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Greetings!
March came in with a roar as the top players gathered in Washington for the 114th U.S. Amateur Singles and Doubles Championships. Pat Winthrop claimed his second (consecutive) Singles Championship, while a new team - Bill Barker and Neil Mackenzie took the Doubles title.
Meanwhile in Newport, the snow melted away in time for the rescheduled (thanks to Blizzard Nemo) Noll Cup. Bostonian Diego Alvarado claimed the title over Tom Pickin. Then, it was on to Philadelphia for the Lord Percival Cup - an interclub team match. Washington entered two teams and to make sure that one won, they both made it to the finals insuring a fifth consecutive win for the Washingtonians.
The Pros finished the regular season of their National League, with the Tuxedo/Philadelphia team upsetting New York in the final match of the season. When the final standings were tabulated, New England gained the #1 spot going into the play-offs. They will play the winner of Chicago and New York in Newport on April 11.
Also coming up in April is the U.S. 40's and 50's in Tuxedo, The Cherry Blossom Doubles in Washington, the Northrop Knox Doubles in Aiken and the Ladies' Invitational in Newport. Be sure to check out the entry forms and sign up for one or more of these events.
Over 50? Start practicing for the World Masters to be held in New York and/or the US 60's and 70's in Newport. Both events will take place in May.
Finally, be sure to read Barney Tanfield's Tip of the Month on "Illumination" and the digital age. Or check out the RTO Forum and watch what may be the earliest recording of tennis. Or read an update from Boston - a new roof is just around the corner. Or, read Jeremy Wintersteen's Bathurst Cup recap. And last but not least, check out the latest Top 25 List to see if you made the cut!
It's all here and more... so start reading.
Until next month...
Sincerely,
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IMPORTANT USCTA SURVEY
Real Tennis or Court Tennis?
In January, all USCTA members received a survey entitled "Should the United States Court Tennis Association change its name to the United States Real Tennis Association?"
The USCTA Board of Governors need your input!
What do YOU think?
Here's the link to the original survey form.
For additional color, here are some interesting links:
- See what players are saying on the RTO Forum...click here.
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2013 U.S. AMATEUR
The 2013 US Amateur was played in Washington.
Pat Winthrop defeated Danny McBride 6/3,6/0, 6/3 to capture the singles title.
Bill Barker & Neil Mackenzie defeated Brad Allen & Danny McBride to win the doubles. The score was 6/4, 3/6 ,6/5, 6/4.
For complete results
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2013 LORD PERCIVAL CUP
by Chris Casazza
The twenty-first annual Lord Percival Cup came off with fantastic play at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. A national inter-club team tournament founded in 1992, the Percy featured a new format where each active club in America-save two-sent a team. To fill out the eight-team draw, both New York and Washington brought a second team. It was the largest Percy on record and made for a great weekend.
The tournament got off to a superlative start on Friday morning, March 15. It was clear from the beginning that the all the teams were seriously vying for silver hardware and the chance to hold the famed Percy silver tray.
To read the complete story..
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2013 BATHURST CUP
by Jeremy Wintersteen
The north and south came together this year to represent the US for the 53rd Bathurst Cup in February at the Holyport Real Tennis Club. Aiken's Ben Cook and Rakesh Jasani and Boston's Jeremy Wintersteen traveled to England to play in the tournament, which is now a bi-annual men's amateur team competition between the Unites States, England, France, and Australia. The Bathurst Cup dates back to 1922 and sixteen players represented their countries this year. The tournament format is Davis Cup style - two singles matches followed by a doubles match and then reverse singles. The first to win three matches advances. The US has been in a little bit of a drought lately as we last won the Bathurst Cup in 1969 when some brothers named Bostwick wore the stars and stripes. Unfortunately, the American drought continues.
Read on for the full report!
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TOP 25 LIST
Pat Winthrop remains in the #1 spot,
but there continues to be lots of jockeying for positions 2-25. See the complete list here!
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2013 NOLL CUP
Newport hosted the 2013 "Nemo delayed" Noll Cup - the USCTA championship for the 30-39 handicap level player. Diego Alvarado (Boston) defeated Tom Pickin (Newport/Boston) 6/5, 2/6, 6/3 in a tight match to claim the title. In the backdraw, Adrian Camacho (Wash.) defeated Anders Cohen (NY) 9/7.
For the full draw, click here.
