Week of November 15, 2024
 |
||
STORY OF THE WEEK |
||
Fantastic Week for OntarioPlayers in the Pro Ranks! |
||
|
Last week was a banner week for former OTA junior stars at all levels of professional tennis! First up - the doubles team of Gabriela Dabrowski (Ottawa, above right) and Erin Routliffe (Caledon, now playing under the New Zealand flag, above left). |
||
HEADLINE STORIES |
||
|
|
||
Fantastic Week for OntarioPlayers in the Pro Ranks! |
||
|
Last week was a banner week for former OTA junior stars at all levels of professional tennis! First up - the doubles team of Gabriela Dabrowski (Ottawa, above right) and Erin Routliffe (Caledon, now playing under the New Zealand flag, above left). The pair had an excellent year playing together on the WTA circuit, including making it to the Wimbledon Women’s Doubles final. They entered the year-end WTA finals in Riydah, Saudi Arabia as the second-ranked team in the world. After going undefeated in the Group Stage, the pair continued their successful play by defeating American Nicole Melichar-Martinez and her Australian partner Ellen Perez in the semi-finals and claiming the prestigious title with a 7-5, 6-3 win over American Taylor Townsend and Czech partner Katerina Siniakova, avenging their loss in the Wimbledon final! Congratulations Gaby and Erin! For complete tournament results, click here. Next up – Denis Shapovalov (Richmond Hill, above). Denis was victorious at the ATP 250 Belgrade Open tournament stop in Serbia. He had to play two rounds of qualifying to get into the main draw where he won five more straight matches, winning the in the final, 6-4, 6-4 against Serb Hamad Medjedovic. The Singles title is Shapovalov’s second career ATP title and moved him up twenty-two positions in the ATP rankings to #56. Congratulations Denis! For complete tournament results, click here.
On the ITF Men’s World Tour, Liam Draxl (Newmarket, above centre) was victorious in the singles draw at the ITF M25 Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures tournament in Quebec last week. Draxl, seeded first, took out the second seed, fellow Canadian Alexis Galarneau (Montreal), 6-1, 6-3 in the final. The win was Liam’s second ITF Singles title and third final in 2024. Congratulations Liam! For complete results, click here.
Cross Wins Another Doubles Title! Kayla Cross (London, above left) partnered with American Anna Rogers to win the ITF W35 Doubles crown at the University of Miami Tennis Center in Miami, Florida. Cross and Rogers, seeded first, defeated the unseeded pair of Aya El Aouni (Morrocco) and Olivia Lincer (Poland) 7-5, 6-4 in the final. The Doubles crown was the sixth ITF doubles title for Kayla in 2024! Congratulations Kayla and Anna! For complete results, click here.
|
||
 |
||
2024 Eastern Canadian U10Team Championships Results |
||
|
Over 190 U10 athletes from Ontario competed in the 2024 Eastern Canadian U12 Team Championships at Sobey’s Stadium in Toronto. The Team event featured 52 teams in boys’ and girls’ categories, representing 21 different clubs, regions and academies. The teams participated in a compass draw format that guaranteed each team with at least three team matchups. Below are the results of the Championship Fight team matches: Championship Flight Girls U10: Team Rideau Racquet Club #1 defeated ACE Team Sabalinka, four matches to two. Championship Flight Boys U10: Team The Elite defeated Team Team Tennis Lions, four matches to two. For complete tournament results, click here. To view event photos, click here. |
||
|
||
CTL Winter Session 1:December 4th - January 8th |
||
|
Attention All Adult Recreational Players, Please note that registration is now live for the CTL winter session #1. The Ontario Tennis Association in partnership with Tennis Canada, is excited to be extending the CTL program this spring in the following municipalities.
Community Tennis Leagues (CTL) helps to connect players to organize friendly matches with similarly skilled players in their community. How does it work?
*Complete 4 matches, receive a $5 Tim Hortons gift card! Who can play? Anyone aged 18 years or older can play. We have three divisions:
When does it start?
