Long Island Tennis Magazine June 2020

LITennisMag.com • March/April 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine 109

110 Long Island Tennis Magazine • March/April 2020 • LITennisMag.com

Don't Stop Believing

By Steve Kaplan n this time of extraordinary crisis, the dreams of many young players who hope to one day play professional tennis have been put on pause. It's risky to venture outside to play tennis and, in some areas perhaps, and I say this with sadness, irresponsible. With no live tennis, even watching is a challenge.

The encore presentation of a 2019 firstround match at the Miami Open is now airing on Tennis Channel as I write this, and it’s not really doing it for me. And what's the deal with people bouncing toilet paper on their racquets on social media?

I was tempted to talk about how trivial the goal of achieving tennis greatness is when we, as a world, are facing a global pandemic and fighting to preserve our social and economic system. Shouldn't we recognize that tennis is just a game when many in the world are fighting for their lives?

Are tennis player’s heroes when viewed in contrast to the medical professionals, scientists and health care and service providers who devote and risk their lives every day to operate and heal the world?

These people deserve our admiration and our profound thanks. Yet, I am also reminded that there are super heroes in tennis and in sports, which brings me to Billie Jean King and Muhammad Ali. Before King was a tennis center in Flushing, she was a great, great player who won 39 total Grand Slam titles, 12 of which were in singles. When I watch SportsCenter on ESPN, I see arguments about who is the greatest athlete of all time: Michael Jordan or Tom Brady? While it's a fun debate, how about proposing a larger question that resonates in these times?

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Who used their fame as an athlete to be the greatest agent for social change and social justice: Billie Jean King or Muhammad Ali? King used her fame to further equality for women as well as for what we now call the LGBTQ+ community, not only in this country but around the world. It was not a popular fight at the time. It cost Ms. King opportunities, yet she had a vision of equality and inclusion that was larger than herself; and it's a vision that I hope all young people recognize and follow.

So too did Ali. He selflessly fought the good fight for social justice. He sacrificed the prime of his career to champion his beliefs with his unwillingness to support a war that he felt was inconsistent with his conscience and faith. He went to jail until the United States Supreme Court acquitted him unanimously.

They are both great role models and they used sports to transform the world.

It's been said, "Think globally, act locally."

Certainly words which ring true today.

Maybe this is exactly the time to choose to keep dreaming and use these dreams to change the world.

Steve Kaplan is the owner and managing director of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as director emeritus of Lacoste Academy for New York City Parks Foundation, and executive director and founder of Serve &Return Inc. Steve has coached more than 1,100 nationally- ranked junior players, 16 New York State high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous highly-ranked touring professionals. Many of the students Steve has closely mentored have gone to achieve great success as prominent members of the New York financial community, and in other prestigious professions. In 2017, Steve was awarded the Hy Zausner Lifetime Achievement Award by the USTA. He may be reached by e-mail at StevenJKaplan@aol.com.

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Staff

Table Of Contents

JUNE 2020 • Vol 12, No 3

Beyond the Baseline By Brian Coleman LI’s Noah Rubin on and off the court See page 30

David Sickmen Publisher (516) 409-4444, ext. 309 • david@usptennis.com

Photo credit: Sidney Beal III

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 Art Director (516) 409-4444, ext. 307 Francine Miller Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 • francinem@usptennis.com Emilie Katz Assistant Marketing Coordinator

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Highlights 8 12 16 34 38

Features 1 4 7 18 20 22 24 26 37 41

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Statements of fact and opinion in Long Island Tennis Magazine are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of United Sports Publications Ltd. Long Island Tennis Magazine reserves the right to edit, reject and/or postpone the publication of any articles, information or data.

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Global Pandemic Leaves High School Seniors Without Final Season Tennis in the Hamptons Looking Back at the Empire’s 2019 Run to the Finals LITM’s 2020 Guide to Top Tennis Apparel Providers A Look at the Mental Side of Tennis

42 44 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 55

Don’t Stop Believing By Steve Kaplan Across Long Island … News and Notes From Across the L.I. Tennis Community Celebrating 30 Years…Silent Partner Tennis Ball Machines SPORTIME/JMTA to Host Fifth Annual College Recruiting Combine For Beginners and Beyond: Classes, Privates or Both? By Tom Tvedt USTA Long Island Region Update Windridge Camps: A Family Affair Mastering the Mind: Mindfulness at 125 mph…Part Three

By Rob Polishook The Jensen Zone: New Normal for Tennis Players Court Six: Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column

By Emilie Katz Mythbusters: Do Colleges Frown Upon Online Schooling or Living at an Academy? By Ricky Becker The Spanish Method: Keys and Flaws By Chris Lewit US Open Still on Schedule…For Now Tennis Therapy: Which Game Are You Really Playing?

By Tonny van de Pieterman The Tennis Guru: To Get to Heaven… By Dr. Tom Ferraro What Do You Have to Lose? By Mike Puc The Hindrance Quiz: Part Two By Barbara Wyatt Q&A with Douglas Henderson By Michael Forte Coronavirus Won a Game, Not the Match By Lonnie Mitchel USTA/Long Island Region July 2020 Tournament Schedule

June 2020 • LITennisMag.com Long Island Tennis Magazine • January/February 2019 • LITennisMag.com Long Island Tennis Magazine is published bi-monthly by United Sports Publications Ltd. • Copyright © 2020 United Sports Publications Ltd.

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Across Long Isl National Tennis Center Sets Up Temporary Hospital Site

and help take some pressure off of Elmhurst Hospital is a huge thing for us to help out in any way we can.”

Massapequa’s Pavlides Wins Coach of the Year Award

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center housed a temporary hospital site in an effort by New York City’s emergency management office to increase hospital space in the continued battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Indoor Training Facility’s 12 courts were converted into 100,000 square feet of hospital space. Additionally, Louis Armstrong Stadium became a commissary for the preparation of 25,000 meal packages a day.

“It’s an incredibly small part, but it’s the least we can do,” said the National Tennis Center’s Chief Operating Officer Danny Zausner. “Elmhurst Hospital in Queens is a stone’s throw away from the tennis center. For us to be in the local community where our hands are tied, but to support the local community

5TH ANNUAL

Massapequa High School's Mike Pavlides was named the 2018-19 Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

He is pictured here alongside Massapequa Athletic Director John Piropato (left) and Patrick Pizzarelli (right), Section VIII Executive Director.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

sland

… News and notes from across the L.I. tennis community

Hofstra’s Pasion Volunteering Amid Pandemic Jason Pasion, head coach of both the men’s and women’s tennis teams at Hofstra University, has put himself on the front line of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. When he heard there was a shortage of healthcare workers to handle the surge of patients, Pasion, a former Emergency Medical Services (EMS) worker and physician assistant, decided to volunteer at local hospitals.

“I’ve got this degree and I can do something with it, and this is probably where I’m needed the most right now,” he told USTA Eastern.

Carefree Wins Club of the Year

Carefree Racquet Club in North Merrick was named the USTA Eastern Long Island Region’s Club of the Year. The facility was honored at the annual awards ceremony, which this year took place during the New York Open ATP tournament at NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

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Across Long Island Arbitman Verbally Commits to Harvard

continued from page 5

Wei Wins Harbor Island Championships

Rachel Arbitman, a junior at Hewlett High School and a former New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) champion in both singles and doubles, made her decision on where she will play college tennis. Arbitman verbally committed to Harvard University.

SPORTIME Coaches Creating Online Challenge

Prior to the cancellation of tournaments and events, Jason Wei won one of the final tournaments played as he captured the title at the L5 Harbor Island Championships. Wei, who trains at the Chris Lewit Tennis Academy, won all five of his matches in straight sets to hoist the trophy.

USTA Eastern Offering Support

During the times of quarantine and social distancing, many people turned to social media to stay connected. Viral challenges are becoming more and more popular, and the coaches at SPORTIME were in on the act. They created their own challenge, “Over the House Challenge”, that required you to go outside and hit a tennis ball over your home, and then challenge somebody else.

No industry has been immune to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the tennis industry is no different.

Because of that, the USTA and its sections have been integral in creating resources, both financial and educational, for businesses within the industry to use. There have been weekly webinars, constant updates and methods to apply for financial assistance. Once again, the local tennis community aims to unite in order to overcome this crisis together.

Roti Wins Park Avenue Eastern Championships Ines Roti, who trains at Glen Head Racquet & Fitness, captured the title at the Park Avenue Eastern Championships.

As the secondseed, Roti came from a set down to upset the topseed 2-6, 7-5, 10-4 in the

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Celebrating 30 Years …

Silent Partner Tennis Ball Machines: The Machine With Muscle ilent Partner Tennis, a division of Deuce Industries Ltd., was founded in 1989 by Dr. John Bassili. A recreational tennis player and psychology professor, Dr. John had a dream. He sought a reliable tennis partner. One that would play on his schedule and help improve his game. Meanwhile, John’s son was progressing through the ranks as a junior. His son needed a partner that could amp up the pace, but was also consistent enough to groove his strokes. So John built a tennis ball machine.

Today, Silent Partner Tennis is a leading ball machine company in North America. It has served the U.S. from Buffalo, N.Y. for 30 years. The company remains independent, family-owned and operated, and takes great pride in the quality of its machines and the service to its customers.

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Some machines come with programmable sequence settings and even match simulation.

Because Silent Partner only sells factory direct, it offers a wide selection of machines for the best deals on the market, and service is provided by the people who know the machines best.

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Global Pandemic Leaves High School Seniors Without Final Season

By Tyler Cohen, Brian Coleman and Kimberly Liao

he Coronavirus pandemic has been a health crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen in more than a century. There’s hardly been a region in the world left unaffected with millions of confirmed cases worldwide, and the rapid spread of the virus has created ripples that have changed the way we live on a day-today basis.

One of those ripples has been the closing of schools, and as a result, the suspension of all athletics. While the New York State Public Athletic Association (NYPHSAA) has not yet officially cancelled all spring sports, with so much uncertainty on when schools will be allowed to open again, there will likely be no amateur athletics for the foreseeable future.

"In my 25 years of coaching, this is unfortunately going to be a first. In 2001, we had a two week delay to the start of the girls tennis season because of 9/11, and in 2012 we had just finished the team and individual season on Long Island a few days before Hurricane Sandy hit," said Massapequa head coach Mike Pavlides. "There is definitely frustration and disappointment. From my team's perspective, I have some seniors who expected that this was going to be their time to become one of the starters or to earn a singles spot. But as the virus spread and became more of an

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epidemic, it started to become a reality that at best we would have a condensed season to the more likely possibility of no season at all."

For seniors on Long Island, and across the country, that means they will finish their final semester as high schoolers from their own homes. And for those athletes who are missing their final seasons this spring, there can be a sense of lost opportunities. These players understand that this is an unprecedented situation we’re in, and the overall health and safety of our community’s most vulnerable citizens is paramount, but that does not make these circumstances any more palatable.

“While in context, sports are not the most important thing right now, losing the opportunity to compete and be a part of a community of friends, peers

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

and motivated athletes for the final time in high school is nonetheless difficult,” said Commack’s Michael Parrinello. “Like the many ‘last times’ that have been lost this spring, the tennis season is definitely one of the more upsetting, but the many positive memories of competition over the past years and my time on the court will undoubtedly endure beyond this bit of negativity.”

Parrinello’s teammate, Cooper Schoenfeld, along with the rest of the team’s senior class, will look back on their time at Commack fondly, despite the fact that their final match came in defeat in the county championship a year ago.

“If I don’t get the chance to finish my high school career this season, I want to remember my career as one where I worked really hard to achieve my goals.

I’m proud Commack has been able to establish itself as one of the best teams in the county and on Long Island through the years,” said Schoenfeld.

“Playing high school tennis helped me get in shape and taught me to be disciplined and relentless when I was playing. If we can’t play this season, at least I can look back on my high school career with pride, having been part of a team that won the county championship.”

The quarantine and social distancing is a difficult thing to practice for everyone, especially those who are used to being active and playing sports outdoors on a consistent basis.

“Besides school, I’ve been trying to do my best to stay in shape,” said Syosset’s Peter Bukary. “During a time like this, if you don’t stay active or fit, you can sink into a hole of laziness. I’ve created a little home gym in my

basement where I can do some different exercises throughout the day.

It keeps my mind occupied and helps me maintain some semblance of a routine.”

Half Hollow Hills West’s Bilal Rasidzada said: “During quarantine, I’ve been working out a lot at home using calisthenics and some old equipment.

I’ve also been using a tennis ball and elastic rope to hit the ball and work on my strokes.”

The senior season is the final time for tennis players to make a run at the county championship, both the individual and team tournaments, as well as the NYSPHSAA tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens.

“It was definitely disappointing finding out there wouldn’t be a season

because school tennis is easily one of the best times of the tennis year for me because you don’t really get any team atmosphere being in such an individual sport like tennis,” said Plainview JFK’s Jared Phillips. “I was really looking forward to playing counties and trying to qualify for states because I had never played those tournaments before so that was probably the hardest part of the season being canceled.”

Center Moriches’ Michael Koscinski added: “I was pretty upset at first and it would have been great to see how well I could compete in my senior season, but I’m still playing and training hard for my first year of the college tennis season. I will mostly miss the chance to compete in the New York State championships at the National Tennis Center. It was a great, fun atmosphere and continued on page 10

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global pandemic leaves high school seniors without final season continued from page 9

experience, and I will miss it a lot.”

For many seniors, the final season is a chance to lead the team they have been a part of for years. They relish the idea of being a team captain and helping to set the example for the underclassmen.

“Honestly, I’m going to miss my boys,” said Half Hollow Hills East’s Jesse Kanofsky. “I was so excited to be one of the captains this year where people would look up to me for guidance, and I was pumped to try and give these guys the best season yet. I cannot forget about my coach, Steven Farrentello. This man helped my game and took my leadership qualities to another level.”

