"Spin Shot Scott" Fulfills a Bucket List Dream...

 Every tennis player who plays with heart and passionately loves the sport must make a pilgrimage to Newport, Rhode Island.  The game that has enhanced my joy of life was made to  be played on a lawn. Having played hard courts at Seattle Pacific University and Peking University and on clay at my 2 clubs in St. Augustine, Florida (Atlantic Beach & Tennis Club and Harbour Island Tennis Center), experiencing play on grass for the first time in my life at the International Tennis Hall of Fame fulfilled a memorable "bucket list" dream. 

I finally got to see how my notorious spin shots bounce on grass and gained a much deeper appreciation for watching the pros at Wimbledon every summer. Aside from the fascinating racquets, trophies, and tennis memorabilia,... the Hall of Fame Museum was also an inspirational highlight because I got a closer look at legends of the past like Rafael Osuna and Manuel Santana; pros who were famous for spins and drop shots before I was born.  The videos of these enshrined stars Hall of Famers flashed back into my mind the next day when I felt possessed during a men's clinic on the Hall of Fame Club Courts making shots I couldn't believe myself.  That's a thrill you can seldom get from any other activity in life; when you get into a groove playing sports such as tennis.

Between the Museum and Stadium Court is the Legends Walk where I immediately noticed  a commemorative brick dedicated to Françoise Dürr, who I've been told by tennis coaches has the same unique racquet grip that I use. I was so delighted to see another tennis fan appreciate the same master player, who you don't hear about often on television any more, donate a brick in her name. The Legends Walk also has bricks from others for whom tennis is a major part of their lifestyle.

I've had opportunities to buy bricks elsewhere in the world and never did it.  A brick at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, where legends like Stan Smith and Rod Laver walk alongside avid fans of the game I love so much, means the most to me. My nickname, "Spin Shot Scott", and Chinese name will be seen by people I've enjoyed playing against from Canada to Canton, China as well as every other tennis fanatic who follows my footsteps to the sacred turf.

~ Hall of Fame Member James Scott Black, "Spin Shot Scott"

"4 All Tennis Has Given Me"

Gina Rose Genovese

This is the inscription on the brick that Gina Genovese has placed on the Hall of Fame's Legend's Walk.  Gina considers herself very fortunate to have had tennis in her life.  As a matter of fact, the game ultimately shaped her life.  Once ranked as high as 150 in the world, she started playing tennis when she was 16 and played on the pro circuit in 1980 - 1981. Gina was fortunate enough to realize that tennis has so much to offer and, in her case, the game has led her to happiness.  In 1983, she opened Gina's Tennis World in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.  She tells us that she always dreamed of owning a club so this is her dream come true and it really is "her world".

Gina has coached nationally ranked players and continues to teach at her club. She tells us that she loves finding an excuse to come to Newport to visit the Hall of Fame to explore the rich history of the sport. She has brought many of her students and friends to visit also.  "It is really special to walk through the Museum where you can see the evolution of the racquet, fashions and all aspects of the game. With each visit I always leave feeling so much more in touch with how far we have come."

Gina is constantly reminded what tennis has done for her and she is happy to give something back by supporting the Hall of Fame. She has been a Member for 8 years and this year she also decided to permanently make her mark at the Hall of Fame with a brick on The Legends Walk. In her words, "4 All Tennis Has Given Me".
 

 The Raissi Family Celebrates their love for Tennis with a Brick on The Legends Walk  

Our family has a special love for the game of tennis. Over the years, we have developed an understanding of the game and the challenges created by its physical and mental aspects. For us, the game has created a sense of self confidence and sportsmanship as well as bringing us total enjoyment. 

Our involvement with the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is deeply rooted and dates back decades. It began with  volunteering and has progressed to playing on the grass courts, meeting great people, training with the pros and ultimately becoming Members. There is a very special feeling that comes with the excitement of the induction ceremonies, and attending the tennis tournaments and being part of other events. 

Our love for the game has allowed our children, Parsa & Sepehr, to be exposed to the sport and to understand the concept of giving back to an organization like the Hall of Fame. They began playing tennis when they were 5 and have been volunteering as ball kids since 2005. This has provided them with wonderful, lasting childhood memories. 

The ITHF is a center of excellence for tennis education and training.  It is an organization that we are proud to support to ensure that it remains a landmark for tennis enthusiasts, supporters, players, legends and and inspiration for the future of tennis. We are committed to its goals and growth, as it provides a fun environment for our family, as well as for many other tennis lovers right here in our beautiful state of RI. 

Our brick on The Legends Walk symbolizes how we feel about the game. It is dedicated to our family as a token of the love we share for the sport, while affording us the opportunity to support the Hall of Fame. We are honored to have a permanent remembrance in a place where so many past legends have and will walk. - Mo Raissi, ITHF Member

Doyle retired two years ago, after 28 years as the tennis pro at the Keene Country Club. A certified tennis teaching pro through the U.S. Professional Tennis Association, she coached at Monadnock from 1978-90 and with Judy Dubriske at Keene High for the last eight years. Doyle teaches at the Keene Racquet Club and coaches three women's teams. She still plays and plays well, teaming with Spicher during the Championships to win the women's doubles title with a 7-6, 6-2 victory over Kay Sherman and Bobbie Nyland of Peterborough.

SentinelSource.com, The Keene Sentinel, NH - Excerpt from Brick & Breaks, Published: Sept. 21, 2010