US Open...Last And First Recollections

Forty-five years ago, the US Open transitioned. It moved from an exclusive tree-lined neighborhood with homes that showcased magnificent Colonial Revival style architecture to the fourth largest park in New York City, an area that had been wetlands, and was a 29-minute, six-mile drive away.

Looking back, I have a medley of memories from the last year at the Westside Tennis Club and the first year at Flushing Meadow (which didn't become Meadows until an "s" mysteriously appeared sometime after the tournament began at its new location), Corona Park in Queens, New York.

Following the 1977 tournament, the relationship between the venerable and exclusive West Side Tennis Club, in Forest Hills, New York that had been the cathedral of the US National Championships, (which became the US Open in 1968), came to an end after 62 years.

William "Slew" Hester Jr., the incoming United States Tennis Association President, spotted an enormous expanse of land, blanketed in snow, as he was about to land at New York's La Guardia Airport in January 1977. It was just across the boardwalk from Shea Stadium, where the New York Mets played baseball and the Jets football games took place. Regrettably, the Singer Bowl/Louis Armstrong Stadium was in disrepair...

Guillermo Vilas after his victory.

Guillermo Vilas became the first Argentinian to win Forest Hills (a.k.a. the US Open) which was played on Har-Tru ( green clay) for the third consecutive year. He battled past Jimmy Connors of the US, 2-6, 6-3,7-6, 6-0 in the Men's Singles trophy round. Chris Evert of the US claimed her third consecutive Women's Singles title, downing Wendy Turnbull of Australia, 7-6, 6-2.

The doubles provided a Forest Hills closing "Double Double." In the Men's final, Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillian of South Africa demolished Brian Gottfried and Raúl Ramírez, the US-Mexico duo, 6-4, 6-0. The Women's championship drew more attention not because three US players were in the bidding for a Slam, but because Renée (French for "Reborn...") Richards had sued the USTA to gain entry in the tournament then teamed with Betty Ann Stuart and lost the final, 6-1, 7-6, to Martina Navratilova and Betty Stöve of the Netherlands. McMillian and Stöve finished the finals' "Double" escaping with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 Mixed decision over Vitas Gerulaitis and Billie Jean King of the US.

Renée Richards and Betty Ann Stuart.

William "Slew" Hester Jr.

Hester, a bear of a man in size, spoke with a charming slow-Southern accent that was character actor worthy. He had a captivating personality, and, as it turned out, was a visionary... A successful oil investment executive, and an outstanding tennis player, he managed to convince New York City officials that the Louis Armstrong Stadium and surrounding land would be the ideal new home for the US Open.

The initial ten-million-dollar investment fostered by the cigar smoking libation loving Jackson, Mississippi, resident turned the site of the 1964 World's Fair into a major tennis venue featuring the 20,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium, (the largest in tennis at the time), an adjoining 6,000 seat Grandstand, and 22 field courts.

The horseshoe stadium at Forest Hills, when grass was the competitive surface, had enough space for three courts so the feature match court could be alternated to limit surface wear. (When Har-Tru was installed, there was only one court.) With a tad over 13,500 seating capacity, the arena was deemed too small for a tournament of the magnitude of the US Open. In its final year, 218,480 people attended the championships.

At its inaugural performance, 275, 300 spectators passed through the Flushing Meadow gates.

Corrado Barazzutti watches Jim Connors "tidy" the court. Photo ilGiornale.it/figcaption>

In a Men's semifinal, Jimmy Connors was in true "Jimbo Form" against Corrado Barazzutti. The unseeded Italian challenged a line call claiming the shot was out, but before the chair umpire could extricate himself from his seat to check if the ball was, indeed, wide of the sideline, Connors scurried around the net, went to the mark, and rubbed it out with one of his "kicks..." The No. 2 seed went on to win the testy clash, 7-5, 6-3, 7-5.

Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Hester promised that the Louis Armstrong Stadium facility would be ready to host the 1978 US Open and it was...barely. Around the grounds, there was still scaffolding to dodge when the tournament began on August 28th... and landscaping was nonexistent. When criticized about the "Still Under Construction Look", Hester, in character, responded... "If people want tradition, I'll plant some ivy."

Westside Tennis Club's Clubhouse.

One of the highlights for me was standing in front of the Westside Tennis Club's Tudor design clubhouse on an afternoon during the tournament's second week. I was talking with Tony Trabert, the International Tennis Hall of Famer, and Pat Summerall, the ex-New York Giants football star, who were the CBS commentators for the US Open television coverage. Dick Savitt, the 1951 Australian and Wimbledon winner, was with us. Richards, a highly successful ophthalmologist who had been known as Richard Raskind, approached us after entering through the clubhouse gate.

Having been a top intercollegiate tennis player at Yale University and good enough to play Forest Hills, in her pre-transition days, she sued the USTA to be able to participate in the 1977 tournament. Judge Alfred Ascione's declaration, "This person is now a female", earned her draw spots in both Women's events.

