Week of August 18, 2023

NIKE Transition Tour Circuit Update

The 2023 NIKE Transition Tour Circuit for U12 and U14 competitors began in May, with the final regular event scheduled to be completed on August 20. The Tour was designed for players wishing to compete beyond the U9/U10 Circuit and Rogers Rookie Tours. The Invitational Circuit Finale will be held on the weekend of September 8th at Sobeys Stadium, with the top 16 players in the circuit leaderboard being invited to determine the top 2 players of the circuit.

Below are the top 5 players in each category as of August 18:

Boys U12 

Girls U12

Boys U14

Girls U14

Good luck to all of the competitors!

Under 18 National Champions Crowned at

Sobeys Stadium

Ontarian Nicolas Arsenault wins U18 boy’s title

Jannik Sinner, Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer were not the only champions lifting trophies on Sunday at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto.

The finals of the 2023 Under 18 Fischer Outdoor National Championships took place last weekend at the same venue where the ATP’s best were battling it out for the National Bank Open crown.

The early rounds of the event took place at the Ontario Racquet Club in Mississauga, ON before moving to Sobeys Stadium for the finals.

The boy’s title was won by second seed Nicolas Arsenault of Ontario, who beat top seed Junghee You in straight sets in the final.

Arseneault needed to battle through three-setters in both the quarter (against twin brother and doubles partner Mikael) and semifinals before defeating You 6-3, 6-4 in the final. He beat three of the top five seeds on his way to the title. You had lost more than four games in a match just once in his first four matches.

Nicolas and Mikael are the younger siblings of Ariane Arseneault, who is currently playing for Auburn in the NCAA.

Clémence Mercier of Quebec was the surprise champion of the girls’ singles. Coming in unseeded, she upset third seed Eliana Kook in her opening match. In the final, rallied from a set down to defeat top seed Naomi Xu 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

The week prior to the national championships, Xu had competed in the pre-qualifying competition for the National Bank Open in Montreal, losing to sister Annabelle.

Mercier, who is just 15 years old, won both the Quebec U16s and U18s earlier this year.
She also nearly doubled-up at the national championships, reaching the girl’s doubles final with fellow Quebecer Josie Usereau, but they were beaten in the title match by second seeds Raphaelle Leroux (QC) and Gianna Oboniye (AB).

The only top seeds to win the title were in the boys’ doubles, where Adam Faragcao of Alberta and Stéphane Pierre-Jo Kamendjé were victorious, edging out Alec Daniel Anghel and Matthew Overvelde (both ON) 10-8 in the match tiebreak.

The Under 16 and Under 12 Fischer Outdoor National Championships are underway this week.

Story and photo courtesy of Tennis Canada. Story: Pete Borkowski. Photo: Peter Figura.

Tennis Canada Distinguished Service Award

Honouree Jamie Grieve

Jamie Grieve, from Thunder Bay, Ontario was awarded a Distinguished Service Award by Tennis Canada at a Centre Court ceremony during the 2023 National Bank Open. From 1999 to 2021, Jaime served as the head pro at the Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre. Prior to being the head professional, he was on the board of directors at the Thunder Bay club from 1990-1999. For over a decade, he has championed building an indoor tennis facility to accommodate Thunder Bay’s flourishing tennis community. Jamie also serves on the OTA Board of Directors as the North Region Chair. The OTA staff and board congratulates him on this much-deserved honour!

2nd Annual ICTA Junior

Mixed Team Championships

A UTR / WTN Ranked Event

A Junior DOUBLES UTR / WTN ranked event is coming to Sobeys Stadium on Sunday October 1! The Intercounty Tennis Association (ICTA), Ontario Tennis Association (OTA) and Tennis Canada (TC) have teamed up to present the 2nd Annual ICTA Junior Mixed Team Championships.    

All matches will be UTR / WTN verified with 2 divisions of play:

1)    Division A1 – 4 players (2 boys and 2 girls) combined UTR ranking of 30+
      (Avg 7.5 per player)
2)    Division A2 – 4 players (2 boys and 2 girls) combinedUTR ranking of 22-30
      (Avg 5.5 per player)

Last year was a fantastic event with 28 juniors competing and this year promises to be even bigger and better. 

