tennis club members

By Justin Cohen

• The West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills is considering selling its historic stadium, a decaying landmark that hosted the US Open for more than six decades before it was moved a few miles away to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. “Forest Hills is a U.S. Open icon,” said Jim Curley, US Open Tournament Director. “It’s unfortunate when you lose a stadium like that with so much history.” West Side Tennis Club President Kenneth J. Parker declined comment. Nancy VanDerbeck, the club secretary, who notified some members about the potential sale last week, also declined to comment. According to a notice posted at the West Side Tennis Club, an informational meeting about the potential sale of the club is scheduled for August 10, with a vote by members set for August 19. Two-thirds of the West Side Tennis Club members with voting rights must agree to the sale. It is unclear if a buyer has already been selected and how much land would be included in any deal. The letter says the sale proposal would only cover the stadium parcel. The issue of what to do with the 15,000-seat stadium, which is little used today, has long split the club’s 825 members. Some of the members want it renovated and some want it demolished.

  

• The USTA announced that long-time partner American Express will present the inaugural “Fresh Courts” program, a philanthropic effort to invest in developing communities through the renovation of existing, disrepaired tennis facilities in various markets across the U.S. The 2010 program targets 17 tennis courts in three cities including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and New York, during Olympus US Open Series events and the US Open. All work on the courts will be performed or supervised by the USTA’s Facility Assistance department. Work is scheduled to begin in all three markets in September, with the goal of having all three sites completed by early-fall. Annually, the USTA refurbishes nearly 700 courts in approximately 200 communities around the country. “American Express’ Fresh Courts program will impact thousands of tennis fans and is a tremendous example of our partners giving back to communities that support tennis,” said Lucy S. Garvin, USTA President and Chairman of the Board. “With their support we can bring our new QuickStart play format to more kids than ever before.” In Los Angeles, the Fresh Courts program targets eight courts at the Jackie Tatum Harvard Tennis Courts, located at one of the city’s busiest parks. In New York, the Fresh Courts program will work with tennis courts located in Brooklyn’s McCarren Park. The 35-acre park services the Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods and currently contains seven tennis courts. In Washington D.C., the Fresh Courts program is targeting two tennis courts in Columbia Heights, a high traffic location near William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park, home of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
• Bank of the West, the title sponsor for this week’s Bank of the West Classic, announced a tournament recycling initiative with Rebounces, organizers of the first national tennis ball recycling campaign. An estimated 300 million tennis balls are manufactured around the world each year and Bank of the West is encouraging tennis players and fans to bring old tennis balls to the Bank of the West Classic this week and recycle them. For each dozen balls returned at the tournament from July 30 to August 1, the bank and Rebounces will provide one new can of balls. Balls collected at the tournament from July 26-August 1 will be re-pressurized using Rebounces patented technology and a portion of these will be donated to Youth Tennis Advantage (YTA), a non-profit organization dedicated to serving youth in Oakland and San Francisco through a program of tennis and academic tutoring.
• Spend a special evening with eight-time Grand Slam singles champion Andre Agassi as he sits down with ESPN’s legendary sports journalist Rick Reilly at Town Hall in New York City. Reilly will put Agassi through a combination of events from a one-on-one interview to real-time talk show to roast to tribute, followed by a question and answer session. Tickets start at $95 and can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
• Tickets are currently on sale for the New York Junior Tennis League’s (NYJTL) 15^th Annual “Summer Gala with the Stars” to be held at the Central Park Boathouse in Manhattan on Wednesday, August 11 from 6:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the NYJTL programs and the Arthur Ashe Endowment for the Defeat of AIDS. “The Summer Gala with the Stars” includes cocktails and a buffet dinner, live music and dancing, silent auction, raffle, gondola rides, caricatures, tarot readings, magicians and more. The event is Co-Chaired by: Fay Ann Lee, Bruce Manson, and Lee Miller. In 2009, the Summer Gala raised $155,000. Honorary Committee Chairs include: John Andariese, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Mary Carillo, Jim Courier, Former Mayor David Dinkins, Lucy Garvin, Luke Jensen, Ilene Margolin, Patrick McEnroe, Melissa McEnroe, Dennis and Pat Van der Meers, Elizabeth Vargas, Virginia Wade. Tickets which range from $175 to $500, are now on sale on the NYJTL website (www.nyjtl.org) or by telephone. For more information or to purchase tickets by phone, contact Pam Glick at (347) 417-8146.
• New Chapter Press on Monday the release of TENNIS MADE EASY, a tennis instructional book written by noted instructor Kelly Gunterman. Accessible and concise, TENNIS MADE EASY ($19.95, www.NewChapterMedia.com) is an informative paperback guide that offers sensible and simple instruction, explained in a clear, jargon-free format, drawn from 30 years of tennis coaching. Effective for tennis players of all levels, this workbook includes a wealth of tactics, strategies, and definitions that is perfectly suited for beginners to the sport. Integrating productive and enjoyable practice drills, a wide range of topics are explored—gripping the racket, perfecting your serve, positioning, pressuring the opponent, and how to play singles or doubles. Clear information on choosing equipment and deciding what to pack in a tennis bag is also included. “Tennis is the ultimate sport for fitness, fun and socialization and Tennis Made Easy is the perfect guide to steer players through this sport for a lifetime,” said Gunterman. “Tennis Made Easy was written to help beginners and intermediate players get a better grasp on their game and make tennis simple. I know that advanced players will also find the book helpful as it serves as a