USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - March 2021

March 2021

“The Big W” Drives Tech From the CEO

The US in USPTA Vice President’s Message

How to Fine-Tune Player’s Radar Master Professional Corner

Still Hungry After All these Years Member Feature

Hustle, Hit, Never Quit Charitable Campaign

From the CEO USPTA

“The Big W” Drives Technology ollowing the French Open in 1991, I received a call from Suzanne Maguire, Director of Marketing for the USTA. At the time I was the Director of Racquet Sports Promotion for Wilson and the Business Director for Tennis Balls. She had just returned from Paris, where she noticed that the ball played at the event was logoed Roland Garros. Therefore, she wanted Wilson to consider manufacturing a new tennis ball with the US Open name on the ball to be sold at a premium price with royalties generated for the USTA. I scratched my head and wondered how I could possibly do this. Fast forward 30 years: Wilson is now the official ball of Roland Garros.

As background, the Wilson Championship Ball had been the “official ball” of the US Open since 1978 when the tournament moved from Forest Hills to Flushing Meadows. And as everyone knows, tennis balls had always been a commodity product, often sold as a loss leader at retail and never above $1.99. For decades, there was no price elasticity, especially with the mass merchants. So, the concept of developing a higher-end tennis ball seemed foolhardy. And, in the eyes of our salesforce when we introduced the product during a meeting almost one year later, they thought we were nuts!

With the R&D team and our manufacturing partners, we spent months creating a new felt that would last longer and feature unique packaging (black label with gold lettering) that would command a higher price. Thus, Wilson launched the US Open ball in the spring of 1992. I am proud to say that the ball has become a franchise product today, boasting almost 50 percent

share in the pro/specialty market.

Why am I telling you this story? Because the US Open ball is now part of the matrix of endorsed products from Wilson. When we signed our agreement the first time around a couple of years ago, the US Open ball was not included as an endorsed product. Jump to today, the Wilson USPTA ULTRA has been discontinued. There are a variety of reasons for this decision, which are understandable. The biggest concern for USPTA members is that we will lose our name’s visibility on the label and the ball itself — consumer awareness of the USPTA brand would be sacrificed.

Under the revised agreement with Wilson, we will be promoting both the US Open and Triniti balls from now on. For those who never got behind the Ultra ball, you can now feel comfortable and proud

to be pushing US Open and Triniti balls to your customer base.

Until recently, there has been little innovation in the tennis ball space for the past 50 years — the only significant changes being the felt color change from white to yellow and the aluminum cans to polyethylene terephthalate. Always the leader in technology, and with a significant focus on sustainability, the Triniti ball has challenged the status quo of how tennis balls are made. Working with Dow Chemical Company to integrate a low-density plastometer into the existing rubber compound, the Triniti core features a thicker wall (40 percent increase in wall thickness), contributing to a more lively and consistent bounce. Coupled with a new “stretch felt,” Triniti maintains its fresh ball feel four times longer than a traditional Photo courtesy of Wilson™

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John R. Embree, USPTA CEO

The new Wilson Eco Overcap is a fully functional overcap that reduces plastic by 50 percent.

Look for the Eco Overcap atop your favorite can of Wilson tennis balls.

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From the CEO USPTA pressurized ball. Finally, working with a leading supplier of recyclable packaging made from FCS-certified materials, the Triniti balls are the first of their kind in the high-performance tennis ball industry to not be housed inside a pressurized can.

The Triniti ball is right for consumers concerned about our environment and who seek to use sustainable products. Not to be outdone, the US Open ball now has a sustainable story worth mentioning. This premiere product comes with an innovative ECO Overcap, which reduces the amount of plastic by half and leaves a smaller footprint on the environment after it has been used.

“The LABS team has a wealth of knowledge and knows what every consumer and pro alike are looking for in a tennis ball: a lively bounce and consistent performance through the course of the match. The mission was to accomplish both of these balanced with the right level of durability in a ball that could live outside of a pressurized can. In order to achieve this, the team knew that optimizing the core was critical.”

