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Oakleaf ladies get first court date

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor
Posted 7/16/20

OAKLEAF - Just like many of the high school athletes in the Clay County area, the many age group tennis players have been chomping at the bit to get their return to action and, on Saturday, a team of …

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Oakleaf ladies get first court date


Posted

OAKLEAF - Just like many of the high school athletes in the Clay County area, the many age group tennis players have been chomping at the bit to get their return to action and, on Saturday, a team of Oakleaf womens tennis aficinados took to the courts for the first time with a a sense of returning to the competitive battlefield.
"I've been playing tennis since I was 12 and tennis is everything," said Mari Hines, 53. "I have a stressful job so tennis is my relief."
Note: On July 1, the United State Tennis Association (USTA) Florida Section announced the resumption of Sectional tennis events in August with hopes of events to resume at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.
“We couldn’t be more excited to host the 2020 Boys and Girls 12s and 14s Bobby Curtis Sectional Championship at the USTA National Campus,” said Jason Gilbert, Director of Youth Tennis for USTA Florida. “With the cancellations of the 12s and 14s divisions at the National Championships this was a great opportunity to provide these age divisions with a substantive play opportunity during that same timeframe.”
Also returning in August will be the 2020 Mixed 40 and Over 6.0/8.0 and 7.0/9.0 Sectional Championship events for USTA Florida adult league players. Matches for the 6.0/8.0 divisions will be held Aug. 22-24, 2020. The 7.0/9.0 divisions will be contested the following weekend on Aug. 29-31, 2020.
“We know how meaningful a chance to attend Sectionals is for our USTA local league winning teams, and we are working hard to give them that opportunity,” said Christine Ducey, Adult Tennis Director for USTA Florida. “We are aware that there may continue to be challenges due to COVID-19 and we will continue to partner with our facility host and local government in our decision making. At this time, we are optimistic that we’ll be able to bring these mixed doubles teams together for a healthy dose of competition.”
For Oakleaf captain Cindy Bleiel, her team is all about through sections, going to nationals and winning titles.
"We've been to sectionals the past three years and some of the ladies when they were 3.5 (ratings), went to nationals," said Bleiel, 50. "Many of these players today are part of the 3.5 nationals that are now at 4.0 or 4.5. It gets more competitive as that number goes up. That's why we are here. We come out to win."
For Bleiel, the COVID-19 situation put the end to a mid-section run by the team.
"We were in the middle of our season in March and the United State Tennis Association (USTA) told us we have to stop all play," said Bleiel. "We have one match to make up; hopefully this weekend, as the restart of the 40-over season. It is the finish of last year and will determine the sectionals."
To be in weeks before playoffs and travel tennis, Oakleaf tennis veteran Sue Newman, 55 (and proud), and a 3.5 national champion in 2016 in California, welcomed the first day to turn up her game a notch.
"It's a big day to come swelter and revive the competitive spirit," said Newman. "We try our best to stay in shape and sharp, but you need to get on the courts to see if it's working."