Players from five continents, including former University of Florida All-American Sekou Bangoura, all-time leading Venezuelan Davis Cupper Ricardo Rodriguez, Zimbabwe Davis Cupper Takanyi Garanganga and Kazakhstan Davis Cupper Dmitry Popko, highlight the field of direct entries into the $25,000 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships April 29 – May 5 at The Boulevard tennis club in Vero Beach.
The event is being held for a 25th straight year in Vero Beach and is part of the International Tennis Federation World Tennis Tour and part of the U.S. Tennis Association’s Competitive Pathway. This year marks the first year the event has been elevated to a $25,000-level tournament. In the previous 24 years of the event, it was a $10,000 or $15,000 level competition.
“Tennis has never been as globally popular as it is now and this is reflective in our fascinating singles field of players from literally every corner of the world,” said Tom Fish, co-tournament director and President of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation. “We encourage everyone in the Vero Beach area to come watch these amazingly talented international tennis players compete while supporting the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation that benefits at-risk youth in Indian River County. This is the 25th year of this tournament, which is the premier international sporting event in Vero Beach.”
Bangoura from Bradenton, Florida, is the top-ranked singles entry with an ATP Tour singles ranking of No. 400. He earned All-American status for the Florida Gators in 2011. In 2010, he won the USTA national junior doubles title with Nathan Pasha and played in the first round of doubles of the U.S. Open in New York. Other Americans among the 18 direct entries include former Northwestern standout Strong Kircheimer, a semifinalist in Vero Beach last year, Alafia Ayeni, the No. 1 player for Cornell University currently ranked No. 441 by the ATP, former Texas A&M standouts Harrison Adams, the doubles runner-up in Vero Beach last year, and new professional Jordi Arconanda, and Swiss-American Alexander Ritschard of Zurich, a former standout at the University of Virginia.
South America is represented by nine direct singles entries lead by No. 2 entry Bastian Malla of Chile, ranked No. 435 in the ATP Tour rankings, as well as Rodriguez, the all-time leading Davis Cup player from Venezuela who was defeated in last year’s Vero Beach singles final by Juan Benitez of Colombia. Nico Mejia, the Colombian Davis Cupper and Wimbledon junior semifinalist last summer who reached the quarterfinals in Vero Beach last year as a qualifier, is also among the direct entries. Other South Americans in the field include three Argentines lead by 2014 and 2015 Vero Beach finalist Facunda Mena and also Camilo Ugo Carabelli and Juan Ignacio Galarza. Brazil is represented by Pedro Sakamoto, Peru by Nicolas Alvarez and Ecuador by Diego Hidalgo.
Andrew Watson of Great Britain, ranked No. 677 by the ATP, is Europe’s lone direct entry and is looking to equal the success in Vero Beach of his countryman Tim Henman, the former top 10 star who was a Vero Beach semifinalist in 1995, and Kyle Edmund, Britain’s current No. 1 who won the title in Vero Beach in 2013.
Representing Asia in Vero Beach is Dmitry Popko of Kazakhstan, who is currently one of the hottest players in the ITF World Tennis Tour having won six titles already this year, including his last two tournaments in Sunrise, Florida and Orange Park, Florida. Popko, a member of Kazakhstan’s Davis Cup team, has competed in the qualifying rounds of all four Grand Slam tournaments and was ranked as high as No. 178 in the world.
Africa is represented in Vero Beach by Garanganga, a member of Zimbabwe’s Davis Cup team since 2007. He has competed in all four junior Grand Slam tournaments and qualified for the ATP Tour event in Los Cabos, Mexico last summer. He won the first ever gold medal for Zimbabwe at the 2011 All-Africa Games.
Leading entries into the 32-player, two-day qualifying tournament, that will be played April 29 and April 30, including defending champion Benitez of Colombia, defending doubles champion Junior Ore of Miami and Irish Davis Cupper Julian Bradley. Players in the qualifying tournament must win two matches on Monday and Tuesday to earn entry into the 32-player main draw.
The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships is regarded as one of the best entry-level professional tennis tournaments in the world. Proceeds from the event benefit the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit tennis foundation benefiting children, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, the former top 10 tennis star and the current U.S. Davis Cup captain. The event will be held April 29 – May 5 at The Boulevard tennis club in Vero Beach.
Tournament tickets and sponsorships for the event can be purchased at www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.org Daily tickets for the April 29-May 5 are $20, with “night session” tickets starting at 5 pm from April 29 – May 4 costing $10. Season tickets for every session of the event are $100. Admission for children 18 and under is free. Fans can follow news and developments on the tournament on Facebook and on Twitter at @VeroFutures. Detailed sponsorship information can be obtained by emailing Tom Fish at Ttfish10s@aol.com or Randy Walker at RWalker@NewChapterMedia.com Approximately 3,000 fans annually attend the event, which is seen as one of the best-attended entry-level professional events in the world.
