USPTA Mid-Atlantic Service Lines - Spring 2023

Spring Conference Wrap Up

The Annual Spring conference was held February 17 and 18th at the Lakewood Club in Rockville, Md. We had a great group of presenters which included, Kris David, Oliver Akie, Taylor Newman, Kevin Theos, Mark Kovacs, Frank Giampaolo, and J.D. Almond. We also hosted our Annual Past Presidents dinner in which we had 13 past presidents attend.

The event was also my last time hosting the conference as the Executive Director and I want to thank everyone for being at the event and making it a huge success. This conference was our first conference since covid and it was spectacular. Being the ED for the past 10 years has been great and I will miss working with the Board, committees, and our members. It takes a lot of work and passion to do what we do. I’ve made lifelong bonds with many of you and I look forward to being involved in a different capacity. I want to give a huge shout-out to all of the past presidents that I have worked with and a special thanks to Rob Oakes who I have worked with over the years and enjoyed a few adult beverages together.

Lastly, it's all about the members who do all of the work in the trenches that I will miss the most. I know how hard it is for a teaching pro to put everything together and to be successful and to try and have some type of work-life balance. Thanks again to everyone who helped me along the way and I look forward to watching the division's success.

Patrick Kearns

Joni Hannah

Named USPTA Mid-Atlantic Executive Director

The USPTA National Staff would like to formally announce the appointment of Joni Hannah as the new USPTA Mid-Atlantic Executive Director. Hannah has been a USPTA member for 30 years and has served as the Director of Tennis at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, Virginia for 25 years. Throughout her tennis career, this Elite Professional has been very active with the USPTA, including serving on the Board of Directors and as President of the Mid-Atlantic Division, serving on multiple USPTA national committees, and becoming the first female inductee to the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Hall of Fame. She is currently working as a teaching professional at Westwood.

As a tennis player, Hannah earned top ten national rankings in the juniors and played for four years at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida on a full scholarship. As a senior player, she won numerous national titles, was the playing captain of four separate U.S. teams in international USTA and ITF cup events, and achieved a number one national ranking in the 40’s in both singles and doubles.

“I want to express my excitement for Joni to serve as an Executive Director,” said John Embree, USPTA CEO. “Her past

experiences on the board and being a president of Mid-Atlantic have given her a fantastic foundation and a wealth of knowledge about the USPTA. She’ll be an excellent addition to our ED group.”

“I am very excited about continuing my 30-year association with the USPTA by taking on this new role as an Executive Director,” Hannah said. “I look forward to supporting the President, Board of Directors and members of the Mid-Atlantic Division and working with USPTA leadership and staff to promote the organization and our sport.”

If you’d like to connect with her, you can email her at joni.hannah@uspta.org

USPTA CEO Announces Retirement

John Embree announces retirement after 11 years of service

LAKE NONA, FL, April 19, 2023 — John Embree, chief executive officer of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Inc., has announced his retirement, planned to go into effect at the end of 2023. He has served the association for 11 years as CEO and executive director, capping off a 50-year career in the tennis industry.

“Serving as CEO of the USPTA has been the most gratifying experience of my career,” Embree said. “When I started, my goal was to make a difference. The total focus has al -

ways been on our members, and I hope I’ve helped give them the best possible experience with the USPTA.”

The USPTA Board of Directors will follow its succession plan which includes hiring a search firm to help discover Embree’s successor. The USPTA plans to name its next CEO this fall.

Embree said he is willing to assist his successor in their transition through the end of the year.

2023

MID ATLANTIC AWARDS

JOHN BARKER

DONALD WIDENER

HAROLD B. “CHIP” KING

DAVID ROBINSON

USPTA Mid Atlantic Professional of the Year

USPTA Mid Atlantic Stars Award

USPTA Mid Atlantic Industry Excellence

USPTA Mid Atlantic Maryland Professional of the Year

MARK DICHIARA

ANISH MANRAI

LOGAN WEST

CHIP BOLING

ROBERT BAREFORD

BRUCE LIPKA

USPTA Mid Atlantic Washington D.C. High School Coach of the Year

USPTA Mid Atlantic Touring Coach of the Year

USPTA Mid Atlantic Maryland High School Coach of the Year

USPTA Mid Atlantic Stars Award

USPTA Mid Atlantic College Coach of the Year

USPTA Mid Atlantic Facility Manager of the Year

USPTA Acquires Multi-Year Endorsement Deal with Dunlop

LAKE NONA, FL, February 2, 2023 — The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Inc. is pleased to announce a multi-year endorsement with Dunlop as the Official Tennis Ball of the USPTA.

