New York Tennis Magazine July - August 2020

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nytennis MAGAZINE

New York Tennis Magazine

New York Tennis Magazine 1220 Wantagh Avenue • Wantagh, NY 11793-2202 Phone: (516) 409-4444 • Fax: (516) 409-4600 Web site: www.nytennismag.com

Staff David Sickmen Publisher (516) 409-4444, ext. 309 david@usptennis.com Brian Coleman Senior Editor (516) 409-4444, ext. 326 brianc@usptennis.com Joey Arendt Art Director (516) 409-4444, ext. 307 Francine Miller Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-4444, ext. 301 francinem@usptennis.com Emilie Katz Assistant Marketing Coordinator

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JUL/AUG 2020 • Vol 10, No 4

Table Of Contents

Serenity By Brian Coleman

Six-time champion Serena Williams headlines 2020 U.S. Open See page 28

Photo credit: Ben King/EPIX

Highlights 6 Tennis Reopens in New York 12 Junior Player Spotlight: Cooper Williams and Evan Wen, Dwight Global Online School 17 Coaching Spotlight: Larri Passos, Ross School Tennis Academy 23 USTA-U College Course Returns This Fall 32 A Tournament Like Never Before: 2020 U.S. Open

Features 4 8 10 14 15 16 18 20 22 24 38 39 40 42 43 44 46 48 49 50 51 52 54 56

Across Metro New York…News and Notes From Across the New York Metro Tennis Community NYSPHSAA Delays Start of Fall Sports Season Tennis Life After Coronavirus By Gilad Bloom How to Get the Most Out of Your Adult Tennis Class By Andy Stuber Har-Tru Sports Coatings: The Future of Hard Courts From the Baseline to the Front Line: Oksana Yakoff By Scott Sode Tennis is More Than Sport, It’s Medicine By Aki Wolfson Mythbusters: The Differences Between Divisions I, II and III

By Ricky Becker Court Six: New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz USTA Metro Region Update USTA Eastern Named Player Development Section of the Year Tennis Bubbles: A Grand Slam Victory Over the Elements Why Traditional Spanish Methods and Philosophies Are Important For Junior Development By Chris Lewit The Tennis Guru: The Ring By Dr. Tom Ferraro Enjoying Time With Friends, Family and Tennis By Luke Jensen Mastering the Mind: Mindfulness at 125 MPH…Part Four

By Rob Polishook 2020 Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge Returns Metro Corporate League Update No Excuses Left By Barbara Wyatt The Path to Finding Purpose By Xavier Luna McEnroe Brothers and Tennis Legends Set for Sixth Annual JMTP Pro-Am I Need More Power, Coach By Mike Puc It’s Time for a Tennis Union By Charles McKenna Tennis More Than Ever By Lonnie Mitchel

New York Tennis Magazine is published bi-monthly by United Sports Publications Ltd. • Copyright © 2020 United Sports Publications Ltd.

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NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Across Metro Ne Cary Leeds Names Devashetty Director of Player Development

The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning recently named Jayadeva Devashetty its new Director of Player Development, a move that will take effect in early August. Devashetty joins Cary Leeds after eight years as a USTA National coach where he coached pro players such as Kristie Ahn. “I am thrilled to bring Jay to our team,” said Liezel Huber, Executive Director of Tennis at Cary Leeds. “With his experience, he will play a crucial role in ensuring that we provide the highest level of training and development programs.”

Kings County Tennis League Starts VIT Program The Kings County Tennis League (KCTL) recently launched its Volunteers in Training (VIT) program, training its 11-15 year-old Upswing students to support and teach its younger students.

Through this, these young teenagers will become mentors and leaders at KCTL, furthering the organization’s mission.

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RSTA’s Friedman Earns Prestigious BJK Leadership Award

Ross School Tennis Academy's Ally Friedman received the prestigious Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award. The award honors high school and college-aged students who use sports to improve their community, and Friedman was honored for her “The Ball Program”, a learning and mentorship program she created to help young girls help foster their passion for sports.

Friedman was honored during the annual ESPY awards on ESPN.

JMTA Creates Virtual Academy

Throughout the pandemic, the team at SPORTIME and the John McEnroe Tennis Academy made sure that its customers and students were able to continue improving and remain active

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

New York

… News and notes from across the New York Metro tennis community

despite being quarantined. Each week, the coaches hosted online sessions ranging from fitness workouts to technical exercises so that players remain engaged, and when they returned to the court recently, were ready to get right back into the swing of things.

Aziz Named “Positive Athlete” in High School Tennis

CLTA Hosts Verified UTR Event

Staten Island Tech senior Miriam Aziz, winner of last year’s PSAL Individual Girls’ Singles title, was named New York’s Most Positive Athlete, alongside Jahari Blake of New Windsor, N.Y., by Positive Athlete New York. The award is given to student-athlete who embodies the best qualities in a team member including optimism, respect, encouragement and sportsmanship.

The Chris Lewit Tennis Academy hosted a verified UTR tournament with the draw being open to players who had were tested and cleared of COVID-19. The Tennis Technique Bible UTR Summer Smash featured a 16-player draw, and in the end it was fifth-seed Peter Laino (pictured left) who defeated fourthseed Hriday Narang (right) 2-4, 4-1, 4-1 in the championship match.

NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Tennis Reopens in New York

By Brian Coleman

When the original surge of COVID-19 cases swept across the United States, there was perhaps no region that felt the effects of the pandemic more than New York City. With a population of more than eight million, and a very dense population, the coronavirus pandemic hit NYC extremely hard.

But the lockdowns put in place early on has helped flatten the curve in New York, while other places throughout the country continue to see a rise in cases. The measures taken have allowed the city to reopen, not fully, but considering where the city was at the beginning of the pandemic, New York should be proud of how far it has come.

And with that, tennis has been allowed to reopen, with outdoor tennis back and summer camps getting underway in New York City and in the greater Tri-State area.

As tennis reopens, it’s clear that there is a desire by the public to get back to playing the sport it loves.

“We are incredibly excited to see players out and smiling on courts again 6

after what has undoubtedly been a rough couple months for everybody in the city,” USTA Eastern Executive Director and COO Jenny Schnitzer. “So far, the feedback we’ve received from our NYC providers has been positive. People are really craving physical activity and coming

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

out to play. Some are even picking up a racquet for the first time, which we love to see.”

In order to safely reopen, the clubs and facilities have put in proper safety measures and protocols, using guidelines both by the CDC and the USTA, to ensure that tennis is played safely, and to avoid the possibility of creating another surge of COVID-19.

“Sportime Randall's Island, our NYC flagship location, was not allowed to reopen its outdoor courts until June 22.

The good news, in addition to that most of us are safe and healthy, and that New York has done a great job fighting the virus, is that the outdoor tennis business, at our sites, and generally, has been robust, virtually from the day courts were allowed to open in New York,” said Claude Okin, CEO of Sportime Clubs.

“The pent up demand for tennis and recreation is reflected in the levels of tennis play and programming during the month of June, and continuing into July that are substantially greater than in

2019. This is very promising, and it does seem as if tennis, outdoors and indoors, is and will remain a safe ‘go to’ during the pandemic and in its aftermath.”

The clubs have used all the proper precautions, such as placing hand sanitizing stations in their lobbies and out on every court, while also creating clearly labeled entrances and exits to create a flow of traffic coming in and out of their respective buildings, to limit the amount of contact people have with one another.

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has introduced curbside drop off and pick-up for its campers coming to the site each day. All campers fill out a health questionnaire on their phone and get their temperature checked before being allowed to enter the building to keep a safe environment on its campus, and the facility has adhered to all the guidelines laid out by the USTA and the State of New York.

“We are allowing about 40 percent of

our normal daily capacity for summer camps. We have multiple starting times, we stagger meals, and each student had their own table for lunch,” said Whitney Kraft, Director of the National Tennis Center. “The camp is fully outdoor this summer. Though unique and challenging, we were able to use the space that we had effectively. If it rained or there was excessive heat, we used the breezeways and awnings, and activated other activities like pickleball and table tennis.”

Over in New Jersey, a state that was also hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, the clubs and facilities are reopened as well, and there has been a strong desire for that tennis community to return to the court, and some sort of normalcy, as well.

“In general, tennis is most likely the safest sport in a pandemic context, and it has been great to see many people out on the courts getting the most of what the sport offers,” said Ognen Nikolovski, General Manager of CourtSense and Director of Tennis at Bogota Racquet

Club. “The summer programs have been very successful as the kids and parents have been very supportive in every way, especially as they have gained confidence that kids can still be on the same court, but at the same time maintain a six-foot distance. All in all, after the reopening, and considering the circumstances that we are all in, we are happy with how everything has gone so far.”

So as the summer begins to come to a close here in New York, the local community is thrilled to have tennis back as a part of their lives. The global pandemic has affected every part of what was once considered normal, but it seems as if, albeit slowly, things are beginning to return to normal. There is still work to be done and tennis will be forced to move indoors later this year, but the tennis community has demonstrated its perseverance, and looks to be coming back stronger than ever.

Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He can be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.

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NYSPHSAA Delays Start of Fall Sports Season

he New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) created a COVID-19 Task Force to discuss potential scenarios for the return of sports beginning this fall. That task force released its plan for the upcoming season recently, which was to delay the official start date of the Fall 2020 sports season, while also cancelling the Fall 2020 Regional and State Championships. The goal of this plan is to implement a condensed season schedule in January 2021, if it’s ruled that high school sports cannot return in 2020.

“As the state considers reopening, it is unrealistic to believe athletic seasons can start on August 24 as originally scheduled,” said NYSPHSAA President Paul Harrica. “The priority will continue to be on the educational process and a return to learning in the safest way possible.”

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As part of the decision, the NYSPHSAA’S plan includes: l Delaying fall sports start date until Monday, September 21 l Cancel fall regional and state championship events l Waive seven-day practice rule l Maintain current practice requirements l Encourage geographic scheduling for games and contests l Schools would have the option, if permitted by state officials, to offer offseason conditioning workouts “We recognize this is challenging for everyone, but the decisions made at the State level are based upon data and statewide infection rates all in an effort to stop the spread of COVID and reopen responsibly,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, Executive Director for NYSPHSAA. “At this time, Department of Health guidance presented on July 13 prohibits

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

interscholastic athletics across the state.

The Association will continue to follow state guidance and will work collectively with State officials to ensure high school athletes will start up responsibly in the future. As an association, we must be willing to be flexible and continue to explore all options with students’ safety as our main focus.”

The proposed new schedule would move both boys and girls tennis to “Season III”, which would run for 10 weeks from April 5 through June 12.

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we live in a world where things are ever-fluid and change day-to-day. With that, these proposed plans can change as time goes on, and the NYSPHSAA Task Force is working constantly to ensure that all sports are able to return in 2020-2021, and can return in a safe manner for all involved.

NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Tennis Life After Coronavirus

By Gilad Bloom t has been a devastating few months for our industry, with the vast majority of tennis pros and management largely unemployed, like so many people in other fields. It looks like the pandemic will have a long lasting effect on the sport, and some things might never go back to the way they were.

Our first goal as an industry should be not to fall into a depression, which is easy to do. The game was on pause for a few months and people are in shock, but if I learned anything from this pandemic it is that there is so much love and passion for the game of tennis and that sports remain such a huge part of our lives.

The game will survive this, we might have to use some imagination and reinvent ourselves as teaching pros, but the main thing we need to do at this time is stay positive and not panic.

There is a great future ahead for this game, and we might come out of this

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in a better place.

The bottom line for tennis is that it is one of the safest sports to play in this social distance era we are in. Still, the pandemic will affect the sport in more than one way, mostly in a negative way, but ironically in some ways as tennis may actually attract new players who might choose to stay away from contact sports until a vaccine is found.

The negatives are obvious, with the new normal discouraging gatherings there is a danger that group trainings will not be allowed for some time, which would be a big hit on most tennis clubs that rely on junior and adult group programs. The same goes for the popular summer camps that host massive amounts of kids in academies all over the country every summer.

This means that most tennis lessons would be private one-on-one sessions which will make the game even more expensive and ultimately result in many pros losing their jobs, or having to cut down their hours on court. If this continues, it will no doubt hurt the game.

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

There is also the issue of tournaments. It will be very challenging in the post-Coronavirus era to run large draws, cramming many players into a clubhouse, sharing locker rooms, etc.

