Long Island Tennis Magazine July /August 2025

Luxury Mt ty if

Meets L fees ylle

As a top producing luxury agent on Long Island I havve e a proveen track record of integri y, , pr feessionalism & results. It is thhe combbinattion of high tech with high touch servic thhat t results in the ultimatte curated experienc foor each & eveery clien thhat t I represent.

a t t v e f a a e t a m t of ty v av

PARSA SAMII

Long Island Founding Agent

Compass Sports & Entertainment Division

The Traci Conway Clint Teeam Licensed Real Estate Salesperson M 516.965.7445 | O 516.517 47751 parsa@compass.com

Distribution scheduled for 08/20/25

This edition will feature:

• 2025 U.S. Open Preview

• LI Girls’ High School Season Preview

• Summer Events in New York

• And Much More!

Print distribution across New York at 300+ locations.

Digital distribution across website and social media pages, and the e-Edition will be e-mailed out to our full data base.

Don’t miss the advertising opportunities in the next edition of Long Island Tennis Magazine September/October 2025!

Facebook-www.Facebook.com/Long IslandTennis Instagram-@LITennisMag • Twitter-@LITennisMag

Submissions for both advertising and editorial are due by August 1, 2025 For more information, please call 516-409-4444 or e-mail Advertise@LITennisMag.com

beyondthebaseline

JMTP Pro-Am, SPORTIME Amagansett

By Brian Coleman

Laterthis summer, the Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP) will hold its annual Pro-Am event, the organization’s largest fundraising endeavor, on the beautiful campus of SPORTIME Amagansett.

Set for Saturday, August 16, the Pro-Am will bring together tennis legends, headlined by John and Patrick McEnroe, and top coaches from across the Sportime club community, paired with amateur participants. Special guests and JMTP scholarship players will also join the action, creating an incredible day of

tennis fun in an unparalleled Hamptons setting, all to benefit a great cause.

“The Pro-Am is JMTP’s signature fundraising event,” said Ryann Cutillo, JMTP Executive Director. “It raises critical funding, allowing us to deliver our free year-round tennis, educational and life skills programming to more and more New York City youth who otherwise would not have access to the sport.”

And it isn’t just the dollars raised that makes the Pro-Am special. The event gathers a large group of like-

minded people who share a vision of the power that tennis can have in the life of a child, and on a next generation of scholar-athletes.

“Beyond fundraising, the event plays a vital role in raising awareness about our mission by bringing together supporters who also believe in the power of tennis as a vehicle for life change,” Cutillo added.

This year will mark the 11th installment of the event, which was the brainchild of SPORTIME President and CEO Claude Okin and fellow

JMTP Advisory Board Member Steve Hasker. The two began discussing the idea of a Pro-Am to support the JMTP in the summer of 2014, and were motivated to make it a premier event.

The following summer, the firstever JMTP Pro-Am was held, and the team has not missed a year since, even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when they had to adjust the event to adhere to distancing guidelines, but were still able to hold a successful event.

“The event started as a shared project with much support from the team at our Amagansett site, which is the SPORTIME location that I have been leading since 1989, and where Steve has been a member for almost as long,” Okin said. “We launched the event in 2015, and we have not missed a year, including during the pandemic, when the U.S. Open bubble prevented John and Patrick from attending. We held the event without legends, and with social distancing, and we still sold it out and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s been a great run and reflects the generous spirit of our SPORTIME Amagansett community,

expanded by the many friends and supporters who join us there each year for the event.”

The event has historically been held the Saturday before the start of the main draw of the U.S. Open, but this year is being moved to the Saturday prior to Fan Week and the new Mixed Doubles event, as the US Open expands its programming schedule

across three full weeks. “The U.S. Open focuses the eyes of the tennis world on New York, and brings virtually all of the world’s best players and many former greats to New York, so it made sense to create the world’s largest pro-am as a lead up to the world’s biggest Grand Slam,” explained Okin.

The Pro-Am consists of 144 players across eight flights, and involves more than just thrilling tennis action on the courts. Players and guests are treated to food and beverage offerings, and there is both a silent and a live auction, featuring one-of-akind items and experiences. In addition to the pro and amateur players who compete in the proam, hundreds of spectators come out for the day to show their support, and for a chance to mingle with tennis legends and to personally meet many of the rising stars of the JMTP programs whose training is being funded as part of the organization’s mission.

With more than a decade of successful events having been held, the JMTP and SPORTIME teams collaborate each year to evolve the

event, with the goal of providing the best possible day of tennis and fundraising. Planning for the following year’s event starts within days of the events completion; from securing the next year’s Legends, to soliciting and organizing auction items, this great one-day event is a labor of love that reflects a full year of hard work and dedication.

“Each year, we approach the event with the mindset of continuous improvement - we gather feedback from participants, guests and sponsors to understand what worked well, and where we can elevate the experience for everyone involved,” said Cutillo. “Whether it is improving the hospitality or creating more meaningful ways for our participants and supporters to engage with our kids and our mission, we are always looking for ways to make the event more impactful and memorable for those involved.”

Cutillo summed it up perfectly:

“It’s no small task, but it’s something we love doing. Our goal is to create a memorable day that not only raises

critical funding, but deepens the connection between our supporters and the young people we serve.”

The event holds a special place in Okin’s heart, and is an outgrowth of

promise that he and John McEnroe made to each other when they founded the John McEnroe Tennis Academy in 2010, and again when the JMTP was launched in 2012: that their shared endeavors would offer pathways of opportunity to NYC kids through tennis, and especially to kids and families with limited resources. His wife, Hana Sromova, a former WTA player herself, is the GM of the Amagansett location, and together the two take great pride in the sheer impact the event has on the next generation of youngsters, as well as the support it garners from their local community.

“We are so looking forward to the 2025 JMTP Pro-Am at SPORTIME Amagansett. I think this is the earliest we have ever announced our complete legends lineup. Having Marion Bartoli, James Blake, both Bryan Brothers, Mary Joe Fernandez, Tommy Haas, and Milos Raonic all confirmed, along with, of course, our own John and Patrick McEnroe, is simply thrilling,” Okin concluded. “This year’s legends have won 39 Grand Slam singles and doubles titles, and literally hundreds of ATP and WTA titles, and I do not think we have ever had a group quite this accomplished. I hope everyone comes out to watch and cheer them on. Of course, the money we raise is essential to JMTP’s mission and goes directly to support our free school-year programming and our scholarships for deserving New York kids, who could not otherwise chase their tennis dreams and change their lives through tennis. So be there!”

You can read more about the ProAm or sign-up to register, and learn more about all the important work that the JMTP does throughout the year by visiting

Family Golf, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament Raises Money for EPIC Long Island

Hundredscame out to take part in and support the EPIC Family Golf, Tennis, & Pickleball Tournament at The Mill River Club in Upper Brookville

The annual event is one of the key fundraising endeavors for the EPIC Long Island Family of Agencies, which has been serving communities across Nassau and Suffolk counties with a variety of programs that enrich the lives of individuals affected by epilepsy, developmental disabilities and emotional challenges.

The event featured three sports, with the golf portion consisting of multiple contests for putting, best ball, longest ball, as well as normal stroke play. The tennis portion featured a dedicated group of players who took part in drills and clinics led by professionals from The Mill River Club, and a pickleball tournament for advanced players, and a beginners clinic followed in the afternoon.

“This year’s outing was a success, with funds raised going to support our mental health, epilepsy, and I/DD

(Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) services. We had more pickleball players than last year with 12 teams and a group of beginners who participated in a clinic,” said Lisa Burch, CEO & President of the EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies. Our expectation is that the number of pickleball players will continue to grow – so much so that

we are contemplating just doing a pickleball tournament separate from the golf.”

Off the court, the players enjoyed brunch and lunch throughout the day, and it concluded with cocktails and an awards dinner at the end. There were raffle tickets up for sale which coincided with an array of wonderful auction items including sports

memorabilia, clothing accessories, U.S. Open tickets, experiences, jewelry and much more.

EPIC Long Island has been serving the local community for more than 60 years, and continues to provide an invaluable service for so many Long Islanders. This year’s event once again helped raise money for the organization so it can maintain its level of service and continue to offer a wide-range of quality in-home, community, and site-based services.

It is events like this, and those who come out to support the events such as this, that allow EPIC Long Island to continue providing all the services it does.

“This event is one of four fundraisers that we do every year. The others are our annual gala, our spring fling walk for mental health and our Epilepsy Walk. These events are important to the mission of EPIC because they allow us to raise unrestricted funds which can be used

for things that government funds cannot be used for,” Burch added. “Without fundraised dollars, we would not be able to provide, for example, employee appreciation events, marketing materials and PR to let people know about our services. We are grateful to the many participants and sponsors for their ongoing support.”

Visit EPICLI.org to learn more about the EPIC Family of Agencies, and all the work it does throughout the year.

Long Island’s Biggest Adult Tennis Tournament Hits The Hamptons With The Long Island Tennis Magazine June Challenge

The 2025 Long Island Tennis Magazine (LITM) Summer Series presented by Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group kicked off the Summer season in style with the Long Island Tennis Magazine June Tennis Challenge. The event was completely sold-out and the packed house

provided for a great atmosphere both on and off the courts.

This one-of-a-kind event features fierce on-court competition across 22 Har-Tru courts on the sprawling Quogue campus. Doubles pairings battled it out in round-robin competition that fed into the playoff

rounds. The LITM Challenge tournaments, which have been operating for over a decade, are well known for its professionalism and organization as well for having great tennis at all levels! Additionally the amenities off the court are a LITM Challenge staple.

On this day, players were treated to

LONG ISLAND

& Youngmi Seo

Women’s 7.0 – 7.5 Champions Bonnie Aves & Hazel Zaldivar

an expansive catered lunch spread which included a variety of heroes, side salads, pizza and brownies/cookies, bananas, and drinks as well as a very popular Happy Hour.

“I would like to thank our title sponsor Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group for their amazing support in helping us put on a professionallyrun and successful event. We made sure all participants played a lot, that the tournament ran on time and that we had food, drinks, etc. available to players during the tournament,” said Tournament Director David Sickmen. “Each tournament, we continue to see returning faces, but are also pleased to see new players join us from all across the Metropolitan area, which is a great indication of the event’s growth, and are excited to host more tournaments this summer and fall.”

Both players spoke highly of the tournament:

“It was great getting to play with some players we never played against before, and we met a lot of great people,” said Seo. “The people were so nice; there were a lot of strong players. We enjoyed this tournament a lot and will definitely join again next time.”

The pairing of Sophia Yang & Youngmi Seo were the victors of the Women’s 6.0 – 6.5 division, using good on-court chemistry to come away with the title.

“Consistency and communication was the key to victory,” said Yang. “We worked great together as a team.”

Bonnie Aves & Hazel Zaldivar are past champions at the LITM Challenge, and they used their experience to win yet another title, as the duo captured the Women’s 7.0 – 7.5 division championship with a victory over Melissa Scheinman & Jill Siemen-Mayer in the final.

“We did the same thing as last year

when we won, which was me just listening to her and doing what she tells me,” Aves said jokingly.

The goal for them coming in was to hold onto their championship crown, and their goal now is to do it once again at the next event.

“I told her we had to defend our honor, which we did,” said Zaldivar. “We have to defend our title once again so we will be back for sure.”

Marija Varelkatie also has a LITM Challenge title on her resume, and added another one to her accomplishments but this time with a new partner: Meiko Boynton as the two won the Women’s 8.0 – 8.5 division.

“We’ve played together in USTA leagues but this is the first time we’ve played at a LITM event,” said Boynton. “Last year she won with someone else, and now she has won with me, so we’ll see who she chooses to play with for the next tournament.”

Boynton was half-kidding, because her and Varelkatie proved to be a great pairing, and worked well together.

“We had great communication and

Women’s 8.0 – 8.5

Champions Marija Varelkatie & Meiko Boynton

Women’s 9.0 – 9.5

Champions Onalee Batcheller & Gabrielle Vailiant

we stayed positive throughout,” she said. “We complement each other well. Miko set me up a lot today. We had a great time, the weather was great, and the food was amazing. We’ll absolutely be back.”

At the 2024 LITM Thanksgiving Challenge, Onalee Batcheller & Gabrielle Vailiant brought home their first Challenge title, and returned to defend their title out in Quogue, and were able to do so as they won the Women’s 9.0 – 9.5 division.Being confident in their skills and relying on what they know was the key to their success.

“It was important that we trusted our shots, it worked out and we had a good day,” said Vailiant.

Batcheller added:

“We were always talking during the matches to make sure we stayed on the same page. We went undefeated in the round robin rounds which gave us a lot of confidence going into the semifinals and eventually the finals.”

When asked if they would be back to go for their third straight title, Vailiant confirmed: “For sure.”

Martin Guichardo & Broc Brown are two primarily singles players who have

begun playing doubles together, and the duo quickly found their chemistry on court to win the Men’s 7.0 – 7.5 doubles division.

“Coming from being singles players, doubles can be a challenge, it’s a whole different mental game, but I think we did a good job of moving on from the mistakes we made and getting to the next point,” said Guichardo. “This is my fourth time playing these tournaments and first time even making it to the playoffs, so I found the right partner. He was great today.”

Brown said:

“We stayed calm, especially in the final, and went one point at a time. This event was awesome, we had a really

great time.”

Neil Hyman & Chris Kolesnik won the Men’s 8.0 – 8.5 division after winning a thrilling set tiebreak over Ed Mulhern & Cenzig Karakaya in the championship match to claim the title.

“That last match we really gritted it out,” said Hyman. “It was a little dicey, but in that tiebreaker Chris and I were able to do our thing.”

Both teams returned extremely well in the final with them trading breaks through the first eight games of the one-set final, but Hyman & Kolesnik held their nerve.

“We made sure to stay locked in,” said Kolesnik. “When you go down a break early, you have to tell yourself that it’s early and you can work your way out of it, which is what we did.”

“We try to make all of these tournaments, they are such a great time,” Hyman added.

