Winnipeg, MB (TM) – Nick Bollettieri is a legendary tennis coach that runs academies for tennis players and since joining forces with IMG in 1987, works with athletes from a variety of sports at his Bradenton, Florida campus. Nick’s former students include many top ranked tennis players including Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Maria Sharapova, Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis.

At 78, Nick isn’t slowing down. He’s in Winnipeg to speak and teach. On Tuesday, July 27th, from 4-6 pm, Nick will be at the Winnipeg Winter Club to put Manitoba’s top juniors through their paces. The under 12 and under 10 Provincial Team players will be the focus but older Provincial Team and tournament players will be in attendance. Tennis coaches are also invited to observe the clinic
.
Mr. Bollettieri will be holding a Question and Answer session for media, Winnipeg Winter Club Members, and Tennis Enthusiasts after the clinic on Tuesday from 6-7pm.

Learn more about Nick from his website: http://www.nickbollettieri.com/

Tennis-the sport of a lifetime

-30-

For more information contact:

Peter Otto
Head Tennis Professional
Winnipeg Winter Club
204-452-3311 ext 108

Mark Farand
Executive Director
Tennis Manitoba
204-925-5660

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Winnipeg, MB (Sean Grassie, DLTC) – The Deer Lodge Tennis Club is pleased to announce Hu's on First Asian Bistro as the major sponsor the upcoming Deer Lodge Classic. Hu's on First will graciously donate $500 in gift certificates, which will be distributed as prizes in all events.

The Deer Lodge Classic runs from August 3-8, and will be the last tournament before the Manitoba Open (August 13-22) gets underway at the Kildonan Tennis Club. It's also a chance for Deer Lodge to showcase its newly-renovated clubhouse, which was completed in late June.

As in past years, a BBQ will be held on August 7, and there will be free pizza (Sopranos Pizza) for all players on August 8.

In 2009, Doug Devriendt defeated Sean Bailey to win the men's open singles title, while Clarissa Chen beat Evann Waschuk in the final of the women's open singles.

Registration deadline is Wednesday, July 28 at 9 p.m.

Entries can be made by calling the Deer Lodge Tennis Club at (204) 986-5714.

Deer Lodge Classic entry form

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Winnipeg, MB (Geoff Kirbyson, Winnipeg Free Press)

The world's most famous tennis coach, Nick Bollettieri, has worked with Andre Agassi, Boris Becker and Maria Sharapova and now he is preparing to fine tune the games of Manitoba juniors.

The leader of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla., arrived in Winnipeg Thursday to spend a week working with Greer Glodjo, the 10-year-old daughter of former Winnipeggers Arman Glodjo and Deidre Collette. He'll also put on a clinic at the Winnipeg Winter Club on Tuesday, where he'll instruct the top juniors in the province and answer questions from their parents.

While many budding Rafael Nadals and Steffi Grafs dream of playing on the professional tour, Bollettieri encourages them to use tennis as a means of getting a university education.

"If you can get a partial or full-time scholarship, my God, that would be just fabulous. You can't neglect your education. At the academy, we try to make them athletes on the court and athletes in life," he said.

Over his career, Bollettieri, 78, has also worked with Venus and Serena Williams, Jim Courier, Martina Hingis, Jelena Jankovic and Marcelo Rios.

He hasn't read Agassi's autobiography, which came out last year, in which the eight-time Grand Slam winner repeatedly said he "hated" tennis because of the immense pressure put on him, primarily by his father.

"Andre was such a character. You never knew with Andre. He dressed differently and he had charisma that was beyond recognition. He's happily married to Steffi Graf and he made $200 million to $300 million. Not too bad for being unhappy," Bollettieri said.

"I remember Andre doing more for the sport than 99 per cent of all tennis players. He created his foundation for 400 children. It's about giving back. That's what Andre is doing."

Arman Glodjo, a private-equity investor now based in Bermuda, said his daughter has been going to Bollettieri's academy since she was five, a year after she started playing the game. She doesn't play junior tournaments, on Bollettieri's advice, but she's working towards a college career or something even bigger.

