2007 DAVENPORT & COMPANY CITY OF RICHMOND 
TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Weekend Results May 12-13
Next:  Monday Results

It was a great day and place to watch some tennis

5/12/07:  A large draw in the family division made the first day of the Davenport & Company City Tournament a hub of activity on Saturday morning, May 12th.  The weather cooperated and those who came to watch their dads, moms, sons or daughters play on the hard courts of Byrd Park were rewarded with plenty of sunshine and a catered lunch by Apple Spice Junction.  

Eleanor Hall, who said she has many fond memories watching her daughter Karolyn grow up playing in junior tournaments at the park, called the venue "comfortable." 

"It just feels good here," she said.  "It's a great place to watch tennis."  Eleanor was able to enjoy seeing daughter Karolyn Hall  advance to the finals on Sunday with her dad, Fred, who is back to full strength after recovering from shoulder surgery.  The Halls defeated Haylee and Mark Seidenberg in the semifinals. 

"I like the way she puts the ball away at the net," commented Fred Hall about the play of his young opponent, Haylee.  Her dad, Mark, is the girls' varsity tennis coach at Godwin.

The Halls played Hunter and Chris Blair in the Sunday final.   Hunter is a senior at St. Catherine's who plays on the varsity team.  Her dad, Chris, a Virginia State Doubles Champion, is a 5.0 rated player out of CCV.  The Blairs were able to capitalize on their experience, claiming their second consecutive Father-Daughter title.

Amity and Brenna McCarty drew Audrey and Teresa Pfund in first round play in the Mother-Daughter division for the second year in a row.  Same result - the Pfunds were eliminated after their first match, but Teresa said she and her 16 year old daughter enjoy the competition.  After the match, Audrey, unperturbed, was off to the Strawberry Street festival to "dye [her] hair pink."

The McCarty's successfully defended their title against a strong effort by Sarah and Catherine Estes in Saturday's final.  On Sunday, the McCarty's were back out to watch more tennis and were hoping that somehow the lunch buffet might reappear.  It seems they were out on the court Saturday and missed the whole hamburger/hotdog/dessert extravaganza.  Sorry!

Apple Spice Junction provided good eats for players and spectators on Saturday

One of the most exciting matches on Saturday was Kevin McMillen's match versus David Shay in first round men's open singles action.   Shay, the  2006 ODAC Men's Singles Champion who played #1 at Washington & Lee, skirmished with the Godwin sophomore for 2 1/2 hours before McMillen came out on top 7-5, 7-6.  

"I didn't know who he was coming into the match," said McMillen.  "I wasn't that prepared... Didn't have breakfast, needed new [tennis] grips."  Nevertheless, Kevin, who looks and plays much older than a 15 year old,  moved on to the second round  to face 3rd seed Jakub Petersson Sunday afternoon. 

Petersson and McMillen were scheduled to play Monday but McMillen will be playing in the Central Region team tournament that night.  Peterson used the strong gusty winds to his advantage and defeated McMillen in two sets.

A native of Sweden who came to the states to play tennis at Indiana Wesleyan from 1999-2004, Petersson was celebrating his one year wedding anniversary on Sunday.  His wife, Jessica is the new Head Pro at Raintree, where the McMillens are members.  What better way to meet your new pro?

Vivian McMillen was totally happy, however, with the Mother's Day present she got from Kevin.  "He told me he would give me the Mother-Son title as my gift," she said.  Kevin came through on his promise, although not without a little stress.  In the Mother-Son division final, the McMillens played Hanna Moglnicka and John Nikicicz, natives of Poland who now reside in Richmond where John attends VCU.    John's tricky left-handed spin serve gave Vivian some trouble, and the McMillen's found themselves down 1-4 in the tiebreak third set.  "Vivian really came through with the money shots in that third set," said her husband, Mike.  "She was able to return serve finally when it counted."  

Now that's a mom who really looks out for her kid!

In the Father-Son Division, competition was really fierce.  The match-up between Tyler and Dan Carey and Patrick and Philip Gee gave fans a chance to see what a little training in the RTA Junior Program can do for a player.  Tyler, a top ranked junior who will attend Cosby HS in the fall, has trained in the USTA/RTA competitive training center program.  

"He's good," Patrick Gee said of Tyler.  "His forehand was awesome and he kept passing us. He has a very promising future."  

Gee is also a product of the RTA junior training program, where he trained with Rachel Gale and Jimmy DeNoon.   He played at Hampden-Sydney all four years of his college education, graduating in 2006.  Together, Gee, a 5.0 rated player, and his dad, a 4.5, proved too formidable for the Careys, and they won the semifinal match 7-6, 6-3.  

In the final, the Gees met Harris and Chris Blair.  Harris, a 7th grader at St. Christopher's, put up a strong fight with his dad, but Chris Blair said the Gees were "too tough, and too tall.....

".......We'll get 'em next year."

