Joelson, Roshan Win Santa Maria Open
Recent UCLA women’s tennis graduate Ashley Joelson took a much needed break over the summer not even picking up a racket. But she was back in action over the Labor Day weekend, entering and then winning the 31st Comcast Santa Maria Open.
The Austin, Texas, native beat Anna Anikanova of the Ukraine 6-4, 6-1 to win $2,000 at the popular tournament run by the SMCC’s Darien Wright.
In the men’s open final, Nima Roshan of Australia battled Roman Borvanov of Russia for the $4,000 first-place prize money with Roshan coming out on top in a close three-set tiebreaker, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3).
Borvanov came back and teamed with Joelson’s brother Brett to win the men’s open doubles over Trevor Dobson and Noah Newman in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.
Anikanova also avenged her singles loss when she and Desirae Krawczyk teamed up to down Cal Poly’s Jocelyn Davis and Ashley Pane 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in the women’s doubles final. The Joelson’s took the mixed open doubles title with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Kady Pooler and Chris Wettengel.
Cook, Graham Wins Spring Valley Lake Open
Lester Cook was the winner of the 6th annual Spring Valley Lake Country Club Labor Day Weekend tournament as he beat out Austin Karosi and Ken Kuperstein in a three-man round-robin men’s open event. The men’s A singles winner was Tony Chatfield who defeated Justin Harper 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 while on the women’s side Brittany Graham also needed three sets to beat Kaitlyn Mitchell, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.
Paso Robles Swim and Tennis Club
Paso Robles Swim and Tennis Club director of tennis Tim Foley says things couldn’t be better with the opening of the new facility on the Central Coast back in June.
“We’ve gotten off casino online to a great start,” Foley said. “We’re connecting with the local area and really finding that there was an underground group of players here for many years.”
Foley played at Foothill Community College under legendary coach Tom Chivington in the late 1980s. He is the former director of tennis at the Mountain View Tennis Club in the Bay Area. “We want to tie the membership and the area together and put on some great tennis activities,” he said, adding that he is being assisted by Bob Brooks, the Atascadero High boys’ tennis coach. Longtime players Kim and Kimberly Walker own the facility, which features hard and clay courts . The club offers a wide variety of clinics and private lessons for all ages and skill levels. It also has two swimming pools, an upstairs private conference room, a fitness center, café and more. Membership are currently available starting at $79 a month plus initiation with no long term contracts required. For more information, call (805) 239-7397 or log onto pasoroblesclub.com.
Ojai Second-Best Tennis Town in U.S.
Ojai was named the second-best tennis town in the U.S. at the U.S. Open, finishing as a runner-up to winner Midland, Mich. Ojai took home a $50,000 grant to be used on community-wide tennis programming or facility enhancements.
The USTA’s “Best Tennis Town” search, the first-ever initiative designed to identify and reward the American communities—from small, rural towns to large, urban metro areas and everywhere in between—that best exemplify the passion, excitement, spirit and impact that tennis brings to the local level.
As America’s “Best Tennis Town,” Midland—which garnered the most votes during the nationwide, online balloting period from July 16 to July 26—will receive a $100,000 grant from the USTA.
