Hi Talkin' Taylor!

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http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2004/July/18/sport/stories/01sport.htm

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TD

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July 18, 2004

APTOS - Tucked away in a corner of the second level of Seascape Sports Club is
a small shrine to the tennis greats who have walked through the doors and helped
put the little beach town place on the map.

Michael Chang. Patrick Rafter. James Blake. Jan-Michael Gambill. Vince Spadea.
Taylor Dent. Mardy Fish. Robbie Ginepri. Bob and Mike Bryan. The list goes on.

Photos of each, nearly small enough to fit in one's wallet, appear on a wall,
listing some of their accomplishments. It's a modest assembly.

Every summer since 1988, the game's up-and-comers come to play the cement
courts in the $50,000 Seascape Challenger, the longest running challenger in the
U.S.

Chang, one of the event's most recognizable former entrants played Seascape
three times, but all in the twilight of his career, well removed from French
Open win as a teenager in 1989.

This is a tournament of the future.

After Seascape, Rafter claimed U.S. Open singles titles in 1997 and '98, and
the Bryan brothers, who gained notoriety at Stanford University, went on to win
the 2003 French Open doubles title.

Those close to the event are quick to point out, they haven't heard the last of
the Seascape Challenger alums. Seven of the top-10 ranked Americans, and 17 of
the top 20 played in the event, which serves in part as a tune-up for the U.S.
Open, a hard-court event.

"Some people came up to me and said this year's draw is lacking the big names,"
Seascape tennis pro Rick Kepler said. "Yeah, well, in a few years you never
know."

Kepler should save his breath, and point people to the shrine.

How many of these guys were household names when they played here?

It seems, there are hundreds of challengers every year.

Is the Seascape Challenger really so special?

"Yes," said Keith Crossland, a USTA tournament supervisor for the past 15
years.

Crossland travels across the country to run events like Seascape's, and said he
sees a difference and he sees why this event has helped lure some of the game's
future greats.

"There are a lot of things that make this tournament a good one," Crossland
said. "The venue, the location, the timing of this tournament to the Mercedes
(in Los Angeles), the host families. There is a conglomeration of players out
there who talk with each other and will say this is a good place to be."

Seascape's sunken centre court, surrounded by less than eight rows of wooden
bleachers, is intimate. Few venues allow spectators to be so close the action.

"At these courts, you'll see some of the same guys who in eight weeks will be
on Centre Court at the U.S. Open, because they're taking on someone like (Andre)
Agassi," Crossland said. "And people can say, 'Yep. I was just across the fence
from them.' "

The Seascape Challenger awards 50 ATP points to the singles winner. For a
player in the top 100, that isn't much. But for the recent college grad or newly
turned pro, it's an opportunity to rise through the rankings.

"If a player is ranked 150th, they might go to No. 145," Crossland said. "But
let's say a guy is around No. 450, he might jump to No. 350."

It's a chance for some big moves, and an opportunity to build a reputation.

But that's not always the case. This year's likely top-seed, Israel's Harel
Levy, is currently ranked No. 130 and is well known. At one point, Levy ranked
was in the top 30 in the world. He is recovering from a hip injury.

Challenger tennis is likened to Triple-A baseball, the highest level in the
minor leagues before reaching the majors.

Some guys, like Chang and even Agassi, have used Challengers when coming back
from injury or to get their games back on track.

Two challenger events helped rejuvenate Agassi's career a few years back. For
the most part, challengers are for the up-and-comers, which means players who
don't have a lot of money.

There are challengers that offer hotel accommodations to players at no cost,
and those events usually mean more points, because the free housing figures into
the total purse.

Most players go from event to event, and usually by car.

Seascape's tennis fraternity does everything to make the player's stay a
memorable one.

All the players are given the opportunity to stay with host families.

"They're kind of your family for a week," said Debbie Humphreys, who has been
hosting players for five years. "They're on the road so much. And so you just
want to make them feel welcome and special."

Last year, Humphreys hosted American Jeff Salzenstein, who went on to claim his
second Seascape title in three years.

"Jeff was such a good volleyer," said Humphreys, who has three children,
including two daughters. "So I would leave notes on his door. 'I love your
volleys. Do it today!' And we gave him hugs."

Even in the span of a week, strong bonds are formed between players and host
families.

One evening, Salzenstein took a liking to Humphreys' grandson's gaudy, green
dragon slippers.

Humphreys said, "He asked, 'If I win, can I wear these on Centre Court?'"

He did and he did.

"He was out there in the slippers dancing around," Humphreys said. "It was so
cute."

The two stay in contact.

In fact, days removed from his win last year, Salzenstein called to see if his
victory was good enough to get him in the local paper.

Humphreys has pictures of Salzenstein and Kevin Kim alongside pictures of the
rest of her family.

Charlotte and Foster Mahood have housed players since the event started, but
memories of 2002 Seascape champion Brian Vahaly still holds a soft spot in their
hearts. It was Vahaly's first professional win.

"He's like a son," said Charlotte, noting they still stay in touch. "We watched
him win that tournament, and it became real personal. And we didn't know him
before that."

It was a memorable week for both parties.

And when it was time to say good-bye, Foster noticed Vahaly forgot to pack all
his goods as he got in his car.

"He left his trophy in the dining room," Foster said. "I brought it out to him,
and the next thing I know, he says, 'I know, I want you to have this.'

"It was his first challenger win, his first pro win, his biggest paycheck.
You'd think he want (his trophy) for posterity."

No, this tournament's all about the memories, simple and sweet like the shrine
on the second floor.

jseimas@....

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