June 2010 USTA Southwest Staff Directory

Home , 2009 Fed Cup, 2010 BNP Paribas Open, Mikael Pernfors, Tommy Ho, USTA Southern California

USTA SOUTHWEST section 7010 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 201 Scottsdale, Arizona 85254 Main: (480) 289-2351 Toll-Free: 1-888-918-3647 Fax: (480) 289-2701 www.southwest.usta.com

Executive Director Julie Pek x 102 [email protected]

Junior Recreation Coordinator Jessica Adams x 104 [email protected]

Executive Assistant/Accounting Brooke Demory x 108 [email protected]

Community Tennis Coordinator - Central Arizona/Northern Arizona Darlene Demory x 105 [email protected] southwest Community Program Coordinator - Southern New Mexico/Greater El Paso Patrick Hart (575) 524-6781 [email protected]

Community Program Coordinator - Southern Arizona Keeley Hutchinson (520) 877-2586 [email protected]

Community Tennis Coordinator - Northern New Mexico Becky Lee (505) 266-7400 [email protected]

Adult Competitive Manager Guillermo (Bill) Lucero x 106 [email protected]

Junior Player Development Manager Eric Mitchell x 107 [email protected]

Community Tennis Manager Michelle Moyer x 103 [email protected]

Marketing and Communications Manager Jeff Sikes x 109 [email protected]

18 TennisLife magazine JUNE 2010 june President’s Message

It Must Be Love in the Southwest 20

ummer’s hot on our heels in the Southwest, literally and figuratively. What that typically means to USTA Southwest Section (SWS) players is that it’s time to pack in your tennis bag an extra pair of socks Sand high SPF sunscreen; research and demo the latest racquets; and schedule practice matches in 1

preparation for your season’s league play. 0

Like those scorching summer temperatures in our sunny Southwest, tennis participation in our section is going up, up, up. Recent tennis industry studies have shown that for the first time in more than 25 years, tennis participation in the USA has topped the 30 million mark. This is a 12% increase in total play over 2008 and what is also encouraging is that our player base is becoming more diverse and inclusive. Here in the SWS, that number is even more striking, as we are closing in on the 14,000 member mark for the first time ever! This is great news and credit for our growth is due to our tennis community such as program contractors, staff, volunteers and sponsors. These numbers could not be achieved without all of our tennis partners’ hard field work, and I sincerely thank our USTA members for the support, continued participation, and membership in our programs year after year.

‘More’ is definitely the buzzword for our summer tennis menu, and for youngsters there is a new game in town and it’s appropriately named the Quickstart Tennis Play Format. Because the QuickStart (QST) format uses a short court for teaching a large number of kids, it has grown by leaps and bounds as 1300 tennis facilities across the nation are now offering it. The big focus is to get more 10-and-under aged children to play team tennis and to offer training for parents and volunteers to get involved as potential coaches.

As the Vice-Chair of our USTA National NJTL Committee, I am very enthused about yet another sum- mertime opportunity, our upcoming Regional NJTL Leadership Camp scheduled in Albuquerque on July 22-25 at the University of New Mexico campus. This camp offers our 12-14 year old junior players a lasting tennis and educational experience as future ambassadors for our sport. Also, Junior Team Tennis seasons are in full swing and nearing the exciting Section Championship season. For our highly competitive and skilled juniors, USTA national junior development camps are being hosted to train our top young players in preparation for the USTA Southwest Junior Closed and other national junior tournaments.

As adults are sharpening their skills for the busy Adult League and summer tournament season, the USTA has launched the first ever national qualifier event for the US Open (see story inside). Our team has been preparing for this unique event that kicks off in June in Surprise, Ariz. Starting in 2010, any person 14 years of age or older has the opportunity to earn a singles wild card entry to compete in the US Open Qualifying Tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, August 24-27, 2010. As a side note on the US Open, the USTA will keep its marketing campaign “It Must Be Love” due to the success from the 2009 US Open bradcast coverage.

Even with so much going on, we still use the summer to look ahead and plan how to get tennis into more school districts and college campuses, as well as lay the groundwork for other dates, like our USTA Southwest Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet in Phoenix. This year’s annual meeting - held Oct. 8-10 - will be combined with a Regional Community Tennis Development Workshop, and specifically designed to develop future leadership amongst our school and community coaches, program directors, committee chairs, and tennis volunteers.

We are a lucky group for sure, as we have “summer-like” weather all year-round. That advantage gives us a multitude of program choices that keep our hearts healthy and spirits competitive.

