Jake Putnam's blog

Monday--Arrived at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, what a marvelous setting for a world championship! So much history there...La Jolla has sponsored a few Davis Cups, was a regular stop on the Pro Tour...at court 1 the walls are lined with photos of all the greats that had played there.

The ITF runs the tourney just like an ATP event...very professional. All the team players were sporting their Team Warmups...it was a bit daunting.

I showed up early to see if I could get a warmup court...no warmup no court. I waited and waited...jumped rope and found a practice wall. I was playing against an Aussie first round. I checked in...but my court was not called. At 15 minutes past the hour I talked to the Tourney Director and he forfeited my match...I got a rare walkover in a World Championship...I was elated because world ranking points are not easy to come by.

Sheryl showed up to watch me play but the match was over...we went and celebrated over lunch. I feel bad for the 40 players that had to qualify...only 8 made it into the main draw!! Then 64 more players lost in the first round, I finished ahead of 96 players...somewhere around 55th place!

Tuesday: Went through the same routine. I worked out at the San Diego Tennis Club in the morning...then drove to La Jolla. I ran into Scott Sheppard and Tom Donhue, Geoff Martinez, Glen Busby, Colin Dowdeswell...chatted with them. Thats the great thing about the Senior Tour, everyone is very friendly.
We were in a rain delay and there was a lot of waiting, I went to the practice wall and hit, I stretched, listened to the Dr. H. tape, Sheryl showed up and I told her that I was playing one of the Canadians...I went to the check in desk and she went out to watch tennis on court 1. Turns out that she got talking to a one of the Canadian team members, it was my opponet! Jean Pierre Cote is the 77th ranked player in the world...he was ranked in the top 20. We got talking at the check in desk and found that we had both worked at the same tennis camp in Canada, just a year apart! We played out match offsite at the La Jolla Racquet Club. We caught a ride with his Team Canada Teamates...what a great bunch of guys!
Waited around again until a court opened and finally the match got underway. We did the standard pro warmup...what that means is that you do not hit away...no winners in warmups...you get the forehands and backhands out of the way hitting right at each other. Then its the same with volleys and overheads. We had many 30 ball rallies and I must admit that I probably won the warm up...I didnt miss many balls.
When the match started it was all business...I got all the returns back, got almost all my first serves in...the big difference is depth and put away power off the 4th ball.
J.P. is very mobile, very accurate and is the best player Ive every faced..he always makes it to the quarters and semis of these international events...hes played in 8 world championships and that experience was too much to over come. I was happy with how I played...I was in the points...just need to keep the ball deeper. This is a great starting point and now the training continues the next tourney on the map is the US Indoors in May.

ITF World Tennis Championships, San Diego

I arrived last night from Boise, Idaho. I've been in training since last October...logging hundreds of hours on the elliptical, thousands of circuit weights, hundreds of practice matches. I think Im ready...

Im staying Sheryl Putnam's house in Mission Hills and we drove out to La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. What an impressive club...right on the Ocean! When we pulled up we stopped at the gate and got a players parking pass--then it was inside to get registered and credentialed. As we walked in there were players from everywhere, I heard Portuguese, French, Spanish...it looked like a UN meeting. Many team players wore their team warmups. It had the look and feel of a Davis Cup or ATP event. We watched a few matches and then went into La Jolla for some sight-seeing. It rained in the morning and sun broke through the clouds by mid-morning, it was very beautiful.

In the afternoon we drove back to San Diego Tennis and Swim Club, we watched the conclusion to the USA v. Australia Bueno Cup. The US was clearly outmatched and lost the cup at the conclusion of the doubles match. I saw Andrew Standley, he was playing a mixed match against Bill Kellogg...Kellogg is also a local tennis legend, Director of La Jolla Tennis and Beach, and tournament director. When I left to go practice they had split sets...
Sheryl and I went to the back courts and hit for an hour, she hits a big ball...the courts were ridiculously slow after the altitude in Idaho. The Babbolot balls played even slower. I was not used to the wind, so that was another adjustment. It could be shaky tomorrow until I can get used to the conditions.
This is my third/National/International tournament--with my ranking I didnt have to qualify which greatly surprised me. The Qualifiers wrapped up yesterday and now we are a third of the way through the 128 slot draw. I came into the tourney ranked 1128 in the world, Im playing an Australian who is ranked in the top 100, Im the underdog in the match...I have some control things Im going to try...hopefully it works.

The ITF and the San Diego Sports Commission will stage the 2012 Seniors World Championships in the Californian city on 6-19 February. The tournament assembles the top senior tennis athletes from around the world in ten age categories at seven venues spread across the city.
Luca Santilli, ITF Head of Junior & Seniors Tennis said, “We are excited to be in San Diego. This beautiful city will provide an excellent backdrop for the world’s premier seniors tennis event and its numerous venues are well suited to host an event of this magnitude.”

