Yet another summer sport has collapsed its tent for 2018, but it did so in style.
The Yellowknife Tennis Club held its Fall Open tournament at the McNiven Tennis Courts on Sept. 8 and 9 with one more chance for players to pick up a title. Close to two dozen players were out competing in men's and women's singles as well as men's and women's doubles.
On the men's singles side, Brooke Harker defeated Louis Sebert in the final to claim victory while Tamara Jovic beat Hiro Kobayashi for the women's crown. In the women's doubles, Jovic teamed up with Jeannie Scott to defeat Tina Hendrickson and Elizabeth du Plessis while Harker teamed up with Alex Godfrey to beat Jean Tuyishime and Sebert in the men's doubles final.
Doubles were held under modified tiebreak rules with each set consisting of a game to seven points with the set continuing if needed until a team won by two clear points.
Godfrey said he and Harker got a bit lucky in the final.
“Both sets were close, just a point or two here or there and the result would be different,” he said. “Jean and Louis are two wily veterans and they know how to win.”
A total of five teams competed in men's doubles and they all played each other in a round-robin format with the top two advancing to the final. Godfrey and Harker didn't drop a match at all in the tournament.
“Brooke is a great server and has a long reach as well so he's great at the net,” said Godfrey. “I stay in the back court and keep the ball in play and keep the unforced errors to a minimum.”
photo courtesy of Tami Johnson
Tami Johnson, the club's general manager, said this past season was a success thanks to much-needed renovations.
“We had a very successful year on the newly surfaced courts,” she said. “The (city) installed planter boxes and planted flowers for us this year and did more cleaning than usual with the rain bringing in a lot more dirt and debris.”
The Yellowknife Community Foundation also chipped in with a grant to install some new awnings, which came in handy this season, she added.
“We are so grateful for the protection from the rain and sun and it dresses up the clubhouse quite nicely,” she said.
The club's membership this season cracked the 200-mark with 212 people signing up, up from 150 one year ago.
Johnson said that's thanks in large part to the board's work.
“The board has been instrumental in growing the membership by ensuring great programming and events,” she said.