Michael-Ray Pallares González Explained

Michael-Ray Pallares González
Residence:Tampa, Florida
Birth Date:1980 12, df=y
Birth Place:Englewood, New Jersey
Turnedpro:2004
Plays:Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Careerprizemoney:$10,219 USD
Singlesrecord:1-0 (ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and Davis Cup)
Singlestitles:0
Highestsinglesranking:No. 1183 (31 January 2005)
Doublesrecord:0-0 (ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and Davis Cup)
Doublestitles:0
Highestdoublesranking:No. 1157 (8 October 2012)
Updated:22 June 2019

Michael-Ray Pallares González (born December 15, 1980) is a professional tennis player from the Dominican Republic.[1] [2] He was a member of the Dominican Republic Davis Cup team[3] [4] and represented his country at the Central American and Caribbean Games.[5]

He won the men's singles gold medal at the 2022 State Games of America,[6] an Olympic-style multi-sport event held in North America. It is organized by the National Congress of State Games as part of the United States Olympic Committee in which athletes qualify for the Games by earning a medal in their respective State Games in the previous two years. Pallares was the men's singles gold medalist at the 2020 Commonwealth Games of Virginia (Virginia).[7]

Biography

Michael-Ray Pallares González is a second cousin once-removed of the Dominican Mirabal sisters. Pallares' father played professional soccer in the Football League Second Division for Norwich City F.C.

Junior career

As a junior, Michael-Ray was a two-time USTA National Champion winning the USTA National Interscholastic Championships in Lexington, Kentucky as well as the USTA National Port Washington Easter Classic at the famed Port Washington Tennis Academy in Port Washington, New York.[8]

Past winners of these events include Jim Courier, John McEnroe, Butch Buchholz, Arthur Ashe, Roscoe Tanner, Harold Solomon, Bryan Shelton, Chris Woodruff, Luke Jensen, Brian Baker, and Donald Young amongst others.[8]

College career

Michael-Ray accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where he played for the Alabama Crimson Tide men's tennis team[9] which was ranked Top 10 in NCAA Division 1 Men's Tennis.[10] In 2003, he was voted the Most Improved Player[11] and was an instrumental part of the team that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in Athens, Georgia.[11] He graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Professional career

ATP World Tour

Pallares González turned professional in 2004, competing predominantly on the ITF Men's Circuit and ATP Challenger Tour.

He's held an ATP ranking in singles & doubles for over ten years, posting wins over six players who were each ranked inside the ATP Top-300 and advanced to the doubles final of the $15K Algeria F3 Futures Tournament in 2011.

Doubles: (1 Runner-up)

Legend
ATP Challenger Tour (0–0)
ITF Futures (0–1)
width=50Outcomewidth=10No.width=110Datewidth=200Tournamentwidth=50Surfacewidth=200Partnerwidth=200Opponentswidth=140Score
Runner–up1.8 October 2011Algeria F3 AlgiersClay Murphey Parker Lukas Jastraunig
Mark Vervoort
0–6, 6–7(3–7)

Davis Cup

Michael-Ray Pallares González has represented the Dominican Republic as a member of four Davis Cup selections, posting a 1-0 record competing in the 2004 Davis Cup Americas Zone Groups II.

Davis Cup: Singles (1-0)

European League Club Tennis

While playing European League Club Tennis for teams in Italy (TC Volpago), Germany (SV Blankenese e.V.),[12] Austria (TC Grün Weiß Steyr)[13] [14] & (UTC Casa Moda Steyr), and France (Racing Club de France), Michael-Ray compiled a 57-13 record, helping his teams get promoted four times in their respective leagues.

