Singles league completes title matches

St.Petersburg's 22-year-old Singles Flex League wrapped up another season by crowning five women's winners and 11 men's champions.

Alice Guarino captured the women's A-1 division title in a playoff with Michelle Elliott, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

"I've played in the A-1 division numerous times over the years since I entered it in 1990," Guarino said. "There's been lots of good competition."

She originally joined the league in 1986 in the B-3 class, then worked her way up.

Guarino was born in New York, resided in San Francisco for a short time, and lived in St.Petersburg during her elementary school days. When she was about 11, Guarino returned to New York for her prep and college years.

"I learned tennis when I was about eight and lived in San Francisco," she said.

"My parents played, and they got me out on the courts. They were both good athletes and liked to play tennis and golf," Guarino said.

Guarino played on a coed team in high school and on a women's squad in college. Thanks to her University of Rochester coach, she learned a serve-and-volley style of game.

"I'm pretty reserved by nature and would have been happy to be a baseliner," Guarino said. "She apparently brought out the aggression in me, and I really grew to enjoy that style."

Guarino improved and defended Rochester's No.1 position her senior season.

"The city league has been so good and so much fun," she said of the St.Petersburg competition. "There aren't players for this next round, so I decided to join the USTA and try some of the tournaments in the area."

Other league winners included Lesley Siemens, in an A-2 playoff; Elisabeth Leitner (A-3), Dawn Gillingham (B-1), Tracy Smyrl (B-2) and Martha Benjamin (B-3).

Matt Casey captured the A-1 championship in a playoff with Noi Saypharath.Other division winners were Michael Scharmer (A-2), John Beda (A-3) and Jim Ramage (A-4).

In the B class, the champs were David Zimmerman (B-1), Guy Lieberman (B-2), Lowell McKee (B-3), Joe Gillette (B-4), Ron Martin (B-5), Matthew Wright (B-6) and Michael Roy (B-7).

In a revival of flex doubles, Josh Morey and John Trusler finished first in the B division.

CLASSIC RESULTS: Local players captured singles titles in last weekend's state-sanctioned Classic Championships at St.Petersburg Tennis Center. Winning were Carol Fontaine (women's 55-and-over), Joan Simmons (35), Hank McCusker (men's 70) and Terry O'Grady (35). Reaching the finals were area players Victoria Hess (55), Maria Drew (35), Kristin Rannala (open), William Gatlin (70), Bill Christensen (55), Alex Deeb (45) and Nik Sukhasam (35). In the men's open division, No.7 James Bloore of Seminole, leading 6-2, 4-3 before rain postponed the final Monday, is scheduled to complete the match today against top-seeded Andrea Bonfigli of Sarasota. Katie Heilman (open), Guarino (35), Earl Concors (70), David Bjornson (65), John Beda (55), Steve Talner (45) and Jack Bailey (35) took seven of the eight consolation honors.

TPA SCORES: Brothers Alamgir and Sheharya Wali were crowned singles winners in last weekend's Fall Classic. Fourth-seeded Alamgir, after eliminating the boys 18-and-under division's top player in a semifinal, took the title when finalist Shaun Young defaulted. Sheharya, No.1 in the 16 class, beat Bradenton's Stephen Coulis 6-2, 6-3. Local finalists in the state-sanctioned event hosted by the Tournament Players Club at the Racquet Club included Danielle Collins (girls 10) and Anthony Barrancotto (boys 10). Consolation winners were Kara Kucin (girls 12), Jason Swenson (boys 18), Garrett Betsarakis (12) and Robert Dvorak (10).

JUNIORS: Girls 18 main-draw division player Yuri Kurashima was the only local champion in Clearwater's Water is Clear Tournament last weekend. Finalists included Amanda Yogus (16), Ashley Hungerford (14), Becky Bodine (10), Philip Barlow (16) and Austin Kondor (12). Among the consolation winners were Danielle Collins (10), Jason Swenson (18) and Zachary Bandes (10).

In last weekend's Florida State Doubles and Mixed Doubles Championships, Alexandria Cercone teamed with Gainesville's Keri Frankenburger to capture their second consecutive girls title. Cercone was second in the 12 mixed doubles with Miami's Jeffrey Morris. Morgan Frank and Caroline Verlander of Altamonte Springs won the girls 14 crown. George Navas (boys 16) and Orlando's Andrew Masslin finished third.

MARK THE DATE: The 19th annual Raymond James Charity Pro/Am Tournament, a benefit for All Children's Hospital, is scheduled for Oct.19-20 at Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club. Included in the $150 entry fee are lunch and two tickets to a cocktail party. Former pro Gigi Fernandez, recently named the South Florida women's coach, will participate in an exhibition. For information, call 367-4511.

COMING UP: The Fall Classic, a state-sanctioned NTRP singles and doubles event, is hosted by Phil Green Tennis Academy on Friday at Safety Harbor Spa. For information, call 724-7729. ... The Largo Tennis Center will have a non-sanctioned tournament Oct.5 for juniors needing experience. Call 403-8588. ... The Fall Junior Super Series, Oct.5-7 at East Lake Woodlands, will offer singles and doubles. To enter, call 785-2212 before Monday's deadline. ... Seminole Lake Tennis Center's Fall Classic is Oct.10-12. The state-sanctioned event has men's and women's age-division singles and doubles. Call 394-1733.

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