10/14/09 12:46 PM

The USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section office in Tysons Corner will be moving to 11410 Isaac Newton Square North (Suite 270) in Reston, VA 20190. We are on the intersection of Wiehle Avenue and Isaac Newton Square North. The office is to the right of the Reston Association if you are facing the building. It is just three miles east of the Reston Town Center.

11/13/09 12:45 PM

Tammy Reeher Fate pushed her to tennis. Her aunt bought her a ball hopper and tennis racquet, and her grandmother bought her a tennis club membership and Tammy Reeher’s tennis skyrocketed. She quickly moved up to No. 1 on her high-school tennis team and was named MVP. Fate pushed her to the USTA. Everything Reeher has done in life has involved tennis, photography or journalism. She has worked at newspapers and in public relations. She was a news reporter, sports writer and photographer. “When I saw the opening for the Mid-Atlantic Communications Manager, I knew we were a perfect fit,” said the Pennsylvania native, who specializes in writing, photography, and graphics. “I got the job and then I took over the website publishing duties. I have written 500 articles this year and shot thousands of photos, and the number of website views has increased 17 percent.”

11/17/09 6:41 PM

WHITE PLAINS, NY– The USTA and TIA announced that tennis participation in the United States topped 30 million players for the first time in more than two decades. USTA President and Chairman of the Board Lucy S. Garvin said, “The USTA continues to work closely with the entire tennis industry to grow our game, and we are extremely gratified that our collective efforts have generated such strong growth. We continue to strive to make tennis easier to learn and more fun to play, and this commitment has led to millions of more Americans playing the game. I am proud of our network of sections, states/districts, and community programs who have worked so hard to increase participation.”

9/22/09 4:11 PM

Tim Mayotte At the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Annual Meeting, a Professional Summit and Grants Workshop will be held on Nov. 21. The Summit features USTA National Player Development Coach Tim Mayotte and USTA Senior Director for Junior and Collegeiate Competition Tim Corwin. The Grants Workshop will showcase Marjorie Goldman and Kate Mills to explain grants to Community Tennis Associations. Mayotte, the 1989 Legg Mason Champion, will explain his teaching techniques with on-court drills. The 1981 NCAA Singles Champion and 6-3 serve-and volleyer will tell his pro tennis stories at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tysons Corner, VA. The Awards Banquet will be at 12:30 p.m., honoring Mid-Atlantic's Teaching Professional of the Year Cris Robinson (Powhatan, VA) and 22 other award winners.

11/6/09 4:02 PM

Here’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss. If you purchase a 5-year membership to the United States Tennis Association for your favorite tennis fan, you’ll be giving a gift that will last long after the holidays are over; one that comes with a bounty of benefits for the recipient—and for the sport. What’s more, you’ll receive an official US Open long sleeve t-shirt*— just for being such a smart shopper.

11/5/09 3:20 PM

The USTA is proud to announce the new Wheelchair Tennis Manual/Drills and DVD is now on sale. This resource includes all of the pivotal information to play or coach wheelchair tennis as well as strategies to run a local program. If you’ve ever considered getting involved in wheelchair tennis this Manual/DVD combination will provide instruction on skills, easy drills to practice, and pictures/video to get started. Wheelchair tennis has never been more accessible.

10/23/09 2:20 PM

Cris Robinson Along with 22 other winners, Chris Robinson (Powhatan, VA) won a USTA/Mid-Atlantic award. He was named the Teaching Pro of the Year. Robinson has helped introduce QuickStart tennis into local schools by working with phys-ed teachers and the city parks department. Additionally, he brings in a number of juniors that don’t have the ability to afford a private club, and he founded the Greater Richmond Rated Doubles Tournament that has been played annually since 2002.

10/29/09 5:33 PM

Bill Biggs and his wife TUCSON , AZ. – Bill Biggs from Fairfax, Virginia, has cheered Andy Roddick to victory in Portland, James Blake in Spain and the Bryan Brothers in Sweden. But this weekend, he is cheering the Mid-Atlantic men’s team at the 2009 USTA League 3.5 Adult National Championships in Tucson.

10/29/09 11:52 AM

Former two-time NCAA Champion Somdev Devvarman wins in a tough third set. The No. 3 seed is competing at the USTA Pro Circuit’s Virginia National Bank Men’s Tennis Championships from Oct. 31-Nov. 8 at the Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, VA. The University of Virginia grad is hoping to improve his career-high ranking of 121.

10/22/09 1:18 PM

Allison and Elliott Shoup Frank Shoup, the father of two successful tennis players and military standouts, said: “I'm gratified that your friends at USTA are continuing to encourage Junior Team Tennis, and I would like to offer some comments about what tennis has meant to my son Elliott and daughter Allison. Both played Junior Team Tennis, and both were on their high school tennis teams. Tennis was a great way to introduce them to the ideas of sportsmanship and discipline, as well as to a lifetime sport, which they both continue to enjoy. The sense of achievement provided by tennis, as well as aviation, has served them well, and I hope their experience can inspire junior players to share the same experience as my son and daughter.”

10/20/09 6:35 PM

The Mid-Atlantic Section has done it again. After reaching our highest membership total in September, we have surpassed that number in October. We have grown from 37,930 to 37,959 members, our highest membership totals ever. The average national USTA growth is 1.3%. We have grown 3.5%.

8/14/09 2:52 PM

Green Spring Racquet Club (Lutherville, MD) was named a USTA Outstanding Facility. It was one of 12 winners throughout the country. This 28th annual award recognizes excellence in the construction or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. USTA Community Tennis Chief Executive Kurt Kamperman said, “These facilities have gone above and beyond to create a superior tennis experience for their patrons and community at large. We are proud to honor each of their achievements and applaud their devotion to the sport.”

10/2/09 12:14 PM

Mid-Atlantic Tresurer Robb Bunnen The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum has announced the election of 10 new members to the Board of Directors, including Mid-Atlantic Section treasurer Robb Bunnen (Chevy Chase, MD) and Jeanne Moutossamy-Ashe (New York, NY), photographer and wife of the late Arthur Ashe. International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum chairman Christopher E. Clouser said, "We are very pleased to welcome these individuals to join our very active and global board of tennis enthusiasts who are committed to the history and preservation of the game. They each bring a variety of talent and expertise to our organization that will be beneficial as we implement our plan to grow the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in the coming years."

9/17/09 3:27 PM

The quickest and easiest way to ensure you're getting the most from your USTA membership - from informational updates to the latest member-only exclusive offers - is to provide the USTA with your e-mail address. Simply click here and update your information. One immediate benefit is you'll receive via your email a special promotion code to get an additional $10 off on your next USOpenShop.org purchase, in addition to the 10 percent discount all USTA members currently receive.

9/17/09 2:11 PM

US Open attendance is up. TV ratings are up. Media coverage is up. Tennis is becoming more popular.

9/8/09 1:13 PM

USTA Member Appreciation Day at the US Open Eddie Parker (Richmond, VA) said this year’s Member Appreciation Day was the best he’s experienced in the last eight years. “You can get information, feel involved with tennis and get to enjoys great days like today at the US Open," he added. The USTA lifetime member said he came up to the US Open with 44 other members of his tennis club in Richmond. “It’s a great service,” said Parker. “It’s nice to come in here, where the temperature is nice, get a drink and listen to the tennis trivia questions they ask.”

9/8/09 11:19 AM

Joe Grover (third from right) USTA Vice President Joe Grover (third from right) presents a $100,000 check to Midland, MI, which was named the USTA’s Best Tennis Town. The Richmond, VA, resident was in New York for meetings and the US Open.

9/2/09 4:25 PM

The Washington Kastles were honored at the US Open. The Washington Kastles were honored for their 2009 World TeamTennis Championship at the US Open on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court. Billie Jean King presented the Kastles and owner Mark Ein with the King Trophy after the Roger Federer match and before the second match featuring defending Champion and the Kastles own Serena Williams. It marked the first time that a WTT championship team has been honored like this at the US Open. Ein was joined on-court by the Kastles team - Coach Murphy Jensen, Leander Paes, and Rennae Stubbs. The ceremony was carried live on ESPN 2.

8/19/09 6:49 PM

WTT Champions Hey Kastles Fans! Coach Murphy here and I want to make sure you know about the amazing event tomorrow that is bringing me, Leander, Rennae, Scott & Olga back to DC! The Mayor is honoring the Kastles with the Key to the City - how cool is that! I've said it a thousand times - this is not my team, this is your team - and I want make sure YOU are at City Hall tomorrow at 11 a.m. to take a bow when the Mayor bestows this prestigious honor on everyone who helped us bring home the trophy including you guys, the fans.

8/10/09 7:22 PM

Pete & Jacqueline Davis Pete and Jacqueline Davis (Washington, DC) won Legg Mason finals tickets from USTA/Mid-Atlantic. They got to see a dramatic third-set tiebreaker with defending champion Juan Martin del Potro squeaking out the 8-6 victory in the tiebreaker over Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick.

8/17/09 1:08 PM

Learn how the Junior Tennis Champions Center, a USTA Regional Training Center at the Tennis Center at College Park in Maryland, helps two Mid-Atlantic juniors excel at Wimbledon and the French Open. Tom Schroder in the Aug. 16 issue of The Washington Post Magazine writes an article titled “Net Game” about excellence in tennis and in life.

