Updates
Darrin Jolly wins ApopCup Spring 2024 Men’s Division; Beats Title Holder Nathu
June 8, 2024 - Congratulations to all the athletes in the *ApopCup* Spring 2024 men's division, and especially to Darrin Jolly for the excellent title match. Jolly beat last year's champ, Sal Nathu, for the coveted ApopCup traveling trophy. The ApopCup tournament, which launched in 2022, is played over the course of four weekends, with players accruing ranking points to compete for spots in the finals. The next ApopCup men's and women's divisions are planned for the Fall.
Group Classes Open for Registration
Tennis Galaxy’s group classes are open for registration year-round. With coaches ' approval, new students can join mid-cycle and will receive a reduced, prorated fee. Different classes and class times cater to young beginners, intermediate adults, and seasoned competitors. Click any of the images below, or here, for more information.
ApopCup Spring 2023 Champions Emerge: Williams and Nathu Take the Titles
We have our champions in the *ApopCup* Spring 2023 city title tennis series: “rackets up” to Sal Nathu and Angel-Lily Williams!
Sal, a 48-year-old Orlando resident, displayed an impressive ability to absorb pace from fast and powerful shots delivered by strong opponents.
"By knowing when and how to take speed off the incoming ball, Sal neutralizes many attacks and puts himself in control of the point,” said Peter Fazekas, Tennis Galaxy’s owner and director of coaching.
“It’s stealthy, somewhat ninja-like, how he dispatches the competition.”
Angel-Lily, a 16-year-old homegrown Apopka tennis standout, has been a dedicated student at Tennis Galaxy for nearly a decade. Her hard work and perseverance have paid off splendidly, and her championship triumph as a teen in the women’s division showcases her maturation as an athlete.
“Angel-Lily's understanding of where she is in her development, her emotional resilience, and the fact that she’s coming off her best high school season yet, all contributed to her wins,” Fazekas said. “Her decision-making highlights her growth and potential; she deployed the right tools at the right time.”
The ApopCup is a multi-season series of competitions hosted by Tennis Galaxy at the Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka. Each season consists of three qualifying matchdays—one Saturday per month, for three months—during which competitors play one set against each of three different opponents to accrue ranking points. The top four players advance to the final matchday, when they play one set against each of the other finalists to determine the season champion.
The ApopCup launched in Fall 2022 with a men's division, which was won by Apopka resident Adam Tobias. The first women's season and the second men’s season, both held in Spring 2023, saw the rise to victory of Angel-Lily and Sal.
As we await the next season, scheduled to begin later this year, we anticipate more inspiring matches and the emergence of new talents on the courts. Stay tuned for updates.
Players Rise in ApopCup Women’s Division
The first matchday of the ApopCup women’s division on Feb. 4 saw Amy Goodman (Orlando), Angel-Lily Williams (Apopka) and Shakiya Drayton (Fort Pierce) claim the top three spots of the leaderboard. The women’s competition continues on March 4, as the players vie for spots in the series finals and a shot at the trophy. Learn about the ApopCup here.
Tobias Wins Park-Wide Tennis Title
The first-ever ApopCup men’s tournament has wrapped with Adam Tobias of Apopka securing the title.
Tobias will safeguard the tournament trophy until the next title series, which begins January 14, 2023.
Read more about the ApopCup, or register, here.
Classes Open for Registration
Tennis classes for all levels resume the week of January 9, 2023. New and returning students are encouraged to register early, as certain classes do sell out every cycle. Visit the programs page to register.
Other Updates
Registration Open for Community Classes
October 15, 2022
Tennis Galaxy offers community classes and private lessons for junior and adult tennis players, from beginners through advanced competitors, at the Northwest Recreation Complex on Jason Dwelley Parkway in Apopka, Florida.
See the full calendar on the Programs page for all community classes. Click on the program you want to be taken to the registration site to sign up.
For additional help, submit a general inquiry, or call or text (407) 476-3611.
Parkwide Tennis Title Up for Grabs
July 27, 2022
Tennis Galaxy has announced that registration is open for the upcoming “ApopCup” Apopka-area tennis title series. The multi-season series begins with a men’s division on August 20. Winners of each season will be added to the tournament’s roving trophy and will keep the trophy until the next season.