Some of the past competitors at the USTA Vero Beach Futures have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of professional tennis, winning major singles and doubles titles, Olympic medals and Davis Cup championships and earning No. 1 world rankings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who attained the world No. 1 ranking and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007, competed in Vero Beach in 1999. Thomas Johansson of Sweden, who reached the second round of the Vero Beach Futures in 1995, won the Australian Open seven years later in 2002. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 singles runner-up in Vero Beach, won the singles and doubles gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, beating Fish in the gold medal singles match. Kyle Edmund, the 2013 champion in Vero Beach, helped Great Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015. Other notable former competitors in Vero Beach include former world No. 2 Magnus Norman, former world No. 4 Tim Henman, 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and most recently world No. 50 player and teen sensation Denis Shapovalov, who played in Vero Beach in 2016. Former Vero Beach competitors have combined to win 19 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments. Seven former Vero Beach players have gone on to play Davis Cup for the United States – Roddick, Fish, Taylor Dent, Jared Palmer, Donald Young, Ryan Harrison and Frances Tiafoe.
Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.org and @MardyFishFound on Twitter) currently supports over 2,200 children in 15 elementary schools, six middle schools and two after school centers in Indian River County, Florida by funding after-school exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs in a safe environment to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives. The Foundation introduced the “Six Healthy Habits” in 2012 which are Get Sleep; Drink Water; Exercise Daily, Eat Healthy; Brush and Floss; Make Friends.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, April 24 – Friday, April 26
Pre-Qualifying Tournament – The Boulevard Tennis Club, Times TBD (Free to public)
Sunday, April 28
Pro-Am – Sea Oaks Tennis Club, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Kick-off Party – The Boulevard Tennis Club, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Monday, April 29
Qualifying Tournament Begins – The Boulevard Tennis Club, Noon, 5 pm, 6:45 pm
Tuesday, April 30
Qualifying Tournament Ends, Main Draw Beings – The Boulevard Tennis Club, Noon, 5 pm, 6:45 pm
Wednesday, May 1
Main Draw Singles & Doubles – The Boulevard Tennis Club, Noon, 5 pm, 6:45 pm
Thursday, May 2
Main Draw Singles & Doubles – The Boulevard Tennis Club, Noon, 5 pm, 6:45 pm
Friday, May 3
Main Draw Singles & Doubles – The Boulevard Tennis Club, Noon, 5 pm, 6:45 pm
Saturday, May 4
Singles Semifinals, Doubles Final – The Boulevard Tennis Club, Noon, 5 pm
Sunday, May 5
Singles Final – The Boulevard Tennis Club, 1 pm
Tournament sponsors for 2019 include Presenting Sponsor PNC Bank, Grand Slam Sponsors Boston Barricade, George E. Warren Corporation and the Jake Owen Foundation, Cabana/Box Seat Sponsors John’s Island Real Estate, John Klein, Gene Simonsen, TeamChristopher.com, Dan Holman, Hadleigh Investments, Pene Chambers / Lynn Southerly, Lace and Bob Milligan / Mickey and Rob Stein, William Barhorst, CPA, Michael and Kathleen Pierce, The Pitcher Family, Shirley Becker, Scoreboard Sponsor Fit for Life / Syde Hurdus Foundation Backhand Sponsors Vero Beach Magazine, Rossway Swan, Nalzaro Music, Coastal Van Lines, Diamond Resorts International, Forehand Sponsors Karen and Steve Rubin, Mike and Meg Hickey / Premier Estate Properties, Shaklee / Suzie Sunkel, Indian River Animal Hospital – Charles B. Johnson, DVM, Marjorie Johnson, DVM, MS, DAVP, Serve Sponsors Cravings, Bistro Fourchette, Willem and Marion DeVogel, Foglia Custom Homes Topspin Sponsors Alex MacWilliam Real Estate, Eternal Water, Kit Fields Realtor, Patrick Williams / Tom Collins Insurance, Riverside Café, MinuteMan Press, Center Court Tennis Outfitters, Drop Shot Sponsors Treasure Coast Financial Planning, Inc., Peter and Judith Saidel, Deb Benjamin, Paul & Linda Delaney, Stewart Dunn, Susan Flannery (Aluma Tower), Tom Flannery (Malesardi, Quackenbush, Swift and Company LLC, Jim & Suzi Keegan, Don Moyle, Dee Patberg, Fran Smyrk (Treasure Coast Sotheby’s), Gary & Beth Williams, ABCO Garage Door Company, Inc., Barker Air Conditioning & Heating, Busy Bee Lawn & Garden Center, Coastal Comforts at the Village Shops, Colton, Williams & Reamy, CPAs, Complete Electric, Inc., Complete Restaurant Equipment, LLC, Glacier Clear Pool Service, Jack’s Complete Tree Service, Inc., Jimmy’s Tree Services, Ken’s Pool Service, ML Engineering, Inc., Nozzle Nolen, Inc., O’Haire, Quinn, Casalino, Chartered, Rich Look Lawn Care, Rick’s Custom Care, Statewide Condominium Insurance, Steve Supplee Construction LLC, Summit Construction of Vero Beach, LLC, Sunshine Furniture, White Glove Moving & Storage and Wilco Construction, Inc.
