USTA Eastern 2023 Yearbook

2024 Eastern Annual Meeting

COMMEMORATIVE YEARBOOK

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Table of Contents

Hello to all our friends within the USTA Eastern section.

We are delighted to welcome you to the 2024 USTA Eastern Annual Meeting. As you know, we’ve structured this event a bit differently this year. We’ve broken our traditional Eastern Tennis Conference into two distinct experiences. Today’s Annual Meeting will be followed by the inaugural Tennis Innovation Summit, which will be held on March 23, 2024 at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.

Today’s focus is on YOU: our steadfast volunteers, board members and staff. We’re bringing together some best-in-class trainers and speakers to celebrate what motivates and inspires us to do our best work.

To that end, we’ll hear from Dr. Jessie Biondi, a mindfulness and positivity coach, who will lead a discussion about how you can make the most impact as a volunteer. Later, Lisa Drennan, from MERGE Consulting, will host a session about creating an inclusive culture for volunteers and employees.

Regional and committee meetings will also be held as our community gears up for an extraordinary 2024. As always, we’ll cap off the day with a celebration of our 2023 awards recipients at our Annual Awards Dinner, hosted by Emmy-award winning sports anchor Michelle Yu.

We hope that you have an incredible experience learning from each other as well as from our special guest speakers today and that it encourages you to take big swings in 2024. Thank you for all you do and for your continued support in growing our sport.

Sincerely,

Jenny Schnitzer

Director & CEO, USTA Eastern

Schedule of events

8:30–10:00am Board Training

9:00-10:00am

Staff & Board headshots

10:00–11:00am

Love-All Team Building Exercise with Dr. Jessie Biondi

This interactive workshop is designed to foster connection and collaboration. Through engaging activities and discussions, we'll explore the principles of team building, cultivate a sense of belonging, and express gratitude, creating a supportive and harmonious environment for everyone involved. It's a unique opportunity to strengthen bonds, enhance communication and build a culture of appreciation within your team.

11:15am–12:45pm

Staff & Board headshots / Staff Lounge Activity

Regional Meetings

JTF Board Meeting

1:00–1:45pm

Lunch

1:45–3:15pm

Creating An Inclusive Culture in Tennis with Lisa Drennan of MERGE Diverse Abilities Inclusion Consulting Disability Inclusion is EVERYONE’s responsibility. Give yourself the tools needed to welcome, engage and support players, volunteers and peers with physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities or neurodiversity to be successful in your existing programs and work settings. With simple strategies and creative approaches, these players (or peers) can flourish, allowing their talents and abilities, not their differences, to shine.

3:30–4:30pm

Staff & Board headshots / Staff Lounge Activity

Junior Comp Committee Meeting

Adult Comp Committee Meeting

Officiating Committee Meeting

DEI Committee Meeting

5:00–6:00pm Annual Meeting

6:00–7:00pm Cocktail Hour

7:00–9:00pm Awards Dinner

RESORTS WORLD

NEW YORK CITY

PROUDLY SUPPORTS

USTA Eastern

We are honored to be a part of the tennis community. Game after game, we celebrate the dedication and passion that define this sport. Here’s to smashing success both on and off the court!

Cooper Williams, Dwight Global ‘23 (right) and his doubles partner Learner Tien. Photo courtesy of Tennis Australia/David Mariuz.

The Year That Was

IN 2023, OUR TENNIS COMMUNITY SERVED WITH PASSION. WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT ALL THE INCREDIBLE MOMENTS AND MILESTONES.

Firing up the Base

USTA EASTERN KICKED OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO INSPIRE VOLUNTEERS TO HIT THE COURTS RUNNING IN 2023.

By Scott Sode

Back in business. To kick off 2023, USTA Eastern held its first fully in-person annual tennis conference since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic January 27-28 at the Sheraton Mahwah in Mahwah, N.J. The event—which brought together facility managers, non-profit directors, coaches and other tennis VIPs from across the section—included a day of oncourt demonstrations as well as classroom sessions on a variety of hot-button topics led by some of the top experts in the industry.

“Tennis is undeniably having a moment right now,” USTA Eastern Executive Director Jenny Schnitzer said after the gathering. “And that’s really a testament to all the hard work of the individuals who attend our conference. They’re on the ground every day, creating play opportunities and making the game more accessible for all who wish to participate. With our annual event, we really wanted to acknowledge and celebrate their efforts over these last few years. But we also know that we have to keep building on that success, and so we developed a schedule that we hoped would empower our guests to hit the ground running in 2023.”

Here are some of the highlights from the big weekend.

 At the conference, USTA Eastern officially elected its new Board of Directors, who will serve the organization through the end of 2024. Olga Harvey and Ari Roberts were named president and vice president, respectively, and the governing body added five new members: Johnny Benoit, Joseph Ceriello, Claude Okin, Michael Pavlides and Sharon Simmonds.

 Eastern’s Annual Awards Dinner was held at the conclusion of the conference. Janet Lefkowitz (center, with Schnitzer, right, and USTA Eastern President Olga Harvey) was named the Tennis Woman of the Year for her decades of work creating recreational programming for people with disabilities.

 The conference doubles as a celebration of the section’s many volunteers, like (from l-r) Sasha Thomas, Johnny Benoit and Larry Dillon. “What always makes the event so special for me is the opportunity for collaboration,” Schnitzer said. “Ultimately, we want to facilitate connections. It’s about providers or facility owners from opposite sides of the section running into each other in the hallway between sessions, catching up and sharing ideas. Those partnerships are ultimately how we’re going to continue to build a community in the sport.”

 Noah Rubin, Christina McHale and Kristie Ahn (second from l-r)—three of the most decorated former Eastern junior players—led the conference’s opening session and discussed how their experiences growing up in the section helped prepare them for the rigors of tour life. Maybe not for everything though: During the panel, Rubin and Ahn recalled spotting a possible Tasmanian devil near the courts at a tournament in Tasmania.

 USTA Eastern is committed to making tennis more accessible for all—everybody who wants to play the game, regardless of level or ability, should get the chance to do so. At several conference sessions, tennis instructors learned how they could integrate adaptive and wheelchair opportunities into their existing tennis programming. (For more on USTA Eastern’s efforts in this area, see page 18)

 Goodbye tennis sneakers, hello dancing shoes. It wouldn’t be an Eastern conference without a DJ! At the conclusion of a jam-packed weekend, conference attendees got down to some jams.

Eastern at National Winter Championships

TWO EASTERN PLAYERS KICKED OFF 2023 BY CAPTURING NATIONAL TITLES AT THE FIRST MAJOR JUNIOR EVENT OF THE YEAR.

By Scott Sode

Starting the year off strong. Team Eastern welcomed 2023 by posting top results at the USTA National Winter Championships, held December 28 through January 3 at the National Campus in Orlando, Fla. and the Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz.

Parsippany, N.J.’s James Lian overcame Waleed Qadir of USTA Southern, 7-5, 0-6, 6-3, to claim the title in the boys’ 18s division, while Leena Friedman, of Brooklyn, N.Y., defeated fellow Eastern player Sophia Holod, 6-1, 6-4, to lift the championship hardware in the girls’ 16s division. Both athletes contested their matches at the Orlando venue.

“It feels great to win my first singles super National title, and to do so at the tail end of my junior career makes it feel extra special,” Lian said after his victory. “It’s a testament to all of the hard work I’ve put in, both on the tennis court and in the gym.”

The hard work definitely showed over the course of the event, as Lian, the No. 10 seed, sailed through the draw to the final without dropping a single set. He felt that he did a good job maintaining a positive attitude and controlling his nerves, which allowed him to effectively execute his game plan against his

opponents and swing freely on important points. The biggest obstacle, he noted, was adjusting to the mercurial Florida climate.

“I [had] been practicing indoors since September, so the main challenge was getting used to the outdoor conditions,” he said.

“I especially struggled in my first round match, but as the tournament went on I was able to find my timing.”

Another challenge was the final itself. Lian won a tightly-contested first set, but Qadir stormed back, capturing the next six games in a row to level the score.

“[In the second] my opponent stayed disciplined while I didn't, and that was the difference,” Lian explained of the momentum-swinging battle. “I missed a lot of first balls after the serve and return and wasn't really giving myself a chance to build the point. In the decider I just tried to give up as few free points as possible. I played high-percentage tennis while also being aggressive in the right moments, and that is what helped me ultimately claim the match.”

Friedman, too, only dropped one set—against USTA Southern California’s Kenzie Nguyen in the quarterfinals—en route to capturing the title. The key to her success? Not fixating too much on any potential outcome, she said.

“As much as winning the tournament felt amazing, I find the most joy in the process of continuous improvement,” Friedman explained. “It’s really nice to see the work I’ve put in pay off, but it doesn’t always happen that way. My focus is mainly on improving my game, and the matches will come.”

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges of the tournament for Friedman came in the semifinals, where she faced her friend, fellow Eastern athlete and frequent doubles partner Summer Chandler. The pair won the

girls’ 16s doubles title at the USTA National Indoor Championships in 2022.

“Summer and I have been friends since we were very young, and it is always hard to play your friends,” Friedman said. “It was definitely tough mentally, but our friendship and partnership was strong enough to hug at the net afterwards.”

And just an hour after their battle against each other, Chandler and Friedman were on the same side of the court again to claim third place in the doubles draw. That wouldn’t be the last of Friedman’s trophy haul in Orlando: the New York City native also received a sportsmanship award for her conduct throughout the event.

“This tournament was an amazing experience,” she said. “I want to give a shout-out to the referees and tournament director who ran a great week of matches.”

Prior to capturing the title, Lian officially committed to playing tennis for Brown University.

Photo Credit: Thru Lenses Media

Fellow Eastern juniors and frequent doubles partners Friedman and Chandler faced each other in the semifinals of the event.

Photo Credit: Thru Lenses Media

Eastern Goes International

THEY’RE WORLDWIDE! TWO EASTERN JUNIORS REPRESENTED TEAM USA AT THE VAUNTED LES PETITS AS TOURNAMENT IN FRANCE.

By Scott Sode

Allez! In January, two Eastern players—Izyan “Zizou” Ahmad, of Wayne, N.J., and Michael Antonius, of Buffalo, N.Y.—helped represent the United States at the Tarbes, France-based Les Petits As tournament, one of the most prestigious 14 & Under competitions in the world. The event is notable for a reason; past champions include a who’s who of today’s top players: US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe, French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and even 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal all lifted the championship hardware in Tarbes when they were up-and-coming juniors.

Antonius agreed that the duo share a high level of comfort when they’re on the court and added that they also stayed in sync regarding the game plan.

“When we are both aggressive, we can play really well, and I think that was key throughout—to stay aggressive,” he says. “Also, Zizou has great hands at the net.”

In addition to scoring a doubles semifinals berth, Antonius also ended up winning the consolation draw, defeating competitors from Bulgaria, Greece, Russia and France along the way. He explained that staying on the front foot throughout the event helped him over the line.

“My coaches have been challenging me to play more aggressively and I think I executed that pretty well,” he says. “I used my forehand more when the opportunity was there, while also playing disciplined and consistent.”

Ahmad agreed with that sentiment.“This tournament is like a Grand Slam for 14 & under juniors, and it’s very easy to get distracted with everything that’s going on,” he says. “To be honest, I don’t think I handled it very well, but it was a great learning experience. I learned a lot about myself, my game and the areas that I need to work on. It was also great to see the competition from all around the world and pick up the positive things from them that I can incorporate in my game on and off the court. I’ll utilize all that learning next year to my advantage.”

Although they both lost early in their respective singles campaigns at the event, Ahmad and Antonius teamed up to compete in the boys’ doubles draw, where they ultimately reached the semifinals against some of the best players in the world in their age group. The pair had previously found success as doubles partners, capturing the Empire Cup and placing fourth at the Easter Bowl in 2021.

“Michael is an awesome player and a great teammate,” Ahmad says of what makes their partnership work. “The most important thing in doubles is communication, and Michael and I are good friends and have known each other for a long time. We also know each other’s games very well, so that’s a huge advantage for us as a team.”

The match that made Antonius most proud, however, was actually the one he lost, in the first round of the boys’ singles tournament, against eventual finalist Daniel Jade of Lebanon.

“We played for almost three hours in a three-set battle that went back and forth,” he explains. “I really felt I played aggressive tennis, and I was also able to grind it out when I had to.”

Beyond results, both Ahmad and Antonius said one of the best parts of the three-week trip overall was getting a taste of what competing on an international circuit feels like. Prior to heading to France, the US contingent—made up of four girls and four boys total from across the country—played a warm-up event in Bolton, England.

“Independence was big for me—I learned what it takes to travel for tennis tournaments,” Antonius says. “The biggest challenge was definitely [figuring out how] to manage everything that was going on: eating, sleeping, practicing, prepping for matches, while also finding time to relax.”

Les Petits As wasn’t the only big moment in Ahmad’s tennis life recently; last summer the young player got the chance to share the court with none other than Roger Federer. In a video that now has 5.5 million views on YouTube, Ahmad can be seen at a 2017 US Open press conference asking the 20-time Grand Slam champion if he could continue playing for “eight or nine years” so that they could play each other once Ahmad turned pro. Federer promised he would, and this past August the tennis icon—who ended up retiring at the end of 2022—organized a surprise hitting session for the pair to make good on his promise.

