SD Newsletter Fall 2011 final.indd - USPTA divisions - United States ...

What is Mike Rogers Up To?
I spend my Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
working with Wheelchair Tennis of San Diego, a
wheelchair tennis group at the Barnes Tennis Center.
It’s a fast-paced, demanding hour and a half. At times I
am fortunate to have top-ranked wheelchair instructor,
David Wagner, drop by to assist.
My enthusiasm for wheelchair tennis dates back to my
stint as tennis director at the Poco Diablo Resort in
Sedona, Arizona. It was there I introduced wheelchair
tennis in the summer of 1986. This led to a wheelchair
tournament, the fi rst of its kind in Northern Arizona.
I am frequently asked ‘What’s the biggest difference
between wheelchair tennis teaching and ‘able bodied”
tennis?”
The fi rst and most obvious disparity involves ball feed.
Wheelchair tennis by nature is more fl uid than able
bodied. A well run wheelchair session has less stopping
and starting than able bodied. It is essential to “lead’ the
player, allowing him or her to employ as full a swing
as possible without undue stop and go.
The rules also permit the ball to bounce twice and still
be in play. This alters the rhythm of the game and allows
for some exciting rallies.
It is not widely known that the wheelchairs themselves
are quite different from the standard type. The wheels
are cambered or ‘tilted” for stability, and feature an
extra rim that the player pushes.
It is noteworthy that although wheelchair tennis started
back in 1976, there are not many instructors in this
fi eld. This will change, of course, as this sport is
growing rapidly.
Mike Rogers is a tennis-teaching
professional at the Balboa Tennis
Club, organizes after-school
programs assists with wheelchair
tennis at The Barnes Tennis Center
and is a frequent contributor to the
Division newsletter.
Member News
Ben Press honored with USPTA
Presidential Award
Ben Press was honored with the United States
Professional Tennis Association's Presidential Award
during the USPTA annual awards breakfast Sept. 22
at the World Conference on Tennis at the Saddlebrook
Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla. Ben, who is from
Coronado, Calif., is a USPTA Master Professional and
has been teaching tennis for more than 65 years.
He began as a player, specifi cally an All-American at
UCLA. He played against some of the greats including
Bill Tilden, Pancho Gonzales, Bobby Riggs, and Tony
Trabert, to name a few.
His contributions to tennis are immeasurable. As a
coach, he coached San Diego's only two Wimbledon
champions, Maureen Connolly (Brinker), the fi rst
woman to win the Grand Slam, and Karen Hantz
(Susman), winner of three Wimbledon titles, one singles
and two doubles with Billie Jean King. He was also
responsible for coaching Brian Teacher to an Australian
Open singles title.
Ben was one of the founders of World TeamTennis. He
invented the Scepter Racquet (the fi rst of all graphite
racquets in the marketplace). Ben has also been very
involved with the USPTA. He has served as the USPTA
San Diego Division president and vice president and
on several USPTA committees, including awards,
public relations and testing. He is also on the board
of the Southern California Tennis Association and the
San Diego District Tennis Association and is currently
president of The Greater San Diego City Tennis Council.
His dedication to community work and impact on tennis
has been recognized by many. In fact, in mid-August,
American Express and USTA honored Ben Press by
pledging one of four $50,000 "Fresh Courts" grants
to renovate La Mesa's La Mesita Park Tennis Facility.
He was honored with the USTA/USPTA Community
Service Award in 2005. He was also in the fi rst class
inducted into the San Diego Tennis Hall of Fame, and
continued next page
17