The Tennis Hacker

Develop a winning website -- with pictures

2008-12-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

I once wrote a piece called 'Why Tennis Websites Fail' and it was one of the most widely read articles on The Tennis Hacker. So it occurred to to me that you want to hear more about the nuts-and-bolts about putting together The Tennis Hacker.

Google, I have found, values photographs. Just type in one of the Futures players, say, 'Chase Buchanan, tennis' or 'Jose De Armas tennis' in a Google search box, then search 'Images'. You would find that The Tennis Hacker pictures may take up the whole first page.

What ever your subject, try to add relevant photos to your website. (Do not put the photos in slide shows, unless you understand what is called Google Analytics -- the Google robot can not get inside many of the slide shows to find the pictures.)

Many readers find The Tennis Hacker through photo or image searches. It is a great way to get Google to promote your website.

Related:

Learn Why Tennis Websites Fail

Resources:

Learn more about taking great pictures. Get The Tennis Hacker's camera now:

Explore more: a review of The Tennis Hacker's camera

Argentina, Australia host Futures events

2008-12-01T23:06:00.000-08:00

Australia Futures
December 1-7, 2008
Sorrento, Australia
$15,000, 32 Draw
Hard, Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw

Argentina Futures
December 1-7, 2008
Tucuman, Argentina
$10,000, 32 Draw
Clay, Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw

Sijsling headlines in Dominican Republic

2008-12-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

Adam El Mihdawy, also in Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic Futures (F3)
December 1-7, 2008
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
$10,000, 32 Draw
Hard, Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw

Igor Sijsling romps in Dominican Republic

2008-12-01T00:48:00.000-08:00

The Dominican Republic Futures (F2)
November 24-30, 2008
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
$10,000, 32 Draw
Hard, Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw
Dominican Republic Futures Earnings

Player Name	Country	Money Won
Igor Sijsling	NED	$1300
Andrey Kumantsov	RUS	$900
Vladimir Obradovic	SRB	$480
Jose Checa-Calvo	ESP	$480
Guillermo Olaso	ESP	$290
Matthieu Guenat	SUI	$290
Jamie Baker	GBR	$290
Jose Hernandez	DOM	$290
Robert Khoury	USA	$200
Frank Wintermantel	GER	$200
Yannick Jankovits	FRA	$200
Adam El Mihdawy	USA	$200
Treat Huey	PHI	$200
Dusan Lojda	CZE	$200
Romain Hardy	FRA	$200
Pedro Sousa	POR	$200
David Goffin	BEL	$117.50
Ace Neumann	CAN	$117.50
Alessandro Giannessi	ITA	$117.50
Lado Chikhladze	GEO	$117.50
Roman Recarte	VEN	$117.50
Cedrik-Marcel Stebe	GER	$117.50
Takanyi Garanganga	ZIM	$117.50
Nikolaus Moser	AUT	$117.50
Valery Rudner	RUS	$117.50
Andrei Plotniy	RUS	$117.50
Alex Llompart	PUR	$117.50
Roberto Maytin	VEN	$117.50
Laury Arias	DOM	$117.50
Germain Gigounon	BEL	$117.50
David Martinez	VEN	$117.50
Yohny Romero	VEN	$117.50

Related:

Learn more about the players:

Chase Buchanan

Bryan Wooten

Ryler De Heart

Caracas, Venezuela Money List

2008-11-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

Jose De Armas

**Caracas, Venezuela Futures**
Player Name	Country	Money Won
Jose De Armas	VEN	$1300
Piero Luisi	VEN	$900
Julio-Cesar Campozano	ECU	$480
Yohny Romero	VEN	$480
Miguel Cicena	VEN	$290
Roberto Maytin	VEN	$290
Alejandro Gonzalez	COL	$290
Luis David Martin	VEN	$290
Andres Garriga Rivero	VEN	$200
Leonel Vivas	VEN	$200
Viju George	USA	$200
Jesus Bandres	VEN	$200
Ricardo Rodriguez	VEN	$200
Diego Lasry	VEN	$200
Raphael Shikuma Pfister	BRA	$200
Radames Ries	VEN	$200
Jeffrey Das	USA	$117.50
Antonio Arce	VEN	$117.50
Sergio Olivares	VEN	$117.50
Ariel Behar	URU	$117.50
Thales Levy	BRA	$117.50
Jimy Szymanski	VEN	$117.50
Jose Garcia	VEN	$117.50
Stefno Licata	ARG	$117.50
John Carlos Ceballos	VEN	$117.50
Gregory Chambaz	SUI	$117.50
Fernando Archila	VEN	$117.50
Orlando Superlano	VEN	$117.50
Roman Recarte	VEN	$117.50
Jorge Varon	VEN	$117.50
Andres Quijada	VEN	$117.50
Pedro Ast	VEN	$117.50

Related:

Most Popular (Last 7 Days)

Brad Gilbert on Filip Krajinovic

Show me your March 2008 diary

Daniel Yoo's Honolulu

Resources:

Help me find an eyewitness report of the Australia Futures

Jose De Armas wins seven tournaments

2008-11-27T00:41:00.000-08:00

**Jose De Armas 2008 Futures Earnings**
Futures	Date	Result	Money Won
Caracas, Venenzuela	Oct 13-19	Winner	$1,300
Valencia, Venenzuela	Oct 6-12	Winner	$1,300
Barquisimeto, Venenzuela	Sept 29-Oct 5	Winner	$1,300
Irvine, California	Sept 23-28	Lost, final	$900
Valencia, Venenzuela	July 28-Aug 3	Winner	$1,300
Maracaibo, Venenzuela	July 21-27	Winner	$1,300
Valencia, Venenzuela	June 23-29	Winner	$1,300
Caracas, Venenzuela	June 16-22	Lost, semifinal	$480
Maracay, Venenzuela	June 9-15	Winner	$1,300
Orange Park, Florida	May 6-11	Lost, round of 16	$200
Vero Beach, Florida	April 29-May 4	Lost, final	$900
Harlingen, Texas	Feb 26-March 2	Lost, round of 32	$176.25
Boca Raton, Florida	Jan 18-21	Lost, round of 16	$200
Total			$11,956.25

Jose De Armas Venezuelan Run

2008-11-23T11:30:00.000-08:00

**Jose De Armas (VEN)**
Birthdate: 3/25/1981	Birthplace: Florida, USA
Plays: Right hand	Backhand: One hand

Jose De Armas 2008 Venezuela Futures Victories

Caracas, Oct 13-19

Final Opponent	Score
Piero Luisi	6-1, 6-3

Valencia, Oct 6-12

Final Opponent	Score
Julio-Cesar Compozano	6-1, 6-3

Barquisimeto, Sept 29-Oct 5

Final Opponent	Score
Julio-Cesar Compozano	6-1, 6-3

Valencia, Jul 28-Aug 3

Final Opponent	Score
Brett Ross	6-4, 6-3

Maracaibo, Jul 21-27

Final Opponent	Score
Piero Luisi	6-3, 0-6, 6-3

Valencia, June 23-29

Final Opponent	Score
Julio-Cesar Compozano	6-7 (5)6-0 , 6-3

Maracay, June 9-13

Final Opponent	Score
Roman Recarte	3-6, 6-4, 7-5

Jose De Armas wins big in Venezuela

2008-11-21T21:57:00.000-08:00

Jose De Armas dominated the Futures circuit in Venezuela this year. October was a particularly special month. De Armas won three tournaments in October defeating Piero Luisi in the final in Caracas and Julio-Cesar Compozano in the final of Barquisimeto and De Armas also beat Compozano in the final of Valencia.

Jose De Armas won a grand total of seven events in his home of Venezuela in 2008.

Nick Bollettieri on another Nick

Check out Haydn Lewis

Resources:

Milagros Sequera: learn more about the deceptive Venezuelan

Show me tennis hobbies: collecting rackets

Learn more about tennis for children with learning disabilities

Don't have time to read The Tennis Hacker daily? Subscribe, and read at your leisure.

Sijsling celebrates in Dominican Republic

2008-11-18T12:32:00.000-08:00

Igor Sijsling was rewarded for his victory in The Honolulu Futures with a trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Sijsling is currently playing in the Domincan Republic Futures. He faces Filippo Leonardo of Italy in the first round.

Earlier this year, Sijsling was playing in Challenger tournaments -- one rank above the Futures tournaments. But he suffered a shoulder injury and is making a comeback in Futures tournaments.

Dominican Republic Futures
November 17-23, 2008
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
$10,000, 32 Draw
Hard, Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw

The Honolulu Futures Money List

2008-11-17T06:22:00.000-08:00

Player Name	Country	Money Won
Igor Sijsling	NED	$1950
Daniel Yoo	KOR	$1350
Alexander Domijan	USA	$720
Andrey Kumantsov	RUS	$720
Chase Buchanan	USA	$435
Sheeva Parbhu	USA	$435
Matt Reid	AUS	$435
Adam El Mihdawy	USA	$435
Hendrik Bode	GER	$300
Dennis Lajola	USA	$300
Ty Trombetta	USA	$300
Jordan Cox	USA	$300
Borut Puc	SLO	$300
James Ludlow	USA	$300
Isaac Frost	AUS	$300
Devin Britton	USA	$300
Uladzimir Ignatik	BLR	$176.25
Chris Wettengel	USA	$176.25
Sean Thornley	GBR	$176.25
John Hoyes	USA	$176.25
Ikaika Jobe	USA	$176.25
Johannes Van Overbeek	USA	$176.25
Jan-Axel Tribler	DEN	$176.25
Sascha Heinemann	GER	$176.25
Andres Siljestrom	SWE	$176.25
Vlademyros Mavropoulos-Stoliarenko	GRE	$176.25
Todd Paul	USA	$176.25
Lado Chikhladze	GEO	$176.25
Stefan Hardy	USA	$176.25
Tigran Martirosyan	ARM	$176.25
Christoph Palmanshofer	AUS	$176.25
Trevor Dobson	USA	$176.25

(Note: Some players retain amateur status for the purposes of playing college tennis. Those players accept a smaller check to defray travel expenses.)

Adam El Mihdawy

Todd Paul

Chase Buchanan

Resources:

The exciting final match

Daniel Yoo's Road to Honolulu final

2008-11-15T23:28:00.000-08:00

Daniel Yoo is through to the final of The Honolulu Futures in Hawaii. Yoo will play number two seed Igor Sijsling for the championship.

