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Highlights
Table Of Contents
Carlos Alcaraz
4Beyond the Baseline: Advantage Tennis Clubs By Brian Coleman
82025 New York City Boys’ High School Recap
12Top NYC Athletes Compete in Annual Mayor Dinkins Cup 16Winter 2025 Season Wraps Up With End-Of-Season Finals and Party
22Junior Player Spotlight: Natalie Chelico, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center By Brian Coleman
40Long Island’s Biggest Adult Tennis Tournament Hits The Hamptons
Features
7It’s Time To Play On CaliClay
11Har-Tru Joins The Cincinnati Open In A Historic Summer of Tennis 14Tennis That Inspires: Not Breaks: How A Love For The Game Begins By Tim Senkevich
18USTA Eastern Metro Region Update
21Top Junior Players Compete in Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Sectional Championships
24Across Metro New York
2811th Annual JMTP Pro-Am Set For Hamptons This Summer As Event Continues To Play A Vital Role In Helping NYC Youth
30Why Does Everyone Think I’m A 3.5 When I Know I Am A 4.0? By Teddy Angelus
32U.S. Open To Kick Off With Fan Week
34The Over-40 Tennis Code: 5 Non-Negotiables For Staying Powerful, Pain-Free & Confident By Dr. Donald Shrump
36SPORTIME Port Washington Hosts Ninth Annual JMTA College Recruiting Combine
Under Pressure: Practical Tools To Help Tennis Players Reduce Anxiety And Thrive on Court By Chris Lewit
Players Love Tennis By Dr. Tom Ferraro 45Metro Adult League Update By Ainslie Ellis
46Why Most Tennis Warm-Ups Are A Waste
Photo credit: Mike Lawrence/USTA
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beyondthebaseline
Advantage Tennis Clubs
By Brian Coleman
Theroots of tennis in New York City run deep. As a city that prides itself on its communities, tennis has often been at the center of bringing people together, whether it’s indoors at all the tennis facilities in the metropolitan area, playing on the public parks from Brooklyn up through Riverdale, or coming together to celebrate the world’s biggest tennis event, the U.S. Open, in Queens at the end of every summer.
And it is impossible to tell the story of tennis in New York City without talking about Advantage Tennis Clubs, which has been serving tennis enthusiasts for a half-century, and is excited to continue
building its legacy as an integral part of NYC tennis.
As Advantage puts it:
“For over 50 years, we’ve been at the heart of the city’s tennis scene, shaping culture and nurturing talent. With a rich history of legendary matches and community engagement, we’re excited to continue shaping the game for the next 50 years.”
Advantage Tennis Clubs, whose parent company is HCK Recreation, was formed in 1969, operates three separate facilities in the city: New York Tennis Club (NYC’s oldest club, first opening in 1886), Manhattan Plaza
Racquet Club and Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, and all three have been serving their respective communities since their inception.
HCK Recreation was founded in 1969 by Skip Hartman and Bob Kelton, the former is a NYC tennis legend who has been integral in growing the sport. From the very beginning, it was about meeting the needs of the individuals who walk through their doors, and that approach has been at the core of the club’s missions ever since.
Bob Ingersole, another pillar of tennis in New York City, has known Hartman since the early 1980s and was on the
original staff at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club when it was launched in 1991, and was a key part of designing its programming.
“Quality across the range; quality of staffing, quality of programming and quality of teaching,” Ingersole said when asked what has made Advantage Tennis Clubs a success. “And giving back to the community. Not focusing so much on how much money they can pay, but developing a relationship with every individual that comes in our doors. They are the people who support you, so you have to be there to support them. Everyone is different, you have to get to know these people, what their needs are and what they desire.”
week with a wonderful group of players.”
And those needs can vary from club to club: the community around Manhattan Plaza is different than the one at Roosevelt Island, and they both contrast New York Tennis Club, so while they operate under the same umbrella, each club serves the community in which it resides.
Pat Schoenfeld recently turned 96years-old and the Upper West Side native has been playing at the Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club since its opening. Her and her husband, Gerald, were pivotal in revitalizing the Manhattan Plaza area in New York City.
“My husband Gerald Schoenfeld played a major role in building Manhattan Plaza. He was instrumental in making sure it became a home for the performing arts community. He worked with the Shubert Organization, helping to clean up and revitalize the entire area,” Schonefeld said. “Over time, as more buildings rose around us, the neighborhood transformed.”
Part of that transformation was the construction of the tennis club, and Schoenfeld has been a familiar face on those courts for decades.
“It’s about friendships,” she said. “I worked with Manhattan Plaza tennis pro Marlie Buehler and joined a small group that played on two courts. I used to play twice a week, every Monday and Wednesday. Now, I still play once a
Schoenfeld is just one of many people who have found solace on the tennis courts of Advantage Tennis Clubs throughout the year, and Josie Underwood, Sales and Communications Director for Advantage Tennis Clubs, says she never gets tired of listening to those who share how they have been positively affected.
“The best part of my job is getting to know the incredible community of players who’ve made Advantage Tennis their home,” she said. “The stories I hear remind me that these spaces are more than just a place to play, they’re second homes to many of our members.”
And it’s that dedication to its members and meeting their needs that will continue to make Advantage Tennis a beacon of tennis in the greatest city in the world. That means adapting to the ever-changing landscape of tennis, which was what Pam Glick was tasked with when she was brought in to Roosevelt Island Racquet Club in 2021. Hartman knew her background and wanted her to bring that to Advantage Tennis, and RIRC specifically.
With an extensive track record of developing programming and building leagues, Glick has been instrumental in helping Tony Huber, the Director of Adult Tennis at RIRC, grow their adult offerings exponentially over the past five years.
“We’re not afraid to add classes, and try different things. If this isn’t working, let’s try something else,” said Glick. “In working closely with Tony [Huber], we’ve increased the adult participation
here about 300 percent. We exceeded our own expectations.” Glick explains how they have placed a strong emphasis on memberships, as Advantage Tennis Clubs offers a multitude of them, and added more amenities that accompany them in addition to just lower court rental rates. That has helped change the clientele of the club and they have seen a lot more younger people, in their 20s and 30s, taking out memberships, something that dates back to the pandemic.
“The average age of the club has come down since I have been here, with a large part of our older members moving out of New York [during the COVID pandemic], it gave us an opportunity to rebuild, and build up a new clientele, " said Glick.
By recognizing what works and what doesn’t work, and making upgrades to the facility itself, Roosevelt Island Racquet Club has seen a revitalization of not only its adult programming, but also seen its courts filled in the middle of the weekdays. Advantage Tennis Clubs has also made a concerted effort to upgrade its junior programs, both for high performance players and beginners. A key reason for that has been bringing in new Junior Program Director Magnus Gunnarsson, who has been the driving influence behind the growth of its junior programs.
Gunnarsson is an Iceland native who competed for his county in the Davis Cup six times, and now lives right on Roosevelt Island.
Roosevelt Island Racquet Club has made it a priority to provide quality programming, and Ingersole says:
“We have been on a two-year venture and we are starting to see the results of it now. We are seeing kids from our summer programs flow into the fall and winter ones, and have introduced tournament segments into the programs where we provide tournament options for our players, coaching them through match play and traveling with the players. Myself and our coaches understand the
beyond the baseline
continued from page 5
tournament system, and we are able to give our players a lot of direction and guidance.”
While these may seem like small improvements on the surface, by continuing to upgrade its offerings to all members, and non-members, Advantage Tennis Clubs is ensuring its sustainability and claiming its place as an invaluable part of the New York tennis community. By not abandoning its traditions, but also bringing the clubs into the modern day, Advantage Tennis Clubs, led by Ingersole, Glick, Underwood and the rest of its team, are ensuring that it remains not only a central figure in the tennis world, but an important part of their communities overall.
“It’s what keeps me going,” says Ingersole. “Tennis is my family, and everyone involved with it I consider to be in my tennis family. When you walk
through our doors, you will be welcomed. We treat everyone as an
individual. When you come to us, you know you’ll be coming up Aces.”
It’s Time To Play On CaliClay
Fora lot of tennis enthusiasts, they enjoy the feel of the clay court underneath their feet when playing. The soft surface is great for the body and also creates a slower, higher bounce which gives players more time to get to a ball as well as slide into shots.
But for many club owners, or for those who own tennis courts, the clay often brings with it high costs of maintenance, both in terms of time and money. That is where CaliClay has the solution to fix all of the typical issues that arise from operating a clay court.
The CaliClay system solves three major issues by lowering installation costs, water use, and maintenance costs, which is especially important here in the Northeast when winter conditions can wreak havoc on tennis courts.
“There is usually a massive amount of maintenance that gives clay courts a bad name,” said Steve Brillhart, Founder and Owner of CaliClay. “But because we are an overlay, we don’t have those issues. You can have winterizing that happens when the courts get soft, the lines detach and pop up because the nails are no longer fastened to the ground. So in the spring, you typically have to get a maintenance crew to re-level the court, re-compact it, and then add clay. Whereas with our courts, when you reopen them, all you have to do is brush it and add some clay. It’s a onehour process as opposed to a full day, and for just a few hundred dollars as opposed to thousands of dollars.”
CaliClay installs on top of an existing hard court, old Har-Tru courts or a new 95 percent compact base with seal in just about three days.
Once installed, all you have to do is brush and line after you play. You don’t have to water the courts when they are not being used like you normally would with a clay court. CaliClay comes with a 10-year warranty.
When you open your court up in the spring, all you have to do is water them before you play, which is a major benefit to those who operate courts at their summer homes.
“If you have a vacation home and you aren’t there for let’s say the month of June, you don’t have to waste a drop of water during that time, and just water for five minutes when it’s time to play, and you are good to go!” Brillhart added.
Bart Solomon, who has a tennis court in Southampton that utilizes CaliClay’s technology, raved about how beneficial it has been, not just on his court maintenance but on his own body.
“This court is incredibly benign in terms of being user friendly and gentle on the body. Much better than other courts I've played on and owned,”
Solomon said. “In my opinion it’s a big advantage and selling point which I think should be stressed more.”
Many people and clubs from coast-tocoast have decided to turn to the CaliClay method for their clay-court needs, as Brillhart and his team continue to revolutionize the court maintenance industry.
You can visit CaliClay.net to learn more about CaliClay and examine their in-depth portfolio of projects.
“Here on Long Island and the greater Northeast area, we are always looking for the best solution to the problem of court maintenance caused by the weather that comes in the winter months,” said David Sickmen, Publisher of Long Island Tennis Magazine. “Steve and CaliClay have done an incredible job in addressing these issues, and having played on these courts myself, I can attest to the wide-ranging benefits they offer. I found the bounces of the ball to be true, and the court to play smoothly. I’d recommend tennis court owners, whether it’s at your house or in a club you operate, to explore CaliClay’s offerings for their court needs.”
2025 New York Boys’ High School RECAP
Bronx Science Beats Stuyvesant To Win Second Straight PSAL 2A Championship
TheBronx Science Wolverines entered this season as the champions of the PSAL’s 2A Division in New York City, and from the very beginning of the year, defending that title was the main priority.
“Before our first match of the season, our captain Henry [Bardey] said to all of us, ‘Let’s go into this with confidence, we’re the favorites, and we’re going to win this’,” said Kevin Diao. “That has been on our mind the entire time.”
one win of the city title as he won 10-8 at first singles, securing a key victory to put Bronx Science ahead 2-0.
“I just wanted to change things up and stay in the rally at all times, and play as tough as possible,” said Diao.
A year ago, Diao played second singles for Bronx Science, but moved up to the first position this season, and rose to the occasion throughout the season, including in the final.
Bronx Science made good on Bardey’s message and won the 2A title for a second consecutive season, defeating Stuyvesant 4-1 at Queens College Tennis Center.
With the matches being played in a 10-game pro-set rather than best two-out-of-three sets, Ishaan Bhagat got his team on the board first with a 10-6 victory at second singles.
