Senior Tennis Tournament Open to Spectators

August 10, 2015 marks the start date of one of the longest running tournaments on the USTA NorCal calendar. With the exception of 2011—when club courts were undergoing a major renovation—senior men and women tennis players have gathered for over 30 years at Foothills Tennis and Swimming Club in Palo Alto for the Foothills Mid-Peninsula Senior Championships.

Awarded the USTA NorCal Senior Tournament of the Year in 2012, the tournament has played host to many of tennis’ best players—including Tom Brown, a 1947 Wimbledon finalist, and frequent competitor—and is a summer destination for many players from around the country. Foothills has a policy of opening its facilities up to all tournament participants for the duration of their playing experience, and it is not uncommon to see RVs from all over the U.S. parked in the club’s parking lot during the week of play.

The Foothills Mid-Peninsula Senior Championships was originally organized and run by Ned Mansfield, a past USTA NorCal Board member, Foothills Tennis & Swim Club member, and pillar of northern California tennis. Ned loved playing tournaments, and believed in making tournament play as special for seniors as possible.

We have 130 entrants in events ages 45 thru 90. The tournament is really two tournaments in one: age groups 65 – 90 will start play on Monday and finish Wednesday or Thursday; the younger age groups will likely start on Thursday (depending on the size of their draws) and finish on Sunday. Monday through Thursday matches will start at 10am and finish by 4:30pm. Friday matches will start around noon and finish late Friday evening. Saturday and Sunday play will be between 10am and 3pm.

Foothills Tennis & Swim Club is located at 3351 Miranda Ave. Palo Alto, CA.