Back in college as teammates at Marist, Dylan Friedman & Carlos Vasquez developed an on-court chemistry and rekindled it to come away victorious in the Men’s 9.0 – 9.5 doubles division by defeating Marijus Kuzavas & Francois Vernet in the championship.

Men’s 7.0 – 7.5 Champions Martin Guichardo & Broc Brown

Men’s 8.0 – 8.5 Champions Neil Hyman & Chris Kolesnik

“Getting the chance to play with him again all these years later, and bring it full circle was my favorite part of the tournament today,” said Friedman. “We had to overcome some adversity in the final, but we were able to get the job done.”It was Vasquez’s first time playing in an LITM Challenge, and he was complimentary of how the event was run.

“It was really wellorganized, super fun and the vibes were great. We had so much fun playing together again after all these years, and happy to keep this partnership going.”

Friedman’s younger sister, Deliala teamed up with Adam Hornsby to win the Mixed Doubles division. Hornsby was Friedman’s junior tennis coach, but the two hadn’t played much doubles together in the past.

“We’ve been playing tennis together for a long time but not a lot of doubles,” said Hornsby. “Teamwork makes the dream work. We are going to come back at the next tournament to try and defend the title.”

Friedman added:

“I just had so much fun playing as a team with Adam. This event was a great time. The Don Colada drink was amazing, I’d give it an 11 out of 10.

THE LONG ISLAND

CHALLENGE

I’m really glad we got to play this tournament and looking forward to coming back.”

“These tournaments have become almost like family reunions of sorts, as many of the players have become friends of mine and it’s a very welcoming environment on and off the courts for everyone. As people arrive, all we see on the pool deck is hugs and smiles. Some players bring their own ‘fans’ to support them, and everyone involved with the event works together to create an atmosphere that makes the Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenges stand out as the premier adult tennis tournament in the area,” Sickmen added. “This was even more evident as we were forced to use our rain-date for this particular event.

With the amount of players involved, this created challenges, but my coDirector Michelle Stoerback did what she does best and was able to recreate the draws to ensure everyone had the best possible experience. We pay a lot of attention to the small details and we continue to learn from each event, but I want to thank Michelle, all of our sponsors and all of our supporting players for their part. Hearing that people drove four hours to play, seeing people stay for hours post-event, and getting the feedback we received has us ready for more.”

The LITM June Tennis Challenge was completely sold-out and sets the stage for a great summer ahead. The next Long Island Tennis Magazine on the schedule is Saturday September 6th (registration is available at LongIslandTennisMagazine.com/Even ts/SeptemberTennis) once again at Sportime Quogue.

LITM will also be hosting a tennis event in late July, with an announcement of the location and event specifics coming soon. Check out LITennisMag.com/Events for the latest information on all of our events!

Men’s 9.0 – 9.5

Champions Dylan Friedman & Carlos Vasquez

Mixed Doubles Champions Deliala Friedman & Adam Hornsby

Intennis, we dedicate countless hours on and off the court, commit to rigorous fitness regimens,and compete in tournaments—all in the hope of reaching the highest level possible. With this drive, we aim for perfection, as the world around us judges us by the absence of flaws. Every mistake can feel like a blow to our confidence. But is being a perfectionist always beneficial for a tennis player? Should we embrace our imperfections, or should we relentlessly strive for flawlessness?

This article takes the shape of a best-of-seven point tiebreak match between two competing mindsets: The Perfectionist and The Imperfectionist. Each side makes their argument, alternating in a format inspired by tennis scoring.

• The Perfectionist serves the first point.

• After that, the serve alternates in a 2–2–2 pattern:

• Two consecutive points served by The Imperfectionist,

• Two by The Perfectionist,

• And the final two by The Imperfectionist.

• Each point features one claim per side: the server speaks first, then the rebuttal.

You, the reader, will award each point, ultimately deciding the winner. Audience quiet, please. The Perfectionist to serve.

The Perfectionist to serve

The Perfectionist Versus The Imperfectionist: Best of Seven Points

By Eldad Campbell

• 1st Point: Should tennis players strive to perfect every stroke before competing?

• Perfectionist: Yes. Match play reveals your habits—if your strokes aren’t technically solid, they’ll break down under pressure. Perfecting your form before competing gives you an anchor to trust when the nerves hit.

• Imperfectionist: No. Waiting for perfection delays real growth. Competition teaches you what really works. Imperfect reps under pressure are more valuable than flawless ones in a sterile environment.

• Point ends. Score: Perfectionist ___ Imperfectionist ___

• Commentator’s note: The Perfectionist fires a clean ace— structure and form win under pressure. But The Imperfectionist digs in, arguing the game is learned through doing. This one’s a classic: blueprint versus experience.

The Imperfectionist to serve

• 2nd Point: Is obsessing over technique healthy for long-term performance?

• Imperfectionist: No— obsession can kill feel. Overthinking technique stifles instinct. The best players blend mechanics with flow—they adjust, not obsess.

• Perfectionist: Yes—technique is the foundation. Obsessive attention to detail early on prevents injury, builds efficiency, and separates champions from grinders.

• Point ends. Score: Perfectionist

___ Imperfectionist ___

• Commentator’s note: A beautiful contrast here—fluidity versus fundamentals. The Imperfectionist floats a drop shot; The Perfectionist counters with surgical precision. Who will break first?

The Imperfectionist to serve again

• 3rd Point: Is emotional control in matches a form of perfectionism?

• Imperfectionist: No. Expecting perfect composure sets unrealistic standards. Allowing some emotion makes you human—it's how you recover from it that counts.

• Perfectionist: Yes, and it should be. Composure is a controllable skill. Perfecting emotional responses in highstress points is what separates elite competitors.

• Point ends. Score: Perfectionist ___ Imperfectionist

• Commentator’s note: It’s heart versus head here. The Imperfectionist allows a fistpump; The Perfectionist holds the poker face. Who wins the tiebreaker—or the crowd?

The Perfectionist to serve

• 4th Point: Is being hard on yourself after mistakes necessary?

• Perfectionist: Yes. Selfaccountability builds standards. Being tough on yourself shows you care and pushes you to

sharpen your weaknesses.

• Imperfectionist: No. Being overly critical damages confidence. The best players have short memories—mistakes are feedback, not identity.

• Point ends. Score: Perfectionist ___ Imperfectionist

___

• Commentator’s note: An intense exchange. The Perfectionist demands internal discipline; The Imperfectionist plays defense with emotional wisdom. Both sides raise valid points—it’s grit versus grace under fire.

The Perfectionist to serve again

• 5th Point: Should players aim to hit every shot exactly as planned?

• Perfectionist: Yes. Precision underpins smart tennis. You should know where every shot is

going and execute with

and

• Imperfectionist: No. Plans are important, but rigidity kills flexibility. Tennis is reactive— being too scripted can backfire when rallies go off-script.

• Point ends. Score: Perfectionist ___ Imperfectionist

___

• Commentator’s note: This point’s a chess match. The Perfectionist seeks command; The Imperfectionist values improvisation. A battle of strategy versus instinct—who calls checkmate first?

The Imperfectionist to serve

• 6th Point: Should juniors focus on perfecting one style before exploring others?

• Imperfectionist: No.

Exploration breeds adaptability. Juniors should sample styles to find what fits naturally—rigidity

too early hinders evolution.

• Perfectionist: Yes. True mastery requires dedicated focus. By developing one style deeply, juniors build a clear identity and sharpen decisionmaking.

• Point ends. Score: Perfectionist ___ Imperfectionist

___

• Commentator’s note: The Imperfectionist plays the long game, nurturing creativity. The perfectionist prefers laser focus from day one. This one might come down to personality—and coaching philosophy.

The Imperfectionist to serve again

• 7th Point: Is a beautiful, textbook game better than a scrappy one?

• Imperfectionist: No. A

continued on page 14

the perfectionist versus the imperfectionist

continued from page 13

scrappy game that gets the job done is better than a pretty one that can’t close. Iron will often beats polish.

• Perfectionist: Yes. A clean, refined game shows mastery. Aesthetics matter—it’s about control, command, and elegance under pressure.

• Point ends. Score: Perfectionist ___ Imperfectionist ___

• Commentator’s note: Final point—aesthetics versus effectiveness. One side champions clean technique, the other celebrates the dogfight. In the end, who will win more points on the scoreboard?

• Tie-Breaker Final Score: Perfectionist ___ Imperfectionist

___

This concludes the best-of-seven match between The Perfectionist and The Imperfectionist. Who’s your champion?

Both perspectives offer compelling truths. Research shows that perfectionism—when rooted in selfimprovement—can be a powerful driver of athletic excellence, mental focus, and precision.

At the same time, the imperfectionist’s claim that true

growth comes from staying fluid, adaptable, and unafraid to fail cannot be dismissed. Greatness, perhaps, belongs not to one mindset alone, but to those who learn when to push for flawless execution—and when to embrace imperfection to evolve.

Next time you step on court, ask yourself: Are you chasing perfection, or growing through imperfection?

Eldad Campbell is the High Performance Talent Development Specialist at Robbie Wagner Tournament and Training Center. He is a four-time representative of the Jamaican Men’s Davis Cup, Junior Davis Cup, World Youth Cup, and Pan American Games teams, and a former No. 1 junior tennis player in Jamaica. He provides counsel to high-performance tennis players, parents, and coaches, offering strategic guidance through the multifaceted landscape of the tennis industry. He can be reached via email at connect@eldadcampbell.com.

It’s Time To Play On CaliClay

Fora lot of tennis enthusiasts, they enjoy the feel of the clay court underneath their feet when playing. The soft surface is great for the body and also creates a slower, higher bounce which gives players more time to get to a ball as well as slide into shots.

But for many club owners, or for those who own tennis courts, the clay often brings with it high costs of maintenance, both in terms of time and money. That is where CaliClay has the solution to fix all of the typical issues that arise from operating a clay court.

The CaliClay system solves three major issues by lowering installation costs, water use, and maintenance costs, which is especially important here in the Northeast when winter conditions can wreak havoc on tennis courts.

“There is usually a massive amount of maintenance that gives clay courts a bad name,” said Steve Brillhart, Founder and Owner of CaliClay. “But because we are an overlay, we don’t have those issues. You can have winterizing that happens when the courts get soft, the lines detach and pop up because the nails are no longer fastened to the ground. So in the spring, you typically have to get a maintenance crew to re-level the court, re-compact it, and then add clay. Whereas with our courts, when you reopen them, all you have to do is brush it and add some clay. It’s a onehour process as opposed to a full day, and for just a few hundred dollars as opposed to thousands of dollars.”

CaliClay installs on top of an existing hard court, old Har-Tru courts or a new 95 percent compact base with seal in just about three days.

Once installed, all you have to do is brush and line after you play. You don’t have to water the courts when they are not being used like you normally would with a clay court. CaliClay comes with a 10-year warranty.

When you open your court up in the spring, all you have to do is water them before you play, which is a major benefit to those who operate courts at their summer homes.

“If you have a vacation home and you aren’t there for let’s say the month of June, you don’t have to waste a drop of water during that time, and just water for five minutes when it’s time to play, and you are good to go!” Brillhart added.

Bart Solomon, who has a tennis court in Southampton that utilizes CaliClay’s technology, raved about how beneficial it has been, not just on his court maintenance but on his own body.

“This court is incredibly benign in terms of being user friendly and gentle on the body. Much better than other courts I've played on and owned,”

Solomon said. “In my opinion it’s a big advantage and selling point which I think should be stressed more.”

Many people and clubs from coast-tocoast have decided to turn to the CaliClay method for their clay-court needs, as Brillhart and his team continue to revolutionize the court maintenance industry.

You can visit CaliClay.net to learn more about CaliClay and examine their in-depth portfolio of projects.

“Here on Long Island and the greater Northeast area, we are always looking for the best solution to the problem of court maintenance caused by the weather that comes in the winter months,” said David Sickmen, Publisher of Long Island Tennis Magazine. “Steve and CaliClay have done an incredible job in addressing these issues, and having played on these courts myself, I can attest to the wide-ranging benefits they offer. I found the bounces of the ball to be true, and the court to play smoothly. I’d recommend tennis court owners, whether it’s at your house or in a club you operate, to explore CaliClay’s offerings for their court needs.”

Family Day In The Park Brin

Long Island Tennis Magazine (LITM) and USTA Eastern Long Island, in conjunction with the Baldwin PAL, teamed up to bring free tennis fun to kids and adults alike as the Annual Family Park Day was held at SPORTIME Hempstead Lake.

The event featured engaging tennis instruction on the court, but also fun activities off the court including face painting, glitter tattoos, tennis-related games, music prizes and a water balloon toss which cooled everyone off on the hot afternoon. The event was completely free to attend, and the large turnout was a great indication of the reach that events like this can have.

On the court, SPORTIME Lynbrook’s Director of Tennis Jason Pasion organized drills, games and other instructional lessons as parents

went out on court with their kids to partner with them, making the experience fully interactive for the families.

If a child needed a partner to pair

up with on the court, LITM’s event staff, comprised of high school and college tennis players, were there to team up with which helped keep all the kids engaged throughout the day.

And that is the primary goal of the Annual Family Park Day, whose inaugural event was held back in 2022. By providing a free and fun introduction to the sport of tennis, the objective is to give them an experience that will make them want to continue playing tennis.

“We were proud to partner with USTA Eastern, SPORTIME and the PAL to bring tennis to both kids and adults,” said David Sickmen, LITM Publisher. “Through events like this we are able to show just how fun tennis can be, and that was evident through all the happy faces we saw both on and off the court at Family Day in the Park. The format was great today because it

ngs Tennis Fun To Everyone

allowed for the entire family to enjoy a tennis event together. It was interactive for the kids and the parents. We were able to utilize one of the amazing parks on Long Island for this, and the media coverage we are doing after the event will highlight how accessible tennis is in Long Island parks.”

USTA Eastern Long Island is excited to continue to bring events like these to the local community. These events provide opportunities for those who wouldn’t normally have the chance to be exposed to tennis, not only to play the sport, but to have a pathway to additional low-cost programming within the parks.

"Our goal is to always give kids an opportunity to experience the joy of playing tennis,” said USTA Eastern Long Island Regional Director Mike Pavlides. “When you see kids smiling, laughing, and having fun, you know that you've met that goal, so the afternoon was a great success.”

