After a hiatus, Broward County is again the tennis capital of Florida.
Seven tennis clubs from Broward combined for an astounding 16 USTA Florida League state titles in 2019, claiming the USTA Florida League Championship Cup for the third time in four years, and becoming the second county to reach double-digit sectional titles in one season. The Cup is awarded each year to the team winning the most USTA Florida League Sectionals (state) titles.
“Broward has been in it to win it since the inception of the ‘Florida Cup’ competition in 2016,” said USTA Florida Director of Adult Tennis Christine Ducey. “Led by Local Play Coordinator Maria Miro, Broward has leveraged local comradery, and all the teams seem to take pride in representing their area. The teams in Broward experience locally strong competition throughout their local seasons, so the teams that advance seem to thrive when they reach the next levels!”
Broward’s far-reaching success in 2019 saw them win 10 men’s, three women’s, and three mixed titles spanning the 18 & Over, 40 & Over, 50 & Over, and 65 & Over USTA League age divisions.
“Broward won [the Cup] the first two years and they wanted to win the trifecta but missed it last year,” said Maria Miro, USTA Florida Local League Coordinator for the Broward/North Miami regions. “They came back with a vengeance this year and I’m proud of our captains for their line-ups and the hard work they put into having a team, it’s not an easy job. Bringing the Cup home to Broward is just icing on the cake!”
The Broward County sectionals championship teams hailed from:
Bonaventure Town Center Club, Ft. Lauderdale (Combo 18 & Over men’s 6.5)
Dillon Tennis Center, Oakland Park (18 & Over men’s 3.5, Mixed 18 & Over 7.0, Mixed 18 & Over 8.0, Combo 18 & Over women’s 6.5, Combo 18 & Over men’s 7.5)
Lauderdale Tennis Center, Ft. Lauderdale (18 & Over women’s 4.5)
Midtown Athletic Club, Weston (Mixed 40 & Over 9.0, 40 & Over men’s 3.0, 18 & Over men’s 4.5, Combo 18 & Over men’s 9.5)
Parkland Tennis Center, Parkland (65 & Over men’s 8.0)
Weston Tennis Center, Weston (40 & Over men’s 3.5, 18 & Over men’s 4.0, Combo 18 & Over men’s 8.5)
Weston Hills Country Club, Weston (Combo 18 & Over women’s 9.5)
“When other clubs from Broward would attend sectionals, I would tell the captains ‘good luck and let’s bring the Cup back to Broward’,” said Kevin Sims, who served as a captain for several teams out of the Dillon Tennis Center. “Each winning club in Broward contributed to bringing home the Cup. Our Broward tennis family made it happen.”
Finishing in second place, 11 titles behind Broward, was Escambia County with five championship wins. The 2018 defending Cup champion, Hillsborough County, finished with four titles and in a four-way tie for third place with Alachua, Orange-Seminole, and Miami-Dade.
FINAL 2019 USTA FLORIDA LEAGUE
CHAMPIONSHIP CUP STANDINGS
The USTA Florida League Championship Cup is awarded to the county with the most league sectionals titles during the 2019 season (standings through Dec. 17):
1. Broward County (16 titles) — 65&Over-M8.0, X40&Over-9.0, 40&Over-M3.0,M3.5, 18&Over-M3.5/M4.0/M4.5/W4.5, X18&Over-7.0,8.0, Combo 50&Over-M6.5/W6.5/M7.5/M8.5/M9.5/W9.5
2. Escambia County (5) — 55&Over-W3.0, 18&Over-W2.5, 50&Over-W6.5/W7.5, Combo 18&Over-W8.5
3T. Miami-Dade (4) — 55&Over-M3.5, 40&Over-M4.5+, X18&Over-9.0, 50&Over-M8.5
3T. Orange-Seminole (4) — 40&Over-M4.0, 18&Over-W4.0,M5.0+, X10.0
3T. Alachua County (4) — 55&Over-W3.5, 40&Over-W3.5, 18&Over-W2.5, Combo 18&Over- W7.5
3T. Hillsborough County (4) — 55&Over-W4.5, 40&Over-W3.0, 18&Over-W5.0+, Combo 18&Over-W5.5
7T. Collier County (3) — 65&Over-W6.0, X40&Over-7.0, 50&Over-M7.5
7T. Duval County (3) — 65&Over-W7.0, 55&Over-M4.5, 18&Over-W3.0
7T. Sarasota County (3) — 55&Over-W4.0, X40&Over-8.0, 50&Over-W8.5
10T. Marion County (2) — 65&Over-M7.0, 50&Over-W6.5
10T. Pinellas County (2) — 65&Over-W8.0, 40&Over-W4.5+
10T. Leon County (2) — 18&Over-M3.0, Combo 18&Over-M5.5
12T. Brevard County (1) — X18&Over-6.0
12T. Clay County (1) — X40&Over-6.0
12T. Martin County (1) — 40&Over-W4.0
12T. Palm Beach County (1) — 55&Over-M4.0
Note: County determined by location of team’s home club. Season-ending ties to be broken by teams’ 1st-4th place results at USTA League Nationals.
Established in 1980, USTA League has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year to more than 904,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis league. The league groups players by using six National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels, ranging from 2.5 (entry) to 5.0 (advanced). USTA League is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older.
For more information on USTA Florida Leagues go to www.ustaflorida.com/leagues.
