In encouraging news for junior tennis in the United States, the USTA announced on Monday that the 2020 USTA 18s and 16s National Championships will be held as scheduled, from August 7-16. The 18s National Championships will be held at their normal locations, with the boys being played in Kalamazoo, Mich., while the girls…
Towards the end of 2019, Michael Zheng headed north to Wayland, Mass. to compete in the USTA National Indoor Championships, one of the top junior circuit tournaments in the United States. Zheng, a high school sophomore, had entered the event playing good tennis, and felt solid about his game. “I was playing really well…
At the end of our college practices and before each match at NJIT, I assemble the group in a circle, we put our hands in, and on three we roar: “Team First!” Tennis is typically known as an individual sport, but most of my long-time involvement has been with the team or group aspect,…
Visualization is arguably the most important factor in the mental approach to tennis. The current situation we are facing with the COVID-19 pandemic gives us an opportunity to turn within and hone our craft through improving mental acuity with certain visualization techniques. Strong visualization skills allow players to run scenarios in their heads, getting…
Parents often ask me, “What makes Spanish tennis so great?”, or, “What do they do differently in Spain?” Many folks have never been there and are curious how such a small country became a world superpower in tennis. They also want to know how my academy and summer camp are influenced by the Spanish…
On Wednesday, the USTA compiled tips and guidelines, botrh for players and facilities, on what to do when returning to the courts. The USTA said: “The USTA recognizes that the coronavirus has been affecting different parts of the country in different ways and with different timing. We therefore believe it will be possible for people…
Brooklyn fifth-grader Kayla Moore is a dedicated young tennis player who trains at Gotham Tennis Academy and Stadium Tennis Center in the Bronx. And despite her age, Moore has already set lofty goals for herself as she pursues a tennis career. “My goal is to become a professional tennis player,” said Moore. “And I’m…
Tennis is one of those unique sports in that for the majority of a junior’s competitive career, the only people who consistently watch them play are their parents. Unlike team sports where the coach is with the team at practice and matches, tennis coaches often coach their hour-long private lesson and go home. That…
“I made it to the final of my tournament last week!” “I got a baby puppy this week!” “My AP History class is killing me!” These are just a few of the phrases I hear on a weekly basis from students during lessons/programs, and it’s easy to assume they are being talkative or only…
This article first appeared in the March/April 2020 issue of New York Tennis Magazine. You can read the full digital edition by clicking here. In early February, more than 2,000 students from the Rochester City School District took part in a tennis workshop to commemorate Arthur Ashe Legacy Lives Day. The event came on the…