Tennis players compete at 2009 Princeton Open

PRINCETON — Area tennis players got together on Saturday for the 34th annual Princeton Open Tennis Tournament at Alexander Park.

Rick Peacock of Princeton, who estimates he has been playing in the tournament for 30 of the 34 years of its existence, won 6-2, 6-3 over Brent Doty to pick up the men’s 40 and up division win.

“The participation was down a little bit from previous years, but I think Ryan (Luecke, tournament director) did a great job organizing it,” Peacock said.

Peacock said weather conditions on Saturday were ideal for the tournament.

“It was great. I’m not going to complain about that at all,” Peacock said of the low temps and low humidity. “It was perfect tennis weather.”

Peacock’s long-time doubles partner, Mike Murfin of Princeton, took second place in the division.

In girls’ 14 and under play, Sarah Peterson of Princeton topped Lydia Stephens, also from Princeton, 10-0 to earn the division title.

Peterson, who is a member of the PHS Tigresses’ tennis team, was making her first appearance in the individual tournament, after playing in the doubles portion last year.

“I thought it was a lot of fun. It’s such a friendly sport, and it’s polite competition,” Peterson said. “It’s such a great experience. You get to meet people and spend the whole day with people who love tennis.”

Peterson will be teaming up with her PHS doubles partner Erin Welsh of Princeton for the doubles portion of the Princeton Open on Saturday.

Claudia Szczepaniak of Peru beat Stephens 10-5 to take home a second-place finish in the girls’ 14 and under bracket.

Anthony Petrasko captured the men’s 18 and under division title, defeating Jake Biddix of Princeton two sets to none in the championship match. Peter Balser of Grand Detour took second place in the division, topping Biddix 10-2 in the double elimination format bracket.

In the women’s 18 and under division, Jennifer Guenther of Dixon defeated Natalie Szczepaniak of Peru, 10-2, to earn the division win. Szczepaniak topped Baily Bearber of Princeton 10-4 to finish second.

The boys’ 14 and under bracket was won by Kurt Gale of Dixon, who beat Harry Conke two sets to none in the championship match. Alec Lindermann of Ottawa topped Conke three sets to two for a second-place finish.