Mashup presnts a casual way to hit the courts. Photos: Courtesy of Yoyao Hsueh
Beijing's tennis buffs can also take it to the court this fall as the China Open kicks off and the stars sweat out to set off their WTA score in town. Following an exciting spring league, the Mashup Sports and Social group is gearing up again for a league that introduces a men's and women's singles ladder in addition to the social mixed doubles league. Get a kink in your neck in the China Open audience or bat some balls with the local tennis kings and queens at Mashup, and you'll be set for a good mix of competitive matches and congenial atmosphere on and off the court.
Light the match
"The first match was actually the best," recalled Jennifer Eden, marketing director and champion of the Spring 2011 coed social league with her Swiss partner. "Rain pushed us inside this massive indoor tennis arena. I never played in a place like that before with pressurized doors and full climate control to maintain perfect playing conditions. It was like playing on the moon," Eden said about the Broadwell Tennis Club located inside the south gate of Choayang Park. "It was also cool because we got to meet everybody."
"The best moments came on the longest rallies," said Yoyao Hsueh, one of the Mashup founders. "Watching teams hit the ball back and forth 20-plus times and with players running back and forth all over gets quite exciting."
Whether you're a hit or a miss on the court, Mashup's tennis league will hook you up with a group of friends and contacts through the fit and fun of tennis. "All our sports leagues and events are about getting active, getting social and having fun," Hsueh said.
"The Mashup tennis format is really fun, it's definitely social with a competitive edge," Eden said. "The league was well organized and despite the mix of standards we had some very nice matches." Eden started playing tennis back in Australia when she was only four and played semi-professionally in her teens. She found the league through one of the expat magazines in town and joined it this spring.
Going courting
"It's social tennis. Mashup brings together a very nice group of people from all backgrounds and most people were there for a good hit and to enjoy themselves," Eden said. The 20 players who joined the spring league included a good number of managers, executives and embassy people from countries like the US, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, UK and China. Players sign up as individuals and will be placed onto teams based on the United States Tennis Association ratings. Teams will be assigned so that they are equally competitive to create a more exciting environment for all involved.
"I know many of the players participated in tournaments when they were younger and some were ranked. They now play to keep in shape and meet new people," Hsueh said, confirming that the league leans towards being more laidback and without ATP/WTA aspirations.
"We've run flag football, basketball, dodgeball and bowling in the past. People also love tennis and wanted to play," said Hsueh. The Chinese community is also keen on smacking some balls. "It's often hard to book courts around town. The few Chinese players in our league seemed to really enjoy the social aspect of meeting and playing with people from different countries. Not everyone speaks the same language, but they all know the language of tennis," Hsueh added. Both Hsueh and Eden stressed that smacking balls is one of the best workouts because it urges players to use the whole body and it develops both their physical and mental strength.
Mashup says the courts at Chaoyang and Si'De parks are really nice and they talk of hidden tennis courts in apartment complexes that are "nice courts and often empty." China Open is on the schedule for all tennis enthusiasts.
Open invitation
"I always go to the China Open itself, it's quite exciting!" said Eden. "It'll be very interesting to watch champions Novak Djokovic and (Caroline) Wozniacki. But Li Na is also doing very well and she'll have the crowd behind her," noted Eden, excited about Serena Williams' possible performance in Beijing.
"I'm not sure if I'll be going to a bar to do it. I know the bars like to show soccer and rugby, so it may take a little searching. Otherwise, watching at a friend's place on their big screen is always a good option," suggested Hsueh, who'll be keying the matches by Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Roddic.
Mashup's taking new players for the next league to start soon after China Open.
For more visit http://mashupasia.com/leagues/tennis.