This year, one of ETC’s own had the chance to travel to south Florida and play in this prestigious event. Caden Scarlett, who is one of the areas top players has participated in numerous USTA Midwest and National tournaments. He decided to take his talents to South Beach (technically Key Biscane) to battle against some of the best players from the US and the rest of the world. Scarlett did not gain direct entry into the main draw, meaning he had to qualify to secure a spot into the main draw. 

Caden adapted quickly to the heat, humidity and outdoor conditions which is typically tough to do after being indoors for several months. His first opponent was fellow american Jaxon Lamb (Greenville, TN). Lamb is a five-star recruit and is ranked inside the top 100 nationally. 

Lamb got off to great start in the first set and took the first 6-1, but Scarlett stayed focused and committed to his game plan. Caden broke serve in the second game to even the score 1-1. From that point on, the players pushed each other in a back in forth manner. The score would eventually reach 4-4 with Scarlett serving. At 4-all in the second set, Lamb would eventually break and hold his serve to win the match 6-1, 6-4

  https://youtu.be/SDpHLf0f3DQ

Scarlett is the third boy from Evansville to play in the Orange Bowl since 2015. 

His senior proved to be another great year. Aaron managed to compile a record of 28-1 before losing to the eventual IHSAA State Champion. 

Aaron will join Xavier’s Men’s Tennis team in the fall of 2019. He continues to play high level events and plans on training full time until he leaves for school. 

Congratulations Aaron on the wonderful achievement and hard work! We look forward to following your career at Xavier.

Aaron is the 9th ETC player in the past two years to commit or sign a National Letter of Intent to play in college.

Good luck and keep up the hard work Aaron!

Mao cruised in his first match against Anish Gangavaram (Mason, OH) winning 6-1; 6-1. Next, he played Xavier Ecarma (Louisville, KY) who beat 7th seeded Nishanth Basavareddy first round. Mao would go on to win 7-6(5); 6-3 to set up a semifinal matchup against Presley Thieneman (Floyds Knobs, IN). Mao needed a second set tiebreak to secure a win 6-3; 7-6(3).

After taking down fourth seeded Thieneman, Mao faced the defending champion and top seeded Daniel Sharygin (Newburgh, IN). Sharygin was ranked top 50 in the nation at the start of the tournament. Mao lost the first set 4-6 only to recover and take the second set 6-0. The third and final set was decided by a match tiebreak which Mao won 10-4.

Despite losing in the finals, Sharygin and his partner, Xavier Ecarma, captured the Doubles Championship. The duo never lost more than 3 games in any of the first three rounds. Sharygin and Ecarma received a walkover in the finals.

Champion – Nathan Mao

Finalist – Daniel Sharygin

Third Place- Nishesh Basavareddy

Fourth Place – Presley Thieneman

Sportsmanship Award – Frank Thompson

For the completed draw please visit the tournament page.

Upcoming National Tournaments:

Girls 12 and Under – March 24-26

Boys and Girls 18 and Under – May 5-7

This year’s field is strong, with more than half the draw being a 4-star recruit or better. What makes this event unique, is it brings a lot of the best players in the Midwest and the country to Evansville. Due to its “Level 3” status several players are 14 years of age and are looking to improve on their future 16 and Under rankings. The Evansville Tennis Center is one of only six facilities in the country to host this event. Other locations include Las Vegas, Bronx, Scottsdale, Irvine and Hilton Head.

Daniel Sharygin (Newburgh, IN) returns to defend his 2017 title. The top ranked and top seeded player is teaming up with fellow 5-star recruit, Xavier Ecarma (Louisville, KY). Sharygin and Ecarma are seeded #2 in doubles and will begin play at 9:00am on Saturday. Sharygin, who is a 5-star recruit is the #4 recruit in the Midwest and #55 National for his graduating class. Sharygin won the prestigious Easter Bowl title in 2014.

The top seeded doubles team of Ian Brady (Indianapolis, IN) and Presley Thieneman (Floyds Knobs, IN) are 4-star and 5-star recruits respectively. They are scheduled to play at 8:00 am on Saturday.

