May 2009 - United States Tennis Associationassets.usta.com/assets/644/USTA_Import/Southwest/dps/doc_26_908.pdf · Babolat. Tony Reyes of Phoenix After School Sports (P.A.S.S.)

May 2009

USTA Southwest Staff Directory

18 TennisLife magazine MAY 200 9

USTA SOUTHWEST 7010 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 201

Scottsdale, Arizona 85254

Main: (480) 289-2351 Toll-Free: 1-888-918-3647Fax: (480) 289-2701

www.southwest.usta.comExecutive DirectorJulie Pek x 102 [email protected]

Junior Recreation CoordinatorJessica Adams x 104 [email protected]

Executive Assistant/AccountingBrooke Demory x 108 [email protected]

Community Tennis Coordinator - Central ArizonaDarlene Demory x 105 [email protected]

Community Tennis Coordinator - Southern New Mexico/Greater El PasoPatrick Hart (575) 524-6781 [email protected]

Community Tennis Coordinator - Southern ArizonaKeeley Hutchinson (520) 877-2586 [email protected]

Community Tennis Coordinator - Northern New MexicoBecky Lee (505) 266-7400 [email protected]

Adult Competitive ManagerGuillermo (Bill) Lucero x 106 [email protected]

Junior Player Development ManagerEric Mitchell x 107 [email protected]

Community Tennis ManagerMichelle Moyer x 103 [email protected]

Marketing and Communications ManagerJeff Sikes x 109 [email protected]

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President’s Message

www.tennislife.com 19

Spring is a season of renewal and growth, especially for tennis. This is the perfect time to get to the courts, throw a new grip on that racket, and take aim at improving that troublesome second serve! With our hot summer weather here in the USTA Southwest, it’s best to take advantage of these beau-

tiful spring days the best we can.

Besides springing forward with our own games, there are many things we can all do to help grow this sport we cherish if we just take a little time or initiative, or just renew the effort and passion we all have for it. The payback on giving is enormous. When you see a child’s eyes light up for the first time when hitting a tennis ball, or see a friend of yours come onboard your USTA League Tennis team from a little coaxing, how can you not feel the difference you’ve made?

We may be separated by 78 feet from baseline to baseline, or miles apart from city to city here in the USTA Southwest, but we are all an enormous tennis family here that cares for …and needs one another to help tennis succeed, particularly in these rough economic times.

Here’s a short list of ideas we can all attempt, small things that go such a long way towards making tennis better.

1) Put a racquet in a child’s hand. Any racquet. Any child.

2) Start a recycling drive for used tennis cans

3) Take a friend to the courts instead of lunch

4) Volunteer as an afterschool coach or for a Jr. Team Tennis program

5) Donate a $1 to the Southwest Tennis Foundation (c/o USTA Southwest – 7010 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 201 A, Scottsdale, AZ 85254)

That is just a short list. I know we have a million great ideas. Please feel free to send them to us at USTA Southwest. We just want people to get the tennis bug and know from that point, the sport and the myriad joys it gives us…will do the rest.

Speaking of spring and renewal, that reminds me to remind you all as individuals or organizations to renew your USTA Membership! The sport in the United States and, particularly in our area of the Southwest, is dependent on your involvement, and we absolutely cannot grow without members. Your membership dollars helps ensure and sustain programming, and gives us the ability to fund the many programs and services you enjoy. Whether it’s tennis on your university campus, a League program in your neck of the woods, or a Jr. Team Tennis offering, your membership directly funds the growth of those programs.

I also wanted to take the time to tell you our membership totals are at an all-time high of over 13,120 mem-bers thanks to you deciding your USTA Membership is a value. We want to continually ‘serve’ you, so again make it a point to renew. Take advantage of longer-term membership offers and you’ll save money in the long run. Add a family member to your membership, it doesn’t cost much more, and you’ll be giving the gift of tennis to more than just yourself.

And that will spring us all forward.

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Community Tennis


The USTA Southwest played a major role in the United States’ Fed Cup team’s appearance in Surprise, Arizona in early February. The Section helped put on two major community-themed events related to Team USA’s Federation Cup appearance in Surprise,

Ariz., putting on both a Tennis Block Party and a Community Day event at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex prior to the competition, which was held Feb. 7-8, and which Team USA won 3-2 over Argentina.

The entire USTA Southwest staff along with a chorus of volunteers from the Surprise Sundancers group along with others from the Phoenix tennis community - most notably the City of Surprise and the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex - helped make this event a special week for the Fed Cup players and for fans. USTA Southwest helped develop the Tennis Block Parties and Community Day events. The Section also had a special membership booth on site during the matches, giving away all sorts of patriotic goodies. Children from local Jr. Team Tennis programs served as flag kids for the opening ceremonies and Senior Adult League Tennis players took part in a special exhibition to promote senior tennis.

Best of all, the USA Fed Cup team pulled out a tough match, with each team member – Jill Craybas, Melanie Oudin, Liezel Huber and Julie Ditty - playing a part in securing the victory.

The USTA thought highly of the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex site, which bodes well for possibly luring more Federation Cup and Davis Cup-type events to the location in future years.

An estimated 450 tennis lovers came out Saturday, Jan. 31 to soak in a sunny afternoon full of free tennis and fun at the Fed Cup Tennis Block Party in Surprise, Ariz.

Newcomers to the sport just looking for a fun, family-friendly activity joined tennis lovers in this tennis-carnival-like party put on by the USTA Southwest, designed to showcase the sport and serve as a lead-up event during the Fed Cup.

The Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex played host to the Block Party, which had a steady stream of participants coming in throughout the three-hour of festivities.

