Little Rock Team Captures USTA National 9.0 Super Senior League Championship

The Little Rock Team of the Southern Section captained by Steve Duffel captured the USTA National 9.0 Super Senior League Championship on April 26th in Surprise, Arizona. Little Rock/Duffel defeated the West End Team of the So. California Section captained by Craig Edgecumbe 2-1.

The LR/Duffel Team won #2 & #3 Doubles with West End/Edgecumbe winning at #1 Doubles. The members of the team are Stephen G. Duffel, Al Yearwood, Bailey Brown, Hugh Thomson, Jerry W. McEwen, Brian Marcus, Jerry L. Kirk, Thay H. Butchee, and Larry Back.

Thay Butchhee /Jerry W. McEwen (LR/Duffel)lost at #1 Doubles to Jim Quilty/ Jack Metalsky(West End/Edgecumbe) 6-4 6-1
At #2 Doubles Hugh Thomson /Brian Marcus(LR/Duffel) defeated Brian Anstey /Lawrence H. Nagler (WestEnd/Edgecumbe) 5-7 6-3 1-0
At #3 Doubles Bailey Brown/ Jerry L. Kirk (LR/Duffel)defeated Craig H. Edgecumbe /Mike Woiemberghe (WestEnd/Edgecumbe) 6-4 4-6 1-0

2009 Top ranked Arkansas Juniors in the South

Max Mendelsohn of Little Rock(#15 in the Boys 10s) and Mario Martinez of Maumelle(#26 in the Boys 16s & 18s) top the list of the highest ranked Arkansas Jr. Boys in the Southern Section of the USTA.
Tiffany Tang of Rogers(#3 in the Girls 12s), Katelyn Jackson of Roland(#7 in the Girls 12s), and Kaitlin Ray of Little Rock(#9 in the Girls 16s) lead the way of the highest ranked Arkansas Jr. Girls in the Southern Section. Other girls breaking into the top 20 of their age group are Tatum Rice of Hot Springs(#10 in the Girls 10s), Jordan Ashford of Lake Village(#17 in the Girls 10s), and Morgan McAlexander of Jonesboro(#19 in the Girls 10s).

See 1st comment for all Southern ranked Arkansas Juniors of 2009
See 2nd comment for all National ranked Arkansas juniors of 2009

2009 St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Pro Tennis Tournament Update

The St. Vincent Auxiliary Pro Tennis Tournament is ending this Saturday at Pleasant Valley Country Club. The USA has two seeded players remaining in the quarterfinals of the main draw- Todd Paul #7 and Michael McClune #4. The other two seeds left are Tigran Martirosyan of Armenia #3 and Andrey Kumantsov of Russia #5. The singles begin each morning at 10:00am with the doubles following. The Finals will be played on Saturday. Great tennis at an affordable price-FREE!!!!

Tennis Talk Remembers Pillars in ATA

The Arkansas Tennis Community has lost several pillars in the ATA over the past years. The passing of Bob Munger, Virginia Bailey, Ann Loomis and George & Lib Dunklin have left a void in our lives. Their memories are carried on through their children.
Bob Munger of Little Rock was a fixture at the Pleasant Valley Country Club. His children continue to play team tennis including a grandson Chris Jones who was a Southern 14s champion in his youth.
Virginia Bailey of Little Rock enjoyed watching her children so much that she had a hardcourt in her backyard. Her granddaughter Rebecca is a top ranked juniorin the South in the Girls 18s. Her son John is active in team tennis today.
Ann Loomis of Little Rock was active in the tennis community and the ATA. Her daughter Myke Loomis was All SEC at the Univ. of Alabama and currently is the Head Pro at a Florida resort.
George & Lib Dunklin also enjoyed the sport so much that they built a claycourt behind their house. Their son George continues to play tennis and duck hunt. He is the present Game and Fish Commissioner.

Tell us of any people past or present that have influenced your life through the game of Tennis.