Tex Swain delivers one to Tracie Ann Chong.
Photo illustration by Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin

So they get tentative and apologize profusely for every little mistake, berating themselves and losing even more self-confidence on top of it.

That's the last thing they should do, said Henry Somerville, head pro at the Maunalua Bay Club and former nationally ranked touring pro with his brother, Jim, several years ago.

Somerville will be partnered with Anand Amritraj, ranked in the world's top five in doubles from 1976 to '83, in the 26th annual Kailua Racquet Club Men's Night Doubles Tournament July 28 through Aug. 10. But he's not at all nervous about it, because he has played with enough top players in the world to know how to handle it.

Amritraj, who has played with his brother Vijay, is scouting the islands to see what fan support would be like for a tournament featuring brothers who have played professionally together.

Somerville stressed the importance of "open communication" between partners of all levels of skill. "If you don't talk, it makes it that much worse," he said.

A player who is intimidated by his partner's superior ability should admit to him that he's nervous, ask his advice when necessary and request help in covering his weaknesses if possible.

For instance, if the lesser player has a cream-puff serve, he could ask his partner to poach more to nullify a good return, Somerville said.

Instead of focusing on his fears, Somerville suggests that a player should focus on his strengths and "play within your limits."

"Don't apologize profusely time and time again to the point of irritation," he said. This only makes the better player lose complete confidence in the lesser player.

"Even top players make mistakes," Somerville said. "They need your help. Doubles can't be won by one person alone. You just have to trust yourself so your partner can have confidence in you."

Just put aside your mistakes and concentrate on winning the next point, he advised.

Somerville cited a prime example involving Mark Woodforde, who "no one knew from Adam." He won the U.S. Open doubles title a few years ago with John McEnroe, arguably the all-time best doubles player in the world.

Woodforde could have been intimidated, but he looked at the event as an ideal opportunity to win a grand slam tournament.

"He was excellent; he played his game and was the best player on the court in the end because he believed in what he could do," Somerville recalled.

He also gave McEnroe credit for being a "great communicator" who always gives his partner a lot of support so that they work together as a unified team.

"Communication is the key factor in good doubles," he emphasized.

Tex Swain

"Attack! Attack!" is the motto of Tex Swain, tennis director at the Oahu Club in Hawaii Kai, who constantly reminds his students - knobby-kneed youngsters as well as blue-haired housewives - that points in doubles are won at the net, not from the baseline.

Swain got a taste of his own medicine when playing in the Kailua Men's Night Doubles tournament a few years ago.

On the very first point, he went for the poach and drilled the ball right into the net man's you-know-what - not on purpose, of course. From then on, he was dead meat.

"For the rest of the match, they basically wanted to kill me," he said. "It was scary. I couldn't go to the net. Intimidation works."

Swain, who has mostly taught top junior players in Makaha, California and Japan, said even if things can turn ugly, it's perfectly acceptable to hit toward the net man or at his feet.

"If they're out of position, it's not your responsibility. You're not hitting them on purpose. That's being aggressive; that's how you win."

The reason for hitting the ball at the opposing net man if you're playing the net is that he won't have much time to react and hit a good return.

If his students are serving and volleying, Swain urges them to hit at the net man instead of volleying the ball back to the receiver at the baseline (who has more time to set up for the return and more than likely throw up a lob).

Even if the net man is expecting the ball to be hit in his direction, he's on the defensive, perhaps intimidated after constantly being attacked, and won't be able to hit a good volley in return, Swain said.

The basic idea, he said, is to hit short-to-short and long-to-long. In other words, if you're at the net or serving and volleying, hit to the net man; if you're in the backcourt, hit to the person at the baseline, and be sure to keep the ball away from the net man.

Facts: The 26th annual Kailua Racquet Club Men's Night Doubles Tennis Tournament drew 6,500 fans last year.
Where: Kailua Racquet Club, 629 Oneawa St., Kailua
When: Qualifying matches July 28-Aug.2, 6 and 7:30 p.m.; main draw, Aug.4-10, 6 and 7:30 p.m.; semifinals, Aug. 8, 6 and 7:30 p.m.; finals, Aug. 10, 6 p.m.
Entries: 50 teams
Prize money: $6,000
Admission: Free and open to the public
Parking: Racquet Club or Kailua Nazarene Church, 536 Oneawa St.