Just got back from Davis Cup in Austin, and what fun we had. Wish the Americans were as deep and relentless as the Spaniards, but there’s always another tie...

Here’s a big shout-out to my new BFFs Teresa Risley and Kimi Dailey, who swung by my house near TCU late Thursday afternoon to head south on I-35; helped me take pictures in and around the Frank Erwin Center, site of the big event; gave me awesome inside stuff on the inner workings of North East Tarrant Tennis (NETT); and, most of all, got me back out on the tennis court.

Teresa and Kimi, along with my other new BFF (that’s Best Friend Forever, so now ya know) Tara Santosuosso, rose from the breakfast table on Friday, the first day of Davis Cup, grabbed their rackets and headed for the court right out the kitchen door of their condo. The three of them asked me for about the 10th time if I would like to join them, and I explained for about the 10th time that I was on one of my pathetic five-year hiatuses from playing, and then they started playing two-on-one.

After watching them for 10 minutes, I put down my coffee, slipped on my sneakers and ended my hiatus. I told Tara I should play with her, as she was taking on these two tough gals all by her lonesome, and she was all over it. So I pulled an extra racket out of Kimi’s tennis bag and did my best to make contact.

It worked out great, despite my bad language and constant self-analysis, and now I plan to start taking drills at TCU and maybe even play league. “Vamos a ver,” as the Spaniards would say. “We’ll see.”

Then my gal-pals and I got cleaned up, joined Tara’s husband, Jeff, and headed for the Erwin Center. And that’s where the real fun began (if you can get past the loss of the tie to Spain 3-1...).

Today, since I just got back, I am posting a photo gallery. I will blog about the Davis Cup experience more in the next couple of days — and I will add photos – as I try to digest more of the whirlwind of excitement that was the Davis Cup.

I know there were dozens--maybe hundreds--of you there whom I never saw, so I really, really want you to email me your personal Davis Cup photos for this gallery. Right now!

I would like you, the tennis fans of the Greater Fort Worth area, to tell me your stories and email me your photos (via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Lisa Jordan Kilborn on Facebook—just friend me and we can pull down your photos) of the whole tennis weekend as soon as possible. That way, I can include more perspectives.

There already has been a lot of talk about the decision not to play the fifth match, or dead rubber, denying the fans who wanted to see more tennis of getting to see all the tennis for which they felt they had paid.

There also has been second-guessing among the media, myself included, and the fans about the Spaniards’ close-as-brothers vibe on the bench during every match, juxtaposed against the Americans’ inconsistent presences during each other’s matches. U.S. captain Jim Courier says the players need to do what’s best for them to prepare for their matches, even if it means not sitting on the court while their teammates are playing. Conversely, Spanish captain Albert Costa couldn’t pry his players off the bench during each other’s matches even if he wanted to. They sit—and stand—there, cheering and pounding on their chests with both fists, no matter who is playing, who is getting ready to play and who hasn’t gotten the nod.

Tell me what you guys think about these issues, as well as all about your own experiences, at Davis Cup. TennisFortWorth.com wants your participation, because we respect your opinion.

We are here for you, so tell me what’s on your mind and send me your photos for our gallery.

Read more about my Davis Cup adventure in future installments (Part II–Back to The Future and Part III–Fort Worth-Dallas Ties) in News & Notes and don't forget to check on our growing Davis Cup photo gallery.


###