THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504090191
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
When Pat Glaunert visited South Hampton Roads a month ago, he found friendly people everywhere except on many of the area's tennis courts.
That's because he couldn't find people at all on many of the courts.''
``I really believe the sport has been underpromoted here,'' he said. ``It kills me to drive around and see empty tennis courts. It's a great game and people need to be playing.''
Determined to do something about it, Glaunert accepted the job of director of tennis at the Tidewater Tennis Center. And if he has his way, tennis in these parts will never be the same.
Glaunert, 30, spent the past five years as the head pro at Forest Lake Tennis Club in St. Louis.
``I left a great job,'' said Glaunert, a U.S. Professional Tennis Registry certified pro. ``But the Tidewater Tennis Center, (owner) Dean Ives in particular, has given me a lot of support. Everyone in this area has made me feel so welcome and I'm really going to work to make things happen here.''
Of course, Glaunert isn't naive enough to think his own passion for the game will be enough to get 'em stampeding the courts. So he's come up with programs designed to be too attractive to pass up.
Intimidated by the traditionally prohibitive lesson rates? Glaunert is offering two free group lessons for adults. Starved for time? The hours are flexible, Glaunert said. No racket? The center has plenty.
Glaunert will also start a tennis tots program, with weekly instruction for ages 3-6. Everyone who signs up gets a free racket.
``I've been here three weeks and I've already got stuff off the ground and flying,'' he said.
For more information about Glaunert's programs, or to hear him expand on his vision for the future of South Hampton Roads' tennis, call him at 461-3015.
TEACHERS UNITED: Glaunert isn't the only tennis pro trying to make things happen locally. The Hampton Roads Professional Tennis Association is gearing up for its second annual ``Tennis Across America Day'' May 13 at Old Dominion University.
The event, held with the help of the Norfolk Parks and Recreation Department and in conjunction with the President's Council on Physical Fitness, will be highlighted by a free two-hour clinic given by area teaching pros to inner-city children. Last year, 14 area pros worked with more than 150 youths.
Also in May, the HRPTA will hold ``Racket Drive '95,'' a program to collect donated rackets for kids. And on July 29, the HRPTA will hold its fund-raising Pro-Am tournament at the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach.
For more information about HRPTA activities, call Carlos De Cubas at 428-7569.
LET ME AT 'EM: She's 51 years old, has undergone extensive surgery on both knees and is well over a decade removed from her last competitive match on the WTA tour.
But don't expect Billie Jean King to be anyone's whipping girl when she joins 11 other women's tennis greats at the University of Richmond's Robins Center May 20-21 for the Virginia Slims Legends competition.
``I'm sure I'll be all nice and everything before the matches start,'' she said. ``But as soon as it's time to play, those old competitive juices will start flowing and I'll be going after it as hard as I can.''
King will join Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin and others in the two-day, round-robin doubles tournament. Evert and Navratilova will also take part in a special singles shootout both nights.
To kick off the tennis action, Barbara Mandrell, Gladys Knight, Regina Belle and Martina McBride will headline a concert on May 19 at the Richmond Coliseum.
The Robins Center will also be the site of the regional grassroots tennis championships May 19-20, held in conjunction with the Legends Tour. The regional tourney brings together the winners of events in Richmond, Fairfax, Roanoke and Virginia Beach. Regional champions receive expenses-paid trips to Delray Beach, Fla., for the national championship Dec. 1-3.
The Virginia Beach tournament, open to 3.5- and 4.5-level women 21 and over, will be held at the Virginia Beach Tennis & Country Club May 5-7. The entry fee is $30. For more information, call Sugie Jarrett at 481-7545. by CNB