Long Island Tennis Magazine September / October 2025

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Dwight Global Online: The Right Fit for Scholar-Athletes

Hasyour child ever felt pulled between tennis and school?

Having time to dedicate to tennis makes all the difference in maintaining a competitive edge, but the traditional, in-person school day can limit a player’s options. Dwight Global Online School, the online program of Dwight School on New York’s Upper West Side, offers a solution. Dwight Global’s flexible scheduling allows players to maintain rigorous practice, travel and competition schedules, while pursuing academic excellence and joining an energetic, exciting school community.

Blended and flexible online learning

At Dwight Global, students can attend Dwight online classes from home, their tennis center or on the— road safely, effectively, and flexibly. And because enrollment in Dwight Global gives students access to the thriving, friendly Dwight School community around the world, students are also able to visit Dwight School’s physical campuses—in New York, London, Shanghai, Seoul, and Dubai for in-person experiences, whenever and wherever it’s safe to do so.

Dwight Global focuses on the whole student, incorporating their interests and needs into their curriculum. Whether your student is interested in Advanced Placement courses, the International Baccalaureate Curriculum, or their own personalized course of study, they’ll be participating in a rigorous curriculum, with classes that are NCAA-approved (so they pass all

the required standards for entry into Division I and II schools).

Teachers that understand Dwight’s expert faculty encourage Dwight’s students to believe in their own talents, follow their hearts and take intellectual risks. They understand every student has unique challenges when it comes to balancing their academic and professional —careersand they’re passionate about supporting students in achieving their goals!

Specialized college guidance

Starting in Grade 9, Dwight college counselors work closely with players to prepare them for the college admissions process. While some athletes head straight to the pros, Dwight has a long tradition of placing graduates in leadership

roles at top college athletic programs. Admissions officers recognize the difference between a prestigious Dwight Diploma and other online-only programs.

The Dwight Global difference for scholarathletes

• Students can pursue tennis without compromising their academics.

• Dwight’s faculty are experts in their fields and dedicated to personalizing the Dwight Global experience for every student.

• Students and teachers achieve deeper learning through small class sizes and college-style seminars.

• We are laser-focused on collegereadiness and building lifelong skills.

• We have a 145-plus year track record of admissions to top universities.

Long-term

leadership in academics and athletics

Dwight’s Chancellor Stephen Spahn has 50 years of visionary leadership in global education and was himself an All-American basketball player at Dartmouth College. Dwight’s vice chancellor, Blake Spahn, was captain of the undefeated 1994 Ivy League Champion Columbia University Men’s Tennis team, and knows first-hand the demands on today’s scholar-athletes.

We invite you to contact Admissions@Dwight.Global, call (212) 724-2420 or visit our website at www.Dwight.Global to start crafting a personalized academic path for your child today.

spotlight Junior Player

By Brian Coleman

Lillien Weiss & Luanna Carmo Ross School Tennis Center

Lastseason, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Girls’ Individual Tennis Championships were held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens for the first time in the tournament’s history.

It presented a unique opportunity for deserving high school tennis players who qualified, which included the doubles duo of Luanna Carmo & Lillian Weiss (Lillie Weiss) from the Ross School in East Hampton.

“It was one of the coolest experiences,” Carmo said about playing on the U.S. Open courts. “I’ve always dreamed about playing there, and it was amazing to be able to do it.”

Weiss added:

“Being able to play on the same courts where so many tennis greats have played was a dream for me as well. It’s definitely going to inspire me and push myself this season for an opportunity to return. It was really a gift getting to play there.”

The pair qualified for the State Championships thanks to their third-place finish in the Suffolk County Championships,

a remarkable result for players who are still very young. Carmo was a seventh-grader, and Weiss was an eighth-grader, but the two proved they belong competing at the highest levels of varsity tennis. Weiss began playing tennis when she was three-years-old, the daughter of two parents who were both avid players in their own right, as her father played Division I tennis collegiately while her mother competed at the State Championships when she was a high school player.

A native of the Hamptons, Weiss began training at the Ross School Tennis Center a few years back, while attending public school nearby. Last year her family decided to look for a school where she could not only maximize her ability and time to train for tennis but also receive a top education in person vs online, and after a full search they decided the Ross School was the ideal choice for Lillie.

The Ross School is a dynamic day and boarding school that serves students from nursery through post-graduate. The Tennis Center, also open to the community, offers elite competitive tennis training alongside Ross School’s unique

academic curriculum, and the school team competes in Section XI.

“One of the reasons I wanted to come here was because it’s the number one ranked boarding school in New York, with a really unique, global curriculum,” Weiss said. “I was looking for a school that would support my rigorous tennis training schedule while not sacrificing educational opportunities for myself.

Ross is great at accommodating my unique schedule. When I have to travel for tournaments, the teachers are always helpful at having me stay on target with my classes. Ross also provided me the option as an eight grader to take more advanced high school classes which keep me challenged and interested. My favorite classes this past year were creative writing, public policy and Geometry. The teachers really understand each student’s unique qualities and I am grateful they support me.”

For Carmo, she has been attending and playing tennis at the Ross School since she can remember. Her father, Vinicius, is the school’s Director of Tennis, and her older brother, Leo, competes for the Ross School varsity boys’ team.

“I’ve been playing here since I was three, and I’ve been in love with the sport ever since,” Carmo said. “Having my dad alongside the whole time has been great, and that’s really how I got started. Tennis has been a big part of my family’s life, and they have always been a big inspiration for me. Being able to play tennis and attend school has helped me grow not only as a player, but also as a person.”

As doubles partners, the two have skills that complement each other and make them a great combination. Carmo is excellent from the baseline using the pace and precision of her ground strokes to move opponents around, while Weiss thrives at the net and is aggressive in being able to finish off points there.

Vinicius and the staff at Ross School encourage both of them, as well as all their players, to go for their shots and

take calculated risks.

“They both have great strokes, and this is the age when we want them to grow physically and become stronger,” Vinicius said. “The goal is to prepare them for the future. They are 13 and 14, and the goal is to peak when they are 17 or 18, and be ready to compete at the collegiate level.

Sometimes you go to the net and lose a point, but that will benefit you later. Luanna and Lillie take risks and we encourage that. It’s about the process of improving and finding out what works, and not necessarily about winning every match you play at this age.”

With tennis being such an individual sport, Carmo and Weiss have relished the opportunity to represent their school and compete amongst a team. Being able to play with their friends provides a special bond that can sometimes be rare in tennis.

“This past season was the first time playing on a team for me, and having that support from the girls is amazing,” Weiss said. “It brings a calmness and ease knowing that we are all rooting for each other’s success.”

Carmo added:

“We have great energy together, and have great team camaraderie. It’s great, and we’re working hard to be ready for this coming season.”

The two hope to not only make it back to the State Championships in the individual competition, but also lead their Ross team to heights it has not reached yet. For the Ravens, the last couple of years have ended in the Suffolk County Small School Championship match, and Carmo & Weiss are excited for the opportunity to guide their team into the Long Island Championship.

But until then, Carmo & Weiss will continue to put in the necessary work to improve as tennis players, and be ideal representatives of the Ross School and the Ross School Tennis Center. The two will train hard to improve their overall games, working with the mental trainers and strength & conditioning coaches, as well as the tennis coaches, to sharpen the edges of their games.

“There’s not one method that fits every player. Every player is different, and they have different needs, so we don’t do the same thing for everyone,” Vinicius added. “We listen to each player, and treat them like the individual they are.”

Between the high level of tennis offered, and the unparalleled academic curriculum, the Ross School is at the cutting edge of creating the next generation of leaders, and Carmo & Weiss are two of its brightest pupils.

USTA Long Island’s Kids Day Events Provide A Pathway To A Lifetime Of Tennis Fun

USTA Eastern Long Island teamed up with Long Island Tennis Magazine to host two separate Kids’ Day events this summer, bringing free tennis to hundreds of kids on Long Island.

With each event consisting of multiple diverse, underprivileged and special needs organizations, these events allowed everyone to have a meaningful and fun Tennis experience. The first Kids Day was held in Nassau County at LuHi Summer Programs, and the second in

Suffolk County at Island Quest Day Camp.

On court, the kids took part in tennis instruction that focused on the fundamentals and helped teach the kids the basics of the sport.

While the event is built around tennis, they also provide additional fun off the court to help create a special experience that these individuals wouldn’t normally have. Activities included a DJ, dunk tanks, water slides, bounce houses, relay races, face painting, pizza and drinks and prizes.

“We strive to keep campers at Island Quest Day Camp engaged with high-quality programs led by

experts in our community, and the team at USTA Eastern Long Island and Long Island Tennis Magazine do a masterful job combining tennis instruction and engaging programming whenever they host events for us," said Melissa Algranati, Director at Island Quest Day Camp. “We take pride in offering specialty tracks in STEM, Nature and Sports, so to be able to bring in tennis pros to both teach us and have fun with us is a highlight of the summer.”

The events are the perfect representation of the goals of both USTA Eastern Long Island and Long Island Tennis Magazine, and go a long way in helping to forge a pathway for kids to get introduced into the sport, and hopefully continue with it.

“It’s our goal to continue bringing tennis fun to so many deserving kids, and it’s always fun to watch their faces light up during our Kids’ Day events,” said David Sickmen, Publisher of Long Island Tennis Magazine. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with USTA Eastern Long Island and help

provide these sorts of experiences for young people. At these events, we supply kids with information as well as an unforgettable experience to create a pathway to more tennis opportunities for them in the future to help ensure that they continue playing the great sport of tennis.”

Mike Pavlides, the USTA Eastern Long Island Region Council Director, added:

“The USTA Eastern Long Island Region, in its effort to support USTA

National's goal of 35 by 35 (35 million players by 2035), was pleased to continue to offer its yearly summer Kids’ Days, and introduce tennis to hundreds of kids that have never played the game that so many of us love. Our hope is that they continue on the pathway that was provided to them, and reap the physical and social benefits that the game provides.”

Gauff’s Greatness

The top-ranked American woman looks to add another U.S. Open title to her resume

By Brian Coleman

Tennis can be a cruel sport sometimes. It can build you up to the highest peaks, and just as quickly, it can bring you back down and humble you. Coco Gauff felt the highs and lows of that pendulum this summer in Europe.

Gauff reached the pinnacle of the sport when she came back from a set down to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka to win the French Open and claim the second major title of her young career.

“This is one I really wanted, because I do think this was one of the tournaments that, when I was younger, I felt I had the best shot of winning,” Gauff said during her Parisian trophy ceremony. “I just felt like if I went through my career, and didn’t get at least one of these, I would feel regrets. Today, playing Aryna…I’ve just got to go for it and try my best to get through the match. That’s what I did.”

Gauff overcame Sabalenka and difficult, windy conditions to win the title. From there she made the media rounds on television that come with winning a major, appearing on everything from Good Morning America to the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

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But the tennis calendar waits for no one, and following the French Open, it was quickly grass-court season. Gauff returned to the court in Berlin but lost her openinground match to qualifier Xinyu Wang, her only grass court match prior to Wimbledon following her triumph at Roland Garros.

Despite the whirlwind interviews, and not a lot of time to train on the faster grass surface ahead of Wimbledon, Gauff was confident heading into the year's third major.

“I’m very much someone who can look ahead very quickly. The first

two days after I was just trying to really take it in and stuff. Once I got back from New York, I was pretty much focused on here, just thinking about what I need to do, where I

feel the areas of my game I need to improve on,” Gauff explained. “I think for me I’d rather just stay in the moment and think about this, and kind of forget French, and then www.inphormnyc.com

revisit it maybe at the end of the season.”

While Gauff said the right things and had the right mentality, there is a reason that a woman has won both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year just twice since 1997 (Serena Williams in 2002 and 2015). And in just two short weeks, Gauff went from French Open champion to a first-round exit at Wimbledon, as she fell to Ukrainian Dayan Yastremska in straight sets, her earliest loss at a major since 2023.

She was candid in her post-match press conference about the difficulty of bouncing back so quickly which she believes played a major role in her defeat.

“I feel like mentally I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards, so I didn’t feel like I had enough time to celebrate, and also get back into it. But it’s the first time coming off a win and having to play Wimbledon,” confessed Gauff. “I definitely learned a lot of what I would and would not do again. I mean, also, she played great. I saw the draw and knew it would be a tough match for me. I knew today would be tough.”

When asked how she would approach a similar scenario next time around, Gauff answered:

“I think I would [think if I should] play Berlin again or not, if that were to happen with the French Open, just because I only practiced two days. I don’t know, I feel like [on] the surface I could have used more matches. It’s like finding the puzzle. I don’t like to play the week before. It’s a quick turnaround, so I think just trying to learn whether it’s better to train more and maybe play Bad Homburg or Eastbourne. I think when that time comes around again, if it comes around again, I’ll approach it differently.”

With all of her success and mature demeanor, it’s easy to forget sometimes that Gauff is still only 21years-old. So while her loss at Wimbledon was painful, it can only serve as a learning experience for Gauff.. And if Gauff has shown us anything during the first few years of her career, it’s that she won’t be discouraged or broken from a tough defeat. She is turning the page, understanding that losses happen, and all she can do is focus her attention and energy on the next major of the year: the U.S. Open.

