Tonight at Canyon Gate Country Club, Tim Blenkiron put together a very simple yet creative idea. Many open players in the Valley were invited to play a mini tournament. The first to eight games wins the match and the team that wins the finals gets everyone else's entry fee of $10.00. With a 16 player Draw the pot was $160.00 dollars and the competition equal if not better then every tournament I have covered this year.
Tom Sullivan played in the event and opened up his tennis club for the event. For an additional $10.00 players and spectators were welcome to anything they wanted to eat or drink in the tennis club's snack bar, and someone brought fresh baked cookies for the crowd. But the food was not the focus of the evening.
The event was invitation only yet offered the local teaching pro's and top open players, along with some junior standouts an environment to just play competitive tennis; Not to mention an excellent setting. The low cut fence around each court allows for spectators to see the whole court clearly while making for a very well landscaped and picturesque environment. Unlike some courts that stand out from one another and are abrasively obtuse, Canyon Gate is transparent and flows perfectly court to court. They also have a number of creative events all year for members only and a junior program that is thriving with the insight and stewardship of Tim Blenkiron. Click here to see Canyon Gate's VegasTennis.com homepage.
Tim played at UNLV, and in 1997 won the doubles NCAA Championships with his partner Luke Smith. After a long time of not seeing one another, as Luke has been living in Australia where they are both from, tonight they had a bit of a reunion. Luke had just flown into the states and into McCarran airport. As I was talking to Tim he told me an old friend was due to arrive and that the man coming down the sidewalk might very well be him. It was dark and the faces of the men were not made visible right away but as they approached the lighted area Tim stood and looked up the walk way with a big smile that said everything and more. It seemed to hold a whole relationship, many experiences and the distance between them, and years gone past. As Tim has just recently had his first child 3 weeks ago, and having taken on his job at Canyon gate and coaching a number of young juniors, and being a dad and a husband, taking in the understanding that comes from the early years of post college life, here he was looking at an old friend who too has had his separate and vast experiences.... and now it was the time for that gap to be closed.
They spent time a court away from the final match of the night, with more spectators around them and this reunion then the final match being played. What was discussed I do not know, as I watched the final. But I do know the look on Tim's face when he saw his old friend, and that life is a wondrous thing when you live and play by the amazing principles that govern us all. And having the opportunity to share one's experiences and insights with an old friend at such a time in a person's life is timeless. Like match point in a key match, it is something to take full advantage of , giving 100% of oneself to the moment. Putting all the cards on the table. As Tim put it when coaching Cristala Andrews at the Spanish Trail tournament.... "Go for broke."
I spoke with Ryan Farber who's father, Jeff Barber, was playing in the finals with his partner Steve Landon. To get there this doubles duo beat Bruce Goldstein and his partner Tom Sullivan 8-3 . Bruce who was a highly ranked junior player in his youth and Tom is the Director of Tennis at Canyon gate and a former UNLV standout,
Then in round two they played and beat Sean Monk and Kevin Janison. Sean just graduated from Tulsa after playing tennis for 4 years, while Kevin is the local weather man who happens to be a 5.0 player. To get to the second round Kevin and Sean beat Sean Hubbard and Greg Gilbert in what looked to me like one of the best matches of the evening. Sean and Steve won it 9-8 with many great volley's. But their game did not hold against the eventual finalists Steve Landen and Jeff Barber as they beat Sean and Kevin swiftly at 8-4. Steve was running down balls like a champ, making some great tennis plays, hustling like crazy. Steve teaches tennis at Summerlin and is now going full time to college. He played in the European Satellite tour which he claimed to be the equivalent to college tennis in the states, as far as competition goes. He offered the compliment that United States college tennis is very competitive and well put together. He is also on Gordon Hammonds 5.0 team which won the 5.0 division this year and is going to Sectionals this coming August. He is looking to be in shape and willing to play singles against any open player who can give him a challenge. So tonight was perfect for him to touch base with others that may be interested in playing.
To me it is always great when one man is led to do something and he does it. It may seem simple to some ....the various executed ideas that people follow through on, but it always sets in motion new opportunity's. And it all begins with one person that instead of doubting or putting off... follows through.
Partnering with Steve is an interesting story of a man who proves what I already knew to be true...a player can compete on a high level without the years of experience and professional coaching that many talented players have on their belt. I have seen time and time again junior players that in just two years are competing at the top of their particular field and above. While I had not seen an example of a decent like that in adult tennis, I knew that the same principle applied. Just 4 years ago Jeff Barber started playing tennis in local tournaments and decided to start at 4.0 after having just hit the ball around. Soon he was 4.5 then 5.0. Tonight he was in the finals of the "Canyon Gate Open Challenge" (A name I am giving this casual event , for this article).
Court side watching the finals was his wife, who while rated 3.0 she plays 3.5 tennis at Canyon Gate. Their son Ryan Barber who played junior tennis in Las Vegas and has worked at Canyon Gate tennis shop for 4 years was also in the event. He played at Bonanza who's team went to "State" last year. This year he has decided to get back into playing tennis after taking some time off. He seemed to be enlivened by the event tonight. He was chosen out of a hat to play with Tim Blenkiron and on court I could see Tim, in real time, pointing out to Ryan the proper perspective to have.
