Local ladder: Tennis seeing “explosion” in Manhattan Beach

by Garth Meyer

Is pickleball the only growing racket sport in Manhattan Beach?

Bennet Slusarz reports surging numbers for his tennis ladder at Live Oak Park, an uptick in players since the pandemic, timed with a resurgence in American professional men’s tennis. 

“Never have I averaged in the mid-90s for players the whole year. That started last winter. This fall there are 134 participating,” Slusarz said.

He started the ladder in 1996, first called “Live Oak Tennis Ladder,” later renamed Tennis Matrix. Every year, he used to make 400 phone calls for each of the four, eight-week seasons. Slusarz previously taught tennis as an independent contractor at the park. 

“This is all word of mouth, I’ve never marketed this,” he said. “I’ve been doing this ladder for 28 years. I’ve never seen an explosion like this.”

Does this mean tennis in general in the South Bay is increasing?

“Absolutely, my ladder is an indicator of that. Live Oak courts are booked. It’s beyond an uptick,” Slusarz said. 

“It’s remarkable, it shows not only that tennis is not dead, it’s resurging in the South Bay…This is beyond a major step in the right direction.” 

Reports from elsewhere in the South Bay may or may not concur.

“Nothing too crazy here, as far as an increase, we’ve always been a popular spot,” said Karina (no last name given), a Redondo Beach city recreational leader, since 2018, at Alta Vista Park Tennis Center. Today, Slusarz’s ladder in Manhattan Beach cost $60 per season, one match each week, with discounts for winning (effective the following season).

“It started out as a public service, basically,” he said. “Tennis Matrix was the evolution, it was always a grassroots program.”

The current ladder has former Division One college players, top South Bay juniors and former ATP tour player Jeff Tarango. Slusarz credits Manhattan Beach Parks & Recreation tennis teachers Annie Lewis and Lila Brady (sisters) with bringing in new players.  

He starts a new name on the ladder with an estimated rating.
“We talk, we ballpark it,” Slusarz said. “By the end of the season, you get an accurate rating.” 

He refers to numbers such as 3.25 or 3.75, more specific than the United States Tennis Association’s 3.0, 3.5 or 4.0, for example.

“In this ladder, the cream rises, but it’s much more delineated,” said Slusarz, who played on European satellite tennis tours in the ‘80s. 

“The ladder started out as a nonprofit, I made no money. There’s a nominal amount of money being made.” 

So who will be the first of the new crop of American men to break through and win a Grand Slam tournament?

“Taylor Fritz or Ben Shelton. You can quote me on that,” Slusarz said. 

See Tennismatrix.net for more information. ER