Sunday 27 July 2014

2014 Prairie Regionals

Morgan Waller (SK) and Mackenzie Miller (MB) book
 their ticket to U14 Canadian Nationals.

2014 Manitoba - Saskatchewan Outdoor Nationals Qualifying Event

Tennis Manitoba along with Taylor Tennis hosted a two day regionals tournament which, at the completion, identified players that will travel to the Canadian National Championships.

Congratulations to all that competed.

U12 girls qualifying for nationals in Montreal:
  • Reece Carter - MB
  • Elinor Shpunt - MB
  • Shia Holms - SK
U12 boys qualifying for nationals in Montreal:
  • Josh Saban - SK
  • Sahand Marzban - MB
  • Ben Lortie - SK
U14 Girls qualifying for nationals in Montreal:
  • Morgan Waller - SK
  • Andreea Ababei - SK
  • Mackenzie Miller - MB
Other Manitobans heading to the nationals are:

U14 boys in Montreal:
  • Daniel Gharagozloo
  • Sahand Marzban
U16 Boys in Mississauga:
  • Daniel Gharagozloo
U18 Boys in Mississauga:
  • Cole Lacap
  • Shrey Gupta
  • Daniel Gharagozloo
View Prairie Regionals photos.

Team Prairies Nationals Preparatory Camp

Jared Connell and Emerson Gusmini along with help from Denise Fernandez and Robert Kennedy ran a day camp at Taylor Tennis to prepare the recent qualifying players for the Canadian national championships in August. Great effort was shown by all participants.

Good luck to all at nationals!

Thank you to Narom Sing for the photos. (Click here to view.)

Tuesday 22 July 2014

Getting fit on Winnipeg tennis courts

Cardio Tennis is a fun, social, group tennis-fitness program for
people of all ages and abilities. It’s more about getting a great,
high-energy workout than pure tennis technique.
(Source: Tennis Australia)

Tennis, anyone?

Dawn Peter, for the Winnipeg Sun


Tennis is one sport that’s open to everyone.

All ages and abilities can compete or just play for fun on many of the community courts around the city. Tennis Manitoba offers an eight-week program for both adults and kids to help learn the game.

Mark Arndt, executive director of Tennis Manitoba, said local interest in the sport is gaining, especially with Canadian athletes like Eugenie Bouchard competing and excelling on the world stage.

There are 130 courts in Winnipeg, but only some are up to standard, with no cracks or damages. Arndt said some of the courts are being resurfaced, but he thinks a “green team” is something the city can offer community centres to improve the quality of the playing surface.

Cleaning the court could be a good cardio workout like being the ball boy. A more popular way to work out, though, is “cardio tennis.” It’s like the tennis workout challenge featured on The Biggest Loser, where unskilled participants were introduced to the sport by an ex-tennis player.

Cardio tennis is a group lesson that allows people to play for 20 to 45 minutes with breaks for water. The intensity can pick up with the music, so drills for footwork and movement teach proper stance.

“All skill levels don’t need to know how to hold a tennis racquet,” said Arndt.

This is not for points. Forget your forehand and your backhand.

Right now, there are sessions offered by an experienced instructor at Glendale Golf Course on Thursdays.

“The guy is from Brazil with a huge tennis background,” said Arndt.

At the Norwood Community Centre, Brian, a fellow certified instructor, offers lunchtime tennis for office people on their break.

“People can’t wait to come back,” Arndt said, adding community centres reach out to their communities with posters and the web to promote local activities like tennis.

It’s one way to get started on the court. Movement counts.

Monday 21 July 2014

Frontier Subaru & WLTC Present the 5th Annual Charity Tie-Break Tournament

Event announcement provided by Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club.

The 5th Annual Doubles Charity Tie Break Tournament will once again be in memory of Susan Griffiths and in support of Parkinson Society Manitoba. Players will receive a charitable tax receipt for their registration donation of $25.00 per person. Ladies, men's and mixed doubles will be the three events offered. Our Head Pro Trevor Skidmore will arrange the matches according team skill levels to ensure an enjoyable and fun afternoon of tennis. 
 
Please sign up as a team or if you require a partner, please let Trevor know as soon as possible and he will do his best to find you a partner. If you are unable to participate in the tournament but would like to make a donation at the club, please do so and you will receive a charitable tax receipt from Parkinson Society Manitoba. 
 
Join us courtside to enjoy the matches. Finger food will be served after play has concluded and beverages will be available for purchase. 

For more information, please visit www.wltc.ca


Tuesday 15 July 2014

Larson Three-peats at Manitoba Open

The 2014 Manitoba Open completed finals matches indoors,
at the Winnipeg Winter Club. Pictured (left to right) is
tournament chair David Scrapneck, Open Men's Singles
champion Tony Larson and finalist Sean Bailey.

American Tony Larson walked away from the Kildonan Tennis Club with his third Manitoba Open men's singles championship, a feat last accomplished by Manitoba's Doug DeVriendt in 2002.

However, DeVriendt's modern era records of five Manitoba Open championships, and three straight, remain safe for now. Larson previously hoisted the provincial championship trophy in 2012 and 2010.

Winnipeg's Sean Bailey didn't make it easy for Larson, as the Kildonan Tennis Club member pushed the champ into extra games in the second set of the final. The finals score was 6-1 7-5.

Bailey would extract some revenge after the men's singles final, as he and partner Saul Shrom defeated the top seeded Larson and Sean Lacap in the Men's Open Doubles final, 6-3 6-1.

In the Women's Open Doubles championship match, it was Olga Berdynskykh and Ainsley Bishop who won 6-3 6-4 over Angela Earl and Teresa Haro.

Haro would later partner with Saul Shrom in a winning effort, defeating Alan Gardiner and Olga Berdynskykh 6-4 6-2 to take the Open Mixed Doubles title.

The Women's Open Singles event was not held.

In wheelchair action, it was Samuel Unrau who won all his singles matches in round robin play.

Other event winners include: Jennifer Wang (women's 5.5 singles), Patrick Fu (men's 4.5 singles), Monika Popovic (women's 4.5 singles), Jake Bergen (men`s 3.5 singles), Christopher Shay and Glen Ziprick (men`s 4.5 doubles), and Jovial Anoling and Lydia Gloria (mixed 4.5 doubles).

A complete listing of draws and results can be found at www.tennismanitoba.com

Next on the tennis tournament scene in Manitoba are the women`s $25,000 CIBC Wood Gundy Challenger and men`s $15,000 Manshield Tennis Futures, both being held at the Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club, August 16-24.