By Neil Schmidt
Enquirer staff writer

Since Andy Roddick has dropped the "Next" from the label of Next Great Player, American tennis can feel free to look to its future.

Cincinnati fans won't have to look far. This weekend's qualifier for the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters has added two of the top four junior players in the world, plus the sport's most buzzworthy youngster.

That's Donald Young - emphasis on young. Signed by sports marketing giant IMG, profiled by ESPN the Magazine, he turned 15 just a week ago.

The Chicago native, coached by his parents, last December became the first American since Jim Courier to win the prestigious Orange Bowl under-16 tournament, and the first African-American to win it in its 57-year history. In April, he became the youngest player to win the Easter Bowl boys' 18 singles title - topping the feat of Pete Sampras, who won it at 15, and John McEnroe, who was 17.

Said veteran tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who occasionally assists Young's parents: "He has talent beyond the description of words."

Young was given a wild card into the qualifier, his fourth professional event. The other teens given wild cards Thursday are Americans Brendan Evans, 18, and Alex Kuznetsov, 17, the second- and fourth-ranked juniors in the world, respectively.

Young, who is 5 feet 10 and 155 pounds, first drew notice four years ago when McEnroe played a Seniors event in Chicago. Young was a ball boy, but McEnroe was encouraged to hit with him.

McEnroe said afterward, "He's the first guy I've ever seen who has hands like somebody else I know: me."

Young is ambidextrous and played two-handed until three years ago, when he went lefty. He moved to Atlanta in January when his parents relocated their tennis academy there. He turned pro to take advantage of a new rule allowing professionals to play in USTA juniors events.

"This year was about trying a couple (pro tourneys), seeing how I enjoy them," Young said. "This tourney is big. I was surprised I got in."

Young lost his first pro match in May in a Futures event in Tampa, Fla. He won two rounds of qualifying this month in Los Angeles, coming within one match of the main draw. This week, he lost his first match in a Challenger event in Lexington.

"When you get up on them in juniors, they give up," Young said of his competition. "They keep playing in the pros. Plus, they're bigger and stronger."

Young would have to win two matches to reach the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters main draw.

As he continues to focus on juniors, the next goal is to win the United States Tennis Association boys' 18 nationals next month in Kalamazoo, Mich. The winner gets a wild card into the U.S. Open's main draw.

Evans, of Key Biscayne, Fla., won juniors doubles titles this year at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Kuznetsov, of Richboro, Pa., was singles runner-up in French Open juniors.

MARTIN OUT: Todd Martin, who had been given a wild card into the main draw, has pulled out with an unspecified injury.

His wild card has been given to West Virginia native Jeff Morrison, a former NCAA singles champion for Florida.

Morrison, who played here in 2001 and '02, is coached by former Cincinnatian Craig Boynton.

W & S SeniorsMark Woodforde, here for the Western & Southern Financial Group Senior Championship, is proud to be remembered as half of the "Woodies." C4