There were a lot of messages delivered by Wayne Bryan to those gathered at the annual Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association
(IHSTeCA) conference at the Indianapolis Racquet Club, but the key one was to make the game simple and fun for high school
players. The father of the top-ranked American doubles team of Mike and Bob Bryan shared several of their successful
drills and games. Although he wouldn't directly credit it to his sons' success, he shared one story saying the boys
weren't allowed to have a TV or videogames growing up. By concentrating on their tennis and studies, they not only got
scholarships to Stanford, but also went on to greater accomplishments on the tennis court. Also at the conference, it
was announced that Carmel girls' coach Sharon Rosenburgh and Jim Clark of Homestead were named the 2009 State Coaches of the
Year. Later, Rick Witsken, Steve Makurat and Jenny Stephens Berger were inducted into the Indiana High School Tennis
Hall of Fame during a dinner and ceremonies held at the Barbara Wynne Tennis Center. (2-6-10)
Fundraiser to benefit African village
Carmel Racquet Club donating court time for NuAfrica
A tennis drill fundraiser at Carmel Racquet Club on
March 19 will benefit the efforts of NuAfrica, a non-profit humanitarian organization, whose goals are to bring clean water,
education and self-sustainability to villages in Africa. An 1,800-person village in Mali has been adopted by the group,
which hopes to eventual extend similar helps to villages around the world. Part of the funds will fund a solar well
for the villagers, who must walk 14 miles each way to bring in water. Carmel Racquet Club director Greg Griffey
is donating 10 courts and teaching pros are donating their time for the fundraiser, which will run from 6 p.m -9 p.m.
Following the drills, participants will be served a gourmet dinner by A2Z Cafe, featuring African wine donated by Classic
Spirits, followed by dessert from Creme de la Creme bakery. The fundraiser is limited to the first 100 persons to sign
up, at $100 per person (or $150 for a couple). Sign up at www.nuafrica.org/drill4water. (2-3-10)
Austin, Andrews win Les Petit As dubs
U.S. duo goes 2-for-2 in premier European tournaments
Americans Brooke Austin and Gabrielle Andrews made it a clean sweep in doubles by winning the finals of Les Petits As in Tarbes,
France. The pair had previously won the doubles title in Bolton, England's Teen Tennis. Both tournaments, considered
the premier events for players 14 and under in Europe, are sanctioned by the European Tennis Association. As they did
in Bolton, Austin and Andrews again had to beat teammates Alexandria Stiteler and Taylor Townsend in the final. Austin
lost in the first round in singles, where she was seeded first. (2-1-10)
Ram/Butorac fall to Bryans in quarters
Chappell out in first round of Aussie Junior Open
Rajeev Ram and partner Eric Butorac took the top-seeded team of Mike & Bob Bryan to a third-set tiebreaker in the doubles
quarterfinals of the Australian Open before falling, 7-2. The Bryans won the first set, 7-5, but Ram and Butorac came
back to take the second, 6-4. With both sides holding serve throughout the deciding third set, both were again on
serve at 3-2 in the tiebreak before the Bryans won the final four points to advance to the semis. Meanwhile, Nick
Chappell lost in the first round in both singles and doubles of the Australian Junior Open. Aussie Ben Wagland defeated
Chappell in singles, 6-3, 6-1, while Chappell and partner Vladislav Dubinsky of Russia lost to the Czech Republic pair
of Robert Rumler and Jiri Vesely, 2-6, 6-3, 13-11. (1-26-10)