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Letter to the editor

Pro Circuit event begins qualifying

By Nancy Morgan, Times Sports Correspondent
Published February 13, 2008

Over the next two weeks, local fans can watch aspiring professional women tennis players, participate in a variety of on-court events and help benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast.

The Sheriff Jim Coats fourth annual Clearwater Women's Open, one of 95 USTA Pro Circuit tournaments staged nationwide, begins its singles qualifying contest at Clearwater's McMullen Tennis Complex on Sunday, followed by doubles Monday. Main draw competition is Feb. 19-24.

"I am so excited about the caliber of talent competing in this year's tournament," said Theresa Victory, event tournament director. "We have a lot of local girls with an extreme amount of potential."

Action kicks off Saturday with a play with the pros activity for children ages 5 to 13. Players with no or limited playing experience are encouraged to go to McMullen from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and participate in the USTA-sanctioned QuickStart format of play, in which players begin almost immediately, using low-compression balls and a reduced court.

Last week, a wildcard tournament was held for 55 players, with the winner advancing to the main draw and the runnerup to the qualifying tournament. In the final, University of Florida grad Alexis Gordon, 24, defeated 18-year-old Anastasia Kharchenko of Ukraine. Also competing in the wildcard contest were local juniors Danielle Collins, who won two matches,and Becky Bodine, who won one.

For more information, go to www.clearwateropen.com or call 669-1919.

LEAGUE NEWS: An Adult League captains' meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Feather Sound Country Club. League action should begin by mid March.

NET SHOTS: Alexandra Cercone received a wildcard for last week's qualifying tournament in the USTA $75,000 Pro Circuit Tournament in Midland, Mich. Cercone fell 6-4, 6-3 to No. 3 seed Anna Fitzpatrick of Great Britain, who qualified for the main draw contest.

- Alexandra Kitchen defended her top seeding to win the girls 14-and-under singles title in the River Hills Local Junior Championships.

- Kento Tagashira reached the boys 18 final in last weekend's Love to Play at Largo junior event. Amy Lowther won the girls 16 round robin.

- Local juniors headed to this weekend's USTA National Open tournaments include Danielle Collins, Kara Kucin and Lindsay Dvorak girls 18 at the Tampa Tennis Complex; Julia Jones, Agatha Ambrozy and Amy Lowther (girls 14 at Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club); Alexander Saltiel (boys 14 at Cheval Tennis Club) and Ganesh Rajaram (boys 12 in Columbus, Ga.)

ONE-ON-ONE DOUBLES: The public is invited to observe NCAA-approved one-on-one doubles action when the University of Tampa hosts Bates College of Maine at 4 p.m. on Feb. 21. A free one-on-one doubles clinic will follow. For more information, contact Ed Krass at (813) 684-9560 or oneononedoubles@yahoo.com or visit the Web site at www.oneononedoubles.com.

THIS WEEKEND: Events for the Mike Alstott Family Foundation Charity Tennis Tournament begin tonight at Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club with the draw party. Competition begins Saturday in men's, women's and mixed doubles and continues through Sunday. For more information, call 367-5479.

COMING UP: The St. Petersburg Tennis Center hosts its West Coast Super Senior Grand Prix beginning Monday in men's 55-and-older through 90. Call 823-2225. ... Admiral Farragut Academy teams with the Baseline Wheelchair Tennis Foundation to host a professional wheelchair exhibition beginning at noon Feb. 22. For more details, contact the foundation at www.baselinewheelchairtennis.org. ... Seminole Lake Tennis Center hosts a Local Winter Classic beginning Feb. 23. Call 394-1733.

[Last modified February 12, 2008, 23:32:08]