7-Jun-2013
May Aces
May usually has its share of college aces, with the NCAAs always
producing impressive performances. But the month's accomplishments
extend to former collegians as well, with so many success stories I
had to confine the list to those who had won at least two pro titles
during May.
6-Jun-2013
Talking with James Blake
Former Harvard standout and ATP pro James Blake is one of the most
prominent American tennis professionals. NBC's Harry Cicma got the
chance to talk with Blake about college tennis, American tennis, and
his charitable works.
5-Jun-2013
In the SPC, It's Books Over Backhands
As teenage athletes across the country turn away from the traditional
brick-and-mortar education to tack on more training hours, the
Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC), the nation's largest
geographical private school athletic conference with schools in Texas
and Oklahoma, embraces its old-school ethic: academics before
athletics.
3-Jun-2013
Top Women's Classes - 2013 Spring Rankings
Last week, TennisRecruiting.net ranked the men's recruiting classes.
Today, we take a look at the women. TennisRecruiting.net is proud to
present its spring rankings of the Top 25 Women's Recruiting Classes.
The 2013 NCAA Team Champion Stanford Cardinal added another Blue
Chip athlete to its recruiting haul this spring - which was enough
to knock the Tar Heels out of the top spot. Take a look at where
things stand...
31-May-2013
Gibbs Defends NCAA Singles Title, Rola Thwarts Jenkins' Bid for Triple Crown
NCAA titles in 2012 didn't satisfy Stanford's Nicole Gibbs and Ohio
State's Blaz Rola, who returned to the Division I Individual
Championships at the University of Illinois hungry for more. Gibbs
defeated Nebraska's Mary Weatherholt to earn a second straight singles
title to go with her 2012 doubles championship and the 2013 team
title, while Rola downed Virginia's Jarmere Jenkins to add a singles
title to the doubles championship he won last year.
29-May-2013
Talking with UVa's Mitchell Frank
It didn't take long for Virginia sophomore Mitchell Frank to drop his
first set at No. 3 singles in the NCAA Team Championship match by a
6-0 score. But Frank regrouped to win the second set 6-4. Then, after
UCLA's Adrien Puget accidentally stepped on the net on championship
point to keep UVa's hopes alive, Frank came back from 3-5 to clinch
the title for the Cavaliers with a 0-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory. NBC's Harry
Cicma caught up with Frank after the match.
27-May-2013
Top Men's Classes - 2013 Spring Rankings
Today we release our spring rankings of the Top 25 Men's Recruiting
Classes. New commitments - including a number of Blue Chip and
international players - have moved a number of teams up and down. The
Virginia Cavaliers still sit at the top of the rankings, but there are
a number of new teams in both the Top 10 and Top 25. Take a look at
the results of our most recent poll.
24-May-2013
Virginia Men Claim First, Stanford Women Collect Seventeenth NCAA Team Championship
For the Virginia men, it was a long delayed first title; for the
Stanford women, it was title 17, but the only numbers that mattered
Tuesday in the finals of NCAA Division I Team Championships at the
Khan Outdoor Tennis Center at the University of Illinois was 4-3, the
score of Virginia's win over UCLA and Stanford's win over Texas A&M.
22-May-2013
College Tennis in the Ivy League
At Scholarship For Athletes, we get asked a lot of questions regarding
the Ivy League schools, how they work, how they recruit, and what the
coaches are looking for. We asked some questions to a few Ivy League
men's coaches and here is what we found.
20-May-2013
Prince Hot 100 List - May '13
Today we announce the May edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
17-May-2013
NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Preview
The NCAA Division III Championship is down to the Elite Eight, and those
eight teams will compete next week in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at historic
Stowe Stadium. Today, one of the principals of Division3Tennis.com
stops by with a preview of the Men's Championships that get underway
on Monday.
16-May-2013
Improved Infrastructure for TennisRecruiting.net
Tennis Recruiting has experienced substantial growth in recent years, and
the increased traffic has stressed our servers. Over the next month,
Tennis Recruiting will be installing newer, better hardware and
migrating our servers to these new machines. The result should be a
better experience for our users, but there will be some outages
along the way... Read on for more details.
15-May-2013
Sanford, Oosterbaan Capture National Open Titles
Unseasonably cold temperatures didn't stop Midwesterners Anna Sanford
and Paul Oosterbaan from capturing the singles titles at the USTA 18s
National Open at the Canepa Tennis Center in East Grand Rapids,
Michigan. Sanford defeated Alexis Nelson 1-6, 6-1, 6-2, while
Oosterbaan edged Tom Fawcett 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4).
13-May-2013
Don Johnson Brings Experience to Vstrator
Donald Johnson turned a successful college tennis career at North
Carolina into a professional stint that brought him to the No. 1
doubles ranking in the world. Today, Johnson works at Vstrator, a
company he helped found that provides video analysis tools for
athletes and has great application to tennis.
10-May-2013
NCAA Tournament Roundtable - Part II
The NCAA Division I Tennis Championships start today. The top men's
and women's college tennis programs face off in first-round action
across the country, with all teams competing for tickets to
Champaign-Urbana, Ill. and a spot in the Sweet 16. Check out insights
from our college tennis contributors - and see who they picked as
champions.
9-May-2013
Ramp It Up - New Academy Opens in Southern California
The Home Depot Center in Carson, California, site of the USTA Training
Center-West, has a new source of activity this spring with the
opening of the RAMP Tennis Academy.
8-May-2013
College Championships at the Ojai
About the only thing missing from the 113th Ojai Valley Tennis
Tournament were strains of the Eight Clap echoing through the
towering oak trees at Libbey Park. UCLA fans had plenty of reason to
cheer this year as current, future and former Bruins experienced great
success in all divisions.
7-May-2013
Catching Up with Steve Johnson
A year ago, Steve Johnson was wrapping up his senior year at USC as
arguably the most decorated player in NCAA history with his second
second straight NCAA singles title and fourth straight NCAA team
title. Fast forward a year, and Johnson has made a strong start to
his professional career, working his ATP singles ranking up to
No. 128 in the world. Harry Cicma recently chatted with Johnson
about his future - as well as his college tennis memories.
6-May-2013
NCAA Tournament Roundtable - Part I
May Madness might not be a household term, but the name fits for
college tennis. May is tournament time. This weekend, 64 men's and
women's teams will see first- and second-round action in the NCAA
Division I Tennis Championships. The winners head to the Khan Outdoor
Tennis Complex in Champaign-Urbana, Ill., to compete for the team
title. Today, our college tennis contributors talk about college
tennis' Big Dance.
3-May-2013
April Aces
April's aces are centered on the two major Southern California junior
events, with the ITF Grade 1 International Spring Championships and
the Easter Bowl responsible for nine of the juniors featured here. Yet
juniors from around the world also made their mark on the ITF
professional circuit, with four of them picking up their first titles
at that level.
2-May-2013
Brymer Takes Boys CIF championships at The Ojai
Having captured the last two Boys CIF championships at the Ojai Valley
Tennis Tournament, Gage Brymer really didn't have much to prove
heading into the 113th Ojai. But with a chance to join an exclusive
club, the University (Irvine, Calif.) High senior saw things
differently.
30-Apr-2013
Now Open... May Madness Bracket Challenge
Nothing beats the excitement of the NCAA tournament! For college
tennis fans, May is the time for Madness, and this is your chance to
demonstrate knowledge of the game. With the right combination of skill
and luck, you can earn bragging rights - and great prizes - by making
your picks for the Big Dance!
30-Apr-2013
University of Illinois Readies for First NCAA Tennis Championship
It seems as if Stanford and Georgia (with a little Tulsa and College
Station) have served as hosts of the NCAA Division I Tennis
Championships over and over during the last decade. That's about to
change as the tournament makes its way to the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign. It's the first time the school is hosting - and
the first time the tournament has been in the Midwest since 1998.
29-Apr-2013
SFA Interviews UCSB Head Coach Simon Thibodeau
Simon Thibodeau, head women's tennis coach at UC Santa Barbara sits down with Scholarship for Athletes to talk recruiting and coaching.
27-Apr-2013
Coming Soon... May Madness Bracket Challenge
March is so passe. In the world of college tennis, it's all about May -
and May Madness. This coming Tuesday evening, the NCAA will announce the teams
participating in the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Tennis
Championships. Later that night, you can submit your picks in our
second annual May Madness Bracket Challenge.
26-Apr-2013
Hance and Daniel Take 14s Easter Bowl Titles; Bellis and Kumar Earn 16s Championships
Connor Hance and Jaeda Daniel both came from behind to collect USTA
Spring Nationals Easter Bowl 14s gold balls, while 16s champions CiCi
Bellis and Sameer Kumar posted straightforward wins in the finals, as
the historic tournament's 46th year came to a close earlier this month
in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
24-Apr-2013
Talking with Jay Goldman
Jay Goldman was a standout tennis player for the Arizona Wildcats
between 2007 and 2011. At Arizona, Goldman competed primarily at the
top of the lineup. Goldman traveled to Tucson following a
storied junior career out of Worceser, Mass., and the IMG Academy
Tennis Program. Harry Cicma got the opportunity to catch up with
Goldman and discuss college tennis.
22-Apr-2013
Brymer and Hibi Earn Impressive Doubles at Easter Bowl ITF
Irvine, California can call itself the city of Easter Bowl champions
after residents Mayo Hibi and Gage Brymer claimed titles at the
International Tennis Federation Grade B1 tournament at the Sunrise
Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
21-Apr-2013
Prince Hot 100 List - April '13
Today we announce the April edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
18-Apr-2013
Spring Signing Week '13: NCAA Changes
The NCAA voted earlier this year to do away with many regulations on
recruitment of prospective student-athletes. Some of these changes
will go into effect this year, but many of the approved proposals are
up for reconsideration and possible modification at the Division I
Board of Directors meeting in Indianapolis on May 2.
16-Apr-2013
Spring Signing Week '13: National Roundup
Signing Week is now underway, and tomorrow seniors can start signing
their National Letters of Intent. Today, we check in with boys and
girls from across the country who are heading to a variety of schools.
Find out how they came to their decisions... in our National Roundup.
