Southwest Florida tennis column: Second Svetlana Kuznetsova Cup Series event starts Sunday

Want to watch some future tennis stars up-close? Area tennis fans can catch many of the world’s best up-and-coming women pros in action at the Academia Sanchez-Casal on North Airport-Pulling Road in Naples.

The Svetlana Kuznetsova Cup Series features two $25,000 tournaments, the first of which is now in progress, with the second running May 14-21.

The top seed in this week’s event is Atlanta’s Taylor Townsend, who arrived in Naples ranked No. 116 in the world. The 32-player draw has the USA’s 17-year-old Kayla Day of Santa Barbara, Calif., as the No. 2 seed, and 18-year-old Sofia Kenin of Pembroke Pines as the No. 3 seed.

Townsend made her third consecutive appearance in the main draw of the French Open in 2016 after winning the USTA Pro Circuit Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge. The 21-year-old also won the USTA Pro Circuit Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge in 2014 and advanced to the third round of that year’s French Open for her career-best Grand Slam result.

Townsend qualified for the 2016 US Open and faced Caroline Wozniacki in the first round and also advanced to the women’s doubles quarterfinals in New York.  She holds three USTA Pro Circuit singles titles and 12 USTA Pro Circuit/ITF Circuit doubles titles, including eight doubles titles in 2016 —  the most of any player since 1987.

Day, meanwhile, is currently ranked a career-high No. 147 in the world. She competed in the Australian Open for the first time this year after winning the USTA Pro Circuit Australian Open Wild Card Challenge in the fall of 2016. She advanced to the third round of the WTA event in Indian Wells in 2017 and also reached the singles final of the $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Day won the 2016 US Open girls singles title and shot to No. 1 in the world junior rankings and also reached the semifinals of junior Wimbledon in 2016.

Kenin won her first USTA Pro Circuit singles title at the $25,000 event in Wesley Chapel in January of 2016 and then won the $50,000 event in Sacramento, Calif., in July. As a junior player, Kenin reached the singles final at the 2015 US Open Junior Championships, the semifinals at the 2016 junior US Open and the quarterfinals at 2016 junior Wimbledon.

All area tennis fans are invited to attend. To access complimentary passes, visitascbmwopen.eventbrite.com and use the promotional code ASC2017.

The series is sponsored for the second straight year by Germain BMW of Naples.

In addition to the two series tournaments, the academy again will host a family-friendly Kids Day from 10 a.m. to noon on May 13. Registration is free, with advanced registration at www.asckidsday.eventbrite.com.

Witten rules city roost: Jesse Witten has done it again. The former Lely High School and University of Kentucky All-American who has made his name known on the pro circuit as well, has captured yet another City of Naples Tennis Championships men’s open singles title at Cambier Park’s Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center.

In the recent championship match, the top-seeded Witten rolled by fifth-seeded Franco Mata 6-0, 6-1.

As he has done in the past, the 34-year-old Witten dominated, losing only four games in five matches on his way to the top. His victims along the way included Diego Rodriguez Rueda, Luke Andreae, Doug Small, JanMagnus Johnson and Mata.

That Witten won his fifth straight city title wasn’t exactly a shocker. Remember when Witten was one of the big stories of the U.S. Open in 2009? He worked his way through the qualifier to advance to the third round of the main draw, where the Wildcats' Hall-of-Famer ultimately bowed to No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic.

In 2006, Witten reached his highest world singles ranking at No. 171.

Mata had earned his berth in the championship match by dispatching the second-seeded John Carli in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-3. Mata’s other victories came over Felipe Tamayo, Danny Davis and Juncheng Shang. All of Mata’s wins were straight-set triumphs.

The women’s open singles crown for 2017 belongs to No. 1 seed Eva Raszkiewicz, a 6-4, 6-1 victor over the second-seeded Courtney Vernon in the final. Both had first-round byes in the small draw that included just six players. In the semifinal round, Raszkiewicz toppled Olga Gomez, and Vernon prevailed over Gabriella Matesic.

Action in the massive 48th annual “Clay in May” event runs through the end of the month and some finals could spill over into June as well.

Participants are reminded that new to this year’s Players Party will be the first-ever “Clay In May Beer Garden,” presented by 7th Ave Social, Premier Sotheby’s and Gutters Unlimited Plus. On the evening of Thursday, May 18, wine and beer from Naples Beach Brewery will be available only for this one evening of finals action. Scheduled to take place will be the Men’s Open Doubles and the Mixed Open finals.

