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Sunday, July 09, 2000 By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
Officially, its name is The Pittsburgh Parks Tennis Championships. Most people simply call it "Paul Sullivan's Tournament."
"They shouldn't say that ... but it's flattering," said Sullivan, 96, who has been the lifeline of the event and is the tournament director for the 68th time in its 69-year history. He missed it in 1946 when he was in the Navy.
"It's fair to call it Paul's tournament," said Jim Rudolph, director of Citiparks Tennis Academy. "He's always been Mr. Sullivan to me. He makes me call him Paul, that's really hard."
Rudolph will help Sullivan run this year's tournament that got under way yesterday and will conclude with championships next Sunday at the Frick Park clay courts in Regent Square.
The tournament, open to players of all ages, has one of its smallest fields, attracting only a handful of women. Fewer than 50 entrants paid the $2 for singles and $3 for doubles, the same fee that Sullivan always charged.
"Frick Park is the quintessential Pittsburgh tournament and it's the tournament I've always wanted to win," said Leo Sweeney, the runner-up in men's singles the past four years.
"Other tournaments come and go, but this one has always been around.
"I think we owe a great deal of thanks to Paul Sullivan."
There was a time, not so long ago, when Sullivan had to cut the men's singles draw off at 128. Despite the decrease, Sullivan plans to schedule men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles.
"I don't know where the high school players disappear after school," said Sullivan, who still goes to his law office every morning in the Frick Building downtown. "It's a shame there aren't more players."
There is only one Paul Sullivan, a lovable curmudgeon who oversees the tournament the way he has for the past seven decades. No tiebreakers. No corporate sponsorship. No age-group categories.
"He's one of the most consistent people I know," said Rudolph, who first met Sullivan 36 years ago as a 16-year-old competing in the Duquesne Plaque tournament. "If he says something, that's the way it is. It doesn't change.
"He has high expectations of people, and for himself."
Sullivan is a nonpaid volunteer worker who never envisioned 69 years ago that he would still be coordinator of the tournament.
Tennis has changed.
Sullivan hasn't.
He has no use for high-tech metal rackets and can't stomach the tiebreaker.
"They've fooled around with the scoring and ruined the balance of the game with tiebreakers," he said.
"Why couldn't they just leave it the way it was? The best thing about tennis is it's a game you can play regardless of age if you're healthy and in reasonable shape."
Although the tournament might not be in the best of shape, Sullivan doggedly refuses to give up and let it fade away.
"I'll do it next year if I'm OK," he said. "You hate to break the chain."
What's happening
A district-ranking junior tournament for boys and girls between the ages of 16 and 18 will be at Settler's Cabin, beginning Friday and continuing until July 17. Tomorrow is the deadline for applications. Entry fee is $15. Call Tom Fleming at 412-787-2824.
A men's singles tournament for 4.0 and 4.5 levels will be July 17-20. Entry fee is $5.
A free clinic for children ages 6 to 16 will be from 10 a.m. to noon, July 29. For more information call 724-935-5270.
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The North Park courts will be busy this month with three events. A women's singles tournament open to all levels will be tomorrow and Tuesday nights at North Park.