Long Island Tennis Magazine July / August 2023

Long Island Tennis

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Barbara Wyatt

Contributing Writer

Rob Polishook

Contributing Writer

Luke Jensen

Contributing Writer

Interns

Rafael

After announcing he will miss the remainder of this season, Nadal implies next year will be his last See page 10

Kayla Castellano

Aryn Feldman

Nyla Gershfeld

Abby Kleiman

Brielle Marcus

Rachel Neuman

Andrea Vases

Victoria Wroblewskii

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Photo credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA

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ETHAN FALKOWITZ

Onecoach called him “The Champion”. Another coach referred to him as the future Valedictorian. His grandfather referred to him as a “Renaissance Man”. Hundreds of kids called him their best friend. To Lynne, Landon, Reese and me, he was just “E”. To say that Ethan made a positive impact on this world and everyone that he encountered doesn’t come close to characterizing the type of human being our son was. He was destined for victory.

Ethan Hayden Falkowitz was born on March 5, 2009 in New York City. He picked up his first racket when he was 5 years old and never looked back. The thing that Ethan loved most about tennis was the idea that you could control certain outcomes. If you had a high first serve percentage, the odds were in your favor; The longer you kept the rally going, the more likely your opponent might make a mistake; If you kept your opponent moving, it would likely tire them; Most importantly, the more you practiced, the better you became.

Ethan was one of the most logical, diligent, driven, well-rounded and happy young men that you could ever come across. He was well beyond your average youth tennis player, having won his last USTA tennis tournament and having started every match for the Roslyn High School tennis team as an 8th grader. But Ethan was so much more than just a great tennis player.

Ethan’s grades were phenomenal. His goals were lofty. His kindness was unmatched. His skills were sharp. His laugh and smile were contagious. And his ability to find a positive in every situation and a solution to every problem was exemplary. Ethan leaves behind a legacy that can never be erased and a void that can never be filled.

Athletically, academically, personally, socially, and morally, Ethan was exceptional. His beliefs were simple and of the highest regard: Encourage others to believe in themselves, share what he learned, ask questions, be a role model to his younger brother and sister, proactively help those around him, and find time to enjoy life. Ethan just got it. Generations of families might never understand the concept of unconditional love and happiness the way Ethan did, and the way Ethan exemplified, in his 14 years.

Those who knew Ethan the best haven’t stopped raving about his tremendous inner confidence. He didn’t brag or boast in any way. He would raise people up, compliment them, call them by their first names and know things about them and their families. He made people feel like their lives mattered, like they mattered, whether through his playful gestures of giving them nicknames, remembering them from elementary school and saying “Hi” in the hallways or on the streets, or being the first to start a congratulatory cheer for someone. He found reasons to help, he found reasons to celebrate, he found reasons to encourage…all with an ease and grace, and without the need for credit, that made him unequivocally extraordinary.

A testament to Ethan’s character is that he was not willing to step on your back to get ahead alone. Rather, he preferred to carry you on his shoulders to ensure that you got ahead together. His selflessness was a true superpower.

On May 3, 2023, the world lost a champion, both on and off the court.

DREW HASSENBEIN

Eversince Drew Hassenbein was introduced to sports at the age of four, winning was of the utmost importance to him. Second place was not an option, and everything was a competition. Drew was an allaround athlete and played every major sport, but tennis was always his passion.

At eight-years-old, Drew was introduced to his coach Adrian Chirici at Robbie Wagner Tournament Training Center.  After a few lessons, Adrian told his parents (Mitch and Jaime), “I’ve been coaching tennis for a long time, and I believe your son can be not just good, but really good!”

Drew was encouraged to play the prestigious “Little Mo” Internationals at Forest Hills. He had a successful campaign that convinced him that Adrian may be right! From there, he started to compete in National Tournaments and by the age of 12, he became the #1 ranked player in the country. By eighth grade, he was already being scouted by college tennis programs.

But Drew did not rest on his laurels. He continued to excel and competed in other prestigious events such as the Easter Bowl and getting an invitation to the National Qualifying of the Les Petits AS. As a seventh-grader, he played first singles and led Roslyn to the Nassau County team title, as well as winning the county doubles title and qualifying for the New York State Championships.

You could see the joy that Drew had from being part of a team, which really brought out his best attributes; he embraced carrying the weight of his school and teammates and playing for them.

Drew’s secret, according to his dad Mitchell, was you can be blessed with some natural ability, which was true of Drew, but if you didn’t match it with the work, effort and passion, it won’t amount to anything. Drew didn’t believe in taking days off, and always had the fear of not being the best that he could be.  Drew’s mantra was, “I don’t collect trophies, I collect hours—hours of hard work!”

Off the court, Drew was a dream child. He was super close with his mom, sister, and especially his dad. Tennis created an inseparable bond between them, as they shared a love for the sport and were always traveling around the country together for tournaments. They were best friends.

Drew loved spending time with his aunts, uncles, and cousins, and cherished his time with his grandparents, who loved to watch him play.

His passion outside of tennis was always his friends. He had a rare, effortless quality that made everyone in his life feel special and important.

The entire Long Island tennis community, and beyond, feels this loss. The outpouring of support from people around the world has been tremendous. At Drew’s funeral, all of his lifelong friends spoke, and each one introduced himself by saying, “My name is______ and Drew is my best friend.  Drew had a way of connecting with everyone he met—adults, teachers, opponents coaches—he was funny, witty and most of all, kind. He was a beautiful soul that will be missed tremendously.

Drew’s aunt started a GoFundMe page to raise money for underprivileged kids and rising tennis stars and help them pursue their dreams. His family started the Drew Hassenbein Foundation which will be a 501(c)(3) organization with a goal to set up DHass scholarship for players and tennis events across the country.

Roslyn Tennis Is More Than A Team, It’s a Family

Amidst devastating heartbreak, Roslyn’s brotherhood stands tall

By Brian Coleman

Culture

is a word that’s thrown around a lot when talking about the success of sports teams. For years, we have heard about the winning culture of the New England Patriots in the National Football League, or the gritty, hustle culture of the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association.

And while it is a cliche to say that, cliches exist for a reason: they tend to be true.

When it comes to high school tennis here on Long Island, there is perhaps no better example of this than the Roslyn Bulldogs, a program that not only features a winning culture, but one that is rooted in family and brotherhood, and one that means everything to those who are lucky to be a part of it.

“Roslyn tennis is a family,” said Zach Sheena, one of three graduating seniors. “That term is not to be taken lightly. The team and culture that comes along with it has changed my life. This everlasting brotherhood stays together through all the highs, and more importantly, the lows. Joining the family in eighth grade changed my life and helped shape me into the person I

am today.”

Like Sheena, many of the players who come up through the Roslyn program get their start at an early age, many times starting their high school tennis careers while they are still in middle school. Being a part of the program for so many years, sharing the court with the same brothers year-in-and-year out, and quite literally growing up during that time creates an unshakable bond

between not only the players, but with head coach Kerriann Jannotte-Hinkley.

“I think every team has their own culture and strong relationships between players and coaches, but I think what makes us different is that I have a good percentage of these kids since they were in middle school,” said Hinkley. “I spend five years with some of them, and because they spend four or five years with each other, it changes the landscape of

their friendship. They may not be friends outside of school, but being on a team together and spending so much time with one another, a bond forms.”

If you ask the players on the team, they give much of the credit for that bond to her.

“Coach Hinkley is the heart and soul of our team. No matter how hard things get, coach puts us before anything else, and we are all so thankful for her,” added Sheena. “I can’t imagine having any other coach, I really can’t. She has built a personal connection with each and every one of us. She didn’t just want to be a part of our tennis lives, she is a part of our lives as a whole.”

Hinkley took over as coach in 2007 and in the nearly twodecades since has helped take Roslyn from a 3-9 record in her first year, to a Long Island powerhouse that has county title expectations year-in-and-year-out, including a Nassau County Championship in 2022.

“I was terrified when I first got the job,” Hinkley says. “I know how strong the tennis community was and is here in Roslyn, it’s a huge part of the culture here in the town, so it was a little frightening to me as an untenured teacher to coach a sport that means so much to people here. But I felt the support of the athletic department, and felt that they had my back, so I quickly came to understand that I wasn’t out there alone.”

And she hasn’t been out there alone in her years as coach. Along with Sheena, Roslyn had two additional seniors on the roster this spring, Gavin Koo and Benjamin Fortunoff, who have been with the team for years, and have grown up within this culture.

“I learn a lot from them because they play far more tennis than I do,” said Hinkley. “I do help the kids with Xs and Os but really more than anything, I offer them unwavering support. In moments of struggle, I think what they are looking for in a high school coach is that I have their back. They know what they are supposed to

do on the court, but they are still kids, and sometimes they need to know you are there for them no matter what.”

Hinkley does a great job of empowering her players both on and off the court, and much responsibility falls on the shoulders of the captains and the older players on the team. The younger kids take their lead from the upperclassmen, and as the years

go by, it’s those younger kids who take the mantle to maintain the culture, standards and traditions.

“We have people as young as seventh grade all the way through senior year of high school, and we have a real family dynamic with the younger kids acting as the little brothers,” said Koo. “At the same time, I consider them my close friends and have so much respect for all of them. With tennis being so mentally draining, we try to have as much fun as possible on the court as well as off the court. This sport can be very lonely so our team tries to emphasize the team aspect, whether it is cheering loudly after an amazing point, or lifting each other up after a loss.”

Junior Justin Sherman added:

“This team is so special because the season is about more than just tennis for us. I can speak for everyone when I say we look forward to winning, but we look forward to being on the courts as a team more. We are truly a family.”

Sherman will be one of those players tasked with taking the leadership baton from outgoing seniors Koo, Fortunoff and Sheena, but as Sheena says, part of the Roslyn culture is knowing that the continued on page 6

roslyn tennis is more than a team, it’s a family

continued from page 5

people who come after you are ready to step up.

“Being a captain on our team is more than just helping to create a lineup to win matches,” he said. “It’s about leading our family through the ups and downs of life. The captains have an obligation to look out for each and every member of the team on and off the court. Due to the closeness of our team, there is not much I need to say to our future captains. They know exactly what they need to do. Maybe they didn’t have the ‘captain’ title yet, but they most definitely took a lot of the captain’s role on throughout their time on our team.”

The Roslyn tennis family suffered an unimaginable loss this past spring when two of its players, Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz, were killed in a tragic car accident while driving home from a dinner where they were with teammates celebrating a key victory over rival Syosset. The tragedy left a community devastated and broken hearted, and rendering it forever changed.

It’s in moments and times like this where that family mantra and culture is needed more than ever, and has helped the players, coaches, parents and community cope with their loss.

“Our team is currently dealing with an unimaginable tragedy where we lost two of our brothers,” said Sheena. “Our hearts have been completely broken. On the days where I don’t feel like getting out of bed, these boys and coach give me the strength to get up and do things to honor the lives of my little brothers. The love we have for one another is truly unmatched.”

“I’ll never forget the loss of our two brothers, Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz, and the way this team stuck together and

supported each other,” added Koo, who won the 2022 Nassau County doubles championship alongside Hassenbein. “I’ll always remember winning the county finals as a team, and winning the individual county tournament with Drew. Dumping the ice cooler with my cocaptain Matthew Stone on Drew’s head after he clinched the championship is a memory I’ll keep forever.”

To honor their fallen brothers, Roslyn made the difficult decision to finish out their season and compete until the very end, something they did with the blessing of the families. Roslyn was also without two key pieces to their team, captains Zach Sheena and Ethan Solop, who were injured in the accident but attended matches to support their teammates.

“What kept the team together during the tragedy was the love we have for each other,” said Sherman. “We have built a strong bond throughout my years here, and in times of despair, we need to be there for one another.”

Hinkley added:

“No one would have judged us if we decided not to finish the season. The two people who would

be upset with us would have been Drew and Ethan. The courts were the only place that made sense to us. It’s always easier to just give up and stop, but they need to know that it’s okay to live their lives, and not be judged for having a moment where they smile. It’s also okay not to be okay, because we’re never going to be okay again.”

The Roslyn tennis community will never forget Drew and Ethan, and will continue to use their strong bond together as a family to mourn their brothers and attempt to move forward. The beauty of the Roslyn culture is the brotherhood formed amongst all players, past and present, which means they will have people they can lean on for the rest of their lives.

“The love we have for one another is truly unmatched,” said Sheena. “I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to share the court for five years with a group of brothers who are and always will be there for me.”

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

Distribution scheduled for 08/25/23

This edition will feature:

• 2023 U.S. Open Preview

• LI Girls’ High School Preview

• LITM Challenge Recap

• Pickleball on Long Island

• And Much More!

Print distribution across New York at 300+ locations.

Digital distribution across website and social media pages, and the e-Edition will be e-mailed out to our full data base.

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Rafael Nadal To Say Goodbye to Tennis in 2024

By Brian Coleman

Watchingthe French Open this year felt strange. There was something missing. In fact it was someone, and not something, that was missing: Rafael Nadal.

