Athletes generally perform at their best when they are playing with confidence. Tennis is no exception. Players with confidence believe they will succeed, while those lacking confidence don't, causing their shots, decision-making and overall game to suffer. Anyone can go through rough stretches on the court where confidence is in short supply. So how do…
In the July/August 2014 issue of Long Island Tennis Magazine, I published “The Pink Elephant on the Court.” Since it appeared in the pages of this magazine, I have received an overflow of comments from kids who said “OMG, how did you know what I was thinking? This is exactly what I want to tell…
A long battle of short battles Out of all the sports out there, tennis has one of the most complicated scoring systems. We have games counted as 1, 2, 3, etc., and we have points counted as 15, 30, 40. Every game can end with a very frequent "deuce" and "advantage" and deuce and advantage…
I believe Roger Federer will go down as so much more than a great tennis player. He was a transitional player in many aspects. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi handed him the torch to improve upon the state of the game. Up to that point, the pro Tour was dominated by Americans. Federer and his…
So the U.S. Open is wrapping up in Flushing Meadows, and if you are reading this, it is a safe bet that you love tennis and you are conflicted as to whether you are going out tonight or staying in and watching the matches on TV. Do you have tickets? Then off to Flushing Meadows…
As a tennis instructor, I see myself, first and foremost, as an educator. Since the vast majority of my students are junior players, I have a role in their life which is bigger than just showing them how to hit the ball or telling them how to move their feet. When I was a kid,…
Why is tennis so often referred to as "The sport for a lifetime?” Largely because tennis isn't just a terrific means of exercise and improving your health, but it offers psychological advantages as well. Tennis is also fun to watch and can expand your horizons across the country and around the world. The sport is…
Whether playing the 12-point set tie breaker or the 10-point super tie-breaker, there are several keys to increasing your success. If you follow these simple, yet highly effective tactics, you will find yourself on the winning end of a high percentage of the tie-breakers you play. Mental approach The key foundation that all tie-breaker success…
My tennis career began at an early age with the best coach and teacher a boy can have … my father. I was born in 1966 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at a time when my father was the tennis pro at the beautiful Rockefeller Resort Dorado Beach, alongside the legendary Nick Bollettieri. My father…
I was recently working with a group of skilled tennis players at Sea Island and we were in game mode. These players were of different age and skill levels, but all were tournament players. A doubles game I like to play is what the Jensen Brothers call "Bump the Chump.” It is a number of…