Greetings!
Today's issue of Chase the First marks the start of our fifth year. Wow - with an open rate approaching 50%, not including our readers through Facebook and the USCTA website, its been a successful four years. Thanks to all of the contributors in the past year for submitting tournament reports, history bits, videos, stories, photos, pro tips and medical advice. A special thanks goes to USCTA Communications Chair - Ryan Carey - for his assistance over the years. So on to the news of the month...
A record number of juniors participated in the 2015 U19 doubles playing for the Lieb Cup last month. The number of players is just another sign that the USCTA/USCTPF Player Development Program is continuing to make progress. Speaking of juniors, check out the painting "Portrait of a Young Tennis Player". Imagine asking our young juniors to wear a doublet and shorts.
Alex Spence staged not one, but two comebacks over the weekend, to win the Jimmy Knott singles in Boston. Later in the month, a large contingent of players traveled to Tuxedo for the annual Hadden Tomes weekend. The theme this year was "Roaring Racquets" and was a huge success.
Tony Hollins uses handcuffs coupled with a golf analogy to take some pressure off the joints. National League is in full swing - with two matches to go, New York is leading the pack followed by the Philadelphia/Chicago team.
Finally, be sure to read the latest update from Charleston. As the weather turns cool, think how nice it would be to have another southern court - you can help make it happen.
Happy Anniversary to us - and to all you readers, keep clicking.
Until next month....
Sincerely,
U.S. Court Tennis Association
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THE LATEST FROM CHARLESTON
By Greg Van Schaack
Attention all Charleston Court Tennis pledgees and potential donors!!!
First let us apologize for the confusion in last month's edition of Chase the First. In the unlikely event that construction does not proceed with the Charleston court, ALL DONATIONS WILL BE RETURNED TO THE DONOR unless otherwise requested by said donor.
As stated last month, the collection of pledges has begun in anticipation of starting construction in 2016. We now have over $200,000 in the Foundation account for Charleston. It is critically important that all pledges be paid by December 1st so that Daniel Island has comfort to include us in their permitting process with the goal of beginning construction on the new court tennis court by early in the second quarter of 2016 (hopefully April). For those of you who have made pledges, instructions are spelled out below and you will shortly be receiving a letter from Charleston Court Tennis requesting the payment of your pledge. For those of you intending to give (and we still need substantially more support) the same instructions apply.
1) Checks may be made out to the US Court Tennis Preservation Foundation and mailed to: USCTPF c/o Jane Lippincott PO Box 194, Jamestown, RI 02835
2) All donations may be made through the Charleston Court Tennis website using a major credit card. Just go to www.charlestoncourttennis.com and click on the "Contribute Now" and then the "send donation" icons. The funds will be deposited in the US Court Tennis Preservation Foundation account.
3) Appreciated stock may be endorsed to the US Court Tennis Preservation Foundation for credit against your pledge. Please speak to Jane Lippincott for further details.
Everyone who has pledged, given or intends to give, please pat yourselves on the back. This project could not have gotten this far without your invaluable support!!! The CCT, LLC thanks you very, very much. We're moving forward to BREAK GROUND IN APRIL!!!!
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Drane, Spence, Wintersteen & Horine
2015 JIMMY KNOTT
by Jeffrey Horine
A competitive field gathered for the Jimmy Knott Memorial singles event at Boston's Tennis & Racquet Club from October 16-18, with eight of the event's 12 participants carrying a handicap between 14-22. In the end, Alex Spence, who staged two dramatic comebacks during 4 ½ hours of court time, squeezed his way through the crowded field to secure the title with a victory in the finals over Jeremy Wintersteen by the score of 6/5 4/6 6/5.
Spence first had to save three match points in his semifinal match against Jeffrey Horine in order to reach the finals against Wintersteen. Spence, the number two seed, was down 6/0 5/3 against the number three seeded Horine before rallying for the victory by a final score of 0/6 6/5 6/4. In the other semifinal, the fourth seeded Wintersteen rallied from a 4-1 deficit to topple top seeded Brook Hazelton 6/4 6/2.
Click here for the rest of the story, draws and pictures
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Klepper, Napolitano,Tillsley, Kilgore, Ehrlich & Bender
2015 HADDEN TOMES
by Dawson Lane & Xanthe Ranger
On the weekend of October 23rd - October 25th, The Tuxedo Club hosted the 2015 Hadden Tomes . Before going into detail on the court tennis, racquets, squash and social activities of the weekend, a BIG THANK YOU is extended to the following people:
2015 Hadden Tomes Chairs: Kim Kilgore & Laura Tillsley
2015 Hadden Tomes Co-Chairs: Charles de Casteja & Xanthe Ranger
The following families for their 'legendary' Tuxedo hospitality:
Sara & Guy Devereux
Dee & Greg Gross
Emily & Chris Heffernan
Lisa & Dan Laukitis
Barbara & Peter Regna
Rowena & Josh Scherer
Penny & Arnold Spangler
Play started at 2 PM on Friday and continued virtually around the clock until late on Sunday afternoon. Many matches were played and a few tears were shed. 42 competitors were involved in the HCP Doubles Court Tennis Competition, 8 players in the HCP Racquets Doubles and 10 players in the singles squash competition.
In what is a rather unique format; Tuxedo endeavors to pair all Court Tennis competitors with not only different partners in each round, but also different opponents each round as much as possible (a different format to the usual knock out format with potential back draws found at most competitions). After the round robin matches finished up early Sunday morning, 11 players had moved through to the 3 flight finals, with three players tied for the coveted twelfth and final spot....Joe Ehrlich, Sewall Hodges & Xanthe Ranger, with Joe Ehrlich making the cut as a result of the all-important drawing of the lucky name.
