2024 High School Tennis Roundtable

There is often a lot of discussion on the current state of tennis here on Long Island, with coaches and experts giving their advice and expertise on a multitude of issues, especially when it comes to junior and high school tennis. Long Island Tennis Magazine brought together junior and high school tennis players themselves to find out how they feel and their thoughts on high school tennis here on Long Island.

The participants…

Nadia Buffa, Junior, Half Hollow Hills East

Remy Buffa, Junior, Half Hollow Hills East

Leo Carmo, 8th Grade, Ross School

Kayla Castellano, Senior, Garden City

Nicole Clemens, Junior, Smithtown East

Didi Elliot, Sophomore, Westhampton Beach

Julia Isham, Sophomore, Syosset

Eddie Liao, Senior, Commack

Ezra Loewy, Junior, Port Washington

Sanam Mehta, Junior, Syosset

Saharsh Peddireddy, Junior, Commack

Justin Sherman, Senior, Roslyn

Anika Tolat, Junior, Roslyn

What do you enjoy most about playing high school tennis?

N. Buffa: What I enjoy most about playing high school tennis is the socialization aspect of being part of a team and the thrill of competition. Being a part of my high school tennis team has allowed me to create meaningful friendships, learn how to focus better, be more self-disciplined, and seek and accept support and mentorship while representing my school and competing. I appreciate the competitive environment school tennis offers as well because it is an opportunity for growth and improvement.

Carmo:  I enjoy many things about high school tennis but if I had to pick one that stands out it would be being part of a team, because tennis is a very individual sport. The best thing to have in the tennis season is your teammates cheering you on and supporting you before and after the matches.

Mehta: My favorite aspect about playing high school tennis is having the opportunity to meet new people and form friendships with other players who I may not have gotten a chance to become close with without tennis. All of the girls on my team are wonderful people and I loved being able to talk with people who were not in my classes, or even not in my grade. The team is really like a family and we all help each other out and support each other, even outside of the season and tennis.

What are some of the challenges of competing for your high school team while balancing other obligations i.e. private training/tournaments, school work, social life, etc.?

N.Buffa: Balancing school and other obligations with high school tennis itself can be challenging. Oftentimes school club meetings and other outside commitments coincide with practices and games, which can be a struggle to manage. However, by communicating with my coach, club advisors, and other peers, I am able to overcome these challenges and work out a schedule that satisfies my tennis requirements and other obligations.

R.Buffa: Some challenges of competing for your high school team while balancing other obligations is being disciplined enough to use your time efficiently. Balancing all the different responsibilities can be a lot to handle, but I think it’s very beneficial in helping become a more competent person.

Clemens: Some challenging things were balancing my time. Between AP classes, tennis, and friends: time is limited. School tennis has helped me learn time management, which is an important skill for real life.

Elliot: Some challenges during my high school tennis season is managing school work. Since tennis workouts were everyday I always had to be organized and prepared for the next day of school.

Loewy: Balancing high school tennis poses unique challenges due to the unpredictable duration of matches, which is unlike any other sport. Due to this, managing post-match activities can be difficult. If high schools around the county could avoid stacking matches by adding more courts, I believe this problem would be mitigated.

Mehta: A major challenge that many high school players, including myself, face is managing our time well and making sure that I stay healthy in order to perform well on the court. Because we have practice or matches after school, I often start my homework later in the evening. When I stay up late to finish it or study for a test, I worry that the lack of sleep will affect my performance in school or cause me not to be able to play tennis the next day because I am tired. Another challenge that comes along with high school tennis is the necessity of eating well, being consistent with meal times, and being conscious of what types of food and drink, such as sugary soda, will negatively affect my tennis and avoiding those when I can.

Sherman: I’d say the biggest challenge is deciding what is most important to you. Although everyone around will have their opinion, you have to do what’s in your best interest to make yourself happy. There’s gonna be a lot on your plate as a student athlete, but you just have to stay organized and prioritize.

How rampant is cheating/hooking during high school matches? What do you think can be done to help put an end to it or at least slow it down?

Liao: In my experience, I haven’t had any cheating happen to me but I have seen some happen to some of my teammates. I would say most of the time it is fair but there are a few times where things have happened.

Peddireddy: Cheating in high school tennis is more common than other sports, especially because of the lack of umpires. The more that is on the line for a match, the more common it is to see that cheating occurs. Even though losing just one point due to cheating is frustrating, having a judge or official to watch the match definitely helps after and could ease tensions on court. I don’t think there is much more that could be done other than what already exists.

Sherman: Cheating gets pretty bad in high school matches, but you can’t let it affect your game. They are cheating for a reason (they can’t play with you), so you just need to continue to play hard. There’s not really anything to be done. Players just need to have self respect and respect for the game.

How do you feel about the rules for minimum practices/matches which are sometimes bent to cater to the top players?

Castellano: I think bending the rules for top players can only help. Having enough time to warm up and have your body flowing is important for both opponents. Having that extra time to focus personally benefits me as a player.

Loewy: No, I do not believe that rules should be bent for the sport’s top talent. While it’s unfortunate that top players are skipping out on the season, the team sport should require equal commitment from everyone involved.

Peddireddy: For top players, there are cases where rules are bent, but being a part of a high school team is an opportunity and something that people want to be a part of. So, if top players miss practices or matches, it’s up to them. I think it’s fine, especially if they’re doing so to train elsewhere.

