June 2020 President’s Letter
Tennis is the most popular individual sport in the world and as such it has been my great pleasure to meet people from all over the world through the sport. Tennis is an avenue for bringing people of different backgrounds and cultures to meet and interact on a more than superficial level. During these difficult times, USTA KY shall continue our long held inclusive vision of “tennis for people of all ages and abilities in every community in Kentucky”.
Thankfully, Governor Beshear has allowed tennis clubs to reopen and most local governments have allowed public courts to be reopened. Thus, we are experiencing increased play this month at clubs and public courts throughout the state. Our USTA Kentucky staff has been busy providing information on safe play guidelines to local governments to help in their decision making in reopening public courts. The USTA National Playing Tennis Safely Guidelines have been updated to suggest “maintaining physical distancing if changing ends of the court” and “when playing doubles, coordinate with your partner to maintain physical distancing”. I would encourage you to follow the guidelines which are found on our website and on posters at many tennis complexes.
June also marks the restart of USTA League play at the local level! There was overwhelming support from our survey of league players to hold the Kentucky State Championships and our League committee voted to hold them in September and October. Here is the schedule of the Championships-Adult 65 and over: September 25-27 (Louisville), Combo Doubles: October 1-4 (Site TBD), Adult 18/55 and over: October 16-18 (Site TBD) and Adult 40 and over: October 23-25 (Site TBD). The Sectional and National Championships have been cancelled for 2020. Only a few of the nine Southern Section states plan to hold State Championships.
In regards to youth sports, the Governor’s office considers tennis a low-touch, outdoor sport and group practices can begin on June 15 and tournaments can begin on June 29 with adherence to physical distancing guidelines. Although the high school tennis season was cancelled, the Kentucky High School Tennis Coaches Association decided to honor seniors this year by naming only seniors to the All-State tennis team based on past performance, academics and sportsmanship. Congrats to these deserving seniors and a special shout out to Miss Tennis Kentucky, Sophia Shiben of McCracken County High School and Mr. Tennis Kentucky, Michael Chou of Trinity High School!
The weather is beautiful and we are thankful for the ability to return to the courts to play the game we love and socialize from a distance this month!
At your service,
Mike Eden