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Sunday, April 08, 2001

The United States Tennis Association selected Pittsburgh as one of 110 communities that will receive funding for the fourth consecutive year of the USA Tennis Plan for Growth, a five-year, $50 million program to promote and develop the growth of tennis.

Pittsburgh used $70,000 in grants last year to offer free lessons, conduct free clinics and run entry-level tournaments.

"The biggest impact is that it lowers the cost of playing tennis," said Jim Rudolph, USA Tennis community coordinator and Citiparks program coordinator. "The Citiparks' numbers of new players from the program has gone from 200 to about 2,000."

Citiparks uses six tennis centers in the city -- Schenley Park, Frick Park, Mellon Park, Highland Park, West Park and Washington Landing. Frick's surface is clay, Mellon's Omnicourt and the others hardcourt.

Schenley is the largest complex with 13 courts, followed by Highland's nine, Frick's six, Mellon's five, Washington Landing's five and West Park's three.

The Citiparks Tennis Academy will sponsor four open tournaments this summer, starting June 28 with the Gamma Classic Open at Schenley. The events are singles, doubles and mixed. Call 412-244-4188.

The centerpiece of the Citiparks' circuit is the Pittsburgh Public Parks tournament at Frick Park in Regent Square the week of July 14-21. This will be the 70th year for the tournament, the oldest in the district. In addition to staging tournaments, Citiparks will operate Team Tennis, a weekly event that runs from June 9 to Sept. 9 at all six sites in the city.

"It is for all levels of player," Rudolph said.

Teams are comprised of men and women over the age of 19. Entry fee is $15. Call 412-244-4188.

The first USA Free For Alls, a summer-long series of teaching clinics throughout the district open to all ages and all levels of player, will be from 10-11:30 a.m., April 21, at Schenley Park. The instructors will be Eric Feldman, Tom Merchant and Aldine LaCaria. Rackets and tennis balls will be provided.

For the second consecutive year, Citiparks will sponsor USA Tennis Grand Slam Challenge to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. There will be four tennis parties at Schenley Park in conjunction with the four Grand Slam tournaments -- French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open. The first one will be June 9 (1-4 p.m.), with a party, refreshments, entertainment and round-robin tennis. Donations are $20.

For a good cause

The 17th annual tennis auction ball and pro-am event to benefit cystic fibrosis will be April 28 and 29.

The auction will be Saturday in the William Penn Grand Ballroom, with cocktails and a silent auction from 6-7 p.m. and the grand prize and live team auction from 7-8 p.m..

The pro-am will be April 29 at the Oxford Athletic Club East, with competition in men's doubles, mixed doubles and senior men's doubles. Guest appearances will be made by soap actors from General Hospital: Tava Smiley, who plays Chloe, and Wally Kurth (Ned). The feature doubles will be Franco Harris and Craig Perry, the pro at Parkway Cabana Tennis Bubble.

For more information about the weekend activities, call Pat Josephs at 412-321-4422.

Oldies but goodies

The National Men's Over 40 Indoor Championships will be at the Oxford Athletic Club East, May 18-23. This is one leg of a national senior circuit that includes the Grass Court Championships, the Hard Court Championships and the Clay Court Championships.

Atlantic 10 tournament

Duquesne will be the host school for the Atlantic 10 men's championships Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Oxford Athletic Club East. Virginia Tech, the team champion the past five years, won't defend its title because the Hokies left the A-10 to join the Big East.

The favorites will be Massachusetts and St. Bonaventure, with Duquesne expected to finish in the middle of the pack. The Dukes will be led by Dave Brady at No. 1 singles and Jason Mayer, a senior from Gateway, at No. 2 singles.

The A-10 champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I tournament.

Campus courts

Robert Morris freshman Mhamed Tiemcani of Casablanca, Morocco, was named the Northeast Conference men's tennis Athletic of the Week for the second consecutive week. He was 2-0 in singles last week to improve his record to 8-4. ... Mississippi State's Marco Baron and Duke's Ansley Cargill are the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Players of the Month for March. ... UCLA men (16-0) and the Stanford women (17-0) are the No. 1 teams in the country in the latest WingspanBank.com Collegiate Rankings.