Where in America is paddle’s best kept secret? Well, the truth is that it’s not in America. What??? Yes, paddle’s best kept secret is in Toronto, Canada! This past Saturday all eyes were on the Sound Shore Invitational. While the Delaware States made its NRT debut, the real action was at the 2011 Toronto Open and their crazy weekend.
Take a look at the Top 10 reasons Kingsway Platform Tennis Club thinks you should change your schedule and play the Toronto Open next season:
- Rich Kladstrup*
- You can always mistake the cheer and applause that comes from the hockey arena up the hill for the shot you just hit down the line to go up 4-1.
- $30 per paddle… and all you can drink of #4 and #8
- Canadian Beer
- The urinal protector board (you gotta come to see it)
- Strange looks of passers-by walking their dogs wondering WTF are those people doing???
- 1 club – 5 courts – park ‘n play baby … park ‘n play
- Canadian Beer
- You get to see the incredible play of the mysterious 3rd Stulac – Danny
- Caesars delivered to your court for 9 AM matches
*Rumor has it that he paid Kingsway Platform Tennis Club to put his name in this write-up.
When it came down to actually playing paddle, forty four American Teams, Canadian Teams and Combo CAN-AMs participated in last weekend’s Toronto Open PCQ tournament. An incredibly strong men’s draw saw quarterfinal matches that looked more like finals and backdraws that you could not win easily. On the men’s side Fritz Odenbach and Steve Pike teamed to overtake hometown favorites Paul Stulac and Daw in an entertaining 6-1, 7-5 match.
First time pairing of Adam Lis and Dave Lyon took 3rd place honors over Dan Stulac and James Shapiro. The perennially perky Polish duo of Ted and Ted were once again the last off the court losing a close six hour final match in the Consolation Final to the younger legs of Josh Cooke and Brian Garner.
On the women’s draw, Rochester’s Sandra Odenbach and Dionne Bothner drove their way to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Rita Kladstrup and Suzanne Lanthier. Congratulations to Keegan Brown and Janelle Giehl for taking 3rd place over Anna Lis and Janis Stitski. Vicki Briggs overcame a not-so-nice head injury and teamed with Thelma Papini to win the Consolation Reprieve Round while mother-daughter team of Connie and Brit Dupak defeated Deb Gallagher and Jane Watson.
All teams were eager to get their matches done so they could continue with the Party!!! That is reason #11 why you should play the Toronto Open next season and sign-up before is too late!
This article was written with Suzanne Lanthier’s collaboration.
