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Betsy Gravett

Background and Tennis Philosophy

I grew up in Palos Verdes, California, and I have several people to thank for my interest and career in tennis. First, naturally, there is my Mom. Besides all the great Mom things she did, she also played tennis. Basically, she needed someone to play tennis with, so she started my sister and I in lessons when I was ten years old. I have to thank my high school coach who cut me from the team my first year. I used that as a challenge, and I played number one on the team for the next three years. I also have to thank Robert Landsdorf, who was my instructor at the Jack Kramer Club in Palos Verdes. Robert, who also taught Tracy Austin, Elliot Telscher, and Brian Teacher, really developed my game and was a major reason I was ranked in the 14's, 16's, and 18's as a junior player. After graduating from high school, I played on the Chico State College and UCLA teams. Later, I played in the Avon Future Circuit, the satellite tour for young women professionals. Pam Austin, Tracy Austin's older sister, traveled with me on the tour, and I have her to thank as well. I also enjoyed working with Larry and Billie Jean King doing promotion work for World Team Tennis and organizing events at the Forum in L.A.

My teaching philosophy is very basic: keep it fun. That's especially important for young kids. If they start when they're four or five years old, they probably won't remember much about the game-just whether they enjoyed it. In teaching adults, you have to follow their lead. If they're interested in being strictly social players, then you try to bring them to the level where they can have some success and enjoy it. If they are more ambitious, then you'll work to bring them up to another level where more skills and conditioning are required.

My goal is to keep working with my 12 year old daughter Kelly, who has a ton of potential. I also want to keep helping to get racquets in people's hands, and keep them having fun at the game I love so much.

Contact:

Betsy Gravett
Kimber Woods Racquet Club
510-656-7038

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