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August 27, 2007
Ashley Weinhold Match Set for 8/28: 4th Match On Louis Armstrong Stadium Court
From Coach Jack Newman's blog:
The schedule for tomorrow is out. ATA’s Ashley Weinhold will be the 4th match up on Louis Armstrong Stadium court. If matches on that court go late, she would be moved to Arthur Ashe Stadium. Armstrong is the stadium court we already practiced on early this weekend. Ashe is the big stadium at the USOPEN. Either of those will be one of the biggest tennis stadiums in the world to play on. What a great opportunity for Ashley to experience the biggest stage of tennis.
Ashley plays the #6 seed Anna Chakvetadze, who is currently #6 in the WTA world rankings. Chakvetadze has five years of tour experience. The pundits are saying Ashley does not have a chance, but we all know that on any given day, any athlete can have a great day or a lousy day. If Chakvetadze has a lousy day and Ashley has a great day, the pundits will have to eat their words.
To give you an idea of start time for tomorrow…third matches up today are finishing right now at 5pm New York, 4pm Austin time. We expect Ashley to go on sometime tomorrow between 3 and 5 pm New York time. You can track it on the USTA website which has live scoring and you can catch it on television on USA network.
See the full schedule of play here.
Posted by Jim at 8:36 PM | TrackBack
August 24, 2007
Austin Tennis Academy Head Coach, Jack Newman, Travels to Coach Ashley Weinhold at the U.S. OPEN
From Coach Newman:
I wanted to share with you the excitement I feel at traveling to New York tomorrow. I leave to help coach Ashley Weinhold at the world's premier professional tennis tournament, America's Grand Slam, The USOPEN!
Each of you in different ways have helped me, help my students. Thank you!!
For me, it has been a lifetime goal to Coach at the USOPEN. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with and know Ashley Weinhold, one of the best young American players of this generation.
Ashley has been training with the ATA coaches and players since she was 7 years old. For 11 years she has toiled, sweat, and bled for a dream. She has hit millions of tennis balls, played uncountable tournament matches, done 1000s of fitness workouts and spent countless hours on the road, traveling to seek out the best competition the world could offer. That journey reaches a new level next Monday or Tuesday when she plays Anna Chakvetadze, currently ranked #6 in the world in women's professional tennis, at the USOPEN.
At the beginning of the summer, as we were beginning the preparation to secure the wildcard into the USOPEN, I asked Ashley a question, hoping to plant a seed of a thought in her mind. I asked her, when we get to the USOPEN in August, would you rather play the lowest qualifier in the draw, or a top seed on stadium court, under the lights on national television. She responded: "The second one!!!." She will be getting that chance early next week and I know she will maximize the opportunity.
Her excitement grows daily as Ashley prepares to perform on the world's biggest tennis stage. She is prepared both physically and mentally for the upcoming challenge of playing one of the world's best. She is pumped up about the opportunity she has earned. The past year she has competed in a good number of professional events and she has trained like a professional for the past two years.
I know you each will be pulling for her in this contest. Win or lose, Ashley, like many of our students competing in tournaments, will have gained another valuable experience on her journey of becoming her best. Look for us on USA network and check this site for Ashley's confirmed playing time at the OPEN.
Posted by Jim at 9:05 PM | TrackBack
ATA Wednesday Adult Tennis Social Starts Up Again!
7:30-9:00 pm
$15 per player, includes drinks and snacks
30 Minutes of Drills and 1 hour of Play
All levels, Men and Women
Posted by Jim at 9:01 PM | TrackBack
August SuperChamp Major Zone Recap: ATA Plays Hard in Tyler and Arlington
During this past August 17-20th weekend, The Austin Tennis Academy competed in the August SuperChamp Major Zone tournaments, with the 12s and 14s in Tyler and 16s and 18s in Arlington. ATA Head Coach Jack Newman, High Performance Coach Cristina Moros and Coach Estevam Strecker were on-site in Arlington, while JD Director Brian Notis, Coach Simon Boyce and Coach John Schoenmaker caught the action firsthand in Tyler.
