sports
Tennis Open to All
Local sports institution serves a growing , diverse membership WRITTENBYPHILIP DEVENCENTIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY MITSU YASUKAWA
Tennis once separated commoners from the upper crust ofsociety .
But members of the Wayne Racquet Club , with six outdoor courts on a3.3-acre facility , have long sworn off caste systems and pecking orders . If you can grip atennis ball , they want you to join their friendly league on Colfax Road .
Their down-to-earth approach to the sport is being noticed , asthe club ’ s leadership is reporting gains in membership that have seldom been seen in its 48-year existence .
Deborah Blood , the club ’ s president , attributed much of its initial growth to the COVID-19 pandemic . When many indoor tennis clubs were forced to close atthe height of the outbreak , she says , her organization stayed open .“ The object is for everyone to find ahome here ,” Blood says .
On arecent night , there was activity on every court — and awaiting list to reserve playing time . “ We weren ’ t sure how many people would return for this season ,” says Blood , noting that other facilities have reopened . “ But avast majority came back .”
There are now 167 club members , aspike of11.3 % over pre-pandemic participation . The annual fee for returning adults ranges from $ 300 to $ 500 , depending on age .
‘ A REFLECTION OF AMERICA ’
One of the happy consequences of the club accepting more members has been greater diversity . Wayne Racquet Club received members who hail from 21 foreign countries this season , Blood says . They live in 53 towns in six counties in New Jersey and in Rockland County , New York .
EYE ON THE BALL Ji Park , who has been playing tennis for seven years , follows through with her backhand at Wayne Racquet Club .
“ This is how we got through COVID ,” says Yi-Fan Hu , a native of Taiwan . Hu , of Teaneck , says she joined the club in June 2020 .“ This was the only game inthe area ,” she added . “ I think this was the only club that was open .”
The club plans several off-court events throughout the season , including holiday parties and monthly barbecues . In mid-September , it hosted its annual paella festival ; the Spanish dish is prepared on premises . Members will enjoy an Oktoberfestthemed celebration on Oct . 16 . “ We have a lot to share ,” says Marcel Fohlinger , a member who was born and raised in the Netherlands .
Bhaskar Natarajan , an immigrant of India , says having new friends at the club helped him to overcome a spell of depression after his father died of COVID-19 last summer . “ I ’ ve enjoyed every moment of it ,” he says . “ This ismysecond home .”
Ji Park , a native of South Korea , says she viewed the club as a “ safe haven ” when the outbreak was at
10 FALL 2021 WAYNE MAGAZINE