Participants young and old rotated through a dozen different types of tennis stations that included a Fast Serve area, a special USTA Southwest prize court, QuickStart Tennis, instruction courts, and ven-dor areas where players could play-test the latest tennis frames and equipment by Wilson, Prince and Babolat.

Tony Reyes of Phoenix After School Sports (P.A.S.S.) conducted a special kids’ courts area that included an obstacle course, the ‘Walk of Doom’, a couple of foam hitaway tethered balls, QuickStart play courts, and an inflatable target area.

Adjacent to the kids’ zone was a ball decorating station where youngsters could design their own Fed Cup-themed tennis balls anyway they liked, and could also write a special ‘Good Luck’ message to Team USA on both oversized sheets and jumbo ten-nis balls.

For players seeking a bit more competition and more of a tennis workout, there was also a Cardio Tennis area, in addition to ‘Beat the Pro’ and ‘Champion of the Court’ areas where players could test their mettle against teaching professionals.

After the on-court activities were concluded, a raffle for all participants was held that gave them the chance to win racquets, t-shirts, USTA prizes and accessories, as well as five pairs of Fed Cup tickets.

Tennis Block Party

Having fun at the Fed Cup Block Party

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On Wednesday, Feb. 4 , the Section along with USTA Southwest orga-nizational members Phoenix After School Sports (P.A.S.S.) and Si,

Se Puede, joined up for a special Community Day Clinic with the United States and Argentine Fed Cup teams.

The kids from these programs ran through a series of on-court variations, with players from both teams, giving these youngsters who ranged in age from 6-15 a once in a lifetime-type of experience. The Argentine team included their top-ranked player Gisela Dulko, while the US contingent included captain Mary Joe Fernandez, players Julie Ditty, Jill Craybas, Liezel Huber, Melanie Oudin and practice partners Julia Boserup and Coco Vandeweghe.

After the clinic, the USTA presented both P.A.S.S. and Si, Se Puede with checks to help assist in their efforts to grow the sport locally. USTA National president Lucy Garvin and Federation Cup Committee Chair Pam Austin were in attendance, as was USTA Chief Diversity Officer Kevin Clayton.

Captain Mary Joe Fernandez was also presented with an oversized tennis ball from the USTA Southwest staff. The ball – which was full of sup-port and encouraging words - were signed by children attendees from the Tennis Block Party held a few days prior.

After the clinic was over, children from P.A.S.S. and Si, Se Puede lined up to meet the Fed Cup team and get signed autographs from the players on the hats and t-shirts that were given to them by USTA National and USTA Southwest. Each participant also got a Fed Cup poster.

“I personally cannot describe how pleased I am to offer events like these to the PASS and Si, Se Puede kids,” said PASS program coordinator and Community Day on-court organizer Tony Reyes.

Added Reyes: “These children will remember this event for the rest of their lives. The smiles on their faces and the positive energy they create inspires me to promote tennis more to disadvantaged kids.”

A special thanks goes out to the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex for allowing USTA Southwest to put these community events on at their facility, and to the volunteer teaching pros and volunteers who donated their time and services to help put on the Block Party and the Community Day events.

For more information on Fed Cup, log onto www.fedcup.org.

Community Grant FundingLooking for ways to help fund your community’s tennis goals? The USTA Southwest is here to help. Whether it’s helping innovative programs get off the ground, help with your marketing efforts, or equipment needs, Community Grants help ease that burden.

Interested applicants should fill out the Community Grant Funding application available on www.southwest.usta.com under ‘Community Tennis.’ May 15 is the next funding grant deadline, so don’t delay.

For more information on Community Grants, contact USTA Southwest Community Tennis Manager Michelle Moyer at (480) 289-2351 x. 103 or [email protected].

USTA Southwest Nominations Nominations are now being accepted in several different categories

for 2009 USTA Southwest Section Awards, so we encourage you to send over support for a deserving candidate. These awards will be given out at the 2009 USTA Southwest Annual Meeting in Phoenix in late 2009 – and will recognize the Section’s top organizational members, adult and youth players, administrators and volunteers.

Any USTA Southwest member or organization can submit an award nomination before August 20. For a list of awards, consult the Hall of Fame and Awards page on www.southwest.usta.com or contact Jeff Sikes, USTA Southwest Marketing and Communications Manager at (480) 289-2351 or [email protected].

Teaching the TeachersRecreational Coach Workshops (RCW) are part of a national training pro-gram for people teaching and coaching players at the recreational level. These workshops are an excellent primer for new recreational coaches and instructors as well as a valuable refresher course for those with teaching experience but who seek to learn the latest teaching methods.

Recreational Coach Workshops are also excellent annual training opportunities for new professionals and the chance for ongoing training for seasonal tennis instruction staff and current coaches.

Each RCW is taught by a specially trained, certified teaching profession-al (USPTA and/or PTR) the USTA has developed. During a 6-hour workshop, the session will cover; teaching large groups, the games-based approach to coaching, and drills every instructor should know to help teach effective lessons and run team practices.

Upon completion of the one-day workshop, attendees will become eligible for the USPTA Developmental Coach Certification. Attendees will also receive access to the latest in transition ball technology and other materials/resources provided by the USTA.

To get an RCW or a specially designed QuickStart Tennis Workshop hosted in your area, contact USTA Southwest Community Tennis Manager Michelle Moyer at [email protected] or (480) 289-2351 x. 103.

2009 USTA Recreational Tennis Grants The United States Tennis Association

(USTA) Recreational Tennis Division awards grants to non-profit commu-nity based organizations that support tennis programming and infrastruc-ture in their local community.

The USTA seeks applicants that are well established community based organizations or agencies committed to: increase tennis participation, support tennis programming, and foster diversity with both participation and programming.

Interested applicants should apply for assistance online at www.usta.com/grants. The Round 2 deadline for the 2009 grant cycle is May 15.

