Albury Tennis Association president Ken Wurtz reflects on career on court

At 67, he's still playing the game he loves.

The association president caught up with The Border Mail this week.

Georgia Smith: You found your love for tennis at an early age?

Ken Wurtz: My parents both played tennis, so it was a natural thing. My brothers all played.

GS: Any sibling rivalry?

KW: Against Graham and Rodney there was fierce rivalry. We didn't like each other on the court, but when we were off the court we were okay.

GS: You spent some time playing overseas?

KW: I went overseas for six months to Malaysia, Spain, England, Denmark and Belgium and had two tours of New Zealand. Spain was very interesting because they have siestas. Everyone was asleep in the morning and didn't wake up until the afternoon. You'd walk down the street with shorts on and everyone would be giggling at you because they didn't wear shorts over there in those days. Staying with people over there and the way they live is very different to how we live. You can go anywhere in the world and there's always a tennis court.

GS: Face some tough opponents?

KW: I had some good wins and plenty of losses. I stayed with Chris Lewis who was a number one New Zealand player at the time. He was a good bloke. I was brought up on grass courts and they played on slow dirt courts overseas. I remember one Spanish guy asked me, "why are you serve volleying all the time?" I said it's the only way I know how to play. He said "we don't do that here."

GS: Any funny moments?

KW: I was over in New Zealand with my friend Ivan Stoll and we went to see this wood factory where they make paper. He said to me "I'm just going to the toilet." He's gone into the toilet and comes out and he's all red in the face. I asked what happened and he said "the toilet just demolished underneath me." He blew the toilet apart.

GS: You've met Bjorn Borg?

KW: Ivan and I went to Gympie and played up there and that's when I first came across Bjorn Borg. I sat down with him and spoke to him. It was just like talking to anyone, he was only 19 at the time and it was his first time in Australia. That was as close as I got to a Wimbledon champion. I always respected him and he proved himself to be a very good player.

GS: Plenty of highlights?

KW: I won 50 or 60 open events around this area and NSW. I won a lot of doubles titles with Ivan Stoll. We won the Canterbury Open in Christchurch. When we first arrived no one wanted to know us, but once we won that everyone wanted to know us. Tennis is a great sport where you can travel the world making lots of friends, and lots of enemies.

GS: You're also a coach?

KW: I started when I was 11 or 12 on a Saturday morning at the grass courts. That's when I probably first started and have done it ever since. When I was about 20 I came back from overseas and started coaching again and took over my father's taxi business.

ALSO IN SPORT:

GS: Hard to juggle both?

KW: I'd work the day shift until 3pm and then I'd start coaching at 4pm. Saturday morning I'd be coaching and then playing in the afternoon. It worked in well with tennis coaching.

GS: Coach any star players?

KW: Jade Culph is one. I coached him when he was young and brought him up through the ranks, then he went to college. Another one is Josh Graetz. He's over in America now as the coach of the university squad that he was in. There's been three that I've coached that have beaten me and they're two of them.

GS: You've been president of the Albury Tennis Association for close to 20 years?

KW: Since 2003. I try and keep everyone happy because tennis has been a big part of my life. You wonder why you do it, but I think it's because I love tennis so much and want to see the association keep going. Over the years I've had pretty good people on the committee. Just recently we renovated the toilets, which cost us a bit of money. It's good having those people that help you out and stand by you. It's an eye opener being president. It's been an experience.

GS: Held other roles?

KW: I was vice-president before that. I've also run the Forrest Hill tennis club for 40 years.

GS: Hard year for the association?

KW: We had one more round to go in the summer pennant and then we had to pull the pin. Lucky we were on top of the ladder so we won the pennant. We tried to start it in winter and got four rounds in and had to pull the pin again. We had to stop coaching as well. You need a COVID master plan, which you need in the taxis too. We'll be glad when this year is over.

GS: Fair to say tennis is your life?

KW: Yeah it's been my life. When I was a junior I was virtually playing six days a week going to a squad in Melbourne. Monday to Thursday you'd be hitting, Friday I'd catch a train and stay overnight with friends. Saturday morning it was squad training and then pennant in the afternoon. Then back home Saturday night to probably hit again on Sunday. There were lots of hours spent on court.

GS: Shoulder injuries?

KW: I was out playing against Graham and some other guys about 10 weeks ago and when I went to throw the ball up and serve I couldn't. They said "what are you doing?" I said I'd have to serve underarm because I couldn't throw the ball up. I had to go see my doctor. I thought I've got a break between December and February when we start again, so I thought I'd get that done. Just a clean up.

GS: Still playing pennant?

KW: Yeah with my brother Graham in section two. I played section one for a number of years. I'm trying to enjoy it a bit more.

GS: Hope to keep playing?

KS: It's good exercise, so I'll keep going.