WEST HAWAI'I
TENNIS CHALLENGE!
JULY 18, 2026
9:00am - 12:45pm
COME JOIN THE FUN !
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Get INSPIRED as you watch top-rated players go head-to-head in singles and doubles play !
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Get EXCITED as you learn more about tennis strategy and the mental game.
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Get your GAME ON as you bring your new skills to a round robin competition!
Sign UP is ONLY REQUIRED for players who wish to join the clinics and round robin.
1. WHO IS INVITED TO ATTEND? Players at all levels are invited to attend! Anyone is invited to watch the matches and the clinics too. Please note that ADULTS ONLY are invited to register and participate in the tennis clinics and round robin competition.
2. WHAT IS THE COST FOR THIS EVENT? This special event is FREE! Seriously! The event is sponsored by Island Slice Tennis and the West Hawaii Community Tennis Organization (WHCTO)
3. WHO IS AUSTIN KAROSI? Austin Karosi is a former ATP-ranked professional tennis player who competed internationally. His training pedigree includes time with Larry Passos, the renowned coach who guided Gustavo Kuerten to the world #1 ranking and three French Open titles. Austin has served as a hitting partner for Grand Slam champions including Venus Williams, Andy Roddick, and Angelique Kerber. See more HERE
4. WHO IS JONNY BEJAR? Jonny is from Sydney, Australia. He trained at the National Academy in Australia under Wally Masur and Sandon Stolle and spent 6 months training in Argentina. Jonny then played in tournaments around South America and served as a hitting partner at the Australian Open. Jonathan was ranked as high as #2 as a young man and top 100 nationally. Jonny spent time playing on the ITF, futures and challenger tour.
5. WHO ARE THE TOP-TIER LOCALS? Meet Kaimalu (Kai) Cope and Jeffrey Gelman!
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Kaimalu (Kai) Cope is from Kona, HI! He played collegiate tennis for HPU and then Arizona. His outstanding junior & high school career propelled him to national rankings and a collegiate tennis career. Kai achieved prominent U.S. National Junior Rankings of #83 and #94, he was a four-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) champion while playing for Kealakehe High School in Kona, and he placed at the very top tier of the Hawaii State Championships. Kai has won many awards for his strong leadership and sportsmanship on the courts.
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Jeff Gelman is from Kona, HI! His tennis career started at Kealakehe High School where he and his best friend and doubles partner, Chandler (CJ) Daub, won back-to-back BIIF doubles championships. The duo then earned the #3 seed at the Hawaii state tennis championships. Jeff followed his tennis career to play collegiate tennis for the Saddleback College Bobcats in Mission Viejo.
(We HAVE to note – both these great players took lessons from Rudy as juniors! So exicting! Who will YOU root for?) )
6. WHAT ABOUT PARKING? Parking is FREE for this event participants. Please be sure to get a parking voucher from the front desk. One voucher per vehicle please. The voucher is only good until 5pm on the day of the event. For parking location, please click HERE (and see map only).
7. I AM PRETTY NEW TO TENNIS - CAN I JOIN THE CLINIC? Yes! All levels are welcome, You can come to watch the matches and the clinics, or participate in the clinics too. To join the clinic, you MUST be an adult and you must sign up (See HERE)
8. CAN I BRING MY KEIKIs? Yes! Keikis are welcome and must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
9. WHAT SHOULD I BRING? You are invited to bring a chair to watch the matches. If you are plarticipating in the tennis clinics, please be sure to bring your tennis racquet, sunscreen, water, etc. We will have refreshments available for sale and water stations available for container refills.
10. WHERE IS ALL THIS EXCITING STUFF HAPPENING? The tennis courts are Fairmont Orchid are at 1 N. Kaniku Drive, Waimea, HI 96743. Click the pin for directions.