Southwest Florida tennis column: Casal, Sanchez receiving major ITF honor

The two stalwarts of the Academia Sanchez-Casal facility in Naples have been singled out by the International Tennis Federation.

The ITF this week announced that the Spanish duo of Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez will receive the ITF’s highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award, for their services to the game as players and coaches.

The award will be presented at the 2017 ITF World Champions Dinner on Tuesday, June 6, at the Pavillon Cambon Capucines in Paris.

The Philippe Chatrier Award, named after the former ITF President, was introduced in 1996 and is awarded each year for outstanding contributions to tennis. Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, the All England Club, and 2016 Award winner Brad Parks are among the former recipients.

Casal and Sanchez first teamed up in 1984, when Casal, then 21, formed a doubles pair with the 19-year-old Sanchez at the suggestion of their mutual coach William Alvarez. So began an outstanding partnership that lasted 12 years on court and has continued for 20 years off court.

Casal and Sanchez were one of the leading doubles teams of their era, winning 44 tournaments together, including two Grand Slam titles. They won the 1988 US Open and 1990 Roland Garros, and were finalists at Wimbledon in 1987.

Competing at the Seoul 1988 games when tennis made its full return to the Olympics, Casal and Sanchez lost the final in five sets to Ken Flach and Robert Seguso, but their silver medal was one of just four medals captured by Spain at those Games.

They finished among the top 10 doubles teams for 10 out of 11 years from 1985 to 1995, achieving the year-end No. 1 team ranking in 1987. They were also proficient singles players, Casal reaching a career-high ranking of No. 31 and Sanchez going as high as No. 7.

The two had been thinking about starting a coaching academy even before they retired in 1997. In 1998, they opened the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona. Their idea was to provide a complete education, with a school on the same site as the courts, so that students could train and study at the same time. They were also keen to make sure that, whether the children in their care made it as professional tennis players or not, they became good citizens in whatever they did in life.

It was in 2012 that the Naples facility opened at the Naples Bath& Tennis Club. Last year, a third academy was started in Nanjing, China. Their approach and the academy’s unique training system have produced many elite players, including world No. 1 Andy Murray, two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, Grigor Dimitrov, Daniel Hantuchova and Juan Monaco.

“We are delighted to present Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez with the Philippe Chatrier Award for their contributions to tennis as a successful doubles team and in the field of coaching,” said ITF President David Haggerty. “Their on-court achievements paved the way for further Spanish success, and in founding a successful coaching academy, they have shaped the careers of several prominent players and the lives of many more.”

Local team earns 55-over crown: The Collier County/Pelican Bay Community Park women’s tennis team will represent the USTA Florida Section at USTA League Nationals after claiming a state title this past weekend at the 2017 USTA Florida Adult 55 & Over 3.5/4.5 League Sectional Championships. Play took place at the new USTA National Campus in Orlando.

The women’s 3.5 title match came down to a showdown between the Collier women and a group from Escambia County representing the Roger Scott Tennis Center in Pensacola. The Collier squad won all three matches for the 3-0 victory.
At No. 1 doubles, the Jacqui Privitere/Linda Boyd duo of Collier defeated Linda Register/Becky Siegel 6-4, 6-1. At No. 2 were Michelle Maggal and Sandy Wilkison of Collier, 6-3, 6-3 winners over Doris Davis and Selma Dudley. The team of Susanne Navarro/Julie Oberweis took the No. 3 win over Terry Armstrong/Vicki Carson 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (super-tiebreaker). The season roster for the Collier team consisted of Susanne Navarro (captain), Claudia Hammon, Julie Oberweis, Michelle Thomas, Laurie Hilburg, Barbara Hurt-Simmons, Linda Boyd, Biqin Teng, Jacqui Privitere, Glenna Haas, Michelle Maggal and Sandy Wilkison

The Pelican Bay Community Park team will represent the USTA Florida Section at the 2017 USTA 55 & Over League National Championships on Nov. 17-19 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.

In the men’s 3.5 division final this past weekend, the Collier County team representing the Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center bowed to a squad from Clay County 2-1. The winners represented the Eagle Harbor Country Club of Fleming Island.

Drilling finds gold again: The USTA National Men’s 75, 80, 85 and 90 Hard Court Championships took place this past week in Laguna Woods, California. Estero’s Fred Drilling was among the winners.

Drilling took gold in the 75 doubles and silver in the singles. Leland Housman edged him out in the singles, 6-4, 6-4. But Drilling teamed with Rick Fried of Hawaii to beat Alan Carter and John Popowell 6-2, 6-2.

Drilling noted that he and Fried were teammates at the University of Arizona “only 54 years ago.”

City tourney progresses: The 48th annual City of Naples Tennis Championships roll on at Cambier Park’s Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center in downtown Naples. Adults of all ages are seeking honors in the month-long racket extravaganza.

To keep tabs on each division, check the results daily online at www.allentenniscenter.net.

“Girls of Summer” to return: Beginning June 8 and June 10, the “Girls of Summer” doubles league for 3.5 players runs Thursday mornings at 9:30 or Saturday mornings at 9:30 at the Mary C. Watkins Tennis Center at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. There will be a minimum of seven matches, with flight winners advancing to championship action.

Women can enter with a partner or the club’s staff can pair up players.

The registration deadline is June 1. The cost is $35 per person ($20 for members). Call 239-435-4351 to sign up.

Ultimate Tennis Flex Leagues organize: Those who plan to participate in Ultimate Tennis Flex League action are reminded that now is the time to register.
Bob Baker of USTA Florida Region 7 says registration will be closing in a couple days for the Naples and Fort Myers Summer Singles Ultimate Tennis Flex League.
For more information and to register, go to www.ultimatetennis.com

Session to feature Tanner: Tennis legend Roscoe Tanner will be the headliner in a series of tennis lessons to run June 30 through July 2 at Treviso Bay in Naples. In all, there will be six hours of training. Also participating will be Curly Davis, Amy Polizzi and Milos Simovic. For more, call 239-287-6951.

Help for high-schoolers: Clinics for male and female high school tennis players will start June 10 and run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Barron Collier High School. USPTA Certified Tennis Professional Don Turner, BC’s boys tennis coach, will conduct the clinics. Turner says the program will focus on bio-mechanics, stroke production and match play. The clinics are designed for high school tennis players in a competitive environment. The cost is $15. For more, call 239- 593- 7652 or email at dontenis@hotmail.com.

Summer reciprocal program begins: The Vanderbilt Country Club is beginning its summer reciprocal tennis round-robin action. Men play every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 8:30. Women play Wednesdays and Fridays. Levels are from 3.0 to 4.0 and the cost is $5. For more, contact pro Ronnie Hilburn at 239-348-1725.

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 emailing tennis@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.

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.