–Wilson.com The USPTA is proud of our affiliation with the leading brand in tennis globally.

The USPTA has been viewed as an innovator over our 93-year history, with the latest example being the new certification pathway. The leading tennis-teaching organization in the world must be aligned with the brand that is driving technology in all its products.

I have always had the “red W” stamped on my forehead. That is the result of being part of the company over 17 years. So, it should be no surprise that the endorsement relationship between Wilson and the USPTA is as important to our membership as it is to me personally. We owe it to Wilson and all our endorsees, for that matter, to get behind their products and encourage your customers to purchase our endorsed products frequently. *

March 2021

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Vice President’s Message USPTA

Maybe the US in USPTA Should Stand for All of Us Gary Trost, USPTA Immediate Past President

very one of us needs to be more involved in the future of our sport.

The game of tennis has changed, and the USPTA has adapted to meet its members’ needs. If you could have looked into the future 10-15 years ago, when I started on the USPTA Executive Committee and told me where we are now, it would have been hard to believe.

The USPTA World Headquarters and staff in Lake Nona, FL across the street from the USTA National Campus, are fantastic! In fact, we are about to provide the highest level of tennis education for certification in the world! That includes pickleball, padel, and paddle tennis certifications for all our members. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on many businesses, yet, because our sport is considered “distance exercising,” tennis is flourishing.

However, our association needs all of us to be involved. The USPTA is a diverse group in many ways; therefore, all of us need to participate. Whether you are a tennis professional, director, college or

high school coach, retailer, or manager, we all possess knowledge that demands to be shared to improve this great sport.

We hail from diverse ethnic backgrounds and cultures that have so much to offer.

There is no doubt that we can learn from one another. And so, we need more young volunteers with fresh perspectives and ideas to help usher in the future.

So please step forward and volunteer, be that person to make a positive difference in tennis. I have always been amazed by the unique opinions, terrific ideas, and passionate people I’ve crossed paths with during my tenure on the USPTA Executive Committee. Most of my colleagues have a plan and inspirational thoughts that motivate them to speak up and get involved.

The individuals that do take the initiative suddenly find out that others around them have the same passion — and that’s when change genuinely becomes a reality.

The USPTA has unbelievable governance of boards, committees, and mentors at both the national and division levels that are always looking for helpers. Sadly, I

am also amazed at the lack of teaching professionals serving on other tennis associations’ boards and committees.

The USPTA is the delivery force of tennis, and we continue to make it better for our clients, members, and all those that are gainfully employed through the sport.

Even still, we need more USPTA members’ knowledge to light a path for every other tennis committee in the United States and abroad. Undoubtedly, we are in the trenches, we are diverse in employment and background, and we have the most to offer other associations trying to make tennis better.

I still get kidded by the Missouri Valley Division members for a passionate rant many years ago directed at great young professionals to be more involved. But my enthusiasm was not lost because those pros did get engaged — and I am very proud of the difference that the group has made.

The US in USPTA calls on all to volunteer, apply for committees — at any level, even in other tennis organizations, and take our association to new heights. * Photo credit: Gustavo Reyes/USPTA

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March 2021

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Master Professional Corner USPTA

How to Fine-Tune Player’s Radar eaching players how to anticipate an opponent’s shot, what I call radar, should be worked on in every lesson. I start private lessons with myself and the student inside the service line, slowly hitting with a foam ball. We hit both topspin and slice.

I make sure the student focuses on my grip changes for each shot and then my racquet face. Warm-ups is a fantastic time to watch an opponent’s radar to get as much information as possible before using it during a match.

Next, what is the ball’s position in relation to the opponent? Is it low, medium, or high? Is the ball moving fast or slow? I like to catch the ball during a warm-up and ask my student what they see in my position on the court and the ball’s placement. If they notice I might be in trouble and hitting a ball below my knees with the minimal backswing, they should move in before I strike the ball.

