THE LONG ISLAND
CHALLENGE 2021
LITM Challenge Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles Event Puts a Bow on Summer 2021
T
o close out the 2021 summer, Sportime Quogue hosted the third Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge of the summer. The event was the final installment of this summer’s Challenge Series, and brought together 70-plus players for a Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles tournament, culminating with a viewing of the 2021 U.S. Open Women’s Singles final on the club’s pool deck. The matches were spread out across the 22 outdoor courts at 6
Sportime Quogue, beginning with pool play between the teams which led into knockout rounds. In between matches, players and spectators could watch others from the deck and enjoy the catered lunch provided. Towards the latter stages, a bar was set up for Happy Hour and the U.S. Open final between Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez was shown. Off the court the atmosphere of the Challenge events are social and friendly, but the tennis on the court can get pretty competitive. This most
Long Island Tennis Magazine • November/December 2021 • LITennisMag.com
recent tournament featured six divisions of play based on combined level. In the Women’s 6.0-6.5 division, Anne McConville and Tanya Mattera entered the event with a simple strategy, but one that worked out. “We had a very good, yet simple strategy,” McConville explained. “Try to put the ball onto the other side of the net, and get it past the opponent.” Using that strategy and the chemistry they developed practicing
