Developmental tour offers glimpse of future
Advertiser Staff
|
||
 |
|
|
The world's largest developmental professional tennis tour returns to Hawai'i for the Hilton Waikoloa Village USTA Futures, next week on the Big Island, and the Honolulu Futures, Nov. 15 to 20 at the new University of Hawai'i courts.
The only recognizable faces will be Hawai'i players such as Chris Lam, who won an NCAA Championship with UCLA earlier this year, former state high school champion Malino Oda, and 'Aiea prodigy Dennis Lajola.
But the 18 players who have earned a place in the main draw before this weekend's qualifying might be more familiar in a few years. The highest ranked entrant is American Wayne Odesnik, who won the junior doubles championship at the 2004 U.S. Open.
He is ranked 317th in the world. His partner, Brendan Evans, is also entered and, at No. 389, is one of four players in the top 400. Players in previous Hawai'i Futures have rarely been ranked in the top 800.
"It's the third year now," said USTA/Hawai'i Pacific Section executive director Ron Romano. "The players love Waikoloa and Honolulu. Coaches and players talk about it and we get a better field each year."
This weekend's qualifying will fill in the remainder of the 32-player singles main draw at Waikoloa. Players can enter qualifying tonight, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Waikoloa's players lounge. Entry fee is $30.
Both tournaments will offer $15,000 purses, but players are often more interested in the ranking points distributed. Singles winners get 18 points each week, with finalists receiving 12. More than 600 players from 50-plus countries play on the circuit each year.
Waikoloa's stadium court has recently been renovated, with half the 500 seats now shaded by an awning. There also are six new box seats. Waikoloa will feature a Community Tennis Day Nov. 12, with Cardio Tennis and fitness and conditioning clinics open to the public.
Waikoloa Director of Tennis Tim DiDonato's hope is to make the tournament "more of an entertainment venue," similar to Kailua Racquet Club's Men's Night Doubles. "With the Ho-nolulu Futures played in conjunction with Waikoloa," DiDonato said, "we're starting a great little series."
