Top seeds close out dominate season

Kylie Waschuk collected her fourth Tennis Manitoba Open
Tour women's singles title of 2013 at the WWC Indoor Open
held last weekend at the Winnipeg Winter Club.

By Geoff Kirbyson

Kevin Kylar and Kylie Waschuk capped off dominating performances this season by taking home the last singles titles of the year at the WWC Indoor Open.

Perhaps the only surprise of the tournament for Kylar, 19, was how hard he was pushed by Sean LaCap, in a 6-3, 7-5 win in the final. (He had lost only four games in his three previous matches.)

The victory gave Kylar his fifth Tennis Manitoba Open Tour title of the year. In August, he also won his second Manitoba Open singles crown.

Waschuk, meanwhile, ousted Michaela Tennant 6-4, 6-2, for her seventh tour win in the last two years. She also won the Manitoba Open this summer.

How dominant was their domination? Well, neither of the top seeds – and top-ranked players for the 2013 season – dropped a set in Tennis Manitoba singles competition all year.

(Kylar lost to India’s Vijayant Malik at the 2013 Manshield Futures at the Sargent Park Tennis Garden in August.)

Both teens have also played extensively outside of Manitoba during the past year. Kylar is attempting to earn his first ATP points – he came within a couple of games of doing so at Manshield – while Waschuk aims to bulk up her resume in anticipation of joining an NCAA Division 1 team next fall.

In 4.5 singles action, Michael Alano defeated Dennis Cann 6-3, 6-2 on the men’s side while Lana Tennenhouse spotted Angela Earl a 6-0 lead before storming back to take the final two sets, 6-3, 6-1.

Ward Lockhart won the men’s 3.5 division with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Glen Dyck.

The final event on the Tennis Manitoba 2013 calendar is the WWC Doubles and Mixed Christmas Classic, which will be held at the Winnipeg Winter Club from Dec. 18 to 22.

See also...

» 2013 WWC Indoor Singles Open draw results

» 2013 WWC Indoor Singles Open photo album

» 2013 WWC Doubles & Mixed Christmas Classic
» Tennis Canada's New National Rankings

Tennis Canada's New National Rankings

By Tennis Canada

Tennis Canada is implementing a new National Rankings system that will be effective as of January 1, 2014. As of that day, the existing head-to-head system will no longer be used for the National Rankings. The new Rogers Rankings will be determined based on the number of rounds reached (similar method to that used by the ITF, ATP World Tour, and WTA). This system will be used on a 52-week rollover period and will include the player’s best results (number to be determined).

The existing rankings will be used for the remainder of this year, which will include a year-end rankings run on December 31, 2013.

The new rankings method will be applied to juniors, professionals & open players in Phase 1 (January 1, 2014) and will be rolled out to seniors and wheelchair players in Phase Two (early 2014).

The junior rankings will be comprised of all provincial and national tournaments. Most international junior tournaments, identified Canadian open events and all professional events will also be included. The junior rankings will be a combined rank in which a player’s best results can come from any junior age category event or open/professional event they play in.

The open rankings will include all open events in Canada as well as all professional events.

Please note that all new rankings released after January 1, 2014 will include the results from 2013 under the new ranking method.

For additional details, see New National Rankings FAQ.

Respect in Sport Course

Tennis Manitoba and Sport Manitoba believes in being proactive in ensuring sport in our province is safe and welcoming for all participants. Respect in Sport helps us promote those values through a simple and convenient on-line training course for coaches and sport leaders. It is designed as a tool to assist coaches in identifying and dealing with abuse, neglect, harassment, and bullying in sport.

Tennis Manitoba recommends that all tennis instructors and coaches in our province complete the Respect in Sport for Coaches and Activity Leaders program. There is no fee for the program for coaches in Manitoba. To review course details, click here.

Registration for the on-line course is available at www.coachingmanitoba.ca

Please contact Tennis Manitoba at (204) 925-5660 should you have further Respect in Sport program questions.

Pound Recipient of Norwood Volunteer Award

Norwood Community Centre has recognized Brian Pound as the volunteer of the year for the Norwood Flats community. The award acknowledges Brian Pound's unparalleled dedication to growing tennis programming at the Norwood Community Centre, which includes tennis camps for local children, school and wheelchair programs.

Tennis Manitoba would like to congratulate Brian on his achievement and look forward to continuing to work with him and Norwood CC to grow the sport in Manitoba.

See also: Local’s love of tennis rejuvenates sport at Norwood