Jeff Kopolow’s Men’s 4.5 team traveled west to Tuscon Arizona to compete in the USTA Adult League 4.5 Nationals October 10-12. While the team trained hard in preparation for the event, the competition the national level was considerably stronger than at the regional level and the team went 0-3 in round robin play.

While the team found the competition difficult, they fared far better off the court, taking the various social gatherings and Tuscon’s imediate surroundings in stride. The event itself was very well run, with 34 teams (17 men and 17 women) representiing every section in the country. There were hundreds of players, all of whom tried their best to represent their team and section as well as possible. Teams dislayed a lot of spirit, enthusiasm, and passion for the game. It was exciting to be a part of such a class tennis event. Our sport is clearly alive and well in many communities trhoughout the country.

Of note was how much energy and time each player put into their tennis game and team advancement. Many teams played in leagues that competed year round. Others played tournaments on the side, and most teams practiced on a regular basis. Their level of committment was strong. And for the most part, the competition was fair and played in what I term the spirit of the game. Good line calls, sportsmanship and lots of smiles and conversation after the match was finished. This was a very worthwhile experience and I hope that more teams from our area get to qualify in the future