When Malcolm Slive posted a notice at the New York Health Club in Greenwich Village 20 years ago, he was looking for a tennis partner. Not only did he find a partner, but a wife, too.
"I was new to the city and was just looking for someone to play tennis with," Slive said. " "Dale responded, and that was our first date. Right off the bat, we had something in common. Four years later, we married."
Soon after the wedding, the Slives moved to New Port Richey and became involved in tennis at the former River Crossing Country Club. Later, they joined Westin Innisbrook Resort.
This weekend, the Slives travel with Innisbrook's 7.0 mixed doubles team to the USA Tennis Florida Senior Doubles League State Championships in Daytona Beach.
"When you play mixed doubles with your spouse, you have to put things in their proper perspective," Dale Slive said. "You can't lose sight that you're playing with your best friend. You both want to win, and you know you're both doing your best."
Naturally, things go smoother when winning, Malcolm said. Even though the couple has its moments, he said, the pleasure of playing together outweighs any negatives.
Innisbrook has four married partners, including Maureen and Ron Sternberg, Ann and Bob Hammond and Debbie and Ed McGinley.
Maureen Sternberg, the captain, said she expects the McGinleys and Slives to play at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
Malcolm Slive describes the pair's style as a human backboard.
"We're not very powerful, but we get a lot of balls back and just try to get the ball over the net one more time," Malcolm Slive said. "I expect at state the level of play will be even higher than in the season, and we'll just do our best."
The state tournament starts with a round robin among five teams. Friday, Innisbrook plays Lady Lake and Naples. Saturday, it plays Valrico and Tallahassee. The round-robin winner faces the winner among Gainesville, Miami Lakes, Sarasota and Punta Gorda on Sunday.
Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club will compete in the 8.0 division. Results will be at www.usa
tennisflorida.usta.com.
NET SHOTS: Linda Thomson and Donna Roberts won the 4.0 doubles title at last weekend's Humane Society Charity Tournament in Clearwater. Thomson won the 4.0 mixed with John McConnell and Roberts the 4.5 round robin with Janet Eschenroeder.
Sharon Dehnel and Lindsay Webb won the 3.5, Lynn Kloczkowski and Lucy Ogburn the 3.0 and Randy Meisner and Kurt Long the men's 4.5. Curt Kenyon and Chuck Moon won the 3.5 and John Beda and Wendall Walker the 4.0.
Mixed doubles champions included Katherine Kelly and Joe Haas in the 3.0 round robin, Vicki Tuller and Larry Nickerson the 3.5 and Jenn Faust and Brian Siracusa the 4.5.
Seminole Lake Tennis Center's 4.0 men's team went 1-2 and placed third in its flight at the U.S. Tennis Association Adult League National Championships in Tucson, Ariz., last weekend.
Leah Garcia, Sheland Etchison, Katie McCabe, Kyle Staton, John Jachimowicz and Justin Cox qualified for regions at last weekend's USA Tennis Florida tournament last weekend in Daytona Beach.
SAVE THE DATE: The 12th annual Tennis Classic, benefiting the Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco, is next month at Crescent Oaks Country Club. For sponsor opportunities, call Gail Fawcett at (727) 848-6851. To compete in men's, women's or mixed doubles, call (727) 934-6920.
COMING UP: Countryside Country Club in Clearwater hosts its Fall Junior Rookie Tournament this weekend. Call Rick Workman at 796-1136 by today. ... The Temple Terrace Junior Halloween Classic is Oct. 16-18 at the Temple Terrace Tennis Center. Players 18 and younger can register for singles play by by calling Manny Mariani at (813) 989-7178 by Oct. 13.
News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan at 727 796-5559, e-mailed to namorgan46@msn.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include a phone number.
