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James Van Deinse Wins 2023 “King of the Hill” Open Division, Earns Mardy Fish Doubles Wild Card With Tyler Rios

Randy Walker · March 3, 2023 · Leave a Comment

James Van Deinse of the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club, and Tyler Rios of the Magnolia Lakes Club in Port St. Lucie, the winner and runner-up respectively at the annual “King of the Hill” tennis competition that concluded Thursday night at The Boulevard, have been awarded a main draw doubles wild card into the 2023 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, to be held April 24-30 in Vero Beach.

Van Deinse and Rios were awarded the wild card by the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the operators of the Vero Beach $15,000 U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit and ITF World Tennis Tour event as part of an agreement with the “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. Held since 1996, the “King of the Hill” competition features tennis teaching professionals competing in doubles play to determine the top player in the area and to benefit Youth Guidance in Vero Beach as its charity.

With a crowd of over 400 fans watching, Van Deinse won a 7-6 tiebreaker by seven points to five alongside brother Joseph Van Deinse, also the owner and professional of the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club, over Rios and Sea Oaks tennis pro Christian Docter to edge Rios for the title in the last of three sets played between the four finalists. Van Deinse, who also won the KOTH title in 2017, won all three sets he played Thursday night with all three of the other finalists.

“It feels amazing. It was some of my best tennis that I played today,” said Van Deinse. “I played some of my best tennis when I needed it the most.”

Van Deinse is fresh off playing the biggest tennis tournament of his career at the ATP Tour’s Challenger level event in Monterrey, Mexico, where he competed alongside several former top 25 world-ranked players. Van Deinse was able to play against world No. 130 ranked Yosuke Watanuki of Japan, fresh off advancing to the second round at the Australian Open. Van Deinse was defeated 6-0, 6-1 but said that the experience helped him in his King of the Hill final.

“It mostly prepared me to be sharp,” he said. “I felt like when a ball came at me quick tonight for a volley, or a return of serve, or whatever, I was ready for it, because I had practiced against a level that I wasn’t used to before.”

Van Deinse will get another opportunity on the professional tour stage when he competes in the main draw in doubles with Rios at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, which is a level below the ATP Challenger level in the hierarchy of pro tennis. To boot, Van Deinse will be playing the tournament on the courts he owns and teaches on as the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation will be hosting the event at the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club.

“I can’t wait,” said Van Deinse of playing the Mardy Fish at his home club. “It would’ve been cool to play with (brother) Joseph, but I’m so excited to play with Tyler. He’s a nice guy, great player, and, hopefully, we can get a win.”

Van Deinse and Rios will play their first-round doubles match against world-ranked ATP touring professionals on Tuesday, April 24 at 6:00 pm. Rios, a first-time KOTH finalist, will be competing in a pro tennis tournament for the first time in his career.

WATCH the James Van Deinse post-match interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BxgwUYDLiI

Features James Van Deinse, King of the Hill, Mardy Fish Children's Foundation, Vero Beach

USTA Florida To Take Over Management Of Riverside Park Tennis Facility

manfr3dw · February 27, 2023 · Leave a Comment

USTA Florida has expanded its facility management division, as the Vero Beach City Council voted unanimously to enter into a licensing agreement with the non-profit tennis association to manage Riverside Racquet Complex.  This will be the fourth USTA Florida-managed facility, joining Racquet Club of Cocoa Beach, Fort Walton Beach Tennis Center, and four tennis parks in Gainesville, that currently operate under the non-profit’s banner. 

“We got into this business five years ago to help save public tennis centers that were at risk of closing or struggling to keep players.  Today, tennis is booming, and we are expanding our business to help municipalities deliver the best possible tennis experience and programs to their communities,” said Phil Girardi, USTA Florida President. 

According to Girardi, Riverside is a perfect fit for USTA Florida to manage.  The city itself is home to a number of very active tennis volunteers, including USTA Florida Past President Nancy Morgan and current USTA Florida Board member Kainoa Rosa.  Riverside also has a vibrant community tennis association, led by Tim Palmer, who works tirelessly to advocate and deliver tennis programs at the park. 