The 22-time major champion gathered the media together in early May to make a major announcement. In that media session, in which he answered questions in English and Spanish, the Spaniard not only indicated that he would miss the French Open and much of the remaining 2023 season, but also strongly hinted that he will use 2024 to say goodbye at the tournaments around the world that have meant the most to him.

“I’m not going to be able to play in Roland Garros,” Nadal said from his tennis academy in Mallorca. “As you know, I was even working as much as possible every single day for the last four months. They have been very difficult months because we were not able to find the solution to the problem that I had in Australia, so today I still am in the position that I am not myself and ready to compete at the standards that I need to be to play at Roland Garros.”

And with that announcement, a shockwave was sent across the tennis world as it forced many tennis fans, who were hit with the Roger Federer retirement news last fall, to consider a time where not only Federer wouldn’t be playing, but also his longtime peer and rival in Nadal.

“I will stop for awhile, maybe one month, maybe two months, maybe three months. I am a guy who doesn’t like to predict too much in the future. I am following what I believe is the right thing to do for my body and my personal happiness,” said Nadal. “I don’t want to say one thing and do the other. It is better to hold the options open and see what is the best [way to approach the] calendar for me.”

He added that he doesn’t want to do this, but that it’s something his body is making him do.

“It’s not a decision I’m making, it’s a decision my body is making,” said Nadal, who had surgery done on his left psoas muscle in early June. “My goal and my ambition is to try and stop and give myself an opportunity to enjoy the next year that will probably be my last year on the professional tour. That is my idea, but I can’t say 100 percent it

continued on page 10

After announcing he will miss the remainder of this season, Nadal implies next year will be his last

rafael nadad to say goodbye to tennis in 2024

will be like this, but my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important to me.”

And the French Open is at the top of that list of tournaments that have been important to Nadal as the two have become synonymous with one another over the last 20 years. He has won the event a mind-numbing 14 times, the most dominant run for one player at one event in the history of the sport.

“Roland Garros will always be Roland Garros, with or without me, it will keep being the best event,” said Nadal, classy as always. “There will be a Roland Garros champion and it won’t be me, and that’s life.”

Since he made his debut there in 2005, he had never missed the event, until this year, and at this year’s installment of the event, he watched Novak Djokovic win the title to earn career major #23, moving ahead of Nadal on the all-time list.

“Many congrats on this amazing achievement,” Nadal tweeted out to Djokovic. “It’s a number that just a few years back was impossible to think about, and you made it! Enjoy it with your family and team!”

So as Djokovic continues to break

records and has his sights set on Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, both to add to his increasing tally but also to attempt to win the calendar slam for the first time in his career, Nadal has to sit back and watch. More accurately, he

has to rehab and try to work his body back into playing shape, so at the very least he can compete on tour for one more year.

It’s a difficult proposition for a 36year-old whose body has been put through so much over the years. Always featuring a physical brand of tennis, Nadal’s toughness and grit on the court is evident, whether you are watching the first point of a match, or championship point at the French Open. But that grittiness has taken its toll.

“You can’t keep demanding more and more from your body, because there comes a moment when your body raises a white flag,” he added. “Even though your head wants to keep going, your body says this is as far as it goes.”

While the announcement was a somber one, and there will be a time when Nadal is no longer competing on the tennis court for our enjoyment, that time has not come just yet. As he said,

he does not want to end his career at a press conference, he deserves better than that, and so do all the fans around the world, and will end it on his own terms.

Nothing lasts forever, and nobody escapes Father Time. 2024 will be a tribute to Nadal and with each stop he makes along the way, he will say goodbye to those fans and that city. As

Ona beautiful saturday afternoon in Quogue, 85 players came out to compete in the first Long Island Tennis Magazine (LITM) Challenge of 2023, a Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles tournament held at Sportime Quogue.

Continuing its push to provide some of the most premier and unique adult tennis tournaments, the LITM Challenge kicked off this year’s summer series which featured intense competition across 18 courts and six different doubles divisions. The event also included catered lunch, a happy hour, media coverage, prizes and much more, all taking place within the beautiful setting of the Hamptons.

The tournament featured roundrobin matches to ensure each team was guaranteed enough play, with those round-robin matches leading into the knockout rounds. In the Women’s Doubles 6.0 – 6.5 division, it was Tanya Mattera & Anne McConville who came away with the victory as the pairing secured the win in a tiebreaker.

LITM Ch Hits the H

“It was very key,” Mattera said of winning some decisive points in the breaker. “She knows I like playing at the net and she does a great job of setting me up there, and she was able to do that today.”

The duo doesn’t play as much doubles together as they used to, in fact, the last time they did play together was at a LITM Challenge event two years ago. They were able to rekindle that chemistry to come away with this year’s title.

“Our schedules don’t align anymore, and the last time we played together was actually here,” added McConville. “These events are great and it’s why we came back.”

Theresa Belkin & Agne Rakauskas were the victors in the Women’s 7.0 –7.5 doubles division, and are already planning to come back next time to try and do it again.

“It was a very good level of tennis, with a lot of good teams,” said Rakauskas. “We’ll be back next time to defend out title.”

Belkin added:

“From start to finish, everything

was awesome today, the event was well-organized and well-put together. We started off slow today but were able to get our heads together throughout the tournament and kept our eye on the ball.”

Jeff Silverman & Kevin Vander Schaff teamed up for the first time as doubles partners, and quickly found the teamwork needed to win the Men’s 7.0 – 7.5 doubles title. The pairing credited their ability to not get too down during the matches, a strategy that proved to be the difference.

“We kept to our game plan, stayed focused and stuck with it even if we were down,” said Silverman. “We just wanted to keep going and focus on the next point.”

Vander Schaff added:

“The event was great, perfect weather and a beautiful club. We were happy to be here.”

After winning one of the LITM Challenge events last year, Raimundas Rakauskas and Marijus Kuzavas were back to defend that title and did just that, teaming up

Women’s Doubles 6.0 – 6.5 Division Winners: Tanya Mattera & Anne McConville]

Women's Doubles 7.0 - 7.5 Division Winners: Theresa Belkin & Agne Rakauskas

Men’s Doubles 7.0 – 7.5 Division Winners: Jeff Silverman Kevin Vander Schaff

hallenge Hamptons

again to win the Men’s 8.0 – 8.5 division. It wasn’t as easy this time around, but the duo was able to lean on their experience from last year to come away victorious.

“This one was tough, we had to keep our composure, there were a lot of moments where we weren’t performing well, so I think pulling ourselves up during those tight

moments was the key,” said Rakauskas. “This was great, as always. We came here last year and won so we had to come back to defend out title, plus this is a lovely event with a great staff.”

“We’ll be back next time to defend our title once again!” Kuzavas added.

Communication was the key for

Francesca Roth & Dierdre Ettus as they took home the Women’s 9.0 –9.5 title.

“Francesca is a good doubles player and we’ve had success together before. We communicate a lot on the court which helps,” said Ettus. “We played a few times together

continued on page 14

& Men's Doubles 8.0 - 8.5 Division Winners: Raimundas Rakauskas and Marijus Kuzavas

Women's Doubles 9.0 - 9.5 Division Winners: Francesca Roth & Dierdre Ettus

Men's Doubles 9.0 - 9.5 Division Winners: David Maher & Alex Soyars

litm challenge

continued from page 13

over the winter so it was great to come out here and win.”

Ettus emphasized the best part of the day was just being able to be out there competing together.

“Being at a level where we are healthy enough to play, and with a great friend, makes this a fun day.”

David Maher & Alex Soyars were able to use their complimentary games to come away victorious in the Men’s 9.0 – 9.5 division and capturing the title.

“We are a good combination because I have a bit more power, and David has that touch and finesse in his game. We both move very well and there aren’t many balls we can’t get to,” said Soyars. “Our opponents in the

finals were a good team, always making us hit a second shot, and played really good tennis. It was just our day.”

The key to the win was being able to win those points on the long rallies.

“We tried to make sure to get all the balls back and play out the point,” said Maher. “W were able to sustain the rally until the point was over just a little better today.”

The continued success of the LITM Challenge events would not be possible without the commitment of the players, both returning and new ones, as well as all the people who help put the event together.

“There are many options for local players when it comes to racquet sports, and we are appreciative that so many

players came out and chose our event. To get this many players into this tournament was a real success. I believe this is an indication that players see the professionalism and quality we bring to the events we host, and that they have a great time on and off the court,” said David Sickmen, co-tournament director of the Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge. “I certainly want to thank our beautiful host facility, Sportime Quogue, as well as my co-director Michelle Stoerback, whose passion and energy for adult tennis is second to none, and our LITM Event staff, who did a fantastic job. We look forward to more community involvement, and are excited to see everyone at our next Challenge.”

iPlayMe2 Helping Tennis Clubs

Digitize The Way Forward

Bronxville Field Club director of racquet sports Nathan LeFevre jumped on the opportunity last summer to run all of its Club’s championships in a brand new way, having the players themselves selfschedule their matches, when mutually convenient, and then selfreport the match scores, using the innovative iPlayMe2.

Nathan shared his interesting story about leveraging iPlayMe2’s app-centric solution. His “light-bulb moment”:

“Everyone these days has a smart phone in their palm, and is working remotely as often as possible. Schedules are more flexible, and less predictable. So, when iPlayMe2 came knocking on our door, with this self-scheduling tournament software, we couldn’t resist hearing them out”.

He continued: “We usually ran our Club Championships the traditional way; setting up specific days and weekend times when we’d insist our members get those matches in. But we flipped the problem on its head. Instead of our club mandating play time, blocking out courts, and cramping members’ schedules, I

offered the members to use iPlayMe2’s app to self-schedule those matches, and then, without any input from my staff’s side, enter their match score.”

iPlayMe2’s club admin portal cranked out the brackets, with tournament players then getting forwarded to a website displaying draws, and receiving e-mails, and/or texts, about whom their first round opponent was, and were suggested to use the iPlayMe2 player app to propose days / timeslots throughout the week, for that match.

Some players stayed ‘old-school’, texting each other to coordinate when to play, while others embraced this innovative app, by efficiently accepting or countering each other’s propositions on when to play at our club, all through this app. By the second round, othe member-players were jumping on the app, and making short work of the scheduling headache of offering convenient play times that suited their personal schedules. iPlayMe2 built this app to be as easy as ordering up an Uber... tap, swipe and a click.

Members loved entering their own

scores, particularly when they won. This saved the club’s staff incredible amounts of time; iPlayMe2’s tournament brackets were always fully up-to-date, and visible to all of the members through the club’s private page within iPlayMe2’s ecosystem.

For Nathan, iPlayMe2 not only digitized, and made easy, the entire process of setting up and running the club’s competitive play, but the members took more ownership of their matches, and were eager to schedule them when convenient to both sides of the net.

iPlayMe2 also handles flex leagues, round-robins, ladders as well as can generate player rankings/ratings across the entire club. It even handles Compass Draw type tournaments. For 2023, iPlayMe2 integrated all other racquet sports as well, including of course Pickleball, and Padel.

Nathan summed it up: “iPlayMe2 is very simple to use; it takes only minutes to set up a draw; the tech platform does everything else, and elegantly. Some of our members now think I’m a genius! They’re only halfright... Thanks iPlayMe2!”

By Brian Coleman

Ben Marks Carefree Racquet Club

For Ben Marks, tennis has always been a family affair.

Growing up in England, tennis was a part of his life ever since he can remember. Both of his parents were tennis players, and many days were spent with them either at their local tennis club, or at home hitting balls against the side of the house.

“It was something we always did as a family. From the moment I could walk I can remember playing tennis,” recalls Marks. “It was our thing to do as a family. And as I got older, they put me in tennis clinics at the club, and then eventually moving on to private lessons.”

While tennis was a primary part of his upbringing, Marks says he never felt pressured by his parents to play, which was a crucial part of him developing a natural love for the sport.

“It was right before my 10th birthday, my parents said that if this was something I wanted to do, they would put me into lessons. They were always so supportive, and never forced me to play. However, once I said it was something I wanted to do, they made me commit to it. It was always my choice, but if I was going to pursue it, I had to give it my all.”

That family-themed approach to tennis has stuck with Marks, and is a big reason why he loves the home he has found at Carefree Racquet Club in North Merrick, where he serves as the facility’s Director of Tennis. Marks said he felt that family atmosphere when he first interviewed for the job back in 2015, and was one of the reasons he felt that Carefree would be the perfect spot for him in his career.

“It’s a family-owned club, and the majority of people there have been there for a long time,” said Marks. “When I interviewed here for the Director position, everyone I met had been there for 20, 25 years. It was a place and position that I felt was more of a career than just another stop along the way.”

That aspect was key for Marks as he has had a number of different jobs and positions in the tennis industry over the last decade-plus, all of which have led him to where he is today. He has always worked in tennis, and jokes that he has never had a “real job”. Back when he was growing up in England, he would

help out with the 10-and-under clinics and strung rackets at his local club.

His first visit to the United States came when he was exploring colleges. He would eventually choose Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. as the place to play his collegiate tennis. While playing there, he would coach at local clubs during the season, and when he went home in the summer, he would teach lessons at the same club he grew up playing at.

