This is the year, and time of the year, to get a grip on where Hawai'i's tennis players stand in the junior battle of the baseline. The USTA Boys and Girls 18 Nationals were last month at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park. Hawai'i's first International Tennis Federation Junior tournament is next month at the same site.

All 25 Hawai'i players lost in the first round last month. Punahou junior Kristin Lim lasted longest, reaching the quarterfinals of consolation. She was seeded 10th in the tournament and is ranked No. 1 in Girls 18's in the Hawai'i Pacific Section.

As always, nationals was an eye-opener for Hawai'i players used to tiny brackets and familiar faces. The 64-player draws were dominated by Californians. The boys championship was won by second-seeded Kyle McMarrow of Ojai. McMarrow is headed to the University of Washington and was coming off a win at the California Bowl the previous month. Catherine Isip, from La Habra, captured the girls title. She was also victorious at the California Bowl, and won two national titles last year.

Lim, who lost just eight games on her way to the girls state high school championship last May, believes the most compelling difference she saw last month is the relentless intensity of every match.

"Regardless of what the score is, they will fight and scramble after every ball until the very last point is over," she said. "Their love for the game and competitiveness on the court is almost intimidating.

"For every single match you not only have to be physically prepared but also mentally prepared. Every match is a new challenge. This kind of intensity is necessary for them because of their competition back home."

Island Pacific Academy sophomore Matthew Westmoreland, who reached the state high school final as a freshman before falling to Punahou's Skyler Tateishi, won two consolation rounds. But Westmoreland, ranked fifth in Boys 16's here, and Lim were the exception, and next month the odds against them winning are even greater.

Fortunately, chances of them learning from it are greater still.

The ITF has grown from nine events in six countries 30 years ago to 321 tournaments in 113 countries last year. Ivan Lendl and Hana Mandlikova were the ITF's first Junior World Champions, in 1978. Roger Federer was the 1998 World Champion and Andy Roddick in 2000. Hawai'i's stop will be April 28 to May 4, with qualifying April 26 and 27.

"ITF is similar to USTA Nationals in some sense, but to me this one is a grade higher because it's international," said Mimi Kennell, tournament director for both events. "Our U.S. players compete against players from other countries. It's a great opportunity for our kids to have a chance to see that. Kids have to be among the top in the nation in order to play all the other ITF events, but in Hawai'i they have a better chance to get in and even if they don't get in, they can watch. That's wonderful."

And rare. Lim, whose brothers Robbie and Mikey each won two state high school singles titles, plays about four national events a year. She admits she rarely gets the experience she needs to take her game to the next level. Lim has made a conscious effort lately to play matches against guys and older players.

Lim admits Hawai'i does have one very good thing going for it, though — "the people."

"Hawai'i tennis is like a community, where everyone gets along and is hospitable to each other," Lim said. "On the Mainland, because it is such a competitive environment, it is very rare that you come across this type of aloha spirit. The people in Hawai'i make tennis more enjoyable and fun to play, what tennis and sports in general should be all about. Transitioning from Hawai'i tennis to national tennis is extremely difficult."

NOTES

The revival of the Hawai'i Grand Prix circuit will start at the Kapalua Tennis Garden April 18 to 20. The second stop will be at Kailua Racquet Club (May 9 to 11), followed by Wailea Tennis Club (May 23 to 26) and the final leg at The Oahu Club (June 4 to 8). The series has a total purse of $6,000.

The 2008 League Championship schedule begins with Mixed Doubles, May 24 to 26. Seniors are June 7 to 9, Adults Aug. 16 to 18, Super Seniors Sept. 26 to 28 and Ekolu League Dec. 5 to 7.

Deadline to register for the spring session of the USTA's local Play to Learn Tennis program is March 25. Lessons begin the week of March 30.

Former U.S. Davis Cup captain Tom Gullickson will have a Tennis Camp April 14 to 18 at The Oahu Club. Camp will focus on technique, tactics and strategy. The five-day camp is $650 and three-day camp is $500. Players can sign up in the club's pro shop.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.