15-Apr-2013
Spring Signing Week '13: Academic Alert
Whether you are signing to join a team in the fall or are just
starting to think about doing it in the future, you need to make sure
your academics have a high level of priority. Regardless of how great
your tennis is, you still need good grades to get into college.
15-Apr-2013
Spring Signing Week '13: Signing Week Arrives
The second week of April is here - and Signing Week has finally
arrived! We start our coverage of Spring Signing Week '13 with a look
at the uncommitted boys and girls from the top 100. We update you on
a few developments from the past few weeks, and we note that some of
these top recruits plan to announce their college choices this week in
our coverage.
12-Apr-2013
Hibi, Kozlov Claim ITF Grade 1 Titles at International Spring Championships
Mayo Hibi and Stefan Kozlov survived tough opening round matches at
the ITF Grade 1 International Spring Championships in Carson, Calif.
last week, using those wins as springboards for their first Grade 1
titles.
8-Apr-2013
Countdown: Double Coaching Duties
Recruits should consider many factors when determining what college
and college tennis program best suits them. One important factor is
the coach. Donovan Tennis Strategies delves into a somewhat common
situation at programs in all three NCAA Divisions and in the NAIA -
coaches who are the head coach for both the men's and women's
programs. DTS asks coaches with dual responsibilities to outline the
positive features of such an arrangement.
5-Apr-2013
March Aces
The first month of spring was packed with head-turning performances,
from the clay courts of South America to the hard courts of Mobile,
Miami and beyond.
2-Apr-2013
Countdown: Division III Tennis on the Rise
More and more top-tier players are signing to Division III schools, a trend which is quickly increasing the quality of that division. Scholarship for Athletes talks with Middlebury head coach Bob Hansen to better understand how competitive Division III tennis has become.
1-Apr-2013
Countdown: Previewing the Top 100 Boys
Last week, we checked in with the girls. Today, the top boys in the
senior class update us on their college recruiting. Find out where
the Top 100 boys are leaning, and how many of them have already made
their decisions.
27-Mar-2013
Countdown: Hinsdale Central Claims First Championship
Twenty-four of the nation's top boys high school tennis teams competed
in the prestigious Boys DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships
this past weekend in Louisville, Ky. The finals saw Hinsdale Central
(Hinsdale, Ill.) put on a dominating performance to defeat Barron
Collier (Naples, Fla.) and win the title.
25-Mar-2013
Countdown: Previewing the Top 100 Girls
Many of the top girls committed during Fall Signing Week last November,
but a number of top targets were still available. We talked with many
recruits in the Top 100 to find out where they are in their decision
process. Some have decided, some have narrowed their lists, and many
are still wide open.
22-Mar-2013
McCarthy Sweeps Titles, Orkin Claims First Gold Ball at USTA 18s National Spring Championships
A year after the Midwest section swept the boys and girls 18s National
Spring Championships' singles titles, the Southern section did the
same, with Elliott Orkin of Marietta, Georgia and Kaitlyn McCarthy of
Cary, North Carolina taking home what is likely the last gold balls
awarded by the tournament, in its ninth year at the Mobile Tennis
Center.
21-Mar-2013
Prince Hot 100 List - March '13
Today we announce the March edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
20-Mar-2013
Countdown: DecoTurf Girls' HS Championship Wrapup
This past Saturday, the DecoTurf Girls' High School Tennis Team
Championships drew to a close in Louisville, Ky. The Baylor Red
Raiders (Chattanooga, Tenn.), who were two-time defending champions,
came back from a 3-4 deficit to defeat the Jenks Trojans (Jenks, Okl.)
and win the title for a third straight year.
18-Mar-2013
Countdown to Signing Day
It's that time of year... Signing Day is approaching. April 17 is
the first day of the Spring Signing Period - when seniors from around
the nation can sign on to play college tennis at Division I or
Division II schools. And once again, The Tennis Recruiting Network
is ready with its Countdown to Signing Day.
14-Mar-2013
Canadian Levine Remains a Gator
Jesse Levine was a top U.S. junior who was on the cusp of turning
professional when he decided to give college tennis a whirl. He
brought his talent to Florida, where he was named ITA National Rookie
of the Year before turning pro after his freshman year. Now ranked No.
97 in the world, Levine will compete for Canada in their Davis Cup
quarterfinal tie against Italy next month.
13-Mar-2013
DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships Gets Underway Friday
The field of 40 is set for the 2013 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team
Championships. The event will be hosted in Louisville, Kentucky for
the seventh year with E.P. Sawyer State Park and Top Gun Academy
hosting the championships for the third straight year. The girls will
open tournament play on March 15-16 with the boys completing the 2013
event on March 22-23.
11-Mar-2013
Top Prospects '12-'13 - Spring Edition
Three Star Recruit? Or Four Star? You can find out right now,
as The Tennis Recruiting Network proudly presents the Top Prospects for
Spring 2013.
8-Mar-2013
Mobile Ready for Ninth USTA 18s National Spring Championships
When the Easter Bowl 18s went from a USTA tournament to an
International Tennis Federation Grade 1 back in 2005, a new event was
necessary to provide a fourth gold ball opportunity for that age
group. The Mobile Tennis Center filled that gap, and has been hosting
the 128-draw National Spring Championships for boys and girls ever
since, with the ninth edition scheduled to begin Sunday and run
through Saturday March 16th.
4-Mar-2013
Dividing Coaching Responsibilities
College tennis teams vary in their coaching structure. Some schools
have a single coach for both the men's and women's teams, while others
have two or three coaches for each program. We put the question to
college coaches - how are responsibilities divided among coaches on
your staff?
1-Mar-2013
February Aces
February may be a short month, but it was long on excitement, with
blockbuster finishes to the three ITA National Team Indoor
Championships. In addition to the college stars stepping up, young
players from the United States, Europe and South America had an impact
on the professional scene, including the ATP and WTA tours.
27-Feb-2013
Talking with Andrew Chmura
After success as a junior and college tennis player, Andrew Chmura has
built an adult career around the game. Chmura competed on the
satellite tour, has taught and encouraged tennis play, and he is
currently the president of Grand Slam Tennis Tours. Harry
Cicma caught up with Chmura to talk tennis - past and present.
25-Feb-2013
Quality Provides Quantity
Over the years, I have developed a system for my players that stresses
simplicity - as well as quality over quantity. Keeping things simple,
knowing what shot you are going to hit before you get to the ball, and
hitting good shots at a single good target usually leads to fewer errors,
more victories, and fewer defeats.
22-Feb-2013
Weatherholt Leads Nebraska to New Heights
Kansas City's Mary Weatherholt was not quite five years old when
Lindsay Davenport's Olympic gold medal in Atlanta inspired her to take
up the sport. Despite setbacks along the way, the Nebraska Cornhusker
senior has nurtured that initial love of the game, leading her team to
new heights while establishing herself as one of the nation's top
collegians.
20-Feb-2013
Conversation with Notre Dame Coach Bobby Bayliss
After 44 years coaching college tennis - the past 26 of those as head
men's coach at Notre Dame - Bobby Bayliss plans to retire after the
2012-13 season. Bayliss, currently the winningest active coach in NCAA
Division I tennis with 751 dual-match victories, has built the Irish
into an NCAA contender with 21 appearances in the NCAA Championships
over the past 22 seasons. Harry Cicma talked with Bayliss
about his career.
18-Feb-2013
Prince Hot 100 List - February '13
Today we announce the February edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
15-Feb-2013
North Carolina Claims First National Team Title at ITA Women's Indoor Championships
The University of North Carolina Tar Heels arrived in Charlottesville,
Virginia last week for the ITA Women's Team Indoor ranked eighth in
the country. They left the Boar's Head Sports Club with wins over No.
4 Southern California, No. 3 Duke, and No. 2 UCLA in successive
matches, claiming the program's first national team championship and
the No. 1 ranking with a heart-pounding 4-3 victory over the defending
champion Bruins.
13-Feb-2013
SFA Interviews TCU Head Coach David Roditi
David Roditi, head men's tennis coach at Texas Christian University sits down with Scholarship for Athletes to explain what he expects from prospective student athletes during the recruiting process. He reveals the dos and donts of visiting schools and shares his personal coaching philosophies.
11-Feb-2013
Previewing the DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships
DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships Tournament Director,
Brandon Feusner, has been involved in high school tennis for nearly a
decade gradually building one of the nation's top high school tennis
tournaments. The seventh annual event will begin on March 15th in
Louisville, Kentucky. In this Q&A we check in with Feusner to discuss
what goes into hosting the tournament, as well as some of the
challenges and his best memories.
8-Feb-2013
Indoor Tennis Moves South
Indoor tennis in the south? Yes, you heard me right. Universities in
places like Florida and Georgia have sparkling new indoor tennis
facilities that are being used not only for getting out of the
elements to practice and matches, but they are dangling these new
indoor courts in front of possible recruits and it's bound to make a
difference.
6-Feb-2013
Teah Flynn Organizes Groundbreaking Tennis Relay
For a 15 year old, Teah Flynn has done more community service than
most adults, logging hundreds of volunteer hours raising funds for
charities, walking dogs owned by disabled people, and producing PSAs.
On February 9, Flynn, a two-star sophomore from Farmington, Arkansas,
will host her most ambitious volunteer project so far - a Tennis Relay
to raise money for genomic cancer research.
4-Feb-2013
January Aces
From the USTA Winter National champions to the outstanding
performances of young women like Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens at
the Australian Open, January provided many new players to watch in
2013. The thirteen aces below may not have been quite as visible, yet
their accomplishments are worth acknowledging too.
1-Feb-2013
Top Seeds Langmo, Kirkov, Mateas Take Tennis Plaza Cup Titles
The weather was outstanding and so were the top seeds at the USTA
Regional Level 3 tournament in Coral Gables, Florida, with six of the
eight No. 1 seeds winning titles in the three-day, 32-draw events held
at five sites in the Miami area.
30-Jan-2013
Miami Women Earn Trip to ITA Team Indoor
University of Miami's head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews knows her team
landed on the right side of a thin line Saturday, winning a tense and
unpredictable dual match with Arizona State 4-3 to earn a trip to the
ITA Team Indoor in Charlottesville, Virginia next month.
