League tennis fosters competition — even love

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Francis Matsueda served as partner Stacy Matsuda got set against Scott Wakeman and Gerrick Nagata at the USA League Tennis Hawai'i Pacific Sectional Championships last weekend at Kapalua Tennis Garden. Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser

In its wildest dreams, the U.S. Tennis Association never imagined how sociable USA League would be.

Lloyd Yamada proposed to Denise Fukuda at Kapalua Village’s Centre Court this past Sunday. Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser • • • USA League Tennis Hawai'i Pacific Sectional Championships Aug. 16-18 on Maui Winning Teams Women 2.5: Aloha Rackettes (O'ahu) 3.0: Kapalua Krush (Maui) 3.5: Touch of Tennis (O'ahu) 4.0: Howard Tacub Tennis (O'ahu) 4.5: Maui Pupule (Maui) Men 3.0: McCully Ducks (O'ahu) 3.5: Ito's Refrigeration (O'ahu) 4.0: Wiwo'ole (O'ahu) 4.5: Should of Been Last Year (West Hawai'i) National Championship Schedule Sept. 26-29 5.0: Palm Springs, Calif.—Riviera, Moore Tennis Academy 3.0: Tucson, Ariz.—Doubletree Randolph Park Oct. 3-6 2.5: Palm Springs, Calif.—Riviera, Moore Tennis Academy 3.5: Tucson, Ariz.—Doubletree Randolph Park Oct. 10-13 4.0: Tucson, Ariz.—Doubletree Randolph Park Oct. 17-20 4.5: San Diego—Town & Country, Balboa TC

It was out of character for the reserved Yamada. Aside from its over-the-top nature, it was completely in character for a format designed as tennis for the tournament-challenged. League is competitive yet made for the masses. The emphasis is on quantity and —only ultimately — improved quality.

"You can challenge yourself in a tournament format but it seems more serious," says Avis Tamura, who has played more than a decade. "League is just more fun. It's team against team. Sometimes you know the other players. On a few occasions you know them, don't like them and want to beat them. When you win, you win as a team. When you lose, you feel rotten of course."

USTA league tennis started in 1980 with 13,000 players in 13 sections. Last year, more than 400,000 people played in the association's adult, senior (50-older) and mixed doubles leagues. More than half the USTA membership plays.

Three years ago, the Hawai'i Pacific Section's adult league had 1,600 players. Now there are more than 4,800, on 400-plus teams.

"The level below us (3.5) is large," says Yamada, a First Hawaiian budget analyst who plays for Wio'ole. "It's great to see. When I was in 3.5 it was the same size as 4.0 now. I love to see the game grow like that."

USA League is hardly the only tennis game in town. The long-running Honolulu Tennis League has 2,000 players. There are many more niche leagues and the whole spectrum of junior team tennis.

There were 475 players from 44 teams that finished first in their local leagues at last weekend's sectionals. Winners advance to nationals at six ability levels, ranging from beginner (2.5) to advanced (5.0, which qualified separately), based on the National Tennis Rating Program.

Three of Sunday's champions come from Neighbor Islands. Rick Hogan, coach of 4.5 men's champion, Should Have been Last Year, from West Hawai'i, has been to five nationals. His team plays at Old Airport courts and has players from Hilo and the Mainland.

For these guys, who have "known each other forever;" beating O'ahu teams is added incentive, and a great gauge of progress.

"In 1987, I took a Kona team to sectionals at Subase," says Hogan, who takes a 2-hour lunch break to make team practices. "We thought we were the best players in the world and our first match took all of 25 minutes. I don't think anybody won a game. We learned we've got to play a little better."

Team goals are as diverse as the ages and occupations that fill the rosters. Some plan their season around arranging the perfect potluck. Some appreciate league's long-term security, one-match-a-day schedule and low cost, as opposed to tournaments. Some thrive in the social setting with their "tennis family." Others adamantly chase the national trip.

Most are simply content with the camaraderie and intrigued by the competition. In some cases, particularly for the women, it is their first real look at competitive sports. It is not always pretty.

"The guys kinda make fun of us," says Tamura, a para-legal whose Touch of Tennis team won Sunday. "They say the women are so vicious. I think some are because they really don't compete in sports. My generation is getting into competing for the first time.

"You have to put things into perspective. You have to live with yourself at the end. Winning isn't everything. It's about making friends and keeping friends."

The USTA has surveyed players about their participation since 1996. In the initial survey, 48 percent played for "fun" and 26 percent for "competition." Last year, 39 percent played for "competition" and 36 percent for "fun." Fitness/health has always been between 17-21 percent, and sociability 10-11.

Yamada traces his start in tennis to getting cut from the Waimea High School basketball team. He has come a long way and, because of tennis, Fukuda has shared the last seven years with him. They met at the Ala Moana courts and play in three leagues together.

Her team, Howard Tacub Tennis, also won Sunday. In the midst of Fukuda's final match, Yamada realized the magic of the moment. He reached for the ring, asked for five minutes at centre court when Fukuda was done, had her paged and dropped to one knee.

"Denise didn't realize what I was doing until she was about five feet away," Yamada said. "She got this look in her face like, 'Oh my God.' She broke down. It was fun. It was sweet."

She said yes.

It was league tennis, at its finest.