Gail Glasgow

Bryce Alderton

Gail Glasgow has entered her element.

The Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club’s newest director of junior

tennis may be 52, but she prefers to think of herself a bit younger.

“I feel like I’m 12,” Glasgow said Thursday as the War by the

Shore junior tennis tournament headed into its final two days. “I

feel like I’m really at home here. I love the kids, but I get

satisfaction with working with the adults, too.”

Her duties change weekly, whether that be giving a lesson,

handling payroll, or assisting Bob Ogle, the club’s general manager

and Sharon Spredley, the club secretary.

“It’s as much or as little as I want,” Glasgow said. “I focus on

making sure the pros are busy, that the children get the programs

they want and securing court times for people.”

Glasgow, a Newport Beach resident, holds the record for most wins

in Adoption Guild history, including taking first place in the

6.0/5.5 women’s division doubles tournament in June.

“Twelve wins feels very lucky,” she said. “I came close to losing

this year.”

She began play in the Adoption Guild in 1972, around the time she

was competing in national and international events.

In 1970 she was ranked 24th in the nation in women’s singles and

fourth in doubles with partner Sharon Walsh.

She competed in Wimbledon three times, including a mixed doubles

match against Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert.

But Glasgow’s most memorable moment on the professional circuit

occurred when she and Betty Ann Stuart, now Betty Ann Dent, mother of

Taylor Dent, a CdM alum and current pro, ranked 50th in the

Association of Tennis Professionals’ standings, played Evert and

Martina Navratilova in the women’s doubles final of the Virginia

Slims Championships in 1975.

Glasgow and longtime partner Jerry Van Linge gained entry into the

1980 U.S. Open, when they faced John McEnroe and his partner.

“He is the best player I’ve ever competed against,” Glasgow said.

Glasgow attended Palo Alto High and then spent two years at San

Jose State.

“I would go to school for two quarters, then play tennis for two

quarters, so I only finished two years of college,” she said. “Tour

money started in 1969, but it is not like the prize money now.”

Glasgow thinks women’s tennis has gained attention in recent years

with the rise of Serena and Venus Williams, but would like to see how

today’s stars would fare with older equipment.

“I would like to see how they would play using racquets from the

‘70s,” Glasgow said. “I don’t know how much [of today’s game] is

racquet enhanced. I enjoy watching [women’s tennis]. It is very

powerful.”

Glasgow, who has taught at Park Newport for 25 years, plans to

play in the Southwest Seniors tournament at Palisades Tennis Club in

August, competing in both mixed and women’s doubles. She has also

played doubles with Susie Warfield.

Now that her children, Jenny and McKenna, are both grown, Glasgow

can devote more time to tennis, which means giving back.

“[Tennis] has been wonderful to me, so now it is my turn to give

back,” Glasgow said. “If people help you first, you’re supposed to

help them later.”