Wade Tucker of Miller Place was also

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looking forward to being a team captain in 2020: “Last season we lost six starting players so there was going to be a lot of change this year. The dynamic was totally different and I, as captain, would have loved to be the one to watch that shift to the new dynamic. I look forward to tennis season all year so to go through more than half this year to have it postponed or cancelled has definitely put a damper on my year.”

Tucker’s coach, Kevin Gomory, is going to make sure Tucker and the rest of this year’s senior class played a crucial part in the team’s success.

“If there’s no tennis season, I would like to remember my seniors from this year by encapsulating them with the 2019 seniors and the season they put together last year,” said Gomory. “It was one of my favorite and best seasons of my coaching career.

Specifically with these seniors, as well as the rest of the team, I want to remember all of the laughs they have given me. It’s what makes the job worthwhile.”

That sentiment is one that many of the senior players and their coaches

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

will try to remember most. High school tennis provides a different type of atmosphere than other tennis competitions for these players, and that camaraderie and brotherhood is something they won’t soon forget.

“My favorite memories of my high school tennis career include the fun times spent with my teammates on and off the courts,” said Skyler Spitz of Mount Sinai. “We would always joke around during practices and had endof-the-season parties after winning the league title in 2017 and 2019.”

Bay Shore’s Stefan Pallotta said he will remember those bus rides to and from matches: “I’m not sure what I can say about my previous years other than I should’ve appreciated being on the team more than I did. What I’m going to miss the most about tennis is the bus rides back from away matches as we would do “Hey there’s” on each other. We would just always have fun.”

“I really notice how much I took it for granted. It was the last ride, and sadly I never realized how much it meant to me until now,” said Sachem’s Phillip Filipowski. “I’m not sure if I’ll play in college yet, so it was really a huge smack in the face. I’ll remember my time on the team as one of perseverance and full of laughs…Tennis has also brought me many new friends and connections that will always remain intact. I never expected a single player sport would create so many bonds.”

Competing in high school sports is a unique and special experience for these athletes, and it is unfortunate that the final season for many has been taken away from them. Senior year brings with it a lot of momentous occasions, and while the Class of 2020 may be forced to spend that time inside their homes, we hope this senior class can look back on their time competing for their schools in a positive light.

C O M I N G I N J U LY

Distribution scheduled for 07/01/20

This edition will feature: • Coronavirus Impact on Tennis • Look Ahead to 2020 US Open • Summer Events Update • Guide to Top New York Sports Medicine Practices

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

Don’t miss the advertising opportunities in the next edition of Long Island Tennis Magazine July/August 2020!

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TENNIS IN THE HAM n the summer, people from across Long Island and New York City flock to the Hamptons, to enjoy the sun, while sitting by the pool or ocean, and taking part in an array of outdoor activities. Each town in the Hamptons has its own unique feel, with a variety of activities available from simply going to the beach, to kayaking, biking, trips to the wineries or taking in the East End nightlife. Tennis may be the favorite activity of Hamptonsgoers and there is no shortage of the sport in Eastern Long Island.

There is no better way to spend a sunny morning or afternoon than getting some exercise on the court with friends. Below is a list of some of the locations to play tennis, as well as where to shop for the latest equipment and apparel, and where to stay.

Whether you are in Westhampton Beach, Amagansett or anywhere in-between, we look forward to seeing you on the courts and in the shops of the Hamptons this summer!

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Clubs/Programs Future Stars Southampton 1370A Majors Path • Southampton, N.Y. (631) 287-6707 • FutureStarsSouthampton.com Future Stars Southampton is located just a couple of miles north of the Village of Southampton in North Sea Park. Future Stars Southampton is a year-round training

facility, with eight state-of-the-art outdoor tennis courts (four HarTru and four Deco Turf), for the spring, summer and fall outdoor seasons. In the summer, tennis camps offer the perfect mix of match play, drill work, strategy sessions and off-court activities to challenge players of all levels. The program is designed to improve every facet of the game, including technical, tactical, physical and mental components under the guidance of experienced and enthusiastic tennis professionals.

Future Stars Westhampton Beach 36 Aspatuck Road • Westhampton Beach, N.Y. (631) 287-6707 • FSCamps.com Future Stars Tennis Camp at Aspatuck Tennis Club will offer a premier tennis program that is individuallydesigned to methodically challenge players of all levels, ages six through 16. Throughout the week campers are encouraged to enhance their strokes and strategies via group lessons, skill building drills, organized play, individual attention, video sessions, target training and fitness routines.

Campers will receive three to four hours of top flight tennis instruction, including fundamentals, stroke production, point play with strategy emphasis, and match play competition. All campers are carefully grouped based on age and skill level.

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• High Performance Orange, Green and Yellow Ball, Full-day Programs for ages 7–15.

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• New! Soccer, Basketball and Multi-Sport Programs. ross.org/sportscamp

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

MPTONS 2020 Gotham Tennis Academy 91 South Fulton Drive • Montauk, N.Y. (631) 267-8525 • GothamTennis.com

Gotham Tennis Academy’s newest location in the Hamptons, Gotham Montauk, is on a beautiful nature preserve just minutes from the center of Montauk, its famous beaches, parks, restaurants and other attractions. Gotham Tennis Academy’s spring and summer offerings include Gotham Montauk Sports and Tennis Camp, home lessons throughout the Hamptons, private tennis parties, home lesson packages, leagues clinics and court rentals.

Peter Kaplan Tennis Academy 7 Beach Lane • Westhampton Beach, N.Y. (631) 288-4021 • WestHamptonBeachTennis.com Peter Kaplan’s Eastside Tennis Academy is the only tennis academy in the world that the USTA selected to be a part of the USTA members benefits program to both juniors and adults.

Located in Westhampton Beach, the facility features 12 fast Dri Courts, as well as a basketball court, and is offering discounted memberships, which include stringing services and private instruction, for the upcoming summer. The experienced staff has taught players of all levels and ages, and programs are tailored to fit the individual’s needs. Day camps and overnight camps, as well as nightly and weekend stays, at the beautiful Grassmere Inn are available to get the full Hamptons treatment.

Ross School Tennis Academy 18 Goodfriend Drive • East Hampton, N.Y. (631) 907-5162 • Ross.org/TennisAcademy The Ross School is a unique and dynamic tennis program for both national and international junior players. It combines an engaging and global curriculum with the highest level of

competitive tennis training. The school is the first in the New York City area to have a full academic program with a complete physical and mental conditioning program. The small, intimate program is designed for USTA/ITF players in grades seventh through 12th, and is tucked away in beautiful East Hampton.

Sportime Amagansett 320 Abrahams Path • Amagansett, N.Y. (631) 267-3460 • SportimeNY.com/Amagansett Located in the heart of the Hamptons, Sportime Amagansett has it all. Sportime Amagansett features 33 outdoor Har-Tru tennis courts, one Deco-Turf tennis and multi-sport court, a 1,500-square-foot outdoor swimming pool, a mini-basketball court and playground, three natural turf sports fields, two club houses and a camp house, in addition to a pro shop and snack bar. Sportime Amagansett offers dynamic programming and instruction for both juniors and adults, as well as a wide range of tennis and social events.

Sportime Quogue 2571 Quogue Riverhead Road • East Quogue, N.Y. (631) 653-6767 • SportimeNY.com/Quogue Sportime Quogue is a year-round, fullservice tennis, fitness, summer camp and sports facility located in East Quogue, N.Y., but serves the surrounding towns of Westhampton, Remsemberg, Quogue, Southampton, Hampton Bays, Eastport, Riverhead, the Moriches and the North Fork.

The facility features four indoor Har-Tru clay courts and 22 outdoor Har-Tru courts, in addition to an outdoor pool, fullservice health and fitness club, a multi-sport court, child care, locker rooms, a full-service spa and wellness center, and café. Sportime Quogue serves tennis players starting at the age of three, and features junior pathway programs, as well as adult tennis.

continued on page 14 LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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TENNIS IN THE HAMPTONS 2020

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Shopping Tennis East 73 Main Street • Southampton, N.Y. (631) 283-9535 • TennisEast.com For nearly five decades, Tennis East has been a staple of the tennis community on Long Island’s East End. Tennis East offers an extensive selection of men’s, women’s and junior’s rackets, apparel, sneakers, strings and accessories. Tennis East keeps up to date with the latest and most popular products to make sure its customers are always up to date with the newest gear, and it even features a complete line of 10 & Under Tennis equipment, as well as a line of other racket sports, such as paddleball or pickleball. Stringing services and demo rackets are also available.

Places to Stay Baron’s Cove 31 West Water Street • Sag Harbor, N.Y. (844) 227-6672 • CapeResorts.com/Barons-Cove The newly-renovated Baron’s Cove Hotel is the Hampton’s preeminent All-American resort destination.

With 67 charming village and harborfacing guestrooms, gorgeous lofted suites boasting sweeping harbor views, village rooms featuring intimate private gardens, and cozy dog-friendly accommodations, Baron’s Cove caters to every discerning traveler seeking a relaxing getaway on the East End.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

Grassmere Inn 7 Beach Lane • Westhampton, N.Y. (631) 288-4021 WesthamptonBeachTennis.com/accommodations.html The Grassmere Inn is open year-round in Westhampton Beach and prides itself on having the neatest, cleanest, safest and most service-oriented accommodations possible. The Grassmere Inn is located less than one mile from the beach and a short walk away from the center of the Village of Westhampton Beach, which includes numerous shops, restaurants, a movie theater, the Performing Arts Center and much more.

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Looking Back at the Empire

ast summer was a special one for the New York Empire. The city’s World TeamTennis franchise put together the best season in its history en route to reaching the league’s championship match.

The Empire earned a trip to Las Vegas for the league’s playoffs, beating their archrival and top-seeded Philadelphia Freedoms in the final match of the year (21-16) to qualify, then beating them again in the semifinals setting the stage for the finals against the defending WTT champion Springfield Lasers. Despite the difficult, 2019 loss to the Lasers, it concluded what was a magical summer for the Empire. “I just love the way we fought, I love the way

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we played,” said Luke Jensen, who was in his first year as head coach of the Empire.

“It came down to losing by one game.

What an amazing opportunity to be in this arena, this league, this atmosphere.”

Prior to the finals, the Empire took out the Philadelphia Freedoms in a thrilling 2418 victory. The team received a clutch performance from Ulises Blanch, who filled in for an injured Mardy Fish to earn a key win in the Men’s Singles match.

“I just tried to focus and when I stepped on the court, I knew a great part of it was mental and I just tried to deliver,” said Blanch.

Those types of performances symbolized the type of season it was for

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

the Empire, and one it hopes to duplicate in 2020 as they move to a new venue in Manhattan for seven home matches.

At the time this publication went to print, the WTT season is still on schedule to start on July 12. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, we are living in an unprecedented time. The WTT will continue to adhere to government recommendations and will update fans both on its site, WTT.com, and social media throughout the spring and summer.

If the team is able to hit the court in 2020, the Empire will look to return to the league’s championship. Helping push the Empire towards its goal of a title will be the addition of International Tennis Hall of Famer and

re’s 2019 Run to the Finals six-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters, who is making her return to professional tennis this year. Owner of 41 singles titles, Clijsters retired for the second time in her career in 2012, and after a seven-year hiatus, returns to the pro ranks this year in what will be her third season competing in WTT. Joining Clijsters in the lineup is Neal Skupski, the league’s Male MVP from last year and a member of the Empire since the team’s inception. American Mardy Fish also returns to the team in 2020, marking his fourth season with the Empire and 11th in the league overall. A former Top 10 player, Fish won six singles titles and eight doubles titles during his time on the ATP World Tour, and in 2019 was named captain of the United States Davis Cup team.

Making her debut both for the Empire and WTT will be German Sabine Lisicki.

The 30-year-old lefty reached the finals of Wimbledon in 2011 and has won four career titles on the WTA Tour. Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic rounds out the team’s roster as she enters her eighth career WTT season. Peschke is a former world number one ranked doubles player

who captured the 2011 Wimbledon Women’s Doubles title, one of her 34 career doubles titles.

In charge of meshing all of these pieces together is second-year head coach Luke Jensen. As the Director of Racquet Sports at The West Side Tennis Club, the 1993 French Open doubles champion now calls New York home and will look to guide the

Empire back to the playoffs for another chance to bring home the King Trophy.

The Empire is scheduled to open their season on the road against the Washington Kastles before making its home debut on Tuesday, July 14 against the Las Vegas Rollers.

See the full schedule below, including the featured players from the opposing teams:

2020 New York Empire Home Schedule Date

Opponent

Featured Players

Tuesday, July 14

Las Vegas Rollers

Bob and Mike Bryan

Wednesday, July 15

Orange County Breakers

Grigor Dimitrov

Thursday, July 16

Las Vegas Rollers

Bob and Mike Bryan

Friday, July 17

San Diego Aviators

Ryan Harrison

Saturday, July 18

Orlando Storm

Danielle Collins, Tennys Sandgren

Sunday, July 19

Philadelphia Freedoms

Sofia Kenin

Monday, July 20

Chicago Smash

Sloane Stephens

Be sure to visit www.NYEmpireTennis.com to learn more about promotional nights and special events the Empire will have throughout the season.

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17

SPORTIME/John McEnroe Tennis Academy to H

Rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors invited to pa

ith dozens of John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) students currently competing at top colleges across the country, the Academy announced the 2020 John McEnroe Tennis Academy College Recruiting Combine, scheduled for Friday, June 20 and Saturday, June 21, to be held at SPORTIME Randall's Island, the New York City home of JMTA. The Combine will again give select rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors, from around the country and beyond, JMTA students and non-JMTA students, the opportunity to showcase their technical and tactical tennis skills, and their athletic abilities, in front of coaches from top colleges and universities.