28-Jan-2013
Top Women's Classes - 2013 Winter Rankings
Spring Signing Day is a little over two months away, and coaches are
busy locking up their recruits. A number of highly-ranked seniors
have already made their college choices - they have made verbal
commitments or signed during the Fall Signing Period. Find out which
women's teams are on top at this point - as The Tennis Recruiting
Network proudly presents its Top 25 Women's College Tennis Recruiting
Classes of 2013.
21-Jan-2013
Top Men's Classes - 2013 Winter Rankings
The end of January is right at the midway point between the fall and
spring signing periods. High school seniors across the country made
formal commitments in November, and dozens more make verbal
commitments every week. With more than 750 commitments in the books,
this is a great time to take stock of how programs are doing. Today,
the Tennis Recruiting Network is proud to bring you the Top 25 Men's
College Tennis Recruiting Classes.
17-Jan-2013
Eight Intriguing Questions for 2013
Another year... and another edition of "Intriguing Questions" from
columnist Colette Lewis. Today, Colette poses eight questions about
junior and college tennis.
14-Jan-2013
Prince Hot 100 List - January '13
Today we announce the January edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
9-Jan-2013
On Leadership
The role of leader carries a great honor and responsibility.
Successful leaders embrace the power of teamwork and tap into the
strength that each member of the team brings to the table. A leader
must be the one that accepts success or failure - and never shifts
their role of being a leader.
7-Jan-2013
Top Prospect Spring Ratings Period Starts Next Week
Twice a year, TennisRecruiting.net updates its Top Prospect ratings -
sometimes known as "The Stars". Our next update to the Top Prospects
comes in March - and those ratings will be based on players' highest
rankings during the next eight weeks - from the week of January 14 to
the week of March 4, 2013. We invite players to review their player
records to ensure accurate ratings.
3-Jan-2013
December Aces
The end of the 2012 junior tennis season and the beginning of 2013's
mean a crowded December calendar when the rest of the tennis world is
mostly dormant. Last month began with the ITF Grade 1 Eddie Herr
championships in Florida and ended in Mexico City, where the first
Grade A champions of 2013 got an early start to the year.
31-Dec-2012
Kennesaw State Tennis Looks Ahead to Football
There is excitement in the air with the Kennesaw State University
women's tennis team and it has nothing to do with aces, straight set
wins or beating a top-20 team. "Right now we are looking to improve
individually and as a program, but we can compete with anybody," said
Women's Head Coach Jeff Kutac. Compete is what they will be able to do
more of in the coming years, as the sport of football is coming to
KSU.
28-Dec-2012
Americans Mmoh and Desiatnikov Capture Junior Orange Bowl Titles; Lumsden, Oliel Post Historic Wins
Seven days of beautiful South Florida weather at the 51st Junior
Orange Bowl provided a perfect backdrop for three new champions and
one champion collecting a second title. Michael Mmoh of the United
States, the 2010 12s champion, added the 14s title to his resume,
while Abigail Desiatnikov of the US, Maia Lumsden of Great Britain and
Yshai Oliel of Israel received their first winner's bowl of oranges
last Sunday in Coral Gables, Florida.
24-Dec-2012
Talking with Endicott Coach Jeremy Howard
Jeremy Howard, former standout for the University of Richmond tennis
team, has recently taken over as the head coach of men's and women's
tennis at Endicott College in Mass. Contributor Harry Cicma talked
with Coach Howard about how he will approach his first college
coaching assignment - and the challenges of heading up both the men's
and women's programs.
21-Dec-2012
Magnus Norman Seeks to Boost Swedish Tennis at Good to Great Academy
When Magnus Norman retired from the ATP tour in 2004, he didn't pick
up a tennis racquet for three years. When he began to miss tennis,
Norman began coaching Sweden's Robin Soderling, who went from 37 to 5
in the ATP rankings while working with Norman. With his girl friend
expecting twins, Norman wanted to travel less, so he decided to
concentrate on developing a private high performance academy.
19-Dec-2012
Developing Positive Self Esteem
Self esteem boils down to one thing: what you think about yourself!
No matter where I go or who I talk to, your chances of any success
starts with you. You have two simple options. You can either be
positive or negative.
17-Dec-2012
Prince Hot 100 List - December '12
Today we announce the December edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
14-Dec-2012
Konjuh, Djere Cap Two Tough Weeks with Orange Bowl Titles; Rublev, Liang Take 16s
Croatia's Ana Konjuh and Serbia's Laslo Djere finished the ITF 2012
Junior Circuit with two weeks worth of outstanding tennis, following
their success at the Eddie Herr International with Grade A Orange Bowl
titles last week on the Har-Tru courts of the Frank Veltri Tennis
Center in Plantation, Florida.
11-Dec-2012
Tennis Recruiting National Showcase Series
The Tennis Recruiting Network is excited to announce the first
tournaments in our National Showcase Series - a series of USTA-sanctioned
junior tournaments open to players from all sections. These
tournaments are designed to give players a chance to compete outside
of their districts and sections - and these tournaments will count
towards Tennis Recruiting rankings.
10-Dec-2012
Familiar Faces at JSM Champaign Challenger
Lots of familiar faces returned to the JSM Champaign Challenger at the
University of Illinois' Atkins Tennis Center as the USTA Pro Circuit
event welcomed players that had seen these courts during both college
and junior events.
9-Dec-2012
USTA Hints at Compromise When it Comes to Junior Tennis Changes
Tennis Recruiting contributor Rick Limpert was granted unique access
over the past few days to talk with Jon Vegosen, Chairman of the Board
and President of the USTA and Kurt Kampermann, USTA Chief Executive of
Community Tennis, who have been front and center when it comes to the
USTA's proposed changes in competitive junior tennis.
7-Dec-2012
Konjuh, Garin Win ITF Eddie Herr Titles; Douglas, Norris Give US Girls Championships in 12s and 16s
At the end of a week of flawless tennis weather at the Eddie Herr
International Tennis Championships at the IMG Bollettieri Academy in
Bradenton, Fla., eight players from seven countries took home not just
the winners' trophies, but the knowledge that they can compete with and
beat the world's best.
5-Dec-2012
SFA Interviews Columbia Sophomore Ashok Narayana
Ashok Narayana is a sophomore at Columbia University who recently won
the ITA Northeast Regional Doubles Title in New Haven, Conn. Narayana
played No. 1 doubles for the Lions last season. Ross Greenstein of
Scholarship for Athletes talked with Narayana about the transition
from junior to college tennis - and the recruiting process.
3-Dec-2012
Q & A with Former Brown Standout James Cerretani
Contributor Harry Cicma recently caught up with ATP doubles player and
former Brown standout James Cerretani. They talked about life on the
ATP tour and his children's foundation.
30-Nov-2012
November Aces
The WTA and ATP may be in the midst of their brief off-seasons, but
November still provided performances worth noting on the junior,
collegiate and pro circuits, including the 14 young players below.
29-Nov-2012
Catching up with Audra Cohen
Former NCAA singles champion and WTA professional Audra Cohen has
now taken the reins as head coach at the University of North Florida.
Cohen, now in her second year at UNF, is excited about building her
program, and she draws on her own experience as a college player, as a
transfer, and as a professional in her coaching. Contributor Rick
Limpert caught up with Cohen earlier this fall at a tournament.
27-Nov-2012
Schedule of USTA Town Hall Meetings for Junior Competition Changes
Last month, the USTA announced that it would conduct a series of town
hall meetings to discuss proposed changes to USTA Junior Competition.
This "listening tour" is supposed to give players, parents, and
concerned parties a chance to discuss these changes. A number of
these meetings have now been scheduled - find one in your area.
25-Nov-2012
Smaller Fields for 12s and 14s at 2012 Eddie Herr
For those starting out in international junior tennis, Florida's Eddie
Herr tournament is often their first look at the United States. This
year, with IMG taking over management of the tournament, the 12s and
14s main draws are smaller, going from 128 in the 12s and 112 in the
14s to 64, with the qualifying draws also limited to 64 players.
23-Nov-2012
Townsend, Rubin Aim for Eddie Herr ITF Titles
As in 2011, when the surface used for the 18s ITF Grade 1
tournament went from hard courts to clay courts, the 2012 version of
the Eddie Herr International at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy has
some changes in store.
21-Nov-2012
Prince Hot 100 List - November '12
Today we announce the November edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
19-Nov-2012
Jenkins and Anderson Impress with USTA/ITA Indoor Titles
Jarmere Jenkins of Virginia and Robin Anderson of UCLA were hardly
prohibitive favorites at the start of the USTA/ITA Indoor
Intercollegiate Championships, held earlier this month at the USTA
Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, NY. But both
competitors brought their "A" games to New York - both won titles
without losing a set.
13-Nov-2012
Fall Signing Week '12: How Important is the Coach in your Decision?
How many times have you heard players say they signed with schools
because they love the coach? It happens all the time, and there is
nothing wrong with it. You should love the coach of the team you want
to join. On the other hand, loving a coach should never be your sole
decision maker when it comes to college tennis.
13-Nov-2012
Fall Signing Week '12: National Boys Roundup
Signing Week continues with our second roundup article - documenting
the decision processes of several highly-ranked boys. Take a look
at our second National Roundup of the day.
13-Nov-2012
Fall Signing Week '12: National Girls Roundup
Signing Week is now underway, and tomorrow seniors can start signing
their National Letters of Intent. Today, we check in with boys and
girls from across the country who are heading to a variety of schools.
Check out how several highly-ranked girls came to their decisions...
in our National Girls' Roundup.
12-Nov-2012
Fall Signing Week '12: Where Do Top Recruits Play in the Lineup?
Most recruits are seeking a competitive team where they can also be part of the starting lineup. Scholarship for Athletes conducted an analysis comparing top level recruiting to see what percentage of recruits made the starting lineups of their respective teams.
12-Nov-2012
Fall Signing Week '12: Blue Chip Update
With the "Countdown" behind us, on to the main event! We kick off our
coverage of Fall Signing Week '12 with a final look at the Blue Chip
boys and girls. We update you on several commitments over the past
few weeks, and we note that ten highly-ranked recruits plan to
announce their college choices this week - right here at
TennisRecruiting.net.
