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Meridian Tennis
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Winners Tennis Club
(our home base)
550 Via de la Valle
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Check out these recent photos
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| Hello :
Rain, rain, rain! Isn't it funny how often we are checking weather.com these days? We are certainly not used to this weather in San Diego and it is definitely playing havoc on our tennis!
Congratulations to Matt, who is now the boys' varsity tennis head coach at Bishops School in La Jolla! He is excited about working with the players and helping to develop a competitive team. His past experience as the assistant coach at Point Loma Nazarene University has prepared him well for this new challenge. During the spring boys' tennis season, he will be splitting his time during the week with his Meridian duties in the mornings and at the Bishops School in the afternoons. Let's all wish him well!
Our afternoon clinics will continue, as always. Zac will be taking over the responsibilities of running the Mini's groups on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He will also run the tournament group on Tuesdays, with Landon running the tournament group on Thursdays. Matt will continue to run the tournament group on Saturdays. Our pros will continue to provide the best learning environment for all our players to thrive.
We will be coaching two USTA junior tennis teams, with the season starting at the beginning of March. Zac will captain a co-ed U14 team in their first season and Matt will captain the Girls U18 team for their second season. Both Zac and Matt are excited about the opportunity to work with a great group of players and are looking forward to a terrific season.
It's still the first part of the year, and yet, we are working on our summer clinic schedules! We will be finalizing the dates very shortly. Please check our website (www.meridiantennis.com) and keep your eyes out for our flyers. We will also post a notice in our next newsletter.
Greetings from Matt 
High School Tennis
What makes playing tennis in high school so appealing? If you have a good coach, it can be a very good learning experience... (read more)
Greetings from Zac
 Basic Tennis Doubles StrategiesWhat are the main tennis doubles strategies that will keep the game simple and at the same time guarantee a high probability of winning?...(read more)
Greetings from Craig
(NEW) Guest Columnist
Still looking for contributors...
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We look forward to seeing you on the courts!
Sincerely,
Matt . Zac . Craig
Meridian Tennis Group
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New Clinic Schedule
(as of 01/01/10)
Please call or go online to confirm
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. Adults . |
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Tues 6:30-8:00pm Adult workout
Thurs 8:30-10:00am Adult clinic
Fri 8:00-9:30am Adult clinic
Fri 8:30-10:00am Adult clinic
(modified schedule due to tennis leagues)
TBD Beginners clinics
Additional clinics can be added upon request!
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Note: Adult clinics will be theme-based, rotating from week to week with topics such as doubles strategy, mixed doubles clinic,
serve & volley training, etc.)
Minis . Juniors . High School . Tournament
Mon.Wed.Fri 3:30-4:30pm Minis
Mon.Wed.Fri 4:30-6:00pm Juniors
Tue.Thurs 4:00-5:30pm HS.Tournament
Sat 3:00-4:30pm HS.Tournament
Sun 10:00-11:00am Minis
Additional clinics can be added upon request!
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 Greetings from Matt
High School Tennis
What makes playing tennis in high school so appealing? If you have a good coach, it can be a very good learning experience. If the program is setup well, it helps to promote better practice habits that will have a lasting effect on the players. If a player makes a team, there will be a sense of accomplishment and this might be the edge needed to keep pushing to improve. If all the players get along, it can be fun to work together towards the collective goal of winning a team championship. Tennis is an individual sport and because of this it attracts people who are very self-driven and who like to be in control. One of the benefits of high school tennis is that it is played in a team environment. This can make it more exciting and more rewarding. Another benefit is that the structure itself can help to prevent big egos and individual accomplishments from taking focus away from working together for team achievement.
The match format involves 9 players, 3 singles and 3 doubles. The 3 singles players each play one set against each of the opposing team's singles players; a total of 9 possible sets. This is the same setup for the 3 doubles team matches; another 9 possible sets. In total, there are 18 sets played. If there is a tie (9-9 sets), the total number of games won is used to determine the winner. Again, the focus in high school tennis is on the total number of sets won by the team in both singles and doubles. So a match win is determined by the team score, not any individual score.
My challenge in my new coaching opportunity at the Bishops School will be to give every player the opportunity to grow as a player and to develop a strong sense of pride, character, determination, and desire. I want to encourage each of them to come to practice and let their determination and positive attitude show, as I will always look for potential, in addition to ability and work ethic.
High school tennis can be a wonderful experience with lasting memories. Fortunately, tennis is a lifelong sport and one for a fit and healthy lifetime. Thanks again for all your continued support. Come by and say hi! Matt Copland
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Greetings from Zac
Basic Tennis Doubles Strategies
What are the main tennis doubles strategies that will keep the game simple and at the same time guarantee a high probability of winning?
In doubles, the ultimate goal is to always get to the net. Considering all players equal, the team that gets both players to the net first will most definitely win the point.
1. Moving forward
When you're at the net in doubles, remember to always move forward after the volley. If you hit your volley and stay in the same place, you will just hit the same volley the next time.
If you move forward after each volley, you put more pressure on your opponents, and the volley gets easier each time, because you make contact with the ball at a higher level above the net.
2. Serving strategy in doubles
When serving in doubles, I cannot emphasize how important it is to get your first serve in. You see, it's a very psychological thing.
Even if your first serve is exactly the same speed as your second serve, you will most likely still win the point if you get your first serve in.
This is because when we are facing a first serve, we automatically put ourselves in the defensive frame of mind, and we are more apprehensive because we expect a big first serve.
On the contrary, we are naturally in an attacking frame of mind when facing a second serve, making us more likely to be successful on the second serve return. Therefore, in doubles if you get your first serve in, no matter the quality of the serve, you have a much better chance of winning the point.
3. Your partner serving
When your partner is serving, you might not realize that you are usually the one responsible for winning or losing the game.
Many people think that when they are not serving, they can relax and put all the pressure on their partner. Wrong!
As the net player, it is your job to completely take over and poach at every opportunity. So make sure you stand about an extended racquet length from the net, and almost right in the middle between the singles sideline and the centerline.
Don't worry about being passed down the alley on the return. If your opponents hit that winner, give it to them and stand your ground on the next point. They are not going to do it every time, and overall, they will probably make only 10 to 20 percent of those shots.
The most important thing to remember when poaching is that you should move diagonally towards the net, not just sideways. When you move diagonally, you make your movement move efficient, as you are cutting the angle between yourself and the net.
4. Returning strategy in doubles
When returning, just remember to keep the ball low crosscourt at the serving opponent's feet. If the opposing net player is crowding the net, throw them a lob every now and then, or go for a shot down the alley, just to keep them honest.
As always, you want to try to split-step at the exact time that your opponent makes contact with their serve, and then you can move efficiently to the return.
5. Teamwork
Lastly, make sure you are always working with and moving with your partner. If your partner is up at net, you need to try to get up there with them as soon as you can.
If you are both at the net and your opponents hit the ball wide, fill in the gap in the middle until your partner can recover back to their position.
If you are both at the net and your partner gets lobbed, go back with them, at least behind the service line, so that you are ready to cover for the possible overhead.
So remember, in doubles, aggressive play at the net is the name of the game.
Keep up the Practice!
Zac Markham zac@meridiantennis.com
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Greetings from Craig
On hiatus
Taking a leave to go back to Phoenix.
Look forward to seeing you on the courts!
~ Craig Johnson
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| Guest Columnist Here |
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Interested in trying your hand at writing an article?
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