Time to Rally: The Show Must Go On

By Steven Kaplan
After many weeks of angst and indecision, it looks like the US Open will be played on time. It will be anything but business as usual and many of the biggest names in the sport will be missing. I say who cares? The sport is bigger than the stars. I hope everyone watches. The stars of tennis are...Read more

Time to Rally: The Disneyland of Tennis

By Steven Kaplan
Arlen Kantarian could be the most important person in the history of US tennis whom you have never heard of. Kantarian, the former president of Radio City Music Hall and a top NFL executive, is a marketing genius. He was hired as CEO of professional tennis for the USTA from 2000 until he resigned...Read more

Time to Rally: Grow The Game

By Steven Kaplan
The USTA is closing its White Plains office, which houses the USTA Eastern staff, amid its desire to achieve $20 million in cost reductions by reducing salaries, canceling annual meetings, reducing promotion and training of "blue chip" players as well as canceling non-essential capital projects...Read more

Time to Rally: Occam's Razor

By Steven Kaplan
A "razor" is a problem solving principle that states the simplest solution and answer to any problem, the one which requires the fewest assumptions, is generally the correct one . Many studies now indicate that tennis is THE safest sport to play in this COVID-19 era because it is a socially distant...Read more

Time to Rally: Simple Physics

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
By Steven Kaplan
As this pandemic is receding in the local area, I have been going out more in my car as well as my road bike, and I can't help but notice that many people are walking and jogging. It's a great way to get in tennis shape and be ready for a full reopening, but here is one simple safety rule : Cycle,...Read more

Time to Rally: No News Day

By Steven Kaplan
The headline on another confusing and ambiguous Newsday article on tennis says "US Open considers allowing limited number of fans." As a reminder, the USTA had previously announced that "every option is on the table", so I don't know how that report of no news is newsworthy; but at least it's...Read more

Time to Rally: Inspiration, Not Desperation

By Steven Kaplan
As outdoor tennis reopens in the local area and across the country, players are working themselves back in to shape after several months of sheltering at home. It's not easy to work off months of rust, even for the fittest athletes. We could all use some encouragement, inspiration and leadership,...Read more

Time to Rally: Team Rude

By Steven Kaplan
The ATP has a "player’s relief fund" to financially help lower ranked players in need, and they are asking the top 100 ranked players to contribute. Dominic Thiem , the third-ranked player in the world, has made some anti-donation comments suggesting that he will not donate because these players "...Read more

Time to Rally: Set Phasers To Stun

By Steven Kaplan
Long Island is reopening and, hopefully, New York City will not be far behind. Outdoor tennis is permitted, but it might be singles only? Or perhaps not? You could ask the experts, but that will only add to your confusion because these days everyone claims to be an expert. Where does that leave the...Read more

Time to Rally: Honestly

By Steven Kaplan
The tennis world is considering playing major events behind closed doors. The top-ranked man in the world, Novak Djokovic, has explained that it’s not an ideal situation for players. In an interview with former French Open Champion, Gustavo Kuerten, Djokovic revealed: "I honestly don't dream to...Read more

Good People Doing Bad Things or Bad People Doing Good Things

By Steven Kaplan
My "The Last Dance" letdown was short lived after watching Part 1 of "Lance," another great ESPN documentary about cyclist Lance Armstrong. Lance was the greatest cyclist of his era and maybe of all-time after winning seven consecutive Tour De France races. He also cheated and while it can be...Read more

Time to Rally: Don’t Touch My Balls

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
By Steven Kaplan
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran held a news conference and said "balls." It was a retro-funny moment worthy of a Beavis and Butt-Head Do Tennis episode. The "mark your tennis balls and don't touch others tennis balls" guidelines are a little silly too. First of all because when the guideline...Read more