Prospect Park Tennis Center Director Adrian Clarke was recently featured by BK Reader. Get to know Adrian, learn about what drew him to tennis and what sparked his longtime passion for steel pan drumming.

An excerpt from the December 8 story Steel Pan Drums and Tennis: The Double Life of Brooklyn’s Adrian Clarke:

Growing up in Barbados, Adrian Clarke surrounded himself with two things: tennis and music. When he moved to Brooklyn in 1973 as a young adult, he took his two passions with him. The 67-year-old East Flatbush local now works as the director of the Prospect Park Tennis Center by day. But by night, he’s a steel pan drum player.

“When you’re playing music, usually everyone is smiling,” Clarke said. “You usually bring joy to a lot of people, and that’s the best part of it.”

Long before learning to play steel pan, Clarke began playing tennis in Barbados at the age of 12 and went on to play professionally, competing in the 1983 U.S. Open qualifying rounds.  “I wasn’t that much into school, but I needed something to be focused on. And tennis became that thing,” Clarke said.

Clarke’s two passions play a huge role in his life, and often their significance overlaps, the Brooklynite said. “You’re bringing joy to people when you’re playing music,” he said.  “When you’re teaching tennis to people, you’re also bringing something to them that they really need.”

Read the full story from BK Reader and view the video below on Adrian Clarke’s Double Life.

The Prospect Park Tennis Center, operated by Prospect Park Alliance, is a beloved destination for Brooklyn’s tennis players, and an important part of the experience is the personal and warm welcome they receive as soon as they walk in the door. This is thanks in large part to Front Desk Assistant, Jamual Edwards.

With four years of experience at the Tennis Center and 10 years of customer service experience, Jamual has honed his passion for people. He can often be found in the early morning hours organizing the center’s front desk, checking on the day’s schedule and helping customers book lessons by phone and in person. “Things have been incredibly busy over the last couple years. I’ve seen a huge boom in the amount of people calling and coming in since my start here.” This influx of tennis traffic has been right up Jamual’s alley, as his favorite part of his role is learning the stories of players. “I love to hear about why they love the sport. We have players who care deeply about tennis, they do lessons, play all the time, and even record their matches and watch them back at home–it’s enjoyable to know why they have a passion for tennis.”

On Jamual’s keen knack for customer service, Tennis Center Director, Adrian Clarke says, “He can hear a voice on the phone and immediately know who he’s talking to. Jamual has built a sense of familiarity and really takes the time to get to know the customers. It’s special to have someone in this role that customers really genuinely like talking to.”

While Jamual has a longstanding passion for fitness, tennis specifically is relatively new to him, “I’m passionate about a lot of things outside of tennis, like technology, improv, acting, screenwriting, movies and fitness, so it’s nice to see other passionate people here at the Center.” Jamual speaks to his role at Prospect Park Alliance as one that melds his interests in fitness and working with people in a way he never expected.

Jamual recently tried tennis for the first time, getting out on the court to gain a first-hand understanding of the player-experience at the Center. Clarke explains “It’s important to not only sympathize but also empathize with what players are talking about, what they’re happy about, or what they’re upset about.” Jamual has taken this extra step to get to know the industry and learn how to help players with questions about rackets size, racket stringing, and to understand perspective on general court feedback to best serve customers from the front desk and beyond.

Stop by the Tennis Center to enjoy indoor programming and say hello to Jamual.

Erick Mathelier, co-founder of tennis equipment brand FURI Sport, has a long history with the Prospect Park Tennis Center—he started playing on the courts at age 10. We spoke to Mathelier about his Brooklyn tennis roots, how his love of the game inspired him to start a company, and his reconnection with the Prospect Park Tennis Center. 

What is your background with the Prospect Park Tennis Center?
My first experience with the Prospect Park Tennis Center was at the age of 10, when I took my first tennis lesson and fell in love with the sport. I would take lessons there every Saturday. I didn’t realize it then, but Prospect Park Tennis Center was a magical place, at a time in my life that was integral to my development as a human being. For those five years that I played and took tennis lessons there, it served as my second home. I have nothing but fond memories of hanging out in the clubhouse all day, trying to play tennis whenever there was an open court; the lifelong friendships I made; the different types of personalities I interacted with. Prospect Tennis Center opened my eyes to a world I didn’t know existed, and I will be forever grateful for this time in my life. 