Yoo, ranked number six, beat Slovenia's Borut Puc 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinal. Along the way, Yoo defeated Alexander Domijan, Sean Thornley and Chase Buchanan.

Chase Buchanan.

See what the players do after a match

More of what you like: pictures of the players

Daniel Yoo passes Chase Buchanan

2008-11-15T08:34:00.000-08:00

Chase Buchanan, above.

Daniel Yoo got by Chase Buchanan in the quarterfinals of The Honolulu Futures. Buchanan was hobbled by a sprained ankle and had to retire. Yoo led 6-3, 1-0.

Yoo will face Alexander Domijan in the semifinal. In the other semifinal, number two seed Igor Sijsling will face the Russian Andrey Kumantsov.

Resources:

Keep up with The Honolulu Futures from the local newspaper

Daniel Yoo faces Buchanan in Honolulu

2008-11-14T13:38:00.000-08:00

Daniel Yoo plays against Chase Buchanan in the quarterfinals at The Honolulu Futures.

The Honlulu Futures
November 10-16, 2008
Honloulu, Hawaii
$15,000, 32 Draw
Hard, Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw
Order of Play

Related:

Here's more good stuff on Chase Buchanan

Explore Michael McClune's world

Show me more pictures of the players

Daniel Yoo's Big Payday

2008-11-13T09:20:00.000-08:00

Daniel Yoo earned $1950 for winning the Mauna Lani Kohala Tennis Futures in Kohala Coast, Hawaii. His opponent Tigran Martirosyan received $1350. Semifinalists Uladzimir Ignatik and Sheeva Parbhu got $720.

The players will try to increase their earnings at the Honolulu Futures.

**Mauna Lani Kohala Tennis Futures Money List**
Player Name	Country	Money Won
Daniel Yoo	KOR	$1950
Tigran Martirosyan	ARM	$1350
Uladzimir Ignatik	BLR	$720
Sheeva Parbhu	USA	$720
Chase Buchanan	USA	$435
Andrey Kumantsov	RUS	$435
Brett Joelson	USA	$435
Jordan Cox	USA	$435
Johannes Van Overbeek	USA	$300
Dennis Lajola	USA	$300
Ty Trombetta	USA	$300
Nicholas Edlefsen	USA	$300
Matt Reid	AUS	$300
Treat Huey	PHI	$300
Christoph Palmanshofer	AUT	$300
Adam El Mihdawy	USA	$300
Jeffrey Das	USA	$176.25
Devin Britton	USA	$176.25
Sean Thornley	GBR	$176.25
Chris Wettengel	USA	$176.25
James Ludlow	USA	$176.25
Ikaika Jobe	USA	$176.25
Jaymon Crabb	AUS	$176.25
Leo Rosenberg	USA	$176.25
Alexander Domijan	USA	$176.25
Isaac Frost	AUS	$176.25
Vlademyros Mavropoulos-Stoliarenko	GRE	$176.25
Todd Paul	USA	$176.25
Thomas Tomczak	USA	$176.25
Stefan Hardy	USA	$176.25

(Note: Some players retain amateur status for the purposes of playing college tennis. Those players accept a smaller check to defray travel expenses.)

Related:

Learn More about Todd Paul

Show me James Ward

Catch up with Robin Hasse

Resources:

Daniel Yoo wins First Match in Honolulu

Stefan Hardy's Long Drive

Jaymon Crabb's Q&A

Daniel Yoo: Milwaukee flashback

2008-11-11T14:19:00.000-08:00

In August of 2008, Daniel Yoo defeated Tigran Martirosyan on his way to winning the Milwaukee Futures tennis tournament. Martirosyan was the same player Yoo would go on to beat in the Kohala Coast Futures three months later.

Related:

Noam Okun: Know your opponent

Richard Ruckelshausen

Greg Jones

Resources:

Daniel Yoo's Milwaukee Run

Ryan Young

Tennis Hacker featured in publication

Daniel Yoo's Road to Victory

2008-11-11T13:07:00.000-08:00

For what it is worth, Daniel Yoo faced no seeded opponent until the final of the Mauna Lani Kohala Tennis Futures. Yoo, who was ranked seventh, beat fourth-seed Tigran Martirosyan in the final.

Playing in the bottom half of the draw Yoo ran through unseeded opponents Alexander Domijan, Matt Reid, Brett Joelson and Sheeva Parbhu.

Martirosyan, the tournament runner-up, defeated the tournament number one seed Uladzimir Ignatik in Kohala Coast, Hawaii.

Related:

Michaela Moon

Player Snapshots

Double the fun

Resources:

Yoo in Pictures

Yoo in Honolulu

Matt Reid

Daniel Yoo wins in Hawaii

2008-11-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

Daniel Yoo defeated Tigran Martirosyan 7-5, 6-4 to win the Mauna Lani Kohala Tennis Futures. Yoo, a left-hander from South Korea, pocketed $1950 for his victory in Kohala Coast, Hawaii.

Yoo won the Milwaukee Futures earlier this year. He is currently ranked 772 and was ranked in the 400s earlier in his career.

The players will play the final futures tournament of the year, the Honolulu Futures, November 10.

Related:

Daniel Yoo in Milwaukee

How Tennis Influenced Investing

The Tennis Hacker's Neighborhood

Resources:

Daniel Yoo, Fired up

Mauna Lani!

A Technical Study (Video) of Nadal's Swing

Tennis futures surfs up in Hawaii

2008-11-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

Mauna Lani Kohala Tennis Futures
Thru Sunday, November 9, 2008
Kohala Coast, Hawaii
$15,000, 32 Draw
Hard, Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw
Order of Play

Resources:

Hawaii Futures Photos

Fraud

2008-11-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

The famous writer V.S. Naipaul would often describe certain writers as 'fraudulent, a complete fraud.'

There are some tennis website operators who have completely lifted the pictures and articles of The Tennis Hacker and presenting it as their own. The material appears on protennisclub.com as The Future in Tennis. One Shelia of blacktennispros.blogspot.com presents herself as the author.

Readers of The Tennis Hacker know that The Tennis Hacker is the work of one solitary guy; everyone calls me Jerry. But there are many new readers of The Tennis Hacker, so it should be noted that The Tennis Hacker is in no way related or affiliated with the above named websites.

Protennisclub.com, Shelia and blacktennispros.blogspot.com: fraudulent, complete frauds.

Resources:

Fraud

McClune, King-Turner battle in Mansfield

2008-10-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

MANSFIELD, Tex. - Michael McClune, above, and Daniel King-Turner battle in the Texas 76ers Pro Event in Memory of the Steve Noonkester. The final at the Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield, Texas, was played at the same time as the Dallas Cowboys football game. Fans at the tennis match were given live reports of the Cowboys score.

Ball, Ebelthite dominate doubles

2008-10-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

MANSFIELD, Tex. - Carsten Ball (above, left) and Colin Ebelthite defeated Boris Bakalov (below, left) and Bojan Szumanski to win the doubles championship in the Texas 76ers Pro Event in Memory of Steve Noonkester.

Robert Khoury: Life in the Trenches

2008-10-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

Every so often I run into one of the tennis players. Recently I came across Robert Khoury. Here is Robert Khoury's story briefly in his own words:

"I have been playing future tournaments for about two years now, mostly playing in the qualifying rounds and trying to work myself up. I have only made it into three main draw events so far, winning one out of three matches."

Robert Khoury about The Tennis Hacker: "You are very kind and the work you are doing on your website is just great for tennis players all around."

Good luck, Robert. Go kick some butt.

Mansfield Futures Jumps Off

2008-10-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

MANSFIELD, Tex. - The Texas 76ers Pro Event in Memory of Steve Noonkester opened to great weather at the Walnut Creek Country Club. Above, Luis-Manuel Flores.

Texas 76ers Pro Event in Memory of Steve Noonkester
Thru Sunday, October 26, 2008
Mansfield, Texas
$15,000, 32 Draw
Hard, Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw
Order of Play

Matthew Ebden

Brydan Klein

Jesse Witten

Austin Krajicek

Jordan Cox

Resources:

Brydan Klein at The Australian Open

The Futures is in Milwaukee

2008-08-06T22:24:00.000-07:00

2008 Futures of Milwaukee, WI
Thru Sunday, August 10, 2008
$10,000, 32 Draw
Hard Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw
Order of Play

Resources:

Raven Klaasen in Decatur

Tennis Players Jam in Decatur, Illinois

2008-07-31T00:03:00.000-07:00

USTA/Ursula Beck Pro Tennis Classic
Thru August 3, 2008
$10,000/32 Draw
Hard Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw
Order of Play

Resources:

Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova love Raven Klassen

Godfrey Futures Player Guide

2008-07-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

Austin Krajicek, above.

This is your cheat-sheet, The Tennis Hacker's guide to who-is-who at the USTA Futures of Godfrey, Illinois.

Austin Krajicek
Krajicek was named freshman of the year in the Big Twelve Conference. Krajicek of Texas A&M University shared the honor with Ed Corrie of Texas. Krajicek and doubles partner Connor Pollock received an honorable mention for the performance in Big 12 doubles. (Krajicek and Pollock are still alive in the Godfrey Futures doubles.)

Cory Parr
Cory Parr plays for Wake Forest University. He is from Jerico, New York.

Chris Klingemann
Klingemann gets the frequent flyer award: he played a ton of tournaments in Mexico this year and also played in Venezuela, Canada as well as in the United States.

Erling Tveit
Tveit plays for Ole Miss. He is from Norway.

Nick Meister

Meister is from Trabuco Canyon, California. He plays for UCLA. Watch out: he is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Lance Vodicka

Lance Vodicka plays for St. Louis University.

Arnau Brugues-Davi
Brugues-Davi is from Spain. He started out at University of Barcelona and migrated to University of Tulsa. He studies Exercise and Sports Science.

Roy Kalmanovich

Kalmanovich was something of a phenom as a child but suffered a kind of burn out. He has recharged his batteries and is back.

Connor Pollock, Krajicek's doubles partner. Photos by Tessa Kolodny.

