Showing posts with label Public Service Announcements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Public Service Announcements. Show all posts

Talbert Sportsmanship Award Winners; Tennis Night in America on Monday

Labels:

, ,

    Usually it's after the spring semi-annual meeting (which is in mid-March this year) before there's an official announcement about the USTA's Bill Talbert Sportsmanship award winners for the previous year, but the word tends to leak out here and there, with the recipients having been notified in January. I ran across the names in the March issue of Racquet Sports Industry (scroll about halfway down). Marcia Frost also has a column on the rise of doubles, and while I think of it, if you missed my Tennis Recruiting Network story about the Grips Program, a similar version can be found in last month's issue of RSI.

    This is the most prestigious sportsmanship award in junior tennis, with the winners being invited to July's International Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Newport, Rhode Island. This year's inductees are Monica Seles, Donald Dell, Andres Gimeno and Dr. Robert Johnson.

    Fifteen-year-old Jeremy Efferding, of Lake Worth, Fla. is the youngest of the four winners, which include two of the three winners of the sportsmanship trophies here in Kalamazoo in 2008--Nashville's Ryan Lipman, who won the Wes Richards Feed-In Sportsmanship award, and Studio City Calif.'s Ryan Thacher, who was named the Allen B. Stowe Sportsmanship award winner. (The third 2008 sportsmanship winner in Kalamazoo, Evan King, who received the Bobby Kaplan award for the 16s, was a Talbert award recipient last year). I'm not familiar with Gary Wang of the Middle States section, but for a photo of him from his section's 2008 awards banquet, click here.

    The promotion that originally started as a Madison Square Garden exhibition with the Williams sisters, Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic on Monday, March 2nd, has grown into something quite a bit bigger: "Tennis Night in America." Many clubs across the country will be hosting screening parties for the exhibition, while also undertaking a concerted push to register youngsters for spring and summer tennis programs. Here's an example of one in Wake County, North Carolina. To find the participating clubs in your area, click here.

    Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Post Title

→

Talbert Sportsmanship Award Winners; Tennis Night in America on Monday


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2009/02/talbert-sportsmanship-award-winners.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Parker Goyer Named Rhodes Scholar; Ahn and Brodsky Join Blake Brothers for Benefit Tuesday

Labels:

, ,
    (photo courtsey Reka Zsilinszka)

    There has been more publicity than usual lately for the naming of this year's Rhodes scholars due to the candidacy of Florida State football player Myron Rolle. Rolle was one of the 32 college students chosen, but for me, his selection took a back seat to that of Parker Goyer, the former member of the Duke women's tennis team, who founded the Coach for College program that I have written about twice for The Tennis Recruiting Network.

    Reka Zsilinszka wrote a diary on her summer's Coach for College experience in Vietnam for SMASH magazine (unfortunately, there is a no link available), but if you have received the winter issue with Nadal on the cover, it is in the "Game On" section in the front. When I spoke to her about the program, both before and after her trip, Zsilinszka was effusive in her praise of Goyer. The Duke website has an extensive writeup of Goyer's selection, and if you are a bit depressed about the state of the economy in particular and the world in general, read the biographies of all 32 winners at rhodesscholar.org. It will give you reason for optimism.

    On Tuesday, James and Thomas Blake, along with Patrick McEnroe, will participate in the annual Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program fundraiser. National 18s champion Gail Brodsky of Brooklyn and Spring 18s National champion Kristie Ahn of Upper Saddle River, NJ will join them. Katrina Adams is the executive director of the program. For more details about the evening's activities, see this Tennis Week release.
    Tags: , , , , ,

Post Title

→

Parker Goyer Named Rhodes Scholar; Ahn and Brodsky Join Blake Brothers for Benefit Tuesday


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/11/parker-goyer-named-rhodes-scholar-ahn.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

2009 USTA Diversity Grant Applications Now Available; USTA Florida Junior Spotlight on Stiteler; WTA Backspin Notes Rising Young Players

Labels:

, , ,
    It's been just over four years since the untimely death of junior standout Okechi Womeodu, but his memory is honored annually by the USTA with a grant given in his name. Entitled the Okechi Womeodu Scholar Athlete Grant, its purpose is to "honor the memory, life, and achievements of Okechi Womeodu, who otherwise would have had a very promising future, on and off the court." Academic achievement and national tournament success are two qualifications for the two $5,000 grants that are given to one boy and one girl. Applications are being accepted via USTA sections through the end of the year, with winners announced in February. For more details on this and other awards and grants available, see usta.com.

