Player Spotlight – Tony Tannenberg

Tony Tannenberg and Peter Bergin are long term players from Everton Tennis Centre. Recently they competed at the Pan Pacific Games on the Gold Coast in the Masters Division. The following is an interview with Tony after the event:

What Tournaments did you win?

“I won the over 65 singles and over 65 doubles event (playing with Eric Moser) and also the combined age over 100 with Peter Bergin. With our combined age being 124 years old – so we were playing against youngsters.”

What was your closest match and what was the score in the finals?

“Undefeated in all matches in the round robin events. Our closest match was in the combined doubles where we won against another pairing who were also undefeated 6/5 with the ties breaker 8/6.”

Are you still playing regular tournaments?

“I only play the ocasional Masters or Senior events. My last good result was a silver medal in the over 65 Singles and Doubles played in Geelong in 2009.”

When did you start playing at Everton Tennis?

“In the mid 1980’s.”

What is the strength of your game?

“My ability to hit winners. The flip side being my inconsistency”.

What is your preferred surface?

“Natural grass. Country tournaments played in Victoria on lawn. I have also lived a few years in Perth where all tennis is played on natural grass. My second most preferred surface is en-tout-cas and the the 3rd most preferred surface is artificial grass. I really dont like hard courts.”

When did you start playing tennis?

Aged 10.

Who was your first tennis coach?

I never really had a coach until my late teens when I was picked up in a squad run by Alistair Strong (background as a tennis umpire then ran the Dendy Pub in Melibourne). In the my late 20’s I had lessons from Mick Sweetman who coached Mervyn Rose.

What was your first racquet?

Oliver Bluebird.

What was your favourite racquet?

“Spalding Aluminium, the 1st of the metal racquets. I now use a Yonex.”