I have often said that a good coach is the one that illuminates the principles that apply to not breaking down mentally on the court. Instead of putting a player in the mental about their stroke, Tim talked to Ryan about staying out of the mental and in awareness focusing on the match. After Ryan missed some shots he made the poignant point "I don't care if you keep missing balls, you stay focused." This is a snap shot in time that reflects the wisdom he gave Cristala Andrews at Stacy Darling when they played together in the mixed open and won. He said to her..."Did you notice how when I missed I did not get upset"? . Hearing this I asked him to repeat what he had said on the camera and he said good naturedly that it is impossible to recreate ...which is also true...the lessons are not wrote planned lectures, but in the moment illuminations of what is taking place.
A good coach makes an issue of what both players already see, instead of trying to get a student to see something they are not seeing. If a coach has the insight and patience to wait for these lessons to unfold in real time, they are instilled on a real and understood level. Otherwise it is a mental lecture that does not land but stands to tempt the player to allows be "Thinking" and analyzing their game instead of being aware and playing it. This is what leads to frustration and mental breakdown, which to me is the number one cause of losses if not the number one cause of players not enjoying the whole experience of tennis or life for that matter.
You vs Yourself.
And tonight I did not witness any mental breakdowns. Nenad had a few moments where he was yelling and losing control of his racquet, but to me underneath that emotional reaction is a young man who is just experimenting with how to deal with things and moments later he looks as if the outburst never happened, as opposed to players who turn themselves over to anger and hold it...and hold it... and hold it.... and make excuses and so forth.
Later in the evening I spoke with Ryan Farber, and after telling me about his high school tennis life he made a point worth making....in conversation he said he was going to play in a satellite challenger in Los Angeles next week with his old high school teammate Sean Hubbard. Sean played one year at University of Southern Colorado and is coming back to play at UNLV this coming fall with Larry Easley. And in talk Ryan had mentioned the futility in excuse making.
I have seen that the same "Thinking" that offers a player distractions and upsets on the court is the same "Thoughts" that come to a player after the game offering them the empty road of an excuse. After playing and losing myself I have heard the excuses in my head and laugh knowing that is what I have witnessed others foolishly believe. In interviewing others, as I do for the video highlights of this sight and in reading other sports articles, it is rare that a player has the right perspective on this. They know it is a lie to believe in excuses, and see it when others make them, yet when the time comes ...some still believe the excuse. And for Ryan to have grasped that principle is what I mean by tennis making a man out of these players showing them the lessons of life that move far beyond the white lines and grassy knoll. He liked the opportunity to just play, and that is what Tim created, was an opportunity,... to play... which opens the door for Ryan and others to see the insights they experienced in and after the match. Already Ryan and his friend Sean were discussing putting together a singles open event.....
It was a success. And in the end it was Robert Sjoholm and his partner Rich Haskin who won the finals match in a very close get together. After being down Jeff Barer and Steve Landen came back with a break, to tie it up toward the end making it 5-5, but Robert and Rick broke back and took the prize money, all $160.00. And this was redemption as Robert, who often win's local tournaments, had just lost in the first round against the eventual winner Brian Battistone at the ClubSport's Volvo Indoor Championships over the weekend. Little did he know when he walked home with that loss days ago that Tim would hold an impromptu event netting him $80.00 cash. His partner, Rich Haskin plays for Canyon Gates 5.0 team while Robert plays with Gordon and Steve Landon on The District Champion Summerlin 5.0 team.
Also playing was local junior standout Chris Wilson who wins many local tournaments including the recent Desert Palm Jr Open in the boys 18 and under. He played with Gordon Hammond who runs Summerlin tennis Club and who himself played college tennis and some Satellite tournaments. In fact he was Steve Landon's coach in England years ago. Now they work together in Las Vegas.
Chris Wilson's parents were on hand watching the matches, enjoying the entertainment and great tennis play as I was. After seeing numerous tennis matches they have not grown stale and bored of it but seemed more then interested. His mother plays on the Canyon Gate 3.5 team just moving up from 3.0 recently and his dad hits the ball around as well.
The perceived upset of the evening was the match with Tim Blenkiron and Ryan Barber who was the early favorite among the crowd . But as it turned out it was perfect..as Tim's old friend Luke Smith's visit was not delayed by Tim being in the final.
Tim and Ryan were defeated in the first round by Nenad Zivkovic and his partner Art Taylor. Art at one point was the number one junior in the state of New York for boy's 18 and under. And tonight he showed not much has been lost as he and Nenad got through the first round 8-6 against the one time NCAA doubles champion and his partner. But Nenad technically is no underdog. He himself played professional tennis at the age of 15-19 then left the satellite tour and played at UNLV. Nenad was at one time ranked # 1 in college doubles and has a number of college doubles titles and an All-American status. He and Tim Blenkiron played the UNLV challenger years ago almost beating Brad Gilbert and Andre Agassi. They lost in two sets 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (10-8). And more recently Nenad and Misha Yevtich, both teaching professionals at The Monte Carlo Tennis Club, won the Stacy Darling Doubles against this past weekends tournament winner Brian Battistone and his touring partner Jim Martineau. Click here to see Stacy Darling Draw, review and Photos. Art said he now plays 4.5 tennis, and that playing up with these guys improved his game. To me a teaching pro who gets $60.00 an hour for lessons should get a $60.00 per head for putting together an event like this where players can challenge one another and rise to the occasion; There is no better lesson and well worth the money. But tonight's event was "On the house."
One of the most valuable aspects of a local tennis club and tennis professional is their ability to create an environment with events and situations where play and spectating can take place. There are juniors and adults out there who want to play and are more then willing to recognize and participate in a creative idea. Like the one executed this evening.
Ryan Wolfington
This site thrives on your participation. Keep me informed on your tennis teams, club events, league results and anything tennis in Las Vegas. Any and all ideas, criticisms and suggestions are welcome.