News

Our club has been serving up some incredible tennis (and celebrations!) these past few months. From August’s US Open Team Tennis showdown to September’s Harvest Mixed Doubles, we’ve enjoyed fierce rallies, festive socials, and plenty of laughter. Here’s the recap:

US Open Team Tennis + Mardi Gras Magic!

What a day! Our August US Open Team Tennis Tournament brought together 21 eager players for six lively rounds. The energy was high, the competition fierce, and the camaraderie unbeatable!

Champions of the Day:
The unstoppable Big Apple Aces, captained by Naghesh, dominated with an incredible 64 games won! Congratulations to teammates Sarah, Don, Tracie, and Eugene. Their prize? Sleek US Open hats—the perfect way to celebrate a well-earned victory!

Second Place:
The Gotham Baseline Bombers, led by Ben, finished strong with 50 games won. Shoutout to Steve, Akosua, Lan, and Sundar for keeping the competition close until the very end.

And let’s not forget John Moyer, who pulled off a feat of his own—he played on every single team! Talk about endurance.

Mardi Gras Social at Barb’s!
After tennis, the celebration rolled on at Barb’s gorgeous lagoon-side patio with a Mardi Gras–themed party. Think colorful beads, Hurricane cocktails, Jambalaya, and plenty of delicious treats. The food, fun, and laughter made the night as memorable as the tournament itself.

Huge Thanks To Our Crew:

Steve – Court setup & prep, Mel – Social planning extraordinaire, Karmele & Robin – Refreshments galore

Ken, Robin & Akosua – Smooth draw management, and of course, Barb – for opening her home and hosting in style ✨

This was truly a day (and night!) to remember—our club spirit shines brighter with each tournament!

Harvest Mixed Doubles + Brewery Fun!

September brought another lively day on the courts with 9 men and 8 women competing in our Harvest Mixed Doubles Tournament. We played 5 pro-set rounds, with plenty of partner and opponent rotation to keep things exciting. Matches were close, competitive, and full of great rallies!

Results:

• Men’s Winner: Sandipan, averaging an impressive 6.25 games per 8-game pro set!
• Men’s 2nd: Ken, proving he can both master the AI draw and perform on the court.
• Women’s Winner: Sally, steady and consistent throughout the day.
• Women’s 2nd: A 3-way tie between Karmele, Mel, and Nadya—well played, ladies!

Winners took home bright, colorful new racquet grips—a fun (and useful!) fall prize.

Post-Tournament Cheers:
Afterward, we gathered at Alpha Acid Brewery in Belmont for cold beers, tasty hummus and chips, and plenty of laughs. Lil Bobby’s Kitchen kept everyone well-fed with delicious fare. Big thanks to Mel for organizing the social, Ken for continuing to fine-tune the AI draw (with reviews by Akosua & Robin), and to all of our amazing volunteers who make these events possible.

Coming Up Next…

Get ready for our Spooktacular October Tournament! Costumes encouraged, fun guaranteed. Don’t miss it!

Mark Your Calendars:

• October 18: Team Tennis Tournament
• Saturday Drop-In Play: 8–10:30 AM @ Shorebird Courts (open to all!)
  Join RSTC or register for events at www.rstc.org

Whether you’re a seasoned player or want to improve your 3.0 game, come join the fun and be part of the RSTC community!

What an incredible day we had at our Aloha Men’s and Women’s Doubles Tournament! The morning started with a gentle layer of clouds, but soon enough, the sun broke through—almost as if Hawaii itself sent us a little sunshine blessing.

Courts were bursting with color—bright floral shirts, cheerful Hawaiian hats, and that unmistakable island spirit. The warm-up was pure paradise, with Hawaiian music setting the mood, and a spread of tropical treats to keep everyone smiling.

The competition was as vibrant as the outfits, with five exciting rounds keeping everyone on their toes. On the Women’s side, Mary and Robin tied for first with an impressive 25 games each, while Mel snagged second with 19 games. Over on the Men’s court, Ken claimed first-place glory, and Naghesh battled his way to second. Winners went home with stylish tennis-themed wine tumblers—perfect for a post-match toast!

