Hall Of Fame Induction – Not To Be Missed by Mark Winters

Written by: Staff on 21st September 2013

Hall Of Fame Induction – Not To Be Missed by Mark Winters

WIM41 - 20010628 - LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM : US player Lindsay Davenport smiles during her second round match against Alicia Molik of Australia at the All England Tennis Championships in Wimbledon on Thursday, 28 June 2001. EPA PHOTO EPA/GERRY PENNY |

Vic Braden, Michael Chang, Lindsay Davenport, Rick Leach, Gilbert (Gil) Shea and Kathy Willette will become members of the Southern California Tennis Association Hall of Fame, on Sunday, September 22nd. The gala, which is a Black Tie optional dinner, will take place at the Riviera Country Club, in Pacific Palisades.

Vic Braden

Because he is forever engaged – energized says it better – and is always on the move, few would guess Vic Braden’s age. He is a font of information with an unquenchable quest for new ideas to make teaching the game and life in general, better.

Braden’s never dissipating interest in tennis has enabled him to leave countless individuals with vividly fond memories, over the years, as an instructor, author and television commentator, and as a player.

As one of the school’s foremost graduates and top former players, he has put Kalamazoo College on the map. Much of his work has focused on the important role sports psychologists play in tennis. Having written six books and developed over twenty tennis VHS and DVD’s endorses Braden’s unique position of expertise.

He is renowned for founding and directing the Vic Braden Tennis College in Coto de Caza. His long-standing relationship with Jack Kramer, for whom he ran the world pro tennis tour, earned him even more recognition. The duo also teamed to begin the Jack Kramer Tennis Club, the fabled location which has been the home of countless outstanding junior players for some time.

A stellar raconteur, Braden enlivens discussions and exchanges weaving personal experiences into a montage of captivating tales about places and more importantly, people (individuals who are Grand Slam champions, as well as those with “from the park,” status.)

Living by a “Laugh and Learn” credo, Vic Braden is a vital tennis resource. No one has his credentials nor has the hope of coming close to matching his love for the game.

Michael Chang

As a Southern California junior, Michael Chang dominated competition playing up (meaning above his required age division), capturing both the Boys’ 18 National Hard Court Championships and the National Championships in 1987 at 15. The summer before his triumph, Chang was a member of the USTA Boys’ Junior Davis Cup team.

Greg Patton, now the men’s tennis coach at Boise State University, was the JDC captain. “Michael and Pete (Sampras) were finalists at the Hard Courts,” he recalled. “It was like watching an early Tom Hanks movie and realizing that you were looking at two future Oscar winners; players who would be legends in the game.”

During his career, Chang won 34 tournaments and was a finalist 24 times. He played 55 Grand Slam tournaments, which ties him for third on the all-time list. Some of his collection of “Youngest Firsts” include:

– Male to win a Grand Slam at 17 years, three months (1989 Roland Garros; the first American since Tony Trabert in1955)

– Player to be ranked in the Top 5 (1989)

– Player in over 60 years to be named to the US Davis Cup team in 1989 (He was also a member of the 1990 championship team.)

Joe Chang choreographed Michael and Carl’s tennis development. Though he became a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008, Chang still plays ATP Champions Tour and the PowerShares Series Tour, as well as exhibitions. He is also significantly involved with the Chang Family Foundation, coordinating a wide range of youth programs and grass roots tennis projects.

Lindsay Davenport

It is rare that an individual who was ranked Number 1 in singles, (one of only four women since 1975 to finish atop the World rankings at least four times), and also reached the top spot in doubles, could accurately be described as “…So normal.” That is Lindsay Davenport.

How many players, beginning in 1991, would spend two years on the tour before becoming a professional and take the time to attend her high school graduation? Davenport did, and accomplished even more.

She won 55 career titles, including the US Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open in 1998, 1999 and 2000 respectively. She was the 1996 Olympic singles champion and a member of the 2000 Fed Cup championship team.

Because of these achievements, a number of her other credits are regularly overlooked. A few of them include:

– Winning Roland Garros, her first Grand Slam doubles title with Mary Joe Fernandez – 1996

– Winning the US Open doubles with Jana Novotna – 1997

– Defeating Steffi Graf (in her final Grand Slam match) for the Wimbledon title; and winning the doubles with Corina Morariu – 1999

– Winning the Australian Open without losing a set – 2000

– Becoming the eighth player in WTA history to win 700 singles matches – 2006

– Surpassing Graf in career prize money earnings – 2008

After playing on the tour for 17 years, Davenport retired in 2010. She and husband, Jonathan Leach, have three children, and beside doing commentary for the Tennis Channel, she is still formidable on the court, most often teaming with Martina Hingis in Legend’s events held at the Grand Slams.

