TENNIS AROUND TOWN THIS WEEKEND- BONITA BAY & FGCU

 As usual around here, it’s a happening weekend for tennis. Starting with the FineMark Tour Players Tennis Classic at Bonita Bay Club tomorrow (Friday, February 28^th), we have celebrity tennis, pro tennis, charity tennis, as well as opportunities to play with and take clinics from the pros. And, the proceeds all go toward a pediatric pharmacy for the new Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

The event, which is among the premier charity tennis events in our community, continues through Saturday and is one of two in our area that feature former and current ATP and/or WTA players (the upcoming Madisen's Match is the other). Considering the admirable job that Paula Scheb, her outstanding staff, and Bonita Bay members usually do with their events, you may want to check this one out.

You can read more about the Classic here: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2014/feb/20/get-tickets-now-for-feb-28-march-1-finemark-tour-p/, and check the event schedule here: http://tourplayersclassic.com/2013_Tour_Players_Classic/Schedule.html.

FGCU Men's Tennis

Lance Lvovsky & Tianyu Bao vs. FAMU
Photo by Linwood Ferguson

If it’s youthful, fast action that floats your boat, then you don’t have to look too far this weekend. Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)’s Men’s Tennis Eagles have a Cape-Coral-esque, HUGE matchup at home this coming Sunday (March 2^nd) at 12pm.

Lucas Vaz & Chris Perrigan vs. FAMU
Photo by Linwood Ferguson

In the first Atlantic Sun Conference match of the season, the Eagles will host North Florida, last season’s Conference Championship Finalists, and the previous year’s Conference Champions. Both teams have played some tough competition to date, and this match will be a benchmark for both squads. I plan to be there for this one!

Coach Weber at FAMU match
Photo by Linwood Ferguson

There’s so much more to this match up that I’d like to write about, but time is of the essence and I’d like to get this out so that you can plan to be there this Sunday at noon. You read more about the good things happening with the men’s program by checking out Coach Weber’s latest newsletter here. In it he provides some neat tidbits about the team. Definitely a good read.

Jordi Vives vs. FAMU
Photo by Linwood Ferguson

Bet you didn’t know that our little community had the No.54-ranked player in the country? That's one nugget the coach shared in his newsletter. Come out this Sunday and watch Jordi Vives represent FGCU and the Greater Fort Myers area. While you are there, I’m betting you’ll be pretty pleased with what the other members of the team are doing as well.

Fans at FAMU match
Photo by Steph

It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that there is more tennis happening this weekend, but that’s all I know of. Enjoy the tennis weekend. I know that I will. Game, set, match…T. A. Oh, I forgot to tell you that Linwood Ferguson takes awesome photos and you can check out his photo journal of the FAMU match here. 

FGCU MEN'S TENNIS COACH C. J. WEBER UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

Dear fans and supporters of FGCU Men’s Tennis:

After a weekend off of competition, when we hosted our alumni for a match (and had a very fun time with our alumni, I might add), we finally competed again last weekend. This past Saturday, we played another in-state school, FAMU…a school that we have split the previous 2 meetings, both matches ending in 4-3 fashion. This time, however, FGCU came away in dominant fashion! In what was probably the biggest blowout since I began here, we won 7-0, without dropping a doubles or singles match. In fact, all singles matches were even won in straight sets, thus not even dropping a set on the entire evening!

Flying high is what the entire team is doing right now, as the boys are playing incredible tennis right now. Jordi Vives, from Barcelona, Spain, continues to lead the charge. Yesterday the new rankings were released and Jordi climbed the #54 in the country! Not only is this a personal and program best, but it is the 2^nd highest ranking in our entire state in division I, only trailing University of Florida’s #1 player; and it is the 4^th highest ranking in our entire region! Wow!!! Can you tell I’m getting excited!?

A lot of work still needs to be done, and although we are all extremely happy and proud of how we are all playing right now, we are certainly not resting on our laurels. The team is more focused than ever, and we couldn’t be anticipating this weekend’s match up more! We host UNF this Sunday at Noon (3/2). We would love to have the most amazing crowd yet of the season, and I have a personal goal of getting over 500 people out to this match. So invite the whole family and all your friends, and let’s have a great time out at the FGCU Tennis Complex! UNF is one of the top teams in the conference, and I know and believe that we are one of the top teams in the conference as well; so this is sure to be an absolute dogfight! I hope everybody can make it out…it’s sure to be a great time and a great showing of college tennis!

EAGLE UP!!!

Check out our website for more information…

http://www.fgcuathletics.com/mtennis/

C. J. Weber

Head Men’s Tennis Coach|  Florida Gulf Coast University

cjweber@fgcu.edu | www.fgcuathletics.com/mtennis