Feature Stories
 Florida Pro Diary: John Isner
Next on the schedule was Memphis where I was lucky enough to fly on Air Blake from San Jose to Memphis. Air Blake is of course the private jet that James Blake was nice enough to let me fly on. As most of you guys may know, James is the nicest guy around and flying privately with him was pretty neat. James and I are really close friends and I am always hanging out with him and practicing with him in Tampa, Fla., at Saddlebrook Golf and Tennis Resort.

 Florida's Gilbert Juggles Ginn Hammock, USPTA Roles
"We're excited to be part of the industry's revitalization," Gilbert says. "We'd like to think we've had a part in that, introducing the game in a positive way, along with the USTA and the Quickstart program and getting kids playing. This public relations campaign is a way to show people who we are, getting to the consumer, showing the training, education, and services provided to USPTR members, while putting the most-qualified [teaching] pros out there to grow the game."

 Florida Interests Want In on ATP Las Vegas Tennis Channel Open Bidding
Organizers of two Florida tournaments are hungry to bring more professional tennis to the Sunshine State. John Arrix of Octagon, organizer of the WTA Tour Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island, was a bidder (and reportedly one of the finalists) when the ATP Houston event was up for bid last year. He attempted to bring the event to the Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Now Sony Ericsson Open (Miami) organizer Butch Buchholz has announced his intention of bringing the ATP Las Vegas event to the Tampa area -- if the ATP allows entities to bid after buying the event from the Tennis Channel.

 USTA QuickStart Launches at Disney in Florida
It is estimated that ESPN The Weekend reaches over 100,000 parents and children, which is one of the main reasons the USTA decided to officially launch QuickStart Tennis at Disney. It is also the first time that tennis was included as part of ESPN The Weekend.

 The Making of a Pro: Florida's 13-Year-old Star Madison Keys
"I think you have to look at the whole thing: the technique, the balance, the power, and the other thing you have to look at is the results. I don't think we have any problem with the results," says Evert, laughing. "She got to firmly establish herself as the No. 1 player in the world last year in the 12-and-unders."

 Kypriss Continues Tennis Dynasty at Miami State Champ Dr. Krop High
"Faith, family, academics, tennis, and social life," Kypriss said. "We tell our kids if their social life supercedes any other one of those, we've got a problem."