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!

Paula Luque - Has been competing with the Men from the very beginning

Which league are you a member of?

I am a member of the Orlando Tennis League. After relocating to Orlando, Florida, I was eager to find a tennis community that reflected that same sense of purpose and passion. Joining the Tennis League Network in Orlando has been an experience that exceeded my expectations. Through this league, I’ve connected with inspiring players, shared competitive matches, and rediscovered the joy that comes from playing the game with intention.

How long have you participated in your league?

I have been playing in the league for approximately one year.

How did you first learn about it?

I first learned about the league through references from other players. I also play (and still currently play) in the USTA, and since I am very competitive and love playing tennis as much as possible, I knew that joining this league would give me exactly what I was looking for: more matches, more competition, and constant opportunities to play.

How often do you play?

I play very often. I participate in all seasons, and I usually play two to three times per week.

What do you like most about the league?

What I like most about the league is that I can always play tennis. There are many active players, the level is competitive, and that motivates me a lot. There are many strong players I can learn from, which helps me continuously improve my game. On top of that, it’s simply very fun.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es).

I’ve had many memorable matches, and honestly, almost all of them are memorable to me. I always try to give my best. Most of my matches are against men, which is obviously a challenge, but I still give everything I have to compete, fight for every point, and show my competitive spirit and love for the game.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I wouldn’t say I have favorite rivals. Everyone brings good tennis to the court. My biggest challenge and what I enjoy the most is playing against very high level players, whether I win or lose. Those matches push me, help me learn, and force me to demand more from myself every time I step on the court.

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

My experience has been very positive and very fun. Honestly, there’s not much more to say you always have tennis. For tennis lovers, that’s everything. You will always find people to play with, make friends, compete, and enjoy the sport. There are so many positive aspects to this league.

What makes this league truly special is the balance it creates between competition and growth. Every match is an opportunity to learn to refine technique, develop strategy, and strengthen sportsmanship. Playing consistently has positively impacted my physical health, sharpened my focus, and reinforced the importance of staying active and engaged through sport.

Beyond the results and rankings, this league offers something deeper: a strong sense of community. It’s a space where passion, knowledge, and respect for the game come together naturally. Without a doubt, Tennis League Network has been the best tennis league I’ve found in Orlando, and I’m grateful to be part of a community that truly celebrates the love of tennis.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I started playing tennis more than 15–20 years ago, when I was in the Colombian Navy. That’s where I took my first steps in the sport. After that, tennis became more recreational, playing with friends, and then I started competing in women’s singles tournaments in Colombia, reaching a very good level. Later, I moved to Orlando, where I continued playing and competing, and I still do to this day. I hope to keep playing until I’m a grandmother.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I play for both, but if I’m being honest, probably more for competition. I am a very competitive person. That competitive spirit comes from my time in the Navy and from my entire life. I was a champion in the military pentathlon team of the Colombian Navy and was part of a high performance team representing Colombia for about 10 years. Competition is part of who I am.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

I am 4.0

What do you love about tennis? 

Tennis has shaped my life in ways that go far beyond the court. I began playing seriously many years ago while serving in the Colombian Navy, where discipline, consistency, and continuous learning were part of everyday life. During that time, tennis became more than a sport. It became a practice that strengthened both my mindset and my character.

Stefan Szanto - Enjoys TennisNewYork.com to hit the courts in Manhattan

I grew up in Pennsylvania and have early memories of my dad, a lifelong tennis player, enrolling me in the University of Delaware summer camps at the age of 4 or 5. I played casually most of my youth, only two years doing high school and then went on to play two years of Division III tennis. I never really stuck with it because of the intensity of practice and having love for other sports like soccer, distance running, etc. but I always enjoyed the competitive dynamic and exercise. As I grew older I grew a greater appreciation for the mental side of tennis and the dedication and focus required to improve, even more than the physical elements I always relied on.

I have played tennis on and off throughout my life but after graduating college and being away from the game for several years, I discovered the Tennis League Network when living in San Francisco, a city where I did not have many friends or any tennis friends. At this point I was probably a 4.0 player on a good day. TLN was a great way to quickly integrate with the local tennis community and find players who wanted to play on a regular basis at my skill level. Many years later after moving around the country, a friend let me know he had been playing regular matches with TLN and, without even remembering I had a pre-existing profile (did not put it together that it was the same TLN from many years prior), I rejoined the tennis community in a new city and it has since been very fulfilling and an opportunity to steadily improve from my base as a 4.0-4.5 player to giving some 5.0s a run for their money.

