The [thr]ills are alive...with the sound of grunting!

Sure, the Hills are very much alive with the ‘sound of music’ as Julie Andrews' character belts at the top of her lungs.

There are a myriad of sounds that carry differently throughout the court depending on acoustics. In some instances, one could argue that a tennis match sounds like an impromptu symphony in the making. Let’s first discuss grunts. On the whole, while it is somewhat difficult to measure decibel-wise, grunts are more prevalent on the women’s tour in today’s game. Specialists on the matter have been quoted as saying the actual timing of the grunt assists in the rhythm of the actual striking of the ball. This seems believable, but what about players who seemingly bring out the grunts in match play and seldom make even a peep (or an audible exhale) while on the practice court. Although I’ve never watched Monica Seles practice to verify what she grunts like when the stakes are lower (practices count way less than match play, obviously), I have seen her play live many times either on TV or live in-person. You can really hear her roar live like nothing else during matches, and I suspect she makes the same intense face and corresponding grunt whenever she strikes the ball. Regardless of how she sounds, Monica was regarded throughout her career as one of the most well-liked tennis players; I’d imagine that even if he grunt among contemporaries were the loudest, people overlooked that feature and instead respected Monica for the gracious competitor she had been for decades.

Another aficionado as well as pioneer of the grunting “game” on the women’s side? No surprise here: Maria Sharapova! I’m unsure whether anyone’s every asked her who her inspiration for grunting like that was, but it sure as heck did not come out of nowhere. Someone should step up to the plate and lay claim to molding Sharapova’s grunt into what many view as the most notorious grunt of all time. Interestingly though, Sharapova avoids grunting audibly during practice sessions, which always seemed interesting. If you’re executing patterns in practice with the sole purpose of utilizing said skills in future matchplay, why wouldn’t a pro tennis player do everything in their practices as if they were real matches? That’s some food for thought. Another thought that’s run through my mind from time to time: Why do women grunt way louder than men during intense moments in matches? The answer could be a “just because”, and that’s totally fine; but, I do also wonder what the statistics are pertaining to wins and losses and the correlation between that and grunting real loud. And just in case you’re wondering about my personal grunt, I’m a shy girl at some times, outgoing in others (makes me a true Gemini); the grunt happens naturally at unplanned moments in time - it happens when it happens! There are far worse things than having a loud grunt, which I’m sure we can all agreed on.

Tennis slowly reopens - now what?

Tennis is beginning to make a comeback of sorts, with public courts and private clubs reopening slowly across the United States and elsewhere - but is it too soon to start having “fun”? I feel like the entire focus has been on the virus, appropriately so, and that people having a good time almost feel partially guilty since so many people are suffering either physically, mentally, financially or in other ways. We’ve all felt the effects of the pandemic in one way or another.

In these unbelievably strange times, having the option of playing tennis safely with friends definitely brings color to the cheeks and brightens the soul; there are guidelines to adhere to and ways of playing outside that minimize the chances of passing on or catching the virus. I think the USTA did a great job of outlining tennis safety tips on its site here, knowing that courts across the country will be opening soon despite the ongoing suspension of USTA tournaments and leagues.

The West Side Tennis Club, home of the US Open until ‘77, just started allowing members to use its courts; as a member since 2016, I am pumped to play a few times next week with friends. During this two-month plus quarantine, I’ve been riding the Peloton bike almost every day and have come to realize that while my recent injury will likely remain unless I get surgery at some point, the level of pain on a scale of one to ten has gone down. So, that’s good news for sure; and it’s probably because of the bike-riding, I’m almost positive. The next step is seeing how drills and point play go; it’s going to take some time to get back into the swing of things, but it’s worth the wait. Tennis isn’t going anywhere.

Do you think that the US Open will happen this year, sans or with a limited number of spectators? UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) tournaments have already started and are being broadcasted on the Tennis Channel, featuring players who have competed in the US Open and are household names. Just the other day Reilly Opelka and good bud Tommy Paul, both of whom have the potential of cracking the top 20 this year despite the pandemic’s effects on player rankings, were playing in a sanctioned event at a private home in Florida. No one was seen watching from the stands; no one picked up the ball for them on the court - what a novel experience for the players and fans watching from home. I wonder how many people were tuning in and whether Tennis Channel’s ratings went up or down during this period; on the one hand, many people are hungry to watch tennis. But while the pace of a match is kind of slow in between points as is, players now have to pick up their own balls for obvious reasons which prolongs things even more. That must have an effect on viewership.

While these are competitive matches, I think that the players and organizers have to become a bit more inventive in how the matches are played and presented on TV. It’s no longer a grand production in-person; the stage isn’t as glamorous as before and the stakes are not nearly as high given these matches count outside of the ATP and WTA rankings. That said, it’s absolutely amazing how fast the UTR tournament calendar came to fruition, giving local players the opportunity to earn a living in tennis despite having been sidelined since Indian Wells due to COVID-19.

The US Open is the most profitable and well-attended tennis event in the United States, and quite possibly the world (would be interested to see a graph on this detailing attendance and revenue earned at the Grand Slam level on average in the past ten years). I recall a stat indicating that over the two-week period, the tournament brings in more money than the Super Bowl (OK, the SB is a one-day event, but hey - football and tennis are apples and oranges, especially in the minds of advertisers). More than 3/4 of the USTA’s annual revenue comes from the US Open, and we still do not know for certain whether the most highly anticipated tennis event will be happening in New York or not, or at all for that matter; Roland Garros announced less than two months before its scheduled start that it will move from later this month to October. If the timing aligns, the USTA will most likely make an official announcement on scheduling toward the end of June. Right now, the tennis center is being used as a temporary hospital. The doctors, nurses and medical personnel working on the front lines in general are our heroes; perhaps the ones working on site at the US Open could be commemorated for their heroic efforts during the tournament itself, assuming it happens all together.

Please, please happen.

A good friend of mine and I made a pact that assuming the tournament is allowing at least some spectators and we get lucky enough to attend, we will go whether the tournament takes place in New York or California or Florida - wherever in the country, we will do our best to watch in-person. Let’s hope and pray that tennis returns to the normal soon. Play if you can, and do it safely; that shows our support to the sport. We will get through this together.