More than 1,000 athletes from around 35 different countries are expected to participate in the event. The tournament will be split into two parts: the Seniors World Team Championships on 5-11 February and the Seniors World Individual Championships on 12-19 February.
There are no prerequisites to enter the Individual Championships, making it available to anyone including local San Diegans. Venues include, Balboa Tennis Club, La Jolla Tennis Club, Barnes Tennis Center, La Costa Resort & Spa, Morgan Run Club & Resort, La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, and San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club.

“It is very exciting to be able to work with the SDSC and ITF to show off the city of San Diego to the worldwide audience that will accompany the ITF Seniors,” said Bill Kellogg, President of the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club.
“The players participating in these events include former touring pros as well as the best senior players from around the world, and we plan to make a great impression on every one of them. Many world champions will be crowned, which makes for some compelling tennis.”

Training for International Tennis Federation Men's 55 World Championships

I started working out in December...doing elliptical, circuit weights and playing matches. Today I did a double workout...lifting and CV early in the morning and a singles match in the afternoon. Im working on a few things that will help me when I arrive in San Diego February 11th.

One, Believing, Two...serving hard down the middle. Im working hard on my serve, been working on the return...but need more work on the serve, more matches. I have a tournament this weekend...a tough match tomorrow afternoon.

Day 3
It rained hard in the morning, I caught a cab to the Convention Center opting not to do the bus because of the rain.

I got to the Athletes Villiage early, got some breakfast and talked to fellow athletes, A fellow player from New Jersey directed me over to a both where they were giving out free tiger balm, so I got stocked up on the lotion.

My match was soon called and I was up against the Louisiana champ, Pat Andrus. Andrus is a very smart, crafty player with a big serve and underpin forehand. I knew Id have my work cut out for me.

It was servers duel, we both held, and I got the first break at 3-3. I won the set 6-3. The courts were playing exactly like grass, we were on serve in the second and he got the break, winning 7-5. In the tiebreaker it was the same storyline, but at 3-3 he was serving and after a long baseline rally he drove me back to the forehand corner, I ran back to the curtain to retrieve a lob and hit an over the shoulder, backfire. When I planted my right foot it slipped on the curtain and my feet went out from under me and I landed on my back. I watched as miraculously the ball cleared then net, then in horror as Andrus closed in on the ball for the easy winner...but he missed it wide. I went on to win the super tie and the match. 6-3, 5-7, 10-3.

I spent the rest of the day watching women's volleyball, I befriended a team from New Orleans and watched them medal, they worked so well together and I snapped photos of the match.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jack9999p/sets/72157627026163884/

US Summer Games, Day 2

I got up early, and decided to go comando. I took the Metro from here Highway 45 and Patton to the George Brown Convention Center. I had to walk a quarter of mile to the bus stop---through an industrial neighborhood. I waited just a few minutes and caught the Bus. It was fascinating, the neighborhood we drove through was hispanic and looked very much like a working class latin neighborhood. The bus all the way downtown, stopping just 3 blocks from George Brown. I had some extra time so went to the Astros Park. What a beautiful stadium!

Once at George Brown I had breakfast in the Athletes Village, had breakfast Tacos! MMM. Then went to the tennis venue and watched my opponents play. Louisiana V. Texas, Texas won 3 and 4...but I picked out some weaknesses. Texas has a shaky backhand and a bad left knee.  As I said yesterday the surface is extremely fast so its all going to be feet and hands, to win you have be quick.

The other Idahoan, Doyle Overman won easily, he looked very good, this surface favors him and I think he's a favorite.

Arrived at the US Senior Games, Houston

I Got up early and caught the 7:45 flight to SLC, then the 8:45 flight to Houston. Flying Delta, it was seamless, I arrived 20 minutes early in Houston. Logistics from George Bush to Downtown were easy; there's a Metro bus that that makes the run every 20 minutes for just $4.50! I arrived at George Brown at 3-pm, got credentialed and was hitting tennis balls by 3:30. I practiced with a guy from Massachusetts and hit well. The courts are very tricky, they're made of plastic! pieced together like legos. You have the funny bounces---but it's identical to playing on grass, it's very fast.

The Athletes Village is impressive, booths hawking everything from drugs to health insurance, there's a stage with performances every hour. Theres a food court. In the great hall to the right are the Volleyball courts, to the right, tennis courts, upstairs basketball. Everything is grand in scope and scale---13 volleyball matches going on at once!

The food in the Athlete Village is amazing. I had a Cuban sandwich that was sensational. All the Athletes sit for lunch and I must have chatted with a dozen different people. I had to sit and take it all in it's an amazing experience.

I went to the Volleyball venues and watched in awe as this women's 50 team from California beat an east coast team squad, they were very skilled, could have been pros. They were as good as any college team, in fact I bet they all played Division I ball. I chatted with a woman from Virginia Beach and she said the competition was tough, she played at Pitt and said most everyone in the tournament played somewhere.

Afterwards I caught a cab home, Im staying about 10 minutes away in a cheap but comfortable hotel. I couldn't afford the $200 a night, so opted for 60!

Im getting rested up tonight, will practice tomorrow, scout my opponents and get ready for my Wednesday match.

