With Gratitude to My Father

Writing about tennis for a living has been my good fortune for half of a century. I have worked hard at my craft, finding my niche as a passionate observer of a sport that in my view surpasses all others as a spectacle. It has been my honor to turn a hobby into a profession, to become immersed in a trade that has enriched my life more than I could ever have envisioned, to watch many of the greatest players in the history of the game at their zeniths.

Sitting here at the age of 70, I find myself reflecting on my father, Stanley Flink, and the significant role he played in the launching of my career. He passed away at 98 on December 31, 2022. Losing him has left a considerable void in my life.

My father worked for many years as a journalist at Life Magazine primarily in the 1950’s, and later taught courses at NYU and Yale on ethics in journalism. He loved tennis unabashedly and was a cagey club player who partnered Bill Tilden on a private court in a doubles match about a week before that icon died in 1953. Moreover, he interviewed the estimable Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall on the Today Show.

He took me out to Wimbledon in the summer of 1965 when I was about to turn 13, altering my world irrevocably. From that day forward, I followed tennis with fervor. Every summer I went to both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open Championships. In 1966, enraptured by tennis, I established a correspondence with leading journalist Lance Tingay of the Daily Telegraph in London, politely arguing with him in letters about his prestigious World Rankings of the top ten players which he issued annually in the autumn.

My passion surged into an obsession, and my father did everything he could to nurture it. He introduced me to

Steve Flink,

Pancho Gonzalez in 1968 on a flight from New York to Great Britain prior to Wimbledon, and as we drove into London with this singularly evocative champion, I persistently picked his brain. In that timespan, we sat on a bench at Queen’s Club and from up close watched his friend, Dick Savitt (the 1951 Wimbledon champion), practicing with the Brazilian Thomaz Koch, playing with astonishing grace and elegance. Savitt recently passed away at 95. My father arranged birthday dinners for me in my teens and early twenties during Wimbledon with prominent players including Stan Smith, Clark Graebner, and Gardnar Mulloy.

Most importantly, he introduced me to the ubiquitous Bud Collins at Wimbledon in 1969 when I was 17 and getting serious about becoming a tennis journalist. We walked across the sacred grounds at the All England Club and asked a guard outside the media room if he could find Bud. Moments later, Collins emerged. My father told him about my determination to join the writing fraternity. Collins was kind and encouraging. “Nice to meet you, Steve”, he said. “Stick with tennis. You won’t find a better game.”

I kept up with Bud, and by 1972 was serving as his “aide de camp” at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open during his telecasts and in the press room when he wrote accounts for the Boston Globe. Working with Bud gave me credibility in the tennis community. I joined the staff of World Tennis in 1974, stayed there for 17 years, wrote for Tennis Week Magazine from 1992-2007, and have contributed to websites ever since. I authored three historical books over the years including “Pete Sampras: Greatness Revisited” in 2020.

I was able to widen my horizons and report on radio for CBS from 1982 to 2009 and appear on television in the eighties and nineties as a color analyst. Through it all, Dad was endlessly supportive.

All of us in every walk of life are responsible for forging our own paths to success, and I am proud and appreciative that my career has given me such psychic satisfaction. My father was pivotal, exposing me to tennis, encouraging me to be diligent as a journalist. As the years passed and I became entrenched in the tennis world, my father was prideful that he had been there in the embryonic stages to open a few doors and windows. As I evolved and advanced as a reporter, he took a back seat on my journey, thoroughly enjoying the ride. Stanley Flink’s contribution to my life was enduring and immeasurable. I will miss him more than he will ever know. *

At Dunlop, our passion and love of the game never wavers. From engineering our very first tennis ball in 1923—putting ourselves at the center of the game—to being the #1 ball on the ATP Tour in 2023, we’ve stood fast to our promise to enhance every game.

And so, in this our 100th year, we celebrate all we love about tennis by partnering with the USPTA to become the Official Tennis Ball partner of the world’s leading tennis teaching organization.

While we are incredibly proud of our 100-year history—filled with gamechanging product innovations that have helped shape the very sport of tennis and partnerships with some of the greatest players to have ever played the game like Laver, McEnroe, and Graf—the Dunlop of today is a very different brand to the one you think you know.

Let’s take you back to 2017 when Japanese manufacturing giant, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI), acquired the global rights to the Dunlop sports brand. While SRI’s principal business is tires, with a global manufacturing workforce of more than 40,000, sports play a key role in SRI’s business strategy. SRI manufactures and sells premium golf and racket sports equipment to players of all skill levels under a portfolio of brands: Dunlop, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, and XXIO. SRI’s unique global sales network and infrastructure in R&D, manufacturing, and material science elevates the company’s brands onto a global stage where players from around the world are encouraged to experience incredible products and develop their love of the game.

