Tennis and Social Class in America

Apr 3, 2018
Dr. Tom Ferraro
We all know that Wimbledon requires the players to wear white and that the audience sips champagne, eats strawberries and cream, and rubs shoulders with royalty. But we also know that tennis gave us Jimmy Connors, Ilie Nastase and John “You Cannot Be Serious” McEnroe. Tennis, perhaps more than any...Read more

It’s Okay to Feel Disappointed–In Fact, It’s Vital

Mar 16, 2018
Amanda Ferranti
The fear of losing a match is a very paralyzing state of mind—it will peek its head up after every lost point, it will cause hesitation in the decision-making process, and weaken one’s courage to take risks. In my experience working with competitive youth tennis players, most can rationally...Read more

The Importance of Youth Progression Coaches - A Parent’s Perspective

Jan 30, 2018
Rahul V. Pawar M.D.
The final matches of the Orange Ball Box league during the spring of 2017 were critical. After five consecutive months of weekly matches hosted and organized by Center Court Tennis Academy in Chatham, NJ, the point spread between the top performers was marginal. My son, Rafael, was the youngest...Read more

A Mental Gym for Athletes

Nov 15, 2017
Dr. Tom Ferraro
Every serious athlete is familiar with the gym and all its equipment. There are treadmills, stair masters, elliptical machines, medicine balls, punching bags, dumbbells, barbells, kettle bells, balance machines, TRX rooms and much more. You work out every day, you get stronger, and naturally, you...Read more

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