Each season, participants are guaranteed at least nine hours of matchplay over the course of three months. Matchplay will take place one scheduled Saturday morning per month. Players earn points each matchday and the top players advance to the finals in the fourth month.
Tennis Galaxy offers community classes and private lessons for junior and adult tennis players, from beginners through advanced competitors, at the Northwest Recreation Complex on Jason Dwelley Parkway in Apopka, Florida.
See the calendar for a full list and then go to the GoTimmy platform to register for your selected classes, lessons or special events. Program descriptions are provided on the Programs page.
For additional help, submit a general inquiry, or call or text (407) 476-3611.
Registration for the men’s division is $115 before August 6 and $135 thereafter, until the roster is full, or until August 19. Women’s and juniors’ divisions will be announced soon.
For complete details and rules, visit the tournament page.
Vacation Week: June 27 through Fourth of July
June 25, 2022
The Tennis Galaxy one-week summer break is upon us 😃 There will be no group classes until July 5th. Please have a safe and pleasant Fourth of July, and we will see you soon thereafter. Rackets up!
Summer Morning Classes for Juniors Now Registering
May 13, 2022
The schedule for the first summer session of tennis classes at Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka is now posted and classes are open for registration. Juniors in the Tennis Galaxy Level 2, 3 and 4 classes - or Orange and Green Ball players - can join group hitting sessions on Saturday mornings starting May 28. Players 11 and older can begin TennisFit classes on Monday, May 30 (which also is Memorial Day.) Weekday morning classes for Levels 1 (Red Ball) and 2 (Orange Ball) begin the week of June 6. All special summer classes are available for full-cycle registration (which affords a reduced rate) or on a drop-in basis. See the calendar on the programs page for a full list or go directly to the registration site to enroll.
TENNISFIT CLASSES FOR JUNIORS AND ADULTS START JUNE 6
May 12, 2022
For most of us, sport-specific conditioning and training will help prevent injuries, rehabilitate from old injuries, maintain healthy body composition, and improve our on-court play. Starting upon adequate enrollment -- but no later than June 6 -- Coach Peter will lead morning TennisFit classes twice weekly for adults and twice weekly for juniors who are 11 and older. The one-hour classes are appropriate for all fitness levels, require only basic tennis skills, and will help players develop general fitness, stamina, strength, speed, and agility in a tennis-focused environment. Sign up here by searching for "TennisFit."
SATURDAY AFTERNOON POINT-PLAY IN MAY: EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR ALL AGES, LEVELS
May 1, 2022
From light-hearted and informal games for young players to hard-hitting round robins for competitive adults... Find your event on the list to the right, and sign up here. The format will be round-robin or ladder, depending on the number and skill level of participants. A Tennis Galaxy coach will organize and supervise the activity, encourage the players, adjust the format as needed, and ensure everyone gets plenty of playing time. Players should bring lots of water and dress appropriately for the weather. Price for youth events is $15 per player and for adult events is $20 per player. Advance registration is required and space for each event is limited.
Join Apopka’s Tennis Community Supporting Ukrainian Family in Florida
The Gerbut family fled their beloved Ukraine in late February after the invasion. They are now residing with a host family in Apopka, and need our help. Please consider contributing to the FundRazr campaign to provide for the family’s daily expenses as they get resettled. Tennis Galaxy also is providing scholarships for the family to continue playing tennis, which they loved to do in Ukraine. If you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund, you can do so here. And if you can offer even more help, the St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Catholic Church has been organizing and sending significant aid to Ukraine and is accepting donations here. More news about the Gerbut family and the community’s aid campaign is posted to the News & Blog page.
Spring Break 2022 Morning Camps: Registration is Open
Registration is open for tennis mini-camps the mornings of March 14 through March 18 at the Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka. These camps are best for beginner to intermediate players who are in second grade through early high school. Camp hours are 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. and the camp fee is $160 for all five mornings. A daily rate is available. Register online at https://tennisgalaxy.gotimmy.com/pages/camps. Or, learn more here.
Tennis Galaxy Programs Now Offer More Beginner and Intermediate Classes
Beginners through intermediate players of all ages can now enroll in an expanded selection of classes and lessons. All Tennis Galaxy programming is held at the Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka, Fla. See the class list and sign up here.
