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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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-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.
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.
28-Nov-2011
80 and Still Jumping
For many years I have been close with the folks at West Point and the
Military. I have not only spoken to the cadets, but I have also
developed a very strong relationship with their tennis teams and
coaches. At the 2010 US Open, I opened up my mouth and sort of
suggested that I would be interested in skydiving with the Golden
Knights for my 80th birthday (July 31, 2011). I didn't think much of
it afterwards, but Coach Peck set the wheels in motion.
1-Jul-2011
Twelve Tips for a Better Tournament Experience
Colette Lewis has attended quite a few tennis tournaments over the
years. During that time, she has seen the good, the bad, and the
ugly. Here is a list of twelve tips that players and parents should
keep in mind to foster the best-possible tournament experience for
everyone.
11-May-2011
Wilander's Words of Wisdom
Mats Wilander, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, has devoted
his life to tennis, and at age 46, says he still views himself as a
professional tennis player. He now runs a Winnebago-based traveling
clinic he conducts with former Naval Academy standout Cameron Lickle.
At last month's Easter Bowl, Wilander headlined the tournament's
annual seminar for coaches, parents and players. Here are some of his
comments.
4-May-2011
Honoring The Memory of Karie Schlukebir
In 1999, life seemed good for Karie Schlukebir. After a stellar
junior career, Indiana University Coach Lin Loring had recruited her
to play at the Big Ten School. She was in her freshman year and only
18 years old when she was told she had melanoma, but Schlukebir was
not about to let the cancer end her life without a fight.
2-May-2011
Northwestern Women Come From Behind Against Michigan to Claim 13th Big Ten Tournament Title
In the damp and gloom, behind 3-0 to a Michigan team that had beaten
her squad 6-1 last week for the Big Ten regular season title on the
same Ann Arbor courts, Northwestern women's head coach Claire Pollard
had ample reason to expect her team's Big Ten tournament title winning
streak would end at 12. But somehow she and the four remaining
Wildcats on the courts kept the faith, ran the table, and emerged with
a 4-3 win and their 13th consecutive Big Ten tournament title.
14-Feb-2011
Dow Corning Tennis Classic's Outreach Programs Touch Thousands of Midland-area Students Each Year
Thousands of youngsters benefit each year from the Dow Corning Tennis
Classic's outreach programs. The Dow Corning has the obligatory Kids
Day early in the tournament, but the Pros To Schools, Schools To
Matches, and Think Smart, Dream Big programs make youth outreach a
weeklong commitment.
21-Jan-2011
USTA National Junior Team Edges Alabama Men
When the USTA National Junior Team's match with the University of
Alabama men came down to the last court Thursday, the competitive
fires were fully ignited. As the 14 other players surrounded the match
between 15-year-old Nikko Madregallejo and Alabama sophomore Ian
Chadwell, it suddenly became strikingly similar to every other
collegiate match that will be played over the next four months.
14-Jan-2011
Eight Intriguing Questions for 2011
Another year... and another edition of "Intriguing Questions" from
columnist Colette Lewis. Today, Colette poses eight questions about
junior and college tennis.
30-Dec-2010
Welcome to New Prince. 2011.
Team Prince comes forward to talk about their Prince racquets. Prince
Tennis is excited about 2011.
8-Sep-2010
Flashback: Colette Lewis on the Grips Program
It was recently announced that Colette Lewis of ZooTennis.com won
second place in the annual US Tennis Writers writing contest for her
look at the Grips Program. That story - published in Racquet Sports
Industry Magazine in February 2009 - also ran right here at
TennisRecruiting.net. Today we republish that story in its entirety...
8-Jun-2010
Tennis has the Power to Help!
I traveled to Ethiopia in December with one thing in mind: bring my
adopted son back to America, be a father to him, and give him a better
life. My eyes were opened to a world that I'd never seen before. I
didn't realize how large of an impact it would have on me. I encountered
a culture where people are extremely gracious, wonderfully spiritual and
tremendously resilient - all characteristics that I strive to embody
in my life.
