Eric & Brian Dosal: Once in a Lifetime Experience at Monte Carlo Masters 1000

A brief story about Eric & Brian Dosal’s recent experience at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 Tennis Tournament…

In late March my brother Brian and I decided we wanted to try the experience of watching a Masters 1000 Tennis Tournament in Europe. 

We have been to the Miami Open many times and our family has been season ticket holders since 1987 back when it was the Lipton and hosted on Key Biscayne.  So with the blessings from our very supportive wives we began the planning process.

We reached out to Grand Slam Tennis Tours (GSTT) as they offer packages for these types of tournaments and our family had worked with them before.  We wanted to use a company for our first trip to help with all the logistics since we are unfamiliar with the process, the country, or the language.  GSTT came through big time and got us some great seats, we just needed to get to the Nice Airport and they would take care of the rest.

In true Dosal Brothers fashion we don’t pick an easy trip, we start out with the long multi flight trip for our first experience.  On Thursday April 13th, we boarded our Air France flight to begin our 18 ½ hour door to door journey to Monte Carlo arriving Friday April 14th in the evening.  It was a 4 legged trip, first a flight from MIA to Paris, then a flight from Paris to Nice, then a helicopter ride from Nice to Monte Carlo, and finally a car ride from the helipad to our hotel Le Meridien Beach Plaza.

The tennis experience started on Saturday morning, when through my Miami tennis coach, we were able to connect with an active player on the ATP doubles tour who got us player guest passes.  As player guests we were able to enter the Monte Carlo Country Club (MCCC) early before the public and he was able to arrange a 1 hour practice session on Court 11 which is a match court during the tournament.  What an incredible experience to be in Monte Carlo, overlooking the mediterranean playing on the European red clay on the same court the pros use.  This was the main highlight of the trip and an experience we will never forget.

After checking out the country club, shopping at the store, and a quick change at the hotel we were back to watch 2 Men’s Semi Finals matches.  The first match was Fritz vs Rublev where Rublev won 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 including a 3+ hour rain delay.  During the rain delay we were able to take cover inside the players restaurant since we had “player guest” passes from earlier.  My image of a player restaurant is a lavish location with a huge delicious spread of food.  This was not the case, it was a simple room with fold out tables and chairs, and the menu was grilled chicken, rice or pasta, veggies and some simple fruit desserts.  Nothing fancy.

The second highlight of the trip was by far the Sinner vs Rune match which ended up being at night because of the rain delay earlier.  The temperature dropped into the 40s and the wind picked up so it got cold in a hurry.  Watching the match at night with the mountains in the background on one side and the Mediterranean in the background on the other side was beautiful.  The fans are very passionate and very vocal throughout the match.  To our surprise after the 2nd set the announcer made an announcement in French and all of a sudden the fans from the higher seats started to move down.  We thought perhaps it was an evacuation message but no, it was a signal for everyone to come down and fill the lower seats.  It was like the stadium shrunk in size and the volume of the crowd got louder.  What a battle and Rune came out the winner at 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 despite the crowd rooting for Sinner. 

The next day was Finals Day and the weather was the total opposite of the day/night before.  It was in the 70s, no breeze, no clouds and nothing but sun which made for a very warm afternoon.  The finals match did not disappoint with Rublev beating Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in a long intense match.  What an incredible ending to our tennis watching experience. 

 

 We spent the rest of the day/evening exploring Monte Carlo which was in the process of preparing for the famous F1 race.  So we explored the boardwalk, the F1 track, the marina, and the world famous casino.  The city is beautiful and a pleasure to walk around.

Monday was all about the ride home as we had to do everything in reverse.  The car picked us up at 8:15am (2:15am Miami time) and we arrived at home at 7:15pm making for a 17 hour trip door to door.  What an incredible experience this was; not only was it our first tournament in Europe and our first time seeing the red clay, but we got to watch some incredible tennis and got an opportunity to play on the clay.

Can’t wait to see what tournament we check out next…perhaps the Italian Open in 2024…

Alex Lazar - Loves the flexibility of the format.

We caught up with Alex Lazar out of the Austin franchise and here's the tennis story we have from him. 

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 am a therapist at a psych hospital here and work on the adolescent unit and absolutely love it. I love where I work, my co-workers and the work I do there. Being a therapist has been a goal of mine since I was in high school and feel utterly grateful to be able to do the work I do and working with the teens is my jam. 

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and moved around a lot after high school, Oregon, Boston, Salt Lake City, and now Austin for good

I love cooking, gardening and spending time with my brother who also lives in town and taking my dog to the dog park. 

