Roy Emerson Adoption Guild Classic
Correction (3/31/09): The Adoption Guild is planning an exhibition match however we have not yet received player confirmation. The Adoption Guild sends an apology to Michael Chang and Jan Michael Gambill for this error.
Newly inducted Hall of Famer Michael Chang will take on former rival Jan-Michael Gambill on May 30 at the Newport Beach TC as part of an exhibition match to benefit the annual Roy Emerson Adoption Guild Classic set for May 23-25, 30-31.
Chang, always noted for his thrilling French Open victory at age 17, is familiar to OC tennis enthusiasts because he lived in Placentia and Coto de Caza for much of his life. He recently married two-time NCAA champ from Stanford Amber Liu.
Gambill is still officially on the ATP Tour. He was once ranked in the top 15 and played Davis Cup.
As for participants in the 48th edition of the tournament, entries must be returned by May 8. All proceeds benefit Holy Family Services, which is the largest foster care agency in Orange County.
This year’s players party featuring plenty of live music, food and drinks will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. May 23 at NBTC. A strand of White South Sea Barouque Pearls donated by William Harold Jewelers will be given away in a raffle. For info, contact wprkt@aol.com.
Cal State Fullerton Bounces Back
Injuries have hampered the Cal State Fullerton women’s team’s efforts this season, but the recent return of key leaders Leslie Bullock and Shelly Injejikian helped the team recover going into the home stretch of the season.
Upon the return of Bullock and Injejikian, Fullerton trounced Cal State Bakersfield 7-0, following a four-match losing streak. Injejikian/Cheyenne Inglis have been key in doubles. No. 1 singles player Bullock overcame some hip pains that forced her to retire in one match. Following her injury, she posted a love-love victory in the match against Bakersfield.
Welcome Back: Glatch Begins to Revive
But the Newport Beach resident Alexa turned a big corner at Indian Wells, besting 29th seed Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-1. Combine that with her first round over Stephanie Dubois and the 19-year-old Glatch won consecutive matches on the tour level for the first time and now thinks she just might be able to make something of herself on tour.
Considered one of America’s top junior prospects four years ago, the tall jock had a bout of serious misfortunate in ‘05 when she was riding a scooter around her neighborhood and was attacked by a dog. In order to avoid running it over, she swerved, fell off the bike and ended up breaking her right wrist and left elbow. The accident nearly ruined her career. She still sees the dog on occasion.
“Its kind of weird actually and I don’t like thinking about it,” she said. “
It’s been more than a long road back to recovery. In fact, in ‘07 she almost packed it and applied to college. She was accepted at UCLA and decided at the last minute to press on.
“I wasn’t having any results and my parents really wanted me to go. I almost did. My mom really wanted me to go and there were a couple fights, but she supports me in whatever I do and respected my decision. Growing up, this is what I wanted to do all my life and I didn’t want to throw it away. You only have one chance at this at this so I decided to give it little longer. Luckily, I stuck with it and started getting a little further in the ITF circuits. My mom is probably pretty happy I made that choice now.”
Against Navarro, Glatch showed what made her a talked-about top prospect: a huge kick serve, a high variety backhand with a wicked one handed slice and a solid two handed flat blast, and an occasionally effective forehand blast.
But she hasn’t been able to consistently put together a formidable attack, even this year, when she won the Laguna Nigel Futures, but lost early at a couple of others circuit events and failed to qualify at five WTA tournaments.
“I’ve been though a lot. Its just good to be out here and be able to compete at this level,” said Glatch who hadn’t won a main draw match since the ‘05 U.S. Open. “It was more mental. Initially coming back I was pretty weak and had terrible losses and I didn’t know if I’d ever be back playing at this level again. I remember I got a wild card here [in ‘06 where she fell 6-0, 6-1 to Martina Sucha) and it was my first tournament back. It was on center court at night and I crushed and I remember thinking, ‘I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to play at this level again.’ It’s been a lot of perseverance. I’ve probably come out stronger. It’s still work in progress and I’m trying to be more aggressive, because sometimes I get into rallies and find online casino myself playing too defensively, but I’m starting to realize that my game is coming forward and taking charge of points. I’m doing that better and better.”
U.S. women’s tennis badly needs one of its young players to break out of the pack and crack the top 100 — at the very least. There’s a slew of young U.S. players ranked from No.100-200, but most weeks, they are banging balls at each other on the circuits and not the bigger events.
Hopefully, they won’t get too complacent and think that raising a small piece of silver at a backwater $15,000 event is the same as butting chests with the game Eastern Europeans at premier tournaments like Indian Wells.
“It takes time,” said Glatch, who is currently ranked No. 136, but should crack at least the top casino online 120 after Indian Wells.” You play the same girls over and over again on the pro circuits and I think you can get comfortable at that level. Then when you get out here it’s completely different. You have to have the belief you can do it because that’s a huge part of it. But If I can play at this level, I can play against anyone.”
