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Joanne Valone always had an affinity for sports, and tennis caught her eye when she was a high school student in Pennsylvania.
After about a 15-year lapse in playing, Valone returned to the court with a fervor. Since moving to St. Petersburg three years ago, she has no intention of stopping again.
Valone won the Tampa Bay K-Swiss 4.5 summer championship to advance to the flex league's 5.0 fall division, and is playing in the USA Adult Fall League.
"I first played tennis with some chums when I was a sophomore," said Valone, 49. "There were a couple of cement courts with a chain-link fence for a net. It was an interesting experience and, at the time, I thought it was a lot of fun.
"In high school back then, there was no tennis team, and I played some basketball in an impromptu league," she said. "Title IX was only in the works at that time."
Valone's infatuation with tennis continued. When she wrote her high school thesis on Billie Jean King, Valone's intensity soared.
After high school, Valone attended a Dennis Van der Meer University course to learn to teach the sport and coached at Gannon College in Erie, Pa.
Valone worked on her family's farm beginning at the age of 20. She enrolled in college at Edinboro at 31.
"I fell out of tennis for about 15 years until I was in graduate school at the University of Kentucky," Valone said.
"Some of my friends said they would like to learn to play, and the next thing I knew I was out there teaching them. I brought out my old Billie Jean King Wilson wooden racquet and had so much fun.
"It was the first time in years that I had been on a tennis court, and I asked myself why have I not played before," she said. "Then, I was off and running in tennis."
Valone played USTA leagues the next seven years she was in Kentucky.
After training to be a physician assistant in her home state Pennsylvania, Valone moved to St. Petersburg to work in orthopedic surgery for a private practice.
Arriving in January 2001, she first went to St. Petersburg Tennis Center to meet players and find out what activities were available.
Just when Valone was getting into the circle, a case of tennis elbow limited her playing for about six months.
"I heard about K-Swiss and signed up to get back into shape after I had tennis elbow," Valone said. "I've been playing it the last two years. I have an all-around game and can adjust to others' styles."
Valone is playing for the Treasure Island Tennis and Golf Club's 4.0 fall adult women's team. She has competed in singles twice for Treasure Island, which is in first place with a 3-0 record among five squads.
"Tennis is a great challenge and yet is so self-satisfying, win or lose," Valone said. "Tennis keeps you in shape, is good exercise, and you get to meet people. What could be better."
FALL LEAGUE: The local USA Adult League is winding down in the next few weeks.
Division winners will qualify for the Spring League playoffs.
In women's competition, Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club is first with one remaining match scheduled Saturday against East Lake Woodlands. A TI win would clinch the title. A ELW victory will force a one-match playoff.
A 3.5 playoff is scheduled Nov. 6 between the two East Lake Woodlands teams, with the winner declared the division champion.
In 3.0, McMullen and Countryside Country Club, each with a 4-1 record, face off Saturday.
St. Petersburg Country Club-Masi is 5-1, and the Renaissance Vinoy is 4-1. The Vinoy has a make-up match Saturday.
No playoffs are planned in the men's competition, with several matches remaining.
Treasure Bay is first in the 3.5 class, with the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg second. McMullen is unbeaten in 4.0, and Treasure Bay is second at 3-1. Largo Tennis Center and Countryside are the sole squads in 3.0, with Largo collecting a slight edge over Countryside, as is the case in 4.5 between Royal Racquet Club and the Racquet Club.
NET SHOTS: Kevin Manning, Jeff Winkler and Andres Molina reached the round of 16 in singles competition in the U.S. Tennis Association National 45 Men's Clay Court Championships.
Jeff Davis made the round of 32 before retiring due to injury.
Winkler played in the doubles semifinals with Peter Markes of Texas, and Manning was in the consolation quarterfinals with Nelson Kier of New York.
Among players representing USA Tennis Florida in last weekend's Mills Redgrave Challenge with the USTA Southern Section were Meghan Broderick (16 division), Erik Hannah and Joel Samaha (14) and George Navas (18).
Kevin Quay, tennis director at Isla Del Sol Country Club, was among three coaches for Florida.
Amy Lowther won the girls 12 singles title in last weekend's Haunted Rookie Tournament in Largo. Jasmyne Smith captured the 16 crown.
Among the boys champions were Robert Nichols (14) and Aaron Ellison (16).
Finalists included Margeaux Sowell (girls 14), Jameela Bailey (10), Jibri Bailey (16), Adam Ambrozy (boys 10), Patrick Mahoney (16), Cole Caudell (14) and Jackson Kettell (12).
Morgan Basil and Angel Deng defended their top seeds to win the girls 18 and 10 singles championships, respectively, in last weekend's Temple Terrace Junior Halloween Classic.
Jessica Schroeder (10 division) and Geoffrey Gilchrist (18) played to the finals.
PLAYING FOR CHARITY: Plans are under way for next month's 12th annual Tennis Classic. The benefit for the Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco Inc. is at Paul Kronk Tennis Center in Crescent Oaks Country Club.
Player information for the men's, women's and mixed doubles event is available by calling 934-6920.
The 12th annual Frenchy's Gumbo Tennis Classic is set for Nov. 12-14 at McMullen Tennis Center in Clearwater.
The men's, women's and mixed doubles event is a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County. For information, call 669-1919. COMING UP: An i9Sports Tennis League men's open prize money tournament is scheduled for this weekend at Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club.
The winner receives $800. The finalist gets $400 and semifinalists $200 each. For information, call Scott Smith, 367-5479.
The Octoberfest Junior Tourney begins Saturday at Seminole Lake Tennis Center. Junior singles players should call 394-1733. St. Petersburg Country Club opens the Suncoast Tennis Foundation Rookie Series this weekend for junior players. For information, call Sam Vuille, 867-9105.
- 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.