Daniel Schmelka (Hinsdale, IL) finished 3rd in this years Winter National Championships, looks to continue to play at a high level. Schmelka beat the #1 ranked player in the nation, Noelle Ampong to secure the third place finish. Schmelka currently has a ranking of #14 in the nation for “14 and Under”. The 5-star recruit is seeded fifth in singles and third in doubles. His partner Alan Matyjas (Northfield, IL) is currently ranked #44 in the nation for “14 and Under”. Matyjas is also a 5-star recruit.

Eli Gordon and Nishesh Basavareddy are both Blue Chip recruits. Gordon (Highland Park, IL) is the #3 recruit in the Midwest and #15 recruit in the country for all 8th graders. Fellow 8th grader, Nishesh Basavareddy (Indianapolis, IN) enters this tournament after playing several national and international tournaments. Basavareddy made it to the finals of the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl – an international junior event held annually in Florida. He was also a semi-finalist at the Eddie Herr International event. Both events took place this winter. He has captured two national championships in doubles, earning two gold ball trophies. Basavareddy won both the National Clay Court and Easter Bowl championships this year. He also finished second at this years Easter Bowl Championships. Basavareddy is the #13 recruit in the country and will team up with his brother Nishanth (4-star) in doubles.

We encourage everyone to stop by and watch some of the nations best players compete. You may find tentative match times here, but please note this only lists first round times for singles and doubles. The draws will be released Friday. To view the draw please click here.

This year, Sharygin enters the tournament as the top seeded and top ranked player with a national ranking of 49. He will be teaming up with Xavier Ecarma. Ecarma is the son of the University of Louisville Men’s Tennis Coach Rex Ecarma.

Sharygin may be the only local player to participate in this years’ event but he will be joined by several Central Indiana players: Ian Brady, Presley Thieneman, Nishanth Basavareddy and Nishesh Basavareddy. All of these players rank high in the most current USTA Midwest rankings.

ETC is proud to welcome these players to the city of Evansville, and we encourage all of our members and anyone else within the community to come watch some of the best players in the region and the country. Play will begin Saturday January 20th at 8:00am. The day will begin with two rounds of doubles followed by two rounds of singles play. The event will run through Monday, January 22nd.

For more information on the event please visit the tournament page.

Jim has been a board member for the Evansville Community Tennis Association (ECTA) playing on local USTA league teams and winning a men’s CITA district title as Captain. Jim coached middle school tennis and served as assistant coach for boys and girls Memorial high school tennis. He helped in the design, funding and construction of our indoor facility. He continues to play local and regional tournaments.

Theresa has been the chair of the Pro/Am Party for the past 15 years for the pro-circuit tournament, served on fund raising committees and played in many local USTA leagues. She is the one who got the kids and husband to hundred of tennis lessons and tournaments! 

Jim and Theresa have co-chaired the annual ECTA fund raising event. Audrey and James were both CITA ranked juniors as well as in the Midwest and earned All District Tennis. All State Tennis, and Academic All State Honors in High School. Audrey is a Junior at Purdue University studying Computer Science. She played varsity High School tennis for 4 years at Memorial High School winning the 2012 Team State Championship. James is a Senior at Memorial High School and is planning to attend Purdue University. He just finished winning SIAC and advancing to Semi-State. Audrey and James each served 9 years as ball kids for the Pro Circuit Tournament in Evansville and assisted in setting up and tearing down before and after the event. Both helped teach tennis during the summers to low income kids.

We are very proud of the Vincent Family for their efforts and dedication to growing the game of tennis. They have volunteered countless hours over the past several years and we will always be grateful. Audrey and James have always been terrific leaders in the community, and we are confident they always will be!

We are both honored to know Woodie Walker. She has been a staple in the tennis community for several years and has left an impact that only she could make. Through her dedication and hard work over the years this award is well deserved. We would like to thank Woodie for all that she has done, not only within our community but for tennis as a whole. The game of tennis is better because of her passion, attitude and hard work.

Please enjoy the articles below. Both were written by Gordan Englehardt. The first was published September 25, 2017

Newburgh resident Walker honored at Billie Jean King Center

Phyllis “Woodie” Sublett Walker was surprised when a special award, the Woodie Walker “C.A.R.E” award was given in her name at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Awards Ceremony in Flushing, New York. The initials stand for: commitment, accountability, responsibility and excellence.

This award will be given to an official whose contributions to the game distinguish them not only for their lifetime of service but exemplifies the qualities Walker has always represented in the game.