Congratulations to last year’s Champions (pictured above, l to r), David Mengher, Ben Whitley, Anastasia Diamantopoulos and Nicoletta Diamantopoulos and Finalists (pictured below, l to r), Selene Woo, Brayden Woo, Luke Laughlin and Andrea Taylor.

How to Register a Team:

•    Click here for the online registration form
•    Fill out the form and email to juniors@intercountytennis.com
•    Team Composition: 2 Girls and 2 Boys
•    Team Entry Fee:  $120 HST included includes LUNCH
•    Monies will be refunded if the event is rained out.
•    Payment can be made via e-transfer to tcjm_orrett@rogers.com
•    Team Registration Deadline:  Sunday, September 17.

Other Information:

•    Looking for a team, contact Tournament Director at juniors@intercountytennis.com
•    ICTA/OTA will set up draws, and schedule play. Tennis Canada will track results
•    All players are GUARANTEED 3 matches
•    There will be alternating waves of Boys / Girls Doubles and Mixed Doubles matches
•    Prizes will be awarded to all players
•    A volunteer committee will be set up to help oversee the competition

Check Out the Latest ONTENNIS Podcast

with Arash Madani!

ONTENNIS Podcast presented by Merchant of Tennis caught up with Rogers Sportsnet on-air personality Arash Madani to talk all things tennis. The award-winning broadcaster has covered many sports in his illustrious career, but he has a special place in his heart for tennis, a sport he loves to play himself. The on-court host at this year’s National Bank Open presented by Rogers has some incredible stories and insights about the sport and the current crop of Canadian tennis stars. A must-listen to for any tennis fan. Check out the episode on Soundcloud here or search ONTENNIS on Apple and Spotify podcasts. Enjoy!

Team Canada at ITF Masters World Team

Championships in Portugal

Play wrapped up this week for the Men’s and Women’s O55 and O60 groups at the ITF Masters World Team Championships in Portugal. Round Robin box play began on August 13. Canada placed in the top two in all four groupings in preparation for medal play. In playoff action the Men’s O60 team had the best result, finishing fourth. The Women’s O60 team finished seventh and the Women’s O55 team placed tenth. At press time, the Men’s O55 team was locked in a battle against Germany to determine seventh and eighth place. Congratulations Team Canada! 

For complete tournament results, click here. 

Winston Churchill TC Hosts Holger Rune

During NBO

Sir Winston Churchill Park Tennis Club in Toronto was excited to have a NBO Tennis star come and practice at its courts for the second year in a row. Last week, Top 5 seed Holger Rune and his team held a 2-hour practice on court five, much to the amazement of the kids in summer camp, passerby and members playing on the courts beside him. Holger and his team were very gracious to everyone who came by, posed for pictures and signed some autographs. He definitely made some new and enthusiastic fans! 

Clubhouse Manager, Elina Masse oversaw the arrangement with aplomb.

To see elite athletes like Rune play and practice up close on our community courts is powerful, generating excitement for the game, the players, and the tournament!

Pictured above, L to R, Karla Lindell Lindblom, Holger Rune, Elina Masse and Cheyenne Williams. Pictured below, Rune and Cole Birman. Photos: Stephen Birman.

U12 International Cup - Canada and Israel 

Tennis Canada and the Israel Tennis & Educations Centers partnered for the first edition of a ‘home and away’ experience for young high-performance players at the International Cup, a U12 team event. Both country’s top four girls and top four boys met up in Toronto, August 9-16, to train, compete and experience a social and cultural exchange that went far beyond the tennis court. 

Athletes from both nations shared their love for tennis and their unique cultural backgrounds, traditions, and values. This exchange helped foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other's heritage, bringing the two nations closer together through these young athletes. A highlight of the trip was the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, where the youth got to watch, learn, and be inspired by the pros. While not all promising young athletes go on to be professionals, they all gain mental resilience, learn how to handle pressure, manage frustration, and persevere through challenges, which are crucial skills that extend beyond the court. 