When the ball bounces on the opponent’s side, the players’ radar should be focused on their racquet, especially the racquet face. It is vital to see if the racquet is below the ball for topspin, level for a flat shot, or above the ball for a slice. I have students call out top, slice, or flat — before I hit each groundstroke. Another part of the radar includes taking notice of the racquet position to the ball — full back for a hard shot or out in front for soft.

A drill I like to do is to have my student call out hard or soft, watching my racquet before hitting the ball. As soon as they say soft, my student runs in to cover the drop shot. I display a western grip for a flat serve and a continental grip for a spin serve during warm-up serves. Again, my students call out flat or spin before I hit the serve

Photo courtesy of Sippakorn

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Kim Dillard, USPTA Master Professional

using their radar. Whenever the opponent contacts the ball (what I call “pop”), the player should make a small “hop” with both feet — ready to spring and move towards the ball. This skill helps keep the radar actively prepared.

I believe the net player should watch their partner hit every shot except the serve in doubles. By watching their partner hit, their radar reacts to the ball as soon as possible. If their partner hits a short lob, they can move quickly after the point of contact. When hitting volleys in doubles, the classic rule is “high you die, low you go.”

If the ball is hit high to the opponent, move back — and if it’s struck low, move in

for the kill. A good doubles drill features all four players at the service line. They start with a crosscourt bounce feed, then play the point. Each players’ radar should recognize the ball’s height for every “pop” and “hop” at each contact point, using their radar to move in, freeze, or go back.

Traditionally, I have doubles players serve four times to the same person — so that the returner can tell their partner what type of shot they send back. The net player can then gear up their radar for the various choices of shots. Working on anticipation, each lesson improves the players’ radar — tuning their playing ability to a higher frequency. *

Kim Dillard is a USPTA Master Professional and Director of Tennis at Colonial Country Club in Thomasville, NC. Dillard published his first book, “The Doubles Connection, How to be a Better Doubles Partner,” in 1998. He has been a speaker at USPTA World Conferences and was on the Faculty of Speakers at the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference. Kim Dillard is a USPTA Mid-Atlantic Hall of Fame member.

March 2021

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Member Feature USPTA

Still Hungry After All these Years

Photo courtesy of Angel Lopez

f you are fortunate enough to teach tennis since 1979, then it means you’re doing something right. In the case of Angel Lopez, he’s been on a roll for the past 40-plus years with no end in sight. During that time, Lopez has mentored thousands of successful players, some of which have appeared on the ATP/WTA Tours.

After playing collegiate tennis at San Diego City College and then the University of Arizona, Lopez tried his hand on ATP Challenger and Satellite tours. However, after realizing he wouldn’t make a living as a competitor, Lopez was inspired to shift to a career of teaching by his coaches, Pancho Segura and Ben Press.

Initially hired to open the San Diego Tennis and Racquet Club as Director of Junior Development, Lopez focuses on young players’ overall development to this

day. “It gives me great joy in developing the games of these players,” says Lopez.

“It’s like planting seeds and watching them grow into full-size plants or trees. I work on the student hardware while understanding their software, what makes them tick and ticks them off. I often say I’m not the fun guy; rather, I’m the fundamentals guy.”

Working with Michael Chang at the age of 10 — and top juniors such as Kelly Jones, who reached No. 1 in ATP doubles and No. 86 in singles, convinced Lopez to join the USPTA in 1980.

In 1992, he earned the title of Master Professional and three years later was named the USPTA Professional of the Year. Throughout much of the late ’80s and early ‘90s, Lopez could be found traveling Grand Slam tournaments, working with his students; notably Zina Garrison, Angelica Gavaldon, Lupita Novelo, Alexandra Stevenson, and Tami Whitlinger-Jones.

Despite having received a plethora of awards during his illustrious career, including induction into the San Diego Tennis Hall of Fame in 2011, Lopez is still on the court, seven days a week, 10 hours per day — training the next generation of potential stars.