    USTA Florida has posted an extensive interview with 12-year-old Alexandria Stiteler, her mother and coach Cary Cohenour of Celsius Tennis Academy, where she trains. Stiteler represented the U.S. at the recent Nike Junior Tour world championships and is expected to compete in the Eddie Herr and Junior Orange Bowl. For the complete interview, click here.

    One of the very best tennis sites out there is Todd Spiker's WTA Backspin, and with the end of the WTA season, he has announced his annual Ms. Backspin award and published a wide-ranging statistical look at 2008. I go to the site weekly, because he never misses a promising result by a junior girl, and because his vast knowledge of the women's game always makes for interesting reading. In this week's Ms. Backspin post, Spiker lists the "NextGen Ranking of Note" (about half way down the page), and notes the biggest ranking jumps and falls. It's good to see that former Clemson star Julie Coin, who made such a splash with her win over Ana Ivanovic at the U.S. Open, has broken into the Top 100, at 96, after finishing 2007 at 200.

    Tags: , , , , ,

Post Title

→

2009 USTA Diversity Grant Applications Now Available; USTA Florida Junior Spotlight on Stiteler; WTA Backspin Notes Rising Young Players


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/11/2009-usta-diversity-grant-applications.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Buchanan Commits to Ohio State; Turvy Chooses Northwestern

Labels:

, , ,

    ©Colette Lewis 2008--

    Chase Buchanan is currently playing the Pro Circuit Futures event in Honolulu and enjoying his first visit to the 50th state, but when he starts college next fall, it will be in a state he knows well—-Ohio.

    I spoke to Chase last night after I learned that he would be signing a National Letter of Intent with the Ohio State Buckeyes and he was excited about the opportunity to continue to develop his game in Columbus.

    "Pretty much the main reason I'm going there is the coach, Ty Tucker," he said. "I've watched their practices, been around him and I've known him for a while. He's extremely knowledgeable about tennis, he's a good guy, he wants to help, and he's done a lot with the program in a short amount of time. It's not that easy to recruit to Ohio."

    Buchanan, 17, grew up in New Albany, a suburb of Columbus, so he is pleased to be able to continue working with his longtime coach Al Matthews of the Scarborough East Tennis and Fitness Club.

    "It's my hometown and my personal coach is there, so just a lot of stuff fell into place," said Buchanan, who had been courted by several of the professional sports management agencies. "One of the reasons I chose Ohio State was that I could improve a lot. I didn't want to go out onto the pro tour worried about conditioning and practicing during tournaments. If I go to college for a year or two years, or however long it takes, I can come out being the best player I can be. I thought the best way to do it was to practice and get better and come out playing at a level that is comparable to the top players in the world."

    Despite being in Hawaii, Buchanan, who is at the top of the Tennis Recruiting Network's class of 2009 rankings, was aware that Buckeyes Bryan Koniecko and Justin Kronauge faced off in the ITA Indoor final Sunday in Charlottesville, and is looking forward to becoming a part of the team.

    "I really enjoy the guys on the team. They're a fun group and they get along well. It should be a good group of guys to practice with. I hope to help do something good at the NCAAs."

    When he returns from Hawaii, Buchanan will join fellow juniors Ryan Lipman and Gail Brodsky at Pam Shriver's annual charity event in Baltimore, the PNC Tennis Classic. Billed as a Futures/Legends challenge match, the juniors will face retired pros prior to the main event on Friday, Nov. 21, which stars Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva.

    For more details on Shriver's event, visit the PNC Tennis Classic website.

    For more on Chase Buchanan, see this story from New York magazine's September issue about his experience at the new Boca Raton High Performance training center.

