ITF

38 Summer 2021 ITF World Once merged, leafing through Van Nostrand's near 3000 words of insight, opinion and reminiscences is a privilege. The main questions, however, are how to do justice to his utterances and, more pressingly, where to start? He is clearly a man who lives and breathes tennis and has done so ever since he fell in love with the game back in 1940s America while growing up on Long Island, New York. So much has been written and spoken about this revered octogenarian that it seems fitting to open with the future and what more he wishes to achieve from a life already brimming with memories, medals and accolades. "This is a tap-in putt," said Van Nostrand. "Only recently, I mentioned again my overused lament that before I die, I would like to hit one winning top-spin lob. "In all my thousands of hours on court, top-spin anything has been regretfully non-existent. Of course, my ancient eastern forehand grip does not allow for such a weapon, but I can dream." As befits someone with his back catalogue of success, there are more substantive aims. When he contemplates his future trophy haul, no Due to the deterioration of his hearing, King Van Nostrand prefers chatting over e-mail these days. He is known for being warm and engaging and those qualities are apparent even in cyberspace. The only problem, however, is competition. "My responses to you will have to be sporadic at best as Boots [his wife of 66 years] and I share a computer," he tells ITFWorld. "Since her retirement from tennis eight or nine years ago, she has become a world-class bridge player with seemingly endless virtual tournaments subject to international time zones. I get on when I can." True to his word, as the opening week of Wimbledon unfolds, replies from the 87-year-old arrive intermittently, but it is the little extras within his answers which inform, help paint a picture and certainly entertain. "I see Andy's up a set on Basilashvili, rooting for him with his new hip…sorry, couldn't connect yesterday, had too many commitments and not enough arms, legs and hours to fulfil them…where are the days of Dan Maskell's marvellously succinct commentary?" doubt a glint appears in the eye of the man described by Boots as the "ultimate competitor". "A more attainable desire, and one that seriously motivates me these days, is to win at least two more ITF World Championships, be it singles, doubles and/or team," added Van Nostrand, who is ranked world No. 1 in the 85+ age category. "I am told that the holder of the unofficial record, the late Lorne Main, won 42. If my arithmetic is correct, I have 41. It would be extremely nice to head the list, if only for a year or two. There are some very talented younger players working their way up. "This, of course, is only a very personal goal of mine, Seniors legend King Van Nostrand takes a trip down memory lane and discusses pulley-driven milk containers, rebellious kids and his record-breaking ambitions with ITFWorld KING of HEARTS Right Collec ng his ITF Seniors Award for Outstanding Achievement at the 2016 ITF World Champions Dinner Main Van Nostrand is one of the most popular figures within Seniors tennis SENIORS

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