Featured Articles - Tennisopolis : Tennis Social Network2024-03-19T10:57:34Zhttp://tennisopolis.com/profiles/blog/feed?promoted=1&xn_auth=noLeague wrap up and Playsighttag:tennisopolis.com,2015-11-23:1869403:BlogPost:12117472015-11-23T05:18:08.000ZJazz Burkshttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/JazzBurks
<p>If anybody cared the last three matches went like this... I won a real lights out battle in the impending darkness at the Northwestern University outdoor courts. To quote the Ljubman, "spend some Euros and get some lights!" That match was on a sweltering hot Friday evening. On a cold gray Sunday morning I lost a real rock'em sock'em battle with a guy who I have always had big hitting wars. Fast forward to the next week to face my retriever nemesis and clearly was not ready to suffer as he…</p>
<p>If anybody cared the last three matches went like this... I won a real lights out battle in the impending darkness at the Northwestern University outdoor courts. To quote the Ljubman, "spend some Euros and get some lights!" That match was on a sweltering hot Friday evening. On a cold gray Sunday morning I lost a real rock'em sock'em battle with a guy who I have always had big hitting wars. Fast forward to the next week to face my retriever nemesis and clearly was not ready to suffer as he took me out in two easy sets. Summer and Fall went by with no singles play as family life to a toll on the flex league singles play.</p>
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<p>I've finally taken a step outside of the mixed doubles toybox and joined a 4.0 men's team. That team plays out of the NU indoor courts. My first 4.0 match was a singles match outside on clay. Even though everything was against me I was ahead in both sets only to choke them both away. I was feeling down about myself as I lost the deciding match to give the other club a 3-2 win. I got a chance at redemption on Halloween as they stuck me on #3 doubles in a match again the 1st place team in the league. Once again it came down to my match to see with team would take the whole thing, Even though it was a 4.0 match it was more of a 7.5 combo match as both sides sent out 4.0 and 3.5 pairing. It was very even affair as both teams held serve until 3-4. We were broken and they served for the set at 5-3. We broke back, I held (even though they had 3 set points in the process)<img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Tongue.gif"/> , broke again, and we held to close out the set. We broke the first game of the second set only for me to give it back on a sloppy service game. We stayed neck and neck until my heavy forehands and my partners ability to cover the net provided the go-ahead break in the 4-4 game. I was able to serve it out on the third match point. </p>
<p>The common thread between NU and the snooty club where I lost on the clay is that they both have Playsight. Playsight is a data recording system that allows you to analyze your matches and practice sessions. For doubles right now it is mainly video and on court line calls. However for singles you can get speed and spin data player movement etc... The only problem is that the upscale club club does not have the system on the outdoor courts so I don't have anything to show you from my singles match. However if you would like to look at my doubles match check out this <a href="https://www.playsight.com/share/45277494_1_125184" target="_blank">link</a>. You can tell me if I just spin tall tales in my posts or if they are somewhat close to reality. After looking at myself on this video and another mixed video I have realized I must be aggressive in my game I cannot try to play within myself and expect to win at the 4.0 8.0&7.5 mixed levels.I am thinking of starting a playsight group on TO where we can share our links and check each other's games out. That is assuming I'm not the only one that has access to the technology.</p>
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<p></p>Isner Leads Upset Train at Miami Opentag:tennisopolis.com,2015-04-01:1869403:BlogPost:11854482015-04-01T07:44:54.000ZMichaelGuidryhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/MichaelGuidry
<p>Top-seeded Serena Williams would not take her foot off the pedal against an opponent that had beaten her twice and reached No. 2 in the world on Monday at the Miami Open, steamrolling past No. 24 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 6-3.</p>
<p>“Playing Svetlana, I know she’s super tough — we always have super tough matches,” Williams said. “The last time we played I was just fighting my hardest and I was barely able to win, so today I knew I had to come out super, super focused, and I really just…</p>
<p>Top-seeded Serena Williams would not take her foot off the pedal against an opponent that had beaten her twice and reached No. 2 in the world on Monday at the Miami Open, steamrolling past No. 24 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 6-3.</p>
<p>“Playing Svetlana, I know she’s super tough — we always have super tough matches,” Williams said. “The last time we played I was just fighting my hardest and I was barely able to win, so today I knew I had to come out super, super focused, and I really just tried to do the best I could out there.”</p>
<p>Elder Williams sister Venus was also up against a tough customer on Monday, keeping her career undefeated streak alive against former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, handling the Dane 6-3, 7-6(1). She will next face No. 12 Carla Suarez Navarro, an upset winner over No. 7 Agnieszka Radwanska 5-7, 6-0, 6-4.</p>
<p>No. 3 seed Simona Halep and unseeded American Sloane Stephens set up a quarterfinal meeting on Monday as the Romanian tamed No. 15 Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 7-5, and the American downed Swiss riser Belinda Bencic 6-4, 7-6(5).</p>
<p>Two upset winners advancing on the day were No. 9 Andrea Petkovic over No. 8 Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 7-5, and No. 27 Sabine Lisicki rolled over No. 11 Sara Errani 6-1, 6-2. Lisicki now meets Serena.</p>
<p>“I played one of the best sets I’ve ever played in the first set today,” Petkovic said. “She’s such a great player, though, and it was clear she was going to come back in the second set. I’m lucky I was able to play well at the end and get away with it, and win the match in straight sets.”</p>
<p>American John Isner was the only upset-maker on the men’s side Monday in round of 32 action as the big server brushed aside No. 9 seed Grigor “Baby Not Fed” Dimitrov 7-6(2), 6-2.</p>
<p>Top 10-seeded winners were No. 1 Novak Djokovic ripping Steve Darcis 6-0, 7-5; No. 4 Kei Nishikori rolling Viktor Troicki 6-2, 6-2; No. 5 Milos Raonic almost falling off the table against No. 31 Jeremy Chardy 6-1, 5-7, 7-6(3); and No. 6 David Ferrer topping No. 26 Lukas Rosol 6-4, 7-5.</p>
<p>Isner will next meet Raonic.</p>
<p>“I don’t believe [Dimitrov] played his best tonight, but I feel like I had a lot to do with that,” said Isner, who is in the midst of his best run in Miami. “I was a little nervous at the beginning. I hadn’t played at night here; hadn’t played on center court yet. Everything is different; the conditions are different. I wasn’t really going for my shots too much.”</p>
<p>Other players through to the round of 16 were No. 12 Gilles Simon, No. 18 David Goffin, and Alexandr Dolgopolov.</p>
<p>Dolgopolov will next have his hands full against the world No. 1.</p>
<p>“I know his game pretty well,” Djokovic said. “I know what to expect. Hopefully I’ll be able to start as well as I did in the first two matches, but then end it in a bit different way, keep the concentration going all the way through.”</p>Super Sexy Roger Federer at Indian Wellstag:tennisopolis.com,2015-03-17:1869403:BlogPost:11833022015-03-17T17:45:10.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAEZPBbVAAEc4B4.jpg:large" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAEZPBbVAAEc4B4.jpg:large"></img></a><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><p>Roger Federer approaching the mob of fans to sign autographs :) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indianwells?src=hash">#indianwells</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bnppo15?src=hash">#bnppo15</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/comeon?src=hash">#comeon</a> <a href="http://t.co/0eDZudy9zN">pic.twitter.com/0eDZudy9zN</a></p>
—…</blockquote>
<a target="_blank" href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAEZPBbVAAEc4B4.jpg:large"><img class="align-full" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAEZPBbVAAEc4B4.jpg:large"/></a><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><p>Roger Federer approaching the mob of fans to sign autographs :) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indianwells?src=hash">#indianwells</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bnppo15?src=hash">#bnppo15</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/comeon?src=hash">#comeon</a> <a href="http://t.co/0eDZudy9zN">pic.twitter.com/0eDZudy9zN</a></p>
— pk's world (@SourceSyndicate) <a href="https://twitter.com/SourceSyndicate/status/576769973487456256">March 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<p>It was amazing to meet Roger Federer at Indian Wells ! Watching him practice filled my mind with all kinds of crazy Federer fan video ideas! Here are my series of pics and video set to the 70s smooth music! Hope it makes you laugh!~</p>
<p>Click here to visit my blog and watch the video!</p>
<p><a href="http://lovesetmatch.net/blog/super-sexy-roger-federer-video/" target="_blank">lovesetmatch.net</a></p>New FedererFanBook video live on TennisopolisTVtag:tennisopolis.com,2015-03-02:1869403:BlogPost:11814792015-03-02T20:00:00.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p><a href="http://lovesetmatch.net/blog/federerfanbook-video-now-live-on-youtube/" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152705?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>I just created this FedererFanBook video now live on tennisopolis youtube channel !!! <a href="http://lovesetmatch.net/?p=2167">http://lovesetmatch.net/?p=2167</a> let me know what you think :) It's a collection of fan submissions from all over the world honoring our hero Roger Federer…</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://lovesetmatch.net/blog/federerfanbook-video-now-live-on-youtube/"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152705?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p>I just created this FedererFanBook video now live on tennisopolis youtube channel !!! <a href="http://lovesetmatch.net/?p=2167">http://lovesetmatch.net/?p=2167</a> let me know what you think :) It's a collection of fan submissions from all over the world honoring our hero Roger Federer</p>
<p><a href="http://lovesetmatch.net/blog/federerfanbook-video-now-live-on-youtube/" target="_blank">http://lovesetmatch.net/blog/federerfanbook-video-now-live-on-youtube/</a></p>2015 BNP PARIBAS OPENtag:tennisopolis.com,2015-03-06:1869403:BlogPost:11822172015-03-06T16:03:33.000ZLucile Bosche´http://tennisopolis.com/profile/LucileBosche
<p><span>INDIAN WELLS HERE WE COME! I would like to host an MTM Meetup during the first week of the BNP Paribas Open. Please send me a message if you are interested.</span></p>
<p><span>Players: if you are interested in MTM lessons in Indian Wells during the BNP Paribas Open please send me a message to arrange dates and times.</span></p>