“One of the driving forces at JMTA is our commitment to preparing our players for college tennis, and helping them to find their best college fit,” said John McEnroe. “After an amazing first four years of the JMTA Combine, we are excited to be expanding the JMTA Combine in 2020 to include more coaches and more students, and we are confident that it will be a great resource for both.”

Just as in the past four summers, coaches representing all three NCAA Divisions are expected to attend. The commitments for 2020 have been more impressive than ever, including coaches from Brown, Baylor, Cornell, Dartmouth, Penn State, William & Mary, Wake Forest, and many other top programs, with many more coaches expected to confirm their attendance before the Combine.

Representatives from prestigious leagues, including the Ivy League, ACC, Big East, SEC, Big 10, Patriot League and NESCAC attended last year, and are expected again this year.

Interested players can get more information and apply to participate in the Combine at www.SportimeNY.com/JMTACombine.

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Combine applications will be accepted until Monday, June 1 for the 120 Combine spots available, 60 boys and 60 girls. The Combine Selection Committee will evaluate each application based upon objective criteria, and applicants will be informed of their status as “admitted” or “waitlisted”. Those who are wait-listed will be contacted if they are, subsequently, admitted.

Player check-in will begin at 8:00 a.m. for all players on both Combine days.

Participants will compete in singles and doubles match play with tracked results.

Players will also receive athletic performance assessments, and will be

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

invited to participate in Sports Vision Testing and in a College Coaches’ Panel Discussion. Combine partner Tennis Analytics will be video-recording all matches and will offer participant packages, including match videos with detailed analytics, which videos will be available for participants to send directly to college coaches. Included for each Combine participant is an integrated recruiting package, available, digitally, to both participants and coaches, at the touch of a button on their personal Player Portals.

For further details, visit www.SportimeNY.com/JMTACombine or email jmtacombine@sportimeny.com.

o Host Fifth Annual College Recruiting Combine

o participate in recruiting combine at SPORTIME Randall’s Island Q&A with JMTA Combine Director Jay Harris LITM: What can a sophomore, junior or senior in high school expect when attending the Combine?

Harris: The first thing that any prospect gaining entry into the JMTA College Recruiting Combine will experience is a professional atmosphere. We have built the Combine, and continued to evolve it each year, with the mindset that it will become the top recruiting opportunity for not only the McEnroe Academy’s top players, but also for players all around the nation and even worldwide. We are lucky to have a team of incredibly talented individuals helping to form a recruiting experience that will give the players face-to-face exposure to college coaches from all Divisions, but also one that will truly teach them HOW to navigate the challenges that the college search produces. The Combine serves as an incredible networking opportunity for all of our competitors while also creating an invaluable learning atmosphere.

LITM: What has the feedback been from the college coaches in terms of how the event has helped them recruit and connect with players?

Harris: Having over 100 talented prospective student-athletes in one setting is a great start for attracting college coaches, but the JMTA Combine provides so much more than just that.

College coaches have enjoyed being greatly valued for their role in making the Combine great. The College Coaches panel that takes place during Combine weekend is an opportunity for them to be integrally involved in the education for these 100 athletes. Being involved in this sort of learning process helps the coaches to create the first steps towards forming relationships with the players, and the building of relationships between prospects and coaches is what recruiting is all about.

LITM: How has the Coronavirus pandemic affected college recruiting?

Harris: Just like every day living, the

pandemic has caused an exorbitant amount of uncertainty in college recruiting.

With the NCAA announcing that current college players will retain this past year of eligibility, college programs in all sports are preparing for having a “double class” of freshmen next fall, and will have to figure out how that affects their recruiting during the next four years. My belief is that one of the first major effects will be a bit of a delay in when commitments are made. College coaches will need extra time to figure out what their roster needs will be a year from now, while also fighting to catch up for lost evaluation time due to the junior tournaments being put on hold.

LITM: Does that make this year’s Combine more important than ever?

Harris: Every opportunity college coaches and prospective student-athletes have to evaluate each other is extremely valuable, and because so much time for that has been lost, the importance of any tennis played this summer will be intensified. The JMTA College Recruiting Combine may very well be the perfect solution to make up for lost time, and we are excited to produce the best Combine yet!

LITM: Now in its fifth year, how does the JMTA College Recruiting Combine continue to grow each year?

Harris: Like the namesake of our event, we simply aren’t satisfied with being second best. Each year, at the conclusion of the Combine, our team aggressively looks for any shortcomings and then makes plans to tackle those. In just the past couple of years, we have added some incredible additions like our Sports Vision component and last year’s John McEnroe exhibition with Combine players.

The Combine is still a young event, but our recruiting for players and coaches brings bigger dividends each year and that is possibly the biggest reason for the year to year improvement of the JMTA Combine.

LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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For Beginners and Beyond Classes, Private Lessons or Both?

By Tom Tvedt I have been working with students and interacting with parents at many different levels in tennis for more than 20 years. I currently teach group and private lessons, run a program for 25 autistic students and run USTA tournaments. My experience has been with students ranging from the beginner through the advanced levels. The group I will discuss below range from approximately nine to 18-years-old.

This is what I have experienced as a teaching pro with students and parents in regards to lessons. It’s good to start a beginner student in a class to see if they like tennis. Most junior players start out signing up for group lessons where a

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beginner player has the opportunity to have fun and socialize all while learning the basics of the sport. If the student is happy and having fun learning the basics, the parents will be pleased and supportive, and the student will want to continue playing.

I then suggest a class and a private lesson to continue. If the parents see some ability in their child, their expectations are raised a little. Parents may want the student to take additional classes and private lessons. I advise the parents that if their child wants to get better, he or she should continue with a class and then add private lessons to reinforce the fundamentals so they can move to a higher level. If the student and parents are happy with a class and private lesson that is the best scenario, especially

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

at the beginner level. Please note that many parents make the mistake of putting kids in two or three classes with no private lessons as a beginner. They will not get enough attention in classes to completely reinforce their basic fundamentals.

The beginning is the best time for a player to learn sound technique. When students start the game they are the most impressionable. At this juncture they are solidifying technique, whether it is good or bad. Private lessons get them out of any bad habits they may or may not be developing. If they wait too long to take private lessons, it’s possible they may have a tough time unlearning bad habits.

My formula for the parents is to continue with class and maybe one private lesson per week. Classes are a more social experience and needed for the student to grow as individuals and learn tennis.

Sometimes privates are not as exciting as a class for some students.

Recently, I taught a class where there were only three students signed up. One got hurt and the other got promoted after the second class of the session. The class became a “private” and the one student said he liked the private lessons and learning, but missed the dynamic interaction and fun you get by playing with five or six other students. I then had this student in a larger class the following session and he loved it. In that class I noticed that his skill level improved faster with the private lesson than being in a large class.

I believe that private lessons reinforce the basics in the best way possible. When

the fundamentals are sound and progressing more towards the intermediate level or higher, let them move into more classes per week. Keep the one-private-lesson-a-week strategy.

When the student moves up after that beginner experience, he or she will continue with lessons (class and private), and progress through the beginner level to the intermediate level, all while having fun and enjoying the game. The end result is everyone is happy, especially the parents. They can see that their child is progressing and liking the game.

What I see sometimes is that the student may have talent but not the desire to go to the next level, which requires a greater time commitment, but the parents want them to continue. This is where the typical parent-child conflict starts. If the student is forced into classes and private lessons, there is no intrinsic motivation.

The student must want to do it or it will not work. I remember when a teenage intermediate student was taking a private lesson with me. I will never forget, we were almost at the end of a private lesson

and we were in a good rally. As she was about to strike a forehand, the buzzer that indicates the lesson is over went off and she stopped her forehand mid-stroke and the ball rolled to the backstop. She didn’t even finish the stroke as the time expired!

I had a discussion with her and she admitted to me that she does not like tennis and was being forced to play by her parent. My suggestion to parents is to make sure your child enjoys the game of tennis, or move on to another sport. If the student is happy and enjoying the lessons, whether it be classes, privates or both, it is a win-win-win situation for student, teacher and parent I have one more story to share about a boy that started playing in our autism program at the club. I received a call from a father of a seven-year-old boy who had autism. The boy was withdrawn, uncomfortable and quiet with others. He had never played tennis before. The father said he wanted to try out a class for his son but felt it probably would not work out. But he came down, and while the boy was withdrawn for the first class,

we agreed to a second class. The boy seemed a little more comfortable for the second class, and thus the father kept bringing him. By the fourth class, he broke out of his shell and became animated and friendly with us. The father was beside himself with happiness and could not believe what was happening; it was a transformation right before our eyes! The father was joyful and on the verge of tears at that fourth class, and the boy continued this behavior and everybody was happy.

Tennis and creating a good atmosphere on court can do wonders for anybody!

Tom Tvedt is a tennis professional at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with more than 20 years of tennis experience. He played collegiate tennis at Wagner College and went on to work at the Department of Homeland Security for five years. He is the program director for the National Tennis Center's Aceing Autism Junior Program, and has been the Director of the City Parks' Summer Series for the last eight summers.

LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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U S TA E A S T E R N L o n g I S L A N D R E G I O N

USTA Long Island 30th Annual Awards Ceremony Recap The USTA Long Island Region was proud to host our 30th Annual Long Island Awards ceremony at the third New York Open tournament in February. Here, we are sharing just a few of the wonderful photos from that night.

All photos are available by visiting www.USTAEasternPhotos.com.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

U S TA E A S T E R N L o n g I S L A N D R E G I O N

USTA Eastern Long Island Regional Council Executive Committee l Jonathan Klee, Regional Director l Michael Pavlides, Past Regional Director l Sunny Fishkind, Vice Regional Director l Randi Wilkins, Secretary For more information on the USTA Long Island Region, please visit LongIsland.USTA.com, e-mail USTAOnLongIsland@gmail.com, visit us on Facebook at USTA Long Island and follow us on Twitter @USTA_LI. LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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Windridge Camps A Family Affair By

By Brian Brian Coleman Coleman

or the better part of the last decade, Windridge Tennis & Sports Camp founder and owner Ted Hoehn has been in search of a successor.

In 1968, Hoehn and Alden Bryan founded the Windridge Tennis Camp in Jeffersonville, Vt. After six years, such a long waiting list had developed that a second facility was purchased in Craftsbury Common, Vt. As that camp flourished and developed a long waiting list of its own, Hoehn and Bryan purchased the Teela-Wooket Camp in Roxbury, Vt., an all-girls riding camp, in 1985, and transformed it into a co-ed tennis, soccer and horseback riding camp for youngsters ages eight through 15.

After developing a legacy and reputation for the camp over the last 50 years in Roxbury, Hoehn wanted someone who strongly believed in the same core values and tent poles that he built the camp on.

“Those values include honestly and integrity; hard-work and good sportsmanship; kindness and fairness; and developing skills and mental toughness that lasts a lifetime,” said

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Hoehn. “And most importantly, being passionate about what you teach.”

During the search, Hoehn had many potential buyers, including people wellversed in this industry, but was unable to find the right fit.

“We had one particular person who owned other camps, not sports camps, and he didn’t have a real knowledge of what Windridge was and what our core values are,” he said. “So it was something that was flattering, to have someone come to you and be interested in buying your camp, but I wanted to have the assurance that the camp is going to flourish in the same fashion that I’ve worked 50 years to build up.”

With all of that in mind, Hoehn had sort of an epiphany one night last summer, and realized the best person to take over would be his son, Ramsey, and his wife, Nifer.

“There is no such thing as the perfect situation, especially when you are dealing with a family business, but I thought this was as close to a perfect situation that we could get,” said Hoehn. “I made him a proposal, he spent a few days looking it over with his family, and they said yes.”

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

As someone who has been a part of Windridge for his entire life, Ramsey Hoehn was thrilled when presented with the offer.

“Tennis and Windridge have been a part of my entire life, and to be able to keep Windridge in our family after my dad started it more than fifty years ago is a dream come true,” said Ramsey Hoehn.

“We live in Vermont, have strong roots here, and are excited to be in Vermont for business and pleasure, continuing on the Windridge experience.”

Ramsey is someone who grew up as a camper at Windridge before becoming a counselor and an assistant tennis director.

He then moved on to become a tennis director at clubs such as Fisher Island and Hay Harbor. Not only is Ramsey cognizant of the values of Windridge, but also has a multitude of experience running and operating programming and camps.

“It feels good to know that we are in good hands,” said Ted Hoehn. “That is very comforting. And it’s not only the Windridge legacy, but the Hoehn legacy as well. My father was also in the tennis business, so this is the third generation of

Hoehns that are involved in this industry, and making our living in something that we are passionate about. One of the first things that Ramsey said to me within a week of making the agreement was that after they are finished running it, his hope was that one of his sons will take it over.

That’s very heartwarming to hear that early on in the transition.”

He will not be alone in this process, though, as Norbert Auger, the full-time Camp Director, and Misha Monticciolo, the Assistant Director, will help guide the transition.

“Since the day I stepped foot at Windridge, everyone already familiar with the camp took me in like family,” said Monticciolo. “In my opinion, this is the best thing that could for Windridge and its future. Windridge has had a positive impact on so many people around the world for so many years, to have someone in the family come in who deeply understands Windridge’s core values and traditions, and can therefore continue to impact

generations to come, will make for an easy and highly successful transition.”

So as Ted and Nanny Hoehn prepare to spend one final summer at Windridge fulltime, they can look back at the company they built and know that it is in the right hands.

“I think the emotions will run high,” said Ted. “It’s been my life’s passion and work.

I love it there, but I also feel like the time has come. It will certainly be tough when it comes to say goodbye to being there on

a regular basis and pass the torch. My wife and I love to play golf and tennis in Florida during the winter, and we love to travel. That’s what we intend to do. I think it’s going to be fun for both of us. We are both healthy right now, knock on wood, and we hope to have a pretty good period of time to enjoy life.”