At the Bob Faulkner Tennis Center in Tyler Brittany Brewster won her girls 12s opening round over Jenna Reisler 6-4, 6-4. Brittany fell to (5) seed Katie Delgado 6-3, 6-3 in the second round. In boys 14s, Eliot Blatt beat (4) seed James Bronson 6-4, 6-0, then lost a battle to Casjen Rico, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. In another great match, (9) seed Josh Hagar “finished well, coming back from behind in both sets” according to Coach Notis. Hagar defeated Casey Armstrong 7-6, 7-6. Charlie Shin beat Steven McMullan 6-2, 6-3 in the first round. Austin Mayo also won his first round, thumping Nathan Simmons 6-2, 6-0. Mayo fell to (4) seed and semi-finalist Justin Randall 6-2, 6-3 in the second round. Matthew Sparks won a back-draw match 6-3, 6-2 over Mark Izlar. For Colton Malesovas, the Tyler SuperChamp Major Zone was a “breakthrough tournament” noted Junior Development Director Brian Notis. Colton picked up two main-draw, ‘A’ draw wins, including a rallying win over Christopher Moss 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
The 16s and 18s competed in Arlington. In girls 16s, Kate Cahill earned two main-draw wins, including a 2nd round 6-3, 6-4 count over Houston’s Crystal Sauceda. Kate eventually fell to (4) seed Felicity Delgado. Hailey Posas beat Jacquelyn Davis 6-4, 6-3 before losing to Lindsey Tristan 6-1, 6-1. Claire Cahill competed with good effort and sportsmanship in two matches. Shannon McLellan defeated Lyndsay Walter 6-4, 6-3 before being up-ended by (3) seed Courtney Lawless 7-5, 6-3. In boys 16s, Cameron Relic lost two straight sets to Jake Golman, but came back to nearly defeat Tyler Crawford in a great back-draw contest 6-3, 5-7, 10-6. Jeffrey Offerdahl beat Dallas’ Rob Oberman 6-1, 6-2, then narrowly lost to (9) seed and semifinalist Nicholas McCollin 10-6 in the Super-breaker. Este Kaufmann fell to Justin Hernandez in the first round, then rebounded to win a close back-draw match over Craig Smyser 6-4, 6-4. Daniel Wang competed in the 16s draw.
Congratulations to competitors and family. ATA competed with pride and showed good sportsmanship during competition. The Austin Tennis Academy family eagerly anticipates the September SuperChamp Major Zones, including the SuperChamp Excellence tournament in Richardson.
Posted by Jim at 8:42 PM | TrackBack
August 14, 2007
Ashley Weinhold: USTA Girls 18s Hard-court National Champion, Earns U.S. Open Wildcard
The list of Past Champions is a roll call of legendary American tennis players: Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati, Lisa Raymond, Lindsay Davenport, Laura Granville and Alexandra Stevenson won here before they won on the WTA tour. On Sunday, Austin Tennis Academy's Ashley Weinhold joined that elite list in dominating fashion. By winning what is the culmination of United States amateur junior tennis, Ashley earns an automatic bid into the main draw of this year's U.S. Open Women's Singles Grand Slam.
Ashley Weinhold did not just win the USTA Girls 18s Hard-court National Championships, she commanded the draw. Over seven matches, Ashley won each match in straight sets, including a semi-final win over 2005 Champion and 2007 (3) seed Mary Gambale 6-3, 6-4. Ashley beat Alison Riske to win the USTA National Hard-court Championship 6-3, 6-3.
To win as she did in California, Ashley relies on premier conditioning and an explosive all-court game. Owning fantastic foot-speed and footwork, Ashley combines a well-honed baseline game with fine point finishing ability at the net. Her biggest weapon may be her versatility. Weinhold can create movement with flat or topspin off both wings, and she can knife low slice and look to pressure her opponent. Her ability to play several different 'balls' effectively off the baseline and move forward in the court allows her to match-up well with any style.
