By Scoop Malinowski
Tennis is always offering new experiences both on and off the court, and today gifted a new one for this dedicated writer. On the way back home I stopped at Bayfront Park on Longboat Key to rollerblade. And on the tennis court there were identical twins playing. I have never seen twins playing. I don’t think I even know any twins who play.
It turns out these two sisters, from Pacific Palisades, CA, both play at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and they are here visiting parents and to train for the season which begins next week.
Sophia and Ireland Amato are identical and their strokes are identical but they do not play identical tennis. At first glance they do play similar – athleticism and techniques. And I was intrigued to witness two identical mirror styles playing against each other.
But they both explained that their styles contrast, one is a more aggressive, shotmaker, offensive striker, as opposed to sister’s tactics emphasizing more slices, spins, creativity and patience.
Curious about that difference I asked when it happened in their evolution? The answer, in college, as one played higher positions for the team and thus had to hit bigger and harder to combat the stronger opponents, while sis, called “the anchor”, played the lower ranked opponents and discovered a more patient, counterpunching gameplan was more successful for herself and more importantly, the team. So each sister evolved differently in college, where they are both graduate students now.
They both still love to train together and both agree all their matches are always close, unless one has a really good or bad day or vice versa. “It’s never 60 or 61, it’s always close.”
Today was no different. When they resumed play after my interruption questions, I asked what is the score? “4-3.”
The points were high level. Surprise net attack from the patient grinder provoked a netted backhand. Then a big forehand cross court from the striker.
The other difference was, racquet choices, the identical twins don’t use the same racquets (Wilson and Yonex).
I can only think of the Bryan Brothers, once the best doubles team in the world. The Gullikson Brothers who were an elite doubles team in the 80s. The Kichenok sisters from Ukraine are also a doubles team, or were (they split last year). I think the Pliskova sisters, Karolina and Kristina, are twins, but there was a distinct gap in their success.
So the education of this experience today is: Twins are rather rare in high level tennis. And a player’s game style can evolve and change due to the opposition you compete against.
Los Angeles · NCAA · Philadelphia · St. Joseph's University
