Darren Smolkin - Approaching a Record Breaking Season

Darren Smolkin, a Tennis-Los Angeles player, is currently on an exciting chase to break the record for most matches played in a year. The current record, set in 2012 by Jorge Daniels, is 147. Darren is easily on pace to break that with 91 matches already played this year!

What makes it even more impressive is that Darren just started playing tennis 2 years ago (at age 45). Since then he has honed his skills and sports a winning record in the Advanced Men's division.

Here's a bit more about Darren's life on an off the court:

Which league are you a member of? Tennis Los Angeles (advanced division) . https://www.tennislosangeles.com/60583/profile

How long have you participated in your league? Since January, 2014

How did you first learn about it? Through a friend who plays in Tennis LosAngeles, Alex De Castro Profile

How often do you play? I play 4-8 matches a week

What do you like most about the league? Being able to find someone to play pretty much whenever I want to. Also, being able to play different types of players which keeps me on my toes and helps me improve

Tell us about your most memorable match(es): I have a few that stand out above all the others. My first match in the league against David Goldman. I never played competitive sports before and had only been playing tennis for a year-- I was extremely nervous the entire  match. I ended up losing, but it was still fun.

After being in the league at the 3.0 division for 6 months, they bumped me up to the 3.5. I ended up getting slaughtered. I played Andy McCormac and he beat me 6-1,6-1. He had a very powerful forehand and I was scared to play him again. They put me back down to the 3.0 and I started to take lessons. After 4 months, they moved me back up to the 3.5. I played Andy again, still lost but fared much better. Within the last 6 months, I have been playing him and winning almost every time. he now says he is "scared" to play me! What a compliment.

Lastly, the final match in the spring 2015 playoffs against Valentin Ionescu Tiba, which I won, will always be my most memorable match.

Championship Bracket:  https://www.tennislosangeles.com/3336/tournament_report

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why? By far my favorite rival is Keiji Tomita. He is the ultimate defender. He gets everything back. He has won most of the times we have played, but they have always been close. I get a great workout playing him and always feel like I just came back from war after our matches.

Do you have any other interesting comments about your experiences with the league? This league is great because anytime you want to play tennis you can find a person to play with, whereas if you're trying to play with friends their schedule may not match yours.

What do you love about tennis? The part of tennis I love the most is the workout. I would much rather lose 7-5,4-6,7-5 than win 6-1,6-1. Nothing beats playing a long, close match, win or lose.

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I grew up in Canada and moved to Los Angeles in 1995. I am a dentist, married with 2 kids. Prior to playing tennis, I did not do any cardiovascular activity. I was heavy into weightlifting for the last 20 yrs. I happened on tennis by accident when I was 45 (2 yrs ago) and have been addicted ever since.

The tennis league keeps a running stat page for the most number of matches played by anyone in the league over the whole country ever since the league has been in existence. The top player has played 147 matches. I'm planning to blow this out of the park with a number that will never be touched. My goal is 200 matches, it is now the beginning of June and I have played 91. I might even surpass my goal!


By Bryan Rosenthal
Tennis League Network Blogger

Joezen Punongbayan - A Go Getter On and Off the Court

Joezen Punongbayan, a Tennis-Los Angeles player.
  
He grew up in LA and continues to live and work here, raising young boy/girl twins. He is the winner of our inaugural tournament and we look forward to seeing more victories from him.

Which league are you a member of? Tennis Los Angeles

How long have you participated in your league? Off and on since 2008 (just reconnected in 2015)

How did you first learn about it? Through an online search

How often do you play? About once or twice a week

What do you like most about the league? The flexibility of scheduling it offers

Tell us about your most memorable match(es): First round in the April Tourney, I played the #1 seed and was up in the first set and actually had a few set points. I ended up losing the set in a tie-break. Normally I would be dejected and lose the second set 1-6 or something like that. But I dug deep and was able to pull off the 2nd set and really wear down my opponent in the 3rd. That was my toughest match and I ended up winning the entire tourney!

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why? Victor Kowalewski because his game gives me trouble with all the spins, drops, and also powerful lefty forehand. I like a challenge and it makes me have to think on the court.

