Week of February 09, 2024

Volunteer at This Year’s NBO!

Tennis Canada is looking for volunteers for this year’s National Bank Open presented by Rogers, scheduled from August 4 to 12 at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto and in Montreal at Stade IGA. Join the 2,500-member NBO volunteer team and experience one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. Apply to be a tournament volunteer or a Ballcrew member. To learn more about volunteering and to apply, click here

Attention Tennis Volunteers, Players,

Coaches, and Enthusiasts

Are you a keen tennis club player looking to give back to your community, or are you new to the scene and eager to learn more about promoting tennis at the club community level? Join our Community Tennis Facilitator Training at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, ON, on February 22nd. For more information, please see below.

Community Tennis Facilitator

• Location Sobeys Stadium
• Address: 1 Shoreham dr. Toronto, On
• Date: Thursday February 22nd (9:00am to 3:00pm)
• Cost: $80.00

Click here to register
Note: registration is first come, first served, with spots limited

TRAINING MISSION

To prepare Community Tennis Facilitators (CTFs) who will stimulate players’ retention & growth by delivering quality tennis programs, so players choose tennis as a sport for life. In a quality tennis program, players experience a Caring Instructor, Making Friends, Active Participation, Appropriate Challenges and Improvement in point play, while having Fun throughout each tennis session. Hence, a quality program entails these six key characteristics, which we identify as Quality Standards (QS).

CTFs COMPETENCIES:

The mission of a Community Tennis Facilitator (CTF) is to stimulate players’ retention & growth by delivering quality tennis programs, so players choose tennis as a sport for life. Hence, a competent Community Tennis Facilitator has the required tennis knowledge and skills, as well as organizational and leadership skills to assist in delivering a quality tennis program through the application of its six key characteristics.

Join us in becoming a certified Community Tennis Facilitator and make a real difference in the tennis community! Sign up today!

2024 Tennis Symposium and Career Expo

Sign up deadline extended until Sunday!!!

Join us for the 2024 Tennis Symposium and Career Expo, a collaborative initiative by the Ontario Tennis Association (OTA) and the Tennis Professionals Association (TPA), dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise within the tennis community. Scheduled for February 14th at the prestigious Sobeys Stadium, this symposium offers a unique educational experience tailored for both coaches and club stakeholders. Don't miss the chance to enrich your understanding of the latest trends and insights in the tennis world.

Added Presentation – Women Leaders in Tennis Panel Discussion, featuring Leigh Bradwell, Maria Patrascu and Katy Shulaeva!

This event is a TPA re-certification module. For more information on the event, click here. If your club or Academy would like to exhibit at the Career Expo (free to OTA member clubs/Academies), contact Andrew Chappell, achappell@tennisontario.com. To secure your spot and delve into a day of valuable education and networking, register here. Admission to the Career Expo is free for jobseekers after 2pm.

National Bank Roadshow Kicks off 2024!

The OTA’s National Bank Roadshow, featuring the Merchant of Tennis Smash Cage, kicked off the 2024 tennis season last weekend by paying a visit to the Toronto Home and Back Yard Show at the International Centre in Mississauga.

With over 15,000 people attending the event, the OTA’s Roadshow was a busy attraction, with many new players trying out their serve in the Smash Cage, testing Yonex racquets and winning prizes!

The Roadshow will visit over 70 OTA-member clubs, schools and community events all across the province, offering up fastest serve competitions, doubles, singles and junior clinics, Yonex demo racquets, prizes, Merchant of Tennis discounts and more! Dates are filling up fast, so talk to your club executive or event manager about getting the National Bank Roadshow at your location. For more information, contact Ely Schwartz at eschwartz@tennisontario.com.

Sharon Fichman Fantasy Camp at

Premier RC Markham!

Former Canadian Fed Cup player, former World No. 21 WTA star and past Masters Series Italian Open Champion, Sharon Fichman (above, centre), recently conducted a Fantasy Camp at Premier Racquet Clubs Markham from 11 am to 1 pm. Eight lucky Tennis enthusiasts joined this exclusive fantasy camp for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage with Fichman and enhance their tennis skills under her guidance.

