NN_MarApr-2026-issuu

Serving Atlanta for 60 years

HEEL GRIP LINING

Made of interlocking fibers that grip the sock to minimize heel slippage

STAY-TIED LACES

Acts as a “catch” to keep the laces tied

HIGH WEAR ZONE PROTECTION

Provides an extra line of defense against excessive toe-dragging

EXTRA CUSHIONED MIDSOLE

Extra-lightweight, and high-resilient foam compound providing long lasting cushioning on court

DURABLE OUTSOLE

The most durable rubber compound developed to withstand outsole wear.

LATERAL STABILITY SUPPORT

Molded TPU shank under the foot adds support and stability during side-to-side movements

FTalk To Us

irst, I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season and that the new year is off to a great start!

In my letter from the first Net News of 2026, I explained that my goal for this year was to listen. Sometimes there are issues that we have as ALTA members, but we don’t know the right avenue to express them. My hope is that this letter will give you that avenue. We have had several changes for 2026, and I know some members like the changes and others do not. I want to hear from you, no matter which side you’re on. It is important that as a member of ALTA you have a place to express your feelings about the changes that we make. I became involved with ALTA because I wanted to be a part of this fantastic organization and I wanted to get on the “Rules Committee.” I wanted my voice to be heard, and that is something I always suggest to people who have thoughts or ideas about the association: get involved. The best way to improve ALTA is by having passionate players step forward and help guide its direction.

I also want to invite you to let us know of your ideas or suggestions on how we can improve ALTA. Who better to get those ideas from than you, the people who play tennis and pickleball in this league?

As we move through 2026, my hope is that we continue to better ALTA with open communication, mutual respect, and a shared focus on what is best for this awesome organization.

ALTA is strongest when it reflects the voices, experiences, and ideas of its membership. Whether you have a concern, a suggestion, or a new idea you believe could move us forward, I want you to know that your input matters and is welcomed. Listening isn’t just a goal for me this year — it is a commitment. As we move through 2026, my hope is that we continue to better ALTA with open communication, mutual respect, and a shared focus on what is best for this awesome organization. Thank you for your continued support, your engagement, and your willingness to speak up. I look forward to hearing from you and to working alongside you to make ALTA even stronger in the year ahead. You can email me at altapresident@ altatennis.org, or call 770.399.5788, Ext. 109.

David Rowe

David Rowe, 2026

ALTA President

For the latest news, information and events.

altatennis.org facebook.com/Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association instagram.com/ALTA_tennis netnewsmag.com

2026 ALTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 140, Roswell, GA 30076

Phone: 770.399.5788 Website: altatennis.org

President David Rowe

First VP Greg McAfee

Secretary Karen Carroll

Treasurer Cameron Turner

VP Men’s League Drew Meyer

VP Thursday Candace Cole

Women’s League

VP Sunday Diane Royston

Women’s League

VP Senior Day Leagues Rusty Jones

VP Senior Leagues Mike Clance

VP Mixed Nicole Jennings

Doubles League

VP Junior Leagues Kim Freeman

VP Junior Gina Woods

Challenge Ladder

VP Special Programs Mark LaRotonda

VP Events & Tournaments Carol Brasher

VP Pickleball Henry Vincent

President’s Appointee Keri Beck

2025 President Rita Maloof

2024 President Chequetta Allen

ALTA Foundation Rep Mimi McFall

2026 ALTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairman Linda Shepherd

2024 ALTA President Chequetta Allen

2025 ALTA President Rita Maloof

2026 ALTA President David Rowe

ALTA Foundation Terry Godbold

President

2025 Elected Member Karen Sullivan

2026 Elected Member Steven Thomas

Treasurer Cameron Turner

Secretary/ Greg McAfee

First Vice President

2026 ALTA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Terry Godbold

Treasurer Cameron Turner

Secretary Mimi McFall

NEW SOUTH PUBLISHING,

INC.

9040 Roswell Road, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30350 Phone: 770.650.1102

President/Publisher John Hanna

Managing Director Robyn Sobelson

President Emeritus Larry Lebovitz

Net News Editor Emmy Powell

Features Editor Cory Sekine–Pettite

Art Director Tracy Stalling

Advertising & Megan Willis

Production Manager

Account Executives Jennifer Gonzalez Sherry Gasaway

Circulation Manager Amy Fine

Accounting Marilyn Walker

Assistant Editor Gina Clance

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Direct all advertising, circulation and editorial inquiries to 770.650.1102. All information herein has been checked for accuracy to the best of the publisher’s ability. No responsibility is accepted for deletions, omissions, errors and/or inaccuracies. Printed in U.S.A. The ALTA logo is a protected trademark™.

MAR/APR

JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS March 8

City Finals

MARCH 7

MIXED DOUBLES-(A, B, AND C) SENIOR MIXED DOUBLES (Rain date March 8)

APRIL 21

WHEELCHAIR

MARCH 1 Junior Challenge Ladder registration opens Spring Play Begins!

PACK YOUR LUNCH DAY March 10

MARCH 7 Juniors

MARCH 10 Senior Day Women Wheelchair

MARCH 11 Senior Day Men

MARCH 12 Thursday Women

K’S DAY

MARCH 14 Men

NATIONAL ANTHEM DAY March 3

MARCH 15 Sunday Women SUMMER REGISTRATION

WALK IN THE PARK DAY March 30

MARCH 24 - APRIL 15 Mixed Doubles Senior Men’s + Women’s

APRIL 30

Pickleball - All Leagues

2026 ALTA CALENDAR

SENIOR MIXED DOUBLES

Mar. 7 Winter City Finals (rain date 3/8)

MIXED DOUBLES

Mar. 7 Winter City Finals for A, B, and C levels (rain date 3/8)

Mar. 24 Summer roster registration begins

Apr. 15 Summer roster registration ends

May 21 Summer schedules post online

SUNDAY WOMEN

Mar. 15 Spring play begins

Apr. 26 Spring play ends

May 2 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/3)

May 3 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/9)

May 9 City Finals AA levels (rain date 5/10)

May 10 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/12)

May 17 City Finals A, B, C levels (rain date 5/24)

MEN

Mar. 14 Spring play begins

Apr. 25 Spring play ends

May 2 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/3)

May 3 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/9)

May 9 Spring playoffs and AA City Finals (rain date 5/10)

May 16 City Finals A, B, C level (rain date 5/23)

THURSDAY

WOMEN

Mar. 12 Spring play begins

Apr. 23 Spring play ends

Apr. 28 Spring playoffs (rain date 4/30)

Apr. 30 Spring playoffs and AA City Finals (rain date 5/5)

May 5 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/7)

May 7 City Finals A, B, C level (rain date May 14)

SENIOR

DAY WOMEN

Mar. 10 Spring play begins

Apr. 21 Spring play ends

Apr. 27 Spring playoffs (rain date 4/29)

Apr. 29 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/1)

May 4 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/6)

May 11 City Finals (rain date 5/18)

SENIOR DAY MEN

Mar. 11 Spring play begins

Apr. 22 Spring play ends

Apr. 29 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/1)

May 6 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/8)

May 13 City Finals (rain date 5/20)

JUNIOR LEAGUES

Mar. 7 Spring play begins

Apr. 18 Spring play ends

Apr. 25 Spring playoffs (rain date 4/28)

May 2 City Finals (rain date 5/3)

May 2 Spring playoffs (rain date 5/5)

May 9 City Finals (rain date 5/10)

WHEELCHAIR--RUN/ROLL

Mar. 3 Spring registration ends

Mar. 10 Spring play begins

Apr. 14 Spring play ends

Apr. 21 City Finals (rain date 4/28)

May 1 Run/Roll registration begins

May 5 Spring clinic

May 12 Spring clinic

May 19 Spring clinic

May 26 Run/Roll registration ends

May 26 Spring clinic

SENIOR MEN

Mar. 24 Summer roster registration begins

Apr. 15 Summer roster registration ends

May 21 Summer schedules post online

SENIOR WOMEN

Mar. 24 Summer roster registration begins

Apr. 15 Summer roster registration ends

May 21 Summer schedules post online

JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER

Mar. 1 Online registration begins

May 31 Kickoff Event at Bitsy Grant

REPORTED BY EMMY POWELL, CORY SEKINE-PETTITE, JOHN HANNA, AND GINA CLANCE

Major Pickleball Expansion for the ALTA Summer Leagues

Get ready to play even MORE pickleball this summer! ALTA is adding gender-specific summer day leagues to the calendar, so grab your paddles and grab your friends! In addition to a mixed doubles pickleball league, men’s and women’s leagues will be available for you to test your dinking skills so you don’t get “pickled.” Below is the league information:

Summer Mixed Doubles — Different format than spring and fall

• Format: The format consists of two lines of men’s doubles and two lines of women’s doubles. Each line plays three games to 15, winning by two.

• Day/Time: Monday at 6:30 p.m.

• Minimum number of players: five men and five women

• Registration information: Registration begins on April 30 and runs through May 17.

• Season information: The season starts on June 15 and ends on July 27, followed by playoffs and City Finals.

Summer Men’s Doubles

• Format: The format consists of three lines of men’s doubles. Each line plays three games to 15, winning by two.

• Day/Time: Friday at 9:00 a.m.

• Minimum number of players: Eight men

• Registration information: Registration begins on April 30 and runs through May 17.

• Season information: The season starts on June 19 and ends on July 31, followed by playoffs and City Finals

Summer Women’s Doubles

• Format: The format consists of three lines of women’s doubles. Each line plays three games to 15, winning by two.

• Day/Time: Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.

• Minimum number of players: Eight women

• Registration information: Registration begins on April 30 and runs through May 17.

• Season information: The season starts on June 17 and ends on July 29, followed by playoffs and City Finals. Come join the fun! The three-line format makes for a shorter day but still allows you to engage with friends and opponents while you’re out on the court. Don’t wait! Start forming your teams now, and make sure you have an ALTA-approved facility. We look forward to seeing you on the court!

TELL US!

Send your stories, compliments, complaints and questions to altaeditor@altatennis.org

Photos by Laura Barnard

2026 L. Keith Wood Scholarship Program — Apply Now!

In its ninth year, the ALTA Foundation L. Keith Wood Scholarship program is excited to once again offer graduating high school students who have participated in the ALTA Junior Leagues and/or ALTA Junior Challenge Ladder and/or the ALTA START program an opportunity to receive a $2,500 scholarship to an accredited college, university, or technical school of their choice. Eight recipients with a passion for the game of tennis and representatives of the at-large community of ALTA will be selected from applications submitted. All interested students are encouraged to apply.

Award Timeline:

• The 2026 L. Keith Wood Scholarship Program opens Monday, Mar. 2, 2026.

• All Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Mar. 27, 2026.

• Winners will be announced Tuesday, Apr. 13, 2026, via the ALTA website, social media, and membership email. Selection Criteria:

• Display a passion for the game of tennis

• Confirmation of scholastic ability and intellectual curiosity

• Evidence of leadership and involvement

• Service to the community

• Outstanding character Additional requirements and a link to the online application can be found at altatennis.org.

INTENNSE Rounds Out 2026 Head Coaching Staff in Advance of March 13 Draft

INTENNSE announced the hiring of its final group of head coaches as the league continues to build toward its second season and the March 13 player draft.

The league had recently announced the hirings of Marcelo Ferreira, Tim Siegel, Amy O’Connell, Jim Harp, Torrey Hawkins, and Sofia Rachi as head coaches.

The newest additions to the INTENNSE coaching roster — Claudio Pistolesi, Natalie Pluskota-Hamberg, Marcos Ondruska, Simon Pritchard, and Willy Campos — bring decades of experience across the ATP and WTA tours, NCAA programs, and high-performance academies. Their experience leading teams and creating high-performance training environments aligns directly with INTENNSE’s mission to deliver a fast-paced, team-based format.

and current Division I head coach at Gonzaga University whose career reflects success at every level of the sport. A standout at the University of Tennessee, she helped lead the Lady Vols to deep NCAA runs before turning pro, where she reached a career-high doubles ranking of No. 157 in the world and captured multiple ITF doubles titles.

Marcos Ondruska

Marcos Ondruska is a former ATP professional from South Africa. He reached the top 30 in the world in singles and represented his country at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where he recorded a memorable victory over Goran Ivanišević.

Following his playing career, Ondruska served as Davis Cup Captain for South Africa, leading his national team and working closely with many of the country’s top professionals. He has also directed high-performance programs at renowned training centers, including Van der Meer Tennis Academy and Redmond Tennis Club. He currently works as a Master Tennis Professional at The Manor Golf and Country Club in Milton, Georgia.