“I’m not going to dwell on this too long because I want to do well at the U.S. Open,” she said. “Maybe losing here in the first-round isn’t the worst thing in the world because I have time to reset.”

Gauff is a former U.S. Open champion, as she lifted the trophy in 2023 for the first major title of her career, a match in which Sabalenka was again on the losing side. Her magnetic personality and down-to-earth charm makes her a fan favorite in New York, and with each match she plays, she’ll have the support of the crowd behind her when she takes the court at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

She is doing everything in her power to be ready to be at her best when she arrives in New York at the end of August. Gauff will not take part in the new revamped Mixed Doubles Championships of the event, which takes place the week before the main draw, citing sponsor obligations and commitments. But she is eager to perform in New York once again, as she aims to win her third career Slam, and her second U.S. Open title in three years.

“I’m super excited to be back in the States playing, especially in Cincinnati, and obviously at the U.S. Open,” she said in an interview with USOpen.org. “It’ll be my first time entering the U.S. Open with a Grand Slam that year, so I’m really excited for that, and mainly just to see the crowd.”

beyondthebaseline

Milly Keighery

USTA Eastern Long Island

By Brian Coleman

Forthe past several years, Milly Keighery has been a part of USTA Eastern adult league teams which played out of the Southern region. It’s through that competition where she has had the opportunity to play against teams from Long Island, and learned firsthand how serious players from the area take their tennis.

“I play on several USTA Eastern teams based out of Westchester. I started a few years ago on a 3.5 team and have since worked my way up to playing on 4.5 teams. It’s been an incredible experience–not just the tennis, but also the amazing women I’ve met along the way,” said Keighery. “I haven’t played on any Long Island teams yet, but I’ve faced off against a few in the playoffs–

and wow, they are fierce competitors.”

That familiarity will now come in handy, as earlier this summer, Keighery was named the new Adult League Coordinator for the USTA Eastern Long Island Region, assuming the role from previous coordinator Becky Bellino. Keighery took over the role in late June, and has been working tirelessly to familiarize herself with the intricacies of the job while also getting to know the immense amount of players who compete here on Long Island.

“When I learned about the role and opportunity, I jumped at the chance. I’m now thrilled to be working in a field where I’m truly passionate about the mission, and I feel incredibly lucky to be part of such a dynamic and inspiring

team,” she said. “I’ve been focused on building a strong understanding of the league’s structure, rules and the needs of our players. I’ve been in touch with several team captains and players to learn from their experiences and gather feedback, and I’ve been reviewing league policies and attending meetings to familiarize myself with the best practices.”

Throughout this transition process, Keighery says Bellino has been invaluable in bringing her up to speed:

“Becky has been an incredible mentor–her guidance, insights and steady support have helped me feel more confident as I step into this role. She’s encouraged a hands-on, learning-through-doing approach, which has been both practical and empowering. I also feel very fortunate to be part of the Eastern

team, which works incredibly well together. Beyond Becky’s mentorship, the entire team has been supportive and generous with their time and knowledge, helping guide me through the learning process and giving me a broader understanding of how the organization operates.”

While she may be new to Long Island, Keighery is hardly new to responsibility and being a leader. She was the youngest of four children born on a remote farm in Australia, and after playing tennis throughout her childhood and through college, she began working at an American investment bank in Sydney before being offered a transfer to New York City. It was a move she embraced and one that she looks back on with great fondness.

Keighery started a family and all three of her kids were born here in New York, but tennis took a bit of a backseat for a time as the fast-paced world of working in finance while raising a family requires a significant time commitment.

“When I first started working, it became quite difficult to play tennis regularly; the intensity of my career, given the hours and travel requirements, and then the demands of young family life once we had kids left little time for [tennis],” she recalls. “However, after my husband and I decided to make the move to Westchester–and then especially during

the pandemic–tennis became a regular part of our lives again. I joined a few USTA Adult Leagues which reignited my competitive spirit and introduced me to some of my most meaningful adult friendships.”

Rejoining the tennis community after many years away has been a wonderful experience for Keighery and her family. She has competed in women’s leagues, reaching the National Championships with one of her teams, but also was able to play in a mixed doubles league with her husband on the team.

“That was especially fun,” she says. “We treated matches like date nights!”

She will now take that reinvigoration into her now role as Coordinator of the USTA Eastern Long Island Adult League, where she relishes building on the

success of not just Bellino, but also Kathy Miller before her. There is a strong tradition of not just participation, but success from the teams on Long Island, and Keighery wants to keep that going.

“I couldn’t be more excited to step into this position. It’s truly been a dream of mine to work with the USTA and stay connected to the tennis community–something that has always been a passion for both me and my family,” she said. “I’m excited to contribute to the growth of the Long Island tennis community while upholding the league’s high standards.”

Keighery will fully take over the role this fall, and is looking forward to being an integral part of a community that has embraced her over the last few years. She wants players and providers to know she is fully committed to supporting their experience and creating a positive environment throughout the league, and that she is approachable. Keighery wants people to provide her with feedback to make the league a welcoming space where everyone can grow, be competitive and, most importantly, have fun.

“I genuinely love this sport. The competition is great, but the friendships and camaraderie that come from being part of the adult league are truly priceless,” she explained. “My goal is to ensure that everyone has an amazing experience, and finds the same joy in this sport that I do.”

Let’sbegin with a scene—perhaps drawn from memory, perhaps imagined.

A 13-year-old has just lost a match, 6–1, 6–0. He walks off the court smiling, his racket bag slung over his shoulder. His coach stands stonefaced. His parent looks away.

The scoreboard told one story. The child’s spirit seemed to tell another.

This moment, seemingly trivial, reveals a dissonance more telling than the score.

The developmental journey of a young tennis player is rarely linear. It is filled with moments of progress and stagnation, of effort and resistance— not just for the child, but for the adults tasked with shaping their path. Players, coaches, and parents each carry their own hopes, responsibilities, and blind spots into this shared space. And when setbacks occur or success emerges, a silent question often echoes:

Who bears the blame? Who deserves credit?

This article—Triple Fault—presents eight emotionally charged scenarios, both positive and negative, each viewed through a triadic lens: child, coach, and parent. These vignettes are not designed to settle disputes, but to illuminate the unseen dynamics shaping a young athlete's evolution.

To deepen the inquiry, each sequence closes with an Expanded Frame—follow-up reflections that unsettle easy assumptions and reveal the interwoven architecture of influence, responsibility, and growth.

Let us now enter the terrain where these tensions unfold—not through answers, but through questions.

Triple Fault

By Eldad Campbell

1. If the child lacks motivation on court, where is that absence rooted?

• Is it rooted in the child’s laziness?

• In the coach’s uninspired methods?

• Or in the parent’s misplaced pressure?

Expanded Frame:

• If the child appears lazy, what does that suggest about the adults tasked with instilling work ethic and emotional discipline?

• If the coach failed to engage the child meaningfully, is it not still the child's responsibility to pursue growth—to transform even uninspiring input into personal evolution?

• And if the parent’s pressure shapes the child’s mindset, to what extent should the coach preserve motivation by creating a space where effort feels internally driven, not externally demanded?

2. If the child cheats, where did they learn that dishonesty was an option?

• Did they learn it from internalizing moments when rule-bending led to praise—or passed without consequence?

• From a coach who let infractions slide when it secured a favorable score?

• Or from a parent who celebrated outcomes without exploring how they were achieved?

Expanded Frame:

• If the child cheats because they’ve come to believe outcomes matter more than integrity— who allowed that belief to form?

• If the coach overlooked violations

in the name of competitiveness, should the parent not have reinforced that integrity is mandatory?

• And if the parent celebrated results without examining the process, doesn’t the coach bear responsibility for reframing success—not merely as a scoreboard outcome, but as the manner in which the game is played?

3. If the child isn’t improving, who’s holding them back?

• Is it the child, for relying on talent instead of effort?

• The coach, for repeating a one-sizefits-all template that no longer serves the child?

• Or the parent, who focuses on outcomes rather than the learning process?

Expanded Frame:

• If the child relies on talent over effort, who convinced them that natural ability would always be enough?

• If the coach recycles methods without adapting to the child’s needs, shouldn’t the parent recognize repetition without progress and initiate change?

• And if the parent prioritizes results above all, isn’t it the coach’s responsibility to redirect attention toward long-term growth?

4. If the child is disrespectful, where did that behavior take shape?

• Did it take shape within an emotional atmosphere where tone, not guidance, became the primary teacher?

• Under a coach who allowed excuses to flourish and accountability to fade?

• Or under a parent who defended them in public but undermined them in private?

Expanded Frame:

• If a child shows disrespect, is it defiance—or just a reflection of the mixed messages modeled by both parent and coach?

• If the behavior formed under a permissive coach, should the parent not reestablish the boundaries that were never upheld?

• And if the child learned contradiction from a parent— protection in public, criticism in private—shouldn’t the coach work to translate those mixed signals into clarity?

These initial four questions confront visible breakdowns—disengagement, ethical lapses, stagnation, and disrespect. But what about when

things go well? When a child thrives or succeeds, the same question resurfaces:

Who made that possible? Let’s now explore the quieter victories—and examine whether the credit assigned is as thoughtfully considered as the blame.

1. If the child is highly motivated, where did that fire begin?

• In a home where effort was praised?

• In a coaching space where autonomy was encouraged?

• Or in the child’s own psyche—a quiet rebellion against complacency?

Expanded Frame:

• If the parent praised effort, what sustained the drive when no one was watching?

• If the coach fostered autonomy, who taught the child to lead

themselves with purpose?

• And if the fire came from within, who ensured it didn’t burn unchecked into anxiety or burnout?

2. If the child is a team player, where did their sense of shared purpose begin?

• With the parent, who emphasized that while tennis is solo, growth is not?

• With the coach, who embedded development in a collective ethic?

• Or with the child, who instinctively recognized that collaboration strengthens competition?

Expanded Frame:

• If the parent emphasized community, how did they cultivate it in spheres not under their direction?

• If the coach instilled a team ethic, who reinforced it beyond the court so that teamwork became part of the child’s identity?

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triple

fault continued from page 15

• And if the child embodied selflessness, who preserved that instinct from being eclipsed by ego?

3. If the child has a great attitude, what shaped that outlook?

• A parent who praised effort and modeled grace in adversity?

• A coach who treated mistakes as learning, not shame?

• Or a child who transformed setbacks into fuel and optimism into a habit?

Expanded Frame:

• If the parent championed character, what happens in moments out of their view and outside their influence?

• If the coach created a safe space, was it still safe when the child played in groups without them?

• And if the child embraced adversity, who helped them see challenge as opportunity rather than threat?

4. If the child is respectful, who nurtured that quality?

• The parent, who valued humility as much as performance?

• The coach, who demanded accountability but offered compassion?

• Or the child, who possesses an unusually grounded temperament?

Expanded Frame:

• If the parent fostered humility, what helped sustain it when the stakes were high?

• If the coach modeled respect through high standards and care, what helped the child internalize rather than perform it?

• And if the child seemed innately grounded, who protected that nature from erosion?

Conclusion

These eight scenarios remind us that the development of a young athlete is rarely the consequence of a single force. It emerges instead from a

complex tapestry of intention, oversight, adjustment, and care— woven by parents, coaches, and the child alike.

To support that journey meaningfully, we must examine not only the child’s actions, but our own. Not only their outcomes, but the environments we’ve shaped—the silent cues, the spoken expectations, the everyday decisions that scaffold growth.

So when triumph arrives or failure unfolds—and the quiet questions surface: Who is to blame? Who deserves the praise?—perhaps the answer lies not in isolating fault or credit, but in recognizing the interdependence that defines the developmental arc.

In the end, success is never solitary—and failure never falls in isolation.

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.

Sustainable Style Meets Tennis Performance

inPhorm's Creative Director Saad Hajidin Serves Up Eco-Forward Fashion

WhenLong Island tennis players step onto the court, they want more than just performance—they want style that reflects their values. inPhorm delivers exactly that: sustainable tennis fashion that doesn't compromise on elegance or function.

Beyond

the Baseline Creative Director Saad Hajidin founded inPhorm to fill a crucial gap in the market. “We realized there was a significant need for clothing that was both stylish and responsibly produced,” explains Hajidin. “Fashion can be a force for good.”

The brand's commitment to sustainability runs deep. inPhorm partners with manufacturers using solar panels and wastewater recycling systems, while maintaining strict human rights and fair wage standards. For tennis players who care about their environmental impact, this makes inPhorm an obvious choice.

Performance

seamlessly from court to country club. Each piece features thoughtful details: hidden waistbands, quick-dry technology, and sophisticated color palettes that work from baseline to boardroom. It's tennis fashion that refuses to compromise.

