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Former NHL player Greg Theberge Discusses His Tennis Passion
2 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Scoop
I remember Greg Theberge playing in the NHL in the 1980s with the Washington Capitals. A smaller, offensive-minded defenseman with a cool name (pronounced Tay-burdge), who wore no. 28. A few years ago I found Greg on Facebook and we did an interview about his hockey career for The Hockey News.
Then we kept in touch and I learned he’s quite a tennis enthusiast. Even during the busy NHL and OHL seasons – he works as a junior hockey TV analyst for the North Bay Centennials – Greg always supports my articles and this site.
Theberge also attends the Canadian Open just about every year and plays regularly. He told me seeing the live action last week at York University inspired him to play one of his best matches of his life.
That interesting revelation sparked a curiosity to do this interview feature about Greg Theberge and his interest and passion for tennis…
“To answer your questions, that would be great,” Theberge said in a Facebook instant message. “I am really honoured since I’ve never really been asked about my tennis game which I take very seriously.”
Which players styles appealed to you the most?
“Since I am a southpaw the players that most inspired me as a young boy growing up was or were Rod Laver… John McEnroe… Jimmy Connors… The old-school boys. And the current ones – I was a big fan of Pete Sampras… Andre Agassi… And of course Rafael and Roger.”
What happened in your match that you said you played the best you ever played after being inspired by the WTA tennis in Toronto last week?
“In my match I played very well. I didn’t play against a pro, I played against a guy named Dwight. He’s only beat me once in our 10 year tennis relationship. I played very well, served exceptionally well with a nice first serve percentage and lots of slice and a few flat balls… And once in a while got my routine one hand backhand slice in which stays exceptionally low and is very hard to return against a righty backhand.”
First tennis memory?
“I first got into tennis as a late bloomer. I was living in Toronto at the time of 12 years old and started playing at the Leeside tennis club in East York Toronto. We had a pro instructor come into our school systems and run a workshop during our phys ed course… I was a very quick study and the instructor said I had a serve like Rod Laver where I could almost scratch my back with the back of my racket… I really excelled that year and was the best player in the class against players who were playing at a much younger age than me.”
Why do you love playing tennis?
“I really love the game of tennis because I think it requires all attributes of athleticism starting with your footwork and your agility and you’re reading skills and shot selection and your upper body has to be in phenomenal condition, arms, shoulder joints, and wrists and, of course, your abdominal core and your back muscles are very important as well. So, for me, being a hockey player this was ideal for keeping my core strength in good condition in the off-season… For people that don’t know the game of tennis they underestimate and underrate the players and the game you can only understand what the pros go through unless you play a hard game yourself.”
Your tennis strengths and weaknesses as a player?
“The strength of my game would be my backhand either using a hard slice keeping it low or a double hand backhand topspin… Also my court coverage and footwork is also one of my strengths.”
“My weakness would be I think my net front game volley in to the forehand especially and also my serve is consistent but I could have more velocity on it… My opponents can adjust to the speed very quickly and anticipate me going to their backhand and if there are right-handed and sit on it like a batter would sit on a fastball or a change up in the batters box and T off and hit winners off my serve.”
Equipment?
“The racquet that I’m using right now is 110 in.² and it’s strung at 60 pounds. I’m using a nice snakebite 17 gauge … With a four and three eights grip … And it’s Wilson manufacture with a Hyper Carbon frame and it’s nice and light for a good racket head speed.”
“My first racquet as a young man was a John McEnroe Black Max Dunlop graphite 1981.”
What are you working on to improve your game right now?
“What I’m working on my game right now currently is my consistency and when to go to the net. I seem very indecisive, I know when I should be going but for some reason I hesitate and don’t make that decision quick enough and as result I’m either still running to the net trying to hit a volley with my head and body bouncing up and down making poor contact with the ball and I’m forcing into the net they’re heading out.”
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Greg Theberge played parts of five NHL seasons with the Washington Capitals in the 1980’s, scoring sixteen NHL goals.
Some of Greg’s photos at the Rogers Cup 2016 and 2017…
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B gardner · August 14, 2017 at 10:04 pm
B gardner writes:
Old team mate in Peterborough. I had no idea, his love of tennis Very cool article!
Scoop Malinowski · August 15, 2017 at 10:56 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Thanks Bill Gardner for your comment. I remember you playing for the Chicago Blackhawks for a bunch of seasons. You guys had some great, talented, tough teams. Secord, Savard, Wilson, Wilson, Brown, Larmer, etc.