Tennis Canada and the Israel Tennis & Education Centers would like to thank Toronto Lawn Tennis Club and York Racquets Club for welcoming both nation’s teams and hosting the International Cup, U12 Team Event. 

The Israeli team looks forward to hosting their new Canadian friends in Tel Aviv this November 5-11.  

Photo courtesy of Miran Cehajic.

Asics X Boss at Merchant of Tennis

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Check Out the Latest ONTENNIS.ca Story!

New ONTENNIS Exclusive Instructional Series by Tennis Canada Coach 3 Adrian Coles – Part 4!

Check out the fourth release of the new exclusive ONTENNIS “The Competitive Edge” instructional series by Tennis Canada Coach 3 Adrian Coles. This series is for anyone who wishes to raise their compete level. A lifelong player and coach, Mr. Coles features easy to digest tips and strategies to help keen recreational competitors play smarter. Improving stroke technique certainly helps but that requires a great deal of deliberate practice. A quicker way is to sharpen tactical skills whilst still using the strokes you've already got! He will cover topics often overlooked or even glossed over in on court instruction when hitting lots of balls is what is appreciated most.

Part 4, “Win the Warm Up – How to Start Confidently”. The game within the game! Coach Adrian gives you some great tips to help you get your nerves under control under match conditions. Most times, in a close match, the player who can best control their emotions comes out on top. Make sure you’re that player! 

Check out this story here and visit www.ONTENNIS.ca for all other ONTENNIS stories. Enjoy!

Introducing Community Tennis Network

The Ontario Tennis Association in partnership with Tennis Canada has launched an exciting new initiative, Community Tennis Network, designed to grow the recreational tennis experience for adult players.
 
What is Community Tennis Network?
 
Community Tennis Network offers a platform for recreational adult tennis players to connect with others in the community and organize friendly matches with players of similar skill levels. The program is for beginners looking to play their first match, or for advanced players looking to find new competition!
 
How it works:
 
1.    Sign Up: Join Community Tennis Network and create your profile.
2.    Find Matches: Players are placed in groups based on their level. Players will receive contact information for their respective group members to arrange matches when and where they like.
3.    Compete & Track Progress: After each match, enter your scores online to track your progress and earn prizes.
4.    Build Your WTN: Every match you play helps build your ITF World Tennis Number (WTN), reflecting your skill level and progress.
 
Community Tennis Network locations are now available in Niagara, Hamilton, Kitchener, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Toronto West, Toronto East and Kingston.

Learn more and sign up today: communitytennisnetwork.com
 
Don’t see a network in your area? Request a CTN in your community.

Check out the Latest ONTENNIS

Printed Magazine!

This year’s printed edition of ONTENNIS Magazine is being shipped across the province to our member clubs and is being distributed at the OTA booth at the National Bank Open in Toronto. The good news is that it is also available online in Flipbook form! The latest edition focuses on the fabulous career of Ontario Native Milos Raonic. Trace his tennis roots from the time he first picked up a racquet, through his competitive career that started with the OTA and his incredible journey that took him to great heights! He plans to come full circle, playing in front of a home-town crowd at this year’s NBO in Toronto. Other stories include the first story in a new instructional series, “The Competitive Edge” by Tennis Canada Coach 3 Adrian Coles, profiles of four Ontario clubs turning 100 this year and more! Check out the edition online here. Enjoy!

$10K Lander Open at Markham TC

Aug. 29 - Sep. 3

The sign-up for the 1st Annual $10,000 Lander Open, presented by the Ontario Tennis Association and Tennis Canada is now open. Part of the Circuit Ontario Open 1000 Series, the tournament will be held at Markham Tennis Club August 29 – September 3. There are women’s and men’s singles and doubles events available to enter. The draw size for singles is 32 and 16 teams for doubles. 

The acceptance criteria is based on the following: 

1)   UTR 10.0 and above
2)    National Bank Open Rankings

For more information and to sign up, click here.

