Meet a member: Lorna Krog, IC of South Africa

Dubbed ‘South Africa’s first lady of tennis’, Lorna Krog is considered the doyenne of South African Veterans Tennis specifically, although she has also been involved in every other section of the game, namely Juniors, Open and Wheelchair.

Over 35 years ago, Lorna was one of a group of passionate individuals who established the SA Veterans Association. Today, she can be considered as the single most influential force behind the rise of Masters tennis in South Africa. As Chairmen and committee members came and went, she remained and continued to co-ordinate all the affairs and activities, including all administration, trips and tours undertaken by the members, the selection of National teams, inter-provincial tournaments, the SA National Championships and all the other local Masters events including those on the annual calendar (12-15 per year). She was CEO of the Masters Organisation until the integration with the SA Tennis Association in 2007, this in the interests of having all tennis in the country under one umbrella body. During her tenure she was responsible for raising the sponsorship of most Masters’ National Championships, Inter-provincial tournaments and World Championships held in this country (of which she organized, co-directed and directed three).

After the Masters was integrated with the National Association, she remained employed by the Association to continue running Masters tennis in the country. However, she was also part of the Tournament Committee which staged the SA Open from 2009 to 2011 after the SA Tennis Association was awarded a three-year contract by the ATP. She was a tough but fair administrator and was (still is) immensely popular with local and international players alike.

Also In 2007, Lorna was elected to serve on the Executive of the ITF and as part of her duties, was responsible for co-ordinating various age-groups at the World Team Events which were held in Turkey, New Zealand and Austria, to name but three.

Invited to become a member of the International Club by virtue of her contribution nationally and internationally to Tennis, Lorna was also part of the IC’s organizing committee which staged the Columbus Cup at Sun City in 2000.

For 13 years, Lorna was the Match Control Manager for The Nike Junior Tour International Masters.

Match Control is a key role for the success of the tournament and her expertise in this field is world class according to the Referees with whom she has worked at these tournaments – this includes Michel Renaux, the renowned French Referee. Nike Junior events have been held in South Africa, The Bahamas, France, Spain, Italy, the USA and the Dominican Republic. 

Lorna retired in 2011, but despite her passion for her grandchildren and her rose garden, she has been brought out of retirement on numerous occasions to assist and direct events since then. She still annually runs a highly successful Ladies doubles event at Sun City and served as the Honorary President of the International Club for six years.   

Whilst Lorna’s passion has been directed largely at administration, she is also an above average player, having been a SA ranked player in her age-group nearly all her Veterans life.

Rod Laver AC wins Sportsmanship Award

Rod Laver felt like he was at home amongst friends and fellow players at the IC of Australia Annual Lunch, when Paul McNamee, the president of IC Australia, presented the only repeat winner of the Grand Slam with the IC Jean Borotra CQS Sportsmanship Award.

"It's a great honour to receive this award from the International Club" said Rod, "just listening to the introductions of those people here today, it is like a homecoming for me. I know so many of you."

The annual IC of Australia lunch attracted 170 guests including former players Margaret Court,  Neale Fraser and IC Council President and IC of Australia Patron Frank Sedgman along with officials including the President of the ITF David Haggerty, AELTC Chairman Philip Brook, USTA President Katrina Adams, Tennis Australia President Steve Healy as well as IC Australia members and IC of USA (including President Dan Waldman) and friends of tennis. 

Rod recalled meeting Jean Borotra in 1960. "He said 'Let's go play some'. And once he got me on the court he said we were going to play "angles". He said he would draw an imaginary line down the centre of the court and I had to hit the ball into one side at his end and he could hit into the whole court at my end. I thought 'This is going to be a fun hit' and we did that for three days!! He still hit his backhand with the thumb up the back. I've always cherished that memory," said Rod. 

Story and images of the presentation By Steve Myers , Secretary IC of Australia