Key Biscayne tennis tourney founder to step down

Nov 12, 12:39 pm EST

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KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP)—Butch Buchholz, founder of the annual tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, is stepping down as chairman following the 2010 event.

The event Buchholz started in 1985 is the world’s fifth-largest tennis tournament and known as the Sony Ericsson Open.

Buchholz, a former top-five player, says he plans to pursue new business opportunities and remain active in tennis.

With the Key Biscayne tournament, Buchholz pioneered the concept of combined events for men and women beyond the four Grand Slam tournaments. It was the first tournament besides the major events to offer equal prize money, and the first tournament to use the now-popular electronic replay system.

Updated Nov 12, 12:39 pm EST
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6 Comments

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  1. SCOTT A
    6. Posted by SCOTT A Mon Nov 16 8:19pm EST

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    Butch has always been a tennis treasure.....keep your balls bouncing high old friend !!
  2. pete'sbest14
    5. Posted by pete'sbest14 Sun Nov 15 2:25am EST

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    # 4 Joseph:

    Thank for your most informative post! I knew some of the information, but not all and am always interested in knowing more about our Tennis History. Played some (tennis) in college & recreationally and have been a huge fan for over 45 years~
    Great post :-)
  3. Joseph
    4. Posted by Joseph Fri Nov 13 10:03pm EST

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    For those that don't know their tennis history, Butch was considered among the Handsome Eight, the first players fo the World Championship Tour sponsored by Lamar Hunt.. Butch Buchholz, Nikki Pillic, Dennis Ralston, Pierre Barthes, Roger Taylor, Cliff Drysdale, John Newcombe and Tony Roche. In the looks department, one was lacking, so the group was sometimes called, "The Handsome Seven, plus Tony Roche." Butch won Jr. Wimbledon, as I recall, and once owned a tennis facility in St. Louis which now houses automobiles for storage.
  4. Tony
    3. Posted by Tony Thu Nov 12 6:03pm EST

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    Butch, Stay down south the weather in the midwest sucks. BOL

    Cheers,

    Tony Menconi
  5. Joseph
    2. Posted by Joseph Thu Nov 12 2:33pm EST

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    Butch! Come back to St. Louis!
  6. Joy W
    1. Posted by Joy W Thu Nov 12 2:25pm EST

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    I have been attending the tournament in Key Biscayne since its' inception although it actually began in Boca Raton, moved to Delray and then to Key Biscayne. I am thankful for the Buchholz's vision of bringing this combined concept to tour events. Over the past 23 years I have seen some really great tennis and tennis players. Thanks Butch and Gods speed as you move into new ventures.
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