Jeffrey Jackson - Loves the people he's met through the league

We caught up with Jeffrey Jackson who plays out our Portland League. He's already crossed over 100 matches in his 4 years of play!

What do you love about tennis?  

I love going into a full sprint and getting to a ball I had no business getting to and winning the point.  

Which league are you a member of?

Portland (OR) Tennis League. 

How long have you participated in your league?

I've been in the league since 2022.  

How did you first learn about it?

I've been wanting to play in a league for years and found Portland Tennis after I became a stay-at-home dad and was looking for something to help me get out, exercise and talk to other adults.  

How often do you play?

I almost always play one match a week and do my best to schedule two. On occasion I'll get three matches in, but that's rare.  

What do you like most about the league?

The great people I've met. I've shared a lot of laughs and great matches with the people I have met over the years. I also really enjoy how the league is divided into divisions based on level of play. It's been fun to find myself getting better and better and then eventually being promoted to a better division.  

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

I played someone in the 40+ playoffs a few years ago who was in the division above mine. After a few rallies, I didn't think I had a chance. But three sets and many grueling rallies later, I won.  

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I love playing Eric Feldman. He's played over 500 matches and is kind of the spokesperson for the league. He always has fun stories about the other matches he's played and we tend to have close matches.  

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

One thing I never really studied before joining the league was strategy on where to be on the court in different situations. I've really enjoyed getting better at playing the net this year. I used to fear it, but I learned to love it. It's made my game better and it's a lot of fun.  

How did you get started playing tennis?

I had a couple of friends in my early 20s who also played and I just picked it up. Never played in school or had any lessons.  

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

Mostly fun, but the competition adds to the fun. I have great interest in looking at my different statistics after playing over 100 matches. I find it interesting that I have a pretty strong record when playing a third set, but do poorly when playing a 10-point tiebreaker after two sets. I think I get in my head too much when it comes down to crunch time. I also play a lot better when I'm not focused on the score and just enjoying myself.  

What level of player are you? (NTRP rating or TLN Rating)

3.25. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)?

I'm a stay-at-home dad of two kids under five years old. I used to work for a bookstore in Portland, Oregon for nine years. I mostly bought used books to put on our shelves. I love to read and it's very rare a day goes by I'm not reading a book. I read a lot of literature, but can be easily distracted by books about baseball and music biographies. I'm a big music fan and love nothing more than listening to vinyl records while reading a good book. Of course, as a stay-at-home dad, I also spend a lot of time at local playgrounds with my kids. 

 

Bimal Patel - The road to 1,000 matches!!!

Bimal Patel has played an amazing 1,000+ matches with Tennis League Network.  That's absolutely 1,000% amazing. 

He's the 6th player to do it over our 21 year history.

Which league are you a member of?

TennisSanJose League (though I also moonlight in the Peninsula Tennis League!).

How long have you participated in your league?

Over 11 years—I played my very league first match on November 1st, 2014.

How did you first learn about it?

Just a good old Google search looking for local hit partners and competition.

How often do you play?

Usually 2 to 3 times a week.

What do you like most about the league?

The incredible flexibility, meeting amazing people, the built-in fitness, and the mutual commitment among players to show up and give it their all.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es).

There are so many over 1,000 matches, but my 1,000th match against Karthik ranks right at the top. It was a hot, humid day, but I happened to play near-perfect tennis—zero double faults, a sky-high first-serve percentage (I only had to hit three second serves the whole match!), and almost zero unforced errors. It was one of those rare days where everything just clicked.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

There are too many to list, but a few special shout-outs:

·         Robert Thevenet: A tremendous athlete, a loving father to his daughter, and always brings a great sense of humor.

·         Guru Nagarajan: Extremely fit and competes fiercely every single point.

·         Lokesh Johri: High Tennis IQ; he always makes me work hard for every point.

·         Andrew Rivera: Lightning fast, a fantastic athlete, and we always have absolute battles.

·         Romi Dutta: Has boundless enthusiasm, is a great friend, and turns every match into a fun social meeting.

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

The diversity of people you meet is incredible. Where else can you get recreationally paired up with a 1996 Olympian (from the Ugandan Volleyball team) or an opponent who almost made the Indian National Cricket team in the mid-90s? The league brings together fascinating people from all walks of life.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I never had formal tennis coaching. Years ago, I bought a $20 racket from Target and started hitting against a wall. Once I realized I had decent hand-eye coordination, I kept at it because I fell in love with the natural cardio workout the sport provides.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

Both, but in a strict order: fun first, respect for my opponents second, and competing hard third.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

I hover between 3.25 and 3.5, but I feel 3.25 is my true rating home!

