A big thank-you to our two staff members, Nicholas Demarco and Daryl King, out there helping with the weeding!

If any of our tennis club members would be interested in lending a hand with some weeding, we’d really appreciate the extra help. Every bit makes a difference in keeping our grounds looking their best!

Interested in helping? Please email me!
albanytennischris@gmail.com

Thank you to everyone who helps make our club such a great place to be!

On Sunday, our court attendant Declan Chirlin returned to college. Have a great school year, Declan! 

For many Albany Tennis Club players, our new manager, Chris Bradt, is a familiar face. Although he has only been back in the manager’s position for a month, his history with the ATC goes back years. His experience as a teaching professional and previous time managing the club have given him a unique perspective on both the tennis side of the ATC and the day-to-day experience of running the club.

Now, he’s excited to bring that experience back to the ATC and help build on everything that makes the club special.

Community First

When asked what excites him most about returning to the manager’s role, his answer is centered on community.

“The ATC has always been about community, and I’m excited to support and grow that community,” he says.

He looks forward to continuing the great programming that Larry Yakubowski ran at the club, while also introducing some new programs and events of his own.

One of the things he enjoys most about working at the ATC is introducing new people to tennis and to the club. As manager, he hopes to continue welcoming new players and helping them become part of the ATC community.

A Vision for the Future

One of his primary goals is to grow the club’s membership. He believes bringing new members into the ATC is an important part of helping the club thrive and building a strong future.

At the same time, he wants the club to be a place where everyone feels welcome. His vision is to create an environment where players of all abilities can find their place and feel that they have a tennis home at the ATC.

With experience as both a teaching professional and a manager, he understands the club from several perspectives. He knows the game, he knows the ATC, and he knows the importance of creating an enjoyable experience for the people who walk through the doors.

Life Beyond the Tennis Court

When he’s not at the ATC, he stays busy as a competitive distance runner and enjoys training for races. He also enjoys hiking, reading, and playing the piano.

His competitive spirit and love of staying active clearly extend well beyond tennis!

A Few Quick Questions

We asked him a few quick questions to help members get to know him a little better:

Singles or doubles? Both!

Favorite professional tennis player? Roger Federer

Favorite Grand Slam tournament? Wimbledon

Coffee before tennis or after? After—but only decaf!

One word that describes his management style? Teamwork

Looking Ahead

While his return to the manager’s role is still relatively new, his connection to the ATC is anything but. Having been part of the club for years, he brings years of experience and familiarity to his new chapter.

He’s excited about what lies ahead and, most importantly, about the people who make the ATC what it is.

“The club has a bright future, and I look forward to sharing that future with old and new members alike!”

We’re happy to have a familiar face back at the helm and look forward to an exciting future at the Albany Tennis Club.

I'm excited to announce the annual Albany Tennis Club Championships, which will run from Saturday, August 29th to Sunday, September 13th. The ATC has a long history of exciting tournament play, and this year promises to continue the tradition!

This is a schedule-your-own match tournament that features the following seven exciting draws:

• Women's Singles
• Men's Singles
• Women's Doubles
• Men's Doubles
• Mixed Doubles
• Women's 60 & Older Doubles
• Men's 65 & Older Doubles

Here is important information (please read carefully):

-Once the draws are released, players schedule their matches directly with their opponents. 

-All matches are best two-out-three sets, regular scoring, with a 10-point match tiebreaker in lieu of a third, no exceptions. For the finals only, players will play out third sets as needed.

-Single elimination (you lose, you're out)

-This event is limited to ATC members. Monthly members are eligible provided their membership is current through the tournament dates. 

-The plan is to hold all semifinal and final matches on Saturday, September 12th and Sunday 13th.

-Players may play in a maximum of two draws. 

-The tournament director (me) and assistant director (Nicholas Demarco) reserve the right to cap draw sizes as needed.

In order to sign up, you must use the sign-up links below
(registration closes Tuesday at 5 PM):

*Please only sign up for the tournament if you have substantial availability to play multiple rounds of matches between August 29th and September 13th, and on both 9/12 & 9/13. Also carefully consider whether you have the availability and energy to play in more than one draw, which may involve playing multiple matches in a single day.*

Here is an important update to the tournament schedule:

As Rosh Hashanah falls on September 11th and 12th, there will be alternate dates available for the semifinals and finals for those who prefer, including but not limited to September 22nd and September 23rd. More generally, once players reach the semifinals and finals, there is some flexibility in terms of scheduling the final matches. Thank you!

