The Vashon Tennis Club is adding open singles and women’s singles to their annual “Winebledon Tennis Tournament” this year. It was dubbed Winebledon because the tournament begins with a celebration at Vashon Winery and is held at the same time as Wimbledon each year, according to tournament director Bart Queary.

For the past two years the club has held a scramble doubles tournament with all players in the club entered and partners picked randomly.

A kickoff party and barbecue will be held Sunday, June 22, with the tennis tournament beginning the following day and finals taking place on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6.

The Vashon Tennis Club is a group of 10 to 24 players, from teenagers to septuagenarians, who meet every dry morning from 7 a.m. to about 9 a.m. at the Vashon High School (VHS) courts and play both doubles and singles. The club has no rules, bylaws or dues but supports tennis on Vashon by regular equipment donations to VHS and a scholarship to graduating seniors with a tennis interest.

All players on Vashon are encouraged to come and to enter the tournament this year. New players are welcome and highly sought after. Just show up any morning ready to play.

According to Queary, the fun will start Sunday, June 22, at Ron Irvine’s Vashon Winery with the Winebledon kickoff party from 6 to 10 p.m. The party is a potluck for all players and families. Barbecues will be available. Bring your own libations.

The date for the Winebledon Kickoff Party at Vashon Winery is Sunday, June 22.

The starting date for both tournaments is Monday, June 23.

Players should arrange their own matches through quarterfinals, which will be held on July 3 for singles and July 4 for doubles.

Finals will be held on July 5 for singles and July 6 for doubles.

Matches will be held in light rain and rescheduled if rain is heavy, Queary reported.

The Winebledon final party and presentation of  trophies will be held at Queary’s house Sunday, July 6.

Fifteen doubles teams entered last year’s tournament; Mike Douvier and Eli Stahl took the trophy.

Tournament format

Singles will be regular double elimination tournaments. Four players will be seeded, the rest drawn randomly. Complaints about seeding may be sent to Bart Queary, firmly attached to a half rack of Bridgeport India Pale Ale, Queary reported; if a response is desired, also attach a twenty dollar bill. Best of three sets wins, with all ties settled by standard tiebreaker.

Scramble doubles will be randomly drawn pairs, seeded randomly at the kickoff party. Players do not need to come to the party to be in the tournament but, according to Queary, “Last year the sign from Doug’s Auto Repair came to the party. Who knows what strange artifact will come this year.”

The doubles tournament is double elimination with a further consolation round for pairs losing both the first and second round matches. Every pair is guaranteed three matches. Best of three sets with all ties settled by standard tiebreaker.

Debi Cekosh has designed a stunning new Winebledon logo to be unveiled at the kickoff party. This year the tournament souvenir will be a lightweight fleece vest with the logo. Cost will be about $25. Please indicate size with your entry, (Choices: mens S, M, L and XL, womens S, M and L.)

To enter Winebledon, e-mail bqueary@comcast.net indicating event(s) entering. Include size and quantity if ordering a vest. Pay at or before the party. Alternate method; give Queary a piece of paper in person or to Bart Queary, 9613 SW 268th St.

“Please don’t tell me; I’ll forget,” Queary says.

Tournament entry is free. Players provide new balls.