7/31/09 3:49 PM

Chris Reynolds & Billie Jean King Billie Jean King received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for her accomplishments in gender equity. Recognized for her efforts on and off the tennis court, King was one of 16 individuals honored by President Barack Obama at the White House. USTA/Mid-Atlantic president Chris Reynolds attended the ceremony.

8/10/09 3:14 PM

DC Mayor Adrian Fenty is popular with tennis fans. DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, was joined by Ximena Hartsock, Acting Director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Lucy S. Garvin, President and Chairman of the Board of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), and Jeff Newman, Legg Mason Tennis Classic Tournament Director, at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park to announce a new partnership between DPR and USTA. Through the new partnership, USTA will continue to expand their support for tennis and tennis programs across the District of Columbia. Mayor Fenty said, “I'm very proud to announce a partnership between the United States Tennis Association with Washington, DC, through the Department of Parks and Recreation. Providing our residents, and especially our youth, with high-quality recreational opportunities is a priority for my administration."

8/3/09 5:04 PM

Robby Ginepri and Amara Lim At USTA/Mid-Atlantic Member Appreciation Day, 2005 US Open semifinalist and fan favorite Robby Ginepri stopped by the Mid-Atlantic’s air-conditioned hospitality tent to answer USTA members’ questions and pose for photos with fans. More than 300 USTA members visited the tent and 350 Jr. Team Tennis District Champions were honored on Legg Mason's Stadium Court. USTA members won giveaways and signed up to win two tickets to the Legg Mason Finals. Hot dogs, pop, and popcorn were served. After the USTA activities, members watched 2007 Legg Mason finalist John Isner, former World No. 1 and Legg Mason champion Lleyton Hewitt, and University of Virginia grad and former two-time NCAA champion Somdev Devvarman earned victories and advanced into the second round.

7/31/09 4:34 PM

WASHINGTON, DC—The Legg Mason Tennis Classic presented by GEICO kicks off this weekend at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park (16th & Kennedy Streets, NW), and runs August 1-9 with tops seeds slated to begin action on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Three-time Legg Mason champion and Wimbledon finalist, world No. 5 Andy Roddick (USA), defending champion and No. 6 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG), No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA), and No. 11 Fernando Gonzalez lead the Main Draw field. Several previously announced committed players have been forced to withdraw due to significant injuries tournament officials announced. These include former Legg Mason Tennis Classic champions James Blake (who continues to suffer from a severe foot injury sustained during Davis Cup competition) and Arnaud Clement; as well as Gaels Monfils (a wrist injury that has kept him out of competition since he had to pull out in second round at Queen’s Club nearly two months ago), and Radek Stepanek (knee injury sustained during Davis Cup).

7/30/09 4:36 PM

Albert DeCorion (Ashburn, VA) First-time member Albert DeCorion of Ashburn, VA, won free US Open tickets after signing up for a three-year USTA membership. He signed up for a membership during the Kastles' matches in DC.

7/29/09 4:32 PM

MATEF president David Wendt, Donald L. Dell, Billie Jean King, Robert Johnson (inductee's grandson) and Kastles owner Mark Ein MATEF president David Wendt, Donald L. Dell, Billie Jean King, Robert Johnson (grandson of inductee), and Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein celebrate the recent induction of Dell and Dr. Robert Johnson into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, RI. Following the MATEF fundraiser with 200 guests held at the Kastles’ stadium prior to the 2009 WTT Finals, the Washington Kastles won the King Trophy defeating the Springfield Lasers, 23-20. In their second year of operations, the Kastles garnered the prestigious King Trophy in the 34-year-old league co-founded by King.

7/29/09 1:55 PM

WTT Finals MVP Scott Oudsema Fresh off his being named WTT Championship Finals MVP in the Kastles' dramatic win on Sunday night, Scott Oudsema has received a wild card invitation to the Legg Mason Tennis Classic qualifying tournament this weekend. The qualifying draw is filled with great players including Donald Young, Vince Spadea, Taylor Dent and local favorite and UVA grad Somdev Devvarman. This is a great opportunity for Kastles fans to see Oudsema again competing against some of the world's best players and supporting him on to victory. The tournament, located in Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC, is part of the prestigious US Open Series and was recently named one of the top 20 tournaments in the world.

7/27/09 7:27 PM

Billie Jean King, Mark Ein & the WTT champions WASHINGTON, DC–-Olga Puchkova of the Washington Kastles held off three match points to defeat Vania King of the Springfield Lasers in the final set of the Advanta World TeamTennis Finals, leading Washington to a 23-20 win over Springfield and their first WTT Championship. Trailing by two games heading into the final set, the Lasers were still exactly where they wanted to be – with their fate on the racquet of King, the League’s 2009 Female MVP. King had the opportunity to continue her season-long heroics but it was the Kastles’ Puchkova who sent the fans into a victory celebration with the 5-4 upset win over King.

7/23/09 6:40 PM

Scott Oudsema WASHINGTON, DC – With a 21-14 victory over the Western Conference’s top-seeded Springfield Lasers, the Washington Kastles clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference finals on Friday. The Kastles will host the New York Sportimes at Kastles Stadium at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last Thursday’s thriller won by the Sportimes 20-19 in a super tiebreaker. That match featured a heated argument begun when Sportimes legend John McEnroe crossed onto the Kastles’ side of the net to confront the Kastles’ Leander Paes. Sportimes head coach Chuck Adams joined the near fracas and was fined and suspended one match for violating “the World TeamTennis Coaches' Code of Conduct.” The match was later featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

7/22/09 6:17 PM

Beatrice Capra Playing in women’s and mixed doubles, Beatrice Capra, 17, (Ellicott City, MD) made her World TeamTennis debut by playing for the New York Buzz (a team made up of the nation’s top juniors) in DC, but the Kastles had too much experience as world No. 10 player Nadia Petrova dominated and kept Washington’s playoff hopes alive. By beating the Buzz 23-12 last night, the Kastles set up a season ending finale at 7 p.m. tonight against the Western Conference Champion Springfield Lasers (12-1). A Kastles’ win would guarantee them the final playoff spot and a Friday home match against the New York Sportimes for the Eastern Conference Championship. If the Kastles lose, they will need the Boston Lobsters to lose to the N.Y. Buzz tonight to secure the final spot.

7/21/09 12:56 PM

The race for the second and final spot in the World TeamTennis Eastern Conference Championship is down to the Boston Lobsters and the Washington Kastles, with the New York Buzz having an outside shot. The Kastles have two matches left and can qualify by winning both, or with the combination of one Kastles win and one loss by the Lobsters.

7/20/09 6:19 PM

Nadia Petrova WASHINGTON, DC—The Washington Kastles head into their final three matches, the last two at Kastles Stadium on July 21 and July 22, in a three-way dogfight for the final playoff berth in World TeamTennis’ Eastern Conference. The Kastles have also reached an agreement with the New York Sportimes, who clinched the first Eastern Conference playoff spot, to play the conference championship match in Washington at Kastles Stadium on Friday, July 24 if the Kastles advance to the playoffs. To enhance their chances, the Kastles have signed Nadia Petrova, ranked No. 10 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, for their final two home matches.

7/20/09 1:24 PM

Leander Paes and John McEnroe In a heated battle between the two best teams in the WTT's Eastern Conference, the Washington Kastles fell just two points short of beating John McEnroe and the first-place New York Sportimes, as they lost 7-5 in a super tiebreaker. The loss broke a five-match winning streak for the Kastles. On paper, the match had everything a team tennis fan could hope for: the two top teams in the East, New York vs. Washington D.C., Grand Slam champions on both sides of the net and McEnroe, the controversial and outspoken legend. In the end, the match greatly exceeded these high expectations - it was a three and a half hour slugfest that a packed stadium of rabid Kastles fans in attendance won't soon forget.

7/13/09 1:32 PM

Mark Lohr and Steven Mills In a fun-filled day of great tennis, USTA members won and the Kastles won on USTA Member Appreciation Day. The Washington Kastles defeated the New York Buzz 19-15 after a Scott Oudsema tiebreak victory. USTA members enjoyed a stilt walker, the moon bounce, face painting, art and crafts, QuickStart tennis, and the Quick Stars.

1/21/09 12:48 PM

Mid-Atlantic President Chris Reynolds and Donald Dell At the World TeamTennis Finals, there will be a tribute to International Hall of Fame inductees Donald Dell and Dr. Robert "Whirlwind" Johnson at the USTA Member Appreciation Party with WTT Pros. RSVP Now. It is free to USTA Members. An auction will be held to benefit the Mid-Atlantic Tennis and Education Foundation.

7/16/09 5:21 PM

WHITE PLAINS, NY – The USTA announced today that ten finalists have been selected-- from an initial group of 56 cities that submitted entries—in its “Best Tennis Town” competition. Fans across the country can now vote for the community that they feel best exemplifies the passion, excitement, spirit and impact that tennis brings to the local level. The 2009 Best Tennis Town winner will be determined by a nationwide online vote at www.besttennistown.com beginning today and continuing until July 26, 2009 at 11:59 ET. The top three finalists will travel to New York City where the winner will be revealed during a ceremony at the 2009 US Open. The winner will take home the 2009 “Best Tennis Town” title, an accompanying trophy and $100,000 to be used for community-wide tennis programming or facility enhancements.

