Chambers gets a shot to play in Italia Cup

Jeff Chambers never has gotten over his love for competition.

Beginning Monday, he will receive a tough challenge in his first International Tennis Federation Italia Cup in south Florida.

The event is a team tournament that pits the best 35-and-older players from about 18 countries in five days of singles and doubles. The past two years, the U.S. finished second. In 1999, the squad was third. Starting as a youth when the St. Petersburg native achieved a No. 2 state ranking in the 12-and-under division and No. 1 in the 14 class, to training at Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton during his high school years, Chambers craved competition.

"I grew up playing tennis at the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club," Chambers said. "I got into competition pretty young and was in tournaments in the 10-and-under age group.

"My family was sports-minded, with my parents playing along with my two brothers and sister," he said.

Chambers' older brother, Joe, and their sister, Danelle, attended West Virginia University and Virginia Tech, respectively, on tennis scholarships. Lance, the youngest member in the family, chose baseball at the University of Tampa.

Chambers, after graduating from St. Petersburg Catholic High School in 1983, was awarded a scholarship to the University of North Carolina. He was an All-American his sophomore season.

With a college degree under his belt in 1987, Chambers set off to play the satellite tour in Europe for a few months.

"I've always liked the one-on-one sports," said Chambers, a St. Petersburg attorney. "If you lose, it's all on your head, but when you win, you reap the benefits."

In satellite competition, Chambers captured second place in one event and fourth in another. It led to a world ranking of 305 and the opportunity to vie for challenger tournament berths and in some Grand Slam qualifying events.

"The one regret I have is that at that point I decided to go in another direction and not give the next level a try," he said. "In fact, I didn't compete for 10 years."

Chambers' return to the competitive world was influenced by his desire to stay in shape as he entered his 30s. Plus, he wanted his son, Austin, to see dad play.

That was two years ago. Since then, Chambers has achieved the state's top ranking in the 35-and-older division and is No. 4 in the U.S. As a result, he was invited to join this year's Italia Cup team and represent the U.S.

"Actually, I was invited last year when the competition was in Austria, but I had to turn them down," Chambers said. "It's ironic that this year it's practically in my backyard.

"It's quite and honor to be selected, and I think we should have a strong team. We have the nation's No. 1 player, Jeff Greenwald, and No. 2 Brett Dickinson from California and No. 5 Bruce Kurtz from Florida. I'm looking forward to it."

JUNIOR NOTES: St. Petersburg's Kelly Nelson reached the girls 18-and-under doubles semifinal round with partner Joelle Schwenk of Coconut Creek in the Easter Bowl Championships in California.

Fifteenth-seeded Timothy Neilly, who is training at Seminole Lake Tennis Center, qualified for the 16 final before losing to No. 2 Jarrett Chirico of Bradenton 7-5, 6-3. Neilly and Marc Spicijaric were among the division's doubles quarterfinalists.

Boys 18 top seed Sukhwa Young finished third and advanced to the doubles semifinal with Goran Dragicevic. Stacia Fonseca made it to the round of 16 in girls 16 and was a doubles finalist with New York's Michelle Mitchell. Morgan Basil defended her girls 12 top seed in the F.A.J. Super Series at Cheval Country Club. Philip Barlow of Indian Shores upset No. 1 Matt Brown from Homosassa en route to the boys 14 title. St. Petersburg's Alamgir Wali reached the 16 championship.

ADULT LEAGUES: Seminole Lake Tennis Center's 4.0 Blue team avenged its only loss with a 3-2 victory over Countryside last weekend.

Winning for division-leading Seminole (6-1) were Ron Klieve and Mauro Rodriguez (No. 1 doubles), Michael Parker and Andris Cakarnis and Red McGarry and John Leavengood. A second Seminole squad raised its record to 7-0 in the 4.0 Red division with a 4-1 win over the Renaissance Vinoy.

Richard Farci posted a victory in No. 2 singles for Seminole. The team's other winners were Gary Lucke and Isaac Vicente (No. 1 doubles), Don Kirby and Jim McCook and Dan Callahan and Les Gustin. Nga Duong (No. 1 singles) scored the Vinoy's only point.

The Vinoy's 3.5 Central squad (6-0) beat the Racquet Club 5-0. Richard Knipe (No. 1 singles) and Gottlieb Keller and Paul Haggar (No. 1 doubles) recorded straight-set victories. Terry Brett (No. 2 singles), David Brett and David Calametti (No. 2 doubles) and Bruce Sadker and Dean Lampe rebounded from first-set losses to win in three.

MIXED TEAMS AT STATE: Competition begins Friday for senior doubles squads in the championships in Palm Coast.

Weston Innisbrook Resort will play in the 6.5 division, Royal Racquet Club in 7.5 and Phil Green Tennis Academy in 8.5.

In all, there will be nine 6.5 teams, 12 7.5 and six 8.5. The adult state tournament starts April 26.

The area squads competing will be Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club (7.5) and McMullen Tennis Center (8.5). COMING UP: The SPTC Juniors Easter Classic, for girls and boys 18-and-under, is scheduled for Saturday-Monday at St. Petersburg Tennis Center. For information, call Al Sarmiento, 360-2643. ... The Phil Green Academy hosts its Spring Classic, for men in singles and doubles, is Friday-Sunday at Safety Harbor Spa. Call Al Virgus, 724-7729. ... The Junior Clay Court Championships are April 27-29 at Hunter's Green Country Club. Call Bill Macom, (813) 973-4220.

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