CINCINNATI — A former tennis champion from Ohio is paying it forward, inspiring younger players to compete and win at the highest level.
What You Need To Know
- The Cincinnati Tennis Foundation runs a variety of clinics and lessons, including adaptive tennis
- While there is a fee for most programs, there are scholarships available
- Former wheelchair tennis champion Zach Sikora is a CTF coach and inspiring a new generation of winning players like Mathias Krodel, 18, ranked in the Top 10 in the U.S.
Zach Sikora was ranked No. 1 in the U.S and second in the world when he competed in the 18-year-old and under division in the early 2000s. He traveled the world competing.
Now, as an adult in his late 30s, Sikora coaches at the Cincinnati Tennis Federation and its programs for adaptive tennis, which is designed for players with physical challenges and differing abilities. Sikora was born with spina bifida, a neurological disorder that affects the spine and spinal cord.
“I’m hoping I can help some of our kids do the same thing,” Sikora said.
“My level of improvement just soared when he stepped up to be my coach,” said Mathias Krodel, 18, who is currently ranked in the top 10 in the nation. He is preparing to head to the prestigious Kalamazoo Nationals later in the summer.
“Anyone at any level, any age with any disability is able to be in this program,” said CTF coach JD Drennan.
Drennan often brings keychains and other trinkets to give as prizes to the players when they experience a “win.” That could be something as simple as getting several balls over the net in a row, or perhaps taking a few points off him or one of the other coaches in a game.
“Getting people exposed to tennis at any level is something I’m really passionate about,” he said.
Players learn more than just volleys and serves; they gain off-the-court lessons, as well.
“This really teaches kids independence,” Sikora said. “It teaches kids to do things they’ve never done before.”
“People can’t coddle little kids,” Krodel Said. “I’m telling them to go out on their own, push their own wheelchairs, get out of the car by themselves and parents don’t like it at first, but when they see their kid can do it, it opens so much more doors.”
“We recently had two of the older kids show the younger ones how to load their wheelchairs in their cars by themselves — something that’s so important for independence,” Sikora
Programs are ongoing and the CTF hosts a United States Tennis Association sanctioned wheelchair tennis tournament Aug. 18-20.
Krodel plans to compete.
“It’s great that we have a tournament here in Ohio,” Krodel said. “Wheel chair tennis shows nothing is impossible for anyone.”