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In Brian's tennis career , which has taken him all over the world, he has come across both... those who love the ingenuity and sheer athleticism of his serve, and those who believe the lie that it is bad or wrong, just because it is not conventional. One has to look no further then Poncho Gonzales, and then David Pate, who's serves were not the traditional, yet yielded the most power, with Poncho and David both being known for their dominating service games. David at one time was putting it in the box at 137 miles and hour, and it is no coincidence that Aziza Aba Butain, his student, has a huge serve, rivaling most men. In fact, she clocked at 111 miles an hour just months ago when she tried the service radar game at the Franklin Templeton, when Marty Hennessy took her and a group of kids down to that tournament as a prize for winning his Junior Circuit.

 When someone takes the game to the highest level, you will always have the one lone voice , echoing out the lie as to why it is no good, but the glaring truth is right in front of you... look at that kids serve and tell me it is no good. It is amazing and there is no denying it. Just like the success of this tournament is amazing. Sure there might be one person who try's to say it is no good,  but when all is said and done, you see the serve, you see and experience the event, and the hype all falls apart. And standing tall is the innovation and success that many people came together to create, including you the participant.

Brian Battistone discovered his serve while tampering with his game and looking at it from a different perspective. Often times by making adjustments and intuitively getting a feel , all of a sudden, aha, you discover something. I know that the best ideas , the valid ones, do not come from "Brain storming", but from living and doing, then all of a sudden you trip upon, or are shown something, by an inner coach, and you have the choice to follow it or to write it off.

Brian had these leadings to make changes to his stroke and make tennis an awesome world of discovery, and for some time he was hitting both left and right handed. It just made sence to him  when one side of his body began to hurt.

We often are shown the same things as others, without having shared notes. For example, I had the same experience with one side of my body hurting and it just made sence to me to start hitting left handed and I could feel how it balanced out my body. It took no time at all before I could hit lefty.  I don't use it in matches, but it is something I am led to do now and then while hitting and I can feel how it helps my back.

Point is you never know why you are led to do something, but you just know to try it and you may see later why it applies. Brian's brother Dann Battistone is now an assistant coach at BYU men's tennis team, and played professional tennis for some time, at one point was in the top fifty in ATP points amongst pro's in the US. Now he plays professional tennis in the off season, as he and Brian just completed a challenger in Los Angeles, where they faced up against David Pate and Scott Davis and lost in two sets 6-4, 6-3.

Brian and Dan, when facing each other in the final, it was practice all over again, but this time there was a cup and some cash on the line. For some reason that brings out a new element. I had a mixed doubles match I played while these two had their  final. Both players were intense while maintaining aspects  of a gentleman, and that is what this game is about. To play it right,.... that is all that matters.

WHO ARE DAN AND BRIAN BATTISTONE..?

Dann was born in Santa Barbara, CA on Oct 4 1976, and Started playing tennis when he moved to Palm Desert, Ca at the age of 10. Dan nor Brian were ranked very high as a junior but continued to dedicate themselves until Dan got his
world ranking....Brian and Dan played on the Palm Desert high school tennis team in which swept all 3 divisions in state; singles, doubles, and team...... Dann played under Coach Patton at Boise State and then for Coach Osborne at BYU...,traveled for 3 years on tour in Europe and Central America from 1997-2000 earning his first world ranking....Then served a 2 year church mission in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and returned to Brigham Young University as the student assistant coach while getting his degree in accounting...He also currently coach's some of the top juniors in Utah...

He has won at least 20 tournament titles including his most recent.. The Ballys Cup.... Currently he is traveling on the professional futures tour with his brother Brian , who took second at THE BALLY'S CUP...

Brian was born in Santa Barbara, CA on August 8, 1979, and started playing tennis at around the age of 10. He was never ranked very high as a junior but has dedicated his life to tennis over the last 5 years, earning a world singles and doubles ranking... He has trained and coached at the world famous Bolletieri academy and has been the hitting partner for many world class players including Tommy Haas.....He has
also coached many up and coming juniors at the academy...

Brian is famous for his high flying jump serve in which he jumps 2 or more feet in the air to spike aces left and right past his opponents.. He is also known for his ability in playing with both his right and left hands.....He has several tournament titles and is
currently traveling on the professional futures circuit....
 

Other standout open players were Sean Hubbard, Lew Deleon, who had a nice three set match against Chris Wilson; Atilla Tokay, once a player on the Japanese Circuit, Adrin Himelheber, the only player to take a set off Dan Battistone before the final, Rob Callandar, Gary Barendregt, JongDemonteverde , Robbie Parlade, who once played for UNLV and whom shocked The Spanish Trail men's open singles winner, Sean Monk in two sets. A top player Eoin Collins, that once played for Irelands Davis Cup team, had to default in the semifinal due to injury.

