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Winnipeg, MB (Allan Besson, Winnipeg Free Press) –  THE first game of the second set was the turning point of the Arby's Manitoba Open men's final Sunday at Kildonan Tennis Club.

Third-seed Adam Baranowski of Toronto won a gruelling 20-minute battle at deuce with Winnipeg's Doug DeVriendt and surged to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Baranowski's win denied DeVriendt, the fourth seed, his sixth Open title.

DeVriendt was in control after the first set, but the two came down to deuce in the first game of the second, with DeVriendt consistently taking advantage, only to have Baranowski draw even each time, and eventually take the game. From that point, he simply wore DeVriendt down.

"I think that definitely changed the momentum," Baranowski said of the key game in the second set. "It is tough to break Doug, he doesn't give you anything. He was playing tough at the first, but that was the turning point.

For Baranowski, victory was sweet after losing a heartbreaker in the heat last year to two-time defending champion Alex Gravina, also of Toronto.

"I knew he was tough, but I also knew that if I got into his head, it would be a different story, and that is what happened in the third set," Baranowski said. "I think he just didn't get the shots that he normally would have. "I was just moving him around, making sure he was putting on the miles. That was the key ingredient."

Baranowski, 31, who has been spending most of his time over the last couple of years coaching at the Donalda Club in Toronto, said the victory, "is the best result I have had this year so far. Coaching is my living, and tournaments are something that I do on the side now. When I play a tournament I try to get ready the best I can, but it is definitely not the same as it was a couple years ago when playing tennis was the only thing I was doing."

A short rain delay didn't seem to have any affect on either player. "Maybe a couple points here and there," said Baranowski. "But for the most part, I had to dig down and keep the game clean."

With a win, DeVriendt would have tied Art Foster for the most championship victories in the tournament's 102-year history at six.

"It would have been nice," he said, "but really all you can do is go out there and give yourself a chance to win. As long as I do that I'll win my fair share, and I'll be back next year to try again."

DeVriendt exacted some revenge by partnering with Cristian Paiz to take the men's open doubles crown over Baranowski and his partner Matt Baccarani by a score of 6-2, 6-7, 6-4.

On the women's side, Carlene Leyden of Houston, Texas, ended the two-year reign of Kyla McNicol, defeating the top seed 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. It was the rubber match between the two at this year's tournament as Leyden had earlier partnered with Geoff Kirbyson to win the mixed doubles title over McNicol and Sean LaCap, 6-3, 6-4, but lost with her sister, Jacinta, to McNicol and Alexa Zayac in the women's doubles final, 6-2, 6-1.

allan.besson@freepress.mb.ca

Arby's Manitoba Open Tennis championships at Kildonan Tennis Club:

Men's open singles: Adam Baranowski, Toronto def. Doug DeVriendt, Winnipeg 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Women's open singles: Carlene Leyden, U.S. def. Kyla McNicol, Winnipeg 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Mixed open doubles: Carlene Leyden and Geoff Kirbyson, Winnipeg def. Kyla McNicol and Sean LaCap, Winnipeg 6-3, 6-4.

Women's open doubles: Kyla McNicol and Alexa Zayac, Winnipeg def. Carlene Leyden and Jacinta Leyden, U.S. 6-2, 6-1.

Men's open doubles: Doug DeVriendt, Winnipeg and Cristian Paiz, Guatemala def. Adam Baranowski and Matt Baccarani, Toronto 6-2, 6-7, 6-4.

} Arby’s Manitoba Open Tennis Championships

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Winnipeg, MB (Doug Speirs, Winnipeg Free Press) – IT'S early Thursday evening, I'm sweating profusely and nervously staring across a tennis court waiting for Alex Gravina to fire the ball at me at a velocity approaching the speed of light.

Alex, 27, is the two-time defending champion of the Manitoba Open Tennis Championships, which wrap up today.

Without breaking a sweat, he can launch a tennis ball at approximately 115 miles per hour. For those of you who are not tennis buffs or mathematicians, this is -- in technical terms -- very, very fast.

