The Life and Times of Art “Tappy” Larsen

Art Larsen: fascinating–and a U.S. Champion.

From the time I met him, I was fascinated by Art Larsen. I first played him – an unknown American “hope” from San Francisco–in an early round of an eastern grass court tournament. I gave him a very bad beating.

In the dressing room after the match he had disgustedly packed his bags and announced he was going home. “I’m going to return my expense money to the Association,” he declared, ‘I’ll never make a tennis player.”

“Hold on kid,” I said. “That’s no way to talk. All right, so you’ve had a beating. But you played very well.”

“Like hell I did,” he groaned.

“Sure you did,” I said. “Very well for your first game on grass.”

“Yeah, I know,” Art said. “But the guys back West aren’t here to listen to you.”

“So you think you’ve let down your Association,” I countered. “Nuts!” I replied. “The officials don’t expect you to return waving a flag full of battle honors on your first tour playing the big tournaments.”

“C’mon snap out of it. In a year or two you’ll be a great player,” I concluded My calculated mix of flattery and argument work…