James Blake – Memphis Flyer

It’s not often you get the chance to say, “I was there when … .” But that’s exactly what’s being offered by the Fitz $50K USTA Challenger (or, less snappily, the Fitz Casino and Hotel $50,000 United States Tennis Association Pro Circuit Challenger tournament). Just in its third year, the Challenger is where local racketheads have gotten intimate glimpses of today’s stars, including James Blake (currently #9 in the world) and Mardy Fish (currently #31). The USTA Pro Circuit is like Triple-A baseball: It’s where rising stars get to break their natural gut in and where rehabbing greats get their groove back.

The tournament will be played at Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club. Tunica’s courts are clay (and indoors, too), so expect a slower, more technically proficient game with longer rallies. It all adds up to an exciting atmosphere. This year’s draw includes several names-of-tomorrow to keep your eye on, like Robert Kendrick (currently #83), Paul Goldstein (#112), and 20-year-old up-and-comer Scoville Jenkins (pictured), among others.

Courtside bleacher seats are free, and $20 will get you a primo spot up top. The Challenger runs through May 12th, and top seeds will play “features” matches each night. In a couple years, you can brag you were there when.

The Fitz $50K UStA Challenger at Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club. Off U.S. Hwy. 61, Tunica, MS. Call 662-357-0777 or go to www.tunicanational.com for more information.

Beginning this week, all eyes in the tennis world will be on the stars shining in Memphis during the men’s Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the women’s Cellular South Cup at the Racquet Club. Among the luminaries in Memphis will be three of the current top-10-ranked men’s tennis players and arguably the most recognizable woman athlete in the world.

American star Andy Roddick returns to Memphis to try to reclaim the trophy he last won in 2002. He comes off a recent run of excellent play: Last week he helped the U.S. defeat the Czech Republic in Davis Cup match play, and last month he had a semifinal finish in the Australian Open. He’ll vie for the Memphis title against James Blake, who completed the 2006 campaign 6th in the world, the first African American to finish in the top 10 since Arthur Ashe. Defending champion Tommy Haas takes on all comers boosted by his own Australian Open semifinal finish.

Played concurrently is the Cellular South Cup. Sofia Arvidsson tries to make it back-to-back championships, but it’s Venus Williams (pictured) who will be hogging all the cameras in the Bluff City this week. A sore wrist has plagued her of late, but when healthy, her racquet’s as potent a weapon as women’s tennis has seen since the heady days of Steffi Graf and Monica Seles. The stands might be the only safe place to be in the Racquet Club this week.

Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the Cellular South Cup, February 16-25, The Racquet Club of Memphis,

5111 Sanderlin. Call 685-ACES (2237) or go to www.rmkchampionships.com for more information.