Tennis / Julie Cart : SCTA Is Planning More Involvement in Junior Tennis

The United States looks to Southern California to produce the young talent in tennis. For years, despite giving some ground to Florida, the region has done its part.

But why do so many top juniors come from Southern California? Tennis coaches have pondered the question for years. If they knew, of course, they would distill the essence of it and spray it from planes across America.

All anyone can say for sure is that each year legions of two-handed backhanders march out of here, pigtails flying, and mow down the competition.

“We represent 6% of the population, yet we have 20% of the nationally ranked players,” said Jim Hillman, executive director for development for the Southern California Tennis Assn. “If you say you’re from California, (tournament directors) almost want to seed you right off the bat. We have such depth.”

But Hillman added, despite the obvious success of various junior programs, he has problems in promoting tennis among youngsters here. Crocodile tears?

“We are out there competing with Little League, soccer, basketball, football and all the rest--we all want the same kids,” he said. “If we want to really compete and get the best athletes, we’ve got to have programs all year. We’ve got to be more creative; we’ve got to keep them in our system.

“I feel very strongly that we must reach out to the minority communities. I’ve always had a gut feeling that we should help people in these areas. I feel sorry for these youngsters; I know what they have to go through. It’s totally economics. You have to pay to learn the sport of tennis. It takes a lot of patience and a lot of time. To pick up a racket and hit the ball, you have to have lessons.”

To that end, the SCTA hopes to increase its budget--it was $160,000 in 1985--and expand its programs to achieve a broader base in the region. The group already has 7,600 members and each year handles 50,000 entries to junior tennis events.

Existing programs include:

--The National Junior Tennis League--a popular entry-level program

--Junior Team Tennis--a 132-team co-ed program with tournaments in the spring and fall, culminating in the naming of a Southern California team champion

--The K-Swiss Grand Prix--a summer program of 18 tournaments in nine weeks. As in the professional Grand Prix circuit, players earn points and the top eight players in each age division are eligible for the Master’s Grand Prix Finals

--The Converse Junior Satellite Circuit--Open only to players who have not advanced beyond the third round of an open junior tournament. The satellite is designed for less talented players.

In addition, the SCTA plans an expansion into the public schools. It currently has independent recreation programs.

“It’s still in the planning stages,” Hillman said. “We want to put on assemblies in schools to show students what the sport of tennis is like. Then we come back and follow up. We tell them where they can go and sign up for tennis lessons.

“We’d also like to provide in-service tennis lessons for high school coaches. We’ll provide clinics and seminars. A lot of these guys just don’t have the experience.”

Hillman said he expects the program to be in place in May. Until then, the SCTA will continue along, providing free lessons, courts, tennis balls and even rackets. These, in turn, provide tournaments with the top juniors in the nation.

“I can’t tell you how we make it,” Hillman said. “We have literally hundreds of volunteers. We get so much help from the community. But we never turn down money--or old rackets, or ball machines, or nets. Anything, really. We’ve got to compete. Those kids in Florida are getting tough. “

Tennis Notes Vitas Gerulaitis, whose tennis game has dulled but whose wit is as sharp as ever, has said he intends to retire after the 1986 season. He was asked recently at a Los Angeles exhibition if there is life after tennis. “Being a professional tennis player really doesn’t prepare you for much in real life,” he answered. “You’re not learning a lot of calculus out on the tour. You learn a lot about how to make plane reservations and what’s the quickest way out of an airport.” . . . The Becker legend grows: Boris Becker can’t seem to do anything without attracting notice. Becker played on in a recent tournament in Europe, despite a death threat against him. In a tournament in London two weeks ago, Becker was leading Mike Leach when Leach was forced to default with an ankle injury. Becker assisted Leach off the court--by carrying Leach on his back. . . . ESPN will televise the Australian Open, starting Wednesday, and, in expanded tennis coverage, the cable network will present live coverage of the Davis Cup final between Sweden and West Germany. . . . The National Senior Hardcourt tournament will begin Monday at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. A favorite in the men’s 45-and-over singles is Gil Howard of Daly City. Other top-seeded players are Herman Ahlers of Dana Point, Ron Livingston of Newport Beach, Jack Darrah of Westlake Village, Len Saputo of Walnut Creek and Ed Kauder of Beverly Hills. Among the women, Marlene Johnston of Modesto and Linda Bucklin of San Francisco are top-seeded. Top teams in the National Hardcourt Father and Son Doubles, running at the same time, are Morton and Paul Fineman of San Diego, and Oscar and Jim Harper of La Jolla.