Continuing a 57-year-old tradition in Southern California, tennis aficionados will gather over Memorial Day weekend for the celebrated Adoption Guild Tournament. This USTA-sanctioned, 4-day event will be hosted by the Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach. Other local clubs, including The Tennis Club at Newport Beach Country Club, Racquet Club of Irvine, and Mesa Verde, will host some of the early rounds. $15,000 in Prize money for the Open, Men’s 35s, and 50 & Over Divisions, is being proudly sponsored by the Orange County Breakers. A Consolation Round is being held for all divisions.
The tournament is named for Australian-born tennis champion Roy Emerson. A two-time Wimbledon victor in 1964 and 1965, Emerson, along with his wife Joy (a tennis-pro and former Adoption Guild winner herself), have fronted the Adoption Guild Classic for more than two decades. “It’s a labor of love,” says the long-time Orange County couple, adding “We believe in the fine work of the Adoption Guild in support of HFS—Holy Family Services. What’s more important than caring for children?”
On Finals Day, Monday, May 28th, a Sponsor Garden overlooking center court will offer the best seats in the house for the finals matches: a table for 6 includes a champagne brunch along with beer, wine, and food all day long as a benefit of a $1,000 Sponsorship donation. A highlight of Finals Day is an address by Roy Emerson, a not-to-be missed speech in which he shares a bit of history on his lifelong love of the sport as well as his take on the current state of the game worldwide.
Highlights of this event include the Tournament Party on Saturday night, May 26th, beginning at 6 pm at The Tennis Club at Newport Beach Country Club. The party, with food stations hosted by the area’s finest restaurants and complimentary beer and wine, is free to all tournament participants and $25 for guests who are age 21 and older. On Finals Day, Monday, May 28th, Adoption Guild Sponsors and guests will enjoy matches on center court from the Sponsor Garden at Palisades Tennis Club.
The Tennis Classic is led by Adoption Guild co-chairs Katie Richardson and Libby Doughty, Tennis Director Rob Rye with the assistance of Brad Albert, and is held under the USTA umpire supervision of Laurel Smith. Players are welcome to sign up for men’s and women’s open singles, men’s, women’s, and mixed open doubles, men’s 35s doubles, as well as a series of NTRP men’s and women’s 3.5 – 5.5 singles, doubles and mixed. And, the Guild is offering a new division this year, 50 & Over, where players may enter men’s or women’s singles and doubles.
To register, please visit www.adoptionguild.org and click on the Tennis Tournament tab. For information on the tournament, the party or to inquire about sponsorship, please e-mail katiertennis@gmail.com.