the tournament director of the ATP event on Long Island called The Hamlet Cup. Every summer, I would watch great players play, and I wanted to be just like them. Some of those players included Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Dominik Hrbaty, Michael Chang, Stefan Edberg and Pete Sampras. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a top-ranked junior player and living on Long Island? Some of the advantages are the great people that I have come in contact with. It is a pretty small tennis community, with a lot of great people who want to see you succeed. Some of the disadvantages are getting good practices during the wintertime. I have always grown up playing indoors, and I do not mind it every so often; however, while playing on tour, it is really important to be in a competitive atmosphere where I am able to train with other pros who push each other. That is why much of my training is spent in Arizona and North Carolina where there is better weather.
Who and what helped you raise your game to the elite level it has risen to? When I was in juniors, I trained at Sportime in Syosset and Bethpage. The two coaches that have helped me develop my game at the junior level were Lawrence Kleger and Mike Kossoff. I started with Lawrence from the very beginning. He was a great mentor for me, as well as someone who helped develop my strokes so that I would have no technical flaws. He also helped me develop weapons to take me to a high level. I began working with Mike when I was 13-years-old. Mike was very important to me, he stressed hard work and discipline. He was the one who really made me believe that I could be a good player. Both Mike and Lawrence were huge contributors to what I have done in tennis. What advice would you give to the junior players on Long Island who want to play at a high college level and/or professionally? I would tell them to work really hard and set
goals for them to accomplish. I’d tell them to work with their coaches and to keep developing their games, while also playing in a lot of matches. What is your fondest tennis memory thus far? I have had so many great tennis memories, but I would have to say getting to the Sweet 16 two out of four years at Wake Forest is the tops to date. Also, winning a national championship at the ITA National Indoors in doubles with my partner Steven Forman was a great accomplishment. What are your goals in the future? My future goals for tennis include being able to make a living playing professionally in both singles and doubles play. It is a tough road, and it is something that I am still getting acclimated to, but I am and will continue to work hard to try and accomplish my goals. G
Coming In May BONUS DISTRIBUTION AT: World Team Tennis Matches
Distribution scheduled for 5/1/10 This edition will feature: • World Team Tennis Preview • Boys High School Season Recap • Look Back at Tennis Night in America • Summer Events Preview
Beach Tennis Championships Boys High School Matches USTA Long Island Awards Dinner
Don’t miss the advertising and editorial opportunities in the next edition of Long Island Tennis Magazine May/June 2010. Submissions for both advertising and editorial are due by April 1st. For more information, please call (516) 409-4444 or e-mail Advertise@LITennisMag.com.
Distribution across Long Island at (150+ locations):
• indoor tennis clubs • country clubs • tennis camps • retail stores • supermarkets • gyms • and many more Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2010
51