I try to play tennis roughly three times per week but have mostly been hitting with the same small group of friends at the same court. One of my favorite elements of playing in the TLN leagues and tournaments is that I get to see such different styles of play, forcing me to learn new tactics and continue developing my own game, a challenge I greatly enjoy. It has also been fun to go to some new courts and see more of the tennis ecosystem in NYC.

I have been lucky to play some very memorable matches and sets - one of my favorite was against a player who has very powerful groundstrokes, sometimes at the cost of consistency but one of our league matches he was not missing anything. I felt that I was doing my best to put a deep topspin ball back into play but my opponent continued to crush it back to me with excellent placement and, while I wish I had found a way to win the set, there was something nice about not beating myself (which is more often the case) and instead having to figure out how to disarm a strong opponent. This is the path to improvement!

Overall, TLN has made it really fun and accessible to play tennis with many different formats, continuing to have many opportunities to compete and level up. It is also great that there is such flexibility on timing, scoring formats, and locations, which works well for the typical busy New Yorker and limitation of NYC court availability.  

Michael Sartain - Hits the tennis courts in Salt Lake City

We caught up with Michael Sartain out of the SLCTennisLeague.com  the Salt Lake City Tennis League.  We met Michael at the 2024 national championship and we impressed with his ability to grind out wins!!  

Which league are you a member of?

I’ve been playing in the Salt Lake tennis league.

How long have you participated in your league?

I have been playing for nine seasons now, and I absolutely love it.

How did you first learn about it?

My good friend Peter Pongratz got me into it, and I’m really glad he did—it’s been an awesome way to stay active and meet some incredible people.

How often do you play?

I try to play as often as I can.

What do you like most about the league?

What I love most about the league is the community—I’ve made a ton of great friends, both on and off the court.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

I’ve had some memorable matches over the years, especially the close ones that go down to the wire—nothing beats that feeling of pushing yourself to the limit.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

There are a few regular opponents who always bring out my best game, and those rivalries are what keep it fun.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I started playing tennis about 10 years ago just looking for a way to get some exercise and a little healthy competition, and it quickly turned into something I’m passionate about.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

I’m currently ranked a 4.0.

What do you love about tennis?  

Tennis has become a big part of my life, and I’m grateful for everything it’s brought me.

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

My favorite pro is Serena Williams—her power, presence, and fight are just unreal.

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.)

Outside of tennis, I’m in tech sales, so hitting the court is a great way to decompress after a long day of client calls and negotiations. I’m also a musician and play in a rock band called Starmy—we’ve been at it for a while and it’s one of my biggest creative outlets.

Jackson Phillips - He's played in 4 of our different Florida leagues

We caught up with Jackson Phillips whose basically out of Florida.  He's played in our Jacksonville, Tampa Ft. Lauderdale and Miami leagues over the past 3 years.  That's amazing!

What do you like most about the league?

I like this league because it is “one stop shopping” for a tennis player.  While there are many leagues out there, every time I play in this league there is a large group of active players.  If I wanted to schedule a match for every day of the year, I could do so using this league alone.

Which league are you a member of?

I play in the Fort Lauderdale tennis league, but I have also played in the leagues for Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami.

How long have you participated in your league?

I only just recently started playing here in Fort Lauderdale, but this is my 17th season overall.

How did you first learn about it?

I don’t remember how I originally discovered it, but once I discovered it, I immediately looked for it every time I moved to new cities in Florida.

How often do you play?

At the moment, I am making improving my tennis game a priority.  And so I’ve been playing almost every day.  I intend to do that for the rest of the summer and see how good I can get.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

I have played over 100 matches in this league across four cities.  My memory is not the best, so I will pick a recent match.  Last season, my division was dominated by a player named Vijay Samuel.  He has an unconventional game that was literally giving the entire division fits.  The first time I played him, I lost 6-1, 6-0.  The night before the match, I texted him-

"Since we last played, I am 4-1 in the division. I am approaching our match tomorrow like I was in purgatory and the outcome between our match would result in whether I was sent to either heaven or hell for all of eternity.  I may lose, but if I lose they will have to carry me off the court on a stretcher, and possibly you too.”

And then, against all odds, I showed up and defeated him 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 in a 3.5 hour marathon.  It was his only loss of the season.  And Vijay, you can have a rematch whenever.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

It is tough to define my rivals because I haven’t been in Fort Lauderdale very long.  I haven’t played anyone a handful of matches yet.