“It was a surreal experience and I still can’t believe that it happened,” Ahmad says of the big surprise.

“Hitting a tennis ball with Mr. Federer is the best thing that has happened to me. He was so generous and down to earth and made me feel comfortable because I was sort of freaked out after seeing him. He gave me a lot of amazing advice and tips that I’ll always remember. I’ll cherish that experience for the rest of my life.”

Photos courtesy Farooq Ahmad and Beth Antonius

“Spending time with the US team was the best part of this whole experience,” Ahmad says. “We created great bonds and friendships and supported each other.”

Ahmad and Antonius booked their spot on Team USA based on results at a qualifier tournament in Florida.

As doubles partners, Ahmad and Antonius previously placed fourth in boys’ 12s doubles at the 2021 Easter Bowl.

AAPI Tennis Festival

USTA EASTERN CELEBRATED

ASIAN-AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH WITH A STAR-STUDDED EVENT IN QUEENS.

By Scott Sode

Nearly 500 people packed the courts at the Cunningham Tennis Center in Fresh Meadows, New York for USTA Eastern’s Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration and Tennis Festival. Families that attended the completely free event got to try a little tennis and learn more about the sport while enjoying Asian music, dance and food. Additionally, former professional players Kristie Ahn and Vania King—two of the most prominent Asian-American athletes in the game in recent years— showed off their shotmaking bonafides during a doubles exhibition match that took place amid all the festivities.

The fete was the brainchild of USTA Eastern Director of Schools & Community Tennis Jocelyn Cruz-Alfalla, who wanted to work on an initiative that honored her identity and those of some of her colleagues.

“I had a really high interest in doing something like this because I know there are some great Asian-American and Pacific Islander tennis providers in our section like [Director of Tennis] Bill [Racho] at Cunningham Tennis,” says Cruz-Alfalla, who is Filipino. “And I wanted to use my platform as a USTA Eastern staff member to marry celebration of AAPI culture and heritage with my number one passion, which is tennis.”

Here are some of the major highlights from the big day.

Photos by Bruce Adler

 The exhibition between Ahn, King and two Cunningham students was well-received among spectators, particularly when Ahn hit a tweener during a rally. King thought she and Ahn were strong representations of the possibilities of the sport for those in attendance. “Kristie played DI college tennis at Stanford and went on to have a terrific career on the professional tour, and I bypassed traditional school and turned pro early…though I did get my undergrad and masters degrees online while I was playing,” explains King, who captured two Grand Slam doubles titles during her time on the professional circuit. “Tennis has given both of us tremendous opportunities both on and off the court.”

 Local dance group RS International NY (pictured) put on a Bollywood routine for the crowd, while performers from the New York Chinese Cultural Center demonstrated their Kung Fu prowess. “What binds communities together is music, performance and dance,” says Cruz-Alfalla. “Inviting these groups really just added a lot of good value to the day’s events. It wasn’t just about hitting tennis balls. It was more.”

 New York Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and State Senator John C. Liu—who both represent Queens constituents—made an appearance together at the festival, officially proclaiming May “National Tennis Month”. “It was nice to get their support,” says Cruz-Alfalla (pictured, third from left, with from l-r, Racho, King, Rozic, Liu and Ahn).

 “Events are one of the multifaceted ways to support the AAPI community,” says King, who serves as a board member at USTA National and also helped found the AAPI Tennis Association, an organization committed to elevating AAPI voices within the sport. “They generate awareness, share in culture and community, educate the greater population and align with broader equity goals. It is important for us to celebrate the community we have and the history behind it to push for an intentional and equitable future.”

 Cruz-Alfalla tips her hat to Racho and the staff at Cunningham Tennis Center for helping to make the event such a success. “When you have great collaborators, there are very few challenges,” she says. “They put up a tent, they added more banners, they brought out their staff and coaches, they set up all the courts. That brought me joy, to work with people like Bill and Vania who believed in this event as much as I did.”

Eastern at the 2023 NTRP National Championships

EASTERN PLAYERS LOOK BACK ON THEIR TITLE-WINNING RUNS AT THE NATIONAL EVENT

By Scott Sode

In the zone. Team Eastern lifted a staggering four championship trophies at the 2023 NTRP Championships, held March 31-April 2 (singles) and April 14-16 (doubles) in multiple locations across the country: the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida, the Pelham Racquet Club in Pelham, Alabama, the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, California, and the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex in Surprise, Arizona.

Over the course of the two weekends, Larchmont, N.Y.’s Greg Naso captured the singles title in the 40 & Over 3.0 Men’s division, defeating USTA Pacific Northwest’s Evan Lerer, 3-4, 4-2, 4-3; incredibly, Naso’s wife

Jennifer teamed up with partner Annie Berger, of Mamaroneck, N.Y., to claim victory in the 40 & Over 3.0 Women’s doubles event, overcoming Tiffany Chambers and Leslie Cabellos of USTA Texas, 4-2, 4-2; Christopher Chan, of Closter, N.J., and Casey Schnabel, of Rockville Centre, N.Y., eased past USTA Northern California’s Justin Zertuche and Justin Yarbrough to triumph in doubles in the 18 & Over 4.5 Men’s division, 4-2, 4-2; and the new pairing of Anton Keller, of Clarksville, N.Y., and Quentin Phung, of Latham, N.Y., also took home the hardware in doubles in the 40 & Over 3.0 Men’s division, taking out USTA Southern’s Wade Anderson and Jason Cooper in the final, 4-2, 4-3. It’s the best-ever showing for an Eastern contingent at the five-year-old event, which is contested in a first-to-four-games format.

The family that plays together...

“My first reaction was a sense of relief, since the win came in a third-set tiebreak, and I had been up 3-0 in that final set,” Greg said of his singles victory, which he earned in 90-degree heat at the Orlando location. “After this initial feeling I was happy, especially because a number of my family and friends were watching and rooting for me. It’s always rewarding when you get an outcome that you work hard towards.”

Indeed, the hard work certainly paid off, as Greg successfully executed an aggressive gameplan to sail into the semifinals. He claimed all three of his round robin matches without dropping a set—even capturing one by a scoreline of 4-0, 4-0—and then lost just two games in the semis, against Devin Reilly of USTA Pacific Northwest. The only set he surrendered throughout the entire tournament came in the dramatic final with Lerer—and even that was decided in a tiebreak.

“We had a great championship match,” Greg said of the back-and-forth battle. “My opponent had been in the final the year before, so I knew I’d have my hands full. I felt that his style of play was similar to my own so it was somewhat familiar. Throughout the match, he got to everything and didn’t make many mistakes, so I had to stay focused and work for every point. [But] he had a great attitude, and I really enjoyed battling it out with him.”

Interestingly, Greg nearly battled it out with another Eastern player in the division championship, as Lerer squeaked by Mount Kisco, N.Y.’s Mario Valadez Trevino in two tiebreak sets to reach the final. Valadez Trevino also reached the elimination rounds of the event without dropping a single set in his flight matches; after the close semifinal loss, he’d go on to square off against Reilly and ultimately record a third-place finish.

“[Playing for third place], I was really prepared to go to the final, so not playing it felt a bit like I had no more pressure,” Valadez Trevino said. “Also, it was tough to play in the heat, so we spent some extra minutes chatting on the bench, and it kept me relaxed.”

Two weeks after Greg claimed the top prize, his wife Jennifer hit the courts at the Pelham location with partner Berger to bring more hardware home to Larchmont.

“It was so exciting watching Greg play, and I was so proud of him,” Jennifer said. “I was certainly motivated after his win. We couldn’t let him have all the glory!”

Pairing up for the first time, Berger and Jennifer also put on a dominant display, capturing 11 of

“Our scrappy and unconventional style leads to a lot of fun points on the court,” said Berger (left) of her partnership with Naso. Photo Credit: Mike Lawrence/USTA

12 sets en route to their victory. Berger said the debut partnership proved particularly fruitful due to their similar competitive mindsets; both played college lacrosse and grew up competing in a variety of different sports before discovering tennis in the last few years.

“We were able to find a way to get over our nerves and just play our game,” Berger noted. “I think our strong presence at the net and our willingness to fight for every single point helped us to clinch the win.”

Their third round robin match—against competitors from USTA Florida—also gave them a good gut check. Knowing that winning this contest would mean they’d advance to the elimination rounds, the Eastern pair won the first set 4-1, then lost an up-and-down second set in a tiebreaker on a deciding point. Improbably, history repeated itself in the third, with a sudden death point determining the outcome.

“Annie was rallying really well in the back, when our opponent then switched and hit to me,” Jennifer said. “I totally mishit the volley, and the ball barely got over the net, then died! I almost had a heart attack. But we won the point! That match really rattled us though. We participate in a clinic together and we were saying to each other that we play so differently in the clinic than what we showed in that match. From that point forward our mindset was to play like it was the clinic and just have fun.”

The pairing, said Phung, made for quite an interesting visual—and tactical—contrast on court.

“Anton towers over me,” he explained. “I asked him how tall he was and he said 6 feet 5-anda-half inches, which is oddly specific, and I stand at 5 feet 8 inches on a good day. So we obviously have different approaches to the game. He has a huge presence at the net and is comfortable using his size and great hands up there. I don’t mind the net but prefer to be at the baseline…I like to hit deep and heavy with a lot of topspin. We’re the classic odd couple pairing I guess. But it seemed to work for us.”

It worked so well, in fact, they might consider playing together on the same team in future events. The pair won two of their round robin duels dropping just one game, and ultimately claimed the championship match in straight sets. Their biggest challenge over the course of the weekend happened to come from a crafty USTA Southern team, who they ended up facing twice—once in a round robin contest, and then again in the semis. In the former, Keller and Phung had to battle back from a set down and claim the match in a third-set tiebreak; in the latter, they advanced only after two tight tiebreak sets.

The team pep talk worked, as they advanced through the elimination rounds to ultimately add another trophy to the Naso mantle. Of course, fun was why both players started competing in NTRP tournaments in the first place.

“I first started playing NTRPs in 2021 when Jenn told me about a local singles tournament and how fun they were,” Berger said. “I ended up going and she beat me in the finals! [But] I love any opportunity to compete. I always learn a lot from being exposed to new opponents and different styles of play, so I really value getting to play in these events.”

From local opponents to national champions

Like their female 40 & Over 3.0 counterparts, Keller and Phung were also competing for the first time as a team, after Phung’s regular partner couldn’t make the event. The two knew each other fairly well but usually played on opposite sides of the net.

“We met during a regular USTA Leagues [doubles] match, and I remember thinking, ‘Wow, he’s darn tough!’” Keller said of Phung. “Recently, Quentin asked if I had interest in [playing] this tournament, and of course I said ‘Heck yes!’ He’d finished second at a previous national NTRP event, so I was honored he would ask me.”

“First off, they were great to play against—very, nice, friendly and gracious,” Phung said. “Their style was the opposite of how we play, really unlike any doubles team I’d played before. They were all about angles, spins and lobs. In New York, we play indoors on fast hard courts about ten months of the year and that tends to favor an aggressive hard-hitting style. We definitely weren’t used to high lobs that would have hit the roof indoors! We got shellacked the first set [that we played against them] and were lucky to even win one game. After that we regrouped and told each other we needed to be more patient and conservative in our rallies. Luckily we pulled it out, but only barely.”

“We’ve played against each other many times [in Leagues],” Phung (right) said of Keller. “I always enjoyed playing against him not only because of how good of a player he is but also because of how friendly he was.” Photo Credit: Mike Lawrence/USTA

2023 marked Eastern’s best-ever showing at the NTRP National Championships.

While gritty wins like these were a definite highlight of the weekend, one of the best parts of the experience overall for Keller and Phung was the opportunity to make friends with other players in attendance.

“I thoroughly enjoyed not just competing, but also meeting other tennis fanatics across the country,” said Keller, who was playing at the championships for the very first time. “What makes this game amazing is the sportsmanship that permeates throughout. Making new friends and then encouraging and cheering each other on, that’s what makes this sport great. I love my tennis family!”

Making the most of a second chance

At the 2022 NTRP Championships, Chan and Schnabel reached the semifinals, ultimately finishing in fourth place.

“Last year we felt the event was winnable, but we were both nervous and couldn’t play our games in the playoffs,” Schnabel said. “This year we went in not wanting to be passive and have the same thing happen again. We wanted to go after it and play to win, which paid off.”

Starting with that mindset, Chan and Schnabel committed to maintaining a high energy level throughout. Each day before the event began, they hit with each other at a high-intensity practice to get the blood flowing.

“We knew that the no-ad, first-to-four scoring doesn’t allow for slow starts and gives you fewer opportunities to close out matches,”

Chan said. “So we were very intentional with ramping up our practice intensity in the mornings and bringing a lot of energy right into the pre-match warm up. The goal was to come out firing and executing well right out of the gate, which we ended up doing, winning the first set [of each match] without going to a tiebreaker.”

But they didn’t just win the first set; the pair ultimately went a perfect 10-for-10 in sets played overall, including in the semis and in the finals. Against the USTA Northern California team in the championship—whom both Chan and Schnabel dub “the Justins”—the Eastern duo were thrilled that they were able to develop and execute a winning strategy to ultimately lift the trophy.

