CountryWide Classic, UCLA
History of The CountryWide Classic
WTT National Qualifier - Las Vegas
Pacific Life Open, Indian Wells
Southern California Adult League Doubles Sectionals
USTA - New Tri-Level League - San Fernando Valley

History of The CountryWide Classic
by Cheri Britton

Starting in 1927, the Countrywide Classic has gone through more than just a few name changes. The tournament was first known as the Pacific Southwest Championships. For five decades it was an amateur only event, in line with the Grand Slams. Until 1984 it was held at the Los Angeles Tennis Club.

This prestigious club is still located on Clinton St. It's a strictly traditional club, much like Wimbledon. When Billie Jean King was just twelve years old, she was excluded from a group picture at the LATC because she was wearing tennis shorts instead of a tennis dress.

The Pacific Southwest tournament had an 'intimate feel'. Jack Kramer recalled in his autobiography that he not only played the greats of men's tennis at the time, but also players from the UCLA and Southern California teams. That must have been a great learning experience for all concerned. To put this all in perspective, the PSC was at least the third most important tournament in the West, and the biggest outdoor hard-court tournament in the world! Remember, at this time, Roland Garros (the French Open) was the only Grand Slam not to be played on grass.

Now for a bit of mystery and detective work: Just when did the 'Powers that Be' allow professional players to compete with the amateurs? The evidence seems to point to the 'Open Era'. This was in 1968 and the new rules allowed Pros to play in the Grand Slams along with amateurs. Obviously this was a great change in international, as well as domestic, tennis. Although there is no definitive answer, all the evidence points to around this time. Rod Laver turned Pro in 1962, and he won the Men's Singles Title in 1968.

There's more history of the Countrywide Classic to come! It's just too big a story to put in one little article, and during the build-up to this fantastic ATP event, expect more articles about the history and some of the fantastic Californian tennis players that have made this event what it is, one of the best.

Part II

The Countrywide Classic - Homegrown Men's Singles Champions, 1930 - 1960

The first Californian born men's singles Champion of the Pacific Southwest Championships, held at the Los Angeles Tennis Club, was Henry Ellsworth Vines, Jr. His friends called him 'Elly', but the media christened him 'the Californian Comet'. He won the tournament two years running, in 1930 and 1931, before being beaten by Fred Perry. He is still known as one of the greats of men's tennis.

The next 'homegrown' Champion (for anyone that has knowledge of California Tennis) needs no introduction; John Donald Budge. Known by the world as Don Budge, he is the first tennis player from the University of California in Berkeley to win this great hard-court event. An interesting article could be written just about this Californian tennis legend, so perhaps later.

Then comes the infamous Bobby Riggs. More remembered for the "Battle of the Sexes" against Billie Jean King, his status as the top male singles player for three years running seems to have been eclipsed by that event. Jack Kramer, in his 1979 autobiography, noted that he thought Riggs was in the top six of men's singles tennis players of all time, even bettering Pancho Gonzales.

So, what about Pancho Gonzalez? Even his name invites controversy. Wikipedia says he was born 'Richard Alonso Gonzalez', though there are many variations to the spelling of his last name, as well as his first. Let's just call him Pancho. He was reportedly the 'McEnroe' of his day, using rage as a means to an end. Early in his career he used it to propel his game, but later it became a stalling tactic, according to some. Whatever, he was still a formidable fighter, even pushing the limits of his capability in the Fall of his career.

The story goes like this:

Here he was, aged 41 and a grandfather by all accounts, going to Wimbledon in 1969, and playing Charlie Pasarell in the first round of the men's singles. The match lasts 5 hours, 12 minutes. Pancho saves 7 match points in the 5th set, and wins by 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, (and eventually) 11-9. This Wimbledon record remained for 21 years, when Micheal Chang and Stefan Edberg played another 14 minutes longer in 1992. New rules were introduced to stop this kind of match marathons from happening again at Wimbledon, but there still could be another record-breaking men's single match, although that is highly unlikely. Pancho was one of a kind, but still an inspiration to young players everywhere.

Cheri Britton is the editor of http://www.womens-tennis-apparel.com/ . Her passions are ladies tennis apparel, tennis, and the promotion of the game of tennis worldwide. She also watches far too much tennis than is good for her.

SoCal World Team Tennis team’s show world we mean business
by Matt Osias

Southern California made quite the splash at last months World Team Tennis Recreational League National Qualifier in Las Vegas, garnishing two teams with national finals bids in November.