It must be love,

Beverly Bourguet , USTA Southwest Section President

www.tennislife.com 19 Community Tennis

section New Logo For Southwest Tennis Foundation he Southwest Tennis Foundation unveiled a new logo April 14 at the Semi-Annual Meeting held in Phoenix. The Foundation and its Board of Directors opened up the pro- Tcess to find a new image that represented new goals and direction via an online contest held at www.logotournament.com. The tournament drew several creative responses from graphic designers across the country, drawing on the theme of, “Enriching Lives Through Tennis and Education.” In 2010, the Southwest Tennis Foundation has given out a couple of grants already, including to junior player Juliana Guerin of Las Vegas, N.M., and to the Desert Wheelchair Classic, an International Tennis Federation (ITF-Grade) tournament held in February in Tucson, Ariz. The Foundation is the charitable arm of USTA Southwest and provides financial support to a wide range of tennis programs and activities. It is 100% reliant on donations and fundraising efforts to fulfill its charitable good works in our communities. To donate – even a dollar – please visit www.southwest.usta.com and look for the new logo. You can also contribute by sending your tax-deductible donation to the Foundation: Southwest Tennis Foundation, c/o ‘Donation’, 7010 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 201, Scottsdale, Arizona, 85254 southwest

USTA Southwest Hall of Fame & USTA National provided a grant to help finance the $8,000 it took for Phoenix Country Club to make the transition to the four down- Annual Awards Nominations scaled courts from the single court’s regulation 78’ x 27’ size. Money also went to put in the net posts and the smaller nets for the courts. The Section is putting out the call from members and member The nets are regulation QuickStart Tennis dimensions – at 18’ long organizations to help nominate for Hall of Fame and Annual Awards. and 2’9” tall. Let your voice be heard, and help us choose deserving organizations, volunteers and players for these prestigious awards. The facility also hosted a USTA Pro Circuit $75,000 event – the Goldwater Women’s Classic, in November of 2009. That event Members are encouraged to send over Hall of Fame nominees by returns to Phoenix Country Club this year on November 8. June 30 and Awards nominees are due in by August 1 to their local District Awards chairperson. For more information on Phoenix Country Club or QuickStart Tennis at PCC, contact Sara Stablein at (602) 636-9840 or sstablein@ For a list of awards and contact chairs as well as awards criteria phoenixcc.org. and nomination forms, visit www.southwest.usta.com and follow the “About Us -> Awards and Hall of Fame” dropdown. Award Winners and the 2010 Hall of Fame class will be recognized BJK To Visit Phoenix in May at the Annual Meeting, October 8-10, with the Awards Banquet held On May 22, 2010, USTA members will have the chance to come to a Saturday, October 9 in Phoenix. private event to hear an inspirational speech from tennis icon, Grand Slam champion and women’s athletics pioneer Billie Jean King! Check online for more details, and don’t forget to nominate a deserving candidate. This unique opportunity will occur prior to the reigning WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury’s basketball game that night against the Seattle Storm. King’s speech will take place as part of a pre-game PCC Adds QuickStart Courts activities, and will take place on the Mercury’s practice court. Phoenix Country Club recently put in four new, permanent 36’ The “Tennis Night Out With Billie Jean King” event includes King’s QuickStart Tennis courts, becoming one of the first facilities in the pre-game speech, a championship Phoenix Mercury bag and spe- metropolitan area with dedicated courts for youth tennis players. cially discounted tickets that night’s game! For more information The private facility, which is one of the oldest tennis and golf facili- and to order tickets, contact David Segal at 602-379-7593 or dsegal@ ties in the United States, did the switchover in late March, turning suns.com. the space on one of its existing 11 courts into four, newly sized - 36’ Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see and hear one of tennis’ x 18’ lined courts. greatest legends. Come out and join the fun!

20 TennisLife magazine JUNE 2010 june

chairs, and other key figures, including national committee mem- Best Tennis Town Competition bers from the USTA family like Tommy Ho and Jill Fonte, reported on events happening in their communities, and gathered to help plan Think your town’s got game? Every town, borough and city across USTA Southwest goals for the rest of the year. the nation is invited to compete for $100,000 and the 2010 Best Tennis Town title. To have a shot, you’ll need to show the impact of The USTA Southwest Annual Meeting will be held later this year 20 tennis - the passion, spirit and excitement - in your community at (October 8-10 in Phoenix) and will be combined with a Regional bestttennistown.com. Community Tennis & Development Workshop.

