Battle of the Boroughs ends with victory for Manhattan team

On Saturday, July 12, USTA Eastern and City Parks Foundation teamed up to present the Finals of the Battle of the Boroughs Tennis Challenge, an adult recreational tournament held in parks across New York City.

Beginning in May, the tournament featured teams of six to eight players competing within their borough, with the top team from each borough advancing to the July 12 championship.

The Frederick Johnson Playground Team for Manhattan, the Prospect Park Team for Brooklyn, the Astoria Park Team for Queens, the Crotona Park Team for the Bronx, and the Silver Lake Park Team from Staten Island battled it out for the Championship Cup at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. The Frederick Johnson Playground Team had close matches throughout the day but ultimately pulled out victory.

“What a great event! I haven’t been playing as much tennis these days, but decided to play for Battle of the Boroughs since I appreciated the cause,” said Marina Oetiker, member of the winning Frederick Johnson Playground team. “Once I saw the trophy, I got so excited and really wanted to win.”

Oetiker’s teammate, Francesca Fanchin, grew up playing tennis with the City Parks Foundation and at programs in Harlem and Inwood.

“Getting to play against really good players from around the boroughs of New York is amazing, because you don’t normally get to find so much talent in one group,” said Fanchin. She added, “It is always so great to come back and play at the Flushing Meadows courts too. Playing tennis right outside the grounds at the US Open is such a privilege.”

The Battle of the Boroughs tournament supported CityParks Tennis, which provides free tennis lessons and activities for children at 40 parks citywide

CityParks Tennis presented by Chase,one of the largest municipal tennis programs in the country, provides free tennis lessons and activities to children ages six to 16. CityParks Tennis also features an advanced training academy, which offers talented youth with financial need the opportunity to bring their game to a higher level of competition.

Hundreds of academy graduates have earned college athletic scholarships and sectional and national rankings. Two graduates of the academy have played in the junior division at the US Open. LACOSTE is the Official Apparel Sponsor of CityParks Tennis.

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