Legends of Ky Tennis the Hall of Fame Series

In today's Legends of Kentucky Tennis, Dennis Emery talks with Terry L. Bunnell. Terry shares his lifelong love of tennis and his passion for serving the game. He discusses the Weldon Classic and its important place in Kentucky tennis history, as well as his presidency and mission to make tennis accessible to everyone in the state. Terry was inducted into the Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame in 2025 a...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky Tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Andrew Varga. Andrew of Louisville built an exceptional junior and collegiate tennis career. A four-time Creason and Kentucky State Closed champion, he earned No. 1 state rankings in every junior division, twice topped the Southern Section in doubles, and reached top-75 nationally. At St. Xavier High School, he twice made...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Rick Shafferman. Rick tells of his journey from the park’s programs in Owensboro to the Presidency of the USTA Kentucky and the Raise a Racquet Foundation. The Foundation is the Endowment Fund for USTA Kentucky raising funds for tennis facilities, players and programs throughout Kentucky. Rick was a conference champion at...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Meg Peavy. Meg is the former University of Louisville number one player in the early years of Title nine and and went on to coach at U of L. She speaks about her tennis beginnings as a "parks kid " in Florida. Of special interest is her years’ work on the charitable side of tennis with the rising stars as its founder and o...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Michael Cunningham. Michael tells his story of rising from a lightly recruited junior player to multiple time gold ball winner and US National senior champion. This podcast also covers his Georgetown College years as player and coach, and his relationship with Hall of Famer John Herring. Michael talks about the immense imp...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Joseph Kroh. Joe was the legendary St Xavier Coach who is widely acclaimed as the best high school coach in state high school history.  His Louisville teams won a record 17 state team championships.   More than a high school coach, he was instrumental in guiding his daughter Ashley to great success.  This led to her reachi...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Richard Benson. Rich Benson, originally from Utah came to Kentucky in 1985 to play at the University of Kentucky.  He has remained in Kentucky where he and his family call home. He is the only three time All American in UK Tennis History in doubles and reached the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Tournament as a sophomore. R...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Jeff True. Jeff has been involved with Kentucky Tennis in so many ways.  After successfully playing the National Junior Circuit he played for Indiana.   He coached both the men’s and women’s programs at Western Kentucky.  As part of that he ran over 100 junior tournaments where many top players got their start.  His family...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Colleen Jones Underhill. Colleen was the number one ranked Kentucky Jr. female player for several years as well as securing a top 10 ranking in USTA Southern.  She played for Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville where she was Kentucky High School State Champion and female player of the year.  She continued her successful ten...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Rex Ecarma. Rex Ecarma is a legendary figure in Kentucky collegiate tennis circles. He built the University of Louisville tennis program from playing their home matches at Triangle Park to the Bass Rudd Tennis Center on the U of L Campus. He coached Michael Mather to the NCAA quarterfinals and then a berth on the US Nation...

In today's Legends of Kentucky Tennnis Dennis Emery talks with John Herring. Herring speaks about growing up in tennis and his many roles in the game.  He has been USTA Kentucky Board President and serves on the USTA Southern and National Boards.   He is one of the most successful senior players nationally in the history of the state and talks about how he was a late bloomer in the game competitiv...

In today's Legends of Kentucky Tennnis Dennis Emery talks with Greg Hill Hill emerges from Henderson Kentucky in the mid-80s and became a top southern and national player. Hill talks about his collegiate career at Texas A&M where he was their first NCAA All-American, and his professional career which included wins over players like Agassi.  He speaks about what it was like to be the number two man...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky Tennis Dennis Emery talks with Kevin Collins.   Kevin Collins is the patriarch of one of Kentucky’s leading tennis families     He and his wife Sandy have been involved in all aspects of Kentucky tennis for 40 years. Kevin has won numerous senior level events and has sponsored numerous high level tennis tournaments.  In addition, their children have won high level st...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky Tennis Dennis Emery talks with Vimal Patel.   Hear Vimal Patel’s story of his journey from the public courts of Owensboro to the best tennis venues in the world as a professional. Along the way he trained with Joan Ramey Ford, international coaching icon Rick Macci, and college tennis greatest coach ever Dick Gould.  This podcast includes his impressions of his game,...

Mel Purcell is simply the best player in the history of Kentucky tennis.  This podcast details his rise from Murray Kentucky to Wimbledon.   Along the way he talks about his legendary father Bennie Purcell and winning the NCAA DOUBLES for the University of Tennessee. At multiple times, Purcell was a member of the ATP top twenty.  He details his matches and relationships with the world’s best playe...

Jack Ditty is one of eastern Kentucky’s all time tennis legends.  He is a tireless promoter of USTA events and women’s $60,000 events.  He has been the tournament director for the $60,000 events, most recently the Braidy Industries Women’s Tennis Classic, a USTA Pro Circuit event. The podcast includes the story of his daughter Julie’s rise to an NCAA final and top 100 rankings on the WTA tour in s...

On this second of a two-part series podcast, John English details the history of the Louisville Tennis Classic which featured players like Laver, Ashe, Rosewall, and all the greats. English describes how his brother Sam envisioned the event and with his help and a core group made it happen.  It included building a new facility near the Louisville Zoo, battling the weather, and gaining the support...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with John English.  This is the first conversation in a two-part series. John English - a great player on the Louisville scene and is even more well known for all the wonderful work he did in supporting and growing tennis.  He was a club owner, co-director of the USTA National Clay Courts, numerous exhibitions, as well as the F...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Susan Sloane. Susan is simply the best player the state of Kentucky has ever produced.  She was a child prodigy who went from winning the National championships in the Girls 12 to being ranked top 20 in the world on the WTA Tour for three consecutive years.  Susan talks about playing all four Grand Slams and her matches wi...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Charles Beckman. Beckman went from a multiple Joe Creason Jr. Tournament winner to a two-time state high school champion as a junior. Beckman moved on to have a great career at Texas which saw him make all American three times and reach the NCAA doubles final. As a pro Beckman reach top 50 in the world and successfully com...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Matthew Emery who was ranked as high as number one in the United States at times when he was 16, 17, and 18 years old. He ranked as high as number 15 in the ITF world rankings in singles and 18 in doubles. His junior career was highlighted by winning the US National Clay Court championships in Louisville Kentucky and upset...

Susan Nolan McNeill, originally from Louisville Kentucky, was a leading junior player in the state and in the Southern section throughout her junior years. She became one of the first scholarship players at the University of Kentucky where she played in the top two spots.  Susan went on to play throughout her life at a high-level in USTA Southern events. In this podcast, she discusses the Louisvil...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Eric Quigley - one of the best players in the state on every level. Eric became an urban legend in Louisville when he won four consecutive state high school tennis championships and never lost a match in high school. He continued to have a highly successful college career at the University of Kentucky where he not only rea...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Julie Ditty Qualls. Julie is recognized as the second-best singles player and the best doubles player the state has ever produced on the national scene. Her professional career included top 100 rankings on the WTA tour in both singles and doubles. A winner at every level, she led Vanderbilt to the NCAA team final, won mult...

In today’s Legends of Kentucky tennis conversation, Dennis Emery talks with Gary Plock. Gary was inducted into the Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame in 1986 and is one of the top 10 male players in the state of Kentucky’s history. Gary was top 10 in the United States in the juniors, a member of the US Junior Davis Cup Team as well as ranking number one in Kentucky for many years. Gary was one of only t...