Former World No. 1’s Visit Section for 1 Charity Events 0 Former Swedish tennis greats Mats Wilander and Mikael Pernfors headlined the 5th Annual ‘Gootter Grand Slam’, held at the Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz. The winning town will receive $100,000 to be used for tennis programming or facility enhancements community wide and will Wilander, a former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam cham- be crowned the Best Tennis Town at the 2010 US Open. Last year, pion, made his third-straight appearance at the yearly charity event, Tempe, Ariz. finished in the top 10, and was awarded a $2,000 equip- which honors the memory of former Tucson tennis player Steven ment package. Gootter, who passed away due to sudden cardiac death in 2005. Go to www.besttennistown.com before June 28 for more infor- The weekend tourney also featured a guest appearance by mation and to nominate your town. The competition requires each University of Arizona football coach, Mike Stoops and included a submission to be a video encompassing all aspects of each commu- ‘Gootter’ junior tournament, fundraising gala dinner, music, well- nity’s tennis offerings in a fresh and fun way. ness fair and exhibitions with the pros. The Gootter Foundation has raised more than $300,000 at the ’10 event, and has raised more than $1.1 million dollars in five years. Summer Camp Scholarships Another former world No. 1, John McEnroe, made a pit stop to Be Announced in Phoenix, April 14 and 15. McEnroe’s appearance in Phoenix USTA Southwest has arrangements with several summer tennis coincided with an art lecture series put on by his good friend and camps across the nation which enables us to give out several camp Phoenix College alumnus/world renowned artist, Eric Fischl, on scholarships to young players each year. April 14 at the Phoenix Art Museum. The following night McEnroe joined former top 20 touring pro Andrei Pavel for a tennis exhibi- The Section will award camp scholarships to upstanding young tion (which Pavel won in a tiebreaker) at the Camelback Village and juniors with a demonstrated financial need for camps in Tucson, Racquet Club. Ariz. (Nike Tennis Camp), Austin, Texas (Longhorns Tennis Camp), College Station, Texas (Aggie Tennis Camp), Sacramento, Calif. (Gorin Tennis Academy), and New Braunfels, Texas (John Newcombe US Open Tennis Camp). Tickets Check back on southwest.usta.com for more details and scholar- Looking for sweet ship award winners. tickets to the US Open so you can be near New websites for El Paso, Roger, Venus, Serena, Rafa and Andy? USTA Flagstaff tennis Southwest will be sell- ing its box tickets to the New information sites for tennis have popped up in El Paso, Texas 2010 US Open for pur- and Flagstaff, Ariz., which are helping get out the word on tennis chase! These are seats news and happenings in our communities. that are not available The USTA El Paso District is behind the new www.elpasotennis. for purchase otherwise, org site and Flagstaff Tennis Association developed their own www. even through advance Catch stars like Rafael Nadal flagstafftennis.com site. Good work everyone, and keep that tennis ticket sales. at the US Open. news coming! Purchase of these tickets directly serves as Semi-Annual Meeting a fundraiser for USTA Southwest programs AND puts you closer to the action. Help us and help yourself see some great tennis at the Volunteers from across USTA Southwest areas stopped over at same time! the Sheraton Hotel in Tempe, Ariz. in mid-April for strategy sessions, training and orientation during the Section’s Semi-Annual Meeting. For more information on purchasing these USTA Southwest box tickets, contact Jeff Sikes at (480) 289-2351 x. 109 or via e-mail at More than 30 of the Section’s top volunteer brass, committee [email protected].

www.tennislife.com 21 Albuquerque Wheelchair Program Rollin’ Along From USTA.com ast year was a great year for Albuquerque and the Four Hills Wheelchair Tennis Club. The group received substantial com- Lmunity recognition and a member of the group, Bob Pierce, was presented with the ‘Mark Hamman Wheels Award’ from USTA Northern New Mexico.

section The Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce recognized FHCC’s Director of Tennis D’Wayne Begay with the Chamber’s ‘Spirit Award’ for his extensive work with wheelchair tennis in the community, as well as with other adaptive programs through Carrie Tingley Children’s Hospital and the Muthu Berry Wheelchair Camp.

Grant money has come to the organization from a couple of different sources and been put to good use used to promote and develop wheelchair tennis throughout the Albuquerque com- Wheelchair Group – Dwayne Begay munity. Overall participation in the group doubled during the calendar year in 2009, and with part of the grant, two new tennis chairs were purchased to allow new players to work out with the group on their regularly scheduled Saturday mornings.

In addition to the weekly wheelchair activities at Four Hills, the club also put on a tournament that brought players from across New Mexico, California, Colorado, and Texas to experience competitive play. The event also held an “Up/Down” division (pairing an able-bodied player with a wheelchair player) on the first day, that teamed up local Four Hills Country Club members with the tournament participants. southwest The FHCC group’s other wheelchair endeavors have included a demonstration at a Pete Sampras-Sam Querrey exhibition held at the ‘The Pit’ in Albuquerque in September 2008. That event showcased the group to an audience of more than 6,000. The group has also held special events with the Coleman Vision Championships – a women’s USTA Pro Circuit event at Tanoan Country Club in Albuquerque. Grant dollars have also been used to send Begay to a training in Michigan where he picked up a special wheelchair tennis certification.

Member Organization Profile – El Paso Tennis & Swim Club

Year Joined USTA: February 1983 Purpose: Semi-Private, membership-based 15-court tennis club located in Central El Paso. Tennis Director: Edgar Phinney

ounded in the 1920’s, the 15-court El Paso Tennis & Swim Club Fis the oldest tennis facility in the city and one of the oldest in the Southwest. The club, which has morphed into a semi-private facility from its roots as a private club, is a hub of tennis activity in El Paso.

The facility is currently home to 35 USTA League teams, several sanctioned USTA tournaments, high school tennis, Special Olympics, and wheelchair tennis. El Paso Tennis Club also serves as the home facility for the University of Texas-El Paso Miners women’s tennis team. Other special events like the ‘Greater El Paso Tennis for the Cure’ breast cancer charity tournament and the USTA Southwest Adult and Senior Mixed Championships will dot the club’s calendar in 2010.