“I just tried to make as many balls as I could, not focus too much on the score and just played my game,” Bhagat said. “When you play a regular set to six, whether you win or lose, you can cool off a bit in between sets, but going straight to 10, you know your opponent can always come back, so I just had to stay focused.”
Diao would bolster his team’s lead and bring them within
“The level was definitely higher, and the players I competed against were a lot better,” he said. “But it was a really good feeling leading my team in that top spot, and it feels awesome to contribute to another PSAL title.”
Stuyvesant’s Nicholas Oh tried to rally his team as he won 10-8 at third singles, cutting the deficit to 1-2 with two courts remaining.
And on the first doubles court, both pairings, Bardey & Kenya Takaku of Bronx Science and Jed Sloan & Siroos Pasdar of Stuyvesant, left it all out on the court. Each had chances to close the match out, but it was eventually Bardey & Takaku who were able to do so, winning 14-12 in thrilling fashion to seal the second straight NYC title for the Wolverines.
To round out the scoring, Leif Emery & Shaunak Thamke of Bronx Science won 10-7, completing the 4-1 victory.
Bronx Science is now back-to-back PSAL 2A Champions
Bronx Science’s Ishaan Bhagat won a key match at second singles for the Wolverines
Kevin Diao delivered a massive win at first singles for Bronx Science
Stuyvesant’s Nicholas Oh won his team’s lone match in the championship
2025 New York Boys’ High School RECAP
HS of American Studies Upends Leon Goldstein To Claim PSAL 1A Title
Ayear ago, Leon Goldstein and the High School of American Studies battled it out in the PSAL New York City 1A championship. It was the Dolphins of Leon Goldstein who pulled out a narrow 3-2 victory to win the city title.
This time around, the High School of American Studies exacted its revenge, defeating Leon Goldstein 4-1 to win this year’s 1A championship. Goldstein would jump out to the early advantage as Vlajko Lalic notched a 10-4 victory at first singles, but that was where the scoring would halt for the Dolphins.
would respond by winning all four of the remaining flights, which included a 10-4 victory from Santiago Efron at second singles, and a 10-4 triumph from Benjamin Studness at third singles.
It’s doubles teams stepped up as well, with Isaac Lipman & Mateu Rothman Simon delivering a 10-3 victory on the first doubles court, and Adam Ripp & Ezra
Dipietra winning 10-3 at second doubles.
The Senators of High School of American Studies
The past two years have demonstrated a remarkable turnaround for the Bronx-based American Studies program. In 2022 and 2023, the team went winless in the regular season, but have since become a powerhouse, reaching the finals a year ago, and capturing the title this year.
High School of American Studies won the PSAL 1A title
Santiago Efron notched a win at second singles for the Senators
High School for American Studies won both doubles flights to help lead it to the title
2025 New York Boys’ High School RECAP
Cardozo’s Chang Repeats as PSAL Singles Champion
Rossochacki & Ginsburg of Brooklyn Tech capture second straight doubles crown
The top players from the PSAL this season gathered at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to compete in the PSAL Individual Championships, and in the end, the tournament produced repeat champions from the 2024 season.
In singles play, Vincent Chang of Benjamin Cardozo won the singles title for the second consecutive year, knocking off Alex Pierides of Francis Lewis in the quarterfinals, before ousting Frederick Douglass Academy’s Joshua Beyof in the semifinals to put himself back into the final.
Awaiting him in the final was Jeffrey Safir of Staten Island Tech, and Chang would outlast Safir 10-8 in a tightly-contested championship to defend his singles
title.
For Brooklyn Tech’s Lukasz Rossochacki & Samuel Ginsburg, defending their doubles title was the goal and the pairing achieved that. They produced a dominant afternoon of tennis, first beating Grover Cleveland’s Khant Linn & Joel Tapia 8-0 in the semifinals, before knocking off another Grover Cleveland team, Brandon Solis & Matthew Guan, 8-0 in the championship match.
Results:
• Singles Champion: Vincent Chang (Benjamin Cardozo)
• Singles Runner-Up: Jeffrey Safir (Staten Island Tech)
• Doubles Champion: Lukasz Rossochacki & Samuel Ginsburg (Brooklyn Tech)
• Doubles Runners-Up: Brandon Solis & Matthew Guan (Grover Cleveland)
Serving Excellence Har-Tru Joins the Cincinnati Open in a Historic Summer of Tennis
Asprofessional tennis gears up for one of the biggest summers in recent memory, Har-Tru is stepping into the spotlight as the official hardcourt surface provider for the 2025 Cincinnati Open—a premier ATP and WTA 1000 event that now joins an elite group of tournaments using Har-Tru’s industryleading Sports Coatings.
With roots tracing back to 1899, the Cincinnati Open is one of the most iconic and longest-running tournaments in the sport. Known for its passionate fanbase and pivotal place on the tour calendar, the event has always blended history with high-performance—and this year, that tradition enters a bold new chapter.
The tournament is in the midst of a $260 million transformation, reimagining the campus from the ground up. Players will now compete on 31 outdoor courts (up from 21), giving room for an expanded 96player field and a newly extended 14-day event. The upgrades also include a 2,000-seat sunken stadium, a two-story, 56,000-square-foot Player Center, and a fan-focused 19,000-square-foot Pavilion. It’s a refresh that promises a next-level experience for everyone—from casual attendees to top-ranked pros. At the heart of this transformation is Har-Tru Sports Coatings—an advanced hardcourt surface trusted by top tournaments across North America. Engineered for elite performance and made to tournament specifications with a 4.0
ITF Court Pace Rating, Har-Tru’s acrylic coatings help ensure consistent ball response, true footing, and a premium playing experience for athletes preparing for the US Open.
"We are pleased to be working with Har-Tru as our official court surface provider," said Bob Moran, Tournament Director of the Cincinnati Open. "It’s an extremely important step for us to be aligning with Tennis Canada and Washington, D.C., to provide the players a consistent speed and surface for the summer swing of the ATP and WTA Tours."
The Cincinnati Open joins the Mubadala Citi DC Open and the National Bank Open in trusting HarTru to deliver a consistent and professional playing environment. This alignment gives athletes a rare
advantage: three back-to-back events on surfaces built for rhythm, familiarity, and top-tier performance.
“It is such a privilege for Har-Tru to be the official hardcourt surface of the Cincinnati Open,” said Pat Hanssen, President of Har-Tru. “Our company feels a special attachment to this tournament. Like Har-Tru, it has an amazing history and legacy in tennis. Its innovation and commitment to quality mirror our own values, and we’re thrilled to support its next chapter.”
Whether you’re courtside or watching from home, the 2025 Cincinnati Open—running August 5–18—promises to be one of the most exciting tournaments of the season. And with Har-Tru underfoot, players and fans alike can count on a worldclass foundation.
Top NYC Athletes Compete in Annual Mayor Dinkins Cup
Anually,the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning hosts the NYJTL Mayor Dinkins Cup. The event is the largest free junior interscholastic tennis competition in the country, and features players from all across New York City representing public, parochial and private schools competing across several divisions.
"As the largest free interscholastic tournament, the Dinkins Cup provides hundreds of young players the opportunity to compete, learn, and excel at various skill levels. It has become the junior tennis event on the annual calendar for so many students," said Mayor Dinkins Cup Tournament Director Michele Cope. "For me, the most significant memory is the introduction of the new Sportsmanship Award this year, in collaboration with NYJTL. Four participants from the 2025 NYJTL Mayor Dinkins Cup received this recognition, which underscores the importance of great sportsmanship at this event. I’m honored to partner with the NYJTL and be part of the team that makes this amazing event happen. I believe in the
NYJTL's mission to help youth develop character through tennis and education. It's so rewarding to work with these wonderful kids and see that vision come to life."
The event is named in honor of New York City’s first black mayor and a dedicated NYJTL board member, David N. Dinkins, who was an incredible supporter of tennis during his distinguished life. This year’s Cup included 800 participants.
The 2025 NYJTL Sportsmanship Winners:
• Akari Weintzen
• Olivia Kang
• Nikolina Tominovic
• An Yu
These are the winners from all the divisions.
Boys Varsity Team
High School
Elementary School Team
• Champions: Bronx Science
• Champions: PS 100, Bronx
Boys Varsity Singles
• Champion: Aaron Tokarz
Girls Varsity Singles
• Champion: Mariia Vainshtein
Boys Varsity Doubles
• Champions: John Henry Mills & Joshua David
Girls Varsity Doubles
• Champions: Savannah Minter & Mariia Vainshtein
Boys Middle School Singles
• Champions: Marco Rocca
Girls Middle School Singles
• Champions: Daniella Yogumyan
Boys Middle School Doubles
• Champions: Marco Rocca & Lazar Vladicic
Girls Middle School Doubles
• Champions: Daniella Yogumyan & Keira Isakov
Elementary Boys Singles
• Champions: Patrick Okla
Elementary Girls Singles
• Champions: Logan Greene
Elementary Green Ball Boys Singles
• Champions: Ryan Bueker
Elementary Green Ball Girls Singles
• Champions: Olivia Jasilek
Tennis That Inspires, Not Breaks: How a Love for the Game Begins
By Tim Senkevich
What if a child's first time on the court didn’t create fear—but inspiration? What if your child actually looked forward to practice, rather than dreading it? What if sports became a joyful part of their day—not an obligation?
This is my story of being a coach who makes that kind of magic possible. I don’t look at myself as someone who just teaches tennis—I want to help children open up, find confidence, and discover freedom through movement, something I aim to do as a lead coach at MatchPoint NYC in Brooklyn.
My journey starts back in the early ’90s. There were 40 kids on one court. Real tennis was barely there—our sessions felt more like basic gym class. And it cost my mom half her monthly salary. At just nine years old, I pretended to be sick—not because I didn’t want to play, but because I saw how hard it was for my family.
Later, my mother learned about a
state-sponsored tennis school. Tryouts were tough.
“He’s not very technical,” one coach said about me. “But he’s athletic. Let’s give him a shot.”
Everything changed. I trained all day from court opening to close, and working relentlessely
caught up to my peers—and within a year, I was beating players who had previously defeated me 6–0.
Every child develops at their own pace—and that’s okay. I know this from my own experience, and from working with everyone from firsttime players to tournament athletes. My coaching philosophy remains simple: Real growth happens when a child feels safe. When the court becomes a place of calm, curiosity, and joy—that’s when effort and focus naturally follow.
I hear from parents often, “What if my child doesn’t enjoy it?”, but it doesn’t worry me. I’ve had kids who arrived in tears. Just a few weeks later, they didn’t want to leave the court. The right environment can change everything. The interest will come—if we don’t force it.
My most personal story is that of my daughter. She started with only private lessons. She had never tried group classes. I gently encouraged her to give it a shot.
And when she finally went to her first group session at MatchPoint NYC, she came back glowing: ‘Dad, I only want group classes now. I loved it,’”
Since then, she has practiced several times a week, and joined tournaments where she won the very first one she played in.
Tennis isn’t just a sport, it’s a life skill. It builds everything—body, focus, resilience. It teaches kids how to work through pressure, how to problem-solve, how to grow. International studies even show that people who play tennis regularly live about nine years longer. But beyond that—it helps kids discover what they’re capable of.
The biggest mistake is interfering with the coaching process. When parents say one thing and the coach says another, kids get confused. They lose
clarity—and motivation. My advice to parents is, if you trust the coach, trust the process. Don’t judge based on one class—watch your child over time.
I dream of seeing some of my students—including my daughter—step into the professional tour one day. Not for fame, but so they can look back and say, ‘I made it.’ That’s the real win’.
Still unsure? Just Take the First Step You don’t need to be certain.
You don’t need a five-year plan. All your child needs is a chance. One court. One ball. One first step. The worst thing that can happen isn’t losing—it’s never playing at all.
At MatchPoint NYC, kids don’t just get a court—they get a space where they feel supported, confident, and free to grow. The first swing may not be perfect. But it could be the start of something incredible.
And from that moment on—we’ll be right there with them.