“My plan was to coach for a few years while I still could and while I still enjoyed it. But I had a degree in finance, and so I assumed eventually I would end up in a business job after that,” Marks recalls. “My first real position was at Sportime, where I started as a tennis pro before progressing to becoming league director, running the camp at Sportime Syosset, and did a lot of back office work. As I progressed kind of quickly there, I began to realize that I could have a career in the industry. It was something I

enjoyed doing, and had started carving out a decent living.”

Beyond that, Marks loved the ability to positively affect people’s lives through tennis, which was the key factor in him deciding to completely pursue a career in tennis.

“Seeing the impact you could have on

people and the relationships you develop, was something that really pulled me in and kept me in it,” he said. “You meet so many different people, and I think working with people is one of my strengths. It’s something I didn’t want to move away from, and coaching tennis has allowed me to do that.”

Marks’ tennis journey has taken him a number of different places, including his current summer role as the Director of Racquet Sports at Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club, as well as past positions such as being the head coach of the Cold Spring Harbor boys’ varsity tennis team. Working in a variety of different positions across the entire spectrum of the tennis industry has helped fully mold the type of director that Marks is today.

“I try to learn and absorb as much as I can wherever I am. So I try to learn what works and what doesn’t work. My first few years in coaching was about building

coaching spotlight

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an idea of what I would want to do, and what I would not want to do, if I ever ran my own place,” said Marks. “That’s something I tried to do everywhere I went. I feel like all of these stops and roles that I have had have definitely made me well-rounded, and putting together all of those puzzle pieces has helped for sure.”

And now, Marks has taken all that he has learned and brought it to Carefree, where he has embraced being able to run his own program with the vision he has in mind.

“When I was interviewing someone for the Director of Tennis position, I met with a lot of interested people. I was being very picky wanting to make sure I hired the right person,” recalls Carefree General Manager Kathy Miller. “When I met Ben, I knew he was who I wanted for the position and was thrilled when he accepted the offer. Ben runs an incredible Junior Program along with overseeing the Adult Program as well. He is organized, smart, has great leadership skills with the pro staff and a wonderful rapport with the customers. We think of Carefree as more of a ‘family’ club and Ben has helped strengthened that culture at Carefree.”

He credits a lot of that to the ownership group at Carefree as well as Miller, who he says has given him the freedom to run the junior program his way, which has helped it grow from 150 kids when he first started, to nearly 450 today.

“Kathy trusted the long term vision that I had, and put that trust in me to grow the programs,” he said. “We’re in it for the long run, to build relationships and continue to earn the trust of our customers and players. I pride myself on not being a salesman, and trying to pitch people on lessons they don’t need, or programs they shouldn’t be a part of. We’re not an academy and don’t pretend to be one. If someone out grows our program and wants to take their game to the next level, we’re honest with them about that. I think we are a great spot for the majority of players who are trying to get better, play middle school or high school tennis, and learn a skill that lasts a lifetime, but we’re not necessarily set up to be coaching kids who want to be the highest-ranked player in the world. I think people appreciate that honesty, and it’s part of the reason many families trust us with their kids and with their own tennis.”

Family and tennis have always gone

hand-in-hand for Marks, and that remains the same today. His wife, Alina Volman, is the Director of Racquet Sports at Pine Hollow Club, and the two met years ago while they both worked at Sportime. Having a spouse who is in the same industry as you has helped both of them, as the two have similar life experiences and can lean on one another when times get tough.

“If I am struggling with a certain situation, she is there to help me out, and vice versa. It’s a good situation in that sense,” said Marks. “Schedules can be tough sometimes, and we do our best to carve out family time. It’s a challenge, but we’re both in the same boat so it helps that we understand what the other is going through.”

The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Mia, a couple of years ago, and raising her has occupied most of their free time. Tennis will no doubt be a part of their daughter’s life, but the approach will be the same as the one used by Marks’ parents.

“Tennis is a huge part of our lives, so it will naturally be a big part of her life. Alina sees it as a pathway to getting good education, but it’s going to be up to her how much she wants to pursue it,” said Marks. “We would love for her to enjoy it. My parents never forced me to play but were supportive when I did, and that’s the same choice we want to give Mia. I would love for her to love tennis, but it’s going to be her decision.”

As far as who will be coaching young Mia when she is ready to have a racket in her hands, Marks says that will be mom’s job.

“I am hoping not to be the one to coach her,” he joked. I think Alina is going to take the lead on that one, and I will get to be the nice guy she confides in when she gets mad at her coach.”

Until then, Marks will continue providing his top-notch instruction to the players he coaches and programs he oversees, and using tennis to positively impact lives.

Park Day Brings Free Tennis Fun For The Whole Family

Long Island Tennis Magazine (LITM) and USTA Eastern, in conjunction with the New York State Parent Teacher Association teamed up to bring free tennis fun to kids and adults alike as the Annual Family Park Day was held at SPORTIME Hempstead Lake.

The event featured engaging tennis instruction and gameplay on the court, but also fun activities off the court including a dunk tank, face painting, glitter tattoos, music, prizes and more. The event was completely free to attend and featured a sold-out registration, which was a great indication of the reach that events like this can have.

“It was great to see kids and their parents outside learning, playing, and most importantly, enjoying themselves,” said USTA Eastern Regional Director Mike Pavlides. “It was a rewarding afternoon for all involved.”

On the court, SPORTIME Lynbrook’s Director of Tennis Jason

Pasion organized drills, games and other instructional lessons as parents went out on court with their kids to partner with them, making the experience fully interactive for the families. If a child needed a partner to pair up with on the court, LITM’s intern staff, comprised of high school

and college tennis players, were there to team up with which helped keep all the kids engaged throughout the day.

“What a fun-filled day it was,” said Pasion. “We had a great turnout of kids of varying ages and tennis abilities. We were able to

have a format that was designed to have the parents interact with their child on the court. For many of them, both parent and child, it was their first time having a racquet in their hand. Hopefully, the experience today will keep them coming back to the courts.”

And that is the primary goal of the Annual Family Park Day, whose inaugural event was held last year. By providing a free and fun introduction to the sport of tennis, the objective is to give them an experience that will make them want to continue playing tennis.

“Our second annual installment of the event turned out to be very successful,” added Neil Thakur, USTA Eastern’s School Tennis Manager & Community Tennis

Coordinator. “Thanks to Jason Pasion and his SPORTIME Hempstead Lake team, and David Sickmen and the LITM event staff, USTA Long Island was able to give over 150 participants a fun experience of tennis and other activities. The best part is that the PTA families will have opportunities to continue learning to play tennis. We appreciate our partnership with the NYS PTA and look forward to hosting many more events in the future.”

Throughout the summer, LITM and

USTA Eastern are excited to continue to bring events such as these to the local community, which includes three free Kids’ Day events scheduled at three different locations.

“We were proud to partner with USTA Eastern, SPORTIME and the NYS PTA to bring tennis to so many kids and adults who may not have played before,” said David Sickmen, LITM Publisher. “Through events like this we are able to show just how fun tennis can be, and that was evident through all the smiles we saw on and off the court at Family Park Day. The format was great today because it allowed for the entire family to enjoy a tennis event together. It was interactive for the kids and the parents”

Controlling Our Words, Thoughts and Emotions On The Tennis Court

By Steve Kaplan

Weput thoughts into words to regulate emotions. Words are incidental in producing emotions; it's the thoughts that they produce that matter. To control our thoughts and emotions, we should know that reactive thought regulation slows reaction time. Proactive thought regulation speeds reaction time. So to control emotions, we need to prepare before getting on the court during a match by practicing behaviors that calm and regulate our emotions.

The reality is that unwanted thoughts are going to happen sometimes. The challenge is to let them be by not giving them too much attention. Instead we can simply acknowledge them to keep unwanted thoughts from spiraling.

Instead of saying, "mistakes are not good or bad", it's useful to understand they are both good and bad. Mistakes keep us from our goal of success. In that regard, they are bad. There isn’t a choice between which mistakes we should accept if we wish to transform mistakes into something good. By accepting them all, we learn.

When we play, our emotions are often in conflict because our desires and our outcomes don't align. If our body goes into “fight or flight” mode, or what is also known as “Amygdala Hijack", we lose the ability to use our prefrontal cortex, or the part of our brain responsible for rational thinking at a time when making rational decisions is exactly what we need. So we can prepare for conflict by practicing the following simple behaviors:

1. Controlling our breathing: to become mindful of our thoughts

2. Focusing on our body: to "anchor" our thoughts only to the present.

3. Saying a Mantra: to maintain our thoughts from spiraling to further unwanted thoughts.

4. Acknowledging and Labeling our thoughts: to help recognize them for what they are, and to create distance from them if they are unwanted.

Some players believe that they are a "victim" of unwanted words, thoughts and emotions. We are not, but we should understand that regulating emotions on the tennis court like every skill takes practice. We can control our word thoughts and emotions if we prepare and practice.

Steve Kaplan is the owner and managing director of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as director emeritus of Lacoste Academy for New York City Parks Foundation, and executive director and founder of Serve &Return Inc. Steve has coached more than 1,100 nationally- ranked junior players, 16 New York State high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous highly-ranked touring professionals. Many of the students Steve has closely mentored have gone on to achieve great success as prominent members of the New York financial community, and in other prestigious professions. In 2017, Steve was awarded the Hy Zausner Lifetime Achievement Award by the USTA. He may be reached by e-mail at StevenJKaplan@aol.com.

PARSA’s picks

Real

estate on Long Island is some of the most sought after property in the world, and many of them are perfect for the tennis lover, especially those out in The Hamptons. With gorgeous landscapes, modern design and private tennis courts, among other amenities, these properties are truly one-of-a-kind.

With the help of Parsa Samii of Compass Real Estate, we wanted to showcase a current listing for sale. Samii is a former professional tennis player and coach who has transitioned into real estate, with a strong understanding of both the tennis aficionado and the home buyer.

As Compass puts it, “Parsa is the ideal professional to navigate the ever-competitive real estate market.” For more information, photos or to see more listings, e-mail parsa@compass.com or call (516) 965-7445.

137 Clay Pit Sag Harbor, N.Y.

$3,499,995

5 Bedrooms

5 Bathrooms

1 1/2 Bathrooms

6,000 Sq. Ft.

Welcometo the Hamptons Private Clay Pit Estate located near gorgeous Sag Harbor Village in this new constructed home!

This two-acre estate built by Terra Construction Group and ARCH&Co is located near Sag Harbor Village, and offers options of over +/- 6,000 square feet of living space on three levels. With 6 ensuite bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, a theater, and a fitness center, 20 x 40 gunite pool, pool house, and tennis court, it is the perfect retreat for relaxation and entertainment.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a private circular driveway that leads to a large front porch. The two-story foyer draws in natural light and offers a view of the two-acre estate surrounded by a wooded oasis. The open floor plan and seamless indoor-outdoor living space make it ideal for hosting your friends and family. This home comes standard with over 4,200 square feet which includes two primary suites, one on the first floor and one on the second floor,

providing flexibility and comfort. Some of the homes additional available options include: a 1,800 square foot finished lower level, a 20X40 gunite pool, a tennis court, a pool house with an outdoor kitchen, a third car garage, a third floor observation deck, a 200 square foot den off the family room, a 170 square foot sitting room off the primary bedroom, a deck off the primary bedroom, a cabana bathroom, a wine cellar in the living room, and more.

“For this price point to have both a new construction home and a tennis court for us tennis enthusiasts is incredible at under $3.5 million in Sag Harbor,” said Samii. “One of the positives of buying pre-construction is the ability to customize the home to you and your family’s taste and lifestyle.”

With so many options, this home will be tailored to fit your preferences, making it a unique opportunity to have a custom-built home designed according to your taste and style. Don't miss this chance to own Private Clay Pit Estate in the heart of Hamptons.

Across Long Isl

Across Long Isl

Paik Wins L6 Boys 12s Title

Michael Paik, who plays middle school tennis for Jericho and trains with Ricky Becker, captured the title at the L6 event at Shelter Rock Tennis Club in the Boys 12s singles division.

Reznik Captures ITF J60 Crown

Great Neck native Jordan Reznik went down to Guatemala and captured the ITF J60 title. Reznik, a Sportime Syosset/John McEnroe Tennis Academy player, did not drop a set throughout the tournament en route to the championship, and defeated players from Great Britain, Brazil, Spain and the United States.

Hoo Comes Back to Win L6 Title

Carrie-Anne Hoo, who trains out of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, took home the title at the L3 Closed event at Saw Mill Club in the Girls 16s division. Hoo won all of her matches in straight sets until the championship round, where she fought back from a set down to win 2-6, 6-0, 6-3.

Teixeira Reaches Two Doubles Finals

Luma Teixeira (pictured left) of the Ross School Tennis Academy reached the finals of the Level 4 Doubles event alongside Kathryn Cragg in the Girls 14s doubles division and alongside Matias Reyniak (pictured right) in the Mixed Doubles 14s division.

land land

News and notes from across the L.I. tennis community … News and notes from across the L.I. tennis community

Point Set Hosts G16 College Format Tournament

Point Set Indoor Racquet Club in Oceanside played host to an L5 College Format team tournament, with the winning team in the Girls 16s division featuring three players from Long Island.

