from left: Ellis Ferreira, Pat Anderson, Dave Marshall and Damian Sancillio

Ridgetop Pro Pat Anderson joined with Courtside West Pro Damian Sancillio in welcoming 2001 Australian Doubles Champion Ellis Ferreira and Dr. Dave Marshall, a former nationally-ranked collegate player who holds Delaware Open Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles championships titles.

Approximately 30 people got to sample the tennis teaching that has made Dave Marshall a well-respected coach of over 20 national champions.  Marshall, who runs the Sea Colony Tennis Resort in Bethany Beach is a friend of Sancilio's.  

"Ellis and Dave have been traveling the country doing doubles strategy clinics and promoting Ferreira Tennis, Ellis's clothing line," said Sancilio. (Damian's wife, Jennifer, recently gave birth to their second baby boy - his name is Roman!)

"The clinic went especially well and there were a lot of doubles tips for the participants and drills that emphasized each principle.  The main contention of the drills was that positioning in doubles and the right shot selection is much more important than technique and shot-making ability for winning doubles."

"The instruction was really amazing," said Kerri Rhodes, who plays both singles and doubles.  Rhodes played on the  Richmond-based team that placed 3^rd in the 2006 World Team Tennis (WTT) National Finals. 

 "I definitely had an 'ah-ha!' moment out there today."

Other participants agreed that it was a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity, but hope that they can persuade Ferreira and Marshall to return later in the year to more accommodating temperatures and an even bigger audience.  The weather was unseasonably cold for April with wind gusts near 50 mph.  Although the participants were bundled up, it didn't distract from the instruction, said Esther Fratkin.

"I was looking for that one piece of doubles strategy that could really improve my game. My expectations were exceeded and I can't wait to hit the court and practice what I learned."

Westwood Club member Charles Wayland gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up.  He said the clinic was "the best tennis activity that I have ever done. I learned more in three hours about doubles than I have in 3 years of playing doubles."