Private and semi-private instructional lessons are available upon request. Non-members can play for a nominal fee.

Tennis facilities at El Paso Tennis and Swim Club Website: http://elpasotennis.org (click on Tennis Facilities dropdown)

22 TennisLife magazine JUNE 2010 june Tennis on Campus Tennis on Campus team leaders Meghan Houk and Tony Heames are paving their way with the USTA 20

Building Blocks 1 Tennis on Campus team leaders 0 Meghan Houk and Tony Heames are paving their way with the USTA tarting things from scratch like, say, a Tennis on Campus club team where one hadn’t previously existed, can be a Stough chore for a college student learning to juggle new demands and responsibilities. For University of Arizona’s Meghan Houk and University of New Mexico’s Tony Heames though, it was as simple as putting away an easy overhead sitter.

Both Houk and Heames found unofficial “minors” to add to their hectic college schedules: helping to grow tennis at the collegiate, club level. Each helped found Tennis on Campus (TOC) clubs at their respective schools, got them off the ground and thriving in less than a year, all the while taking on every role imaginable while attempting to be a full-time graduate student. Tony Heames

Heames helped found the UNM program back in 2005 with friend Ben Walton and has seen the Lobos’ club program steadily Houk echoed the sentiment. grow each year, to nearly 50 participating members in 2010. He viewed the experience as UNM’s club president a unique one that “Being the team president at Arizona helped me develop in helped shape him personally and professionally. many aspects,” said Houk, a full-time graduate student this past year, whose team finished in the Top 20 at the National Campus “It’s something I would definitely recommend to students if Championships. “Whether is was public speaking, organizing and they’re looking to make a difference with tennis at their college,” scheduling 200-plus kids, fund-raising, or just being a leader, the said Heames, who like Houk has made a point to push USTA mem- experience was amazing, and hearing kids tell me being in our bership and other play opportunities for club members through club was one of the best things about college was something I the USTA. “The (UNM club team) was a terrific social and competi- always loved hearing.” tive opportunity, and I’m proud to say we got it off the ground here in Albuquerque.” Houk and Heames will transition out of their club’s roles next year and turn the reins over to a new crop of leaders. Each has got- ten more involved with the USTA, so their influence and experi- ences are still being put to good use. Working together with USTA Southwest’s Community Tennis department, they were superb resources and advocates for the Tennis on Campus program, and served as guides for other fledgling programs being started in the region.

Both have “graduated” in a sense, moving on to become USTA Southwest committee chairs for the 2010-2011 term (Heames with Collegiate/Tennis on Campus Committee chair and Houk with National Junior Tennis and Learning - NJTL).

“It’s a newer role, but I wanted to stay involved any way that I could,” said Heames.

Added Houk: “It’s definitely a different experience working with the USTA. I think they’ve seen where people like Tony and I can help, connecting to and speaking for younger people. It’s great Meghan Houk to know we’re helping to grow the sport and getting a say in how that’s being implemented.”

www.tennislife.com 23 League Tennis News

section Southwest Fares Well At BNP Paribas Tri-Level Event combined USTA Southwest team of Phoenix- area women and Tucson-area men compet- A ed at the 2010 BNP Paribas Open Tri-Level Championships, March 19-21 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif.

The tournament is held in conjunction with the BNP Paribas Open professional event, and featured over 225 players from a variety of different USTA Sections. USTA Southwest’s team placed fourth, a solid finish.

The format for this team-based competition featured three different NTRP levels (3.5, 4.0 and 4.5) in each gender combining to form a USTA Southwest team. Teams advanced in their own NTRP draws, and accrued points for their USTA Section based on their southwest performance in each compass draw (3.5 Women, 3.5 Men, 4.0 Women, 4.0 Men, 4.5 Women and 4.5 Men). The format for the event was gender doubles Tucson’s Chacho Romero (L) and Chip Tidd compete at the BNP matches in each level. Paribas Tri-Level Championships.

The Phoenix women played spectacularly in Indian Wells, reaching the finals in the 3.5 division, winning the 4.0 division, and placing third in the 4.5 level. The Tucson men struggled a bit more, but still put up enough wins to keep the team in contention through the final day. USTA Southern California won the three-day tournament.

Players at the BNP Paribas Tri-Level event received complimentary tickets to the BNP Paribas Open Thursday-Sunday sessions of the second week, including finals tickets and got to play on the same courts the pros played on. A Player Party was also held on Saturday night to celebrate their attendance at the event.

Tri-Level is growing in popularity across the country and across USTA Southwest, as more and more Districts are having true local Tri- Level leagues feeding into the Tri-Level Southwest Section Championships, which has been held in January the last two years. Players can not be self-rated and must have computer rankings to play Tri-Level Leagues.

For more information on Tri-Level or the BNP Paribas Open Tri-Level Championships, contact USTA Southwest League Coordinator Bill Lucero at [email protected] or (480) 289-2351 x. 107.

Coming USTA League Regulation Changes for 2011 Players and captains take note. Some changes to the current USTA League Regulations will be implemented starting in the 2011 season.

