Time to Rally: Super (Market) Champion

May 5, 2020 | By Steven Kaplan
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Photo Credit: Lee Seidner

 

2019 French Open Doubles Champion Kevin Krawietz (with Andreas Mies) should be gearing up to defend his Roland Garros title right about now, but coronavirus has changed his plans.

While most tennis players dream of being a Grand Slam champion, Krawietz “always wanted to see what it was like to have a ‘normal job’”.

Krawietz is currently working at a supermarket in his native Germany, where he arranges shelves, empties boxes and disinfects carts because, in his words, “a friend told me this sector was desperately needing people.” 

Our sport, our country and our world desperately needs talented yet humble people like Krawietz.

 


Steven Kaplan
Owner and Managing Director of Bethpage Park Tennis Center

Steve Kaplan is the owner and managing director of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as director emeritus of Lacoste Academy for New York City Parks Foundation, and executive director and founder of Serve &Return Inc. Steve has coached more than 1,100 nationally- ranked junior players, 16 New York State high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous highly-ranked touring professionals. Many of the students Steve has closely mentored have gone to achieve great success as prominent members of the New York financial community, and in other prestigious professions. In 2017, Steve was awarded the Hy Zausner Lifetime Achievement Award by the USTA. He may be reached by e-mail at StevenJKaplan@aol.com.

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