LIMA – Jeff Brown will be seeking his second consecutive singles title when the 2016 Lima Area Tennis Association City Singles competition begins at the University of Northwestern Ohio tennis courts at 5 p.m. today.
But standing in his way is his nemesis John Kidd, and a host of other talented netters, ready to dethrone Brown and establish themselves as the new king of the courts in the annual Lima event.
Kidd, who had won the previous two titles in 2013 and 2014 against Brown, was beaten by Brown last year 6-4, 6-2.
Although these two have battled each other in the previous four finals, Brown sees a lot of competition that is ready to break that tradition and etch their own names into the Lima City Championship record books. With a rich tradition, the tournament has always attracted some of the best area talent and this year is no exception.
“There is a lot of talent on the men’s side this year,” said Brown, the director of this year’s tournament. “There are guys like Kidd, Michael Rutter and Emerson Hager, who are excellent players. We have players who have qualified for state and are all pretty good.”
On the men’s side, there are a total of 16 players signed up for the men’s single competition.
Brown, who is the local pro at Westwood Tennis and Fitness Center, said he coaches a lot of juniors and so he will be interested to see how they perform. He also views them as future threats to his crown.
“I’m excited to play and compete and because I deal with a lot of the younger tennis players I am excited to watch them in the tournament,” Brown said. “The younger guys always want to knock off the big boys.”
In the women’s bracket, nine will be vying for the title. In the women’s 35-and-over division, five women will be competing.
Brown admits due to scheduling conflicts and other obligations the number is slightly down on the women’s side from last year but he expects another turn out of great talent.
Kaylee Davis, the Spencerville grad who is heading to the University of Findlay to play at the collegiate level, is the prohibitive favorite to defend her crown in the women’s singles division. Earlier this year, Davis qualified for the state high school tournament.
In winning last year’s crown, Davis defeated Marina Fuduric, who was 9-years-old at the time, 6-1, 6-0. A rematch will not be occurring this year as Fuduric will not be participating in this year’s event due to playing in a national tournament.
In the 35-and-over division, Mary Lou Roush, who Brown described as the “queen of the tennis courts” in Lima, is once again expected to win the 35-and-older division.
“She has won it so many times, I can’t remember when she hasn’t,” Brown said.
Play will begin at 5 p.m. for the men. The women singles will have just one match on Friday. Play will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday and the finals will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday. If there is inclement weather, play will be moved inside to the Westwood Tennis and Fitness Center.
Following the singles competition this weekend, the doubles competition begins play on July 15, followed by mixed doubles competition on July 22.
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