By SDCN Staff
La Jolla, CA–Tournament officials have announced seeded players and draws for the United States Tennis Association National 40 Hard Court Championships at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club.
Former tournament singles champion Matthew Hane of Johns Island, S.C., is the top seed in the men’s singles draw. The 43-year-old Hane captured the USTA National 40 Hard Court men’s singles title in La Jolla in 2023 after scoring a thrilling 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3) victory over Henry Choi of Vancouver, Canada, in the final.
Hane is currently ranked No. 45 in the International Tennis Federation Singles 40+ Rankings. In April this year, he won singles and doubles titles at the USTA National 40 Clay Court Championships in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Choi is seeded second in the men’s singles draw. The 44-year-old Canadian is ranked No. 15 in the current ITF Singles 40+ Rankings. He won the USTA National 40 Hard Court men’s singles title in 2022 and finished as the men’s singles runner-up in 2023 and 2024.
Three-time defending singles champion Mariko Fritz-Krakow of San Rafael, CA, headlines a strong field in the women’s singles draw as the number one seed. The 42-year-old Fritz-Krakow is the No. 1 player in the world in the latest ITF Singles 40, plus rankings.
Former five-time singles champion Hiromi Sasano of San Diego is the No. 2 seed in the women’s singles draw. She captured USTA National 40 Hard Court singles titles from 2016 to 2019 and in 2021. The 50-year-old Sasano is the Tennis Director of San Diego’s Balboa Tennis Club and University City Racquet Club.
Hane and Choi received first-round byes in the men’s singles draw. Hane will play his second-round match on Tuesday, December 2, at 9:30 a.m., against the winner of next Monday’s first-round match between Chandrasekar Sankaranarayanan of Fremont and San Diego’s Eric Leroux.
Choi will also play his second-round match on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. He will meet the winner of Monday’s first-round encounter between Tim Crawmer of Manhattan Beach and Alexandre Colas of La Jolla.
In the women’s singles draw, Fritz-Krakow and Sasano drew first-round byes and will play their quarterfinal singles matches on Wednesday, December 3. Fritz-Krakow will face the winner of Tuesday’s first-round match between San Diego residents Carolyn Kramer and Maria Nunez at 10 a.m.
Sasano is scheduled to take on the winner of Tuesday’s first-round match between Amy Thompson of Redondo Beach and Francesca Kornberg of La Jolla, at 10:30 a.m
Hane and Choi received first-round byes in the men’s singles draw. Hane will play his second-round match on Tuesday, December 2, at 9:30 a.m., against the winner of next Monday’s first-round match between Chandrasekar Sankaranarayanan of Fremont and San Diego’s Eric Leroux.
Choi will also play his second-round match on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. He will meet the winner of Monday’s first-round encounter between Tim Crawmer of Manhattan Beach and Alexandre Colas of La Jolla.
In the women’s singles draw, Fritz-Krakow and Sasano drew first-round byes and will play their quarterfinal singles matches on Wednesday, December 3. Fritz-Krakow will face the winner of Tuesday’s first-round match between San Diego residents Carolyn Kramer and Maria Nunez at 10 a.m.
Sasano is scheduled to take on the winner of Tuesday’s first-round match between Amy Thompson of Redondo Beach and Francesca Kornberg of La Jolla at 10:30 a.m.
Starting times for each day of the tournament will be as follows: Tuesday, Dec. 2 and Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 8 a.m.; Thursday, Dec. 4 at 9 a.m.; Friday, Dec. 5 at 8 a.m.; Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m.
La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club welcomes tennis spectators to the tournament with free admission. On-site parking is available for a nominal fee.
Also on the agenda is the USTA National Father/Son and Grandfather/Grandson Hard Court Doubles Championships beginning Friday, December 5 and concluding Sunday, December 7.
The Father/Son Championship has been held continuously at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club since 1959, and attracts the top tennis teams in the nation. The Grandfather/Grandson Championship started at the Beach Club in 2003.
USTA Gold, Silver, and Bronze balls will be awarded to first, second, and third-place finishers in all events. In addition, winners of the main draws will have their names inscribed on perpetual trophies.
The USTA National 40 Hard Court Championships are part of the International Tennis Federation’s World Tennis Masters Tour. The Masters Tour includes individual and team singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events for five-year age increments from 30 to 90 years old. Approximately 27,500 players worldwide, aged 30-90 plus, compete in Masters Tour events each year.
La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club is located at 2000 Spindrift Dr. in La Jolla.
