It was a big night for tennis in Memphis. And there’s a whole week of tennis yet to come.

Jul 26

Written By DCA Memphis

Geoff Calkins | Daily Memphian

At 8:44 p.m., beneath a luminous moon, John Isner tossed a ball in the air and brought his racket back to serve.

Sixteen years had elapsed since Isner lost to Sam Querrey in the finals of another Memphis tennis tournament.

Nine years had elapsed since that tournament picked up and left town.

But here was Isner again, all 6-foot-10 of him, doing what he does best.

Unleashing a serve — and watching it land for an ace.

Did it matter that this was just a mixed-doubles exhibition?

Nah, it didn’t matter at all.

“It’s good to have pro tennis back in Memphis,” said Kevin Kane, president and CEO of Memphis Tourism. “That’s what tonight is about.”

Saturday’s exhibition at Leftwich Tennis Center was a soggy celebration, a rain-delayed shindig to mark the start of the Memphis Classic, the Women’s Tennis Association tournament that will be in town all week.

And while some fans were plainly kept away by the weather, the organizers were lucky the deluge stopped just in time.

“I was worried,” Kane said. “It’s a miracle they’re going to get it in.”

A miracle aided by plenty of leaf blowers and towels.

The exhibition was due to start at 7 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., workers were still directing their blowers at sodden spots on the court.

But when the tennis finally got started, it was worth the nine-year wait.

Isner and Querrey were joined by a lively cast of players, including 1) former ATP pro Stevie Johnson, who hosts a podcast with the two men, 2) Anna Frey, a college tennis player and influencer, 3) Alfie King, an incoming freshman tennis player at the University of Memphis, and 4) Caty McNally, a player known best for her doubles talents, who was asked about the tactics she deployed on the night.

“Tactics?” she said, incredulous. “Just don’t get hurt.”

By that standard, the night was a rollicking triumph.

And that was before Querrey beat Isner in an abbreviated rematch of their memorable 2010 tilt at The Racquet Club.

“We usually don’t care who wins these exhibitions,” Querrey said. “But he’s been talking so much crap in the group chat the last two to or three weeks, I actually really wanted to win tonight.”

The WTA tournament begins in earnest Monday, with sessions beginning at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. And if this tournament isn’t as high profile as the men’s tournament that used to captivate Memphians, it is one of the best seven WTA events in the country and it draws some of the best players in the world.

“They signed a three-year deal,” Kane. “And I know they are excited about some of the sponsors they are lining up for the coming years.

“Memphis is an event-driven town. That’s always been true. We have the Southern Heritage Classic, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The more events we have, the more people will come and have a good time.”

Which is a fine aspiration, isn’t it?

It certainly was the theme Saturday night.

That was particularly true in the last match of the evening, which featured Querrey and Johnson against Duncan Howell, the tennis pro at Chickasaw Country Club, and Jay Robillard, the director of Tennis Memphis.

Only catch?

Howell-Robillard started every game they served up 30-0 and every game their opponents served up 40-0.

Seems fair, right?

Querrey and Johnson won 14 ATP titles between them. Howell-Robillard won zip.

But the crowd immediately got behind the Memphians. And when Robillard put away a final volley, it gave the locals a resounding 6-1 win.

“That was super cool,” said Robillard. “Thanks to everyone for coming out. Hopefully, there will be many more years of this.”