In 1888, John Boyd Dunlop invented and patented the pneumatic tire for racing bicycles that revolutionized the cycle and automotive industry. Once commercial tire production began a year later, the Dunlop brand was officially born. In 1923, Dunlop entered the tennis market with the creation of their first tennis ball factory in England. Their chemical inflation and vulcanization production process resulted in greater product quality and consistency.

Now celebrating their 100th year, Dunlop is the Official Ball of the Australian Open Grand Slam and is trusted in more than 40 worldwide ATP and WTA professional events, and is globally recognized as the Official Ball of the ATP Tour. Their notable standards of quality and attention to detail throughout the process of testing and development ensure the highest levels of

ABOUT DUNLOP SPORTS AMERICAS:

performance and consistency for players across all conditions and playing surfaces.

“In searching for a new ball endorsement, we wanted to find a brand that was known for quality, durability, and visible on tour,” said John Embree, USPTA CEO. “Because Dunlop also has a competitive pricing advantage in the marketplace, our members should seriously consider using Dunlop for all activities at their facilities. We are thrilled to add Dunlop to our family of endorsees.”

“Dunlop tennis balls are known for exceptional quality, consistency, and durability,” said Kai Nitsche, VP & General Manager of Dunlop Sports Americas. “The USPTA is the global leader in tennis teacher certification and Dunlop is proud to now be the Official Ball. Dunlop is the #1 Ball on the ATP Tour and is chosen by the World's best tennis players, so it’s a perfect partnership for Dunlop to now be trusted by the world's top coaches as well.”

Based in Huntington Beach, CA and Greenville, SC, Dunlop Sports Americas (DSA) is the North American subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. We manufacture and sell premium golf and racket sports equipment to players of all skill levels under a portfolio of brands: Dunlop, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, and XXIO. DSA is also a licensed exclusive distributor of ASICS golf footwear. Our unique global sales network and infrastructure in R&D, manufacturing, and material science elevates our brands onto a global stage where we encourage players from around the world to experience our incredible products and develop their love of the game. Learn more at DunlopSports.com.

USPTA Announces

a NATIONAL DAY OF GIVING

LAKE NONA, FL, April 20, 2023 - The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Inc. is pleased to announce the establishment of the USPTA National Day of Giving, from May 19-21, to raise money in support of the USPTA’s efforts to grow the game of tennis in underserved communities. The association is looking forward to using the platform of National Tennis Month to jumpstart its fundraising efforts.

The specific date for the USPTA National Day of Giving will be Friday, May 19, but the promotion will extend to the weekend of May 20-21. During any of those three days, or throughout the month of May, USPTA professionals will run events at their facilities or clubs, with the proceeds being donated to the USPTA Fund, under the umbrella of the USTA Foundation. Other USPTA professionals will donate a portion of their lesson income during that time.

The USPTA raises money for worthy causes in which

USPTA professionals are involved. The funds will enable the USPTA to make donations to grassroots organizations introducing tennis to those who are less fortunate. The money will be granted to USPTA members who are involved with charitable organizations that help underserved communities.

“May is going to be an exciting month for tennis and a special time for our sport. Let’s rally our troops and do what we can to help those organizations who serve the less fortunate,” said John Embree, USPTA CEO. “The more USPTA professionals that participate, the easier it will be to accomplish our goal.”

With this money, the USTA Foundation Grant Committee and a USPTA liaison will meet in the fall to determine which 501(c)(3) organizations that have USPTA professional involvement deserve to receive grants that will support their mission. All donations made will be tax deductible.