Known for her exceptional skills and achievements in professional tennis, Sharon provided participants with an unforgettable experience. The fantasy tennis camp offered a unique blend of instruction, drills, and the chance to hear firsthand anecdotes from Fichman's illustrious tennis journey. Participants gained valuable insights into Fichman's career but also had the opportunity to refine their own game on the court.

Fichman's presence at Premier Racquet Clubs Markham was a rare and exciting chance for tennis lovers to connect with a tennis icon.

About Premier Racquet Clubs Markham

Premier Racquet Clubs is a 6-court, seasonal facility that caters to the local community. Members of all ages participate in daily clinics, lessons and tournaments. Premier Racquet Clubs Markham also hosts a variety of charity events throughout the year.

About Sharon Fichman

Fichman is a Canadian former tennis player. She achieved a career-high ranking of No. 77 in singles (May 2014) and No. 21 in doubles (January 2022).

NEW Nike Shoes at Merchant of Tennis

Introducing the NEW Asics Speed Solution FF 3!

The latest shoes from Nike are here, featuring new models and premium style.
Shop now: www.merchantoftennis.com/collections/footwear/nike

MerchantOfTennis.com is open 24/7 with shipping and store pickup services available.
Store hours and updated information: www.merchantoftennis.com/pages/contact-us

Shop Gift Cards: www.merchantoftennis.com/collections/gift-cards/

Connect with Merchant of Tennis:
www.instagram.com/merchanttennis/
www.facebook.com/MerchantTennis/

OTA Appoints Richard Mainella as

President and CEO

The Chair of the Board of the OTA, Dianne Weatherby, announced on January 31 that, following an extensive search, Richard Mainella has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 26, 2024. “The hiring committee interviewed many exceptional candidates, and we are delighted to announce Richard’s appointment.

The board extends its congratulations to Richard and is confident his passion, expertise, business acumen, and innovative thinking will elevate the OTA to new heights,” said Weatherby. "We congratulate Richard Mainella on his appointment and look forward to working with him and his staff at the Ontario Tennis Association," said Gavin Ziv, Chief Executive Officer, Tennis Canada. “Tennis Canada's partnership with the provincial and territorial tennis associations is very important to the growth and development of our sport across the country."

Mainella has extensive experience in corporate management, having over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has the unique experience of working and supporting international markets including the Caribbean and Latin America where he championed international brand work and negotiated strategic partnerships in the Entertainment and Professional Soccer arenas. He enjoyed his time in Mexico, where he was Chief Marketing Officer at Scotiabank and launched innovative brand and sponsorship campaigns and led digital strategies, resulting in the award for Best Website Platform and recognition as the number one social media bank. Richard has also owned and operated a retail start-up. On the philanthropic front, he has chaired the United Way, fundraised for the Philpott Children’s Tennis Foundation, and participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer.

“It is with tremendous enthusiasm that I embark on this journey as the next President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Tennis Association. These are exciting times in the world of tennis, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to grow the sport across the province,” said Mainella.

Richard also has wide-ranging experience in the tennis community.

He grew up playing tennis at Bayview Fairways & German Mills tennis clubs in Thornhill where he later became a teaching professional. 

Richard also had a successful junior career, ranked number one in singles and doubles in Ontario and winning the U18 Provincial Singles and U18 National Doubles titles. His impressive results led to a US scholarship at the University of Texas Pan American where he was all-conference. He continued to compete in the senior circuit and has represented Canada at World events in Turkey and New Zealand.

Richard is a former OTA Board Director who served in the capacity of Vice Chair, Marketing and Communications and participated on the Strategic Planning Committee, CEO Appraisal Committee and was Chair of the Governance Committee. 

The board and staff of the OTA extend heartfelt congratulations to Richard on his appointment and eagerly anticipate collaborating with him to advance the sport of tennis in Ontario.

About the Ontario Tennis Association

Founded in 1918, the OTA is a non-profit, provincial sport association for tennis in Ontario. It is the largest provincial tennis association in Canada, with 260 member clubs representing 85,000 adult and junior tennis players. The OTA encourages participation in the sport of tennis and provides a structure of services which will assist players to reach a level of competence.

consistent with their personal goals and abilities. The OTA sanctions and operates the Junior, Senior and Open Provincial Championships and is located at Sobeys Stadium, home of the National Bank Open and Tennis Canada. OTA junior alumni include 12-time Grand Slam Doubles Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Daniel Nestor, 3-time Doubles Grand Slam Champion Gabriela Dabrowski, Milos Raonic, Denis Shapovalov and 2019 U.S. Open Singles Champion Bianca Andreescu. For more information on the OTA, please visit us at www.tennisontario.com.