9-Nov-2012
Juniors Shine at First USTA Collegiate Invitational for Women
Last year, the Napa Valley Classic featured eight USTA junior boys and
players from six men's college teams competing in a round robin
competition. Grant Chen, then Director of Tennis at UCLA, loved the
idea, and he wanted to organize a similar event for women. His efforts
came to fruition last weekend in Oregon, where college and junior players
participated in the USTA Collegiate Invitational, presented by Adidas.
7-Nov-2012
Countdown: Playing Tennis at the U.S. Military Academies
The experience of playing tennis at one of the military academies can
be a unique experience, and so there are some unique factors to
consider before a tennis recruit decides on a service academy. Our
friends at Donovan Tennis Strategies talked with current players and
coaches at three service academies to get insight on what it's like to
be a student-athlete at one of the United States Military Academies.
2-Nov-2012
October Aces
The winners of last month's first collegiate majors and an important
ITF Junior event always appear on the list of October's top
performances, but teenage success on the many Pro Circuit events
across the globe also grabs the spotlight, as the fight for year-end
rankings adds urgency to every tournament result.
31-Oct-2012
Countdown: Dividing Men's Scholarships
NCAA Division I Men's Tennis is an equivalency sport, meaning that for
a given program, scholarship money can be divided among many different
players. With the need to play six singles and three doubles - and
given a maximum of 4.5 scholarships - coaches can rarely award full
scholarships to recruits. We put the question to NCAA women's coaches:
What is your strategy when planning out your scholarships?
26-Oct-2012
Countdown: Blue Chip Boys
Today we visit with the senior Blue Chip boys to find out where they
are in the college recruiting process. How many have decided? Which
players are still wide open? And are any of them leaning towards your
favorite school? Find out now...
25-Oct-2012
Countdown: King, van Overbeek Mobilize Community
Michigan's Evan King and Florida's Bob van Overbeek thought that
proposed format changes to NCAA Division I tennis - including
super-tiebreaks in singles competition - were jokes. Once they
confirmed the proposed changes were real, the two started a Facebook
group. That group mobilized the community and led to a Twitter event,
online petition, and mainstream media coverage. The NCAA has since
rescinded the changes.
24-Oct-2012
Countdown: SFA Interviews Cal Poly Coach Nick Carless
Scholarship for Athletes talks with head coach Nick Carless from Cal Poly University, who explains how to navigate the college recruiting process. He offers advice to student athletes and their parents on when to start, how to proceed, and what to expect.
22-Oct-2012
USTA to Pause 2013 Junior Competition Changes
After a series of weekend meetings with a tennis industry group, the
USTA has decided to take the following steps with respect to junior
competition: (1) leave the 2013 changes alone and continue the same
schedule as 2012, (2) conduct a series of Town Hall Listening Meetings
between now and mid-March, and (3) use the information gleaned from
that Listening Tour to help determine refinements for 2014 and beyond.
19-Oct-2012
Countdown: Blue Chip Girls
We wrap up our first week of the Countdown to Signing Day with a look
at the top girls in the senior class. This year's Blue Chip recruits
talked with us about where they are in their decision processes. It's
still early, but many of the girls are starting to narrow in. Take a
look and see where things stand...
19-Oct-2012
Prince Hot 100 List - October '12
Today we announce the October edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
18-Oct-2012
Pan American Championships Go To Rubin, Abanda
Canadian success has been one of the top stories in junior tennis this
year, with that theme continuing last week at the ITF B1 Pan American
Closed in Tulsa, where three of the four singles finalists were from
the Land of the Maple Leaf. Francoise Abanda defeated compatriot Carol
Zhao in a marathon girls final 76(5), 4-6, 7-5, while 2011 Pan
American finalist Noah Rubin of the US prevented a Canadian sweep by
downing Hugo Di Feo 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.
17-Oct-2012
Countdown: Planning Women's Scholarships
NCAA Division I Women's Tennis is a head count sport, meaning that for
a given program, only eight women can receive athletic scholarships.
With six singles and three doubles matches - and in light of injuries
- a roster of eight can appear quite thin. We put the question to
NCAA women's coaches: What is your strategy when planning out your
scholarships?
12-Oct-2012
Countdown to Signing Day
In the world of junior tennis, Fall means Signing Day. November 14th
is is the first day of the one-week fall signing period - the only
opportunity this calendar year for seniors to sign a National Letter
of Intent with a Division I or Division II school. As always, The
Tennis Recruiting Network is here to keep you up to date on all the
happenings.
10-Oct-2012
Virginia's Domijan Collects Second ITA All-American Title
After winning the 2010 IT All-American championship as a freshman,
the University of Virginia's Alex Domijan was unable to defend his
title last year due to injury. Teammate Mitchell Frank kept the trophy
in Charlottesville with his title last year, and there it will stay,
after Domijan defeated unseeded Ohio State Buckeye Peter Kobelt 7-5,
6-1 in the championship match.
9-Oct-2012
Q & A with Hartford Head Coach Michael Louis
Michael Louis is entering his second year as the head coach of the
University of Hartford men's and women's tennis teams. Louis is a
first-time head coach at the Division I collegiate level after
spending seven seasons as the assistant men's tennis coach at the
University of Connecticut. Harry Cicma caught up with Louis, chatting
about his goals and experiences.
8-Oct-2012
Talking with Bryant Coach Ron Gendron
Ron Gendron is starting his eighth season coaching the Bryant
University men's tennis team, and he has seen a lot of changes during
his tenure. After several years in the NCAA D-II Northeast-10
Conference, Bryant reclassified to Division I and the Northeast
Conference in 2008. Harry Cicma talked with Coach Gendron about his
experiences coaching college tennis.
5-Oct-2012
September Aces
September was a busy month, with considerable success dotting the
calendar for US junior girls. It began with two US Open junior
championships and ended with the United States capturing the Junior
Fed Cup in Barcelona. In addition, no fewer than six girls aged
18-and-under from around the world captured titles on the ITF Women's
Circuit, while former college stars also picked up championship
trophies.
3-Oct-2012
Success for First Nesquik "Little Mo" Internationals in Forest Hills
It was once home to the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, but the West
Side Tennis Center in Forest Hills, New York, served as the venue this
year for the inaugural Nesquik "Little Mo" Internationals. The "Little
Mo" Internationals in December have been such a big success that the
Maureen Connolly Brinker Foundation decided to add this event in
August - during the same time as the Qualifying of the U.S. Open
Championships.
2-Oct-2012
Show Me! Let Me See It!
No matter what you think, I have never found two students who are
exactly the same, and I've coached and worked with tens of thousands
of students. With this in mind, coaches and educators must find a way
to be successful that will often differ by student. Coaches vary in
the way they teach the game, but the most productive method I apply is
based somewhat on their ages.
1-Oct-2012
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
In tennis I see players frame or miss-hit balls for a winner all of
the time. Players line up and take big swings only to have the ball
tick the net tape and barely drop over the net to win the point. Some
juniors and college players shake or hang their heads in disbelief
that they missed that poorly. They should realize that they won the
point. Players need to learn to take the good with the bad and the
ugly.
28-Sep-2012
Expectations of Athletes in College (Pt. 2)
Earlier this month, we talked with college coaches about the tennis
expectations of student athletes. Today, more coaches weigh in on the
question: "Can you quantify the number of hours that players spend on
tennis each week? What times of year are the busiest?"
26-Sep-2012
500 Sets a Year
I tell parents all the time - take one private a week and go play
matches. Sometimes I tell parents to take one private every two
weeks. It's just overkill to do anything more until you reach the
higher stages of the game. Players need to be playing eight to ten
sets a week - that's where the real learning happens.
25-Sep-2012
Rhyne Williams Matures with the Vols and Hits Pro Circuit
As a junior tennis player, the two things Rhyne Williams was most
known for was his superior talent and his wild temper. As an
18-year-old, Williams chose college tennis at Tennessee over
professional tennis. After a successful run for the Volunteers as
a sophomore - winning the Indoors and reaching the finals of the
NCAA tournament - Williams felt the time was right to turn pro.
24-Sep-2012
Life in the Pros for Christina McHale
Making the decision to turn professional is never easy for anyone.
Christina McHale gave it a long consideration before making the move
two years ago. Today, McHale has exceeded her career expectations.
She's currently ranked 24 in the world, has represented the United
States in the London Olympics, and has been a member of four Fed Cup
teams.
21-Sep-2012
Host Illinois Provides Unique Atmosphere at Olympia Fields Invitational
Golf has always been king at the Olympia Fields Country Club in the
southern suburbs of Chicago, the home of the 2003 US Open. But with
the introduction of the Olympia Fields Invitational six years ago,
college tennis is now a new member of the royal box.
20-Sep-2012
Reconsideration of USTA Junior Competition Changes
Earlier this week, a group of people concerned with junior competition
met with USTA leadership about proposed changes to USTA Junior Competition
in 2013 and 2014. Read about the meetings - and the plans for the USTA
to respond in the upcoming weeks.
19-Sep-2012
Prince Hot 100 List - September '12
Today we announce the September edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
18-Sep-2012
Expectations of Athletes in College
College is a busy time for student-athletes, and balancing academics
with athletics is known to be a challenge. What should an incoming
freshman tennis player expect? We put the question to our panel of
coaches: "Can you quantify the number of hours that players spend on
tennis each week? What times of year are the busiest?"
14-Sep-2012
Crawford, Peliwo Win US Open Junior Titles
Canada's Filip Peliwo had played in more junior slam finals than
American Samantha Crawford had entered, yet when a challenging weather
week in New York drew to a close, both had claimed US Open Junior
titles.
12-Sep-2012
Burdette Begins Pro Career After Stellar Summer
All-American Mallory Burdette wasn't convinced she wanted the life of
a professional tennis player until this summer, when the 21-year-old
from Jackson, Georgia played four professional tournaments in a period
of four weeks in July and August. Shortly after her third-round loss
in the U.S. Open to Maria Sharapova, Burdette decided to forego her senior
season at Stanford and turn pro.
11-Sep-2012
SFA Interviews Kentucky Senior Jessica Stiles
Jessica Stiles, a senior at the University of Kentucky who plays the
No. 1 singles and doubles positions, talks about lessons learned
between her junior and college tennis days. Ross Greenstein of
Scholarship for Athletes shares a Q&A.
