Tennis Briefs(3): Makarome Recognized for Sportsmanship During US Open; More

Florida Tennis Star Makarome Recognized at USTA Semiannual Meeting During US Open

Makarome accepting her award this summer at the International Tennis Hall of Fame

Star Makarome of Wesley Chapel, Fla., was recognized with a video tribute for receiving the national 2015 Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Award during the annual awards banquet held on Monday, Sept. 7 during the 2015 USTA Semiannual Meeting in New York City during the US Open.

“It’s crazy,” the 17 year old, who on Tuesday starts classes at Columbia University in New York City, said about her journey from a young junior to the collegiate ranks. “I remember when I was in the 10s [division] when I was 9 years old, thinking, ‘Can you imagine when I’m 17 years old? I’ll be so old, and that will be so far away. But it’s gone so quick.

“When I was 10 years old I didn’t realize how far playing USTA tennis would get me.”

Award nominees must be 18 or under, and “a junior player who exemplifies the finest qualities of sportsmanship in tournament play as well as maintaining the finest traditions of the great sportsmen or women of tennis, past and present.” The award is given in honor of 1967 Hall of Famer Bill Talbert, who was regarded for his high standards of sportsmanship.

Star and her brother Noah, one year younger and a five-star blue chip player nationally on TennisRecruiting.net, grew up in a family which had always viewed tennis as a vehicle to teach lessons that go beyond the court.

“As parents, what we are most proud about Noah and Star is the humility and sportsmanship they demonstrate both on and off the tennis court,” says their mother Magdalene.

A certified tennis teaching professional, their father raised them in tennis from an early age at public courts that were next to a playground, where fun physical activities were indistinguishable from one another.

“Definitely my family [was instrumental], my dad is my coach,” Star said. “He’s been a pivotal part of it through the good and bad times, and my mom helping to keep my school on track. I was never home-schooled, so it was a bit tough at times, and also my brother [was instrumental]. We played tournaments together and we’ve been through the ups and downs. And the USTA Florida Section and [USTA Florida Director of Competitive Tennis] Jason [Gilbert], they’ve always been so supportive.”

One of the biggest adjustments as a college freshman, Star says, is being apart from her brother.

“It’s weird being separated, we’re very close, it’s a big adjustment for both of us,” she says. “I’m used to hitting with him whenever I want to because tennis has always been such a family-oriented thing for us.

“But we still Facetime for a long time and try and keep in touch as much as possible. But definitely miss him — I hope he misses me!” she says laughing.

For more information about the Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Award go to www.usta.com/About-USTA/USTA-Awards/bill_talbert.

Battle of the Sexes Charity Tennis Tournament in Tampa Area

East Lake Woodlands Country Club in Oldsmar, Fla., will host the 2015 ClubCorp Charity Classic, which includes the Battle of the Sexes charity tennis tournament, on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015.

The Clubcorp Charity Classic series of events benefit K9 Partners for Patriots, Augie’s Quest (ALSTDI) and the Employee Partners Care Foundation.

The tennis tournament begins at 9 a.m., with spots available for 28 men and 28 women.  The entry fee is $30 and includes tennis, a goodie bag, breakfast and lunch. Among the tournament’s unique components, men will get one serve and women get a “do-over” point each game.

The event is open to the public. Registration and donations may be paid by credit card, member charge, cash or check payable to Augie’s Quest. Call the East Lake tennis shop for more info or to register at (727) 785-2212, or on the web go to http://classic.als.net/Find-an-Event/Details.aspx?id=1621.

Registration Deadline Approaching for Jacksonville 10 and Under Tennis Workshop

Southside Tennis Complex in Jacksonville, Fla., will be the host site for a USTA 10 and Under Tennis Workshop on Sept. 12, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The workshop is designed to provide coaches, parents, teachers, and others that work with this age demographic the skills needed to engage and instruct children age 10 and under.

The Coach Youth Tennis program now serves as a prerequisite to becoming a certified teaching professional by the PTR or the USPTA. It also allows current coaches to participate and receive continuing education credits. Coach Youth Tennis has been developed in partnership between the Professional Tennis Registry, the United States Professional Tennis Association, the United States Olympic Committee and the United States Tennis Association.

The program consists of six on-line courses and one on-court 10 and Under Tennis Workshop.

The workshop fee is $15. It is highly recommended that participants take online courses 1-4 prior to attending the workshop. Please note that all workshops are non-refundable and non-transferrable once you are registered. Participants are asked to come dressed appropriately to participate in on-court workshops and to bring a racquet.

Southside Tennis Complex is located at 1539 Hendricks Avenue in Jacksonville.

To register for the workshop, sign-in at http://coachyouthtennis.com then click on the “workshops” tab and filter by state to select the workshop.

For additional information on the workshop contact Celia Rehm at cylrhem@bellsouth.net or go to www.jaxyouthtennis.com.