USTA Eastern Welcomes In All Regions For Annual Eastern Tennis Conference
Each year, the USTA Eastern Section brings together the members and industry leaders from all of its regions for the Eastern Tennis Conference. It’s an all-encompassing weekend that features everything from workshops and clinics, to an awards dinner that honors those who made significant contributions to tennis in our Section.
“The overarching theme of every conference is collaboration,” said Amber Marino, who began her term as USTA Eastern’s Executive Director & CEO in January. “This is an opportunity for everyone in our tennis community to come together, share ideas and collectively celebrate our successes. I hope that everyone who attended walked away energized and excited about what they can achieve in the year ahead.”
This year’s event was held at the Saw Mill Club in Mt. Kisco, and provided invaluable experiences for all who attended. A major theme at this year’s Conference was the emphasis on coaching and the development of new coaches and fresh strategies.
This included a presentation by USTA Coaching Managing Director and Head of Business Development and Operations Megan Rose, who served up all the latest on the USTA’s brand new coaching program that has been custom built for tennis providers who work with players of all levels. In addition, USTA Eastern New Jersey Community Tennis Coordinator and teaching pro Andrés Sánchez taught fun drills and exercises specifically designed to instruct and accommodate multiple players at once.
“Almost every session at this year’s Conference focused on coaching strategy and development. We really wanted to emphasize that anybody can be a coach,” Marino added. “Parents, players and anyone with a passion for this sport can inspire others to pick up a racquet and progress in the game. As our President Ari Roberts noted in his opening night remarks, we could not do what we do to grow tennis without the efforts of all the incredible coaches at clubs, NJTL’s, CTA’s parks and other facilities across the section. They are usually the very first people who ignite that spark and lifelong love for the sport.”
That is at the heart of USTA’s ’35 by 35’ campaign, to increase the amount of tennis players in the country to 35 million by the year 2035, and the USTA Eastern Conference made sure to highlight that notion as a theme.
The Bryan Brothers headlined the event, leading two on-court clinics that focused on different aspects of coaching and player development, and also participated in a wide-ranging Q&A as they answered questions about their decorated tennis careers.
“I have to say it was pretty amazing that my first conference featured the Bryan Brothers as headliners, that’s not something I’m going to forget any time soon!” Marino said. “They were a dream to work with. Very professional, and thoughtful about the sessions they were leading, and were up to do whatever we asked of them. They were a big hit with our attendees and we’re very thankful they were able to spend time with us, mere days before Bob coaches the U.S. Davis Cup team to a victory in Hungary, no less.”
A highlight of the weekend is the Awards Dinner on Friday night, where the best of the best from across the Section are honored for their impact on tennis. It’s a chance to recognize those who are at the heart of growing the sport, and celebrate those achievements.
The 2026 USTA Eastern Tennis Conference sets the stage for what should be another positive year across the Section.
“In addition to enhancing our coaching initiatives, we will continue to develop more fun and innovative playing opportunities for our entire community,” Marino concluded. “We want more people to discover tennis and all it has to offer, and we want those who already love the sport to continue playing, and to also share that passion. The energy at the conference really excited us about what we can achieve, and how much we can grow in 2026.”