Lopez’s current talent roster includes ATP pros Keegan Smith and Brandon Nakashima — plus 13-year-old Elena Zhao. Zhao came to Lopez in June 2018, when she was ranked No. 150 in Southern California Girls 12s.

Since then, the exciting young prodigy has worked tirelessly to enhance her all-court game, earning a No. 1 status in Southern California 12s and 14s singles, respectively — and No. 3 in 16s. “Her [Elena] father

played badminton in China and told me she was working hard but not getting any better,” says Lopez. “I explained to him that I teach from the net first and then move the player back. You need a solid foundation based on consistency, accuracy, mobility, and then power. Elena’s personality and mine clicked. She is smart, focused, and has a solid work ethic. I understood her, and she trusted what I told her because it worked.”

Having a supportive family at home also helped Elena continue her improvement as a player. “Her dad stopped working to fully focus on Elena — taking her to lessons, setting up matches, watching what I did with her,” says Lopez. “Even though her father doesn’t play, he bought a ball machine and tossed her balls. He worked on her fitness.”

Whether he’s working as Director of Tennis/Head Tennis Professional at the San Diego Tennis and Racquet Club, teaching through his academy, or serving as President of the USPTA San Diego

March 2021

Photo courtesy of Angel Lopez

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Mike Calendrillo, USPTA Communications

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Member Feature

USPTA

Other Notable Accomplishments: Division (1994-96), and Regional VP (1997-98), Lopez has a mantra he follows each and every day. “My philosophy regarding club membership is to keep the members active,” says Lopez. “My

academy comes second. Since I was 24 years old, I’ve been coaching, now I’m 65, and I still love it! I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon. VAMOS!” *

Photo courtesy of Angel Lopez

Lopez coached Zina Garrison to an Australian Open quarterfinals finish and No. 4 ranking before she recruited him to coach her World TeamTennis (Newport Beach Dukes) in 1994.

• Trained over 1000 players that have gone on to play college tennis • 2015 U-T San Diego Latino Champions Awards “Coach of the Year” • 2012 USPTA Diversity and Inclusion Award • 2012 “Remarkable Mexican” accolade given by Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego, CA • 2011 USPTA San Diego Division Community Service Award • 1999 USOC/USTA Development Coach of the Year • 1994 World TeamTennis Pro Coach of the Year

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Charitable Campaign USPTA

Hustle, Hit, Never Quit James P. Burke, USPTA Director of Communications

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f 2020 taught us anything, it taught us how precious life is. It instilled in us the importance of family, friends, and community. And it forced us to adapt, invent, and persist. A challenging year for many, the experience provided a brutal reminder of what is truly special in life.

Matters that are larger than ourselves became important again, enriching our lives as we regained focus. We are not likely to forget this perspective as we continue to navigate these challenges one year later.

During 2020, your USPTA looked outside of itself and partnered with the USTA Foundation to raise funds for grassroots tennis and education programs benefitting under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. In the fall, 13 organizations were awarded grants because of your generosity.

These grants support USPTA professionals in the field who managed through the pandemic’s impact, championing these under-served communities and building opportunities for students on and off the court. For over 50 years, this has been

the impact of the NJTL — positively influencing students’ lives in disadvantaged populations.

As we look back on 2020 and look forward to ‘21 with a new perspective, the USPTA is reinvigorated and believes together we can do more to help support USPTA Professionals aligned with 510(3) (c) non-profits. Therefore, we introduce “Hustle, Hit, Never Quit,” a comprehensive, ongoing charitable campaign to support the USPTA Grant Fund administered by the USTA Foundation. With regular messaging on USPTA.com and USPTA social media channels, the campaign aims to focus attention on the USPTA Grant Fund by building a sense of community within our organization to help raise monies for the USPTA Grant Fund through the USTA Foundation.

The campaign contains three distinct phases: • Hustle: The information-gathering phase. We will identify the needs of eligible 501(3)(c) businesses that employ USPTA professionals.

