Challenger tournaments return to Waikoloa

Advertiser Staff

Women will join the men this month when the Hilton Waikoloa Village U.S. Tennis Association Challenger returns to the Big Island.

James Blake and world No. 1-ranked Andy Roddick are past champions at Waikoloa. This is the first year a women's event will be run in conjunction with the men.

The $50,000 tournaments will be Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, with qualifying draws Jan. 24 and 25. The events are part of the USTA Professional Circuit.

The men's field includes Paul Goldstein, Brian Vahaly, Dmitry Tursunov, Robert Kendrick and Prakrash Amritraj.

Female players of note include Americans Tara Snyder, Ansley Cargill, Lindsey Lee-Waters, Marissa Irvin, Sarah Taylor and Angela Haynes.

Admission is $5 daily from Jan. 25 to Jan. 29. It goes up to $10 for the final three days.

Contact Hilton Waikoloa Village-Kohala Tennis (886-2222) for ticket information.