    One blue chip is staying in Columbus, but another is not. Kate Turvy has decided to attend Northwestern in the fall. I spoke to Kate late last month about her choice and the announcement appears today on The Tennis Recruiting Network.

    Tags: , , , , , , ,

Post Title

→

Buchanan Commits to Ohio State; Turvy Chooses Northwestern


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/11/buchanan-commits-to-ohio-state-turvy.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Oudin Beats Bammer in Quebec; College Showdown Schedule; Carleton Joins Babolat

Labels:

, , ,

    Melanie Oudin scored the biggest win of her young professional career this evening, downing No. 2 seed Sybille Bammer of Austria 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 at the WTA Bell Challenge in Quebec, a Tier III event. Although Oudin, now ranked 209, had won a WTA main draw match in Indian Wells back in March, beating Maret Ani, then ranked 123, this is by far the highest-ranked opponent she has defeated. Bammer is currently ranked No. 26. For more on this match and others, click here.

    The College Showdown schedule has been revised a bit, so click here to see the latest on these one-day events organized by the ITA and USTA to give young players a chance for more competition at low cost. I'm excited that the one I'll be attending this Saturday, in East Lansing, is now coed, so it should be a lively day of tennis. If you live in the area where one is scheduled, please email the coach for information. Weeks of advance planning is not necessary. The cost is only $10 or so, making it a real bargain now that indoor court time season is upon us in the Northern half of the country.

    Jackie Carleton, who was previously employed as the Adidas junior rep, is now working for Babolat. The release, which can be found here, also announces the promotion of Seth McKinley to Sports Marketing Manager for the Americas and Australia. Carleton's two younger brothers, Reid and Frank, will be teammates at Duke in the fall of 2009.

    I recently spoke with Matt Kandath, who has made his college decision. Look for the announcement Wednesday at the Tennis Recruiting Network.
    Tags: , , , , , ,

Post Title

→

Oudin Beats Bammer in Quebec; College Showdown Schedule; Carleton Joins Babolat


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/10/oudin-beats-bammer-in-quebec-college.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Kandath Profile, Tennis Australia Hires Mantilla; Report from San Diego on SES Tennis Center Pro Am

Labels:

, , ,
    During the U.S. Open, I had an opportunity to sit down with New York's Matt Kandath to talk about his college options. As you'll see from reading this profile at The Tennis Recruiting Network, he has some impressive ones.

    Tennis Australia announced that they have hired Spain's Felix Mantilla, a former ATP Top 10 player, to run a new training site they have established in Spain. The Age has the details here, and quite a bit seems to be made of the fact that this is a "full-time" position. Is this in response or a reference to other high-profile coaches who wouldn't or couldn't commit to full-time positions with TA or other federations?

    Marc Lucero, a former assistant coach of the women's team at Princeton, is now back in San Diego, and he sent me an email about a Pro-Am he played in that area last weekend that supports a very good cause.

    In its fourth year at the Rancho Valencia Resort, the SES Tennis Center Pro Am supports the programs and facility in Tecate Mexico, the hometown of Rancho Valencia's pro Eduardo Sanchez.

    "Eduardo always had this dream of building some public tennis courts in Tecate, Mexico (where he is from and where there are no public courts)," Lucero writes. "He started this charity, raised money, built some courts and named the facility after his late son. It has grown from a two-court facility now to a four-court facility, I believe, with great programming for the local kids. Also a beneficiary of this pro-am is a group called Empty Cradle which is a support system for families who have tragedies like this happen. It's something that I have really been happy to be a part of since I moved back to San Diego. Some awesome players played this year, guys like former ATP #1s Jared Palmer and Rick Leach, former Mexico Davis Cup #1 and ATP player Alejandro Hernandez, ATP doubles guys Tim Leonard and Devin Bowen. Plus local pros, former college players, etc. I want to bring some attention to it because I think its an awesome event and a great cause."

    For more information about the Pro-Am and the SES Tennis Center, please go to their very impressive website.

