$5000 Tournament In Victoria, Canada

[Beacon Hill]

Might be a good tournament to play if you're in the Pacific Northwest, or even anywhere on the west coast - flights are cheap these days, and the tournament offers free accommodations to out of town players.

South Island Indoor Challenge Men's $5000 Open
Qualifying Draw: March 25-28
Main Draw: April 2-4

Courtside bleacher seating, chair umpires, ball kids, fast serve and other competitions and a 64 draw 2KO qualifying tournament.

The first weekend will feature the 2KO qualifying tournament. The top 8 players will join 8 direct entries the next weekend for the main draw.

Sanctioned by Tennis British Columbia (part of the USTA)

To sign up:
http://www.karelo.com/enter_res.php?&BID=162#Ev8686

To go to the tournament link:
http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=92704

Website (soon to be updated):
islandtennis.net

For more information PM me or phone:
250 475 7126

 

[Mister Goulash]

What's in it for the winner?

 

[Beacon Hill]

What's in it for the winner?

$2000 for the winner.

 

[TonLars]

Hello! I would be very interested in playing the tournament if I can be assured of accommodations coming in from Minnesota, and a direct entry into the main draw. Let me know if this is possible, and if you need any information on my playing for seeding, thanks!

Tony Larson

 

[Beacon Hill]

Hello! I would be very interested in playing the tournament if I can be assured of accommodations coming in from Minnesota, and a direct entry into the main draw. Let me know if this is possible, and if you need any information on my playing for seeding, thanks!

Tony Larson

We'd need information on your playing, of course, but I seem to remember some impressive results from you that you've posted in the past. We have a hotel sponsor, so if you would be a direct acceptance to the main draw, no problem with accommodations. Have you played some Futures events? Any ATP points? You're close to Manitoba - did you ever go up there and play the Manitoba Open?
Thanks a lot.

 

[TonLars]

We'd need information on your playing, of course, but I seem to remember some impressive results from you that you've posted in the past. We have a hotel sponsor, so if you would be a direct acceptance to the main draw, no problem with accommodations. Have you played some Futures events? Any ATP points? You're close to Manitoba - did you ever go up there and play the Manitoba Open?
Thanks a lot.

Ive only played about 3 Futures qualifiers in the past 5 or 6 years so not many, but Ive won matches at each of them, had to default to injury in one. In Manitoba last year I made the singles finals and lost in 3 sets to Henry Choi, and the previous year won the doubles. I won or got to the finals in most of my tournaments last year, and in one final I lost in 3 sets to Alex Clayton. Last year I had wins over Carlos Llanes, Olivier Lorin and John Kauss. Im the #1 ranked player for USTA Northern. If you need anything else from previous years let me know, thanks for the help and let me know soon if I am accepted into the draw.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Ive only played about 3 Futures qualifiers in the past 5 or 6 years so not many, but Ive won matches at each of them, had to default to injury in one. In Manitoba last year I made the singles finals and lost in 3 sets to Henry Choi, and the previous year won the doubles. I won or got to the finals in most of my tournaments last year, and in one final I lost in 3 sets to Alex Clayton. Last year I had wins over Carlos Llanes, Olivier Lorin and John Kauss. Im the #1 ranked player for USTA Northern. If you need anything else from previous years let me know, thanks for the help and let me know soon if I am accepted into the draw.

Hello Tony,
Impressive bio. You would probably get a lower seeding direct entry, but we've had lots of interest in the short time we've launched the tournament promotion. We will confirm our direct entry list closer to the tournament start date, but allowing plenty of time for players to make travel plans. I'm assuming Henry Choi will play, as he's close by in Vancouver, so maybe you'd get a re-match with him. We have 2 local players near your age that sound like they are at your level (solid college career and a little bit of Futures experience including some ATP doubles points), and we're also waiting to see if they will need to qualify. We'll certainly be in touch. Again, it would be great to have you. Just curious who else you played at the Manitoba Open - I know there's been some really decent players who've played there recently. Don't know if you've been in that part of the world before, but I guarantee you'd love Victoria.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Angelo Niculescu has signed up. Do you know him, or have you ever played him?

 

[SuperDuy]

Cool this tournament has same prize money as Manitoba Open.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Cool this tournament has same prize money as Manitoba Open.

And this is our first year. We hope to increase it for next year. I assume you play in Winnipeg?

 

[HunterST]

I'm so confused. I get the idea that this is not a futures tournament or anything. How is there prize money?

Who is Henry Choi? Who is Angelo Niculescu? How does everyone know these people?

 

[J_R_B]

I'm so confused. I get the idea that this is not a futures tournament or anything. How is there prize money?

Who is Henry Choi? Who is Angelo Niculescu? How does everyone know these people?

Plenty of non-ITF tournaments have prize money. This one seems to have quite a bit, though. There is a non-USTA every summer in NJ, the Jim Cryan Memorial, that has about that much prize money.

