Starting Monday, the top 24 singles players and top 20 doubles teams in the 40-year-old age group in the U.S. will converge on the PC MARC for the USTA Men’s 40’s and 45’s Indoor National Tennis Championships.
The MARC, which has hosted the event for more than 10 years, provides some unique challenges for the athletes, according to tennis director Michael O’Keefe.
“It’s not only indoors, it has the altitude factor as well,” he said. “Most tournament tennis is played below 1,500 feet. This presents a unique opportunity and a unique tournament environment.”
But, he added, the level of tennis won’t be hurt by the unusual conditions.
“These are most of the best 40-year-old men in the nation,” he said.
Local residents Warren Pretorius and Skosh Berwald, former national champions, lead the way for Parkites in the tournament.
“Together, they’ve won three national championships in doubles,” O’Keefe said. “A lot of people take lessons from them and know them quite well. They’ve been part of the community for a long time.”
The matches will begin Monday afternoon with singles. Tuesday will feature doubles action. Wednesday will be another singles day, with Thursday featuring the singles and doubles quarterfinals and semifinals. Both singles and doubles finals will take place on Friday morning.
Admission to the event is free to the public.