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It’s time to put your tennis shoes to work, right in time for National Tennis Month.
On Saturday, Sequoia High School alumni and tennis coaches will hold the first annual tennis festival at Courthouse Square.
Tennis on the Square on May 16 offers a free opportunity for adult and junior community members to learn from tennis coaches and local pros.
“We want to give people a chance to get a racket in their hand, get a ball and rally and have fun,” said event organizer Alistair Jeffs. “It’s a sport many are saying adds years to your life.”
Five courts will be set up for “Red Ball Tennis,” a game with a smaller court, and smaller rackets, with tournament brackets for men, women and juniors. The event will include 45-minute training sessions and is open to all skill levels.
Jeffs, who runs local tennis tournaments and captain teams, is a coach of the Sequoia High School Girls Tennis Team. He is partnering with Francisco Lopez, a local tennis pro who played at Sequoia as a student and now serves as the tennis director of the Peninsula Community Center.
More than one in 10 residents in Northern California play tennis, with participation increasing by over 9% from 2024 to 2025 alone, the U.S. Tennis Association found. Moreover, a study by the Copenhagen City Heart Study in 2018 suggested that tennis gave players nearly 10 more years of life.
The organization backing the event is Pulgas Tennis, a newer nonprofit aiming to bring the sport to the community, especially to students at elementary and middle schools. Wilson Sporting Goods is partnering with Pulgas at the event to host a booth with balls, clothes and information. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 16. Balls and rackets will be provided. For more information, visit pulgastennis.org.