7/15/09 6:21 PM

Serena Williams On their most star-studded night of the year, Serena Williams and the Washington Kastles put on a show for a boisterous sold-out home crowd of 3,000 Kastles fans, defeating the Newport Beach Breakers 22-12 at Kastles Stadium last night. The win was the Kastles' (5-4) fifth straight, giving them sole possession of second-place (and a spot in the playoffs if the season ended today) in the Eastern Conference. The 10-game margin of victory was the second biggest for the team this season. "It's great to be back in D.C.," Williams said with a smile before the match. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric from the beginning, with notables like WTT founder Billie Jean King and Redskins starting quarterback Jason Campbell in attendance and a standing ovation for Williams as the 22-time Grand Slam champion walked onto the court.

7/14/09 5:58 PM

Fairfax, VA -- The Thai Tennis Organization in America (TTOA, www.thaitennis.org) announced the addition of four sporting events to be held in conjunction with the 6th Asian Food and Tennis Festival. Among the exciting additions to the festival are soccer, badminton and golf and, of course, the always-exciting Singha Open Tennis Tournament. Tennis: Reston Association hosts many USTA tournaments each year with the Singha Open in conjunction with the Asian Festival being their crown jewel! Needless to say tennis is a big part of our community spirit and vision. Last year, the tournament had seventy players compete for the prize money and championship title. This year with a total of $3,000 prize money both Men’s and Women, it is expecting to be bigger than ever and takes place on the same weekend as the festival July 30-August 2.

7/8/09 12:56 PM

Doug Smith, author of Whirlwind – The Godfather of Black Tennis – will autograph copies of his acclaimed biography of Dr. Robert Walter Johnson of Lynchburg, Va., during USTA Member Appreciation Day on July 26. Smith will sign from 3–5 p.m. at the Kastles Stadium prior to the World Team Tennis Championship finals and 30 percent of the proceeds will benefit the Mid-Atlantic Tennis & Education Foundation. The USTA party, featuring free food and drink and a live auction, will also benefit the foundation.

7/13/09 4:29 PM

John Mayotte was recently named General Manager of Merritt at Bare Hills overseeing both the fitness and tennis departments. John's well-known tennis playing family, the Mayottes, was inducted into the New England USTA Hall of Fame last year. Brother Tim played on the tour for nearly 12 years with 12 singles and one doubles title and a career high singles ranking of No. 7 in the world. Mayotte also served as V.P. of tennis at the Saddlebrook Resort in Florida before becoming General Manager of the World TeamTennis Boston Lobsters, coached by his brother Tim.

7/8/09 2:02 PM

Venus Williams at the Kastles' press conference. Venus Williams is a champion. I was a fan of Williams, but after seeing her guide the Philadelphia Freedoms to a 23-16 victory over the Washington Kastles, I have more respect for her. Williams was dominant, winning 15 of 22 games in women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Kastles owner Mark Ein said, “Our home opener was everything we wished for – a sold-out stadium, top-notch tennis and enthusiastic fans. But it was the legendary Williams who ultimately made the difference. She showed the DC fans why she is one of the all-time greats.”

7/9/09 6:16 PM

DC Mayor Adrian Fenty DC Mayor Adrian Fenty wants to increase the number of children in tennis from 1,500 to 10,000. The USTA/Mid-Atlantic will provide assistance to the DC Parks and Recreation, a registered Tennis in the Parks agency.

7/6/09 3:14 PM

Serena Williams Two Wimbledon championship titles - not bad for a day's work. The Kastles' Serena Williams defeated her sister, Venus, 7-6, 6-2 in this morning's Wimbledon Ladies' Singles final to secure her third Wimbledon title. She then teamed up with Venus later in the afternoon to defeat Kastles teammate Rennae Stubbs in the Ladies' Doubles final 7-6, 6-4. With the titles, Williams now has 12 career Grand Slam single titles and 22 Grand Slam titles including doubles. Currently ranked no. 2 in the world, the California native and Florida resident's two other Wimbledon victories (in 2002 and 2003) were also against Venus. Serena has now won three of the four most recent Grand Slam tournaments. "It hasn't set in that I won yet, but I'm really excited," Williams said in an interview after the match.

7/1/09 3:05 PM

Brad and Janean Buchner Congratulations to Janean Buchner (Potomac Falls, VA), Jay Crowley (Darnestown, Maryland), and Alice Hume (Alexandria, VA) for winning the Loudoun, Virginia: DC’s Wine Country contest. Each winner gets two free Washington Kastles tickets to the July 12 match against the defending champion New York Buzz. That Sunday from 3-4:45 p.m. before the 5 p.m. match is also the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section’s Member Appreciation Day. Buchner was the first to respond to the Loudoun County contest. “July 12th is my son's birthday, so I hope we win!” said the USTA member. They did. After receiving the Mid-Atlantic online newsletter, Buchner didn’t waste a second. “It was a no-brainer. We love tennis and when I saw the tickets were for the match on my son's birthday, I thought it was absolutely meant to be. I jumped on the Loudoun County site to get the answers to the trivia questions as fast as I could. I wanted to win those tickets as badly as I want to win my tennis matches! LOL.”

6/19/09 5:12 PM

Andy Roddick At the Legg Mason on Aug. 3, USTA Members will enjoy the Legg Mason matches along with Mid-Atlantic Member Appreciation Day activities in our USTA tent. Members will get a 2-for-1 discount by buying one ticket and getting the second for free with your USTA card. There will be giveaways and light refreshments at the tent from 5-6:30 p.m. That evening 300 Jr. Team Tennis players will be honored on the stadium court. Join us for exciting activities and exciting tennis at the Legg Mason.

6/30/09 2:01 PM

Rennae Stubbs is now a Kastle. WASHINGTON, DC—The Washington Kastles have completed a blockbuster trade sending their second- and third-round picks, Angela Haynes and CoCo Vandeweghe, to the Sacramento Capitals for Rennae Stubbs, the reigning 2008 World TeamTennis Female MVP and 2008 Championship Finals MVP, and Olga Puchkova. With Stubbs’ six Grand Slam championships, the team now boasts 36 total Grand Slam titles among their five players and head coach. Stubbs, ranked in the top 10 in the world in doubles, is a former No. 1 ranked doubles player and has won 59 career Sony Ericsson WTA titles. She won last year’s WTT and Championship Finals MVP titles as a member of the Kansas City Explorers and helped lead the Philadelphia Freedoms to WTT championships in 2001 and 2006, and the St. Louis Aces to a title in 1996. Kastles owner Mark Ein, who brokered the deal, said “Our goal this year is to win the Championship when it is played in Washington on July 26 and this trade makes us a clear favorite to accomplish that. Rennae is one of the top doubles players in the world and is a fierce and experienced competitor. With this trade, we will be tough to beat in any set, much less a complete match.”

6/25/09 5:29 PM

Kastles' star Serena Williams is overpowering the draw at Wimbledon. Only eight days remain until the Washington Kastles begin their second season of Advanta World TeamTennis as they travel to California to take on the Newport Beach Breakers. Head coach Murphy Jensen and new Kastles star Leander Paes will make their Kastles debut against a Breakers team that finished fourth in the Western Conference at 5-9 in 2008. The Kastles return home to D.C. on July 7 for opening night against Venus Williams and the Philadelphia Freedoms.

6/5/09 3:46 PM

Luke Jensen Sign up to see Luke Jensen in Reston. Hurry because he is holding only three children and adult clinics. It doesn’t matter what hand Luke Jensen has his racquet in. He can serve with both. Jensen, who can serve both left- and right-handed at about 130 mph, will conduct Junior and Adult Clinics in Reston on Monday, July 6. Luke, now the women’s tennis coach at Syracuse University, won a French Open doubles title with his brother Murphy, who coaches the Washington Kastles. Luke, who also works as an ESPN tennis commentator, has beaten Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, and Boris Becker.

6/24/09 3:15 PM

Andy Roddick WASHINGTON, DC—The Legg Mason Tennis Classic, presented by Geico, will have one of the strongest player fields in its 41-year history. Defending champion and world No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro and three-time Legg Mason Tennis Classic Champion and world No. 6 Andy Roddick (2001, 2005 and 2007) will compete for the 2009 title. The Legg Mason, an ATP World Tour 500 event, will feature four Top 10 and 10 Top 20 players. The field includes an exciting international mix of top players such as No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA); No. 10 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI), a finalist in his last Legg Mason Tennis Classic appearance, 2003; No. 12 Robin Soderling (SWE), who shocked everyone with his upset of world No. 1 Rafael Nadal en route to the French Open finals; No. 13 Marin Cilic (CRO); No. 14 Gael Monfils (FRA), a semifinalist in his only DC appearance, 2007; No. 15 Tommy Robredo (ESP); No. 17 James Blake (USA), who won his first ever ATP World Tour title here in 2002 and 2005 finalist; No. 20 Tomas Berdych (CZE), who reached the semifinals in 2005; No. 22 Dmitry Tursunov (RUS); No. 23 Radek Stepanek (CZE); and No. 25 Mardy Fish (USA).