That Performs inPhorm's tennis collection exemplifies this philosophy. It’s popular Tennis Classic 13½" Flounce Skirt and Kai 17" Pleated Skirt are crafted from recycled polyester blends offering fourway stretch, moisture-wicking properties and UPF 50+ sun protection. The Bridget Racer Back Tennis Tank ($90) transitions

Women Leading Change

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at the

Parsa Samii net

By Brian Coleman

Tennisis often referred to as the sport of a lifetime. Whether you are a player or a coach, tennis is a sport that can be picked up late in life, but also remains a part of one’s identity from the moment they pick up a racquet. The skills you develop, the lessons you learn, and the connections you make can often transcend the sport itself.

That’s the case for Parsa Samii, a successful licensed Real Estate Salesperson for Compass who has specialized in placing families in their dream homes on Long Island. He was raised on the North Shore and has played tennis throughout his life. After a decorated junior career, he would go on to play at the collegiate level at Amherst University in Massachusetts, where his success led him to playing professionally.

As a natural born leader with the desire to help others, when his time on the professional tour came to an end, Parsa then turned to teaching. He embraced using what he had learned in his playing days and transferring it to those he worked with on court.

“For me, the coaching itself was the best part,” he says. “The deep, oneon-one work with an individual athlete. Coaching isn’t just about technique or strategy, it’s about understanding a person on multiple levels–their mindset, confidence,

motivations, even what holds them back. Every player is unique, and I loved peeling back those layers to figure out what made someone tick. Helping them break through mental blocks, adapt under pressure, and trust their own game–that process was incredibly rewarding. It wasn’t just about teaching tennis, it was about helping someone grow as a competitor and as a person. That level of connection and trust is something really special, and it’s what I enjoyed most about those years.”

Parsa relished the ability to develop individuals, both as tennis players and as people. He worked with elite junior players as well as professional

players, many here on Long Island but also some internationally.

And while he loved what he did, eventually, the physical toll began to make Parsa wonder if he should transition into a different career. Injuries lingered from his playing days and would only be made worse by his hours on court teaching, and it left him contemplating what was next.

“After undergoing two surgeries on my right shoulder and facing the likelihood of a third procedure on my elbow, it became clear that the physical demands of being on court eight to nine hours a day weren’t sustainable anymore,” he recalls. “I had poured so much into the sport for decades, but my body was telling me it was time to make a change. That’s when I started looking into real estate–an industry where I could still be competitive, solve problems and work closely with people.”

It was a difficult decision, stepping off the court and into a different arena, but as Parsa soon found out, there were parallels between the two industries, and the skills, connections and work ethic he developed would benefit him.

“Looking back, making that transition was one of the most pivotal decisions I’ve ever made. It allowed me to step into a new chapter without losing the performance mindset that

tennis gave me.”

He has channeled that mentality and it has elevated him into one of the top players in his field. While the immense amount of time spent on court took a toll on his body, Parsa says his mind never felt better. He was at the peak of his coaching prowess, being able to bring more of his experience to every session on court.

Now, with a less stressful load on his body, and his mind able to build on every experience, it is all paying dividends in his real estate business. He still connects with his clients on a deep level which allows him to provide them with the expertise they need.

as strong. Both roles require focus, empathy and a dedication to helping people succeed.”

“What I’ve always valued most is the connection with the individual. As a tennis coach, I loved getting to know each player deeply–understanding their mindset, motivations and how to support them through challenging moments. It was a personal, layered process that required patience and presence,” he explains. “In real estate, I find myself doing something very similar. I’m guiding clients through major decisions, often emotional and high-stakes, and building trust along the way. While the physical demands are very different now, the emotional and mental commitment remains just

His time on the tennis court didn’t just help him develop necessary tools to succeed in his next endeavor, he was also able to establish connections and foster relationships that carried into his real estate business. Because of his dedication and passion for what he did, he has earned the trust of those he has worked with.

“The relationships I have built over the years–whether with clients, families or other coaches–have played a huge role in my real estate career,” Parsa says. “A lot of my early business came from referrals within the tennis world. Plus, I think that background gives me a unique edge when working with athletes or clients who appreciate high-level performance and professionalism.”

Parsa’s success in real estate can be attributed to his years of both playing and coaching tennis, and the life lessons accrued during that time play a major role in his life. While he doesn’t miss the physical strain all those hours put on his body, he does miss the beauty of the game, and appreciates every minute he can find time to get on court today.

“I definitely miss the purity of it–the feeling of hitting the ball cleanly, stepping onto the court, tuning everything else out. There’s a rhythm to it that’s almost meditative. That sense of presence, of being completely in the moment, is something I still seek when I pick up a racquet today.”

He also has advice for those in the tennis field who may be cautious about taking a chance and trying something new:

“First, become an expert in whatever you do next. Bring the same discipline and daily structure you used in tennis. Don’t be afraid to fail–that’s part of growth. Understand your ‘product’, work on your communication, and show up every day ready to compete. The habits that made you great in tennis can make you great in business–or anything else.”

time."

2025 Long Island Girls’ High School PREVIEW

Theend of Summer doesn’t only mean the start of the U.S. Open, but also that a new year of girls’ high school tennis is almost here on Long Island.

A year ago, Long Island was home to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) State Champion in singles, as Herricks’ Angel Walia capped off her high school career with the remarkable achievement. The Great Neck South pairing of Madison Lee & Gabrielle Alexa Villegas reached the doubles championship.

the state finals, while Bayport-Blue Point won its first ever Long Island Division II title, eventually dropping a tight contest to Byram Hills in the state championship. Now it’s time to look ahead to the 2025 season. Long Island Tennis Magazine has broken down some of the players and teams to watch, and also included is the key scheduling dates this fall as we prepare for another great season.

In team play, Syosset was the winner of the Long Island Division I title before falling to Horace Greeley in

All players and dates are subject to change, be sure to visit LITennisMag.com for the most up-to-date information on all things high school tennis on Long Island.

Nassau County Teams to Watch

The most dominant program across Long Island for the better part of a decade is the Syosset Braves. They have won five Nassau County championships since 2018, and brought home three of the last four Long Island Large School championships. Now, Syosset aims to capture its first New York State Girls’ Team Tennis title. Leading the way will be senior Stephanie Marcheret, who played first singles a year ago and will be back to anchor the Syosset lineup. As always, Syosset’s depth will play a major role in its success. Shubhangi Pradhan jumped into the singles lineup a year ago and will be a key factor this fall, as will

Elaine Liu, Hannah Wang, Kayla Lo, Diya Varma, Julia Isham and Selena Wang, among others. While it loses key seniors Sanam Mehta, Zia Mukherjee and Manasi Pradhan from last year’s team, with a roster full of talent and experience, Syosset is motivated to make it back to the New York State Championships and compete for the state title.

Port Washington

The Vikings of Port Washington were one win away from winning the Nassau County title and competing for the Long Island Championship last season, and with a bulk of its starters returning including its top singles players, expectations are high. Leading the way at the top will be sophomore Brianna Lewis, who competed at first singles in her freshman season. Junior Evie Loewy returns to bolster the singles lineup, as does junior Christiana Kent, who was at first doubles last season. Only one player from Port Washington’s county runner-up team graduated, and with significant depth pieces like Shoriya Bhat-Bhandarkar, Juliana Johnson and Ruby Siskind back, the Vikings are ready to make another deep playoff run.

Roslyn

Last season, Roslyn came up one match short of playing for the Nassau County title, falling in the semifinals, and are

Syosset

poised for more success. Returning to anchor the lineup will be junior Chloe Gross, who played first singles for a bulk of the season and also reached the New York State Individual Championships alongside graduated senior Alexandra Krol in doubles play. The senior pairing of Ryan Rappaport & Shoshana Ross who had dominant junior seasons competing at first doubles will look to duplicate that success, as will Olivia Erenburg & Sofia Carlese, who were one of the best second doubles teams in the county in 2024.

Cold Spring Harbor

For the last three seasons, Cold Spring Harbor has captured the Nassau County Small School championship and competed for the Long Island Small School title. In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the Seahawks won the Long Island crown and advanced to the New York State Team Championships, but were unable to duplicate that last fall, coming up short in the LI final. That will mean a motivated Cold Spring Harbor team this season, and with key players back, they are prepared for another deep playoff run. Brooke Winthrop has been a steady anchor for the Seahawks at first singles for several years and returns for her senior season, while important and experienced players such as Stevie Sullivan, Sylvana Guariglia, Kaitlynn Hanna, Dylan Savarese, Hadley Arcati and Alexa Torrey are all back to continue Cold Spring Harbor’s run of success.

Great Neck South

Led by two of the best players on all of Long Island, Great Neck South will be a threat to compete for a Nassau County title. Senior Madison Lee, a mainstay of the Rebels team for years now, returns for one final run, as does Gabrielle Alexa Villegas who burst onto the scene a year ago as a seventh-grader. Together, the two won the Nassau County doubles title and would go on to reach the finals of the New York State Individual Championships. They will headline a singles lineup that also includes freshman Zoe Li who was a crucial player for Great Neck South in 2024. The team has a deep lineup in doubles play which includes Victoria Wong, Samantha Wong,

Mengkou Kuang, Chloe Yim and Nicole Zhang, rounding out a roster that can compete with anyone in the county.

Nassau County Additional Players to Watch

• Angelina Bravo, Garden City

• Chelsea Ching, Garden City

• Tiffany Lin, Helwett

• Eva Karmazin, Hewlett

• Lilliana Chou, Division

• Kirsten Maurischat, Manhasset

• Catherine Jin, Herricks

• Bea Nikki Degoma, Valley Stream Central

• Bogi Molnar, Glen Cove

Nassau County Key Dates

• Regular Season Begins - Thursday, September 4

• Regular Season Ends - Tuesday, October 7

• County Individual Tournament - Saturday-Sunday, October 11-12

• Team Playoffs - Wednesday, October 8 - Friday, October 17

• Small School Championship - Tuesday, October 21

• Large School Championship - Wednesday, October 22

• LI Small School Championship - Friday, October 31

• LI Large School Championship - Monday, November 3

• NYS Individual Championships - Monday, October 27Wednesday, October 29

• NYS Regional Championships - Tuesday, November 4

• NYS Team Championships - Friday, November 7

2025 long island girls’ high school preview

continued from page 00

Bayport-Blue Point

Suffolk County Teams to Watch

A year ago, Bayport-Blue Point captured the program’s firstever Long Island small school championship, and the Phantoms have the roster to defend that title. While Emilia Romano who played first singles the last couple of seasons has graduated, Lily Castka is more than capable of taking over as the team’s top player. Castka was dominant at second singles last season and will look to replicate that this year as she moves up to first singles. Evie Romano, a two-time all-state doubles player with loads of playoff experience will help bolster the lineup, as well a trio of freshman Jordana Heller, Leila Rogers and Julie Wellems, all of whom were all-county as eighth-graders in 2024. Senior Danielle Oleksiak is a two-time all-county doubles player and will provide veteran leadership on a team that expects contributions from many young players.

Hills East

Hills East won the Suffolk County Large School Championship again last season, its third consecutive, and now has its eyes set on bringing home a Long Island title for the first time. Leading the way in singles will be a strong trio of Ashley Pursoo, Christina Zhao and Kate Holland, with the latter two being seniors and bringing a lot of varsity experience. Samantha Heyman & Emma Wilck, who were one of the best doubles teams on Long Island last season, return for their senior years, as does Jayden Seff and Callie Bornstein. The senior-heavy Hills East squad is preparing for a third straight county title, and another opportunity to win that elusive Long Island crown.

Northport

Despite having a young roster, Northport is a team that could compete for the Suffolk County title.. After compiling one of its best seasons in recent years in 2024, Northport will have to make up for the loss of three key seniors in singles play, but has a talented young core that is more than capable of filling the void. Ava Hagerdorn & Lilah Jane Leogrande finished in fourth place in the Suffolk County Division I Doubles Championships and will be a key factor in Northport’s success. Avery Shin will provide veteran leadership as a senior, and other young depth pieces such as Sara Rayola, Julia Desena, Ellie O’Neill and Nora Segur will provide a deep roster of players eager to build off of the success of last year.

Ross School

The Ravens of Ross School reached the Suffolk County Small School Championship in each of the last two seasons, and will be a threat to return to that position. The doubles team of Lillien Weiss & Luanna Carmo qualified for the New York State Individual Championships, and the freshman and eighth-grader will be back to lead the way. In addition, experienced and talented players such as Lola Dangin, Olivia Caruso, Brooke Saracco, Emilie Biehl Olesen, Mia Frolich and Sophia Kolberg round out a lineup that is motivated to go at least one step further than it has. Ross is in search of its first Suffolk County title, and it has the players capable of leading them there.

Suffolk County Additional Players to Watch

• Sofia Perez, Mt. Sinai

• Sofia Matos, Longwood

• Victoria Abayev, Copiague

• Lynelle Chernavsky, Ward Melville

• Aya Deckman, Harborfields

• Amelia Kleiman, Commack

• Aleksa Brazyte, Connetquot

• Mia Kaufman, Huntington

• Gabby Binetti, Sayville

William Floyd

One of the final four teams remaining in the 2024 Suffolk County Large School playoffs, the Patriots of William Floyd look to build upon that foundation. And with a senior led squad, Floyd has the roster to do just that. Seniors Anabel Van Cott, Lydia Van Cott, Gianna Martin and Tatiana Sanchez will lead the way for a team that went 13-2 in Suffolk County’s Conference IV. All-league players Corinne Neidig and Rylie Wiegand return to bolster the Floyd lineup, and with the experience of having reached the semifinals of the county playoffs last season, Floyd will be one of the teams to beat later this fall.

