Westlake club hosting annual national event

By Kyle Jorreyjorrey@theacorn.com

Are you one of those people who think life begins at 40? If so, get down to the Westlake Tennis and Swim Club (WTSC) this weekend for an always helpful reassurance of your beliefs.

For the 15th straight year, the WTSC is hosting the 2005 USTA National Men’s 45 Hardcourt Championships, one of four national surface championships for this age group (45 and older). The tournament runs from now until the Fourth of July.

According to WTSC tennis director Pierre Mareschal, the event is a great opportunity to catch some of the best tennis players in the country over 45, including competitors from Calabasas, Oak Park and Westlake Village.

“This is the best amateur level tennis you can see,” said Mareschal, who, for the first time ever, is competing in the event himself. “All of the guys here have either been on the pro tour at one time or another or played tennis in college.”

In his six years helping to organize the event with the WTSC, Mareschal said this is the best and biggest draw to date, with 91 players competing in singles and 32 teams battling it out for the doubles’ crown.

“Not only is this a big field, but it’s also a very strong field,” Mareschal said. “We have the No. 1 player in the world in this age group here and a bunch of players in the top 20.”

The singles’ final is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. July 4, with the doubles’ final following at 1 p.m.

The public is strongly encouraged to attend, especially on championship Sunday, where a free demo will be conducted by sponsors of the event.