June is designated Tennis Month in Canada and the Yellowknife tennis season was off to a busy start with the first tournament of the season being held last weekend called the Season Opener.
Ainsley Dempsey, general manager of the Yellowknife Tennis Club, said the tournament drew in about 40 players for the mens, ladies, men’s and ladies doubles and mixed doubles matches.
“So it was pretty well attended. Some people were playing in multiple streams, but we have an amazing scheduler who’s got it all mapped out,” Dempsey said.
While the club usually holds four tournaments per season, she said due to the wildfire evacuation last year, they only were able to organize two.
“So everyone is really pleased to be back in the tennis courts,” she said.
“It's nice that the club still going strong despite being kind of a little bit in no man's land with the construction site all around us,” she said of the tennis court location, now surrounded by the new swimming pool construction.
Tennis, anyone?
Slavica Jovic, board member of Tennis NWT, said there are several activities planned for the month as a way to introduce tennis to the public and to inspire people of all ages and abilities across the country to participate in fun tennis events in their community.
“We are hosting an Open House on June 15, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and we are also hosting a Summer Solstice Tennis Event on June 21 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.,” Jovic said.
Also during the month, Jovic said they will host a series of Rogers First Set Try events on June 15, 22, and 29 between 1-2 p.m. More information on those events can be found on the Tennis NWT website.
Yellowknife Tennis Club Season Opener results
Men’s Singles (6-2; 6-0)
Winner - Nikki Gohil
Runner-up - Daren Campbell
Ladies Singles (7-6; 6-3)
Winner - Sepi Sohrabi
Runner-up – Teresa Martin
Men’s Doubles (6-3; 7-5)
Winners – Nikhilesh Gohil and Nittin Gohil
Runners-up – Nikola Jovic and Randy Rivers
Ladies Doubles (6-0; 6-0)
Winners – Teresa Martin and Ofira Duru
Runners-up – Hiro Kobayashi and Shirley Zhang
Mixed Doubles (6:0; 6:0)
Winners – Sepi Sohrabi and Alberto Valero
Runners-up - Hiro Kobayashi and Nittin Gohil