The French Open - held in the final days of the month - rescued September from being the quietest month in tennis. As this issue "goes to press", the French Open Men's and Women's Singles and Doubles have concluded in Paris. The results are listed below.
The U.S. season goes into full swing this month as Prince's Court kicks things off with their 20th Anniversary Celebration.
Happy Anniversary Washington - here's to many more years of tennis!
Players will be busy racing up and down the east coast this fall with tournaments in Aiken, Boston, Tuxedo, New York and Philadelphia. As you prepare for the season, read Ivan Ronaldson's timely piece on racquet re-stringing. Speaking of racquets, the USCTA is looking at the development of oversized racquets. Be sure to read Vern Cassin's report
The U.S. Court Tennis Preservation Foundation has lots to report about increased activity at Georgian Court to Player Development. Plan on visiting Georgian Court this year - it's an amazing court.
Looking for something to do between matches? How about a good mystery? Former USCTA President - Edward J. Hughes - announces the publication of Hazard a Guess:
A Real Tennis Chase.
Order your copy today, details can be found below.
Fasten your seat belts...the 2017/18 season is taking off!
Until next month....
Sincerely,
U.S. Court Tennis Association
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BREAKING NEWS FROM FRANCE!
Camden Riviere won his fifth consecutive French Open singles on Saturday, defeating Rob Fahey 6-2,6-2 6-0. Riviere currently holds all of the Open titles. Riviere teamed up with Tim Chisholm to win the doubles over Steve Virgona and Chris Chapman 6-3 6-3 6-4. Click here to see the singles results. Click here to see the doubles results
Claire Fahey and Saskia Bollerman won the women's doubles over Jess Garside and Lea Zwalman 6-0 6-0. Fahey defeated Bollerman in the singles final 6-1 6-2.
Unfortunately, there was no video coverage of the tournament.
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Lea Zwalmen, Jess Garside, Saskia Bollerman and Claire Fahey.
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Gold Leaf's Jumbo sized racquet and a regular sized racquet
Reticulum piscatoribus relinquamus: elegantius est palma uti
This year, the Association has been looking carefully at the new development of oversized racquets. The executive committee, the rules & equipment committee and the teaching pro cohort have all examined the issue at length. Attached is a document recently prepared by Vern Cassin to analyze this history of the racquet and the latest thoughts about where we are today. We will continue to monitor the situation and welcome your comments or queries.
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NEWS FROM GEORGIAN COURT
by Rob Whitehouse
After entering into a formal agreement between the US Court Tennis Preservation Foundation and The Racquet Club of Philadelphia to operate the court at Georgian Court University our work began on September 11th of this year! James Asher, John Lumley and I are very excited to help promote and encourage more play among the students, staff and faculty at the university. The GCU court will be brought to life with activity from the campus community as well as the broader game which we look forward to introducing to the court in earnest this year.
Our activities started with a school fair on September 11th where we captured forty-five names and emails from students who are interested in giving court tennis a go. I have heard from about half via email giving dates and times of when they can play, so I'm optimistic that we will start to see more play! We have seen the likes of Louna, Connor, Axel, Hosa and Jackie on multiple occasions thus far. While chatting with many of the other students about the program and the game, you can see that they are enthused to give this game a go.
The court itself is in great condition and plays beautifully, so let us know if you would like to ever play in Lakewood. We are there every Tuesday and Wednesday from 11am - 5pm throughout the school year. Plans are afoot for some weekend time as well, so stay tuned. Dr. Cohen has already taken the ride down!
A quick thank you to Lori Thomas (GCU Administrator), Bill McLaughlin and Rich Moroscak for a smooth transition and showing us the lay of the land at the University. Here are some pictures of the court and the students in action!
Photos courtesy of RCOP.
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The beginning of the new season finds the U.S. Court Tennis Preservation Foundation busier than ever. Thanks to your generous support we are able to conduct our programs at a scale heretofore not experienced. Leading the USCTPF's efforts here is Jane Lippincott, and in partnership with the USCTA and our professionals, the Player Development Program continues with its largest budget and impact to date. More and more players are benefiting and the notable on-court results are impressive.
