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By NANCY MORGAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 22, 2001
Bob Cooke is doing what many only dream about.
The New Englander and his wife, Kerri, are pursuing their dream full time of being the best they can be in a sport they love without the daily interference of work deadlines and employers' demands.
Although Kerri's pursuit has been put on hold during the pregnancy of their first child, Bob is headed full force into learning, improving and competing in tennis.
"About two years ago, I sold my software company to PricewaterhouseCoopers, pre-retired, moved to Saddlebrook and started tennis," Cooke said. "Both of us spent about a week in the Hopman camp and really got into it."
Sports are not new to the Cookes, who have been married about a year. Bob played semiprofessional basketball and has competed as a triathlete.
Cooke retired at 40 and attacked tennis. Drill sessions with the aspiring juniors at Saddlebrook, followed by a strict fitness workout and daily hitting sessions fill much of his day.
"I love it," Cooke said, "and look forward to it every day. I can see, though, how it could become more and more difficult to go through the grind every day as a professional. Whether you felt like it or not -- but knowing that if you wanted to make it -- getting out there was something you had to do."
Although athletic all his life, Cooke did not play tennis as a youth or young adult. Basketball was the sport to play in the areas of Massachusetts and Connecticut where he grew up.
"Tennis is an awesome sport and much more difficult than I thought," he said. "It's such a head game, unlike what I ever suspected."
Earlier this month, Cooke entered the Spring Fling singles competition at Royal Racquet Club in Clearwater. After losing 6-0, 6-0 to second-seeded Selim Benbades of Tampa in the main draw, Cooke went on to win the men's 40-and-over consolation title with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Hector Molina of Tampa.
Cooke's plans are to enter statewide tournaments and then venture outside Florida's borders as his experience grows.
"I wish I had started tennis earlier," Cooke said, "and I would have that experience under my belt. But, I'm lucky now that I'm pre-retired and enjoying the fruits of my labors with my company."
ST. PATRICK'S ZTA: A record number of players participated in Saturday's St. Patrick's Day One-Day Doubles Tournament on the McCannon Courts at Zephyr Park. Sponsored by the Zephyrhills Tennis Association, 43 players competed in men's, women's and mixed doubles action. Sue Vermette and Gisela White finished ahead of Dot Worrell and Cellie Forrester 6-4, 6-2 in a five-team division. Betty Rendleman and Anna Vu beat Jo Cerny and Karen Herscovitch to win the women's consolation title.
Rusty Hayes and Chuck Rogers defeated John Thai and John Zwolosky 6-4, 6-2 in the men's open while Warren Gray and Dave Powell topped Fred Krause and Denny Lee in the consolation race. In all, eight teams competed.
In mixed doubles, Jean Stallcup and Barry Herscovitch outplayed Linda Higgins and Dick Moffatt 6-0, 6-2 in main-draw competition while Lois and Wally Port beat Lori and Gary Goodwin for the consolation title.
LOCAL TOURNAMENTS: The Train Smart NTRP Circuit is March 31 to April 2 in Tampa. Call Alan Williams at (813) 962-4253. ... The Tampa Open, a wheelchair tournament sponsored by Tampa General Hospital, is March 30 to April 1 at the Tampa Tennis Complex at Hillsborough Community College. Men's, women's and junior's singles and doubles are available. Register with Tracy and Shayne Wilkerson at (813) 672-2573 by Friday's deadline.