TENNIS / DANA HADDAD : Rom Isn’t Homeless if He’s On the Court

As a tennis player, John Rom is a problem solver. He tenaciously goes about finding weaknesses in his opponents during matches.

Then Rom exploits those faults. He looks for an opening, then attacks. He usually wins.

Off the court, Rom, 18, has shown similar resourcefulness. Not by choice, however.

The Roms have had hardships in the past, and the roof over John’s head has not always been made of wood.

When he travels to big events--such as this year’s USTA Junior Nationals in Kalamazoo, Mich., in August--he usually needs financial help.

Rom was Pierce College’s No. 2 singles player as a freshman last season--ranked sixth in the state for much of the season. He finished 16th in the Rolex Intercollegiate Tennis Rankings.

His coach, Paul Xanthos, said Rom and his father once lived in a car because health problems left his father unable to work.

Today the Roms live in a Van Nuys apartment and get by, but out-of-town events are a luxury.

“I can empathize,” said Xanthos, whose family had little money when they moved to the United States from Greece during his childhood.

“I could never afford a new tennis racket. I had to work for everything. But John’s one of the top eight (18-and-under) juniors in Southern California. And, because he was ranked sixth in the state in junior college through most of the season, I certainly think he deserves a chance.

“I certainly hope he gets to go and I’ll be pulling for him. I watched him grow up on those Pierce courts. I hope he gets the backing.”

Xanthos is not the only person in Rom’s corner. Some top-name local coaches have volunteered to tutor him.

Perhaps stronger testimony to Rom’s potential, the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy sent him to its Bradenton, Fla., facility and gave him a year’s worth of free training and education.

Somebody once said that 50% of success is just showing up. In John Rom’s case, it’s about 90%.

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One step closer: For years, Xanthos and Steve Starleaf have been intrigued by what they perceive to be a vast reservoir of tennis talent--yet untapped--at the east end of the Valley.

And the idea of building a tennis academy in Burbank has taken them to the Burbank City Council--master plan in hand--for the second time.

In 1990, their proposal to build a tennis resort in the foothills was rejected by a 3-2 vote of the Council.

So Xanthos, 72, went back to coaching at Pierce and Starleaf, 36, returned to private tutoring. They also went to work on a new plan, which the Council approved, 5-0, two weeks ago.

The resort scheme scrapped, Xanthos and Starleaf presented a plan to take over all tennis facilities and create new programs for the Burbank Parks and Recreation Department.

“They’ve basically approved the whole concept,” said Starleaf, who played at Burbank High and is now an assistant coach for the Bulldog boys’ team.

“The terms of a lease, monthly rent and the number of years on the contract needs to be worked out,” he said. “But we’re trying to work out (an agreement) where we could start temporarily. We need to get the Paul Xanthos Tennis Academy going.”

Starleaf, who played for Xanthos at Pierce, said the deal is a partnership with the district. Starleaf will manage the business end; Xanthos will serve as tennis director.

Headquarters will be McCambridge Park, where a tennis center with a pro shop, snack bar and refurbished courts will be built. Xanthos will train a staff of five or six teaching pros, and 40 hours of private, semi-private and group lessons will be offered each week.

The two plan to conduct six tournaments a year, including two satellite tour events that would offer prizes of $5,000 to $10,000 for fringe professionals.

Starleaf said they have a strong financial backer in Carlo Sarmiento, who owns a moving and storage business based in Burbank.

Starleaf also said Xanthos’ involvement should make this a low-risk venture--that people will jump at the opportunity to learn from a coach who is being nominated by his peers for induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame next year. In turn, said Starleaf, Xanthos will cultivate a strong tennis community in Burbank.

With the academy, Xanthos and Starleaf plan a multitiered program from weekly packages without room and board to a summer-long package that would include boarding. The center also will offer camps during the school year.

Xanthos will have a complete program to train coaches. But perhaps most significant, Starleaf and Xanthos hope to get corporate sponsorship for six weeks of lessons for underprivileged youths in the area.

Starleaf said the Burbank Tennis Center should be operating Sept. 1. But then again, he’s not taking anything for granted.

“Paul and I were close and lost something three years ago,” he said. “But this is real solid.”

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The United States Tennis Assn. National Men’s 45 Hardcourt championships will begin Monday at the Westlake Tennis and Swim Club, 32250 W. Triunfo Canyon Road, Westlake Village. Finals will be July 18. The event is one of four national surface tournaments for the age group. Admission is free.