Tell us a little about FURI Sport and why you started it.
My business partner and I passionately believe that tennis has a diverse, rich culture. All different races love to play—at Prospect Park Tennis Center, you have a diverse clientele of players, but the public perception of the sport doesn’t reflect that diversity. FURI Sport was founded in 2016 to change this. We want to redefine tennis for the modern player, with a focus on value, inclusivity, and community. This means our equipment combines the most advanced technology with fair pricing; apparel that takes you from the court to the street; and through partnerships with nonprofits, we’re supporting the game at a grass-roots level in some of the most needy neighborhoods.

For me, the opportunity to work/collaborate with the Prospect Park Tennis Center is like coming home. I believe there’s a lot of alignment, so I’m excited about what’s in store for us in the future.

Stay tuned for more about FURI Sport at the Prospect Park Tennis Center, and learn more about tennis in Prospect Park.

After years as a beloved tennis pro at the Prospect Park Tennis Center., Adrian Clarke was recently appointed as the Tennis Center Director after its longtime director, Paul Campbell, retired. Clarke has been called a “renaissance man,” and in addition to a history of professional tennis, he has degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing, and plays steelpan drums! Get to know Prospect Park Alliance’s newest director and then sign up for a lesson today at the Prospect Park Tennis Center. 

How did you start playing tennis?
I started playing tennis at 12 years old in Barbados, where I was born and where I went to school. The main sports in Barbados were cricket and soccer, but the headmaster at my public school had tennis courts built—if I had gone to another school I never would have played tennis. My brother started playing tennis and I followed him there. I found that I liked it a lot, and I stayed with it. I played my first tournament when I was 15, and the following year I became good enough to represent the island and got to travel to neighboring islands to play. At the time, there were no coaches in Barbados and they didn’t show tennis on TV in the Caribbean, so we learned on our own—through trial and error. 

And then you moved to Brooklyn?
I came to the United States at 17 years old, and moved with my family to Brooklyn, near Grand Army Plaza. Friends of ours showed us where the tennis courts were in Prospect Park and we played about once a week at the Parade Ground. We played Saturday mornings at 7 o’clock and after work. That is one of the reasons that the courts are special to me—I’ve known them for so long and I have a passion for making them better. 

Tell us about your professional tennis experience.
From playing tennis sporadically, I started playing in tournaments and I entered a tournament at the Port Washington Tennis Academy in Long Island, and in those days, that was the big academy. In the tournament, I played against the son of the owner of the academy and beat him, and when we came to the net to shake hands, he said, “How would you like to train here?” And that’s how I got the opportunity to play good tennis. The best player at the Port Washington Tennis Academy at the time was John McEnroe, Vitas Gerulaitis practiced there often, and I was on the ladder as one of the best players. I got my introduction there to a really high level of tennis for a year and a half before I went to college and played tennis at Hampton University. After I graduated, I joined the professional tour for a little while, but was frustrated by how expensive it was and how elitist it was. In 1983, I played in the U.S. Open, which had been a great dream of mine, and which I’m so proud. I lost my match, and the next day I signed up for my Masters degree. 

You continued to spend time in Barbados?
Yes, there was a lot I could do for tennis in Barbados, so I went back and coached some kids on scholarship—but the last thing of consequence I did there was set up an international junior tournament. As a child, I had never seen good tennis, and I figured that there must be people like me who have a dream but don’t have the access to travel, so I founded the tournament as a way to bring good players to Barbados. That tournament has now been going on for more than 25 years. 

How did you come back to tennis in Prospect Park?
I was teaching Junior High School English, and I enrolled my daughter in tennis at Prospect Park. By that time Paul Campbell and (former pro) Paul Curtin, who I had known for a long time, were at the Prospect Park Tennis Center—and they started asking me to fill in to help with the Junior Development Program. I did a bit of that and eventually I came on as an instructor full time. That was about 11 years ago and it’s been great to work in Brooklyn where I live. 

Now that you’re the Director of the Tennis Center, what are your aspirations?
I’m very excited to be the Director of the Tennis Center, in this place where I grew up playing. I want to get the courts to a high standard and continue to improve the experience for our players. I want to continue to develop our Junior Development Program to be a resource for talented kids, I want to inspire our coaches. I want players to know that they can come from anywhere in the world and have a great tennis experience in Prospect Park. 