Rick Leach

Given his father’s love of the game, it would be hard to imagine Rick Leach not being involved in tennis. “I began playing at five,” he said. “I was taught the game by my father. I played junior tennis and ended up winning 17 National titles. I went on to USC where my father was the coach.”

Stories abound about tennis parents pressuring their offspring. That wasn’t Dick Leach’s style. Having been a good player, then a noted coach, he understood the dynamics of helping individuals develop. Rick, with whom he won ten National Father & Son championships, is a prime example.

The first eight-time (both singles and doubles) All-American in NCAA history, Leach said, “I won NCAA doubles titles with Tim Pawsat in 1986 and with Scott Melville in ’87.”

As a professional, he captured 46 titles, but even more significant was Leach claiming at least one championship for 16 consecutive years. “I was the winner of nine Grand Slam doubles titles,” he admitted. “Five were in men’s doubles and four in mixed. I also was a finalist in twelve other Slams, and was ranked No. 1 in the world in 1990.”

A member of winning Davis Cup teams in 1990 and 1992, Leach added, “My last title came in Los Angeles, with Brian MacPhie, and I was 40-years-old. I retired from the ATP Tour in 2005 after playing 18 years. Currently, when I am not coaching doubles players Scott Lipsky and Leander Paes, I teach at the Newport Beach Tennis Club. In recent years, I have also played on teams representing the US in International Tennis Federation competition.”

Gilbert (Gil) Shea

As Gilbert (Gil) Shea explained, “I spent a lot of time at the Los Angeles Tennis Club during the 1940s and 1950s. All the good players were there. They included Bobby Riggs, Don Budge, Bill Tilden and many others.”

At USC, in the early ’50s, Shea’s serve and volley game flourished, and he became one of the leading US players. In 1954, he was ranked No. 10. The next year, he moved to No. 6. But, the best was yet to come. Shea finished 1957 at No. 4. It was also the same season that he was a Pacific Southwest finalist.

A good athlete, who covered the court superbly, he was always in the trophy hunt. His 1954 results clearly indicate his talent. He defeated Edward Moylan in the National Hard Court Championships final. At the Cannes Tennis Championships, he outlasted Tony Vincent for the title.

In 1955, he began an Ojai three-peat, taking the men’s championship over Clyde Hippensteil. The next year, he stopped Earl Baumgardner. (He also won the Southern California Sectional Championships.) He closed out his Ojai trifecta with a victory over Noel Brown. (In addition, he was a 1956 Australian quarterfinalist losing to Neale Fraser.)

“I was a member of the US Davis Cup team in 1955, with Tony Trabert, Seixas and Hamilton Richardson,” Shea said. “I was ranked in the Top Ten for four years and then retired. I was drafted and had to serve two years in the US Army, which were two of my prime playing years. Overall, tennis was great for me.”

Kathy Willette

Kathy Willette’s extensive involvement in tennis is matched by many accomplishments. Having been involved with Youth Tennis San Diego since its inception in the mid-1980s, she has served in many capacities to ensure the organization’s success.

Willette worked to make the Barnes Junior Tennis Center reality. When it was complete, she pursued USTA National Junior Championships making sure the facility became a major tournament venue. When there was a need, she was a major fundraiser.

For almost twenty years, she served on a variety of USTA committees. Community Tennis was a focus, and Willette, in various leadership capacity, played a crucial role. She has been in the forefront of the SCTA’s development efforts as a member of the Board of Directors, and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Kathy Willette, nee Chabot, developed her game at Morley Field in San Diego, and became a three-time National junior doubles winner. In 1961, she was the Junior Wimbledon finalist. That year, she was No. 4 in the US Women’s rankings, and became the National Hard Court champion. In 1984 she claimed the Women’s 35 US Open and Hard Court titles, and was ranked No. 1 locally and nationally.

Her collection of accolades is impressive. Some of the awards the 2007 San Diego District Tennis Hall of Fame inductee has received include: USTA Community Service – 1986; USTA Education Merit – 1994 (The same year Henry Talbert was the men’s honoree.); USTA Service – 2001; Ben Press Community Service – 2005 and SCTA Lifetime Achievement – 2006. She is especially proud that the Larry Willettes were named Family of the Year in both the District and the SCTA in 1988.

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Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Lindsay Davenport, Mark Winters, Sports, Tennis, Usta, Vic Braden

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USOpenBalPerson says:

September 21, 2013 at 6:55 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Hall Of Fame Induction – Not To Be Missed by Mark Winters: Vic Braden, Michael Chang, Lindsay Davenpo… http://t.co/tiRG…