Lee-Waters has total family support at tennis courts

He sat in the upstairs pavilion, overlooking the No. 1 court at the Westgate Tennis Center as Lindsay Lee-Waters battled Chieh-Yu Hsu in a qualifying match Sunday afternoon in the Movie Gallery Pro Classic women’s tennis tournament.

At times, he propped his legs on a rail in relaxation. Then there were times when he stood and gave a fist pump of approval following a good shot, or held his arms outstretched when a call went against Waters.

To the side of the man were two children playing. When there was a pause in the match, he got up and gave both a kiss and made sure everything was OK in their world.

He was not only a fan of Waters, but also her husband and coach.

Heath Waters has coached some of the top juniors in the Southeast — including current pro Ashley Harkleroad — yet the role he plays now is the most meaningful of his life.

“We’re the traveling hillbillies,” Heath jokes. “To us, it’s a new vacation every week.”

At 31 years of age, Lindsay continues to play the sport of tennis mostly because of her love of the game — unlike many who are trying to make a living at the sport.

“We have a successful business to where she doesn’t have to play,” Heath said.

“She was going to retire last year, but she realized she still had too much left in the tank.

“She’s probably going to play until her mid to late 30s.”

The two met on the tennis court 11 years ago while Heath was a teaching pro in the Atlanta area. They’ve been married nine years.
“I was coaching a bunch of top juniors and she was referred to me,” Heath said. “We fell in love after that.”

They’ve been married nine years and have an 8-year-old daughter, Sevyn, and son, Heath Paul, who turns 3 next week.

“We have a unique relationship,” Heath said. “That’s (tennis) the business side of it. As soon as the match is over, it’s back to family time.”

Heath indicates he’s there for support as much as anything.

“I’m more like a consultant (than coach),” he said. “She knows her game pretty well now.”

Lindsay has been ranked as high as 33 in the world. On Sunday, she beat Hsu 7-5, 6-3 to remain alive in the qualifying draw.

“I love playing,” Lindsay said. “I still have some goals I want to reach.”

But she’s able to keep everything in perspective with her family nearby, while most of the players in Dothan this week travel alone.

“For me, it’s definitely a competitive advantage,” Lindsay said. “I play my match, then go have fun with the kids.
“Tennis isn’t No. 1 — it’s my family. It takes a lot of pressure off.”

Local flavor: Dothan’s Emily Newton, who is a junior at Northview, lost to Alexandra Mueller on Sunday, 6-1, 6-0. Newton was playing as an amateur as a wildcard entrant. It’s the second time in three years Newton has played in the Pro Classic.

Wii Spots Remain: There are still plenty of spots available for those interested in playing in the Wii tennis tournament and compete for prizes this week at the Westgate Tennis Center as part of the activities of the Pro Classic. Registration continues today for three different age groups – 10-14, 15-19 and 20-above. There will be 32 participants maximum in each age category. The entry fee is $25, which includes a week pass to the Pro Classic. For more information, drop by Westgate Tennis Center, call 793-0399 or visit http://www.dothanprotennis.org.

Today’s schedule: Qualifying matches will be held from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. today, followed by feature matches tonight at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tonight is “League Night” at the courts. The Dothan Tennis Association is sponsoring a one point tournament for amateur players, with a $500 purse. Advance sign up at Westgate Tennis Center.