Tim Senkevich is the Director of Junior Tennis Development Program at MatchPoint NYC. He is a former member of the Belarus National Junior Team, participating in the 2000 Junior Olympic Games in Spain, the 2000 Junior Tennis World Cup in Chile before joining the ATP Tour. He has over 20 years of coaching experience.
Winter 2025 Season Wraps Up With End-Of-Season Finals and Party
TheMetro Corporate League’s Winter 2025 season came to a close in grand fashion as Roosevelt Island Racquet Club hosted the end-ofseason finals and party, bringing together the two finalists from each respective division, as well as players from other teams throughout the league.
The end-of-season finals is the culmination of a long season in the Metro Corporate League and features not only the championship matches in three of the league’s divisions, but also welcomes players and teams who did not reach the finals for an evening of catered dinner, open bar and fun atmosphere. While the players competed on courts, spectators were able to watch the matches and enjoy each other’s company in the viewing area of Roosevelt Island Racquet Club.
As happens in each season, the winners of the Advanced Division earns the trophy and keeps it at their corporate offices until the end of the following season, while the winners of the Advanced Intermediate moves up to the Advanced Division, and the winners of the Intermediate Division move into the Advanced Intermediate.
“We had a very talented and balanced group of players this
season with new comers from Spain and Argentina. It helped also that everyone on the team was very motivated to play and consistently showed up during the regular season,” said Eric Tomasini, captain of the Advanced Champions from Credit Agricole. “We had almost a perfect run with five wins and a tie to get into the finals against a regular adversary, NYJTL. Credit Agricole has been participating in the Metrotennis advanced corporate league for almost 20 years, and we have the company name etched several times on the big trophy but we have not won the league in recent years. So the extra motivation to do well was there. We also had good momentum coming into the finals as we beat NYJTL in our last regular season match a couple week prior. I am very proud of our players as they executed the game plan flawlessly to bring the trophy home.”
When asked what he enjoys most about competing in the Metro Corporate League, Tomasini added:
“First, it allows us to get on the courts more often with some co-worker tennis players, especially in the winter time. Second, we really enjoy the friendly and competitive environment that the corporate tennis league brings to the table. You are able to mingle and meet with a very diverse group of similarly tennis-minded people from the youngster fresh out of their college varsity, team to the older seasoned tournament player from Europe.”
NYC-based player scores runner-up finish at 2025 NTRP National Championships
My expectations [for the event] were that I just wanted to enjoy my time on court with Annie,” Boynton, right, said. “Once Annie told me her goal was to get to the final, I switched mine immediately. Like, 'Yes, let's go!’”
Leaving it all on the court! The USTA Eastern contingent recorded multiple podium finishes in the doubles events at the 2025 NTRP National Championships, held April 11-13 at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise, Arizona. Among them was New York, N.Y.’s Meiko Boynton, who with partner Annie Berger of Mamaroneck, N.Y., reached the final in the 40 & Over 4.0 Women’s division.
Berger and Boynton’s friendship dates back to their freshmen year of college at Bucknell University—where Berger played soccer and lacrosse and Boynton played field hockey. They’d recently reconnected on a tennis court and reached the final of a USTA doubles tournament the first time they decided to pair up. And although they didn’t have dozens upon dozens of matches under their belts as a duo upon their arrival in Surprise, “every time we step on court together, it just clicks,” Berger said.
She’s not lying. After losing the first set of their first match, the pair began to find some great form under the Arizona sun, claiming all three of their round robin contests to emerge as the top team in their group. Boynton identified one major element of their budding partnership that helped produce such strong results: No egos.
“Both of us are not the type where we have to hit a perfect shot [or] always go for that groundstroke
winner,” she said. “I think we realized we’re both [players who] are trying to stay in the point and keep it going as long as we could. We both understood that we’re not Roger Federer out there!”
Berger added that their backgrounds in other sports helped them go into every encounter with the right mindset, even if they were relatively new to playing with one another.
“Neither of us gets rattled,” she said. “I think our greatest strength was being comfortable being uncomfortable. We embraced the messiness of matches and trusted ourselves to work through it.”
They needed to rely on that mindset in their semifinal bout. After winning the first set against a team from USTA Intermountain, Berger—who has Type 1 Diabetes—could feel her adrenaline spiking. That caused her blood sugar to rise, which left her feeling awful on court. She tried breathing strategies and injected herself with insulin, but she was ultimately forced to take a medical timeout at the conclusion of the second set so that her levels could stabilize. Once she felt up to it, the Eastern pair stepped back on court—and promptly took the decider 4-0.
“That win meant a lot,” Berger said. “Not just because of what was at stake, but because of how much composure and trust it took from both of us to get through it. Meiko’s steady presence during my medical timeout, and her calm energy as we got back
NYC’s Boynton (right, with Berger) finished as a finalist in the 40 & Over 4.0 Women’s doubles event at the 2025 NTRP National
USTA Eastern Metro Region
on court, was huge. We were battling more than just tennis in those moments, and it forced us to focus on what mattered.”
Boynton unequivocally designated Berger as the MVP of the weekend for the effort.
“I was so in awe of the way she was able to communicate what was going on, keep both of us calm, and manage to come back and play so well to close the third,” she said.
Although the Eastern pair would ultimately lose the final, they fought until the very end, erasing a 0-3 deficit in the second set and forcing their opponents to earn the match in a tiebreak that was decided by
just two points. Despite the loss—both Berger and Boynton remained in high spirits about their experience and hoped to continue teaming up in the future.
“The tennis is great, but the friendships that have come out of [NTRP competition] have ended up meaning even more,” said Berger, who also noted that Fran Smith—another Eastern player competing at the event—actually taught her how to play tennis. “I’m so grateful to USTA Eastern for creating a culture where adult players can compete hard, have fun and build real community. This year’s Nationals felt like a reunion in the best way.”
NYP Doctor Explains the Many Health Benefits of Tennis
Dr. Levine notes that tennis is classified as a moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic activity which means that it can also improve heart health
Over the years, study after study has affirmed the vast health benefits of tennis. To sort through the different ways in which tennis improves your physical and mental well-being, we talked to Dr. William Levine, the Chief of Orthopedics at NewYorkPresbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia. He explains the many reasons you should lace up those tennis shoes any chance you get.
The varied types of movement on a tennis court can make a lasting impact on your body.
“Players are almost always moving,” Dr. Levine says. “They’re running, shuffling, sprinting and recovering. This burns a high number of calories and improves heart health.”
Of course, the way players specifically move while playing tennis also contributes to overall positive health outcomes. Dr. Levine notes that the explosive sprints— the short bursts of speed a player employs while
USTA Eastern Metro Region
chasing down a ball—strengthen fast-twitch muscle fibers, while rapid changes in direction and footwork— all those times you feel like your opponent has you on a string—can improve balance, agility and reflexes. Even the smaller rotational movements you make when serving or hitting a groundstroke have a beneficial effect.
“You are engaging and strengthening the core,” Dr. Levine says.
Tennis players can enjoy improved cognitive function…
Those pesky rallies with the player who fashions himself the next Rafael Nadal might be frustrating in the moment, but they can ultimately boost your mental focus and concentration, Dr. Levine says. The rapid hand-eye coordination required to track the ball and hit your shots can also increase brain function. This is true for players of all ages.
“Studies on children and adolescents show that tennis helps with discipline, time management and goal setting, skills that obviously carry over into school,” Dr. Levine notes.
Adults, he adds, often report better mental focus, strategic thinking and productivity in their professional lives. Older players develop stronger executive function, like working memory and sustained attention.
Beyond cognitive function, the sport has also been
shown to help stress relief and mental clarity.
“That is, unless you are prone to anger and breaking racquets!” Dr. Levine says with a laugh.
…as well as better sleep overall!
Hit some serves, catch some zzz’s. Tennis has a surprisingly beneficial effect on your nighttime routine.
“Playing regularly can lead to falling asleep more quickly,” Dr. Levine says. “You’re also more likely to have a more restorative sleep and reduced insomnia symptoms.”
Nightmares about dumping that overhead into the net were likely not taken into account during this study, of course.
The sport offers so much that Dr. Levine even plays it himself.
“Tennis sharpens your athletic ability, mental acuity and is adaptable to any age or fitness level,” he explains. “And it does support long-term health and longevity.”
Indeed, Dr. Levine notes a recent large published study found playing tennis can extend your life expectancy 9.7 years, more than any other activity measured. (Swimming, for instance, extends your life expectancy 3.4 years, soccer by 4.7.)
“I would tell anyone thinking about picking up a racquet to take up tennis immediately,” Dr. Levine says. “It’s a fun, healthy and social sport.”
Dr. Levine and his daughter Clare—who is also an accomplished tennis player—attend a recent US Open together
Top Junior Players Compete in Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Sectional Championships
Thesecond annual USTA Eastern Team Sectional Championships were played as junior tennis players teamed up to represent their clubs or programs in this unique team competition.
The competitors were spread out across the 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U levels in both L5 Closed and L6 tournaments at various locations in the Eastern Section. Each team included a minimum of two boys and two girls playing in boys singles, girls singles, boys doubles, girls doubles and mixed doubles matches, with round-robin play leading into the playoff rounds.
The winning team of each 18U division and the 16U L5 Closed division will represent USTA Eastern at the 2025 Impact Team Tennis Junior Nationals on July 14-17 at Clemson University in South Carolina.
Here is a full list of winning teams and the locations where the matches were played:
12U L6 – SPORTIME Port Washington
• Champions: Christopher Morley Tennis
• Finalists: Long Island Health & Racquet Club
12U L5 – SPORTIME Port Washington
• Champions: Sportsplex Storm
• Finalists: SPORTIME NYC
14U L6 – SPORTIME
Randall’s Island
• Champions: USTA National Tennis Center
• Finalists: Sportsplex Storm
14U L5 - SPORTIME
Randall's Island
• Champions: Centercourt
• Finalists: Christopher Morley
16U L6 - Drew University
• Champions: Advantage Tennis
• Finalists: Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Project Blue
Throughoutlife, there are certain gifts we receive from family and friends that seem to have a lasting impact on our lives.
That is what happened after Natalie Chelico’s aunt gave her a Hello Kitty Wilson tennis racquet when she was two-years-old, and ever since, Natalie has spent as much time as she possibly can on the tennis court.
“From the first time I got on court, I loved it and never wanted to stop,” said Chelico. “Every single time, I just want to keep playing and never want to get off the court.”
Chelico has been playing tennis ever since, and has quickly become one of the rising stars of the Feed the Feeder Plus highperformance program at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“Playing at the National Tennis Center is really great. The courts are amazing the coaches are super nice and helpful,” she said. “I have gotten a lot better there, and every time I leave there I feel like I have improved on something. It’s so fun also.”
Her passion for tennis and desire to play whenever she can has helped elevate the ten-year-old into one of the topranked players in the Eastern Section for her age group, as TennisRecruiting.net has her ranked fourth in the entire state
of New York.
And she isn’t just a top player for her age, Chelico has no problems moving up and competing against players older than her, regularly competing in 12U and even 14U tournaments. She embraces the competition, and tennis brings out the best in her.
“I love how it’s only up to you to play your best and the best player that you can be,” she said. “In singles, you have to rely on yourself, and I’ve learned that you can do anything you put your mind to. It doesn’t matter how much bigger, stronger or older they are than you, if you work your hardest and try your best, there is always a way to figure it out.”
Chelico is looking forward to competing against older players this summer, especially when she goes down to train at the Evert Tennis Academy in Florida during the month of July. It’s something she has done each of the last two summers, providing her with an abundance of tennis-playing opportunities.
“I’m looking forward to playing all day every day, and not having to worry about school work, and just play tennis and do what I love most,” said Chelico. “I went last summer for a full month and am going to do that again. I am one of the youngest players there, and I love being
able to compete against the players there, and learn from the great coaches they have.”
Last summer, Chelico got to experience the moment of a lifetime. Her favorite player and idol Aryna Sabalenka was practicing down there, which provided her the opportunity to meet her. The two took a picture together and Sabalenka signed autographs for the players.
Chelico draws a lot of inspiration from Sabalenka in her own tennis.