Though she is only 18, Ashley has primarily played WTA pro tour events for the last 18 months, rising inside the top 400 WTA this year. The USTA National Hard-court Championship earns her a wildcard into the main draw of the 2007 U.S. Open. The title is a great honor without the U.S. Open bid, but the automatic entry is a great opportunity for Ashley to show her game on the single biggest tennis stage in the world.
For Ashley, the USTA National Hard-court title is part of a larger journey. Next year, Weinhold may not need a wildcard into The Open. For Austin Tennis Academy, Ashley's win is evidence for our juniors of the results of a commitment to excellence. Congratulations to Ashley Weinhold and the Austin Tennis Academy family on Ashley's USTA National Hard-court victory. The U.S. Open starts August 27th.
Ashley competing at 2006 U.S. Open
Posted by Jim at 8:55 PM | TrackBack
August 13, 2007
Ashley Weinhold Wins USTA G18s National Championship, Earns Wildcard into USOPEN Women's Main Draw Singles
Long time ATA student Ashley Weinhold (daughter of ATA Pro Shop manager Lisa and dad Guy Weinhold) won the USTA Girls 18s National Singles Championships today.
Ashley defeated Alison Riske, 6-3, 6-3. She earns another USTA Gold Ball for 1st place as well as a Wildcard into the main draw of the USOPEN. For those of you planning trips to the open, the women's first round matches will take place on Monday and Tuesday August 27th & 28th.
Ashley will be playing in the doubles 3rd & 4th place playoff later this afternoon and will return to Austin tomorrow.
Ashley has spent the past year following a professional tournament schedule and is currently ranked #411 on the Eriksson WTA Tour computer.
Posted by Jim at 6:29 PM | TrackBack
August 11, 2007
Super-National Hard Courts: Weinhold, Saunders, Hagar, O'Rourke, Goertz Compete with U.S. Best
The American tennis surface is a hard court. The U.S. Open, the premier professional tennis tournament in the United States is played on a hard court. Nearly all American junior players grow up playing primarily on the hard court surface. And so, the USTA National junior tennis season climaxes annually with Super-National Hard-Courts in each age division. This year five Austin Tennis Academy earned spots in the prestigious Super-National event.
Seeded (2) in the 18s National Championships, Ashley Weinhold is used to the pressure of high expectations, and she does not shy away from it. Currently ranked 411 in the WTA/Sony Ericsson points race, the 18 year old Weinhold is seeking to win the 18s Super-National title, which carries with it a wild-card spot in the main draw of this year’s U.S. Open. Weinhold won her first four matches without dropping a set, including a 6-4, 6-2 win over (12) seeded Floridian Lauren Embree. As of this posting, Ashley will be competing in the semifinals of singles and doubles, hoping to better her performance from last year where she was a finalist in both singles and doubles. The winners of the Girls 18s Hardcourt Nationals, in addition to their USTA Gold Ball, win a wildcard into the Main Draw of the Women's event at the USOPEN. This has been Ashley's goal this year, to caputure the wildcard in both singles and doubles to the USOPEN.
In San Diego, ATA Head Coach Jack Newman watched Jill Saunders in girls 16s action. In the first round Saunders beat New York’s Olivia Pascucci 6-2, 6-4. In the second round, Saunders fell to (17) seed Britney Sanders 6-3, 6-2. In the back-draw, Saunders won again, 6-2, 6-2 over Michaela Oldani. In her final match, Jill lost two close sets to Wisconsin’s Elizabeth Ecker 6-4, 6-4. Saunders match with Ecker was a re-match of Super-National Clay Courts where Saunders won two close sets to defeat Ecker. Said Coach Newman:
Jill continues to improve all elements of her games and will be very competitive in Girls 16s winter nationals in December.
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Josh Hagar practicing for Hardcourt Nationals |
ATA players next chance at this level of national competition comes in December in Arizona, which hosts the winter nationals.