reminder not to overcomplicate playing this great sport.” Gunterman is a USPTA-certified tennis instructor who has trained more than 20,000 people during a 30-year career. Currently the Director of Tennis at the Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, Fla., he founded the Gunterman Tennis Schools in 1991, which have been listed in the “Top 25 Adult Tennis Schools in North America” by Tennis Magazine. A graduate of Austin Peay State University and the former long-time Director of Tennis at the Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont, he is also the founder of Tennis without Borders, a not-for-profit organization that offers scholarships and assistance with school fees to young tennis students in developing countries. He lives in Fernandina Beach, Florida, and is also the tournament director for two USTA Futures events in northern Florida.Atlanta Tennis Championships Tournament Director Bill Oakes told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that a potential schedule conflict with golf’s PGA Tour stop at the Atlanta Athletic Club may stop the event from being held there in 2011. “We’re trying to figure it out,” said Oakes. The overall tournament attendance was 40,000, including two session sellouts.
• The Andy Roddick Foundation will open a tennis center for underprivileged children in Granite Shoals, Texas. The city has approved the $5 million project, which will include 18 tennis courts and is expected to take several years to complete.
• Proposals for a new tennis facility to house next year’s WTA Tour event to be built at Troy Park in Howard County, Md., that will feature 30 courts and an 8,000-seat stadium will soon be voted on in city council.
• On Monday, Roger Federer announced on his official website that he will work with Paul Annacone on a trial basis. “I’ve been looking to add someone to my team, and I’ve decided to spend some days with Paul Annacone,” said Federer. “As Paul winds down his responsibilities working for the Lawn Tennis Association, we will explore our relationship through this test period. Paul will work alongside my existing team, and I am excited to learn from his experiences.” Annacone has previously coached Pete Sampras, Tim Henman and Marat Safin and is now the head coach of men’s tennis for Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association. In the past, Federer has worked with Darren Cahill, Jose Higueras and Tony Roche, but has also gone without a coach for extended periods of time. Federer, who has won a record 16 Grand Slam singles titles, is scheduled to play the Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati before playing in the US Open in New York.
• After a two and a half year working relationship, Andy Murray has stopped working with his coach Miles Maclagan, according to the Scot’s management company. “I’ve had a great relationship with Miles,” said Murray. “I want to thank him for his positive contribution to my career.” Murray, who is playing in the Farmers Classic this week in Los Angeles, will continue working with other members of his team until appointing a new coach after the US Open.
• According to Forbes, Roger Federer is the sixth highest-earning athlete in the world with an income of $43 million. On the same day, Sports Illustrated named Federer the second highest-earning athlete and top non-American with earnings of $61.7 million. Maria Sharapova was the only other tennis player on the Forbes list, coming in at No. 35 with estimated earnings of $24.5 million.
• Locations were announced for the Davis Cup semifinals with Serbia hosting the Czech Republic on hard courts in Belgrade in September and France hosting Argentina on hard courts in Lyon.
• Matt Cronin of tennisreporters.net is reporting that Maria Sharapova’s new physical trainer is Scott Burns. Burns previously trained Ana Ivanovic.
• Shahar Peer has cut ties with her coach of two years, Pablo Giacopelli. Ha’aretz is reporting that Giacopelli cites personal reasons for the split. Matt Cronin of tennisreporters.net is reporting that Eliot Teltscher is now working with Peer.
• Tennis players make up five of the United States’ Top 10 favorite female athletes, according to a poll by Harris Media. Serena and Venus Williams were No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Maria Sharapova was No. 5, Anna Kournikova was No. 6, No. 9 was Billie Jean King and No. 10 was Martina Navratilova.
• Defending US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, who has been sidelined since the Australian Open with a wrist injury, has entered the ATP event in Bangkok, which begins at the end of September. “I am looking forward to playing the PTT Thailand Open on my return from injury,” del Potro said in a statement released by tournament organizers.
• Former Top 10 James Blake has put aside retirement talks for now to continue playing on the ATP World Tour after he says his knee has been better after starting to take anti-inflammatories after Wimbledon. Blake, who originally refused to take them, said he is now able to fully train and has done a complete 180 since earlier in the summer. “I’ve done a complete 180,” said Blake. “Wimbledon was a pretty disappointing time. I wasn’t able to train, but now I’m feeling great, the knee is feeling good.”
• 23-year-old Blake Strode, who deferred going to Harvard Law School in 2009 so he could pursue his dream of playing professional tennis, won the US Open National Playoffs by defeating Cecil Mamiit, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(1). With the victory, Strode earned a wild card into the US Open qualifying tournament, which will be played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. Strode, who was an All-American at the University of Arkansas, is currently ranked No. 522 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings.
• Donald Becker has been named Tennis Director at Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort on St. John U.S.V.I. Caneel Bay’s tennis center is a Peter Burwash International (PBI) Tennis Center, and was the top-ranked tennis resort in the Caribbean in 2010 by Tennis Resorts Online. Becker will oversee a variety of activities including private lessons, daily clinics, round robins, and other social and competitive events. “Donald is a talent on the courts and off, and we’re delighted to have him leading the tennis operation to build on our legacy of great tennis,” said Nikolay Hotze, Managing Director of Caneel Bay. “During three decades with Peter Burwash, our guests have appreciated a continuity of instruction, professionalism and personal service. We look forward to Donald’s leadership to continue providing the finest tennis program in the Caribbean.”