Richards moved leisurely down the line, visiting with Tony, who introduced me before she moved to Pat. After finishing each chat, she dispensed an "air" kiss. Dick, who was last in line, watched what was taking place and began doing his version of "The Brooklyn Shuffle" (which would become "more" famous when the movie "Saturday Night Fever" was released in December) away from the group. Renée, a delightful conversationalist and keenly observant, upon seeing the escape attempt...caught up with Savitt, took him by the shoulders and gave him a "Got You..." embrace... that left him completely flummoxed.

Almost every afternoon prior to the dinner hour, Hester could be found sitting in a booth at "Slew's Place", the restaurant/bar named for him that was one of the "New Look" Open features. Appearing to know many of those who walked past, he spent time regaling them with an analysis of the day's play.

He had a warm relationship with Trabert. And because of the friendship, when time allowed before an evening television broadcast, Trabert, (often with Summerall), would visit Slew's. It was a comfortable escape, offering a chance to relax, and enjoy being himself because "Slew" was the show.

Trabert regularly gave me an "If you are free..." heads up to join him...which was like being invited to attend sessions of "UN Tennis."

Slew simply being Slew...held court while "Major Names in the Game" made visitations... which was another reason why the ambience at Slew's Place was unique and very special.

John McEnroe, who had reached The Championships semifinals as a qualifier earlier in the summer, made his Forest Hills debut at 18. His third-round night match against Eddie Dibbs, the No. 9 seed, was filled with New York "action" (It must be remembered that these were the days and nights of "Son of Sam".) The contest was interrupted by a gunshot that was fired outside the grounds.

I remember watching the contest, hearing the noise, and immediately ducking my head...completely forgetting that doing so wouldn't have mattered... later learning that the bullet had already wounded a spectator. Being a Douglaston native, McEnroe was inured to New York "Turmoil". For Dibbs, who was known as "Fast Eddie", losing 6-2, 4-6. 6-4 mattered, but not as much as getting out of there quickly and... alive. Manuel Orantes of Spain, the No. 5 seed defeated McEnroe, 6-2, 6-3 in the next round.

Fourteen-year old, Tracy Austin played the Women's Singles for the first time, and by reaching the quarterfinals, where she lost to Stöve, the No. 5 seed, 6-2, 6-2, she became the youngest player ever to make the Last 8 at a major.

Mention of the 1978 US Open brings to mind the flooding that took place. There was so much rain that, at times, it would have been practical to visit the locker room beneath Louis Armstrong Stadium wearing scuba gear. Because of its previous "marsh" history, along with the fact that construction had just been completed, the drainage system wasn't up to the task of handling the deluge...Going on a meet a photographer friend I realized that the bottoms of many of the storage lockers were under water, and a good amount of equipment had been damaged or destroyed.

Michael Fishbach with his "Spaghetti Strung" racquet.

Michael Fishbach has special "Look Back" status. He was a journeyman, yet earned a place in the game's history when he debuted a double-strung racquet at the Forest Hills. It allowed him to put excessive spin on shots. Australian Barry Phillips-Moore was the first to use the "Spaghetti Strung" racquet, (invented by German horticulturalist Werner Fischer in 1971), at Roland Garros in 1977. Fishbach, a qualifier, surprised a US duo...Billy Martin, 6-1, 7-5 then No. 16 seed Stan Smith, 6-0, 6-2. John Feaver of Great Britain, who admitted that the ball coming off his opponent's racquet seemed to look like it was an egg, finally ended Fishbach's "Double-Strung" run, 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the third round. The International Tennis Federation banned the stringing approach in 1978.

Tony Trabert, Mark Winters, Tournament Director, Bill Talbert and Pat Summerall entering the grounds on the first day of the 1978 US Open.

The move to Flushing Meadow was like having been a college student living in a dorm room for years, then finishing school and taking up residence in a home. It was "freeing". Having covered the US Open in the confines of the West Side Tennis Club, the new site was spacious. Initially, it seemed that a map would be needed to keep from getting lost walking the grounds.

The multi-level press center tower at Louis Armstrong Stadium dwarfed the West Side Tennis Club's media area. Reached by climbing stairs or using the two occasionally balky elevators, it was massive. In the room, there were descending rows of writing desks. That weren't actual desks, but rows and rows of what looked like long wooden tables filling the space... For seats there were what seemed to be former wooden barstools that were backless and not very comfortable.

At first, the arrangement appeared to be roomy, but it became claustrophobic when filled with journalists. Even though it was before the days when everyone had a personal computer, it was cramped. The closeness was made worse, when the late afternoon sun blazed on the gigantic aquarium-like window that made watching play on center court a squinting exercise. When it came to writing or typing (yes there were a few type writers being used) a story, it was like composing in a sauna.

