Get the Scoop on Upcoming Summer Leagues, Including the Highly Anticipated Men’s Open Level League!

It’s been a long winter, but warmer weather will be here before you know it–and so will the upcoming season of USTA Heart of America Leagues! If you’ve spent the last few months dreaming about being back on the courts, you’ll want to keep reading to find out when league registration opens, as well as info on the last day to register. 

Our largest league, the Adult 18 & Over Summer Outdoor League, runs April through July. If you need to find a team, please contact Terry Miller at ttm10s@aol.com or Sheila Goins at ustaheartofamerica@gmail.com–they can connect you with the coordinator for your level of play. 

Men’s Open Level League

Here’s your chance to watch your local tennis pros and other nationally ranked players battle it out on the courts of the Plaza Tennis Center! From 6-8 p.m. April 21 and 28, watch as these players from across the metro vie for the Men’s Open Level League title. The league itself will run April 21-June 23.

David Fox of Overland Park Racquet Club is both the league coordinator and one of the league’s captains. As you can imagine, he’s thrilled to be a part of the action. “It’s really exciting; so far, we have over 30 5.0+ players committed to the league with returning NCAA Division I college players (who are nationally ranked) and former ATP world-ranked players in the mix, which means it would be one of the highest-level leagues across the entire U.S., not just the Midwest, this summer.”

“Spectators can expect to watch some really competitive team tennis and we are setting up a draft to make each team as closely contested as possible to ensure great tennis match-ups each week,” Fox continued. “Our goal is to create a tennis festival-type feel every Thursday at the Plaza Tennis Center, with spectators enjoying not only the tennis but a few drinks, possible giveaways from local tennis sponsors, and an opportunity to meet other people in the Kansas City tennis community.” 

But that’s not all. “We are hopeful to have some guest appearances from former ATP World Tour title winners, but I don’t want to give away too much,” said Fox.

Other local players captaining the league include Tim Weber, Daniel de Zamacona, Garrett Gates, Marcia Jacelone, and Adam Schere. “Tim and Daniel have organized the Open Level League over the past two years and have done an amazing job pulling a lot of the top players in Kansas City out of competitive hibernation,” said Fox.

Fox and USTA Heart of America would also like to give a special shout-out to Todd Mekles, a big-time tennis fan and resident of Kansas City for being the catalyst for the league becoming what it is today. “Without Todd, this league would still be an idea in progress,” said Fox. “He has really rallied everyone by forming competitive relationships in USTA league tennis and pushes his teams to strive for national-level competition, thus putting Kansas and Missouri tennis on the map nationally!”

Stay up to date on all the Men’s Open Level League action by following @kcopenleague on Instagram–this is where all schedules, results, and news regarding the league will be posted.

Other upcoming leagues

Mark your calendars for the 2022 18 & Over League Championships, taking place July 8-10 at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City.  USTA Heart of America also hosts a League Player Appreciation Party during the Championships.  More information to come.

Other concurrent leagues are starting, too. Players who want to play in the upcoming 55 & Over Indoor League, which runs May through August, should contact Marianne McGrath by emailing mmcgrath300@gmail.com.

Also upcoming is the 65 & Over Indoor League, which will take place in May and June. Interested players can contact Barbara Meigs via email at bgmeigs@yahoo.com. One lucky team will represent USTA Heart of America at the 65’s Invitational Sectional, which will be held at Overland Park Racquet Club July 15-17.

We also have a summer outdoor 18 & Over Mixed League coming up. If you are interested in captaining a team or if you’re looking for a team to play on, please contact Jackie Gehrke at jackieg@kc.rr.com. This league runs June through July.

If you’d like to play in the Adult 18 & Over Fall Indoor League, it will run September through January. Please contact Terry Miller at ttm10s@aol.com to sign up.

For players who want to register for the Adult Mixed 40 & Over League, which runs January through April of next year, please do so by emailing Deborah Fabrizius at littlesade@hotmail.com. 

We can answer your league questions

If you have any questions about signing up for one of these leagues, or if you’re looking for a team, please contact the coordinator assigned to your league listed above. You may also contact USTA Heart of America Team Coordinator Terry Miller via email at ttm10s@aol.com or by calling (913) 341-8209. TennisLink questions should be directed to TennisLink Assistant Pat Sibenaller by emailing pat@usta@gmail.com.