The Sentinel: Youth Tennis

Atkins Tennis Center to host juniors doubles tournament

Sohum Gurrapu lines up a shot while competing in the Atkins Junior Championship in August. The University of Illinois tennis facility will host another tournament later this month for 18U and 14U junior tennis players. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

URBANA - After hosting a successful event in August, Atkins Tennis Center will host another junior competition on October 29. The Atkins Junior Spooktober Doublesfest will guarantee three matches for competing doubles pairs.

The Atkins Junior Championships, run by Larry Magalasin, was so successful that he was excited about hosting future events for local youth tennis stars.

"It was very competitive for the top juniors here in town and gave the younger juniors a chance to experience their first tournament," Magalasin said. "They also got to enjoy the sport of tennis with their friends and family."

The Doublesfest is designed to give junior players, 18 and under, more competitive match experience that will help them in UTR, USTA, and high school competitions. Each pairing is guaranteed three matches at the one-day event. Tournament action will begin at 9am on Sunday.

Players can register as partners online at https://atkins.clubautomation.com/ for either the 18 and under or the 14 and under division. Individual players looking for a partner can have one assigned from a pool of available players by the tournament director. The entry fee is $30 per player.

For more information, contact tournament director Larry Magalasin at larrym3@illinois.edu

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18U/14U junior tennis tournament at Atkins

by Sentinel News Service

URBANA - A one-day co-ed tennis tournament for 14 and 18-year-old players will be held Sunday, August 27, at Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana. The first-year competition, called the Atkins Junior Championships, will be played in an exciting two-person team format.

Each pairing will square off to play a doubles set to start the match. The winning team will receive one point. Then the players will then split to play one singles set against their opponent, with each set victory counting as one point. The team that wins two or more sets wins that match.

Each player is guaranteed three matches with the $45 per player registration fee. Registration is limited and can be done online at atkins.clubautomation.com. Once registered, players need to contact the tournament director with their partner's name. Have a youth player that wants to play and they don't have a partner? The director will pair unattached players.

For more information, contact Larry Magalasin at larrym3@illinois.edu.