Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Tennis

Local man, USA squad returning to Potter Cup competition

By NANCY MORGAN
Published May 25, 2005

St. Petersburg's Jeff Winkler leaves this week for Barcelona, Spain, to compete in his fourth Potter Cup, an international team event for men 45-and-older.

This is Winkler's third year to captain the USA and his first to defend the championship. This is the 33rd season of the Cup and the 27th time Barcelona has been host.

"I invited everyone back from last year's team, and all seven said yes," Winkler said. "Up until last week, Jeff Davis was among those players that was planning to compete again, but he's not quite recuperated from an injury. It was too late in the planning stage to get a player comparable to Jeff, so we're going with six." Last season, the USA rallied to upset top-seeded Spain 4-3 in the final and win the squad's first crown since 1994. Then, nine countries competed. The event includes five singles positions and two doubles.

"The winner of this year's Potter Cup will most likely be determined by the doubles results," Winkler said. "It seems in all multi-national team competitions, it comes down to doubles." The squad's top singles player is Bradenton's Eagan Adams, who has been ranked third in the world 40-and-older division and is a former top-eight ATP player. Adams was unbeaten in last year's Potter Cup, reached the World Cup semifinals and won the bronze in the clay court nationals. Danny Waldman, a Harvard All-American, will defend the No. 2 slot and recently finished second in a clay court national. He captured the 2001 and '02 national titles. "The other four of us are pretty interchangeable," Winkler said, "and I expect I'll play more this year." Other team members are three-time grasscourt champion Geoff Martinez, ex-tour player John Peckskamp and Duke All-American Mark Meyers. Winkler, who played for Central Michigan, has enjoyed top national singles and doubles rankings. Last year, he produced strong national grasscourt and clay court performances.

"I'm sure the Europeans will be ready to recapture the title," Winkler said. "The toughest teams in the past have been Spain, Italy and Germany. Our win over Spain last year showed that they could be beaten on their own red clay." LEAGUE NEWS: The 4.0 senior men's team at McMullen of Clearwater dominated the USA Tennis Florida Senior Sectional Championships. Winning five matches with 3-0 scores, the 10-player squad dropped just three sets the entire tournament to clinch the state title. Players include Wendall Walker, John Rensch, Ed Hamilton, Ron Massey, Hap Ellerby, Eric Goldman, Ron Klieve, John Beda, John Williams and Jeff Persky. They advance to the USTA USA League National Championships, Oct. 7-9 in Palm Springs, Calif. In the 4.0 women's state competition, Treasure Bay reached the semifinals before falling 2-1 to Satellite Beach. Naples was the champion. The St. Pete Tennis Center 4.5 men tied for second in their flight despite beating eventual champion Bradenton. SPTC's women were winless in their four-team tourney. Jacksonville was the champ.

The Combo League began last week in the women's division. Shipwatch Tennis Club won 2-1 in the six-team 7.5 class and fell 2-1 in the three-team 8.5. The men's action starts in mid-June. For information, go online to nott@tampa

Playoff action begins Saturday in USA Adult League Tennis for the 2.5 and 3.0 women. St. Petersburg Country Club, the women's 2.5 spring winner, plays host to the Renaissance Vinoy, the fall winner. In women's 3.0, the top teams are Countryside Mayhew (7-0) which entertains Safety Nets (5-2); and Countryside Walker (5-2), which plays McMullen (5-2). NET SHOTS: St. Petersburg's Jim Mackey teamed with Graydon Nichols of California to win the USTA National 80-and-older Hard Court Championships in San Diego. The third-seeded doubles squad won three straight-set matches. Michael Reilly finished second in the men's 55 Florida State Championships in Boynton Beach. The No. 2 player fell to top-seeded Gewan Maharaj in a 7-6(6), 6-3 final.

Agatha Ambrozy (girls 12) and Angel Deng (10) defended their top seeds in the Memories in Clearwater, and No. 2 David Teytelbaum upset the No. 1 boys 10 competitor. Also scoring wins were Ashley Hungerford (girls 18) and No. 2 Rebecca Bodine (16). Finalists included Natalie Boruk (girls 12), Julia Claire Jones (16), Alexandra Kitchen (10), Satoshi Yabuuchi (boys 16) and Fabio Pagani (18). Among the consolation winners were Melissa Smith (girls 14), Nathan Diehl (boys 10) and Daniel Counts (16).

Julia Sikorski (girls 12 division) was among the winners in the Saddlebrook Juniors Championships, as was Kitchen (10) and No. 1 Garrett Betsarakis (boys 14). Finalists included Jones (girls 16) and Macey Cook (12).

- 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.

[Last modified May 25, 2005, 00:40:21]