OCTOBER 2004
Dignity's Darling: Super Citizen Todd Martin Hangs
'Em Up
First Goran Ivanisivic - tennis' zaniest soul -
retired at Wimbledon. Then Todd Martin - the game's most straight-laced
dude - hung 'em up at the U.S. Open. In this ("The Gods Must Be
Crazy") world of free-form rants, here-I-am 'tudes and what's-in-it-for-me
mindsets, Martin was a towering (6-foot-6) oasis of sanity.
Amidst American tennis - which is basically a bi-coastal universe where
West Coast and Florida folk often hold sway -- Martin's was a rare upper-Midwestern
voice - calm and sober. Sure he spoke oh-so-deliberately (Seles expressed
more in a minute than Todd would say in 10.) But his thoughts, often
reflective and full of gravitas, drew our attention.
While most proteges are taught by high-profile super coaches, Todd's
teacher was the low-key guy next door, his local club owner, Rick Ferman.
Michigan-reared with deep-winter family bonds, he debated long and hard
whether to be "true to his school" and play post-season tennis
for his beloved East Lansing Trojans or compete in the French Open juniors.
Most tennis wannabes pass on college. And when Martin opted for school
he didn't exactly choose Northwestern, which isn't exactly a pipeline
to the pros.
These days, parents name their kids Zoe or Larisa. Martin's son is Jack.
Plus, after a groundbreaking Wimbledon win of Ivanisevic Todd called
home to ask how the local junior tournament was going.
Respected by all, he headed the ATP's Player Counsel and his celebrated
sportsmanship was unmatched by any since Stefan Edberg. Still, in the
era of the Fab Four - Pete, Andre, Courier and Chang - Martin was a
Fifth Wheel, a gradual achiever who was unafraid to drastically retool
his game, Todd eventually would knocked loud on the door of greatness,
but never saw it swing wide open. Sure, he touched our hearts with his
late-night five set U.S. Open marathons. (Remember his 1 a.m. Cal Ripken-like
victory lap in '00 when he high-fived his adoring fans after having
outlasted Carlos Moya.)
In '94, he dropped the Aussie Open final to someone named Pistol Pete,
while in '99 he fell in the U.S. Open final, to a bald Las Vegan. Always
a loyalist, in his 14-year career he logged many a heroic Davis Cup
moment, won eight titles and was in the top 20 six times.
Still we can't emblazon any triumph of singular distinction to paste
up on the marquee of our memories so as to celebrate this good man.
Instead, memory drifts to '98, when he was within a stroke or two of
the Wimbledon final. Inexplicably, he faltered to the less talented
MaliVai Washington. So, ultimately, we're forced to debate whether Todd
is the greatest player of our era never to have won a Slam. (Think Rios,
Rusedski, Philippoussis).
Typically, Martin put all this in exquisite perspective: "Some
players' purpose is to win Grand Slams," he noted. "For others
it's to show that you can learn to handle what successes and failures
you have with as much dignity as possible."
Of course, it wasn't that Todd didn't have a boatload of talent. As
Agassi noted, "From a standpoint of Xs and Os, he had as perfect
a game as you would want ... His return game was world class. Serve-and-volleyers
had lots of problems against him. Baseliners couldn't get the ball out
of his strike zone on his serve. He could hit the ball low and flat
and up the line and put so much pressure on your second, and he had
one of the most accurate serves in the game. He could hit a dime ...
As much as he's accomplished, his results could have been seen more
if it weren't for injuries."
But at times Martin seemed to be a lumbering giant hampered by his huge
frame and lack of quickness. And often Old Aches and Pains was slowed
by waves of head-to-toe injuries so that even when he was able to play
he often displayed unending braces which seemed to stretch into an area
code or two.
Okay, the big guy with the game's best mono-brow and that distinctive
outcrop of gray hair on the back of his neck, never lifted a Grand Slam
trophy. And, wouldn't you know it, he finished his career on Armstrong
Stadium before a mere 500 fans while Agassi "wowed" 23,000
on Ashe Stadium. But time and again, this wise man of integrity with
his oversized heart and telling, if at times methodical, goodness lifted
our spirits and inspired, knowing smiles.
© 2004
INSIDE TENNIS All rights reserved.
All photographs, text and graphics, appearing on the Inside Tennis web site are protected by copyright.
Any republication, retransmission or reproduction or other use is prohibited without express written permission of Inside Tennis.
