Talking Tennis Southern Style: Recent Episodes
Ron Cioffi, USTA Southern, Director, Communications
Talking Tennis Southern Style covers tennis in nine Southern states and is hosted by longtime tennis TV & radio personality Sam Crenshaw. The podcast is the official show of USTA Southern, the largest section of the United State Tennis Association and represents 25% of the national members.
“Talking Tennis Southern Style” wraps a five-year run with our traditional year-end highlight episode. In 2024, we interviewed a wide variety of tennis players, media, providers and organizers. Included are tennis pro Arianne Hartono, TV star Andrew Krasny, Atlanta media icon Karen Graham, USTA League innovator John Embree, Red Ball Tennis organizer Amy Brandon, along with Atlanta Open luminary Patricia Jensen. We include a final goodbye from Executive Producer and USTA Southern staffer Ron Cioffi. Thanks and big shoutout to host Sam Crenshaw and audio producer Kyle Blackburn and to Ernie James and the Marketing & Communications Committee members!
Ted Reese may be best known for running USTA Pro Circuit tournaments in his hometown of Cary, N.C. However, his profile grows next month as he moves into the role of USTA Southern President & CEO. He explains his plans for building on years of tennis growth with programs like Adult Red Ball Tennis played on small courts. He emphasizes the importance of keeping tennis open to all, as the USTA aims to have 35 million Americans on the courts by 2035. He applauds the work of the Southern Tennis Foundation and the dedication of more than 200 volunteers, along with Southern staffers. Get a glimpse into the perspective of his impact and what Southern tennis will look like over the next two years.
L.E.A.D. is an Atlanta-based nonprofit whose mission is to use baseball and tennis to teach Black youth how to overcome three curveballs that threaten their success: crime, poverty and racism. Kelli Stewart, wife of co-founder and former minor league baseball player C.J. Stewart, explains how the organization expanded into supporting tennis. Her daughter, Mackenzi, is a former Southern University and Georgia State player, explained how she decided to pick up a racquet and now leads its girls’ tennis programs. Listen to them describe their dedication to community service and focus on athletics, academics, civic engagement and commerce.
Coach Gregory Green has been a part of eighteen championships as a player and coach, earning him the name “The King of Rings.” In addition to coaching excellence in football with four SIAC Conference rings, he has brought glory to Tuskegee tennis with four SIAC Conference Tennis Championships, five-time SIAC Highest Team GPA for Men and Women and four SIAC Conference Tennis Coach of the Year awards, in addition to many athletic accolades at Savannah State. Listen to Gregory describe how his program grows the academic and cultural opportunities for Tuskegee’s athletes and strengthens the HBCU programs in the South.
In the second of a two-part series with John Embree, he recounts his pivotal role at Wilson, where he managed contracts for tennis legends including Pete Sampras, Chrissy Evert, Jim Courier, and others, and introduced the successful Wilson U.S. Open tennis ball. He discusses his leadership in developing innovative rackets like the Hammer and Pro Staff. After 17 years at Wilson, John transitioned to the USPTA as CEO, leveraging his for-profit experience to strengthen the organization. He shares his concerns about the aging tennis professional population and emphasizes the importance of adaptability for those entering the industry. Listen in as he reflects on the impact he’s made and the work still to be done in the tennis world.
In the second of a two-part series with John Embree, he recounts his pivotal role at Wilson, where he managed contracts for tennis legends including Pete Sampras, Chrissy Evert, Jim Courier, and others, and introduced the successful Wilson U.S. Open tennis ball. He discusses his leadership in developing innovative rackets like the Hammer and Pro Staff. After 17 years at Wilson, John transitioned to the USPTA as CEO, leveraging his for-profit experience to strengthen the organization. He shares his concerns about the aging tennis professional population and emphasizes the importance of adaptability for those entering the industry. Listen in as he reflects on the impact he’s made and the work still to be done in the tennis world.
In the first of a two-part series, John Embree reminisces about working as the first head of the USTA League and the NTRP system governing all USTA League players 44 years later. He explained that the goal of having one system for all adult players was considered unreachable when it was first proposed. He added, “One of the attractions about the USTA League program is that we have sectional and national championships.” In our second podcast with John, he outlines his 11 years as the United States Professional Tennis Association CEO until his retirement this year.
When she headed up USTA Tennessee as President, Sara Barnett showed off her organizational skills. Now, Sara put together Open Tennis Fest events in her hometown of Jackson. She said they players like high-intensity competition and play of a special brand of the game of triples. Talk about new formats, Charles Allen is breaking all sorts of tennis rules and conventions with INTENNSE. Instead of sets and matches, this new fan-friendly format has bolts and surges. With 10 seconds and only one serve, the play is fast and furious with fans cheering at any time. Georgia Tech and UGA current and alumni players face off this Saturday in Atlanta. Admission is free after Redfoo bought all tickets in support of Team Luke Hope For Minds. Listen in on how these two pioneers are bringing a new spin to the growth of tennis.
Cameron Douthit excelled on the Georgia tennis courts and in the classroom. Ranked as high as No. 5 in his state’s junior ranking, Cameron won back-to-back individual state championships. Plus, he took nearly two dozen advanced placement courses at the Stratford Academy in Macon, Ga. He applauded his high school coach, Southern Tennis Hall of Famer and Southern Tennis Foundation Director, Development & Operations Jaime Kaplan. He also used his community hours to collect and donate tennis can metal tops to the Ronald McDonald House. Listen to the Mercer freshman who is looking to better life on and off the court, as he is on the path to a career as a pediatrician.
John Hankinson’s travel with his University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Tennis On Campus team has already accumulated more miles than his years playing junior tournaments. He has played in numerous Southern TOC Championships and two National TOC Championships and heads up a massive contingent of players at Chapel Hill, where over 190 students have tried out for the team. He’s led the Tar Heel TOC Club team to support a grassroots fundraising tennis program, he’s competed at the USTA Adaptive Tennis Championships with one of his classmates and organized alumni matches on campus. Through these endless efforts, he was recognized as the USTA Southern Tennis on Campus Leader of the Year. Listen to this future tennis leader in the South and the mark he’s already made in the South.
“Talking Tennis Southern Style” host Sam Crenshaw reconnected with a long-time friend and fellow TV journalist when he interviewed Karen Graham, a mainstay on Atlanta’s Fox 5. A three-time Emmy award winner, Karen co-founded Sign1News, which serves the Deaf community with captioned news and sports on its Sign1News.com website. She talks about learning signing at an early age and how she incorporates that skill in expanding her company’s many-faceted communication assets. A dedicated tennis player in the hotbed of recreational tennis, Karen can be seen on courts in and around the Georgia capital. One of Sign1News' anchors, DiMarco Pittman, attended a USTA coaching workshop and aims to be a Deaf tennis coach.
In our second episode this month, that concentrates on college coaching, we spotlight Jamie Hunt, the third coach in UGA men’s tennis history, who starts in his new post this year. Jamie, who was a member of the 2007-08 Georgia champion teams, talks about the legacy of Dan Magill and his tutelage under Manny Diaz, both Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductees. Saying he could write a book with all of the notes he’s taken in his seven years as associate head coach, he extolls Diaz and how the former coach prepared him for the head coach job.
In this episode, we sit down with Mark Beckham, who shares his inspiring journey from college tennis player to head coach of the women’s team at his alma mater, the University of Louisville. Born and raised in Louisville, Mark reflects on the unique experience of coaching where he once played and the pride he feels representing his hometown. Coach Beckham discusses the evolution of college tennis, the complexities of blending transfer students with freshmen and the challenges of recruiting in today’s competitive landscape. Mark also shares his deep connection to Louisville sports, growing up a fan of the Cardinals and how legends like Arthur Ashe inspired his tennis career.
The last Grand Slam of the year brings a New York vibe to tennis as the US Open begins. USTA General Manager, Player Development Martin Blackman, discusses the chances of Americans, including former Atlanta resident Coco Gauff repeating her 2023 success. Southerners Ben Shelton, Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul join a great USA contingent including Danielle Collins, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe as they vie for America’s most coveted Grand Slam title. Martin also explains how the US Open’s bottom line directly contributes to the American grassroots, supporting underserved youth and recreational players. Do not miss this opportunity to listen in on the US Open and the stamp it’s making on players and communities nationwide.
- In this episode of Talking Tennis Southern Style, we’re joined by Gray Smith, a Board Member of the Winston-Salem Open and the North Carolina Tennis Foundation. Gray delves into North Carolina’s rich tennis history, highlighting the legendary players who have graced its courts, including Rod Laver, Cliff Richard, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Andy Roddick and Patrick McEnroe. Gray provides unique insights into the ATP Tour's Winston-Salem Open, discussing how it came together and the crucial role volunteers played in its success. He also touches on the tournament’s commitment to giving back to the community and its impact beyond the court. Tune in to hear about the legacy of tennis in North Carolina and the ongoing efforts to support and grow the sport.
USTA Southern EVP Ted Reese runs Cary Tennis Classic
Top 100 men and women are playing this week at the Cary (N.C) Tennis Park with numerous community and charity events.
We welcome Ted Reese, who volunteers in his leadership role as USTA Southern Executive Vice President. He takes time this week to talk about his dual USTA Pro Circuit tournaments running in his hometown of Cary, N.C. As Co-tournament Director of the Cary Tennis Classic, Ted emphasizes the growth of the tournaments that attracted top male and female stars like 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori, Christopher Eubanks, Olympic silver medalist Diana Shnaider and the fifth-seed from Georgia Mccartney Kessler. Listen as he shares his heart in promoting the community and charity work done by the tournament and how the region’s tennis is enhanced by this week-long professional tennis event.
Join us on the latest episode of "Talking Southern Style Tennis" as we sit down with Paul Pittman, Chair of the USTA Southern Advocacy Task Force and Chair of the Major Gifts Committee for the Southern Tennis Foundation. In this episode, Paul shares insights into how the Southern Tennis Foundation is dedicated to growing the sport of tennis across the Southern section. Discover their impactful grants that fund tennis programs and initiatives, as well as their scholarships for juniors heading to college.
USA players competing in the Paris Olympics
Karen Pestaina of TennisPanorama.com discusses Tommy Paul, Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend and other American players at the Summer Olympics.
“Playing the Olympics and playing for your country really energizes players,” says Karen Pestaina, founder and editor-in-chief of TennisPanorama.com. Karen highlights Southern players who can make a big impact in Paris. She focuses on the chances of Tommy Paul, who won a Roland Garros junior title, and South Carolina’s Emma Navarro to bring home a medal from France. She also recaps the last Atlanta Open. Listen to the insights of a veteran tennis journalist!
In this episode, we sit down with Patricia Jensen, mother of four former professional tennis players, including 1993 French Open men’s doubles champions Luke and Murphy Jensen. Patricia shares her unique insights and experiences from transporting four children playing junior tournaments, where she put over 100K miles on her car one summer, to watching them play on the professional tour. Once dubbed the “matriarch of Atlanta’s No. 1 tennis family” by USTA Southern, she continues to volunteer in the tennis world by organizing the ball persons for the Atlanta Open and Georgia Tech. Listen in on her stories as a mother and being the number one fan of all of her tennis playing kids.
Current Tournament Director Peter Lebedevs and former TD Eddie Gonzalez explain how the Atlanta Open became a fixture in the local summer sports scene. Known for many years as the BB&T Atlanta Open and the Truist Atlanta Open, the city’s ATP tournament put down anchor in 2012 at the iconic Atlantic Station with its breathtaking cityscape. GF Sports & Entertainment brought in top-level support. They also discuss great competition, noting former Georgia Bulldog John Isner won six championships.
