Spring has arrived and while the majority of the tournaments for the 2015/16 season have been played, there is still lots to look forward to in the coming months. The final race for the World Championship began in March, as Steve Virgona played, and defeated, Tim Chisholm in the first round of the eliminators. Virgona will go on to play Camden Riviere in the Final Eliminator - of which the winner will challenge Rob Fahey in the World Championship in May.
The Percy Cup - an interclub team doubles event - featured two New York teams squaring off for the top honors. New York 2 beat New York 1 in a tight contest. Newport played host to the annual Bread and Roses tournament - a women's team match between Boston and Newport. The Newport women claimed the trophy in an exciting day of match play.
Upcoming tournaments this month include the Anne Boleyn, the U.S. 70s, the Cherry Blossom and the Northrop Knox doubles. As snow is forecast for New England (this is not an April Fool's) my advice is to head south and catch one of these tournaments! Philadelphia will host the Final Eliminator next week. If you can't be there in person, be sure to watch online.
In this month's Chase the First, Tony Hollins offers a tip on serving. Sure you can hit a forehand or a backhand, but can you hit an effective serve?
Looking for a bit of history? Check out the Second International History of Tennis Conference to be held in Newport during the World Championship. Not interested in history - how about art? In conjunction with the conference there will be an exhibit - Court Tennis Contemporary -- at the Newport Art Museum.
Finally, our condolences to the family of Jay Schochet who passed away last month. Jay was a former avid player and a long-time supporter of the game. He will be missed.
Until next month....
Sincerely,
U.S. Court Tennis Association
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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - 1st ELIMINATOR
Steve Virgona defeated Tim Chisholm over two days of play in the first eliminator series to determine the challenger for the World Championship in May. The matches were played in Tuxedo and Chicago. The results were as follows:
Day 1 - Tuxedo - Virgona defeated Chisholm 3 sets to 2
6-4, 6-2, 0-6, 5-6, 6-4
Day 2 - Chicago - Virgona defeated Chisholm 3 sets to love.
6-2,6-5,6-4
Virgona will go on to play Camden Riviere - who received a bye in the first eliminator - in the Final Eliminator.
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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL ELIMINATOR
Camden Riviere and Steve Virgona will play in the Final Eliminator in Philadelphia to determine the challenger for the upcoming World Championship in May. The format will be the best of 13 sets over 3 days - April 6, 8 and 10. Information on tickets and video coverage can be found on the USCTA website by clicking here. Seats are available.
Whoever wins, one thing is for certain, World Champion - Rob Fahey - will play a lefty in the the World Championship.
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New York wins the 2016 Percy Cup
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2016 PERCY CUP
by John Lumley
Eight full teams of 6 players descended upon the Racquet Club of Philadelphia for the title of the Percy Cup Champions 2016. Starting off the tournament on Friday at 11am a full squad and supporting team of Aiken took on the Philly-Chicago team. With Purvis & Cook looking strong taking the Pair 1 match 8-5 Aiken had the dream start but it was quickly stopped by Tancer & Iole who won the Pair 2 match 8-6. With Zacher a very experienced player on the Philly court and the power of Nazemoff they beat the team of Ellis & Glance 8-2 to seal the first match of the tournament 2 matches to 1 for Philly-Chicago.
As the tournament progressed the pair 1 team from New York 2 and the Philadelphia pair 1 team were playing very steady doubles with fantastic retrieving. They won all their matches and were giving their teams the best start possible. New York 2 team kept it going and won the Division 2 with 67 games and second was Washington with 56 games.
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The month of March is women's History month, during which International Women's Day is celebrated (March 8th) and with respect, the Boston / Newport Ladies' Bread and Roses tournament was scheduled for March 5th this year. This is a one-day handicap doubles tournament in nascent stages of becoming a long lasting annual tradition between sister clubs. With help from the women's development committee, this event has been well attended and received by both the T & R and the NTC.
The Boston Team roster included Helen Grassi (Capt.), Suzy Schwartz, Magda Mitchell, Anne Greene, Kathy Pugh, Meghan McCarthy and Christina Shengeliya. Representing the National Tennis Club were Petra Napolitano (Capt.), Amanda Avedissian, Amy MacMillan, Shirley Freitag, Ellen Hermann, Beth Winthrop, Mary Stevens, and the esteemed veteran Sheila Reilly. The individual handicap ranges covered a large margin and tested the nerves of the newer players and the consistency of the more experienced.