What do you love about tennis?

It’s a virtuous cycle: playing tennis gives me great exercise, and I love exercising specifically so I can keep playing tennis!

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

Rafa Nadal: Because he played every single point as if it were match point, giving 100% effort no matter what.

Carlos Alcaraz: Because he plays with pure, infectious joy that endears him to fans all over the world.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)?

I grew up playing badminton in an industrial township in rural Western India and hadn't even picked up a tennis racket until I was 30. Professionally, I spent my career as a Software Technical Specialist, but my real tennis adventure took off after a major life pivot.  

In late 2009, I was diagnosed with a serious health condition. While not life-threatening, the required treatments were exceptionally harsh and took a heavy toll on my body—I lost significant weight, strength, and energy. As I fought to recover, I stumbled upon the league. Every single match I played became a building block for my physical health, my mental resilience, and my game. 

When I stepped onto the court for my 998th, 999th, and 1,000th matches last week, I felt like I had already won just by being out there. Everything else after that was gravy!

At 64 years old, competing in this league allows me to experience—in a tiny, miniscule way—what professional players feel during tight, high-stakes matches.  I look forward to playing in the league as long as my body allows!

Besides tennis, I enjoy reading, travel, sports and good movies.  

Bailey Boyer - Found his local league to be way more cost effective.

We caught up with Bailey Boyer out of our TennisMoCo.com (North of DC) league. Which league are you a member of?

I am a member of the MoCo tennis league in Maryland.

How long have you participated in your league?

This is my second season in the league, and I’ve been greatly enjoying it. This has been a vastly better experience than any other form of organized tennis I’ve played. When I was involved in the USTA, I found it to be expensive, and I didn’t play as much as I wanted. I also played in high school and college club ball, and found both of those formats to be lacking.

How did you first learn about it?

I searched online for local tennis leagues and found the TLN website. From there, I was able to find my local league in Montgomery County and register my name for the Spring season.

How often do you play?

I get on the court for at least three matches per week.

What do you like most about the league?

Where do I start! First, and most importantly, it’s fun. The players are kind, the rules are relaxed, and there’s a strong feeling of sportsmanship amongst the players. The matches are as casual as you want them to be, and there’s no restriction on time, format, or location. Everyone wants to win, but I haven’t met anyone who places winning above getting some good exercise in and sharing the love of the game. I love the website. It’s easy to navigate, and extremely comprehensive in the data it collects. I love looking through my old match records and remembering the battles that took place across the seasons. I also love the email feature on the league page. It makes it super easy to send out an email to the players in my division without going through and copy-pasting email addresses. There’s also no limit to the number of matches you can play. It’s really just as much as you can handle. Most leagues I’ve been a part of only do 1-2 matches per week, but with TLN the only limit is how many people reply to your match request.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

I’ve had so many interesting matches and met so many interesting players in the short time I’ve been involved. Everyone has their own unique story on how they got involved in tennis and how they found the league. Two matches I look back on very fondly are versus Kawku Danso and Scott Miller. Kwaku was my first match in the league, and he was super friendly and accommodating. As welcome as he made me feel, I was so nervous to be playing tennis again, my hands were shaking most of the match! He took the win, but it was a fantastic first experience. I was tired to my bones, and returned home with the biggest smile I’d had in months on my face. Later, I played Scott for the 4.25+ playoff finals. He was also a very polite and friendly player. We battled through three sets in the blazing heat for close to three hours. Again, I was terribly nervous to be playing in the finals, but the match was so long, and the competition was so fierce, all my nerves were stripped away as we pushed through thirty long games of tennis. I can’t remember the last time I was so tired.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I have yet to develop any real rivals per se, but I’ve had a few back-and-forth matches against very competitive players. Playing against Dan Langenkamp the first time was a tough win, but he came back and swept me off the court about a week later. I’m greatly anticipating playing against him again. Also playing against Jon Little is always a grueling back-and-forth. Both gentlemen are over 50 years old, yet push me to my limit. I can only hope to be in that good of shape when I’m that old! Great competitors!

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

I’ve been recommending this league to everyone I know who plays tennis. I would love to see TLN open a new location in Berks County, PA. I’m from Pennsylvania, and I was deeply involved in the tennis scene in my hometown. I know there is an interest and I would love to help my friends and family there get into a league of their own.

How did you get started playing tennis?