Community Day

Julie Ditty and Liezel Huber

PASS Kids at Fed Cup

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Andre Agassi To Return To Tennis In Surprise


Former World No. 1 To Play Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tournament in Surprise October 8-11

InsideOut Sports & Entertainment recently announced that Andre Agassi will play Outback Champions Series tennis for the first time when he participates in the The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships, October 8-11 at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex in Surprise, Championships at Surprise is the seventh of eight events on the 2009 Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.

Agassi is the first player announced for the 2009 tournament which will feature a field of eight champion players competing in a single knock-out format event over four days competing for $150,000 in prize money and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1 ranked player on the Outback Champions Series. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships at Surprise is a second-year event on the circuit.

John McEnroe won the inaugural event in 2008 in Surprise, defeating Todd Martin in the final. Agassi will be the eighth former world No. 1 to compete on the Outback Champions Series joining Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Pat Rafter, Stefan Edberg, Mats Wilander, Thomas Muster and McEnroe.

In his historic career, Agassi, 38, became one of only five men in the history of tennis to win all four major singles titles in a career, join-ing Rod Laver, Don Budge, Roy Emerson and Fred Perry. Agassi won his first major title at Wimbledon in 1992, defeating Goran Ivanisevic in a dramatic five-set final. He won his first U.S. Open title in 1994 and his second five years later in 1999. He won four Australian Open titles between 1995 and 2003, while his victory at the 1999 French Open rounded out his “career” Grand Slam.

Agassi ranked No. 1 in the world for 101 weeks during his career. He helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 1990, 1992 and 1995 and won 60 career singles titles from 1987 until he concluded his career at the 2006 U.S. Open. In 1994, Agassi started the Andre Agassi Foundation which is dedicated to transforming public education for underserved youth.

Ticket, travel and tournament information can be found by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.

Top-seeded Yanina Wickmayer emerged victorious after Julia Vakulenko retired

deep in the third set of the finals at the Sanderson Volvo Future Stars $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit event at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex in Surprise, Ariz., held Feb. 15-22. The weeklong event – which hosted several of the top female touring profession-als ranked between 100-300 in the world - concluded with some great tennis, just a bittersweet ending for the No. 74 ranked Wickmayer with a 6-7 (0), 6-3, 4-3 injury retir-ment victory next to her name.

Wickmayer picked up just over $2900 for first place, Vakulenko $1,666 for runner-up.

Wickmayer also reached the doubles final with partner Ahsha Rolle (United States), falling 6-1, 6-1 to the second-seeded duo of Jorgelina Cravero (Argentina) and Ekaterina

Ivanova (Russia). The Sanderson Volvo Future Stars

Tournament also held a series of special events for the public throughout the tour-nament, including a Kids Day (Feb. 16), Ladies Day (Feb. 17), Buddy Tennis (Feb. 18), and Senior Day (Feb. 18).

This was the second straight year the USTA Pro Circuit event was held in Surprise. The city is quickly becoming a hub for pro-fessional tennis. The Outback Champions Series, a senior legends tour played an event in November 2008, and will return later this year with an event Oct. 8-11.

Two more USTA Pro Circuit stops will come through the USTA Southwest this year, a $25,000 event in El Paso beginning June 8, and another beginning Sept. 21 in Albuquerque, N.M.

USTA Pro Circuit

Andre Agassi

Yanina Wickmayer

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USTA Southwest League News and Notes


Surprise-area tennis player Joe Johnson shows tennis and politics can mix

For USTA League captain Joe Johnson having a political background as a city councilman for the City of Surprise (Ariz.) comes in quite handy when it comes to his time away from city hall managing USTA

League teams. While no one would ever confuse recreational tennis captaining with

the serious nature of city politics, the skills it takes to manage and succeed at each are a lot alike. Patience, lots of research, and diplomatic skills are needed in abundance. The good thing is with tennis you at least have a scoreboard to decide the final outcome, and there’s not a lot of grumbling about that the way there is with politics.

Tennis has been a passion of Johnson, a 4.5 NTRP-rated player, since his early teenage years growing up in Holliston, Massachusetts. Johnson’s family later moved to Phoenix halfway through high school, and it was in Arizona where the tennis fever took hold. He played on the Glendale Community College team in the early 1980’s and has been a highly competitive player ever since.

Johnson has also been a key advocate for tennis, serv-ing as a city councilman in Surprise for the last five years. He helped the city of Surprise push through the planning and, ultimately, the construc-tion of what is now one of the nation’s most renowned public facilities, the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex.

Tennis and politics didn’t mix however, in 2004, when one of Johnson’s teams made it to a USTA League National Championship. It was then that Johnson was campaigning to be elected for his first city council position, so tennis got the backhand. His team didn’t win that year, but the sport did when Johnson was elected.

We recently caught up with Johnson to get his take on tennis and politics:

USTASW: You were a captain of six teams in 2008. How on earth did you man-age to do that? JJ: I am able to captain so many teams because my players are great indi-viduals and quality people which makes it easy. They’re very understanding, and really, without their great attitudes I would not be able to do it. Like anything, it helps to have good help, and I have good co-captains in Dane McNeill and Richard Adams.

USTASW: Being a team captain is a pretty underrated thing, but one so vital to the League Tennis program. Why do you enjoy so much about captaining? JJ: Being a captain is definitely a very difficult job, and time consuming. But I really enjoy the team concept and the friendships that are formed. To see our players improve and support each other and pull for one another is really the best reward for me. Putting together complimenting partners and strategizing line-ups is also a lot of fun.