National events with people traveling from all over the place are a question mark as well. Until there is a vaccine, it is hard to imagine these massive events coming back.

Eventually tournament play will have to return, it is the lifeline of our sport, and we will have to find inventive ways to keep rankings current and allow players to showcase their talent; practice without playing matches is meaningless.

There are ways to hold competitive matches without holding a full event.

Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) has been allowing this for a few years now, and it might benefit from the new reality in which regular weekend events are not possible for a while. Instead of having draws, players can simply match up against specific players that have similar UTR ratings; it may not be as satisfying as winning a tournament but will allow competitive kids to still play

meaningful matches every week.

On the global level, the professional tour will suffer immensely. The local recreational players will eventually get their tennis fix, clubs will re-open and even local tournaments are realistic with some adjustments. But for the international players, the mid-level pro on the tour, this pandemic will have devastating effects. Sitting home for a few months without the ability to make a living means retirement or bankruptcy for many of them. I'm not talking about Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer or the top 50 players in the world, those players made enough money to be able to chill for a few months without the stress of day-to-day bill paying.

I'm talking about players ranked between 100-600, the so-called second-and-third-tier players—many of them are in a state of panic. It's not only the immediate reality of having zero income but still having bills to pay, it's also the uncertainty that surrounds the game that

paralyzes any effort to start training. It is very difficult to gather the energy to practice when you don't know when the sport will come back, let alone find an open court or club to play at.

One of the things that we realized as a society during the pandemic is the importance of competitive sports; the public is hungry for live sports and there are already new ideas floating around, one of them is Patrick Mouratoglou’s new league, which will offer fans live competitive matches between pros from the tour. The matches will be played at his academy and will be live streamed with a new interactive format that will include fans listening in on the player’s communication with their coaches. This new league will allow some mid-level pros to compete and make a living during the pause of the regular tour.

Tennis, like other popular sports, is still figuring out how to handle this new reality. It is unclear when the world will return to holding sporting

events in large stadiums. Events like the four major tournaments (or any other tour event for that matter) are a pandemic nightmare with thousands of people from all over the world flocking into a city, before leaving and going back to their respective cities.

At present, planes are parked empty in airports all over the world and until people resume traveling, there is a huge question mark for pro tennis. The game might need to reinvent itself.

Gilad Bloom, former Israeli Davis Cup player and two-time Olympian, played on the ATP Tour 1983-1995, reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 1990, reached a highest ranking of 61 in singles, was Israel Singles Champion three times. Bloom has been running his own tennis program since 2000 and also was director of tennis at John McEnroe Tennis Academy for two years. He can be reached by e-mail at Bloom.Gilad@Gmail.com.

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NEW YORK TENNIS MAGAZINE’S

J U N I O R P L AY E R S P O T L I G H T

BY BRIAN COLEMAN

C O O P E R W I L L I A M S A N D E VA N W E N DWIGHT GLOBAL ONLINE SCHOOL The last few months have seen us all adapt to a new normal, altering the way we typically do almost everything, including going grocery shopping, hanging out with friends and getting an education.

For students and teachers alike, transitioning from being in a physical classroom to a virtual one can be a difficult one. But for students at Dwight Global Online School, the online program of Dwight School based in New York City, no transition was required.

Dwight School has a rich history as a leading educator dating back nearly 150 years, and in 2014, it launched COOPER WILLIAMS Dwight Global, which has become a top destination for country in their respective age groups, and the country’s highly ranked junior tennis have found success both on and off the players looking for strong academics. court after choosing Dwight Global for their Two of those players reside right here in education. the tri-state area: Cooper Williams and Williams is a rising freshman from Evan Wen. Both are among the top in the 12

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

Greenwich, CT, who is the top-ranked player in the nation, according to TennisRecruiting.net. He just finished his second year in Dwight’s online program, and has compiled fantastic results in tournaments over the last year, including competing in ITF events in Austria, Belgium and Sweden in early 2020.

For someone who travels that far and for long periods of time during the school year, it’s imperative to have an academic program that fits your schedule.

“I used to commute to a private school in New York City. But as I started getting older and my tennis continued to get better, I started playing more tournaments that would be five days long as opposed to three days — it just wasn’t possible anymore,” said Williams. “I was accepted by Dwight and they have done a fantastic job of accommodating me,

especially when I started playing internationally. I’m able to reach out to my teachers at any time. There’s usually a time difference, so they allow me to switch my class times, if necessary. It’s just a really great program that is designed for every student.”

Wen, a rising junior and Morristown, NJ, native, echoed those sentiments. Wen is currently ranked 10th nationally and third in New Jersey, according to TennisRecruiting.net, and competed in multiple ITF events in Mexico earlier this year.

“Dwight Global allows you to reach out with times that you are available for classes and correlate those times with the teacher’s availability,” said Wen, who wrapped up his third year at Dwight this spring. “The scheduling is more attuned to when you’re available, as opposed to a strict schedule that the school puts in place.

Also, when you have to travel to a tournament, the teachers are understanding of the fact that you may need more time. There’s a chance you’ll fall behind and they help you work your way back into it. The teachers are so responsive; they’re just always so helpful and accommodating.”

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, schools and teachers everywhere were forced to adapt their normal in-class curriculum to a virtual one.

It was a difficult task for most, but because of Dwight School’s built-in structure and platform online, this was not an issue for Dwight Global students and teachers.

“I spoke to my teachers twice a day during the pandemic,” said Williams. “In general, the teachers are amazing and they make sure your priorities are their priorities.”

It’s been a strange few months for everyone; for two high-level tennis players, who are used to constant traveling and competing in tournaments on a weekly basis, the lack of matches has been a unique experience. But both have made sure to maintain their training during this

possible: training the same amount, getting the same amount of sleep, continuing to do fitness, etc. I’m using this time to develop weapons.

It’s a great time to start working on things, and focusing on the parts of my game that have room for improvement.

I’ve spent a lot of time working on my inside-out forehand — I love that shot. My forehand is one of my better shots, but I’ve been working on getting around the ball more and doing different games and drills to emphasize that. I’ve also done a lot of serve-plus-one drills. I like playing that style with quick points, dictating with my forehand and my serve. So just a few small areas that I want to add to my game have been my main focus.”

In May, Williams and his sisters, EVAN WEN Nathalie and Naomi, made their way south to continue their training, as mandated hiatus to ensure they will be they typically do every summer. ready when matches do return.

As we approach the fall, it is still uncertain Wen has established a core group of whether or not students will be going back players, all highly ranked, to hit with during to physical classrooms this coming school the pandemic — the sort of competition year. But that is not an issue for students that forces you to improve your game. who attend Dwight Global Online School, “This year, I found a really good home at who won’t miss a beat when the school year the John McEnroe Tennis Academy. starts up again.

They’ve been so helpful and I was starting Two of the best players in their respective to feel confident with my game again. Then age groups have chosen Dwight for their the quarantine hit and I wasn’t able to see education, both for its highly regarded the coaches I had been working with,” said academic programs, as well as its ability to Wen. “But I’m extremely lucky, because I complement the intense training and and three other players, guys in the Top 10 tournament schedules required to reach the in the nation, all live within 30 minutes of level each player is aspiring to. Dwight each other in New Jersey. We work it out Global also has a strong track record with so we sometimes hit one-on-one. If all four college placements. For example, a recent of us can get together, we play doubles.

Dwight Global graduate and Princeton It’s been great getting to play against this student, Karl Poling, was named the 2019 level of competition daily and I’ve been Ivy League Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Year. able to hone my skills working with these “Dwight Global is the best program for guys. We’re all high-level players, we all top junior tennis players who want to want to get better, and we’re all out here experience a world-class education,” said super-focused on the same goal.”

Dwight School Vice Chancellor and Captain For Williams, despite indoor sites being of the 1994 Columbia University Ivy League shut down, a court close enough to home Championship Tennis Team Dr. Blake enabled him to continue playing.

Spahn. “Dwight Global allows them to have “It’s in a reclusive area and we have full the academic experience of a New York City access to it,” he said. “I’ve been playing private school, while also providing the every day and making sure I’m doing my flexibility they need to achieve their goals in fitness as well. The last few months I’ve tennis. I wish we had this program at Dwight tried to keep everything as normal as when I was in high school!"

Photo credit: Your Game Face

NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Adult Tennis Class

By Andy Stuber Adult classes are getting very popular and are a great way for you to share the great sport of tennis with your peers. But, as coaches and instructors, how do you make the best out of your adult tennis class?

Preparation is everything Preparation starts early with good time management. Try to schedule your tennis activity for the week in advance. It will make you more relaxed and gives you a better opportunity to enjoy the class itself.

Give yourself enough travel time to get to the facility. This also allows you to cut loose from the hectic work day and change your mind set to focus on the more fun stuff. Getting to the facility early allows you to warm up and stretch your muscles. It might also allow you to have a quick chat with your instructor or with some of the other players beforehand. Your mind and muscles are now ready to play!

Stay consistent Let’s be realistic, taking just one adult tennis class per week will not make you a great tennis player. But at least it’s a good start, as long as you are staying consistent with it. Try to have your one “holy” tennis night. If there is a chance for you to raise the frequency, then add more classes.

Vary your training The more variety you bring into your program, the better you will play. Put some time into arranging a smart schedule. Ideally, you can plan a mix of technical, physical, as well as tactical and mental exercises. For the technical part, a one-on-one instruction is optimal, but an instructional group class with a low ratio 14

of players per court and instructor is good as well. For the physical part, cardio tennis classes are great. They increase your stamina on the court and improve your footwork. If you cannot arrange any cardio tennis sessions, you can also do tennis-specific exercises in the gym or just grab a jump rope. Jumping rope is one the best tools to improve your footwork on the court. For the tactical and mental parts, you should put time in playing points. Drill and plays are a great way to improve your tactics and match play. Additionally, you have to also find the time to play some competitive matches. Only a real match situation will give you true feedback about your tactical and mental levels of play.

Do not set too many goals at once Try not to be too ambitious going into a lesson or a match. Achieving one goal in a lesson is ideal and you should then be proud of yourself. Often, our problem is that we try to achieve too many goals at once, and are then frustrated when none of them have been accomplished.

Check the quality Good, experienced instructors and a good ratio are crucial and have to be taken in consideration when comparing different programs. Check coaches’ bios and try to find out some more about them from other people. A good coach is usually very energetic, inspiring and has good people skills. They will be able to adapt to each individual and make them a better player. The student to teacher ratio is important as well. It depends on the class. The lower the ratio, the more attention you will get from the coach. For an instructional group clinic, a good ratio is up to four students per coach; in a drill and play, up to six per coach; and in a cardio tennis class, up to eight per coach

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

to guarantee a good quality class experience.

Bond with your teacher The better you bond with your coach, the better your chances will be to optimize your improvement in the classes.

Teachers are human and respond very well to positive feedback occasionally.

Feed their ego and make them feel liked.

It’s okay to criticize them from time to time, and at times, even give them some negative feedback. Sticking to a limited amount of coaches allows for less confusion and improves your success.

Take the opportunity to socialize Playing tennis offers a huge opportunity to meet people, both on and off the court.

Throw yourself into the mix. Participate in a doubles mixer or in a league and you will find people who share in the same passion. This might not only lead to new friendships, but you might also find a great practice partner.

Find a club that offers a variety of programs Look out for a tennis center that offers a variety of classes. There should be a little bit of everything. This should include individual classes, instructional group clinics, drill and plays, cardio tennis classes, some social doubles and singles events, as well as some competitive opportunities for match play, such as singles leagues or adult tennis tournaments. As scheduling can be tricky, find a club that offers flexibility by offering packages and drop-in clinics.

Andy Stuber is the Adult Tennis Director and Tennis Program Director for Gotham Tennis Academy at Stadium Tennis Center. He can be reached at andy@gothamtennis.com.

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NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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From the Baseline to the Front Line:

Oksana Yakoff

By Scott Sode

he COVID-19 pandemic has produced much uncertainty across the country, but one thing it has unequivocally reaffirmed is our respect and adoration for the many officials and health care providers dedicating their lives to keeping others safe. USTA Eastern launched a series, “From the Baseline to the Front Line”, to honor members of the USTA Eastern community who also happen to belong to that heroic group.

Here, USTA Eastern, spoke with Oksana Yakoff (pictured above, left), mother of reigning Junior Orange Bowl Champion and USTA Eastern junior, Stephanie (center). Yakoff is a nurse at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, the epicenter of the outbreak in that state.