“The Justins were so tough,” Schnabel said. “They’re so good at not giving you the ball in your strike zone. They would hit these flat lobs and then come charging to the net, where they kept every ball low. But we rose to the occasion. We had watched them play their first match in the playoffs so we already knew what to expect. We were always ready for the lob.”

It also helped that both Chan and Schnabel were on top of their own games. Down 0-30 on Schnabel’s serve at 3-2 in the first set, Chan came up with a series of excellent poaches—as well as a few key low volley pickups—to put the team back in a winning position. And Schnabel produced several big serves throughout to ultimately keep the pair on the front foot—and out in front.

“Casey and I balance each other out well,” Chan said. “He has a big, flat serve and groundstrokes that can push opponents off the baseline. When I’m at the net and he’s at the baseline, I’m confident because I know that in most cases our baseline opponent will blink first and miss or give me a ball to put away.”

Overall, getting to come back again to compete against some of the best teams in the country— and emerging victorious this time—is an experience neither will forget any time soon.

“It’s an amazing feeling to just say you’re able to play at Nationals to begin with,” Schnabel said. “You never take that for granted. But I’ve always wanted to be one of those people on the final day holding the trophy. Getting to say I’m a national champion is unreal. Not only did we make it here, but each match we played, we played so well. We wanted to get this for each other, not just ourselves. You never actually think you can win a National, so to actually be able to accomplish it is crazy. We’re ecstatic.”

“It was a great opportunity to represent Eastern at NTRP Nationals,” Chan (right) said. “Special thanks to our two biggest supporters, my girlfriend Mackie and Casey’s boyfriend Sean, for cheering us on all weekend.”

Photo Credit: Juan Ocampo/USTA

Greg claimed one of two NTRP National Championship trophies for the Naso family, of Larchmont, N.Y.

Photo Credit: Manuela Davies/USTA

Bouncing Back at the 2023 Easter Bowl

EASTERN JUNIOR CLAIRE AN DISPLAYED REMARKABLE RESILIENCE IN CAPTURING A TITLE AT THE HISTORIC TOURNAMENT.

By Scott Sode

For the second time in three years, an Eastern junior claimed the girls’ 16s title at the Easter Bowl, as New York, N.Y.’s Claire An came back from a set down in the final to defeat USTA Southern’s Alanis Hamilton, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4. Theadora Rabman, of Port Washington, N.Y., previously lifted the championship hardware in the same division in 2021.

“I think my mental [toughness] and desire to compete are two of the greatest strengths of my game,” she said. “Throughout the tournament I was very proud of the way I was competing, just fighting until the very end.”

Those qualities were on full display as she dug deep to advance each round.

“When things are not going your way, you end up battling your nerves and sometimes that can feel harder than the match itself,” she explained, reflecting on her second round duel against USTA Mid-Atlantic’s Blair Gill, the first of those five three-set contests. “I learned that it’s OK to win ugly, to win without playing my best.”

Eking out dramatic, tight victories ultimately prepared her for the final against No. 3 seed Hamilton, a close friend. Earlier this year, the pair teamed up to play doubles together at junior ITF tournaments in Barranquilla, Colombia—where they reached the semifinals— and in San Jose, Costa Rica—where they finished as runners-up.

EASTERN JUNIOR

KILLIKELLY WINS USTA SCHOLARSHIP

At the HBCU Springcoming festival in New York April 15-16, high school senior Jude Killikelly, of Queens, N.Y., was named the recipient of the USTA Althea Gibson Scholarship. The award—which was developed in partnership with the HBCU Puissance Scholarship Committee—is bestowed upon an individual who plays tennis and will be attending a HBCU in the fall. We talked to Killikelly—who will head to Hampton University—about his life in the sport.—Scott Sode

Congratulations on receiving the Althea Gibson Scholarship! One requirement for recipients of this award is a strong academic background. When you look back at your time in high school, what makes you most proud?

KILLIKELLY: I would say that my biggest accomplishment was maintaining a high GPA while being a student-athlete. It took lots of dedication and sacrifice.

Another requirement is a background in tennis. When did you first pick up a racquet? Do you have a favorite on-court moment or memory?

KILLIKELLY: I started playing tennis when I was seven. My greatest memory was when I was down a set in my high school tennis match and I came back and won the match in a third-set tiebreaker. I sent my school to the city semifinals for the first time!

The scholarship you received is named after an incredible tennis champion, Althea Gibson. How would you say her story has inspired you?

“It feels like an amazing accomplishment,” An said after the legendary 45-year-old junior event, which was held March 25-April 1 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. “I knew that everyone would be playing at a high level given the significance of this tournament, so I expected to battle every day. ”

It’s not a hyperbole to say that’s exactly what she ended up doing. To claim victory, An played five three-setters in six matches, coming back from a one-set deficit on four separate occasions. Only her opening round match—which she won by a tidy scoreline of 6-0, 6-2—didn’t go the distance.

“It was a different feeling playing someone you know, and someone who knows your own strengths and weaknesses as well,” An said. “[But] I definitely think having won a number of three-setters preceding my final helped me. I felt towards the end of the second set that I was playing my best tennis of the match and dictating points much better. I became much more confident in my shots, which transferred to a good start in the third.”

Now that she's won such a big event, what's the rest of 2023 looking like for An? More ITF tournaments. "I’m still working to get my ITF ranking up so that I can eventually compete in the Junior Grand Slams," she said.

KILLIKELLY: Althea’s legacy has inspired me as an African American in a predominantly white sport to be confident in who I am as a player. Her legacy has shown me the importance of being resilient on and off the court. It motivates me to keep going even when it looks like things aren’t going my way.

The N.Y.-based An had to battle more than just her opponents en route to lifting the championship hardware. “The conditions in Indian Wells are very different from playing indoors in the Eastern section,” she said. “It’s windy and dry and I had to adjust quickly.” Photo Credit: USTA

Killikelly (center) played tennis through two NJTLs in the NYC area: Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program (HJTEP) and New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL).

Bringing the Heat OVER THE SUMMER, PLAYERS HIT THE COURTS AT A WIDE VARIETY

OF USTA EASTERN EVENTS

By Scott Sode

Summer and tennis: name a more perfect match. All season long, USTA Eastern offered an abundance of playing opportunities, including some of the section’s signature competitive events—like USTA Eastern League Sectional Championships, Junior Team Tennis Sectional Championships and the ATA-NJTL-Eastern Cup. And in national and intersectional competition, several competitors from the East scored top results. A contingent representing the section lifted the historic Addie Cup, and in July, Eastern junior Christasha McNeil, of Lindenhurst, N.Y., captured the girls’ 18s title at the 2023 USTA National Clay Court Championships.

Elsewhere, the organization collaborated with local officials to host beginner clinics in parks all across the region, while staff members also led a Herculean effort to bring 1300 local kids to the US Open.

Here are a few of the biggest highlights.

 It’s the (second) most wonderful time of the year! USTA Eastern League Sectional Championships brought hundreds of competitors to tennis courts in Schenectady, N.Y. and Ardsley, N.Y. to vie for a section title. Over six weekends, 43 teams across multiple divisions advanced to represent USTA Eastern at the National tournament, which was held at several different locations across the country. The event capped off a strong year for the program in the section; in 2023, Eastern ranked #1 in adult league growth. Photo

 Right back in the winner’s circle. A group from New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) successfully defended their title at the second annual ATA-NJTL-Eastern Cup, held in June at the Saw Mill Tennis Club in Mount KIsco, N.Y. The event—a collaboration between USTA Eastern and the American Tennis Association—brings together players aged 12-14 from various National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) organizations across the section to engage in a little friendly competition.

 USTA Eastern was here, there and everywhere at the 2023 US Open! Around 1300 kids, parents and coaches participated in Net Generation activities at the final Grand Slam of the year. Juniors from across the section served as coin tossers before matches, on-air “Kid Caster” talent and trophy holders at championship ceremonies; many (pictured) got the chance to show off their skills in on-court demonstrations before the start of play.

 Attaboy, Addie ladies! A USTA Eastern contingent took home the Addie Cup, an annual tournament for women in the 40-and-over age group. The event—which debuted in 1981 and is named after Pauline Betz Addie, who captured four Grand Slam titles between 1942 and 1946—sees teams from Eastern, USTA Mid-Atlantic, USTA Middle States and USTA New England facing off to lift the championship hardware.

Credit: Damion Reid

Photo Credit: Avance Digital

Photo Credit: Mike Lawrence/USTA

 In 2023, USTA Eastern continued to collaborate with parks all over New York and New Jersey to host adult red ball tennis clinics. Red tennis balls (pictured here, at this event at the West Side Recreation tennis courts in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) are a perfect tool to help introduce the sport to beginners because they bounce lower to the ground, making it easier for players to swing and hit them back over the net.

 Ethan Falkowitz and Drew Hassenbein—two players for the Roslyn High School boys tennis team—tragically lost their lives earlier in the spring in a car accident on Long Island. In June, the Roslyn, N.Y. tennis community held a poignant “Rally for Roslyn” event to support their families and teammates. Photo Credit:

 You can’t spell USTA Eastern Tennis on Campus Sectionals without Cornell! Incredibly, the Ithaca-based ivy captured its fourteenth title in 17 years at the annual event, which features college club teams from across the section battling it out to advance to a national invitational. Rutgers University finished as finalists.

Bruce Adler

Photo Credit: Kelsey Altavilla

Growing the Game in Perth Amboy PERTH AMBOY,

N.J. OFFICIALS REMAIN COMMITTED TO OFFERING

RESIDENTS MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY THE SPORT.

By Scott Sode

Perth Amboy, N.J. is a location steeped in tennis history. Situated in close proximity to the Raritan River, the city has maintained multiple courts along the waterfront since the 1920s. That venue was once the setting of a local tennis tournament held during the U.S. National Championships (later the US Open); those who lost early in Queens—including a young Arthur Ashe—would often travel down to Perth Amboy to compete in the event. (Ashe actually captured the title there in 1964, four years before claiming his first Grand Slam on the grass at Forest Hills.)

Today, local officials are as passionate as ever about connecting that past to the present and future. Perth Amboy’s recreation department works diligently every year to promote and offer affordable tennis programming to the city’s 60,000 residents, 80% of whom identify as Latino. The reason the sport stays high priority, says Perth Amboy Superintendent of Recreation Kenneth Ortiz, is simple.

“Just look at what it provides,” he explains. “Tennis is based on an honor system. There are ethics and morals within the sport, and that builds character. That’s what we thrive on, what we want to teach our kids. One of

the things that I also learned when I took over the recreation department was just how many professionals play tennis. I met engineers, architects, lawyers, doctors and people from all walks of life. And I started to think about young people experiencing this. It could be life-changing to meet someone in your [dream] field in a social sports setting.”

Keeping all these benefits in mind, Ortiz and his team have worked closely with USTA Eastern staff over the last ten years to maintain a blossoming, robust tennis operation in their community. This past June, around 120 kids participated in the city’s summer youth offering. Ortiz applied for and received a USTA Eastern Growing Tennis Together grant to help subsidize the program; with the funds, department officials were able to pay for dedicated instructors as well as offer the clinic at a low cost—immensely important for an area where the median household income is around $50,000 a year.

To further inspire the kids, in September, Ortiz brought 24 of the players in the youth program and their parents to the US Open, where they got to participate in some on-court demonstrations prior to the start of the day’s matches.

“Our kids were blown away,” he says. “I'm a big basketball guy. And when I was in high school, I got to play at the Meadowlands back when the Nets played there. And when you take a look around and you see the seats, it's pretty inspiring. That's the same thing that happened with these kids. You get to see the pros, and you get the chance to hit on these courts. And the parents enjoyed it too! They said, ‘This was great. Not only for my child, but for me. It opened up my eyes to what tennis [can be].’”

Experiences like these are what motivates Ortiz to keep innovating and building a community through the sport. He recalls a time in his youth when he was walking out of a McDonalds with his family, and a homeless man approached them for money. Even though Ortiz’s family themselves came from a humble background, his mother extended five dollars so that the man would be able to eat.

“After seeing that, it changed something in me—I’ve always wanted to help others,” he says. “Not just help them, but mentor them so they can do well for themselves. Like I said before, there are so many players from diverse backgrounds and professions in tennis, and I want our kids to get to meet those people so that it could [lead to] opportunities for them. That’s what’s heartwarming for me. We’re cultivating these young people.”

Participants in Perth Amboy’s junior program attend the US Open. Photo Credit: Pete Staples/USTA

JTT Sectional Championships

CAMARADERIE AMONG PLAYERS HIGHLIGHTED USTA EASTERN’S SIGNATURE JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS EVENT, AGAIN HELD AT THE HOME OF THE US OPEN.

By Scott Sode

Long Island-based teams swept all four divisions at the 2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Sectional Championships, held June 17-18 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Squads from the Game Set Match Tennis Academy in East Setauket, N.Y. claimed victory in both 14 & Under (14U) Advanced and 18 & Under (18U) Advanced competition, while contingents from Sportime Lynbrook, in Lynbrook, N.Y., took home the championship hardware in both the 14U Intermediate and 18U Intermediate categories.

“Chemistry was big,” said 18U Intermediate Sportime Lynbrook captain Pat Mosquera in reflecting on his team’s victory. “These kids play [together] all year round. Off the court and on the court they’re all great friends, so it’s a lot of fun for them.”

