Date: Fri 13-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Patty-Murren-tennis

Full Text:

Long On Years And Short On Cash, Patty Murren's Tennis Career Is At A

Crossroads

(with cut)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Patty Murren held her racquet close to her chest as she looked out across her

parents' tennis court on Taunton Ridge Road earlier this week.

She had spent a good part of her childhood on the court, constantly working to

improve her game. These days, however, the tennis court has come to symbolize

something far different from the hopes and dreams it once presented.

Now 24, Patty's tennis career has suddenly come to a crossroads. Ranked 668th

(73rd in the United States) in the current WTA rankings, she fears her career

may be in jeopardy -- not for lack of talent, but for lack of money. However,

despite a rocky first year as a professional, the Newtown resident believes

she still has what it takes to become one of the world's top 200 players. She

has seen what is out there and knows she can be a winner.

Patty's first year on the tour took her around the world and opened her eyes

to the harsh realities of having to start from the bottom. Trying to survive

in the smaller satellite tournaments can be a difficult lifestyle. She has no

plans to compete in any more tournaments until a sponsor comes forward.

Patty's professional tennis career is in limbo.

"Lately, it has been tough to get motivated when I practice," she said. "I

don't have anything to work for. I always used to have a goal."

To give her a chance to make the big jump, Patty said she'll need at least

$30,000. She is hoping to receive some local sponsorship from businesses,

corporations or individuals who may be interested in assisting one of

Newtown's own.

As a teenager growing up in town, Patty had little to worry about besides

winning matches. And win she did.

With the help of her parents, Dave and Sue Gardner, her career grew more and

more promising by the day. Patty kept on winning and the bills kept on being

paid. Now, however, this is Patty's game and she has taken her career into her

own hands. That means taking care of countless off-the-court matters, like

making travel plans, registering for tournaments and paying her own bills.

That has become especially tough of late. For the first time in her life, she

is now forced to pay for her own sneakers, an expensive task since she goes

through a pair about every three weeks. Tennis equipment manufacturers won't

even give her racquets. Until she reaches a certain ranking, the Reeboks of

the world will only give her equipment at a reduced price.

The College Route

After an 81-0 career record at Immaculate High School in Danbury, where she

won four straight State Opens, Patty accepted a four-year scholarship to Wake

Forest University in 1992. There, she became an All-Atlantic Coast Conference

(ACC) player, a top scholar, and the school's second all-time leader in match

victories. She graduated with a degree in communications. College life was

good to the young athlete, but making it as a professional has been a

struggle, especially since most of the first-year players are still in their

teens. In the world of professional tennis, especially women's, being 24 is

looked at as over the hill.

"What's killing me is the age thing, but I still think I can break in within

two years if given the opportunity," she said.

Since starting out on the tour a year ago, Murren has played in nine

tournaments, and believes time and money are all she needs to begin making her

climb up the rankings.

"It would be different if I felt I could not improve any further, but I feel

like I keep getting better," she said.

In many respects, Patty's first year on the tour has been a successful one.

She advanced to the finals of a tournament in Pretoria, South Africa, this

past December. She eventually fell to Theresa Swart of South Africa, 6-3, 4-6,

7-5, but it was the highlight of Patty's first year and gave her the strength

to go on after a string of losses.

On the other side of the coin, the total purse for the event was only $10,000,

and Patty walked away with less than $1,000 after getting hit by the exchange

rate. It was a hard reality for Patty to swallow, considering she spent $1,200

for the trip.

"It's hard to make money on the satellite tour. It's a stepping stone. It's

where you earn points, but unless you have a backer, you can't survive," Patty

said.

Alone, Patty has also traveled to Brazil, Portugal and Romania for tournaments

in the hopes that her years of hard work would pay off. But the events often

took her to undesirable places where Patty and the other players were forced

to stay in seedy hotels with nothing to do, but sit and wonder if all the hard

work was worth it.

"It can be so mentally challenging," she said. "There's so much time to think,

but you can't afford to think negative thoughts in this business."

Of course, there are better tournaments with larger payouts out there, but in

order to get in, Patty is often put on a waiting list or forced to qualify.

When you are low on cash, it is a big risk to travel across the country for a

tournament you may not even get into.

Patty's up and down first year also included a handful of injuries, which

forced her out of action for several months. She missed four months due to a

sprained big toe and was then sidelined for another six weeks when she broke

her left thumb.

With a sponsorship from an area company or local resident, Patty believes she

could raise her ranking, possibly as high as 250, over the next 12 to 18

months.

"You can have all the talent in the world, but you can't go anywhere without

someone backing you," she explained.

Mixed Emotions

Patty said she's been through it all and will survive no matter what the

outcome. Her biggest fear, however, is to someday look back with regret for

having given up too early.

"There would definitely be mixed emotions if I was forced to stop playing,"

she said. "A part of me will be relieved because this lifestyle is difficult.

But, on the other hand, I've grown up thinking this is what I should do. I

always felt that I was that one in a million who would make it. In that

respect, it will be very painful."

Things looked so promising for Patty at age 15, when as an amateur, she got a

shot to play in the 1989 Virginia Slims tournament in Worcester, holding her

own in a first-round match against Zina Garrison. Despite losing in the final

of a qualifier, Patty got lucky when GiGi Fernandez was forced to drop out.

Patty's career also received a boost when former player and pediatric

ophthalmologist Renee Richards became her coach. Today, however, Patty does

not have a coach, although she remains in contact with Ms Richards.

Patty Murren was the recipient of the 1990 Bee Sportsman of the Year Award.