12-May-2010
USTA Eastern Section's Camp A.C.E. to be held in July
Former Australian Open semifinalist Chanda Rubin and former US
Olympic coach Rodney Harmon will be teaching this summer at Camp
A.C.E., the annual overnight camp run by the United States Tennis
Association's Eastern Section. Camp A.C.E., for players age 14-17,
will be held July 25-31 at Ramapo College of New Jersey.
11-May-2010
Tennis Manga Graphic Novel to Benefit Agassi Foundation
Tennis Manga is the first in a series of graphic novels that follow a
junior tennis player through her career. Created by Catherine Chen, a
sixteen-year old USTA junior competitor from Southern California, all
proceeds benefit the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education.
26-Apr-2010
NCAA Rules Update - Enrolling After Graduation
This winter, the NCAA passed bylaws specifying how long high school
graduates can wait before enrolling in college. As originally
written, those bylaws would effect all graduating classes - starting
with this year's class of 2010. There is some recent news on this -
the possibility of a 6-month grace period that would protect the Class
of 2010.
22-Feb-2010
A European Tennis Adventure
I got to travel to England and France in January - thanks to the
USTA - to play in a couple of tennis tournaments. It was my first trip
to Europe and was a great experience. I wrote about in my diary, parts
of which are published here.
11-Feb-2010
Colette Lewis on Junior and College Tennis
Junior and college tennis is a passion for many people, but perhaps
none more so than Colette Lewis. Lewis, who blogs about amateur
tennis at ZooTennis.com and is a weekly contributor at
TennisRecruiting.net, has carved out a niche as a freelance junior and
college tennis journalist. She writes for TENNIS, SMASH, the USTA,
and the New York Times, and she contributes to the Tennis Channel. We
moved Lewis to the other side of the microphone - getting her take on
all things tennis.
28-Jan-2010
Talking About Your Tennis: Media Training for Juniors
Andy Roddick, Serena Williams and Melanie Oudin aren't professors, but
junior players at the USTA Training Center Headquarters learned
important lessons from the three American stars last fall at a media
relations session in Boca Raton, Fla.
14-Jan-2010
Nine Intriguing Questions for 2010
2010 marks the fifth new year for TennisRecruiting.net - and the fifth
edition of "Intriguing Questions" from columnist Colette Lewis. Lewis
asks nine questions that may bear answers in the first year of the new
decade.
31-Oct-2009
USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section to Hold College Showcase at Old Dominion
On Nov. 14, the United States Tennis Association/Mid-Atlantic Section
will host its 1st Annual College Showcase Day, giving students from
the region a chance to learn about the wide range of opportunities in
college tennis. The showcase will be held at Old Dominion University
in Norfolk, Virginia and include a Round Robin tournament for high
school players.
29-Oct-2009
Capra and Gibbs Join U.S. Fed Cup Team's Title Quest
An invitation to join the United States Fed Cup team as hitting
partners is exciting enough, but Beatrice Capra and Nicole Gibbs have
additional reasons to savor the experience: it's the finals, it's in
Italy, and they are going together.
17-Oct-2009
USTA Eastern Section to Hold 23rd Annual College Showcase Day
On Nov. 8, the United States Tennis Association Eastern Section will
host its 23rd Annual College Showcase Day, giving students from across
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut a chance to learn about the wide
range of opportunities in college tennis. The showcase will be held at
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens and include a
Round Robin tournament for high school seniors.
23-Jul-2009
The Man Behind the Texas College Tennis Blog
Last spring, tennis bloggers welcomed a new website and a new voice in
college tennis world. During its first year of existence, the Texas
College Tennis blog had neither a name nor face attached to it. But at
the NCAAs in College Station, I met its creator, and he agreed to
answer the many questions I had about his connection with college
tennis in Texas and his decision to start a blog dedicated to it.
