Tennis Fest Features OPAF First Volley Instructor

Stan Backovsky, a tennis instructor for the O&P Assistance Fund (OPAF) First Volley, was a featured player recently at the San Diego District Tennis Association (SDDTA) annual Tennis Fest at the Balboa Tennis Club, San Diego, California, said OPAF Executive Director Robin Burton.

The Tennis Fest is an open house event that invites the public and tennis players of all skill levels to enjoy an afternoon of tennis clinics, district awards, and exhibition matches. The main exhibition match this year displayed the broad range of people who can compete in tennis, Burton noted. The San Diego tennis district selected a nationally ranked wheelchair player and Stan Backovsky, a transtibial amputee who plays tennis standing up, to team up with professional tennis players for a match on center court. The match used standard tennis rules, plus the wheelchair player was allowed two bounces on his side of the net if needed.

"Stan has been a recreational tennis player since his teens," Burton said. "Then in May of 2003, he was hit by a pickup truck that ran a red light, severing his right leg below the knee. After three weeks in the trauma center, he was allowed to go home to complete his rehabilitation. All through the process, Stan watched tennis tournaments on TV, wondering whether he could ever play some sort of tennis again. When he met his prosthetist, Kevin Calvo, CPO, FAAOP, to be cast for his first prosthesis, Stan asked what kind of mobility he could expect. He was told he should be able to do 90 percent of what he did before. By mid-August, he was walking on his prosthesis reasonably well, so it was time to test this new mobility on the tennis court. Finding success, he used tennis as his physical therapy, and in a couple of months was playing tennis with the same people he played with before the accident."

For the San Diego Tennis Match, Backovsky was teamed up with Gretchen Magers, who played on the professional tour through the 1980s and 1990s. Magers was a member of the U.S. Olympic team, and still competes internationally in the Young Cup team competition. Across the net were Todd Nelson, a 13-year veteran of the men's tour, and Anthony Lara, who competes nationally and internationally in wheelchair tennis. "As the only amateur on the court, Stan felt like he had a bulls-eye on his shirt," Burton said. "Given the level of competition, Stan had two modest goals for the match. The first was to show the people watching that an amputee can play a decent game of tennis. The second was to sneak a couple of shots past Todd and Anthony."

Burton added, "The feedback from the organizers was that this was one of the best exhibition matches they have ever had--a great compliment from people of their experience. Gretchen and Stan won the match, and he did sneak a couple of good shots past Todd, so goal number two was also accomplished."

In June, Backovsky will lead OPAF First Volley clinics in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Los Angeles and San Francisco, California.

Those interested in more information on how to host a First Volley Clinic in their community may contact OPAF Executive Director, Robin Burton at 215.752.5756. For more information about OPAF, visit www.opfund.org