ATP: Why is my game so up and down?

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A question we get all the time is why is my game so up and down — particularly as we age.

What is the common denominator with changing conditions, newer balls, various styles of opponents — your ability to watch the ball. In fact, the stats are 90% of errors are caused by players not watching the ball.

No matter your age – it is never too late or too early to learn how to REALLY watch the ball.

Here’s a few basic tips to help you start improve your watching — and even out your game.

Everyone has a Dominant Eye leading to shot preference and, typically a forehand, since most of us are cross dominated.  How do I determine which eye is dominant?

  • To minimize effect of eye dominance, be at right angles to the direction from which the ball is coming — particularly on service return and volleys.  If watch any of the Big 4, you’ll see that change their return positions depending on whether they are returning from the Forehand or Backhand sides.

Move your eyes, rather than your head. Moving your head loses time for shot preparation.

 

  • Try to hit the ball in front so you minimize turning your head — and consequently hitting the ball consistently late — particularly on your non dominant side. Lefties have notoriously weaker back hands for this reason!

These two tips are basic Ball Watching 101 to help you both play better — and more consistently!

Cheers,
The Tennis Whisperer

 

MLTC News 25 March 2021

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The sun is shining and things are looking up, we can now don’t have to be seated to drink and from Monday we can sing and dance! 👯
The Club will be holding a social event for members this Saturday from 5 pm. Jon will be cooking some meat and roasting his tasty potatoes.🎾
Hope to see a full bar this weekend!
Cheers
Virginia
Secretary MLTC

2021 Sydney Badge Competition FINAL Grading

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Dear Delegates 

Thank you all for submitting your teams into the Sydney Badge Competition in 2021.

Please find attached the Final Grading for the 2021 season.

We have already heard from a lot of you in regards to draw requests. This is a reminder for those who we have not heard from to please send through requests ASAP as the draw process will begin next week.

Kind Regards,
Tennis NSW Competitions

Badge2021- FinalGrading

2021 Sydney Badge Competition Gradings Confirmed

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No changes to any of our gradings have been made.  A few challenges were upheld.

The grades look very strong this year.  A few men’s teams have dropped 2 grades and lots of men’s teams have been dropped a grade in Division 2 and 3.  Several teams that won their grade were also not promoted because of the depth of men’s teams this year. In summary it will be very hard to win any division this year.

Serving of food and drinks is no longer required so it is up to each team to decide.  As long as COVID rules are followed I think most teams will supply food and drinks.

All clubs now MUST have alternate courts available in case of rain.  Grass court clubs including Hunters Hill and Marrickville can be forfeited if they don’t arrange alternative courts.  Please keep any text messages between Captains in case you need them for evidence of not finding alternative courts.

Remember if you wish to book a court for practice on Saturdays before 1pm or after 4pm let me know.

Good luck to all teams and any questions anytime I am here to help
Denis Crowley

Greetings from ALBY: our Italian friend

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Hello, my name is Alberto, for friends of the Manly Law tennis club Alby, sorry for my English but after 4 years I have forgotten the language.

In 2015 I was lucky enough to be welcomed by your club during my stay in your fantastic country for 6 months by the group of veterans who trained on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Sometimes during the year I exchange a few emails with Mr. Owen Kennedy who is truly a special person.

I wanted to share this memory with you and take this opportunity to greet all the members whose names it is impossible to remember but in particular George and the Irishman, Charles!

As soon as the pandemic is over I can’t wait to be able to visit you again because I really miss Australia so much.

I really hope you read my email and maybe you can also publish it on your site.

Greetings from your Italian friend ALBY

Alberto Casella

Sydney Badge 2021 Team Lists

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 Please find attached team lists for the 2021 Badge Season.
Kind Regards,
TNSW Competitions Team.
pdf icon Sydney-Badge-2021-Team-Lists.pdf

2021 Sydney Badge Competition Preliminary Gradings

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Hello Badge Delegates,

Thank-you for your efforts in entering your teams for the 2021 Competition.

Please see attached the preliminary grading for each competition. We entrust that you will pass these gradings on to your relevant team contacts.

Some things to note:

  • The Mens competition had 13 teams nominate for division 1 and 12 teams for division 2 with an influx of new teams and 2020 premier league teams. This made the top 2 divisions very competitive and as a result we had created a Division 12 in 2021. This means majority of teams will be in a lower division than what they nominated so please take this into consideration if you wish to make an appeal.
  • The Saturday Ladies competition had a similar situation with 14 teams nominating division 2. We again have created another division in 2021 and majority of teams will be in a lower division than what they nominated

 As a result of this release, any team that wishes to appeal their preliminary grading must do so through the Badge Delegate and must be submitted according to Rule 9 – Grading Appeal. As per the rules, appeals must be received within 4 days of the release of preliminary grading. Please provide as much information about your team as possible including ratings and 2020 results. Team lists will not be sent out in 2021.