Tennis
Quail Valley Tennis Pros Perez-Blanco, Nador Solymosi Earn Mardy Fish Doubles Wild Card At "King of the Hill"
Quail Valley tennis teaching professionals Chase Perez-Blanco and Nandor Solymosi, the winner and runner-up respectively at the annual “King of the Hill” tennis competition that concluded Tuesday night at The Moorings, have been awarded a main draw doubles wild card into the 2019 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, to be held April 29 – May 5 at The Boulevard tennis club in Vero Beach.
Perez-Blanco and Solymosi were awarded the wild card by the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the operators of the Vero Beach $25,000 U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit tournament, an event on the ITF World Tennis Tour, as part of an agreement with the 24-year “King of the Hill” (KOTH) competition and organizer Gigi Casapu to give a wild card entry into the professional event to the KOTH winner and runner-up.
Perez-Blanco and Solymosi will play their first-round doubles match on Tuesday, April 30 at 6:45 pm.
Perez-Blanco is a former University of Florida standout player who ranks No. 6 all-tie in Gator tennis history for most combined singles and doubles victories. Solymosi is a former NCAA Division II All-American at Lees-McRae College and a former practice partner for the Davis Cup team from his native Hungary.
“The King of Hill” is the annual doubles competition featuring tennis professionals from the Vero Beach area who compete in round-robin competitions on Tuesday nights to the determine the “king” of the local tennis professional. Proceeds from “King of the Hill” benefit the Youth Guidance Mentoring & Activities Program.
The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships is the USTA’s $25,000 ITF World Tennis Tour tournament played in Vero Beach since 1995 and is regarded as one of the best entry-level professional tennis tournaments in the world. Fans can follow news and developments on the tournament on Facebook and on Twitter at @VeroFutures. Approximately 3,000 fans annually attend the event, which is seen as one of the best-attended entry-level professional events in the world. Sponsorships, advance tournament tickets and “Tournament Kickoff Party” opportunities are available by emailing co-tournament directors Tom Fish at TFish10s@aol.com or Randy Walker at Rwalker@NewChapterMedia.com or by going to www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.org
Some of the past competitors at the USTA Vero Beach Futures have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of professional tennis, winning major singles and doubles titles, Olympic medals and Davis Cup championships and earning No. 1 world rankings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who attained the world No. 1 ranking and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007, competed in Vero Beach in 1999. Thomas Johansson of Sweden, who reached the second round of the Vero Beach Futures in 1995, won the Australian Open seven years later in 2002. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 singles runner-up in Vero Beach, won the singles and doubles gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, beating Fish in the gold medal singles match. Kyle Edmund, the 2013 champion in Vero Beach, helped Great Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015. Other notable former competitors in Vero Beach include former world No. 2 Magnus Norman, former world No. 4 Tim Henman, 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and most recently world No. 50 player and teen sensation Denis Shapovalov, who played in Vero Beach in 2016. Former Vero Beach competitors have combined to win 19 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments. Seven former Vero Beach players have gone on to play Davis Cup for the United States – Roddick, Fish, Taylor Dent, Jared Palmer, Donald Young, Ryan Harrison and Frances Tiafoe.
Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.MardyFishFoundation.com and @MardyFishFound on Twitter) currently supports over 2,200 children in 15 elementary schools, six middle schools and two after school centers in Indian River County, Florida by funding after-school exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs in a safe environment to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives. The Foundation introduced the “Six Healthy Habits” in 2012 which are Get Sleep; Drink Water; Exercise Daily, Eat Healthy; Brush and Floss; Make Friends.
Venezuelan Davis Cup Legend Ricardo Rodriguez Advances To USTA Mardy Fish Futures Final Against Colombia's Juan Benitez
It was a happy 25th birthday for Ricardo Rodriguez on Saturday at the $15,000 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit event as the Venezuelan Davis Cupper advanced into the singles final with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over No. 1 seed Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera of Chile.