    Tags: , , , ,

Post Title

→

Kandath Profile, Tennis Australia Hires Mantilla; Report from San Diego on SES Tennis Center Pro Am


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/09/kandath-profile-tennis-australia-hires.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Vote For Mitchell Krueger for Sports Illustrated Kid of the Year; Mourning David Foster Wallce

Labels:

    Lynn Morrell of Kids Play For Good has passed along the exciting news that Mitchell Krueger of Texas is in the running for the Sports Illustrated Kids Sports Kid of the Year. He is the only tennis player of the ten nominees, so please support Mitchell and junior tennis by casting your online vote for him here. You have until September 22nd, but please, do it now, so he can move on to the next round.

    As a commenter mentioned yesterday, David Foster Wallace, a novelist and essayist who has written brilliantly about tennis, died over the weekend. The tributes are pouring in, from all whose lives have been touched by his dense, hilarious, often exasperating and fiercely intelligent writing. I've written before about his essay in A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again that centers on Michael Joyce, who, in the mid-90s was qualifying for ATP events, not coaching Maria Sharapova. It is hard to overstate the depth and insight that piece contains (sorry, no link available), but it isn't the only tennis writing he did. He discusses his junior tennis career in the same collection of essays, and Infinite Jest, his masterpiece novel, which I confess I still haven't gotten around to reading, has a tennis academy as one of its main locations. Two years ago, he wrote an appreciation of Roger Federer for the New York Times Play magazine, that is, fortunately, available online.

    Tom Tebbutt of the Toronto Globe and Mail gives a brief and considered tribute, using mostly Wallace's own words here.
    Tags: , , ,

Post Title

→

Vote For Mitchell Krueger for Sports Illustrated Kid of the Year; Mourning David Foster Wallce


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/09/vote-for-mitchell-krueger-for-sports.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

AP Retracts Account of Christian Harrison Racquet Throwing; Unstrung in Atlanta; Kids Play For Good in LA

Labels:

, , , ,

    The original AP story on racquet throwing (I've always used the old-fashioned spelling; it's a style thing) that was the source of some discussion here because it included a reference to Christian Harrison, has been corrected, or at least the part of it that refers to him has. Here is the correction from AP:

    Correction: US Open-Such a Racket story

    Sep 8, 5:34 pm EDT

    NEW YORK (AP)—In a Sept. 4 story about players at the U.S. Open abusing their rackets, The Associated Press reported erroneously that a tennis official told junior player Chris(sic) Harrison to stop hitting the sponsors’ signs. No such warning was issued to Harrison, nor was there any warning or penalty for throwing rackets.

    Since I hadn't seen the entire match, I couldn't categorically say the incident hadn't happened, but I did speak to the AP's Ben Walker on Sunday in the media center to make sure he knew that there were people who did see the entire match and disputed his account. He defended his sources, but apparently he shouldn't have.

    Jerry Magee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, spoke to Coco Vandeweghe's agent about her future, and he made this rather rash statement.

    "The way women's tennis is being played, if you're not at least a six-footer and can't hit hard and deep and never miss, you have no chance.” Have we forgotten Justine Henin so soon?

    There is a screening of "Unstrung" Wednesday, September 10th at the Georgia Tech Bill Moore Tennis Center that will also include a pro set between John Isner and Donald Young.


    NOTE: THE LA EVENT MENTIONED BELOW HAS BEEN POSTPONED
    And TJ Pura and Joe DiGiulio, two of the top 14-and-under players in the U.S., who starred in the documentary 50,000 Balls, are going to Rally For The Cure on Saturday, September 13th at the Los Angeles Tennis Center at UCLA, as part of the Kids Play For Good initiative. For more information about this event or Kids Play For Good, click here.
    Tags: , , , , , , ,

Post Title

→

AP Retracts Account of Christian Harrison Racquet Throwing; Unstrung in Atlanta; Kids Play For Good in LA


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/09/ap-retracts-account-of-christian.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Hadrien Saperstein Gift Fund

Labels:

,
    I've received three emails in the past few days asking me to help get the word out on a fund set up for Hadrien Saperstein, a Nevada junior player who has been struck by a paralyzing virus. His aunt has set up a website that explains what happened back in June when the 15-year-old took ill and the rehabilitation, both physical and emotional, that he is in the midst of now. Next week, a junior tournament regularly held at the Las Vegas Hilton, where Saperstein's father Mark is a pro, will be played for Hadrien's benefit. The TennisLink site for the tournament is here.