Which league are you a member of?

Austin Tennis League

How long have you participated in your league?

This is my third season over the past two years

How did you first learn about it?

Found out about it just with a google search looking for a tennis league here

How often do you play?

I prefer to play at least twice a week but usually 2 or 3 matches a week. 

What do you like most about the league?

That I get to play with other people at my skill level and just able to easily get back into playing.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es).

My most memorable matches are usually ones where I lose the first set and then able to come back and win the next two sets.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I don't really have a rival in my league right now. 

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

It’s really nice that people can be moved up or down in skill level groups, it's a goal of mine to move up eventually.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I started playing before high school because a lot of my friends then played and then played one year in high school. 

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

Both, always love winning but also just love playing regardless. 

What level player are you? (NTRP rating) 

I'm at 2.5

What do you love about tennis?  

There aren't a lot of barriers to play, all you need is a racket and balls. It makes it so that more people can play and theres a lot of free places to play here and the ones that require a reservation and cost money are only $4 per person.

Darin Stojanovic - Has found the love of playing competitive tennis

We caught up with Darin Stojanovic out of the TennisPhilly.com franchise.  

Darin has played an amazing 54 matches in under a 1 year period of time. He started his journey during his early 40’s in the summer of 2022.

What do you love about tennis?

Tennis gives me the right balance in the amount of cardio while enjoying the sport.  I set goals and tennis keeps me mentally challenged.   The fun part is wearing the bright neon shirts.

How long have you participated in your league?

This is my first year that I started playing competitively in the leagues.

How did you first learn about it?

I started taking lessons at the Legacy Youth Tennis and Education.  After a few clinics, other players suggested I try Tennis Philly.

How often do you play?

I play three to four times a week. 

What do you like most about the league?

The players in the league tend to have a lot more experience and they always offer tips for other players to improve their game.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es).

My most memorable match is when I play someone with a similar skill level.  I played the longest two sets with my opponent over the summer.   I needed a two-point difference to win the first and second set.  After many deuces, in the second set, I hit a heavy backhand down his right side wide in the court to win the final point.  

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I didn’t have that many repeat matches yet.  I will get there eventually.

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

As the daylight slowly goes away in the evening games, we still keep playing for the love of the sport.

How did you get started playing tennis?

My parents started me with weekly tennis lessons after elementary school classes ended.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I want to compete and have fun at the same time!

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

2.5

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

Nadal and Federer. I enjoy the amazing shots that these two players make.  They also display good character during their matches and that is more important than winning the match.

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. Currently I reside in Philadelphia with my wife and two small Chihuahua mixes. I stay active with activities such a biking and taking the wife and dogs on the trail.  Travel for warm beaches is always on my mind such as south Florida.

Eric Dosal - Future Advanced player?

We caught up with Eric Dosal out of the Tennis-Miami.com community!  Here's his story. 

I grew up in Miami, went to college at Babson College in Boston, then made my way to Wall Street to work in Finance for a few years before coming back home to Miami to join the family business.  It's been 20+ years since I came home and during that time I have been working with my family (mostly my brother) starting, selling & operating different businesses in the technology space.  Currently I spend my professional time running Compuquip Cybersecurity, a cybersecurity consulting practice. 

Which league are you a member of?

I am currently a member of the Tennis Miami Competitive2 (3.25) League but a future member of the Elite & Advanced (4.0) League (wink wink!)

How long have you participated in your league?

This is my 2nd full season as I was recovering from an injury that kept me out of 2 other seasons earlier this year.

How did you first learn about it?

A friend of a friend told me about Tennis Miami when I was looking for regular matches to improve my skills.  I was tired of playing the same people over and over without any structure.

How often do you play?

My goal is to play twice during the week and once on the weekend which ends up being about 2 to 3 times per week depending on scheduling and how my body holds up. 

What do you like most about the league?

I love the structure of the league which allows you to schedule matches based on your availability vs a required day of the week as other leagues have.  And I love the tracking of scores and rankings for the league so you can see how you’re playing compared to others in your league.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)?

I had one match against someone that played mostly junk balls and frustrated me to the point I wanted to scream and smash racquets.  But I learned more in that match about the mental game and patience than any other time.  Outside of the league, just recently I played a match with my brother while we were in Park City, Utah in December in a “bubble” they put over the outdoor courts since there was 2ft of snow outside.  Playing at high altitude totally changes the game.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I don’t have many rivals but Jesus Gonzalez is who I’ve played with the most and it's always fun to play against him.

