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Sunday, June 29, 2003

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Right now they are names only familiar in their own households. But, one day soon, some of them may become names to remember in the world of tennis. Until then, they are rising young male players chasing their dreams on the Futures circuit.

The next stop is the Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center, which will be the host to The Futures/National Collegiate Clay Court Championships, which run simultaneously this week.

The qualifiers for the Futures started yesterday and will conclude tomorrow, with the top eight finishers joining the 24 who already are in the main draw. The Futures begins Tuesday and culminates with finals in the singles and doubles Sunday.

The players will compete for a cut of the $10,000 purse and ATP points that will help them get entry into the $50,000 Challenger events.

"They can play, no doubt about it," said Dan Hackett, who is making his debut as tournament director after being the treasurer the past two years. "They have talent."

The top players in the tournament are ranked between 300 and 500 in the world.

The Futures circuit can be a steppingstone for these players. Brian Vahaly, the runner-up two years ago, won his first Grand Slam match last week at Wimbledon before losing in the second round to 25th-seed Tommy Robredo, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Last year's tournament had an All-Argentine championship match, with Luciano Vitello outlasting Matias Boeker. Boeker, a former two-time NCAA champion from the University of Georgia, has won two Futures titles this spring.

The Futures tournament has become the centerpiece here because the clay court event no longer is attracting the elite college players as it once did 20 years ago.

The collegiate men's final is tentatively scheduled for Friday evening and the women's final for Saturday afternoon.

For Hackett, the past three months of work will finally come together.

"The whole process has been abstract so far," he said. "I haven't seen it unfold. The operational side of the tournament is under control. I feel pretty good about it.

"Now I'm looking forward to watching some outstanding tennis."

City courts to reopen

If the weather cooperates, the five courts at Mellon Park and the six at Frick Park will be resurfaced and open to the public by next week.

When the bubble that had covered the Mellon courts since January was taken down Tuesday, the rubberized surface stretched and buckled.

"What a nightmare. When I saw the courts, I was thinking, what else can happen?" said Duane Ashley, director of Citiparks. "We had attempted to take it down since the end of May but couldn't because of the weather."

Ashley said the clay courts at Frick Park will reopen after being closed last summer and most of the summer before last. The new surface is a red clay that was shipped from New Jersey.

What's happening

There still are openings for the West Virginia Open July 23-27 at Oglebay in age-group competition from 35-65 for men and 35-45 for women. There also will be doubles and mixed doubles.

For more information call 304-243-4040.

Citiparks is continuing to sponsor weeknight clinics at the Schenley Park Courts for adult players of all levels. Beginners are 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, intermediates from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and advanced 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. The cost is $7 per week for beginners and intermediates and $10 for advanced.

For more information call 412-244-4188.

The entry deadline is July 10 for the Paul Sullivan open tournament July 12-22 at Schenley Park. There will be singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions for men and women over 18.

For more information, call 412-244-4188.