Beneath the surface of the physical game, which we can watch on television, there lies a complex of currents invisible to the eye. Every shot that is struck by the players we’re watching is the culmination of a process that involves a veritable plethora of factors…

In 2022-2023, a Task Force of the Board of the NWTO completed a 10-question survey of 16 of the 17 Sections of the USTA (all but the Caribbean). The newsletter will be publishing the results of the survey, one question at a time…

The mission of the NWTO is to promote women’s age-level tennis, wellness and sportsmanship at the local, sectional, national and international level. In order to fulfill this goal, we need more support from the USTA…

The 2023 ITF World Team Championships for the 55 and 60 age groups took place August 13 to 18 in Oeiras and Estoril, Portugal (just west of Lisbon). Overall, over 350 male and female players competed, with competitions spread out over three red clay venues…

Walking to the court, she asked the pro, “OK, how long will it be before I can get a ranking?” His answer: “You’re nothing but a housewife. Where do you think you’re gonna go with this?” Peggy tucked away that little nugget, something to reflect on as she played in highly competitive tournaments and obtained high rankings.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a diet method of energy deprivation that alternates periods of eating and fasting. IF has been practiced since ancient times in many cultures, especially in many religions. Research has shown that IF can be a way to manage weight and improve some metabolic parameters, e.g., blood sugar, blood cholesterol, waist circumference, and blood pressure…

Carlotta Lord Brown (January 15, 1951 - August 23, 2023)

Efficient footwork is a critical part of tennis at every level. Similar to working on groundstrokes and volleys, it’s a skill that you must practice and develop…

“Crucial conversations” are pivotal interactions that occur in high-stakes situations where opinions vary, and emotions run strong. As the NWTO advocates for better resources and support, these crucial conversations are foundational to the future viability of Senior Adult tournament tennis…

The Friendship Cup has a rich history and successful story of establishing international camaraderie and sisterhood both on and off the court. The tradition started in 1967 when Walter Foeger of Vermont was looking to establish competitive senior tennis play in alliance with the New England Lawn Tennis Association (NELTA), now USTA New England. He contacted George Barta of the Canadian senior division, and together, they created the Friendship Cup. In that year, players competed on three courts at the Jay Peak Resort in Vermont…

Back in the era of wood, metal, and plain graphite racquets players came to net much more often. Your racquet wasn’t going to allow you to hit hard enough to take time away from your opponent much less allow you to hit a zinging passing shot or overpowering baseline shot. If you wanted to take time away from your opponent or hit a winner, you needed to be at the net…

Angele Taylor Ray  (March 16, 1930 - July 30, 2023)

This was my first time playing in the Grass Court Championships at Germantown Cricket Club. I’ve seen pictures but never imagined how big the club really was. The clubhouse is the first thing you see when you drive through the gates of the club. It is the original building from when the club was founded in 1854. Then, you look to the left and you see the huge field with 22 grass courts. It is impressive!

Our Member Spotlight this month is Sheila Weinstock. The midget baseball team of Lancaster, Pa., lost out big in 1952. And it wasn’t the boys’ fault. They wanted then-11-year-old Sheila Allison on their team. She practiced with them at the field across from her family’s home. She was their best pitcher. Unfortunately, the team’s board decided that if Sheila were on the team “the boys would consider it a sissy sport.” …

The Level 2 tournament in Asheville, North Carolina, wound up on Friday, July 14, 2023. This was the 91st year of this tournament!

On July 14, 2023, two expert groups of the World Health Organization released their evaluations on the safety of aspartame–with somewhat different conclusions.

Our Member Spotlight this month is Sarah Flood. A new member of NWTO, Sarah has had a lifelong passion for the sport of tennis. In many ways, it has been her saving grace. Life has thrown her many curveballs and seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the way, yet she has always sought to find the joy in life – and tennis has been a big part of that…

Lillian “Lil” Peltz-Petow (1951 - 2023)

During the summer months, tennis players are more often outside for extended periods of time for training and matches and thus likely exposed to higher UV intensity, which could increase the risk of skin cancer…

The Addie Cup was formed in 1981 when several long-time Sears Cup players began to age up into the over-40 division. These events are annual and rotate venues once a year…