Rain threatens Citizen Open
Apparently the weather gods are not tennis fans.
The parched forests need the rain but organizers of this weekend’s Citizen Open tennis tournament are hoping the wet forecast Environment Canada has issued for the next few days will not come to fruition on the outdoor courts at Prince George Tennis Club.
Showers are expected tonight and there’s a 70 per cent chance of rain Saturday and 60 per cent on Sunday.
That could wreak havoc on schedule-makers for the threeday tournament, which was set to begin Friday at 6 p.m.
“The forecast is not looking good,” said PGTC treasurer Rick Devore. “If we do play Saturday, we’ll play all day and we’ll play late in the day.”
Thirty players are entered in the tournament and they’ll compete for singles and doubles titles in advanced and intermediate categories.
PGTC teaching pro Cory Fleck and tournament director Jim Condon are the two favourites to meet in the advanced singles final on Sunday. Fleck defeated Condon in straight sets in the singles final three weeks ago at the Spring Fling tournament.
The numbers for tennis picked up when it was decided to move the club pickleball tournament to July 5-7 to accommodate some of the pickleballers who will be vacationing at their lakeside cabins this weekend. That frees up committed pickleball players like Phil Redding, a former contender for the city tennis title, to pick up his tennis racquet for a bash at the ball. Redding had hip replacement surgery last year.
“Phil Redding is going to play doubles with Cory,” said Devore.” “It should be a good tournament.”