Get Ready For Night Doubles, Night Food, Night Action

Del.icio.us

Minh Le and Wei-Yu Su should be back to vie for a repeat of last year’s title (above) at the Kailua Racquet Club Men’s Night Doubles, starting July 20. Sponsors are welcome to sign on now, and tennis fans should mark their calendars for the popular tournament. Photo from Bruce Nagel.

Wei-Yu Su doesn’t just win tennis matches, he accumulates his share of style points along the way.

“He has such a beautiful style of play,” said Bruce Nagel, Kailua Racquet Club manager and director of the club’s popular Blue Moon Night Doubles Tournament. “He’s a lefty with a big serve, and he’s very smooth, very fluid. Most players hit hard. Wei-Su is very versatile - he can hit at 100 percent, 90, 80, 70 percent, whatever he needs - and he has all the spins.”

Su, a former BYU-Hawaii standout who was ranked in the Top 40 in the world in juniors, has represented Taiwan in Davis Cup play and played No. 1 on the team that won the Division II Davis Cup title over Iran in 1994. He also represented Taiwan in the 1994 Asian Games and won the Junior Championships in Singapore that same year. He was ranked No. 1 in the Hawaii Pacific Tennis Association Men’s Open Singles in 1998 and 1999.

Su and doubles partner Minh Le highlight what figures to be yet another stellar field at July’s 38th annual Night Doubles Tournament. Also expected are last year’s runners-up, Mikael Maatta and Jan Tribler, and Jesse Paer and Bradley Lum-Tucker, among others. A field of 48 teams will compete for more than $6,000 in prize money.

Kailua town’s “Big Event” will run at 6 and 7:15 nightly July 20-25 and July 27- Aug. 2 at the club, 629 Oneawa St. While it has a reputation for tennis talent, the event’s charm remains the fan-friendly atmosphere with meals provided by Chef (Dave) Kaminski.

“The music and the food help to make it a social event,” said Nagel, “and it’s played at night, so you don’t have to sit out in the hot sun. Through the years, the food has also gotten better and better to the point that it’s almost gourmet dining, and the door prizes keep on getting better.”

Best of all, the tournament is free to the public. A portion of the club’s proceeds will provide support the Boys and Girls Club Windward Clubhouse. Two major awards - the Peter Isaak Outstanding Sportsmanship Award and the Sam Caldwell Perpetual Trophy for Best Performance by an Amateur - will be presented.

Sponsors receive special benefits. To inquire, call 741-7640. For more details on the tourney, call 754-6349.