Saddlebrook's Citrin plays into the semifinal of summer league

Dedicated singles players endured Florida's heat and humidity last weekend for the K-Swiss League summer playoffs held in Clearwater at Royal Racquet Club last weekend.

Among those in the semifinal round was Dr. Paul Citrin of Saddlebrook. Citrin, a vascular surgeon in the Zephyrhills area, competed in his first season at the 4.5 level after winning the 4.5-minus last summer. Citrin has played five seasons.

"I've played in K-Swiss about 11/2 years and started at the 4.5-minus level," Citrin said. "With my win last summer, I moved into the 4.5 this year."

Qualifying for the playoffs provided an opportunity for Citrin to seek restitution for a summer-season loss to George Chaconas from the Harbour Island area. In the quarterfinal playoff round, Citrin eliminated Chaconas in three sets.

"That was nice to beat him after he defeated me in the season," Citrin said of Chaconas, "But then I face Ron Bedlack in the semifinal and he wiped me out."

Bedlack, of Oldsmar, went on to win the 4.5 Tampa Bay area title.

Citrin, a New York native, began playing casual tennis at about age 12, when his family lived in the Miami Beach area.

"When we moved to Saddlebrook about 14 years ago, there were obviously more opportunities to play," he said.

Citrin's tennis includes friendly play at Saddlebrook and an occasional game before dawn at the Zephyrhills city courts on weekends.

"I don't take any lessons, even though I'm there at Saddlebrook, but instead, prefer to play," Citrin said. "Our summer league of players was pretty competitive among the most of us.

"The format of flexible scheduling fits my schedule perfectly. It allows you to schedule your tennis around your work and doesn't limit you to specific times for playing. That works best for me and my schedule."

Joining Citrin in the Tampa Bay playoffs and advancing to championship status were Tampa players Elvin Cruz (3.0), Jonathan Bortner (3.5), Carl Harmon (4.5-minus) and Lanny Lewis (5.0) in the men's division. Cruz also won the regional championship in a playoff with the Southwest winner.

Among the women capturing titles were Lan Lai (3.0), Brenda Mike (3.5-minus), Tracy Gutierrez (4.0-minus), Mary Marshall (4.0) and Linda Anderson (4.5).

Pinellas players won the men's 2.5, 3.5-minus, 4.0, 4.0-minus, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.0; the women's 2.5, 4.5-minus and 5.0.

For information on the fall session, call (727) 865-0615 or visit its website www.ultimatetennis.com.

NET SHOTS: Zephyrhills Tennis Association members have been scattered to surrounding community and school courts while the city courts at Zephyr Park are being resurfaced. ZTA president Barry Roades hopes for completion of the five-court project next month when organization activities will resume. ... Timothy Neilly, formerly of Saddlebrook, reached the quarterfinals in this month's USTA Junior International Hard Court Championships in Pennington, N.J., for players 18-and-under. No. 10 seed Daigo Sakurai played to the round of 32 and Anabella Plasencia lost in the opening round of the girls 18 competition.

In the Florida State Closed for the men's 40-and-over and 60 singles divisions, Selim Benbadis advanced to the round of 16 in the 40 division, as did No. 3 Andres Molina. Tampa's Fred Farzanegan defended his top seeding in the men's 60 and Steve Feingold played to the round of 16.

HOLIDAY LEAGUES: Registration for the Holiday Complex fall leagues continues through Sept. 8. Leagues offered are Friday night mixed doubles, men's and women's singles and Thursday morning women's doubles.

An organizational meeting is planned to begin at 7 p.m., Sept. 6 at the Holiday Complex. League play begins the following week.

For information call Donna French, (727) 934-4198.

COMING UP: The Bay Area Adult Championships begin Friday at the McMullen Tennis Center in Clearwater. Men and women's singles and doubles age divisions in the open, 30-and-over, 40 and 50 are offered. Call Tomas Ollestad, (727) 669-1919. ... Cheval Country Club hosts its Labor Day Championships for junior singles players beginning Saturday. Call (813) 948-2282 today to enter the state-sanctioned competition. ... The First Coast Junior designated begins Saturday in Jacksonville for singles players 18-and-younger. Call the USA Tennis Florida office, (386) 671-8949, for entry information. ... The Ninth Annual Charity Tournament to benefit the Humane Society of North Pinellas is Sept. 13-15. Held since its inception at Royal Racquet Club, the event includes men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles. Call (727) 791-8415.

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