Dear Member,
Hope you’re well! Here’s all the latest news from Rackets Academy. We bring you results from last week’s Mrs Miyagi’s Ladies League matches and announce our winners from the tournaments held last weekend. We have a Player Interview with Iwona Piotrowska and check out our Rule and Tip of the Week from Coach Mariano. Don’t forget to sign up for our upcoming tournaments…Read on!
UTR U12 Boys & Girls Singles – Finals Results
Congratulations to Eva Lukyanova who beat Ernest Yakubovskiy 6-3 5-7 10-6 in the finals of the UTR U12 Boys & Girls Singles Tournament last weekend, taking home the winners trophy. A fantastic performance from you both, well done!
UTR U17 Boys & Girls Singles – Finals Results
Congratulations to Ethan Milgan who took the champions title after beating Ruby Cooling 6-2 6-3 in the finals of the UTR U17 Boys & Girls Singles Tournament last week. Congratulations and well played to both!
Men’s Invitational Singles – Finals Results
Congratulations to our champion Ethan Milgan who beat Elliott Kahi 6-4 6-2 in the finals of the Men’s Invitational Singles Tournament. Well done to our finalists on a great tournament!
Upcoming Tournaments
Check out our tournaments that are taking place over the next few weeks. To sign up, call 052 992 8595 TODAY or email register@racketsacademy.ae:
Fri 5th February – UTR Boys & Girls U14 Doubles, Atlantis Hotel, Palm
Fri 5th & Sat 6th February – UTR Men’s Doubles, Rackets Academy, Motor city
Fri 12th & Sat 13th February – UTR Boys & Girls U13 Singles, Atlantis Hotel, Palm
Fri 12th & Sat 13th February – UTR Boys & Girls U17 Singles, Rackets Academy, Motor City
Fri 19th & Sat 20th February – UTR Boys & Girls U16 Singles, Rackets Academy, Motor City
Fri 19th & Sat 20th February – UTR Men’s Singles, Atlantis Hotel, Palm
Fri 26th & Sat 27th February – UTR Boys & Girls U12 Singles, Rackets Academy, Motor City
Interview with Iwona Piotrowska
This week’s interview is with our lovely Rackets Academy Ladies League Player, Iwona Piotrowska.
1. Who is your favourite professional player (male & female)?
Djokovic & Federer and upcoming young polish star Iga Swiatek, ranking 17.
2. Who is your favourite Rackets Academy Coach?
My favourite coach is my first coach, George.
3. Why do you love tennis?
I’ve always loved tennis, watched for years and wanted to try. It’s the perfect sport for Dubai.
4. How did you get into tennis?
Lots of my friends started playing and I just joined them.
5. How long have you been playing tennis for?
5 years on and off , as I had knee surgery and could not play for a while.
6. List 3 things you like about Rackets Academy
- 1. The ladies
- 2. The atmosphere/location
- 3. The coaches
Rule of the Week: The Overrule Rule
According to the rules and regulations of the USTA (United States Tennis Association) for the juniors tournaments, once a player has been overruled twice in the same match they are “in the code.” The 3rd overrule, a point penalty, is assessed (a point is awarded to the opponent) in addition to the assessment of a COC/Suspension penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. On the 4th overrule, the player loses a game; after the 5th overrule, the player is defaulted.
Coach Mariano’s Tip of the Week: Choosing a Racket
“There are five key factors to consider before choosing your next racket:
1) Head size: Typically between 95-110 square inches. Larger heads, generate more power and have a larger sweet spot. Smaller head sizes offer more control.
2) Length: Adult rackets can be anything from 27-29 inches long, though most are nearer the lower end of the scale. Longer rackets are generally lighter than standard frames, and offer more reach and more power on serve.
3) Weight: Heavier rackets (320g and beyond) are more powerful than lighter rackets (310g and below), but are less manoeuvrable and can wear a player out. Strings add around 30g to the weight of a racket.
4) Balance: Head-heavy rackets are often lighter, offering added power on groundstrokes, while head-light rackets are generally heavier but more manoeuvrable.
5) Stiffness: The racket flex on impact affects power and comfort. The stiffer a frame, the less energy is lost when hitting the ball, but sends more impact shock to your hand and arm.
Now that you have the key factors to consider to choose your next racket, the next step will be to speak with your coach to advise you of the best racket that can suit your game style and level. Good luck finding your next weapon!“
Mrs Miyagi’s Ladies League: Season 7 – W/c 24th Jan: Results
Well done to all the ladies who played in last week’s matches. Congratulations to Bulldogs, Simon’s Rackettes and The Match Makers who won their matches. See scores below.
Division B:
Baseliners vs Bulldogs
Line 1: 2-6 6-2 (10-6) (winner: Baseliners)
Line 2: 5-7 4-6 (winner: Bulldogs)
Overall Winner: Bulldogs
Simon’s Rackettes vs Las Chicas
Line 1: 2-6 4-6 (winner: Las Chicas)
Line 2: 6-1 6-4 (winner: Simon’s Rackettes)
Overall Winner: Simon’s Rackettes
The Match Makers vs George’s Rackettes
Line 1: 6-2 6-1 (winner: The Match Makers)
Line 2: 2-6 4-6 (winner: George’s Rackettes)
Overall Winner: The Match Makers
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Have a great week!
Rackets Academy