Spring Lake resident and former Laker tennis coach, Alex Palladino, wasn't sure what to expect when he registered for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Level 1 National Indoor doubles tournament held back in April in Boise, Idaho. The event draws the “cream of the crop” from around the country, all seeking top national honors and the coveted USTA gold ball, which is awarded to the champions.

 

“My old college doubles partner (Jim Burda of Connecticut) has been actively competing lately and asked if I would team up with him for the event," Alex said. Having fallen out of competitive shape, he was hesitant at first but warmed up to the idea as the winter months pressed on. “Once I committed to playing, I wanted to give it my best shot. So, my wife, Cathy, and I joined the Spring Lake Fitness and Aquatic Center, which was a terrific facility for focused workouts.” 

 

To capture the title, Alex would need to draw from his lifelong history with the game. He was introduced to the sport as a young boy watching the USTA Junior Nationals, held every August in his hometown of Kalamazoo. “John McEnroe was 18 at the time and already losing his temper quite frequently,” he laughs.

 

Alex stepped into his first tournament at age 12 and has since won district, sectional, and national championships. He played #1 singles and #1 doubles for Kalamazoo College, went 14-6 during a brief stint on the ATP pro tour, and captured a USTA national Level 2 singles title in 2012. 

 

In Boise, however, the allure of the top-tier event would gather a deep field from around the country, including several particularly seasoned players from the West Coast. “Jim would call from time to time to express his concern about the quality of players entering, as well as the sheer number of teams,” Alex recounts. "The team we faced in the finals was both full-time tour players in their day, with one of them achieving a world ranking of #21."

 

Alex and Jim were placed in the field as an unseeded team and won five consecutive matches, upending the 5th, 3rd, and 1st seeded teams along the way. “After our first round, the competition was so tight I never felt we had another victory coming,” Alex admitted. “The pressure was constant, and the potential to lose was only a small momentum shift away.” Refusing to bend to the pressure and a few sluggish starts, the duo claimed the title without dropping a set!

 

After retiring from his career as a tennis pro in Grand Rapids in 2021, Alex relocated to Spring Lake and coached both the boys’ and girls’ teams for 3 seasons.

“Working with teenagers is always refreshing and rewarding, and their enthusiasm for friendships and laughter keeps you young at heart!”

 

His career also featured five seasons as the Head Coach for men's and women's tennis at Ferris State University, capturing the conference title and the Regional Coach of the Year accolades. “College tennis taught me two things: always expect the unexpected and always have plenty of food on hand," he recalls.  His 30+ year career culminated with a 2023 induction into the West Michigan Tennis Hall of Fame.

 

One of Alex's favorite tennis memories occurred when he met Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant in 1998. “The band was in town for a tour stop, and Robert called my club to arrange a game of doubles. Being a huge Zep fan growing up, it was unbelievable to spend parts of two days teamed up on the court with a rock and roll legend! 

 

Alex has three children, three stepchildren, and 4 grandkids. In addition to family time, he stays busy substitute teaching in Spring Lake and Grand Haven schools, designing and building stained glass windows, and playing guitar for the local rock band, Beats Werkin.