Ronald Holmberg - Biography

Biography

The following biography is based on the USTA Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame and USTA Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductions. The original text was submitted to the USTA by tennis historian Steve Flink and presented by him during the induction ceremony.

In the late 1950s and ‘60s World Tennis magazine frequently paid tribute to Ron Holmberg’s tennis ability: “Holmberg can do more with a tennis ball than any other player of his era. There is no shot that is beyond his aptitude ... His touch, power and stroke making are beautiful to watch.”

Indeed, the U.S. Tennis Association Official Encyclopedia of Tennis sites Holmberg as one of “the leading tennis players of his day.” He ranked among the top 10 in U.S. Men’s Singles nine times during the '50s and '60s, he was a semifinalist at the U.S. National Championships (the US Open), a quarter-finalist at the French (the French Open), won the singles crown once and doubles crowns twice at the Canadian Open in Toronto and he won the U.S. National Indoor Doubles Championship among other titles.

His record was impressive, but more importantly, Holmberg was a spectator’s delight. Steve Flink, a past editor of World Tennis said, “Ron was his own kind of player, a consummate stylist, which made him stand out. He reminded me of Ken Rosewall in that he was so effortless. He could hit winners from everywhere.” In fact, Flink remembers watching him play Rosewall in the Wimbledon warm-up at the Queen’s Club, London, in the late ‘60s. Holmberg was down a set and 2-0, but after a rain delay, he found his timing and completely took over the match. “He was brilliant!” said Flink.

Holmberg learned the game in his native Brooklyn at Fort Greene Park and progressed through the N.Y.C. Parks system. Tennis was merely another game to complement baseball and basketball, but his potential carried him beyond his roots into the national arena when he was 14. He met teaching pro John Nogrady, who was a tremendous help, especially with match-play strategy. During these formative years Ron feels very lucky to have also worked closely with some of the all time greats: Pancho Segura, Pancho Gonzalez, Bobby Riggs, Jack Kramer and Emmett Pare’, all top playing professionals who took Ron under their wing and remained good friends throughout his career to the present. In 1953, at age 15, Ron won three out of the four U.S. National Boys’ titles and in 1954, played in his first U.S. National Men’s Championships at Forest Hills (US Open).

Attaining a top junior ranking in the United States, Ron was highly recruited and wound up taking his powerful serve and volley game to New Orleans, Louisiana and Coach Emmett Pare’ at Tulane University. Winner of Junior Wimbledon Singles in 1956, Ron was named All-American three successive years and twice won the NCAA Doubles Championship, prior to graduation from Tulane University. While at Tulane, he was the SEC Singles Champion in 1958 and 1959 and the SEC Doubles Champion in ’57, ’58 and ’59 with Crawford Henry and Lester Sack. In 1956 Ron began a string of appearances at the Men’s Sugar Bowl Tennis Classic in New Orleans that lasted nearly two decades. During that time he won a remarkable twelve singles and doubles titles.

A former playing member of the U.S. Davis Cup Team, Ron was ranked #7 in the world in 1960 and in the “Top Ten” in U.S. Men’s Singles for nine years. Ron also won numerous international doubles titles with many prominent partners such as Barry MacKay (in Davis Cup), Pancho Gonzalez, John Newcombe, Tony Roche, Bob Mark, and Arthur Ashe (Holmberg and Ashe were ranked # 3 in the U.S.). Ron spent nineteen years on the “International Circuit” and in 1971 retired from professional competition to become Head Coach of Tennis and Squash at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point and served as President of the Eastern Collegiate Tennis Coaches Association.

Today Ron Holmberg has an international reputation as one on the game’s outstanding coaches. The Ron Holmberg Tennis Camps, owned and operated by Ron, were among the premiere tennis camps in the United States from 1971 to 1989.

“Teaching is terrific, as is coaching”, says Holmberg. “It’s fun to work with a group when everybody enjoys being there ... I do not choose to teach people strictly on ability, but on their desire to learn. For this reason all my lessons are enjoyable.”

Ron’s teaching reflects his approach to life. “Ron is a direct person and uncompromising in his principles”, says one former student, “but he’s also carefree.” Ron’s personality comes across on the tennis court. He talks about the game in very precise terms, yet he believes players should spend time just fooling around on the court (other than practice). He feels that players who do that love the game and learn to be creative. The Holmberg philosophy: “Hit the ball as hard as you can and as close to the lines as you can, but don’t miss!”

Ron is a member of the ATP, USPTA and USTA. Year-round he directs Junior Development programs and pro/celebrity tournaments ... conducts corporate outings ... teaches and coaches regional, national and international tournament players ... and conducts clinics and workshops for professional coaches and teachers. Ron also participates in, helps and directs numerous charity events. Ron, a member of the prestigious “Instruction Advisory Board of Tennis Magazine” for its nineteen-year duration, was also director of the Bob Griese / Jerry Lewis Pro-Celebrity Tennis Tournament for Muscular Dystrophy.

Ron, a member of the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame, the Tulane Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame and the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, was elected in 2011 into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, his eighth Hall of Fame. He is one of the USPTA's select "Master Professionals".

In 1997 Ron was recipient of the USPTA “Lifetime Achievement Award” which signifies all-around accomplishment in both playing and teaching.

In 1999 Ron received the USTA “George Seewagen Award” which signifies excellence in playing and service to the game.

In 2010 Ron became Chairman of The Louisiana Tennis Patrons Foundation.

In 2010 Ron participated in his 61st consecutive year at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships ... having played in the event from 1953 to 1972 ... a remarkable twenty years.

Ron Holmberg has resided in New Orleans since his playing days at Tulane, with stints in both Houston and Dallas, Texas. He also maintains a home – “Match Point Acres” in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, with his beautiful wife, Sylvia.

Ron Holmberg is multi-faceted. He worked as an ESPN broadcaster over a three-year period beginning in 1981. His life is one of a jet-setter ... always on the go, socializing with many successful people in the entertainment and sports industries, who have become good friends. His daughter, Holly, “the light of my life”, attended Emory University in Atlanta, GA. After her graduation Ron traveled even more extensively. Incredibly, he played in regular pickup basketball games all around the country at every opportunity. “Basketball is my first love”, he says, “probably because I was better at tennis ... My good friend, John Andariese, (the voice of the New York Knicks) knows basketball the way I know tennis, but we both love the other sport ... life is funny that way.”