European League Club Tennis: Record (57-13)

SeasonCountryClubLeague
WinsLosses
2010 Oberliga Hamburg2010GermanySV BlankeneseOberliga Hamburg102
2011 Oberliga Hamburg2011Oberliga Hamburg120
2012 Oberliga Hamburg2012Oberliga Hamburg31
2013 Oberliga Hamburg2013Regionalliga Nord20
Total273
2013 Landesliga2013AustriaTC Grün Weiß SteyrLandesliga02
2014 Landesliga2014Landesliga40
2017 Bundesliga2017UTC Casa Moda SteyrBundesliga
Total42
2013 Serie D12013ItalyTC VolpagoSerie D140
2014 Serie C2014Serie C100
2015 Serie C2015Serie C80
2017 Serie C2017Serie C
Total220
2014 Ligue 22014FranceRacing Club de FranceLigue 211
2015 Ligue 12015Ligue 137
2017 Ligue 12017Ligue 1
Total48
Career Total5713

USTA Tournaments

The United States Tennis Association Open Tournaments are the most competitive on the USTA schedule and provide a high level of competition and prize money for experienced players. Players of all abilities and ages can play in Open events, including former andcurrent pros, teaching professionals, college players and top-ranked juniors.

In 2009, Pallares won the prestigious 83rd Annual National Public Parks Tennis Championships.[15] The National Public Parks Tennis Association was founded by Dwight Davis[16] and established the inaugural event in 1923.[17]

Past winners of this event include Gardnar Mulloy, Seymour Greenberg, Fred Kovaleski, Noel Brown, Bill Tym, Steve Wilkinson, Ken Stuart, Larry Parker, Juan Farrow, and Carlos Gómez-Díaz amongst others.[18]

While competing at the Men's Open Singles division, Michael-Ray achieved a #1 Final Ranking 10 times in 7 different sections. The USTA is made up of 17 individual sections, each representing distinct geographic locations throughout the United States.

Since 2021, the USTA Competition Committee approved changes to the Nationwide Competitive Structure, paving the way for a standardized nationwide structure and ranking system for tennis events across the 17 USTA Sections.

Michael-Ray was the #1 ranked player in the United States in the Men's Open Singles division for the years 2021[19] and 2022.[20]

USTA Men's Open Singles: Rankings

YearRankingDivisionUSTA SectionAbout
2002 3 Men's Open Singles USTA FloridaThe USTA Florida section comprises the entire state of Florida.[21]
2003 1 Men's Open Singles The USTA Southern section includes the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.[22]
2004 1 Men's Open Singles The USTA Florida section comprises the entire state of Florida.[23]
2009 1 Men's Open Singles The USTA Southern section includes the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.[24]
2011 1 Men's Open Singles The USTA Midwest section consists of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin as well as designated counties in West Virginia and Kentucky.[25]
2012 1 Men's Open Singles The USTA Missouri Valley comprises the five-state area of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.[26]
2013 1 Men's Open Singles The USTA Southwest section is made up of the states of Arizona, New Mexico and El Paso county in Texas.[27]
2019 1 Men's Open Singles The USTA New England section consists of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine.[28]
2020 1 Men's Open Singles The USTA Missouri Valley comprises the five-state area of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.[29]
2021 1 Men's Open Singles USTA Florida USTA NationalThe USTA Florida section comprises the entire state of Florida. The USTA comprises the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Province of British Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.[30]
2022 1 Men's Open Singles USTA Hawaii Pacific USTA NationalThe Hawaii Pacific Section embraces members in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas. The USTA comprises the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Province of British Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.[31]

Coaching career

Michael-Ray Pallares González is the Owner & Head Professional of Crown Elite Tennis Academy,[32] a high performance tennis academy specializing in junior development in Tampa, Florida.

He has served as Professional Tour Coach and/or hitting partner for several Top 10 ATP & WTA Players including Nicolas Almagro, John Isner, Vera Zvonareva, Alla Kudryavtseva & Kristina Brandi.

He also served as Director of Tennis for the Panamanian Tennis Federation, Turkmenistan Tennis Federation and Guam National Tennis Federation as the International Tennis Federation Expert Coach[33] undertaking the Development of National Sport Structure, creating an action plan to strengthen the tennis program approved by the NOC, International Olympic Committee and Olympic Solidarity.

