Four Florida players will be among U.S. teams competing at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Young-Seniors World Team Championships, which will be held Oct. 21-26, 2018 in Miami, Fla.
The tournament is the young-seniors tennis equivalent of the Davis Cup and Fed Cup competitions, with top American tennis players representing their country in the 30-, 35- and 40-and-over age groups.
Florida players are Jonathas Sucupira (Riverview, Fla.) on the U.S. Italia Cup Men’s 35 & Over team, Jason Wilks (Stuart) on the U.S. Dubler Cup Men’s 45 & Over team, Katerina Janosek (Ponte Vedra Beach) on the U.S. Suzanne Lenglen Cup Women’s 35 & Over team, and Tangerine Manning (Ft. Lauderdale) on the U.S. Margaret Court Cup Women’s 45 & Over squad.
Last year the top U.S. result was a third-place finish in the Margaret Court Cup (women’s 45s).
Following the ITF Young-Seniors World Team Championships, the World Individual Championships will be held Oct. 27-Nov. 3.
Below is a list of players representing the United States for each cup:
Italia Cup — Men’s 35 & Over
1. Nicholas Rainey, New Orleans
2. Brandon Blakenbaker, Charleston, S.C.
3. Jonathas Sucupira, Riverview, Fla.
4. Matthew Hane, Richmond, Va. Captain
Trabert Cup — Men’s 40 & Over
1. Chris Groer, Knoxville, Tenn.
2. Ryan Pang, Bellevue, Wash.
3. Samuel Schroerlucke, Memphis, Tenn.
4. Stuart “Ross” Duncan, Aliso Viejo, Calif. Captain
Dubler Cup — Men’s 45 & Over
1. Jason Wilks, Stuart, Fla.
2. Michael Chang, Anaheim, Calif. Captain
3. Neel Grover, Laguna Beach, Calif.
4. Sean Straley, Sugar Land, Texas
Suzanne Lenglen Cup — Women’s 35 & Over
1. Anda Perianu, Ithaca, N.Y.
2. Julie Thu, West Lake Hills, Texas
3. Katerina Janosek, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
4. Kaysie Smashey, San Angelo, Texas Captain
Young Cup — Women’s 40 & Over
1. Carolina Blouin, Augusta, Ga. Captain
2. Deborah Higa, Solana Beach, Calif.
3. Lizl Kotz, Mount Pleasant, S.C.
4. Millie Yablonicky, Encinitas, Calif.
Margaret Court Cup — Women’s 45 & Over
1. Julie Cass, Austin, Texas
2. Nancy Hillard, Corpus Christi, Texas Captain
3. Tangerine Manning, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
4. Tracie Currie, Ventura, Calif.
For more info go to www.itftennis.com/seniors/world-team-championships/young-seniors/overview.aspx.
