Tennis Topics
Published: May 22, 2009, Richmond Tennis Association website
Raintree won't play host to State Hardcourts this year
by John Packett, RTA Staff Writer
For the first time since 1974, the State Hardcourt Tennis Championships will not be held at Raintree Swim and Racquet Club.
In fact, it's the first time the venerable tournament won't be in Richmond since the 1960s, when the women's portion was staged in Charlottesville. The men and women's tourneys were combined for the first time in 1977.
Raintree has conducted the state tournament since the western Henrico County club opened for business in 1974 with six courts.
But the increasing difficulty in obtaining sponsors for the event and a decreasing number of entries -- especially from out of town -- led Eddie Parker, co-owner and director of tennis at the club, to pull the plug on the tournament for 2009.
"Finding sponsors has been a lot more difficult the last two or three years," said Parker.
"And a lot of the players who have played in it over the years now have kids themselves. Their kids have responsibilities, and the families have vacation times in August. It was just a lot of work getting sponsors and a lot of work getting all the top players."
The tournament had been held at Raintree during the first or second week of August since 1974. Back in the 1980s and for part of the 1990s, the event had huge draws for the men and nearly all of the top pros in the state would show up.
Some of the champions included Bobby Heald, Gene Russo, Billy Brock, Jim Milley, Mark Vines, Junie Chatman, Carl Clark, Sean Steinour, Norm Schellenger, Trevor Spracklin, and in recent years, Somdev Devvarman and Huntley Montgomery of the University of Virginia.
On the women's side, former touring pro Kim Shaefer dominated for several years, with Kathleen Cummings, Valerie Farmer, Jessica Steck, Kirsten Elim, Rachel Gale, Bridget Bruner, Nataly Fleishman and Lindsey Wyeth also reaching the winner's circle.
"It was also hard to get all the top juniors because they were getting ready to go off to college," Parker said. "To have a good tournament, you've got to have the top players in Virginia to play in it, and that just had not been happening in recent years."
Parker said Raintree was going to try and attract some college matches to the club in the future.
"We want the community to still be able to watch some really good tennis," he said. "A variety of different levels of college tennis. That's our plan. We've also picked up a Mid-Atlantic tournament for men's 30s and men's 50s. We can do that over a three-day weekend."
Parker said he understood the State tournament will be held at the Boar's Head Sports Club in Charlottesville later this year.
McDonald's tournament coming up in July at Salisbury CC
Without the State Hardcourts, the only major tournament left in Richmond this summer will be the McDonald's Mid-Atlantic Open Clay Court Championships for men and women at Salisbury Country Club July 11-18.
There will be $30,000 in prize money offered in the event, which has attracted some stellar fields the past couple of years.
"I'm definitely looking forward to that tournament," said Martin Stiegwardt, winner of the men's singles title in the Davenport City Championships last Sunday. "That's on clay, which is a lot better for me because I love clay."
Stiegwardt, an assistant pro at Willow Oaks Country Club, grew up playing on clay in his native Ecuador.
Michal Ciszek, another Willow Oaks assistant, is also expected to be in the draw, along with Carl Clark, Cris Robinson and Sean Steinour.
"I'm going to play doubles with one of my good friends from college," Stiegwardt said. "Be a little more serious about that one."
A number of strong, out-of-town entries are expected for the event, which has a deadline of July 3 at midnight. Players can enter online by going to www.usta.com and click on tennislink and then tournaments. The ID number is 302903009.
CCV's Ogborne finishes second in National 35s Indoor doubles
Julie Ogborne, director of special events and teaching pro at the Country Club of Virginia, made her annual trek to her hometown near Chicago, where she played doubles in the National 35s Indoor Championships. As usual, she was successful.
Ogborne and Shelly Works of San Antonio, Tex., were the No. 2 seeds and lost in the final to top-seeded Julie Cass and Mary Dailey 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 last weekend. The event was played at the club where Ogborne grew up playing juniors.
Group AAA individual high-school tournament set for Fairfax
An incorrect location was given for the site of the Group AAA individual state tournament June 4-6. It will be staged at Jefferson District Park in Fairfax instead of Newport News, as two previous stories on the website indicated.
The Group AAA team state tournament, however, will be held at Huntington Park in Newport News May 29-30, as it has for the past several years. The quarterfinal round is Tuesday, with Mills Godwin's girls and boys serving as hosts against Northern Region teams.