CT Padova hosted a Centenary Tennis Clubs Senior competition from 19-21 September. The event was won by the host team, who beat Cesky from Prague 5-4 in the final. Third place went to Wiener Park from Vienna and the fourth position by Salk from Stockholm (the tie ended 5-2 for Vienna).

There were some exciting matches in the finals between Padova and Prague, the matches being very demanding with the highest levels of play on the courts. Padova’s team was formed by Davis Cup player and former world number 18 Omar Camporese, Alessandro Fornaro and Dario Pizzato, the latter both backed by a best ATP ranking around the 700th position in the world; other players included Stefano Tacchini and Marta Conean. The Prague team relied mainly on the ranking of the women: a former world number 30, another former number 86, both players of the Federation Cup for former Czechoslovakia. But there were many other athletes on the courts playing the matches with a past and a present “to boast.»

The event was complete not only because there have been demanding matches on the courts but also because really lovely people came over to Padova, and took advantage of the chance to socialize and make new friends. All the team member s and spectators enjoyed the matches where all the players were committed to winning, but always with class and fair play.

The final night featured a Gala event with a delicious dinner followed by singing and dancing in the mixture of countries and different languages as everybody had a great time. Vice President of TC Padova Michele Scapolo said, “For Padova it has been an honour to have hosted one of the four rounds of the Centenary Club; we are obviously happy with the results, but also of how these three days of tennis and fun have been going on. Next year we will enter the final stages of the event that will decide on the winners of the title that is biennal. Many thanks to everybody, home players and guests as well as to the staff of the club for these days of great tennis».

Here’s a video of highlights from the weekend: http://youtu.be/2D8bP7iA2Qs