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Rocky road leads Quinney to Medford By GREG STILES Reaching the top of the tennis world is akin to rock climbing. There aren't a lot of footholds, distractions are potentially harmful and once you reach the pinnacle there's nowhere to go but down. Mark Quinney once aspired to be as recognizable as Andre Agassi, Todd Martin or Pete Sampras. Quinney was good, very good in fact, and even played in a couple of ATP events. But after bouncing around the satellite tour for four years, the 31-year-old Eugene insurance broker realized his goal was beyond reach. "It boils down to ability, determination, perseverance and luck," Quinney says. "The bottom line, though, is ability. "It's a grind up to the top level and I didn't have it in me." He put his dreams aside for the work-a-day world three years ago and now counts himself among the weekend warriors. Quinney will be in town for the sixth annual $10,000 Airport Chevrolet Open Tennis Championships this weekend at Rogue Valley Swim & Tennis Club, where he was the open singles winner in 1996 and 1998. He was at the height of his game in the mid-90s, having beaten 1996 Olympic bronze medalist Leander Paes of India in a tournament at Singapore in 1997. "It was a great confidence booster," Quinney says. "On any given day, I could play with some of these players." Last week, Quinney saw the best of the best golfers competing in the U.S. Open in Tulsa. The youngest of his three brothers, Jeff, the 2000 U.S. Amateur champion, was paired with Tiger Woods during the first two rounds. Did the trip to Oklahoma stir Quinney's competitive juices? "It gets me fired up to go play in some golf tournaments," he admits. But the Pacific Northwest's fifth-ranked open player will turn his attention to the hardcourts this weekend. Quinney launched into the ATP's satellite tour after graduating from Brigham Young in 1992. He traveled internationally, rubbed shoulders with top players and learned the art of raising funds to sustain his career. "The satellite tour was a steppingstone to the main stage," Quinney says. "It's an unbelievable experience to be able to travel the world, meeting people and establishing relationships. I enjoyed the process though and definitely would do it again." Players gain points toward entry into ATP events based on open and satellite performances. It was in 1997 that Jan Michael Gambill of Spokane entered the Rogue Valley tournament as he worked toward a spot on the ATP tour. Gambill is currently ranked No. 4 in the world. The irony, Quinney says, is that playing a series of open tournaments between Seattle and San Francisco can be more lucrative than bouncing around from continent to continent on the satellite tour. "The dilemma is whether to play for money or the (ATP) ranking," Quinney says. "If you play nine or 10 tournaments from Seattle to San Francisco and win all the singles and doubles, you can bring in close to $20,000 in 10 weeks." The $1,750 first-place prize at RVS&TC tops the list for any open event in Oregon. The next stop for the region's open players is the Umpqua Valley Open in Roseburg, followed by the Pacific Western Open in Eugene. Although there are past champs and top-notched Northwest open players in the field, the balance of power can easily shift toward a player still in or just out of college. The younger player's advantage is training time. "I might play twice a week or once or twice for a period of three weeks," Quinney says. "I have to get my golf and squash rounds in too. "I'm just hoping there's enough ice handy so I can ice my body down after each match." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.