Newsletter of the Senior Tennis Players Club, Inc. August 2008 Pershing courts opened Tennis Events Support The Courts dedicated the four new courts at By Bob Busch Pershing Park (Chowen Ave S & 48th St) for all tennis Senior Men’s Clay Tourney players and especially the kids. This is their fourth Don’t delay!! Register today on the form included in project; the others are Kenwood, this newsletter (page 8). All entries must be received Webber, and Powderhorn parks. The by Monday, August 4. courts are already being used by For the 7th consecutive year this tournament will be InnerCity Tennis, and will be home held at Bearpath Country Club in Eden Prairie. Play courts for Southwest, Edison and begins on Saturday August 9th and will be completed South high schools. Ellen Doll, by Friday, August 15th. See the enclosed registration president of Support form for further details or call 952-941-1204 with The Courts, recognized questions. the many people who contributed money and A portion of the entry fee is a deductible contribution time to the $900,000 to the InnerCity Tennis Foundation. ICT programs project. Among those serve over 5,000 youth annually. generous folks was Ron Cornwell, shown cutting the Wimbledon (Pershing courts dedication—continued on page 3) Rafael Nadal ended Roger Federer’s five year winning streak at Wimbledon in an all-time classic match lasting almost five hours. Score 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7. Help Wanted!! No one had beaten the 26-year-old Federer at Wimbledon or on grass since 2002. Federer recorded By Bruce Abrahamson 65 consecutive victories on grass. Your club needs your help and it needs it now. Nadal, the 22-year-old Spaniard, became the first man Recently it has come to my attention that several of to complete the French Open / Wimbledon double our captains have retired and no one has stepped since Bjorn Borg in 1980. forward to take their turn. The last couple of years I have been a club officer and board member. Through Federer has been ranked #1 for 231 weeks. But he has this experience I’ve learned that having enough good won only one minor tournament during the 2008 captains is essential to our club’s future success. In season. He lost to Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish, Andy elementary school we all learned it is important to take Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rodek Stephanek. turns. Is it time you took your turn as captain? If our Federer won only four games in losing the French club is going to continue to be successful we must all Open final against Nadal. give more than the $25 dues each year. Please take Williams Win your turn; it will be greatly appreciated by your fellow Sister Venus topped Serena 7-5, 6-4 in the Wimbledon club members. Also, please remember to take time to thank your captains for the important role they play. (Tennis events—continued on page 5) Fall/winter schedule Upcoming Events Men’s Senior Clay Court Championships inside! August 9, 2008—Signup on page 8 Annual Senior Tennis picnic Captains! Please report any August 16, 2008—details on page 6 changes. Senior Tennis Players Club, Inc. opponent. A player in attempting to A nonprofit corporation, P.O. Box 5525 Letters to the Editor are wanted! Hopkins, MN 55343 be scrupulously honest on line calls On the web: www.seniortennismn.com This is your space to express an opinion or frequently will find himself keeping Senior Tennis Times relate an interesting experience. a ball in play that might have been The Senior Tennis Times is published ten No letters this month! out or that the player discovers too times annually by and for the members of So your editor will use the Senior Tennis Players Club, Inc. late was out. Even so, the game is this space to clear his mind much better played this way.” Board of Directors of a few troubling thoughts. President: Fred Jurewicz............952-496-1019 Courtesy: we must always maintain Vice President: Benefit of the doubt: Yes, you’ve the highest level of courtesy to our Dorothy Rossing...................612-926-9199 heard it before, but we still hear partners and opponents. Examples: Secretary: Joan Thomas...........651-483-9808 partners say things like “Maybe it Treasurer: Marv Schneider........952-975-1895 was out. What do you think?” Or • Do not criticize your partner, New Members: “I’m not sure. Let’s play a let.” even “constructively,” unless Dottie Gardner.....................612-827-4918 you are very good friends. Renewing Members: From The Code: “6. Opponent gets Ronnae Wagner..................952-938-5785 benefit of doubt. When a match is Doing so usually results in Events Director: played without officials, the players poorer, not better, play. To be determined Minneapolis tennis schedules: are responsible for making • Do not question opponents To be determined decisions, particularly for line calls. calls. Although The Code