When I was in middle school I would watch Roger Federer play on TV. I asked my dad to teach me how to play, and I’ve been playing ever since. I took a 6-7 year break after college to pursue a graduate degree, get married, and get a job. I’ve been playing again for a few months now and it’s been incredibly rewarding.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I play for fun. Competition can be fun, however. Many times I have felt myself valuing the win more than the joy of playing the sport, and that’s usually when I end up losing! This is true for more than just tennis or sports: remember your objective. When you lose sight of your original goal, something that’s usually very good can go South really fast.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

I am 4.5 according to TLN. I would probably stack up more like 4.0 in a traditional NTRP rating.

What do you love about tennis?  

I love the sport for many reasons. It’s incredibly physically and mentally demanding. It requires great coordination, fine motor control, and rugged endurance. Achieving milestones in the game (learning to hit a variety of serves, developing a big backhand, learning to play the net) are super rewarding, and honing my specific game to a razor’s edge are some of my favorite things. I also appreciate how 1v1 sports bring out a self-reliance and self-mastery that I’ve found in few other sports.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)? (Feel free to share any interesting details about your life.)

My name is Bailey Boyer, I am 28, and I work at an insurance brokerage helping folks find coverage that suits their needs. I live in MD now, but I grew up in PA. I went to college down in DC with dreams of becoming a politician but quickly became disillusioned and now I just want to raise my kids in peace. My wife and I are proud parents of twins. Outside of tennis and being a dad, I have a wide variety of interests. I’ve written short stories, self-published a children’s book, and developed a rudimentary video game. I tend to my property, work on my car from time to time, and dabble in making bookcases for my living room.

Dominic Smith - His close losses provide future motivation

We caught up with Dominic Smith out of our Baltimore franchise.  

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)? (Feel free to share any interesting details about your life.)

I grew up in Montgomery County Md in the DC suburb of Rockville.   My life revolved around playing the drums in many different bands and that is what I still do today, playing gigs all over the area with a large network of musical friends.  Besides tennis and music, I love spending time with my wife and daughter, hiking, traveling, biking, going to the movies and lap time with my dog Snowy.

Which league are you a member of?

I am a member of the Tennis Baltimore League 40+ division as well as the elite/advanced division which I just got bumped up to this season.

How long have you participated in your league?

I started in the summer of 2024, so this is my third full year.   I take advantage of all the season offerings as well as doubles and the tournaments.  If you offer it, I sign up for it.

How did you first learn about it?

I was struggling to find consistent partners on my musician schedule and googled "baltimore tennis league flexible"

How often do you play?

These days I try to play at 3-5 times a week and my goal is to get 20 matches in a season.

What do you like most about the league?

It's competitive and flexible.  When I tried local tournaments I was locked into weekend times which were problematic for my schedule.  Meeting new people and feeling a part of a community is really special for me and I've met so many great people and made new friends.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

My most memorable matches are the close losses which tend to stick with me, but serve as motivation to get better.  Then, when I analyze footage of the match (SwingVision is incredible!) and hopefully make adjustments, I can get closer to getting over the hump against the better opponents.  I'm not that competitive (really!), but the competition serves as the basis for self-improvement.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

Brian Wiley and I always have close and memorable matches.  Also Maryam Yamadi who has excellent fundamentals and always gives me a run for my money.  Wayne Bailey is an excellent complete player who has schooled me in the two times I've met him in the playoffs, but every time we play I learn a little more and maybe someday I will be closer to his level.  

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

When I started 3 years ago I was at the 3.25 level and was in the lower competitive league and have managed to move up into the upper leagues and with each bump-up I've eaten some humble pie at first and eventually got the hang of what each division required.  Currently the elite/advanced is kicking my butt and I feel like I'm barely treading water with the sharks, but I know in time I will get more comfortable and catch up to the tempo and skill that the division demands.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I grew up in the 80's and seeing the fantastic matches between Borg & McEnroe sealed the deal for me.  From there it was Tennis Camps, Middle School and High School Teams with some local tournaments thrown in occasionally.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

Both, but I'd be lying if I said that it's fun win or lose.  My wife would beg to differ as well :)    It's always fun of course and losses motivate me to improve, but it's of course nice to get the W.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

In the league I'm currently at 3.75    I hope to get up to 4.0 someday, I just have to keep putting in the time through practice, playing matches and learning from the top guns in the division.

What do you love about tennis?  