Please note the deadline for grading appeals is 5pm on Saturday, 13th March 2021. No late appeals will be considered by the panel.

We look forward to another great competition in 2021.

Kind Regards.

TNSW Competitions Team.

pdf icon Badge-Provisional-Grading.pdf

When will I get a COVID-19 vaccine? | Australian Government Department of Health

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Australia’s COVID-19 vaccines will become available in phases. Learn about priority groups and who will receive the first doses of the vaccine.

Source

 

Senior Championship Results

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The Aged Club Championships were completed on Sunday with Andrew Riminton and George Paul combining to win The Hylton Mace Trophy which is awarded for Mens combined 100 doubles.

Rob Muir/Fernando Alves and Stefan Fontes/Gavin Mcvean were the other pairs in the round robin.

On Saturday The Ladies 40 plus doubles was won by Krista Oates/Sarah Bunting who defeated Pam Muir and Liz Lim in the final.

The Mens 40 plus doubles was won by Richard Steeds/Steve Nettleton who defeated Geoff Dunstan/Fernando Alves in the final.

Thanks to all the players who entered and we all can look forward to Badge which begins on April 24.

The preliminary gradings will be released on March 5.

Denis Crowley.

Rising star: Matthew Curtis

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Congratulations Matthew! You have been selected to represent the Sydney Metropolitan Region at the 2021 NSW 12/U State Teams Championships.

The teams in the 12/U Girls Championships will play for the Jan O’Neill Cup and the teams in the 12/U Boys Championships will play for the Tony Roche Cup.

The aim of the Championships is to provide the State’s best 12 and under players with first class competition against players from across the state in an enjoyable team atmosphere, whilst introducing the educational aspect of on-court managers.

Teams will comprise of four players, each playing a singles and doubles match in each round of play. Play offs will commence on Sunday afternoon with all teams involved in the play offs.

Players are expected to arrive at the venue by 7:45am on the 27th March for team photos and the opening ceremony. Each player will receive a team shirt and players are asked to wear black shorts or skirts.

Parents are asked to carefully view the spectator behaviour document attached to this email before they agree to participate in this event. Poor spectator behaviour will not be accepted at this event.

Event Details

Date: 27-28 March 2021
Venue: Bathurst Tennis Centre
Address: 217 Durham St, Bathurst, NSW, 2795

[The Washington Post] Novak Djokovic claims his 18th Grand Slam singles title

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One day, Novak Djokovic’s dominance at the Australian Open will come to an end. Such is the reality of time — the opponent that champion athletes can stave off but never defeat.

Sunday at Melbourne Park, Djokovic left no doubt that his time is still now at Rod Laver Arena, routing Russian Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to win his ninth Australian Open title.

More significantly, Djokovic claimed his 18th Grand Slam, closing the gap on career rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who are knotted at a men’s record 20 majors each. Against a Russian challenger who was riding a 20-match winning streak, Djokovic, 33, staged a breathtaking display of pace, power and precision to dispatch Medvedev with ruthless efficiency.

Djokovic won 14 of the last 18 games and roared in triumph less than two hours after the first ball was struck, keeping intact his record of never having lost an Australian Open final.

Djokovic’s relative ease in claiming the title on Sunday underscored his very real prospect of matching or surpassing the men’s record 20 majors shared by Nadal and Federer. That’s not to say that Nadal won’t be favored to win a 14th French Open in June or that a ninth Wimbledon is beyond Federer’s reach, at 39.
“Roger and Rafa inspire me,” Djokovic said afterward. “I think as long as they go, I’ll go. In a way it’s a race who plays tennis more, I guess, and who wins more. It’s a competition between us in all areas. But I think that’s the very reason why we are who we are — because we do drive each other, we motivate each other, we push each other to the limit.”

Djokovic’s dominance Sunday also underscored the gap that remains between the sport’s Big Three — Federer, Nadal and Djokovic — and the younger rivals seeking to dethrone them, particularly at Grand Slam events.
Said Medvedev, 25, a multi-linguist, astute tactician and delightful interview: “We are talking about some Cyborgs of tennis — in a good way. They are just unbelievable.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/02/21/novak-djokovic-daniil-medvedev-australian-open-final

MLTC Newsletter 21 Feb 2021

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Congratulations to our weekend winners in our Senior Club Championships

Ladies 40 plus Singles was won by Virginia Longfellow who defeated Sarah Bunting by one game in the round robin.Krista Oates finished third.

Men’s 40 plus singles Milton Da Rocha defeated Fernando Alves 6-5 in a tightly fought-out final.

On Sunday in the Combined 100 Mixed Kristina Curtis and Geoff Dunstan had a comfortable win in the final over Francine Borg and Stefan Fontes.

Next Saturday the Ladies and Men’s 40 plus Doubles will start at 1PM

On Sunday The Combined Men’s 100 Doubles will begin at 1PM.

Entries for Sunday are small so entry is still possible.

Denis Crowley