<p><span>Coaches: if you would like to become MTM certified or upgrade your certification during the BNP Paribas Open please send me a message to arrange dates…</span></p>
<p><span>INDIAN WELLS HERE WE COME! I would like to host an MTM Meetup during the first week of the BNP Paribas Open. Please send me a message if you are interested.</span></p>
<p><span>Players: if you are interested in MTM lessons in Indian Wells during the BNP Paribas Open please send me a message to arrange dates and times.</span></p>
<p><span>Coaches: if you would like to become MTM certified or upgrade your certification during the BNP Paribas Open please send me a message to arrange dates and times.</span></p>
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<p><span>HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!</span></p>Battle of the 11.1 oz player frames: 2015 Head Speed Pro XT vs. Wilson Pro Staff 97tag:tennisopolis.com,2015-03-02:1869403:BlogPost:11813042015-03-02T08:00:00.000ZTim Praponghttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/TimPrapong
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149151456?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149151456?profile=original" width="225"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149151740?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149151740?profile=original" width="259"></img></a> As the recent owner of both these fine frames, Head and Wilson have really improved racquets in this weight category. I will describe the differences between the two. Both of these racquets are better than the Head Graphene Prestige Pro, also at 11.1…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149151456?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149151456?profile=original" width="225"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149151740?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149151740?profile=original" width="259"/></a>As the recent owner of both these fine frames, Head and Wilson have really improved racquets in this weight category. I will describe the differences between the two. Both of these racquets are better than the Head Graphene Prestige Pro, also at 11.1 oz</p>
<p>They are stiff at 66 (Pro Staff) and 67 (Speed), penetrate the court faster and drive the ball straighter. But the feel is not tinny as a Babolat Aero Pro Drive or Pure Drive due to the thinner beam, in the middle at 21.5 mm (Pro Staff) and 22.5 mm (Speed). The beam is neither traditional box beam of older Wilson frames or rounded hollow tubular beams of Babolat yore. There is a blend of the two beam designs which yield the feel of thin box beams with some of the stiffness of Babolat make.</p>
<p>The Pro Staff 97 is the lighter version of the current Federer model, the RF 97. I really enjoyed the maneuverability of the 7 pts HL balance. It actually felt as maneuverable as any serve and volley stick. But this is no flimsy stick on the groundies. I took as wide a modern swing with this stick, rotating the shoulders closed and closing the face, throwing all my weight into the rally shot. The Pro Staff delivered with great diving drive shots to the corners with minimal flex in the hoop. I was amazed at how much straighter the shot was but with all the action of a forward spin dipper. Serves had great kick and the flat serves had extra zip. Volleys were saber like. I did have to lead the frame at 10 and 2 o'clock and put in a stiff string, the new Head Hawk 16 gauge to maximize the effect. There were hot spots on the backhand slice without the lead, but with lead, I got the plow I needed.</p>
<p>I still felt there was a little room for improvement and looking at the beefier specs of the new Head Speed Pro XT, I bought the racquet without a demo. I was not dismayed in the least. The hoop was stiffer, the beam was wider, and the head size wider. I served even better flat serves with this stick than the leaded RF 97. I saw no need to lead this frame as it was belting every ball even more, as I hooked my forehands and backhands even more radically with my wrist. The flatter volleys stayed remarkably lower and the high forehands I could club straight out of the air with vengeance. The feeling is more Ferrari like as you feel the ball spit out of the stringbed like a rifle. Whereas the Pro Staff required a touch more work for the same result, the 18x20 pattern made down the line shot deadly off both wings.</p>
<p>I will keep the Pro Staff 97 for doubles and lower level scenarios. But the new Speed Pro XT is my choice for heavy duty singles mauler sessions.</p>
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<p></p>Tennis League Team Practicetag:tennisopolis.com,2014-10-06:1869403:BlogPost:11668702014-10-06T19:56:42.000ZDoug Ingbretsenhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/DougIngbretsen
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oN5ClZcZgGk/VDKUMoY4sOI/AAAAAAAADTQ/8RrC4DHraks/s1600/What-is-That.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="76" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oN5ClZcZgGk/VDKUMoY4sOI/AAAAAAAADTQ/8RrC4DHraks/s1600/What-is-That.png" width="320"></img></a></div>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I know this is a very broad subject, considering how many recreational tennis players, teams and leagues there are throughout our country and the world, but this…</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oN5ClZcZgGk/VDKUMoY4sOI/AAAAAAAADTQ/8RrC4DHraks/s1600/What-is-That.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oN5ClZcZgGk/VDKUMoY4sOI/AAAAAAAADTQ/8RrC4DHraks/s1600/What-is-That.png" height="76" width="320"/></a></div>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I know this is a very broad subject, considering how many recreational tennis players, teams and leagues there are throughout our country and the world, but this misnomer need be addressed.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't say I've experienced what takes place on every team, but I've been around the tennis league block.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've had many prior captains say something to the effect of, "We practice on Tuesdays." or "We have practice matches on Thursday".</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all know so many league tennis teams and captains have their own agenda, methods or whatever (players aware or otherwise - I get it). Not all tennis teams and players are going to go out there and go for the jugular on every stroke or point, but please let's not call this <i>practice</i>, what may be, at best, a <i>scrimmage</i>.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh yes, I enjoy all the social and competitive aspects of tennis, but</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've never gone out to team </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">practice </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and done much more than hit with the same partner to see if we still </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">have it</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> or be tossed around with other players because the captain knows John or Jane can't make it to the next match. I understand this - we all have lives and no one pays us amateurs to play tennis.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, please don't call this event <i>practice. </i>I know seniors who take more time preparing for a Bridge game (<b>poker</b>, I call it) and they will go for your jugular.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Team practice is typically nothing more than a few (6, 8, 10 players, 4 perhaps) getting together to play tennis. What good is that? Some, I'm sure.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the day, I remember playing about six matches a week (varying levels of consequence) and one of my then league captains demanded attendance for this round-robin of tennis he chose to use as an opportunity to make the line-up for the next match. Great guy, he was, but I never had a clue who I would be partner with for doubles or even if I would take a singles court. He was more elusive than my ex-wife, who was a wonderful tennis player (and person) - undefeated in our last year playing 8.5 mixed.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, most league team practices are not such. At best, they are scrimmages, not lending themselves toward improving the teams play and match outcomes.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this is not the job of a league captain. Or is it? Captains are captains for a variety of reasons and abilities, many of which may not lend themselves toward running drills or giving instruction. And, because us league players are amateurs, unpaid individuals with our own lives, with our own reasons for taking to the court, we may not be so fond of such a thing. Yet there are many who can't say they don't need practice (Although they may not necessarily believe such nonsense.) and cringe at the idea. </span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love group drills, even to work on polishing just one or two bullets in my tennis holster for a half-hour or more. And, when employing a teaching tennis pro for such tasks, the cost is usually much lower than personal sessions. I've had a blast hacking through some issues with players of similar rating.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you think back to most groups drills you've experienced, they are more situational than instructional. The teaching pro will set up a scenario whereas he or she specifies the situation, physical boundaries, positioning, opponent action, etc. Next comes the expectation - what you (and partner perhaps) are supposed to do in this situation.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most groups I have seen, unless they have a coach (not a league captain), are not going to pull this off too well without a third, uncompromising party, such as a teaching pro. But it can be done if you have the right enthusiastic players or a partner who will go out there one on one with you and maintain the focus. Having players pay even a small amount of money to a teaching pro seems to promote a little more cooperation and attention, plus you will receive the instruction provided by a teaching tennis pro.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend and tennis friend of mine, and I, will occasionally grab a court with a hopper of balls and warm-up to a good pace for about fifteen minutes. Then we go into a few different drills.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are mostly situational and we are not instructing one another, praise is in order when merited and I'm not talking about just on a nice put away shot.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a few examples of these drills (for two players of similar rating or ability):</span><br/> <b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></b> <b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>1, 2, 3, Charge:</u></b><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using singles court or half of doubles court, after the third stroke (not serving) is taken, the hitting player comes to net whether or not it is advantageous and attempts to return or put away the fourth shot and continues play at net. Alternate who starts play after each point. This can get terribly exhausting for one particular player if you don't, unless you're both simply taking warm-up strokes.