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Local tennis players vie for championship titles

Tournament director Yuri Sohn (left) and Sendhil Kumaran pose for a photo after the awards ceremony for the Men's 45 and over division at the Champaign Park District Labor Day Tennis Tournament. Kumaran won this year's title after defeating Daniel Morris in the championship match, 6-1, 6-3, on Monday.

LEFT: Stepping into the court to hit an aggressive ball, Scott Aikman sets up a point during his consolation bracket championship match against Kevin Martlage. Aikman won the match 6-1, 7-6(4). MIDDLE: RIGHT: Kevin Martlage hits a routine backhand during his match against Aikman during the second set.

All photos by Sentinel / Clark Brooks

LEFT: Kevin Martlage stretches out to put the ball back over the net on a wide shot from Scott Aikman during their consolation championship match. RIGHT: Aikman, who is ranked #4 in the country by the USTA in Men's 75 and over category, hits a put-away volley to end the point.

LEFT: Tim O'Brien rips a one-handed backhand during his Men's Open Division championship match against Hunter Madigan. After dropping the first set 6-3, O'Brien dominated play in the second, forcing a third-set tie-break with at 6-1 win. When the dust cleared after a 10-point breaker, O'Brien finished runner-up, losing the decider, 10-4. MIDDLE: Travis Davis keeps the in play during his doubles match against Ryan Smith and Helaman Lucas on Labor Day. Davis and partner Anish Bose did not advance after the semifinal. RIGHT: Ayrton Nascimento unleashes a ground stroke while playing Trey Smith for the Beginner/Intermediate Singles Consolation title. Nascimento, a visiting scholar from Brazil, won the match after three-set marathon, 2-6, 6-4, 1-0(6).

Helaman Lucas stretches out to poach a short ball while playing with Ryan Smith during their Men’s Open Doubles Consolation semifinal match. The duo advanced to the title bout, winning it 6-2, 7-5, over Hamed Kadiani & Nick Levanti.


LEFT: Trey Smith hits a textbook volley at the net while playing during the second set of his match with Ayrton Nasciemento. Winning the first set 6-2, Lady Luck was not in his favor as he dropped the next two, 6-4, 10-6. MIDDLE: Yuri Sohn updates tournament results on the fly. Sohn is the head teaching pro at Dodds Tennis Center in Champaign and tournament director. RIGHT: Shaun Peterson comtemplates his next serve while playing doubles with partner Jason Zumwalt during their semifinal match against Hunter Madigan and Wyatt Martin. Peterson and Zumwalt went on to win the Men's Open Doubles title.

LEFT: Wyatt Martin rushes forward to attack a drop shot from Jason Zumwalt during their semifinal doubles match. MIDDLE: Paul Cheung hits a routine forehand during his mixed-doubles match against Sarah Benevento & Chris Kuehn. Cheung, and partner Molly Tracy, won the division title, going 2-0 in round robin play. RIGHT: Molly Tracy keeps the rally going with a backhand shot down the middle of the court.

LEFT: Chris Kuehn, a longtime veteran in the local tennis scene, hits a neutral rally ball while playing mixed doubles. MIDDLE: Sarah Benevento celebrates a point with Kuehn. The pair, who won last year's title, finished second at this year's tournament. RIGHT: Sangwon Park serves during the Beginner/Intermediate Singles final. Park won the division after besting Andrew Flores, 6-2, 6-1.


RIGHT: Lino Jo hits a low volley in an exchange at the net while playing doubles against Tim and Daniel O'Brien during their semifinal match in the Men's Open Doubles division. Jo and partner Sam Ryu fell in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 to the O'Brien brothers. LEFT: Daniel O'Brien celebrates his doubles win with brother Tim before playing in the title match an hour later against Shaun Peterson and Jason Zumwalt.

Sam Ryu and Tim O'Brien shake hands while Lino Jo and Daniel O'Brien congratulate each other after their semifinal match in the Men's Doubles Open division.

LEFT: Molly Tracy and Paul Cheung, winners of the Mixed-Doubles division, pose with their swag bags. In lieu of trophies as in past years, this year's champions received a shoulder bag containing a tournament t-shirt, water bottle, racquet overgrips, ink pens, and string dampners. MIDDLE: Hamed Kadiani concentrates on hitting a two-handed backhand while playing with partner Nick Levanti for the consolation bracket title. RIGHT: Nick Levanti hits a slice overhead shot back over the net while playing with Kadiani during their match against Helaman Lucas and Ryan Smith.

Champaign-Urbana Labor Day Tournament registration deadline next Tuesday

Nick LeVanti, from Champaign, hits a volley during his mixed-doubles match on August 17 at Atkins Tennis Center. Teamed with Claire Kaye (not pictured), the pair were partners during a summer league match. At the beginning of September dozens of competitive tennis players from the area will square off for a shot at taking home the Champaign Park District Labor Day Tournament title.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - The Champaign Park District will host its annual Labor Day Tennis Tournament on September 3-4 at Lindsey Courts in Champaign. It's not the US Open in Flushing Meadows, but dozens of top amateur players will hit the hardcourt in CU's version of a tennis major for a shot at a 2023 title.

The deadline for entry into this year's tournament is at 5 pm, Tuesday, August 29. Players can register online at https://champaignparks.com/programs/tennis/. This year's entry fee is just $28 for singles and $22 for each player entering the doubles divisions.

The draw for all divisions will be emailed to all participants on September 1. For more information, contact the tournament director and Park District head tennis professional Yuri Sohn at (217) 819-3993 or by email at yuri.sohn@champaignparks.org.