9-Sep-2012
Past and Present College and Junior Players Storm U.S. Open Main Draw
While many focused on the veterans at the U.S. Open, such as Roger
Federer and Maria Sharapova, some recent college players and teenagers
were also garnering the spotlight at the U.S. Open. Some came and left
quickly, while others made their names known to the tennis world.
5-Sep-2012
August Aces
With one exception, the USTA National champions, all of whom received
an article devoted to their victories last month on Tennis Recruiting
Network, aren't included in this month's Aces. But here's one last hat
tip to Vicky Duval, Kimberly Yee, Henrik Wiersholm, Sofia Kenin,
Taylor Fritz, Abigail Desiatnikov, and Roscoe Bellamy for their
championship runs as we look back on the other outstanding
performances in August.
3-Sep-2012
Welcome, Class of 2019!
Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. School starts back up, and
there are new sixth-graders walking the halls. This week's rankings
at the Tennis Recruiting Network are the first of the 2012-13 season -
and they also mark the arrival of the Class of 2019.
31-Aug-2012
Best Wishes, Class of 2012
The high school Class of 2012 had their ceremonies back in June - and
many of those young men and women are now heading off to college.
Today is the day that the Tennis Recruiting Network bids them
farewell. This week's rankings are our final edition for the 2011-12
year - and the final rankings for the outgoing Class of 2012.
30-Aug-2012
Four Juniors Seek Second Slam Title at US Open
When the US Open Junior Championships kick off Sunday, two boys and
two girls will be seeking their second junior slam singles title and
with it, a boost toward the coveted year-end title of ITF World Junior
Champion.
29-Aug-2012
Coachspeak: Considering the Proposed NCAA Changes
The NCAA Division I Tennis Committee recently proposed two changes to
the postseason tournament: (1) reduce the times for warm-ups and
changeovers and (2) alter the format of the final rounds so that only
four teams go to the final site rather than 16 - introducing regional
rounds on participant sites for the round of 16 and quarterfinals.
Today, college coaches from around the country weigh in on those
proposals.
28-Aug-2012
College and Junior Players at the US Open Qualifying
The U.S. Open Qualifying showcased lots of young guns for the first
year that the event was televised (on the CBS Sports Network). In the
end, a few ended up making it all the way through, while others gave
it their best shot.
24-Aug-2012
The Case for a Junior Davis Cup Team
Tennis has undergone many changes in the years since Michael Chang,
Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Pete Sampras were playing junior tennis
in the mid-80s. Few will shed a nostalgic tear for the short shorts
and mullets in fashion back then, but one institution of that era is
still spoken of in revered tones - the USTA Junior Davis Cup team.
22-Aug-2012
Hot 100 List - August '12
Today we announce the August edition of the Hot 100. The
Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
20-Aug-2012
Body Language - The Talk of Tennis
The fist-pump, the racquet toss, the stare. The slow trudge off of the
court, and the power-energized spring onto the court. The racquet bag
bludgeoning after the racquet toss, the chest bump, and the head hang.
All of these are familiar sites on the tennis court. But what are
these actions really telling us about the momentum and flow within a
match or, more minutely, within a single point?
17-Aug-2012
Novikov Earns First Gold Balls, Wild Cards in 18s
Dennis Novikov has been a top junior since the 14s age group, but a
USTA gold ball had proved elusive until last weekend's USTA Boys 18
National Championship in Kalamazoo, when he collected two. Those two
had added luster, courtesy of the main draw US Open wild cards he
received for claiming the singles title over Alexios Halebian 7-6(3),
2-6, 6-3, 6-4, as well the doubles title a day earlier.
17-Aug-2012
Duval Takes Nationals & U.S. Open Wildcard
When it comes to San Diego, you can always count on the weather.
Though it was a bit more hot and humid than expected, not a drop of
rain fell on the George E. Barnes Tennis Center. What did fall were
the seeds. It was survival of the fittest, and in the end, Victoria
Duval was the last player standing among a host of Floridians.
16-Aug-2012
Wiersholm Sweeps 16s Titles in Kalamazoo Debut
When a tournament has 70 years of history, chances are any
accomplishment has a precedent. But to find a player younger than
15-year-old Henrik Wiersholm who swept both singles and doubles titles
at the USTA Boys 16 Nationals at Kalamazoo, you would have to go back
to 1971, when 14-year-old Billy Martin, the current men's head coach
at UCLA, won both championships.
16-Aug-2012
Yee Sweeps Titles at Girls 16 Nationals
Kimberly Yee began her journey toward one of the most prestigious
titles in junior tennis on Sunday, Aug. 5, on the Stadium Court of the
Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego. Six days later, she returned to
that same court to complete a brilliant week with a victory over
Katerina Stewart of Miami to capture the 16s championship at the USTA
Junior Girls Nationals.
15-Aug-2012
Taylor Fritz Sweeps USTA Boys 14 Nationals
The home of Taylor Fritz in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., is glittering
with gold balls. Fritz won his third overall top prize by sweeping
the singles and doubles titles at the USTA Boys 14 National
Championships held Aug. 5-10 at San Antonio's McFarlin Tennis Center.
15-Aug-2012
Sofia Kenin Wins Sixth Gold Ball in Peachtree City
Sofia Kenin had to get through the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds last week to
win the USTA Girls 14 Nationals in Peachtree City, Ga., but it brought
the best out in the 13-year-old from Pembroke Pines, Fla. Kenin won
the title. It was her sixth career USTA Gold Ball in singles and
doubles.
14-Aug-2012
Roscoe Bellamy - 2012 Little Rock Champion
Top seed Roscoe Bellamy, pushed to a third set by a 17th seeded
finalist, calmly set aside the heat, humidity, fatigue, doubts, hopes
and emotions that accompany a Level-1 championship match. In doing so,
he overcame a spirited challenge by Danny (DJ) Thomas 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 to
win the gold ball at the 2012 Hardcourts in North Little Rock.
14-Aug-2012
Desiatnikov Wins First Gold Ball
Abigail Desiatnikov was the No. 1 seed last week at the Girls 12
Nationals in Alpharetta, Ga., but getting her first Gold Ball in
singles was no easy sitter for the 11-year-old from Gates Mills, Ohio.
Desiatnikov beat second-seeded Ellie Douglas of McKinney, Texas, 7-6,
6-4 in the final. That's the same opponent who trounced Desiatnikov
6-1, 6-2 in the Clay Court semifinals a month earlier.
13-Aug-2012
Hard Court Championship Week
Last week, the best American juniors were competing for gold balls at
the USTA National Championships all across the country. National
titles were awarded for both boys and girls in all four age divisions.
TennisRecruiting.net announces its Championship Week coverage - with
photo galleries and articles that celebrate the best of the best in
junior tennis.
10-Aug-2012
Not So Super: The Third-Set Tie-Breaker
At junior tournaments throughout the country, it has become common to
use so-called 'Super Tie-Breakers' instead of playing out third sets.
These tie-breakers are being used in spite of disapproval from
players, coaches and parents. They rob our players of valuable skills
in managing the pressures of a tight match, and they marginalize the
value of winning - or losing - close matches.
8-Aug-2012
Conversation with Wesleyan's Mike Fried
Recently named head coach at Wesleyan University, Michael Fried adds
tremendous experience to the Cardinals' staff. Fried, the No. 1
singles and doubles at Brown where he served as captain, worked
extensively as a private coach at both the Macci International Tennis
Academy and the Seguso-Bassett (now Evert) Tennis Academy. Donovan
Tennis Strategies chats with Coach Fried about recruiting.
6-Aug-2012
Texas Repeats at USTA Boys' 18 Team Championships
At the national level, all eyes are on the USTA National Championships
taking place this week. But last week was a week for team competition.
Marcia Frost took in the Boys' 18 Team Championships at the University
of Illinois, where USTA Texas repeated as champions when they posted a
come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Midwest section.
3-Aug-2012
Krueger, Stewart Headline Kalamazoo's 70th Year
Seventy years of competition produces a long list of champions, with
Kalamazoo's honor roll including such grand slam winners as Rod Laver,
Stan Smith, Jimmy Connors and Michael Chang. Two Mitches hope to join
them this year, with 18s top seed Krueger and 16s top seed Stewart
heading their divisions when the 70th edition of the USTA National
Boys 18 and 16 Championships begins today at Kalamazoo College and
Western Michigan University.
2-Aug-2012
Girls' 16 & 18 Nationals Set for San Diego
Past champions of the Girls' 16 & 18 Nationals in San Diego, Calif.,
include Lindsay Davenport, Lisa Raymond, Jennifer Capriati and Tracy
Austin. More recently, 2011 finalist Nicole Gibbs went on to capture
the NCAA singles and doubles titles. 2009 champion Christina McHale is
ranked inside the Top 30 of the WTA and represented the U.S. at the
Olympics in London. What new names will emerge from 2012?
1-Aug-2012
July Aces
July saw the crowning of the eight National Clay Court champions, but
they don't appear among last month's 14 aces due to the extensive
coverage of the Clays last week on the Tennis Recruiting Network.
Instead, the focus is on Canadian and European juniors, as well as
current and former college players having great results last month.
30-Jul-2012
The "I" in Team - One-Eighth of the Whole
We have all heard the old adage, There is no I in TEAM. Whether little
league, club soccer or the NFL, the phrase is always there. Team
sports utilize a number of players on the same field at the same time
all working in unison. Tennis, in the team format, is a different
beast altogether.
27-Jul-2012
Collins Claims Girls 18s Clay Court Championship
With her focus on senior activities and graduating with her class at
Northeast High in St. Petersburg, Fla. in June, Danielle Collins
didn't play a tournament for five months. When Collins did return to
the Girls' 18 Clays, she showed few signs of rust, claiming her third
singles gold ball in the 18s division with a 6-1, 6-4 win over
fourth-seeded Jamie Loeb in the final.
27-Jul-2012
Weather is the Real Winner at Boys 18 Clays
Summertime rain in Florida is not unexpected, but it certainly left
its mark on the USTA Boys' 18 Clay Court Championships. Rain ended the
final matches prematurely - which meant that the gold ball was awarded
by coin flip. Singles finalists Jared Hiltzik and George Goldhoff were
among several players who suffered that fate.