Related:

Player Profiles

Brett Ross Snap-shot

Magdi Somat

Resources:

Roy Kalmanovich featured in The Boston Globe

Godfrey Final

Arnau Brugues-Davi Profile (Scroll down to page 3, Player Profile: Our Very Own Star)

Artem Sitak's Bag

2008-07-21T23:49:00.000-07:00

Artem Sitak sports Tecnifibre. This week Artem Sitak is in Godfrey, Illinois.

USTA Futures of Godfrey, Illinois
Thru July 27, 2008
$10,000/32 Draw
Hard Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw
Order of Play

Who is Rylan Rizza?

2008-07-20T23:24:00.000-07:00

Photo by Tessa Kolodny.

Who is Rylan Rizza? That is the question tennis fans are asking after Rizza defeated a top 100 player in the qualifying round of the Lexington Challenger.

Readers of The Tennis Hacker are ahead of the curve and quite familiar with Rylan Rizza: he is a regular on the Futures circuit and was featured many times on The Tennis Hacker.

Rizza defeated Chris Guccione 7-6 (3), 6-3 to qualify for the Lexington Challenger in Lexington, Kentucky.

Related:

Rizza vs Michael McClune

Rizza Pictorial

Rizza Personality

Resources:

Lexington Challenger

Lexington Short List

A Young Rizza featured in the L. A. Times

Jean-Yves Aubone upsets Top Seed

2008-07-18T00:57:00.000-07:00

Millenium Tennis Club Men's Futures
Thru July 20, 2008
Joplin, Missouri
$10,000, 32 Draw
Hard/Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw
Order of Play

Luis-Manuel Flores headlines in Peoria

2008-07-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

USTA Futures of Peoria
Peoria, Illinois
Thru July 13, 2008
$10,000, 32 Draw
Clay/Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Qualifying Draw
Order of Play

Related:

David Kuczer's Big Serve

Amir Weintraub

Jamie Baker vs Jurek Stasiak

Resources:

L-MF

Sekou Bangoura's Run

Artem Sitak's Racket

2008-07-06T22:04:00.000-07:00

Artem Sitak and his racket.

Artem Sitak's racket, it has become apparent, is a very valuable and desirable item. A Tennis Hacker reader wrote in to say that he would pay good money for the racket.

Tennis fan, and recreational player, Josh said he attended the Mobile Futures tournament in Alabama but he was not interested in the scores as much as he was interested in the rackets the players were using.

Josh plays with a Head Pro Tour 630 racket; he is down to his last one and says that they are no longer sold in stores, but provided directly to professional players. "While every dollar helps on the futures circuit, I would certainly be willing to pay a premium price for these frames in used condition," Josh wrote to The Tennis Hacker in an open plea to the pro players.

"Maybe there are some players that only play with each frame for a few months and are then looking to discard them, or they are simply sent new frames."

He noted that Artem Sitak is using the racket "under a microgel radical paint scheme."

Jenny strings Artem Sitak's racket. (I am willing to bet that this racket pictured is Artem Sitak's; I remember after taking the picture I saw a package of racket strings with Artem Sitak's name on it.)

Resources:

The Head Pro Tour 630 Club

Rafael Nadal's Racket

Futures Head to Pittsburgh

2008-06-29T23:58:00.000-07:00

Dick's Sporting Goods Inc Men's Futures of Pittsburg, PA
June 30 to July 6
$10,000/32 Draw
Clay Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Order of Play
Qualifying Draw

Related:

Futures Tournament Supervisor, chair umpire at Grand Slams

Janko Tipsarevic, the Serbian Heritage

John-Paul Fruttero

Resources:

Meet Brad Pomeroy

Cool off with these Summer Recipes

Catch up with Wimbledon, NY Times Full-Court Coverage

Jamie Baker returns, plays Artem Sitak

2008-06-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

Nielsen USTA Pro Tennis Championship
Challenger Series
Winnetka, Illinois
June 30 to July 5 (Saturday final!)
$50,000/32 Draw
Hard/Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Order of Play
Qualifying Draw

Related:

Nicholas Monroe Player Profile

Rajeev Ram's Money Shot

Show me Izak Van Der Merwe

The Idiosyncrasies of Artem Sitak

2008-06-26T23:03:00.000-07:00

If you watch tennis players long enough, you would see that they each have idiosyncrasies, little quirks that they do almost unconsciously. Artem Sitak, the number one ranked player in the Rochester Futures in New York state, likes to put his racket in his left hand and put his right hand to his mouth and blow on it.

As you watch, Artem Sitak, you may notice that he is just a part of a team. He travels with his coach Jason and his wife Anya from the Ukraine. Artem has developed a reputation as a competitive and hard-working player and perhaps a big reason for his competitive spirit is wife.

Tennis, unlike most sports, has an odd rule that coaches can not shout instructions or communicate with the players during the match. But there are no rules against spouses speaking out. If Artem ever appears to begin to give in to fatigue or the elements, his wife bellows out a few words of encouragement that is startling in the usually-sedate grounds of the Futures tournaments.

She speaks in Russian, which maybe unintelligible to most American spectators, put her words has the effect of grabbing Artem by the collar and shaking him.

Related:

The Idiosyncrasies of Dusan Vemic

The Idiosyncrasies of Robert Smeets

The Idiosyncrasies of Rik De Voest

Resources:

The Idiosyncrasies of Nadal, Djokovic, Sharapova

The Tennis Hacker's Mail Bag

2008-06-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

"I visited your blog and enjoy the stories," Kel wrote.

Kel has questions: "Can you tell me how one enters a tennis futures tournament? Do I have to already have a ranking of some sort or is anyone accepted to qualify? If so how are people paired up, is it at random?"

In answer to Kel's questions, the Futures is a proving ground for top-ranked juniors, college players and pros at the beginning of their career. Their ATP ranking is usually around 150 to 900.

Players who are not ranked usually play the qualifying round of each tournament to get in. Check out the 'Pro circuit' section of the USTA or ITF website.

If you need more infomation e-mail Danielle Gooding at gooding(at)usta.com or Julio Echavarria at echavarria(at)usta.com.

*Join the conversation, send an e-mail to tennis.hacker(at)yahoo.com.

Related:

The Futures Tour Survival Guide

Brad Gilbert, the famous coach once played The Futures

Myths on the Futures Tour

Resources:

ITF Pro Circuit

USTA Pro Circuit

Artem Sitak in Rochester, New York

2008-06-24T23:04:00.000-07:00

Futures of Rochester, NY
Thru June 29, 2008
$10,000/32 draw
Clay Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Order of Play
Qualifying Draw

Related:

Competitive Tennis Devastates the body

Show me Breda Turner

Noam Okun: 'Tennis is a game of momentum'

Resources:

Artem Sitak's brother does 'the Crip Walk'

Show me the real 'C-Walk'

The Teletubbies do the 'C-Walk': 'Keep it Gangsta'

Carsten Ball in Shingle Springs, California

2008-06-23T22:26:00.000-07:00

Freight Solution Providers Pro Circuit Tennis Championships
Shingle Springs, California
Thru June 29, 2008
$15,000/32 draw
Hard Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Order of Play
Qualifying Draw

Related:

Little Rock Family Adopts Julio Peralta

The Book on Greg Jones

Adam El Midawy: 'I'd rather be playing soccer'

How to get sponsors on the Futures Tour

2008-06-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

Ricardo Hocevar, winner of the Sacramento Futures tennis tournament, used a rather forward way of gaining financial sponsorship. During a recent tournament, he wore a shirt that read 'Would you like to advertise here?'

Players have to be creative to raise funds to travel around the country and the world to play in tournaments. It can cost around $30,000 to $40,000 a year.

"The only way you can get help with money really is if people have seen you play or know you and they love the sport of tennis," says Sydney Jim, another young Futures player. "I'm lucky I have help with money, but I also worked very hard to get the start-up costs; also getting help from equipment companies like Pro Supex, Dunlop, Quiksilver, and I get some private help from Continental."

Related:

Sydney Jim talks about his hitting partner Bryan Wooten

Eric Halaj trying to break through

Michaela Moon Runs a Tight Ship

Resources:

Sydney Jim's blog of his tennis travels

Ricardo Hocevar featured in the London Telegraph. Scroll down to the last paragraph.

Sacramento Results

Players Rumble in Sacramento

2008-06-19T22:37:00.000-07:00

Trius Technology Futures Pro Circuit Tennis Tournament
Sacramento, California
Thru June 22, 2008
$15,000/32 draw
Hard Outdoor
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Order of Play
Qualifying Draw

Related:

How to beat Carsten Ball

Ryler De Heart's Pain

Michael Yani Battles

Resources:

Michael Yani Loves Yuba

Ricardo Hocevar: 'We are the champions'

Next Futures Tournament in Shingles, CA, and Rochester, NY

Players Battle in Loomis, California

2008-06-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

Ryler De Heart is ranked number two in the Recoating West Inc. Men's USTA $15,000 Professional Tennis Tournament in Loomis, California.

Carsten Ball is number one in Loomis. (Ball photo by Tessa Kolodny.)

Resources

Michael McClune article, pictures, Loomis News

Estrella, Hocevar in Loomis

The Many Faces of Bryan Wooten

2008-06-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

Bryan Wooten was over-matched and his facial expressions were telling.

'What the hell is he doing over there?'

'Oh, not again.'

'What time does the lunch buffet shut down?'

'Some days you shouldn't get out of bed.'

Bryan Wooten lost to Artem Sitak in this match at the Little Rock Futures tennis tournament.

Bryan Wooten Interview, Waco Tribune-Herald

How Tennis is like Tai Chi

2008-06-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese dance that is used to promote health and -- after year's of practice -- can be used for self-defense. It encourages natural movement of the limbs and promotes an erect posture.

Today's scientists and doctors are convinced that the ancient Chinese had got something right and they recommend tai chi. For example, the elderly are encouraged to take tai chi to aid in their balance and people with high blood pressure find that tai chi's calming effects lowers their blood pressure.

Many tai chi movements can be seen in tennis. For example, just before a player serves, after he bounces the ball a few times, he would tend to lean back and gather his power before he serves. That leaning back motion is a classic tai chi move: without moving his feet the tai chi practitioner leans back out of the range of an opponent's attack.

The tennis writer Peter Bodo put out a great story about Ana Ivanovic and how she travels with a physiologist who helps her with her serve. In deed, a tai chi instructor is much like a physiologist who instructs his students on posture and movement.