Simon Pritchard

“Each of these coaches has lived the high-performance tennis journey — either as tour professionals, national-team leaders, or collegiate standouts — and they understand how to translate that experience into daily development for our athletes,” said INTENNSE Commissioner Barry Fulcher. “Their collective expertise raises the bar for our league, our teams, and the opportunities we can provide to players in year two and beyond.”

With INTENNSE expanding its footprint and deepening its coaching bench, the league is positioned to deliver an even more competitive and development-driven product in 2026. The league is preparing for its first-ever draft at RacquetX on March 13.

INTENNSE’s second season will run from June 1 through Championship Weekend, Aug. 2, 2026. For more information or to register, visit: www.intennse.com.

Coach Bios

Claudio Pistolesi

Claudio Pistolesi returns to INTENNSE this season after leading Team Jacksonville to a 4-4 record in the league’s inaugural campaign, bringing back a trusted coaching voice with a global reputation for elite player development. Pistolesi is a former ITF World Junior Champion and top-100 ATP singles player who later became one of the tour’s most respected coaches, working with top professionals including former world No. 4 Robin Söderling, former WTA world No. 1 Monica Seles, and multiple ATP and WTA standouts.

Natalie Pluskota-Hamberg

Natalie Pluskota-Hamberg is a former professional player

Simon Pritchard has spent years leading academy-style training environments, designing daily training blocks and competition schedules that mirror the demands of college and professional tennis. He currently serves as the Associate Head coach of Kennesaw State University where he coached the 2022 season when the Owls men set the school record for most wins in a season (15). Pritchard was a standout student-athlete at Kennesaw State from 2013-2017. While at KSU, he was a fouryear team captain and currently holds the program record for wins in doubles and is second in career singles wins.

Willy Campos

Willy Campos joins INTENNSE as the head coach of the league’s Challenge Team, a critical platform for emerging players seeking to break into or advance within the professional environment.

Campos served as Captain of Venezuela’s Davis Cup team from 2010 to 2014, and returned to that role again in 2023, guiding the country’s men’s national team in international competition. He has also been Captain of Venezuela’s Billie Jean King Cup, leading the women’s national team in regional and world cup play for multiple years. He has been a central figure as Venezuela’s national tennis team captain across Olympic-cycle events, including Pan American, Central American, and South American regional competitions.

He has built a reputation as a technical specialist and developmental coach, working extensively with juniors and young pros to refine stroke mechanics, movement patterns, and competitive habits that play under pressure.

Bryan Brothers Join INTENNSE Ownership Group

Bob and Mike Bryan, the most successful doubles team in tennis history, have joined INTENNSE as Pulse Partners for the 2026 season, the league announced recently.

As Pulse Partners, the Bryan Brothers will serve in advisory and ambassadorial roles, helping shape team identity and branding. They also will support league and team marketing initiatives and provide guidance to the team coach about the March 13 player draft.

INTENNSE, which is entering its second season, has expanded from three to 10 teams in 2026.

“As players, we thrived on energy, momentum, and team environments,” Bob Bryan said. “INTENNSE is building a league around those same principles, and we’re excited to support it.”

The Bryans won a record 119 men’s doubles titles and 16

LOB_Netnews_0624 2.qxp_half horizontal 6/5/24 4:01 PM Page 1

B

Grand Slam championships during their careers. They held the world No. 1 doubles ranking for 438 weeks and finished as the year-end No. 1 team 10 times. Their résumé also includes Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games, Olympic bronze in 2008, and a key role on the U.S. team that won the 2007 Davis Cup.

“Doubles are a huge part of the INTENNSE format, and we love to see it,” Mike Bryan said. “The format rewards teamwork and execution under pressure, which is why we wanted to be involved.”

The Bryans will collaborate with team leadership on competitive and brand strategy, appear at select league events, and contribute to youth and community initiatives.

“Bob and Mike helped define what modern doubles tennis can be,” INTENNSE CEO Charles Allen said. “Their decision to align with INTENNSE is a strong endorsement of our vision for the future of the sport.”

INTENNSE will host its first draft at RacquetX at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 13. The league will open the 2026 season on June 1, with all 10 professional teams based in the Atlanta area this season.

I G G E R , TA L L E R , P I C K L E BA L L E R

The all-electric pickle phenom joins our line of high-per formance pickleball machines. With the tallest launch point available for realistic shot trajectories, it holds 185 balls and comes with preloaded drills, making it ideal for clubs, schools, and home cour t owners to maximize their drilling and amp up their game! introducing t he pickle phenom

by Laura Barnard

Who is Being Extra Nice Out There?

We want to catch YOU in the act — the act of being super awesome at your tennis and pickleball matches! ALTA loves to honor those who go above and beyond to help a teammate or opponent before, during, or after a match. But we need all ALTA members to be our eyes and ears out there!

Good sports show up in all leagues and do all sorts of kind things — help a team out to avoid defaults, rework a lineup to accommodate an opponent, bend over backwards to get courts ready for play, show up early to help the home team prepare courts, and display exceptional hospitality. The list is endless!

PLEASE let us know when you come across a GOOD SPORT! It’s super easy, and you will feel so good about helping them get the recognition they deserve. Go to ALTA Documents on the main ALTA website. Scroll down to “Sportsmanship Award” and download the form. Fill it out completely and send it to firstvp@altatennis.org.

Be cool and kind out there, folks! It might be YOU who gets recognized for your good deeds!

Saddlebrook Resort Hires ATP Pro Thomas Blake as Director of Performance Tennis

Saddlebrook Resort recently announced Thomas Blake, Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) veteran, as director of performance tennis. Blake joins Saddlebrook as it enters its next era, following a $92-million renovation that debuted in November 2025.

Blake takes the helm of Saddlebrook’s tennis program, a renowned training ground that has developed generations of champions, including Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Martina Hingis, Andy Roddick, John Isner, Alexander Zverev, and his own brother, James Blake. It’s here, too, where Blake honed his own skills throughout his professional career.

Bringing decades of tour-level expertise and a performance-driven philosophy, Blake will build on this legacy by advancing the training and on-court development for elite junior, collegiate, and Saddlebrook Preparatory players, as well

as professional athletes training at the academy. In his role, he will oversee all high-performance tennis operations, help define the program’s technical and tactical approach, lead and mentor a team of high-performance and touring coaches, and drive further advancements in the program.

“Joining Saddlebrook as director of performance tennis is a full-circle moment for me,” said Blake. “I had the opportunity to train at this incredible program throughout my professional tennis career, learning from the best coaches in the world. Seeing the resort re-emerge with such intention, and in a way that truly honors its legacy, is one of the many reasons I am thrilled to be back. I am proud to step into a role that allows me to mentor the sport’s rising stars, share my passion for tennis, and lead an exceptionally talented team of coaches and staff.”

“Thomas is widely respected for his professional playing ca-

reer and his ability to develop elite talent on the global stage,” said Jeff Mayers, Managing Director of Saddlebrook Resort. “His return to our Saddlebrook community reinforces the legacy and impactful experience we provide for our students, guests, and members. We’re thrilled to have him as part of our team.”

Blake brings a wealth of experience as he returns to Saddlebrook, with a background in collegiate tennis at Harvard University and an international professional career, highlighted by a doubles appearance at the US Open alongside his brother. Following his playing career, Blake remained deeply embedded in high-performance tennis, coaching and training elite athletes and serving as a hitting partner for top ATP and WTA players.

“Thomas’s vision for tennis perfectly aligns with our philosophy of combining world-class sports programming with a premier resort experience,” said Michael Kazma, President of Amzak Capital Management, the investment firm that owns Saddlebrook Resort in partnership with Mast Capital. “From the outset, our mission has been to honor Saddlebrook’s rich history while thought-

fully evolving the resort to today’s standards, and Thomas is a key piece of that. His leadership will strengthen our legacy and expand our bespoke fitness and sports offerings — creating an experience that can only be found here.”

The resort features 41 tennis courts representing all four Grand Slam surfaces, eight pickleball courts, a state-of-theart fitness center, and a planned multi-court padel complex.

When Saddlebrook debuted its extensive transformation in late 2025, the resort introduced 451 newly redesigned guest rooms and suites, a reimagined lobby, four distinct culinary concepts, championship golf courses designed by renowned architect Rees Jones, renovated meeting and event spaces, and more. The resort features 41 tennis courts representing all four Grand Slam surfaces, eight pickleball courts, a stateof-the-art fitness center, and a planned multicourt padel complex. In 2024, Saddlebrook welcomed the international headquarters of the Professional Tennis Registry and Professional Pickleball Registry, further cementing its status as a global hub for racquet sports.

Saddlebrook Resort is also home to the Saddlebrook Golf Academy, where K.J. Choi, Karl Vilips, and Aline Krauter, among many others, have trained.

For more information about Saddlebrook Resort, visit saddlebrook.com.

The ALTA Mailbag

One of the key initiatives of ALTA President David Rowe for 2026 is continuing the momentum and connection of our ALTA members. ALTA prides itself on the friendships and longtime commitment of its captains and players, and the key to all of that is good sportsmanship. We welcome your feedback, as we plan to share different viewpoints on our ALTA Leagues in our ALTA Mailbag. Here is what we received from ALTA member Ann B.:

CHEERING!

One of the things I love about tennis is that it is a game founded on good manners and values. “Sportsmanship is the foundation of tennis” (USTA “The Code” Page 37) and “Good sportsmanship and conduct are expected by the players and spectators” (ALTA Adult rules IV. Dual Meets I.)

Cheering for your team is part of the fun of any sport. As a team, especially in close matches or in playoffs, the cheering can get more intense. Often the home team has a larger group of people cheering for them — especially if the playoff match is a long distance away.

I’ve been on both sides — the home team with a lot of support, and the away team

where the other team had a lot of support. I’ve learned two important things:

1. If I’m on the home team, I need to be sure all our spectators are being considerate of the away team. It is appropriate to cheer for good points our team has won by hitting a winner. But we need to be careful not to cheer when the other team has made a mistake. We all know not to cheer when the other team hits a double fault, but we should also not cheer when they hit a bad shot. It can be hard to distinguish between a forced error and an unforced error, so a good rule of thumb is to not cheer if the other team hits the last ball of the point. Another

way to put this is to cheer only when our team hits a clean winner. Let’s be models of good sportsmanship!

2. If I’m the visiting team, realize that there is nothing wrong with their spectators cheering after their team hits a winner. But also realize that there may be times when they cheer when we hit a bad shot. Instead of letting it get in my head, I need to stay focused. They are probably not cheering to upset me, but because they are excited that their team is one point closer to winning. If I take it personally, it will only hurt my game. Let’s all go out there and be good sports while playing and cheering!

Sea Island is a paradise for racquet sports lovers—with 14 Har-Tru® courts, including eight fast-dry HydroCourts, three indoor squash courts, and eight pickleball courts. Find to enjoy top-tier tennis and more at our Forbes Five-Star resort.

Sea Island is a paradise for racquet sports lovers—with 14 Har-Tru® courts, including eight fast-dry HydroCourts, squash, and pickleball courts. Find to enjoy daily lessons, clinics, partner matching, and round robin tournaments at our Forbes Five-Star resort.

(866) 990-5231 • seaisland.com

(866) 990-5231 • seaisland.com

ALTA Foundation 2025 Impact Report

$134,345

$24,000 $186,250 in Grants and Scholarships

The foundation gave back to the Atlanta metro tennis community by awarding over $134,000 in grants and scholarships in 2025.

L. Keith Wood Scholarships 8-Year Scholarship Total

Eight $3,000 L. Keith Wood scholarships were awarded to graduating senior Junior League players taking our eight-year cumulative scholarship total to over $186,000.

THE SHEPHERD CENTER

The ALTA Foundation supports the Shepherd Center which offers world-class specialty care. For those who are facing brain or spinal cord injuries, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions, the Shepherd Center provides comprehensive care, cutting-edge research, and dedicated family support. The foundation has assisted with wheelchair clinics throughout the year and fully supports the center’s mission of “recovery through hope, humor, and heart.”

