NAHANT — Nahant Tennis Inc. is inviting residents to the courts of the Country Club Estate this Saturday to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first tennis match in the United States — which was played in Nahant.
In 1874, Dr. James Dwight and Richard Dudley Sears played the first match of lawn tennis in American history, squaring off with wooden rackets. One year later, the Nahant Invitational began its two-decade run, in which six players competed in a tournament at the Nahant Club.
The upcoming celebration will harken back to the 19th-century origins of the sport, featuring equipment and attire in the style of the time period. The event will begin with a round-robin doubles tournament at 8:30 a.m.
At noon, Olympic silver medalist and guest of honor Tim Mayotte will give a speech on the changes and evolution of tennis techniques as lunch is served. Mayotte will also put his skills on display in an exhibition match soon after. The Springfield native is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist and won more than 100 titles on the ATP Tour.
Dan Sears, a descendant of Richard Dudley Sears, will also speak about the history of his ancestor. The festivities will conclude with a commemoration at the East Point Appleton estate, the exact location where the first match was played.
In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will be rescheduled to Sunday, July 14. If the event is rescheduled, it will be made public by Friday at noon.
For more details and to register for the event, visit nahanttennis.org