    Saperstein's tragedy brought to mind a similar story I read just recently in Play Tennis Florida magazine about Tampa junior Brittany Barrett, who was also mysteriously paralyzed last year and is now competing in wheelchair tennis with a goal of reaching the 2012 Paralympics in London. For inspiration and perspective, everyone associated with junior tennis could learn a lot from these teenagers and their families.
    Tags: , , ,

Post Title

→

Hadrien Saperstein Gift Fund


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/08/hadrien-saperstein-gift-fund.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Cako Profile; So Cal Wins Fifth Straight Team Title; Junior Parent/Coach Focus Group at Nats

Labels:

, , , , , ,
    While I was in Memphis for the Girls 18s Clay Court, I spoke to rising senior Jacqueline Cako about her accelerating junior career and her upcoming college choice. My profile for The Tennis Recruiting Network is here. My Kalamazoo preview will be posted on Thursday.

    The Southern California section beat Florida yesterday in the finals of the Boys Team Championships in Champaign-Urbana. It was as close as it could be and came down to a third set tiebreaker in No. 6 singles. Marcia Frost provides an account of the final day's matches here. Erik Boal of the Los Angeles Daily News followed the SoCal team throughout the event, and filed this story after Tuesday's final.

    John Isner, who will be returning to Kalamazoo for the Professional Exhibition that opens the Nationals every year, set an astounding record in his win yesterday over qualifier Andrea Stoppini of Italy when he won EVERY point on his first serve in the match, 39 of 39. The Greensboro News-Record has the details.

    And any parents or coaches who are going to be in Kalamazoo tomorrow are invited to a USTA Focus Group on the structure of junior competitive tennis. Former Nationals Tournament Director Timon Corwin, now Senior Director of Junior and Collegiate Competition for the USTA, will be moderating the discussion. Those who have expressed disappointment with the points-per-round system on this site should voice those comments and any others you may have at this forum. Specifics below:

    Over the course of the next several months, the USTA will be undertaking a comprehensive review of the current national junior competitive system. To that end the USTA has selected the USTA Boys' 18 & 16 National Championships as one of the sites for conducting a parent/coach focus group. Timon Corwin, USTA Senior Director of Junior and Collegiate Competition, will be at the tournament to host a one-hour informative interactive session - from 2:30 to 3:30 pm on Thursday, July 31. The meeting will take place at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in the same room as the College Coach Expo. The USTA would like to receive input and ideas from parents of junior players regarding this important topic. Following the discussion, parents will be invited to fill out a survey. The data from the surveys will be studied and ideas will be incorporated into a new and improved junior competitive structure.
    Tags: , , , , , ,

Post Title

→

Cako Profile; So Cal Wins Fifth Straight Team Title; Junior Parent/Coach Focus Group at Nats


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/07/cako-profile-so-cal-wins-fifth-straight.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Harper-Griffith Aims to Help Juniors with New Foundation

Labels:

, ,
    Richard Pagliaro's blog at Tennis Week yesterday contained this story about Levar Harper-Griffith and the new foundation, called Global Tennis, that he and two other partners have formed to assist juniors who lack the financial resources necessary to pursue the sport.

    “Our goal with the Global Tennis Foundation is to try to fill a gap so to speak in that a lot of these kids get into tennis and have the ability to achieve but tennis, in this country, is so expensive it’s difficult to try to play the game at a high level,” Harper-Griffith says. “The training, the travel, the coaching, the equipment, the masseuse, the stringing, the physical therapy - it can be an enormous expense. I know from experience: my mom was unbelievable and she worked so hard and sacrificed so much to give me a fighting chance, but some kids don’t get that chance. There’s got to be a way to help these kids at the grass roots level and that’s what we aim to do," Harper-Griffith tells Pagliaro.

