Volume 4 Number 9                                                                                                                   July 1, 2015

 

Summer is here - are you ready? It's time for the beach, backyard barbecues, vacations, fireworks or just reveling in "those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer".  In the tennis world, the Fourth of July fireworks were set off early in Tuxedo, as Camden Riviere and Tim Chisholm became the first American team to win the World Championship Doubles title. Wow!

 

The action moved north as the pros "scurried" to Newport for the U.S. Professional Singles playing for the Schochet Cup. Ironically, the semifinal matches pitted the prior week's doubles teams against their respective partners - Riviere vs. Chisholm and Steve Virgona vs. Rob Fahey. Youth prevailed with Riviere and Virgona going through to the final. Riviere went on to win his sixth consecutive U.S. Pro Singles title in straight sets.

 

After a few weeks of pro tennis it was time for the amateurs to get back on court. Twenty-two teams competed in the 20th Annual Newport Handicap Doubles. Always a popular event - this year was no exception.

 

The second annual International Tennis Day (ITD) on June 20 was a huge success. ITD is the brainchild of Jim Zug. Twenty-four hours of tennis? It's true - read all about it in Jim Zug's story about events around the world. We can't wait until next year.

 

As Chase the First is being delivered to your mailbox, the U.S. Van Alen/Clothier Cup team is in Australia competing in the biennial team event. Let's hope they set off some U.S. fireworks in Melbourne this week. Go USA!

 

It's summer and time to have fun, so in this month's "Tips from the Pros" the Ambassador weighs in with his own tip of the month. If only...

 

Looking ahead - we have the U.S. Junior Nationals, the Tuxedo Junior Camp and the Pell Cup. Check them out.

 

Until next month....

 

Sincerely,

Jane Lippincott - Editor 

U.S. Court Tennis Association
    
2015 WORLD DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP

 

The 2015 World Doubles Championship was held in Tuxedo on May 30 - June 7.  Played every two years, the first World Doubles Championship was played  in 2001. Nine teams from around the world entered the tournament. Early rounds were three out of five sets. The final was the best of nine sets, with 4 sets played on the first day and the remainder the following day.

 

After a week of matches and entertaining - golf, dinners and more! -the much anticipated final between the defenders - Rob Fahey and Steve Virgona - and their challengers - Tim Chisholm and Camden Riviere was played on Saturday and Sunday.

 

Chisholm and Riviere started out on a bang and never looked back. Despite great doubles play by both teams, the Americans had the edge defeating the defending champs 6-3,6-1,6-3,6-4,6-4. While Chisholm won in 2001 with Julian Snow, the Chisholm/Riviere team are the first Americans to win the title. Congratulations to Camden and Tim. And, thank you Tuxedo for providing a fabulous venue for a memorable week of tennis and fun.

 

   Didn't get a chance to see the matches? You can catch them on the  

USCTA YouTube channel thanks to the efforts of Ryan Carey and Nick Jones.

2ND ANNUAL
INTERNATIONAL TENNIS DAY
SCORES BIG
by James Zug

 

  Last year, the inaugural International Tennis Day was as much about getting the idea launched as anything else. Jon Crowell designed, produced and mailed handsome, sturdy ITD banners around the country and around the world; Kieran Booth ferried Australian's allotment back Down Under.

 

Some people grasped the notion of simulataneously celebrating the great game of tennis around the globe, while others weren't exactly sure about how to use the ITD page at Facebook or the ITD hashtag (#iTennisDay) on Twitter.

 

Nonetheless, the first ITD in 2014 was a success: clubs in all four playing nations held events, whether a special screening of a film about tennis in Philadelphia, a skills shootout in Aiken and in Hobart or lessons for juniors in Washington or simply spirited play in Paris. The highlight might have been Radley College, which hosted seventeen straight hours of play.

 

This year, ITD really came into its own. International Tennis Day is held on the anniversary of the Tennis Court Oath that precipitated. The 20th of June this year was a Saturday, which meant a bit less activity for some of the Northern Hemisphere city clubs, where summer was in full swing and most members were out of town.

Click here to read the full story.

 

 

The penultimate and the final pair of players and the Pro who was there all through... 23 hours down and one to go on Sat 20 June.  From the left, Benjamin Yorston , CJR, James Walton, Maggie Henderson-Tew and Brian Sutton. 
 
These young men, Vincent Graham and Walter Thompson, beat off all rivals for the coveted 1-4 am session this morning. This photo was taken, as you see, when they finished, and the exhaustion certainly shows.  Each of them weighed approx 250lbs when they stepped on court, but you can see for yourself the effect of playing 64 games and completing 7 sets.   

