Beautiful weather saw dozens of tennis players hit the courts. (Adrian St.Onge/CHAT News)

By Adrian St.Onge

Favourable weather conditions lead to Medicine Hat’s first tennis mixer of the season

May 13, 2024 | 1:30 AM

As summer approaches, tennis players tie up their laces and tighten their rackets. Medicine Hat’s tennis club hit the courts for the first time this season over the weekend.

Dozens of players of all ages and skill levels dusted of their rackets due to weather volunteer Dawn Olson said was unexpected.

“All of us are just drooling over this amazing spring weather,” Olson said.

“We’ve been waiting for it, it’s here and it’s perfect. We all wanna be here as much as possible, so it’s a great start to the season,” she said.

Returning player Mike Fentabil said he first got into the sport because he neighbours the courts near the Crestwood Recreation Center.

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Fentabil is already ranked provincially, is now setting his sights on the national stage and has even taken to coaching.

“It’s just great to see different players, no matter the age or their skill, seeing them come out and helping them become the best player they can be,” Fentabil said.

“It’s great, honestly. I love seeing everybody out and excited and ready to play some tennis. It’s a great sport – I’d say it’s the sport of life,” he said.

New player also attended the mixer. Marc-Olivier Turcotte-Savard picked up his racket for the first time last summer at the insistence of his coworkers.

Now, the community is welcoming him with open arms.

“I tried maybe once or twice with friends, but didn’t have the correct technique, That’s one of the great things about this club. We get good teaachers who show us the basics and then we’re on our playing against other novice players,” Turcotte-Savard said.

“I knew that it would be a great outdoor activity. I would meet a lot more people outside of my workplace. I decided to come and try it, I think in April last year and I’ve been hooked since,” he said.

Club president Riley Danroth said club tennis will see tournaments all summer, stretching well into September, and said he loves watching the sport grow.

“It’s really nice to see. This morning we had the junior lessons and the courts were packed,” Danroth said.

“Today, we got young and old, returning members, new members. So yeah, we’re pretty happy for sure,” he said.

Olson said that the level of competition varies, but that the community is welcoming to every skill level.

“There’s a pretty high level of tennis played. We have people who have gone to national tournaments and have done well,” Olson said.

“But even a player who’s a beginner or intermediate player, they’re playing against somebody that’s at their level, so those games are really competitive as well. We have a wide range of skill,” she said.

“But it’s all fun and it’s really kind of that hidden exercise where you don’t really realize how much you’re exercising when you’re doing it.”