News

Julien Link of Sarasota, Fla., defended his men’s open title at the $8,000 United States Professional Tennis Association Clay Court Championships Monday at the Ibis Golf and Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., after defeating Adrians Zguns of Port St. Lucie, Fla., 6-2, 7-5. Shareen Lai of Morrisville, Pa., defeated Sophie Alriksson of Lake Wales, Fla., 6-1, 6-1 to be crowned the women’s open champion, and later teamed up with Alriksson to win the women’s open doubles.

Link’s repeat victory was especially impressive considering the level of competition at the tournament. “The quality of the fields and the high level of playing ability of the USPTA tennis professional has made the USPTA National Surface Championships one of the hardest national events to win,” said Mark Fairchilds, USPTA national vice president and chairman of the Tournament Committee.

The tournament, which was held from May 4-7, included events in the following categories: men’s and women’s open singles and open doubles competition, men’s 55 and 45 singles and doubles, and men’s and women’s 35 singles and doubles categories. The competition featured many of the top men and women tennis-teaching professionals in the country.

Below is a complete list of all the results from final round matches:

The tournament was the first of five in a series of national tournaments on several court surfaces that the USPTA offers to its members as part of the USPTA National Surface Championship Series. USPTA members will have the opportunity to test their playing skills in competition and earn prize money at each event. Up next is the USPTA Grass Court Championships from Aug. 24-26 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, Philadelphia.

The national tournaments are open to members in good standing. For additional information, please contact the USPTA at (800) USPTA-4U. USPTA Professionals may log in to the “members only” section of the USPTA Web site at www.uspta.com for more information and an application for tournaments.