Tennis ambassador fires up Auburn

Last year Wayne Bryan coached the Sacramento Capitals to the World TeamTennis Championship, then watched as his twin sons Mike and Bob Bryan won the clinching match for the U.S. in the Davis Cup Final."In the same year my boys won the Davis Cup and we won the team tennis, so I had two nice cups in one year," Bryan said.In fact, Bryan has a tough time remembering the last time he had a bad year. His brother Carl Bryan recently retired from his post as a Nevada County superior court judge and he suggested Wayne step away from his unending duties as a tennis coach and ambassador as well."He said, 'What the heck are you doing? You're older than me, you ought to be retired,'" Bryan said. "I told him, 'I've never worked a day in my life.' I love what I do."Bryan was in Auburn Thursday evening hamming it up with three dozen or so players who joined in a free clinic at Auburn Racquet Club. The colorful coach was there to promote the Sacramento Capitals' upcoming season and give a few pointers on the game that he's spent a lifetime playing.Bryan caught up with owner Jack Drimmer and head tennis pro Bill Kreger before tackling a couple of questions on the finer fundamentals of tennis. His comedy-infused commentary went on throughout the 90-minute session, which concluded with an exciting game between the clinic participants."This is the biggest match of all time," Bryan repeated into the microphone as players battled it out for the chance to win Capitals gear.The World TeamTennis squad from Sacramento will hit the court on July 3. The Capitals will host the Newport Beach Breakers on their home court at the Westfield Galleria in Roseville. Bryan's been involved with World TeamTennis for more than a decade and will coach the Capitals for the seventh season."I think tennis actually makes a great team sport," Bryan said. "I think the most appealing aspects are the team aspects. I think it's really fun when people are pulling for each other. There's also two men and two women on each team and every match counts the same. We're the only professional sport like that."Bryan will coach Tammy Hendler, Sam Warburg, Elena Likhovtseva and Eric Butorac on the Sacramento squad this season. Granite Bay resident Dmitry Tursunov, currently ranked No. 31 in the world, will join the Capitals on July 11 and Lindsay Davenport will visit July 12.The Capitals don't pack the star power of Wayne's twin sons. They have been No. 1 in the ATP's doubles rankings for five years running and may go down as the top doubles team of all time. In an era where Americans have struggled to win ATP singles titles, the Bryans have combined for a remarkable 47.Wayne Bryan said tennis, like other sports, has grown in popularity worldwide, making it tough for Americans to dominate like they did for much of the 80s and 90s."I think tennis is just like basketball, just like baseball – it's globalized," Bryan said. "Every country has good players coming along. We're not going to have 25 or 30 Americans in the top 100 anymore. We'll probably have our 10 and that will be our fair share."I think it's good for international relations and peace," Bryan added.Ever the tennis ambassador, Bryan seems most comfortable with a tennis racquet in one hand and a microphone in the other. He serves as emcee for numerous tennis events throughout the year, hosting events with Andy Roddick and Jim Courier annually."I have events 180 days a year," Bryan said.On this Thursday evening, he's cracking jokes and making recreational players feel like they're on center court at the U.S. Open."I love coming to Auburn, it's a beautiful club," Bryan said. "I know Bill and a lot of the people came out and supported the Caps last year, so we're happy to come out and be with them and put on a little clinic here."Can he and the Capitals repeat as World TeamTennis champs? The easygoing coach isn't as relaxed when faced with that question."After last year I said I'd never be nervous again," Bryan said. "But that's not true because I'm still as nervous as I've always been, wanting to win the next one." For more information on the Sacramento Capitals, visit www.gocaps.net.