Andrew Gottesman - World Traveler who is on the Road to Recovery

    We checked in with new Tennis Los Angeles player Andrew Gottesman and felt the community would love to hear his story of recovery from a near fatal fall.

Andrew Gottesman

1. Which league are you a member of?

I'm currently playing in Tennis Los Angeles Fall Season Advanced and will be playing in 2015 Spring Elite division after the playoffs finish.

2. How long have you participated in your league?

This is my first season with the Tennis Los Angeles tennis league. http://www.tennislosangeles.com/66848/profile

3. How did you first learn about it?

I learned about it from another member (Ping Deng) who I met in an USTA league.

4. How often do you play?

I try to play 2-3 times a week.

5. What do you like most about the league?

I like the competitiveness and flexibility of the league.

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

One of my most memorable matches was in this league against fellow Tennis LA league player Jody McVeigh.  The match was in the quarterfinals and lasted over 3 hours.  It was easily one of the most difficult matches I've played.

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

My favorite rivals in the league are Jody McVeigh, George Rodriguez and Denis Kholodenko.  They are all relentless players who put up great matches every time. 

8. How did you get started playing tennis?

I started playing tennis in high school and played for my college club team at UCLA.

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

4.0 - 4.5

        A story about me:  I love to travel internationally, and try to visit at least two countries a year.  I certainly met my match during my last trip to Burma (Myanmar) in Southeast Asia.  In December of 2013 I was travelling in Bagan (a remote city in Burma) which is one of the oldest cities in Burma and is known for thousands of very old Buddhism temples. Whilst traveling in Bagan, I was on top of a 3-story (30') brick temple (picture below) looking at some sites and taking photographs of the sunset with a college friend who I was traveling with at the time.  Once the sun had finished setting, I began climbing down the side of the temple back to the ground.  As I was climbing down, a brick had slipped from underneath my feet and I fell one of the three stories hitting my face against the side of the temple, was knocked unconscious, and fell back the remainder of the two stories landing on my back on the ground.

        I ended up shattering both of my arms and needed 9 metal plates throughout my face for the various breaks.  I spent the next 8 months in and out of surgeries and physical therapy.  Although I cannot hit a two-handed back hand anymore, I am back playing competitive tennis and and incredibly grateful for how well I have recovered after what was a very serious accident, and so far the craziest experience of my life.  I am still, to this day, undergoing procedures as a result of the accident.  Overall, I had an amazing experience in Burma, not including the accident, and would absolutely go back again; just probably not climb as many temples!

Luigi Scicchitano - Pursuit of Excellence while being trained from Milan, Italy

                         LUIGI SCICCHITANO - PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
as written by his instructor: Michaela Tavernese


Luigi Scicchitano has made the playoffs for his first Tennis Los Angeles tennis season. While he's been working with Michaela Tavernese who is based out of Milan Italy.

Most people workout to improve their body composition but exercises can do more than that.
The goal is to increase resistance, strength, flexibility, power and endurance on court movement.
As everyone needs to tailor their own routine on their individual needs and bodies, there is no single “perfect tennis workout”.

With Luigi we examined his body, we studied his muscles, we worked around his qualities to develop his performance during the match.

To achieve these results we got into the big world of functional training. The global gymnastic that involves activities targeting the core muscles (abs and lower back) and any type of exercise that has a direct relationship with the activities you perform in your tennis court life.

So the training was extremely unique, variable and undoubtedly hard!
We used different techniques :
SMALL EQUIPMENT
PILATES STAFF
WEIGHTS
TRX
ANTIGRAVITY
SPIDER RAP

To cope with this innovative training and the new caloric expenditure. We focused the attention on Luigi 's nutritional habits.
To satisfy his new caloric needs we opted for a personal and detailed DIET gradually introducing energetic and healthy food (Luigi's secret).

  After our virtual training sessions on Skype, mail and Facebook, Luigi at the age of 41 reached on the tennis court the maximum control of his body. The big success is confirmed with:
-  His league results
_ His 15-4 record during the Winter Season.
_ His quick rise to the top division being offer by Tennis Los Angeles
- Being at the top of the list of the men's Elite Division

A final note on Luigi's athletics rebirth " trip" his natural work to absorb the Athletics Principals and Sport Philosophy. Luigi's mental outlook allowed him to nourish his genius and refine his great talent.

Luigi is my best "virtual athlete"  because I'm training him from MILANO ITALY
We started TEN MONTHS AGO and we have OBTAINED GREAT RESULTS even if WE LIVE IN DIFFERENT CONTINENTS.

"NIKE DONATION"
I 'm very proud to announce that in late December
Luigi become a Nike Athlete.
The legendary brand has begun to observe him few  mounts ago.
In the new year(2015) to start a partnership with Luigi,  Nike has decided to give a donation to him consisting in uniforms personalized with his name under the popular swoosh!


Michaela Tavernese

International Sport trainer
International Personal Trainer
Nutritionist
Wonder

Player Profile: Francis Grab got out on the courts 26 times in 2014 with TennisDC

We checked in with Francis Grab out of the TennisDC.com franchise.  Here's his tennis story!

Which league are you a member of?
1.       I am a member of TennisDC 3.5 league in Washington D.C.

How long have you participated in your league? 
2.       I joined TennisDC in the Spring of 2014, and have joined every subsequent league.

How did you first learn about it?
3.       I came across TennisDC during a web search. I was looking at ways to get more tennis matches in.

How often do you play?
4.       As often as my wife lets me! J (Just kidding – I try to average about one match a week, depending on work schedule, kid duties, etc.)  We see Francis has played 26 times in the past year:  http://www.tennisdc.com/59887/profile

What do you like most about the league?
5.       Best thing about the league is very simple: great way to play a lot of competitive tennis matches!

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)
6.       Most memorable matches have been some of the blowouts – where I’ve been paired against vastly superior players (it’s only happened a few times – most matches are quite even and could go either way). You learn a tremendous amount and, even though you are getting spanked, fun to see how good some of the guys are. And it gives you something to aim for!

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?
7.       I’ve played a couple of good matches against Paul Mackie – lost both of them, but have really enjoyed playing him!

Do you have any other interesting comments about your experiences with the league?
8.       TennisDC was a great way for me to get back into tennis. I went for many years without playing and then suddenly got back into in a big way; perhaps a mid-life crisis?!

How did you get started playing tennis?
9.       I started playing tennis when I was a little kid – taking lessons at my parents’ tennis club. Loved it right away.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)
10.   I am a 3.5 NTRP (although an aspirational 4.0).

 Who are your favorite pro players?

13: My favorite pro tennis players are Roger Federer and John McEnroe

 What are your tennis goals this year?

15: My tennis goals for 2015 are to move up to the 4.0 league

 Does any of your family members play tennis? If so, tell us a little bit about them.
16: My oldest daughter is nine and she LOVES tennis and she is going to be great! I look forward to the day she beats me.