26-Jul-2012
Mia Horvit Wins First Gold Ball in 16s
The compelling matchup of birthday girls featured almost everything
except a cake for the winner. No. 10 seed Mia Horvit of Parkland,
Fla., earned her first U.S. Tennis Association gold ball, overcoming
unseeded Francesca Dilorenzo of New Albany, Ohio, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to win
the Girls 16 National Clay Court Championships.
26-Jul-2012
Stewart Takes Boys 16s Title at the Beach
Prior to the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Boys' 16s
National Clay Court Championships, Mitch Stewart had a fairly small
bucket list. He wanted to win a gold ball in a USTA event and he
wanted to play tennis in college. Cross one of those off after the
third-seeded Stewart dispatched 13th-seeded Baker Newman, 6-1; 6-2 at
the Delray Beach International Tennis Center on July 22.
25-Jul-2012
Higuchi wins Battle of California in 14s
For years, Emma Higuchi and Angela Kulikov often talked or texted
about playing in a final of a tennis tournament. This past weekend,
the two best friends found themselves competing for a gold ball at the
National Clay Court Girls' 14s Championships at the Veltri Tennis
Center at Plantation Central Park.
25-Jul-2012
Zhu Takes Title at Boys' 14 Clays
Evan Zhu was the gold ball winner and star of the show at the Boys' 14
USTA National Clay Court Championship, but Johnathan Small was also
front and center and he took home a trio of trophies.
24-Jul-2012
Victoria Emma Comes Back for More Gold
In 2011, Victoria Emma left the Girls' 12 USTA National Clay Court
Championships with a plaque for winning the Gold Consolation. This
year she came back to try again, and this time she left with a
different gold prize. Emma defeated Ellie Douglas in the final by a
score of 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-2 to claim her first national title.
24-Jul-2012
Georgia's Bryde Reigns Supreme in Winston-Salem
In the battle of wills and forehands between a pair of blue chips,
Trent Bryde of Georgia emerged victorious over Californian Roscoe
Bellamy in a dazzling display of grace, athleticism, sportsmanship and
maturity from each competitor in the Boys 12s Clay Court National
Championships.
23-Jul-2012
Clay Court Championship Week
The USTA Clay Court Championships have concluded around the country.
This week, TennisRecruiting.net has roundups of all the action from
the Boys' 12s to the Girls' 18s - from Virginia Beach to Fort
Lauderdale. Check out coverage of all the tournaments - and meet the
latest gold ball winners of all ages. Get ready... for Clay Court
Championship Week.
18-Jul-2012
Brian Baker's Comeback Captivates US Juniors
Ten years ago, Brian Baker was playing the Wimbledon Juniors with
hopes and dreams for a professional tennis career. But a series of
health issues dashed those dreams. Just over a year ago, at age 26,
Baker finally felt ready to take another shot at professional tennis.
After some early successes, Baker went through qualifying at Wimbledon
without dropping a set, then won three more matches to bring his ATP
ranking to 76.
16-Jul-2012
Hot 100 List - July '12
Today we announce the July edition of the Hot 100. The
Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
12-Jul-2012
Bouchard and Peliwo Claim Canada's First Junior Slam Championships at Wimbledon
When the Wimbledon Junior Championships began, Canada was still
seeking its first singles title in junior grand slam history. When the
cool and damp week of continual rain delays was over, Canada had two,
with Eugenie Bouchard defeating Elina Svitolina for the girls title,
and Filip Peliwo downing defending champion Luke Saville to claim the
boys title at the All England Club.
9-Jul-2012
SFA Interviews Illinois St. Coach Cris James
Illinois State University men's tennis coach Cris James talks recruitment with Scholarship for Athletes. He explains his recruiting philosophy and advises incoming freshmen on the best ways to approach this process.
6-Jul-2012
Creating Your Own Luck
It's not a rabbit's foot in their pocket, nor the rituals they go
through before a task. It's simply that their hard work and effort has
paid off. Have you ever heard a player scream "this guy is so lucky,"
or "how lucky can a girl get?" Well in most cases, a person is as
lucky as how hard he or she works. These players on the courts and
people in life are creating their own luck.
4-Jul-2012
June Aces
The transition from clay to grass marks the beginning of summer in the
tennis world, with many of the May aces handling that change without
losing their momentum. Led by the tennis story of the year, June gave
us accomplishments from recent and former collegians, as well as
teenagers who are climbing up the professional and junior rankings.
2-Jul-2012
Recruiting Terms and Calendar for 2012-13
July marks the beginning of another recruiting year. Recruiting
expert Dede Allen is back to review important dates on the calendar
for all ages - and she also has a primer on basic recruiting terms.
30-Jun-2012
Robbie Bellamy Captures Southern California 18s Title
Brilliant sunshine bathed the courts at Los Caballeros Racquet &
Sports Club in Fountain Valley, Calif., for the final four days of the
110th annual Southern California Junior Sectionals, providing the
perfect atmosphere for some spectacular and entertaining tennis.
29-Jun-2012
Southern California Sectionals Wrapup
This past Monday, the Southern California Section wrapped up its 110th
annual championships. Twelve champions emerged from the 1,860 entries
at nine sites across Orange County. Rhiannon Potkey talked with all of
the newest champions.
28-Jun-2012
Wimbledon Juniors: Saville Aims for Second Wimbledon Boys Title, Townsend Top Seed in Girls Draw
The world's top two juniors have contrasting histories as they
approach the Wimbledon Junior Championships, which begin Saturday at
the All England Club. Eighteen-year-old Australian Luke Saville is the
defending champion, winning the first of his two junior slams there
last year, while 16-year-old American Taylor Townsend has never played
a match on the world's most famous grass courts.
25-Jun-2012
How Has College Tennis Changed?
College athletics offers an ever-changing landscape, and that landscape
has had an impact on tennis. Conference realignment, Title IX, athletics
budgets, recruiting, and increased USTA focus on college tennis have all
been hot topics over recent years. We put the question to college coaches,
"How is college tennis different today than it was ten years ago?"
22-Jun-2012
An Interview with Lisa Stone, The Tennis Mom Behind the Parenting Aces Blog
A banker, a stockbroker, a fitness instructor and tech-savvy
entrepreneur, Lisa Stone has had a variety of experiences in her
working life. Yet tennis has been a constant companion since her
childhood in Louisiana, with her latest venture, the blog Parenting
Aces, created in response to the challenges she and her husband faced
in navigating the junior tennis world with their son Morgan.
18-Jun-2012
Hot 100 List - June '12
Today we announce the June edition of the Hot 100. The
Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
15-Jun-2012
2012 Top NCAA Division III Women's Classes
The Tennis Recruiting Network wraps up its spring recruiting class
rankings with a look at the D-III women. Today we present our list
of the Top 25 NCAA D-III women's recruiting classes for 2012. At
the top of our rankings sits a Purple Cow... with it's feet up,
smoking a cigar.
13-Jun-2012
The Target is Always the Top: An Interview with Florida Women's Coach Roland Thornqvist
Colette Lewis had an opportunity to talk with Florida Head Coach
Roland Thornqvist in Athens, Ga. last month, just a few days after his
team's 4-0 victory over UCLA in the final. In this question and answer
segment, he reveals what he looks for in a recruit, how a bad year by
Florida standards led to two NCAA team titles, and the one thing that
college tennis needs.
11-Jun-2012
2012 Top NCAA Division III Men's Classes
The Tennis Recruiting Network presents its recruiting class rankings
for NCAA Division III conferences. Today we present our Top 25 D-III
men's recruiting classes for 2012. Teams from the NESCAC and UAA have
a stranglehold on the Top 5 - including the Lord Jeffs who check in at
No. 1.
8-Jun-2012
2012 Top Mid-Major Women's Classes
TennisRecruiting.net picks up where it left off on Monday with more
rankings of mid-major recruiting classes. Today we present the Top 25
mid-major women's recruiting classes for 2012. A Panther prowls at the
top of these rankings.
7-Jun-2012
Talking with Florida's Thornqvist and Embree
Last month, the University of Florida capped off its second straight
NCAA Championship with a win over UCLA. Lauren Embree earned the
decisive fourth point that clinched the championship for the second
time in as many years. Harry Cicma, who served as color analyst at the
NCAA Championships in Athens, talked with Embree and Gator Head Coach
Roland Thornqvist.
6-Jun-2012
May Aces
May revolves around college tennis for me, and five of last month's 14
aces emerged from Athens, Ga., the site of the NCAA Division I
championships. But from Thailand to Hilton Head, from Brazil to
Sweden, there were juniors making waves in the minor leagues of
professional tennis, taking on challenges and succeeding despite their
relative lack of experience.
4-Jun-2012
2012 Top Mid-Major Men's Classes
The Tennis Recruiting Network continues its series of recruiting
class rankings with the first of our mid-major conference rankings.
We present the Top 25 mid-major men's recruiting classes for
2012, with the Fresno State Bulldogs topping the list.
3-Jun-2012
Talking with USC's Steve Johnson
Steve Johnson just wrapped up his college career at USC as a
four-time NCAA team champion and two-time NCAA singles champion.
That's pretty heady stuff, and it puts him in the conversation for
greatest of all time. Harry Cicma, who served as color analyst at the
NCAA Championships in Athens, caught up with Johnson after his singles
victory.
1-Jun-2012
Johnson, Gibbs Claim NCAA Titles at Historic NCAA Division I Championships
After the drama of the team tournament, the individual portion of the
2012 NCAA Division I championships wasn't expected to approach those
impressive heights. But the singles and doubles tournaments somehow
found a way to equal it with one unprecedented accomplishment after
another in the steamy, midsummer-like conditions at the Dan Magill
Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.
28-May-2012
Top Women's Classes - 2012 Spring Rankings
Our Recruiting Class Rankings continue with a look at the ladies.
TennisRecruiting.net is proud to present its spring rankings of the
Top 25 Women's Recruiting Classes. There is a new team in the No. 1
spot, and that team is generating a lot of Buzz.
