Emerson sets sights on Spokane

In Roy Emerson’s years as a globe-trotting tennis star and an in-demand instructor he has never been to the Inland Northwest.

He’s checking off another destination on his travel log this weekend during a special event at the Spokane Racquet Club on the South Hill.

“If I’ve never been to a place before, I’m always interested in going,” the Hall of Famer said. “That’s one reason to do it, definitely.”

Emerson, 71, who won a male-record 28 Grand Slam titles, will conduct four 90-minute clinics Saturday and preside over a doubles match that includes SRC pro Steve Clark before dinner.

“It doesn’t matter how much tennis you play, you can always pick up a few pointers,” Emerson said in an interview from his home in Huntington Beach, Calif. “Hopefully, I can relate to some of them and they can pick up on a few points. Hopefully, it will improve their game.

“Anything involved with tennis I enjoy. It’s been a big part of my life. If I didn’t play tennis, I’d be back in Australia milking cows.”

Emerson won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 in doubles (with five different partners) and is the only male to win both in all four Grand Slam events – the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.

All the singles titles, a record eventually broken by Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, were won prior to 1968, when the open era of professional competition began.

“The Grand Slams I won, there wasn’t a million dollars,” he said. “It was just a nice trophy, a silver plate or something and the honor of winning it. I had to keep working while everyone else retired.”

He won his last Slam in 1971, Wimbledon doubles, and was also on a record eight Davis Cup-winning teams.

Emerson moved his family to Huntington Beach when he turned professional in 1968 because his friend, rival and countryman Rod Laver lived there.

“We planned to be here two years and it extended to 40 years,” he said. “There are more opportunities.”

He believes tennis is in good shape and enjoys the game, with one caveat.

“I think tennis is very healthy fan-wise,” he said. “The crowds are quite incredible at all the majors.

“The style of tennis has changed, particularly with the equipment. That’s made it a lot faster game. I enjoy watching Federer play – I like his all-court play. (Rafael) Nadal is quite a scrapper.

“I’d like to see some of them come to the net just a bit more. Everyone plays with two hands on the backhand side, playing mostly every point from the baseline. A little more variety would be enjoyable, but it’s certainly a high-powered game in today’s tennis.”

The clinic and exhibition are open to spectators, but to participate in a clinic the cost is $100 and the dinner is $80. Opportunities for eight different people to play on the court with Emerson (15 minutes as his partner, 15 with Clark) will be auctioned during the dinner.

This is the second annual special event at the tennis club, according to Rich Johnson, president of the board of directors.

Last year they brought in Vic Brayden, considered one of the top instructors.

“We came up with this idea a year ago and had six to eight weeks to put it together. It turned out great,” Johnson said. “This year we’ve been working on it all year. I’m not sure how we’ll top this next year, but we will.”