It's meditative qualities.  When I'm on the court, I try to achieve a zen state where nothing else is happening except the tennis match.  And if can maintain that for 2-3 hours AND get a great workout, that's incredible.

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

My favorite of all-time will always be Pete Sampras.   He was a no-nonsense genius with a great game and was soft-spoken with no apparent ego or attitude which always turned me off with some of the other players of his era.   As far as the players of today, of course watching the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry is great but I also love to watch Alexader Bublik because he's so entertaining to watch.  I also love to watch Lorenzo Musetti mostly for his one-handed backhand which is a thing of beauty.   I watch tennis to inspire but also try to absorb good qualities from their styles.  I've always been a very visual person, so I try to pick up little bits by watching and try to incorporate those elements into my style.

Darin Stojanovic - Has played in the Philly, Baltimore and Boston leagues

Darin Stojanovic moved from Philadelphia to Baltimore in 2025.  He travels for work to Boston where he challenges the northeast players.  He started the tennis journey in 2022 and continues to play at the 3.0 level during 2025 and 2026.  There he is walking back with smiles after a match at Jean B. Waldstein tennis courts.

What do you love about tennis?

Tennis is a physical and mentally challenging sport.  I have fun while wearing different gear each tournament.  In the cool fall days, I play downtown Boston at Joe Moakley Park tennis courts.

How long have you participated in your league?

I have been a part of the northeast league in Boston since 2025 Spring season #2.   

How did you first learn about it?

While playing tennis and living in Philadelphia I learned that other cities offer similar leagues. 

How often do you play?

Due to life and travel, I tend to play once a week.  I enjoy playing tennis at colleges and universities since there will be college level tennis players practicing.   There is me on a warm sunny day at Tufts University.

What do you like most about the league?

I can play a variety of skill levels.  The people are very genuine and helpful with directions.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es).

My favorite match is when I am able to hit a drop shot that slices away from the court.  It is fun to watch the opponent keep chasing the ball and then the ball goes even further away from them.   I love the combination drop shot and then a lob that pulls opponents all around the court.  

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I didn’t play as many matches as I wanted due to work and travel to generate repeat opponents.

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

People have brought me sports drinks to make sure my tennis experience is more enjoyable.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I played tennis just for fun when I was a teenager.  In my 40s I looked for an exercise that I enjoy even if it is tough and tiring. Many people claim tennis will add 10 years to my life and I was sold.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

At this time in my tennis journey, I play for fun.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

Currently I am playing at the 3.0 level.  I have had various injuries over the years that would keep me away from my favorite sport and to play at higher levels.   I am staying at a constant level and I am happy there.   Recently I played a tennis match at Spy Pond Tennis courts.  

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

I closely follow Djokovic and Sinner. They have a lot of consistency and fight battles for hours.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies?

I grew up abroad and moved to different countries before settling in the US. Currently I reside in Baltimore with my wife and two small Chihuahua mixes. I enjoy walking the trails with my wife and dogs and seeing the fox, deer, and rabbits stroll through my backyard.  A few times a year I travel to sunny beaches of Florida.   

Paul Mackie - He wasn't enjoying USTA nearly as much as TennisDC.com

We caught up with Paul Mackie out of TennisDC.com

My name is Paul Mackie and I’ve been a tennis lover ever since I was a little kid. There were times in my life that I gravitated away from watching and playing the sport, but I’ve always come back to it. It’s my favorite sport and I think, in my wisdom, I’ve made the conscious decision to now always keep playing and watching. 

Which league are you a member of?

TennisDC

How long have you participated in your league?

I became a member in March 2014, but then I didn’t participate between 2016 and 2022. I didn't realize I had taken such a long break, but I guess I was busy in another local league in Washington D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland and also in USTA. I think it was during Covid that I realized I wasn’t enjoying the competition in USTA nearly as much as I had enjoyed TennisDC and I decided to get back into our league more regularly and with more commitment towards playing.

How did you first learn about it?

I had played several informal matches against recommended it to me.

How often do you play?

In terms of matches, it depends how banged up my body is and how busy the rest of my life is. Ideally I play two TennisDC matches a week if I’m healthy and maybe one per week if I’m less healthy. That said, even when I’m not playing matches, I try to go out every other day and either hit around with someone to get a workout with the sweet Nisplay ball machine I recently purchased. I wrote about my experience with the machine at my personal website, where I also write about tennis quite a bit.

What do you like most about the league?