    The foundation's website is the vehicle the trio would like to use to get in touch with juniors in need. It also includes a list of donation requests, which range from equipment to housing to frequent flyer miles. Harper-Griffith expresses no bitterness when talking about the USTA and their role in player development, he just sees an opportunity to make a difference in his own way.

    And speaking of the USTA, James Blake did a mailbag for tennis.com this week. Here is the final question:
    Q. What do you think needs to be done in order to ensure a good future for American tennis? – Kristen

    A. I think the UTA (sic) can help younger players and work in harmony with the player's coach. It's difficult to get them all together in such a large country geographically. So they may have to be more trusting of the junior coaches that have helped the talents already get to where they are.
    For the complete mailbag, click here.
    Tags: , , , , ,

Post Title

→

Harper-Griffith Aims to Help Juniors with New Foundation


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/03/harper-griffith-aims-to-help-juniors.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

WTA Tier 1 Qualifying Wild Card, Flores Out of Bulldog Lineup; Sponsor Thanks, Scholarship PSA and more!

Labels:

, , , ,
    Snow is the word of the day here in Kalamazoo, so it seems like a good evening to catch up on a lot of miscellaneous items I've run across the past few days.

  • It's not too often that any junior tournament offers a WTA Tier I event qualifying wild card to its winner, especially not a level 4 sectional event, but that's the case for the SMASH State Open Clay Court Junior Cup in Charleston, SC Feb. 22-25. The girls' 18s winner receives a wild card into qualifying for the Family Circle Cup in April, also in Charleston. For more information, click here.

  • The reason Luis Flores wasn't in the lineup for the Georgia Bulldogs last weekend is a stress fracture that required surgery according to Dan Magill.

  • Thanks to Tennis Warehouse and everyone who has used the link to purchase tennis gear in the past months. It has put me in the rarified air of bloggers who make some money from their site. Every little bit helps to offset the considerable travel expenses, which are familiar to any of you who are parents of national-level juniors. Income from amazon.com has dropped considerably, so I've redesigned the site to feature the link more prominently. Books, music, electronics--anything you buy on amazon through that link generates a small percentage for zootennis. Again, I don't want to go for the hard sell here, but I'm often asked how I can afford to keep this site up, and the answer is freelance work and your support.

  • The Midwest section is taking applications for the Gullikson scholarships, given to a male and female tennis player in their senior year of high school. For more information on these scholarships and on other Midwest section grants, see the usta website.

  • A reminder: anonymous comments will no longer be posted. Please select a nickname if you are not comfortable signing your real name.

  • Alex Halebian is the sole U.S. player remaining in Les Petits As competition. The unseeded Southern Californian will take on Liam Broady of Great Britain in tomorrow's semifinals. Broady defeated Reo Asami in a third set tiebreaker to advance. The website has live scoring; for those of you on the West Coast, the match is scheduled to begin at midnight PST.

    • Tags: , ,

Post Title

→

WTA Tier 1 Qualifying Wild Card, Flores Out of Bulldog Lineup; Sponsor Thanks, Scholarship PSA and more!


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2008/02/wta-tier-1-qualifying-wild-card-flores.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Tennis Against Breast Cancer; First Round Futures Wins for Juniors

Labels:

,

    The annual Tennis Against Breast Cancer Pro-Am fundraiser is this weekend in New York and it's an event that deserves all of our support. For information about this particular event or other ways you can help, please visit their website at tennisabc.org.

    When I was in Tulsa, I wondered why all the boys from the 14-and-under World Junior Competition were there, but none of the girls (who won the gold at that ITF team event), and I soon heard that they were on their way to Brazil to compete in a ITF women's event there on clay. A reader alerted me to the success they were having, and since there has been a lot of interest in the 92s and 93s on the boys' side, I thought I'd mention it here. Nicole Gibbs and Sloane Stephens qualified and won their first round matches, Christina McHale and Allie Will also won first round matches (Gibbs and McHale play each other in the second round). Only Beatrice Capra lost, but she teamed with Gibbs in doubles and they won their first round match. McHale and Will beat the top seeded team in the first round of doubles. It's obvious that this isn't a strong field, and the only international junior I recognize is Tatiana Bua of Argentina, who is 32nd in the junior rankings and lost to Sloane Stephens in Kentucky last month. But as long as the girls are aware that the tournament doesn't represent the normal Pro Circuit event in the U.S., I think the experience will help them.
    For complete draws for this event, see the itftennis site.

