The Smart Alec Show

#21 Christo Van Rensburg: A Tennis Life - Playing at Wimbledon, Starting Dropshot Series, ATX Open

Episode Summary

BIO: Christo Van Rensburg is a former pro tennis player, hailing from South Africa. He was ranked #1 in the world in doubles, won 20 top-level doubles titles during his career, including one Grand Slam men’s doubles title in 85’. Christo ranked as high as #19 in the world in singles, and is one of only two men to beat Pete Sampras in straight sets at Wimbledon. Christo’s wife, Monica van Rensburg (Reinach) also played at Wimbledon, along with her sister, Elna Reinach, making them a truly elite tennis family — but the most humble, welcoming, and incredible people you’ll meet. Christo and the fam now run “Dropshot Series”, a tennis tournament promotion company hosting pro tennis events in Austin, TX. They’ve hosted several USTA/ ITF level events and are now hosting the very first WTA Tour event — The ATX Open — which is 1 of only 5 women’s only WTA Tour level events in the USA. Christo runs Dropshot Series with Bryan Sheffield, Tournament Promoter and Founder of DropShot, who also owns stake in MLS team Austin FC, and founded Parsley Energy. In addition to all this, Christo also gives back to the game by way of coaching — and coaches elite players like Fernanda Contreras Gomez along with having captained South Africa in the Davis Cup, coaching up players like University of Georgia’s Philip Henning. Connect with Christo: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christo-van-rensburg-23802511/ Find out more about Dropshot Series: - Website: https://dropshotseries.com Find out more about ATX Open: - Event info: https://atxopen.com/event-info/ - Partners & Sponsors: https://atxopen.com/partners/ - Buy Tickets: https://atxopen.com/tickets/ - To watch the ATX Open on TV or via streaming tune into The Tennis Channel! - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atxopen/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/AtxOpen Sponsorship Inquiries for ATX Open: - Contact Unrivaled Group: https://unrivaledgroup.com Key Topics: * Christo’s Playing Career * Competing with top talent and learning from them * Coaching * Remembering those who helped you, and giving back to those coming next * Christo’s adventure into the Tennis Tournament Promotion business * Dropshot Series * ATX Open * Christo meeting his wife Recorded in September 2022 in Austin, TX. Connect with Alec on Social: - Linktree to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/smartalec Podcast info: - Podcast website: https://smartalecshow.com - RSS feed: feed:https://feeds.simplecast.com/ngBH2BfM - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/634MOIW582k2STgC06Rvl9?si=ulGRaagxSBCHROX0OEQCCA - Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-alec-show/id1577614268 - Amazon Music & Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/96993c84-1664-4a67-921d-9b731fbdca99 (Also available on ALL major audio platforms within the USA as well as most globally.) #atxopen #atx #tennis

Episode Notes

BIO:

Christo Van Rensburg is a former pro tennis player, hailing from South Africa. 

 

He was ranked #1 in the world in doubles, won 20 top-level doubles titles during his career, including one Grand Slam men’s doubles title in 85’. Christo ranked as high as #19 in the world in singles, and is one of only two men to beat Pete Sampras in straight sets at Wimbledon.

 

Christo’s wife, Monica van Rensburg (Reinach) also played at Wimbledon, along with her sister, Elna Reinach, making them a truly elite tennis family — but the most humble, welcoming, and incredible people you’ll meet. 

 

Christo and the fam now run “Dropshot Series”, a tennis tournament promotion company hosting pro tennis events in Austin, TX. They’ve hosted several USTA/ ITF level events and are now hosting the very first WTA Tour event — The ATX Open — which is 1 of only 5 women’s only WTA Tour level events in the USA.

 

Christo runs Dropshot Series with Bryan Sheffield, Tournament Promoter and Founder of DropShot, who also owns stake in MLS team Austin FC, and founded Parsley Energy.

 

In addition to all this, Christo also gives back to the game by way of coaching — and coaches elite players like Fernanda Contreras Gomez along with having captained South Africa in the Davis Cup, coaching up players like University of Georgia’s Philip Henning.

 

 

Connect with Christo:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christo-van-rensburg-23802511/

 

Find out more about Dropshot Series:

- Website: https://dropshotseries.com

 

Find out more about ATX Open:

- Event info: https://atxopen.com/event-info/

- Partners & Sponsors: https://atxopen.com/partners/

- Buy Tickets: https://atxopen.com/tickets/

- To watch the ATX Open on TV or via streaming tune into The Tennis Channel!

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atxopen/

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AtxOpen

 

Sponsorship Inquiries for ATX Open:

- Contact Unrivaled Group: https://unrivaledgroup.com

 

Key Topics:

* Christo’s Playing Career

   * Competing with top talent and learning from them

* Coaching

   * Remembering those who helped you, and giving back to those coming next

* Christo’s adventure into the Tennis Tournament Promotion business

   * Dropshot Series

   * ATX Open

* Christo meeting his wife

 

 

Recorded in September 2022 in Austin, TX.

 

Connect with Alec on Social:

- Linktree to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/smartalec  

 

Podcast info:

- Podcast website: https://smartalecshow.com

- RSS feed: feed:https://feeds.simplecast.com/ngBH2BfM

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/634MOIW582k2STgC06Rvl9?si=ulGRaagxSBCHROX0OEQCCA

- Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-alec-show/id1577614268  

- Amazon Music & Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/96993c84-1664-4a67-921d-9b731fbdca99

(Also available on ALL major audio platforms within the USA as well as most globally.)

 

#atxopen #atx #tennis