16-Jul-2009
Athletic DNA Launches Clothing Line with Juniors in Mind
When facing global sports apparel and shoe giants like Nike and
Adidas, how does a small startup hope to have an impact? For Athletic
DNA, a new Seattle-based company, the answer is simple: focus on
tennis, and start where the sport starts - in the juniors.
24-Apr-2009
USTA National Campus Championship - A Firsthand Experience
Jason Franks and the Western Washington Vikings traveled to Surprise,
Arizona this past weekend for the USTA National Campus Championships.
Franks jotted down a diary during his stay, and he shares those thoughts
with us today.
22-Apr-2009
Duke University Captures Title At 2009 USTA National Campus Championship
Duke University beat the University of Wisconsin - Madison 26-21 in
Saturday's championship match at the 2009 USTA National Campus
Championship at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex. This was the
first championship match for either squad and Duke University's first
national title.
13-Apr-2009
An Inside Look at Tennis On Campus: Western Washington
Western Washington University, located in Bellingham, Wash., just
twenty minutes from the Canadian border, is home to one of the oldest
and most talented Tennis On Campus club teams in the nation. The
Vikings are the only team to have attended all nine of the USTA Tennis
On Campus National Championship tournaments. Jason Franks, former
president of the team, reflects on his experience.
11-Apr-2009
USTA Tennis On Campus Names UC Davis Club Of The Year
The USTA announced that the University of California, Davis has been
awarded the inaugural Club of the Year Award for the 2008-2009 Tennis
On Campus season. The USTA Tennis On Campus program will present the
University of California, Davis the Club of the Year award during the
2009 USTA National Campus Championship on April 16-18.
9-Mar-2009
Monica Seles - Two Handed Wonder
Monica Seles holds a special spot in this coach's heart. Her
competitive spirit was second-to-none, she is genuinely kind, and her
professional accomplishments are numerous and impressive. She will be
inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009.
Bollettieri reflects on Seles' game - and her contributions to the
sport.
16-Feb-2009
Introducing Tennis On Campus
The USTA's Tennis On Campus program is designed to provide college
students with opportunities for team camaraderie, social networking,
and rivaled competition through tennis without the rigors of a varsity
program. Perfect for athletes who have chosen not to make the jump
from high school to college varsity, Tennis On Campus offers co-ed
team-based play, regional and national championship competition, and
helps students maintain active and healthy lifestyles through their
college years.
8-Jan-2009
Eight Intriguing Questions for 2009
Another year, another "Intriguing Questions" article from Colette Lewis.
Lewis takes a moment to ask eight questions for the coming year.
5-Jan-2009
Courier: "The Grinder"
Jim Courier's career can be summed up in just a few words: hard work,
guts, and passion! He has had to work for everything that has come to
him in life, but the fruits of his labor have produced four Grand Slam
titles, a #1 ranking in the world, and membership on the victorious
1992 Davis Cup Team.
24-Nov-2008
Jelena's Climb to the Top
Even though it happened and lasted for just one week, Jelena
Jankovic's journey to reach the top of the tennis world was achieved!
As anyone who has ever successfully climbed a mountain unattainable by
the vast majority of their peers, her sense of triumph and euphoria
was both deserved and hard-earned. Jelena made it to the top through
sheer hard work and determination.
9-Oct-2008
A Look at the Grips Program
Southern California junior development coaches Craig Cignarelli and
Aaron Fox recognized a need for more structure and objectivity in
their teaching methods, which led them to create the Grips Program.
Colette Lewis explains the reasons for the program's popularity with
players, parents and coaches.
23-Sep-2008
USTA Announces Campus Showdowns
The USTA is teaming with the ITA to promote Campus Showdowns on
college campuses throughout the United States. Campus Showdowns are
one-day, short-format tournaments open to juniors, college players,
professionals, and adults.
30-May-2008
Will the Serve and Volley Ever Bounce Back?