USTASW: Obviously, you’re pretty entrenched in the goings-on in Surprise and the tennis complex there. What has it been like to see that facility be built up and become what it is? JJ: It’s been awesome. It’s a great thing that we wanted to add something to the Recreation Campus that not every city had. We’ve only been in existence coming up on two years, but the planning stages was another two to three before that so it’s been a big project. The site even moved locations before we even got a shovel in the ground, but it’s up and it’s been a tremendous asset to the community. Honestly, having support from the USTA has also been huge. They’ve carried a lot of weight and brought in a lot of events that really show off the complex.

USTASW: We need players with political influences and connections. What more can organizations like the USTA or players themselves do to speak up and advocate for the sport locally?

JJ: The thing I would say is as an elected official you want to see two things: One, hopefully facilities will pay for themselves. A lot of elected officials know that recreational items are an expense and not going to make money operations-wise. But, as an elected official if you see a place bringing in other things – bringing in people from out of state for prestigious events. and overall having a huge effect on the development of a city, especially economically, it’s just huge. Two, my advice to local tennis players is just to make sure and pass the word on to let your elected officials. Let them know what tennis and facilities mean to the citizens of your communities. E-mail these people, call them,

tell them why your tennis facilities are worth the dollars spent on them it and show the value added to the community by having them.

USTASW: What’s been your best tennis experience so far both on and off the court?JJ: I would have to say playing tennis with my family is my best on court one. Playing in the Championship Series Pro-Am (in Surprise) would also have to rank high. How many people get to hit with players that have been ranked No. 1 in the world or won majors? My best tennis off court experience would be coaching, captaining, and just helping tennis grow, getting people involved with it. I recently heard a 13-year-old girl say that the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex is “her complex.” Hearing her father tell me she is just in love with tennis was beyond words.

USTASW: Is it more difficult to captain a USTA League team or balance a city’s budget? How does one challenge prepare you for the other? JJ: The city budget is by far more important as it deals with 110,000 citizens’ safety and livelihood as well as recreational activities. The budget requires long hours of research and studying of various issues. Captaining USTA League teams is very challenging and also requires hours of commitment. Scheduling players for matches, arranging practices and courts, and scout-ing players are just a few of those challenges. Even though both require a lot of effort, I still feel honored that Surprise citizens and players on my teams put their trust in me to be their leader and decision maker. It means a lot.

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Have you ever wanted to play matches at your own pace and on you and your partner’s own time? Well now you can with USTA Flex Leagues.

Registration for upcoming seasons of USTA Flex Leagues in the Phoenix metropolitan area are always ongoing- so sign up now!

For more information on USTA Flex Leagues in Phoenix, or to get time frames for upcoming seasons, please contact Local Tennis Organizer Bob Zucker at [email protected].

Men’s and women’s singles and doubles leagues as well as a mixed doubles category will be available in all NTRP levels from 2.5 to Open level in each session offered.

USTA Membership is not required for the league, however the cost is $35 for non-members and $25 for USTA members. Log onto www.ustaflex.com to find out more about USTA Flex Leagues and how to get them started in your area.

USTA League National Championship Fees: Due to increasing costs of doing business, the USTA will be implement-ing a team fee for teams making USTA League National Championships. For divisions in the 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 (five-court format) there will be a team fee of $500 to participate at the National Championships,

while all other divisions/levels (three-court format) will be charged a $400 team fee. There will also be an Active.com registra-tion charge.

Super Senior Nationals hosted in 2009 (as part of their 2008 champion-ship season) will not be charged the team fee, but will be beginning next season.

Upcoming Southwest League DatesMark your calendars, USTA League teams! Should your team advance out of your area and on to 2009 USTA Southwest Section Championships, these dates will be important for you to remember.

Senior Section Championships May 15-17 - El Paso, Texas

Adult Section ChampionshipsJuly 31-Aug. 2 - Albuquerque, N.M.

Mixed Doubles Section ChampionshipsSeptember 18-20 (Tucson, Ariz.)

Super Senior Section ChampionshipsDecember 4-6 (Surprise, Ariz.)

For teams advancing on past Section Championships, a complete schedule of USTA League National Championship dates is available at www.usta.com/leaguesandtournaments

USTA Southwest Tri-Level Section ChampionshipsSurprise Tennis & Racquet Complex - Surprise, Ariz. Jan. 23-25, 2009

USTA Southwest held its first-ever Tri-Level Section Championships, Jan. 23-25 at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex, welcoming more than 100 players to the inaugural event which paired players of different National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels together on teams.

Six different USTA Southwest Community Tennis Association’s had teams represent-ed in Surprise, including Greater El Paso, Central Arizona, Northern Arizona, Southern Arizona, Northern New Mexico, and Southern New Mexico. Several of the CTA’s had dedicated local leagues employing the Tri-Level format while others hosted a separate tournament just to qualify teams for this year’s Section Championships.

In addition to the novel structure of teams (squads are composed of three doubles lines, one each from a 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 level), the format for the tournament was based on a games-won format, not total matches won as in regular USTA League play.

The event kicked off Friday, Jan. 23 with two rounds, continued Saturday with two more, and finished up on Sunday with one final round, giving each team the chance to play all the others.

Central Arizona claimed the men’s division besting second place Northern Arizona by a 14 total games (163 to 149). The CAZ team was captained by Dane McNeill, and included Garth Guibar, German Moreno, James Munoz, Joe Johnson, Omar Garcia, Rick Bonafasi, Scott Goodman, Thien Ngo, Vernon Rhone, Matthew Rhone and Jonathan Levy.

The women’s side was a bit closer, with Greater El Paso edging out Southern Arizona by a mere two games (157 to 155). GEPTA’s roster included team captain Leila Lobato, and players Patty Rincon, Paola Mendoza, Claudia Calderon, Artemisa Delgado, Erika Herrara, Sandra McDonald and Gabriela Prieto.

Winning teams advanced on to the USTA National Tri-Level Championships, which was held March 20-22, during the BNP Paribas Open.