Singles

Men's Open Doubles

Women's Open Doubles

Mixed Doubles

Men's 65+ Doubles

Women's 60+ Doubles

Whether you're getting ready for league play, a tournament, or just a fun match with friends, Judith Curry is here to help keep your racquet playing its best. With more than 25 years of stringing experience, she takes pride in providing quality stringing and personalized service you can count on.

Tennis has been a big part of Judith's life. She played in high school and college, served as Director of Membership for the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), became a PTR Certified Tennis Instructor, and now enjoys coaching high school tennis. Her experience both on and off the court helps her recommend the right string for players of all skill levels. Not sure what string or tension is right for you? Just ask! She will be happy to help you find a setup that fits your game.

Stringing: $35 labor, plus the cost of string.

Looking for some competitive tennis in the middle of the week? The Wednesday Night Singles Program is a popular way for players to get out on the court, get a good workout, and have some fun.

The program is open to 3.0–4.5 level and runs every Wednesday from 5:30–8:00 p.m. Players should arrive by 5:15 p.m. to warm up, and the attendant or pro will help set up the matches.

Singles provides an excellent opportunity to develop your overall game. With more court coverage and greater responsibility for every point, players can improve their consistency, movement, shot selection, and confidence. It also offers a strong workout while helping players sharpen their strategy and become more comfortable competing under pressure.

There’s room for 12 players, so sign up early. It’s free for ATC members and $20 for non-members.

To sign up, email albanytennischris@gmail.com. You’ll need to receive confirmation from Chris Bradt before playing.

Come out, get some singles in, and make Wednesday night your night on the court!

After twenty years of working at the Albany Tennis Club in various capacities (i.e. Head Tennis Pro & Manager), Larry Yakubowski is stepping down as club manager on July 31 to concentrate on moving back to his old stomping grounds in the Hyde Park - Rhinebeck area with his wife of 38 years, Claire. The move will also bring Larry and Claire closer to their son Samuel and daughter Leigh (as well as their first grandchild, Conor!). While this marks the end of an important chapter in Larry's life.....bringing people together through tennis......he wants to remind you that he's only 90 minutes down the road. He fully intends to return and enjoy the ATC as a member!

While this is the end of one chapter in the history of ATC, it is also the beginning of a new chapter as well. Christopher Bradt starts as the new club manager on August 1. Most of you probably know Chris already, as he has been around for multiple years on staff, helping Larry out and giving lessons. Larry has already been working with Chris to facilitate a smooth transition, to ensure ATC retains the same fun and welcoming environment we have all grown to love. The Board is very happy to have Chris as our new manager.

The Board will be planning a “thank you” celebration for Larry, to be held later this season. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime, let’s wish Larry well with this new chapter in his life and welcome Chris as our new manager.

An Early Tennis Memory—Larry Yakubowski In 1972, I was twelve years old. I delivered the Poughkeepsie Journal to over a hundred customers every day for 4 years. I'd stuff those papers into my baskets on that old green Raleigh bicycle. I always read the Sports section before I started delivering. I started seeing names like Ashe, Smith, King, Court, Lutz, Wade, and Borg. Simple, monosyllabic names. Of course, there was Evert, Connors, Goolagong, and Laver too. Nastase and Navratilova made things less simple the way Vietnam and Watergate did, which were the front page stories. But it was easier to read the tennis stories. I started to love tennis. I remember buying a pair of Adidas John Newcombe kangaroo skin tennis shoes from the Sundance Sports Shop at the Haviland Mall in Hyde Park at the conclusion of my paper route. I loved those shoes. I didn't tell my mother they were made of kangaroo skin. She would not approve. I don't know why I became so drawn to tennis: the racquets were beautiful, the clothes were stylish, and the players all had their own games—their own blend of offense and defense. I liked that. Own your game, own your strokes, and impose yourself! Here I come! What are you going to do about it?