The Foundation has entered in a new coverage agreement at Georgian Court University, the storied court of Jay Gould in Lakewood NJ. As Camden Riviere moves on to prepare to defend his World Champion title, the Foundation welcomes Rob Whitehouse, John Lumley and James Asher of the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. The agreement between the Foundation and the RCOP as embodied by Rob, John and James allows for the most comprehensive coverage model we have seen at the court since its restoration 20 years ago. Working to activate the GCU community of students, staff and faculty, the pros are embarking on an ambitious program to activate the court and now to introduce the facility into the broader game. Read more about it elsewhere in CTF.
As well the Foundation continues to support the Charleston Court Tennis Project, our best chance for a new court in the U.S.
We will ask for your support once again this year. The Foundation can only operate its programs with your support in the form of unrestricted gifts. Please consider us in your annual giving plans.
Sincerely,
Bill McLaughlin
Chair, U.S. Court Tennis Preservation Foundation
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HAZARD A GUESS:
A REAL TENNIS CHASE
BY EDWARD J. HUGHES
In America, Peter Brooks, a former intelligence operative, peruses a sprawling collection of Real Tennis memorabilia to which, oddly, someone has attached personal, very personal, correspondence as well as British government documents stamped 'Secret'. But, things have gone missing. In asking why, Peter Brooks reverts to training. Tradecraft 101: there are no coincidences.
When Katherine Connolly, the London-based auctioneer seeks answers for the American, her managers place deflection on the block. But she isn't buying. Past experience has taught her to loathe dishonesty, especially when she senses manipulation. All of which makes her even more determined to find answers. Dishonesty, for her, is a deal-breaker. For Brooks? Not so much. In his past, a past rarely discussed, it was part of the job description.
MI6, CIA, Sotheby's, and Christie's, each with an agenda, and all of whom, to a degree, dissemble for currency, would rather these documents remain unseen. It is late in the 20th century, and the institutions that serve the ruling classes are under scrutiny.
Brooks has re-entered the spy game by doing what he always did best: he has recruited an asset. As Katherine takes up Real Tennis to guide her search, she and her accomplice discover the intelligence services have always enjoyed rich recruiting in the executive suites of the major auction houses; just as they have in the rare, ancient, and exclusive game of Tennis. A trans-Atlantic operation is under way to ferret out clues and answers; with extraordinary and unexpected results.
The book will be
available in October. For information on ordering a copy
click here.
Note: If you are interested in obtaining a limited Library Edition,
orders must be received by October 2, 2017.
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OCTOBER
6-8
WASHINGTON
13-15
BOSTON
20-22
TUXEDO
NOVEMBER
3-5
AIKEN
9-12
SILVER RACQUET
NEW YORK OPEN HANDICAP
NEW YORK
The Silver Racquet weekend entry will be live on Thursday, October 4th
10-12
U.S. LADIES OPEN
TUXEDO
17-19
JIMMY DUNN
PHILADELPHIA
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SAVE THE DATE
USCTA ANNUAL DINNER
and
AUCTION
CLASS OF 2017
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
CHARLOTTE CORNWALLIS
&
LACHLAN
DEUCHAR
DECEMBER 8TH
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TIPS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS
WHEN TO GET YOUR RACQUET RESTRUNG?
by Ivan Ronaldson
In court tennis, the tighter your racquet is strung, the harder you will hit the ball. The opposite is true in lawn tennis because, when the air-filled ball compresses on the strings, it creates a trampoline effect and more power. You don't want the strings on your best court tennis racquet to wear out mid-way through an important match, so many players will get a restring before a tournament. In fact, ideally you should get a restring before the last friendly game or practice you have before that important match. This gives you time to get used to your newer, tighter strings. If you play the big game with brand new strings, you may find yourself over-hitting.
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 CALL FOR PHOTOS, STORIES and MESSAGES!
PRINCE'S COURT TURNS 20 ON OCTOBER 7th!
Help Prince's Court celebrate their 20th anniversary by sending Prince's Court related photos, videos, memories, or well wishes to
[email protected]
and they will be included in the celebration.
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RTO STATS
Matches recorded in
Real Tennis Online in the last 30 days. Remember, it's important to record match scores to have an accurate handicap!
(as of 10/1/17)
NEW YORK 48
WASHINGTON 43
NEWPORT 40
BOSTON 32
PHILADELPHIA 31
CHICAGO 9
TUXEDO 9
AIKEN 8
Compared to:
RADLEY 197
MELBOURNE 249
HAMPTON COURT 225
CAMBRIDGE 122
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