"If my daughter became an Olympian for Canada, that would be super," he said.

This isn't the first time local juniors have been able to learn from the best. Earlier this year, Bob Brett, an Australian who is Canada's national coach and whose protegés include Becker, put on a couple of clinics for local juniors.

Glodjo said he's going to take Bollettieri to see some of Manitoba's sites, including Riding Mountain, Duck Mountain and Thunderbird Nest in the Lake Manitoba narrows, before he leaves at the end of next week.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 26, 2010 A8

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Winnipeg, MB (Ashley Prest, Winnipeg Free Press)

Carol Zhao and Kimberley-Ann Surin have been friends, foes and roommates this week during the International Tennis Federation circuit event at Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club.

The two players won the female doubles title Friday at the under-18 event, called the 2010 Canadian Mid-West ITF U18, and will meet in the female singles final today.

The tournament included 75 top junior-aged players from Canada, USA, Korea, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Croatia, Great Britain, Mexico, Australia and Brazil. The event was the first international tennis tournament held in Winnipeg since the 1999 Pan Am Games.

The winner of the boys' doubles title on Friday was the Canadian pairing of Vincent Chan and Joshua Malyon of Toronto.

The girls' singles final will be played at 10 a.m. today followed by the boys' singles final which will feature Samuel Monette of Rapontinay, Que. and Hugo Di Feo of Montreal.

In the case of rain, the singles finals will be moved indoors to the Winnipeg Winter Club.

Zhao has won the other two Western Canadian ITF events earlier this summer in Edmonton and Vancouver beating Surin, 15, of Montreal in the final of both.

"It's going to be exciting, that's three tournaments in a row that we're meeting in the (singles) final," said Zhao, 15, who is from Richmond Hill, Ont. "We're able to keep it separate (friendship and competition) so it'll be a good match."

She said she and Surin, the eldest daughter of former Canadian sprinter and Olympic gold medallist Bruny Surin, are doubles partners for the first time and have been sharing accommodations during their Winnipeg stay.

"Kim has a big serve and really long legs so she covers the court really well so that's good in doubles and makes her a tough opponent in singles," Zhao said. "I'm a really good volleyer and I think I have a good court sense and really good (hitting) all around the court. That's an advantage for me because some girls just hit straight."

Zhao has plenty to play for today as the top Canadian male and Canadian female points winners from the three Western Canadian ITF events earn berths in the 2010 National Bank Canadian Open Junior Championships in Repentigny, Que., Aug. 27-Sept. 4.

The top finisher from Manitoba was Muzeem Ismath of Winnipeg who reached the quarter-finals.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 24, 2010 D8

JoinTheTour.com
Join The Tour on Facebook

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Winnipeg, MB (Allan Besson, Winnipeg Free Press)

You'll need to excuse Igal Mostkov if he doesn't want to play Muzeem Ismath in the early rounds of the Canadian Mid-West Under-18 international tennis tournament this week at the Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club.

It's the first international tennis tournament held in Winnipeg since the 1999 Pan Am Games, and you bet it's a big deal. You see, it's not all that often that Mostkov gets the opportunity to take on an internationally-ranked player from another country, and since he and Ismath are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in Manitoba, a change is a welcome thing.

"This summer we trained a lot together, and we try and get on the court three or four times a week. We train usually two hours a day and push each other," explained Mostkov. "This is an ITF tournament, so I hope to play an international player first."

Of course, the Israel-born 17-year-old would welcome the chance to face his pal at the end of the tournament, in the final. "Later on! Oh, yeah, for sure, and if we do, it will be a very tight, close match."

The tournament is the third leg of a western Canadian tour for the International Tennis Federation, and is open to both boys and girls in singles and doubles.

Currently registered players represent Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and Sweden, as well as players from Canada and the United States.

