Midtown Junior Cup brings tennis talent and team spirit to Weston

The courts were busy, the energy was high, and the competition was real at the Midtown Junior Cup, held March 21–23 at Midtown Athletic Club in Weston, Florida. But before the first match began, a full day of player development training set the tone—led by Martin Blackman, former USTA General Manager of Player Development and retired ATP pro.

“What’s special about Midtown is their legacy of making tennis the best possible experience for families,” Blackman said. “They’ve been tennis specialists for over 50 years—and they have something for everyone.”

That broad approach to player development was on full display throughout the event. The Cup brought together 40 junior players and a team of coaches from Midtown locations in Chicago, Rochester, Atlanta, and other cities. The goal was to build consistency across clubs, not just in how players train—but in how they grow within the sport.

Source: Midtown Athletic Club

“We're always challenging our players to be the best they can be,” Blackman said. “Work hard, be engaged, have a growth mindset. That’s what this is all about.”

To make that happen, the coaches met first to coordinate their development strategies, creating a more unified system for training across locations. “We're talking about standards of excellence in coaching, in youth development, in communication,” Blackman explained. “It’s how we raise the bar across all Midtown clubs.”

The training was divided into rotations, with players moving through sessions focused on Consistency & Placement, Developing Weapons, Transition & Net Play, Serve & Returns, and Fitness & Conditioning. Leading these drills were coaches Marcelo Ferreira, Danielle Wolf, Maciek Jozwiak, Bill Alex, Kike Salamanca, and Roy Cinti.

Source: Midtown Athletic Club

“They're getting a blend of tennis training, physical training, college placement advice, and match play,” Blackman said. “And at the same time, we’re running coach development too.”

Once training wrapped, competition kicked off. Players were divided into teams—Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray—and battled it out in a format where every game counted toward the overall team score. And it wasn’t only about winning matches. It was about performing consistently over time.

“There’s going to be video taken throughout the Cup,” Blackman noted. “And all the players will also get an evaluation at the end.”

But the Cup was more than stats and scoreboards. According to Michael Mahoney, Midtown’s Senior Vice President, Nation Racquet Sports Director, the event was as much about growth off the court as on it. “We have this opportunity for our coaches to come together, share, learn from each other, and take best practices back to our clubs,” he said. “We’re advocates that coach development translates to the player experience.”

Above: Michael Mahoney, Midtown’s Senior Vice President, Nation Racquet Sports Director. Source: Midtown Athletic Club

That shared philosophy extended beyond coaching methods. “Are we developing character?” Mahoney asked. “Responsible young people with a healthy mindset? That’s what makes this all worth it.”

Fun wasn’t left out of the equation either. “We want them to have fun,” Mahoney said. “Tennis is fun. That’s top of our minds. But we also want them to learn something.”

Mahoney has seen how consistent support and development can shape young athletes well beyond junior tournaments. “There’s nothing more gratifying than learning about kids who’ve graduated from our programs and are doing amazing things on and off the court,” he said. “If that’s what we accomplish, we’re thrilled.”

Source: Midtown Athletic Club

The message was clear: it’s not just about building athletes—it’s about building people. “Coaches are our asset,” Mahoney said. “They inspire children to be aspirational.”

Luis Brest, Junior High-Performance Director, emphasized that the learning doesn’t stop after the final match. “This is the way we show [that] we keep growing and learning from each other,” he said. “And that experience goes right back to the members and players.”

Marcelo Ferreira, Midtown Atlanta’s High Performance Manager, echoed that sentiment, highlighting the spirit of collaboration at the heart of the event. “The Midtown Cup represents one of my favorite Midtown values which is to win together," he said. "We have high performance players from all of our clubs coming together as one family to train, bond and build relationships. It's a special event that creates lifelong memories for the kids and coaches as well. It is a phenomenal opportunity for coaches to learn from each other. It's my favorite weekend of the year for sure."

It’s a mindset that extends beyond the club grounds. “We actually travel out to local tournaments,” said Ken Feuer, Racquet Sports Manager. “We watch our players. We give feedback to the players afterwards, and, we also communicate with the parents as well.”

Feuer also spoke to the importance of consistency across the High Performance program. “We’re one of just eight clubs with this shared philosophy—we want to develop players, and we stay on-brand,” he said. “We teach every student to have both skills and character. That’s our standard.”

Source: Midtown Athletic Club

From the youngest participants in Tennis Explorers™ to teens preparing for college tennis in the High Performance program, the Cup served as a snapshot of Midtown’s layered approach to junior development. “So whether you're 3 or 18,” Blackman said, “Midtown has a place for you to learn, grow, and compete.”

By the end of the weekend, the Midtown Junior Cup had delivered much more than a trophy. It strengthened relationships, brought clarity to coaching methods, and gave young players a memorable, competitive experience.

“Alan Schwartz, the founder of Midtown Clubs, was a great mentor for me,” Blackman said. “So being part of this legacy, and seeing how it continues to evolve—it means a lot.”

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Written by Florida Tennis contributor Alex Binstok.