Industry News

U.S. Senate Appropriations Funds PEP for 2012-2013

In a victory for physical education funding, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has followed the recommendation of the Labor, Health and Education Subcommittee and included $78 million in funding for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) for the 2012-2013 school year. The vote took place September 21.

This is good news given the current budget environment and the uncertainty of PEP funding in the House of Representatives. The House Education and Labor Committee proposed elimination of PEP citing duplication on PE in other “physical activity” programs. The House Appropriations Committee has yet to take up Education funding. In recent years, the Senate and the House have approved similar funding levels for PEP and compromised on the final funding figure.

“The quality physical education provided with the PEP grant is critical to the physical well-being, academic achievement and social development of young people. Without dedicated PE funding, schools will not have the resources necessary to train teachers and purchase equipment needed for quality PE,” said Bill Sells, SGMA’s vice president of government relations. “The Senate’s inclusion of PEP funding is a huge victory for the physical education community and a crucial step forward in securing 2012-2013 PE funds.”

First Lady Visits US Open; Praises 10U Initiative

First Lady Michelle Obama, in New York to participate in a 10 and Under Tennis clinic at the US Open, applauded the USTA for engaging millions of children in tennis, introducing tennis into thousands of elementary schools throughout the country, and building more than 2,000 right-sized courts that provide a place for young people to play tennis.

“I am grateful to the USTA,” said the First Lady (shown with USTA President and Chairman of the Board Jon Vegosen). “The courts you build, these kids sized courts, are just amazing. They will break that barrier; they will make tennis accessible to kids.” Mrs. Obama visited the interactive SmashZone at the US Open, playing with kids on the smaller courts.

The USTA’s efforts were part of its partnership with both the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative to encourage more children to become active and lead healthier lifestyles. She was joined by several current and former champions including Billie Jean King, Serena Williams, John McEnroe, James Blake, MaliVai Washington and Katrina Adams, as she thanked children from the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program for participating in her Let’s Move! initiative.

USPTA Members Elect National Board

After a highly contested election for the USPTA’s national board of directors, the new directors took office for a two-year term at the association’s World Conference on Tennis held in September.

The five vice presidents on the new board are: Nancy Cox, Gary Trost, Jeff Hawes, Dan Moster and Tom McGraw. They join USPTA President Tom Daglis and First Vice President Randy Mattingley. The USPTA bylaws do not allow additional nominations for the positions of president and first vice president, so the choices of the Nominating Committee for those two offices were final prior to the election.

The USPTA board manages the association’s affairs between meetings of the larger USPTA Executive Committee, which includes the board, three past national presidents, and two elected leaders from each of the USPTA’s 17 domestic divisions.

A Record Day for US Open Stringers

When Hurricane Irene blew into New York the weekend before the US Open, it delayed many things, including the work of the Wilson US Open Stringing Team. But on Monday, Aug. 29, the first day of the tournament, the Wilson team set things back on track by stringing a record 490 racquets. The previous one-day record, said Ron Rocchi, Wilson’s global tour equipment manager, was 370 racquets strung at the 2011 Australian Open.

Dunlop Introduces Biomimetic 700

Dunlop’s newest frame is the Biomimetic 700, which the company says uses all of Dunlop’s Biomimetic technologies, plus an advanced grommet system. “Overall, this is the most advanced frame we’ve ever created. It’s absolutely loaded with technology aimed directly at providing players a very powerful, yet comfortable and maneuverable frame,” says Hunter Hines, Tennis Product Manager for Dunlop Sports Group Americas.

Among the technologies is the “3Dom” grommet system — a set of green pods made of material that is softer than regular grommet material. The pods encase “Anti-Friction Grommets” and Dunlop says they perform a similar function to cartilage surrounding joints: provide padding while allowing greater freedom of movement for the strings, which creates more recoil and gives shots more power, in addition to dampening string vibration. For more info, visit dunlopsports.com or call 800-768-4727.

USTA CTDW Set for New Orleans

Don’t miss the 2012 USTA Community Tennis Development Workshop, the largest annual gathering of CTA/NJTL and community tennis leaders in the country. The CTDW will be Jan. 13-15 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.