Calm Under Pressure: Practical Tools to Help Tennis Players Reduce Anxiety and Thrive on Court

By Chris Lewit

Anxietyis a tough opponent. It doesn’t hit forehands or serve aces, but it can derail even the most talented tennis players. Whether it’s pre-match nerves, fear of failure, or the pressure to perform in front of coaches and peers, anxiety is a real mental hurdle. Fortunately, today’s players have more tools than ever to manage stress, sharpen focus, and stay present under pressure.

Here’s a powerful toolkit that blends modern science with time-tested wisdom. These strategies are practical, accessible, and can be woven into daily training routines or pre-match preparation.

While written with tennis players in mind, these tools apply to athletes in all sports seeking to perform at their best.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI)

Mindfulness isn’t about zoning out— it’s about tuning in. The goal is simple: become more aware of your thoughts and sensations, without judgment, so they don’t control you.

• Start with just five minutes of breathfocused meditation daily.

• Ground yourself before matches with three deep breaths and 10 seconds of sensory awareness.

• Use mindfulness apps like Headspace or Calm for guided support.

• Keep a mindfulness journal to track triggers, emotions, and reactions. This helps create space between thought and action—key for making smart decisions under pressure, especially in individual sports like tennis.

Somatic Practices: Move to Feel Better

Anxiety lives in the body as much as the mind. Somatic techniques use

movement to help release tension, restore balance, and enhance selfregulation.

• Yoga: Builds flexibility and calm through conscious movement and breath.

• Tai Chi: A flowing martial art that fosters centeredness and balance.

• Feldenkrais & Alexander Technique: Subtle, intelligent movement reeducation to reduce unnecessary effort.

• Pilates: Strengthens the core and improves postural control—useful for tennis footwork and injury prevention.

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Martial Arts: Teaches how to stay calm under real physical pressure.

• Rolfing (Structural Integration): Helps release fascial tension and emotional holding patterns. These practices train body awareness and promote relaxation even during intense competition—on the tennis court or in any athletic arena.

Breathing Techniques

Breath is one of the fastest ways to influence the nervous system. Learn to use it consciously.

• Box Breathing (4-4-4-4): Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4.

• Physiological Sigh: Two quick inhales followed by a long, slow exhale. A quick calm-down hack.

• 4-7-8 Breathing: Inhale 4, hold 7, exhale 8. Ideal for post-match recovery or sleep prep. Practice during training so it becomes second nature during matches or games.

Self-Talk: Take Control of the Inner Narrative

Your inner voice can be a coach or a

critic. The choice is yours.

• Replace negative thoughts with constructive ones: “I always choke” becomes “This is a chance to stay composed.”

• Use cue words like, “Breathe,” “Focus,” or “Next point.”

• Repeat mantras like “I’ve earned this,” or “I belong here.”

• Confront imposter syndrome by listing your hard work and past wins.

• Reframe the fear of judgment: “They’re watching, not judging. I play for myself.”

Self-talk isn’t fluff—it’s how elite athletes stay in control during pressure moments, whether on a tennis court, track or field.

Visualization and Imagery

What the mind rehearses, the body follows.

• Visualize your service games, your footwork, and your recovery after mistakes.

• Include multiple senses—hear the crowd, feel the grip, see the ball land.

• Rehearse adversity: see yourself calm and composed after double faults or bad calls.

• Use short 2-minute visualizations before practice or matches. Mental reps reinforce confidence and reduce fear of the unknown—for tennis players and all performers under pressure.

Biofeedback and Smart Tech Technology now lets you see your internal state in real-time.

• Use wearables like Whoop, Oura Ring, or Garmin to track stress, HRV, and recovery.

• Train yourself to lower heart rate before big points using breathing

or visualization.

• Biofeedback apps teach you how to calm your body with visual cues and games.

Data isn’t just numbers—it’s a mirror for your habits and progress. Tennis athletes and others can use it to monitor readiness and recovery.

Confidence Builders

Confidence isn’t magic—it’s built through consistency, clarity, and reminders of your worth.

• Write down five recent wins each week—big or small.

• Use a match-day routine to feel grounded and prepared.

• Set process goals (“keep first-serve percentage above 65 percent”) instead of outcome goals.

• Watch highlight clips of your best points before matches.

• Surround yourself with a support team who believes in your journey. Confidence grows when you recognize your own patterns of

success. These habits help any athlete rise, regardless of their sport.

Extra Tools Worth Trying

• Gratitude practice: Write 3 things you’re grateful for daily. Shifts your mindset.

• Cold exposure: Cold showers or ice baths train the mind to handle discomfort.

• Journaling: Record thoughts, moods, and breakthroughs.

• Nature walks: 10 minutes outdoors calms the nervous system.

• Sleep hygiene: Go to bed and wake up at consistent times. Avoid

screens before bed.

• Nutritional balance: Eat to stabilize energy—avoid sugar crashes and excess caffeine on match days.

Winning in tennis isn’t just about strokes and strategy—it’s about mastering your inner game. Anxiety doesn’t have to control you. With the right tools and consistent practice, you can meet stress with strength, stay focused under pressure, and play your best when it matters most. And for athletes in every sport, these strategies are just as relevant—because composure, clarity, and calm are universal superpowers.

Chris Lewit is a leading high-performance coach, educator and author of the best-selling book, The Secrets of Spanish Tennis, and a new technique book, Winning Pretty, which will be published in 2025. Secrets of Spanish Tennis, Second Edition will be published in September 2024. As a coach, he has trained hundreds of nationally ranked juniors. He directs a full-time academy for homeschool/online players and a high performance summer camp program, as well as bespoke high performance training for all ages and levels, all at his club in the beautiful green mountains of Vermont. Contact Chris directly by phone/WhatsApp 914-462-2912 or chris@chrislewit.com.

FULL-TIME ACADEMY FOR HOMESCHOOL PLAYERS WEEKEND HIGH PERFORMANCE ACADEMY TRAINING FOR ALL LEVELS HIGH PERFORMANCE SUMMER CAMP IN VERMONT TRAIN WITH THE BEST— CHRIS HAS RECENTLY COACHED SEVERAL #1 PLAYERS IN THE US!

spotlight Junior Player

By Brian Coleman

Luke Hynes Point Set Tennis

Forthe past several years, Chaminade has dominated the boys’ tennis landscape of the Nassau Suffolk Catholic High School Athletic Association (NSCHSAA) here on Long Island. The Flyers have won back-to-back Class A team titles, and the winner of the last five NSCHSAA individual singles titles plays for them.

His name is Luke Hynes, and he just completed his junior year at Chaminade where he helped lead his team to the aforementioned league title while also defending his individual championship this spring. It was Hynes’ third year competing on the varsity team at his high school, and he has moved up the lineup each season, from third singles as a freshman to first singles this year.

“I really enjoy everyone that I am playing with, we know each other super well and we are all really close,” Hynes said of what he enjoys about competing for Chaminade. “I also embraced the opportunity to be a leader for the team this year, and I take a lot of pride in competing against other schools while representing Chaminade.”

Hynes has worked his way from talented freshman to

being the undisputed leader of the Flyers, and he really enjoyed that role this past year, being able to be a guy that his teammates looked to for advice as well as an example to be followed. This past season, he was named the league’s Player of the Year, as voted on by the coaches, and named Chamindade’s Most Valuable Player

“As a freshman I wasn’t very vocal, but now I really try to be the guy rallying the team, talking to guys during matches, giving them feedback, what they are doing well and what else they can be doing,” he said. “I know what it’s like to be an underclassman so I try to take advantage of that experience and be a leader to other guys on the team.”

Hynes’ tennis journey began when he was in first grade, and his mom Karen would take him and his twin brother Aidan to play for an hour every Monday after school. He took part in group lessons where he met other players who remain some of his closest friends today.

He played soccer competitively up until 10th grade, playing on Chaminade’s junior varsity soccer team while also playing varsity tennis. While he enjoyed soccer, tennis gave him something that soccer simply could not.

“It just wasn’t engaging all the time like I wanted it to be,” he says. “In tennis, you’re actively involved in everything, for better or worse. It’s super physical but also super mental, and after having such a great freshman season on varsity, I knew that on the tennis court is where I wanted to be. That’s what I wanted to pursue.”

Hynes committed to tennis fully, and three years ago, when his primary coach Danny Casesa joined Point Set Tennis in Oceanside, Hynes did as well, and that has been his primary training home since.

Working closely with Casesa as well as a group of players who are his friends and share similar goals as he does all at a club where he is comfortable has produced positive results for Hynes.

“There’s a lot of great one-on-one coaching and instruction that happens at Point Set. There’s a group of about eight or nine of us that train with Danny, and he’s always walking around from court to court. That’s one thing I love about Point Set is the courts are close together, so whether he is on your court or the one next to yours, you are getting top coaching,” said Hynes. “I always feel comfortable and welcome when I walk into the facility, and we have a great group of players to train together with.”

One thing that Hynes has as part of his game that separates him from some of his peers, is his prowess at the net. While most juniors feel more comfortable hitting from the baseline, Hynes has no problems coming to the net to finish off points, and uses those skills aggressively. Standing at 6 '1’’, Hynes is a big kid with a big serve, and he oftentimes serves-and-volleys during matches which is a change of pace from the way many players are used to.

“It’s my go-to move sometimes, I just feel super comfortable up there. I love to get into the net, and I’ve even spoken to some college coaches at showcases I’ve attended who told me they were glad to see it, because it’s almost extinct

in the junior game,” said Hynes.

And while he is a good baseline player, he says one thing he works on with Casesa during his training sessions at Point Set is remaining patient back there, and perfecting when to come in and when to stay back. They even have specialized drills they go through to incentivize and force him to stay back longer.

“It’s just one thing I need to work on a little more, but I practice enough and it’s something I have definitely seen improvement on,” he says.

As Hynes continues to smooth out the edges of his game to make him a complete player, he has a strong foundation to build off of. With his

sights set on competing at the collegiate level, he will be attending showcases throughout this summer, and has begun engaging in talks with different coaches.

Because he played soccer into his sophomore year, Hynes says he is a bit behind in the recruitment process. He is working tirelessly to make himself stand out, with a focus on building up his strength and conditioning, and is excited to demonstrate his growth to college programs this summer.

When he isn’t playing tennis, Hynes relishes being outdoors, and enjoys hiking, hunting and fishing. He is an active young man and says he would love to attend a school in more of a rural area as opposed to a big city to fit in with his love for the outdoors.

Before he moves on to the next chapter of his tennis career however, Hynes will compete for Chaminade one last time in his senior season, where he aims to bring the Flyers its sixth consecutive league title, and complete a three-peat of his individual title.

He takes great pride in representing his school in the right way, which is something any college can expect when they choose to bring Hynes into their program.

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Paul’s Pole Position

After a run to the French Open quarterfinals and a career-high ranking, can Tommy Paul be the one to end the American men’s major drought?

By Brian Coleman

Atthis year’s French Open, the United States had an American man reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003. In fact, two American men accomplished that feat as both Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul advanced to the final eight in Roland Garros.

Unfortunately for both, however, that is where their runs would end. Tiafoe would fall to Italian Lorenzo Musetti in four sets, while Paul was soundly beaten by the eventual champion, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 in a lopsided match in which at points he was hurting from an adductor injury.

“Not particularly fun,” Paul said afterwards. “I’ve felt better. Obviously I went into the match like I wanted to win the match, but pretty early on, it was pretty obvious that I wasn’t moving. Carlos was playing so quick[ly] and had me on my back foot the whole time. [I] felt like he was on offense, and that was what I needed tonight. Everyone bought tickets to the night session. Everyone who was there deserved to see me play or try my best, and that’s what I went out and tried to do.”

It was a swift and abrupt finish to a wonderful two weeks in Paris for Paul, but despite that, he still left the event with the highest ranking of his career as he climbed into the Top 10 and at continued on page 24

paul’s pole position continued from page 23

No. 8 in the world.

The run to the quarterfinals was Paul’s first at the French Open and put him in elite company among American men. Having reached the Austalian Open semifinals in 2023, the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2024 and the French Open quarterfinals this spring, Paul became the ninth American man in the Open Era to reach the final eight on all three surfaces, joining Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Jimmy Connors, Jim Courier, Vitas Gerulaitis, Brian Gottfried, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras.

And it is precisely that versatility

that makes Paul a bit of an anomaly in comparison to his compatriots. Whereas most American men prefer and find most of their success on hard courts, Paul has demonstrated he is

comfortable on all three surfaces. Paul also stays under the radar a bit, and doesn’t garner the same sort of national buzz that others receive. Fritz is the highest-ranked American

and made a run to the U.S. Open final last year which thrust him into the mainstream here in the States, and the charisma and energy that Tiafoe and Ben Shelton possess draws much attention. Paul is the steady one who remains consistent and just goes about his business.

That’s the approach he has taken in recent years.

The New Jersey born Paul has been on the pro tour since he was in high school, turning professional when he was just 18 following his victory at the French Open Boys’ Championships when he was a junior.

His future seemed bright, but he admittedly went through a party phase during his early 20s which created some setbacks from him on the court. It’s something he has cut back on and instead now spends a lot of time doing what he loves, which is fishing on his boat in North Carolina when he isn’t at tournaments.

When GQ profiled him from that boat earlier this year, his girlfriend, social media influencer Paige Lorenze explained why Paul doesn’t seem to get similar notoriety to his peers.

“I think of all the American guys, Tommy is the most quiet in terms of self-promotion. I’m pushing him in general to create content because I

see the value in it, and I want him to make the most of his career. There’s an entire side of Twitter that goes nuts for him! And sometimes I also wish he would involve the crowd a little bit more,” said Lorenze. “But there’s also a lot of strength to that. He’s so modest, and…not shy, but not boastful. My favorite thing about him is that he’s humble, and so gracious, and not cocky. And I love the way he treats other players.”

It’s that quiet confidence and blue collar approach that makes Paul so consistent. He is an incredible athlete which allows him to thrive across all surfaces, and has him on the verge of reaching a major final.

