This week we invited some of our Western Tennis Professionals and some of our Western Tennis Members to choose one word that speaks to their feelings about this amazing sport and to tell us a little more about what it means to them.

We invite you to share your story about one word tennis has given you the chance to understand more about yourself, just as some of our fellow tennis professionals and players have shared their own!

Nick Caramehas, Western Tennis Professional
PERSEVERANCE

Tennis has been a major part of my life and it has taught me many life lessons while at the same time allowing me to meet new friends and make many amazing memories. I have played tennis since I was four years old and it has had an impact on my life ever since. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is perseverance. Through all the long practices and hard training sessions I have put in and playing against some of the best competition from around the world I've learned that you must have perseverance if you are going to get anywhere. The feeling of working hard at practice and then facing a challenging opponent and coming out with a victory is very rewarding. It's extremely satisfying. Sometimes we don't win though. So regardless of the result you must persevere. This can be compared to everyday life as well. You will always encounter obstacles in life and sometimes you will fail but regardless of the situation or outcome keeping a positive mindset and not giving up is the key to success. There will always be those times in life, much like in tennis where no matter how hard I work, it will not always be enough to win or succeed. Even then being discouraged won't allow for improvement. I have learned that one must take things in stride and come to terms with the fact that while everything will not always go the way we hoped it simply means working harder the next time and not giving up. That goes with having a positive attitude and learning to take and deal with things as they come. One must continue the effort despite the difficulties and failures encountered along the way.

Aidan Sauberlich, Western Tennis Professional
PERSISTENCE

As I reflect on the depth of what this word means to me on my tennis journey, flashbacks roll through my mind of when I first began taking the game seriously when I was 13 years old. Back then, I was a normal kid with normal tendencies and average aspirations. I just wanted to have fun with my family and friends in whichever form that may have taken. Then, the tennis bug bit me. I began working extremely hard to hone my craft. It seemed like every day, all I wanted to do was be on the tennis court enhancing my skills. Over the next few years, I took astonishing leaps I did not know I was capable of. Random people around the area started commenting to me, how did you make so much progress in such a short amount of time?! And I owe it to one word. Persistence! Working hard every day. Getting better every day. Being persistent every day! Tennis taught me for the first time in my life that if you put your mind to something and stay persistent, you can accomplish great things. And this is the attitude that shouldn’t just apply to tennis, but everyday life.

Josh Denault, Western Director of Adult Tennis
PERSEVERANCE

I started playing tennis at age 15. Many teammates of mine were playing for years before I picked up a racquet, but I did not use that as an excuse not to give up. I’ve played every day and sometimes multiple times during the day. As a freshman I played three JV singles which is when I first picked up the racket. Three years later I jumped up to number one varsity singles. It was perseverance and determination that drove me to be better than the rest.

Charlie Ridout, UWGB Men’s Tennis Player 2015-2019
OPPORTUNITY

If I could describe tennis in one word, it would be opportunity. Tennis has given me the opportunity to travel to many countries! Tennis led me to earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. I have met so many people from around the world and have many friends because of tennis. Because of tennis, I have a healthy lifestyle, keeping physically fit. Tennis can not only bring you the opportunity to travel, stay active, and make friends, but it can allow you to pursue your education and prepare you for a future career.

Carol Wilinski, USTA League Participant
OPPORTUNITY

When asked to describe my tennis experience in one word, the word I chose is OPPORTUNITY. Beginning to play tennis as an older adult has provided many opportunities. Some of these opportunities include the opportunity to increase my circle of friends, the opportunity to stay active, gaining both physical and mental agility, and the opportunity to learn new skills. Most of all, tennis has provided me with an opportunity to have fun and enjoy a drink or two after a match with my tennis friends!

Charlie Croxford, UWGB Men’s Tennis Player 2017-2019
PATIENCE

I started playing tennis at age 9 and became fond of it very quickly and knew that it was something I wanted to pursue further. I gradually started playing more and more and eventually was playing every day. Tennis for me has always been a sport that captures skills and characteristics from every aspect of life. However, the one that stands out the most to me is patience. Patience is required in every level of the game. I always expected results to occur overnight but understanding patience taught me that you must take many small steps towards the goal rather than one big one. Another element of patience comes within point play. You must be patient during a point and wait for the right moment to strike. Although both lessons have been learnt on the tennis court, they are applicable off the court as well. Therefore, I value tennis so highly. The lessons you learn on the court are applicable off the court and vice versa. It is a culmination of everything you do.

Feel free to share with us your word and the meaning behind it!

When we talk about what technology means to the game of tennis, it really means more to the game than most people know in more ways than one. Our first piece of the technology puzzle consists of the differences in generational racket technology. Back in the mid 1900’s, tennis was a growing sport and players used wooden rackets. Due to the design and capabilities of wooden rackets, the game of tennis was played much differently than the modern game we see today. There were much more slice groundstrokes, serve and volley, and shorter points as a result. As time progressed, racket technology geared toward aluminum and graphite frames. And with each generation offering more advanced technology than the previous one, the game began to change as we knew it. There was topspin. There were extended baseline rallies. The serve and volley game began to die out. All of this was thanks to the technological advancements of the tennis racket.

Today, rackets are primarily constructed from state-of-the-art carbon fiber technology. The main brands consist of household names in the tennis world such as Babolat, Wilson, Head, and Yonex, but there are many more out there. These brands have a goal in mind not just to promote their product, but to continue to push the limits of what tennis can become. The game has advanced far from the serve and volley game of old and has entered into a new world of aggressive baseline rallies and huge serves. Once again, thanks to the technological advancements of racket technology.

Another primary aspect of the progression of tennis and technology is multimedia. Capturing the game is so much easier than it used to be with camera and video technology reaching new heights every year. If someone wants to analyze their strokes, say no more. Pull out your smart phone and have a friend record on your high-resolution camera. Due to the technological revolution, these high-quality recording devices are much more affordable than even 5 years ago. Social media also plays a huge role in the progression of the game. The easy accessibility to find out the newest tennis trends, how to develop your strokes, and even just being a fan of the game is much easier than watching the majors on your living room television set just a few times a year on local programming. Social media has allowed the tennis world to connect like it never has before, and it will continue to grow with each new phase of technology.