USTA officials expect more than 600 grassroots community tennis leaders to attend. Programming includes sessions by experts in the non-profit sector and the tennis industry. For more information, visit usta.com/ctdw.

Following the Signs

The Corpus Christi Tennis Association in Texas put up this billboard in early August as part of its marketing plan for 10 and Under Tennis. The billboard is located on the Crosstown Expressway, one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city, where it will be up for six months, then may be moved to another location. Helping to make the advertisement possible was one of CCTA’s members, who is a part owner of Cooper Advertising, the firm that is displaying the sign.

Stan Smith Named Hall of Fame President

Former world No. 1 tennis player and past US Open and Wimbledon champion Stan Smith has been named president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Smith, who was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1987, will succeed legendary tennis player and 1970 Hall of Famer Tony Trabert, who has served as Hall of Fame president since 2001. Trabert has been named a Life Trustee of the HOF.

Former members of the board of directors who are returning to the board are: Jefferson T. Barnes, who is Of Counsel at the law firm of Watts, Tice and Skowronek; Alan Hassenfeld, chairman of the executive committee of Hasbro, Inc.; Kay Koplovitz, founder of USA Network and Chairman and CEO of Koplovitz & Co. LLC; and Thomas A. James, chairman of Raymond James Financial.

Newly elected board members are: Claudio Del Vecchio, chairman and CEO of Brooks Brothers; Guillaume de Ramel, director of FH Prince & Co.; Michael F. Goss, managing director and COO of Bain Capital LLC; Frew McMillan, a 10-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles, who was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1992; Tim Phillips, former chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club; John J. Ross II, managing partner of Fidus Partners; Todd Traina, founder of Red Rover Films; and Gene Yoon, chairman and CEO Fila Korea Ltd.

In addition to the new board members and the election of Smith as president, the following officers were re-elected: Christopher E. Clouser as chairman, Donald L. Dell as vice chairman, Barbara A. Georgescu as vice chairman, Mark L. Stenning as CEO, Nancy von Auersperg as treasurer and Peggy H. Woolard as secretary.

PTR Junior Development Master Program Begins

The PTR’s new training program, Master of Tennis–Junior Development, will begin in November with external assessment of coach skills, knowledge and abilities.

The program’s qualification will match the National Standards for Sports Coaches (NSSC) at Level 5, the highest level. The NSSC levels are used by many other sports and education bodies in the U.S. and endorsed by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

“I am excited to announce the next phase of the PTR Education and Certification Pathway program,” said PTR CEO Dan Santorum. “It is based on a number of courses in a unique mixture of online learning and home study, as well as practical on-court learning in small groups of fellow professionals. The program can be completed in as few as nine months or can take as long as two years, and the schedule takes into consideration that most participants work full time.”

The program leader is coach education expert Anne Pankhurst, who previously worked in this capacity for both the USTA and LTA. For the on-court sections of the course, PTR has arranged a number of programs around the country — Orlando, San Diego, New York and Hilton Head Island. The Master of Tennis–Junior Development program is open to PTR members who hold a Professional rating, and is for those who are working with juniors age 4-16. Visit ptrtennis.org for more information.

Benjamin Receives USTA President’s Award

David Benjamin, the executive director of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and the retired Princeton University men’s tennis coach, received the 2011 USTA President’s Award during the USTA Semiannual meeting in New York City during the US Open.

“David has had a remarkable impact on the game of tennis and has been a major contributor in our efforts to grow the game,” said USTA Chairman of the Board and President Jon Vegosen. “Not only collegiate varsity tennis, but also the entire tennis community has benefitted from his incredible passion, dedication and commitment.” The President’s Award honors an individual who has given unusual and extraordinary service to the sport in the public’s interest.

Since its inception in 1999, award recipients have included Billie Jean King, Lindsay Davenport, Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan and former New York City Mayor David Dinkins.

