Alexandra Stevenson in qualifying for L.A. Women’s Tennis Championships

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Some interesting names in the qualifying draw for the L.A. Women’s Tennis Championships which begin Monday at the Home Depot Center in Carson (qualifying begins Saturday).

Alexandra Stevenson, who, the year she became an 18-year-old Wimbledon semifinalist was revealed to be the daughter of Julius Erving, is trying to make the main draw via the qualifier. Stevenson is 28 years old now and never was able to make a permanent splash on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

The No. 1 seed in the qualifying draw is 35-year-old American Jill Craybas and the second seed is 17-year-old American Melanie Oudin. Kimiko Date Krumm, who will be 39 in September and who was once a French Open semifinalist and who first turned pro in 1989, is the 16th seed.

-- Diane Pucin