The fall season is fully underway at Play Tennis Gainesville, and August delivered plenty to celebrate. From a packed PTG Level 6 Tournament to the launch of Fall Programming and Adult USTA League matches, our courts have stayed active from morning to night. Here’s a look at what’s been happening on our courts and what’s ahead.
Junior & Adult Tennis Highlights
Fall programming officially launched August 3, and both our adult and junior lineups have hit the ground running. Adult drill clinics and point play sessions resumed on their regular weekly schedule and have seen strong turnout throughout the month. A major highlight was our August 22 Love to Learn Coaches Certification Training, conducted by Kennis Collins and George Henry. Area coaches learned how to prepare new coaches to teach beginner tennis players quickly, safely, and confidently using the Love to Learn methodology. Big thanks to Kennis and George for leading a great session and helping grow the coaching community across the region.
On the junior side, our PTG Level 6 Tournament (August 8–10) was a huge success, delivering strong competition across multiple divisions. Congratulations to all of our winners and finalists:
- Girls’ 12s – Winner: Nora Basic; Finalist: Vivian Basic
- Girls’ 12s – Consolations Winner: Scarlett Konecny; Finalist: Annebelle Liu
- Girls’ 16s – Winner: Adelina Driscoll; Finalist: Jenna Ramos
- Girls’ 16s – Consolations Winner: Evelyn Dunton; Finalist: Layla Javanmardi
- Boys’ 14s – Winner: Max Mearns; Finalist: IJ Puche
- Boys’ 14s – Consolation Winner: Laszlo Landsman; Finalist: Andrew Atohi
- Boys’ 16s – Round Robin Winner: Isaiah Hellman; Runner-up: Jack Hyatt
A special shout out to our Most Improved Players for the month of August, sisters Vivian and Nora Basic, keep up the great work! Big thanks also to Coach Ken, Coach Joanet, and the PTG desk staff for running a flawless tournament from start to finish.
Looking ahead, PTG Adult Fall USTA League matches got underway August 28 and continue through November 11. Good luck to all participating teams! On the junior side, we’ll continue growing all of our existing programs while expanding our community outreach across the greater Gainesville area.
Facility Update
No major facility updates this month. With Fall Programming now in full swing, we’re excited to see so many familiar faces back on court and to welcome new players into the PTG community. Stop by anytime and say hello!
Coaches Tip of the Month
From Coach George: “Time your split-step to land the instant your opponent hits the ball, not before, not after.” The split-step is one of the most underrated movements in tennis, and getting the timing right is what separates quick, reactive players from those who feel a step slow. Land too early and you’ll lose your explosive push-off. Land too late and you’re already behind the play. Practice syncing your split-step to the exact moment of your opponent’s contact, and you’ll immediately feel more balanced, quicker, and ready to move in any direction.