Indeed, teamwork was a hallmark of the weekend overall. In JTT competition, one or two members of each team face off in five one-set matches: boys’ and girls’ singles, boys’ and girls’ doubles, as well as one mixed doubles match. Although one team wins each match,

every game earned is what ultimately counts toward the final score. Sahara Ahmad—who helped Sportime Lynbrook ease past the YMCA Acers (of USTA Eastern’s Northern Region) in the 18U Intermediate final with wins in both the girls’ singles and doubles matches—said the format made the event uniquely exciting, given how individualized the game can normally be.

“Tennis can be such a lonely sport,” she said. “Even in doubles, it’s just one other person. Just the fact that you have teammates to cheer you on, I really like that aspect.”

Her teammate, Zecheng Fang—who contested boys’ singles for Lynbrook—echoed that sentiment, also noting that the team element served as a motivating factor on court as he battled the Acers’ Vincent Devito in the final. Fang had the edge for most of the contest, but the pair played multiple lung-busting rallies at critical moments that tended to finish in Devito’s favor. Hearing cheers from his teammates helped Fang gut out the win.

“You’re not just playing for yourself,” he explained. “You’re playing for the team. [So] I had to stay focused, especially on bigger points, just trying not to make any easy mistakes.”

Although he ultimately lost his bout with Feng, Devito stepped back on the same court minutes later to contest the mixed doubles match with partner Bella Kaldy. Thanks in part to some strong shotmaking at the net from

Kaldy, the pair came back from a break down to claim the match 7-5. The duo said that having the opportunity to compete in mixed added to the excitement of the event overall.

“Usually you’re either playing boys’ doubles, girls’ doubles or singles [at a tournament], so it’s nice to change it up a little,” said Devito, who, no stranger to versatility, will actually play for his school’s soccer team when he heads to college in the fall. Kaldy agreed.

“I think it’s different and fun,” she said. “We’ve actually gotten to play together all season, so we’re used to it by now. And it’s helpful because [Vincent] knows how to calm me down when I miss!”

Another exciting facet of JTT Sectionals for participants: getting to compete on the same courts as professional players who contest the US Open each year. It was particularly meaningful for Devito and Kaldy’s teammate Riley Schmitz, the reigning New York State Section II girls’ singles champion.

“My family is a very big tennis family, and my siblings are a lot older,” she said. “The one time a year that we all get to talk and be together is here at the US Open. So it’s really fun to be in this environment. It brings up a lot of good memories.”

She’ll continue to create good memories, according to Mosquera. “I’ve been doing this for over 30 years,” he said. “The kids that I taught 30 years ago are playing with me now on a USTA League team. They’ve been together 30 years, and as adults they’re still competing. The friendship goes past tennis. 30 years from now, I may not be here, but these juniors will still be here playing. That’s the beauty of the sport.”

Members of the YMCA Acers compete in a mixed doubles match at the 2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis Sectional Championships. Photo Credit: New York Tennis Magazine

19 teams from all six USTA Eastern regions competed in the 2023 event.

A player from the Sportime Lynbrook team chases down a shot.

Photo Credit: New York Tennis Magazine

All for Love LOVE SERVING AUTISM’S

WORK WITH USTA EASTERN TO GROW ADAPTIVE TENNIS ACROSS THE SECTION HAS NETTED THE BEST RETURNS.

By Scott Sode

If you need an example of how tennis can change lives, look no further than the effect Love Serving Autism has had on the many kids enrolled in its programming. The nonprofit organization’s enthusiastic founder Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix—a certified speech language pathologist who has over 20 years of experience treating kids and adults with autism—can list off countless examples.

“One of our students was nonverbal when I met him through tennis about five years ago,” she recalls. “He was communicating with gestures by pointing and using communication visuals. I still work with him once a week, and he’s now verbal. He attends all our tennis events. His mom said that through the sport he’s been able to make friends and improve his communication. It gave him more confidence.”

That’s not all. Just last month, he finished in the Top 8 in the country in a national geography bee.

“It just shows that you can never give up on someone who’s young, who has autism and maybe doesn’t have the language skills,” Pugliese-LaCroix says. “It doesn’t mean that they never will. They could develop those someday, and possibly through tennis.”

Pugliese-LaCroix has long understood all the benefits the sport can offer. She first picked up a racquet at five years old and played competitively in college (at both Duke University and the University of Florida) and on the WTA circuit. After a back injury somewhat blunted her progress, she decided to take a little break from the rigors of the professional tour.

“I could have continued, I think, if that was really my passion,” she says now. “I felt like I didn’t know. I was kind of questioning my career path at that point in my life.”

Around this time, her mother happened to read an article about speech language pathology. She thought the field might be a good fit for her daughter, who had majored in English and linguistics in college. Pugliese-LaCroix looked into it and ended up enrolling in a graduate

program at nearby Florida Atlantic University. Quickly, she says, she found her calling.

“I realized how much I enjoyed helping others and not being so focused on myself,” she explains. “Growing up in tennis, it was all about my training and performance and results, and it was kind of nice to give back. I enjoyed it.”

In 2011, about ten years removed from her athletic career, Pugliese-LaCroix learned about the ACEing Autism organization, which, as its name indicates, helps bring tennis to kids with autism. It seemed like a perfect melding of two disciplines to which she had dedicated her life, and she offered to help expand the Californiabased operation’s programming to her home state of Florida. After serving as ACEing’s site director for six years, she endeavored to form a non-profit of her own so that she could better infuse the programming with her own approaches and ideas as a professional in the field.

“I just felt in my heart that there are not enough organizations to serve this population,” Pugliese-LaCroix says. “I think the statistics are that 1 in 36 children now are diagnosed by the age of eight in the United States. So I hoped it would be perceived as, ‘Okay, this is another program to help others.’”

Pugliese-LaCroix (third from left) routinely leads training sessions for tennis professionals in the Eastern section.

In 2019, Karla Ruaya (background) became the first tennis provider in the Eastern section to work with Love Serving Autism to develop an adaptive program in West Orange, N.J. Ruaya is still developing adaptive programming and recently hosted a Neurodiversity Day event.

Photo Credit: Josh Song

Love Serving Autism’s astronomical growth in Florida more than underscores that point. The non-profit originated as one program at a charter school in 2017; Pugliese-LaCroix taught every class herself. Today it offers programming at 28 locations across the state and serves around 300 students. In addition to helping teach the fundamentals of the game, the organization hires speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapists as independent contractors through grants to help participants improve their communication, coordination, motor and life skills.

Amid the expansion, Pugliese-LaCroix has begun taking the show on the road, helping other tennis providers around the country develop their own adaptive operations, including in New York and New Jersey. She has helped establish programming in East Brunswick, N.J., Summit, N.J., West Orange, N.J. and in Middle Village, Queens. Caitlin Kehoe, the recreation supervisor for the East Brunswick Department of Recreation, Parks and Community Services, leaned on PuglieseLaCroix as she worked to get one such offering off the ground.

“In our initial meeting, Lisa took plenty of time to thoroughly discuss Love Serving Autism and the impact it has had on children with special needs,” Kehoe says. “I was incredibly shocked and grateful that she shared her curriculum, including specific documents, photos and banners to help us start our program, which we affectionately call Love Serving Daisy.”

Love Serving Daisy launched last fall with four participants; its most recent eight-week session included ten players. Given the demand, Kehoe expects that number to keep growing, and she’s very thankful for Pugliese-LaCroix’s support every step of the way.

“While we just started the program, we plan to continue to expand and make use of indoor locations [during the colder months],” she says. “Lisa has been wonderful to us. She’s always

reaching out and checking up on us to make sure everything is running smoothly and that we don’t need any additional resources.”

In addition to her efforts to bolster adaptive programming in the area, Pugliese-LaCroix has also led in-person training sessions for many other tennis professionals in the USTA Eastern section, including in Guilderland, N.Y. and Watertown, N.Y., as well as with teachers in the New York City public schools. Through these efforts, she hopes to empower more people in the tennis world to serve a woefully underserved group.

“Whether it’s someone with the YMCA or a tennis director or a P.E. teacher, it’s about helping them realize that they are in fact capable of developing this programming,” she says. “It’s not like you have to be a certified tennis professional. There are a lot of tools and resources available to create a successful experience for participants. I think that providers can be intimidated by the process. They don’t think that they’re adequate or equipped to do this. And after a training, many realize, ‘Okay, I think I could do this.’ So it’s very exciting to see. The hope is that maybe a handful of the people who attend these workshops will initiate something at some point in their career in adaptive tennis.”

Of course, you don’t have to look very far to see the impact just one such program can make.

“Over the course of eight weeks, we’ve watched our athletes learn self-control, discipline, positivity and sportsmanship—and of course, the skills needed to play tennis,” Kehoe says. “The best part of running this program is ending a session with a reflection, which often

leads to athletes sharing how proud they are of themselves and how much they love [tennis]. Even more, one set of parents shared with me that their very shy child, who seemed to not be interested in much, would actually ask to come to tennis. The child would also encourage her mom to stay and watch! Seeing such a wonderful transformation both physically and mentally has made this so rewarding to run.”

The stories really are countless. Similar to Kehoe’s experience, Pugliese-LaCroix shares that mere weeks after the Middle Village offering got off the ground, an elated father sent her a message. His daughter struggled with several sensory challenges, and he wasn’t even sure if she would like tennis.

“She loves it,” Pugliese-LaCroix reports. “She knows the calendar of tennis classes, and the family plans their whole day around it. It’s something that she really looks forward to. And she’s becoming more physically independent on court, more coordinated, more social, which is great. It’s so exciting to hear. And this is only after four weeks!”

Pugliese-LaCroix founded Love Serving Autism in 2017.

Eastern Leagues at Nationals

LOCAL LEAGUE TEAMS SOARED IN COMPETITION AGAINST THE BEST SQUADS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

By Scott Sode

They may be dressed the color of a lemon, but everything about Team Eastern at the 2023 USTA League National Championships was oh-so-sweet.

Decked in a designated yellow hue, a staggering 12 USTA Eastern squads scored a Top 4 finish at the seven-week event, held in October and November at various locations across the country. Among those earning a spot on the podium included the section’s 18 & Over 2.5 Women’s squad—based out of Garden City, N.Y.— who brought a championship title back to Long Island, and three groups from New Jersey, who all finished as runners-up. Below, read a collection of their stories and journeys at the major annual competition. Editor’s Note: These stories were written in October and November.

WEEK 1: AN EASTERN “SUPERGROUP” SCORES AN IMPROBABLE WIN

Kicking off Nationals with a trophy! USTA Eastern’s 18 & Over 2.5 Women’s team— based out of Garden City, N.Y.—captured the title in their division on the first weekend of competition at the 2023 USTA National League Championships, held September 29-October 1 in Tucson, Arizona.

“It’s a Cinderella story,” Captain Laura Crain said of the victory. “I couldn't have written a script better than how this all went, I’m telling you. We’ve still got our mouths open in shock.”

Prior to the extraordinary result, the women— most of whom only picked up tennis after the COVID-19 pandemic—primarily competed against each other on three separate teams

in an interclub league in Garden City. But they were all good friends, and Crain thought it might be fun for everybody to come together as “one supergroup, like the Traveling Wilburys,” she said with a laugh.

Of course, at the beginning of the 2023 season, they didn't necessarily possess the clout of that 1980s supergroup. New to the USTA league format, the squad even headed into their Long Island regional playoff as heavy underdogs, but they ultimately dug deep and developed a winning strategy to emerge victorious. At Eastern’s sectional championship, they showed up as “this team of misfits,” with most of their children in tow. (“We have 50 kids between the six of us,” Crain joked.) Crain herself actually left a family vacation in Hershey Park, Pennsylvania to play three courts at the event, then turned around and drove straight back to the Keystone State the following day. Still, they fought hard and found a way to win.

They faced long odds again in Tucson as they prepared to go up against more experienced opponents.

“We were like The Bad News Bears,” Crain said. “We’re 40-year-old moms.”

They were also competing with a numbers disadvantage. With only six players, five players needed to compete in each match (consisting of one singles court and two doubles courts). Most of the other teams, Crain noted, brought around ten competitors

and a coaching pro to help out. Still, they each maximized their capabilities and emerged with a 4-0 record in round robin play, overcoming contingents from USTA Hawaii, USTA Southern California, USTA Intermountain and USTA Texas to punch their ticket to the semifinals.

“I think managing our [energy levels] with how tired we were [was key],” Crain said. “Everyone stepped up. If one person wasn't feeling well, we tried to pair her with a stronger player who wasn’t necessarily her usual partner. And we would switch up at singles, doubles…as many combinations as we could to keep us as fresh as possible.”

Crain noted the battle against Texas was the most dramatic. The teams split courts—Eastern won in singles while Texas claimed the first doubles contest. Crain and partner Caitlin Sorohan needed to win their second doubles battle to ensure a place in the semifinals. But the Eastern duo ended up splitting sets with their opponents, meaning their improbable championship campaign hinged on the outcome of a ten-point tiebreaker.

The pair did not exactly get off to the start they envisioned. After a couple nervy mistakes, Crain and Sorohan found themselves down 5-9 and just one point away from elimination. With Texas’s deep bench cheering loudly for their teammates, the Eastern duo gave each other a pep talk. They resolved to become backboards and just not miss. Texas would need to earn it.

Small but mighty: Eastern’s 18 & Over 2.5 Women’s team entered the event with only six players.