After the tournament, the celebration continued with an unforgettable social at Auto Vino in San Carlos—thank you, Mel, for organizing such a gem of an outing! Picture this: a sleek venue showcasing a jaw-dropping lineup of dream cars—Porsches, Cobras, Rolls-Royces, Mercedes, Audis… the list goes on. We enjoyed mouthwatering food,  fine wine, and even finer company, all while surrounded by automotive history.

A huge mahalo to Mel and to all our incredible volunteers—whether you brought food or drinks, captured the day in photos, or stayed late to help clean up, your contributions keep our club thriving and our tournaments unforgettable. It’s safe to say—when we play, we play in style!

Mark your calendars!

• September 13: Team Tennis Tournament—bring your game face and your team spirit!

Saturday Drop-In Play: 8–10:30 AM @ Shorebird Courts (open to the public!)Join RSTC or register for events at www.rstc.org
Whether a seasoned player or 3.0 rated, come be part of the RSTC community!
Let’s play tennis and have fun together!

We had an incredible month of June on and off the courts with our Wimbledon Whites Mixed Doubles Tournament and Fundamentals Clinic!

Wimbledon Whites Tournament Highlights

8 men + 8 women brought their A-game in classic white tennis style. Perfect weather, fun matchups (thanks to Ken’s AI-assisted draw!), and a post-match picnic made for a festive day.

Winners:

·        Women:
1st – Sarah (29 games)
2nd – Karmele (26)
3rd – Mel

·        Men:
1st – Eugene (23 games)
2nd – Don, Kailash, and John (tie, 21 games)

Winners took home Wimbledon hats & towels from Zalles Tennis Shop!

Big thanks to Mel (picnic queen!), Ken, Robin, Sarah, Steve, and all who helped and played. The strawberries & cream were a perfect touch.
Fundamentals Clinic Fun

Coach Craig Layton brought great tips, energy, and encouragement. The final game of Around the World crowned PK as the last man standing!

Thanks to Akosua, Robin, Steve, Ken, and everyone who made it happen. Coach Craig called us “a great group of players—and even better people!”

What’s Next?

Summer is in full swing!

• Aug 16: Our next tournament + “New Orleans Nights” potluck
• Saturday Drop-In Play: 8–10:30 AM @ Shorebird Courts (open to the public!)
• Join RSTC or register for events at www.rstc.org

Whether you'ra seasoned player or 3.0 rated, come be part of the RSTC community!
Let’s play tennis and have fun together!

What an incredible time we had at the Roland-Garros Men's and Women's Doubles Tournament in May! With 9 talented men at Dolphin and 9 fantastic women at Shorebird, the competition was fierce and the camaraderie even stronger. The weather? Perfect – a light breeze kept things cool, and the temperature was just right in the Shores for all five exciting rounds of play.

✨ Congrats to Our Tournament Winners! ✨
Women’s Division:
1st Place: Mutka
2nd Place: Sally & Robin (Tie)

Men’s Division:
1st Place: Sandipan
2nd Place: John & Weili (Tie)

After the tournament, we kept the good vibes rolling with beers, pizza, and lots of laughter at Fieldworks in San Mateo. Huge thanks to Mel for picking another top-notch spot, and to Nadya, Robin, Peter, and Weili for bringing the refreshments! Big shoutout to Akosua, Rita, Tracie, and Ken for capturing all the action with their amazing photography.

But we’re not slowing down anytime soon! RSTC has been on fire lately with some exciting events. We had our Wimbledon Whites Tournament and hosted our first Fundamentals Clinic in June. If you missed out, don’t worry—there’s more fun to come! Our July tournament is right around the corner on July 19.

Get Involved:

• Register for July's Tournament: www.rstc.org

• Join the Redwood Shores Tennis Club (RSTC): Membership is open, and we’d love to have you.

• Drop-In Play: No commitment required! Join us at Shorebird Courts on Saturday mornings from 8:00 - 10:30 A.M. It's free for the public to try, though becoming a member is encouraged! Just bring your tennis balls, a water bottle, and sign a release of liability waiver if you're not a member.

