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Sports

USTA-Sanctioned Tennis Tournament Draws Young Talent to Moon Park

The weekend-long event will feature 40 tennis players under age 16.

Marlo Schiffman, 9, of Upper St. Clair, has a pretty big goal in mind. 

"I want to be the next Serena Williams," said Schiffman, who will compete this weekend in the inaugural at

The United States Tennis Association-sanctioned match in Moon will feature more than 40 male and female competitors younger than age 16 this weekend. 

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The tournament kicked of late Friday afternoon after a rain delay. Matches will take place from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and wrap up Sunday at 7 p.m.

“Tennis is the fasting growing non-traditional sport in America right now,” said tournament director Kent Johnson.

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“It’s a great sport because you play forever," he said. "These kids playing here today will be playing for the next 30, 40, 50 years. It’s a great way to stay active and make friends.”

The tournament is named after Johnson's South Hills Tennis Shop, Tennis Town. 

Four matches will be played continually throughout the weekend on the park's courts. The winner of each of those matches will advance, though each contestant is also playing to accrue points. 

Points accumulated at the tournament will impact the young players' ranking nationally through the USTA, Johnson said. 

“The stronger the kids do here, the more likely they are to enter the national tournament,” Johnson said.

For Marlo, tennis runs in the family. Her 14-year-old brother Sam Schiffman will also take to the courts at Moon Park this weekend. The siblings won't be competing against one another, but they'll be cheering each other on, Marlo said. 

The two each began taking tennis lessons at age 5. 

"I admire my brother and wanted to follow in his footsteps," said Marlo, who won her first match late Friday afternoon, 6-0, 6-2. She plays again today. 

While her brother Sam said he wants to see how far he can go in the tournament, Marlo said she hopes to "go all the way to first place." 

"I bet I could get a game or two off him," Marlo said, looking at her big brother.

The tournament is currently taking place at Moon Park on Ewing Road. Matches will also take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow. Check back with Patch for more coverage. 

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