USTA Metro Region Update: November and December 2012
USTA Eastern and SBTA Support Health Initiatives at La Feria DeSalud
The USTA and South Brooklyn Tennis Association (SBTA) were on hand to support La Feria DeSalud or “The Health Fair” at St. Mary’s Park in the Bronx, N.Y. Feria DeSalud is an event sponsored by the American Diabetes Association and is attended by approximately 4,000 people throughout the day. The event promotes being healthy and exercise.
Pablo Sierra, founder of the SBTA, believes that tennis is a great way of exercising, especially using today’s modified equipment using the low-compression and foam ball, modified rackets and smaller nets. This equipment is not only good for promoting 10 & Under Tennis, but is also a great way for teenagers and adults to exercise while monitoring their glucose levels. Today’s modified equipment enables the game to be played anywhere, anytime, anyplace.
“I enjoy being able to participate in this event as it is very festive, and the kids really enjoy coming out and playing the game,” said Sierra. “The kids were out in full force and by the end of the day, many kids had the opportunity to hit and play, and had a great time.”
Fort Greene Tennis in the News
Congratulations to Sam Burns who won this year’s Addison Steadman Memorial Tournament held by The Fort Greene Tennis Association. Sam put on an impressive show, beating last year’s winner, Jahdiel Williams, 6-0, 6-2. This is the fourth year of the tournament, now named in memory of Addison Steadman, who sadly passed away this year. Addison worked for the city as the court attendant.
The purpose of the tournament is to build community spirit and to raise money for the repair and maintenance of the tennis courts. Right now the courts are in bad shape, with many cracks and depressions. The goal is to fix them this upcoming spring, with the support of the NYC Parks Department and the Fort Greene Park Conservancy. The singles tournament was held over two weekends this summer, Aug. 18-19 and Aug. 25-26, and brought in $900, which will go with the additional $710 brought in from a doubles tournament held earlier in the year. Prizes were donated for the singles tournament by Walter Foods of Ft. Greene and Pt. Restaurant in Williamsburg.
“Everyone has a lot of fun,” said Michael Brownstein, president of the Fort Greene Tennis Association. “We like to see who’s going to win and we really enjoy hanging out. We look forward to seeing the courts in better shape over the next few years.”
For more information about the Fort Greene Tennis Association and how you can make a donation, please e-mail msbrownstein@gmail.com.
Pictured here, Sam Burns (right), winner of the 2012 Addison Steadman Memorial Tournament with Jahdiel Williams (left).
USTA and American Express Unveil Refurbished Courts at Brooklyn’s Highland Park
USTA and American Express unveiled 18 refurbished tennis courts at Brooklyn’s Highland Park during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 22. The renovations, which included repairing and resurfacing 10 78-foot courts and creating eight 36-foot 10 & Under Tennis courts, were part of the Fresh Courts program, introduced in 2010 by American Express and the USTA to support local tennis in communities across the U.S.
The renovation project, which began earlier this year, was completed in conjunction with the 2012 U.S. Open. Among those in attendance were Commissioner Adrian Benepe of the NYC Parks & Recreation Department; Gordon Smith and Dale Caldwell of the USTA; and Alexander Chang of American Express. Also on hand for the event was American pro Jack Sock (pictured above).
Dion Lachmanen was honored with the Fresh Courts Tennis Award for his tireless efforts to grow the local tennis community. As a life-long tennis player and advocate, Lachmanen founded the Highland Park Tennis Association (HPTA) in 2004 to create a place where he and other players could play and enjoy the sport of tennis. In partnership with local organizations, such as the YMCA and Parks Department, Lachmanen has revitalized tennis in the local community for many years to come.
Celebrating Tennis in Riverside Park
The Riverside Park Fund’s Annual Sports in the Park Benefit was held on Oct. 9 at the New York Yacht Club in Midtown Manhattan. This year’s event celebrated tennis and honored four New Yorkers who have made significant contributions to the sport, both on and off the court: Dick Savitt, Bob Ryland, Tim Mayotte and Seth Abraham. Riverside Park Fund President John Herrold welcomed more than 100 guests and thanked them for supporting sports in the public parks. RPF raises funds to improve and maintain Riverside Park and its many playgrounds, ballfields and courts.
Event Chair Dale Caldwell, author of Tennis in New York and Katrina Adams, executive director of Harlem Junior Tennis Foundation, presented the awards. Both Dale and Katrina currently serve on the USTA Board of Directors. They were joined by special guests, former Mayor David Dinkins and Bill Cosby to present Ryland his award.
Breaking barriers early on, Ryland was the first African-American to play professional tennis. Today, at 92-years-old, Bob remains passionate about teaching tennis and can be seen at both the Riverside Park Clay and 119th Street courts–never missing an opportunity to give tips and encouraging advice to neighborhood players. He last competed and won the 1996 National Public Park’s super singles tournament when he was 86 years of age. In 1992, Bob was inducted into the USTA Eastern Hall of Fame.
“Riverside Park is a wonderful example of what a public park should be offering: Activities and beautiful grounds for all to enjoy,” said Ryland. “Riverside Park is cleaner, safer and better because of the work of Riverside Park Fund.”
A devoted tennis fan and life-long New Yorker, Abraham is currently director-at-large on the USTA board of directors. His career highlights include serving as president of Madison Square Garden. Prior to MSG, he was president of HBO Sports and he served as CEO of Time-Warner Sports.