“I love her because she will always keep fighting, no matter what,” Chelico said. “Even if she is down big, she is never going to stop. She knows it's not over until it's over, and anything can happen. She jokes and has fun with her coaches, but is always willing to fight in her matches.”
Chelico takes that same approach when she competes, and is always excited for the chance to prove herself on court, and fight to the very last
point in her matches. When she isn’t playing tennis, though, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and playing other sports such as soccer, and is an accomplished violin player. The orchestra at her school won the gold, with distinction, at a recent competition.
But her true love remains the sport of tennis, and Chelico is on court every opportunity she can get. She is excited to play more national and high-level tournaments this summer and into the fall, as she continues to improve her game.
She takes lessons and participates in the programming at the National Tennis Center throughout the year, along with her younger brother Graham, and being the good sister and tennis enthusiast she is, enjoys helping him with his tennis, leaning on her own experiences to guide his development.
“I love to be able to help him with anything he needs, it’s great to see
him and remember what it was like when I was his age,” she said. “He enjoys tennis too and we get to share that together.”
She will be entering the fifth grade this fall, and has come a long way since she first held that Hello Kitty racquet. With a desire to learn and compete, and a fighter’s mindset, the sky is the limit for Chelico.
"Champions keep playing until they get it right"....Natalie is that champion and is a constant source of energy and inspiration. Her complete effort is on display at all times and it shows in her motivation,” said Dale Evans, Director of Operations at the National Tennis Center. “Under the National Tennis Center Junior Program, she has worked hard to develop her skills through a willingness to always improve. Her attention to instruction and detail is something that sets her apart from other young players...as well as her backwards pink hat!”
Cragg Brings Home J30 Title From Peru
Stratton Captures Title North of the Border
… News and notes from across the N.Y. Metro tennis community
Kathryn Cragg captured the singles title at the ITF J30 tournament in Lima, Peru. Cragg, who trains at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning, compiled a dominant tournament run by winning all five matches in straight sets, dropping just 10 total games along the way.
John McEnroe Tennis Academy player Triston Stratton was the winner of the ITF J30 tournament in Ottawa, Canada, winning each of his matches in straight sets. He beat four Canadian players en route to the final before defeating American Kayden Colombo 6-3, 6-4 in the final.
Singh Brings Home L2 Title
Valentina Singh Carvajal captured the singles title at the United States Tennis Association - USTA (Official) L2 event in Boca Raton, winning the Girls 12s division. The Centercourt Tennis Academy player also paired with Dorothy Chen and the duo finished as runners-up in the Girls 12s doubles division.
Across Metro New York Across Metro New York
CourtSense’s Paizis Wins L5 Event On Long Island
Zheng Secures Spot in U.S. Open Qualifying Draw
Christos Paizis was the winner of the Boys’ 12s singles title at the L5 Open event at SPORTIME Quogue. The CourtSense Tennis Training Center athlete showed his resilience by coming back from a set down in both the semifinals and finals to capture the title.
Columbia men's tennis rising senior Michael Zheng will compete in the U.S. Open qualifying tournament for a third straight year after reaching the finals of the American Collegiate Wildcard Playoff.
With a spot in the main draw on the line, Zheng reached the finals of the event before losing to Wake Forest’s Stefan Dostanic in the championship. But by reaching the finals, he secured a spot in qualifying, which begins August 18 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Carlos Alcaraz
Ready To Reclaim Spot Atop World’s Best
By Brian Coleman
Whenthe U.S. Open announced its newly revamped Mixed Doubles Championships as a part of this year’s Fan Week, and a star-studded group of doubles pairings were revealed, there was perhaps no more intriguing combo than that of Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu.
The two popular young players, both of whom are past U.S. Open champions, forged a friendship back in the summer of 2021 when they were both teenagers having their breakout seasons on the respective tours. Now both 22years-old, the pairings will team up in Queens this fall.
“It is nice and I think, for all of us, we really value those connections that we had from when we were young,” Raducanu said. “Because when you become a bit more known or a bit more successful, you just find yourself reverting back to people you knew from a young age and because that’s a real genuine connection, because it becomes very busy and you have a lot more friends – but the ones that you’ve known for a long time mean a lot more to you.”
But while injuries have limited Raducanu’s ability to build off of the U.S. Open title she won four years ago, Alcaraz has established himself as perhaps the best player in the world.
The Spaniard is ranked second in the world but has held the top spot for 36 weeks throughout his career, and was the youngest player to achieve the top spot when he did so back in 2022. He trails Jannik Sinner in the current rankings, but is inching closer to reclaiming that position, helped by his triumph over the Italian at the French Open this spring.
In one of the best matches we have seen on the men’s side in quite sometime, Alcaraz came back from two-sets-to-love down to defeat Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) in what will be known as a signature match in their ever-brewing rivalry.
“This one was the most exciting match that I’ve played so far, without a doubt. I mean, today I think the continued on page 26
match had everything, really good moments, really bad moments. [I’m] just really, really happy. I’m proud about how I deal[t] with everything today,” Alcaraz said afterwards. “It wasn’t easy. [It’s] the first match that I came back from two-sets-to-love down. I think it was a better occasion to do it in the final of a Grand Slam.”
The victory brought Alcaraz his fifth major title (this article was written before the start of the Wimbledon Championships), and people have placed his win amongst the greatest matches in the sport’s history. It’s not just pundits and commentators who discussed the match that way, even Alcaraz’s idol and one of the sport’s icons, Rafael Nadal spoke in that manner, indicating how it represented the bright present and future of tennis.
“It was a match for the ages. I’m
very happy for Carlos. It was a spectacular final, very exciting. [He] ended up with the cup after Sinner was so close to taking it for so long. I’m very happy for him,” Nadal said. “Tennis is more important than any player. There will be Grand Slam champions every year, and each of them will tread their own path. New stars will always appear, and here we have two of them. They are two players who are head and shoulders above the rest at the moment, proving that they are great champions. Tennis is in good hands in that regard.”
With Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray retired, and Novak Djokovic towards the end of his career, there was a lot of fear for tennis’ future, but the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry is putting those concerns to bed.
And despite Sinner leading Alcaraz 7-4 in their overall head-tohead, Alcaraz got the best of Sinner in the biggest match the two have played up to this point, leapfrogging him as the favorite in the year-end number one chase.
Alcaraz didn’t miss a beat following his win in Paris. Unfazed by the switch from clay to grass he won the Queens Club title for his 21st career tour-level crown, cementing him as the Wimbledon favorite as he attempts to win the tournament for a third consecutive year.
“I'm going to say it's really complicated, [to] switch from clay to grass in just a few days, because that's the time I had before the tournament began. Just two days of practicing and then I had to compete here,” he said. “So I came
here with no expectations at all. I just came here with a goal to play two, three matches, try to feel great on grass moving, and, you know, give myself the feedback of what I have to improve, what I have to do better. But I just got used to the grass really quick, and I'm just really proud about it. My goal was complete, and I'm not talking about lifting the trophy or making the final. It was just to feel great, to feel really comfortable on grass once again.”
The title at Queens Club improved Alcaraz’s record to 27-1 since his defeat at the Miami Open, and no matter what he does at Wimbledon, Alcaraz will head into the hard-court swing here in the United States with a chance to build on his already successful 2025 season.
That hard-court swing in the U.S. culminates here in New York at the U.S. Open, where Alcaraz is a massive fan-favorite. He will be determined to shine under the bright
TENNIS A FUL L CENTE R
New York City lights as he looks to win a second U.S. Open singles title.
With Alcaraz leading the way, tennis has a charismatic and talented persona at the forefront. The more he continues to win, the
11th Annual JMTP Pro-Am Set For Hamptons This Summer As The Event Continues To Play A Vital Role In Helping NYC Youth
Laterthis summer, the Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP) will hold its annual Pro-Am event, the organization’s largest fundraising endeavor, on the beautiful campus of SPORTIME Amagansett.
Set for Saturday, August 16, the ProAm will bring together tennis legends, headlined by John and Patrick McEnroe, and top coaches from across the Sportime club community, paired with amateur participants. Special guests and JMTP scholarship players will also join the action, creating an incredible day of tennis fun in an unparalleled Hamptons setting, all to benefit a great cause.
“The Pro-Am is JMTP’s signature fundraising event,” said Ryann Cutillo, JMTP Executive Director. “It raises critical funding, allowing us to deliver our free year-round tennis, educational and life skills programming to more and more New York City youth who otherwise would not have access to the sport.”
And it isn’t just the dollars raised that makes the Pro-Am special. The event
gathers a large group of like-minded people who share a vision of the power that tennis can have in the life of a child, and on a next generation of scholar-athletes.
“Beyond fundraising, the event plays a vital role in raising awareness about our mission by bringing together supporters who also believe in the power of tennis as a vehicle for life change,” Cutillo added.
This year will mark the 11th installment of the event, which was the brainchild of SPORTIME President and CEO
Claude Okin and fellow JMTP Advisory Board Member Steve Hasker.
The two began discussing the idea of a Pro-Am to support the JMTP in the summer of 2014, and were motivated to make it a premier event.
The following summer, the first-ever JMTP Pro-Am was held, and the team
has not missed a year since, even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when they had to adjust the event to adhere to distancing guidelines, but were still able to hold a successful event.
“The event started as a shared project with much support from the team at our Amagansett site, which is the SPORTIME location that I have been leading since 1989, and where Steve has been a member for almost as long,” Okin said. “We launched the event in 2015, and we have not missed a year, including during the pandemic, when the U.S. Open bubble prevented John and Patrick from attending. We held the event without legends, and with social distancing, and we still sold it out and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s been a great run and reflects the generous spirit of our SPORTIME Amagansett community, expanded by the many friends and supporters who join us there each year for the event.”
with tennis legends and to personally meet many of the rising stars of the JMTP programs whose training is being funded as part of the organization’s mission.
The event has historically been held the Saturday before the start of the main draw of the U.S. Open, but this year is being moved to the Saturday prior to Fan Week and the new Mixed Doubles event, as the US Open expands its programming schedule across three full weeks. “The U.S. Open focuses the eyes of the tennis world on New York, and brings virtually all of the world’s best players and many former greats to New York, so it made sense to create the world’s largest pro-am as a lead up to the world’s biggest Grand Slam,” explained Okin.
The Pro-Am consists of 144 players across eight flights, and involves more than just thrilling tennis action on the courts. Players and guests are treated to food and beverage offerings, and there is both a silent and a live auction, featuring one-of-a-kind items and experiences. In addition to the pro and amateur players who compete in the pro-am, hundreds of spectators come out for the day to show their support, and for a chance to mingle
With more than a decade of successful events having been held, the JMTP and SPORTIME teams collaborate each year to evolve the event, with the goal of providing the best possible day of tennis and fundraising. Planning for the following year’s event starts within days of the events completion; from securing the next year’s Legends, to soliciting and organizing auction items, this great one-day event is a labor of love that reflects a full year of hard work and dedication.
“Each year, we approach the event with the mindset of continuous improvement - we gather feedback from participants, guests and sponsors to understand what worked well, and where we can elevate the experience for everyone involved,” said Cutillo. “Whether it is improving the hospitality or creating more meaningful ways for our participants and supporters to engage with our kids and our mission, we are always looking for ways to make the event more impactful and memorable for those involved.”
Cutillo summed it up perfectly:
“It’s no small task, but it’s something
we love doing. Our goal is to create a memorable day that not only raises critical funding, but deepens the connection between our supporters and the young people we serve.”
The event holds a special place in Okin’s heart, and is an outgrowth of promise that he and John McEnroe made to each other when they founded the John McEnroe Tennis Academy in 2010, and again when the JMTP was launched in 2012: that their shared endeavors would offer pathways of opportunity to NYC kids through tennis, and especially to kids and families with limited resources. His wife, Hana Sromova, a former WTA player herself, is the GM of the Amagansett location, and together the two take great pride in the sheer impact the event has on the next generation of youngsters, as well as the support it garners from their local community.
