Andrew McIntyre: He absolutely loves the flexibility of the league

Which league are you a member of?

TennisMinneapolis.

How long have you participated in your league?

I joined TennisMinneapolis in the fall of 2015, when I moved to the Twin Cities from Los Angeles.

How did you first learn about it?

When I relocated to the Twin Cities, I was looking for tennis tournaments in the area, and it wasn't more than a few web searches before TennisMinneapolis came on my radar. I soon signed up for the September 2015 tournament. I played Austin Povilaitis in the first round of that tournament (beat him, although for the record he had beaten me several times since) and learned about TennisMinneapolis' seasonal leagues through Austin.

How often do you play?

I play as much as I can, which is often four or five times a week when the weather is nice.

What do you like most about the league?

The league has been a great way to meet so many great tennis players in the area, and to explore so many Twin Cities parks. The flexibility is also fantastic. It's a good fit for players wanting to play five matches or 20 matches in a season.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

The league website generates a list of greatest rivals, and many of my most memorable matches have been against my greatest rival--Feng Wan. Wan and I almost always have gone three sets, and many of those sets have been 7-6, 7-5 or 6-4. It's always a battle against Wan.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

In addition to Wan, Chris Staples and Povilaitis. Wan for those long three-setters, Staples for his relentless heavy topspin forehands and Povilaitis for his monster serve and powerful ground strokes.

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

 I love all the stats on the website.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I started playing seriously in high school. I was more of a baseball player at the time, but when weighing the pros and cons of playing baseball or tennis my freshman year of high school, it was clear that I'd get much more playing time if I opted for tennis, so I did.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

4.0. My 4.0 team from USTA Northern recently went to nationals in Arizona, and I'm now playing on a 4.5 team. I'm co-captaining that 4.5 team.

What do you love about tennis?

The physical and mental battles. I go back and forth on which I need to work more on. Some days I'm in the game mentally but not there physically. And some days vice versa. That's tennis.

  

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 on the East Coast, went to college in Atlanta and did graduate work in Massachusetts, Indiana and Los Angeles. I have a background in music theory and journalism, and currently work as a reporter covering the legal sector.

Keiji Tomita: He's a Shogi Champion

Keiji Tomita has been playing with since July 2011. In the amazing 6 1/2 years of playing with Tennis Los Angeles.com he's played an amazing 750 matches and earned an amazing 16 freebies for playing 20 or more matches in a season.  But that is just part of the story, definitely read below and hear about his Shogi exploits. Very amazing.

Which league are you a member of?

TennisLosAngeles - Metro Los Angeles Tennis League.

How long have you participated in your league?

Since July 2011, I think I haven’t skipped any season by now!

How did you first learn about it?

I met a guy at another tennis league, and he suggested this league, so I tried Tennis Los Angeles, and I liked it, then keep participating since then.

How often do you play?

I try to schedule at least 2-3 matches per week.

What do you like most about the league?

Flexibility!  I can play anytime, anywhere with anyone I like.  That's wonderful.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

This is a difficult question because I have so many memorable matches; I really mean it, so many.  I have played 742 matches at this moment in this league, and I would say most matches were great matches; I gave all I had to opponents.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I have many favorite rivals, and I feel I am very lucky to have so many good friends here, I had great time playing tennis with them, and I am looking forward to playing with them many more years.

How did you get started playing tennis?

My boss at work, who has a teaching experience when he was young, taught me first, since then I am addicted with tennis.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

4.0

What do you love about tennis?  

Workout, I am planning to play tennis rest of my life! 

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

Kei Nishikori.  I am from Japan, and Kei is one of the biggest sport stars in Japan.  I respect him, and am proud of him.  I hope he will win a major title someday.  I tend to like small players such as Goffin, Dolgopolov, Ferrer, and so on, just because I am a tiny guy.

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 was born and raised in Japan, and came to US to study at a University.  I am a US citizen now.  I teach guitar at a music school part-time, and also I work at a Japanese restaurant as a manager.

I want to share a great story just happened to me a few weeks ago.  My another passion besides tennis is Shogi, which is translated as a Japanese Chess. Shogi is pretty similar to Chess, but the biggest difference in Japanese chess from Western chess is that you can use a piece you took from opponent as your own force, so the more game goes further, you have more choices to make.  If I say simply, Shogi is more complicated than Chess.  

