Vero Beach Champions

Mike Alford, a former standout player from the University of Florida and a pro at Quail Valley in Vero Beach, was the open division winner of the 2016 “King of the Hill” tennis competition held at The Moorings Yacht and Tennis Club in Vero Beach.
Alford won all three of his doubles matches during the final evening of the matches, playing with and against the other three finalists – Robert Kowalczyk of The Moorings, Lennart Jonason of John’s Island and Milos Vasovic of Eau Gallie Yacht Club in Melbourne. Alford, originally from Tampa, is a former four-year letter winner for the University of Florida and ranked as high as No. 14 in the country in the ITA collegiate rankings.
The 2016 season of “King of the Hill” raised more than $35,000 – the most in the history of the event – for Youth Guidance Program in Indian River County
Gigi Casapu, the tournament director for “King of the Hill,” wrote in a season-ending email, “More than 400 enthusiastic spectators watched the final of the finals of the 2016 King of the Hill event.The open division final was one of the strongest we had in years. Robert Kowalczyk of The Moorings in Vero Beach, Lennart Jonason of John’s Island in Vero Beach, Milos Vasovic of Eau Gallie Yacht Club in Melbourne and Michael Alford of Quail Valley in Vero Beach played at their highest ability and kept the crowd very entertained. Every round was very close, and the winner has been decided after a long set in the third round. Supported by a nice crowd from Quail Valley, Michael Alford won every round playing very consistent, and took the title and the King of the Hill trophy at his club – Quail Valley. Lennart Jonason and Milos Vasovic finished in a tie on the second place followed by Robert Kowalczyk on third place. Congratulations to Micheal for winning the event and to Lennart, Milos and Robert for a great night of tennis at The Moorings Club. Many thanks to The Moorings Club for hosting the event, to the Tennis Director Robert Kowalczyk and his staff for preparing the facility during good or bad weather for nine weeks in a row. Many thanks to our sponsors for supporting the event, to all the players in each division for adjusting their schedule of work to be able to play in the event. Many thanks to the volunteers and to all the spectators who attended the event every night.”

Mardy Fish’s new role is that of “Expert Consultant” for men’s tennis for USTA Player Development, the USTA announced in a press release, also naming Gil Reyes, Andre Agassi’s longtime strength and conditioning trainer as a “master strength and conditioning coach.” Fish’s role will be coaching and advising men in the Top 100.
Fish, the Vero Beach native who ranked as high as No. 7 in the world, began working with Player Development in the offseason at the USTA Training Center – West in Carson, Calif., and will focus on coaching and advising men in the Top 100. He has been working closely with Taylor Fritz, the American teenager who burst into the Top 100 of the rankings since winning the U.S. Open junior title last years.
These are the latest in a series of moves made by USTA Player Development General Manager Martin Blackman. Fish was brought on late last year for the men’s pre-season training block in Carson, designed to help American pros and top juniors prepare for the upcoming year, in particular the Australian Open. It is part of a strategy to involve former champions and top American players in the development of current American pros and juniors. Other such former pros and champions to be involved have included Billie Jean King, Ivan Lendl, Jim Courier, Andy Roddick, Lisa Raymond, Jill Craybas, Michael Russell, Brian Baker, Marianne Werdel and Ann Grossman-Wunderlich, among others.
“Our approach is to look for systematic ways to give our players any competitive advantage that we can, in conjunction with and in collaboration with their private coaches,” Blackman said. “‘Let’s leave no stone unturned’ characterizes our approach to supporting our players, and the additions of Gil Reyes and Mardy Fish are a part of our ongoing initiative to re-engage master trainers, former players and past champions.”
More recently, USTA Player Development announced the creation of its Team USA – Pro department, led by Kathy Rinaldi and Tom Gullikson and designed to provide professional men’s and women’s players with coaching assistance, training and financial resources to help them reach the Top 100.

