Local Tennis: Jensens playing today in ASG Pro-Celebrity Challenge

For even 10 years removed from their blasphemous arrival in tennis, they remain the game's breath of fresh air.

"I live in Los Angeles. He lives in Atlanta. He's a redneck. I'm a Hollywood cool," the 28-year-old Murphy said of his 35-year-old brother Friday afternoon at the Wyndemere Country Club, site of today's ASG Pro-Celebrity Challenge.

Play in the charity event for Step By Step begins at 9 a.m. and runs until about 3 p.m. Other pros of note participating include Johan Kriek, Jimmy Arias, Brenda Schultz and Raluca Onila. They and top local pros are teaming up with amateurs. The public may attend for a $10 gate charge.

"We won the French Open 500 years ago when Paul Revere was our coach," Murphy joked. "And we weren't even British. We were kind of like McEnroe with a good attitude. We sold the game really well. We promoted tennis.

We showed our joy and love for the game with our enthusiasm."

Tennis discovered the Jensens at just the right time. In the grand scheme of things, the game was having trouble keeping pace with a saturated sports market, especially in America.

Only six months into their professional careers, the Jensens pulled off a staggering coup: a French Open doubles win that catapulted them onto the global stage. And, among the raised eyebrows and disapproving looks at the chest butts, high fives and other offbeat methods of self-expression, the brothers from small-town Michigan built themselves a loyal following.

In some ways, they fell victim to their own rock-n-roll style and their eagerness to please those who tugged at them from all directions.

"What made us great and popular also was the thing that kept us from winning more Grand Slams," Murphy reflected. "At a time when Sports Illustrated said tennis was dead, they said the only thing in the game were the Jensen Brothers because they could sell some tickets."

In 1998, the two re-evaluated their routine. There still was plenty of outrageous fun to be distributed. But there were winning shots to be honed as well.

As doubles partners, the two earned four ATP Tour titles and made one good run at the U.S.

Open.

"The reason was we put tennis first. We said we'd do all that media stuff and do all the promotions, but first, we are going to practice," said Murphy. "We're going to get our practice in, and then if you want us at 11:30 at night to give a kids clinic or work a wheelchair tennis clinic, we'll go and do it. But first, we're going to get our own practice in. It wasn't being selfish. It was just taking care of ourselves."

The two were involved in Friday's ASG Pro-Celebrity Kids Clinic as well as a Ladies Day affair.

Today, Murphy is playing in the 3.5 division with amateur teammate Karl Sheffield.

"Karl Sheffield is my partner and he's sandbagging. You can put that in the paper. He's really like a 5.5," Murphy said with a laugh. "But with the way I'm playing and as much beer as we're drinkin' down here, we're lucky to be a .3.

"As long as it's below .8 I guess I'll be OK. I'll be able to jump in my golf cart and drive home."

Outwardly, Luke seems to be the more conservative of the two.

That having been said, conservative generally wasn't the word used to characterize them.

"We have our moments. It depends on the tide, the moon and the star alignments. I'm a Gemini, he's a Capricorn. That stuff happens," Luke said, playing the more-serious role during Friday's festivities.

Both talked of the new era, and of the maturation of American star Andy Roddick.

"He has such a good personality. He's always good with the kids. He's very good with sponsors and the media," Luke reflected. "I was really surprised to hear that a lot of people think he's arrogant. When you're No. 1, you have to feel that you are bullet- proof. But every thing he does for charity and for tennis I think is great.

"When you're on your way up, you have to establish yourself.

Sometimes you are going to ruffle some feathers," Luke went on.

"But once you win that tournament and you're established and you'll always be a Grand Slam champion, you've arrived. You don't have to bring all that extra bravado."

The Jensens will not go down in history as the winningest doubles team ever. But as good guys go, their rivals are few.

Said Murphy: "We're the most popular doubles team ever to play. Is it because we won five straight Wimbledon doubles like the Woodies (Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde)? No. It was because we sold the game.

People enjoyed the game and enjoyed having us out here."