USTA National Men and Women’s 40 Hard Court Championship Set To Get Underway Nov. 28

Written by: Staff on 22nd November 2011

USTA National Men and Women's 40 Hard Court Championship Set To Get Underway Nov. 28 |

USTA NATIONAL MEN’S AND WOMEN’S 40 HARD COURT CHAMPIONSHIPS SET TO

GET UNDERWAY ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28 AT LA JOLLA BEACH & TENNIS CLUB

Defending Champions Jeff Tarango and Gretchen Magers are Top Seeded Players in Respective Divisions

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Men’s and Women’s 40 Hard Court Championships will take place Monday, November 28 through Sunday, December 4 at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.

The seven-day national event will feature men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles events for players 40 and over. The finals will be played on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4.

The top seed in the men’s singles event is defending champion Jeff Tarango of Manhattan Beach, a former touring professional on the ATP World Tour. During his professional career on the tour, Tarango achieved a career-high singles ranking of 42 in the world and captured two singles titles as well as 14 doubles championships.

The top seed in the women’s singles division is defending champion Gretchen Magers of San Diego. A former WTA touring professional, Magers won the USTA National 40 Hard Court women’s singles title in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010. The San Diegan captured three career WTA singles titles and reached the singles quarterfinals at the US Open in 1982, the French Open in 1983 and Wimbledon in 1989.

“I just love playing at the La Jolla Beach & Club. It’s one of my favorite places,” Magers said. “It’s a magical place. There is so much tennis history. There is a lot of tradition there and it’s a really beautiful place to play. I can’t imagine not playing there.”

Also on the agenda is the USTA National Father and Son and Grandfather and Grandson Hard Court Doubles Championships beginning Friday, December 2, with matches concluding Sunday, December 4. The Father and Son championship has been held continuously at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club since 1959 and attracts the top father and son tennis teams in the nation.

The Grandfather/Grandson Championship is a relatively new competitive division that started at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club just a few years ago.

This year’s USTA National Father and Son Doubles Championship will feature seven-time defending champions Brett Joelson and Brian Joelson of Beaverton, Ore., who are attempting to win their eighth straight title.

“It’s going to be an absolutely fantastic week of exciting tennis,” said Bill Kellogg, tournament director. “The National 40s is one of the most competitive age groups in the country and with the strong draws in the Father and Son and Grandfather and Grandson events, the level of tennis is going to be very high as well as entertaining. I encourage tennis fans to come and enjoy the tournament.”

Tournament admission is free and open to the public. On-site parking is available for a nominal fee.

For the latest tournament draws, go to: https://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/tournamenthome/tournament.aspx?T=95071

Men’s 40 Singles – Seeded Players

1. Jeff Tarango, Manhattan Beach, Calif.

2. Oren Motevassel, Sunnyvale, Calif.

3. Jeff Greenwald, Corte Madera, Calif.

4. Peter Smith, Los Alamitos, Calif.

5. Greg Failla, Ramona, Calif.

6. Warren Fulgenzi, Las Vegas. N.M.

7. Martin Barba, San Marcos, Calif.

8. Curtis Dunn, San Francisco, Calif.

9. Patrick Crow, Huntington Beach, Calif.