As the Georgia capital says farewell to its most important pro tennis tournament – the Atlanta Open – we chat with the first two tournament directors. Bill Oakes, USTA Southern’s Director, Marketing & Sales in 2010, helped bring the tournament to metro Atlanta. Bill Bryant ushered in its move to Atlantic Station. Both reminisce about the joys and challenges of hosting an ATP tournament in the best tennis city in the country. Next week, we will interview the two tournament directors who have overseen the “mini US Open” for over a decade.
In this episode, we welcome two special guests: John Isner, the six-time Atlanta Open champion, and Martin Blackman, the USTA General Manager of Player Development. John discusses his upcoming exhibition match with Andy Roddick against the Bryan brothers, shares his experiences as a player in the Atlanta Open, and gives his insights on the future of tennis in Atlanta. Martin provides an in-depth analysis of Americans at Wimbledon, highlighting the top American players, including Southerners Coco Gauff, Emma Navarro, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Christopher Eubanks and Alycia Parks.
Amy Brandon has the Lake Norman, N.C., tennis community hitting red balls on short tennis courts. As a pioneer for adults in metro Charlotte, she started the ServeAces Mini-Tennis Brewery League, which has grown to more than 500 players from 64 players since 2016. The Lake Norman Tennis Association Executive Director’s efforts align with the expanding USTA Adult Red Ball Tennis program. She says the goal is to bring tennis to adults in a non-threatening, easy-to-play environment with scoring and rules designed for 36' courts. List to how she’s transforming the tennis world, one beer at a time.
Five years ago, at the age of 10, Lex Stolle was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He began a years-long series of chemotherapy treatments at Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s in Atlanta. Now, his recovery includes tennis, a love he shares with his father. His talents in communication and inspiring hope in other cancer victims have led him to host a radio show on WSB on first Sunday of every month, 1-2 p.m., with assistance from the Children’s Health Care of Atlanta. He wants to have a career as a motivational speaker … and when you hear this podcast, you’ll see, he is definitely on his way!
No one can match Al Parker’s junior career … a national champion 25 times and ranked No. 1 in Boys’ 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s from 1981-86. He reminisces about playing at the University of Georgia, which hosted and won NCAA Championships in the 1980s. “We were definitely a force,” the four-time All-American said. He has been inducted into three Halls of Fame, including the Southern Hall of Fame in 2010. He rose to No. 261 on the ATP Tour but his career was limited by a back injury sustained in college. Listen to Al as he shares how he’s applied what he learned as a top junior and collegiate player to his daily personal and professional life.
Want to hear a behind-the-scenes perspective from a photo shoot with Frances Tiafoe and Aryna Sabalenka? Michelle Heidbrink of Tennis Warehouse talks about being on-site with the tennis stars and previewing new clothing a year in advance. She also recommends checking out the sleek designs of Naomi Osaka and Rafa Nadal shoes. Of course, the newest racquets are available and guaranteed to boost your strokes. For Father’s Day, gifts sure to please Dad include customizing a racquet, new high-performance strings or a new shirt for his next match.
Sheryl McAlister, Senior Director of Advocacy and Community Development for USTA South Carolina, discusses their efforts in promoting tennis during National Tennis Month. She highlights their advocacy work, increased grant applications and the enthusiastic involvement of staff and volunteers. Sheryl also addresses challenges in providing quality public tennis courts and their initiatives to engage state officials and local communities.
USTA General Manager, Player Development Martin Blackman, discusses the growing crop of Americans showing their grit on the French Open’s terre battue. Among the players highlighted are Danielle Collins and Frances Tiafoe, along with Southerners Coco Gauff, Emma Navarro, Alycia Parks, Tommy Paul and Christopher Eubanks. Another hot topic is the Summer Olympics, which will be played at Roland Garros.
- In this episode, we sit down with Bill Oakes, the former tournament director of the acclaimed ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open and Senior Associate Athletic Director of Wake Forest University. Bill shares his thoughts on innovative tournament formats, the significance of college tennis, and reflects on the upcoming last year of the Atlanta Open, which he also ran.
We applaud anyone playing tennis in a driveway. But, realistically, 99% of tennis is played on courts. Paul Pittman, the long-time dominant force of tennis in Florence, S.C., is now chairing USTA Southern’s push to protect and increase the number of our tennis courts. Pittman speaks to grassroots tennis advocates who are working to ensure that new tennis courts are improved and built, and not turned into pickleball courts.
In this episode, we chat with Bobby Reynolds, Auburn Men’s tennis head coach, a former No. 1 collegiate player at Vanderbilt and a former ATP player. He shares insights from coaching in the SEC and offers advice for aspiring players aiming for college and pro success, along with tips for competitive coaching. Reflecting on his pro tour days when he topped out at No. 63 in the world, coach Reynolds also touches on the broader impact of the sport. He grew up in metro Atlanta.
Join us for an insightful episode featuring Bob Willis, President of the Louisville (Ky.) Area 10 & Under Tennis Association. Willis will host a National Tennis Month “Bring A Friend” lesson on May 25 at Charlie Vettiner Park. He recounts last year’s experience with a successful NTM event. Don't miss out on Willis’s valuable tips and strategies for drawing new players to the sport with impactful tennis celebrations in your community!
Kristie Flowers hosted a Cardio Tennis session during 2023 and plans more sessions next month during National Tennis Month (NTM). She gets people active at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center in Florence, S.C. Flowers has had as many 50 participants get their heart rates up. She cites USTA Southern Board Member Ernie James for promoting NTM events.
How do you expand tennis in your state? A strategic focus of USTA is increasing the number of providers like parks and recreation departments, coaches, teachers, tournament directors and grassroots tennis associations. Tyler Strong is using his knowledge of Junior Team Tennis to make connections with coaches and facilities. A nearly 10-year veteran of USTA Tennessee, Strong also celebrates tennis parents who assist coaches
Andrew Krasny is best known for his post-match interviews on court for Tennis Channel. This week he is the host and emcee of Credit One Charleston Open, a tournament he considers among the best in the world for featuring the brightest women’s stars in the game. Over his storied career, Krasny has been one of the faces you've seen at Indian Wells, the Miami Open and Cincinnati, connecting TV viewers with the world’s best tennis players.
Arianne Hartono, a Dutch professional tennis player ranked No. 140 in WTA singles, made history at the University of Mississippi by winning the 2018 NCAA Women's Singles Tennis Championship, the first Dutch player to do so. She also received the 2018 Honda Sports Award for top female collegiate tennis player. Hartono is engaged to her coach Jason Ontog, a former USTA Tennessee staff member and UT-Chattanooga Hall of Fame inductee known for his tennis achievements. He was the 2000 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and rose to a national ranking of No. 67 in 2003. Together, they offer insights into the travel demands and life on the WTA Tour.
Elizabeth Henderson’s life in tennis started by being No. 1 in numerous junior age levels in USTA Southern before being recognized as an All-American at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. She started her collegiate coaching odyssey at the University of North Carolina, followed by her first head coaching job at William & Mary. That led to a four-year stint as women’s head tennis coach at the UT in Knoxville. She was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. For more than 30 years she has focused on her true passion: teaching young players at the Peninsula Club in Knoxville.
We chatted with John Cox, whose volunteer work covers many areas of tennis, including numerous posts in USTA Southern. Still, he has a soft spot for the students of Bayou Academy in Cleveland, Miss., where he began coaching the tennis team in 2017. His goal is to make tennis “cool” and get players on court and practicing. Winning two state titles and being awarded the 2023 USTA Southern No-Cut Coach Starfish and USTA Mississippi Coach of the Year awards is just an extra bonus.
We talk with the 2023 USTA Southern Local League Coordinator of the Year Anna Martin. She is a veteran of more than 23 years of promoting and organizing USTA League, providing a rich history of tennis in Wilmington, N.C. She now supports nearly 200 adult recreational teams. Martin highlights the importance of playing against players with similar skill levels for the Greater Wilmington (N.C) Tennis Association. She also serves as a teacher and director at a local church school.
Interviewed are two podcasters: Chris Godby & Chad Young of the awarding-winning “Game Set Match Kentucky!”
After more than four years of uploading a two-interview podcast every other Thursday, the new “Talking Tennis Southern Style” plans on showcasing a single interview every Tuesday or Wednesday.
Chris Godby & Chad Young produce “Game Set Match Kentucky!” Their podcast won the 2023 USTA Southern Marc Kaplan Media Excellence Award for their show which concentrates on tennis in Central Kentucky Tennis Series CTA. The duo talked about content and the technical aspects of hosting the podcast from a home studio.
George “Ged” Schwing was honored with the Slew Hester Male Player of the Year for top adult player. Schwing has been a member of Team Louisiana for the Callen Cup and served as a captain the last few years, along with competing on the winning Southern team at the 2022 Keith Donoff Cup.
Ozaki-Hastings Junior Sportsmanship Award winner Ryan Cozad was recognized at the USTA National Clay Courts Championships, as he received their Sportsmanship Award. He loves competing in team events, especially the Ozaki Cup for Team Georgia, and in the Battle of Sections for Team Southern.
With the number of tennis players growing in the last five years, more tennis courts are needed. While some courts are being converted to pickleball courts, the USTA Southern Advocacy Task Force is enabling grassroots advocates to make the case for adding, and not reducing, the number of tennis courts. Former Board Member Paul Pittman chairs the task force and explains the advocacy tools provided by USTA Southern.
In our first episode of Black History Month, we interview Calvin Kemp of Lafayette, La. Kemp was honored with the 2023 Southern Tennis Professional of the Year and received another award, the Member Organization of the Year, for Acadiana Serves. The award citation mentioned, “As an ATP Certified GPTCA International Coach, PTR Certified Coach, and Tennis Performance Trainer, Calvin brings a wealth of expertise.”
It’s a new year and time for our Grand Slam correspondent to preview American and Southern players. USTA General Manager, Player Development Martin Blackman calls in from Down Under with high hopes for players with Georgia roots: Coco Gauff, Taylor Townsend, Ben Shelton & Christopher Eubanks. Yolanda “Yola” Ramírez Ochoa won mixed doubles and finished as a singles finalist twice at Roland Garros. The former No. 6 in the world from Mexico chats about her illustrious career with her son, Ponch, a top-flight player himself.
Finishing our fourth season, “Talking Tennis Southern Style” wraps up 2023 with compelling excerpts of eight of our favorite interviews. We are proud to highlight insightful conversations with these guests: * Michelle Curry of the Althea Gibson CTA * Tennis memorabilia collector and USTA Kentucky Past President Mike Eden * USTA Chairman of the Board and President Dr. Brian Hainline * USTA Georgia’s Darren Potkey * Jermaine Jenkins, practice partner of Serena and Venus Williams * NJTL leader Belen Gomez-Jordana * No. 1 Wheelchair Tennis player Zane Goodwin & mom Lara Polk * Southern Hall of Famer Keith Richardson
Jane Preyer made her mark as an All-American at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill before succeeding in the WTA Tour. She reached No. 43 and defeated some top players including Evonne Goolagong. Later she took to coaching and led the Duke University women to four ACC championships. Keith Richardson is now inducted into his fifth hall of fame. His career began with achievement at Appalachian State and was named a “Legend” in 2012. With victories over Kevin Curren and Eliott Teltscher, he rose to No. 63 in singles and No. 146 in doubles. Richardson also was honored as a teaching pro by the US Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). We also preview our year-end highlight episode, scheduled for release on Thursday, Dec. 14.