1) If an Adult or Senior League consists of only two teams in a level of play, each team must maintain its roster with at least 60 percent of its players at the designated NTRP Level of play.

2) Players who play exclusively in the Mixed Doubles division and choose to participate in the Adult, Senior, and/or Super Senior Divisions the next year must enter those divisions by self-rating with the minimum ratings being the higher of the self-rating or mixed exclusive rating.

3) A Super Senior player is eligible to advance to National Championships competition if that player has played on that same team in at least three (3) matches through Section Championships. No defaults received by the player during all league competition shall count for advancing. A retired match shall count for all players involved.

24 TennisLife magazine JUNE 2010 june

Southwest Section League Championships With local and District USTA League championships concluding in just about every level and league format, summer is definitely the busy USTA League season. To top it off, USTA Southwest holds three of its four Section Championships during a four-month span from May-September. 20 Here’s a few USTA League dates to remember: May 14-16

USTA Southwest Senior League Section Championships 1 Site: Tucson, Ariz. (Hilton El Conquistador Tennis & Golf

Resort) 0

July 29-August 1 USTA Southwest Adult League Section Championships Site: Phoenix, Ariz. (Indian School Park, Scottsdale Ranch Park, Phoenix Tennis Center)

August 17 (tentative) Early Start NTRP Ratings Released

September 9-12 USTA Southwest Adult and Senior Mixed Section Championships Site: El Paso, Texas (El Paso Tennis & Swim Club)

2010 USTA LEAGUE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Level Event Date City, State Hotel Court Site(s)

5.0 Adult Indian Wells, CA Indian Wells Resort Hotel Indian Wells Tennis Garden October 1-3, 2010 2.5 Adult Rancho Mirage, CA Agua Caliente Casino Resort Mission Hills Country Club

4.5 Adult Tucson, AZ Doubletree Hotel Jim Reffkin Tennis Center October 8-10, 2010 3.5 Senior Indian Wells, CA Indian Wells Resort Hotel Indian Wells Tennis Garden

3.0 Adult Tucson, AZ Doubletree Hotel Jim Reffkin Tennis Center October 15-17, 2010 4.5 Senior Indian Wells, CA Indian Wells Resort Hotel Indian Wells Tennis Garden

4.0 Adult Tucson, AZ Doubletree Hotel Jim Reffkin Tennis Center October 22-24, 2010 3.0 Senior Indian Wells, CA Indian Wells Resort Hotel Indian Wells Tennis Garden

3.5 Adult Tucson, AZ Doubletree Hotel Jim Reffkin Tennis Center October 29-31, 2010 4.0 Senior Rancho Mirage, CA Agua Caliente Casino Resort Mission Hills Country Club

2.5, 7.0 & 9.0 Mixed November 12-14, 2010 Tucson, AZ Hilton El ConquistadorTucson Hilton El ConquistadorTucson

6.0, 8.0 & 10.0 Mixed November 19-21, 2010 Tucson, AZ Hilton El ConquistadorTucson Hilton El ConquistadorTucson

Senior Mixed Invitational April, 2011 TBD

2010 Super Senior Nationals

Super Senior 6.0 & 8.0 April, 2011 TBD

Super Senior 7.0 & 9.0 April, 2011 TBD

Dates/Sites subject to change

www.tennislife.com 25

L:\natl\assignments\ 2010 champ dates for web.xls Junior and Adult News

section Higueras, Blackman Visit Section STA national coaches Jose Higueras and Martin Blackman made a Southwest stop at the Scottsdale Athletic Club on US Open National Playoff April 11 for the Southwest Coaches’ Summit. U Ever dream of playing in the US Higueras, the USTA Open? The USTA is holding 16 US Director of Coaching, Open National Playoff Section qualify- and Blackman, the ing tournaments across the nation as Senior Director for essentially “feed-in” tournaments for Talent Identification a spot in the US Open qualifying, with and Development, one of those 16 being held here in put on a five-hour USTA Southwest presentation – both on and off the court Young, old, skilled, unskilled, professional or – that included sev- hacker, this tournament is truly an ‘Open’ event open to eral top coaches from both men and women. The only requirement is USTA membership many of the section’s and all players must be 14 years or older. key areas. The focus southwest of the afternoon’s The tournament is being held June 1-6, 2010 at the 25-court Jose Higueras made a stop in presentation was to Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex in Surprise, Ariz., home to Phoenix in Mid-April receive feedback from the 2009 Fed Cup first round tie, Outback Champions Series event local coaches about and several USTA national championship events. Registration the USTA coaching deadline is May 21, so don’t delay. A Section player could very well philosophy, speak explain their role in identifying top players, be on his/her way to the US Open! and to showcase QuickStart Tennis to the more than 40 coaches in attendance. Junior Closed comes to ABQ The top Section junior event – the USTA Southwest Junior Phoenix-area hosts National Tourneys Closed, will be held in Albuquerque, N.M., for the second con- The Phoenix-area secutive year, June 12-15. This is the pre-eminent junior tourna- played or will play host ment held in the Section, with singles and doubles play for over to two national tour- 300 competitors. naments this spring. The USTA National The Junior Closed is a Level 3 event, the top point tournament Men’s 35 Hard Court held strictly for Section players, and a main determinant to qualify Championships cel- to compete for USTA Southwest at national team events in the ebrated its’ 20th con- summer. Boys and Girls 12s and 14s winners at the Junior Closed secutive year at the also qualify for the Nike Junior Tour Championship, held Sept Scottsdale Athletic 17-19 in Palo Alto, Calif. Club. Scottsdale’s Jesse Ponwith had the top result for Southwest Section competitors Section Players Claim Silver and Gold at the event, reach- Jesse Ponwith A few of the Section’s top junior and adult players had banner ing the semifinals in spring results in national and international competitions: singles and the final in doubles. Scottsdale’s Alexandra Letzt captured the Girls 12s doubles title Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex also will play host to a at the Easter Bowl with partner Nicole Frenkel (Winchester, Mass.). USTA National Open 18s (Boys and Girls) junior event, May 22-26. Tucson’s Maddie Pothoff reached the semifinals in doubles as Top competitors from more than 25 different states from across well, pairing with Olivia Hauger (Tulsa, Okla.). The tournament was the nation will compete at this Level 2 National event. held in Delray Beach, Fla.

