The second-to-last USPTA Pro League tennis match of the season drew approximately 400 enthusiastic fans to the Club at Grandezza in Estero.

It was the morning after, and like silent sentinels the Palms stretched skyward, barely visible amidst the ghostly fog draping the fairways, greens, and courts of gritty green clay at Grandézza. The quiet morn gave no clue that emphatic applause and other approving exclamations of nearly-400 thrilled tennis fans had punctuated the early evening atmosphere scarcely 12 hours ago.

32 USPTA Tennis Professionals Compete

In those early moments, after dawn yet before light of sun, there was no echo of the players’ grunts and groans, their yells of enthusiasm and dismay. But the court surfaces proudly bore their scars; slide marks as long as 10 feet, the evidence of exertion, as 32 USPTA Tennis Professionals gave their all in the most recent episode of the USPTA Pro League at The Club at Grandézza in Estero.

Record Crowd Attends Pro League Event

Representing their team sponsors (Ritzman Tennis of Fort Myers, The Ronto Group of Naples, Fraser/Dooley & Associates of Bonita Springs, and Rivals Sports Kitchen of Estero), top teaching professionals in the area slugged it out in front of a record crowd at Grandezza. “We’ve never had a crowd this big at any of the Pro League locations,” said Jim Katterfield, league commissioner and director of tennis at Palmira Golf and Country Club.

Team Ritzman vs. Rivals Sports Kitchen for No.1

In addition to performing for the record crowd, at least two of the teams (Team Ritzman- 23 points, and Rivals Sports Kitchen- 22 points) had league supremacy riding on the day’s matches. Playing in the No.1 position for Team Ritzman, Mike Curran, director of tennis and fitness at Grandezza, had more to play for than anyone.

Playing on his 35th birthday, in addition to retaining his team’s first place position, Curran had a streak of 22 regular season wins riding on his match. He and Luke Andreae of Punta Gorda faced off against Bonita Bay’s Jared Kalpin and Frank Swope of Mediterra in the featured match.

The standing-room-only crowd, which went six-deep in the spectator area adjacent to Court 1, was treated to a spirited contest that disappointed the home crowd only in its result. Although he left his heart, along with slide marks spanning several feet, on the court, Curran fell just short, as he and Andreae split the first two sets with Kalpin and Swope, 6-7, 6-4, before dropping the third-set super-tiebreak by the score of 9-11.

Tough Matches Characterize Event

Close contests characterized the competition on the show courts. On Court 2, the competition between the No.1 teams for Team Ronto (Scotty Harrington of Legends and Jorge Magalhaes of Lighthouse Bay) and Team Fraser/Dooley (Shawn Hedrick of Fiddlesticks and Patrick Kangwa of The Landings) also went the distance. Harrington and Magalhaes edged Hedrick and Kangwa 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.

Spectators Speak Out

It is this type of intense, high-quality action, in addition to club member loyalty, that spawned the record crowd at Grandezza. In giving his impression of his first Pro League event, Tony Grosch, a member at Colonial Country Club who came out to support Colonial Pro, Steve Shortridge, stated, “It’s great! It’s very interesting. Good stuff.”

Unlike most other sports events, spectators at Pro League matches are in constant interaction with the players, rendering those who come to watch more participants than observers. When asked why he came to the event, Grandezza resident Bill Christ responded, “To support Mike [Curran] of course, and this kind of competition.” Asked what he thought about the play, he answered, “They’re great!”

Asked to share her impressions, Grandezza member Darlene Polychuk responded, “The set-up of being courtside is awesome. The caliber of play was terrific. It is a thrill to watch our local pros putting it all out on the line, especially when it is your own club pro. This type of tournament offers a much more emotional attachment because of the pro/member relationship.”

The Pros' Opinions

The pros enjoy the contests every bit as much as the spectators. Terry See of The Landings, who partnered with Paula Scheb of Bonita Bay in a Fraser/Dooley mixed doubles victory over Ronto’s Christie Bradley of The Sanctuary and Tom Funk of Estero Country Club, remarked, “Even now when things are just crazy busy, it’s still fun to play.”

In addition to the fierce competition, the Pro League allows busy Tennis Professionals to maintain links to colleagues with whom they would have limited contact otherwise. This social element of the league is one reason Tom Funk enjoys being a part of it. “You get to play everybody you know, and I know just about everybody…You don’t get to see too many people too often… I’ve known some of these guys for a long time,” Funk explained.

Sponsors are Key to Pro League

As popular as the Pro League has become with players and spectators in the Greater Fort Myers tennis community, Commissioner Katterfield would like to see the league secure another major title sponsor, of the generous sort that Pepsi has been for years. “Having a title sponsor adds to the cachet of the league. It would allow us to promote the league, and the pros who play it, a little better.” Katterfield mused.

Regarding the benefit to a sponsor, Katterfield noted, “I think it would also provide terrific exposure for the sponsor as well. If we could get 500 spectators to come out every two weeks to the matches, and have additional press coverage, the sponsor, the league’s participants, and the fans would all benefit.” Katterfield was careful to express gratitude to the current sponsors, which include, in addition to the above-mentioned businesses, Court Master Tennis Services.

Next Match & Playoffs

Without community support from spectators and sponsors, there would be no Pro League to showcase local professional tennis talent. The Greater Fort Myers area is fortunate to field all of the elements that coalesce into a truly fan-centered tennis fest every fortnight. The final regular season Pro League match is at Colonial Country Club on February 22, and the playoffs will be held at Fiddlesticks Country Club on February 29.