I, on the other hand, have never played tennis in my life.

Perhaps I should try to explain how I got myself in this predicament. I blame our business department.

It began a few days ago when some business colleagues and I were engaged in an important journalistic debate, by which I mean we were avoiding work and talking about sports.

The topic of tennis came up, because business writer Geoff Kirbyson is actually a ranked player doing battle in this weekend's tournament.

"Tennis is for girls!" I helpfully pointed out.

"Doug," Geoff snorted, rolling his eyes, "there is NO way you could hit a serve from a real player."

"Could TOO!"

"Could NOT!"

"Could TOO!"

This mature conversation went on for awhile, but I think you get the idea how I ended up putting my body on the line at the Kildonan Tennis Club.

The humorous concept here -- in Geoff's mind, at least -- was that we would get Alex to rip a few cannon-like serves at me and see whether I could somehow connect with even one.

First, a few words about our relative athletic prowess: Alex is a lithe, wiry person who moves around the court like a stealthy jungle cat, whereas I am the size of a convenience store and possess the natural grace of a 260-pound sandbag.

Before I reveal the dramatic results, here's a little foreshadowing for you.

I explained to my friend and colleague Dan Lett what I'd let Geoff talk me into doing.

"Doug," Dan said thoughtfully, "you are going to look like someone took a hockey sock full of billiard balls and hit you with it -- repeatedly."

And so with that thought fresh in my mind, I braced myself as Alex took aim and began to fire at will.

Anyway, you know how sometimes you fret and worry about doing something and then, when you finally get the courage to do it, it's not all that bad?

Well, that wasn't the case this time.

On the very first serve, I took a mighty swing, then realized the ball had already zoomed by me with enough force to drill right through the wire fence enclosing the court.

Fortunately, from there it was all downhill. In the end, as a crowd of players, ball kids and parents looked on, Alex drilled about 30 lightning-like serves in my general direction.

On the upside, I actually managed to hit several of them.

On the downside, I hit them with various parts of my anatomy.

The real highlight came when a ball moving too fast for me to see hammered into my "medically sensitive area," driving a large number of important internal organs into my neck.

(Imagine being kicked by a horse and you will know how I felt.)

"Ooooooh!!!" the crowd winced in unison, "You're supposed to hit it with your racket, Doug."

"GAK!" is all I managed to say to the crowd.

At this point, my survival instinct kicked in and I wisely pulled out my secret weapon -- a giant novelty tennis racket the size of a small sports car.

"Ha ha ha!" I taunted Alex. "Let's see you get one by this, baby." And so he did, firing several serves so hard they ripped through the strings of my giant racket.

So I lost the bet, but my buddy Geoff was sporting enough to admit that I "showed a lot of guts and a very small brain" by sticking it out.

And club pro Peter Otto kindly offered to give me a lesson, noting: "Judging by the welts on your body, you weren't fast enough to get out of the way."

But, sadly, I've decided to give up tennis and take a stab at something less dangerous -- like golf.

Now that game looks easy!

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca

Want to see Alex beating me like a rented mule? Check out the video at www.winnipegfreepress.com 

} Arby’s Manitoba Open Tennis Championships

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Winnipeg, MB (Allan Besson, Winnipeg Free Press) – TWO-TIME champion and No. 2 seed Alex Gravina of Toronto is back to defend his Arby's Manitoba Open tennis championship. Newcomer and No. 1 seed Cristian Paiz, who has represented Guatemala in Davis Cup competition for the past seven years, is here hoping to take the crown away.

The open portion of the 102nd Manitoba Open began Friday on the indoor courts at the Winnipeg Winter Club due to rain, but will move back to the Kildonan Tennis Club for the rest of the weekend, weather permitting.

"It is going to be a hectic road to the finals," said Gravina, who in 2005 shared the open doubles championship with Manitoba's Sean LaCap. "The men's field this year is a lot stronger than it has been for the last couple of years.