OTA Club and Regional News

Welland Match Point FUNdraiser Regional Tournament!

Come out and enjoy the fun at the Welland Match Point FUNdraiser Regional Tournament, Wednesday, September 13 at the Welland Tennis Club! (rain date September 20). Registration starts at 5pm with the tournament beginning at 6pm. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Pathstone Mental Health in Welland! 

There are 10 event options available: Mens and Womens singles and doubles, Mixed doubles in both A and B divisions.

Entry fee – $5 cash per event, maximum $15 for 3 events (please bring $5.00 bills).
Partners guaranteed or bring your own. Rules: Win 1 point advance to next round, lose 1 point, retire. Winner of each event will receive 50% of the entry fee for that event.

Refreshments: Cashless bar will be open - pizza will be available for $2 per slice.

Sign up at club on the board prior to the event or email info@wellandtennisclub.com or call the club at 905-788-1066.    

OR JUST SHOW UP!!!!

Social tennis from 4:00-5:30 followed by the tournament and then social tennis until 9pm.

Davis Cup Captain Frank Dancevic Honoured!

Canadian Davis Cup Champions captain Frank Dancevic was honoured this week at a special Davis Cup ceremony at Niagara-on-the-Lake! The Davis Cup Trophy was showcased at this wonderful celebration, part of the cross-country tour organized by Tennis Canada. Among the guests on hand to honour Frank (above second left) were Senior Vice President, Tennis Development at Tennis Canada, Hatem McDadi (above right), Niagara-on-the-Lake Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa (above left) and Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati (above second right), who presented Frank, a Niagara Region native, with the Key to the City. Former Davis Cuppers Pierre Lamarche Harry Fauquier were also on hand.

The ceremony took place at a private residence with a beautiful tennis court in its back garden, across the street from the original site of the Queen’s Royal Hotel and its six beautiful grass tennis courts. The site was home to two of the most important tennis tournaments in Canada in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s; the Niagara International, from 1885 and 1923 and the Canadian National Championships (now the National Bank Open), between 1895 and 1911. As well as the ceremony honouring Frank, guests were invited to enjoy food and refreshments (courtesy of Sobeys) and music in Queen’s Royal Park.

The event could not have taken place without the vision, effort and passion of long-time Niagara-on-the-Lake (NotL) resident, tennis enthusiast, Notl Tennis Club and OTA Board member Rosemary Goodwin (above centre), who worked tirelessly to organize this special occasion! Thanks to Rosemary and her team of enthusiastic volunteers! … and congratulations to Frank!

We Want Your Club and Regional News!

Is your club hosting a significant tournament or event, does it have an anniversary coming up, is there a volunteer or player who deserves recognition for their contributions? If so, we want to hear about it. Just send a photo and a short write-up to us and we’ll feature it in SPIN in our OTA Club and Regional News section. To submit a story for consideration, just email pmalcomson@tennisontario.com.

Tell Us Why You're Great!

Tournaments - Community - Outreach -

Courses

Click the calendar above to see the live list of upcoming events

OTA MARKETPLACE

Advertise Your Product or Service

Group Tennis Getaway Club Med Ixtapa Dec. 2 - 9, 2023

Enjoy an all-inclusive Tennis Vacation at the beautiful Club Med Ixtapa resort in Mexico from December 2 - 9, 2023. This 22-hour tennis camp features expert instruction from coach Ivan Lauzon from Leaside Tennis Club. The trip includes airfare and transfers, Supreme Room accommodations, all meals and beverages and much more. Contact Rita Lee from Expedia Cruises for information and to book your trip; 416-816-5880, rilee@expediacruises.com. Limited spots available – book now! 

Whether you’re pro advertising your services, a company wanting to reach the tennis enthusiast, or you just want to sell some old wooden tennis racquets –you can reach over 15,000 tennis players in Ontario each week with an ad in OTA Marketplace. Listings and pictures are only $100 per week and all we need is a horizontal image like the one above and a couple of paragraphs. We’ll do the rest! For more info, email classified@tennisontario.com.