A month-long silent auction is in progress, with proceeds going on to benefit youth tennis in Naples.

To keep up with all the action in this year’s draws, click on the link at www.allentenniscenter.net for daily updates.

Summer round-robins, membership begin: Weekly mixed doubles round-robin events are taking place Fridays throughout the summer at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club’s Mary C. Watkins Tennis Center. Each event is from 5:30 to 7 for levels 3.0 and 3.5.

The cost is $11 per person ($6 for members). Sign up by calling 239-435-4351 or emailingtennis@naplesbeachhotel.com.

Summer tennis memberships also are being offered at the facility, running now through Sept. 30. The memberships are $250 and provide unlimited play, discounts in the pro shop and on lessons and round-robins.

Summer camp season looms: Area tennis clubs will be offering a variety of summer camps and activities:

--- Estero Country Club at The Vines – Summer Tennis Camp 2017: Monday through Thursday for ages 6-16; weeks of June 12, 19 26, July 10, 17, 24, 31; Daily and weekly fees available; Call 239-267-7001.

--- Quail Creek Country Club -- Junior Summer Camp starting on Monday, June 5 and running until Friday, June 23; tennis and golf instruction, arts and crafts, soccer, pool games, tennis match play, and bocce. Lunch is included. Call the Quail Creek tennis shop for more information and to register.

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A rundown of other activities and events follows:

Advanced Mixed Round Robin: at Cambier Park’s Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center; 3.5-4.0; offered weekly on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 to 11 a.m.; Cost: $15 per player. Call 239- 213-3060.

Cardio tennis: Cardio Tennis classes Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. at Cambier Park; $15 for members and $20 for non-members; Call 213-3060. 
Round-robin Mixed doubles: Tuesdays 8 a.m. at Golden Gate Community Park on Santa Barbara Blvd.; Call 239-300-7718. 
Kamen clinics: Naples High boys tennis coach Tony Kamen’s clinics from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; geared toward middle school and high school students and include conditioning, drills, strategy, and match play. Call 272-9223. 
Junior Development Tennis: Sessions held at Arthur Allen Tennis Center in downtown Naples at Cambier Park. Classes run Monday through Thursday. Pee-Wees 3:15-4 p.m. for ages 4-6; Futures 4-5 p.m. for ages 6-8; Tournament 4-5:30 p.m. for ages 7-16; Call 213-3060. 
Hammock Bay Tennis Programs:  Offering private lessons and clinics, Live Ball Drill Session on Tuesdays, Morning Tennis Drill and Round Robin on Wednesdays and “Just for Starters” Clinics on Thursdays. Call 465-2922.
Consistent Tennis Wins Academy: Private and group lessons, cardio tennis, team practice, racquet stringing, tennis fitness and weight loss training and hitting sessions for all levels. Call Tom Avery at 273-9204.. 
Pelican Bay Community Park events: Most levels of round-robins for men and women available each week; Adult and junior clinics held daily; call 598-3025. 
Quail West Tennis programs: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; Events include 3.0-3.5 ladies round-robin from 9 to 11 and 3.5-4.0 men’s round-robin from 9 to 11; 3.5-4.0 ladies doubles clinics on Wednesdays from 9 to 11; Also: Wednesday clinics for men and women from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; Also: “3 students and the Pro” on Mondays; Call 592-1139. 
Weekly mixed doubles round-robin: Fridays at Pelican Bay Community Park ; Call 598-3025. 
Men’s, women’s and mixed round-robins: Each day of the week at Pelican Bay Community Park; Call 598-3025. 
Adult clinics: For all levels at Pelican Bay Community Park; Call 598-3025. 
Marco Island Racquet Center: Round-robins, league play, USTA competitive teams, Stroke of the Week clinics, beginners lessons, junior programs and racquetball challenges; Call 394-5454. 
Bridgewater Bay Tennis Club: Weekly activities include: Tuesdays beginner/intermediate clinic 5 p.m., Thursday mixed round robin 6 p.m.; Saturdays intermediate clinic 9:30 a.m.; Call 450-1000. 
Saturday Mixed Doubles Round Robin: At Cambier Park Tennis Center at 10:45 a.m.; Call 213-3060. 
Pelican Bay Community Park tennis facility: 764 Vanderbilt Beach Road; 8 lighted Har-Tru courts; Call 598-3025.

For a list of ongoing local tennis events, clinics and instructional programs, check the Web at www.naplesnews.com. Those wishing to have events or activities included in the weekly local tennis roundup should email the information to tomrife0704@gmail.com by 6 p.m. Tuesday.