On court, the power game is linked to the economy of energy - points
end after fewer strokes and in less time. On the other hand, a game
built around strategy, like the Serve and Volley game, is linked more
to patience. I believe the gradual disappearance of the Serve and
Volley in modern tennis can be traced back to several factors; the
difficulty and time commitment required for its development, equipment
advancements, improvements in the players' physical fitness, and the
fans thirst for the more "glamorous" game.
8-May-2008
A Conversation with Documentary Filmmaker Tom Pura
Tom Pura is a tennis parent, a Harvard grad and a Wall Street retiree.
He is not, as he would be the first to tell you, a movie producer. But
several years ago, Pura decided that if he wanted to chronicle the
tennis life of his 13-year-old son TJ, it was up to him to become one.
Colette Lewis talks with Pura about his resulting documentary, entitled
50,000 Balls.
28-Apr-2008
The Coaching Carousel
The coaching carousel spins again, this time with the break up of one
of the highest profile teams on the ATP Tour, Andy Roddick and his
coach, Jimmy Connors. The first question people usually ask is "What
happened?". As in many cases, knee-jerk reactions, speculations, and
rumors inevitably begin to pile up and ultimately bury the truth.
3-Mar-2008
The Return of Davenport
Davenport's back! That's good news for women's tennis, and with her
commitment to play in the Fed Cup and her eyes set on the 2008 Beijing
Olympics, better news for American women's tennis.
17-Jan-2008
Nine Intriguing Questions for 2008
For the third year in a row, Colette Lewis publishes her annual
"Intriguing Questions" article right here at TennisRecruiting.net.
Take a look at nine questions she is eager to have answered in 2008.
26-Nov-2007
Minneapolis Junior Has Plenty To Be Thankful For
Angela Wong spends much of her days driving her two children to
various tennis activities in the Twin Cities. Whether it is a
tournament, private lessons or a drill, Wong chauffeurs her two tennis
prodigies from court to court as they continue to develop their games.
Unfortunately, their tennis travels put them on the I-35W bridge at the
wrong time.
5-Oct-2007
American Coaching in London
British Tennis is getting a dose of American coaching; will it change
the prognosis for juniors there? The LTA recently selected Bill
Mountford, USTA director of tennis at the Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center for six years, to oversee the LTA's Coach Relations and
Competition program. Colette Lewis talks with Mountford about junior
tennis in the UK.
12-Sep-2007
Welcome to the Evolution
On today's tennis courts, you can find a wide variety in the styles of
play and the personalities on the court. Every match seems to
showcase something different to amaze and delight fans. The power is
there, but there is a mix of speed, agility and all-court play. The
game has evolved into a much more physical sport than ever before.
But you need more than physical strength and stamina to be successful
in today's game. Just take a look at the number one players in the
world on both sides.
23-Aug-2007
Unstrung: Courier Documentary Attempts to Transcend Tennis
Jim Courier didn't want his documentary "Unstrung" to be a tennis
movie. What he hoped for, after following a group of male junior
players for ten months, was a film that would appeal to a wider
audience, one that would focus less on the sport and more on the
dynamics and drama when family and competition intertwine. Each of
the film's subjects provides a glimpse of the many paths parents
and children can take.
30-Jul-2007
Mark Riley Takes the Reins at Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo College alumnus Mark Riley ('82), head men's tennis coach at
the University of Pennsylvania for the past seven seasons, was
recently named men's tennis coach at his alma mater and assistant
director of the 2007 USTA Boys 18s and 16s National Championships.
Just a few days after his arrival on campus at Kalamazoo College,
Colette Lewis sat down to talk with Riley about the new chapter in his
career in tennis.
12-Jul-2007
Twelve Tips for a Better Tournament Experience
Colette Lewis has attended quite a few tennis tournaments over the
years. During that time, she has seen the good, the bad, and the
ugly. Here is a list of twelve tips that players and parents should
keep in mind to foster the best-possible tournament experience for
everyone.
8-May-2007
USTA Boys' 18 and 16 Clays in Delray Beach
The USTA Boys' 18 and 16 Clay Court National Championships moves
this year to Delray Beach, Fla. Learn about the tournament in this
press release from tournament officials.
