ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996 TAG: 9608150028
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
In a span of less than 10 minutes, Tim Nester referred to tennis as "the sport of a lifetime" three different times. Maybe that's because at age 42, Radford native Nester is not only still playing tennis but is also winning some of the biggest tournaments of his career.
"My brothers were playing tennis when I was just old enough to sit on the courts and cry," Nester said. "Then I started playing when I was about 10 and was old enough to follow them down to the rec courts in Radford. It was just a natural procession ... following in my older brothers' footsteps."
But it wasn't long until Nester broke out of his brothers' shadows and started making tracks of his own. He played on the Radford High School tennis team all through school, occupying the No.2 seed for the Bobcats.
"It was so long ago I could lie and say I was the No.1 seed," Nester joked, "but the guy who played No.1 still lives in the area so I better not ... or he'll be calling me."
After graduation Nester furthered his career at Ferrum College, serving as the fourth seed on his college team 1972-73 before moving into the construction business. For most people what would have served as the end of a career, was just the beginning for Nester.
"I've continued to play tennis for both the physical and stress relief it provides and for the fellowship," he said. "You meet more fine people playing tennis than anywhere."
Nester said one of those people is Bobby Combs of Floyd, whom he has played alongside in doubles competitions for two years. The duo took first in the Davis Love Invitational in Greensboro, N.C., in May and captured a silver medal weeks later at the Commonwealth Games of Virginia. Nester said the silver medal ranks high on his list of achievements.
"It was the first time we'd played in the Commonwealth Games, and winning a medal was incredible," Nester said. "It was definitely one of my most memorable tournaments."
Nester and Combs teamed up again Saturday in the Greater Blacksburg Open tennis championships held at the Blacksburg Country Club, but fell in the semifinals of the men's doubles bracket to David Conner and Butch Watson, the eventual champions.
And while their doubles play may have faltered, Nester was on top of his singles game, taking home the trophy in the men's 35 and over division. He downed Blacksburg's Mike Burnop 6-3, 6-1 for the win.
"It's hard to say that I like one better than the other, but in singles play if you lose you can only blame yourself, and if you win there's a greater sense of accomplishment," Nester said. "But this whole tournament is excellent. It provides an opportunity for young people in the area to play good competition and have fun and for the older groups it's a chance for that same kind of competition too."
A member of the New River Valley's United States Tennis Association league team for two years, Nester is a regular on the competitive circuit. The USTA is a competitive league that ranks athletes' ability on a scale of 3.5 to 7.0, with the professional players receiving the 7.0 mark. Nester's eight-member, co-ed team is ranked at 4.5, with two people competing in singles and the other six in doubles.
"Our team won the league and played in Hampton [Aug. 3] for the district title," Nester said. "There were about 750 people in Hampton, where the ranking system puts people of equal ability against each other."
Although tournament after tournament seems to occupy his time, the sport is really just a pastime for Nester. He works as the assistant building director for the city of Radford and will be changing posts to serve as the assistant building director for the town of Christiansburg Sept. 1.
"I'll probably stay in the New River Valley all my life," Nester said. "There's just no place like it."
And as for tennis?
"As long as I can walk, I'll play."
Complete results from the Greater Blacksburg Open tennis championships:
SINGLES:
Boys 10 and under
Will Mattews d. Dean Williams 6-1, 6-0
Boys 12 and under
Will Mattews d. Dean Williams 6-3, 6-3
Boys 14 and under
Stuart Dowling d. Greg Burnop 6-3, 6-3
Boys 18 and under Paul Peterson d. Russell Bowling 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Girls 10 and under Ragani Acharya d. Ashton Down 6-1, 6-1
Girls 12 and under Ragani Archarya d. Guya Acharya 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Girls 14 and under Emily Nester d. Guya Acharya 6-2, 6-2
Girls 16 and under Yasamina Hilu d. Emily Nester 6-2, 6-1
Men 35 and over Tim Nester d. Mike Burnop 6-3, 6-1
Doubles:
Boys 10 and under Lewis Cox and Justin Epstein d. Brad Bustle and Nick Grimes
Boys 12 and under Will Mattews and Richard Troy d. Chris Alcorn and Ben Smoot
Boys 14 and under Stuart Dowling and Scott Sterrett d. Greg Burnop and Enmar Hilu
Girls 12 and under Catherine Eriksson and Michelle Sprague d. Kasey Branch & Jenna Burnop
Girls 16 and under Michele Johnston and Holly McCall d. Nikole Branch and Claire Mullendcore
Mens 18 and over David Conner and Butch Watson d. Mike Burnop and Colin Gibb
LENGTH: Long : 105 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. Radford's Tim Nester has "continuedby CNBto play tennis for both the physical and stress relief it provides
and for the fellowship. You meet more fine people playing tennis
than anywhere." color.