</span><br/> <b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></b> <b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is great for working on out-of-the-blocks speed, approach shot footwork, timing and shot control at the net.</b><br/> <b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></b> <b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Alley Only</u>: </b><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using the alleys only and possibly a cone or other vertical object (a tennis bag will work) placed two feet in on the service line. Using one of the alleys, practice ground strokes from within the sidelines at or near the baseline to each other with the intent of not hitting outside the sideline or the parallel imaginary line created by the cone if used. Finish by switching to the opposite alley and performing the same - both players should have now had to use both forehand and backhand strokes. The cone is used by us because we don't want get used to aiming too close to the sideline from baseline - much more room for error - neither of us has been on the pro circuit. The same singles drill can be done for singles play by using the singles sideline and cones.</span><br/> <b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></b> <b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good for working on consistency, control and quick short-step footwork/preparation.</b><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Cross-court Come-in</u></b></span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not serving, both players begin from near their baseline and must return cross-court to their opponent's back court between the alley line and the center mark. The purpose is to get consistent at hitting deeper shots. If a player hits a short ball (into their opponent's service box) he or she cannot make an approach to the net. Their opponent can approach the net and as long as they hit while standing in their own service box, they can hit anywhere in the cross-court, including the alley - the short-hitting player possibly paying more for doing so. For singles play use half of singles court, minus the alleys, obviously.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Promotes consistent deeper ground strokes and defense of net shots from your baseline. Great time to work on your top spin ground strokes.</b></span><br/> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So grab some of your more enthusiastic and focused team members, a partner or get your team a teaching pro and incorporate this into your regular team <i>scrimmage</i> or hold a separate team <i>practice</i>. <img src="http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad93/ucsycybersmiley/41.gif"/></span></p>Why do the two high amplitude forehands (Nadal and Djokovic) dominate the ATP tour?tag:tennisopolis.com,2014-06-17:1869403:BlogPost:11441592014-06-17T05:30:00.000ZTim Praponghttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/TimPrapong
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152791?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152791?profile=original" width="400"></img></a></p>
<p>Looking at the current world rankings, Nadal is 12500 pts, Djokovic is at 12330. Then there is a precipitous drop in points, with Wawrinka at 5525, Federer at 4945. Why would there be such a drop? I attribute this to the simple fact the prior two have more topspin and sidespin on their forehands.</p>
<p>Let's be honest here. The serve is no longer the determinant of…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152791?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152791?profile=original" width="400"/></a></p>
<p>Looking at the current world rankings, Nadal is 12500 pts, Djokovic is at 12330. Then there is a precipitous drop in points, with Wawrinka at 5525, Federer at 4945. Why would there be such a drop? I attribute this to the simple fact the prior two have more topspin and sidespin on their forehands.</p>
<p>Let's be honest here. The serve is no longer the determinant of success on tour. If it were, Raonic and Isner would be in the top five. And the other matter is that more U.S. men are neglecting what should be obvious. To win consistently above the rest of the field, one needs a versatile topspin forehand.</p>
<p>The men's tour used to be mesmerized by Federer and his high RPM forehand. But then Nadal came along with the capability to nearly double the RPMs at 5200. Here is further data from tennisspeed.com:</p>
<p><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_asDCy5wNmgg/TT8jpTEtA1I/AAAAAAAAABo/NYs6XcbzaCo/s320/ATP%2BSpeed%2Band%2BSpin%2BSummary.jpg" border="0" height="164" width="320"/></p>
<p>Well, we have here Nadal, Djokovic and Roddick with the highest RPMs and ball speed. But why would one choose Nadal and Djokovic's forehand above Roddick's or Federer's? The answer would be control of sidespin.</p>
<p>The ability to hit sidespin, due to the conservative Western grip would explain the top 2 players in the world's stranglehold on the tour. Sure, they will lose a match here and there, and it's a temporary shocker when it happens. But in the course of time, who do we see in the finals. Both or one of the two.</p>
<p>It used to be that Sampras with his high RPM serve would dominate the tour, backed by his volleying skill. Now, it is the inside out forehand and the ability to control the rally.</p>
<p>Year after year, I see juniors drive the ball in search of the big strike forehand which elicit oohs and aahs from their parents and coaches. But I don't see a steady consistent kid who will eventually do what Djokovic and Nadal can. Hit a steady rock solid forehand which will get the ball in consistently and with creativity.</p>Second Annual New York Tennis Expo Returns June 1 to Home of U.S. Opentag:tennisopolis.com,2014-05-19:1869403:BlogPost:11367102014-05-19T16:58:39.000ZMark / The Mayorhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/archibot
<p><strong><em><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152968?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152968?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350"></img></a> Free, Family-friendly Event Offers Something for Everyone</em></strong></p>
<p>United Sports Publications (USP), publisher of New York Tennis Magazine, Long Island Tennis Magazine and various multimedia tennis properties serving the New York metropolitan area, today announced that the Second Annual New York Tennis Expo will return Sunday, June 1, 2014 from 10:30…</p>
<p><strong><em><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152968?profile=original"><img width="350" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152968?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350"/></a>Free, Family-friendly Event Offers Something for Everyone</em></strong></p>
<p>United Sports Publications (USP), publisher of New York Tennis Magazine, Long Island Tennis Magazine and various multimedia tennis properties serving the New York metropolitan area, today announced that the Second Annual New York Tennis Expo will return Sunday, June 1, 2014 from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.</p>
<p>The New York Tennis Expo was created by USP as both a symbolic annual gathering and opportunity to bring together tennis enthusiasts with those who support the growth of the sport throughout the New York Metropolitan area. This full-day event returns following the inaugural New York Tennis Expo in 2013, an event that drew in excess of 3,000 attendees.</p>
<p>Tennis enthusiasts and their families can expect to enjoy an expansive “Activity Zone” this year, complete with indoor on-court play opportunities and games; an outdoor Carnival area and Parent-Child Play Deck; and expanded “Kids Zone” featuring face-painting, balloon animals and glitter tattoos. For those interested in the best tennis products and services, the expansive “Exhibitor Zone” will feature companies and organizations ranging from teaching aids and technology products, to apparel companies, manufacturers, tennis travel destinations, teaching organizations and virtually everything in between.</p>
<p>The 2nd Annual New York Tennis Expo Speaker Sessions will kickoff at 11:30 a.m. and consist of:</p>
<ul class="releaseul">
<li> The Road to College Scholarships: World-renowned Tennis Coach Nick Bollettieri and several top college coaches will provide recommendations and tips to aid parents and aspiring college players in their selection process</li>
<li> Taking Your Game to the Next Level: Gain inspiration as industry insiders share their insights into performance and overcoming obstacles</li>
<li> Ask Nick Q&A: A special, interactive session with recent International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, Nick Bollettieri. Pose your questions to the man who helped produce countless Top 10 Players</li>
</ul>
<p>Among several new features for 2014, in partnership with the Special Olympics of New York, the 2nd Annual New York Tennis Expo will play host to the Unified Tennis Games Tournament, a friendly round-robin event that’s part of a broader grassroots instructional, mentorship and practice program pairing area high school varsity and tournament players with intellectually-challenged athletes.</p>
<p>Yet another addition to the 2014 New York Tennis Expo is the United Sports Publications Broadcast Plaza, an on-site media hub where New York Tennis Magazine and Long Island Tennis Magazine will create official Expo editorial content, including reports from the show floor, video interviews with speakers and exhibitors, as well as segments for the first-ever Tennis Talk New York radio show, the newest media component in USP’s platform, intended to serve both consumers and business partners.</p>
<p>For free pre-registration to the 2014 New York Tennis Expo, log on to <a href="http://www.2014nytennisexpo.eventbrite.com" class="trackingLink" rel="nofollow">http://www.2014nytennisexpo.eventbrite.com</a>.</p>
<p>About New York Tennis Magazine and Long Island Tennis Magazine <br/> New York Tennis Magazine and Long Island Tennis Magazine are the Ultimate Guides to Tennis in their respective regions. The publications are designed to promote and develop the sport of tennis on every level in their communities. Each issue provides news and insight into our growing sport by reporting on the people, events and trends that shape the sport of tennis in New York and Long Island. The goal at New York Tennis Magazine and Long Island Tennis Magazine is to work with the local tennis clubs, camps and industry partners to best inform the readership on what's happening in the local tennis community.</p>Jamie Foxx Wants To Be Her Tennis Balltag:tennisopolis.com,2014-04-24:1869403:BlogPost:11328142014-04-24T19:53:53.000ZMark / The Mayorhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/archibot
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bbOOhaNlmmQ?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" height="480" width="640"></iframe>
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bbOOhaNlmmQ?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" height="480" width="640"></iframe>Pancho Gonzales - One of the greatest of all timetag:tennisopolis.com,2014-04-10:1869403:BlogPost:11294122014-04-10T21:41:07.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p>I just received these amazing exclusive photos of Pancho Gonzales from Wimbledon Champ Rosie Casals. If you don't know who he is, please read this bio written by the great Bud Collins. </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152959?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152959?profile=original" width="388"></img></a></p>