Tri-Level Women’s Champion: GEPTA

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Jr. Team TennisCatching up with Tucson JTT Coordinator Jennifer Fuchs


USTA Southern Arizona president and Hilton El Conquistador Resort and

Country Club Director of Tennis Jennifer Fuchs is a dynamo when it comes to being on court and dealing with young players. As a coach, she spends endless hours in the hot Arizona sun teaching youngsters (and adults alike) the finer points of the game.

Fuchs is also a big proponent of the USTA’s flagship junior program, Jr. Team Tennis, which is why she has helped organize teams each of the last five years out of the El Conquistador.

The El Con even played host to the 2007 USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Championships, due in no small part to Fuchs’ passion for the program, which is all about giving young kids the opportunity to be both competitive and social with their tennis in a team environment.

We recently caught up with Fuchs - a former All-American at UCLA once ranked as high as No. 80 on the WTA Tour - to collect her thoughts on Jr. Team Tennis.

TL: How long have you been involved with Jr. Team Tennis and what is it about the program that you like so much? JF: I have been involved with USTA/JTT for the last 5 years and have set up team matches for our El Conquistador Juniors since I began teaching. The program has so many positive aspects it would be hard to specify a favorite, however, I truly enjoy seeing the children become a team and realize the importance of thinking of others.

TL: The perception is out there that tennis is a solo sport in many aspects. Why do you think it’s important for the USTA to continue to convey the team component of Jr. Team Tennis? JF: Unfortunately, at times, perception is reality. Tennis is, in general, not a team sport if you begin playing as a junior and the parents have wild expectations of professional tennis, fame ,and money. The reality is the number of players that “make it” are so few, and sometimes the disappointment is overwhelming. If a child works extremely hard and has some talent they will be fortunate enough to play on a college team, and if they participated in JTT along the way they will have a better understanding of the concept of team-work and transition a bit easier. The USTA also offers so many differ-ent league formats which facilitates lifetime play.

TL: How important are parents to your Jr. Team Tennis program and how involved are they? What types of activities do you usually have them help with? JF: The parents are not only important but desperately need-ed. Fortunately, we have had a great group of parents helping with JTT here in Tucson at our facility. These parents under-stand the importance of team-work and allowing the kids to be with their friends and enjoy their Tennis. The parents that have helped with JTT have been piv-otal in providing transportation and chaperoning the teams at the Section Championships.

TL: How strong is the social component in your Jr. Team Tennis programs? JF: Do not be mistaken, the kids want to win and the competi-tive spirit is strong. The social component comes in to play when the kids are watching their teammates and cheering them

on as well as after the matches when the child that lost can go and sit with their teammates and “unwind” without having to be poten-tially lectured by parents or an overzealous coach. I try to have our teams also have 1 or 2 of the players actually assist with phone calls, line-ups and making sure the team knows where to be to help play-ers learn responsibility and accountability. But, it’s always a lot of fun for the kids, which is why they like playing.

TL: You have some pretty advanced players on your teams. Thus far, that’s been a tough chore for many Jr. Team Tennis coaches, getting those players. How have you managed to convince your kids JTT is a good competitive option for them? JF: To be honest I have not had to do a lot of convincing. The kids we work with are extremely bright, well grounded, respectful, and understand the benefits of JTT. By playing JTT they can be with their friends, play more doubles, and have great matches without the pressure of sanctioned tournaments. Ironically, it is the coaches that are big proponents of on-court coaching that are not participating. The JTT format is such an invaluable chance to work with your play-ers in structured match play.

For more information on Jr. Team Tennis in the USTA Southwest, please contact USTA Southwest Junior Recreation

Coordinator Jessica Adams at (480) 289-2351 x. 104 or [email protected].

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Collegiate News and Notes


Sparky was in full effect on the tennis courts March 7-8 in Las Cruces,

N.M., as Arizona State claimed the USTA Tennis on Campus Championships - Southwest. The two-day event was held at the New Mexico State University Tennis Complex, and brought together the best co-ed college club teams in a spirited com-petition. In the end, Arizona State downed rival University of Arizona 27-23 for the title.

Schools participating at this year’s USTA Southwest Campus Championships included University of Arizona, Arizona State University, University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University and University of Texas-El Paso. The format for the event was the World TeamTennis scoring system, which places emphasis on games, not sets won.

The first day of play in Las Cruces greeted the players with whip-ping winds, which made playing conditions a bit tricky...at best. But the schools played on, getting four rounds of play in the first day. The schools that participated comprised 10 total teams (several schools split up squads) which made for two flights of five teams each.

Teams duked it out in their final flight matches before moving into bracket play to determine places. Arizona and New Mexico’s team 1’s each captured their respective flights, while ASU 1 and ASU team each finished second in their respective pools.

In Pool 1, New Mexico’s team 1 cruised, going 4-0 against its pool competitors, and ASU2 finished second, losing out to only UNM.

Pool 2 was harrowingly close, as just two games won separated first and third place. Each of the top three finishers (Arizona, Arizona State and UTEP) compiled a 3-1 record in pool play, so it came down to games won. Arizona had 100, ASU1 had 99 and surprise team UTEP had 98. UTEP had the minimum four rostered players needed to make a team, played solid, but narrowly missed the semifinals.

One of the semifinal matches pitted UNM versus ASU1, a repeat of

the 2008 championship (won by UNM). It would be sweet redemption this year for ASU, which prevailed 24-20 in a slug-fest. Arizona tripped up ASU2 in the other semifinal, 27-15, to set up an ASU-Arizona final.

The two teams had played earlier Sunday in the last pool match for both, a tight match won by Arizona, 23-17. ASU flipped the script in the finals however, winning 27-23.