Suffolk County Key Dates

• Regular Season Begins - Tuesday, September 2

• Regular Season Ends - Friday, October 10

• Team Playoffs - Wednesday, October 15

• County Individual Tournament - Saturday, October 18

• Small School Championship - Friday, October 24

• Large School Championship - Thursday, October 30

• LI Small School Championship - Friday, October 31

• LI Large School Championship - Monday, November 3

• NYS Individual Championships - Monday, October 27

- Wednesday, October 29

• NYS Regional Championships - Tuesday, November 4

• NYS Team Championships - Friday, November 7

Aya Deckman, Harborfields Kirsten Maurischat, Manhasset Sofia Matos, Longwood

Tiffany Lin, Hewlett

Iamthrilled to introduce myself to the community as the new Adult League Coordinator. It’s an incredible honor to step into this role, and I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome. A special shoutout to Becky Bellino for her amazing leadership and dedication; she has truly set a high standard for this position, and I am excited to continue building on her hard work.

My first month in this role coincided with the tail end of the 18+ and 40+ Spring/Summer Men’s and Women’s seasons. The summer heat is in full force, making this an energetic and lively time, with heightened competition as the season draws to a close, and teams vie for spots in the playoffs. It has been exciting to get involved, observe the intense rivalry and start planning for the seasons

Adult League Wrap-Up

By Milly Keighery

ahead. I am beyond excited about the opportunities to grow our leagues, enhance the experience for all players, and foster a stronger sense of community through our programs. I look forward to working with

everyone—players, captains, and supporters alike—to make our adult leagues enjoyable, competitive and inclusive.

Thank you for your support and here’s to an exciting season ahead

The 40+ 3.5 Women’s team out of Eastern Athletic Blue Point

where we will be running a 4.5 Men’s and Women’s Trilevel leagues as well as Mixed Leagues!

We already have the following teams heading off to represent Long Island at Sectionals listed by the club they play out of and their team captains:

• 18+ 2.5 Women: Point SetStratos/Ireland

• 18+ 3.0 Women: Deer ParkTaylor

• 18+ 3.5 Women: SPORTIME Port Washington - Ma

• 18+ 4.0

Women: Huntington Indoor/SPORTIME Roslyn, Kleinberg/Imberman

• 18+ 4.5

Women: Huntington Indoor - Newell / Giovanni

• 18+ 3.5 Men: SPORTIME Lynbrook, Mosquera/Brahmbhatt

• 18+ 4.0 Men: Eastern Athletic Blue Point - Subject/Peters

• 18+ 4.5 Men: Long Beach Tennis Center - Low/Siddiqui

• 18+ 5.0 Men: Long Beach Tennis Center - Siddiqui

• 40+ 3.0 Mens: Long Island Health & RacquetGarcia/Kronenberg

• 40+ 3.5 Men: Christopher Morley Tennis - Moramarco

• 40+ 4.0 Men: Christopher Morley Tennis – Moramarco

• 40+ 4.0 Women: SPORTIME Bethpage, Banks/Carroll

• 40+ 3.5 Women: Eastern Athletic Blue Point, Mazzarone

• 40+ 4.5 Women: SPORTIME Roslyn, Tacher/Sorin

The 18+ 4.0 Women’s team out of Huntington Indoor The 18+ 3.5 Women’s team out of SPORTIME Port Washington The 40+ 4.0 Women’s team out of SPORTIME Bethpage

USTA Eastern Long Island Region

TheUSTA Eastern Long Island Region will hold its 35th Annual Awards Event on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at Sea Cliff Manor in Sea Cliff, NY. The event will include hors d'oeuvres, light fare (chicken & pasta) and a complimentary beverage. The cost is $60 per adult and $40 per child under age 14. Award winners will be invited to attend for free.

To prepare for what promises to be a great evening, we need your help! Please submit a nomination now for a worthy awardee. Send an email with each nominee’s

Prestigious Awards

Hy Zausner Lifetime Achievement Award: Recognizing a lifetime of achievement both on and off the tennis court on Long Island

Vitas Gerulaitis “For the Love of Tennis” Award: Honoring an individual who demonstrates his or her love of the game through volunteering, supporting tennis programs and helping grow tennis throughout Long Island

Arthur Ashe Multicultural Award: Given to an Organization/tennis player who embraces diversity, serves as an ambassador for the game of tennis, exhibits unmatched sportsmanship and shares his or her love of the game

Tennis Family of the Year: Honoring a family whose members support the game of tennis on Long Island by

name, contact information, name of award for which you are nominating them and a short write-up of why they deserve the award to ustaonlongisland@gmail.com. Nominations must be received by September 1. Visit www.usta.com/en/home/staycurrent/eastern/longislandregion/long-island-awards.html to see who has won these awards in the past?

See below for a complete list of the awards and a description of each. Looking forward to all of your nominations!

playing tennis as well as volunteering their time and abilities to grow the game and serve the community

Excellence Awards

Charles Karp Memorial Award for Overcoming Adversity: Given to a tennis player who has overcome a serious medical condition or disability

Madeline Zausner Tennis Director of the Year Award: Recognizing a junior tournament director for outstanding service and effort. It is given to someone who goes above and beyond to schedule and run junior tournaments and make sure they operate smoothly and with a focus on sportsmanship. Mrs. Zausner, the most familiar face at the Port Washington Tennis Academy for 40 years, was the tournament director at hundreds of Eastern Tennis Association tournaments for l8-and-under players.

Eastern Long Island Region

Tennis Professional of the Year: Recognizing an outstanding teaching pro.

Adult Volunteer of the Year: For an adult whose volunteerism on behalf of tennis has been exemplary.

Junior Volunteer of the Year: For a young adult whose volunteerism on behalf of tennis has been exemplary.

The Daniel Burgess Sr. Community Service Award: Given to an individual, group, or organization whose dedication to serving the tennis community is outstanding and unique.

Good Samaritan Award: Given to an individual or organization that has done something above and beyond to help a tennis player, facility, or the general tennis community.

Innovative Tennis Program: Given to a new, unique or unusual tennis program.

Junior Team Tennis Award: Recognizing a junior team tennis program for its achievements both on and off the court.

10 and Under Tennis Award: Recognition of an individual or program that has focused on introducing tennis to young children.

USTA Afterschool Tennis Program: Recognizing a unique school or child care tennis program that brings tennis learning into the community or schools.

Tennis Club of the Year: Given to a public or private indoor tennis facility that has demonstrated its support for growing the game.

Private Club of the Year: Given to a private tennis facility that has demonstrated its support for growing the game.

Outdoor Tennis Site of the Year: Given to a public or private tennis facility that has demonstrated its support for growing the game.

Long Island High School Tennis Team of the Year: Given to a public or private high school on Long Island that exemplifies sportsmanship and encourages the growth of the game by ensuring that young players experience the fun of representing their school tennis teams and participating in community service events.

Corporate Award of the Year: Given to an individual, company, or organization that has gone above and beyond to support tennis on Long Island.

Retail Facility of the Year: Recognition of a retailer who has gone above and beyond.

Press Service Award: Given to a news media organization or individual for their coverage and ongoing support of tennis.

To attend the awards dinner, visit: https://form.jotform.com/251964846628169

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) Milly Keighery, USTA Eastern Leagues Coordinator (Keighery@eastern.usta.com)

Facebook: Play Tennis Long Island • Instagram: USTA Eastern

2025 U.S. Open Preview

It’sthat time of the year again, when the stars of the tennis world arrive in New York to compete on the world’s biggest tennis stage. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens hosts the world’s greatest tennis players here to New York to compete under the bright lights of the city that never sleeps, and carries with it a thrilling three weeks of tennis action.

In 2024, the U.S. Open once again delivered thrilling action, and saw Aryna Sabalenka win her first U.S. Open title, and the third major of her career, with a victory over American Jessica Pegula.

“If you would have told me at the beginning of the year I’d be in the final of the U.S. Open, I would have laughed so hard,” said Sabalenka. “I’m speechless right now. I’m just super proud of myself. I never say that but I’m super proud.”

On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner would win his first U.S. Open title to cap off a dominant 2024 season in which he became the youngest player to win both hard-court majors in the same year, and would eventually finish the year as the world number one. Sinner defeated American Taylor

Fritz in straight sets.

“This title means so much, because the last period of my career was really not easy. I love tennis, I practice a lot for these stages,” Sinner said. “I understood, especially in this tournament, how important the mental part is in this sport. I’m very happy, very proud to share this moment with my team.”

This year’s U.S. Open begins on August 18 with Fan Week, which will feature the new Mixed Doubles Championships which will consist of a star-studded draw of doubles teams in the two-day championships. That kicks off an exciting week of fan-friendly events before the Main Draw begins. For the first time in tournament history, the Main Draw will begin on Sunday. You can elevate your Fan Week experience by registering for a free Fan Access Pass, which grants you access to special experiences, the chance to win prizes throughout the week around the grounds, and more.

Long Island Tennis Magazine has broken down the contenders, pretenders and sleepers for both the men’s singles and women’s singles draw, as well as what to enjoy at the Open this year and the Tournament Schedule.

Contenders, Pretenders, Sleepers

Contenders—Men’s Singles

Jannik Sinner

The defending U.S. Open champion will be back to defend his title, and will be in search of his fifth career major. It’s been an eventful year for the Italian, winning the Australian Open before serving his suspension for a failed doping test in the early spring. He returned for the French Open only to lose a heartbreaking final to Carlos Alcaraz, but then responded a couple of

weeks later to upend Alcaraz and win his first Wimbledon title. Now, he arrives in New York as the top-ranked player in the world, and the winner of three of the last four majors on the men’s side, including the last three hard-court majors. Sinner has proven he can win at the U.S. Open, and will be in strong contention to win his second-straight title under the bright lights of the Big Apple.

Carlos Alcaraz

The budding rivalry between the aforementioned Sinner and Alcaraz has been the biggest story in men’s tennis. The two split the major titles this summer, and Alcaraz will be out to maintain his lead on Sinner in career major titles. New York is the place where the Spaniard won his first major, but it’s been three years since that triumph, and Alcaraz is motivated to make the U.S. Open the home of his sixth career major. His athleticism shines on the fast, hard-courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National

continued on page 32

Contenders, Pretenders, Sleepers

Tennis Center, and he has a 17-3 career record at the U.S. Open in his career. Alcaraz thrives in the best-of-five sets format, going 13-1 in his career in matches that go five sets, as it allows him time to figure out his opponent and make the necessary adjustments. Look for Alcaraz to make another deep run in Queens.

Taylor Fritz

A year ago, at the U.S. Open, Taylor Fritz became the first American man to reach a major final since 2009. Despite losing to Sinner, it was a significant stepping stone in his career, and for the state of American men’s tennis. The U.S. Open run capped off a great year at the majors in 2024 for Fritz as he became the first American since Andre Agassi in 2001 to reach the fourth round at all four in the same season. He has built on that this year as he was a semi finalist at Wimbledon, and is poised to continue his Grand Slam success at his home slam.

Pretenders – Men’s Singles

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic is arguably the greatest player the sport has ever seen, and he holds the record for most majors of all-time, with 24. He has made it clear that the reason he continues to play is to add to that resume, but he has come up short in the last seven majors he has played. But at 37years-old, the consistency and stamina needed to put together a two-week run at majors is becoming increasingly difficult for Djokovic.. He has reached the semifinals of the

three majors this year, which is where he has either run out of gas and into Sinner/Alcaraz. Djokovic is still one of the best players in the world, and clearly has the pedigree, but it’s becoming more evident that reaching the last couple of rounds of the Slams seems to be his ceiling.

Jack Draper

The highestranked player from Great Britain reached the semifinals at the U.S. Open a year ago, but it was not the most impressive of runs. He advanced via a retirement in his opening match, and then did not have to face a seeded opponent until the quarterfinals, eventually beating Alex de Minaur to make the semifinals. Now, it is not the fault of Draper that the draw opened up for him, and you can only play who is in front of you, but it’s important context to evaluate his chances at this year’s U.S. Open. In the three majors this season, Draper reached just the fourth round in Australia and France, and was then bounced in the second round at

Wimbledon. While Draper is a top young player with a bright future, look for that trend to continue in New York.

Holger Rune

Holger Rune is truly an enigma. He is a perennial top 10 player, currently ranked ninth, yet something seems to be missing. His success has not translated to the majors, and his best showings were quarterfinal appearances at the French Open and Wimbledon more than two years ago. His furthest run at the U.S. Open was the third-round all the way back in 2022, and his other three times competing in the main draw saw him get eliminated in the opening round. Rune is still young and has loads of potential, but before we see him as a contender at a slam, he has to prove he can make a deep run at the majors, especially in New York.