Tennis Serving Vets: giving service men and women opportunity through tennis

 At this time, it almost feels as though we are in a war zone, preparing for battle; there are no supermarkets that I’ve visited with a steady supply of eggs and toilet paper anywhere (but if you know of any, HMU; the grocery store employee said she might resort to buying a chicken to lay some eggs – ha, good one); fights are breaking out, and it’s like we are walking on eggshells – it’s truly a trying time, and I think it goes without saying that we are all hoping and praying that we’ll get through this well. Should this pandemic escalate, though, thank goodness for the medical professionals and everyone taking on at-risk jobs in order to protect the well being of countless others; and of course, thank gosh for the troops and service men and women who have risked their lives in serving this country. Many of the latter have turned to tennis after their service after never playing before, and although their enjoyment from playing tennis might be tabled for now, the swinging should pick up soon.

My dad, Stu Kobak, was a perfect example of someone who took up tennis later in life and used it as an outlet for releasing stress and the traumatic memories affiliated with the Vietnam War in which he served. As a veteran, I am certain that he would be proud of the work that the non-profit, Tennis Serving Vets, has provided veterans of all different backgrounds in the scope of wartime service. Co-founded by USTA Eastern employee Allison Goldman and Yonkers Tennis Center Tennis Professional and Tournament Director Luis Chirinos two years ago, Tennis Serving Vets aims to provide a platform for United States veterans to learn, experience and love the game of tennis, which can be taught at any age and in any place.

“Tennis is something you can do for your entire life,” Chirinos says. “[Veterans] tend to isolate themselves, so we’re getting into that social aspect.”

Socially speaking, tennis can be extremely social and attracts sociable personalities. Although people across the world are currently practicing social isolation, tennis players included, perhaps telling human interest stories surrounding tennis can mitigate the anxiety many have been feeling about COVID-19.Tennis Serving Vets is the first organization of its kind to open its arms to veterans who reside driving distance from the Yonkers Tennis Center. The program started out as an extension of its sister program in California, run by Steve Kappes. Everyone participating in the on-court demonstrations and practice sessions are volunteers, from West Coast to East Coast.

“There’s nothing here on the East Coast that does things [like what we do] for the veterans,” says Chirinos about the previous lack of resources in tennis for veterans living in the area.

One of Chirinos’ first students in the Tennis Serving Vets program, Isaac Cortes, received unofficial treatment for his PTSD from playing tennis.

“Tennis helped him on his path to recovery,” says Chirinos about his current student, who will have to take a break from playing given what’s going on in the world.

Instead of using the yellow ball that older juniors, leagues and professional players use, the veterans play with tennis balls typically played in 10 and under tennis competitions, according to Chirinos. While TSV has used 10 & under balls before, the teaching pros often use yellow balls, too.

“We are hoping to get a grant so we can purchase more 10 & under balls,” says Chirinos about what the organization needs moving forward in order to provide veterans with equal options for everyone participating in on-court demos. “The issue is we don’t get have enough 10 & under balls for all of our veterans.”

According to Goldman, she thought “if this is good for children, why isn’t it good for people for other types of rehab?” That’s a very good point – balls can be adaptable, much like how the orange dot balls are used for this new, up-and-coming sport called beach tennis. But for the veterans sticking to playing regular tennis and are new to the game, the lighter tennis balls and smaller courts make good sense in getting the new tennis players acclimated. There are also veterans on the tennis court who can play with yellow tennis balls as well.

Lessons and group classes offered by TSV, which are at no cost to the veterans, are structured as such where each court has their own pro and each court is dedicated to a specific stroke; games are conducted toward the end, all of which was based off of Steve Kappes’s guidance.

“We came together and then we said ‘let’s do this for the veteran community,” says Goldman about the initiative which sees an average of 20-30 people attending each event with high retention numbers. “We’re getting the message across to the veteran community in the right way.”

Another veteran, Charles Hernandez, often brings his family to the TSV events.

“Its definitely a familiar affair,” Luis says. “I could see the progress – he’s much more open.”

Speaking of Opens, that’s where many of veterans played two summers ago, at the famous grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, home of the US Open. Not only did vets play tennis there, but they did it on the grandest stage: center stage inside of the main stadium.

“They had time on Ashe and right before the match at noon when the crowd was shuffling in,” says Goldman on how that day went during the USTA event featuring some veterans who play in TSV events. The experience of being on Ashe gave the players a taste of and the adrenaline rush that the Grand Slam players experience during match play.

The resources that TSV provides for the veteran community gives those members something they otherwise might never have gotten: an introduction to the game we love so much. Now these folks have this skill for the rest of their lives, and can share them with family and friends and anyone who wants to learn what they did – and pass it on even more.

“That feeling of contact with the ball is so powerful, especially when you’re coming back from the injury,” says Goldman, who knows what it’s like to have injuries, and drew from that experience to help others use tennis as a vehicle for recovery. “It’s amazing for you; it releases endorphins and makes you feel better, and helps with [stabilization].”

'Safe' practices, given the news

A lot of players on the WTA and ATP tours have to handle the precautionary predicament: the tour, among many, many other sporting events and large gatherings around the world, have been postponed due to COVID-19. While the last post on this blog was meant in jest, this has since officially become defined as a pandemic as regarded by the WHO and is wreaking havoc on the world.

So, how does this affect the tennis community? From a financial standpoint, top WTA and ATP players will be the least-affected given how much money they’ve amassed while competing in high-level tournaments in the past few months and even years; whereas on the other hand, lower-tier tournament players will most definitely be affected negatively as they might have to resort to other work outside of sports, really, to make a living - at this point in time). What about the ball boys and girls, the linesmen, the referees, the umpires and all of the officials and administrators involved in the tennis business? Virtually everyone’s jobs will be placed on hold, barring the subsequent planning for next year’s events. I feel like everyone is in survival mode, and there’s no telling what the future truly holds.

As this is the first time in the history of the ATP and WTA tours have been suspended for a few weeks (with the potential of being suspended even further), the appropriate decision might affect spectatorship, viewership and interest in the sport as a whole, too. A few friends and I were planning on heading to the Miami Open; as it happens, a friend of mine is supposed to have her bachelorette party in Miami that same weekend. Should I stay, or should I go now? Travel seems risky; could state borders, if not counties, soon to be the next step.

In the interim, it’s now officially the “off-season” once more, as many players still pumped from their training in the off-season will have to resort to at-home workouts. At least, that’s what I’m going to be doing. Goodbye, gym membership – hello, stationary bike and treadmill and free weights. All of this will unquestionably carry over into other sports as well; the NBA, for instance, has canceled the remainder of the season; even college tennis conferences have suspended their conference play.