I’ve reached out to some of the kids playing at the center, and I’ve told them to let me know if there are ways I can help them. I got to play tennis and reach a high level because I received help from so many people, and I feel like if I’m ever in a position to give or help, I’m going to try. And my feeling is, if we’re doing what we can to help you, you’re going to respect the place and the people who are working here. 

I think if I’m able to accomplish some of those things, I’ll be satisfied. Then I can ride off into the sunset. 

You’ve been referred to as a “renaissance man,” what are some of your favorite hobbies outside of tennis?
I love to write, I’ve published some short stories in literary journals, and I love to read. I also play steelpan drum professionally, I play for folks all over the Tristate area and I plan to continue though a bit less, it really relaxes me.

For many of us, the start  of a new year is the perfect time to refocus our health and fitness goals. An excellent way of staying fit in the colder months is to play indoor tennis at the Prospect Park Tennis Center, which features 11 heated, indoor courts.

“Tennis is often not thought of as an aerobic exercise, but a good match can provide a really strenuous workout that builds strength, agility and burns calories,” says Paul Campbell, Director of the Prospect Park Tennis Center. “Most importantly, tennis is fun so people tend to stay with it.”

Prospect Park Alliance offers a variety of tennis play and instruction for all ages and skill levels. Youth can take part in group instruction in our Junior Development program, or take intensive classes during the upcoming President’s Week school break. Adults can find leagues of their own, and sign up for group or private lessons with our pros. And, with courts open from 7 am to 11 pm, seven days a week, there’s no bad time to get started!

Why choose tennis over another sport? “People that learn tennis often continue playing well into their later years,” says Campbell. Knowing how to play tennis is a lifelong skill, and “it frequently fosters friendships and camaraderie that can last a lifetime.”

Ready to get started? All you really need are a pair of sneakers, balls and rackets are available for sale or rent at the Center, and included in the cost of a lesson.

Learn more about the various Tennis Center offerings for adults and children, and see you on the court!

The tennis pros at the Prospect Park Tennis Center provide expert instruction to adults and children. This month we caught up with Adrian Clarke, one of the Tennis Center’s experienced professionals. A Barbados tennis legend, Adrian has represented the Caribbean in the Davis Cup. He has been living in Brooklyn for 44 years and has been working for the Prospect Park Tennis Center for 10 years, teaching players of all ages and levels. Adrian shared his 3 tips for the perfect serve:

1. The perfect toss: Adrian admits that even the pros often have trouble with their toss. He suggests keeping your wrist and elbow straight during your toss to allow for maximum control. Then, instead of throwing the ball into the air, try simply placing it with your outstretched arm.

2. A power stance: Stand on a diagonal so that your shoulders turn as you hit the ball instead of facing directly across the court. This rotation will put power behind your serve. Adrian calls this “the trophy stance”.

3. Perfect placement: Having trouble putting power behind your serve? No worries! Adrian suggests learning to place your serve in a couple of different spots on the court. This way, you can vary where your serve lands and keep your opponent on their toes.

Want to up your game? Sign up for lessons at the tennis center to work with Adrian and other outstanding tennis professionals. Pros at the tennis center give students of all ages personalized attention while they acquire fundamentals and increase their skill level.

The Prospect Park Tennis Center offers instruction for children of all levels of experience. The accomplished staff of tennis professionals gives players personal attention while they acquire game fundamentals and increase their skill level.

The Junior Program currently has a crop of talented young players coming up through the ranks including Sebastian Brustein. Brustein has been playing at the Prospect Park Tennis Center since the age of eight and competing in USTA sanctioned tournaments since the age of nine. He is currently ranked #2 in the United States Tennis Association metro region—with an overall record of 20-8—in the 12U Boy’s Singles Division. Brustein most recently won the Level 1 12U Boy’s February Challenger. With this win, he should have enough points to break the top 100 in the USTA Eastern Division (overall record 27-15). 

Brustein is also an accomplished quarterback, and has led his flag football team to 4 consecutive championships! When not playing tennis or football, he can be found honing his skills on Madden AND CSGO, and wishes someone would come out with a decent video game for tennis!

On February 27, the Prospect Park Tennis Center begins a new semester for the Indoor Junior Development Program. Take a look at our website and sign up for lessons! Your young tennis player will thank you.