RICHMOND—The annual United States Tennis Association Southeastern Open tennis tournament was held June 14-15 at the Byrd Park tennis courts in Richmond.

This well-known tournament is sponsored by the Richmond Racquet Club. Among the many entrants from in and around the state of Virginia was local tennis player Frank A. Davis, playing in the men’s 60 singles and doubles.

In the first round of singles on Saturday, Davis defeated James Perkins, 2-6, 6-4, 12-10. In the semifinals Davis dropped Kerry Gardner 6-4, 2-6, 10-5. In his third match of the day, Davis and longtime doubles partner Lou Freeman of Richmond went down 7-5, 7-6 (7-5).

Reaching the USTA limit on matches for one day, Davis returned to Byrd Park on Sunday morning to face Everett Worthington in the finals.

Davis rallied in the first set but fell short 6-3. In the second set Davis fought but went down swinging with a 6-1 loss.

Davis has participated in this tournament for at least the past 20 years but believes this year age caught up with him in playing three matches in one day in the sun with record heat.

Davis said the three grueling matches took their toll on him. That night both legs cramped from the strenuous overload on the body.

Questionable if he would have anything left for the championship match on Sunday morning, Davis said he had to try it.

Davis said he is thankful for the young men of the Franklin High School boys’ tennis team whom he coaches for keeping him in some type of shape.