By BRENT STUBBS
Senior Sports Reporter
bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas has always been a special place for American tennis player turned instructor and administrator Robert Castorri.
Back here for his second appearance in the Bahamas International Tennis Club’s 2023 Doubles Team Championships, Castorri recalled how he first came here in 1979 for the Melbourne Open on Paradise Island before he played in the Nassau Open at the Ambassador Hotel.
“I remember how I went on to win the doubles with a young man, who became number two in the world, Craig Witters,” said Castorri of his memorable trip here.
“I’ve come back since then for some business and I stayed at the Ocean Club, but I came here in 2015 for my first Bahamas IC and now I’m here again. We won the first time I came and hopefully we can do it again this time.”
Castorri is playing on the USA Robins team that blanked the Bahamas 5-0 in Tuesday’s opening match at the Nassau Lawn Tennis Club.
He teamed up with Robb Bunnen to win their men’s 125+ doubles 6-3, 6-0 over John Antonas and Alejandro Mesples of the Bahamas.
He also paired with Mariana Hollman for a 6-3, 6-4 win over Neil Mactaggart and Kelly Kerr. “I didn’t enjoy Saturday’s weather. That was strange,” said Castorri of the cold front that passed through the Bahamas over the weekend. “But I’m feeling better than I ought to.
“I haven’t been playing that much because I do more administrative management of clubs, so I haven’t been playing as much as I did when I was teaching and playing at the same time.”
Castorri, who resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, said he also remembers how after his first visit here, he met a German player who introduced him to the German Tennis League.
Four years later, he played Germany’s Boris Becker, who at the time was number one in the world.
He won the match in two sets and then Becker went on to become the Wimbledon champion and eventually the No.1 player in the world.
“I only played sparingly on the tour,” said Castorri, whose highest ranking was 420 in the world. “When I played and beat Boris, I was teaching.
“So, I went back to teaching in the United States after the victory.”
So, after the trip here this week, Castorri said he will continue to add to the memories he’s experienced in the Bahamas, considering that his team is looking poised to win another title.
“I just want to thank the host, Kit Spencer, and the Bahamas IC, this tennis club and all the wonderful people of the Bahamas,” he said. “Tell them thanks.”
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