"To be honest, I have dedicated pretty much the last year to coaching Justin Jendruch, who is the No. 1 ranked under-18 player in Ontario (also in the open draw). I am looking forward to getting back into the competitive mode and being a player again."

If it rains this weekend, playing indoors could be a problem for Paiz. "It is not always the easiest thing to change from outdoor to indoor, but it is the same for everyone, but it is a challenge that every player faces. Hopefully the sun will come out (Saturday) and Sunday. I am used to very hot conditions."

Paiz has not played Gravina before. "Nothing is going to be easy. I think I just have to let it be, go point-by-point, and compete to my highest level," he said.

Play continued Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in men's and women's singles and doubles with the mixed doubles final scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday's schedule has the men's and women's open doubles at 11 a.m., men's open singles at 12:30 p.m. and women's open singles at 2 p.m.

All matches at Kildonan Tennis Club. In the event of rain, they will be moved to the Winnipeg Winter Club.

} Arby’s Manitoba Open Tennis Championships

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Winnipeg, MB (Allan Besson, Winnipeg Free Press) – HE'S 81, had his right knee replaced two years ago and expects to have his left one replaced soon.

But tennis player Jack Stephens isn't slowing down.

"I feel good," he said, praising medical science and the availability of replacement parts. "It's better than going to the cemetery and digging them up."

On Tuesday, he and Free Press business reporter Geoff Kirbyson (39) won the 110-event (combined age of 110 or greater) at the Arby's 102nd annual Manitoba Open Tennis Championships, at the Kildonan Tennis Club. The first time they met in 1995, the pair won the doubles at Victoria Beach.

"After the warm-up for our first match at Victoria Beach he told me, 'I have two rules: I serve and volley and I take all my own overheads,' " recalled Kirbyson. "Sounded fine to me until in about the third or fourth game I was at the net and crossed over to his side to take an overhead and missed it. Jack didn't say anything, but he gave me a look that told me I wouldn't be doing that again, and I haven't. I didn't want to get my butt kicked by my own partner."

Playing in the shadow of the professionals -- who began their open competitions Friday at the Winnipeg Winter Club indoor courts due to the rain -- doesn't bother Stephens. His philosophy is simple: "I enjoy the game, and I take it seriously on the court, but off the court it's another story."

In 1945, Stephens played offensive and defensive end with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He's also had stints as a lifeguard, swimmer, runner, sand-lot volleyball player, baseball player and has been a member at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club since 1967.

"I was 155 pounds when I played for the Bombers," said Stephens, who now weighs in at 195. "That was the last year that Fritzie Hanson (the Golden Ghost) played on he team."

The next season he played for the upstart junior Rods and then went to Mexico City on a scholarship to play American football. "It was their first year and I scored their first touchdown," he recalled.

Playing against the Harlem Globetrotters in the old Winnipeg Amphitheater is a treasured memory.

"In those days, they didn't travel with another team, so we could do whatever we wanted against them," the 1952 Greater Winnipeg Senior Basketball League all-star recalled. "One guy came over and said, 'I'm going to score on you no matter what.' He put two shots up and missed them both."

At Boynton Beach, Fla., where he spends his winters, Stephens has plenty of people his own age with whom to stay active. "We won the doubles, I think, six years in a row and we used to play in the counties (district championship), and we won that about four or five times in a row.

"I played with a guy who was 91 last year. He played on the grass courts championships in the U.S. Open in his age group. Here you can't find age groups. I have to play down to whatever (age). I don't win, but I give them a good game. Sometimes I do win, but it all depends on who I am playing."

} Arby’s Manitoba Open Tennis Championships

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Winnipeg, MB (TM) – For Alex Gravina, Matt Baccarani and Justin Jendruch it was a way to give back to the sport that has been a big part of their lives. On the eve of the singles and doubles draws at the Arby’s Manitoba Open the three players from Toronto took some time to hit with the ball kids and provide a few tips along the way. It was a great experience for the youngsters who not only got a refresher course on the responsibilities of being a ball boy/girl, but also had the opportunity to play doubles with some of the top players in Canada.

