Settles to defend national tennis title

By CHUCK ADAMS

Paul and Kathy Settles defend their USTA National Husband-Wife Clay Court Tennis Championship beginning Friday at the ATP Tennis Club. The Ponte Vedra Beach couple defeated Jose and Allegra Campos to win last year?s inaugural event.

The draw and times for this year?s tournament, which features 16 teams, were set Tuesday evening. Competition runs through Sunday at the Ponte Vedra Beach facility, which is located off A1A South.

?This year?s field is as strong if not stronger than last year?s. Our chances of defending are that much more challenging,? said Paul Settles, who is the event?s tournament director and also director of player services for the ATP Tour. The ATP is the international headquarters of the men?s professional tennis circuit.

?This is Kathy?s and my first time on the court as a competitive team this year, which will make it even more challenging. Last year we played in two other tournaments, and while we didn?t win either of those, we got important matches under our belt. We were jelling as a team.

?This weekend will be a bit of a debut for us. We will have had no match play going in, but we?re confident and excited,? said Settles.

The winners of the Husband-Wife receive a coveted USTA national championship gold ball.

?To be able to say we?re gold ball winners is something very special,? Settles noted.

The weekend field features two former professionals who competed last year, Tobias Svantesson of Sweden (with wife Valerie), and Miguel Nido of Puerto Rico (with wife Loretta).

Also in the field is Mike Puc, former director of tennis/former pro at Timiquana, and his wife, the former Tara Collins. Collins, a former WTA player, is ranked No. 48 on Florida?s all-time greatest players list.

Also in the field is Andrew Lake and wife Kristen. Lake, who runs a tennis academy in Davie, Fla., has achieved something this year that is considered extraordinary in elite tennis circles. He has won all four surface nationals ? grass, clay, hard and indoors ? in the 30 and over division.

Not in this year?s field are last year?s second- and third-place teams, the Campos and Steven and Narelle Parkes.

All proceeds from the USTA National Husband-Wife Championship go to the First Coast Foundation.