When the draw was released Thursday for the Denver City Open, Bart Scott may as well have gone by the alias Rodney Dangerfield. No respect.
Scott proved everyone wrong at the Denver Tennis Club last weekend, rolling through four seeded players en route to the title.
Colorado Open tournament director David Ray at Gates Tennis Center liked what he saw out of the former University of New Mexico player and assistant coach. Scott enters the 111th version of the event, which starts Saturday, as the No. 1 seed.
“I don’t know how any of that works and you would think, being in and around the game for as long as I have, that I might,” Scott said. “But as far as I’m concerned, to win you still have to beat the best players.”
Scott rediscovered the serve that brought him success on the junior and college levels at the City Open. A 13-ace outing in the final against the University of Colorado’s Marko Bundalo gives Scott the momentum going into the Colorado Open.
“I finally served up to my capabilities, and that’s how it’s always been for me. If the serve is going, the rest of my game follows,” Scott said. “These two weeks are just great. It’s fun to just be back out there.”
Many of the names stay the same in terms of the top four seeds. Fellow City Open semifinalists Mark Boren (No. 2) and Willie Dann (No. 5) are in the field as well as No. 3 Miikka Keronen and No. 4 Bobby Rasmussen.
Defending champion Alicia Salas has again assumed her position atop the women’s draw. The former Cherry Creek High School and Notre Dame standout rolled to the City Open title, but the field at the state event may be just a touch better.
Sitting at No. 2 is UCLA senior and former high school state champion Laura Gordon from Aspen. Gordon skipped the City Open, but has “plenty of matches” under her belt and should be primed to make a run at Salas.
Rounding out the top four seeds are Amanda Bartz at No. 3 and Tabatha Knop at No. 4.
Colorado State Open
What: 111th Colorado State Open
Where: Gates Tennis Center
When: Saturday-July 17
Semifinals: Saturday, July 16: men and women at 9:30 a.m.
Championship: Sunday, July 17: women at 9 a.m.; men to follow
Defending champions: men – Cory Ross (not playing); women – Alicia Salas
Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-820-5446 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
