Kid likes tennis teaching to be here

Alec Kaczkowski

Eleven-year-old Alec Kaczkowski said he'd like to be a pro tennis player. But, he said he doesn't want to live away from home just to get the best tennis coaching.

Many young players with pro aspirations go to famed tennis academies in states such as Florida and California. That's where the most famous coaches are and kids can practice outdoors year-around.

But, Alec said he thought he could improve his game right here in St. Louis. About going to an out-of-state tennis academy, he said, "I wouldn't want to be separated from my family here in St. Louis."

He said he knows a young player who lives with his mother in Florida and his dad has to stay where his job is. "He only sees his dad every so often. That isn't for me," Alec said.

He has just moved into the 12-and-under age class after being ranked No. 1 in the Missouri Valley tennis rankings in 10-and-under. But, he's been playing in 12-and-under tournaments for quite some time to get a chance to play against older players.

Alec is from University City and will be a 6th grader at Flynn Park Elementary School.

Young Saint Louis.com interviewed Alec last month at the Triple AAA Tennis Club in Forest Park. That's where he takes lessons from coach Rich Chappius. Alec was on hand to watch older players prepare for the St. Louis Junior Championships.

That tournament attracts players from across the country. However, the top seed in the 18-and-under boys division is from St. Louis. Blake Strode of Pattonville is the Class 2 state champion and is ranked No. 20 in the U.S.

Alec was watching the older players, looking for ways to strengthen his own game.

He said he thinks he has one natural advantage because he's left-handed. Most tennis players are right-handed.

"Being left-handed is a great advantage. When I play a right-hander, I can use my spin serve and it goes to his backhand side. At young ages, a player's backhand is usually his weak side," Alec said.

He said he doesn't use a spin serve if his opponent is left-handed. "That would run the ball right into his forehand side, which is stronger," he said.

He said his serve isn't particularly fast. "But, I can place it well," he added.

Alec said one part of his game that has improved is his serve-and-volley. That's when a player comes to the net and hits the return-of-serve before it bounces. That's particularly effective if the opponent has to return the serve from his weak side, he said.

He admits his volley game "isn't the best in the world." But, he's gotten better recently. "I didn't like to come to the net before," Alec said. He said, if you catch the ball close to the net, the returns can be hit at sharper angles that are hard to reach.

Alec said his overhead and backhand are two parts of his game that need more work. Alec said his current role model on the pro tennis circuit is Raphael Nadal, the teenager who won the 2005 French Open in Paris.

"He's a left-hander and fights for every point. He also generates lots of top spin on his shots," Alec said.

He said the biggest disappointments he has in tennis is "when I lose to someone I know I can beat." He said that happened recently when he finished 2nd in the 12-and-under division of the South County Junior Tournament here.

This spring, he won the 12-and-under division in the Turbo Tennis Classic on the John Burroughs High School courts.

But, he said he's still waiting for the thrill of winning "a big tournament." By that, he means a tournament that involves players from several states.

He has played with Missouri teams that have competed in Oklahoma City, Topeka and in Iowa. "But, we haven't come in first yet," he said.

Alec said he started playing tennis at 9. "I saw my sister, Anna, playing tennis. I thought, if she can do that, I can do that," he said. Anna is 15 and will be in high school this fall.

He said he regularly beats his sister now.

Alec said he used to also play select soccer and baseball. "But, those were starting to conflict with my tennis. For instance, I had a select soccer game that conflicted with a tennis tournament I was entered in at Edwardsville," he said.

Alec said his goal in tennis this year is to lower his ranking in 12-and-under to 30th or better. He currently is ranked 40th. Then, he'll have two more years in that division to try match his top ranking in the 10-and-under division.