The 33rd instalment of the Fort Smith Open tennis tournament went off without a hiccup last weekend as Yellowknife resident Bernie Bennett took to the court in search of the 2018 title.
Bennett, 56, has won 37 total tournaments during his time as a competitor in the NWT but ran into a buzz saw named Jerry Wald in the men's singles final on Sunday.
Wald, who moved to Fort Smith recently from Whitehorse, Yukon, outlasted Bennett in the tournament final winning in straight sets 6-2 and 6-4.
Bennett said he was happy with his performance during the tournament as he was able to fend off eight other competitors, but Wald's consistency was too much for him.
“I've played a lot of great players in my time,” said Bennett, who began playing tennis in his mid-20s. “(Wald ) has a high level of skill and played with the same level of consistency that I usually do so it made for a great match.”
Bennett and his partner Jim Umpherson met the duo of Wald and Dennis Bevington in the men's double-final.
Wald and Bevington defeated Bennett and Umpherson 6-4 and 6-0.
This will not be the last time the exciting duo of Wald and Bennett will put their competitive natures aside and team-up. Along with Umpherson and Bevington, they'll represent the NWT at the 55-and-over Canada Summer Games in Saint John, N.B. next month.
Joan Bevington will also represent the NWT at the event.
As for Bennett, he says his age has not held him back from playing tennis. Bennett added it's the people he has met playing Tennis in Yellowknife which fuels his love for the sport.
However, he will need to put personal relationships aside as he shakes off the second place finish and prepares for the Yk Tennis Tournament.
Bennett has been marked as the favourite to win the YK Tennis Tournament which kicked off last night.