40-Love

This reporter loves the game of tennis!  I love to play, watch others play and love to tune in to the best of the best when they are on television.

Last Thursday night hubby and I were invited to attend the Champions Challenge at the VCU Siegel Center in Richmond.  This was a PowerShares Series that was an exhibition tour that foregoes traditional line judges and replaces them with an automated system called the Hawkeye. This PowerShares Series is a 12-city tennis circuit for champion tennis players over the age of 30.

Four guys who used to be the best-of-the-best were on this tour.  If you know anything at all about the tennis world, you know that John McEnroe was at the top of tennis for years and he was one of the four playing that night.

I watched John play when he was just beginning his career and it was exciting to see him in person playing in this exhibition. He is now 56 years old and one can find him on TV now as a regular tennis commentator.  He’s good at that, too.  John was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.

John McEnroe is often rated among the greatest tennis players of all time. He won seven Grand Slam singles titles (three at Wimbledon and four at the U.S. Open) and finished his career with 77 ATP-listed singles titles and 71 in doubles.

Others on the court that night were Andy Roddick, Todd Martin and James Blake.

Roddick, 6’2”, age 32, was the top American man in professional tennis over the last 10 years. He turned pro in 2000 and retired from full-time play in 2012.  He is a former World No. 1 and is known for his fast service and powerful forehand.

James Blake, 6’1”, age 35, is a former Harvard student who had a 14 year ATP career, winning a high ranking of World No. 4. He lists Arthur Ashe as his role model. He turned pro in 1999 and retired from full-time play in 2013.

Todd Martin, 6’6”, age 44, reached the Men’s Singles final in the 1994 Australian Open and achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 4, also.  He turned pro in 1990 and retired in 2006.

These four men put in full days whenever they arrive at their PowerShares destinations.  During the afternoon, one could sign up to play with McEnroe and Blake at 3 p.m. and with Martin and Roddick at 4 p.m.  At 5:30 one could enjoy a player party experience and then at 6 p.m. the doors were opened to the general public.

At 7 p.m. Martin and Roddick played one set and after that, McEnroe and Blake played one set.  The winner of each set then played each other.  They constantly entertained the audience with their banter and their expertise. These talented guys really showed their strengths at serving and volleying.  It was quite an enjoyable night and Roddick was the winner!