 

[Beacon Hill]

There are a lot of Futures level players out there who just can't afford to be on the road to travel and grind it out for hardly any money. But they are happy to go to a tournament like this for a weekend, get some good competition, meet some people and at least win enough to get a free vacation.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Six direct entries into the main draw will be selected March 1st. They will be joined by eight qualifiers and and two wildcards for the 16 player main draw. This will give out of town players ample time to make travel plans (and we will give them free accommodations).

 

[SLow]

Interesting to see the tournament info posted here.

If anyone here was coming down to compete. It would be nice to meet some of you guys.

cheers

 

[Beacon Hill]

Interesting to see the tournament info posted here.

If anyone here was coming down to compete. It would be nice to meet some of you guys.

cheers

Where do you play?

 

[SLow]

I play all over Victoria. Sometimes at beacon hill.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Beacon Hill? Never heard of it.

 

[Beacon Hill]

TonLars,
You still want to play? We'll give you a spot in the main draw - we'll have a few #1s from different regions, and it would be great to also have one from USTA Northern. Maybe we can even videotape one of your matches and put it on YouTube so Talk Tennis members can see you play.

 

[Charles Norris]

How's the weather up there in March? Or is this an indoor event?

Sorry I just read its indoor on the site......I played college tennis a few years back, and would say I am a 5.0-5.5. Would I be wasting my time to come up from STL to play? Also, how about those accomodations? Available for the qualies too?

 

[SuperDuy]

Hell man its warm over there, like right now its probably like 13 degrees celsius which is 55 f. I know last week they recorded 17 in north vancouver just over the water from victoria that is 62 f

 

[SuperDuy]

Beacon Hill? Never heard of it.

I assume he means Beacon Hill park, which there is 3 courts there.

 

[SLow]

I'm pretty sure he meant that sarcasticly. Considering his user name .

Since the quali draw is limited to 64. You would only have to win 3 matches to make it to the main draw. Seems like a pretty sweet deal.

 

[TonLars]

TonLars,
You still want to play? We'll give you a spot in the main draw - we'll have a few #1s from different regions, and it would be great to also have one from USTA Northern. Maybe we can even videotape one of your matches and put it on YouTube so Talk Tennis members can see you play.

Sounds great, thanks! If there is anything else just keep me posted, look forward to seeing you there.

 

[Beacon Hill]

How's the weather up there in March? Or is this an indoor event?

Sorry I just read its indoor on the site......I played college tennis a few years back, and would say I am a 5.0-5.5. Would I be wasting my time to come up from STL to play? Also, how about those accomodations? Available for the qualies too?

Traveling to a new place is never a waste of time. Traveling, playing in a tennis tournament, and meeting some great people - even better. You'd have a really good shot at qualifying. The quallies are the weekend before the main draw - make a vacation out of it. We can't offer free hotel accommodations for that entire time, but if you're serious about coming let me know and we'll do everything we can to help you keep your costs down and get you some good tennis even when the tournament is not going on.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Deleted because of accidental double post.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Sounds great, thanks! If there is anything else just keep me posted, look forward to seeing you there.

Looking forward to having you. There are a few ways to register for the tournament:
1) http://www.karelo.com/enter_res.php?&BID=162#Ev8686
2) PayPal your entry fee to Island Tennis (islandtennis.net@gmail.com)
3) Email me @ islandtennis.net@gmail.com and I can arrange for your credit card to be processed over the phone.
Also, if you need any more info or help with anything, just email.
See you in April!

 

[Charles Norris]

Traveling to a new place is never a waste of time. Traveling, playing in a tennis tournament, and meeting some great people - even better. You'd have a really good shot at qualifying. The quallies are the weekend before the main draw - make a vacation out of it. We can't offer free hotel accommodations for that entire time, but if you're serious about coming let me know and we'll do everything we can to help you keep your costs down and get you some good tennis even when the tournament is not going on.

Thanks a ton. I will see what's up that weekend. Once I find out and if it's a go, then I will register and contact you again on this thread. Thanks again.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Thanks a ton. I will see what's up that weekend. Once I find out and if it's a go, then I will register and contact you again on this thread. Thanks again.

My pleasure - hope you can make it.

 

[Beacon Hill]

We now have billeting available for out of town players who need to qualify for the main draw. We've made hotel arrangements for out of town players in the main draw.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Happy to announce, Talk Tennis regular, Tony Larson has entered our tournament. He'll join other regional #1 players from Canada and the US. Great to have Tony in the tournament - TTers will be able to follow his progress through our website:
islandtennis.net

 

[SuperDuy]

Is phillip bester playing in it?

 

[skandy]

Will you be recording matches? I'm sure lots of people would love to see Tony competing

 

[Beacon Hill]

Is phillip bester playing in it?

No, not yet. We'd, of course, love to have him.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Will you be recording matches? I'm sure lots of people would love to see Tony competing

Yes, we will be recording them. I'm not sure we are going to be able to do live streaming, but we'll certainly have YouTube videos available.

