Patrick Walker – Difference Maker
Written By: Michael D. McClellan | The stifling summer heat arrives in Charleston the same time Patrick Walker does, both equally hellbent on making history at the 2019 Public Courts Tennis Tournament. Unyielding, oppressive forces each in their own right, it’s the heat that strikes first, the vast area of hot and sultry air swallowing the Kanawha Valley whole and driving all of the title matches indoors at Charleston Tennis Club. Walker, the former head pro at CTC and now the tennis el jefe at Windmill Harbour’s South Carolina Yacht Club, takes the court not long after, one win away from equaling the most Men’s Open titles in the tournament’s storied, 60-year history. That the very man standing in his way also stands across the net from him on this day is, in a word, poetic; James Kent and Patrick Walker’s dominance, much like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s dominance on a grander scale, has come to define an era of tennis in a region known for producing tennis thoroughbreds. (Think Charleston’s Anne White, who reached the fourth round of both the French Open and U.S. Open in the early ‘80s, or Huntington’s Jeff Morrison, who beat future World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero at Wimbledon in 2002, and you begin to get the idea.) And, like Federer and Nadal, theirs is a rivalry intertwined for the better part of two decades, one player older and in possession of the all-time Public Courts crown, the other chasing relentlessly from behind.
But there’s much more to it than that. There is plenty to unpack when examining the James Kent / Patrick Walker dichotomy, their relationship running far deeper than the outcome of the match on this day, regardless of its significance. A Kent win gives him 11 titles to Walker’s nine. A Walker win squares them at 10 apiece. At 40 years old, and with a thriving financial business and three young children to raise, Kent enters the match as the clear underdog. Walker, seven years his junior and his game sharp from teaching tennis daily, is the prohibitive favorite. The 6-4, 6-1 result fulfills that prophecy, and as they shake hands at the net and reporters gather for interviews, fifteen years of shared Public Courts domination gives way to the mutual admiration each man has for the other. In a sport where love is a fundamental element, the love that truly counts is evident in the eyes of both the victor and the vanquished. You don’t get there just by blasting 130-mph serves at each other, or just by ripping forehands that explode from the string bed in a beautifully timed act of violence. Had they only measured themselves against the other’s greatness all these years, their weapons on full display but the emotional core of their rivalry removed from the equation, James Kent versus Patrick Walker still would have been compelling theatre. All of the haymakers and deft counterpunching aside, we really care because the storylines and backstories involved have everything – and nothing at all – to do with the game of tennis.
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“I have had the privilege to watch Patrick’s development as a tennis player from the age of 11 until now. When I first moved to Huntington in 2001, I coached him in the junior tennis program at Ritter Park. Patrick was obviously a very athletic kid with a nice, calm personality off of the tennis court, but he got upset with himself easily on the court. His voice was so high-pitched at the time, which was hilarious looking back. Great memories of a great friend.” – James Kent
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Wind the clock back to the pre-Y2K world that is 1997. Smartphones are primitive, app-less devices still used for – wait for it – making phone calls. Deep Blue beats chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov at his own game. Mike Tyson takes a bite out of Evander Holyfield’s ear. A 21-year-old Tiger Woods becomes the youngest-ever golfer to win the Masters. Princess Diana dies fleeing the paparazzi.
In 1997, a preadolescent Patrick Walker is in the larva stage of his love affair with tennis, picking up a racquet at the urging of his father, a surgeon who himself had once played at the collegiate level. The game comes naturally to Patrick. Even back then his flexibility is off the charts, his torso capable of winding and unwinding like a human rubber band, a gift from God that is, for tennis players everywhere, the Holy Grail of racquet head speed.
For Patrick, tennis is fun from the jump – he starts out hitting with his father before graduating to junior tennis, clinics, and private instruction – but what’s really big at this moment in his life is basketball. When he’s not watching, he’s playing. When he’s not playing, he’s dreaming. Young Patrick is consumed with all things Michael Jordan, from the shoes to the swagger to the tongue sticking out on those drives to the rim. He’s geeked out over the movie Space Jam and believes that one day he too can be like Mike, escaping earth’s gravity long enough to throw down an array of acrobatic dunks. He can recount every second of the Chicago Bulls’ fourth quarter run against the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the ’97 NBA Finals, a run culminating with MJ’s perfect pass to Steve Kerr for the 17-foot jumper that wins the championship. Quiz him about that Bulls team and 11-year-old Patrick Walker knows every player on it, from His Airness to Scotty Pippen to the Jordanaires who come off the bench to spark that run. He can also rattle off a good number of players from just about every other NBA team, and why not? He’s already a student of the game, a dreamer who sees himself on the same trajectory as the players currently balling in The Association.
