The USTA National Father & Son Clay Court Tennis Championship at the Cincinnati Tennis Club is one of four USTA-sanctioned national championships on the annual Father & Son Tennis circuit.
◆The Grass Court, played in July at the Longwood Cricket Club
in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
◆The Clay Court, played in July at the Cincinnati Tennis Club,
immediately after the Grass Court
◆The Hard Court, played in November at the La Jolla Beach
and Tennis Club in La Jolla, California.
◆The Indoor, played in March at the Cherry Hill Racquet Club
in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Jerry and Brett Morse-Karzen have dominated the Cincinnati Clay Court championship in recent years, and have also dominated the national circuit as well. From June 2007 to June 2008, the Morse-Karzens won three of the four national titles: Clay, Indoor and Grass. They finished third in the Hard Courts.
The Grass Court is the oldest tournament of the four, having started in 1918. It is held the weekend before the Cincinnati Clay Court Championship; consequently, the 2008 results were unavailable for this program. In 2007, the Morse-Karzens won the tournament, defeating Ken and Dan Barnas of La Plata, MD, in the finals, 6-2; 6-2. Past winners of the Grass Court tournament have included R.B. and Gardnar Mulloy, Roger and Ham Richardson, the Harry Hoffmans, the Frank Froehlings (Jr. & III), Robert and Dennis Ralston, Scott and Scott Estes the Fred McNairs (III and IV), Charles and Charles Hoeveler, and Tim and Eric Butorac.
Our Clay Court is the second oldest tournament, having started in 1949. Past winners have included the Hoffmans, the Froehlings, the McNairs, Ward and Jim Parker, Pancho and Richard Gonzalez, Dick and Rick Leach, and Grant and Neil Golden. Peter and Van VanLingen hold the record with seven titles. Jerry and Brett Morse-Karzen ofWilmette, Illinois, won the tournament in 2008 for the fourth year in a row and the sixth time overall. The score was 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 over Jim & James Weinacker ofBurmingham, AL.
The Hard Court dates back to 1959, with a list of champions that includes the Leaches, the Froehlings, the Ralstons, Kenneth and Butch Walts, and Roy and Antony Emerson. The most recent tournament, in November 2007, was captured by the Joelsons of Beaverton, OR.
The Indoor is the newest of the USTA-sanctioned Father & Son national championships,
beginning in 1977. The Morse-Karzens won the 2008 tournament held in March, defeating Gary and Michael McGrath of Raleigh, NC and Media, PA, 6-2; 6-4. ◆