One common denominator among them all is the constant conversation around the dreaded Grand Slam drought that has plagued the American men for more than two decades now. The last time an American man won a major was Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open, and it is something they have all been asked about for years now.

While it is on their mind constantly, Paul chooses not to focus on that as he approaches his matches and his relationships with his peers. He came up through the ranks with the likes of Reilly Opelka, Tiafoe and Fritz, and remains focused on his own tennis rather than where that fits into the

narrative of the success of the American men as a whole.

“With me making it to the tour, I have them to thank for a lot of it, and I think they would say the same with me in the picture,” Paul said. “We’ve known and played with each other since adolescence. And we’re more concerned with our oneon-one stats on the competitive side than how we do as a group. If I am losing head-to-head against one of them, all I’m thinking about is that I have work to do. I don’t like to look too far ahead.”

Despite his understated demeanor, Paul is one of the best players in the world and is at the core of a resurgence of American male success on the ATP Tour. Entrenched in the Top 10 and multiple quarterfinal appearances at majors, the next step in his progression is to win a major. That may seem like an unfair expectation, but that is sometimes the burden of success. With Wimbledon lurking, and the U.S. Open on the horizon, tennis fans, especially here in the States, will be watching closely to see if Paul can be the one to end the American male drought.

But for now, Paul is taking life as it comes, and hoping that grounded approach can lead to more success on the court.

USTA Eastern Long Island Region

Spring

Happenings

The USTA Long Island Regional Council was busy during the spring season helping coordinate and run many events across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. In addition to providing sportsmanship plaques to high school tennis players, championship & runner-up plaques to the small and large teams in the Long Island Championship, and quarter zips to the Nassau and Suffolk competitors at the NYS Individual Tournament, council volunteers also supported the following programs and events.

Special Olympics

The USTA Long Island Regional Council was proud to be a sponsor and a vendor at the Long Island Special Olympics, which took place at Plainedge High School. The Region presented all the tennis participants with a special sportsmanship tag commemorating their participation, and for following the Special Olympics Oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

on Long Island

Westbury Schools

In April, Aspiration Concepts Sports and Education NJTL began offering red ball tennis instruction to students in all four of the Westbury UFSD’s elementary schools.

Kindergarteners at Dryden Elementary welcomed Aspiration Concepts CEO and Head Coach Kevin Boston-Hill at a pep rally to celebrate bringing tennis to the district as part of their regular gym program. Students –most of whom had never played tennis before – enjoyed age and developmentally appropriate lessons. At Drexel Elementary, 1st through 5th graders learned more advanced concepts. All told, the program reached more than 1,000 students throughout the district during six weeks. The middle school tennis coach received professional development and support, and talks are underway to add further programming for high school students.

Rally for Inclusion

What do you get when you mix an adaptive tennis coaches’ training with a clinic for adaptive athletes? It's a total ace.

USTA Long Island worked with Love Serving Autism to bring adaptive training to Adelphi University and the Bridges to Adelphi program. After tennis coaches learned how to coach adaptive athletes, they put those lessons to

the test by helping to train neurodiverse students. View video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leyUpNhFHeA

Robbie’s Run

For the 18th year, USTA Long Island volunteers brought red ball tennis instruction to the Robbie's Run 5k and family festival in Merrick. This event honors the memory of 9 year old Robbie Levine who died at the age of 9 from sudden cardiac arrest. Forever 9 – The Robbie Levine Foundation supplies Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and offers CPR/AED training to local sports fields and teams. LI Region volunteers and members of the Calhoun High School Girls Tennis Team introduced young people to tennis.

Family Day in the Park

The USTA Long Island sponsored a free end-of-season tennis event at Hempstead State Lake Park for area PAL groups.

The event, run in conjunction with Long Island Tennis Magazine, was very well attended by kids in the program and their parents, and featured tennis, food, games and prizes.

Coming Soon Summer Kids’ Days

SOLD OUT: The USTA Long Island Regional Council’s annual kids’ day programs, presented in conjunction with Long Island Tennis Magazine, are sold out! Stay tuned to this space for event photos.

Long Island Regional Council Executive Committee

Mike Pavlides, Regional Director

Jonathan Klee, Past Regional Director

Sunny Fishkind

Tito Perez

Jason Wass

Randi Wilkins

Neil Thakur, Manager, Schools Tennis and Long Island & Metro Region CTC (thakur@eastern.usta.com) Becky Bellino, USTA Eastern Leagues Coordinator (bellino@eastern.usta.com)

Facebook: Play Tennis Long Island • Instagram: USTA Eastern

Fan Week U.S. Open to Kick Off With

Aswe move through the summer, it means that the U.S. Open is on the horizon, and the eyes of the tennis world descend on New York.

The first week of the U.S. Open provides fans with unparalled access to watch the world’s best tennis players as well as other special events, many of which are completely free to attendees.

There is something for everyone at the first, full-weeklong tennis and entertainment festival preceding the U.S. Open. Fan Week runs August 1823 at the USTA Billie Jean King

National Tennis Center.

The U.S. Open Main Draw begins August 24, a day earlier than it ever has, and for the first time will begin on a Sunday.

US Open Fan Week’s anchor competition – the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament – will run from Monday, August 18, to Thursday, August 21, and is free to attend. Played on the field courts of the US Open, the 128-draw men’s and women’s tournaments determine the final 16 players to gain entry into each of the US Open Men’s and Women’s Singles Main Draws.

New this year will be the revamped U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Championships. This unprecedented list of star entrants for Mixed Doubles— including nine of the world’s Top-10 women and nine of the world’s Top-10 men—makes mixed doubles at the 2025 US Open a must-attend Championship event.

The competition will take place during U.S. Open Fan Week on Tuesday, Aug. 19, and Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with $1 million in prize money being awarded to the winning team.

Fans can also enjoy free access to see the biggest stars in tennis practice on the U.S. Open’s practice courts and stadiums throughout Fan Week, including featured practices in Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand, as well as inside Arthur Ashe Stadium via the Arthur Ashe Stadium Experience, accessible with Fan Access Pass.

Fans can download the free Fan Access Pass – a digital pass that grants special access to certain areas and events during Fan Week, including: the Arthur Ashe Stadium Experience, the Media Day Fan Event inside Arthur Ashe Stadium; VIP seats to featured practices inside Louis Armstrong and Grandstand stadiums and Monday’s Legends of the Open presented by FAGE exhibition.

Registration is available at

fanpass.usopen.org, with the ability to download your pass to your mobile wallet for easy access.

Below is the list of featured events during Fan Week. For a full list and detailed information on all the happenings the week prior to the Main Draw, visit USOpen.org.

MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025 and TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025

Arthur Ashe Stadium Experience

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

A unique opportunity for a pre-US Open Singles Main Draw glimpse to watch top players practice throughout Fan Week.

Heineken Happy Hour

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Bring your colleagues or friends out to the Fountain Plaza for a one-of-a-kind Happy Hour experience with live DJs, tennis, and special drink offers.

Family Festival of Activities

All Day

Fans of all ages can enjoy a variety of family-friendly activity around the games, including: Face Painting, Airbrush Tattoos and Roving Entertainers. Activities and times are subject to change.

Featured Player Practices

All Day, Grandstand and Louis Armstrong Stadium

Fans can get an up-close look at their favorite players and the tournament's biggest stars in Grandstand as they prepare for the U.S. Open Singles Main Draw.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2025

Stars of the Open presented by CHASE (Ticketed event, to benefit USTA Foundation)

Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium

Time: 7 p.m.

One night, countless stars: Stars of the Open will return on Thursday, Aug. 21 and bring together an electrifying mix of legends and top players on the court to dazzle fans with their incredible skills. USOpen.org/FanWeek.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2025

U.S. Open Media Day

12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Fans will once again have the unique opportunity to hear directly from the biggest stars on the WTA and ATP tours as they are interviewed in Arthur Ashe Stadium. A free Fan Access Pass is required for entry.

U.S. Open Block Party

8:00 p.m., Fountain Plaza Stage

Dance the night away at the US Open Block Party. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of music and fun at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s Fountain Plaza. Stay tuned for more information on this year’s event.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day powered by Net Generation

9:30 a.m., Arthur Ashe Stadium

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day powered by Net Generation is the US Open’s annual celebration of the life and legacy of tennis champion and cultural icon Arthur Ashe. This year, Arthur Ashe Kids' Day will return on Saturday, Aug. 23 with a new start time for an exciting stadium show in Arthur Ashe Stadium, now at 11AM. Tennis fans of all ages can also see top players practice, and enjoy a variety of family-friendly entertainment and activities throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, all with the aim of getting kids excited about tennis—a passion of Ashe’s in his life.

Saturday Night Courts & Cocktails

Helps Spread Joy of Tennis To Benefit A Great Cause

When Long Island Tennis Magazine launched its Courts & Cocktails event series in 2021, the goal was to not only use them as a way to raise money for charity, but also provide a fun tennis event that motivates adult players to play more themselves.

That was just the case in early May with a sold-out group of players coming out to partake in a Courts & Cocktails at SPORTIME Roslyn.

“The turnout and feedback from

our Courts & Cocktails events continue to reinforce the obvious need for social tennis options and

professionally run events,” said David Sickmen, Publisher of Long Island Tennis Magazine. “We love being in the community and bringing players of all different levels together. We target adults looking for a fun way to meet new people, exercise, play tennis and give back, but the events are open to anyone looking to get away from the monotony of typical Saturday night plans and have a

more active weekend evening.”

The players are broken up into multiple courts, all of which are run by a different teaching professional. All the while, music is playing, and drinks are being served, as we create a fun and lively atmosphere combining tennis action with a social feel.

The tennis play is levelbased, and is designed to make all players feel comfortable, while sharing a good time with their spouses or friends, and also provide a great opportunity to meet new players as well.

The events serve as a way to benefit all aspects of the tennis community, from providing more work opportunities for the teaching pros, to helping fill vacant court time at the host clubs, and reinforcing the players’ passion for tennis, which leads to them playing more outside of Courts & Cocktails events.

At the end of the tennis portion of the night, an expansive

catered dinner spread is put out for the players to enjoy, wrapping up the event with great food, drinks and people.

We are looking forward to continuing this mission to provide exciting playing opportunities all while raising money to benefit the community.

“Our events showcase all we love about tennis, from the competitiveness to the social side and the fun both on and off the

court with likeminded people,” Sickmen added. “And we embrace using these events as a way to fundraise and help those less fortunate through partnering with multiple charitable organizations.”

Be sure to check out

LITennisMag.com for information on the next Courts & Cocktails event as we continue to provide unique playing opportunities for tennis players while benefitting a wonderful cause.

Theconservation of angular momentum means that in a spinning object not acted upon by an external force, the momentum will remain unchanged. So if we reduce the radius of movement, the object will compensate to retain its momentum by spinning faster so that its net torque remains zero.

If we flex our elbows, our racket moves faster. So given the same amount of vector force or torque a racket traveling a shorter path will move faster.

Where many get confused in tennis is the belief that racket speed is interchangeable with racket energy, or the ability to do work or move an object over a distance (in this case the rackets ability to move the ball). Racket speed is not racket power as many believe, because work done by a torque is equal to the torque multiplied

Federer Extends His Arms Away From His Body So Maybe I Should Too?

The Physics of Arm Extension

By Steve Kaplan

by the angle of rotation. So torque is the radius of movement x force (ma) x angle between the force and lever arm.

In simplest terms:

Torque is the twisting force that causes rotation. Power is torque multiplied by rotational speed. So torque is the capacity to do work, and power is the ability to do work quickly. Torque and power are proportional to each other, but they are not the same.

So do we want to extend our racket away from our body to gain power? Maybe.

It depends on the newton meters of force we can create and manage well. Greater speed will do work quicker, but will reduce force because it will limit acceleration.

So the goal is maximum extension which converges with maximum acceleration that can be safely managed. This distance can be

experimented with and can change greatly over time. If we understand the physics here we can recognize, as coaches, that a straight arm on a forehand for example is not a panacea to correct or enhance every stroke issue.

The key takeaway is that: one size radius of swing does not fit all.

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, executive director and founder of Serve & Return Inc. and codirector of The City Classic Junior Tennis Academy. Steve has coached more than 1,100 nationallyranked 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 on to achieve great success as prominent members of the New York financial community, and in other prestigious professions. He may be reached by e-mail at StevenJKaplan@aol.com.

PARSA’s picks

The State of the Real Estate Market with Parsa Samii

estate on Long Island is some of the most sought after property in the world, and many of them are perfect for the tennis lover.

With gorgeous landscapes and modern design, among other amenities, these properties are truly one-of-a-kind, and offer home owners the land needed to build a sport-court for tennis, pickleball or any other racquet sport.

With the help of Parsa Samii of Compass Real Estate, we wanted to showcase a current listing for sale. Parsa is a former professional tennis player and coach who has transitioned into real estate, with a strong understanding of both the tennis aficionado and the home buyer, and is uniquely positioned to help.

As Compass puts it, “Parsa is the ideal professional to navigate the ever-competitive real estate market.”

For more information, photos or to see more listings, e-mail parsa@compass.com or call (516) 965-7445.

107 Bayview Road

Manhasset, NY 11030

$6,498,000

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moment in time in history when the finest materials were chosen & imported with breathtaking architectural elements throughout. It is now time for the next owner to enjoy this truly rare offering. From the impressive entry and being greeted by the regal coat of arms in limestone, it sets the tone of this very special estate. Every room offers a surprise to savor with intricate mahogany woodwork, truly mesmerizing artwork in the plaster ceiling design throughout each of the principal entertaining rooms, nine breathtaking fireplaces, each with their own special meaning to enhance each room. A stunning entry with wide pegged oak wood flooring & wood beamed ceiling details, a impressive bridal staircase & beautiful archway doors. The library with beautiful custom cabinetry & a dramatic plaster ceiling artistry will be the perfect room to relax with a book by the fireplace.

