With the likes of tennis greats Vitas Gerulaitis, Peter Fleming, John McEnroe, Mary Cariello and Patrick McEnroe passing through its portals, the Port Washington Tennis Academy, located on Harbor Rd., has always enjoyed a stellar reputation for excellence. Now, as a result of a major multi-million dollar renovation and expansion, its dazzling facility matches its great rep.

The project took 10 years from conception to completion. The newly expanded facility has 17 indoor courts (13 soft Har Tru surface and four Deco-Turf hard courts. It features an exclusive three lane, 1/4 mile long indoor running track elevated above the courts and circulating the exterior of the new luxurious clubhouse, providing all weather comfort. In addition, the Academy sports a variety of lounges and extensive locker room facilities.

The track, built specifically for tournament level juniors to provide a rare additional training benefit of maximizing speed and endurance performance capability, has a warm-up/stretching area at its entrance, six wide turns and two 60-foot, 4 degree inclines, all designed to provide superior cardiovascular workouts. It is available to adult members (and parents of junior members during their lessons) when not being used for the Academy's junior tennis training programs.

When asked the impetus for this extraordinary and ambitious undertaking, which practically razed the previous structure and rebuilt the facility, Dick Zausner, PWTA president quipped, "does insanity play well?" Speaking seriously, Mr. Zausner replied that in addition to providing improved tennis play, he wanted to offer players, and even the parents of the junior program members, the opportunity for aerobic workouts on the track,

Mr. Zausner proudly notes, "The many unique features of our newly expanded tennis facility include state-of-the-art court lighting and underground watering systems." He points out that the building, designed by McNerney Basmajian Architects of Plainview, NY, and built by Racanelli Construction Co. of Melville, NY, also offers spectacular viewing galleries with full visibility for every court.

Speaking about the philosophy that drives the Academy, Mr. Zausner adds, "The PWTA is a nonprofit institution founded in 1966 as a means of fostering educational success for children by developing a stimulating lifelong activity that is fun, healthy (the facility has been smoke-free since its inception), scholastically and socially beneficial. While its international teaching staff is primarily geared to junior development, training young people from 4 to 18 years old, adults at all skill levels may also take advantage of the individual and group adult teaching programs, league play and court time. Though well-known for the many world-class professional players who have graduated from our program, our main focus will always be encouraging educational excellence in our students."

While already in full-scale operation, working with 500-600 local youngsters and as many adults when the juniors aren't occupying the courts, the official opening ceremonies will be held at a date to be determined. "We still have a few refinements, mostly cosmetic, before we schedule the official opening ceremony," Mr. Zausner notes.

The PWTA hosts a number of in-house competitions plus Eastern and National United States Tennis Association (USTA) sanctioned tournaments. For more information, go to www.pwta.org or call 516-883-6425.