USPTA Mid-Atlantic Introduces a New Women’s Committee

USPTA Mid-Atlantic is excited to launch its first Women’s Committee! The committee’s vision is to attract and bring Mid-Atlantic female coaches together and to elevate and highlight our female leaders and coaches within our tennis industry. Bridget Merrick (Army Navy Country Club) is the Committee Chair and is supported by Taylor Newman, Teri Borango, Alexandra Gaspar, Tuyet Cahil. Keep a lookout for an upcoming survey and other information about the womens committee.

Upcoming Pickleball Certification

Saturday, June 24 5110 Ox Rd. Fairfax, Va

Sign up at uspta.com

USPTA Strikes Expanded Partnership with Tennis Warehouse to Include Equipment

LAKE NONA, FL, February 21, 2023 — The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Inc. is pleased to announce an expanded multi-year endorsement with Tennis Warehouse as the new Official Equipment Supplier of the USPTA. The USPTA and Tennis Warehouse originally joined forces in December 2021 with TW debuting as the Official Footwear and Apparel Supplier of the USPTA. After building a strong foundation with USPTA professionals through those offerings, the world’s leading online tennis retailer proposed a similar formula in tennis racquets, equipment and pickleball. This new equipment piece will be in addition to the already established footwear and apparel partnership.

Owned and operated by players, Tennis Warehouse has been helping people all over the world, including USPTA professionals, to find the right racquet for over 25 years. Tennis Warehouse playtests their products to provide honest and knowledgeable feed-

back so that customers can shop with confidence. With this new expansion set in stone, all USPTA members will be given the option to select from three different racquet companies: Babolat, Prince, and Tecnifibre. This includes all string, bags, 10 & Under racquets, pickleball paddles, and other accessories.

“Having worked with Tennis Warehouse and their team over this past year, they have exceeded our expectations from a customer service standpoint,” said John Embree, USPTA CEO. “So, why not give our members a choice of racquets rather than being exclusive to one company? I truly appreciate Tennis Warehouse’s willingness to go above and beyond for the USPTA.”

“We’re excited to be joining forces with Babolat, Tecnifibre and Prince to enhance this endorsement by providing a variety of quality equipment to the USPTA members,” said Rick Kerpsack, Tennis Warehouse President.

ABOUT TENNIS WAREHOUSE: Tennis Warehouse has locations in the United States, Europe, and Australia, servicing the tennis player worldwide allowing players a one-stop shop online for all things tennis. Learn more at Tennis-Warehouse.com

10 Great TENNIS QUOTES

"You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is a real joy." - Arthur

Ashe

"Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility." - Billie Jean King

"The greatest tennis players are the ones who can maintain their focus at the highest level." - Monica Seles

"The mark of great sportsmen is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are at their worst." - Martina

Navratilova

"You don't have to be good to start, but you have to start to be good." - Rafael

Nadal

"Champions keep playing until they get it right." - Billie Jean King

"The key to success is to focus on goals, not obstacles." - Chris Evert

"The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle."Arthur Ashe

"I'll let the racket do the talking." - John McEnroe

"You don't have to be good to start, but you have to start to be good." - Rafael

Nadal

USPTA Expands Partnership with WTCA

LAKE NONA, FL, February 3, 2023 — The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Inc. has expanded its partnership with the Women's Tennis Coaching Association (WTCA).

Founded in 2015 by Ann Grossman Wunderlich and Sarah Stone, the WTCA is the first organization of its kind, solely dedicated to advancing women’s tennis through thoroughly educated coaches. With an incredible team of Grand Slam champions, medical advisors, and internationally renowned coaches, the WTCA uses mentorship programs, conferences around the globe, and educational coaching courses to both educate and inspire passionate tennis coaches with the one goal of enhancing the world of women’s tennis.

As part of the agreement, the USPTA and the WTCA will host two joint WTCA and USPTA workshops this year, with one being in conjunction with a WTA Women’s Professional event in the summer of 2023. There will also be a WTCA specialty course offered at each USPTA World Conference through 2025.

