Pop-whoosh.
Ahhh...the sound of air as you peel back the metal disk atop the can.
Bright yellow tennis balls.
You inhale the new-ball-smell as you work the fuzz 'twixt your fingers. You want to christen them.
Thok!
You have relished that sound and feel of a ball hit squarely in the sweet spot many times.
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned player, we tennis lovers are bonded with the highest echelons of the professional circuit – Federer and Sampras, Sharapova and Henin – or even further into the misty past – Laver and Goolagong . . . an unbroken string of talent and tenacity.
Like them, we are joined by a spirit that propels us into that abyss of fanaticism. If you get that adrenaline boost when you grip the leather and smack a forehand, then you are one of us . . . one of Charlotte's tennis community.
Skeptics may believe that you must learn the game as you pop out of the womb to compete in today’s world, but it’s time to bust that myth once and for all. Katya Lezin would certainly disagree with that notion.
At 40, Katya began tennis when she was encouraged by a friend to join the Charlotte Tennis Association (CTA) ladder. That was two and a half years ago. Now, it is doubtful anyone in town is more infatuated with the game. Her love affair with the sport was evidenced when recently she played five ladder matches in one day.
Katya compares her attitude to the grit needed to learn a foreign language — you jump in and start speaking even if you babble at first. With tennis, she dove in, playing people more skilled than her, which only helped her game.
“Folks saw my poor strokes and probably thought who are you? A pro once came up and gave me his card, because I guess I looked like I desperately needed lessons.”
Rather than take offense, Katya learns from every match she plays, and she loves the friendships she has forged as well as the flexibility the CTA ladder offers.
“I am convinced it’s the best way to meet lots of players at your level and to always find a match,” she says.
Katya laments that she still doesn’t have the most elegant strokes, but she finds a way to win with her never-give-up attitude. In fact she has climbed to the zenith of the 4.0 ladder, an astounding feat for a relative newcomer to the sport.
|
|
Another ladder that is gaining in popularity is T2 Tennis, sponsored by Prince; however it is limited to women’s doubles and men’s singles. This organization arranges matches by areas in which you live, and you have the flexibility of scheduling at your convenience.
The CTA ladder offers men’s and women’s singles and doubles, and all monies put into the ladder are returned to the community. Time constraints prevent many people from committing to a league team, so the ladder is the perfect answer because of its flexibility, and a great way for newcomers to Charlotte to plug in.
But it you want to play on a team, Charlotte offers plentiful league opportunities. Interclub teams, which pit private clubs against each other, carry both spring and fall seasons. The most heated competition is found in the Queen City and USTA league teams, which range from Beginners to Advanced levels.
If playing on a team is important to you, as you shop for clubs, be sure to ask what leagues and levels the club supports.
Whether you are a beginner or an ex-college player, almost all private clubs in the area offer multiple levels of competition. If you are an advanced player, every club seems to have a least several former college players as members.
But when you want many different opponents, it's hard to beat the variety of people and levels offered at Olde Providence Racquet Club. Thirty-seven courts, a state-of-the-art new clubhouse, and a full range of programs, as well as indoor courts make this a premier facility. Some top pros in the area are members here. And if you’re a retiree, there is no better place to find great competition on any given afternoon.
According to Norm Palin, long time OPRC member, you can find thirty or forty retirees every afternoon at 1:30. “This is great because I don’t have to play with the same people every day,” Palin says.
You’ll also find robust competition at the newly renovated Charlotte Indoor Racquet Club which has a large number of 4.5/5.0 rated (advanced) members. However, plenty of people of average ability enjoy this family-oriented atmosphere that focuses just on tennis.
Club owner Aaron Lamb says, “What makes us really unique is our indoor facility.”
If you want a unique and multicultural experience, try the public courts in Dilworth at Park Ave. and Euclid on the weekend.
Legendary Hilbert Fuerstman has been organizing matches at these courts every weekend for sixty years. Whether sun, rain or snow, they play. Anyone with fifty cents in his pocket qualifies. (That covers the balls Hilbert provides.) People of all levels and all walks of life show up on weekend mornings and most holidays.
Hilbert forms the teams of doubles and ensures that everyone plays. If you prefer playing with only those at your level, then this is not for you, but if you enjoy playing and networking with an eclectic group, then it’s a must stop. If you've just moved to Charlotte, you’ll meet gaggles of tennis buddies and be eligible for membership in the Dilworth Tennis Group.
Other well-known public facilities include Park Road Park and The Jeff Adams Tennis Center, which have contracted professional instructors and well-maintained, lighted hard courts. No reservations are necessary.
Charlotte features a good variety of tennis court surfaces, which is important for aging players or for those with injuries that prevent them from playing on hard surfaces. Most all country and racquet clubs have soft composition courts. Blakeney Racquet Club gives players a taste of Europe with red clay courts in addition to hard and composition courts.
Although Charlotte's mild climate allows play almost the entire year, indoor facilities in the area allow members and non-members alike to contract time. The Palisades even has a grass court.
In September,The Palisades offers nirvana for the hardest core tennis enthusiast. The Champions at the Palisades tournament serves up professional inspiration by the set-load.
Tim Wilkison, former touring pro and tennis director at The Palisades Tennis Complex says, “This tournament has become the most successful tennis event in North Carolina in its two short years of existence. The level of player, number of fans and amount of prize money available have been higher than any event held in our state. We are already working to make this year’s event better than ever.”
When it comes to equipping yourself properly, the community offers many choices in equipment and sportswear selection. Local pro shops are usually armed with the latest in high-tech equipment and fashions, and a particularly great locale is Don’s Tennis in Dilworth, as much for its history and personality as the endless variety of racquets. Don is a longtime fixture in the tennis community and a walking search engine for the sport’s latest technology.
The appropriate tennis racquet – grip, tension, weight – is crucial to a good game and good health, and so purchasing from a serious retailer with a demo-racquet program is essential. The fees paid for the demonstration period go toward the purchase of a racquet.
You may discover that a stylish or trendy racquet might not be appropriate for you, and a knowledgeable salesperson can aid your selection.
With respect to footgear, if you are playing on soft courts, ensure that you have smooth-soled court shoes. Many cross-trainer shoes do not meet the requirements of private clubs.
There are many ways to get your tennis fix in this area. It's hard to beat the camaraderie and competition found on USTA teams, especially if you want the opportunity to advance and compete at the state and national levels.
Club memberships are worth pursuing if you make tennis a big part of your leisure time. Some are more social, others more competitive. Evaluate which club best balances your interest by visiting the club, viewing a clinic, and chatting with the tennis director. Or get yourself invited to a social event by one of the members. Take your time before joining. Check out special incentives. If you are a real “ringer,” clubs will work hard to get you in.
In sum, the breadth and depth of Charlotte’s tennis community ensures that there’s a niche to satisfy the every whim of every player, from the most leisurely club dabbler to the most rigorous competitor.
So join that ladder or take a lesson from one of the many local pros – most will teach non-members and can point you in the right direction to get you plugged in with other players.
Iris Ham serves on the Lake Norman USTA board. The league has 1800+ players participating in the Spring USTA Adult and Senior league. Their coverage area covers all areas north of Charlotte. Lake Norman USTA Spring League experience the highest growth in the State last spring with 22% growth. Iris says that their goal is to "...create tennis playing opportunities in our coverage area." For more information, visit lakenormantennis.org.
Rhonda Brown is a local teaching pro and President of Total Champion®, a business specializing in mental toughness and tennis strategy. |