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<p>Very much his own man, a loner and an acerbic competitor, Richard Alonzo “Pancho” Gonzalez was probably as good as anyone who ever played the game, if not…</p>
<p>I just received these amazing exclusive photos of Pancho Gonzales from Wimbledon Champ Rosie Casals. If you don't know who he is, please read this bio written by the great Bud Collins. </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152959?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152959?profile=original" width="388"/></a></p>
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<p>Very much his own man, a loner and an acerbic competitor, Richard Alonzo “Pancho” Gonzalez was probably as good as anyone who ever played the game, if not better. Most of his great tennis was played beyond wide public attention, on the nearly secret pro tour amid a small band of gypsies of whom he was the ticket-selling mainstay. His rages against opponents, officials, photographers, newsmen and even spectators were frequently spectacular – but they only served to intensify his own play, and didn’t disturb his concentration, as fits of temper do most others. Pancho got mad and played better. “We hoped he wouldn’t get upset; it just made him tougher,” said Rod Laver. “Later when he got older, he would get into arguments to stall for time and rest, and we had to be careful that it didn’t put us off our games.”</p>
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<p>Gonzalez, a right-hander, born May 9, 1928, in Los Angeles, was always out of the tennis mainstream, a fact that seemed to goad him to play harder. Because he came from a Chicano family, he was never acceptable in the supposedly proper upper circles of his city’s tennis establishment. And because he was a truant he wasn’t permitted to play in Southern California junior tournaments. Once he got out of the Navy in 1946 there was no preventing him from mixing in the game, and beating everyone. He had a marvellously pure and effortless service action that delivered thunderbolts, and he grew up as an attacker on fast West Coast concrete. Although not regarded as anything more than promising on his second trip East in 1948, he was at age 20 ready to win the big one, the U.S. Championship at Forest Hills. Ranked 17th nationally at the time, and seeded eighth, he served and volleyed his way to the final, where he beat South African Eric Sturgess with ease, 6-2, 6-3, 14-12. The following year Gonzalez met the favourite, a Southern California antagonist, top-seeded Ted Schroeder. It was one of the most gripping finals. Schroeder won the first two sets as expected, but they were demanding and exhausting, 18-16, 6-2, and after that Gonzalez rolled up the next three, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, for the title.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153301?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153301?profile=original" width="342"/></a></p>
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<p>In 1949 Pancho also helped the U.S. hold the Davis Cup against Australia, then went for the money, turning pro to tour against the monarch, Jack Kramer. Gonzalez was too green for Kramer, losing, 96-27, and he faded from view for several agonizing years. When Kramer retired, Gonzalez won a tour over Don Budge, Pancho Segura and Frank Sedgman in 1954 to determine Jack’s successor, and stood himself as Emperor Pancho, proud and imperious, for a long while, through the challenges of Tony Trabert, Ken Rosewall, Lew Hoad, Ashley Cooper, Mal Anderson, Alex Olmedo and Segura. For a decade Gonzalez and pro tennis were synonymous. A promoter couldn’t hope to rally crowds unless Pancho was on the bill. During his reign Pancho won the U.S. Pro singles a record eight times of 11 finals between 1951 and 1964, and Wembley in London, considered the world pro championship, 4 times of 5 finals between 1950 and 1956. By the time Rosewall and Laver were reaching their zeniths during the mid- and late-1960s, the aging Gonzalez hung on as a dangerous foe, still capable of defeating all. In 1964, his last serious bid for his ninth U.S. Pro title, he lost the final to Laver in four hard sets on grass in a rainstorm. Yet there was still much more glory ahead. In 1968, at 40, he beat the defending champion, 31-year-old Roy Emerson, to attain the semis of the first major open, the French, to be beaten by Laver. Three months later, at the initial U.S. Open, he toppled second-seeded Tony Roche (the 23-year-old Wimbledon finalist) to make the quarters, where he defeated Tom Okker. A year later, this grandfather (literally) electrified Wimbledon by overcoming Charlie Pasarell in the tournament’s longest match, 112 games, a first-rounder that consumed five hours, 12 minutes, a major tourney record that stood until 1992, eclipsed by 14 minutes by Stefan Edberg over Michael Chang at the U.S. Open. The marathon with Pasarell began one afternoon and concluded on the next after darkness intervened. In winning, 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9, Gonzalez saved seven match points in the 5th set. Later that year, he beat John Newcombe, Rosewall, Stan Smith and Arthur Ashe in succession to win $12,500, second-highest prize of the year, and the title at a rich tournament at Las Vegas. Early in 1970, in the opener of a series of $10,000 winner-take-all challenge matches leading to a grand final, he toppled Laver. The Aussie, just off his second Grand Slam year (and the eventual winner of this tournament), was clearly No. 1in the world, but Pancho warmed a crowd of 14,761 at New York’s Madison Square Garden with a 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory. Three months before his 44th birthday, in 1972, he was the oldest to record a tournament title in the opener, winning Des Moines (Iowa) over 24-year-old French Davis Cupper Georges Goven. That year he was No. 9 in the U.S., the oldest to rank so high, and equalled Vic Seixas; Top Ten longevity span of 24 years. As for the World Top Ten, he is alone in that he was a member in 1948-49 and again in 1968-69, ranking No. 1 in 1949, No. 6 in 1969. In 1968, though still active, he was named to the Hall of Fame and he was a consistent winner on the Grand Masters tour for the over-45 champs beginning in 1973. Although his high-speed serve, so effortlessly delivered, was a trademark, Gonzalez, a 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, was a splendid athlete and tactician who excelled at defence, too. “My legs, retrieving, lobs and change-of-pace service returns meant as much or more to me than my power,” he said. “But people overlooked that because of the reputation of my serve.” He won $911,078 between 1950 and 1972, and crossed the million mark as a Grand Master. Altogether as amateur and pro he won 74 singles titles. He was married six times, the last to a good player, Rita Agassi, sister of another all-timer, Andre Agassi, by whom he had a son. Not a bad tennis bloodline for the young man, Skylar Gonzalez. Gonzalez died July 3, 1995, of cancer in Las Vegas, where he had been a teaching pro for some time.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153370?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153370?profile=original" width="361"/></a><br/><br/><strong>MAJOR TITLES (4) –</strong> US. singles, 1948, 1949; French doubles,1949; Wimbledon doubles, 1949. <br/><strong>OTHER U.S. TITLES (17) –</strong> Indoor singles, 1949; Clay Court singles, 1948, 1949; Indoor mixed 1949, with Gusty Moran; Pro singles, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961; Pro doubles, 1953, with Don Budge; 1954, 1958, with Pancho Segura;1957, with Ken Rosewall 1969, with Rod Laver. DAVIS CUP – 1949; record: 2-0 in singles. <br/><strong>SINGLES RECORD IN THE MAJORS –</strong> Australian (2-1), French (9-2), Wimbledon (10-5), US. (23-7). - Residence: Las Vegas, Nevada<br/>Singles titles: 3, 1972--(1) Des Moines 1971--(1) Los Angeles<br/>1970--(1) WCT Las Vegas<br/>Won U.S. National Championships, 1948, 49. Won U.S. National Clay Court<br/>Championships, 1948, 49. Won U.S. National Indoor championships in 1949.<br/>Member of 1949 U.S. Davis Cup team. Won 1949 French Open and Wimbledon doubles titles (w/Parker).<br/>Resident pro and Tennis Director at Caesar's Palace since 1970. Won the inaugural ATP Great Player of the Past Award in 1975.</p>
<p>Bio Courtesy: Bud Collins</p>10 year Anniversary of Federer Nadal!tag:tennisopolis.com,2014-03-28:1869403:BlogPost:11273882014-03-28T14:48:27.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p>Today, we're exactly 10 years after the first Federer - Nadal game. One of the best rivalry of the history <a class="hash" href="https://plugg.io/client#">#Legends…</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bj0ci8eCMAAD9B4.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bj0ci8eCMAAD9B4.jpg"></img></a> <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bjz4uDpCUAAUV_l.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bjz4uDpCUAAUV_l.jpg"></img></a> <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bel0AoACIAAFESz.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bel0AoACIAAFESz.jpg"></img></a></p>
<p>Today, we're exactly 10 years after the first Federer - Nadal game. One of the best rivalry of the history <a class="hash" href="https://plugg.io/client#">#Legends</a></p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bj0ci8eCMAAD9B4.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bj0ci8eCMAAD9B4.jpg"/></a><a target="_blank" href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bjz4uDpCUAAUV_l.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bjz4uDpCUAAUV_l.jpg"/></a><a target="_blank" href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bel0AoACIAAFESz.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bel0AoACIAAFESz.jpg"/></a></p>Happy Birthday to Stan Wawrinka!tag:tennisopolis.com,2014-03-27:1869403:BlogPost:11273632014-03-27T20:00:00.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p>Stan turns 29 years old on March 28th! Let's celebrate this great champion! </p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153339?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153339?profile=original" width="640"/></a></p>
<p>Stan turns 29 years old on March 28th! Let's celebrate this great champion! </p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153339?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153339?profile=original" width="640"/></a></p>More Tomic News (Not good news, as usual.)tag:tennisopolis.com,2014-03-23:1869403:BlogPost:11265942014-03-23T18:30:00.000ZDoug Ingbretsenhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/DougIngbretsen
