As any tennis player knows, the sport can be humbling. Successful in a variety of pursuits, Pompan took his share of lumps as he was getting started. Upon joining the USTA and entering tournaments, he was often drawn to play one of the top seeds, and usually served as first-round fodder.
It was enough to nearly drive Pompan from the game, until a little luck of the draw came his way.
“I was just about to quit because I couldn’t get past those top seeds,” says Pompan. “Near the end, I was at the L.A. Tennis Club and I saw the first seed had withdrawn from the tournament. I went out on the court with another player, not a seed, and I was brilliant. I was absolutely on fire. I won 6–0, 6–1.”
Posting such a dominant score against an opponent will do wonders for a player’s confidence, which Pompan felt—for a fleeting moment, at least.
“The guy came to the net—a good-natured, happy fellow—and congratulated me. And he said, ‘You know, I’ve been playing tournament tennis for four years and I never won a game until I played you,” Pompan recalled.
“Well, the sails went out then. But at least that put me in a position where I didn’t get the first seed. And that’s how I continued playing.”
Susan Pendo, one of the teaching pros at Pompan’s local tennis club, admires his dedication.
“I have never met a person so ready to play,” she said. “Singles, doubles, it does not matter; he is ready to play at 90 years young. I am thankful when he comes to my clinics, as he is an inspiration for all players.”
Pendo is quite complimentary of Pompan’s game, as self-deprecating as he might be in regard to his own skill level. “He can do anything with the ball,” she says.
The different experiences—from rising to the top spot to traveling the globe—are all part of the journey of
tennis, says Pompan.
“It’s an endless tournament for me.”