Contact Ed Krass, founder and executive director, Advancing The Game Inc., d/b/a One-On-One Doubles Tennis at
email: oneononedoubles@yahoo.com;
office: (813) 684-9031
cell: (813) 478-3384
about ed krass
THE STORY OF ONE-ON-ONE DOUBLES TENNIS
Former Harvard and Clemson Tennis Coach, ED KRASS, got an idea, on August 14th of 2003, that tennis could use a boost of excitement with a new format. Sitting on Amagansett Beach, in the Hamptons, Ed wrote down the name of the game to now be the Third Game of
Tennis: ONE-ON-ONE DOUBLES. Ed was on vacation, after running his College Tennis Exposure Camps at Lehigh, sitting on the beach with friends. After writing down the game’s name, something very dramatic happened. The electricity went out all along the East Coast — the Northeast Blackout! A few days later, Ed called his friends at the USTA/ FLORIDA section to discuss his invention. The USTA/Florida section immediately started to sanction Ed’s One-On-One Doubles Tournaments.
The rest was history!
Ed’s first tournament series was held at Hunters Green Country Club in Tampa, FL. The tournament’s first entrant came from PETER DOOHAN, who was famous for his huge ATP win over Boris Becker at Wimbledon! The Tampa Tribune published a front page article about the start of a new game of tennis, that blended both Singles and Doubles skills, into one game discussing One-On-One Doubles as the tournament format. Gene Scott, the legendary editor/ publisher of TENNIS WEEK MAGAZINE, sponsored Ed’s first series of events in Tampa.
Just a few years later, in 2007 and 2008, Gabe Norona, the Tournament Director of the South Florida ATP CHALLENGER, The BMW Championships, showcased One-On-One Doubles as a third format of tennis to include some of the ATP’s former top 30 ranked players. With a local blues band playing, on Stadium Court, the One-On-One Doubles Final was played to a sold-out Stadium Court.
In 2009, The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hosted and sponsored its first prize money One-On-One Doubles Championships — on the same Saturday night as the Australian Open. A current top 10 ATP player, at the time, ERNESTS GULBIS, played in the tournament and reached the Semifinals. The Champion was no other than JARED PALMER, 2001 Wimbledon Doubles Winner. Palmer won four matches, in thrilling tiebreakers, to nab the title. “I have had a great time playing in the One-On-One Doubles tournaments. The format is a lot of fun! I had so many great points where I had to pull out every shot in the book to try and get an advantage. Players of all levels should get out and play One On-One Doubles!” stated Jared Palmer, 2001 Wimbledon Doubles Champion. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association( ITA), the governing body of College Tennis, hosted 14 consecutive Coaches One-On-One Doubles Prize Money tournaments, at its Annual Coaches Conventions, from 2005 to 2019.
In the Spring of 2007, One-On-One Doubles was played as part of an official NCAA team match, covered by NBC NEWS in Tampa. On May of 2007, Kelly Jones, former #1 ATP Doubles player, reached the finals of the One-On-One Doubles Tournament played as part of a USTA MEN’S 25K PRO CIRCUIT EVENT — at Harbor Island Club in Tampa, FL. A live, rockin’ blues band performed during the tournament’s initial rounds.
In the Fall of 2008, Ed directed two Collegiate One-On-One Doubles Tournament Events at Florida Gulf Coast University and at the University of Alabama. Both events were televised nationally on FOX COLLEGE SPORTS. In the Spring of 2012, Ed hosted the Legends One-On-One Doubles Championships, in Ocala, FL., that was televised on Tennis Channel. The four legends competing were JOHAN KRIEK, MIKAEL PERNFORS, DR. DIRT TIM WILKINSON & MURPHY JENSEN. Mikael Pernfors, the 1989 French Open Singles Finalist and 2-time NCAA Champion from UGA.“Playing in the One-On-One Doubles Tournaments have been a great experience for me. The tournament format provides a great atmosphere and fun tennis. The game is excellent for any player trying to become a better all-court player,” stated MikaelPernfors, 1986 French Open Singles Finalist.
In 2017, Ed hosted two more Legends events in Winter Haven and Melbourne, FL. Both events were nationally televised through NBC Sports producer, Harry Cicma productions. EMILIO SANCHEZ, former #1 ATP Doubles player and winner of over 40 ATP Doubles Titles, won the Winter Haven One-On-One Doubles Legends Tournament beating former French Open Doubles Champion, LUKE JENSEN, 7-6(7-5), in the Final. Sanchez said “Playing in this One-On-One Doubles Event was even more exciting than playing in past Singles and Doubles Events. I was both nervous and excited to play this innovative format of tennis!” Ashley Fisher, current USF Head Men’s Tennis Coach and 2006 US Open Doubles Semifinalist said, “Playing One-On-One Doubles is always a highlight of my year. The tournament events combine energy, live musical entertainment and a high level of tennis.
