USTA Florida Hosts Hundreds at Combo 18 & Over 6.5/8.5 & Combo 50 & Over Women’s 5.5 Sectional Championships

There’s some high-level tennis happening all over the world, and in Lake Nona, USTA Florida hosted the Combo 18 & Over 6.5/8.5 & Combo 50 & Over Women’s 5.5 Sectional Championships. 

The Combo division adds a unique twist to tennis dynamics. Doubles pairs must align within 0.5 of their NTRP ratings, ensuring their combined level doesn’t surpass the chosen competition tier. For instance, in the 8.5 division, a 4.0 player might partner with a 4.5, creating dynamic matchups.    

It was another thrilling weekend of matches with many of the championships coming down to just one line. Let’s take a look at how these divisions played out. 

Combo 18 & Over Men’s 6.5 

Championship: Broward County (Cliff Drysadale Tennis at Weston Tennis Center) defeated Duval County (Timuquana Country Club) 2-1 

No. 1 Doubles: Mario Rosa/Nolan Sutker (Broward) d. Scott Meyer/Bart McClure 6-3, 6-2 

No. 2 Doubles: Jonathan Carryl/Andrew Petty (Duval) d. Oliver Matheus/Miguel Agreda 6-3, 7-6 

No. 3 Doubles: Schubert Sengupta/Ariel Bazail (Broward) d. Billy Hutchinson II/Wiliams Bulgin 6-1, 6-1 

Broward County Season Roster: Damian Thacker (Captain), Schubert Sengupta, Oliver Matheus, Devendra Joshi, Mario Rosa, Esteban Sanmarco, Diego Fabani, Ariel Bazail, Nolan Sutker, Miguel Agreda, Gilberto Giampaolo, Vadim Shatz, Brett Peltzman, Moises Moreno 

Combo 18 & Over Women’s 6.5 

Championship: Orange County (Lake Cane Tennis Center) defeated Hillsborough County (Tampa Tennis Club at HCC) 2-1 

No. 1 Doubles: Jessica Strack/Kate Kelley (Orange) d. Lisa Dreisbach/Lara Jackson 6-0, 7-5 

No. 2 Doubles: Mary Kroeger/Christelle Smith (Orange) d. Katie Miller/Nicole Borel-Saladin 7-6, 6-4 

No. 3 Doubles: Jenni Carroll/Amanda Kluber (Hills) d. Katie Scheer/Stacey Berman 7-6, 7-5 

Orange County Season Roster: Jessica Strack (Captain), Ashley Johnson Layrisse (Captain), Kimberlee Strong, Jill Ata, Katie Scheer, Jessica O’Brien, Annette Horn, Shawna Tree, Stacey Berman, Heather Armiak, Kate Kelley, Karina Vieira, Mardy Goote, Christelle Smith, Mary Kroeger, Alysha Levin, Margaret Dolan, Clare Bregetti 

Combo 18 & Over Men’s 8.5 

Championship: Broward County (Sunrise Tennis Club Park) defeated Escambia County (Roger Scott Tennis Center) 3-0 

No. 1 Doubles: Jorge J. Espejo Sigler/Patricio Casali (Broward) d. Edan Benitez/James Smith 7-6, 6-0 

No. 2 Doubles: Ricardo Giron/Jorge Rassi (Broward) d. Brian Jordan/Alejandro Avila 3-6, 7-6, 1-0 

No. 3 Doubles: Casali Ignacio/Simon Palacios (Broward) d. Kody Ehlers/Kyle Ehlers 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 

Broward County Season Roster: Simon Palacios (Captain), Alan Matheus, Casali Ignacio, Patricio Casali, Michael Kattan, Benjamin Andres Rodriguez Chong, Ricardo Giron, Franco De Andreis, Danilo Gonzalez, Jorge Balsamo, Jorge J. Espejo Sigler, William Pacanins, Gregorio Rodriguez, Jorge Rassi, Alberto De La Rosa 

Combo 18 & Over Women’s 8.5 

Championship: Pinellas County (Henry L. McMullen Tennis Complex) defeated Escambia County (Roger Scott Tennis Center) 2-1 

No. 1 Doubles: Elizabeth Gerlach/Michele Ironsmith (Pinellas) d. Carel Demanss/Arlene Doyle 6-3, 6-4 

No. 2 Doubles: Krysta Lee/Holly Rose (Escambia) d. Monica Sanchez/Dianne Albina 6-2, 6-0 

No. 3 Doubles: Katie Healy/Avery Zercoe (Pinellas) d. Lori Gonzalez/Whitney Sumrall 7-6, 6-2 

Pinellas County Season Roster: Michele Ironsmith (Captain), Cheryl Pawlowski (Captain), Monica Sanchez, Dianne Albina, Elizabeth Gerlach, Kirsten Willis, Katie Healy, Kayla Heller, Caitlin Tihanovich, Rena Khawam, Avery Zercoe 

Combo 50 & Over Men’s 5.5 

Results: Marion County (Fort King Tennis Center) finished in first place of the double round-robin with a record of 3-1. Escambia County (Roger Scott Tennis Center) finished in second place with a record of 2-2. 

Marion County Season Roster: Uyen Dao (Captain), Beth Dellovade, Kathryn Morris, Colette Widrin, Janet Greene, Donita Hearns, Virginia Connors, Kristin Milbrandt, Sara Oconnell, Cindy Hinton, Sherry Louise Gronlund, Georgina Bumpas, Nancy Tuten, Sue Bruegger, Teri Meiers, Jennifer Bass, Michelle Gulling, Anitha Rumalla, Jennifer Petrella