At the 4.5 division, captain Julie Tinius-Juliani of Studio City led her team, Aces Up, to an undefeated 5-0 on the outing, while captain Emily Bonnet’s 3.5 team (of Woodland Hills), We Hate Late, earned their very first trip to the WTT National Finals, also finishing unbeaten at 5-0.

Tinius-Juliani’s team had just one close match, winning 25-23 over Paseo, though the rest of their matches were won somewhat effortlessly in the nine-team division. On their way to the finals, Aces Up recorded an unbelievable 36-0 demolition of team Bainspiration; it was the tournaments lone shutout. In the finals, Aces Up took out the Calabasas Challengers 30-24.

“It was a pretty routine tournament for us,” said Tinius-Juliani. “There were no big dramatics. It was all about having fun, and this is a great team with no egos to deal with.”

Although it was fairly uncomplicated for Aces Up to win this event, the team could not have done it without the solid play of Philippe Rodrigue, who went undefeated throughout the tournament

“Philippe won every single match he played,” added Tinius-Juliani. “He really stood out.”

Having qualified for Nationals at Indian Wells in November, Aces Up will have to face tougher, more seasoned opponents. But Tinius-Juliani has no doubt her team will be up to the challenge.

“Our men and women are very strong,” said Tinius-Juliani. “I honestly think that we’ll give any team a run for their money.”

The 3.5 team, We Hate Late, completed their flight with a perfect 3-0 record, good enough for the No. 3 seed heading into the next round. In the quarterfinal match against wildcard team Ray, Bonnet’s team barely scraped by, emerging the victorious 30-29.

En Route to a Division crown, team We Hate late dispatched the No. 2 seed Parque Central 30-26 and Team Krunk in the finals 31-27.

For those not entirely familiar with WTT Recreation League play, it is co-ed teams competing in a format that consists of six no-ad sets: one set each of men’s and women’s doubles, followed by men’s and women’s singles, and ending in two sets of mixed doubles.

Each team must have at least two men and two women (18 and over) on the maximum 10-player roster, and the divisions are broken up much the same way that they are in USTA-play, by NTRP rating. Though determining a team’s overall rating is quite different; the average NTRP rating of the top two men and top two women players on a team determine the team rating. Aces Up captain Tinius-Juliani likes the differences and feels that her players enjoy it as well.

“I enjoy the new format because it is something different,” said Tinius-Juliani. “Since every game matters, our players have to play full-on all the time, and it’s fun to be able to substitute in and out. With the co-ed format, everyone pulls for each other too. It really feels like a team.”

4.5 Division Champions Roster - team Aces Up:
Julie Tinius-Juliani (Capt.), Studio City, CA
Philippe Rodrigue, Studio City, CA
Richard Jennings, Sherman Oaks, CA
Ellie Harris, Sherman Oaks, CA
Karen Cohen, Encino, CA
Diane Perryman, Encino, CA
Tony Richards, Tarzana, CA
Erik Kortland, Manhattan Beach, CA

3.5 Division Champions Roster - team We Hate Late:
Emily Bonnett (Capt.), Woodland Hills, CA
Adam Davis, Tarzana, CA
Lisa Gechtman, Tarzana, CA
Tiffany Grana, Encino, CA
Elisa Hamed, Encino, CA
Nanette Klein, Hidden Hills, CA
Dwight Kuhlman, Canoga Park, CA
Jason De Costa, Woodland Hills, CA
Randa Osman, Encino, CA
Dennis Perryman, Encino, CA
Annemarie Raizman, Valley Village, CA

For the match score breakdowns on all the teams in the Las Vegas Qualifier, please click here.

Indian Wells, Ca., March -- The 2007 Pacific Life Open, achieved a record attendance of 303,398, the first time any non-Grand Slam tournament has broken the 300,000 mark. In addition, the tournament set a single-day attendance record of 20,741 during the day session on Sunday, March 11. The attendance records headline a list of other milestones that were set throughout the two-week event.

A few of the record-setting highlights include the tournament being televised for more than 2,000 hours in over 200 countries around the world; more than 400 local, national and international journalists and photographers were onsite covering the tournament; travel package sales rose an impressive 37% compared to last year; www.PacificLifeOpen.com  had more than 1.75 million unique visitors over the course of the two weeks; there were 200 challenges on Stadium Court with regards to the new Electronic Line Calling system, with players winning 39% and losing 61% of the time; the tournament being named the 2006 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Tournament of the Year by the players for the second year in a row; and more celebrities than ever before came out including Melinda and Bill Gates, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, Elizabeth Shue, Dr. Phil, Tommy Bahamas model Andy Lucchesi, Pacific Life Open owners Billie Jean King and Chris Evert, Greg Norman, Barbara Sinatra, Jeanette King and Boris Becker.

