Matt Zeifman: Long Island’s Youngest Tennis Phenom

September 21, 2011 | By David Drucker

If you’ve never heard of a boy named Matt Zeifman, you surely will in the next few years. Through the years, Long Island has had more than a few tennis greats who have made it to top-level colleges and even scored success on the professional level, but it is not an easy path and the earlier you can start the better. After meeting with Matt Zeifman and witnessing the tennis he plays, it is clear that if he keeps up his desire to succeed and strong work ethic, his potential is limitless.

After that first paragraph, you’re probably wondering just how old Matt is? Well, Matt Zeifman just turned five-years-old; however, his play on the court reaches far beyond his age or the experience one would expect. Watching him handle an adult-sized racket, hitting forehands, backhands and serves over the net and inbounds on a consistent basis, was startling. Most importantly, the energy and excitement Matt possesses while on the court is what will take him to the next level in tennis.

Matt began playing at the age of three, with Karl Sommer, co-director of tennis at Sportime Syosset. It was Sommer who jump started Matt’s young tennis career, training him to hit shots usually not in the realm of possibility for a three-year-old.

Now, Matt plays tennis every day with a variety of coaches who all bring different styles to his overall game. One of his current coaches is Sandra Nunez from Sportime Syosset. Matt and Sandra share a bond that you don’t normally see between player and coach.

“Matt loves tennis, so it’s easy for me to keep him focused during lessons,” said Nunez when asked how she keeps such a young player consistently motivated. “He loves the attention, which makes him play and try even harder. His talent is unbelievable.”

Nunez employs a number of tactics to maintain a high level of interest in Matt throughout his lessons.

"We create these fictional characters when we play,” said Nunez. “If Matt plays well, they will send him special packages. These (fictional) people watch Matt to see if he is paying attention, is focusing and is trying hard. If he does well, he is rewarded.”

Asked what type of games they play, Sandra mentioned that, while they do play games, it is important for Matt to understand both winning and losing.

“Matt comes up with new games all the time … he’s one of the smartest kids I know,” said Nunez. “We actually e-mail each other between lessons. It’s as if the ‘lesson’ takes place off the court as well.”

When you’re playing tennis every day and are only five-years-old, you surely have to have your loved ones by your side to pave the way for you. Mitch Zeifman, Matt’s father, is one of the most dedicated tennis fathers you will ever meet. Mitch will do anything and everything to ensure that Matt is getting the best coaching, lessons, treatment and equipment.

“I stopped playing tennis when I was 14-years-old,” said Mitch. “I played most of my childhood and I wanted to get really good, but unfortunately, did not have the resources. Now, I am able to provide those resources for my son.”

“This is an all-day, every day job for me,” continued Mitch. “Between driving to facilities to see one coach or another, you have to be 100 percent committed, no question. I stay there while Matt plays to watch what’s going on, making sure he’s getting the proper coaching. It helps both he and I to understand the differences between each of his coaches.”

Asked about the future of Matt’s tennis game, Mitch replied, “I want him to be playing 12-and-Under tournaments when he’s seven or eight-years-old.”

Beyond that, the aspirations of both child and parent are much larger.

“I want him to be number one in the world,” said Mitch. “It’s all tennis, all the way, even Matt says it himself constantly … he wants to be the number one player in the world.”

Chatting with a five-year-old is usually a difficult task, but with Matt, he answered as if he were in the middle of a media frenzy at a major press conference. When asked what his favorite thing about tennis is, Matt nonchalantly answered, “I like the games because when I do well, people send me packages.”

If you think a five-year-old wouldn’t know the professionals in their favorite sport, guess again. Asked who his favorite player is, he answered, “Roger Federer,” with Rafael Nadal a close second. “I love Roger Federer, I love the slice that he hits,” noted Matt.

Matt’s three current coaches Nunez, Nick Brebenel and Solomon Levy Bromet have all brought something different to Matt’s game in order to take him to the next level. A few years from now, you can surely expect to see him bringing home trophies from tournaments. For Matt Zeifman, time is on his side and let’s hope that one day, we see him reach his goal on the grandest of all stages at the U.S. Open.


David Drucker
Intern

David Drucker is an intern with Long Island Tennis Magazine and is a member of the Nichols College Men's Tennis team.  

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