Courts inaugurated in Atlanta

Melanie Oudin helps inaugurate courts in Atlanta

On Friday, October 9, The Peachtree Paddle League (PPL) kicked off the new season in fine style with its annual gala and exhibition at the newest platform tennis venue in Atlanta, the Racquet Club of the South (RCS).

Made famous recently by the charmed success of US Open quarter finalist, 17-year-old Melanie Oudin, RCS unveiled their brand new courts and viewing deck to a crowd of some 125 people, including many enthusiastic kids.

Topping off the night was an appearance by Melanie in person, who picked up a paddle and played her first set of platform tennis, paired with Philadelphia native and Atlanta transplant, Ali Tross Cole.

Behind the RCS story was a grant from the American Platform Tennis Association to help with the cost of construction of their two courts.

Mark Fischl, then President of the APTA, was instrumental in enabling this project to go forward.

Current APTA President Tim McAvoy has embraced the grant program and accelerated it through the formation of a Growth Committee, chaired by PPL founder and Region VII President Peter Lauer, to help local organizers of paddle programs with both grant money and other resources that can help them to succeed in building paddle in their area.

With the new courts at RCS, the Peachtree Invitational, played across several venues, can now accommodate a bigger draw and a women’s tournament.