26 TennisLife magazine JUNE 2010 june

Santa Fe, New Mexico resident Jimmy Parker claimed the USTA National Men’s 65 Clay Court doubles title with Ken Robinson (San Carlos, Calif.). The event was held in early April at the New Orleans Lawn

and Tennis Club and was Parker’s 101st age 20 group national championship title.

Sherri Bronson (Scottsdale, Ariz.) also struck gold in early March, collecting the

Women’s 55s Clay Court Championships 1 doubles title in Houston, Texas with partner Leslie Murveit (Portola Valley, Calif.). A 0 month later, Bronson traveled to Mexico City to be part of Team USA’s ITF Senior World Team Championships victory. Bronson, the No. 4-ranked player in the ITF 55-and-over world rankings, led Team USA to five victories to capture the Maureen Connolly Cup (for women 55-years and older).

Cave Creek, Arizona’s Andy Stoner also competed at the World Championships in Mexico City, as a member of the Dubler Cup team (for men 45 years and older).

USTA Southwest Hall of Famer Brian Cheney (Chandler, Ariz.), captured two silver balls at the Campbell’s Soup USTA Men’s 60s Hard Court Championships in Palm Springs, Calif. Cheney reached the finals in singles and doubles (with partner Brent Abel).

Lastly, Angele Ray (Phoenix) captured the USTA National Women’s 80s Clay Court doubles title with Joyce Jones (Bothell, Wash.). The event was held April 10-16 at the Huntsville Tennis Center in Alabama.

Tucson’s Bryan Barten was named to compete at the 2010 Invacare World Team Cup in Antalya, Turkey, the Davis Cup equivalent for wheelchair tennis.

www.tennislife.com 27 Junior Feature – Alex Lineberry (Sedona, Ariz.)