The ALTA Foundation START (Support for Teaching Atlanta Recreational Tennis) Program for Title I high school tennis teams continues to branch out. After a successful pilot of two schools in 2020, the program, which provides funds for coaching, equipment, and uniforms, now boasts 21 schools in Metro Atlanta and is one of the fastest growing and most impactful ventures. Funding this year totaled $42,500. The schools receiving assistance include:

• Atlanta Public Schools: Booker T. Washington and South Atlanta

• Clayton County: Charles R. Drew, Elite Scholars Academy, Jonesboro, Morrow, and Mundy’s Mill

• Cobb County: Osborne, Pebblebrook, and South Cobb

• DeKalb County: Cedar Grove, Clarkston, Columbia, Cross Keys, Druid Hills, Miller Grove, and Southwest DeKalb

• Hall County: Johnson

• Henry County: McDonough

• Gwinnett County: Meadow Creek and South Gwinnett

SPECIAL OLYMPICS GEORGIA

Presenting Sponsor

Presenting Sponsor for the Georgia Special Summer Olympics for the 20th year with over 150 ALTA members volunteering for the event.

KEEPING PACE

Keeping Pace offers elementary and middle school-age youth an enriching camp experience including academics and enrichment activities. The program partners with LaAmistad, a nonprofit organization offering programming to empower Latino students and families. Through the tennis program, Keeping Pace seeks to expose participants, or “Scholars,” to tennis and help them build a base set of skills and a lifelong love of tennis. The program also helps to promote the enjoyment of tennis to individuals from Hispanic/Latino backgrounds that have historically been underrepresented in the tennis-playing community. The ALTA Foundation has been proud to partner with Keeping Pace for the past three years.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Above the Net, Agape Tennis Academy, Athletes Youth Success Institute (AYSI), AYTEF, Blaze Sports America, Center for Movement Challenges, Circle of Friends, Cobb County CTA, Dunwoody Country Club, Get a Grip, Girls on the Run, Henry First, Keeping Pace, Movespot, Rising Stars, Shepherd Center, Smoke Rise Country Club, Special Olympics of Georgia, and Special Pops were all supported by foundation grants.

ALTA Launches Partnership with Cumulus Media

Do you have friends who have never played ALTA tennis or pickleball? Help us get them on the courts! We want to GROW! We have launched a media partnership with Cumulus Media. JoinALTAToday.com is online and links to the ALTA membership page when new members click on entering the sweepstakes. To be eligible for the prizes and giveaways, players must be brand new paid ALTA members. (Complete sweepstakes rules are available at JoinALTAToday.com.)

Radio spots are currently running on Q99.7 and New Country 101.5 which detail the sweepstakes contest. New members can be entered to win a $1,000 shopping spree at Your Serve Tennis and a VIP concert experience for either the May 9 Riley Green concert (and meet and greet) at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre or the October 6 Ed Sheeran concert (and autographed guitar) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for two.

Another part of the membership drive is helping members find tennis and/or pickleball teams. We have developed a committee to help players find teams. We still encourage you to go to the website to enter your information if you are a captain looking for players or if you are a player looking for a team. Visit altatennis.org/ PlayersAndLeagues/playerslookingforteams.aspx. You can also send an email to membership@altatennis.org if you need help finding a team.

Spread the word and get your friends and neighbors to join us! With over a dozen tennis and pickleball leagues available, ALTA give its members the most bang for their buck! See you on the courts!

CORTZ and AT Sports Team Up to Elevate National Court Construction

As demand for pickleball, multi-sport, and outdoor recreation facilities continues to grow across the United States, two companies are working together to bring a more consistent standard to court construction. CORTZ, a national brand focused on court resurfacing and new builds, has partnered with AT Sports, a court solutions manufacturer recognized for its durable, high-performance systems.

With this new partnership, CORTZ and AT Sports aim to introduce greater uniformity, scalable service, and predictable performance — priorities that many facility managers and developers say the industry has needed for years.

“The partnership with CORTZ represents an opportunity to support a brand that is raising the bar for the industry,” says Brad Carroll, President of AT Sports. “Their installers take pride in delivering courts that not only look great but perform consistently. That aligns perfectly with how we engineer our surfacing systems.”

A key part of CORTZ’s strategy is ensuring that quality remains consistent as the company expands. Through its franchise program, CORTZ provides structured training and standardized installation systems designed to elevate professionalism in the court-construction trade. For HOAs, developers, municipalities, schools, and private facilities, this approach offers clearer expectations and more predictable outcomes — an increasingly important factor as demand accelerates.

“We’re focused on delivering courts players want to come back

to,” says David Klembith, Owner of CORTZ. “Partnering with AT Sports gives us the confidence that every project, from coast to coast, uses surfacing materials engineered for high performance.”

Both companies say the collaboration is rooted in shared values: improving court quality, expanding access to reliable surfacing solutions, and proving that growth and consistency can go hand in hand.

AT Sports Offers New Lightweight Windscreens

Looking to give your facility a clean, professional look with courts that stand out? Consider new windscreens from AT Sports, which are built for dependable wind control and lasting performance, says the company.

AT Sports says their lightweight windscreens are built with premium, durable, outdoor-ready materials, including 8-ounce vinyl coated polyester (with a three-year warranty) or 10-ounce vinyl (with a four-year warranty).

The windscreens are designed to be weather-resistant, hold tension, and look sharp all year. Solid vinyl provides maximum privacy, while mesh allows for airflow. Available in black, green, and navy blue, the windscreens also can be dressed up with custom colors and branding. Visit ATSports.com, or email the company at sales@atsports.com.

K-SWISS x Lululemon x BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells

K-Swiss shoes will be prominently displayed on every single match court during this year’s 2026 BNP Paribas Open, an ATP Masters/WTA 1000 event. Every ball person at the tournament will be wearing the new Hypercourt Express 3. Over 600 shoes will be provided by K-Swiss for this year’s tournament.

One of the biggest tennis events in the world, referred by many as “Tennis Paradise” and the “5th Grand Slam,” the BNP Paribas Open is the largest and most-attended combined ATP & WTA 1000 tournament in the world, taking place across two weeks from March 1-15. Indian Wells is home to the second-largest stadium in the world, seating 16,100, only second to Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open. Nearly 500,000 fans — 50,000 of which are from outside the U.S. — will attend with viewership of nearly 1 billion homes worldwide.

wear design,” said Jamel Khadir, Global GM, K-Swiss Tennis. “2026 is a very special year as we’re celebrating 60 years of innovation. The collaboration with Lululemon’s top athletes is now taking a new dimension and we believe this will create future opportunities.”

This year marks Lululemon’s first year as the official apparel outfitter of the BNP Paribas Open. As part of this in-kind partnership, K-Swiss will have a presence on site inside the Lululemon standalone fan activation tent in the Retail Courtyard of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

This sponsorship shows K-Swiss’ ongoing commitment as a California Heritage Tennis brand, the company says, making an impact in the Southern California community where K-Swiss’ roots run deep.

“This is a great opportunity for K-Swiss to introduce our new Hypercourt Express 3 and show to all tennis lovers our latest foot-

This partnership is a natural fit with a premium brand and has the potential for more exciting collaborations and partnerships in the future, K-Swiss says. It is also an opportunity to introduce K-Swiss footwear products to BNP ball persons which include many competitive junior players from Southern California — many of whom may have never had any experience wearing the brand and may go on to use for their high school teams, etc.

The brand also will have a presence in the Tennis Warehouse retail tent where K-Swiss’ sales force will be leading the efforts selling to all fans who visit the tent.

•LED Retrofits

•Custom Tennis Lighting & Maintenance for your unique application

•Private, Country Club or Neighborhood Courts

2026 Credit One Charleston Open to Deliver Next-Level Fan Experiences

The 2026 tournament will feature exciting new spaces, enhanced food and beverage experiences, special events, theme nights, interactive fan activations, paddle sports programming and more.

The Credit One Charleston Open, the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America, returns March 28 –April 5, 2026, to Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina, with a world-class player field and new, on-site experiences and programming. The tournament has launched its online Fan Hub (creditonecharlestonopen.com/fan-hub), one central destination for all on-site activities and experiences.

n Enter the Net News Trivia Contest

n Enter the Net News Annual Photo Contest

n Find past Court Cuisine recipes

n Read the digital version of Net News

As one of the premier stops on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz, the Credit One Charleston Open continues to deliver an award-winning event for players and fans alike and has been recognized as the WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for four consecutive years. The 2026 tournament will once again showcase a world-class player field, led by defending champion and World No. 6 Jessica Pegula, alongside fellow Americans World No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, World No. 15 Madison Keys and Charleston local and World No. 17 Emma Navarro. They are joined by 2025 WTA Comeback Player of the Year and World No. 9 Belinda Bencic, with additional players to be announced in the lead-up to the tournament.

Beyond the action on court, attendees can enjoy a dynamic lineup of off-court experiences throughout the nine-day event. Highlights include elevated lounges, new local vendors, theme nights and special events, along with returning favorites including pickleball and padel activities, classic Lowcountry food and beverage offerings, live music from local performers, engaging talk shows, and more.

“At the Credit One Charleston Open, we are committed to building an en-

vironment year after year where fans of all backgrounds, whether longtime tennis enthusiasts or new to the game, can truly enjoy and connect with the sport,” said Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment. “In 2026, we look forward to building on that commitment and introducing new experiences, theme nights, and gathering spaces that create more memorable moments both on and off the court.”

The tournament has continued to enhance its on-site experience in recent years, with easy viewing access to practice courts, expanded racquet sports programming, opportunities to meet WTA players, and a robust Credit One Stadium app to keep attendees informed throughout the event. Building on these fan-focused upgrades, the tournament’s ambassador program will once again bring special appearances, exclusive events, and interactive programming to fans all week long.

Entering its third year, the Credit One Charleston Open Tournament Ambassador program will return with fan-favorites Grand Slam champion Tracy Austin and three-time WTA champion Alison Riske-Amritraj. Former American ATP stars John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Steve Johnson, hosts of the Nothing Major Podcast, will also be on-site during the tournament.

Visit the tournament’s Fan Hub (creditonecharlestonopen.com/fanhub) for more information.

Last Issue’s Trivia Contest Winner Is …

Congratulations! We drew our winner from a pool of readers who submitted correct answers, and Michael Funaki, Lockridge Forest Mixed Doubles C1 (and his daughter, Mila) won a Coca-Cola Polar Bear Plush! Try your luck with this issue’s contest and see if you can join the ranks of our previous trivia contest winners. Here is the original quiz and the correct answers:

1. Which ALTA Executive Committee member wants to visit all MLB stadiums? Diane Royston, Sunday Women’s League VP

2. What is the name of the new ALTA financial award that will be given out this year? The Bryan Shepherd Award

3. What’s new in the Adult Tennis Leagues in 2026? 10-point tiebreak in lieu of a third set unless all four players agree to play a full third set

March/April Trivia Contest

Enter for your chance to win a new pair of performance tennis shoes from K-Swiss!

To enter the contest, correctly answer the following three questions, in addition to submitting a new favorite courtside recipe, and mail it to New South Publishing, Attn: Cory Sekine-Pettite, 9040 Roswell Road, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30350. Answers and recipes may also be submitted online at netnewsmag.com. Hint: The answers can be found in this issue.

Entry deadline: Friday, April 3.

1. Who is the 2026 ALTA Chairman of the Board?

2. What are the dates of the 2026 Junior Challenge Ladder season?

3. What is being added to the Pickleball League this year?

Please submit a favorite courtside recipe along with this entry to be eligible.

PHOTO CONTEST 23RD ANNUAL NET NEWS

NEW PHOTO CATEGORIES FOR 2026!

We're mixing up our annual photo contest with eight new or revised categories! These new themes are designed to inspire your creativity, so grab your camera, your family, and your teammates and start shooting!

• The Perfect Swing Capture the beauty of a serve, forehand, backhand, or volley in action.

• Tennis Around the World Unique or unexpected tennis courts/ settings from different countries.

• Vintage Vibes Retro tennis gear, old-school courts, or players dressed in vintage apparel.

• Mini but Mighty Kids learning, playing, or enjoying tennis.

• Night Court Tennis under the lights—night matches, court shadows, dramatic lighting.

• Tennis Fashion Forward Stylish tennis outfits, accessories, and trends on or off the court.

• The Art of the Court Abstract or artistic interpretations—court lines, shadows, tennis ball patterns, aerial shots.

• Pet on the Court Pets + tennis = internet gold.