Ismath, 18, didn't take umbrage with Mostkov's reluctance to play him early. In fact, he pretty much agreed with his training partner. "This is a high-quality tournament," he said, explaining that in Winnipeg, top-calibre competition can be pretty hard to come by. "I expect good matches and good competition and to gain more experience as I extend my career."

Ismath, like Mostkov, is dead serious about his game. "Next year I am going to Gonzaga University (in Spokane) to play on their tennis team, on an athletic and academic scholarship. That's what I have been working towards as a junior."

He said that when he does get the opportunity to go up against new and unknown high-calibre competition, it all comes down to preparation. "It's all about the way you train. You need a good work ethic. I put in six days a week, usually. You can't have everything handed to you, so you have to find a way. If you want it bad enough you will get it."

Mostkov's grandfather Gregory, is his inspiration. "He introduced me to tennis, and he still pushes me. He is why the sport got stuck with me along the way."

Mostkov will be heading into Grade 12 next fall, so scholarships are not yet in place. However, he's not letting any grass grow under his feet. "I am starting to talk to schools, but I will do my big thing in August (when he turns 18). I have my video on YouTube, and I just need to send emails to coaches and see how they respond to it."

Mostkov's philosophy for preparing to face someone unknown, is also preparation, and relishing in the anticipation. "It's that waiting to see who you are playing that pushes you. You hope to play a guy who is better than you, and that you can do well against.

"You have to be in good physical shape," he adds. "As long as you are in good shape, you can stay in the points longer and you can break them mentally."

Both Mostkov and Ismath are in the main draw, so they don't need to qualify. However, the official first-round draw won't be known until today, and serious action is scheduled to begin today at 4 p.m. To see the complete draw go to (www.JoinTheTour.com).

allan.besson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 19, 2010 C5

JoinTheTour.com
Join The Tour on Facebook

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Winnipeg, MB (TM) – Tennis Manitoba is developing programs to align with many other community sport programs offered for youth and adults. These programs are designed to be easily accessible and affordable for all residents of Manitoba.

After the Course you will leave with:

• The confidence to deliver a basic community program, where participants will learn basic skills to be able to rally a ball over the net.

• Tools to market a community course in your area.

• Take home material and access to resources, for quick referral and reminders.

• Understanding how the CTVC can assist in getting participants to rapidly progress to the play stage through:
  o Using the scaled approach of Progressive Tennis (PT)
  o Developing the basic tactic of consistently outrallying ones opponent
  o Developing the most common strokes used in tennis
  o Developing some basic technical fundamentals
  o Developing some basic ball control abilities
  o Knowing some basic warm-up drills that can be used as part of a practice to improve the players playing ability

• Understanding how the CTVC can assist in organizing playing/competitive formats which are fun, flexible and non threatening for participants, including:
  o Community Team Tennis
  o Tournaments: round robins, flight, compass

Tennis Manitoba will help set up community programs in your area through community and recreation centers. Our model of creating and awareness of tennis through in school try programs, community days and partnering with different business and provincial partners allows Tennis Manitoba to offer attractive and affordable programs.

Tennis is a great family sport and a sport for life; with the new modified equipment anyone can play tennis regardless of age or ability.

All these programs are revenue generated programs. So if you are interested in supplementing your income by having fun and teaching others, please sign up for this course. Tennis Manitoba is always looking for Community Coaches to help with the delivery of community programs.

Course Details

Registration: Tennis Manitoba 204.925.5660
Location: North Centennial Recreation and Leisure Facility, 90 Sinclair Street
Date: Saturday September 18th
Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm (Lunch 12-1)
Cost: $25.00 (Includes manual on play formats, DVD, and refreshments)

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

sports@cpheraldleader.comm

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

Portage la Prairie, MB (Eric Mackenzie, The Daily Graphic) – The Portage Tennis Club held its Junior Tournament on Wednesday at the Island Park courts, with some local talents showing great potential.

Sean Sophosath claimed the Intermediate title while Erica Lavallee won three-straight matches to be named the Level One champion.

