Collegians have high hopes in Midtown's ITA

In a tennis facility where the ceiling stretches nearly the length of a five-story building, the sky seems the limit.

And Blake Bazarnik embraces high expectations.

"Hopefully we can get a title here. That's what we're going for," said Bazarnik, the 2009 IHSA state singles champion for Stevenson. A senior at the University of Illinois, Bazarnik and his Illini teammates compete this weekend in the ITA national men's tennis team indoor championships at the Midtown Athletic Club in Chicago.

Stars may or may not be born here, but they have been showing up at Midtown on the city's north side for nearly 45 years. Billie Jean King was a member for years, once calling it "the best place to play tennis in the world."

Since founders Alan Schwartz and his father Kevie opened the facility's doors in October of 1970 - calling it the world's largest indoor tennis club - stars have flocked here. Andre Agassi won his first national championship here. Andy Roddick captured a junior national title here. Arthur Ashe was a personal friend of the club's. Grammy winner Sam Smith popped in recently, racket, not microphone, in hand. Elton John has hit tennis balls here. When President Barack Obama was a senator, his wife and daughters took lessons at the club.

"When you talk about players that have played here, it's been a who's who," said senior vice president/general manager Michael Mahoney, who's in his 37th year at the club.

This weekend, the college kids invade. The tournament, which features the top 16 teams in the nation, starts today and runs through Monday.

Besides Bazarnik, the local talent includes Marty Redlicki of Lake Zurich, brothers Aron and Jared Hiltzik of New Trier (Bazarnik's teammates at the U of I), fellow Illini Brian Page of Wheaton Warrenville South and David Laser of New Trier (USC).

"It's great to be able to come back here and play," said Bazarnik, who now lives in downstate Edwardsville, which is two hours from Champaign. "My old tennis club (College Park) is coming here to watch (today) and so is my coach in juniors. I consider this home."

It's a homecoming for Redlicki too. He attended Lake Zurich High School his freshman year (2010-11) but never played tennis for the Bears. To help further their son's promising tennis future, Marek and Beata Redlicki, who are Polish immigrants, moved their family to Boca Raton, Fla., when Marty was 15.

Redlicki ended up earning his diploma through online courses. The family had lived in Lake Zurich since Marty was about 2 months old. Marek and Beata have another son, Michael, who plays tennis at Duke.

"I lived my whole life in Lake Zurich and Chicago," Redlicki said. "(The team) is staying in the city. I used to come down here with my parents and brother. Walking around downtown, (seeing) Navy Pier, it just brings back a lot of memories."

Redlicki's tennis ceiling is sky-high. Marek and Beata essentially raised their sons to be tennis players.

"Yep, that was the goal all along," youngest son said. "My earliest memory of holding a tennis racket was being in the park with my dad (at around 4-5 years old) just swatting at balls. I think it was actually at the local high school, at Lake Zurich."

Redlicki, a 6-foot-5 lefty, originally planned to follow his brother to Duke. But last May he told UCLA he was coming.

What did he like about UCLA? What didn't he?

"Exactly," Redlicki said. "Just the culture, the culture of sports, just everybody wanting to get better and pushing themselves every day. I felt like, at UCLA, I'd have the best chance to be the best that I can be at tennis."

Bazarnik transferred to Illinois after playing two years for Vanderbilt. He's found a new home.

"I love (Illinois)," Bazarnik said. "It's great being close to home. The coaches are great. The team is awesome. A lot of us are from Illinois, so I knew them pretty well (before college)."

Bazarnik will graduate next fall with a degree in communications. He won a combined 29 matches in his first season with the Illini, but injured his back at the end of the season. He has since healed and is ready to go.

"I just want to be healthy for this year," he said, "and then see where I go after that."