Marshall Happer headed the Men’s Tennis Council from 1981-89, making him the only unofficial commissioner of men’s professional tennis. He draws upon his extensive tennis background – including USTA Executive Director, USTA Southern President & CEO and Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee – in writing “Pioneers of the Game.” The 871-page history documents the 40-year trek of men’s professional tennis from the Open Era through the advent of the ATP Tour. Happer recounts his relationships with Jack Kramer, Phillippe Chatrier, Arthur Ashe, Lamar Hunt, Donald Dell, Tony Trabert, among others.
Wheelchair tennis is booming and Zane Goodwin is riding the crest to the top of the game. The 16-year-old Birmingham, Ala., resident is the top junior wheelchair tennis player in the country and winner of the Cincinnati Wheelchair Open. Zane talks about his dedication to the sport while his mom, Lara Polk, describes how she loves traveling to tournaments nationwide.
USTA Southern recently hosted a blind and visually impaired workshop that was conducted by the Georgia Academy for the Blind. Superintendent Dr. Cindy Gibson welcomed the opportunity to help sighted players experience the sport from the perspective of the blind and visually impaired. Using audible balls, shorter racquets and tactile lines, 25 tennis professionals were tutored with specific strategies.
Highlighted is junior Jaylon Salters, of Ladson, S.C. We preview a special episode with Marshall Happer, author of “Pioneers of the Game” and former USTA Southern President.
In a remarkable achievement, Manny Diaz, the veteran men's tennis coach at the University of Georgia, will be inducted into the prestigious Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, this January. Diaz reflects on his illustrious career, during which he achieved a remarkable SEC-record of 767 wins for the University of Georgia men's tennis team. He takes pride in his associations with renowned former American tennis star John Isner along with current NCAA champion, Ethan Quinn.
Get ready to stock up on perfect tennis gifts for your favorite player! Tennis Warehouse’s Michelle Heidbrink previews her favorite tennis merchandise, clothing, shoes, racquets, etc. As a USTA Southern partner, Tennis Warehouse offers discounts to the 166,000+ USTA Southern members.
Highlighted are juniors Houston Jacques, of Huntsville, Alabama, and Athletic Club Alabama, and 2022 USTA Mississippi Hall of Famers Nick Barone and Louis Nash.
Tennis is the sport of a lifetime and a former Atlanta Falcon wide receiver Brian Finneran is now excited about playing and watching tennis. He was wowed by the speed and athleticism of pro tennis players at the Atlanta Open. Brian can be heard on air on 680 The Fan, an Atlanta sports radio station. Andrew Walker worked four years at USTA Kentucky while rising in the ranks of tennis officiating. Now he is the Chief Umpire of the US Open. With October being LGBT History Month, Andrew recounted that when he was hired by the USTA Officiating Department, he felt secure enough to come out. In our spotlights are USTA Gold Ball champions Carrington Brown and Raegan Mulberry of Georgia and Kentucky Tennis Hall of Famers Tom McGraw and Katy Tinius.
Omar Alcaino has been at the helm of seven straight USTA Mississippi Junior Team Tennis champion teams including winning a Southern 10 & Under Intermediate title this year. Embracing his Chilean heritage, he reflects on his journey, which led him to excel as a Sun Belt singles champion at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and thrive as a dedicated tennis coach. Brenda Carter achieved the impressive distinction of being ranked No. 1 in her age division eight times when she was inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2015. Her remarkable success continues as Carter currently serves as the playing captain for the United States in the 75s ITF Masters World Championships in Spain. Notably, she holds the No. 10 world ranking within her age group. Highlighted are Remedios “Edward” Naval of Charleston, South Carolina, and USTA Louisiana Hall of Famers Lauren Cotter Wilson, Harold "Rocky" Andry and Ruthie Shoptaught Kean and family.
Talking Tennis Soutern Style promotes Hispanic Heritage Month. With almost twenty years of experience as a tennis teacher, Belén Gómez-Jordana founded the non-profit and NJTL United Tennis. In order to counter stereotypes, Gómez-Jordana created the Tennis for All program. She delivers group and individual classes at a very low cost. Gómez-Jordana volunteers on the USTA North Carolina Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is a former journalist at Telemundo Noticias Charlotte. Ponch Ochoa was an All-American at North Carolina State and cites his family background for launching his tennis career. He is the son of French Open 1958 women’s doubles and 1959 mixed doubles champion Yolanda "Yola" Ramírez Ochoa. Ponch remembers her ability, tenacity and grit as a tennis coach. His father, Alfonso Ochoa, was also a top-level pro who played on the ATP Tour. We celebrate North Carolinian juniors Siddhant Dua & Smyan Vijay and the newest inductees into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame: Leslie Hewett Bashinsky and Dudley Reynolds.
Leigh Torrence says tennis was his first love and dreamed of being another Arthur Ashe. He was a top-level junior out of Atlanta. Still, he’s most famous for his NFL career, playing for six teams including the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, and coaching for the Saints and New York Jets. “I think tennis is demanding of you mentally … and great preparation for football.” He recently took the USTA Coach Level 1 Workshop to begin teaching tennis. World-renowned sports performance researcher Dr. Mark Kovacs, from Marietta, Georgia, was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion at Auburn University and earned his doctoral degree from the University of Alabama. He focuses on improving tennis service motions, along with working with NBA basketball players. Kovacs was the youngest recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award. Highlighted are junior Caiden Karetas, of Gulfport Mississippi, and North Carolina Tennis Hall of Famers Rebel Good, Jeff Joyce, Sam Paul and Clifford Skakle.
More than 25 years ago, Jennifer Edmonson volunteered at the Cajun Classic, a wheelchair tennis tournament in Baton Rouge. Her role expanded to the USTA Southern Wheelchair Tennis Chair and then the USTA chair. Now, she takes on the role of US Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Director. Talking about wheelchair tennis in collegiate tennis is Chuck McCuen, who coaches at Clemson University. He started the program at Georgia State, where he was inducted into their Hall of Fame. Our highlights include Isabella Graeber, winner of the Good Chase Sportsmanship Race, and Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame inductees Stephen Enochs and Robby Ginepri.
US Open preview: Martin Blackman on Gauff, Pegula, Fritz and Tiafoe
UNC champion Carson Tanguilig heads to US Open doubles main draw
It’s US Open time! USTA’s Martin Blackman previews the year’s last Grand Slam and breaks down the chances of Americans Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. Alpharetta, Georgia’s Carson Tanguilig won the NCAA women’s doubles title, earning her and Fiona Crawley wild cards in the US Open doubles main draw. The duo were on the North Carolina Tar Heels national championship team which defeated NC State in the team final. We feature twins from Metairie, Louisiana: Caroline and Thomas Melius and South Carolina Tennis Hall of Famers Ann Hunt and Mary Carlisle White Gambill.
What is your pursuit in the middle years of life? Two USTA Southern volunteers decided they wanted to talk about USTA League tennis. North Carolina residents Carolyn Roach and Erin Conigliaro named their podcast "Second Serve" and connect with thousands of listeners to their weekly conversation. Everything from rules to pet peeves to etiquette questions are covered with a sense of humor and humility. This time of year is about playing in the Southern heat. We go to our top tennis health expert: USTA Chairman of the Board and President Brian Hainline. Dr. Hainline serves as NCAA Chief Medical Officer and provides an extensive round-up of how to play when the temperature is challenging. We feature two Arkansans: junior Caroline Jones and Arkansas Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Bowman.
The annual ATP Tour 250 tournament – the Atlanta Open – has the game’s breakout star Christopher Eubanks in the main draw. “Of course, he’s playing” says Tournament Director Peter Lebedevs about the Atlanta native and former Georgia Tech star who played only a few miles away from the Atlantic Station site. The Tech connection continues with the second tournament appearance by GT player Andres Martin. Kenny Thorne, the men’s coach, returns to the podcast to talk about the opportunities given to college players to compete on the ATP Tour. Our episode highlights are junior Juliana Diianni, of Marietta, Ga., USTA Southern Mickey McNulty Family of the Year winner, the Koch family of Abbeville, La., and the No-Cut Coach Starfish Award winner Jordan Johnson, of Pikeville, Ky.
With American players competing at the Big W in London, USTA Director, Player Development Martin Blackman tracks the preparation of up-and-coming pros in Florida and European warmup events. He proudly mentions four US players who now reside in the top 10: Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. Among the Southerners he profiled include Taylor Townsend, Ben Shelton, Christopher Eubanks and Tommy Paul. USTA women’s coach Jermaine Jenkins, Ga., zeros in on how to nurture high-level players with professional potential. Along with talking about his family - including brothers Jamere and Jackie, Jr. - from College Park, Georgia, he also described being the hitting partner of Venus Williams. We highlight junior Grace Stout, of Brentwood, Tennessee, and North Carolina Wesleyan’s Albie Brice, the 2023 USA South Coach of the Year.
Sone of the most exciting – and often overlooked – tennis matches are played on college campuses. These two coaches made their women’s teams among the best in the country. As Alabama’s women’s tennis coach, Jenny Mainz was named the 2013 ITA National Coach of the Year and won two NCAA Doubles Championships in 2014 & 2015. She offers a rich history of how Alabama women’s tennis rose from barely having a team to be one of the SEC best over her 26 years at the helm. Upon his retirement this year, Jeff Wallace was the winningest college coach in the country. His Bulldogs won NCAA titles in 1994 and 2000 along with four other national titles. He was named ITA National Coach of the year four times. He discusses the NCAA hosting three division championships at the USTA National Campus. We highlight junior Evan Duggal, of Lexington Ky., and the 100th anniversary of the West Louisville (Ky.) Tennis Club!
USTA Southern presents more than 20 annual awards and we interview two in celebration of Juneteenth. Vanita Phinisey talks about her mission to promote tennis in Columbus, Miss., with the 3rd Annual Battle of the States. Hosted by Golden Triangle Tennis, the National Tennis Month tournament won the Special Tennis Event of the Year and featured inter-state competition and the ability of juniors to team with adults. The Diversity & Inclusion Champion went to Ezekiel Salama, who came from the Rising Stars NJTL of Kentucky. He is a top-level high school track and tennis athlete whose poise and hard work have made him a star on and off the court. The Shelbyville, Ky. teenager has a 4.0 GPA. We highlight junior Alex LaFrance of Little Rock, Ark. We congratulate other USTA Southern Award winners: Junior Team Tennis Coordinator of the Year Carla O’Connor, Local League Coordinator of the Year Robyn Haug, both of Charlotte, N.C.
May is National Tennis Month and it will shine brightly in the Rocket City as USTA Southern hosts a $15K Men’s and Women’s Pro Circuit event on clay in Huntsville, Ala. Tournament Director Milly Sequera Huss, known for her top-29 WTA career, is the tournament director and talks about HBCU players receiving wild cards. There are seven free local events throughout the tournament May 22-28 and USTA Southern staffer Claire Bartlett outlines activities for the young and not-so young.
