- May 7, 2024
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After a week that included 21 wildcard players and another week of more than 180 professional tennis players, the main draw field is set for the USTA Palm Coast Men’s Futures Championship.
The main draw rounds will take place from now until the finals Sunday, Feb. 6. Admission is free through today, Feb. 4, and then cost is $5.
Eight players endured four days of qualifying to earn a spot in the main draw. Qualifying was completed on Monday, Jan. 31.
Razvan Sabau, of Romania, was the top seed during qualifying. Sabau defeated American player Andrew Adams, in two sets, 6-2 and 6-4.
In a competitive match with a shot at $10,000 on the line, Wayne Odesnik, of the U.S., defeated Denes Lukacs, of Hungary, in a three-set match, 6-3, 2-6 and 6-1. Lukacs is a former No. 1 player at Baylor University.
Odesnik, a lefty, has previously been ranked as high as 77 on the ATP World Tour and is coming off suspension.
“I am happy to be playing tennis again and hope to get back to the top 100 by the end of the year,” Odesnik said after the match.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ormond Beach native Greg Ouellette, 24, was a four-time All-American for the University of Florida and peaked at No. 2 in the ITA Division I collegiate rankings during his senior year in 2008, when he also garnered Southeastern Conference Player of the Year honors. He is currently ranked No. 304, and has jumped more than 400 places in the ATP World Tour rankings since the start of 2009. Ouellette is the overall top seed in the main draw.
Kevin Anderson, 24, of Johannesburg, South Africa, is currently ranked No. 61. Anderson was ranked a career-high No. 58 last October after enjoying the best season of his career. He began 2010 by qualifying for the Australian Open and then reached the third round of the 2010 U.S. Open for his best Grand Slam result.
Ryan Harrison, 18, of Bradenton, has established himself as one of the brightest young talents in tennis last year, finishing as the youngest player in the Top 200. Harrison is currently ranked No. 173. Harrison began the 2010 season by winning the USTA wild card playoff to earn a wild card into the Australian Open.
Source: USTA Pro Circuit tournament notes
KEMPERSPORTS UPDATE
KemperSports contracted with Palm Coast in 2009 to open and manage the newly renovated Palm Harbor Golf Club. The company expanded its role with the city Oct. 1, 2010, by taking over the management of the Palm Coast Tennis Center.
In 2010, the United States Tennis Association awarded the city with the Outstanding Facility Award for the best new small public tennis facility.
KemperSports launched a new website for the center, www. palmcoasttenniscenter.com.
General Manager Tom Cioffi said more programs are on the horizon at various locations within Palm Coast. Additionally, Cioffi said, youth tennis is on the rise, and the Palm Coast Youth Tennis League will be the keystone for youth tennis in the future.
“As the participation at the tennis center grows, we anticipate the need for expanding the facility,” Cioffi said.
Cioffi said phase one of a three-phase plan is currently in place, and the tennis center could eventually grow to 21 courts with a stadium court.
