FROM STAFF REPORTS

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Pro Circuit will swing through Pelham next week, April 2-8 at the Pelham Racquet Club for the M & F Bank $25,000 Women&8217;s USTA Pro Circuit Event. It is Pelham&8217;s fourth-straight year to host the event, starting in 2004.

The event kicks off a seven-week season on clay courts for USTA Pro Circuit women&8217;s events, and is the first clay court opportunity for players preparing for competition at the French Open in May.

Pelham is the first of three Alabama cities to host USTA events this year and will be the 12th of 42 Pro Circuit women&8217;s events scheduled for 2007. Dothan will host a $75,000 event on April 16 and a $50,000 hard court event will be hosted in Troy in October.

The USTA names Edina Gallovits of Romania, ranked No. 104, as a top player to watch. Five players will represent the United States: Abigail Spears of Pueblo, Colo., Raquel Kops-Jones of Fresno, Calif., Julie Ditty of Ashland, Ky., Carly Gullickson of Boca Raton, Fla. and Angela Haynes of Irvine, Calif.

A pro-am event will kick-off the competition on Monday, April 2 from 4-5:30 p.m.

For more information on the event contact Ann Etheredge, tournament director, at the Pelham Racquet Club at 621-3380.