GRAND CHAMPIONS TENNIS AT RANCHO SAN CLEMENTE : Former Champions Are a Step Slower, a Bit Less Intense

At the first glimpse of Colin Dibley’s hat it’s apparent that this isn’t Wimbledon.

Dibley wore the white Australian-cum-Texan cowboy hat that said “G’Day Mate,” while losing to Tim Gullikson in the first round of the Prudential-Bache Grand Champions event Thursday at the Rancho San Clemente Tennis and Fitness Club.

Dibley and Gullikson are two of the 12 former tennis champions in the event, which matches players 35 and over.

The tour stops at nine U.S. cities on the way to the championship final beginning Nov. 29 in Boca Raton, Fla. This event, which continues through Sunday, is the last before Boca Raton.

Despite the low-key atmosphere pervading the competition, the players--who qualify by having won a Grand Slam event, played Davis Cup, been ranked No. 1 in his country or having made at least $1 million in career prize money--say the competition is far from lackadaisical.

Most of the players are at least a step slower than they were in their prime. But because they all are over 35, the competition is often intense.

“We still like to win,” said Hank Pfister, who defeated Jaime Fillol 6-4, 6-4, Thursday.

Pfister said he tells people the game of the players on the Grand Champions tour is reduced five to 10% from what it once was.

“That five to 10% will take you out of the match every time,” said Pfister, 36, who has earned more than $35,000 on the tour this year.

The purse, which totals $460,000 for the entire tour, isn’t that large. The money is supplemental income for the players, many of whom are coaches or touring professionals. They see it as bonus that allows them to continue competing.

Gullikson said the players have to play for their own satisfaction now.

“You can’t play because you think a lot of people care that you still are playing because they don’t,” he said.

“We’re not trying to prove to each other that we are better. We have done that in the past,” said Fillol, who helped Chile to the Davis Cup final in 1976.

Among the top players are Bob Lutz of San Clemente, who teamed with Stan Smith to win the U.S. Open doubles title four times, and John Lloyd, who with Wendy Turnbull won two Wimbledon mixed doubles championships.

The tournament continues today with singles matches starting at 1 p.m.

Lutz will play Dick Stockton at 1 p.m. Following that, Lloyd will play the winner of Jose Higueras nd Sherwood Stewart. In the final match of the afternoon session, Pfister will play Kim Warwick.

Tonight at 7, Gullikson will play Sandy Mayer, followed by a doubles match between Lloyd-Stockton and Ross Case-Higueras.