Capriati, Kafelnikov, Kuerten, Bollettieri on Hall of Fame Ballot for 2012

Jennifer Capriati, one of America’s most dominant tennis players in the 1990s and early 2000s; Russia’s first world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov; and Brazilian tennis superstar Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten have been nominated to receive the highest honor available in the sport of tennis, induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. All three are nominated for the induction Class of 2012 in the Recent Player Category.

Also in the Recent Player Category, Wheelchair Tennis superstar and three-time Paralympic medalist Randy Snow has been nominated posthumously for induction. In the Master Player Category, Thelma Coyne Long of Australia, who captured 19 Grand Slam titles between the 1930s and 1950s, and 1975 US Open champion Manuel Orantes, a Spanish star of the 1970s-1980s have been nominated.

Three individuals have been nominated for their contributions to the sport. Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who has guided 10 ATP and WTA stars to world No. 1 status; influential tennis promoter and administrator Mike Davies; and Eiichi Kawatei, who has played a vital role in the growth of tennis in Asia have all been nominated in the Contributor Category.

Voting for the 2012 ballot will take place over the next several months, with the announcement of the inductees for 2012 expected early next year. The Class of 2012 Induction Ceremony will be held July 14 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. Visit tennisfame.com for more info.

ASBA to Offer Technical Meeting in Palm Desert

The American Sports Builders Association will hold its Technical Meeting Dec. 2-5 at the J.W. Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, Calif. The meeting will include a trade show featuring some of the newest products and techniques on the market.

The program will have sessions on advanced technique in tennis and sports facility design, construction and materials, as well as “how to” programs for those seeking a more hands-on approach. In addition, there will be social events to facilitate networking, presentations of industry awards, exams for those interested in the ASBA’s professional certification program, and more. Visit sportsbuilders.org.

Evert Helps Relaunch Ellesse Sportswear

Eighteen-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert will serve as brand ambassador for newly formed Ellesse North America. A statement from the company said Evert, 56, will be actively involved in design, promotion and marketing, as well as the development of a signature collection, “Chris Evert for Ellesse.” During the US Open, Evert hosted a cocktail party to help relaunch the Italian sportswear label in the U.S.

Ellesse North America has acquired the master license for the Ellesse brand in all product categories for the North American market from Pentland Group plc. The company says it will relaunch in the U.S. in the fourth quarter 2011.

In addition to tenniswear, Ellesse says it will offer clothing and shoes for other “lifetime sports” like fitness, skiing, golf and equestrian. The company says it plans to have an online store and freestanding stores. The collection also will be carried in specialty stores, pro shops, ski shops, tack shops and hotel and resort shops.

Har-Tru Consulting Offers Storm Assistance

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, Har-Tru Consulting Services is providing free consultation in the month of October to clubs in the Northeast whose courts were affected by the storm. Har-Tru Consulting Services specializes in providing advice on the renovation, construction and maintenance of clay tennis courts.

“We have been advising clubs in the Southeast for years when they faced hurricane damage but the Northeast isn’t typically faced with this type of situation,” said Ed Montecalvo, Consulting Services Manager for Har-Tru Sports. A typical consulting visit costs $500 per day or $190 per court, plus travel expenses, he said, but under these circumstances he is waiving all fees.

“I am hopeful that we can not only provide insight into what the damage level is and how to remedy it, but that we can also share information on the latest trends in courts and technology that might make sense if a rebuild is required,” he said. Contact support@hartru.com or 877-4HARTRU.