One of the stories Bodo tells is how Ivanovic no longer stands parallel to the baseline because that way she let's her opponent know what is coming. That is pure tai chi: the tai chi pratitioner does not stand full frontal to his opponent; he turns to the side where he less exposed and disguises his own attack until the point of contact.

Related

The Tennis Hacker on Fitness

How Tennis can save your life

Breathe

Resources

Peter Bodo on Ana Ivanovic

Tai chi video

The Mayo Clinic on Tai Chi

Marcus Fugate goes Hollywood

2008-05-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

Marcus Fugate.

Marcus Fugate, a player on the Futures tour, has gone Hollywood. Fugate is one of several players featured on the documentary film Unstrung. I read a review of the film and picked up three things, one of each is salacious, interesting and humorous.

The salacious bit is that Fugate is apparently the modern day Yannick Noah, the former player who was known to be a lady's man.

The interesting part is another player, Gregory Hirshman, is as absorbed in calculus as much as he is in tennis and has made his way to Stanford, a school that is known as much for its academics as it is for sports.

Then there is the story of Carling Bassett, a former player who was an heiress to a fortune, and who during her playing days was known as the quintessential spoilt, rich kid, tennis brat. (I got to see that side of her up close many years ago when I attempted to interview her at a tournament she was playing in.)

It turns out that Carling Bassett has a son, Holden Seguso, one of the players featured in the film. The gods of revenge have a sense of humor as the movie reveals that Carling Bassett's son is more a brat than she was.

Resources:

A Great Review of Unstrung

The ESPN Report on Unstrung

Unstrung, the Movie

Greg Jones Scouting Report

2008-05-23T23:39:00.000-07:00

I got to see Greg Jones in Vero Beach, Florida. A week later, he won the Orange Park Futures. Jones is very tall and actually has trouble bending due to his height. He has a lot of fight and is competitive. He has a very deceptive backhand lob; he disguises it well.

He concentrates and has a court-presence, especially before his serve. He has a very powerful two-handed backhand. His drop shot needs a little work: he is shaky and telegraphs his drop shot and gives his opponent an opportunity to recover.

He is from Australia, so like Lleyton Hewitt, he gives an emphatic 'Come on!' after winning a big point.

Related:

Greg Jones in Vero Beach

Show me more Australian Players

The Little Rock Tennis Scene

Resources:

Next Futures in Loomis, California

Futures Players Cross The Border to Mexico

Steve G's Tennis Board

Jamie Baker suffers serious illness

2008-05-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

Jamie Baker, a young man in the prime of his life and pursuing a career in professional tennis, has suffered a serious illness. Baker came down with ITP or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Patients with the bleeding disorder, also known as immune thrombocytopenic purpura, have an unusually low number of blood platelets and have difficulty with their blood clotting.

Baker won two Futures tennis tournament this year but, for now, his career is on hold.

Related:

Jamie Baker's Career-Threatening Injury

Jamie Baker: The Power of Words

Jamie Baker Spars with Roger Federer

Resources:

The Mayo Clinic on Jamie Baker's Illness

British Newspaper on Jamie Baker's Illness

Daniel Garza Wins in Tampa

The Tennis Hacker's Mail Bag

2008-05-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

"I ran into your website by mistake about two weeks ago, but have been really enjoying it!" read an e-mail from Josh.

"I love watching the 'minor leagues' as well and attend the event in Mobile every year."

*Join the conversation: send an e-mail to tennis.hacker(at)yahoo.com or drop a note in the comments below.

The Futures hit Tampa

2008-05-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

Marcus Fugate, 7th seed in Tampa.

The men's futures tour is now in Tampa, Florida. Jose Statham of New Zealand is the number one seed in the USTA Men's Futures at Harbour Island. Other rated players are Clinton Thompson, Matt Roberts, Daniel Garza, Justin O'Neal, Chris Lam, Marcus Fugate and Lance Vodicka.

In early upsets, Sekou Bangoura defeated number six Chris Lam 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 in this $10,000 professional event.Matt Roberts, number 3 in Tampa.

Related:

Matt Roberts in Little Rock

Marcus Fugate in Little Rock

Brad Gilbert on Filip Krajinovic

Resources:

Tampa Results

Orange Park (Florida) Results

Futures Players move up to Bradenton Challenger

La Familia Jose De Armas

2008-05-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Jose De Armas family. His daughter Miranda attended her first match at the Grand Harbor Tennis Classic. His in-laws' last name is De Armas. I heard somewhere that in Venezuela the husband takes the name of the wife's family. Above, mother-in-law Nelly, wife Ana and daughter Miranda.

Jose De Armas made it to the final of the Vero Beach Futures.

In-laws including Martin De Armas. (Not pictured, in the bag, bottom-center of photo, is the family miniature dog.)

It is funny how a baby can disarm a powerful professional tennis player. After the match, De Armas was talking goo-goo baby-talk with his daughter Miranda. Also above, Nicolas Pareda.

Resources:

Show me photos of Orange Park (Florida) Futures

Buchanan wins First Futures Championship

2008-05-04T16:21:00.000-07:00

Chase Buchanan.

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Chase Buchanan survived a three-hour marathon match to defeat Jose De Armas 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (2) in the Grand Harbor Tennis Classic. At 16-years-old Buchanan from Columbus, Ohio, won his first Futures tournament.

De Armas -- a Venezuelan who won this clay court tournament in 2000 and 2004 -- apparently had Buchanan confused and befuddled in the first set. At 27, De Armas is more experienced than Buchanan, who still plays junior tournaments, and De Armas won a lot of points with his backhand volley and he was also able to hit a lot of balls by the charging Buchanan.

By starting out with a 4-2 lead, De Armas seemed to be wearing down Buchanan and creating doubt in the mind of the young player. De Armas won the first set 6-4.

Buchanan fought back in the second set and jumped to a 5-2 lead. But De Armas stormed back to tie at 5-5. Buchanan held De Armas back to win the second set 7-5 and force a third and deciding set.

In the third set, it began to look like the longer the match went the better the chances of the younger and fitter Buchanan. (In an interview yesterday, Buchanan talked about winning matches on his fitness.)

The third set featured long rallies and was tied at 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3. Buchanan pulled away at 5-3. The remainder of the match was competitive with great shot-making on both sides, but De Armas tied it up 5-5.

De Armas used a lot of top spin. The players forced a tie-breaker for the championship. By the tie-break Buchanan, the youngster, took charge and won his first championship.

Jose De Armas.

Resources:

The Chase Buchanan Story

De Armas Smothers Jones in Vero Beach

2008-05-03T20:47:00.000-07:00

Jose De Armas.

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Jose De Armas beat Greg Jones 6-4, 6-2 in the Grand Harbor Tennis Classic. There were a lot of long rallies throughout this Futures match, but in the end the cool and controlled De Armas prevailed.

"I'm very happy with my game," said the Venezuelan De Armas. "This is my first final in a while...This week everything came together."

De Armas, a former champion in Vero Beach, had his wife, new daughter and in-laws at the match. "I train in Miami," he said. "Similar conditions, it helps. I like any slow surface."

He likes the clay at the Grand Harbor Tennis Club. He plays Chase Buchanan in the final.

Greg Jones.

The Chase to the Final

2008-05-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

Banana and Gatorade, the essential tennis player diet. Chase Buchanan.

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Chase Buchanan beat back Luka Gregorc 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the finals of the Grand Harbor Tennis Classic.

After winning the first set, Buchanan was leading by as much as 5-2 in the second set on the clay courts of Grand Harbor Tennis Club. Gregorc, from Slovenia, made a push, closing to 5-4, but Buchanan finished him off 6-4.

"I'm playing pretty smart," said Buchanan who will face Jose De Armas in the final. "I try to put people in a position they don't like, I make a lot of balls and use my fitness."

Buchanan spoke with enthusiasm and confidence. "He's got a big game, if you let him dictate," Buchanan said about Gregorc. "You get on top of him, he doesn't like to move. Get on top or at least stay neutral."

Luka Gregorc.

Related:

DeArmas, Jones in Vero Beach

Little Rock Futures

Mobile Futures

Resources:

Vero Beach Results

Vero Beach Schedule

Vero Beach Newspaper Coverage

Ruckelshausen, a Man without a Home

2008-04-27T22:33:00.000-07:00

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Richard Ruckelshausen, a player on the Futures circuit, says that the 'place of residence' listed on tennis players' profiles is arbitrary.

His place of residence is now listed as Los Angeles, California, but when asked what he likes about Los Angeles he admitted he knew nothing about the city. He says Los Angeles is convenient as a base to travel to tennis tournaments.

Oddly, his most recent 'place of residence' was South Africa, even though he is from Austria. He said he was based in South Africa because a friend Danie Visser, who had success as a doubles player, was running an academy there.

After losing in the first round in the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament, he said he is heading to Austria to play in the country's club tennis league. Club tennis, he said, is a way of supplementing his income because even if he were to win the Little Rock Futures' winner's share of $1,985, he would not break even.

Related:

Adam El-Mihdawy, a Friend of Richard Ruckelshausen

Learn About Another Futures Player (Eric Halal)

Show me more Futures Players (Adam Sadecky)

Resources:

Next Futures Tournament in Vero Beach, Florida

Newspaper clipping on Richard Ruckelshausen

Richard Ruckelshausen Player Profile

Little Rock Final, Play-by-play

2008-04-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

Artem Sitak (above) eats Matt Roberts' lunch.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Artem Sitak defeated Matt Roberts in the final of the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament in a triumph of Sitak's experience and seasoning over Matt Roberts' enthusiasm and adrenaline.

First set

Sitak opens the match having problems with his serve, a problem that bothered him throughout this Futures tournament. A number of double faults by Sitak led to a 1-0 lead for Roberts.

Despite the serving problems Sitak was able to move ahead 3-1 in the first set over Roberts who was playing before an enthusiastic crowd in his hometown.

Sitak was able to overcome the service problems and landed an ace for a 4-2 lead in the first set.

Roberts was able to get a little traction by using a tactic that opponents have used with success against Sitak: hit the ball to his backhand about three to four times in succession and then quickly swing it over to his forehand. Roberts was able to close the gap (4-3 Sitak, first set).

With the score 5-3 Sitak, Roberts drew on the enthusiasm of his hometown fans; Roberts put together an excellent game of serve and volley and a few overhead spikes (5-4 Sitak).

