SPORTS NOTEBOOK:Tennis Center fixture Kramer honored by peers at event

Tennis legend recognized for his contributions to the sport: Jack Kramer has made many appearances at the Burbank Tennis Center over the years.

He was such a revered icon, in fact, that the facility used to hold the Jack Kramer Summer Junior Open Tennis Tournament every year.

On the 60th anniversary of his first U.S. singles championship, the International Tennis Hall of Fame saluted Kramer Saturday at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Kramer, who celebrated his 85th birthday Aug. 1, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1968. He enjoyed an unmatched and diverse career, including being a legendary player, promoter, innovator, leader, author and television commentator.

Emceeing the “Salute to Jack Kramer” was Tony Trabert, the president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and 1970 Hall of Famer. In addition, Hall of Famers Stan Smith, Vic Seixas, Dodo Cheney, Pancho Segura and Ken Rosewall were also in attendance.

At age 17, Kramer was the youngest person to play in the Davis Cup title round. From 1940-47, he ranked in the U.S. top 10 five times and was ranked No. 1 in the world in 1946 and ‘47, when he won an incredible 23 of 24 tournaments. Overall, he was a winner of 10 Grand Slam championships, including 13 U.S. singles and doubles titles.

From 1979-81, the Los Angeles Assn. of Tennis Professionals (now the Countrywide Classic) fundraiser event for the local United States Tennis Assn. Section, was known as the Jack Kramer Open, the only ATP event ever to be named for a player. For more than 30 years, Kramer â?” who also won the event seven times in singles and doubles â?” served as the event’s tournament director or referee.

In 1954, after being promoted as the power player of the century and holding the title of world’s professional tennis champion for seven consecutive years, Kramer switched roles, becoming a promoter.

Born in Las Vegas and raised in Los Angeles, Kramer was mentored by the equally legendary Perry T. Jones. Kramer was known as the father of open tennis. He devised the original Grand Prix concept for the sport in 1969 and in 1972, he was instrumental in forming the original ATP with Arthur Ashe, Donald Dell, Smith, Charlie Pasarell and others.

During his unparalleled career, Kramer won the prestigious Sullivan Award, appeared on the covers of numerous national magazines, and at the millennium, was selected by the Associated Press as one of the top 10 players of the 20th century.

The legendary Wilson tennis racquet that bore his name was the all-time best selling racquet with more than 30 million sold worldwide for more than 50 years.

A lifetime member of the USTA, Kramer now spends much of his time giving back to the game he loves by helping to raise funds for his USTA National Junior Tennis League Program in Southern California, as well as serving as president of the Pacific Southwest Youth Tennis Foundation.

In 2002, the USTA bestowed one of its highest honors on Kramer, who received the Spirit of American Tennis Award, and subsequently by the International Tennis Federation in Paris with its most prestigious honor, the Philippe Chatrier Award.

Kramer has been married for 64 years to his wife, Gloria. They have five sons and eight grandchildren.

Cho hoping to continue her tournament success: Christine Cho is finally starting to get back into the swing of things.

The 15-year-old girls’ golf standout and Crescenta Valley High student, who trains with Coach John Meyer at De Bell Municipal Golf Course, is finishing up a busy summer of tournament play.

On Saturday and Sunday she will take part in the Toyota Tour Cup Series Championship at the PGA of Southern California Golf Club Champions Course in Beaumont.

“Christine didn’t play a whole lot in the spring because she was working on her [Scholastic Assessment Test],” Meyer said. “But this summer she has been playing lots and lots of golf and she is progressing nicely.”

Cho has won two tournament championships and finished among the top five in three others since June.

“She wants to make CIF with CV this season,” Meyer said.

â?” Jeff Tully