In April this year, I earned 2nd place at All US Shogi championship, and was picked to compete at International Shogi competition as a representative of the USA!  It was held at Japan at the end of October, and all my expenses were paid, such as air fare, hotel, meals.

I had several tough matches, but lucky enough to win the tournament!  I am an amateur World Shogi Champion!

Super Excited for the 9th Annual National Tournament

The 9th Annual Tennis League Network National Championship starts in only 10 days. 

Currently we’re at 70 enrolled, a new record.  Also planning on running an extra Elite division this year so we’ll have an Elite+, Elite-, Advanced, Advanced-, Competitive and Competitive- Division plus 2 ladies divisions. Super excited to run so many levels should make for really competitive matches all weekend long.

We have players coming flying in from Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, DC, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York City, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco, Tampa and Virginia Beach.

• We have a record 5 past champions attending: Anna Colm, Debbie Massaro, Hans Felten, Nick Flanscha & Yamil Flores.
• The Women’s Division is back yet again!!!!!  We have 12 well skilled players attending from all over.
• Amanda Lean will be playing with the 3.75 level Men. Watch out boys, she’s quite good and has had an outstanding year of play.
• Nikita Kudla brother of pro tour player Denis Kudla will be in attendance yet again.
• Hans Felten is flying in from Portland, OR. He’s the only player to play in both the LA and Miami Tournaments. We have a record 7 West Coasters attending.
• We have 19 Miami and Ft. Lauderdale players participating this year.
• There’s rumors we might have a massage therapist available for Saturday.
• The tournament director Steve Chagnon will again try to squeeze in matches during the tournament.  
• The combined W/L record of the player’s currently set up for the Elite+ Division is 422 wins and 230 loses.  65% Match win percentage.
• Loftiest record goes to Ali Almousawi out of TennisPhilly.com who is an amazing 32-7. We do have a bunch of great records for players with less than 20 matches played though.
• Divisions are going to be between 8 to 9 players a piece. With 6 players moving on to Championship Sunday it will definitely mean the Friday/Saturday play-in matches have greater meaning this year. Especially with 2 byes per Championship bracket.

Billy Kirland: Getting better match by match

Billy Kirland, plays out of TennisLosAngeles.com:  A little more than two years ago, Billy was looking for a new fun workout. Running distance was growing a little stale and wasn't competitive enough. The more he thought about it, the more appealing tennis became because it was a sport that he would be able to play for the rest of his life. Tennis Los Angeles helped add a new lifelong hobby. Billy has compiled a 122-84 record and won his first championship with the Spring Season 3.5 division.

Which league are you a member of?

LosAngeles, Westside (Advanced & Elite). 

How long have you participated in your league?

I started playing the league in the fall of 2015, shortly after I started playing tennis. I started in the lowest division and have somehow worked my way all the way up to the highest. I definitely still have a lot of work to do to get better, but it's been a fun ride so far. 

How did you first learn about it?

I heard about it when I was doing live ball at the Santa Monica Tennis Center from one of my instructors. 

How often do you play?

I like to play 2-3 times a week if possible. It's a lot more fun than running or doing a boring work out. 

What do you like most about the league?

What I like most about the league is its flexibility. You can play when you want and where you want most of the time. It's great. 

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

There are so many great players in this league who have been playing a lot longer than I have. I already have a lot of good memories. But I think the most memorable is winning a championship. It was a cool culmination of starting to figure out how to play smarter tennis. Plus I was able to buy a new racket with the gift card I won.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I played recreationally once in a while as a kid. Not a lot though, just enough to get my butt kicked by friends who took lessons. I really only started to play more seriously and consistently a little more than two years ago. It's been a blast. It's a great way to stay in shape while also getting a competitive activity in weekly. I grew up playing football, basketball, and baseball, so it's been fun to get back into a competitive sport as I get older. 

What level player are you?

NTRP rating 4.0

What do you love about tennis?

I love how any one player can beat another player on any given day. Everyone has different styles of playing. Any style can win on any given day. The game is as much a mental workout as it is a physical one. It's cool that you can continually learn ways to improve and develop your game. 

 What are your favorite pro players? Why?

Again, I really only started playing about two years ago, meaning I've only been watching tennis for about two years too. If I had to pick a favorite player though, I think it might be Andy Murray. I love how competitive he is with himself and how he wears his emotions on his sleeve. Most of the time, he's able to use those emotions to elevate his game too. He plays tennis like a football player. It's cool.