Walker, a Newburgh resident, organized local tournaments and served as manager for Tri-State Racquet Club in the 1970s before turning her full attention to the pro level, where she became a innovator in how the sport is officiated.

Walker was pleased to present the first Woodie Walker C.A.R.E. award to the Bruce Littrell family, in honor of Bruce Littrell, who passed away in 2014 but exemplified the attributes of the award.

Through Walker’s many years of officiating, she has continued to demonstrate her commitment and professionalism. Walker’s contribution to worldwide officiating at top level in cooperation with all governing bodies has proved her to be exemplary to fellow officials.

Among her extensive list of assignments, Walker has worked every US Open since 1969 and has been a Chief Umpire for the ATP World Tour since 1978; she has served as Chief Umpire for the WTA Tour, Davis Cup, Fed Cup & the 1996 Olympic Games. Walker has gone above and beyond the requirements of an official and has been certified as an ITF International Gold Badge Referee, Chair Umpire and Chief Umpire.

Published October 9, 2018

Like Billie Jean King, Walker leaves an indelible tennis legacy

Growing up in the late 1940s, Phyllis “Woodie” Sublett Walker basically had three choices. She could become a teacher, a nurse or a secretary.

None of those piqued her interest. Instead, she worked to become an internationally-acclaimed tennis official.

Walker received the Woodie Walker “C.A.R.E.” award last month at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. The initials stand for: commitment, accountability, responsibility and excellence.

Not in attendance for the famous Billie Jean King-Bobby Riggs “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match at the Houston Astrodome in 1973, Walker was a trailblazer in her own right, carving an indelible legacy from the sidelines. With the advent of Title IX, women wanted equal pay and equal opportunity. Informing her superiors of this, she was met with astonishment, trepidation and perhaps even fear.

Although it might be politically incorrect to refer to a cigarette commercial, some might recall the old Virginia Slims ad: “You’ve come a long way, baby.” But Walker thinks women’s athletics still have a long way to go. The current “Battle of the Sexes” movie couldn’t have come at a better time for those who don’t remember the sexist climate that was so pervasive back in the day.

An estimated 90 million viewers from around the world tuned in to watch King, 29, defeat Riggs, 55, in a $100,000 winner-take-all match in the wake of the sexual revolution and rise of the women’s movement. Walker watched the movie last weekend.

“Jack Kramer had a key role in trying to keep the women down and being against equal prize money,” said Walker, a Newburgh resident who turned 88 Sunday. “I knew him and he was a very good friend of my older brother and worked very hard for tennis but thought it was a male sport. Billie Jean was instrumental in changing that.”

Walker, who got her nickname because her maiden name was Wood, remembers how patronizing men were to women.

“It was in using terms like ‘the girls,’ ‘gals,’ ‘sweetheart’…that reminded us that we were not taken seriously,” she said. “What was interesting to me was realizing that I actually knew most of the ‘names’ in the movie.”

Walker said it was probably the first time anyone started talking about gender or being gay or lesbian in relation to sports.

“That took a lot of strength on the part of BJK…and we HAVE come a long way baby! That was well-handled in the movie,” Walker said. “That being said, there is work to do.”

Walker was fortunate to have a father who believed in her and said she could be whatever she wanted to be.

“He never had me in a strictly ‘feminine role,’’’ she said. “I trailered my horse by myself to some horse shows. I also had three older brothers whom I idolized and whom never saw limitations in what I could or should do. I was the only girl in the family, the youngest, so I learned by watching, but they gave me confidence.”

However, there was still a misconception that women belonged in the “bedroom and kitchen,” Walker said.

She had to learn to speak up for herself, but never really set out to be a role model.

“I was just doing what I loved to do and what I thought was fair,” Walker said.

Beginning her officiating career in 1968, Walker became manager of Tri-State Racquet Club (now Tri-State Athletic Club) in 1972, the only woman manager of an indoor facility that she knew of in the area. She was chief umpire of the U.S. Open from 1985-88 and the only female chief umpire of any of the Grand Slams for several years. Still chief umpire of the USTA (United States Tennis Association) in 2014, she presided over her last U.S. Open before retiring.

Small in stature, Walker had the ability to take control. Serving as chair umpire for one of John McEnroe’s matches at the Indianapolis Clay Courts Tournament, she had no problems.