The tournament marked the end of the club's junior lessons for the summer, though club president and lesson co-ordinator Darren Jones said there may be a camp offered for youth players before the season ends.

"All of the kids really improved very quickly, and there were quite a few new kids this year, so I was surprised," said Jones. "It was nice to see that we had approximately 30 kids that showed up."

Sophosath defeated Michael Lavallee in a pro set to nine games, 9-6, in the Intermediate A-side final, a match that took nearly 90 minutes to decide.

Sophosath led 6-2 early in the match before Lavallee earned a break and came to within a game, but that's as close as he would get.

Neither player had much difficulty reaching the final, as Sophosath recorded convincing wins over Greg Sinclair (7-0) and Drew Jones (7-1) in the opening rounds.

sports@cpheraldleader.com

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.

National Post (Jenny Gabruch, Canwest News Service) – Tennis, anyone? How about: Tennis, everyone? That’s the new rallying cry for this portable sport that has been courting a growing number of players of all ages and abilities.

Shedding its country-club image, tennis is now one of the fastest growing sports in Canada thanks to community-based programming and the introduction of modified equipment that makes it easier to learn.

“It’s a lot more accessible than it ever has been,” says Rufus Nel, senior director of Tennis Canada’s Prairie Tennis Alliance. “My slogan is tennis can be played anywhere, by everyone.”

Originally from South Africa, Nel coached the game for 30 years before taking on his new role with Prairie Tennis Alliance two years ago. As senior director, Nel works with Tennis Canada, Tennis Manitoba and Tennis Saskatchewan to develop the sport in the region. The goal is to get more people playing tennis, and keep them playing for life.

“Tennis is a lifelong sport,” says Nel. “It’s inexpensive, it’s transferable – you can play it anywhere in the world – and it’s for everyone, from three-year-olds to 90-year-olds.”

Nel credits growing interest in the game to an approach called progressive tennis, which makes it quicker and easier to learn, as well as more inclusive. Using a progressive system of court sizes, different balls and rackets to scale the game down, it allows everyone from children and beginners to people with mobility issues to join in the fun.

He notes because tennis can be difficult to master, many give up in frustration. Progressive tennis gives players the tools to develop their skills faster so they can transition to the regular court with more ease and confidence.

Introduced at local schools and seniors’ facilities, the Saskatoon Health Region has introduced progressive tennis as a therapy to improve physical and mental health.

There are numerous benefits to playing the sport. The physical benefits run the gamut from improving cardiovascular health, flexibility, balance and strength to controlling weight and boosting the immune system.

“It provides a lot more aerobic exercise than most sports because you’re maintaining a high level of energy the whole time,” says Nel. “Because you have to be able to control the ball, it increases fine motor skills. It’s good for eye-hand co-ordination and promotes good balance and agility.”

With soaring levels of obesity and diabetes – particularly among children – tennis is a way to lower the risks and promote a healthier lifestyle.

Nel says it can also go a long way to improving a person’s emotional health and well-being.

“It helps develop discipline, promotes teamwork, you learn to compete one-on-one and it’s a great stress release.”

There are social benefits, as well.

“This modified equipment is really bringing value to the community. We are finding that is it starting to bring families together because tennis is the one of the only sports that families can really play together,” says Nel. “You can get father and son playing hockey, but they’re not playing the game – they’re just hitting the puck around.

“We say to families, get off the couch and get your kids away from those games and be engaged with them. Come out and play tennis, and see all the benefits. There’s a lot more camaraderie, families are having fun and they’re spending more time together in a healthy environment.”

He says many teenagers are getting into the game as an alternative to school or team sports. “Not every kid is geared toward a big team sport, or wants to play a contact sport.”

Best of all, tennis is a great way to improve overall health and fitness while having fun.

“You can play it in school gyms, in the park, in the streets,” says Nel. “It’s a sport for life, and one you can play anywhere in the world.”

Progressive Tennis

Want to get news like this delivered right to you? Sign up today for a free subscription to the Tennis Manitoba eNews. To find out how click here.