The “Challengers” Tennis Academies of Canada

Daisy is now 14ç she left Canada some time ago for Nigeria and is playing Junior ITFs. I have been monitoring her progress from time to time, and I am pleased to see she is increasing her win - loss ratio at that circuit steadily.

In June she won 3 difficult 3 setters in a row, which indicates the mental perseverance is improving with the experience of competing more. I am happy to see it and I wish Daisy and her family all the best in their endevours.

I am also happy and relieved they found a way to continue training and playing tennis. I am glad I could contribute to her development since she came to me at the tender age of 6. Good luck to you, Daisy!

Coach Michael

Congratulations to Mary Doak for earning a title in the U16 OTA 3-star event at Craig Henry Park last weekend. Mary fought a hard battle against her former teammate Keona Asogwa.

It was great to see these two girls with a history of training in our tennis program continue to compete in the provincial circuit into their teens. Keep it up, girls; the sport of tennis needs many more girls like you!

Coach Michael

“A coach can be right and still be unhelpful,” Zaniewska wrote.

“You can be completely right about what is happening — you can understand the tactical problem, the emotional pattern, the moment where the player is losing connection. And still, if you say it at the wrong time, in the wrong way, or from the wrong place, it might not land. It might make the player more confused, more dependent, more irritated, or more aware of something they were already trying to manage.

“I think a lot of good coaching lives in that uncomfortable space. Not in the dramatic intervention, but in the restraint before it.”

Sandra Zaniewska
Coach of Marta Kostyuk

Our teammates Bianca, Coralie and Max are having a blast exploring red clay in Europe with the Nadal Tennis Academy, and spending additional time training and competing at the Baltic shore in Poland. There is personal growth happening as these events unfold.

I had a great opportunity to be there with them for some time, and to assess junior competitive tennis in Europe, the state of facilities, and the coaching methods. Lots to discuss.

Coach Michael

Please join me and congratulate our teammate Mary Doak, a sister of Alexander and Patrick, for winning the the IPSTA World Junior tournament in Torino, Italy.

Mary was the only girl in the draw which gave her the record of not only the 1st Canadian PST junior (there was 1 adult male from Montreal) but also the very 1st female junior EVER to compete at the World Championships in this category.

This amazing event is not well known to most people as the category of the event is relatively new but increasing gaining traction. Para-Standing Tennis is for people with physical disabilities who play tennis without using a wheelchair.

The International Para-Standing Tennis Association (IPSTA) is our global governing body and the sport is supported by the ITF and national governing bodies, with over 500 players from over 45 different countries on 5 continents. The ultimate goal is for the discipline to be represented at Grand Slams and become a Paralympic sport.

As Mary's coach for many years, I am very humbled and pleased that both Mary and the family made the financial and logistical sacrifice to go to Europe and complete - and win! - at this event. I look forward now to see Mary and the family, and to congratulate the player in person.

Coach Michael

The 5th edition of the ITF J30 Manotick event is behind us. We had a great turnout and a solid level of tennis, likely the highest we have seen to date.

Alexander Totoian from the US took the title defeating MathiasHamel-Van Dun of Canada 6-1, 6-3 in a hot and windy final. The American Samantha Govila won in three sets aganist a Canadian Mariya Marinova, who was a top seed at the event, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.

The very high level and exciting doubles ended prematurely due to medical reasons with American players Nirbhay Agarwal and Alexander Totoian defeating Canadians Tomas Giachero and Benjamin Perreault 4-1.

In girls doubles, the win went to a team of Ukrainian girls Amaliya Bakumenko and Mariia Shybanova, who defeated Canadian girls Emma Escobar and Laure Fortier-Gariepy 6-1, 6-1.

This year the event brought the highest number in history of Ottawa - developed players becoming, as originally intended, a platform and launching pad for highest level junior tennis for Ottawa - developed competitors.

Matheo, Arjun, Eli, Patrick, Anis and Nikola were joined by Bianca, Bronwyn, Zahava and Sienna as a combined, large contingent of players who come from our local system.

Nikola earned hefty ITF points by reaching the singles semi-final losing that match in difficult weather conditions in a tough three setter; some of that match is shown in the video I posted below.

Sienna reached the quarter finals in the girls singles draw while Bianca Bordogna, a debutant on the ITF cicuir, just 13 years old, earned points by playing girls quarterfinals doubles with a respectable loss 3-6, 4-6 to a number 3 seeded team.

Congratulations to the tournament winners, and to all the players who took part at the event. Big thank you to the sponsors, the volunteers, to our tennis federation and to the amazing ITF ref team.

You all kept it together despite difficult and fast changing weather conditions that required us to make difficult decisions that could never make everyone happy but we did it: all events finished on time and players got what they came for: played great tennis and the best ones earned the coveted ITF points.

Cheers,
Coach Michael

Just a few snapshots from today's opening day of our Manotick J30 ITF tournament. Great junior tennis, fantastic family time, and new friendships forming. The way it should be. Let's only hope that the weather cooperates.

Sharing just a snapshot of the great event for the girls we ran the last weekend of May jointly with the Canada Hall of Fame tennis player Aleksandra Woźniak at her tennis academy in the Eastern Townships.

This was our 6th regrouping co-organized with Aleksandra. There were a lot of smiles, great friendships forming and a lot of hard work on a tennis court with sun and wind being important factors to account for.

As always we are grateful to Aleksandra for everything and especially for sharing her wisdom and tour experiences with the young aspiring athletes. These messages, like water drops falling on a rock, are slowly but surely making a difference in their lives.

Coach Michael