Tennis Topics
Published: June 18, 2009, Richmond Tennis Association website
Despite slumping economy, McDonald's event gains sponsors
by John Packett, RTA Staff Writer
The McDonald's Mid-Atlantic Open Clay Court Championships just keep getting bigger and better.
And that's exactly what Bill Barnes has in mind for the annual affair at Salisbury Country Club.
"We had a net gain of four sponsors this year," said Barnes, who is a franchisee owner of several area McDonald's and the driving force behind the improvement of the tournament over the past several years. The additional sponsors have added some $12,000 to the pot, he added.
"I thought if we had the same amount of sponsors and contributions that we had last year we'd be lucky because of the economy. But we've been pretty fortunate. It's become a product of its own right now."
Prize money has gone up about $4,000, Barnes said. The men's and women's singles winners will still receive $3,000, but the tournament will pay more through the lower rounds.
Four additional courts have been lighted at Salisbury, and the sponsor's tent will be moved from the back of the two show courts to the walkway between the show courts and the four newly lighted courts.
"We'll have matches into the night on six courts now," said Barnes. "The tent is going to be twice as big as it was last year."
The tournament is scheduled from July 11-18, with matches starting at 4 p.m. during the week and on the final Saturday. The women's final is slated for a 4 p.m. start on July 18, followed by the men's final and the mixed doubles title match.
The men's and women's doubles finals will be held on the preceding Friday.
"We really are expecting a big draw," Barnes said, "based on what's happened the last few years. Word has gotten out that this is a really good tournament, and we think that's going to help attract more players."
Barnes believes last year's men's champion, Treat Huey, will be back, along with runner-up David McNamara. City champion Martin Stiegwardt and fellow Willow Oaks Country Club pro Michal Ciszek are also expected to play. Rob Johnston of Midlothian Tennis Club is another possibility.
On the women's side, Natalia Cretu, the fiancee of Ciszek, is expected to contend for the title.
"The club has really gotten behind this tournament and the members have really supported it," said Barnes. "This has become a place, in the middle of the summer, for one week where there's a lot of entertainment and a lot of fun. It's a big event and we're very proud of it."
The deadline to enter the tournament is July 3 at midnight. Contact tourney director Scott Steinour at 804-794-8188 for more information.
The tournament is a week later than usual because Steinour wanted to stay away from the July 4 holiday weekend.
Bernstine nips King in boys 12 final of McDonald's Series tourney
The first McDonald's Junior Series tournament concluded today at Raintree Swim and Racquet Club, with the closest singles final occurring in the boys 12 division.
Chase Bernstine, son of Hermitage CC pro Mark Bernstine, edged Nicholas King 7-6 (13-11), 2-6, 11-9.
There were seven other singles winners, as well as doubles victors in five divisions of the L5 tourney.
Girls 12 final: Maya Das d. Allie Straus 6-1, 6-2.
Girls 14 final: Caroline Moreno d. Lindsay Brown 6-0, 6-0.
Girls 16 final: Haley Moses d. Jessica Kocen 6-1, 6-2.
Girls 18 final: Lauren Hunter d. Jane Fellowes 6-4, 6-1.
Boys 12 final: Chase Bernstine d. Nicholas King 7-6 (13-11), 2-6, 11-9.
Boys 14 final: Thomas Morris d. Carter Key 6-0, 6-1.
Boys 16 final: Owen DeValk d. Thomas Hunold 3-6, 6-3, 10-5.
Boys 18 final: Steven Bond d. Hunter Blot 6-0, 6-3.
Girls 14 doubles final: Moreno-Keerthana Shankar d. MacNair Jennings-Emily Kochard 8-3.
Girls 16 doubles final: Meghan Nasta-Ashley Price d. Kocen-Rebecca Seidel 8-4.
Boys 12 doubles final: Bernstine-Chan Perkins d. Grayson Brown-Harrison Fratkin 8-2.
Boys 14 doubles final: William Perkins-Jake Weber d. Trevor Hall-Kieran Raphael 8-5.
Boys 16 doubles final: Brett Moorhead-Brady Straus d. Hunold-Morris 8-0.
Deadline is Monday to enter Davenport senior divisions
If you haven't entered already, time is getting short to get in the fields for the senior divisions of the Davenport City Championships. The deadline is Monday at midnight. The tournament runs from June 27 through July 2, depending on the size of the draws, and will be held at Willow Oaks Country Club.
You can either go online to enter or do it by mail -- send entries soon to RTA, P.O. Box 17612, Richmond, Va., 23226.
Entry fees are $25 for singles and $40 per doubles team.
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