Tennis Magazine
November 1999
When "ER" star Kellie Martin plays tennis, she's been known to turn the court into her own personal emergency room. Today, she's practicing in California's Fernando Valley. Martin decks a net rusher from close range with a forehand volley to the face and later hits a photographer in the groin with a textbook overhead smash.

Accidents will happen, but for Martin, 24, who this fall began her second season as Lucy Knight, they're practically a way of life. Here's a closer look (but for safety reasons, not too close) at this intermediate players dynamic game.

RAQUET: She's always experimenting. Today it's the Prince Mach 1000. "But this one's too long for me. I recently played really well with a Wilson Hammer."

STRENGTHS: Forehands, approach shots, overheads, and net play.

WEAKNESS: The serve, a shot she admittedly hates practicing. "When I was around 13, I played in my one and only tournament. It was a nightmare, mainly because I had zero patience with my serve. I still need to work on it more."

MATCH PERSONALITY: "The Tasmanian Devil. I'm totally nuts when I compete."

ON NEWLY WED TENNIS: In May, Martin married law student Keith Christian, 25. During their two-week honeymoon in Hawaii, they played for 90 minutes a day. "I like playing against Keith. But when he tries giving me advice as his doubles partner, I find myself glaring at him, thinking, No, no, no, don't even go there."

FAVORITE HITTING PARTNER: Her father, Doug, a department-store buyer. They've played together regularly for 17 years. "Growing up, we had this Saturday-morning ritual: We ate breakfast at the International House of Pancakes and then played tennis. What more could a girl want?"

TENNIS DATING: At age 16, during a hiatus from her Emmy-nominated role as Becca Thacher on the ABC series Life Goes On (1989-93), Martin played tennis on a first date. "I forgot to wear my tennis panties. That oversight became apparent to both of us when a big gust of wind blew my skirt up. It was so embarrassing. He totally thought that I was trying to get his attention, but I wasn't. I beat him badly, and he wouldn't talk to me afterward."

WHY SHE ALWAYS FINDS TIME TO PLAY: "Tennis is an invigorating activity you can enjoy from ages 7 to 70. It's good fun and a great tension reliever. I have urges to take a racquet to certain people on the set [of ER], but I get my aggressions out on the court instead."

ON PRIVATE TENNIS CLUBS: "When I'm invited, they always make me play in a collared shirt, which I just hate. So I'm not a member at any private clubs. You can't play tennis unless you look like everyone else? I don't get it. Tennis is about expressing yourself." --Kevin O'Keefe