Despite a great effort by Roberts, who threw probably some of his hardest and best shots at Sitak, Sitak won the first set handily 6-4. This singular moment was a show of the difference in the level of play of the two finalists: Sitak has played tougher competition and has even won a Futures tournament this year; Roberts was playing on raw emotion, a chance to win a tournament in his hometown.

Matt Roberts waves to the hometown crowd.

Second Set

The raucous crowd cheered Roberts on for one last run. He was able to charge ahead to a 2-0 run.

In a strange way, the crowd might have helped Sitak. Sitak was a heavy favorite coming in because many of the top players were not in Little Rock and traveled to bigger tournaments in Tallahassee, Florida, and Mexico City, Mexico. The attention paid to Roberts must have allowed Sitak to relax knowing that if he could hold off the charge and enthusiasm of Roberts, the tournament was his to win.

Sitak covers the court well and runs down a lot of Roberts volleys. Roberts comes to the net occasionally but he does not put the ball away, he does not hit through the ball, and Sitak is able to run it down.

In earlier matches, Roberts used the aggression and force of the other players against them. He has a knack of hitting hard, low groundstrokes, a great forehand. Perhaps sensing this, Sitak took the pace of the ball and knocked little dingers and used a lot of spin, hitting the ball to the baseline. This didn't allow Roberts to come forward on his shots and he was unable to make 'tennis shots' and create his own pace.

Sitak took the upstart to school and it was just a matter of time before he put him away. Sitak wins 6-4, 6-3.

Little Rock in Perspective

2008-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- After his 6-4, 6-3 loss to Artem Sitak in the finals of the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament, Matt Roberts said, "He was solid. He was on his game for sure. I haven't played anyone this week that patient."

He had not played anyone like Sitak all week. A little known fact is that many of the players on the Futures circuit were invited to bigger tournaments like the ones in Tallahassee, Florida, and Mexico. The players that Roberts ran through on the way to the final were not accustomed to playing this deep in the tournament.

As an example, Julio Peralta, whom Roberts beat in the semifinal, never made it to the main draw of the recent Mobile Futures having been knocked out in the first round of the qualifying round.

Adam El Mihdawy, whom Roberts beat in the quarterfinal, got knocked out in the second round of Mobile.

In contrast, Sitak lost to the eventual winner in Mobile and received extensive praise from the champion Travis Rettenmaier. Sitak also won a Futures this year in McAllen, Texas.

Artem Sitak denies the Hometown Kid

2008-04-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

LITTLE ROCK, Ark -- Artem Sitak, the number one seed in the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament, was the most tested and have played against tougher opponents compared to his rivals here at the Pleasant Valley Country Club.

In the end, his toughness and experience served him as he beat Matt Roberts 6-4, 6-3 to win his second Futures tournament of the year.

He played the final match in unusually loud and raucous conditions for a Futures tournament. The players travel around the country in near anonymity but in this tournament Matt Roberts, who was born and raised in Little Rock, made it to the final and he brought what he called his 'posse' to cheer him on.

Sitak was having serious difficulties delivering his serve on the way to the final and was looking shaky coming in. But he pulled it together for the final.

In the end Sitak's experience and toughness prevailed over Matt Robert's adrenaline.

Little Rock is Longest Running Tournament

2008-04-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

Jenny, racket stringer.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament is the longest running United States Tennis Association event, according to USTA supervisor David Littlefield. This tournament has been going on for over 28 years.

Littlefield said everyone loves the site. This is the first year the event is being hosted at the Pleasant Valley Country Club.

The week started out with a lot rain and bad weather. In fact, a week ago a tornado passed through Little Rock.

By Friday, it suddenly became very cold. Trying to interview Julio Peralta after his quarterfinal match, he quickly said, Can we go inside? It's cold.

Come Saturday and Sunday, perfect tennis weather; 75 to 80 degrees, light breeze.Rosa Colon and Tyler Neese, press liaisons.

Karrie runs the desk at Pleasant Valley Country Club. Above, David Littlefield, USTA supervisor and Karrie.

Roberts-Peralta Semifinal Play-by-Play

2008-04-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

Matt Roberts.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Julio Peralta, from Chile, seems to enjoy hitting the one-handed backhand. Indeed, he shows great variety from the backhand side and even has a good backhand volley. Peralta played Matt Roberts in the semifinal of the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament.

Matt Roberts was born in Little Rock and is attracting raucous crowds to his matches especially this weekend when people are off from work and this Futures tournament is headed to the final.

Roberts loves the forehand ground stroke. Peralta continually made the mistake of serving towards Roberts forehand: Roberts repeatedly ripped Peralta's serve down the line and each time Peralta has no chance to return.

Pretty soon the score is 5-3 in the first set. Roberts would go on to win the first set 6-0.

Peralta actually took a 3-2 lead in the second set.

Roberts stormed back with his awesome forehand return of Peralta's serve. When he rips these shots down the line, Peralta does not even bother to move. He did it three times. Pretty soon the score was 5-3 Roberts.

The match ended fittingly. Near the end of the match Roberts launched an ace against Peralta. After the ace, Peralta stood stunned. But the curious thing is, the fans couldn't discern if he wanted to complain that the serve was out, or if he was stunned as to say, 'Damn, is this guy that good?!'

Roberts won the second set for the match 6-3, 6-4.

Julio Peralta.

Sitak-Fugate Semifinal Play-by-Play

2008-04-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

Artem Sitak.

Fugate Leads Early

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Marcus Fugate takes a 3-0 lead against Artem Sitak in the first set of this semifinal match in the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament.

Artem Sitak was able to close the gap and pull to a 4-4 tie on the outdoor hard courts of the Pleasant Valley Country Club.

Fugate, who had to qualify to get in the main draw, pulled ahead 5-4 on strength of a decent serve and excellent net play.

Fugate showed a bit of lethargy and a lack of urgency and was unable to put the set away. Sitak, the number seed, pushed the set to a tie-break and he basically steam-rolled Fugate in the tie-break. Sitak wins the set 7-6 (1).

Sitak's Vulnerabilities

Sitak was shown to have serious problems in delivering his serve. Throughout the match he would give away points and control of the match due to service faults and double faults.

On his backhand side, Sitak appears unable to generate any power and makes mistakes.

Marcus Fugate.

Fugate's Woes

Fugate's serve has some heat but he doesn't drill his serve often and consistently. He brings the heat occasionally, enough just to remind his opponent he has a good serve.

Fugate can be very casual on the court. He comes to the net often but he appears unable or unwilling to react if the shot is hit away from him. There were a number of shots throughout the match that he followed the ball with his eyes and did not move his feet to attempt to run the ball down.

Still Fugate was able to go ahead 3-1 in the second set.

Sitak quickly tied up the set at 3-3. Despite Sitak's continuing and obvious problems, Fugate is complacent and unable to capitalize. Sitak goes ahead 4-3.

Sitak and Fugate continue to tie each other up at 4-4, 5-5 and eventually had to settle in a tie-break.

Fugate comes to the net often where he is very good. But he does not use his net-play as an offensive weapon against Sitak. Fugate's problems appears to be not a lack of skill but lack of effort and motivation. He fails to hit threw his shots at the net and Sitak is able to return the ball and, as Fugate has shown from earlier in the match, if the ball is hit away from him he does not run after it.

As such, Sitak wins the second set 7-6 (4).

Sitak prevails 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4).

Sitak wins in a less-than-dominant Fashion

2008-04-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

Artem Sitak, above, reacts to one of his many mistakes.

To be blunt, some serious technical flaws were uncovered in the game of Artem Sitak. Artem Sitak won -- 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4) against Marcus Fugate in the semifinal Saturday -- but had great difficulty in delivering an important part of a professional tennis player's game: his serve.

Sitak, the number one seed in the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Tennis Tournament, committed one double fault after another in an uneven performance at the Pleasant Valley Country Club. Sitak survived solely because his opponent -- who was leading at critical stages of the match -- had problems of his own.

As pictured, Marcus Fugate can be overly casual to the detriment of his game.

Artem who? Matt Roberts steals the Show

2008-04-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

Matt Roberts.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- A funny thing happened on the way to the final of the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Tennis Tournament. Suddenly Artem Sitak, the number one seed, no longer looks like the overwhelming favorite to win.

In fact, if one were to judge solely from the early performances of the finalists, one would say Artem Sitak is in trouble.

The hometown kid Matt Roberts -- who will face Artem Sitak in this Sunday's final -- is re-writing the script. Perhaps the players, like this reporter did, had dismissed Matt Roberts as the local player who was gifted a wild-card berth into this Futures tournament. But after seeing Roberts' 6-3, 6-4 drubbing of Julio Peralta in the semifinal, attention must be paid.

Artem Sitak (seated, during a change-over) will face a crowd cheering loudly for Matt Roberts.

Artem Sitak through to Finals

2008-04-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Artem Sitak defeated Marcus Fugate 7-6, 7-6 in the semifinal of the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Tennis Tournament.

Players Get Doubled Up

2008-04-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

Haydn Lewis (pictured, above) and Bjorn Munroe (below) beat Todd Paul and Brett Ross 6-4, 6-7 (5), [10-8] in the semifinal of the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament.

Raul Bermudez and Dinko Halachev defeated Christopher Kingemann and Milan Pokrajac 4-6, 6-2, [10-6].

Brett Ross.
Todd Paul.

Little Rock Player Excites Hometown Crowd

2008-04-19T07:32:00.000-07:00

Matthew Roberts.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Little Rock is buzzing about its own home-grown talent Matthew Roberts. Roberts is making a run in the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament and celebrated a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Adam El Mihdawy.

Roberts earned a spot in the semifinals against Julio Peralta in this Futures tournament.

Adam El Mihdawy.

The Artem Sitak Machine Rolls On

2008-04-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

Artem Sitak.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Artem Sitak is the number one seed in the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament and perhaps the most seasoned and tested player in this Futures tournament.

Artem Sitak has won a championship at the Futures level -- McAllen last month -- and Bryan Wooten is a qualifier at this Little Rock Futures tournament; the difference in their level of competition was evident.

Sitak dispatched Wooten 6-2, 6-3.

Bryan Wooten.

