Tennis action returns with Fall Classic

After a break of a couple months, netters will return to competitive action at the American Memorial Park tennis courts as the road to claiming titles in the Calvo’s Insurance 2005 Fall Classic Tennis Championships kicks off next month.

This according to the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association, which is the head organizer of the junior development fundraising event.

In a statement released Monday, NMITA indicated that the youth event will be held from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13 and will feature competition in singles and doubles.

A total of six division titles will be up for grabs in the doubles and singles events.

The boys’ and girls’ singles will feature action in the 18-and-under, 14-and-under, and 10-and-under categories. Boys’ doubles will include 18-and-under, 14-and-under, and 10-and-under, while girls’ doubles will feature 15-and-under, 12-and-under, and 9-and-under. Ten-and-under categories will feature just one set of play.

Interested players must pay a $10 entrance fee for singles competition and $5 for doubles. All checks must be made payable to NMITA.

Registration forms are currently available and must be submitted to the Joeten All Star Sports or to tournament director Jeff Race. Forms can also be emailed to Race at jeffrace@vzpacifica.net.

Organizers said all interested must register by 4pm on Sunday, Nov. 6. Draws will be posted later that day at the Las Vegas Discount Golf and Tennis and the AMP courts. All players are urged to check the draws on Nov. 10.

NMITA also indicated that all ITF rules would apply throughout the tournament. Defaults would also be called 15 minutes after the scheduled time of play; five minutes warm up will be allotted before the match and a 10-minute break is permitted between the second and third set.

Players may also be reclassified and event formats may be changed at the tournament committee’s discretion; any player called upon by a tournament official to officiate a match must comply; no refunds will be given for defaults, forfeit, or after completion of the draw; and the tournament director or his designee shall make the final decision regarding enforcement and interpretation of rules.

Also, no add scoring will be used for all best-of-three set matches except for semifinals and finals when regular scoring will be used. A 12-point tiebreaker system will also be in effect.

As a reminder, parents and coaches are not allowed on the court during play and no coaching is allowed during play.