For Beck, Age is Just a Number

Even in her mid-70s Yorktown’s Dolores Beck hasn’t lost her competitive edge.

Competing yesterday in the first round of the 70-and-over division of the USTA Women’s National Grass Court Championships in Forest Hills, Beck rebounded from losing a 6-0 first set to take her opponent the distance in a match spanning well over three hours. Fighting off seven match points in the final game of the match, Beck ultimately lost 6-0, 3-6, 7-5 to Penny Maag of Tucson, Ariz.

“I only play on grass courts once a year, at this tournament, so it took some getting used to,” Beck said. “It was a great match, though.”

At an age when most of her peers are slowing down, Beck is only thinking about how to get better. While many of the players in this tournament grew up with a racket in their hand, Beck didn’t take up the sport until she was in her late 40s.

Now a nationally ranked player in the women’s 70-and-over division, she hits the courts every single day at the Hunters Brook Condos and even travels around the region for private coaching in Carmel and at the Robbie Wagner Tournament Training Center in Glen Cove, Long Island.

“The same way that a 16-year-old would practice for junior tournaments is the same way that I’ll prepare for these events,” said Beck, who also does speed training several days a week. “I didn’t want someone just feeding balls to me.”

Growing up in Seattle, she played on the boys intramural softball team at her high school and eventually received a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music. She went on to become a solo horn player at the American Ballet Theater and performed at Radio City Music Hall, in symphonies in Connecticut and New Jersey and even become a music therapist. 

Until recently she even took her fast living lifestyle to the streets on a motorcycle.

“I had an 1100cc Yamaha that I sold two years ago after riding for about thirty years,” said Beck. “I definitely got some looks when I went out with it.”

Tennis has remained a family sport for Beck. She introduced both of her sons to the sport and her oldest child, Matt, served as Ivan Lendl’s hitting partner during his Grand Slam winning days. He is now a touring musician and has played live with world-renowned performers including Joss Stone, Rod Stewart, and Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20.

These days, Beck teaches music privately at a studio in Yorktown and continues to volunteer as a music therapist. She also runs the Top Brass French Horn Choir, which brings French horn students together from all over the county and culminates in an annual performance at the Katonah Village Library.

However, it’s tennis that remains her main love. With several trips throughout the year to locations including Alabama, Missouri and California, Beck said she believes her best is still to come.

“I want to be No. 1 in the country for my age group, and I don’t care if I have to wait until the 90-and-over division to make that happen,” she said. “I feel like I haven’t reached my peak yet.”