However, Walker remembered one particular 1982 match at a tournament in California. She overruled a line judge, saying Ivan Lendl had faulted on his first serve. Lendl stared her down.

“He bounced the ball and looked at me and said, ‘Was it long or wide?’ I said it was wide and he said, ‘You’re right.’’’

That was it. Walker had gained Lendl’s respect. Through the years, she earned the respect of the international tennis community and beyond. Kind of like Billie Jean King, in that pivotal exhibition match against Bobby Riggs in 1973.

ETC, since its opening in October 2012, has seen its players grow and mature as they navigated their way through high school. The kids spend several days a week with the staff and friends on court. And many of them have done this for several years creating an impactful relationship with their peers and coaches. It is always tough watching these players move on and graduate from the program, but at the same time we are excited and happy to see them move forward and succeed in the next chapter of their life.

We had several players finish their junior career this summer – the largest single class ETC has ever had graduate. While most of these players will be entering their freshman year of college a few players are currently competing in their final season of high school tennis. Watching each and everyone of them mature over the last several years has been very enjoyable and sometimes laughable. They have shown great leadership on and off the court, whether it be helping or encouraging younger players, providing rides to and from practice, helping with homework, or simply being respectful to others.

Current and former staff members have spent countless hours in the car and at tournaments with many of them. We have watched some grow from a shy insecure player who cannot remember where they left their water or bag to an social, organized, accountable, and responsible young adult. Traveling with our players is a perk of the job. Not only do we get to watch them compete, learn more about them, but we get to develop a long lasting relationship with them that will carry well beyond college life.

We would like to thank all of these players for their hard work, dedication, leadership, and attitudes. We wish you all the very best of luck in the years to come and encourage you to come back to visit.

Thank you: Lauren Marx, Lauryn Thompson, Brandon Wu, Nick Johnson, Michael Koch, Evan Bottorff, Evan Ferguson, James Vincent and Ross Effinger.

Thank you once again to all of the sponsors who allowed our Pro Circuit Event – The Women’s Hospital Classic to happen. Its because of our sponsors, volunteers and selfless Tournament Directors, Anna Hazlett and Kim Poynter we are able to host this event for 19 years. This year proved to be successful once again as fans were able to watch some of the youngest and brightest stars play. Ann Li captured her first pro title here in Evansville this year. The junior Wimbledon finalist, along with several other young Americans gave us a glimpse of what the future of American tennis holds.

Sponsors –

The Women’s Hospital (Deaconess)

Industrial Transport Services

Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream

Hollander Group
Schultheis Insurance
American Windows
MaddenCo Inc.
Jack Rogers Realtor
Anna Hazlett
Evansville Visitors & Convention Bureau
Kenny Kent Toyota
Evansville Surgical Associates
Michele Bennett Accounting
Gaslin Insurance

Award World Trophies
Evansville Living
Kempf’s Donut Bank
Howard Johnson
Body Works
Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream
Bob’s Gym
Starlight Printing
Gem Chemical
Working Distributors
Frontier Liquor
Mills Body Shop
AmeriLite
Advanced Disposal
Walmart
Sam’s Club

Sunday afternoon Ann Li (Devon,PA) captured her first professional title. Li was the 2017 Wimbledon junior finalist. She lost to fellow American Claire Liu in the second-ever all-American girls final at Wimbledon, dating back to 1947. Li was given a wild card by the USTA to play in this years Women’s Hospital Classic. She drew a tough first  round opponent in Alexa Graham. Graham, a standout North Carolina Tar Heel came off a terrific season with the team finishing ranked top 5 among all NCAA Division I teams. Li defeated Graham 6-3, 7-5. Li’s next round opponent was fellow teenage American stand out, Whitney Osuigwe. Osuigwe won the Rolland Garros junior title in 2017. Li went on to win 7-6, 6-1. Caty McNally became Li’s quarterfinal opponent after beating Madeleine Kobelt  6-3, 6-0. After defeating McNally 6-1, 6-3, Li beat Lorraine Guillermo in the semi finals 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Her final opponent entered the week with 25 combined Pro Circuit titles but the teenager lived up to the hype beating Marcela Zacarias in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Congratulations to Ann Li on her first title. For more information on this years Women’s Hospital Classic please visit the tournament website.