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Tomorrow's stars playing today in ClearwaterBy NANCY MORGAN © St. Petersburg Times, published January 31, 2001 All this week, the future stars of women's professional tennis are just a short drive north. The McMullen Tennis Complex is the site for the $25,000 USTA Women's Challenger of Clearwater and features aspiring pros in singles and doubles. Draws of 32 in singles and 16 in doubles promise vigorous competition. "You need to watch these players because some of them are the players of the future," said Billie Lipp, a USTA tournament director. "It would be a shame to miss the opportunity to see these players in their developing stages," Lipp said. One such player is Gisela Dulko of Argentina. Dulko, 15, has won the last two challenger events she has entered, including one that concluded Sunday in Miami. Other players include 70th-ranked Jana Nejedly of Canada, who is living in Boca Raton, and No. 81 Alina Jidova of Russia, living in Delray Beach. The remainder of the players range in world rankings from No. 120 to 238, except for the two wild card entries and four qualifiers. "These are the up and coming stars," said Dessie Samuels, who teams with Lipp as tournament director. "It's at this level that the players have a chance to develop their game through match play." Of local interest is Kelly McCain, formerly of St. Petersburg, who has received a wild card into the main draw. McCain competed at the No. 1 position as a freshman at Canterbury and trained at the Racquet Club where her father, Dave, was the director. Two years ago, the McCains moved to Saddlebrook. This past year, Kelly McCain, 17, won a challenger. "I've been playing these events for about a year, so it was good to get a win in one this summer and to reach the semifinal in another," McCain said. "I'm getting accustomed to the level of play. It's really all about getting out there, playing matches and gaining confidence," she said. "Everyone hits the ball well." McCain, a senior at Saddlebrook who has committed to Duke University, is ranked 457th in the world. In the Clearwater Challenger last year, she won two rounds. Matches begin at 10 a.m. today through Sunday. Saturday features the singles semifinals and the doubles final. Sunday is the singles final. CHALLENGER EVENTS: During the week-long USTA Challenger of Clearwater, a ProKennex Demo Day will be staged 1-3 p.m. Saturday at McMullen Tennis Complex. Sponsored by Advantage Yours Tennis in Clearwater, the public is encouraged to participate in testing ProKennex's new Core 1 Technology racquets.The racquets will be available in two models and may be found only at selected retail dealers. DOWN UNDER: Ashley Harkleroad, 15, of Wesley Chapel reached the semifinal round of the Australian Junior Open. In the semifinal round, the No. 4 seed lost to No. 1 Jelena Jankovic of Yugoslavia 6-3, 6-4. Jankovic went on to capture the title. In December, Harkleroad was a member of the U.S. team that won the 11th Connolly Continental Cup, the first since 1984. Last year, the teenager won the 18-and-under crown in the international Easter Bowl Junior Championship. STEARNS TO HILTON HEAD: Billy Stearns, a former director at Seminole Lakes and Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club in Pinellas and director of the Billy Stearns Tennis Center in Sarasota, has accepted a position with renowned coach Dennis Van der Meer. Beginning next month, Stearns will conduct clinics around the world and work on court with professional players and juniors at the Hilton Head Island (S.C.) Van der Meer Tennis Academy. During Stearns' 20-year career, he has coached 19 All-Americans, 18 pro players and 91 state, national and international champions. SENIOR LEAGUES: The Racquet Club of St. Petersburg clinched the 3.5 south division title with a 3-0 win over Feather Sound last weekend. Playing in the No. 1 position, Tony Damouny and Steve Uebel defeated Feather Sound's Lon Caffee and Tom Riley 6-1, 6-0. Ray Cianci and Tom Stewart needed a second-set tie-breaker to defeat Bob Dileonardo and Paul Sealund, as did Russ Barlow and Marshall Craig against Chip Frey and John Byrne. The Racquet Club and north division champion Innisbrook will enter a playoff with the yet to be determined central division winner. The champion advances to the state tournament. In the 3.5 central division, the Racquet Club raised its record to 5-2 with a 2-1 victory over Shipwatch Tennis Club last weekend. Winners were Ron Whittaker and Nick Routh at No. 1, and Dick Farnsworth and Newt Rogers .
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