The 2008 Pacific Life Open will be held March 10-23.

ATP-WTA Tour Pacific Life Open - At The Indian Wells Tennis Garden
Tournament Coverage - Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

The Experience of Nadal Proves the Difference
by Matt Osias

Under another hot desert sun, No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal grabbed the first Master’s Series title, beating No. 12 seed Novak Djokovic 6-2, 7-5 at the Pacific Life Open. After a less than satisfactory first set performance by Djokovic, the two players battled it out in the second set, exchanging long-winded points and exciting the crowd with amazing winners.

“It was a great week for me,” Nadal said. “I had eight months without a title, but I came back with a big one.”

At the start of the match, Nadal played the role of the aggressor, demonstrating why he deserves the status of the second best player in the world. Djokovic was playing in just his first final of this caliber and he felt a little nervous, naturally.

“It is my first Master’s Series final,” Djokovic said. “The stadium was more or less packed…like 15,000 people. It was a great atmosphere, but I made a lot of mistakes, unforced errors…but I am overall satisfied with my performance today.”

Many of the fans were becoming restless towards the end of the first set, as it looked as though this would be a quick final for Nadal, but when Djokovic began to relax and play more of his style of play successfully, the crowd responded wildly for both players.

“In the second set I played more aggressive,” Nadal said. “But Djokovic played more aggressive (too). He was serving better and (had) very good attacks with his forehand.”

At on point, Djokovic’s (who hit an embarrassing 22 percent first serve percentage in the first set) serve was called out. Unhappy with the call, Djokovic decided to challenge it. As the replay slowly revealed the flight of the ball, it eventually landed what looked to be just next to the service line, though out. However, upon closer look and a 3 times magnification, the monitor showed the tiniest of portions of the ball was actually in, shifting the momentum Djokovic’s way.

“I really like the it,” Djokovic said, referring to the Hawkeye shot challenging technology. “It gives something interesting to the game, something new and the players like to be able to overrule the decisions.”

For Nadal, who has won numerous finals appearances, picked up his first Whale trophy at the Pacific Life Open, adding another tournament victory to his already impressive resume. Nadal also had one of his best serving performances of his career, not dropping serve the entire tournament.

“I was playing very good,” Nadal said. “No mistakes and very aggressive all the time. The first set was unbelievable for me.”

After the match, both players met at the net for a warm embrace. After all, both of these players are not even of legal drinking age and already represent the next generation of tennis players. Djokovic said he looks forward to another opportunity to play the Spaniard, and Nadal expressed similar plans.

Nadal’s ability to take the other players style of play out of the equation and control the tempo of play is unlike many players on the Tour today (well, with the exception of the immortal Roger Federer), and for Nadal, that may be the key to his early career success.

Hantuchova on a Roll; Wins Second Pacific Life Open

The women’s finals showcased the consistent-play of Daniela Hantuchova against the match-experienced Svetlana Kuznetsova. Hantuchova, who won this event in 2002, which coincidentally is her last WTA title, came out playing as if she had something to prove.

“I was just so confident from the first point,” Hantuchova said. “I didn’t really think about the score. I just went out there and tried to play my game, and just enjoyed every moment on the court”

Hantuchova’s win was quite impressive after noticing that going into this match, her record against Top 5 players was just an abysmal 3-25, with all three of those wins coming against the No. 4 ranked player.

Kuznetsova, however, came out looking noticeably flat, committing several unforced errors and showing signs of defeat. Despite Kuznetsova’s efforts, Hantuchova proved to be the better player on this day, winning in straight-sets 6-3, 6-4.

“ To beat her (Hantuchova) today, I had to play key moments better than I did,” Kuznetsova said. “I forced (it) a little bit more than I had to in the first set. When she was on (a) roll, it was pretty hard to stop her.”

Despite the loss, Kuznetsova will reach a career-high No. 3 in the WTA rankings just for reaching the finals.

Matt Osias can be reached at mosias@californiatennis.com.

Daniela Hantuchova	Svetlana Kuznetsova
	Photos by Adam Davis

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