Ready to hit the courts and have a blast with like-minded tennis lovers? We’d love to see you there! Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, RSTC is all about building community and having fun on and off the court.

Don’t miss out – join us and be part of the RSTC family today!

Let’s play tennis!

#Tennis #Community #JoinRSTC #TennisLife #TournamentFun   

Join the Fun with RSTC – Weekly Drop-Ins, Tournaments & More!

The Redwood Shores Tennis Club (RSTC) warmly welcomes all tennis enthusiasts—members and non-members alike—to our weekly Saturday morning drop-in sessions, held from 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM at the Shorebird Tennis Courts, located at the corner of Marine Parkway and Island Drive in Redwood Shores. It's a great opportunity to meet other players, enjoy friendly matches, and get in some weekend tennis!

Thinking of joining the club? Now’s the perfect time! The 2025 season is already off to a fantastic start, and we have plenty of exciting events lined up. Our next tournament is a Mixed Doubles competition, June 21, 2025—a fun and social way to test your skills. And don’t miss our very first Doubles Clinic of the season, June 28, 2025, where you can fine-tune your game with guidance from an experienced pro.

For a full schedule of upcoming tournaments, clinics, and events, and to become a member, visit the RSTC website. Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned player, there's a place for you at RSTC!

www.rstc.org

🎾 A Festive Start to the 2025 Season – RSTC Easter Classic Recap! 🌸

We kicked off the 2025 RSTC season in style with the Easter Classic Mixed Doubles Tournament, and what a day it was! The courts were buzzing under a bright spring sun, with a cool breeze keeping everyone on their toes. It was the perfect setting for a day of competitive tennis and community fun.

The turnout was fantastic—12 women and 9 men came ready to rally, serve, and slice their way to victory. Cheers echoed across the courts as fierce matches unfolded, with each player bringing their A-game. But in the end, only a few claimed the top spots:

🏆 Tournament Results
Women’s Division
🥇 1st Place: Nadya Shirokova & Robin George
🥈 2nd Place: Akosua Grant & Rola Goldie
🥉 3rd Place: Suzanne Chang

Men’s Division
🥇 1st Place: Ben Sergeant
🥈 2nd Place: Ken Richied
🥉 3rd Place (tie): Nagesh Kittur & Steve George

After the last ball was struck and the winners crowned, the celebration continued at our lively post-tournament social! Fourteen members gathered at Hapa’s Brewing Company in downtown San Carlos—big thanks to Mel for picking the perfect spot. We toasted to a great day of tennis, rehashed some spectacular rallies, and even got wrapped up in a hilarious and suspenseful game of Mafia, hosted by Nadya. It was the perfect way to unwind after a day of hard-fought matches.

🙌 A huge shout-out to our amazing volunteers who keep these events running smoothly:
🎯 Tournament Draw: Robin, Akosua, Ken
📸 Photography: Steve, Tracie, Ken, Karmele
🥤 Refreshments: Rola, Robin, Ben, Pratyush, Steve

Next Up: Men's & Women’s Doubles Tournament – May 17!
Ready for more court action? Mark your calendars for our Men’s and Women’s Doubles tournament. Head to www.rstc.org to register or renew your membership!

In the meantime, join us for our Saturday morning drop-ins at Shorebird Courts (8:00–10:30 A.M.). It’s a great way to meet fellow players and enjoy some casual matches. No registration required—just bring your racquet, tennis balls, water, and a signed waiver if you’re not a member. First-timers welcome!

Let’s keep the momentum going—see you on the courts!
Redwood Shores Tennis Club
www.rstc.org 🎾

We are energized for the 2025 season and looking forward to planning fun and competitive tournaments and socials for RSTC members. We welcome incoming board member Ken Richied as Tournament Director, and returning board members: President Robin George, Vice President Akosua Grant, Weili Chen as Treasurer, and Imelda Mendoza as Social Director. Sundar Venkateswaran will stay on to help Imelda. Akosua Grant is temporarily filling the position of Communications Director. We are always looking for volunteers to help on a monthly basis with courtside refreshments, photography, and shopping for prizes. Please reach out to info@rstc.org to sign up. For more info., or to join, go to www.rstc.org. But first, see what we're about at Membership Mania, 9:00 a.m. to Noon at Shorebird and Dolphin Courts. Let's play tennis!

