TONY GRAHAM talks TENNIS with CRAIG SHAPIRO [Ep54]

One of the premiere figures in the Beverly Hills tennis scene, TONY GRAHAM has lead an amazing tennis life. He came up in LA in the 1970s, honed his craft at UCLA, and turned pro during the sport's golden years where he played, practiced and paled around with legends like McEnroe, Connors, Borg, and the late Vitas Gerulaitis. At UCLA he got to the finals of the NCAA Championship. As a pro he beat Jimmy Arias and finalled Stowe. And when he wrapped up his pro career, he continued the tennis life, coaching and running the courts of the rich, famous and influential.  At one time, Tony was a coach at the Playboy Mansion. Now he facilitates at the super exclusive Executive Tennis Academy and runs the Beverly Hills Invitational. He also presides over one of the greatest tennis courts in the world, the infinity court at The Sheats-Goldstein Residence. On this episode, TONY GRAHAM divulges which former world #1 he pistol-whipped in a practice match while he was matriculated at UCLA . He also shares the story of how a country music superstar became his benefactor, flying him on his private jet to tennis tournaments around the world.  And finally, he lets us know which male American player he thinks will break into the top 10. (Recorded October 10, 2019. Released December 23, 2019) UNDER REVIEW is a podcast in which tennis insiders share unique stories and insightful perspective. For more information, please contact [e-mail] SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: Pictures of The Sheats-Goldstein residence can be found at http://jamesfgoldstein.com/ For the UNDER REVIEW episode with Tony's friend and doubles partner, check out TREY WALTKE [Ep08]. And the UNDER REVIEW episodes with the man Tony once coached can be found at Michael Joyce  [Ep51] & [52]. For the UNDER REVIEW episode with a man who coaches at The Executive Tennis Academy, check out Mark Woodforde [Ep29]. And for the UNDRR REVIEW episode with the man who Tony beat to final Stowe, check out Jimmy Arias [Ep36] KEYWORDS: Bill Gates, Executive Tennis Academy, Beverly Hills Invitational, Sheats-Goldstein Residence, Naomi Osaka, Sascha Bajin, Michael Joyce, Gary Swain, Max Eisenbud, Pierce College, UCLA, Billy Martin, John Wooden, Jimmy Connors, Brian Teacher John McEnroe, Stowe, Lintz, Kenny Rogers, Trey Waltke, Hugh Heffner, Playboy, Porsche, Vitas Gerulatis, Alan King Tennis Classic,