In fact, Robbi played his quarterfinals match the night of his graduation from UNLV. He came and brought his whole graduation party with him, along with parents, cousins, family and friends. Robbie is a character, jumping and ready to play, making his noises and putting on a show. He had his cap on from Graduation during his whole match with Brian Battistone, who beat him in two sets.

Brian afterwards told me he realized Robbie was not trying to taunt him but was just playing with zeal, and that is true. Robbie admitted Brian played the better game and took the loss with grace. He then posed with his students, family and friends for this significant day in his life. It is just the beginning. Young and now walking into adult life, he is jumping and swinging and ready.

 

Robbie has been working with Leon Vernon, putting together a tennis program for kids in areas that otherwise might not be able to afford the cost of private tennis lessons. VegasTennis.com, Jacqueline Perez's Desert Valley Pediatrics, and Jal Daulat's Las Vegas Skin and Cancer Clinics, made it possible for many players from Robbie and Leon's program to play in this event free of charge. If you want to sponsor one of these players and their tennis , let me know, e-mail me or call me at 822-1081. Perhaps you can make an impact on one players career, one tournament at a time. It is $30.00 per tournament entry and your contribution can help a player or more then one experience the environment of tournament tennis.

 

GIRL vs BOY THOMPSON VS SIDORIS... Frank Sidoris was talking a lot of smack pre-Thompson vs Sidoris, but afterwards he was humbled by the consistency and shear power of Catrina Thompson. But no one can deny the promotional capability's and humor in which Frank brought to this "Grudge match" , which had a lot of good spirited trash talking. Frank coupled a unique ability to be both serious, trying 100% and looking to win, with a egoless willingness to take a beating. His pre-match taunts and pranks.. one of which was his e-mail posted below... were not only creative, but added a much needed good time to the tennis scene, especially when it comes to boy vs girl, or man vs woman. From this match forward, no man can justifiably have so much pride that they whine about playing a talented girl. Catrina and Frank , both playing their heart out, Sidoris, who use to be a 4.5 and is now a 4.0, played his heart out as usual. Not only on the court , but before in promoting his one match. He had a huge crowd come out at 8:45pm at night to this him play, and what a colorful crowd it was. He had most of the BALLY'S sports book out, who just that day had placed the odds up on the big screen, Sidoris "600 to 1".. or something to that effect. Frank's mom came out and watched her son play for the first time, which amazed me as Frank has been such an intricate part of the tennis scene. He is motivated, good spirited and an excellent competitor. But tonight that was not enough as Catrina beat him in two competitive sets. This e-mail was sent in by Fran Sidoris to post on this page before the match..My name is Frank Sidoris. I was born + raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I've always loved Sports. Gifted with a 90 M.P.H. fastball I especially liked Baseball. In 1973 I remember witnessing a couple of events that I'll never forget. My first Alice Cooper Concert, and watching Bobby Riggs get his Ass beat by Billie Jean King in the Houston Astrodome. It's now 30 yrs. later and vengeance will be mine Thursday night at 830pm as I go up against the lovely Catrina Thompson. My personal philosophy is that a top 4.0 Male can dominate any Open Division Female. Good luck Catrina, I'm bringing my "A" game. Love, Frankie

George Morrissey, who's son Devon plays junior tennis, played in the open draw as well. He played for UNLV years ago with Dan Knight at Spanish Trail, when Dan Knight was a player that captured the record for most doubles wins. Now as a 4.5 and a bit older then his earlier singles days, George still swung away against John Schwikert , who also has a son , Warren, that plays junior tennis. In fact Warren was a finalist in the boy's 10 and under and just recently won the Summerlin boys 10 tournament, beating Brian Foley in the final. In this match up of tennis dads, John Sr won in two competitive sets 6-3, 6-4.

His son Warren took second place to up and coming player Jeffery Vongman. Jeffery is on fire and his been flying through competition, causing upsets left and right. This is a player to watch, as he and his coach Tim Blenkiron at TEAM AGASSI, fine tune the next top player. Also a top player at TEAM AGASSI is Brendon Aguilar, and these two playing one another can only augment their game.

Another story is John Schwikert's sisters, who , in their day were the number one ranked twins, much like the Thompson twins today. They played pro tennis on the Virginia Slims tour and at one point were top ten in the country in doubles. These ladies came down to see the Thompson's play, and to see their nephew Warren compete in the environment they once dwelled in. They enjoyed looking at and handling the antique wooden racquets which were hung up and laying around as tournament decorations, reminiscing about the good old wooden days.