Redefining seniority?

As if somebody’s in a hurry, the United States Tennis Association

now dubs 25-year-olds as seniors. But the change in seniority policy is

helping to create a boom for the 73rd annual Emulex Pacific Southwest

Senior Tennis Championships, which begin Saturday at the Palisades Tennis

Club.

Considered the largest and oldest continuous senior tennis tournament in

the U.S., the event will draw between 400 and 500 amateurs, tournament

chairman Ken Stuart said, with players coming from Northern California,

Nevada, Arizona and Idaho. One entry is from as far away as New Orleans.

The Pacific Southwest, which features age divisions from 25 to 85 in

men’s and women’s singles and doubles, moved to the Palisades Club four

years ago from Los Angeles. The prestigious hard-court tournament has

missed only one year (during World War II) since 1925.

During a USTA press conference Aug. 26 for Roy Emerson, tied with Pete

Sampras for the most career Grand Slam singles titles (12), the tennis

icon made reference to the local tournament while addressing the issue of

hard courts.

“I think the hard court is a good surface to play on,” Emerson said to

the national media. “It is a little hard on your body. We were fortunate

enough that we didn’t play on it too much. They’re getting a lot of

injuries now with the players more so than when we played, because of

some of the hard-court surfaces. We would only play on one hard surface

all year, which was the Pacific Southwest in Los Angeles.”

Good timing for the Emerson quote as Pacific Southwest officials try to

add color to the event, which began at the Palisades in 1996. The fact

that Emerson and Rod Laver and those guys played in the tournament before

the game’s Open era lends instant credibility.

“It’s the finest tournament in Southern California,” said Stuart, who

added that the seniors in the 60 and over divisions will play afternoon

matches during week days and be featured on center court.

The Newport Beach Tennis Club and the Newport Marriott Hotel and Tennis

Club have donated courts for preliminary rounds this weekend. The

nine-day event is headquartered at the Palisades Club, which will also

host a players’ party to commemorate the facility’s 25-year anniversary

Sept. 18 following semifinal matches. All finals are Sept. 19.

One of the players in the men’s 80s, Bill Lurie of San Pedro, is

celebrating his 40th year playing in the Pacific Southwest. He captured

his first age-division championship in 1959.

In local tennis lore, former Palisades pro shop operator Tony Prodan is a

three-time defending champion in the upper men’s bracket.

In addition to a record number of entries in the men’s 80s (12), there

are six players signed up in the 85s. Like the USTA slogan says: Tennis

is a sport for a lifetime.

Next year, the USTA will designate the Pacific Southwest as one of four

events in which players can earn national rankings. Amateurs seeking a

USTA ranking will need to play in at least two of the four designated

tournaments around the country.

Player fees for the Pacific Southwest are $42 in singles ($60 for a

doubles team), with participants limited to three events (one singles and

two doubles). All players receive a commemorative embroidered hat and a

certificate for one free dinner at any of the 47 Acapulco restaurants in

California. Lexus of Westminster, KPMG and Wilson Racquet Sports are also

sponsors. Details: (949) 644-6900.

Emerson, a Newport Beach resident and member of the International Tennis

Hall of Fame, is co-chairman this year of the 18th annual CHOC Padrinos/Vic Braden Tennis Tournament Sept. 24-26 and Oct. 1-3 at several

clubs throughout Orange County. The popular event benefits Children’s

Hospital of Orange County. Details: (714) 532-8690.

The Building Industry Association of Southern California, Orange County

Chapter, will host its 18th annual tennis tournament Sept. 27 at the

Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club. Organizers are seeking sponsorships and

player entries. Details: (949) 224-0321.

Richard Dunn is the Daily Pilot’s tennis columnist.