Brian Coleman is senior editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by e-mail at BrianC@USPTennis.com.

Inwood Country Club invites you to enjoy great tennis at a very affordable introductory rate.

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10 Har Tru courts • All levels of play from 2.5 to 5.0 Weekly clinics for women and children • Tennis traveling teams Seasonal beach parties and club dinners • Fully equipped Fitness Center Classically elegant Clubhouse • Historic U.S. Open golf course Mark Harrison, Long Island Tennis Professional of the year in 2014.

He has held many National and Eastern rankings, and in 2009 and 2011 was a finalist at the USTA 55 National Grass Court Doubles Championships.

For details contact Heidi Stanya, Membership Director 516-239-2800 x186 or membership@inwoodcc.org. Website: www.inwoodcc.org LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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Mastering the Mind Mindfulness at 125 MPH ... Part Three

By Rob Polishook Yesterday my client, Susan, said to me, “I’m a stress ball. I want to learn how to meditate, I know it will help me relax. But I’ve tried and I’m just no good at it!”

Susan had heard about meditating from the pros and she’d been following my previous two Mastering the Mind articles. But she was at a loss about how to actually do it.

Does this sound familiar?

To help her get started, I shared a meditation practice that I’d learned in my Mindfulness Certification Training.

The practice has helped me personally and also helped many of my clients during competition and even test taking.

The practice, which has been around for 2,500 years, can help you relax, refocus, and re-center. Certainly, something we can all use during these challenging times.

It’s important to note that there are many types of meditation: guided, unguided, loving kindness meditation

days a week, for five-to-10 minutes a day. As you progress, you may want to increase the number of days and also the duration.

In the beginning, try to meditate on the days and time you commit to. This in itself will be a great success!

Mornings are great, as there are usually less distractions, and you can start your day with success and calm.

and so on…and many places and teachers from whom to learn meditation. The practice I will share here is great on its own and serves as a solid foundation if you would like to explore other kinds of meditation.

As with learning anything new, consistency is important. I recommend beginning your practice three or four

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

l Step One: Find your spot. Where are you going to meditate? You can meditate on a chair, on the couch, on the ground or anywhere you can find a nice quiet, comfortable location that’s relaxing. In the beginning stages of your practice, try to keep your spot the same. l Step Two: Bring your attention to your body. Notice your feet making contact with the floor. Slowly, scan up through your body. Feel your sitz bones and notice how the floor, chair or couch supports you. Continue up your body to your back, creating a straight back, upright shoulders, neck and head. Allow your hands to rest easy on your thighs with your palms down. During the meditation, you can always move and/or reset to be comfortable. l Step 3: Bring your attention to your surroundings. Allow your eyes to slowly wander. Do this with curiosity; just noticing things as if it’s the first time you are seeing them. Slowly turn your head, simply being curious, almost like a puppy would do when it first enters a room. No judgment, no attachment. Then lightly gaze forward six to eight feet ahead with your eyes half-open. It’s important to note in this meditation practice we are not closing our eyes to block out what we might see; rather we are allowing what we see, and think, to be there, just not attaching to it.

l Step Four: Bring your attention to your breath. The good news is that you already know how to breathe; you’ve been doing it your entire life!

The difference now is that you are bringing attention to your breath.

Notice the feel and rhythm of your breath as you inhale and exhale.

Maybe notice the breath on the tip of your nose. You might also notice your diaphragm expanding and contracting. Be with your breath. l Step Five: As your mind wanders, bring your attention back to your breath. Notice I didn’t say “if” your mind wanders, rather “as” your mind wanders. This is what our minds do!

Our minds are in the past and future, while our awareness is in the present.

Notice the flow of thoughts and emotions. Then, calmly, patiently and without judgment, label the distraction as “thinking” and gently bring your attention back to your breath.

These steps provide an introduction

to meditation practice. Remember, this is not about becoming good at the practice. This is not a goal-oriented activity. This is about taking a step back to be with yourself, where you are, in the moment. Each time you meditate, you will have different ideas, thoughts and distractions; allow them to happen with an attitude of curiosity.

Each thought or distraction is a golden opportunity to refocus and come back to the present moment.

Imagine if you could do this on the court? For example, when you think of someone’s expectations of you, or when your mind wanders to the score, or a bad call. Rather than getting caught up and stressing about it, you could simply notice the thought, take a step back, bounce the ball and refocus on your breath and what you can control. This can become your intention and new mental strategy as you compete.

The meditation practice may seem simple, but it’s not easy. Some clients say, “How can it be hard? I’m not doing

anything!” You actually are doing something. It may be the first time you are setting aside time to be with yourself in a non-judgment, no comparison mode, where you can just be where you are without trying to force an outcome or pushing to go somewhere. Every moment is a new moment to be in the now. Settle in, take a pause, and enjoy your meditation practice.

Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach, he works with athletes helping them to unleash their mental edge through mindfulness, somatic psychology and mental training skills. Rob is the author of two best-selling books:Tennis Inside the Zone and Baseball Inside the Zone: Mental Training Workouts for Champions. He can be reached by phone at (973) 723- 0314, by e-mail rob@insidethezone.com, by visiting insidethezone.com, or following on Instagram @insidethezone.

LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

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LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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comeback complete continued from page 20

Beyond the Baseline Noah Rubin

By Brian Coleman

uring this unprecedented global pandemic with mandated quarantines and social distancing guidelines, professional athletes are just like the rest of us: at home.

For ATP World Tour professional Noah Rubin, that means being back on Long Island where he lives in his Rockville Centre apartment.

“As players, we almost never get the time to be home. After my injury right after the US Open, I played a few tournaments and then got hurt, so I actually got the chance to move back home and furnish my new place,” said Rubin. “That’s been sort of a silver lining. I was certainly not hoping for a pandemic or anything like this, by any means, but it’s been nice to actually be able to come home, and enjoy some of the things I haven’t been able to in the past.”

Because Rubin is among the rest of the tour’s players who are unable to get out on the court to play or train, it brings with it peace of mind, knowing that he isn’t falling behind in his preparation, or that the tour isn’t moving on without him.

“When I am not playing tennis for whatever reason, whether it’s being injured or having to take time off for my own mental health, I’ve always had anxiety that the tour is moving along without me, or people are out there getting better while I’m not,” he said. “That’s just who I am, and that’s part of what makes tennis so tough. This is a very unusual point in time that we are in. Through my interviews that I’ve done for Behind the Racquet, I’ve been able to talk to people around the world, we’re all sort of doing the same thing. We’re all home on our couches. It’s an unusual circumstance where I can be home and kind of relax a little bit, and at the same time not feel that same anxiety that everybody else is improving while I’m just sitting

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on page 32 Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 •continued LITennisMag.com

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31

Photo credit: @pingpingbob

beyond the baselilne noah rubin continued from page 30

around right now.�

And that has allowed the 24-year-old Rubin to put his full efforts into the many side projects he has been working on, most notably the aforementioned Behind the Racquet (BTR). Launched at the beginning of last year, Behind the Racquet has been embraced by both fans and players, and has developed a large following on social media. “I have grand dreams to drastically evolve the sport we all love in order to prevent this continuous decline of fans.

This is where BTR plays a major role,�

Rubin writes on his Web site. “I realized that this disconnect has arisen partially due to the lack of connection between potential fans and players. I started BTR to give players the platform to share their stories on their own terms, while also giving fans an opportunity to relate to a player on a deeper level. In doing so I am also helping to fight the stigma of talking about mental health, especially in the world of professional sport.�

Players take a picture with their racquet in front of their face, and detail a story about their life that has affected them profoundly, whether it is the loss of a loved one, a hard up-bringing, a tough defeat,

anxiety, insecurities, etc.

The debut post came from Rubin himself, and then he began reaching out to other players asking them to share their stories, and the rest is history as they say. “I commend the people I started out with, who shared their stories without really knowing what it meant at the time. I owe a lot to players like Ernesto Escobedo, Mitchell Krueger, Chris Eubanks and Jamie Loeb,� said Rubin. “The first few who did it without knowing the consequences. Of course I can say, ‘it’s going to be fine, you’re going to get a lot of positive feedback.’ But at the same time, anything can happen. So for them to be OK with that was really great, and reinforced that I had something here.

Everybody has something to share; everybody has gone through an emotional

time in their life that has made them the person they are today.�

Now with more than 120 posts, BTR features posts from some of the game’s most prominent names as well as guest posts from tennis fans and celebrities. “It definitely took some time to get to the point where I have a lot of people wanting

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to be a part of this, and that was really the goal from the beginning,” he added. “I’m really excited about where BTR is, and the fact that we’re having an effect on people on a larger scale. Being able to have some of the top players share stories they’ve never shared before means the world to me.”

With more time on his hands during the current situation, Rubin will continue growing BTR and has dozens of interviews he is working on while continuing to be in touch with new players to add to the series.

When Rubin returned home initially, he was planning on giving some tennis lessons in his free time Sportime, and posted on social media for people to reach out to him if interested. But soon after he began putting that together, courts began to close and social distancing became the mandate, and thus there would be no inperson tennis lessons.

“After that I said, ‘what can we do now, and how we can make the best of this situation? How can we connect tennis players and the public in a way we haven’t

before”, recalls Rubin. “So I went back to those clients who were interested in lessons, and asked if they would be interested in doing some sort of virtual tennis lessons. I’m now in the midst of creating an app that connects the players to the public, and hoping to get more players and more people involved.”

That entrepreneurial instinct is something that has guided Rubin into all the off-court endeavors he has thrown himself into, and has made his presence felt in the international world of tennis. He has launched a BTR clothing line with merchandise available online, and he also co-hosts a podcast along with Mike Cation, Behind the Racquet Pod. “It’s been a really fun experience for me, and has been a great way for me to get my voice out there and not be censored to a certain degree,” said Rubin, who has been outspoken on many issues facing tennis, including pay equity and tour structure.

“Mike Cation is really knowledgeable and is a lot of fun to be around. He’s an intellect in his own way and we’ve had a lot of great conversations.”

All of these ventures have converged to make Rubin a very busy man, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He has taken his passion of tennis and branched out to try to address issues off the court.

It has not gone unnoticed, and he was recently named as one of the Top 20 influential people in tennis by L’Equipe, the French daily publication, a list that includes the likes of Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Billie Jean King.

“Once I’m passionate about something and I can see an end-goal, it’s just a matter of getting the right people behind me to push it forward and make it happen,” he said. “I have a lot of things going on, and once they all come together, I’m hoping we can build a community around this brand and movement. I think that can be really fun and hopefully we can build a sense of unity together through tennis.”

Brian Coleman is senior editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by e-mail at BrianC@USPTennis.com.

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High Country Ski & Tennis 465 West Mount Pleasant Avenue Livingston, N.J. (973) 994-3630 HighCountrySkiAndTennis.com High Country Ski & Tennis is one of New Jersey’s premier tennis specialty shops. In existence for more than 30 years, High Country has New Jersey’s largest tennis showroom from March through September, and it is shrunk down in the winter months to focus on skiing and snowboarding.

High Country prides itself on providing the best in clothing, equipment and customer service. As Owner Bill Silverman says, “Our philosophy is to promote the game of tennis as much as our own company.”

High Country carries the top manufactures and clothing providers in tennis, including Wilson, Babolat, Head, Nike, Adidas and many more. High Country offers 24-hour racket stringing, grommet installs, re-gripping and free demos. With great customer service and competitive prices, High Country continues to grow each year.

For more information, call (973) 994-3630 or visit HighCountrySkiAndTennis.com.

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Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

PGA Tour Superstore 1254 Corporate Drive Westbury, N.Y. (516) 824-3000 PGATourSuperstore.com/Tennis PGA Tour Superstore is more than just a hub for golf lovers and is quickly making its tennis presence felt on Long Island.

Located at 1254 Corporate Drive in Westbury, N.Y., PGA Tour Superstore has everything tennis players and fans are looking for, carrying all of the latest tennis rackets and equipment from the top names in tennis, including Prince, Babolat, Head, Wilson and more. They also carry a wide selection of tennis apparel and footwear from leading brands, such as Adidas, Asics and Nike, as well as grips, strings and other accessories PGA Tour Superstore offers on-site stringing and its expert staff are players just like you, so they can help you out with any questions on stringing and products, and make sure you walk away with the product that is right for you.

PGA Tour Superstore hosts in-house events and fundraisers year-round, and can help customize your event or tournament by offering gift cards, products, memberships and much more.

For more information on the products and services the PGA Tour Superstore offers, call (516) 824-3000 or visit PGATourSuperstore.com/Tennis.

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SPORTIME’s five-star service includes 24-hour stringing, grommet replacement, re-gripping, and racket consultation and customization. While at any of SPORTIME’s clubs, you are welcome to demo the latest rackets for free, or for a small fee that will apply towards the purchase of a new racket.

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Tennis East 73 Main Street Southampton, N.Y. (631) 283-9535 TennisEast@optonline.net TennisEast.com For almost 50 years, Tennis East has been the year-round, fullservice tennis store of choice for East End racket sport enthusiasts. Tennis East offers an extensive selection of men’s, women’s and junior’s rackets, apparel, sneakers, strings and accessories for players of all ages and skill levels. More so, Tennis East carries a complete line of 10 & Under Tennis equipment, so that kids will have more fun playing tennis.

Tennis East carries the most popular and latest product arrivals, so that its customers can use the same gear that the top tennis pros are using. The store stocks a full line of Nike, Adidas, FILA, Babolat, Wilson and Head products. In addition, Tennis East has expanded its women’s apparel offering to include several new fashion designers.

Allow Tennis East’s knowledgeable and friendly team members to assist you choose the proper new tennis, squash, paddle or pickleball racket to elevate your game.