Whereas basketball is his first love and the girl to whom he gives his first kiss, tennis is his steady. He’s already better than most other kids his age, and has more natural ability than nearly everyone else ahead of him. The heavy forehand, coupled with catlike reflexes and on-the-fly instincts that can’t be taught, suggest a future connected to the sport in some way. The better his game becomes, the more vested he becomes in it. Soon he can’t get enough. Working with Kent at Ritter Park fuels the fire. Kent, fresh off a successful college tennis career at West Virginia University, is the complete package, a workmanlike player who checks all the boxes and does everything well. And when he plays exhibitions at Ritter, he provides his young protégé with a glimpse of what it will take for him to go next level. His game is also built on power, but it’s far more nuanced than Walker’s: Sublime balance. Gorgeous footwork. Bombing serves. Even better returns. He focuses. He defends. He’s a master of point construction. It’s a blueprint that Walker will follow in the coming years, weaponizing it with his own breathtaking athleticism and then using it to unnerve and overcome the man he calls teacher, friend, and rival.
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“Patrick’s game jumped up several levels while he worked with a local pro, Murphy Payne. He trained maybe 6 hours a day or more for numerous years until he was about 17 or 18. At the time, I was traveling on the Futures circuit. I would hit with him from time-to-time and knew that he was going to be really good. In fact, I played him in the Ashland City Championships when I finished the Tour and beat him 6-4, 6-4. I remember thinking after the match that it might be a long time before I would beat him again.” – James Kent
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“For as long as I have known Pat he has provided a solid foundation as a friend, coach and mentor to me and my two sons. He’s always there for encouragement, support and guidance. I am forever grateful to have him in our lives; he’s family.” – Lisa Kolb Hughes
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Patrick Walker comes from a big family. John and Peggy Margaret Walker had two children of their own before adopting seven more, including Patrick, so it’s fair to say that the Walker house is an uninterrupted blur of activity for the better part of a decade –of impromptu sleepovers, board game marathons, play rehearsals, bike rides, chase in the front yard, movies and popcorn on a Friday night. It’s hard to imagine the kitchen getting a break, or the washer and dryer for that matter. There are also plenty of lessons to be learned in a house teeming with people, universal concepts like cooperation, patience, understanding, and forgiveness. There’s laughter and hurt feelings. There are sibling rivalries, and the occasional hostility that comes along with them. There’s competition – over the bathroom, the phone, the most comfortable chair in the living room, the last candy bar in the pantry. And there’s responsibility – the trash needs to go out, the groceries need put up, and the grass needs cut. All things that shape Patrick Walker into the man that he is today.
Fast-forward to 2018. Walker is the head pro at CTC, his positive attitude and magnetic personality impossible to ignore, his flock of young-and-impressionable tennis campers hanging on every word. If he has a bad day it rarely if ever shows. He’s idolized for his tennis exploits and loved for the way he makes each camper feel as if they’re the very reason he teaches tennis. The charm is hardly an act: There’s a genuine warmth at work here, the kind that comes from growing up in the loving chaos of a big family. He uses these skills every day, drawing on life experiences to better relate to his students. It doesn’t matter if one kid is preternaturally suited to game, and another can barely hold a racquet. Patrick Walker treats them all the same.
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“The first thing I think of is the kind of person Patrick is inside. I respect him as a player because he’s amazing, and I consider him a great coach as well. But more important than that, he is enjoyable to be around. I am very fortunate that I got the chance to be around him as I grew up. It was also a lot of fun to work with him in the CTC summer camps as well, and getting to see how the kids enjoyed being around him and learning from him. He has an infectious personality.” – Anthony McIntosh
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“Pat is undoubtedly one of the most skillful tennis players I have ever witnessed. Pat’s groundstrokes are pure and dangerous from every corner of the court. I had an opportunity to play against Pat, and every time I returned his serve I felt like a truck had hit me. Beyond that, he is a great ambassador for tennis, both on and off the court. Pat is an excellent tennis player and coach, but more importantly, he is a great friend.” – Alek Gracin
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In 2005, James Kent equals Kevin Ball’s record by winning his seventh Public Courts Men’s Open titles. That championship also represents a changing of the guard, as Kent, still in his prime, has to deal with a young Patrick Walker in full effect. Walker proves as much by dominating Kent a year later, 6-4, 6-1, staking his claim as the best player in the region. In 2007 he beats Jacob Eddins, 6-1, 6-3, a two-time West Virginia high school state singles champion. Adam White upsets Walker in 2008, with heat and cramps playing a factor. Walker reclaims his crown in 2009, beating Kent 7-6, 6-3, and defends his title three years running, beating Chad Pierron (7-6, 6-1) in 2010; Chris Pratt (6-1, 7-5) in 2011; and Pratt again in 2012 (7-6, 6-7, 6-4). By winning the title six times in seven years, Walker is now breathing down the necks of both Ball and James for all-time Public Courts supremacy.