Sleepers - Men’s Singles

Frances Tiafoe

The U.S. Open brings out the stars, and there is perhaps no one person who thrives under those bright lights than American Frances Tiafoe. His infectious personality feeds off the crowd, and they provide him with the type of support that can carry a player through a match. As a result, Tiafoe is a two-time semifinalist in Queens, one of which came last year when he fell in a tight match to friend and fellow American Taylor Fritz. Tiafoe has had a solid 2025 season, currently sitting at 12th in the ATP world rankings, and coming off a run to the quarterfinals at the French Open. He is an aggressive player with big groundstrokes and an effective serve, which plays well on the U.S. Open courts. Tiafoe and New York seem to mix well together, and don’t be surprised to see him make another run deep into the second week.

Jakub Mensik

At just 19-years-old, Jakub Mensik is one of the youngest talents that the casual tennis fan may not know about. But at 6’5, and with heavy groundstrokes, Mensik has the game to succeed on the hard-courts. That was on full display earlier this year when he captured his first career ATP title, a Masters 1000, by winning the Miami Open, defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets. He competed in the U.S. Open main draw each of the last two seasons, and while was eliminated in the third-round each time, with another year of tour experience under his belt, and victories over some of the best players in the world on big stages, Mensik is a player that no one wants to see on the other side of the net at this year’s U.S. Open.

Alexander Bublik

One of the key factors in success on the tour is managing one’s emotions, which is something that Bublik has had trouble with.. He has all the talent in the world, but sometimes doesn’t put it together for a full match, or full tournament.. His recent run to the French Open quarterfinals this year gives hope that he is turning a corner though, as he showed he could play well into the second week of a major. Bublik has wins this season over Draper, de Minaur, Sinner, Karen Khachanov and Daniil Medvedev, among others, and has demonstrated when he plays his best tennis, he is capable of beating any opponent. If Bublik remains focused, he is a threat to shock the world.

Contenders, Pretenders, Sleepers

Contenders – Women’s Singles

Iga Swiatek

In July the six-time major champion won her first Grand Slam since 2024, taking the title at the Wimbledon Championships. In the final, Swiatek won 6-0, 6-0, marking the first time since 1911 that the women’s final at Wimbledon saw one player not win a game. The win also capped off a dominant grass-court season for Swiatek, something she aims to carry into the hard-court season. She is a 2022 U.S. Open champion, and after coming out of the slump she was in (by her standards, going four majors in a row without winning one), she could be poised to reclaim the trophy in New York.

Aryna Sabalenka

The top-ranked player in the world finally got her U.S. Open triumph a year ago, defeating American Jessica Pegula in straight sets in the finals. She has had a strong 2025 as well, reaching the Australian Open final, winning the Miami Open title, the Madrid Open title, reaching the finals of the French Open and the semifinals at Wimbledon. Now she arrives in New York as the defending champion, looking for her first major of 2025 and playing on her best surface. With her massive serve and powerful groundstrokes, Sabalenka is difficult to compete with on hard courts, and will be a strong contender to defend her title.

Mirra Andreeva

Still only 18-years-old, Mirra Andreeva has fully arrived. She is ranked fifth in the world, and has demonstrated the ability to beat the best opponents on the biggest stages. Earlier this year, Andreeva won at Dubai and Indian Wells, claiming two 1000 level titles, the youngest player ever to do so. She has knocked off both Swiatek and Sabalenka this year, and achieved the best Grand Slam result of her career with a run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals. While she has been bounced in the second round at the U.S. Open the last two years, she is a different player now and is maturing with

each tournament she plays. A very deep run or her first major title is a strong possibly for this young star.

Pretenders – Women’s Singles

Amanda Anisimova

The cruelty of tennis was on full display for her at Wimbledon. She reached the first major final of her career, only to be beaten 6-0, 6-0 by Iga Swiatek. It was an abrupt conclusion to the best two weeks of her professional career, and it’ll be difficult for her to forget that result when she arrives in New York. The U.S. Open has also historically been the worst of the four majors for Ansimova, with her best result being a third-round appearance five years ago. She is up to the highest-ranking of her career, and will not sneak up on anyone, which may mean another early Big Apple exit for Anisimova.

Jasmine Paolini

In 2024, Jasmine Paolini reached the finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon, surprising people to make two of the best runs of her career. It helped her catapult into the Top 10 of the WTA Rankings, where she continues to reside, currently ranking ninth. But Paolini has not been able to replicate that success at the majors since then, falling in the fourth round at last year’s U.S. Open, the third round of this year’s Australian Open, the fourth round at the French Open and the second round at Wimbledon. Throughout her career, Paolini has been eliminated in the opening round at the U.S. Open three of the five times she competed in the main draw, and an early exit may be in the cards for her again.

Elena Rybakina

The former Wimbledon champion is back to the form that saw her hoist that trophy back in 2022, but the U.S. Open has never been a place where she has found success. The bighitting Rybakina has never made it out of the thirdround including multiple opening round exits, with her tournament a year ago ending in the second round.

Rybakina lost difficult three-set matches to open up her hard court season, to Leylah Fernandez in Washington, D.C., and Victoria Mkobo in Montreal, meaning she will head into the U.S. Open not as confident, which won’t bode well at a tournament she has never been successful at.

Sleepers - Women’s Singles

Clara Tauson

One of the biggest servers on the women’s tour, Clara Tauson oftentimes flies under the radar. She has had the best year of her career so far in 2025. Tauson has crawled into the top 20, and has posted wins over the likes of Sabalenka, Madison Keys, Elina Svitolina, Emma Navarro, and Anna Kalinskaya, and reached the final on the hard courts of Dubai earlier this year. Still just 22-years-old, Tauson has the serve and groundstrokes to succeed on the hard courts in Queens, and this year’s U.S. Open could serve as a launching pad for her continued ascension.

Naomi Osaka

It’s hard to consider a four-time major champion, and twotime U.S. Open champion, a sleeper to win this year’s installment of the event, but it’s been a long road back to

form for Osaka. Her history of mental health concerns are well-documented, but Osaka seems to be more comfortable in her skin than she ever was. Earlier this year, she won her first title since 2021, and has compiled excellent results on the hard courts this summer, reaching the finals in Montreal, and building confidence heading into the U.S. Open. She is no stranger to the bright lights of New York City, and Osaka is a dark horse to make a deep run there as she continues to embark on the second half of her professional career.

Emma Navarro

A semifinalist at the U.S. Open last year, Navarro has had an up-and-down season so far in 2025. She reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open to open up the season, and won a hard-court title in Mexico, but since then has been inconsistent. Still, Navarro sits at 11th in the world and has shown she has what it takes to make a deep run in New York. The most improved player on the WTA Tour in 2024, Navarro will look to find her footing at the U.S. Open, in the city where she was born and the place where she put together the best two weeks of her tennis career.

Reasons to Love the U.S. Open

Fan Week: US Open Fan Week will return in style, providing a week of amazing tennis, star-studded events and activities for all—with most free to the public—in the lead-up to the final Grand Slam of the year. Whether it's your first time or your 10th time visiting the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the slate of events scheduled from August 18 through August 23 will give you a savory sampling of the US Open’s unparalleled electricity.

Tennis under the stars: There is something special about summer nights in New York City, and that only gets amplified during the U.S. Open’s fortnight. Late-night tennis featuring star-studded matchups have become synonymous with the U.S. Open. The tennis stars always deliver big performances under the stars late and into the early morning hours in the city that never sleeps, which provides unmatched energy not found anywhere else in the tennis world.

Practice court access: A two-story practice gallery which allows fans unprecedented access to see their favorite players as they prepare for their matches. In addition to the

viewing area of the practice courts, the gallery is also adjacent to Courts 4, 5 and 6 where matches are taking place, giving fans 360 degrees of tennis. Fans can also see the players practice inside Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand.

New York, New York: Tennis is an international sport with fans and players from all over the globe. But for a three-week period in the late summer, tennis’ home is located right here in our backyard. New York City becomes the sport’s host site and welcomes the best players and millions of fans to come celebrate the sport, and the city’s energy always brings out the best in the players.

Revamped Mixed Doubles Championships: With the Mixed Doubles Championship no longer played during the main draw of singles play, a blockbuster field of the sport’s biggest stars have a greater opportunity to team up to vie for this coveted Grand Slam title and a $1M winner’s prize. The Mixed Championship will take center stage over two days of competition in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium.

U.S. Open Prize Money Sets Record For Largest Purse In Tennis History

TheUS Open is set to rewrite history by writing its biggestever checks to players competing in the 2025 tournament.

This summer's New York showcase will be the first tennis event to reach $90 million in total player compensation, with the USTA once again offering the largest purse in tennis history. This amount tops the total $75 million in 2024, the previous highest purse in tennis history, with an increase of 20%.

The men's and women's singles champions at the 2025 US Open will each take home $5 million, up 39% from the $3.6 million awarded in 2024, making it the largest winning payout in the sport.

The US Open has made a deliberate and concerted effort to ensure double-digit percentage increases from 2024 in all rounds of all events for all players, while at the same time significantly increasing the percentage of prize money for athletes playing deep into the singles draws.

In addition to the increase for the main-draw singles champions, finalists ($2.5 million, an increase of 39%), semi-finalists ($1.26 million, an increase of 26%), quarter-finalists ($660,000, an increase of 25%) and Round of 16 competitors ($400,000, an increase of 23%) will all see substantial growth. This follows years of a strategic focus on redistribution to the early rounds and Qualifying Tournament to provide meaningful payouts to all players.

Men’s and women’s doubles purses are also significantly increased in an effort to support the players competing in these championships, up 23% to $4.78 million from $3.89 million in 2024. For the first time ever, the winning teams from the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles tournaments will earn $1 million in prize money.The men’s and women’s qualifying tournaments’ prize money will increase to a record $8 million, up 10% for this year.

In addition to prize money, as has been the case in recent years, the US Open has made an effort to help reduce outof-pocket expenses for all competitors in all professional main draw and qualifying events. All players will receive a

travel stipend of $1,000, as well as two hotel rooms in the official player hotel (or $600 per day if the player chooses to lodge at another accommodation), resulting in $5 million in overall support. In addition, players will receive free racquet stringing of up to five racquets per round.

The full breakdown of US Open prize money is below:

Men's & Women's Singles Main Draw

• Champion: $5,000,000

• Runner-Up: $2,500,000

• Semifinalists: $1,260,000

• Quarterfinalists: $660,000

• Round of 16: $400,000

• Round of 32: $237,000

• Round of 64: $154,000

• Round of 128: $110,000

Men's & Women's Doubles Main Draw (per team)

• Champions: $1,000,000

• Runners-Up: $500,000

• Semifinalists: $250,000

• Quarterfinalists: $125,000

• Round of 16: $75,000

• Round of 32: $45,000

• Round of 64: $30,000

Mixed Doubles (per team)

• Champions: $1,000,000

• Runners-Up: $400,000

• Semifinalists: $200,000

• Quarterfinalists: $100,000

• Round of 16: $20,000

Men's & Women's Singles Qualifying

• Round of 32: $57,200

• Round of 64: $41,800

• Round of 128: $27,500

Total 2025 US Open player compensation is $90.0 million, including hotel, per diem and US Open Wheelchair Championships prize money.

2025 U.S. Open Schedule

subject to change

SessionDayDateSession TimeMatches Scheduled

Q1 Monday 08/1811:00 a.m. Qualifying Matches

Q2 Tuesday 08/1911:00 a.m. Qualifying Matches/Mixed Doubles Rounds 1 & 2

Q3 Wednesday 08/2011:00 a.m. Qualifying Matches/Mixed Doubles Semis & Finals

Q4 Thursday 08/21 11:00 a.m. Qualifying Matches

1 Sunday 08/24 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 1

2 Sunday 08/247:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 1 3 Monday 08/25 11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 1 4 Monday 08/25 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 1 5 Tuesday 08/26 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 1 6 Tuesday 08/26 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 1 7 Wednesday 08/27 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 2

8 Wednesday 08/27 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 2

9 Thursday08/28 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round 2/Women’s Doubles Round 1

and Women’s Round 3/Men’s & Women’s Doubles Round 1

and Women’s Round 3

a.m.Men’s and Women’s Round of 16/Men’s and Women’s Doubles Round 2

08/31 7:00 p.m.

and Women’s Round of 16

09/01 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Round of 16/Men’s Doubles Round 22/Women’s Doubles Round 3 18

09/01 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Round of 16

09/02 11:00 a.m. Men’s Doubles Round 3/ Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals/Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals

Quarterfinals

09/03 11:00 a.m.

Doubles Quarterfinals/Women’s Doubles Semifinals/Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals 22 Wednesday 09/03 7:00 p.m. Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals

Thursday09/04 12:00 p.m. Men’s Doubles Semifinals 23 Thursday 09/04 7:00 p.m. Women’s Singles Semifinals

24Friday09/0512:00 p.m.Women’s Doubles Final

24Friday09/053:00 p.m.Men’s Singles Semifinals

25Friday09/057:00 p.m.Men’s Singles Semifinals

26 Saturday09/0612:00 p.m.Men’s Doubles Final

26Saturday09/064:00 p.m.Women’s Singles Final

27Sunday09/072:00 p.m.Men’s Singles Final

literary corner

Second Serve By Roscoe Tanner

Reviewed by Bisrat Saint-George & Abril Martinez Yee

This book is available to buy on Amazon

SecondServe, the second book about former American tennis star Roscoe Tanner, is a candid, introspective look at his life on and off the court. A very compelling new book release that should resonate with both tennis enthusiasts and general readers alike.