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

I feel like it's a big community and I’ve seen some players advance to other leagues and thought “that means I know I can do it too”.  Everyone is extremely friendly and I’ve never had a bad experience on the court.

How did you get started playing tennis?

My mother started me playing tennis when I was very young, however I chose baseball over tennis and played baseball through college.  I didn’t pick up tennis again for another 30+ years in 2021 when I wanted some “fun exercise” outside.  I have been playing regularly ever since.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

A little of both.  I have a lot of fun on the court and love the calorie burn.  But the competitive nature of the sport feels great, I feel like a kid when I’m out there chasing balls down.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

I have never had an official rating but from everything I have read and other tournaments I’ve played I would comfortably say I’m at a 3.5 level.

What do you love about tennis?

I love the fitness aspect, the mental challenge, the opportunity to compete, the fact you can’t think about anything else on the court, and the social aspect. 

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

I’m a big fan of anyone with a single handed backhand because that’s what I have so guys like Tsitsipas, Dimitrov, Musetti, Theim, Wawrinka, and of course Federer.  Besides that I’m a fan of Taylor Fritz (currently the top American), Nick Kyrios (excitement on the court), Casper Ruud (his playing demeanor), and Jack Sock (doubles skills),

When I’m not playing tennis I love to workout, I love to read, I love to spend time with my family which includes my amazing daughters and my incredible wife (who also plays tennis).

 

Roberto Olivares-Amaya - Really enjoying the community in East Bay

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 in Mexico City. I spent about 12 years in the Northeast, mainly in the Boston area. In late 2019 I moved to Berkeley, CA, where fortunately there are plenty of public tennis courts. I moved right before the pandemic. That's where the League became a lifeline to get back to playing tennis all-year round. 

When I'm not playing tennis, I'm doing long distance running or doing hikes alongside my wife. Just as I like playing long matches, you can probably see me reading novels or watching movies at the local theaters.

Professionally, I'm a chemist who became a machine learning scientist. So I spend my work hours doing programming working in the biotech industry.

Which league are you a member of?

EastBay Tennis

How long have you participated in your league?

I've been a member since August, 2021

How did you first learn about it?

I looked up leagues online and was lucky to found Tennis East Bay!

How often do you play?

I try to play 3 matches a week

What do you like most about the league?

I really like the sense of community it builds. 

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

I remember the championship match for the Advanced 1 League over the summer. There's also been memorable matches where it all boils down to a tiebreaker. The League is so competitive that we've all been in good wins and losses where we have to hand it to the other player.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

It's hard to call them rivals because we're all so friendly to each other. We have a band of lefties in the league: Diego Roig, Charlie Mintz, Eric Smith, and Ben Kleinman that has made it a lot of fun. Tomás Perez's and Eric Katerman's sage advice has made the EBTL better. Last Matty Moss's play has kept all of us on our toes.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I started playing tennis when I was young in Mexico. I never made past local tournaments, but did have fun in plenty of summer camps.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I play to have fun, but the league's competitive spirit keeps me on my toes.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

4.25 

What do you love about tennis?  

I love the aspect of self-improvement in tennis. While we play matches, we aim to improve every single one of our shots, and trying to win. All of these aspects come together like a jigsaw puzzle. 

But more to the point, a well-constructed point is a thing of beauty.

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

Roger Federer, for his style of play. He's also a player that as he aged, he continued improving and changing his game.

Praveen Nair - Tennis is a Gentlemen's Game

We caught up with Praveen Nair out of JacksonvilleTennisLeague.com and this is his story.

What do you love about tennis?  

Tennis is a gentleman game. No arguments, no fights and always friendly. I love the fact that it requires strategy and physical fitness and provides some good exercise. It seems to be a very simple game when you look at how Roger Federer plays, but when you play, realize how much effort is required to play and win a tennis match. Another good thing about tennis is, it only requires 2 people unlike Cricket Match which requires coordinating 11 people.

Which league are you a member of?

I am part of Jacksonville Tennis League.

How long have you participated in your league?

It’s been only a year I have been part of this excellent tennis community however it feels like I know everyone in my group for ages.

How did you first learn about it?

Jacksonville Tennis League was referenced to me by one of my friends, Mr. James Pudner, a wonderful person and very nice athlete who also happens to live in my own housing community, for getting tennis practice as it was becoming increasingly difficult to get people to play tennis very often.  What a wonderful step I taken! I was flooded with a lot of good people who were very accommodating and very reaching out to play tennis.

How often do you play?

