Pine Bluff Country Club’s Tennis Patrons will host the Community Tennis Classic at PBCC today through Sunday.
Tennis Center director Roy Coopersmith welcomes top male players from the United States, including California’s Timothy Tan and Darius Mohale and a field of international competitors such as New Zealand’s Artem Sitak, Great Britain’s Sean Thornley and Australia’s Nima Roshan.
“Every year I’ve played this event, it has grown into a better and stronger one,” Roshan said in an email response Thursday evening before his final flight to Little Rock. “I expect that this year will produce a strong field which I am excited to be a part of.”
Coopersmith said the event is held, at least in part, to generate interest in the sport, which has seen a decline in numbers in recent years.
“This will help if it’s exciting and the people of Pine Bluff want to take more interest in local sports, tennis,” Coopersmith said. “The kids just aren’t coming out to play tennis. We have tried to bring them out. We’ve tried school programs. But right now, tennis is down 30 percent in England. If it’s down there and it’s down here, Pine Bluff is just a microcosm of the United States Tennis Association.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
But Coopersmith is positive about this year’s field and believes the event will treat spectators to high-velocity tennis. Though the players are considered professional, their talent level would measure up to “Double-A or Triple-A baseball” comparatively speaking, according to Coopersmith.
“We have to bring these players in to have a quality field,” Coopersmith said. “I haven’t seen all these players yet, but based on their rankings I know what to expect.”
The tournament will begin with a pair of doubles matches and one singles match today with two singles matches and one doubles match Saturday. The event will conclude with Sunday’s finals.
Players will participate in best 2-of-3 sets with a seven-point tiebreaker in singles and a 10-point tiebreaker in doubles.
Roshan is no stranger to the winner’s circle. In last year’s event, the Aussie, who flew in from Mexico for this year’s tournament, paired with Vancouver, British Columbia’s Vasek Pospisil to claim the doubles title. He also won the 2009 doubles title and took home the prize money for the singles event.
“I am happy I will be returning to play in Pine Bluff for my third time,” Roshan said. “Having had success here before, I am hoping to have a good run in both singles and doubles.”
Coopersmith expected the draw to be completed by mid-morning today with events in full swing by 1 p.m.
With a total purse of $6,780 donated by local businesses, Roshan will be a favorite to claim the $2,000 singles money and is expected to lead the charge for the $1,600 doubles stake with expected playing partner Thornley.
“I’m not sure on the exact players list for this year, but I’m sure there are enough quality players to produce some great matches,” Roshan added.
The public is invited to attend.