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What can you tell us about your experience working in a hospital during this epidemic? What should people know?

Yakoff: I am mostly working in the hospital office right now, but every day that I go in, I know that I might be needed on the floor. [As nurses] we’ve been taking care of a lot of different patients over the years [with different illnesses]. We knew how to protect ourselves, how to protect the patient.

But this situation is a little different.

There’s a shortage of protective gowns and masks. We are pushed to reuse all of that—it’s a little scary. The good thing is, the nurses are encouraging each other, the doctors are helping each other, area hospitals are helping each other. [When we initially heard about coronavirus], we were all told that it would affect the elderly. The reality is that there are a lot of younger people in the hospital. And it’s very painful to watch because I have kids around that age. 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds. I don’t 16

know why that’s happening. But this is what it is.

How can people help out?

Yakoff: People just have to follow the rules. Kids are home, and they have to stay home. Honestly, it’s a very difficult age to deal with this. They’d rather see friends and play outside. My husband and I were teenagers during Chernobyl in Ukraine, and we were not allowed to be outside for a long period of time then.

It was hard at that age not to see your friends. But with COVID-19, people can be asymptomatic the first couple days.

You don’t know if someone your kid is hanging around is going to become positive in two weeks. When they tell us to stay home, they say that because they know that this is the only way to stop the spread.

Your daughter Stephanie recently won Junior Orange Bowl and then came in third place at USTA National Winter Championships. What is she doing to keep active while at home?

Yakoff: The jump rope is Steffi’s best friend. I said, “Don’t break it because we

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

can’t go and buy another one—the stores aren’t open and only important stuff will get delivered.”

And how is she handling the break from the game?

Yakoff: Yesterday my daughter was baking. She was making brownies. She never bakes. I don’t bake. But she never had time. When these kids are competing, they’re either playing or going to school. She told me one of her [tennis] friends was doing the dishes, and I was like “Ooh, great idea!”

[Laughs]. They are all learning things that maybe they wouldn’t have learned due to the lifestyle. But when they get back on the court, they’ll be hungrier than ever to play. Steffi has been injured many times and has come back stronger than ever. Because she wanted to play, it’s just in her blood. Right now, though, the tennis stuff is locked in the closet.

Hopefully it will come out soon, but the priority is to take care of everybody, that’s it.

Scott Sode is the Manager of Content & Communications for USTA Eastern.

Coaching Spotlight Larri Passos Ross School Tennis Academy

By Brian Coleman

arlier this year, longtime tennis coach Larri Passos came up to New York to visit the Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) in East Hampton. Passos is one of the most famous tennis coaches from Brazil, and knew Vinicius Carmo, RSTA’s Director and fellow Brazilian, from his days as a junior player.

“I came here in January to visit them and I fell in love with the school,” said Passos. “I invited my family to come here.

My daughter is now a boarding student here, and she also fell in love with it, both the academic aspect and the tennis.”

That visit was prompted by a field trip that Carmo and several RSTA students took to Brazil last year. Carmo’s goal was to show the kids how the legendary coach taught his students, and Passos would reciprocate by making multiple trips to RSTA to teach week-long clinics last summer.

Now, Passos has joined RSTA as a consultant, and is bringing his decadeslong career of coaching and experience to the Academy’s players.

While he was a talented junior player in his own right, from an early age Passos felt a passion for coaching. After coaching at a club for more than a decade, Passos became a private coach and began working with fellow Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten beginning in 1990.

Under Passos’ tutelage, Kuerten would become the top-ranked player in the world and would win the French Open three times. Their coach-player relationship

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would last for nearly two decades, and Passos helped Kuerten become an International Tennis Hall of Famer.

“I think the best moment we had was in Lisbon, when he beat Pete Sampras in the semifinals and Andre Agassi in the finals,” said Passos, recalling the only time a player has beaten both Agassi and Sampras in the same tournament. “We both grew up in Brazil, and the dream was always to beat the European and American players. Also, months prior to that, in Miami, he had beaten Agassi in the semifinals but lost to Sampras in the finals.

Then he would beat both guys in Lisbon, and he became No. 1 in the world after that. It was fantastic.”

Based on his experience coaching the best player in the world and a multipletime Grand Slam winner, Passos knows top-level talent when he sees it. He carries that knowledge and keen eye to the junior players he coaches.

“I think I bring a lot of passion to the tennis court. And a big part of my concept is I teach young kids the same way I would teach the pros,” said Passos, who has also coaches Brazilian pro player Thomaz Bellucci. “When I’m teaching them drills or a technique, I tell them that ‘the pros play like this’. I always start first with the technique, then control, and then we go to the speed.”

Asked to name the trait that he looks for when trying to spot a talented young player: “If I see a player can read the ball well, that’s the first thing that tells me he or she

is a special player. If you can read the ball well, you can already see the next shot.

Kuerten understood that, his mind was so fast.”

Passos now brings his wealth of knowledge of the game from Brazil to the Hamptons, seeing similarities between his academy and the way RSTA operates.

“My program in Brazil was almost identical to the one here at RSTA,” he said.

“My players in the morning would go to school until about 11:30 in the morning, and then we would have our transportation pick them up and bring them to tennis. So to combine academics with tennis, I think RSTA is doing it the right way with this system. I hope we’re able to continue that and do even more. Your mind needs to be focused all the time, so it helps to do both together. And I love that this is the way RSTA runs its program.”

Currently a Resident of the United States, Passos plans to also get citizenship in the near future. He is excited for the next chapter in his tennis life, and hopes to have a strong impact on tennis players here in New York.

“I’m loving it here. I’m so proud. I’m hoping to become a citizen next year,” said Passos. “I’m so grateful that they’ve allowed me to come in here and use my experience to help their players. I’m very proud to be here, and hopefully I can do some good things for American tennis.”

Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He can be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.

NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Tennis Is More Than Sport, It’s Medicine

By Aki Wolfson I have taught tennis to people of all ages, from five-to-85-years-old, maybe even older, and one of my specialties is teaching wheelchair tennis. I am also Tournament Director for the annual Jana Hunsaker Wheelchair Tennis Tournament held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for 20 years, and would like to share with you stories of three courageous people who played tennis, where tennis became a form of medicine.

A college student who played tennis for his school had a tragic accident and became paralyzed where he ended up in a wheelchair for life. He is quadriplegic, which identifies players with limited mobility, power and strength in at least three limbs. His coach at the time wanted him to 18

continue playing tennis and introduced him to wheelchair tennis. He came to class in a motorized chair and was, understandably, quite distant. He explained he was right-handed and had very little mobility, but could grip with his left. I told him that he needs to get in a manual chair and tape his right hand to his racquet. He played each week and eventually he competed in the annual Jana Hunsaker Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, and he couldn’t believe that he was actually competing again. That was the first time I had seen him smile!

A woman was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis which is defined as chronic and a progressive disease which leads to damaging nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Since she learned about this, her world started to spiral down. She told me she had been an athlete all her life and to think now that she was wheelchair-bound, she

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

totally lost her will to live. When she discovered she could play tennis in a wheelchair, her outlook became bright.

Her first day in class, she was elated because she was sweating and couldn’t believe she was active again and playing a sport. She also came out each week to play and competed in my tournament. I had her playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium where she had a team of friends and relatives come watch her play. She told me that was the most memorable moment in her life and cried with joy.

A player in his 20s was paralyzed from a skiing accident. He did not think there was anything left to do when it came to sports and being active. When he discovered wheelchair tennis, he became obsessed with it and told me that he was determined to be a world class ITF open player and set that as his goal.

Out of all of my students that I have

encountered, there are numerous stories that have crossed my path on how tennis is almost like a source of medicine. Although tennis plays a significant recreational activity in individuals with disabilities, tennis is a sport that any person can enjoy. It can be a placebo for that adult who had a horrible day at work, a depressant for a teen with anxiety, and therapy for those who are wretched. Over years of observation, tennis has been found to be a source of entertainment and relief.

Based on studies, prior knowledge, my personal experience, research, and actual people I’ve dealt with, tennis is not only a sport, but also a drug that I would highly recommend. As an example, if one of my students needed to unleash his or her anxiety, it could easily be done by whacking a tennis ball as well as having a fantastic lesson. Their stress slowly starts to seep out in sweat and eventually melt into a restful night’s sleep at the end of the day. It can be for that five-year-old who is having the time of her life

playing “fruit salad”. Wait a minute, what kind of stress would a five-yearold carry? It could be a medicine for that child’s parent who just had a stressful day. Watching her child having a great time just helps relieve stress. It can be for the teen that has received a grade unsatisfactory to their standards and took a lesson on how to hit a backhand slice. They try and try until finally, they hit a razorblade slice and exclaims, “Coach, did you see that!?”

It’s also for that senior, who instead of channel flipping at home watching Jeopardy thinking that this would exercise the mind, goes out and plays tennis. Any individual would feel active with tennis and would have a phenomenal time socializing with their friends and family.

Overall, tennis is a sport that could be utilized as a sport, a source of relief, a source of joy, a source of entertainment, and a piece of any individual’s livelihood. Tennis is a sport that is both anaerobic as well as

aerobic, which is essential to the physical well-being of an individual.

Tennis has also proven to be a therapeutic sport that is vital towards the mental health of any individual that picks up a tennis racquet and plays.

Whether it is hours, days, or years of playing, tennis could make an immense impact on the life of people in any condition, and from any walk of life. I hope that this article made you think a little bit deeper about tennis and how sports can have a significant impact in our lives.

Aki Wolfson is a USPTA-certified Tennis Professional and USPTA Wheelchair Tennis Professional who has taught at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for 25 years. She is the Tournament Director of the Jana Hunsaker Memorial Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, a role she has held for the last 19 years. She is the proud mother of two children, and when she isn’t teaching tennis, is an artist who specializes in ceramic sculptures.

NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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MY THBUSTER S

The Differences Between NCAA Divisions I, II and III

BY RICKY BECKER

By Ricky Becker Division I, II or III? What is the difference? What is the lifestyle? What is right for me? One thing people are surprised about is that the top teams in a lower division would beat a LOT of the lower teams in a higher division. I asked three people I work with, who are currently playing or just graduated, their thoughts on their Division and to provide some insight into the experience for juniors considering college tennis.

Amanda Foo Division I Stony Brook University Full-Time Starter Growing up as a kid, playing Division I tennis has always been my goal. I’ve always dreamed of having the privilege of playing tennis at the highest collegiate level possible and competing against the premier teams. Stony Brook University made that happen. The competition was similar to playing a Super Six every weekend…intense and competitive. I got to play against top tier schools and world 20

renowned colleges such as Harvard & Yale, and I enjoyed feeling like I was playing the best that college tennis had to offer. We travelled across the country for some of our matches and would leave campus early in the week, while classes were still in session. The purpose of this was to have time to practice at our away court to prepare us for our matches throughout the weekend. With these long road trips, a lot of time and energy was spent communicating and meeting with my professors ahead of time to plan logistics since I had to miss a lot of lectures and exams. The result of this was that I often had to take exams at an earlier date than my classmates, and there wasn’t as much time to study.

Since athletics is such a high priority and players are given scholarships, it takes a lot of effort to be able to balance both as well as you can. There are advantages to being a Division I Varsity athlete though.

While they vary from school to school, one of the benefits of being an athlete at Stony Brook was getting priority class registration over the general student body (an extremely valuable perk). My college put a huge premium on fitness and weight training which arguably can wear college athletes down. We had to wake up as early as 5:00 a.m. and train three-to-five hours a day. From there I would go to physical

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

therapy and then straight to class for the rest of the day which, for me, put myself at a disadvantage academically compared to the general student population. There were times that I would rather have athletics take a back seat to academics.

Although I sometimes felt that I was overtraining, I really enjoyed traveling and playing matches. I am so happy I had the privilege to see what D1 tennis was all about.

Bruno Faletto Division II St. Leo’s University All-American and National Freshman of the Year Division II is often overlooked as a college tennis option. I feel that the generalized view is that every Division I team is better than every Division II team and that is why those schools are Division II. However, the true factors that determine what division a school competes in are infrastructure, sponsors and the size of the school. Of course, this doesn’t always correlate to athletic ability. Especially in sports like tennis where there is not as much money invested in and revenue generated for the

respective college. In many of the bigger sports there remains a big talent gap between Division I and Division II, especially sports that receive large television exposure. For tennis though, this is not the case.

