Meet Adam
Meet Adam Goldstein:
Founder and President of MyServe, Inc.
When I was five years old I struck my first tennis ball…that was 1962. Today, almost 50 years later, I am still as passionate about the game and more committed than ever to sharing this love.
Growing up in Long Island, NY, my neighborhood had a small swim club, with three clay courts. It was there that I met my first tennis teacher and learned the game. During those formative years, I developed a lasting respect and love for tennis.
Few young kids played then, so I hoped for a meeting with the “Weekend Warriors’,” grown men in short traditional whites, seeking refuge from their hard-working weeks. They fought hard, mostly for pride, especially when meeting a young neighborhood boy.
I tagged along with my tennis-loving dad on those mornings. The courts were packed by 8am and children could only play if accompanied by an adult. Most of the games were played as doubles and strategy ruled the day! … and when I wasn’t playing, I endlessly watched in moments of anguish and glory, until some adult yelled out from the courts, “Hey kid, we need a fourth can you play?” Music to my ears!
Summer’s end meant an annual trip to watch the “big boys” play at the original US Open, on grass, in Forest Hills, Queens. Players who dominated their day: “Rocket” Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Stan Smith, Billy Jean King, and Chris Evert – great stuff!
A decade later, I began training rigorously alongside the next generation of champions at nearby Port Washington Tennis Academy. There, I first met tennis legend, John McEnroe. As my game progressed, I earned my way onto Mac’s court cracking serves and diving for volleys under the watchful eye of Harry Hopman, the legendary coach who coached some of the greatest players ever: Rod Laver, John Newcombe, and Ken Rosewall. Hopman coached me as he was grooming his next crop of legends: John McEnroe, and brother Patrick, Vitas Gerulaitis, Peter Fleming, and Mary Carrillo.
Through my college years, I continued to develop my game playing “Big Ten” tennis for the University of Wisconsin before shifting my focus onto teaching others. Graduating with a degree in History and Education, and later completing a Masters program in Elementary Ed., I joined the ranks of U.S. Professional Tennis Teachers (USPTA) in 1985.
Now, a Weekend Warrior myself, teaching the game became my passion and profession. I worked with virtually every age and ability group imaginable, including my own son, who went onto to win his own State Championship.
But, I had always envisioned reaching a wider audience. My next goal: create a platform for teams to have fun playing the game with others. In 2003, I created and help lead the “Delaware Fireballs”(14U) to a Regional Championship. The following year, I led an older team to a sectional championship before eventually finishing fifth nationally in Tucson, AZ. I channeled my energies to an even wider audience when I created and founded the Delaware Junior Team Tennis League and it’s Association (DJTTA, Inc.), also serving as Board President.
Since it’s inception, the league has more than quadrupled in size to well over 20 teams that compete over fall and winter seasons. In 2005, I created and administered “The Diamond State Spring League” along with support and sponsorship of the USTA. In only the league’s second year, it boasted a thirty-five percent increase with over 100 players on 12 different teams.
About five years ago, I was selected as one of eight testers to help develop and market 36/60 nationally. This is now more commonly known as the USTA’s Quick Start and is used nationwide. The concept is a good one – make the courts more manageable in size, lower the nets, give kids smaller racquets and balls that don’t bounce over their heads and most importantly, teaching through kids’ play.
Today, as Founder and President of MyServe, Inc., I am back to where my love for the game all began; but now I’m on the other side of the net spreading the joy I’ve gained from all of these years watching, playing and teaching the game.