The Association of Tennis Clubs (ASTEC) in Jeddah launched the 1st Al-Baik Tennis Challenge 2009 Team Tennis Tournament for Ladies Division at the tennis courts of Jeddah International School here. This event is ASTEC's 16th tennis tournament since it was organized in 1999. Setting a record number of 22 women team entries from various tennis clubs and corporate-sponsored teams, the biennial tournament blasted off as scheduled with its opening ceremonies at the JIS compound which was attended by the tournament sponsors, consulate officials, and guests. Trophies for Best Uniform were won by IMC-International Medical Center in Categories C and B1, Al-Baik in B2, and SCTC-Star Market in Mixed Category. Best Mascots were from KAMC-King Abdulaziz Medical City and IMC. Capping the well-attended ceremony was the exhibition match between Jeddah's top two women tennis players, Joan Gonzales and Alona Tolentino. Joan easily thrashed Alona 10-2 as the latter was relatively new in the Kingdom and was visibly uncomfortable with the huge crowd attending the opening day. The exhibition match was followed by regular team games with Al-Baik drawing first blood in Category C against newcomer Milo Team. In the first set the Al-Baik pair blew away its initial lead of 5-2 and were eventually subdued 8-6 by new players Jade Callueng and Jenny Nebrida of Milo. Al-Baik took the second set 8-0 with veterans Weng Valencia and Weng Castro blanking the young first-timers Krizel Dominguez and Leah Perez to force a deciding third set. On the other court, the JIS-Edma Mixed Team (C/B2, B1/B1, C/B2) showed it was the early favorite as it edged Mazda 2-1. The tournament format is best-of-three per match via three doubles in Categories, C, B2, B1, and the Mixed. Organized in cooperation with major sponsors Al-Baik Chicken, the year-opening tennis festival will be played simultaneously with the men's division at the Sheraton Hotel. Co-sponsors supporting the tournament are Deltaz, formerly Racquet Shop of Delta marketing Co., Bison Energy Drink, Skyfreight Forwarders, and TFC