Results May 12-13

Men's Open Singles First Round:  Kevin Long d. Wayne Davis 6-0, 6-0; Phil Thacker d. Avinash Sridhar 6-0.6-0; Edgar Vitkovski d. Marc Susyzniski 6-0, 6-1; Jakub Petersson d. Byron Holmes 6-3, 6-0; Kevin McMillen d. David Shay 7-5, 7-6(6); Patrick Gee d. Cary Polk 6-1, 6-2: Brent Wilkins d. Chris Radke 6-2, 6-1; Ryan Radke d. Arjun Karthikeyan 6-2, 6-1; Scott Steinour d. Matt Remen 6-1, 6-1; Chris Cosby d. Sears Driscoll 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 Chris Wallace d. Kevin Calhoun 6-2, 6-2; Charles Einwick d. Mercer Ferguson 6-0, 6-2; Charles Stafford d. Eric Gutierrez 6-0, 6-0. Quarterfinals: Jakub Petersson d. Kevin McMillen 6-1, 6-2.

Father-Son Doubles:  Round of 16- Isaak & Mark Wesselink d. Tate & Scott Steinour 7-6(5), 6-4; Quarterfinals-Phil & Patrick Gee d. Isaak & Mark Wesselink 6-0, 6-1; Harris & Chris Blair d. Rodney & Turner Willett 6-0, 6-0; Tyler & Dan Carey d. Brett & Doug James 6-1, 6-4; Ron & Colin Atkinson d. Samuel & Cameron Smith 6-3, 6-4. Final: Phil & Patrick Gee d. Chris & Harris Blair 6-0, 6-1.

Father-Daughter Doubles:  Quarterfinals- Hunter & Chris Blair d. Parke & George Whitley 6-1, 6-0; Robert & Allison Abbott d. Toney & Toni McDonald 4-6, 6-0, 11-9; Haylee & Mark Seidenberg d. Katherine & Frank Maloney 6-3, 6-0; Karolyn & Fred Hall d. Jordan & Bruce Jessee 6-0, 6-0; Semifinals-Hunter & Chris Blair d. Robert & Allison Abbott 6-1, 6-3; Karolyn & Fred Hall d. Haylee & Mark Seidenberg 6-2, 6-2. Final:  Hunter & Chris Blair d. Karolyn & Fred Hall 6-1, 6-2.

Mother-Son Doubles:  Quarterfinals-Kevin & Vivian McMillen (bye); Chris & Sara James d. Josh & Laurie Huizenga 6-4, 6-3; Gregory Fishman & Rosemarie DiGiovanni d. Jake Spiro & Vicki Helzer 6-3, 6-1; John Nikicicz & Hanna Moglnicka (bye); Semifinals-Kevin & Vivian McMillen d. Chris & Sara James 6-2, 6-1;  John Nikicicz & Hanna Moglnicka d. Gregory Fishman & Rosemarie DiGiovanni 6-0, 6-1 Final: Vivian & Kevin McMillen d. Hanna Moglnicka & John Nikicicz 6-1, 2-6, 7-5.

Mother-Daughter Doubles:  Brenna & Amity McCarty d. Audrey & Teresa Pfund 7-5, 6-1; Catherine & Sarah Estes d. Michelle Lee & Sue Mathe 6-1, 7-5; 
Final: Brenna & Amity McCarty d. Catherine & Sarah Estes 6-4, 7-5.

The Jessees and the Halls played in the Father-Daughter Division semifinal

MOTHER-DAUGHTER DIVISION 

Brenna & Amity McCarty, Champions
Sarah & Catherine Estes, Finalists

from left:  Audrey & Teresa Pfund,  Brenna & Amity McCarty

Michelle Lee and Mom Sue Mathe enjoyed playing in the mother-daughter division.   Michelle plays for Clover Hill.

MOTHER-SON DIVISION 

Vivian and Kevin McMillen, Champions
Hanna Moglnicka and John Nikicicz, Finalists

Kevin and Vivian McMillen.  Kevin told his Mom he'd get her the title for Mother's Day and he did.

The Huizenga family.  Laurie and Josh played in the Mother-Son division.

FATHER-DAUGHTER  DIVISION 

Hunter & Chris Blair, Champions
Karolyn & Fred Hall, Finalists

Hunter & Chris Blair

Bruce and Jordan Jessee (left) with Fred & Karolyn Hall

FATHER-SON  DIVISION 

Patrick & Philip Gee, Champions
Harris & Chris Blair, Finalists

Dan & Tyler Carey (left) with Philip & Patrick Gee

Harris and Chris Blair

Mark & Isaak Wesselink with Tate & Scott Steinour.  Mark is the Head Coach of the University of Richmond Women's team.  Scott is the Director of Tennis at Salisbury.

The Careys and the Jameses took their match to the clay courts of Willow Oaks when rain hit on Saturday afternoon

Ron & Colin Atkinson  advanced to the  semi-finals in the father-son division

Many thanks to Tracy Jones (left) with his son, and RTA Past President Eric Perkins, who are running the tournament this week

The Carl family came out to support Zach in his first round match versus Christopher Armes

by Sara James

[Monday results]