He'll have trouble getting the biggest. It's not a top-level event, and the April 30 date coincides with most top players' annual pilgrimage to Europe to prepare for the summer's Grand Slams.

Still, McIngvale promised to put on a good show for the only Tour- sanctioned professional tournament - men's or women's - on Texas soil at the moment. If his later commitments are anything like his first few, Houston fans should see some good tennis.

The tournament's top draw likely will be Mark Philippoussis, the Aussie with the nickname "Scud" for his ferocious serve, who has been the nemesis of many top players, particularly Pete Sampras. Philippoussis, who is ranked 23rd in the ATP's Champions Race (the new ranking system), is coming off knee surgery in December.

Philippoussis has played in only one tournament in 2001. He has a 5-0 record in singles, beating Italy's Davide Sanguinetti 6-3, 6- 7(5), 6-3 to earn the title in Memphis, Tenn.

It was the ninth career title for Philippoussis. His last five titles - Memphis in 1998 and this year; San Jose in 1999 and 2000; and Tennis Masters Series Indian Wells in 1999 - have all come in the United States.

"It's a great feeling to come here and win," Philippoussis said after dropping only nine points on his serve and drilling 31 aces in the Memphis final. "It's a great way to begin the year, and (it's good) for my confidence and for my knee. I worked really hard for it, and it's nice to see it pay off."

McIngvale also has received commitments from Jan-Michael Gambill, Justin Gimelstob and Andy Roddick, a trio of up-and-coming Americans who represented the United States in the most recent Davis Cup tie.

Gambill, a 23-year-old with one career title, is ranked 42nd. Gimelstob, 24, has struggled this year. He is 0-4 in his first four tournaments and has dropped in ranking from his year-end No. 85 to a current rank of 130. Roddick, 18, is No. 150 in the world.

The Clay Court Championships will be Gimelstob's second trip to Houston in less than a month. He also has committed to the 67th River Oaks International, which begins April 2 at River Oaks Country Club.

The Clay Court Championships will be played April 30-May 6 at Westside Tennis Club, on the same red clay as the courts at Roland Garros, host to the French Open. McIngvale and his wife, Linda, who manages Westside, have imported a grounds crew from France to build and maintain the courts and lend them an air of authenticity.

Senior women return - Four 2000 singles winners return to Houston in an attempt to defend their titles at the USTA National Senior Women's Clay Court Championships, to be held at the Houston Racquet Club March 5-11.

The nation's top women players in six age divisions - 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s, 75s and 85s - will compete in singles and doubles for prize money and the coveted gold, silver and bronze balls awarded by the United States Tennis Association.

Gerda Preissing of Germany, who has won the 35 singles the last two years, has been seeded No. 1 in that event, while countrywoman Heide Orth will be the top seed in the 55 singles. Orth, who is ranked No. 1 in the world in women's 55s, owns a three-year win streak in Houston in that division.

Top seed Ann Etheredge of Birmingham, Ala., will defend her title in the 45s, while No. 1 seed Elaine Mason of Fresno, Calif., seeks a repeat victory in the 75s. Local favorite June Kickey of Kingwood is seeded fifth in the 75s.

The legendary Dodo Cheney of La Jolla, Calif., who owns the record with more than 300 national titles, has moved up into the 85s division, where she will be the top seed.

Four Houstonians are among the seeded players in the doubles draw. Dickey and Mason are the No. 1-seeded team in the 75s, and sisters Mona and Margaret Zepeda are the No. 4 seeds in the 65 doubles. Daryl Lerner of Houston and Tracy VieBrock of Tampa, Fla., are the No. 5 seed in the 45 doubles.

Spectators are invited to view the tournament for free. For more information, call the Houston Racquet Club at 713-464-4811.

McNeil wins again - Houstonian Lori McNeil is still adding titles to her resume. Having won a share of the U.S. Women's Indoor doubles title when the event was last held in 1987 in Piscataway, N.J., McNeil successfully defended the title in the event's rebirth in Oklahoma City. McNeil and partner Amanda Coetzer of South Africa defeated American-born Janet Lee of Chinese Taipei and Wynne Prakyusa of Indonesia 6-3, 2-6, 6-0, in the final.

College rankings - Many Texas teams maintained high rankings in the most recent ITA tennis poll. On the men's side, TCU stayed at No. 4 team in the nation with a 6-1 record. A&M is fifth with a 7-2 mark, Texas is No. 9 with a 4-0 record, and SMU (12) and Baylor (21) also are among the Top 25.

On the women's side, Texas is No. 5 at 3-0 and Baylor is 14th with a 6-2 mark.