2010 Challenger of Dallas tennis champs

David Martin returns a ball during the Men's Challenger of Dallas professional tennis tournament doubles championship at T-Bar-M Racquet Club in Dallas on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2009.



photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


Adil Shamasdin (bottom) tries to return a ball as partner Vasek Pospisil observes during the Challenger of Dallas tennis tournament doubles championship at T-Bar-M Racquet Club.




Scott Lipsky returns a ball during the Challenger of Dallas pro tennis tournament doubles championship in Dallas. Martin and Lipsky won the doubles match.




Carsten Ball, 20, of Australia returns a serve from Ryan Sweeting, 22, of the United States during the Challenger of Dallas professional tennis tournament singles championship at T-Bar-M Racquet Club in Dallas.


Ryan Sweeting returns a serve from Carsten Ball during the Men's Challenger of Dallas pro tennis tournament singles championship at T-Bar-M Racquet Club in Dallas.




Carsten Ball of Australia returns a volley from Ryan Sweeting during the Challenger of Dallas pro tennis tournament singles championship in Dallas. Ball was the No. 2 seed and Sweeting, the defending champion, was seeded No. 7.


Ryan Sweeting returns a volley from Carsten Ball during the Challenger of Dallas pro tennis tournament singles championship at T-Bar-M Racquet Club. Sweeting won the match to become the first back-to-back Challenger of Dallas winner.


Please read, "Ryan Sweeting bounces back to defend Challenger of Dallas title" by Drew Davison for the Star-Telegram

Yes, I know. Through some strange content-sharing arrangement, I shot the championship for DMN and FW provided the reporter. Welcome to modern newspaper journalism. :-/

Rising tennis star

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Shane Vinsant, 15, of Keller hits a ball during practice at Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas on Saturday, June 27, 2009. He is the current national No. 2 tennis player at the 16-and-under level.


Shane Vinsant, 15, connects with the ball during practice at Brookhaven Country Club. He also competes above his age group.



Shane Vinsant, 15, hits a backhand during practices on a clay court at Brookhaven Country Club. The home-schooled student plans an August move to the national training center in Boca Raton, Fla.


Shane Vinsant, 15, eyes the ball during practice at Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas. Vinsant plans to become a pro and wants to eventually become No. 1 player in the world.

Please read, "Centre Court, here they come" by Kate Hairopoulos / The Dallas Morning News

Challenger of Dallas tennis championship

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Wayne Leavitti of Carrollton celebrates his win as his opponent's ball goes out of bounds during the Wheelchair Exhibition game of the Challenger of Dallas professional tennis tournament at the T Bar M Racquet Club in Dallas on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.


Prakash Amritraj lunges for a ball during the doubles final of the Challenger of Dallas professional tennis tournament.



Patrick Briaud returns a ball during the doubles final of the Challenger of Dallas professional tennis tournament at the T-Bar-M Racquet Club in Dallas.



No. 1 seeded doubles player Rajeev Ram of the United States returns a ball during the doubles final of the Challenger of Dallas tournament.



No. 1 seeded doubles player Prakash Amritraj of the United States meets an incoming ball during the doubles final of the Challenger of Dallas professional tennis tournament.



Patrick Briaud leaps for a ball during the doubles final of the Challenger of Dallas professional tennis tournament at the T-Bar-M Racquet Club in Dallas.



Prakash Amritraj celebrates victory after the doubles final of the Challenger of Dallas professional tennis tournament at the T-Bar-M Racquet Club in Dallas. Amritraj and Rajeev Ram won the championship match 6-3, 4-6, 10-8.



Please read "Challenger of Dallas crowns" from Staff Reports / The Dallas Morning News

3A state tennis finalist

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Silsbee High School junior Matthew Deaver poses for a portrait at the school in Silsbee on Tuesday, April 29, 2008. Deaver is the only Southeast Texan qualified for the Class 3A state tennis championships.

Deaver lost the championship match to Nick Lehman of Vernon 6-1, 7-6(3) and is the Class 3A state runner-up.

Making a return

Psychiatrist Rajen B. Desai plays tennis at the Beaumont Municipal Athletic Complex in Beaumont on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007. Recent rains are expected to return on Saturday.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Tennis golden girl

Kirbyville High School's Salina Aranda poses for a portrait at Brentwood Country Club in Beaumont on Thursday, June 1, 2006. She has been named by The Beaumont Enterprise as a Super Gold Athlete of the Year for tennis.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


Kirbyville High School's Salina Aranda practices at Brentwood Country Club in Beaumont.


Kirbyville High School's Salina Aranda practices at Brentwood Country Club in Beaumont.

All-around athlete

(Left and below) Callie Ferguson poses for a portrait at Kountze High School on Thursday, April 20, 2006. She has qualified for regionals in golf, tennis and basketball. She is also on the school's softball team.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise





I know some folks over at Burnt Orange visit this blog. If the University of Texas (UT) still has some Title IX openings, here's your girl. She's unsigned, a good all-around athlete, works well with media and is fearless.

Please read "All-around athlete" by Johnnie Walters.

Tennis star visits school

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Tennis coach Benny Sims gives a Black History Month motivational talk at Dunbar Elementary School in Beaumont on Friday, Feb. 24, 2006. Sims graduated from Dunbar when it was a junior high school. He was the first African-American to participate in a major pro tennis tour. He currently coaches international tennis star Chandra Rubin.


International tennis star Chandra Rubin gives a motivational talk at Dunbar Elementary School in Beaumont. Rubin was ranked No. 6 in the world, and has reached the 4th round of all four Grand Slam Tournaments.


Read more about Chandra Rubin here.


Images are part of the Charlton-Pollard series.