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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Tennis is much than conscionable a crippled - it’s a mode to conscionable caller radical and make a community. A fewer months ago, it took a community’s effort to support the (tennis) shot rolling astatine Roeding Park.
“For me, tennis is simply a accent relief,” Community Tennis astatine Roeding Park organizer and manager Zachary Ocegueda said.
“I virtually was present playing with dudes that were successful their 80s. I don't cognize excessively galore sports wherever you truly are doing that agelong term,” Community Tennis astatine Roeding Park organizer Adam Balakian said.
The tennis radical started successful autumn 2024 with conscionable six people. Today, that fig has ballooned.
“It averages astir 40 to 50 radical successful a fixed week. It’s conscionable grown from that. Every week, much radical came out, and past we decided to marque it a assemblage lawsuit retired of it,” Balakian said.
Tuesday’s assemblage lawsuit was Hawaiian-themed. Folks wore their champion floral apparel portion hitting their champion forehands.
“I came connected implicit much for the societal aspect, not truly the tennis, but it's truly cool. It sounds truthful cliché, but the vibe, similar the music. And past they had radical conscionable bringing random treats and stuff. So I was like, 'Oh, this is cool,'” Community Tennis attendee Ruxandra Sandoval said.
But those assemblage nights were astir taken distant wholly erstwhile the group’s retention portion caught occurrence backmost successful February.
“We person a batch of equipment, a batch of balls, rackets and tables and chairs, each that bully worldly that we usage for assemblage events that unluckily were each destroyed,” Balakian explained.
Balakian shared images of the aftermath online and sparked a assemblage reaction.
“Someone donated implicit 50 rackets and idiosyncratic donated similar implicit 100 tennis balls, which is amazing,” Ocegueda said.
“I deliberation I donated a fewer balls and worldly due to the fact that I couldn't bash overmuch more. But it was truly chill to spot each the radical who could, would,” Sandoval said.
The donations didn’t stop, and now, Balakian is returning the favor.
“Every week. I bring retired 12 rockets and by the extremity of the night, they're each being utilized by somebody,” Balakian said.
However, successful bid to support assemblage tennis bouncing, they’ll request much balls.
“We're really doing different fundraiser adjacent week conscionable for cases of balls. That's truly each we need, but it allows america to support assemblage tennis going and support the amusive going,” Balakian said.
All 11 tennis courts astatine Roeding Park were engaged with games Tuesday night. If you’d similar to enactment Community Tennis, click here for their Instagram page.
