View photos of the 2011 Sullivan Tournament

• From Kambiz Doomboli
• more to come ...

Congratulations to all the 2011 competitors!

For the the first time in its outstanding history since its inception in 1930, the Men's Open Singles and Women's  Open Singles were USTA-Sanctioned events, using a format proposed and pioneered by FPCCTC that allows any player to participate in these events, even without current USTA membership. 

The 2011 Men's and Women's Open Singles championship matches were held for the first time this year on the new exhibition court:

• Women's Open Singles: Emma Leibowicz (2011 Champion) and Jacqueline Payne (2011 Finalist).
• Men's Open Singles: Mike Wagner (2011 Champion) and David Fink (2011 Finalist).

Presenting the Men's Open Singles Champion and Finalist trophies were Leo Sweeney (Champion 2000) and Michael Sayette (Champion 1998). Mr. Sweeney was the last player to win this championship under the direction of the late Paul Sullivan himself. We were honored today to have them as special guests for the Championships.

We were also honored and proud to have had former Open Champions and Finalists participate this year: Jeff Winicour in MSs (1980 Open Champion), Kenny Nieser in MSs (1981, 1988 Open Champion), and especially John Chatlak in MOs. Mr. Chatlak was finalist in 1990 in Frick Park, after which he went on to win the National Parks Championships as well as earn the #1 USTA national ranking in three different age groups. He's returned to the Frick clay after 21 years - and we hope to have him come back a lot sooner this time.

Thanks to tournament referee Barb McMullen, and officials Tammy Tjader and Al Skorupka.

Big thanks to Tournament Director Jose Mieres, Assistant Tournament Directors Steve Hirtle and Joseph Linden, Tournament Desk Director Maureen Collins, and to the Frick Park Clay Court Tennis Club volunteers who maintained the courts in top condition throughout the entire tournament. A big thanks also goes to Citiparks publicist Mary Beth Mueller and Citiparks Director Mike Radley.

To ALL the players - we enjoy your efforts, appreciate your sportsmanship, and are so very thankful for your friendship. At the end of the day, tennis is really about people - and we're all so lucky to have met you on the Frick clay!

Men's Futures of Pittsburgh Professional Exhibition Match - July 7, 2011 Robbye Poole (423 ATP, formerly Ole Miss Univ.) and Harry Fowler (Rice Univ.) after an exhibition match on Thursday, July 7, 2011, on Court 1 at the Frick Park clay courts attended by 30 spectators. Vamos!

2011 Sullivan Championship Trophies

The Frick Park Clay Court Tennis Club commissioned local artist Corey Escoto to design and build a set of custom trophies. Each trophy was hand made with red clay and had a small amount of the Frick Park Clay Court surface clay incorporated into the the body of the clay. Each Men's and Women's Open Singles trophy has a texture created by hitting the clay with a strung tennis racket. The angular shape of all of the trophies suggests the dynamic geometry of the game, such as sharp angled volleys, or the projectile motion of a topspin forehand. Lastly, the white stripe makes reference to the all important boundaries upon which the Paul G. Sullivan Clay Court Championships, "the classiest battery of rectangles in the district," take place.

Corey Escoto is a multidisciplinary artist who recently relocated (Aug 2010) to Pittsburgh to teach in the Department of Art and Design at Chatham University. He has exhibited nationally, internationally, and widely throughout his home state of Texas.  Recent exhibitions and awards include include, The Gateway Foundation Grant; The Great Rivers Biennial, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis; New American Talent 23, Austin, TX (traveling); Le Souvenir, Weimar, Germany; Seven Days Brunch, Basel Switzerland; and DeCollecting, Dunkerque, France.

Tournament Volunteers and Staff

Pittsburgh Parks and Recreation: Mike Radley (Director)	Citiparks Tennis and Tournament Director: José Mieres
Assistant Tournament Directors: Stephen Hirtle Joseph Linden	Tournament Desk Director: Maureen Collins
Tournament Referee: Barb McMullen	Tournament Officials: Tammy Tjader Al Skorupka Neil Leroy
Promotion and Publicity: Mary Beth Mueller - Citiparks Deb Rosen - Tennis Village Citiparks Tennis - Summer Guide and Website Regent Square Civic Association.	Online Registration and Webpage: Stephen Hirtle Ross Cooperman Gulshan Sharma
Photography: Kambiz Doonboli Luis Vargas	Tournament Ball: Gamma ProTour Regular Duty
Clay Court and Tournament Desk Volunteers: Kenny Nieser, Luis Vargas, Melinda Handler, Jim Hammond, Paul Shaner, Alex Andrade, Carol Lang, Joseph Leibowicz, Corey Escoto, Arun Nallaswami, Leslie Gottschalk, Jeff Winicour, Tim Brown, Mac M, Bruce Roddich, Ray Heavner, Greg Larosa, Dara Chengappa, Johanna Bezjak, John Chatlak, Mike Wagner, Emma Leibowicz, Andrew Stein, Naoko Schneider and friends!, Arthur De Mateo, Daniel Jones, Dan Kambic, Allen Baum, Mark Wallace, John Adkins, among others. THANKS!
Trophies: Corey Escoto	Gift Certificates: Tennis Village
Seeding and Draw Committee: José Mieres Stephen Hirtle Maureen Collins	FPTCCTC Sponsorships: Howard Engelberg Deb Rosen Mark Wallace José Mieres Tom Current
Negotiation for FPCCTC Adopt-A-Park Agreement with the City of Pittsburgh: Joseph Leibowicz
Men's Futures of Pittsburgh Exhibition Matches at Frick Park: Dan Hackett Bette Webber
USTA Allegheny Mountain District Support: David Diletusso Fred Crawford
USTA Middle States Support: Megan Goodwin

REGISTRATION

Closed Tues July 12 5pm. Please confirm your entry by clicking on the list of registered players. For inquires about the tournament, please email Jose Mieres at redclayfrick@gmail.com.

Tournament payment ($10 singles, $15 doubles) made be made by:

• Check or money order, payable to "FPCCTC" and mailed to P.O. Box 81805 Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
• Cash, check, or money order at the club desk before playing your first match.

You might also consider making a donation or joining FPCCTC to support the ongoing revitalization and improvements to the historic Frick Park Clay Courts. Find us at the Tournament Desk. Thanks! You are very Welcome!"

Current registrations are listed on registered players page.

2011 MATCH FORMATS

All Open matches thru the quarterfinals are best two of three tiebreak sets with standard scoring (weather permitting). All Open semi and final matches are best two of three sets; first two sets are tiebreak sets. The third set to completion (weather permitting). All Senior matches are best two of three tiebreak sets with standard scoring (weather permitting). Men’s Open Singles will have Qualifying Draw for 8 spots on a Main Draw of 16.

NEW FOR 2011

For the the first time in tournament history, the Men's Open Singles Main Draw of 16 and the Women's Open Singles Main Draw of 8 will each be USTA-Sanctioned. Men's Open Singles and Women's Open Singles players do *not* have to be USTA members to participate in the tournament, but *if* you make it to the Main Draw *and* you are not (yet!) a USTA member, FPCCTC will help sponsor your new USTA membership. NICE!

Paul G. Sullivan Clay Championships (formerly Pittsburgh Parks Championships)
Men's Open Singles and Women's Open Singles Champions