AA_Jan24_WEB

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