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“I hated losing to Patrick, actually, but I always respected how far his game has come. He wasn’t a great junior player but he turned into a monster. I wish he could have played a couple of years full-time on the pro circuit to see his full tennis potential. However, he lets his tennis racquet do the talking on the court, much like me. We both compete hard, win some, lose some, but always show up for the battles.” – James Kent
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In 2013 it’s Kent who finally bests Walker in the final, winning 7-5 (7-6), 4-6, 7-5. The win means Kent stands alone at the Public Courts championship summit, but for how long? Walker, at 27, is in his prime; Kent, a seasoned 34, is starting a family and growing a business. The win buys Kent time, but the unyielding duality of age and responsibility conspires against him. But that’s a conversation for another day. On this day Kent is king, and the rivalry rages on.
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“I broke the all-time record for Public Courts singles titles in 2013 by beating him. Mentally, it was one of the toughest matches of my life. It wasn’t the best quality match for either of us, but we fought each other tooth and nail.” – James Kent
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Walker wins his seventh title a year later, beating Ryan Massinople, 6-3, 6-3. There is a circle of life feel to this final, given that Massinople was a long-time student under Walker, just as Walker’s future had once been shaped by Kent. That Massinople defeats Kent in the semis only adds to the intrigue. It’s also a reminder that time waits for no one; Walker, the new kid on the block not that long ago, is now being hunted by the next generation of tennis players. He’s no longer the young man striking out on his own and trying to make it on the ITF circuit, bouncing from one city to the next, grinding through the qualifiers in hopes of breaking through to the main draw. Those carefree days are long gone. He’s got that day job at CTC now, where he gives lessons to kids like Massinople, who dream of one day beating Walker at his own game, just like Walker is doing to Kent now.
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Kent enjoys a renaissance the next two years, beating Chris Pratt (6-2, 6-1) in 2015 and Walker (7-6, 3-6, 6-3) in 2016, pushing his Public Courts singles haul to 10. At age 37, Kent straddles the line between perennial contender and lion in winter, his championship days clearly numbered.
For now, Walker has no such problem. He wins the next two – a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 gem against Kent in 2017, and an equally tense match a year later, defeating former University of Charleston No. 1 player Alec Foote, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4. That win completes a three-peat for Walker gives him nine titles, again drawing him to one behind Kent.
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“Pat is a genuine guy that will always make you laugh. He’s a tough competitor on the court, and I wish his serve wasn’t so damned big [laughs]. It’s been a pleasure playing against him at Public Courts, it’s always been a battle.” – Alec Foote
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James Kent and Patrick Walker each have 10 Public Courts titles now. Who knows what the future holds. Kent’s family and business responsibilities aren’t slowing down anytime soon, and Walker teaches tennis in Hilton Head Island. Whether they meet again for Public Courts supremacy is anyone’s guess, but what they’ve given us over the past decade is beyond special. More importantly, what they’ve given each other is something that will last a lifetime.
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“The day of that 2019 final against Patrick, I decided that maybe it’s my last match at Public Courts because I have three little kids and things going on. I have not decided if I will play it in 2020. I owe him the opportunity to compete for the all-time Public Courts singles titles against me. Either way, I wish him nothing but the very best. I have appreciated our friendship over the years. He’s very honest and caring, and I would imagine that’s why people are drawn to his magnetic personality. I am happy for him and his family, and wish him the best of luck going forward. I’m very thankful for the time we’ve spent together, and for our friendship. Patrick Walker is a difference maker, and my life is better because of it.” – James Kent
Take me back to the beginning.
I had a great childhood. I was born at The Ohio State University, and was adopted by my parents when I was four months old. There are nine of us – two are biological and the rest are adopted – so mama’s got a big heart on her.
My mom wasn’t very athletic but she was very brainy and loved to read, so she was the bookworm in the family. She went to Michigan State University and became a math professor at Marshall University after we moved to Huntington. She’s one of six siblings, so she came from a big family, which is probably why she wanted to adopt and have a big family of her own. She’s a very creative person as well. She loves to sing and act, and she also learned how to play the harp and the piano. When I was three or four, she contracted a disease that affected her legs and limits her walking ability, so she’s been in a wheelchair almost all of my life. I admire my mom greatly because she never let her disability get her down, and never used it as an excuse. She’s a strong-willed lady in that respect. She set a great example for us to follow.
My father went to medical school at the University of Missouri and played tennis there, which is a big reason that I got into tennis in the first place. He did his residency in Columbus before moving to Huntington to practice. He’s still a general surgeon at the VA hospital in Huntington and still does surgery there, but not quite as often these days because he’s taken on a bigger role in administration. I guess you could say he’s the big guy [laughs].
You were home schooled. What are some of the memories that stand out?
