TENNIS E-NEWS
Thursday, April 16, 2009 Vol. VIII, No. 38
2006 Winner of South Carolina Media Award
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Tough Day on Seeds
L-i-s-i-c-k-i --- Join Venus Williams in Learning How To Spell That Name
DANIEL ISLAND, CHARLESTON SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – If you can pull off two winning dropshots in consecutive games against Venus Williams, you know you are doing something right. Nineteen-year-old German Sebina Lisicki did just that and ran away with a 6-4, 7-6 win in the Round of 16 today at Family Circle Cup.
The 16th seed took the game to Williams, especially in the second set where the #2 seed went up an early break. Lisicki simply kept Williams running from side to side at a nothing-hits-inside-the-
Serving for the set at 5-4, Williams went up 30-0, but that was it. Diary of a tiebreak:
Lisicki hits a screaming ace own the middle. 1-0.
Williams serves; Lisicki smacks a down-the-line winner. 2-0.
Williams serves; after a sharp rally, she slaps a crosscourt winner. 2-1
Lisicki serves; rallies, then hits a crosscourt forehand that Williams can’t reach to return. 3-1.
Lisicki serves; connects with forehand winner. 4-1.
Williams serves wide; return sails long. 4-2.
Williams serves into Lisick’s body; self-defense blocked return goes nowhere. 4-3.
Lisicki serves; Williams forehand bounces to the net. 5-3.
Lisicki serves wide off sideline, unreturnable. 6-3.
Williams faults; second serve weakly gets to the net. 6-4.
Williams faults; Lisicki smacks return crosscourt … wide. 6-5.
Lisicki serves; Williams returns serve long. Game, Set, Match to L-i-s-i-c-k-i.
The TENNIS E-News staff played a senior men’s 3.5 doubles match Wednesday, then traveled today to watch balls being punished by women from another lifezone. There was an occasional reminder of play in the real world. Like Varvaro Lepchenko (USA) remembering that when things aren’t going so hot, perhaps a strategy change would work. Down 1-6, 0-1, love-30 to #1 seed Elena Dementieva, Lepchenko must have remembered a coaching tip and walked to the sideline for another racket. She lost that game, but went up love-40 on the next before Dementieva reeled off nine straight points. Hm. Guess the racket wasn’t the problem.
With #6 Marion Bartoli the only other seed left in the bottom of the draw, your TV eye likely will be on ESPN with Dementieva facing Dominika Cibulkova. Of all the swinging in today’s matches, no one looked as relaxed and smooth as the top seed.
Side Note: Amid all the reserved seat patron box (Hilton Head Aces, among them) was this one: “Hebrews 11:1”. You go look it up; that’s not in the media kit. Everything else you might want to know is on www.familycirclecup.com.
Adults on Clay; Juniors on Hard
Everyone Has a Category in the Bluffton Today Open Tournament May 15-17
BLUFFTON SC (TENNIS E-News) – If you can’t find a category for yourself in the 4th annual Bluffton Today Open Tennis Tournament, let Bob Brown or Brett Robertson know and they’ll probably come up with one for next year’s tournament. For this year, you will have to settle for adult “male, female and mixed” doubles on four rating levels and junior singles and doubles in three age division PLUS a special adult/child doubles funfest.
The tournament runs May 15-17 with juniors playing on hard courts at Bluffton High School and adults venturing to the clays of Palmetto Bluff, Oldfield, Shell Hall and Hampton Hall – all for the benefit of Bluffton junior tennis programs and to build and repair public courts in the area.
Entry fees are $40 per player for one adult event and $50 if playing in two. Junior singles is $25. If playing junior singles and doubles, it’s $35 per player. Juniors will be in two divisions – advanced in one and beginners and advanced beginners in the other. The Saturday afternoon child/adult doubles (all entry fees going to the Junior Benevolent Fund) will involve a $10 per player entry fee and will be in flights by ability level.
Entry forms are available throughout the area. Additional information is at www.blufftontennis.com or you may call Brett Robertson at 290-2833.
DEADLINES COMING UP:
May 1-3 – 3rd annual Banana Open Junior Challenge – Apr. 26 deadline
May 15-17 – 4th annual Bluffton Today Tennis Tournament – May 11 deadline.
Pros at Van Der Meer
Mark Your Calendar for a Week of Free Lessons May 18-21 … Guinea Pig Time!!!
HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) – “Guinea pig” time is coming up at Van Der Meer Tennis Center, when all ability levels of Islanders and visitors are invited in for daily free tennis lessons taught by pros from around the world. TennisUniversity pros are here to learn the Van Der Meer method of teaching strokes.
May 18 through 21 the pros will need guinea pigs from 5 to 6 p.m. Beginners are welcomed, as well as more experienced players interested in free instruction. Participants can come any or all of those days. For additional information, contact Brandon Arent at brandon@vdmtennis.com.