Philanthropy

Michael-Ray Pallares González founded One Love Tennis Inc. in 2011, which is a non-profit organization designed to reach underprivileged and low income youth through affordable tennis, education, and fitness.[34] In 2019, the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) named Michael-Ray the PTR Humanitarian of the Year at its annual awards week, during the PTR International Tennis Symposium.[35] He has travelled all over the world, organizing Play-Day events designed to introduce kids to tennis providing them with the opportunity to continue to develop and enhance their skills. Play-Days are a welcoming way for kids to experience the social and competitive aspects of tennis, promoting a sense of achievement through a fun and spirited atmosphere.

Africa

In July 2016, Pallares González traveled to Southern Africa and teamed up with Jane Kaye-Bailey's Butterfly Tree Charity along with John Nomad's Nomad Sports Academy to conduct an Exhibition and Play-Day event for a group of 20 orphans from the Mukuni Village in Livingstone - Southern Province, Zambia.[36] [37] Michael-Ray's second trip to the African continent came in May 2018, as he traveled to Ethiopia located in the Horn of Africa. He hosted a “Play-Day” event in collaboration with the Senai Foundation, for a group of 15 children from Hannah’s Orphans Home in the heart of Addis Ababa, most of which have tragically lost their parents to either the HIV/AIDS epidemic or imprisonment of their parents.[38] Pallares González next visited the East African country of Zimbabwe in June 2018, to host a tennis academy “Stage & Clinic” for a group of 25 children from Mutasa Primary School in the Highfield township of Harare. The event was held at the historic Harare Sports Club in collaboration with the National Tennis Federation of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, and the Zimbabwe Sports & Recreation Commission.[39] That same month, Michael-Ray traveled to Rwanda, one of the smallest countries on the African mainland located in the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa. He collaborated with the Rwanda Tennis Federation and the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee to host a training session for ten of the top juniors in the nation along with several national coaches to assist in further developing the sport of tennis in Rwanda, providing opportunities for young players and coaches to gain knowledge and have access to tennis supplies. The event took place during the final weekend of the Genocide Memorial Tennis Tournament at the National Training Center based out of the Stade National Amahoro in Kigali, Rwanda's capital and largest city.[40] [41]

Asia

In December 2015, North Okkalapa Township located in the eastern part of Yangon, Myanmar in southeast Asia was host to an event. The event was held at the Damayaketa Monastery for 25 children from the Myat Mingalar Orphanage.

Australia and Oceania

In September 2018, in collaboration with the Guam National Tennis Federation and the Guam National Olympic Committee, Michael-Ray organized two events on the island of Guam, which is an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States in Micronesia in the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States, along with the Northern Mariana Islands. The first Play-Day event was held for 20 girls and women in partnership with the Guaiya Todu Foundation, a non-profit organization striving to promote the sport of tennis to aspire and empower girls and women of all ages.[42] Pallares González then partnered with the Mañelu Foundation, a nonprofit institution that helps children reach their potential through professionally supported mentoring relationships, to host a Play-Day event for a group of 30 children.[43]

Europe

In June 2017, Pallares González traveled to the Southern European island country of Malta and collaborated with the Salesian Pastoral Youth Service of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Ursuline Sisters of the Ursulines to host a Play-Day event for a group of 15 children from the St Patrick’s boys’ home in Sliema.[44] [45] In September 2017, Michael-Ray once again travelled to Europe, this time to the Southeastern European country of Romania. The Play-Day event took place in the residential quarter of Moșilor located in Bucharest's Sector 2, Romania's capital and largest city. He partnered with the Saint Macrina Orphanage and the Romanian Churches Ecumenical Association to host the event for a group of 15 children living at the residential shelter.[46] [47] In May 2018, Pallares González returned to Malta to host an exhibition and Play-Day event at the historic Marsa Sports Club for a group of 20 children from the St Patrick’s boys’ home in Sliema.[48]