What I’m most scared of, aside from the high likelihood of catching the virus, is the hysteria surrounding this pandemic - how can we go about living our lives without living in complete fear of the unknown? For now, here’s to washing our hands thoroughly and taking as many precautionary measures as we can.

Injury this, injury that - what now? Say what?!

When I was a kid playing tennis, I would sometimes think that I was incapable of getting injured. Fellow tennis players would be icing their extremities from head to toe, and all I would think was thank gosh I’m injury-free and don’t even get sore after playing countless hours of tennis in a row.

Today, I received some pretty jarring news: I have a torn meniscus (degree of injury is TBD). I had experienced some level of discomfort over the past few weeks, exacerbated by tennis, paddle and/or skiing (only the guy upstairs knows the culprit or whether it was a combination of all three sports that did me in, one more than another). In any case, I’m feeling super awful about this on many different levels and for different reasons. This is bringing back memories of when I first suffered some major left knee injuries back in 2006 and 2007, which effectively ended my tennis career all together.

The formerly known Legg Mason, now the Citi Open, was where my leg felt like it was hit by a ton of bricks - literally. Three weeks before my freshman year at Columbia, and I found myself competing in what I thought would be my last pro match before playing college tennis. Little did I know that it would not only be my last match on tour ever, but it would have immense effects on my physical and emotional state. Pairing with Madison Brengle in the women’s doubles event, Su Wei Sheih hit her signature drop shot from her two-handed forehand, and even though I got it and hit a winner around the net post, I stopped short as to avoid running into the ball boy - big mistake. Big, big mistake that I will remember for the rest of my life. In that moment, I had torn my ACL and meniscus after hitting the best shot I could have hit - oh well! See ya later, tennis career! Right? Well, sort of.

Midway into my sophmore year and two surgeries later, I attempted a comeback. Sporting a thick and supportive knee brace, I played in the Columbia Invitational held at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the crisp autumn season, just a few short weeks after the seasoned players of the US Open graced the outer courts. After playing one doubles match, I knew there was trouble. My knee had gotten so swollen, it looked like it was going to explode from all of the liquid inside. Mom came to the rescue and drove me to the doctor, who used an enormous syringe to extract all of the excess fluid that was affecting the way I even walked at that point. From that moment on, the coaches and doctors who had offered support in this trying time advised against playing tennis ever again. So for years, I listened to what they had to say about playing until I wanted to listen to my heart, which is Roxette-approved (any fellow ‘80s music fans in the house?!).

After taking a hiatus from tennis, I started really enjoying the game again that essentially defined my childhood - from friendships to learning experiences. This past summer I competed in ten USTA national senior tournaments, one of which was the Sears Cup team competition representing Team Eastern. To kick off the summer, our team won the title at the Longwood Crickett Club this past June. It was an unforgettable experience playing on the grass courts there - so wonderful, in fact, that my mom and I returned later on in the summer to compete in the annual National Super Senior Mother Daughter championships, where we placed third (we both earned bronze balls for that performance). Prior to that tournament, I played the national women’s 30s at my home club at the West Side Tennis Club; my good friend Erin Fleming and I placed second in doubles, and I placed first in singles (gold and silver USTA balls earned).

A few weeks later, I played in the USTA National Open Championships, again held on grass like at West Side, this time at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, where I was the “triple crown” winner in singles, doubles and mixed (three USTA gold balls earned). In the fall, I placed third in mixed and singles and finished runner-up in doubles at the National women’s 30s on clay; needless to say, I doubt that I will be able to replicate this past year - especially after the news I got today.

What am I going to do without tennis? The last time this happened, I was able to fall back on my studies because I was a college student; but what about now? There’s always family, friends, work and intellectually stimulating hobbies to keep busy. I’m so used to playing tennis, though, and am limited in the type of exercise I can do (perhaps I can ride the stationary bike on a low resistance and do swimming - at least, that’s what the doctor says I can do for the time being).

I’ve been in this situation before, where I’ve been sidelined and incapable of performing on the tennis court. It’s far from fun, that’s for sure. But, maybe it’ll put things into perspective again - maybe there are ways of feeling more appreciate of what we have? Maybe there’s a way of picking up additional hobbies? I’m leaving the comments section open on this post in case anyone has advice to offer.

Oh man, I’ll miss playing tennis so much! Until we meet again on the courts….

-e

Happy Retirement, Ms. Sharapova...or is it?

As everyone in the tennis world has heard by now, Maria Sharapova has officially retired from professional tennis.

Amassing hundreds of millions of dollars in endorsement money, it’s safe to say that between that, her tennis earnings and her countless sponsorships and businesses will make the Renaissance sportswoman set for life. Not only from a financial standpoint - she’s also proven herself as being an intellectual powerhouse as well as a businesswoman in her own right. The statistic might still hold true, where (at least at one point in time) she collectively made more money annually than any other female athlete - ever. She was breaking barriers; she always held her head high and never showed anger while competing on the tennis court - only strength, at least that’s how she carried herself and projected her image to the stands. It’s hard to believe that a 5-time singles Grand Slam Champion, someone who has built her entire life around tennis and succeeded no doubt, would hang up the rackets for good.

During ESPN’s coverage of the Australian Open when Sharapova was losing in the first round; the graphic’s headline that ran during her match was “The Struggle is real.” Then, after the commercial break, and despite the fact that the tides of the match had not turned in the Russian beauty’s favor, ESPN reversed their story line and balanced out their previous statement by showcasing all of Maria’s accomplishments which are second to…Serena! Man, now that was a rivalry that everyone wanted, but never could get - maybe in the locker room they shared some words with each other, one could only imagine.

It is my theory, and one that has not been explored just yet, that Maria Sharapova is retiring from the game only temporarily and will be back sooner than her previous suspension allowed. Sharapova penned exclusive essays published in Vanity Fair and Vogue regarding her big announce, one that many in tennis predicted would happen sooner rather than later. That announcement, which coincided with a viral Instagram post of her as a lil’ baby tennis player in training that was broadcast on Sharapova’s personal Instagram page, occurred on a special day: Ash Wednesday.

Traditionally, many Catholics who observe that holiday give up something for 40 days, sometimes meat, sometimes…well, sometimes something else - it’s your call. Now what if, in theory, Sharapova’s retirement from tennis was really her saying that she wants to give up playing her favorite sport of tennis, not indefinitely but just for 40 days in change?

