Bob Larson's
Tennis Newsletter Bob Larson's
Tennis Newsletter
The following are excerpts from Bob Larson's Tennis International Newsletter, published weekly by TennisONE. For more Larson tennis news products, go to: www .tennisnews.com
Tom Gullikson, US Davis Cup Captain, announced the US Davis Cup squad will be Todd Martin, Jan-Michael Gambill, Justin Gimelstob and Jim Courier. The tie vs. Italy is September 25-27 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
If the US should defeat Italy, it would travel to Spain, or host Sweden, depending on the winner of that tie. If the US hosts Sweden, the tie will be held in Delray Beach, Fla., New Orleans or Ft. Worth. If Spain defeats Sweden, the US will travel to Spain.
Interestingly, Pete Sampras said he will not be available for this semi-final tie or the finals, if the US should advance. Andre Agassi said at a press conference that he wouldn't play, even if the tie were held in his backyard.
A wildly successful promotion combining tennis with entertainment for 8-15 year olds
called Arthur Ashe Kids Day was held last Saturday, September 29 at the National Tennis
Center in New York. A county fair-like atmosphere had skill games involving tennis on
courts around the center. A highlight of the event was some hit and giggle tennis on the
stadium court involving some of the biggest names in the game; Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi,
the Williams Sisters, Martina Hingis, and Mal Washington, among others. Breaking up the
tennis games was songs by the Back Street Boys, a favorite of the bubble gum crowd.
Something in the area of 25,000 parents and their children attended, causing Rob Smith, a
teaching pro from Hong Kong to ask, "if that event was so much fun, raises money for
charity, and introduces tennis to youngsters, why aren't similar promotions held all over
the country?"
Why not indeed?
It is an interesting experience to look back since the USOpen moved from Forest Hills
to its current site at the National Tennis Center. The most obvious change is the
upgrading of the venue to the near miracle it is today. Other changes are obvious, also;
different players, different shoes, different rackets, and of course, some different
rules.
One thing that hasn't changed since 1978 is the choice of court surface. This year, as in
all intervening years, all the courts on the grounds were re-surfaced with Decoturf. A
number of players have mentioned so far this tournament that the courts were not
resurfaced, and they are playing very fast. Tournament Director, Jay Snyder, told TENNIS
MONDAY MORNING that the courts were resurfaced, " I know they were; I was standing
right there watching the work being done." Dave Meharg, a spokesman for Deco Turf,
concurred, "I know the work was done; I watched it. The formula of the ingredients
was exactly the same put on in 1997."
If so, why are the courts playing so much faster?
It was bound to happen eventually; Jim Pierce found himself face-to-face with his
daughter, Mary, on Sunday at the National Tennis Center. The WTA has told Jim Pierce he
cannot attend a women's tournament if Mary is in the draw. The only exception allowed is
if he is coaching a male in a joint event. He has been coaching Vince Spadea this summer
and traveled to the USOpen with him.
Sunday, an open day for practice brought a lot of the players to the National Tennis
Center. One of the Pierces was entering the Tennis Center, just as the other was leaving.
Spectators, sensing that this was an historic occasion and expecting possible fireworks,
backed up and gave the two some space. Father and daughter talked amiably for 2-3 minutes,
never touched the other, and continued their routes.
Click here, to see past Larson Newsletters.
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