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2009 US Open Ballperson: My time in NYC By Kenny Martin Kenny Martin of Hillsboro, Ore., was the recipient of the 2009 US Open Ballperson Grant. Awarded annually by the USTA Pacifi c Northwest, the grant is intended to help offset travel expenses such as airfare, lodging and meals for those selected to serve as a US Open Ballperson. If you’re interested in applying for the US Open Ballperson Grant in 2010, please email info@pnw.usta.com or visit our website at www.pnw.usta.com where the application will be available next spring. Please read on for a day-today account of Martin’s experience on and off the court in New York City. Among the highlights of my summer was my time as a US Open Ballperson on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. It is a position sought by thousands of kids who have a great passion for tennis and I was lucky to have the opportunity despite living in Oregon. Overall, it was an experience that I will never forget. Each morning I worked at the Open, I headed for the subway and boarded the 7 train towards Queens around 8:30 a.m. Once I arrived at the tennis center, it was imperative to sign in first and then head toward the docking site for the ballpersons, what is known as “the perch”. Once at the perch, I would have about 25-35 minutes to talk with the other ballpersons until we were assigned to the courts to do our duty. The matches I worked on were all fast paced and fluid. Watching the pros smack balls side to side on the court and bomb serves was scary yet aweinspiring. As a ballperson, it was essential that my movement and coverage of the court be impeccable as to keep the match flowing smoothly. I knew I had to keep my concentration at all times. I couldn’t get too absorbed or distracted by the match or else I would fail to know the score or where to throw the tennis balls between points. Although the on-court duties were hectic and stressful at times, the experience can be relaxing when you keep your focus and work as a team with your fellow ballpersons. After a long morning of work, my team would head back to the perch for a two-hour lunch break. The food was pretty good at the Open and while it was expensive, we did get a pre-paid food card to help cut the costs. The best part of the lunch break was that we had the chance to go to any court, with the exception of Arthur Ashe Stadium and watch the players battle it out. Most times the outer courts were completely packed so I went to Louis Armstrong Stadium and the Grandstand where there were many more seats available. After lunch it was back to business. The afternoon consisted of work on one more court and then we were released. After a hard day’s work, I would ride the 7 train back to my hotel to relax and watch some tennis on television. My favorite moment as a ballperson was when I got to see all the pro players practicing with each other. Specifically, I got to see Roger Federer and Nicolas Kiefer of Germany play a practice match and was surprised to see that Federer is nowhere near as good in practice as he is in official match play. Being a ballperson at the US Open was not only a great experience but it also gave me the opportunity to visit my birthplace. I was born in New York but didn’t have many memories of the city because I was only two years old when we left there. It was really nice to have a chance to visit and explore the Big Apple. Midtown and the site of the World Trade Center were the places I visited first. I didn’t have time to visit the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, or any museums but I did eat at some of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The whole experience of being a US Open Ballperson was a lot of fun. I would do it again next year if I had the chance. Most importantly, I want to thank my tennis coach Jack Olson and my mom for helping me along the application process, Tina Taps of the USTA for alerting me to the opportunity, and the USTA Pacific Northwest for awarding me the grant. Without them I would never have been able to have this great experience. 14 TENNIS TIMES WINTER 2009/10 � www.pnw.usta.com Martin explores the streets of New York City. Martin works a match during the US Open Qualifiers which saw American Asia Muhammad defeat Argentina’s Jorgelina Cravero 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.
