Laver, Courier Make Adidas Tennis Smash a Hit

Note: Thanks to Joyce Royle for this article

Laver, Courier Make Adidas Tennis Smash a Hit by Jason Brown (from http://www.usta.com/travel/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=40072, July 27, 2003)

Three generations of tennis champions, one of whom is already enshrined in the Tennis Hall of Fame, the other two, on the fast track toward induction, gave major star power and buzz to the 3rd Annual Adidas Tennis Smash presented by Jaguar exhibition matches held on July 15 at the Ocean Edge Tennis Stadium in historic Brewster, Mass.

The charity event, which has included such players as multi-major winner Stefan Edberg in the past, is hosted by Tom Gullikson, brother of the late Tim Gullikson, with proceeds from the matches going to the Tim & Tom Gullikson Brain Tumor Foundation.

In May 1996, Tim Gullikson, a former star professional doubles player and the noted former coach of tennis star Pete Sampras, lost his battle with the disease.

The 2003 Adidas Tennis Smash drew a sold-out crowd inside the Bay Pines Tennis Stadium on the grounds of the Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club.

With a chance of showers, the clouds that had settled thickly across much of Cape Cod Bay in the morning burned off, allowing the warm rays of the sun to shine through, revealing brilliant blue skies and traces of a cool coastal breeze.

Introducing the first match of the day, one of four exhibitions scheduled, Gullikson said that he hoped the Ocean Edge event would continue to be a success each year and draw awareness to the illness that claimed his brother’s life.

Tom Gullikson, the chairman of the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, who won 15 career doubles titles with his brother and coached the U.S. Davis Cup team for five years, teamed up with another great doubles champion, current ATP Tour star Bob Bryan, in the day’s first match.

Bryan, half of the No. 1-ranked doubles team in the world, captured the first major tournament of his career at the 2003 French Open, winning the men’s doubles title playing alongside his twin brother Mike.

Bryan was also fresh from a recent run to the semifinals at the Hall of Fame Championships in nearby Newport, Rhode Island.

Both lefties, Gullikson and Bryan faced an equally formidable pair on the other side of the net, Rod Laver and Jim Courier, both former No. 1 players in the world, major championship winners and ambassadors of the sport.

Courier was the No. 1-ranked player in the world in 1992 and winner of four Grand Slam singles titles, including the 1991 and 1992 French Open and the 1992 and 1993 Australian Open.

One of the greatest tennis players of all-time and a 1981 inductee into the Tennis Hall of Fame, Laver was the No. 1 player in the world in 1961, 1962, 1968 and 1969. He won a total of 11 Grand Slam singles titles, including two career Grand Slams in 1962 and 1969, and nine Grand Slam doubles championships.

Long after his career was over, Laver suffered a stroke in July of 1998 while being interviewed. After losing 25 pounds during his stay in the hospital following the stroke, Laver recovered, and is now swinging the stick like “The Rocket” of old.

The night before at the gala dinner and live auction, Bud Collins, the master of ceremonies for the evening and author of the new book, “Total Tennis: The Ultimate Tennis Encyclopedia,” recounted Laver’s stroke, saying there were serious questions as to whether one of the greatest gentlemen the sport has seen would ever pick up a racquet again.

On this day, Laver, wearing a knee brace on his right knee that impeded his maneuverability, had nothing wrong with his lightning quick reflexes and groundstrokes that made him the Rocket.

Clearly being deferred to during the match out of immense respect, Bryan, Gullikson and, in particular, Courier, set up Laver with multiple opportunities for winners.

And sure enough, Laver wowed the crowd with rapid-reflex volleys, a picture-perfect southpaw serve and daring baseline blasts.

Playing almost as intensely as he did during his storied playing career, Courier reached for leaping overheads and added a much-appreciated splash of humor and good fun to the equation that began to involve the crowd with the action on the court.

Resembling a makeshift boy band, the foursome was miked up throughout the match, so the crowd would be indulged to running commentary, jokes and grunts.

“The problem with the microphones are that everyone can hear you when you’re breathing hard,” Courier panted out after racing down a Bryan volley.

Bob Bryan & Tom Gullikson defeated Jim Courier & Rod Laver, 6-4

The second match of the day was a singles exhibition between Courier and Bryan, with WTA Tour player Jennifer Hopkins calling the match from the umpire’s chair.

Annoyed at a non-call from Hopkins in the middle of the set, Courier took aim at Hopkins, grazing her leg.

“Warning!” screeched Hopkins, flabbergasted that Courier would take it out on her in a charity exhibition match. “If you hit another one of those, I’m going to give you a violation,” she giggled.

During the match, the crowd learned that Courier’s parents were married on the grounds of Ocean Edge, leaving fond memories of Ocean Edge dear to his heart.

Competitive as ever, Courier overpowered Bryan and notched the win.

Jim Courier defeated Bob Bryan, 6-4

The third match of the day featured a very special celebrity chair umpire, five-time major championship winner Martina Hingis, making her first appearance in the United States since retiring from tennis at age 22.

Hingis, who practiced and worked out at the junior tennis clinic the day before, decided not to play in the exhibition matches, preferring to assume a more honorary role in the event.

After a celebrated comeback at the 2002 US Open, Hingis called it quits, still hurting from the effects of multiple foot surgeries that stemmed from a horse-riding accident during the 2002 French Open.

Still, the crowd at Ocean Edge was happy to see the Swiss Miss, eager to applaud the sorely missed champion.

Hingis was the No. 1-ranked player in the world from 1997-2001 and was the winner of 40 WTA Tour titles.

Hopkins and former ATP local player Bud Schultz played the 14-year-old Mary Gambale, the No. 4-ranked junior in the girls’ 18s from nearby Billerica, Massachusetts, and Gullikson.

The only match of the four played that could actually occur on the professional tour occurred between Xavier Malisse and Jan-Michael Gambill, who were an evenly-matched pair.

Malisse, the No. 1-ranked men’s player from Belgium who is overshadowed by the one-two punch of women’s stars Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters, flashed considerable talent against Gambill.

Malisse and Gambill were both headed for the RCA Championships in Indianapolis following the Adidas Tennis Smash.

Xavier Malisse defeated Jan-Michael Gambill, 6-3

Participating in the Tennis Pro-Am but not playing in the exhibition matches was rising American newcomer Brian Vahaly, who was suffering from the effects of a minor injury incurred the week before on tour.