Peoplewatch

Prince junior players, armed with EXO3 frames, captured titles at this year’s US Open junior event. Oliver Golding, 17, of Great Britain took the boys’ singles title; he uses the Prince EXO3 Rebel 95, with Beast XP polyester string. Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands captured the Girls’ Doubles title with her Prince EXO3 Black. She and her partner outlasted another athlete wielding EXO3 technology, 15-year-old Taylor Townsend of Atlanta. Visit princewhosnext.com.
Ajay Pant has joined the Tennis Center at College Park in Maryland as the general manager of the 30-court facility. Pant comes from Tennis Corporation of America (TCA), where he has worked at key facilities around the country in his 18-year tenure.
The Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee elected four industry leaders to join its 2012 Class. The inductees, who will officially be inducted at the NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit in May, are Don Lucas, Luke’s Locker; Randy Ruch, Schuylkill Valley Sports; Neil Stillwell, The Game; and the late Cliff Keen, Cliff Keen Athletic.
Michael Mahoney, general manager of Midtown Tennis Club, announced that Head Tennis Professional Butch Staples is leaving the club to build a new tennis facility in Bluffton, S.C. Staples will, however, continue his relationship with Midtown and its parent company, Chicago-based Tennis Corporation of America, acting in a special advisory position. Mahoney also announced the promotion of Mike Insko to the position of Head Professional at Midtown.
Todd Martin of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., has been named a Director at Large on the USTA Board of Directors. He will serve through 2012, replacing Jeff Tarango, who resigned to devote more time to his family and career. Martin is one of three elite athletes on the USTA Board of Directors, along with Patrick J. Galbraith and Chanda Rubin.
Earlier this year, Bob Pfaender of Lake Mary, Fla., received Wilson Sporting Goods highest sales honor, the Jack Kramer Award. Pfaender, who also is an avid USTA volunteer, is a territory manager for Wilson and he grew his sales index last year by 123 percent while raising performance racquets, footwear, accessories and apparel over 100 percent.
RSI Contributing Editor Robin Bateman was named the 2011 USTA Georgia Media Excellence Award winner.
Top racquetball player Jansen Allen has signed a long-term contract with Wilson Sporting Goods and will be using the Ninja BLX racquet. Jansen, currently a senior at Colorado State–Pueblo, is the 2010 US Open 24 and under National Champion, 2010 National Singles 24 and under Champion along with 2010 Texas State Champion and 2010 Texas State Doubles Champion. He is also a top ranked player on the IRT tour.
Scott Creelman, former CEO of Spalding Sports Worldwide, died on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011 after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 68 years old.
Grace Min, 17, of Duluth, Ga., upset top-seeded Caroline Garcia of France to win the US Open girls’ singles title. Min did not drop a set in six matches, which included an upset over No. 2 seed Irina Khromacheva of Russia in the first round, and a victory over fellow American Nicole Gibbs in the semifinals.
Esther Vergeer, 30, of the Netherlands won the US Open Wheelchair Tennis championship, her 19th consecutive Grand Slam singles title and her 429th consecutive singles match. Vergeer first hit world No. 1 in 1999. She has not lost a singles wheelchair tennis match since January 2003. American David Wagner captured the quad singles title, and teamed with fellow American Nick Taylor to win the quad doubles title.
Ashaway Racket Strings has signed multi World Doubles Champion and Racquetball Hall of Famer Jacqueline Paraiso to its stable of sponsored players.
John Hobart of Atlanta has been named USTA Southern Section 10 and Under Tennis coordinator.
Karin Buchholz has joined the USTA as Director, Community Outreach and Education. She will direct the USTA’s efforts with NJTL, First Serve, USTA Schools and Tennis and Higher Education initiatives. She leaves a position as Vice President of Community Relations and Field Marketing/Fan Development for MSG Sports Teams.
David Campisi, the chief executive officer and president of The Sports Authority Inc., has resigned. Darrell Webb has been named the interim CEO.
Jim Gabel has been appointed to the position of Adidas group president, Canada. He was previously president of Reebok North America.
Agata Cioroch of Atlanta, Ga., was crowned the women’s open champion of the USPTA International Championships in September. Adrian Zguns of Orlando, Fla., won the men’s open title.
Kevin Clayton, the USTA’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, has left the organization.
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced the departure of Jason Berney, media/web manager, and Alli Berney, manager of promotions and membership, as well as the arrival of three new staff members: Joshua Rey and Nick Snow, who will each serve as manager of communications, and Ellah Nze, who will take on the role of events and project management intern.
Pancho Gonzalez, a tennis pioneer and two-time U.S. National Champion, is the 2011 inductee into the US Open Court of Champions. He was inducted during a ceremony in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sept. 3.