Mom and dad are Lutheran, so I went to preschool at the Lutheran Church. Our mother then home schooled both me and my sister, who is four months older than I am, which I actually liked a lot because I didn’t have to wake up early, I could do schoolwork in my pajamas, and I could eat whatever I wanted without being limited. I could also live on the court, either playing basketball or tennis, which better suited my personality. All of my brothers and sisters were into acting and singing, but not this guy. This guy is active, and if he’s going to perform it’s going to be in a sports atmosphere. I did go out for acting once to make my mom happy. I was the Mayor of Munchkin City in a school play, so I did my part on stage [laughs].
You started out playing basketball and then transitioned to tennis.
Basketball was my thing early on. There were times when I’d go outside and practice till midnight, and other times when the neighborhood kids would come over and play. Back then I was consumed with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. I grew up watching Jordan play against the guys like Karl Malone, John Stockton, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. I caught a glimpse of the great Dr. J, but unfortunately he wasn’t in his prime.
I eventually got into gymnastics, baseball, and tennis, but I lived and breathed basketball until I was 10 years old. Ironically, it was basketball that led me into tennis. Dad was watching me play in a game where I made a block and converted some acrobatic layups, so I think he recognized my potential. He was like, “Your flexibility is ridiculous. Let’s try tennis. Let’s see what happens.” And I was like, “Can I still play basketball?” He said, “If you play tennis then you get to play basketball,” so it became this equal sports reality where dad taught me the basics of tennis, and I continued to have fun playing basketball every chance I could. Then I got better at tennis and started to fall in love with the game, and before long it naturally started to take over my recreational time. It wasn’t long after that that I began to play the game competitively.
Do you remember your first match?
Yes [laughs]! I played my first match when I was 11 years old, against a kid named Jared Miller. He had been playing for a while, and he really kicked my butt. When it was over I looked at my dad and said, “I’m good, I don’t want to compete. I’m done with this tennis thing. I think I’ll just go back to playing basketball.” But dad didn’t let me off the hook. He explained that it was just one match, and he promised me that I would figure it out. He was like, “You will have those types of days, Patrick. You’ll actually learn more from the losses than you will from the matches you win.” Then he asked me if I’d learned anything. I thought for a minute and said, “Yeah. I learned not to play tennis ever again!” He repeated the question, and I told him that it was going to take a while to figure out this tennis thing, and that I had a lot to learn. He smiled and said, “That was the whole purpose of this first match. Patrick, you are on your way to becoming a tennis player.”
Did you jump straight from hitting with your father to private lessons?
No, the next step in my development was playing in clinics. I was 12 years old at this point. I was still hitting with dad, which was great, but the clinics allowed me to get to know the other kids that were playing. There was also a social aspect that I really enjoyed. I looked forward to the time on the court, but the time before and after was fun as well. It was also a great transition to private lessons.
Who were some of the pros that influenced your growth as a tennis player?
At about the age of 14 I started taking lessons from a guy named Tim Keegan, who taught at Ritter Park in Huntington. Tim worked with me until a guy named Billy Levi came to town. Billy was a great guy. He taught lessons at Guyan Golf & Country Club in Huntington, as well as at the Huntington Tennis Academy on Fifth Avenue near Marshall University. Billy made me love tennis a little more because he made the game fun. He was very hands on, and you could tell by his energy that he loved the game, which helped to motivate me to practice and play harder.
Eventually, Billy found a better job opportunity in Ohio and had to leave the area, and at that point I started working with a guy named Keith McCarthy. Keith wasn’t really hands on, but he was very technical and went down into the really intense parts of tennis. He was also very direct and blunt. He was like, “You gotta do this, and you gotta do this, and here is what you really need to work on.” He would propose a challenge of some kind, maybe fifty forehands down the line without an error. I’d work on it until I met the challenge, and the he’d give me another one. My game started to take on a different vibe because of Keith, and my confidence started to go through the roof. Then a guy named Murphy Payne came along. Murphy’s the one who really took my game to the next level. He helped me see the game in an entirely different way.
All of these teachers were important building blocks in my development. They helped make the game fun, and they also showed me how to compete both physically and mentally.
As a young player on the way up, what was it like to hit with James Kent?
James was teaching outdoors at Ritter Park, and during the winter months they would build the bubble so we could hit year round. I love challenges, and beating James became my next big challenge. My game kept getting bigger. My confidence was through the roof. Then I played him that first time, and I quickly learned I nowhere close to taking him down [laughs].
Kent pushed you to become a better tennis player.
