Palos Verdes and South Bay Tennis Alumni
Below are some notable tennis alumni from Palos Verdes and the South Bay:
Vic Braden
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Vic braden has been called the Father of American tennis instruction. Along with Jack Kramer, Vic started the Jack Kramer Tennis Club in 1962 in Rolling Hills Estates, CA. As a pioneer of modern tennis, Vic's influence has permeated almost every aspect of the game for the past 60 years. Partnering with Jack Kramer Vic co-founded and promoted the first men's barnstorming pro tour. His Tennis College at Coto De Caza set the standard for the adult recreational destination academys. Vic's research in sport science made him one of the most colorful and knowledgeable television commentators in the game. No one could show people how to improve and have fun in tennis better than Vic Braden and everyone who now teaches tennis in America has either directly or indirectly benefitted from Vic’s lifetime of work and owes him a heartfelt thank you. Watch Vic's interview at tennislegendslegacy.com
Jim Pugh
Jim Pugh grew up in Palos Verdes and has etched himself in tennis history as one of the finest doubles players to play the game. As a two time all American at UCLA, he turned pro and became a doubles specialist with 27 men’s doubles titles and 5 mixed doubles titles that included a men’s championship at Wimbledon (with Rick Leach) two Australian Open titles (w/Rick Leach) a Wimbledon, U.S. Open, and Australian mixed title with Jana Novotna and an undefeated 6-0 career in Davis Cup (w/Rick Leach) where he was a member of the 1990 U.S. Davis cup team that defeated Australia. Jim’s two handed groundstrokes on both forehand and backhand was unique because he is one of the very few players in history that switched grips even on return of serves. He was inducted into the ITA Hall of Fame in 2008. His insights into his game and development as a player is a must view for any players with ambitions towards the highest levels. Watch Jim's interview at tennislegendslegacy.com
Billy Martin
Billy Martin lived briefly in Palos Verdes as a junior and is the only Div. I college coach to have won a national championship as a player and a coach. As the greatest junior player in the world, Billy won the Wimbledon Jr. singles title twice and the Jr. U.S. Open. He won the NCAA team and singles championship at UCLA under coach Glenn Bassett before turning pro at age 18 where he had wins over Stan Smith, John Newcombe, and Ken Rosewall. As the men’s head coach at UCLA for 22 years, his teams have perennially been ranked as one of the nation’s best. Billy has joined the elite club of coaches who have won the trifecta of a singles, doubles, and a team national championship. Watch Billy's interview at tennislegendslegacy.com
Peter Smith
Peter Smith is the Director of Tennis at the Jack Kramer Tennis Club but previously has established his legacy as one of the greatest men’s college tennis coaches of our time. In his 17-year tenure at USC (University of Southern California) as the Head Coach he won five national championships and his program has been a perennial conduit for his players to transition to the ATP pro tour. His coaching career started at Long Beach State where he was the youngest head coach in history at age 23 and progressed to Fresno State, Pepperdine, and ultimately USC. He is the only men’s tennis coach in history to lead four different programs to top 25 national rankings and he took Fresno State and Pepperdine to the NCAA quarterfinals and a top 5 national ranking. Another first is that he is the only player/coach in history to have the trifecta of playing on the ATP tour competing at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, winning the Father-Son national championship gold balls with each one of his three sons (Tanner, Riley, and Colter) and having all three sons play for USC. This interview is a veritable blueprint of how to raise your children to be winners as world-class players, honor students, and future leaders. Peter Smith shows how this is done by example. Watch Peter's interview at tennislegendslegacy.com
Dennis Rizza
Dennis Rizza is a true journeyman tennis pro. He played on scholarship for the University of Arkansas and was on the Army Tennis Team but his path to a tennis career did not go by the route of tour tennis, instead he became the consummate tennis professional. For the past 35 years he has been the Director of Tennis at the Jack Kramer Tennis Club in Palos Verdes, CA, one of the premier tennis clubs in the country founded by Jack Kramer and Vic Braden. Dennis has been instrumental in growing tennis in Southern California, having been engaged in every aspect of the game from being a board member of the SCTA, owning and running top junior tournaments including the Woody Hunt Open, and teaching and coaching hundreds of top juniors who have gone on to successful collegiate and professional playing careers. Two of his top success stories have been Woody Hunt, a top junior who became an all American at Univ. of Cal. Berkely, and Rylan Rizza his son who was an all American at Virginia and had good tour wins over John Isner and Kei Nishikori. Aside from his coaching successes, Dennis’s finest achievement is that he is universally admired, respected, and loved by his students, fellow pros, and industry colleagues. Anyone who wishes to become a teaching pro will find this interview to be an invaluable mentor by one of the best teaching pros in the game.  Watch Dennis's interview at tennislegendslegacy.com
