Asian Avenue magazine

The Colorado Asian Tennis Association sponsored its third annual tournament this year during the July 4th weekend. It was another fun and hectic weekend with 125 players taking part in nearly 145 matches, some back-to-back. Each year, we witness the level of tennis increase as players get better and better, and this year was no exception. As challenging and competitive as this may seem, the tournament was very social and laid back.

Many people came out with friends, kids, and picnic gear to play as well as watch others play. “Great job, we had a blast,” was one sentiment that was shared by a veteran player, Vie Nguyen. Thankfully this year, Mother Nature was nice and kept the hot temperature to a moderate level. Many people enjoyed the hot lunch consisting of drumsticks, burgers, brats, snacks, and sport drinks. “This is nice, the lunch alone is worth being out here,” as one participant commented with a big smile.

CATA tournament director, Hai Ho, continued to strive for greater diversity and participation of new players. Being a board member of the USTA Colorado region, and a member of its diversity committee, he sees the tremendous opportunity to promote tennis recreation and development within the Asian community. There is already evidence of young kids embracing the game, learning proper techniques, and playing at an impressive level. For example, this year, the Junior Singles champion, Della Phan, drew much attention to her supple one-handed backhand, which was almost a replica of the former #1 pro player, Justine Henin. Another emerging young player was Justin Nguyen, the Men’s C Singles champion, winning his matches through tenacity and a tough mental game.

Overall, the tournament was a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone. Thank you to all the players, volunteers, and staff for making the third annual CATA tournament a success.

Provided by Colorado Asian Tennis Association