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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 24, 2008

Futures tennis events set for Hawaii, Oahu

 •  With a heavy heart, he'll honor father at XTERRA

Advertiser Staff

Mauna Lani and the Patsy T. Mink CORP Tennis Complex will be the sites of USTA Pro Circuit Futures tennis tournaments next month. Both events have a $15,000 purse, with players also earning ranking points. Singles champions get $1,950, and 18 ranking points.

The Mauna Lani Kohala Futures will be Nov. 3 to 9, with singles qualifying Nov. 1 and 2. The initial draw came out Tuesday and Uladzimir Igmatol, from Belarus, is the top-ranked player entered at No. 430. Igor Sijsling, No. 436 from the Netherlands, is next and American Paul Todd (500) is third.

'Aiea's Dennis Lajola, a University of Hawai'i sophomore, is eighth on the draw list with a world ranking of 784. Punahou graduate Ikaika Jobe is 16th on the list with a ranking of 1,054. UH players Andreas Weber and Sascha Heinemann, from Germany, are on the alternate list with rankings in the 1,400s.

After the Big Island, players move to O'ahu where Lajola is expected to defend his title in the Honolulu Futures, Nov. 10 to 16. Qualifying is the preceding weekend. The Honolulu event has a wildcard tournament Nov. 5 to 7 and a Charity Pro-Am the final day of qualifying on Nov. 9.

There will be community events every day of the Honolulu main draw and featured night matches Wednesday through Friday. Junior Team Tennis will be the focus on Veteran's Day (Nov. 11), with clinics from 10:30 a.m. to noon, followed by pizza. There will be After School Tennis from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. the next day, followed by After Work Tennis from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Adult League Appreciation Nite is Nov. 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Family Night Nov. 14, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A Membership Appreciation Booth will be open from 10 a.m. to noon the final weekend (Nov. 15 and 16) and door prizes will be given out between matches.

DAVENPORT AT CAMP

Lindsay Davenport highlights a five-day tennis "fantasy camp" at Wailea Tennis Club and Four Seasons Resort on Maui next month. Davenport will be joined by Tom Gullickson, Robby Ginepri and Corina Morariu.

The camp will be Nov. 12 to 16. It is designed for avid adult tennis players ranging in skill from recreational to tournament level. It includes four days of instruction and free play, players' welcome party and awards luau. Packages range from $1,595 to $2,995 with accommodations.

Hawai'i residents may also sign up just for the instructional days for $300 per person per day, or watch the exhibition matches on Nov. 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., for $20 per adult and $10 for juniors up to 16 years old.

Registration for the Wailea Fantasy Camp is subject to availability. For more information or to register, contact Cathy Nicoloff, director of tennis at the Wailea Tennis Club, at 808-879-1958 or e-mail cnicoloff@waileagolf.com.

Davenport was ranked No. 1 in singles and doubles and has three Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal. She has won 55 singles titles and 37 in doubles.

Gullickson is a former U.S. Davis Cup captain and U.S. Olympic coach.

Ginepri is one of the top five American tennis players currently on the ATP Tour and was ranked as high as 15th in 2005. He is currently 57th.

Morariu reached a career high of 29th in singles and was No. 1 in doubles, capturing women's doubles at Wimbledon in 1999 and mixed doubles at the 2001 Australian Open.

NOTES

Thursday is the next cleanup day scheduled at CORP Tennis Complex. It will go from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with lunch provided.