SENIOR TENNIS PLAYERS - HAVE RACQUET WILL TRAVEL

ONTARIO SENIOR TENNIS PLAYERS - HAVE RACQUET WILL TRAVEL

ITF Young Seniors

Several Ontario players were in Umag, Croatia recently competing in the ITF Young Seniors World Team Championships.

The Young Cup (over 40) team of Ontarians Jennifer Bishop, Maureen Drake and Paula Myslivecek, who grew up in Ontario but now lives in Florida, are seen here (right to left).  They beat the USA team on the final day of competition to take 5th spot overall.

Other Ontario players who played in Croatia were

Lucie Lean (Margaret Court Cup over 45), Leigh Bradwell, Liane Marr (Suzanne Lenglen Cup over 35)

Dave Rowat (Italia Cup over 35)   Ben Woo (Tony Trabert Cup over 40)

Mont Tremblant, ITF

Mont Tremblant, Quebec was the delightful site for the Senior ITF Tournament played June 

Several Ontario players achieved significant results at this event.

In the over 45 Mens Singles Nels Stanfield was the Finalist with Dan Deangelis and Ivan Balic reaching the semi finals. Dan and Ivan played in the doubles together again reaching the semi-finals.  In the Over 50s, Imran Syed was a semi-finalist in singles, won the mixed doubles (with Karen Clarke), and was a finalist in the men's doubles (with Donald Bruce Acland). In the mens Over 60 Singles Steve Fricker was a semi-finalist. Adrian Grice placed 2 in the over 80 men's singles and was also a semi-finalist in th over 70 mixed with Ruth Grice.

In the Over 50 women's singles Cindy O'Doherty and Sandy Mackie were semi-finalist; Cindy was a finalist in the mixed doubles (with Jeff Henkelman).  Patricia Babcock was the finalist in the Over 60 singles. In the Over 65 events Maria Dinga was the singles finalist, and a double doubles champion with Violetta Nesukaitis in womens and Lucien Demarais of Quebec in mixed. Anne Rungi was the sole Ontarian to take a singles title. She won the Over 70 singles and was a finalist in both the ladies and the mixed doubles (with Louise Langston and Claude Savaria). Anne Rungi and Louise are pictured below.

OFSAA TENNIS FINALS

OFSAA TENNIS FINALS

The Ontario Federation of Secondary Schools Athletic Association held their finals on May 30th, 31st and June 1st at the University of Toronto Scarborough Tennis Centre and Mayfair Racquet Club East.

Competition is held at two levels. The Open level is for players who compete in tennis competition on a regular basis outside of the school program and have a high OTA ranking.  The High School Level is for players who play at a recreational level.

Rogers TV recorded the High School Boys Singles, High School Girls Singles, Open Boys Singles, and Open Girls Singles Finals.  These matches were televised on Sunday June 5th between 2 and 5 pm in Toronto.  

 Pictured here L to R are Spencer Robertson, Cindy Phair (Coach) and Michael Orrett who took the 4th place in High School Boys Doubles. Thanks to Todd Orrett for the photo. Other photos of the event can be found on the OFSAA Facebook page.

The winning players and teams were:-

High School Boys Singles

 GOLD:  Carr Norton (CISAA) - Upper Canada College, SILVER:  Georg Zoidl (YRAA) - St. Maximillian Kolbe, BRONZE:  Keenan Conlon (CISAA)- Upper Canada College, ANTIQUE BRONZE: Bryn Hafer (ROPSSAA) - Lorne Park S.S.

 High School Girls Singles

 GOLD:  Paige Baynham (WOSSA) - H.B. Beal SS, SILVER:  Megan Gilkes (CISAA) - Holy Trinity School, BRONZE: Mara Stroe (LOSSA) - J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate, ANTIQUE BRONZE: Briahn Guthrie (GBSSA) - Eastview S.S.

High School Boys Doubles

GOLD:  Matt Gibson/Victor Guziak (WOSSA) - London Central,SILVER:  John Fischer/Luke Fischer (WOSSA) - Stratford Central,BRONZE:  Jordan Welter/Sam Finkelstein (TDSSAA) - Lawrence Park,ANTIQUE BRONZE:  Spencer Robertson/Michael Orrett (LOSSA) - Henry Street High School.

High School  Girls Doubles                                                                                                                    GOLD:  Victoria Tseng Paepcke/ Rachel Navarro (ROPSSAA) - Lorne Park S.S., SILVER:  Zante Botha/Charee Botha (WOSSA) - Mother Teresa CSS, BRONZE:  Catherine Rastin/Clara Rastin (SWOSSAA) - St. Patrick's, ANTIQUE BRONZE:   Sasha Malesevic/Ivana Milisic (CWOSSA) - Cameron Heights CI.

