Ronald Agenor is still playing pro tennis at 41?

[BreakPoint]

I just read in the paper that Ronald Agenor played in the Comerica Challenger in Aptos, CA this week. Yes, the same Ronald Agenor, originally from Haiti, that was a top 30 player in the '80's and who lost in the quarters to Chang at the French in '89, the year Chang won it.

This guy is 41 years old and he's still playing in the challenger circuit! Wow! Gives us older guys some hope.

"Simon Stadler, the eighth-seed from Germany, defeated Ronald Agenor 6-3, 6-4 in other first-round action. Agenor, 41, was trying to become the oldest player since Jimmy Connors in June 1995 in Halle, Germany, to win a pro tour match. Connors was 42 years, 9 months old."

http://www.seascapesportsclub.com/challenger/releases.htm

 

[Jonas]

Hey BP,
Agenor isn;t trying a comeback. He coaches Lesley Joseph the former Georgia Bulldogs player and travels with him as well. For some reason I guess he just decided to play singles in this tourney. I can assure you that he can still play and hit with anyone. The problem is that he is in his 40's and while he moves great, it's not great compared to a 20-something.
He has a beautiful game. I could watch him practice all day (and did)/.

 

[alfa164164]

The Haitian Sensation has a killer forehand.
Great to see him enter for the heck of it.

 

[atatu]

Probably a one time thing. A few years ago Gene Mayer (yes, that Gene Mayer) entered the Challenger in Hawaii and won a round....pretty incredible.

 

[Lee]

I just read in the paper that Ronald Agenor played in the Comerica Challenger in Aptos, CA this week. Yes, the same Ronald Agenor, originally from Haiti, that was a top 30 player in the '80's and who lost in the quarters to Chang at the French in '89, the year Chang won it.

This guy is 41 years old and he's still playing in the challenger circuit! Wow! Gives us older guys some hope.

"Simon Stadler, the eighth-seed from Germany, defeated Ronald Agenor 6-3, 6-4 in other first-round action. Agenor, 41, was trying to become the oldest player since Jimmy Connors in June 1995 in Halle, Germany, to win a pro tour match. Connors was 42 years, 9 months old."

http://www.seascapesportsclub.com/challenger/releases.htm

42 years old is the oldest to win a match? Isn't Martina Navratalova 65 year old and still winning every tournament that she entered?

 

[Moose Malloy]

oldest player since Jimmy Connors in June 1995 in Halle, Germany, to win a pro tour match. Connors was 42 years, 9 months old."

Its pretty amazing that Connors was able to win 2 matches at Halle in '95. He was semi-retired & hadn't played a tour match in over a year. Grass was lightning fast, guys were hitting a ton of aces.
Can't believe some posters really believe champions of the past wouldn't be able to succeed among modern players.

http://www.atptennis.com/3/en/playe...=Singles&selTournament=0&player=C044&x=10&y=3

 

[simi]

42 years old is the oldest to win a match? Isn't Martina Navratalova 65 year old and still winning every tournament that she entered?

Not quite. She's only 58 years old and doesn't win everything.

However, for real, she does go deep in just about every tournament she enters. I'm tempted to purchase her fitness book, based on how well she is doing these days.

 

[RealityPolice]

The Haitian Sensation has a killer forehand.
Great to see him enter for the heck of it.

What's interesting is that one of the articles discussing Agenor today listed him as "Beverly Hills' Ronald Agenor." While it's no doubt true, it's a little amusing to think of the Haitian Sensation as a resident of Beverly Hills.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2006/July/19/sport/stories/01sport.htm

I wonder how his music career's going.

 

[BreakPoint]

42 years old is the oldest to win a match? Isn't Martina Navratalova 65 year old and still winning every tournament that she entered?

Oh, come on now. Navratilova is not THAT old! I think she turns 50 later this year. That's probably why she's retiring (for good this time?) at the end of the year. She probably said to herself that she's got to quit for good when she reaches the half-century mark. Besides, she plays almost only doubles these days, whereas, Connors was still winning SINGLES matches at 42.

BTW, I'm also a little surprised that 42 was the oldest man to win a tour match. Weren't guys like Ken Rosewall and Pancho Gonzales still playing and winning into their 40's? Does anyone know when they stopped playing and how old they were when they won their last match? Didn't Rosewall get to the Wimbledon and US Open finals when he was like 40? Losing to Connors in both?

 

[MARK ANDERS]

He has a tennis academy based at the Burbank Tennis Center:

www.ronaldagenorcoachingzone.com

I watched him at an open/futueres level tourney in Rolling Hills at the Kramer Club about 4 years ago, and the cat can play! Big heavy strokes.... a MAN among boys!

 

[Jonas]

He has a tennis academy based at the Burbank Tennis Center:

www.ronaldagenorcoachingzone.com

I watched him at an open/futueres level tourney in Rolling Hills at the Kramer Club about 4 years ago, and the cat can play! Big heavy strokes.... a MAN among boys!

I agree 100% Mark,
I have seen a lot of players, but probably enjoyed watching him play the most. I am seriously considering buying his instructional dvd on the forhand just so I can watch him hit. If I happen to leanr something from him in the process that will be fine as well

 

[atatu]

I recall watching Rosewall win a match at the age of 44 against a 22 year old at the old Washington Start tournament in Rock Creek Park (on clay).