John McEnroe, whose brash and brilliant tennis play captured the tennis world's imagination in the 1980s, will visit UC Davis for the April 14 dedication of the new Marya Welch Tennis Center.

With 16 courts, the new facility at the corner of Howard Way and Tennis Court Lane has the capacity to accommodate joint men's and women's matches as well as major NCAA tournaments. Aggie tennis players have been serving up volleys there since January.

A large donation from the founder of women's intercollegiate sports at UC Davis, Marya Welch, is leading the financing efforts for the $800,000 upgrade of the campus's tennis facilities. There is more to build, but for now the big buzz is about the new courts and McEnroe's visit.

The dedication ceremonies begin at 5 p.m. and will involve honoring Welch for her contributions. At 5:30 p.m. McEnroe, a friend of UC Davis women's tennis coach Bill Maze, will play in a series of tennis exhibitions with former professional tennis player and UC Berkeley tennis coach Wayne Ferreira and UC Davis tennis players. The evening will conclude with a reception for Welch, McEnroe and the UC Davis teams, including a question-and-answer session with McEnroe.

"John and I were talking one day about our new courts opening," says Maze, "and he said, 'Let's do it.'

"He wanted to play some exhibitions."

Maze met McEnroe in 1977 when he was a senior at Stanford and McEnroe was a freshman. McEnroe, at 18, had just appeared as the youngest player ever in Wimbledon. At Stanford, McEnroe teamed up with Maze as his doubles partner and led the team to the NCAA title while also winning the singles championship. Then he left Stanford and turned professional the next year.

"He was an unbelievable talent from the beginning," says Maze — who is a three-time All-American at Stanford — "a phenomenal player who could do anything from a light feathery drop hit to the volley and serve."

McEnroe, 46, lives in New York and still keeps active on the court, according to Maze. During his career, McEnroe captured 76 singles and 69 doubles titles, achieving No.1 in the year-end world singles rankings from 1981-84. He had his best season in 1984.

Since his last year on the tour in 1992, McEnroe has hosted a TV talk show, learned to play guitar and run an art studio, among other pursuits.

"I don't think he's changed much, says Maze. "He has that intensity."

For the dedication, Maze said McEnroe will join forces with Ferreira and both UC Davis men's and women's players in a series of pro-set exhibitions.

Still a dedicated fan of tennis

Welch, the first woman hired in the physical education department at UC Davis and a former Aggie tennis coach, played a key role in establishing intramural and extramural sports programs for women. During her career, which began in the late 1940s, she was a leader in state organizations committed to the advancement of women's athletics.

Today, the Davis resident is full of love, as always, for Aggie tennis. "Tennis was the interest I maintained the longest," she says.

McEnroe's visit especially excites her — "I give all the credit to Bill Maze and John McEnroe" — and she hopes that it may spur more interest among donors in finishing the entire project.

"I'm pleased that things are coming together," she says. "It's a good start and there's a lot more to be done."

In addition to her contributions to women's athletics, Welch served as dean of women for two years and was inducted as an honorary member into the Prytanean Honor Society. She retired in 1987.

New era for Aggie tennis

The Marya Welch Tennis Center opens a new era at UC Davis for competitive play in men and women's tennis teams.

"Our players love the new center," said Maze. "There's more space between the courts and it feels great to play on brand new courts. If there was one thing we wanted, it was more space."

Construction on the facility — an upgrade of the existing Hickey Tennis Courts — started in 2004.

Completion of the tennis center will be done in two phases. Phase I — the one most recently finished — included six new championship courts, a center patio, fencing and grand entryway. Phase II will complete the project with restrooms, lighting, meeting facilities and spectator seating for viewing all courts. Funds are being sought for this latter phase.

Associate Athletic Director Larry Swanson said the estimated cost of the entire project is about $850,000, with virtually all of the funds raised privately.

"This is a tremendous step forward for Aggie tennis," he said, "and our players, supporters and campus will take great pride in this wonderful new center.

"This improvement will be a cornerstone for continued success in competition and in attracting national tournaments."

Swanson noted that now UC Davis will have 16 courts, which is the number necessary to host major NCAA tennis tournaments. Previously, the campus had only 10 courts.

He added, "Also, we are truly looking forward to having this additional recruiting tool to continue the legacy of national prominence for Aggie athletics."

Event information

Tickets for the dedication and exhibition matches are $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and non-UC Davis students with ID, and are free for UC Davis undergraduates and children 12 and under.

Tickets are available by calling (530) 752-1915, or visiting tickets.ucdavis.edu. Reception tickets, which include the dedication and exhibition matches, are $50 and are available in advance by contacting Sharon Lynch at selynch@ucdavis.edu, or 757-3146.