Just in time for all three NCAA team championships at the USTA National Campus, Lake Nona, Fla., we interview tennis journalist Colette Lewis. She runs the renown website, ZooTennis.com, which daily covers everything in the junior and college tennis world. She reviews the DI teams who are looking to bring home championship trophies this month. Our highlights are junior Wes Noland, from Madison, Miss., and USTA Southern Marilyn Sherman Spirit Award winner Cathy Greene, of Lottie, Ala. and Gerrie Rothwell Award winner Bret Peterson, of Auburn, Ala.
We return to our roots and bring back Dr. Brian Hainline. Our first podcast guest returns now as the USTA Chairman of the Board and President. As NCAA Chief Medical Officer, lends even more credence to why he focuses on the great health benefits of tennis – 9.7 more years of life! With tennis participation skyrocketing, Brian also highlights how it has grown in Hispanic/Latino, Black/African and Asian/Pacific communities. He also supports the need for great sportsmanship and more officials to oversee the game. It’s almost May, which means it’s time for National Tennis Month! USTA Southern Marketing & Public Relations Committee Chair James McKissick talks about NTM and what Southern volunteers are doing to celebrate it. Our NTM events have jumped to 386 events, nearly double our 2022 total. Highlighted are junior Emily Baek, of Suwanee, Ga., and USTA Southern award winners: the 3rd Annual Battle of the Sexes in Columbus, Miss. and the Level 5 open Team Pilot in Ridgeland, Miss.
USTA Delivery Council Chair Greg Lappin promotes National Tennis Month, a national initiative coming in May. Lappin champions the health benefits of tennis that increases your life by 9.7 years, clearly more than any other sport. He applauds USTA volunteers who are “creating positive healthy lifestyles.” Additionally, he cites tennis participation has skyrocketed, adding 5.9 million Americans, a 33% increase since 2020 nationally. USTA Southern Board Member Ernie James, of Florence, S.C., is heading up a new initiative: Good Chase. The nomination process, starting May 1, will reward juniors who exhibit exemplary sportsmanship and contribute to a more positive and respectful tournament environment. The top award will be a trip to this year’s US Open! We highlight junior Hadley Appling, of Louisville, Ky., and Ozaki-Hastings Sportsmanship Award winner Parker Jacques, of Huntsville, Ala. Major props go out to our “Talking Tennis Southern Style” podcast team member Darren Potkey, who was honored as the 2022 Mac MacDougal Official of the Year.
Taking the helm of USTA’s largest section, Brett Schwartz is striving to improve NJTLs, public parks and grassroots efforts in nine states. He also chats about co-writing “Competitive Tennis” that helps players climb the USTA League NTRP ladder along with his work as Tennis Director at the Stone Creek Club & Spa. Madison Keys and her mother, Christine, established the Kindness Wins Foundation that “supports youth access to sports, education and their own desires to make a difference and create a kinder world.” With the assistance of USTA South Carolina’s April Gift, they funded improvements to the JV Morris Tennis Center in conjunction with the Credit One Charleston Open. Funding was also provided by USTA South Carolina and the WTA Charities. Our highlights include a junior from Birmingham, Ala., Tabb Tuck, and 2022 USTA Southern award winners Reid Kinlaw of the Town of Cary, N.C., and Noah Schepman, of Germantown, Tenn.
USTA’s digital presence took a major step forward with the release of its new app. USTA staffers Michael Hughes and Alanna Broderick describe its many features including listing WTN real-time status and rankings, recent tournament and USTA League results and other info all tennis players need at their fingerprints. The Apple version is available now, with the Android version set to release within the next month. Mike Eden is a former USTA Kentucky President whose passion is collecting tennis history. Among the hundreds of cans of balls, racquets, books, magazines and other historic memorabilia in his home, he calls one item the “holy grail:” the first metal tennis can from 1926, which makes him the proud owner of the only unopened can on the planet. Our highlights include junior Ellison Reynoldson, of Camden, Tenn., and 2022 USTA Southern junior award winners Riley Crowder, of Dothan, Ala., and Jelani Sarr, of Pooler, Ga.
Through its long history and current program offerings, women continue to be a driving force within USTA Southern. We start with Jaime Kaplan, who rose to No. 91 in doubles on the WTA Tour and was inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2020. She talks about her current role as Southern Tennis Foundation’s Director, Development & Operations, spreading the word about its giving back mission and raising funds. Maria Cercone heads up junior tennis for USTA Southern and discusses the new Playoff Series which provides opportunities for players of diverse backgrounds to earn a wild card for the $15K USTA Pro Circuit event in Huntsville, Alabama May 22-28. The Florida Tennis Hall of Famer explains how the series gives expanded opportunities to HBCU players. This episode spotlights the achievements of Raleigh, N.C.’s Gavin Goode, along with the 2022 Slew Hester Players of the Year Karen Rembert, of Raleigh, N.C. and Albert Lyle, from Jackson, Miss.
We celebrate Black History Month with leading voices in Black Tennis. Through the USTA Fellowship in Tennis Coaching and Leadership Powered by Athleta program, Venecca Green discovered a coaching opportunity at the HBCU and Division II Lane College. Even though she admitted she is at “retirement age”, she proudly begins her coaching career at the helm of the Dragons women’s & men’s tennis programs in Jackson, Tenn. We honor the legacy and impact of the iconic Althea Gibson, winner of the US Open, Wimbledon and French Open. Michelle Curry, estate executor & COO of Althea Gibson CTA in Orange, N.J., talks about the Silver, S.C.-born legend and her impact on the sport. Gibson was also an outstanding musician, golfer and trailblazer for all athletes who came after her. To memorialize her impact on Southern tennis, the Southern Tennis Foundation has established the Althea Gibson Scholarship. Our highlights include junior Hannah Lawrence, of Slidell, La., and USTA Southern award winners Stacie Kennington, of Statesville, N.C., (Southern Professional) and Andy Collier, of The Bolivar Bullet in Cleveland, Miss. (Media Excellence).
We celebrate Black History Month with leading voices in Black tennis. First up Rex Miller is the film director of Althea, about the legendary Althea Gibson. He also produced Citizen Ashe about Arthur Ashe that was shown last year on CNN. The 2015 film about Gibson was partially inspired by his mother’s 6-0, 6-1 loss to the International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee. Using a trove of historical photos, Miller was able to put together the leading film about the South Carolina native. He also mentions our next guest: Art Carrington. The author of Black Tennis: An Archival Collection 1890-1962, Carrington played one of the most notable tennis matches at that time between black athletes that was televised with commentary by Gibson and ITHOF inductee Bud Collins. This episode we feature Cave Springs, Arkansas’ Glennah Langford in our junior spotlight. We applaud two USTA Southern award winners: Paducah (Kentucky) Community Tennis Association and Bayou Bluff Tennis Club in Gulfport, Mississippi.
The award-winning Cajun Classic Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, an international event with over 100 professional/recreational players and hundreds of spectators, does not happen without dedicated volunteers like Cathy Greene, of Lottie, Louisiana. She always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude that lights up a room. Cathy also volunteers at the Hallowheel Tournament, working the tournament desk. Our second interview is with a leader who works the hard and achieves the most when no one is watching. She is University of South Carolina Club Tennis Vice President Crawford Latham. She has made significant improvements to the team, including reorganizing all club tennis records and the club constitution. Along with the club president, she created plans to secure sponsorships. Our junior highlight is junior Lucy Lee, of Jackson, Miss. We also salute 2022 USTA Southern award winners: Adult Tournament of the Year, USTA Atlanta Combo Doubles (Atlanta, Ga., Maegan Kulich) and Jim Russell Junior Tournament of the Year, Southeastern Junior Team Championships (Auburn, Ala., Bret Peterson).
Our Grand Slam correspondent – Martin Blackman of the USTA – previews American players heading into the Australian Open. With eight men aged 25 and younger in the ATP Tour top 50, Blackman sees a great 2023. Additionally, he says Atlanta native Ben Shelton, who past No. 100 in the world last year, is skyrocketing. He also discusses two top 10 women: former Atlantan Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. We continue to focus on Atlanta as native Alycia Parks sits at No. 75 in the world. The confident 22-year-old, who won in Angers last year, has a big serve and delivers forthright comments on her 2023 goals. Host Sam Crenshaw remembers when he rallied with her years ago. Our junior highlight is Justin Martin of Collierville, Tenn. We honor two USTA Southern award winners Tennis On Campus Club Univ. of North Carolina/Chapel Hill and TOC Leader Crawford Latham of Univ. of South Carolina.
2022 was a banner year for tennis across USTA Southern. We replay excerpts from some of most engaging and favorite interviews from the past 12 months. Host Sam Crenshaw and audio producer Kyle Blackburn not only give their opinions on another great year of tennis conversations, but also their working camaraderie. Compiled interviewees are collegiate coaches Rodney Harmon (Georgia Tech women) & Chase Hodges (Georgia Gwinnett), TV personality Cindy Farmer, Doctors Eli Friedman & Neeru Jayanthi, Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Jorge Andrew, filmmaker Rex Miller, 2021 US Open women’s singles finalist Leylah Fernandez, Tennisrecruiting.net founder Julie Wrege, tennis retail store owner Dan Kester and Southern Tennis Foundation leadership Eleanora Mauritson & Paul Pittman. Enjoy and we’ll see you back in January 2023!
Victoria Chiesa (USTA Assistant Managing Editor, Corporate Communications) describes the biggest event in American tennis this year: Serena Williams’ retirement at the US Open. An editor of USTA.com, she also chronicles the rise of other American women on the WTA Tour in 2022, most notably former Atlanta player Coco Gauff. Unfortunately, the demise of the printed version of Tennis magazine is upon us. Senior writer Stephen Tignor talks about interviewing a young Roger Federer and other pros, along with how the magazine has supported recreational tennis players’ interests for decades. Featured in our On the Rise segment is junior Parker Free, of Madison, Ala. We tip our hats to the following cities that won 2022 USTA Facility Awards: two from Shreveport, La. and Anderson, S.C.; Cary, N.C.; Florence, S.C.; Macon, Ga.; Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Valdosta, Ga.
Paul Pittman and Eleanora Mauritson shepherd the Southern Tennis Foundation’s expanding number of college scholarships. Pittman chairs the Major Gifts Committee that has established 19 scholarships, beginning in 2016. In 2022 alone, the committee raised $220K to help 10 qualified high school seniors residing in the Southern Section with their higher education ambitions. Categories that qualifying students are judged on are tournament rankings, high school tennis and/or Junior Team Tennis and participation in NJTL or another USTA-sponsored program. Mauritson honored her late husband by donating $30,000 to start the David R. Mauritson Memorial Scholarship. David was an accomplished doctor, attorney and pilot, who also worked as a tennis official. Our “On the Rise” junior is Alden Johnson, of Ashland, Ky., and the Cary, N.C., Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources department.
With Black Friday ushering in the holiday gift-giving season, we talk to two recognized experts about ideas for the tennis player(s) in your life. Tennis Warehouse’s Michelle Heidbrink updates us on an improved supply chain and what trendy apparel and new racquets are now in stock. Writer and commentator Rick Limpert provides tips on online gift purchasing, including the latest in shoes and zeroing in on tennis-related gifts. Our “On the Rise” Junior Spotlight this week features Kevin Praphan of Fort Smith, Arkansas. We also salute the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2023, Paula Hale and Bill Ozaki.
