Tennis Classic of Macon Moves On Campus to Mercer University

For Immediate Release

• The Tennis Classic of Macon
• Presented by the W.L. Amos Sr. Foundation
• MERCER UNIVERSITY - LEROY PEDDY TENNIS CENTER - OCT 25 - NOV 1, 2015
• 2015 Tennis Classic of Macon Moves to Mercer University

MACON, Georgia, (June 30, 2015) Professional tennis returns to Macon this fall. Following a successful two-year run at Stratford Academy, this year’s USTA Pro Circuit 50K events moves to Mercer University’s Leroy Peddy Tennis Center.

The presenting sponsor, The W.L. Amos Sr. Foundation and Mercer head men’s and women’s coach, Eric Hayes, make sure this event keeps getting bigger and better each year.

“We are very excited to have the USTA Tennis Classic of Macon at Mercer University this coming October,” said Hayes, who had run this event in Troy, Ala. for 10 years before moving it to Macon. “There have been major improvements to the facility that include resurfacing all the courts, adding new fencing, and more is being planned. Want to thank Stratford Academy for letting me host the event the last two years and all the help given, specifically Jaime Kaplan. Jaime will still be heavily involved in the tournament. By moving the event will bring tremendous exposure to Mercer and the tennis program. We will also be able have night matches now that will attract a great crowd after work to a centralized part of Macon”

Hayes says he is always looking for additional partners for the tournament and there still is time to get involved.

“It has been great to see the entire Macon tennis community get behind the tournament and interact with the players,” explained Hayes. “Talking to the players, I think they had even more fun than the fans. We need to continue getting that support and then keep building on it.”

This year, the Tennis Classic of Macon will once again be a 50K event.

The last two years, Middle Georgia tennis fans have been treated to watching the likes of Ajla Tomljanovic, Madison Brengle, Irina Falconi, Nicole Gibbs and Sachia Vickery play at Stratford. These players all have spent time in the top-100 in the world. Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine is the defending singles champion.

Tickets will be available soon, and volunteers will be needed once again. Call Mercer tennis coach and tournament director Eric Hayes at (478) 301-2269.

About the Leroy Peddy Tennis Center

The LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center is the home for Mercer University men's and women's tennis. The facility is located just inside the South campus entrance, nestled among its pine tree lined western perimeter and adjacent to MU's softball stadium and practice fields. The Center features a total of eight courts, aligned in a picturesque bi-level configuration (four courts each on the upper and lower tiers). The lighted venue also has ample parking and seating for fans on either level and a park-like walkway for access between the two sections.

About the USTA Pro Circuit

With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals. Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2014, the USTA Pro Circuit provides players with the opportunity to gain professional ranking points, and it has since grown to become the largest developmental tennis circuit in the world, offering nearly $3 million in prize money. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women from more than 70 countries competed in cities nationwide. John Isner, Maria Sharapova, Sam Querrey, Sloane Stephens, Mardy Fish, Victoria Azarenka and Andy Murray are among today’s top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit.

The W.L. Amos Sr. Foundation

The W.L. Amos Sr. Foundation is the presenting sponsor of the tournament

Middle Georgia Tennis Foundation

The mission of the Middle Georgia Tennis Foundation is to raise funds to support tennis programs, especially youth programs in Middle Georgia.  

For more information:

Website: www.ustamaconclassic.com

Twitter:  @USTAMacon50K

Wimbledon Top Seeds Announced

It's no surprise that Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are the top seeds in the men's and women's singles draws at Wimbledon 2015, but there are some surprises as the other seeds are announced.

Have a look, per the BBC:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/tennis/33253355

BB&T Atlanta Open Singles Entry List

The BB&T Atlanta Open will be held July 25-August 2, 2015 in Atlanta at Atlantic Station.  It kicks off the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series.

Here is the singles entry list that was released this week.