High School Mixed Doubles

 GOLD:  Meg Killeen/ Lachlan Carmichael (TDSSAA) -Lawrence Park, SILVER: Madeleine Swenor/Bryn de Chastelain (GHAC) - Georgetown District HS, BRONZE: Alyssia Watkin/John Karakas (CISAA) - Appleby College, ANTIQUE BRONZE: Yigit Gedikli/Rachel Mendelson (TDSSAA) - Forest Hill.

 Open Boys Singles

 GOLD:  Jakob Nielsen (CISAA) - Appleby College, SILVER: Peter Coombs  (GHAC) - Oakville Trafalgar HS, BRONZE:  Nathan Wong (GHAC) - White Oaks Secondary School, ANTIQUE BRONZE: Eric Chernly (TDCAA) - Michael Power.

 Open Girls Singles

 GOLD:  Rebecca Herrington (GBSSA) - Banting Memorial H.S., SILVER:  Mya Bui (LOSSA) - Pickering High School, BRONZE:  Victoria DiMuzio  (CWOSSA) - Bishop MacDonell H.S., ANTIQUE BRONZE: Ksenia Providokhina (YRAA) - Bill Crothers S.S.

 Open Boys Doubles

 GOLD:  Roy Stepanov/ Malik Bhatnagar (GHAC) - Robert Bateman, SILVER: DJ Fenerty/ Shane Bulitka (WOSSA) - St. Andre Bessette, BRONZE: Brooks Coffey/ Alp Tezol (TDSSAA) - North Toronto, ANTIQUE BRONZE: Spencer Grant/ Mark Jensen (GHAC) - Oakville Trafalgar High School.

 Open Girls Doubles

 GOLD:   Alexandra Mikhailuk/ Angela Chen (GHAC) - Nelson High School, SILVER:  Stephanie Afloroaei/ Alicia Opatowski (LOSSA) - Dunbarton High School, BRONZE:  Sofia Miller/ Rita Kanaeva (TDSSAA) - Malvern, ANTIQUE BRONZE:  Nina Zhang/ Lily Zhang (SWOSSAA) -Vincent Massey.

 Open Mixed Doubles

GOLD:  Rita Colyer/ Luke Smrek  (GHAC) - Robert Bateman, SILVER:  Marko Kazar/ Elizabeth Rozin (TDSSAA) - Lawrence Park, BRONZE:  Mia Tamindzija/ Ryan MacLean (CWOSSA) - Resurrection C.S.S., ANTIQUE BRONZE:  Gabrielle Oancea/ Andrew Codita (LOSSA) - Dunbarton High School.

NATIONAL SELECTION PROCESS

NATIONAL SELECTION TOURNAMENTS

The 2016 National Selection Process involves National Selection Tournaments as well as the Provincial Championships. Each player can accumulate selection points through these tournaments. There are 2 indoor and 2 outdoor designated national selection events (4 star) offered for each category at a 4 star value. At National Selection events the top 16 players will receive direct entry with another 16 spots being available for qualifiers. Players will receive ranking points for qualifying/feed up events and consolation. Consistent with the rest of the country, these national selection events are rated at 60% of the Provincial Championships.

Several national selection events were held early in June. Because of inclement weather on Sunday June 5th some of these events have yet to be completed.

U12 Boys and Girls at Credit Valley Tennis Club, June 3-5

Girls Singles Winner: Sarah Liu, Finalist: Iulia Cristina Bucea, Semi-finalists: Maria Popova, Dharani Niroshan.

Girls Doubles Winners: Arina Artemyeva & Sarah Liu, Finalists: Dharani Niroshan & Amelie Gal   (see photo L to R, courtesy Kevin Liu)

Boys Singles Winner: Stefan Simeunovic (Oakville), Finalist: Adrian Smith, Semi-finalists: Owen Dunn, Alexander Matros.

BD Semis and Final to be completed June 26^th.

U16 Girls at Palgrave Tennis Club, June 3-5

Girls Singles Winner: Viktoriya Tabunshchyk, Finalist: Daniela Voloh, Semi-finalists: Rita Colyer Kailen Galazka.