• Hit: The impact phase. We will work with the 17 Divisions to conduct auctions and fundraisers to raise funds to award more grants and ultimately make an even more significant impact than we did in 2020.

• Never Quit: We will continue to look for ways to help others through the USPTA Grant Fund. The USPTA will work closely with the USTA Foundation to adapt when necessary to help meet the needs of those less fortunate.

So, how can you get involved? Be on the lookout for the “Hustle, Hit, Never Quit” campaign appearing throughout the year on the USPTA website and the USPTA social media channels. Help promote the cause by spreading the word to your clubs and students. Work with your division to conduct fundraisers and auctions. Visit the USPTA Grant Fund page at ustafoundation.com/usptafund and donate.

Just $10 from 1,000 of our members would raise $10,000. Let’s work together to make 2021 a successful year for all! *

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USPTA NetWork

Missing Ingredients: Customer Experience & Customer Service Christopher Tran, USPTA Elite Professional

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invaluable service and a good product that they come to expect. A smart operation will build pros around their program, not the other way around. Instead, they focus on robust customer experience and service.

As such, if a pro were to leave a club, the customers would not experience a change in philosophy.

The term customer service (CS) refers to the way a company interacts with its customers and handling of the progress of the player, billing, complaints – any issue whatsoever. Whenever there is direct contact with a client, we are talking about customer service. So, what is the difference between the two? Customer experience is how players feel about their session with the pro during the lesson, or when they purchase a product. It could also include how they view you as a pro or your program while attending a class. On the other hand, customer service is how communication and issues are being handled beyond the tennis court.

Photo courtesy of Stratos Giannikos

t is my belief that any coaches who are great salesmen or excellent teaching pros on the court are missing customer service skills or fail to provide a good customer experience in our tennis industry.

The customer experience (CX) is defined by your customer’s interactions and experiences with your business throughout the entire consumer journey, from the first contact to becoming a happy and loyal client.

Customer experience is an integral part of a customer relationship. It is important because a customer who has a positive experience with your business is more likely to become a repeat supporter of your brand.

According to Oracle, 74 percent of senior executives believe that customer experience impacts a customer’s willingness to be a loyal advocate. If you want your customers to stay faithful, you must invest in their experience!

Why do we see customers following individual pros in our industry and not staying with a specific academy or school?

Mostly because the pros provide them an

Here are some things to consider if you believe you might be failing to provide a memorable experience: • Are your pros standing around talking to each other while running a clinic?

• Are your pros merely a ball feeding machine – not providing feedback to students?

• Are your pros failing to enforce COVID-19 guidelines?

• You are coaching a performance level player, and ask, “what do you want to work on?”

• Your pros spend most of the time checking their phones during the lessons.

• Do your pros present themselves professionally, both in appearance and demeanor?

• Do your pros arrive to the court before their scheduled time and are prepared for their lesson?

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NetWork USPTA Photo courtesy of Olena Yakobchuk

Now for customer service.

Answer these questions truthfully!

• Do you provide a quality status report about the player?

• Do you listen and answer players’ questions to their satisfaction?

• Do you promptly return emails and voicemails?

• Do you provide recommendations?

• Will you move a child to the next level when ready, or will you wait for the parent to ask?

• Do you make recommendations about the players’ equipment needs before being questioned?

Customer experience and customer service have fast become top priorities for businesses, and 2021 will be no different.

Customers no longer base their loyalty on price or product alone. Remember, tennis can be a pricy sport, so your clients are mostly mid to high-end consumers — cost is not their primary concern. Instead, they stay loyal to the academy and club because of the experience they receive. If you cannot keep up with their increasing demands, consumers will leave you.

Providing a wonderful customer experience translates into customers spending more money. In fact, 86 percent of buyers are willing to pay more for a great customer experience, according to research from PWC. Often, the perception is that the more expensive coach and clinic is of higher quality than the cheaper ones. In my experience, this is a distorted perception.

Many of the high-priced pros are just great salesmen; even if they are not certified, they still get big bucks for their lessons!