The price can’t be beat and I love the flexibility of playing wherever and whenever I want. Probably the thing I like most, though, is the people. Unlike some other leagues I’ve been in, where some of the players think they’re trying to qualify for the US Open or even take to cheating in what is supposed to be a friendly match, I can only remember one time when I had an unpleasant experience with another player in TennisDC. I’ve met so many friendly, fun-loving, and interesting people playing in TennisDC.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

There have been so many. Almost every single one of them is memorable! That said, I’ll mention two.

One was definitely in the first season I ever played, back in 2014. Granted, I started out probably a bit below what my level was at that time, in the 3.25 league, but there were tons of people who made the playoffs in that season and I ended up winning the championship. It was so cool getting a little trophy and was probably the highlight of my adult tennis career. I was pretty proud of myself.

But not all matches can be winners. My own personal goal of most matches, while winning is nice, is to have fun and get some rigorous exercise. That happened one match a couple of years ago at Turkey Thicket. Normally the hurdles there are the hordes of pickleball players and the people, like at Banneker, who will line up to wait for courts at busy times. Both those challenges were in place when I played a match one afternoon into evening, but the real problem was the 100-degree heat. My opponent and I had been playing an ultra-competitive, back-and-forth match for about three hours when we were headed into a third set and decided we needed to finish later. We met back the next morning to play for another hour or so, when the temperature had cooled to a frigid 90 degrees. I remember we were both happy just to have survived!

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

There are so many that it’s tough to name names. But I will mention one: Nick Bammon. We’ve played six matches, although not for a while. The first three matches, I beat him pretty handily in two sets each time. Then I beat him again in three sets, so at that point I was 4-0 against him. He must have had enough because he beat me the last two times we played, both in three sets. It was pretty awesome to see how he had been getting better and better in real time. Tough player and, even more importantly, like most TennisDCers, a really nice guy.

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

Just a shout out to the admin who runs the service. They've done an amazing job of making it much easier to get out and play competitive tennis. That in itself is a noble goal and, throughout my life, wherever I’ve lived, it’s been really hard to always find players until I found TennisDC.

How did you get started playing tennis?

Before retiring, my dad was a professor at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, which had some pretty epic tennis teams back when I was a kid. So there were lots of courts where I grew up. Also, I have two older brothers who, like me, played on the high-school team and so I was playing with my whole family ever since I was a little kid, probably 4 or 5 years old.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

Both.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

I’m at 3.5 right now, but I’ve been healing some injuries and improving my game and I think I’m ready to get placed back up at the 3.75 level, where I competed for many seasons a couple of years ago.

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

When I was a little kid, I was obsessed with watching John McEnroe. He just felt so unorthodox and like less of a pro athlete than the other players that I couldn’t help but root for him. I think worshipping him so much actually hurt my game a little, because I built some questionable fundamentals that I’ve been trying to break my whole life. I also had a temper when I was younger and would sometimes do things like throw my racket. Luckily I’m pretty mellow and chill now. It takes a lot to make me angry. Through the years, my other favorites have been Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, Andre Agassi, Guestavo Kuerten, Andy Roddick, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Francis Tiafoe, Carlos Alcaraz, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Venus and Serena Williams, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)? (Feel free to share any interesting details about your life.)

I grew up in Edwardsville, Illinois, outside of St. Louis. I went to college and worked as a reporter at daily newspapers in the region before moving to Washington D.C. to go to grad school at Georgetown. I didn’t plan to stay in D.C. but have now lived here for 27 years, where I’ve done strategic communications mostly in the worlds of environment, transportation, and energy. I also have my own consulting firm called Baseline Communications Consulting (see the tennis connection?).

I love music, have a ridiculously large collection of mostly rock and indie, and play guitar and sing in a neighborhood collective that gets together about once a month. I love to write at my own pop-culture website and I read tons of magazines, novels, non-fiction, and news. I love to ski, bike, and travel, and I love spending time with my wife, two kids, and extended families and friends.

 

Chip House - Has already played in 3 different locations, Now in Dallas.

We checked in with Chip House out of our new Dallas Tennis League and here's his story:

Which league are you a member of?

I am playing in the Dallas league and have played in Austin and Minneapolis as well. 

How long have you participated in your league?

I just moved to Dallas in May 2025 and just started my 3rd season in Dallas

How did you first learn about it?

I had briefly played in Austin many years ago after finding out through a co-worker.

How often do you play?

I try play 4 to 5 times per week and love that this league supports my weekly goals!

What do you like most about the league?

