Singles makes a comeback

The APTA had been asked many times why the singles game never developed in platform tennis. Singles offered certain advantages: it was more physically demanding; it appealed to the younger player; and, matches were easier to arrange.

The APTA held National Singles Championships from 1935-1938, so the idea of singles play was not new. They based the decision to abandon singles on the severe physical demands involved. However, since APTA ball specifications now allowed for a livelier ball and wire tension was greater, it was easier to reach an opponent’s shot.

As a result, the APTA Board decided that the time for singles had come. As a first step, the APTA held a singles workshop at the Apple Club in New York City on September 23. A group of top-ranked men and women players tried out several suggested formats. Two formats emerged as the most popular types. Both would be tested during the season at various clubs and paddle centers around the country, with a decision on which to proceed with made at the end of the season.

Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 4 No. 1 (November)