Posted on: Friday, October 4, 2002

Tennis weekend set for Keauhou

Advertiser Staff

Tennis pro/actor Vijay Amritraj is the featured guest at the 16th annual Tennis Weekend, Oct.

26-27 at the 'Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort on the Big Island. Other speakers/clinicians include Michael Kolhoff, Gunders Tilmanas and several Kona Coast pros.

The weekend is a celebration of tennis, with exhibitions, clinics for adults and juniors, contests, team competition and the annual U.S. Tennis Association/Hawai'i Pacific Section Awards Banquet.

Amritraj played Davis Cup for India for 20 years. He reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open during his long career and was the No. 1 player in Asia for 14 years. Amritraj also served as president of the ATP Tour players council five times.

More recently, Amritraj co-starred in the films "Octopussy" and "Star Trek IV." Last year he was appointed U.N. Messenger of Peace. He is a sports journalist and multi-media entrepreneur.

Tilmanis is an internationally recognized tennis coach, author and lecturer. He is generally regarded as one of the top teachers in the world today and serves as a clinician for both the USTA and International Tennis Federation.

Kolhoff is just completing his first term as vice president on the USTA Board of Directors after serving two consecutive terms as secretary-treasurer. He is the board division leader for the Communications/Marketing Division. First elected to the board in 1995, Kohloff coordinated the development and adoption of the USTA's initial five-year strategic plan.

Amritraj and Tilmanis will help conduct clinics both days and speak at the awards banquet Saturday. All events are free with the exception of the banquet, which is $20.

To register for the banquet or the USA Team Tennis All-Comers Challenge, and for more information, call the local section at 955-6696. Tennis Weekend room rates of $89 are available by calling 322-3441 on the Big Island or (877)-532-8468 toll-free.