Little Rock Family Embraces Julio Peralta

2008-04-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

Julio Peralta and the Gordon family. Megan, Julio, Sarah and David.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Part of the charm of the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament and other Futures tournaments is the accessibility of the players. Fans are very near to the action on the court. And in an attempt to make players feel at home, some fans even welcome the players as guests in their homes.

The players travel around the country and the world from hotel to hotel. The Gordon family has broken the monotony for Julio Peralta and is hosting him during the tournament. He thoroughly appreciates their generosity.

"I feel at home," Peralta said after his 6-4, 6-2 victory over Phillip Simmonds. Peralta, from Chile, was particularly pleased with a meal the family ordered from a placed called the Whole Hog Barbecue.

He also enjoyed meals from the Macaroni Grill and Izzy's.

Phillip Simmonds.

James Ward Whines his way to Ignominy

2008-04-19T05:32:00.000-07:00

James Ward.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- If James Ward could see a video of his match in the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament, he would not be impressed.

If James Ward were a comedian, he would say, "I bombed."

Like athletes who come clean after a particularly poor performance, James Ward would say, "I stunk up the joint."

In fact, the phrase James Ward uttered several times during his loss to Marcus Fugate 7-6 (3), 6-3 was 'embarrassing tennis.'

During his match in this Little Rock Futures, James Ward whined, and whined, and whined.

He was not whining about the officiating. He was not whining about his opponent. He was whining about his own play. James Ward apparently was not interested in, as they say, sucking it up and doing something about his 'embarrassing tennis', he was content to complain about his own bad tennis.

At a time when British tennis is celebrating small victories -- Andy Murray's victory over Roger Federer and Jamie Baker's winning of two Futures Tournaments -- and when fans might be taking a first look at other up-and-coming British players, James Ward did not impress.

James Ward showed a disregard for his opponent, the small gathering of fans and for the game of tennis.

He showed a disregard for the fans by his constant cursing (not to mention whining). He is apparently unaware of the fierce competition for 'eyeballs'. Fans, though just a handful, could have been watching the televised match of Serena Williams-Maria Sharapova, or taking a Tai Chi class, or shopping, but chose to see his match.

He showed a disregard for his opponent by having a full blown and continuing conversation with a friend during the match; at one point while waiting to receive Ward's serve, his opponent grew tired of waiting and walked to the sideline to towel off while Ward continued his conversation.

The match ended fittingly and mercifully: the chair umpire, apparently tired of Ward's antics -- on match point -- penalized him a point to end the match.

Marcus Fugate.

Michaela Moon runs a Tight Ship

2008-04-18T20:10:00.000-07:00

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Michaela Moon is the chief of umpires at the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament. Her job is find umpires and officials for this Futures tournament.

She starts by trying to find officials right here in Little Rock. Some officials may have worked high school, state or college tournaments and could get their first opportunity to work a professional level tournament here.

Because of the great number of matches, she has pulled officials from Texas, Delaware, Missouri, Illinois and Georgia.

Some officials have a career outside of tennis and this is a side gig. Some officials have retired from their original careers and fell into tennis as a leisurely career.

Michaela Moon herself has a career outside of tennis and does her tennis assignment while on vacation from her main job.

Life on Tour -- The David Littlefield Story

2008-04-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

USTA Supervisor David Littlefield chats with Karrie.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- David Littlefield is a veteran. He was a chair umpire for 30 Grand Slam tennis tournaments, 22 U.S. Open tournaments in a row, 25 years of tennis as a full occupation. He has traveled to over 34 countries.

Littlefield is the United States Tennis Association supervisor of the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament.

Littlefield said, years ago he started to see the same umpires in big matches and he thought that might be a good job. Eventually, he got that job and his 'claim to fame' was sitting in the chair during Pete Sampras's first Grand Slam event, the U.S. Open.

Tennis was Littlefield's hobby. In West Palm Beach, Florida, he played in club tournaments and organized league tournaments. Today, tennis is his career.

"I still like getting up and going to work," Littlefield said. "Not every day...most days."

Rain Pauses in Little Rock

2008-04-18T10:58:00.001-07:00

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Rain has held up and play begins around 2 p.m. in the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament. Above, tournament director Breda Turner.

Rain in Little Rock

2008-04-18T07:15:00.000-07:00

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- There is a sprinkling, very light rain here, the site of the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament. There is accumulation on the ground and gray, overcast sky.

This tournament is part of the Futures series.

Catching up with the Mobile Players

2008-04-16T22:48:00.000-07:00

MOBILE, Al -- The players from the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic are scattered around the country and even in Mexico City.

Some continued to the next scheduled Futures tournament; some upgraded to Challenger tournaments; and one even went to an ATP tournament.

Artem Sitak is ranked number one in the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament in Little Rock, Arkansas. This is a Futures level tournament and quite a number of players from the Mobile Futures are in the Little Rock Futures.

Ryan Harrison, who got knocked out early in Mobile, is in the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston, Texas.

Travis Rettenmaier, the winner in Mobile, continues to roll in the Challenger Casablanca San Angelo in Mexico City, Mexico. Other Mobile players who made the trip to Mexico: Michael Yani, Carsten Ball, Ryler De Heart and Nicholas Monroe.

Gary Lugassy, Izak Van Der Merwe and Josselin Ouanna went to the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in Florida.

St Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament
Little Rock, Arkansas
April 14-20, 2008
$15,000 / 32 Draw
Hard - Outdoors
Main Draw Singles
Main Draw Doubles
Order of Play
Qualifying Draw Singles

Challenger Casablanca San Angel
Mexico City, Mexico
April 14-20, 2008
$35,000 / 32 Draw
Hard - Outdoors
Main Draw Singles, Doubles

Tallahassee Tennis Challenger
Tallahassee, Florida
April 14-20, 2008
$50,000 / 32 Draw
Hard - Outdoors
Main Draw Singles
Doubles Main Draw
Qualifying Draw Singles

U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship
Houston, TX
April 14-20, 2008
$420,000 / 32 Draw
Clay - Outdoors
Main Draw Singles
Qualifying Draw Singles

The Mobile Futures Money List

2008-04-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

MOBILE, Al -- Players competed for a cut of $15,000 in the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic.

Travis Rettenmaier (pictured, above) $1,985

Ryler De Heart (below) 1,350

Michael Yani (below) 720

Artem Sitak (pictured, below) 720

Vladimir Obradovic 435

Izak Van Der Merwe 435

Luigi D'Agord 435

Gary Lugassy 435

Todd Paul , 300

Marcus Fugate 300

Adam El Mihdawy 300

Phillip Simmonds 300

Ryan Harrison 300

Greg Jones 300

Amir Weintraub 300

Josselin Ouanna 300

Tommy Garrison 176.25

Filip Krajinovic 176.25

Anderson Reed 176.25

Sunil-Kumar Supaeya 176.25

Miles Kasiri 176.25

Derek Schwandt 176.25

Christopher Klingemann 176.25

Sergio Ramirez 176.25

Nicholas Monroe (pictured, below) 176.25

Ludovic Walter 176.25

Jean-Michel Durango 176.25

James Ward 176.25

Carsten Ball (below) 176.25

Patricio Alvarado 176.25

Milan Pokrajac (pictured, below; Pokrajac, Ball, Monroe photos by Tessa Kolodny) 176.25

Dennis Nevolo 176.25

Where to eat in Mobile

2008-04-15T22:06:00.001-07:00

MOBILE, Al -- Next time you go to a tennis tournament here eat at the Backyard Cafe. It is on Springhill near the hotel district. Due to the sprawling growth of America where entire neighborhoods spring up whole cloth, this type of restaurant and cuisine is a piece of Americana that is fading away. I had the baked chicken with green beans and greens.

(Tennis types don't feel intimidated about going to a 'soul food' restaurant. During my visit there was a good mix of people. Contrary to perceptions, southern cities tend to be more racially integrated than the so-called liberal cities.)

I took a picture of the building as I was leaving and then the ladies came out to ask me why was I taking a photo. I told them that a lot of people come to Mobile every year and they want to know where the local people eat. The owner Felecia Gunn is on the right and, I swear, I wrote down the other lady's name, but for the life of me, traveling and all, I can't find the napkin I wrote it on.

Players get 'Stretched Out'

2008-04-15T21:18:00.001-07:00

MOBILE, Al -- After three hours of tennis, what could be better than a bit of stretching and massage? A highly qualified physical trainer is assigned to all the Futures tournaments to take care of players during medical time-outs and a little unwinding and muscle relaxation after the match.

Shuhei Suzuki from Chicago worked the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic. Photos, Suzuki work on Travis Rettenmaier. Rettenmaier raved about Suzuki's work.

The Life of a Ball Boy

2008-04-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

MOBILE, Al -- Tennis tournaments are run by volunteers. There are so many little jobs to be done: officials, drive the players to and from their hotels, food caterers. Some people even have players stay as guests in their home. The next time a tournament is in your area volunteer for a job you like.

Chair umpire Magdi Somat of Egypt talks to his crew at the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic.

Ali Sutherland and McKenzie Courtney.

The littlest ball girl.

Finalist Ryler De Heart and Travis Rettenmaier thank the crew.

The Physics of Tennis

2008-04-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

You need to have a quick reaction time to survive as a tennis player. You have less than a second to prepare for a serve. To be precise, you have 0.6 seconds.

If you were a baseball player, you would have to be even quicker. You need a reaction time of 0.4 seconds to hit a fastball.

Luckily, the laws of physics are working with you to slow down the tennis ball. By the time the tennis ball reaches you it is traveling at half the speed it started out at. A serve that starts out at 100 miles per hour, would be traveling 50 mph by the time it reaches you.

The fuzz on the ball slows it down as it flies through the air. The impact on the ground also slows down the ball.

Reaction Time. Ryler De Heart has less than a second to react.

Resources:

Sports Science. See these and more tennis physics on Sports Science TV show.

Rettenmaier: Once Retired, now Champion

2008-04-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

Travis Rettenmaier.

MOBILE, Al -- Travis Rettenmaier is a journeyman. He took nearly two years off the tennis tour and took what he called 'a normal job.'

Rettenmaier was a bright student and went to the University of California at Los Angeles at the age of 16. He played college tennis for two years before hitting the road and playing professional tennis. He found professional tennis to be harder to break through than he had envisioned.

"I had a breakdown and was in a really bad place," he said. "I wasn't really enjoying tennis anymore. It became businesslike for me and I felt pressure from the money and decided I was done completely."