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153269?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" height="142" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153269?profile=original" width="206"></img></a> March, 20, 2014 - Sony Open</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br></br></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bernard Tomic broke a record in <i>his loss</i> he handed over to Jarkko Nieminen (40-FIN), 6-0, 6-1, in less than 29 minutes. </font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's all I'm…</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153269?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153269?profile=original" class="align-left" height="142" width="206"/></a>March, 20, 2014 - Sony Open</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bernard Tomic broke a record in <i>his loss</i> he handed over to Jarkko Nieminen (40-FIN), 6-0, 6-1, in less than 29 minutes. </font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's all I'm reporting.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Would someone just close all of Tomic's matches to the public and media? This may not be so fair to his opponents, but I believe only the opponent's sponsors will truly care.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Nieminen's post match interview would have gone something like this:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"How did your match go?"</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I won."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"What are your plans for the next match?"</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Well, I now have a few hours to kill. I'm thinking about heading down to the beach and catching some rays."</font></p>
<p><font color="#002864" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Was Tomic just not up to task today?"</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Who? Is the shrimp or the grouper better here in Key Biscayne?"</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I hear that..."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Thank you, but I would rather hear from someone who has really enjoyed the local seafood here."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"But what about..."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I like shark too, but I can't seem to find any place that can get it right."</font></p>
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<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong><a href="http://press.3rdtoad.com" target="_blank">Pete's Tennis Press</a></strong></font></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/gf102efolfn2A7B46792447344BB">Save up to 40% off Nike summer apparel and footwear at TennisExpress.com! Shop now!</a></b></font></p>X-Ball Tour Tennis Ball Reviewtag:tennisopolis.com,2014-03-18:1869403:BlogPost:11257792014-03-18T19:29:58.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p><img class="alignnone" height="1836" src="http://thexball.com/wpimages/wpc1a7894c.jpg" width="3264"></img> Just received a package of demo tennis balls from X-Ball which is a division of a not for profit employee owned co-operative ‘Pennies for Reading’ in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. X-BALL is working hard with all the other companies within the organization to create jobs and economic growth for the city that according to the last census, is the ‘poorest city’ in the United States.</p>
<p>The vision of producing the best tennis balls in the world, is now bigger as we build the best…</p>
<p><img src="http://thexball.com/wpimages/wpc1a7894c.jpg" class="alignnone" height="1836" width="3264"/>Just received a package of demo tennis balls from X-Ball which is a division of a not for profit employee owned co-operative ‘Pennies for Reading’ in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. X-BALL is working hard with all the other companies within the organization to create jobs and economic growth for the city that according to the last census, is the ‘poorest city’ in the United States.</p>
<p>The vision of producing the best tennis balls in the world, is now bigger as we build the best cities in the world, through the best sport in the world.</p>
<p>Will let you know how they play this week! Visit <a href="http://thexball.com/aboutxball.html">http://thexball.com/aboutxball.html</a> for more info.</p>More Pics from Indian Wellstag:tennisopolis.com,2014-03-17:1869403:BlogPost:11257542014-03-17T23:00:00.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152454?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152454?profile=original" width="480"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153195?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153195?profile=original" width="480"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153329?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153329?profile=original" width="480"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153361?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153361?profile=original" width="480"></img></a></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152454?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152454?profile=original" width="480"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153195?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153195?profile=original" width="480"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153329?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153329?profile=original" width="480"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153361?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153361?profile=original" width="480"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153438?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153438?profile=original" width="480"/></a></p>Some Pics from Indian Wells 2014 :)tag:tennisopolis.com,2014-03-14:1869403:BlogPost:11251072014-03-14T18:30:00.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p>Here are some of the pics I shot from Indianwells 2014 and am sharing many of them on <a href="https://twitter.com/TennisopolisTV" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/TennisopolisTV</a></p>
<p>Would love to hear your comments and experiences from #bnppo14 below! Do you have pics too? …</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152696?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152696?profile=original" width="480"></img></a></p>
<p>Here are some of the pics I shot from Indianwells 2014 and am sharing many of them on <a href="https://twitter.com/TennisopolisTV" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/TennisopolisTV</a></p>
<p>Would love to hear your comments and experiences from #bnppo14 below! Do you have pics too? </p>
<p></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152696?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152696?profile=original" width="480"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152788?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152788?profile=original" width="480"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152962?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152962?profile=original" width="480"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153012?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153012?profile=original" width="480"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152977?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152977?profile=original" width="480"/></a></p>Following us on Twitter?tag:tennisopolis.com,2014-03-12:1869403:BlogPost:11245112014-03-12T16:00:00.000ZMark / The Mayorhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/archibot
<p><strong><font size="300">We've reached 4000 twitter followers!</font></strong><br></br> A big milestone for <a href="https://twitter.com/tennisopolis" target="_blank">@tennisopolis</a> this week as we've been tweeting live from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Follow us for interesting on location, behind the TV screen info from the BNP. Tweet to us @tennisopolis and let us know you're a member. We follow back all Tennisopolis members.</p>
<p>Who's actually tweeting? …</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><font size="300">We've reached 4000 twitter followers!</font></strong><br/> A big milestone for <a href="https://twitter.com/tennisopolis" target="_blank">@tennisopolis</a> this week as we've been tweeting live from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Follow us for interesting on location, behind the TV screen info from the BNP. Tweet to us @tennisopolis and let us know you're a member. We follow back all Tennisopolis members.</p>
<p>Who's actually tweeting? </p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/tennisopolis" target="_blank">@tennisopolis</a> is me, Mark Baker.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/tennisopolistv" target="_blank">@tennisopolisTV</a> is our new account associated with our new Tennisopolis TV project and is host Kelsey Bohlen and producer <a href="http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim" target="_self">Phillip Kim</a> behind the wheel.</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p><strong>Mark, The Mayor</strong></p>*** Federer Wins Dubai Title ***tag:tennisopolis.com,2014-03-01:1869403:BlogPost:11228442014-03-01T20:00:00.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p><a href="http://www.actusports.fr/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/BhqLdmfCIAAEbrg.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="http://www.actusports.fr/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/BhqLdmfCIAAEbrg.jpg"></img></a></p>
<p>Vine Video <a class="at" href="https://plugg.io/client#">@rogerfederer</a> fireworks! Trophy Ceremony Dubai <a class="link" href="https://t.co/ipqOVj6ul9" target="_blank">https://t.co/ipqOVj6ul9</a></p>
<p></p>
<div class="tweetText">Roger Federer vs Tomas Berdych ATP 500 dubai 2014 FINAL -HIGHLIGHTS:…</div>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.actusports.fr/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/BhqLdmfCIAAEbrg.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://www.actusports.fr/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/BhqLdmfCIAAEbrg.jpg"/></a></p>
<p>Vine Video <a class="at" href="https://plugg.io/client#">@rogerfederer</a> fireworks! Trophy Ceremony Dubai <a class="link" href="https://t.co/ipqOVj6ul9" target="_blank">https://t.co/ipqOVj6ul9</a></p>
<p></p>
<div class="tweetText">Roger Federer vs Tomas Berdych ATP 500 dubai 2014 FINAL -HIGHLIGHTS:</div>
<div class="tweetText"><a href="http://t.co/V4WqsZI1oH">http://t.co/V4WqsZI1oH</a></div>
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<div class="tweetText">Roger Federer fights to defeat Tomas Berdych 3-6 6-4 6-3 wins his sixth Dubai title</div>
<div class="tweetText"><a target="_blank" href="http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/841555295.jpg?1393695442"><img class="align-full" src="http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/841555295.jpg?1393695442"/></a></div>
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<div class="tweetText"><div class="tweetText">Federer just passed John McEnroe for total titles won now at 78!</div>
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<div class="tweetText"><a target="_blank" href="http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bhtcf44IcAAebdN.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bhtcf44IcAAebdN.jpg"/></a></div>
…</div>Nick Bollettieri's Age: 82. His Vision for Tennis Talent: 20/20. -tag:tennisopolis.com,2014-03-01:1869403:BlogPost:11225222014-03-01T13:30:00.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p><a href="http://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/03/01/sports/tennis/01iht-tennis01/01iht-tennis01-master675.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="http://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/03/01/sports/tennis/01iht-tennis01/01iht-tennis01-master675.jpg"></img></a></p>
