My Beginnings

The 4th of July when I was three years old—almost 4. The year was 1935.

I was born in 1931 in my grandmother’s house in a village about 30 minutes outside of New York City that was called North Pelham at the time. It was a natural birth, but I’ve been told that it wasn’t an easy delivery. Guess I started out as a bit of a challenge, and I’m damn sure I’ll go out the same way.

My sister Rita told me that I was born early in the morning, and I think my natural habit of being an early riser is due to that delivery time. To this day, I am up at 5:45 a.m. I do my stretching and 50 sit-ups, work out with light weights at the gym or my “office” at IMG Academy. It used to be an old metal desk next to one of the courts at the indoor tennis center, but my staff recently surprised me with a new one. I then begin my duties at 7. I don’t eat breakfast, but I always seem to have energy to burn.

My grandmother’s two-story house was large enough to accommodate both of our families….