Double their pleasure
By IRENE MANAHAN Special to the Daily Press
REED PARK — With weather forecasters calling for a warm, sunny weekend with blue skies, it’s all systems go for some scrappy seniors ready to put a whooping on their competitors across the net.
After rains put a damper on play here last weekend here,the USTA-sanctioned 57th Annual Senior Tennis Tournament should go off without a hitch. In all, more than 100 competitors will have participated over the two-week long tournament. Players are grouped into five-year age brackets, from 35 to 80. comprised of men and women over the age of 35, according to Bill Nissley, the tournament’s director.
“It’s confusing that we call it a ‘Seniors’ tournament when there are people 35 years old playing,” he laughed.“In any case, most of these people have been playing in tournaments all their lives.”
Nicole Raikhy, an assistant to Nissley, said the athletes come from all over Southern California to make it to their matches.
“I see familiar faces every year,”said Raikhy. Last weekend’s bleak weather ended up soaking the courts and chasing away prospective spectators. “(When it rains,) we call it ‘Lake Lincoln’ here at Reed Park,” said Nissley, adding that the participants weren’t phased by the weather.
All of the scheduled tournaments were still contested by the end of the weekend.
Daryl Lemon, 43, said that he prepped himself for the tournament by playing six sets of paddle tennis at Venice Beach. While he has played in Reed Park’s tournaments for years, he never competed in the Senior Division.
“So far, so good,”said Lemon, a winner last week.“I’m looking forward to playing the No. 1 seed this weekend!” Jay Ragasa, of Glendale, also took part in the seniors tournament for the first time last week. Ragasa, who just recently marked his 50th birthday, won his quarterfinal round match when his opponent injured his knee, ending the contest.
“The biggest issue at this age is not necessarily who is the best player, but who is the fittest,” Ragasa said. “It’s a health issue. It’s about movement and keeping fit.”
In the Men’s 55 Singles, competitors and Reed Park vets Alan Berkewitz and Robert Baker know about the able factor. They keep healthy by riding bikes and using elliptical machines when they’re not serving up aces.
“I need cardio to go,” said Baker, the winner of last week’s match.“It’s funny. I see some guys play better now than they did 25 years ago.”
After 25 years of being a referee, Solomon Jolly said the senior tournament is his favorite to judge, with its history and prestige.
Fans are invited to attend the matches at Reed Park, located on Wilshire Boulevard at Seventh Street on Saturday and Sunday. For information, contact Neal at (310) 394-6011.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 3, 2007. Read the original PDF.