But let’s talk tennis.

Dunlop is the only tennis brand to wholly own not one but two tennis ball manufacturing facilities. This gives us a unique advantage over other brands by allowing us more control over product innovation, product quality and performance, and importantly, price. The durability and consistency of our tennis balls is of paramount importance to us and it’s this commitment that has led Dunlop to hold market-leading positions in many tennis markets around the world. Our commitment to high performance products is also recognized by the elite players of the game. Dunlop became the official ball of the ATP Tour and Australian Open in 2019. And during the last 5 years, we have also become the official tennis ball at countless ATP and WTA tournaments helping create less variation in tennis ball brands between events. We know how much this is appreciated by players (they tell us!), and we are proud to supply balls to more ATP Tour tournaments than any other brand.

But what does all this mean for you, the USPTA members?

Well, we wanted to think a little differently about this partnership and offer you something that adds real value to your day-to-day lives. Beyond giving you the best experience with our products, we want to save you money. With all the other expenses life throws at us these days, the last thing you want to worry about is the cost of the one product you can’t do your job without – the humble tennis ball.

So how do we intend to do this?

To begin with, our tennis balls are incredibly durable. We believe our balls last longer and need replacing less often than other brands. We want you to buy less! That’s right, we believe in a buy less, buy better philosophy. Not only is this better for your wallet, but it’s also better for the environment, creating less waste in balls and packaging. As durable as our tennis balls are, they don’t last forever. But don’t worry, we are offering USPTA members the very best prices on balls. If you are linked to a retailer,

Jamie Douglas, Director of Marketing & Product Dunlop Sports Americas

you can buy into our diamond price structure regardless of volume. All you need to do is contact your local Dunlop Territory Manager and they will get you set up! Scan this QR code for their contact information.

If you do not have a retail link, don’t worry. You can order tennis balls directly from Dunlop and receive a 15% discount off retail pricing on all tennis ball models on all orders. You’ll also receive free shipping on orders of 3 cases or more.

Simply use code USPTAWELCOME15 at checkout at us.dunlopsports.com/Dunlop/ tennis/balls.

Scan the QR code below to see our full range of balls.

We are honored to partner with the USPTA, and we’ll strive to enhance every game for you, its members. We’ve got a lot of ideas, so keep an eye out for more updates throughout the year. Love The Game. *

Our proprietary windscreens are virtually tear-proof, feature superior UV resistance, and are an ideal choice for anywhere you need a visual barrier. This product is commonly mounted on fences and is used to enclose tennis, pickleball or padel courts, practice fields, batting cages, as well as, along baseball outfield fences.

Whether you need a simple background to increase visibility, reduce visual distractions, and eliminate unwanted onlookers, or want to make a screen “pop” with your design via our CHROMA-BOND ® top-notch printing — we have your windscreen solution.

While most of us would agree that tennis has long been considered one of the top sports, there is no denying that tennis is arguably the best sport for women. Tennis not only has treated ladies more fairly than any other sport, but our sport also gives women numerous opportunities to shine. Powerful women have excelled and led as players, coaches, officials, and especially mentors. Think about the impact that some of these first name superstars have had on society –names like Althea, Billie Jean, Chrissie, Martina, Steffi, Venus, Serena, and Coco.

When I was asked to share a story regarding any women that have influenced my coaching career for Women’s History Month, I thought

“Wow! I don’t even know where to begin…” There have been so many women that have influenced my lengthy (over 25 years) coaching career. I am so thankful to the girls that I have learned from as I coached them. I am thankful to the female opponents that probably didn’t know it, but they also helped shape me into a better coach. I am thankful to the women coaches and professionals that I have had the honor of collaborating with. I am also thankful to the professionals that I have been fortunate enough to watch in person.

Ultimately, I simply would not be the coach I am today without these six people.

1. A.S. – My mom. She gave me the drive and passion to be great. When I was just 14, my mom unfortunately passed away. I had just started playing tennis at the time. Although this was a really tough time in my life, all I wanted to do was to play tennis.

2. Z.G. – A friend, former tennis champion, and world class athlete. She reached No. 4 in the world. I was fortunate enough to be in her drill group for a short period of time. She taught me things I had never even imagined. Hitting with her and even just watching her play is something I will always cherish.

3. M.Z. – A former student. She was top 20 in the country when I coached her privately. She had great strokes at an early age, and she could beat both the girls and the boys in her age group at the time. She later went on to win a Texas state singles championship and play at Rutgers University.

4. K.A. – Another former student. She was top 10 in Texas and ranked pretty high nationally. During our lessons, she always worked extremely hard and was rewarded by becoming a five-star recruit. She went on to play for and graduate from Rice University. She is a true star and proved that any dream is achievable.