Girls Doubles Winners: Corina Spasojevic & Viktoriya Tabunshchyk, Finaists: Kailen Glazka & Oleksandra Gorchanyuk

U16 Boys at University of Toronto Scarborough Tennis Centre, June 3-5

Singles Finalists: Liam Draxl,  Ryan Navarro, Semi-finalists: Ethan Meanchos Daniel Fainblum

U14 Girls at Mississauga Golf and Country Club, June 10-12

Girls Singles Winner: Corina Spasojevic, Finalist: Rachel Krzyzak, Semi-finalists: Kristen Borland, Rachel Hanford

Girls Doubles Winners: Alexia Di Giulio & Rachel Krzyzak, Finalists: Julia Kuszynski & Shirley Liang

U14 Boys at Rosedale Tennis Club, Hamilton, June 10-12

Singles Winner: Ilya Tirapolsky, Finalist: Joshua Lapadat, Semi-finalists: Marko Stakusic, Alvin Nicholas Tudorica

Doubles Winners: Joshua Lapadat & Alvin Nicholas Tudorica, Finalists: Erik Eliot Kovacs & Kevin Bence Kovacs

If you are interested in seeing the future of Canadian Tennis - come and watch the Ontario Junior Closed Provincials.  From June 27^th to July 2^nd the U12s and U16s will be playing at Kew Gardens Tennis Club and University of Toronto Scarborough Tennis Centre. While from July 4 to 9 the U18s and U14s will be playing at University of Toronto Scarborough, Pine Point TC and Veneto TC.

INTERNATIONAL CLUB GOES TO NEW YORK

INTERNATIONAL CLUB GOES TO NEW YORK

When the International Lawn Tennis Club of Canada team travels to New York, bringing home the hardware isn't at the top of their agenda, instead it is to get to play on the beautiful grass courts at Piping Rock Country Club.  Of course Piping Rock has clay courts in case the grass is unplayable, and given that the Friday afternoon brought light drizzle, these courts were the only ones available for practice. Saturday however brought a picture perfect day for playing matches on the grass and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Sunday the rain set in and the morning matches were played at the huge Port Washington indoor facility.  Any weather problems were made up for with the wonderful hospitality.

This was the first time in several years that an open men's team traveled to New York and the women's team was the largest and the youngest average age Canada has fielded in New York, thanks to some young new members.  Pictured here Back row L to R Dale Kozicz (Captain), Sue Smylie, Janice Hebert, Julie Salomon, Laura Randmaa Atkinson, Jane Seed. Front Row: Kanta Murali, Susanna Sekely, Kathy Mueller and guest/local resident Junko Matsushita.

There were lots of close matches. Of particular note Kanta Murali had a tough three set singles with a 29 year old who had played for Harvard. When the final tally was made, the US retained the Gengler Cup by ten matches to five.

The senior men's team are pictured in their club house clothes. L to R. John Payne, Tim Griffin, Owen Pellew, Bob Awrey, Terry Redvers, Dennis Ing, Raj Nagendra, Ivan Petrov and Rosti Brankovsky (Captain).   The USA team retained the Baker Bowl, also by a score of 10 matches to 5. Unfortunately Canada was 0 for 4 in super tiebreakers otherwise the result might have been different.

The Canadian Open Men's team took a 5-4 lead  after Saturdays matches, but failed to take any of the Sunday matches, giving the USA another 10-5 win to take the Sorlein Cup. Could it have been too much sun on the Saturday or too much hospitality on Saturday night that caused their collapse? The Open team members were Jamie Weatherall, Robert Janacek, Jeremy Langer, Eric Vehovec, Fil Marinkovic, Keenan O'Young, Adam Taylor and captain, Michael Stauble. 

Always a great weekend! The Canadian IC are looking forward to hosting a full USIC team in Toronto next June.  

MILOS AND MCENROE

MILOS and McENROE

In the short grass season leading up to Wimbledon there has been a lot of interest in the decision made by Milos Raonic to add John McEnroe to his team as a coach on the grass.

Milos's singles career has already broken so many records for a Canadian player, but there is one milestone or accomplishment that would outstrip them all - to win a Grand Slam Singles Championship.  Now when you look at which Grand Slam is best suited to Milos's strengths you have to think it is Wimbledon, where there have been several champions who have relied on their height and their big serve as the main weapons in their arsenal.  

Everybody loves Milos for his preppy good looks, his modesty, his all round nice guy demeanour.  John McEnroe on the other hand is almost the antithesis of Milos. He gained a reputation for being a mouthy brat and, if he hadn't been such a talented and intuitive player, he would probably have been forgotten. But the big question is can John McEnroe infuse Milos with the spark, the creativity, the intuition and the magic he needs to reach that next level and win Wimbledon?

The tenniscanada.com web site  is doing a great job of following this exciting story. Milos has passed the first hurdle, he beat his recent nemesis, Kyrgios, in the first round of the Queens Club tournament. We thought you'd like to follow our local hero as he tries to make history on those green and pleasant courts. 

Check out these videos taken at Queens Club of Milos' practice and highlights of his match
with Kyrgios.