Leachs do battle in opener

Chris Yemma

There’s more on the line in this season opener than Dick Leach would

like to think about.

But entering his third year as coach of World Team Tennis’ Newport

Beach Breakers, the former USC head man has been in this position

before.

When the Breakers open their season tonight at 7 against the

visiting Springfield Lasers at Palisades Tennis Club, Leach will face

Leach in a father vs. son matchup.

Rick Leach, Dick’s son, is a player for the Lasers.

“It’s really weird; I’m not looking forward to it,” the Breakers

Coach said. “It’s weird because you can’t root against him when

you’ve been cheering for him during the last 25 years, or however

long it has been. You just can’t do it.”

Leach has stomached the situation before, though.

In his first year at the Breakers helm in 2003, Leach faced his

son twice and the Breakers lost both matches when Rick played for the

Kansas City Explorers.

In individual matches during those meetings, the younger Leach

held a 3-1 advantage.

This season could mark a turning point for the coach.

“He’s going to try his darndest and we’ll try our darndest,” Dick

said.

The Breakers have other implications on the line for tonight’s

match, however. For starters: defending their WTT championship.

Newport Beach went 8-6 last season and grabbed the coveted King

Trophy with a 23-17 victory over the Delaware Smash at the United

States Tennis Association National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows,

N.Y.

The Breakers had previously stunned the five-time WTT champion and

Western Conference rival Sacramento Capitals in the semifinals to

advance to the championship match.

Headlining the squad this year is 2004 Wimbledon women’s singles

champion Maria Sharapova, who will play one match -- a July 23

contest against the visiting St. Louis Aces.

Returning as a regular mainstay, however, is last year’s league

finals MVP Ramon Delgado. A former Davis Cup performer for Paraguay,

Delgado won a decisive 5-1 men’s singles victory against Rajeev Ram

to lift the Breakers over the Smash in the championship match last

year.

“[Delgado] is the best player in the league,” Leach said. “I told

him he better be in shape because he’s going to carry us. He told me

he’d be ready.”

Newcomers to the Breakers this season are: Katerina Bondarenko,

the 2004 junior Wimbledon champion; Anastassia Rodionova, who reached

the 2003 Wimbledon mixed doubles final; and former Estancia High

standout Devin Bowen, who now resides in Huntington Beach.

Leach said he’s confident in his team’s abilities.

“I don’t see anybody that’s a lot better than us,” he said. “I

think we’re as good as the rest of the league. We won’t really find

out until the first seven matches are played.”

Anna Kournikova is scheduled to play for the Sacramento Capitals

when they visit Newport Beach Thursday night.