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Month: September 2023

JTCC Visits Croatia: A Davis Cup Adventure

Posted on by JTCC Marketing

With 27 enthusiastic JTCC supporters cheering wildly at courtside, it was a day of many “firsts” for Bob Bryan and Team USA as they defeated Croatia 2-1 in the opening match of the 2023 Davis Cup Finals Group Stage in Split, Croatia.

In his first match as Captain, Bob Bryan achieved what no other captain had been able to achieve before by defeating Croatia. Prior to the win, Team USA was 0-5 against Croatia. What made the victory especially “sweet” was that the match was in Croatia.

The Davis Cup Finals Group Stage featured 16 teams playing in four cities, with one “home” team at each venue and two teams from each group advancing to the eight-nation knockout Final.

Leading Team USA was an impressive contingent of players, including JTCC alumnus Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Mackenzie McDonald, and doubles specialists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.

Among the stalwart fans sitting courtside behind the Team USA bench for all nine matches against Croatia, Netherlands, and Finland were Board chair Kathleen Horvath and CEO Ray Benton, joined by longtime JTCC supporters Mike Barnello, Steve Glover, and LynnDee Conley (who traveled nine time zones from Los Angeles), tennis tourism fanatics Donn Marvin and Mike Teeter, and more. All were dressed in custom JTCC Team USA apparel often seen on the Tennis Channel broadcasts.

“Meeting new JTCC supporters was very rewarding, and this journey was a resounding success in terms of excitement and promoting JTCC’s mission,” said Horvath. “We eagerly anticipate future trips that blend tennis with advancing JTCC’s cause.”

Captain Bob wasted no time in naming his brother Mike as Team USA doubles coach. The legendary twins own an impressive 25-5 Davis Cup record, the most wins ever for a Team USA doubles team.

In May, Bob and Mike were the honorees at JTCC’s 2023 Gala, sparking interest in JTCC’s first fundraising trip to Croatia. Stay tuned for the next Davis Cup adventure!

Para Standing Tennis Takes Center Stage at US Open

Posted on by JTCC Marketing

JTCC Para Standing players Nicky Maxwell and Ken ‘Rocket’ Rodriguez had the opportunity of their lifetime when the duo competed in a Para Standing Doubles match in Arthur Ashe Stadium preceding the US Open Women’s Singles Final on September 9.

Selected by the USTA based on their recent high level of play, Maxwell and Rodriguez were accompanied by JTCC Coach Karl Lee, head coach for JTCC’s Para Standing tennis program, and Oliver Akli, JTCC Senior Director of Coaches’ Development.

Maxwell, who’s British, was born with a congenital limb absence below the knee. A JTCC fixture since he attended a Para Standing tennis event sponsored by Hanger Clinic in January, Maxwell made his tournament debut at the Para Standing Italian Open in Turin, Italy, in the spring of 2023.

“It was an incredible experience to play on Ashe and a memory that I will treasure for a long time,” stated Maxwell. “None of this would have been possible without the steady support of JTCC coaches Karl Lee and Gabby Hesse. The center has taken me in and been my biggest supporter while also having the vision to see the potential of Para Standing Tennis long before I did myself.”

Born in Puerto Rico, Rodriguez lost his leg during his service in the Navy. During rehabilitation, he began playing tennis, and in 2022 he discovered JTCC, where he has become a regular participant in JTCC’s weekly Adaptive program.

“Tennis is one of those dreams you never knew you had,” Rodriguez said candidly. “Once I started playing, I started accepting more of my injury and how I look at myself. Tennis has been really helpful with my mental and physical health and pushes me beyond my limits.”

“Maxwell and Rodriguez epitomize effort and perseverance,” commented Coach Lee on the significance of the event. “JTCC will help show the world the potential of the Adaptive Athlete and how tennis can be a pathway of healing for everyone.”

The US Open produced a two-minute video of the exhibition featuring Maxwell and Rodriguez, which will provide a lifetime memory for the dynamic duo. To watch the clip, please click here.

Para Standing Tennis is tailored to individuals with ambulatory disabilities who choose to participate while standing, encompassing those with limb loss or differences and individuals with limited mobility, such as those with multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities.

Under the guidance of Coach Lee and Head of Wheelchair & Adaptive Tennis Gabby Hesse, who was unable to attend the event due to illness, JTCC boasts one of the strongest Para Standing tennis programs in the nation.

JTCC Alumnus Frances Tiafoe Advances to US Open Quarterfinals

Posted on by JTCC Marketing

JTCC alumnus Frances Tiafoe’s outstanding run at the 2023 US Open not only showcased his immense talent, but his continued ascent in the world of professional tennis.

With his impressive quarterfinal appearance, Tiafoe solidified his status as one of the top players on the global ATP Tour. His remarkable journey through the tournament, marked by gritty determination and exceptional shot-making, left fans and experts alike eagerly anticipating his future achievements.

In the first three rounds, Tiafoe defeated opponents Learner Tien, Sebastian Ofner, Adrian Mannarino, and Rinky Hijikata, losing only one set in four matches. In a hotly contested three-hour match in the fourth round, Tiafoe faced Ben Shelton, 2022 NCAA singles champion and friend. The third set reached its climax with an intense tiebreak during which Tiafoe found himself on the brink of clinching the set, holding a set point at 7-6. However, Shelton emerged victorious 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2.

The match between Tiafoe and Shelton was historic, marking the first Grand Slam quarterfinal to feature two Black American players. Tiafoe acknowledged the significance of the moment. “It’s great with two people of color going at it. Obviously, a historic moment,” Tiafoe said. “But ultimately, once you get out there, you just want to win.”

His dedication to kindling the passion in the next generation of tennis stars is exemplified by the recent establishment of the Frances Tiafoe Fund. This initiative, in collaboration with the USTA Foundation, is focused on breaking down barriers and ensuring tennis becomes a readily accessible opportunity for the youth in Prince George’s County and underserved communities across the nation.

Tiafoe and his twin brother, Franklin, have been fixtures at JTCC since their childhood. Their family’s journey began when they immigrated from war-torn Sierra Leone in West Africa to the United States during the 1990s. At JTCC, their father, Constant, was in charge of maintenance, and the Tiafoe twins could often be found traversing the club’s grounds, tennis racquets in hand, observing and emulating the coaches and players.

Tiafoe initially entered the JTCC scene as a participant in the afterschool training program. As time passed, his tennis skills flourished within this nurturing environment. Progressing through the JTCC development pathway, he became a full-time participant, and it wasn’t long before his prodigious talent propelled him into the professional tennis world in 2015 at the age of 17.

Tiafoe will represent Team USA in the highly anticipated 2023 Davis Cup Finals Group Stage scheduled to take place in Split, Croatia, from September 12-17. A contingent of JTCC supporters will be making the trip to cheer on Tiafoe and Team USA.

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