Northpinellas: Tennis Link is designed to serve local programs

The format, however, is the same: two singles and three doubles per squad in each of the skill-level divisions except 5.0 and 5.5, which have one singles and two doubles.

What's new is the U.S. Tennis Association's Tennis Link, an online support system for league programs.

Tennis Link offers a new approach to registering for league play, reporting weekly results and reviewing other teams' matches. Tennis Link helps a player locate USA League Tennis programs if the individual is new to the area and renew or sign up for USTA membership.

"Using Tennis Link, each individual league player or a team captain registered directly with the USTA this season," said Carol Levin, coordinator for the women's division. "And now that the season has begun, it also allows team results to be inputted directly."

Utilizing Tennis Link didn't come without some glitches, but they're being addressed daily.

"We had some problems early on with the system, but I think as we all get familiar with the program, it will be all right," said Clark Higgs, first-year men's coordinator. "It's very straightforward and easy to work with once you are more comfortable with it."

There are about 20 facilities housing this season's 38 men's and 38 women's teams. As expected, the largest level is the 3.5 in the men's and women's divisions. There are just three teams in the men's 3.0 and 5.0 and the women's 4.5.

With Tennis Link, captains will report match results directly to the website, www.national usta.com, which can be viewed by any USTA member.

Aside from the technology changes provided by Tennis Link, the league continues to be one of the largest in Florida. Competition is on Saturdays and will continue through May.

Local winners advance to regional play to challenge for state and national berths. Last year, four of the nine local champions qualified for state.

SUPER SENIORS: The Westin Innisbrook Resort secured a trip to the 3.5 state tournament with a 3-0 win over St. Petersburg Tennis Center in the 60-plus doubles league.

Richard Hough and John Kuhn at No. 1 earned a 6-4, 6-2 victory to start Innisbrook's journey and were joined by No. 2 Willie Coquelet and Bill Schieman, who saved a first-set win to complete the match with a 7-6 (4), 6-1 decision. Fred Elflein and David Wisotsky won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3.

The USTA Florida Section Super Senior Doubles State Championships are June 1-3 in Naples. Local women's competition continues through April.

SENIORS: Innisbrook fell short of its goal to win the Senior Men's 3.5 Doubles League title with a 2-1 loss to the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg last month.

A two-set victory at No. 2 by Willie Coquelet and Bill Schieman was offset by a three-set defeat at No. 1 from captain Joe Gari and David Wisotsky.

The determining match found No. 3 Richard Hough and John Kuhn locked in a three-set battle with Racquet Club's Bob Steele and Don Campagne. The Racquet Club rallied from a first-set tie break loss to win 6-7, 6-4, 6-1.

The Racquet Club advances to its first state tournament in May.

In women's competition, Timber Pines Tennis Club's 3.0 team joins Innisbrook's 3.5 and Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club's 4.0 squads as district winners.

MIXED DOUBLES: The final 7.5 match between Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club and the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg was rescheduled from last Sunday to 2 p.m. March 18 at the Racquet Club. Inclement weather had postponed the competition.

The winner claims the district title and will represent the area in the USTA Florida Section Mixed Doubles State Championships in April in the Palm Coast area.

NET SHOTS: Doubles winners in last weekend's Super Seniors 2001 at Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club were area players Ed Hamilton and Jim Mackey (60s division) and Hernan Molina with California's Dick Crawford (65).

Reaching the final round of action was singles competitor Bob Meyerdierks, in the class for 70-year-old players, and the doubles teams of Doug Godinho and Wendall Walker (60s), Meyerdierks and Mackey (70s) and Bob Allen and Andy Chau (75).

The men's 55 division final between top-seeded Bill Christensen and No. 2 Tom Grayson was rescheduled for Wednesday.

In consolation action, Leo Poulin was a finalist in singles for 65-year-olds. Bud Steckman reached the 75 singles finals.

Third-seeded Goran Dragicevic made the open final in last weekend's Spring Adult Classic at East Lake Woodlands. Due to inclement weather, the match wasn't played.

Dragicevic teamed with James Bloore to win the men's open doubles.

Fifth-seeded Alexandria Liles qualified for the final in the girls 18-and-under division of the Junior Spring Fling, a national tournament in Martinez, Ga. Liles, 14, didn't get to play because of the weather.

Christina Liles, 12, finished second in the class for 12-year-olds.

NEW FORMAT: An experimental women's format in the Suncoast Singles Tennis League begins in April.

Replacing the usual six players per team will be four in Team A from the 4.0-5.0 NTRP levels and four players in Team B from the 2.5-3.5 levels. A club may have a Team A or B or both, or several of each.

The pilot league is being introduced to determine if more clubs will participate. For more details, contact Trish Mainard, 784-8438.

COMING UP: National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) evaluations are scheduled to begin 7 p.m. Tuesday at Clearwater's McMullen Tennis Complex (669-1919), March 23 at Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club (391-2205) and March 30 at Countryside Country Club (796-1136). There is a $10 fee. ... The USA Ultimate Tennis Workshop is Saturday and Sunday in St. Petersburg. For more information, call Jeff Davis, 360-6543.

LOCAL TOURNAMENT: Royal Racquet Club's Spring Fling begins Friday in Clearwater and includes age-division singles and doubles as well as parent-child doubles combinations. Call the club, 791-8415, before today's deadline.

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