Greg Hilbert is extending a challenge to other area singles players.
Participate in St. Petersburg's Flex League, Hilbert says, and be prepared for tough competition.
Hilbert, the winner of the spring session's A-1 division, has competed in the league several years and won A-2 a few seasons ago. "It's a top city league, and it would be nice to have more players," Hilbert said.
"This is the only league I play in. It fits my schedule and has good competition," the Wisconsin native said. "If anyone else is looking for some strong match play, they should give this league a try."
The league began in 1979 and will celebrate its 25th anniversary at its banquet in December.
The spring session included nine men's divisions and four women's classes.
Hilbert lost just one match on his way to the A-1 title.
"My game revolves around my serve," Hilbert said. "It's pretty big and tough to return.
"When my serve is dominating and I can smash it in, I use my net game, which is pretty strong, and make my game real tough on my opponent. If I can beat my opponent's serve one time, I'll usually hold mine, and that's all I need to win."
When Hilbert was a youth, he played at St. Petersburg Tennis Center, often hitting with Wally Collins. Twenty years later, Hilbert said, he's hitting with Collins' daughter, Danielle, a top-ranked junior in the girls 12 competition.
Hilbert played on the St. Petersburg High School team through his junior year in 1978 when he moved to California to try his hand at more tennis.
"After California, I quit tennis for about 10-15 years until I moved back here," he said. Hilbert's only loss came at the hands of Jeff Roess, who won the A-2 division.
"I got lucky and was able to stay in the match," Roess said. "I'm a lefty, and that often has an impact on my opponents' strategy.
"I've played in the city league about 20 years and started in the B division. I've been bouncing between the A-1 and A-2 divisions for a while.
"We mixed the two divisions in the spring to get more competition," he said. "That's how I met Greg."
Roess has been in the sport since he was a youth and is self-taught. Most of his matches extend to three sets, he said, and Roess takes just enough points to win the match.
"It has been a while since I've won in the league, so this win was fun," Roess said.
"Even though I've played tennis since I was young, I only began to learn how to play the game when I started in the league. Up until then, I was just hitting the ball. Now I've learned to use strategy."
Sometimes, Roess said, he changes his game to adjust to his opponent's. Other times, he is able to utilize his topspin and keep his opponents deep in the backcourt.
Kurt Kammerer survived a three-set playoff match to win the A-3 over Lowell McKee.
In the A-4 division, Greg Cram, John Green and Kal Nekvasil finished in a tie. Cram beat Green then Nekvasil to top the division.
B-division winners were Matt Wilson in B-1, Art Carta in B-2, Bernie Willis in B-3, David Walker in B-4 and Lloyd Hill in B-5.
Carta compiled a 10-0 record. Walker was 8-0.
Among the women's champions were Janet Townes (A-2), Sylvia Christy (B-1) and Doris Stephens (B-2). Rachel Maddux and Janet Matthews tied in A-1. Townes was 12-0 and Stephens 8-0.
COMBO LEAGUE: Fifteen women's teams and 11 men's squads are participating in the inaugural league.
Matches are scheduled through July in the men's and women's three-position doubles competition.
Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club picked up its first victory in the women's 8.5 league with a 3-0 decision over Seminole Lake Tennis Center.
Posting wins for Treasure Island were Heather Nicoll and Clara Reynolds in three sets at No. 1, Ann Worthington and Marlene Mokracek in straight sets at No. 2 and Patti Prestera and Lyn Ballinger by default at No. 3.
Tuesday, Treasure Island was to play the Racquet Club, which lost its first match last week to Royal Racquet Club.
In a 2-1 loss to the Royal squad, Janet Eschenroeder and Turtle Marshall collected a three-set win at No. 2 for the Racquet Club.
In the women's 7.5 division, Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club is first among nine teams. Bardmoor had a 3-1 record entering Tuesday's matches.
Against a PGTA squad last week, Mickie Gelestor and Victoria Tuller won in three sets at No. 1, as did Laura Rustin and Liz Proctor in No. 3. Angela Lincicome and Rhonda Thompson posted a straight-set victory at No. 2.
In men's play, Countryside Country Club leads the 6.5 class. Feather Sound Country Club and the Racquet Club are among the top teams in 7.5.
TENNIS SPECIAL: Treasure Island has reduced its resident and non-resident fees through September.
For information, call Treasure Bay, 360-6062.
COMING UP: The Temple Terrace Junior Summer Bash begins Friday at Temple Terrace Tennis Center. For information, call Manny Mariani, (813) 989-7178. ... Seminole Lake Tennis Center has its Spectacular Super Series for juniors July 10-12. Register by Monday, calling 394-1733. ... The Temple Terrace Adult Summer Bash is July 24-26 in age-division singles. Call (813) 989-7178 before the July 22 deadline.
- News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 796-5559; e-mailed to namorgan46@msn.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.