All photos must relate to tennis | All entries due September 13, 2026

Upload original digital photos through the Net News website at netnewsmag.com/photo-contest

Contest Rules and Regulations 1. You must be a member of ALTA. 2. Photos must relate to tennis and/or tennis play. 3. Do not use filters on photos with the exception of black and white or sepia. 4. Do not send screenshots. 5. Do not take photos of printed photos. 6. All contest submissions must be received ONLINE by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2026. 7. Decisions of the judges are final. 8. Limit three entries per ALTA member. 9. Do not resubmit photos from a previous year. 10. Each photo entry must include a completed ONLINE entry form. 11. Judges reserve the right to title photos if no title is provided and to change the category into which a photo has been entered. 12. Photos not taken by the entrant must be accompanied by a release form signed by the photographer. ALTA and Net News are not responsible for any copyright violations. 13. Judges reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet the above rules and regulations. 14. All winning photos will be featured in the November/December edition of Net News 15. Questions may be addressed to production@knowatlanta.com. Photography Specifications 1. Photos must be provided in a high resolution format. (300dpi at a minimum of 5" x 7") This means your photo will be a file that is between 1.5MB and 3MB in size! 2. When uploading images from your phone, always choose the "Actual Size" option. 3. Low resolution, non-reproducible images will not be considered for the photo contest.

Prizes courtesy of

@mizuno_tennis usa.mizuno.com

Standing The Test Of Time

BY LINDA SHEPHERD, 2026 ALTA BOARD CHAIRMAN

First, I would like to say how honored and excited I am to serve as the 2026 Chairman of the ALTA Board of Directors.

My dedication to ALTA began in 2004 when I volunteered as a Sunday Women’s coordinator. I was immediately hooked on this wonderful organization — one that truly cares about its members and values its volunteers.

From Sunday Women’s coordinator, I was honored to serve as an overall coordinator for Sunday Women, followed by roles as Secretary of the ALTA Foundation, President of the ALTA Foundation, Vice President of the Sunday Women’s League, First Vice President of ALTA, and ultimately President.

So, I started volunteering in 2004, but ALTA league play itself began much earlier — on Jan. 24, 1971, following a public meeting held at a local hotel. At that time, a group of prominent Atlantans sketched out the basic concept of organized league play. Unsure whether it would be successful, they moved forward and launched the leagues that spring. A small but dedicated group of volunteers sat around a table, processing team rosters and manually creating schedules. The response was overwhelmingly positive — everyone wanted to be part of it. Membership dues were just $5 for adults and $1 for juniors.

Today, we essentially do the same work, but on a much larger scale and with the benefit of modern technology. At its core, over all the years, the structure of ALTA league play has not changed, which is why it has been so successful.

By 2023, we already knew that pickleball would be ALTA’s next great adventure. I was fortunate to help put the finishing touches on the league, and pickleball was officially off and rolling.

Now, as Chairman of the Board, I have the opportunity to establish and support various committees that oversee the business of ALTA — yet another meaningful way for me to invest my time and energy into this organization. With that, comes a list of goals for the ALTA leadership in 2026.

We will continue to update our IT system, making it easier for members to use our website. Adding new pickleball leagues will help grow that sport in our area. We continue to improve our junior program — updating scoring rules for our 15U juniors and moving Junior Challenge Ladder matches to the summer season to reduce conflicts with school and other obligations.

We also are launching our first-ever media partnership with Cumulus Media. Our first outreach is intended to bring in new members. Listen for radio spots on New Country 101.5 and Q99.7. First-time ALTA members will also have the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes to win some great prizes. ALTA is setting impressive goals to help these new members learn about our great organization and help them find ALTA teams located throughout the Atlanta area.

The board also will continue its support of the ALTA Foundation, the nonprofit community outreach arm of ALTA. It supports programs such as the START program, a tennis development program in several Title 1 high schools that, without ALTA’s support, would not otherwise have tennis programs. The foundation also awards scholarships to college freshmen who have participated in ALTA’s junior programs. These scholarships would not be possible without the generosity of a gift from L. Keith Wood, a longtime and deeply dedicated ALTA member.

As we move forward in 2026, celebrating 55 years since league play began, ALTA will continue its long-standing traditions of bringing people together across our great city and creating friendships that truly stand the test of time.

TOUR PERFORMANCE IS ABOUT TO BE REDEFINED

Sign up to be notified about our latest product innovations and releases.

Partnership on and off the Court

By: William Wideman Senior Business Banker at Ameris Bank

In the world of finance, we often discuss “long-term investments" in terms of portfolios and market trends. However, as a Senior Business Banker at Ameris Bank, I’ve learned that the most valuable investments aren't always found on a balance sheet. Sometimes, they are found on a hard court on a Saturday morning in the heart of Atlanta.

My journey with the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) began in 1997, but my love for the game started much earlier. My father taught me the game when I was young, and I spent my youth playing junior ALTA through high school. After college, as I began my professional career, I felt the pull to get back on the court. ALTA’s community-focused format provided the perfect avenue to reconnect with the sport. Decades later, the lessons learned between the lines continue to shape how I serve business owners and families across the Greater Atlanta Metro Area.

The Court as a Classroom

On the court and in the workplace, success comes from understanding strengths, working toward shared goals, and maintaining respect and sportsmanship along the way. When it comes to banking and tennis, on the surface, one is about capital and the other is about competition. However, both are rooted in strategy, preparation, and the ability to pivot.

Just as a match requires you to understand the "flow of play," the banking world requires us to stay flexible. Economic climates shift, and businesses face unexpected hurdles. The consistency I’ve developed over the years with ALTA helps me remain a steady hand for my clients when they need to navigate those changes.

Building Vibrant Communities

What makes ALTA special isn't just the competition; it’s the sense of belonging. ALTA brings people together across neighborhoods and backgrounds, fostering an inclusivity that mirrors our commitment at Ameris. We believe in relationship-based banking, and there is no better way to build a relationship than through a shared passion.

I’ve seen firsthand how recreational leagues act as economic engines. The "pickleball boom" is a perfect example. We are seeing new clubs and facilities rise across the metro area, which in turn supports local vendors, hospitality, and small businesses. Many of these programs rely on financial partners to grow, and I take pride in knowing that banking infrastructure helps expand access to wellness for our neighbors. Supporting local athletics is a meaningful way for companies to contribute to the well-being of the communities they serve.

The Future of the Game

The future of racquet sports in Atlanta is incredibly bright. Whether it’s the traditional tennis community or the fresh energy of pickleball, our city is more active than ever. For those considering joining ALTA, my advice is simple: go in with an open mind. You’ll improve your game, but more importantly, you’ll find a community that supports you off the court.

By working together, organizations like Ameris and ALTA can continue to celebrate active living and contribute to building healthy, connected communities.

WEEKDAYS 5:30-10A

MIXED

DOUBLES

Summer registration is March 24 – April 15 Summer seasons is June 6 – July 18

The Integrity of Playing at Your Proper Level

BY NICOLE JENNINGS, MIXED DOUBLES VICE PRESIDENT

One of the greatest joys of ALTA Mixed Doubles is seeing our members come together to enjoy competitive tennis, connect with friends and family, and challenge themselves on the court. Recently, however, we’ve noticed a trend that, while understandable, can affect the experience for many members: players knowingly dropping down to a lower level just to play with a spouse, sibling, parent, or close friend.

I understand the motivation. We all want to share the court with those we care about; it’s natural to want that shared experience. At the same time, it is important to remember that just because you can play down does not mean you should. When highly skilled players compete at a level below their abilities, it can have unintended consequences for opponents, fellow members, and even for the players themselves.

From the perspective of your opponents, matches can become unbalanced and less enjoyable. Easy wins can leave an opponent feeling discouraged or frustrated. Recreational tennis should be fun, fair, and rewarding for everyone, and overqualified players can unintentionally take away that experience.

For other ALTA members, playing below your proper level also affects the overall balance of the league. Mixed Doubles works best when everyone competes at a level that matches their abilities. When one or two players are overqualified, it can impact match outcomes, standings, and even the confidence of teammates. Maintaining fairness is essential to keeping our league enjoyable and competitive for everyone.

Even for the player who chooses to play down, the experience is not as satisfying as it could be. Matches that end quickly or feel too easy do not provide meaningful competition or growth. One of the reasons many of us play ALTA is to chal-

lenge ourselves while having fun, and that purpose is diminished when we over-qualify ourselves.

I also want to acknowledge the perspective of captains. We understand their frustration when this happens to their teams. They want fair competition for their players, and as your League Vice President, I am on their side wanting to uphold integrity in all matches. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with each player to make the right choice. You know your skill level, and with that comes the responsibility to play in a way that is fair and respectful to your opponents and the ALTA community.

Competitive spirit is natural and something we celebrate. It is wonderful to bring focus, energy, and determination to the court. That spirit works best when paired with integrity. Being a strong player does not justify taking advantage of the system to compete below your proper level. Doing so diminishes fairness, reduces fun, and undermines the values that make ALTA such a special league.

If you want to play with a family member or friend, there are ways to make it work without compromising integrity. Consider finding a level that matches both of your abilities. Shared time on the court is meaningful, but it should not come at the expense of fair competition.

I encourage every member to pause, reflect, and commit to playing at the appropriate level. By doing so, you preserve the spirit of recreational tennis, honor your opponents, and ensure the matches you play are challenging, fun, and rewarding. ALTA thrives because of members who care not just about winning, but about fairness, integrity, and the joy of the game. Together, we can continue to uphold these values so every player can enjoy ALTA to the fullest.

SENIORS

45+ Women: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

45+ Men: Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Summer registration is March 24 – April 15

Summer season is June 4 – July 17

‘The World’s Healthiest Sport’—True or False?

BY MIKE CLANCE, SENIOR LEAGUES VICE PRESIDENT

ALTA members who watched coverage of the US Open last fall likely noticed repeated claims of tennis being “the world’s healthiest sport.” If you’re like me, you asked if there is any truth to such bold claims. The good news is that science increasingly backs up these claims, especially for seniors discovering or rediscovering the game. Participation in senior tennis has surged since 2020, with an average of 15,200 players in each of the past six years. What is driving older adults to pick up racquets? Should you join them?

The numbers are striking. The landmark 2018 Copenhagen City Heart Study, which followed 8,500 people over 25 years, found that tennis players increased their life expectancy by an average of 9.7 years when compared to sedentary individuals. That is nearly triple the benefit gained from jogging (3.2 years), or swimming (3.4 years), and dramatically more than typical gym workouts (1.5 years). When compared to other racquet sports, the longevity boost gained from tennis still came out on top.

What makes tennis so beneficial? It all comes down to the unique combination of physical and social benefits. Unlike running or cycling, tennis engages the entire body with sprinting, shuffling sideways, twisting, and stretching. Benefits of this full-body engagement include improved cardiovascular fitness, increased bone density (which helps prevent osteoporosis), and enhanced balance and coordination.

Mental benefits of the sport are just as impressive. Tennis demands constant strategic planning and split-second decision making, both of which keep the mind sharp. Studies have shown tennis players, when compared to non-players, exhibit better eye movement tracking, quicker reaction times, and significantly lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety.

But tennis’s greatest advantage lies in what happens between points. Dr. Peter Schnohr, lead researcher for the Copenhagen study, notes the loneliness of solo gym workouts compared to the typical player socialization before, during, and after tennis matches. This socialization may explain why the sports with

the biggest longevity gains (tennis, badminton, soccer) all require partners or teams.

Even though the benefits are clear, tennis does present challenges for our aging bodies. The sport’s high-intensity nature and stop-and-go movements can stress joints, particularly knees, hips, and shoulders. Rotator cuff issues, lower back pain, and ankle sprains are common concerns. And as we age, recovery times from such injuries lengthen.

When compared to pickleball, the larger tennis court requires significantly more ground coverage (78 feet versus 44 feet) and the average tennis racquet typically weighs about 24-percent more than the average pickleball paddle. Such increased physical demands may cause issues for seniors who lack proper conditioning and don’t take proper precautions.

So, how about some good news? Tennis is remarkably adaptable. Seniors can reduce injury risk by playing doubles instead of singles, choosing softer clay courts when available, and focusing on strategy and placement over raw power.

Now is a great time to get started with senior tennis! Spring is on the horizon and registration for the summer Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s leagues opens soon. Now is the perfect time to find a team that fits your skill level. You can use the “Find Players and Teams” function on the ALTA website (altatennis. org) to search for teams looking for players in your area.

Whether you are a complete newcomer or returning after years away from the game, the ALTA senior tennis community is ready to help you discover why players keep coming back decade after decade. To play in the ALTA Senior Leagues, you only need to be 45 years young!

*Before beginning any new exercise program, including tennis, consult with your healthcare provider to ensure the program is appropriate for your individual health status.

JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER

Ladder registration is March 1-June 1

Ladder runs June 1-August 24

Kickoff Event is May 31

2025 ALTA Junior Challenge Ladder

BY GINA WOODS, JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER VICE PRESIDENT

The 2025 ALTA Junior Challenge Ladder delivered another season filled with energy, improvement, and standout performances from junior players across the metro area. Week after week, players showed up ready to compete, challenge themselves, and embrace the spirit of ALTA tennis. From long rallies to breakthrough wins, this year’s ladder captured everything we love about junior competition — determination, sportsmanship, and the joy of watching young athletes grow into confident competitors.

One of the highlights of the season was seeing players take ownership of their development. Many juniors used the ladder as a chance to sharpen match skills, build mental toughness, and learn how to compete with purpose. Coaches and parents consistently commented on how much progress they saw, not just in strokes and strategy, but in maturity and resilience. That is exactly what the Junior Challenge Ladder is designed to inspire.

The champions earned their titles through consistency, competitive spirit, and a commitment to improving their game. Their success reflects the hard work and dedication that define the Junior Challenge Ladder.

Looking ahead: A fresh calendar and more opportunities to play

As we celebrate the success of 2025, we’re also excited to share that the Junior Challenge Ladder will be shifting to an earlier start in 2026. Registration is March 1 through June 1. We will have a kickoff event on Sunday, May 31 at Bitsy Grant from 4-6 p.m., and the season runs June 1 through August 24. Our season-ending celebration will be August 29 at Bitsy Grant. Our goal is simple: give players more availability and more opportunities to get on the court.

This change comes after recognizing how much the fall season overlaps with school tennis, academic commitments, and other junior ladders offered by the schools. Once the holiday season arrives, scheduling becomes even more challenging for families. By moving the ladder earlier in

the year, we are opening a cleaner, more flexible window for match play.

Starting earlier means:

• More open weekends

• Fewer conflicts with school-based tennis

• A smoother, more consistent season

• More chances for players to compete and improve

We are confident this adjustment will elevate the entire experience for our junior players and help the ladder continue to grow.

The 2025 season was filled with progress, passion, and great tennis. With a refreshed calendar and renewed momentum, the 2026 Junior Challenge Ladder is shaping up to be one of our strongest seasons yet.

2025 JUNIOR CHALLENGE LADDER WINNERS

Overall Champions

• Overall Boys Champion: Camden Clark

• Overall Girls Champion: Isabella Massay

Top Performers

Ladder A

Top 5 Boys

1. Aaryan Ralkar

2. Aaron Chang

3. Eli Cotter

4. Noah Chanthaphonh

5. Zach Nagle

Top 5 Girls

1. Nyah Ralkar

2. Sofia Johnson

3. Athithi Ayyappam

4. Myra Wu

5. Aviana Calleri

Highest Winning Percentage

Boys Ladder A: Zach Nagle

Top Performers

Ladder B

Top 5 Boys

1. Camden Clark

2. Luke Pearce

3. Zachary Tzegaegbe

4. Miles Ramseur

5. Joshua Hendricks

Top 5 Girls

1. Isabella Massay

2. Alice McNaughton

3. Molly Ingram

4. Anelise Thomas

5. Elizabeth Mangine

Girls Ladder A: Aashini Ayyappam

Boys Ladder B: Joshua Hendricks

Girls Ladder B: Anelise Thomas and Sofia Walker

GOOD QUESTION

ADDING AA JUNIORS

Will adding a AA Junior player to your adult roster bring your team level up?

Nicole Jennings, Mixed Doubles League Vice President

The answer is YES! Adding a junior AA player to your adult roster during registration, regardless of the assigned level of the team, will automatically level your team at AA. The ALTA system would normally use the league information for team placement document to average the top 10 players on your team when leveling occurs. However, a AA junior on your roster will bypass that 10-player calculation and level a team at AA even if the junior player will turn 18 before the first match play date of the season since the season starts the day schedules are released.

If you refer to the Adult Captains Handbook, page 10, number 2 states: “If you are adding a qualified junior to a AA roster, refer to the ‘Junior Player Eligibility Guidelines for Adult League Play’ (My Resources>ALTA Documents>ALTA Rules).” In that document, it states “Qualified junior players may only be included on or added to AA rosters. If a junior player is added to an A level roster, that team would be leveled at AA.”

Where can we play?

We just found out that our home courts are not available for our Junior League matches due to a tournament. Does the home team have the option to find alternative courts before asking the visiting team to provide courts?

Kim Freeman, Junior Leagues Vice President

According to the Junior Rules, IV. Dual Meets, L:

“If, for any unforeseen circumstance, the home team is unable to provide its home courts for any scheduled dual meet, the visiting team has the first option of providing its home courts. The host team is considered the home team. If the visiting team does not elect to provide its home courts, the responsibility reverts to the home team which must provide courts within the approved ALTA area at the scheduled time. If alternate courts cannot be found, the team managers must contact their coordinator.”

This rule applies to the adult leagues as well. See Adult Rules, IV. Dual Meets, J.

Are we sandbaggers?

My team recently lost points due to sandbagging. Would you please explain this rule and how I can prevent losing points in a future match?

Diane Royston, Sunday Women’s League Vice President

This information is from the Captain’s Handbook, page 24, “PLAYER MOVEMENT AND SANDBAGGING RULES: 3. Sandbagging occurs when a winning pair is moved down, and a losing pair is moved up.

This rule applies even if the pair has only played once (together). Winning and losing are determined by the results of matches played to date:

• A pair that has won more times than it has lost is a winning pair.

• A pair that has lost more times than it has won is a losing pair.

• A pair that has won as many matches as it has lost has no winning or losing record.

• A pair that has not yet played together during the regular season has no record.”

To avoid a sandbagging violation, make sure you understand points above or contact your coordinator.

DID YOU EVER WONDER ABOUT … ?

If you’ve ever had a situation occur in a match where no one on the court knew the rule that applied, send your inquiry to Good Question. ALTA officials answer questions in each issue of Net News and yours could be chosen next. Submit your question, along with your name, league, team name and level to altaeditor@ altatennis.org.

by

Luke Jensen

A Wonderful Tennis Experience

Ihope you are all ready for warmer temperatures and the chance to get out and play in the sunshine. The spring is such a mixed bag for me on the court. If you have been playing indoors all winter, then getting used to the elements can be challenging. I grew up in Michigan, so six months out of the year was mainly indoor tennis. Looking back, going south for junior tournaments, like the Easter Bowl junior tournament or Orange Bowl football games, always put me at a disadvantage. Through the years, it took me four solid days of two-a-day sessions before I felt comfortable outside. When I coached at Syracuse University, going from indoors to outdoors was our biggest challenge. There were many times my team would fly in and play the same day, basically giving us absolutely no time to adjust. The players that played with more margin over the net (with looping ground strokes) adapted quicker, while the power ball strikers that played shots closer to the net struggled!

Depending on how much time you have to adjust before your spring tennis begins, consider playing practice sets right away and then work out all the issues with wind, sun, and the big sky above to adjust to depth perception. Drilling or hitting tons of balls is OK, but it’s in too much of a

I

LOVE summer camps; they can improve your child’s performance. …It was that experience that really gave me a massive boost toward choosing tennis as a career.

controlled environment for me. Another thing, hit tons of serves and overheads. They’re the toughest shots to hit in the elements.

Even if you have been outside all winter, spring tennis can be tricky with the elements. The cold and wind can be a bear! But you can learn how to use the elements in your favor. When against the wind, think about driving the ball more. When you’re with the wind, add more topspin and margin to your targets to keep the ball in. Tactically, anytime you can bring your opponent in with a drop shot or low, short balls gives you a big advantage when you lob them to let them play a tricky overhead.

Now if you have a strong crosswind or blustery breeze … good luck with that! Accept the challenge and make it a point to be emotionally better than your opponent in those conditions!

The spring also is a good time to look at summer tennis camps. I LOVE summer camps; they can improve your child’s performance. I went to my first one at 13 years old for two weeks at the famous Nick Bollettieri Camp in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. It was tennis and fitness all day! I had so much fun and improved so much. There were all levels of players and even pros practicing. It was that experience that really gave me a massive boost toward choosing tennis as a career.

Today, camps are available for all ages, levels, and experiences. When I was 15, I went to Europe to play, and boy was that fun! Tennis Europe was a company that still takes teenagers to compete in Europe today. Dr. Martin Vinokur has been providing an excellent experience for more than 6,000 players for over 50 years! It was these experiences that drew me closer to tennis and lessons learned have stayed with me for life.

I highly recommend a super summer tennis camp to give your tennis star a wonderful tennis experience.

—

LUKE JENSEN FRENCH OPEN DOUBLES CHAMPION

PURE AERO 98 RPM TEAM

The Fastest Path To Real Improvement

BY GEOFF BROWNE, DIRECTOR OF RACQUET SPORTS AT THE GROVE CLUB

Consistency is your biggest weapon. Boring tennis wins matches.

If your goal is rapid improvement, the biggest gains don’t come from trying to fix everything at once. They come from consistently doing a few high-impact things extremely well. This approach simplifies training, accelerates progress, and produces results far faster than scattered effort. Here is a proven, efficient path to meaningful improvement.

Master the big three fundamentals

Roughly 80 percent of your improvement comes from getting three fundamentals right. If these aren’t solid, nothing else truly sticks.

1. Footwork before stroke — Everything starts with movement. A split step every time your opponent hits the ball allows you to react

efficiently. Move first, then swing. Much of what players call “bad technique” is actually the result of being late with their feet.

2. Contact point — The most important moment in any shot is contact. Racquet face position relative to the ball determines consistency and control. Timely preparation leads to clean contact in front of the body, with the head remaining still through impact. Improve contact and consistency skyrockets almost immediately.

3. Margin over the net — Aim three to five feet above the net, not barely over it. Height and spin beat raw pace at every level below advanced play. This single adjustment dramatically reduces unforced errors.

These three elements alone can elevate a player one to two levels in just a few weeks.

Train like practice actually matters

Practice should mirror match conditions. Hitting balls without intention produces very little improvement.

Structure sessions with purpose:

• 15–20 minutes of focused drilling with one clear goal

• 15 minutes of pattern play, such as crosscourt to down-the-line combinations

• 15–30 minutes of point play with constraints.

For example, only allow crosscourt rallies, or require five balls in play before a point counts. Constraints force learning and decision-making far faster than casual hitting.

Balance playing and drilling

An effective practice routine is about 50 percent match play and 50 percent drills. Play with opponents who are better than you, equal to you, and weaker than you. Each teaches something different.

Playing weaker opponents allows you to work on specific weaknesses without constant pressure. Create artificial challenges during matches: serve and volley on first serves, attack the net on second-serve returns, or start each game at 0-15. These situations build confidence and adaptability.

Develop one reliable weapon

Fast improvement comes from having one shot opponents truly dislike. This could be:

• A heavy topspin forehand crosscourt

• A deep, safe backhand

• A consistent serve to the backhand

• Relentless accuracy to a specific target.

Do not try to be complete. One dependable weapon can win matches quickly.

Eliminate “stupid” errors

At recreational levels, most points are lost rather than won. Adopt one simple rule: don’t miss inside the service line unless you are forced to. Following this guideline alone can dramatically increase your win rate.

Play smarter, not prettier

A simple match plan works:

• Rally crosscourt

• Attack only short balls

• Recover to the center after every shot

• Choose high-percentage shots over flashy ones

• Always have a target in mind.

Consistency is your biggest weapon. Boring tennis wins matches.

Film yourself

Few tools accelerate improvement faster than video. Film a match, not just practice, to see how your game holds up under pressure. Video reveals the truth about contact point, footwork timing, balance, shot selection, and accuracy. Compare what you think you do with what actually happens.

Support your game off the court

Elite fitness isn’t required, but basic athleticism is. Focus on a quick first step, core stability, and shoulder health. Spend five to 10 minutes after play on planks, resistance band shoulder work, and calf and hip mobility.

Geoff Browne is the Director of Racquet Sports at The Grove Club in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Previously, he was the Director of Women’s Tennis and Pickleball at Dunwoody CC. Geoff is a RSPA Elite Pro as well as the President of RSPA Tennessee. He has 43 years of experience as a teaching professional. Geoff enjoys working with all levels, but especially helping players solve problems.

