Marcell SamuelsRussell

Director of Retail

MARCELL SAMUELS-RUSSELL wants to set the record straight: You are not just “shopping” at the retail spaces at The Boca Raton; instead, the property’s director of retail believes you are here to receive an exceptional experience. “We listen to member and guest stories and really get to know them to understand their needs and comfort levels,” she says. “It’s important that when guests walk out of our shops, we help them leave looking their best.”

In helping to launch the property’s 20 retail concepts, from bespoke fashion to luxury swimwear to timepiece stores, Samuels-Russell brings a career’s worth of highend resort retail background to The Boca Raton. She says offering a personalized experience—including keeping the stores open early or late, and private shopping upon request—can be facilitated. And as she looks toward the future, Samuels-Russell says the best is yet to come, with special designer collaborations and fashion events in store.

“We created these shops for our Club members and guests,” she says. “This is our gift to them.”

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BY SUSAN GILLIS

LOCAL TENNIS AFICIONADOS know that The Boca Raton has long been the place to go for the finest courts and spectacular tournaments. The first courts at the hotel opened in about 1930 and were southeast of the hotel, north of today’s Harborside Pool Club; they have been relocated many times over the years. The earliest known “pro” was a man named Val Yavorsky. A World War I veteran loyal to the czar, he made his way to the U.S. in 1922 and by 1934 was working as the winter tennis pro at the Boca Raton Club. By the 1960s he moved to Boca Raton full-time, where he taught mechanical drawing, tennis and art at Saint Andrew’s School. (The Historical Society owns some of his artwork.)

Fred Perry, considered by many one of the greatest players of all time, hailed from Britain, and became a U.S. citizen in 1939. In the 1930s he was ranked the No. 1 amateur in the world for three years; he would win eight Grand Slam tournaments and two Pro Slams, among many other titles. He joined the hotel as tennis pro in the late 1940s. The Boca Raton Historical Society has a photo of Fred with golf pro Tommy Armour and the Duke of Windsor, a frequent visitor to the hotel. remained as pro for 13 years.

All-around athlete Ted Withall started teaching tennis in Beverly Hills after World War II. He would later serve as president of the U.S. Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and was among the first members to be honored as a master pro. He was also president of the Florida Professional Tennis Association and the first member to be inducted into its Hall of Fame.

The hotel hosted a number of tournaments under Withall’s watch. In 1967, the U.S. Professional Lawn Tennis Association (USPLTA) played there November 21-26. By that time the courts had moved to the north side of the hotel campus. Sam Giammalva took the singles crown and, along with James Morton, the doubles title as well.

In 1972, the inaugural Virginia Slims Championship tournament (now the Women’s Tennis Association tourney) was played on the hotel courts. Seventeen-year-old Fort Lauderdale native Chris “Chrissie” Evert blew the crowd away by defeating Kerry Melville 7-5 and 6-4 to win the singles championship. The Boca

Raton Historical Society has photos of this event, including a photograph of Chrissie using her then-notorious double-handed backhand to return a shot from Billie Jean King, who can be seen on the other side of the net. Evert was unable to claim the prize, however, as she was not yet 18 and was classified as an amateur. Chrissie did return the following year to win the singles title, her first professional win. Evert’s thrilling career helped make women’s tennis the major sporting event it is today. She still resides in Boca Raton.

The 1973 Slims, held in October, was preceded by a procelebrity tournament to draw the crowds. Bobby Riggs, fresh off his defeat by Billie Jean King in the so-called “Battle of the Sexes” match, was the big draw. Other celebrities included such diverse