Weather Can’t Dampen Open Attendance, Web Records

Despite four washed-out sessions at the 2011 US Open resulting in the need to reschedule the last five days of the tournament, the USTA says the Open attracted more than 650,000 attendees and set Labor Day Weekend attendance records.

The Saturday through Monday Labor Day Weekend saw 186,186 fans enter the grounds. The men’s final, featuring Novak Djokovic capturing his first US Open title over defending champion Rafael Nadal on Monday, Sept. 12, also set the all-time attendance record of 24,713 in Arthur Ashe Stadium and on the grounds of the National Tennis Center, as did the men’s semifinal attendance of 24,071 on Sept. 10. In all, 11 sessions sold out.

Other Open highlights include:

53.1 million viewers watched all or part of the Open on CBS Sports, up 17% from last year.
The women’s singles final on Sept. 11, which saw Samantha Stosur beat Serena Williams, achieved a 3.3 national rating, with 13.1 million viewers watching all or part, an increase of 93% from viewership of the Clijsters-Zvonareva final which aired in primetime on Saturday last year.
The men’s singles final was seen in all or part by 11.8 million viewers.
USOpen.org set a new site record for unique visitors (15,421,675) surpassing 2010’s total by 24%, and total visits to the site topped 51.8 million, the second most in history.
More than 3.1 million hours of live streaming was viewed, an increase of 12% from last year’s record.
USOpen.org also saw record mobile traffic across its mobile-friendly website (m.usopen.org) and the official iPhone and Android Apps, with more than 84.3 million page views, a 173% increase over 2010.

New Green Dot Ball from Oncourt Offcourt

Oncourt Offcourt President Joe Dinoffer has introduced a new design on its USTA-tested and -approved green level low-compression ball. Dinoffer says the new design is the result of the “Green Dot” design first introduced in Europe by the ITF being embraced in the U.S. Available in two hinged bucket sizes for easy access and storage, the low-pressure balls meet all USTA and ITF specifications for both training and competitive play for sanctioned 10 and Under Tennis events. For info: OncourtOffcourt.com or 88-TENNIS-11.

Aetna, USTA Announce School Grant Program

Aetna and the USTA have announced a new grant program designed to introduce kids tto tennis. “Aetna ICON Grants” will be used to help improve the health, physical activity and academic achievement of youngsters in diverse communities throughout the U.S., through the integration of tennis, health and education curricula in after-school programs.

The grant program will be available in each of the sections. The USTA will supply tennis equipment, tennis lines and personalized training for teachers and coaches; Aetna will supply volunteers to conduct the education and health portions of the program. USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the USTA, will provide the financial grant, program evaluation and oversight.

Schools with at least 51 percent non-white enrollment will be targeted and will not be required to currently provide a tennis program at the elementary school level, physical education or an afterschool program to be eligible for a grant. Teachers and coaches who would like to assist will not be required to have a tennis background, but must be committed to help supervising the tennis.