An impressive & oversized living room with an incredible Jacobean mantle detail, custom mahogany paneling, and yet another genuine artistic plaster ceiling freizework detail which sets the tone for this truly special entertaining room. A garden room with walls of glass can be a quaint conservatory for those that enjoy the beauty of florals & greenery. The formal dining room with fireplace will not disappoint for the perfect setting to host intimate gatherings with family & friends. A spacious eat in kitchen, pantry, first floor laundry, elevator, a back stairs & two half baths complete the first floor. The bridal staircase offers a grand entry to a beautiful landing with soaring stained glass windows which is the centerpiece of this classic residence.

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SPORTIME World Tour Travels To Rome

TheSPORTIME World Tour continued its trek across the globe in 2025 as SPORTIME Kings Park held a Romethemed event.

The event features players from all of the Sportime facilities and has an array of on-court games, as well as plenty to take part in off the court. This includes a bounce house, food, music and more to create a fun tennis experience for Sportime’s youngest players.

“The recent World Tour, Rome, at Sportime Kings Park was a huge success, bringing young players together in a fun, competitive, and energetic atmosphere,” said Jared ElGayeh, General Manager at

SPORTIME Syosset. “Compared to the previous World Tour, this event saw even more participation drawing players in from all over the Sportime community. It’s been incredible to see how these events continue to grow, both in attendance and in the enthusiasm from players, parents, and coaches alike.”

Parents are invited to be spectators on the court and are able to see how much progress their child has made during their classes and lessons at Sportime. The coaches first run out with the players onto the courts as all the parents cheer them on, and the coaches then guide the players

through different drills and games.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of the World Tour is giving young players the chance to showcase their progress in front of their families and coaches. It’s a unique experience that builds confidence, encourages sportsmanship, and highlights their hard work in a fun and friendly setting,” El Gayeh added.” Seeing the joy and pride on the kids’ faces, especially when they pull off a great shot or win a key point makes all the effort worthwhile. Events like this reinforce the strong tennis community at Sportime and the impact of our developmental programs.”

To learn more about the World Tour, you can visit SportimeNY.com/WorldTour.

Serving Excellence Har-Tru Joins the Cincinnati Open in a Historic Summer of Tennis

Asprofessional tennis gears up for one of the biggest summers in recent memory, Har-Tru is stepping into the spotlight as the official hardcourt surface provider for the 2025 Cincinnati Open—a premier ATP and WTA 1000 event that now joins an elite group of tournaments using Har-Tru’s industryleading Sports Coatings.

With roots tracing back to 1899, the Cincinnati Open is one of the most iconic and longest-running tournaments in the sport. Known for its passionate fanbase and pivotal place on the tour calendar, the event has always blended history with high-performance—and this year, that tradition enters a bold new chapter.

The tournament is in the midst of a $260 million transformation, reimagining the campus from the ground up. Players will now compete on 31 outdoor courts (up from 21), giving room for an expanded 96player field and a newly extended 14-day event. The upgrades also include a 2,000-seat sunken stadium, a two-story, 56,000-square-foot Player Center, and a fan-focused 19,000-square-foot Pavilion. It’s a refresh that promises a next-level experience for everyone—from casual attendees to top-ranked pros. At the heart of this transformation is Har-Tru Sports Coatings—an advanced hardcourt surface trusted by top tournaments across North America. Engineered for elite performance and made to tournament specifications with a 4.0

ITF Court Pace Rating, Har-Tru’s acrylic coatings help ensure consistent ball response, true footing, and a premium playing experience for athletes preparing for the US Open.

"We are pleased to be working with Har-Tru as our official court surface provider," said Bob Moran, Tournament Director of the Cincinnati Open. "It’s an extremely important step for us to be aligning with Tennis Canada and Washington, D.C., to provide the players a consistent speed and surface for the summer swing of the ATP and WTA Tours."

The Cincinnati Open joins the Mubadala Citi DC Open and the National Bank Open in trusting HarTru to deliver a consistent and professional playing environment. This alignment gives athletes a rare

advantage: three back-to-back events on surfaces built for rhythm, familiarity, and top-tier performance.

“It is such a privilege for Har-Tru to be the official hardcourt surface of the Cincinnati Open,” said Pat Hanssen, President of Har-Tru. “Our company feels a special attachment to this tournament. Like Har-Tru, it has an amazing history and legacy in tennis. Its innovation and commitment to quality mirror our own values, and we’re thrilled to support its next chapter.”

Whether you’re courtside or watching from home, the 2025 Cincinnati Open—running August 5–18—promises to be one of the most exciting tournaments of the season. And with Har-Tru underfoot, players and fans alike can count on a worldclass foundation.

2025 Long Island Boys’ High School RECAP

Manhasset’s

Golubenko Claims Nassau County Singles Title Garden City’s

Bravo, Wiese Roll to Doubles Championship

It was a long day for Max Golubenko, but well worth it. The Manhasset senior was competing in the final Nassau County Individual Championships tournament of his high school career, and was motivated to leave with the title.

That motivation was necessary, as Golubenko had to overcome Syosset’s Devan Melandro 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2 in a semifinal match that lasted just shy of five hours. It left him exhausted prior to the championship match against Roslyn’s Ethan Solop, who defeated Will Bohner of Friends Academy 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in his semifinal.

Having already qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Individual Championships by reaching the county final, Golubenko could have decided not to play the final.

“People were telling me that I didn’t have to play if I didn’t feel up to it,” he said. “But I wanted to try.”

Golubenko was steadfast in leaving his senior year with a county title, and came out firing in the championship. He entered with a simple but effective strategy; try to shorten the points, play aggressive and not put too much pressure on himself.

Manhasset’s Max Golubenko is the 2025 Nassau County Singles Champion

Roslyn’s Ethan Solop

Will Bohner of Friends Academy was the third-place finisher

Garden City’s Christian Bravo & Ben Wiese captured the doubles title

It worked.

Golubenko played sharp tennis, mixing in some serve and volleys and going for winners while serving well to defeat Solop 6-4, 6-3 to win the county title.

“It means everything,” said Golubenko. “I played my first county tournament in ninth grade in doubles and lost. Then my sophomore year I reached the quarters, and last season in my junior year I finished in third place. So it has all built up to this, and that’s why it means so much. If I was still a freshman, I don’t know if it would mean as much, so to do this in one of my last high school matches means a lot.”

He was joined by Solop, Bohner and Melandro as the Nassau County representatives in singles at the New York State Championships.

Garden City’s Christian Bravo & Ben Wiese continued their school’s success in the Nassau County Individual Championships by winning the doubles title on Sunday as the pairing defeated Jericho’s Nick Chin & Hiroto Honda 6-1, 6-0.

Bravo’s sister, Angelina, won the girls’ singles title a year ago and the doubles title the year prior alongside Kayla Castellano, while Wiese’s sister, Nina, won the 2023 county singles title before going on to win the NYSPHSAA singles title as well.

This day belonged to the younger brothers, as Bravo & Wiese outlasted Syosset’s Nikhil Shah & Aayan Mehta 7-5, 7-5 in their semifinal match, before carrying that momentum into a convincing victory in the finals.

“It means a lot,” said Bravo. “Ben and I have been playing together for a long time, and we put in a lot of work to get here.”

Both Bravo and Wiese are left-handed which can provide a problem that is difficult to solve for their

opponents, which they use to their benefit.

“I think it does work to our advantage, they have to get used to our serves and the different angles on our shots we are able to hit,” said Wiese.

In the third-place match, Shah & Mehta defeated Anish Pylla & Wyzer Concepcion of Jericho 6-0, 6-2 to secure their spot at the State tournament.

2025 Nassau County Boys’ Individual Championships Final Results

Singles

• Max Golubenko (Manhasset)

• Ethan Solop (Roslyn)

• Will Bohner (Friends Academy)

• Devan Melandro (Syosset)

Doubles

• Christian Bravo & Ben Wiese (Garden City)

• Nick Chin & Hiroto Honda (Jericho)

• Nikhil Shah & Aayan Mehta (Syosset)

• Anish Pylla & Wyzer Concepcion (Jericho)

2025 long island boys’ high school recap

continued from page 39

Lopez-Cardenas Fights Back To Win Suffolk County Singles Title

Madisetty & Gonzales of Hills East complete comeback as well to capture doubles crown

Last year, Sam Lopez-Cardenas decided to take a year off from high school tennis, opting instead to do his schooling online to allow himself more time to train and focus on tennis.

It’s a decision that helped him develop into a better tennis player, training every day and competing in higher-level tournaments, but also left him missing the camaraderie and type of environment that comes with competing for your high school tennis team.

“It was hard not to play with my school team. I love this environment, and it was something I dearly

missed,” he said. “It was difficult for me to be outside of school, away from friends and teachers, it was a big change. But it did help my tennis a lot.”

Lopez-Cardenas knew he wanted to return for his senior season with his sights set on winning the Suffolk County singles title. In his freshman and sophomore seasons, he was an alternate for the State tournament, but wanted to wrap up his high school career with a county title and a trip to States.

And he did just that, coming back from a set down to defeat Ward Melville’s Shashank Pennabadi 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 in the finals at Smithtown East High School.

“It’s great to win this,” said LopezCardenas. “I think I stayed calm and positive, and tried not to let what happened in the first set get in my head. I adjusted a lot mentally which helped me push forward in the second and third sets.”

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There was a rain delay after the first set, and Lopez-Cardenas made sure to use that break to get himself ready for the comeback. He mixed in more serve and volleys into his repertoire, and came out a different player in the second set.

“There was a huge momentum shift after the first set. He was playing really well in that set but the delay really helped me calm down,” he

Sam Lopez-Cardenas of Walt Whitman fought back to win the first Suffolk singles title of his career

Ward Melville’s Shashank Pennabadi finished as singles runner-up

Sachem’s Leonardo Villacreses was the third-place finisher to book his spot at the State Championships

said. “I was able to keep my cool and take control, and I kept rolling from there. I am really happy with how I played. To come back [after taking a year off from high school tennis] and win this makes it that much sweeter.”

Joining Lopez-Cardenas and Pennabadi at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Individual Championships was Sachem’s Leonardo Villacreses who defeated Ross School’s Ignacio Pena Lopez 6-4, 7-5 in the third-place match.

In the doubles final, Hills East’s Lohit Madisetty & Marcus Gonzales came back from a set down to defeat Commack’s Jeffrey Behar & Eric Benderly 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to capture the Suffolk County Doubles Title.

Much like Lopez-Cardenas, Madisetty & Gonzales used the rain delay to their advantage to turn the tables in their match.

“The rain delay helped us change things. We both knew we had to do something different, so we made sure to get our energy up and battle back,” said Madisetty. “Marcus is an animal. I wasn’t playing well in the first set but he stayed steady throughout the entire match. I was able to pick my game up later on and we were able to pull through.”

While Madisetty credited Gonzales for his play from start to finish, the eighth-grade Gonzalez spoke highly of the impact his senior partner has on him, not only in this match, but throughout the season.

“Lohit’s an amazing player. He brings experience and I wouldn’t be as confident on court if it wasn’t for him,” Gonzales said. “This is my

first year playing high school tennis and his experience means a lot to me. It’s really exciting to go to States, and shows how much work we have put in.”

In the third-place match, Tommy Walsh & Sam Stein of Hills East beat Ray Hidaka & Kai Hidaka of Shoreham-Wading River 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, and both pairings joined the finalists at the NYSPHSAA Individual Championships.

2025 Suffolk County Boys’ Individual Championships Final Results

Singles

• Sam Lopez-Cardenas (Walt Whitman)

• Shashank Pennabadi (Ward Melville)

• Leonardo Villacreses (Sachem)

• Ignacio Pena Lopez (Ross School)

Doubles

• Lohit Madisetty & Marcus Gonzales (Hills East)

• Jeffrey Behar & Eric Benderly (Commack)

• Tommy Walsh & Sam Stein (Hills East)

• Ray Hidaka & Kai Hidaka (Shoreham-Wading River)

Hills East’s Lohit Madisetty & Marcus Gonzales came back from a set down to win the Suffolk doubles title

2025 long island boys’ high school recap continued from page 41

Friends Academy Captures Long Island Division II Title

In search of its third straight Long Island Small School (Division II) title, Friends Academy found itself in a hole against Ross School. The Quakers dropped the first set in four of the five flights, and had to dig deep if it wanted to pull off the three-peat.

“We came into the match today knowing it was going to be a battle right from the get go,” said Friends Academy head coach Owen Kassimir. “I told them that, and they knew it.”

position, and clinching Friends Academy’s third straight Long Island title.

The one match where Friends Academy did not drop the opening set was at first doubles, as Hudson Lee & Steven Seviroli won 6-4, 6-4 to give their team the early advantage.

And on the remaining courts, the Quakers leaned into their championship experience to launch comebacks. Bryan Bin lost his first set 3-6, but turned the tide by losing just four games the rest of the way, securing a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory at second singles.

On the next court over, Bin’s teammate Will Bohner was in a similar position as he lost his first set 2-6. But Bohner played excellent tennis in the second and third sets, dropping just two games of his own to complete a 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 win in the first singles

“He was playing amazing tennis in that first set, no unforced errors and taking a lot of my balls early. I was putting it right in his strike zone and he took advantage,” said Bohner. “I had to get the ball higher, and do more attacking and coming into the net, and show him that I wasn’t afraid to attack. I made sure to get my first serves in and just made my shots.”

Playing side-by-side, Bohner said he had a sense that Bin was making a comeback in his match, and that helped pick up his energy.

“Bryan never yells, so when I heard him yelling in the second set I knew he was playing well,” said Bohner. “He was loud, I started getting loud, and we were just feeding off of each other.”

The second and third doubles matches did not finish as the overall team match had been settled. Friends Academy’s Henry Koelmel & Vedant Rawat led 2-6, 76(5), 5-3 at second doubles, and Blake Doan & Vir Singh of Friends Academy were ahead 6-7(5), 6-3, 20 at third doubles when the contests were halted.

Friends Academy is now the three-time Long Island Champion

Bryan Bin won a key match at second singles to help lead Friends Academy

Hudson Lee & Steven Seviroli celebrate winning a point during their victory at first doubles

Syosset Wins Long Island Division I Championship

Syosset

Syosset defeated Hills East 7-0 to capture the Long Island Division I Championship, and advance to the State Championships.

