SUPER SENIORS : They’re Courting Fame Playing on Tennis Tour

Bill Conel, 77, of Oceanside can’t wait to hit 80. Actually, 79 would be fine. Bill Seidel of La Jolla had quite a celebration on his 79th birthday last October.

They are among the top local players on the Super Seniors tennis tour, which has divisions for ages 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 and 85. However, players are eligible to play in their next age group 12 months before that birthday.

Seidel and Conel are typical tour members--they retired relatively early, have financial security, have been good tennis players for years, and were never pros.

“Bill (Conel) was probably the top 75-year-old in the world,” said Seidel, a friend and rival on the senior circuit. “But some new kids came on the block, and now he’s probably No. 2. The players get better all the time. That’s why you have to make your fame that first year.”

Conel was ranked No. 1 as a 70-year-old in 1980 and as a 75-year-old in 1985. In 1980, he won 20 of 22 tournaments. In 1985, he won 18 tournaments--including two nationals--and 50 consecutive matches, during which he lost only three sets. This year, he is No. 2 in the 75-year-old division behind Paul Peavy of Cape Cod, Mass.

“I’ll play less and less until I’m 80 (actually 79),” Conel said. “Then I’ll go gung-ho. I’m looking forward to making a good showing in the 80s.”

Seidel, who said he played in the first Super Senior tournament as a 55-year-old, has been ranked in the top 20 in singles in a number of divisions. He missed a good part of last season with bronchitis and is ranked No. 26 in 75s singles. Seidel and 78-year-old Hugh Weckerly of San Diego were ranked No. 1 in doubles in the 70s in 1981 and 75s in 1985. They are currently ranked sixth in 75s doubles.

“This is my first year to play in the 80s,” said Seidel, who recently won the singles title in the first 80s tournament he entered. “I have to make my mark.”

These players choose their tournaments carefully, get lots of rest, watch their diets and avoid playing in the heat as much as possible.

But they do play a lot of tennis. Both Seidel and Conel play four to five times a week. Last year, Conel played in 22 tournaments and Seidel averaged that many before he was sidelined.

Both Seidel and Conel will compete in the National Hardcourt Senior championships at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club May 5-10. Conel is the defending 75s champion.

Conel and Seidel also have been selected to a six-man, 75-and-over team that will represent the United States against a Pan-European team in London June 22-23. Conel was selected because of his high ranking, and Seidel--who also has a national reputation--was asked to play when someone dropped out.

“Ability to pay your own way over helped,” Seidel said.

When it comes to prize money, the Super Seniors is not a lucrative tour like the Seniors Golf Tour. Prizes are “mostly something of very little value,” Conel said.

They used to win cups and trophies, and gold balls for victories in national tournaments. Now, there is some prize money--around $50 to $250, with the amount diminishing as the players advance in age.

“I like winning money,” Conel said. “You can do something with it. Cups gather dust.”

Seidel shook his head and said: “I don’t care much for it (winning money).”

Bobby Riggs (No. 1 in the 65 singles) and Gardnar Mulloy (No. 1 in 70s) are the only two former professionals on the tour. In a match between Riggs and Conel at the Vista Tennis Club about a month ago, Riggs won easily.

“Let’s say I didn’t get many games,” Conel said. “He’s much younger. Eight, nine years younger. He moves better than I do.”

This is a competitive circuit. Don’t let the gray hair and the cocktail parties before tournaments fool you.

“Just because these are old guys, it doesn’t mean they’re not competitive,” Conel said.

Said Seidel: “You would think, at our ages, you wouldn’t get nervous and tighten up, but we get nervous just like young people.”

The seniors tour is filled primarily with base-liners, but their strokes are hard, and volleys are crisp.

“There is probably a little more strategy and placing of the ball than hard hitting,” Weckerly said, “but it’s not pitty-pat. It’s a tough game.”

Said Conel: “Occasionally, I have visions of grandeur and I serve and volley. I’ll poop my serve and come in behind it, much to my regret.”

Asked if umpires are necessary for the semifinal and final matches of tournaments, Conel said, “Not so much for the line calling. We always play a lot of out balls which are within two to three inches of being in. We need umpires for the scorekeeping. We forget the score.”

But they rarely forget a match. Seidel remembers only too well his rivalry against Conel. Conel has won all six singles matches against Seidel.

“We don’t usually have tough matches,” Seidel said. “He’s in very good shape. He runs well and moves effortlessly.”

Seidel and Conel first met about 15 years ago. Or something like that.

“I can’t remember the first time we met,” said Conel, laughing. “It must have been a memorable occasion.”

They were roommates on an East Coast swing through Boston, East Providence and Charlottesville, Va., in 1980.

Conel says he is tiring of the travel to the East Coast, where most of the national tournaments are held, and he plans to concentrate on playing more tournaments on the West Coast. But Seidel, whose wife died 12 years ago, enjoys meeting old friends in such scenic locales as Newport, R.I., and Boston.

“These are social events as well as tournaments,” Seidel said. “I wouldn’t go to play with just a lot of jocks, but most of the people playing have accomplished something in their life.”

Seidel was on the tennis team at George Washington University when players wore long white ducks, and tennis balls were bought in a paper sack. He was a dental officer in the Navy for 31 years before he retired at 62 in 1969. After spending most of his life traveling the world, Seidel moved to La Jolla when he retired.

Like Seidel, Conel has spent a good part of his life traveling. Conel estimates he has been to 100 countries and has played tennis in most of them.

Conel began his career as a banker and, after 25 years, left to run the Retail Merchant Credit Assn. of Los Angeles.

When he was 59, he decided to retire in order to travel and play more tennis than just his regular weekend doubles game.

“He devoted himself very seriously to his business,” said Georgia, his wife of 53 years. “He was as serious about his job as he now is about tennis.”

Conel--a model of health despite an addiction to cigarettes from the ages of 17 to 23--started playing tennis seriously when he entered his first national tournament at 68. He reached the finals of the Hard Court 65s.

Conel, who remembers having tennis elbow once about 40 years ago, underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee when he was 69. He hit his tennis peak one year later. Suddenly, Conel’s slices, drop shots and overall court savvy resulted in a streak of victories and a top ranking.

“Tennis has always been my one main sport,” said Conel. “A lot of tennis players play golf. I’ve never played a round of golf.”

And he liked film-making even more than tennis. The Conels produced travel films until two years ago. Throughout his 60s, Conel spent as much time splicing film as slicing forehands.

“Bill can play another 10 years at least,” Seidel said.

“I just hope to do well in the 80s,” Conel said.

“You probably will,” Seidel said. “You’re skinny. How’s your blood pressure?”

“Good,” Conel said. “How long are you going to play?”

“I think I’ll play another three or four years,” Seidel said.

“That’s all?” Conel asked. “You’ll be playing longer than that.”