By Andy Hemmer
Enquirer Contributor

Several sets of father-son teams from greater Cincinnati are looking to end the locals' winless streak at a prestigious, three-day United States Tennis Association tournament that starts today in East Walnut Hills at the Cincinnati Tennis Club.

No pair of local residents has won the National Father & Son Clay Court Championship in its 54-year history.

The field of 32 teams will start match play at 9 a.m. and includes seven father-son combos from the Tri-State, three of whom are ranked nationally by the USTA, which sanctions the tourney.

The Geraci team - Tim Sr., 47, and Tim Jr., 20 - from Anderson Township represents the prototypical team: an athletic, middle-aged father paired with a more athletic, twenty-something protÈgÈ. They enjoy the competition as much as the camaraderie.

"The key is for me to stay healthy, and in one piece, as his game continues to improve," said Tim Sr., a 25-year tennis pro and executive director from Mercy HealthPlex Anderson. Tim Jr. is the facility's current pro. They're ranked 20th nationally.

Also from Anderson are the Grannens, Bill, 44, and Jason, 25, ranked 14th nationally and No. 1 locally. Bill owns a local health care business; Jason is a tennis instructor at Beechmont Racquet Club.

The Grannens won the C. James Meakin Cincinnati Father/Son Championship, the local version of the national event, last month.

"I feel like we've been on somewhat of a roll," Jason said. "We're hoping this is our year."

Each local team is looking to snap the 54-year drought.

"This could very well be the year somebody from Cincinnati wins this thing," said Greg Rhodes, tournament chair.

Bill and Wil Lofgren, of Sycamore Township, are ranked No. 3 nationally. Two other area teams made the main draw, John and John Peckskamp of Hyde Park, and Devin and Ryan McCarthy from Indian Hill. Two more pairs - Dennis and Patrick Shiels of Mt. Lookout, and John and Jason Yeager of Edgewood - survived the one-day qualifying cut Thursday.

Half of the eight qualifying teams made the field for today's main draw, which will feature each team playing twice to determine the round of 16. Losers will play in a consolation round.

Saturday's quarterfinals begin at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and semifinalists play at 1:30 p.m. The final will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The Clay Court Championship is one of four national father-and-son tournaments throughout the U.S. every year.