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Alex Deeb was 15 when he started learning tennis from an uncle in the Philippines.
At 54, the Oldsmar resident received a No. 14 national ranking in singles in the 50-and-over division and No. 12 in doubles for 2003. "We went to the Philippines to see my grandfather, and we had an uncle there that practiced with the Davis Cup team," Deeb said. "He taught me and my brothers, and we played every day."
Though his younger brother, Rick, was undefeated at No. 1 all four years at Bishop Barry (now St. Petersburg Catholic), Deeb didn't get involved in the sport until a football injury sidelined him after his sophomore year.
"I was told no contact sports for two years, so I turned to tennis and played on the school team," Deeb said.
"We had a court at our house so we didn't go to Bartlett Park in St. Petersburg and didn't really play many tournaments," he said. "Rick, my other brother Thomas and I played against each other all the time on our court at home."
Deeb studied engineering at Georgia Tech and had little time for tennis, though he practiced with the University of Tampa when he transferred there his final semester to complete his business degree. After graduation, he and his family moved to New Port Richey and started Deeb Construction and Development. Again, there was little time for the sport.
When the Deebs built Ridge Gardens, the first Pasco County club, a perfect setting for playing developed for Deeb. An elbow injury, however, kept him off the courts about two years. But in 1986, when the Deebs built River Crossing Country Club, he was ready to return to the game.
"My brother Rick had his kids hitting with a pro named Cruise Furious, so I tried him, too," Deeb said. "I spent a few years working with him, and he really helped me groove my strokes.
"Cruise told me to start believing in myself and lose 20 pounds."
Deeb lost the weight. He reached the state's top 20 but wasn't beating the better players. In 2000, when Deeb turned 50, he decided to work hard and see how good he could get. It was during the USTA Clay Court National Men's 50 Championships in Sarasota that he met Elie Boukheir, whose unique racquet technology impacted Deeb's game.
"The racquet is longer, so you have more power on the serve and it's counter-balanced and controls the racquet torque," Deeb said.
Deeb is in his third year using the racquet, which is more than 14 ounces, and credits it for much of his success. Trainer Joe Millen and coaches Phil Green and Terry Addison at Safety Harbor's Phil Green Tennis Academy and Joe D'Leo in Destin have helped, too.
"The racquet definitely gave me confidence, Joe (Millen) got me super fit and my coaches helped my game," Deeb said.
"When I started believing in myself, I began to split sets with players I never had before. I decided if I could split sets with them, I could beat them, and I was fit enough to hang in there until I did."
The 2003 national rankings were based on results in the Southern Seniors Clay Court Nationals in Jackson, Miss., USTA National Grass Court Championships in Philadelphia and Sarasota Clay Court Contest.
"In Sarasota, I won four rounds in 10 hours of play, and won those on my fitness and confidence," Deeb said. "I reached the quarters in that tournament and felt really good about my results. I played seeded players I had never beaten and was able to claw my way back if I was down against them.
"Sometimes, you can get lucky and sometime you create your own luck," he said. "The top players always seem to find a way to win and for me, that means being fit and figuring out your opponent."
Now that Deeb is 14th in the singles poll, he has set a goal to reach the top eight.
Joining Deeb in the nationally-ranked singles circle are area players Jim Vuille (No. 8) and Vic Downer (No. 6), in the 90; Bob Meyerdierks (No. 13), 75; Peter Crewe (No. 18), 70; Don Mathias (No. 38) and Dick Crawford (No. 70), 65; Jeff Davis (No. 3), Jeff Winkler (No. 13) and Kevin Manning (No. 27), 45; Jeff Chambers (No. 6), 35; Goran Dragicevic (No. 55), open; and Ria Graham (No. 9), 65.
Deeb paired with Sarasota's Greg High for his No. 12 ranking in the 50 division. Crewe and George McCabe of Ohio are No. 8 in 70, Jim Mackey and Graydon Nichols, California, No. 3 in 75, Winkler and Kenny House, North Carlina, No. 3 in 45; and Derek Brooks and Aaron Barrick, Texas, No. 1 in 30.
STF CORNER: May is National USA Tennis Month, and the Suncoast Tennis Foundation plans to celebrate with two free Rock and Rally events. Everyone is invited to attend the 10 a.m.-9 p.m. May 8 activity at Tyrone Square Mall and the 10 a.m.-9 p.m. May 22 event at Westfield Shoppingtown Countryside. Rock and Rally is a hands-on activity for all ages and levels. For information, go online to www.ourtennis.net NET SHOTS: Shipwatch Tennis Club won the men's 3.5 District 12 Super Seniors Doubles League with a 10-0 record. In the playoffs, Shipwatch beat Countryside Country Club 3-0 and PGTA by the same score. With one regular-season women's match remaining, Westin Innisbrook Resort 8-0 has an insurmountable lead. District winners advance to the Florida championships, April 30-May 2 in Daytona Beach.
Belleair I clinched the title in the 27-team Pinellas Area Doubles League. The sixth-year Belleair Country Club squad was led by Kim Cashman and Gail McMurtrey in the No. 1 position, captain Cari Reagin and Judith Sly, Jenny Henderson and Judy Siracusa, Jacki Simon and Cindy Cooper and Kim Floyd and Cindy Hanlon. Cashman and McMurtrey were undefeated. Reagin and Sly lost once. Royal Racquet II finished second in the league, and Racquet Club was third.
A 4.0-and-above women's Tuesday morning doubles league begins May 25, followed by a Thursday morning league May 27. For information, e-mail TTPTENNIS@yahoo.com
Combo leagues are forming for May competition. Each team in the 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 divisions will consist of three doubles positions. Women play on Tuesday mornings, men on Saturdays. Call 526-7966.
JUNIORS: Joining the competitors in next week's USTA National Spring Championships in Delray Beach are Anthony Barrancotto, Kosuke Hasegawa and Lionel Kogan (boys 12 division) and Alexandria Cercone, Danielle Day, Julia Claire Jones, Kara Kucin and Alexandra Moreno-Kaste (girls 12).
THIS WEEKEND: District 12 3.5 men's champion PGTA, with Joe Gari as captain, and Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club's 3.5 women compete for state honors at Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach. The SPTC Junior Easter Classic at St. Petersburg Tennis Center begins Saturday. For information, call 360-2643.
The Safety Harbor Spring Classic at Phil Green Tennis Academy starts Friday. For information about the adult tournament, call (727) 724-7729.