Get Ready for Spring Tennis

BY MARCUS J. HURTIG, OWNER, OZ TENNIS ACADEMY

Get your rosters ready. Add that new player who can help your team get deep into playoff contention. A great way to find new players is through the flex leagues that are offered throughout the city.

Touch base with your pro/ coach and change up the style of clinics. Work on the areas that are needed. Implement some change. For example, practice and match play are different, so my clients enjoy more live ball and point play. I can be more realistic with my coaching and get a feel for what’s needed to get to next level.

Change up partnerships. This can mix things up for the entire team — for the better. Not all lines need to be changed, but making small adjustments can help your entire team with a different but winning approach.

Plan ahead. Get players’ availability early on in the season, so everyone is on the same page. This way, you can get your players qualified with two matches and have a good understanding of who’s playing with you and what line.

Communication is key. Stay up to date with your team(s). Send schedules so they can see who the opponent is. Get line ups out relatively early during the week so all can prepare. By doing this, your team will be more productive and ready to play.

Spring tennis in this city is addictive. Get on board with the best sport out there!

Marcus Hurtig is an ALTA ambassador, AA1 Captain (ITP Atlanta), Doubles specialist, TCAV (Level 1/2/3), and owner/operator of OZ Tennis Academy (oztennisacademy.com).

The Flight Of The Ball And What You Have To Say About It!

BY VANAKA GUNAWARDHANA, DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION, RSPA ELITE PROFESSIONAL, PICKLEBALL CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL, CAPITAL CITY CLUB

In tennis, much of what happens before contact is out of your control. The incoming ball brings its own direction, height, speed, depth, and spin. Weather, court surface, and even pressure all influence the moment.

Once the ball is on its way to you, there are three variables that remain entirely in your hands. These three elements, when understood and managed well, are what ultimately determine the flight of the ball you send back.

1. Racquet face angle at impact

The angle of the racquet face is the primary controller of direction and launch. A slightly open face sends the ball higher. A slightly closed face drives it lower. Small changes at impact can mean the difference between a penetrating shot, a heavy topspin ball, or an unforced error. Great players develop an awareness of their racquet face so they can consistently adjust to the ball they are receiving.

2. Racquet path through the ball

The path of the racquet, low to high, high to low, inside to out, or straight through determines spin and shape. A steeper low-to-high path produces topspin and margin. A flatter path drives the ball through the court. An inside-out path creates side spin (less common). Shot selection has a lot to do with path selection: choose the swing shape that best fits the situation.

3. Swing speed

Swing speed controls depth, pace, and overall heaviness of the shot. Too slow, and the ball can fall short. Too fast, without the right face and path, and control is lost. The best players learn to vary speed effectively, accelerating when they have time and position, and smoothing out the swing when control and consistency matter most. Together, face, path, and speed are the levers every player pulls on every swing. Mastery of tennis is not about reacting perfectly to everything you can’t control, but about consistently managing the few things you can. When players understand these three variables, shot selection becomes clearer, errors become more predictable/manageable, and improvement becomes intentional rather than accidental.

ARA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT: VANAKA GUNAWARDHANA

Director of Instruction, Capital City Club

Submitted by American Racket Sports Association

Why are you a member of the ARA? Networking and giving back to tennis.

What inspired you to be a tennis coach? Tennis gave me a lot. I didn’t want to turn the “tennis brain” off, and turning tennis into a profession was a natural transition from college.

What is your favorite memory of being a tennis coach in Atlanta? There is not one specific memory, but I would say the opportunity to travel.

How has tennis impacted your life? Tennis is life!

What is your proudest achievement? Hitting winners on Zane Krog makes me proud every time.

What is one fun fact about you that most people would not know? I have a great singing voice! My wife and kids don’t agree, but I don’t think they know how to identify true talent.

Who is your favorite professional tennis player and why? Marat Safin. Who can’t love a guy who “moons” fans at the French Open?

What advice would you give young coaches in the industry? If you love to serve, you will do very well. And I’m talking about the serving that requires tossing a ball.

What do you do when you’re not coaching tennis? Quality time with the family, ideally on a beach somewhere.

What I encourage athletes to pay attention to isn’t just whether something hurts, but how and when it hurts.

Pain While Playing? Pause Before Pushing Through

BY MATHEW E. LEVINE, DO, MPH, RESURGENS ORTHOPAEDICS

Tightness in your hip when you first hit the court, a sharp pain in your knee when you stop and start …For most tennis players, it feels normal to play through these types of things. After all, it’s easy to chalk up nagging soreness as just part of the game. But long matches, repetitive motions, and quick changes of direction put real stress on the joints, and sometimes pain is indicative of more than just routine soreness.

Joint pain while playing can be a sign that arthritis is setting in. It’s important to learn how to recognize these signals early so you can build a plan for dealing with arthritis that keeps you active instead of sitting on the sidelines.

As both a former certified athletic trainer and current orthopedic surgeon, here are my recommendations for recognizing and managing arthritis pain while staying active.

Pain is common, but the patterns matter

Tennis is a physically demanding sport that wears on the body. Arthritis is a condition that develops gradually. This combination can make it difficult to recognize the early signs of arthritis taking hold of a joint, especially for players who are used to pushing through discomfort.

What I encourage athletes to pay attention to isn’t just whether something hurts, but how and when it hurts. Start to look for patterns. Notice the difference between muscle soreness that fades within a day or two, and lingering discomfort that never quite goes away.

Here are a few factors to look out for:

• Stiffness at the start of play that improves after warming up

• Aching or soreness that lingers well after a match or into the next day

• Decreased range of motion in a joint, especially in the shoulders, hips, or knees

• Swelling or tightness in a joint that increases after playing

• Feeling a grating or grinding sensation in a joint.

While these symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have arthritis, they do mean that your joints likely need some attention. And playing through these signs of potential joint damage often leads to worsening symptoms over time.

Why “playing through it” can backfire

All athletes, from the casual pickleball player to the topranked tennis pros, have a natural instinct to play through minor injuries and pain. But arthritis-related inflammation doesn’t respond well to this kind of repeated overload. When joints are irritated repeatedly and without treatment, the cycle of pain and stiffness becomes harder to break.

What I see most often are injuries that aren’t caused by a single case of overuse, but by ignoring warning signs for months or even years. And the longer someone waits before seeing a medical professional, the more limited their treatment options often become.

That’s why early recognition and treatment are vital for longevity on the court.

Arthritis doesn’t mean you have to stop playing

If there’s one thing I want players to understand, it’s that an arthritis diagnosis doesn’t mean their playing days are over. Far from it. With orthopedic care and proper pain management, it’s possible to play at a high level for years.

When I evaluate joint pain in an active adult, the conversation usually starts with what they’re playing, how hard and how often they play, and what type of movements are causing symptoms.

Treatment plans for tennis or pickleball players with arthritis usually include:

• Strength and mobility work specific to racquet sports

• Modifying activities, including adjusting frequency or intensity

• Implementing load management, especially during tournaments or heavy play periods

• Targeted physical therapy to improve joint support and mechanics.

None of this means giving up the sport or stepping away from competition. It just means being intentional with how you treat your body both on and off the court.

It may become necessary to pursue other medical treatments when pain begins to interfere with quality of life. This could include injection therapy — the Academy of Orthopedic Surgery recently came out in support of PRP1 (platelet-rich plasma) injections as a beneficial treatment for arthritis — as well as surgical options. While surgery will sideline you temporarily, sometimes it’s the best bet for continuing to play long term.

Early planning presents the most options

Remember, arthritis damage accumulates over time, so it’s beneficial to identify it and take action early. While there’s no cure for the condition, there are effective ways to manage it so you can continue your lifestyle in comfort.

Even though playing through pain and discomfort are part of the culture for tennis players and other athletes, listening to your body is often the better choice. If you’re feeling aches and pains in your joints every time you play, or if the pain lingers long after you’ve left the court, it’s probably the right time for a conversation with an orthopedic specialist.

After all, the goal isn’t just to keep playing. It’s to keep playing in the long run without being in pain or discomfort.

Are you playing through possible arthritis pain? Schedule a consultation at Resurgens Orthopaedics today so we can find the best way to keep you on the court.

1. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Knee Osteoarthritis Technology Overview. American Academy of Orthpaedic Surgeons. August 25, 2021. Accessed Jan. 16, 2026. https://www.aaos.org/globalassets/quality-and-practice-resources/biologics/technology-overview_prp-for-knee-oa.pdf.

Is The Dietary Guidelines Food Pyramid Adequate Enough For Your Training Diet?

BY PAGE LOVE, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, PTR, AND SKYLAR SMITH, MS

Have you seen the new 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) and upside-down food pyramid? This is a controversial topic amongst health professionals and especially for athletes. By appearance, there is a heavy emphasis on protein, dairy, and fats, as well as vegetables. The visual also draws the importance away from carbohydrate “fuel” sources including whole grains and fruit. If you are a visual learner, this chart may lead you to disproportionately assemble your plate. Your plate may likely end up higher in saturated fats and protein and rely more on vegetables for your fiber rather than longer-lasting muscle fuel sources in grains. What this really means is, a plate assembled based on the vi-

sual proportions of the upside-down food pyramid would lack adequate calories for proper fueling for your training and the requirements of competing players during gameplay.

The good news is that several guidelines were continued from the 2020-2025 DGAs, such as an emphasis on fresh produce and limiting processed foods. Despite updated scientific reports, the 2025-2030 DGAs include recommendations emphasizing a higher intake of red meat and whole milk which are both high in saturated fats. They also recommend healthy fats, however, they suggest cooking in beef tallow, a saturated fat.

Carbohydrate focus

The new guidelines also recommend 2-4 carbohydrate servings daily. While the emphasis on whole grains is continued, the overall carbohydrate serving recommendations were drastically reduced. The current science guideline for carbohydrates is 45-65 percent of your total calories. To translate this to practical use, for a 2,000-calorie diet (which is the generalized caloric intake for most Americans), this guideline recommends 225-325g of carbohydrates daily. And many racquet sports athletes need closer to 350-500g of carbohydrates or 3-7 g/kg of body weight daily.

Elite racquet sports athletes should even consider sport foods that may contribute to your energy on the court in sport beverages and high carbohydrate energy products such as bars or chews for prematch and during play. Whereas the new DGA’s recommendation of 2-4 servings daily is merely 30-60g of carbohydrates for a whole day, again much too low for any active adult, much less a growing adolescent athlete who is training in a racquet sports academy, where current sport nutrition guidelines support as much as this per hour of play!

Protein focus

The 2025-2030 DGAs emphasize animal-based proteins and dairy consumption, especially full-fat options — which are significant sources of saturated fats and can increase an athlete’s risk of higher cholesterol levels and potentially increased risk of inflammatory disease. While they

provide high-quality protein, choosing lean or lowfat options better supports heart health and performance. Racquet-sport athletes need 1.2–1.7 g/ kg/day of protein. Lean animal proteins, low-fat dairy, and plant-based proteins all offer the amino acids needed for muscle building and for repairing and strengthening bones, ligaments, and tendons — key for movement on the court. The visual focus on higher volumes of protein may encourage athletes to overconsume this category as well as before play. This can lead to an increased risk of dehydration, a high-risk issue for players who compete outdoors.

Healthy fats

In the new edition of the DGAs, it is suggested to focus on animal fats and even to use beef tallow for cooking. Beef tallow contains small amounts of fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin A, D, E, and K, offering health benefits such as immune, brain, bone, and cardiovascular health, though levels vary by animal. Beef tallow also contains some monounsaturated fats which help support heart health, improve insulin sensitivity, and increase satiety. However, beef tallow is extremely high in saturated fat, which, consumed in excess, can raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. For a more heart-healthy source of monounsaturated fats and fat-soluble vitamins, oils like olive or avocado oil are generally better daily cooking choices.

Training diet

The new upside-down food pyramid visual can be quite misleading when preparing a training plate. Visually, there is a heavy emphasis on protein, dairy, and fats, as well as vegetables, while downplaying carbohydrate sources like whole grains and fruit. This may lead to training plates that lack adequate calories for proper fueling for the body’s normal functions and even further, provide less energy than is required for optimal sport performance. For a training day, especially for the meals before competing, an evidence-based “fueling” plate includes: ½ carbohydrates, ¼ lean protein, and ¼ fruits and/or vegetables. Quality “complex” carbohydrate options include grains, rice, pasta, potatoes, and other starchy vegetables such as corn, peas, potatoes, and legumes. Adequate carbohydrate intake ensures optimal glucose stores — stored as glycogen — to fuel practices and matches.