James is about eight years older than I am. He was fresh out of college at the time, and I was still trying to graduate from high school. It was a fun, challenging period in my tennis life, and a lot like the movie Groundhog Day; we would play and he would beat me down, then I would go off and try to improve my game, and then we would play again and he’d beat me down all over again. It really opened my eyes. I made a list because I knew that if I were going to beat him, these were the things that I needed to do. So I kept playing, kept practicing, and kept setting goals that I could achieve. One New Year’s Eve I said to myself, “This is the day. I’m going to do it right here. I’m playing too good to lose.” We warmed up and I felt really good about how I was striking the ball. Then, about 2 ½ hours later, I walked off the court having beaten him 6-4, 7-5. After being dominated by James Kent for so long, it felt really good to finally break through. I felt like I had taken a big step.”
Around this time, you played an exhibition match against Jeff Morrison.
One day I was hitting with Murphy at the Huntington Tennis Academy when Jeff Morrison and his dad walked in. Jeff was from Huntington and had played at the University of Florida, where his doubles partner was Marty Fish. I believe they won two NCAA titles together. Jeff was Top 100 in the world at one time, and in 2002 he beat Juan Carlos Ferrero to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Ferrero would go on to hold the World No. 1 ranking, so Jeff beating him at Wimbledon was a really big deal.
Being from Huntington, everyone in the tennis community knew Jeff. He’d played exhibitions with people like James Blake, Julie Ditty, and Todd Martin, so when he walked in that day the place was buzzing. I wanted to make an impression, because I was hoping Jeff might like to hit with me. I’m blasting balls at Murphy and he’s ripping them back, and for about 10 minutes I’m not missing. I’m busting my butt and pouring the sweat. Jeff hits with his dad on the next court, and then they leave without saying a word. I took that as an insult. I’m thinking to myself, “Just because you are the top guy in Huntington and you’ve made the ATP Tour, why would you walk into the Tennis Academy and blow off another local up-and-comer who wants to hit?”
A little later, Jeff’s dad comes up to me and says, “Hey, Jeff is putting on an exhibition, would you want to play against him?” I was like, “Of course!” It took about a week to set up, so I used that time to prepare, and then we played the exhibition at the Huntington Tennis Club in Barboursville. I remember walking in and a guy asking me how many games I thought I’d get. I said six. Someone else walked by and asked the same question, and I gave him the same answer. Then we played and I beat him 7-6 in a tiebreaker. Those guys couldn’t believe that I’d just beaten Jeff Morrison, a guy who’d reached No. 85 in the world. Man, it was so much fun! It also boosted my confidence because he was fresh off the Tour and I’d stepped out there and played really well against him. After that exhibition I decided to go pro, so playing and beating Jeff was a big deal.
Did you go out and celebrate?
I celebrated by playing a doubles exhibition right after our match [laughs]. Scott Zent was my partner. We’d never met up to that point. Scott was so good with his hands, he could do anything he wanted to with the ball. You play tennis with someone like that and you learn things about the game that you never thought were possible.
You played 7-time Public Courts champ Kevin Ball when you were 14.
It was in the Royal Tournament at CTC, on the stadium court, and Kevin beat me 6-3, 6-2. I was convinced I’d beat him without much effort, and afterwards I was like, “Who is this guy?!” Losing to him taught me not to take anyone lightly.
Was there a rematch?
The Daymark Tournament was next. I was hoping that Kevin would play, because I wanted another crack at him. He didn’t play, but Ron Williams did. I didn’t know anything about Ron Williams, but it didn’t take me long to find out. He was from Australia, a very good athlete, and one heck of a tennis player. We met in the finals, and he really knew how to use his height. He was also very cerebral, the kind of player who always seemed to be thinking one step ahead of you. We split sets and then I beat him 6-1 in the third. I walked off the court and someone says, “Do you know who you just beat?” That’s when I learned about some of the things he’d accomplished on the tennis court. After that, I wasn’t so bummed about not getting the chance to redeem myself against Kevin Ball.
You followed James Kent onto the ITF circuit.
I got my GED and graduated from high school, and then I told my dad that I wanted to go pro. He asked me if I was sure, like any good parent would do, and I promised him that I was ready and that I would attack it. That’s when I started touring with Murphy. We went to Illinois and Indiana and played the ITF Futures, which were $15,000 and $20,000 tournaments. It’s extremely competitive. You have to win four qualifier rounds just to get into the main draw. The main draw is where you get your ATP points. You have to win six matches to earn one point. If you think about that, it’s insanely difficult. It’s very cutthroat out there.
Tell me about your first Futures match.
I played a very close and competitive match against a young kid from the Czech Republic. He had a ton of talent, and everyone was talking about him making it on the ATP Tour. It was a confidence booster for me even though I’d come up short on the scoreboard. When you’re on the circuit, you really don’t have time to dwell on the result. As soon as you lose it’s over, and you’re on to the next city and the next tournament.
How did the next tournament go?