Tolat: There should be a minimum number of practices and matches that the top players should attend in order to be an active contributor to the team. However, top players should be given some latitude to practice in place of team practices in order to maintain and elevate their level. Additionally, it may be beneficial or even necessary for top players to miss certain matches to compete in national tournaments in order to preserve their USTA rankings. Again, there would need to be consistency in these policies across all schools and conferences.

Do you think players who aren’t playing should be used as line judges during matches?

Mehta: I do think teammates should be used as line judges because it allows players to see another aspect of the game and get involved in another way. Especially for girls who may not get a lot of playing time, line judging is a great way to feel like you are important to the team. Personally, I enjoy line judging because I feel like I can support my team and help to make the game fairer by doing my best to remain impartial while line judging.

Do you enjoy competing as part of a team?

N.Buffa: Being part of a team adds a collaborative dimension to the game. It’s not just about individual performance; there’s a shared sense of achievement, support from teammates, and a shared goal of representing your school, which makes the overall experience more rewarding and memorable. However, there are still individual aspects of being part of the team as in the end you are the only one in control of your performance on the court.

R.Buffa: I definitely like the team aspect of playing tennis. I feel it’s less stressful in certain ways because even if you don’t do well that particular day doesn’t mean that your team still doesn’t do well. I also feel that it can be more stressful in certain ways in that you want to do well for your team.

Clemens: Playing on a team is so much more motivating than playing by yourself. You have more pressure to play your best because your wins and losses affect the team’s outcome. You also form special bonds with your teammates through bus rides, practices, and matches.

Elliot: Being a part of the tennis team was always something that I wanted to be apart of ever since I was 4 years old and playing over the summer every year. The team gave me confidence while playing and made me a better tennis person on and off the court and for that, I am very grateful.

Isham: I enjoy competing on a team rather than individually because I feed off the energy from my team.  Tennis is a very individual sport, but being in a team environment can help elevate your game in many ways.   Personally, having my teammates support me throughout a match helps a lot.  On the court, I can hear my teammates cheering and supporting each other across the lineup.

Has playing high school tennis helped increase your love of tennis?

Castellano: High school tennis has increased my love for the sport. Practicing and traveling with your friends has been such an experience. Also traveling and competing at states will be a moment I will never forget.

Elliot: Playing high school tennis is something that I’ve always wanted to do. I used to live in the city and my high school didn’t have a tennis team so moving to Westhampton Beach and joining the team freshman year, was something that I was really excited to be apart of.

Liao: High school tennis has definitely increased my love for the sport because it’s not everyday you play a solo sport with your friends. The team aspect is something I love and I always look forward to it. It’s definitely made me more excited for college tennis at Yale.

Loewy: Through playing high school tennis, I’ve managed to embrace greater community from the sport. Without the season, my tennis game becomes more self-oriented rather than team oriented.

Tolat: Having been a part of the Roslyn varsity team since seventh grade, I can say firsthand that playing for a team is far more fulfilling and exciting than playing in an individual tournament. Playing for more than just myself and working toward a common goal brings far more satisfaction than any individual accomplishment I have had. I love the atmosphere and energy that team competition provides.

What is one thing you would change about high school tennis?

R.Buffa: I think one thing I would change about high school tennis would be the accessibility to the sport ensuring that all have equal opportunities to participate.

Clemens: One thing I would change about school tennis would be a longer season. I know the season is short because it is outdoors and the weather is only good for a short period of time but school tennis is so fun and it’s sad that it goes so quick.

Mehta: I would include more off season training with the team. I feel that while most players continue to train off season, we don’t get the benefit of working with our teammates and learning from them as well. I would incorporate an optional off season training during the spring or summer so that the team learns to work together, which is especially important for doubles play.

Tolat: Given there are so many factors beyond our control (weather, number of courts, lights or lack thereof, commuting time etc.), one element we can control is consistency in match scoring across all conferences. For example, we should agree on all games being either ad or no ad and all matches being a best of three with a 10-point super tiebreak in lieu of a third set. These regulations would put high school matches in line with the majority of USTA junior tournament scoring and standardize results across all schools.

What is your most memorable moment from your high school career?

Carmo: My most memorable moment would have to be winning the small school Suffolk County championship with my teammates. I don’t say it only because it was our best achievement but also because we worked so hard and prepared for that moment for so many months. The feeling after we won was hard to describe.

Isham: The most memorable moment in my high school career was this past season during the Nassau County Championship against Garden City.  My partner Diya Varma and I clinched the match for Syosset in a third set, allowing the team to advance to the Long Island championship and eventually States.

Liao: My most memorable high school tennis moment is winning the state title. It was always my goal to win it and finally accomplishing it was a dream come true.

Peddireddy: The most memorable moment of my high school tennis career has to be the championship point for the Long Island championship in 2022. Never could recreate that again. But also the moments off court with the team are equally memorable, we’re a family.

How much does your relationship with your coach affect your overall experience?

Castellano: I think my relationship with my teammates and coach are extremely vital. As a player, knowing I have full support only benefits me during my matches. Having my fellow teammates cheer me on is a rewarding experience.

Isham: Having a good relationship with my teammates and my coach can greatly affect your high school career.  Thankfully, I am in a great program surrounded by wonderful people.  Forming a bond with your teammates is very important because it makes the experience so much more memorable.

Sherman: I believe that a players relationship with their coach plays a huge role with respect to their experience playing for the team. You spend countless hours with the team. From the second the bell rings to sundown, you’re working hard with the boys and learning from the coach. So, having a close relationship with a coach can certainly make your experience more enjoyable and boost your confidence.