I play very regularly, I tried to finish 20-25 games per season, provided our seasonal Florida weather permits it. I always try to play same person twice and if we have split, try to play one more time. The number of friendships I make along the way helps me to keep playing and learning from everyone.

What do you like most about the league?

One of the most likable parts of this league is the people and the way you can schedule games. The rules do encourage everyone to play more.  I felt everyone is very respectful and helpful.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

I do remember some great games. Some of them I win and some of them I lost. One of the games I remember most is when I got defeated by an elite player, John Kim, who was very thorough with his shot selection and execution. But that game become so memorable because even though he was winning, he was very respectful to me and was trying to make the game very interesting. 

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I love some friendly rivalries. I had multiple games with Scott (Winfield) & Pushpjeet. Everyone is so talented that any given day the game can go either way. So, a little bit of sporty rivalries always helps to focus more.

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

One of the nice things I remember was that I had a game with Abdur on hot Florida day at around 3:00 PM and I was really struggling against the sun as I did not have a hat. Abdur was very nice enough to gift me a brand-new hat. How nice of him! These small gestures make bigger impact in our life and thoughts!

I want to say the thanks to the organizers of the league as well especially Steven. They are very accommodating and not micro-managing each game and people. It helps to build trust.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I never learned tennis professionally as kid. I picked tennis with the help of couple of friends as a hobby. And recently I had some coaching as well to improve my game.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I do play for fun but since I play a lot of games, I do compete as well. But most import thing for me is comfort and trying to give your 100% on that day.           

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

I am rated between 3.5 to 4.0.

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

Roger Federal. His simplicity and elegance are noteworthy. I do like Pete Sampras as well as he gives a good fight to Andre Agassi in my school days.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.  

I work in Information Technology field, originally from India, who used to spend a lot of time behind my desk. I used to be very obese (used to be around 249 lbs.) when covid as calamity hit us, it changed my perceptions and priorities. I started walking and slowly reduced my weight between 185-195 lbs. now. Now a days, my priority in life is to get outside my own home in the evening as much as possible and enjoy!

I do actively participate in lot of sports like Cricket (Every Sunday morning and I do play some league matches as well) and Soccer (every Sunday evening) and in any free time I play Chess tournaments online. I do have table tennis board in my dining room which I play with daughter as well. All other days are dedicated to tennis or walking, depends on courts availability.

My favorite place is the Beach where I can walk miles and miles and listen to music. And I love nature parks and being a frequent visitor to Jacksonville Arboretum, Jacksonville Zoo, Washington Oaks park, Jekyll Island, Mosh, NASA etc.

 

Bradley Tucker - Loves the Competitive aspect of the league

We caught up with Bradley Tucker out of the Virginia Beach branch.  In 22 matches he's fallen in love with this tennis community.

Which league are you a member of?

I’m a member of the Comp2 & Skilled division of Hampton Roads Tennis League. 

How long have you participated in your league?

I’ve been in my league since the start date of September 13th, 2022. 

How did you first learn about it?

I was researching stuff about tennis on google and I came across “Tennis league network Hampton roads”, clicked the link and now I’m in the league!

How often do you play?

I play 3-4 times a week. 

What do you like most about the league?

The thing I like most about the league is the price! It’s so cheap to play between 8-12 weeks and find a lot of friends in the process!

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

My most memorable match would be my most recent one Vs Tim Krajewski. We both played an incredible match Vs each other while we both played strategically offensively and defensively, it tools us over 2 hours and 15 minutes to determine a winner after 3 sets and a total of 30 games!

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

I have not played anybody more than once yet, but I would have to say Tim will be my friendly rival because our skill level is so close to one another and while playing him, he really pushes me out of my comfort level and I have ti counter everything he sends my way which makes not just myself a better player, but hun as well!

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

I just love the tennis community environment, everyone is so friendly and welcoming once meeting for the first time for a match. You would think you’ve know this person for quite some time even though you’ve only met them one time!

How did you get started playing tennis?

I got started playing tennis when my big sister wanted to compete Vs me, we always have been extremely competitive Vs each other in our lives. After playing a few matches, I feel in love with it and started playing with my wife and then got into this league!

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I love to play the game of tennis for all the fun that’s involved, but I’m a very competitive person and I love the atmosphere of 2 people playing their hearts out for the W at the end of the match and for the championship at the end of the season. 

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

My player rating is 3.0, I started at a 2.5 and quickly shot up as I have been practicing a lot and competing in a lot of games Vs other 3.0 & 3.2 rated level players!

What do you love about tennis?  