“The photographer got my reaction [the moment we clinched the title],” Crain said. “It’s probably going to turn into a suburban-mom-cry-face [meme] or something!”

Two of Eastern’s 2.5 players celebrate after capturing the championship title in their division at the 2023 USTA League National Championships.

“We had to be perfect for another five minutes or our season was done, and we knew that,” Crain said. “So we looked at each other and we said, ‘Let's just get one more point.’ And then it was 6-9, then 7-9, then 8-9, 9-9, 10-9. And [on the next point], they hit [the ball] at Caitlin’s feet. She deflected it and lobbed it over their heads. Everybody was screaming ‘It’s gonna drop in!’ One of the Texas players swung and missed, and it hit the ground, and it was just like an eruption, like a moment frozen in time. I don’t think it’d even sunk in [that we’d won] until people around us started cheering. Scoring six points in a row to make the semis…I’ll never forget that as long as I live.”

Their victories in the semis—against USTA Northern California—and in the final—against USTA Caribbean—displayed no less scrap and grit. Although the scoreline appeared to be routine, Elise Chamberlain battled her opponent—and the 100-degree Tucson heat— for two hours and 20 minutes to score a critical 6-4, 6-3 semifinal singles victory; the last game of the contest turned into a back-and-forth duel that spanned eight deuce points. And in the final, Sivan Chapman and Marie Romeo-Gough overcame a 1-5 deficit in the second set of their doubles bout to claim the court, 6-1, 7-6, and ultimately ensure that Garden City’s tennis version of the Traveling Wilburys would hoist the championship hardware.

For Crain, the experience was “such a blur,” she said. “We joked that we needed a vacation from this vacation. It was such a whirlwind, but it was so much fun strategizing and being together and dissecting the matches and eating the dinners together. We really came together—it made us a stronger core group.”

And of course, coming back home to Garden City with the title made the weekend feel even more special.

“I get to say I’m a national champion,” Crain said. “[It’s so great] that the USTA has a 2.5 championship, because people who aren’t Serena Williams get to have moments like this. I started playing tennis at 36. I'm never going to be at Wimbledon, but we got to go and play Hawaii and Intermountain and Southern California and Northern California and Texas in a national event and win a national title and that's incredible. I’m just so grateful.”

WEEK 3: JERSEY BOYS SOAR

Garden State greats. Two USTA Eastern teams from New Jersey rocked the third week of competition at the 2023 USTA League National Championships, held October 13-15 in Tucson, Ariz. and Surprise, Ariz. A squad based out of the Westfield Indoor Tennis Club in Westfield,

N.J. finished as finalists in the 18 & Over 3.0 Men’s division, while a group from Centercourt in Chatham, N.J. placed third in the 40 & Over 4.5 Men’s event.

The Chatham-based Eastern squad stormed through early-round competition, overcoming opponents from USTA Southern California, USTA Hawaii, USTA Middle States and USTA Pacific Northwest to finish at the top of the leaderboard and easily book a spot in the semifinals. Through all four of those matches— which, for the division, consisted of one singles court and three in doubles—the Eastern team relinquished just two courts.

“Years of playing competitive matches best prepares you for playing competitive matches… our regular season league is incredibly tough!” Captain Doug Coyle explained of the strong round robin results. “But it was also such a relief to make it to Nationals. I actually think we were more nervous at Eastern Sectionals, because everyone knew we had a real chance to make it to Nationals for the first time. Competing [in Tucson] almost felt like playing with house money. We all played pretty freely.”

So freely, in fact, that team member Fabrizio Rotati channeled his inner Roger Federer during the contest against Hawaii.

“On match point, the opposing team hit a lob,” Coyle recalled. “Fabrizio ran back and actually rocketed a tweener [across the net]! Then Fabrizio’s partner easily put away the next shot from their dumbfounded opponents. It was quite a memorable match point—and it happened at Nationals!”

Unfortunately, the free-flowing form couldn’t last forever, as the team ultimately fell to USTA Florida in the semifinals. Coyle said the disappointment still lingered as they prepared to face USTA Southern for the third-place trophy.

“After we lost the semifinal match, my cocaptain David Mira and I looked at each other and thought, ‘Ummm…now what do we do?’” he explained. “A couple players said they didn’t want to play. But some of the other guys pushed back, saying ‘Hey, we didn’t come to Nationals and make the final four just to give up for our last match! Who knows if we’ll ever make it back, so let’s go play and win.’”

The duel turned out to be one of the most competitive of the weekend, with both Eastern and Southern capturing two courts as players from both groups cheered loudly on the sidelines. Eastern would ultimately prevail over Southern in a tiebreak that came down to sets won, “which made [Eastern player] Gary Gulino feel great about winning a set in the singles court he lost,” Coyle said.

Ultimately, the effort to compete to the very end proved to be more than worth it.

“We won our last match at Nationals, which left a really good taste in our mouths,” Coyle said. “And I think everyone on the team felt a real sense of pride and satisfaction to finish third in the country. For most of us, this was our first trip to Nationals. We’ve all played over ten years in USTA leagues and had never been. To not only go, but finish in the final four, qualify for the final day and then end up on the podium… it’s just a real sense of accomplishment.”

But even more than the competition, it was also a great bonding experience among longtime friends. Some of the players rented an Airbnb and would return from the courts each day to play pool and ping pong together.

“At one point my wife called, heard the ping pong in the background, and exclaimed, 'Don’t you people ever get tired of racquet sports?!’” Coyle said with a laugh. “[But] really what made the whole weekend even more special is that we’re all friends on the team, and we’ve all played together for so many years. It’s not like we went out and recruited strangers. It was just us. We’re all very grateful to play tennis, and in this case have notable team success, with such a great group of guys.”

The 18 & Over 3.0 Men’s team overcame soaring Arizona temperatures to earn their second-place finish.

“For most of us, this was our first trip to Nationals,” Coyle said of the 40 & Over 4.5 Men’s team. “We’d all played over ten years in USTA leagues and had never been.”

WEEK 4: “LET’S BE DISRUPTORS”

Another week, another pair of Top 3 finishes. USTA Eastern’s 18 & Over 4.0 Men’s team— based out of New York City—and its 55 & Over 6.0 Men’s team—from Setauket, N.Y.—both placed third in their respective divisions on the fourth weekend of competition at the 2023 USTA League National Championships, held October 20-22 in Surprise, Arizona and Orlando, Florida.

Finishing as the third-best team in the country ultimately exceeded 18 & Over 4.0 captain Simon Chong’s wildest expectations, he said. The players—many of whom didn’t even know each other before the 2023 season began—had only recently started competing together after separately getting recruited by a mutual friend.

“I remember there was one [early-season] match where I took the subway out to Queens and then got picked up in a white van to go to the courts,” Chong recalls with a laugh. “We were all a bunch of strangers with tennis gear sitting in a white van. I was thinking ‘What is going on here?’ [But] from then to now, we really went a long way together.”

Indeed, they did. Upon arriving in Surprise, Chong and his fellow players immediately realized that they were considered heavy underdogs, with chatter around the grounds centering on formidable teams from USTA Southern, USTA Florida, USTA Northern California and USTA Southern California as the major favorites. The Eastern contingent would ideally need to beat two of those teams—Northern California and Southern—in round robin competition to have any chance of reaching the semifinals. They ultimately lost 2-3 [the division plays two singles and three doubles courts] to Southern in a heartbreaker of a match that came down to one third-set tiebreaker. The result somewhat dashed their hopes of making the final four; they’d have to claim decisive victories over their remaining opponents Northern California and USTA Mid-Atlantic and also rely on other teams’ scores to advance.

“We didn’t really know how to process it because we were so close [to the upset],” Chong said. “But then we had a team meeting where we were like ‘What’s our direction now?’ We were set to play NorCal the next day. I said, ‘Hey, let’s make a statement. Let’s be disruptors. Let's show them that we can knock out one of these top teams!’”

The matchup the following morning proved to be a contrast in styles before anybody even hit the court.

“[The NorCal team] was all wearing matching T-shirts, eating protein bars,” Chong said with a laugh. “They were doing drills before the match, training like competitive athletes. And then on my team, some of our guys were eating donuts! When we were called over by the referees, some of our players were gone because they were in the bathroom and I had to apologize. Maybe it was because of the loss to Southern that we were just a little more chill.”

Regardless of outward appearances, Team Eastern would go on to deliver the upset they envisioned and perhaps the upset of the tournament, capturing all five of their courts against the group from California. The favorites certainly made Chong and his players earn the W: Eastern’s No. 1 singles player Srini Laliwala claimed his hard-fought, protracted battle 11-9 in a match tiebreaker after he and his competitor split 7-5 sets and started cramping.

“We didn’t expect [the win],” Chong said. “We went from barely losing to Southern in our second match to sweeping NorCal in our third. That was very exciting for us.”

The NorCal victory—along with a nail biting 3-2 result over Mid-Atlantic in their final round robin contest—ultimately helped propel the Eastern team into the semifinals. There, they’d end up taking another tough loss—this time to USTA Middle States—in a duel that again came down to a close tiebreaker. While the players were upset they wouldn’t make the final, they resolved to give it their all in the third-place match against USTA Florida, another early favorite. Despite soaring temperatures and conditions to which their opponents were no doubt more accustomed, the underdogs would eventually come out on top 4-1.

“A lot of ups and downs, but mostly ups,” Chong said of the weekend. “We had some really good moments. But the most fun thing was bonding with my teammates. We rented two Airbnb’s, and we’d eat together, play games. We’d just have fun talking about tennis and stuff outside tennis. And of course we had so much fun cheering everyone on match by match. In a sense, it was kind of like camp, and you just don't get to do things like that as much as an adult.”

The experience has motivated the Eastern group to get out on court even more, Chong said.

“It’s got everyone fired up!” he noted. “We’re even entering singles tournaments together now. Yeah, there’s a lot of good energy on our team.”

WEEK 6 & 7: MIXED SUCCESS

Consistent until the very end. Two more New Jersey-based teams—the 40 & Over 6.0 and 7.0 Mixed squads—finished as finalists in their respective divisions during the final two weeks of competition at the 2023 USTA League National Championships, held November 3-5 and November 10-12 in Surprise, Arizona and San Diego, California.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” admitted Eastern’s 7.0 Mixed captain Marijus Kuzavas of capturing the runner-up trophy. “Sweet, because ending up second place out of 1300 teams nationwide in the division is an incredible accomplishment, and I am extremely proud of us for achieving it. But the bitter part comes from getting your dream ended so close to the finish line. And from knowing that it will be extremely hard to build such a special team again.”

Special is definitely the right word for Kuzavas and his players. During competition in Surprise, they repeatedly showed just how special they were, soundly defeating competitive groups from USTA Intermountain, USTA Northern and USTA Texas to advance to the semifinals. The only two courts they dropped in the early rounds—out of the 12 played—occurred in a close loss to USTA Middle States, where, Kuzavas noted, everyone enjoyed a bit of an unexpected advantage.

Eastern’s 18 & Over 4.0 Men’s team poses after finishing in third place.

4.0 singles player Laliwala went undefeated over the course of the entire weekend.

“Middle States was another team from New Jersey, composed of friends that our group often plays with!” he explained. “So that match was a derby. We knew each other very well and it was pretty much a coin flip. We just came out on the unlucky side.”

However close the Middle States encounter was, it ended up being nothing compared to the semifinal battle against USTA Florida. The teams contested three courts, all three of which were decided in third-set match tiebreakers.

“It was probably more dramatic than the scoreline indicates,” Kuzavas said. “The pairs were so well-matched that there was no telling who would win until the last point. My partner Swati [Rao-Engel] and I were down for most of our [court], losing the first set pretty badly 1-6. Then we were again down in the second. Somehow we battled back to level the score, but then we went down in the super tiebreaker 4-8. Again, somehow we managed to claim the next six points in a row to win it.”

The players would again leave it all out there in the final, with Kuzavas and Rao-Engel battling for over three hours and erasing four match points to capture their court. Unfortunately, USTA Northern California would claim the other two—one, once again, in a grueling third-set tiebreaker.

Kuzavas acknowledged the extremely tight finish has resulted in a lot of “what ifs” running through his head since he returned from Arizona. But he’s still filled with an immense amount of pride for everything his “special team” did accomplish throughout the entire season—from barely squeaking past their opponents in the Metro Region at USTA Eastern Sectionals to their repeated heroics in Surprise. He noted that due to a few injuries and scheduling issues, Saori Shiokawa and Solomon

Ji ended up having to play every single match over the course of the weekend, with several different partners.

“[Our team name was] Team Vuvuzela,” Kuzavas said. “It’s a small South African device that spectators used in soccer matches during the World Cup [in 2010] to make a lot of noise, and it was so loud that FIFA banned it. Our team was a small team that was meant to make a lot of noise in the competition— and we did.”

Another Eastern contingent making a fair amount of noise was the section’s 6.0 Mixed squad, who sailed into the semifinals at their event in San Diego with a perfect 4-0 match record against competitors from USTA Southern, USTA Texas, USTA Midwest and USTA Northern. Incredibly, prior to the 2023 season, captain Andrea Chu had never before helmed a team; several of her players had never even contested a USTA match. Chu said practice (and maybe a little singing) ultimately made perfect.

