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From: The Racketeer 41, May 2001

Lethal Spin [5]

by Frank Raistrick

Heroes
Most people interested in tennis have their idols. My first one was Pancho Gonzales - shows my age! He was an unlikely hero, surly with a face hewn out of granite, but his determination and will-to-win were supreme. I had the privilege of being a linesman when he played Frank Sedgeman at the old Ice Stadium and one of the first calls - not mine - was quiet and the players didn't hear it. Pancho addressed us all.

'Look fellers - you going to make some mistakes - I'm going to make some mistakes. That doesn't matter - just shout out loud so we all know what's going on.' The next call was deafening and a bleak smile played on his lips. It didn't last though, and after a vital double fault cost him a game he walked over to me and I thought he was going to clobber me with his racquet, but instead he smashed it on a stanchion.

I had a very cheap racquet at the time myself and I dared to ask him to give it to me next time, but he ignored me.

He had the best service I've ever seen - they had no timer then, but he rarely lost it, and it flew like a rocket even though he only seemed to lean on it.

My next hero was the exact opposite, always playing with a smile on his face. John Newcombe - the ladies swooned! I remember him being interviewed on TV immediately after losing the Men's Final at Wimbledon, to Rod Laver, and he was asked what his immediate plans were. 'To break Laver's left arm,' he said. I read his incredible unexpurgated autobiography, and the things he and his friend and doubles partner, Tony Roche got up to when they shared a flat in the King's Road would burn the pages of Andy's respected organ. I don't know what his wife thought of it.

My current favourite is Martina Hingis, although I know some people don't like her - including my friend Cynthia. The Swiss girl, too plays the game with a smile most of the time, and to see this small, feminine figure doing battle with the modern six-foot plus Amazons like Venus, Serena, Lindsey and Amelie is thrilling. She seems to have slipped lately and is lucky still to be world number one, her service suffering in comparison, but she is a coach's dream, always balanced for the next shot.

Mixed teams
Mapperley Park Mixed teams have had a successful winter. The first team recovered well from a traumatic start, and a fortuitous win over champions Attenborough, banished any thoughts of relegation. The visitors turned up thirty-five minutes late, and conceded thirty-six games, which proved too much for them. They appealed to the League Committee as they were held up by roadworks and an accident, which weren't their fault, but the rules state that it is a club's responsibility to arrive on time, and Mapperley were within their rights.

Thanks to their win against powerful Musters A, the second team win promotion again, runners-up to Woodthorpe B.

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