1 Anderson, Kevin RSA 17
2 Isner, John USA 18
3 Fish, Mardy USA @25
4 Sock, Jack USA 30
5 Mannarino, Adrian FRA 32
6 Tipsarevic, Janko SRB @39
7 Becker, Benjamin GER 43
8 Muller, Gilles LUX 48
9 Pospisil, Vasek CAN 52
10 Johnson, Steve USA 53
11 Young, Donald USA 56
12 Stepanek, Radek CZE 57
13 Baghdatis, Marcos CYP 61
14 Lu, Yen-Hsun TPE 63
15 Groth, Sam AUS 68
16 Smyczek, Tim USA 72
17 Chung, Hyeon KOR 76
18 Dolgopolov, Alexandr UKR 79
19 Jaziri, Malek TUN 82
20 (SE)
21 (SE)
22 (Q)
23 (Q)
24 (Q)
25 (Q)
26 (WC) Eubanks, Christopher USA
27 (WC) Tiafoe, Frances USA
28 (WC)

Junior Tennis Players Flock to Crandon Park

Crandon Park is more than just the home of the Miami Masters, the showcase of professional tennis that has been held in Key Biscayne since 1987.

Sure the best players in the world, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal and the Williams' Sisters have all had historic moments at Crandon Park, but it's quite possible that the tennis stars of tomorrow are at this very moment, training each and every day at Crandon Park.

You see, when the Miami Masters is not on site, the Crandon Park Tennis Center is a Miami-Dade County park that is open to the public year-round. Cliff Drysdale Tennis is right at the tennis center and offers year-round clinics, camps, private lessons, and an elite high performance academy for junior players led by Frederico Goncalves.

In an age where young American tennis players aren't getting the basics and instruction they need, Goncalves goes over and above for his kids.

"My junior programs such as Summer Camp and High Performance Training, which are held at Crandon Park, draws juniors from all over the world," explains Goncalves. "These juniors directly benefit from having professional players practicing in my facility and using my methodology. I train all of my junior players through the Defensive Fighting method, and have seen many players make great improvements in their games because of it. Some of them include: Alex Knight, Jemina Rodriquez, Richard Torres, and Sophia Morales. It is my passion to continue to coach the Defensive Fighting style of play to American juniors and help bring American tennis back to the top of the game."

Goncalves is innovative and inventive with his approach to the sport of tennis, but he says mastering the basics is where it all starts.

"It appears that the U.S. is not successfully developing the same caliber of players like they did in the early 1990s like Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport, or Jim Courier. These players were powerful at a time when tennis was not used to it. As players have gotten used to powerful styles of play and with the continuation evolution of racquet technology, it is no longer unique. Players today need both powerful play with consistency, endurance, stamina, and mental toughness."

In his sessions at Crandon Park, he teaches all that, and more, based on how he was taught.

"At the beginning of every practice, we were partnered up and expected to have a 100-ball rally. It didn’t matter how long it took us to get there, the task needed to be completed before moving on with the practice. This type of practice not only trains players physically, but mentally as well. I coach my players that focus is a muscle, and that you must constantly stay engaged in the task at hand in order to improve focus."

Goncalves wants the public to know that he doesn't just train the pros, although the pros come through Crandon Park at various times of the year.

"I believe that my Defensive Fighting method gives my players the edge when "crunch time" comes. Joao Sousa, current 44 ATP, and Gastao Elias, 152 ATP, are both Portuguese Davis Cup players that have made vast improvements and made significant jumps in their rankings after implementing my Defensive Fighting method of play. I train them while they are in Miami preparing for the hard court season. I am looking forward to have them at Crandon Park Tennis Center to practice in July and August prior the US Open. Juan del Potro, Andy Murray, Caroline Wozniacki and the Williams' Sisters are some of the champions that also enjoy coming to my club during the summer to train for the hard court season."

Goncalves wants you to know that you can come too. He can train you and your kids to be better tennis players, but he doesn't stop there; he teaches life lessons that go beyond the tennis court.

See more information at http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/crandon-tennis.asp as Crandon Park is located at 7300 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL.

Cliff Drysdale Tennis' New Tennis Travel Magazine - EXPERIENCE

Honored to be a contributor to the new "Tennis Travel" magazine put out by the staff at Cliff Drysdale Tennis.

It's called experience and here are some shots, but I'll also include a link where you can check out the entire issue.

It's my recap of the "Tennis With the Stars" event, held back in March to kickoff the BNP Paribas Open.

http://issuu.com/experiencecliffdrysdaletennis/docs/experience_2015_issue1/1?e=17551961/13185728