North America

In December 2016, the Clayview Country Club in Kansas City, Missouri was the first site in the United States to host an event.[49] In October 2017, Michael-Ray collaborated with the Rockhurst University Men's & Women's Tennis Teams to host another event at historic Hyde Park, Kansas City.[50] [51] These Play-Day events were held for a group of 10 children who - by no fault of their own - were unable to remain in their homes and were placed in The Salvation Army Children's Shelter due to either a family crisis or child abuse, including issues of physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse, or severe neglect.[52] [53] [54] That same month, the Hanscom-Brandeis Indoor Tennis Center located within the historic Hanscom Park neighborhood in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska hosted an event for a group of 12 children from Completely KIDS, an organization that educates and assists youth and their families, via school and homeless shelter partnerships.[55] In July 2017, Michael-Ray's second event in the Midwest took place in Fargo, the most populous city in the state of North Dakota. The Play-Day event was held for a group of 12 children temporarily living at the YWCA Cass Clay Children’s Emergency shelter.[56] [57] In December 2017, Michael-Ray teamed-up with Fundación del Empresariado Sonorense (FESAC), the Border Community Alliance (BCA) and the Border Youth Tennis Exchange (BYTE) to host the first Play-Day event in Mexico. The event was held for a group of 45 children living at the Orfanato Casa de Elizabeth A.C. Children's Home in the municipal seat of Ímuris, located in the Imuris Municipality in the north of the Mexican state of Sonora.[58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63]

Central America & Caribbean

In September 2017, Michael-Ray teamed-up with Fundación Sigue mis Pasos to host the first Play-Day event in his home country. The event was held for a group of 15 children living at the Orfanato Casa Amor y Restauración Hermosa Children's Home in the Brisas del Este sector of Santo Domingo Este, a municipality and provincial capital of the Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic.[64] [65] [66] That same month, he collaborated with Grupo Puntacana to host his second event in the Dominican Republic, this time for a group of 30 ball-boys at the Oscar de la Renta Tennis Center located in the Puntacana Resort and Club community of Punta Cana, La Altagracia Province.[67] [68] [69] In December 2018, Michael-Ray returned to the Orfanato Casa Amor y Restauración Hermosa Children's Home in the Brisas del Este sector of Santo Domingo Este, to donate tennis equipment to the shelter as well as take part in a special Christmas Dinner where more than 500 children from several nearby orphanages attended.[70]

South America

In March 2016, Michael-Ray teamed-up with Tennis for Colombia to host a Play-Day event for a group of 10 ball-boys in the rural neighborhood of Puerto Caldas, a municipality of Pereira, Colombia in the foothills of the Andes located in northwest South America.[71] In March 2017, his second event in Colombia took place in the town and municipality of Jamundí, (15 mi) south of Cali, the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, and the most populous city in southwest Colombia. The Play-Day event was held for a group of 8 ball-boys in collaboration with Las Mercedes Campestre Tennis Club.[72]

Other Initiatives

Mental Health

In October 2017 and December 2018, Michael-Ray collaborated with occupational therapist Debbie Kolarik and recreational therapist Ron Tankel to organize an event and create a program for behavioral health clients at the New Frontiers tennis program at Truman Medical Center located in the Hospital Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri.[73]