“The partnerships that are already present in this community are truly special.  They provide a strong foundation for growth,” said Girardi. 

City officials shared a similar desire to expand programs and play at the facility, while keeping existing programs that residents have come to expect.   

“We have been working with the USTA-FL for over a year to get this agreement in place. They have a proven track record of working with other municipalities around the state, and we are thrilled to have them as our partner. USTA-FL will have the ability to bring new and improved programming to Riverside, particularly to our city’s youth, while maintaining the offerings our members and patrons currently enjoy. We feel that this partnership will be a win for our residents, and a major boost to tennis in Vero Beach,” shared Jim O’Connell, Director of the Vero Beach Recreation Department.  

Since USTA Florida took on its first facility in 2018, tennis participation in the state of Florida has grown by nearly half a million players.  The latest tennis participation study shows that more than 100,000 additional Floridians want to start playing tennis, if given the chance.  USTA Florida Past President, Dana Andrews, says Vero Beach is positioned well to serve both the existing members and reach new players. 

“I have truly enjoyed working with the volunteers and the city representative throughout this process.  When I first stepped foot in this park, I knew exactly why the residents love it.  If there was a postcard for Florida tennis, this place would be on the front,” Andrews said.  “We want everyone in the community to play here – tennis is the sport of a lifetime.”  

Riverside Racquet Complex holds a special place in Florida tennis history.  American champion Mardy Fish grew up playing tennis with his dad, Tom, on the Riverside courts, just across the street from his home.   

“As a tennis-playing Vero Beach resident for over 40 years, I am thrilled that USTA Florida will be taking over the management of the Riverside Park public tennis courts, because no organization knows tennis better than the USTA. Tennis is the ultimate family sport that can be enjoyed together, and Riverside Park is the place where I enjoyed playing the most with my family.  It’s where my two children, Mardy and Meredith, first learned to love the game. I know USTA Florida will bring excitement back to the Riverside Park courts to the benefit of all in our community who play tennis or wish to learn,” said Tom Fish. 

“My early dreams in tennis began at Riverside Park in Vero Beach and it led me down the road to be able to compete on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Centre Court at Wimbledon and many other wonderful places around the world and I hope that more players can start to realize their own dreams on those very same courts,” said Mardy Fish. “Me and my pals Robert Kowalcyck and Jake Owen and his brother Jarrod and all of our families spent so much time playing tennis at Riverside Park years ago and I know that the USTA Florida will do an amazing job to bring that excitement, joy and energy back and to even greater heights.” 

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation is eager to expand youth play at the Riverside courts to bring back the high level of programming that the Fish family enjoyed decades ago. 

“So many more people in our community – kids and adults – will have the opportunity to be introduced to the game of tennis under the management of the USTA Florida, a world-class organization.  The tennis facility will finally be brought up to standards that match the beauty of the rest of the Riverside Park area.  This will all be done at a savings to our tax paying citizens.   We could not have asked for a better win-win situation,” said Lynn Southerly, executive director of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation.     

As part of the agreement with the city, USTA Florida will resurface the four remaining tennis courts at Riverside this Spring.  The association plans to recruit a full-time head tennis professional and other staff in the coming weeks.  The goal is for the facility to be fully managed by USTA Florida in June.   

For more information on USTA Florida’s mission and to learn more about its facility management services, visit USTAFlorida.com.    

Riverside Park

Features Riverside Park, USTA Florida, Vero Beach

James Van Deinse Loses To Australian Open Second-Round Finisher In ATP Monterrey, Mexico Challenger

Randy Walker · February 22, 2023 · Leave a Comment

by Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

James Van Deinse of the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club had his name placed alongside such bold-faced tennis names as former U.S. Olympians and Davis Cuppers Steve Johnson and Denis Kudla and former top 25 players Adrian Mannarino, Bernie Tomic and Benoit Paire in the singles main draw at the ATP Challenger Tour’s Monterrey, Mexico Challenger.