Click here for the rest of the story, draws and pictures
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Photo from Prince's Court
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2015 U.S. U19, U17, U15, U13 DOUBLESby Molly Dickinson
Over Columbus Day weekend, October 9-11, 2015, 16 junior players gathered at the Prince's Court for the under-19 junior doubles playing for the Lieb Cup. Named in honor of the late John Lieb who endowed a fund for junior player development, the Lieb Cup has been held since 2000 to bring junior players together to compete in level doubles at multiple age groups.
As in the past, the Washington families and professionals outdid themselves in hosting the event and welcoming the out of town players. Friday night featured a casual pizza dinner at the club and open court time for knock-up and informal doubles pairings. Many players made use of the available squash courts, as well. Click here for the full story, pictures and results.
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2016 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The National Tennis Club will host the 2016 World Championship beginning on May 16 through May 21, 2016. The best of thirteen set showdown will feature World Champion - Rob Fahey and a challenger to be determined through a series of eliminators early in 2016. Fahey will be defending his title for a record-setting twelfth time.
On the challenger side, the top four players - based on World Race points - will compete in a series of eliminators to determine the eventual challenger. The final World Race points for the 2016 challenge will be determined after the British Open in November. The current standings can be found by clicking here.
Newport has an exciting week of tennis and social events - including golf, tennis, sailing and parties - to mark this momentous occasion. To find out more - please visit the National Tennis Club website by clicking here.
The NTC will start accepting reservation on November 1st. Confirmations will go out starting December 1st, any reservation forms received after December 1st will be confirmed within 72 hours.
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Portrait of a Young Tennis Player - Haldane Fine Art
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This remarkable portrait of a real tennis player is very rare. It was probably painted circa 1600-1610 when the game of Real or Royal Tennis was at its height. Real Tennis was played throughout the courts of Western Europe, including by King Henry VIII in England and by Francis I, Henri II, Charles IX, and Henri IV in France where, in 1598, the Papal legate recorded over 250 courts in use. The game was equally popular in Italy and it was at the University of Parma in 1555 that Antonio Scaino de Salo published a book, Trattato del Giuco della Palla, dedicated to his patron, Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara. His lengthy analysis of 'il giuoco della corda' ('the game of the net') describes various methods of play including the use of racquets, as opposed to open hands, for larger courts.
The young player engages with the viewer and holds the ball aloft. The ball has the quartered stitching which is common to Real Tennis balls of the 16th-century[1] and the manner in which the boy holds the ball suggests that he is about to serve. The boy holds a battoir which succeeded the use of the glove towards the end of the 15th century and which was eventually succeeded by the use of a strung racquets[2].
Click here to read the full story
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USCTA ANNUAL DINNER & AUCTION
DECEMBER 11
NEW YORK
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The Annual USCTA Dinner and Auction
will be held in New York on Friday, December 11.
If you have items that you would like to donate for the auction or attend the dinner
please contact:
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NEW YORK
Invitational singles for
the top 12 amateurs
5-8
NEW YORK
Handicap singles for professionals and amateurs
BOSTON
Singles and doubles championships
13-15
AIKEN
Doubles for handicaps
25 and over
19-22
PHILADELPHIA
Doubles round robins for multiple levels
NATIONAL OPEN
TUXEDO
Singles for U.S. based pros and selected top amateurs
11
USCTA ANNUAL DINNER & AUCTION
NEW YORK
Invitational inter-club
team doubles
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TIPS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS
Take some pressure
off the joints
As we all well know, the court tennis racquet and ball are both very heavy; because of this a "lazy" or "handsy" swing can lead to injuries. Well, here's the solution: handcuffs.
When taking the racquet back I see lawn tennis and squash converts starting the stroke with the arm leading the way. This promotes a very open stance and, in turn, a very "handsy" shot. What I'd like you to imagine is wearing handcuffs or carrying a medicine ball back to start the stroke instead. Don't let that dominant arm get too far ahead of the rest of the body.
For the golfers out there, you have probably heard of a "one-piece-takeback"; this is a very similar theory. By imagining that you are wearing handcuffs you will now carry the racquet back predominantly with the shoulders promoting a closed stance, the elbow of your predominant hand will naturally sit closer to the body, and it will take pressure away from your shoulder and elbow.
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2015-16
NATIONAL LEAGUE
SCHEDULE
New England vs New York
30th September @ Newport
New York vs Chicago / Philadelphia
5th October @ New York
CHICAGO/PHILA wins 5/2
Chicago / Philadelphia vs Tuxedo
8th October @ Chicago
CHICAGO/PHILA wins 5/2
Tuxedo vs New York
28th October @ New York
NEW YORK wins 7/0
Chicago / Philadelphia vs New England
4th of November @ Philadelphia
New England vs Tuxedo
10th of December @ Boston
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SAVE THE DATE
U19 JUNIOR SINGLES HANDICAP
Newport
January 15-17, 2016
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Our game has gotten ANOTHER mention in
a major "New York" publication!!
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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 10/30/15)
BOSTON 101
NEWPORT 75
CHICAGO 73
WASHINGTON 70
NEW YORK 65
PHILADELPHIA 36
TUXEDO 24
AIKEN 21
LAKEWOOD 0
Compared to:
RADLEY 238
MELBOURNE 245
CAMBRIDGE 176
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