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UPDATE FROM BOSTON
By Suzy Schwartz
As many of you are aware, the Tennis & Racquet Club of Boston (T&R) has been in the midst of a major fundraising campaign to fix the roof covering our court tennis court! Thanks to the support of numerous members of the T&R, the broader court tennis community, the USCTA and the USCTPF, the T&R has raised 90% of funds needed for the $540K project! Construction is set to begin May 1st!
Many members of the community have reached out to us individually asking how to make donations - if you would like to contribute, please contact T&R Manager Tom Dobbins (tom@tandr.org, 617-536-4630). Contributions can be made via check or credit card. Contributors of $1,000 or more will have their name inscribed on a plaque to be prominently placed in the Club. It is our hope that we can complete fundraising prior to the start of construction.
We look forward to hosting many of you throughout the year, at our re-opening weekend (date to be forthcoming) and as the T&R returns to the USCTA tournament fixture!
Thanks to the many of you who have made this possible and for your continued support of our Club!
See you in Boston!
Suzy Schwartz
President Tennis & Racquet Club, Boston
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TIPS FROM THE PROS
"Illumination"
by Barney Tanfield
The introduction of digital age has massively restructured both the understanding and teaching practices in just about every facet of life. Sports are certainly no exception. You would be hard pressed to find a sport where video footage is not a major training component and a much sought after resource. Yet for the most part, Real Tennis remains a game in the dark ages, a game of antiquity. While some of the most desirable aspects of our game are tastefully preserved through tradition, custom and regulation, healthy usage of the resources available to us are essential for both preservation and further longevity.
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United States Court Tennis Association
c/o The Racquet & Tennis Club
370 Park Ave. New York, New York 10022
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APRIL
2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
NEW YORK
Semifinal - Chicago vs. New York
5-7
TUXEDO
USCTA National Singles and Doubles Championships for amateurs 40 and over, 50 and over.
11
NATIONAL LEAGUE FINAL
NEWPORT
New England vs. winner of Chicago/New York
11-14
WASHINGTON
Doubles Round Robins for multiple levels.
19-21
AIKEN
Doubles for handicaps under 30
26-28
NEWPORT
Singles & Doubles for US based Amateurs
MAY
1-5
NEWPORT
USCTA National Singles and Doubles Championships for amateurs 60 and over, 70 and over
AB MARTIN CUP
NEWPORT
Senior Inter-Club Team Doubles
13-17
INTERNATIONAL TEAMS
PHILADELPHIA
COCHRAM CUP - players 50 & over
TUXEDO
BOSTWICK CUP - players 60 & over
DANBY CUP - players 70 & over
18-24
NEW YORK
International Singles and Doubles for players over 50, 60 and 70
JUNE
1-9
US PRO SINGLES -
Schochet Cup
NEWPORT
Professional Singles
14-16
US LADIES' OPEN
TUXEDO
USCTA Open Singles & Doubles Championships
19-23
NEWPORT HANDICAP DOUBLES
NEWPORT
Doubles flights for all divisions
20-23
US JUNIOR NATIONALS
PHILADELPHIA
21& Under, 18 & Under - Singles & Doubles
JULY
4-6
CLOTHIER CUP
NEWPORT
Junior International Team Competition. USA vs. Australia
19-21
VELVET ROPE
NEWPORT
Invitational Doubles for ages 21-40
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Results through
regular season
Team Points
New York 27
New England 26
Chicago 16
Tuxedo/Phila 15
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RTO REPORT -
RECORD ALL SCORES!
The Handicap & Ranking committee would like to remind you that it is vital for you to record ALL of your matches into RTO in order to ensure the integrity of the game and the handicap system!
Number of matches entered into the RTO system in the last
30 days:
Newport 136
Chicago 88
Philadelphia 83
Washington 80
Boston 80
New York 66
Tuxedo 24
Aiken 13
Lakewood 7
For comparison,
during the same period:
Radley 271
Hampton Court 262
Hobart 256
As you can see, we have some work to do to catch up to the pace of the rest of the world, so please
RECORD ALL SCORES! RECORD ALL SCORES!
RECORD ALL SCORES!
Thank You!
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RTO FORUM
Here's a link to a short video created by the Seacourt Tennis Club on its 100th Anniversary. The first half provides some interesting history of the court and some familiar names. The second half includes some footage from of play from the 1920's. Is this the oldest film in existence? Watch it and comment!
 | | Seacourt Centenary |
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USCTA FACEBOOK GROUP
The USCTA is on Facebook!
Interact with other players.
Get the latest news, photos, results and more!
Click here to
have a look
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