Kansas City Open Brings the Heat to the Plaza Tennis Center
From June 23-25, players battled sweltering temperatures and tough competition on their journeys to the top of the podium of the Kansas City Open. This Level 5 tournament is an NTRP event, so points earned during matches count toward National Championship eligibility.
Held at the historic Plaza Tennis Center in south Kansas City, the tournament is a can’t-miss tennis event here in our district. It’s also the third tournament of the MoKanNeb Adult Tournament Series, where Open-level players can vie for $500 in prize money at the end of the series. Read more about how the series works here.
While the Kansas City Open is part of the MoKanNeb series, registration wasn’t just limited to Open-level players. Men and women rated 3.0 and over were encouraged to register for singles, doubles, or mixed doubles events. Because of this, the Open is always highly competitive and a whole lot of fun to watch—and this year’s tournament was no exception.
Congratulations to the following players and teams that took home top honors:
3.5 Men’s 18 & Over Doubles: Neil Schmitz and Michael Schmitz, Columbia, MO
4.0 Men’s 18 & Over Doubles: Lucas Cebulko and Duane Strader, St. Joseph, MO
Men’s Open Doubles: Patrick Shelepov and Zinovii Nahirniak, Fulton, MO
3.0 Men’s 18 & Over Singles: Aaron Locke, Lawrence, KS
3.5 Men’s 18 & Over Singles: Nate Arnold, St. Joseph, MO
4.0 Men’s 18 & Over Singles: Lucas Cebulko, St. Joseph, MO
4.5 Men’s 18 & Over Singles: Andrew Edmonds, Prairie Village, KS
Men’s Open Singles: Zinovii Nahirniak, Fulton, MO
3.0 Women’s 18 & Over Doubles: Dawn Weston (Olathe, KS) and Audra Dericotte (Stilwell, KS)
3.0 Women’s 18 & Over Singles: Aurda Dericotte, Stilwell, KS
3.5 Women’s 18 & Over Singles: Leslie Echols, Springfield, MO
Women’s Open Singles: Ting-Ya Hsu, Wichita, KS
Mixed Open Doubles: Carolina Oliveira (Maryville, MO) and Mason Meier (Omaha, NE)
Please click here to view all draws in full.
We at USTA Heart of America are so proud of all players and teams that took time out of their busy schedules to hit the courts for competition and camaraderie. We couldn’t do what we do without your support. And to those participating in the MoKanNeb series, we wish you good luck in the final tournament of the series–the Wichita Air Capital Open–later this month.
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