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“Here is a book that must
be read by everyone who celebrates the best of all lifetime sports.
Judy Aydelott has reached out to both renowned players and those
who are less well known, and the common thread that runs across
the pages is the enduring passion they all have for tennis. Yet
Aydelott’s superb and poignant book transcends tennis; it
is equally about the larger game of life.”
Steve
Flink, 2017 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee and author
of “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time."
“Judy Aydelott’s stories
of senior tennis players, where they came from, where they’ve
been – from World War II stories of Gardnar Mulloy and Mayor
David Dinkins to the high jinks of the Australian legends, John
Newcombe, Roy Emerson and Owen Davidson, to the tales of ‘The
Saw Mill Boys’ – are a must read for all tennis players
and would-be tennis players. You’ll laugh; you’ll be
moved; you’ love this book.”
Renee
Richards, 1977 U.S. Open women’s doubles runner-up
“Sport of a Lifetime is
a great read for tennis players and non-players alike. A terrific
collection of life lessons.”
Ivan Lendl,
three-time French and U.S. Open champion
“My friend Judy Aydelott
has authored a great book for serious tennis fans! A nice trip
down memory lane – an inspiring read!”
Nancy
Richey, former French and Australian women’s singles champion
“This book is filled with
entertaining personal stories filled with humor, adventure and
an appreciation for the Sport of a Lifetime.”
Tim Mayotte,
1988 Olympic silver medalist
“I greatly enjoyed reading
Judy’s book. The cast of characters is diverse. As they
progressed through their lives, the importance of being able
to accept what comes their way and to learn and build as they
moved on life’s path were shown to be essential over and
over again. As a lifetime activity, tennis can bring great rewards
on the court, but even greater lifetime bonuses and relationships
off the courts. Each individual is different and the stories
are uplifting. A must read for tennis players and anyone interested
in how people achieve happiness and stature as their lives evolve.”
Chuck
Kinyon, former Dartmouth men’s tennis coach
Featuring enriching and motivational
stories about those who love and participate in tennis over the
age of 35, “Sport of a Lifetime” is a volume of senior
tennis through the stories and experiences of players from across
the tennis spectrum – from late bloomers to seasoned champions.
The book features 28 chapters of personal stories, including
those of high profile players and personalities such as three-time
Wimbledon champion John Newcombe, current U.S. Tennis Association
and former WTA Tour player Katrina Adams and former New York
City Mayor David Dinkins, as well as little-known but inspiring
players such as Tony Franco, who has won 44 USTA national championships
since age 75, and Betty Eisenstein, who won tournament titles
into her 90s.
The book also features one of
the last interviews ever given by International Tennis Hall of
Famer and celebrated senior tennis champion Gardnar Mulloy before
his death in 2016 as well as the riveting story of how Fred Kovaleski
balanced playing international tennis while being a spy for the
Central Intelligence Agency.
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What
did I get out of reading this book? |
As a senior tennis player myself
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Judy Aydelott's book. I always appreciated
tennis books with interesting and/or funny anecdotes about the
intertwining of the lifes of "regular" amateur players
and professionals and celebrities. Chapter one: Fred Kovaleski,
son of Polish immigrants and age 91 at the time of the interview,
starts with one of those anecdotes. At age 17, Fred's Elementary
School gym teacher Mrs. Hoxie entered him into him into the singles
draw of a tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio. And she suggested he
played doubles, too, but who would he possibly play with?
She asked
the club host, 'Do you have anyone here who can play doubles?'
His answer was "Not really any good enough to play in this
tournament. But we've got a South American Indian fellow here.
He's 19 and not entered into the doubles.' 'Great, put him and
Fred down as a team,' responded Mrs. Hoxie.
"I met the South American. He didn't speak English except
'Hey, Baby' to attract the young women, and 'Me forehand; you
backhand.' That was fine with me since I liked playing the backhand
side. There was no talk during play, but I kept score. We get
to the finals, and our opponents are Billy Talbert and the Argentinian
Davis Cupper Alejo Russell. They were well known players and
were expected to win. Well, we win, and Mrs. Hoxie goes 'ape!'"
"So, who was your partner?"
"Pancho Segura!" exclaimed Fred with a big grin. "This
was before he became known, but he was good. He was bow-legged
from rickets he contracted as a kid, but could he run!"
Fred's recollection of stories
about his work for the CIA in the Middle East was kind of amazing,
too. And imagine the chapter about George Bria, an Italian-American
and his wife Letty who was born in Constantinople, Turkey, daughter
to an Armenian mother and an Italian father. George worked for
the Associated Press for 31 years and had great stories to tell.
He also encouraged his wife Letty to play tournaments late in
life. Her first two 80 and over tournaments in Albany, New York,
she won in 2000 and 2001.
In 2004,
both Letty and George entered an 85 and over tournament in La
Jolla, California. Shortly after, an international seniors 85
and over tournament was being held at the Philadelphia Cricket
Club in Germantown, Pennsylvania, and who would be playing in
the women's division but Dodo Cheney! Dodo Cheney is a legend:
the most durable female player in tennis history. In her youth,
she was the first American to win the Australian Championships
in 1938. She racked up many other titles in doubles, and later,
as a senior won more than 300 "gold balls," the seniors'
trophy for winning a national tournament. Dodo's usual partner,
Dorothy Brundage, was unable to play that year in Philadelphia,
but she had heard of Letty's success in Albany and La Jolla.
Wanting the strongest substitute she could find, Dodo asked Letty
to be her partner. Letty was terrified. Dodo does not like to
lose. Actually, Dodo never loses. Nevertheless George convinced
Letty to take up the challenge.
George and Letty arrived in Philadelphia, and immediately Dodo
wanted to get in some practice, but actually she was more interested
in checking out Letty's game before their matches. After they
completed their warm-up and Dodo was getting ready to leave,
she said to Letty coldly, 'Practice your serve.'
Hilarious. Dodo and Letty went
on to win the doubles and met again in the singles final, Dodo
winning 6-4, 6-1. And on the stories go, with Gardnar Mulloy,
David Dinkins, Katrina Adams, John Newcombe, Roy Emerson and
another two dozen lesser known senior tennis players.
I was not surprised to read about
Tom Brunkow, a legend on the tennis court in National Father/Son
and Grandfather/Grandson tournaments. I had the pleasure of meeting
the family while working for the Toluca Lake Tennis and Fitness
Club near Burbank, California, where Tom's son Ben Brunkow is
Director of Tennis. Ben's sons Gianluca and Lorenzo are big talents
and it was kind of fun watching them play and hearing of their
successes with their father and grandfather in national tournaments.
Reading Judy Aydelott's book
gave me much hope and confidence that staying in the sport of
tennis into my seventies and (hopefully) eighties will enrich
my life tremendously. In fact, I am now planning on entering
tournaments after retiring in a couple of years. Can't wait to
meet new people and make new friends all over this country and
possibly worldwide because I subscribe to the "wise words"
of Aydelott's friend Chuck Griffith:
"While
getting old is unavoidable,
being old is something you don't have to surrender to." |
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