Exactly one year ago in Vero Beach, Rodriguez also played on his birthday but lost in a tight three-setter to eventual champion Calvin Hemery of France. This year, he was able to turn his fortunes into his favor.
“Obviously you try to enter the match knowing that it’s your birthday and no matter what you’re going to try to enjoy it,” Rodriguez said. “Fortunately, I got the win today and that makes me double happy.”
The unseeded Rodriguez will face No. 5 Juan Benitez of Colombia in an All-South American final Sunday at 1 pm at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club. Benitez defeated Strong Kirchheimer of Cary, N.C. 6-3, 7-5 in the other semifinals.
Rodriguez, the all-time leading singles player in the history of the Venezuelan Davis Cup team, is back into a final at a Futures-level event for the first time since May of 2015 when he won the title in Antalya, Turkey. Part of the reason that it’s been so long for Rodriguez to play in a final is an ankle injury that he suffered as a freak accident while playing paddle tennis.
“We had like eight days of full rain. We didn’t practice so we said ‘You know what, let’s try to have fun.’ Unfortunately, I injured myself,” Rodriguez said. “I was supposed to be six weeks off, it turned out to be 34.”
That injury played a mental factor late into the match for Rodriguez. He got off to a fast start, breaking Barrios Vera in his first service game and took a 3-0 lead. While serving at 4-2 though, Rodriguez was broken and the No. 1 seed got back on serve. Rodriguez held steady though, eventually breaking Barrios Vera again at 5-4 to take the first set.
In the second set, Rodriguez once again find himself in the lead with a break advantage with a 4-2 lead before extending it to 5-2 with a hold. After Barrios Vera got a hold of his own to make it 5-3, Rodriguez began to feel some pressure as he tried to serve for his spot in the final.
“I think it’s normal,” Rodriguez said. “After my injury, I’ve been through a lot and being so close to play a final after so long, I think you start thinking about it. You get a little bit anxious.”
Rodriguez was broken after a 24-point game in which Rodriguez missed out on three match points. After breaking and then holding at love, Barrios Vera found himself up love-40 on Rodriguez’s serve after winning nine points in a row, and it looked like the match was heading to a third set. Seemingly out of nowhere though, Rodriguez won five points on the trot to get the hold for a 6-5 lead before needing just six points to break Barrios Vera and win the match.
“Fortunately I was able to hold my serve at love-40, I think that changed things,” Rodriguez said. “It’s part of the process. Whenever you’re coming back, you have to struggle.”
This was the second week in a row that Rodriguez and Barrios Vera faced off, as Barrios Vera won last week in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit event in Orange Park, Fla., just outside of Jacksonville in straight sets. This time though, Rodriguez flipped the script.
“I think the conditions are different,” Rodriguez said as he explained why he thought he was able to turn it around this week. “I have nothing but respect for his team, we’ve known each other for a long time. He’s a great player.”
Benitez advanced to the final in stylish fashion, slamming forehand where ever he could from all over the court with loud grunts and enthusiastic reactions.
“It’s very positive. I’ve been working very hard with my coach,” Benitez said of his recent success. “It’s going to be great for my confidence and whatever is coming next for me. I’m very excited to be in another final.”
It was a straightforward first set for Benitez as he saved all three break points he faced and broke midway through the set for a 4-2 lead. The Colombian didn’t look back from there as he eventually closed out the set with a quick hold.
The second set looked like it would be straightforward for Kirchheimer as he got out to an early break and led 4-1. The ever-resilient Benitez fought hard though and won five games in a row after trailing 5-2, closing out the match with a 7-5 victory in the second set.
Benitez’s comments on his strategy during the match were simple and sweet.
“It’s pretty short what I’m going to say. Who needs a backhand?” Benitez asked.
The singles final will be a matchup not just of two players from South America, but also of two players who are being housed by residents in the luxurious Grand Harbor community in Vero Beach. Benitez is staying at the home of Doug and Susanne Sweeney while Rodriguez is staying with resident Pat Reynolds for a second straight year.
“The Sweeney’s are just unbelievable, the best housing I’ve ever got in my life,” Benitez said. “I can’t ask for any better housing. They’ve been amazing to me.”
Said Rodriguez of Reynolds, “She has been wonderful to me these past two years. She’s housing me in their home. She has opened the door for me and for my girlfriend and without her this wouldn’t be possible.”
The doubles final will also take place on Sunday between two All-American teams as the duo of Harrison Adams and Nick Chappell will face off against Junior Alexander Ore and Miles Seemann.