Dan Kester was a junior tennis player who also played on his University of North Carolina club team. His career path was in retail and he was an executive a national department store chain. Kester decided to combine his passion for tennis and sales. Living in Atlanta, known as the biggest tennis town in the country, he opened his store I Play Tennis. He welcomes a wide variety of clientele, including the local LGBQT+ community. David Yamane, of Big Time Tennis in Winston-Salem, N.C., was named the 2014 Racquet Sports Industry Stringer of the Year. He is the leading stringer for the Winston-Salem Open, an ATP Tour event. He talks about stringing along with giving advice to recreational players. In our highlights are Jimin Jung, a top junior from Cary, N.C., and the Parks & Recreation Department of the city of Southaven, Miss.
USTA Managing Director of Major Events Megan Rose talks about the variety of events she oversees including the USTA Pro Circuit and top-level wheelchair tennis tournaments, along with working on major international events such as Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. The 2023 USTA Pro Circuit calendar has 130 tournaments for the next generation of players, including over a dozen right here in USTA Southern. Andre Ferreira is unique as he not only coaches the Brenau women’s tennis squad but also volunteers as President of Northeast Georgia Community Tennis Association (NEGTA). The Sao Paulo, Brazil, native discusses how he runs a variety of grassroots programming on the Brenau courts, including clinics, USTA League matches and after-school outreach programs. We spotlight junior Carter Fayard, of New Orleans, and the Lexington County (S.C.) Recreation & Aging Commission.
USTA Managing Director of Major Events Megan Rose talks about the variety of events she oversees including the USTA Pro Circuit and top-level wheelchair tennis tournaments, along with working on major international events such as Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. The 2023 USTA Pro Circuit calendar has 130 tournaments for the next generation of players, including over a dozen right here in USTA Southern. Andre Ferreira is unique as he not only coaches the Brenau women’s tennis squad but also volunteers as President of Northeast Georgia Community Tennis Association (NEGTA). The Sao Paulo, Brazil, native discusses how he runs a variety of grassroots programming on the Brenau courts, including clinics, USTA League matches and after-school outreach programs. We spotlight junior Carter Fayard, of New Orleans, and the Lexington County (S.C.) Recreation & Aging Commission.
David Marquina works as Junior Programs Coordinator at the Carolina Country Club in Raleigh, N.C. He cites three core values - pride passion and purpose – as keys to impacting Hispanic families and young players. His primary goal is to introduce Hispanic communities to the sport. Xavier University of Louisiana men’s and women’s tennis coach Alan Green has been named ITA/NAIA National Coach of the Year three times and 25 other coaching awards. The New Orleans native was 2022 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He spoke about the challenges of collegiate tennis while his teams were competing in the HBCU National Tennis Championships. Highlighted are USTA Clay Courts Girls’ 12s champion Hannah Ayrault, from Atlanta, and the Bowling Green (Ky.) Parks & Recreation Dept.
David Marquina works as Junior Programs Coordinator at the Carolina Country Club in Raleigh, N.C. He cites three core values - pride passion and purpose – as keys to impacting Hispanic families and young players. His primary goal is to introduce Hispanic communities to the sport. Xavier University of Louisiana men’s and women’s tennis coach Alan Green has been named ITA/NAIA National Coach of the Year three times and 25 other coaching awards. The New Orleans native was 2022 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He spoke about the challenges of collegiate tennis while his teams were competing in the HBCU National Tennis Championships. Highlighted are USTA Clay Courts Girls’ 12s champion Hannah Ayrault, from Atlanta, and the Bowling Green (Ky.) Parks & Recreation Dept.
Scott Handback extensive tennis career now focuses on leading the Methodist University’s Professional Tennis Management program. His students learn the ropes of working as a tennis coach, facility manager and other related fields. Amy Bryant was the first woman to win a tennis national championship as a player (1) and coach (7). She amassed 428 victories in 23 years leading the Emory women’s team in DIII play. Her newest venture is Bryant College Coaching, which guide young athletes on their dream of playing collegiate sports. Our highlights focus on Lillie Murphy, of Knoxville, Tenn., and the Mobile, Alabama, Parks and Recreation Department, which runs one of the most influential and busy tennis facilities in the country.
Scott Handback extensive tennis career now focuses on leading the Methodist University’s Professional Tennis Management program. His students learn the ropes of working as a tennis coach, facility manager and other related fields. Amy Bryant was the first woman to win a tennis national championship as a player (1) and coach (7). She amassed 428 victories in 23 years leading the Emory women’s team in DIII play. Her newest venture is Bryant College Coaching, which guide young athletes on their dream of playing collegiate sports. Our highlights focus on Lillie Murphy, of Knoxville, Tenn., and the Mobile, Alabama, Parks and Recreation Department, which runs one of the most influential and busy tennis facilities in the country.
He finished 2018 ranked 202 but has hit a career-high No. 31 in the world this summer. That’s the outstanding progression of Greenville, North Carolina’s Tommy Paul. Chatting while playing the Atlanta Open, Paul described playing near his Southern home, preparing for the US Open and dealing with travel along with different surfaces and balls on the ATP Tour. Also interviewed is Tiffani Doyle, captain of the Nashville Hot Chickens, a Junior Team Tennis team that has been playing together for four years. They competed in Southern’s National Championship Junior Team Tennis. Our highlights focus on junior brothers Kevaughn & Kaiden Williams, of North Charleston, S.C., and the Lafayette, La. Parks and Recreation Department.
He finished 2018 ranked 202 but has hit a career-high No. 31 in the world this summer. That’s the outstanding progression of Greenville, North Carolina’s Tommy Paul. Chatting while playing the Atlanta Open, Paul described playing near his Southern home, preparing for the US Open and dealing with travel along with different surfaces and balls on the ATP Tour. Also interviewed is Tiffani Doyle, captain of the Nashville Hot Chickens, a Junior Team Tennis team that has been playing together for four years. They competed in Southern’s National Championship Junior Team Tennis. Our highlights focus on junior brothers Kevaughn & Kaiden Williams, of North Charleston, S.C., and the Lafayette, La. Parks and Recreation Department.
Winston-Salem Open Tournament Director Jeff Ryan talks about bringing former US Open champion Dominic Thiem and local favorite Tommy Paul to the men’s pro tournament that proceeds the US Open. Julie Wrege served as junior tournament director of the currently running USTA Girls' 14 National Championship Presented by Coca-Cola in Rome, Ga., and its rich history in Georgia tennis. Then she co-founded the influential website – TennisRecruiting.net - that is the go-to for junior players and their parents. Our spotlights are twins and top juniors Addison & Kennedy Gragg from Louisville, Ky. and the Fort Smith (Ark.) Parks and Recreation Department.
The Special Populations Unified Doubles tournament, better known since its inception in 2009 as SPUD, is a USTA Southern event that features special athletes competing with unified doubles partners in a team competition. The 2022 tournament was played with great joy by athletes from four states. Longtime organizer and former USTA President & CEO Rex Maynard talks about hosting SPUD, along with Jim Hamm and Jack Barker, in his hometown of Belton, S.C. The International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Courting Fashion is on display at the West Baton Rouge Museum in Port Allen, La. Curators Ferin Jones and Lauren Hawthorne talk about bringing the traveling show to the Bayou State. In our highlights are junior Philippa Roy, of Mountain Brook, Ala., and starting a new feature on parks, Williamson County (Tenn.) Parks and Recreation Dept.
Described as the only ATP Tour event that features female players, US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez talks about her exhibition match vs. Coco Gauff (who played junior tennis out of Atlanta) at the upcoming Atlanta Open. The young Canadian is returning to action after a foot injury that kept her out of Wimbledon. Keeping with the tournament’s tradition of supporting college tennis, Georgia Tech’s Andres Martin talks about playing against a long list of top professionals. The Flowery Branch, Ga., player comes off reaching his first USTA Pro Circuit final. We spotlight Buford, Ga. junior Sena Yoon and the 2021 USTA Southern Mickey McNulty Family of the Year: the Burke/Mulkey family of Cary, N.C.
Karen Pestaina, the editor and founder of TennisPanorama.com, goes over the top Americans playing on the green lawns of London. She cites former Atlantan Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz as players who could go deep. Looking to help you up your performance year-round, Rob Carver has written 366 Days of Tennis: A Tip a Day to Improve Your Game. Based on his students writing down his advice, Carver, of Marietta, Ga., decided to do the same in 2020. It took him a year to compile his one-a-day book. In this episode’s highlights are Rogers, Ark.’s junior Kavya Kurichety along with two 2022 USTA Southern award winners from North Carolina: Special Tennis Event of the Year, Atlantic Tire Championships in Cary, and Team Tennis Event of the Year, Lake Norman Tennis Association.
We celebrate Juneteenth with leading voices in Black tennis. First up is the director of Citizen Ashe. Tennis fan Rex Miller, of Durham, N.C., made a film about the famed athlete-activist Arthur Ashe, which makes its TV debut on CNN June 26 at 9 p.m. ET. He also directed a 2015 film about Althea Gibson, entitled Althea, along with numerous credits as an acclaimed cinemaphotographer. Also interviewed is Roxanne Aaron, President of the American Tennis Association. The ATA National Championships for Black tennis players were first played in 1920. Aaron has over 35 years of experience as an administrator for both non-profit and for-profit organizations and has led ATA for three years and talks about the importance of tennis in shaping Black lives. We showcase junior Noah McDonald, of Charlotte, N.C., and USTA Southern award winners Courtney Dugas of Lafayette. La., and Second Serve podcast’s Carolyn Roach and Erin Conigliaro, of Wake Forest, N.C.
It’s springtime which means the pros are on the red clay of Europe and players are sporting new fashions. Our Grand Slam correspondent, Martin Blackman of the USTA, talks about the top US players during the clay court season. As head of Player Development, he explains juniors on the rise. Michelle Heidbrink reveals the current fashion trends in the Tennis Warehouse catalog. She reveals how much influence touring pros have on what sponsor clothing they wear (not much!) and talks about new racquets in 2022.
USTA Southern has its first Executive Director & COO in 33 years with the hiring of Matt Olson. With experience working for Southern more than 20 years ago, Olson headed up USTA Atlanta and USTA New England before coming back to Southern this year. He talks about his grassroots experience starting in Macon, Ga. He also discusses National Tennis Month and the ITF World Tennis Number. Jorge Andrew, of West Columbia, S.C., talks about his induction into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame based on his play on his native Venezuela’s Davis Cup team along with climbing to No. 61 in the ATP rankings. In our highlights are Tylan Lamb, of Greeneville, Tenn., and award winners from North Carolina: Raleigh's Keisha Price and Charlotte's Kelly Flouhouse.
One of the USTA Southern’s most renown players over the last 20 years, 2011 US Open Mixed Doubles champion and crowd favorite Melanie Oudin is now focusing on teaching tennis to girls. She is a partner in Tennis Girl Nation and talks about focusing on the mental side of tennis with advanced junior girls. She also discusses her passion for coaching for USTA Southern teams. Two doctors – Neeru Jayanthi of Emory Hospital in Atlanta and Eli Friedman of Miami - tell you how to adapt before and after playing in the Southern summer heat.