Hear me out, here. Come Easter, the candy superstar could stage a comeback to the game she loves by hosting an Easter egg hunt. All of the candies inside of her eggs would contain Sugarpova candies - sure, maybe the cliche sour tennis ball candies or even better than that would be branded tennis balls that read “Comeback craving” [insert alternative catchy ad phrase here]. I’d participate in said Easter Egg hunt, wouldn’t you? T

Sharapova’s not the only world No. 1 to announce her retirement in the past few months. 2018 Australian Open Champion Caroline Wozniacki, who was arguably playing some of her best tennis in recent months, stepped away from the game after nearly 15 straight years on tour. It was at the 2004 Wimbledon Championships, the year that 17-year-old Sharapova triumphed over Serena Williams in the final, that Caroline and I practiced on the grass for the first time. Even back then as a bright-eyed 14-year-old prodigy, you could clearly tell that she had something special about her on and off the court.

Jokes aside, I think it’s a distinct possibility for Sharapova to come back to the tour. Although, it’s rare; the only former world No. 1 players in the past 20 years who have come back from retirement and/or a hiatus from the game were Lindsay Davenport and Kim Clijsters, who both won titles as moms, with Kim famously winning the 2009 US Open women’s singles title during prime time against Caroline Wozniacki; Serena Williams just won her first tournament title since coming back from maternity leave - that was in Auckland, where she paired up with her BFF Caroline to advance far in the doubles tournament as well. Former top-ranked Azarenka has been playing on the tour since giving birth to her son, although she hasn’t cracked the top 10 since then - maybe that’ll change soon.

What’s going to happen for women’s tennis now that two former world No. 1s are out of the game (for good, or not)? I’m thinking that there’s more room for Clijsters to make her second comeback now - how will she do in Indian Wells? I bet Sharapova will be watching and itching to get back out there, so long as she’s healthy again and injury-free.

Musings on the Opens of the New Year

This blog has been quiet for way too long, and for what? A platform like this one functions as a noise maker, so here it goes - are you ready for it?

A friend of mine from growing up told me about an open mic that was happening in our neighborhood the other night, and recommended that I read something from The Tennis Tales. When I was debating what to read, I turned to my most recent blog post, thinking that would be a relevant topic until I came to the realization that it was a bit (ha) offbeat and most likely would connect with some audience members, at best. But when I heard that most poetry readings comprise tales of fiction and in my case, nonsense, I followed the yellow brick road toward creative bliss.

If you’ve ever attended an open mic for poetry and prose, then you know that anything goes. Literally. It’s about as “open” as a tennis tournament back in the golden days of the greatest sport of all time. Hey, someone had to say it - but, I sure ain’t the first! Instead of reading from this blog, I decided to read something in front of an audience that had never been heard in public before: Poetry that I had written ten years ago for a creative writing class at Columbia (our ten-year reunion is coming up this June. It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since my cohort’s college days. Wow - just, wow!).

The response to my poetry was surprisingly positive, and I even got some chuckles and booming laughs. Because of those laughs, the friend I spoke about earlier in this post invited me to perform in a stand-up comedy show - less of an “open” and more of an invite-only type of event. I was so flattered by the invitation, that I started writing some new material right after he “booked” me. Without ruining the surprise and telling you what kinds of jokes you’ll hear when you see me perform on April 1 (details pending), I’ll probably squeeze in some tennis jokes in there. But, I will give you a sneak peek and share that my initial thought of incorporating this blog into my routine just might happen - so stay tuned. And, I promise not to disappoint! Now, speaking of Opens…

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On a global scale, the Australian Open is probably the biggest stage that anyone can play on. I competed in the juniors back in 2005, and still have the shirt from that year in my collection of what are now regarded as vintage t-shirts; there’s a pic of future Aussie Open singles finalist Domi Cibulkova with her father, my mother and I all together while walking the tournament grounds (I should try and find that gem). Speaking of shirts, that year I lost in the first round of the juniors to a girl I had beaten a few weeks prior at the Junior Orange Bowl in Miami. Mom and I literally flew across the world for the tournament, only for me to be an arrogant teenager and insist on wearing a shirt that didn’t fit me properly; it was a spaghetti-strap top, and every time I served, the straps would fall down so far, it felt like my top was going to fall off. But I didn’t have a change of clothes in my tennis bag, so I was stuck with wearing that top for the rest of the match until I got clobbered in the second set. Oh well. At the time, I thought there was always next year. But in reality, that was my one shot - and I kind of blew it, to put it bluntly. A lot of talented players were competing in the juniors the same year, including future Australian Open Champion Angelique Kerber, who, even back then, got so low to the ground when hitting her ground strokes, she was practically sitting on an extremely low chair when loading on her legs for every shot.

In 2005, Sofia Kenin was just starting to kick butt on the tennis court - she was tiny, but mighty, as the story goes. It was two years later that she was interviewed by French Open Doubles Champion Murphy Jensen for the Tennis Channel about who her favorite tennis player was, and why she liked Babolat, which she used in her run to the 2020 Australian Open Championship title. In an interview that recently resurfaced and went viral due to the utter cuteness of mini Kenin, the future Grand Slam champ revealed that she played with Babolat because of Andy Roddick. How about that?! From a sponsorship standpoint, there’s only one other female tennis player in recent history who plays with Babolat and wears Fila clothes: that’s Kim Clijsters, who’s coincidentally staging a comeback to the WTA this year.

With the new decade already arriving, do you think Kenin will continue her winning ways? I certainly hope so, as it’s wonderful for American tennis given she’s the first American - male or female - to claim a Grand Slam singles title since Sloane Stephens’ maiden Slam title at the 2017 US Open. The last American man to win a GS singles title was Andy Roddick in 2003, the year before teenage sensation and Fed Cup debutante Coco Gauff was born.

In tying all of these thoughts together, the one thing that I think an Open mic has in common with an Open tennis tournament is the performative aspect. You can go into a match with a strategy and game plan, but execute said plan better one day than another. At least you came in with a clear mindset of how you want to play, whereas with an Open mic night, memorizing your material is everything as that’s how you own your strategy. Having a game plan in mind prior to something happening gives you a better shot of acing your bit, regardless of who’s on the other side of the net or who’s in the audience.

Why are you so obsessed with [handbags]?

