By Rich Brown
rbrown@joplinglobe.com
A pro tennis tournament that became an annual event at Millennium Tennis & Fitness Club shortly after it opened 10 years ago is about to make another appearance.
The ninth straight United States Tennis Association’s Men’s Futures will be held July 17-26 at the Joplin club. However, first Millennium will hold a wild-card tournament July 10-12 with the winner to get an automatic bid into the main draw.
Qualifying rounds begin July 17, with the doubles final to be held July 24 and singles final July 26.
“We have already been getting calls on the wild card and qualifying rounds,” said Marianella Padron, executive director of tennis at Millennium, as well as tennis coach at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School. “Anyone is welcome to sign up for the wild card. Last year we had 22.”
The wild card entry fee is $40 with applications available at Millennium, located at 1227 N. Range Line,
“This year we expect quite a few college players ... most likely in the wild card or qualifying,” said Padron, a native of Venezuela and former executive director of the USTA player development headquarters in Key Biscayne, Fla. “Last year we had a couple of players in the wild card from Tulsa University.”
In fact, last year’s wild-card winner was Tulsa’s No. 1 player, Arnau Brugues, from Spain, who was ranked 813 in the world at that time. Brugues graduated last month from Tulsa, where he was a four-time All-American.
He concluded his career ranked No. 2 in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. He also was the Golden Hurricane’s all-time careers singles wins leader with 116, as well as all-time single-season singles wins leader with 44 set this past season.
Among the international cast of players to participate this year will be the top seed and defending singles champ Tigran Martirosyan. The Armenian, who played tennis at the University of Kentucky, is ranked 399 in the world.
Another returnee will be Jean-Yves Aubone, a senior at Florida State University, who was last year’s singles runner-up. He is the first ever two-time All-American in FSU history and currently the highest ranked collegiate player in the ATP world rankings at 480.
“Last year we had a main draw in singles of 32 players and 16 doubles teams,” Padron said.
There will be no admission charge through the semifinals and all net proceeds from the tourney will be donated to the Children’s Miracle Network with all the funds to help children locally.
More information may be obtained by calling Millennium at 206-0202, e-mailing Padron at marianela@intuic.com or general manager Brad Bigando at bbigando@millenniumtennis.com.
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Futures tourney marks 9th year at Millennium
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