THE Milton-Ulladulla District Tennis Association will again host the South Pacific Open Tennis Tournament at its Warden Street tennis complex this weekend (November 6, 7 and 8).
Following on the success of the inaugural tournament last year, which had a classification of Open Money Tournament, Tennis NSW has elevated this year's event to a Tier 3 Tournament.
The significance of this is that the players will now be competing for maximum tournament points to increase their rankings.
This has resulted in seven of the male players now ranked in the top 200 in Australia having entered.
These include Jurek Staziack (61), Marious Zelba (89), Blade Fong (97), Lachlan Doyle (163), Blake Smith (167), Christopher Peters (178) and Scott Wagland (181).
Carlos Cuadrado from Spain, a late entry into the Tournament, has brought an international flavour to the tournament.
Ranked at 360 on the ATP World Rankings, Carlos will issue a challenge to reigning South Pacific Open Champion Jurek Staziack.
Cuadrado, has, in the past, had wins over current world ranked players Dmitry Tursonov (ranked 58) 4/6, 6/0, 6/3 and Paul-Henri Mathieu (ranked 33) 7/6, 6/4.
Staziack's performances this year include:
March - winner at Olympic Park, Sydney AMT event; April - quarter-finalist at Olympic Park AMT event; April - finalist Western Suburbs Easter AMT event; May - winner at Olympic Park AMT event; May - winner Gosford AMT event; July - winner Metropolitan Hardcourt Championships; August - semi-finalist Olympic Park AMT event.
Staziack will be hoping to successfully defend the South Pacific Open title he won in last year's event.
The ladies field will see 11 players ranked in the top 200 including Daniella Scivetti (19), Tyra Calderwood (28), Ivana Vlakic (35), Hayley Ericksen (41), Lucia Gonzales (57), Melissa Anderson (75), Chloe Costelloe (141), Rhian Ramsey (156), Natalie Markovic (163), Ashley Keir (187) and Grace O'Rourke (196).
Scivetti has risen 13 placings in the rankings in the past 12 months with the granting of 24,000 WTA points for her achievements.
Scivetti's results in the past twelve months include:
November 2008 - semi-finalist Western Australian AMT; March - round of 32 in New Zealand MT event; April - quarter-finalist Western Suburbs Easter AMT event; May - qarter-finalist Gosford AMT event.
Scivetti will be hoping to go one better this year in the South Pacific Open where she was defeated in the finals last year.
Of note Leanne and Wayne Swaysland from Wagga Wagga have entered.
Joey Swaysland, their son, has recently been a member of the successful Junior Davis Cup Team.
Milton-Ulladulla Tennis Club invites everyone to come along and experience the atmosphere of top-line tennis here in Ulladulla, free of charge.
Throughout the weekend there will be fantastic canteen and bar facilities operating, as well as a wine tasting.
There is ample spectator viewing areas to all courts, along with a lovely grassed area and children's playground.
An auction of goods donated by local businesses will operate over the three days and bidders can upgrade their bids at any time.
Items up for offer will include a recliner rocker and furniture vouchers, a holiday package, camping package, tickets to Medibank International, vouchers for tennis lessons, beauty indulgences, restaurants, seafood and a tennis racket package valued at $400.
There will be some giveaways to lucky spectators as well.
Play commences at 8.30am each day and will finishes about 6.30pm.
Some exciting doubles matches are set down for late in the day.
Come one, come all for a great weekend of tennis.
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