The thing I love about tennis is the skill you have to have to be a great tennis player, tennis is not an easy sport to master at all and there is so much fun behind creating your skills at practice for your future matches to become better and better. 

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 in the military, I’ve been in the military for 4 1/2 years and I will be pursuing a career in law enforcement in under 8 months in Saint Louis, Missouri. I grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri for 18 years before I went into the military. My hobbies are strength training, running and playing sports with my wife and friends in all different types of competitive leagues.

Hassaan Khawar - Tennis San Jose - Loves the Competition!

We caught up with Hassaan Khawar out of our San Jose community.   He's built an amazing 104-3 record. So needless to say he's an excellent player.  Here's his story.

Which league are you a member of?

TennisSanJose

How long have you participated in your league?

Since May 2021, so less than a year and a half.

How did you first learn about it?

I learnt about it from a friend who joined the league a few months before I did.

How often do you play?

I try to play 3-4 times a week to keep myself physically active.

What do you like most about the league?

The thing I like most is the opportunity to meet new people and make friends who share a common passion for tennis. I also really like the fact that the matches are scheduled based on the players’ availabilities and location preferences which makes it easy to plan ahead and try to play as many matches as desired.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

My most memorable match has to be my first Finals during the 2022 Winter Season, where I played Arjun Puranik. My previous match against Arjun was an intense 3-setter in which I managed to pull away with a 6-0 win in the third set. Going into my first Finals, I was feeling a lot of nerves and knowing that I’m playing someone as talented and competitive as Arjun, it only added to that. I went on to win the match 6-1, 6-3 which surprised me as I came into the match worried that the pressure might get the best of me. Winning that match gave me a lot of confidence going forward in my tennis career because I proved to myself that I can compete and play well even in high-pressure situations.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

My favorite rivals in the league are Zeshan Anwar and Ekow Taylor. I initially picked up tennis in mid-2020 and the person I played with the most at the time was Zeshan. Zeshan is a friend that I’ve known for almost 20 years so all the matches I play against him in the league are special and give me a chance to earn some bragging rights. Ekow has been one of my greatest rivals ever since I played him first in April of 2021. In total, we’ve played 5 matches, 2 of which were in the Finals and two of which were 3-setters that went down to the wire. Whenever I play Ekow, I know I need to put my best foot forward otherwise his raw shot-making ability will leave me with no chance.

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

As mentioned before, I started playing tennis seriously about two years ago and have been part of the league for less than a year and a half. Form the time I played my first match in the league on June 19, 2021 to today, I’ve managed to play over 100 matches and I must have played at least 50 different opponents. I’ve made some friends along the way that now I keep in touch with even outside of the league and I hope to continue to stay a part of the league and compete for as long as I can.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I started playing tennis after the COVID pandemic had began as many of the other sports that I enjoyed playing (i.e. basketball, soccer, cricket, etc.) were difficult to play due to the lack of social distancing in those sports. Luckily, at the time I had courts within my apartment community so it was very convenient for me to call my friend Zeshan over and play with him. A few weeks after starting to play, I had become addicted to the sport and began playing almost on a daily basis for an hour or two.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I definitely play to compete but that doesn’t mean I forget to have fun along the way.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

I’m not officially ranked in the NTRP rankings but I’d like to put myself in the 4.0 to 4.5 range.

What do you love about tennis?  

I love the competition about tennis. Most of the sports I played growing up were team sports and as much as I love competing in a team environment, tennis gave me a different platform where everything was dependant on how I performed on a given day. I also feel that tennis is an amazing workout without some of the high-impact or contact of sports like basketball or soccer, which can sometimes begin to take a toll on the body if played over a long period.

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

My favourite pro player is Rafael Nadal. I love his fighting spirit and his focus during a match. He plays every point like his last and those are some of the characteristics that I admire in an athlete. Naturally, I am also very competitive and when I play, I play to win. But, losing is a part of every sport and every athlete needs to lose just as graciously as he/she loses which I think Nadal displays very well.

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 was born in Pakistan and I moved to Canada at the age of 5. I completed my entire education in Canada and after obtaining my undergraduate degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Waterloo, I moved to the Bay Area as a result of landing a full-time job here. Growing up, I loved playing various sports but most of all I enjoyed playing cricket. I competed at a fairly high level in cricket winning various awards at the high-school, university and city levels. I also enjoyed playing basketball a lot and I’ve been following the NBA very closely for over 10 years now. In general, I enjoy traveling, spending quality time with family and friends, and playing just about any sport.