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Tennis

Palm Harbor program offers sport for lifetime

By NANCY MORGAN
Published July 7, 2005

Players as young as 5 to those over 60 continue to validate tennis as a lifetime activity.

Surrounded by oak trees and nestled between condominiums at Harbortown in Palm Harbor is a court with less than 12 players. The participants, ages 4-9, receive individual training in footwork, eye-to-hand coordination and ball skills. Sights of 5-year olds sustaining a baseline rally while others are practicing proper overhead serves are normal in a program led by Evgeny Nefedov and his daughter, Anna Coy.

"We never have more than four players on the court at a time," Nefedov said. "With just the two of us, that's enough to give them the individual attention they need. They come every day, just like at a club, whether it's raining or not.

"It's important that they begin at their own pace," Nefedov said. "My goal is to take their talent and help them be the best. Thanks to the generosity of the Harbortown Association of Homeowners where I live, I'm able to do this."

Nefedov comes from Russia, where he worked as a professor. When his older daughter, Anna, had an opportunity to train at Nick Bollettieri's academy in Bradenton, the family moved to Florida in 1995.

"I was a pretty good junior player at 16, but in Communist Russia, if you were not No. 1, there was no future for you," Nefedov said.

"I did play college tennis, then when we came to the United States, I had nothing to do, so I got my certification for teaching tennis."

Nefedov aspires to develop a ranked player from the beginning stage and promises his athletes that they will be among the top 10 in USA Tennis Florida's 10-and-under division by 8 or 9.

Included on the list of students is his younger daughter, Anastasia Nefedova, who at 6 is among the top 50 in 10-and-under and joined by Angel Deng, Alexandra Kitchen and Kimberly Herrock in the top 70.

"Keys to development are individual attention and discipline, and Anna and I give them that," Nefedov said.

"They must have the full skill level before they compete in tournaments, otherwise they will be crushed and not want to compete any longer," he said. Mason Beiler, 5, recently won a state-sanctioned 10-and-under tournament at the Racquet Club in St. Petersburg.

"It's fun, and I like making the points," Beiler said of the competition. "I like hitting back and forth, and especially like the serve."

"For Mason and his older brother, Michael, it's all about tennis," said Beiler's mother, Marianne. "Whatever happens, happens, but something brought us here and we'll just see where it takes us."

Beiler and John Sakellarides, 5, are state-ranked in the top 100 among boys 10.

Nefedov's first student was Julianne Gruber, who after starting the sport three years ago at 9 is No. 27 in the state among girls 12.

Nefedova, Kitchen and Gruber competed in last month's Florida State Closed Singles Championships. Tenth-seeded Gruber reached the round of 16.

Palm Harbor's Sue Luidens didn't begin playing until after marriage and two children. That was 37 years ago, and she never has stopped.

"I wish I had started at 5 because tennis is so much fun," said Luidens, who competes in adult, senior (50-plus) and super senior (60-plus) leagues, as well as weekly Satellite, Racqueteers and PADL leagues. "It's great exercise, and you meet so many people. I don't ever plan to stop."

Countryside Country Club's Arthur Esterbrook had been a golfer in Pittsburgh and started playing tennis when we came here in 1975.

"I love the game and the spirit of competition, along with the camaraderie," said Esterbrook, 70. "I never get tired of it."

Despite a variety of injuries over the years, Esterbrook competes in adult, senior, super senior and super 70 leagues. Once rated as high as 4.5, he enjoys his current 3.0 level. "We've been at Countryside 30 years, and I have no intention of stopping my time on the courts," Esterbrook said. "My wife, Audrey, now plays socially, and we really enjoy ourselves."

LEAGUE NEWS: Shipwatch Tennis Club claimed its fifth victory in the Combo Women's 7.5 Doubles League with a 3-0 decision over Phil Green Tennis Academy last week.

Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club (4-2) is second in the standings, followed by PGTA (3-3) and Royal Racquet I (3-3), East Lake (2-5) and Innisbrook (0-5).

In the 8.5 division, Shipwatch and Treasure Island are tied at 2-1. Treasure Island is scheduled to play Royal Racquet Club this week.

In the Combo Men's Doubles League, action started last week in two divisions.

Largo Tennis Center and Countryside Walker recorded victories in 6.5 play, Shipwatch I and Royal Racquet Club won in the 7.5 North, and the Racquet Club and Treasure Bay posted 7.5 South wins.

NET SHOTS: Seminole's Joel Berman left last week for Israel to compete in the 17th Maccabiah Games, an Olympic-style event for Jewish athletes from 65 countries.

Berman, 25, was a two-time Pinellas County Player of the Year at Seminole High and played for the University of Miami. He will be in singles, doubles and mixed competition with the six-member U.S. team. Area players invited to this month's USTA Zonal Team Championships are Julia Jones, Amy Lowther, Molly Smith and Emily Dvorak (girls 12-and-under division); Robert Dvorak, Anthony Barrancotto and Edward Corty (boys 12); Alexandra Cercone (girls 14); and Lindsay Dvorak (girls 16).

Zonal competitions include round-robin singles, doubles and mixed doubles among teams of about 20 girls and 20 boys representing selected USTA sections. Dvorak also will be in USTA 16 Intersectionals. George Navas is going to play in the boys 18 Junior Davis Cup.

Laura Ospina (girls 14) and David Teytelbaum (boys 10) were among the winners in last month's Clearwater Junior Summer Classic. Finalists included Gabriela Ospina (girls 16) and Simone Berger (18). Consolation winners included Amy Lowther (12), Julia Teytelbaum (14), Jasmyne Smith (16) and Keegan Smith (boys 16).

SAVE THE DATE: The 12th annual Charity Tennis Tournament, to benefit the Humane Society of Pinellas, is Sept. 28-Oct. 2 at Clearwater's Royal Racquet Club. For information, call 725-3681.

COMING UP: Boys and girls singles and doubles for 14, 12 and 10 age divisions are scheduled to begin Saturday at Seminole Lake Tennis Center. For information, call 394-1733. ... Royal Racquet Club has singles and doubles for 18 and 16 age classes this weekend. Call 799-3200. ... Countryside Country Club has the Countryside Summer NTRP for adults in singles and doubles this weekend. Call 785-2212.

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 July 7, 2005, 01:01:15]