Tennis Acumen

Getting to Know PARRIS TODD

PETE ZIEBRON

15 year-old Parris Todd is currently competing on the ITF Challenger Circuit.

 

Parris Todd was discovered in 2012 when she was working on her tennis game, practicing on the courts near her home in Newport Beach, California.  While training with her strategy coach, Mike Saunders, Parris caught the eye of University of California-Irvine coach Trevor Kronemann.  As a result of her crisp ball striking during her session with Saunders, Parris was subsequently invited to be an alternate player for the Orange County Breakers World Team tennis franchise and eventually became a hitting partner for the team, also coached by Kronemann.   

 

For Parris Todd, it was a thrill to join the Breakers, as she received the invitation from Coach Kronemann on her 14th birthday.  The next day, Parris became teammates with Lindsay Davenport on the Breakers and joined a professional tennis league as a result of her ability to replicate match play when hitting with the world's elite tennis players.

 

Today, like most promising 15 year-olds, Parris Todd is currently competing on the International Tennis Federation Challenger circuit.  On this stage, players are using match play to fine tune their game and concurrently seek to eventually win the $10,000 and $25,000 Challenger events.  Perfecting proper technique and consistently executing strategy on the court are the primary and foundational goals at this level in professional tennis.

 

In addition to performance on the court, positive and encouraging coaching and feedback are essential to establishing a solid foundation in both the belief and the training regimen of the prospect.  Last year Liga Dekmeijure, a seasoned WTA veteran and member of the Breakers squad, was paired with Parris as a hitting partner.  Liga was immediately impressed with what she saw in Parris' game and reached out to Sandy Mittleman, President and CEO of the MLJ Group, suggesting that he take a closer look at Parris Todd's efforts on the tennis court.  Mittleman has a keen eye for talent as he spent time at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy and has worked with several professional players including Dekmeijure and Camila Giorgi.

 

• "There are three things I look for in a player; honesty in who they really are, passion for the game and the ability to do what others are not willing to do to be successful and Parris fits all three like a glove." - Sandy Mittleman

 

Following a one week trip to Rochester, NY to practice with Sandy Mittleman, their decision to work together was mutual. Parris Todd recognizes that Mittleman is someone who allows her to maximize her talent and abilities on the tennis court.  Concurrently, Sandy Mittleman sees a jewel of a player in Parris Todd - an athlete who possesses the necessary passion, character and willingness to put in the hard work - yet also someone who is in need of polish and refinement.  

 

• "Sandy encourages me to be ME and play my game." - Parris Todd

 

 

Parris Todd serving on the practice court.

 

Working with Sandy Mittleman has immediately paid dividends. As the business manager of Parris Todd, he has been able to provide her first professional contract with Wilson and as her tour coach continues to improve her game on the court, now with clear and professional direction, intention and focus.  Coach Mittleman will also schedule the rest of Parris' year accordingly, strategically competing in the tournaments that will benefit her the most.   Mittleman will travel with Parris to provide the day to day counsel that is imperative for promising players to continue to be able to mark their progress on and off the court to gradually and eventually achieve success on larger stages. 

 

Parris cited Maria Sharapova as one of her favorite players because Sharapova is a fighter.  She also mentioned Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, since he is fun to watch on the court.  The game of Parris Todd also provides spectators with flashes of entertainment as she excels at taking the ball early, especially in backhand exchanges with opponents. 

 

The combination of the fact that Parris has been on the roster of the Orange County Breakers, was briefly tutored by Billie Jean King and is currently working daily with Sandy Mittleman is allowing her to improve her techniques while competing on the ITF Pro Circuit.   Parris recently decided that she is ready to maximize her efforts and abilities as a professional tennis player and Sandy Mittleman will provide the firm yet gentle instruction and implementation to help Parris win in Paris and throughout the rest of the world in the very near future.

 

LEONARDO MAYER Advances to 4th Round at Wimbledon - Will Play Grigor Dimitrov

PETE ZIEBRON

Leonardo Mayer is into the 2nd week of a major for the first time in his career.   Pete Ziebron Images

World #64 Leonardo Mayer of Argentina continued his impressive run at Wimbledon with a 6-4 7-6(1) 6-3 win over Russian Andrey Kuznetsov in 3rd round action on Friday.  Mayer saved all 9 break points against his serve in the match.  

With the win, Mayer evened his career mark at majors at 19-19, an impressive accomplishment given the fact that his career record in singles on the ATP Tour is 77-89.  

In fact, Mayer has lost to a top 3 seed in the last 3 majors that he has played:

• 2014 Roland Garros - 3rd round loss to #1 Rafael Nadal
• 2014 Australian Open - 2nd round loss to #2 Novak Djokovic
• 2013 US Open - 2nd round loss to #3 Andy Murray 

Immediately following the Australian Open loss to Djokovic,  Mayer reached his first career final this February in Vina del Mar, Chile, where he lost in straight sets to then world #15 Fabio Fognini of Italy.

This year at Wimbledon, Mayer fired 22 aces and came back from 2 sets to 1 down in the 1st round to defeat the tournament's #25 seed Italian Andreas Seppi.  Next, Mayer won 16 of 24 points at net in defeating Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the 2nd round before eliminating Kuznetsov of Russia in the 3rd round.

Mayer reached a career high of world #51 in June 2010 and his current ranking of 64 will certainly rise given the fact that he was eliminated in the 2nd round at Wimbledon last year.  Although Mayer plays his best on clay, his 4th round appearance on the lawns of Wimbledon is the deepest he has ever gone in any major, besting 4 3rd round results at Roland Garros.