By virtue of their Section championship victory, the Sundevils secured a spot as

the automatic qualifier to the USTA Tennis on Campus National Championships, held April 16-18 at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex (which was too report due to press time). Wildcard teams will be announced soon for the field of 64, and will hopefully include another team or two from USTA Southwest.

Congratulations to all teams that did participate in Las Cruces. This year’s USTA Tennis on Campus Championships - Southwest was the largest ever, with just under a 100 total players. A special thanks also goes out to the New Mexico State University, which allowed us use of their courts for the event.

For more information on Tennis on Campus, or to help get your program started, visit www.tennisoncampus.com. You can also con-tact USTA Southwest Community Tennis Manager Michelle Moyer at [email protected].

Students, don’t forget to join the “USTA Southwest” group on Facebook and upload your photos from the event as well. See you all in 2010!

USTA Tennis on Campus - Southwest ResultsChampionship: Arizona State1 27, Arizona1 23Third Place: University of New Mexico1 30, ASU2 13Fifth Place: University of Texas-El Paso 24, NMSU 1 21Seventh Place: Arizona2 22, UNM2 16Ninth Place: Arizona3 26, NMSU2 19

SunDevils Win Section ‘Campus’ Crown

UNM’s Alex MansfieldNMSU’s Kara Hickey

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The University of Texas-El Paso’s club tennis team proved

one thing at the USTA Tennis on Campus Championships-Southwest in Las Cruces in March: Strength doesn’t always come in big numbers.

The UTEP club team made their first-ever appearance at this year’s Section Championships, and, despite showing up with the minimum number of four rostered players needed to field a team, the Miners’ nearly stole the show.

While other schools brought much larger contingents to Las Cruces for the Section Championships, the UTEP squad of Casey Acosta, Alejandra Rodriguez, Louie Morrow and Omar Vasquez was clearly the smallest in attendance.

The team had formed barely a week prior to this year’s cham-pionship event through the urg-ing of the Greater El Paso Tennis Association. The team quickly

came together to play a qualify-ing match against New Mexico State University in late February just to qualify for the tourna-ment.

“We didn’t even know each other until last week,” said UTEP captain Acosta during the Section Championships. “We just sort of met one another last week and have come together really fast.”

Unfamiliarity proved to be no barrier for UTEP, as the team post-ed a 3-1 record in pool play, and narrowly missed the semifinal round by a single game to even-tual winner Arizona State. What they lacked in depth, they more than made up for in heart…and endurance. With no subs to call in if an injury occurred or fatigue set in, the team played on and played lights-out tennis.

UTEP finished up in fifth place at the Section championships, an extremely impressive showing for a small gang of four.

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For more information on Tennis on Campus, please visit www.tennisoncampus.com or contact Michelle Moyer at

[email protected] or (480) 289-2351 x. 103.

UTEP Team: Louie Morrow, Alejandra Rodriguez, CaseyAcosta, OmarVasquez.

Strength In Numbers

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Friends FirstA tennis rivalry never stands in the way of a good friendship for Tucson’s Courtney Amos and Zaina Sufi


Tucson junior players Courtney Amos and Zaina Sufi remember their first meeting well. Naturally, that introduction was on a tennis court as a 10 and 11-year-old girls, but what others remember is more how

it ended, than the score. The girls were playing a knockdown drag out quarterfinal Girls’ 12 match

at the Western States Junior Open in Tucson in 2004, and as the match reached deep into a third-set tiebreaker that day, everyone, the official included, somehow lost track of the score. The match concluded with a Sufi win, yet, when it came time to record the score at the scorer’s table, she knew it wasn’t really over.

The official had inadvertently gotten the score wrong, and sitting there looking at her opponent, Sufi did the fair thing. Speaking with Amos, the two decided to go back to the court and to the point where they could remember the score, play from there, and end all doubt or bad feelings. Sufi ultimately won the match officially 10-8 in the breaker, but what each girl won that afternoon was a good friend.

It’s at that jumping off point that the bonds of friendship between Amos and Sufi have run tighter than their tennis strings. Now competitors on court in the Girls’ 16’s division, thrice-weekly practice partners at the Perry-Smith Tennis Academy, doubles partners at Section tournaments, the girls have come a long way and are both currently ranked in the Top 5 of Girls 16’s.

At tournaments, they’re virtually inseparable, and often on a collision course for one another in semifinals or finals. Though Sufi has won the last four times they’ve played at USTA events, the matches have all been close, much like the girls are away from the court.

We recently spoke with these two young girls to get their take on their friendship and tennis.

USTASW: What’s it like having a competitor you train with be that closely ranked to you? Are you keeping your secrets of your games close, or is that even possible? ZS: We’re good friends no matter what happens on the court. It’s great hav-ing someone I can compete with so closely and still go home and not worry about it. It’s helpful to have her around, and we have definitely made each other better, and we always treat each other with respect. CA: We’re really good friends and we use our strengths to help get better and playing with each other does that. There are never any hard feelings, just good competition.

USTASW: How would you characterize you two’s friendship? ZS: It’s been good. We are always together and everyone says how we’re always just…inseparable. It’s nice to have someone you can count on. CA: It’s a great friendship. We go to all the tournaments together. We play in everything and most times as doubles partners. I don’t think tennis could ever get in the way of that.

USTASW: Adding up all the times you’ve played one another in practice, in matches, at tournaments…how many times would that be? ZS: It’s a lot that’s for sure (laughing). It has to be at least two or three times a week since I’ve been 11.CA: Yeah, it has to be at least three times a week since then. It’s practice, it’s fun matches, it’s tournament stuff. You add it up and it’s quite a number.

