Dan's Papers - July 3, 2009 - Grand Opening of Ross School Tennis Center

Under a big blue sky and a bright Hamptons summer sun, the Ross School Tennis Center in East Hampton had its red ribbon cutting ceremony last Saturday morning, June 26. With much fanfare and enthusiasm, a loyal crowd of Ross School supporters and their children gathered at the steps of the new Tennis Center, knowing that a very special and luxurious facility was about to officially open.

The ceremony was hosted to honor the efforts of Juergen and Anke Friedrich, and their JAF Foundation. According to the elegant and personable Courtney Ross, founder of the Ross School, it was the Friedrichs' actions that created the momentum to ignite action that culminated in the completion of the project. The new facility provides the Ross School with six state of the art har-tru (crushed pebbles clay-like soft surface) tennis courts that in the summer is a magnificent outdoor facility and in the winter will become engulfed by a state of the art bubble that will make it a spacious indoor tennis facility, right on campus of the Ross School. The courts include the new technology of underground watering that enables the surface to always have the proper moisture content, thus never being dusty and ragged after usage. Gone are the days of stoppage of play to let sprinklers and hoses water down courts.

To officially cut the ribbon, Ross invited Congressman Tim Bishop, New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Doubles Player Jim Grab (a former number 1 ranking player worldwide), along with Juergen and Anke Friedrich who cut the ribbon. Also on hand were tennis legend and father of three, Todd Martin, and the always colorful and entertaining professional men's double team, the brothers Luke and Murphy Jensen.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the first Ross School Pro-Am Doubles Tournament was staged using the skills of the pros on hand to compliment the talents and grit of the local amateurs of all ages who participated. They included Congressman Tim Bishop, who is a 4.0-4.5 singles player, who took up the game in his early 30s. Within no time, the sounds of balls popping, players groaning and spectators cheering were heard from the spacious deck.

One very nice touch in the huge atrium was the antique posters of all the summer Olympic Games through the years. Tennis is now an official Olympic sport and given the talent the Ross School attracts on so many levels, perhaps in time this Tennis Center will produce an Olympic star. As always, the Jensens were showing off their world-class talents as well as their friendly jokes and comments. Todd Martin, as graceful a player as there ever was, still displayed the strokes that propelled him to great matches - including his clinching win in the 1995 Davis Cup finals against Russia.

Watching all of this was Ross, who in a smart white cotton linen blouse and dark seasonal slacks, made all guests feel at ease. Later she huddled with Congressman Bishop who explained some of the bills he's introduced in Congress to aid private education, both in terms of tuition and direct aid to the schools. Ross is a life-long champion of education. It was her vision that led to having a progressive alternative for educating East End children from grades K-12. Everything was up to snuff at the event including the weather. The looks of the young children (some with racquets as big as themselves) out on the new courts, whacking tennis balls with perfect strokes was perhaps the most pleasing part of the whole day. To watch the well struck yellow balls sail across the nets is as timeless as it gets in the world of sports.

Sometime this fall the new custom bubble will be put up to enclose the courts so that the games can continue all winter long. The Friedrichs beamed like the afternoon sun, watching their dream realized. Everyone had a great time.