Weekly, monthly tennis open to all

Round robin tennis tournaments, held the first Saturday of each month, are open to the public. How many places can you go on vacation, walk up to a tennis court, and find a fun-filled match for free?

Count Port Aransas as one of the few.

Visitors are always welcome to join an informal group of adult tennis players at the Port Aransas High School tennis courts on Station Street. A racket, some balls, knowledge of the game and the ability to keep the ball in play are the only requirements.

Four of the courts are lighted and four others are unlighted.

Players who enjoy the exercise and camaraderie of doubles play weekly pick-up games and a monthly round robin tournament.

Players gather for men’s, women’s and/or mixed doubles at 7:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Evening matches are played on Monday and Wednesday at 7 o’clock. You don’t even need a partner as players pair up at random and usually switch throughout the matches.

In addition to the weekly games, the group holds a monthly round robin tennis tournament on the first Saturday of the month. Again, you don’t need to have a partner. Just be at the high school courts at 7:45 a.m. and be ready to play at 8 a.m. The tournament usually lasts three to four hours, depending on the number of players that show up and the weather.

Partners are randomly paired, and the number of sets and scoring varies depending upon the number of players entered. Entry fee is a can of new tennis balls.

Teams that win the greatest number of games are winners.

The only requirement for entering besides the can of tennis balls is a desire to have fun.

Another project of the tennis group is the annual Winter Old-Lympics Tennis Tournament that pairs local residents with Winter Texans whose combined ages add up to 100 or more. That’s a two-day tournament with mixed, men’s and women’s brackets.

This year’s tournament is Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20 and 21.

For more information, call Murray Judson at (361) 749-4861.