More Than an Athlete: The Billie Jean King Story

Nov 10, 2017
Rob Polishook
It was Tuesday night, the 19th of September in 1973, exactly 44 years ago when I sat in front of the TV and watched Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in a tennis match called the “Battle of the Sexes.” Fast-forward to 2017, and Billie Jean is walking the red carpet in New York City with actress...Read more

One Tennis Lesson Can Turn Into a Journey: So What If …?

Nov 8, 2017
Lonnie Mitchel
On a flight returning from Portugal this past June, I was with 24 varsity collegiate players from the Oneonta State Tennis program. I had eight hours with my thoughts on a transatlantic journey from Lisbon to New York. We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play some team exhibitions...Read more

The Mental and Emotional Talents of Prodigies

Nov 3, 2017
Chris Lewit
Tennis prodigies—gifted and precocious players—are rare, but very special. I have had the good fortune of working with many young players whom I would consider to have been tennis prodigies and they exhibit certain traits that all players, coaches and parents can learn from. Maturity and emotional...Read more

How to Win More Tiebreakers

You've battled for 12 straight games against a formidable, evenly matched opponent and now it's come down to one game
Sep 26, 2017
Mike Williams
You've battled for 12 straight games against a formidable, evenly matched opponent and now it's come down to one game. Your heart rate is picking up and your feet are barking. The end is inevitable, sudden and even the name, “Tiebreaker,” coined by Tennis Hall of Famer Jimmy Van Alen, says, “...Read more

Reboot, Recharge and Rebound: The Secret to Success

Sep 20, 2017
Rob Polishook
We all saw Roger Federer win yet another Grand Slam victory, totaling 19, undoubtedly making a strong case for being the GOAT … Greatest Of All-Time. However, that’s not the purpose of this article. Let’s leave that debate to others and bring our focus to the story behind the story. What is Roger’s...Read more

Tennis Term Translations: What You Say vs. What You Mean

Sep 1, 2017
Cesar Andrade
After playing decades of tennis, coaching all levels and all ages, and watching high level, junior tournaments and, adult USTA matches, I realize tennis players have their own “on-court” language. Scenario: While observing a women’s 4.5 USTA team match, one of the players screams, “Youuuuuuurs!”...Read more

The Zone Is the Holy Grail of Sports

Aug 7, 2017
Dr. Tom Ferraro
The ineffable state known as “The Zone” is the Holy Grail of sports. Every athlete seeks it. Any athlete who has played in the zone remembers the ease, joy and satisfaction of finding this special place. The dictionary defines “The Zone” as “An area or stretch of land having a particular...Read more

Encourage Your Child to Give 100 Percent Effort

Aug 3, 2017
Aleix Serrats
Every athlete wants to achieve good results, but we have to be aware that good results don’t automatically happen because we spend hours and hours training on the court, in weight rooms or sharpening our mental training. The hours you spend have to be productive. In order to be productive, it’s...Read more

What Does a Coach Do When This Happens?

Aug 2, 2017
Gilad Bloom
Being a tennis coach for 20-plus years has taught me much about the game and about life. It is an ongoing learning experience … one that never ends as each new student is different and teaches you something new about the game. The coach will face difficult and challenging situations when dealing...Read more

So You Want to Win?

Jul 31, 2017
Rob Polishook
We all walk onto the court wanting to win. The reality is, tennis involves winning and losing. It’s no secret that unless you are in the top five in the world, you will probably lose as much as you win. Even if you are in the top three, you will probably lose 20 percent of the time. The only way...Read more