AREA REPORTS Eastern Washington [Continued] believe with some additional work we can become tougher mentally. One fun thing our team likes to do for conditioning in preseason is play games like ultimate ball, indoor soccer, capture the fl ag and other competitive games. I learned that if you let them “play” they actually run harder than traditional conditioning. We keep track of wins and losses and bring in a prize for the winning team after preseason. It has become a fun way to return and get physically fi t. We also like to have team dinners the night before matches to foster team unity. This allows players to relax and get to know me and teammates in a different setting. This year we are planning a team ski trip also. I hope nobody gets hurt! TT: How will you develop the team’s top players this year? CK: Ho and Juhre both possess an all-court game that can beat you in many different ways. Because they are both so well rounded, it makes it hard for opponents to expose weaknesses. I will be working more with strategy and point development because their physical games are more advanced than most players on our team. TT: Coach Kreider, thank you for sharing your time with us. Your dedication to tennis is appreciated by your players and their parents. Any parting words of inspiration for current or future high school tennis players? CK: If you leave everything on the court you need not concern yourself with the wins and losses. If you can do that, the wins will take care of themselves. Parks and clubs, the perfect hybrid for tennis players Winter is upon us once again. Some areas in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho saw snowfall before Halloween. Brrrrrrr! In spring, summer and part of fall, we enjoy outdoor tennis. Many of us count public parks as our home courts. Former and current tennis pros such as Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, and Venus and Serena Williams grew up on public courts. Although I never reached the Tour, I do have fond memories of “Avenue 43” in Pasadena, Calif. While public parks are great, none in our area offer indoor courts. So what are you going to do if you want to keep those strokes sharp during the winter? Consider joining an area tennis club, of course. If you’re not currently a member of a club, consider all that they have to offer. In addition to year-round tennis, clubs offer a sense of belonging. Members have the opportunity to meet new friends, join leagues and participate in mixers. Many clubs also feature a pro shop that features stringing service and expert advice on tennis shoes, racquets, attire, accessories, and more. Clubs also host special events that include equipment demonstrations by representatives of Babolat, Prince, Wilson, Head, and other tennis retail specialists. And to remind you again of the ultimate gain, a club membership allows you to play tennis indoors while it’s snowing outside! In the next issue of Tennis Times, the Eastern [ Continued from page 13 ] Washington Area Report will highlight The Spokane Club, a tennis facility that offers much of what was described above as well as many USTA sanctioned tournaments including major events such as Dual Level 5 tournaments for juniors who compete in the USTA Pacific Northwest Championship division. In order to better serve their members, The Spokane Club recently completed a giant renovation that includes the resurfacing of their indoor courts along with new nets and backdrops, an expanded deli, and an improved pro shop. We’ll talk to Director of Tennis Pat Dreves to learn more about the motivation and effort behind the major facelift and to get some insight into the benefi ts of belonging to a club in your area. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Eastern Washington! Southern Oregon By Gail Patton Frank Inn inducted into USTA/PNW Hall of Fame Frank Inn, Director of Tennis at Rogue Valley Swim and Tennis Club in Medford was inducted into the USTA Pacific Northwest (USTA/PNW) Hall of Fame at the section’s annual awards and hall of fame luncheon held at the Bellevue Club on December 5. Inn was one of three inductees in this year’s distinguished class. The others include former WTA Tour professional Trish Bostrom of Seattle and the late Wayne Sabin. A nationally recognized coach and United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) certifi ed professional, Inn has developed players at the state, section, national and professional levels for over 25 years including former ATP Tour star Jonathan Stark and current NCAA Division I standout Nate Schnugg. Inn has also volunteered countless hours to the USTA including six years served as the Southern Oregon Area Vice-President for the USTA/ PNW Board of Directors. Court light retrofi t saves $$ The Ashland Tennis and Fitness Club (ATFC) completed a court lighting retrofit in August that will save approximately $1000 a month in electric bills. The conversion to a highly effi cient fl uorescent system, featuring sensors to shut off lights when courts are not in use, from a 20-yearold metal halide system was supported by nearly $16,000 from the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit program and $26,000 in utility rebates from the City of Ashland. Tri-Phase Electric Supply in Portland guided ATFC management through the process and completed the project. With the projected savings in the cost of electricity, the cost of the retrofi t will be paid off in less than two years. Further, members are very happy with the improved quality of vision from the new direct lighting on court. Wild West Tennis goes South Steve Vaughan, the Head Tennis Professional for the Sunriver Owners Association during the summer months and at Deep Canyon Tennis Club A sport for everyone…even robots The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department attended the “Neighbors Night Out” celebration this fall at Sprinker Recreation Center in Tacoma. The Sheriff’s department was well represented as members of the Dive Squad, Mountain Rescue team and Special Forces turned out for the event. The Bomb Squad also joined the fun, sending a “bomb robot” on to the court to participate in QuickStart Tennis with the other beginners. Tennis really is a sport for all. in Palm Springs during the winter, is offering a second Wild West Adult Tennis Camp at the Desert Princess Resort during the 2010 BNP Paribas Open. The camp will run