Alex Tsai is our junior player of the month. Only 11, Alex is already playing ETA Level 1 tournaments and participates in our Boys Gold group. Don’t let his diminutive size fool you, his precision groudstrokes and steely concentration make him one tough opponent!

Favorite Movie: Prince of Tennis
> Favorite music group: Don’t have one. Cuz I don’t listen to music that
> much.
> Favorite Touring Pro: Michael Chang because he’s short like me
> Favorite Actress: I like actors better
> Favorite Shot: Overhead cyclone smash (it’s from Prince of Tennis the
> show)
> Favorite local club: BTC
> Goals/Dream: To get 100 wins in Counter Strike (it’s a game) without dying
> once!!!
> Quote “Mada mada dane”

Congtatulations Alex!

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“When should I poach?” is a very common question that is asked of myself and the other pros all of the time. I believe that before you can know the right time to poach, you have to first realize what poaching really is. Once you understand what the poach is, you have to then factor in your opponent and your positioning. Once you can do all that you will be able to answer your own question, “when should I poach“?
What does poaching really mean in tennis? Before I can answer this question you must first recognize that it is not merely moving to the other side of the court during a point when you are at net. If you are following the ball when you are at the net and you merely reach out towards the middle to hit the ball, it is not a poach but rather a good net player’s point. Likewise, if I tell my partner I am going to switch sides after he serves, therefore, forcing the server to cover my side this also is not a poach. A poach is when the net player takes a risk by leaving their alley open and moving towards the middle of the court in the hopes of cutting off their opponent’s shot. The poach can be done with or without your partners knowledge of the poach. If your opponents read your poach, you will lose the point, but when it is done at the right time you can gain an easy and satisfying point.
Now that you understand what a poach is, recognizing your position and that of your opponent’s will be critical to executing a successful poach. The best time to poach is when your opponent is having to hit a more difficult shot than normal. This can mean they are on the run or simply the ball is pushing them back behind the baselline. If you try to poach when they are not in trouble, you can get burned down your alley. You must also factor in your postioning too. As long as you are not in a defensive position, such as at the service line, you should be able to poach effectively.
Now that you are armed with all of the knowledge about the poach it is time to try it. If your positon is good and your opponent’s is in enough trouble, you should start to sneak to the middle of the court before they strike the ball. Yes you are leaving your alley open but if you correctly factored in your position and that of your opponents, it should be a very successful poach and a very difficult shot for your opponents to return. Remember, you will lose some points from poaching but it’s okay to keep trying. It will drive your opponents crazy.

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Sunday Dec. 19 2004
Freindly Results of the Class at:

12-2p.m.

Eric beat David 4-0
Lowell beat Adam 4-0
Lee beat Zack 4-2
Luke beat Chris 4-2
Shaun beat Andrew 4-2
Kevin beat Kalee 4-2
Artim beat Angela 4-3
Mckenzie beat Meghan 4-3
Kyle beat Alex 4-2
Charles beat Jim 4-0
Matt beat Noah 4-3
Eric beat Lowell 4-3
Shaun beat Kevin 4-3
Lee beat Luke 4-2
Artim beat Charles 2-0

2-4p.m.

Leighan beat Sara 4-2
Alexis beat Katherine 4-0
Ashley beat Vida 4-0
Julia beat Meghan 4-0
Anna beat Gina 4-0
Jamie beat Brittney 4-0
Chrissy beat Kelsey 4-2
Rocka beat Neema 4-3
Meera beat Lisa 4-3
Anne Marie beat Sara 4-1
Alexis beat Leighann 4-1
Anna beat Ashley 4-1
Kaitlin beat Meghan 4-1
Sara G beat Zydia 4-0
Jamie beat Chrissy 4-0
Gina beat Brittney 4-0
Anne Marie beat Kelsey 4-2
Meera beat Rocka 4-2

4-6p.m.

Dave beat Kiran 4-2
Adam beat Carly 4-1
Ryan beat Scott 4-3
Matt beat Brandon 4-0
Alex beat Jeff 4-2
Patrick beat Paul 4-2
Jasem beat Patrick 4-2
Scott beat Carly 4-1
Brandon beat Jeff 4-2
Paul beat Alex 4-3
Matt beat Alex 4-1
Adam beat Ryan 4-2
Dave beat Adam 4-0
Matt beat Kiran 4-2
Ryan beat Jasem 4-1

Sunday Dec. 5, 2004
Freindly mini matches during class at:

12-2p.m.

Mike H beat Zack 4-3
Angela beat Matt 4-1
Kyle beat Mackenzie 4-1
Dan beat Adam 4-2
Chris Shumeyko beat Tyler Miller 4-2
Meghan beat Charles 4-3
Alex beat Kalie 4-3
Kevin beat Lee 4-3
Chris Tyler beat Andrew 4-3
Lowell beat Eric 4-3
David beat Shaun 4-0
Lowell beat David 4-1
Andrew beat Kyle 4-1
Mackenzie vs. Meghan 1-1
Chris Tyler beat Chris Shumeyko 4-2
Mike V. vs. Tyler 2-2

2-4p.m.

Leighann beat Katherine 4-0
Matt beat Alexis 4-1
Inna beat Sara 4-1
Meghan beat Gina 4-1
Julia beat Vidya 4-2
Neema beat Shay 4-1
Meera beat Lisa 4-2
Rocka beat Anna Marie 4-2
Anna beat Jamie 4-2
Chrissy beat Sara 4-2
Meera beat Kelsy 3-0
Leighann beat Meghan 4-1
Inna beat Alexis 4-2
Sara beat Katherine 4-3
Anne Marie beat Shay 3-1

4-6p.m.

Paul beat Brandon 4-3
Jeff S beat Alex 4-2
Scotty beat Peter 4-1
Kiran beat Kyle 4-3
Ryan beat Jeff G 4-3
Jasem beat Matt 4-2
Adam beat Paul 4-3
Kyle beat Scotty 4-0
Jeff G beat Jasem 4-3
Adam beat Jeff 4-3

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Mixed doubles means lots of fun. Here are the ones having fun on December 4. Standing from left: Alan and Alison Winchell, Pat and Ken Moses, Laurie Solomen, Dave Hanzes, Don and Joey Krebbecks. Kneeling: Georgia Nemcek, Colleen Hanzes, Linda and Heinz Klein. Don’t forget USA League Tennis Mixed Doubles starting in January.

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(L-R: Scott Lowenstein, Alex Tsai, Matt Asher, AJ Rao)

AJ Rao pulled off two solid victories to win the 2004 Boys Jr. Ladder. The first was his win over the first seeded player Scott Lowenstein in a tight semifinal match, 9-7. In the final a determined Rao won convincingly over Matt Asher 9-1. Asher played well to place second as an unseeded player in the tournament, but came a up short against Rao in the final.

Alex Tsai filled in for an absent Jasem Yousuf who made it to the semifinal, but was unable to play. Scott Lowenstein played well again this year as he was undefeated until losing in the tough semifinal match to Rao.

Thank you to all players who participated on the Boy’s Jr. Ladder for 2004. The tournament was a great success.

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