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Dear TennisONE, and Trey Waltke,

Thank you for your touching article on Vitas Gerulaitis on the anniversary of his untimely and tragic death. It's nice to know that I'm not the only person that remembers him or was influenced by his life. 

I am from one tennis generation behind you Trey, and heard your name in the juniors, as you heard Vitas'. Vitas was my hero, and I followed his career, each match, each tournament, as if it were my own. I'm not sure why, but I felt a kinship with him, as I think many people did. Vitas was always portrayed by the media as the underdog, the surprise player to have gotten this far in the draw. They focused on the weakness of his second serve and his heavy reliance on a slice rather than a topspin backhand. They said he had no real weapon, and couldn't hurt the "big" players of the day. What they didn't realize is what you and his fans knew, his weapon was his attitude, his zest for life and the game, his work ethic and his constantly attacking, forward drive.

I can remember watching the '79 Italian Open final in my room at 3am, on a 9 inch black and white TV with poor reception. I remember his relentless attacking, seemingly against all odds, slow red clay, an Argentine baseliner and a foreign crowd. But he kept coming in, never changed his game plan no matter how many times he was passed. When he won I screamed and cried, I was inspired by his game and had learned the lesson of perseverance and belief in yourself.

I was at an awards ceremony for my club team winning the state championship when Vitas lost to McEnroe in the US Open semis. I remember I could see a TV in the bar showing the match from the room we were in. And while I couldn't make out all the points, I could quickly judge who were the Vitas fans and who were the McEnroe fans. The door separating our room from the bar opened at the exact moment Vitas starting cussing out the umpire for blowing a call on match point. I can remember the shocked look on all the parents faces at the language that blared out on national TV and the profuse apologies by Tony Trabert that CBS let it get on the air. To rebellious teen-ager it was a beautiful moment.

But I owe Vitas much more than these memories. I kept playing tennis, worked my way through college and law school teaching at local courts and clubs and during the summers. I was able to play college tennis, on a top # 25 team, but only because of my work ethic and attitude. I was the low man, a scrub, and was lucky to play # 3 doubles on occasion, but I helped the team and never lost a dual doubles match when I played. I went on to play some satellites after college, but knew I would never amount to what I wanted to amount to, so I went to law school. I taught 30-40 hours a week through school and while law clerking after the bar worked with the USTA clinics, and even taught a couple of clinics to Venus and Serna Willliams at the Jack Kramer Club in Palos Verde. Now I play at the national age-group level, mostly doubles, have been ranked # 1 in So. Cal. and among the to 5 in the nation.

I attribute whatever modest success I've had in tennis and life to the lessons I learned from my heroes, my father and Vitas. I've always felt the underdog, and oftentimes rightfully so, but I never give up, I keep pressing forward and trusting in myself, and more often than not, things go my way. So thank you again for remembering my hero, makes me want to get out my old Stan Smith autograph and some white gauze and go hit some.

Sincerely
Scott Zidbeck

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