College format includes singles and same gender doubles. Teams of 3-6 players are created by waterfalling players using their World Tennis Number (WTN), and all players play singles and doubles.

The winning team consisted of Gabriella Mazzeo of Connecticut, as well as Valley Stream’s Sahara Ahmad, Woodmere’s Tiffany Lin and Roslyn’s Chloe Gross.

Commack, Port Washington Host Tennis with the Teachers Events

The Commack and Port Washington tennis programs separately held their annual Tennis with the Teachers events, where each player pairs up with a teacher for a friendly doubles tournament. The events serve as a great way to bring the tennis programs together with the rest of the school as well as help to raise money for local, worthy organizations.

across long island

continued from page 00

Pickleball Plus’ Summer Tournament Series’ Heating Up

Pickleball Plus began its Summer Tournament Series, featuring Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles divisions for the Advanced Doubles level.

Women’s Doubles:

Gold - Tara Quinn/ Rosemary DeMarco

Silver - Karen Martocci/Kristin Sainato

Bronze - Tracey Cardone/ Emily Sadowski

Mixed Doubles:

Gold - Stephanie Weinstein/Justin Wong

Silver - Tara Quinn/Michael McDonald

Bronze - Christine & Michael Rossidis

Junior Player

By Brian Coleman

Rocco Roti

Glen Head Racquet Club

Whenhe was just three-years-old, Rocco Roti was given the gift of his first tennis racquet. The ecstatic youngster can remember immediately being drawn to the sport, and it quickly became his first love.

“I remember getting my first racquet and dragging it on the floor as it was too heavy for me,” recalls Roti.

From there, Roti began working with a coach who told him that they had a lot of things to work on, which excited him, as it meant he would get to spend more time on the court playing tennis.

Roti didn’t play many other sports while growing up and instead decided to stick with tennis.

“I fell in love with it and didn’t want to do anything else,” he says. “I loved learning about all the aspects that you have to learn and practice in order to become a better player. The challenge of all of that is why I fell in love with tennis.”

Roti is the youngest of three siblings, all of whom play tennis, so he never had to look far for someone to talk about tennis with or learn from, and that has helped him immensely thus far in his tennis journey.

“My older sister and brother are a very big help in my development as a tennis player,” he said. “They constantly give me advice when I’m down about losing or if I am

struggling with something. Plus, it helps always having someone to hit with when I need a hitting partner.”

Between his love of the sport and being raised in a tennis household, Roti’s passion for the sport is one of the reasons he has seen improvements in his tennis over the years. His real tennis training began at five-years-old when he began being coached by Adam Lee at Glen Head Racquet Club.

“He’s a great coach because he really connects with his students very well,” Roti said. “He understands the frustrations as he was also a competitive tennis player, which makes dealing with that aspect of tennis easier. It’s great being able to work with him and at Glen Head because it is such a welcoming environment with a lot of other good players which can help all of us become better.”

Roti has found a true home for his tennis at Glen Head, and that has helped elevate his game.

“Glen Head has its own feeling of ‘home’,” he said. “Every coach is kind and caring about my tennis, and I believe it’s a special place. When you walk in you feel the energy and respect from the staff, which helps give me the right motivation, and that type of environment is important for my tennis.”

Through that training, Roti has become one of the top players in his age group. The rising sophomore is currently the seventhranked player on Long Island in the Boys 14s, and features both

a consistent forehand and backhand, and relentless energy on the court with great side-to-side movement.

But like any competitive tennis player, Roti says there are still things he can improve on if he wants to continue to take his tennis to the next level.

“Right now I’d say my weaknesses are my forward movement and approaching the net, as well as my serve. But I am currently training to try to improve those aspects of my game.”

As he looks ahead to the summer and beyond, Roti is excited to continue working on his game and see that work pay off in tournaments. He says one of his goals in the short-term is to do well at the L1 National events in the Boys 14s divisions this summer, and would love to become a great college player, before eventually giving it a go on the professional tour, as his long-term goals.

“The past eight years of teaching Rocco has been a pleasurable experience for me. He is a kind hearted

boy who shows a great amount of respect,” said Lee. “Since day one, Rocco has shown a great deal of dedication and commitment towards his tennis. He listens to honest feedback and is always willing to apply that feedback to help improve his tennis development. Not only is he talented but he has a very good tennis IQ for

the game. On top of seeing his growth as a player, I have seen him grow into a very kind and respectful young teenager.”

When he isn’t on the court, Roti is a normal teenager who likes to hang out with his friends and go to the movies. He is a big swimmer and bike rider as well, which help provide him some cardio and conditioning work in his leisure time away from tennis.

Whatever the future holds for Roti and his tennis career, the sport has been a huge part of his life up to this point, and has shown him a lot about himself, the type of traits and characteristics that will not only help you on the court, but off the court as well.

“Tennis has made me a hard-worker and shown be that anything can be accomplished with hard work, and putting your all into something,” he said. “Additionally, tennis has taught me that I am a perfectionist, and I will always try to do things to the best of my ability.”

Tennis Bubbles A Grand Slam Victory Over the Elements

Tryingto figure out a way to maintain your tennis training momentum throughout the offseason? Indoor tennis is a lot more viable than you might think. New York’s harsh winters make outdoor tennis strictly a seasonal sport—unless you can move it indoors. And while indoor tennis may seem like an expensive luxury, The Farley Group keeps the game going year-round by manufacturing, installing and maintaining tennis bubbles. Bubbles are the ideal solution for indoor tennis—both economically and practically.

Tennis has always been a big deal in New York, which has driven the demand for indoor playing spaces for several decades now. With more than 30 bubbles in New York City and the Long Island area, Farley tennis bubbles have helped solidify New York as one of the top places to train and develop

tennis talent. By providing a way to train throughout the winter, tennis becomes much more accessible to those that don’t have the means or desire to travel south for the winter.

Compared to other construction methods, bubbles have a relatively short history. Bubbles first made appearances in North America in the early 1970s, and have since evolved into a top solution for sports like tennis. Ralph Farley, founder of The Farley Group, saw how well the concept worked in Europe, and brought it back with him more than 40 years ago. Since then, The Farley Group has built dozens of tennis bubbles around the world.

Stepping into a tennis bubble for the first time can be awe-inspiring. No other structure can provide as much space without any support beams or walls. It’s almost counter-intuitive at first sight: “What’s holding up the roof?” Intriguingly, bubbles require nothing but

air to do that. Fresh, filtered and conditioned air flows in, giving the bubble its rounded shape, protecting the playing surface and players underneath.

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

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

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

Breaking New Ground The Evolution of Har-Tru

Howdid the world’s most wellknown clay court company come to sponsor one of the largest U.S. Open Series tournaments? A 90-year journey has taken Har-Tru from oldschool beginnings to the modern world of tennis.

Henry Alexander Robinson built the first Har-Tru court in 1931. He had discovered a granular crushed stone he thought would make a great tennis court surface. He was right. His wife named the company by combining Robinson’s initials (HAR) with the court’s true (TRU) green color and bounce.

The brand emerged as a leading player in the tennis industry. From the 1940s onward, Har-Tru courts became a staple in clubs and private homes throughout the U.S. The tennis boom of the early 1970s led to an explosion in demand for Har-Tru courts, propelling the brand to global recognition.

Beginning in the late 1980s, a flurry of product development helped grow the company – and by extension, the sport of tennis. The HydroCourt underground watering system was a technological breakthrough that significantly reduced maintenance and water costs for clay courts, breathing new life into the market. In 2005, that system would make its way to the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, home of the Wimbledon Championship. Those Har-Tru HydroCourts are still actively used by club members today.

The company kept up a non-stop push to innovate its courts, products, and services. They began making maintenance products such as rollers, drag brushes, and line sweepers. They added a facility analysis survey and

consulting service. They formed an intense partnering effort with court contractors, which is still the basis of the company today. They expanded into the Chinese tennis market.

It’s no surprise then that Har-Tru’s zeal for tennis didn’t stop at clay courts. Continuing its legacy of innovation, the company expanded its tennis portfolio by creating a new line of hardcourt coatings. Launched in 2017, Har-Tru Sports Coatings have quickly grown from small-batch acrylics to the surface of choice for major tournaments, clubs, and university athletic programs.

Like the famous green clay, Har-Tru’s coatings are manufactured in a facility in Troy, Virginia. Working with industry chemists and application experts, they engineer acrylics to meet a variety of situations encountered on a highperformance playing surface. The pigments are 100% organic, creating a more vibrant color and having a lower environmental impact.

This summer, the iconic Citi Open of Washington, D.C. unites with the historic Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic. The Mubadala Citi DC Open is set to be one of the key tournaments on the global tennis calendar. Har-Tru Sports Coatings will be the official playing surface. The DC courts will come alive in Championship Blue and Green, crafted to meet the tournament’s specific pace ratings.

From the clay courts of the 1900s to the hardcourts of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Har-Tru’s legacy is a continuous pursuit of improvement in court building and technology. The company demonstrates a commitment to meeting the evolving demands of the court by making hardcourt surfaces, hybrid courts, specialty equipment, consultation systems, and of course, their classic clay.

Har-Tru is more than just another brand; it’s a cornerstone of tennis history and a driving force for the sport’s future.

2023 Long Island Boys’ High

Gershfeld Battles Past Sher to Win Third Straight Nassau County Singles Title

Stephan Gershfeld wanted this one badly.

The two-time Nassau County singles champion from Hewlett, and reigning New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) singles champion, entered this spring’s county tournament with a strong desire to accomplish the three-peat.

“I definitely wanted it,” said Gershfeld. “There was a lot of pressure coming into this tournament, and a lot of people talking about how they wanted to go for my spot.”

And that desire was evident in both the semifinals and finals at Eisenhower Park, as an energetic and vocal Gershfeld did indeed win his third straight county title.

First, he defeated Syosset’s Ansh Chadha in a hardfought semifinal, before facing off against Ajer Sher of Jericho in the championship match. After winning the first set 6-0, Gershfeld jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second set and was serving for 5-0.

But Sher was able to make some headway, breaking Gershfeld, and then holding to cut the deficit to 2-4. After Sher broke again to trim the deficit even further,

Gershfeld took a medical timeout as he was severely cramping.

Upon return, Gershfeld responded with a break of serve of his own to go ahead 5-3, as Sher then took a medical timeout to deal with a quad injury he was suffering from. With both players in visible pain, Gershfeld was able to muster up the energy to serve out the match and clinch the title with a 6-0, 6-4 victory.

“Ajer is a great kid, we’ve battled for years in the juniors, so this was a big match,” said Gershfeld.

When asked about fighting through the pain he was dealing with, Gershfeld added:

“It’s just the pride I have for myself. I know what I’m capable of. For me, personally, I don’t give up until I’m literally on the floor and can’t move anymore. I saw I could get up, saw there was a chance to keep playing, and I already had a lead so why would I stop there. That kept me together.”

Joining Gershfeld at States in the singles field from Nassau County was Sher, and Great Neck South’s Albert Hu, who defeated Chadha in the third-place match.

School Recap

Melandro, Shah Come Back to Win Nassau County Doubles Title

Afterlosing the first set in the Nassau County Doubles Championship, Syosset’s Nikhil Shah & Devan Melandro knew they had to change something up as they battled Friends Academy’s Alistair Wright & Russell Notaris with the title on the line.

“We started playing more doubles tennis, and got aggressive at the net,” said Shah. “We knew we weren’t going to beat them by standing at the baseline and crosscourt rallying. The mentality was, you know what, they won the first set but it’s a whole new match now.”

That mentality would turn out to be crucial, as Shah & Melandro came back to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 to claim the county title, and secure their spot in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Individual Championships.

“As soon as we went down 1-2 in the second set, we completely flipped the script,” added Melandro. “We got so much more aggressive, we made more balls, and everything just changed. My forehand was able to click a little bit more, and once we did get into those baseline rallies, I felt so much more confident.”

Shah, a freshman, said his sophomore partner was the difference in the deciding third set: “Devon was amazing in that third set. It’s the best I’ve seen him play.”

The duo has developed a chemistry over the last few

years, competing both with and against each other during Syosset practices, which went a long way not only with their play on the court, but the ability to communicate and not get too high or low during a match.

“He knows where I’m going to serve and where he needs to be to put it away, and the other way around,” said Shah. “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and are able to pick each other up when we get down. I think that’s what really makes us a good doubles team.”

Wright & Notaris also qualified for the NYSPHSAA tournament to represent Nassau County, as did Great Neck South’s Carter Shea & Ayush Shroff, who defeated Jericho’s Brian Berger & Anish Pylla in the third-place match.

2023 long island boy’s high school preview

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Liao Wins Third Straight Suffolk County Title

proud to be able to do it again.”

Liao used his power game to stifle Volk all afternoon long. Volk never gave in, and continued to fight throughout the match, including saving several match points in the last game of the contest, before Liao finally put the match away.

“Bryan is a fighter, he goes for every point and was able to get a lot of my shots back,” said Liao. “He’s a great player and a hard worker so he really made it tough for me today.”

Once…twice…three times…a county singles champion.

