Time to Rally: Trust Science

By Steven Kaplan
I believe in science and if you spend hours a day staring at a screen, then you believe in science too (or you are insane, or perhaps both…but more about that later). This virus doesn't have a nationality or a race but it loves when you touch your face and hates soap. Science tells us this. Much of...Read more

Time to Rally: Call Someone

Call an old friend. Call a relative. Call your kids. Call your Grandparents.
By Steven Kaplan
While we describe the practices of today and refer to "Social Distancing”, a more accurate term would be “Physical Distancing”. For many young people, 12 hours a day of "FaceTiming" is the new norm and it has the potential to bring people closer, so I will keep today's blog brief: Call an old...Read more

Time to Rally: Work On Your Resume

By Steven Kaplan
Take a short break from TikTok and consider: Do you have a resume ? If your answer is “Yes”, improve it. If it’s “No”, now is the time to learn how to do it. Even if you are in Junior High School, it's not too early to start the process and learn the mechanics and structure of a resume. Now is a...Read more

Time to Rally: The Power of Visualization

Did you know that many studies indicate that you can develop and improve tennis movements simply by thinking about them? It's called Visualization and it's powerful.
By Steven Kaplan
Did you know that many studies indicate that you can develop and improve tennis movements simply by thinking about them? It's called Visualization and it's powerful. Close your eyes and picture yourself hitting a serve. Breathe, bounce the ball and feel it as if your were actually performing the...Read more

Time to Rally: There's Time Now

The silver lining to this crisis is that we have time now.
By Steven Kaplan
One of my favorite lines from any song is: "There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them”, from Jim Croce's “Time In A Bottle”. The silver lining to this crisis is that we have time now. As tennis players we are goal oriented. We are doers. So set goals,...Read more

Time to Rally: Learn New Skills

By Steven Kaplan
When I was young I used to complain about how useless the subjects in school would be to my life. "Why do I need to know when the Magna Carta was written?" was a thought going around my immature mind. OK, so now that you are home, learn domestic skills that I guarantee you will use: ►Learn how to...Read more

Time to Rally: Good Habits

By Steven Kaplan
If everyone in your home has a "reserved" seat at the dinner table, you understand the value of friendly habits. Familiarity provides comfort. It's why serving rituals in which we bounce the ball the same exact way before starting our motion is so important. If you are a young person schooling from...Read more

Time to Rally: Tennis is Just Tennis

By Steven Kaplan
In 1999, a young Novak Djokovic sheltered in place, huddled in a basement while NATO bombed his hometown of Belgrade, Serbia for over two weeks. He credits this difficult time with changing his life by making him stronger. When he resumed playing tennis, it was a joy. There was no pressure because...Read more

Time to Rally: Let's Continue Learning

By Steven Kaplan
This is a difficult time for everyone. For young tennis players it's frustrating, scary and confusing. But maybe it's also an opportunity to learn, grow and mature. Education is a shared responsibility, and for the moment that's an imposed reality. We can sit in isolation and feel like victims or...Read more

Tip of the Week: My Most Simple Strategy

By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
This idea is going to sound obvious, but tennis is supposed to be basic. If you are serving, focus on getting the first serve in, then hitting a shot or two (usually crosscourt) to get the opponent moving, and then figure out a way to win the point. When returning serve, get the return in play, hit...Read more

Tip of the Week: Practice From Your Starting Position

Players generally stand in the middle of the baseline to warm up before a singles match. However, it is rare that both players are standing in this position during an actual point. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
By Steve Annacone
Players generally stand in the middle of the baseline to warm up before a singles match. However, it is rare that both players are standing in this position during an actual point. In singles, the server will be slightly to the right or left of the center of the court and behind the baseline. The...Read more

Tip of the Week: Use Your Legs As A Weapon

Your movement on the tennis court is one of the most important tools you can use to win the match. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
By Steve Annacone
Your movement on the tennis court is one of the most important tools you can use to win the match. There are many different ways to do this. First, by running after every ball and getting many of your opponent's best shots back in play, you can force them to go bigger and try more risky shots. This...Read more