By Andrew McClure

Looking for the both of best worlds? Take the excitement of top-notch tennis, mix in a little sun, sand, and ocean, and you have beach tennis, one of the most exciting, up-and-coming sports.  

Beach tennis, a combination of tennis and beach volleyball, is played on a regulation beach volleyball court with two players on each team. Each uses a standard tennis racquet to hit a slightly depressurized tennis ball back and forth over the net without letting it hit the sand. Like ordinary tennis, one hit per team.  

Nadia Johnston, an Australian born professional beach tennis player who resides in Long Beach, NY, is currently the top-ranked player on the Beach Tennis USA tour. The three-time national champion believes the sky is the limit for the game.  

“Being a new game in a sports-mad country like the United States makes it tough to break through,” Johnston said. “Some people call it a made-up sport. Beach volleyball didn’t become accepted immediately, yet now it’s so popular. It was one of the most watched sports at the Olympics. Our game is picking up momentum throughout the country.” 

Johnston first picked up a racquet at the age of seven in her hometown of Maryborough, Australia. She turned pro in 1996 and played on the professional tour until undergoing wrist surgery in the summer of 2001. Johnston attempted a comeback, but never regained the type of strength she needed in her wrist to compete on the Women’s Tennis Association’s professional tour. She was ranked 314^th in the world in singles, 245^th in doubles, and 15^th in Australia. 

Beach tennis is the perfect solution for Johnson. The ball used in the game has six pounds of pressure as opposed to the 12 of a standard tennis ball. “The softer ball, combined with not having to pound forehands and backhands, allows me to play without any problems to the wrist,” she said. “When the injury ended my tennis career, I went through a slight depression. I still had that competitive streak inside me. Beach tennis has allowed me to let it out. It’s now my passion.” 

Passion for the game has not only enabled the 31-year old Johnston to be reborn as a professional athlete, it allowed her to rise to the top of the player rankings. She’s been the top-ranked player in the country in four of the past five years.  

After falling to sisters Lisa and Laura Maloney of San Diego in the national championship tournament in 2008, Johnston and partner Nicole Melch are chomping at the bit to get another shot at a national title. The pair defeated Kim Scullion and Karen Olsen in the Tampa Bay Open in Clearwater, Florida earlier this season. The BTUSA 2009 National Championship will take place on the sand at Long Beach over Labor Day weekend. 

Another factor that differentiates the game from standard tennis is its casual atmosphere. Beach tennis, which has been called the X Games of Tennis is very much cutting edge. The game breaks most of the rules and regulations of tennis. There’s no proper attire, rock n’ roll blares from speakers, and there’s nothing against a little trash-talk. 

Johnston loves the excitement. “After having to be so refined in all my years playing professional tennis, it’s great to be able to let loose,” she said. “I always loved training with music playing and now I get to play in those conditions. The music gets you pumped up, and showing emotion is encouraged. When played at the highest level, it’s a very intense and entertaining sport.” In addition to playing on the tour, Johnston is just one of two individuals in the country to be qualified to certify others to be beach tennis coaches. 
 
Now in its fifth year, Beach Tennis USA has seen increased attention and awareness while hosting events in South Florida, Southern California and New York. The circuit has also had tournaments televised on the Tennis Channel, FSN West, SunSports, Comcast SportsNet, and SportsNet New York. The game is now being played in Germany, Italy, Japan and South Africa. 

Johnston looks forward to the chance to regain her national title, and is excited about the future of beach tennis. “Obviously as a professional athlete I want to see the beach tennis tour grow and develop a fan base that can match other professional sports,” Johnston said. “I want to help grow the sport throughout the country so others get the opportunity to experience all that this sport can offer.”

To learn more about this fast-growing sport, please visit www.beachtennisusa.net.