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News Archives: July 2005
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Tennis gods
smile on Torontonian at Manitoba Open
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| Photo: R Sen |
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Alessandro Gravina
is presented the 2005 Global Manitoba Open Men's
Singles tournament trophy by Grant Tymchuk, Arby’s Franchisee.
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Mon Jul 18'05 by
Winnipeg Free Press, Julie Horbal |
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Winnipeg, MB (Winnipeg
Free Press) – ALESSANDRO Gravina's desire to play
tennis all across Canada brought him to the 2005 Global
Manitoba Open in Winnipeg. It was the gods, he says,
that brought him the championship title yesterday.
Gravina took the title 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 over defending
Open champion Doug DeVriendt of Manitoba.
The 25-year-old Torontonian said the first thing he
expected of the final was a tough match -- and the last
thing he expected was to leave with the cup.
"I knew it was going to be very difficult with his fast
and hard-paced serve," Gravina said.
Gravina dominated when he brought play to the net, gave
DeVriendt a short volley after a long rally, or -- on
more than a few occasions -- got a lucky break with
some fancy footwork at the mesh.
He even went so far as to kiss the net after one particularly
big break late in the first set. "That was another thing
altogether," Gravina said with a laugh. "I got two big
points there. I have to thank my lucky stars on that
one, I even gave the net a little smooch ... it may
be the gods. I did everything I could and things just
went my way today."
Things stopped going Gravina's way a few years ago when
injury, financial and family issues forced him to retire
from competitive tennis. He started teaching for Tennis
Canada's program at Toronto's Rexall Centre, and two
years ago was a playing partner for Justine Henin-Hardenne
when the ATP stopped in Toronto.
'Urged me to come back'
"It was actually her who asked why I wasn't playing
anymore," he said. "She saw the way I played and urged
me to come back."
If Henin-Hardenne saw half of what spectators at the
Winnipeg Winter Club did (the tournament was originally
slated for Kildonan Tennis Club, but was moved indoors
after Sunday morning's storm), it's no wonder she urged
Gravina to play again. He looked a champion on the court
and captivated the audience with his charismatic grunting,
yelling, and the occasional dust-up with officials.
His humongous serve was full of bounce, he leapt from
side to side, and even his walking step had some spring
in it. And, although DeVriendt was the obvious hometown
favourite, Gravina drew oohs and ahhs out of the crowd
and got them more than a little excited on a few occasions.
He said he got a little excited as well, and that may
be what cost him the second set.
"After the second, I just had to calm down," said Gravina,
who played DeVriendt a few times on the junior circuit.
"I knew he was a tough competitor, he always has been.
I just had to buckle down and keep playing my game."
In women's singles action, Winnipeg's Kyla McNicol won
the title with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Alexa Zayac. |
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McNicol Captures
the Triple Crown at the 2005 Global Manitoba Open
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| Photo: R Senn |
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Alana Miller and
Kyla McNicol team up to win the Women’s Doubles.
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Mon Jul 18'05 |
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Winnipeg, MB (TM)
– Kyla McNicol capped a very successful weekend with
a pair of victories on Sunday. She defeated Alexa Zayac
6-4, 6-2 to win the Women’s Singles Championship and
then teamed up with Alana Miller to outduel Zayac and
Misa Simonova 6-2, 6-2 in the Women’s Doubles final.
These wins came on the heels of a Mixed Doubles victory
on Saturday with her partner Jon Causon.
This success at Manitoba’s showcase tournament of the
year cements McNicol’s position as the top female player
in the province. Although only 18 years of age, this
was McNicol’s 3rd Manitoba Open Women’s Singles title. |
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Tennis Fans Are
the Big Winners at the 2005 Global Manitoba Open
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| Photo: R Sen |
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Alessandro Gravina
of Toronto won the Men’s Singles Championship.
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Sun Jul 17'05 |
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Winnipeg, MB (TM)
– The tennis fans of Winnipeg were the big winners at
the Winnipeg Winter Club on Sunday. Forced indoors due
to the inclement weather, the final matches were played
in front of a very appreciative crowd who did not go
home disappointed.
Alessandro Gravina, the top seed from Toronto, delighted
the spectators with his strong groundstrokes, solid
volleys and great foot speed. He cruised to an easy
6-1 win in the opening set of the Men’s Singles final
versus Doug DeVriendt, the five-time Manitoba Open Singles
Champion. DeVriendt fought back to square the match
at a set apiece, only to have Gravina overpower him
and earn a well-deserved 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 victory.