    The men's Pro Circuit in the U.S. is in Mansfield, Texas, and Austin Krajicek, Jarmere Jenkins and Chase Buchanan are in the main draw (Krajick qualified). Buchanan and Krajicek don't play their first round matches until Wednesday, but Jenkins, a wild card, today again defeated Vlad Ignatic, the ITF's top-ranked junior, 6-4, 6-4. Michael McClune is in the field, seeded 4th, and he beat Michael Venus, who I hear will be eligible to play for LSU in January. Qualifier Alexei Grigorov, a 17-year-old, who like Ignatic, trains at Roddick Total Tennis in San Antonio, defeated No. 7 seed Peter Shults in the first round. For complete results, see the Texas76ers website.

    TAGS:, , ,

Post Title

→

Tennis Against Breast Cancer; First Round Futures Wins for Juniors


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2007/10/tennis-against-breast-cancer-first.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

How Tennis Came Back; New Address, Phone for USTA High Performance; Althea Gibson Award Established

Labels:

, ,
    There's not much going on in college and junior tennis today, but I ran across this interesting article from the New Republic on the resurgence of tennis in the past few years. Richard Just provides a short history of the tennis boom and bust in the United States, and although I don't agree with all of his characterizations (using "charmless" to describe Andy Roddick, for example), I think I buy his contention that tennis has been revived due to Federer, or more specificially, Federer and Nadal.

    The USTA has put this notice up on the website regarding their move to Boca Raton/Evert next week. I hope to have the list of the players who will be living and training there some time this week. When I spoke with John Evert at the Open, he was confident that it would be ready for occupancy by October 7th, and it sounds as if everything has gone as planned.

    And during the U.S. Open, the USTA announced a new award for two juniors, The Althea Gibson Leadership Award. Applications will be available on the usta.com website November 1. For more details, click here.
    TAGS:, ,

Post Title

→

How Tennis Came Back; New Address, Phone for USTA High Performance; Althea Gibson Award Established


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-tennis-came-back-new-address-phone.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Inside Junior Tennis Podcast; US Tennis Writers Assocation Awards

Labels:

,
    Before the action begins at the Luxilon Cup (it looks as if Michelle Larcher de Brito has withdrawn--I'll have more on that in tonight's post), I wanted to mention that last week's Inside Junior Tennis podcast is up at The Tennis Podcast website. Kevin McClure and I discuss the Mobile winners, all the South American junior clay court action, the latest juniors to win on the Pro Circuit and Larcher de Brito's win over Meghan Shaughnessy.

    The United States Tennis Writers Association presented its awards last night here prior to the night session. Because of another deadline, I wasn't able to be there, but Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle was the big winner. See the tenniswire.org website for the list of writers receiving recognition.
    TAGS:, , , ,

Post Title

→

Inside Junior Tennis Podcast; US Tennis Writers Assocation Awards


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2007/03/inside-junior-tennis-podcast-us-tennis.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Mobile Wrap, Tennis Fundraiser, etc.

Labels:

, , ,
    My weekly article for The Tennis Recruiting Network is a synopsis of the USTA Spring National Championships last week in Mobile.

    Casey Angle of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association asked if I would pass along notice of a fundraiser for a college tennis player who is undergoing a kidney transplant this summer. For more information, please see the ITA homepage; the link, called tennis-4-k-board fundraiser, is in the bright yellow box.

    The stories on Michelle Larcher de Brito's win over Meghann Shaughnessy began to trickle out today. She is the seventh youngest ever to win a WTA match, and the youngest since the age restrictions were established in 1995. Here's Charlie Bricker's account for the Sun Sentinel.

    For a story on Madison Brengle's win over Naomi Cavaday at the Pro Circuit $25K event, check out the latest from redding.com.