I love the amount of people that love playing tennis AND love the flexibility

Tell us about your most memorable match(es) –

My most memorable match just happened a few weeks ago. During my 2nd season, I lost to a Andrey 6-3, 6-3. It was a competitive match and I believe he went undefeated in the season. I avenged my loss in the finals of that season (Fall 2025) after going down 1-6, came back to win 6-3, 11-9. Also, a really fun guy to play with whether it was a win or a loss. 

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I love playing Matt Henrickson. Our matches are always close and hard fought. Plus he is such a nice guy. 

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

I just love the league so much.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I started watching during the Graf, Agassi, Sampras, Seles days. I remember seeing tennis on TV for the first time during the 1995 US Open. The Sampras/Agassi final is etched in my memory. After seeing that match, my brother and I (10 and 13) rode bicycles to Wal-Mart with my brother. We played and then I joined the tennis team in high school and never looked back.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I love competition, and especially love that I'm the only one responsible on my side of the net (I love singles). Tennis has tested my patience and ability to manage my emotions and I love that about the sport. I love the fun of great rallies, great shots, and mutual appreciation of tennis as a sport.

 What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

3.5

What do you love about tennis?

Tennis has taught me how to manage my emotions on court. I've learned to breath through my nerves on the court. I've learned to accept what you can't change (bad calls), and I've learned that you can have fun and lose at the same time.

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

Monica Seles, Andre Agassi, and Serena Williams

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)?

I work in HIV prevention. I promote a long acting injectable to prevent HIV infection. I love that I get to help people live better lives through the work I do. I grew up in Abbeville, Louisiana (Acadiana or Cajun country) and I have an accent to prove it. While tennis is my #1 hobby, I enjoy going to the gym, visiting other countries, and spending time with my husband Colton and our two dogs Rebe McEntire and Ricky Martin. 

 

 

Robert Chang - Comes to get his singles play with NoVATennisLeague.com

Which league are you a member of? 

NOVATennisLeague.com

How long have you participated in your league? 

4 years

How did you first learn about it? 

I was playing USTA and remember asking someone how to play more singles matches, as USTA is mostly doubles. He led me to DC Tennis League where I played a few seasons before joining NOVA.

How often do you play? 

3 times a week. I play a mixture of league matches and group clinics. I get itchy when I don't play for a couple of weeks, even booking a tennis lesson on a recent trip to Asia.

What do you like most about the league? 

A few things: I love how you can play according to your schedule. I have 6 kids that need to be driven to violin lessons or soccer games, so I love the flexibility to play a match at 7am or 9pm. I also like how you can agree on the format of the match with your opponent, either playing 2 out of 3 sets or playing a 10-game match if you're in a hurry or if there's incoming bad weather. Finally, in NOVA it's really easy to schedule matches, one time when my wife and kids were out of town I played a match almost every day, no other league provides that flexibility.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es) 

Winning a NOVA 3.25 championship was quite memorable. While I usually make the season playoffs, it took several years before I managed to win a Final. It wasn't only memorable because I won, but I was able to look back at all of the improvement I've made as a tennis player, it's nice to know that practice and hard work get rewarded. The Miami National Tournament was also memorable. Meeting players from all over the country and the shared camaraderie was amazing.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why? 

There are players in the league I've played repeatedly over the years, having some epic battles. Its great tracking your improvement against them and seeing their improvement as well. There's nothing like having a big match against someone and thinking about your strategy, knowing the other player is thinking about how to beat you too!

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

When I look back at the player I was when I first started, I am amazed at how much progress I've made. I remember my only goal in the beginning was becoming a 3.5, now I am fixated on becoming a 4.0, and maybe beyond, who knows? I am not the most natural athlete, but I love tennis, and when you are passionate about something, you can't help but get better at it!

How did you get started playing tennis? 

I was a huge Michael Chang fan growing up and we share the same last name. I played in high school as like the 15th ranked member of a 16 player team. I proceeded to not pick up a racquet for 25 years, then during the isolated days of COVID, I started hitting a ball against a wall for something to do, which slowly led me back to me playing again.

Do you play to compete, or for fun? 

Fun, exercise, competition, all of the above. I think tennis is a unique sport in how much it engages you both physically and mentally. I like the competition, as you go up in levels, it gets harder and harder to get the ball past your opponent, I love how tennis continually presents new challenges to solve.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

3.0 NTRP, but I haven't played an NTRP match in awhile, 3.5 TLN rating.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)? (Feel free to share any interesting details about your life.) 

I have 6 kids and life is pretty hectic with work and family. Tennis is a great way to make friends and detach from staring at a screen all day!