Gravina also demonstrated outstanding doubles skills,
teaming with Sean LaCap to win the Men’s Doubles Championship
2-6, 7-5, 6-3 over DeVriendt and Evan Mancer.
Not only did Gravina treat the fans to a very high level
of tennis, but he demonstrated a great passion for the
game, as witnessed by his infectious smile and never-ending
hustle for every ball. The tennis community in Winnipeg
was very fortunate to have Alessandro Gravina pay us
a visit and we look forward to his return for the 2006
Manitoba Open. |
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Miller back as
Open boasts strong field
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Kyla McNicol is looking
to win her 3rd Manitoba Open tournament championship.
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Fri Jul 15'05 by
Winnipeg Free Press, Julie Horbal |
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Winnipeg, MB ((Winnipeg
Free Press) – ALANA Miller hasn't played a tennis
tournament in years.
This weekend, that's going to change.
Miller is one of more than 60 competitors hitting the
courts in the 2005 Global Manitoba Open Tennis Championships
starting today at the Kildonan Tennis Club.
Although it's one of the country's smaller-scale tennis
events, the tournament has drawn some of the top players
in the country. It's also an opportunity for Manitobans
to showcase their stuff in front of their hometown fans
-- and among what they call their extended family --
other Manitoba players.
No stranger to racquet sports, Miller spent the last
few years perfecting her squash game. The 24-year-old
is the reigning national squash champion, but says the
close-knit Winnipeg tennis community has finally sucked
her back in.
"My friends are all involved in tennis here and they
were giving me quite a bit of peer pressure," said Miller.
"So I'm giving it another try. It's great to have the
chance to come back and play in front of Winnipeggers."
'Nice to give back'
One of the friends giving her a hard time was Kyla McNicol,
the top-ranked female tennis player in Manitoba and
two-time tournament champion.
McNicol has just completed her freshman year as the
first Canadian ever to play tennis at the University
of Central Florida, but she's more than happy to be
back at the Manitoba Open.
"It's where most of us started," she said. "It's nice
to give back and play in front of those who saw you
grow up. It's also great to play with and against people
you grew up with."
Locals aren't the only ones geared up to be playing
in Winnipeg.
No. 1 seed Alessandro Gravina was a late entry, but
he says he's thrilled just to be in the city. Winnipeg
nearly completes his goal of playing across the country.
The 25-year-old was the first alternate for Canada's
Davis Cup team earlier this season and spent time as
a hitting partner for Roger Federer and Justine Henin-Hardenne
at a tournament in his native Toronto.
Although he's a long way from home, Gravina says even
he feels the tightness he's fallen into by playing in
Manitoba.
"The pressure is definitely on," said Gravina, who's
currently ranked 14th in Canada. "I've definitely got
my work cut out for me. I'm playing against the top
players in the country here, and it's a tight-knit community
to break through. I'm just trying to make my mark."
Tournament action runs all day today and tomorrow, with
men's and women's finals at 10:30 and 11 respectively,
Sunday morning. All matches are at the Kildonan Tennis
Club, 17 Valhalla Dr. |
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Manitoba Open
Finals on Shaw
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Wed Jul 13'05 |
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Winnipeg, MB (TM)
– Tune into Shaw TV on Sunday, July 17th at 7:00pm for
complete coverage of the Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles
and Men’s Doubles finals from the
2005
Global Manitoba Open. Or better yet, come down to
the Kildonan Tennis
Club at 10:30am on Sunday morning and watch the
matches live and then head home and catch the replay
on Sunday night. There are several interesting story
lines waiting to unfold this weekend. Will Winnipegger
Doug DeVriendt capture his 6th Manitoba Open Men’s Singles
title and equal the mark set by Art Foster in the 1950s?
Will top seed, Alex Gravina of Toronto, win the Men’s
Championship in his first ever visit to Winnipeg? Will
Alana Miller regain top form and earn her 6th Manitoba
Open Women’s Singles Championship? Will Kyla McNicol
regain the title she lost last year and post her 3rd
Manitoba Open win?
Come out to Kildonan Tennis Club and catch all of
the action this weekend and then tune into Shaw TV at
7:00pm on Sunday night to watch the exciting replays.
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