5. T.R. – Former student and coworker. When I first met her, she did not have much tennis experience, but I would consider her an advanced beginner. I saw her work and work and work to become a district singles champion. Her drive to be great helped her become a state-ranked player, a team captain, and graduate of Prairie View A&M University.

6. S.S. – My daughter. Although she’s only 8 years old, she continuously challenges me on and off the court. I love spending time with her and watching her have fun and want to get better. She truly is making me better as a coach and a dad.

As I recognize and thank all the powerful women and girls that have influenced my coaching career, I would be remiss if I left out one last person. To my lovely wife, Dr. Trina Taylor-Swisher, thank you so much. You have been an inspiration and a daily example of a hardworking woman that provides top notch care for all her patients and her family.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, think of the women who have made a difference in your life. Be sure to thank them and tell them how appreciative you are of them. Everyone deserves a little extra love and appreciation these days. *

Everyyear, March is designated as Women’s History Month to celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of history in a variety of fields. The USPTA continuously honors those ladies who courageously pioneered progress in this glorious sport of ours, as well as those whose passion and presence continues to fuel its growth and success at every level – from its grass roots all the way to its grandest stages.

Thanks to trailblazing pioneers like Billie Jean King, tennis has long been at the forefront of women’s sports, particularly in the U.S. As we celebrate women in our sport throughout the month of March, it is important to remember we need to continue to add more women to our ranks.

The right coaching can retain and grow the number of female tennis players and coaches at all levels of the game. There are several reasons that girls leave tennis

– loneliness, authoritarian approaches to coaching, lack of financial support, etc. By age 17, more than half of girls in sports quit playing altogether. The bottom line is we need to make the tennis experience fun, more supportive, and develop more role models!

By providing unique opportunities to coaches of female tennis players, we can create pathways for female athletes to realize their full potential as both athletes and people. There is no better way to work toward this than for the USPTA to partner with the Women’s Tennis Coaching Association (WTCA).

Founded in 2015 by Ann Grossman and Sarah Stone, the WTCA is the first organization of its kind, solely dedicated to advancing women’s tennis through thoroughly educated coaches. With an incredible team of Grand Slam champions, medical advisors, and internationally renowned coaches, the WTCA uses mentorship programs, conferences around the globe, and educational coaching courses to both educate and inspire passionate tennis coaches with the one goal of enhancing the world of women’s tennis. By working together, the USPTA and the WTCA have the fantastic opportunity to enhance coaches’ knowledge in working with female players. Many coaches across the world have the drive and desire to work with talented female athletes, but do not know what needs to be done to allow them to reach their full potential. The WTCA provides coaches with an easy way to learn the attributes to finding success with a female athlete.

As we enter this official partnership, get excited because there is so much to look forward to! The USPTA and the WTCA will host two joint WTCA/USPTA workshops this year with one being in conjunction with a WTA Women’s Professional event in the summer of 2023. You can also expect there to be a WTCA specialty course offered at each USPTA World Conference through 2025!

Quality education is the cornerstone of both the USPTA and the WTCA.

If we can continue to educate and empower our women’s tennis coaches, we are not only improving the quality of coaching that our female athletes are receiving, but we are also growing the future pool of tennis-teaching professionals! *

In today’s world, it’s extremely rare for anyone to stay in one single job for decades, much less for half a century. That’s why USPTA Master Professional Will Hoag marking his 50th anniversary at Coral Ridge Country Club certainly deserves to be celebrated. Will is also a 50-year USPTA member and he credits the Association for his long tenure and success.

“I would not be where I am, if not for the USPTA. I mean, there’s no way I would have been successful, I would have probably failed in my job within five years,” said Will Hoag, Director of Tennis at Coral Ridge Country Club. “They’re the ones who helped me get through.”

Will grew up in western Pennsylvania and had no tennis experience in his younger years. When he went to study at California State College, his roommate was a tennis player, so he’s the one who encouraged Will to play and learn about the sport.

“My roommate had a part-time job in the summer working at Allegheny Country Club and the tennis professional there was Bob Ruzanic. I admired the guy so much, I said this is what I want to do for a living and that’s how it all started,” explained Hoag.

After graduating in May of 1971, Will jumped at an opportunity to come down to Florida and stay with a college friend’s aunt. He took a job at the Tennis Club of

Fort Lauderdale doing court maintenance.

“A lot of the top players in the county would come to the club on Fridays and play. One of the guys was looking for somebody to help. It was Glenn Chancellor at Coral Ridge Country Club, and he offered me a position,” said Hoag. “Glenn was a solid player and felt he was good enough to go on the circuit, so he put in his resignation. That’s why I say I was in the right place the right time. I was there just a year and they offered me the Director of Tennis job and that was it.”