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation announced it will hold two main draw “wild card” tournaments for its $10,000 U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit event – The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships – to be held April 26 – May 1 at The Boulevard Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Florida.
The Tennis Resort at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida, former site of the ATP Tour’s U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, will host a wild card singles and doubles tournament at its facility April 1-3, while the BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida will host a wild card singles tournament also April 1-3.
Information on both events are outlined below. Entry fees benefit the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.MardyFishFoundation.com) and are partially tax deductible.
ORLANDO SINGLES AND DOUBLES WILD CARD TOURNAMENT
Site: Tennis Resort at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World – 700 South Victory Way, Orlando, FL 34747
Website: www.TennisWDW.com
Entry Fee: $70 singles; $80 per doubles team Entries Close: March 28
Contact: Carlos Goffi (Cgoffi@tenniswdw.com (321 662 4170) and Randy Walker Rwalker@NewChapterMedia.com (917 770 0843) To Enter: Email and email entry fees via paypal to Rwalker@NewChapterMedia.com
PALM BEACH GARDENS SINGLES WILD CARD TOURNAMENT
Site: BallenIsles Country Club – 105 BallenIsles Dr, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Website: www.BallenIsles.org
Entry Fee: $65 singles (Singles only)
Entries Close: March 28
Contact: Trish Faulkner tfaulkner@Ballenisles.com (561-775-4777) To Enter: Sign up here on TennisLink http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=184980 or email Trish Faulkner for details TFaulkner@BallenIsles.com
Winners of the singles and doubles wild card tournaments in Orlando and the winner of the singles wild card tournament in Palm Beach Gardens will have the opportunity to earn ATP points at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championship and move their way up the ATP World Tour Rankings.
On February 22, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation announced it has taken over the management of the $10,000 “Futures” tennis tournament in Vero Beach, one of the longest-running and best attended events on the U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit. The tournament, now called The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, will benefit the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit tennis foundation benefiting children, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, a former top 10 tennis star, U.S. Davis Cup hero and silver medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games. The event was managed for 20 years by Vero Beach tennis teaching professional Mike Rahaley, who made the annual Vero Beach stop one of the crown jewels on the USTA Pro Circuit. The 2016 tournament will be held April 22 through May 1 at The Boulevard tennis club.
Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.mffkids.org and @MardyFishFound on Twitter) currently supports over 2,100 children in 15 elementary schools and six middle schools in Indian River County, Florida by providing 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.” Mardy Fish recently completed his ATP professional tennis career at the 2015 U.S. Open, highlighted by a career-high ranking of No. 7, six ATP singles titles, eight ATP doubles titles and an Olympic silver medal in singles at the 2004 Olympics. He reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and was a mainstay on the U.S. Davis Cup team from 2002 to 2012.
Some of the past competitors in Vero Beach 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 Australian Open semifinalist Milos Raonic among others. 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.
Tickets for the qualifying rounds of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships from April 22 – April 25 will cost $10, while tickets for the main draw of singles and doubles from April 26 – May 1 will be $20. Season tickets that include both the qualifying and main draw events cost $100. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.VeroBeachTennisTickets.com. Admission for children 18 and under is free. Fans can follow news and developments on the tournament on Facebook and on Twitter at @VeroFutures.