Recovery

Post-match consumption of carbohydrates and protein are important for recovery. Carbohydrates are required for repletion of glucose stores. Protein is required for muscle repair and can enhance glycogen recovery. On tournament days with multiple

matches, adequate glucose repletion between matches should be considered, but can often be difficult to obtain due to timing. Glycogen depletion leads to fatigue and a decrease in physical agility.

Current guidelines recommend consuming 1.0–1.2g of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight per hour for the first four hours after training or a match, then returning to normal daily needs. Additionally, athletes should aim for approximately 15–25g of protein, or 0.25–0.30 g/kg, post-match to support optimal recovery.

“Real food” focus

The DGAs place a strong emphasis on choosing “real food,” defined as whole or minimally processed items with few ingredients and limited added sugars. This concept aligns well with sports fueling. Whole, real foods provide dietary fiber, which supports gut health and greater satiety, but the lack of real food complex carbohydrates may leave the athlete hungry sooner and possibly hitting energy lows during long matches or tournament play.

Take aways:

• Focus on the evidence-based emphases of the new dietary guidelines: eating more fresh foods, lean proteins, dairy, fresh produce, whole grains, and less processed foods.

• Eat more than the guidelines recommend pre-and postmatch to ensure adequate fueling of your muscles for performance.

• Do consider sport foods that may contribute to your energy on the court in sport beverages, high carbohydrate energy products such as bars or chews for pre-match and during play.

• Do not over consume animal proteins because this can increase risk of higher cholesterol levels and increase risk of inflammatory conditions, such as heart disease, as well as contribute to increased risk of dehydration.

• Focus on appropriate proportions for fueling using evidence-based models such as the Olympic Training “fueling” plate for meals leading up to play time.

Remember, fueling is the name of the game!

Page Love is an avid ALTA participant and sport dietitian and certified tennis and pickleball instructor. She is a nutrition advisor for the WTA and ATP professional tours, serves on the USTA sport science committee, consults with Resurgens Orthopaedics, and has a private practice in Sandy Springs. You can reach her at nutrifitga. com. Skylar Smith has a master’s in nutrition from the University of Georgia working towards getting her dietetics license and looks forward to working in sports dietetics in the near future!

Game Night Bites

No matter what “big game” or tennis match we sit down to enjoy, there’s always an array of delicious eats to add to the fun. Sure, many of us may just have a pizza delivered, but if you prefer to make your own game night bites, consider the following recipes from your fellow ALTA teammates!

Classic Combo

Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Drizzle

Lori Hamada, Edinburgh Sunday Women B3

½ cup balsamic vinegar

¼ cup olive oil

1½ tsp. Italian seasoning

¾ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. onion powder

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

10 oz. grape or cherry tomatoes (1 package)

8 oz. mini mozzarella cheese balls

Fresh basil leaves

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat the balsamic vinegar for about 10-15 minutes until it has reduced into more of a glaze, stirring occasionally. The volume of liquid will have reduced as well. You should be able to dip a spoon into the glaze, run your finger through the glaze along the back of the spoon, and see a solid line. Take off heat to cool slightly.

In a separate small bowl, combine the olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Assemble skewers by alternating between one cherry tomato, one mini mozzarella cheese ball, and a basil leaf.

Once all skewers are filled and assembled, brush the olive oil mixture over the top, followed by the balsamic glaze over all the skewers. Plate and serve.

Easy & Cheesy

Goat Cheese Torta

Karen Ideker, Highlands at Parkbridge Thursday Women B3

6 oz. goat cheese

6 oz. cream cheese

3-4 cloves garlic parsley to garnish

½ cup pesto

½ cup chopped oil packed sundried tomatoes with 2 tsp. for marinade salt and pepper to taste

Mix cheeses with garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Line small bowl with plastic wrap. Put 1/2 cheese mixture in bowl. Top with pesto. Top with sundried tomatoes. Top with remaining cheese mixture. Cover with plastic and chill at least 2 hours or up to 4 days. Invert and serve with crackers or bread.

Crowd Pleaser

Garlic Honey Wings

Gloria Enriquez, Lockridge Forest Mixed Doubles C1

Wings:

4 lbs. chicken wings, separated into wingettes and drummettes

½ cup cornstarch cup water

½ Tbsp. kosher salt

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. black or white pepper

¼ tsp. ginger powder

Sauce:

½ cup water

3 Tbsp. oyster sauce

3 Tbsp. soy sauce

2 ½ Tbsp. honey

2 tsp. sugar

1 whole bulb garlic, finely minced Optional, dried chilies

Frying oil, peanut or canola

In small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup of frying oil. On medium heat, add minced garlic. Continuously stir garlic to not burn and fry the garlic evenly. Once the garlic is lightly golden brown, strain and remove the garlic from the oil. Set aside.

In a large bowl, marinate the wings in cornstarch, water, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, baking powder, pepper and ginger powder. Mix well and marinate for at least 1 hour, but overnight (in the fridge) for best results.

In a small bowl, combine water, oyster sauce, soy sauce, honey, and sugar to make the sauce. Stir well to ensure the sugar has dissolved. Heat 4-5 cups of frying oil in a large pan/pot to 350 degrees. Toss the wings in the marinade to ensure everything is still nicely coated before frying. Place wings in the oil and fry for 12-14 minutes. Fry in 2-3 batches if needed. Once wings are a deep golden, crispy and reaches 165-degree internal temp, strain and set aside.

In a large wok/pan, add ~1 Tbsp. of oil and sauté dried chilies for 1 minute. (optional, otherwise no oil is needed). Then on med-high heat, pour all of the sauce and bring to a boil. Simmer for 3-5 mins or until the sauce has reduced by 1/3 and slightly thickened.

2026 Summer Tennis Camps

SUMMER CAMPS TO ALTA'S Annual Guide

Compiled by Cory Sekine-Pettite

Give your kids a summer to remember by enrolling them in a summer tennis camp. They can learn from top teaching pros and college coaches, make new friends, and gain lifelong memories. We asked some of the best camps in the region to share with us their schedules, best features, and any other pertinent details. Book now, as spots will be filling up soon!

GEORGIA BULLDOG TENNIS CAMP

The Georgia Bulldog Tennis Camp is held at The Dan Magill Tennis complex and offers campers an exciting, fun-filled experience for all levels of play. The professional and experienced staff is dedicated to creating lifelong memories while providing top-notch instruction in a safe, supportive environment. With decades of experience, the coaching staff shares expert tennis knowledge from the first serve to the last rally, ensuring that each camper has a challenging, enriching, and enjoyable experience. The first-class tennis complex has 12 outdoor courts as well as a new, state-of-the-art, air-conditioned, six-court indoor facility.

• Residents: $1,195

• Extended Day Campers: $895

• Day Campers: $795

• Boys of all abilities, ages 9-18 (limited by number, age, grade level, and/or gender)

Contact: Jamie Hunt at jhunt@sports.uga.edu for more information. | Register: bulldogtenniscamp.com.

SANDY SPRINGS RACQUET CENTER SUMMER CAMP

The Sandy Springs Racquet Center Summer Camp, run by the Tennis Academy of the South — one of the oldest and most reputable tennis training programs in the South — offers a dynamic summer experience for children ages 5-14. Campers build strong tennis fundamentals through fun, innovative drills and games, while also enjoying off-court activities such as arts and crafts and refreshing water games. The excitement continues with pickleball and ping pong, all culminating in a spirited, multi-sport tournament

Dates: May 26 - July 31

• Age levels: 5-14

each week. Designed for players of all skill levels, these weekly camps deliver learning, movement, and summer fun in a supportive, high-energy environment.

Campers will be organized by age and skill level, with drills emphasizing essential skills such as footwork, stroke production, shot selection, and tactics. They also will acquire fundamental match play skills. The week will culminate in a Tournament Fun Day on Friday.

• Pricing: Choose half-day or full-day options, priced from $260 to $450.

• Early Session: (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.), Afternoon Session: (1 – 4 p.m.), Full-day Session: (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

Contact: 678.224.8810 | sstc.registrar@gmail.com | Register: Leagues.bluesombrero.com/sandyspringstennis

SUMMER CAMP

Tennis & Racquet Sports

UNIVERSAL TENNIS ACADEMY

Universal Tennis Academy (UTA) offers summer tennis camps throughout Atlanta. UTA has trained all levels of players, from ALTA champions and NCAA competitors to ATP/WTA touring professionals in a fun, exciting, and educational environment. UTA Tennis Camps are offered at the locations listed.

UTA holds summer camp every week of the summer for kids from 4-14 (co-ed), starting the week of Memorial Day. Both half-day and full-day camps are offered. For more information, please visit utatennis.com.

ITP TRAINING ACADEMY

Experience an unforgettable summer at ITP Training Academy Summer 2026 Racquet Camps!

Designed for kids of all skill levels, ITP camps offer a one-of-a-kind, well-rounded racquet experience featuring tennis, pickleball, and padel — all at one conveniently located facility. Campers serve, rally, and compete while building skills, confidence, and lasting friendships in a fun, supportive environment.

With covered and indoor court options, kids stay comfortable and active rain or shine, even during the summer heat. ITP Racquet Camp (ages 8+) focuses on skill development and match play, while ITP Day Camp (ages 5-7) blends racquet sports with creative activities, character building, games, and group fun.

Lunch is included, and weekly sessions run all summer long.

Weekly sessions: June 1-26, July 6-31

• Ages 8-12 | Weekly price: $445, Early Bird: $370, ends March 1.

• Ages 5-7 | Weekly price: $370, Early Bird: $310, ends March 1.

• Camp hours: M-F, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Weekly: May 26 - August 7

Locations:

• Blackburn Park Tennis Center

• James Creek Tennis Center

• Agnes Scott College

• Briarlake Baptist Church

• Smoke Rise Country Club

• Before-care drop-off ($75 weekly): 8 a.m., After-care pickup ($75 weekly): 4 p.m.

Contact: info@itpta.com, 470.421.2402 | Register: https://itpta.com/juniors

YELLOW JACKET TENNIS CAMPS

Yellow Jacket Tennis Camps are a challenging, fun time for boys and girls between the ages of 9-18. Georgia Tech aims to enhance each camper’s skills through morning instruction and afternoon match play. The camp will stress the importance of sound fundamentals and strategy. Campers will be split into groups/teams based on age and ability level. Instructors include the head and assistant coaches of the men’s and women’s Georgia Tech Tennis Teams.

Camps will take place at Ken Byers Tennis Complex at 960 Fowler Street NW, Atlanta, GA. All campers will receive a t-shirt.

Day Camp Session: $545 | Overnight Camp Session: $995

• Session 1 (day camp): June 1-4, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• Session 2 (day camp): June 8-11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• Session 2 (overnight camp): June 7-11, 5 p.m. drop off Sun., 3 p.m. pick up Thu.

• Session 3 (day camp): June 15-18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• Session 4 (day camp): June 22-25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Contact: 678-634-4844 | Register: yellowjackettenniscamp.com

“Success is a journey, not aThedestination. doing is often more important than the outcome.”

– Arthur Ashe

AGAPE JUNIOR SUMMER TENNIS CAMPS

Agape Summer Camps (agapetennisacademy. com/georgia-locations) feature tennis drills and games by level, team games, exciting competitions, nature trails and playground visits, swimming (by location), water balloons, capture the flag, HEART cards, pizza parties, a camp tee, end-of-camp ceremony, a certified camp director, and trained, experienced summer camp staff. Most importantly,

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT:

campers enjoy tons of fun, different activities, and improvement in tennis.

Camps run from May 26 through July 31. There is an early-bird discount: Sign up by Apr. 1, 2026, to receive 10% off Agape Junior Summer Tennis Camps. To apply the discount, please call the pro shop or office manager at the preferred location.

Sign up by Apr. 1 to receive 10% off Agape Junior Summer Tennis Camps

• Bitsy Grant Racquet Center: 404.205.5352

• Chastain Park Racquet Center: 404.855.5417

• DeKalb Tennis Center: 404.636.5628

• McGhee Racquet Center: 404.855.5972

• Sharon Lester at Piedmont Park: 404.326.2877

• Washington Park: 404.205.5410

2026 Summer Tennis Camps

ACE TENNIS ACADEMY

Jeff Weaver and his staff have been developing top-ranked juniors since 1994. ACE players have captured countless national titles, including 12 Gold Balls at USTA National Level 1 tournaments — a testament to the academy’s long-standing excellence and player development.

