By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

For the second straight year, the men's singles title is up for grabs in the 60th annual Thomas E. Price Cincinnati Metropolitan Tennis Tournament at Lunken Playfield.

The tournament, hosted by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, is July 9-20 on Lunken's 16 courts. Open to any player in the Greater Cincinnati area, it features men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles and women's doubles competition.

Men's and women's singles draws were Saturday at the Carl and Edyth Lindner Family Tennis Center at Lunken Playfield. Tournament director Karen Montavon said defending men's singles champ Rey Puentes - who won his first and only title in 2002 - will be playing doubles this year instead.

The top men's seed, which is based on past experience and city ranking, was awarded to Paris native Cedric Kauffmann, 27. The University of Kentucky graduate and three-time All-American is a newcomer to Madeira. "I've never played (the Met) before. I just moved to the area and wanted to play for fun," Kauffmann said.

Kauffmann played in the French Open in 2001 and lost to Pete Sampras 8-6 in the fifth set. Kauffmann had three match points.

He ended his professional career in January and will take over as teaching pro at Five Seasons Country Club in Northern Kentucky on Sept. 1.

Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy graduate and Duke University junior Jason Zimmermann is the tournament's No. 2 seed. Zimmermann is last year's men's singles runner-up.

Men's singles play starts Wednesday. Sixteen of the 112 players are seeded and will receive first-round byes. Newcomers and a core of young players have given the men's side depth - and uncertainty.

"We don't have any former tournament champions at all in the men's draw," Montavon said.

The women's singles chase has an opposite field. Three of the top four seeds are past champions. Women's play begins July 13 for the 21 competitors.

Tanya Luzhanska, the 2001 women's singles champ, is the No. 1 seed. Luzhanska captured the title the first time she entered the Met but was saddled with right shoulder and left wrist injuries last year and did not compete.

Three-time Met winner and defending champ Kara Molony-Hussey is the No. 2 seed. Her sister, University of Cincinnati senior Lyndsey Molony, is the No. 3 seed.

Angela (Farley) Wilson, the 1988 singles winner, returns as No. 4 after a 15-year absence.

Montavon said the overall number of entrants is down slightly this year. She attributes the dip to injuries and players moving outside the Cincinnati area. But the men's and women's doubles fields are still open, and aspiring teams can sign up until 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Four-time men's doubles winners Dan Kronauge and Jeff Wolf will defend their title. Four-time women's doubles champs Molony and Molony-Hussey also return.

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E-mail srussell@enquirer.com

At a glance

What: Thomas E. Price Cincinnati Metropolitan Tennis Tournament.

When: Wednesday through Sunday, July 20. Men's first-round singles begin Wednesday; women's singles begin Sunday, July 13.

Where: Lunken Playfield.

Players: The singles draws are finished. Doubles players can sign up until 4 p.m. Wednesday; cost is $30 a team. Call 352-4020 or 321-1772 for details.

Fans: Matches start after 5:30 p.m. during the week and at 10 a.m. on weekends. Admission is free until finals weekend; cost then is $2 per person.