Summer Slam in Simcoe returned for the first time since COVID and the Orilllia Tennis Club was eager to play.
The Summer Slam is an interclub series of tournaments, the local club noted in a news release. The first tournament was held in 2019 and the Orillia Tennis Club swept all courts, defeating the Barrie Community Tennis Club.
This summer, area clubs agreed to bring the Slam back and on June 28, Orillia put bragging rights on the line against visiting Bracebridge.
The match featured four courts of mixed doubles of varying levels. The numbers reflect a rating system used by the Ontario Tennis Association and all recognized tennis organizations as a way to create fair matches against reasonably comparable players.
Team Orillia fielded a strong group of experienced players and partnerships. All four teams were competitive against their Bracebridge counterparts.
On Court 1, club pro Dion Wilson and partner Kate Switzer won their matches 6-1, 6-2 in a dominant service performance by both and strong net play by Dion.
On Court 2 Debbie Hele and Sal Shivakumar dropped their first set 6-3, but rallied back strong on the backs of Sal’s finesse and Debbie’s power (beware her backhand) 6-1 and then took the final 6-4.
On Court 3, Charlotte and Paul Wallis took the first set in a thrilling tie-breaker, lost a tough second set only to pull it out in the third set.
Court 4 was the deciding court. Liz and Ken Brownlee battled in not one but three tie-breaker sets, winning two of the three to complete the unexpected Orillia sweep of the Bracebridge team. The Orillia team stands undefeated in interclub play.
Orillia holds bragging rights until the next interclub play when Orillia hosts another round of players from Bracebridge July 26.
The club is investigating a possible rematch of its 2019 opponents from Barrie in a new 'night classic.'
Both Bracebridge and Orillia teams acknowledged and thanked organizers OTC officials for putting this event and the teams together.