Customer frustration will lead to churn.

According to Esteban Kolsky, Head of Customer Experience Strategy for SAP, 72 percent of customers will share a positive experience with six or more people. On the other hand, if a customer is not happy, 13 percent will share their experience with 15 or more individuals. The challenge here lies in the fact that, in most cases, customers do not tell you if they are unhappy. In fact, only 1 in 26 unhappy customers complain. The rest simply say goodbye.

With 9 out of 10 businesses, mainly competing based on levels of customer experience, organizations take customer experience seriously to stand out from the noise and win loyal customers. One thing is for sure, to deliver a positive experience, you must know your customers better than ever before.

Once you understand your customers well enough, you can use that knowledge to personalize every interaction. Customers these days have more power and choices than in years past. Thus, you are responsible for acknowledging their needs. If you make sure their interaction with your club or academy is smooth, pleasant, and continuously improving, you will drive brand loyalty. If not, you will give your competitors the best gift you can – your clients.

When asked about his company’s main competitive advantage, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was quick to define it as “creating a customer experience superior to anything my competitors can create.” Academies and clubs that successfully implement a robust customer experience and customer service strategy achieve higher customer satisfaction rates, reduced customer churn, and increased revenues. *

Christopher Tran is a USPTA Certified Elite pro with 27 years of high-level coaching experience. Tran is Elite-certified through Etcheberry High-Performance Strength and Conditioning program and a USTA HP-certified coach since 2007. He was recognized in 2019 by the International Association of Tennis Psychology (IATP) as a tennis psychology expert. A former assistant coach at George Mason University and George Washington University since 2004, he is also the Founder and Director of Strike/Zone Tennis based in Northern Virginia.

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USPTA Member Feature

Tennis Improvements John R. Williams, USPTA Elite Professional

Editors Note: Author John Williams offers his unique insight and thoughtprovoking perspective into the future of tennis. However, John’s opinions are not the expressed opinion of the USPTA.

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Photo courtesy of Iev Radin

ur students want to improve their tennis skills, and many depend on their teaching professionals to guide them in the proper direction. The sport of tennis, although constantly evolving, has an obligation to both players and fans to also improve. The desire to improve is the essence of the human condition and a rare constant in an ever-changing world.

For most, improvement is not easily achieved and takes time and effort. For a tennis player to progress, it will take lots of training and the right kind of practice.

So what is the right type of practice? Many players and some teachers mistakenly believe that spending hour upon hour rallying from the backcourt is the best and fastest way to improve. Although some progress can be made with consistent rally

training, the most robust way to improve is by practicing the shots that begin points (serve and service return) and the shots that finish points with high margins (volleys and overheads). The experienced instructor knows that young players can improve weekly, but the older, more experienced players are likely to improve slowly.

A knowledgeable coach realizes that practice matches are a crucial element in achieving tennis improvement. But what kind of practice matches? Some players erroneously think that if they could play against Roger Federer once a week, that improvement would surely follow. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unless you are among the top 200 players in the world, you may improve your ball pick-up skills but nothing else. The only way you might develop is if Federer agrees to give you a weekly lesson. The best practice partners are those that are consistent and do a great job of covering the court. Also, the majority of your practice matches should be with players you can beat so that you develop

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a winning attitude and convince your subconscious mind that you are a winner and can close out matches even if you are playing poorly.

The vision for a better tennis tomorrow includes changes in rules, scoring, and line calls. The idea of giving each player one serve in Grand Slams and amateur tennis is, on the surface, a radical change and is rarely discussed as of this writing. However, in this author’s opinion, a transformation will happen — and accomplish the following goals: shortened matches for professionals, speeding up play, more action, and more spectacular shot-making. Spectators want to see rallies, artistry, variety and athleticism, and this change will give smaller players more opportunities for success. For instance, two minutes could be allowed for rest between odd games, helping players recover from the longer rallies and giving advertisers more air time and fans added time to take their seats. There will be no need for five-set matches. All matches will be best of three.