In this powerful memoir, Tanner revisits the highlights of his professional career, including his unforgettable Wimbledon final against Björn Borg, as well as the personal challenges he faced, after his professional playing days were over. Each chapter of the book is marked with honesty, reflection, and a unique perspective on the world of professional sports. It was refreshing to see some great names of his era come alive. From Jimmy Connors, whom he has known since childhood, to Arthur Ashe, his doubles partner for 5 years, John McEnroe, who also played for his alma mater, Stanford University, and his friendship with the late Vitas Gerulaitis.

While one would expect Tanner to dwell on his legendary 153 mph serve

record, that stood for almost 30 years, and which in some circles, is still considered unbroken, Tanner, instead takes the reader into the depth of his life, weaving through the threads of family life, the start of a tennis program at Stanford University, his interactions with his parents, incarcerations, and different time periods of his life.

What is fascinating about the book

is that Tanner tells a story that keeps flowing right from the first sentence in the first chapter. The reader sees how his relationships with his ex-wives are built up and how they also gradually disintegrate. His lack of acknowledgment of a "love child," which did not come for many decades, and his ultimate attempt to make things right by his children.

Tanner's story reminds me of the caption in a 2020 article that caught my attention, as I was trying to get some information online. “Converse, the rise and fall and rise again" was a captivating article about a major brand that is now part of NIKE. Roscoe Tanner’s book, “Second Serve," reminds me of that caption and the brand’s story, because it captures similar scenarios from greatness to failures and a rebound.

This book is a must-read for tennis fans and others who enjoy non-fiction but with the pace of an interesting story filled with twists and turns about life itself, and a remarkable comeback that started from the most unexpected place in the Grand Canyon state.

Thelandscape of college tennis is always changing, especially with the advent of NIL, transfer portal and the influx of international players. As someone who competed in college tennis at the highest levels, I think examining the dynamics is important, and so I spoke with my former Stanford teammate Paul Goldstein who is currently the head coach of the Cardinal.

Goldstein is the only person to ever win Kalamazoo three times, and is the last person to defeat Novak Djokovic in the opening round of a Grand Slam. Here is Part One of my interview with Goldstein as we discussed all things college tennis. In the next edition of Long Island Tennis Magazine, I will share Part Two of my interview with Goldstein where we discussed his playing career, and more advice for up-and-coming junior players.

Becker: What do you love about college tennis?

Goldstein: I love the competition of college tennis. Having played as a junior for 10 years, professionally for about 10 years, with four years of college in between, there's just something about that team competition that is impossible to replicate. I never played high-level Davis Cup, and things like the Laver Cup weren’t around, but there's an intensity to collegiate tennis; a sort of fraternity and brotherhood that comes with it. Four years of playing, and approaching 12 years of coaching, I've just not been able to find anything in the world that matches that level of intensity. I was working in Silicon Valley after my playing career, and I can't say I was in the

How College Tennis Has Changed: My Talk With Stanford Head Coach Paul Goldstein

By Ricky Becker

market to be a collegiate tennis coach, but the opportunity to do it here, at our alma mater, Ricky, was pretty special and hard to pass up. It was a significant transition, but I've loved it, and it's been a good fit for me. We got a really good thing going right now, and I'm really enjoying it.

Becker: What are the major changes you have seen in college tennis over the last 25 years?

Goldstein: Certainly the prevalence of international student-athletes in college tennis has increased and that is one of the major changes. I've also seen, just like in professional tennis, an increase in the quality of depth. That wasn't around when we were playing. There are competitive players playing down in the lineup, not just the Power Conferences, but the mid-majors as well, who can play the game. And so the quality of depth has increased exponentially, and it has become a little bit harder to really separate yourself. I’ll tell you, right now feels a little bit like a golden age, Ricky. If you look at Wimbledon, in the second round of men's singles at Wimbledon, there were 15 former collegiate tennis players out of the final 64. I think there might have been 25 or 26 in the first round, and that hasn't happened in a while. That is pretty unique now. I think if you go back further when the McEnroes, Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith. Etc played college tennis. Some of the best in the world were playing college tennis, but we got away from that a little. There have been really significant

changes in collegiate athletics in general the last few years with the onset of NIL. We got revenue sharing starting, and the transfer portal has picked up in the last couple years like nothing we have seen before. And so the volume of transactions going on now in all of college athletics is remarkable.

Becker: Do you see a lot of transfers and players changing schools in tennis?

Goldstein: A lot when you compare it to what it used to be when we played, but is it a lot compared to football, basketball and some other sports? No. I think at one point, something like 30 percent of the Division I college baseball players were in the [transfer] portal. I don't think it’s that extensive in tennis, but it’s certainly a lot more prevalent than it ever has been in our sport.

Becker: And do you see a lot of players getting NIL money?

Goldstein: It's hard for me to know. I would just be speculating, and it depends on your definition of a lot, but do I think it's happening? Yeah, I do. It's becoming more and more ingrained. And then back on July 1, the NIL rules changed again, so we'll see. We're still in this wild, wild west stage of things. It's certainly not the majority of players by any stretch of the imagination, but a select few are getting some I would think.

Becker: So what would your advice be to a junior player who may be under the radar, and is

looking to play college tennis at the D3, D2 or lower-level D1 level?

Goldstein: The most important thing at every level of the game is to focus on your development and getting better. I used to ask this question to recruits and when I was working in Silicon Valley: Do you love to win, or do you hate to lose? And there’s no real wrong answer there. I'm looking for the answer that is the most motivating. I always felt like I was the “I hate-to-lose guy”, and so I looked for that. But then I saw an interview with Kobe Bryant. He was asked the same question, and he responded: “Neither”. He's said, ‘I love to learn, I love to figure it out’. And that really stuck with me, because the most motivating force is figuring it out, and learning. What can you learn from that experience to get better? I think no matter where you are, it's about getting better. You look at Jannik Sinner losing to Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open. For the next two weeks, he thought about what he could do to beat him at Wimbledon; just focused on getting better. So at every

level, it's what can we do to get better? So I'd keep my focus on that and a lot of the other stuff takes care of itself.

Becker: How do you evaluate a potential recruit? Do you use Tennisrecruiting.net,, UTR, etc.? Goldstein: Tennisrecruiting does have a good comprehensive list, but I don't pay as much attention to the rankings as I do to the UTR. I just want to make sure I'm not missing anybody, so I'll look at the top 50 to make sure I know who's out there. I use it more for that purpose, and then I'll use the UTR for their level. But even UTR is not the end-all, be-all. Seeing someone play in person and talking to their personal coach, those are the most important things. But a UTR is a really good first place to look.

Becker: Have you found anything that college freshmen aren't prepared for when they arrive in college?

Goldstein: Failure. Tennis players should be pretty equipped for failure because

Y

• Private lessons and court rentals

• Adult programs for all levels

• Year-round programs for all ages

• Summer Tennis and Multi-sport Program

Sdill

s TENNISCENTER@ROSS.ORG • 631-907-5162 ross.org/tennis at See details on seasonal programs

even the best in the world, let’s say Federer, won 54 percent of his points when he played, which means he failed 46 percent of the time. As you get to the higher level, there’s failure, and I don’t mean that in the negative connotation of the word. We all do it, and it’s how you learn from that experience and what kind of resilience you can build from it.

It’s also really hard to make the adjustment of being on a team. One of the biggest challenges is coming into college and being the 6th or 7th player in the lineup, and it can be the difference between playing and not playing. Our sport isn’t like others where you can sub somebody in, it’s pretty binary. The other thing is you are on your own in school; you’re going to have tests that you don’t do well on, or relationships you develop, and it’s about managing all of that when you are away from home. It’s a major transition for everybody. I don’t care how strong of a player you are, or how great of an academic student you are, there’s going to be opportunities to develop resilience and have a growth mindset.

“Believe nothing. No matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”—Buddha.

When I instruct, I suggest to my students to pay close attention but to avoid trusting my teaching on faith alone.

Why do I urge them to not blindly trust my information? First, because they, not me are most responsible for their education, Further, I believe the best teachers are mentors who lead with suggestions, not dogma to inspire students to teach themselves.

It's not realistic to expect that students will live in a vacuum of information because we all have easy accessibility with few barriers. Tennis instruction is a prime example of such availability, and while this access can be a potential wealth of information, let's not forget that one person's trash is another person's treasure. It seems that when it comes to tennis information many feel that they are not only entitled to their own opinions , but also to their own facts with unsupported imperatives that when questioned don't provide an explanation but do provoke an attack on the inquiry. Such passion without purpose is poisonous.

Here's a case in point of information that is a mile wide but an inch deep; "the power imparted to the ball is all about racket speed."

This is a mantra of tennis physics misinformation that has been repeated so many times many coaches and students accept it as gospel, despite this concept countering basic high

Learn How To Learn

By Steve Kaplan

school physics.

The display of Power in movement is “the ability to exert force in the shortest amount of time” so speed which reduces time matters, but force is mass times acceleration so the mass of the racket and changes in velocity also matter.

The imparting of power is the convergence of all of these factors at the highest point and as we know in this and other mathematical equations like it, no one independent variable is deserving of more attention than the other.

If I ask students to “listen to me and forget what others say” I would be doing exactly what I object with. So rather than asking students to trust me and to reject others information, I ask them to question and seek out the most credible independent resources as my ultimate goal is to emancipate them from blind reliance by guiding them in the process of solving problems.

This starts with the recognition that the process of learning tennis mechanics, strategies and tactics while straightforward, requires active participation, effort and diligence:

Here is a progression of that process:

1. First, seek to analyze information to understand if it reinforces or

conflicts with what you know of the world.

2. Next, carefully and critically watch highly skilled players to help uncover similarities and differences in movements and compare and contrast these.

3. Finally based on the first two steps, discover which movements are uniquely suitable for you.

4. Based on following these steps find more questions and ask them.

5. Then repeat steps 1 to 4.

It is imperative to recognize that practice doesn't make movements and point construction perfect, it makes them permanent, so before investing years into reinforcing a technique or strategy that may be highly flawed, take the time and effort to learn the critical thinking skills that are the path to understanding performance development. Immature players want to win the battle, wise coaches teach them to win the war. Inexperienced coaches tell a player how to act. Wise coaches build trust and loyalty by showing them how to act. Simply: Assess before you progress.

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 co-director of The City Classic Junior Tennis Academy. Steve has coached more than 1,100 nationally- ranked junior players, 16 New York State high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous highly-ranked touring professionals. Many of the students Steve has closely mentored have gone 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.

Avdoo Captures L6 Title

Carefree Tennis Welcomes In New General Manager

Lucca Avdoo, who is an Excel High Performance player at SPORTIME Lynbrook, was victorious at the L6 August Open in Queens. Avdoo brought home the title in the Boys 16s division.

Longtime Carefree Tennis General Manager Kathy Miller retired this summer after a decades-long career running the North Merrick club. Samantha Perri took over the new role for Carefree and will be at the forefront of continuing Carefree’s rich tradition on Long Island. That includes the beginning of the fall season in September with programs, clinics and more in September in both tennis and pickleball, and more can be learned by visiting CarefreeTennis.com.

Across Long Island

Across Long Island

Chawla Wins Title at St.

John’s

Wygodzki Reaches Finals of Girls Nationals

Shaan Chawla was the winner of the L6 Cross String Summer Series on the outdoor courts of St. John’s University. Chawla, who trains at Robbie Wagner’s Tournament Training Center, won all of his matches in straight sets to earn the Boys 18s title.

Paige Wygodzki, the Huntington native who trained at the Bethpage Park Tennis Center, reached the finals of the USTA Billie Jean King National Championships in San Diego, Calif. Wygodzki's finish as the finalist earns her a wildcard into the Orange Ball main draw (Photo courtesy of Lexie Wanninger/USTA SoCal).

In the Kitchen

An in-depth look at Pickleball on Long Island

Long Island Pickleball Challenge Coming to Hempstead Lake

As Long Island Tennis Magazine continues its community involvement and tournament offerings, we’re excited to once again host the Long Island Pickleball Challenge, which will hit the courts of SPORTIME Hempstead Lake on Saturday, September 20.

The tournament will feature four different divisions of play:

• Women’s Doubles 3.5 - 4.0

• Men’s Doubles 3.5 - 4.0

• Men’s Doubles 4.0 - 4.75

• Mixed Doubles 3.5 - 4.0

The format will be round-robin play that leads into the knockout rounds. Players will be treated to a continental breakfast, including bagels, muffins and bananas, as well as

complimentary drinks throughout the tournament.

There will be prizes for the winners of all divisions, and winners will be featured in the next edition of Long Island Tennis Magazine. In the Men’s Doubles 4.0 – 4.75 division, there will be a $500 prize money offered for the champions (there must be at least eight teams).