Adams and Ore will be on opposite sides of the net on Sunday, but they both played their college tennis at Texas A&M University and were Southeastern Conference tournament champions together in 2014 they reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Team Tournament in 2013. Despite spending two years on the team together, they never played doubles with each other.
Results from April 28
Singles Semifinals
Ricardo Rodriguez, Venezuela d. (1) Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera, Chile 6-4, 7-5
(5) Juan Benitez, Colombia d. (4) Strong Kirchheimer, United States 6-3, 7-5
Schedule for April 29, Matches Starting at 1 p.m.
Singles Final
(5) Juan Benitez, Colombia vs. Ricardo Rodriguez, Venezuela
Doubles Final
(2) Harrison Adams, United States/Nick Chappell, United States vs. (4) Junior Alexander Ore, United States/Miles Seemann, United States
Two-Time Australian Open Finalist Has High Praise For Vero Beach, Mardy Fish Futures
Steve Denton once ranked as high as No. 12 in the world and twice reached the final of the Australian Open in 1981 and 1982. He’s been the head men’s tennis coach at Texas A&M since 2006 and is in Vero Beach with two of his Texas A&M student-athletes who are playing in the qualifying rounds of the $15,000 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit event. Jordi Arconada and A.J. Catanzariti, the regular No. 3 and No. 6 singles players for the Aggies, are competing this week at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club as amateurs before next week’s Southeastern Conference Tennis Championships.
On Saturday in the second round of the 128-player qualifying draw Arconada, a 21-year-old from Buenos Aires, got the better Catanzariti, the native of Pittsburgh, Pa., and the No. 11 seed in the qualifying, by a score of 7-5, 6-3.
“It’s unfortunate that they have to play each other, but our objective was to get some matches in for these guys,” Denton said. “They just like to compete, so it’s really good to see them compete against each other and they did a really good job.”
Denton has a history playing against Vero Beach native and fellow tennis legend Ivan Lendl, and he understands why Lendl has decided to make this area his home.
“It’s a great place. The people here are really nice, it’s a really nice community. I can see why Ivan lives here,” said Denton, who lost all four career meetings with Lendl on the ATP World Tour. “This is a world class event at a $15,000 Futures. There’s not many like it in the world.”
Arconada was pleased to get the win, but was saddened it had to come at the expense of his teammate.
“It’s tough but it’s something that we’re used to,” he said.
Arconda echoed his coach’s praise of Vero Beach and the organization of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships. “Oh man, it’s awesome,” he said. “It’s amazing. We’re happy to be here. It’s one of the nicer Futures that I’ve been to.”
Other winners on Saturday included 43-year-old Christian Vinck of Germany, who defeated Preston Brown 7-5, 6-4, Irish Davis Cupper Julian Bradley who defeated Japan’s Shoiciryu Kozuki 6-1, 6-1, No. 1-qualifying seed Matias Zukas of Argentina, who defeated Siem Woldeab of San Diego 6-2, 6-3, former University of Miami standout Jesse Flores, who defeated Jack Vance of Las Vegas 6-2, 6-2 and Vojech Vlkovsky of the Czech Republic who defeated Emilio Van Cottem of Fort Pierce, Fla., 6-2, 6-2.
Zandrix Acob, a 22-year old native of Hilo, Hawaii, registered one of the most surprising results of the day, registering an easy 6-2, 6-0 upset Tim Kopinski of Palos Hills, Illinois, the No. 1,879-ranked player on the ATP World Tour computer and the No. 15 seed in the qualifying tournament.
“I was expecting a war,” said Acob, who was pleased to have an easier match after struggling through a three-setter on Friday. “It’s like a relief, but obviously you’ve got to go day by day.”
Acob, who played tennis at Florida Atlantic University, can’t be missed on the grounds of the Grand Harbor Golf and Tennis Club as he wears a colorful bucket hat with images of fruit on it while he is on the court.
“I was just going to wear it for fun,” Acob said. “It was a practice and everyone was like ‘what are you wearing?’”
After messing around with the hat in practice, he decided to try it out in a match last fall, and it worked.
“It’s just one size, it fits my head perfectly. It doesn’t fly away when I run for balls. Plus, it covers everywhere,” Acob said. “Stylish too, it might throw the opponent off a little bit.”
Another noticeable player on the grounds is 21-year-old Jared Thompkins, who defeated Caspar Schuetze of Germany with a 7-5, 6-2 scoreline.
Thompkins is currently not ranked in the ATP World Tour rankings, but he is full of confidence and has set high goals for himself.
“I want to win majors. I want to be up there,” Thompkins said. “I want to put my name in the game.”