Eliot Teltscher
Eliot Teltscher grew up in Palos Verdes and was a top junior in the U.S. before attending UCLA in 1978 where he became an all American and then turned pro after one year. During the early 1980’s he was consistently in the top 10 ATP singles rankings with the highest world ranking 0f #6 in 1982. He had 10 ATP tour titles, 4 doubles titles, and one Grand Slam title, a 1983 French Open championship with Barbara Jordan. As a player his one handed backhand was acknowledged as one of the finest in the game by coaches and his peers. His resume includes: Head Coach of the Men’s Tennis Team at Pepperdine University, tour coach for Jeff Tarango, Pete Sampras, Taylor Dent and others, U.S. National Team Coach for three years, and the Director of USTA Player Development and Tennis Operations for four years. Recently he worked with Hong Kong to set up their national player development program. There are very few coaches in the industry that have the experience and knowledge of Eliot Teltscher in the development of a tennis player. Any player with ambitions of playing college tennis or playing professional tennis should view this interview. Watch Eliot's interview at tennislegendslegacy.com
John Austin
John Austin grew up in Palos Verdes. His bio is from tennislegendslegacy.com John Austin is the Director of Tennis at the Newport Hall of Fame. His storied career in tennis includes multiple gold balls, an NCAA national championship at UCLA, a successful tour career with wins over top ATP players including John McEnroe, a Wimbledon mixed doubles title with sister Tracy, and traveling as a tour coach with Pete Sampras. John is recognized in the industry as a consummate tennis professional having served as the director of tennis at elite clubs such as the PGA West in Palm Springs, CA. Watch John's interview at tennislegendslegacy.com
Jorge Lozano
Jorge Lozano was one of Mexico's top juniors brought to the U.S. to train by Carlos Hassey. He played at Miraleste High School and his college tennis at USC. While on the tour he won two grand slam titles: the French mxd in 1988 with Lori McNeil and again in 1990 with Arantxa Sanchez. He has also won 9 other ATP doubles titles and was ranked as high as #51 in singles and #4 in doubles while on the ATP tour. Jorge was a Mexican Davis Cup member and served as the Davis Cup Captain. Recently he started a new tennis apparel company: jorgelozanoapparel.com
Robert Lansdorp
Robert Lansdorp is the legendary coach of iconic champions such as Tracy Austin, Pete Sampras, Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova and dozens of other world-class winners.  Love him or not there is no denying his results in producing players who can execute on the world's greatest tennis stages.  Often controversial, perhaps the greatest testament to his coaching comes from his players who almost to a person give him credit for their success. Robert does not compromise and for his players the demanding adherence to his fundamental principals of execution during his lessons makes playing for a Grand Slam title a much less daunting task. Watch Robert's interview at tennislegendslegacy.com
Pete Sampras
Photo credit: Cynthia Lum ATP staff photographer LA Open Pete Sampras is one of the greatest champions in history with 14 grand slam titles to his name. Pete grew up in Palos Verdes and the old timers still talk about when they had a "win" over Pete. They fail to mention that they were adults and he was 12 at the time.
Woody Hunt
Woody Hunt grew up in Torrance, CA and was coached from day one by Dennis Rizza. A Jr. Davis Cup member Woody played for Cal Berkeley where he became an All American. He played briefly on the pro tour and his results include wins over Peter Fleming, Richard Krajicek, and other journeyman pros. When John McEnroe was captain of the Davis Cup team he hired Woody to travel with the team to be a sparring partner for the Cup members for his game resembled the Spaniards who were the next U.S. opponent. Woody died on Dec. 21, 2002 but not before leaving a legacy of being one of the most beloved persons in tennis. The Woody Hunt Junior Tennis Tournament is named in his honor.
Tracy Austin Holt
The Challenge of Champions Wilson Tennis Clinic, Bentonville, Arkansas October 1993 L to R - Vic Braden, Dennis Ralston, Virginia Wade, Joann Russell, Pancho Gonzales, Lee DeYoung (Wilson) Tracy Austin, Pat Serret, Rey Corpuz (Wilson) Tracy Austin is the youngest of the Austin clan and the most recognized. George and Jeanne Austin had five children and they all had outstanding careers in tennis and business. Tracy is the highest profile being the youngest winner of the U.S. Open at age 16 in 1979 and won the title again in 1981. In 1980 she won the Wimbledon MXD title with her brother John. Tracy has evolved as one of the most respected and admired tennis commentators in the industry. Her annual Tracy Austin tournament at Rolling Hills Estates Tennis Club at Ernie Howlett Park is a perennial favorite in Palos Verdes and the South Bay.