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

I would like to point out that I am suffering from a playoff curse.  Overall, I have a winning record in the league, but when it comes to playoff matches, I am only 1-7.  It seems like everything that could possibly go wrong does go wrong every time the playoffs roll around.  I look forward to turning that streak around in the future.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I started playing tennis when I was very young.  My father was a tennis player, and he basically steered me into the sport.  I played through high school before taking about 20 years off and returning to the game later in life.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I am driven by the desire to reach a solid 4.5 rating.  For me, working towards that achievement is what makes tennis fun.  I’ve never been the sort of person who can just casually do anything at all and call it fun.  I play to meet that goal.  League matches are tools to me, and I designate each one with a purpose.  Sometimes my objective is to leave it all on the court and win.  Other times I intentionally don’t care about the result and use the opportunity to work on making specific changes to my game.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

Technically, I am a computer 3.5.  But as you know, that rating only updates once a year.  Considering my current UTR and WTN ratings, I am almost certainly going to get bumped to 4.0 at the end of this calendar year.  So, I am technically a 3.5 but I consider myself a 4.0.

What do you love about tennis?  

Without tennis, I don’t think I would be alive.  I have severely suffered from mental health difficulties including diagnoses of bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.  For over 20 years, I’ve experienced extreme, unpredictable fluctuations in my energy levels.  And I get hit with frequent dangerous bouts of depression.  Despite trying every medication you have ever heard of along with every modern treatment option, I have struggled to get and hold jobs for many years.  Add in the fact that I’ve lived in 4 different cities in just five years, I have frequently found myself friendless and with nothing to do.  Tennis has dug me out of this hole more times than I can remember.  When I find myself in a new city, signing up for tennis leagues such as this one gets the ball rolling.  Pretty soon I find myself in better fitness, happier, interacting with many people and befriending some of them.  I love tennis not just because the game is fun to play, but because it is the only way I know to create a new life from a place of depression and struggle. 

Dominic Smith - It's wonderful to have this league

We caught up with Dominic Smith out of the Baltimore league and here's his story!

Which league are you a member of?

I am a member of the Tennis Baltimore League 40+ division as well as the competitive league 3.5 although I'm currently at the in-between rating of 3.25

 

How long have you participated in your league?

I started during the Summer of 2024, so this is my second season.

 

How did you first learn about it?

I googled Baltimore Tennis

 

How often do you play?

I try to get at least 2-3 matches a week, but play as often as possible along with training with a ball machine and occasional lessons

What do you like most about the league?

I love that it's intense and informable at the same time.  I can play as little or as much as I want and there's no pressure except that which I put on myself.

I also love getting to know the players and their different games as well as experiencing all the courts around the city.

 

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

My most memorable matches are those that I lost in a close tie-break as those tend to stick with me, but they serve as motivation for improvement.

 

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

Brendan McElroy and I have had several epic battles on the court and I haven't been able to get over the hump and beat him.  Someday...

 

I recently played Miryam Yamadi and she has incredible form and tennis smarts and I look forward to playing her again.

 

Both Walter Parrish and Maurice Evans have great skill on the court and I learn by watching how they move and plan their strategy.

 

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

Just that it's been wonderful to have this league so that I could reconnect with the sport that I loved growing up, but had let get rusty in my middle age.

 

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!  First and foremost it's fun, but through the competition I get to measure myself against other players and losing is a great motivator for improvement.  

 

I try (emphasize "try") to tell myself that my muscles and fitness level don't care if I win or lose, but my mind and ego knows and I'd be lying if I said it didn't matter :)

 

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

In the league I'm currently at 3.25    I hope to get up to 3.5 soon, I just have to keep putting in the time through practice and playing matches.

 

What do you love about tennis? 

It's graceful and brutal at the same time with meditative qualities that get me in a zone that no other sport accomplishes for me.

I've heard it described as "long distance boxing" and I'd agree with that.  Tennis people I think would get that, others not so much.   

 

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

My favorite pro player all-time would be Pete Sampras.  He had such a graceful game and never seemed to have an outsize ego which always turned me off with some of the other players of his era.   Of course I loved the majesty of Federer, Nadal and love Djokovic's unrelenting drive.    The recent crop of men's players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are great as well.  On the women's side Martina Navritalova and Steffi Graf and later the Williams sisters set a high bar, which is being met today by Coco Grauf, Iga Swiatek and so many others that I enjoy watching.

 

I watch tennis for entertainment, but also to absorb their styles, steal and learn.

 

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 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, travelling, biking, going to the movies and lap time with my dog Snowy.