I won three matches and made it to the last round of the qualifier, where I end up playing a kid from Wake Forest. I was a little nervous stepping onto the court that day because I knew what was at stake. I tried to keep the moment from getting too big for me but I was really young, had never played college tennis, and had gone straight to the pro circuit. I got tight and lost the match 6-3, 6-4. It was disappointing, but I had to chalk it up as a misstep and then learn from the experience. That’s what you do when you’re trying to make it. But, in my own defense, I was learning on the fly.
You end up cutting your ITF career short. Tell me about that.
We traveled to a tournament in North Carolina, which was fun because James Kent was there and we were able to hit and socialize a little bit. I easily beat my first opponent. My second match ends when the kid I’m playing gets heat exhaustion, so now I’m into the third round and playing a kid from the University of South Carolina. He’d won the national championship that year, so I knew he would be a big challenge. I lost that match 7-5, 7-6. I was super excited about the score and the way I’d played, but dad called and said it was time to come home. I tried to convince him that I was almost there, but he said, “You might be close, but we don’t have any more time because I’m running out of money [laughs].” That’s when I came back and started teaching tennis.
Most people don’t realize how expensive it is to play on the circuit. It’s not as glamorous as one might think.
Trying to make it on the circuit is insane. It’s so expensive. If you are not Top 150 you aren’t making it. You scraping along and pinching every penny. You’ve got to pay to string your rackets. You’ve got to pay for your hotel, your gas, your food, your clothes, the whole shebang. It is expensive in a hurry, especially if you’re not cracking the main draw and winning matches. If you’re going to do it, you’d better have a lot of financial backing, otherwise you’d better have a heck of a lot of talent.
At least you have no regrets.
Absolutely. It was expensive, but it was also eye-opening in other ways. It made me appreciate how hard it is for even the most talented players to make it at that level. I had beaten Jeff Morrison and I was competing against some really good players, but I couldn’t get there. That’s how competitive it is. But I’m thankful. If it wasn’t for my parents adopting me, I probably never would have had the opportunity to try in the first place.
Did you ever think about giving the circuit one more try?
My plan was to earn money by teaching, and then go back out on the circuit. Well, the problem with that plan was that I didn’t have a car [laughs]. Dad took me out and together we found a 2000 Chevy Cavalier. It had high mileage, the air-conditioning didn’t work, and it had roll-down windows, so it wasn’t the best, but it got me from point A to point B. From there I was able to start working at Bellefonte Country Club in Ashland, Kentucky. That’s where I met Todd Wise. He helped me get started with my teaching gig and from there I was on my own. I picked up a few lessons, and suddenly I’m like, “All right, I’m making some money!” Dad was like, “Okay, but know you’ve got to pay for your own gas.” At that point I realized I needed to focus on my teaching career [laughs].
I’d say it worked about pretty good. You’re a natural teacher.
When I was sixteen, my dad told me that tennis was a sport I could play and enjoy my whole life. As a tennis instructor, there’s really no limit to your earning potential, but there’s more to it than that. You can be a role model and a mentor. It’s really cool when you see young kids who are struggling, and you are able to step into their lives and help pick them up. It’s about helping someone, no matter what the skill level. If you approach it the right way they will look up to you, and the lessons that you share will stay with them forever. Making a difference in someone’s life is what I love to do.
Let’s talk Public Courts. When did you first hear about it?
Actually, it was James Kent who came up to me and said, “Man, you gotta play Public Courts. It’s really cool. There’s nothing like the Charleston tennis community. When you win, there is a banquet, and you get your name in the paper. It’s a big deal.” So I told him I’d check it out. James had won seven Public Courts titles before I started playing in the tournament.
Take me back to your first Public Courts.
My first appearance in Public Courts was 2006. I played John Prokity in the quarters, and at the time I didn’t realize how many Public Courts championships he had won. I beat him and he says, “Good luck with James, you guys will be one hell of a match. Everyone in Charleston is going to come watch.” Well, I rolled through the semis, beating a kid from the University of Charleston two-and-two, and then I get to James. He was the defending champion, and he was playing some phenomenal tennis. His game was so smooth and clean. His serve was a big. His returns were unbelievable…ridiculous. The first set was a tight battle in the heat, but I won it, 6-4. I caught fire in the second set and beat him, 6-1. I remember shaking hands at the net and him saying, “Welcome to Public Courts.”
And your first Public Courts banquet?
I took my mom. This was the era of my Ben Wallace hairdo, the giant Afro. Ben was a great NBA player who rocked that look, and that was behind my inspiration. I wanted to bring basketball to the tennis court. It was my absolute favorite look. It was awesome.
Did you ever cross paths with Kevin Ball in the tournament?
One year I ended up playing Kevin Ball in the semis. I wore an all-white outfit and beat him 6-3, 6-4. I finally got my revenge [laughs].
You’ve had many memorable battles with James Kent. Any that stand out?
