Haley 10K Open

MEN, CARS, GOOD FOOD, FINE CLUB BUT NOT ENOUGH WOMEN AT THE HALEY $10K OPEN

8/22/06 and Updated 8/24

The #4 stop on the Virginia Open Tournament Series cancels women's events due to low sign-ups. But the event draws accolades and is deemed a great success in its first year.

The Woodlake facilities bloomed for both players and fans

Monday 8/21: If I could play open level tennis without making a fool of myself, I'd enter one of these Virginia Open Series events if only for the free food and goodie bags.

But alas, I'm not good enough, so I spectate rather than participate.

This week I am watching only men's events and mixed, since not enough of my gender signed up to play women's singles or doubles. Richmond is full of strong female players, but there's little evidence of it tonight. So here I am, eating shrimp salad, drinking white wine, taking some photos of athletic men in tennis attire and cheering on Al & John & Scott & Carl.

It's such a hardship.

Yummmm. (I'm referring to the chocolate chip cookies on the food buffet, ok?)

"We had a few sign-ups. Julie and Rachel signed up for doubles, Chrissie Seredni for singles...but most of the college age women who have played in these events headed back to college," said Ken McKay, Woodlake tennis director.

"And lots of inquiries," he told me. " What happens is, the women call and ask who else is playing, and if they think they can't win the money, then they don't play."

Exactly what does that mean, I wonder? Do all the men think they are going to take home the cash at the end of the week but women are simply more realistic?

"Well, I guess we men live with our false egos better than the women," laughed Steve Cochrane.

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Consider what the men were faced with.

Tim Neily, a native of the Bahamas, moved to Florida at age 10 to train at Boliterri and Saddlebrook on scholarship. He's is playing singles and doubles this week

Seeded #2 behind Richmond's Carl Clark, Tim was ranked #1 in the World in boys' 14s, and #3 in the World as a 16 year old.

He won the Orange Bowl, the premier event for junior tennis as a 17 year old, becoming the first African-American to claim the title in the event's 58 year history. He's made it to the quarterfinals of the Junior Championships at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.

He's pretty good. His 19th birthday is Thursday. Tim said he wouldn't mind taking home the winner's paycheck. He and his buddy, Ci I, had planned to play in a futures tournament in Equador this month but had to cancel due to lack of funds. "I really need to get ranking points," he said. "I'm 900th now and I want to be higher."

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On the other side of the draw, Tim's pal Ci I. Ci I (he goes by "I") sported a Nadal-like ensemble with red and white headgear resembling Santa's hat.

I (not me) was born in Jamaica, and he is a former Junior Davis Cup Champion in Nigeria. While he may have dressed like Santa, he did not come bearing gifts for his opponent Miles Sheldon.

But he did bring lots and lots of water bottles on the court, cases worth, along with a container of Morton's table salt. During each break, I (not me) dumped the salt bit by bit into the warm Deer Park bottles, then proceeded to chug them.

Since it was only about 80 degrees with little humidity, his body was hardly sweating it out.

During the second set, I (not me) quite vigorously gave back the three Red Bulls he drank right before playing, along with all the water.

"It doesn't surprise me that he would [lose it]," said one onlooker from the bleachers who had a nice view of the eruption. "He's basically drinking what most people gargle with."

"I tell him not to drink that stuff," said Tim, who was waiting for I to finish so they could play their doubles match. "He doesn't listen to me, and then he goes and cramps up. It happened at the Salisbury Clay Courts, and in Charlottesville, too. I tell him: take honey, it has no side effects.

"He never listens. Serves him right," Tim laughed.

The maintenance crew given the task of cleaning up the mess was not laughing.

I (not me!) and Sheldon continued their battle on another court. At 2-all in the second set, Ci I showed signs of leg cramps, and asked for a break for more water. Miles became agitated and looked to his fans for support.

"You don't get all this time you're taking," he told his opponent. "10 minutes-- 15 minutes, for water breaks, this is ridiculous," he complained.

The USTA official hovered close by.

"Hang in there, Miles," encouraged fans, who had clustered around the court, totally forsaking all of the other great matches being played.

Ci I stretched and appeared pained, looking helplessly at Sheldon's driving serves, not bothering to move a muscle to return them. When it came his turn, he served underhanded. The first set's display of prowess degraded to a dink-fest in the second.

As a study in what is probably not a particularly good strategy under duress, Sheldon matched I's underhanded serves with his own. He allowed his opponent a few winners simply because it appeared he wanted it all to be over with, quickly.

Regardless of all the drama (and there was a lot of it), Sheldon easily walked away with the second set, bound for victory.

It seemed.

In the third set, Ci I had a brilliant recovery from cramps (the salt and any remaining Red Bull finally kicked in). He put on quite a show; with perfectly executed topspin groundstrokes endlessly clipping the lines, mixed with surprising drop-shots from the baseline for which Sheldon had no answer. I (not me!) won the third set 6-4, and fell to the ground, hands clasped prayer-style. Sheldon, scowling at the performance, walked off the court.

"That's the kind of match where you vow never to play tennis again," commented a fan.

However, Sheldon did play again, and won his Mixed Doubles match with Rachel Gale.

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Tuesday, 8/22: Carl Clark was ready to take on Sheldon's nemesis in the semifinals. "I went in there prepared to not let anything bother me," the CCV pro said. "I was extremely focused."

With Carl in complete control, there was little, if any, drama. "I was pretty physically exhausted afterwards because he really jerked me around the court alot."

The score was 6-1, 6-1, but it was still a long match (an hour and a half)."

Clark's win set the stage for a battle between the two top seeds in the finals, as Neilly dispatched Scott Steinour 3 & 2.

----continued .....more photos & winners>> Page Two

Theresa Biagioli and Rachel Gale .

Theresa and her partner, Rene Mendoza lost in a 2nd set tiebreak to Al Thomas and Chrissie D'Angio.

Rachel and Miles Sheldon advanced with a two set victory over Donna McDonough and Dan Carey.

Gary Shepherd "checks in" with Tournament Assistant Brenda Augst. "What court am I on?" he asked.

"Court 30," she replied.

The Maintenance Crew, from left: Brett Moorhead, Connor Garyotis, and Tyler Carey.

Chris James (left) enjoyed the matches along with Jon Ramthun's kids Mark and Laura.

Ken McKay, Tripp Baisden and Scott Steinour. Ken is positive about the event, new to Woodlake this year. "The Virginia Open Series is a great idea, and we're glad to be part of it," he said.

Steve Cochrane and Carl Clark. Steve paired with Jon Ramthun in doubles. Carl and Scott Steinour defeated Joe Cole and Jason Kinder to advance to the semifinals.

The Mendoza family worked the concession stand, offering salads and hamburgers and hotdogs.

Al Thomas, Joe Cole and Jason Kinder.

Woodlake's Jon Ramthun

Tim Neilly relaxes with Ci I. after his Singles Final

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by Sara James