25-May-2012
USC Men Claim Fourth Straight NCAA Team Title, while Florida Women Go Back-to-Back
Winning one NCAA team title is difficult. Only 21 programs have
managed to do it in over six decades of competition in Division I
collegiate tennis. But the USC men and Florida women are making a
habit of it, with Trojans collecting their fourth in row with a 4-2
win over Virginia and the Gators going back-to-back with a 4-0 victory
over UCLA Tuesday in Athens, Ga.
24-May-2012
Talking with MaliVai Washington
MaliVai Washington is well-known in the tennis world. After a stellar
junior career where he competed against the likes of Sampras, Agassi,
Courier, and Martin, Washington attended the University of Michigan,
where he was the top-ranked player before turning pro after his
sophomore year. He is best known for reaching the finals at Wimbledon
in 1996. Harry Cicma of NBC Sports caught up with Washington.
23-May-2012
Ten Questions with Fordham Coach Cory Hubbard
Fordham men's tennis coach Cory Hubbard has the Rams headed in the right
direction. Hubbard, in his second year, took over a squad that posted a
6-12 record in the 2009-10 season. Fast forward to this year, where the
Rams went 17-10 with three underclassmen all posting 20 or more singles
wins. The future looks bright. IMG Academies' Scott Treibly sat down
to talk tennis with Coach Hubbard.
21-May-2012
Top Men's Classes - 2012 Spring Rankings
The Tennis Recruiting Network is excited to present its spring ranking
of the Top 25 Men's Recruiting Classes for 2012. New commitments have
brought three new teams to the rankings, shaking up the Top 25. We also
see a new team taking over the No. 1 spot. Have a look...
18-May-2012
Hot 100 List - May '12
Today we announce the May edition of the Hot 100. The
Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
17-May-2012
Talking with UConn Senior Captain Dave Adams
Dave Adams stands tall at 6'6" tall, and the big right-hander just
finished his college tennis career at the University of Connecticut.
Team captain this past year, Adams played all three doubles positions
over his career as well as positions 3 through 6 in singles. Harry
Cicma of NBC Sports talked with Adams about the college recruiting
process - as well as college tennis itself.
15-May-2012
Illini Pull Out All Stops to Reach Sweet Sixteen
The University of Illinois once again hosted the first two rounds of
the NCAA Division I Championships, but this year it was a really close
one - both getting there and getting out. The Illini advanced to the
Sweet 16 with a 4-3 victory over Auburn.
14-May-2012
Bolender Leads Michigan over Texas A&M for Sweet 16 Berth
On a cloudy afternoon in Ann Arbor, sophomore Brooke Bolender put the
15th-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16 for the third
consecutive year. The home crowd erupted on every point in the final
set, as Bolender defeated Nazari Urbina of Texas A&M 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
at No. 2 singles for a 4-3 victory.
11-May-2012
NCAA Tournament Roundtable - Part II
The NCAA Division I Tennis Championships start today. The top men's
and women's college tennis programs face off in first-round action across
the country, with all teams competing for tickets to Athens, Ga. and a
spot in the Sweet 16. Check out insights from our college tennis
contributors - and see who they picked as champions.
10-May-2012
Todd Martin Embraces Teaching Role
Two-time Grand Slam finalist Todd Martin retired from the ATP tour in
2004, but he never left the game. Among other things, Martin has
served as a coach to both Mardy Fish and Novak Djokovic, and he has
competed on the two major senior tours. In the coming months, Martin
plans to organize his own junior academy at a club in Florida. Colette
Lewis recently had the chance to chat with Martin.
9-May-2012
NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Preview
The NCAA Championships are getting underway, and the D-III brackets have
been announced. Today, one of the principals of Division3Tennis.com
stops by with a preview of the NCAA D-III Championships that get underway
this Thursday at campus sites throughout the country.
8-May-2012
A Grand New Era for Women's Tennis
In previous decades, tennis experts mercilessly harpooned women's
tennis for its predictability. Evert, Navratilova, Seles, Graf,
Hingis, and Williams (x2) dominated the stage for decades. Then the
buck stopped in 2010. Recent tournaments have featured many first-time
champions - some of them in their late twenties. Women's tennis is
becoming a more interesting sport with a deeper field.
7-May-2012
NCAA Tournament Roundtable - Part I
This weekend, the NCAA Division I Tennis Championships get underway.
64 men's and women's college tennis teams will head to campus venues
around the country to compete in first- and second-round action. The
winners will make up the Sweet 16 and head to Athens, Ga., to compete
for the team title. Today, our college tennis contributors preview
the "Big Dance" of college tennis.
4-May-2012
Ojai Wrapup Part II: Whittle, Ho, and Brymer Win Titles
Every spring except one since 1899, the tradition-steeped Ojai
competition - the nation's oldest amateur tournament - has attracted
some of the country's finest tennis players. The 2012 edition
was held last weekend with more than 1,500 participants. Eli Whittle,
Alison Ho, and Gage Brymer are among the newest champions.
4-May-2012
Schaefer, Hafezi, and Pelletier Win Titles at The Ojai
Hardcore tennis competitors know it simply as "The Ojai," a rite of
passage in American amateur tennis. Champions include names like King,
Ashe, Connors, Austin, Chang, Sampras, and Davenport. This year,
Dominique Schaefer and Arash Hafezi, and Jacqueline Pelletier can add
their names to that list by winning junior titles.
3-May-2012
April Aces
The epicenter of April's aces is always Southern California, where the
two major ITF and USTA junior events produce ten champions. But a pair
of 12-year-olds picked up Spring National championships in Florida, a
17-year-old won two Pro Circuit events in Turkey, and a remarkable
comeback story unfolded in Savannah, Ga., one that will lead directly
to Roland Garros later this month.
1-May-2012
Trojans Take Inaugural Pac-12 Team Title in Ojai
The USC vs. UCLA rivalry is as intense as any in collegiate sports.
While the Trojans and Bruins have waged some memorable battles in
football and basketball, the fierce competitiveness between the two
Southern California schools also extends to the tennis court. Over the
weekend, USC earned a 4-2 victory over UCLA to win the Pac-12
conference championship.
30-Apr-2012
The Importance of Teamwork
Nick Bollettieri has assembled quite a team at IMG Academies. Tennis
may be an individual sport, but Bollettieri knows a lot about
collaboration - and the kind of teamwork it takes to do something
profound. He did just that when he opened the IMG Bollettieri Tennis
Academy, and it is the team of people at IMG Academies that he credits
for making it such a wonderful place to train.
26-Apr-2012
Interview with Emory Coach Amy Bryant
Emory University women's tennis coach Amy Bryant talks with Scholarship for Athletes about the college recruiting process. She offers suggestions to high school athletes about recruitment and explains how the transition into collegiate athletics should be handled.
23-Apr-2012
Higuchi and Blumberg Claim Easter Bowl 14s Titles; Broda and DiGiulio are 16s Champions
The 45th Easter Bowl USTA National Spring Championships had its share
of surprises. Only one No. 1 seed, Emma Higuchi in girls 14s, making
it through to the finals. Champions Higuchi, William Blumberg, Joe
DiGiulio and Brooke Broda overcame all the week's obstacles, leaving
Rancho Mirage with six gold balls in tow.
19-Apr-2012
ITF Easter Bowl Titles are Early Birthday Gifts for McDonald and Townsend
Mackenzie McDonald and Taylor Townsend were both born on April 16th,
one year apart. Last weekend, one day apart, they claimed ITF Easter
Bowl titles at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage,
California.
16-Apr-2012
Hot 100 List - April '12
Today we announce the April edition of the Hot 100. The
Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
14-Apr-2012
Krueger and Kiick Claim International Spring Championships in Carson
Top seed Mitchell Krueger and seventh seed Allie Kiick punctuated an
impressive week of tennis with superb performances in the finals at
the ITF Grade 1 International Spring Championships in Carson, Calif.
last week. Krueger downed 14-year-old Stefan Kozlov 6-3, 6-4, while
Kiick defeated longtime rival Chalena Scholl 6-0, 6-2 in the Easter
morning championship matches at the Home Depot Center.
13-Apr-2012
Spring Signing Week '12: Things Juniors Should Know (Pt. 2)
Last week, we talked with several coaches about misunderstandings many
players and parents have. Today, more coaches weigh in on the
question: "What is one thing that you wish all recruits knew going
into the process?"
13-Apr-2012
Spring Signing Week '12: Can I Take Time Off Before College?
There are many reasons why prospective college tennis players might
consider taking an extra year before starting college. Improving
academic standards, working on your game, or spending another year
maturing are reasons to consider a gap year. But students considering
taking time off need to keep some new NCAA rules in mind.
12-Apr-2012
Spring Signing Week '12: Watch that Status!
When it comes to getting ready to go to college, you spend hours
perfecting your essay and sending letters to prospective coaches. You
have also (hopefully) watched yourself carefully on the court to make
sure your behavior won't turn a coach off. The one thing that many
players forget is that they also need to watch themselves online.
10-Apr-2012
Spring Signing Week '12: National Roundup
Signing Day Eve kicks off with our national roundup. Take a look
at comments from boys and girls who have made verbal commitments
to colleges all across the country.
9-Apr-2012
Spring Signing Week '12: Signing Week Arrives
The Tennis Recruiting Network kicks off its coverage of Spring
Signing Week '12 with a look at the Top 100. We preview our
weekly coverage, and we update you on the status of all the
top 100 boys and girls who were uncommitted when we checked in
with them in March. A few of these kids plan to announce their
decisions this week.
3-Apr-2012
Countdown: Discussion - Things Juniors Should Know
Many high school tennis players have misunderstandings about the
college recruiting process. Some of these misunderstandings can lead
to awkward situations between players and coaches. We put the
question to college coaches: "What is one thing that you wish all
recruits knew going into the process?"
2-Apr-2012
March Aces
Although hard courts are never out of season and hosted the majority
of last month's top performances, red clay was not far behind. The ITF
junior South American circuit produced four March aces, including two
Americans who had breakout results on the unfamiliar surface, while a
former Roland Garros champion collected her first professional win on
clay courts in Tunisia.
1-Apr-2012
APRIL FOOLS: TennisRecruiting.net Purchases ESPN
Addressing rumors that have been swirling for months, officials from
The Tennis Recruiting Network and ESPN are announcing the terms of their
merger today, April 1, 2012. TennisRecruiting.net has acquired the
ESPN Family of television networks - as well as its print and internet
properties.