*Any date change will be posted at the courts.

Membership Mania and the 2025 Season:

We kick off the 2025 season (our 36th consecutive year), with Membership Mania on March 15th, 9am at Shorebird Courts on Marine Parkway and Dolphin Park on Quay Lane.

All tennis players are welcome. Feel free to invite your friends! Come meet fellow members, play some pick-up tennis games, and discover your local tennis club. We are looking forward to a great season of monthly tournaments and socials immediately after the tournaments. We will continue Saturday drop-ins, 8:00am - 1030am.

Ken Richied is our new Tournament Director. RSTC is always looking for volunteers to help with refreshments, photography, and shopping for prizes. Please reach out to info@RSTC.org to sign up. 

Membership Renewal:

Go to RSTC.org to renew your membership. Click on membership application for membership levels and fees. 

PERKS of Membership:

We are announcing sponsorship from Zalles Racquet Sports in Foster City. As a member of RSTC, you'll be eligible for 10% discount for all your purchases made at Zalles (excluding stringing labor or balls). Sign up for RSTC membership before you head out to Zalles, even for pickle ball racquets or shoes or clothes.

November tournament winners: Men's first place prize went to Ken, and second place went to Eugene.  Congratulation! On the Women's side, Mary and Lan tied for first place with 20 points won. Amanda, Mel, and Tracie tied for 2nd place with 19 points. The games were very competitive and fun at the same time. The social was held at the new Highlands Sports Bar on Laurel Street. December tournament winners: First place for the women went to Imelda Mendoza. Second place went to Sarah Ehler. Eugene took first place on the men's side and Nagesh Kittur took second. The tournament was followed by an ugly sweater party in the evening at the home of Steve and Robin George. Thanks to Mel for finding such fun spots to celebrate great tennis and friendship and to Robin and Steve for hosting the Holiday party. Shout-out to volunteers for making the tournaments a success, Mel and our Social Committee, Akosua Grant, Sarah Ehler, and Robin George for the draw, Steve George for court set-up, John Moyer for refreshments and all volunteers for great pics and their help with the tournaments. 

We had fantastic turnout for our themed tournaments and socials this 2024 season. A small increase in dues helped strengthen our financial position, increasing revenue which helped to provide tournament necessities and prizes along with support for our social events and local donations. Our active membership remains strong at 53, with tournament participation steady, general membership slightly up, and social membership down. We appreciate our relationship with Redwood City Parks and Recreation and their continued support of tennis throughout Redwood City. We look forward to new members and playing fun and exciting tennis in the new year!

RSTC had another great tournament on October 19. Turnout was high. 21 members came out to compete in our Octoberfest team tennis tournament. Teams: Lagers (T1), Stouts (T2), Pilsners (T3), and Ales (T4) led by captains: Kathy, Tracie, Barb, and Sandipan respectively. Some players were in the spirit and sported Halloween headbands! Team captains and spectators cheered on players as they made great shots down the line and awesome volleys! The sun was warm along with a cool breeze—a pleasant day for tennis.

Fun and competitive tennis were served up for the day. Tough matches played but only one team came out on top; the Stouts (T2): Sundar, Tracie, Sarah, Ken, and Luis. Winners received a goodie bag with beer nuts and a tennis racquet bottle opener keeping with our Octoberfest theme. Courtesy of RSTC and curated by Robin George.

RSTC members met at Das Bierhauz in downtown Redwood City for authentic German food and beer. It was so nice to see new faces and OG's enjoying themselves at the social; great job Mel!

Shout-out to volunteers for making the tournament a success, Mel and our Social Committee, Akosua Grant, Sarah Ehler, and Robin George for the draw, Sundar Venkateswaran for court set-up, Shubh Mondal and Mary Bianco for refreshments, and Ken Richied and Karmele Urtizberea for great pics. It was a wonderful day of tennis and socializing!