<p>Seles, born in the former Yugoslavia, is one of several No. 1 players who trained or boarded at the academy, including Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Maria Sharapova, Marcelo Rios, and Serena and Venus Williams. Sharapova, who owns a house in nearby Longboat Key, still uses the academy as a base. Other active players who have trained there recently…</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/03/01/sports/tennis/01iht-tennis01/01iht-tennis01-master675.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/03/01/sports/tennis/01iht-tennis01/01iht-tennis01-master675.jpg"/></a></p>
<p>Seles, born in the former Yugoslavia, is one of several No. 1 players who trained or boarded at the academy, including Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Maria Sharapova, Marcelo Rios, and Serena and Venus Williams. Sharapova, who owns a house in nearby Longboat Key, still uses the academy as a base. Other active players who have trained there recently include Tommy Haas, Kei Nishikori, Sabine Lisicki, Petra Kvitova and Radek Stepanek.</p>
<p>Annual tuition for a high school boarding student in the tennis program is $71,400 for the 2014-15 school year, more than elite universities charge annually.</p>
<p>Nearly 30 years later, many still refer to the complex as the Bollettieri Academy. At the main entrance is a large bronze statue of Bollettieri — in shorts and a shirt, hands on hips with socks rolled down. But his surname is no longer in lights. It was dropped in 2001, and IMG Academy now caters to eight sports, with the recent addition of track and field, and places a stronger emphasis on academics and chasing a college scholarship rather than a pro career.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Full article here on New York Times</p>
<p><a href="http://goo.gl/news/61Fj" target="_blank">http://goo.gl/news/61Fj</a></p>Tennis Stadium Built in Only 10 Months! [timelapse video]tag:tennisopolis.com,2014-02-27:1869403:BlogPost:11223922014-02-27T18:39:54.000ZMark / The Mayorhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/archibot
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eePqe4jWc9k?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" height="480" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eePqe4jWc9k?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" height="480" width="853"></iframe>Secret Serving Patterns of the Prostag:tennisopolis.com,2014-02-27:1869403:BlogPost:11223162014-02-27T12:11:58.000ZPeter Freemanhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/PeterFreeman
<p>I recently teamed up with Kevin Garlington to make a new serving lesson video. Learning how to serve is hard enough, but then implementing the serve into match play is another challenge in itself.</p>
<p>In this brand new video your going to learn little knows serving strategies for righty and lefties that the pros use to win matches and that you can use by the time you finish watching this video.</p>
<p>The reason why serving strategies are so important is because having one, allows you to…</p>
<p>I recently teamed up with Kevin Garlington to make a new serving lesson video. Learning how to serve is hard enough, but then implementing the serve into match play is another challenge in itself.</p>
<p>In this brand new video your going to learn little knows serving strategies for righty and lefties that the pros use to win matches and that you can use by the time you finish watching this video.</p>
<p>The reason why serving strategies are so important is because having one, allows you to relax and focus on hitting your shots and not where to place them. Watch this video so you can have an unfair advantage on your opponent and win games easier and leave a comment about what you learned.</p>
<p></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/v0oYcHhTbPU?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p>The Rafa Swinging Forehandtag:tennisopolis.com,2014-02-18:1869403:BlogPost:11203992014-02-18T11:00:00.000ZPeter Freemanhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/PeterFreeman
<p><a href="http://tennisopolis.com/profiles/blogs/the-rafa-swinging-forehand" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153292?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="225"></img></a> Do you ever wonder what to do with those high floaters in the middle of the court? I mean should you volley it in to be safe or whale away? Today I am going to show you what <strong>Rafa Nadal</strong> would do and how you can use this shot in your game.</p>
<p>So choice A is to volley it with a punch. Do you think Rafa would choose choice A? Maybe sometimes but most of the time he would…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://tennisopolis.com/profiles/blogs/the-rafa-swinging-forehand"><img width="225" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153292?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="225"/></a>Do you ever wonder what to do with those high floaters in the middle of the court? I mean should you volley it in to be safe or whale away? Today I am going to show you what <strong>Rafa Nadal</strong> would do and how you can use this shot in your game.</p>
<p>So choice A is to volley it with a punch. Do you think Rafa would choose choice A? Maybe sometimes but most of the time he would not. Why? Because although you may make a high percentage volleying the ball, often times you will not generate the pace necessary to dominate the point.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Choice B is to take a swinging volley. This is the one Rafa would do but he usually does it differently than maybe you are doing it right now. I see lots of people take this shot and follow through traditionally over their opposite shoulder. This can result in hitting through the ball too much without adding enough spin to bring the ball down on the other side.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The way Rafa hits with shot is to bring out his patented Nadal buggy whip forehand. He still hits through the ball enough to add plenty of power, but he pulls off the ball in time to add extra spin. This brings the ball up and down very quickly. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Watch this video to see what I mean.<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fukFywwgY-g?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p>Hey Rafa, How About Another Drink? - Pre-Hydrate, Hydrate and then Rehydratetag:tennisopolis.com,2014-02-14:1869403:BlogPost:11199362014-02-14T13:30:00.000ZDoug Ingbretsenhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/DougIngbretsen
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3100242709?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3100242709?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="299"></img></a> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Recently, <strong>Rafael Nadal</strong> has been catching some heat from <strong>Federer</strong> for his lengthy breaks and according to a survey, about three-quarters of us fans are unhappy with his many mini-vacations during matches as well, although officials don't seem so awfully concerned. The whys and what-nots of this make for…</font></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3100242709?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="299" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3100242709?profile=RESIZE_320x320" class="align-left" width="299"/></a><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Recently, <strong>Rafael Nadal</strong> has been catching some heat from <strong>Federer</strong> for his lengthy breaks and according to a survey, about three-quarters of us fans are unhappy with his many mini-vacations during matches as well, although officials don't seem so awfully concerned. The whys and what-nots of this make for an interesting story I dare not venture into just now.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">But, this does remind me of the lengthiest changeovers I ever experienced, accepted by all and for the right reason - we were all about to die.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I grew up in hot and very humid Columbia, SC, played many sports, soccer included, which is basically 90 minutes of movement, running and sprinting with a 10 or 15 minute break thrown in the middle during half-time. Athletically and physically, it felt great, as if I was better conditioned than most who hadn't played sports or trained in these conditions, or perhaps overall.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've traveled a fair portion of this globe, usually having avoided most colder climes for any considerable length of time. Ye</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">p, I'm a winter wuss</font><i> </i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">and there just so happens to be a few inches of a freezing rain, sleet and snow cocktail just outside my door right now. I'm embracing it.</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I have told many that Columbia, SC is the most humid place on the planet. Of course, most would cite some place they lived or traveled to as being more humid, until they came here. "You weren't kidding", was usually the response.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A few years ago it was time again for the Sunburn Tennis Open, hosted at the Lexington County Tennis Complex, one of the best public facilities you will find. As much as I enjoy warm (hot) weather and have played for hours voluntarily in some very steamy temps, <i>Sunburn</i>, has been charred into my memory. Not so much as for the potential for a sunburn, being that my Nordic fair-skinned self has acquired some deep color, but for the sheer unrelenting heat that takes place as this event - it's late July in Columbia.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">On this one day, we had been scheduled for a match at a satellite facility, then recently-built Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center, another outstanding public facility.</font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I imagine most new tennis facilities assume the same philosophy as most home builders do when it comes to natural landscape nowadays, "Cut it down or cut it back". Other than the covered benches or huddling in your partner's shadow, you aren't going to find an ounce of shade.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I should have suspected something was up when I saw two chilled soaking tubs, a massage therapist working (relieving) someone over, water girls and boys scampering about with coolers and several players grabbing this muscle or massaging that one.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We walked to the court with our opponents - warm-up wasn't truly necessary in the most basic sense and we weren't too inclined to take the stroke and form part of it too far either. </font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Our opponents, I believe, had been playing together for quite some time and my partner, we would pair up occasionally for a tournament.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I rarely, if ever, sit during changeover. I usually pace it, never looking too anxious, but I may assume the serve or return position for the next game early if I feel my opponent is wearing down, hoping he will feel obligated to pick up the pace a little bit.