Posted by Jim at 5:05 PM | TrackBack
August 9, 2007
Corpus Christi Champ Major Zone: Many Great Results, Blair Jones SuperQualifies
Notorious for its powerful humidity and erratic swirling winds, Corpus Christi can present strong natural adversity for any tennis athlete. Fourteen Austin Tennis Academy students braved all adversities, competing in the August 3-5 Corpus Christi Champ Major Zone. There were many great results as ATA competitors played with sportsmanship and great effort. Blair Jones earned a Super-Champ qualification, winning the 18s draw with high level play. ATA Coaches Ryan Simme, Kendall Brooks and Estevam Strecker caught the action firsthand.
Young Jake Berber picked up a 12s main draw win over Houston’s Collin Hecht 6-1, 6-4. In the same division, Ian Kocher “played solid tennis in all four of his matches,” noted Coach Brooks. Ian won two matches, advancing to the finals of the back-draw. Zane Ritter lost a very close back-draw match 4-6, 7-6, 10-6 to Neil Patel. Dylan Ritter lost his first round in straight sets, then beat Ryan O’Keefe 6-4, 7-5. In girls 14s Allie Carlisle lost a battle with Jessica Zak 3-6, 6-4, 10-5. Allie then won a back-draw match over Meg Cahill, who played hard in two matches. In boys 14s, Derek Wang lost his first round to 6-2, 2-6, 10-8. Derek went on to win 4 back-draw matches, taking the back-draw title. Greyson Brilliant played hard in two matches.
Victoria Noetzel beat Natalie Dolan 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the 16s title match. In the final, Victoria fell to a very consistent Jacinta Leyden in straight sets. Adrian Turner beat Abby Dill 7-5, 2-6, 12-10 in a great first round contest. Christine Schatz won two matches in the super-breaker 10-7 and 10-8, advancing to the semi-final round. In 18s girls, Blair Jones overcame Christy Cloud in the quarters 6-2, 3-6, 10-1, then won her semi-final in straight sets before outlasting Kelsie Lawson in the final 3-6, 6-2, 10-8. With the draw win, Blair qualifies for SuperChamp 18s. In a solid start to her 18s career, Jessica Waite captured two main-draw wins.
Great job and congratulations to all ATA competitors and everyone who played in the August Corpus Christi Champ Major Zone. ATA looks forward to another great experience at the September Champ Major Zone in Tyler.
Posted by Jim at 9:05 PM | TrackBack
Ryan Berber participates in European Maccabi Games
Austin Tennis Academy alumni Ryan Berber recently represented England in the European Maccabi Games. Ryan competed in both singles and doubles and was the consolation finalist in Men's Singles.
Highlights from the Maccabi Games website:
The Maccabi is the international Jewish Sports Organization, present on the 5 continents, in 50 countries and numbering more than 400 000 members. Sports are not solely an instrument to reach individual and collective psychophysical health and equilibrium, but must be regarded a means to promote wholesome social values.
The Maccabiah Games place every four years in Israel and count as the most important sports event organized by the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah is an exceptional chance for youth to put themselves and their skills to the test, and not only in an agonistic sense. The young are taught that an agonistic confrontation must be a fair and just competition by which one measures courage to stand up to the challenge, the tenacity in striving for victory and the poise in facing defeat. Just as the Olympic Games, the Maccabiah is an occasion to tear down barriers and divides, to promote a spirit of encounter between cultures and civilizations.
Athletes from all around Europe, the Slavic countries, Russians, the Baltic nations, even Americans and Australians will all meet and compete. During the course of 2007, and not only in concurrence with the sporting event itself that takes place between July 4th and July 12th, a large number of cultural and recreational initiatives all linked to the Games will take place.
The first ever European Maccabiah were held in Prague in 1929, while the following year the Games came to Antwerp. Following a long interruption, a few years after the end of WWII, in 1959 the Games returned to vigor and the chosen city was Copenhagen. These 1959 EMG opened up for the next Maccabiah in 1962. Only by the end of the sixties the European editions of the Games assumed the structure that we know today: the Games are held every four years and are organized as a collective effort between the European Maccabi Confederation and the Maccabi Federation of the hosting nation. Each country chooses the teams and their composition. A large machinery working to receive more than 30 different European and non.-European countries, all united by the common objective of taking part in not only a great sports event, but to make come about a real opportunity of coming together as one.