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation has taken over the management of the $10,000 “Futures” tennis tournament in Vero Beach – one of the longest-running and best attended events on the U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit. The tournament – to be called The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships – will now benefit the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit tennis foundation benefiting children, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, a former top 10 tennis star, U.S. Davis Cup hero and silver medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games.
The event was managed for 20 years by Vero Beach tennis teaching professional Mike Rahaley, who made the annual Vero Beach stop one of the crown jewels on the USTA Pro Circuit. The 2016 tournament will be held April 22 through May 1 at The Boulevard tennis club.
“This announcement is all about the future of Vero Beach – to continue this important event and keep it in this community that is so passionate about tennis and to use the tournament to help raise funds for the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation which serves as an investment in the future of our community through the kids,” said Tom Fish, Chairman of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation. “We salute Mike Rahaley for the amazing job he has done with this event that last 20 years and we look forward to continuing his legacy for years to come as the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships.”
Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.mffkids.org and @MardyFishFound on Twitter) currently supports over 2,100 children in 15 elementary schools and six middle schools in Indian River County, Florida by providing 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.” Mardy Fish recently completed his ATP professional tennis career at the 2015 U.S. Open, highlighted by a career-high ranking of No. 7, six ATP singles titles, eight ATP doubles titles and an Olympic silver medal in singles at the 2004 Olympics. He reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and was a mainstay on the U.S. Davis Cup team from 2002 to 2012.
“We are so appreciative to the USTA and Mike Rahaley for allowing the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation to take over this tournament and keeping it in Vero Beach,” said Mardy Fish. “Vero Beach is one of the most enthusiastic and sophisticated tennis communities in the country and we are looking forward to seeing this event continue to grow in the years to come. Most importantly, we are excited that the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation can use this event as a promotional and fundraising platform to benefit children in Vero Beach, Indian River County and beyond.”
The annual USTA Vero Beach Futures has an economic impact of approximately $500,000 per year on the Vero Beach local economy. 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.
Some of the past competitors in Vero Beach 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 Australian Open semifinalist Milos Raonic among others. 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.
Tickets for the qualifying rounds of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships from April 22 – April 25 will cost $10, while tickets for the main draw of singles and doubles from April 26 – May 1 will be $20. Season tickets that include both the qualifying and main draw events cost $100. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.VeroBeachTennisTickets.com. Admission for children 18 and under is free. Fans can follow news and developments on the tournament on Facebook and on Twitter at @VeroFutures.

As Mardy Fish has his professional tennis career in his rear-view mirror following the 2015 U.S. Open, tennis fans and followers can now assess his legacy.
 
“He’s had a solid career,” said Paul Annacone on Tennis Channel during the 2015 U.S. Open, citing the Vero Beach, Fla., native’s Olympic silver medal in singles won at the 2004 Olympics, six singles titles and being a stalwart on the U.S. Davis Cup team from 2002 to 2012.
 
His legacy, however, could still be made in tennis, but based on his future accomplishments on the golf course. One could call him the modern-day incarnation of Ellsworth Vines.
 
While Fish didn’t win two U.S. singles titles and a Wimbledon men’s singles title – as Vines did in the 1930s (but did have a comparable cannonball serve as Vines), Fish’s comparison to Vines lies not as much in tennis as it might be in golf.
 
Vines holds the distinction – along with a man named Frank Conner – of being the only men to play in the modern-day U.S. Open (or the U.S. Nationals pre-1968) and the golf U.S. Open. Althea Gibson also played on the LPGA Tour following her tennis career.
 
Vines abandoned his tennis career in 1940 to turn his attention to competitive golf. He not only was a competitor at the golf U.S. Open, but in the Masters and the PGA Championship as well. His best finish in the golf majors being a tie for third at the 1951 PGA (he was a losing semifinalist in the match-play format.) In stroke-play majors, his best finish was a tie for 14th at the U.S. Open in 1948 and 1949. His best finish at the Masters was a tie for 24th in 1947.
 
Fish has been playing at such a high level in golf that he has exploring some options on the pro golf tour. He has played events in lower-level pro tours – the All-American Gateway Tour and the Golden State Tour with mixed success, but became the first alternate in U.S. Open local qualifying in 2014 and 2015. He won his first ever event on the Celebrity Pro Golf Tour in January in Orlando, Florida, at the Diamond Resorts Invitational, pocketing a first-prize paycheck of $100,000.
 
Frank Conner was a standout American tennis player in the amateur era, competing in the U.S. National in 1965, 1966 and 1967, reaching the second round in 1967. He went on to become a tennis All-American at Trinity University in Texas, one of the top tennis schools at the time. However, he had also picked up and excelled at golf as well and, realizing he could make more money in pro golf than tennis, turned into a golf professional, qualifying for the PGA Tour in 1975. His best finish at a major came at the 1981 U.S. Open at Merion where he finished tied for sixth. He never won an official PGA Tour title, but lost in a playoff to Tom Watson at the 1982 Heritage Classic on Hilton Head Island, S.C. and to Dave Barr at the 1981 Quad Cities Open.
 
So while you might not be seeing Fish compete on the Tennis Channel anymore, hopefully, fans will be able to see him compete on the Golf Channel.