Tough love and good groundstrokes
Pictured from left are tennis greats Lindsey Davenport, Tracy Austin, their former coach and honoree Robert Landsdorp, Justin Gimelstob and Maria Sherapova. When Robert Lansdorp’s daughter Stephanie threw a surprise 75 th birthday party for her dad at the West End Racquet & Health Club last November 15, it quickly morphed into something much more than just a party. “It became a celebration of his life and the positive influence he’s had on so many people,” recalled Tracy Austin, one of four junior players Lansdorp put on the path to number one in the world – the only tennis coach ever to accomplish that feat. “I really think at that party everything in his life came full circle for him. I even saw a few tears come out of his eyes.” Former student Jeff Tarango had a similar impression. “Seeing all those players he had developed together in one room served as justification for all those years he acted so crusty and crabby,” Tarango said. “I never took it seriously when he would yell and scream. I used to laugh because it was an act designed to make us better players. And then he would yell at me for laughing at him when he tried to act tough.” Lansdorp said he learned something that…
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