The previous editions of the European Games were held in Antwerp (2003), Glasgow (1999), Amsterdam (1995), Marseille (1991), Copenhagen (1987), Antwerp (1983), Leicester (1979), Lyon (1963), Copenhagen (1959), Antwerp (1930), Prague (1929). In 2007 the turn to host the EMG, in its 12th edition, has for the first time come to Eternal City, Rome.
Posted by Jim at 8:32 PM | TrackBack
August 4, 2007
Texas A&M ITA Summer Circuit Results: College Level Competition, Coaches and Alumni in the Draws
In this tournament, there are no age divisions or separate qualification levels, the draw-sheets simply read "Men’s Singles" and "Women’s Singles". The ITA Summer Circuit is a four tournament regional series for college and ambitious junior players, with draws open to any willing competitors. The series’ leaders feed into a National ITA in September, though the primary purpose of the ‘ITAs’ are to prepare for the upcoming college tennis season.
Austin Tennis Academy students took advantage of the opportunity to play against college-level competition, while several ATA coaches also played in the Regional finale, held at Texas A&M University. A little older and wiser though not as physically honed, 3 members of the Austin Tennis Academy coaching staff competed in the Summer Circuit finale. Coach Estevan Strecker showed some of his former D-1 college ability, making the quarter-finals with 3 singles wins. Coach Estevan, who played 4 years at Aurburn University, retired in the quarter-final round, leading (5) seed Tyler Tarnasky 6-4, 3-2.
Coach Simon Boyce advanced to the second round with a straight set win over St. Edwards’ Kenton Venhuizen. Coach Simon fell to Duke University’s Christopher Price in a match decided in the Super-breaker.
Coach Kendall Brooks advanced to the round of 16, splitting the first two sets with Lauren Santacroce before falling in a close Super-breaker, 10-8. In doubles, Coach Simon teamed up with Conor O’Rourke, losing a close first round 9-8(5). Coach Strecker and Cameron Relic fell to Heim and Lane 8-3 in the first round.
ATA Head Coach Jack Newman played with Casey Shaw, the duo advanced to the second round. Coach Brooks and Jill Saunders posted a quarter-final doubles result, falling to SMU’s Reid and Francis (2). Texas Tech incoming freshman Ethan Horn won two matches before falling to top seed Aaron Carpenter in the third round. Entering his final junior season, Jonathon Stockdale defeated Jordan Boecker before losing to Michael Sholty in straight sets. Conor O’Rourke lost his first round match to Josh Hollis 6-2, 6-1.
Current St. Edwards’ starter Brett Powers won his first match, then fell to (9) seed Rusty Turpin. Casey Shaw played with courage against much older and stronger competition. For younger players like Casey, the ITAs provide the opportunity to see a level of tennis evolved several transitions forward. Shaw displayed no intimidation in the face of overwhelming physicality. Cameron Relic won his first round match 6-2, 6-3 over Mike Smathers.
In the Women’s Singles draw, Jill Saunders gave top seed Tiffany Tucker, of LSU, all she could handle. Tucker took the duel in 3 sets. Going into her final under 18 season, Mary Bain beat current St. Edwards’ starter and former ATA player Giselle (Gigi) Lopez 6-3, 6-2. In the main draw. Kate Cahill won a close back-draw match over Stephanie Brown 2-6, 6-4, 10-4. Jessica Waite beat Sylvia Brownfield in straight sets before falling to SMU’s Kristen Reid in the second round.
Blair Jones defeated Carolyn Palmer 6-2, 6-0 in the back-draw. Claire Cahill won a second round main-draw match 6-3, 6-1 over Magaly Rivera before falling to (9) seed Lillian Nguyen, a former student of ATA coaches and currently playing at Yale University. Victoria Noetzel played hard in two matches. Christine Schatz competed with great sportsmanship against (8) seed Ashley Turpin.