Edward Liao won the Suffolk County Singles Championship for a third consecutive year as the Commack junior defeated Hills West’s Bryan Volk 6-1, 6-1 in the final at Smithtown East High School.

“It feels good,” Liao said of winning yet another county title. “It’s what I expected to do coming into this season, and I’m

Commack head coach Jimmy Delevante has watched Liao grow over the last several years, and continues to be impressed with the way his top player approaches his craft.

“He’s the top kid in the county, and all the attention is always on him even during our team matches, and all of that comes with added pressure. But he handles it exactly how a mature tennis player should,” said Delevante. “He’s gracious, sportsmanlike, mature, and handles all it like someone 10 years older than him would. He’s a pleasure to watch and coach.”

Bursztyn, Pennabadi Claim Suffolk County Doubles Title

defeating Westhampton Beach’s Sandro Volpe & Bobby Stabile 7-5, 6-1.

“Being sidelined last year, sitting and watching, made me want this that much more,” said Bursztyn, who won the county title back in 2021 alongside Matt Kronenberg. “It was a lot of motivation, I had to work hard, and do a lot to get my body back in shape, but it was worth it to be able to accomplish our goal.”

The chemistry between Bursztyn & Pennabadi was on full display during the finals as the pairing communicated extremely well, a crucial aspect of a successful doubles team.

Lastyear, Gabe Bursztyn sat and watched as his older brother, Aron, and Shashank Pennabadi won the Suffolk County Doubles title. An injury in the early part of the season sidelined the Ward Melville junior for the remainder of last spring.

But being the ideal teammate that he is, Bursztyn supported his team throughout the year, and then put in the work in the offseason to get himself ready for this year.

“I was so proud of the way he handled it last year,” said Ward Melville head coach Erick Sussin. “He understood that it was the end of his season, but he continued to support us and cheer us on. He waited for his moment and it paid off. I find it remarkable that he had the patience and faith that he could come back and do it this year.”

That culminated at Smithtown East High School as he and Pennabadi won the Suffolk County doubles championship,

“We use hand signals in tennis but these two, like any good doubles team, almost read each other’s minds,” added Sussin. “Gabe was off for basically a year and didn’t miss a step, while Shashank brings that energy and confidence, and high expectations anytime he takes the court.”

“It’s amazing, a great feeling. I can’t wait to go back to states,” he said. “We train a lot together, played in group lessons growing up, so we just have great chemistry together.”

“He’s a really good player, great hands at the net, power from the baseline, and we know each other’s games really well,” said Bursztyn. “We’re able to move around freely and know where the other is going to be.”

The Westhampton Beach pairing of Stabile & Volpe qualified for the state tournament, as did the Hills East duo of Krithik Madisetty & Lohit Madisetty, who defeated James Yu & Joe Romito of Commack in the third-place match.

Chadha, Mehta Clinch LI Title for Syosset

Syosset defeated Commack 4-3 in a thrilling Long Island Large School Championship on the courts of Hofstra University.

Syosset got the scoring started first as the third doubles pairing of Dylan Apfel & Spencer Keschner notched a 61, 6-0 win to give their team an early lead. But as was expected, these two teams proceeded to trade wins throughout the afternoon, and soon after, Commack evened the score as Eddie Liao won at first singles 6-1, 6-3.

James Yu then pushed Commack in front with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph at third singles, before Syosset tied it up again as Devan Melandro & Nikhil Shah, the Nassau County doubles champions, notched a 7-5, 6-1 win at first doubles.

With three flights remaining, the match still hung in the balance.

Evan Lee moved Syosset within one win of the Long Island Championship thanks to his 6-4, 6-4 victory in the second singles spot.

“Evan is a clutch player; you’ll never know if he’s winning or losing a match when looking at him, he has that stoic look,” said Syosset head coach Shai Fisher. “He’s a thinker on the court, and has such grit, that you know what kind of match you are going to get out of him when you pencil him into the lineup.”

Jeff Behar then won 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 at fourth singles, bringing the Long Island Championship to be decided on the second doubles court.

In a hard-fought third set, Aayan Mehta & Shiv Chadha would clinch the title for their team, holding on for a 6-1, 5-7,

6-2 win with the crowds and spectators from both teams overlooking their court

“You just have to block out all the noise from everyone in the crowd, and just focus on getting serves in,” said Mehta, who served for the title. “We had the lead so it took a little bit of the pressure off. But it’s an amazing feeling, and I’m really happy for our team.”

Chadha added:

“After we lost the second set, we regrouped and got back into it mentally. All we had to do was check back in and get back to doing what we were doing. I’ve been playing varsity tennis for three years and have been waiting for this moment.”

It is fitting that the win for Syosset came down to a doubles court, as the depth of the Braves have been at the core of its strength for many years now. That was no different this spring, and proved to be the deciding factor.

“I’ve had tremendous faith in our doubles teams all year. They play some of the best competition in our conference,” added Fisher. “Shiv has been coming up big all year. Aayan’s been playing first doubles most of the year, but played second today. Both have been in so many pressure moments and matches this year, so I was confident in them.”

“It means everything to us,” said Apfel, a senior cocaptain along with Ansh Chadha. “We had a taste of what it was like to win the Long Island Championship a couple of years ago, and how big it was for everyone on the team. We wanted it last year also, so it’s really great to be able to pull it off this year and go to states.”

2023 long island boy’s high school preview

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Friends Academy Sweeps Ross School to Claim LI Championship

going for my shots, using my forehand crosscourt and my backhand down the line, and tried to stay consistent.”

FriendsAcademy entered the Long Island Small School Championship as a confident group. Taking on the Suffolk County champions, Ross School, the Quakers felt as if it were the better team on paper, and wanted to prove that on the court.

And it did just that. Friends Academy would sweep all five flights on the courts of Hofstra University to claim the Long Island title, and qualify for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Team Championships.

“I tried to make sure I didn’t let my ability to stay mentally focused get away, and wanted to execute the game plan we had,” said Will Bohner, who won 6-1, 6-0 at second singles. “I wanted to use my serve to get to his backhand, using my lefty spin to serve out wide and break him down that way. It’s a high pressure match, with lots on the line, so I’m glad I was able to do that.”

Bohner’s victory came soon after the second doubles pairing of Zack Cohen & Danny Duke notched a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles, which meant Friends Academy was one win away from the title.

That clinching win would come from Russell Notaris at first singles, who posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

“I just wanted to get my first serve in there. I know as a lefty my serve can be tough, so I just trusted that,” said Notaris, who understood that his team was one flight away from the title as he prepared to serve out his match. “It’s the Long Island Championship, so everyone is coming in a bit nervous, so my goal in the beginning was just to stay loose, try to get as many balls in play early in the match. Then once I got a feel for the ball, I started

Moments later, Bryan Bin closed out his win at third singles, winning 62, 6-0, and the first doubles duo of Alistair Wright & Ved Rawaj completed the Friends’ sweep with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph.

One of the biggest challenges for Friends was adjusting the lineup to accommodate only playing five flights as opposed to the seven it had played throughout the season.

That meant a couple of difficult decisions for head coach Owen Kassimir, which included moving Bin to third singles, and putting Wright, a senior co-captain, into the first doubles slot with Rawaj.

“The whole week was difficult, and we had to think about the different lineup combinations we were going to go with,” said Kassimir. “We knew Danny & Zack would be together at second, but I didn’t know what to do with Bryan. Ryan [Chang], who played with Bryan at first doubles [in the Nassau County Championship], is a standup freshman, and he knew the situation and was good about it. I thanked him for being a top-notch guy, and told him he’ll have his chance. But we came up with the idea of putting Alistair & Ved together, we knew they would work well together, and moved Bryan to third singles. It worked.”

“It really signifies how far this team has come. We got bumped down a conference, and lost to Wheatley in the county final last year, so now to come out here this year and accomplish this, it’s a huge step for us. It shows we have the ability to compete with the best teams.”

2023 long island boy’s high school preview

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Commack's Liao Wins NYSPHSAA Singles Title

Sincehe began playing high school tennis in seventh grade, Edward Liao dreamed of one day becoming a state champion.

That dream became a reality as the Commack junior defeated Braeden Gelletich of Goshen 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to win the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Singles Championship.

“This feels amazing, I’ve always wanted to do this,” said Liao. “It feels like a dream come true.”

On a cold, breezy day in Queens, the three-time Suffolk County singles champion struck first in the opening set as he broke Gelletich’s serve for an early 2-1 lead. After falling behind 0-40 in his ensuing service game, Liao fought back to hold serve and then followed that up with another break of serve to take control of the opener, eventually winning it 6-2.

But Gelletich demonstrated the type of fight that got him into the finals, continuing to get deep into Liao’s service

games to build a 3-0 advantage in the second set. Liao would get the set back on serve, but not before Gelletich broke him once again to claim the set and force the final into a deciding third set.

“In the second set, I was doing a little too much,” said Liao. “I needed to get back to just playing my game and being a little more neutral.”

With the state title on the line, Liao did just that. He got back to playing his game, and while his serve was not as effective as it typically is, he secured the key break for a 32 lead. After holding serve, he broke once again, and with the finish line in sight, Liao served it out, winning the final set to clinch the match and claim the state championship.

“It sucked,” Liao said when asked about his serve on Sunday. “I was like, ‘where is my serve today?’ He did a

great job of getting a lot of my serves back, and it made me uncomfortable. But I’m glad I was able to pull through with some good serves in those key moments, and be a little better when I needed to be.”

Liao now becomes the first player from Commack, and the third from Suffolk County overall, to win the NYSPHSAA Boys' singles title. He had to play three long sets in both his semifinal and final matches, and his coach, Jimmy Delevante, was proud of the way his player fought through that adversity to pull through in the end.

“I think the turning point was the second set in the semifinals [against Geneva’s Drew Fishback],” he said. “Once he got that break back for 44 in the second and was able to serve it out, he played a whole different level of tennis after that. His serve, his biggest weapon, wasn’t firing on all cylinders today. He had to use his other weapons to win points, and that was awesome to see. To not have a great serving day, but still play well and get a result like this, it’s outstanding.”

Stephan Gershfeld of Hewlett finished in fourth place, while Jericho’s Ajer Sher was the event’s seventh place finisher.

In the doubles championship, it was an all Section I showdown as Edgemont’s Elijah Johnson & Nicholas Peng defeated Jason Wei & Matthew Wallis 6-3, 6-4 to win the state title. “It’s a great feeling,” said Johnson. “We knew we could do it, we just had to trust each other and play our games.”

Trusting each other is a big part of the success of Johnson & Peng. The duo doesn’t communicate a lot during points, but they have a chemistry together that allows them to stay in tune with one another.

“We just have really good chemistry and our games align with each other,” said Peng. “We don’t’ really communicate a lot during matches, but we know each other’s games and where the other is going to be. We had to focus on our returns a lot today, they were serving well, and I think we did a good job of returning those serves and getting a couple of breaks.”

The Ward Melville pairing of Gabe Bursztyn & Shashank Pennabadi finished in third place as they defeated Horace Greeley’s Benjamin Singer & Adam Fink 6-4, 6-0 in the bronze medal match.

The Friends Academy duo of Russell Notaris & Alistair Wright finished in sixth place, the Syosset pairing of Nikhil Shah & Devan Melandro finished in seventh place, and Westhampton Beach’s Bobby Stabile & Giancarlo Volpe finished in eighth place, to round out the Long Island results at the 2023 NYSPHSAA Individual Championships.

2023 long island boy’s high school preview

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Syosset Wins NYSPHSAA Division I Championship

All season long, the Syosset Braves had one goal in mind. That was to win the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Division I Championship.

With every accomplishment along the way, reaching the playoffs, winning the Nassau County Championship, capturing the Long Island title, the message was still the same:

The job isn’t finished.

So at the NYSPHSAA Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, it was time to finish that job, as the Braves were one of four teams competing for state supremacy. In the semifinals, Syosset knocked off Williamsville East, before setting its sights on Westchester powerhouse Scarsdale.

“Before the season, our goal was simple and it was to be here in this moment,” said senior co-captain Ansh Chadha. “Everyone was focused, and we were locked in all week getting ready for this.”

That focus was on full display as Syosset defeated Scarsdale 5-2 to become the second winners of the New York State Boys’ Division I Championship.

Chadha backed up his own messaging as he won 63, 6-1 at first singles.

“I came out a bit shaky. I was making some unforced errors in that first set, going for some big shots and trying to play hero ball,” admitted Chadha. “At 3-3 in the first set is when I really settled in though. I told myself to just get every ball in the court and that helped me build a lead, and from there I really started serving well which helped me maintain that lead. I think the key for me today was moving forward which is something I don’t normally do, but I saw it was working and it helped me win some big points at the net.”

Nikhil Shah posted a 6-1, 6-4 victory in the third singles spot, but Scarsdale kept things close thanks to a 6-4, 6-0 win from Jack Reis at second singles, and a 6-2, 6-3 victory by Will Mishra & Michael Marks at first doubles.

With tensions rising, the eyes of spectators and players who finished their matches focused in on the second doubles court, as Syosset’s Dylan Apfel & Spencer Keschner were in a third-set tiebreaker with Ben Hyman & Hiroshi Hebner of Scarsdale to decide the match.

