News

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — USTA Player Development today announced that five junior development programs in five states have started new, three-year agreements to serve as USTA Certified Regional Training Centers (RTCs), partnering with USTA Player Development in its mission to cultivate the next generation of world-class American players. The programs will train junior players in four USTA sections across the country.

Eagle Fustar Tennis Academy in Santa Clara, Calif. (USTA Northern California), Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas, Nev. (USTA Intermountain), and T Bar M Racquet Club in Dallas, Texas, (USTA Texas) each are renewing their partnerships as USTA Certified Regional Training Centers, while Five Seasons Sports Club in Northbrook, Ill. (USTA Midwest) and The Smiths, LLC., in Indianapolis, Ind. (USTA Midwest), are joining the USTA Certified Regional Training Center network, setting the total number of USTA Certified Regional Training Centers across America to 17.

As USTA Certified RTCs, the programs will enhance the training and development of junior players in their respective areas of the country. USTA Player Development will use these partnerships as vehicles to educate and collaborate with junior tennis coaches in these four USTA sections to work together toward developing the next generation of world-class Americans.

“As we continue to see positive results out of players who train at USTA Certified Regional Training Centers, we are excited to be working collaboratively with these programs and their coaches to develop future American tennis stars,” said USTA Player Development General Manager Patrick McEnroe.

In addition to continuing their existing programs, the USTA Certified RTCs will host USTA Player Development camps for players ages 8-13 in their respective regions. These players will be selected in conjunction with the USTA National coaching staff and their respective USTA Section Player Development Manager and Coaching Commission. The Centers will also run 10 and Under Tennis programs and host 10 and Under Tennis tournaments.

The camps will be staffed by coaches at the USTA Certified Regional Training Centers and sectional coaches from throughout their respective USTA sections with additional assistance from the USTA National coaching staff. USTA Certified Regional Training Center coaches will also participate in the USTA Coaching Education program by working with the top coaches in their respective region and/or USTA section. Additionally, the RTC coaches will attend training sessions at USTA National Training Centers in Boca Raton, Fla., Carson, Calif., and Flushing, N.Y.

The USTA Certified Regional Training Centers expand the USTA Player Development program’s reach throughout the country by partnering with academies, clubs, tennis centers and coaches that have a proven record of identifying and developing tennis players. Since December 2008, the USTA has named USTA Certified Regional Training Centers in 13 of the 15 USTA Sections in the continental U.S., and hosted USTA Certified Regional Training Center Camps in all 17 USTA Sections including USTA Hawaii and USTA Caribbean in 2012.

The mission of USTA Player Development is to develop world-class American players through a clearly defined training structure and competitive pathway as well as through the implementation of a comprehensive coaching philosophy and structure. The Player Development program is based at the USTA National Training Center Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., and also utilizes the USTA Training Center-West in Carson, Calif., the USTA Training Center-East at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., as well as the network of Regional Training Centers throughout the country. USTA Player Development encompasses several areas of oversight including coaching education, player identification and development, sport science, strength and conditioning and player services.

Eagle Fustar Tennis Academy is based in Santa Clara, Calif., and has been a USTA Certified Regional Training Center since 2010. Founded in 2003 by former professionals Brian Eagle and Nick Fustar, the Academy trains more than 200 juniors and pros in Northern California, bringing personal, highly individualized training to each player. The Eagle Fustar Tennis Academy utilizes facilities at nearby colleges and universities.

The Amanda & Stacy Darling Tennis Center is the largest public outdoor tennis center in the state of Nevada, with 23 lighted hard courts as part of the 110-acre Kellogg-Zaher Sports Complex in Las Vegas. Opened in 2005, the Darling Tennis Center was named a USTA Certified Regional Training Center in 2010, has been a stop on the ATP World Tour and currently hosts an annual USTA Pro Circuit women’s event. Henner Nehles directs the DTC’s USTA Certified Regional Training Center program.

T Bar M Racquet Club in Dallas has been a USTA Certified Regional Training Center since 2009, consisting of 14 outdoor hard courts, eight clay courts and eight indoor courts. The T Bar M program trains juniors in technical, tactical, physical, mental and emotional areas. They also host The Challenger of Dallas, a Men’s USTA Pro Circuit Event. The T Bar M program is directed by coach Doug Kruger and includes coaches Greg Alexander, Matt Cook and Joey Rive.

The Smiths, LLC., is the training program directed by the father-son team of Jeff and Bryan Smith, based in Indianapolis. The Smiths previously ran a USTA Certified Regional Training Center out of the Indianapolis Tennis Center, the former home of the ATP World Tour Indianapolis Tennis Championships. Jeff and Bryan have produced players that have won singles titles on the ATP World Tour, at the USTA National Championships and at the Junior Orange Bowl. Bryan continues to coach current ATP Top 150 player Rajeev Ram.

Five Seasons Sports Club is entering a new partnership with USTA Player Development, operating out of its suburban Chicago club, which includes outdoor hard and clay courts and indoor hard courts. Five Seasons offers a three-level junior progression through competitive tournaments, or through recreation and high school play. Christine Sheldon is Five Seasons’ director of racquet sports, while Casey Clagett is its junior development director, and Jacek Dabrowski is a lead coach.