John Newcombe’s Tennis Fantasies Celebrate 25th Event

Written by: Staff on 14th November 2012

AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

John Newcombe’s Tennis Fantasies Celebrate 25th Event

epa000355204 Australia's greatest legend tennis players R - L Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Frank Sedgman, John Newcombe, Roy Emerson, on centre court in a ceremony celebrating the centenary 1905 - 2005 of the Australian Open on Australia Day at the Australian Open tennis at Melbourne Park, Australia, Wednesday 26 January 2005. EPA/DENNIS M SABANAGN |

Camaraderie and competition were the watchwords for the 25th rendition of tennis’ longest-running and most successful fantasy camp, “Tennis Fantasies with John Newcombe and the Legends.”

This year’s camp was held October 21 – 26 at its longstanding location, the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas (30 miles from San Antonio). As befits a silver anniversary, the event was rapidly sold out, with 100 campers in attendance – including 79 alumni.

“Tennis Fantasies embodies the spirit we Aussies created during the years we were circling the globe,” said Newcombe. “We looked out for each other and made new friends wherever we went. By day, we practiced and pounded each other’s brains in. By night, we enjoyed our mates.”

For this year’s silver anniversary, founder and director Steve Contardi gathered the biggest cast in the event’s history. Thirteen legends were in attendance — all of whom have won Grand Slam titles or represented their nation in Davis Cup play (often both). Legend captains were Hall of Famers Newcombe, Roy Emerson, Fred Stolle, Owen Davidson, Mal Anderson and Mark Woodforde, as well as such notables as Rick Leach, Brian Gottfried, Marty Riessen, Charlie Pasarell, Ross Case, Dick Stockton and rookie legend Murphy Jensen.

What makes “Tennis Fantasies” so distinct is its emphasis on competition.

Certainly there is plenty of time for campers to hit, drill and learn from the legends in numerous clinics, fantasy matches and practice sessions. But the spine of the week is its three days of competition. Attendees are drafted on to one of four teams and play two matches each day – singles and doubles or, if desired, strictly doubles.

The spirit of Tennis Fantasies goes far beyond the lines, towards the affinity built by campers and legends as teammates, rivals and friends – often sharing in many of life’s passages, from love and marriage to birth and death. “We’ve come to care about each other, to know each other in a very close, special way,” said Newcombe. “Tennis is what we all love, but we all know it’s just a game – and what matters most is the way we relate to one another, not just as competitors but as people.”

So it is that at the close of each year’s camp, all of the Australian legends commence a sing-a-long with the campers of that exemplary Aussie song, “Waltzing Matilda.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: John Newcombe, John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, Sports, Tennis Fantasies, Tennis News