March 12-14, the middle weekend of the professional tournament. The camp will expand to include March 15-18 if space fi lls. For more information or camp registration, please contact Vaughn at (541) 350-1379. RVST mixed doubles team competes at nationals Congratulations to the USTA League 8.0 Adult Mixed Doubles team from Rogue Valley Swim and Tennis Club (RVSTC). After winning their Southern Oregon local league in November 2008 and a January 2009 round-robin playoff tournament, they advanced to the 2009 USTA/PNW League Adult Mixed Doubles Section Championships held this summer in Sunriver, Ore., and won their division’s title. As the section champions, the RVSTC team traveled to the Jim Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz., to represent the USTA/PNW in the 2009 USTA League 8.0 Adult Mixed Doubles National Championships held November 20-22. Representing the RVSTC team at the national championships were captains Bill and Martha Kelly, Teresa Longmire, Sue McCandless, Dan Perone and Don Zizic. Throughout the rest of the season, Yvonne Endrikat, Bob Mengis and Ellie Miller also participated on the team. Northern Oregon Sweet Home’s new courts By Scott Swanson Courtesy of The New Era www.sweethomenews.com It was a moment of personal satisfaction for Sweet Home School District Superintendent Larry Horton and a lot of other people when the red ribbon was cut to open the district’s four new tennis courts to the public this fall. Horton, who noted how he took some grousing from tennis enthusiasts in the community when the district decided to remove the old courts two years ago, was clearly enjoying himself at the grand opening. The four new courts are located between the varsity baseball fi eld and the bus barn, along 18th Avenue. A crowd of about 50 people turned out for the dedication including physical education teacher Kate Buehler and about a dozen youngsters whom Buehler has been teaching to play a beginner’s variety of the game, QuickStart Tennis. Buehler and the children put on a demonstration of the QuickStart Tennis format and it didn’t take long for the adults to get on the courts and try them out. The tennis courts were removed in 2008 after the Sweet Home School Board accepted an offer from the Sweet Home Economic Development Group (SHEDG) to pay $25,000 for the removal of the old courts along the back driveway from 18th Avenue into Sweet Home High School. The existing courts were cracked and in such poor condition that the district’s insurance company had forced the district to padlock some of them, Horton said. SHEDG also offered $75,000 in a matching grant if the district could come up with the match from funds outside of state and federal sources. The district received a $20,000 grant from the Charlotte Martin Foundation and $38,200 in two grants from the USTA. Mike Naumes, Southern Oregon Area Vice President on the USTA Pacifi c Northwest (USTA/PNW) Board of Directors told the crowd that the money from the USTA represented the only grant given by the USTA/PNW Section this year and nearly 15 percent of the total grants awarded by USTA National. “Obviously, you had a project that caught everyone’s eye,” Naumes said. He and Bill Leong, USTA/PNW Executive Director, said they were impressed by the completed project. Leong acknowledged the effort that went into the courts especially the paperwork necessary to get the grants from USTA. “A project like this takes a lot of work to make it happen,” he said. “You should be proud of this. Larry’s been a true champion in getting these funds for the community.” In addition to the grants, Horton and School Board Chairman Mike Reynolds thanked the contributors to the courts project including Diane and Gus Gerson, Lisa and Scott Weld, John and Melanie Fassler, Jim Cota and Timber Harvest Inc. who donated all of the labor to create a base for the courts, and Eric Sheeks of Atwater Homes who donated a “tremendous amount of dirt to fi ll in the holes for old tennis courts,” Horton said. “They were able to provide enough dirt that we were able to plant grass. They helped with the reconditioning of the soccer and football fi elds.” SHEDG President Ron Moore, who fi rst proposed the tennis court removal and grant, said the opening marked “another one of the exciting things we can be proud of in Sweet Home.” He said the deal provided more space for the Jamboree on the high school athletic fi elds, and better facilities for soccer, softball and baseball. “The partnership between the school district and SHEDG is phenomenal,” Moore said. “SHEDG is committed to making a better community in Sweet Home. This is what Sweet Home does. We rally around and make things happen.” Horton told the crowd that tennis is being introduced to children throughout the district. He said that in February 2008, 14 school district staff members showed up on a Saturday, on their own time, to learn how to teach the game. Also, Horton said each of the schools will get $800 worth of tennis equipment. He said he is working to get lines for QuickStart courts painted on the playground at each school. “When I learned how to play tennis, it was technical,” Horton said. “QuickStart is fun.” For more on Larry Horton and tennis in Sweet Home, Ore., please turn to page 16. � www.pnw.usta.com � WINTER 2009/10 TENNIS TIMES From left, Sweet Home School Board Chairman Mike Reynolds, Sweet Home School District Superintendent Larry Horton, USTA/PNW Board Member Mike Naumes and USTA/PNW Executive Director Bill Leong commemorate the completion of Sweet Home’s new tennis courts. 15
Page 1 and 2: Volume XXVIII VIII / Number 4 TENNI
Page 3 and 4: FROM THE BASELINE By Bill Leong Exe
Page 5 and 6: AREA REPORTS Alaska JUNEAU REPORT B
Page 7 and 8: Wayne Bryan visits Boeing Employees
Page 9 and 10: Sams Valley Principal drives team t
Page 11 and 12: PRO UPDATE As of 11/23/09 Travis Pa
Page 13: FROM THE CHAIR By Ira Moss, USTA Of
Page 17 and 18: Tennis CONNECTS teachers and studen
Page 19 and 20: LEAGUE RATINGS 2009 USTA League Yea
Page 21 and 22: Fall, Gordon Seattle 3.5 Faller, La
Page 23 and 24: Perez, John Redmond 3.5 Perine, Dre
Page 25 and 26: Bishop, Connie Redmond 2.5 Bishop,
Page 27 and 28: Jones, Casey Bend 4.0 Jones, Darlen
Page 29 and 30: Shaw, Elizabeth Seattle 3.0 Shaw, F
Page 31 and 32: TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES All schedules

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