 

[HunterST]

Happy to announce, Talk Tennis regular, Tony Larson has entered our tournament. He'll join other regional #1 players from Canada and the US. Great to have Tony in the tournament - TTers will be able to follow his progress through our website:
islandtennis.net

Anyplace we can look at a draw for the tournament??

 

[Beacon Hill]

Anyplace we can look at a draw for the tournament??

http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=92704
The draw will be posted on this link soon.

 

[HunterST]

http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=92704
The draw will be posted on this link soon.

Did Tony pull out? I don't see his name on the draw.

 

[Rob_C]

Did Tony pull out? I don't see his name on the draw.

Thats the draw for the qualies, Tony has a spot in the MD.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Thats the draw for the qualies, Tony has a spot in the MD.

That's correct - thanks for posting that information. We've now confirmed 6 of the 8 main draw entries:
Tony Larson
Brad Weston
Nima Roshan
Henry Choi
George Jecminek
Shaun Khambral

We have some players interested in the 2 remaining wild card spots but they have not yet confirmed they can fit into their schedule. So there still might be a chance to play in the tournament if you are a 6.0 level player. You would receive free accommodations and a direct entry into the main draw of a highly competitive tournament being held in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

 

[chatt_town]

Hello! I would be very interested in playing the tournament if I can be assured of accommodations coming in from Minnesota, and a direct entry into the main draw. Let me know if this is possible, and if you need any information on my playing for seeding, thanks!

Tony Larson

Hey, Since you are balling like that, there is a money tourney that goes on in Chattanooga Tn, where the winner of the open division gets like 2 grand. It's advertised as a 13,000 dollar tourney every year but I only know of the winner of the open division getting 2 grand. I normally enter to justify eating their food up all weekend. It's aged based so you know how that goes. You could get a 5.0 or a 3.5. I play the 35's(I'm 41). It's good tennis and even greater food. It's sometime in June. I think that's good they are providing rooms. I don't know that they do that here.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Here are the 16 players in the main draw:
(1) Philip Bester
(2) Nima Roshan
(3) Brad Weston
(4) Henry Choi
Tony Larson
Shaun Khambral
George Jecminek
Kamil Pajkowski
(Q) Patrick Flint
(Q) Nick Coutts
(Q) Yvon Haessig
(Q) Adam Guenter
(Q) Rob Fuhrman
(Q) Justin Kates
(Q) Arthur Karas
(Q) Pannhara Mam

 

[Beacon Hill]

The draw is now online:
http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/Draws/EventDraw.aspx?T=92704&E=2&D=M&S=F

Tony Larson plays his first match on Friday.

 

[TonLars]

Fun tournament so far, thought Id give an update:

Had my first match today. Unfortunately they only filmed on one of the two courts and I was on the court without the camera. George was a very good player and it was a tough battle. He has a very big serve and solid groundstrokes. Overall I played and fought very hard and was able to finally break first set to win 7-5, and then after slipping up and falling behind a break in the 2nd 1-4 and 2-5, I broke him a couple times to win 7-5 again. I thought I was moving really well which was refreshing coming off a long foot injury a few weeks ago. Tomorrow I play Brad Weston, the #3 seed, and its probably going to be really tough. Ill do my best, maybe it would be a good thing if I dont get filmed again! Really tough field here, everyone is D1 or pro level.

 

[JoelDali]

Fun tournament so far, thought Id give an update:

Had my first match today. Unfortunately they only filmed on one of the two courts and I was on the court without the camera. George was a very good player and it was a tough battle. He has a very big serve and solid groundstrokes. Overall I played and fought very hard and was able to finally break first set to win 7-5, and then after slipping up and falling behind a break in the 2nd 1-4 and 2-5, I broke him a couple times to win 7-5 again. I thought I was moving really well which was refreshing coming off a long foot injury a few weeks ago. Tomorrow I play Brad Weston, the #3 seed, and its probably going to be really tough. Ill do my best, maybe it would be a good thing if I dont get filmed again! Really tough field here, everyone is D1 or pro level.

Congrats, and good luck against BW.

 

[nfor304]

Brad Weston is a real good player... I remember seeing him playing most of the the Australian Sattellites and futures a few years ago. Not sure if he is as active anymore though... I think his highest ranking was like 400 or something.

Should be a good match. Good luck Tony!

 

[Beacon Hill]

Tony played really well today against one of the top players in the Pacific Northwest.

Here are the 8 direct acceptances into the main draw, interviewed after their first practice sessions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iL4EB0UE4A

 

[mutantducky]

nah Weston is still playing and going strong. Maybe he took a break for the winter though but he was doing really well. One of the best players in Norcal now so good luck winning that match. Should be a good one.

 

[SuperDuy]

Good video!

enjoyed watching it

 

[TonLars]

Did not play well today, lost 6-3 6-4. Bummer and a bit angry at myself to come that far to do that. He is a good player though. It was filmed, but not looking forward to watching it, made alot of errors Still, was a fun tournament and very tough field.