If you’re a tennis player, you know that you usually bring two kinds of bags onto the tennis court for matches: Your racket bag, and a duffle that carries your change of clothes and anything else you might need for life outside of the court. Ever since the Tennis Channel launched in 2003, I’ve always enjoyed watching their special segments, particularly “Bag Check.” Because, who wouldn’t want to know the exact tools that players have for getting ready for their matches, from specific grips to ritualistic goodies that the stars of tennis have tucked away in their bags, only to be taken out when calling upon luck for a chance at victory. I’ve never seen a professional tennis player carry a designer handbag onto the tennis court - ever.

I suppose one of the main reasons comes down to sponsorship; I’d image MCM would pay the AP’s athlete of the decade, Serena Williams, oodles of money if she would commit to wearing one of their tote bags onto Centre Court in white decked out in rhinestones and studs instead of a standard Nike duffle. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion did wear the MCM-branded headphones during the 2015 US Open (that was a short-lived fashion statement).

Speaking of MCM handbags, my mom has been wearing one type of handbag for the past five years or so; it’s a mini backpack in rose gold that barely fits all of her essentials, but she manages. On the other hand, I change my mind about bags virtually every day. I have a mild (ok, major) obsession with handbags. What is it about them? Each bag can complement a different outfit; it’s like they take on a whole different personality and come to life when paired with the appropriate outfit. In all seriousness, though, it’s becoming somewhat of a problem. As a freelancer, I have been living way out of my budget - and it’s all because of this gosh darn handbag addiction. Can some of my friends, if you’re reading this, relate to my problem here? The only person, or character, I know of who has a handbag addiction “greater” than mine is Ms. Carrie Bradshaw; although, I doubt Carrie would bring a name brand handbag onto the tennis court.

In the summertime. I usually show up onto the tennis court with a handbag, towel, two rackets and a bottle of water. Even my opponents in matches would scoff, asking what I can put in that awfully tiny bag of mine. Since I’ve pretty much been playing a few amateur USTA national tournaments and country club tennis, I think it’s OK to do that, plus switch to a different handbag every time I play. No one else really does this, so I guess I’m unique in that regard. Sometimes I’ll dust off the bag from the sprinkles of har-tru “green clay” that sticks to the surface like panko bread crumbs does to a chicken breast. What kind of analogy is that? Well, what kind of tennis player is this obsessed with handbags - EXACTLY! Hats off to brands like Tory Burch that have made strides in sportswear and bags so that they combine fashionable and sporty aesthetics. If only there were a handbag brand deemed “appropriate” for professional players to wear on-court and overcome this idea that women can’t wear handbags on the tennis court that they would wear to a night out on the town, etc. Remember Lizzo’s little bag that could maybe hold a quarter but not even a lipstick? What if WTA players had a bag of similar size that would only hold their vibration dampener (that’s all that would fit in such a bag). I’d subscribe to that, no doubt. I’m leaving comments on this post in case anyone feels like weighing in. And if not, that’s fine so long as we go shopping in the future and can pick out my next handbag together. xx

It's a fitness theory: Does Orange Theory work?

In order to play tennis well, you have to focus on sharpening your fitness skills. Many tennis coaches might tell you that their students who are the complete package, mastering the physical and mental aspects of the game (level of talent aside) have a greater chance of succeeding in matches versus the players who solely rely on their talent and have a limited work ethic, because they can (or so they think they can until a challenging opponent comes along in the tournament draw).

Physical fitness has always been a weakness of mine; if someone wanted to beat me in a rally, they’d have to try my patience, which oftentimes worked (and still could technically work; I hope none of my friendly competitors are reading this right now; actually, maybe I am giving away inaccurate information - wink). Just because my fitness has been a hole in my tennis game, that doesn’t mean it cannot improve. Everyone can make room for their improvement, and the beauty of fitness is that everyone can be the best version of themselves (as if you haven’t heard that phrase one million times over). It’s so true, though; instead of comparing ourselves to our friends or people we look up to, why not just work with what we have and be the absolute best with the tools we are naturally born with? Easier said than done.

I took my first Orange Theory class today in Forest Hills before a Club paddle match - it went better than expected as I ran two miles, averaging more than 5 mph. Never have I ever…done that before! I think there’s a psychological benefit behind running in a group setting in a fitness class compared to running by yourself at the gym. I’m also an Equinox member, and sometimes lack motivation when running on the treadmill. At Orange Theory, the majority of the workout is spent on the treadmill (at least the first half or so), during which your heart rate, calories and overall output are all accounted for. I was able to do that fairly well for my standards, but when it came time to doing weights - forget it. You have to be coordinated to do that well, especially the first time around. Would I do it again and incorporate Orange Theory into my routine? Probably not, since I’m already a member of another gym and should be running outside as I have a 5K race coming up at the beginning of February. Mind you, that’s the first 5K race or race of any kind that I will have ever done - come on! All in all, it the experience training at Orange Theory gave me perspective: Use what you have to get into tennis shape. In my case, I can run outside with the Peloton application (which trains you for races, etc.); use the various equipment at the Equinox gyms; or just do at-home workouts. Whatever avenue works better than doing nothing, that’s for sure.

I am so excited to work out tomorrow, in one way or another - perhaps it will improve my tennis game…or not! Here’s to exercise, and the wonderful way it makes us feel! <3 -e

Game, Set, Match...Food!

So, I have a relatively complicated relationship with food; it’s never been diagnosed as a life-threatening issue, thankfully, nor has the topsy-turvy food consumption habits affected my state of mind as far as I can remember. With that said, I think that women - especially athletes - tend to have a love/hate connection with what they eat; at least, this athlete does.

As a young tennis player, I used to always think that it wasn’t OK to have dessert, especially in front of anyone else. I distinctly remember eating a suitcase full of “Lara” bars, a popular protein-packed bar that I would bring on the road with me to tournaments. Instead of eating them throughout the week or in between matches, I’d just sit down in my room - alone - and eat them one by one. Maybe it was a nervous tick of mine, or to feel in control over something that was out of my hands. Either way, those bars found their way into my belly - and stayed there. If you’ve done something similar, you know that unless you drink a whole lot of water with those bars, they sort of just sit in your stomach until you pretty much explode. At least that’s how it felt on the inside [oh my gosh, I guess I’m going there]. I just felt so embarrassed about eating in front of other people because I thought that if they were judging the quantity of my food intake, that I’d compensate by overeating in private.