Q&A With Joe Siegel, SPORTIME Pickleball

LongIsland Tennis Magazine sat down with Joe Siegel, the Managing Director of SPORTIME Pickleball, to learn more about the state of the sport in our community, and how he and his team remain at the forefront of this surge.

LITM: As the Managing Director for SPORTIME Pickleball, what does that role entail?

Siegel: My primary role is to find and collaborate with other talented, passionate people who are committed to growing the game of Pickleball by creating innovative programs and welcoming environments where players of all levels can enjoy playing this amazing sport.

LITM: How has SPORTIME embraced pickleball over the last couple of years?

Siegel: Since the game exploded during and after the pandemic, and as one of the country’s leading racket sports operators, we felt that Pickleball was the perfect complement to our existing tennis business. We now offer Pickleball at 12 SPORTIME facilities, with 3 more coming this fall.

LITM: Does SPORTIME Pickleball follow a similar model to tennis and other sports? How have you implemented the SPORTIME method to pickleball?

Siegel: SPORTIME Pickleball does follow a similar model to tennis in regards to creating opportunities for players to take advantage of private and group instruction, compete in leagues and tournaments, and enjoy recreational play with friends. We are confident that over the next few years, there will be a large influx of junior players who will learn, play and compete, the same way that thousands of junior tennis players do at SPORTIME throughout the year.

LITM: How exciting was the opening of SPORTIME Westbury? How has that project gone, and are their goals to open up more dedicated-pickleball facilities?

Siegel: After a bit of a delayed opening, we have been pleasantly surprised, as our courts have been completely filled on most weeknights and weekend mornings, with a variety of activities including levelbased open play sessions, clinics, lessons and lots of court reservations. In addition to our 12 court facility in Englewood, NJ, that also opened this past March, we will be opening three new dedicated facilities this fall, in Wayne, NJ, Yorktown, NY and Armonk, NY.

LITM: What are your thoughts on the state of pickleball here on Long Island? What do you think is next for the sport?

Siegel: Pickleball on Long Island seems to be thriving. Most indoor facilities and outdoor parks are filled with players of all ages and levels. It is only a matter of time before the number of adult players is matched by the number of juniors, as more and more kids are introduced to the game through summer camp, physical education classes and junior training

programs like our Junior Pickleball Academy.

LITM: Do you see a lot of crossover between tennis and pickleball, and do you think people who begin playing pickleball will also pick up tennis?

Siegel: We see more tennis players trying Pickleball than we do the other way around. Tennis players usually possess excellent racket skills and transition to Pickleball fairly easily, and many find the social aspect of the game very appealing. Luckily, there is no shortage of adult and junior tennis players at SPORTIME, as both sports continue to flourish simultaneously.

LITM: What should people know about SPORTIME Pickleball as we move through the summer and into the fall months?

Siegel: SPORTIME Pickleball remains committed to providing players of all ages and levels with ample opportunities to learn, compete, play for fun, and meet new friends playing this amazing sport. We encourage all players to visit our airconditioned clubs during the summer months. Jump into an open play, take a clinic or just rent a court with friends. And keep an eye out for some very exciting new programs for juniors and adults coming this fall!

continued from page 45

I Suck: How to Tame Negative Self-Talk

By Rob Polishook

Let’sbe honest, all pickleball players recognize negative selftalk at some points in games, drills, or recreational play. It starts with that devilish little voice in our head that raises doubts, fears, and questions about our ability to perform. The little voice usually comes during the most pressurepacked times in a game.

It's the voice that says, “I suck! How could I miss that?' after a missed third shot drop, or “How could you do that again?” after another errant shot. It's that cynical little voice that whispers, “If you lose the next point, you're going to lose the game,” or “I'm never going to get better” after a lost match. Negative self-talk is preceded by negative self-thoughts. Without proper awareness, negative thoughts can bring even the most competitive pickleball player down

When a player chooses to listen to their negative self-talk and begins a negative self-dialogue that is when the downward spiral usually begins.

It often plays out like this: a player miss-hits a ball that they expected to put away, and in their head, the little voice of doubt enters and begins chiming in. Simultaneously, their body starts to get tight. Instead of moving on to the next shot, stepping back, or any other form of refocusing, the verbal self-talk begins and the player continues to harp on the past, verbally berating themselves. All of this leads to tight muscles, loss of feel, and further errors.

It's important to understand that we have a choice when it comes to reacting or responding to our negative self-talk. When we react defensively and deny its existence, the voice only gets louder. There's a saying: “What you resist, persists.” By trying to deny or ignore the voice, we unintentionally give it more power. It's also crucial to recognize that just because we have a negative self-thought doesn't make it true. For instance, have you ever had a negative thought like “It's over; I'm

going to lose” when you were on the brink of losing a tournament, only to bounce back? That's because you accepted the thought without judgment, neither validating nor invalidating it. Consequently, the thought faded away, and you could play the game like any other

So, what can a pickleball player do when their mind bombards them with negative self-thoughts, especially in the thick of a tight game under pressure? If the pickleball player is aware of the self-thoughts and the patterns, they can make the choice to step away and change their focus. The following six practices can be used when negative self-thoughts start creeping into your head and negative self-talk begins to spew out of your mouth.

1. Be aware and let it dissolve away: The problem is not the negative thinking— it's normal to experience it in high-pressure situations. Instead of resisting or fighting with these thoughts, simply observe them without judgment. Take a step back, focus on your breath, and visualize the thoughts being released as you exhale.

2. Welcome and normalize: Say “hello” to the negative thoughts— by acknowledging them, you normalize them. You can actually say to thoughts, “Hey, thanks for sharing your concerns but I’m in the middle of a game. Go back to the sidelines.” You might also pretend that your favorite comedian is mimicking this reply, which can bring humor to the situation.

3. Put a time limit on it: Once

you notice negative self-talk, give yourself a specific amount of time to dwell on it, and then move on. For example, you could say, “I'm going to allow myself to be frustrated about that shot for 5 seconds, and then I'm going to refocus on the next point.” It's important to acknowledge the feeling without getting stuck in it. Don't say, “I stink,” but rather, “I stunk on that shot.” Even after a game ends, it's common for players to come off the court feeling down and saying things like, “I’m terrible.” While ideally, the player wouldn't feel this way to begin with, a more realistic and healthier approach would be, “I may not have played my best today, but I can learn from my mistakes and do better next time.”

4. Reframe the situation: Imagine that you are serving to

win. You step up to the line and the thought comes up: “Uh oh, I’m so nervous.” Ask yourself: “What is another way of looking at this?” How about considering the situation as a challenge instead of a threat? Instead of dwelling on the obstacles associated with our nerves, we can shift our attention to the process that entails what we must do to overcome them.

5. Shift your focus: When negative thoughts start to overwhelm you, redirect your attention to something else. Focus on your feet or your breath and approach the situation with

curiosity instead of judgment. Taking a brief five-second break from the negative self-talk can help you regain your composure and concentration.

In summary, we all have negative thoughts. However, when they escalate to self-talk, it's important to regain control of the situation. Even the best players experience doubts, fears, and nerves, just like everyone else. The question is how we respond, play through it, and avoid the downward spiral of negativity. When in doubt, go back to the five practices to combat those "I suck" thoughts and regain your focus.

No Pain, No Gain?

By Tonny van de Pieterman

Ididsome thinking on the slogan “no pain, no gain”, and I think I’ve done a 360 on it. This is probably a valuable exercise with many slogans and truths, as language can be both powerful as well as limiting.

The power of paradox!

When I was a young aspiring tennis player I believed in no pain, no Gain— wholeheartedly. Why wouldn’t I? The adults in my life told me so, and I was an eager rule follower.

At age 12, my parents got me a private lesson. Up to that point I had done all my sports activities, including tennis, in group form. I was very driven and easily outworked most of my peers and I progressed nicely. I don’t remember the circumstances of receiving this private lesson, and I didn’t ask for it, but I certainly considered it a treat.

During this one-hour private instruction, the teaching pro nearly worked me to death, almost literally. My heart was consistently in my throat, and my lungs were on fire! As an obedient, appreciative, and eager 12-year-old would, I kept going and going. I was like the energizer-bunny commercial. I went all out for the entire hour. My coordination and my technique were deteriorating quickly, and more importantly it was NOT an enjoyable experience. I had looked forward to this special occasion, but now I was disappointed, and the only person I knew to get disappointed with was myself. Apparently, I was not good enough, not strong enough and not fit enough to be able to handle this type of top-notch training.

Reflecting on this much later in life, I realized that this coach, a relatively young pro, was probably trying to show off to my parents how tough he was. Perhaps he was trying to make a name for himself. He was going to show them how much a young punk still had to learn. The fact that this coach was completely out of tune with his player, and that he was causing more harm than good, was a perspective I could not possess.

This experience formed my attitude that if pain is good, more pain must be better! I

worked harder and harder, even to the point of diminishing returns. I consistently choose to override my internal brake system; the pain threshold we are all born with.

At age 18 and training to become a professional tennis player, I often worked so hard during off-court sessions in the morning that during on-court afternoon session I could barely move. My body felt foreign to me and could barely perform. Lots of muscle injuries were the result of neglecting micro tears and pushing past the soreness of beaten-up muscles.

No Pain, No Gain (NPNG) left a very bitter taste in my mouth after a professional career became out of reach. My healthy work ethic has been an asset to my life, but the suffering undergone as a child-athlete left some scars. I started questioning the mantra NPNG. The pain had started to frighten me, and my coping mechanisms to deal with the fear were not healthy, as coping mechanisms often aren’t. In some areas of my life this held me back. Not having well developed internal boundaries means that you cannot

trust yourself. This is an all-day-every-day state of fear and anxiety that is not comfortable.

Having had the insight, awareness and understanding has allowed me to practice choice which has brought me back to the validity of the mantra.

I am starting to see that No Pain, No Gain, is indeed valid, but ONLY if I can choose my own pain.

If I want some good results, I must suffer some pain. Being patient, for instance, is painful at times, but if I choose to be patient for an outcome that I desire, I can deal with it.

Recently I started taking cold showers, first thing in the morning, because I was promised this wonderful, calm, glowing feeling afterwards. I choose the unpleasantness (pain) of the cold water, to reap the benefit. I choose pain because of the gain I desire!

I choose the pain, and I can also stop the pain at any moment. This gives me control over it. Being trapped in pain needs to be avoided at all cost; I wish I knew this as a 12-year-old!

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.

Back in 1976, TAF Tennis Ladders of Long Island (formerly known as TAF or Tennis Association of Farmingdale), was formed as an affordable way for people of all abilities to play tennis in the Farmingdale area to meet the intense excitement around the game at the time.

This summer, TAF Tennis Ladders, now the longest running community tennis organization on Long Island, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special themed-event at its annual tennis picnic.

“I joined TAF in 1983, having moved to Long Island from Brooklyn and knowing literally no one out here, and it turned out to be the gateway of tennis beyond what I could have imagined at that time,” said Rich Hume, President of TAF. “And now all these years later, I have the honor of being president of the league while we are celebrating our 50th year–incredible!”

TAF Tennis Ladders Celebrates 50th Anniversary With 1970s Style Tennis Picnic

membership has given me a way to connect with people who share common interests and share some memorable moments. I am very happy to be part of the welcoming and supportive community.”

Carl Calderone echoed that sentiment:

The 50th anniversary celebration was held at Farmingdale State College, and featured fun drills, TAF pro-set match play and round robin tennis play across the six outdoor courts. There was a picnic style lunch and dozens of raffle prizes and appealing TAF tennis swag.

In homage to the founding of TAF, many members dressed up in authentic tennis outfits from the late 1970s, and even used wooden racquets. It was a wonderful celebration of the origins of the

league, and how far it has come. Players in the league embrace the competition, the benefits of exercise and improvement, and the camaraderie and strong friendships that get made on the courts.

“I joined TAF in 2023 through a recommendation from a friend who is also a happy TAF member. It has been an exciting and fun three years since then,” said Ashish Dwivedi. “The opportunity to be part of the environment, spend time on the courts, and build friendships is something I look forward to. My game has improved a lot since I had the opportunity to play with a variety of players having different styles and techniques. The membership has motivated me to remain active with a positive impact on my health and well being. TAF

“The people here are all friendly and sociable, and that’s really what my wife and I were looking for. The convenience is also amazing. I live in Farmingdale but was playing up in Oyster Bay a lot, and this is right around the corner from me. I look forward to playing good tennis, but also making good friendships that last a lifetime. I’m very excited about that.”

For a lot of tennis players, being able to find a doubles partner, or someone to play singles against can sometimes be a difficult process.

The convenience provided by TAF’s seven different tennis folders allows players to always be able to find a game not far from home.

“I was tired of scrounging around to find a fourth for a doubles game, or even a singles partner when someone got sick or couldn’t play for another reason, so I joined and found out there’s always someone wanting to play,” said Jeanie Lata.

“I have met some really nice people, and it gives me a much larger pool to choose from when it comes to playing. I actually happened to meet a childhood friend who was in the group. I

didn’t even know she was playing, and we were able to reconnect for the first time since grammar school.”

Stacy Darvin has been a TAF member for the last five years, and raves about its friendly and competitive games, and what comes along with the membership.

