Black Tennis Pros

Rodney Harmon and Zina Garrison will lead the American men’s and women’s tennis teams in Beijing.

Harmon has been the director of men's tennis for the USTA's player development program since 2002. "It's a tremendous honour and a great opportunity to work with some of the best players in the world at one of the greatest events in the world," said Harmon. “We have the nucleus of a very competitive international men’s team who will all be medal contenders in Beijing. I know the American men will relish the opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages in sport.” Jay Berger has been chosen as Harmon's assistant.

Davis Cup regulars James Blake and twins Bob and Mike Bryan figure to be top choices for Harmon's Olympic roster. The U.S. tennis teams for Beijing will be based on the rankings of June 9, the day after the French Open ends.

In 2004, the American contingent came away with one medal, Mardy Fish's silver in men's singles.

The USTA has also announced that Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison will be the women's Olympic tennis coach and Lori McNeil her assistant. Garrison won a gold medal and a bronze medal as a player at the 1988 Olympics, and coached the US women in 2004.

“I’m honoured to be selected again as the Olympic coach,” said Garrison. “Some of my fondest tennis memories are from the Olympics and the incomparable thrill of winning a gold medal. The goal is to share in that Olympic experience with our team this summer.”

The 2008 US Olympic tennis team will consist of up to six men and six women, with a maximum of four men and four women competing in the singles competition and a maximum of two men’s and two women’s teams competing in doubles. Olympic team selections will made by June 23.

Top seed Olivia Sanchez fell at the first hurdle in ladies' qualifying in a day of extraordinary results. Sanchez lost in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-1 to Kathrin Woerle from Germany.

Wimbledon doubles semi-finalist and number seven seed Alicia Molik was another shock loser as Tatiana Poutchek, from Belarus, held her nerve 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3.

Michelle Larcher de Brito, the 15-year-old prodigee from the Nick Bollettieri Academy, lost a three set arm wrestle to Stephanie Foretz 6-0, 2-6, 6-4.

Mashona Washington, the younger sister of 1996 Men’s Singles' finalist Malivai, was defeated in a three set tussle by Poland’s Anna Korzeniak this afternoon. Korzeniak won the closely fought contest 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

While two British wild cards - Amanda Eilliot and Anna Smith - will fly the flag for local tennis after winning their first round matches.

They will be joined in the second round by 1999 Wimbledon semi-finalist Alexandra Stevenson, three-time Junior Grand Slam winner Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Wimbledon 2006 quarter-finalist Severine Bremond.

The second round will begin on Wednesday.

Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Alexandra Stevenson's hopes of emulating her 1999 success began in earnest today when she defeated Neuza Silva in a tough three-set encounter.

The American, who nine years ago became the first female qualifier in Wimbledon history to reach the semi-finals, overcame blustery conditions to dispose of her 199th ranked opponent 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

The match was always going to be a close encounter with Stevenson ranked just 20 places below her Portugese contender, and the first set was by no means short of rallies.

A largely baseline affair, both women exuded power, agility and there were plenty of winners hit from both sides. But it was the 27-year-old American that secured an early break and, serving at 5-4, played an aggressive game to take the first set 6-4.

Windy conditions dominated the second set which saw more mistakes and less winners, but a gritty performance by 25-year-old Silva helped her even up the match to a set apiece.

Come the decider, the grunting became louder and strokes more aggressive as both women charged the net in a bid to finish off points. But it was to be Stevenson's day as she powered her way into the second round.

Speaking after the match, the American, who was watched by her mother, had a message for the tennis pundits that had written her off.

"I'm planning on qualifying," she said. "In the tennis world they write you off if you are injured. I'm saying I'm ready but taking one match at a time."

Stevenson added that the conditions were really "windy and swirly" and said it was a battle on the courts because they are not "pristine" like Wimbledon.

"It's a large park, everything is going on, you've got aircraft noise, but it's qualifying and you know you are going to have tough conditions. I love the grass, I think there should be more grass court tournaments," she smiled.

French Open semi-finalist Gael Monfils is through to the second round of The Slazenger Open after a straight sets victory over Australia’s Chris Guccione on Tuesday.

Frenchman Monfils, ranked 32 in the world, wrapped up his first match at Nottingham 7-6 6-4. The 21-year-old had to save three break points in the opening set before taking the tiebreak 7-4.

A single break in the second set saw him safely into the second round. He now faces fellow Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the second round. Joining them in the second round is another Frenchman, Gilles Simon, who beat Donald Young of the USA 6-1 6-4.

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SINGLES
Round 1

Gael Monfils, FRA vs. Chris Guccione, AUS


DOUBLES
Round 1

Gael Monfils, FRA and Gilles Simon, FRA
defeated by
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, ESP and Fernando Verdasco, ESP
2-6, 6-4, 10/4

Jeff Coetzee, RSA and Jamie Murray, GBR
vs.
Eric Butorac, USA and Bobby Reynolds, USA


SINGLES
Round 1

Alexis Gordon, USA defeated by Marina Erakovic
1-6, 1-6


SINGLES
Round 1

Marcus Fugate, USA vs. Daniel Danilovic, MNE

Phillip Simmonds, USA vs. Luigi D'Agord, ITA


DOUBLES
Round 1

Marcus Fugate, USA and Joel Kielbowicz, USA
vs.
Adam El Mihdawy, USA and Sunil-Kumar Sipaeya, USA

Phillip Simmonds, USA and Travis Rettenmaier, USA
vs.
Ricky Flach, USA and Hyung-Kwon Kim, KOR


SINGLES
Round 1

Ellah Nze, USA vs. Mami Inoue, USA


DOUBLES
Round 1

Tiya Rolle, USA and Nathalia Rossi, BRA
vs.
Lauren Herring, USA and Whitney Jones, USA

The Wednesday Coaches Corner will have an opportunity to be read by a new audience this weekend. Both the June 12 article profiling Harvard Head Coach Traci Green and a previous Followup Q&A are appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Check it out:

Traci Green
Followup Q&A