Photo: Isaac Denzil Aspinall battles in the quarterfinals of the Phillip Thomas Memorial Open (1000). Photo thanks to Kyle Clapham Photography.
The Calgary Tennis Club (CTC) proudly hosted the Phillip Thomas Memorial Open from June 25 to July 1. The tournament achieved new heights, welcoming over 300 tennis players, surpassing last year’s record of 260 participants at the Canada Day Open. This year, the tournament was upgraded to an Open1000-level event, drawing an even more competitive field and offering larger prize money.
331 matches—thousands of hours of tennis—were played between CTC and the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre (ATC). The tournament showcased some unbelievable tennis, with thrilling matches all week long.
Nick Potter (left) and Gage Kingsmith seen in some Men’s Open Doubles action. Photo thanks to Scott Pleavin.
Early and mid-round action took place primarily at the Calgary Tennis Club, with some matches being held at ATC. Photography courtesy of Scott Pleavin.
34 men battled it out for the $3,000 grand prize, awarded to the Men’s Open Singles champion. Defending champion, Andre Szilvassy, reclaimed his title with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Liam Spiers in the championship match. Photo thanks to Kyle Clapham.
A lighthearted moment between two ladies singles combatants, Boa Kim (left) and Jessica Ruya Sha. The tournament saw tremendous growth, especially in the 4.0 singles categories, with over 80 entrants.
Gratitude for the tournament supporters
The Calgary Tennis Club extends its heartfelt thanks to its platinum sponsors, Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre and Gatsby Hospitality, whose support was instrumental in the success of the tournament. A special mention also goes to the gold-level sponsors: CH Financial, The Thomas Family, Racquet Central, Liam’s Property Care, MPS Equities Ltd., Interac, and JB Design. A full list of sponsors is acknowledged on CTC’s tournament website. Additionally, the raffle, featuring prizes donated by generous companies, was key to raising additional funds for the selected charities.
Thank you to the CTC staff and volunteers for their role in making the Phillip Thomas Memorial Open a success. Special recognition goes to Joshua Staav, CTC Manager; Arthur Barbosa, Tournament Director; Alana Skocdople, Fundraising Director; and Patrick Thomas, CTC President. Their dedication and efforts were key to organizing and running the event smoothly.
Mark MacConnell (pictured above) battled through three third-set tiebreakers en route to claiming the Men’s 5.0 Singles title. Photo thanks to Kyle Clapham.
Due to weather concerns, finals play was moved indoors to the ATC. Photos thanks to Kyle Clapham.
Jason Balakas, representing platinum sponsor Gatsby Hospitality Co., presents the winner’s cheque to Mia Kupres, who took the Women’s Open Singles title in dominant fashion.
Jennifer Fang (left) and Sofia Fedotova collect their trophies and Racquet Central gifrcards as champion and runner up in the Girls Singles 14 draw. The tournament hosted U12 and U14 events, which saw over 75 juniors take to the courts.
Remembering Phillip Thomas (1994 – 2019)
Phillip Thomas passed away in 2019 after a mental health battle. He was 25 years old.
Phillip had a passion for tennis beginning at a young age when he was introduced to the sport. He grew up around the Calgary Tennis Club and displayed natural talent, which led him to train in the Tennis Academy High Performance program. He later became a member of the University of Calgary Dinos tennis team.
This tournament honours Phillip and everyone impacted by mental health struggles. Thanks to the many participants, generous sponsors, and the countless individuals who came together to make this event possible, CTC was able to raise $18,000 to be split between the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA-Calgary Region) and the Foundation for Addiction & Mental Health (FAMH).
If you or someone you care about is facing mental health challenges, please reach out to the AHS Mental Health Help Line at 1 877-303-2642 for support. For urgent support with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call 9-8-8. Help is available. You are not alone.
