A tennis legend is no more
View(s):I was deeply upset when I returned to Sri Lanka last week for my usual winter gateway, when I heard of the death of my tennis guru and mentor L.P. Ernstat the ripe age of 95 years.
My memories go back to 1952, when with my brother Timothy we won the Inter-schools tennis Doubles title for S. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia.
The Chief Guest at the prize giving was the great L.P. Ernst. I remember him telling me at the prize giving, that I should join the S.L.T.A. as he felt I had the talent to play for Sri Lanka.
I was delighted to get this compliment from the Nation’s No. 1 player. I mentioned this to my father, and he insisted that I join the S.L.T.A. at once.
Having won my college colours at tennis and cricket, he wanted me to represent the country in tennis, and so I embarked on this wonderful journey of trying to play for my country, which I achieved in 1959 and 1960, against Japan and India.
During this journey I was lucky to have Percy to practice with and for guidance. He taught me how to use my head in tennis and the art of how to win matches; he spent hours practicing with me.
I would cycle to his home in Kollupitiya and wait for him, and then we would both go to the Courts in his car. During this period I became friends with his parents and his sister, Cynthia and brother, George. Cynthia represented the country in Netball and became a great Netball coach.
Percy and I also played doubles together and won many tournaments. He was also a great hockey player and loved his bridge. He was a talented sportsman and was the embodiment of physical fitness.
He played tennis into his late Eighties. Tennis, he said, is a lifetime sport and should be taught to every child. How true. I am still teaching and enjoy every moment of it.
Percy never married, which is a pity because he would have made a great father and husband. He was a kind man and generous with his time, helping youngsters in tennis. Above all, he was a gentleman.
He was delighted when I embarked on a coaching career and when I returned from Australia after my coaching certification, he helped me to set up my tennis school.
I lost touch with him when I immigrated to Canada in 1984. After 6 years I decided to spend my winter months in Sri Lanka, doing coaching and was working with the Davis Cup team.
When I last visited him in Kawdana, Dehiwala where he lived with his niece, he was surrounded by many dogs that he was adopting.
“Did you stop to think”, he said, “that a dog is the only animal that makes his living by giving you nothing but love with no ulterior motives?” Thank God his twilight years were spent with love, and he never suffered from the poverty of loneliness.
Good bye my friend and thanks for the memories.
.D.N. Selvadurai,
Toronto, Canada