The U.S. Senior Summer Games, Houston, Texas

Tennis has been a big part of my life since the teen years.  I was a good player back in the day, playing Division I tennis at Idaho State University and then a stint as a certified teaching pro for 8 years before getting a job in journalism and ultimately quitting tennis. But after two decades of stress and a heart attack, I came back to the game. It was rough going for a few years and very frustrating, but I before long I started winning tournaments and along the way earned state, national and world rankings.

Im heading to the Summer games tomorrow morning. I've been training for months getting ready for this tournament, I wish I had a few more practices under my belt, but I think Im ready. I don't know what to expect. Ive played National tournaments and have played some of the best players in the world in my age group. I can hold my own.

I qualified last summer winning the Idaho Senior Olympic Games in August. I still have the Gold and Silver medals. Competing in the Olympics fulfills a philosophy I have, a basic one at that. As we get older dreams and goals are more important than the goals set in our youth.
We need to get off the couch, we need to foster greater understanding with people of age. This baby-boomer generation is proving itself, we will not go gently to that rocking chair.

So, I keep setting goals, and find myself getting closer to them every day. I am now ranked 25th in the nation, and 1200 in the world in my age category. I think I can do better, and have stepped up my training. Training without a goal hasn't been very productive for me, I need to work for something and Im getting stronger and better every day. Beyond athletics Im also taking photos and writing, its also important to stretch the mind...we need a creative outlet to round ourselves out for that feeling of achievement.

Im just about packed and will head to the airport tomorrow. Im excited to join the 12-thousand other athletes in Houston! The photos Ive seen thus far and the stories Ive read have been so inspiring. I cant wait to meet the people and take a few photos and hear stories from other athletes.

I will check in tomorrow from Houston.

Bennett and Moss Win USTA Indoor Nationals

Boise--Christopher Bennett of Marlton, New Jersey and Paul Moss of New York City won the USTA Men’s 55 Doubles Indoor National Championship on Saturday April 3rd at the Boise Racquet Club in Boise.

Moss and Bennett beat Geoff Cykman and Geoff Martinez of San Francisco 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Martinez had just won the singles championship just a few minutes before and the domination of his big serve dominated the singles championship and it carried over into the doubles matchup.

The team from California held serve and got a break for the 6-4 lead. But Moss and Bennett were in it for the long haul. They kept their eyes on the prize and instead of cursing their luck, used adversity to focus.

“We were there when we needed to be there,” said Paul Moss. “It was a lot of fun. There’s a certain pressure, an added pressure when you’re playing for the gold ball. What we were trying to do was trying to make this match as if it were any other day, any other practice set, so the event wouldn’t overcome us. I think we handed that a bit better than they did.”

Both Bennett and Moss overcame disappointing losses in the singles draw. But instead of distracting the third seeds, it focused their play. On the first day of the tournament the seeded teams drew byes and squared off in a practice match at the Racquet club and that match may have decided the championship.

“We were not at all intimidated by them at all and had beaten them in practice earlier in the week and we were confident that we were returning well. I knew we were in for a coin-flip type of match and it could have gone either way and thats’s what happened.

In the second set Bennett cranked up his serve, mixing hard serves to the corner, then jamming the ball into Martinez and Cykman, destroying the timing the Californians established in the perfect first set. Moss served well and hit just a few second serves, in the second. But the highlight of the set was Moss’s service returns, he didn’t miss and the east-coast team dominated 6-3.

The third set was a thrilling display of hard serves, perfect returns but Martinez and Cykman had both played singles matches just an hour before and were noticeably tired. Martinez was stretching his back on the change-overs and e lost his zip.

As it turned out we were serving first in the third set, so we always had our nose out in front of them and never trailed in the third set so when Geoff was serving at 5-6 and we were anticipating a tie-breaker, which is also part of the coin-flip scenario, we knew we had a chance to make them hit the ball, let them see what they can do under the gun, under that kind of pressure because we are playing for a national championship. We were fortuneate enough to trigger a couple of errors and play a couple of effective points with the lob.

Chris Bennett hit hard throughout the match with pin-point accuracy, in contrast Paul Moss hit drop shots, killer lobs and forced Martinez and Cykman to stretch their tired bodies to the limit. “We were able to play more solid in that set,” said Moss after the match.

Moss ranked first in the 45 doubles back in 2005, but had never won a doubles gold ball. “So this was a break-through tournament and I’m feeling energized now to go back and train because once you get a taste of it you want more,” said Moss.

Grant Upchurch
Boise, Idaho

You’ve won your first round matches the past three years at the US Indoor Nationals, How do you do it?

Anyone can win a match, I think the thing I am working on, as far as future matches go, is staying relaxed and not being concerned about missing the ball, just hitting through the ball.

Your thoughts about playing at this level, at this age?

I’m on top of my game. I can run just as well as thirty years ago. I can hit balls as well as ever before, so its not the running thats an issue, Im getting older but better.

Your thoughts about the tournament?

This is a great group of guys, good people too! I just look forward to playing more matches getting to know more players. I do this every year, and I don’t see any end in sight.