Tennis East has an extensive selection of rackets to demo and all daily fee charges will be credited towards your new adult racket purchase.

Tennis East continues to string all customer and demo racquets on the Wilson Baiardo, which is the state-of-the-art stringing machine on the market.

Tennis East is the conveniently located, one-stop shop for all your racquet sport needs, and is committed to providing personalized service, professional advice, competitive pricing and a unique shopping experience. Please look for special offers on Tennis East’s social network sites.

LITennisMag.com • June 2020 •

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TopSpin Tennis & Fitness 218 Jericho Turnpike Syosset, N.Y. (516) 364-9470 TopSpin Pro Shop at Christopher Morley Tennis 500 Searingtown Road Roslyn, N.Y. (516) 484-4200 TopSpin Tennis & Fitness is Nassau County’s top tennis specialty shop. TopSpin relocated five years ago and is now centrally located at 218 Jericho Turnpike in Syosset, N.Y., directly across from Syosset Hospital. The second shop is located at the new “State-of-the-Art” tennis complex at Christopher Morley Tennis at the park in Roslyn/Manhasset.

TopSpin provides one-hour expert stringing at both facilities. Known as the home of “Clothes for the Pros,” TopSpin has been serving Long Island tennis pros and players with equipment and the top fashion in the sport for more than 30 years. TopSpin’s staff is known for its expertise and highquality service. You will find all the premier tennis brands of equipment, apparel and shoes at TopSpin for the whole family, including Nike, Adidas, K-Swiss, Asics, Babolat, Wilson, Head, Prince and many more.

TopSpin carries a full line of fitness and workout apparel and running shoes, so you can go from the court to the gym in style. Their racket wall contains a large selection of frames, bags and accessories at great prices. Your racket can be strung while you wait.

TopSpin’s staff will ensure that, with the right equipment, you will reach your highest potential as a player and just as importantly, look great too.

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New Normal for Tennis Players

By Luke Jensen

A

re there words to describe what has happened to planet earth at

the start of 2020?

We live in an interconnected world and we’re all concerned for a future that is so uncertain. In early March, as we watched two of the most popular tournaments, Indian Wells and the Miami Open, cancel because of the global situation due to the virus. The very best players in the world traveling the planet living out of a suitcase now had their lives and livelihoods up in the air. Professional tennis is a match-tomatch way to make a living. One injury or one bad losing streak can put daunting pressure on how the bills will be paid.

When I injured my knee in the spring of 1998, I was without any income for an entire year until I started back playing on the ATP Tour again in 1999.

As a player, you know the risk and the pressure to produce in order to earn a living, so having the pro tours suspend everything for a long period of time is going to have an effect on a lot of players. Following many of them on Twitter and Instagram has been very interesting. Depending on the level of success they have had in their career seems to determine how they have maintained training, and some have options to make sure they will be ready when the tour returns.

The players that I found most

interesting to follow have been the players outside the Top 100 in the world.

These players are the blue collar type, living paycheck-to-paycheck while trying to make it to the big money tournaments.

As the Director at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills I was taking calls from well-known players looking to make some extra money during this time by playing an exhibition or even teaching.

How do they find ways to keep improving their games while also finding an alternative way to make money?

Today’s players make more money than they did during my era, but they also have teams of people around them.

What happens to the coach, trainer and agent? These are extremely interesting times for all of us on this very fragile planet. As schools and programs close,

we have to focus on helping the world around us get through. We must live in the moment and soon enough we will be on the path forward.

Let’s be part of the solution and do what we can to contribute to the new normal.

Raised in Ludington, Mich., Luke Jensen’s resume includes 10 ATP Tour doubles titles. He was also a member of the U.S. Davis Cup teams that reached the finals in 1991 and won in 1992. His ambidextrous play, including his ability to serve the ball with either hand at 130 mph, earned him the nickname “Dual Hand Luke.” Luke is currently director of racket sports at West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y. He may be reached by phone at (315) 4030752 or e-mail LukeJensen84@yahoo.com.

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A Look at the Mental Side of Tennis ometimes, as a tennis player, you exist on an island. Alone, solo, under the lights of your local club or drenched in the sun, there you are … between the lines, either gaining the accolades of glory hitting the winning shot or facing the weight of defeat. There are no teammates to pass to; no backup in case you throw a bad pitch or have a bad shift; no defense to pick you up after the offense turned the ball over...it’s just you who must deal with the adversity of this individual sport.

Mental toughness is what gives top players a competitive leg up over the opposition. Training one’s mind to deal with nerves, anxiety and quickly move onward past mistakes can be the difference between being crowned “champion” and “finalist.” These individuals help players focus, find their groove and enter the zone to success. It’s the ability of the player to quickly get back on track once rattled that can make

S

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the difference between bowing out in the first round of a tournament or hoisting the trophy at the end of the day.

Long Island Tennis Magazine was fortunate enough to sit down and chat with multiple experts in the field of sports psychology to pick their brains and gain insight into their role as one of the most vital members of a tennis player’s support staff.

Dr. Tom Ferraro is a sport psychologist with a Ph.D. from SUNY Stony Brook, with more than 25 years of experience working with professional teams, coaches and Olympic athletes across a broad range of sports. Dr. Ferraro is a board-certified psychoanalyst, which allows him to properly diagnose and treat the symptoms an athlete may bring to his him

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

and help them understand any underlying reasons for self-defeat. He has been published internationally and has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The London Times, and is a regular contributor to this publication.

As a mental training coach, Rob Polishook works with athletes and teams in all sports and at all levels, from middle school to professional athletes, teaching cutting-edge mental training skills and techniques, and providing the tools necessary for athletes to compete in high level pressure situations. Polishook has earned a Master’s Degree in Psychological Studies with a concentration in Sport & Exercise Psychology at Seton Hall University, and has completed his Certification in Sport Psychology from Seton Hall. Polishook is

a Certified Professional Coach from IPEC, an International Federation Coaching Affiliate.

Chris Nieves, MS, is the founder and director of Empower Mental Training, which provides mental skills and sport psychology training for athletes. As a former Division I athlete, Nieves learned the importance of mastering the mental side of sports. From this experience, he decided to pursue a career in helping athletes learn how to develop a winning mindset.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought us into unprecedented times, with isolation and social distancing keeping us physically apart. What are some of the mental challenges/obstacles this situation can cause, especially with younger tennis players?

Nieves: One mental challenge that this situation can cause is lack of motivation.

From being at home, it can be very easy to become complacent and even forget about the upcoming season. Another mental challenge is depression. For many athletes, playing sports is their outlet to manage stress and also a source of social support. So not being able to play their sport and even be with their

teammates can lead many athletes to feel depressed and isolated.

Ferraro: There is considerable and widespread panic about COVD-19. Yet even if the fatality rate reaches 200,000 in America, the chances that any single person will die from this in a nation of 327,000,000 is much less than one percent. My recommendation is to sleep well, eat well, exercise and let go of past anger. These four factors have been proven to boost your immune system.

Athletes already have strong immune systems so if you uphold the recommendations about social distancing and hand washing, and follow the suggestions I gave, you’ll be fine. A little reassurance and practical guidelines go a long way to instilling peace of mind and good health.

Having worked with players from multiple sports, what are some of the typical mental/psychological challenges faced by tennis players than other sports and why?

Nieves: I believe one typical challenge faced by tennis players is the lack of consistent focus and concentration.

Tennis is a sport that requires a great deal of focus. Compared to other sports, there are less breaks and stoppages in play, which means that tennis players need to have the ability to shift their mindset and learn how to make adjustments in their playing style in a very short period of time.

Polishook: It’s important to understand from the onset that no matter the sport, every person is an individual. Therefore, there is no typical or one-size-fits-all approach even if two players share the same presenting problem. For example, losing one’s focus. What becomes paramount is to understand at which point do they lose their focus? One player may lose focus when they are ahead because their focus is on the outcome, another player will lose focus because they look over to their friends and focus on the expectations. Lastly, another group of players may lose their focus when they are behind and give up because they focus on the score rather than their game and their process.

Are there specific methods and/or routines that you recommend players, juniors and adults, do before a match to get themselves in the right mind state?

Polishook: Yes. To begin, it’s important to understand that what happens off the court impacts what happens on the court. The athlete is a person first, athlete second. Therefore, arriving to competition in a balanced, calm and aware state is important. The question then is how to do this? Again each individual has their own set of ideas and rituals that they prefer. I highly continued on page 40

LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

39

a look at the mental side of tennis continued from page 39

recommend players incorporate meditation, journaling, walking or running into their routines. Additionally, eating healthy, sleeping and hydrating are key.

Lastly, the evening before, players should pack their gear including everything they need for a match.

Ferraro: I would recommend these steps: get to bed early the night before; visually rehearse your strategy before you sleep; on the way to the match, get in touch and stay in touch with your aggressive side; finally, walk onto the court with a swagger, do not smile, and say little to your opponent.

How has social media led to young players facing more mental, emotional and psychological obstacles? How do you recommend them avoiding said obstacles?

Nieves: Social media has caused athletes to be more distracted which leads to them being more stressed and less focused. I would recommend that athletes limit their social media usage, especially during their sport seasons, so they can focus on themselves and not worry about what outsiders (fans, media) are saying.

This could help them avoid many of these obstacles.

Polishook: Many professionals, including Serena Williams, are said to shut down all social media during tournaments. This is because social media in excess serves as a distraction for players from a time, energy and focus perspective. All too often, the phone buzzes, vibrates and rings, this stimulates the nervous system and a syndrome called F.O.M.O, or fear of missing out. Phones and social media train us to react immediately to incoming information. This takes away from a player being able to be present, in the moment and aware. Down time and quiet time are imperative to make choices and being calm and centered are integral to play good tennis. I suggest you cut your phone and social media time in half! And keep the phone in your bag during your entire training sessions. Nothing good 40

happens by looking at your phone during training.

When negative thoughts begin to enter a player’s mind, what are some tricks or techniques to keeping their mind positive, despite the score or the way a match may be going?

Ferraro: Mistakes are common, and the difference between a champion and the rest is that the champion ignores mistakes and stays upbeat throughout the match.

Often, slumps are caused by negative thinking which in turn has been caused by a big, disappointing loss in the past. Find someone to talk to about the genesis of the slump and you will be surprised how that can turn things around. You can gain insight and then get reacquainted with your power and talent.

Nieves: One way is to use positive selftalk and control your thoughts. Saying to one’s self positive affirmations such as, “I can do this”, “I am capable”, or “I am better than this” can be powerful in helping to build confidence. Another trick is to mentally step back and simplify things by refocusing on just playing tennis one point at a time.

How would you advise a player who feels they are being cheated by the umpire or is dealing with a controversial call?

Ferraro: Murphy’s Law refers to the dictum that bad things will inevitably occur in a game, and so it is best to be ready with a strategy to cope. With regard to bad calls, you can voice a protest but after this, let the experience evaporate and get back to the business at hand.

Polishook: This is a tough situation! I suggest a player go into a match knowing they are going to disagree with some calls. This acknowledgement then shifts the focus from surprise and anger to things they can control. A player cannot control the calls of their opponent, however, they can control what they do. I suggest: first time, ask the opponent if they are sure of the call. Second time,

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

immediately get a line judge. However, it is paramount that after a bad call the player takes a deep breath, takes a few extra seconds and begins the point calm and centered, and NOT angry and upset.

How does playing within a team environment, whether it’s college tennis, high school tennis or junior team tennis, help alleviate some of the mental challenges of tennis?

Ferraro: Tennis is an individual game with you on the court all alone. Teams can be a source of fun, joy and support, and it usually helps the player’s mood. There are times when a coach will be harsh and team members can help offer solace to each other. Sometimes team dynamics are such that a player is scapegoated. If you are on the short end of the stick, find at least one player or coach you can rely on for comfort and camaraderie, and do not personalize the scapegoating.

Nieves: Playing within a team environment can be very important as it can give players a sense of togetherness. A team environment can also foster social support and mentorship, which could be valuable especially for younger players on a team. It also provides players with a team identity that could boost confidence and morale amongst the players. Overall, a strong team environment will help create an atmosphere where athletes are supporting each other, which could alleviate some of the mental challenges of tennis.

Polishook: A team environment allows a player to shift their focus off of themselves and onto something greater, such as their teammates and the team. Individual players can focus on things such as how they can contribute to the team both on and off the court, how they can support their teammates, or how can they be their best, and worry less about being the best.

When a player’s focus changes to something greater than themselves, players play free and more relaxed. This is because helping and contributing to a team can be done in many ways and it’s something a player can control, whereas winning is beyond their control. Overall, players MUST keep the focus on what they can control, and when they lose this focus, make sure to change the mindset back to what they can control.

By Emilie Katz

Murray Using Tiger King-Inspired Wall

send in videos of them attempting the challenge, which consisted of simply volleying on whatever wall you had available.

ATP/WTA Launch Weekly Show

Andreescu Takes Part in ‘Her True Self’ Photoshoot

Andy Murray is making sure he continues to get some training in while quarantined at home, and is doing so with a unique Rebo Wall. The wall has a huge tiger on it, inspired by the Netflix documentary “Tiger King”.

“Hey there cool cats and kittens! Who would you feed to the tiger?” read the caption he posted to Instagram.

Federer Creates Viral Challenge Roger Federer created a viral sensation during his time in isolation, reaching out to his millions of followers on social media to reply and

The ATP and WTA Tours have joined forces to produce a weekly show on social media called “Tennis United”. The first show was hosted by Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Vasek Pospisil who check in from their respective homes, and featured special guests Sofia Kenin, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Donna Vekic and Jannik Sinner.

Pliskova Chips In

Last year’s US Open champion Bianca Andreescu is one of the many stars participating in a new campaign called “Her True Self”, which is meant to “showcase WTA players at their most authentic moments”. The shoot was with photographer Radka Leitmeritz, who has worked with many of the world’s top female athletes.