Some of the confidence Thompkins has comes from his experience as a training partner at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells this March. He had the opportunity to train with top pros like Fernando Verdasco and Gael Monfils.
After training with Monfils for an hour and a half, the Frenchman had some great praise for Thompkins.
“He was telling me ‘Dude, I’ll give you two years and you’ll be in the top 100,’” Thompkins said. “That was a major confidence boost.”
The rest of Thompkins’ confidence comes from working with his dad, John, as his coach. John is a former successful player in college and now uses his memories to help Jared.
“There’s no one who is going to want it more for me,” Thompkins said. “The knowledge never stops coming out. He’ll say something when we’re watching tennis and then the commentator will say the same exact thing and we’re just like ‘ok, we get you now.’”
The third round of the qualifying event is scheduled to start at 10 am Sunday at Grand Harbor. The 32 remaining players will have to win two more matches to qualify for the main draw of the event, which begins Tuesday.
Main draw play begins Tuesday, April 24 at noon and is highlighted by two locals, Michael Alford, the teaching pro at the Quail Valley Club, playing with long-time Vero Beach resident Robert Kowalczyk, who owns Vero Beach’s Man-O-War Fishing Company, competing in the doubles competition. Alford and Kowalczyk will play Tuesday’s feature 7 pm match.
The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships is the USTA’s $15,000 Futures-level tournament played in Vero Beach since 1995 and regarded as one of the best entry-level professional tennis tournaments in the world. Proceeds from the event benefit the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit tennis foundation benefiting children, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, the former top 10 tennis star and a U.S. Davis Cup standout.
Tournament tickets and sponsorships are now on sale and can be purchased at www.VeroBeachTennisTickets.com Tickets for the qualifying rounds from April 20 – April 23 cost $10, while tickets for the main draw of singles and doubles from April 24 – 29 are $20, with “night session” tickets starting at 5 pm from April 24-27 costing $10. Season tickets that include both the qualifying and main draw events cost $100. Admission for children 18 and under is free. Approximately 3,000 fans annually attend the event, which is seen as one of the best-attended events in the world on the “Futures” level of professional tennis tournaments. More info on the event can be found at www.TennisVeroBeach.com
Some of the past competitors at the USTA Vero Beach Futures have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of professional tennis, winning major singles and doubles titles, Olympic medals and Davis Cup championships and earning No. 1 world rankings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who attained the world No. 1 ranking and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007, competed in Vero Beach in 1999. Thomas Johansson of Sweden, who reached the second round of the Vero Beach Futures in 1995, won the Australian Open seven years later in 2002. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 singles runner-up in Vero Beach, won the singles and doubles gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, beating Fish in the gold medal singles match. Kyle Edmund, the 2013 champion in Vero Beach, helped Great Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015. Other notable former competitors in Vero Beach include former world No. 2 Magnus Norman, former world No. 4 Tim Henman, 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and most recently world No. 50 player and teen sensation Denis Shapovalov, who played in Vero Beach in 2016. Former Vero Beach competitors have combined to win 19 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments. Six former Vero Beach players have gone on to play Davis Cup for the United States – Roddick, Fish, Taylor Dent, Jared Palmer, Donald Young and Ryan Harrison.