The television booths (which were little more than glass boxes with a backdoor) were situated next to the press center at the top of the stadium. Depending on the temperature they could become like Pyrex bowls and almost fricassee the commentators inside.

The US National Tennis Championships move from the lawns at the Newport Casino to the grass courts at the Westside Tennis Club in 1915. Because of its nature, the grass differed annually, leading to complaints about "playability." With the launch of Open Tennis in 1968, player demands for bounce consistency increased. The West Side Tennis Club surrendered in 1975 and the US Open became a Har-Tru tournament. Australia was the last of the majors to resist making the change from grass. It did not succumb until 1988.

Even in the pre-Nadal days, there were complaints about the Deco Turf II hard courts. Those whose careers accomplishments were founded on slower, or Terre Battue surfaces believed it was too quick. The La Guardia and Kennedy Airport "Fly Over" noise, which regularly disrupted matches, added to the unhappiness crescendo. Playing surface and airplanes aside, overall, the players were impressed by the amenities offered at the new location including the fact the locker rooms, dining areas and places to relax were larger and all contained in one building. In short, the Flushing Meadow setup was praised.

Mark Winters, Tony Trabert and Pat Summerall in the CBS broadcast booth at Forest Hills in 1977.

At the end of the first week of the tournament, I planned to meet Tony and Pat after they had finished a broadcast, so I waited at the bottom of the stairs to the television booth. As they came down from their perch, four boys, who appeared to be between 10 and 12-years-old, came running up. Being true to their youth, they were energized, anxious to talk with their heroes while jockeying for position to get autographs.

The leader, speaking New York City Urban English (which was barely intelligible) loudly said, "Toe-knee, Toe-knee, ma matha luvs u (Tony, Tony my mother loves you) ... Pat, Pat u wer dah best kic-ah dah Giants eva hat..." (Pat, Pat you were the best kicker the Giant ever had...Summerall played offensive and defensive end and kicked for the team.) Having an autograph book and ballpoint pen thrust at him, Trabert signed for the first boy who moved to Summerall while boy number two went to Trabert.

We were going to the clubhouse for a snack because they had match to call later. Watching the autograph interaction, I began to back away. As I did, the leader spotted me and figured since I seemed to be with Tony and Pat... I must be "Somebody..." Realizing that he was coming toward me I backed up more quickly.

But I miss judged his resolve...and suddenly, he was on top of me thrusting his autograph book into my hands. I told him he didn't want me sign... I wasn't anyone important... and continued to backpedal. I glanced at Tony who was signing for the third boy...He looked over, gave me the "Trabert Grin" and a go-ahead nod.

So, I took the book and ballpoint and signed my name. By that time, the second boy was on top of me, and I began to sign again. In the meantime, the youngster who had Tony and Pat's autographs on separate pages in his book turned to mine, looked at it and bellowed – "Mock Win'tah, Hay, Who Dah Hell Ah U?" (Mark Winters, hey, who the hell are you?). He then ripped the page I had signed, out of the book, tore it up and threw the scraps back at me. Before my shredded autograph hit the ground, I had begun to laugh... and ended up laughing so hard that I had tears running down my checks.

Postscript-Occasionally, during the rest of the tournament, if we were alone and a conversation had come to an end, Trabert would smile and quietly say- "Hay, Who Dah Hell Ah' U?" ...To this day, the recollection is a delight.

It was fitting that Connors, a New York fan favorite, after losing to Vilas the year before, picked up his third US Open title stopping Bjorn Borg of Sweden. The No. 2 seed defeated the No. 1 seed, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. With the victory he became the only player in tournament history to win on all three of the surfaces on which the championship had been played.

The Women's final was an unveiling long before "The Future Is Now..." concept had legs. True, Evert, the No. 2 seed, claimed her fourth consecutive trophy, 7-5, 6-4, but the spotlight was on Pam Shriver, the lanky 16-year-old amateur, whom she defeated. Shriver, the youngest tournament finalist, "Shocked" No. 1 seed Navratilova, 7-6, 7-6 in the semifinals. Playing only her second Grand Slam but seeded No. 16, she drew even more notice using the original aluminum Prince Classic racquet with the green plastic throat wedge. In an "All U.S. Show" Bob Lutz and Stan Smith, seeded No. 3, defeated Marty Riessen and Sherwood Stewart, the No. 8 seeds, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the Men's Doubles final. King and Navratilova were triumphed in a Women's Doubles No. 1 versus No. 2 face-off slipping past Australians, Kerry Reid and Wendy Turnbull, 7-6, 6-4. McMillian and Stöve continued their dominance, earning yet another Mixed Doubles trophy, this time 6-3, 7-6, over Ray Ruffles of Australia and King.

From a personal standpoint, the Westside Tennis Club had a wonderful intimacy; it was an elegant, historic setting that was no longer suited to host a US Open in New York extravagant fashion. Initially, Flushing Meadow wasn't either. But, over time "The House That Slew Built" became a mansion that has become even more storied as the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.