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Tennis

A life spent behind the net

By NANCY MORGAN
Published December 22, 2005

Since Steve Talner learned tennis as a youth, there's hardly been a time when he hasn't played.

Talner, 49, played on his high school team in Westchester County, N.Y., and for Florida Southern from 1974-78. Shortly after moving to Clearwater in 1982, Talner discovered USTA league play and state tournament competition.

"My dad was an avid player and exposed me to the sport when I was around 7," Talner said. "I played all sports growing up, but I really enjoyed tennis. We belonged to beach and tennis clubs in the summer, but I never knew where the beach or the pools were because I was always at the tennis courts.

"Tennis was great for being outside, getting exercise, meeting different people, competing and always striving to do better. Not only did my dad play, but my mother, Ann, now lives at Top of the World and is still a regular tennis player there."

Talner's desire to improve is illustrated by his No. 9 state ranking in the men's 45-and-older division while sporting an 8-5 record.

After high school, Talner searched for a small college where he could continue his tennis competition. Talner left his family in New York to play for Florida Southern.

"I didn't know anyone at school when I went there," Talner said, "but, I was just certain it was the right move for me to make, and I'm glad I did."

Talner said his game is more suited to singles than doubles, though as he prepares to enter the 50-and-older bracket, he is working on his doubles game for the USTA senior 4.5 doubles league, which includes three doubles positions per team.

"I'm a baseline player and count on my stamina to win a lot of points," Talner said. "I don't have a big serve, but rely on consistency and getting the ball back one more time."

Talner began playing in league tennis in 1983 as part of a team captained by Rob Williams. When Williams vacated the position after the 1991 season, Talner took over as captain. The team played its way to the national league championships in 1992.

"I was sort of talked into being captain, but I actually like to coordinate," Talner said. "I would communicate with the other players, arrange practices and see that everyone got in to play.

"Up until this year, even though I've been a player-captain, I've focused more on coordinating the team than my own individual play."

Talner plans to become active in singles state tournaments next month, when he's eligible to compete in the 50-and-over division.

"I had hoped to finish in the top 15 in the 45s this year even though I didn't play many tournaments, and now I'm going to try to get in the top five of the 50s," Talner said. "I think if I put forth the effort, I can do that.

"Tennis has been great to me and I've never stopped playing unless I've had an injury - that's the only thing that would ever keep me off a tennis court."

NET SHOTS: Ashe Rolle, winner of the Clearwater Women's Open, finished second among the women in USTA pro circuit prize money earned this year. Rolle collected two pro titles and advanced her ranking more than 200 spots to No. 167 in the world.

The Clearwater Women's Open, which benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, is Feb. 26-March 5 at the McMullen Tennis Complex.

Area players in main-draw action at next week's USTA National Winter Championships in Scottsdale, Ariz., include Morgan Basil, Morgan Frank, Yumi Hasegawa, Alexis Dorr and Christina Liles in the girls 18 and under, Alexandra Cercone and Lindsay Dvorak in the 16, Nicholas Berning in boys 18 and Joel Samaha in boys 16.

Emily Dvorak, Kara Kucin and Kayla Rizzolo (girls 14) and Anthony Barrancotto (boys 12) will compete in Tucson in the USTA Winter Championships.

Both events include singles and doubles and run Dec. 26-31.

LEAGUE NEWS: East Lake Woodlands clinched the 8.0 adult mixed doubles local title with its 2-1 win over the Renaissance Vinoy last weekend.

Jaye Brown and Marvin Wilhite in No. 2 and Mari Workman and Charles Abell in No. 3 each collected 6-4, 6-4 wins for East Lake.

Rounding out the East Lake squad were Janet Loomis, Ellen Johnson, Ruby Johnson, Charlene Bartlett, Scott and Donna Monette, Dave Brown, David Cooper and Kevin Schuyler.

McMullen Tennis Complex winners in the Singles Flex League included Dixie Francey (4.0), Laura Artale (3.5), Naxhar Al Abed (men's yellow division), Stu Nussbaum (green), Franz Henikl (red) and Kamran Rezapour (blue). Artale won the women's end-of-the-season singles tournament.

Women interested in the Super 70 Doubles League should call Ruth Ann Ott, 526-7966. Each team includes three doubles positions. League play is on Mondays and begins in January.

At the Racqueteers midseason, Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club leads the 16-team women's doubles league. Dunedin is second and Kourt Kats third.

Royal Racquet Red leads the 10-team North County Doubles League with 95 points, followed by Crescent Oaks Grand Slammers (84) and Royal Racquet White (83).

Signups for the Spring K-Swiss League continues through Jan. 25. Register online at www.ultimatetennis.com or call 347-2522.

THE PERFECT GIFT: If you're in search of that special present for a player or a potential player, consider a life membership in the USTA. Through December, the cost is $400. In January, the fee increases to $750.

The money is directed toward developing the sport. In Florida, more than 40 percent of its total budget supports community tennis. For information, visit www.usatennisflorida.com and click on membership.

MARK THE DATE: The Suncoast Tennis Foundation's fourth annual Tournament of Champions is Jan. 13-15 at East Lake Woodlands Country Club.

The invitational, single-elimination doubles event is open to winners, finalists, semifinalists and consolation winners from major charity tournaments held this year, including American Cancer Society, East Lake Woodlands Memorial Day, Humane Society of Pinellas, Good Samaritan Clinic and Frenchy's Gumbo.

Also invited are winners and finalists from the third annual STF Tournament of Champions.

For more information, call STF executive director Judy Foster, 725-3681.

COMING UP: Westin Innisbrook Resort offers its monthly Junior Grand Prix Tournament Jan. 14. Cal 942-5241.

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 December 22, 2005, 00:59:14]