How did you get started playing tennis? In 8th grade because I had a friend who played tennis and invited me to play.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating) - I'd say I'm a 4.0.

What do you love about tennis?  The mental aspect is the most challenging so I love that the most. I also love the aspect of movement, since my biggest strength is that I can get to 

any ball that comes over the net.

Who are your favorite pro players? Why? Novak Djokovic. He's got amazing form and is both defensive and offensive in his game. I liked him way before he was number 1, so I didn't jump on the bandwagon.

Tell us a little bit more about yourself: I grew up in Los Angeles playing at Poinsettia and Plummer Park courts. I love to write and hope to do more of that in the future. I have 3 1/2 year old twins who keep me busy. For work, I head the Product Marketing department at a marketing analytics company that helps other companies figure out how to optimize their marketing budget to maximize sales/revenue.

https://www.tennislosangeles.com/

https://www.tennislosangeles.com/13228/profile


By Bryan Rosenthal
Tennis League Network Blogger

4 Tennis Drills to Boost Speed and Agility

In order to really dominate your competition, you’re going to need more than a powerful serve and flawless ground strokes. You need to be able to get to the ball, fast!

This requires a player to develop speed and agility so that they can react quickly enough to reach any ball that comes in their court.

Here are 4 great drills that all players must complete:

Run & Shuffle

image via tennisworkout

This drill helps to develop foot work by forcing players to properly transition for forward to lateral movement. This drill can also be performed while being fed balls from a partner.

1. Set up 3 cones along the base line, one in the center and two where the baseline and singles line intersect. Have the trainee stand towards either end.

2. If desired, have someone on the opposite side of the court feed the ball to the opposite end where the player is standing.

3. The trainee should start by doing a lateral shuffle towards the center cone, and once that center cone is reach they can turn into a sprint to reach the ball.

4. The player can return the ball with either a forehand or backhand.

Perform: 3 sets of 10 repetitions (1 repetition being crossing the width of the court) Rest: 1 minute between sets, as little as possible between repetitions

Call a Cone

This exercise will enhance agility reaction time in trainees by forcing them to respond quickly to commands:

1. Place 4 cones in the court about 10-15 feet apart in the shape of a square court to form a square (Two towards the baseline and two towards the net).
2. Assign each cone a respective number 1-4.
3. Have the trainee stand in the center, and call out a number 1-4. The trainee will then run to that cone, and return to the center.
4. The numbers should be called out in rapid succession so that the trainee is constantly moving.

Perform: 3 sets (30-60 seconds of movement). Rest: 1-2 minutes between sets

Drop Shot

Players must be able to quickly chase down drop shots in a match. This drill will force them to quickly locate and reach any given ball.


1. Have the player stand several feet behind the base line, and another person several feet behind the net on the opposite side.

2. Have the partner hit a light drop shot on the player’s side of the net.

3. The trainee must then sprint to return the drop shot allowing only one bounce.

Perform: 2 sets (6-8 drop shots). Rest: <1 minute between sets

‘Suicide’ Sprints

This is a grueling exercise that will really wear someone out. It is best done at 95% of full speed. Because this exercise is so draining, save it for the end of practice or workout session.

1. Start outside the doubles line. When ready, run directly to the singles line several feet in front of you. 
2. Turn around, run back to the doubles line, and touch the line.
3. Turn back around and run to the center of the court. Touch the line (if applicable) and run back to the outside of the court.
4. Repeat this until you touch each line going vertically across the court.

Perform: 2-3 sets Rest: 2 minutes between sets


By: Bryan Rosenthal
Tennis League Network Blogger

French Open Racquet Giveaway

There is no better time to be involved with the Tennis League Network. The weather is gorgeous and only hopes to get better. The professional tennis circuit is about to reach its most exciting time with Grand Slams coming fast and furious in back to back to back months. 

And speaking of Grand Slams, the French Open is upon us! What better way to celebrate than by giving away racquets to our valued Tennis League Network players! All players that purchase a paid program, $25 or more, during the French Open, will be entered into a racquet giveaway lottery. Eight (8) racquets will be given away in the lottery. 

