Former Davis Cup champ talks tennis

Dennis Ralston played the Davis Cup for 15 years

Updated: Friday, 08 Jul 2011, 1:42 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 08 Jul 2011, 5:24 AM CDT

• Kate Weidaw

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Davis Cup gets under way Friday at the Frank Erwin Center.

Unless you're a huge tennis fan you may not realize what a big deal it is to get this tournament in Austin.

It takes place in a different city around the world every year.

Some of tennis's biggest names come out to play in the Davis Cup.

This year, the Bryan brothers -- who held onto their No. 1 ranking after winning Wimbledon last week -- will be playing on Saturday.

Friday, eighth-ranked Mardy Fish and 10th-ranked Austinite Andy Roddick will play their singles matches. The U.S. is taking on Spain.

Rafel Nadal was supposed to play for the Spanish team but dropped out, claiming his schedule was too hectic having just come off Wimbledon -- where he lost in the finals.

Since the Davis Cup started in 1900, the U.S. has captured 32 titles. Meanwhile, Spain has only won four times.

The last time the U.S. won was in 2007, when they beat Russia. That tournament was played in Portland, Ore.

One Austin tennis pro remembers what's it's like to compete in this major event.

Dennis Ralston was the No. 1-ranked tennis player in the world for three consecutive years in the 1960s.

"I've been in the game six decades," said Ralston, former No. 1 World Tennis Player.

He was one of the biggest names in tennis in the 1960s and 70s. Landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1963, he captured the Wimbledon title at the age of 17 in the men's doubles.

"I played over 100 matches at Wimbledon in my career. Not many guys have done that," said Ralston.

And for 15 years, Ralston was a player, coach and captain for the Davis Cup.

"We don't get a chance to have an event like this anywhere in the U.S.," said Ralston.

So it's a big deal that the tournament gets under way Friday in Austin.

"For a lot of people in Austin, it's another event. But for the tennis aficionados, it’s really big. Everywhere they are going to read Spain lost to the U.S. in Austin," said Ralston.

He really hopes it gets more kids in Austin involved in tennis, especially those with disabilities. Ralston himself has one -- a prosthetic leg.

"From all the days of playing, I had some injuries. And I was walking on the side of my foot," said Ralston.

Surgery led to an infection, which led to his leg being amputated below the knee last year.

"That's the hardest part, to be confident to move," said Ralston.

After coaching greats like Chris Evert, he's now hoping to inspire the next generation of players who may someday land in the Davis Cup to never give up.

"I'm just thankful I was able to land on two feet," said Ralston.

Tickets for the Davis Cup have sold out. All of the matches will be televised on the Tennis Channel beginning at 2 p.m. Friday.