Players around the world have been doing what they can to give back and help out during this global crisis. That includes Karolina Pliskova who, while wearing a mask made out of a bandana, spent a morning picking up and delivering coffee to a local firehouse in her native Czech Republic.

LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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junior tennis spotlight

MYTHBUST ERS Do Colleges Frown Upon Online Schooling or Living at an Academy?

BY R I C K Y BE C K E R

By Ricky Becker ince schools have pretty much been closed since March and everyone has been selfisolating and studying from home, why not take a look at online schooling in relation to tennis players and how college admissions departments view this schooling angle.

The concept of being home-schooled started creeping into the consciousness of young athletic hopefuls in the 1980’s in an extremely limited capacity. About 20-years ago it was slightly more common by a select few who saw professional tennis as the tennis journey’s final destination. Ever so slowly, the quantities of topAmerican players who got homeschooled or did on-line schooling kept increasing. Some of those players turned pro, some of those players benefitted with a tennis scholarship. It was kind of assumed that the kids who didn’t go to a brick-and-mortar school weren’t looking to cash their chips into schools that were nationally recognized as the toughest to be admitted to academically.

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Eight years ago, kids who did schooling online started creeping into some top universities. I wrote an article in 2012 about the attitudes of Ivy League colleges and other topacademic schools towards junior tennis players who did their schoolwork online. The overall feeling from Ivy League coaches I spoke to was that admissions looked at it with trepidation but recognize it’s a reality.

They were also in a wait-and-see attitude about how it all played out.

But what about today?

Possibly, not surprisingly, the overall numbers have increased from six percent of students overall who were on-line schooled in 2012 compared to 15 percent of players today from the universities we looked at previously.

The increase was significantly greater at the top-academic non-Ivy League Division 1 schools (Duke, Georgetown, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Rice, Stanford and Vanderbilt). Those rosters went from 18 percent online rostered players to 36 percent online rostered players. There was a jump but to a lesser extent at Division 3 schools from 1 percent to 7 percent, and Ivy League schools from 7 percent to 11 percent.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

These numbers are definitely not scientifically accurate as they were taken from the 2019-20 rosters and while care was taken as to whether some high schools were online or homeschools, in some circumstances it wasn’t always completely blackand-white. Additionally, as pointed out by Dartmouth’s head women’s tennis coach Bob Dallis: “There are way more kids dipping their toes inand-out of online and virtual school.

You also have more kids who are taking three classes at their high school and taking two classes online.

Admissions definitely are more familiar now and definitely take each kid on a case-by-case basis.”

Note that the tables to the right represent domestic players only.

As for Division III, the numbers are still under Ivy League school online players although the rate of increase is slightly larger over the last eight years.

One thing that also skews the data slightly is that Division III schools traditionally have had much larger rosters than the D1 schools.

And as for the future of homeschooling and college? Coach Dallis thinks the learning model that’s the best for each student is going to be a

little different. “That’s definitely been the thing that has most evolved”, said Dallis. “The hybrid of the online school and brick-and-mortar school has definitely evolved where we see that more-and-more…and those kids definitely come very wellprepared.”

D1 University

Brown Columbia Cornell Dartmouth Duke Georgetown Harvard Northwestern Notre Dame Penn Princeton Rice Stanford Vanderbilt Yale Percentage for all Ivy percentage Non-Ivy percentage D3 University

Amherst Bowdoin Cal Tech Chicago Emory MIT Swarthmore Tufts Wash U. Williams Overall Percentage

Ricky Becker is The Director of Tennis at the prestigious Pine Hollow Country Club and independently coaches highperformance juniors year-round predominantly at Bethpage Park Tennis Center. As a player, Becker was awarded Most Valuable Player for the 1996 NCAA Championship Stanford

Tennis Team and 1989-1992 Roslyn High School Teams. He was ranked number one in the East and number four in the United States in the 18and-unders. He can be reached at rbecker06@yahoo.com, 516-3594843 or via juniortennisconsulting.com.

2020 Players on roster home-schooled or academy trained 0 2 6 5 6 1 2 5 8 2 1 1 9 6 0 54 (21%) 18 (11%) 36 (36%)

2020 Players on roster not home-schooled or academy trained 19 25 12 15 9 13 19 6 12 15 17 6 9 9 19 205 (79%) 141 (89%) 64 (64%)

2012 Players on roster home-schooled or academy trained 0 4 2 2 8 1 2 2 0 1 1 3 3 4 0 33 (11%) 12 (7%) 21 (18%)

2012 Players on roster not home-schooled or academy trained 25 23 24 18 8 16 20 12 22 21 19 11 17 13 19 270 (89%) 169 (93%) 99 (82%)

2020 Players on roster home-schooled or academy trained 1 0 0 6 2 1 0 3 0 2 15 (7%)

2020 Players on roster not home-schooled or academy trained 18 14 18 18 23 18 23 22 23 17 194 (93%)

2012 Players on roster home-schooled or academy trained 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 (1%)

2012 Players on roster not home-schooled or academy trained 41 19 26 26 25 27 23 23 25 28 263 (99%)

LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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The Spanish Method: Keys and Flaws

By Chris Lewit arents often ask me, “What makes Spanish tennis so great?”, or, “What do they do differently in Spain?”

Many folks have never been there and are curious how such a small country became a world superpower in tennis.

They also want to know how my academy and summer camp are influenced by the Spanish approach.

Here are the keys to the Spanish Way and—more importantly—the flaws in the classical Spanish approach. Spanish coaches do some great work—but they are also commonly deficient in some areas. In my academy and summer camp, I have distilled the best of the Spanish philosophy and drills while seeking to upgrade and evolve the areas of Spanish training that are flawed. I call this the

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Modern Spanish Method, and it’s at the heart of all my coaching.

Strengths Consistency Spanish coaches are obsessed with being solid—making few errors. One of my mentors in Spain, Luis Bruguera, father and coach to two-time Roland Garros champion Sergi Bruguera, and more recently a coach of Garbine Muguruza, is fond of saying: “To be solid brings confidence and reduces anxiety. To be solid does not mean to be a defensive player.” A hallmark of the Spanish style is consistency and control of the ball.

Consistent players win a lot of tennis matches, and consistency is the foundation for future high level play.

Racquet acceleration and forehand weapon While consistency is a major focus in

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

Spain, coaches and academies over there generally stress racquet acceleration and weapon building, particularly with the forehand. Spanish players are famous for their amazing forehands, which often combine power with incredible topspin rates. This is no accident, and at my academy, we use many of the famous exercises from Spain to specifically develop a forehand weapon like Rafael Nadal.

Movement and footwork Spanish players are well known for their superiority in movement skills. To say that Spanish coaches are obsessed with positioning and footwork would be an understatement. Spanish training constantly stresses proper technique and good energy with the legs and feet, and also helps players develop the reading skills with the eyes necessary to anticipate better—an often overlooked but critical

aspect of moving well. The best Spanish players like Nadal often combine superior movement skills with tremendous anticipation and reading.

Defense In Spain, defense is always valued and included in the training curriculum. Some coaches and countries focus purely on attacking styles. Spain has a balanced approach to developing a top player, combining the big forehand weapon with solid defensive capabilities. We have the same philosophy in my camp.

Physical conditioning Spanish players are known for having the best fitness and stamina to outlast their opponents. It’s no mystery then that they are also known for being the most mentally tough. Spanish coaches understand that mental fortitude and physical fitness are intricately intertwined. Ultimately, you can’t have one without the other.

Spanish programs therefore stress more off-court fitness than any other method I have ever studied. I have adopted the same approach for my students. I want my players to be physical beasts that never fatigue and can focus and fight until the very end of the match with high energy and intensity. Spain also places a huge priority on injury prevention and staying healthy. Prehabilitation—preparing the body to prevent injuries—is a core element of the Spanish approach. I love this focus.

All smart parents, coaches, and players would benefit from following this prescription for longevity and health.

Suffering As I wrote in my best-selling book, The Secrets of Spanish Tennis, Spain has a culture that values suffering on the tennis court. Coaches intentionally teach the ethos of endurance, fighting spirit and suffering to players from a very young age.

The result is a cadre of players with tremendous grit. I have duplicated this approach with my students, pushing hem hard and demanding tenacity. Spanish players learn from a very young age that success on the court comes from being willing to suffer. Nadal embodies this spirit of endurance better than any other Spanish player.

Flaws While the Spanish system has dominated the world in the past 30 years with the strengths above, over the years I have noticed some flaws in their methodology, and I have sought to redress those mistakes when working with my players here in the US. Rote drilling Sometimes Spanish practices are too monotonous and grinding—mindless and mind-numbing drilling. For some players, the extra repetition is just what the doctor ordered, but for others it’s overkill and

serves to demotivate them. I have tried to strike a fine balance in my training system.

I try to be player-centered and drill kids according to what they need and what motivates them. Some kids respond well to high amounts of repetitive drills while others are more engaged when playing creative games. I try to be flexible in my approach. Unfortunately, in many traditional tennis schools in Spain, there is little flexibility and—for better or worse— most kids are forced to drill long repetitions daily.

Lack of serve and return focus Spanish schools are often criticized for focusing on “the middle of the point” rather than the beginning and ending. In some traditional schools, there can be too much emphasis on rallying and not enough focus on serving and returning well. I have tried to rectify this by incorporating these missing elements into my academy practices. I place a higher priority on developing a major serve weapon, for example, and we spend more time on the return of serve at my camp than the typical Spanish camp would.

Too much grinding Spanish players are known for grinding, but sometimes the focus on grinding, defense, and consistency is too much. Sometimes players need to spend more time on continued on page 46

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the spanish method: keys and flaws

traditional consistency built on the slow red clay, and an aggressive mentality and attack mindset honed on faster hard courts.

continued from page 45

attacking, finishing points and the first four to five shots of a rally rather than simply grinding. Therefore, I have adapted my philosophy and training method to allow for more attacking work and to deemphasize long rallying when appropriate. For younger and lower level players, we still believe in the need for consistency and learning how to grind, but as players advance in level, in accordance with their game style, we ramp up the attack and first strike focus.

Limited volley and transitional work While some Spanish academies like Sanchez-Casal and Nadal’s academy have a balanced curriculum which stresses competence in all areas of the court, there are many other academies which unfortunately develop mostly baseline competent players and neglect net and transition mastery. This has been changing over time as systems evolve in Spain, and I have made the same purposeful adjustment in my training philosophy to encourage solid net skills and the willingness to transition to the net.

One of my mentors from Spain, the great Jose Higueras, coach to Jim Courier, Michael Chang, Roger Federer and many more, emphasizes the importance of

developing the complete player. I couldn’t agree more. Today’s elite players, with rare exception, can do it all.

Limited fast court training Another common flaw in Spain is that there has been, historically, a deficiency in learning how to master fast court training.

Spanish players often play too deep in the court, don’t take the ball on the rise enough, and are simply not very comfortable on fast courts. Modern Spanish academies are redressing these flaws by incorporating more fast court style training and by installing more fast courts and training on hard courts more frequently. Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Equelite in Villena, and Barcelona Total Tennis in Barcelona are good examples of academies that have adopted this approach. Bruguera and Sanchez-Casal have incorporated hardcourt training in their curriculum for decades too. The key is not just playing on hard courts, but working on shortening swings, quick preparation, and developing an aggressive strike early mentality. Toni Nadal, whom I have studied with extensively, has been a leader in this trend. He firmly believes that the future of Spanish Tennis is a combination of

I hope this article has crystallized for the reader what Spanish tennis coaches do well and the areas where I think they need to improve. I have tried to build on the strengths of the traditional Spanish system in my academy here in the United States by improving the philosophy and approach, and redressing the flaws as I see them. In general, when looking for a good Spanish style of training for your kid, be sure to consider whether the system is modern and evolving the Spanish Way, or rigidly adhering to an outdated article classical approach.

Chris Lewit is a former number one for Cornell and a pro circuit player. He is a high-performance coach, educator, and the author of two best-selling books: The Secrets of Spanish Tennis and The Tennis Technique Bible. He has coached numerous top 10 nationally-ranked players and is known for his expertise in building the foundations of young prodigies. Chris trains players during the school year in the NYC area, and players come from around the country to his summer camp in the paradise of Vermont. He may be reached by phone at (914) 462-2912, e-mail ChrisLewit@gmail.com or visit ChrisLewit.com.

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US Open Still on Schedule…For Now

hile there still remains so much uncertainty in the world, and no one knows when there will be a return to some sort of normalcy, there is still hope the US Open will go on as scheduled.

“Obviously our ambition is to run the tournament. It’s the engine that drives our organization, our governing body,” said USTA Chief Executive Officer Mike Dowse on a conference call with media members in late April. “Having said that, that won’t be the driving factor. The driving factor will be the health and well-being of the players, the fans and our staff. To that we just don’t have enough information that we can the tournament safely. We’ve set a timeframe around June to make that decision.”

The US Open will update fans as the summer progresses, but as indicated by Dowse, that decision will ultimately not be up to them. The idea of playing the tournament without fans has been floated, which would not be ideal but not completely out of the question.

“We’re not taking anything off the table right now, but to be honest and open, I think that’s highly unlikely,” Dowse added.

“That’s not really in the spirit of the celebration of tennis. It also goes back to the health and wellbeing of not just the spectators but of our players and support staff that help run the tournament. Unless the medical industry or medical experts come up with a solution that truly is foolproof and safe, we don’t see that as an option.

Having said that, things are fluid. If the medical experts come back and say here

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is a foolproof way of running a very safe tournament, unfortunately it has to be without fans, we may reconsider and look at it.”

