A variety of local Vero Beach residents as well as players aspiring to play on the ATP Tour will compete in the “Wild Card” doubles tournament for the $15,000 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit event.
The winner of the two-day tournament, to be held Friday and Saturday at the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club at Timber Ridge, will receive a main draw doubles entry into this professional ITF World Tennis Tour event also held at Timber Ridge April 22-28 and have the opportunity to compete against ATP-ranked professionals and the chance to earn prize money and ATP ranking points.
“This has turned into a fun community event with many locals putting their hats in the ring for some great competition against some very talented players aspiring to get their chance to play in a pro tennis tournament,” said Lynn Southerly, executive director of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation. “We encourage tennis fans to come to the Timber Ridge Friday and Saturday and cheer on the locals, watch some amazing doubles and get geared up for our main event, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, at the club in a few weeks.”
Local Vero Beach residents competing include Ching Wang, teaching pro for local Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation-funded programs this year who won this title last year with Vero Beach’s James Bragg. This year Wang is paired with James Aronson of New York City, whose grandmother is a long-time resident of Vero Beach. Bernardo Feitosa, who plays out of The Boulevard, is paired with Vero Beach High School boys tennis coach and local realtor Mike Hickey. Two of Hickey’s team members, Joseph Rodolico and Brent Sturgis, have also challenged themselves to compete in this tournament. Sam Weinstein, who plays out of the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club, is also in the field.
Last year’s “King of the Hill” runner-up Tyler Rios, who competed in the Mardy Fish doubles as a wild card last year with James van Deinse, is also in the field playing with Tomas Martinez also of Port St. Lucie.
John McConnell, who plays out of The Moorings and Quail Valley and is a former varsity player from the 1970s at Pepperdine, also entered the tournament with fellow Vero Beach resident Peter Carr, age 70. McConnell, 69 and now known more for managing media talent, does hold a career win over former top 5-ranked star Brad Gilbert and he will gladly tell those who ask the details of the match, including the age of Gilbert at the time.
Arizona State commit Tanner Povey of Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, and Boise State commit Dylan Jaen of Hilton Head, S.C. are the top seeds in the tournament.
The full draws for the event can see here:
https://app.utrsports.net/
events/221429?d=53e0c6a5-dbc7- 4bc4-8e4e-b1cc7e478337&t=4
The schedule of play for the tournament is as follows
Friday 3 PM Matches
Joe Rodolico and Brent Sturgis (Vero Beach) vs. Tomas Martinez and Tyler Rios (Port St. Lucie)
Junior Tavarez (Dominican Republic) and Luis Carlos Gomez Navarro (Panama) vs. Bernardo Feitosa and Mike Hickey (Vero Beach)
Friday 3:30 PM Matches
Kai Edwards (Sebastian) and Ryan Markut (Palm City) vs. Jacobo Forero (Orlando) and Josh Glaspey (Palm City)
Friday 4:30 PM Matches
#1 Tanner Povery (Indian Rocks Beach) and Dylan Jaen (Hilton Head, S.C.) vs. Peter Carr and John McConnell (Vero Beach) – QUARTERFINAL
Friday 5 PM Matches
#3 Charlie Spencer (Orlando) and Freddie Healey (Portugal) vs. WINNER OF Joe Rodolico and Brent Sturgis (Vero Beach) vs. Tomas Martinez and Tyler Rios (Port St. Lucie) – QUARTERFINAL
Friday 5:30 PM Matches
#4 Juan David Diaz Rincon (Colombia) and Sam Weinstein (Vero Beach) vs. WINNER OF Junior Tavarez (Dominican Republic) and Luis Carlos Gomez Navarro (Panama) vs. Bernardo Feitosa and Mike Hickey (Vero Beach) – QUARTERFINAL
#2 Ching Wang (Vero Beach) and James Aronson (New York) vs. WINNER OF Kai Edwards (Sebastian) and Ryan Markut (Palm City) vs. Jacobo Forero (Orlando) and Josh Glaspey (Palm City) – QUARTERFINAL
Saturday Schedule
1:30 PM SEMIFINALS
4:30 PM FINAL