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">This day, most changeovers were of typical length and within regulation until way far into the match - about right after the third game of the first set. It was high 90-something degrees and the weather people said it felt like 100-something. </font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">My brain, my psyche, my ego, something in my head, said, "Don't worry; you've done this plenty of times". My body said, "Irrelevant". It was painfully hot and you could feel your racket swimming through the moisture. </font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Each changeover was longer than the last, almost by minutes. No one was pressuring the other to<i> get goin'</i>, nor did anyone observe the 90-second rule, much less mention it. After several change-overs, from afar, we probably looked like our seniors, out playing on a Retirement Tuesday, discussing last night's bridge game.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I thought my partner and I brought ample drink, while our opponents looked prepared for a day at the beach. Soon they were offering us what they had - the four of us, now stranded friends lost in the desert. Out of respect, we hailed every water person we could, replenished ourselves, and their stock. </font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Eventually, returning to court after break seemed more like obligation than desire and 90 seconds was slowly inching toward 9 minutes, which would have better suited us had it been 90 minutes. We gave the match to our opponents, perhaps in thanks for the liquid relief they so graciously afforded us. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Back at the clubhouse veranda it looked like the finish line of the Boston Marathon, only in July, in Columbia, SC. It was triage and we were the lucky few. One player was in the cooling tub, another was on the massage table and a friend's wife told me she was on her way to see her husband (tournament player) who was sent to the hospital - potential kidney failure.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">During our match, I drank a jug of water, eight bottles of water and I only attempted a second beer (quite rare) afterwards. I have to go all physiological here - I did not urinate for 8 hours after the match. My body used every drop of liquid I gave it and recycled it through my pores. That was damn dangerous.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The next morning I called a friend who I knew was in the tournament, but I didn't see her there and I was not going back to the main tournament center just to see results. She is pretty much a fun-loving and mostly unflappable women who happens to have low body-fat. She sounded groggy and worried and I soon found this wasn't from a late night of drinking and some ill relationship. </font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">She told me, having plenty of time before her next match, she decided to drive into town and chill out for a while with a friend. She didn't make it. A few miles from her friends place, she started getting a few cramps, so she pulled her car into a vacant parking lot - good thing. Sitting there, calling her friend, she began realizing even more cramps. </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Her friend called 911 while she slithered out of her car and sat up beside it so the EMTs could more easily spot her.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The doctor performed an examination and then asked her if she had been hydrating during her match, and she had. Then, she asked her what fluids and what quantities had she consumed prior. "Very little of nothing much", was her answer. The doctor, also a tennis player and avid runner, began to explain to her, how in this heat, this type of heat, she should have been hydrating (pre-hydrating) hours before her match. </font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">At some time during her treatment (plenty of IV fluids and nutrients) of my friend, the doctor said, "I wish I could stop this tournament. I've already seen 16 patients from it today."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">My friend who is quite a driven and tenacious person, seemed very worried about her prospects of playing the sport she loves so much, for a variety of reasons, ever again in the heat.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Pre-Hydrate, Hydrate and then Re-Hydrate</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><br/></b></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Tennis is a unique sport in that it is a series of sprints, bursts of energy and a great amount of varied muscular employment that can last for hours with no half-time or time-outs, with breaks just long enough to promote a sound pace for the sake of the game, not so much for the player. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">As well, it also requires a rather unique diet before, during and after and this includes hydration necessary for optimum performance and to avoid dehydration and heat related injuries. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br/></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Below are some great sources for more detail information, but let's cover a few key points right here.</font></p>
<ul>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Walking on court with parched lips and a dry gulch puts you way behind the curve for maintaining good hydration during your match, particularly in higher temperatures. Before your match, over a few hours, consume water and/or fluids containing electrolytes.</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Want something more solid to mix things up a little? Many fruits and vegetables contain a significant amount of water - orange 90%, cucumber 96%.</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hydrate regular during your match, find your own frequency and quantity and soon it will become pure unconscious routine. Many players wait until they are thirsty and unfortunately, exercise can shunt that thirsty feeling. Again, you would be getting behind the hydration curve. This isn't some western where the desert-crawling-cowboy is suddenly revived by the missionary who just dabbed a few drops of water on his lips. The damage has been done.</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Can someone over-hydrate? Yes. Its rarer than dehydrating, but that doesn't mean it doesn't occur. It just means more people dehydrate and it doesn't make for a good drama scene in a western movie. By over-hydrating (too much water), you can dilute your body's electrolytes and cause other problems during your match or over time if done frequently.</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Most of us after a match seem to go for whatever we prefer wet for a variety of reasons - reward (win or lose), relaxation, whatever - but, if you find you are guzzling down huge quantities you may not have hydrated properly during your match. Many of us enjoy some adult beverages after a match, but if you have an upcoming match the same day or early the next day, you may want to consider your drinking pace as alcohol will dehydrate you. </font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Want a quick check for how well you are hydrated? Peek while you pee and learn from your urine. This may not be so easy during a match, unless you request a restroom break, but it can obviously be done before and after.</font></li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Clear to light yellow color - hydrated</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dark - under-hydrated</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bright yellow - probably just supplements and vitamins which have low uptake and are simply going down the drain. In this case you need an <a href="http://isobodix.com/"><b>isotonic supplement</b></a>.</font></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">For additional information: <b><a href="http://www.tennis-facts.com/tennis_articles/hydration_for_tennis_players.php">Hydration for Tennis Players</a> <a href="http://www.tennis.com.au/learn/health-and-fitness/hydration">Hydration</a></b></font></p>
<p class="separator"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRmeRRQEuFw/Uv1macpc56I/AAAAAAAABqw/wjpHKJfjqyc/s1600/Energy+Boost+Kit.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ZRmeRRQEuFw%2FUv1macpc56I%2FAAAAAAAABqw%2FwjpHKJfjqyc%2Fs1600%2FEnergy%2BBoost%2BKit.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*&width=200" class="align-left" width="200"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.shop.com/helenlanier/742827921-p+260.xhtml?vid=214196"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Energy Boost Kit</b></font></a></p>
</blockquote>Sweet Spotter from FifthSet Internationaltag:tennisopolis.com,2014-02-12:1869403:BlogPost:11194722014-02-12T18:30:00.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p>Great news! Just got confirmation from Yann at FifthSet tennis that he is sending out a demo of his new Sweet Spotter. What do you think of it? I will have a full review in weeks to come.<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/t3HvHwK9ho8?wmode=opaque" width="853" frameborder="0" height="480"></iframe>
</p>
<p>Great news! Just got confirmation from Yann at FifthSet tennis that he is sending out a demo of his new Sweet Spotter. What do you think of it? I will have a full review in weeks to come.<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/t3HvHwK9ho8?wmode=opaque" width="853" frameborder="0" height="480"></iframe>
</p>Nike Tennis Camps Welcome Babolat Racketstag:tennisopolis.com,2014-02-10:1869403:BlogPost:11190212014-02-10T17:00:00.000ZMark / The Mayorhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/archibot
<h2 class="subtitle"><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://tennisopolis.com/profiles/blogs/nike-tennis-camps-welcome-babolat-rackets" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152974?profile=original" width="148"></img></a> Nike Tennis Camps teams with Babolat as the official racket for the 2014 summer tennis camps.</span></h2>
<p class="releaseDateline">San Rafael, CA (PRWEB) February 05, 2014</p>
<p>Founded in Lyon, France 1875, Babolat invented racket strings and is the oldest company specializing in racket sports. The Babolat "Double line" logo…</p>
<h2 class="subtitle"><span class="font-size-3"><a target="_self" href="http://tennisopolis.com/profiles/blogs/nike-tennis-camps-welcome-babolat-rackets"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149152974?profile=original" width="148"/></a>Nike Tennis Camps teams with Babolat as the official racket for the 2014 summer tennis camps.</span></h2>
<p class="releaseDateline">San Rafael, CA (PRWEB) February 05, 2014</p>
<p>Founded in Lyon, France 1875, Babolat invented racket strings and is the oldest company specializing in racket sports. The Babolat "Double line" logo is easily identifiable (white, black or yellow on frames and black or red on strings). Babolat has built its reputation by offering products at the forefront of technology and by supplying equipment to generations of champions who have won the most prestigious competitions.</p>
<p>Today, Babolat can be found in more than 100 countries, 20,000 sporting goods stores and 20,000 partner clubs. Babolat offers a complete range of products for tennis players, with an offer to suit every style of play.</p>
<p>"Babolat continues to drive the game of tennis forward with its innovative products," says National Director of Nike Tennis Camps, <strong>Wendy Shpiz</strong>. "It's a perfect fit for our camps as we strive to provide the best environment for our campers to grow and get better."</p>