A lot of top players play at a Division II school because D2 has less strict eligibility requirements for those who have tried playing professional tennis. Division I only allows students to have a previous "professional experience" of a maximum of three months after graduating from high school, while D2 allows students a fullyear of pro tennis after high school.

Because of this, some players who would have a major impact on a Division I roster are “relegated” to Division II. In my opinion, the Top 10 tennis teams in D2 would probably be inside the Top 40 in D1.

What D2 lacks compared to Division I is the depth of talent after the top teams and players. Additionally, while there are scholarships available to student-athletes, they are not as abundant. However, in international sports such as tennis or soccer, the talent gap between the top D1 and D2 universities can be very minimal since many strong international players in these sports simply do not qualify for Division I eligibility-wise, even though these athletes might qualify skill-wise.

In my opinion, the differences between a D1 and D2 university in the academic realm are minimal, and students can have that "college experience" at either.

Raj Vohra Division III Brandeis University 2020-21 Co-Captain College tennis has always been regarded as a sport of high endurance and mental toughness. As the sport grows in recognition, competition has grown stronger and divisions have become a lot tougher. More and more top high school prospects are choosing Division III tennis and teams are filling up with strong 4-and-5-Star players. Division IlI tennis athletes not only compete at a high level, but have a college experience that is well-rounded, both academically and socially. Unlike some Division l and Division ll teams, tennis is not the first priority. Athletes are pushed both on and off the court in order to pursue their academic dreams as well as their athletic ones. In fact, the commitment to Division III tennis is quite manageable and athletes can still belong to three-to-four academic clubs, and take a rigorous course schedule without feeling overwhelmed.

Additionally, competition among the Top 15 Division III schools has grown dramatically in the last few years. Each recruiting class seems to be stronger than the year prior due to the fact that more parents and students are recognizing the

added academic benefits of a Division III program. In fact, Top Division III schools like Emory, University of Chicago and Brandeis can compete with the higher ranked schools in Division II and midranked Division I schools.

It is important for athletes to manage their expectations while choosing their future school and career. In fact, there are 195 countries in the world, all of which have similar tennis programs to the United States. Athletes that are not ranked in the Top 10 in the nation should choose schools based upon academic fit and potential future careers rather than pursue the path of professional tennis.

Division III offers that opportunity and still allows ample time to network and have a strong social presence on campus.

Therefore, I believe that the popularity of Division III tennis will rise in the upcoming years.

Ricky Becker is The Director of Tennis at the prestigious Pine Hollow Country Club for his ninth year, coaches highperformance juniors throughout the year and has been the Director of Tennis at three of Long Island’s biggest junior programs. As a player, Becker was the Most Valuable Player for the 1996 NCAA Championship Stanford Tennis Team and was ranked top-five nationally as a junior player. He can be reached at rbecker06@yahoo.com, 516-359-4843 or via juniortennisconsulting.com.

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New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

www.westhamptonbeachtennis.com

USTA-U

College Course Returns This Fall If you are interested in a career in the tennis industry or in advancing your career in that industry, you should take a close look at what Queens College-CUNY is offering.

On November 2, and running through mid-February, the USTA/Queens CollegeCUNY Professional Tennis Management will commence its’ second semester. This adult education certificate program consists of three semesters and includes online and Monday evening classroom learning, on-court workshops, experiential learning with internships and guidance for job placement. There are two tracks: a coaching track for tennis pros and a management track for those seeking offcourt careers. A student may enroll at the start of any one of the semesters, and will secure their certificate after successful completion of all three.

The tuition cost is $1,575 per semester.

A major new feature this fall will be the incorporation of remote learning for a limited number of students for whom classroom attendance is not feasible. All students will be required to attend, in person, a two-day weekend tennis workshop, but may otherwise attend via a Zoom classroom.

The program is directed by Skip Hartman and features as its’ primary lecturer Robert Friedman of Stress Solutions, Inc., a nationally respected lecturer on management techniques and issues. Hartman has been an owner/developer of tennis facilities and programs in the New York City area for many years.

In the first semester, the students completed 33 hours of USTA modules on a variety of subjects including coaching youth tennis, tournament planning, high school tennis, racquet services, entry

level coaching, Net Generation, player standards, communication, and large groups and teams. A similar number of online study hours and USTA modules will be required in the second semester.

With respect to the lecture sessions, the inaugural class completed successfully on Monday evenings a 13session first semester from February-May 2020. The classes were held at the Queens College Campus until the middle of March when the virus Shutdowns resulted in the balance of the classes being delivered remotely via Zoom.

Friedman delivered 10 different threehour sessions on personal development.

This fall, he will focus on Customer Service. His sessions will cover basic service skills, communication skills, listening skills, anger management, time management, accountability, dealing with difficult situations, and generational and cultural differences among customers.

In the first semester, Hartman covered, in three sessions, various tennis management subjects including starting a business, managing to a business plan, leveraging your assets, and strategic alliances. This fall, the course will cover facility development, construction and maintenance, and technology in tennis operations.

There will be guest lecturers to be determined. Hartman noted that he had planned to have guest lecturers in the first semester but the virus disruption made that plan difficult.

A person may enroll at any time until November 1. For more information, or to enroll, contact Diane Gahagan, the Director of Professional and Continuing Studies at Queens College at diane.gahayan@qc.cuny.edu, check out www.qc.cuny.edu/pcs, or contact Skip Hartman at skiphartman@aol.com or call him at 646-884-9647.

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Serenity Six-Time Champion Serena Williams Headlines 2020 U.S. Open

By Brian Coleman

ore than two decades ago, Serena Williams made history in New York City.

Just 17-years-old at the time, Williams overcame a nearly impossible draw to win the U.S. Open and hoist her first Grand Slam title.

In doing so, she became the first African-American woman to win a major in the Open Era, and the first African-American winner of the U.S. Open since Althea Gibson in 1958.

“It’s really amazing for me to even have an opportunity to be compared to a player as great as Althea Gibson,” she said at the time. “One of her best friends told me she wanted to see another African-American win a Slam before her time is up. I’m excited I had a chance to accomplish that while she’s still alive.”

While Serena was already a phenom, still a teenager and already one of the best players in the world, the title ascended her to another level of star, and cemented her spot in U.S. Open lore.

“I always said I was going to win a Grand Slam, and next thing I know, I’d won, beating the No. 1 player in the world,” Williams told GQ Magazine in 2018, referring to Martina Hingis whom she defeated 6-3, 7-6(4) in the finals. “Hingis was really dominating everyone at that time, so I was glad to get that one.”

Hingis was the final victory in a dominating two-week showing by Williams who, from the Round of 16 through the championship match, defeated four players in a row who were already Grand Slam champions at the time: Conchita Martinez, Monica Seles, Lindsey Davenport and Hingis. Not to mention defeating a future multiple Grand Slam winner Kim Clijsters in the third-round.

Richard Williams, the family patriarch who famously coached both Serena and Venus ever since they were little girls, couldn’t be happier: “This is my proudest moment—I’m so proud,” he said of the family’s first U.S. Open championship (Venus, Serena’s older sister, would win the event the following year in 2000). “Words cannot express how I’m feeling. Everything flashed back during the match.”

It would take her until the 2002 French Open to win her next major title, but then begun the era of Serena Williams. Following her triumph at Roland Garros, she won Wimbledon and then her second U.S. Open title to finish out 2002, and began 2003

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continued on page 30 28

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Photo credit: NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine 29 EPIX

serenity continued from page 28 with an Australian Open title to complete the “Serena Slam” and the rest, as they say, is history.

Twenty-one years and 22 more major titles after she held court in Queens in 1999, the 38-year-old Williams remains a constant threat to win the U.S. Open year in and year out. And as we approach the start of the 2020 U.S. Open, perhaps the most unique installment in the event’s history, she is ready for what looks to be a long fortnight in New York City.

With the surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States, many of tennis’ biggest names expressed concern over coming stateside to compete in this year’s second major. But the tournament got the biggest endorsement when, during the event’s official press conference, Williams exclaimed how excited she was that the tournament was going to be played, and committed to it right then and there.

“This announcement has been on my mind all day. Ultimately, I really cannot wait to return to New York and play the U.S. Open,” she said. “I feel like the USTA is going to do a really good job of ensuring everything is amazing, and everyone is safe.

It’s going to be exciting. It’s been over six months since a lot of us have played professional tennis. I’ll certainly miss the fans, don’t get me wrong. Just being out there in the New York crowd hearing everyone cheer, I’ll miss that…[But] this is crazy. I’m excited.”

Williams mentioned the long layoff that professional tennis players have had in between competitive tournaments, and she has made sure to keep herself busy during these off-months. Most recently, her husband Alexis Ohanion and even the couple’s daughter, Alexis Olympia, were part of a large investment group that will be bringing a professional women’s soccer team to Los Angeles in 2022. That investment group includes prominent actors Natalie Portman, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria, as well as former soccer stars Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy.

"I am proud to be a part of this wonderful group working to bring a women's 30

Photo credit: USTA

professional football club to Los Angeles," said Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian said in a statement. "Chiefly, because I'm a fan of the game, but also because I believe there is massive potential for the sport and it's been undervalued by too many people for far too long. As someone who spends hours kicking around a football with my two-year-old daughter, I want her to have a front-row seat to this revolution. I'm personally investing on behalf of my family because creating more opportunities in women's sports is important to my wife and me, and we want to be a part of making a better future for our daughter."

Williams has long been a strong voice for equality in the United States, whether that be for pay equality between men and women or the racial injustices that we still see occur. That has only been enhanced this summer with countless protests taking place across the nation, and Williams continues to lend her voice and powerful status to the causes she feels strongly about. That expects to remain constant as we move through the U.S. Open and beyond.

“I can’t and still can’t find the words to say or express how sad I feel.... but she found them for me,” she posted on Instagram, sharing a video of a little girl speaking about inequality. “She found them

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

for so many of us. A lot of us are numb... lost for words... I know I am. This is a difficult time. A lot of us growing up were taught to pray, ‘Let thy kingdom come,’ this is what I continue to pray for in addition to so many that have been hurt/killed, or simply traumatized by how people of a different color are treated. The worst part is this is nothing new, ‘it’s just filmed.’ I’m with a heavy heart.

I’m lost for words.”

Williams’ outspoken voice means a lot to so many people, and that expects to remain constant as we move through the U.S. Open and beyond, where you can expect her to continue advocating for the causes she believes in.

She will arrive in New York in search of her seventh U.S. Open crown and her 24th major overall. Williams finds herself currently ranked ninth in the world, and with the significant variable of not knowing who will make up the rest of the field, the legend can be considered the tournament’s favorite.

The Queen of Queens has made countless memories inside Arthur Ashe Stadium throughout her career, and she will look to add some more memories in the late New York City summer.

Brian Coleman is senior editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by email at BrianC@USPTennis.com.

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Photo credit: USTA

comeback complete continued from page 20

A Tournament Like Never Before

2020 U.S. Open has already secured its place in history books t’s cliché and has been said countless times already, but 2020 has been a year unlike any other. The world finds itself in unprecedented times due to the global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus, the effects of which can be felt in every aspect of our daily lives. From a basic trip to the grocery store to visiting family, there is hardly anything normal about the “new normal”, which is why this year’s U.S. Open will be different than all the rest.

While the tennis tours were put on hold beginning with Indian Wells back in March, the USTA began planning a way to hold the event ontime starting in late-August, examining an array of creative solutions to make it work. In the end, the USTA announced that the tournament would be played, but without fans, and the Western & Southern Open, normally held in Cincinnati, would also be played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the week prior to the start of the U.S. Open.

“We are incredibly excited that Governor Cuomo and New York State have today approved our plan to host the 2020 U.S. Open and 2020 Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center,” said USTA CEO & Executive Director Mike Dowse.

“We recognize the tremendous responsibility of hosting one of the first global sporting events in these challenging times, and we will do so in the safest manner possible, mitigating all potential risks. We now can give fans around the world the chance to watch tennis’ top athletes compete for a U.S. Open title, and we can showcase tennis as the ideal social distancing sport. Being able to hold these events in 2020 is a boost for the City of New York and the entire tennis landscape.”

It was welcome news for both the local tennis community, and the tennis world as a whole. There have been numerous exhibition events

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a tournament like never before continued from page 32 held around the globe, but there is a strong appetite for top-flight competition on the biggest stage.

