AILTC to host Court of Dreams Comeback Classic Invitational, July 31-Aug. 1

Press Staff Report
CHARLES CITY — The All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club announced last week that it will host the AILTC Court of Dreams Comeback Classic Tennis Invitation, July 31-Aug. 1.

The two-day event will feature Men’s Prize Money Singles on both days followed by a non-prize money doubles event.

It will pit top level current or former college and professional players representing the Missouri Valley and Pennsylvania.

Players scheduled to represent Missouri Valley are former University of Iowa No. 1 singles player Tyler Cleveland, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2000 and 2001; former Drake No. 1 player Vinny Gillespie; former Gustavus Adolphus College Division III All-American player Nick Crossley; and former Northern Illinois player Aaron Forsberg.

Players scheduled to represent Pennsylvania are former St. Joseph’s University No. 1 player Andre Fick; former top ranked India junior player Kaushki Das; and former Jefferson University star Dan Trifoi.

Matches will employ Fast 4 scoring (2 out of 3 sets of 4 games each).

Matches will be played on the renowned ryegrass court Mark Kuhn built on his family farm located just south of Charles City. Kuhn is partnering with Ryan Knarr, a member of the USTA National Adult Competition Committee, who is bringing his Comeback Classic Tennis Series to Floyd County.

The series originated in Berks County, Pa. on June 5-6 as the first live sporting event on the East Coast since the COVID-19 outbreak/lockdown. This series is due to host a national event in Charlotte, N.C. on July 17-19.

Though COVID-19 safety protocols will be employed during the event, no spectators outside of players, essential personnel and members of the media, will be allowed on the site.

Fans will be able to witness the event live on the Small Player Big Play phone app with live play-by-play from broadcaster Don “Hutch” Hutchinson. All matches will be streamed on the app with subscriptions $1/day, $5/month or $50/day with the ability to donate through subscription purchases with all streaming proceeds benefiting the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization which mission is to promote and grown the game of grass court tennis by hosting kids and adult tournaments on the Alex J. Kuhn Court of Dreams.

The non-profit will also support and fund children’s reading programs and local libraries and schools.

“The Kuhn family is thrilled to be hosting the Court of Dreams Comeback Classic,” said Kuhn, who was the first American to serve as an honorable court attendant at Wimbledon due to the notoriety of his Wimbledon-themed court.

“We have a special lawn party planned … featuring many Wimbledon-inspired touches,” Kuhn said. “Who knows? We might roll out some traditional white tennis balls to rally for the cause.”

“Tennis is about serving and giving,” Knarr said. “The opportunity to partner with the Kuhn family and the AILTC to put on a one-of-a-kind tennis event with Court of Dreams Comeback Classic for an amazing cause is very special.”

To download the phone app for the AILTC Court of Dreams Comeback Classic Tennis Invitation, go to smallplayerbigplay.com.