Latest Posts

High Definition Happiness Lighten Up: The Happiness Project Courting: A Tennis Memoir A Case Against NTRP Ratings Expiration Putting It All Together: My Daily Plantar Fasciitis Prevention Routine Tennis Beyond the Headlines: March 31, 2025 A Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Gift Idea
High Definition Happiness Lighten Up: The Happiness Project Courting: A Tennis Memoir A Case Against NTRP Ratings Expiration Putting It All Together: My Daily Plantar Fasciitis Prevention Routine Tennis Beyond the Headlines: March 31, 2025 A Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Gift Idea

The Tennis World’s Most Interesting Man: Torben Ulrich

On By Teresa Merklin

Torben Ulrich has a couple of albums on Spotify. I know that for a fact because as I was drafting this essay on his life I was struck with the sudden realization that his music was probably available there. Ulrich is one of the most fascinating characters I have stumbled across while writing for this site. While his music will not be a regular fixture on my Spotify rotation, I do have a sudden desire to own some of his artwork. To say that he is living an interesting life is an understatement.

The Wall

On By Teresa Merklin

The author of “Dynamite Doubles: Play Winning Tennis Today!” details how she got her start in tennis by hitting against “The Wall” at a tennis club in Denmark. Helle Sparre-Viragh’s parents essentially used the wall to keep her occupied while they played their own tennis. In addition to illustrating her early passion for hitting a tennis ball, Viragh advocates that the wall is an effective way to train. The top ranked professional player in Denmark would occasionally drop by the wall and train alongside Viragh.

Tennis Drill: Take Away the Net Drill

On By Teresa Merklin

Today I am sharing a tennis doubles drill which was adapted from Pat Blaskower’s “The Art of Doubles: Winning Tennis Strategies and Drills” and Helle Sparre Viragh’s “Dynamite Doubles: Play Winning Tennis Today” which are two books recently reviewed by this site. The drill explains the core principles of the staggered positions when both players are at the net. Even better, it is excellent practice for mastering that court positioning under dynamic playing conditions.

Dynamite Doubles: Play Winning Tennis Today

On By Teresa Merklin

I have an improbably large collection of tennis books on doubles strategy. To even the most casual observer of my doubles matches… it is patently obvious that I have not actually read any of them. That is, until last week when I embarked on a journey to correct that oversight. This week’s book is “Dynamite Doubles: Play Winning Tennis Today!” The selection was an absolute stroke of luck because it is very closely related to the book that was reviewed just last week.

USTA Comments on USTA Comments

On By Teresa Merklin

This week we have stumbled onto what may be the most meta part of the USTA Friend at Court handbook. In essence, the USTA Comment against the “Amendment of the Rules of Tennis” section in the ITF Rules of Tennis, explains why the USTA makes comments rather than modifications to the rules.

The Spinshot Player Tennis Ball Machine

On By Teresa Merklin

I have a complicated relationship with my Spinshot Player Ball Machine. It was purchased because I needed something that could deliver a precise series of shot patterns. When the machine is fully programmed and tuned, it does that very well. In fact the word I use to describe that state is nirvana. However, anyone considering purchasing a Spinshot should be aware that it takes considerable tinkering to get to that point.

2 responses

Overthinking a recent USTA Social Media Survey #NationalTennisMonth

On By Teresa Merklin

Last week the USTA Official Facebook page shared a link with a survey targeting tennis players in the 18-39 age demographic. Discussion on Facebook was spirited… and mostly from people who were over 40 who were miffed at being excluded. According to the Facebook request, “The USTA is conducting a focus group to better understand what, how, and when tennis players in this demographic want to play.” As my family consistently reminds me, I passed 40 a very long time ago. However, in the true Fiend at Court spirit, I have some thoughts. Let’s regard this as my focus group of 1.

Celebrate #NationalTennisMonth by Becoming an Ambassador to the Sport

On By Teresa Merklin

I am in lockstep agreement with first item listed in the USTA Long Term Strategic Plan. “Attract, engage, and retain new generations of diverse tennis participants.” This weekend I have been examining how difficult it is for beginning players to engage in the tennis ecosystem. #NationalTennisMonth is a perfect example of how tennis promotion tends to be isolated within a tennis echo-chamber. Surely we don’t think that the non-tennis community follows tennis organizations on twitter in any great numbers. Right…?

Desperately Seeking Beginning Tennis Lessons in #NationalTennisMonth

On By Teresa Merklin

The USTA Strategic Initiatives unveiled in 2020 includes the imperative of providing positive experiences to new players who are experiencing tennis for the first time. As a sport with a steep learning curve, it is essential to get new players engaged with quality information and instruction on how to play the sport. It shouldn’t be hard for a player new to tennis to discover opportunities to engage with professional instruction, but it is. Tennis needs to rethink how it presents itself in the modern era.

Getting Started in Tennis #NationalTennisMonth

On By Teresa Merklin

It is intuitively obvious that every single person who actively plays tennis had that moment when someone pressed a racquet into their hands and they took their first swing at a ball. In other words, everybody was a beginner once upon a time. Even Roger Federer didn’t emerge from the womb with his elegant one-handed backhand. Additionally, it is highly likely that Federer missed the first time he took a cut at the ball. In observance of #NationalTennisMonth, today’s topic is how beginners can get started in tennis.