<p>The goal of <a href="http://www.ussportscamps.com/tennis/" class="trackingLink" rel="nofollow">Nike Tennis Camps</a> is to provide an unparalleled summer camp experience for growth and development of youth tennis players by immersing them in the sport and giving them the kind of focused, intensive training essential for their improvement.</p>
<p>US Sports Camps (USSC), headquartered in San Rafael, California, is America’s largest sports camp network and the licensed operator of Nike Sports Camps. The company has offered summer camps since 1975 with the same mission that defines it today: to shape a lifelong enjoyment of athletics through high quality sports education and skill enhancement.</p>
<p>Players, coaches, parents and others interested in Nike Tennis Camps and US Sports Camps can visit the company’s website at USSportsCamps.com.</p>BNP Paribas Open Creates Quiz Contest About New Amenitiestag:tennisopolis.com,2014-01-29:1869403:BlogPost:11124342014-01-29T03:00:00.000ZMark / The Mayorhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/archibot
<h2 class="subtitle"><span class="font-size-3">BNP Paribas Open, held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Southern California, has announced a 15-day giveaway for a 2014 Grand Prize including a two-night tennis package to the world-famous tennis event including luxury accommodations, dining and spa certificates, and more tournament prizes.</span></h2>
<p class="releaseDateline">(PRWEB) January 24, 2014…</p>
<p><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153006?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="280"></img></p>
<h2 class="subtitle"><span class="font-size-3">BNP Paribas Open, held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Southern California, has announced a 15-day giveaway for a 2014 Grand Prize including a two-night tennis package to the world-famous tennis event including luxury accommodations, dining and spa certificates, and more tournament prizes.</span></h2>
<p class="releaseDateline">(PRWEB) January 24, 2014</p>
<p><img width="280" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153006?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="280"/><a href="http://www.bnpparibasopen.com/#?chebs=ocd-bnpparibasopen-20140120" rel="nofollow">BNP Paribas Open</a>, held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, has announced a 15-day giveaway with prizes that range from a two-night tennis package to the tennis tournament to Fila Heritage Collection apparel. <a href="http://www.bnpparibasopensweeps.com/#?chebs=ocd-bnpparibasopen-20140120" rel="nofollow">The contest, called “New Year, New Look”</a> tests entrants on property-wide renovations taking place this year, which guests can explore on their website. Other prizes include a $250 cash card for the entrant who forwards the contest to the most friends. Read on for a full list of prizes.</p>
<p>Grand Prize:</p>
<ul class="releaseul">
<li>Two box seats at the 2014 BNP Paribas Open – March 11, 12 and 13</li>
<li>Luxury accommodations for two nights at an official tournament hotel property in Indian Wells – March 11 and 12</li>
<li>Complimentary shuttle service between hotel and tournament site</li>
<li>Two relaxing spa certificates</li>
<li>Two BNP Paribas Open gift bags</li>
<li>Dining gift certificate</li>
</ul>
<p>2nd Prize:</p>
<ul class="releaseul">
<li>Two HEAD Graphene tennis racquets of choice</li>
</ul>
<p>3rd Prize:</p>
<ul class="releaseul">
<li>Fila Heritage Collection apparel</li>
</ul>
<p>Property renovations, of which entrants will be quizzed, include a permanent 8,000-seat ‘Stadium 2,’ three brand new restaurants, including the renowned Nobu, a 19,000-square-foot shade structure with a Tommy Bahama Bar, four new practice courts, site-wide Wi-Fi and more – all set for the 2014 BNP Paribas, scheduled March 3-16, 2014.</p>
<p>“The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is getting a new look, just in time for the BNP Paribas Open in March,” said Dee Dee Felich, Assistant Tournament Director. “The sweepstakes allows entrants to get an inside look into what the new stadium will offer and extends a great opportunity to see it firsthand.”</p>
<p>The sweepstakes launch date is January 23 and will run for 15 days. <a href="http://www.bnpparibasopensweeps.com/#?chebs=ocd-bnpparibasopen-20140120" rel="nofollow">Learn more and enter here.</a></p>
<p>About the BNP Paribas Open<br/> The BNP Paribas Open is the largest ATP World Tour and WTA combined two-week event in the world, offers more than $10,000,000 in prize money, and is the only event to provide the Hawkeye line challenge system on all match courts. In 2012, more than 370,000 people attended the event. Visit <a href="http://www.bnpparibasopen.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.bnpparibasopen.com</a> to purchase tickets online and view the calendar of events, listing of main draw singles players, schedule of matches and more. Indian Wells Tennis Garden Box Office, 800-999-1585 or 760-200-8000, 78-200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells, CA, 92210.</p>Have you read the Inner Game of Tennis?tag:tennisopolis.com,2014-02-03:1869403:BlogPost:11173232014-02-03T23:58:02.000Zphillip k.http://tennisopolis.com/profile/phillipkim
<p>just ordered it from Ebay for $4.39 and can't wait to see what all the talk is about. Has it helped you?</p>
<p>just ordered it from Ebay for $4.39 and can't wait to see what all the talk is about. Has it helped you?</p>Babolat Play, First Bluetooth Racquet Launchtag:tennisopolis.com,2014-01-29:1869403:BlogPost:11126682014-01-29T00:30:00.000ZMark / The Mayorhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/archibot
<p>Miami, FL (PRWEB) - <strong>Babolat Play</strong> is the first Bluetooth or USB connectable, app-ready racquet to ever hit the market. On December 3rd, shoppers can get their hands on the new tennis racquet online and in-store at Biscayne Tennis. For the first time, everyday players get access to professional swing analysis without paying for a coach or attending expensive clinics. Players will even be able to compare their game and progress with world famous tennis players like…</p>
<p>Miami, FL (PRWEB) - <strong>Babolat Play</strong> is the first Bluetooth or USB connectable, app-ready racquet to ever hit the market. On December 3rd, shoppers can get their hands on the new tennis racquet online and in-store at Biscayne Tennis. For the first time, everyday players get access to professional swing analysis without paying for a coach or attending expensive clinics. Players will even be able to compare their game and progress with world famous tennis players like <strong>Rafael Nadal</strong> and <strong>Li Na</strong>.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://tennisopolis.com/video/rafa-nadal-talks-about-babolat-play-connectedtennis"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153024?profile=original" width="280"/></a>Since this tennis racquet utilizes the latest advances in technology, players benefit from an increased insight into their own game. This new tennis technology has just been released from Babolat who, coincidentally, are one of the oldest names in tennis (having developed one of the first pairs of tennis strings).</p>
<p>Babolat Play and Connected Tennis - For the first time ever, tennis players are going to be able to connect their game with other tennis enthusiasts. With a history that begins in 1875, Babolat has always been at the forefront of tennis racquet technology. Their newest foray into technology is even more impressive.</p>
<p>One of the most exciting technological advances in the history of racquet technology, the <b>Babolat PLAY Pure Drive</b> comes with a sensor in the handle which tracks all aspects of your game. This data is easily uploaded to your smartphone, tablet or computer where a detailed snapshot of your game awaits. You can even compare the results with friends or the wider community of PLAY users. Babolat has designed this one with the same target specs and INCREDIBLE playability of the standard Pure Drive.</p>
<p>Li Na mentioned that any tournament she competes in (but that her coach cannot attend) will not be a loss as far as training on specific aspects of the matches. Her swings will still be catalogued, analyzed, and coached through the use of the technology in the Babolat Play tennis racquets. As all of the professional tennis players who have seen the new tennis technology explain, the biggest benefit will be enjoyed by newer players and tennis enthusiasts seeking to improve their game.</p>
<p>The Babolat Play racquet is already available at retail markets and online retailers such as Tennis Express and Tennis Warehouse and BiscayneTennis.com.</p>Adidas Trying the Scarcity Trick with Stan Smith Shoestag:tennisopolis.com,2014-01-31:1869403:BlogPost:11170362014-01-31T16:00:00.000ZMark / The Mayorhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/archibot
<p>For the last few years, classic sneakers have had a bit of a renaissance in the marketplace. Leading the way has been the early Nike, Vans, and of course the iconic white and green accented Stan Smiths. In 2012, Adidas stopped production and distribution of the Smiths, and shoe connoseurs took notice: New Stan Smiths were hard to come by.</p>
<p><a href="http://tennisopolis.com/photo/stansmith" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3079973740?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="280"></img></a></p>
<p>The idea is to build up demand through scarcity and…</p>
<p>For the last few years, classic sneakers have had a bit of a renaissance in the marketplace. Leading the way has been the early Nike, Vans, and of course the iconic white and green accented Stan Smiths. In 2012, Adidas stopped production and distribution of the Smiths, and shoe connoseurs took notice: New Stan Smiths were hard to come by.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://tennisopolis.com/photo/stansmith"><img width="280" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3079973740?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="280"/></a></p>
<p>The idea is to build up demand through scarcity and re-introduce the shoe in the right way to leverage the momentum. Tennisopolis member Lendl Jr, who happens to own a fashion store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, just uploaded this picture of a mural that Adidas commissioned on Melrose.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>One unique feature of the new Smiths is that customers can "Stan" themselves and create a custom tongue label of themselves that matches the original white and green image of Smith. #stanyourself <a href="http://statigr.am/tag/stanyourself" target="_blank">images on Instagram</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>More info from <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-23/adidas-pulls-the-pseudo-scarcity-trick-with-stan-smith-sneakers" target="_blank">Business Week</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HS0CVZM/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HS0CVZM&linkCode=as2&tag=archibot"><img src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00HS0CVZM&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=archibot" border="0"/></a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=archibot&l=as2&o=1&a=B00HS0CVZM" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" width="1" height="1"/></p>