HighFIVE: Rick Best

An accomplished player, tennis has taken Rick Best around the world

If you think you need to be a top junior tennis player to get the opportunity to travel the world competing at high level tournaments, think again. Rick Best did not start playing tennis until he was 15, yet he has competed in senior competition throughout the US as well as in 10 other countries and will be honored this year at the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala as USTA Colorado’s Outstanding Senior Male Player of the Year.

The 66-year-old Bayshore, NY native’s introduction to tennis started in Germany where his family lived during the start of his high school years. After Rick’s family moved back to the States and settled in Lawton, OK, Rick met Keith Reynolds, a pro on the Fort Sill Army Base. “Keith took me under his wing and gave me lessons. I would string racquets and clean the courts to pay for the lessons,” says Rick.

Rick improved his game quickly and played for both Cameron University and Seminole State College on full tennis scholarships. After finishing law school, Rick moved to Denver in 1988 where his tennis journey really took off. In 1992, Rick started playing 5.0 and 5.5 USTA leagues and hasn’t slowed down since. In 2024, Rick has played on nine different league teams, with his 55+ 8.0 men’s team preparing to compete in the National Championships in Arizona in November. This will be Rick’s 13^th trip to Nationals, having won twice.

He says “I’ve been fortunate to make it to Nationals in various divisions from 4.0-5.0. One year, we had a great run at the USTA national tennis center in Flushing, NY. I even got to play some doubles on Louis Armstrong stadium!”

Leagues aren’t the only place Rick has found tennis success. His tournament record over the years is impressive and has resulted in many top rankings in various age and NTRP groups. Currently rated a 4.0, Rick says “My claim to fame is that I was the last No. 1 ranked 5.5 player in Colorado singles and doubles (there no longer are 5.5 rankings in Colorado).” 

He also had a final ranking of No. 1 in the nation in mixed 55 doubles in 2022. Currently, in 65 singles, Rick is ranked No. 1 in Colorado and the Intermountain Section, and No. 46 in the nation. His current men’s 65 doubles rankings are No. 5 in Colorado, No. 8 in the Intermountain Section and No. 187 in the nation. In 2023, Rick won the 65 singles at USTA events in Carlsbad, CA, Albuquerque and Roswell, NM and El Paso, TX, with the El Paso event being a Category 2 national and ITF 400 event. This year, Rick won the 65 singles title at the Rocky Mountain State Games and the 60s mixed title at the Denver City Open, where he was also a finalist in men’s 65 doubles. 

Rick’s tournament play has taken him to Germany, Mexico, England, Spain, Scotland, Croatia, France, Turkey, Thailand and Portugal. He won the Scottish Open in mixed and the Croatia Open in 55 singles, both International Tennis Federation (ITF) events which gained Rick world ranking points.

Due to Rick’s results, he was selected to play for the US in the 2024 ITF World Team Championships. The Davis Cup style event for players 65 and over was held in Turkey, and Rick was just 1 of 4 players selected for the 65s division where he went undefeated in doubles.

On the experience, Rick says “It was truly a surprise and an honor to be selected to play for the US, especially during an Olympic year. It was quite a process with practice and playing, especially on slow red clay at sea level. The courts were located right on the Mediterranean Sea. I met three other great teammates from Southern California and Chicago. I learned a lot and enjoyed the privilege of playing doubles with them. I got to hang out, practice and play with some of the best US players while also playing and watching some of the best senior players in the world.”

While definitely a competitor, Rick has a great appreciation for tennis and what it has brought him. He says “I try to keep the game fun and take the wins and losses in stride. It’s a game, right? Respect your opponents but give it your best. Hit the ball before the ball hits you!”

This attitude has allowed Rick to foster great friendships through tennis. Last summer, he took a lesson from Keith Reynolds, his original tennis mentor. He still talks and plays tennis with one of his college coaches, Kelly Kirk, as well as players he’s met from around the world. He credits Kris Johnson of Wilson and Adam Burbary of Game, Set, Match, Inc. with helping him on his tennis journey in Colorado, both of whom he considers “very good friends”.

And it may seem like Rick spends all of his time on the tennis court, but that is far from the truth. He has been a practicing trial lawyer for 38 years, and he also does estate planning. He plays senior baseball, where he bats left and throws right, and uses the same guiding principial that he does in tennis of “hit the ball before the ball hits you”. He paraglides throughout the world. And, as a snowboarder, he won the 2023 National Slopestyle competition in 60+. 

Clearly, Rick is not slowing down in any way and has many years ahead of him on the court, on the field and on the slopes. We know he will continue to make Colorado proud!

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