Melanie Neff
The prize money is bigger and so is the talent at this year's 42nd
annual Roy Emerson Adoption Guild Classic Tennis Tournament, which
begins this weekend at the Newport Beach Tennis Club and other clubs
around the area.
One of the oldest and largest charity doubles tournaments in the
nation, it provides financial support to the Holy Family Services,
Counseling, Adoption and Foster Care of South Orange County.
The Adoption Guild of Southern Orange County is a group of 50
volunteer women who have two fund-raising activities each year. For
the past two years, the Adoption Guild has given $100,000 each year
to Holy Family Services.
"Given the economy and other world events, we will be happy to
maintain the level of our past gift," said tournament co-chairman
Harriet Selna.
The Adoption Guild also held a fall fund-raiser, which netted
approximately $9,000, and a Patroness Tea, which also brought in the
same amount.
This year's tennis tournament is expected to draw approximately
1,200 entries with $24,000 in cash prizes to be awarded, up from
$18,000 last year. The tournament is sanctioned by the United States
Tennis Association and awards prizes in all the open events, as well
as the men's 35-and-older doubles division. The tournament has
divisions in men's, women's and mixed doubles from open to 3.0, along
with men's 35-and-over doubles.
"We made an effort to fund raise the prize money because of the
quality and level of players we want to draw," Selna said. "It's the
first time we've done that. We hope it will be beneficial to
players."
In previous tournaments, the prize money has come strictly from
entry fees. This year, winners will receive $3,000, with runners-up
receiving $1,500.
The Adoption Guild will be played May 24-26, May 31 and June 1,
with the semifinals and finals scheduled for the Newport Beach Tennis
Club during the final weekend.
Players from around Orange County and as far away as Oregon and
Arizona will make the trek, including the current No. 1 player in
Southern California, Bryan Juinio, who is the top seed in the men's
open division. Juinio, who is a pro at the Copper River Country Club
in Fresno, is coming off an appearance in the men's open finals of
the Ojai Tournament, as well as a title at the Rio Del Oro Open.
At Ojai, Juinio, who played at Fresno State, was edged out by
second-seeded Adriano Biasella, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4. At the Rio Del Oro
Open, Juinio won the crown with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Joshua
Prager.