“Of course, holding the 2020 U.S. Open will be good for our sport at every level of the game,” said USTA Immediate Past President Katrina Adams. “Playing the Open will once again shine a spotlight on tennis, and get people excited about playing our safe and healthy sport for themselves. It will also allow the USTA to generate important income to invest in growing the game’s grassroots efforts in local communities all across the U.S. For all those reasons, we are thrilled that the U.S. Open in 2020 will be happening. That’s fantastic news.”

At the press conference to officially announce the event would be happening, Adams and Dowse, along with new tournament director Stacey Allaster and NCAA chief medical officer Dr. Brian Hainline, the panel discussed the many steps and factors it considered when deciding on if, and how, to host this year’s U.S. Open.

They laid out three guiding principles, the first of which was can the tournament be played safely, both for the players and all the staff involved. The second principle was whether or not hosting the tournament would be in the best interest of tennis.

And the third, as Adams said: “Our third guiding principle has been: Does this make financial sense both for the players and for the USTA. I can say that our team looked at a dozen different options on how do we best address these three guiding principles. I can say, and I’m excited to say, the combination of the Western & Southern Open and the U.S. Open here in New York checked all three of those boxes unequivocally.”

Dr. Hainline discussed the safety protocols that will be in place, and emphasized that tennis may be the most ideal social distancing sport.

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“It’s also good for society because sport is an essential aspect of who we are as human beings. Sport does bring us health and well-being. Even to watch sport, it brings us so much pleasure,” said Hainline. “The particulars of bringing back sport for the Western & Southern Open and for the U.S. Open, we really conceptualized that we have different bubbles, we call them tiers. Tier I are the Photo credit: USTA/Jennifer Pottheiser players, and all of those who have very close contact with Open champion. “I feel like the USTA is the players. They will stay in a protected going to do a really good job of ensuring bubble. Upon arrival they will all be everything is amazing and evening is tested, this is with the preliminary chain perfect and everyone is safe. It’s going to reaction test. That testing will be be exciting. It’s been over six months repeated at regular intervals, and there since a lot of us have played professional are strategies in place.” tennis.

So the stage is set for the 2020 U.S. I’ll certainly miss the fans, don’t get me Open, and it will certainly be like no other wrong. Just being out there in the New tournament before. And while that stage York crowd, hearing everyone cheer, I’ll will be without an in-person audience, miss that, getting me through some of there will be a worldwide one watching on those tough matches. [But] this is crazy. their televisions, tablets and computers.

I’m excited.”

There were questions from many top There remains some skepticism from players in both men’s and women’s some of Europe and Australia’s top tennis that raised concerns about the players, a list that includes Novak procedures, especially when the United Djokovic, Dominic Thiem, Simona Halep States is seeing another rise in COVID-19 and Nick Kyrgios. There is hope that all the cases across the country. But the world’s best will be in attendance for the tournament got arguably the biggest U.S. Open, but the player field will be endorsement it could when American finalized as we move closer to the Serena Williams announced via video tournament’s start. that she is committed to playing in “We know and we respect that all Queens. athletes are going to need to make this “This announcement has been on my decision on their own,” said Allaster. mind all day. Ultimately I really cannot “There are a lot of questions…there will be wait to return to New York and play the ongoing conversations with athletes to 2020 U.S. Open,” said the six-time US help them understand the plan, and then

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

some will ultimately make their own decision, just as they always do. We are confident that we have a lot of players who want to compete.”

While the full player field remains to be seen, the sports world and local community here in New York are thrilled that the U.S. Open will be played on time.

It’s disappointing not to have fans, as the energetic nature of the New York crowd creates an environment not seen anywhere else in the tennis world, but it’s exciting nonetheless, and will hopefully bring an added sense of normalcy to a year that has been anything but.

The action inside the National Tennis Center bubble begins with the Western & Southern Open running from August 2028, leading into the 2020 U.S. Open which begins on August 31.

Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.

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What to Watch For At The 2020 U.S. Open How Will No Fans Affect the Players?

The 2020 U.S. Open will go ahead with no fans, which should create a unique atmosphere for the players inside the bubble at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Players are used to having fans watching their matches, and for the players competing on the big show courts, like Grandstand, Louis Armstrong Stadium and Arthur Ashe Stadium, having no people in those seats will be a strange site. Similarly to how a basketball player could be affected shooting at a hoop in an arena with no fans, this presents a challenge to the tennis players. Even on the side courts, where fans normally flock, limited noise and no people will be a new way to play tennis for many of these players.

Will Circumstances Open Door for New Champions?

It remains to be seen which players will fill out the draws for this year’s U.S. Open, with many high-ranked players expressing doubt or raising concerns about coming to New York. The list ranges from Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, to Simona Halep and Bianca Andreescu. Roger

Federer already announced he will miss the rest of the year with an injury, and thus this could be a tournament that plays host to a new major champion. The unique situation surrounding the tournament means that there will likely be a new Grand Slam winner, perhaps perennial Top 10 players on the verge of a breakthrough such as Alexander Zverev or Elina Svitolina, could have their moment in Queens.

Will Players Adhere to Quarantine Protocols?

During the event, the USTA will be instituting strict health and safety protocols that the players must adhere to. This includes regular temperature checks and tests, but it will also depend on players sticking to the quarantine and not leaving the proverbial bubble. Players are only allowed at their hotel or house and at the court, which could present a problem for some players looking to do some New York City exploring. Normally, the players take advantage of the multiple-week stay in the “city that never sleeps”, doing sight-seeing, going shopping, going out to eat and more, all things they will not be allowed to do this time around. With everything going on in

the world, this should not be an issue, and as Long Island native and ATP Tour professional Noah Rubin said: “If you have the opportunity to make four million dollars, you stay in the bubble and shut up. If you have the ability to make this money during a pandemic—we are putting this on during a pandemic—shut up.”

Wheelchair Tournament to Be Held The 2020 U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Competition will be held in its traditional place on the U.S. Open calendar at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The tournament will run from September 10-13.

This decision was made following multiple virtual meetings with a group of wheelchair athletes and the International Tennis Federation over the last week. The 2020 U.S. Open Wheelchair Competition will feature men’s and women’s singles and doubles events and quad singles and doubles events, all with draw sizes similar to past U.S. Opens.

Wheelchair athletes will follow the same health and safety procedures as all players participating in the U.S. Open and will be able to access the USTA Billie Jean King

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New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

National Tennis Center beginning on September 7.

Originally, the U.S. Open was going to go ahead without the wheelchair event, but after backlash from top-ranked Dylan Alcott, as well as support from some of the game’s top players on the men’s and women’s side, the USTA made the decision to host the wheelchair event.

“Big thanks to the U.S. Open for reversing their decision—now allowing wheelchair players to compete at the 2020 Open,” Alcott said on Twitter. “And most importantly thanks to you reading this for supporting us and sharing the message—you made this happen. The decision of not allowing us to compete, without communication or consideration, was bigger than tennis…You

cannot be treated differently because of your gender, race, religion or disability. This is a massive sign of progress for our community, and I appreciate all your help. I know there is a lot going on in the world at the moment, and the tournament might not even go ahead, but at least now we have the same right as our able bodied counterparts—like we deserve.”

2020 U.S. Open Schedule Day

Time

Matches Scheduled

Monday, August 31

11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 1

Monday, August 31

7:00 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 1

Tuesday, September 1

11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 1

Tuesday, September 1

7:00 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 1

Wednesday, September 2

11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 2

Wednesday, September 2

7:00 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 2

Thursday, September 3

11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 2

Thursday, September 3

7:00 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 2

Friday, September 4

11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 3

Friday, September 4

7:00 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 3

Saturday, September 5

11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 3

Saturday, September 5

7:00 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round 3

Sunday, September 6

11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round of 16

Sunday, September 6

7:00 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round of 16

Monday, September 7

11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round of 16

Monday, September 7

7:00 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Round of 16

Tuesday, September 8

11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals

Tuesday, September 8

7:00 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals

Wednesday, September 9

11:00 a.m.

Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals

Wednesday, September 9

7:00 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals

Thursday, September 10

7:00 p.m.

Women’s Semifinals

Friday, September 11

12:00 p.m.

Men’s Doubles Final

Friday, September 11

4:00 p.m.

Men’s Semifinals

Saturday, September 12

12:00 p.m.

Mixed Doubles Final

Saturday, September 12

4:00 p.m.

Women’s Final

Sunday, September 13

1:00 p.m.

Women’s Doubles Final

Sunday, September 13

4:00 p.m.

Men’s Final NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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USTA Eastern Named Player Development Section of the Year he USTA Eastern Section was named the 2019 Team USA Player Development Section of the Year by the United States Tennis Association. In its press release announcing all the year’s award winners, the USTA stated: “USTA Eastern has developed one of the strongest junior pipelines in the nation and has created incredible opportunities for junior competition. A number of USTA Eastern juniors had success at Grand Slam events in 2019, including Eliot Spizzirri (Greenwich, Conn.), who captured the boys’ doubles title at the US Open, Alexa Noel (Summit, N.J.), who made the Wimbledon girls’ singles final, and Cannon Kingsley (Northport, N.Y.), who reached the boys’ singles quarterfinals and doubles final at the Australian Open and the US Open boys’ singles

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semifinals. Eleven other USTA Eastern athletes participated in the 2019 US Open, headlined by Kristie Ahn (Upper Saddle River, N.J.), who reached the fourth round. Further, 15 Eastern juniors scored top results at national championships in 2019, with 11 capturing gold ball tournaments, including Stephanie Yakoff, who won the Junior Orange Bowl and also reached the Easter Bowl semifinals and Clay Court Finals in the Girls’ 14s division.

Last year, Eastern held 16 Early Development Camps under the direction of Richard Bowie, Todd Doran, Alex Cole, Sasha Bluestone and Kat Sevcikova, and 40 Eastern players received the opportunity to attend two Team USA Camps. The department also organized the second installment of the Big Apple International Cup, a team

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

tournament that has top 12- and 14and-under squads from Israel, Mexico, Spain and other countries across the globe facing off against each other.

'The Eastern Section always has a steady stream of players performing throughout the whole pathway, from top juniors nationally to the international level, and this showed in 2019,' said Johnny Parkes, Senior Manager, Player ID and Development. 'The Section exudes professionalism, dedication and commitment as they provide supplemental training and competitive opportunities for players, coaches and parents. A big congratulations to [Senior Director of Competition] Julie Bliss Beal and the entire Eastern Section for their support of the coaches, parents and players throughout the section as they work together developing players at every level of the pathway.'"

Tennis Bubbles:

A Grand Slam Victory Over the Elements Trying to figure out a way to maintain your tennis training momentum throughout the offseason? Indoor tennis is a lot more viable than you might think. New York’s harsh winters make outdoor tennis strictly a seasonal sport—unless you can move it indoors.

And while indoor tennis may seem like an expensive luxury, The Farley Group keeps the game going year-round by manufacturing, installing and maintaining tennis bubbles. Bubbles are the ideal solution for indoor tennis— both economically and practically.

Tennis has always been a big deal in New York, which has driven the demand for indoor playing spaces for several decades now. With more than 20 bubbles in New York City and the Long Island area, Farley tennis bubbles have helped solidify New York as one of the top places to train and develop tennis talent. By providing a way to train throughout the winter, tennis becomes much more accessible to those that don’t have the means or desire to travel south for the winter.

Compared to other construction methods, bubbles have a relatively short history. Bubbles first made appearances in North America in the early 1970s, and have since evolved into a top solution for sports like tennis.

Ralph Farley, founder of The Farley Group, saw how well the concept worked in Europe, and brought it back with him more than 40 years ago. Since then, The Farley Group has built dozens

of tennis bubbles around the world.

Stepping into a tennis bubble for the first time can be awe-inspiring. No other structure can provide as much space without any support beams or walls. It’s almost counter-intuitive at first sight: “What’s holding up the roof?”

Intriguingly, bubbles require nothing but air to do that. Fresh, filtered and conditioned air flows in, giving the bubble its rounded shape, protecting the playing surface and players underneath.

A wonderful added benefit is that tennis bubbles can be either seasonal

or permanent. Permanent bubbles have the advantage of full protection from the weather throughout the year—cold and snow during the winter, and rain or high winds in the summer—while seasonal domes can go up in the fall and come down in the spring. They represent the perfect solution for outdoor courts.

