200+ tennis players to compete in Zephyr Cove

Mohamed Irfan Lakdawala returns a shot with partner Ryan Johnston in the nen’s 10.0 final in 2016. Photo/ZCTCF

The four-day Tahoe Tennis Classic tournament based out of Zephyr Cove Tennis Club boasts some of the best club tennis players in the region as well as the country and world.

The all doubles tournament is July 27-30, with 14 divisions.

It’s an opportunity for the Tahoe community to watch some high level tennis without having to travel outside the basin. And there is no cost to attend.

A record number of entrants – more than 200 – will be playing in the 34th annual event.

Dick Johnson of Ballwin, Mo., is one of the top players in his age group (70-plus) in the world. At the South Shore tournament he has won the men’s 130, 100 and A divisions. He won the 70-plus World Championship singles in Croatia in 2015. In Tahoe, Johnson will be partnering with Hersh Herschman in the 130 division. This is combination of ages – the total must be at least 130.

Herschman and his wife, Sheryl, are the founders of the tournament. The nonprofit Zephyr Cove Tennis Club Foundation is in its fourth year of running the highly-regarded event.

The Catania family may walk away with top prizes. Duane and Hannelore Catania of Incline Village are leading the pack, with their son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter all in the draw.

Zephyr Cove’s head pro, Dave Nostrant, will be playing in his first Classic, as this is his inaugural year at the facility. He and partner Neal Trebotich will be in the 130 division.

Ginny Unger, who teaches at Zephyr, is pairing with Angelina Spinnato of Gardnerville in the 9.0 division. Spinnato is a top junior player in USTA NorCal, which includes Northern Nevada.

For more information about the Tahoe Tennis Classic, go online.