As one of the largest non-for profit organizations in the world, the USTA is driven by many dedicated individuals who donate their time and effort to help develop and grow the sport we all love. In having so many willing volunteers, the USTA holds workshops to help instill in their volunteers the core values they should be coaching to their tennis students as well as recognizes them for their hard work and dedication.

There is no doubt that in order to get to the next level there is a need for speed. Now, more than ever, athletes are investing in personal trainers, speed training programs, and gym memberships to help improve performance on the field. In this Free Speed Training Clinic, set for Saturday, Feb. 11 from 12:15 p.m.-2:00 p.m. at Sports and Fitness Performance in Islip, N.Y., Coach Frank Dolan will dispel the myths about speed training and lay out a blueprint to successfully improve running speed.

Former number one ranked Caroline Wozniacki has fired her coach, Ricardo Sanchez of Spain, just two months into his tenure. According to her father, Piotr Wozniacki, she did not get any "new impulses" from working alongside Sanchez.

Stringing tennis racquets is a true art form. The stringing process is not as uniform and simple as it may seem. Players often believe that stringing is a non-differentiated good/service like milk or gasoline.

A fundraising Pro-Am for the USPTA was held at Sportime Kings Park Sunday night featuring some of Long Island's top professional and amateur players. Eight pros and eight amateurs teamed up for high-level doubles play in a round robin format to raise money for the USPTA's Eastern Section.

Do you ever win the first set easy and lose in three? Of course! It happens to every competitive player at some point in time. The scenario goes something like this …

Taylor Townsend, a 15-year-old from Stockbridge, Ga., defeated 17-year-old Russian Yulia Putintseva, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to win the 2012 Australian Open Girls Singles Title. Earlier, Townsend partnered with 15-year-old Gabrielle Andrews of Pomona, Calif., to win the 2012 Australian Open Girls Doubles title.

World number one-ranked Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Spain's Rafael Nadal in the longest Grand Slam singles final in the history of professional tennis, winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 after 5-hours and 53-min. to claim his third Australian Open title.

Russia's Maria Sharapova will take on Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the women’s singles final of the 2012 Australian Open at 3:00 a.m. ET Saturday morning. Azarenka, who won the Sydney International title the weekend before the season’s first major, will attempt to continue her winning ways.

How many times have you found yourself in a match in which you were just a few points or games from winning? Maybe the score was 6-3, 5-2, and you began to think, “This is great. I’m going to be the champion!”

The 2012 Australian Open women's singles final will see Russian Maria Sharapova go up against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Not only are they playing for the championship; they both are in contention to gain the number one ranking.

The USTA has announced the return of the U.S. Open National Playoffs for the third year. The U.S. Open National Playoffs will again include both men’s and women’s singles and mixed-doubles in 2012.