“The goal is the State Championship,” said Syosset’s Aayan Mehta. “That’s been on our mind since the beginning of the season.”

Mehta delivered a 6-1, 6-3 victory at third singles for the Braves on Friday, as his singles teammates also won their matches in straight sets, with Devan Melandro winning 6-3, 6-1 at first singles, and Nikhil Shah posting a 6-2, 6-4 victory in the second spot.

Syosset’s depth proved to be invaluable once again as the Braves took all four doubles flights in straight sets.

At first doubles, Jacob Prince & Aidan Maddux won 6-3, 6-3; Veyd Trivedi & Shiv Chadha were 6-2, 6-1 winners at second doubles; Grayson Prince & Loui Peredo won 6-1, 6-0 on the third doubles court, and Anik Paul & Leon Zhao rounded out the scoring with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph at fourth doubles.

“It’s our depth,” Mehta added about what makes Syosset so successful. “The amount of talent we are able to bring in each year. We always have young players coming in and contributing.”

This Braves program has established a culture that both the veteran players

and underclassmen are aware of, which is a major reason for its sustained success.

“We have great camaraderie on this team,” said Shah. “Each day at practice, everyone is locked in and on the same page. We have friendships on and off the court, and it keeps us close.”

Syosset head coach Shai Fisher added:

“I really give all the credit to the boys and their parents, and the community, I am just along for the ride. They are the ones who put in hours and hours of hard work and really buy into the program.”

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Syosset won the Long Island Large School championship for a third consecutive year

Devan Melandro, Nikhil Shah and Aayan Mehta won at first, second and third singles, respectively, for Syosset

Anik Paul & Leon Zhao helped lead Syosset with their fourth doubles victory

2025 long island boys’ high school recap

continued from page 43

Long Island Players Compete at NYSPHSAA Individual Championships

Thetop players from across New York gathered at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to compete in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Championships, which included seven singles players and six doubles pairings from Long Island.

Roslyn’s Ethan Solop would finish in third place while Manhasset’s Max Golubenko was the fourth place finisher. Both players reached the semifinals but came up short in their respective matches, and Solop then defeated Golubenko 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-5 in the third-fourth playoff.

Friends Academy’s Will Bohner, Walt Whitman’s Samuel Lopez-Cardenas and Ward Melville’s Shashank Pennabadi advanced as far as the quarterfinals in singles play.

The Syosset pairing of Aayan Mehta & Nikhil Shah, the Hills East duo of Lohit Madisetty & Marcus Gonzales and Garden City’s Christian Bravo & Ben Wiese all reached the quarterfinals in the doubles draw.

In the end, Chris Cho & Pratik Nayak of Clarkstown South won the NYSPHSAA Doubles title while New Rochelle’s Alexander Suhanitski won the singles title.

Below are the top six finishers in singles and doubles from the 2025 NYSPHSAA Boys’ Tennis Individual Championships:

Singles

• Alexander Suhanitski (New Rochelle)

• Sam Saeed (Scarsdale)

• Ethan Solop (Roslyn)

• Max Golubenko (Manhasset)

• Shashank Pennabadi (Ward Melville)

• Sam Lopez-Cardenas (Walt Whitman)

Doubles

• Chris Cho & Pratik Nayak (Clarkstown South)

• Drew Fishback & Tucker Fishback (Geneva)

• Adam Fink & Henry Xue (Horace Greeley)

• Charles Martin & Eli Snider (Briarcliff)

• Christian Bravo & Nina Wiese (Garden City)

• Aayan Mehta & Nikhil Shah (Syosset)

Friends Academy Captures First New York State Tennis Championship

Third time’s a charm.

Playing in the NYSPHSAA Division 2 Championship for the third straight season, Friends Academy would not be denied this time around. The Quakers edged Byram Hills in thrilling fashion, winning 3-2 to claim the state title for the first time in program history.

“We knew going in that it was going to be a very close match, and it turned out to be that way,” said Friends Academy head coach Owen Kassimir. “The last two years, we thought we had it and were close, which was frustrating and disappointing, but that’s what makes this one so sweet. Being here three years in a row and coming back to win this time is fantastic.”

after their 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

“They played together all season and had a really good year,” said Kassimir. “They came back in several matches during the season, and I’m so thrilled for them to be able to clinch it.”

Byram Hills’ victories would come from Casey Goldstein & Arun Das who won 7-6(4), 7-5 at second doubles, and Vasily OuyangChristiansen who won 6-1, 6-3 at third singles.

Prior to the clinching win from Singh & Doan, Hudson Lee & Steven Seviroli were 6-3, 6-2 winners at first doubles, and Will Bohner won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles for Friend Academy.

In an ironic twist, the match would come down to two players who did not play in either of the previous state championships.Vir Singh, who wasn’t in the lineup a year ago, and Blake Doan, who was on the junior varsity team, had the title resting on their racquets as they battled it out on the third doubles court after Friends Academy and Byram Hills split the first four flights.

Despite falling behind 0-2 in the deciding third set, Singh & Doan were unfazed, and instead of playing passively, they turned up the aggressiveness. In doing so, they were able to rattle off the next four games to move ahead 4-2.

A couple of games later, Singh served out the match and the championship, clinching the title with an overhead winner that set off a team-wide celebration

“The seniors this year have been on the team for the two losses in the state championship, and so to have the support of past players, and the experience to finally win one was definitely a full circle moment," said Bohner. "It's a big deal for the Friends Academy program and shows how consistent we have been."

It was a special day for the Friends Academy program and it showed as dozens of teachers and other staff from the school were on hand to watch their tennis team bring home the state title.

“Knowing we did this for our school and that the school is proud of us means a lot. We had about 30 teachers here today which was really nice and it’s hard to describe how much that meant to us,” said Kassimir. “It was a complete team win, they did it as a whole. We’ve been looking forward to this day all season, and this was the cherry on top of a great year.”

A determined Friends Academy team won its first NYSPHSAA Boys’ Tennis Title

2025 long island boys’ high school recap continued from page 00

Syosset

Claims

Third Straight New York State Title

Entering

this season, the boys of the Syosset tennis team had one goal.

As the two-time defending New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Division I Champions, winning the title for a third straight time was on everyone’s mind.

At the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in June, the Braves accomplished their sought-after threepeat as it defeated Bethlehem 4-0 to win the state title (the final three flights were not finished when the overall team match had been clinched).

“We all know how hard it is to accomplish this even one time, and each one of these is special in their own way,” said Syosset head coach Shai Fisher. “I think our team knew what was at stake, and they had an amazing opportunity in front of them. They take it seriously which makes it easy for me as a coach, I just try not to push them too hard and make sure they are in the right headspace.”

After edging Horace Greeley 4-3 in the regional final, Syosset advanced to the semifinals at the National Tennis Center where it defeated Washingtonville 7-0 to advance to the championship.

It carried that momentum into its showdown with Bethlehem, and leaned on the depth of its roster as it picked up wins at second, third and fourth doubles.

Veyd Trivedi & Shiv Chadha were 6-1, 6-3 winners at second doubles; Grayson Prince & Loui Peredo posted a 6-

1, 6-0 victory at third doubles; and Leon Zhao & Anik Paul won 6-1, 6-3 at fourth doubles.

Needing one more court to seal the state title, Syosset would get it from Aayan Mehta at third singles, who won 6-4, 6-2, clinching a win for his team for the fourth time this postseason.

A year ago, Mehta paired with Ryan Jiang and won at second doubles to clinch the state title, but did so on the singles court this time around.

“Winning the state title in doubles last year was an amazing experience, but doing it in singles this time around was definitely a different feeling,” he said. “In doubles, you always have your partner to lean on, and you celebrate those big moments together. But winning in singles felt more personal–it was really rewarding to know that all the hard work I’ve put in individually paid off. Both were special in their own ways, but this one felt like a big step for me as a player.

Syosset will now get ready for next spring and an opportunity to win a fourth straight State title, but will do so without its four graduating seniors, which includes Trivedi & Chadha, as well as first singles player Devan Melandro and Cooper Steinberger.

“We have four seniors, and they each have their own story,” said Fisher. “Devan, Veyd, Shiv and Cooper have all had so much success in our program, and the fact that they are able to play at this level says a lot about them and shows how committed they have been.”

Syosset continued its dominant in New York as it has now won three straight Division I championships

In the Kitchen

An in-depth look at Pickleball on Long Island

Outdoor Season Begins With Long Island June Pickleball Challenge

Battling through difficult weather conditions, players came out to compete in the Long Island June Pickleball Challenge presented by Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group on the courts of SPORTIME Hempstead Lake.

With temperatures north of 90 degrees, the only thing hotter than the sun itself was the competition on the court. Players competed across four divisions of play with an assortment of round-robin matches that fed into the playoff rounds for each.

A continental breakfast was offered

complimentary to all players, and as the tournament moved along, there was a “happy hour” available as well. The presenting sponsor, Orlin & Cohen was on-site to provide players with various giveaways including sun screen, cooling towels and more.

“This was such a fun event and they did a great job of putting it together,” said Araksya Hovsepyan. “It was wellorganized; they had water and ice ready at all times for everybody, and the happy hour was a great touch and helped a lot!”

Hovsepyan teamed with Spela Sluga to win the Women’s 3.5 - 4.0 doubles division in a thrilling 12-10 victory over the pairing of Emilie Katz & Abby Lerner.

The two normally play indoors, but showed they could adjust to outdoor competition, even despite the heat.

“I think it was our mindset. We made sure to take a lot of deep breaths, and check in with each other to see if we needed a timeout. We slowed on the change of serves, and I think that’s what helped us push through,’ said Sluga. “This was such a great tournament, we really

Women’s 3.5 - 4.0 Doubles Champions Araksya Hovsepyan & Spela Sluga

Men’s 3.5 - 4.0 Doubles Champions Evan La Spina & Darwin Lee

Men’s 4.0 - 4.5 Doubles Champions Jordan Engel & Simon Corney

Mixed Doubles 4.0 - 4.5 Doubles Champions Chris Biscuiti & Gina Spagnuola

appreciate all the work that went into it. They did a great job of communicating ahead of time which allowed us to just focus on our matches.”

In the Men’s 3.5 - 4.0 doubles division, Evan La Spina & Darwin Lee came away with the title after outlasting Matthew Schlosser & John McCormack 11-5 in the championship match.

The two have known each other for decades and that helps them with their on-court chemistry.

“We grew up together so we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” said La Spina. “We were struggling a bit towards the end but made sure to stay hydrated, drink a lot and stay in the shade as best we could.”

Lee said La Spina picked him up late in the tournament, especially in the finals.

“I was not playing well in that last match but he kept me steady and really stepped up,” he said.

Jordan Engel & Simon Corney used their conditioning to outlast their opponents in the Men’s 4.0 - 4.5 doubles draw, playing their best pickleball in the playoff rounds. In the championship, the two defeated Brad Berger & Ryan Wales 11-7 to claim the title.

“They’re a tough team, so you really have to pick your spots and wait for the right moments to attack,” said Engel. “They were tough competition.”

Corney added:

“We have a very good understanding

of where the other is going to be on court, and we complement each other well. It was very difficult conditions but it was the same for everybody, so we just tried to handle it as best we could.”

Both were complimentary of the tournament itself and the work done by co-tournament directors David Sickmen and Michelle Stoerback to put on a top-tier event.

“We really appreciate what they’ve done. There was a lot going on with morning rain and then afternoon heat, but it went smoothly, and we really had a fantastic day,” said Corney.

2025 LI June Pickleball Challenge Full Results:

Women’s Doubles 3.5 - 4.0

GOLD: Araksya Hovsepyan / Spela Sluga

SILVER: Emilie Katz / Abby Lerner

BRONZE: Lynn Blanchette / Tessa Gould

Men’s Doubles 3.5 - 4.0

GOLD: Evan La Spina / Darwin Lee

SILVER: Matthew Schlosser / John McCormack

BRONZE: Patrick Powers / Robert Stark

Men’s Doubles 4.0 - 4.5

GOLD: Jordan Engel / Simon Corney

SILVER: Brad Berger / Ryan Wales

BRONZE: Roey Heymann / Harris Durkovic

The Mixed Doubles 4.0 - 4.5 division culminated with an epic championship match between Chris Biscuiti & Gina Spagnuola and Chris Colesanti & Dorothy Connelly. In the end, Biscuiti & Spagnuolo were able to outlast their opponents, winning 12-10 to earn the gold medal.

Mixed Doubles 4.0 - 4.5

GOLD: Chris Biscuiti / Gina Spagnuola

SILVER: Chris Colesanti / Dorothy Connelly

BRONZE: Richard Nessim / Rebecca Torres

The two made an adjustment after losing to Colesanti & Connelly during the round-robin, and were able to change things up in the final.

“We played them in pool play and they beat us, so I knew going into the final we were going to have a big test,” said Biscuiti. “But coming off of some big wins in the playoffs, we were ready to handle all of their offense. Gina’s hands are phenomenal, and we just hung tough, and pulled through with our effort and grit.”

Having competed together in Open Plays and other tournaments, Biscuiti & Spagnuola were able to overcome deficits in the finals, and manage the heat.

“I brought some watermelon for Chris and I, plus lots of water, gatorade, etc.,” Spagnuola said. “Breathing deeply and taking our time was a big help. After playing games to 15, playing to 11 in the final made it easier, and our adrenaline allowed us to come through.”

The Long Island June Pickleball Challenge was the latest event within the

2025 LITM Summer Series and continued our strong presence in the pickleball community, setting the stage for future events.

“I would like to thank our title sponsor Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group for their amazing support in helping us put on a professionally-run and successful event. We made sure all participants played a lot, that the tournament ran on time and that we had food, drinks, etc. available to players during the tournament,” said Tournament Director David Sickmen. “I also want to thank SPORTIME Hempstead Lake for hosting and doing a great job of getting the courts ready for play, and my cotournament director Michelle Stoerback for all of her hard work in tournament coordination. Also, a thank you to the players who participated as well came together to make this a successful event. We’re excited to continue to run professionally-operated events and grow our presence in the pickleball community.”