Congratulations To the Following For Achieving MRT and CS Status

New MRTs

Dan McLaughlin, Glenshaw, PA

Nattie Chan, Oberlin, OH

New CSs

Russell Whitehead, Athens, GA

Jared Shoops, Athens, GA

Short Sets

The DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., has been selected as the site for the 2012 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II First Round tie between the U.S. and Belarus, Feb. 4-5. Thirteen-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams has already committed to play for the U.S. team in 2012, while current world No. 4 Victoria Azarenka is expected to compete for Belarus. For ticket info, call 888-334-8782 or visit usta.com/fedcup.
DecoTurf was chosen as the official surface of the men’s and women’s China Open, held in October at the Beijing National Tennis Center.
Just before the US Open began, Wilson sponsored a successful attempt by 658 New York kids to break the Guinness World Records Title for “the most people bouncing tennis balls on tennis racquets.” Wilson players Mardy Fish and Andrea Petkovic were on hand to mentor kids and adults who received 500 free racquets.
Babolat recently honored its annual Sales Award winners: Retailer of the Year: TennisPlaza in Florida. Sales Rep of the Year: Rose Jones. “Tennis Runs in Our Blood” Award: Rich Francey and David Dwelle.
Dunlop Sports has extended its agreement as the official ball of U.S. Squash. The over two decade long partnership has grown in recent years; in 2010 Dunlop signed on as the Official Eyewear of U.S. Squash, and this year the two companies are working to develop a new Mini Squash program targeting 10 and under kids with appropriately sized equipment.
Lee Tennis Court Products, which recently changed its name to Har-Tru Sports, has launched a new web presence with hartru.com.
Four tennis umpires filed a class- and collective-action lawsuit against the USTA on Sept. 8 for wage and hour violations. The case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 11-Civ-6268) on behalf of persons who worked as umpires in the main draw and in qualifying matches during US Open tournaments held in 2005 through 2011. The USTA employs about 300 umpires during the tournament. The umpires claim the USTA violated federal and/or state wage and hour laws by failing to pay all wages due including overtime. Judith L. Spanier of Abbey Spanier Rodd & Abrams, LLP, and the Law Offices of Mitchell Schley, LLC, represent the plaintiffs.
Tennis Channel is no longer part of Cablevision and Verizon FiOS TV’s distribution rosters. Starting Sept. 4, in the middle of the US Open, Tennis Channel was no longer making its signal available to Cablevision.
Peter Burwash, president of Peter Burwash International, recently told Travel Agent magazine that, in the Caribbean, travel agents may one day make more money on tennis travel than they do in the lucrative golf travel market. Burwash says tennis “lends itself to family participation, is very cheap to play, and takes a lot less than the five years it usually takes you to be able to play golf successfully.” PBI has five resort partners in the Caribbean.
Under Armour is looking to double the size of its Baltimore headquarters to accommodate additional employees, as well as a 20,000 square-foot retail store, athletic fields and a company museum. The company, which employs nearly 5,000 people worldwide, seeks to add 400,000 square feet.
Hinding Tennis rehabilitated three courts in Astoria Park in Queens, N.Y., as part of the American Express and USTA’s Fresh Courts program. Chris Evert and world No. 4 Victoria Azarenka were on hand right before the US Open to open the courts.
Wilson has entered into a new partnership with Peter Burwash International as its official tennis equipment brand.
Izod is the 2011 “Official Apparel of the Champions Series” 12-city tennis tour. All Champions Series officials, ball kids, and staff will be in Izod apparel.
The soccer club Barcelona has complained to Nike that its jerseys absorb so much moisture it slows them down. The Spanish newspaper El Pais reported Barcelona players claimed the jerseys double in weight by halftime. Tennis star Rafael Nadal experienced a similar problem with his own Nike Dri-FIT gear at the Australian Open. A Nike statement said the problem is limited to home jerseys and only versions issued directly to players rather than any sold at retail.

Balboa Tennis Club Sends Tennis to the Troops

The USTA’s Adopt-A-Unit effort took over San Diego’s Balboa Tennis club recently, as BTC sent care packages and needed personal supplies to 250 service men and women at different units in Afghanistan and Iraq. Organizations (clubs, CTAs, teams, etc.) organize “packing parties” for the supplies, ship them overseas, and the USTA then sends those same units tennis equipment to provide recreation for the troops. Visit usta.com/military to find out more, or email military@usta.com.

Hassan Named USPTA Pro of the Year

Feisal Hassan of Midlothian, Va., who has been involved in tennis and has been a USPTA member for more than 20 years, received the USPTA’s Alex Gordon Award for the Professional of the Year. Hassan was recognized at the USPTA’s World Conference on Tennis in September.

The professional of the year is judged in seven areas, including contributions to USPTA and USTA; as a teaching professional, player and coach; education, research and publications; organizational affiliations; and contributions to the community.

Hassan, who is also a USPTA Master Professional, grew up playing junior tennis at the local and national level in Zimbabwe before moving to the United States. After playing collegiate tennis for four years at Virginia Commonwealth University and earning a degree in marketing, he began his tennis-teaching career.