A benefit - or drawback, quite frankly - to living out of a suitcase while traveling to these tennis tournaments was that you could subsist off of the hotel’s mini bar. That is, if the hotel kept a well-stocked fridge. Even if I could have access to a chocolate bar from the local bodega for half the price, there was something about taking one from the fridge and eating it in the hotel room as opposed to eating in front of fellow athletes at meal times (tournaments would sometimes provide meals for players - a nice perk!).

There was only one time that I enjoyed having dessert in public. That was poolside in Costa Rica with a close friend of mine, who bought us a box of mini desserts to share after our match - what a sweet gesture! A couple of hours before, we had finished our match and I guess this was her way of congratulating me on the win and being gracious in defeat - she’s still a close friend to this day; by the way, I wound up getting creamed like the filling of an eclair the next day, but I’m sure my diet the night before didn’t cause that result…one would hope! Oh, whatever.

Separately, I just want to say that I do feel thankful for the food that I can eat. Today, for instance, I had a decadent Italian lunch shared with my loved ones at one of the City’s best Italian restaurants - everyone in the restaurant was eating comfortably, not focusing on whether it was “OK” to be eating as much or as little as they wanted to stay within budget or within their stomach’s comfort zone. The moral of the story, at least for me, is that food is meant to be shared and consumed without judgement. And if someone in public is judging you for what you eat, they’re either a) not your friend b) miserable or c) jealous AF.

Like Rihanna once said, cheers to the freakin’ weekend!

Tennis Tales: Do you want to write something today?

There's nothing more exciting than watching women's tennis - it's the crème de la crème of all sports, in my humble opinion. The points usually take a while (the longer, the better - especially on clay!), the athletes move ever so gracefully across the court like ballerinas in the prime of their career; plus, you get to sort of live vicariously through the athletes' triumphs, tribulations and everything in between - you feel what they're feeling, in many ways. As someone who's played tennis, watched the game and followed it for my entire life, the only natural progression to approach the net from another angle would be from behind the scenes, so to speak, or in the press room.

A few years ago, I was approached online about writing for a new women's sports-centric website called "Excelle Sports." The director of the website said she had seen some of my articles on the USTA's website among other publications and liked my writing style and background in tennis, so it seemed like a no-brainer to join the writing team there on a freelance basis. The company was entering a niche market that only espnW occupied at that time in that its focus was solely on covering women’s sports, but there was room for more players; some topics I would write about were the financial backing of athletes (a hot topic these days, even more so than when the story initially came out), coverage of tournaments such as the Miami Open and the WTA's year-end championships (when Cibulkova, who’s now retiring, won) and human interest stories.

***

For the latter, I interviewed the UCLA's head coach, Stella Sampras (sister of 14-time Grand Slam Champion Peter Sampras, and a legendary athlete in her own right) as well as one of her program's biggest boosters and supporters, the late great Ken Bodenstein. Ken and I had known each other for years (he regrettably passed away in 2016); a fellow graduate of Columbia, Ken and I would hit together when I was recovering from a knee injury and in a leg brace watching the Columbia women compete against Rice University on the road. He had the most charming way about him, and I thought he'd be the ideal "face" for the story on the UCLA women's tennis program in addition to Sampras. When Excelle ran the story and I sent it to Ken, I hadn't heard back right away; something was wrong as he was always quick to respond. Ken's wife had informed me by a handwritten note that he had passed away; Ken was so selfless, kind and full of life that you would have never known that he was ill at the time of the phone interview. 

I don't always do this, but for this particular interview, I had recorded it on my phone. Ken’s wife (whose name I will withhold from publishing) was so happy to have a recording of Ken talking about the sport he loved more than any other, serving as a memory of his love for tennis and zest for life. There's a lot of value to having recordings of those you love - you never know who might appreciate listening to them on replay in the end. We all miss Ken.

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Let's backtrack. So, what ever happened to Excelle Sports? The site's website is down, and it was a truly beautiful layout and educational resource for those involved in sports. Some brilliant minds founded that company, and I hope that the platform comes back again. In the meantime, though, I plan on publishing the articles on this blog that originally ran on Excelle Sports' now defunct website. Stay tuned! And, if I haven’t said it before, thank you very much for stopping by and reading my work!

Tennis Tales: Hold onto your racket!

Growing up and competing in tournaments around the world, we made a lot of friends along the way. After a long day competing on the court, the last thing a lot of us junior players wanted to do was mope around in our rooms - especially alone. So, we'd chat on MSN with a bunch of fellow tennis players if we were too shy to make connections in-person, walk around the hotel and city that the tournament was in to become familiar with our unique, albeit temporary surroundings, or just share silly stories and a laugh or two in our respective rooms. That made everything better, especially if we had lost earlier on in the day. It's so rare to always come out the winner after every tournament, week in and week out; that hardly happened. But we still felt like winners, or at least tried to convince each other that we were playing with purpose and with the idea that there's a bright future ahead of us.

Flash forward to playing on the senior circuit, and you'll see some overlap between playing USTA tournaments now versus back then. There will always be a form of gamesmanship happening, no matter what tournament you play in or who's standing across the net (well, not everyone subscribes to that behavior, naturally). But what about the good? There's so much good - I can't even begin to describe it. Here's a story that stood out from this past summer at the USTA National Grass Court Championships in the women's 30s division, held at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills (my home club!):

It was the title match, and I was competing against a lovely woman by the name of Zeynep Altinay, a recent inductee into the Binghampton Hall of Fame for tennis. The first day we met, she had the biggest smile on her face and greeted everyone in the tournament like she knew them for years despite having just met. We faced each other on the last day of the singles tournament. Midway through the second set, my grip began to slip and eventually unraveled, almost completely. On the changeover, Zeynep looked over and noticed that I was having trouble holding on to my racket; she then offered her last overgrip to me, since it looked like I really needed it and she was content with the condition of her grip. Initially I hesitated taking her up on the offer, but then realized I would have to give up playing with my lucky racket if I wound up switching due to the grip situation. So, I accepted the grip, began playing again after that changeover with a steadier hand, and won the match. Truthfully, it's very likely that she could have made a comeback (in addition to being super sweet, she's a talented player, too) had she not given me her last grip - what an unbelievably nice gesture. I think the takeaway from that would be to pass on the notion of being kind to your opponent, especially when they're struggling like that. That has NEVER happened to me on the tennis court in a junior, pro or amateur match - until now...