Another Green Means Go Event

at Sobeys Stadium

North York Tennis club members enjoyed an evening at Sobeys Stadium attending the OTA’s Green Means Go program. Participants had a mixture of doubles and singles play, highlighted with some instructional tips. Yonex demo racquets were available to tryout and some giveaways handed out. Special thanks to Tom for organizing the players. Encourage your community club executive to book your clubs’ date at Sobeys! Green Means Go is an OTA program designed for 50+ players. For more information on Green Means Go, click here. Contact Ely Schwartz at eschwartz@tennisontario.com to book.

Special OTA 2024 NBO Ticket Offer!

Get your NBO Tickets for Toronto now, use the OTA promo code and save!

The OTA is pleased to offer tennis fans a special offer on tickets for the 2024 National Bank Open in Toronto and Montreal. 

In Toronto, save 50% on Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze tickets for Opening Day (Tuesday) and save 25% on Gold, Silver and Bronze tickets for Tuesday to Sunday evening sessions. Use promo code TO24OTA. To learn more and buy tickets for Toronto, click here. No discounts on Monday night finals.

OTA Club and Regional News

We Want Your Club and Regional News!

Is your club hosting a significant tournament or event, does it have an anniversary coming up, is there a volunteer or player who deserves recognition for their contributions? If so, we want to hear about it. Just send a photo and a short write-up to us and we’ll feature it in SPIN in our OTA Club and Regional News section. To submit a story for consideration, just email pmalcomson@tennisontario.com.

Tell Us Why You're Great!

Tournaments - Community - Outreach -

Courses

Click the calendar above to see the live list of upcoming events

OTA Marketplace

Mastering Doubles with Daniel Nestor!

Daniel Nestor launches new online doubles training academy!

Canadian tennis legend Daniel Nestor recently launched an online doubles training academy designed to help players maximize their potential when competing in doubles competition. The course is designed specifically for doubles players of all levels, from club players to those heading to the pros!

Daniel Nestor is widely considered one of the greatest to ever play doubles tennis. In his storied 28-year professional career, he earned an impressive record of 91 men's doubles titles, including eight Grand Slam victories, as well as an Olympic Gold Medal in 2000. Since retiring in 2018, Daniel has dedicated much of his time to teaching others the lessons he's learned throughout his career. By sharing his invaluable insights, he helps players like you elevate their doubles game at all levels!

The 41-lesson course includes over 1.5 hours of video content, covering all facets of the doubles game including, serving, returning, partnership strategy, teamwork, the mental game, tips, drills and more!

To learn more about Daniels great new online doubles training academy and to order the online course, click here.

To receive a 15% OTA discount, use promo code: OTA

Let Daniel help you to become a force to be reckoned with on the doubles court! 

Improve Your Game with a Silent Partner!

Showcasing a long-standing favorite – Silent Partner, the versatile portable ball machine! With over two decades of excellence, Silent Partner has been the go-to choice for tennis enthusiasts and professionals seeking the ultimate training partner. Known for its impressive ball speed, Silent Partner offers the perfect opportunity to refine your skills and up your game. Proudly Canadian! Visit www.sptennis.ca to learn more and place your order now!

A Marketplace for Everything Tennis!

Whether you’re pro advertising your coaching services, a company wanting to reach the tennis enthusiast, a club looking for new members or you just want to sell some old wooden tennis racquets – you can reach over 15,000 tennis players in Ontario each week via our weekly newsletter SPIN, with an ad in the OTA Marketplace section. Listings and pictures are only $125 per week and all we need is a horizontal image like the one above (500 pixels deep X 800 pixels wide) and a couple of paragraphs. We’ll do the rest! Need creative help? We offer creative services at a reasonable cost. For more info, email pmalcomson@tennisontario.com. Include “OTA Marketplace" in the Subject line.