MTG Hosts 25th Liberty Open Tournament

August 31, 2019 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Liberty Open
Photo Credit: Sidney Beal III/Clique Photography

 

Metropolitan Tennis Group (MTG) has long been one of the stalwarts in the LGBTQ New York sports community as the group’s members have given their time and have dedicated resources to raising money for various charities in the community every year.

This year, MTG was honored to have a float and participate in World Pride Day, as New York City marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and a half-century of LGBTQIA+ liberation.

Directly following World Pride Day, MTG hosted its tennis tournament as the Liberty Open celebrated its 25th season and was held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open.

“MTG has hosted some of the most talented GLTA (Gay Lesbian Tennis Association) players, and the ones who took home the prizes included a lot of first timers,” said Albert Cousins.

Players from all over the world came to play in the Liberty Open and compete on the same grand stage as players like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka have played on.

“Playing in the Liberty Open was one of my best tennis experiences so far,” said Anres Bustani, who competed in the Liberty Open for the first time and won the title in the Open Singles Division. “Being able to play at the grounds of the US Open and experiencing what the pros feel when playing there was amazing. And the incredible group of people who played in the tournament and organized it were amazing! It was a great event, and I will definitely be playing again next year.”

25th Liberty Open Winners

►Open Singles Division: Andres Bustani defeated Casey Schnabel
►A Singles Division: Paul Jacobus Smit defeated Beaury Andrew Talley
►B Singles Division: Amin Dhaou defeated Miroslav Trunec​
►C Singles Division: Clint Metzger defeated Aluko Akini Hope
►D Singles Division: Roderick A. Ferguson defeated Robert Lee
►A Singles 50+ Division: Benjamin Johnson defeated Jean Telfort
►B Singles 50+ Division: Humberto Rosa defeated R. Cooper
►C Singles 50+ Division: Nils Meewes defeated Truett Lee Vaigneur Jr.
►Open Doubles Division: Tavaris Delaney & Casey Schnabel defeated Michael Amico & Calvin Tramaine Sullivan
►A Doubles Division: Rodney Ferrell & Barry Yu defeated Norris P. Sam & Joaquin Turley
►B Doubles Division: Jeff Silverman & Miroslav Trunec defeated Edison Borja &Pacifico Marquez-
►C Doubles Division: Luis Alberto Gutierrez & Aluko Akini Hope defeated Jay Clarkson & Adam Hayes

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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