Sedona’s Alex Lineberry gone to play at tournaments section on that surface (like Clay Courts is aiming his tennis and Intersectionals). Playing on sights’ higher and higher it made me more comfortable on the court and helped me to hen Sedona’s Alex learn to think more like a slow- Lineberry signed his court player, construct points, be Wname on the dotted line patient. for a college commitment earlier USTA SW: Did having a strong fam- this January, he did so with the ily connection to tennis also lend thought that it would take him to itself to you becoming a better play- higher places. It should in fact, as er and having a deeper love for the Lineberry will be attending the Air game? How important has your dad Force Academy in the fall, with an been in your development? eye on the sky, a tab at the USTA Alex Lineberry AL: Yeah, absolutely. My mom Pro Circuit in the near future, and and dad are really supportive of at improving his already stellar my tennis. My dad has coached me since I was little and my mom tennis game. has also done so much to get me through all this. My dad had a Lineberry, a top 10-ranked USTA Southwest junior player, has southwest huge impact on how I play and how much I enjoy the game, even been at tennis now for more than a decade already, getting his start from a young age. We have had a great father-son-student-coach at the tender age of six at ‘Little Mo’ Tournaments. He’s represented relationship through it all, which is rare. I think we both understand USTA Southwest at top junior tournaments across the nation, and it’s not always the easiest thing to do. on summer travel teams like the Intersectionals. We recently caught up with Lineberry to get his thoughts on his USTA SW: Your family went to Wimbledon together a few years back. Southwest junior career and his future with and after tennis. What was that like? Who did you guys see while you were there? AL: Me, my dad and my step-mom Elizabeth went over there in USTA SW: So we heard recently you’ve been accepted to the Air Force 2005. We saw Roger Federer play Nicolas Kiefer on Centre Court, Academy. Congrats. Tell us a little about why you chose the Academy? which was so amazing. We also saw Tim Henman and Andy Murray AL: Well, I was looking at a bunch of universities and colleges for and a lot of other players. Being there at such a pristine place had tennis and saw some of my options, nothing was really jumping a major impact on my desire to play tennis at a higher level. Seeing out. I just didn’t know. The military had been in the back of my it up close was such a thrill. It definitely inspired me to work a lot mind all along, but had never really taken it too seriously, as my harder to get what I wanted out of tennis. goal is still to try and play tennis after college. But then the Air Force Academy showed a lot more interest in me and I started thinking USTA SW: You won a state title in doubles last year for Mingus High more about post-tennis and it made a lot more sense. I also went School? What was winning that like? (there) last summer and just decided it was the place for me. AL: It was a special moment for sure. I was the state-runner up my sophomore year (2008) and a champion last year (2009) in doubles. USTA SW: You’ve played the top Southwest junior circuit events and I’m going to play singles this year and hopefully take the title. It’ll be tons of national events. What would you say has been your most fun tough, but that’s the goal. playing experience and favorite location to play as a junior? AL: I’ve always liked playing doubles at tournaments. It’s just more USTA SW: Do you have any idiosyncrasies or crazy routines before big laid-back, especially the Southwest tournaments. Kalamazoo was matches? Anything you MUST do or have to do to get yourself ready one of the best, it’s such a fun tournament, so well-run. It’s also to play? the premier junior boys tournament in the nation, so saying you’ve AL: I’m probably one of the few guys who don’t. I don’t really stick been there and played there is huge. I also have really loved the clay to anything. Whatever seems to work in that particular moment. events like the Clay Court Nationals and Intersectionals. But for the I’ve tried to have the same ritual, and just didn’t work. I think just location, it’s just got to be Kalamazoo. They had a huge stadium. going with the flow and not having a ritual is better for me. There really are a lot of places that stand out in my mind, but none above that. USTA SW: What’s the one thing in tennis you’ve yet to do, but still want to do? USTA SW: Your dad is the Director of Tennis at the Sedona Racquet AL: Well, winning that state singles title would be one for sure. Club and Spa, a clay-court facility. What’s it been like to get to train and I’d still like to maybe reach at least the semis of a junior national play on clay? Has that made you a better player? tournament. I’ve had some chances, and been close. Still have this AL: I think overall it certainly has. For sure it helped when I’ve summer on that one.

28 TennisLife magazine JUNE 2010 december 2010

www.tennislife.com 29 Volunteer Profile Charlie Jurva (Carlsbad, N.M.)

Tennis Player/Farmer CJ: There really wasn’t much at all. The

section five municipal courts right were built right Charlie Jurva Has Planted around that time I got here, so that helped. the Seeds of Tennis in I started off running the summer tennis programs and it just became where I was New Mexico. the point person for a lot of activity here. It’s he seed of tennis was planted in Charlie just a part time hobby thing, but it’s been Jurva’s brain more than 50 years ago. something I’ve held onto for a long while Five-plus decades later, it’s still grow- now. Tennis in Carlsbad has a good tennis- T playing population. It’s hard for us to have ing and growing…as fertile and fresh as ever. The multi-dimensional Jurva has been USTA Leagues with our size, but we do have tending to the sport of tennis these last few competitive players and strong high school decades in his hometown of Carlsbad, N.M., programs. It’s small, but it’s a passionate in much the same way he tends to the crops tennis town. on his farm: with abundant love and care. USTA SW: You’ve been really involved in adult Grabham has served in a variety of capac- competition and USTA tournaments. What is it itiBorn and raised in Anaheim, Calif., Jurva about that realm that you enjoy so much? was a solid junior player who earned a schol- CJ: I’ve always been super competitive arship to Fullerton Junior College and played at any type of game whatever it was. As at Arizona State. A stint in the Army followed, far as helping out, I discovered early on, if southwest Charlie and Faye Stokes where met his wife Donna. While tennis had you want things your way, you better get led him everywhere else, she led him to her involved. Plus, tennis has always been good hometown of Carlsbad, where Jurva has to me. It got me through college, and it’s opened up a wonderful door resided since 1972. He took to raising a family and settled into agrarian just about everywhere I’ve been. life with a fertile mix of tennis on the side, running the Rio Pecos Tennis Shop and serving as the city’s “unofficial tennis mayor” for much of the USTA SW: You also run the Rio Pecos Tennis Shop there in Carlsbad? Tell last 40 years. us about it. An accomplished nationally-ranked player at 64 years young, Jurva CJ: It’s just a small tennis shop right near the courts. I carry some tennis has rolled his sleeves up both on and off the court, keeping a national equipment, food, accessories, string rackets, give private lessons. It’s a ranking in his age group for the past 36 years. A life member of the labor of love and a hobby, and it gets me away from real work (farming). USTA, Jurva’s also been supremely useful as a key volunteer for the Everybody can connect me with tennis here in Carlsbad because of it. USTA Southeastern New Mexico District, speaking up and representing USTA SW: What kind of crops do you grow on your farm? small-town tennis quite capably. CJ: Alfalfa is my main crop, followed by cotton and pecan trees (Jurva is Jurva’s currently serving as USTA Southeastern New Mexico’s presi- famous in the Southwest tennis community for his pecans). My summer dent, one of a variety of roles he’s performed for the USTA, including months with the farm are always the busiest, much like tennis. his current gig as the Section’s adult rankings administrator. He’s been as a past Southwest Tennis Foundation board member, and committee USTA SW: Tell us how you think the USTA can get more small-town volun- member of areas like diversity, grants, and adult/senior competition. teers like yourselves involved to help grow tennis. USTA Southwest recently caught up with Jurva to get his take on CJ: Locally, it seems like the best way to get adults into volunteering what tennis has done for him. in the community is to have their kids get involved playing tennis in schools. Tennis typically attracts good kids from quality homes. USTA SW: How did you get started in tennis? Parents in our sport get involved, even if they’re not much of a player CJ: I got started at a city recreation program in Anaheim. I had a friend themselves. It’s just tough in our area because we’re sort of isolated when I was about 11 who got me into tennis and I just fell in love with from the bigger tennis communities. We can find people to help do it immediately. I played a couple of years, got the competitive bug, and things locally, but it’s harder to find them to work at the higher levels. have just kept on playing ever since. I think many times they don’t feel they have a broad enough tennis USTA SW: How long have you lived in Carlsbad and what’s the tennis scene background. like there? USTA SW: What are some of the better tennis memories you keep with CJ: Since 1972…so 38 years now. This is my wife Donna’s hometown. you? We got married while I was in the Army and we ended up settling back CJ: I’ve got a ton. My personal achievements nationally have been very here. I came from a bigger city, but I like the smaller town life and am satisfying and rewarding (Jurva won the first Senior Olympics in the very thankful that I ended up here. It’s different, a slower pace of life, 50-and-over event and has been ranked for the last 36 years). The thing but it’s got its amenities too. When I came here, I started off running a that gives me great satisfaction is our summer program here. We usu- motel, but my wife’s family was into farming. Thought I’d give it a try ally have about 120 kids, and they give me a great amount of joy. Some and it worked out well. It’s allowed me to be my own boss and do a lot of them have come back and have shown me their trophies they’ve of things I wanted to do…like tennis. won or stopped by the shop to say thank you. That’s the stuff that gives USTA SW: And tennis in Carlsbad, what was it like when you got there? you a twinkle in your eye.