“We invested a lot of time practicing and figuring out which partnerships worked best, which helped us go undefeated in round robin play,” she explained. “And then also, [over the course of the season], we spent time getting to know each other. Sharing great food, singing karaoke, exploring local sights…it allowed us to bond away from the game. That proved beneficial to the positive chemistry of the team.”

“One part that was most enjoyable was seeing the unity and excitement in our team over the weekend,” Chu said. “It was very special to have every team member travel and play and cheer each other on during the matches. And everybody played amazingly!”

So amazingly, in fact, that, after a 2-1 defeat of USTA Caribbean, they found themselves in the final against USTA Northern California. Chu herself hadn’t necessarily expected to make the last match of the event, noting that the goal all along had been to reach the semifinals.

“Playing for the title was unlike anything we’ve experienced before,” she said. “We went into the finals with much excitement and preparation knowing the challenge to come. [But] being able to play for the title was a reward in itself. We learned how tough our opponents were, which ultimately made our experience all the more exhilarating.”

Even though Chu and her players didn’t get to hoist the championship hardware, they were more than thrilled with the outcome—and their level of play. Chu also specifically noted her pride in watching a selection of rookie USTA players flourish.

The group became so close and committed to the team’s success, in fact, that a total of 18 players traveled across the country to compete at Nationals. Chu worked closely with teammates Jerry Zhang and Hong Wang to ensure that everybody in attendance would have their chance to shine under the San Diego sun— what she called the “biggest challenge” of the experience. But it was definitely more than worth it.

“I

“Seeing the growth of our new team players, seeing their confidence build, was truly incredible,” she said.

Of course, as a first-time captain, she set out to emphasize team bonding and fun more than any individual result. Beyond the spot on the podium, Chu left San Diego satisfied that all 18 of her fellow New Jerseyans strengthened their friendships—with group dinners and, of course, karaoke. And, she added, they even made some new ones along the way.

“Playing USTA Caribbean in the semis, there was immediate excitement and respect between the two teams, despite the language barrier,” she said. “They even taught us how to cheer for our teammates in Spanish! Seeing all the other amazing players from across the country not only added to the fun but also made the experience even better.”

have met and made friends with so many people from so many different backgrounds,” Kuzavas said of playing USTA League tennis.

18 players helped Eastern’s 40 & Over 6.0 Mixed team leave San Diego with a runner-up trophy.

Eastern’s 40 & Over 7.0 Mixed team—or Team Vuvuzela—celebrates after a big win.

Board Spotlight: Katrina Campbell

USTA EASTERN BOARD MEMBER KATRINA CAMPBELL REFLECTS ON HER LOVE OF TENNIS AND SERVICE TO THE SPORT.

By Scott Sode

David N. Dinkins—the first Black mayor of New York—once said that his “greatest interest and concern” as a member of the USTA National Board was that “people playing tennis look like this country.” Every day, USTA Eastern strives to operate under that governing principle; it is the section’s mission to ensure that anyone who wants to pick up a racquet has the opportunity to do so.

Of course, an organization whose mission is to serve all should be composed of individuals who also “look like this country”. With that in mind, USTA Eastern has taken great strides toward diversifying its staff and board so that those from all walks of life—with varying perspectives and experiences—can have a seat at the table. Every year, we aim to shine a spotlight on some of those many different voices. One of those voices is Katrina Campbell, a member-at-large on USTA Eastern’s Board of Directors who currently chairs the section’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee. Campbell talks to us about finding a community in the sport and her pride in getting the “recreational player” a seat at the table.

When did you first pick up a racquet? What’s your tennis origin story?

CAMPBELL: I took tennis in a physical education class in college, but never really played regularly until 2006, when I moved to New Jersey from Virginia. I was getting divorced and looking for something to do where I could build my own community. There were courts nearby my home, and I met someone who asked if I wanted to play. Then this group that I started playing with learned about a USTA league that was in Plainfield, and they said, “Oh, we should join!” I was terrified. [Laughs]. But they convinced me to do it, and I’ve been playing ever since.

What do you love about the sport that has kept you playing all these years?

CAMPBELL: I love connecting with people from communities that I might not otherwise just run into. I play regularly with people who are in their 70s, and I play with a young lady who's 19. I play with people who are white, Black, Indian American, Chinese, Russian. Literally, that’s my team. Tennis really gives you an easy way to put yourself out there and do so while having fun.

You joined the USTA Eastern Board of Directors in 2021. Are there any projects you’ve worked on during your tenure in the role that make you particularly proud?

CAMPBELL: To me, a key part of being a board member is that you don’t just sit there and vote. You engage and you challenge and you ask questions so that you can better understand in an effort to fully promote this sport. I'm proud to be the person in the room who is willing to ask the question that no one else is asking. But I’m also really proud

that I’m a 50-year-old professional who has been a 3.0 player for 13 years. I represent the people like me who want to have fun and don't want to take it too seriously, but still want to compete. I'm really happy to be the person at the table who reflects all those playing tennis for the fun of it. Most of us are not professional players and are not ever going to be professional. Yet it's still transformative for us.

You’ve recently begun chairing Eastern’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee. What are your goals for the organization in that regard over the next few years?

CAMPBELL: What I'd like to see is the incorporation of diversity into every aspect of what we do. By that I mean, if we’re thinking about a supplier, are we automatically sourcing with women-owned businesses, businesses owned by people of color or immigrants or differently-abled people? When we’re thinking about nominating people for awards, are we automatically ensuring that award recipients reflect the diversity of our section? Are we reaching out to wheelchair tennis groups and training coaches in adaptive tennis techniques? Is this all just part of what we do? But again, it’s about speaking up in meetings and asking those questions. And my goal is to make sure that we’re all asking those questions.

USTA Eastern has made a concerted effort to diversify its board over the last couple of years. What has your experience been like working alongside such a varied group of leaders?

CAMPBELL: It's amazing. With a diverse board, it's so much easier to achieve your goals because people are already thinking differently. When I do raise an issue that’s related to inclusion, there is an acceptance of that type of question. In some contexts, that could be met with hostility or indifference. You just wouldn’t get that at USTA Eastern.

Campbell (second from right) poses with fellow USTA Eastern board members (from left to right) Lopa Zielinski, Maria Gorski, Ruthanne Wannop and Perren Wong.

Adaptive Sectional Championships

USTA EASTERN HELD ITS THIRD ANNUAL ADAPTIVE SECTIONAL AT THE USTA BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER.

By Scott Sode

A little inclement weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of those participating in the 2023 USTA Eastern Adaptive Sectional Championships, held September 23 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. With players forced to compete on the facility's indoor courts as the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia swirled around the greater New York City area, Tyler Conover and partner Sebastian Wernecke—based out of Commack, N.Y.—claimed the title at the third annual event.

“I was really happy,” Conover said of capturing the final point of the championship. “It was nice, and I have come a long way.”

The tournament was contested in a unified doubles format, which means that one player with a disability competes alongside another player without one. Wernecke—a tennis pro who has worked with Conover since 2019 at Sportime Kings Park and at the Old Field Club in Setauket, N.Y.—echoed his partner’s sentiment, noting that his young student’s persistent enthusiasm, focus and determination ultimately carried the team over the line.

“Anyone who knows Tyler knows he has a passion for tennis,” Wernecke said. “Since the first time we set forth on a tennis court together up until now, he has been unwavering in his commitment. His remarkable work ethic has always stood out—he even braved outdoor sessions in the winter. Over the years, I have seen him develop into the tennis player he is today, and to be able to compete together was really special, never mind taking home the trophy!”

Beyond commitment, Wernecke said that his partner was particularly dialed in on service games. Down 2-3 in the final, Conover hit several strong serves to hold at love and ultimately shift the momentum of the match. It’s one of the facets of his game that Conover continues to improve under Wernecke’s supervision.

“I have been working on my serves and [getting the] toss up higher,” Conover explained.

The high intensity level from Conover and his fellow competitors is always a hallmark of the competition, said Mark McIntyre, the event’s tournament director.

“One of the highlights for me every time is seeing all of the athletes step up under the pressure and compete,” he said. “I work with a lot of the players throughout the year, and I can honestly say they were playing at their best throughout the matches. Some of the tiebreaks had some really amazing points. It was super fun to watch.”

The tournament is one of many initiatives USTA Eastern has organized to help make the sport more inclusive at the local level. In 2022, the section hosted a Wheelchair and Adaptive Tennis Symposium to encourage coaches and tennis facilities to expand their program offerings to include those with disabilities. The organization has also collaborated with the tennis non-profit Love Serving Autism to offer trainings that empower instructors to reach out to this underserved community. Alexander Dobrin—a P.E. teacher at the NYC-based

Queens Transition Center—attended one of these sessions and ultimately integrated what he learned into his curriculum; months later, he and one of his students, Lena Franklin, finished runners-up at the sectional.

“It was rewarding to see how much my partner Lena enjoyed the event,” Dobrin said. “This was the first time she competed in [a big competition] in tennis…it was quite memorable to get to play the final match in front of the other players, volunteers, friends and family. During that match, she hit some of her best shots of the day, including a lob and passing shot winners! I’ve played in numerous USTA Eastern tennis events over the years. This was one of the most memorable experiences I have had.”

Wernecke agreed with his fellow instructor, noting that the sectional ultimately produced a “strong sense of community”.

“This event emphasized the importance of inclusivity and creating an environment where every individual, regardless of their abilities, can participate and enjoy sports and other activities,” he said. “It's a reminder that we should strive for a world where everyone is valued and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

In November, after this story was written, Conover, Wernecke, Franklin and Dobrin headed down to the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida to represent the section at the national tournament. Franklin won a sportsmanship award at the event, while Conover and Wernecke finished in fourth place overall.

“I’ve played in numerous USTA Eastern tennis events over the years,” Dobrin (right, with Franklin) said. “This was one of the most memorable experiences I have had.”

All smiles! Conover and Wernecke have some fun while competing at Eastern’s Adaptive Sectional Championship.

Man of the Year

DAVID HANZES

David Hanzes, of Binghamton, N.Y., has been named USTA Eastern’s 2023 Leslie J. Fitz Gibbon Tennis Man of the Year for his efforts over many years to strengthen the officiating infrastructure across the section.

Since 2005, Hanzes has established himself as an indispensable volunteer for the USTA Eastern tennis community. During that time he has served on Eastern’s nominating committee, the junior competition committee, the grievance and rules subcommittees as well as the Western Region Council. In 2015—after officiating some of the biggest section events for more than a decade—he was named the chair of the officials committee, a role he has continued to hold to this very day.

It’s in this capacity that Hanzes has undoubtedly made his greatest impact. He has trained and mentored countless aspiring officials who have gone on to supervise match play at everything from state high school championships to USTA League sectionals to professional tournaments.

“For me, just working on making our officiating team stronger is still the most important goal,” Hanzes says. “And there are a lot of components that go into it. It’s the continuing training and development of the existing team, as well as the recruitment of new officials. I do enjoy meeting potential officials and getting them on board, getting them through the training process and then seeing them out on the court working multiple events throughout the year. That’s always the end goal.”

Hanzes himself is a product of that experience. Shortly after relocating to the Binghamton area from Pennsylvania in 2000, Hanzes and his family rediscovered the sport and began frequently hitting the neighborhood tennis courts. As he developed into a more competitive player—even joining a USTA League team—he noticed a lack of officials, particularly at the local level.

“In Binghamton, there was no one certified to umpire, but there was definitely a need,” he says. “They were looking for officials who could work the college matches here, as well as the regional events. So that’s how I got involved, and I’ve been involved in it ever since.”

Hanzes credits Michael Starke—a fellow Eastern volunteer and former Western Region Council Director—for providing him with some of his very first chances to oversee competitive matches.

“Michael owned the local club here in Binghamton, and he would host some low-level junior events,” Hanzes recalls. “That’s how I got my start officiating on court. And then, in his tournament director and club owner roles, he definitely helped me develop as an official.”

Hanzes would eventually rise up in the Eastern officiating world and go on to serve as the head official for some of the largest events in the section, including the New York State Public High School Individual and Team Championships, the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championships and the Eastern Adult League Sectional Championships. Naturally, since these competitions attract hundreds upon hundreds of participants, Hanzes spends much time in advance preparing. Then, as the events unfold, he is required to keep track of multiple moving parts while managing and interacting with a wide spectrum of personalities.

“When I train officials or teach workshops, we talk a lot about professionalism and perception,” he explains. “The perception of an action you take may not actually be your intent, but how someone else perceives your intent certainly goes a long way. So I always stress being professional and trying not to show favoritism or bias. You want to be a fair person on the court.”

Over time, he’s developed a reputation among players and USTA staff members for encouraging and prioritizing that fairness—as well as sportsmanship—when handling the disputes that do crop up in these circumstances.

“He is the epitome of professionalism and dedication when it comes to officiating,” says Susan Friedlaender, USTA Eastern’s senior manager of adult leagues. “He takes pride in ensuring all of our events run as smoothly as possible. When conflicts do arise, which is common in his line of work, he is more than capable of resolving every situation successfully. The section is really lucky to have him!”

For all his efforts, Hanzes was awarded USTA Eastern’s Umpire Service Award in 2012. Just a year later, because of the reputation he developed, Hanzes was given the opportunity to serve as a linesperson at the biggest of all the events in the country: the US Open.