The good part about our lottery is that not only do you have a really good chance to win, you'll also know each winner as they'll be posted on the website when each drawing occurs. Real people winning real prizes, how could you go wrong? 

As with any lottery, the more purchases you make, the better shot you have at claiming the ultimate prize. Purchases valued between $24 and $49 will earn 1 entry into the lottery; purchases valued between $50 and $74 will earn 2 entries into the lottery; and purchases valued at $75 or greater will earn 3 entries into the lottery.

This is a national promotion across all the cities in the network! Tennis League Network, LLC will purchase the racquet and have it shipped to the customer within 1 week. Any amount above $150 for the racquet will need to be covered by the winner. If the player chooses a racquet that costs less than $100 including shipping, we'll give a $25 Gift Card on top of the racquet purchase. The earlier you sign up the more chances you will have to win! And let's be honest, everyone could use a brand new racquet for the season.


Fine Details

** The maximum cost that TLN will spend on the racquet will be $150.00 shipping included.
** Any amount over that must be covered by the player.
** Entry into the lottery does not guarantee you a prize; it just gives you a chance to win.

The Best Footwear for Grass, Clay, and Hard Courts

Mike James

Content Editor

www.sovereign-sports.co.uk

    You may have noticed that many of the world’s top tennis players combine their playing style with the court on which they are competing on. Some are hugely fond of a specific type of court, with grass, clay and hard courts featured throughout the ATP World Tour and at some of tennis’ biggest competitions, such as the French Open, the US Open and Wimbledon.

    Rafael Nadal has had notable success on clay courts in the past, while current number one Novak Djokovic has now won five Australian Open titles which take place on hard court surfaces. Experienced tennis players will tell you that one of the most important aspects of your game when competing on varying court surfaces is your footwear. While top payers change their style to suit a specific surface, they also make a habit of changing their shoes.

    If you study the movement of the ball at one of the four major tennis tournaments, you’ll notice some interesting differences. Wimbledon is played on grass which causes the ball to stay low and flash off the surface of the court. On the other hand, the movement of the ball at Rolland Garros is very much determined by the bounce effect caused by the clay surface. This means the game speed becomes a lot slower to accommodate the bounce.

    Tennis players have to change their game to adapt to the surface, which is why footwear plays an essential role in improving your game. To ensure you’re fully equipped for all types of tennis surfaces, here’s a guide you can use when shopping for tennis footwear.

The Best Footwear for Grass Courts

    Wimbledon has always been a tournament for the big servers. The likes of Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, John Isner, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin Del Potro have all flourished at Wimbledon in the past thanks to the quick grass surface. The serve and volley style has thrived at Wimbledon over the years with players taking full advantage of the surface to race to the net after a serve. All this movement requires footwear with excellent grip, flexibility and a falter out-sole.

    The grip is vital as grass courts can be quite slippery. Grass courts tend to wear out over time and they also attract plenty of due, so there’s always the chance a player might slip and suffer injury if they aren’t using the correct footwear. In order to not wear out a grass court, a flat out-sole is required. You are required to wear completely flat shoes when competing at Wimbledon. The flexibility ensures you aren’t restricted of movement when having to dash across court for a return or volley. 

The Best Footwear for Clay Courts

    Clay courts cause the ball to bounce higher, thus resulting in a much slower game compared to Wimbledon. The clay courts at Roland Garros often host a unique baseline playing style, commonly adopted by Rafael Nadal. The slow court gives Nadal the option to unleash powerful shots from the baseline. You’re most than likely to be moving regularly from side to side when playing on clay courts, which will demand excellent grip, durability, lateral support and a well-designed out-sole from your footwear.

    You get very little traction for clay courts, so a strong grip is vital. The well-designed outsole keeps clay off of your grooves and doesn’t mark the court, which can potentially save you from injury. The durable sides ensure your shoes won’t be damaged from constantly sliding from one side of the court to the other. You’ll also need lateral support when moving in this way.