“We knew we had to get one break in the tiebreaker and we would be able to hold our serves,” said Keschner. “And that’s what it came down to.”

The Syosset pairing were able to secure the minibreak and remained efficient with their serves, pulling away in the deciding tiebreak to deliver a third win for Syosset, moving their team within one win from the state title.“

Spencer and I have been playing together for awhile now, and our doubles chemistry is built on trust,” Apfel, a senior co-captain, said. “We know what the other one is good at and we rely on that trust. We talk to each other a lot during matches which helps us stay focused on what we need to do.”

Needing to win one more court, Syosset turned to Devan Melandro, a sophomore who had played doubles much of the season, including winning the Nassau County doubles title alongside Shah, but was tasked with playing fourth singles in the state championships.

“When I told him he would be playing singles here, he told me he was ready,” said Syosset head coach

Shai Fisher. “I was confident in him because he has a history of playing singles, and playing pressure matches for us in the past. He wanted to prove that to everyone.”

Melandro did just that. Leading 5-3 in the second set, Melandro dug in on his return game, setting up multiple match points on his opponent’s serve. After a long deuce game, Melandro finally got the break to clinch the match, and dropped his racket to the ground in disbelief.

“That game lasted forever,” Melandro said. “I felt the pressure when I went up 40-15 and had match points. I missed a couple of returns, but I kept telling myself that I needed to win this game and it was over. I didn’t want to serve again, just wanted to close the match out right there in that game. I felt confident coming into today and getting back into my old groove, and to clinch it for my team is just amazing.”

Rounding out the scoring was the third doubles pairing of Ryan Jiang & Veyd Trived who won 6-4, 3-6, 10-6.

“I’m extremely proud of them,” said Fisher. “All the hard work, the dedication, the commitment, staying away from injuries, all the factors that go into play, you don’t realize how hard it is until you go through it. I don’t know if it’s really sunk in yet, the first ever state title in Syosset tennis history, but I couldn’t be more proud of them for what they did this season.”

USTA Eastern Long Island Region

And The Nominees Are…

The 33rd Annual USTA Long Island Annual Awards Dinner has been scheduled for September 27th at the Sea Cliff Manor. That means it is time to think about your colleagues in the tennis community who deserve recognition. Nominations are now open and will be accepted until July 31st. Please take a few minutes to nominate all the people you would like to see recognized in September.

Visit our website (www.longisland.usta.com) for information and email your choices (don’t forget to include the category and a short description of why each person deserves the award) to ustaonlongisland@gmail.com.

Coming Soon

The USTA Long Island Regional Council is looking forward to some popular annual events in the next few months.

For more information on any of these events, please visit www.longisland.usta.com or email ustaonlingisland@gmail.com

July 2023

7/6: Kids’ Day at LuHi (rain date 7/7) 7/18: Kids’ Day at Hempstead Lake State Park (rain date 7/19)

August 2023

8/1: Kids’ Day at Island Quest in Wheatley Heights (rain date 8/2)

September 2023

9/27: Annual USTA Long Island Awards Dinner @Sea

Cliff Manor

Robbie’s Run

USTA Long Island volunteers participated at the annual Robbie’s Run in Merrick in May. This 5k road race and community event is held to raise money for Forever 9: The Robbie Levine Foundation, which supplies automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for youth and adult sports venues and also runs CPR and AED training sessions. LI volunteers offered red ball tennis lessons to children attending the event.

USTA Eastern Long Island Region

Recognizing Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship

is a crucial part of the tennis experience, and the USTA Long Island Regional Council takes pride in its effort to foster and recognize exemplary sportsmanship across our Region.

This season, at the Nassau County Boys’ High School Individual tournament at Eisenhower Park, Mike Pavlides, USTA LI Regional Director, presented the USTA Long Island Sportsmanship Award to one participating Doubles team and one participating Singles player in the tournament. “In conjunction, Jay Harris of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) generously provided scholarships to the JMTA College Combine,” Pavlides said. “We worked together to link the two, so each sportsmanship honoree also received a scholarship. Making this moment especially meaningful was presenting the scholarships in memory of Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz with the approval of their families. A

special ‘Coaches Award’ scholarship was presented to Ethan Solop of Roslyn.”

Recipients were:

1) Carter Shea & Ayush Shroff (Great Neck South)

2) Cooper Schorr (Lynbrook)

3) Ethan Solop (Roslyn)

Harris is at left in each photo and Pavlides is at right.

As in years past, the LI Council provided plaques to high schoolers to recognize their outstanding sportsmanship. Each high school coach in Nassau and Suffolk County was offered one plaque for a member of his or her team. To see photos of some of the winning athletes, please visit www.longisland.usta.com.

Albert Hu of Great Neck South won the Section VIII Sportsmanship Award at the State Tournament and Bryan Volk of Half Hollow Hills West won for Section XI.

Long Island Regional Council Executive Committee

Mike Pavlides, Regional Director

Jonathan Klee, Past Regional Director

Sunny Fishkind

Tito Perez

Jason Wass

Randi Wilkins

Neil Thakur, Manager, Schools Tennis and Long Island & Metro Region CTC

Becky Bellino, USTA Eastern Leagues Coordinator, bellino@eastern.usta.com

Facebook: Play Tennis Long Island • Instagram: USTA Eastern

Adult League Wrap-Up

By Becky Bellino

We’reat the halfway point of the year, but Long Island tennis is just heating up! Our numbers continue to rise as tennis is still booming, and we couldn't be happier about it. Long Island continues to have a strong presence with players participating at all levels (2.5 - 5.0) and at all age levels (18+ & 65+).

Along with our strength in numbers, I am proud to say that we have grown with several new leagues debuting in our region. For the first time, our section introduced a 5.0 tri-level league. Long Island along with Southern brought forth women’s teams, and the two regions will battle it out at Sectionals in Schenectady at the end of June. Good luck to Jenny Einhorn and Jackie Clark’s team from Carefree!

Another new league for Long Island is the 55 & Over Mixed Doubles Leagues. We have teams participating at the 7.0 and 8.0 levels and the winners will also travel up to Schenectady in June. Shanon Blue’s team out of Lynbrook has earned the top honors at the 8.0 level, as did Gigi Banks and Dawn Schosberg’s 7.0 team from Sportime Syosset. Good luck to all teams participating, and a BIG thank you for getting this ball rolling.

Lastly, we have added another social league to the region which mirrors that of the David Dinkins Mixed Doubles League. Proving that tennis is a lifelong sport, under the guise of Bruce Lindenman, Chet Singer, and Lew Cohen, a 70+ 7.0 men’s league has been created. The seniors will play throughout the month of August with the hopes that the idea grows as David Dinkins has, and add traction for future years to come. Carefree, Christopher Morley, and Robbie Wagner will host the matches.

While our spring leagues are in full swing, so are Sectionals! June marked the start of Adult League Sectional Championships. The 18+ Mixed Doubles Sectional kicked off the month and two Long Island teams feel just shy of claiming the Eastern title. Congratulations to Ed Sinn’s 6.0 team out of Syosset and Zane Sidiqui’s 8.0 team from Long Beach for a valiant run!

Our 55+ mixed teams and women’s

4.0 and 5.0 tri-level teams will close out the month of June up at Schenectady and we wish our teams the best of luck! Below is a recap of our region’s winners for all leagues that took place over the winter.

• 18 & Over 6.0 Mixed - Sportime Syosset (Captain - Ed Sinn)

• 18 & Over 7.0 Mixed - Huntington Indoor Tennis (Captains - Bridgette Boyle and Lia Newell)

• 18 & Over 8.0 Mixed - Long

18 & Over 4.0 Tri-Level - Huntington Indoor Tennis - Captains Tracy Kleinberg and Lisa Newell

18 & Over 6.0 Mixed - Sportime Syosset - Captain - Ed Sinn

Beach Tennis Center (CaptainZane Siddiqui)

• 18 & Over 9.0 - Long

Beach/Sportime Lynbrook (Captains

- Shanon Blue and Amani Siddiqui)

• 18 & Over 4.0 Tri-Level - Huntington

Indoor Tennis (Captains Tracy

Kleinberg and Lisa Newell)

• 18 & Over 5.0 Tri-Level - Carefree

Racquet Club (Captains Jackie Clark and Jenny Einhorn)

• 40 & Over 6.0 Mixed - Deer Park

Tennis Center (Captain Jill Bratos)

• 40 & Over 7.0 Mixed – Sportime

Syosset (Captain Dawn Schosberg)

• 40 & Over 8.0 Mixed - Sportime

Lynbrook (Captains Shanon Blue and Mitchell Low)

• 40 & Over 9.0 Mixed - Park Ave.

Tennis (Captain Roslyn ChuaMcalonie)

• 55 & Over 7.0 Mixed - Sportime

Syosset (Captains Dawn Schosberg and Gigi Banks)

• 55 & Over 8.0 Mixed - Long Beach (Captain Shanon Blue)

Thank you all for your participation! Looking forward to a bigger and greater spring and summer season!

Becky Bellino is the new Adult League Coordinator for USTA/Long Island. A native of Bergen County, N.J., Bellino played collegiate tennis at Gettysburg College, and currently plays in USTA Adult Leagues. She may be reached at bellino@eastern.usta.com.

18 & Over 5.0 TriLevel - Carefree Racquet Club (Captains Jackie Clark and Jenny Einhorn

40 & Over 8.0 MixedSportime LynbrookCaptains Shanon Blue and Mitchell Low

Yesterday's Loss Was Due to Nerves

By Barbara Wyatt

Ilosta match yesterday and asked my coach one question: Why?

Our opponents were strong but held no skills that my partner and I couldn't handle. What happened?

Coach asked me to rate my performance against the ten athletic skills, as defined by ESPN's Jim Caple Degree of Difficulty Project.

This is how I performed yesterday:

ENDURANCE: 10/10. I never ran out of energy.

STRENGTH: 7/10. I served well, securing a few well-placed aces. Yet midway through the second set, I didn't feel as strong and confident as I did earlier in the match.

SPEED: 6/10. I remember not accelerating quickly and arriving at some balls off balance. I need to add sprinting drills into my training.

AGILITY: 8/10. I changed direction well throughout the match.

FLEXIBILITY: 9/10. Knees were bending, hips and shoulders swung

freely with each stroke.

NERVES: 3/10. This was my weakness yesterday. Nerves as defined by the Degree of Difficulty Project is "the ability to overcome fear." Bull riding (9.50 out of 10) and diving (8.38) ranked far higher than tennis at 3.0. I might not be riding a bull but I had hesitancy on my second serve when the score was 15-40 and during the tiebreak when our court win meant a team win.

DURABILITY: 10/10. After the long well-played match, I left the court without pain or aches and already thinking of our next match.

HAND-EYE COORDINATION: 8/10. Very few balls skipped past me without a strong return on the strings.

ANALYTIC APTITUDE: 8/10. When receiving a serve or in a rally, I love analyzing the position of my opponent's body, foot position, and racquet angle to predict their return.

I determined I lost the match because of my inability to stay charged and confident during key points. Coach promised to create stressful situations in our next practice by calling out stressful point scores and improving my calming rituals to stay present with an ideal state of mind.

The purpose of the Degree of Difficulty Project was to determine the toughest sport in the world. Caple had pulled together a panel of sports scientists, academicians in muscles and movement science, an athlete, and journalists to rate the demands a sport places on a player in ten athletic categories. Tennis ranked seventh out of the sixty sports. Boxing and ice hockey were the most difficult; billiards and fishing the least.

As a former college rugby player, I disagree that football (rated #3) is higher rated than rugby (#13), but Coach waved off my comments. "Argue what you want, but use these weighted athletic skills to improve your tennis practice and athlete conditioning."

She's right, again.

The full ranking is available at https://www.espn.com/espn/page 2/sportSkills.

Barbara Wyatt is a Writer, Photographer, USTA Official, and Mobile App Developer of iKnowTennis!, the tennis rules app. Her poem, Ode to Tennis, an amusing poem on the joys and frustrations when learning tennis, is available at Amazon. She can be reached by e-mail at BarbaraW@iKnowTennis.com

In the Kitchen

Andrei Daescu Talks APP New York Open, Viking Athletic Relationship

Nunnery teamed up to take home the Gold Medal in Men’s Pro Doubles. Long Island Tennis Magazine caught up with Daescu to talk about his pickleball beginnings, his success on the tour as well as his partnership with Viking Athletics, one of the leading brands in the racquet sport industry.

Someof the world’s best pickleball players arrived here in New York to compete in the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) New York City Open. The competition took place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, which normally hosts the U.S. Open, but on this weekend played host to a premier pickleball event.