    And finally, there's been a change in the girls' field at the Luxilon Cup. Brooke Bolender of the U.S. will be taking Jasmina Tinjic's spot.
    TAGS:, , , , , , , ,

Post Title

→

Mobile Wrap, Tennis Fundraiser, etc.


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2007/03/mobile-wrap-tennis-fundraiser-etc.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Greater Miami Tennis Foundation to Honor Bobby Curtis at Sony Ericsson

Labels:

    The words "living legend" are probably overused, but I don't think anyone would object to applying them to the USTA Florida section's coordinator of junior tennis Bobby Curtis.

    Bobby has been a friend of mine for quite a few years now, and I'm delighted that my husband and I going to be able to attend the Greater Miami Tennis Foundation dinner honoring him later this month at the Sony Ericsson in Key Biscayne.

    The details of the dinner are available here, via the Florida section's website, and it is my understanding that if you are unable to attend, there is still an opportunity to make a small donation in Bobby's name to the Foundation to thank him for all that he has done for junior tennis in Florida.

    Perhaps those of you in other sections know of similar USTA employees who work tirelessly, day after day, to help provide young players with opportunities to make tennis a part of their life. Take the time to thank them for their investment in the sport and in the future. It will mean more to them than you can imagine.

    TAGS:, ,

Post Title

→

Greater Miami Tennis Foundation to Honor Bobby Curtis at Sony Ericsson


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2007/03/greater-miami-tennis-foundation-to.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Sixty-Five Years at the Zoo

Labels:

,


    Most of you know that I live in Kalamazoo, and that when it comes to objectivity about the various junior tournaments, well, I admit that it's not possible for me to consider any event to be the equal of The Nats at the Zoo.

    This year we are celebrating our 65th anniversary--this is the official public debut of the logo--and the committee is asking for anecdotes and remembrances of tournaments past to use in the upcoming marketing campaign. I've been enlisted to help get the word out. By necessity, the responses need to be confined to a few sentences, but we are looking for stories that illuminate what makes the tournament unique in junior tennis. If you would like to share a memory, please email it to boysusta[at]aol[dot]com by March, 31, 2007.

    Help us make this the best year ever for The Zoo!
    Disclaimer: All submissions become the property of the 18 & 16 Boys'
    Nationals and may be used at the discretion of the Tournament.

    TAGS:, ,

Post Title

→

Sixty-Five Years at the Zoo


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2007/02/sixty-five-years-at-zoo.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

USTA Guide to Tennis on College Campuses; Gullikson Scholarships

Labels:

,

    At the ITA Coaches Convention at the Doral Resort in Miami last month, I spied a newpublication by the USTA entitled USTA Guide to Tennis on College Campuses. Although hard copies won't be available until later this month, the online pdf version is now available. It is a detailed look at both varsity and recreational tennis options at NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA schools, and also provides a short chapter on careers in the tennis industry. It's a great resource in itself, and also supplies many references to other sources of information that are vital to those interested in pursuing college tennis. It opens with a foreword by James Blake:
    When I made the decision to go to college, I had already had offers to turn pro, but I knew I wasn’t ready either
    mentally or physically for the pro scene. Going to college gave me the opportunity to mature, study, meet great friends, and play tennis for the pure joy of the game. I wouldn’t trade my time in college for anything.

    There has been much criticism lobbed at the USTA for ignoring college tennis as a development option, some of it deserved, but recent steps, like this guide, are evidence of a change.


    As a member of the Midwest section, I also wanted to mention that applications are now being accepted for the Tim and Tom Gullikson scholarships, administered through the Midwest Youth Tennis and Education Foundation. One boy and one girl from the section will receive $2500 "to advance their educational and tennis interests." Please click here for more information.

    TAGS:,

Post Title

→

USTA Guide to Tennis on College Campuses; Gullikson Scholarships


Post URL

→

https://dancing-with-the-stars-2011.blogspot.com/2007/01/usta-guide-to-tennis-on-college.html


Visit dancing-with-the-stars-2011 for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Popular Posts

My Blog List

Blog Archive