“We are so looking forward to the 2025 JMTP Pro-Am at SPORTIME Amagansett. I think this is the earliest we have ever announced our complete legends lineup. Having Marion Bartoli, James Blake, both Bryan Brothers, Mary Joe Fernandez, Tommy Haas, and Milos Raonic all confirmed, along with, of course, our own John and Patrick McEnroe, is simply thrilling,” Okin concluded. “This year’s legends have won 39 Grand Slam singles and doubles titles, and literally hundreds of ATP and WTA titles, and I do not think we have ever had a group quite this accomplished. I hope everyone comes out to watch and cheer them on. Of course, the money we raise is essential to JMTP’s mission and goes directly to support our free school-year programming and our scholarships for deserving New York kids, who could not otherwise chase their tennis dreams and change their lives through tennis. So be there!”
You can read more about the Pro-Am or sign-up to register, and learn more about all the important work that the JMTP does throughout the year by visiting JMTPNY.org.
Why Does
Everyone Think I’m A 3.5 When I Know I Am A 4.0?
By Teddy Angelus
TheUnited States Tennis Association (USTA)’s National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) rates tennis players based on their skill level ranging from beginner (1.5) to touring professional (7.0).
Of course, the ATP and WTA have a far more sophisticated ranking system for people like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zeverev, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula, but all of us care about our rank. Whether you’ve spent time at your local court or on Center Court, you know firsthand just how obsessed avid tennis players can be about their rank.
Ideally the rating should be used to level the competition, enabling players to be matched with suitable competitors of similar skill and experience. But it’s not always that cut and dry. For starters, there’s an element of ego involved. Who among us wants to admit they’re not a 5 who could easily be a 7 if not for that pesky day job? Can I really be trusted to accurately assess my own tennis ranking?
Fortunately, the dynamic rating system of the USTA is largely based on match results, closeness of the individual match, and the relative skill
level of the player. If someone plays in a lot of USTA tournaments you can look up their rating on USTA Tennis Link
You might, however, also find a self-generated rating that might not always match the computer-generated rating. As an employee of Advantage Tennis Clubs, I can tell you that, no matter how hard you might try to dissuade us, we will always use the computer-generated rating. It’s important to us that everyone has access to players with whom they are likely to have their best competitive match.
But that’s not always what players want. There are people who just want to win no matter what it takes. And if that means “playing down” just for the sake of winning, they’ll profess to have a lower rating and, hopefully, walk out of the club with one in the win column. Conversely, there are others who cannot accept the fact that they may not be the 4.0 they think they are and find themselves “playing up” and getting walloped. The problem with that strategy is there’s a player who is playing down without knowing it and really not getting the match they wanted to play.
A big part of our job at the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (RIRC) is ensuring a satisfactory experience for all of our members, non-members and guests. It can be especially challenging when matching people or groups based on their ratings because of the subjective nature of said ratings. Tony Huber, the Director of Adult Programs at RIRC, and his team of tennis professionals at RIRC are often the recipient of the wrath of a tennis player arguing their rating or the group class they’re assigned to. It’s gotten so bad at times that folks have actually quit the club because they wanted a higher rating that they really weren’t ready for. Some have even vented on Yelp or left Google reviews about fictional favoritism when it comes to their “low” ranking. Ratings can change over time. The more you practice and play, the better you get for the most part. Although I have seen some players remain at a level or even go to a lower level over time. Perhaps age has something to do with this. However, with steady play, skill drills, lessons, and sweat equity it is fairly common for a player’s rating to increase. Similarly, if you stay away too long, you might find yourself performing at a different level than
you were at your peak.
I bumped into an old friend on the street the other day and the subject of tennis came up. Being a division 1 player in college, he was automatically a 4.5. Forty years and three kids later, he was proud to say he was still a 4.5. When I asked him when the last time was that he played, he mumbled something about many years. He knew that I knew he was no longer a 4.5. Obviously he was ashamed of his questionable rating status.
In a June 20, 2024 blog post Some Things Money Can’t Buy – How About a USTA 5.0 Tennis Rating, Financial Samurai chronicled the journey of a long-time amateur tennis player to the top of the rating mountain. He admits that getting there was “no fluke” and though he stayed there for nearly five years he is once again a 4.5 and happy. CourtSense at Tenafly Racquet Club in New Jersey has developed a rating system based on the developmental needs of each player.
They contend that, “Since the NTRP rating system is solely based on match play we do not use it to place a player into our programming. A player can ‘hide’ their weakness while playing points and be competitive but our CS levels are based on the fact that the player needs to work on that weakness.”
Ironically, the programs at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center don’t use the NTRP ratings of the USTA. Their Adult NTC Ratings are called Intro 101, Novice 102, Rally, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Everyone above beginner level must be evaluated to obtain a rating as they are required for participation in any program they offer. Does changing the names or the methodology of the rating system do
anything to reduce the drama surrounding them? Is there less stigma equated with being rated a Bronze than a 2.5? Does being a New York 4.5 even mean anything outside of the City limits?
The truth is that if you’re not being honest with yourself, or the rest of us for that matter, once you get out on that court your real rating will be revealed. Find your true rating (if you even want one) and find your tribe. Play the best game you’re capable of for the love of the game. Lessons, clinics and plenty of playing will undoubtedly improve your level of play and possibly your rating. But if you’re not a 4.5, you’re not a 4.5.
And that’s okay… I’m not a 4.5 either.
Teddy Angelus is a Father, Writer, Avid Tennis Player, Staff at the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. Teddy is a long-time tennis player hailing from New York City. Born at NYU, he is a native New Yorker, who grew up on the Upper East Side. After moving to Roosevelt Island in 2019, he rediscovered his love for the game and is now a valuable member of the Advantage Tennis Clubs team. He works at the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club and plays in a variety of leagues and programs at the facility.
Fan Week U.S. Open to Kick Off With
Aswe move through the summer, it means that the U.S. Open is on the horizon, and the eyes of the tennis world descend on New York.
The first week of the U.S. Open provides fans with unparalled access to watch the world’s best tennis players as well as other special events, many of which are completely free to attendees.
There is something for everyone at the first, full-weeklong tennis and entertainment festival preceding the U.S. Open. Fan Week runs August 1823 at the USTA Billie Jean King
National Tennis Center.
The U.S. Open Main Draw begins August 24, a day earlier than it ever has, and for the first time will begin on a Sunday.
US Open Fan Week’s anchor competition – the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament – will run from Monday, August 18, to Thursday, August 21, and is free to attend. Played on the field courts of the US Open, the 128-draw men’s and women’s tournaments determine the final 16 players to gain entry into each of the US Open Men’s and Women’s Singles Main Draws.
New this year will be the revamped U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Championships. This unprecedented list of star entrants for Mixed Doubles— including nine of the world’s Top-10 women and nine of the world’s Top-10 men—makes mixed doubles at the 2025 US Open a must-attend Championship event.
The competition will take place during U.S. Open Fan Week on Tuesday, Aug. 19, and Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with $1 million in prize money being awarded to the winning team.
Fans can also enjoy free access to see the biggest stars in tennis practice on the U.S. Open’s practice courts and stadiums throughout Fan Week, including featured practices in Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand, as well as inside Arthur Ashe Stadium via the Arthur Ashe Stadium Experience, accessible with Fan Access Pass.
Fans can download the free Fan Access Pass – a digital pass that grants special access to certain areas and events during Fan Week, including: the Arthur Ashe Stadium Experience, the Media Day Fan Event inside Arthur Ashe Stadium; VIP seats to featured practices inside Louis Armstrong and Grandstand stadiums and Monday’s Legends of the Open presented by FAGE exhibition.
Registration is available at
fanpass.usopen.org, with the ability to download your pass to your mobile wallet for easy access.
Below is the list of featured events during Fan Week. For a full list and detailed information on all the happenings the week prior to the Main Draw, visit USOpen.org.
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025 and TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025
Arthur Ashe Stadium Experience
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
A unique opportunity for a pre-US Open Singles Main Draw glimpse to watch top players practice throughout Fan Week.
Heineken Happy Hour
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Bring your colleagues or friends out to the Fountain Plaza for a one-of-a-kind Happy Hour experience with live DJs, tennis, and special drink offers.
Family Festival of Activities
All Day
Fans of all ages can enjoy a variety of family-friendly activity around the games, including: Face Painting, Airbrush Tattoos and Roving Entertainers. Activities and times are subject to change.
Featured Player Practices
All Day, Grandstand and Louis Armstrong Stadium
Fans can get an up-close look at their favorite players and the tournament's biggest stars in Grandstand as they prepare for the U.S. Open Singles Main Draw.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2025
Stars of the Open presented by CHASE (Ticketed event, to benefit USTA Foundation)
Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium
Time: 7 p.m.
One night, countless stars: Stars of the Open will return on Thursday, Aug. 21 and bring together an electrifying mix of legends and top players on the court to dazzle fans with their incredible skills. USOpen.org/FanWeek.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2025
U.S. Open Media Day
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Fans will once again have the unique opportunity to hear directly from the biggest stars on the WTA and ATP tours as they are interviewed in Arthur Ashe Stadium. A free Fan Access Pass is required for entry.
U.S. Open Block Party
8:00 p.m., Fountain Plaza Stage
Dance the night away at the US Open Block Party. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of music and fun at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s Fountain Plaza. Stay tuned for more information on this year’s event.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025
Arthur Ashe Kids' Day powered by Net Generation
9:30 a.m., Arthur Ashe Stadium
Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day powered by Net Generation is the US Open’s annual celebration of the life and legacy of tennis champion and cultural icon Arthur Ashe. This year, Arthur Ashe Kids' Day will return on Saturday, Aug. 23 with a new start time for an exciting stadium show in Arthur Ashe Stadium, now at 11AM. Tennis fans of all ages can also see top players practice, and enjoy a variety of family-friendly entertainment and activities throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, all with the aim of getting kids excited about tennis—a passion of Ashe’s in his life.
The Over-40 Tennis Code 5 Non-Negotiables for Staying Powerful, Pain-Free & Confident
1. Mobility + Flexibility: Lube the Joints or Lose the Game
After age 40, your connective tissues lose water content and elasticity, making you stiffer and more injury-prone.
Mobility isn’t about just doing yoga once a week, it’s about unlocking usable range of motion in the joints that generate power and absorb shock during play. If your thoracic spine doesn’t rotate or your hips are locked, your swing and footwork will break down.
Start with dynamic warm-ups: hip CARs, thoracic rotations, inchworms, and leg swings before hitting the court. If you do not know what these are, then go on YouTube and explore. Then postplay, add slow, controlled stretches targeting the posterior chain, hip flexors, and calves. Foam rolling, myofascial release, and mobility flow sequences (like the 90/90 hip flow or wall thoracic openers) should be part of your daily pre-bed routine. Ten minutes a day can extend your playing career by a decade.
Also consider fascial health: collagen synthesis slows dramatically with age, so supplementing with vitamin C, glycine, and collagen peptides can support connective tissue resilience.
Pro Tip: Joint mobility is like flossing your nervous system. You won’t feel the damage until it’s too late.
2. Strength Training: The Fountain of Youth Is Made of Iron
Muscle mass isn't just about aesthetics, it's your reserve tank for stress, illness, and recovery. Past age 40, strength training is arguably more important than cardio for metabolic health, insulin sensitivity, and testosterone regulation. You should already be getting a good cardio/interval session every time you
By Dr. Donald Shrump, MS, CSCS
hit the court.
You need strength to generate force on your serve, maintain stability during lateral movements, and decelerate safely. Without eccentric strength, your knees and tendons take the hit. Prioritize lower body power: split squats, RDLs, and Bulgarian lunges over machines. Upper body should be functional, think rows, pull-ups, and overhead presses. Throw in a med ball rotational toss to transfer strength to court performance. Programming should be 2–3x/week, ideally non-consecutive days. Track progress not by weight but by power-toweight ratio and time under tension. Train slow eccentrics and explosive concentrics to optimize type II fiber preservation.
Pro Tip: Want to serve big in your 50s? Start loading your glutes and lats now.
