Tennis successes plentiful in 2007

A bunch of national championships and a few world titles. Charleston tennis has never been more successful than in 2007.

The year's success stories once again were led by world champions Diane Fishburne and Brenda Carter, but league tennis and high schools fared well, too.

And don't forget about the Family Circle Cup as it prepares to celebrate its 35th anniversary in a few months. Even though a Grand Slam tournament-class field withered and practically dried up from injury withdrawals, the Family Circle Cup barely missed setting Daniel Island attendance records last April. Only tornado-like conditions on championship Sunday held the premier women's tournament back.

Fishburne moved up to the women's 50 division, recovered from knee surgery, and still surged to the world's top ranking in singles in her age group. Carter finished the year as the world's No. 1 player in women's 60.

Fishburne and Carter appeared to be running a race for national titles as they dominated their respective age groups by winning three U.S. championships each in singles. In addition to capturing the world singles championship, Fishburne took national hard-court, clay-court and indoor titles. Carter won the same three national titles in women's 60 as well as the world's 60 championship.

Four local teams won league tennis Southern championships and competed in the nationals. Brian Burke's men's 5.5 team even brought home a national title. Chris Henderson's open men's team fell victim to a tournament format that allowed a Delaware team it had beaten in round-robin play to advance to and win the national final.

Of course, Delaware was the equivalent of the South African national team as its top singles player, Wayne Odesnik, is currently the ATP Tour's No. 127 singles player and its top doubles player, Ellis Ferreira, won the Australian Open doubles championship in 2000.

Charleston Tennis Center pulled off the rare double of having two women's teams win Southern titles. Debbie Sisco's 3.5 adult women and Elisabeth Pickelsimer's 3.5 senior women both represented the Southern Sectional in the nationals.

And in high school tennis, Wando's talented group of senior girls closed out fabulous careers by winning a fourth straight Class AAAA state championship for coach Becky Williamson. Jessica Diamond and Brooke Mosteller never experienced what it's like to be on a team that ends a season on a losing note.

Bishop England's girls came out of nowhere to capture the Class AA state title to give veteran coach Patricia Owens her 14th state title.

In SCISA, Ashley Hall fell one match short of the Class AAA girls' title, while Palmetto Christian was awarded another Class A girls' title.

Pinewood Prep's boys won the SCISA AAA championship, and Palmetto Christian's boys won a second straight Class A title.

The College of Charleston's men's and women's teams both had excellent seasons while advancing to the Southern Conference finals.

Yes, it's been an exceptional year for local tennis as evidenced by a record 3,240 men and women highlighting their year by participating in league tennis. That's quite a challenge for 2008.

Reach James Beck at jdbeck@postandcourier.com or 937-5540.