St. Paul tennis schedules: There is a subtle difference between permits a polite “Are you sure of Thue Rasmussen...................651-917-0075 Advisor: Mary Kaminski..............612-781-3271 player decisions and those of an on- your call?”, it is better not to do Bruce Abrahamson....................952-461-2617 court official. An official impartially so. Bob Hokanson............................952-929-1152 resolves a problem involving a call, • And never taunt opponents! Rod Johnson...............................763-588-2107 whereas a player is guided by the Paul Joyce .................................952-927-8782 unwritten law that any doubt must To review The Code, visit the Links Bev Sinniger.................................651-578-1345 page of our website. Director of Training: Roger Boyer be resolved in favor of the Ass’t Director: Percy Hughes....612-866-1102 Percy’s email: [email protected] Club Founder: Jack Dow As a non-profit organization, the Senior Tennis Play- Newsletter Editor and Webmaster ers Club gratefully accepts donations, memorials and David Sommer 3657 17th Avenue South estate gifts. Minneapolis, MN 55407-2805 Phone: 612-276-1313 David’s email: [email protected] Mission Statement Advertising Send by email or USPS to the newsletter The primary purpose of the STPC is to provide ten- editor by the 15th of the month for publica- nis playing opportunities to people 50 and older for tion the following month. Please send all their mental, physical, and social well-being; and to payments to the newsletter editor. Ad rates (first month/additional months): support the growth of tennis. Full page (7.5x10)...............................$110/90 Half page (7.5x4.9)................................85/65 Quarter page (3.7x4.9)..........................60/40 Eighth page (3.7x2.4)............................40/25 4-line ad (members only)............................10 Newsletter Submissions 2-line ad (members only) First three months: free, then $5/issue. To help make the newsletter as correct as possible, please Strip ads: $40 first two inches; $12 each additional inch. submit all items in writing only, by mail or email. The dead- Membership information changes, line is the 17th of the month for publication the following newsletter delivery problems, etc., month. All material submitted for publication is subject to can be made by writing Senior Tennis Play- ers Club, P.O. Box 5525, Hopkins, MN 55343 editing. Enclose self-addressed stamped envelope if you or email to Ronnae Wagner: want materials returned. [email protected] Send your submissions to: David Sommer, 3657 17th Ave- Membership total: 1419 August 2008, Volume nue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407-2805. 21, Number 6 Email: [email protected]. We need help and input from writers, artists, and photogra- phers. Page 2—Senior Tennis Times/August 2008 Percy’s tennis rhythms By Percy Hughes before summer has left us, remember, my wife Dee and Two wonderful members of our I have a luncheon date with you two. great club are former President, By now, The French and Wimbledon Tournaments Dick Lidstone, and his wife Ginny are a thing of the past, and we have been exposed to Owens Lidstone. Ginny was one the highest quality of tournament tennis, with more to of our finest USPTA teaching pros. come. There's so much to watch and learn from They spend their winters in Florida, televised tennis—every phase of tennis is there for you. and their summers in the Park Watch these tournaments, even write down questions Rapids area. Ginny has continued teaching, until recent for your teaching pro to answer. Yes, let your pros arthritis slowed her down, hopefully just for a short “earn their keep”. We should be able to answer most all time. Possibly a good doctor can help her get back on questions concerning tennis court. Good luck to you Ginny, you were one of our Have you noticed the many, many, new color finest and most respected teaching pros, as well as your combinations on the new racquets? Whatever, please neat husband, Dick Lidstone, having been one of our keep fresh strings in your racquet. Do that, and you'll most popular and respected Presidents. It was my do fine against your opponents—who are players at honor to play my Saxophone at their wedding some your level. Meanwhile, no foot faults! years ago. Good luck and health, Ginny and Dick, and Percy (Pershing courts dedication—continued from page 1) contributed $1,000. The Board urges member to make ribbon. Others from left are Bob Fine, Minneapolis individual contributions to Support The Courts, 1955 parks commissioner; Jeffrey Williams, Southwest HS Kenwood Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55405. You can player and Ron Cornwell’s grandson; and an visit their website enthusiastic tennis kid. supportthecourts.net. Support The Courts still needs to raise $37,000 to finish Questions? Call Ellen Doll paying the contractor.