Service holds and breaks will become less predictable, and every point will have more value. Also, there will be fewer points where players give a poor effort. Hawk-eye or other electronic devices will make all line calls, and there will be no challenges. Scoring will be automatic and will occur at all pro-level tournaments, not just Grand Slams. At the amateur level, low-cost, high-speed camera technology will make automatic line-calling feasible, eliminating cheating at the junior and collegiate levels. Errant ball tosses will count as faults, and all service lets will be in play. From amateur to professional and juniors to adults, coaching will also undergo dramatic changes.

Member Feature USPTA Technology will transform how professional and amateur players are coached. Electronic devices will be allowed on court, and players will have access through an app that tracks all data. At both the professional and amateur levels, software systems like PlaySight will track all action on court. Winners, errors, ball placement, and receiving positions will be collected and available for each player to view on the changeovers. Since activity will be electronically monitored, match data will be accessed in real-time. In addition, players can receive texts from their coach or their team from anywhere in the world.

There will be no need for a human coach on the court. Players will also have access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) advice that will use this up-to-the-minute data to recommend the best strategy for players to follow. A smartwatch using AI will be worn by all players that recommend the best serves and returns to hit on all points. This technique is similar to what good doubles teams currently do after every point.

The difference is that this advice will be coming from AI for singles players instead of assistance coming from your doubles partner. Tennis will become a game of execution primarily.

Most tennis-teaching professionals recognize that the sport of tennis is in need of major improvements if we want to grow the game and increase fan interest. The public is easily bored with five-hour pro tennis matches and 50 aces hit per match by 7-footers. Currently, tall players use their considerable leverage to smack 140+

mph serves and dominate with power. The days of a Grand Slam champion under 6 feet tall appear to be over. Currently, the Argentine Diego Swartzman is the only player in the ATP top 20 under 6 feet. Most racquet sports allow only one serve; why is tennis different? During the 16th and 17th centuries, when tennis was played primarily by the kings and queens of England and France, two serves were allowed, and everyone served underhand. The net was higher, and the court had different dimensions. The serve was only used to put the ball in play, not as an offensive weapon. In 1877, an English club decided to hold a tennis championship on the lawns of what was known as the All England Croquet Club. The rules for that tournament were established by Englishman Dr. Henry Jones. Dr. Jones set the dimensions of the court, the scoring, and the allowance of two serves. The reason for two serves was entirely one of tradition. It wasn’t until 1880 that the net was lowered to three feet and that the overhead service was established as the norm for modern tennis. That net height rule change and the two-serve rule set by Dr. Jones in 1880 have remained mostly unchanged for 140 years.

These improvements are discussed at length in my recently published book, “A Modern Guide for Tennis Improvement.” The book is currently available in paperback and can be purchased on Amazon.com.

John Williams, Elite professional, has been a United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) member since 1972. He has a bachelor’s degree in math and physics from the University of Charleston, a master’s degree in astrophysics from Florida State University, and has completed three years of doctoral study in nuclear physics at Auburn University. John was a 3-time All-American and was inducted into the University of Charleston Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He has coached and developed players of all ages and abilities. They include state, sectional and national champions in multiple locales from Florida to Oklahoma.

Even though he is appreciative of his industry accolades, John says, “My wife and children are my pride and joy.”

Standing 5’ 6”, Simona Halep of Romania is currenlty ranked No. 2 in Women’s Singles on the WTA tour.