There are so many moments, it’s hard to pick one. One year I’m playing James, and he is battling a case of the yips. We’re talking about a guy who cranks out 130 mile-per-hour serves, and then, all of a sudden, nothing. I remember waiting to return, and his serve hits the service line before it ever gets to the net. I’m thinking that maybe there’s something in his eyes, but then he does it again. And I’m like, “What in the world is going on?” Later on I learned that he wasn’t used to someone beating the ball back to him like I was, and he sort of lost confidence in his serve. I mean, this guy had one of the biggest serves in Charleston, but it got to the point where he had to serve underhand to get the ball into the service box on the other side of the net. It’s one of those wacky memories for sure.
The James Kent / Patrick Walker rivalry has blossomed into a great friendship.
We stay in touch all of the time. We are great friends. I tell kids today that you can have a great rivalry, but you can still be friends off the court. To use a basketball analogy, it’s like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Both wanted to win, and both tried their very best to beat the other’s brains out, and in the process that competition brought out the best in both of them. That’s how it has been with me and James. And just like with Larry and Magic, our friendship goes far beyond the tennis court. We will always be friends.
What has been your most disappointing result at Public Courts?
In 2008, when I lost to Adam White. That was the first time I had ever cramped before. It was so hot. The cramping started with my forearm, then my calf cramped, and then both hips and both arms. I couldn’t move. I went home, pounded some pickle juice, and promised myself that would never happen again. Then I came back in 2009 and won four in a row.
Another disappointment was when James broke the all-time record the in 2013. That was a rough one. I don’t know where my backhand went. I had a forehand and a serve. That was it. It was weird – it was like my backhand had completely deserted me. James won 7-5 in the third set and broke Ball’s record.
Most surreal moment at Public Courts?
In 2014, when Ryan Massinople beat James in the semifinals after James was up 5-2, 40-15 in the second set. Ryan came back and shocked everyone by winning in the third set. I beat Chris Pratt in the semifinals that year, and then beat Ryan in the finals. That’s when I started to feel old, because I’d taught Ryan when he was younger.
The James Kent / Patrick Walker rivalry has come to define the Public Courts tournament.
We’ve had an amazing run. From 2005 to 2019, James and I have won all of the titles except for one, so we’ve pretty much had it locked up. This year I wasn’t sure if I would be able to play Public Courts. Thankfully my boss let me come back to Charleston to play, and I was able to beat James and tie him with ten titles.
You have a beautiful wife, Mary Carol Liberatore Walker – or, as we all know her, MC.
When I met MC, I didn’t know where it was going. We played Public Courts and we kind of hung out, we even went out to dinner a couple of times. I remember her calling me and saying, “Hey, I’m going to play singles, can you hit?” So we hit, and I asked her if she’d ever considered changing her forehand grip. She looked at me and said, “Are you crazy? I’ve got a match coming up.” Then she thought about it and said, “What would you change it to?” I said I would change it to a Semi-Western grip. We started getting together and hitting more often after that. From there we started hanging out afterwards, and before long we started seeing each other. I felt like I had a real chance after I’d survived the forehand grip debate [laughs].
Like James Kent, you now have a daughter in your life.
MC is a natural mother and is doing great with it, but in some ways I was more ready for parenthood than she was. It started with my little brother, Jordan. We adopted him when he was two and I was fifteen. I learned how to wipe a butt, I learned how to change a diaper, and I learned how to entertain a human being younger than the age of three [laughs]. He was my little Mini-Me. As he got a little older, he pretty much went with me everywhere that I went. We did everything together. We played miniature golf three days a week, we went to the driving range twice a week, we went bowling, we played basketball, we jumped on the trampoline. So I helped raise Jordan, which gave me experience for what I’m doing today raising Vivienne.
You’re now the head pro at Windmill Harbour’s South Carolina Yacht Club. What’s the move been like for you?
I was excited to move to Hilton Head. I am the head pro at Windmill Harbour. I am also the head of the junior tennis camp. I have a new clinic, which is called Patrick’s Power Zone. I’ve never moved this far away before, but I have always been independent and I’ve always been able to fight through adversity and learn how to survive. Now that I have a family, it’s all about the challenge of getting settled in down here. MC is teaching. Vivienne is three, and she doesn’t really have a set group of friends yet. So things have worked about pretty well so far. I’m excited about the opportunity, because I want to give Vivienne the life that she deserves.
Final Thought: You are missed in Charleston.
Huntington and Charleston will always be home. I have so many friends and family back there, and a lot of them are either already visiting us or planning visits to Hilton Head in the near future. And we’ll always be back. Hopefully James and I can renew our rivalry next summer. We’re both getting older, and we’ve each got a lot going on. I just hope we both can play in 2020, and we both make it back to the finals. It would be the best way to break the tie. By the way, as much as it hurt losing to James, I am happy for him and what he has achieved. Me as a competitive person, I was obviously disappointed whenever I was the one he beat [laughs].