Van Deinse was making his debut on this high-level of professional, just below the ATP Tour level and it marked his highest mark in professional tennis. Despite not having an ATP singles or doubles ranking, Van Deinse was able to get a main draw singles (and doubles) wild card entry into the event, on the recommendation of former Mexican Davis Cupper and fellow Vero Beach teach pro Daniel Garza.

In the first round, Van Deinse drew word No. 130 ranked Yosuke Watanuki of Japan, fresh off advancing into the main draw of the Australian Open, where he lost to up-and-coming American star Sebi Korda in the second round. Van Deinse hung in as hard as you could, but was defeated 6-0, 6-1.

“Getting to play in an ATP challenger level tennis event is an awesome experience that very few players in the world can say they have done, so just compete was a thrill for me,” Van Deinse said via text from Mexico. “From getting to spend time on the ‘players only’ lounge, to signing autographs, to having ball kids, linesmen, and a chair umpire. It truly feels like the big times.”

Despite holding some recent wins in Vero Beach over former top 100 doubles player Brian Battistone and former top 400 player Michel Schmid (read more here: https://tennisverobeach.com/index.php/2022/12/19/james-van-deinse-beats-former-top-400-pro-to-win-utr-tournament-at-vero-beach-tennis-fitness-club/?fbclid=IwAR3oIE0-Jh__oe-RnMAgLROFip1wcNsjcnNo6qKHsfV3jLvvCiiXZuvSZr0) and some respectable results in the qualifying rounds at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships $15,000 ITF World Tennis Tour USTA Pro Circuit event in Vero Beach, Van Deinse said the level of talent was significantly higher on the Challenger circuit.

“My opponent was top 150 in the world, and it showed,” Van Deinse said. “It was difficult for me to keep up with his pace. The level of intensity it takes to get even one point against a player of his caliber is almost overwhelming. Even though it wasn’t the result I wanted, I gave it my everything I had… as I always do. After this event, I am inspired to continue training to become the best tennis player I can be.”

Next up for Van Deinse will be competing the “King of Hill” final at The Boulevard on Thursday, March 2, where if he wins or finishes second, he will be awarded a main draw wild card in the doubles event at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships that is held at his club, the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club at Timber Ridge April 24-30.

James Van Deinse competing on the ATP Challenger Tour as seen on the live streaming of the event in Monterrey, Mexico

Features ATP Challenger, James Van Deinse, Monterrey, Vero Beach

At Wawa, James van Deinse Reveals Amazing Tennis Career Opportunity

Randy Walker · February 16, 2023 · Leave a Comment

By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

You never know what you might find out while filling up your gas tank at Wawa in Vero Beach!

As I was filling by gas tank with unleaded at the Wawa on US-1, a yellow sports car pulled next to me. The car door opened and I heard a friendly voice call out ‘Hey Randy.”

It was James van Deinse, the co-owner and teaching pro at the Vero Beach Tennis and Fitness Club. We talked a bit about his success at “King of the Hill,” where he and brother Joseph are in the “Open Division” final to be played March 2, where the winner and runner-up get a wild card in the main draw of doubles at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships $15,000 ITF World Tennis Tour event in late April. We also talked about the annual singles Mardy Fish “Wild Card” event at Sea Oaks, which is held next week. James then dropped the big news on why he would not be playing in that event.

“I got a wild card into a Challenger in Mexico,” said James.

A Challenger is a pro event that is just below the ATP Tour event level, and always features top 150 players, and many times top 100 pros and familiar names that all have seen play big matches at Grand Slam tournaments. The event is Monterrey Challenger and Fernando Verdasco, the Davis Cup star for Spain and former Australian Open semifinalist is the defending champion. Former French Open finalist David Ferrer won the event in 2018.

“How did you get that?” I incredously asked about this amazing opportunity.

Van Deinse explained that Dani Garza, the former Mexican Davis Cup player who coaches in Vero Beach, knows the tournament director and put in a good word for him and a wild card entry in the main draw of singles was granted.

“Adrian Mannarino is playing” van Deinse exclaimed of the former top 25-ranked French player who has reached the fourth round at Wimbledon three times and has won two ATP singles titles.