Child Literacy

In September 2018, Michael-Ray visited the St. John's School, an international college preparatory school located in the Tumon area of Tamuning, Guam, United States serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to celebrate and take part in National Reading Group Month. Pallares Gonzalez visited and read to St. John's 5th Grade Class and donated tennis equipment enabling students to familiarize themselves with the sport and further engage themselves in healthy competition amongst their peers.[74]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michael-Ray Pallares-Gonzalez asciende 182 puestos en el ranking mundial ATP. Diario Digital RD. 9 June 2016.
  2. Web site: Dominicano Michael Ray Pallares Gonzalez se convierte en finalista en el Argelia F3. La Nacion Dominicana. 9 June 2016.
  3. Web site: Tenista Pallares entrena con el objetivo de integrar nuevamente la selección nacional. El Dominicano Ahora. 9 June 2016.
  4. Web site: República Dominicana rompe su historia en el ranking ATP. El Nuevo Diario. 9 June 2016.
  5. Web site: Equipo tenis RD rumbo a Cartagena. Hoy Digital. 18 July 2006.
  6. Web site: 2022 State Games of America. State Games of America. 27 July 2022.
  7. Web site: Virginia Commonwealth Games at Liberty University Adult Open (200 pt). United States Tennis Association. 15 February 2021.
  8. Web site: USTA Yearbook - Junior USTA Interscholastic Champions. United States Tennis Association. 10 June 2016.
  9. Web site: Bama's Pallares Shines in Men's Tennis Win Over Georgia Tech. Crimson Tide. 11 June 2016.
  10. Web site: Tide Rises to Challenge in SEC Men's Tennis Opener. Crimson Tide. 11 June 2016.
  11. Web site: Men's Tennis Notes: Alabama Tennis Brings the Hits. Crimson Tide. 11 June 2016.
  12. Web site: Hamburger Tennis-Verband e.V.. Wettspielportrait. 11 June 2016.
  13. Web site: Oberösterreichischer Tennisverband. Datenautomaten GmbH. 11 June 2016.
  14. Web site: Oberösterreichischer Tennisverband. Datenautomaten GmbH. 11 June 2016.
  15. Web site: 83rd Annual National Public Parks Tennis Championships. United States Tennis Association. 12 June 2016.
  16. Web site: Dwight Davis Tennis Center to Host 100th National Public Parks Championship. United States Tennis Association. 1 January 2023.
  17. Web site: TENNIS:HISTORICALLY SPEAKING. National Public Parks Tennis Association. 12 June 2016.
  18. Web site: All-Time Champions. National Public Parks Tennis Association. 1 June 2011.
  19. Web site: Adult Tournaments Rankings. United States Tennis Association. 6 January 2022.
  20. Web site: Adult Tournaments Rankings. United States Tennis Association. 19 January 2023.
  21. Web site: 2002 Florida Final Ranking. Tennis Technologies, Inc.. 3 February 2003.
  22. Web site: 2003 Southern Final Ranking. Tennis Technologies, Inc.. 31 December 2003.
  23. Web site: 2004 Florida Final Ranking. TennisLink. 14 January 2005.
  24. Web site: 2009 Southern Final Ranking. TennisLink. 21 January 2010.
  25. Web site: 2011 Midwest Final Ranking. TennisLink. 30 January 2012.
  26. Web site: 2012 Missouri Valley Final Ranking. TennisLink. 29 January 2013.
  27. Web site: 2011 Midwest Final Ranking. TennisLink. 28 January 2014.
  28. Web site: 2019 New England Final Ranking. TennisLink. 2 January 2020.
  29. Web site: 2020 Missouri Valley Final Ranking. TennisLink. 27 January 2021.
  30. Web site: 2021 Final Year End Open Ranking. 6 January 2022.
  31. Web site: 2022 Final Year End Open Ranking. 19 January 2023.
  32. Web site: Crown Elite Tennis Academy. Crown Elite Tennis LLC. 13 June 2016.
  33. Web site: Turkmenistan hosts its first ever Play Tennis Course. International Tennis Federation. 13 June 2016.
  34. Web site: One Love Tennis Inc.. Florida Reg.. 7 August 2016.
  35. Web site: In their own words: Michael-Ray Pallares on his tennis career and giving back to the sport. USTA. 11 October 2023.
  36. Web site: Tampa’s Michael-Ray Pallares brings One Love Tennis Inc. to Zambia, Africa. The Weekly Challenger. 1 August 2016.
