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| ROCKFORD FANS WEATHER STORM TO SEE PETE SAMPRAS PLAY TODD MARTIN By Lisa Dunlap Rockford Tennis took 27 people to see Pete Sampras play Todd Martin in the FedEx Tennis Shootout Saturday, December 1, at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. Despite a wintery mix of wind, rain, sleet and snow, the bus of dedicated fans left Rockford at 5 p.m. from Blain's Farm & Fleet at 7300 E. Riverside Boulevard. Slick roads, bumper-to-bumper Chicago traffic and the bus driver's decision to take an extra loop around the UIC Pavilion delayed arrival until 7:45 p.m. Once inside, the Rockford Tennis group joined a crowd of more than 4,000 to watch local juniors demonstrate the new tie-break shootout format. Next, two former Illinois stars, Amer Delic and Kevin Anderson, played a set. Afterward, two teams composed of one wheelchair athlete and one able-bodied partner demonstrated wheelchair tennis. Finally, Pete Sampras and Todd Martin walked on-court. Sampras, 36 and the father of two, had a slow start after flying into Chicago's wintery mix earlier in the day. He dropped the first set 2-6. Then, momentum shifted – he won the second set 6-2 and the third-set tie-breaker 10-2. Days earlier in China, Sampras defeated Roger Federer in an exhibition match while serving up to 130 m.p.h. He retired at the end of 2002 with a record 14 Grand Slam titles including seven at Wimbledon. The trip to UIC cost $75/person and included free parking, round-trip deluxe motor coach transportation, front-door drop-off and pick-up, an upper-level match ticket, complimentary dinner on-board and an evening of fun with fellow tennis enthusiasts. Guests brought their own beverages. Upon return to Rockford just after midnight, everyone treaded carefully while scraping thick sheets of ice from car windows. Attendees secured their seat on a first-paid/first-served basis by giving their non-refundable check payable to Rockford Tennis to Lisa Dunlap. The dedicated fans who attended this event include Janet and Chris Johnson; Lorenzo Arreguin and three friends: Rita Fowler, Susan Hrunek and Ken; Danny Beeman and his two brothers: Ian and John; Brent Bernardi, his daughter, Allison, and three friends: Dick Newcomb, Eric Trautmann and Chris Weber; Rich Schultz and his friend George Todd; Bob Presman and his wife; Judy Meindl and her son, Andrew; Joe Metzler and his son, Branden; Ron Chamberlain and Steven Kouris. Lisa Dunlap brought her husband, David, and her mother, Jo Marie Peterson. Icy roads prevented Angelo Washington, Becky Wyant and Michelle Brown from joining us. USTA/Northern Illinois Tennis Association President, Duffy Turner, and a friend met our group at UIC. USTA/Northern Illinois Tennis Association Executive Director, Pam Delnagro, and USTA/Northern Illinois Adult League Coordinator, Arnie Villagomez, were on-court calling lines. Click here to see event photos. |
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