Tampa Futures

My next trip is soon, Wednesday in fact, for the first Pro Circuit event of the year, a 10K for men and a 25K for women at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa. The semis and finals coincide with an 18-and-under Florida section designated for boys and girls that we've attended for six of the last seven years. We missed last year due to our trip to the Australian Open. My husband and I run the desk, so I don't get to see as much tennis as I would like, but this year we're going early to watch some of the Futures action.

The men's qualifying is complete; for the draws and schedule, see the Pro Circuit home page. I've put together a short slide show featuring five of the eight men's qualifiers. I don't have photos of Christopher Brown, Ruben Gonzales or Adam Kennedy. Two of the qualifiers are juniors: 15-year-old Rhyne Williams and 17-year-old Reid Carleton. Carleton, a finalist at the recent Winter Nationals, didn't drop a set in his four qualifying victories, while Williams battled through two three-setters to earn his place in the main draw. Pavel Chekhov has aged out of the juniors, with last month's Orange Bowl his last event and he will meet wild card recipient Tyler Hochwalt, 17, in the main draw. Donald Young also received a wild card into the main draw.

The women's qualifying is only a 64 draw, not a 128, and it doesn't end until tomorrow. Juniors Allie Will, Ashley Weinhold, Sorana Cirstea and Lauren Albanese are all still in the mix.

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TAGS: tennis, junior tennis

USTA Guide to Tennis on College Campuses; Gullikson Scholarships

At the ITA Coaches Convention at the Doral Resort in Miami last month, I spied a newpublication by the USTA entitled USTA Guide to Tennis on College Campuses. Although hard copies won't be available until later this month, the online pdf version is now available. It is a detailed look at both varsity and recreational tennis options at NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA schools, and also provides a short chapter on careers in the tennis industry. It's a great resource in itself, and also supplies many references to other sources of information that are vital to those interested in pursuing college tennis. It opens with a foreword by James Blake:

When I made the decision to go to college, I had already had offers to turn pro, but I knew I wasn’t ready either
mentally or physically for the pro scene. Going to college gave me the opportunity to mature, study, meet great friends, and play tennis for the pure joy of the game. I wouldn’t trade my time in college for anything.

There has been much criticism lobbed at the USTA for ignoring college tennis as a development option, some of it deserved, but recent steps, like this guide, are evidence of a change.


As a member of the Midwest section, I also wanted to mention that applications are now being accepted for the Tim and Tom Gullikson scholarships, administered through the Midwest Youth Tennis and Education Foundation. One boy and one girl from the section will receive $2500 "to advance their educational and tennis interests." Please click here for more information.

TAGS: tennis, junior tennis

Winter Nationals Lives Up to Its Name:: The Tennis Recruiting Network

Julie Wrege of The Tennis Recruiting Network has a great summary of the entire Winter Nationals, and it couldn't have been easy to cover the 18s, 16s, 14s and 12s, as the latter two divisions were played in Tucson, while the older players were in Phoenix, two hours away.

There are photos of all the winners, including those that I didn't have for the slide show: Emily Gelber (18s), Nathan Pasha (14s) and Jerricka Boone (12s). And if you wonder how Sponge Bob became a spectator at the girls' 12s final, Wrege has the details.

Marcia Frost of collegeandjuniortennis.com is now in Tucson covering the Copper Bowl, which includes both girls and boys in all age divisions. Her updates and photos are here.

TAGS: tennis

British Tennis Magazine interview: Graeme Dyce

I stumbled across this story which is from the November issue of British Tennis, a publication I admit I didn't know existed until today. I also didn't know who Graeme Dyce was until this year's Eddie Herr tournament, where I started to recognize him as part of the Bollettieri "Top Gun" group, as this story describes the highest level of juniors at the IMG Academy. At the Eddie Herr, Dyce beat the sixth seed, Jose Roberto Velasco of Bolivia, in the first round then lost a long three-setter to Radu Albot of Moldova in the second round.

It's interesting that he's from Scotland and "managed" by Judy Murray, Andy's mother. The reason why he chose Bollettieri's over the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona, Murray's alma mater, is understandable; it's interesting that Murray is now training often at Bollettieri's and that Murray's coach, Brad Gilbert, has a son there, who is Dyce's roommate. Dyce is also wisely keeping his college options open, and I'm sure there were many coaches watching his two matches at the Eddie Herr with great interest.

I had to chuckle though, when the story referred to Dyce's getting away from a country where tennis is a "minority" sport. Although tennis is big in Bradenton, it's certainly not a "majority" sport in most of this country.

TAGS: tennis, Graeme Dyce

Tomic and Orlik Harvest Jr. Orange Bowl Titles

My first article for The Tennis Recruiting Network in 2007 is my tournament report on the Junior Orange Bowl, and like most of my tournament reports for TR.net, it's a handy synopsis for those who missed the daily reports I filed when I was in Coral Gables last month. My article next week for Tennis Recruiting will be something completely different--a look back at my 2006 "Intriguing Questions."

TAGS: tennis, Junior Orange Bowl

Cohen Claims Third Casablanca Crown

The first ITF Grade A, the Casablanca Cup, is played during the holidays (it's officially a 2007 tournament, even though it finished on December 31) and just weeks after the last Grade A, the Orange Bowl, assuring that the event in Mexico will be given less attention than it usually warrants.

But the ITF staff in London did this wrap-up, and there is a small slide show of photos on their site, so there is some information to be had.


There is something about the Casablance Cup that agrees with Julia Cohen. She has won three of the last four singles championships, the first when she was just 14 years old, and her success there has helped keep her in the top twenty of the ITF rankings for a long time. This year she also won the doubles title, with Valeria Pulido-Velasco, who like the boys' champion, unseeded wild card Eduardo Peralta-Tello, was from the host country.

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