Interested in learning more? Check out the website for more information or to register: https://www.communitytennisleagues.com/ Please feel free to forward this message along to tennis players in your network! |
||
|
||
Did You Get This Week’sOTA Fact Check Question Correct? |
||
|
Did You Get This Week’s OTA Fact Check Question Correct? Week seven of the OTA Fact Check “Tennis in Ontario” trivia contest continued this week on our Facebook and Instagram platforms! Check the platforms again next week (Wednesday) to test your tennis IQ with another multiple-choice question about tennis with an Ontario SPIN! To participate, just follow us on Facebook or Instagram. We will post a question on our Instagram and Facebook Stories every Wednesday at 11am ET and post the answer at 5pm ET that day. To enter, you will need to answer the question on our story before we post the answer at 5pm ET to win points. Each correct answer gets you 1 point. For contestants ONLY on Facebook, send us your answer as a message to qualify to win. The Week 7 question was: What year did Bianca Andreescu (Mississauga) win her first professional Women’s Singles title?
Answer: Bianca won her first professional Women’s Singles tournament in August 2016 at the $25K ITF event in Gatineau, Quebec. She was 16 years, 2 months old. A total of 78 people submitted an answer. The question was answered correctly by 8 people before the deadline. They each get 1 point! Good luck again next week! At the end of the contest on Wednesday, December 18, the OTA will tally up the point totals and the top 5 point-getters will win an exciting OTA swag bag! In case there are more than 5 people with the winning total at the end of the contest, a random draw will take place to determine the 5 prize winners. We will contact the winners via the social media platform they entered on. The OTA will announce the 5 lucky winners on Facebook and Instagram, and in SPIN, the OTA’s weekly newsletter, on Thursday December 19. Good Luck! |
||
|
|
||
I.C. Rod Laver Worldwide Junior Challenge |
||
|
The Canadian U16 team of Bronwyn Duggan, Kye McDadi, Josh Adamson and Jacey Tian (left to right above) had a fantastic experience recently, competing in the I.C. Rod Laver Worldwide Junior Challenge against the U.S., Barbados, and eventual champions, Mexico. Lead by Maya Bartram, the Canadian developmental squad competed over 3 days at the Barbados Yacht Club. With the emphasis on fair play and the I.C. motto of, “hands across the net and friendship across the ocean” all the players from the 4 countries interacted, became friends, and participated in playing with local, underprivileged kids, a truly memorable event. Bronwyn Duggan was honoured with the female Sportsmanship award. Tournament Director Brian Cadogan lead a fantastic team of I.C. members and Yacht Club members who hosted and ran an event that the team will always remember.
To learn more about the I.C. Rod Laver Worldwide Junior Challenge, click here. Thank you to team leader Maya Bartram for the story and photo. |
||
|
|
||
Cambridge Tennis ClubIntroduces Tennis in Area Schools! |
||
|
The Cambridge Tennis Club is doing its part to introduce our sport to kids in Cambridge Schools. The program, called Tiny Tots Tennis, aims at a unique niche for Cambridge Tennis Club - Kindergarten kids. This program is designed to be delivered both as a club program or in a school gym as part of a school curriculum. The program is based on observations during the year - several families with younger kids wanting tennis instruction. Gordon Miller, President of Cambridge Tennis Club, has been very active in promoting tennis at the club and in his community, specifically with his participation at the Active Living Fair at the Hespeler Arena in October, as seen in the picture above. He is currently working with one of the coaches from his club to spearhead the Tennis in Schools program, linking their club to Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge with a two-week program. Mr. Miller produced a 3-minute Tiny Totts promotional video featuring a 3 1/2-year-old Santiago (a neighbour). Enjoy the video here. Keep up the good work Mr. Miller and the Cambridge tennis club! |
||
|
|
||
Girls.Set.Match Eventsat Sobeys and White Oaks |
||
|
