Doubles Coaching Clinics Continue to Rise in Popularity

Clip a microphone on the pro, start hitting some balls to tunes like R.E.S.P.E.C.T and you are now part of the Miele League Challenge coaching clinics that took place at Rogers Cup in Toronto. Six lucky teams from the TLTL, TMTL and the ICTA sent players on court over three days where they dodged all but 10 minutes of rain and learned to “be a nuisance at the net”. Fantastic coaches Simon Bartram, Gary Caron and John Migliaccio took turns teaching ladies and men the keys to successful doubles. “Did you know that in a 6-4, 6-4 match the winning team will win around 65 points and the losing team will win around 57 points?” asked Simon. “You don’t have to win every point, you just have to make good decisions and play the percentages.” Percentage tennis in doubles is all about covering the middle and being a nuisance at the net…even if you never hit a volley! Players were moved from the safety of their alley, encouraged to attack those floaters in the middle of the court, shown how to move back together to cover a lob and told to always support each other during a match. All who attended loved every minute and gained confidence in their doubles skills. Thank you to Gary, John and Simon!

All Smiles and Matching Outfits in Montreal

It was early morning and the site crew, looking energized despite a full week of long days, was still getting ready for yet another day of record breaking crowds. But for 28 league players from Montreal and Toronto, Saturday, August 15 was going to be a special day. The giggles from the Uniprix Stadium entrance gate could be heard all the way from the registration desk at court 5 as the ladies team from Montreal’s Hampstead arrived, all smiles and in matching uniforms. The men from the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club wasted no time with the trash-talking as they re-united with old acquaintances from their junior days, now members of the combined Repentigny/Tennis 13 team from Montreal. Both mens teams, incidentally, also had team uniforms. The ladies’ team from Monkland arrived last, poised and ready for battle.

All seven of the day’s matches were closely contested, with two matches going to a third set super tiebreaker. And while the men’s matches were comprised of players who competed or are still competing at a very high level, the women played gutsy, nail-biting tennis that attracted more spectators than the men as a result of their high fives and sheer verbal excitement at each other’s winners. Even one of the umpires got in on the excitement and asked for a photo of himself in action in the umpire’s chair!

The day ended with all players and league convenors sitting together to watch an exciting semi-final match between Andy Roddick and Juan Martin del Potro, followed by some world-class doubles with the Bryan brothers. Closing out the day was the very same site crew that had greeted the 28 players who arrived first thing in the morning with their family, friends and supporters. All in all a great day of league tennis was showcased for the first time at Rogers Cup presented by National Bank.

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Capturing the Spirit of the Challenge

It turned out that the greatest challenge of the 2009 Miele League Challenge was to capture the spirit of the events that took place during the Montreal and Toronto Rogers Cup tournaments for this newsletter. More than 130 players directly participated in the Miele League Challenge with 20 matches that took place in both cities and six on-court coaching clinics for lucky teams in Toronto. The weekend showcase matches were played on the outer courts and had loads of cheering fans, some with pompoms and signs. Live webcasting took place in Toronto with full commentary and courtside interviews with players. Umpires were brought in after a week of ATP/WTA matches and actually called those foot faults, but were a little more lenient on warm-up and changeover times. In Montreal, ballboys/girls were thrown into the mix to add to the feel of being a professional player. Teams received awards on the main stages while the sight of their club name and match scores ran across the main scoreboard or were posted on the backs of their chairs. Hundreds of curious people were on hand to applaud the efforts of the teams during the awards ceremonies. Appreciation was expressed by all who attended with special thanks to Miele Limited for their commitment to league tennis in Canada. Kudos goes to all the Quebec and Ontario leagues for working with Tennis Canada to organize the events. Everyone had a great time! Best of all was meeting new people, making connections and sharing experiences. Tennis is truly a sport that gives people a common language to start a conversation. Once that conversation starts, wins and losses are forgotten, new friendships are forged and the spirit of the Miele League Challenge gets carried forward when it becomes a national league championship next year.

Reporting from Courtside

Montreal Rogers Cup presented by National Bank

Interprovincial Men's Matches - Saturday, August 15

Montreal's Repentigny/Tennis 13 defeated Toronto Lawn Tennis Club 3-1
•   Phil Gubenco /Julien Gauthier (Mtl) def. Garett Prins/Stefan D'Almeida (TO) 6-2, 6-4
•   Coulter Wright/Chris Ritchie (TO) def Jean-Guy Sauvé/David Marcotte 7-5, 6-2
•   Patrice Boies/Guillaume St Maurice (Mtl) def. Matthew Akman/Danny Brakus (TO) 3-6, 6-3, 10-5
•   Anass Lamrani/Francis Bertrand (Mtl) def. Sean Seidman/Cary Weingust (TO) 6-3, 7-5

Ladies Interclub Summer League - Saturday, August 15

Hampstead defeated Monkland 3-0
•   Francine Brock/Dawn Tanzer def. Monica Savage/Lynda Reid 6-4, 6-4
•   Tara Horvat /Nathalie Kowarsky def. Julie Tasker Brown/Sarah Dougherty 2-6, 6-3, 12-10
•   Linda Mashaal/Andrea Fersten def. Christianne Gauthier/Paule Rousseau 6-2, 6-2


Toronto Rogers Cup

Interprovincial Ladies Matches - Saturday, August 22

Toronto Lawn Tennis Club defeated Montreal's Nun's Island 3-0
•   Lisa Robertson/Judith Title def. Sylvie Smith/Peggy Lavallee 6-3, 6-0
•   Pat Pape/Leslie Tuer def. Denise Parsons/Beth Prosterman 6-3, 6-4
•   Robin Young/Jane Mitchell def. Mary Sambrook/Nohra Venegas 6-3, 6-0

Intercounty Tennis Association Junior Mixed/World Team Tennis - Sunday, August 23

Erin Mills Tennis Club defeated Wanless Tennis Club 21-14
•   Carly Bohman/Katia Souslova def. Lauren Taylor/Simona Ivkovic 6-1
•   Daniel Marti/Justin Kole def. Adrian Merzdan/Charlie Kent 6-1
•   Milena Music def. Katia Souslova 6-0
•   Griffin Brockman def. Paul Bray 6-3
•   Carly Bohman/Daniel Marti def. Milena Music/Griffin Brockman 6-0

Intercounty Tennis Association Adult Mixed A – Sunday, August 23

Brampton Tennis Club defeated Hillcrest Tennis Club 3-0
•   Paul Klak/Ruxandra Andriescu def. Aaron Chan/Brittany Chan 6-3, 6-3
•   Andrew Chappell/Tracy Covassin def. Benny Chu/Robin Riko 3-6, 6-2, 10-8
•   Jen Harper/Krysia Scherlinger def. Elly Muchnik/Mary Nagai 7-5, 6-3

Richmond Hill Lawn Tennis Club defeated Tournament Park Tennis Club 3-0
•   Vicky Janet/Clayton Cohen def. Sujit Das/Jennifer Cotterchio 7-6, 6-4
•   Nancy Behm/Terry Redvers def. Paul Lutz/Blanca Yelavich 5-7, 7-6, 10-8
•   Suzanna Ziegler/Dianne Howarth def. Shirley Bridges/Karen Stern 6-4, 6-2