MILL VALLEY, CALIF. — Lindsay Davenport unapologetically drilled Justin Gimelstob with a ball that left a red mark on his stomach. The three-time Slam champ went so far as to cross the net and autograph her work. Tracy Austin attempted to comfort her doubles partner by kissing Gimelstob’s wound and, moments later, defended his honor by delivering a sharp volley into the neck of Davenport’s teammate, Pat Cash, sending the Aussie down on the court and prompting chair ump Aleco Preovolos to call for an ambulance over the PA system.
Hit-and-giggle? More like hit-and-run.
Such was the hard-court high jinks at the Oct. 2-3 Esurance Tennis Classic at the Harbor Point Tennis & Swim Club in Mill Valley, where fans got up close and personal with a host of tennis royalty, including the aforementioned foursome and Billie Jean King, journalist Bud Collins, Anna Kournikova, Gigi Fernandez, Murphy Jensen, Rick Leach and Ken Flach, as well top players from the Cal women’s team — Mari Anderssen and Tayler Davis.
There was a true family-feel to the sixth annual event, which benefits the To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation, Us Too Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network, and Youth Tennis Advantage. The courts were anything but quiet, and fans were treated to an entertaining mix of laughter and lobs. Sunday, Oct. 3 was officially proclaimed Tracy Austin Day by Mill Valley City Councilman Andy Berman in honor of the two-time U.S. Open titlist and Hall of Famer.
Competition took the format of World TeamTennis in honor of King, who co-founded the league in 1974. Jensen/Gimelstob kicked off the action with a bang as they amused the crowd with their rocky, on-and-off doubles partnership against Leach and Cash, who was later replaced by Flach, a four-time Slam doubles winner and Olympic gold medalist who recently took over as director of tennis at the Rolling Hills Club in Novato.
Preovolos — the director of tennis as Harbor Point — acted as both umpire and interviewer, interacting with the players during changeovers. The former touring pro asked Cash why he famously climbed into the Players Box after winning Wimbledon in 1987. Cash said it was important for him to share the moment with the fans, however, “I didn’t plan it well since there were no more stairs after the halfway mark, and it would be embarrassing to go back down.”
Rosie Casals produced the event and continues to be a motivating factor is pulling in top stars year after year. Said Leach, “Rosie’s a legend. I’ll take part in anything she puts on.” Added Davenport, an Esurance Classic alum, “I enjoy the atmosphere here. I also came back for Rosie since she does so much for tennis.”
“It’s all about entertainment, right?” said Casals.
When asked what made the 2010 event stand out, Casals said, “New players, and new personalities. The tennis has been great. Every year it gets better and better.”