26-Mar-2012
Countdown: Interview with Tulane Coach Mark Booras
Scholarship for Athletes sat down with Mark Booras, the men's
tennis coach at Tulane University. Booras shares what he looks for in new recruits and the challenges facing incoming freshmen.
23-Mar-2012
Austin, Schneider Give Indiana Sweep of Spring National Singles Titles
When Brooke Austin and Ronnie Schneider play their next practice set
in Indianapolis, expect the fiercely competitive pair to bring even
more intensity to their workout. After each captured a gold ball at
last week's USTA 18s Spring National Championships, that next set
could determine the overall champion among the 256 boys and girls who
competed in Mobile, Ala.
20-Mar-2012
Prince Hot 100 List - March '12
Today we announce the March edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
19-Mar-2012
Countdown: Girls' War Room
Last Friday, we visited with the boys. Today, the top girls in the
senior class talk college recruiting. Find out where the Top 100
girls are leaning, and see who your favorite school is after...
16-Mar-2012
Countdown: Boys' War Room
The Countdown to Signing Day continues with a look at the Top 100
boys in the senior class. The vast majority of these boys
have already made written or verbal commitments, but college
coaches are still after these highly-regarded young men. Find
out which boys are still open, which have narrowed their lists, and
which have made commitments...
12-Mar-2012
Countdown to Signing Day
Don't look now, but we are less than a month away from the beginning
of the Spring Signing Period. April 11th is the first day in 2012 when
high school seniors will be able to sign their National Letters of
Intent - making formal commitments to college tennis programs. As
always, TennisRecruiting.net brings you a courtside seat to all the
action. Take a look as we preview our special coverage... in the
Countdown to Signing Day!
8-Mar-2012
Panel Discussion: Scheduling in the Spring (Part 2)
During the spring season, college tennis coaches have a lot of
latitude in deciding their schedule. We asked several coaches: "What
factors go into deciding who your team will play in the spring? Level
of competition? Travel? Something else entirely?" This is the
second installment of answers from tennis coaches.
7-Mar-2012
"Little Mo" Sites Announced For Sectionals, Regionals and Nationals
The Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation has selected tournament
sites for its "Little Mo" tournaments for kids under 12 from the USA.
Take a look at the schedule.
5-Mar-2012
Cavalier Freshman Frank Makes Quick Ascent to Top of Rankings
Less than a semester into his college career, University of Virginia
freshman Mitchell Frank had already put his name in the exclusive
company of James Blake, MaliVai Washington and Sargis Sargsian, the
only other collegians to have won both the ITA All-American and
USTA/ITA Indoor Intercollegiate Championships. Frank's titles
propelled him to the top of the Campbell/ITA national rankings, even
though he is now playing No. 3 for the star-studded Cavaliers.
2-Mar-2012
February Aces
With no major junior tournaments during the month, the spotlight falls
on the ITA Team Indoor championships, former collegians picking up
titles around the world, and teenagers claiming professional titles
from Mildura to Monterrey to Moscow.
23-Feb-2012
USC Edges Ohio State to Claim First ITA Men's Team Indoor Championship in 24 Years
Despite their position as three-time defending NCAA champions, the USC
Trojans were not overwhelming favorites for the ITA Men's Team Indoor
Championships, held last week at the Boar's Head Sports Club in
Charlottesville, Va. But thanks to freshman Yannick Hanfmann, top seed
USC battled to a 4-3 win over No. 3 Ohio State in the final,
delivering the storied program its first Team Indoor title since 1988.
20-Feb-2012
Prince Hot 100 List - February '12
Today we announce the February edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
16-Feb-2012
UCLA Downs Duke for First ITA Women's Team Indoor Title
In her 16 years heading the UCLA women's tennis program, Stella
Sampras Webster's teams had reached the NCAA finals three times,
winning the title in 2008. But the Bruins had not had the same success
at the ITA Team Indoor Championships. That all changed Monday, when
the contributions of its four outstanding freshmen culminated in a 4-0
UCLA victory over top seed Duke for the Bruins first Team Indoor
title.
13-Feb-2012
Interview with University of Denver Coach Danny Westerman
Danny Westerman, the head men's tennis coach at the University of Denver
talks with Scholarship for Athletes about the college recuitment process.
He shares his coaching philosophy and offers advice to potential recruits
as well as their families.
10-Feb-2012
Panel Discussion: Scheduling in the Spring (Part 1)
During the spring season, college tennis teams play dual - or "team" -
matches against other programs. For many teams that compete in
athletic conferences, a number of these matches are predetermined, but
coaches have a lot of latitude in deciding the full schedule. We put
the following question to a number of coaches: "What factors go into
deciding who your team will play in the spring? Level of competition?
Travel? Something else entirely?"
8-Feb-2012
Know Your Stuff!
One of the most common questions people ask me is how I can relate to
so many different types of personalities on the tennis court. Well, it
ain't easy! Each player has their own way of dealing with everything.
The most important thing to remember when dealing with a
player at any level is that you have to know your stuff! If you don't,
you risk losing their trust and respect.
6-Feb-2012
January Aces
January was a banner month for outstanding performances, especially by
young Americans. The eight gold ball winners from the Winter Nationals
kicked off the month, which ended with title sweeps for a pair of
American teens at two of the most prestigious junior events in the
world.
2-Feb-2012
Michigan Survives Yale to Advance to ITA Team Indoor
Although only a sophomore, Michigan's Brooke Bolender had already felt
the sting of losing the last match in an important dual contest. So
when she faced a tiebreaker against Yale's Blair Seideman Sunday at
No. 2 singles, with a place in the ITA Team Indoor Championships on
the line, Bolender was prepared. Michigan won the ITA Kickoff Weekend
in Ann Arbor to advance.
30-Jan-2012
Top Women's Classes - 2012 Winter Rankings
More than four hundred senior girls - including 90 of the Top
100 - have already signed or verbally committed to college programs.
With so many commitments, our Winter Recruiting Class rankings could
not be more timely. The Tennis Recruiting Network is proud to present the Top 25 Women's College Tennis
Recruiting Classes of 2012.
27-Jan-2012
Unseeded Wiersholm, Daniel Take Tennis Plaza Cup Titles
While many of the USTA Level 3 Regional Tournament Segments in other
parts of the country were plagued by rain last weekend, the Tennis
Plaza Cup in Coral Gables had nothing but warm temperatures and sunny
skies for its eight divisions, held at four different sites.
23-Jan-2012
Top Men's Classes - 2012 Winter Rankings
The end of January is right at the midway point between the fall and
spring signing periods. High school seniors across the country made
formal commitments in November, and dozens more make verbal
commitments every week. With more than 750 commitments in the books,
this is a great time to take stock of how programs are doing. Today,
the Tennis Recruiting Network is proud
to bring you the Top 25 Men's College Tennis Recruiting Classes.
19-Jan-2012
World No. 1s Take Aim at Australian Open Junior Titles
The Australian Open Junior Championships, which begin Sunday, don't
regularly attract all the world's best juniors, with the long and
expensive trip Down Under a primary reason many opt for other
competitive options this time of year. But in 2012, ITF World Junior
No. 1s Irina Khromacheva of Russia and Luke Saville of Australia will
be competing in Melbourne, hoping to secure their places at the top
with an Australian Open title.
16-Jan-2012
Prince Hot 100 List - January '12
Today we announce the January edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
12-Jan-2012
Eight Intriguing Questions for 2012
Every January, columnist Colette Lewis of Zootennis takes time to
reflect on the state of junior and college tennis. She distills some
of her thoughts into a column that we are fortunate enough to run here
at TennisRecruiting.net.
5-Jan-2012
December Aces
The final set of aces for 2011 centers on the major international
junior events in Florida, where 14 different players collected
prestigious titles. The other two aces won smaller tournaments that
earned them a big prize, a place in the main draw at this year's
Australian Open.
2-Jan-2012
What a Feeling!
Have you ever been in the perfect zone, felt the mojo... or even just
been in the groove? It's a euphoric feeling that some never reach. But
those that do and can do it consistently are the ones who can take
their games to the next level. This zone comes from extensive training
and developing the ability to be comfortable in any situation. It's
done by the awareness and the sensation of the moment.
30-Dec-2011
Stewart and Liu Claim Junior Orange Bowl Titles; Hong and Dubrivny Add to Championship Resumes
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Junior Orange Bowl is
often the first international experience for the hundreds of 12- and
14-year-old competitors who flock to Miami in mid-December. Of this
year's champions, however, only one - girls 12s winner Claire Liu of the
United States - was new on the global junior tennis scene.
29-Dec-2011
TennisRecruiting.net - Back and Ready
The TennisRecruiting.net website took an unexpected hiatus over
the past couple days due to some hardware issues. However, we are now
back online and ready to go. Due to the outages, we are extending all
paid subscriptions - Recruiting Advantage and Coaching Advantage - by
one week. Take a look here for more details.
26-Dec-2011
Interview with David Geatz of Penn Men's Tennis
Scholarship For Athletes sat down with David Geatz, the newest men's
tennis coach at the University of Pennsylvania. He provides some
insight on what it takes to play at Penn and what he looks for in
potential recruits.
23-Dec-2011
Double Trouble?
Sooner or later, you will play doubles. So, you should accept this
near fact and find a solution. For this, I can help you. The main
difference between doubles and singles is that doubles is a game of
court positioning. Doubles has two players on each side of the court,
which automatically means less open space. In doubles, the reduced
court space limits creativity and results in specific shots being hit
more often.
21-Dec-2011
Coach of Top Pros and Young Teens: An Interview with USTA National Coach Mike Sell
USTA Lead National Coach Mike Sell may have started playing tennis at
the relatively late age of nine, but in the thirty years since, he has
experienced just about everything the sport has to offer. A four-time
All-American for the Georgia Bulldogs, Sell went on to play five years
on the ATP tour before embarking on a career in coaching. Colette
Lewis sat down with Sell at the Junior Orange Bowl to discuss all
things tennis.
19-Dec-2011
Prince Hot 100 List - December '11
Today we announce the December edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