Sobeys Stadium in Toronto and White Oaks Resort in Niagara-on-the-Lake are the latest venues to host Girls.Set.Match (GSM) event for girls and young women. Sobeys Stadium (above) was the site of the second edition of The Girls. Set. Match. Tie-break Tournament presented by National Bank. The event was part of Tennis Canada’s continued prioritization of gender equity. As well as the Girls.Set.Match. Tie-break Tournament, the morning portion featured multiple female-focused initiatives that go beyond the exciting action on the court. It was held prior to the final of the ITF W75 Tevlin Challenger Women’s pro tournament. As well as participating in the event, the participants were able to watch a fantastic final featuring London, Ontario native Kayla Cross. Thanks to the Tennis Canada team for hosting such a great event! Photo: Neena Channan / Tennis Canada. The event at White Oaks Resort was attended by thirty-six girls who enjoyed a Tie-Breaker Challenge tournament and were treated to lunch, prizes and mentorship opportunities. Thanks to Tournament Director Michaela Rivett and the White Oaks team for helping the young participants enjoy the virtues of playing tennis and learning the importance of physical activity, personal confidence and mental well-being! |
||
|
|
||
ACE SmartVMCIntroduces Junior Match Play! |
||
|
ACE SmartVMC in Vaughan is continuing the tradition of adding more competitive play in Ontario by introducing MATCH PLAY for U10 - U18 competitive players on Sundays and more Indoor Junior Tournaments! Follow the link to learn more. NEW Junior ACE SmartVMC OTA events in November Please check the OTA tournament calendar for adult and junior competitive opportunities at the newly erected SmartVMC by ACE bubble in Vaughan. Smart VMC Racquetsports by ACE U12 Provincial Circuit November 22nd - 24th Smart VMC Racquetsports by ACE U16 Provincial Circuit November 29th - December 1st Interested in registering your child for a Progressive Junior Program? Sign up for ACE Learn to Play Winter 2025. Register Now and Get FREE Take-Home Athletic Development Videos! |
||
|
|
||
Premier Racquet ClubsMississauga Opens Nov. 18 |
||
|
We’re thrilled to announce that Premier Racquet Clubs Mississauga is opening on Monday, November 18. Our state-of-the-art facility has been designed to meet the needs of tennis and pickleball enthusiasts alike, with 7 pristine tennis courts, 6 permanent pickleball courts, and 4 additional taped pickleball courts to enhance your playing experience. Join us as we launch Mississauga’s newest destination for racquet sports. Whether you're a seasoned player or just beginning, our top-tier facilities, welcoming environment, and team of professionals are here to support your journey on the court. Stay tuned for more details about our opening day festivities and upcoming events! The club is located at 5320 Ninth Line, Churchill Meadows, Mississauga, ON Tel: 647-398-9220 |
||
|
|
||
Wilson RF Collection at Merchant of Tennis |
||
|
Inspired, designed and play tested by Roger Federer for the next generation of creative play. These racquets embody the quality of a fine-point paint brush: versatile, manoeuvrable, and forgiving to enhance any player’s artistry on the court. Shop the Wilson RF Collection: www.merchantoftennis.com/collections/wilson-rf-tennis-racquets Keep track of upcoming deals and events: www.merchantoftennis.com/pages/newsletter Shop Gift Cards: www.merchantoftennis.com/collections/gift-cards/ MerchantOfTennis.com is open 24/7 with shipping and store pickup services available. Store hours and updated information: www.merchantoftennis.com/pages/contact-us Connect with Merchant of Tennis: |
||
|
|
||
Tennis Getaway at Club Med Columbus Isle,Bahamas Feb. 4-11, 2025 |
||
|
Only a Few Spots Left! Join Bayview Golf & Country Club coaches Geoff Bower and Brett Cooper at the Club Med Columbus Isle in the Bahamas from February 4-11, 2025, for a week of tennis, beach, sun, and fun! The resort features clay courts, which is a huge bonus. Whether you’re looking to elevate your game to the next level or just escape the coldest and cloudiest time of the year, this is the perfect opportunity! For more information on this vacation, click here. Contact Rita Lee from The Travel Agent Next Door with questions and to book any of these fantastic Tennis Vacations; rlee@thetravelagentnextdoor.com, 416-816-5880. Limited spots available – book now! Tico.ca 50021281
|
||
|
||
OTA Club and Regional News |
||
We Want Your Club and Regional News! |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
Tournaments - Community -Outreach -Courses |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
OTA Marketplace |
||
Buy a Silent Partner Ball Machineand Get Free Fusion Strings! |
||
|
|
||
Hilton Head Tennis Vacation April 5-12, 2025 |
||
|
|
||
A Marketplace for Everything Tennis! |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
