A quarter century later, Beth Spencer guides team on another nationals run

Beth Spencer captained and played on a USTA League National Championship team in the 18 & Over 4.0 division back in 1999. Now, 26 years later, she’s the captain of an 18 & Over 4.5-level team that qualified for nationals, which take place Oct. 17-19 in Surprise, Arizona.

She’s hoping to recapture the magic from more than a quarter-century ago.

“I think you always have a chance,” Spencer said. “It’s about matchups. I don’t care what they’re rated, because it’s all about who’s playing the best at that time. That’s sports. It doesn’t matter what the paperwork tells you. It’s about your heart. That’s how we made it through sectionals.

“I think we have just as good a chance as anybody else. It just takes a little bit of luck, too.”

Spencer formed this USTA St. Louis team shortly after her 4.0 team won the title in 1999. Most of her team got bumped up to 4.5 after winning that title, including Spencer, so she needed to put a new team together. There are no players remaining from her original team. But she has many on this roster who have been a part of her team for many years, including one who has been there for 24 years.

“I keep adding players, as you have to as a captain,” she said. “My favorite saying is ‘Your top singles player is the Holy Grail,’ and that’s true at any level. You just keep building and getting younger players. When new players get bumped up to your level, you grab them.”

When you get to 4.5, you’re not just a weekend warrior who plays tennis to stay in shape. Spencer has some serious players on her roster.

She has a couple players who are teaching pros. She also has a couple who were college players. There are a few who aren’t as competitive, but they all take the game pretty seriously. Spencer said you definitely have to play more than once a week to be able to compete at 4.5.

Spencer thought her team had a chance to advance to the national championships last year but fell just short. So that makes this year’s trip even better.