For Gravina, Baccarani and Jendruch it was the calm before the storm, as they will take to the court on Friday in pursuit of the Arby’s Manitoba Open Championship. Baccarani and Jendruch are making their Manitoba Open debuts, while Gravina will be looking to defend the Men’s Singles title he earned in 2006.

The Men’s Singles draw gets underway at 9:00am, while the Women’s Singles action starts at 12:30pm. The tennis continues all weekend at the Kildonan Tennis Club, with the Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles finals all slated for Sunday. The Mixed Doubles final will take place on Saturday.

For draws and match results click here.

} Arby’s Manitoba Open Tennis Championships

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Winnipeg, MB (TM) – After capturing the Men’s 4.5 Singles and 4.5 Doubles events earlier in the week, Chad LaCap earned a spot in the main draw of the Men’s Open Singles on Thursday at the Arby’s Manitoba Open. LaCap defeated Matt Luczynski in the final round of qualifying and at the age of 13 he is the youngest player in the main draw.

LaCap defeated Jeremy Trinidad 6-3, 7-6 to capture the Men’s 4.5 Singles and then teamed up with Trinidad to outlast Darrell and Mitch Bushuk 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the 4.5 Men’s Doubles final.

Tom Brown was also a double winner, taking home the 45+ Men’s Singles title with a hard fought win over Tony Weekes and partnering with Dave Wilken to defeat Glen Ziprick and Voytek Wozniak in the 45+ Men’s Doubles final.

For complete results from the 4.5, 3.5 and 45+ events click here.

Action continues in the Open events at the Kildonan Tennis Club on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

} Arby’s Manitoba Open Tennis Championships

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Winnipeg, MB (TM) – Based on results from the last three qualifying tournaments, the following juniors have earned enough points to finish in the top 4 in their age group and qualify to represent Manitoba at the Outdoor Prairie Regionals.

Tennis Manitoba will offer a spot to the 5th player in the point standings if one of the top 4 players is unable to attend the Prairie Regionals. If further spots become available, players may request a wildcard, which will be evaluated based on the merits of the player’s past performance.

The Prairie Regionals will be held July 16-18 in Winnipeg. The top 4 boys and top 4 girls will then qualify to represent the Prairie Region at the Outdoor Junior Nationals as follows:

• U18: August 4-10 Montreal, PQ

• U16: August 11-17 Mississauga, ON

• U12: August 11-17 Mont Tremblant, PQ

• U14: August 18-24 Aurora, ON.

} Junior Tour Points Standings

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Winnipeg, MB (TM) – Alexia Cholakis defeated Jade Kirstein 7-5, 6-0 to win the U14 Girls Singles Championship at Taylor Tennis. The win vaulted Cholakis into third place in the Outdoor Prairie Regionals Points Race, which will qualify her for a spot at the Junior National qualifier. Yale Selchen also qualified for the Outdoor Prairie Regionals after he beat Ty Dilello 6-3, 6-2 to capture the U14 Boys Singles title.

Eric Pollard won his second qualifying tournament of the summer to solidify his first place position in the U16 Boys Points Race. Pollard earned a 7-5, 6-2 victory over his Western Canada Summer Games teammate, Jeremy Trinidad. Anita Paskvalin defeated Evann Waschuk 6-3, 6-4 to win the U18 Girls Singles Championship.

For complete LM Architectural Group Junior Open match results and photo gallery click here.

The next stop on the Junior Tour is the Wheat City Junior Open, which will be held September 14-16 at the Wheat City Tennis Club in Brandon. This tournament will be a qualifier for the 2008 Junior Nationals.

} Tennis Manitoba Tournament Schedule

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Winnipeg, MB (TM) – Tournament organizers for the 2007 Arby’s Manitoba Open are thrilled with the quality of players entered in the Men’s Singles draw. Two-time defending champion Alex Gravina of Toronto and 5-time Manitoba Open Champion, Doug DeVriendt of Winnipeg, will have their work cut out for them as both look to claim another Men’s Singles Championship.

