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FRONT ROW focus VINCE SPADEA INTERVIEWED AND WRITTEN BY EMILY PETERS | PHOTO BY HENRIIKKA NIEMI Granting his first personal interview in years, perpetually well-polished Vince Spadea reveals what it was really like playing tennis at an Olympic level, and how he has become just as successful off the court. The epitome of tenacity, Spadea has more than proven himself as a firstrate Renaissance man, conquering endeavors that have spanned the globe. Parlaying a formidable tennis career into bi-coastal successes as an author, business owner, and luxury real estate agent, the sports phenom has become one of the top Realtors in South Florida, currently operating under Douglass Elliman - a company synonymous with some of the most high-end properties in the world. In 2006, ECW Press published the best-selling memoir Break Point: The Secret Diary of a Pro Tennis Player, which details the ultra-competitive world of professional tennis, along with previously private anecdotes - including his friendship with comedian Jon Lovitz. In the public eye for the majority of his life, Spadea recounts how at eight-years-old, he relocated from his native Chicago to South Florida, whose sunny atmosphere leant a hand in determining his future. “Florida is an amazing place for tennis because you simply can’t beat the weather here. My dad was a part-time player and enthusiast, so he used to bring my sisters out with me and we would all play against each other. I attended a few training programs including the Chris Evert Academy, and as tennis grew in the 80’s and 90’s, so did my game. That time period was absolutely pivotal in facilitating COPYRIGHTED 58 | JANUARY 2024 | WWW.ATLANTICAVEMAGAZINE.COM
my career in the juniors, and around 14 was when I really began to exhibit a higher standard of skill. Consequently, agents and people in the tennis associations started coming around saying they wanted to talk to me about being more serious. I was actually playing baseball at the time, and ironically Coco Gauff’s (winner of the 2023 Women’s singles U.S. Open) dad was actually on my team in Delray. I was really into baseball too, but I started winning a lot of national events in tennis, so that outweighed baseball and changed my priorities. When I was 16, and a sophomore at St. Andrews in Boca Raton, I turned all my attention towards the game and became enamored with professional athleticism itself. Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras were definitely inspirations… and that era athlete didn’t go the college route. I aspired to be like them, so I concentrated all my extra hours and energy on tennis and going pro.” His dream fulfilled, Spadea remained on the pro tennis circuit for 18 years, reaching the quarterfinals at the 1999 Australian Open, and attained a career-high ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) ranking of 18th in the world in 2005. “Upon reaching pro status, I think you without a doubt strive to become the best you can. As I progressed, the want to keep going intensified - and once the media recognition came… truly realized how substantially I was climbing. So I reset my goals, and upon reaching the top 25, it all began to feel a little bit surreal because you don’t think of yourself as being one of the best players out there. I worked really hard, and seeing my ranking break the top 20 was one of the biggest moments in my tennis career. There were some really great American players on the circuit like Jim Courier and Michael Chang. Getting to watch guys that were only a few years older than me winning majors was really inspiring, and those were the kind of guys I wanted to emulate and compete against. I wound up beating them all at some point eventually in the future, and although I didn’t get to win a major tournament like they did, had some great times accomplishing a lot against that caliber of player. I was honored to represent the United States twice at the Summer Olympics - once in 2000, held in Sydney, Australia and again in 2004 in Athens, Greece. The entire experience was pretty amazing and such a timeless achievement. There’s so much prestige and attention that is given to every athlete when you get there. From the amazing equipment, warm-up suits and rings, to the incredible memorabilia - you realize how important it is. To want to be an Olympic athlete is a great goal, but to actually be there while participating in the opening ceremonies, and see the competitors who have dedicated years of their lives - combined with every victory and failure… it culminates to that moment where you’re playing for your country, surrounded by the most talented and impressive class of peers, and to be one of them is really special.” I worked really hard, and seeing my ranking break the top 20 was one of the biggest moments in my tennis career COPYRIGHTED That “go for the gold” mindset continued as Spadea ventured into real estate, garnering the Platinum Ellie Award in 2020 and 2023, and the 2022 Leading Edge Ellie Award. With stellar progression, selling over $150 million in Palm Beach homes over the span of only a few years, Vince has authenticated why he is on track for one of the most rapid rises in history as a new agent. “I got into real estate because I was starting to look at buying places for myself, and wanted to get my license for personal knowledge. I think it’s such a cool field because it affects everyone, and thought it would be great to interact with individuals on that level. I wound up getting my license while spending a good amount of time in Palm Beach as the touring professional at Mar-a-Lago. I met a lot of fascinating people there, and began to realize the bigger picture for myself. I lived in Los Angeles before Florida, because that’s where one of my coaches was in 2003. Ten years later, when I fully retired, I was working as a manager and agent - but more in the Hollywood aspect, which allowed for top-notch practice in negotiations. Usually after you become a professional athlete, it’s natural to want to mentor people and help out… and I desired to do that as well, but in a different sector. In Los Angeles, that’s the entertainment sector, and so that environment helped me develop my own identity and brand.” Spadea’s talents have spilled onto the silver screen as the onset expert and body double for Steve Carell in Battle of the Sexes, TSG Entertainment’s 2017 film detailing the historic match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. “I helped Emma (Stone), Steve (Carell), and the actors learn tennis at a magnitude which was needed for that movie. The entire cast was really nice, and everyone put forth great effort in perfecting their game to create the realism of what you see in the final product. Another project, Nightbird, (directed by Lawrence Fajardo), came about because of someone that I had met in the same industry. They were doing an independent film in New York, and asked me to play a part in a mafia movie which sounded really interesting and I had a great time doing it.” Whether it’s having the distinction of being one of only four players to ever defeat Roger Federer 6-0 in a set at a major event, running his Beverly-Hills based talent management company, 6 Star Ventures, or selling some of the most magnificent homes in America, Spadea makes it all look easy - even though it certainly is not. “It’s always more enjoyable when you play well or succeed in your chosen pursuits, so I try to focus and achieve big things in everything I do.” For real estate inquiries please direct all correspondences to vince.spadea@elliman.com WWW.ATLANTICAVEMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY 2024 | 59
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