Player Profiles: Liz Jaffe and Graham McNerney

October 25, 2018

Player Profile-Liz Jaffe

Jaffe, currently ranked seventh in the country (with Jade Curtis), has been a fixture near the top of the APTA rankings for a decade. She reached the finals of the 2011 and 2012 APTA National Championships (with Lisa Rudloff).

Q: Hometown
A: Port Washington, NY

Q: Occupation:
A: Director Of Racquets at Village Club of Sands Point

Q: Did you play college tennis?
A: Yes, I went to Tulane University on a full tennis scholarship.

Q: How long have you played platform tennis/how were you introduced to the game?
A: I have been playing paddle for 15 years. A friend thought I would enjoy the game and bought me a paddle lesson with Tim Mangan.

Q: When you started, what were the biggest adjustments you had to make as a tennis player?
A: Staying true to backhand volleys, and court positioning.

Q: How do you make practicing fun?
A: I get together with friends, especially Sue Tarzian, and we play points against each other.

Q: Where is your favorite place to play?
A; I loved Nationals at The Glen View Club and also Chicago Charities.

Q: List one or more highlights of your platform tennis career OR the funniest or best thing that happened to you on a platform tennis court.
A: Reaching the finals of Nationals back-to-back years 2011, 2012 with Lisa Rudloff and winning the Mixed 50+ Nationals with Brad Easterbrook.

Q: What is your trick/mental fix to use when you feel pressure in a match?
A: I don’t often feel pressure but staying calm and talking with my partner puts her at ease.

Q: Who do you wish was watching you at your best match?
A: My mother

Q: List any other favorite hobbies you have:
A: Playing golf, food and wine, spending time with friends.

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: A warm, sunny island

Q: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
A: Rocky

Q: Please finish this sentence "You'd be surprised to know that I…"
A: Hate losing!

Q: What is your pre-match warm up/routine?
A: I do ten minutes of light stretching to get my muscles warm followed by a fifteen minute on-court warm up.

Q: What is your favorite shot?
A: My backhand

Q: What is your favorite part of playing doubles and the best part of competing?
A: Winning!

Player Profile-Graham McNerney

McNerney has had a remarkable start to the 2018-2019 season, winning the Patterson Open (with Scott Kahler) and taking the Philly Open Grand Prix title (with Marek Czerwinski).

Q: Hometown
A: Chicago

Q: Occupation
A; Consultant

Q: Did you play college tennis or another sport?
A: No

Q: How long have you played platform tennis?
A: Six years

Q: When you started, what were the biggest adjustments you had to make?
A: I had to learn patience.

Q: How do you make practicing fun?
A: I like to practice new kill shots.

Q: Where is your favorite place to play?
A: Glen View Club in Chicago

Q: List one or more highlights of your platform tennis career OR the funniest or best thing that happened to you on a platform tennis court?
A: The sense of community and friendly competition among all the top players is great.

Q: What is your trick/mental fix to use when you feel pressure in a match?
A: I try to simplify my strategy for the next point. I make it my goal to get one specific shot in one location and wait for it.

Q: Who do you wish was watching you at your best match?
A: My dad.

Q: List any other favorite hobbies you have.
A: Volleyball, basketball, video games

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: Grand Cayman Islands

Q: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
A: The Sandlot

Q: Please finish this sentence: "You'd be surprised to know that I…"
A: Can solve a Rubik’s cube.

Q: What is your pre-match warm up/routine?
A: Listen to music and do some kinetic stretching while going over my game plan.

Q: What is your favorite shot?
A: Overhead slash drop shot

Q: What is your favorite part of playing doubles and the best part of competing?
A: I love the strategy and the mental aspect the most. I also like molding my game to bring out the best in my partner.