“I always look forward to the TAF season,” she said. “It’s so much fun and very affordable, compared to other options. It’s a great way to network and meet tennis players all throughout Long Island. The staff is fabulous and do a great job organizing everything, including the drills and round robins they host for all members throughout the season.”

The season runs from April to October and is available to players of all ages and abilities, open to all

Hume and the TAF Board are

proud of what the league has meant to so many people throughout the years, and are motivated to continue to do more in the next years, including more automation on its website, and more tennis-focused events.

“Thinking back on all the matches I’ve played over those years, the lasting impression I come away with is not whether I won or lost, but the enduring friendships with all the hundreds of people I’ve met over the years of our shared passion for tennis,” Hume said.

“Congratulations to all of our members–past, present and future, and let’s keep it going!”

To learn more about TAF, its history, and how to join for the 2025 or 2026 season, visit TAFTennis.org.

on Long Island and Queens, featuring seven level based ladders and members.

The Five Greatest Tennis Films Of All-Time

Whatcould be more fun or more educational than watching a great tennis movie? There are many to choose from and here is my list of the five best of all-time, and what you can take from them. Sure, we all know that the 2021 film “King Richard” about Serena and Venus Williams was nominated for six Academy Awards and that Will Smith won an Oscar.

1. Federer: Twelve Final Days

This is a behind the scenes documentary that follows the last twelve days of the career of Swiss born Roger Federer who most consider the best tennis player in history. In addition to being heart-warming and poignant, this film gives you a close up last look at what may be one of the world’s greatest role models. Called “The Federer Express”, Roger Federer had a unique combination of grace, elegance, power, and poise. He continually made winning look easy and even inevitable. His influence transcended sport. A poll taken in 2010 ranked Federer as the second most trusted and admired person on earth, right behind Nelson Mandela. So if you have a youngster that is serious about tennis, sit down with them and watch this documentary. The benefits will be considerable.

2. Naomi Osaka: Three Episode Netflix Series

Naomi Osaka is one of the most interesting athletes on earth. She was ranked #1 in the world, is a two time US Open champion, an activist for human rights and a renowned advocate for mental health in sports. She is also a tragic figure which is painfully evident when you watch this documentary. She is a shy, sensitive young talent who has had a hard time managing fame and fortune. Her depressive state and cheerlessness is obvious in every frame of this film; such is the cost one pays when drinking from the poisoned chalice of fame and fortune. The three episodes were filmed between 2018 - 2020 during her ascension, but shortly thereafter came her mental collapse

By Dr. Tom Ferraro

signaled during the 2021 French Open. That was the well-chronicled debacle where she refused to meet with the media, was fined $15,000 and quickly withdrew, sighting mental illness concerns. Following all this came her relationship with rapper Cordae, her pregnancy, and the firing of coaches. Her embattled relationship with the media has had a real impact on professional golfers as well with both Colin Morikawa and Rory McIlroy getting into the controversial habit of ignoring all media requests following losses.

3. The Gambler

This 2014 crime drama is based upon the Fyodor Dostoevsky novel of the same name. It starred Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Jessica Lange and Emory Cohen as the college tennis star. It is a story of a self destructive literature professor with a big gambling problem and may be Mark Wahlberg’s greatest performance. Emory Cohen plays an emerging tennis star taking one of Wahlberg’s classes and the film emphasizes the crucial importance of natural giftedness if one is to rise to the top of any field—be it literature, tennis or basketball. This obvious and painful reality seems to be true. I have worked with many world class athletes in sports like golf, basketball, soccer, football and boxing. It is a truism that a big part of their world class status is genetics. As an example, Tiger Woods was so freakishly talented and he could hit a ball s close to a pin, with one hand using a seven iron as he walked down the fairway talking to you. This is not a nautical gift, this is god given. Of course you must couple that with a superb work ethic, some luck and very good support team that stick with you for the ten years but here is no denying that natural talent is a must. This film

demonstrates that cruel and unfair fact very well. It is a fun and worthwhile film to view.

4. Carlos Alcaraz: My Way

This is another three-episode Netflix series documenting the Spanish-born Carlos Alcaraz. With his winning smile, charisma and good looks he has become the heir apparent to Federer, Nadal and Djokovic as the greatest tennis player on earth. And similar to Osaka, the series reveals the pain, stress and anguish that fame always brings. Since Carlos is still such a young man, the documentary unveils his struggle to hold onto his youth, his family, and his joy of tennis in the face of the endless obligations that stardom demands. This documentary is a cautionary tale of what happens when you get what you wish for.

5. King Richard

This biographical sports drama stars Will Smith as Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams. The film is one of the great sports films, comparable to “Friday Night Lights” and “Any Given Sunday” and won Will Smith the Best Actor Academy Award. Unfortunately Will Smith channeled Richard Williams too well, which may explain his loss of control at the Academy Awards when he smacked host Chris Rock in the face. The film shows Richard Williams doing the impossible by raising two girls on the mean streets of Compton, California in such a way that they both ascended to the top of the tennis world. Mr. Williams instinctively knew how to protect his daughters from coaches who wanted to overexpose them to the stress of national competition. The Williams story contrasts sharply with the Osaka story in that neither of the Williams sisters imploded at a young age. The lesson here is that if you have a young prodigy, you would do well to safeguard them from both fame and fortune until they are old enough to handle it.

For consultations, treatment or on-site visits, contact Dr. Tom Ferraro Ph.D., Sport Psychologist, by phone at (516) 248-7189, e-mail DrTFerraro@aol.com or visit DrTomFerraro.com.

How AI and Technology Could Finally End Cheating in Junior Tennis

By Chris Lewit

Thereis a dirty little secret in the cloistered world of competitive junior tennis: Cheating and gamesmanship are rampant—and nobody is doing anything about it. For many children and parents, their first exposure to the junior tennis circuit is a shock. Unlike most other sports, junior tennis is one of the few sanctioned competitions where the players—often as young as eight years old—are expected to referee their own matches and keep their own score.

Many parents report a traumatizing first tournament experience for their child, full of tears and frustration. It is a well-known fact in the industry that many kids play just one competitive tournament and never return to the circuit.

Interestingly, in the United States, there are more than 10 times the number of high school team tennis players than there are competitive junior tournament players. Why such a stark discrepancy? Because most of the nice kids, and their families, gravitate toward high school tennis, where the environment is more supportive, and the cheating and gamesmanship are far less prevalent.

On any given Saturday or Sunday morning, you won’t find kids refereeing their own soccer games or calling fouls on the basketball court. But in junior tennis, young players are tasked with doing just that. Meanwhile, parents are forced to sit helplessly on the sidelines, not permitted to intervene during disputes, no matter how blatant the cheating may be.

It’s true that most sanctioned tournaments provide roving umpires who can be called to assist in disputes, but by the time an official arrives, the damage is often done. Worse still, seasoned cheaters know how to manipulate referees or simply resume their tactics once the umpire walks away. It’s a broken system.

So the big question is why? Why can’t the leaders of the sport—the ITF, USTA, UTR, and other sanctioning bodies—come together to put an end to cheating in junior

tournaments once and for all?

Some in the business argue that providing proper supervision would be too costly. Others insist that self-officiating builds character, mental toughness, and independence. “It’s just part of the game,” they say. “It makes kids stronger,” they claim. Many pass the buck, asserting that it’s the responsibility of coaches and parents to instill moral values in the players, not the job of governing bodies or tournament directors. Others flat-out deny the problem, saying cheating isn’t prevalent enough to warrant reform.

But ask any honest coach who’s been around the game for decades, and they’ll tell you the truth: Cheating is out of control and has been for years. Many of us in the tennis community have sounded the alarm repeatedly, only to be met with silence or excuses. There has been incredible institutional inertia on this issue, stemming from a culture of rationalizing and excuse-making.

That said, there are finally signs that this inertia may be starting to shift.

Thankfully, the USTA has recently taken a meaningful step by investing in PlayReplay, a promising new video replay system designed to help curb cheating at junior events. This move signals a long-overdue acknowledgment that the status quo is not working and that technological solutions may be the key to restoring fairness and integrity in the sport. It’s a hopeful sign that the governing bodies are finally beginning to recognize the scale of the problem and take action.

It’s time to stop the cheating in junior tennis and enough with the

rationalizations and finger-pointing. If we want to grow the game and attract more young players, we must make competitive tennis a safe, fair, and positive experience for all children. Parents and players deserve a product they can trust, and that begins with offering events that come with a simple but powerful promise: a nocheating guarantee.

Thankfully, help may be on the horizon.

A new wave of technology companies is stepping up to provide real solutions. From AI-powered video review systems to affordable line-calling cameras and computer-scored matches, the tools now exist—or are rapidly being developed—to finally bring integrity and fairness to junior tournaments.

Companies like SwingVision, FoxTenn, and Playsight are pioneering AI and videobased officiating systems. These technologies can review disputed line calls, track scores in real time, and even generate match statistics, all with minimal human intervention. As the costs of these tools continue to fall and their adoption becomes more widespread, tournament directors will be able to offer fairer, more transparent matches—even at the grassroots level.

In the next five to ten years, I predict that most junior players in most regions will have access to tournaments equipped with advanced tech tools to ensure fair play. This will be a true blessing for the sport and a long-overdue one. For decades, the curse of cheating has driven countless kids away from competitive tennis. But with a new commitment to integrity—and the help of powerful technology—we may finally break that curse for good. Let’s give our kids the fair competition they deserve.

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.

court 6

Dimitrov Dating Eiza Gonzalez

Grigor Dimitrov went public with his relationship with movie star Eiza Gonzalez as the two attended the Red Sea Film Foundation’s Women in Cinema Gala.

The Mexico-born Gonzalez, expressed her adoration for Dimitrov in an Instagram post on the Bulgarian’s 34th birthday, writing: “Happiest b’day to the man of my dreams. @grigordimitrov you’re one of one. You truly are my absolutely favorite human, and I can’t believe I’ve been lucky enough to find you.”

U.S. Open Reveals…Dating Show

Seven contestants and one "Champion" bachelorette will feature in a YouTube reality series that will unfold entirely within the US Open called “Game, Set, Matchmaker”. The show will follow one bachelorette, former figure skater 24-year-old Ilana Sedaka, as she seeks real connections amid Grand Slam chaos—and maybe even finds her perfect ‘doubles partner’ for life along the way. Produced by the US Open and set to premiere on YouTube, the unscripted series combines sports, pop culture and romance, leaning into the theme of recent popular shows such as Love Island over the last several years.

Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column

By Emilie Katz

Svitolina Has Message For Hateful Social Media Comments

Too many athletes are facing too much abuse from people online, and it has only increased due to the popularity and mainstreaming of sports gambling. Following her loss to Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals in Montreal, Elina Svitolina posted screenshots of some of the messages she received, both towards her and towards her husband, fellow tennis player Gael Monfils.

“To all the bettors: I'm a mom before I'm an athlete,” Svitolina wrote in her Instagram story. “The way you talk to women—to mothers—is SHAMEFUL. If your mothers saw your messages, they'd be disgusted.”

Bouchard Announces Retirement From Tennis, Plays Last Match in Montreal

Former Wimbledon finalist and member of the New York Empire World TeamTennis team, Eugenie Bouchard played her final professional tennis match this summer. Bouchard said goodbye to the sport in her home country of Canada, at the National Bank Open in Montreal.

Bouchard won 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 over Colombia’s Emiliana Arango in the opening round of the event, before falling to Belinda Bencic.

Tennis stars, the weather is cooling down and the hot summer tennis season has passed. It’s a really good time to recalibrate your goals for the game where you feel you can enjoy the sport more and find more success. I found the fall was always a time, coming off a summer filled with tennis, where I was fit and confident with my game because the tour featured tournaments in glorious places to play at.

When fall came around, the tour moved indoors and the weather turned bad. The indoor season presented challenges so I would use that time to work on areas of my game that was letting me down under pressure. Specifically, one year I set a goal to improve my return of serve by studying video of what I was doing and comparing that to what the best returners were doing differently.

This kept me engaged and focused on development instead of results. Most of the time the fall produced solid results because areas that let me down would improve. I recommend the same for your growth as a player. Now these are not massive changes but just little tweaks that won’t require a technical root canal on your game. Talk to your coach or teammates to see where they feel you could improve. It was easy for me because my brother Murphy is always direct

A Fresh Tennis Start

By Luke Jensen

and the better I played, the more we won as a doubles team, which meant HE made more money!

I’m a big fan of developing a growth mindset to anything you face in life and your tennis is no exception. Be honest where it needs to go and find answers in the world around you to find solutions. Sometimes it was a racquet or

mail lukejensen84@yahoo.com.

string change. The bottom line is keep evolving and leaning into why the game is fun for you no matter what the result is at the end of the match. I really enjoy the challenge the game provides and the people I’ve met through tennis along the way.

Until next time keep going for WINNERS!

Born in Grayling, Mich., Luke Jensen’s resume includes 10 ATP Tour doubles titles and singles victories against Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Jim Courier. Jensen and his brother, Murphy, won the 1993 French Open doubles title. Luke

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