by Nick Howell
Aiken hosted the 2025 U.S. 60s and 70s- singles and doubles – on February 7-9.
The 2025 U.S. 60s and 70s National Championships took place at Aiken Tennis Club from March 7-9, bringing together top senior real tennis players from across the country. The tournament featured high-quality competition, with many closely contested matches, long days of play, and a thrilling conclusion to both singles and doubles events.
U.S. 60s Division
In the singles final, Matt Fraidin delivered an impressive performance to claim the national title, defeating Steve Hufford 6-2 6-3. Both players representing Westwood Country Club had strong runs throughout the event. Fraidin reached the final with a dominant 6-0 6-0 semifinal victory over Mark Philpott, while Hufford battled through a tight 6-5 3-6 6-3 semifinal win against Kip Gould.
One of the most exciting early-round matches came in the quarterfinals, where Robert Glance pushed Mark Philpott to the limit before Philpott emerged victorious in a grueling 6-3 4-6 3-6 encounter. Meanwhile, Kip Gould had to fight hard in his quarterfinal match, eventually overcoming Thad Gray 6-2 5-6 6-2.
The doubles final saw Fraidin and Hufford team up to complete a clean sweep of the 60s division, securing a commanding 6-2 6-1 victory over Michael Sullivan (President of Aiken Tennis Club) and Mark Philpott. The doubles semifinals were competitive, with Fraidin/Hufford defeating Tanfield/Vogt 6-3 6-1, while Sullivan/Philpott edged out Mount/Glance in a tight 5/6 6/4 6/2 battle.
U.S. 70s Division
The singles final was an unforgettable contest, with 81-year-old Dick Tanfield overcoming Kip Gould in a dramatic three-set thriller. Tanfield displayed remarkable resilience, saving two match points at 3-5 down in the final set before rallying to a 6-5 3-6 6-5 victory, capping off an incredible performance.
Tanfield’s road to the final was not an easy one. He had to dig deep against Duncan Rutherford in the quarterfinals, pulling off a comeback win 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. He found his rhythm in the semifinals, defeating Marty Hublitz 6-4 6-0. Conversely, Gould had a marathon semifinal match against Greg Van Schaack, eventually winning 6-5 3-6 6-3.
Greg Van Schaack and Peter Clement proved too strong in the doubles final, defeating Tanfield and his partner, John Schellenberg, 5-6 6-1 6-2. Tanfield and Schellenberg had received a walkover in the semifinals, while Van Schaack and Clement battled past Vogt/Sauerborn 6/2 4/6 6/2.
A Tournament of Endurance
This year’s event was a true test of stamina, with many extended matches pushing players to their limits. Saturday was particularly grueling, with play beginning at 7:30 AM and finishing after midnight, reflecting the competitive nature of the tournament. Several three-set matches kept spectators on the edge of their seats, highlighting the depth of talent in both divisions.
A special thank you to:
• Lou Papouchado for providing excellent streaming coverage.
• Robert Glance for organizing the social events.
• Tom Sargent for ensuring the bar was well-stocked.
• Morgan Purvis, who marked three of the tournament’s 29 matches.
Congratulations to all the competitors, and thank you to Aiken Tennis Club for hosting another fantastic event!