6/16/09 1:50 PM

Mark Ein, Rose Hobson and Chris Reynolds Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein, USTA Chief Diversity Officer Kevin Clayton, and Madison Square Garden Community Relations Vice President Karin Buchholz spoke to USTA/Mid-Atlantic Board, Committee, and USTA members this weekend in College Park, MD. The theme for the Semiannual Meeting was One Team, One Goal with Clayton speaking about diversity, Ein speaking about the Kastles, and Buchholz speaking about attracting new audiences to play tennis. They all three had one common goal -- to grow the game of tennis.

6/16/09 6:07 PM

Mark Ein WASHINGTON, DC – Mark Ein, founder and team owner of the Washington Kastles of World TeamTennis, was honored on June 13 at the United States Tennis Association’s Mid-Atlantic Section Semiannual meeting in College Park, Maryland. Ein was awarded the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section President’s Award for his devotion to the game of tennis and his tireless work in growing and promoting the sport in the region. USTA Mid-Atlantic Section Executive Director Rod Dulany said, “Mark Ein has played a critical role in bringing tennis to the DC community. It was his vision to establish World TeamTennis in DC and he created a stadium at the heart of the city for all tennis fans to enjoy. We honor Mark for his great efforts and the Washington Kastles for their work in the community with youth tennis clinics. We wish the Kastles the best of luck this season.”

6/11/09 4:04 PM

The United States Professional Tennis Association offers tennis professionals certification exams. USPTA’s Certification Exam includes an on-court evaluation of tennis strokes and playing skills, stroke and grip analysis, private and group lesson instruction, and other skills needed in the tennis-teaching profession. The exam also includes a two-hour written test covering teaching, playing and business management skills, rules, club activity programming and other topics. Applicants can now opt to take the written exam and the grip exam online after completing the on-court portions of the certification exam.

6/9/09 2:54 PM

(Left) Kastles' star Leander Paes wins the French.(Camerawork USA) Washington Kastles star and world No. 5 ranked doubles player Leander Paes won his ninth career Grand Slam title today, partnering with Lukas Dlouhy to defeat Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, to win the French Open men's doubles championship. Paes, who also captured the Roland Garros doubles title in 1999 and 2001, now has five Grand Slam men's doubles titles and four mixed doubles championships. This is his first Grand Slam since winning the 2008 US Open mixed doubles championship last summer. The next Grand Slam event for Paes and Dlouhy is Wimbledon, which Paes won in 1999.

6/5/09 2:04 PM

Mike and Bob Bryan World No. 1 doubles team and 3-time Legg Mason Tennis Classic Champions, Bob and Mike Bryan, Spanish superstar Tommy Robredo and rising Americans Sam Querrey and 2007 Legg Mason Tennis Classic finalist John Isner have all informed tournament organizers of their intentions to play in Washington this year. This will be Robredo's first year playing in Washington.

6/5/09 12:21 PM

Mark Ein and Murphy Jensen Washington Kastles star Leander Paes and his partner Lukas Dlouhy defeated top-seeded Daniel Nester and Nenad Zimonjic today in the semifinals of the French Open, 7-6, 7-6. Paes, who will make his Kastles debut during the 2009 WTT season, advances to his tenth career Grand Slam final, having most recently reached the finals in the 2008 US Open. Tune in to Comcast SportsNet this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. to the premiere of "Keys to the Kastles," a 30-minute special on the 2009 Washington Kastles. Featuring highlight clips, athlete spotlights and interviews by Comcast SportsNet's Russ Thaler, "Keys to the Kastles," will provide a preview of the 2009 Kastles team of Serena Williams, Leander Paes, Scott Oudsema, Angela Haynes and CoCo Vandeweghe. Also, visiting stars Venus Williams, John McEnroe, and Anna Kournikova will be profiled. World TeamTennis founder and tennis pioneer Billie Jean King, Kastles Head Coach Murphy Jensen, as well as Kastles Owner Mark Ein, will appear on the show. The half-hour program will be shown regularly starting June 6 at 3:30 p.m., leading up to the Kastles' home opener on July 7 against Venus Williams and the Philadelphia Freedoms.

5/27/09 3:41 PM

Murphy Jensen & Kastles fans After a wildly successful visit a few weeks ago, Kastles coach Murphy Jensen is coming to Washington, D.C. once again this weekend. Murphy will be meeting as many Kastles fans as he can during his two-day stay and even taping a segment with Comcast SportsNet (to air at a later date), so make sure to keep an eye out for him. We have a lot of groups coming out this summer for a great summer night filled with Kastles tennis. Form your own group to get discounts on tickets, use of the Kastles' court, or a visit from the team before a match! For season and group tickets, or for more information, call the Kastles at 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647).

5/21/09 1:02 PM

Design the first Virginia license plate and win US Open tickets. The second- and third-place designs win Legg Mason Tennis Classic tickets.

5/18/09 4:08 PM

Richey Reneberg This PRO AM Charity Tennis Tournament in Arlington will benefit the THANKS USA Military Family Scholarship Fund, which provides need-based college, technical and vocational school scholarships for children and spouses of men and women serving in the United States armed forces.

5/1/09 11:42 AM

Special Legg Mason Tennis Classic ticket offer for all USTA Mid-Atlantic Section members. From now until June 1, receive $5 off of all single session tickets for Sessions 4-6 (Tuesday, August 4 to Thursday, August 6) and Sessions 8-11 (Friday night, August 7, to Sunday, August 9) through Ticketmaster. Show your USTA Membership Card to the tournament box office and receive 2 tickets for the price of 1 for Sessions 3 and 7 (Monday, August 3 and Friday afternoon, August 7). See superstars like three-time champion Andy Roddick in action from Aug. 1-9 at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park.

5/11/09 12:52 PM

John McEnroe and Billie Jean King NEW YORK - It is a rare occurrence to find two tennis legends playing together anytime or anywhere. But perhaps the last place a fan might expect to find them playing is on the water. However, that is just where they were as Billie Jean King and John McEnroe rallied on a blue tennis court on a barge in the middle of the Hudson River, just off Chelsea Piers on the west side of Manhattan. They took their games to the water as part of a celebration to kick off May as National Tennis Month.

5/7/09 12:15 PM

Serena Williams (Camerawork USA Photo) Washington Kastles tickets for the 2009 season are on sale today, May 11. Hurry and get your tickets now, while they last. Last year, the Kastles sold out several matches and were at 95% capacity for the season. This year, demand is much greater and there is already a waiting list for box seats. Our team has its sights firmly set on bringing a championship to DC. New coach, Murphy Jensen, promises that this team will "Refuse to Lose." The 2009 Kastles roster includes 20-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams, 8-time Grand Slam doubles champion Leander Paes, 2006 World TeamTennis MVP Angela Haynes, fan favorite Scott Oudsema, and 2008 U.S. Open Junior Champion CoCo Vandeweghe.

4/23/09 6:38 PM

Alice Lee Role models make a difference. Alice Lee, a retired DC math teacher, started playing tennis because of Zina Garrison. In the late ‘80s, Zina Garrison was a role model for Lee. Garrison, who was ranked as high as No. 4 in the world, was a Wimbledon finalist, an Olympic Doubles Gold Medalist, and a three-time Grand Slam Mixed-Doubles Champion. “Zina came to our school promoting tennis and hitting balls to kids down in the gymnasium,” said the athletic teacher, who used to participate in gymnastics and basketball. “Because of her, I started watching tennis and thinking that I wanted to play. I am athletic and I just like sports. I just started doing tennis because it was something I could do at school.” When the 73-year-old Lee was growing up, sports were different. “Gymnastics was more like tumbling,” she said. “When I played basketball, we were limited to one bounce.”

4/13/09 1:01 PM

Joe Grover and his family It was because of his family that Joe Grover got involved in tennis 31 years ago. The USTA Vice President said his son started playing when he was nine. “He and my wife started playing and made it a family sport,” he added. “My wife and I were really incompetents on the court. At age 10, he was better than we were. And, it wasn’t very long before his 8-year-old sister was better than we were.”

4/1/09 12:23 PM

Leander Paes (Camerawork USA) WASHINGTON, DC – The Kastles, who will be coached by Murphy Jensen, drafted Leander Paes, Angela Haynes, Coco Vandeweghe and Scott “Boom Boom” Oudsema during the league’s Roster Draft in Miami. The four players will join Serena Williams, who is returning for her second season as a Washington Kastle. Williams makes her only home appearance for the Kastles on July 14 against the Newport Beach Breakers. Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein said, “We have a great schedule of world-class tennis stars coming to the nation’s capital this July and we can’t wait for the season to begin. We are grateful for the amazing fan support last year and for all the anticipation about the upcoming season.”

3/31/09 6:22 PM

Will Federer Pass Sampras in Grand-Slam Titles? “Nope, Roger Federer is a has been.” – Lisa Jones (Arlington, VA) “Yes. Roger will win Wimbledon and the US Open if he goes to the net more.” – Mike Jackson (Washington, DC) Answer these other questions: Will Rafael Nadal surpass them both? Do you think Nadal will win the Grand Slam this year? What current or past female player would you like to see and why? What current or past male player would you like to see and why? Answer these questions by sending your replies to Tammy Reeher at reeher@mas.usta.com and she will post them to the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section Website. Send your name, city, and state, so this information can be posted with it. Look in the News and Events Section for your replies.

