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Today watching the action was Gregg Giuffria who watched his son Baron win his finals match. Mrs. Rodriguez was also on hand to watch her Daughter Racquel play Farwa Husain in the girl's 14 finals. Farwa won taking first place and Racquel took second. Farwa's father was there to support her game.

Virginia Rodriguez eventually won the girls 10 and under as her mother looked on. She played her friend Sara in a very good match with many well played rally's.

 The 12 and under girl's Finalist winner is a 9 year old player Alexis Garrett. She defeated Lindsay Murphy in the finals 6-0, 6-1. Lindsey's sister Ali was in the consolation finals for 14 and under against Chrissy Uriarte.

Aziza Aba Butain came back after winning the girls 16 and under finals to watch the remaining finals matches. I was able to interview her and she shared a whole lot about her tennis experience in Las Vegas.  How she has spent time with a number of coaches, as Marty Hennessey got her started in tennis and how she also plays with David Pate, the world class doubles player who at one point in his career was ranked number one in the world. He now run's Bally's Tennis Club and she plays with him, her high school, the Nevada Tennis Association's traveling team and it seems she does all this out of her general enthusiasm for life. Also on court was Stojanka Pantic who won the consolation round. Her mother was there to see her through and she explained how she now plays with Misha at the Monte Carlo tennis Club. They both come from the same region of the world, somewhere in Yugoslavia. At the end of her match she took the trophy and told Howard Tubin, the Tournament Director and Head Professional at Desert Palm that "I did not get upset" and she smiled. After I asked her what she meant and she said that Howard pointed out to her the often ignored principle that getting upset on the court is weakness and a true champion is calm under fire, winning or losing. In fact my point is if you play, being aware the whole game, doing what is right and keeping your composure, then you win regardless of the point total. Today it just happens that Stojanka won the real game and the point game.

Steve Landon, the assistant pro at Summerlin Tennis Club was there to watch his two students who both made it to the girls 10 and under final. He came to the "States" 10 months ago and has been working with Gordon Hammond who use to be his coach when Gordon coached in England.

 Jeff Foley, the head professional at the Red Rock Country Club and who's wife is the Executive Director at the Nevada Tennis Association was also there to watch his son Brian Foley play in the boy's 10 and under. His son won the consolation final and came in second place in the whole tournament. I was told he and his opponent Christopher Yee went back and forth some 115 times across the net one point. These players know how to keep the ball in without tiring. Brian just recently won the Bloomington Duel In the Desert for boy's 10 and under in Utah. After each play Jeff's son would look over to see his Dad watching him play, and his Dad was watching him play. Christopher Yee, who's father teaches tennis at Desert Palm, won the boys 10 and under tournament taking home the number 1 trophy.

Winning the boy's 18 and under was Chris Wilson who defeated Michael Uriarte, who took second place. Blame Lamberth won the consolation finals. Brian Miller won the 14 and under champion and Mr. and Mrs. Miller were on hand to watch their son play his finals match which entailed many great rally's with two players I would put up against any adult league player. Alec Runyon won the boy's 16 and under. He played Jonathan Ribaste who's mother was on hand to support her son.

I am waiting before I post the other notes till I get the proper scores with the correct spelling of each person's name. If you want to be informed of when the pictures and video from this event are ready click here.The final scores and results of the Monte Carlo Finals matches are below and the full draw may be posted soon.

The winners for the Monte Carlo Woman's 3.0 were Stacey Young who took first in a three set dual against Sheila Malmanis 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. And taking third place is  Sachiyo Kobayashi who moved up from ladies 2.5 to play in this tournament. Sachio took number two in the Ladies 2.5 Darling Tournament. Sachiyo showed she can play against 3.0 players by coming very close to beating the tournament winner. She lost to her in the first round 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. Not much room there.

For the men's 4.5 Alan Sherfield took home the Gold leaving Alan Abbott with the silver. Bruce Mullen was close to winning the finalist position by winning the first set 6-2 and in a tie breaker for the second set. But Alan came back and won the second set in the tie breaker then swept through the third set 6-2. Nolan Holt won the men's 3.0.

Monte Carlo Tennis Club has started off their summer tennis program with a well done tournament that adds a new mix to Vegas Tennis. There were almost as many people from out of state as in state, along with the unique pool side environment. Arizona, California, Reno, juniors, adults, seniors, family's, mothers and their son, and people like me who showed up to play tennis. There was a constant flow of entertaining matches with pool side guests pulling up chairs to watch the action. One guest in particular was there both days and watched hours of tennis not knowing any of the players, just enjoying the matches. There is something about playing pool side there, it is almost like you are at the beach. It reminded me of tennis I played when I was young. A combination of tennis by the shore and tennis by the "Pool." When I played as a kid "The pool" was always where I went and played tennis. Although the club had 17 clay courts it was always referred to as "The pool." ......"Are you going to the pool?", ......."Mom can you take me to the pool?"...etc.,. I moved to Las Vegas about nine years ago I have not been to the "Pool" since. Until Monte Carlo.

Something that stood out to me at the Monte Carlo was the Aromatherapy that was infused into the main lobby, making it smell like a banquet hall filled with fresh flowers each time I came in. The team from Reno added to the whole tournament with their stellar attitudes and competitive play. If they were not playing they were watching and as people saw them watching they began watching and soon you have a crowd. And it all began with one person who said , "Hey let's go to Las Vegas for that tennis tournament." If you want to be informed of when the pictures and video from this event are ready click here.

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