Players of all ages and abilities can enjoy tournaments

There's competition to be had at any level for those willing to make the commitment.

Teenager Stacia Fonseca, college student Kelly McCain and senior player Phyllis Gary are taking advantage of their tournament opportunities.

This week, Fonseca, who turns 17 on Saturday, is exploring the possibility of a professional career while competing in a satellite-level tournament in South Carolina.

Next month, McCain, a sophomore at Duke, will play in an Intercollegiate Tennis Association event in California.

Last weekend, Gary, an accomplished doubles player, teamed to win a consolation title in a charity tournament.

Last month, Fonseca played to the final of a women's open tournament before losing to a seeded player. Fonseca and her father Raul left Sunday to prepare for competition in the USTA $10,000 Satellite of Greenville. Fonseca received a wild card into the 32-player main draw and was to play her first match Tuesday.

Fonseca's motivation to enter these tournaments is simple: They give her a good indication of her chances of turning professional.

"Playing the satellite tournaments is a lot easier than traveling all over the country for the top junior ones," Fonseca said. "There are more good satellite-level tournaments closer to home. They'll show me where I am playing-wise and help tell me how far I can really go.

"By the end of my high school career, I should know if it's a college career or if a pro career is in store for me. I am just exploring my options for the future."

McCain, ranked fifth in the preseason ITA poll, hopes to improve on her final-four performance at last year's Riviera All-American Championships. McCain and doubles partner Hillary Adams also received an invitation to the doubles competition.

Gary and partner Reme Johnson joined the 240-plus players at the Ninth Annual Charity Tennis Tournament last weekend in Clearwater. The event was a benefit for the Humane Society of North Pinellas.

NET SHOTS: The Bay Area Adult Championships named age-division singles and doubles winners. Among the champions in singles were Liz Leigh, Trish Riddell and Kerry Young among the women and Gavin Hertzberg, Alex Deeb and Selim Benbais among the men.

Pasco players played to the finals in last weekend's Rookie Tournament at East Lake Woodlands. Finalists included top seeds Kaleigh Wagner in the girls 10-and-under and Trevor Hubbard in the boys 14. Wagner reached a first-set tiebreaker before falling ill and withdrawing; Hubbard lost in a third-set tiebreaker.

Tampa's Kelly Sullivan (10), Carla McKnight (12) and Jenna Quinones (14) won their singles divisions.

Flavia Russo won the girls 16 junior singles title and Nathan Graddy the boys 10 in the Labor Day Championships at Cheval Country Club. Finalists in the state-sanctioned event included Cameron Babbitt (boys 16), Dilip Kamath (boys 14) and Nicholas Moore (boys 12).

MARK THE DATE: Plans are under way for the Nov.8-10 Tennis Classic to benefit the Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco, Inc. The men's, women's and mixed doubles tournament will be held at the Paul Kronk Tennis Center in Crescent Oaks, directed by teaching professional Matt Kleber.

Last year, the event raised over $58,000 with at least 92 percent of the funds raised going to the non-profit clinic. For information, call the clinic at (727) 848-6851 or the tennis center at (727) 934-6920.

COMING UP: The Fall Classic, a state-sanctioned NTRP singles and doubles event, is hosted by the Phil Green Tennis Academy on Sept. 27-29 at the Safety Harbor Spa. Call Alan Virgus, (727) 724-7729, before the Sept. 24 deadline.

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