BE loses key player

Just when you think you've got a great team, watch out. That's the case of Bishop England boys' coach Skip ReVille.

The Bishops probably had the best team in the area last spring, led by then-Palmetto Christian Academy transfer John Karle and the Heffron brothers.

But All-Lowcountry choice and No. 1 player Karle is no longer a Bishop. After leading Palmetto Christian to a pair of SCISA Class A state titles and then helping the Bishops to the SCHSL state semifinals and a 13-3 record, Karle is spending his senior year in home-schooling and looking forward to possibly playing college tennis.

Andrew Thebes and Leigh Colyer, last season's Nos. 2 and 4 players, have graduated. That leaves only Randall and Walker Heffron back among the regular singles starters. Randall, a junior who was All-Lowcountry last spring, is a strong player who shouldn't miss a beat in moving up to the No. 1 slot, and sophomore Walker should be a solid No. 2.

"I feel a little more pressure, but not that much more," said Randall Heffron, who held down the Bishops' No. 1 slot part of last season.

Fishburne stars

Charleston's Diane Fishburne returned from Antalya, Turkey, recently as a happy woman after leading her U.S. teammates to a world team championship in the International Tennis Federation's women's 50 Bueno Cup. That's even after the former world's No. 1 senior failed to win the individual championship.

Fishburne posted a 5-0 record in team competition at No. 1 singles. That included a three-set victory in the final over world champion Ros Balodis in the decisive match in a 2-1 U.S. victory over Australia that gave the Americans their third straight Bueno Cup.

The U.S. team scored 3-0 wins over Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and France to qualify for the final. No. 2 singles player and current women's 50 world's No. 1 Susan Wright also went 5-0 in the team competition. In the individual world championships that followed the team competition, Balodis gained revenge against Fishburne with a 7-5, 7-5 win in the final.

Notes

--Doubles, anyone? Snee Farm County Club will hold a Doubles Extravaganza as its Grand Prix tournament Nov. 20-23. The entry deadline is Nov. 19, with food, music and beverages in the tournament's 20-year-old tradition. Signup is available online at sneefarmtennis.com.

--Country Club of Charleston tennis director Lee Brockman has scheduled another "Battle of James Island" for next Saturday. The event pits defending champ Country Club of Charleston against teams from Maybank Tennis Center and the James Island Yacht Club. Festivities will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast, followed by men's and women's doubles at the Country Club and Maybank, and mixed doubles at 11 a.m. at the Country Club and Maybank. A covered dish social and awards presentations will be held from 1-2 p.m. at the Country Club. Register at ccctennis@comcast.net.

--Charleston Tennis Center will stage its annual Charleston Thanksgiving Junior Classic Nov. 28-30. Competition will be held in singles and doubles for all junior divisions. Entry deadline is Nov. 22. Registration is available at www.sctennis.com, using tournament number 704139008. Call Charleston Tennis Center (766-7401).

--Andy Roddick and Serena Williams will appear in Columbia on Dec. 13 at the Roddick Foundation's Rock-n-Racquets benefit at the Colonial Center. Roddick will take on 6-9 John Isner and Williams will face top 20 pro Caroline Wozniacki in singles. Tickets are available at coloniallifearena.com or by telephone at 866-472-8499.

Reach James Beck at jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

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