One-On-One Doubles is an exciting game and format that has a place in the upper echelons of Pro Tennis.” In 2018, The USTA BJK National Tennis Center sponsored and hosted their 4th event of One On-One Doubles. In 2023, One-On-One Doubles professional tennis was televised 7 times on Florida’s premiere Sports TV Network, Bally Sports — with tennis legends and ESPN announcers, Luke Jensen & Jimmy Arias, as One-On-One Doubles television announcers. The Professional Tennis Registry( PTR), the international governing body of tennis teaching
professionals, sponsored and hosted a One-On-One Doubles Prize Money Tournament & Concert Event at Saddlebrook Resort its annual World Convention in February of 2025.
The Tennis world is taking notice of One-on-One Doubles. The International Tennis Hall of Fame, in Newport, Rhode Island, will be hosting their first One-On-One Doubles Club Championships on July 24th of 2026. High Level, Division 1 Collegiate One-On-One Doubles Tennis is ready to showcase the game’s Serve & Volley and all-Court tennis to the World via International Television distribution with multi-year partnerships.
ANDY GLADSTONE
Andy Gladstone has a rich history in Tennis and tournament administration. Andy worked, for 20 years, as Player Development Coordinator for USTA FLORIDA. He directed over 50 USTA Player Development camps for elite Florida juniors. During Andy’s two- decade tenure with USTA Florida, he managed the ranking system for all players competing in USTA sanctioned events. In 2004, Andy and his USTA Florida section were the first to sanction One-On-One Doubles Tournaments for Adult competition.
Andy’s expertise in Junior tennis is expansive. He directed elite summer team events for over 150 players a year. He hosted a monthly podcast “The G-Cast – your guide to junior competitive tennis in Florida.” Andy was a monthly columnist for Florida Tennis Magazine highlighting human interest stories on Florida junior competitive players. Andy’s son, Paul, played college tennis at Virginia Wesleyan and his daughter, Mira, plays at Davidson College.
Andy has built special relationships with numerous touring professionals through his camps, events and programs. Andy will work as the tournament and programs advisor for One-On-One Doubles Tennis -helping bridge the gap from Junior to Professional tennis.
TOURNAMENT & PROGRAM ADVISOR
ONE-ON-ONE DOUBLES EVENT ON TENNIS CHANNEL
FORMAT & RULES
One-on-One Doubles Tennis is the first alternative, competitive format to singles and doubles since the inception of the game in the 1870s. One-On-One Doubles Tennis is the crosscourt serve-and-volley Singles game including the doubles alley. Players are required to serve-and-volley on both serves or there is a loss of point; Half volleys are allowed. All players are awarded TWO POINTS for winning volleys and overheads — hit in the air — that the opponent cannot touch or reach.
One-on-One Doubles Tennis can be played in a half day tournament format. One-on-One Doubles Tennis is strictly a crosscourt competition with new game dimensions. There is a divisible line drawn through the middle of the court from the center service line to the middle of the baseline. On clay, one can use a regular court liner to make this divisible line through the middle. On hard courts, one can use chalk or white hockey or trainer’s tape to line the middle boundary.
One-on-One Doubles Tennis is a very competitive game designed for advanced club play, junior tennis, college tennis, senior tennis, and professional tennis.
ADVANCING THE GAME’s
MISSION & GOALS
OUR GOALS & MISSION of ADVANCING THE GAME, INC. d/b/a ONE-ON-ONE DOUBLES TENNIS, a nonprofit corp.
- To create and administer low-cost ONE-ON-ONE DOUBLES TOURNAMENTS for our nation’s juniors, adults, college and entry level touring professionals both boys, girls, men & women
- Develop the all-court confidence and Serve-and-Volley skills for our country’s junior tennis players
- To create a viable pathway for American juniors to be recruited to play College Tennis
- To educate sports fans and tennis players about One-On-One Doubles Tennis through community events within the United States
- To provide free, educational tennis clinics, teaching the skills of One-on-One Doubles to aspiring tennis players living in financially challenged communities
- To provide a unique, uplifting musical experience, with the addition of music and live concerts, for all competing One-On-One Doubles tournament players and fans
- To create a life altering tennis event experience that emphasizes truthful communication and respect for one another. Fair play, no excuses and honesty will also be taught throughout our competitions.
- To advance and enhance the presentation and administration of tennis tournaments nationwide and worldwide.
One-on-One Doubles Venues
One on One doubles partners