30 TennisLife magazine JUNE 2010 december june USTA Southwest Calendar of Events MAY 1-2 Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Training – 20 Four Hills Country Club – Albuquerque, N.M.

2-6 National Junior College Athletic Association Women’s National Championships Reffkin Tennis Center – Tucson, Ariz. 1

13-16 0 USTA Southwest Senior League Section 2009 Championships Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort – Tucson, Ariz.

24-June 7 French Open Roland Garros – Paris, France

28-31 North American Indian Tennis Association National Championships Lobo Tennis Club – Albuquerque, N.M.

28-31 New Mexico Adult Open – Adult Level 2 Tanoan Country Club – Albuquerque, N.M. JTT Section Championships - Aug. 1-3 untry Club – Albuquerque, N.M.

8 30- Sept. 12 Local area Northern New Mexico Jr. Team US Open JUNE Tennis Playoff Billie Jean King National Tennis Center – Jerry Cline Tennis Center – Albuquerque, N.M. Queens, New York 1-6 2010 US Open National Playoffs – 17-19 Southwest Section ITA Campus Showdown SEPTEMBER Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex – Lobo Tennis Club – Albuquerque, N.M. Surprise, Ariz. 4-6 22-25 New Mexico Junior Open 5-6 NJTL Regional Leadership Camp hosted by Various sites – Albuquerque, M.M. Tucson Sweet 16 – Level 5 JR University of New Mexico Tucson Racquet Club – Tucson, Ariz. 9-12 28-Aug. 1 USTA Southwest Mixed League Section June 7-14 USTA Pacific Zone Team Championships Championships El Paso USTA Pro Circuit $10 K (Boys/Girls 12) El Paso Tennis Club – El Paso, Texas Tennis West Sports & Racquet Club – Hilton El Conquistador Tennis and Golf Resort 10-12 El Paso, Texas – Tucson, Ariz. Arizona Adult Open – Level 2 Tournament June 12-15 29-Aug. 1 The Village at Camelback – Phoenix, Arizona USTA Southwest Junior Closed – Level 3 JR USTA Southwest Adult League Section Various sites – Albuquerque, N.M. Championships Various Sites – Phoenix, Ariz. 22-July 5 Wimbledon For a detailed listing of All England Lawn and Tennis Club – Junior and Adult tournaments London, England AUGUST taking place in USTA Southwest locations, 1-3 Jr. Team Tennis Section Championships visit http://tennislink.usta. JULY Scottsdale Ranch Park – Scottsdale, Ariz. com/tournaments and select the ‘USTA Southwest’ 2-4 11-15 Cavern City Adult Open – Level 2 Adult – El Paso Adult Senior Open dropdown. Carlsbad, N.M. El Paso, Texas