Being the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open has the benefit of being able to make a decision later in the summer which allows the USTA to properly evaluate all the relevant information and heed the advice of medical experts and government officials.

Earlier in the spring, the 2020 Wimbledon Championships were cancelled, marking the first time since World War II that the event will not be held.

“While in some ways this has been a challenging decision, we strongly believe it is not only in the best interests of society at this time, but also provides certainty to our colleagues in international tennis given the impact on the grasscourt events in the UK and in Europe, and the broader tennis calendar,” said the AllEngland Lawn Club’s chief executive Richard Lewis.

Before that, the French Open blindsided the rest of the tennis world when it made the unilateral decision to postpone its event until September of this year. The French Tennis Federation moved the tournament without consulting the other three Grand Slams or the ATP and WTA tours, and if played, would create conflicts with other events scheduled around that time.

Following that decision, the USTA said in a statement: "These are unprecedented times, though, and we are assessing all of our options, including the possibility of moving the tournament to a later date. At

a time when the world is coming together, we recognize that such a decision should not be made unilaterally and therefore the USTA would only do so in full consultation with the other Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP, the ITF and our partners, including the Laver Cup." From that point on, the USTA and the US Open have been very open in how it has approached a potential decision to cancel or postpone this year’s event. It has indicated a decision or update will come in June, and the organization’s top priority until then will be able to support the tennis industry as a whole in the United States.

“On March 23, 85 percent of tennis clubs were already closed in the United States. We know that number is probably higher today. We also realized most of our teaching professionals are out of work.

Our understanding and belief is that without our tennis facilities and our teaching pros, we would not have an ability to grow the sport,” said Dowse.

“Our immediate response as an organization was to get information and aid to these stakeholders ASAP to make sure they could access government assistance, whether it is federal, state or local…You can find it on our Web site Tennis Industry United.”

The USTA plans to roll out more phases of its plan as the summer moves along, and will continue to monitor the situation closely to see if there is an opportunity to play the US Open. The health and safety of everyone involved with the tournament will remain the top concern, and tennis fans are hoping for positive news later this summer.

LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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Tennis Therapy: Which Game Are You Really Playing?

Learn how to always play your best

By Tonny van de Pieterman few months ago, pre-COVID 19, I was walking through New York City. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon as I was on my way to Penn Station. Among the hordes of people, I noticed that the girl walking in front of me seemed to have a tattoo on the back of her neck. She had her hair up in a bun, so the word ‘surrender’ in black ink was clearly visible. What an odd place for a tattoo, I thought, she cannot see it herself, who is she sending this message to?

Since I am writing this article, apparently me!

What does that even mean, “surrender”? What’s the difference between surrendering and giving up?

When I give up or quit, I am definitely surrendering, but when I surrender, I am not necessarily giving up. Not at all, in fact. When I surrender to a result that is not completely in my control, I am, in fact, allowing for the very best result. When I prepare, give my best effort, stay present, and surrender to whatever happens on the tennis court, I will be playing at my full

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potential. Something we all strive for.

Now, how do we do this; this surrendering business? Well, actually, you don’t have to do anything! The key is to make sure you don’t do the opposite.

Here are two thoughts that I want you to play around with a little. We all have these thoughts, but if you can manage to see through them, your path to always be playing your best is wide open.

The first thought is that winning will make you happy. This is a tough one right away and seems obvious. I realize that winning is more fun than losing, but I want to investigate the thought, nonetheless. If winning would indeed make us happy, wouldn’t we only schedule matches against weak players, so that winning was a given? But we don’t. Perhaps sometimes we do it in order to boost our confidence, but soon we will seek out stronger competition. We need that challenge, right? Also, if winning made us happy, how come I see so many sour faces after my students win matches? Sometimes they seem totally disgusted with their play. On the flipside, I am sure you have played some matches that you lost but were quite pleased with.

I am not saying that you were happy

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about losing, but somehow you felt proud. Perhaps, you were pleased with your performance and not unhappy!

There is something deeper at work here.

The second thought I want you to challenge is that your opponent is against you. You will need an open mind for this part. Sure, your opponent is trying to counter every move you make, and he or she is definitely trying to outsmart you.

That’s his job! They are not against you, however, just 100 percent for themselves; just like you are 100 percent for yourself.

You might think this is just semantics, but I beg to differ. Remember in our first example, how the challenge was more important than winning? Here it is! Your opponent is your challenge! Allow them to do whatever they can, within the rules of course, to win the match, and you do the same. If you can think of your opponent as someone like you who is trying to do their ‘thing’ in order to prevail, perhaps you can avoid taking things personal. Taking it personal will guarantee you use lots of wasted energy and have a subpar performance. Think about it!

Making a little shift in your thinking can help you break through the illusions that are holding you back from playing your best. Surrendering to the uncertain outcome of a tennis match will guarantee a feeling of freedom, and your best possible results will follow. The game of ‘No Surrender’, however, will always be won, and are a guarantee for disappointing results and frustrating experiences.

Which game are YOU playing?

Tonny van de Pieterman is a tennis professional at Point Set Indoor Racquet Club. He was recently named USTA Tennis Professional of the Year for the USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region and helped the Eastern Section win this year’s Talbert Cup. He may be reached by phone at (516) 536-2323 or e-mail Tonny@PointSetTennis.com.

The Tennis Guru To Get to Heaven ...

By Dr. Tom Ferraro This article is the third part of Dr. Ferraro’s series, The Tennis Guru.

To read the first two parts, visit www.LITennisMag.com or read the previous print issues.

Yin and the turtle had walked along silently for more than two hours when Yin finally thought to ask, “So, by the way, what’s your name my little friend?”

“My name is Virgil the Turtle, and I am at your service.”

“Okay, Virgil, hurry up and just follow me. I see a straight and easy path right to the top of the mountain. I think we may get to meet the Tennis Guru today some time.”

At this, Yin ran on ahead but as he approached the pathway up he was suddenly stopped in his tracks. Right before him were two hungry-looking wolves which started to snarl and snap at him as he approached.

Yin halted in his tracks and waited for Virgil the Turtle to catch up. When he

did, he exclaimed “Virgil, we’re sunk. We can’t get past these beasts. There’s no way!”

“You are quite right, Yin. These are the twin wolves, Plutus and Plutar. They are here to safeguard the way up to the Tennis Guru. They are hungry beasts and will devour us if we attempt to pass.”

“Well that’s just great Virgil. What are we to do now?”

“There is only one way to get up the mountain. We must first go to my friend Charon who will ferry us along the River Styx until we find the hidden path up the mountain. Just follow me, I promise I will offer you safe passage along the way.”

They found Charon and boarded his boat. They rode along down the river and Yin asked Virgil: “Why must we go this roundabout way to get to the Tennis Guru?”

Virgil smiled at Yin and counseled, “Yin, this is the way of all things. In order to get to the top you must pay a price. There will be much to learn and much suffering to endure before we get

to the top. The only way to heaven is to first go through hell. Fame and fortune only go to the strong and the brave. I will not abandon you as we make our way up but you must listen carefully to my counsel. I am here to help and to guide you.”

Yin didn’t know what all this meant but he was too far into this journey to stop now. He had no choice but to trust his new found friend and secretly prayed to himself that all would be well.

He thought wistfully for a moment of the life he had left behind with his comfortable home, his parents and his brother. He smiled to himself, closed his eyes and went to sleep as the boat slowly drifted down river to a place he knew nothing about.

To be continued…

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.

LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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You Have toLose?

What Do

By Mike Puc What would be the result of your tennis match if you decided to come to the net after every serve and return, or remain in the backcourt for the entire match? It’s unlikely that either of those one-dimensional strategies would be as successful, or as interesting, as a game with variety. However, it is a good way to practice a deficiency in your game for both singles and doubles.

If you rely on the consistency of your groundstrokes and retrieving but only come to the net to shake hands at the end of a match, you are neglecting the fun and excitement and value of your net game. If you routinely charge the net, especially in doubles, you may be missing an opportunity to control a match with your groundstrokes. We commonly see the best players in the world using both tactics. So why do we routinely see one-

dimensional play, even in practice?

The answer is that players want to win and they use their most reliable shots to accomplish this goal. But does winning in practice really matter if you are not improving your weakness? Try dedicating yourself to both styles of play for an entire practice match and discover and examine the reasons for your successes or failures.

Is it a grip issue that prevents a good volley? Poor technique? Lack of a splitstep? The set-up shot? These are items to consider if you are going to improve.

The same logic applies to the backcourt game. Are your shots not reliable? Too short? Too weak? Lacking placement? Chances are, besides some of the missing skills required for success, the biggest hurdle may be the fear of losing, and fear of what others may think of you and your game. You must ignore both of these inconsequential thoughts and advance to the practice court to improve. Consult a tennis professional or

coach to help you with the deficiencies you have identified in your game.

Improvement in tennis is developed by repeating proper swings. Repetition translates into confidence and ownership of the shot. Even if you have been playing the same style of play for years, you can always add to your repertoire of shots so they will be there when you need them.

Take a chance, with a little work and dedication to this exercise you WILL improve your weakness and may even move up to the next level. What do you have to lose?

Mike Puc has been the Director of Tennis at Gleneagles Country Club in Delray Beach, Fla. since 1998. A winner of 15 national titles and an ATP world ranking, Mike directs 25 teams with 350 players in nine leagues, while offering the most extensive Calendar of Events in South Florida that includes tournaments, lectures and social round-robins.

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The Hindrance Quiz:

By Barbara Wyatt The Hindrance Quiz checks your understanding of the ITF and USTA rules of hindrances. Correct answers are the simple quick answers, not burdened with a barrage of what-ifs or embellished with nuances on the court.

A “yes” means the action was a hindrance, and a point is awarded or replayed. A “no” means there was no hindrance and all players should focus on the match and continue playing.

6. The follow-through on your opponent’s backhand volley extends over the net and accidentally hits your partner. Your partner must retire.

Hindrance? Yes or no?

7. Opponent quietly tells partner to “get back” after hitting a weak lob. Ball is moving toward you. Yes or no?

8. Opponent screams “Get back!” after hitting a weak lob. Ball is moving toward you. Yes or no?

9. Opponent drops his racquet onto the court during a point. Yes or no?

10. Opponent grunts. Yes or no?

11. Spectator calls a ball out. Yes or no?

12. Playing outside, ball hits a tree branch. Yes or no?

7.

8.

No. Opponent quietly tells partner to “get back” after hitting a weak lob.

Ball is moving toward you. No hindrance. Keep playing. A few soft spoken words should not disturb your amazing return.

Yes. Opponent screams “Get back!” after hitting a weak lob. Ball is moving toward you. Yes, that’s a hindrance— if you don’t attempt a return, immediately stop play, and call hindrance. You earn the point.

Doubles players should not talk when the ball is moving toward the opponent’s court. The key words are “moving toward.”

If the ball is moving toward you and your partner, you may talk. If the ball is moving away from you and toward your opponents, only opponents may talk. The Code #34.

9.

No. Opponent drops their racquet onto the court during a point. No hindrance. Keep playing. A racquet coming out of the hand, or even a shoe coming off, is not a reason to claim a let – for either player! The Code #36.

10. No. Opponent grunts. No hindrance.

Part Two

However, if the grunting is—truly and sincerely—bothering you, request an official to observe and listen. The official may issue a warning first, before a hindrance point is awarded. The Code 37.

11. No. Spectator calls a ball out. No hindrance. Out calls and other noises from spectators are not hindrances and not considered grounds for a player calling a let or claiming a point.

The Code 36.

12. Playing outside, ball hits a tree branch. The ball touched a permanent fixture. The player who hit the ball, that hit the tree branch, loses the point. At the beginning of the match, all players accepted that the branch extended over or near the play of the ball, like a permanent fixture (ceiling, benches) of an indoor court. ITF 13 Barbara Wyatt is a writer, photographer, USTA official, and mobile app developer of iKnowTennis!, the tennis rules app. Her poem, Ode to Tennis, an amusing poem on the joys and frustrations when learning tennis, is available at Amazon. She can be reached by e-mail at BarbaraW@iKnowTennis.com.

Answers Answer 6 and 8 are yes. Answer 12 is hitting a permanent fixture. All the other answers are not hindrances.

6. Yes. The follow-through on your opponent’s backhand volley extends over the net and accidentally hits your partner. Your partner must retire.

Yes, that’s a hindrance. You lose the match. You read that correctly. Your partner was hit accidentally; you and your partner lose the match. It is an unintentional injury. Was your partner standing too close to the opponent in the follow-through? Did your partner rush the net to intimidate the opponent? The Code #38.

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Q&A With Douglas Henderson

By Michael Forte

ouglas Henderson’s 2010 book, Endeavor to Persevere: A Memoir on Jimmy Connors, Arthur Ashe, Tennis and Life, chronicles his life growing up in the Bronx in the late1960’s, discovering his love for tennis and being involved with some of the greatest players of all-time, including body guarding for Jimmy Connors.

Henderson, a New York City native, now works as a lawyer at a trust and estates firm in Manhattan, and spent 18 US Opens with Connors. I sat down with Henderson to discuss his book and life in tennis.

D

Forte: How did you first become involved in tennis?

Henderson: When I was in high school at Horace Mann, I played on the varsity football, basketball and baseball teams.

I was pretty good at them and felt I needed a new challenge. In the July of 1974 I watched Jimmy Connors play Ken Rosewall in the Wimbledon finals, I had never seen tennis like that! My idea of tennis was a wealthy sport for the “elite”, but Connors brought attitude to the game!

That summer I signed up for summer camp tennis at my high school with Skip Hartman, I had only played the sport a few times in gym class. I asked Skip to 52

play one day and he told me, “sure, on the condition that the loser has to clean up the court!”

I played tennis nearly every day and read every article and book I could find.