  37. Web site: Arbor Greene Tennis Player Hopes To Spread One Love. Neighborhood News. 17 August 2016.
  38. Web site: One love tennis organization tours East Africa in talent identification search. Kawowo Sports. 1 June 2018.
  39. Web site: Ex-Davis Cup player launches Tennis Academy in Zim. SPORTbrief. 25 June 2018.
  40. Web site: One Love Tennis visits Kigali. The Rwandan. 2 July 2018.
  41. Web site: One Love Tennis tips Tennis players. The New Times Rwanda. 8 July 2018.
  42. Web site: Michael-Ray Pallares teaches on Guam. The Guam Daily Post. 17 Oct 2018.
  43. Web site: ITF expert, Guam National Tennis organize social outreach events. Guam.stripes.com. 16 Oct 2018.
  44. Web site: One Love Tennis comes to Malta. Times of Malta. 30 June 2017.
  45. Web site: One Love Tennis comes to Malta. Malta Sport. 30 June 2017.
  46. Web site: One Love Tennis organizeaza eveniment in Bucuresti (P). Romania Libera. 15 September 2017.
  47. Web site: 15 copii dintr-un centru de plasament au luat lecții de tenis pentru prima dată. Evenimentul Zilei. 26 September 2017.
  48. Web site: One Love Tennis returns to Malta. Times of Malta. 30 April 2018.
  49. Web site: Chance to give back through the medium of tennis. The Kansas City Star. 23 December 2016.
  50. Web site: One Love Tennis holds benefit Oct. 5 at Hyde Park. The Kansas City Star. 25 September 2017.
  51. Web site: One Love Tennis spreads love of sport to youth in shelter. The Courier Tribune. 14 December 2017.
  52. Web site: One Love Tennis spreading the love this holiday season. The Northland News. 29 December 2016.
  53. Web site: One Love Tennis treats kids. The Courier Tribune. 11 January 2017.
  54. Web site: One Love Tennis treats kids. Gladstone Dispatch. 11 January 2017.
  55. Web site: One Love Tennis hosts event in Gretna. Gretna Guide & News. 14 December 2017.
  56. Web site: One Love Tennis Inc. returning to Fargo Sept. 4. Inforum. 31 July 2017.
  57. Web site: One Love Tennis coming to Fargo. High Plains Reader. 23 August 2017.
  58. Web site: Casa Hogar Elizabeth de Ímuris recibe a fundación de Michael-Ray Pallares . El Debate. 4 January 2018.
  59. Web site: Fundación "One Love Tennis" llegó hasta niños de Ímuris y recorrerá la región. SoyCobre.com. 4 January 2018.
  60. Web site: One Love Tennis llega a Casa Hogar Elizabeth. El Diario de Sonora. 4 January 2018.
  61. Web site: One Love Tennis llega a Casa Hogar Elizabeth. El Diario de Sonora. 4 January 2018.
  62. Web site: One Love Tennis llega a Casa Hogar Elizabeth. El Diario de Sonora. 4 January 2018.
  63. Web site: Llega la Fundación "One Love Tennis" al municipio de Imuris. Periódicos Nuevo Día Nogales. 4 January 2018.
  64. Web site: One Love Tennis hace su debut en la República Dominicana. El Nuevo Diario. 20 September 2017.
  65. Web site: One Love Tennis hace su debut en la República Dominicana. Diario Libre. 21 September 2017.
  66. Web site: One Love Tennis hace su debut en la República Dominicana. Diario Digital RD. 21 September 2017.
  67. Web site: One Love Tennis y el Grupo Puntacana apoyan el tenis Dominicano. Punta Cana Bavaro Online. 24 September 2017.
  68. Web site: One Love Tennis y el Grupo Puntacana apoyan el tenis dominicano. El Tiempo. 26 September 2017.
  69. Web site: One Love Tennis y GRUPO PUNTACANA apoyan el tenis Dominicano. BavaroNews. 28 September 2017.
  70. Web site: One Love Tennis: Amor y oportunidad a través del tenis. El Accento. 3 January 2019.
  71. Web site: One Love Tennis coming to Kansas City. The Northland News. 23 December 2016.
  72. Web site: El lado solidario en el mundo del tenis. Proclama del Cauca Noticias. 9 April 2017.
  73. Web site: New Frontiers tennis program "nets" results. It's Tru!. 26 October 2017.
  74. Web site: TENNIS PRO, MICHAEL-RAY PALLARES VISITS ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL. ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL, GUAM. 24 September 2018.