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Taylor points to positive changes

By NANCY MORGAN
Published March 30, 2006

Competitive tennis has been a part of Mark Taylor's life since he was 12 and learned on his parents' court in Kentucky.

For the past five years, Taylor has blended his competitive experiences into a significant volunteer role in USTA Florida, the state's governing body of tennis.

The Safety Harbor resident joined the state's Adult Competitive Tennis Council in 2001 and has been its chair since December 2004.

"I feel the council has had a lot of successes during this last year," said Taylor, 39. "We had record numbers of players in our men's super series and the women's Les Grandes Dames events. I think the schedule is better, there are better events and the tournament directors are better trained.

"A focus for us this year is going to be looking at partnering with leagues to explore the possibility of integrating the two areas for an overall player rating."

One of the accomplishments Taylor is most proud of as council chair has been securing the 2007 National Public Parks Tennis Championships.

Never in the 80-year history of the event has it been held in Florida, according to Taylor. This year's event is in June at the National Tennis Center in New York.

Last weekend, Taylor co-chaired the third annual Florida Cup, a men's age-division competition between West and East Florida players.

"The first two years, the Florida Cup was a pilot program that hopefully will become a recruiting ground for our intersectional team selection," Taylor said.

"Getting the top Florida players together on the the same weekend and in the same site provides not only an awesome weekend of competitive tennis but an opportunity to develop some energy and team spirit for intersectionals."

Staged at the Naples Bath and Tennis Club, the Davis Cup format included age divisions from 35-and-older to 80.

The two-time defending champion West team beat the East 29-21. Local players included Mark Wagner and Jeff Davis (45), Alex Deeb and Marc Mazo (55), Dick Crawford (70) and Bob Meyerdierks (80).

Taylor, injured since August, served as captain for the 35, 40 and 45 teams, along with co-chairing the event with Clem Hopp of Sarasota.

"This event is growing and getting better," Taylor said. "It was amazing to walk around and see so many top players.

"We had some of the best players in the world - we even had former Wimbledon champion Ken Flach playing. I honestly believe the sky's the limit on this event."

Taylor played junior and high school tennis and competed three years at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee before he returned to Kentucky to attend pharmacy school. He took one year off from competitive play when he moved to Florida in 1990.

Taylor achieved a No. 12 national ranking in the 30 division in 2000 and was No. 5 in Florida in the 35 singles in 2002.

"It's killing me not to be able to play, especially in events like the Florida Cup," said 16-year pharmacist Taylor. "Hopefully, I'll soon be able to back out there and join in the competition."

WEEKLY LEAGUE NEWS: Royal Racquet II claimed the 26-team Pinellas Area Doubles League championship, outscoring two-time defending champion Belleair I 95-93. Shipwatch Tennis Club was third with 90 points.

Playing for Royal Racquet II were Linda Thomson and Mechy Wright in No. 1, co-captain Carol Glenn and Barbara Brutus No. 2, Sharon Dehnel and captain Janet Whitney No. 3, Linda Cope and Lynn Hesse No. 4, Linda Doty and Betsy McKenna No. 5.

Betty Johnson and Janet Stuart were key subs for the Royal team.

USTA FLORIDA LEAGUE NEWS: Last weekend's action concluded the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Senior Doubles League with eight division champions named overall.

Local winners advance to the state tournament in Daytona Beach in May with hopes of qualifying for national championships.

Advancing are McMullen's 3.0 and 4.0 women and 4.5 men teams; St. Petersburg Tennis Center 4.5 women; the Renaissance Vinoy 3.5 women and 4.0 men; Feather Sound Country Club 3.0 men and Safety Harbor Spa 3.5 men.

Senior Doubles League state championships are May 5-7 for the 3.5 and 4.5 divisions and May 19-21 for 3.0 and 4.0.

This weekend, Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club 3.5 women and Shipwatch Tennis Club 3.5 men compete in the Super 70 Invitational Championship at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

Bardmoor will compete in a round robin among six teams and Shipwatch is in a five-team round-robin format.

Shipwatch Tennis Club claimed the St. Petersburg-Clearwater 8.0 Senior Mixed Doubles League title last weekend with a 2-1 win over unbeaten Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club.

Shipwatch, a two-time state champion, advances to the Oct. 6-8 state tournament in Daytona Beach.

Shipwatch super senior men's 7.0 team posted a 2-1 playoff win over Safety Harbor Spa to clinch its division and join Feather Sound 6.0 and McMullen 8.0 men and Innisbrook 7.0 and Spa 8.0 women at next month's state tournament in Daytona Beach.

NET SHOTS: Collecting singles championships in Sarmiento's Annual Championships at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center were top seed Alyssa Bellini in the girls 16-and-under, Dan Stefan the boys 10 and Borut Puc the 18.

Finishing second were Jade Smith (girls 10), Laura Ospina (16) and David Teytelbaum (boys 12).

Among the consolation winners were Alexandra Kitchen (girls 14), Ryan Mars (boys 12) and Philippe Novikov (14).

No. 2 seed Ishan Maddani upset top seed Mason Beiler to win the boys 10 singles title in the Royal Rookie Classic in Clearwater. Harrison Cavanaugh won the boys 16 round robin competition.

Maria Calinoiu captured the girls 10 consolation.

SINGLES ANYONE? The Suncoast Tennis Singles invites single players to participate in its Sunday tennis/social activities. Contact Pam Bascio at ace-angle-inc@hotmail.com

COMING UP: The East Lake Spring Junior Rookie is Saturday in Oldsmar. Call 785-2212. ... The Safety Harbor Spring Classic is April 7-9 for men and women in the open, 35-and-older, 45, 55 and 65 age divisions. Call 724-7729.

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 March 30, 2006, 06:34:06]