Dear Tennis
Magazine,
As a former athlete and now coach, I appreciate the hardwork and
skills of the top tennis players in the world. I was fortunate
enough to play basketball on all levels, NCAA Championship in
‘78’, professionally for ten years and now coaching at Morehead
State University, However,I have also always loved the game of
tennis. I have attended the U.S. Open, and yearly trek to
Cincinnati for the Great Western Savings tournament. I played
tennis growing up, but I am now only a recreational player.
Recently, at an exhibition in Lexington, Kentucky’s Rupp Arena,
I got to experience something that every recreational player
dreams about. Game Seven Promotions brought in Andy Roddick and
James Blake to play singles, while Mike and Bob Bryan took on
two former UK players in doubles. About half way through the
doubles match my friend that works for Game Seven, said to me,
“I am going to have you try to return one of Roddick's serves
before the singles gets started.” Having three children and a
wife I paused. Then the fan in me took over! After requesting a
batting helmet and a cup, I agreed. Just kidding on the requests
but did ask no body serve please. So without any warm-up,
wearing long pants, sweater, street shoes and someone else’s
racquet, I ventured out on the court. (Is that enough excuses?)
First I wasn't sure if I should pull an Agassi and hug the
baseline or stand back by the fencing, similar to Roddick’s own
return position at this year’s Open? (Even behind the fencing
crossed my mind) I settled for midway.
The Master of Ceremonies for the event, Wayne Bryan (Mike and
Bob's father) then announces that if I get the return in, Andy
Roddick will buy pizzas for all 5000 in attendance. I knew Andy
could afford it, but I also figured he was going to make sure it
didn’t happen. I was going to get the heat!
The first serve went down the middle but it caught net and
skipped long. It really didn't give me a feel for the speed. I
decided to move to my left to make him hit to my stronger side,
the forehand. Surely he wouldn’t hit a spinner wide in this
situation. Brad Gilbert would have been proud of my strategy, I
was thinking on the court!
By now I had a sweat going but not from being warmed up, just
nerves. I could also repeatedly hear James Blake standing behind
me to my left saying "get ready, it comes really fast"! Duh, no
kidding James! I didn’t have a Harvard education but, I could
figure that out. I was also coherent enough not to try and full
swing the return but go for the block and hope for the best.
As I anticipated, Andy (I am 26 years his senior, I figure I can
call him by his first name!) hit it right to my forehand, yes,
it was fast,(like a little green pea), yes I blocked it, (not
that I saw it hit the strings), but no unfortunately, it landed
just wide about service line deep on Roddick’s right. I took
that to mean I was a little too quick! (That is what I'm telling
my friends!) No wonder, the radar gun read 133 mph. I was
expecting the 147 mph serve! I only got the one chance, but that
was a chance all tennis players dream about. I took on the #1
player, and serve, in the world and survived!
I remember reading a story in your magazine a few years ago
about Agassi and McEnroe playing exhibitions matches and just
wanted to share a fans perspective on the new generation taking
over. All four tour members were great! Each was a very
personable and wonderful ambassador for the game. All spoke
excitedly about Davis Cup play too. (When was the last time that
happened?) Oh, the 'minor' results were the Bryan's won 8-4 and
Roddick won 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
Signed,
Kyle Macy
This
is the actuak contents of the letter, which was mailed to the
editor of Tennis Magazine |