3/31/09 10:31 AM

Serena Williams If you are a USTA member, you have the opportunity to purchase tickets to the 2009 US Open before they go on sale to the general public. Your members-only tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 18. You will be invited to purchase these exclusive tickets through Friday, April 24 at 11 p.m. The 2009 US Open runs from August 31-September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Roger Federer and Serena Williams are the defending men's and women's singles champions, respectively.

3/25/09 2:10 PM

The Legg Mason Tennis Classic presented by GEICO returns to the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park, Aug. 1–9 with another exciting year of world class tennis. Legg Mason Tickets are on sale May 1. For more information, please call 202-721-9500.

3/20/09 1:37 PM

Frank Davis and his Franklin team In the movie the “Field of Dreams” Kevin Costner said, “If you build it, they will come.” He turned his corn field into a baseball field, and players showed up. The same happened for Frank Davis. As the Director of Parks and Recreation, David found out that Charles City County didn’t have tennis courts or tennis players. He would soon fix that. He applied for a Federal Grant to build tennis courts at two separate locations within Charles City. His grant was approved and soon there were two courts built in a cornfield and two built at the local recreation center. Davis began teaching tennis to the locals and sponsored a local tournament. Soon, tennis was born in Charles City.

3/20/09 1:28 PM

Arthur Allmond keeps his promises. When he was 11, he stumbled upon a wooden tennis racket in a neighbor’s garage. The racket was given to him in return for a simple promise—to learn the game of tennis and to teach it to others—and that is what he has been doing ever since.

3/2/09 6:02 PM

In a battle of No. 1 players, the current No. 1 prevailed. Serena Williams outlasted her sister Venus 6-4, 6-3, in the finals after both knocked out two former No. 1 players. In the semifinals, Serena defeated Ana Ivanovic 6-3, while Venus nipped Jelena Jankovic, last year’s No. 1 player, 6-4. All four were competing for the Billie Jean King Cup, sponsored by BNP Paribas, at Madison Square Garden.

2/27/09 7:58 PM

The United States Professional Tennis Association, the world’s leader in tennis-teaching certification, provides tennis professionals with the opportunity to earn the sport’s most respected certification by participating in certification exams scheduled nationwide in 2009. Certification Exams will be held in Maryland at the Tennis Center at College Park, and in Virginia at the ACAC Fitness and Wellness Richmond in Midlothian and at William and Mary in Williamsburg. USPTA’s Certification Exam includes an on-court evaluation of tennis strokes and playing skills, stroke and grip analysis, private and group lesson instruction, and other skills needed in the tennis-teaching profession. The exam also includes a two-hour written test covering teaching, playing and business management skills, rules, club activity programming and other topics.

2/27/09 4:44 PM

Serena and Venus Williams Get ready for seven great nights of Tennis. The Kastles are pleased to announce the 2009 season schedule, featuring US Open and Australian Open champion and world No. 1 ranked Serena Williams, who leads the Kastles against the Newport Beach Breakers at Kastles Stadium on July 14. The home slate also features matches against Venus Williams and the Philadelphia Freedoms, Anna Kournikova and the St. Louis Aces, and John McEnroe and the New York Sportimes. The WTT season begins on July 2 and runs through the WTT Championship Finals on July 26.

2/20/09 3:23 PM

Edith Chatman Play QuickStart Tennis at the Asian Festival or talk to people at the Kastles and Legg Mason professional events. Volunteer at the Asian Festival by e-mailing info@virginiatennis.com and for the Kastles and Legg Mason matches by e-mailing Tammy Reeher at reeher@mas.usta.com and putting USTA volunteer in the subject box.

2/20/09 1:41 PM

For the fifth consecutive week, the Northwestern women remain No. 1 in the Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings and are joined by the Virginia men at the top spot as both teams were crowned champions of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships this past weekend. Coincidentally, in the rankings that followed the ITA National Team Indoor Championships last year, Northwestern joined Virginia at No. 1 after Virginia had held the top spot for the fifth-consecutive week.

2/20/09 12:00 PM

Tennis Hall-of-Famer and two-time US Open Champion Tracy Austin will serve as a special consultant for USTA Player Development. She conducted Cardio Tennis Classes in the Mid-Atlantic Section last year. Austin will assist in the coaching of female players at the USTA’s West Coast Training Center in Carson, Calif., and will report to Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, USTA Player Development. McEnroe said, “This is a very exciting announcement for our Player Development initiative. Tracy has a wealth of knowledge and experience at her disposal, and being able to work with someone who remains the youngest-ever winner of the US Open will be invaluable for our female players as they continue with their own growth and development.”

2/17/09 12:33 PM

Laura Mitchell Laura Mitchell (Centreville, VA), along with another trailblazer MaliVai Washington, were honored for their volunteer work. Mitchell was named the USTA Jr. Team Tennis Organizer of the Year, while Washington won the National Jr. Tennis League of the Year. Mitchell stepped in last year as the League Coordinator for the struggling Northern Virginia Jr. Team Tennis program – a program which has historically been difficult to oversee due to its expansive size and limited court access. With motivation, enthusiasm and a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude, Mitchell revitalized the organization into a force to be reckoned with.

2/16/09 5:19 PM

Harlan Stone He captained the University of Virginia’s varsity tennis team. Now he is captaining the USTA’s Professional Tennis Marketing team. Harlan Stone, the new Chief Marketing Officer, will be responsible for all advertising, marketing, promotional programs and campaigns for the US Open, The Olympus US Open Series, the USTA Pro Circuit and all USA Team events including Davis and Fed Cups. Stone also will be responsible for entertainment programming at the US Open and other select USTA pro tennis events. Stone will report to USTA Executive Director Gordon Smith. Smith said, “Harlan is a well-respected sports industry veteran who knows the USTA and knows tennis. He will hit the ground running as he leads our overall marketing efforts for all things pro tennis at the USTA.” Stone’s long career in the sports marketing industry, began in the early 1980’s when he launched his own agency which promoted a number of successful “Legends” tennis events in the Northeast.

2/12/09 3:11 PM

Venus Williams NEW YORK (AP) -- Venus Williams wants to play her top-ranked sister when women’s tennis returns to Madison Square Garden for the first time in nearly nine years. Williams will join Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic on March 2 in the BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup. They will compete for $1.2 million in prize money. “I’m hoping for an all-Williams final,” Venus said Wednesday during a conference call. “That would be most exciting for us and, of course, for the fans. I love playing with Serena, against her and in doubles.” The single-elimination exhibition will feature three players who won Grand Slam titles in 2008. Ivanovic won her first major at the French Open, Venus won Wimbledon and Serena won the US Open and this year’s Australian Open. Jankovic held the No. 1 ranking for part of last season. The draw will be held later this month, and they will compete in a one-set, no-ad scoring semifinal. The winners will play a best-of-three final. The showdown will be broadcast on HBO. It’s part of “Tennis Night in America,” an effort by the USTA to get youth signed up to play. Go to http://www.tennisnight.com/ to find an event near you.

2/6/09 4:10 PM

Laura Mitchell WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.– The USTA announced that Laura Mitchell of Centreville, Va., was selected as the 2008 Janet Louer USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Organizer of the Year Award recipient. Mitchell will be honored at an awards banquet before more than 600 community tennis leaders at the annual USTA Community Tennis Development Workshop held on Feb. 14 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa on Hilton Head Island, S.C. The USTA bestows the Janet Louer USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Organizer of the Year Award upon an individual who positively influences children’s lives and substantially impacts his or her community. USTA Community Tennis Chief Executive Kurt Kamperman said, “Laura Mitchell is a true leader whose enthusiasm and commitment have clearly made a difference in her community. “She is a passionate advocate for Jr. Team Tennis and her efforts have provided each child an enriching experience on the courts. We proudly honor her with this award.”

2/4/09 11:54 PM

Serena Williams NEW YORK (AP) -- Serena Williams, who recently won her 10th Grand Slam singles title, will return to the Washington Kastles after being selected as the top pick Tuesday in the World TeamTennis marquee draft. She’ll headline the roster for the Kastles, who enter their second season with the 10-team summer league. Williams won the Australian Open and regained the No. 1 ranking over the weekend. Venus Williams (Philadelphia), John McEnroe (New York Sportimes), Anna Kournikova (St. Louis), Michael Chang (Sacramento), Bob and Mike Bryan (Kansas City) and Martina Navratilova (Boston) will play during the season, which runs July 2-26. Serena Williams will play four matches, one at home in Washington, D.C., and road matches at Philadelphia, Boston and Randall’s Island in New York City, the new home of the Sportimes.

2/5/09 1:00 AM

The Junior Tennis Champions Center Director in College Park, MD, was named the USOC Developmental Tennis Coach of the Year. Frank Salazar, the coach of one of the USTA’s two new certified regional training centers, supervises the development of a number of up-and-coming Americans in the Washington, D.C., area. Of the players Salazar (Chevy Chase, MD) coached in 2008, Denis Kudla had the strongest season, reaching a career-high No. 10 in the ITF World Junior Rankings after sweeping the singles and doubles titles at the South Carolina ITF event in October and reaching the final at the ITF Coffee Bowl, a Grade 1 event.

