Stanford Freshman Excelling at No. 2
As the Stanford men’s fortunes rose dramatically to No. 1, then settled back to No. 8 this season, No. 2 player Bradley Klahn has shown the greatest consistency to date. It’s quite a distinction for a freshman.
When Stanford edged top-10 ranked USC and UCLA teams both by 4-3 scores in L.A., Klahn won. He clinched his USC match in an 8-6 third set tiebreaker for a Stanford win as his teammates cheered. When USC and UCLA reversed that and paid Stanford back at home 4-3, Klahn won both matches again.
“Although we didn’t get the result we wanted,” Klahn said, “those matches against the L.A. teams were a high point of my being here.”
The wins were part of a 10-match streak that put him 13-4 in dual matches.
The lanky six-footer from Poway (30 miles northeast of San Diego) reached the No. 1 USTA 18s ranking last year and the third rounds of the four junior Grand Slam Opens. Now the junior life is gone, supplanted by a vast campus, team practice, competition, studies and social life.
“The first few weeks is overwhelming,” he says. “There’s no way to prepare for it. You’re on your own and away from home. It’s a balancing act you’ve got to learn.”
In the early season he was fighting a mild injury and not playing but traveled with the team to Boise, Idaho for indoor collegiate matches. The swell of collective energy from the assembled teams created a buzz and mage he’ll never forget.
“It’s so different from junior tennis,” Klahn says. “It’s a team and you represent the school. There are 11 other guys and team chemistry is so important. Essentially we’re a family. We make sure everyone understands that.”
Klahn hangs out with team members off court, something coaches encourage. Comaraderie makes magic. All matches are special because teammates are invested in each other. It feeds the excitement of college tennis and Klahn has felt the emotion wash over him, on and off the court.
One day he wants to be a pro and he’ll have to go his own way again. But for now, team rules.
“I’m close enough to home so my parents can come up for matches. And I’ve got good friends. I just need to keep my eye on my goals.”
He’s one to watch.
Frank Brennan Redux at Stanford
After 21 years as the Stanford women’s varsity coach and eight years in retirement Frank Brennan has returned to campus to coach again, but this time as a volunteer. In a strange turn of events, he’s now under the command of the salaried assistant coach he hired in ‘96, his son Frankie Brennan.
According to Brennan, he took the job after calls from his son in December, then from coach Lele Forood who had succeeded him. They wanted him back on board as a much needed third (and volunteer) coach.
“Everybody has to have a third coach,” Brennan says, his Irish humor unfazed by his rocking chair days. “It’s like an arms race. And my wife had my bags packed. She wanted me out of here try these out.”
Now Brennan is at the familiar stadium courts three days a week, on duty for every home match and travels with the team. Brennan, 66, retired in ‘00 to his Los Altos home after compiling one of the finest records in women’s collegiate tennis history. His teams had four perfect seasons and 10 NCAA team championships. He compiled a .911 winning average and won many collegiate awards. Brennan completes an unusual family circle in the tennis program. Coach John Whitlinger’s son, J.J., is the assistant men’s coach.
“When things go well online casino J.J. and I bump knuckles because we know we’re the key to it all,” Brennan quips. “But I never thought I’d be a part of it again. I do enjoy it and I find not much has changed. But I do have to be nice to my son. He’s my boss.”
WTA Pro Sharing Expertise in Palo Alto
Kim Grant knows a thing or two about what it takes to cut it on the pro tour. After all, she’s spent the last 17 years slugging it out on the ITF and WTA circuits. Now the South casino online African-turned-Californian, who rose to a career high doubles ranking of No. 76 in ‘02, is sharing her expertise with juniors ages 3 to 19 through the Kim Grant Tennis Academy at Winter Lodge in Palo Alto. With an emphasis on the modern game, Grant focuses on fundamentals, stroke analysis, drills, mental toughness, fitness and footwork. For info on Grant’s weekly sessions (June 15-Aug. 14), call (650) 752-8061 or visit kimgranttennis.com.
Peninsula Kids Swell Middle-School Ranks
Ladera Oaks Tennis Director Ray Bilsey hears the mom-buzz at the Portola Valley club and it was recently about turnout, as in tryouts.
Ruby Seidl told Bilsey that 45 children tried out for the Corte Madera Middle School team in Portola Valley and her son, Nicholas, was happy as a clam to make the top five. Kim Lemieux said Hillview Middle School in Menlo Park had close to 50 try out.
“Tennis is so popular on the Peninsula that getting into a quality program at an early age has become the key ingredient for children to make their middle school and high school teams,” Bilsey says.
In Brief
Former Stanford No. 1 Peter Rennert will be inducted into the Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in Athens, Ga. on May 20. Rennert was an All American in singles and doubles in ‘79 and ‘80. He was an NCAA singles finalist in ‘80 and became ITA Player of the Year. He had a .800 winning average in singles at Stanford. In the pro ranks he achieved No. 9 world ranking in doubles in 1983.
The $2,500 Mountain View Open will be played at Cuesta Park May 16-17, 23-25 and will use block seeding. Last year, Aussie Brad Weston, NorCal’s No. 1 player, beat Santa Clara University’s Jay Wong in the men’s final.
Mel Kerwin, Gordy Stroud and Tom Edlefsen, America’s co-captains in Osuna Cup competition, will lead their team against the Mexicans in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, at the La Loma Sports Center, May 22-25. The annual event promotes good will between the two countries. The competition returns in its 39th year to the U.S. in ‘10.
Stanford Tennis Department reports that the school will likely host the NCAA regional playoff rounds 64 and 32. The men would play Friday and Saturday, May 8-9, and the women May 9-10. Admission will be charged.
