The Tennis Thread

[Andrew Walker]

Getting ready to watch the final of WTA Stuttgart Open shortly Aryna Sabakenka v Jelena Ostapenko

Do we have any other tennis fans here or those who enjoy playing

[Bates]

I was pretty good at most sports when I was a teenager so when my school organised a Tennis comp for all ages i decided to enter.

I was in year 11 and my round 1 opponent was in year 7. How hard could it be right?

The kid beat me in straight set's. That was the last time I picked up a Tennis racket.

I loved Squash. My favourite Squash Court was Dover Heights. It had a swimming pool and spa. I played most of my Squash at the court behind Bondi Wellington Street Primary School. Squash and Space Invaders was the thing when we weren't surfing or playing footy. We also played at Clovelly. All those courts are now unfortunately gone!

[Andrew Walker]

I was pretty good at most sports when I was a teenager so when my school organised a Tennis comp for all ages i decided to enter.

I was in year 11 and my round 1 opponent was in year 7. How hard could it be right?

The kid beat me in straight set's. That was the last time I picked up a Tennis racket.

I loved Squash. My favourite Squash Court was Dover Heights. It had a swimming pool and spa. I played most of my Squash at the court behind Bondi Wellington Street Primary School. Squash and Space Invaders was the thing when we weren't surfing or playing footy. We also played at Clovelly. All those courts are now unfortunately gone!

The squash courts on Clovelly Rd are now units I’m ok at tennis as is Mrs Walker Her Daughter has a friend who is very good at tennis and was a highly ranked junior who went off the rails She is currently in the early stages of trying to make a comeback

I think Sabalenka will win the final tonight A young girl on the pro tour to look out for is the Russian MirraAndreeva

I user to play squash with a mate who was pretty good Hed stand in the middle of the court and have me running all over the court

[rented tracksuit]

I played as a youngster and then socially throughout my adult years. These days it’s more about my youngest who played league tennis in the states and was USTA ranked.

He stopped when we moved back to Aus but is getting back into it now. Been looking for a new coach for him. Not easy finding a top line coach here. Spoke to Todd Woodbridge a few weeks ago and he gave us some recommendations which has been helpful.

[Andrew Walker]

OH RT that’s awesome. Darren Cahill I think is the gun coach Works with the best of the best

I was ok at playing social tennis These days though I prefer to watch the Women play Pretty to watch and three sets max suits my attention span

[rented tracksuit]

OH RT that’s awesome. Darren Cahill I think is the gun coach Works with the best of the best

I was ok at playing social tennis These days though I prefer to watch the Women play Pretty to watch and three sets max suits my attention span

Cahil is the gun but that’s a bit above my son’s pay grade. Plus, no one of that calibre comes to sleepy Canberra to coach.

[Bates]

I think Jaxxx collects Tennis Balls.

He's a ball connoisseur. Golf, Cricket, Snooker etc etc.

Interesting pass time!

[horrie hastings]

I despair every time i catch the train to Bondi Junction and see the destruction of what was the home of Tennis in Sydney, White City. Seen many fine matches there over the years.

[rented tracksuit]

I despair every time i catch the train to Bondi Junction and see the destruction of what was the home of Tennis in Sydney, White City. Seen many fine matches there over the years.

As a kid growing up in the 70,s/early 80’s, it was a dream to one day play at White City.

[Bates]

I despair every time i catch the train to Bondi Junction and see the destruction of what was the home of Tennis in Sydney, White City. Seen many fine matches there over the years.

Could you imagine how much a developer would pay for Lyne Park Tennis Courts or perhaps Royal Sydney Golf Club?

RSGC would have to be worth $500,000,000.

[Andrew Walker]

I think Jaxxx collects Tennis Balls.

He's a ball connoisseur. Golf, Cricket, Snooker etc etc.

Interesting pass time!

I don’t think our Jaxxx is particularly fussy when it comes to what type of balls he likes

Back to tennis now The final was a fizzle and ended in a sttaight sets victory for Ostapenko

[horrie hastings]

As a kid growing up in the 70,s/early 80’s, it was a dream to one day play at White City.

Martina Navratilova said the grass courts at White City were the best she had ever played on.
Was lucky over the years to see the likes of Martina, Wendy Turnbull,, Hana Mandlikova play at White City often, and the one and only time i got to see Evonne Goolagong/ Cawley play live, even in the twilight of her career it was an absolute highlight to watch her play..

Also watching the two Macca's , Peter McNamara and Paul McNamee win the men's double title one year in such a tight 3 setter 6-7, 7-6 7-6 over Hank Phister and John Sadri was another highlight.

[Andrew Walker]

Martina Navratilova said the grass courts at White City were the best she had ever played on.
Was lucky over the years to see the likes of Martina, Wendy Turnbull,, Hana Mandlikova play at White City often, and the one and only time i got to see Evonne Goolagong/ Cawley play live, even in the twilight of her career it was an absolute highlight to watch her play..

Also watching the two Macca's , Peter McNamara and Paul McNamee win the men's double title one year in such a tight 3 setter 6-7, 7-6 7-6 over Hank Phister and John Sadri was another highlight.

OH HORRIE !!!! Some great names there But areal blast I’d forgotten about was Hank Phister from memory a yank and he had a booming serve

Our friend whom I mentioned at the beginning of this thread being a local is training at White City


PS No matter what it is there really is nothing quite like the good old days

[horrie hastings]

OH HORRIE !!!! Some great names there But areal blast I’d forgotten about was Hank Phister from memory a yank and he had a booming serve

Our friend whom I mentioned at the beginning of this thread being a local is training at White City


PS No matter what it is there really is nothing quite like the good old days

It was a bit of a who's who some years at white City especially in the women's field, much preferred when they played on the grass there before changing to the hard courts.
Yes Hank Phister was a big serving American, had better results in doubles but did make the semis of the Australian Open singles 3 times

Martina and Wendy Turnbull were crowd favourites when they played, actually saw the final of the Brisbane Open doubles played at White City, they played it on centre court mid week between singles matches, the final got washed out in Brisbane before a ball was hit, Wendy Turnbull and Anne Hobbs won the doubles then backed up to win the NSW open doubles that week and also made the Australian Open final the week after but lost to Martina and Pam Shriver in 3 sets.

The final year at White City also got to see Steffi Graf play.

[Andrew Walker]

It was a bit of a who's who some years at white City especially in the women's field, much preferred when they played on the grass there before changing to the hard courts.
Yes Hank Phister was a big serving American, had better results in doubles but did make the semis of the Australian Open singles 3 times

Martina and Wendy Turnbull were crowd favourites when they played, actually saw the final of the Brisbane Open doubles played at White City, they played it on centre court mid week between singles matches, the final got washed out in Brisbane before a ball was hit, Wendy Turnbull and Anne Hobbs won the doubles then backed up to win the NSW open doubles that week and also made the Australian Open final the week after but lost to Martina and Pam Shriver in 3 sets.

The final year at White City also got to see Steffi Graf play.

You have an incredible memory I remember watching both of those doubles matches on tv you have mentioned but I’d completely forgotten about them With my Brother next and door neighbour

I saw Steffi Graf play at Wimbledon semi final in 1999 against Mirjana Lucic Who at the time was one of the best young talents I’d ever seen. Her story was such a sad one and I remember being so happy for her when 18 years later when she made the semi finals of the 2017 Australian Open