David Murata, a resident of Kula, Maui, has been a persistent presence on local tennis courts for over three-quarters of a century — well into his 90s. Recently, David has decided to hang up his racket at age 95, an incredible accomplishment and milestone.
To say that the sport increases longevity is an understatement. Tennis is known to extend life expectancy by nearly 10 years… what some call the “bonus years.”
“David has repeatedly said that tennis is what keeps him alive,” say fellow players Tom Liu and Pearl Rockett. But after 77 years of enjoying the sport, David stopped playing when he felt that his balance was declining. “It was a natural transition due to my age and capabilities,” David candidly says.
David started playing tennis around 1948 at Konawaena High School, when a family friend’s father introduced him to the game. Throughout his tennis career, David remained competitive and injury-free, playing on many USTA league teams on Maui. “But my strength decreased as I got older and I had to be careful not to fall on the court,” he says. “I also relied on my partners more since I could not move as well.” So he served as team captain when he was unable to compete at the higher levels.
David not only brought his skills and smiles to the court; the “garden guru” regularly blessed his fellow players with a bounty of beautiful fruits and vegetables that he painstakingly tended on his Kula farm. He has been described as a generous, kind and compassionate gentlemen — both on and off the court.
What kept him coming back decade after decade was that he “liked the game and the people that I played with.” He says he will miss being active and spending time with his tennis friends — Monty Tester, Tom Liu, Pearl Rockett, Don Booth — and many others he has played with over the years.
“He was the captain of several of the teams I played on,” says Monty. “He was a very good, fair captain, keeping us organized on our trips to Kona and O‘ahu for USTA sectionals.”
“David’s small frame masked his towering competitiveness, his prowess, his smartness, his total concentration, and his unsolicited cheering after he made a point,” says Pearl.
She says he lives life and played tennis utilizing the Asian culture belief of shōganai: “it is what it is — the situation cannot be altered, worrying about it is pointless and moving forward is the best option.” “He moved on when life showed its nasty ways, he held his head up high and believed in the power of God,” says Pearl. “He never dwelled on the little things.”
“Even in his 90s, David was always fun to play with,” says Don. “He remembered the score better than us 60- and 70-year-olds. He was competitive and loved to report the set scores to his family when his team won. But win or lose, David was always a model of good sportsmanship. He is a wonderful example of a generous and kind man whom we could all learn from.”
Besides the good times with his friends, his most cherished memories include “winning games that I didn’t think we could win.” He says he doesn’t remember much about his opponents… but one can bet they remember him. This polite player with a good-natured giggle wielded a wicked, left-handed slice serve so extreme that John McEnroe would have been jealous. And like McEnroe, this unassuming senior was indeed a fierce competitor.
“I remember seeing his joy as he whacked that tennis ball and got a winner off of me,” says Pearl. “His serious face broke out into a huge grin — more like a smirk — and then he would shamelessly shake his fist at me showing me that he ‘got me!’ It was a wonderful time of togetherness and sharing the tennis courts with David. He is my idol. I will miss playing with him.”
Only time could stop this dynamo. The keys to David’s longevity in sports is to stay healthy and active, but to also be realistic about his limitations as he got older and avoid wasting energy on uncontrollable events. “I am okay not playing anymore due to my limitations,” says David. “Although aging takes away some things you just can’t do anymore, keep active doing the things that you can do.”
He has now shifted his attention to another thinking person’s sport — gateball — several times a week (generations808.com/gateball-revived). Best of luck to his opponents… They will need it!
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