 

https://www.facebook.com/itennisday 

 

For more information, visit the ITD website
http://internationaltennisday.com 

2015 U.S. PRO SINGLES 
Playing for the Schochet Cup 

 

Newport hosted the 2015 U.S. Professional Singles playing for the Schochet Cup. The Satellite Draw had fifteen players with eight qualifying for the main draw. John Lumley won the Satellite over Claire Fahey 6-3, 6-2.  

 

The Main Draw final was between Camden Riviere and Steve Virgona. Riviere defeated Virgona in straight sets -  6-2, 6-3, 6-2 - to capture his sixth consecutive U.S. Pro Singles title. Jay Schochet presented Riviere with the Schochet Cup.

 

To watch the matches, go to the USCTA YouTube channel 

 

Paul Monaghan, Laurenson Ward, Dylan Ward & Adrian Camacho

2015 CLOTHIER, VAN ALEN & LIMB CUPS 

 

Teams from the U.S., England and Australia are in Melbourne for the biennial Clothier, Van Alen and Limb Cups. The team competition is for players under the age of 26. The U.S. is represented by Captain Paul Monaghan, Laurenson Ward, Dylan Ward (all of Philadelphia) and Adrian Camacho (Washington). 

 

2015 NEWPORT HANDICAP DOUBLES
 
Murphy, Buckley, Rowe & McCray

A Division Final:
Tom Rowe & Jake McCray def. John Murphy & Oliver Buckley 7-6

B Division Final:
Kim Kilgore & Laura Tillsley def. Ryan Carey & Amy MacMillan 11-8

Kilgore, Tillsley, MacMillan & Carey
SUMMER FUN 

It's not all about tennis all of the time. 
What is your club doing this summer? 
Here's a taste from Newport.
Photos by Hakan Lonaeus.
JULY
24-26
U13, U15, U17, U19
NEWPORT

AUGUST
13-16
PELL CUP
NEWPORT
Doubles round robin for pros & multiple amateur levels
ANNUAL JUNIOR
COURT TENNIS CAMP
July 13-17

The Player Development Committee has selected the Tuxedo Club for a one-of-a-kind junior court tennis camp.

Court Tennis Champion - Tim Chisholm - will head up the USCTA/USCTPF sponsored junior tennis camp for one week this summer at the Tuxedo Club. The camp is designed for juniors ages 11-17 and modeled around a very successful and popular UK-based program. Beginner and experienced players are invited to participate.

For more information, contact

RIVIERE HEADS TO NEWPORT

The National Tennis Club today is pleased to announce that it has engaged Camden Riviere, of Aiken, South Carolina, as its Head Professional. Mr. Riviere most recently has been Head Professional of the Aiken Tennis Club, and has served as a court tennis professional at clubs in Europe and the United States.

 

Mr. Riviere is the top ranked court tennis player in the world, and has recently won the U.S. Singles and U.S. Doubles tournaments for professionals. He has competed for the World Championship in the last two challenges, and is expected to be a top contender for the position of challenger in the 2016 World Championship match to be held in Newport in May, 2016.

 

Nicholas Howell of Melbourne, Australia will continue to serve as Senior Professional at the National Tennis Club. He is the tenth ranked player in the world.

 

The National Tennis Club is one of nine active court tennis clubs in the United States, and one of approximately sixty such clubs in the world. Courts are currently in active use in England, France, Australia, and the United States. Court tennis is the precursor of all racquet sports, with a history going back to the Twelfth Century. World open championship competition began circa 1740. There are provisions for public viewing and playing at the National Tennis Club. Contact one of our professionals at 401-849-6672 for further information.



The fundraising effort by
Court Tennis Charleston
is still going strong! 

Visit their website by clicking here
TIPS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS

Guest View:
Temple's Tip 1815 Edition

by Temple Grassi

 

Do yourself a favor and hire a top-notch server. I had an exhausting day watching my servant practicing my serve today. It's been the weakest part of my game since my last servant, Mackenzie, left me to try his luck in Canada. If the new man can't serve more clean aces, then I will seriously have to think about terminating his employ. At my dizzy age I can't be having it if I've got to continually keep running back on court to play out my service games. It's embarrassing. That bounder, Lord Wintersteen, never has to step on court when he's serving. 

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 7/1/15)

NEWPORT 105
WASHINGTON 61
NEW YORK 56
CHICAGO 49
BOSTON 39
TUXEDO 26
AIKEN 10
PHILADELPHIA 7
LAKEWOOD 0

Compared to:
RADLEY 223
MELBOURNE 213
CAMBRIDGE 208
USCTA Board Changes

Thank you to Dick Brickley, Josh Scherer, Frank Oliveira, PJ Yeatman, and Barney Tanfield for all your time, service, and efforts on the USCTA Board.

Welcome to new Board members Andy Roberts (Boston), Anders Cohen (Lakewood), Steve Fazzini (Newport), Xanthe Ranger (Tuxedo), and Tony Hollins (Pro Rep).


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939 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02115

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