16-Apr-2007
You Cannot Be Serious!
"I've gone from a poor tennis coach who does comedy, to a poor
comedian who plays tennis." That's Michael Kosta's tongue-in-cheek
description of the past year, when he resigned as assistant men's tennis
coach at the University of Michigan to tell jokes for a living.
Although at first glance that's an improbable change in occupations,
Kosta believes his twenty years in tennis prepared him well.
2-Apr-2007
Federer Crashes to Earth
Who would've guessed that Roger Federer would make an opening round
exit from the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells? I certainly wouldn't
have predicted it, especially for a guy that had won 41 consecutive
matches overall and three consecutive titles at Indian Wells. If you
did pick this upset, you could have retired after a short trip to Las
Vegas! But is this really that big of an upset?
29-Mar-2007
USTA Florida's Bobby Curtis Toasted and Roasted at Sony Ericsson Open Dinner
The Greater Miami Tennis and Education Foundation held its annual
fundraising dinner in Key Biscayne on Sunday, and the honoree was
Bobby Curtis, USTA Florida's coordinator of junior tennis. Colette
Lewis of ZooTennis.com was onhand to listen to the stories - humorous
and heartfelt.
16-Mar-2007
Corwin Leaving Kalamazoo, Taking USTA Position
Timon Corwin, Tournament Director of the USTA Boys 18 and 16 National
Championships in Kalamazoo and men's tennis coach at Kalamazoo College
since 1994, announced last weekend that he would be leaving those
positions to join the USTA Player Development staff as Senior Director
for Junior and Collegiate Competition in May.
18-Jan-2007
Eight Intriguing Questions for 2007
Last week, Colette Lewis reviewed the 2006 year in tennis. Today,
she presents a set of eight questions that she is eager to have
answered in 2007.
11-Jan-2007
A Look Back at 2006
For the past two years, I've written an Intriguing Questions piece in
January. Part speculation, part prediction, part plain old curiosity,
the 2007 version will surface soon, but before I embark on that, I
thought it might be fun to look back at how the 2006 questions were
answered.
9-Jan-2007
2007 Australian Open Preview
As we look ahead to the start of the upcoming 2007 tennis season there
is plenty to be excited about. At the top of everyone's list is the
first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open. Last year's Aussie
Open saw Amelie Mauresmo win her first Grand Slam. Roger Federer won
his second Australian Open, and his third Grand Slam tournament in a
row. This year's Open should be nothing short of spectacular!
2-Nov-2006
USTA Campus Kids' Days Schedule
The USTA is working with college coaches to find ways to expose
college varsity tennis to more junior players. The USTA has announced
a new program called Campus Kids' Days.
1-Nov-2006
USTA/ITA Campus Showdown Schedule
The USTA is teaming with the ITA to promote Campus Showdowns on
college campuses throughout the United States. Find a Showdown
in your area - or at a college of interest.
31-Oct-2006
Tennis Against Breast Cancer
The 14th Annual Tennis Against Breast Cancer Tennis Challenge took
place on Sunday, October 29th at Roosevelt Island Racquet Club in New
York City. Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe was on hand to kick off
a fun day of tennis with participants and local top junior players
Lindsay Clark and Laken & Carlissa King.
12-Jan-2006
Eight Intriguing Questions for 2006
For most people, this is the time of year for resolutions, but for
tennis fans and pundits, it's the time to peer into the fresh new year
with anticipation and predictions. Here are eight of the questions I'm
eager to have answered in 2006.
28-Nov-2005
Recipe for Excitement? Seven Points and No-Ad
Certainly one of the greatest things ever to happen in
tennis was the invention of the tie-breaker and no-ad scoring
systems that prevent sets from lasting almost forever.
Two true tennis "blue-bloods" were responsible for
these improvements: the late James Van Alen (Newport, RI) and
Frank Van Rensselaer (King of Prussia, PA).
