Pro tennis classic returns to Sussex County

SPARTA — Lake Mohawk Tennis Club will host the second annual Newton Motorsports Pro Tennis Classic on Sunday, Aug. 30. Former world #4 and two-time Grand Slam finalist Todd Martin will battle Jan-Michael Gambill at the charity event. Martin was a finalist at the 1999 U.S. Open and 1994 Australian Open and holds career victories over a veritable who’s who of the tennis world including Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Boris Becker. Gambill is a three-time ATP tournament winner and former world ranked #14 player who was voted one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” in 2000. He holds career wins over tennis icons Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, current world #1 Roger Federer. The event, which benefits the Newton Memorial Hospital Foundation, begins at 1 p.m. and features professional players pitted against one another in sets of singles and doubles accompanied by music. This year, two professional women players will also be added to the exhibition lineup. Sunday’s tennis action will cap off a full weekend of activities along the Sparta boardwalk. It all begins with event sponsor Sparta Athletic Club’s junior tennis clinic on Saturday, Aug. 29, from noon to 2 p.m. This free clinic is open to any child between 10 and 18 years of age interested in learning about the sport of tennis and will feature many of the event’s stars assisting club pros. Interested parents should contact Sparta Athletic Club at 973-729-9141 to complete required paperwork and confirm a position. A ticket package may also be purchased for the Sunday morning Pro-Am, which offers a limited number of patrons the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play with and learn from touring professional tennis players, along with photo and autograph opportunities. This package offers one playing spot in the Pro-Am, as well as admission to the main event that afternoon. Tickets for the event start at $25 and are available by phone at 973-729-5010 or online at www.SpartaTennis.net.