Ozaki-Hastings Sportsmanship - Mai Nguyen, Atlanta, GA; bakita1@aol.com / Mac MacDougal Official of the Year - Meg Farrelly, Isle of Palms, SC; megphotogirl@aol.com
Cindy Farmer, of FOX 8 in Greensboro, N.C., is an Emmy award-winning TV with more than 30 years of experience. She is an avid tennis player and has been honored with the USTA Grady Elmore Award. Part of her mission is to help promote May as National Tennis Month. She says her best friends are her tennis teammates, and she volunteers for USTA North Carolina. Also commenting on NTM and his love of playing at the Atlanta Open is a native of Greensboro, John Isner. A collegiate champion at the University of Georgia, he climbed to No. 8 in the world and has won the Atlanta tournament six times. Known for his massive serve, he is listed as the second-best server in ATP history. Cooper Koch, of Abbeville, La., is highlighted along with USTA Southern award winners: Mai Nguyen, Atlanta, Ga.; Ozaki-Hastings Sportsmanship Award and Meg Farrelly, Isle of Palms, S.C.; Mac MacDougal Official of the Year.
Pat Devoto has been labeled the “mother of USTA League” as she was the key pioneer to form the largest team tennis program in the world. A well-known novelist writing under the name of Pat Cunningham Devoto, Pat has taught tennis and reading in an Alabama prison and volunteered for decades promoting USTA tennis. She has won all of the USTA Southern highest honors. Georgia Gwinnett tennis coach Chase Hodges is by far the most successful in the NAIA. His men’s and women’s teams have won 13 national titles, named NAIA National Coach of the Year 13 times. Currently the men’s team is riding a 163-match winning streak, recognized as the longest streak in college sports history. We highlight Oxford, Miss. Junior Gordon Whitwell along with USTA Southern award winners Tony Cherone, of Memphis, Tenn. and Dusty Braddock of Florence, S.C.
The Billie Jean King Cup – formerly the Fed Cup – returns to Asheville, N.C., for the third time in five years. With the U.S. women playing Ukraine, the USTA will donate 10% of the ticket revenue from the event to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund by Global Giving. Volunteer coordinator and Asheville tennis icon Jeff Joyce takes us behind the scenes (and into the stadium basement) as he chats about the leading more than 100 local volunteers. With the passing of longtime USTA Southern Executive Director & COO John Callen this week, we revisit our episode from last December with a conversation between John and doubles partner and close friend Randy Stephens. We spotlight three stand-out juniors: Ellie Hammond, of Prospect, Ky., and award-winners Emma Charney, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and Nicholas Heng, Madison, Ala.
Tournament Director Bob Moran has been an integral part of the Credit One Charleston Open (April 2-10) since 1999, leading the Hologic WTA 500 event. In 2007, Moran was appointed President and is responsible for the overall operations of Charleston Tennis LLC. A native of the Lowcountry, John Sigler has been a long-time volunteer with the WTA event. In 2015, he was honored as the Tournament Volunteer of the Year. Sigler is the Chairman of the Board for WakeUp Carolina, a local nonprofit that works to help families struggling with substance misuse. In our spotlights shine on junior Madeleine Rexroat, of Milton, Ga., and the 2021 Southern award-winning South Atlanta (Ga.) CTA/NJTL and the Louisville (KY) 10U Area Tennis Association.
Need advice on playing tennis through a pregnancy? Hologic WTA Tour Primary Health Care Provider Lindsey Ayala and Coordinator, Performance Health Education & PHCP Anna Peavler give medical advice to women. From a historical perspective, Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee and Kentucky native Susan Sloane tells the story of rising from No. 1 in the Southern Girls’ 12 at the age of 9 to the No. 19 on the Hologic WTA Tour. Our spotlights shine on junior Thompson Maner, of Fayetteville, Ark., and two top adults and USTA Southern Slew Hester Award winners Cindy Babb, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and Chris Bussert, of Big Canoe, Ga.
Tennis on Campus is a national USTA program highlighting collegiate club teams, filled with students of varying tennis backgrounds and experiences. Many of the TOC participants could compete at the varsity level at many schools throughout the South. USTA Southern TOC Chair Brooke Turner, who works at the University of Alabama, talks about collegians playing in this team-centered program on a local, sectional and national level. Her work helps support a student like Mark Barrow, the Georgia Tech TOC President. His team recruited more than 250 players. After tryouts, GT found a winning set of players, whose predecessors won the 2017 crown. The 2021 Southern Championship is this weekend in Rome, GA. Highlighted are junior Brianna Baldi, of Greensboro, NC, and award winners: the OPRC Banana Open in Charlotte, NC, and the Georgia Junior Clay Court Open in Columbus, GA.
Georgia Tech Women’s Tennis Head Coach Rodney Harmon has a impressive career that topped out at No. 56 in the world. Harmon grew up in Richmond, Va., where he was mentored by the great Arthur Ashe. He reflected on being a Black youngster driving down Monument Avenue where the Confederate leaders cast a negative shadow on his upbringing. Andy Andrews was inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame based on an ATP career where he rose to No. 78. He also has a devotion to volunteered for the USTA and was elected USTA First Vice President and held numerous posts in USTA Southern. In our highlights this week are junior Hayden Mulberry, of Marietta, Ga., and USTA Southern award winners Florence (S.C.) Tennis Association and Shreveport (La.) Association of Ladies Tennis.
Tennis provides the best health benefits in sport, giving you 9.7 more years of life over sedentary individuals and can cut cardiovascular disease by 56% by playing three hours a week! Two doctors – Neeru Jayanthi of Emory Healthcare in Atlanta and Eli Friedman of Miami - tell you have to enjoy playing while you improve your heart health. We celebrate Black History Month with Mike Harden of the award-winning MACH Academy, an NJTL in Augusta, Ga. In our spotlights are junior Reagan Mangan, of Goshen, Ky. and Coach Andy Mizell of Margaret Allen Middle School, in Nashville, Tenn.
Martin Blackman is back as our Grand Slam correspondent, talking about the American men and women and how they prepare for the Australian Open. He discusses everyone from Sebastian Korda to recently married Sloane Stephens. One of the United States’ standouts, Atlanta native and former Georgia Tech star Christopher Eubanks, talks about winning in Knoxville last year and going from Florida to the hotter environment of Melbourne. Our teacher/coach spotlight shines on Keheley Elementary School’s Stephanie Lawson, and our featured junior, Liam Beckler, of Bluffton, SC.
We recap our 2021 Talking Tennis Southern Style episodes, including our initial show from May 2020. Here are the quotes from individuals who provided their own perspective on tennis: USTA First Vice President and NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline, USTA Southern President & CEO Randy Jackson, wheelchair tennis player & advocate Kelly Flouhouse, USTA Secretary-Treasurer and openly gay player Brian Vahaly, Southern Tennis Foundation Chairman Derek White, Baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, former star North Carolina State tennis player – and UGA football coach – Jim Donnan, ESPN reporter Kris Budden and Tennessee State University’s Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton.
John Callen has headed USTA Southern since 1989 and has announced his retirement effective in January. He tells his personal story of learning tennis in Birmingham, AL, playing as co-captain at Georgia Tech and then moving on to leading the USTA’s largest section for more than three decades. Joining him is his long-time friend, doubles partner, fellow Southern Tennis Hall of Famer and volunteer Randy Stephens. He talks about the many years they have worked to grow tennis in the South. Highlighted this episode are junior Julia Fair Gaines of Belden, MS, and the coach of Maryville (TN) High School Christian Burns.
USTA Southern has a charitable arm called the Southern Tennis Foundation that supports hundreds of thousand of dollars in college scholarships, financial aid, NJTL support and other areas. Chairman Derek White and volunteer leaders Paul Pittman and Rex Maynard talk about new college scholarship funds, notably more than $60,000 raised in honor of retiring USTA Southern Executive Director & COO John Callen. The foundation also maintains the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame. Our spotlights feature junior Robert Bauer, of Suwanee, GA, and John Paoletti, the coach of Teurlings Catholic High School in Lafayette, LA.
Looking to watch some of the best players in the world without emptying your credit card? Ian Van Cott is the tournament director of the Knoxville Challenger, a USTA Pro Circuit event played at the University of Tennessee’s Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center. From her podcast – Talk Tennis – to ours, Tennis Warehouse’s Michelle Heidbrink talks holiday gifts and current shoe and equipment shortages. Our highlights feature junior Zayla Ware, of Little Rock, AR, and the coach of Ragsdale High School in Jamestown, NC, Jeff Steed.
Brian Vahaly’s journey starts as a top-level junior out of Atlanta. He went onto an outstanding ATP career, topping out at No. 64 in the world. Currently he volunteers as USTA Secretary-Treasurer and became a pioneer as the first ATP pro who has come out as gay. Joanne McCallie says she regrets not playing more tennis as a child (she loves the sport now!) but she did pretty well as a basketball player. She coached the Michigan State women’s basketball team for seven years and 13 seasons leading the Duke women’s team. Her second book, Secret Warrior, covers her struggles with mental health and her advice for athletes struggling with similar issues. In our weekly spotlights are NOLA junior Carley Griffin and Karen Henson, who coaches tennis at Elizabethtown (KY) High School.
Paul Goodloe travels the country to cover the weather and reports from the Atlanta-based The Weather Channel. But, when not getting plummeted by a hurricane, he is an avid league tennis player. When you ask Paul about playing tennis in the Peach State capital, he talked about the heat … of course. College Football Divisional Hall of Fame inductee Jim Donnan coached at the University of Georgia from 1996-2000. While a North Carolina State quarterback, he also played varsity tennis player, which probably would never happen today. Currently, Jim is a USTA member and dedicated player. We salute junior Hannah Holt, of Lexington, SC, and North Hall (GA) High School coach Robert Woodworth.
The Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) National Championships were played in Atlanta last week and we interview two leaders have propelled tennis these important institutions. James Ewers played at Johnson C. Smith University and was just inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame. James is the chair of the USTA Southern Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Coach and Dr. Carl B. Goodman, of Florida A&M University, has run the HBCU tournament for 20 years and talks about the important of tennis at all levels of collegiate sports including Tennis On Campus. We hear from Joseph, Andrew & Sarah Delgado, of High Point, NC, in our Junior Spotlight. Casey Rapp, of Parkers Chapel High School, Eldorado, AR, is recognized as a top coach.
Dubbed “Mr. Southern Junior Tennis,” Bill Ozaki talks about the Southern Ozaki Junior Cup and his decades helping to develop world-class players like Robby Ginepri, Brian Vahaly and Melanie Oudin. Rebel Good is a veteran tennis official and expert on the rules of tennis. He writes “Court of Appeals” in Tennis magazine and “Stump the Ump” answering rules questions from recreational and tournament players. He also talks about the latest line-calling technology.
With the US Open’s #BeOpen in our focus, USTA, Director, Player Development Martin Blackman, returns as our Grand Slam Correspondent and talks about the strength of American players in the 2021 US Open. Blackman, who won the USTA Boys’ 16s National Championship in 1986, reached a career-high of No. 158 on the ATP Tour. ESPN reporter Kris Budden tells us why she loves to watch tennis on TV even though she’s on football and baseball fields more than tennis courts. Our junior player highlight is the newly-crowned USTA Girls’ 16s doubles champion Riley Crowder, of Dothan, AL. USTA South Carolina VP Craig Wells shines in our high school coach spotlight; he coaches at Daniel HS in Central, SC.
Jeff Ryan & Winston-Salem Open, Black-Owned Business: Chuck & Mike’s Tennis Shop
The Winston-Salem Open returns after missing 2020 with a new tournament director, Jeff Ryan. He chats about former US Open champion Marin Cilic, Nick Kyrgios, Kevin Anderson and Olympic bronze medalist Pablo Carreno Busta, who are scheduled to play. We profile a long-time Black-owned business, Chuck and Mike’s Tennis Shop, in Louisville, KY. Owner Charles Ellis describes how his business has thrived by catering to nearby tennis facilities. We highlight junior Ross Johnson, of Madison, MS. Props go to Jemison (AL) High School tennis coach Al Garrett.