WTT: Tickets Going Fast for Agassi”s Date with the Newport Beach Breakers
Ticket sales were flying in the office of the Newport Beach Breakers of WorldTeamTennis following the announcement that Andre Agassi will be visiting the Breakers on July 17.
Agassi signed with the Philadelphia Freedoms and the Newport match will mark his return to pro tennis. The Breakers will also be visited by Michael Chang on July 11 and John McEnroe on July 21. The Breakers’ own Maria Sharapova will play at home on July 22.
“The Agassi date is doing really well. I anticipate it will sell out sometime in April the way it’s going,” said Joey Seymoure, manager of ticket sales for the Breakers.
Since retiring in ‘06, it was only a matter of time before the eight-time Slam winner returned to the courts in some capacity. He will play only two matches with These are almost exclusively used by child protective services, parole departments, and other government institutions concerned with drug use over long periods, when urine hair drug testing is not practical. Philadelphia and then play a Champions Tour event in Surprise, Ariz. in October.
For more information visit newportbeachbreakers.com.
UCI To Wrap Up Conference Schedule
UC-Irvine was on track to wrap up the Big West Conference schedule undefeated following convincing wins over Santa Barbara and Cal Poly by the same scores of 6-1. The Anteaters have only Davis (April 3), Pacific (April 4) and Riverside (April 10) to contend with before heading to Indian Wells for the Conference championships April 16-19.
Freshman Fabian Matthews has rallied the team in its wins. He beat Tim Schulz Van Enderet of San Diego State and Benito Suriano of Utah in two key matches. He would have made it a trifecta, but got edged by Matt Kecki of USC 5-7, 7-6, 10-5.
Higher ranked Santa Barbara was supposed to have mounted a stronger challenge in its match with UCI, but it couldn’t handle the depth UCI has at singles with Wes Miller, Steven Henderson and Matthews playing Nos. 1, 2 and 3. UCI singles players didn’t lose a set in the contest.
The women’s team are almost on the same track with only one conference loss (against Long Beach State) versus four wins. It has matches against Northridge, Pacific and Fullerton before heading to the conference finals.
Among the key victories this season was an upset over No. 35 Sacramento State 5-2. In that match, Sac won the doubles point but was overwhelmed by singles players Stephanie Hammel, Brooke Barlett, Heidi Kaloi and Clare Fermin in straight sets. Coach Mike Edles said that while conference wins are important, the goal is to make the NCAA tournament.
Of Note: OCTA, Anaheim Hills, La Habra Winners, New Seal Beach Owner
Winners of the Orange County Tennis Academy Spring Junior Satellite were Parker Jones (B18), Kevin Zhang (B16), Jake Stivers (B14), Shun Matsuo (B12), Adam Langevin (B10), Zoe Katz (G18), Alexandra Porath (G16), Helena Bui (G14), Monique Gandawidjaja (G12) and Mikayla Rinker (G10).
Winners of the 21st Anaheim Hills Open and NTRP were Luis Perez (Open), Anna Anikanova (WOpen), Chang/Kim (MOD), John Lewis (M3.0), Randy Smith (M3.5), Stephen Brown (M4.0), Maximo Salonga (M4.5), Chris Criblez (M5.5), Yvette Hooper (W3.5), Susan Tran (W4.0), Taylor/Taylor (MD3.5), Lin/Bassett (MD4.0) and Lin/Lin (MXD4.0).
Winners of the 18th La Habra Seniors were Scott Spearman (M40), Rudy Sanchez (M45), Bruce Totten (M50), Hamilton Sah (M65), John Ortberg (M75) and Nowick/Totten (MD50).
Cathy Jacobson-Guzy, operator of the BJK and El Dorado tennis facilities in Long Beach, has added the Seal Beach Tennis Center to her list of clubs, taking over from previous operator Eric Stephens.
TSBTC is a key venue for several big events including the CIF Sectionals, the NTRP Sectionals, a junior nationals and several other events.
Anaheim TC Clubhouse Set for Renovation
Plans are proceeding to renovate the historic Wagner House, which serves as the clubhouse for the Anaheim Tennis Center, located at 975 S. State College Blvd.
The house was built in 1921 by Henry T. Wagner Jr. It originally sat on a big ranch and housed an antique pipe organ, which is now at the Cultural Arts Center.
ATC pro Mike Nelson said preliminary plans have been drafted and construction should begin this fall and take about a year to complete. The neighboring Carriage House, which houses the fitness facilities for the club, will also be expanded. “When the city is done with everything, we should have the nicest clubhouse in Orange County,” said Nelson. “We’ll have a bigger courtyard and the inside club area will also expand.”
The construction should not interrupt tennis play. When completed, the club may host some big events including a Pro Circuit Challenger or Futures pro event, added Nelson.
