Scarsdale's Jack Reis to Play in the NYS Tennis Singles Final at Billie Jean King

Photo Credit: Greg KaplowitzScarsdale High School senior Jack Reis played a four-hour singles match for the Section 1 final that qualified him to play in the NYS final at Billie Jean King Stadium in Queens this weekend. Legend has it that he is the first Scarsdale student to play in the state final in 32 years! Unlike some previous tennis talents who declined from playing on the SHS Varsity Team to accommodate their tournament schedules, Reis stuck with SHS Varsity Tennis and travelled the country at the same time.

Reis is surprisingly relaxed, candid and open. We posed some questions about his tennis career and here is what he shared:

At what age did you start playing tennis and how did you learn to play?

I learned how to play tennis when I was 4 years old at Proform Tennis in Rye Brook.

Were you always enthusiastic about the sport?

Yes! I loved tennis from a young age. Growing up, I played hockey, piano, skiing and tennis. I started playing hockey with Scarsdale Youth Hockey and later, AAA hockey with CT Junior Rangers and CT Junior Whalers until 9th grade. I realized then that I had to make the difficult choice to stop playing competitive hockey and focus on pursuing tennis seriously to reach the level that I wanted.

In addition to playing on the Scarsdale team, do you play in regional and national tournaments?

I train and play tennis year-round. I play mostly USTA regional and national tournaments. My favorite national tournament is the National Clay Court tournament in Delray Beach, FL. I most recently competed at Easter Bowl in Indian Wells, CA. I also occasionally play prize money tournaments and ITFs (International Tennis Federation). ITFs are difficult for players who attend traditional schools (as opposed to online school) as the qualification rounds are during a weekend and the main draw takes place during the school week.

How many hours a week do you play - and where do you train?

I practice about 15 hours a week year-round but during tournament periods, it can be significantly more when matches are included. I train at Sportime Lake Isle. I also do strength training about 2-3 times a week.

What is your record this year - for Scarsdale - and in the national rankings?

I am undefeated at Scarsdale this season. I am currently ranked USTA #53 nationally for boys 18s division and #80 nationally for the class of 2026 by Tennis Recruiting Network.

How often are you on the road?

Very often! I fly to tournaments across the country about twice a month on average. I often have to travel nationally for higher level tournaments. Through tennis, I’ve had the opportunity to compete in 32 States so far which has allowed me to see different parts of the country and make friends from all over the U.S. My next national level tournament is in Chattanooga, TN at the end of June.

Tell us about the qualifying match for the state final? Who did you play? How long was the match? What was the final score?

In the Section 1 final, I played my friend Charles Martin, who I also train with. The match lasted about four hours and was one of the most physically and mentally demanding matches I've ever played. We both kept battling and refused to give in. At one point, instead of focusing on how tired I was, I started appreciating the opportunity to be in that moment. That mindset helped me stay positive and keep competing. I ended up winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Are you going to play tennis in college - and do you hope to be a professional player?

I committed last July to play tennis for Amherst College this fall. Amherst College has a strong tennis program and I’m excited for the opportunity to compete at a high level while also receiving a great education. My goal is to continue improving my game in college and see how far tennis can take me.

Who from Scarsdale played in the state final 32 years ago?

I’m not sure! I didn’t realize it had been 32 years. It’s an honor to be part of the school’s tennis history.

When is your match and who will you play?

The States individual championships is from June 5-7 at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. It is an incredible experience to play at the site of the US Open. I will find out who I play once I am there.

Anything else you would like to add?

Playing for Scarsdale has been one of the highlights of my high school experience. Even though tennis is an individual sport, being part of the Scarsdale High School team has made it special.

Tennis has also given me the opportunity to make friends from all over the country. Even though we compete against each other, we spend a lot of time together at tournaments and have built friendships that I value greatly. The sport has taught me discipline, grit, and perseverance. There are many ups and downs in tennis and learning how to keep working through setbacks has helped me both on and off the court.

I’m looking forward to representing Scarsdale at the State Championships and then continuing my academic and tennis career at Amherst College this fall.