2/5/09 0:27 AM

Cora Masters Barry & Isha Price USTA Serves seven Mid-Atlantic tennis programs. These recipients return the favor by helping children pursue their dreams. An Achievable Dream (Newport News, VA); Reach for College! Inc. (Washington, DC); VCU Foundation, Lobs and Lessons (Richmond, VA); and the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (Washington, DC) received 2008 Year-End grants. The Annapolis Area Tennis School (Annapolis, MD); Latin American Youth Center (Washington, DC); Recreation Wish List Committee (Washington, DC); and Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (Washington, DC) were awarded 2008 Year-End Public Affairs grants.

2/2/09 2:08 PM

Maggie Schewel Maggie Schewel (Lynchburg, VA) was named the Virginia Tennis Officials Committee Chair. Schewel was the 2007 USTA/Mid-Atlantic Official of the Year.

1/30/09 1:55 PM

The UMW women’s tennis team volunteers. The University of Mary Washington tennis teams serve not only on the court but serve underprivileged children. The Eagle men and women volunteered at the Olde Forge Community Center in Fredericksburg, VA. More than 400 UMW student-athletes donated their time to the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day as part of a school- and department-wide challenge to perform service in the community. The team spent the day with underprivileged children from the Old Forge Neighborhood by reading books, playing games and working on arts and crafts. UMW women’s head coach Patrick Catullo said, “It was a great experience to see the joy of the children as they had an opportunity to interact with the women’s tennis team.”

1/30/09 4:36 PM

Two Mid-Atlantic players are leading the way for the fifth-ranked University of Virginia. Sophomore Michael Shabaz (Fairfax, VA), is undefeated with an 8-0 record playing mostly at No. 2 singles and doubles, and 6-5 freshman Drew Courtney (Clifton, VA) has a 6-1 mark, competing at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles. Shabaz, who was named First Team All-State in Virginia, won the 2005 Wimbledon Junior Doubles Championship and was the No. 1 recruit nationally by tennisrecruiting.net in 2006. Courtney, a three-time Virginia AAA Singles Champion and four-time Virginia Doubles Champion, was ranked No. 6 nationally in the USTA Boys’ 18s. The Virginia Men’s Tennis Team is fifth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Rankings and is determined to defend its team title. The Cavaliers, who raced to 4-0 record, will host the ITA National Team Indoor Qualifier this weekend at Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville.

1/23/09 3:27 PM

Resource Websites for School Tennis Coaches, including USTA Resources, Organizations, Tennis Manufactors and Vendors, and District and Sectional Contacts.

1/29/09 1:45 AM

Liezel Huber (right) WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- The USTA and U.S. Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez announced that Phoenix resident Bethanie Mattek, the third-highest ranked American woman in the world, will make her Fed Cup debut alongside Liezel Huber, the world’s No. 1 doubles player, Jill Craybas, and fellow first-time Fed Cupper Melanie Oudin when they face Argentina in the 2009 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinal Feb. 7-8 at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex in Surprise, Ariz. The best-of-five match series begins on Saturday, Feb. 7, with two singles matches and is followed by two reverse singles matches and the doubles match on Sunday, Feb. 8. Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. The U.S. won its last home Fed Cup tie in last year’s quarterfinal against Germany at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club in La Jolla, Calif. Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez said, “I am really excited about the team we are bringing to Surprise to begin our pursuit of the 2009 Fed Cup title. “We have a great mix of experience with Jill and Liezel, and youth with Bethanie and Melanie. We anticipate a competitive match against Argentina with an enthusiastic and passionate home crowd supporting us."

1/26/09 1:39 PM

Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe was an American hero fighting battles both on and off the court. In his life, he broke barriers in the tennis world, becoming a three-time grand slam champion, and the first African American male to win a grand slam tournament. Off the court, he was a social activist taking on issues like racial prejudice, AIDS, apartheid, and youth education. One of his many legacies includes the National Junior Tennis League (“NJTL”), a network of youth serving organizations that provides tennis and education for all. His wish was for NJTL to be a resource for kids to develop skills for leadership and academic excellence. As a participant at one of the 550 NJTLs across the United States, we want to hear what Arthur Ashe means to you. If you are an NJTL participant, then write or draw about what this Arthur Ashe quote means to you: “From what we get, we make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.”

1/21/09 8:01 PM

Rod Dulany & TCCP coaches Out of 28 coaches playing in a QuickStart doubles tournament, only two were left standing. Jen Thomas and her assistant coach Mohammed Dajini won First Place and brand-new tennis racquets at the 2009 USTA/Mid-Atlantic High School Coaches Workshop. After tying for second place, Pete Shepherd and Victoria Neudecker, and Mehmet and Selim Yargici each received a bag of foam QuickStart tennis balls. Eighty coaches from the Mid-Atlantic Section participated in classroom instructions, on-court drills and QuickStart Training in College Park, MD. Tom Daglis, USPTA Vice President, presented “Singles and Doubles Strategy” and information on the “Tennis Resource Center.” Tommy Wade (Former college coach and current Director of Tennis for Decatur, AL) spoke on “What College Coaches Look for in Players” and “Changing Trends in the Modern Game.” Tennis Center at College Park (TCCP) coaches Kyle Bailey and Oliver Akli demonstrated on-court drills Jan. 17 at the TCCP, which is a newly designated USTA Junior Tennis Champions Regional Center.

1/21/09 12:05 PM

Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein The USTA announced that it will become a 25% owner of Advanta World TeamTennis Pro League, the unique gender-balanced team format co-founded by tennis legend Billie Jean King. One of the main goals in the new partnership is to provide an expanded marketing platform for the USTA’s Jr. Team Tennis Program through the Advanta World TeamTennis Pro League teams and players. The Jr. Team Tennis program is a recreational tennis league for children ages 6–18, and features the USTA’s QuickStart format for children under the age of 10. Jr. Team Tennis was established in 1991 to provide youth with all of the health and social benefits of tennis in a co-ed, fun and competitive team environment. USTA Jr. Team Tennis allows for participants to compete with and against individuals of similar skill and age levels and has more than 80,000 participants taking part across the United States, in all 17 USTA Sections. The Advanta WTT Pro League is a professional co-ed sports league featuring top tour players from more than a dozen countries. The League showcases three generations of tennis standouts, including legends, current tour players and up-and-coming tennis pros, competing on teams throughout the U.S. each summer.

1/21/09 5:12 PM

At the Jr. Team Tennis Area League Coordinator Training Event, topics such as how to market your program and how to increase QuickStart participation for the 8 and 10 year olds will be discussed.

1/14/09 7:17 PM

QuickStart is fun. Multicultural Participation Committee co-chair Shantha Chandra introduced Bellows Spring Elementary School Children to QuickStart Tennis in their physical education classes. “This is their first-time introduction of tennis in the PE curriculum,” she said. “We worked with them for the whole week, about 30 hours. They have three wonderful PE teachers and parent volunteers.” She said winter is the best time before they get busy with basketball and volleyball. She was happy to work with the children. “The students are good listeners and eager to learn tennis,” she added. “We had fun. They are continuing this program for two more weeks.”

1/15/09 4:49 PM

Enoch Thompson celebrates good tennis. The NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo was a hit. More than 85,000 visited the NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo in Washington, DC. The Washington Tennis Association (WTA) collected more than 500 requests for tennis information in Washington, DC. It was a smooth transition of responsibilities between Past President Maurice Patterson and current President Kelly Jackson. The event was successful and had more than 30 volunteers that assisted Jackson in her inaugural event as President of the USTA/WTA. Patterson and current USTA Board members volunteered at the event.

1/14/09 1:12 PM

Lindsey Hardenbergh She was one for one. University of Virginia tennis player Lindsey Hardenbergh won her first USTA Pro Circuit singles title on her first try. Hardenbergh, who was playing her first ever USTA Pro Circuit event, advanced to the main draw after advancing from qualifying at the Dwight Davis/Merrill Lynch Championships in St. Louis, MO. The 5-8 freshman defeated third-seeded Anda Perianu of Romaina, ranked No. 614 in the world in the final 7-5, 7-6. "This culminates a great week for Lindsey," said Cavalier assistant coach Troy Porco. "She played her best match of the tournament today and beat a quality player who has a lot of experience. I couldn’t be more impressed with her composure and attitude on the court. She is a great ambassador for Virginia Tennis."

1/13/09 1:37 PM

Jared Pinsky No. 1 actually means two. Patrick Daciek and Jared Pinsky, both recent graduates of Junior Mid-Atlantic tournament play, are co-ranked No.1 in a Men’s Open field of 46 ranked players. Pinsky, who plays for Duke University, was a three-time Maryland individual state champion in 2004, 2005, and 2007. He was one of the top two blue chip recruits in the class of 2011 before injuring his back. He has since rehabbed, his tennis is skyrocketing, and he is looking to have a strong sophomore season. Pinksy, who is from Potomac, MD, is looking to help the Duke Blue Devils live up to their No. 35 national ranking. Daciek plays tennis for Virginia Tech, which is ranked No. 28 nationally. The Severna Park, MD, graduate is a freshman for the Hokies.

