The rest of the story
PS for GMann:
In 1986, I had two men in the round of 16 at the US Open. I coached Marcel Freeman for the first time in 1970 and straightened out a few minor things for him in a few lessons he took in a group lesson program I ran at Stadium Tennis Center. His dad was his real coach. But he came to me in 1986 and asked me to help him. He had been College Player of the Year a couple of years before and was working his way into the top 100. He had to meet me at the gym or on the track at Beverly Hills High at 5 in the morning before I went to my classes at chiropractic school. He certainly had other coaches, but I was one of them that summer when he reached the 16s at the Open. Marcel reached his top ranking (in the 40's) while I was coaching him. I should have gone on tour with Marcel, but I wanted to do chiropractic school. In retrospect, …oh well…
I met Paul Annacone when I went to the Hamptons in 1974 to run a TennisAmerica Adult Camp there for the summer. Paul's dad was the manager. Two years later, I was the head pro at that club and we worked all summer on "little Paul's serve". He was probably under 5' at the time. I distinctly remember making him serve over a Don Budge Gold Medal rebound net(7') to learn to hit up and extend (still a good drill). Paul developed his serve and volley style practicing a drill I used with one of my other friends in the Hamptons, Paul Masters, as he was growing up. In the early 80's when he came home from wherever he was playing (still in college), I always worked with him in the summers. I was still "a good hit" at that point, especially in the Hamptons. Paul's brother, Steve, was his traveling coach in 1986, but in the two or three weeks before the Open that year, Paul put in about 10 sessions with me on the courts. In addition, he carried Pancho Segura to the finals of the 2nd Huggy Bears. Then a couple of days later he beat the #1seed, Johnny Mac, in the first round and went to the 16s. I actually had two players in the 16s. But, of course, I didn't even have a coach's pass! Paul made it to 12 in the world in singles while I was working with him. Boy, did I miss that boat!
don
PS for GMann:
In 1986, I had two men in the round of 16 at the US Open. I coached Marcel Freeman for the first time in 1970 and straightened out a few minor things for him in a few lessons he took in a group lesson program I ran at Stadium Tennis Center. His dad was his real coach. But he came to me in 1986 and asked me to help him. He had been College Player of the Year a couple of years before and was working his way into the top 100. He had to meet me at the gym or on the track at Beverly Hills High at 5 in the morning before I went to my classes at chiropractic school. He certainly had other coaches, but I was one of them that summer when he reached the 16s at the Open. Marcel reached his top ranking (in the 40's) while I was coaching him. I should have gone on tour with Marcel, but I wanted to do chiropractic school. In retrospect, …oh well…
I met Paul Annacone when I went to the Hamptons in 1974 to run a TennisAmerica Adult Camp there for the summer. Paul's dad was the manager. Two years later, I was the head pro at that club and we worked all summer on "little Paul's serve". He was probably under 5' at the time. I distinctly remember making him serve over a Don Budge Gold Medal rebound net(7') to learn to hit up and extend (still a good drill). Paul developed his serve and volley style practicing a drill I used with one of my other friends in the Hamptons, Paul Masters, as he was growing up. In the early 80's when he came home from wherever he was playing (still in college), I always worked with him in the summers. I was still "a good hit" at that point, especially in the Hamptons. Paul's brother, Steve, was his traveling coach in 1986, but in the two or three weeks before the Open that year, Paul put in about 10 sessions with me on the courts. In addition, he carried Pancho Segura to the finals of the 2nd Huggy Bears. Then a couple of days later he beat the #1seed, Johnny Mac, in the first round and went to the 16s. I actually had two players in the 16s. But, of course, I didn't even have a coach's pass! Paul made it to 12 in the world in singles while I was working with him. Boy, did I miss that boat!
don
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