Lajola propels U.S. into world semifinals

Advertiser Staff

Dennis Lajola and Leo Rosenberg teamed for the United States to defeat seventh-seeded Belarus, 6-2, 6-2, in the quarterfinals of the World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov, Czech Republic.

Lajola is from 'Aiea and Rosenberg from Kansas. They make up the U.S. boys team, along with Chicago's Donald Young, at this 14-and-under International Tennis Federation team competition.

The U.S. is off today and plays France in the semifinals tomorrow.

Arnoult to Open: Maui's Beth Arnoult will play exhibition matches at the U.S. Open Sept. 3 and 4. Arnoult will join wheelchair players Karin Korb, Steve Welch and Jon Rydberg.

Arnoult is home now after playing in Europe this summer. She reached the consolation championship at the Swiss Open, falling to Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands, 6-0, 6-3, in the final.

Arnoult is 25th in the women's world wheelchair rankings. She is fifth nationally. Her ranking is 11th internationally in doubles, and first in the U.S.

She will head to Dallas for a tournament after the U.S. Open. This summer she is writing a diary for usta.com, the U.S. Tennis Association Web site.

Sectionals at Kapalua: More than 700 players are expected to compete in this weekend's USA League Tennis Hawai'i Pacific Section Championships. The sectionals run tomorrow through Sunday at Kapalua Resort.

The top 60 teams from Hawai'i qualified. Teams represent clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations that won local leagues. This weekend's winners represent the section at the USA League Tennis National Championships.

There are more than 500,000 participants in the USA League Tennis presented by Lincoln program. Players are grouped into six ability levels, from beginner (2.5) to advanced (5.0), based on the National Tennis Rating Program.