The Queen City Tennis Association was founded earlier this year and is a small group of tennis players from Cincinnati, Ohio that includes founder Jeffrey Morgeson, and committee members Russ Damron, Kyle Sullivan, and Jim Siefke. The Association was initially started in order to organize the first annual Queen City Open, a Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA) sponsored world tennis tour event.
“Our organization is essentially new to the city of Cincinnati,” said Morgeson. “I have been a member of the GLTA since 2012, playing GLTA-sponsored tournaments from all around the U.S. The GLTA has had such a profound effect on my life over these three years that I felt a strong desire and need to bring something here to Cincinnati,” he said.
The Queen City Open took place May 9-11, 2015 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, home to the ATP and WTA Tour Masters series event the Western & Southern Open, which draws the top male and female players from around the world. The Queen City Tennis Association is proud to say that the Queen City Open drew 98 players, both LGBT and non-LGBT, from all over the U.S. and Canada in its inaugural event. Players had the unique opportunity to play on all 16 courts in the facility, including the Center and Grandstand courts where top professional players have played over the years.
“I felt the need to share my city and its world-class tennis facility, the Lindner Family Tennis Center, with all the amazing friends and acquaintances I have met during these years, as well as welcome new players to enjoy a GLTA event,” Morgeson said. “The great thing about the GLTA is that it provides a safe and welcoming environment for LGBT players but also readily welcomes non-LGBT friends and allies as well.”
Morgeson feels strongly about supporting the GLTA because the association helped bring him back to the game of tennis, a game he once loved but had been away from for several years. He also is excited about extending that support with others in his community through the new tennis association
“I played tennis as a kid and in high school, but lost the game for many years. The GLTA helped me find that love for tennis again and along with it, introduced a new international social environment that has been life-changing,” he said. “We hope to continue to expand our group and our tournament as we continue in our first year of existence. The support of the GLTA and the USTA has been amazing and vital to our efforts to grow tennis in the small LGBT community of Cincinnati.”
The association already has reached out to a charity organization, Buddy Up Tennis, Inc., an organization that promotes fitness and tennis for children and adults with Down Syndrome and provided financial support through the GLTA event.
“Through our inaugural Queen City Open tournament and banquet, our organization was able to raise over $2,000 for Buddy Up Tennis. In addition, Buddy Up Tennis put on a clinic during the Queen City Open on May 10, demonstrating its amazing initiative and talented kids.”
Look for the second annual Queen City Open to return in May, 2016.
Information about Queen City Tennis Association:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QCO2015?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Website: https://queencityopen.wordpress.com
Buddy Up Tennis, Inc:
Website: http://www.buddyuptennis.com/Welcome.html