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Universal Tennis Providers worked hard to provide tennis events and opportunities all over the world all month long. Universal Tennis is recognizing the school, event, club, and newcomer of the month for November.
School of the Month: Harker School (San Jose, California)
The spotlight is shining brightest on the Harker School girls’ team. The team won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Section Girls Championship on November 20 to become the Northern California champions for the first time in program history. The 12-player roster features three over a UTR Rating of 9.00.
The CIF Section final win over division rival Menlo School marked Harker's fifth consecutive win after breaking the school’s longest league winning streak in California high school sports in 26 years. Harker went undefeated in league play and beat Menlo a total of four times during the season. They also picked up a win over CIF Southern California champions Westlake, the No. 1 team in the nation.
Event of the Month: 1er Dracula Open (Puerto Cabello, Venezuela)
Venezuela hosted professional tennis for the first time in a long time when the Centro Nacional de Tenis Puerto Cabello held the 1er Dracula Open, Nov. 10-14. Offering $17,000 in prize money, the five-day event attracted a strong field including former ATP world No. 9 Nicolas Almagro (UTR Rating 13.52) and former ATP No. 43 Victor Estrella Burgos (11.49).
Almagro would fall in the semifinals to Juan Sebastian Gomez (13.43). Event champion Goncalo Oliviera (14.09) topped Gomez in the final, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4).
Club of the Month: Salt Lake Tennis and Health Club (Salt Lake City, Utah)
The Salt Lake Tennis and Health Club ran six events in November all ensuring level-based competitive and fun matches. Events varied from one-day singles matches and weekend matchplay to a compass draw and an open tournament.
Salt Lake Tennis has run 217 events since becoming a Universal Tennis Club and boasts 660 members.
Newcomber of the Month: Younghouse Tennis (Guntersville, Alabama)
Provider Jordan Thomas Younghouse ran his first events at his Academy in November. Attracting a whopping 93 players, the Younghouse Tennis Academy UTR Singles and Doubles Tournament featured six singles draws and three doubles draws, split up by UTR Rating. Utilizing the Fast4 format, singles draws were played out in one day, as was doubles.
Stay tuned for more Monthly Spotlights from Universal Tennis every month.