Published February 3, 2008
By Matt Kline
The Charlotte Observer
In 1983, Pender Murphy was at the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame ceremony to induct his former coach at Charlotte Latin, Bev Earle.
On Jan. 26 in Pinehurst, the roles were reversed. Earle introduced Murphy, the newest member of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.
"That was special," Murphy said. "To be able to have my family and friends there and Bev to introduce me made this a great honor."
Murphy, 48, is a native Charlottean who starred at Latin, leading the Hawks to three consecutive state team tennis titles and winning the individual state championship in 1977. He is so highly thought of at Latin that the school annually gives out the Pender Murphy award to the player who demonstrate "all that is best in the will to compete and the will to win."
Murphy went on to play at Clemson University, where he was a three-time All-American. He led Clemson to three Atlantic Coast Conference team titles. In 1980 he set an NCAA record by winning 35 straight matches.
Murphy also served as team captain in 1981 and was named team MVP and later was named to the ACC's 50th-anniversary men's tennis team.
"Pender is one of the top five players that I have ever coached," said Clemson coach Chuck Kriese, who is in his 33rd and final year. "If there's one person that established us as a national program, it was Pender."
From there Murphy hit the pro tour, where he reached a career-high ranking of 102 in the world and competed in the 1983 French Open and U.S. Open.
Once his professional days were over, Murphy returned to Charlotte. He and his wife Patti live in the Foxcroft (South Park) area along with daughters Farrell and Tricia (both of whom attend Charlotte Latin).
Murphy has become a businessman, but he keeps up his tennis skills, playing tournaments and volunteering his time to help junior players develop by practicing with them and passing along his advice to make them better players.
"Pender is a very generous person and always has been," longtime friend and former Clemson teammate John Anderson said. "He is the same today as he was back in school."
Murphy says a big reason for his love of the game is his family, who he says were supportive of him but never put pressure on him in his tennis. That is part of the reason Murphy stays in tennis helping junior and high school players.
"For me it's fun because it keeps me in the game," Murphy said. "Hopefully I have played enough and seen enough that I can pass along some knowledge to the younger players."
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