It was his girlfriend who talked him into getting back on the Futures tour. "She kept telling me to get back on the court and I began taking yoga. I needed to see what was going on inside myself instead of all the exterior stuff. I figured nothing gives me more joy than playing tennis. So I decided to give it a run."

Rettenmaier is a journeyman. A journeyman always thinks that he has a shot, an outside chance of success. That is what motivates a journeyman.

Rettenmaier has gone from a job as an assistant coach at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas to winner of the Mobile Futures.

Resources:

Travis Rettenmaier's Hometown Newspaper. Quotes in above story appeared here first.

Travis Rettenmaier wins 'Ugly'

2008-04-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Travis Rettenmaier.

MOBILE, Al -- Boxing people like to say, 'Styles make fights.'

What they mean is a boxer might be better on paper and theoretically should win, but sometimes the opponent has a particular style of fighting that could be particularly bothersome to the supposedly better fighter; in that case, the opponent wins. Styles make fights.

In the final of the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic, Travis Rettenmaier's style was bothersome to Ryler De Heart.

Rettenmaier loves to charge the net. "He is tough to play," De Heart said to the crowd during closing ceremonies. "He comes in on anything and hit the ball low. It took me a set to get used too that style. It is not seen much out here anymore. It was a tough match."

Rettenmaier said he couldn't change his style even if he wanted to. "People have been telling me to be more baseline all my life," he said. "But it doesn't come naturally to me. I come to the net on everything."

Ryler De Heart.

Mobile Futures Final Play-by-Play

2008-04-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

Travis Rettenmaier.

MOBILE, Al -- Travis Rettenmaier defeated Ryler De Heart 6-1, 7-6 (0) in the final of the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic.

Highlights of Match

De Heart missed two easy volleys for unforced errors to give Rettenmaier a 3-0 lead in the first set.

At 5-1 (Rettinemaier ahead) in first set, Rettenmaier attempted a drop shot which ordinarily would be a winner but De Heart ran it down and tapped it back: it toggled on the net fell in. The crowd loved it and roared.

De Heart lost the set on an unforced error. It was one of three unforced errors by De Heart and could be a telling point in the match. 6-1 Rettenmaier, first set.

Rettenmaier Melt Down?

Rettenmaier was bothered by a call on the opposite baseline in the second set. The linesman hesitated slightly and Rettenmaier seized on the point and argued it with the chair umpire. The effects of the call seem to linger and De Heart ran up a 3-1 lead in the second set.

De Heart Tightens Up?

De Heart committed three unforced errors and before he could say Boo, the score was 3-3.

Rettenmaier took to arguing calls again. He seemed to have lost his demeanor and seemed to be unaware that he was in control of the match and in position to win. He slammed two balls against the fence and was given an unsportsmanlike conduct warning.

Rettenmaier continued to argue. Peter Kasavage, International Tennis Federation tournament supervisor -- watching the match as an observer -- told Rettenmaier, "You just shut up and play."

Rettenmaier turned as if to say something back but thought better of it and said nothing. But the official might have saved Rettenmaier from himself because Rettenmaier was becoming deeply involved in arguing calls apparently unaware he was in position to win at 6-1, 3-3.

Rettenmaier's distraction and De Heart's concentration allowed De Heart to go ahead 4-3 in the second set. De Heart seemed to be getting back in the match.

De Heart showed his prowess in executing the overhead smash twice and took a 5-3 lead.

At this point, there was a long rally De Heart was running down a lot of balls but lost the point for a 5-4 score in the second set.

Ryler De Heart.

Rettenmaier Advances (Inspite of Himself)

Despite Rettenmaier's attempt to sabotage his own self, De Heart allowed him back in the set and the score was soon 5-5.

Rettenmaier, apparently not realizing momentum was changing in his favor, called for the trainer. But as soon as trainer Shuhei Suzuki was approaching the court, Rettenmaier waved him away and decided to play on.

(Was that a rest break? Rettenmaier's fitness might be suspect as he was out of professional tennis for some time re-evaluating his career and he was seen breathing heavily in the semifinal match against Artem Sitak.)

Rettenmaier seemed to lack the weapons and overall game of De Heart; Rettenmaier's offensive weapon was an occasional drop shot.

Rettenmaier loves to charge the net, but in the second set De Heart was able to hit a number of passing shots by Rettenmaier as he advanced.

Rettenmaier plays like a hitting partner, just gets the ball back over. One would think that would work at the municipal courts but not in the professional ranks. But it has served him well so far in the tournament and in the final.

Rettenmaier went ahead 6-5 in the second. De Heart tied it up 6-6.

In the tiebreaker, Rettenmaier imposed his will on De Heart and ran ahead 4-0. Eventually, the match ended on a telling note, an unforced error by De Heart. Rettenmaier yelled in exhilaration and relief.

Artem Sitak: Vulnerable Backhand?

2008-04-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Artem Sitak.

MOBILE, Al -- In the semifinal match of Travis Rettenmaier and Artem Sitak there were long, tiring rallies. Rettenmaier gave an insider's explanation that because of the rain all week the conditions made for a slower court and produced long matches.

"With the weather the courts are real slow," Rettenmaier said. "Tough conditions."

After one particular point near the end of this match in the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic, Rettenmaier even in winning the point was breathing hard and visibly winded and Sitak let out a long scream.

The rallies were long and extended; and seemed to be controlled by Rettenmaier. He went almost exclusively after Sitak's backhand.

When asked about this strategy, Rettenmaier said, "Definitely, the backhand was the shot I was going after.

"At the beginning I was playing well and after the terrible start by Sitak. I felt he got to what I was doing."

Rettenmaier earned himself a trip to the final against Ryler De Heart.

Travis Rettenmaier.

Artem Sitak is a Fighter

2008-04-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

Artem Sitak is a fighter.

MOBILE, Al -- With a big lead in the match -- 6-3, 3-0 and serving 40-30 -- Travis Rettenmaier had already checked out, mentally, and was making plans for lunch. He was to learn that his opponent Artem Sitak was a fighter.

After a terrible start, Sitak fought back in this semifinal match in the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Classic. Rettenmaier finally won -- 6-3, 7-5 -- but Sitak made him earn it.

"I was thinking about where I'm going to eat," Rettenmaier said about his mental state when he had a big lead in the match. "That's what makes tennis great. I got to give him credit. A lot of guys don't do that. Not at this level. Maybe at the ATP level. That's a testament to him.

"The guys who win the first set usually win the match."

He made the point casually and matter-of-factly that a lot of players at the Futures level do not play out -- with any sort of commitment -- their match when they find themselves down big. It is point that observant fans notice from time to time on the Futures and Challenger tour.

Travis Rettenmaier.

Travis Rettenmaier has a Secret

2008-04-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

MOBILE, Al -- Travis Rettenmaier has a secret. He lives in a little town of 5,000 residents. And he would like to keep it that way.

Starbucks, the ubiquitous coffee shop, tried to open a store in his neighborhood, he said, and the citizens revolted. They would just as soon do away with Walmart or any chain store. Mom-and-Pop stores only.

Rettenmaier is one of the few California residents who can say he actually was born in California. He was born in Los Angeles and went to college at University of California at Los Angeles. He decided to move north of the city known for its sprawl, its traffic and continuously growing population. He moved not far from the beaches of Oxnard and Santa Barbara.

De Heart Has a Great Tennis Mind

2008-04-12T23:50:00.000-07:00

Ryler De Heart.

MOBILE, Al -- Ryler De Heart has a great tennis mind. He was asked Saturday -- after defeating Michael Yani 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) -- about Travis Rettenmaier who would be his opponent in the final of the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic.

"He is a very crafty player," Ryler said. "He likes to come to the net. Crafty player. Talented. It will be a tough match."

"He likes to come to the net." That is something I saw in Rettenmaier when he defeated Artem Sitak 6-3, 7-5. I remember writing a note about Rettenmaier: 'very proficient at the net.'

Like De Heart said, it makes for a tough final.

Travis Rettenmaier.Michael Yani.

Van Der Merwe, Sadecky Win Doubles

2008-04-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

Izak Van Der Merwe.

MOBILE, Al -- Izak Van Der Merwe and Alexander Sadecky beat Travis Rettenmaier and Rylan Rizza 6-7 (5), 6-4 (10-7) to win the doubles championship of the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic.

The singles semifinal was rescheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday because of early morning rain. Rettenmaier will play Artem Sitak; and Michael Yani will play Ryler De Heart at the Newton Cox Tennis Center.Rylan Rizza. Rizza photo by Tessa Kolodny.

Rain Pauses in Mobile

2008-04-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

MOBILE, Al -- Miraculously, rain has halted one hour before start of semifinals of the Mobile Futures. The Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic is being played at the Newton Cox Tennis Center.

Rain in Mobile

2008-04-12T06:15:00.000-07:00

MOBILE, Al -- There is a currently a light, but steady rain in Mobile, Alabama, approximately two hours before the first scheduled semifinal match. The Newton Cox USTA Men's Profession Tennis Classic is being held at the Newton Cox Tennis Center.

This tournament is part of the Futures tennis series.

Van Der Merwe: Tough Players in Mobile

2008-04-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

Izak Van Der Merwe.

MOBILE, Al -- Some tough players remain in the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic. That was the summation of Izak Van Der Merwe who lost to Artem Sitak 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 at the Newton Cox Tennis Center.

"Everyone has a chance. Everyone is playing well," Van Der Merwe said, who was really gracious at a time when he was commiserating his loss.

Van Der Merwe lost to Artem Sitak, winner of the last Futures tournament which was held in McAllen, Texas. "He's a good player," Van Der Merwe said. "He is quick on the court."

Sitak plays Travis Rettenmaier in the semifinals.

Yani Knocks Out Lugassy in Slug-Fest

2008-04-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

MOBILE, Al -- Michael Yani feels like a dragon slayer. He took out the number one seed in the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Event.

"It was one of those three-hour battles," Yani said after the match. "He is really tough; a good player. Fast. Tough to beat. I had to beat him. He wasn't giving me anything. It was one of those three-hour battles. I was pretty content to come out on top."

Winning has something to do with it, but Yani said he is enjoying himself at this tournament which is also known as the Mobile Futures. "The courts, the conditions. I'm playing well. I'm going to see what I can do."

