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World tennis elite, unrecognized in Bali
Ever think of tennis as being a social equalizer?
San Francisco’s Tom Brown did. This legendary player and Wimbledon finalist was well known as a spinner of tales relating to travel and his sport.
“I remember waltzing into a big hotel in Bali,” he once told me. “I was not staying there. It was too fancy for me, a high rise, with a beautiful swimming pool and golf course, and two clay tennis courts which were very nicely kept.
I tried my ‘Do you give private lessons trick?’ and it turned out to be a delightful day. The pro, a little fellow about 5’5″, didn’t play badly at all.
“When we were through he asked me ‘Why you hit so many balls to my backhand?’ ‘Because you run more that way,’ I replied, ‘and it was a pleasure for me to see you run.’ He smiled, and we made a date to play again the next day.
“On that Bali trip, I even became friendly with the golfers on the adjacent course. One of my tennis balls flew over onto the golf course. ‘We’re missing a tennis ball,’ I said to a passing golfer….