA Southwest Conference, his first! It was a tremendous honor to be recognized for the Industry Excellence Award. Highpoint is in full summer swing, with summer junior camps and junior team tennis, and we are gearing up for the USTA 40 and Over Sectional Championships and Adult Hardcourt Championships later this month.
Southeastern Arizona by John Perry
Some think summer in Tucson means staying indoors but we play more tennis than ever as summer camps and tournaments approach. It was so wonderful to be back in person at the Southwest USPTA Conference, and I am already excited about the World Conference in September. Here at the Jim Reffkin Tennis Center, we have been running events of all levels this spring, beginning with our annual orange and green ball slam series. It was great to have the high school state champion boys and girls volunteer as court monitors for these events. Bringing back former champions who are now successful junior players also was very impactful for players and parents.
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These events are even more meaningful considering Jim Reffkin’s induction into the Southwest USPTA Hall of Fame, as Jim was the first to put 10 and under lines on the court anywhere in the United States. Ronnie Smith and Reffkin Tennis Center hosted the National Junior College Athletic Associa-
and doubles after winning his 11th ITF title in Peru. Jason also represented Team USA at the International Tennis Federation Wheelchair World Cup. Team USA finished 4th, its best result in 20 years! La Paloma Country Club Head Pro Amanda Fink reports, “At La Paloma, our first week of tennis camp is under way and we are adjusting to a summer schedule. Our pro Emma is adding more morning adult live ball and cardio tennis classes to the schedule.”
tion National Championships in May. Tyler Junior College dominated the event to take home the title as National Champions for 2022. State High School tennis in Arizona wrapped up the 2022
season with another banner year for local team Catalina Foothills. Foothills won the girls and boys team titles as well as individual titles in boys singles and boys and girls doubles. Local ITF Wheelchair professional Jason Keatseangsilp continued to rise in the world rankings, breaking into the Top 50 in singles
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USPTA Professional Nancy Hosford is starting an amazing new
pickleball program for Southern Arizona called ALL IN Youth Pickleball. Nancy is Executive Director, USPTA Pro Bryan Dirk is the President, and USPTA Pro Jane Hagerty is the Director of Instruction and Education. ALL IN had its first fundraiser on Cinco de Mayo and raised $10,550. ALL IN is a 501c3 nonprofit, partnered with Tucson Area Pickleball (TAP) and Gearbox Sports (free paddles & balls) with the immediate goal of teaching 300 underserved youth ages 8-14 in Tucson beginning Sept 6, 2022. Many of our youth struggle with poverty, mental illness, and substance abuse, among other difficult family situations.
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Britt Feldhausen sent an update saying that “Britt’s Tennis Academy has had a wrap for the summer, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the court in October once the temperatures drop. Hopefully I’ve passed on a lot of younger and motivated players who are ready for the Tucson summer programs.” Britt also reports that Tucson Community Tennis Program Summer Camp at Pueblo High School has 30 children signed up with 20 walk-ins possible. The camp is free of charge and meets for the month of June.
SOUTHWEST OFFICERS President Laurie Martin 480-213-2083 lmartin@xcp.org Regional VP Amy Badger 505-379-6728 badgertennis505@gmail.com Vice President Suk Ong 602-881-0467 sukong.uspta@gmail.com Secretary Greg Prudhomme 602-301-1394 pruperformance@gmail.com Treasurer Ryan Johnson 480-267-0725 m.ryanjohnson@gmail.com Past President Dave Moyer 480-342-7240 davemoyertennis@gmail.com Executive Director Jack Michalko 602-740-0126 jack.michalko@uspta.org
SOUTHWEST COORDINATORS Doug Miller says he is still recovering from a hip replacement surgery that took a turn for the worse in November. With a new hip (surgery number 3) on the horizon next month, he hopes to be back out there sometime this Fall. I hope to get away from the summer heat for a bit as I head to Europe and Wimbledon. Upon returning I will be happy to be back to the desert on the courts in sunny Tucson!
Northern New Mexico Dick Johnson 505-507-6795 lctenniscamps@gmail.com Phoenix Leslie Banks lesliealison16@gmail.com Southeastern Arizona John Perry 520-403-8290 jptennis25@gmail.com Northern Arizona Andrea Meyer 928-300-4352 andreameyertennis@gmail.com Southern New Mexico & l Paso TBD Head Tester Greg Prudhomme 602-301-1394 pruperformance@gmail.com The Southwest Magazine is the official Publication of the USPTA Southwest Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association.
