Crimson Tide/TTA Summer Adult Championships to Start Wednesday
7/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
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Entry Form 
The University of Alabama tennis program will host the Crimson Tide/Tuscaloosa Tennis Association Summer Adult Championships presented by Merrill Lynch beginning Wednesday July 13 and running through July 17. The tournament will be played at the UA Tennis Complex and is open to all who wish to participate.
The five day event will feature Open, A, B, and C singles and doubles divisions on the men's side and A, B, and C singles and doubles divisions for women. Entry forms can be obtained online at http://www.rolltide.com/. All participants will receive a free t-shirt.
The tournament should be a special treat for members of the Tuscaloosa tennis community. Not only will the public get a chance to play at the UA Tennis Complex for the first time, but they may get a chance to play against several former Alabama Tennis stars. Legendary Tide players Stephen Mitchell and Max Belski will both compete in the Men's Open draw. Mitchell has recorded several notable wins nationally since leaving the Capstone and will be returning to compete for the first time since 2004.
"We're excited about hosting a summer tournament like this," said Alabama head men's tennis coach Billy Pate. "We have a tremendous facility for events such as this and it's a great way to bring the Tuscaloosa tennis community together."
In addition to Mitchell's and Belski's return, the tournament is expected to feature a number of players from outside of Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama.
The tournament's dates will fill the void left by the Tuscaloosa City Championships, normally held at Indian Hills Country Club. Due to construction at Indian Hills, the City Championships had to be cancelled for this summer, but should return in the future. Pate is pleased to offer a tournament of notoriety for those who normally compete at the City Championships.
"We're not attempting to replace that event," Pate said. "I know a lot of people schedule their vacations around that every year, so it was only made sense to schedule this event where the same people could participate.
Play will not begin until 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, thus allowing players to experience play under the lights at the 12-court UA Tennis Complex, which features the highly popular DecoTurf surface used at the U.S. Open. Play will be held throughout the day on Saturday with championship rounds scheduled for Sunday.