ACE offers summer tennis camps for all levels, with morning camps designed for recreational players and full-day camps for tournament-level players. ACE Summer Tennis Camps begin the day after Memorial Day and continue through early August, providing a consistent, high-quality training environment all summer long.

The Summer Tennis Camps are a great way to experience ACE Academy and secure a spot in one of their Year-Round Tournament programs. Registration for the Year-Round program begins in July. For more information, email Shannon at Manager@ACETennisAcademy.net. Please include your player’s level, experience, UTR, and goals.

Summer Camps begin May 26. Year-Round Program begins in July. Contact: Manager@AceTennisAcademy.net | Register: ACETennisAcademy.net

SUMMER CAMP

• Fields Club Swim & Tennis in Peachtree Corners

• Glen Abbey Swim & Tennis in Alpharetta

• Medlock Bridge Swim & Tennis in Johns Creek

• St. Marlo Racquet Club in Duluth

Tennis and Academic Excellence

Legendary Coaching

Atlanta International School (AIS) and Patrick Mouratoglou, the tennis coach to champions like Serena Williams and Stefano Tsitsipas, are proud to offer the first ever Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Georgia, situated at the beautiful AIS Sandy Springs Campus.

Mouratoglou Academy Atlanta (MAA) and the flexible AISx program unite elite academics with world-class tennis training. Students follow personalized academic schedules that seamlessly align with high-performance training under top-level coaches.

PICKLEBALL

Mar. 9

Apr. 20

Apr. 27

PB Mixed Spring play begins

PB Mixed Spring play ends

PB Mixed Spring playoffs (rain date 4/29)

Apr. 30 Summer roster registration begins (ALL PB leagues)

May 4

May 11

PB Mixed Spring playoffs (rain date 5/6)

PB Mixed Spring playoffs (rain date 5/13)

May 17 Summer roster registration ends (All PB leagues)

May 18

PB Mixed Spring City Finals (rain date 5/20)

IN A PICKLE

The Big Swing

BY HENRY VINCENT, PICKLEBALL LEAGUES VICE PRESIDENT

Can you switch hands or hit it any way you want?

Rule: Yes, you can switch hands, hit behind your back, or even hit the ball off the handle of the paddle. As long as the paddle is legal and the ball is contacted below the navel on the serve, you’re good. (USAP Section 11.N and 11.O are in Section 11, Other Rules [paddle rules]).

What isn’t allowed? Throwing the paddle or intentionally carrying or catching the ball on the paddle. Pickleball allows creativity — but not tricks that stop the ball’s motion. (Double hit and carry fall under USAP Section 7 Faults [7.H–7.L]).

Line calls: Who has the final say?

Line calls are the responsibility of the team on that side of the court. If there is any doubt, the call must go in favor of the opponent. Players should never ask spectators, players on

other courts, or partners on the opposite side to make line calls. (6.C.1: Players are responsible for calling lines on their end of the court.)

If partners disagree on a call, the point goes to the other team. Pickleball values honesty over advantage — and good sportsmanship keeps matches enjoyable for everyone. (6.C.8: If one partner calls out and the other calls in, doubt exists and the call is treated as in.)

Calling the score (yes, it matters)

Before every serve, the server must call the score clearly. Make sure you call the server’s score first and receiver’s score second, followed by the server number (1 or 2). Failing to call the score before the serve may result in a replay if the receiving team stops play immediately. (USAP 4.A.1 [Serve & Score]).

Can a player play on an ALTA pickleball team and a tennis team in the same season?

Yes. A player can play on a pickleball team and a tennis team in the same season if the player has current memberships for both pickleball and tennis and meets the tennis league’s requirements. (Pickleball General Rules I. Teams and Players, B.)

12 Steps To Improve Your Game

BY JIM CARELLA, DIRECTOR OF PICKLEBALL, TPC SUGARLOAF

1. MASTER THE BASICS FIRST

Learn how to serve consistently — underhand, diagonal, and with control. Once you have accomplished a consistent serve, you can move on to depth and direction.

Focus on dinking (soft shots near the net). This is key to winning longer rallies.

2. GET TO THE KITCHEN QUICKLY

After returning, move up to the non-volley zone (NVZ or “the kitchen”) as quickly as possible. Being at the net gives you a huge advantage in controlling the pace and angle of shots. Once you have served and hit your next shot, it is time to move up to the NVZ.

3. KEEP YOUR PADDLE UP

Always have your paddle in a ready position (waist, toes, face):

• When at the baseline, keep your paddle at waist level.

• In the transition zone (“no man’s land”) keep your paddle at your toes.

• When at the net, having your paddle at your chest or face helps your reaction time and prepares you for volleys.

4. USE

THE SOFT GAME STRATEGICALLY

Don’t try to blast every shot — soft, controlled dinks can force your opponent to make mistakes. Mix up speeds and placements to keep them guessing. By mixing up your speeds, it makes you much more unpredictable and difficult to play.

5. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER

In doubles, clear communication is crucial — call your shots. Develop strategies together (e.g., who covers middle balls or lobs). Verbal communication is vital with balls down the middle.

6. AIM FOR THE OPPONENT’S FEET

Especially when at the net, hitting the feet makes it hard to return the ball effectively. Keeping the ball low towards your op-

ponent’s feet will help your team take control of the point.

7. WORK ON FOOTWORK

Always be on your toes, ready to move laterally or forward. Good footwork creates better balance and shot execution.

8. USE SPIN WISELY

Adding topspin or slice can make your shots harder to read and return. Practice controlled spin in both serves and returns. Changing up your spins makes it much more difficult for your opponents.

9. DON’T RUSH THE SERVE OR RETURN

Stay calm and focus on placement over power. Deep serves and returns give you more time to prepare for the next shot.

10. PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE

Don’t just play games — spend time drilling specific skills (e.g., dinking, third shot drops, lobs). Try targeting specific areas of the court for more control.

Stand in the most uncomfortable spots, like the transition zone, and practice your resets and defense.

11. THIRD SHOT DILEMMA

Which shot should you use — a drive, a drop, or a hybrid of the two?

• Drive a short, attackable return.

• Drop the third shot when the return forces you back.

• Use a hybrid shot, which is a combination of the drive and drop shot utilizing top spin to help the ball have shape and dip over the net. The hybrid is hit at 70-percent speed and will help disguise what you are hitting.

12. BE A GOOD PARTNER

Communicate often. Don’t coach but encourage. When communicating, it’s “We can” and “Let’s do this!” Remember, you’re a team!

PICKLEBALL

Summer Pickleball Registration is April 30 – May 17

Mixed Doubles season is June 15 – July 27 (Mondays, 6:30 p.m.)

Women’s Season is June 17 – July 29 (Wednesdays, 9 a.m.)

Men’s Season is June 19 – July 31 (Fridays, 9 a.m.)

PICKLEBALL LEAGUE NEWS

The Joy And Thrills Of Captaining

BY HENRY VINCENT, PICKLEBALL LEAGUES VICE PRESIDENT

So, you have decided to captain a pickleball team. This is equal parts rewarding and responsibility. While captains are not expected to be walking rulebooks, a little preparation and leadership go a long way toward keeping match day smooth and stress-free.

BEFORE MATCH DAY: COMMUNICATION IS KEY

The home team captain is responsible for contacting the visiting captain at least a few days before the match. This communication should include the number of courts available (minimum two), whether play will be indoors or outdoors as well as if refreshments will be provided.

A simple message ahead of time prevents last-minute confusion and ensures both teams arrive prepared and on time.

LINEUPS

Captains should verify that all players are eligible and correctly placed according to league rules. Players will be advised if they are in the lineup. Scorecards should be printed beforehand. Once play has completed, the captains must verify the scores before leaving the match.

Exchanging scorecards is an important part of keeping

our leagues on the right track. Every season, we have scorecard disputes — someone entered the wrong player’s name or line score. The only way a coordinator can verify what is correct is to see a scorecard. Otherwise, it’s “he said/she said.” Please refer to ALTA Pickleball Rules III. Captains, A. for the rule wording.

MATCH DAY LEADERSHIP

Captains are the point of contact if questions arise about timing, court availability, or rule clarifications. Great captains know when to clap loudly, offer a quick “you’ve got this,” or remind everyone that one bad point does not define the match. A little encouragement can go a long way, especially when nerves show up before the score does.

The joy of captaining is being the team’s biggest cheerleader. Positive energy is contagious. When captains lead with encouragement, teams play more relaxed, laugh more, and often play better. After all, pickleball is competitive but it also is supposed to be fun.

A captain is part coach, part coordinator, part cheerleader, and sometimes part counselor. A positive tone often leads to better pickleball all around. A calm captain is worth more than a perfect lineup.

Where Atlanta Comes To Play! Still

ALTA—90 YEARS STRONG. We’re still the tennis leader in Atlanta and have grown to over 60,000 members. From Metro Atlanta to North Fulton, from Newnan to East Cobb, we have you covered. We offer year-round play, neighborly competition, and Southern hospitality, so whether you are a seasoned player or a rookie wannabe, we have something for everyone. Annual membership is only $30 for adult tennis, $15 for juniors tennis (18 and under) and $30 for adult pickleball.

ADULT LEAGUES

JUNIOR LEAGUES

PICKLEBALL LEAGUES

ABOUT ALTA

Contact Us at 770.399.5788

n All ALTA vice presidents (below) have phone extensions at the ALTA office, but do not work in the office on a regular basis. Voice messages are checked frequently and answered in a timely manner.

n The phone number of your league coordinator can be found on the team’s schedule page in the member portal.

n To contact a member of the Executive Committee, call the ALTA office at 770.399.5788 and dial the extension listed next to the officer’s name.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EMAIL EXT

President – David Rowe ALTAPresident@altatennis.org 109

First Vice President –Greg McAfee FirstVP@altatennis.org 114

VP Men’s League – Drew Meyer MensVP@altatennis.org 116

VP Thursday Women’s League – Candace Cole ThursdayVP@altatennis.org 118

VP Sunday Women’s League – Diane Royston

VP Senior Day Leagues – Rusty Jones

VP Senior Leagues – Mike Clance

SundayVP@altatennis.org 117

SeniorDayVP@altatennis.org 120

SeniorVP@altatennis.org 121

VP Mixed Doubles League –Nicole Jennings MixedVP@altatennis.org 122

VP Junior Leagues – Kim Freeman

JuniorVP@altatennis.org 119

VP Junior Challenge Ladder – Gina Woods JrChallengeVP@altatennis.org 123

VP Special Programs – Mark LaRotonda SpecialProgramsVP@altatennis.org 124

VP Events & Tournaments – Carol Brasher EventsVP@altatennis.org 125

VP Pickleball – Henry Vincent PickleballVP@altatennis.org 127

Questions?

ALTA office personnel cannot answer your league-related questions. Team members should first contact their captain. If unable to answer, the captain should contact a league official.

n Questions about rules must be directed to league officials, which include coordinators, overall coordinators and league vice presidents.

n Concerns about team placement and levels should be directed to league officials.

n Credit card questions? Call ext. 107.

n Want information about new facility requests? Contact the First Vice President at ext. 114.

n IT issues? Contact Joan Appelbaum at ext. 103.

Directions & General Information

The ALTA office is located at 300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 140, Roswell, GA 30076. From GA 400 North, take exit 8 (Mansell Road) to Colonial Center Parkway (1.3 miles west).

n ALTA office: 770.399.5788

n ALTA office hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Call the office during weekdays as employees occasionally work remotely.

n Membership dues: Adult Tennis – $30, Adult Pickleball– $30, Juniors (18 and under) – $15. Dues are for the calendar year.

n ALTA website: altatennis.org

n ALTA’s calendar of important dates can be found on the website and in each issue of Net News.

n Your membership number is printed on the Net News mailing label and is also available on the ALTA website.

n To update your mailing address, log in to your account on the ALTA website and go to My Profile.

right partner makes all the difference.

At Ameris Bank, we know that a winning season is built on more than just a powerful serve—it’s about strategy, consistency, and the right partner in your corner. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your “home court” with a new mortgage, ace your business goals, or build a championship-level savings plan, we provide the personalized coaching you need to succeed.

Smart solutions for a smart season Visit us at amerisbank.com or stop by your local branch.

Local Roots: Just like ALTA, we are deeply embedded in the Atlanta community.

Full-Service Playbook: Experience banking that’s tailored to your unique needs. Our dedicated team is here to provide the personalized attention you deserve.

Winning Results: We’re committed to helping you manage your finances so you can stay focused on the match.