Eastern 7.0 league team wins title at the 2024 USTA League National Championships

Cheers! USTA Eastern's 55 & Over 7.0 Men's team—from Tenafly, N.J.—claimed the championship trophy in their division at the 2024 USTA League National Championships, held November 1-3 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The win marks the first time a squad from the section’s New Jersey region has claimed a USTA League National title this decade.

“It feels incredible,” said Captain Clint Tomlinson after the victory. “I think as a captain I was so focused on both managing the team and preparing to play that I might need a little more time to let it set in. [But] what I gather from my teammates is that for many of them this was a monumental milestone in their lives. A few guys were trying to organize a group visit to the tattoo parlor. I am happy we got them on the early flight home Sunday before the celebratory drinks started to kick in!”

While they may not bear any permanent skin etchings to mark the experience, the Eastern crew certainly created some enduring memories over the weekend. They displayed dominant form in the early stages of the competition, overcoming opponents from USTA Middle States, USTA Southwest, USTA Caribbean and USTA Southern to amass a 4-0 record en route to the semifinals and dropping just two courts along the way. Incredibly, all 12 of the players who traveled to Arizona from the Garden State competed in at least one court to contribute to the exemplary result. (In the 55 & Over 7.0 division, each matchup consists of three doubles courts.)

“[The record] was a testament to the amazing team we had,” said Tomlinson. “We all communicated well and checked our egos at the door. I promised everyone that if they made the trip they would get on court for at least one match. Thankfully we had 12 really good players and tons of depth. To the credit of the team, many came to me and reassured me that they were willing to do what I thought was best. Without a doubt this was a reflection of an unselfish team attitude. And it was also crucial to keep everyone fresh for the final rounds.”

In the end, an up-and-down match tiebreaker decided the result. Eastern led 5-1, then trailed 6-7. With momentum suddenly on Midwest’s side, an Eastern player chased down a lob and returned it high up directly into the sun; the Midwest duo found themselves quite literally blinded by the light as the ball dropped across the net for a winner. The moment turned out to be just the injection of energy the Eastern players needed. The tiebreak—and the championship—was theirs three points later.

Naturally, the victory was a major part of what made Tomlinson's experience at the event so rewarding. Crucially, it wasn’t the only part. For one, the former rugby player enjoyed meeting fellow tennis aficionados from all over the country. Good sportsmanship was baked into the Tenafly crew's team ethos. In fact, before every match, they'd say to their fellow competitors, "Good luck, have fun, don't get hurt."

“I really appreciated how open and kind everyone was,” Tomlinson explained. “I ended up speaking with the captains of our opponents quite a lot, and I felt like I was having very generous and genuine conversations with some likeminded gentlemen.” 

Above all, he loved getting the opportunity to spend time with his team, “a group of really good humans” who also happened to be “exceptional” tennis players. Together they built an undefeated record all season long, starting with local league play and extending through sectionals. Of course, what matters the most to Tomlinson is the bonds they forged along the way.

“The most fun part of the weekend was seeing everyone [together],” Tomlinson said. “Cooking breakfast and preparing dinner together, playing cards, joking around. Simply enjoying each other’s company. We had a weekend of non-stop laughs and made memories that will last the rest of our lives.”