Local mixed doubles teams start their season

USA Tennis Florida local mixed doubles leagues opened Sunday.

Eight teams are in the adult division and nine in the senior for players at least 50 years old.

Participating in both divisions are the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg, Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club, the Phil Green Tennis Academy at Safety Harbor Spa and Royal Racquet Club.

Competing in the adult division only are East Lake Woodlands and McMullen Tennis Complex in Clearwater. Senior-only teams are from the St. Petersburg Tennis Center, Westin Innisbrook Resort and Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club.

Bardmoor has the most squads with 5, followed by Phil Green Academy, 3, and the Racquet Club, 2.

"We do have a few more teams than last year," said Erika Boardman, a coordinator in the 5-year-old league. "We tried a few different things this year to try to attract more teams.

"We changed the format so that a third-set tie-breaker is played rather than a full third set," she said. "Plus, we're playing both the adult and senior matches on Sundays rather than on two different days."

Boardman, along with fellow coordinators Liz Dunlop and Bob Hagerman, hoped the changes would draw more teams and make it more feasible for a player to compete in both divisions.

Sunday, the Racquet Club's 7.5 senior mixed squad won its first match, 3-0 over St. Petersburg Tennis Center.

Playing for the Racquet Club were Rosemary and Steve Uebel in No. 1, Bette and Tony Damouny No. 2 and Suzanne Earle and Jack Weldon No. 3. Carolyn and Nick Pavonetti and Carol and Ed Swanick round out the Racquet Club team.

"I think the mixed is really fun," said Marshall Craig, Racquet Club's captain. "I only wish we could get more teams to turn out. This league is definitely more relaxed than the men's doubles."

This Sunday, the Racquet Club plays host to Royal Racquet Club, a 2-1 winner over Phil Green Academy last weekend.

In the 8.5 senior mixed, Treasure Island fell 3-0 to Phil Green Academy and has a bye this week. Bardmoor entertains Phil Green Academy.

The Racquet Club's 8.5 adult team also fell 3-0 to McMullen and will face Bardmoor on Sunday.

Last year's adult division winners were Bardmoor (7.5) and the Racquet Club (8.5). Senior champions were Innisbrook (6.5), Bardmoor (7.5) and Phil Green Academy (8.5).

Mixed doubles matches begin at noon for the adult division and at 3 p.m. for the senior. Additional teams will be accepted through Jan. 31 by contacting Boardman (399-2459), Dunlop (391-0811) or Hagerman (391-4380).

SOUTH PINELLAS LADIES: St. Petersburg Tennis Center is the doubles league 3.0-3.5 division champion.

Scoring 13 points in the five-team division, SPTC finished ahead of the Vinoy B squad. Playing for SPTC were captain Joan Malone, Bridget Misner, Nobedine Tucker and Sarah Booth.

In the 3.5-4.0 division, Shipwatch Tennis Club and Feather Sound are deadlocked with 14 points, as are Treasure Island Rec and the SPCC Aces with 11.

Today in the final match of the division playoff, Shipwatch and Feather Sound face off, as do TI Rec and SPCC. SENIOR LEAGUE: The Racquet Club of St. Petersburg's 3.5 Central team earned its second consecutive 3-0 victory in USA Tennis Florida's local Senior Men's Doubles League action last week.

Playing for the Racquet Club in its Bardmoor match were Ray Cianci and Tony Damouny (No. 1), Bob Steele and Don Campagna (No. 2) and Marshall Craig and David Laesser (No. 3).

Saturday, the Racquet Club plays host to McMullen.

In the 3.5 South competition, a second Racquet Club team fell 2-1 to Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club 2-1.

Scoring TI's points were Ralph Capasso and Stephen Newman in No. 1 and Richard Prestera and Gordon Coyle (No. 2). Nick Pavonetti and Robert Spiegel scored the Racquet Club's only point in the No. 3 spot. All three matches were three-setters.

Seminole Lake Tennis Center's 4.0 South squad beat the Vinoy 2-1 on the play of Larry Daum and John Beda in No. 2 and Bill Simmers and Tim Kahle (No. 3). Dave Krebs and Nga Duong scored the Vinoy's only point.

JUNIOR PLAY: Alex Gillott prevented Nicholas Berning from spoiling his boys 16-and-under singles victory in the Pre-Holiday Classic at Seminole Lake Tennis Center.

Gillott rallied from a first-set loss in the title match to defeat Berning 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.

Kira Kucin of Belleair won the girls 10 consolation.

NATIONAL OPEN: In the USTA National Open Championships in Pensacola last month, second-seeded Kelly Nelson rebounded from a first-match loss in the girls 18 main draw to win six rounds and advance to the consolation final with Danielle Wiggins of Jacksonville. Nelson won 3-6, 6-3, 10-8.

Nelson and Linda Yang of Coconut Creek reached the doubles final before falling 8-4 to Emily Applegate and Helene Stephens of South Carolina.

CHEVAL CLASSIC: Top-seeded Jeff Chambers, Florida's No. 1 player in the 35-and-over division, marched past the competition to face Clearwater's Kurt Long in the Winter Classic at Cheval Country Club in Lutz. Chambers won 6-1, 6-0.

BRING A FRIEND: Group tickets are available for the Dec. 14 exhibition match between Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year Jennifer Capriati and Anna Kournikova. The 7:30 p.m. event will be at the Ice Palace in Tampa. For information, call (813) 301-6714.

COMING UP: Countryside Country Club in Clearwater will have the Countryside Junior Classic -- singles with consolation rounds -- Saturday-Monday. Call John Schneider, (727) 796-1136.

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