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Stella Sampras Webster
Photo credit A.G. Langoria Ojai Wilson clinic Battle of the Sexes: Mike and Bob Bryan vs Stella Sampras and partner. Stella Sampras grew up in Palos Verdes and is the second most famous of the four Sampras children. A fine player in her own right Stella won a national NCAA doubles title at UCLA and played briefly on the WTA tour. As the head women's coach of the UCLA Bruins, Stella has amassed an impressive record that includes two national championships and over 500 team wins. https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/coaches/stella-sampras-webster/3987
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Lindsay Davenport Leach
Photo credit A.G. Langoria Ojai Wilson clinic circa 1999 Lindsay Davenport has cemented her place in tennis history as the Wimbledon, U.S., and the Austrailian Open champion. A world no. 1 in singles (total 98 weeks) and World no. 1 in doubles she has evolved into a tour coach and one of the most respected and admired tennis commentators in the industry.
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Rylan Rizza
Rylan Rizza grew up in Palos Verdes and was coached from the start by his Dad Dennis Rizza. A top national Junior who became an All American at Virginia Rylan played briefly on the pro tour and his career results include wins over John Isner, Kei Nishikori, and other journeyman pros. He splits his time teaching at the Jack Kramer Club and traveling as a tour coach.
Chris Dundas
Chris Dundas teaches at West End Racquet and Health Club in Torrance, CA and is one of the most requested teaching pros in the South Bay. He has had a dual career of tennis and music since childhood. As a tennis player he was a highly ranked Jr. in So. Cal. and played his college tennis at USC. Chris made a decision not to play the pro tour and became a teaching pro so that he could continue to pursue a music career. He did however play one challenger to get his ATP points and to prove to himself that he had the chops to play. Chris majored in music at USC studying jazz and has played different venues in Los Angeles. When he recorded his CD "Oslo Odyssey" he traveled to Norway so that he could have the precise sound he wanted from his bass player, drummer, and saxophonist who were only available in a studio in Oslo, Norway. This uncompromising attention to detail producing exactly what's envisioned carries over to his teaching of tennis that makes him exceptional to his students. http://www.chrisdundas.com/home.cfm
Rafael Belmar Osuna & Kim Po
USC Hispanic Heritage Day Oct. 25, 2022 L ro R - Tom Edlefsen former USC great, Rafael Belmar Osuna, Carol Folt USC President, Kim Po, Mike Bohn USC AD. Kim Po grew up in Palos Verdes and played her college tennis at UCLA. As a tour pro she won the Wimbledon Mxd Doubles title in 2000 with Donald Johnson. Kim has worked as a national team coach for the USTA and currently teaches tennis privately in Palos Verdes along with being a full time mom. Rafael Belmar Osuna was a top Mexican junior who was brought to Palos Verdes by Carlos Hassey to train. He played tennis at Miraleste High School and played his college tennis at USC. He is the nephew of Mexico's greatest player, Rafael Osuna (U.S. Open Champion) and keeps his uncle's legacy alive by being the Director of the Osuna Cup: a goodwill tournament between the U.S. and Mexico with Sr. players that alternates between the two countries.
Erik and Maureen Kortland
Erik and Maureen's (Moe) son is a future alumni. With his Mom and Dad's tennis DNA there's a good chance we will be watching him play at the big dance on Sunday mornings. Bodhi's Mom Moe was a top So. Cal junior who played her college tennis at USC and joined the USTA staff as a national team coach. His Dad Erik played at LMU and has distinguished himself as a leading tour coach. Moe and Erik ran the U.S. Open Flushing Meadows facility for USTA player development building it into an elite training facility and launch site for American players turning pro. They made a decision to return to So. Cal to start a family and Bodhi is the result. Moe still teaches as a national team coach at the USTA training center in Carson and Erik splits his time as a tour coach and teaching privately in Palos Verdes.
Dan Wooten
Dan Wooten grew up in Palos Verdes and was a perennial nationally ranked junior. He played at Miraleste High School and his college tennis at Temple University. As a popular and sought out coach Dan's students ranged from beginners to tour level players. Dan passed away on March 30, 2022 leaving behind a legacy of students who benefitted from his lifetime knowledge and skills. His greatest legacy carries on in his daughter Casie who plays for Wake Forest. Dan sculpted Casie's game from day one and her beautiful strokes and match play is a tribute to her Dad's skills as a teacher and mentor.