Rapaura doubles tennis set for January 1-3

When tennis legend Manuel Santana famously coined the phrase, “grass is for cows”, he had obviously never heard of the Rapaura Tennis Club’s ever-popular New Year tournament.

Recent rain has freshened up the province’s only competition grass courts in time for the annual doubles event which will take place this year on January 1-3, 2022.

The mixed doubles title will be contested on Saturday, January 1, with men’s and women’s doubles crowns at stake on Sunday and Monday.

For the past 43 years players, their families and supporters have relished the relaxed, unique atmosphere at the Rapaura complex.

Traditionally staged during the festive season, the list of winners comprises a “who’s who” of tennis in this province, plus some well-known figures from out of town.

The action begins on New Year’s Day with the mixed event, a recent innovation which has proved popular over the past few years.

Last year the mixed title was taken out by the Canterbury husband-and-wife combination, Remi and Jolene Feneon.

Remi bagged a double over the following days, taking out the men’s title alongside previous winner Gareth Robb with a superb display of power serving and winning ground strokes.

Jolene played in the women’s decider with her daughter Jade, the family combo being beaten in a three-set thriller by local duo Ella Sowman and national age group champion Jade Otway, much to the local crowd’s delight.

Spectators are encouraged to come and along and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere in a park-like reserve and watch some great tennis – free of charge.

The grass court club’s renowned hospitably, country cooking and old-time barbecue will again be complemented by the Wairau River summer bar.

Entries can be registered on-line at

https://tnz.tournamentsoftware.com/tournament/be89d2b9-b2d0-4546-9e2b-ab5caa0fcc17.

Participants can also contact rapauratennisclub@gmail.com or visit the Rapaura Tennis Club’s Facebook page.

Due to the numbers of participants expected, this will be a vaccine passport-only event.