On this second of a two-part series podcast, John English details the history of the Louisville Tennis Classic which featured players like Laver, Ashe, Rosewall, and all the greats. English describes how his brother Sam envisioned the event and with his help and a core group made it happen. It included building a new facility near the Louisville Zoo, battling the weather, and gaining the support of politicians in the state including a young Mitch McConnell (who was not yet a senator).
He also discusses the reasons Louisville left its prestigious position on the world tour. It’s a great story of how Louisville became the center in the world of tennis for one week a year every summer.