And best of all? Tennis bubbles can be installed for a fraction of what other indoor tennis courts cost.

To learn more about how Farley tennis bubbles can help your club members practice their swing 365 days a year, visit or call (888) 445-3223.

NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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Why Traditional Spanish Methods and Philosophies Are Important For Junior Development

By Chris Lewit he modern pro game is typified by shorter rallies and explosive, aggressive tennis. Huge serves and dominating returns are the norm. Rally length data promoted by analysts like Craig O’Shannessy have supported the concept of aggressive first-strike tennis at the top of the game.

However, while the pro game is evolving its explosive style, juniors in development need to learn fundamentals of movement and a solid base of consistency. They need to learn a complete game—not just attack—but grinding and defense too. Moreover, they need to learn how to accelerate the racquet with control.

The Spanish Method, in the tradition of legendary coaches like William Pato Alvarez and Lluis Bruguera, offers an approach and philosophy that is the ideal training system for building the important concepts mentioned above for young players.

T

Movement Teaching great movement is an obsession in Spain. Spanish coaches 40

love to work on the positioning of the body, the footwork of a player, and stability and balance on the move.

When players focus too early on attacking and hitting big shots, they neglect their movement development.

Footwork can suffer. Reaction and reading the ball are not trained enough.

Fast court indoor tennis in the Northeast makes it very difficult to develop solid movers because of the speed of the courts and the quick tempo of the points.

I spent a fortune building European style red clay courts at my club in Manchester, Vermont. Why? Because I wanted slow courts to train my players on. I wanted them to learn how to adjust to the incoming ball, rally, defend and build a tactical game plan. On fast indoor courts, these qualities are often bypassed by players seeking only one objective: power!

In New York, I train players on clay as well. The slippery surface challenges the balance of my students. There are bad bounces that challenge the eyes, hands, and feet, and force the players to make quick adjustments. After a few years on clay, my students become more agile. I teach them how to slide.

They become more balanced and

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

adaptable. They learn to run and position their bodies well to receive and send the ball optimally. These aspects can be lost when training mostly on fast courts and with a firststrike only philosophy.

Consistency Spain has an obsession with being steady and consistent. They believe that control is a priority in junior development. Too often, I don’t see this as a priority for kids in the US, especially in the Northeast. Control means you can hit targets consistently.

Control means you can rally 10 or 20 balls in a row with accuracy. Control means you hit with balance and without exaggerated body movements. Control means you have the stamina, patience and focus to keep the ball in play as long as it takes to win the point.

These basic values are often nonexistent with juniors that I see coming out of most clubs in the area. In addition, patient and steady players are often demeaned and derided as “pushers” in the US. They don’t have this word in Spain, but being labeled “steady” there is the highest honor a player could have—not a scarlet letter.

Now I’m not suggesting that pushing is

good (see the topic below on ‘Acceleration’), but at least pushers understand the basic building blocks of tennis are running and getting the ball in play. Making fewer errors often wins matches at all levels of the game. In Spain, to make few errors is a great attribute and highly lauded.

Defense In the US, I see few players who are proud of their defense and counterpunching skills. Players will jump to play attacking the net games, but they don’t relish passing shot or defending games. Players want to serve all the time but rarely work on their return. Many juniors spend entire careers without learning how to back up in the court, how to neutralize attacking shots, and how to survive in uncomfortable places on the court.

In Spain, all the juniors learn these skills. They love to suffer and run. They love to extend rallies, not shorten them. They take great pride in defending, not just attacking. It’s a very healthy approach to junior development to value and prioritize defense and attack equally. Rarely do I have a junior come to me from the US who likes to play a defending game or “no winners” game. In our country, kids are obsessed with hitting winners.

Analysts like O’Shannessy really do a disservice to junior development by suggesting that juniors should train primarily the first four shots rather than learning to control the ball in long rallies. Young kids need to learn to be solid and consistent. Then as they grow older they can develop their weapons and first-strike capabilities.

Too many coaches and juniors want to skip stages and jump to the pro style of aggression without first building the solid base. It’s like building a house on a weak foundation of sand.

Acceleration Spanish coaches are obsessed with developing acceleration—racquet head speed. Before studying in Spain, I had never seen a system that addressed this area of technical development. The racquet head speed is not just

important for power, but also for generating spin. RPM is a big priority in Spain, especially on the forehand weapon, but also on the backhand.

Most Spanish coaches have a toolbox of exercises that they use to build acceleration and most of them come from the genius mind of Bruguera. The Bruguera Method has the most famous drills in Spain for developing racquet head speed.

In the US, racquet head speed seems to be something people believe is inherited, not trained. Some hit the ball big but often flat and with a stiff arm.

Some kids push without accelerating. I make a great living helping juniors from all over the US develop whip and elasticity on their groundstrokes. I have seen countless juniors with stiff arms and flat strokes who are not utilizing their body mechanics optimally to produce power and spin.

Conclusion In my academy in Manchester, and with my students in NY, I stress these important foundational Spanish elements: l Movement l Consistency l Defense l Acceleration As players develop and get older, first-strike becomes important, but I will

never progress students along without ensuring that their foundation of great movement, consistency, defense, and acceleration are well refined.

From my perspective, this step-bystep approach to junior development is a better way to build a complete player who is solid from the ground and makes few errors, but still has weapons to attack. Too often, especially in the Northeastern US, I see juniors who want to play like the pros do, but haven’t spent the time learning to be solid first. They haven’t developed their movement skills.

They can’t defend. And their acceleration is wild. This is a big mistake that parents, coaches and players would be wise to avoid.

Chris Lewit, a former number one for Cornell and pro circuit player, coaches in the New York City area and also runs a high-performance boarding summer camp in Southern Vermont. He specializes in training aspiring junior tournament players using progressive Spanish and European training methods. His best-selling book, Secrets of Spanish Tennis, has helped coaches and players worldwide learn how to train the Spanish way. He may be reached by phone at (914) 4622912, e-mail ChrisLewit@gmail.com or visit ChrisLewit.com.

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41

The Tennis Guru: The Ring

By Dr. Tom Ferraro This article is the fourth part of Dr. Ferraro’s series, The Tennis Guru. To read the first three parts, visit www.NYTennisMag.com or read the previous print issues.

As the boat bumped up against the dock, Yin awoke and looked about. He saw Virgil the Turtle standing on the Dock and beyond him was a pathway through the woods and then up the mountain. Yin rubbed his eyes and was about to step onto the dock when Charon touched his shoulder and said, “Stop my young friend, I have something to give you that will be of great use to you on your journey.”

With that, Charon handed Yin a golden ring shaped like a skull with the word “courage” inscribed on the inside.

Yin blinked and asked Charon why he was giving him this ring.

“You will need this ring as you travel up the mountain. It will be a reminder that you now possess courage by virtue of traveling on my boat along the River Styx.

Never take the ring off of your finger no matter what happens. There will be some who you meet along the way that may try to steal it from you because this ring has many magical powers. The one who wears it possesses great courage and strength. I grant it to you because you have already shown courage. Best of luck on your journey my friend. You have my blessings.”

With that, Yin put the ring on his finger, jumped onto the dock and off he went with Virgil into the woods. The woods were truly dark and deep, and they heard many mysterious sounds from creatures who seemed to be nearby but weren’t visible. They heard birds screeching and animals snarling as they walked along the small path. Ordinarily Yin would have been afraid but each time he gazed down at his golden ring he felt safe and calm.

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As they walked on, Yin remarked to Virgil, “Boy it sure is taking us a long time to get up the mountain to see The Tennis Guru.”

Virgil looked up at Yin, smiled and said, “Yin it is true, our journey has been a long one but think of all you have learned.”

“What did I learn?” asked Yin. “I haven’t hit a shot yet and I haven’t seen the Tennis Guru either.”

Virgil replied: “But Yin we have already learned three things that you will need in the future. We know you have great passion for tennis. Why else would you even start this journey? We have learned

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

that things cannot be rushed along the way. And you now have the golden ring to protect you. You are well on your way to overcoming all the fear and shame you brought with you.”

“Maybe you’re right Virgil,” said Yin. “I do feel stronger now. Hey, look over there. Is that a cave?”

To be continued…

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

Enjoying Time with Friends, Family and Tennis

By Luke Jensen Jensen Zone fans, we are ALL in this together!

We are one big global team getting back up from the latest hit that knocked us down. I am so enthusiastic about the ability to move forward and come out of this even greater as a society. I feel that the greatest learning tool, in anything you do in life, is to listen and watch what is going on in the world around you, both locally and globally.

Through hard work, tennis gave me the gift to see the world and meet very interesting and smart people from cultures that some only read about.

The quarantine also let me reassess where I am in my own journey, and I feel I made significant progress in finding more time to do things that I deeply value, like spending time with family and friends.

I also was able to reconnect with friends that normally I didn’t have enough time for. Many of my tennis friends were finding new ways to work out and stay connected with improving their games. I worked a ton of online classes with my studentathletes on mental toughness exercises as well as tactical sessions that help them use more tools to win.

YouTube was a great way to dig into classic matches and spend productive time learning from some of our tennis heroes. I also expanded on the

practice swings that I’m a big fan of for total body coordination and tempo. The practice swings always improves footwork and balance.

Even without fans, just watching the pro game during the various live events and exhibitions that took place with the tours suspended has been exciting. But watching live tennis at any level is AWESOME! But I needed to watch a sporting event with pressure, so I even tuned into the National Corn Hole Championships!

The tournaments, players and fans will all be slowly coming back, and all with a new appreciation of the game we love. When you do take the court again, be patient. Allow your game to

come back to you and don’t force it.

Enjoy the impact of a solidly hit forehand and the creativity of a drop shot…

Raised in Ludington, Mich., Luke Jensen’s resume includes 10 ATP Tour doubles titles. He was also a member of the U.S. Davis Cup teams that reached the finals in 1991 and won in 1992. His ambidextrous play, including his ability to serve the ball with either hand at 130 mph, earned him the nickname “Dual Hand Luke.”

Luke is currently director of racket sports at West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y. He may be reached by phone at (315) 403-0752 or e-mail LukeJensen84@yahoo.com.

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

By Rob Polishook We have all seen Rafael Nadal’s incredible focus during a match. He never gives up and plays each point like it’s his last. Tennis provides us an opportunity to mentally be like Nadal; maybe not at his professional skill level, but certainly in terms of his mental game.

Rafa’s on court demeanor is mindful, purposeful and resilient. Clearly, he keeps his focus on what he can control, and he lets go of the rest.

Off the court, before or after a match, we can hone our mental game to be like Nadal by using the skills that many other sports’ professionals benefit from, like meditation. In the previous three articles of my “Mastering the Mind” series, I wrote about how top athletes like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, Novak Djokovic and Bianca Andreescu meditate, the benefits they derive from it, and how you can create a personal meditation practice to help you relax, reflect, and get yourself ready to play.

In this article, Part Four of my series, I will highlight three key principles in addition to meditation that, if cultivated, will help athletes and individuals manage inevitable ups and downs of competition and life. These key principles can provide the emotional resilience for athletes to accept and manage adversity.

Impermanence We all know the story about how the slow caterpillar breaks through its cocoon and transforms into a graceful butterfly.

Similarly, autumn turns to winter turns to spring then summer, and back again. This cycle of constant change is ever present in life, nature and in sports.

Recently, a client of mine had a string of great matches, only to reach the finals where she did not play well. She was angry with the loss, but then we talked 44

about how the matchup had been more difficult than her other opponents, and she’d lost some of the focus she had earlier. She understood that her resistance to these shifts had made her more anxious and tight.

After accepting impermanence was part of the nature of the game, she has relaxed, stopped forcing points, and is now playing better than ever.

Accepting impermanence allows us to gain perspective and clarity. Optimum performance is less about controlling outcomes than it is about shifting focus to managing momentum, injuries, matchups, and training cycles. Progress is rarely linear. Even the greats like Federer, Nadal and Williams experience impermanence in their careers. Being able to face that impermanence and flow with it is how they became Roger, Rafa and Serena.

Equanimity Equanimity means maintaining calm, composure and clarity of mind through adversity or pressure. Especially when things are seemingly spiraling out of control. Staying balanced when you are down a set or your opponent makes a bad call, rather than losing control and being emotionally reactive is the foundation of equanimity.