At that event, Andrei Daescu & Rob

When did you first start playing pickleball? What was your introduction to the sport, and did you play other racquet/paddle sports before you began playing pickleball? My first experience with pickleball was in the fall of 2017 at Ballenisles Country Club in South Florida. I was a tennis pro at the club and a bunch of our members asked us to hire some pickleball pros to come to our club and do a learn & play clinic for our members. During that clinic they needed an extra player for the exhibition and I got to jump in, I was hooked instantly after the first few points. It was about 3-4 weeks later that I was playing in my first official tournament and everything snowballed from that moment on, I still enjoy the game as much as I did that first time I played. My racquet sports

background is in tennis, I started playing when I was 6, played college tennis for the University of Oklahoma where I became an All-American in 2010 and played on the pro tour from 2010-2015. I reached a career high ranking of 126 ATP in doubles and got to compete in the 2015 US Open which is my most fun memory in tennis, there's no other place like Flushing Meadows during the US Open.

What did it mean to you to win the APP New York City Open? What were you doing well throughout the tournament that allowed you to win it?

Winning the APP New York City Open was a great accomplishment for me. The experience of playing at Flushing Meadows was fantastic, it brought back some nice memories, and I enjoyed the NYC crowd which came out in large numbers over that weekend. I was able to play my best game for a large part of that tournament and overcame some good adversity in the finals to be able to bring home the gold.

Pickleball's popularity has certainly risen over the last

several years, especially at the professional level. What do you think is the reason for this shift? And also, what should people know about pickleball at the highest levels as often time the perception is it's a sport for old people? There's no question pickleball's popularity has risen exponentially in the last few years and we now have large hedge-funds and big-time celebrities buying stock into our game. I attribute the growth in the popularity simply to how much fun the game actually is. More and more people have been exposed to the game in the last 5-10 years and I think COVID helped expose a very large number of the general population, and add to that the retention rate being extremely high, pretty much all my family and friends who have tried it are loving it and playing a lot. The game of pickleball is easy to learn which makes it fun at the start, but hard to master which keeps us coming back. Regarding pickleball being a game for old people, I used to hear that a lot in the early years of the game but now that most people have tried it you really don't hear that much at all. If you haven't tried the game yet, go out with your friends and play some singles or doubles for 45 minutes and you'll see it for yourself how good of a workout it is.

Can you talk about your relationship with Viking Athletics? When did that come about?

My relationship with Viking came about at the start of this year. They are obviously a very established company in the platform-tennis market and were looking to make the jump into pickleball as well. I was really excited about their long-term plan and their staff so in May I decided to join their team and I am really happy with the move so far. They are a world-class company in the racquet-sports industry and this was a great opportunity for me so I hope our partnership will last a long time.

What makes Viking a great company/brand to collaborate with?

Viking is a great brand to collaborate because of its experience and willingness to stay ahead of the game. Despite their great success in racquet sports, they always embrace feedback, their staff is extremely capable to turn that feedback into some great results and their team gives you that family feeling at all times.

What are some of your goals/plans for the summer and moving forward?

I have a really busy tournament schedule this summer that is going to

take me coast to coast here in the US and will also bring me in the UK at the beginning of August. The plan for the summer is to continue to enjoy playing pickleball at the highest level, continue to expose as many people as possible to this great game and take care of my body during this process so I can do this for a long time to come.

Pickleball Players Enjoying League Play

Pickleball Plus bringing players together

Oneof the great things about the rise of pickleball has been seeing the wide spectrum of types of people that not only give the sport a try, but grow to fall in love with it. Pickleball is truly a sport that is for people from all walks of life and of all ages.

continued on page 52

Harry Ludwig

Look no further than the players and members at Pickleball Plus. Last fall, the dedicated pickleball facility in West Hempstead introduced league play into its variety of programming, and they have showcased just how far reaching the sport can be, and the impact it can have on those who play it.

Take for example Reva Wayne and Harry Ludwig, two people who compete in leagues at Pickleball Plus, but found pickleball at different points in their lives. Wayne is a retired civilian police department employee who discovered pickleball while she was exploring activities she could do in her post-work years, while Ludwig is a recent college graduate and former high school tennis player, who began

playing pickleball on a whim.

Now, both are fully entrenched in not only leagues, but all the programming at Pickleball Plus has to offer.

“When I was approaching retirement, I went online and google searched sports and activities for older woman,” recalls Wayne. “I saw pickleball, had never heard of it, but decided to go on YouTube to see exactly what it was. From there I joined a couple of Facebook groups trying to find someone who offered lessons. It was a bit rough in the beginning but I loved it right away, and now I am at Pickleball Plus five days a week.”

Ludwig said:

“I played high school tennis at South Side in Rockville Centre, I wasn’t spectacular or anything but played three years on varsity. So I had a racquet sport and athletic background. This past spring I graduated college, but had a lighter course load so I decided to find an activity to fill the time. I had seen a lot on television and social media about pickleball, a few of my friend’s parents were players at Pickleball Plus, so I decided to give it a

try. It’s been awesome, I’ve met a lot of great people through being there.”

Wayne competes in the Intermediate Ladies League while Ludwig is now into the Men’s Advanced Intermediate League, and both say that pickleball has had a positive impact on their lives.

“My life is all about pickleball. My fridge has pickleball magnets and my daughter gives me pickleball gifts, it’s overtaken my life,” said Wayne. “And it’s not just playing itself, it’s everything that comes along with it. I am friends with people now whose lives otherwise wouldn’t have crossed paths, and we go to each other’s birthday parties, get together for brunches, etc. We celebrate each other, and being able to find all of this through pickleball has been a blessing.”

The leagues have also been a great way for them to improve their games beyond doing lessons, clinics or open play. Competing against others gives you an opportunity to work on the aspects of your game that you have been practicing and learning during those lessons.

“My game has become a lot more refined and thoughtful, instead of just hitting it back and chasing down the next ball,” said Ludwig. “I’m thinking about my shots a lot more, trying to set up points and playing a more strategic game. It’s given me the chance to practice those things, and the leagues overall have just been great. Everyone is so nice and that helps keep us all engaged. They’re also a great way to expand your pickleball community and find games and people to play with beyond just the leagues.”

For almost 50 years we’ve been the year-round, full-service retail tennis, paddle, squash and pickle ball store of choice for East End racquet sport enthusiasts. Tennis East has an extensive in-stock selection of men’s, women’s and junior’s racquets, sneakers, apparel and accessories from the top manufacturers for players of all ages and skill levels. Please call or e-mail us at tenniseastsh@gmail.com to place orders

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And while they enjoy playing pickleball anywhere, anytime, Pickleball Plus is their home. The fact that it is a facility dedicated to pickleball really sets it apart, according to Wayne and Ludwig, as opposed to playing at a tennis facility that offers pickleball. Being able to compete indoors is a big factor as well as

Reva Wayne

playing in a climate-controlled building creates a purer game with less variables coming into play.

“Their whole concept is pickleball, and we really feel welcome when we play there,” said Wayne. “At other places, sometimes we felt like the black sheep, but we know how important pickleball is to them here at Pickleball Plus. The staff is amazing, and they get it.”

Pickleball Plus’ offers leagues for all levels including beginner, advanced beginner, intermediate and advanced intermediate, as well as a Ladies’ League. Subs and alternates are always welcome, and you can learn more about all these leagues by visiting PickleballPlusLLC.com or contacting leagues@pickleballplus.com.

Kowalsky, Shank Turning Pickleball Passion Into Action

Aspickleball continues to grow across the country and specifically here in our area, two local players are trying to expand the competitive side of the game.

Kevin Kowalsky & C.J. Shank have launched PBClash.com, a website that they hope will become a hub for both tournament directors and competitive players.

“It’s basically a website for tournament directors to post their upcoming events, and to create a one-stop-shop for all aspects of the pickleball world,” said Kowalsky. “It allows players to get a progression ranking, see their upcoming matches online, and follow their own progress and improvement. For directors, they will be able to process payments through there and gather contact information for future events. We think this is the next step in growing pickleball.”

Kowalsky got his introduction into pickleball after being a tennis player his whole life, competing in USTA tournaments, and so he understands the benefits of having an online portal for tournaments. His first time playing the sport wasn’t too long ago, and

came after his parents bought a house on a country club that had a private court.

“We decided to give it a try, and from there my dad and I signed up for a few pickleball leagues.” The rest is history, as they say, as Kowalsky is now fully immersed in pickleball, and is the only racquet and paddle sport he plays.

Shank is one of the most recognizable players in the local pickleball scene, and has embraced that community he has found. It’s the

goal of both Kowalsky and Shank to continue that growth we have seen over the years and expand the sports’ reach.

PB Clash is always looking for more players to submit their scores to the site, and in turn those scores will be used by PB Clash’s algorithm to generate a ranking. The more often players submit their scores from matches to the site, the more accurate and sought after the rankings will become, which will then convince tournament directors to use the site to run their own tournaments moving forward.

“PBclash is an up and coming new site that takes all the guesswork out of where you belong in tournaments. If the Pickleball director uses PBclash or has used PBclash before all there people who have registered are already in the system and have a self ranking,” said Shank. “When they play the tournament the algorithm takes all their matches against who you played and what the score was, crunches the numbers and spits out your new ranking. Unlike Durp you can not input scores from recreational play or from a tournament that isn’t using PBclash. I think that Kevin has created a great friendly-to-use site and with more and more tournament directors this site will truly help the game of pickleball because it will eliminate players playing

continued on page 54

Kevin Kowalsky

C.J. Shank

in the kitchen

continued from page 53

down in tournaments. It’s so user friendly and it’s free to join.”

It’s that type of crowd sourcing and community-based growth that has elevated pickleball up to this point, and will be responsible for the sustained growth of the sport moving forward.

Pickleball Padel

Product Review: Adipower Carbon Team ATTK

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The new Adipower Carbon Team ATTK is the latest innovation from adidas pickleball and is the perfect paddle for you to raise your level and dominate the pickleball court this summer. The new

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• Sweet Spot: Top

What Do We Have In Common With….Zimbabwe

By Ricky Becker and Munya Musanhu

One of the best things about being in tennis and hiring staff is the cool opportunity to spend quality time with people from all over the world. This year I am lucky enough to have a pro from Zimbabwe. After being born and raised in Zimbabwe, Munya Musanhu came to the United States for college tennis and is now spending time in The United States. For a smaller country, Zimbabwe has had some pretty good success over the years in tennis. Equally as insightful as talented, I thought it would be interesting for Munya to describe how the tennis model is different in Zimbabwe than it is in the United States: Zimbabwean tennis exemplifies

passion and resilience in the face of challenges. Tennis is a sport driven by passion and determination, where aspiring players can face numerous challenges on their path to success. Zimbabwe and their athletes by nature have an unyielding spirit in face of adversity as they overcome the hurdles of limited infrastructure and resources.

Despite these obstacles, several talented and hugely accomplished players have emerged, leaving a lasting impact on the sport. Notably, the Black siblings, Wayne, Cara, and Byron, achieved Grand Slam champion status on numerous occasions and even held the World No.1 ranking in doubles, while others have excelled through the

Zimbabwean tennis system and pursued professional careers after successful college stints. This highlights the potential that can be realized within the Zimbabwean tennis community.

Zimbabwe's player development system often relies on community-based coaching efforts past the under-12 level as time on court and expenses increase as a player grows. Local coaches, driven by a love for the sport, play a pivotal role in nurturing talent. The Zimbabwe Tennis Association strives to provide training opportunities and organize local tournaments, serving as a platform for young players to gain experience and exposure.

The limited number of Zimbabwean players competing on the international

stage can present challenges in terms of exposure to top-level competition. Opportunities to face the world's best are relatively scarce, hindering the development of Zimbabwean players. However, these obstacles have not deterred players as Zimbabwe continues to churn out players of quality who go on to compete and thrive at the collegiate level in the US and some transition to the professional level.

In stark contrast the United States is the Land of Tennis Opportunities. The US boasts a robust infrastructure, resources, and a well backed player development system. The nation's tennis landscape is characterized by unparalleled opportunities, world-class facilities, and a collegiate system that has shaped the careers of many tennis icons.

The United States has consistently been a powerhouse in tennis, with numerous players achieving remarkable success. American legends such as Serena and Venus Williams, Andre Agassi, and Pete Sampras have dominated the rankings and left an indelible mark on the sport. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) ensures a comprehensive player development pathway, nurturing talent from a young age and guiding them towards professional careers.

The USTA invests in player development programs, establishing regional training centers and initiatives

across the country. These centers provide top-tier coaching, state-of-the-art facilities, and resources necessary for players to maximize their potential.

Private coaching is also prevalent in the United States, allowing talented juniors to receive personalized attention and tailor their training to specific areas of their game.

The collegiate system in the United States offers a unique pathway for talented tennis players. Many successful professionals, including John Isner and Jimmy Connors, emerged from the collegiate ranks. The system allows players to combine high-level competition with a university education, providing an invaluable platform for growth and exposure.

Within the realms of tennis development, Zimbabwe and most of the United States (not as much Long Island) stand apart due to a notable cultural distinction that underscores the importance placed on education. While North America, particularly the United States, perceives sports as a viable profession, in Africa and specifically Zimbabwe, sports are seen as a stepping stone to education and a

backup plan following the completion of one's degree. This cultural divergence significantly shapes the approach to tennis player development in these regions.

