Ex-tour pro spearheads tennis revival in city
Keith Evans
knows what big-time professional tennis is all about. Evans, who graduated from Germantown High, played collegiately at Ole Miss before embarking on a professional career. And although it was brief, it had some memorable moments, defeating Italian Open champ in a tournament in Arizona and having five match points on world No. 3 before falling.
Now aged 49, Evans is the director of tennis at Germantown Country Club, which is playing host today to the finals of the $25,000 Spell Restaurant Group men’s professional tournament.
Now in its third year, the Germantown event is the highest level on the Future tour, which Evans described as the rough equivalent to AA baseball.
“We have players ranked in the 200s,” he said. “Two years ago, we had
who is ranked 35 in the world. He won junior Wimbledon and got to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open last year.
“And the guy he beat in the (Germantown) final is who got to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open (in January).”
And while the Future event is going strong locally, Evans is aiming higher for next year. He said the goal is for Germantown CC to host a $100,000 Challenger event, which is one step below the ATP Tour.
It would be a nice addition to the local scene following the demise of Memphis’ ATP stop last year, an event that was held under various names since 1975.
“It’s already been approved by the USTA as far as us being able to host it,” he said. It’s just a matter of ‘can I get the sponsorship to bring pro tennis back to Memphis?’ That’s kind of going to be our (motto).
“The public is very excited about it. I had a lot of support this year and I think the reason I did is because the Racquet Club had lost their tournament after so many years. Memphis has never had an outdoor tournament ... (and) we’re going to go after it.”
Today’s Future final begins at noon with doubles to follow.
Shapovalov Alberto Mancini Thomas Enqvist Tennys Sandgren, Whitehaven relay team is in good form already Denis
There are a lot of races to be run between now and Spring Fling. But if early results are any indication, the Whitehaven girls will be squarely in contention for another state championship.
The three-time defending Class AAA champs competed in the Westlake Relays in Atlanta last weekend and came away with two state-best performances. The team of
Makiya White, Sanura Branigan, Jamaya Fleming Kirstin Jones
and had 2018’s top time in the 400, finishing in 48.25. then replaced White on the 800-relay team that finished in 1:41.20.
Redbirds roster loaded with top talent
Fans attending Memphis Redbirds games this year will have a chance to watch some of the top talent in the parent St. Louis Cardinals organization.
The defending Pacific Coast League champion Redbirds, who play the fourth game of a five-game season-opening series in Round Rock tonight, had 11 of the organization’s top 30 prospects as named by Baseball America on the roster for opening day. Leading the way is third-ranked catcher followed by outfielder (fourth), right-hander (seventh) and outfielder (ninth). Rounding out the list were outfielder
(11th), outfielder (13th), lefty (14th), infielder
Randy Arozarena Mercado Nya Walton Carson Kelly, Tyler O’Neill Dakota Hudson Adolis Garcia Oscar Austin Gomber Luke Voit Max Schrock Connor Jones Derian Gonzalez
(16th), infielder (17th), right-hander (22nd) and righty (27th). The roster features 18 players who were in AAA last year, including 17 returnees from last year’s team. The Redbirds will be back at AutoZone Park for the home opener on Tuesday against Omaha. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
Tigers’ track records fall
For the second time in the outdoor track and field season,
Martina Rodriguez Sala
has broken a University of Memphis record.
Sala, a native of Spain, finished sixth in the 1,500 at the recent Raleigh Relays in North Carolina in a time of 4:17.99. That time was nearly 2.5 seconds faster than her previous mark of 4:20.46 set in 2016. Earlier this spring during a meet at Rhodes, Sala established a new standard in the 5,000 (16:34.51).
Another Tiger set school records in Raleigh as well as ran in the 10,000 meters in 35:26.35. Competing at the Joy Haines Invitational in Cape Girardeau, Mo., threw the hammer 189-0 feet to set another mark.
On the men’s side, the 1,600-relay team of
Arnica Zitting Mona Jaidi
Davon DeMoss, Ryan Champlin, Jarred Paisley Kolbeinn Gunnarsson
and set a school record in a time of 3:08.51 at the Texas Relays in Austin. The previous mark of 3:08.80 had stood since 1978.
Former Memphis hoops star honored Galen Young
Former Memphian will be inducted into the Mississippi will be inducted into the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame during ceremonies April 24 at Hinds Community College in Raymond.
After a standout career at Hillcrest, Young signed with Northwest Mississippi where he totaled 1,077 points and 637 rebounds in two seasons. Those totals rank seventh and second respectively on the school’s all-time list.
From there, Young went to UNCCharlotte, helping the 49ers reach the NCAA Tournament in 1998 and 1999. He was taken by Milwaukee in the second round of the NBA Draft that summer and was named CBA player of the year for Yakima in 2007. Altogether, he played in nine different countries.
Young completed his criminal justice degree at Charlotte in 2014 and has spent the last three seasons as an assistant at Lane College in Jackson.
CBHS assistant part of clinic speakers’ list
CBHS defensive coordinator
will be among the speakers at Murray State Chalk Talk coaches clinic, which takes place April 20-21.
Other speakers at the event will be Bethel head coach Brent Dearmon, Nashville Ensworth defensive coordinator Derrick Pritchard and Mountain Brook (Ala.) offensive coordinator Blake Boren. The cost is $15 per coach and staff rates are available.
For more information or to RSVP, call 270-809-6181 or e-mail tgarrison@murraystate.edu.
Sunday Sports Brunch is a weekly look at movers, shakers and newsmakers on the Memphis sports scene, from youth level to the pros. If you have an item of interest, please contact John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com.
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John Varlas