USTASW: What’s it like when you’re playing each other out on the court? Does your friendship get in the way of a good rivalry or does the rivalry make the friendship better? ZS: We don’t really get into anything too heavy. We put it aside and always treat each other with respect. Not even once have we gotten upset at one another. CA: I think the rivalry makes it better. When we’re on the court, we have to put the friendship aside for the time being. But, once we get off, it’s like nothing happened. It’s definitely an advantage having someone like that be able to practice with.

USTASW: What activi-ties do you enjoy doing away from the tennis court? ZS: I used to play soccer when I was younger. I was really into it, but quit last year to concentrate more on tennis. I love to swim and read the Twilight series. Love just hanging out with my friends.

CA: It’s funny…I like to swim, love reading. I also like the Twilight series a lot. I hang out with my friends and sometimes enjoy volunteer work.

USTASW: Do you hang out with one another when you’re away from school and tennis?ZS: Yeah, we don’t go to the same school. I go to Catalina Foothills High School. We see each other all the time though just because of the tennis. We still go do a lot of stuff together, especially at tournaments. CA: I go to Salpointe Catholic High School. We just run into each other about every other day. It’s always something fun. .

USTASW: You both have families which are really involved in tennis? How close are your respective families?ZS: Yeah, our families know each other pretty well. I guess that just comes with being around one another so much at just about everything. CA: We’re pretty close. Her siblings are older and I have younger ones, so we’re really the closest in age and that’s probably why we are good friends. But yeah, it seems like our families are always together.

USTASW: Talk about the first time you played and what you remember. ZS: Well, we had split sets and ended up playing a 10-point tiebreaker to decide it. The official ended up getting the score a little mixed up and messed up the match. He thought the match was over, and that I had won. We should have still been playing. We both knew it was wrong. We went and replayed it from where we both could remember the score. CA: It was an interesting match. It was like the first time we really got to know one another. After that I kind of knew her more and that match started us as friends. We’ve ended up going to the same tennis academy too at Randolph Tennis Center.

USTASW: What are your ultimate goals with tennis? ZS: I’d like to play Division I college, preferably somewhere in California if I can. Maybe play pro for a bit just to see what it’s like. CA: I would love to play Division I college as well, and if I could maybe go pro for a little while just to travel. I love to travel.

USTASW: What’s been your best experience so far with the sport? ZS: In September of last year I got to go to the Nike Junior Tour tournament in California. It was such a fun tournament and there were so many people there, many of the top players in the country. It’s also a team thing. That’s just a good memory. CA: Probably just the traveling and meeting new people wherever I go. You constantly meet new people and that is so much fun.

USTASW: What would you say if someone asked you about the other? ZS: Well, personality wise she’s just a great person all around. She’s funny, nice, and easy going. And tennis wise, she’s just really talented as a player. Overall, she’s just a great person. CA: She’s just a really fun person and a nice to be around. Of course, a great friend. Can’t ask for much more than that.

Tucson’s Courtney Amos (L) & Zana Sufi

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ARIAS

USTA Southwest Calendar of Events


APRIL4-6 — Valley of the Sun Championships Gene Autry Sports Complex - Mesa, Ariz.

16-18 — USTA National Tennis on Campus Championships Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex - Surprise, Ariz.

18-19 — 35th Annual Alamogordo Adult Open Oregon Park Tennis Courts - Alamogordo, NM

19-25 — USTA National Men’s 35 Hardcourt Championships Scottsdale Athletic Club - Scottsdale, Ariz.

24-25 — USTA Northern New Mexico JV Tournament Jerry Cline Tennis Center - Albuquerque, NM

24-26 — El Conquistador Arizona Adult, Senior & NTRP Hilton El Conquistador Resort & Hotel - Tucson, Ariz.

24-29 — USTA National Super Senior Championships Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex - Surprise, Ariz. 24-26 - (6.0 & 8.0 NTRP) 27-29 - (7.0 * 9.0 NTRP)

29-May 3 — Greater El Paso Tennis Association 5th Annual Tennis for the Cure Tennis West – El Paso, Texas

MAYState high school championships – all month Arizona, New Mexico, Texas

1-3 — 36th Annual Sedona Senior Open and NTRP Sedona Racquet Club – Sedona, Ariz.

2-4 — USTA Junior Team Sectional Championships - St. Louis, MO

3-7 — 2009 NJCAA Women’s National Championships Randolph Tennis Center – Tucson, Ariz.

7 — USTA Southwest Semi-Annual Meeting Scottsdale, Ariz.

8-10 — Summerfest The Village Country Club at Camelback – Phoenix, Ariz.

15-17 — USTA Southwest Senior League Championships - El Paso, Texas

22-25 — New Mexico Adult Open and Grand Prix Tanoan Country Club – Albuquerque, NM

30-31 — Tucson Sweet 16 Various sites - Tucson, Ariz.

JUNE8-14 — 25K USTA Pro Circuit (Women’s) Tennis West - El Paso, Texas

13-16 — USTA Southwest Junior Closed Various Sites - Albuquerque, NM

19 — National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) Rally El Paso Youth Tennis Center - El Paso, Texas

19-21 — Mile High Open Prescott Racquet Club – Prescott, Ariz.

27 — National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) Rally Randolph Tennis Center - Tucson, Ariz.

27-28 — USTA Southwest Junior Clay Court Camp - Sedona, Ariz.

JULY3-5 — Cavern City Adult Open Carlsbad, NM

17 — NJTL Rally - Roswell, N.M.

31-Aug. 2 — USTA Adult League Section Championships – Albuquerque, NM

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10-US Robert Tapia


Volunteers are integral to the USTA’s mission to “promote and develop the growth of tennis”. Whether they’re behind a tournament desk, plugging in scores into tournament draws, assisting with events,

helping organize teams or the many other chores they take on, volunteers make us go. Next time you’re at a USTA event and see a volunteer or a tour-nament director, thank them for all they do.

