Aussie Land and Tennis Update #4 |
Comment First |
It is wet here and I have not had a chance to use my sunscreen in 7 days…..
Cool, windy and wet – am I in San Jose???
Dan Santorum and I walked in the mist, wind and chill down Russell Street to Findley St and off to Rod Laver Arena. Thank goodness for my level A credential – there are 15,000 people attempting to get onto the grounds. We get to walk past them and head down into the players tunnel. The players are all walking around or warming up on the treadmill or bikes waiting to see if they will start on schedule with the rain.
Tried to get into the Stadium to watch first match of the day with Maria “S” and Russian Maria Kirienko, but huge back up to get thru the doors. I took a walk about in the exhibitors area outside. Stopped at the Wilson booth and talked to my Wilson Sales Reps from Australia and traded stories. They wanted to know about San Jose SRC and what my members do daily, what they play with and how it differs from Tennis Australia. Very interested in what our juniors do and the number of hours they put in on practice weekly. I took some pictures with me and the Wilson team to send back to Wilson in the states to show the office they were working hard.
Next it visited Global Caps which is a booth that features caps from every country in the nation with their country’s flag. Found out the owner is from Atlanta and his partners are Matts Weilander and Michael Pernsfor. I had lived in Atlanta so we knew all the same people, places and clubs. His sons were both with him and his youngest in #1 in the South in the 12 even though he is only 10 and older brother, Peter. is up and coming and extremely fast on the court. At the end he gave me 2 Aussie hats ($30 each) and we change numbers to stay in touch and I will send him 2 of my DVD’s – Monsters in the Mind and Best of Ken DeHart when I get home.
Got into the arena and saw the last of Sharapova’s loss to Kirienko from Russia – great seats courtesy of my speakers badge. Next I see Andy Murray dominate 6′ 9″ Anderson. Amazing defensive skills with underspin, drops – then a crushing change of pace serve or forehand.
Next up is Kim Clisters who dominates with such good footwork and perves over a young Canadian, Valerie Tetreault. Kim is a favorite here because of her tenacious fighting spirit and her relationship with Leyton Hewitt in the past.
Off to the sports bookstore where I buy some odd Aussie tennis books to add to my 2,000 book collection – quite expensive books and the dollar US and Aussie are very even.
Tonight we go to the Presidents Party in a special area of the Rod Laver for the key tennis people in Australia – steak, potatoes, salad and wine (orange juice for me). We leave the meeting area, which overlooks all the outdoor courts – and rain. We leave the area and they give us ice cream and we head down to the presidents box. 5 rows up behind Nadal – great seats and a great match as local Aussie Peter Luczak outplayed Rafa for the first set. Incredible spin on the ball and so fast movement on the court. In the tie-breaker, Nadal asserts his experience and takes control of the match with a new level of play. You can’t imagine how it feels to be part of the energy setting that close. Jelena Dokic plays next but is totally unenthusiastic so we go back up to the presidents lounge to network with the coaches and Tennis Australia officials.
Catch a players car back to the hotel, pack for only 1 1/2 days left. Get ready for lots of matches on Tues and will see many of the top players on outback courts.
See you soon, be home Wed at 11 in SFO and on to the club by 1 pm.
Ken DeHart
SJSRC Director of Tennis
PTR & USPTA Master Professional
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PropellerNext: This will be my last update from Aussie Land…