Over the decades, the USPTA Professional of the Year (2002) has been able to accomplish many things on the court including growing membership and programming.

“We’ve expanded from six courts to now eleven lit courts. My first boss there really didn’t care about the condition of courts.

So we went from the worst courts probably in the state, maybe even in the U.S. to now, our reputation is our courts are the best around,” said Hoag. “The other thing that’s really neat, after fifty years I’m teaching four generations. To be able to see how many people are playing and then their kids, grandchildren, and their greatgrandchildren playing, that’s the thing I’m most proud of.”

Hoag has also made a difference off the court, holding many leadership positions, including USPTA Florida President and USPTA National President from 1997-1999. He says the camaraderie is something he’s really enjoyed through those roles.

“I traveled to every single division- I did not miss one- to listen to the pros in different areas and what problems they had. It really opened my eyes to what my fellow pros go through each day,” explained Hoag. “The friendships I’ve made and the connections I’ve made throughout the country are special. I still keep in touch with a lot of pros and it’s neat to hear the different things that are going on. Of course, a lot of them now are retired. I can’t understand why they retired!”

Even though retirement seems like a foreign concept to Will, you have to wonder if the Director of Tennis ever thought he’d be at Coral Ridge CC for 50 years.

“No. No. No way. Because back in those days most tennis pros, after three to five years, they would jump to a different job. I’ve been lucky,” said Hoag. “My members are the greatest. I mean, that’s why I’ve been there as long as I have, I’ve got the greatest membership in the world. Plus, the owners have been easy to work with.”

Over the years, while Will has remained the pillar of consistency at Coral Ridge, he’s worked under 17 different General Managers. The current G.M., J.J. Sehlke, has been at the club for 18 years and the pair have developed a close relationship.

“He is wonderful. Not only is he a great teacher, great boss, great colleague, great mentor, he is an amazing person. He truly understands what is important in life,” said Sehlke, Managing Partner at Coral Ridge. “His passion is contagious and rubs off on every Coral Ridge staff member that comes in contact with him. It is nice to see all that can be accomplished if you show up with passion and a purpose every day.”

Sehlke was honored with the USPTA Facility Manager of the Year award in 2008. He and Hoag always put a great deal of thought and work into increasing member services and creating activities.

“You can throw a bunch of courts out there, the greatest courts in the world. And after a while, people will stop playing unless there’s activity. A couple of new programs that we do are cardio tennis and live ball. Our numbers have gone through the roof with people participating,” exclaimed Hoag.

“Will never settles. He is always learning and trying to improve and wants every program to be sold out. He has always maintained the same goal- get everyone to fall in love with tennis,” said Sehlke. “He wants his teaching pros to expand their knowledge and skills daily. It’s the same with his non-teaching staff, particularly his court maintenance team. He walks the courts every day to make sure they are perfect, even after 50 years.” Hoag holds himself to a high standard and has sage advice for USPTA pros who hope to be a successful and long serving Director of Tennis or Racquet Sports.

“You really have to understand court maintenance and staffing, and then you have to understand programming. I remember a guy by the name of Gordon Collins, who was a past USPTA president saying, ‘Show me a successful club, and I’ll show you a successful USPTA Pro’, which is true,” said Hoag. “Four of my Head Tennis Professionals are now in director’s positions around the country. I tell all my guys, you’ve got to learn the business, because when you get into your 50’s you’re not going to be able to do what you’re doing. The other thing is to stay active in the Association. I see so many people that join and then they don’t do anything. They don’t go to conferences; they don’t take advantage of the education. You still have to go and socialize and meet people.”

If your dream is to take over at Coral Ridge CC, hold that thought, because Will doesn’t have plans to leave anytime soon.

“I really love my job. We’re one mile from the ocean. Our membership is full. Now I’m more administration than on the courts, I still teach but I’m not on the court as much. So physically it’s a lot easier,” explained Hoag. “I go one year at a time; I don’t really have a mark. Plus, my wife really doesn’t want me to be around the house too much, I don’t think!”

It’s clear Sehlke and everyone else at Coral Ridge hopes he sticks around too.

“His humbleness, his honesty, his passion and sense of humor has forged our amazing friendship and I know every manager, member and myself are better because Will Hoag has dedicated 50 years to the Club and the community,” said Sehlke.

“If I had to give credit to my success, and I’ve said this many times, it’s because of the USPTA. I give credit to the guy I worked for in the beginning who made me go and get certified. Through the USPTA, I’ve met people that really were way more qualified than I am in their jobs. They were great and they were always willing to help,” said Hoag.

Congratulations on your Golden Anniversary Will from all of us at USPTA National. We thank you for your many contributions and for setting the gold standard for all of our members to follow. *