This Thursday, July 29^th Flatbread Pizza , inside Nectars, will host the Vineyard Youth Tennis Night.  A portion of the proceeds from all food sold that evening will be given back to the VYT Scholarship and Activities Fund. Flatbread Pizza supports local organizations that have an impact on the community.  I would like to invite everyone out who has in some way benefited from Vineyard Youth Tennis and support our program.  Myself and staff will be there around 6:00 and we hope to see you there to enjoy some great pizza!

This weekend, millions will watch the world's best tennis players battle in the finals at Wimbledon's Centre Court.

Terms such as ace, smash and double fault rejoined the water cooler lexicon this week. And you're on a first-name basis, once again, with Serena, Venus, Roger and Rafael.

It's hard to not get caught up in tennis each summer, starting with May's French Open and going to the U.S. Open matches in late August.

But once the Grand Slam events are done, the tennis love (and by love, we mean adoration) doesn't have to stop.

Chances are you there's an old racquet out in the garage, a decent court down the street and someone you know who is just as interested in getting into the game as you are. You just have to find them.

As president of the Hillsborough County Tennis Association, Marisol Casablanca says she gets several inquiries a week from adults curious about playing. For some it's a sport learned and left behind in grade school. Others have never even once heard the glorious whoosh of air escaping from a newly opened can of tennis balls.

Casablanca can relate to those late-starters. She hadn't picked up a racquet until three years ago, when she and a few pals signed up for a tennis-themed exercise class.

"I had never hit a ball in my life, and now I'm on two teams," she says.

Thirty-million Americans played tennis at least once in 2009, the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association reports - the most in 25 years. And 5.5 million say they play at least once a week.

"It's a great physical and mental release," says Kurt Kamperman, chief executive of community tennis for the United States Tennis Association. "You want your mind to focus on something other than work."

Part of the appeal is time. A singles match usually takes just 45 minutes, and doubles takes 90 minutes, Kamperman says. Compare that to the five hours it takes to get in 18 holes of golf.

But getting started in the sport isn't always easy. That's why the USTA launched a service on its website, www.usta.com, to help.

The site lists tennis courts and instructors available to the public, broken down by ZIP code. Most courts are free or inexpensive, and there are plenty of affordable beginner classes, Kamperman says.

"It's not equipment or expense that is a barrier," he says. "It's learning the game."

Tennis is more fun once you learn the basics of standing, strokes and serving, says Allegra Campos, tennis and athletics director at Hunter's Green Country Club in Tampa. Lessons also help those in poor physical condition build endurance.

"It's like riding a bike," Campos says. "It does come back."

She suggests adult beginners sign up for private lessons with a friend, take shorter sessions or schedule a class later in the evening, when it's cooler out. Instructors will adapt to your skills and group you with others at the same level.

"A good tennis pro, no matter who they are, will accommodate," she says. "You want to instill confidence right away."

Another entry point is Cardio Tennis, a USTA exercise program that's more cardiac workout than tennis instruction. Casablanca says it was the cardio class that got her interested in formal tennis instruction.

Now, she can't imagine spending a day without grabbing a racquet and hitting the court.

"We're going to play tennis until we're 100," she says.

Roscoe Tanner visits Vineyard Youth Tennis

Former number 4 ranked player in the world Roscoe Tanner visited Vineyard Youth Tennis on June 29th. Rosoce conducted a free children clinic and then also provided a men's and women's tennis clinic. A great time was had by all and of course one favorite questions was, "How did you hit your serve so hard?"  Roscoe's reply" Just toss the ball and swing like hell!"

USTA Tennis Comes to Martha’s Vineyard

Welcome Martha’s Vineyard Community Tennis

Tennis is booming on the Vineyard! While it has always been a popular summer activity, tennis has taken off in the past decade as a year round sport. Since then, courts are always in use and tournaments are held year round. Women’s and men’s leagues of all abilities bring out hundreds of players each spring and fall, and children’s tennis programs have doubled in size, assuring a growing tennis population for years to come.

To keep this enthusiasm alive and assist players of all abilities in enjoying tennis, a new association has been formed. Last month a group of island tennis players and professionals established Martha’s Vineyard Community Tennis, or MVCT. Approved by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), MVCT is an officially sponsored Community Tennis Association.

The goal of MVCT is to promote and develop tennis on Martha’s Vineyard through a variety of programs and services. MVCT will provide information to the public regarding tennis leagues, tournaments, clinics, court locations, tennis pros and their club affiliations, and exhibition matches. While only in existence for a month, MVCT has already received a grant from the USTA. Part of this money will be used to publish a directory of tennis players, making it easier for players to find tennis partners for matches and to broaden the scope of players island-wide.

One of the first events MVCT will sponsor is a tennis tournament, hosted at the Vineyard Youth Tennis Center, to raise money to help purchase uniforms for the high school girls and boys tennis teams. The event will be held March 27 and 28. The entry fee is $50 per adult. The founding members of MVCT are: Nina Bramhall, Adam Bresnick, John Cahill, Dick Dubin, Kelly Hess, Mas Kimball, Lorne Lewis, Sarah Moore, Doreen Rezendes, and Scott Smith.

For anyone interested in learning more about Martha’s Vineyard Community Tennis, volunteering, making a donation, or being listed in the tennis directory, please email the group at: membership@vineyardtennis.com