Aaron Browning, USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis Committee Chair, kicks off our episode on Sectional Championships. USTA Southern, the largest section in USTA, hosts huge championships to determine its Junior Team Tennis and USTA League champions. Southern Sectionals draw more than 5,000 players from July through December. Additionally, USTA North Carolina President Cookie Guarini also serves as the Adult League Committee Chair and supervises most of those events. She talks about the excitement of teams earning a spot in the USTA nationals. We salute junior Caden Highfill, of Little Rock, AR, and the 2021 USTA Southern Tennis On Campus Club of the Year: Furman University.
After last year’s postponement due to COVID-19 and adding a new name, Atlanta’s ATP tournament is ready for play on July 24. The Truist Atlanta Open presented by fiserv is discussed by Tournament Director Eddie Gonzalez, five-time champion John Isner on Media Day, and exhibition player Kim Clijsters, who joined virtually. Audio producer Kyle Blackburn and host Sam Crenshaw talk about attending the event. Highlighted are the Killen Family of Bossier City, LA, who won the 2021 USTA Southern Mickey McNulty Family of the Year, and top junior Elizabeth Fauchet, of Brentwood, TN.
Southern Tennis Hall of Famer Jaime Kaplan considers playing at Wimbledon one of the fondest memories of her professional career. She talks about her first time visiting the world-famous Centre Court, along with practicing on a private grass court in Macon, GA. From a fan’s point of view, USTA Southern Board Member Ernie James recalls his magical visit to the “cathedral of tennis” and running into numerous tennis friends in London. Our junior spotlight shines on Marietta, GA’s James Weber and we extol the USTA Member Organization of the Year MacGregor Downs Country Club, of Cary, NC.
Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Lenny Simpson leads the award-winning One Love Tennis in Wilmington, NC. Lenny tells the story of him being motivated by the great Althea Gibson who taught him tennis on a tennis court that is now the home of his NJTL association. Jimmie Coins was elected the first Black president of USTA Mississippi. He traces his experience working in the grassroots of the state’s capitol, Jackson, and aims to improve relationships with the Black community. We highlight junior Ethan Bailey, of Columbia, SC, and Male Player of the Year Danny Carlson, of Mableton, GA.
We are rolling this episode and talking about Wheelchair Tennis. First up is USTA and USTA Southern Wheelchair Tennis Committee Chair Jennifer Edmonson. Jennifer serves as Cajun Classic USTA Southern Wheelchair Championships Tournament Director and accepted the USTA Southern 2011 Wheelchair Tournament of the Year Award. Evan Enquist is the first full-time head Wheelchair Tennis coach for University of Alabama and has been a part of the coaching staff for six USTA Collegiate National Championships, including 2021. A member of the USTA Southern Wheelchair Tennis Committee since 2017 and vice chair in the last two terms, Evan was a leader of Alabama’s club team that received the section’s 2018 Tennis On Campus Club of the Year. Our junior spotlight player is Drew Hedgecoe, of Fayetteville, NC, and Lizl Kotz, of Mount Pleasant, SC, is cited for being named 2020 Slew Hester Female Player of the Year.
Coaching College Tennis at Sewanee & Emory
With the NCAA tennis championships in full swing, we interview two highly successful NCAA DIII tennis coaches. First up is John Shackelford, Director of Tennis at Sewanee. The Tigers men have won 22 conference championships and the women have captured 13. Shackelford’s women’s team, led by women’s head coach Conchie Shackelford (his wife), will play in the championship quarterfinals next Monday. Amy Bryant, Emory women’s coach, leads a team that has won seven NCAA team titles, six NCAA singles crowns and four doubles crowns. She chats about the pressure of being one of the two leading DIII women’s programs ever. The Emory women are also in the quarters next Monday. Anna Monhartova, of New Orleans, won the 2020 USTA Southern Educational Merit Award for heading up the acclaimed As & Aces.
May is #NationalTennisMonth and USTA Southern is promoting the #PowerOfTennis this month. In a remarkable surge, four million Americans took up tennis last year. Two of our nine states are represented in detailing outreach to keep those players on court. USTA South Carolina President James McKissick and USTA North Carolina Executive Director Kelly Gaines talk about how new players are being converted through connections to communities and governments. Additionally, we continue in our coverage of Roland Garros from last week as USTA’s Martin Blackman returns as our Grand Slam Correspondent.
Kathy Rinaldi has been in the tennis spotlight since she won her first Wimbledon match at only 14 years of age. Four years later, she beat Steffi Graf to win the WTA title at Mahwah and also reached No. 7 in the world. Now she watches American players to see how far they can go and talks about the upcoming French Open/Roland Garros. She heads up women’s tennis for the USTA with the high-profile role as captain of the USA’s Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) team and the Olympics women’s coach. Also interviewed is Dan Wolken, SEC writer for USA Today. Dan is a dedicated rec tennis player who was on the court more than he expected last year. We highlighted junior player Micah Pierce of New Orleans, LA, and Tennis On Campus Leader of the Year Brendan Healey of Clemson.
We focus on our special players and the outstanding Southerners who support our autistic community. We start with Debi and John Sweatt, parents of Rachel Sweatt, of Hot Springs, AR. Under the tutelage of her tennis-playing father, Rachel has risen though tournament play. This month she finished fifth in the 4.0 level of the USTA NTRP National Singles Championships. She also plays in special events and and has been accepted as a rising star for the Special Olympics. College tennis players and coaches are also supporting autistic players. North Carolina State women’s tennis coach Simon Earnshaw talks about how the women’s and men’s tennis teams host with the Abilities Tennis Winter Chill. The event, now running for 12 years, won the USTA Southern 2020 Special Tennis Event of the Year. Another award winner is profiled: Southern Tennis Professional of the Year Lane Hinson, of Columbia, SC. Props also go out to our junior spotlight player, Goshen, KY’s Willow Renton.
Sports experts agree that playing more than one sport improves an athlete’s performance. We’ve got two baseball standouts talking about their love of tennis. Not many Atlanta Braves players are better known than Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, who is now playing mixed doubles with his wife, Taylor Higgins Jones. He says his court time is keeping him in shape as he works on speeding up his serve. Also, chatting about two sports is Tres Gonzalez, Georgia Tech’s left fielder. Gonzalez, son of Truist Atlanta Open Tournament Director Eddie Gonzalez, had the talent to play tennis on the college level. Pro tennis comes to Charleston and we interview Volvo Car Open Tournament Director Bob Moran. We highlight USTA Southern’s Mac MacDougal Official of the Year Karen Badger-Mabry, of Grayson, GA.
USTA Southern celebrates the winners of our 2020 awards. Louisiana’s Bossier City and Shreveport won four awards. Rhonda Rubben is the president of the Northwest Louisiana Community Tennis Association that won the CTA award and chats about its successful programs and the other award winners. Heading up the NJTL Chapter of the Year winner – the Rising Stars of Kentucky in Louisville – are Charles Crawford (also 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Champion) and Bruce Stone. Rising Stars focuses on education, a top goal for all successful NJTLs. Our health benefit of tennis explains how the sport works as a stress reliever. Another award winner is Amy Brandon, of Mooresville, NC, who received the Marilyn Sherman Spirit Award. Our highlighted junior is Peter Smith III, of Dorchester, SC.
Women’s History Month is celebrated by chatting with three ground-breaking women. Former USTA Southern Presidents & CEOs Bonnie Vandegrift & Paula Hale talk together about their paths to leading the USTA’s largest section and their roots working with USTA North Carolina. In another interview Lucy Garvin, who also served as USTA Chairman of the Board, goes into detail about heading American tennis on the national and international stages. We highlight 9-year-old Addy Shepard, Jonesboro, AR, who has had to face her older sister, Emma, in a junior tournament. 2020 USTA Southern No-Cut Starfish Award winner is Memphis, TN’s Tony Cherone is profiled.
Our two interviews feature Black History Month. Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton is currently an Associate Professor at Tennessee State University. At Fisk University, she spent 13 years as Head Coach, Associate Athletic Director and Athletic Director. She has received three national awards from the Women’s Sports Foundation, the National Association of Girls and Women in Sport when given the Dr. Nell C. Jackson Award, and inducted into the Temple University League for Entrepreneurial Women Hall of Fame. She wrote Daddy's Scrapbook, Henry Kimbro of the Negro Baseball League, A Daughter's Perspective, about her father’s life as a Negro League baseball player and a successful African-American businessman. Alan Green is the most successful coach in the nearly 100-year history of Xavier University of Louisiana. He is a three-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Coach of the Year, winning the men's award in 2017 and 2016 and the women's award in 2013. Highlighted are Cole Camp of the University of Alabama who won the 2020 USTA Southern Wheelchair Excellence Award and junior Davis Taylor of Brookhaven, GA.
USTA, Director, Player Development Martin Blackman gives us insight into the 2021 Australian Open field, focusing on American players. Blackman, who reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 158, joined us last year to preview the US Open. One of the top USTA Southern volunteers - who served as Secretary and USTA Georgia President - is Marcy Hirshberg, of Johns Creek, GA. She was honored with the Racquet Sports Industry magazine’s 2020 Adaptive Tennis Champion of the Year. Hirshberg serves as Vice Chair of the USTA Adaptive Tennis Committee. We are highlighting junior McLean Murray, of Lookout Mountain, TN, and USTA Southern Director of Diversity, NJTL & Grants Cee Jai Jones, the welcoming voice that starts our podcast.
We go to the top with an in-depth interview from recently elected USTA Southern President & CEO Randy Jackson, of Fort Smith, AR. Randy describes his goals for 2021, including focusing on growing tennis is public parks. He also talks about supporting the section’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee as we move into Black History Month. In our second segment, Alexandria Agee of Bigger Picture Sports serves the Black community in Atlanta with personalized activism messaging on tennis racquets. Highlighted are junior Ansley Carpenter, of Newnan, GA, and USTA Kentucky Senior Manager of USTA Adult Leagues Kathy Klein.
Coach Kenny Thorne, men’s tennis coach of Georgia Tech in Atlanta, talks about the influence of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the creation of the MLK Invitational Tournament. Thorne, the winningest tennis coach in Georgia Tech history and former No. 121 player in the world, also spoke about his players having Election Day off to vote and other socially conscious initiatives. Torrey Hawkins of the Atlanta Youth Tennis and Education Foundation and Atlanta Police Officer Clayton Sanders join the MLK Holiday edition of Talking Tennis Southern Style. Hawkins and Sanders discuss Serve and Connect, a weekly activity that brought inner city youth and Atlanta Police together on the courts of the historic Washington Park Tennis Center in Atlanta's westside and plans to relaunch the program in the future. Spotlighted are Mary Grace & Catherine Rennard, of Asheville, North Carolina, and Russell Dendy of USTA Mississippi.
Over the span of his long career, few has left a longer and more important path in promoting tennis in North Carolina than Cy King. He served as the USTA Southern Tennis Service Representative for North Carolina for 14 years, following up a 30-year career as the City of Raleigh Tennis Director. In 2004 he was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. Rick Limpert is a nationally known tennis and technology writer. He previews great holiday gifts for tennis players. Our Health Benefit of the Week focuses on tennis balls, which are highly unlikely to transmit COVID-19. We also highlight Dream Court of Montgomery, AL, and junior Collier Jones, of North Little Rock, AR.
