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Tennis

Lutz player has sights set on next pro tour level

By NANCY MORGAN
Published January 26, 2005

Lutz's Stacia Fonseca was accepted into the 32-player singles main draw for the Sheriff Jim Coats Clearwater Women's Open, a USTA Pro Circuit event that started Tuesday at the McMullen Tennis Complex in Clearwater.

Today, Fonseca faces 16-year old Vania King of Long Beach, Calif., one of eight qualifiers.

Fonseca also will compete in doubles with Svetlana Krivencheva. This is third consecutive time pairing up and they're the No. 2 seed in the 16-team main draw. The two have a earned a No. 738 ranking and Fonseca is ranked No. 393 in doubles overall.

"The biggest highlight for me this past year is not so much the results, but seeing my improvement," said Fonseca, 19. "Every tournament, I get better, plus my training with my dad and Harold Solomon have been special highlights for me.

"I'm still working on improving and developing a gameplan. I know how to hit forehands and backhands and how to serve, but playing the point and using strategy are key to success, especially at the professional level."

Fonseca's father, Raul, said he believes his daughter is on her way to success as she develops the game of a professional. When she was 10, the two outlined a 10-year plan to reach her goal of professional tennis. Both said they feel positive about her path.

"I'm especially please with her improvement in fitness," Raul said. "During this year, we should see the results of her hard work. The better part of last year has been spent on getting matchplay for experience and to collect points to improve (her) ranking."

Stacia Fonseca capped 2004 by winning singles and doubles at the National Indoor Open Championship in New York. Those titles, combined with the USTA National Grass Court Open Championships in Rhode Island, helped Fonseca's confidence entering the 2005 season.

Focusing on this career, with its travel, training and preparations, is expensive. The financial support of Cindy and Larry Ballah, along with sponsorships from Oakley, K-Swiss and Technifibre, have helped allow Fonseca to direct her energy toward playing.

The Pro Circuit has been around more than 25 years and is the largest tour in the world for aspiring players.

Yan-Ze Xie from China, a finalist in Pro Circuit events the previous two weeks in Florida, is Clearwater's No. 1 seed. One of the youngest players in the tournament is Ana Tatishville from the Republic of Georgia. The 14-year old earned a wild card into the main draw.

One of the older players is Anne Mall of California, who at 30 is trying a comeback. When 19, Mall faced Steffi Graf in the first round of the U.S. Open. At least five cases of heat exhaustion forced Mall out at age 23.

The semifinals in the Pro Circuit event are Saturday and the finals at noon Sunday. For specific playing times, call the McMullen Tennis Complex, 727 669-1919, or see http://www.usta.com/protennis/ and click on the USTA Pro Circuit link.

ZTA RESULTS: Zephyrhills Tennis Association co-vice presidents Tom Frain and Ed Holtzhouse not only directed last weekend's ZTA Vice-Presidential Tournament but also teamed to win men's doubles in the round-robin event.

Jeannie Nichols was a double winner, first in doubles with Astrid Staples then with Roy Nyren in mixed doubles. Gil Henderson and Ron Wellerton were senior men's doubles champions.

Frain credited ZTA members Nichols, Henderson, Lois and Wally Port, Rosemary and Tony Wondra, Dick Moffatt, Dot Worrell, Joe Higgins, Nancy Ann Page and Joe McGovern with helping to make the event successful.

The ZTA plays each morning on the courts Zephyr Park. To learn more, call Frain at (813) 779-3329.

LEAGUE NEWS: PGTA-Gari won its second match in the Super 70 Men's 3.5 Doubles League, 2-1 over Countryside Country Club.

Dick Lashley and Carol Mugavero won at No. 1 doubles in straight sets for PGTA-Gari. Robert Anderson and Frank Ingram earned a point in No. 2 by default.

Next up for unbeaten PGTA-Gari in the four-team league is Westin Innisbrook Resort Thursday.

SAVE THE DATE: The American Cancer Society Tennis Classic is Feb. 18-20 at the McMullen Tennis Complex in Clearwater. Call Cindy Cooper (581-7062) or Denise Reaves (391-7822) for sponsor or player information.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 727 796-5559; e-mailed to namorgan46@msn.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified January 26, 2005, 00:13:15]