Fox Meadow hosts both Men’s and Women’s Nationals, and President’s Cups

How time flies!

It was 20 years ago this month that I first ran the Men’s Nationals at Fox Meadow and it seems like only yesterday. I have many vivid and pleasant memories of that event (won by Gordon Gray and Jesse Sammis over Brad Drowne and Bill Scarlett 6-1, 7-5, 3-6, 8 6), as well as the many other exciting championship matches at the club in the years since.

In those days, the finals were played on Court #2 before a cozy crowd. During the 1970′s, as the game’s popularity boomed, the finals were shifted to Court #1 in order to surround the court with stands for spectators. In the peak years of the mid and late 1970′s, the tournament was run over three days with a draw of 128 teams, and entrants had to qualify. Spectator interest grew and, in 1975-76, the capacity of Fox Meadow to accommodate fans was stretched to the point where it was necessary to turn some away at the gate. Although interest has waned some with the coming of the 1980′s, there are now signs that modest growth is again taking place.

This year is the 13th time in the last 21 years that Fox Meadow has hosted the Men’s Nationals. And while there have been many years in which we have also held the Women’s Semis and Finals on the final Sunday, in conjunction with the Men’s events, this year marks the first time that both the Women’s and Men’s Nationals are being held at Fox Meadow in their entirety (Cleveland and Rochester also did this successfully in each of the past two years). The Women’s and Men’s President’s Cup events are also being
played here during what has been designated as “National Platform Tennis Week”.

In view of the size of this task, a “veteran” committee has been assembled. It includes many people who have served before, and it is notable that 7 people on the committee have served as a Tournament Chairman of a National Championship in previous years.

It is my hope that the close relationship between Fox Meadow, Scarsdale (the birthplace of Platform Tennis), and the APT A Nationals will always continue. I have felt that tennis lost something when the Westside Tennis Club in Forrest Hills and the U.S. Open parted ways. While it is logical that the platform tennis championships should move to other locations to encourage and foster the game, I hope the sense of “coming home” whenever the tournament(s) return to Fox Meadow will continue.

We extend a warm welcome to all participants in this week’s events and to spectators and friends. The tournament also wishes to express its appreciation to sponsors and advertisers who have contributed to the financial success of the event.

I extend my personal thanks to the committee people who have worked hard to make this a success, to Hank Otto and the Fox Meadow Tennis Club, to Chuck Vasoll, Gina Ohlmuller, and the APTA for their assistance, cooperation, and support.