Sponsors for the 2018 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships are led by Presenting Sponsor PNC Bank and Grand Slam Sponsors Boston Barricade, George E. Warren Corporation, Jake Owen Foundation, Syde Hurdus Foundation / Fit For Life and Land Rover / Jaguar Treasure Coast, Backhand Sponsors Publix, Rossway Swan, Coastal Van Lines, White Orchid Spa, Foglia Contracting, Forehand Sponsors Steve and Karen Rubin, Willem and Marion de Vogel, Cravings, M&M Group – Keller / Williams Realty Vero Beach, Rosato Plastic Surgery, Riverside Café, Ocean Drive Elite Physiques, 14 Bones Barbeque, Gordon Food Service, Peter Bernholz, Swarovski, Soul Music, Minuteman Press and Elite Airways, Kit Fields Realtor / CharlotteTerry.com, Cabana Sponsors John’s Island, Gene Simonsen, Michael & Kathleen Pierce, William Barhorst CPA, Dan Holman, John Klein, Hadleigh Investments, TeamChristopher.com, Tom Collins, The Pitcher Family, Pene Chambers Group, Waldo and Candy Johnston, The Pappalardo Family, Mickey and Rob Stein, Lace and Bob Milligan and Drop Shot Sponsors Fresh Market, Brooklyn Bagel, Hutchinson’s Florist, Seaside Grill, A Pampered Life-Disney Spa, Avanzare, New Chapter Media, Smith & Company Landscaping, Center For Advanced Eye Care, Cast Electric, Citron of Vero Beach, Amerigas, Central Window of Vero Beach, Bill’s Audio and Video Innovations, ML Engineering, Capt. Bob’s Airboat Adventure, Busy Bee Lawn & Garden Center, Complete Restaurant Equipment, Wilco Construction, Nozzle Nolen, Southern Plumbing, Treasure Coast Sotheby’s, Jack’s Complete Tree Service, Complete Electric, Statewide Condominium Insurance, Abco Garage Door, O’Hair, Quinn, Casalino, Chartered, Rick’s Custom Care, Rich-Look Lawn Care, White Glove Moving & Storage, Coastal Comforts @ The Village Shops, Jimmy’s Tree Service, Thompsons Remodeling & Home Repairs, Summit Construction, Colton Williams & Reamy, Sunshine Furniture, Malesardi, Quackenbush, Swift, Aluma Tower Company, Alex MacWilliam, Inc., Charlotte Terry Real Estate, Ken’s Pool & Spa Repair, Vero Beach Orthopedics, Barker Air Conditioning & Heating, Treasure Coast Financial Planning, Engineered Services, Peter Bernholz, Deborah Benjamin, John & Faith Parker, Duke & Betty Foster, Paul & Linda Delaney, Timmy Wood Gary and Beth Williams, Don Moyle, Chuck Pollard, Stewart Dunn, Leslie London – LL Vinyl Designs, Dara, Hunter and Thom Morgan
Second Round Qualifying Results
(1) Matias Zukas, Argentina d. Siem Woldeab, United States 6-2, 6-3
Trey Hilderbrand, United States d. Tam Trinh, United States 7-5, 6-2
Joseph Cadogan, Trinidad and Tobago d. Luis Nicolau Costa Macedo, Brazil 6-1, 6-1
Henry Patrick Cacciatore, United States d. Andres Golindano, Venezuela 6-2, 7-6(8)
Juan Alejandro Hernandez Serrano, Mexico d. (2) Lukas Greif, United States 6-1, 6-3
Vasco Belaunde, Peru d. Peter Bleach, South Africa 7-5, 7-5
Marcelo Sepulveda Garza, Mexico d. Philipp Storjohann, Germany 6-2, 6-1
(13) Julian Bradley, Ireland d. Shoichiryu Kozuki, Japan 6-1, 6-1
Ryan Goetz, United States d. Juan Bianchi, United States 6-2, 6-0
Hillel Rousseau, Haiti d. Drew van Orderlain, United States 6-2, 6-3
Matthew Kandath, United States d. Ronald Hohmann, United States 6-4, 6-4
(10) Jared Pratt, United States d. Leonard Ivic, Croatia 6-2, 6-2
Rowland Phillips, Jamaica d. (4) Edward Bourchier, Australia 7-5, 6-3
Boris Kozlov, United States d. Thomas Tomczak, United States 6-1, 6-0
Kohlman Lawrence, United States d. Nicholas Mora, United States 6-3, 6-3
Jordi Arconada, United States d. (11) A.J. Catanzariti, United States 7-5, 6-3
(5) Tao Mu, China d. Andrew Blair, United States 6-0, 6-1
Nick Hardt, Dominican Republic d. Daniel Fainblum, Canada 6-1, 3-2 ret.