Unfortunately for Boston, Nick Howell offered to give the Newport women one of his spirited and demanding clinics before matches started. The focus and energy fostered in Howell's clinic seemed to accumulate throughout the day and build force for the Newport team, who ultimately, dominated the day. Unlike the first year of this event, wherein Boston overpowered the NTC handily, this event was much more balanced and produced some nail-biter matches for the spectators. The final match score was 5 wins for Newport to Boston's 3 match wins. Next March, Bread & Roses will alternate to the Boston club, but until then, the silver cup proudly remains in the National Tennis Club.
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US 50's Singles Winner Bill Barker, Princes Court Finalist Simon Shenkman Manchester
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2016 U.S. AMATEUR & U.S. 50s
The last time the US Amateur and the US 50's were held in Aiken in 2010 and 2009 respectively, we had a difficult time attracting competitive out of town players to round out the draws. In 2016 the opposite was the case, we had 9 players in the US AM singles, 6 teams in the doubles, 14 players in the US 50's singles and 7 teams in the doubles. Five of the players were visitors from the UK, one of which was a rackets fellow from the Racquet Club of Chicago, all but 4 of the other players were visitors to Aiken.
One match was played on the opening Thursday night, all others were contested continuously between 8 am on Friday to 10:30pm Saturday night. Sunday started at 9am with various Semi Finals and finished with the 50's Final at 12:45 Monday morning!
As much of a challenge as this was for the players and markers, the spectators did not seem to mind. After-all there was plenty of food and drink available, this combined with exciting tennis kept the dedans full all the way until the final ball was struck.
For the full story and draws,
click here
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Please join our small group for cocktails and an update on the Charleston project. Over $1 million is now raised and in the bank. We look forward to sharing our progress with you toward the next new court in the U.S.!
Hosted by Walter Deane
APRIL 21ST 6:30pm to 8:30pm
215 E. 72ND STREET
NY, NY
Walter Deane
Greg Van Schaack, CHARLESTON COURT TENNIS COMMITTEE
Bill McLaughlin, U.S. COURT TENNIS PRESERVATION FO
UNDATION
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Dr. Joseph Marbach President of Georgian Court University takes his first lesson
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GEORGIAN COURT NEEDS YOUR HELP
As we learned last month, Georgian Court is alive and well. Head Pro, Mike Gooding, has been busy running introductory clinics for students, coaches and staff. Even the President of the Georgian Court University (GCU) stopped by for a hit! They are looking for donations of the following items and could use your help. If you have any items to donate, please contact Mike Gooding. Ann Flinn, the wife of the late Michael Flinn, recently donated Michael's racquets. Thank you Ann!
Let's keep the game growing at GCU!
- Trophies for Lakewood Championships
- Honor / Winner Boards
- Framed Court Tennis Photos, Posters, and Pictures
- Old iPads
- Old Netting
- Old Balls
- Corks
- Racquets (new or used)
- T-shirts
- Sneakers
- Mugs
- USCTA Annual Reports (new and old)
- Court tennis coffee table books
Please call or e-mail Rich Moroscak as he can coordinate pick up at a convenient time and location.
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2016 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
from the National Tennis Club
As the final eliminator is next week and we get down to whom will face off vs Rob the anticipation and excitement continues to rise. There are a few seats left in the club room and some Standing Room Only (SRO) room in the lower gallery ... So we are down to the short strokes if you want to be in the building and watch in person. Reservations for social events will close on April 30th so if you plan to be with us for that week please fill out a registration form on the NTC web site.... We hope to see as many of you as possible during the third week in May.
Please check out our World Championship section of the National Tennis Club website (
www.nationaltennisclub.org) for more information.
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Lucas Gassel, "David & Bathsheba" (1535), Museum of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport, RI USA
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"Tennis: Past & Present"
The Second International History of Court Tennis Conference
Newport Casino Theatre
International Tennis Hall of Fame
Newport, Rhode Island
17 & 19 May, 2016
on the occasion of the men's Real Tennis World Championship
On behalf of the Real Tennis Society it is with great pleasure to invite you to attend an International Conference on the History of Court Tennis during the week of the men's World Championship, 17-21 May, 2016.
The conference will take place in the newly renovated Casino Theatre on Tuesday 17 May and Thursday 19 May, 10am-1pm both days. The talks on offer will be given by historians, writers and artists from the US, UK, France, Italy, Holland, Canada and Australia. There are a host of other events being organized exclusively for conference participants - please RSVP by email to Freddy Adam on frederikaadam@hotmail.com or, visit the Real Tennis Society website -
www.realtennissociety.org to register online.