EPILOGUE
Mark Cassis on Patrick Walker
Pat has been a role model, coach, and friend to me over the past 10+ years. I’ve been fortunate enough to not only be a student of his, but also an opponent on the opposite side of the net – which usually was not so fortunate for me. There’s no denying how incredible Pat is as a tennis player, but it’s who he is as a person that makes him all the more impressive. Both on and off the court you can see that Pat loves life and what he does. He has a positive attitude about everything and that energy rubs off on everyone around him. He’s done so much for the tennis community in Charleston, especially the youth, and I know he’ll have the same impact anywhere he goes.
Ryan Massinople on Patrick Walker
Pat was what took my tennis game to the next level. I was always a competitive junior player in the area, but it was training with and being coached by Pat that elevated my game to be able to play Division 1 tennis. As we began to train together daily by my senior year in high school, I became much closer with Pat. I saw him not just as a coach and training partner, but as an incredible friend.
Pat has been and always will be one of the most influential people in my life. He never let the circumstances surrounding him sway his passion or positivity for tennis and life in general. Once we stepped on the court and started playing, it was as if nothing else mattered. He was there to help me get better in any way he could.
After sharing many highs and lows throughout my tennis career with Pat, I think my favorite one probably would have to be the year I played in Public Courts. When I was playing James Kent in the semifinals, Pat was playing on the court beside me. I remember not playing very well at one point and looking over at Pat, where he was standing a few feet from me in between a point. I remember all he said was, “Just loosen up bro, you look like you’re not having any fun out here! Look at this crowd, have some fun man!” It was advice like this that I always received from Pat, which helped much more than advice about point structure or match specific tactics. Pat always reminded me to relax and enjoy the moment. Looking back, I couldn’t be more thankful for this and all of his advice along the way.
I am so lucky to have had Pat in Charleston when I was playing junior tennis. He is much more than my former coach, he is and always will be one of my greatest friends.
Marshall Dagostine on Patrick Walker
I have been fortunate enough to have Pat as a coach for most of my tennis career and I would not have become the player or person I am today without Patrick Walker and his family. Pat worked with me and was able to help me develop the skills needed on and off the court to pursue my dream of going to IMG Academy. Then, after coming back home to West Virginia, Pat helped me further develop my skills to achieve my dream of being a Division 1 tennis player at Clemson University. Pat even came down to see me at Clemson while I was playing there. He instilled discipline, hard work, but ALWAYS having fun. Pat was able to make things enjoyable for me when times got really hard. He was always pushing me to be better on and off the court. I am so thankful for everything he was able to teach me through the years and Pat, MC, Viv, and I now have a friendship that will last a lifetime. It is impossible to look back at all of the time we spent together and not smile. I miss them very much in West Virginia, but at the same time, I am so happy that they are able to spread their tennis and life knowledge to more people. Patrick is truly an amazing person and tennis coach, but more importantly, he is my brother forever.
George Bsharah on Patrick Walker
Patrick played a large role in the growth and success that we had at The Charleston Tennis Club during my tenure there. Pat not only grew as a teaching pro, but I enjoyed watching him grow into the family man and father he has become. Not only is he a special teacher and player, but he has become a special friend.
Scott Zent on Patrick Walker
I remember the first time I heard the sound of the ball being struck by one of Patrick’s forehands. It was different – heavy, powerful – the ball seemed to explode off his racquet. I’ve also enjoyed watching Patrick and James play at Public Courts through the years, because Patrick Walker and James Kent are two of the best tennis players to play in Charleston. I’m glad I can call both of these guys my friends!
Tim and Mona Dagostine on Patrick Walker
Pat is truly a special person and someone who means so much to our family. He has devoted an incredible amount of time on and off the court to assist in the development of our son, Marshall, both as a tennis player and a person. Pat took a good player and created someone who could compete at a high level. He developed skills that lead our son to train at the IMG Academy for 2 years. When Marshall came home to Charleston, Pat continued to help him develop as a person and a player, training him daily, traveling with him to tournaments, and being the mentor every parent prays their children will have. Pat’s role as our son’s coach enabled him to sign to play Division I tennis at Clemson University.
A coach’s relationship with a player and his family is unique, it brings that person inside the family and makes them a critical part of all that happens. You have so many good and tough situations to deal with and work through, but we could not have asked for better person than Pat to play that role. He is truly part of our family, and now so is MC and Vivienne. We are so very grateful for all that he has done. We have a bond that will always remain. We know that they will have great success in their new roles, and he will continue to impact people’s lives in an incredible way, just like he has here in West Virginia. We wish Pat, MC and Vivienne the best and give them all our love. – Tim and Mona Dagostine
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