The Adult Tournament of the Year award is presented annually to a "sanctioned adult tournament within the USTA Southern Section which has shown excellence in all aspects of tournament administration." Ms. Loftis received the award on behalf of the many dedicated staff and volunteers who worked so hard to make the 75th Anniversary of the City of Asheville Open Tennis Championships such a huge success, and a proud accomplishment for the City of Asheville Parks and Recreation Department.

In addition to the USTA award, the North Carolina Tennis Association has also chosen the Asheville City Open for the 2006 Adult/Senior/NTRP Tournament of the Year award. Recipients will be honored at the Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, January 27, 2007 during the NC Tennis Association's 2007 Tennis Weekend. To cap off an award winning season, the tournament will also be recognized by Mayor Terry Bellamy and the Asheville City Council at the council meeting on February 13.

2006 marked the 75th Anniversary of the City of Asheville Open Tennis Championships, making it the longest running tournament in the southeast. The event originated in 1928 at the Asheville YMCA and was open to all comers. Winners and finalists were awarded engraved silver prizes, ten of which - seven consecutively - went to Dick Covington, an Asheville legend. In 1982 the Tennis Committee began offering prize money in the Men's and Women's Open Singles division. Through the generosity of dedicated and longtime sponsors, such as the Pepsi Bottling Company, Deal Motor Cars, Arby's - The Winning Team, and the Western North Carolina Tennis Association, the 2006 City Open awarded a total purse of $10,000.

Held July 14-23, the Open had 537 adult entries and many highlights. In the Men's 90's division, Gardner Mulloy - ranked #1 in his age group, and a former Wimbledon and U.S. Open Champion - donated the silver cup from his 1957 Wimbledon doubles victory to the trophy room at the new Covington Clubhouse at Aston Park, named in honor of his friend, ten-time Open winner, Dick Covington. The clubhouse was dedicated during the tournament, on July 17, and was a fitting honor to the man who left his entire estate to the Covington Foundation as a means to make capital improvements to the Aston Park Tennis Center. In attendance at the dedication ceremony were USTA representatives from the state, southern and national level, who were on hand to see the product of their "Tennis in the Parks" grant, which was used to help fund the construction of the clubhouse.

Also on July 17 was Luke Jensen Day, which consisted of youth and adult tennis clinics, and "Lunch with Luke." Luke Jensen, tennis pro and ESPN tennis analyst, captured the French Open Grand Slam Doubles in 1993. He is known in the sport as "Dual Hand Luke" for being the only player to compete playing with either hand and serving right or left-handed at more than 130 miles per hour.

It was a highly successful first time effort for Laura Loftis, Manager of the Aston Park Tennis Center. "Winning this award is a great honor being my first year as the Tournament Director," Loftis said. "There were several people in our department who worked hard prior to the tournament to make sure everything was ready at Aston Park for the Asheville City Open." Feedback was all positive, with the players universally expressing that the tournament was "well run" and that "the tennis courts were in great shape for play."

For additional information about the 75th Anniversary of the City of Asheville Open Tennis Championships, or about Aston Park Tennis Center, contact Laura Loftis at 828-251-4074, [email protected], or visit
all contents copyright © 2007, asheville.com. contact: [email protected] or 828.253.2880
For listing and advertising information...