Adult Divisions are:

Singles:
Beginner/Intermediate Singles Open (2.0-2.5)
Men’s Open Singles
Women’s Open Singles
Men’s 35 and over Singles
Women’s 35 and over Singles
Men’s 45 and over Singles
Men’s 55 and over Singles
Men’s 65 and over Singles
Men’s 70 and over Singles

Doubles:
Men’s Open Doubles
Women’s Open Doubles
Men’s 35 and over Doubles
Women’s 35 and over Doubles
Mixed Open Doubles

Junior Divisions:

Boys 12 and under Singles
Girls 12 and under Singles
Boys 14 and under Singles
Girls 14 and under Singles
Boys 16 and under Singles
Girls 16 and under Singles

Labor Day tennis tournament date set

Sendhil Kumaran playing tennis
Sendhil Kumaran lines up a shot during a practice match at Atkins Tennis Center. Kumaran and partner Kai Wang won the Men's 35 and over doubles title at the 2023 Labor Day Tournament.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - The Champaign Park District will host the annual Labor Day Tournament from Sunday, September 1 through Monday, September 2.

The entry deadline for the tournament is at 5 pm on Tuesday, August 27. Adult players can register online at Labor Day Tournament registration. Junior players should register at this link for junior division registration—entry fees for singles $28 for singles and $22 for each player entering the doubles competition.

"I love it," Paul Chang told WCIA last August. Unable to place in the 2023 tournament, Chang has become a regular in the local United States Tennis Association league play, polishing his skills for another shot at a tournament trophy.

There are nine singles divisions for adult players, including Beginner/Intermediate Open (2.0-2.5); Men’s Open; Women’s Open; Men’s 35 and over; Women’s 35 and over; Men’s 45 and over; Men’s 55 and over; Men’s 65 and over; and Men’s 70 and over.

Doubles divisions for adults at this year's tournament include Men’s Open; Women’s Open; Men’s 35 and over Doubles; Women’s 35 and over; and Mixed Open Doubles.

There are three age divisions each for boys and girls 16 and under.

Last year's adult tournament champions were:

Men’s Open Singles Final: Alejandro Gomez

Men’s Open Singles Consolation Final: David Diep

Men’s 35 Singles Final: Bill Cawley

Men’s 35 Singles Consolation Final: Kevin Martlage

Men’s 55 Singles Final:Eric Peterson

Men’s 55 Singles Consolation Final: Nitin Bhosale

Boy’s 16 Singles Final: Hunter Madigan

Men’s Open Doubles Final: Jason Zumwalt & Shaun Peterson def. Hunter Antonisse & Alejandro Gomez 6-2, 6-1

Men’s Open Doubles Consolation Final: David Diep & Chris Sarol

Women’s Open Doubles Final: Cindy Crist & Sarah Kim

Women’s Open Doubles Consolation Final: Shiho Gimbel & Rhoda Lewis

Men’s 35 Doubles Final: Sendhil Kumaran & Kai Wang

Men’s 35 Doubles Consolation Final: Clark Brooks & Charles Nerone

Mixed Open Doubles: Sarah Benevento & Chris Kuehn


The draw for all divisions will be emailed to all participants. For more information, contact the tournament director and Park District head tennis professional Yuri Sohn at (217) 819-3993 or by email at yuri.sohn@champaignparks.org.


Dodds Tennis Center offers tennis workouts throughout the week

Champaign - Like the flocks of geese that fly south for the winter and Snowbirds that trek to Florida for the winter months, it is time for tennis players to migrate from outdoor courts to the more comfortable environment provided by indoor tennis facilities.

Whether you are a seasoned competitor or an avid recreational player, Dodds Tennis Center, located at 2802 Farber Dr, Champaign, offers several drop-in workout sessions to help keep your level of play in top form during the winter months.


Ian Wang playing mixed-doubles
Ian Wang hits the ball back over the net while playing mixed-doubles this past summer back in late August. Now that temperatures have dipped below 50º recently, most tennis players have started playing indoors to enjoy the sport.
Photo: PhotoNews Media

Workouts and additional drop-in programs are available for everyone, from beginners to competitive weekend warriors.

For more information and program placement, contact Yuri Sohn at yuri.sohn@champaignparks.org or at (217)819-3993.

The park district also announced that Discounted Court Rates promotion will be back again for the Christmas Holiday season, starting Sunday, December 17, through Sunday, December 31. Bring family, friends, or guests in town for a little holiday fun at Dodds Tennis Center. Random court time rentals are just $21 per hour.


Winter Workout Schedule
Monday Lunch Club Workout 12-1:30pm
Level: Players 3.5 & Up
Member Fee: $13/visit
Guest Fee: $16/visit

Wednesday Ladies Day 9:30-11am
All Levels
Member Fee: $13/visit
Guest Fee: $16/visit

Thursday Intermediate Workout 5:30-7pm
Level: Players 2.5 & Up
Member Fee: $13/visit
Guest Fee: $16/visit

Thursday Late Night Workout 7-9pm
Level: Players 3.5 & Up
Member Fee: $17/visit
Guest Fee: $20/visit

Saturday Morning Workout 9-11am
Level: Players 3.0 & Up
Member Fee: $17/visit
Guest Fee: $20/visit

Sunday Morning Workout 9-11am
Level: Players 3.0 & Up
Member Fee: $17/visit
Guest Fee: $20/visit

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