With Wimbledon just underway across the pond, local tennis fans looking for some action don’t need to go very far. The 94th annual La Jolla Tennis Championships kicked off June 18 at La Jolla Tennis Club (LJTC) and will run through July 4. Since 1917, LJTC has been hosting the tournament, which draws competitors from Southern California, Arizona and international entrants. “A lot of people come from Phoenix or down from L.A. and there are some from Australia,” tournament director Brent Davis said. The tradition and prestige of the event attracts a high level of competition. This year, organizers were expecting close to 1,000 participants, just a shade fewer than last time around. The combination of any USTA member being able to enter, coupled with reasonable sign-up fees, has made the La Jolla Tennis Championships a popular event for tennis hopefuls in San Diego. “This tournament is about the community getting together and seeing the best tennis players it has to offer,” Davis said. The competition is broken down into several categories. There is the open championship, in which the best men’s and women’s players compete for a healthy cash prize and the same goes for the open doubles tournament. Then there are the seniors divisions as well as various family events. There are also several NTRP (National Tennis Ratings Program) competitions depending on a player’s rating. Running consecutively for 94 years is an impressive feat and qualifies the La Jolla Tennis Championships as one of the oldest in California. Many players who have competed in the tournament over the decades have gone on to play on the pro tour, where some have enjoyed considerable success. The tournament is free to spectators and a great event for families to attend while young enthusiasts can watch and get a taste of what it takes to become a top-notch player. “The public can come, watch and see a high level of tennis for free,” Davis said. La Jolla Tennis Club is located on 7632 Draper Ave., in the heart of Village and just a block from the coast. For more information on tournament details, visit www.ljtc.org or call (858) 454-4434.