Although the radio is occasionally announcing tornado and storm warnings in the area, it actually is great playing conditions. The clouds threaten rain, but the clouds are actually a buffer from the sun. There is a wind, just enough to keep cool, not enough to affect the matches.

Yani and Ryler De Heart, two great friends and road-mates play against each other in the semifinal Saturday.Gary Lugassy. (Top photo, Michael Yani.)

Win or Lose, Ryler De Heart Feels Pain

2008-04-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

Ryler De Heart in Mobile.

MOBILE, AL -- Ryler De Heart spoke with a touch of sadness. Many of the players here and on the Futures tour are friends, he said, and the winner feels the pain of his friend's loss.

"I don't think he played his best," De Heart said about Luigi D'Agord, who lost 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic. But De Heart said the criticism was not in malice, but said as a friend. "We are good friends and it is difficult."

Michael Yani is another good friend, De Heart said. Yani and De Heart play each other in the semifinal Saturday in the semifinal.Ryler De Heart's lucky bag.

Ryler De Heart's lucky shoe.

Mobile Futures Scores

2008-04-11T13:29:00.000-07:00

Gary Lugassi in Mobile, Alabama.

Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic, Quarterfinals

Michael Yani beat number one seed Gary Lugassi 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5

Ryler De Heart d. Luigi D'Agord 7-5 (5), 6-4

Artem Sitak d. Izak Van Der Merwe 3-6, 6-4, 6-0

Travis Rettenmaier d. Vladimir Obradovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-0

Saturday Semifinal

Yani vs De Heart 10 a.m.

Sitek vs Rettenmaier 11 a.m.

British Tennis Players Look to Spain

2008-04-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

For many, the road to success in tennis flows through Florida. Parents, from countries all around the world, at great sacrifice send their children to one of the famous tennis academies in Florida.

British tennis players seem to be bucking this Florida trend. For British players, the road to success leads through Spain.

Andy Murray -- who recently celebrated a victory over the world's number one player Roger Federer -- sharpened his game at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona.

Another British player James Ward -- who is playing in the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic in Mobile, Alabama -- was taken under the graces of Spanish Grand Slam winner Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Ferrero and his coach Antonio Martinez run a school appropriately called the Juan Carlos Ferrero tennis academy. Ward is forever thankful for their benevolence and guidance.

“I can’t explain how much Juan Carlos has done for me," Ward said. "He’s around if he’s not playing tournaments, I’ve practiced with him a lot, I’ve seen the amount of dedication he puts into his tennis, his training levels, his fitness levels and I’ve been working with his physical trainer, too, working on what I need to do to be in the best shape I can. Juan Carlos has been a tremendous incentivising force for me."

Resources:

James Ward Mentored by Juan Carlos Ferrero. Quotes in above story appeared here first.

Pokrajac: the Serbian Heritage in Tennis

2008-04-09T01:41:00.000-07:00

Milan Pokrajac. Photo by Tessa Kolodny.

Milan Pokrajac is from Canada. But the name Pokrajac is distinctly Serbian. It is part of a Serbian heritage that is permeating tennis.

There are two Serbian players in the 2008 Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic in Mobile, Alabama: the promising young player Filip Krajinovic and the former college player Vladimir Obradovic. Obradovic has won a Futures singles title and three doubles championship.

Among the number of Serbians on tour are Anna Ivanovic, Novak Djokovic, Jelena Jankovic and Janko Tipsarevic.

Related:

Krajinovic, Tremendous Talent

Vemic, Tipsarevic Win Doubles

Resources:

Amateur Geneologists Trace the Pokrajac Name

James Blake on the Secret World of Players

2008-04-09T00:22:00.000-07:00

James Blake, the popular American tennis player, says tennis players are stuck in a kind of perpetual childhood.

"The ATP tour is like a kind of traveling neverland, where no one forces you to grow up," he wrote in Breaking Back. "So a lot of guys are indistinguishable from overgrown adolescents -- when not hitting tennis ball, or the gym, we spend our time hanging out, playing poker, watching television, mastering video games, instant messaging each other, perfecting iPod playlists, and planning the occasional practical joke."

Related:

James Blake's Hitting Partner in Mobile

Todd Paul is Screaming Mad

2008-04-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

Todd Paul, a professional player from Connecticut, is a quiet man. But something happens to him when he steps on the tennis court.

"I'm a little crazy on the court," Paul said. "I always scream and get into the match. I'm only loud on the court during the match and after big points I'm louder than normal."

His college coach Jeff Zinn scouted Paul's high school career and was always impressed. "I liked his demeanor on the court," said the coach. "I thought he was very professional...He carried himself so well on the court.

"He a great weapon in his forehand. I knew that it would just keep getting better and better. He is very muscular, strong and has a power game."

Paul had a successful career at Wake Forest University and trying to make it in the professional ranks like another Connecticut native -- whom Paul shared a coach with and was a hitting partner to -- James Blake.

Resources:

Todd Paul's Mobile Futures Results

Todd Paul's College Newspaper. Quotes in above story appeared first here.

How Michael Yani Could Beat Carsten Ball

2008-04-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

Carsten Ball. Photo by Tessa Kolodny.

Michael Yani plays the number seven seed Carsten Ball in the 2008 Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic in Mobile, Alabama, on Tuesday. Yani would be wise to put in a phone call to Michael McClune.

McClune laid the blueprint on how to beat Carsten Ball in a final match in the Mansfield Futures in October, 2007. If Yani were to get McClune on the phone, this is what McClune would tell him...

"Carsten Ball has some pop. He loves to hit ground strokes low and hard. He is a powerful hitter. You have got to push him back, back, back to the fence. That is the only way you stand a chance against his power. You hit the ball all the way to the baseline and make him hit from beyond the baseline. That is how you take away his power.

"One more thing: watch out for the drop shot. He uses it judiciously, sparingly. It is a beauty. It drops just beyond the net and bounces away from you. Good luck."

Yani and the left-handed Carsten Ball play around 11 a.m. Tuesday in this tournament which is also called the Mobile Futures. The Futures is kind of a minor league in tennis; with another level called the Challenger and yet another the ATP series.

Related:

The Michael McClune-Carsten Ball Match

Resources:

Mobile Futures Tuesday Schedule

Qualifying Round Results

Main Draw Bracket

Erik Halah, Knocking on the Door

2008-04-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

The Futures tennis tour is the place where young players get some experience and seasoning. The Futures is where the young players test the waters and look for that first breakthrough.

Erik Halah is not there yet but he is knocking on the door, on the verge of a breakthrough. Seventeen-year-old Halah is from the Slovak Republic, a country in central Europe, surrounded by the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Ukraine and Hugary.

Halah failed in his attempt to get out of the qualifying round of the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic in Mobile, Alabama. He lost to Ecuador's Jean-Michel Durango.

Tornado Rips through Little Rock

2008-04-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

A tornado ripped through Little Rock, Arkansas Thursday night.

St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament, the Little Rock Futures, will be played in Little Rock April 14-20.

Pierre-Ludovic Duclos is the number one ranked player headed to Little Rock. Duclos is right-handed and hails from Sainte Foy, Quebec, Canada. He is coached by Ricardo Pimentel. He started playing at age 10 and, to get away from tennis, he likes music, soccer and basketball.

Duclos won a Futures tournament in Spain in September, 2007; defeating Spain's Miguel-Angel Lopez-Jaen 6-4, 7-6 (7).

Mobile Futures Stacked With Talent

2008-04-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

The qualifying round of the 2008 Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis continues 10 a.m. Monday in Mobile, Alabama.

The tournament, part of the Futures series, is being held at the Newton Cox Tennis Center.

Qualifying Round

Monday, April 7. All matches begin at 10 a.m.

Alexander Sadecky (Switzerland) vs Filip Krajinovic (Serbia)

Richard Ruckelshausen (Austria) vs Adam El Mihdawy (USA)

Erik Halaj (Slovak Republic) vs Jean-Michel Durango (Ecuador)

Chris Lam (USA) vs Sergio Ramirez (Colombia)

Jarmaine Jenkings (USA) vs Tommy Garrison (USA)

Patricio Alvarado (Ecuador) vs Justin Malina (USA)

Marcus Fugate (USA) vs Vlademyros Mavropoulos-Stoliarenko (Greece)

Derek Schwandt (USA) vs Christopher Klingemann (USA)

El Mihdawy Brings Soccer Style to Tennis

2008-04-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

Adam El Mihdawy is a soccer player trapped in tennis player's body. He has taken a charging, full-court style from the soccer field and transformed it to the tennis court.

He has strong family ties in both sports. His grandfather played and coach professional soccer in Egypt and his brother Magdy played college tennis.

El Mihdawy has his work cut out for him in the 2008 Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic. He plays against Richard Ruckelshausen at 10 a.m. Monday at the Newton Cox Tennis Center in Mobile Alabama.

This match is part of the qualifying round of this tournament which is also known as the Mobile Futures.

In earlier qualifying round matches, El Mihdawy beat Benjamin Lankenau 6-1, 6-2; and Attila Nagy 6-0, 6-0.

Resources:

Adam El Mihdawy: College or Pro?

Brad Gilbert: Krajinovic Tremendous Talent

2008-04-06T18:13:00.000-07:00

A distinguished young player is at the 2008 Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic. Filip Krajinovic of Serbia is battling in the qualifying round trying to advance to the main draw of the tournament in Mobile, Alabama.

Krajinovic trains at the famed Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy with a group of players auspiciously called the Elite Group. The group includes players who have alternately won ATP championships, Challenger events, Futures tournaments and junior championships: Kei Nishikori, Jesse Levine, Ricardas Berankis, Gastao Elias, Paul Chekov and Philip Simmonds.

Krajinovic has caught the eye of celebrity coach Brad Gilbert. "We've been training with a lot of young guys," Gilbert wrote about his visit to Nick Bollettieri academy. "One kid in particular, 15-year-old Filip Krajinovic from Serbia is a tremendously talented player."

Krajinovic would play against qualifying round top seed Alexander Sadecky at 10 a.m. Monday.

Earlier in the tournament, which is also called the Mobile Futures, Krajinovic defeated Dave Lingman 6-2, 6-3; and Robert Gates 6-3, 6-4.

In an earlier round Sadecky beat Mark Oljaca 6-3, 7-6 (4).