Tennis anyone? When she’s not interning for KDHamptons, Hannah Berner is teaching tennis on Shelter Island and tearing up tournament courts! A spitfire new addition to the KDHamptons crew, Hannah recently completed her collegiate career as Captain and MVP of the University of Wisconsin Women’s Tennis Team and continues to share her knowledge and passion for the game to clients on “The Rock”. Learn more about Hannah in her new KDHamptons Tennis Diary, below:

Hannah shares, “I’m a Brooklyn native, but I spend all of my summers on beautiful Shelter Island, where I first discovered tennis.  It was there that I would watch my father and grandfather play doubles every weekend on our family court.  I would sit on the ground and play with the court clay, while falling in love with a game that would change my life.”

“By the age of 14, I was ranked top 15 in the nation for my age group. I was sponsored by Dunlop and moved to a tennis academy in Florida to chase my dream of becoming a tennis player.   The most exciting part? I had a great opportunity to travel all over the world to compete in international junior and professional tournaments.  My favorite place to play was Florence, Italy because I could eat my body weight in gelato everyday [kidding!] and I felt close to my Sicilian heritage.”

“By the age of 16 [above], I returned to New York City and competed on the boy’s tennis team at the Beacon School [below]. We won the City Championship and I was featured in the New York Times and many other articles for my success as a girl on a boy’s tennis team.  This experience really motivated me to inspire other girls to compete against anyone at any level ~ GIRL POWER!”

“What’s the secret to my game? I would describe it as creative and scrappy.  I am fast, so I fight to get to every ball that lands in the lines!  I also enjoy using mixing up slices and topspin on the court to keep my opponent on their toes.  My signature shot is my backhand down the line.  Most people hate hitting backhands, but let’s just say I know the tricks of the trade!”

“In terms of teaching, I would describe my teaching style as fun and passionate. I believe that everyone plays best when they are happy, so I love to crack a couple jokes in between instruction.  I am determined to make sure that everyone who leaves my court has learned some new skills, while having a fun workout.  For those of you who get bored jogging (like me), tennis is a great cardio alternative!  It tones your entire body and gets your competitive juices flowing.

“I teach on a private clay court on Baldwin Road in Shelter Island.  My rates are $70 for a one-hour individual lesson, and $40 per person for a two-hour group lesson.  I work with all levels and all age groups!”

Call or text me at 718.938.3065 to play!