For all that they mean to our organization, we want to highlight their accomplishments and give our USTA members a chance to see them in a different light. Each issue inside TennisLifewe will feature a different USTA Southwest volunteer and ask them 10 questions about their involvement with the sport.

This issue that volunteer is Robert Tapia of El Paso, Texas.

USTASW: When was your first ever tennis moment and what was so memorable about it that it’s kept you around in the sport for so long?RT: I was coaching middle school football, basketball and track I was given the opportunity to teach a tennis class. The way the kids’ faces would light up when they’d get the ball over the net or execute a groundstroke for the first time. They would literally jump up for joy with excitement. Students’ enthu-siasm, eagerness and excitement to learn continues to be one of my greatest joys. It was at that time I realized I was meant to teach tennis.

USTASW: You do a little of everything, uou’re a league captain, tournament player, high school coach , NJTL Chapter leader. How do you juggle all that?RT: Without the support of my wife, it wouldn’t be possible. Ever since I became involved with tennis it was very easy for me to handle different aspects. But the most difficult is being team captain for an adult team. Those adults are something else. Playing competitive tennis is a great pleasure for me. It not only keeps me in shape, but is a lot of fun, and, of course I get to meet new people throughout the Southwest. High school tennis is an altogether different story. We start early August and our season doesn’t end until May. Here in Texas we have two seasons. In the fall we play team tennis which includes boys and girls competing as a team, and the spring season is individual.

Overall the NJTL program that I coordinate and run is by far my favorite pro-gram. Here you deal with beginners that have never touched a racket and by the end of the program they are able to keep score, play a full match and they are part of a team. While it is an extremely busy and often times chaotic sched-ule, keeping things in perspective while still dedicating myself completely to my students, teammates and family is what helps keep me grounded.

USTASW: You’ve been a role model and instructor to countless kids in El Paso. Do many of them still come back and see you. How does that make you feel to know you have impacted these kids through tennis?RT: My NJTL program has been in existence since 1983 and I’ve been coach-ing high school tennis for 24 years, and in all those years I have seen a lot of kids go through my program. I have seen them go on to play college tennis and many come back and teach other kids to play tennis through my NJTL program. Some of my students come back to El Paso and are now teaching pros in local clubs and on the public courts. I keep in touch with most of my players and it is so very rewarding to know that I somehow made a differ-ence in their lives. Having been involved as long as I have now some of my former players now bring their children to my summer program to learn how to play tennis. It really makes me feel great knowing I’ve made an impact in their lives and now they are entrusting me with their children as well.

USTASW: The USTA does a lot for kids through junior programs like Jr. Team Tennis, NJTL and, of course through High Performance. You’ve seen a lot of dif-ferent strategies employed in your years as a coach. What more do you think the USTA could do, or what would you like to see done?RT: Because of my summer program and the support the USTA gives my programs I am able to reach many of our low income communities in El Paso. One of the things that I try to do is change the perception that the

USTA is an elite organization. Ultimately, I would like to see the USTA have a more grass-roots image in these under-served communities.

USTASW: What’s been your best or most long-lasting experience with the sport of tennis?RT: I never ever got involved in tennis to win awards, but to be recognized with the

most prestigious award that the USTA gives out - the Eve Kraft Distinguished Service Award (in 2005) – was such an honor. I’m still honored and humbled from that. It was such a tremendous experience I’ll never forget.

USTASW: Talk a little about your National Junior Tennis League Chapter and its mission and why it’s a little different from other NJTL Chapters.RT: The NJTL program here El Paso has been very successful ever since we started it in 1983. Thanks to all the high school coaches that give up their summer to teach players the game of tennis. The program runs for six weeks in the summer and the different sites have a play day either on Wednesdays or Fridays. Here we have each camp compete against other programs in the city and we make sure that they are paired by skill level, that way we don’t have players discouraged and not come back to our program. Here they feel part of a team and know that they can contribute to the success of their camp. This past year we had 16 different sites and at least 850 players were involved throughout the city of El Paso and outlying areas. Each site had one site director which was either a high school coach or certified instructor with two to six instructors per site depending on the numbers. What makes this program different from other programs in that we all work together to keep costs down and we don’t turn anyone away if they cannot afford to pay.

USTASW: Tell me more about the El Paso tennis community and what makes it such a great place to play tennis?RT: There are so many high school courts that you don’t have to be a mem-ber of a tennis club to enjoy the game of tennis. There are at least 28 high schools that have 8 to 10 courts and of course some of them are lit. Weather wise like most places in the southwest you can play tennis year round.

USTASW: You still get out there and smack the ball around plenty. How’s your game these days?RT: At this time I play 4.0 league tennis. Last year my team won sectionals and went on to nationals where we did pretty good. I try and play at least once a week but my (Americas High School) team takes most of my time (and energy). I really enjoy league tennis because I get lots of exercise, enjoy-ment and love the camaraderie. Being a high school coach gives me the opportunity to drill and hit with different levels of players, which of course helps my game.

USTASW: What are some of the challenges facing El Paso tennis?RT: In a city of the size of El Paso we still only have one public facility – the El Paso Youth Tennis Center. Otherwise you have area schools where the courts may or may not be open. We desperately need more public courts with lights.

USTASW: This is an open ended question, answer anyway that you like.Playing tennis is better than......?RT: …staying at home and being a couch potato. Tennis has made me a better all-round person, not only in the community but also in my career. Tennis is a very intense yet relaxing sport. When I’m playing I completely forget about everything else around me. It really is the ‘sport of a lifetime.”

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Documents

May 2009 - United States Tennis Associationassets.usta.com/assets/644/USTA_Import/Southwest/dps/doc_26_908.pdf · Babolat. Tony Reyes of Phoenix After School Sports (P.A.S.S.)