Mayotte is a former tennis professional and devotee of Riverside Park. He served as vice president of the Riverside Clay Tennis Association where he regularly plays. He also plays at the 119th Street tennis courts. Tim’s illustrious career in tennis includes reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon and the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. He also earned a Silver Medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Tim currently works with high-performance juniors enrolled in his program, 360 Tennis, in Cunningham Park, Queens.
Former Wimbledon and Australian Singles Champion (1951), Savitt won many elite tennis titles during the years he was ranked among the top 10 Americans. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1973 and the USTA Eastern Hall of Fame in 1999. Dick is a regular player at the Riverside Clay tennis courts and can also be seen playing at his namesake facility–the Dick Savitt Tennis Center at Columbia University.
Mark McIntyre, executive director of the Riverside Clay Tennis Association, said, “New York is filled with tennis greats and legends, but these four guys really deserve to be recognized for what they have done for the game over the course of their lives and careers–and a lot of it is behind the scenes, or perhaps, forgotten. Sometimes after barriers get broken, we forget they were ever there.
Credit all photos to Julio Gonzalez
Bob Ryland, former New York Mayor David Dinkins and Bill Cosby
Riverside Park Fund President John Herrold and former Mayor David Dinkins join honorees Seth Abraham, Bob Ryland and Tim Mayotte, and Event Chair Dale Caldwell
Tim Mayotte discusses his pro career at the Riverside Park Fund’s Annual Sports in the Park Benefit
Riverside Park Hosts USTA Free Tennis Play Day in Celebration of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play
Hundreds of kids from across the USTA Eastern Region got a chance to enjoy 10 & Under Tennis and see stars from Nickelodeon at Riverside Park on Sept. 29, as the USTA hosted a USTA Free Tennis Play Day in celebration of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play. The event was part of the USTA’s Smashzone Tour and was one of thousands of USTA Free Tennis Play Days designed to get kids active and involved in tennis during National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in September.
Worldwide Day of Play began in 2004 as a part of Nickelodeon’s The Big Help initiative, a movement for positive change that focuses on issues that are important to kids, including health and wellness, the environment, education, and community service. Through the Big Help health and wellness component, kids are encouraged to be more active for living healthier lifestyles. On Oct. 6, kids in every state across the U.S. and worldwide participated in Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play at more than 4,000 local events.
Metro Volunteers Help Keep the 2012 U.S. Open Safe and Sound
This year, many volunteers from USTA Eastern Section, Metro Region served up their time, efforts and expertise during the 2012 U.S. Open Championships. Here are a few behind the scenes highlights …
Jackie Clark, USTA Metro Region Second VP and Eastern Adult Competition Committee Chair was at the Membership Booth and the New York Junior Tennis and Learning VIP box, working alongside volunteer Pam Glick to make spectators’ experiences even more memorable. At the USTA Membership Booth, Jackie answered questions about membership and various USTA programs. She also signed up new members and renewed existing memberships.
Jeffrey Fairbanks, the Manhattan rep on the Metro Region Board, had the daunting task of crowd control. He is the guy in Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums and the Grandstand, who you look at and say, “But my wife and kids are right there. Can’t I just sneak into my seat?” Once Jeffrey kindly tells you to please wait until the point is over, you then file in. Jeffrey recently told us that one day when this happened, a fan came over to him and said, “Now I get it. I’ve been watching what you do over these last few days and it is amazing. I apologize for cursing you out before!”
Deb-Rose Andrews, the Queens rep on the Metro Board and Daisy Schwartz, a member-at-large, happily took on the role of “coach” on Arthur Ashe Kids Day (AAKD). They were assigned to the World TeamTennis court during AAKD, helping to teach beginner players. Deb-Rose is also the USTA Metro Region Local League Coordinator, Vice Chair of the USTA Adult League Committee and USTA Flex Leagues Local Tennis Organizer. Don Fergerson, the Metro Regional Volunteer of the Year in 2005, was also at AAKD teaching kids tennis at the IBM Speed Zone.
Daisy Schwartz also worked with the Wilson String Team, the official stringer of the U.S. Open. There, Daisy helped manage the player racquets coming in (and out) to be strung and customized. Daisy mentions that “the process is so efficient, a player only spends like 30 seconds when here!” The U.S. Open Wilson String Team Grand Slam single day record was 490 racquets on Aug. 29, 2011. This year, they beat their tournament record, stringing a total of 3,838 racquets.
The President’s Gate is certainly one sweet spot! Many of the players and celebrities come in and out of the President’s Gate. That is where Jeff Jones spent much of his time during the two week tournament, as a VIP greeter. Jeff is the guy you see around the grounds and say, “I want his gig!”
But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the USTA Metro Region folks at the Championships. Take for instance, Pablo Sierra, currently USTA Eastern Volunteer Committee Chair and the Brooklyn Rep on the Metro Board, who managed on-court activities for 10 & Under Tennis during the 2011 U.S. Open Qualifying rounds.
Here is looking back at a great 2012 and here is looking forward to 2013 ….
Roger Federer outside the Player’s Lounge
Andy Roddick serves, taken from the “pit”
Can you guess whose racquet this is?
Jackie Clark showing off her skills at the U.S. Open Membership Booth
USTA Eastern Member Organization, the Kings County Tennis League, at Arthur Ashe Kids Day 2012
