By Neil Schmidt
Enquirer staff writer

MASON - Asked where she lives, Kelly McCain replies, "Tampa - if it's still there."

The 21-year-old McCain is trying to qualify for the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open, but it's hard for her not to worry about her Florida home. She said her mind has mostly been eased by what she has read about Hurricane Charley's path.

"I hope my car's OK," she said.

"I just bought it."

McCain's family is safe. Her father, David, is here coaching her, and her mother, Susan, traveled to North Carolina this week for work.

McCain's tennis isn't suffering, either.

Ranked 132nd, McCain beat Ukraine's Elena Tatarkova 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 Sunday in the qualifier's second round.

McCain is the only American in the final round of qualifying. She'll face Italy's Adriana Serra Zanetti at 11 a.m. today for a berth in the main draw.

The other American to reach the qualifier's second round, Julie Ditty of Ashland, Ky., lost 7-6 (6), 6-2 Sunday to Serra Zanetti's sister, Antonella.

McCain, a former Duke University player who once ranked No. 1 in the NCAA, left school after two years to turn pro.

She qualified into the French Open this spring and hopes to get a wild card into the U.S. Open draw.

Yes, she hopes to finish her sociology degree at Duke someday.

"I would love to go back, maybe as an assistant coach or something," she said.

"I'd need some way to make up for not having a scholarship. Duke is about as expensive as it gets."

SISTER ACT: They have a much lower profile than the Williams sisters. But the Serra Zanettis have the same coach and travel together, and here they are marching together toward the main draw.

"Usually when one of us wins, the other loses," Antonella said.

"So this is strange, but good."

Adriana, 28, hit a career high of No. 38 two years ago but is down to No. 156. Antonella, 24, is No. 117. They have traveled together the past three years.

"It's good being together," Antonella said. "It's like being at home."

They usually team up in doubles. The sisters have had to play each other in singles four times; Antonella won three of those.

"That's the worst," she said. "It's very strange for us and very difficult."

LOVE OF THE GAME: A few players stuck out in the qualifier as being out of their league. One such victim was Amy Dillingham, who fell 6-0, 6-0 Sunday in a first-round qualifier to Janet Lee.

Dillingham is 35 and has a world ranking of No. 946. She is 0-6 this year and 2-48 as a professional. Yet she continues to sign up for low-level tournaments.

"It's hard to do it this way, playing girls who are younger and are doing this full time," she said.

Dillingham is a private instructor in High Point, N.C., and coaches a high school team there.

She didn't begin playing until she was 18 and now can compete only in her spare time.

So why keep playing? It's a love-of-the-game issue.

"I still really enjoy competing," she said. "I like to go out and see how I do."

Dillingham said this was her first WTA Tour-level event.

Dillingham said she mostly plays satellite tournaments.

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com