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).