We’re talking junior tournaments with two experts in USTA Southern. Explaining COVID-19 changes to the 2020 junior schedule and the upcoming national 2021 format is Director, Junior Tennis & Player Development Maria Cercone. Our long-time volunteer, Jonathan Barth, chairs our Junior Competition Committee and adds important comments on junior events and his work as Kiawah Island Golf Resort Director of Tennis. In our Junior Spotlight is McKenna Wheatley, of Madison, MS.
Talking Tennis Southern Style highlights two tennis writers … one best known a tennis player and coach. Roy Barth, author of Point of Impact, played on the ATP Tour, was at two-time All-American at UCLA and then went onto a 42-year career as the award-winning Kiawah Island Golf and Tennis Resort (SC) Director of Tennis. He is a member of the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, along with five other halls. Rhiannon Potkey, who writes for TennisRecruiting.net along with numerous publications, has covered tennis for 22 years. She founded Goods4Greatness, a non-profit that provides sports equipment for low-income children in Knoxville, TN.
Talking Tennis Southern Style highlights two tennis writers … one best known a tennis player and coach. Roy Barth, author of Point of Impact, played on the ATP Tour, was at two-time All-American at UCLA and then went onto a 42-year career as the award-winning Kiawah Island Golf and Tennis Resort (SC) Director of Tennis. He is a member of the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, along with five other halls. Rhiannon Potkey, who writes for TennisRecruiting.net along with numerous publications, has covered tennis for 22 years. She founded Goods4Greatness, a non-profit that provides sports equipment for low-income children in Knoxville, TN.
Talking Tennis Southern Style highlights two tennis writers … one best known a tennis player and coach. Roy Barth, author of Point of Impact, played on the ATP Tour, was at two-time All-American at UCLA and then went onto a 42-year career as the award-winning Kiawah Island Golf and Tennis Resort (SC) Director of Tennis. He is a member of the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, along with five other halls. Rhiannon Potkey, who writes for TennisRecruiting.net along with numerous publications, has covered tennis for 22 years. She founded Goods4Greatness, a non-profit that provides sports equipment for low-income children in Knoxville, TN.
Cary Pro Tournament & Fostering Young USTA Leaders
Ted Reese founded the Atlantic Tire Championships, a USTA Pro Circuit tournament, and describes the action starting Nov. 9 in Cary, NC. Reese is a USTA Southern Vice President who has propelled tennis in the Research Triangle. Also featured are John Cox of Cleveland, MS and Kyle Burton of Nashville. Cox started the section’s 2027 Initiative, which fosters young volunteers on the pathway to USTA leadership. Eli Stephenson of Louisville is our junior spotlight, Kyle Blackburn contributes out health benefit tip and Public Tennis, Inc. of Okatee, SC is in our organization spotlight.
Talking Tennis Southern Style is the USTA Southern podcast covers tennis in nine Southern states and is hosted by longtime tennis TV & radio personality and sports journalist Sam Crenshaw.
The most popular tennis program in the world – USTA League – draws more than a half-million American adults. What makes League so popular? What was the reason to put year-end NTRP ratings on hold? What is the plan for Southern Sectionals in 2021? USTA Southern Director, Adult Tennis Chris Walling answers these questions and more. For a grassroots perspective, Graham Bucciantini, the Local League Coordinator for Jackson, MS, gives us a report from the trenches. We introduce our health benefit tip while giving shout-outs to junior Sophia Miller, of Birmingham, AL, and One Love Tennis in Wilmington, NC.
Talking Tennis Southern Style is the USTA Southern podcast covers tennis in nine Southern states and is hosted by longtime tennis TV & radio personality and sports journalist Sam Crenshaw.
The podcast is the official show of USTA Southern, the largest section of the United State Tennis Association and represents 25% of the national members. Connecting you with tennis for kids, teenagers, college students right though adults playing into their 90s in AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC and TN.
Our podcast features one of the USTA Southern staffers: Claire Bartlett, Tennis Service Representative for Tennessee. Bartlett was an outstanding junior player and competed for the University of Florida and the University of Virginia. She hosts a video podcast on Youtube called Me and My Racquet. Page Love, of Nutri Fit Sport Therapy, serves on the USTA Sport Science Committee and guided ATP and WTA players with their nutrition. Also featured are junior standout Elliott Parker, of Nashville, TN, and the Acadiana Community Tennis Association in Lafayette, LA.
Talking Tennis Southern Style is the USTA Southern podcast covers tennis in nine Southern states and is hosted by longtime tennis TV & radio personality and sports journalist Sam Crenshaw.
In a special episode, we welcome General Manager, USTA Player Development, Martin Blackman who talk about the 2020 US Open along with the rising American pros and top Southern talent. Since 2015 Blackman has been responsible for identifying and developing the next generation of world-class American tennis players. Blackman, who won the USTA Boys’ 16s National Championship in 1986, went on to become a member of two NCAA Championship teams at Stanford University. He continued his play at the ATP level from 1989 to 1995, reaching a career-high of No. 158.
Talking Tennis Southern Style is the USTA Southern podcast covers tennis in nine Southern states and is hosted by longtime tennis TV & radio personality and sports journalist Sam Crenshaw. The podcast is the official show of USTA Southern, the largest section of the United State Tennis Association and represents 25% of the national members.
Eric Voges is a long-time mainstay of Chattanooga, TN, tennis. He has a 33-year history as varsity tennis coach of McCallie School. He leads USTA Tennessee as president after many years of volunteering in various levels of the USTA associations. Voges played tennis at the University of Tennessee. Sue Hites, of Atlanta, played professionally after earning a tennis scholarship at the University of San Diego. Currently she works as the ACEing Autism Program Director after a long-term coaching career in California. Also featured are junior Seena Cuddapah, of Marietta, GA, and the Ashland (KY) Tennis Center. The official podcast of USTA Southern is hosted by City of Atlanta TV’s ATL 26 and Entercom Radio’s Sports Radio 92.9’s Sam Crenshaw.
With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting tennis pros, facilities and other industry professionals hard, USTA Southern stepped up and decided to share more than $800,000 to those affected. The Southern Cares initiative has sent an average of $876.55 to 917 teaching pros, facilities, organizers, tournament directors, officials, media and others in nine Southern States. USTA Southern President & CEO Bonnie Vandegrift, along with our podcast’s audio producer/teaching pro Kyle Blackburn and Charlotte Tennis Association’s Carla O’Connor, talk about the impact of the grants. The official podcast of USTA Southern is hosted by City of Atlanta TV’s ATL 26 and Entercom Radio’s Sports Radio 92.9’s Sam Crenshaw. Also featured: junior William Wimberly, of Summerville, SC, and Family Biz Builder NJTL, of Tunica, MS.
With the US Open starting this month, Irina Falconi - who rose to No. 63 in the world - talks about the tournament and her Tennis.com podcast. Current WTA professional player Falconi won the WTA 2016 Bogotá singles title, appeared in three WTA doubles finals and reached the round of 32 at the US Open and Roland Garros. The Portoviejo, Ecuador native attended Georgia Tech for two years under coach Bryan Shelton. The official podcast of USTA Southern is hosted by City of Atlanta TV’s ATL 26 and Entercom Radio’s Sports Radio 92.9’s Sam Crenshaw. Also featured: junior John David McCrory, of Lafayette, LA, and volunteer and USTA Georgia Executive Vice President Mark Botsch, of Atlanta.
Noted sports author Robert Weintraub of Decatur, GA, talks about his new book: The Divine Miss Marble: A Life of Tennis, Fame, and Mystery. Alice Marble, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, won the US Open singles, doubles and mixed titles each four times, along with six Wimbledon crowns. Also featured: junior Evan Duggal, of Lexington, KY, and volunteer and USTA Georgia President Ashley Massengale of Atlanta.
Talking Tennis Southern Style is the USTA Southern podcast covers tennis in nine Southern states and is hosted by longtime tennis TV & radio personality and sports journalist Sam Crenshaw.
The July 30, 2020, episode focuses on Kentucky with Lexington WTA’s Tournament Director Jon Sanders. Signed up for the newly formed event in August are Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, Victoria Azarenka and Coco Gauff. Also interviewed is former NBA and University of Kentucky basketball star Kyle Macy, who is now a tennis coach and top-level senior player. Also featured: junior Masaki Posey, of Union City, Georgia, and volunteer James McKissick, of Greenville, South Carolina. Talking Tennis Southern Style covers tennis in nine Southern states and is hosted by longtime TV & radio personality and sports journalist Sam Crenshaw.
The July 16, 2020, episode features USTA Past President Katrina Adams. Among more than a century of USTA presidents, she is the only person to have played professional tour tennis, is an African American and served two terms. In an extensive interview, former Atlanta resident Adams talks about recovering from COVID-19, the upcoming US Open, the NJTL she runs in Harlem in New York City and other topics. Hosted by Sam Crenshaw. Also featured: junior Nicholas Heng, of Madison, Alabama, and volunteer Anna Mercer-McLean, of Wilson, North Carolina. Talking Tennis Southern Style covers tennis in nine Southern states and is hosted by longtime tennis TV & radio personality and sports journalist Sam Crenshaw.
Talking Tennis Southern Style covers tennis in nine Southern states and is hosted by longtime tennis TV & radio personality and journalist Sam Crenshaw. This episode's guests are USTA South Carolina Past President Ernie James, who talks about growing tennis in his hometown of Florence along with his passion for officiating. Dr. Dale Yake of PT Solutions, of Atlanta, updates us on the current COVID-19 situation and the great health benefits of playing tennis. We highlight junior Anna Kay Johnston, of Little Rock, AR, and volunteer Courtney Dugas of Lafayette, LA.
Alison Riske and Monica Puig talk about playing at the Credit One Bank Invitational in Charleston, SC. Nashville's Riske is ranked No. 19 in the WTA Rankings and Puig, of Puerto Rico, is best known for winning the 2016 Olympics Singles Gold Medal. They discuss getting through the break in tennis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also featured are junior Aspen Wooten of Eads, Tennessee, and volunteer Brian Pillar of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Sam Crenshaw is our host.
Talking Tennis Southern Style covers tennis in nine Southern states and is hosted by longtime tennis TV & radio personality and sports journalist Sam Crenshaw. This week's guests include USTA Southern Adult League Chair Helen Martin, of Columbus, GA, who talked about her love for USTA League and the cancellation of the 2020 league sectionals. Charlotte, NC's Kelly Flouhouse, a dedicated wheelchair tennis player and advocate is also interviewed. We highlighted junior Coy Simon, of Charleston, SC, and former USTA Kentucky President Rainey Johns.
The debut episode features NCAA Chief Medical Officer and USTA Vice President Dr. Brian Hainline. In an extensive interview, Hainline focused on shepherding sports through the COVID-19 pandemic, playing tennis safely, collegiate sports and the health benefits of tennis. Hosted by Sam Crenshaw. Also featured: junior Jenna Thompson, of Charlotte, NC, and volunteer James Oscar Bell of Greenville, MS.
USTA Southern’s new podcast will cover the many great tennis players, organizers and professionals throughout the South. Our host is TV and radio personality Sam Crenshaw. The United States Tennis Association consists of seventeen sections. USTA Southern is the largest section and represents 25% of the national membership. We’ve got more great stories about tennis for you than there are balls in a teaching pro’s basket.