The next Long Island Pickleball Challenge will be held on Saturday, September 20. Stay tuned to LITennisMag.com/Events for the latest information and registration.

Concentrate Focus on What You Can Control

By Rob Polishook

We have all heard the phrase, ‘They lost their focus!' It happens when a pickleball player experiences a lapse in concentration, leading to missed opportunities, such as an easy put-away or a return. It's a common occurrence for most players. One moment, you may feel completely focused, with a smooth, relaxed, and in-control demeanor, and then suddenly, boom! You find yourself walking off the court, bewildered, not knowing what happened, as your mind was dwelling in the past or anticipating the future. It can feel like being thrust into another reality, where tension mounts, and every step seems burdensome, as if a weight is pressing down on your back.

Maybe you've encountered a similar scenario, but in a different context: You're just one point away

from winning the game, and the only thought racing through your mind is, 'I need to get this point.' You start to feel the pressure mounting. Your heart rate increases, and you rush your serve. Before you know it, you find yourself in a crosscourt dink exchange, feeling as though a noose is tightening, and you're left wondering how your concentration shifted from one-shot-at-a-time to being scattered everywhere except the present moment.

Concentration is a crucial yet often misunderstood mental skill. While the dictionary defines concentration as giving something undivided attention or narrowing focus, these definitions may not fully capture the complexity of concentration in the context of competitive sports. Athletes need to develop an action plan and, more importantly, apply it

effectively to their specific sport and the various situations they encounter.

Dr. Alan Goldberg, a nationally renowned sports psychology consultant, defines concentration as “the ability to focus on what's important and let go of everything else.” This definition implies that an athlete's concentration may be ineffective if it's directed towards the wrong things. Expanding on Dr. Goldberg's definition, we can further define concentration as the choice to focus on what you can control and let go of what you can't control.

Have you ever found yourself fixating on something outside of your control? Reflect on that situation. How did it impact your anxiety levels? How did it affect your concentration when you were standing at the line, ready to serve?

Focusing on factors beyond our control almost always derails our performance, creating a sense of helplessness and unease that can lead to a downward spiral. On the other hand, directing our focus towards what we can control, such as our energy level, attitude, and reactions to tournament situations, can boost our confidence and give us more control over our destiny.

There is a helpful strategy that pickleball players can use to enhance their concentration on what they can control before each tournament. Try this exercise: on the left side of a sheet of paper, list the behaviors and strategies that you can control during a tournament and label it as “Controllables”. Your list might include preparation, staying positive, making adjustments, regulating your breathing, managing your reactions to certain situations, or bouncing back from

adversity. On the right side of the paper, list what you are unable to control, such as weather, court conditions, or the outcome (as you cannot directly control winning or losing). By simply labeling what you can and cannot control, you will increase your awareness of where you want your focus to be. For example, a pickleball player cannot control the wind, but they can control how they react to it and make necessary adjustments to ensure their third shot drop has enough power to clear the net. Without this awareness, a player may continue to focus on the wrong things.

With an understanding of what you can and cannot control, it is important to note that an athlete will inevitably lose focus. Rather than getting angry at yourself, the key response is simple: bring your attention back to what you can control. This non-judgmental process will help the athlete shift their focus.

Without this awareness, a pickleball player may continue to focus on the wrong things. During games, the choice to refocus on what you can control is equally important as maintaining your focus in the first place.

Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach, he works with the whole human athlete helping them to unleash their mental edge (heart.energy.spirit) through mindfulness, somatic psychology, animal wisdom and mental training skills. Rob is author of 2 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, following on Instagram @insidethezone

Love Serving Autism Teams With USTA Eastern, Adelphi University For Free Special Needs Training & Clinic

Thisspring, Love Serving Autism teamed up with USTA Eastern to hold a special event on the campus of Adelphi University in Garden City, empowering coaches and instructors with approaches, skills and techniques to teach tennis to neurodivergent students.

“By introducing inclusive racquet sports strategies rooted in therapeutic and evidence-based practices, we’re not just teaching tennis–we’re creating opportunities for connection, communication and confidence-building in individuals with autism and developmental challenges,” said Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix, Founder of Love Serving Autism.

Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix of Love Serving Autism demonstrates a banner that hangs on courts to help neurodivergent students communicate and express themselves

Based in Palm Beach, Florida, Love Serving Autism strives to create a world where individuals with autism and other developmental abilities are empowered through racquet sports to reach their full potential, fostering inclusive communities

that celebrate and support their unique talents.

As a part of its mission, it not only conducts classes, clinics and seminars in Florida, but also helps educate tennis instructors across the country on how to institute these tactics to students in their programs. That was the impetus for this spring’s event at Adelphi, where Pugliese-LaCroix herself traveled to New York to team with USTA Eastern and the Adelphi Bridges Program, a support program for Adelphi University students who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, for a free clinic and training seminar for local coaches.

approach unlocks new doors for so many athletes who may have previously felt excluded from transitional sports settings,” Pugliese-LaCroix explained. “Inclusion doesn’t lower the bar–it raises the potential of everyone involved, both coaches and players.”

“Helping coaches and volunteers understand how to adapt their

Pugliese-LaCroix spoke about her organization during a powerpoint presentation, sharing stories from families of those positively impacted from LSA, and discussing ways to communicate and

welcome in players. The group then went out to the courts for more hands-on training, which included members of Adelphi’s Bridges Program taking part in drills and other games.

“One of the most heart-warming outcomes of this event was the enthusiastic participation of the neurodiverse Adelphi students on campus. They not only loved the experience, but expressed a strong desire for more inclusive racquet sports events in the future,” Pugliese-LaCroix

said. “Equally inspiring was the involvement of Adelphi student volunteers, who shared how meaningful it was to make a direct impact through tennis. It was a true community moment that reflected the spirit of compassion, learning and shared joy.”

Being able to learn new techniques and effective teaching methods to introduce tennis and other racquet sports to more individuals can have a lasting impact, not just on the growth of tennis but also the lives of the

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students and players for whom these events serve.

“We’re incredibly grateful to USTA Eastern for organizing the event, and to Adelphi University for opening their campus and hearts to this initiative,” Pugliese-LaCroix concluded. “The response from the Long Island community was deeply encouraging. Events like this show how, with the right tools and inclusive mindset, we can transform tennis courts into spaces of belonging–one serve at a time.”

Whilethe warm weather took its time to come around this year, play has been on fire on the courts of Long Island!

To kick advancing rounds off, congratulations to Lynbrook’s 18+ 6.0 mixed team which was crowned Eastern Champions in May. Good luck to Donna Healy and her team who will showcase their skills and represent Long Island at the National Championships in November.

The latest Sectionals included the 55+ Mixed, 4.0 Tri-Level, and 5.0 Tri-Level leagues which were held in Westchester. It was a beautiful weekend with plenty of sunshine, and our LI players gave it their all.

The 4.0 Tri-Level Women's team captained by Atara Simpson finished in fifth place.

While the first place 4.0 Tri-Level Men's team was not available to travel to Sectionals, the team out of Kings Park captained by Donald Jackson was quick to step up and represent Long Island.

The 5.0 Tri-Level Women's league captained by Susan Bacey and Alyssa Bonadonna fought hard and made LI proud with their efforts.

And last but not least, the 55+ 7.0 Mixed team captained by Jen Mao and Dawn Schosberg came up just short by placing second in the Section.

The 40+ mixed season wrapped up in early June and the Sectional season will end in September. Please see below to recognize those local winners for each level:

Adult League Wrap-Up

By Becky Bellino

• 40 & Over 6.0

MixedChristopher Morley (Captains David Ng and Sophia Yang)

• 40 & Over 7.0

MixedSportime Lynbrook (Captain Donna Healy)

• 40 & Over 8.0

MixedCarefree Racquet Club (Captains Terry Kossegi and Patty Siler)

• 40 & Over 9.0

Mixed - Deer Park (Captain Roslyn ChuaMcAlonie)

On a final note, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for welcoming me into your tennis lives over the last four years. Later this summer, I will be taking on the League Coordinator role in the Southern Region and my new colleague, Milly Keighery, will be your contact for all

things Adult Leagues in Long Island. I will be staying within the Eastern family and train Milly over the next few months, so I promise not to be a stranger and know that I will see many of you on my travels out east from time to time, or better yet, at Sectionals!

While a Westchester girl, I will always hold a special place in my heart for the Long Island tennis community, and I thank you all for that!

Milly is an exceptional addition to our Adult League Staff. I have known her for years, and know that you will adore her as much as our team does. Should you need to reach out to her or would like to introduce yourself, her email can be found below.

Thank you again for all the fun. See you on the courts!

Becky Bellino is the Adult League Coordinator for USTA Eastern/Southern. She may be reached at bellino@eastern.usta.com. Milly Keighery is the new Adult League Coordinator for USTA Eastern/Long Island. She may be reached at keighery@eastern.usta.com

The Beast of the East

By Tonny van de Pieterman

Thelanguage we use to describe what happened during a tennis match gives us an insight into what is going on underneath the surface, in the undercurrent of our being. The language of the subconscious is imagery, so those descriptive words are what we are looking for.

“I thought I had it in the bag”, the player I coach said, after an early lead turned around and led to an unsatisfying course of events. Losing the match, to me, was not the issue. It was the major energy drop I noticed right after the lead was squandered, after what she thought ‘was in the bag’ escaped!

The language she used explains that she is trying to keep something under control. Instead of fighting for her opportunities to create a good result, she seems to be fighting against something This is the energy of avoidance, and it is exhausting.

At first thought, you might think it is her opponent she is trying to control, to keep in the bag, but it is really the wild animal spirit inside her.

There is wildness in her, a powerful force that she is afraid to engage. By keeping it locked up, in the bag, she thinks she is in control of it. However, when she keeps it in there, it has a terrible downside: she plays uninspired and mechanical, almost like she is frozen stiff.

The difference between when she is practicing and when she plays a match is night and day.

During practice she shows off an entertaining, all-around game, with measured aggression, relentless energy, and plenty of creativity.

In everyday life most people wear a mask, a persona. We show people the person we want them to think we are. However, when you are relating to another person in a confronting way, like a tennis match, the mask will come off and you will be exposed. The way you play a competitive match is the way you

hold yourself, the way you speak to yourself, and it shows what you believe you are allowed to express into the world.

What is in the bag is your life force, your potential: an abundance of energy.

This energy is wild and untrained, and once it gets turned on as aggression it can be destructive. This is where the fear of ‘letting it out of the bag’ comes from. You are afraid of this beast, the internal dragon.

However, if energy and even aggression can be used for creative purposes, all your goals and dreams can come true.

The lesson?

Get to know your beast; learn to tame your dragon.

Do it slowly, do it measured, or it will burn the house down. Remember, this force has been locked up for a long time and has a lot of pent-up energy.

We think we are scared that we are powerless, but we are really afraid that

we are powerful beyond control!

Use the tennis scoring system as a guide:

If you get up 30-0 in the first game, let the beast out, play aggressively, be bold! Yes, you might miss clumsily, or you might miss big, but not much will be lost. The score will be 30-15.

Here’s a tip: bring your sense of humor, because initially this free energy will be a little too amped up, possibly comically so.

At 30-all, keep it in the bag safely, be patient and play smart.

Be mindful on every point, on every score, until you know your beast inside and out, until it is firmly in your corner. Soon, it will know when it is called upon and when to stay put.

You don’t need a momentous breakthrough to play your best tennis. You need to win the ‘Inner game’ each time out.

It’s the only game worth playing! Thanks for listening to me, your tennis therapist!

Tonny van de Pieterman is a tennis professional at Point Set Indoor Racquet Club in Oceanside, N.Y.. In his long coaching career, he was honored with the USTA Tennis Professional of the Year for the USTA Eastern Long Island Region. He may be reached by phone at (516) 536-2323 or e-mail Tonny@PointSetTennis.com.

Family Tennis Festival Hits East Setauket

To kick off the outdoor season, Game Set Match Tennis Academy at the Long Island Health & Racquet Club in East Setauket held a free Family Festival.

With the support of USTA Eastern Long Island, the event was free to attend for all and featured games, activities and clinics for all ages and levels, with players ranging from five-years-old through adults and seniors throughout the afternoon, with 14-time Grand Slam champion Arantxa Sánchez Vicario on hand to put the players through drills and speak to all attendees.

“Our main goal is to present a good quality event to the families and community around us, expose all these kids and families to tennis, have a good time playing and also give them the opportunity to meet a tennis legend,” said Tito Perez, Director of Tennis at Game Set Match Tennis Academy. “I think this was a perfect event. We had a lot of people coming, with an average of 250 people this whole weekend

between kids, parents, and coaches. It was a very good event. We were able to expose tennis to many people and give them the first chance to play tennis, and that first experience is fundamental to anything. I think it was a perfect day and an incredible event.”

The courts were divided by age and level, with the courts being led by Sanchez-Vicario, Tito Perez,

Victor Perez and top players from the Game Set Match Academy. There were forehand, backhand, serve and volley drills, as well as point play.

On other courts, teaching professionals helped provide basic fundamental instruction to some of the adults from the community who attended and were trying tennis for the first time, as well as more

experienced adults on other courts. There were courts dedicated to young players who got to play a variety of games to help introduce tennis to them in a fun and inviting way.

Throughout the day, there was music playing across all the courts and guests were able to enjoy a pizza party afterwards to put a bow on a wonderful day of tennis.

A major emphasis from Perez and his team is introducing adult

players to tennis through the same template as Net Generation, and running Adult Red Ball programs. By using the formula that has helped countless young players gain entry into tennis, the love of tennis can be spread to adults who may never have played before, and this event was an ideal introduction to that.

“After the tennis festival, we ran our red ball program,” Perez added. “The name is Learn Tennis

Now (LTN) and we were able to add 110 new adult players into our program. We are almost finished with the first round of that, and we are going to start our second LTN program later this summer. I hope we have more players playing tennis, and that is going to help us also grow our membership, bring more people in to play at our club, and also grow the game of tennis here on Long Island.”