In Zimbabwe, sports, including tennis, are embraced to secure educational opportunities. Aspiring athletes often view their athletic abilities as a pathway to scholarships, enabling them to access higher education that might otherwise be financially challenging. Consequently, tennis serves as a platform for personal development and as a backup plan in the pursuit of academic goals.

Conversely, the United States' emphasis on sports as a profession fosters a system that supports young athletes in their pursuit of becoming elite tennis professionals. The extensive infrastructure, well-organized tournaments, and collegiate system provide an ecosystem that nurtures talent, offering players avenues to showcase their skills, attract sponsorships, and pursue a full-time career in tennis. Ironically, the mind set of competitive players on Long Island in some ways is more like the Zimbabwean model than the model of the United States!

Ricky Becker is The Director of Tennis at Glen Oaks Club. Ricky also coaches highperformance juniors throughout the year and has been the Director of Tennis at three of Long Island’s biggest junior programs. As a player, Becker was the Most Valuable Player for the 1996 NCAA Championship Stanford Tennis team and ranked in the top-five nationally as a junior. He can be reached at

juniortennisconsulting.com.

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War for Tennis Players

By Dr. Tom Ferraro

Thebasic task for any tennis player is to channel and harness all of their aggression. Another way of saying this is that tennis is war but without the bloodshed. Therefore, it is wise to learn about this by reading Sun Tzu’s treatise on the art of war written some 2,400 years ago.

“The Art of War” continues to be read by all modern military leaders and the greatest NFL coach in history, Bill Belichick, uses this book every day. It may come as a surprise but warfare is a psychological game, and so is tennis. I will provide you with ten of the greatest gems of wisdom from “The Art of War” and describe how you can use these insights to win more and lose less.

1. “Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight: whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle, will arrive exhausted.” This introduces the idea of freshness before battle. What this means for tennis players is that one must conserve energy and arrive

courtside refreshed, unhurried, unworried, having had a good night’s sleep, be hydrated and well fed. It takes energy to play tennis and the proper lifestyle matters.

2. “Carefully study the well-being of your men, and do not overtax them. Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength.” Many tennis players are over trained, over played and over scheduled. This may be one of the biggest problems young talent face. Ambition and excitement and winning are prompt the player and their handlers to play them more. Sun Tzu points out that one should not be overtaxed and that strength should be protected.

3. “Defective training and nonobservance of discipline are the ways to court defeat.” This wise aphorism is followed by all champions. Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have all led disciplined lives. They have all hired and worked with the best

coaches in the world. Sun Tzu is quite right. Training and discipline are keys to success and the only way to avoid defeat. There is no easy way into the winner’s circle.

4. “Whenever there is fighting to be done, the keenest spirits should be appointed to serve in the front ranks, both in order to strengthen the resolution or our own men and to demoralize the enemy.” This statement can be applied to the first game in any tennis match. You ought to have the “keenest spirit” or be trying with intensity in the first game. When you get out fast it does two things psychologically, it encourages and instills confidence in you, and it discourages and intimidates your opponent.

5. “Fortune favors the brave.” This suggests that in tennis and in life, the more one acts decisively and with boldness the more chances you have of winning.

6. “If the commander gives his orders with decisiveness, the soldiers will not wait to hear them twice; if his moves are made without vacillation, the soldiers will not be in two minds about doing their duty.” This relates to the inner decisions a tennis player gives to themselves during a match. If they follow their first hunch, they play decisively and effectively. If they second guess, however, and doubts their intuition, their play will be slower and more mistake prone. The tennis player’s mind controls the body optimally if it is clear, strong and decisive.

7. “Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorder and hubbub amongst the enemy: this is the art of

retaining self-possession.” This is one of the great secrets of the champion. They understand that, in the end the opponent, will be overwhelmed, distracted by the pressure, and choke based upon the intensity of the moment. So they patiently wait for this to occur and then they pounce. Jack Nicklaus knew this in golf. Federer knew this in tennis. This can be called confidence, but I like the way Sun Tzu described the process, “to remain disciplined and calm”, and patiently wait for your opponent to self-defeat.

8. “He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.” This aphorism suggests that it pays to be conservative, have patience and play steadily. Great athletes tend to be conservative in approach, are unhurried and make

few mistakes. They let their opponent make the mistakes and self-defeat. Tiger Woods in golf was extremely conservative in his approach; so was Bjorn Borg in tennis who was a steady baseline player who made few, if any, mistakes.

9. “Every battle is won before it is fought.” This phrase from “The Art of War” is prominently displayed in the New England Patriots’ locker room. This statement implies that thorough physical and strategic preparation will determine who wins a match well before you step onto the court.

10. “So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.” This dictum tells us two

essential elements about wining tennis. One must first of all determine what your opponent’s weakness is. They may be unable to come to net, or maybe have a weak backhand. When their weakness is determined than one must attack to it relentlessly.

So there you have it. “The Art of War” is a military masterpiece has been around for millenniums. Tennis is war but without the bloodshed so if you want to learn about victory on the court follow the ten points outlined. Save you energy, do not over train, hire the best coaching, stay disciplined, attack hard in the first game, be decisive in thought and action, ignore all the hubbub, be conservative and relentlessly attack the opponents weakness.

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

The Opponent Is Your Partner, Not Your Enemy...

By Rob Polishook

Irememberit like it was a lightning bolt, my then mentor said to me: “Your opponent is your partner, not an enemy!” I thought that statement was blasphemous! My entire competitive life, I viewed the opponent as my enemy, someone whom I must defeat. The entire goal was decimation! My mentor, Jena Marcovicci, was a former tour player who learned this lesson the hard way like most of us. What I didn’t realize is how this approach hurt me. It made me tight because there was only one acceptable outcome … winning every point, game, set and match. Additionally, it completely took the focus off my process, my game and what I could control. While shifting the focus to something I couldn’t control, the outcome.

Okay, so stay with me, I know you still want to win and so do I! But, let me explain … there is another approach and the goal of winning is still the same. However, this approach will allow you to shift the

perspective and approach in competition to being your best and playing in a calm, more relaxed and aware manner.

How about looking at your opponent as your partner and even extending it out to the court conditions. What do I mean by this? Both your opponent and the conditions are there to challenge you. They are, in fact, there to make you better, hone your game and make you mentally more resilient. Isn’t that the objective? If not, play a three-year-old the next time. I promise that will get old real quick! When you approach your opponent as a partner and not as an enemy, a few good things will happen …

1. Open vs. close: As Jena said in his book, The Dance of Tennis , “You will neutralize the fight or flight mentality that can cause you to rush or over hit a ball, hesitate or lose your cool.” Rather, you will play from a

place of being centered, making good choices, sound strategic decisions and focusing on your game. You will no longer be playing from a place of crisis, high alert, and fight or flight. You won’t be out of breath because you lost a point.

2. Allow vs. force: When you allow, you will play from a less frenetic place. Not only will this be easier, but will eliminate the need to hit that ESPN highlight reel shot! You will be more apt to work the point, knowing it’s not just about your shots, but also about how your partner plays the point. When players “allow,” they play within themselves without forcing.

3. Respect vs. no respect: This one is my favorite, again, really …? You might be wondering how can I suggest respecting the opposition? It comes down to the singular premise: If there weren’t

an opponent, there would be no one to challenge you. In fact, if you respect them, your job is to beat them and “show” them what they need to work on. So yes, don’t go easy on an opponent, beat them 0 and 0! An aware partner will recognize where and what they need to practice for the next time. Conversely, if you lose 0 and 0, thank your opponent for showing you what you need to work on. Also, get their number and thump them the next time.

4. Play present vs. play in the past/future: When your focus is on the process, you are taking things step by step. Your focus is on what you can control and need to do to best compete and adapt to situations. If your focus is solely on beating the opponent, something you cannot control, you won’t see the court,

detect momentum, make percentage choices and stay patient. Rather, you will just try to aggressively hit “your” winners, no matter what is happening.

5. Win vs. lose: Yes, you will win more because you are able to play from a more relaxed, calm and centered place. You are no longer looking at your opponent as an enemy that must be beat.

More so, now it’s about being your best, bringing your game, and competing your best. However, if you don’t win, you will gain valuable feedback on what needs to be worked on in your next practice and match.

So go out, crush your opponent, respect them and their game. By doing so, you will improve yours, and no matter the outcome, you win!

Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach, he works with the whole human athlete helping them to unleash their mental edge (heart.energy.spirit) through mindfulness, somatic psychology, animal wisdom and mental training skills. Rob is author of 2 best-selling books: Tennis Inside the Zone and Baseball Inside the Zone: Mental Training Workouts for Champions. He can be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, by e-mail rob@insidethezone.com, by visiting insidethezone.com, following on Instagram @insidethezone

Why Traditional Spanish Methods and Philosophies Are Important for Junior Development

By Chris Lewit

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

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

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

Movement

Teaching great movement is an obsession in Spain. Spanish coaches love to work on the positioning of the body, the footwork of a player, and stability and balance on the move. When players focus too early on attacking and hitting big shots, they neglect their movement development. Footwork can suffer. Reaction and

reading the ball are not trained enough. Fast court indoor tennis in the Northeast makes it very difficult to develop solid movers because of the speed of the courts and the quick tempo of the points.

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

In New York, I train players on

clay as well. The slippery surface challenges the balance of my students. There are bad bounces that challenge the eyes, hands, and feet, and force the players to make quick adjustments. After a few years on clay, my students become more agile. I teach them how to slide. They become more balanced and adaptable. They learn to run and position their bodies well to receive and send the ball optimally. These aspects can be lost when training mostly on fast courts and with a firststrike only philosophy.

Consistency

Spain has an obsession with being steady and consistent. They believe that control is a priority in junior development. Too often, I don’t see this as a priority for kids in the US, especially in the Northeast. Control means you can hit targets consistently. Control means you can rally 10 or 20 balls in a row with accuracy. Control means you hit with balance and without exaggerated body movements. Control means you have the stamina, patience and focus to keep the ball in play as long as it takes to win the point.

These basic values are often nonexistent with juniors that I see coming out of most clubs in the area. In addition, patient and steady players

adipower team series

are often demeaned and derided as “pushers” in the US. They don’t have this word in Spain, but being labeled “steady” there is the highest honor a player could have—not a scarlet letter. Now I’m not suggesting that pushing is good (see the topic below on ‘Acceleration’), but at least pushers understand the basic building blocks of tennis are running and getting the ball in play. Making fewer errors often wins matches at all levels of the game. In Spain, to make few errors is a great attribute and highly lauded.

Defense

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

In Spain, all the juniors learn these skills. They love to suffer and run. They love to extend rallies, not shorten them. They take great pride in defending, not just attacking. It’s a very healthy approach to junior

development to value and prioritize defense and attack equally. Rarely do I have a junior come to me from the US who likes to play a defending game or “no winners” game. In our country, kids are obsessed with hitting winners.

Analysts like O’Shannessy really do a disservice to junior development by suggesting that juniors should train primarily the first four shots rather than learning to control the ball in long rallies. Young kids need to learn to be solid and consistent. Then as they grow older they can develop their weapons and first-strike capabilities. Too many coaches and juniors want to skip stages and jump to the pro style of aggression without first building the solid base. It’s like building a house on a weak foundation of sand.

Acceleration

Spanish coaches are obsessed with developing acceleration—racquet head speed. Before studying in Spain, I had never seen a system that addressed this area of technical development. The racquet head speed is not just important for power, but also for generating spin. RPM is a big priority in Spain, especially on the forehand weapon, but also on

why traditional spanish methods and philosophies are important

continued from page 63

the backhand. Most Spanish coaches have a toolbox of exercises that they use to build acceleration and most of them come from the genius mind of Bruguera. The Bruguera Method has the most famous drills in Spain for developing racquet head speed. In the US, racquet head speed seems to be something people believe is inherited, not trained. Some hit the ball big but often flat and with a stiff arm. Some kids push without accelerating. I make a great living helping juniors from all over the US develop whip and elasticity on their groundstrokes. I have seen countless juniors with stiff arms and flat strokes who are not utilizing their body mechanics optimally to produce power and spin.

Conclusion

In my academy in Manchester, and

with my students in NY, I stress these important foundational Spanish elements:

• Movement

• Consistency

• Defense

• Acceleration

As players develop and get older, first-strike becomes important, but I will never progress students along without ensuring that their foundation of great movement, consistency, defense, and acceleration are well refined.

From my perspective, this step-by-step approach to junior development is a better way to build a complete player who is solid from the ground and makes few errors, but still has weapons to attack. Too often, especially in the Northeastern US, I see juniors who want to play like the pros do, but haven’t spent the time learning to be solid first. They haven’t developed their movement skills. They can’t defend. And their acceleration is wild. This is a big mistake that parents, coaches and players would be wise to avoid.

Chris Lewit is a former number one for Cornell and pro circuit player. He is a highperformance coach, educator, and the author of two best-selling books: The Secrets of Spanish Tennis and The Tennis Technique Bible. He has coached numerous top 10 nationallyranked players and is known for his expertise in building the foundations of young prodigies. Chris coaches in NYC and year-round at his high performance tennis academy in Manchester, VT, where players can live and train the Spanish Way full-time or short-term. He may be reached by phone at (914) 462-2912, e-mail

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