Saul Snyder was first introduced to tennis in 1942 at age 10 when he borrowed his older sister’s wooden racket to hit tennis balls against a wall.
Today, Snyder, age 90, is ranked No. 1 in individual doubles and No. 2 in singles in the nation and world for his age category by the U.S Tennis Association and the International Tennis Federation. He has won some 40 tennis tournaments worldwide, including in Turkey, Croatia and Israel. He is a 10-time winner at U.S. national tournaments and a multiple gold medalist at the National Senior Olympics.
“He moves around the court like someone half his age,” said Gary Saks, who plays regularly with Snyder.
Snyder, a San Carlos resident, is not a lifelong athlete and did not play in tennis tournaments until after he retired from real estate brokerage.
The youngest of five siblings, Snyder was born 1932 in St. Louis and moved with his family to Los Angeles in 1947. His parents were immigrant refugees from Ukraine during World War I. The family ran a small grocery, had strong work ethics and values, but no athletes. Snyder played a lot of horseshoes and marbles.
Having learned how to hit tennis balls using his sister’s racket, Snyder ed his high school’s tennis team for one year. He was ranked No. 10 on the 10-member squad and was never selected to play against another team.
“I liked the game, but my overweight was a stopper for me,” said Snyder, who stood 5 feet 6 inches while in high school and weighed more than 200 pounds.
Snyder’s first competitive match came in 1951 while attending college. He represented his fraternity against a competing fraternity’s player. The opponent had been a high-ranked member of Snyder’s high school tennis team.
“He was the most profane player I ever played against, cursing and throwing his racket,” Snyder said. “I didn’t think I could beat him, however, because I was overweight.”
Snyder won 2 out of 3 sets.
After that match, he did not play tennis for another 10 years, but the seed was planted.
Snyder had little time for tennis during college as he worked as a bartender to help put himself through school. Interrupted by service in the Army, he graduated from UCLA in 1959 with a degree in business istration.
Shortly after graduation, Snyder moved to San Diego, where he eventually ran a successful real estate brokerage firm until his retirement in 1987 at age 55.
He would occasionally play recreational tennis, but no tournaments until well after he retired and friends suggested he a tennis club and enter competitions. “In my 60s I started playing tournaments to test myself to see if I was as good as others said I was,” said Snyder, who first began taking lessons in his 60s.
Having lost more than 50 pounds, Snyder won so many tournaments that he cracked national rankings, reaching as high as fifth in the nation in the age 60s category. In 2013, at age 80, he unexpectedly defeated the first seed in a high-profile national tournament in Philadelphia and continued winning tournaments on a path to his current No. 1 world ranking.
As for the future, Snyder said, “I have always looked forward to the next age group. The next one is 95 if they have it.”
Snyder’s ion for tennis is eclipsed only by that for his wife of 43 years, Sonia, their three daughters, stepson and five grandchildren.
Tennis helps Snyder enjoy retirement. In addition to competing, he reads, has volunteered with nonprofits and has been in about two dozen plays, including plays at the Old Globe and Starlight theaters. Before retirement, he had won Best Actor in a Leading Role from the Associated Community Theaters in 1981. He continued with acting early in his retirement.
“Retirement,” Snyder said, “is nothing to be afraid of.
“There are so many things you can do in retirement. Keep active. Keep learning and have a variety of interests. Be ionate about something. It’s not necessary to be a tennis champion. Find what you like.”
About this series
Jan Goldsmith is an Emeritus member of the U-T’s Community Advisory Board. He is an attorney and former law partner, judge, state legislator, San Diego city attorney and Poway mayor.
Someone San Diego Should Know is a column written by of the U-T’s Community Advisory Board about local people who are interesting and noteworthy because of their experiences, achievements, creativity or credentials.