Tennis Tales: Robert Plant strikes a chord by the West Side Tennis Club's grass courts

A sliver of the West Side Tennis Club’s clubhouse peered through the stage’s backdrop as Sheryl Crow took stage on Hump Day, June 13, 2018 in Forest Hills, NY.

Wearing her signature glossy red hot pants that she’s been rocking while on her summer tours, Crow swooped toward the crowd while belting out memorable tunes that topped American record charts back in the ‘90s like “All I Wanna Do,” “Soak Up the Sun” and “Favorite Mistake.” Taking the audience back even further, though, Crow intermittently referenced her Missouri roots and how her family would ritualistically watch the US Open, which was held in Forest Hills from the early 20th Century up until ’78.

“It’s so cool to play here,” marveled Crow as she looked out at the audience and mentioned spotting four-time US Open singles champion John McEnroe in the audience, who also happens to be equally into his rock music as his tennis game these days. “Johnny Mac played here when he was 9 years old. I mean, that’s pretty hot. I just had to get that off of my chest.”

Reflecting further on her preliminary tennis spectating days down South - well before ever achieving the musical notoriety that she’s amassed – Crow mentioned one player whom her father picked on.

“Dad would complain about Ilie Nastase, and just call him ‘nasty’ rather than Nastase,” said Crow about the 1972 US Open men’s singles champion who recently came under fire for mocking Serena Williams’ pregnancy and also saying unsportsmanlike comments during Romanian Fed Cup play. Clearly, her dad could read Nastase’s gamesmanship back then; and on-court behavior lasts a lifetime, carrying off court as well.

And then there’s the main act, who by all accounts acts with the utmost class in every arena in which he performs – whether that’s on the tennis court or in front of thousands of devoted fans.

“[Robert Plant] is one of the architects [of rock ‘n roll music], and the rest of us are just kind of imposters,” said Crow of her touring mate whom she looks up to. Everyone in attendance knew that Plant had been one of the most integral figures in shaping rock ‘n roll music into what it is today, having been the frontman of the legendary 1960s-70s rock band Led Zeppelin. Yet most people probably had no idea that Robert really loves playing tennis, and that the stadium they’re sitting in was where tennis fans famously cheered on trailblazing Americans like Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, Jimmy Connors, Stan Smith and Chris Evert to victorious Grand Slam singles crowns.

Back in the early 2000s, Tennis Magazine ran a piece on Plant that showcased his talents in songwriting and performing alongside his passion for tennis, and how the two balance him out personally. But had the Englishman ever ventured into this neck of the woods before, with Forest Hills famously being home to punk rock band The Ramones.

“Someone asked me ‘have I ever been here before?” recalled Plant after having entered the stage clad in vegan leather pants and a casually unbuttoned velvet top to a roaring crowd that rivaled any heavily spectated live tennis match. “The answer is probably – [Forest Hills is] getting big again!”

When counting the collective years of history between The West Side Tennis Club and Robert Plant’s tenure as a musical legend, that’s upwards of 175 years of greatness (Plant’s been at it for most of his 70 years while West Side recently celebrated its 125 th anniversary). It goes without saying that tennis increased in popularity on an international scale thanks to the golden US Open years, while simultaneously original Led Zeppelin songs like “Stairway to Heaven”, “Fool In the Rain” and “Whole Lotta Love” redefined rock music.

Throughout his set alongside the Sensational Space Shifters band who indeed lived up to its namesake, Plant and his bandmates introduced audience members to tunes they might have caught an auditory glimpse of from Plant’s newest album, “Carry Fire.” That album made Rolling Stone’s top 50 albums of 2017 list, four years after Robert Plant and the band became one.

While Plant’s show mainly focused on that rock nouveau sound he’s been experimenting with as of late, combining psychedelic sounds through the incorporation of tambourine and violin sounds, it wasn’t until the very end of what turned out to be a beautiful Wednesday evening in Queens that folks felt like their pilgrimage was more than worth it. Shaking his hands while his signature long,

curly locks bounced around, Plant belted out "Whole Lotta Love" which just so happened to have been partially recorded in New York. The crowd began mirroring what Plant started as hands seemingly created one massive blur of love that the rocker could see well from his perspective. This anthem also coincidentally tops the list that Rolling Stone editors compiled containing what are regarded as “The Greatest Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time.”

Circling back to Plant’s words, Forest Hills has gained popularity due in part to welcoming such big names in music. Combine that fact with tennis, which is one of the hottest sports out there for those of any age or playing level, and you’ve got a match made in heaven that you can’t even buy.

For a full list of upcoming performances that span into September, visit http://foresthillsstadium.com/. And for more information on the neighboring West

Side Tennis Club, visit its site here: https://thewestsidetennisclub.com/.

A month after seeing Plant perform, the author won the 2018 USTA (United States Tennis Association) National Grass Championships in the women’s 30s division on the Forest Hills grass courts (five summers after having won the Open division in Newport, RI), and cites seeing Plant as inspiration for those recent victorious tournament runs.

Tennis Tales: Personal Perspective on Last Year's US Open

During the US Open, most 15-year-old kids were gearing up for high school, getting school supplies and sharpening their pencils and minds in advance of their first day. It’s been quite a different experience for Cori “Coco” Gauff, who was playing in a jam-packed Louis Armstrong Stadium at the 2019 US Open recently. Coco calmly beat No. 64 and fellow teenager Anastasia Potapova last Tuesday, and followed that impressive result up by winning once again two nights later on the same court with an even bigger crowd behind her against doubles specialist Timea Babos.

The American tennis-playing prodigy from Florida had a miracle run at Wimbledon last month, advancing through the Championships’ Grand Slam qualifying draw before knocking off five-time ladies’ singles champion Venus Williams in the opening round, and she then won two more main draw matches before succumbing in straights to eventual champion Simona Halep in week two. Despite her young age and the limited amount of WTA tournaments she can play as a result, the USTA awarded her a main draw wildcard into the US Open. She is by far the youngest female tennis player to ever receive such a wildcard without winning the USTA Girls 18s national championship title. While most teenage tennis players are working their way through the junior ranks, Coco Gauff achieved world No. 1 junior rankings well before she could play on the circuit full- time due to limitations placed on players based solely on age.