Top seeded Cristian Paiz, a member of Guatemala’s Davis Cup team, holds an ATP ranking and will be the favorite this week as he makes his Manitoba Open debut. Adam Baranowski of Toronto, the 2006 Men’s Singles finalist, is returning to Winnipeg as the # 3 seed and will be a strong contender once again. Baranowski’s doubles partner, Matthew Baccarani, is currently ranked # 26 in Canada, and cannot be overlooked as he makes his inaugural appearance in Manitoba. Minnesota’s Tony Larson has earned the # 6 seed and can be expected to make an impact as he returns to Winnipeg after a solid performance at the 2006 Arby’s Manitoba Open that saw him reach the semi-finals.

Manitoba’s top junior player and # 2 ranked Open player, Sean LaCap, will be looking to improve upon his quarter-final finish from a year ago. Ontario’s # 1 junior player, Justin Jendruch, is entered in his first Manitoba Open and will be looking to build on his solid play this year, which includes a 6th place finish at the 2007 Indoor Junior Nationals in April.

It is definitely shaping up to be a great Men’s Singles Championship at the 2007 Arby’s Manitoba Open. All of the action gets underway at the Kildonan Tennis Club at 9:00am on Friday, July 13th.


Men’s Singles Seeded Players:

   1. Cristian Paiz
   2. Alex Gravina
   3. Adam Baranowski
   4. Doug DeVriendt
   5. Matthew Baccarani
   6. Tony Larson
   7. Justin Jendruch
   8. Sean LaCap

} Arby’s Manitoba Open Tennis Championships

Winnipeg, MB (TM) – It was a great start to the month of July for a couple of Manitoba’s top tennis players. Sean Lacap, the # 2 ranked male in Manitoba, and Kyla McNicol, the # 1 ranked female in the province, captured the Men’s and Women’s Singles titles, respectively, at the Bill Ebbels Saskatchewan Open in Regina.

The trip out west likely served as a warm-up for LaCap and McNicol, as they prepare for the upcoming Arby’s Manitoba Open at the Kildonan Tennis Club in Winnipeg. Both players will be looking to defend titles earned at this tournament in 2006. LaCap is seeking his fourth consecutive Men’s Doubles Championship and second consecutive Mixed Doubles crown, while McNicol will be striving to repeat her Triple Crown performance from a year ago, as she captured the Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles events in 2006.

Open events get underway on Tuesday, July 10th with the start of the Men’s Singles qualifying draw. The main draw for Men’s and Women’s Singles and Men’s and Women’s Doubles events kicks off on Friday, July 13th at 9:00am. The Mixed Doubles final will be held on Saturday evening and the remaining finals will take place on Sunday, July 15th. Spectators are welcome all week and can watch some great tennis at no charge!

} Arby’s Manitoba Open Tennis Championships

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Winnipeg, MB (TM) – One lucky tennis enthusiast will win a trip for two to Toronto, including airfare, accommodations and tickets to the semi-finals and final of the 2007 Rogers Cup, featuring the top female players on the planet.

Tickets are available for $5 each. If you are interested in entering the raffle, tickets can be purchased at the Tennis Manitoba office, or at one of the upcoming sanctioned tournaments or through your local tennis club.

If you enter the raffle prior to July 8th you will also have a chance to win a Wilson Racquet, which will be drawn at 1:00pm on July 8th at Kildonan Tennis Club during the opening weekend of the Arby’s Manitoba Open.

The grand prize will be drawn at the Arby’s Manitoba Open at the Kildonan Tennis Club on Sunday, July 15th at 1:00pm.

Congratulations to Kim Dermody of Taylor Tennis who won a Wilson backpack in the first Early Bird draw on June 24th at the Deer Lodge Classic.

} More info at www.tennismanitoba.com/RogersCup

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