Tennis: Play begins today in USTA Women's Satellite Tournament

June 7--Outstanding tennis players of today and perhaps stars of tomorrow ... that seems the best way to describe this week's Hunt Communications $25,000 USTA Women's Satellite Tournament at Tennis West Sports & Racquet Club.
Some excellent young players will be scurrying around the Tennis West courts, moving in the footprints of some talented players Tuesday through Sunday morning's championship match in this 14th annual event.
Elena Bovina, who rose to No. 14 in the world, played in this event as a 15-year-old. Last year's winner, Coco Vandeweghe, competed for the United States in the Federation Cup and got TV air time for her opening-round match in this year's French Open. The 2008 winner, Anna Tatishvili, also played in this year's French Open.
"Once again, I think we have our best field," said Tennis West assistant professional Henrik Niederelig. "We say that each year and it always proves to be true. I think this field will top last year's and Coco is really having a good year."
A qualifying draw for the last few spots in the tournament was held Sunday and Monday and the main draw of 32 begins Tuesday. Play will begin each day at 10 a.m. with the quarterfinals Friday, the semifinals Saturday and the singles championship match at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Beatrice Capra from Ellicott, Md., is expected to be one of the top seeds. Capra, ranked 234th in the world, got attention last fall, winning an eight-player USTA playoff to get into the main draw of the U.S. Open.
Capra then defeated 18th-seeded Aravane Rezai on her way to the third round of the Open. She trains out of the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Fla., and the 19-year-old just signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Duke University.
Ashley Weinhold, a 21-year-old from Austin, is another talented player expected to be in the field. Weinhold, ranked 259th in the world, was the 2007 Girls 18s national champion and won the $25,000 USTA satellite event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., in February.
Weinhold also has a recent victory over Melanie Oudin, who gained fame as a U.S. Open quarterfinalist in 2010.
To put the rankings in perspective, the system ranks players around the world all the way to 1,500.
"If you see a player in the top 200 to 300, you are seeing an outstanding player," Niederelig said.
Many of the game's luminaries have had their beginnings at these satellite tournaments around the world, players like Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova.
The main draw begins Tuesday, the tennis will be good and who knows what future stars will shine this week at Tennis West.
Bill Knight may be reached at bknight@elpasotimes.com; 546-6171.
Tournament action
-- What: The Hunt Communities $25,000 USTA Women's Satellite Tennis Tournament.
-- Who: Highly ranked young tennis players from around the world.
-- When: Tuesday through Sunday; play begins at 10 a.m. each day.
-- Where: Tennis West Sports & Racquet Club.
-- Admission: Free.
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source:http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/160014805