MALIN'S RACKET: EARNING RESPECT FROM THE USTA.

Byline: Dana Haddad Daily News Staff Writer

Gene Malin has certainly carved out a nice niche in life, roving from one private tennis court to another to tutor young talent.

Lately his occupation has made a turn toward - dare we say - the conventional.

Malin, who lives in West Hills, took over Glenridge Tennis Club, an exclusive venue in Bel-Air. His days would be ideal if not for the fact he now must be in charge of a pro shop, organize clinics and do the books.

``I've got a lot of friends who are disappointed in me,'' Malin said, jokingly. ``I'm tied down.''

Still, Malin's daily toil is blissful and low-key.

But July is here, which means the peaceful routine will be broken, Malin's pride will be tested and some reporter is liable to ask him about some bitter memories.

Malin on Monday will begin his bid for a fourth championship in the U.S. Tennis Association National Hardcourt Championship for men 45-and-over at the Westlake Tennis & Swim Club in Westlake Village. Malin, who turns 50 in October, is seeded fourth and has won three of the past five titles.

Seeded No. 1 is Wesley Jackson of Albuquerque, N.M., who lost to Malin two years ago in the final. And there are few people in the draw that the 6-foot, 188-pound ex-ATP professional hasn't beat.

But Malin takes the court with another opponent in mind: the USTA. He has always felt unrecognized by his sport's governing body in America.

The bad feelings started nearly 15 years ago, when Malin led the U.S. National Men's 35s team to victory in the Italian Cup and got nothing more than a handshake. And they reached their peak in 1987, when Malin coached India, led by good friend Vijay Amritraj, to the final of the Davis Cup, where it lost to Stefan Edberg-led Sweden.

Despite interest from Gordon D. Jorgensen, then president of the USTA, Malin's services were deemed unnecessary by the U.S. juniors program.

That didn't stop Malin from enjoying a fine coaching career, which continues. Among his top students were Kathy May, Stephanie Rehe and Barbara Potter, all of whom reached the top 15 or better at one time on the WTA Tour. May was No. 8, Rehe 10 and Potter 15.

But with his victories in the national 45s, Malin has developed a new sore spot toward the USTA. After his first title in 1993, Malin openly criticized the USTA for not allowing him to play in high-profile senior tournaments against the likes of former stars Jimmy Connors and Stan Smith. These were his old contemporaries on the pro tour, on which he never got higher than 100 in the world rankings but was able to beat former top-10s Dick Stockton and John Newcombe.

Malin says he'll never see the justification of shutting out a U.S. national 45s champion, just because people don't recognize his name.

``I'm going to feel that way until the day I die, I think,'' he said.

Jackson, who might be Malin's chief rival come Monday, is clearly on Malin's side in this issue.

``We should be playing at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open,'' said Jackson, who now runs a motel in Albuquerque after a brief stint on the world tour. ``A couple years ago, I beat Stockton at the 45s clays and he won the 45s at the U.S. Open that year.

``They say a Jackson or a Malin don't sell tickets like a Borg, Connors or McEnroe, who are sipping martinis while we're out on the practice court. The fans just want to see the best tennis possible. And we want to play these guys.''

Malin, who stands to win a little more than $1,000 if he wins the 45 hardcourts for the fourth time, has also complained to Westlake Tennis & Swim Club owner Jack Darrah about the lack of prize money.

``I'm sympathetic to Gene, but he's barking up the wrong tree,'' Darrah said. ``He's always asking me about this, and I don't know how to make him happy. The truth is, if we charged admission, nobody would come.''

Malin is likely to remain a powerful serve-and-volleying voice crying out in the wilderness for compassion until the end of his playing days. Which are likely to last for sometime. In the coming weeks, Malin will also compete in the men's 50s national tournament. And each time he wins, he hopes somebody with a pen and notepad will be there to record his comments.

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PHOTO (Color) GENE MALIN

A top 45-and-over tennis player, he feels unrecognized by his sport's governing body in America.