1/12/09 9:50 PM

Somdev Devvarman Somdev Devvarman likes going home. That is where he has played his best tennis. The former University of Virginia standout dropped a close battle to Croatia’s Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-6 (3) in the Chennai Open Final in India, but it raised his ranking 48 points to No. 154, his highest ranking ever. Playing in his first ATP final, Devvarman, 23, gave the 6-6 Cilic, ranked No. 20, fits with his quickness and counter-punching style. Cilic, who with the victory won his second ATP title, was serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set when Devvarman broke him. Devvarman (a Charlottesville, VA, resident) fought back to force a tiebreaker but dropped the breaker 7-3. The two-time NCAA champion in 2007 and 2008 was the first ever Indian to reach the final of his homeland tournament.

1/12/09 8:32 PM

Check out the best players in the Mid-Atlantic Section.

1/12/09 4:44 PM

The 2008 Mid-Atlantic Yearbook is now available online in color. The 2009 Yearbook will be out soon. If you want to advertise, contact Communications Manager Tammy Reeher at reeher@mas.usta.com or 703-556-6120 x15.

1/9/09 12:56 PM

After not winning any national league championships in 2007, the Mid-Atlantic teams caught fire and won three national championships in 2008. The Columbia, MD, team won the Men’s 3.0 National Championship in Tucson, AZ, and the Howard County, MD, 6.0 Eastern Senior Mixed team captured the title in Orlando, FL. Both teams’ captains were Jon Smith and James Dorf. The 3.0 Senior Women from Baltimore, MD, were named Champions in Las Vegas, NV. Marcia Dysart is the team’s captain. Mid-Atlantic was fourth best out of the 17 Sections in National Championships. Southern was first with nine National Titles. Northern California and the Pacific Northwest won four each, and Florida and the Caribbean tied the Mid-Atlantic with three National Titles.

1/9/09 4:27 PM

3.0 Senior Women National Champions The 3.0 Mid-Atlantic Senior Women rolled the dice in Las Vegas and took pictures with the 2008 Chrysler National Championship banner. The Baltimore team rolled over the Midwest in the finals 3-0. Four teams, USTA Mid-Atlantic (Baltimore, Md.), USTA Midwest (Rocky River, Ohio), USTA Middle States (York, Pa.), and USTA Caribbean (San Juan, Puerto Rico) won their respective flights, resulting in a spot in the tournament’s semifinals.

1/9/09 12:14 PM

Eastern 6.0 Senior Mixed Champions The team from Howard County, Md., representing USTA Mid-Atlantic, captured the 6.0 Senior Eastern Mixed Doubles title and defeated a team from Madison, Wis., representing USTA Midwest, 3-0 in the Championship match. The team is captained by James Dorf and Jon Smith and went undefeated the entire tournament, ending with a perfect match record of 5 wins and 0 losses. It is their second 2008 championship. They also won the Adult 3.0 Men’s National Championship.

1/9/09 5:37 PM

3.0 Mid-Atlantic Senior Men Mid-Atlantic fell to eventual 3.0 Senior Men’s National Champion Southern 2-1, but rebounded to finish third.The Howard County, MD, team nipped Hawaii Pacific 2-1 by winning at second and third doubles in Las Vegas at the Darling Tennis Center. At No. 2 doubles, Mid-Atlantic’s Lewey Hale and Charles Johnson defeated Ted Damaso and Norman O’Connor 6-2, 6-3. At. No. 3 doubles, Damon Humphreys and Michael McNees cruised past David Oda and Daniell Tagawa 6-3, 6-1. In the semifinals Southern (Roswell, GA) topped USTA Mid-Atlantic (Howard County, MD) 2-1, and USTA Northern California (Lincoln, CA) defeating USTA Hawaii Pacific (Honolulu, HI) 2-1. Mid-Atlantic’s No. 1 doubles team picked up the team’s only victory. Damon Humphreys and Michael McNees played well under the tension of a third-set super tiebreaker, winning 7-6, 2-6, 1-0.

1/9/09 4:37 PM

In his India homeland, Somdev Devvarman upset Carlos Moya in three hard-fought sets 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. The University of Virginia grad and a two-time NCAA champion defeated Moya, who used to be ranked No. 1, in the second round of the Chennai Open. In his first ATP Tour quarterfinal, Devvarman, who is now ranked No. 202 in the world, will face Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic.

1/7/09 6:15 PM

The fifth-ranked Virginia men and No. 8 Georgia Tech women look to defend their crowns in Division I college tennis. Virginia is without two-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Player of the Year and last year's No. 1 ranked Somdev Devvarman, who graduated and turned pro but the Cavaliers are still loaded with talent. They are led by three Mid-Atlantic players – 5-10 sophomore Michael Shabaz (Fairfax, VA), 6-0 freshman David Nguyen (Columbia, MD), and 6-5 freshman Drew Courtney (Clifton, VA). Courtney, a three-time Virginia AAA Singles Champion and four-time Virginia Doubles Champion, was ranked No. 6 nationally in the USTA Boys’ 18s. Nguyen, a 2006 Maryland State Singles Champion, won two USTA National Open Titles and was ranked No. 11 nationally in the USTA Boys’ 18s. Shabaz, who was named First Team All-State in Virginia, won the 2005 Wimbledon Junior Doubles Championship and was the No. 1 recruit nationally by tennisrecruiting.net in 2006.

1/6/09 9:40 PM

A Mid-Atlantic tennis club was named the Racquet Sports Industry's Private Facility of the Year. Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, VA, earned the honor of being the best facility in the U.S. last year.

1/5/09 10:53 PM

Justin Shane of Falls Church, VA, got hot for five rounds and won the Boys’ 18 Level 3 National Tournament in Toledo, Ohio. Shane, the No. 15 seed, upset the No. 3, 4, 6, and 14 seeds at the Laurel Hill Swim and Tennis Club. He beat John Collins, the fourth seed, 6-4, 6-4, in the hard-court indoor finals. Collins (Bowie, MD), who is No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic Boys’ 18s, took out the No. 13 and 16 seeds in the tournament. Sidarth Balaji and Kyle Parker were the National Finalists in doubles. In doubles, Balaji (Fairfax, VA) and Parker (Richmond, VA), the top seeds, defeated the sixth and seventh seeds of the tournament before falling to Nick Chappell (Indiana) and Justin Rossi (Michigan) 8-5 in the finals.

1/5/09 1:36 PM

West Virginia University Tennis on Campus team In the Mid-Atlantic Section, three Tennis On Campus Teams have been added. In Virginia, George Mason University and Washington & Lee University have been started, while in West Virginia, West Virginia University formed its own Tennis On Campus Team. All over America, Club Sports are on the rise.

12/31/08 10:02 AM

Martin Blackman has been hired as Senior Director for Talent Identification and Development for USTA Player Development. Blackman will be based at the USTA Training Facility in Boca Raton, Fla., and will report to Tom Jacobs, Managing Director, Administration and Business Affairs, USTA Player Development. Blackman will start in his new position on January 1. In this new position, Blackman will interact with the USTA Player Development coaching and administrative staffs, as well as top coaches and tennis centers across the country to lead the USTA’s efforts in identifying and developing American talent. Specifically, Blackman will oversee the USTA’s efforts to develop and implement its new USTA Certified Regional Training Centers.

12/23/08 6:24 PM

Silver medalist Nicole Gabe Two West Virginia standouts made it on the medal stand at the USA Jr. Olympic Skills Competition. Nicole Gabe won the silver in the Rapid Rally 10-11 girls’ division, while Case Tolliver captured the bronze in the 8-9 boys’ division. In Rapid Rally, a player hits the tennis ball against a wall as many times as possible in 30 seconds.

11/3/08 2:20 PM

Jamie Peterson, who served on Maryland’s Board last year, has been appointed again this year as Maryland’s Director at Large.

12/15/08 5:29 PM

Ken Guendel (Lifetime Service Award) With Gordon Smith as the featured speaker, the Mid-Atlantic Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet was a success. Smith, the USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, spoke in front of 225 people at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA. Incoming Mid-Atlantic President Chris Reynolds and Outgoing President Rose Hobson presented the awards to 22 deserving recipients.

11/24/08 6:29 PM

Richey Reneberg’s team lit up the competition and captured the 3rd Annual Holly Volley title. Teams were captained by former ATP stars and current top players Jeff Austin, Mark Ein, Fred McNair, Reneberg, and Dan Waldman, marking the strongest Holly Volley draw in history. The Mid-Atlantic Tennis & Education Foundation (MATEF) held the 3rd Annual Holly Volley Pro Am at the Tennis Center at College Park.

12/15/08 5:27 PM

Serena Williams helps many organizations. She has helped the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. She has helped build a secondary school in Kenya. And she has helped Pam Shriver with her PNC Tennis Classic. When Williams walked out for the match in front of more than 7,231 fans, the reigning US Open Champion received a standing ovation. Her name alone brought reporters, fans and TV cameras to Baltimore to help raise $185,000 for children’s charities. This is the second time Williams has been here. The first was playing doubles with Venus against the Ripken brothers 15 years ago. This time the competition was tougher. Elena Dementieva, the Olympic Singles Champion and one of the most consistent players on tour, defeated Serena Williams 6-4, 6-4, with solid groundstrokes and an improved serve.