3. Recovery Protocols: Outwork Your Opponent, Not Your Nervous System
Recovery is no longer optional. Your nervous system and hormonal balance post-40 require deliberate restoration. What used to be 'just a bad night's sleep' can now snowball into inflammation, cortisol dysregulation, and chronic fatigue.
The three pillars: sleep, parasympathetic activation, and inflammation control.
• Sleep: Aim for at least 7.5 hours, ideally in 90-minute REM cycles. Use sleep tracking to optimize bedtime routines. Wear blue-light blockers after sunset, drop room temp to 65°F, and consider magnesium threonate or glycine to aid deep sleep.
• Cold & heat contrast therapy: Postmatch, use a 3:1 ratio of sauna to cold plunge (i.e., 15 min sauna, 5 min plunge) to reduce DOMS and improve HRV.
• Breathwork: Box breathing or parasympathetic resets (like 4-7-8 breathing) post-match can reset your vagus nerve and aid cortisol clearance.
Pro Tip: You don’t need more ice packs. You need smarter inputs to your recovery system.
4. Nutrient Timing + Quality: Eat for Mitochondria, Not Macros
By your 40s, your mitochondria are under siege. Years of oxidative stress, processed foods, and nutrient mismatches have slowed cellular efficiency. Eating well isn’t about cutting calories, it’s about upgrading mitochondrial inputs.
Begin with protein: aim for 1.6–2.0g/kg of bodyweight per day to support muscle retention and repair. Every meal should contain 30–40g of complete protein, especially posttraining. Prioritize leucine-rich sources (like eggs, salmon, bison).
Carbs should be timed around training windows: fuel with low-GI carbs 1–2 hours pre-play and replenish with fruit + honey + sodium post-play. Outside of that, go low-glycemic to support insulin sensitivity.
Fat matters, but quality matters more: focus on EPA/DHA, olive oil, and MCTs. Avoid omega-6 oils like canola or soybean, they tank your redox state and clog cell membranes.
Supplements that give you an edge:
• Creatine monohydrate (5g/day)
• Ubiquinol (100mg/day)
• Magnesium (glycinate or threonate)
• Polyphenols from blueberries, matcha, and cacao
Pro Tip: Eat to support the energy systems you train. If your diet doesn't improve VO� or strength, it’s not performance nutrition.
5. Metabolic + Aerobic Health:
VO� Max Is Your Lifespan Meter
VO� max is the king metric of cardiovascular and mitochondrial efficiency. It predicts your ability to recover between points, rally longer, and stay alive longer. In fact, it’s one of the strongest predictors of longevity, even more than cholesterol or BMI.
You lose 10% of your VO� max per decade if untrained. But you can reverseengineer that loss with smart programming:
• Zone 2 (60–70% max HR): This is your fat-burning engine and mitochondrial biogenesis zone. Do 2–3x/week for 30–60 minutes. Use a heart rate monitor or lactate threshold test to dial it in.
• Zone 5 (90–95% max HR): Anaerobic intervals like sprint repeats, hill sprints, or battle ropes to push mitochondrial adaptation and EPOC.
You don’t have to kill yourself, just be
consistent. A wearable like a WHOOP, Oura Ring, or Garmin can track your trends over time. Use these to periodize training loads and monitor recovery. Also, don’t ignore breath training: nasal-only conditioning, CO2 tolerance drills, and breath holds can raise O� delivery efficiency.
Pro Tip: VO� max is your internal age. Treat it like your retirement savings — compound interest pays off.
Final Word: Confidence Comes From Capacity
Confidence isn’t some abstract, motivational fluff. It’s built from physiological certainty. When your joints move cleanly, your muscles generate force, your heart recovers fast, and your mitochondria hum, your brain gets the message: 'We’re good.'
These five pillars, mobility, strength, recovery, nutrition, and aerobic power, aren’t trends. They’re the infrastructure of elite aging.
Tennis rewards intelligence and consistency. Let your body match your mind. You’ve earned your wisdom, now make your physiology match it.
Because showing up at 70 and hitting aces? That’s the legacy play.
Bonus Stat
A landmark study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that tennis players added up to 9.7 years to their lives compared to sedentary peers. That’s nearly a decade — not from a pill or a procedure, but from a racket and a plan.
Let that sink in. Then get back on court, with a strategy built for the long game.
Donald Shrump is the Director and General Manager at Magnus Sports Performance, which operates and oversees all the strength and conditioning, and mental strength programming of CourtSense. Dr. Shrump has been the driving force behind Magnus SP for over 5 years now, while he continues to assist in injury prevention and optimizing performance for ATP, WTA, MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL, WBA, Olympians, High School, and Youth Athlete.
SPORTIME Port Washington Hosts Ninth Annual JMTA College Recruiting Combine
The John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) once again brought tennis players and college coaches together at its College Recruiting Combine, this time in a different location as SPORTIME Port Washington hosted the eighth annual event.
The event has been held at JMTA’s flagship location, SPORTIME Randall’s Island, for the first seven years, but in each of the last two years, the event has been held at SPORTIME Port Washington, formerly Port Washington Tennis Academy, the location where McEnroe and his brother Patrick trained when they were young tennis players.
After an $8 million renovation, SPORTIME Port Washington is now one of two JMTA locations on Long Island, and with the new upgrades and renovations it has undertaken over the last two years, it has become an ideal location for the yearly tradition that is the Combine.
“JMTA is committed to preparing
our players for college tennis, and to working with them to identify and to help them to attend the colleges and universities that best suit them,” said John McEnroe. “The Combine has been a big hit in its first eight years, and with the 2025 event returning to SPORTIME Port Washington, where my brother and I, among others, trained as juniors, it promises to be extra special for me and Patrick.”
The Combine was open to rising sophomores, juniors and seniors and featured 50 boys and 50 girls who showcased their technical and tactical tennis skills, and their athletic abilities, in front of
coaches from top colleges and universities. The event features match play, both in singles and
doubles, as coaches surveyed the courts.
All players are put through athletic performance assessments and are invited to also take part in Sports Vision Testing. In addition, there were two separate College Coaches’ Panel Discussions which provided players and parents the opportunity to ask questions on a variety of topics, including recruitment, academics, campus life and more.
“The combine was helpful because certain coaches that I have been in contact with got to see me play, which is really the most important part. They want to see how I compete and handle myself on court,” said Will Bohner, who will be entering his senior season at Friends Academy next fall. “And for someone who may be new to the process, it’s really good to learn from all the seminars. I luckily started early and so I am very familiar with how it works, but seeing how coaches go about the process, and how you can improve yours, was really helpful.”
Dejan Stankovic, the head tennis
coach at Endicott University in Massachusetts, was a featured speaker on those panels, and explained the importance of "Jay Harris and his staff were very helpful and ran the event smoothly and efficiently. The view at Port Washington is outstanding and it is one of the best viewing places I have seen," said Stankovic. "It is very beneficial for recruiting when you are able to connect and speak to the players and parents. I believe I was able to connect with many parents and players and hence they wanted to come and visit the campus. In addition, the coaches panel is amazing. It is very helpful to parents
and players to know about the college process and how to approach situations while looking to get recruited. It is a very informative and helpful event for all attending."
College Coaches from an array of colleges and universities across all divisions and levels of competition were in attendance. Matches were live-streamed and each participant received a Player Portal that allows coaches to access them later, as well as access to other coaches from around the country.
“Not only has the JMTA College Combine become one the very best college recruiting exposure opportunities in the entire nation, we now have merged it with the new JMTA College Navigator program,” said Jay Harris, the Combine’s Director. “The Navigator is our multifaceted recruiting service partnering three high level agencies that will work as a team with the JMTA to assist players and their parents with academic development strategies, financial planning and college placement. This will help to serve our New York tennis players in an incredibly unique way!”
Calm Under Pressure: Practical Tools to Help Tennis Players Reduce Anxiety and Thrive on Court
By Chris Lewit
Anxietyis a tough opponent. It doesn’t hit forehands or serve aces, but it can derail even the most talented tennis players. Whether it’s pre-match nerves, fear of failure, or the pressure to perform in front of coaches and peers, anxiety is a real mental hurdle. Fortunately, today’s players have more tools than ever to manage stress, sharpen focus, and stay present under pressure.
Here’s a powerful toolkit that blends modern science with time-tested wisdom. These strategies are practical, accessible, and can be woven into daily training routines or pre-match preparation.
While written with tennis players in mind, these tools apply to athletes in all sports seeking to perform at their best.
Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI)
Mindfulness isn’t about zoning out— it’s about tuning in. The goal is simple: become more aware of your thoughts and sensations, without judgment, so they don’t control you.
• Start with just five minutes of breathfocused meditation daily.
• Ground yourself before matches with three deep breaths and 10 seconds of sensory awareness.
• Use mindfulness apps like Headspace or Calm for guided support.
• Keep a mindfulness journal to track triggers, emotions, and reactions. This helps create space between thought and action—key for making smart decisions under pressure, especially in individual sports like tennis.
Somatic Practices: Move to Feel Better
Anxiety lives in the body as much as the mind. Somatic techniques use
movement to help release tension, restore balance, and enhance selfregulation.
• Yoga: Builds flexibility and calm through conscious movement and breath.
• Tai Chi: A flowing martial art that fosters centeredness and balance.
• Feldenkrais & Alexander Technique: Subtle, intelligent movement reeducation to reduce unnecessary effort.
• Pilates: Strengthens the core and improves postural control—useful for tennis footwork and injury prevention.
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Martial Arts: Teaches how to stay calm under real physical pressure.
• Rolfing (Structural Integration): Helps release fascial tension and emotional holding patterns. These practices train body awareness and promote relaxation even during intense competition—on the tennis court or in any athletic arena.
Breathing Techniques
Breath is one of the fastest ways to influence the nervous system. Learn to use it consciously.
• Box Breathing (4-4-4-4): Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4.
• Physiological Sigh: Two quick inhales followed by a long, slow exhale. A quick calm-down hack.
• 4-7-8 Breathing: Inhale 4, hold 7, exhale 8. Ideal for post-match recovery or sleep prep. Practice during training so it becomes second nature during matches or games.
Self-Talk: Take Control of the Inner Narrative
Your inner voice can be a coach or a
critic. The choice is yours.
• Replace negative thoughts with constructive ones: “I always choke” becomes “This is a chance to stay composed.”
• Use cue words like, “Breathe,” “Focus,” or “Next point.”
• Repeat mantras like “I’ve earned this,” or “I belong here.”
• Confront imposter syndrome by listing your hard work and past wins.
• Reframe the fear of judgment: “They’re watching, not judging. I play for myself.”
Self-talk isn’t fluff—it’s how elite athletes stay in control during pressure moments, whether on a tennis court, track or field.
Visualization and Imagery
What the mind rehearses, the body follows.
• Visualize your service games, your footwork, and your recovery after mistakes.
• Include multiple senses—hear the crowd, feel the grip, see the ball land.
• Rehearse adversity: see yourself calm and composed after double faults or bad calls.
• Use short 2-minute visualizations before practice or matches. Mental reps reinforce confidence and reduce fear of the unknown—for tennis players and all performers under pressure.
Biofeedback and Smart Tech Technology now lets you see your internal state in real-time.
• Use wearables like Whoop, Oura Ring, or Garmin to track stress, HRV, and recovery.
• Train yourself to lower heart rate before big points using breathing
or visualization.
• Biofeedback apps teach you how to calm your body with visual cues and games.
Data isn’t just numbers—it’s a mirror for your habits and progress. Tennis athletes and others can use it to monitor readiness and recovery.
Confidence Builders
Confidence isn’t magic—it’s built through consistency, clarity, and reminders of your worth.
• Write down five recent wins each week—big or small.
• Use a match-day routine to feel grounded and prepared.
• Set process goals (“keep first-serve percentage above 65 percent”) instead of outcome goals.
• Watch highlight clips of your best points before matches.
• Surround yourself with a support team who believes in your journey. Confidence grows when you recognize your own patterns of
success. These habits help any athlete rise, regardless of their sport.