“That’s probably a highlight of my career,” he says. “I had a great time. And now they’re not using linespeople anymore, so I’m glad I did it then because now it’s even more difficult to get opportunities to work at the Open!”

At the same time that he ascended to the leadership position with USTA Eastern, Hanzes also joined the National officials committee. Today, he serves as that body’s vice chair, and he frequently travels around the country as a national trainer leading trainings and workshops. He has visited 14 of the 17 USTA sections.

Hanzes (far right) poses with other members of his officiating team at USTA Eastern League Sectional Championships.

“It started from just trying to know and understand the rules,” Hanzes says of his interest in officiating. “There’s a lot of different rules in tennis!”

Hanzes conducts a training session for aspiring officials.

Woman of the Year

DEBBIE MILLER

named the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Eastern Professional of the Year in 2004, and she received USTA Eastern’s George Seewagen Award for teaching professionals in 2020. (With their children Tina and Tony, the Millers were also honored as the organization’s Tennis Family of the Year in 2005.) In addition to receiving Eastern’s Tennis Woman of the Year distinction for 2023, Debbie will also be inducted into the Buffalo Tennis Hall of Fame later in 2024.

After graduating, Debbie also enjoyed competitive stints at the University of Buffalo and the Ohio State University; she joined the latter as a walk-on and played #5 singles. Ultimately, she decided that she just couldn’t quit the sport and that she wanted to build a career in the game as a teaching pro, just like her dad.

A standout player in the 1970s and 1980s who parlayed her passion for the sport into a long and fruitful teaching career, Miller has, for nearly half a century, established herself as a revered and incomparable presence in the Buffalo, N.Y.-area tennis ecosystem. In 2007, she and her husband Todd opened the Miller Tennis Center, and—with Debbie coordinating special events, conducting day-to-day operations and directing the center’s renowned 10-and-under program—the location has gone on to become one of the premier tennis destinations in the western N.Y. region. For all her many efforts to grow, promote and support tennis locally as a clinician and community leader, Debbie was

Debbie was introduced to the game by her father, Joe DiCarlo, an acclaimed teaching pro who coached many of the kids in the area—including, for a time, future US Open semifinalist Jimmy Arias. It seemed only natural then, that Debbie would pick up a racquet herself. She went on to gain recognition as a top local junior and became one of the first girls in western N.Y. to earn a spot on her high school’s boys tennis team, where she sometimes served as the Billie Jean King to her opponents’ Bobby Riggs. Concurrently, she competed in several local adult tournaments, capturing the Buffalo City Open women’s singles title in 1978. She also lifted many doubles championship trophies at these events with her younger sister Cathy; the pair continued to team up and collect hardware together well into the 1980s.

“It was such a great time in my life,” she says now. “The depth of our city tournaments back then was pretty good, and there was just this camaraderie with all the other players, getting excited about competing. You’re playing tennis and traveling around with your friends. And then when you start to have success, it gets your energy going and you look forward to practicing, tweaking your game and getting even better. It was just the best.”

“Again, my father was a huge influence,” she explains. “I watched him run the junior program at the local club and saw the passion he put into everything.

Teaching was kind of in the

blood, and I was in the world. When I was just 12 years old, I would help with the little kids in his program. And when I was 16, instead of babysitting, I would offer tennis lessons. So [when I came back home from school] I started picking up my basket of balls and teaching all over the place.”

Debbie brought her skillset to a variety of clubs in the western New York area, serving as the head professional at the Transit Valley Country Club and the Holiday Health and Fitness Center. Around this time she became reacquainted with Todd, her high school sweetheart and former teammate who served as the executive director and head professional at the Amherst Hills Tennis Club. The pair—who had known each other since they were 11—began dating again and eventually married. Debbie joined Todd as a teaching pro at Amherst Hills, and they have worked closely together ever since. In 2007, they purchased the facility and rechristened it the Miller Tennis Center, and the operation has wholly become a family business: Both of their children serve as teaching pros on the staff. (Tony also coaches at the University of Buffalo, where both of his parents competed.)

Story continues on page 31

Business owner Debbie Miller has been named USTA Eastern’s 2023 Tennis Woman of the Year for a lifetime of service to the western N.Y. tennis community.

Debbie has owned the Miller Tennis Center with her husband Todd since 2007.

Debbie on a tennis court at six years old

Debbie takes a photo with kids in 10-and-under programming at the Miller Tennis Center.

Organization of the Year SEDGWICK FARM TENNIS CLUB

Sedgwick Farm Tennis Club has been named USTA Eastern’s 2023 Member Organization of the Year for its long record of service to the Syracuse tennis community.

The 126-year-old organization—which boasts the only outdoor red clay tennis courts in central New York—is a bustling bastion of activity for local tennis aficionados each summer, hosting tournaments, clinics, camps, USTA League play and even a performance from locally-based musicians on its premises. Despite this robust abundance of offerings, the facility is very much a modest operation. In coordination with two part-time staffers and a few pros who lead the programming, a dedicated group of volunteers largely handle the management and maintenance of the club during the season, “doing everything,” notes Sedgwick Farm board president Larry Bousquet, “from spreading salt on the courts to rolling the courts to repairing the roller.” All members who step onto the red clay, he adds, are required to sweep up their ball marks once the last point is played.

“[Our members] are really in the habit of taking care of the surface,” Bousquet says. “They really take some pride in this place, which is good to see.”

There’s a reason to be proud. While a quaintly small-scale affair today, Sedgwick Farm’s historical significance to New York tennis is vast and lush and cannot be overstated. The club, one of the oldest in the country, was founded in 1897 and has been situated at its current location—422 DeWitt Street in Syracuse—since

1907. For many of those early years, the site hosted the New York State Championships, which brought the best players in the East to the region and consequently turned Syracuse into a tennis hotspot. As a result, the organization’s original three-story clubhouse became a popular social attraction and featured a bowling alley, squash courts as well as a ballroom. (That clubhouse was ultimately razed following World War II.) Highlighting the organization’s influence within the tennis ecosystem at the time, Harry Wadsworth, the very first Sedgwick Farm president, also served as the inaugural vice president of the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association (today called USTA Eastern).

Over the years, many tennis notables left their footprints in the Sedgwick Farm clay. Karel Koželuh and Bill Tilden played each other at the venue in 1931 when they were the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world. (General admission to that event cost $1.) Frank Shields, another world No. 2 player (and the grandfather of Brooke Shields), competed on the club’s courts. Don Budge, the first person to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in a year, taught a clinic there in the 1960s, and Jimmy Arias—a 1983 US Open semifinalist and perhaps the best player to ever come out of upstate N.Y.—also laced up his tennis sneakers at the location. So revered has the club been that Pete Sampras sent congratulations when Sedgwick Farm celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1997.

As impressive and expansive as the club’s past is, Sedgwick Farm has its eyes firmly fixed on the future. In the last few years, the facility has upgraded an antiquated sprinkler system and invested in high-tech court demarcation lines from Europe that don’t need to be nailed down into the clay. But beyond the physical

maintenance of the surface, organization leaders are particularly passionate about creating more tennis opportunities and bringing new players into their community. Bousquet— who in his youth grew up just blocks from the courts—served as the facility’s clubhouse manager during his summers away from college in the mid to late 1970s when the sport was all the rage; today, he’d like to recapture some of that fervor.

“What we’re really trying to do is build our membership,” Bousquet says. “And we also want to provide access to the sport to kids who might not otherwise have access.”

To that end, Bousquet is perhaps most proud of the club’s recent partnership with the Dunbar Association—a 104-year-old organization whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for Black Syracuse residents. Together, they offer a free three-week tennis camp for kids. Those who attend spend half the day learning the fundamentals of the sport outside with top-area instructors and the other half participating in typical day camp activities in the clubhouse. The idea came to fruition during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to keep children participating in Dunbar’s services active and outside. But the endeavor was so successful that they’ve kept the effort going for three straight years.

“The folks [from Sedgwick] who have been contributing and donating to the costs of the instruction are committed to it,” Bousquet says. “So we’ll continue to run this. It’s really great to give the kids that Dunbar serves a variety of experiences that they might not have otherwise had.”

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Picture it: 1904, Sedgwick Farm Tennis Club. A large crowd comes to enjoy a tennis match.

The current Sedgwick Farm clubhouse includes some of the stone foundation from the earlier three-story version that was razed after World War II.

A ticket stub for the 1931 Sedgwick Farm tennis match between the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world at the time.

As a child, Bousquet attended a clinic at Sedgwick Farm hosted by Grand Slam champion Don Budge.

Family of the Year

THE GUPTA FAMILY

The Gupta Family, of Parsippany, N.J.—Anish and Vayu, and their twin sons, Yash and Veer— have been named USTA Eastern’s 2023 Family of the Year for an unwavering commitment to service in their community through tennis.

It all started with some broken strings. In middle school, Yash and Veer began to get more serious about playing tennis—but the more intensely they trained, the more frequently the family would need to spend money repairing their racquets. Hoping to save some cash, the brothers looked into restringing and regripping the equipment themselves. They watched training videos on YouTube to learn about string power and tension, while Anish decided to invest in a racquet restringing machine to support his sons’ endeavor. Before long, the twins were not only patching up their own sticks, but also those of their friends and teammates.

As the brothers became more confident in their abilities, Vayu had a thought. If refurbishing a racquet was such an expense for her family—so much so that they all went about figuring out how to do it on their own—it must be quite an expense for other families as well. Could Yash and Veer use their burgeoning operation to help those in their community?

The twins contacted their coach, Bob Bynum, who also serves as the director of the Greater Newark Tennis & Education (GNTE) organization. The non-profit—which provides tennis instruction to children free of charge in the greater Newark area—often receives racquet donations, though the equipment they receive frequently show signs of wear and tear. Yash and Veer offered to help, and in their freshman year of high school, the brothers ended up

restringing and regripping an astounding 200 racquets on behalf of GNTE in just two months’ time. (Refurbishing each racquet, Yash estimates, takes about 30-45 minutes.)

“Coach Bynum was telling us how happy the kids were to receive the racquets,” Veer says. “And then, one day we actually went [to the courts] when the racquets were being distributed. It was really great to see the kids using the racquets that we spent the time stringing. They were thanking us, they were shaking our hands. It was a really great experience.”

After seeing firsthand the difference they made, the Guptas began to expand. They set up racquet donation boxes at clubs in the area and posted flyers about their initiative. They collected 100 racquets, which they fixed up and donated to Essex Grassroots Tennis & Education—another New Jerseybased organization that works with kids from underresourced communities. Then, this year, they decided to go global. Anish contacted Francisca Nyarko, a former top tennis player from Ghana, who—now based in the states— frequently organizes “Rackets for Africa” drives in New Jersey. Through this connection, the brothers were able to refurbish an additional 200 racquets for women and children on the continent. To date, the brothers estimate they have repaired around 500 racquets total.

Anyone who speaks with Yash and Veer can see how passionate they are about this work. They also string commercially, and any profit they earn, they put back into their volunteer efforts. They recently donated some of their earnings to a non-profit organization in India that helps to financially support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“In doing all this, I feel that Yash and Veer are becoming more responsible, not only toward themselves, but also to their community,” Vayu says. “And hats off to them both, because the idea may have come from me, but they are very motivated. They want to do more.”

Yash also notes that the makeshift business has made his family even closer.

“All four of us work on this,” he says. “We have a shop in our basement, and we spend time stringing and thinking of places where we

can expand. We drive to the clubs and collect racquets. It’s just a great experience.”

In addition to their highly respectable record of service, Yash and Veer are very accomplished tennis players in their own right. For nearly three years, the twins have played No. 1 (Veer) and No. 2 (Yash) singles for the Rockaway N.J.-based Morris Hills High School varsity tennis team.

The sport, it turns out, is very much a family activity. It’s another way for them all to spend time together. Anish first picked up the game growing up in India.

“My parents were very short,” he says with a laugh. “Someone told me that tennis could make me taller. I did end up growing four or five inches taller than my parents—which could be anything, or it could be tennis!”

Anish—who today is a certified coach—notes that many of his tennis-playing peers in those days went on to compete professionally for India. Ultimately, Anish decided to focus on his studies and instead earned a degree in engineering.

“When Vayu heard I had teammates who represent India she said, ‘Why did you stop?’” Anish says with a laugh of his wife, who, while not a tennis player herself, loves to watch the sport and hung posters of Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini on her bedroom wall as a child. “She said, ‘I would have cheered you on from the player box!’”

Of course, he never really did stop. Upon moving to the United States, Anish continued to compete recreationally. Yash and Veer would often accompany Anish to matches and serve as ball boys, which eventually led to the pair joining their middle school tennis team. Quickly, the brothers found a lot to love about the game.

“Yash and Veer are very passionate about their volunteer efforts,” Vayu (far left) says. “As parents, we want to support them as much as we can.”

Yash and Veer have refurbished around 500 racquets over the last two years.

Lifetime Achievement Award

LAWRENCE KLEGER

Longtime junior coach Lawrence Kleger is the recipient of USTA Eastern’s 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Kleger, a native New Yorker, is one of the top developmental tennis coaches in the United States. Most recently he served as the director of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) at Sportime Randall’s Island, a position he shared with Patrick McEnroe and held for more than a decade. For all his work with junior players over the years, Kleger received USTA Eastern’s George Seewagen Award (bestowed upon distinguished tennis professionals) in 2013 and was named the USTA Long Island Region Tennis Professional of the Year in 2006.