Next up for Mayer is the #11 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.  Dimitrov, this year's Champion of the grass court tournament at Queen's Club in London, came from 2 sets to 1 down to defeat Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine in the 3rd round yesterday at Wimbledon.

Should Mayer defeat Dimitrov on Monday and if defending Wimbledon Champion and #3 seed Andy Murray beats South African Kevin Anderson, Leonardo Mayer will play a top 3 seed for the 4th consecutive major.

FELICIANO LOPEZ Dominates Grass Court Season Leading into Wimbledon, Defends Eastbourne Title

PETE ZIEBRON

Two time Eastbourne Champion Feliciano Lopez              Pete Ziebron Images

Feliciano Lopez successfully defended his title today in Eastbourne, defeating #1 seed Richard Gasquet of France 6-3 6-7(5) 7-5.  The win was the 4th career title for Lopez, although he will not be back next year to attempt to win the event for a third consecutive year since the men's tournament will not be conducted in Eastbourne due to a change in the ATP scheduling.

Lopez dropped only one set in the tournament and even needed to play both his quarterfinal and semifinal matches yesterday due to late afternoon rain on Thursday.  "I'm going to be a bit tired heading into Wimbledon" Lopez said on court after the match "But this is the best preparation I can have."

Indeed Lopez will be battling fatigue as he recorded a 9-1 record on grass over the last 2 weeks as he also reached the final at Queen's Club in London one week ago.  Despite holding a match point against Grigor Dimitrov, Lopez fell in 3 grueling sets 7-6(8) 6-7(1) 6-7(6).

Throughout the 10 matches Lopez has played in England at Queen's and in Eastbourne, Lopez won 20 of the 24 sets played.  All 4 of the sets he lost were in tiebreakers, including one each in the tournament finals.

Historically, Lopez has fared well on grass.  Here are some of his impressive accomplishments over the years:

• Champion @ Eastbourne 2014
• Champion @ Eastbourne 2013
• Finalist @ Queen's Club 2014
• Quarterfinalist @ Wimbledon 2011
• Quarterfinalist @ Wimbledon 2008
• Quarterfinalist @ Wimbledon 2005
• Quartefinal Win over #1 Rafael Nadal @ Queen's Club in 2010
• 3rd round Win over #5 Marat Safin @ Wimbledon in 2005
• Quarterfinal Win over #6 Tomas Berdych @ Queen's Club in 2014
• 3rd round Win over #10 Andy Roddick @ Wimbledon in 2011

Despite playing so much tennis coming into Wimbledon, Lopez has been handed a kind draw for the first two rounds.  He will open play as the 19th seed against a qualifier, world #143 Yuichi Sugita of Japan.  Should Lopez advance to the 2nd round, he would play the winner of Alejandro Falla, the world #69 from Colombia or qualifier, world #162 Ante Pavic of Croatia.  Feliciano Lopez is in the bottom half of the draw, in Roger Federer's quarter.

Andy Murray Wins First Match with Amelie Mauresmo as New Coach, Appreciates Her Ability to Listen

PETE ZIEBRON

2013 Queen's Club & Wimbledon Champion Andy Murray  Pete Ziebron Images

Andy Murray defeated Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4 6-4 today at The Queen's Club in London in his first match working with a new member of his team, 2 time major champion Amelie Mauresmo.  Murray had been playing without a coach since this March when Ivan Lendl decided to step aside.  Lendl helped lead Murray to 2 major titles and an Olympic Gold Medal.

Twice in his pre-tournament press conference, Murray stated the importance in having a coach listen to him.  

• First regarding Mauresmo, when they initially talked about the coaching possibility:  "I thought she was extremely calm on the phone.  She listened very well, and we had a couple of good conversations on the phone.  I met up with her in Paris before the tournament.  I chatted to her for about an hour and a half about a number of different things, obviously mainly about tennis and my team and how I like to work and what my goals were and stuff."

 

• Also when his Mother, Judy, coached him: "She came to a few tournaments with me when I didn't have a coach when I was 16, 17, futures tournaments, US Open juniors and stuff, so I have always had a strong female influence in my career.  I found that, you know, with my mum especially that she listened extremely well."

Murray advanced to the semifinals of Roland Garros, matching his best career result in Paris.  However, Murray only managed to win 6 games in the semifinal match, losing to eventual champion Rafael Nadal 3-6 2-6 1-6.

There may be a possibility that the lopsided loss to Nadal could carry over into Wimbledon, where Murray is the defending champion.  In 2008, Roger Federer lost the Roland Garros final to Nadal 1-6 3-6 0-6.  A few weeks later, Federer failed to defend his Wimbledon crown, losing in the final to Nadal.  Many tennis aficianados cited that Federer's inability to make a respectable showing against Nadal in the Roland Garros final had a lasting impact when Nadal managed to beat him at Wimbeldon for the first time.

Prior to Wimbledon, Murray will seek to defend his Queen's Club tournament title and concurrently win the 250 level event for the 4th time in his career.  Next up for Murray in the 3rd round will be the veteran Czech Radek Stepanek, who defeated Bernard Tomic of Australia 7-6(4) 7-6(5) earlier today.

Murray elaborated that the appointment of Mauresmo could be a short term experiment but also added that he plans to learn from her insights: "It's just for the grass court season just now......I think there is a lot of things that she can bring.......she's won Wimbledon before herself and it will be interesting."