One of my first memories of seeing equanimity at play was during Wimbledon in 1975, when Arthur Ashe placed a towel over his head on changeovers to collect himself. He was calm, respectful and seemingly floated on the court, no matter what was happening. That equanimity was most likely a big factor in his victory

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

over Jimmy Connors.

How can we play with equanimity? If we truly listen, our bodies will naturally clue us in when we are moving toward the brink, the point where we might lose our calm. We start rushing, our breathing becomes shallow and we get tight. This is our clue to step back, take a deep breath, and shift the focus to what you can control. Come back into equanimity by just trying to play your best, not necessarily be the best.

Gratitude What does gratitude have to do with tennis? Everything! The process of being grateful encourages and empowers you to reflect, be present, and stay in the moment.

While grateful, our nervous system tends to settle, and we can enter the next moment from a place of calm. The more gratitude we have, the more moments of calm we will experience.

Then, when adversity rears its head (as it always does), we will be able to deal with it from a place of clarity.

Nadal always shares his sense of gratitude towards the game and his

opponents by being humble, never taking anyone for granted and never giving up.

He knows this doesn’t take anything away from his game, but rather allows him to focus on his game.

Going forward I suggest keeping a journal of all three principles, then reflecting on these questions: l Jot down the times you remember experiencing impermanence in your development as a person and an athlete. l Journal about a time that you played with equanimity. l Lastly, what are you grateful for? List three-to-five things each day that you are grateful for.

Reflect on how the experiences above made you feel. Answering these questions will help you become aware of patterns whenever you lose your way.

Playing your sport is an ongoing journey to being your best, andit includes practice, drills, fitness, tournaments and more. Certainly, we seem to understand

the “doing” part of sport, but the mental part of the game, where we set the conditions of calm, clarity and concentration, sometimes gets lost.

Impermanence, equanimity, and gratitude are three great principles to bring to competition and life.

Applying them can mean the difference between playing loose rather than tight, staying calm rather than getting anxious, and winning rather than losing. Don’t leave home without them!

Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach, he works with athletes helping them to unleash their mental edge through mindfulness, somatic psychology and mental training skills. Rob is 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, or following on Instagram @insidethezone.

Get safely in the game! At Advantage Tennis Clubs.

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Find out more today—then choose your Advantage club! advantagetennisclubs.com NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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THE LONG ISLAND

CHALLENGE 2020

2020 Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge Returns The 2020 Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge once again brought together a sold-out, full draw of doubles teams in four divisions for an all-day event at SPORTIME Quogue. Adhering to all guidelines and protocols, the tournament was played safely and featured food and drinks for all participants.

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Be sure to look for a full recap of the event in the September/October issue of New York Tennis Magazines. To see more photos from the event, be sure to visit NewYorkTennisMagazine.com and the New York Tennis Magazine Facebook page. The four winning teams are below.

New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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The Metro Corporate Tennis League presented by Advantage Tennis Clubs is an initiayive of the Metrotennis Community Tennis Association (MCTA). The league is divided into three levels of play: Intermediate (3.0-3.5), Advanced Intermediate (4.0-4.5) and Advanced (4.5+).

The league is now also offering a Hi-Five program for teams that are not ready to compete but want to get into the sport while getting a great workout.

The Metro Corporate Tennis League is set to host more than 60 teams in the Winter 2020 season. The rosters for each division are below: Advanced Division 1 1. Bloomberg (V) 2. Proskauer Rose 3. PwC 4. BNP Paribas 5. Cary Leeds/NYJTL Advanced Division 2 1. Bloomberg (M) 2. Bloomberg (J) 3. Ernst & Young 4. Credit Agricole 5. Morgan Stanley

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The Corcoran Group Schulte, Roth & Zbel LLP Morgan Stanley Douglas Elliman

Intermediate Division 1 1. CVC Capital Partners 2. Angelo, Gordon & Co. 3. Bloomberg (Aces) 4. HBO 1 5. Neuberger Berman 6. Barclays

Advanced Intermediate Division 1 1. Bank of America 2. Mizuo Bank 3. Bloomberg 4. Societe Generale 6. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 7. Goldman Sachs

Intermediate Division 2 1. D.E. Shaw & Co. 2. NYCEDC 3. BNP Paribas 4. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison 5. Barclays 6. Sidley Austin

Advanced Intermediate Division 2 1. Nielsen 2. White & Case 3. Google 4. Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

Intermediate Division 3 1. Deutsche Bank 2. Societe Generale 3. ING 4. Bloomberg

5. MongoDB 6. Moody’s 7. Rabobank Intermediate Division 4 1. Ropes & Gray LLP 2. Deutsche Bank 3. HBO 2 4. PwC 5. D.E. Shaw & Co. 6. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP Hi-Five Division 1. Bloomberg (Fischler) 2. Havas 3. Penguin Random House 4. BDP Capital Partners 5. Penguin Random House 6. Bloomberg (Brett) 7. Bloomberg (Dylan) 8. Schulte, Roth & Zabel LLP 9. The Corcoran Group 10. Better.com 11. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

The season was suspended on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league plans to restart on August 3 with adjustments, based on the best coronavirus protocols following the USTA and Clubs’ guidelines.

The Fall League will begin in October and will also adhere to all safety protocols. Please welcome the newest teams, Rabobank and BDT Capital Partners.

For more information regarding the Metro Corporate League, visit www.metrotennis.com and click “corporate”, or e-mail Luis@metrotennis.com.

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New York Tennis Magazine • July/August 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

Only One Excuse Left

By Barbara Wyatt It hit me the other day. Not a tennis ball, but a realization.

Our tennis pros hung up their racquets and stayed home during the pandemic. These men and women made the same financial sacrifice as personal trainers, physical therapists, restaurant and café owners, bookstore owners, and other small businesses. They forego their income for the safety of their friends, clients, and family.

In the last week or so, tennis pros knocked the dust and cobwebs off their strings in order to hold private lessons and perhaps a small drills class, as the numbers of virus infections showed signs of decline.

It is time to thank them. Book a private lesson.

Throw away all excuses about why we do not take tennis lessons and jump in.

Or at least, do a split-step.

You are rested. Your knees, wrist, and elbow are in great shape (or so I hope).

Maybe you haven’t had a lesson in 20 years. Maybe it’s been three months. It doesn’t matter, book a lesson.

Over the years, players have created dazzling excuses on why adult recreational players avoid tennis lessons: “I’ve played tennis like this for years.”…“I couldn’t learn anything new at my age.”…“It’s expensive.”…“I’m out of shape.”…“It’s only for kids.”…“This works for me.”

Our pros hung up their racquets for our

safety. We have returned to restaurants, bakeries, and barbers to support our local economy. Our tennis pros deserve us.

If you are reluctant because a stroke is embarrassingly flawed, use my excuse: “I’m a little rusty. There’s been a pandemic.” It is the only excuse left. A splash of hand sanitizer and I am back, smashing deep volleys.

Not ready? Then pay for a lesson for a deserving youth or a youth beginning class.

I might buy a lesson certificate for an opponent and enclose it in a charming “Good Luck” card, with a personal note to work on their backhand. Watch the mind games begin!

These associations provide a find-a-pro search: United States Professional Tennis

Association (USPTA) and Professional Tennis Registration (PTR).

Thank you to those on the front line: truckers, farmers and food production workers, delivery personnel, grocery and pharmacy staff, police and fire and emergency personnel, medical workers, our military, transportation drivers, and more.

You continue to work tirelessly. You are awesome.

Barbara Wyatt is a writer, photographer, USTA official, and mobile app developer of iKnowTennis!, the tennis rules app. Her poem, Ode to Tennis, an amusing poem on the joys and frustrations when learning tennis, is available at Amazon. She can be reached by e-mail at BarbaraW@iKnowTennis.com.

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Call 914-907-0041 or E-mail BloomGilad@gmail.com NYTennisMag.com • July/August 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine

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The Path to Finding Purpose

By Xavier Luna Many people view having a purpose as a reason for being. Others see it simply as an intention or objective. But in both cases, it gives a particular direction to life and–when pursued correctly–a tremendous amount of satisfaction.

Purpose doesn’t happen by accident Young people often need help finding their purpose. Not because they lack imagination and ambition, but because they cannot see a clear path to achieving what they envision.

Parents, teachers and coaches can help tremendously, pointing out a path to follow. It’s crucial to first establish three criteria. The young person needs to: l Develop a realistic understanding of his or her abilities. l Create an internal awareness of and interest in how these abilities could be put to good use. l Enjoy using the abilities in this particular way.

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Purpose on the court In the case of tennis, finding purpose presents a particular challenge.

Chances are, an athlete begins to play the game without thinking much about it. Perhaps they were looking for fun, good exercise and a way to make new friends. Most don't have ambitions of playing professionally. But with the right guidance, this purpose can be explored and even achieved.

Players need to assess their skills– knowing where they need improvement, understanding how far their game can go and sensing whether they can enjoy the process.

Coaches can steer them, using constructive coaching, regular match and tournament match play and additional instruction.

Five milestones along the way Purpose also often revolves around “The Five C's:” l Competencies: Knowing one’s strengths and skills. l Confidence: Believing that success is possible.

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l Connections: Being around positive influencers who provide guidance. l Caring: Having a passion for the chosen purpose. l Character: A willingness to follow the path, even when it’s a little bumpy.

Once young people have a chance to cultivate these traits, they need a realistic plan for achieving their purpose, a grasp on how long it may take, a cheering section and a support network.

Even when the path gets a little bumpy, it is well worth pursuing. We look forward to helping your daughter or son follow it, should tennis turn out to be their purpose!

Xavier Luna is the Director of Junior Tennis for the Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Programs. He has more than 30 years of experience in tennis, commencing as a ranked junior. He was the Director of Junior Programs at Stadium Racquet Club, the Owner and Founder of Metro Tennis Acadmey, and has held many other positions in the tennis industry.

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charitable initiatives McEnroe Brothers and Tennis Legends Set for Sixth Annual JMTP Pro-Am The pro-am plus exclusive dinner supports the Johnny Mac Tennis Project Photo Credit: Samantha Deitch/BFA.com

Tennis stars John McEnroe and Patrick McEnroe will be joined by other greats of the sport at the 6th Annual Johnny Mac Tennis Project’s Pro-Am in the Hamptons on Saturday, August 29, 2020.

Participants will compete in a roundrobin tournament alongside former WTA and ATP World Tour professionals, current and former Division I College players, as well as top John McEnroe Tennis Academy pros. Tickets start at $2,000. Guests can bid on exclusive items and experiences throughout the day via a curated silent auction.

The country’s largest Pro-Am tournament will be followed by an exclusive luxury tented ambiance dinner under the stars with a musical guest and celebrity host. This year’s after party will showcase cocktails, a plated dinner and a musical performance. Hamptons’ elite will mingle with tennis superstars and other celebrity guests. Past celebrities include Chelsea Handler, Jane Krakowski, Alec Baldwin and Alan Cumming. Tables at the dinner start at $2,500.

This event raises funds for John McEnroe’s nonprofit Johnny Mac Tennis Project, which changes young lives by removing the racial, economic and social barriers to success through tennis. Tennis Legends such as Arthur Ashe, Serena & Venus Williams and John McEnroe himself faced these tremendous obstacles along their path to becoming world champions. JMTP offers an accessible, funded Pathway for studentathletes and tournament players through competitive tennis, leading to college scholarships, careers in the industry, and for a few, professional tennis careers and perhaps, Grand Slam titles.

“It has always been my goal to provide as many opportunities as possible in the sport of tennis to people of all backgrounds and there has never been a more important time to do so than now,” said tennis icon John McEnroe, “Our 6th Annual Hamptons Pro-Am is a great way for tennis lovers to come out and be part of this passion project—to introduce tennis to more young people who would not otherwise have the opportunity, and

to help create the next generation of American tennis champions.”

If interested in more information, donating or securing a sponsorship or tickets, you can visit www.jmtpny.org/proam2020 or contact JMTP at info@jmtpny.org or 212-7928500.

The Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP) transforms young lives by removing the racial, economic and social barriers to success through tennis. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, JMTP introduces the sport of tennis as a life-long health, fitness and social activity to thousands of underresourced New York City area children.

For a smaller group of dedicated young athletes, JMTP provides a pathway to success through competitive tennis, leading professional tennis careers and, perhaps, Grand Slam titles. Last year, the nonprofit launched a partnership with BNP Paribas which is sponsoring needbased scholarships for 10 top local NYC young players to receive elite JMTA tennis training, covering tournament costs and travel/lodging for competitive play.

