Tennis Topics
Published: June 11, 2009, Richmond Tennis Association website
For most part, Seredni enjoyed first year of college life in Miami
by John Packett, RTA Staff Writer
Chrissie Seredni spent one of the most frustrating -- yet delightful -- years of her life this past 10 months.
The former touring pro from Richmond just finished her sophomore year at Florida International University in Miami after spending five years trying to make it on the women’s circuit and finally deciding it was time to get on with her life.
"It’s a good change for me," said Seredni, 21, yesterday after a workout at Raintree Swim and Racquet Club. "It’s totally different.
"My life before was tennis, tennis, sleep and then more tennis. I loved it, but Miami is a lot of fun and I’m having more of a social life now."
Because she had been a pro, Seredni had to sit out this year under NCAA eligibility rules but will be able to play for FIU next season.
"I wasn’t allowed to do official practice but I could hit with the girls on the side," she said. "I also hit on my own with players around Miami. I worked out and tried to stay in shape. I’m trying to hit more this summer and work out every day."
Watching the women’s team qualify for the NCAA tournament – where they lost in the second round -- and not being able to contribute wasn’t easy for Seredni, a former city champion (2002) and twice a runner-up in the state hardcourt tournament.
"That was very frustrating, really hard," Seredni said. "All I wanted to do when I got there was practice, practice, practice all day, but of course I couldn’t do that because of classes. The girls couldn’t hit with me because they already had their official team practice.
"I just had to calm myself down and say ‘OK, focus on your schoolwork and wait for the summer. Then you can play all you want.’"
FIU returns all of its team next season, when Seredni will be eligible. She will have three years left to play and plans to get a master’s degree in sports management during her final year of eligibility at the Sun Belt Conference school.
Seredni played in two $10,000 tournaments in South Carolina recently and plans to enter the McDonald’s Mid-Atlantic Open Clay Court Championships at Salisbury Country Club next month. Seredni was runner-up in that tournament in 2003-04.
Afterward, she intends to play in a couple of summer collegiate tourneys before heading back to Miami around mid-August.
Richmonders make seeding lists for Mid-Atlantic junior events
The four Mid-Atlantic #3 L1 junior tournaments in the area this weekend have several Richmonders on the seeding lists.
In the girls 16-under division at Willow Oaks Country Club, Emily Hahn is the No. 4 seed, while Callie Whitlock is No. 8. Hahn played No. 1 for Douglas Freeman High School this spring, while Whitlock was St. Catherine’s top player last fall.
There are no local players seeded in the girls 18-under draw that will be held at Woodlake Swim and Racquet Club.
In the boys 16-under category at the Dominion Club, Max Schnur is the No. 8 seed. Schnur played No. 1 for Collegiate’s Prep League and Virginia Independent Schools state championship squad this spring.
The boys 18-under group at Salisbury Country Club could feature a rematch of the state Group AAA singles final between Justin Shane of J.E.B. Stuart High and Kyle Parker of Mills Godwin. Shane and Parker are seeded 1-2 in that division.
All of the tournaments begin on Saturday morning and run through Monday.
First one-day tournament announces winners
Six local players picked up trophies for winning their respective divisions of the first Richmond Junior Tennis Circuit event of the summer.
These tournaments are conducted in one day and the matches are just one set. The first one was at Raintree last Saturday.
Girls 10-under: Grace Williams d. Jessica Wills 6-1.
Girls 12-under: Marissa Raper d. Samantha Townsend 6-2.
Girls 14-under: Sarah Johnson d. Olivia Wilson 6-3.
Boys 10-under: Tyler Shiflett d. Prakrit Shukla 6-3.
Boys 12-under: Andrew Cummings d. Henry Harrell 6-3.
Boys 14-under: Carter Key d. Marc Petrine 6-3.