The Best Footwear for Hard Courts

    Hard courts are often regarded as being neutral ground, with the bounce and speed of the play very much in between that of the effects of clay and grass courts. Many different playing styles can perform well on hard courts, but it’s still essential that you have the correct footwear to ensure your playing style reaches top form. Most hard court footwear requires cushioning, a tough upper and a tough out-sole.

    The toughness and durability of the out-sole is vital if your footwear is to handle the harder surface. You don’t want your trainers gradually deteriorating as the match goes on. Hard courts can cause plenty of stress on your legs and knees, so having that cushion from your footwear can help to prevent injuries. You’ll also need stability from your footwear which can be provided by a tough upper, thus ensuring less constriction when moving around the court. 

Tennis League Network Announces Partnership with MyTennisLessons.com

Tennis League Network is pleased to announce a partnership with MyTennisLessons.com, the nation’s largest online marketplace for tennis instruction. Throughout the past three years, MyTennisLessons has connected thousands of tennis players with local coaches across the country and facilitated more than 20,000 tennis lessons.

Now players in Tennis League Network’s dozens of tennis communities can find lessons with local, qualified coaches at the tennis court location most convenient to them. MyTennisLessons.com allows users to compare instructors by experience, rating and cost to find the coach right for them.

MyTennisLessons caters to beginner and advanced players alike. If you’re a player who wants to coach lessons, apply to be a featured pro on MyTennisLessons.com and get access to hundreds of clients who visit the site looking for tennis instruction in your area.

For ten years, Tennis League Network has helped tennis enthusiasts across the country find opportunities to play both competitively and recreationally. Our partnership with MyTennisLessons.com will allow players to find lessons with qualified coaches to supplement league play.

To get started with a coach at MyTennisLessons.com, simply visit the “lessons” tab on any of our Tennis League Network city pages.

We look forward to contributing to the growth and development of tennis through this new partnership as well as continuing to enhance your tennis experience.

Michael Dockins – Thinks Tennis as a hobby not only a sport

Michael Dockins, a Tennis-Austin player who loves tennis not only as sport but a hobby. Formerly he was a Tennis DC player and shifted to Austin last year. Here is Michael’s story. Hoping our tennis community will love it. As of the writing of this story Michael can be found leading the Player of the Year standings.

1. Which league are you a member of? 

I currently play in the Austin league.

2. How long have you participated in your league?

I started playing in the Washington, DC league in Spring 2013, and then started Austin last year. 

3. How did you first learn about it?

I was just googling tennis leagues and I found a bunch, but I liked this one the best.

4. How often do you play?

I try to play at least twice a week.

5. What do you like most about the league?

I love the fact that it makes it so easy to meet up and play with people at a similar skill level for some fun, competitive tennis.

6. Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

I think my most memorable match was one played on a hot summer day that took at least three hours, and I ended up winning 6-7; 7-5; 7-5 after being down 0-5 in each of the last two sets.  That was just something crazy and exhausting but really fun and unique. 

7. Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I’ve played quite a few matches with Ray Gonzales and Jeff Hatfield, so probably those two.  We’re all fairly even players so the matches are usually close, although I haven’t beaten Ray yet but I think I’m getting closer!

8. Do you have any other interesting comments about your experiences with the league?

I just think that it’s a ton of fun and a really great way to play some tennis.  Everyone is really friendly.

9. How did you get started playing tennis?

With a couple of buddies back in high school, but I’ve never played in any serious competitions or teams before.

10. What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

Probably about a 3.25.

11. What do you love about tennis?  

Tennis is my favorite sport because people at all skill levels can play it and enjoy themselves.  It’s also a good balance between physicality and technique, and it’s easy and inexpensive to play.  It can be an intense workout or a relaxing hit-around.  It’s also a hobby as well as a sport, because there are always parts of your technique that you can tweak and improve. 

 

 12. Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

My favorite pro players are Roger Federer, John Isner, and Jack Sock.  Federer because he is simply the greatest and amazing to watch, Isner because he has a good personality, awesome serve, and is representing the USA, and Sock because he’s up-and-coming and has a monster forehand that is fun to watch.  My favorite retired players are Pete Sampras and Andy Roddick.