Additional growth expected for tourney

More money, bigger fields, better amenities. That's the objective every year of Bill Barnes, the man behind the explosive growth of the McDonald's Mid-Atlantic Clay Court Tennis Championships.

And Barnes is counting on more of the same for 2009, when the tournament returns to Salisbury Country Club next July.

"We added sponsors this year," Barnes said. "We had sponsors who upgraded this year. We upgraded the club this year. We had the largest men's draw in the history of the tournament. We've gotten players from as far away as California and Florida and New York. The response from the community has been phenomenal every night."

Barnes estimated there were 500-700 people at the tournament every evening, which has led to more offers of sponsorships for 2009. He hopes to add perhaps $5,000 to the $30,000 purse, which would likely mean an increase in the prize money that paid $3,000 to the men's and women's singles winners this year.

"It's really taken on a life of its own," Barnes said. "Every year that we add new sponsors, we increase the prize money. When you increase the prize money, that brings better players. Better players bring the spectators more often. It's really become a tennis event that is a big social function in the middle of the summer in Richmond."

Barnes said there are plans to add lighting to three courts next year and place the skybox between the courts, rather than on one end like it was this year.

At the end of the tournament, it was announced that $3,000 was raised for the Ronald McDonald House through a junior clinic and Salisbury. Trip Baisden, the club's assistant director for racket sports and fitness, plans to add a golf tournament next year to try to raise more money for the charity.

Gale, Vines qualify for national teams

Two former Richmonders will be representing the United States in the International Tennis Federation Seniors and Super Seniors World Team Championships on Oct. 12-18 in Antalya, Turkey.

Former city champion Rachel Gale, who moved to Cary, N.C., last month, will be a member of the Suzanne Lenglen Cup team (women's 35). Ex-city and state champ Mark Vines, who lives in Lynchburg, is on the Fred Perry team (men's 50).

State girls and boys junior event at CCV

The Country Club of Virginia will play host to the state girls and boys 12 and 14 clay court championships Aug. 18-21. Entry deadline is Aug. 13 at midnight, and all entries must be submitted online. Entry fees are $43.50 for singles and $23 per person in doubles.

To register online, go to www.usta.com and click on tennislink, then go to tournaments. The ID number for the tournament is 302904708. For more information, call tournament director Shannon Eckenrode (804-287-1498). - John Packett