Tony Waterman’s lifelong dedication to tennis has paid off for Mt. Lebanon.  He was a longtime president of Indoor Tennis for Mt. Lebanon, an innovative public-private partnership that brought inflatable “bubbles” to the tennis courts and made them available year round. He was instrumental in bringing about the construction of the Tennis Center, a multipurpose building overlooking the courts on Cedar Boulevard.

How did you become interested in tennis?

Did you play other sports? I’ve played tennis for 75 years, starting at age 10, spending summers with my grandparents. I’ve played most other sports, but not on school teams.

How would you convince someone else to get involved with tennis?

It’s one of the few sports you can play for a lifetime. Golf is another, but it is much more expensive and time-consuming. An hour and a half of tennis is an excellent workout.

What has been the biggest challenge for Indoor Tennis over the years?

To remain fiscally sound, so that we would be able to keep our facilities first class and be significant contributors to improvements to the tennis program overall.

Of all the pro players you have watched, who is your favorite?

Having been to all of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments and one Davis Cup match, my most enjoyable spectator experience was seeing the great “serve and volleyer” Stefan Edberg play three times at the 1991 U.S. Open.

What do you think about allowing beer and wine being served at the tennis center for special events?

I’m personally opposed. I also understand that special permits would be required for any event on municipal property to serve beer and wine.

—Photo by Martha Rial