Top tennis players headed to York County this weekend

• Alexandra Stevenson will compete in a mixed doubles tennis tournament this weekend in York.
• Stevenson advanced to the Wimbledon Women's Singles semifinals in 1999 when she was 18.
• Julia Cohen, who is ranked in the top 100 in the world, is also expected to compete.

Alexandra Stevenson was just 18 when she burst onto the world sports scene by advancing to the 1999 Wimbledon Women's Singles semifinals.

Stevenson, who captivated fans at the prestigious event with her all-around play and huge serve, is expected to play in York this coming weekend.

The daughter of Basketball Hall of Famer Julius "Dr. J" Erving is entered in the Cancer Awareness Mixed Doubles Invitational at the Country Club of York.

This is the second year for the event, which raised more than $3,500 last year.

"We have three world-class teams and a bunch of very good teams," said Mark Koons, director of tennis at the Country Club of York and head boys' tennis coach at Dallastown High School. "This may be the highest level of tennis played in York since the Futures Tournament (in the late 1980s and early 1990s)."

Stevenson, ranked No. 18 in the world in 2002, is part of a field that also includes Julia Cohen (who is ranked in the top 100 in the world), Punch Maleka (who represented South Africa on a Davis Cup team) and local favorites, Holden Koons, Craig Diehl, Carrie Moyer, Lisa Bornt-Davis and Evan Andrews.

"We wanted to do two things with this tournament," Mark Koons said. "Raise money for a local charity and bring world-class tennis to York. Last year, it was great to get one (a tournament) going, and we'll be looking to build on it each year."

Koons said anyone interested in seeing high-class tennis is invited to attend. Play is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon on both days, and admission is free. As of this past Friday, 12 teams had signed up to play, and Koons was hoping for a 13th team.

Stevenson, whose first serve was recorded at 120-plus mph and her second serve at 105 mph, will give a clinic on Friday, the day before the matches get under way.

There will be a sponsors' tent where the community may purchase tickets for $20 to raise money for the charity.

The championship winners are expected to receive $1,000.

Reach Dick VanO'Linda at sports@yorkdispatch.com.