Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
The Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center, which is also home to the Las Palmas Tennis Shop and the Sunnyvale Tennis Club, has recently finished contruction of three new tennis courts, bringing the total of lighted courts to 16. The center will host the Las Palmas Tennis Challenge from June 8 to 17.
City tennis center to host pro tournament
Recent renovations enable tournament
By Gretchen Knaup
Renovations at Las Palmas Tennis Center, along with connections from a former professional as the program's director, will enable the center to host a World Pro Tournament.
The center appears as well-groomed as a private facility, with immaculate courts and an extensively manicured landscape. According to Jan Young, a 25-year licensee, the center has always been kept in good condition due to maintenance by the city.
Geoff Ainscow, chairman of the board, said other facilities he has used have cracks and weeds in the courts. "It's nice the city waters the courts down and keeps it clean," he said. However, according to tournament director, Brian Garrow, the center would not have been able to host the tournament without the recent renovations.
Garrow, a former Sunnyvale resident, is a former professional tennis player ranking 12th in singles and 90th in doubles by the Professional United States Tennis Association. "I grew up here and took lessons [at the center] when I was 7 or 8, so it's nice to bring it back," Garrow said.
Garrow said he knows the director of the Pro Tour from playing the professional tennis circuit for 3 1/2 years. He placed a call to the director and got the all-men tournament scheduled. The 128 players will be competing for prize money and also for points on the USTA professional circuit.
The center is paying for the tournament with funds from the pro shop, club membership dues, USTA, Wilson and also with an additional sponsorship from "The Old Shoppe," a locally owned website that sells antique tennis memorabilia.
The renovations for the center include a fully catered snack bar, 16 more parking spots, three new, lit tennis courts, lights for the stadium court for matches.
"The snack bar will allow people to hang out here," Ainscow said. This way they can come to play, and then stay for lunch ... It will be a great environment for kids to come to after school."
Ainscow said the renovations began one year ago. "Everything is done, but the snack bar, which we are hoping will be done by the time of the tournament," he said.
The Las Palmas Tennis Center is on public grounds owned by the city, yet is licensed and managed by a private individual. Because the club is public, there is only a $30 annual fee for membership. One can still play tennis at the center without being a member, but "membership allows you to be on the USTA teams," Ainscow said.
He added the club currently has a more than 700-person membership. The center offers clinics and private lessons for both youth and adults. They also hold tennis mixers and walk-in clinics.
The Las Palmas Tennis Challenge, and will start June 8 and run through June 17, with the final matches on the weekend of the 16 and 17. The matches will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the final matches going until possibly 5 p.m. Attendance is free of charge and open to the public. The tournament will consist of 32 matches on the first two days, and will eliminate players with each following match.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