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I Need More Power, Coach!

By Mike Puc ne of the most frequent requests I hear from my students is how to achieve more power. After a short discussion and acknowledgement of the first priorities of getting the ball in and getting the ball in away from the opponent, the goal of power may be addressed.

The two biggest components to execute with power are: l Keep the ball away from your body l Relax the swing.

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Most players get too close to the ball (on all shots), preventing a full turn and extension. Balls hit close to the body result in a “chicken arm” follow through, lacking a long finish.

While it may be glamorous to hit hard consistently from the baseline, the operative word in this sentence is consistently.

The goal should be to hit harder when the situation dictates.

Start by working on hitting harder on chest-high balls from the service line. Track the ball by placing your non-dominant hand on the forehand in front of your body like a stop sign to maintain distance from the body and promote a powerful swing. Finish

by driving your racket out and not around your body. A long swing maintains the kinetic chain of the body, producing power. Secondly, playing with a “spaghetti arm” will generate pace necessary for power and contribute to your rpm’s.

Hitting down and covering the ball with your racket on the finish with your spaghetti arm will build confidence and allow you to try power from a little further back each time. This technique can also be morphed into a swinging forehand volley.

To get more power, keep your distance from the ball and swing with a spaghetti arm.

Mike Puc, USPTA, has been the Director of Tennis at Gleneagles Country Club in Delray Beach Florida since 1998. A winner of 15 National titles and an ATP world ranking, Mike directs 25 teams with 350 players in 9 leagues while offering the most extensive Calendar of Events in South Florida that includes tournaments, lectures and social round robins.

COMING IN SEPTEMBER 2020

Distribution scheduled for 09/15/20

This edition will feature: • 2020 U.S. Open • LI Tennis Magazine Challenge Recap • French Open Preview • Girls' High School Preview • A Look at Fall Tennis in New York • And Much More!

Distribution across New York at 300+ locations: • Indoor tennis clubs • Country clubs • Restaurants and health food stores • Tennis camps • Retail stores • The Hamptons • Supermarkets and • Many more!

Don’t miss the advertising opportunities in the next edition of New York Tennis Magazine September/October 2020!

Facebook-www.Facebook.com/NYTennisMag Instagram-@NYTennisMag • Twitter-@NYTennisMag Submissions for both advertising and editorial are• July/August due by September 1, 2020 NYTennisMag.com 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine 53 For more information, please call 516-409-4444 or e-mail Advertise@NYTennisMag.com

It’s Time for a Tennis

Union

By Charles McKenna There are 750 Major League baseball players during the regular season. Lowest paid earn $550,000 per year—the league minimum. In addition, travel and accommodation costs are paid for and the player gets per diem payments when the team is on the road. The team provides training facilities and professional conditioning to keep the player in top physical shape. He has health care and a retirement program.

There are 1,696 regular NFL players.

The least compensated among them, makes $480,000 per year and, like his baseball contemporary, has all his expenses paid for. I do not begrudge any of these players their money. Even the least of them are incredible athletes who work years to reach the professional level of their sport, and possess incredible talent for which they rightfully should be paid handsomely. As much as each makes, their pay is dwarfed by the owners for whom they 54

toil. They earn millions for their teams and deserve the compensation and perks they receive.

Individual sports are a different animal. In tennis, the top players are incredibly well-compensated. The men’s and women’s winners of last year’s U.S. Open, a two-week engagement, each earned $3.85 million. As much as a top player can make in prize money, it is generally less than the sponsorship money that can be made. Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka and many other top players make incredible money for playing the game they love. They too earn it and deserve it. The problem with tennis, however, is that those riches are reserved for a very small percentage of the player pool. While the 750th baseball player makes $550,000 and the 1696th football player makes $480,000, the 750th ranked tennis player is undoubtedly in debt.

Ilya Marchenko, hardly a household name, is ranked 150th by the ATP, the governing body for men’s professional

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tennis in the world. The ATP reports that over his professional career, which began in 2006, he has earned just over $2 million which averages out to about $145,000 per year. To the Average Joe, $145,000 is not a bad yearly wage—if it were only for Marchenko. Unlike his football and baseball brethren, he has to pay for his coaching, his travel, his conditioning, and all other expenses.

There is no team other than the one he is financially responsible for. He has no medical insurance nor does qualify for a pension. Oh, and if he doesn’t win, he doesn’t get paid. His team, however, does—by him.

By comparison, Marchenko is faring pretty well. The woman ranked 150th in the WTA, Varvara Flink, turned pro in 2012. Her career earnings have been $314,746, for a yearly average of just over $39,000 per year before expenses.

Thus, after expenses, her wages are analogous to many minimum wage earners in America, if she’s lucky.

It’s hard to feel too sorry for Marchenko and Flink because they are doing what they love and chasing their

dreams, but so too are numbers 750 and 1696 in baseball and football, respectively. So why are they so differently compensated? There are a number of variables, but the most important one is a players’ union. In football and baseball, and many other team sports, the players are unionized and collectively bargain with the owners.

They have at times gone on strike, leaving their stadiums empty in pursuit of a fairer compensation package. Yes, they are highly paid, but given the amount of money the sports they are the key component of generate, they are justly paid. It is their collective voice and actions that gives them the power to compete with the owners. And compete they have. In major team sports, the players get somewhere between 45 and 49 percent of the income stream their sports generate. In tennis, it is estimated that the average take is less than 15 percent of the income generated. That’s quite a disparity.

This lack of a bargaining unit is sorely lacking from many individual sports, tennis among them. Unlike team sports where the owners take the profits for themselves, many tournaments are operated by non-profit organizations who claim, at least, to support tennis with the monies that they take in and therefore do not expend on prize money.

But that has not seemed to raise the lot of the professional tennis player who hover in the shadows of the greats.

Many of those players do not participate in major tournaments or even any ATP events. They are often found competing in Challenger events where you pretty much have to make it to the semifinals to break even, given your expenses.

Players who go out in early rounds of Challenger events earn in the $500 to $1,000 range for their efforts, which do not generally cover expenses. A system which provides a living wage for men and women in the early stages of their professional careers is sorely needed and it won’t come from tournament directors. The only hope for a rational financial blueprint for the sport is through a players’ union which understands that the continued viability of the sport requires a constant infusion

of young talent that will fill the ranks. It is, after all, the Cinderella story that makes for a great tournament scenario.

Tennis, like golf, has been viewed as a club sport, generally reserved for those with money. Access to courts, especially in bad weather, is limited and expensive. Generally, one only excels with constant lessons which do not come cheap. In short, there are barriers to excelling in the sport, many of which are financial in nature. That continues into the pro ranks. Without backers with the financial wherewithal to assist a young, promising player, many simply cannot see their way to a professional career. Thus, tennis continues to be a sport for the wealthy. Yes, there are those like the Williams sisters and Frances Tiafoe who come from humble beginnings but they are by-and-large unicorns with families that had a singular desire to see their children excel. The more usual scenario will continue to be either the player from a well-to-do background or those with financial backers willing to fund athletic promise for a piece of hoped-for-gains. Without a players’ union that could bankroll a pipeline through collectively-bargained dollars that can be used to provide a living wage to promising players, regardless of their financial profile, the existing disparity in professional tennis will continue.

The elite player travels with a support entourage that helps him or her maintain a competitive advantage. Thus, in addition to a coach, there is a physio, a hitting partner and a business person to make all the arrangements for travel, housing, and coordinating all aspects of the payer’s off-court life so that the player focuses on his/her game. Players not in the elite ranks are lucky if they can afford a coach, so they are severely handicapped in reaching greater heights. This adds to the disparity in the game and arguably stunts the professional growth of some promising players.

One way in which a professional player hovering around challenger tournaments can guarantee a better wage is to engage in “fixing” a point, a game a set or a match. Many European

Sportsbooks permit wagering on each of those aspects of the game and given it is an individual sport, proving that the fix was in is almost impossible. Tennis is one of the top five sports on which to gamble. Thus, a player who is not destined for greatness, or is in need of money because the economics of the sport have been unkind, can resort to other means of remuneration. This is not a theoretical exercise. In a 2014 study, it was estimated that over a two-year span one percent of first-round matches in tournaments were fixed. Given the number of tournaments that are staged each year, that translates to a fair amount of fraud. The economics of the sport promote this activity.

No one is quite sure of the full economic picture of professional tennis because there is no transparency into tournament finances. A players’ union could change this. Like the team sports with collective bargaining agreements, the owners have to open their books so that fair compensation for all the players can be arrived at. While tennis and other individual sports do not neatly fall into the same blueprint as team sports, there is a path whereby players can organize and fairly bargain for an appropriate percentage of the profits they create.

Then it will be up to the players to administer the funds to adequately compensate not just the players who presently control the sport, but those who are the future. People bemoaned the formation of players unions when they first came to major sports. Look at them now. Both the owners and the players have flourished under systems that are fair to all.

Tennis needs to change with the times so that finally, it can be: Advantage, Player.

Charles McKenna is a partner at the law firm Riker Danzik Scherer Hyland Perretti, LLC. Prior to that, he served as the General Counsel and Managing Director of Investigations and Compliance at Renaissance Associates, as well as nearly two decades at the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of New Jersey. He can be reached at charlie.mckenna1@gmail.com

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New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column By Emilie Katz Baby Feeds Balls to Dad

tournament, including Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric, tested positive for COVID19. All players and staff have recovered, but the tour became a prime example of how not to run a sporting event in the current climate.

Stosur Welcomes Baby Girl

In an adorable video that went viral, Alexandra Stamm recorded her son, Charlie, sitting in the ball rack and feeding balls to his father.

“Yesterday Charlie and I brought Cody a smoothie at work,” Stamm wrote.

“While picking up balls after a lesson, I looked over and saw my boys messing around. I pulled out my phone and recorded the moment.”

Players Test Positive After Adria Tour Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour, which featured events in multiple countries in the Balkans, was met with a lot of criticism because of the lack of social distancing and other safety measures. As a result, numerous players and coaches who participated in the 56

Wozniacki Hits With Vekic The tennis world got is first look at Caroline Wozniacki on court postretirement as the former world number one hit the red clay in Monaco with Donna Vekic.

“First time back on court since retirement!” Wozniacki wrote on Instagram. “Not bad for 6 months away.”

Tennis Pros Getting Creative Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur and her partner Liz Astling recently announced that they had given birth to a baby girl, Evie.

Stosur wrote on Instagram: “Mum and Evie are doing well and it’s so amazing to be home with them both.

We are absolutely in love with this little bundle and rolling with the happy chaos.”

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Tennis players have had to get creative in their training during the global pandemic, and Canada’s Bianca Andreescu recently showed off her workout attire. The defending U.S. Open champion shared a picture on Instagram of her wearing a mask while working out.

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Te ennis Management (PTM) Certificatte The Queens College-CUNY Professsional T Program offffers students the oppo ortunity to hone their tennis teaching, sales, marketing, program administration and facility management knowledge to pursue a care eer in the tennis industry.

This three semester program combines on-court workshops with online and cclassroom learning and experiential learning through internships and job placement.

Visit www w..qc.cuny y..edu/pcs to learn more about the PTM Program at Queens College © 2019 USTA. All rights reserved.

NYTennisMag.com • June 2020 • New York Tennis Magazine 108

www.sp portimecamps.com

SPORTIME SUMME ER C CA AM MPS JMTTA A SUMME ER TRAIN NING C CA AMPS MPS

PRESCHOOL TENNIS & SPO ORTS UNDER 10 RED & ORANGE BALL TENNIS JMTTA A MAC RED & MAC ORANGE BALL TENNIS EXCEEL GREEN & YELLOW BALL TENNIS JMTTA A GREEN & YELLOW BALL TENNIS VOLLEYBALL HOCKEY MORE! R Regist er TTo oday!

(212) 427-6150

www.SportimeCamps.com

Camp locations in NYC, We C Westchester and Long Island,, including in n the Hamptons. We’ve got your summer tennis trainin ng,, fun and sa afety covered!

Visit us online at www.SportimeCamps.com,, to find the V e camp ne earest you.. Email us at camps@sportimeny.com for more m in nformation.

109 New York Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • NYTennisMag.com

Programs and services vary at each SP PORTIME Camp location.