12/16/08 9:45 PM

Singha Open Women's Champ Tennis participation throughout the United States continued its growth on every measurable level in 2008, with more players (nearly 26.9 million) taking to the court this year than at any time in the past 15 years, according to the annual research survey conducted for the Tennis Industry Association (TIA) and the USTA by the Taylor Research Group.“Tennis is stronger and healthier than it has been in decades,” said Jane Brown Grimes, USTA President and Chairman of the Board. “It’s great to see that the collective efforts of the USTA and our industry partners over the past five years are producing such great results.” Kurt Kamperman, USTA Community Tennis Chief Executive said, “We’ve tried to make tennis as accessible as possible at the grassroots levels, which we’ll continue to do, by promoting initiatives to grow youth and adult participation in order to keep this momentum going.”

12/9/08 8:29 PM

Orange Bowl Champion Denis Kudla In the Boys’ 16s final, No. 1 seed Denis Kudla, a 16-year-old from Arlington, Va., lived up to his seeding, as he dominated training partner Mitchell Frank of Annandale, Va., 6-0, 6-2. Frank, the No. 12 seed, proved to be remarkably consistent all week as he frustrated opponents into going for too much and forcing errors. But the strategy proved ineffective against Kudla, who worked Frank all over the court and defeated him relatively easily. “This hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Kudla. “I know Mitchell so well, and he’s one of the most consistent guys out here, so I knew I’d be in for a tough match because he gets so many balls back. But I was able to place my shots where I wanted to. It just feels awesome to win this title.”

12/15/08 2:16 PM

Mid-Atlantic First Vice President Ray Benton COLLEGE PARK, MD - The Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, will become part of the USTA's national player development program as a result of its designation as the first USTA Regional Training Center. Patrick McEnroe, US Davis Cup Team Captain and GM of Elite Player Development, commented, "The Champions Program in College Park is the model for what we want all our future regional training centers to be. Their coaching expertise and methods of player development meet the highest standard of high performance training." Martin Blackman, the program director, will assume a prominent position in player development at the United States Tennis Association. Blackman is a former Tour player and college coach and he will work with junior development programs around the country to instill the methods and spirit of the Champions program.

12/15/08 2:33 PM

Men's 55 Team At the USTA National Intersectionals Team Championships, the Mid-Atlantic Men’s 55 Intersectional Team finished third. The team held off the Middle States Section for third place in Arlington, Texas. Mid-Atlantic was led by Mike Lissner, Nick Mooris, Mark Massey, and captain John Donelan.

12/15/08 11:01 PM

See Cora Masters Barry, Anne & Mark Geier, Roy Van Brunt, and Richey Reneberg being inducted into the Mid-Atlantic Hall of Fame.

12/9/08 10:01 PM

Gordon Smith USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Gordon Smith said the USTA is focused on increasing the number of top U.S. players in professional tennis. Smith, who was the guest speaker at the Mid-Atlantic Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet, will improve the quality of American players with the USTA’s Elite Player Development Program. Smith added that the USTA’s goal is to get more people playing tennis, especially 7-10 year olds playing QuickStart.

12/10/08 8:25 PM

Kathy Rinaldi and Andres Pedroso have been hired as USTA Player Development National Coaches. Pedroso and Rinaldi will work at the USTA Training Center in Boca Raton, Fla., and will report to Jay Berger and Ola Malmqvist, Heads of Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Player Development. Rinaldi started December 1, while Pedroso will join the coaching staff January 5. “We’re delighted to have Andres and Kathy join our team,” said Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, Elite Player Development. “In addition to being an outstanding player herself, Kathy has worked with some of the top players in the country through her work with the U.S. Fed Cup team. Andres has experience working with top young talent. We know he has a lot to contribute to our program as well.”

11/19/08 6:40 PM

Tom Daglis The 2009 High School Coaches Workshop will feature two prominent speakers at the Tennis Center of College Park. Tommy Wade, a former University of Alabama and Kentucky tennis coach, and Tom Daglis, the USPTA First Vice President, will speak Saturday, Jan. 17, in Maryland.

12/1/08 12:19 PM

USTA/Virginia Tennis is getting “Future Ready” following the direction of USTA National President, Jane Brown Grimes, “The Future is Now….Tomorrow’s success must be built today.” We have had a banner year and it’s not over yet. League participation reached the 21,567 player mark this year – a 6% increase from 2007. Six new leagues formed this year including 3 combo leagues. Combo is the fastest growing league for the 3rd year in a row – increasing 25% from 2007 – it has grown as big as mixed doubles.

11/21/08 1:57 PM

The DC team The Mid-Atlantic Section showed skyrocketing improvement. In league participation, Virginia increased 6% and Maryland improved 14%. DC started a Jr. Team Tennis league, while West Virginia started a new Tennis On Campus at West Virginia University.

11/25/08 6:43 PM

School tennis programs impacted more than 15,000 students who are involved in tennis in their physical education classes in eight counties and the City of Baltimore City, an estimated 50% increase over 2007.

11/21/08 5:21 PM

Mid-Atlantic Executive Director Rod Dulany How pleased I am to be your executive director. It is an honor to get to work with such a fine group of men and women in moving Mid-Atlantic Tennis forward. I am here to tell you that our state of Mid-Atlantic Tennis is in great shape. Last year, Junior Team Tennis grew by over 170 teams. Our League Tennis has led the nation in percentage of growth over that last two years. This year we will grow by over 11%. Mid-Atlantic gave out over $29,000 in grants and the Mid-Atlantic Tennis and Education Foundation sent more than 200 juniors to camp. Some of the best tennis players in the country reside right here.

11/21/08 5:02 PM

Desiree Gross of the Baltimore Tennis Patrons Rob Issem, Mid-Atlantic Section QuickStart trainer, conducted a workshop for coordinators, coaches, teaching Pros & Physical Education teachers in the Mid-Atlantic Section. The workshop is a great resource that will provide participants the skills to instruct children of all ages to learn tennis more quickly than the traditional methods. Because we had more than 50 participants, Issem conducted a workshop at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center in DC’s Rock Creek Park, while Maryland Community Tennis and Assistant Executive Director Jen Gregg simultaneously instructed another QuickStart workshop at the East Potomac Tennis Center in Southwest Washington.

11/21/08 6:08 PM

Mid-Atlantic 65s Women's Team. The 35 and 65 Intersectional teams finished third, and the 55 and 80 squads placed fourth at the McFarlin Tennis Center in San Antonio, Texas. In the 65s, Ruby Jenkins won every match she played, four singles and one doubles.

11/21/08 12:27 PM

Led by undefeated No. 1 and No. 2 singles players Morty Greenberg and Norm Fitz, the Mid-Atlantic Men’s 75s were Atlantic Coast Cup Finalists. They sparked Mid-Atlantic to a 4-0 victory over New England, and almost beat Eastern. Mid-Atlantic and Eastern were deadlocked at 2-matches-all, but Eastern won more sets, 5-4. Against New England, the No. 1 doubles team of Harvey Zorbaugh and Bill King and the No. 2 doubles team of Art Cohen and Billy Kingery picked up straight-set victories.

11/21/08 1:06 PM

After winning Mid-Atlantic’s Campus Recreation Award, West Virginia University women’s tennis coach Marc Walters was a finalist for the national USTA/ITA Campus Recreation Award. Walters, a Morgantown, WV, native, is in his second season leading the Mountaineers and before that has been a Division II coach for 12 years with a 394-196 record (.667 winning percentage). His teams have won seven 20-plus win seasons and 21 top three conference finishes. This award honors an ITA coach who has done an outstanding job implementing the USTA's Tennis On Campus program or similar recreational tennis programs on campus in an effort to grow tennis participation within the campus community.

11/20/08 8:07 PM

John Manougian Five undefeated Mid-Atlantic players led the Men’s 65 Intersectional Team to capture the Atlantic Coast Cup. No. 1 singles player Fred Drilling only lost eight games in two matches, helping Mid-Atlantic defeat New England 3-2 and Eastern 4-1. The No. 2 doubles team of John Asaka and Isom Upkins and No. 3 doubles team of John Manougian and Bob Archer also went unbeaten at the Tennis Center of College Park in Maryland. The match against New England was decided by Asaka and Upkins’ three-set match. After dropping the first set in a tiebreaker, Mid-Atlantic’s No. 2 doubles team rebounded to win the next two, 6-4, 6-2.

11/20/08 12:46 PM

SWAT Five new courts opening in three months. Impossible. Not for the SWAT Team. The Staunton / Waynesboro / Augusta Tennis Association, the Mid-Atlantic and Virginia Section Organization of the Year, gets things done. In the November 2008 Parks and Recreation (Bethesda, MD) magazine, the SWAT team was mentioned in an article titled “Tennis, Everyone?” by Robin Bateman about “Why tennis is important to your community – and how you can acquire funding to build new or renovate your existing courts.”

11/20/08 7:12 PM