By John Cinnamon
The name Witsken has been synonymous with professional tennis in central Indiana for nearly thirty years, dating back to 1985 when the late Todd Witsken of Carmel turned pro. Now his younger brother Rick, who followed him into the pro ranks in 1991, continues to carry on the tradition by representing the United States in the 34th ITF Seniors World Team Championships, April 21-26 in Florida. A Fishers resident, 43-year-old Rick Witsken was chosen to team with three other players from the U.S. to compete for the Tony Trabert Cup in the Men’s 40 & Over division.
“Representing our country is an incredible honor, and forming a bond with three other Americans for the week, in hopes of conquering other countries’ best competitors is truly remarkable,” said Witsken. “The camaraderie struck with players from other countries is also quite enjoyable. A sense of global peace surrounds the competition.” This will be Witsken’s second time playing for the U.S. in the Seniors World Team Championships. He was on the team in 2011 when the competition was held in New Zealand. Recalling that year’s event, he said, “It was a great experience, except for the fact we were there during a sizable earthquake.”
The ITF (International Tennis Federation) Seniors World Team Championships is the senior tennis equivalent to the Davis Cup and will feature more than 1,000 players from 39 different countries. The event will be held at various clubs across the Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton, Florida area. Witsken’s three teammates in the 40 & Over division, competing in a mix of singles and doubles matches, are Willie Quest, Guillaume Gauthier, and former World No. 2 and 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang,
Witsken is the Founder and Director of Team Witsken, a local organization that provides tennis lessons, clinics, and events in Fishers, in addition to locations around Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville, and Noblesville. He was inspired to create Team Witsken after his brother Todd died of brain cancer in 1998. Founded in 2001, Team Witsken was Rick’s way to further the dream shared by him and his brother to provide a professional atmosphere where players can improve their tennis skills and also become outstanding individuals on and off the court.