I met a guy named Bill Brown who suggested, if I’m really interested in tennis, I go to the US Open. So, I did, me and my buddies went – it was much cheaper back then – down to the Open, it was still being held at West Side Tennis Club in those days. There was a gate for club members and we managed to befriend the guards enough to let us enter that way into the clubhouse. We went in, hung out in the men’s locker room watching Chris Evert on the practice court down below, and a voice from behind us called out, “hey, mind if I come watch?” It was Jimmy Connors! We couldn’t believe it! He was the nicest guy to us, [he] didn’t even know us but Jimmy got us in to watch his match; I grabbed his bags for him and walked him to the court.

1976 when he beat Bjorn Borg in a great final; that’s when it was played on clay!

Jimmy lost in ‘77 to Guillermo Vilas—all the while we were friends. In 1978, it moved to Flushing Meadows and changed to “cement”; Connors won that first tournament there. I was with him until his last tournament in 1992, around 18 US Opens!

And that’s how you started working for Jimmy?

Well, that’s how it started but it was more of a friendship. So, after he went on to win that tournament in 1974, he gave me his phone number to stay in touch. The next year rolled around and we met again at the Open—I was with him for that tournament, he lost in the final to Manuel Orantes. I worked with him for 1974 and 1975, and then in

What’s the most unique experience working with and being a friend of Jimmy has brought you?

There was the time we came back to the hotel after a day at the Open and President Nixon was there! Jimmy introduced me and his wife to him. I was never a fan of his politics, but he was still a former president! The next morning, I went down to the lobby to get the daily paper and I hear someone call my

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

Your book is filled with many fascinating stories, some of them unbelievable, what inspired you to write it?

I’ve always liked writing; I was a writer in high school and college. I’ve actually ghost written five or six books on health and nutrition and I’ve written for magazines and newspapers. I feel like I was privileged enough to live through the “Golden Era” of tennis, with so many fascinating individuals, like Ilie Nastase from Romania: so unbelievably talented and entertaining, he also became a good friend. I felt it was time to get my story out to people.

Jimmy practiced with Vitas every day. The draw came out and we see he’s playing McEnroe—not John, but his brother Patrick. The stadium was full, and Jimmy was down two sets and 0-4, but he somehow came back. The crowd got behind him and he was pumping himself up. In the Round of 16, he beat Aaron Krickstein in one of the classic matches ever, 7-6 in the fifth set. In the quarterfinals he played and beat Paul Haarhuis in a tremendous night match. But father time is undefeated, and he ran out of gas and lost to Jim Courier in the semifinals.

But it was the most incredible run, to do that at 39years-old was completely remarkable. He’s called it the best tournament of his career, and he didn’t even win it!

name, and I turned around it was Nixon! What impressed me was that my back was to him, he could’ve just kept walking by me, but he saw fit to call me over and that always stuck with me.

In your book you also speak extensively about Arthur Ashe. Tell me about your relationship with him and how his passing affected you?

I met Arthur Ashe over the phone, actually; his number was listed in the Manhattan directory! In 1975 I called him, and we started talking and developed a good relationship. When I was with Connors at the Open that yea, he played and won his firstround match and Arthur was the next match on. He came on court and looked at me in the stands—you have to understand that there weren’t that many black people around in tennis at the time. I always imagined Arthur was thinking “man, I knew Connors was crazy but damn, what is going on here?” But out of that, we developed a great relationship that lasted right up until his death.

He wrote my college recommendation for Clark University, my first college!

Arthur and I remained close through the years; we always spoke at least once a week. He announced to the world that he had AIDS in April 1992, but I had already known—Jimmy had told me. Through my research and some of the books I had ghost written on alternative medicines, vitamins, minerals and that sort of thing, I knew a doctor who was seemingly treating and curing patients of AIDS. I told Arthur about this, before his announcement, and Arthur didn’t believe it. He met with the guy but never went through with the treatment. We were really close, he died on February 6. That Thursday before, I called him and his voice was really weak, we spoke for only 15 minutes and that was the last time I spoke to him, it was really sad.

I’d say Arthur was the most intelligent athlete we ever had, both on and off the court. I think he could’ve been a senator or run for president. He was principled and took a stand for what he believed in. He stood against apartheid in South Africa when no one else would. One of the first things Nelson Mandela did when he got out of jail was say he wants to speak to Arthur!

What was living the 1991 US Open with Jimmy like?

So, a bit of back story first: Connors took the 1990 US Open off due to a wrist injury, but he decided almost last minute that he wanted to play in 1991.

He needed match practice, so we went up to New Haven to play the warm-up event there. Jimmy lost first round to MaliVai Washington in straight sets and it wasn’t close! So, we had dinner at the hotel that night; Vitas Gerulaitis was there. Jimmy said to me, “if I get on a roll, someone is gonna get hurt at the Open”.

So, we went down to the Open and

What advice do you have for people graduating high school or college and starting their adult careers?

I was always a big fan of the late, great Richard Pryor—Jimmy and I would watch his films from time to time. He and his wife Patti ran into Richard Pryor at a restaurant in Los Angeles, and got him to send me an autograph. It says, “To Doug, enjoy life”. I really, really think that coupled with a quote from a great professor of mine at Sarah Lawrence College named Joseph Campbell, “follow your bliss”. It’s important to realize all that glitters is not gold”. It’s the simple things in life that make it worth living. Everybody wants to be a master, but nobody wants to be an apprentice!

You have to be an apprentice before you can be a master.

Michael Forte is a certified USPTA Professional and USPTR 10 & Under professional who currently works at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

He is a journalism/philosophy double major at CUNY Lehman College where he plays #1 singles for the men’s team.

LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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Coronavirus Won a Game, Not the Match

By Lonnie Mitchel How could we ignore the Corona Pandemic? We are not going to brush it over just because this is a tennis publication. Did you or anyone you know get COVID-19? How does this all affect the tennis business? Will you be able to go back to your regular game and play with your acquaintances ever again in the same manner while not wearing a protective mask and practicing social distancing? Do we have to stop shaking hands after a match? The world has changed and tennis is not immune.

I thought I would share what it is like for a collegiate tennis coach and their players during this outbreak. Without saying that a student-athlete’s well-being is first and foremost; for the purpose of 54

the commentary we will just relate my experience with the operation and welfare of a typical college tennis team.

First, let's not forget that at the time of this writing every high school match has been postponed or cancelled. USTA tournaments are suspended for the foreseeable future, and we are left to watch professional matches with re-runs on Tennis Channel while the French Open is postponed and Wimbledon is cancelled.

I’m going to flashback to early March as our SUNY Oneonta Men's and Women's tennis team are competing in Orlando at the USTA National Campus.

The weather is splendid and the matches are being contested with Coronavirus in the news, but the full affect has not yet been realized. College students quite often believe they will never be affected

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

by such things. The news of the day, however, is on my mind. Our team is in high spirits and competing hard in the Florida sunshine. Suddenly, a call comes from the Athletic Director 1200 miles away in Oneonta: "The season is cancelled!"

The players normally complain at times about practice, the extra workouts and the study halls we do during season. I have the enviable task now of calling a team meeting in the lobby of our hotel to share the news. All of a sudden, the tears flow and extra practices, workouts and competition are cancelled. Rapidly they start to yearn for the grind of a tennis season. The players did nothing to deserve this fate, they were not late for practice, they did not miss curfew when perhaps a suspension would have resulted. The athletes were doing

everything correctly and now ask what they did to deserve this horrific fortune?

The answer is nothing. What about the seniors who had a whole season left to play and celebrate their careers? By no fault of theirs, it ends so unexpectedly.

Fair or not, that is the reality and the new world we live in. We have to make new plans, get on a plane and get back to school. Go back to school and pack up your dorm is next on the itinerary.

Collegiate classes will be suspended and you will take your courses in an online learning environment. No tennis, no team-bonding, no in-person classes and all the players who wanted to so desperately play for SUNY Oneonta are now headed home. The flight back to New York was met with downhearted emotions and nobody was happy. Just a few days prior we were on a plane and headed to the Sunshine State to compete in a state-of-the-art tennis facility in Orlando, the emotions then were that of adulation. The world has changed and our season is complete. Students who sometimes feel as though they are impervious to accountability, that nothing will transpire to set them back, have just been slapped in the face with reality.

This scenario has been duplicated with collegiate student-athletes all over the country and reverberates from the highest level of professional sports all the way down to middle school athletics. We live in precarious times! Will it ever be the

same? What about those high school tennis players who were recruited to go onto college? It affects you too. However, I believe when you join your college tennis team there will be a better environment as long as coaches and teammates all understand what we have can be taken away instantly.

I can pontificate on this subject for hours. You can turn on CNN and ESPN, and you can hear all about the state of the country and world in a news context or sports perspective. There is no need to deliberate any further as you know where to find all the COVID -19 information.

For the first time in my collegiate coaching career I finally think that the student-athlete now know and understand that tennis gives us all so much. I can remember dozens of times over the years that I have said to the athletes: "This is a privilege and there are no guarantees that tomorrow is promised". Certainly, there is no assurance that life will return to the way we knew it. Playing a tennis match is a luxury. The junior ranks, the tennis lessons, clinics, the USTA tournaments; they are a huge privilege. Maybe, just maybe, in this crazy world we live in, we'll be a little nicer to one another, nicer to our opponent, polite to the opposing family and yes, the coach who is authoring this piece. Quite frankly, I am very tired of the attitude of parents, other coaches and even recruiting families that

think their child is better than everyone else. Guess what? You are not. We are all now on the same sideline in the same set of circumstances wishing we can compete, recreate and take part in this great game.

Maybe when this pandemic state ends with all of us healthy and we can go back to playing tennis and be better people.

Something good will have had happened as a bonus. Last issue, I wrote about the UTR and the perceived importance by many players, coaches and parents of getting that best digit. I wrote, to paraphrase, "that it really does not matter in the end, as it will be the racquets that do the talking, and character will be the entity that rises above all". Tennis and sports does not necessarily build character…it reveals it!

Lonnie Mitchel is head Men’s and Women’s Tennis coach at SUNY Oneonta.

Lonnie was named an assistant coach to Team USA for the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel for the Grand Master Tennis Division. Also coached for Team USA in Berlin and Chile in 2015 and Team USA Maccabiah for the Open Division working with Division I players and professionally ranked in the Israel Games in 2017. Was also named “Coach of the Year” in 2015 for State University of NY Athletic Conference. He may be reached by phone at (516) 414-7202 or e-mail LonnieMitchel@yahoo.com.

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djcmnyc@gmail.com LITennisMag.com • June 2020 • Long Island Tennis Magazine

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USTA/Long Island Region 2020

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE At the time this was published, these tournaments were scheduled to be played. For further updates on cancellations, postponements and other tournament news, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments.

JULY 2020 Friday-Sunday, July 10-12 Youth Progression Green L1 East Hampton Ross School Tennis Academy 18 Goodfriend Drive East Hampton, N.Y. Divisions: Green Level 1 Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 78' Green Ball 10 (FRLC) Surface Type: Clay Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, July 5 at 11:59 p.m.)

For more information, e-mail CSidor@Ross.org or call (631) 907-5162.

Saturday, July 11 Youth Progression Orange L1 World Gym Setauket World Gym Racquet Sports Arena 384 Mark Tree Road East Setauket, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 1 Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 60' Orange Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 for first singles (deadline for entries is Monday, June 8) For more information, e-mail VTAPR@hotmail.com or call or call (631) 751-6100.

Sunday, July 11 Youth Progression Orange L2 Sportime Bethpage Sportime Tennis Bethpage 101 Norcross Avenue Bethpage, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 2 Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 60' Orange Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, May 4) For more information, e-mail A.Kavalenka@yahoo.com or call (516) 933-8500.

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Friday-Sunday, July 24-26 Youth Progression Green L1 World Gym World Gym Racquet Sports Arena 384 Mark Tree Road East Setauket, N.Y. Divisions: Green Level 1 Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 78' Green Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $54.25 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, May 18) For more information, e-mail VTAPR@hotmail.com or call or call (631) 751-6100.

Saturday, July 25 Youth Progression Orange L2 Blue Point Eastern Athletic Clubs-Blue Point 9 Montauk Highway, Unit A Blue Point, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 2 Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 60' Orange Ball 10 Surface Type: Hard Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, July 19 at 11:59 p.m.)

For more information, e-mail EACJRTennis@gmail.com or call (631) 363-2882.

Saturday-Sunday, July 25-26 Youth Progression Orange L1 Sportime Bethpage Sportime Tennis Bethpage 101 Norcross Avenue Bethpage, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 1 Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 60' Orange Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Unknown Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Monday, June 1) For more information, e-mail A.Kavalenka@yahoo.com or call (516) 933-8500.

Long Island Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • LITennisMag.com

AUGUST 2020 Friday-Sunday, August 7-9 Youth Progression Green L1 East Hampton Ross School Tennis Academy 18 Goodfriend Drive East Hampton, N.Y. Divisions: Green Level 1 Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 78' Green Ball 10 (FRLC) Surface Type: Clay Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, August 2 at 11:59 p.m.)

For more information, e-mail CSidor@Ross.org or call (631) 907-5162.

Saturday-Sunday, August 8-9 Youth Progression Orange L2 East Hampton Ross School Tennis Academy 18 Goodfriend Drive East Hampton, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 2 Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 60' Orange Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Clay Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Sunday, August 2 at 11:59 p.m.)

For more information, e-mail CSidor@Ross.org or call (631) 907-5162.

Saturday, August 22 Youth Progression Orange L1 World Gym Setauket�World Gym Racquet Sports Arena 384 Mark Tree Road East Setauket, N.Y. Divisions: Orange Level 1 Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 60' Orange Ball 10 (NEF) Surface Type: Clay Indoor Entry Fee: $48.88 per player (deadline for entries is Wednesday, July 1) For more information, e-mail VTAPR@hotmail.com or call or call (631) 751-6100.

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