Extra Tools Worth Trying
• Gratitude practice: Write 3 things you’re grateful for daily. Shifts your mindset.
• Cold exposure: Cold showers or ice baths train the mind to handle discomfort.
• Journaling: Record thoughts, moods, and breakthroughs.
• Nature walks: 10 minutes outdoors calms the nervous system.
• Sleep hygiene: Go to bed and wake up at consistent times. Avoid
screens before bed.
• Nutritional balance: Eat to stabilize energy—avoid sugar crashes and excess caffeine on match days.
Winning in tennis isn’t just about strokes and strategy—it’s about mastering your inner game. Anxiety doesn’t have to control you. With the right tools and consistent practice, you can meet stress with strength, stay focused under pressure, and play your best when it matters most. And for athletes in every sport, these strategies are just as relevant—because composure, clarity, and calm are universal superpowers.
Chris Lewit is a leading high-performance coach, educator and author of the best-selling book, The Secrets of Spanish Tennis, and a new technique book, Winning Pretty, which will be published in 2025. Secrets of Spanish Tennis, Second Edition will be published in September 2024. As a coach, he has trained hundreds of nationally ranked juniors. He directs a full-time academy for homeschool/online players and a high performance summer camp program, as well as bespoke high performance training for all ages and levels, all at his club in the beautiful green mountains of Vermont. Contact Chris directly by phone/WhatsApp 914-462-2912 or chris@chrislewit.com.
FULL-TIME ACADEMY FOR HOMESCHOOL PLAYERS WEEKEND HIGH
PERFORMANCE ACADEMY TRAINING FOR ALL LEVELS HIGH PERFORMANCE SUMMER CAMP IN VERMONT
TRAIN WITH THE BEST— CHRIS HAS RECENTLY COACHED SEVERAL #1 PLAYERS IN THE US!
Long Island’s Biggest Adult Tennis Tournament Hits The Hamptons CHALLENGE
Players from all across the Metropolitan area traveled east for the 2025 Long Island Tennis Magazine (LITM) Summer Series presented by Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group which kicked off the summer in style. The June Tennis Challenge was completely sold-out and
the packed house provided for a great atmosphere both on and off the courts. This one-of-a-kind event features fierce on-court competition across 22 Har-Tru courts on the sprawling Quogue campus. Doubles pairings battled it out in round-robin competition that fed into the playoff
rounds. The LITM Challenge tournaments, which have been operating for over a decade, are well known for its professionalism and organization as well for having great tennis at all levels! Additionally the amenities off the court are a LITM Challenge staple. On this day, players were treated to
THE LONG ISLAND
Women’s 6.0 – 6.5 Champions Sophia Yang & Youngmi Seo Women’s 7.0 – 7.5 Champions Bonnie Aves & Hazel Zaldivar
an expansive catered lunch spread which included a variety of heroes, side salads, pizza and brownies/cookies, bananas, and drinks as well as a very popular Happy Hour.
“I would like to thank our title sponsor Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group for their amazing support in helping us put on a professionallyrun and successful event. We made sure all participants played a lot, that the tournament ran on time and that we had food, drinks, etc. available to players during the tournament,” said Tournament Director David Sickmen. “Each tournament, we continue to see returning faces, but are also pleased to see new players join us from all across the Metropolitan area, which is a great indication of the event’s growth, and are excited to host more tournaments this summer and fall.”
Both players spoke highly of the tournament:
“It was great getting to play with some players we never played against before, and we met a lot of great people,” said Seo. “The people were so nice; there were a lot of strong players. We enjoyed this tournament a lot and will definitely join again next time.”
The pairing of Sophia Yang & Youngmi Seo were the victors of the Women’s 6.0 – 6.5 division, using good on-court chemistry to come away with the title.
“Consistency and communication was the key to victory,” said Yang. “We worked great together as a team.”
Bonnie Aves & Hazel Zaldivar are past champions at the LITM Challenge, and they used their experience to win yet another title, as the duo captured the Women’s 7.0 – 7.5 division championship with a victory over Melissa Scheinman & Jill Siemen-Mayer in the final.
“We did the same thing as last year
when we won, which was me just listening to her and doing what she tells me,” Aves said jokingly.
The goal for them coming in was to hold onto their championship crown, and their goal now is to do it once again at the next event.
“I told her we had to defend our honor, which we did,” said Zaldivar. “We have to defend our title once again so we will be back for sure.”
Marija Varelkatie also has a LITM Challenge title on her resume, and added another one to her accomplishments but this time with a new partner: Meiko Boynton as the two won the Women’s 8.0 – 8.5 division.
“We’ve played together in USTA leagues but this is the first time we’ve played at a LITM event,” said Boynton. “Last year she won with someone else, and now she has won with me, so we’ll see who she chooses to play with for the next tournament.”
Boynton was half-kidding, because her and Varelkatie proved to be a great pairing, and worked well together.
“We had great communication and
Women’s 8.0 – 8.5 Champions Marija Varelkatie & Meiko Boynton
Women’s 9.0 – 9.5 Champions Onalee Batcheller & Gabrielle Vailiant
we stayed positive throughout,” she said. “We complement each other well. Miko set me up a lot today. We had a great time, the weather was great, and the food was amazing. We’ll absolutely be back.”
At the 2024 LITM Thanksgiving Challenge, Onalee Batcheller & Gabrielle Vailiant brought home their first Challenge title, and returned to defend their title out in Quogue, and were able to do so as they won the Women’s 9.0 – 9.5 division.Being confident in their skills and relying on what they know was the key to their success.
“It was important that we trusted our shots, it worked out and we had a good day,” said Vailiant.
Batcheller added:
“We were always talking during the matches to make sure we stayed on the same page. We went undefeated in the round robin rounds which gave us a lot of confidence going into the semifinals and eventually the finals.”
When asked if they would be back to go for their third straight title, Vailiant confirmed: “For sure.”
Martin Guichardo & Broc Brown are two primarily singles players who have
begun playing doubles together, and the duo quickly found their chemistry on court to win the Men’s 7.0 – 7.5 doubles division.
“Coming from being singles players, doubles can be a challenge, it’s a whole different mental game, but I think we did a good job of moving on from the mistakes we made and getting to the next point,” said Guichardo. “This is my fourth time playing these tournaments and first time even making it to the playoffs, so I found the right partner. He was great today.”
Brown said:
“We stayed calm, especially in the final, and went one point at a time. This event was awesome, we had a really
great time.”
Neil Hyman & Chris Kolesnik won the Men’s 8.0 – 8.5 division after winning a thrilling set tiebreak over Ed Mulhern & Cenzig Karakaya in the championship match to claim the title.
“That last match we really gritted it out,” said Hyman. “It was a little dicey, but in that tiebreaker Chris and I were able to do our thing.”
Both teams returned extremely well in the final with them trading breaks through the first eight games of the one-set final, but Hyman & Kolesnik held their nerve.
“We made sure to stay locked in,” said Kolesnik. “When you go down a break early, you have to tell yourself that it’s early and you can work your way out of it, which is what we did.”
“We try to make all of these tournaments, they are such a great time,” Hyman added.
Back in college as teammates at Marist, Dylan Friedman & Carlos Vasquez developed an on-court chemistry and rekindled it to come away victorious in the Men’s 9.0 – 9.5 doubles division by defeating Marijus Kuzavas & Francois Vernet in the championship.
Men’s 7.0 – 7.5 Champions Martin Guichardo & Broc Brown
Men’s 8.0 – 8.5 Champions Neil Hyman & Chris Kolesnik
“Getting the chance to play with him again all these years later, and bring it full circle was my favorite part of the tournament today,” said Friedman. “We had to overcome some adversity in the final, but we were able to get the job done.”It was Vasquez’s first time playing in an LITM Challenge, and he was complimentary of how the event was run.
“It was really wellorganized, super fun and the vibes were great. We had so much fun playing together again after all these years, and happy to keep this partnership going.”
Friedman’s younger sister, Deliala teamed up with Adam Hornsby to win the Mixed Doubles division. Hornsby was Friedman’s junior tennis coach, but the two hadn’t played much doubles together in the past.
“We’ve been playing tennis together for a long time but not a lot of doubles,” said Hornsby. “Teamwork makes the dream work. We are going to come back at the next tournament to try and defend the title.”
Friedman added:
“I just had so much fun playing as a team with Adam. This event was a great time. The Don Colada drink was amazing, I’d give it an 11 out of 10.
THE LONG ISLAND
CHALLENGE
I’m really glad we got to play this tournament and looking forward to coming back.”
“These tournaments have become almost like family reunions of sorts, as many of the players have become friends of mine and it’s a very welcoming environment on and off the courts for everyone. As people arrive, all we see on the pool deck is hugs and smiles. Some players bring their own ‘fans’ to support them, and everyone involved with the event works together to create an atmosphere that makes the Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenges stand out as the premier adult tennis tournament in the area,” Sickmen added. “This was even more evident as we were forced to use our rain-date for this particular event.
With the amount of players involved, this created challenges, but my coDirector Michelle Stoerback did what she does best and was able to recreate the draws to ensure everyone had the best possible experience. We pay a lot of attention to the small details and we continue to learn from each event, but I want to thank Michelle, all of our sponsors and all of our supporting players for their part. Hearing that people drove four hours to play, seeing people stay for hours post-event, and getting the feedback we received has us ready for more.”
The LITM June Tennis Challenge was completely sold-out and sets the stage for a great summer ahead. The next Long Island Tennis Magazine on the schedule is Saturday September 6th (registration is available at LongIslandTennisMagazine.com/Even ts/SeptemberTennis) once again at Sportime Quogue.
LITM will also be hosting a tennis event in late July, with an announcement of the location and event specifics coming soon. Check out LITennisMag.com/Events for the latest information on all of our events!
Men’s 9.0 – 9.5 Champions Dylan Friedman & Carlos Vasquez
Mixed Doubles Champions Deliala Friedman & Adam Hornsby
Why Players Love Tennis
By Dr. Tom Ferraro
Thereare five primary reasons people choose to play the game of tennis. Let’s explore each.
1.One of the most common reasons that prompt the choice of tennis is exposure. If you happen to be a part of the upper middle classes you will have been exposed to tennis at your country club. And as they say in business, it’s all about ‘location, location, location’. If you grow up on a beach, you will become a swimmer or surfer. If you grow up in the middle of Brooklyn, you will take up basketball. And if you live in one of the golden zip codes in Nassau County, your kids will spend summers at your country club, and will get to see tennis courts filled with players dressed in their tennis whites.
2.Another reason you might choose tennis is aesthetics. The game has a wonderful symmetry, elegance and beauty to it which is one reason some of our greatest writers have focused on tennis. E.B. White, Vladimir Nabokov, Ring Lardner, Paul Theroux and W. Somerset Maugham have all waxed poetic about the elegant beauty of tennis. “This small precise green pool” and this “pug, pug, pug, pug” sound of ball to racket is E.B. White’s way of showing his love of tennis. And if you love beauty, tennis will draw you into its heart and soul.
3.If a parent happens to love the game of tennis, it is likely that the child will also play. This is called role modeling and we are genetically predisposed to act like our parents. In addition, children have a desire to relate to their
parents and spend time with them, so they often pick up the game their parents play. I know that is how I got into golf. Because my father played. He was a fun guy to be with and I was smart enough to follow along.
4.Our personality affects our choice of sport and how we will perform in it. Each sport is different and draws in certain personalities. Boxing attracts angry aggressive types. Golf seems to attract analytic types characterized as obsessive compulsive. Research suggests that tennis attracts players higher in intelligence, and who are more sociable, spontaneous, creative, aggressive, competitive and focused. When you interview tennis players from Europe you’re immediately impressed with their intelligence as they fluently switch between three or four languages. I have always felt tennis players are willing to go into the arena and risk shame in order to obtain glory. By its nature tennis demands
competitiveness and a ‘take-noprisoners’ attitude.
