Time to Rally: Inspiration, Not Desperation

Photo courtesy of USTA/Mike Stobe
By Steven Kaplan
As outdoor tennis reopens in the local area and across the country, players are working themselves back in to shape after several months of sheltering at home. It's not easy to work off months of rust, even for the fittest athletes. We could all use some encouragement, inspiration and leadership,...Read more

The Mental Game: Tennis is Like an Iceberg

By Salomon Levy
Read more

Time to Rally: Team Rude

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
By Steven Kaplan
The ATP has a "player’s relief fund" to financially help lower ranked players in need, and they are asking the top 100 ranked players to contribute. Dominic Thiem , the third-ranked player in the world, has made some anti-donation comments suggesting that he will not donate because these players "...Read more

Time to Rally: Set Phasers To Stun

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
By Steven Kaplan
Long Island is reopening and, hopefully, New York City will not be far behind. Outdoor tennis is permitted, but it might be singles only? Or perhaps not? You could ask the experts, but that will only add to your confusion because these days everyone claims to be an expert. Where does that leave the...Read more

Time to Rally: Honestly

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
By Steven Kaplan
The tennis world is considering playing major events behind closed doors. The top-ranked man in the world, Novak Djokovic, has explained that it’s not an ideal situation for players. In an interview with former French Open Champion, Gustavo Kuerten, Djokovic revealed: "I honestly don't dream to...Read more

The Mental Game: Be Negative Rather Than Neutral

A tennis match is like going on a road trip. (Illustration provided by Salomon Levy)
By Salomon Levy
A tennis match is like going on a road trip. For example, you are traveling to your home, going north from Virginia to Massachusetts, and need to get off the highway to begin traveling east. Then, for some reason, you miss the exit. Argh! How do you react when things are not going your way? Do you...Read more

Good People Doing Bad Things or Bad People Doing Good Things

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
By Steven Kaplan
My "The Last Dance" letdown was short lived after watching Part 1 of "Lance," another great ESPN documentary about cyclist Lance Armstrong. Lance was the greatest cyclist of his era and maybe of all-time after winning seven consecutive Tour De France races. He also cheated and while it can be...Read more

Time to Rally: Don’t Touch My Balls

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
By Steven Kaplan
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran held a news conference and said "balls." It was a retro-funny moment worthy of a Beavis and Butt-Head Do Tennis episode. The "mark your tennis balls and don't touch others tennis balls" guidelines are a little silly too. First of all because when the guideline...Read more

Time to Rally: You Gotta Have A Gimmick

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
By Steven Kaplan
Patrick Mouratouglu, the coach of Serena Williams and promoter of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, is gaining headlines by warning, "We need a revolution or tennis is dead." His plan for this revolution centers on attracting new fans to the game includes events like his where players will be "miced up...Read more

Weekly Tennis Wisdom: Eat First, Then Pay

By Salomon Levy
Continuing with our topic from last week about how important it is to have a consistent contact point, this week I will like to bring your attention to an essential element needed for a solid contact: having “a steady racquet” that moves as much as possible in the direction of the incoming ball...Read more

Time to Rally: Unstoppable

Photo courtesy of IMG Academy
By Steven Kaplan
At 88-years-old and in the midst of a global pandemic, Nick Bollettieri should be content to shelter at home and continue his work providing wisdom and inspiration remotely. But that's not how he works. Nick collapsed on the court and was taken to the hospital with a kidney infection recently...Read more

Time to Rally: The Long Island Open

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
By Steven Kaplan
Editor’s note: This blog was written before Governor Cuomo announced that outdoor tennis would be permitted statewide beginning Friday, May 15. While golfers get to experience "Farfegnugen" driving golf balls, tennis is closed and the question is why? Both sports can be played with social...Read more
more articles