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June 2022
Phoenix, Arizona by Leslie Banks
Everyone ready for summer? It’s going to be a hot one here in the Phoenix area. Before the summer gets started there are some exciting events that took place in Phoenix tennis. The Arizona Tennis Classic was held at Phoenix Country Club in March, Serve the Future held a unique Triples Tournament, Grand Canyon University won the Women’s WAC regular season Championships, High School tennis completed their season, and the SWPTA had its annual conference at Grand Canyon University. As the Director of Tennis at the Phoenix Country Club, Steve Edgington was excited to have the Arizona Tennis Classic back after the pandemic hiatus. Jonny Levine’s brainchild of having a tournament between Indian Wells and the Miami Open proved to be a success. The Ukrainian-born American Kudla won both the Singles and Doubles titles. The ATC is a gem that is sure to explode once the fans experience the intimate atmosphere and the beautiful setting of the Phoenix Country Club in the heart of Phoenix. Jonny Levine’s generosity through the tournament raised $115,000 for Phoenix Children’s Hospital and gave access to experience this amazing professional tournament to local nonprofit organizations. The ball kids were mostly from the nonprofit PASS, and many high school students from the Phoenix Union High School District were able to experience the professional tournament through the tennis nonprofit Serve the Future. June 2022
Phoenix Country Club was the site of another exciting event a few weeks after the ATC. The Serve the Future nonprofit tennis organization held its first Spring Triples Tournament to fundraise for its No-Cost weekly Summer Camps held for Phoenix area underserved youth. The Triples Tournament had 70+ participants with over 10 sponsors. The Grand Canyon University Women’s Tennis Team won the WAC conference regular season title for the third year in a row this past season. The team is coached by USPTA pros: Greg Prudhomme, Tatum Prudhomme, and Spencer Hing. Autum Prudhomme, who is also a USPTA professional, was a senior on the team. Autum broke a GCU record for having the most NCAA Division I Doubles wins in a career and earned All-Conference Honors. Desert Mountain High School Girl’s Coach Kim Dever led her team to its third undefeated season. However, in 2020 we had to stop after five matches due to Covid, “I feel that year we would’ve had another state champion knowing the strength of our team.” Over the years we have built up the tennis program, to include a freshman tennis team in the fall, and JV and varsity in page 13
the spring. Savanna Kollock this year is graduating and going to the Division-1 Davidson College on a full ride Tennis Scholarship. Laurie Martin, our SWPTA President and Head Coach at Xavier HS, was named the NFHS Western Region Coach of Year and NFHS AZ Coach of the Year. In the State Tournament her Xavier Girls won the Doubles Title and won 2nd place in the team competition. Jack Michalko, along with conference co-chairs Amy Badger and Amanda Fink assembled the Annual SWPTA Conference at the end of May. For those that attended there were many informative and intriguing presentations by: Matt Prevadi, Alan Cutler, Ryan Johnson, Jason Gilbert, Tracy Lawson & Alex Mouquin, Todd Ellenbecker, Michele Krause, and Ashley Owens. The SWPTA Award Ceremony ended with the addition of the category for Hall of Fame inductees. The recognition of these Giants in our tennis community is well deserved: Jack Michalko, Dick Johnson & Jim Reffkin. Each of these gentlemen positively impacted their surrounding community, tennis and beyond. Their ability to connect across many boundaries by coaching in high schools, public facilities and country clubs has made their legacy in the tennis industry stronger and the USPTA’s Southwest Tennis Section a place to thrive.
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June 2022
Northern Arizona by Andrea Meyer
No matter where you look in northern Arizona, tennis is in full swing with junior programming, adult pickleball and tennis play, high school award winners, and new tennis courts under construction. Prescott High coach and USPTA Pro Sterling Fetty moved his Advantage Academy program to Yavapai College’s courts on June 1 when construction began on 6 new post-tension at PHS. Lights and the removal of electrical lines over the courts will give the courts a badly needed upgrade. Sterling expects the new courts to be ready in early August. Meantime, Sterling and Jake Worseldine, Sedona USPTA Elite Pro, are directing two L6 junior tournaments June 11-12 and July 15-16 in Prescott. JTT play, Sterling’s favorite, will get underway in mid-July with kids from not only Flagstaff and Prescott, but players from Kingman, Clarkdale, and Cottonwood. Sterling was named the SWUSPTA’s High School Coach of the Year at its May annual conference and was also honored along with USPTA Pro Andrea Meyer as Section Co- Coaches of the Year by the AZ Interscholastic Association.
doubles entry won a first-round match before bowing out in the second. The Marauders also earned a berth in the team state tournament for the first time ever. Andrea is teaching red, orange, and green ball classes at Mingus this summer as well as adult sessions and a high school clinic under the lights with music, snacks, and social play. USPTA Pros Zach Hackerott and Dave Hibbs in Prescott directed the Memorial Day Tournament with 14 draws and a large turnout, just shy of 90 players. they are also coaching a flex league in June and helping to direct the Prescott Area Tennis Association’s Mile High Tournament the weekend before Labor Day. The Yavapai County Championships in the fall is other events on Zach’s calendar. Zach’s coaching duties in Wickenburg will resume in the winter. NAZ tennis community was proud to have its longtime Master Professional Larry Lineberry honored at the SWUSPTA’S Annual Conference at Grand Canyon University. He was honored for his many years of teaching and fundraising for junior tennis in particular, Larry was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Larry also encourages all Southwest pros to publicize the Oxendale Auto Group Championships at Mingus Union High School, September 30- October 2 with NTRP and age group events as well as junior play.
Sterling’s number one doubles team of Ava Andrews and Ava Strasser were first team All-State selections and quarterfinalists. Strasser also was praised for her undefeated season playing in the number two position. The PHS boys’ team, which Sterling also coaches, earned a spot in the team state tournament, as well. At Poco Diablo Resort in Sedona, Jake Worseldine is teaching a popular program of 15 red ball kids as well as a full slate of adult and cardio classes. Business is booming at Jake’s remotetennis.com. At Cottonwood’s Mingus Union High, USPTA Pro Andrea Meyer was delighted with her team’s invitation to the state individual tournament, the first in many years. Mingus’s singles player fell in the first round, but their June 2022
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A Publication of the USPTA Southwest Division Jack Michalko / editor 77 East Missouri Avenue, Suite 62, Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-740-0126 / e-mail: jack.michalko@uspta.org The Southwest Magazine is published quarterly by the Southwest Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association. The opinions expressed in the Southwest Magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Southwest Magazine or the USPTA Southwest Division. Copyright© Southwest Division/United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this newsletter is not permitted without written permission from the USPTA Southwest Division. Advertising information: All ads must be camera ready and in color if possible. Prices are per issue. Full Page.............$150 Half Page............$100 1/4 Page..............$70
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June 2022