He’s already punched his ticket to Turkey, but Racquetman brought his A game and was rewarded with two more titles.
Decorated local masters tennis player Gordon Verge is back home from the B.C. Provincial Tennis Championships, played out at the scenic Jericho Tennis Club in Point Grey, having won both the Doubles and Singles events in his age group.
The long-running provincial showcase is sanctioned by both Tennis Canada and Tennis B.C. and is part of the Nesbitt Burns Series. Ranking points achived by the players go towards team selection to represent Canada in 2012 at the World Team Championships and World Individual Championships in Umag, Crotia, Oct. 10-23.
According to Verge, the 2012 Worlds will be held at the spectacular resort of Ali Bey Club Manavgat in Antalya, Turkey, “which now has 62 red clay courts at the location,” said the longtime local high school coach, instructor and mentor, adding “they used to have only 56 courts but decided to add six more ... unreal.”
This will be Gordon’s fifth trip to Turkey representing Canada, and it is also the third straight time Tennis Canada has selected him to be captain.
At the B.C.s, Racquetman teamed up with his good pal Bob Seeley of the Jericho Club and was successful in defeating the Jericho team of Alan Armour and Lewis Hayashi by scores of 6-2, 6-3 to win the B.C. Provincials Doubles Championships for their group.
It was doubles partner against doubles partner in the 75-79 Singles Championship, with Gordon “playing my best tennis in a while,” and beating Bob 6-1, 6-1.
Although not confirmed at deadline, it’s a safe bet the bookend titles will give Verge the No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles in B.C. and the top ranking in both events in Canada; Verge also found out he has recently been ranked No. 52 in the world in the Super Seniors Division by the International Tennis Federation based in London, England.
Local standout and nationally ranked female tennis player Margit Aardmaa did not compete in the tournament as she was still coming back from a knee injury.
Racquetman is back in action the end of June at the Grass Court Championships in Cowichan.