The ITA gave ATA students important opportunities to compete against college level players. It is important to recognize the willingness of ATA juniors to challenge themselves against better players. Congratulations to players and coaches who competed in the Texas A&M University ITA Summer Circuit finale!
Posted by Jim at 1:31 PM | TrackBack
ATA Coaching Staff receives CPR training
This past week the Austin Tennis Academy coaching staff, Chief Operating Officer Deb Cahill and two students, Mary Bain and Blair Jones all under went 4 hours of training for CPR certification. All pass the class with flying colors and are trained to administer CPR in an emergency.
Posted by Jim at 1:25 PM | TrackBack
Super National Clay Courts: Offerdahl, O'Rourke and Saunders Play Top National Talent
The USTA holds four Super-National junior tournaments annually for each age division 12 and under through 18 and under. Qualifying for these tournaments is an impressive tennis achievement in its own right, as the top caliber players across the U.S. and protectorate islands seek entry with very limited availability. In the first Super-National tournament of the year, Super-National Clay Courts, Austin Tennis Academy students’ Jill Saunders, Jeff Offerdahl and Conor O’Rourke represented ATA with great success.
For O’Rourke, it was his first experience at the Super-National level. After a year of steadily improving Texas Section results, the talented right-hander sought to make an impression in his first appearance. Though he fell short of winning a match, O’Rourke pushed his first round opponent, Great Neck New York’s David Greenbaum, to the brink in a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 loss. "Conor has made the commitment to a great attitude", noted ATA Head Coach Jack Newman after the tournament. Combining a great attitude with Conor’s natural physical skills will garner O’Rourke impressive results in the near future.
One year ago, the USTA’s 240th nationally ranked Jeff Offerdahl felt proud to qualify for 14s Super-National Clay Courts. He exited the tournament in the first round of the main and back-draws. After a year of committed focus equaling spiking results including a impressive tournament victory at Winter Nationals and the Sectional crown from the Texas Summer Grand Slam, the top 25 USTA Nationally ranked Offerdahl looked to be a major player in this year’s first USTA Super-Nat. Jeff outplayed Georgia’s Andrew Goodwin in the first round 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-2. In the second round, Jeff beat New York’s Richard Del Nunzio in straight sets. Offerdahl and ATA Head Coach Jack Newman expected to move through the third round, but Jeff fell to Rochester New York’s Jason Tahir 6-1, 6-4. Coach Newman points out "Jeff played to defend, and while he had a good event, it was not the result I know he wanted". Despite the round of 32 loss, Offerdahl’s progress over the last 12 months is a great indicator of both his commitment and his potential for continued improvement through the 16s, 18s and beyond.
Jill Saunders faced off with McLean Virginia’s Gabrielle Devlin in the first round. A competitive 6-3 first set shifted into a dominating second set as Saunders rolled 6-3, 6-0. In the second round, Jill played Mequon Wisconsin’s Elizabeth Ecker, seeded (17). Since January, Ecker has posted five tournament wins over players ranked 60 or higher Nationally, including a late June top 50 win en route to finalist honors at a National Open. In a 7-5, 6-2 win over Ecker, Saunders played "high-level, gutsy tennis", noted ATA Coach Kendall Brooks. Saunders was not finished yet. In her third round match, Jill defeated Georgia’s Allison Falkin in straight sets, advancing to the round of 32. Coach Brooks saw "some of the best tennis Jill has played yet", and at a Super-National event. In her final main-draw match, Saunders fell to (4) seed Nicole Stracar in straight sets.
Saunders, Offerdahl and O’Rourke represented themselves, their families and the Austin Tennis Academy family with great sportsmanship and effort. As the heart of the junior tennis season continues through August, these players will again test their mettle at National level tournaments, including the Super-National Hard Courts Championships. Congratulations to Jill, Jeff and Conor, the Austin Tennis Academy Staff, and the entire Austin Tennis Academy family!