The inaugural Love-15 Cup youth tennis competition took place in Doylestown on May 21, showcasing the talent, enthusiasm and sportsmanship of more than 50 young athletes between the ages of 6 and 16. The Central Bucks West tennis courts were abuzz with excitement as participants battled it out across three divisions.
In the red ball division, 14 kids between the ages of 6 and 10 took to the courts for a series of timed matches. The four 36-foot courts witnessed intense action as the red team emerged victorious in a closely contested encounter against the black team. The final score stood at 244-210.
Moving on to the junior “tournament” division, 18 athletes aged 9 to 16 participated in a co-ed competition that encompassed both singles and mixed doubles matches. The unique super-tiebreaker scoring system added an extra layer of excitement to the matches, allowing the kids to engage in five short, action-packed encounters. The boys’ championship title was claimed by Abhay Chathuruthy, with Lochlin Schmidt securing the runner-up position. In the girls’ division, Maria Zavyazkina emerged as the champion, while Claire Titus and Grace Byrne shared the runner-up honors.
The Love-15 Cup was capped off by the five-team green ball competition. With players between the ages of 9 and 14 taking part, this one-day league play brought together co-ed teams of five players, each led by dedicated parent volunteer coaches. The teams battled it out against each other in both singles and doubles matches, and every contest proved to be a hard-fought battle. Ultimately, it was the Red Wasps who clinched the championship title by the narrowest of margins, closely followed by the Blue Beetles. The Yellow Jackets, Orange Monarchs and Green Hornets also showcased skill and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
The Central Bucks West tennis courts were filled with family and friends, who gathered to cheer for the young athletes. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the event had to be postponed due to rain, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of participants or spectators.
This five-hour tennis extravaganza was held as part of National Tennis Month and received partial support from a grant provided by the USTA Middle States.
“After a rough Saturday of rain, this event couldn’t have turned out any better,” said event organizer and BCTA coach Steve Johnson, who already has plans to bring the competition back in the fall. “It was a fun day of tennis for all the kids, and the parent volunteers and coaches were amazing. I’m already working on ideas to make the next one even better.”
Visit buckscountytennis.usta.com for more information.
