The second annual John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) College Recruiting Combine was held at Sportime Randall’s Island, as prospects and college coaches from across the country came together for a weekend-long showcase. The event eases the process for both the players and coaches to find the right fits and is one of the most detail-oriented…
I have been increasingly perplexed and frustrated by the current day professional tennis players who refuse to work their way in to the net. As most people know, I have coached players and played my own game with the idea that it is an advantage to be the volleyer and a disadvantage to be the…
Don’t miss the opportunity to be coached by world-renowned Emilio Sanchez and his team at Riverdale Tennis Center the week leading up to the U.S. Open this year! Emilio Sanchez and his partner Sergio Casal were recently honored with the ITF’s highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award. Sanchez and his team will be offering two…
When they were just kids, Tennis Innovators’ Cesar and Juan Andrade came to the United States from Ecuador with their family, first settling in Malverne, Long Island before going to live in Queens. It is there, where the two brothers’ love for tennis began. Along with their two sisters, the Andrade’s would attend free morning…
In today’s day and age, 99 percent of the players use a two-handed backhand and most players are playing a typical baseline style that is indicative of this era of high tech rackets with a power game that has ruled tennis over the past two decades. Approaching the net, volleying and having a transition game…
The battle between the serve and return is a quintessential case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, and this clash of styles has given us some epic matchups over the years. Every tennis player wants the biggest serve on the block. Who doesn’t want to pop one off, maybe two aces per service…
We have all seen “It,” either as a player, coach or fan. The “It” I am referring to is a player in the throes of a slump. Maybe “It” is a tournament winless streak like Novak Djokovic is currently experiencing due to what he calls “personal issues.” Or maybe “It” is missing the last six…
I’m writing from the terrace of the players’ lounge at the Indian Wells event, where the view is incredible, and the desert mountains in the background resemble a postcard. Fernando Verdasco just finished his match, as the hot temperature reached its peak around 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a tough loss … Fernando couldn’t handle…
It’s obvious that speed plays a key role in tennis. However, speed is more than just how fast a player moves on the court. It also refers to reaction time, readiness and the ability to make tactical decisions on the spot. Good tennis players have perfect command of all of these skills. They can move…
Here is the big question: How can we expect players to do something as complicated as serving when they cannot throw and release a ball directly out of their hand? In this article, I am going to stress the importance of the grip and a throwing release as central principles to a great serve. We’re…