5.Over time and especially if the player is very talented, the issue of fame and fortune become motivators. Scholarships can be obtained and even a professional career if the player is good enough, able to avoid injuries and can cope with ever increasing levels of competition without losing confidence. Money and a pro career are enticing things indeed. But with fame and money the joy of the game can be lost and that is a big problem.
So there you have it. Tennis players are drawn to the court for a variety of reasons. They see tennis being played, they have seen one or both of their parents play, they love the beauty of the game, they love the competition and, who knows, maybe get a scholarship. Tennis provides the opportunity to exercise your creativity, your aesthetic feelings and your aggression all in the same place.
Who could ask for anything more?
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.
Tennis draws us in for many reasons
Asadult league wrap-up
our Spring & Summer Adult Leagues in the Metro Region come to an end, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our captains and players. The rain and heat wreaked havoc on schedules and we are grateful for their dedication and flexibility. I wish the best of luck to all the teams advancing to the Regional and Sectionals tournaments this July and August.
This June, the local champions from our Fall & Winter Leagues competed at the Sectional Championships in Westchester. Congratulations to all the participating teams, with a special shout out to the following teams:
l 18 & Over 6.0 Queens Mixed Doubles team captained by Winnie Xie took 2nd place
l Men’s 4.0/3.5/3.0 Tri-Level team captained by Jehan Bhagwagar and Winson Wong finished in second place
l Women’s 5.0/4.5/4.0 Tri-Level team captained by Huan Zhou finished in second place
By Ainslie Ellis
l Men’s 5.0/4.5/4.0 Tri-Level team captained by Daniel Bindler finished in second place.
Finally, a big congratulations goes out to the 18 & Over Queen’s 8.0 Mixed Doubles team captained by Nihar Damarasingu and Zuzana Vuova for winning the tournament with a 5-0 sweep and advancing to Nationals.
We wish them best of luck as they represent the Eastern Section in Surprise, Arizona this November.
Be on the lookout for fall league registration and information in the weeks ahead, including Manhattan 18&over Mixed Doubles and Metro 4.5/4.0/3.5 tri-level. As always, if you have an interest in learning more about USTA league play in Metro, please reach out to Ainslie Ellis - ellis@eastern.usta.com.
Ainslie Ellis is the Metro Region Adult League Coordinator for USTA Eastern. She may be reached at ellis@eastern.usta.com.
18 & Over 6.0 Queens Mixed Doubles team captained by Winnie Xie
18 & Over Queen’s 8.0 Mixed Doubles team captained by Nihar Damarasingu and Zuzana Vuova
Why Most Tennis Warm-Ups
Are a Waste of Time (And What To Do Instead)
By Filip Maric
Jog
two or three laps, do active (or static) stretching, perform a few Bosu ball drills plus mini-bend exercises and you're ready, right?
That's what most tennis warm-ups look like, even at the highest level. And that's the problem.
Despite all we know about performance, biomechanics, physiology, and injury prevention, many warm-ups in tennis are still stuck in routines that belong to another era. They're way too generic and totally disconnected from what actually happens on court. If you've ever seen a player look "flat" in their first few games or pick up a small injury early in the match, the warm-up might be to blame.
Why Bosu Balls, Ladder Drills, and Mini-Bands Aren't Enough for Tennis Readiness?
There's a trend in tennis warm-ups to rely on tools like Bosu balls, agility ladders, mini-bands and similar standins for actual preparation. You can see the top 20 ATP and WTA players
warming-up that way.
While these tools can play a small role in certain training environments, using them as the primary method for warming up before explosive tennis play is fundamentally flawed.
These Tools Don't Prepare Connective Tissues for HighVelocity Stress
Tennis places extreme forces on the tendons, fascia, and joints. A serve can produce rotational velocities exceeding 2500°/s at the shoulder. Can we warm up adequately for such efforts by doing external and internal rotations using resistance bands?
If low-intensity exercises help the player ease into the session and feel good, I’m all for starting that way. But that's just the starting point, not the full warm-up.
Agility drills on a flat ladder or balancing on a Bosu ball also don't generate remotely similar forces or kinetic sequences.
(SSC), rotational loading, and multiplanar elastic movement, none of which occur on unstable surfaces and during low-intensity isolated patterns.
Stability Training ≠ Neuromuscular Readiness
Balancing on a wobble surface might feel "active," but research has shown that training on unstable surfaces reduces force output and does not translate to improved performance in high-speed, ground-based sports like tennis.
Instability devices decrease force production and are not recommended for athletes preparing for sprinting, cutting, or jumping.
Tennis demands joint stability under load, not balance for its own sake. So, until we start playing tennis on sand or on a court covered with Bosu balls, it is counterproductive to use such methods to try to develop the stability necessary for playing on clay, and especially on hard courts. Real stability is developed through force absorption, eccentric control, and co-contraction in movement.
Coordination Drills Are Not Substitutes for Elastic Loading
Ladder drills may look sharp and coordinated, but most are too fast and too shallow to produce meaningful CNS stimulation. Their ground contact time and amplitude are too low to activate the explosive neuromuscular patterns required for tennis strokes, sprints, or deceleration.
They can serve a small role in rhythm and foot pattern awareness for kids or during recovery from a serious lower-body injury. Otherwise, we are wasting time before the match.
The False Sense of Readiness
If we want players to start strong and stay injury-free, we need to move beyond outdated methods and get serious about what real preparation looks like.
Now, it's time to talk about what a tennis warm-up must accomplish to truly serve its purpose, whether you are getting ready to play a Grand Slam match, USTA level 4 tournament or J100.
Stimulate the Central Nervous System (CNS)
Tennis is a reaction sport. The CNS needs to be awake and firing for quick decisions and explosive movement. That's why we need short bursts of intensity, including sprints.
Mobilize the Right Joints
Tennis requires a high range of motion at the hips, ankles, thoracic spine, and shoulders. Instead of passive stretching, players need dynamic mobility that opens up the joints they'll actually use. Again, this is not the most important part because the range of motion varies a lot, even during the match itself, but it can help the player feel better.
Overcoming Isometrics
Overcoming isometrics are one of the most efficient tools to "switch on" the nervous system and increase tendon stiffness. Unlike passive stretching or low-level mobility, overcoming isometrics create high intramuscular
tension without joint movement, which is ideal before explosive tasks. What I also love about isometrics is the possibility for positional specificity — you can target the exact angles used in strokes or athletic movements. For example, shoulder and elbow flexion.
Overcoming isometrics helps us activate without fatigue. They're a bridge between activation and explosive readiness. Just a few reps with a few seconds of hold and max intent are usually enough.
Maximal Intent: What Drives Top Performance
I just mention max intent, which is equally important during isometrics and all other warm-up exercises. And not only for warming up, but in general.
If there's one variable that changes everything in warm-up effectiveness, it's intent. Maximal intent is the main driver of rate coding, motor unit synchronization, and neural priming.
In simple terms: if the brain doesn't "believe" the movement is serious or fast, it won't recruit the high-threshold motor units needed for real performance.
I can't say that the load is irrelevant, but it's certainly not important to be close to 1RM max. Load takes a back seat to speed and intent. Our tennis players must be cued to go with maximum effort in these drills, or the entire neural benefit is lost. You can lift heavy with no intent and get nothing. Or move light loads explosively with full intent and wake up the entire nervous system.
As coaches, it's our job to set that intent, not just prescribe exercises.
Activate Key Muscles
All muscles are important, but we must
definitely focus on the glutes, core stabilizers, scapular muscles plus any muscle or body part we've had problems with lately.
Shift Mental Focus
This is where circus-like exercises become essential. Juggling with tennis balls is a way to raise mental focus and get into a competitive mindset. It's not all about muscles. That's often the missing piece and it's why players can look physically ready but still start slow.
Final Thoughts:
Warm-Up in Modern Tennis
Warm-ups in tennis are often undervalued and misused, not because coaches or players lack good intentions, but because many routines are based on outdated ideas or generic movement patterns that don't serve the realities of the sport.
But here's where it gets even more important.
Tennis is a year-round sport with few true off-seasons. Between tournaments, travel, and match loads, players often have limited time for dedicated strength, power, and neuromuscular development sessions. That's why the warm-up becomes even more valuable. It's one of the only consistent windows in the training week where we can:
• Maintain neural preparedness
• Stimulate strength and power
• Integrate key exercises players often miss in regular sessions
Do all this without accumulating too much
extra fatigue
Just as important as the warm-up is the cool-down phase. After a match or intense session, tendon stiffness typically decreases due to fatigue and repetitive loading. This is the perfect time to reintroduce overcoming isometrics.
Concentrate Focus on What You Can Control
By Rob Polishook
Wehave all heard the phrase, ‘They lost their focus!' It happens when a pickleball player experiences a lapse in concentration, leading to missed opportunities, such as an easy put-away or a return.
It's a common occurrence for most players. One moment, you may feel completely focused, with a smooth, relaxed, and in-control demeanor, and then suddenly, boom! You find yourself walking off the court, bewildered, not knowing what happened, as your mind was dwelling in the past or anticipating the future. It can feel like being thrust into another reality, where tension mounts, and every step seems burdensome, as if a weight is pressing down on your back.
Maybe you've encountered a similar scenario, but in a different context: You're just one point away from winning the game, and the only thought racing through your mind is, 'I need to get this point.' You start to feel the pressure mounting. Your heart rate increases, and you rush your serve. Before you know it, you find yourself in a crosscourt dink exchange, feeling as though a noose is tightening, and you're left wondering how your concentration shifted from one-shot-at-a-time to being scattered everywhere except the present moment.
Concentration is a crucial yet often misunderstood mental skill. While the dictionary defines concentration as giving something undivided attention or narrowing focus, these definitions may not fully capture the complexity of concentration in the context of competitive sports. Athletes need to develop an action plan and, more importantly, apply it effectively to their
specific sport and the various situations they encounter.
Dr. Alan Goldberg, a nationally renowned sports psychology consultant, defines concentration as “the ability to focus on what's important and let go of everything else.” This definition implies that an athlete's concentration may be ineffective if it's directed towards the wrong things. Expanding on Dr. Goldberg's definition, we can further define concentration as the choice to focus on what you can control and let go of what you can't control.
Have you ever found yourself fixating on something outside of your control? Reflect on that situation. How did it impact your anxiety levels? How did it affect your concentration when you were standing at the line, ready to serve?
Focusing on factors beyond our control almost always derails our performance, creating a sense of helplessness and unease that can lead to a downward spiral. On the other hand, directing our focus towards what we can control, such as our energy level, attitude, and reactions to tournament situations, can boost our confidence and give us more control over our destiny.
There is a helpful strategy that pickleball players can use to enhance their concentration on what they can control before each tournament. Try this exercise: on the left side of a sheet of paper, list the behaviors and strategies
that you can control during a tournament and label it as “Controllables”. Your list might include preparation, staying positive, making adjustments, regulating your breathing, managing your reactions to certain situations, or bouncing back from adversity. On the right side of the paper, list what you are unable to control, such as weather, court conditions, or the outcome (as you cannot directly control winning or losing). By simply labeling what you can and cannot control, you will increase your awareness of where you want your focus to be. For example, a pickleball player cannot control the wind, but they can control how they react to it and make necessary adjustments to ensure their third shot drop has enough power to clear the net. Without this awareness, a player may continue to focus on the wrong things.
With an understanding of what you can and cannot control, it is important to note that an athlete will inevitably lose focus. Rather than getting angry at yourself, the key response is simple: bring your attention back to what you can control. This non-judgmental process will help the athlete shift their focus.
Without this awareness, a pickleball player may continue to focus on the wrong things. During games, the choice to refocus on what you can control is equally important as maintaining your focus in the first place.
Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach, he works with the whole human athlete helping them to unleash their mental edge (heart.energy.spirit) through mindfulness, somatic psychology, animal wisdom and mental training skills. Rob is author of 2 best-selling books: Tennis Inside the Zone and Baseball Inside the Zone: Mental Training Workouts for Champions. He can be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, by e-mail rob@insidethezone.com, by visiting insidethezone.com, following on Instagram @insidethezone