In addition, the Newport Art Museum will be hosting an exhibit - Court Tennis Contemporary - on May 17-21. 2016. Details on the exhibit, including artists and times can be found by clicking here.
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3RD ANNUAL COURT TENNIS CAMP
July 18-22, 2016
The US Court Tennis Preservation Foundation (USCTPF) and the United States Court Tennis Association (USCTA) have once again selected The Tuxedo Club for a one of a kind junior court tennis academy. Court Tennis Champion Tim Chisholm will head up the USCTPF and USCTA sponsored Court Tennis Academy for one week this summer at The Tuxedo Club. This academy is designed for juniors ages 11-17 and modeled around a very successful and popular UK-based program. Beginner and experienced players from The Tuxedo Club as well as from Clubs throughout the US are invited to participate.
Cost for the 2016 Junior Court Tennis Academy is $500* and includes the following:
- 5 Days of Court Tennis Academy run by Tim Chisholm
- All meals for July 18th - 22nd
- Housing for 4 evenings (Monday-Thursday)...those playing in the Junior Nationals will be housed for the weekend as well.
Also, a reminder that the U.S. Junior Nationals will be held at The Tuxedo Club on July 22nd - 24th ....what a great way to prepare for the National Championships!
* The actual cost of the camp is $1,000, but is being subsidized by the USCTA/USCTPF Player Development Program to promote junior play. Space is limited, so sign up early!
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INTERNATIONAL COURT TENNIS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES FOR 2016
The USCTA proudly announces the two inductees in the class of 2016 into the International Court Tennis Hall of Fame.
Ogden Mills Phipps won the U.S. Open doubles in 1978, 1980, 1981 and 1982, as well as winning the U.S. amateur doubles in 1979, 1981 and 1982. He also represented the U.S. in the Bathurst Cup in 1978 and 1984. A longtime leader at the Racquet & Tennis Club in New York, Dinny Phipps ran numerous tournaments, served on the board of the USCTA for many years and was a central figure in the game.
Barry Toates was the first professional at Newport upon the reopening of the court in 1979. He also worked at the Tennis & Racquet Club in Boston and helped revive the court at Lakewood. Toates won the 1979 U.S. Open singles and the U.S. Open doubles in 1979 and 1983. A dynamic coach and teacher of the game, he served on the board of the USCTA and contributed greatly to the late twentieth-century revival of the game in America.
The Hall of Fame was founded in 1994 and besides Phipps and Toates has twenty-seven inductees. Phipps and Toates will formally be inducted at the USCTA's Annual Dinner on Friday 9 December 2016 at the Racquet & Tennis Club.
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APRIL
1-3
PHILADELPHIA
Ladies Handicap Singles
CHICAGO
National Championships in singles and doubles for amateurs ages 70 years and over
RIVIERE v. VIRGONA
PHILADELPHIA
The Final Eliminator to see who will challenge for the World Championship.
7-10
WASHINGTON
Doubles round robins for multiple amateur levels
14-17
AIKEN
Doubles round robins for multiple amateur levels
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USCTA ANNUAL MEETING
NEWPORT
PHILADELPHIA
National Championships in singles and doubles for amateurs under 23 and under 26 years old
29 - JUNE 5
U.S. PRO SINGLES - SCHOCHET CUP
NEWPORT
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JAY R. SCHOCHET
1930-2016
Jay R. Schochet - a long time supporter of court tennis and a former avid player - passed away on March 24, 2016. His obituary, as well as messages of condolences from the USCTA and USCTPF follow. Our sympathies to his wife, Suzy, and their family. He will be missed.
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TIPS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS
Unlike lawn tennis, the serve in court tennis is about containment, not about hitting an outright winner. The ball has to drop from the penthouse into the box making the likelihood of hitting ace after ace incredibly low.
Because of this, when learning a serve, you must not only learn how to hit the serve effectively but also the shot to back it up. For example: a sidewall serve will produce one of two responses.
Response 1 - A player who likes to volley the return will likely hit this ball cross court, thus you must learn how to deal with this ball in your forehand corner, sending it up towards to tambour.
Response 2 - If the player likes to play the ball of the floor or back wall then you will most likely be receiving a backhand groundstroke.
Like an experienced sommelier, your professional will be able to advise you on your court tennis serve / shot pairings.
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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 4/1/16)
NEWPORT 100
PHILADELPHIA 93
NEW YORK 90
BOSTON 40
CHICAGO 39
WASHINGTON
13
AIKEN 3
TUXEDO 1
LAKEWOOD 0
Compared to:
RADLEY 216
MELBOURNE 249
HAMPTON COURT 228
CAMBRIDGE 207
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