“If we can continue to educate and empower our women’s tennis coaches, we are not only improving the quality of coaching that our female athletes are receiving, but we are also growing the future pool of tennis-teaching professionals,” said John Embree, USPTA CEO.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the USPTA in keeping more females in tennis,” said WTCA CEO Sarah Stone. “Together we will deliver coach education specific to working with female athletes. Having the opportunity to impact tennis alongside the global leader in coach education is a great privilege for myself and the entire WTCA team. We are so excited about the new events that we will do together.”

About WTCA: The WTCA is the global hub for coaching women's tennis. Our mission is to keep more girls in tennis by advancing the coaching of female players across the sport. A positive side effect is to create more opportunities for women to coach high performance female players. Learn more at wtcatennis.org

Chris Tran Brewer Cup National Team Championship

Coaches Team to

Chris Tran, USPTA Mid-Atlantic coach and teaching professional, recently led his team of elite juniors to victory at the Brewer Cup Team Championship at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama.

The Brewer Cup Team Championship is an annual USTA Level 1 (National Championships) team event contested by 192 of the top juniors (14s, 16s & 18s) in the United States with both boys and girls draws with six players on each team. USTA Level 1 events are the most highly competitive of the seven USTA junior tennis tournament levels. The competitors in the BrewerCup were invited based on the USTA National Standings List and “waterfalled” onto individual teams in a manner to attempt to create evenly matched teams. Coaches for the teams were selected by the USTA National Development Staff and all have USTA Level 1 certifications and are considered to be among the top junior coaches in the country. Match formats and coaching rules followed NCAA

guidelines. This was Coach Tran’s sixth time being selected as a coach for the Brewer Cup Team Championship.

Coach Tran’s team, the Diamondbacks, went undefeated in the girls’ event and won the Gold Cup with a 6-1 victory over the Red Hawks in the final. “I always enjoy coaching in the Brewer Cup,” noted Tran, “Junior tennis at the national level can be very lonely for the players, but this event gives the players a chance to be part of a team and to learn what it means to be a good teammate.” Tran knew right away that his team was going to be special. “Their team unity was great. Starting on day one and continuing throughout the event my players were the first to arrive at the courts together as a team and, win or lose, they cheered on their teammates every step of the way.”

Congratulations, Coach Tran. Great job.

GROWTH MINDSET for

Tennis Professionals

As a tennis professional, it's essential to have a growth mindset to succeed in your professional career. A growth mindset means that you believe your abilities can be developed through hard work, dedication, and continuous learning. You don't view your skills and intelligence as fixed traits but rather as attributes that can be improved with effort.

Having a growth mindset allows you to approach challenges with a positive attitude. Instead of seeing obstacles as insurmountable roadblocks, you view them as opportunities for growth and learning. You're not afraid to take on new challenges and push yourself out of your comfort zone because you understand that failure is an inevitable part of the learning process.

A growth mindset also means that you're open to feedback and criticism. You don't take it personally or view it as an attack on your character, but rather as an opportunity to improve. You're receptive to suggestions and ideas that can help you develop your skills and become more effective in your work.

By embracing a growth mindset, you're more likely to take calculated risks and try new things. You're not afraid of failure because you understand that it's a necessary part of growth and development. Instead of avoiding challenges, you seek them out because you know that they'll help you learn and improve.

A growth mindset also means that you're committed to continuous learning and improvement. You don't view your education and training as a one-time event but rather as an ongoing process. You seek out opportunities to learn new skills and expand your knowledge base, whether it's through formal education, networking, or self-directed learning.

To cultivate a growth mindset, it's essential to stay focused on your goals and believe in your ability to achieve them. You should approach challenges with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. Don't let fear hold you back from taking calculated risks and trying new things. Embrace failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, and always be open to feedback and criticism.

It's also important to surround yourself with other growth-minded individuals who will support and encourage your efforts. Seek out mentors, colleagues, and friends who share your values and can offer guidance and support as you pursue your goals.

In conclusion, a growth mindset is essential for success as a business professional. By embracing challenges, seeking out feedback, taking calculated risks, and committing to continuous learning, you can achieve your goals and reach your full potential. With a growth mindset, anything is possible, and the sky is truly the limit for your career.