Have a Happy Holiday Season!
Please enjoy a loving and peaceful holiday. We will be back on the courts the week of January 10. We look forward to seeing you then!
WINTER BREAK 2021 MORNING CAMPS: REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Registration is open for mini-camps the mornings of Dec. 20 to 23 at the Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka. These camps are best for beginner to intermediate players who are in second grade through high school. Camp hours are 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. and the camp fee is $140 for all four mornings. A daily rate is available. Register online at https://tennisgalaxy.gotimmy.com/pages/camps. Or, learn more here.
Enjoy the Fall Break!
To make time for everyone to fully enjoy family, food and fun, we won't hold tennis classes or lessons on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 25) or the day after (Friday, Nov. 26.) See you back on the tennis courts on Monday!
Homeschool Classes Begin in November
Families who homeschool their children are invited to enroll students in beginner tennis classes that start in November at the Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka. The weekly one-hour classes will accommodate various age groups. Registration is open here.
Registration Open for Classes that Begin Week of Sept. 13
Open registration is underway for the youth and adult class cycles that begin the week of Sept. 13. Class size is limited, so players are encouraged to sign up early. The classes include introductory through elite levels for players aged 5 through 18, and a beginner program for adults. Sign-up information is available here.
Back-To-School Guest Clinic on August 3 for High Schoolers
High schoolers from the Windermere, Winter Garden and Ocoee areas who are part of Coach Jeanne’s program are invited to a special back-to-school guest clinic to sharpen their skills and receive coaching consultation from Tennis Galaxy’s director of coaching, Peter Fazekas. The clinic will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 3. Cost is $15. Register by visiting our Programs page.
Putting Tennis within Reach: Scholarships Available for Apopka Kids to Learn Tennis
Apopka families who would like their children to learn tennis but need financial support to do so are invited to apply for scholarships for tennis classes that start Aug. 3. Three scholarships are available from Apopka-based Tennis Galaxy for children ages 7 to 11 who otherwise would be unable to take tennis classes. The deadline to apply is Monday, July 26. Each scholarship provides a player with six weeks of beginner tennis classes, a new tennis racket and a water bottle, bag and hat. The scholarships are funded by contributions from the Tennis Galaxy community of players and families and by tennis equipment provider Diadem Sports. Learn more and apply here.
Summer Series of Friday Clinics for Kids Who are “Advanced Beginners”
A series of clinics is open for junior players who already train at the “beginner” tennis level. The clinics are held 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Friday through the remainder of the summer, with the final clinic scheduled for August 6, at the Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka. A student can participate in as many of clinics as they wish. Cost is $20 per clinic and pre-registration is required. Scholarships are available for those who otherwise would be unable to attend. Register here.
Visiting Coach to Lead Clinic for High School Advanced Players
A special class will be held on June 10, 2021 for high school-aged competitive players. Coach Ignacio Monsalve, a former Tennis Galaxy coach and two-time Florida state doubles champion, will work with the juniors players from 6 to 7p. The cost is $15 per player. Scholarships are available for those who would otherwise be unable to participate. Register by submitting the form here.
Used Tennis Balls Available for Donation
Tennis Galaxy is proud to support local schools, community centers, senior homes, rehabilitation facilities and dog trainers by providing used tennis balls free-of-charge. Please contact us to arrange for a pick-up time.
Although Tennis Deemed Low-Risk, COVID Precautions Still Important
Tennis has been found to be a relatively low-risk activity during the coronavirus outbreak, with proper precautions in place. Accordingly, the Tennis Galaxy team requires players to store their gear at least six feet from each other, to bring their own water bottles and to bring hand sanitizer and use it during every break. Coaches also organize the players to keep adequate space between them during drills.
Local Standout Player Joins Tennis Galaxy to Help Lead Kids’ Classes
Elizabeth “Lulu” Beary, a former Apopka high school tennis player who went on to set a school record while playing for her college team, is now teaching youth players as part of the Tennis Galaxy kids’ program held at the Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka. Read more here.
Tennis Courts are Open at Apopka’s Northwest Recreation Complex
The tennis courts and other facilities at Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka currently are scheduled to remain open during regular park hours. Click here for updates from the City of Apopka.