With a third round showing at her maiden US Open, Gauff will break into the WTA’s top 100 rankings by tournament’s end and take over as the youngest player ranked in that category as well as one of the youngest ranked on the Tour as a whole - since the Open, she won her maiden WTA title as a lucky loser - the youngest WTA title holder in more than a decade. Although she lost in straight sets against top-ranked Osaka, it’s what happened after the match that won the hearts of everyone watching. Instead of letting Gauff walk off the court and into the lonely locker room alone, Osaka consoled her teary-eyed opponent and then shared the limelight with the thousands of fans who came out to Ashe stadium to witness history in the making, and the millions of viewers watching from home. Two girls who train out of the same facility in Florida had officially “made it” on the big stage, a fact that Osaka had pointed out that also brought her to tears. It’s moments like these that help to further women’s tennis and prevent any mental lapses from creeping in, which can happen, especially in junior tennis. It’s no secret that in juniors, the players exhibit immature behavior when compared to how the pros would handle similar situations.

In light of her recent successes on the pro circuit, it was in the juniors that players like Gauff honed their tennis-playing skills, as well as players like rising Americans Amanda Anisimova, Sonya Kenin and Caty McNally. In this year’s US Open, Kenin reached the third round before falling to compatriot Madison Keys, while McNally famously took a set off of six-time US Open champion and crowd favorite Serena Williams. Anisimova was missing from competition due to the unfortunate, sudden passing of her father. It’s important to note that the story of Gauff’s meteoric rise to tennis stardom is not the first time that an American prodigy has taken the tennis world by storm in recent years.

After winning the girls’ 18s super national championships in 2014, Catherine “CiCi” Bellis earned an automatic wildcard entry into the US Open. At that time, and after beating Dominika Cibulkova in the opening round, Bellis was the youngest American tennis player since Lindsay Davenport in 1991 to advance in Flushing Meadows. Like Gauff, Bellis dominated on the junior circuit and played well beyond her years. Recently, however, Bellis had voiced regret over her decision to forego a full-ride to Stanford University as she’s unfortunately been plagued by injuries. Similar to Gauff, Bellis was touted to be the next big thing in American tennis; while she did climb to a career-high of No. 35 in the world, tennis experts had predicted a higher ranking climb and lengthier career life.

Just two short years ago, Gauff became the youngest junior US Open finalist in the history of the tournament, falling in straight sets to future Roland Garros semi-finalist Anisimova.

Junior tennis players are the sport’s future, and the match quality on the outer courts of the Billie Jean King Tennis Center can rival that of what you might see on Ashe or Armstrong. I know this because I myself was once one of the top American junior female tennis players and had the opportunity to compete against some future great tennis players.

Regardless of how competitive junior matches are, not many casual tennis fans take notice. But think about how many of the sport’s legends broke through after having success on the junior tour first. Few people may be watching, but it’s totally worth it to stop by the outer courts this coming week as you never know whom you might see. In the juniors, I was fortunate enough to play future world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, French Open finalist Sara Errani and Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki, among others. I played against Azarenka in the 2004 U.S. Open juniors. What do I remember most? That she would giggle in the locker room while getting her legs stretched after matches. Even though we were from different countries and had slightly different goals as tennis players, I remember cracking jokes with her and feeling relaxed in her presence. These were nice, innocent moments among teenagers that could have just as easily happened at a beach. But the actual tennis, now that was a different story. I was looking to play in college and then turn pro, while she was heading straight to the pro tour.

That’s a lot of pressure for a young person. I felt the heat when competing in doubles at the now rebranded Legg Mason tournament three weeks before college started at Columbia University in the city of New York; on my side of the net was Madison Brengle, and we were playing Tatiana Poutchek and future 2019 Wimbledon champion Hsieh Su-wei. After running around the side post for a winner that technically went under the net, I avoided colliding with the ball boy and wound up tearing my ACL and meniscus instead, forcing us to retire. I’ll never forget sitting in my surgeon’s office, him telling me that I should never play competitive tennis again. Because of that diagnosis, I played a little bit in college for Columbia, red-shirted and gave it another go at Northwestern as a walk-on graduate student, but couldn’t balance grad work with the demands of college tennis.

Looking back at my experience playing on Court 7 at the US Open, there was more pressure than just looking across the net at Azarenka. I was representing my country, Long Island, Jericho Senior High School and even my clothing sponsor, Fila. I was the only female American junior tennis player at the time to have received a clothing and shoe sponsorship from Fila - and the only player from Long Island competing on the women's ITF pro and junior girls' circuit in top tournaments. Since there is no monetary gain for junior players, it's beyond cool in the mind of a teenager to wear first-class clothes from a brand like Fila. After all, it was what my idol Kim Clijsters was wearing. Could I really become the next Kim Clijsters? As cool as it was to think that, expectations, whether self-imposed or not, can weigh a player down. Tennis is one of the most physically and mentally taxing sports, which can present challenges - particularly for young players who are still maturing in both those areas.

Going into that match against Azarenka, I didn’t believe I could win. As most coaches would say, believing you can win is the first step toward translating that into a reality. I’ll never forget how consistent Azarenka’s groundstrokes were, how hard she clocked the ball, and her overall grit – those aspects of her junior game carried into her professional one. Still, I was just one forehand volley away from taking the second set. But the nerves crept in and eventually, Azarenka won the match in two tight sets. Azarenka won the Australian Open twice and was a finalist at the 2012 and 2013 U.S. Open. She’s still playing and travels on the tour with her young son. Now, it’s still also possible for a mother to take the title in Serena Williams, who could emulate Kim Clijsters and take the title, baby in tow. It’s impossible to tell whether a player, like Gauff, for example, will become an Azarenka, Errani or Lisicki. What’s for sure is that junior competition allows for a unique opportunity to see some of the best tennis players in the making – and they will more than likely grow with time. So, rather than sit up in the nose-bleeds in Ashe and squint to see the top pros, take a walk to the outer courts and look up close at their roots to see where the champion-like seed was planted. Look closely and the next Coco Gauff is about to break through.

Elizabeth Kobak has written and covered the sport extensively, and have represented the United States at the junior US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open, Italian Open and many more renowned international tennis tournaments. A graduate of Jericho Senior High School and lifelong resident of Old Westbury, she became the No. 1 junior tennis player in the United States and reached a career-high ITF junior ranking of 100 in singles and WTA singles ranking of 570 when I was 18 years old. Most recently, she won all three “triple crown” events on grass in the Open division of the USTA National Championships in singles, doubles and mixed at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, as well as the 30s grass Nationals in singles at the West Side Tennis Club (the original site of the US Open).