Over the course of his career, Kleger has trained countless Eastern juniors who have earned local, sectional and national rankings. Hundreds have received full tennis scholarships and preferred admission to play at top colleges and universities. His students have collectively captured a junior Wimbledon title, numerous USTA National Junior Championships and more

than 20 USTA Eastern Sportsmanship Awards. Those latter honors make Kleger the most proud.

“Sportsmanship is everything to me,” he says. “It is a crucial piece of the process of becoming the best player you can be.”

In addition to his coaching bona fides, Kleger has also volunteered his time and efforts to grow the game and to support his tennis community. He served as a member of USTA Eastern’s junior competition committee for over a decade and was also appointed to serve on the section’s coaches commission.

His charitable endeavors most recently have included helping to raise over $9 million for The Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP)—Sportime’s partner charity that seeks to introduce tennis to thousands of under-resourced New York City-area children, particularly those living in East Harlem and the South Bronx. To date 38 JMTP students have received full scholarships to Division I universities, and they have all been coached, mentored and supported by Kleger.

Kleger’s many accolades fail to convey the full scope of his lifelong dedication to tennis. After graduating from Boston University and receiving his law degree from Brooklyn Law School, Kleger passed the bar and practiced law for just a few months before realizing that his heart was in tennis. He never looked back and embarked on a coaching career that has continued for almost 50 years.

In those early days, Kleger says he practiced a more commanding approach that included constant feedback. That did not last long, however, as Kleger quickly evolved his style to focus on building students’ confidence through encouragement and positivity.

“As I’ve gotten more experience, I say far less to my students,” Kleger explains. “I let them figure it out and, maybe, even struggle a little bit. That way, when I do say something, they think it is important, and they listen!”

It is with this more dialed-back technique that Kleger has built decades of genuine connection with his students, emboldening them to learn how to problem solve, both on and off court.

Perhaps Kleger’s most prominent and extended coaching relationship—other than the one with his two daughters, Michaela and Nicolle—was with Noah Rubin. Kleger coached Rubin for over ten years until the young player received a scholarship to Wake Forest. During this period, Rubin won some of the biggest junior events in the world, including capturing the 2014 Wimbledon boys’ singles title and both the singles and doubles titles at the 2014 USTA National Junior Championships. Kleger credits not only Rubin’s physical gifts, but also his confidence, consistently positive attitude and tireless work ethic for the many peaks in their coaching relationship.

Rubin went on to become the ITA No. 1-ranked freshman and an All-American at Wake Forest. He was also the runner-up at the 2015 NCAA men’s singles championship. Rubin launched his professional tennis career in the summer of 2015 and ultimately reached a career-high ranking of world No. 125.

Though their coaching relationship ended, Kleger says he will always feel linked to Rubin.

“Noah knows, no matter what, that I am in his corner,” Kleger says. “I will always have that bond with him.”

Of course, Kleger has ensured that a bond like that extends far beyond any one student; he wants everyone in the JMTA community to feel supported and encouraged by him. Indeed, the tone he set as a leader at the organization is echoed in the sentiments of the many players who passed through the facility’s halls.

“It didn’t matter what happened in my life,” former JMTA student Sabrina Xiong explains. “When I came to JMTA, I knew that I could talk to anybody. The lessons that I learned here extended so much more than just tennis lessons. I developed character. I developed as a person.”

Hundreds of Kleger’s students have received scholarships to play at top universities.

Kleger and McEnroe observe JMTP scholarship tryouts.

Kleger with Rubin

“We do what we call a ‘knowledge check’ when new officials get certified,” Hanzes explains. “And at this point I’ve been involved with completing knowledge checks for officials all over the United States. I really enjoy meeting new officials, talking with them and hearing some of their concerns. And hopefully, I’m able to provide them with some sound advice as they embark on their officiating career.”

All of this is in service to a sport Hanzes truly loves and enjoys. He always keeps in mind—when he’s serving as an official and as he’s mentoring others—that the ultimate goal is always to get people to keep picking up a racquet.

“As a USTA Eastern volunteer, I’ve enjoyed meeting different people and promoting the sport,” he says. “The way I’ve promoted it has been in trying to make it a good experience for the players on the court. As an official, if I can make it a good experience, hopefully those playing will want to keep playing and encourage more people to play. It’s all about exposing new people to the game and growing tennis.”

“I once taught a boy who couldn’t see peripherally,” she recalls. “He could only see straight ahead, and he was going through all this therapy for it. I’d roll the ball on the floor like it was hockey. Eventually he started getting the hang of it, and he ended up doing well enough that he played high school tennis and became a pretty decent player. When you help kids find success on a tennis court while they’re struggling with other things, that’s like winning Wimbledon to me.”

Ultimately, Debbie hopes to imbue others with the same passion her father passed on to her (and to her sister). It’s the same passion that she shares with Todd, and that they both imparted to Tony and Tina.

“You only have one chance for the first impression,” Debbie says. “If you can ignite a positive experience and something that they enjoy and carry on, then that’s really rewarding.”

Indeed, Debbie knows that all too well herself.

2023 USTA EASTERN AWARD RECIPIENTS

Lifetime Achievement Award: Lawrence Kleger

Tennis Man of the Year: David Hanzes

Tennis Woman of the Year: Debbie Miller

Member Organization of the Year: Sedgwick Farm Tennis Club

Tennis Family of the Year: The Gupta Family

George Seewagen Award: Steve Kaplan

Courage Award: The Roslyn High School Boys Tennis Team

Clinician of the Year Award: Isis Gill

Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award: Kenneth Ortiz

As club owners, the Millers have worked hard to build a vibrant, supportive tennis community. They have hosted USTA league play and pro circuit events as well as flown in special guests, including Aaron Krickstein (of 1991 US Open fame) and 1993 French Open men’s doubles champions Luke and Murphy Jensen to lead demonstrations for Miller Tennis Center members. Debbie has also shepherded the facility’s 10-and-under operation, which, with 250 students a week and a nearly 100% retention rate, is the largest of its kind in the Buffalo area. It’s in leading this programming— and in being on court—where she still finds some of her most joyful moments in the sport.

“What is there not to love about it?” she says. “I love the kids running through the door all excited. I love the kids coming up to me and saying, ‘When am I moving up?’ I love the energy that they give me because when I feel down, it makes me happy to see them so excited.”

Over the last decade, the program has produced a collection of exemplary players who’ve gone on to achieve a wide range of accolades—including Michael Antonius, an Easter Bowl champion who recently represented Team USA at the prestigious Les Petits As 14-and-under tournament in Tarbes, France. While Debbie is thrilled with these results, she notes that teaching isn’t just about producing the elite of the elite. It’s about getting kids to love the game.

“Sticking with something I loved and was passionate about didn’t bring me to the pro tour,” she says. “But it helped me to create a nice life for my family, my kids, and it helped us to create something nice for our community. I’ve been very lucky.”

Bousquet knows firsthand what you can gain from those experiences in the sport. His own family history with Sedgwick Farm dates back generations. As a child he actually participated in the clinic led by Budge.

“It’s really the friendships you make,” Bousquet says. “That’s the core of it. It’s meeting people that you might not otherwise meet, learning about them and making connections that extend beyond tennis. Developing those relationships has been the best thing that has come out of it.”

And as Sedgwick Farm closes in on its 130th anniversary in the next couple years, Bousquet hopes he can help others to forge those connections as well.

“Tennis shouldn’t be something that’s exclusive,” he says. “It’s such a wonderful game and a game you can play your whole life. Everyone should have the opportunity to play it. One thing that’s changed about our club is that there used to be a sign out front that said ‘Members only’. Now the sign says ‘New members welcome.’”

Fran Osei Community Service Award: Dennis Maher

10 & Under Award: Sharon Rappaport

Junior Team Tennis Award: Domingo Montes

Collegiate Award: Clarkson University Club Tennis

USTA League Award: Suzee Krebs

Virginia and Chuck Landis High School Coach of the Year Award: Teresa Price

Press Service Award: Stan Evans

Umpire Service Award: Deborah-Rose Andrews

Special Service Award: Michelle Stoerback

Service To People with Disabilities Award: Juan Pablo Perez

Long Island Region Volunteer of the Year Award: Denise Schmidt

Metro Region Volunteer of the Year Award: Jan Walker

New Jersey Region Volunteer of the Year Award: Marvin Dent

Northern Region Volunteer of the Year Award: Chris Hanley

Southern Region Volunteer of the Year Award: Igal Katan

Western Region Volunteer of the Year Award: Nick Zieziula

From Woman of the Year Debbie Miller page 27

From Organization of the Year Sedgwick Farm Tennis Club page 28

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

USTA Eastern Staff

Kelsey Altavilla

Becky Bellino

Joseph Binder

Julie Bliss Beal

Donyshia Boston-Hill

Lynn Buffamonti

Lauren Bull

Kristen Condon

Jocelyn Cruz-Alfalla

Nina D’Amato

Peter Del Vicario

Austin Doyle

Ainslie Ellis

Susan Friedlaender

Kelly Goodhart

Amy Guttman

Kate Jennings

Monica LaMura

Gustavo Loza

Cole Newsome

Fauna Pappalardo

Jill Pitts

Hazel Rodney

Andrés Sánchez

Ben Schleider

Jenny Schnitzer

Scott Sode

Joe Steger

Neil Thakur

David Williams

Board of Directors

Leadership

President: Olga Harvey

Vice President: Ari Roberts

Secretary: Jonathan Klee

Treasurer: Maria Gorski

Section Delegate

Perren Wong

Regional Council Directors

Michael Pavlides (Long Island Region)

Sharon Simmonds (Metro Region)

Indranil Debnath (New Jersey Region)

Jed Murray (Northern Region)

Johnny Benoit, (Southern Region)

Ruthanne Wannop (Western Region)

Members at Large

Katrina Campbell

Joseph Ceriello

Claude Okin

Lopa Zielinski

Yearbook Designer

Scott Méxcal

“We just kept growing more passionate about it,” Veer says. “We wanted to be more competitive. So we started playing more tournaments and getting better and better. We tried out for our high school team, and we ended up both making varsity our freshmen year.”

Both Yash and Veer consider this one of their biggest highlights in the sport to date, with Yash noting that making the team at their school as a freshman is particularly challenging. Veer, however, does call out one other moment that he considers his best in the game.

“In eighth grade, my dad and I were playing a set, and I beat him for the first time,” he recalls with a smile. “That’s the sweetest victory I’ve had.”

The family credits Bynum, their high school coach Meghan Barger, their private coach Jeffery Carter as well as mentors Andrés Sánchez, Madhuri Reddy and Karen Gruenberg for assisting in their development over the years and getting them to the dad-defeating level they are at today. And both say they have no intention of slowing down any time soon.

“We really want to continue playing,” Yash says. “The goal is to be on a college team, and we’ve been working on that.”

The odds of reaching that goal are very much in their favor. Just look at what they’ve accomplished already.

Last August, Kleger suffered a devastating fall that caused numerous injuries, including life-threatening skull fractures and related brain trauma. After undergoing brain surgery and spending several months in the ICU at Columbia Presbyterian, and then at Rusk Institute, Kleger is now continuing his recovery at a neuro rehab on Long Island. Though he has a long road back to a court, Kleger is still very much himself. He continues to champion Eastern tennis and speaks at length about its bright future.

“Like John McEnroe, I believe that there are great American tennis champions somewhere in or near New York City,” Kleger says. “So, my goal remains to find and support those young champions. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here.”

From Family of the Year The Gupta Family page 29

From Lifetime Achievement Award Lawrence Kleger page 30

Congratulations to our 2023 USTA Eastern Junior Champions!

2023 USTA National Winter Championships

Leena Friedman (Girls’ 16s singles)

James Lian (Boys’ 18s singles)

2023 Easter Bowl

Claire An (Girls’ 16s singles)

Isabelle DeLuccia—with Catherine Rennard of USTA Southern (Girls’ 14s doubles)

2023 Orange Bowl

Leena Friedman (Girls’ 16s singles)

Dominick Mosejczuk (Boys’ 16s singles)

2023 USTA National Clay Court Championships

Christasha McNeil (Girls’ 18s singles)

Olivia De Los Reyes—with Zoe Young of USTA Texas (Girls’ 12s doubles)

2023 USTA National Championships

Leena Friedman—with Vessa Turley of USTA Southwest (Girls’ 16s doubles)

Maxim Kalinin—with Nicholas Patrick of USTA Missouri Valley (Boys’ 16s doubles)

2023 USTA National Doubles Championships

Kady Tannenbaum—with Linda Ziets-Segura of USTA Florida (Girls’ 18s doubles)

2023 USTA National Indoor Championships

Kathryn Cragg (Girls’ 12s singles)

Margaret Sohns (Girls’ 14s singles)

Drew Fishback (Boys’ 16s singles)

Mark Krupkin (Boys’ 18s singles)

Zizou Ahmad and Rowan Qalbani (Boys’ 14s doubles)

Drew Fishback—with Nicholas Patrick of USTA Missouri Valley (Boys’ 16s doubles)

Olivia Benton—with Campbell Ricci of USTA Northern California (Girls’ 18s doubles)

2023 Australian Open Junior Championships

Cooper Williams—with Learner Tien of USTA Southern California (Boys’ doubles champions)

Williams, right, with Tien