TENNIS / DANA HADDAD : Malin Can Tell Pupils ‘Do as I Do’

Tennis coach Gene Malin should change the format of his lessons this week. He should abandon the hands-on instruction and simply have his students observe.

They should be courtside at the Westlake Tennis & Swim Club to watch Malin defend his 1993 titles in the U.S. Tennis Assn. National Men’s 45 Hard Court Championships.

The occasions are rare when Malin competes, but when he does he usually gives a clinic on how to play the game.

Last year, Malin, seeded No. 5, defeated No. 9 Cliff Price of Tulsa, Okla., 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, in the singles final.

Malin, of Woodland Hills, also captured the doubles championship when he and Eric Baer of Thousand Oaks defeated Dick Johnson and Gerry Perry from Missouri, 6-2, 7-5.

“I miss competition like crazy,” Malin said.

Some might think he is wasting his talent by coaching.

As a former touring pro who beat John Newcombe and Dick Stockton--and lost to Ilie Nastase and Stan Smith in close matches--Malin would figure to be one of the nation’s best 45-year-olds.

In 1980, his serve was clocked at 128 miles per hour. He was once ranked No. 76 in the world and he had success in doubles when he teamed with John Lloyd and Vince Van Patten.

“At this level, there’s nobody who’s going to blow me off the court,” Malin said of his amateur competition. “I can drill for a week and I’m in shape.”

But he doesn’t play often because coaching pays the bills. Senior age-group tournaments do not.

Consequently, Malin is a traveling tutor who teaches so that others might someday find a pot of gold on tour.

His students include Rita Maria Pichardo, the No. 1 women’s player from Cuba who defected last October, and Prakash Amritraj, son of Vijay Amritraj--a prominent player on the world scene in the 1970s.

One would expect Amritraj to coach his son, but, evidentially, he has found a better man.

“Vijay liked my philosophy and he liked my drills,” Malin said. “He thinks I’m one of the best coaches around.”

And Malin is still one of the best players in his age group. He’s seeded No. 2 in the 64-player draw at the national tournament, despite being the defending champion. He lost only one set in five matches last year.

Brian Cheney of Chandler, Ariz. earned the No. 1 seeding because he is, at No. 2, the highest nationally ranked player in the tournament. No. 1-ranked Robin Ray of Newport Beach didn’t enter. Malin is not ranked by the USTA because he doesn’t play enough.

But Malin is picking up where he left off. He defeated Chuck White of Moss Beach, 6-1, 6-2, in the opening round and beat Michael Walters of Anaheim, 6-3, 6-4, in Wednesday’s second round.

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Large local contingent: One-fourth the draw at the national 45s event are players from this area. Of the 16 who entered, eight advanced past the first round.

Besides Malin, Ray Kwong (Canoga Park), Tom Wire (Westlake Village), Art Santilli (Camarillo), Craig Fugle (Ojai), Jim Robinson (Simi Valley), Peter Austin (Studio City) and Barry Savin (Camarillo) were winners.

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Zone team advances: The Southern California team led by Coach Wayne Bryan and twin sons Mike and Bob Bryan of Camarillo on Wednesday advanced to the semifinals of the USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16 Intersectional Team Championships.

Mike Bryan defeated Ken Hutz, 6-1, 6-4, and Bob Bryan defeated Mike Guillford, 6-0, 6-1, in Southern California’s 6-3 victory over Middle States at Piedmont Oaks Tennis Club in Shreveport, La.

In doubles, Bob Bryan and Kevin Kim beat Hutz and Ted Reuger, 6-1, 6-2. In mixed doubles, Guillford and Holly Parkinson beat Mike Bryan and Faye DeVera, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Southern California finished 3-0 in pool play with earlier victories against Pacific Northwest (7-2) and Hawaii (9-0).

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Opportunity knocks: The Conejo Recreation and Park District is accepting resumes for a tennis pro position at Triunfo Park in Westlake Village. The district hires tennis pros as independent contractors.

Applicants, who must have previous teaching experience and membership in the U.S. Professional Tennis Assn. or the U.S. Professional Tennis Registry, are encouraged to submit proposals by July 31.

Information: Kevin Lukes, 805-495-4674.