A&M coach celebrating Aussie Open anniversary

By RICHARD CROOME
Eagle Sports Writer

	DENTON

Not long after Steve Denton winds down from his first matches as Texas A&M's men's tennis coach Saturday, he may turn on the TV and reminisce a little.

Twenty-five years ago, Denton played in the first of his two grand slam finals (both in Australia), losing to Johan Kriek in the men's singles finals of the Australian Open.

Because the Australian Open was in December back then, the anniversary isn't to the day. And Denton says the field wasn't as stout because the event - then played on grass courts - came so late in the season.

But it hardly diminishes his accomplishment.

"[Ivan] Lendl was there, but he wasn't a good natural grass player and there were a bunch of guys somewhere in the range from No. 4 to whatever," Denton said. "I was pretty good on grass because of my serve, and the grass there was softer, so the ball bounced higher which helped my return of serve."

Denton, who came to Texas A&M from A&M-Corpus Christi on Aug. 8, hinted that he had plenty of other things going for him. Being from South Texas, Denton, who won five five-set matches that tournament, said the suffocating heat in Melbourne played to his benefit.

Denton took full advantage of the conditions and his record 138-mph serve and fell just a couple of sets short of winning a grand slam. The run put him at No. 12 in the world rankings.

Early Sunday morning, the player he says is the best ever, No. 1 Roger Federer, will be playing No. 10 Fernando Gonzales for that same title.