He is currently a USPTA tester and on the national education and diversity committees. He also has been heavily involved at the USTA sectional and national levels, including as a USTA High Performance coach. Hassan has coached internationally for Zimbabwe. And he and his family are involved in giving back to their community through many programs. Hassan also is on the Head/Penn National Advisory Board and Speaker’s Bureau and the TIA’s National Cardio Tennis Speakers Team.

Two Earn USPTA Master Pro Distinction

Emilio Sánchez Vicario of Barcelona and Darryl Lewis of Nellysford, Va., were recognized recently as USPTA Master Professionals, the organization’s highest rating.

Members must hold USPTA’s highest certification rating (Professional 1) for more than 10 years before becoming eligible for the Master Professional designation. Then, each must fulfill a broad spectrum of requirements, including making significant achievements in areas such as tennis teaching and coaching, business, education and volunteer work.

Sánchez Vicario is a former pro tennis player who led tennis in Spain during the 1980s and into the ‘90s, reaching No. 7 in the world in singles and teaming with Sergio Casal to claim a No. 1 world ranking in doubles. He has been a certified USPTA professional for 13 years.

Lewis is the director of tennis at Wintergreen Resort in Wintergreen, Va. He has been a certified USPTA professional for 24 years and previously served as the director of junior recreational tennis for the USTA Southern Section and on the Atlanta

Committee for the Olympic Games as the assistant competition manager.

USPTA Recognizes Leaders in Tennis

The USPTA honored those who stand out and go above and beyond in all aspects of the tennis industry, from tennis coaches to players to volunteers, during its annual national awards breakfast at the USPTA World Conference on Tennis, held at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla., in September.

Alex Gordon Award for USPTA Professional of the Year: Feisal Hassan of Midlothian, Va.
USPTA Presidential Award: Ben Press of Coronado, Calif., and Steve Wilkinson of St. Peter, Minn., (co-winners).
USTA/USPTA Community Service Award: Michael Andrews of Fort Wayne, Ind.
USPTA Industry Excellence Award (sponsored by the TIA and Tennis Tutor): Matthew Boughton of Eau Claire, Wis.
USPTA Star: Philip “Fitz” Paccione of Portland, Ore.
Lessons for Life Individual Award: Fernando Velasco of Austin, Texas.
Tennis Across America Individual Award: Bill Mecca of Garden City, N.Y.
USPTA Diversity Award: Ira Peskowitz of West Palm Beach, Fla.
Manager of the Year Award: Raul Saad of Shreveport, La., for Pierremont Oaks T.C. (small facility) and Derrick Barnett of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for BallenIsles CC (large facility).

Other honorees are:

Kendall Brooks, Austin, Texas – Touring Coach of the Year
Mike Gennette, Newbury Park, Calif. – College Coach of the Year
Peter Smith, Rossmoor, Calif. – College Coach of the Year
Jackie Mueller Egelhoff, Mequon, Wis. – High School Coach of the Year
Ben Rakusin, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – George Bacso Tester of the Year

Division Players of the Year are:

Tony Larson, Minneapolis, Minn. – Men’s Open
Kamil Kuchta, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Men’s 35-and-over
Vincent Horcasitas, East Hampton, N.Y. – Men’s 45-and-over
Kimm Ketelsen, Tyler, Texas – Men’s 55-and-over
Gewan Maharaj, Tampa, Fla. – Men’s 55-and-over
Amy Alcini, Malibu, Calif. – Women’s Open
Robin Keener, Melbourne, Fla. – Women’s 35-and-over
Kathy Vick, Lubbock, Texas – Women’s 45-and-over
Binki Thalheimer, Prescott, Ariz. – Women’s 55-and-over

USPTA divisions receiving awards are: Texas — Large Division of the Year; Southwest — Small Division of the Year; Southern — Newsletter of the Year

Cardio Tennis Offers Fall Training Workshops

Find out how you can offer a Cardio Tennis program at your facility by attending a Cardio Tennis workshop in your area. The workshops are designed for new Cardio Tennis program participants as well as those who have not been to a workshop in over 2 years.