Van Deinse has played many prize money events in his career, as well as in the qualifying rounds of five ITF World Tennis Tour events on the $15,000-level. He played in the main draw of doubles at the 2017 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships in 2017, losing in the first round alongside former Quail Valley teaching pro and University of Florida standout Michael Alford. Van Deinse has never held an ATP ranking in singles or doubles and his Universal Tennis (UTR) rating is 11.48. He recently posted one of the best results of his career, winning a local UTR event in Vero Beach, beating former top 400 player Michal Schmid in the Czech Republic in the final as you can read here: https://tennisverobeach.com/index.php/2022/12/19/james-van-deinse-beats-former-top-400-pro-to-win-utr-tournament-at-vero-beach-tennis-fitness-club/?fbclid=IwAR3oIE0-Jh__oe-RnMAgLROFip1wcNsjcnNo6qKHsfV3jLvvCiiXZuvSZr0

For more information on the Monterrey Challenger, click here: https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/monterrey/7351/overview

https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/monterrey/7351/overview

Features ATP, ITF, James Van Deinse, Mardy Fish Children's Foundation, Mexico, Monterrey, UTR, Vero Beach, wawa

Cooper Williams Winning Aussie Open Boys’ Doubles Title Gives 2023 Mardy Fish Competitors Three Junior Boys’ Doubles Majors

Randy Walker · January 29, 2023 · Leave a Comment

American junior tennis players who played in the 2022 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships are getting this Grand Slam junior boys doubles title thing down.

Cooper Williams, the 17-year-old from New York who reached the second round of the 2022 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, became the third straight player from the 2022 Vero Beach event to win a Grand Slam tournament junior doubles title when he and partner Learner Tien won the junior boys’ doubles title at the Australian Open. Williams and Tien defeated top seeds Alexander Blockx of Belgium and Joao Fonseca of Brazil 6-4, 6-4 in the final.

Williams joins his fellow Vero Beach tournament competitors from April of 2022, Nishesh Basavareddy of Carmel, Indiana and Alex Michelsen of Aliso Viejo, California, as junior doubles winners at Grand Slams since playing in Vero Beach.

Michelsen, who lost in the first round of singles in Vero Beach to eventual champion Sekou Bangoura, won the Wimbledon junior doubles title with Sebastian Gorzny. Michelsen paired with Williams in doubles in Vero Beach, losing in the first round.

Basavareddy won the junior boys doubles title at the U.S. Open with Ozan Baris, before heading off to play for Stanford University. Basavareddy lost in the first round of singles in Vero Beach in 2022, but, as a wild card entry, won the doubles title with Vero Beach fan favorite Ricardo Rodriguez.

The 2023 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships will be held April 24-30 at a new location, the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club at Timber Ridge.

Junior boys doubles winners at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open (clockwise)

Features Alex Michelsen, Australian Open, Cooper Williams, Mardy Fish Children's Foundation Tennis Championships, Nishesh Basavareddy, US Open, Vero Beach, Wimbledon

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tennisverobeach TennisVeroBeach @tennisverobeach ·
24 Mar

Yosuke Watanuki, who beat Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club’s James Van Deinse in the Monterrey, Mexico Challenger last month, beat Benoit Paire in the first round of the #MiamiOpen

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24 Mar

North of West Palm Beach, Florida’s Treasure Coast attracts those seeking uncrowded beaches, fishing, dining outdoors and, oh yes, pickleball https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-laid-back-travelers-love-floridas-treasure-coast-11673636467?reflink=share_mobilewebshare

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7 Mar

“King of the Hill” finale story featured today on ⁦@TCPalm⁩ https://www.tcpalm.com/story/sports/tennis/2023/03/06/local-tennis-van-deinse-rios-earn-wild-card-draw-for-mardy-fish-tournament/69975663007/

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6 Mar

Wild card summary for ⁦@VeroFutures⁩ https://www.instagram.com/p/CpdQqFhrDTF/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

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5 Mar

Congrats to Vero Beach’s Mason Cisco who won a L4 USTA tournament in Orlando Sunday!

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