2023 Fort McMurray Tennis Association
With all that took place in 2023 the year went by faster than expected packed with exciting events, tournaments and a few new courts across the province. The many positive and impactful advancements for Alberta tennis gives me reason to pause and recap a few of the highlights.
At the end of 2022 Team Canada won the Davis Cup. Celebrating Canada’s first-ever Davis Cup title, the Davis Cup Trophy embarked on a cross-country tour. Alberta was fortunate to host two stops on the tour – at Afroza in Calgary and Saville Community Sport Centre in Edmonton. Sharing the iconic trophy and meeting with members of the community is a memory made extra special by the efforts of both clubs to host. Our sincere thanks to both Aforza and the Saville Community Sports Center for their support.
The biggest news of the year is the addition of six year-round courts at the Saville Community Sports Centre known as the Saville Tennis Centre. Tennis Alberta was honoured to host the Lexus of Edmonton 110th Alberta Open as the very first event held on the courts. Bubbled with an air-supported dome in the winter, these courts will add 595 court hours a week in Edmonton. These courts are a value-added addition to the Alberta tennis community. Tennis Alberta continues to advocate at the federal, provincial and municipal level for more affordable, accessible year-round tennis facilities. Tennis Alberta encourages our members to appeal to all levels of government and decision-makers to allocate resources towards affordable/accessible year-round tennis facilities.
Here are a few more of our 2023 highlights:
- Russ Sluchinski and Jeff Spiers were honoured with a Tennis Canada Distinguished Service Award for their contributions to tennis in Alberta.
- Try Tennis and Community Facilitator Tennis training events were hosted in Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and Cold Lake.
- Canmore Tennis Association celebrated its 100th anniversary with four new tennis courts.
- Edmonton hosted its first National Bank Challenger event. Alberta is now home to two ATP Challenger level events.
- University of Alberta Pandas Tennis Team took their fourth consecutive University Nationals Championship title.
- Tennis Alberta added to the 2023 outdoor tournament schedule, hosting more events in Edmonton and Calgary on public tennis courts.
- Alberta’s junior tennis athletes continue to compete with success at the provincial, nationals and international level.
- Carson Bell and Jen Cherneski brought Steve Stevens Masters Tennis Championships titles back to Alberta.
- Junior athletes are working hard at the 2025 Canada Games camps to be named to Team Alberta in the final selection.
Tennis Alberta is committed to working closely with valued partners as we build capacity and implement sustainable tennis participation models that fit the needs of local communities across Alberta. This past summer Tennis Alberta travelled to Cold Lake, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie to meet tennis leaders, participate in discussions centered around growing the tennis community, and host try tennis programming for children and adults. Thank you to each of these communities for welcoming us and for their dedicated passion for the sport. Tennis Alberta will be scheduling more community visits in 2024 and would appreciate the opportunity to visit your community. Please reach out to us anytime.
I continue to be immensely grateful for the passion and support of the tennis community. Without the tireless dedication of member clubs who put planning, resources and their skills into hosting tournaments, Alberta would not have a competitive tournament structure. Tennis in Alberta continues to thrive and grow because of the work of coaches, clubs, players, parents and tennis enthusiasts. By continuing to show our love of the sport whether that is by contacting you MLA to advocate for more courts, grabbing a neighbor and playing on your local public court, or supporting your club with your time, the sport will only gain more momentum if as a community we keep our passion prominent. Together we can get increased access to year-round courts and help make tennis available for all ages and levels of player.
On behalf of Tennis Alberta’s Board of Directors and staff, may I wish you and yours a warm holiday season and all the best for 2024.
Happy Holidays,
Alan Mackin
Executive Director, Tennis Alberta
Lexus of Edmonton 110th Alberta Open
Jen Cherneski & Carson Bell
University of Alberta Pandas University National Champions
Canmore Tennis Association
