TENNIS / PAIGE A. LEECH : Players, Musicians to Strike Harmonious Chord

Tennis, anyone? Well, how about tennis and a little rock ‘n’ roll?

North Ranch Tennis Club in Westlake Village is playing host to the Tennis and Music Festival, this Friday through Sunday, to benefit the charities of the City of Hope, Musicares, and Grammy and the Schools.

This refreshing combination will feature several tennis professionals--including U. S. Open finalist Pete Sampras, Brad Gilbert, French Open champion Andres Gomez, Charles Beckman, Eliot Teltscher and Roscoe Tanner--who will be paired with band members for a doubles tournament beginning Saturday morning. Band members from RUSH, Ambrosia, America, Kansas, The E Street Band, REO Speedwagon, Lou Gramm will take part.

The bands are scheduled to perform some of their top hits at a concert at Saddle Rock Ranch in Agoura on Saturday night. Fans will have the opportunity to mingle with tennis players and band members during the concert.

On Sunday, Sampras will play Gilbert in an exhibition match. Tickets for the fund-raiser are being sold at North Ranch Tennis Club and at Ticketmaster outlets.

Early test: Sixteen of the top collegiate men’s tennis players will be featured in the inaugural West Coast Fall Men’s Collegiate championships at Warner Center Club in Woodland Hills, Oct. 3-7.

Players from USC, UCLA, UC Irvine, Pepperdine and Ohio State will compete in the 32-man draw to benefit the Pacific Lodge Boy’s Home in Woodland Hills.

Sixteen top-ranked players will receive a straight bid and 16 others will be taken from a 128-man qualifying tournament.

Man vs. woman: The Cabrillo Racquet Club in Camarillo is playing host to a “Battle of the Sexes” doubles tournament Saturday.

Each men’s team will have to choose two of the five following handicaps: The women will start the set leading 2-0 and there is no-ad scoring; men must carry a tennis bag in their non-playing hand during the match; men will get only one serve each; men cannot hit into the alleys; men cannot volley.

Information: 818-647-7263.

Senior league: The Northridge Tennis Club is fielding three 50-and-over teams to participate in the Volvo/Phoenix Challenge League, which begins in October and runs through March.

Information: 818-993-8952.

SCTA announcements: The Racquet Centre in North Hollywood is playing host to the 104th Southern California Sectional tennis championships.

Entries for the open tournament, which runs Oct. 5-14, are due Saturday to the Southern California Tennis Assn.