USTA LEAGUE STANDINGS – TennisLink as of 4/16/09
CCTA Super Senior Mixed Doubles Gets First Season Under Way
BLUFFTON SC (TENNIS E-News) – Super Senior Mixed Doubles has come to life, with the Coastal Carolina Tennis Association’s season serving it up (if this was the Island Packet, it would read: “…kicking off…”) in three divisions. The 6.0 and 8.0 have first matches under the belts; 7.0 will start May 16.
Hilton Head Island SSMxD is to begin after the USTA League Spring season ends … and that’s soon.
Hilton Head Island Adult Leagues
Playing # of Teams/
Level players Season Team Leaders as of 4/16/09
AW2.5 4/46 2/14 - 5/2 Spanish Wells Love Means Nothing, SCYacht Ms. Fits tied at 6-1
AM3.0 4/53 2/14 – 5/2 Wexford Blaze of Glory, Chaplin Park Rattlers tied at 5-2
AW3.0 5/74 1/29 – 4/25 Wexford Player Slayers, Chaplin Shady’s Rath tied in first at 7-1
AM3.5 6/83 1/31 – 5/2 Wexford Warriors in lead at 7-0
AW3.5 14/208 1/29 – 5/16 Indigo Run Indigo Slice, Long Cove Covettes tied at 9-0
AM4.0 5/62 2/15 – 4/26 PDTC Smash in first at 6-1
AW4.0 4/61 1/31 – 4/25 Sea Pine’s Smashers in lead at 7-1
AM4.5 2/25 2/22 – 3/29 South Beach BT Express clinched championship at 4-1
AW4.5 2/29 2/22 – 3/29 PDTC clinched championship at 5-0
Total 46/641
Coastal Carolina Adult Leagues
Playing # of Teams/
Level players Season Team Leaders as of 4/16/09
AW3.0 3/32 2/21 – 5/2 Bluffton Alley Cats in lead at 4-0
AM3.5 2/19 3/7 – 5/2 Beaufort Smashers in lead at 3-0
AW3.5 4/58 2/19 – 5/2 Beaufort Red Hot Chili Peppers in first at 5-1
AM4.0 2/25 3/24-4/28 Bluffton Rovers in first at 2-0
AW4.0 5/68 2/14 – 5/2 Beaufort Sea Islanders lead at 5-0
Total 16/202
Coastal Carolina Super Senior Mixed Leagues as of 4/16/09
Playing # of Teams/
Level players Season Team Leaders as of 4/15/09
6.0 4/52 4/5 – 5/31 Bluffton Backhanders, Dataw Dominos tied at 1-0
7.0 2/19 5/16 – 6/13 Not started yet
8.0 4/47 4/15 – 5/27 Moss Creek in first at 1-0
Totals 10/ 118
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Two years ago TENNIS E-News ran a well-received series of excerpts from "The Code, The Players' Guide for Unofficiated Matches". You have asked for a repeat? You got it.
If a ball gets broken during play, the point should be replayed. If a ball is discovered to be soft, the point should not be replayed. A broken ball is one that has no pressure; a soft ball is one that has low pressure. Both should be removed from play as soon as the condition is discovered.
*Note: TENNIS E-News is not making up these items. All are taken word-for-word from USTA's "The Code" that can be found in the "Friend at Court" handbook or as a stand-alone leaflet -- available by going to http://www.usta.com and selec ting "USTA Shop" and then "Books" on that page.
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Upcoming Tournaments/Activity:
Apr. 24-26: “BillyBob” Doubles Championships / South Beach Racquet Club / Combined age divisions in men’s, women's, mixed doubles / 80 & older, 100 & older, 120 & older, 140 & older, and 150 & older levels / For information, call Michael O'Keefe at 671-2215.
May 1-3: 3rd annual Banana Open Junior Challenge / Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center / Novice & Tournament boys & girls age-division singles / separate adult/junior run round robin May 1 / Benefit Children Research Institute / Call PD at 785-1152.
May 2-4: Bullfrog USTA Southern Section Designated Boys and Girls 12s and 14s / Van Der Meer Tennis Center / Sanctioned / 250 of top 12s & 14s in Southeast. / TennisLink ID #704115808 / For entry/other information, contact Justyn Schelver at 785-8388 ext. 119.
May 15-17: 4th annual Bluffton Today Open Tennis Tournament / Bluffton High School & satellite sites / Rated Adult doubles on clay; Age division Junior singles & doubles on hard, plus Adult/Child doubles / Information, call Brett Robertson at 816-2033.
TENNIS E-News FootNote
ooooO
( ) A local newspaper’s Page One photo line: “ … Boo Weekley kicks off the tournament …”
( ) Same news sheet same day Sports Page One headline: “Boo Weekley Kicks Off Heritage Week … “
(___) To also mention that last week “Kayak Kicks Off Saturday” ……….. all these events apparently in the same sport, which is…….???
-- Dennis Malick
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