Improving Transition Game for Junior Tennis Players

By Leo Correa

Essential Strategies and Techniques

Strong transition skills can turn the tide of any junior tennis match. Moving smoothly from the baseline to the net or quickly changing gears can catch opponents off guard. For young players, mastering this part of the game isn’t just about scoring points it shapes their overall development. The better your transition game, the more control you have of the match. It boosts confidence, sharpens court awareness, and creates more winning chances. This article will explore key technical skills, strategic tips, physical fitness routines, and coaching methods to help junior players dominate those quick transition moments.

Understanding the Transition Phase in Junior Tennis

The transition phase is the moment when a player shifts from a defensive position at the baseline to launching an attack at the net. It happens after a shot that alters the rally. Think of it as a relay race moving from one stage to the next without losing speed. Whether you’re closing in on the net or retreating to defend, quick and smart transitions keep

you in control of the point.

Key Challenges Faced by Juniors

Many young players struggle with court awareness, they are unsure when to go for the net or fall back. Poor footwork can leave them off balance right when they need to move fast. Limited tactical knowledge also causes hesitation. Often, juniors don’t recognize the right moment to attack or defend during transitions, leading to missed opportunities or unforced errors.

Impact of Transition Skills on Match Performance

Stats show that players who succeed in transition points win more matches. For example, a study of junior tournaments found that winning 60 percent of transition rallies gave players a big edge. Real-life examples reinforce this top juniors often gain the upper hand with quick, decisive moves after their opponent's shot. Developing strong transition skills can help young players climb dramatically in their game. Additional studies have shown the average tennis point last 4 shots or less,

so having the ability to change the timing is important.

Technical Foundations for Effective Transition Play

Mastering Movement and Footwork

Fast, precise footwork is the foundation of good transition play. Effective players use small, quick steps to close in on approach shots or retreat for defensive shots. Practicing lateral movement drills like shuffling or cone drills increases speed and coordination. Explosive sprints improve overall quickness, preparing juniors to adjust positions rapidly.

Developing Shot Variety and Precision

Approach shots, volleys, and smashes are needed during transition plays. Practice routines that focus on hitting volleys close to the net or executing precise approach shots build confidence. Quick reflex volleys, in particular, help juniors respond fast to passing shots. Remember, accuracy beats power in quick transition exchanges a controlled volley often wins points.

Improving Court Awareness and Anticipation

Reading your opponent's shots is key

Watch for cues like racket angle or body position that hint where the ball will go. Use targeted drills that simulate real match scenarios to sharpen anticipation skills. The more you anticipate, the faster you can react, making your transitions sharper and more effective.

Tactical Strategies to Enhance Transition Game

Recognizing Transition Opportunities

The moment to push forward or fall back isn’t always obvious. Watch how your opponent hits the ball and their position on the court. If they hit a deep shot, it may be a good time to approach. If they seem out of position or hit a weaker shot, seize the chance to attack. Smart players

adapt their game plan based on situational clues.

Implementing Effective Approach Shots

Choosing the right shot to approach sets up your net play. Aim for deep, low balls that force your opponent to lift shots that open up space at the net. When under pressure, stay calm and keep your approach shot simple but accurate. Practice hitting approach shots from different angles to feel confident during matches.

Net Play and Volley Mastery

Strong volleys and overheads win points at the net. Keep your racket steady and eyes on the ball. Position your body to intercept low shots and step into the ball for control. Move quickly side to side to cover the court efficiently. The better you handle volleys, the more you can maintain pressure during fast transitions.

Managing High-Pressure Situations

Fast exchanges can rattle young players. Stay calm by focusing on your breath and routine. Make quick decisions but avoid rushing into unplanned shots. Think of each transition as a mini sprint — keep your mind clear and your body relaxed to make the best play consistently

Physical Conditioning and Mental Preparation

Building Agility and Quickness

Off-court agility drills like ladder exercises and cone drills improve reaction time. Lateral sprints and plyometric jumps boost explosive movement, helping juniors reach the ball faster. These exercises build the foundation for faster, sharper transition skills.

Enhancing Endurance and Recovery

Matches often require sustained movement. Incorporate cardio routines such as running or cycling to boost stamina. After intensive drills, focus on stretching and hydration to prevent fatigue. A fresh body responds faster and stays sharp during critical transition moments.

Mental Toughness and Focus

Good players stay mentally engaged even during rapid exchanges. Practice visualization techniques, imagining ideal transition scenarios. Develop routines like deep breathing before points to maintain focus. Mental resilience keeps you confident and attentive during hectic parts of a match.

Coaching Tips and Practice Drills for Developing Transition Skills Designing Effective Training Sessions

Create drills that replicate match situations. For instance, set up rally scenarios where players practice approaching the net after a specific shot or retreating quickly. Combine technical drills with tactical exercises to build a well-rounded transition game.

Using Video Analysis and Feedback

Record junior players during practice and matches. Review clips to highlight strong plays and identify areas for improvement. Focus on movement patterns, shot selection, and court positioning. Use this feedback to refine techniques and develop better decisionmaking.

Encouraging Game Situations and Match Play

Organize practice matches with a focus on transition points. Set goals like winning a certain number of quick points at the net or practicing retreat and counterattack. Simulate pressure situations to develop adaptive strategies and boost confidence when real match moments arrive.

Conclusion

Improving the transition game is vital for junior tennis players aiming to climb the ranks. Success combines technical skills, tactical awareness, physical agility, and mental toughness. Consistent practice, targeted drills, and good coaching unlock this key part of the game. Remember, mastering your footwork, developing tactical insight, building fitness, and practicing realistic scenarios will make you more competent and confident on the court. Working on your transition training will help your overall match performance soar. Whether you’re a young player or coach, focusing on this stage will deliver big results. The court is your playground so make your moves count, and turn quick transitions into your biggest advantage.

Leo Correa is a High-Performance Specialist at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, a role he has held since 2017. He possesses ITF, PTR, USPTA and Emilio Sanchez Certifications. As a tour coach, he experienced traveling with ITF junior players to Europe and Africa. He can be reached at leo.correa@usta.com.

Why Players Love Tennis

By Dr. Tom Ferraro

Thereare five primary reasons people choose to play the game of tennis. Let’s explore each.

1.One of the most common reasons that prompt the choice of tennis is exposure. If you happen to be a part of the upper middle classes you will have been exposed to tennis at your country club. And as they say in business, it’s all about ‘location, location, location’. If you grow up on a beach, you will become a swimmer or surfer. If you grow up in the middle of Brooklyn, you will take up basketball. And if you live in one of the golden zip codes in Nassau County, your kids will spend summers at your country club, and will get to see tennis courts filled with players dressed in their tennis whites.

2.Another reason you might choose tennis is aesthetics. The game has a wonderful symmetry, elegance and beauty to it which is one reason some of our greatest writers have focused on tennis. E.B. White, Vladimir Nabokov, Ring Lardner, Paul Theroux and W. Somerset Maugham have all waxed poetic about the elegant beauty of tennis. “This small precise green pool” and this “pug, pug, pug, pug” sound of ball to racket is E.B. White’s way of showing his love of tennis. And if you love beauty, tennis will draw you into its heart and soul.

3.If a parent happens to love the game of tennis, it is likely that the child will also play. This is called role modeling and we are genetically predisposed to act like our parents. In addition, children have a desire to relate to their

parents and spend time with them, so they often pick up the game their parents play. I know that is how I got into golf. Because my father played. He was a fun guy to be with and I was smart enough to follow along.

4.Our personality affects our choice of sport and how we will perform in it. Each sport is different and draws in certain personalities. Boxing attracts angry aggressive types. Golf seems to attract analytic types characterized as obsessive compulsive. Research suggests that tennis attracts players higher in intelligence, and who are more sociable, spontaneous, creative, aggressive, competitive and focused. When you interview tennis players from Europe you’re immediately impressed with their intelligence as they fluently switch between three or four languages. I have always felt tennis players are willing to go into the arena and risk shame in order to obtain glory. By its nature tennis demands

competitiveness and a ‘take-noprisoners’ attitude.

5.Over time and especially if the player is very talented, the issue of fame and fortune become motivators. Scholarships can be obtained and even a professional career if the player is good enough, able to avoid injuries and can cope with ever increasing levels of competition without losing confidence. Money and a pro career are enticing things indeed. But with fame and money the joy of the game can be lost and that is a big problem.

So there you have it. Tennis players are drawn to the court for a variety of reasons. They see tennis being played, they have seen one or both of their parents play, they love the beauty of the game, they love the competition and, who knows, maybe get a scholarship. Tennis provides the opportunity to exercise your creativity, your aesthetic feelings and your aggression all in the same place.

Who could ask for anything more?

Tennis draws us in for many reasons

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

Yogumyan Captures Singles, Doubles Titles in New Jersey

Daniella Yogumyan of Sportime

Lynbrook as she won both the singles and doubles (partnering with Sofi Erkavun) titles in the Girls 12s divisions at the USTA L4 Championships at Centercourt Club and Sports.

Suffolk Coaches Tennis Association Holds Boys’ Varsity Awards Dinner

The best and brightest from Suffolk County were honored at the annual Suffolk Coaches Tennis Association Awards Dinner at Villa Lombardi in Holbrook. Awards were given out ranging from the top finishers in the Divisional and Sectional tournaments, as well as the team championships. Shane Duerr of Bayport-Blue Point was the recipient of the Suffolk Coaches Tennis Association Scholarship, and USTA Eastern Long Island provided plaques for the sportsmanship winners from each team.

Across Long Island

Across Long Island

Carefree Donates Court Time For Free Lessons With Noah Rubin

Covert Elementary School in Rockville Centre held its annual variety show to benefit the Raymar Children’s Fund which featured many items up for auction, one of which was free tennis lessons at Carefree Racquet Club with former professional Noah Rubin, a Merrick native.

The prize was coordinated by his mother, Melanie Rubin, a first grade ICT teacher at Covert. The lessons took place at Carefree Racquet Club in North Merrick, with court time generously donated by the club.

Kristen Cassidy, Carefree’s assistant manager and league director, helped bring it all together. Students Shahjahan, Shaheer, and Shahmeer Mirza, along with Lucy Gallehugh, had the opportunity to learn from Rubin after their families placed winning bids. “The lesson was amazing and it makes me want to play more tennis!” said Lucy.

Shaheer Mirza added, “It was great watching someone who really knows how to play. I know I can get better!”

40 Love Lifestyle LLC

439 Plandome Rd. l Manhasset, New York 11030 l (516) 570-0781 40LoveLifestyle.com l info@40lovelifestyle.com

40 Love Lifestyle started with a vision to create a local store with an international presence, starting community of local tennis players who could find each other in order to play new, fun and interesting people that have similar mindsets. With that thought, 40 Love opened a local store in Manhasset that could serve as a meeting ground.

A boutique that offered the best collections of clothing for an active lifestyle as well as a sporting goods store with equipment and a beautiful stringing machine that restrings any kind of racquet. A "Sportique” was the solution.

40 Love Lifestyle wants to be your main resource for all of your tennis & racquet sport needs, as well as being your "go-to" store for all the best Golf apparel and accessories, giving you a collection of equipment and apparel that inspires you to feel your best while being active and living your best life. 40 Love carries tennis, badminton, pickleball, and golf equipment, with plans to expand on that in the future. Visit 40LoveLifestyle.com to learn more about the sportique, and shop the wide variety of products, as well as the community 40 Love is creating on the North Shore of Long Island.

inPhorm has launched a Kids tennis collection for the first time on its website. It’s elegant and functional, and the designs are inspired by the silhouettes of the adult line. Construction details and comfortable fabrics match the women’s and the men’s collections, and are equal in quality and reasonable prices.

inPhorm has been offering the Kids Collection to its wholesale accounts, but now makes it available to our online customers. The current girls’ collection is a capsule of the women’s Plumeria Collection, making it easy for a customer to choose a mother and daughter look. The boys’ collection has styles that are taken from the men’s collection that is launching soon on inPhorm’s website. Men, too, can have their father and son look.

Top Tennis Apparel Providers

High Country Ski & Tennis

465 West Mount Pleasant Avenue l Livingston, N.J. l (973) 994-3630

HighCountr ySkiAndTennis.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.

SPORTIME Pro Shops

Locations across Long Island and New York City l (888) NY-TENNIS

Spor timeNY.com

With locations in Randall’s Island, Amagansett, Roslyn, Lynbrook, Syosset, Bethpage, Quogue, Kings Park, and our newest location in Port Washington, many of SPORTIME’s Long Island locations feature full service Pro Shops. Let our dedicated racket sports experts help you find all the gear and clothing you need for tennis, pickleball, and more, on and off the court!

While each shop is unique, geared towards the offerings at each club and the tastes of each club’s players, Sportime Pro Shops offer a great selection of rackets, strings, apparel, bags, footwear and accessories, from top brands like Head, Wilson, Babolat, Yonex, Solinco, Luxilon, Tecnifibre, Nike, K-Swiss, Lucky-in-Love, Sofibella, Lija and others.

Five-star service is always our goal, and SPORTIME provides 24-hour stringing, grommet replacement, racket regripping and customization. If you are looking for a new racket, demos are available for free, or for a small fee. And our network of pro shops can source hard-to-find or out-of-stock items for fast delivery to your nearest SPORTIME location. SPORTIME’s experienced and knowledgeable staff are standing by to help you with all your equipment or apparel needs, maximizing your enjoyment and comfort on and off the court. For more information about SPORTIME’s Pro Shops, or to inquire about programs, lessons and court times, call (888) 698-3664.

Top Tennis Apparel Providers

Tennis East

73 Main Street l Southampton, N.Y. l (631) 283-9535

TennisEastSH@optonline.com l TennisEast.com

For more than 50 years, Tennis East has been the year-round, full-service 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, 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. For more information, contact Tennis East by phone at (631) 283-9535 or e-mail TennisEast@optonline.net.

TopSpin Tennis & Fitness

218 Jericho Turnpike l Syosset, N.Y. l (516) 364-9470

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.

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 high-quality 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 now offers pickleball equipment, including padels, shoes and accessories.

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. For more information, visit TopSpinTennisLI.com.