Sept. 11, 2007
FLUSHING, N.Y. - As the US Open comes to a close this weekend, the Army tennis teams will look back at their experience at the 2007 event with fond memories for years to come. When the Army tennis teams traveled to Flushing, N.Y., for the annual United States Tennis Association's Arthur Ashe Kids day on Aug. 25, they got a little more than they bargained for later that week. During the premier US Open match of the night that featured Andy Roddick versus Justin Gimelstob on Wednesday, Aug. 29, members of the Army men's and women's tennis teams received quite a public ovation while departing from the event.
In what was a highly entertaining Open send off for Gimelstob, a New Jersey native who plans to end his career at the end of this fall, the Army tennis teams stole the spotlight for mere seconds as spectators at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Billie Jean King National Tennis Center gave the Cadets a rousing ovation while filing out of the stadium seats in the middle of the second set. As Gimelstob stepped up to serve, he hesitated due to noise and an abundance of unusual clapping from the crowd. In fact, it was the Army tennis teams, dressed in their white-over-grey uniforms, departing the match in order to make it back to West Point, N.Y., in time for 11 p.m. taps.
As the crowd continued to applaud the service men and women, USA Network analysts spoke at length about their respect for the Cadets. Meanwhile, Gimelstob was warned for a delay and thought he was being docked a second serve. Roddick and Gimelstob approached the umpire's chair, cleared up the confusion and Roddick allowed Gimelstob his serve back. The 12-year US Open veteran and two-time mix doubles champion (with Venus Williams) went on to double-fault. Roddick went on to a 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-3 win.
"Quite honestly I was stunned by it. I thought we were so far up that we were out of the players view and wouldn't be a distraction if we left," said Army head men's tennis coach Jim Poling. "It really made the kids feel great to see that kind of support, and it was pretty fun to see the confusion on the court. It meant a lot to our teams to have that many people recognize them in that kind of way."
Army tennis' presence at the event was felt and much-appreciated throughout the week. The Cadets, stationed at Court 16, were among hundreds of volunteers lending their time to Arthur Ashe Kids Day (AAKD), an event geared towards training and introducing kids of all ages to the game of tennis.
"The event itself is such a great way for us as a team to give back to the tennis community," said Army head women's coach Paul Peck. "Watching the players teach and interact with the younger kids is a great learning experience for them as well, as they begin to mold themselves into role models on and off the `fields of friendly strife'."
The Black Knights have been actively participating in the event, bearing Ashe's name, for a number of years and with good reason. Ashe was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve and was stationed at West Point during his period of active service. He won several tournaments during his service time, including the U.S. clay-court championship in 1967 and the U.S. amateur championship in 1968.
"I was honored to be part of a day that was named after a prior serviceman who served honorably both in and out of uniform throughout his entire life," said tennis' head officer representative, Lt. Col. Steve Fleming. "For four hours during AAKD, I watched with tremendous pride as our Cadets, representing the next generation of servicemen and women, dedicated their time by following in Arthur Ashe's footsteps on the same courts where he made tennis history during a very different time in our nation's history."
"Dedicated, determined people like Arthur Ashe made a difference then that we now fully realize and appreciate today," Fleming added. "It is my sincere hope that the Cadets we are honored to work with day in and day out here at the Academy will make a similar difference in our world, realized by generations to come."
The women's tennis team opens its fall slate this weekend at the Cornell Fall Invitational, while the men travel to the Dartmouth Classic beginning on Sept. 21.