Vojtech Vlkovsky, Czech Republic d. Emilio van Cotthem, United States 6-2, 6-2
Kirac Bekisoglu, Turkey d. (14) Washi Gervais, Canada 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Axel Nefve, United States d. (6) Christpher G. Haworth, United States 6-1, 6-1
Jack Lee, United States d. Yovan Lambros, United States 7-6(1), 7-6(3)
Keenan Mayo, United States d. Noah Schachter, United States 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-1
Zandrix Acob, United States d. (15) Tim Kopinski, United States 6-2, 6-0
(7) Richard Torres, United States d. Rodrigo Oliveira, Brazil 6-1, 6-1
Louis Siegler, United States d. Benton Benalcazar, United States 6-2, 6-0
Christian Vinck, Germany d. Preston Brown, United States 7-5, 6-4
(9) Jesse Flores, Canada d. Jack Vance, United States 6-2, 6-2
(8) Vlad Andrei Dancu, Romania d. Erroll Lawrence, United States 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1
Nicolas Mejia, Colombia d. Tomas Gonzalez, Colombia 6-1, 6-0
Jared Thompkins, United States d. Caspar Schuetze, Germany 7-5, 6-2
(12) Jaycer Lyeons, United States d. Zurab Zhvania, Georgia 6-2, 6-2
Third Round Qualifying Schedule for April 22
Stadium
Rowland Phillips, Jamaica vs. Boris Kozlov, United States
(9) Jesse Flores, Canada vs. Christian Vinck, Germany
Grandstand
(1) Matias Zukas, Argentina vs. Trey Hilderbrand, United States
(12) Jaycer Lyeons, United States vs. Jared Thompkins, United States
Court 1
Vasco Belaunde, Peru vs. Juan Alejandro Hernandez Serrano, Mexico
(8) Vlad Andrei Dancu, Romania vs. Nicolas Mejia, Colombia
Court 2
(13) Julian Bradley, Ireland vs. Marcelo Sepulveda Garza, Mexico
Zandrix Acob, United States vs. Keenan Mayo, United Statess
Court 3
Ryan Goetz, United States vs. Hillel Rousseau, Haiti
(7) Richard Torres, United States vs. Louis Siegler, United States
Court 4
Axel Nefve, United States vs. Jack Lee, United States
(5) Tao Mu, China vs. Nick Hardt, Dominican Republic
Court 7
Joseph Cadogan, Trinidad and Tobago vs. Henry Patrick Cacciatore, United States
(10) Jared Pratt, United States vs. Matthew Kandath, United States
Court 8
Jordi Arconada, United States vs. Kolman Lawrence, United States
Vojtech Vlkovsky, Czech Republic vs. Kirac Bekisoglu, Turkey
2018 Marks 39th Year For USTA Pro Circuit
The 2018 tennis year will be the 39th season of the USTA Pro Circuit.
The USTA Pro Circuit, the largest developmental tennis circuit in the world, is scheduled to feature more than 90 events this year—including nine women’s events at $80,000-plus in prize money and six men’s Challengers at $100,000-plus in prize money. The USTA Pro Circuit will this year award more than $3 million in total prize money.
The $15,000 men’s Futures event in Vero Beach, Florida – the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships – will be played April 20-29.
More than 30 events are also expected to take place on clay. In conjunction with USTA Player Development, the USTA Pro Circuit continues to emphasize the importance of increased training for younger players on clay.
New this year, each USTA Pro Circuit tournament will be activating the USTA’s “Net Generation” and offer kids’ activities that will give local children an opportunity to be involved with professional tennis and interact with tennis’ rising stars. Local children in each market will be given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take part in coin tosses, be a player escort prior to matches, or play tennis during an on-court Net Generation demonstration. With more than 90 events hosted nationwide, children will now get closer to the game than ever before. Net Generation, launched during the 2017 US Open, is the USTA’s new approach to inspire the next generation of tennis players. With Net Generation, American tennis has, for the first time, one unified youth brand for kids and parents, which also ensures a kid-friendly and safe environment across all competitive levels.
Returning initiatives for 2018 include live streaming and USTA Pro Circuit Wild Card Challenges.
• Live streaming will continue for all USTA Pro Circuit men’s Challengers and women’s events with prize money of $60,000 or more. Live streaming will begin the week of Jan. 29 at the $125,000 men’s Challenger in Dallas, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and the $100,000 women’s event in Midland, Mich., which will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2018.
• USTA Player Development will again award wild cards into the main draws of the French Open, US Open, and Australian Open based on players’ results on the USTA Pro Circuit.
“The USTA Pro Circuit is still going strong after 39 years, developing hundreds of young players and bringing world-class tennis to local communities nationwide that might not otherwise see pro tennis,” said Megan Rose, USTA Pro Circuit Director. “We are excited to begin 2018 with strong playing fields, top-notch tennis, and some exciting new initiatives for our younger tennis fans to grow the game and help create the next generation of tennis players.”
The opening weeks of competition for the 2018 season feature numerous young up-and-coming Americans looking to develop their games into the spring. Those scheduled to compete in the coming weeks include 2017 Wimbledon junior champion and former world junior No. 1 Claire Liu, former Georgia Tech standout Christopher Eubanks, current world No. 1 junior and 2017 junior French Open champion Whitney Osuigwe, US Open qualifier and former University of Virginia standout JC Aragone, former Ohio State standout Francesca Di Lorenzo, 2016 Wimbledon junior semifinalist Ulises Blanch, 2017 junior Wimbledon finalist Ann Li, 2017 USTA Boys’ 18s champion Patrick Kypson, and former world No. 87 Victoria Duval, who is on the comeback trail after recovering from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
To view the 2018 USTA Pro Circuit calendar or to find information about draws, entry lists, live streaming, and this year’s USTA Pro Circuit season, visit www.procircuit.usta.com. Fans can also follow and discuss the USTA Pro Circuit by utilizing the hashtag #USTAProCircuit on social media.