Topics include the importance of Cardio Tennis, key ingredients for a healthy curriculum, calculating heart rate and using heart rate monitors, warm-up and cool-down drills, recommended feeding approaches, drill-based and play-based exercises, marketing your program, integrating CT into current programming, and more.

“Any tennis professional who attends one of these workshops is going to be fully equipped to offer a fun, safe and quality Cardio Tennis Program at their facility,” says Bill Phillips, USTA Southern Section TSR and USPTA Southern president. “They will learn how to keep the program fresh and exciting, understand the importance of heart rate monitors, and will make a lot of money in the process.”

The high-quality, professional workshops include both classroom and on-court training. They run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cost $140 (lunch is included). Visit CardioTennisTraining.com to sign up, and for more information.

Oct. 15: Acton, MA — All Seasons Tennis Club
Oct. 23: Orlando, FL — RDV Sportsplex Athletic Club
Oct. 23: Lutherville, MD — Green Spring Racquet Club
Nov. 4: Raleigh, NC — Raleigh Racket Club\
Nov. 19: Destin, FL — Tops’l Racquet & Beach Resort

Tennis Press Honored in USTWA Writing Contest

Eleven writers whose work placed in the 12th Annual U.S. Tennis Writers’ Association Writing Contest were honored in the media center during the US Open. The winners are:

Feature Story (Pro Tennis)

1. Doug Robson’s “Life in the Doubles Lane” in USA Today

2. Joshua Rey’s “What You May Have Missed at the Sony Ericsson Open” in Florida Tennis

3. Doug Robson’s “Death Match: The curse of the 2004 French Open lives on” in USA Today

Feature Story (Non-Pro Tennis)

1. Dave Seminara’s “One for the Ages: Davis Cup’s unlikely record holders” on TENNIS.com

2. James LaRosa’s “Tennis Uninterrupted: Nothing keeps Leon Sanit, 97, off the court” in TENNIS Magazine

3. Paul Bauman’s “It’s Schnack Time” in the Sacramento Bee

Game Story (Pro Tennis)

1. Greg Couch’s “Isner, Mahut Match at Wimbledon Will be Remembered for its Numbers” on AOL Fanhouse

2. Bill Dwyre’s “Warm Embrace for U.S. Tennis” in the Los Angeles Times

3. Joshua Rey’s “Tipsarevic Rocks Rattled Roddick out of the US Open” on USOpen.org

Game Story (Non-Pro)

1. Cindy Cantrell’s “Borg Succumbs to Mac” on TennisLife.com

2. Joshua Rey’s “Sock Rallies past Kudla to Win Boys’ Final” on USOpen.org

3. Joshua Rey’s “Davis Destroys Gavrilova, France and USA Sweep 16s Semis” on USTA.com

Hard News/Enterprise

1. Bill Dwyre’s “Sampras is Robbed of Storied Hardware” in the Los Angeles Times

2. Bill Simons’ “Glam Slam: Glitz, Glamour and the History of Tennis Fashion” in Inside Tennis

3. Douglas Robson’s “New-Look WTA Tour: Teen phenoms rare, veteran thrive” in USA Today

Column/Commentary

1. Greg Couch’s “From Forest Hills to Flushing, Tennis is at Pivotal Moment” on AOL Fanhouse

2. Bryan Graham’s “My Sportsman: Surprise French Open Champ Francesca Schiavone,” on SportsIllustrated.com

3. Greg Couch’s “The Curious Case of Andrea Collarini” on AOL Fanhouse

Service Story

1. Paul Fein’s “The Importance of Momentum in Tennis,” on TennisOne.com

2. Paul Fein’s “Defend and Conquer” in Australian Tennis Magazine

3. Cindy Cantrell’s “Fit for a King” in USTA Championship Magazine

Member classifieds

FOR SALE — Used Lighting System for Indoor Tennis. Indirect 1000-watt fixtures and ballasts. Excellent condition. $5000. Bud: 937-669-5552.