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The Headlines:

• Local Wildcards Named for PNC Tennis Classic That Begins Nov. 4
• Impressive Roster of Professionals Entered in the PNC
• Pro/Am, Public Parks Night and High School Night Planned for the PNC

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Local Wildcards Named for PNC Tennis Classic That Begins Sunday

Six highly rated local amateurs will get a chance to test their skills against a strong field of internationally ranked tennis professionals beginning Sunday at the PNC International Tennis Classic, a $75,000 women's challenger event on the USTA Pro Circuit tour.

The qualifying tournament begins at 10 a.m. at Club4Life, formally the Oxford Athletic Club, in Monroeville, Pa.

Alison Riske, 17, of Peters Township, who became the No. 1 ranked player in the nation this summer in the Girls' 18 age division, was granted a local wildcard entry into the 32-player singles main draw of the tournament that begins Tuesday. Riske, who won a round in the U.S. Open qualifier in August, will be making her first start in the main draw of a professional tournament sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Kellie Schmitt, 20, of Bethel Park and Jessica Johnson Guyaux, 26, of Sewickley were granted a local wildcard entry into the main draw doubles event, which also begins Tuesday. Schmitt is a nationally ranked collegian in both singles and doubles at Marshall University while Guyaux was an All-American at Marshall and a NCAA finalist in doubles.

First to test the pros, however, will be three local wildcard entries in the PNC's Qualifying tournament beginning Sunday. They are:

• Kristy Borza, 21, of Beaver, the No. 1 singles player at the University of Pittsburgh;
• Jackie Hughes, 22, of McKeesport, No. 1 AMD adult amateur who completed an outstanding career at Duquesne University in May; and
• Lauren Greco, 18, of Oakmont, No. 1-ranked in Middle States in G18 and the reigning WPIAL Class AAA singles champion who last week led her Shady Side Academy team to its first PIAA state high school team championship.

All of the current collegiate players are entering this tournament "unattached," and are not supported, coached or representing their schools in any way, in accordance with NCAA regulations. None of the amateurs are eligible for prize money.

Impressive Roster of Professionals Entered in the PNC

The top seed is Olga Govortsova, 19, of Belarus, ranked No. 50 in the world by the ITF. American Lilia Osterloh, who won the PNC in 2005, has the second best international ranking at No. 82. Olga Poutchkova of Russia (No. 83), Tzipi Obziler of Israel (No. 88) and Americans Ashley Harkleroad (No. 92), Jill Craybas (No. 95) and Bethanie Mattek (No. 99) round out the top-100 ranked field in the tournament.

The 2006 PNC singles champion, Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada, also will be in the main draw.

The PNC, now in its 8th year, is perhaps best known as Maria Sharapova's breakthrough tournament. Sharapova was a 15-year-old qualifier in 2002 when she won seven matches in seven days to reach her first professional main draw final, before bowing to Marie Elena Camerin of Italy. Twenty months later Sharapova won Wimbledon.

Samantha Stosur, who won the 2005 U.S. Open doubles title with Lisa Raymond, reached the PNC International doubles final in 2004. Fifteen of the current top 50 players in the world have played Pittsburgh.

Pro/Am, Public Parks Night and High School Night Planned for the PNC

A number of events are planned for the week, including a Cronimet Pro/Am event involving local media and tournament sponsors set for 6 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 6.

Wednesday, Nov. 7 will feature USTA Schools Tennis Day and UPMC "Tennis in the Parks" Night. Friday, Nov. 9 will be High School Tennis Night, sponsored by the USTA's Allegheny Mountain District. All area high school players are invited to this event.

Admission to the tournament is free until the Quarter Finals on Friday, Nov. 9. Those who have attended Friday or Saturday matches will be admitted free on Championship Sunday. Tickets for adults are $15.00, children, $10.00.  Discounts for USTA, Club4Life, USPTA and PTR members and Parks and CTA groups are available. For more information, call 412-856-3930, x116 or contact Bette Salmon at bsalmon1@comcast.net

A silent auction will benefit the Tennis Patrons Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh, dedicated to supporting tennis programs for inner city youth, and the Tim and Tom Gullikson Foundation, supporting brain cancer research.

Primary sponsors for the tournament are PNC, Cronimet, Whit Productions, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Sports Medicine, Club4Life, Gift of Strength, USTA's Middle States Section and Allegheny Mountain District, and the Pittsburgh tennis website Tennis in the Burgh.

Bob Ruzanic is the tournament promoter. Rochelle Seilhamer and Berry Campagna head the PNC Tournament Committee.

The PNC Tennis Classic is a not-for-profit tournament. For more information, please consult these websites:  www.amd.usta.com and www.pittsburghchallenger.com

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