March 2021

ADDvantage Magazine - 59

USPTA Career Development

Career Development USPTA Certification Testing Dates March 1-2..............................................................The Sports Club of West Bloomfield

West Bloomfield, MI March 5-6........................................................................ The City Club at River Ranch

Lafayette, LA March 6-7.......................................................................................Oaks at Boca Raton

Boca Raton, FL March 8........................................................................ La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club

San Diego, CA March 10................................................................ Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center

Minneapolis, MN March 13............................................................................ Mingus Union High School

Cottonwood, AZ March 13-14............................................................................ Bayou Bluff Tennis Club

Gulfport, MS March 14.................................................................................Rush Copley Healthplex

Aurora, IL March 14............................................................................ Longfellow Swim & Tennis

Wayland, MA March 15-16............................................................................. USTA National Campus

Orlando, FL March 17................................................................ Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center

Minneapolis, MN March 19-20......................................................................... April Sound Country Club

Montgomery, TX March 20.................................................................................. Midtown Athletic Club

Rochester, NY March 20-21....................................................................... Green Island Country Club

Columbus, GA March 20-21.................................................................................Atlanta Athletic Club

Johns Creek, GA March 20-21........................................................ West Hills Racquet and Fitness Club

Portland, OR March 21..................................................Williamson County Indoor Sports Complex

Brentwood, TN March 21............................................................................................... Dominion Club

Glen Allen, VA March 21-22...................................................................................Oaks at Boca Raton

Boca Raton, FL March 21-22............................................................................. Burbank Tennis Center

Burbank, CA March 26...................................................................................... Saw Mill Tennis Club

Mt. Kisco, NY March 27................................................................................................Wakonda Club

Des Moines, IA March 27-28...................................................................... Mission Viejo Country Club

Mission Viejo, CA March 28...............................................................................Westwood Tennis Center

Norman, OK March 29-30............................................................................. USTA National Campus

Orlando, FL March 29-30............................................................................. Bay Club San Francisco

San Francisco, CA March 30-31........................................................................................ Forestmeadows

Tallahassee, FL

What’s the Dill?

March Membership Dept. Update

O

Dillon Chustz, USPTA Director of Membership

ne of the best parts of my job here at the USPTA World Headquarters is hearing about our members’ recent accomplishments. I am always impressed by the resilience and resourcefulness of those representing the USPTA. Whether you are starting a grassroots program, mentoring young pros, or simply fortifying already existing programs, you all continue to make your mark on the industry in new and exciting ways!

One such member is Kara Borromeo at Coral Reef Park in South Florida, who remains a constant force in her local tennis community. Aside from maintaining a packed junior program, Kara has mentored and garnered the success of many young teaching pros over the years. Recently, five of the pros under Kara’s tutelage became USPTA Certified Professionals at one of our certification exams, a great example of how Kara is an ambassador for our organization. Since I first interacted with Kara, her goals as a teaching pro have always been very clear to me: to create a family atmosphere, to keep things in perspective continually, and to always lead from the heart. I would provide examples of this, but rather, it is more easily proven by the waitlist for her private lessons and clinics, even amid a global pandemic!

Hearing stories like this make me proud to work for an organization of professionals serving our industry in so many ways. Now that the new year is underway, I’m eager to hear more about what you all are up to! *

In Memoriam Chris Bradley passed on January 16, 2021. A 41-year member of the USPTA, Chris played for Dick Gould at Stanford University and was the longtime Tennis Director at Alpine Hills.

Winner of the 2013 USPTA NorCal Lifetime Achievement Award, Chris touched the lives of all those he coached and leaves behind a lasting legacy. *

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE

President................................................................. Feisal Hassan First Vice President.............................................Richard Slivocka Vice Presidents...............Lane Evans, Mark Faber, Trish Faulkner, Jason Gilbert, Bill Mountford Immediate Past President............................................ Gary Trost CEO...........................................................................John Embree Legal Counsel........................................................George Parnell

Editor...................................................................................... Jim Burke Managing Editor......................................................... Mike Calendrillo Layout/Design.............................................................Kevin Karczewski Editorial Assistance .............................Alegna Hollis, Ramona Husaru, Sid Newcomb, Fred Viancos, Ellen Weatherford Circulation..................................................................... Trevor Trudelle USPTA World Headquarters 11961 Performance Dr. Orlando, FL 32827 407-634-3050 – www.uspta.com

60 - ADDvantage Magazine

March 2021

ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.

The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the United States Professional Tennis Association.

Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from the USPTA.