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Tennis, Anyone?
A good infatuation runs deep
ead to the left, head to the right. Some
people think that’s all there is to watch
ing tennis. Wimbledon, the oldest and
most prestigious championship in the
sport, ended earlier this month (go,
Venus!), and I can tell you there’s more to tennis
than the strange love-15-30-40 point system. Look
a little closer, and you’ll see what it’s all about: the
women.
I suppose someone should’ve recognized that my
obsession with the Navratilova-Evert rivalry in the
'80s was unusual—what kid can sit and watch a ball
BY MALKA GEFFEN
j
fly up and down the screen for hours at a time?
A baby lesbian, who got a kick out of their shrill
outed by an ex-lover who filed a palimony suit.
cries or guttural grunts, grew up admiring the
Although she called the affair a “mistake” and
tenacity and strength of the world’s finest skirted
remained in the closet, she lost almost all her
athletes.
commercial sponsors. In 1998 King finally came all
I can’t play the game to save my life. Never
the way out of the closet, which in my opinion was
could. I remember wanting lessons as a kid but
made easier, in part, by Navratilova’s success.
balking at the concept of scuttling after balls in the
In her career, Navratilova won 168 singles
Arizona sun. In college, I convinced my high
titles—more than any other player, male or female.
school crush (and soon-to-be first girlfriend) to give
In 2000 she won the National Equality Award
me private tennis lessons. Oh, the warm nights of from the Human Rights Campaign. In her accept
young desire. I have no idea if my game improved,
ance speech she said: “People often ask me, ‘Now
but 1 distinctly recall her complimenting my scent
that 1’ye come out, what more can 1 do?’ My
after an hour of practice. (I’ve never given due
answer to that would be, ‘Encourage others to
credit to Degree deodorant for that.)
come out’ and to be active, supportive members of
First Girlfriend and some friends and 1 saw the
our community, which in turn helps contribute
pros play live at the Acura Classic tournament in
positive change and ultimately to fair and equal
San Diego in 1993. Steffi Graf, who won that
opportunities for us all.”
tournament, was a'graceful, unbeatable player who
As the new breed of gorgeous blond teenage
broke my heart when she married tennis pro Andre
Russian tennis pros climbs the ranks, and 1 say
Agassi. But I had plenty of other players to occupy goodbye to old favorites (they’re my age!) like
my interest that day. Argentine beauty Gabriela Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles and Lindsay
Sabatini and Spanish butch
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario were
there. I can’t find hard proof
that they’re my Amazonian
sisters, but thanks to a 1995
Associated
Press article,
I believe Conchita Martinez
and gal pal Gigi Fernandez
play doubles on the Isle of
Lesbos.
Another pro’s career I’ve
been following is that of
France’s Amelie Mauresmo.
She burst onto the women’s
tennis scene when she over
took Martina Hingis for the
championship at the Australian
Open in 1999. “Worldwide
media paid little attention to
the quality of Mauresmo’s
tennis at the time, choosing to
Amelie Mauresmo, last year’s Wimbledon champion, is one of
overlook her on-court accom a few out and proud tennis pros.
plishments in favor of her
personal life. The young Frenchwoman who was
Davenport, I have to remember that a few out
taking Australia by storm was also openly gay,”
players do not guarantee an accepting sports
wrote Wyman Meers for OutSports.com.
world. You’ll notice (they’re in tight shorts, for
But no coming out will ever be as media-
chrissake!) that no male tennis players are out as
thronged (or as expected) as.that of Martina
gay. The last known gay men’s tennis player was
Navratilova in 1981. Afraid to hinder her U.S.
Bill Tilden, a champion in the 1920s. But the
citizenship, Navratilova, one of the best women
men’s tour of the Association of Tennis
tennis players of all time, first came out as bisexual
Professionals is officially opposed to any type of
in 1980 when pushed by the press. As a result, she
discrimination against its players, so you male
tennis lovers out there can keep watching, like
did not receive the sponsorships one would expect
I do, with hope and a rubberneck.
for a player of her stature, but she turned around
and won a record 15 singles tournaments and 14
Staff Writer MALKA GEFFEN has plenty of room in
doubles tournaments in one year.*
her head. Fill it by e-mailing malkageffen@gmail.com.
Also in 1981, tennis legend Billie Jean King was
H
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